Our trip to Philadelphia was nice. Not spectacular, but nice. The Shookie behaved excellently on the train, both ways. On the way there, he played quietly with his toys and we had fun looking out the window at all the snow on the ground. By the time I pulled out a DVD for him to watch, it was time to switch trains and we were almost there, so he never really watched it. On the way back, the kid SLEPT the whole way. How's that for the perfect ride home? T. and I even (gasp!) had a meaningful adult conversation.
T. came through on his promise for a great Philly cheesesteak, except that we got into town late enough that we decided to take them to go. And then I had the bright idea that we should skip trying to cram all our stuff into a taxi, and WALK to the Hotel. Neither of us knew of gosh darn FAR it was, so by the time we finally got there, my back hurt, my legs hurt, my feet hurt. Even my arms hurt from pulling the suitcase on one side and holding my purse and the cheesesteaks at a weird angle. Which were a little soggy by the time we ate them.
While T. was at his seminar, el kiddo and I eventually settled down for a nap while we watched Oprah, and waited for Tob to return and take us out to dinner. Of course, it took him longer to get back than he had expected, and then we couldn't decide where to go to eat. By the time we finally picked a place, I was more than a little irritated, which made the long, cold walk down the icy sidewalk next to a freeway all the more enjoyable. I was SO pleasant to be with, T. asked if I was going to smile that evening. I told him to shove it.
The night was slightly redeemed by our choice of restaurant. We decided to go to a Beni-Hana's type place. You know, where you sit around a big grille and the chef cooks your food in front of you, while setting various things on fire and dangerously wielding his knives? We thought the Shookie would be entertained, but really he vascilated between fear and excitement. Fear when a two-foot flame shot up right in front of his face, and excitement when the chef chopped his chicken for him, all fun-like. Mommy, on the other hand, was enjoying a BOWL of rum punch, which came to her with a flame on top. MmmmMmmm!
The rest of the trip was a mixed bag of fun/not so fun stuff. For example, it was fun to go see the Liberty Bell. It was NOT so fun to have the security guard practically strip search me b/c my dang boots kept setting the alarm off. It WAS fun to have lunch in the Reading Market. All the shops and specialty foods, and the Amish folks making the most delicious down-home cooking you've ever tasted in your life ... Woooeee! It was NOT so fun when the Shookie put his arm in his ketchup all the way up to his armpit. Thank goodness I had put him in layers, and he had another shirt on underneath!
But the BEST part of this weekend was actually when we got home. I asked T. if he'd mind watching the Shookie for a bit while I went to Barnes and Noble, which he agreed to in a heartbeat. Not only was I needing some time to myself, but I just finished a book (The Secret Lives of Bees, see my "review" under my book list here), and I needed something new to read. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that T. frequently frees me up to get out by myself, and unwind. I thoroughly enjoyed skimming through a pile of books, and finally settled on "Reading Lolita in Tehran". Obviously I've only just started reading it, but I can usually tell in the first couple of sentences whether or not I'm going to like a book, and I think this one is going to be really interesting.
So, going to the bookstore was great. The BEST part of my weekend, however, was when I came home and T. told me that the strawberries I had bought earlier this week looked like they were going to go bad, so he had made me CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES! I didn't know what to say. I felt like taking him downstairs to (ahem) say thank you, but as that wasn't possible, I hoped the big 'ol kiss I laid on him was sufficient. We opened a nice bottle of Merlot, and spent the rest of the evening thoroughly enjoying the best chocolate I've ever tasted. Pure heaven, I tell you. It was truly the perfect way to end the day, and I can promise you that as soon as possible, T. WILL be thanked, LOL.
Sorry to hear the weather in Philadelphia made things a little difficult. But it does sound like you were able to have some good times. And what an awesome traveler Shookie is!
What a sweet husband to give you the time you need and then to reward you for time away from home with such a decadent treat!
Many Blessings.
Posted by: Holly | February 09, 2005 at 08:51 AM