Lemonades and Tow Trucks

Oh so many events to speak about!

I am almost done with school for this semester. We have to make a bibliography and our paper will be done and done. Huzzah! All that’s left is one more test (on which I need a 65% to keep my A) and completion of my biodiesel project. Joy of joys!

I am going to Philly in a few weeks to visit my friend Val, and she suggested we run in the Komen Race for the Cure. We are raising money for breast cancer research, and I am real impressed with my best friends and their extremely generous donations (over $700 so far!!). Here is a link to My Race Page in case you want to make a donation and/or check out how adorable I am. Everyone who donates will receive a photo of me finishing the race (it might kill me but oh well) and a copy of my training mega mix cd.

Aneil came over this weekend, and we were actually extremely productive. We met up with Maria and various and sundry medical school pals, plus Kevin. I drank tons of raspberry lambic, and I tried the cherry kind but it wasn’t as good. Kevin lectured me about not adequately training for my race, but I promise to run a mile tonight. Seriously. But I mean American Idol is on tonight, so we’ll see.

Then Saturday Aneil helped me hang things up on the walls of my apartment. He also made me a charming coat rack (which I have no idea how I lived without before). Aneil had various power tools and levels and whatnot. I remember when I decorated the old apartment I just used a hammer. But I guess his way was more efficient. It looks real great and homey.

We also ate at Spaghetti Warehouse, which was yummie as usual. Our waitress was adorable and called herself a “chili ninja”. Aneil also won me this Bart Simpson from the claw machine (best claw machine in town!). Afterward, I worked on my paper at the bubble tea place.

And BIG NEWS, the Kelvin Arms started serving glorious glorious Frozen Vodka Lemonade again. To tune of “Here Comes the Sun”: Lem-o-naaade, it’s been a long cold lonely winter. Lem-o-naaade, it feels like years since it’s been here. Needless to say I got Drunky McDrunkerson and Aneil managed to convince me to play Golden Tee and the equivalent bowling game, which I will call Bowling Tee. Bowling is much easier, as there is no slope, sand traps, water hazards, or wind, i.e. Golden Tee for Dummies. I got over-zealous (also was drunk) and missed the rolly ball and banged my hand into the machine and I now have this huge hand bruise! Did you know that you could bruise your hand? At any rate, I suppose my injury will keep my on the sidelines next time I’m at Kelvin Arms. Also, here’s a shout-out to Jeremy and Emily, who we also saw at the bar. Crazy Jeremy had to be at the plant at 5am, yet was still partying like a champ when we left the bar at 1am. At any rate, he said he reads the blog, so I am excited to have another fan. Ha.

Sunday I ate dinner with Maria and Lamonica (oh Chuys tortillas I love you so), then we headed to Numbers to see Tapes n’ Tapes, which I had never listened to before, and was just going so Lamonica would have someone to go with. WELL, we both drove there, and parked next to each other, and we go outside after the show only to discover we had BOTH been towed! It was a lil scary, since Lamonica left her purse/phone in the car, and I had absolutely no one to call to come get me. Here’s the mortifying part: I saw Joel from Town Hall (Ho-el, as you may have known him) at the show and we chatted and (Thank God!) exchanged numbers. So I call him up and he gives us a ride to the police station. I was mortified! It was like, oh hi Ho-el, I haven’t seen or heard from you in 5 years, can you give me a ride? UGH. He is still just as nice as a person can be, so I’m sure he didn’t mind, but I was still so embarrassed. At any rate, here is what to do when your car gets towed in Houston: call the Tow Hotline: 713-308-8580 and be sure to memorize your license plate number because they need it to find your car. They will be able to tell you where your car got towed. Luckily, Lamonica’s mom came to pick her up, and the tow place was only 10 minutes from my house, so we were able to get the cars. At this point it was like, 2am, and we were in the lovely 5th ward, and that’s fine. Also it cost me $180 to get the car plus I got a $65 ticket. I am chalking this up to a rather pricey lesson learned, and am not eating out for the next month to save up $245. BLAH.

To end on a not-complaining note, here is a list of food items that Aneil and I have been given in the past 3 weeks. We do not ask for these things, and I’m pretty sure our lil round bellies do not make us look undernourished, but we keep receiving free things (which I love):

1) As Aneil orders a shake at Chick-Fil-A, I ask the guy at the counter if the new flavor is any good, and he gives me one to try. A whole shake!
2) We go to Chili’s, where you stupidly have to pay for chips and salsa. We say no thanks we don’t want chips, but a few minutes later our waiter brings out chips and says he just hates to see people not eating something, so have some free chips!
3) Aneil orders this spaghetti covered in “beer chili” rather than tomato sauce every time we go to Spaghetti Warehouse. The waitress brings out the food and we are all excited, but she comes back and says that there is not enough chili on his spaghetti, and it is because the manager is skimpy with the chili. She then proclaims she is a “chili ninja” which was pretty much the most adorable thing ever, and comes back with a small bowl of supplementary chili.
4) As we walk into Kelvin Arms, I immediately ask if they started up the lemonade machine again (apparently it is only a summertime drink), and when the guy actually says yes I yelped with joy! Then he was like, do you like raspberry? I’ll swirl some raspberry liquor into it for you to try. It was yummie, and FREE!

So, I am trying to count my blessings and not get too bummed about the towing incident. So thank goodness for generous waiters/bartenders, moms being there when you need them (the whole ride to the tow yard made me feel 15 yrs old again), and Joel and all my other darling boys who I know would have done the same for a damsel in distress.

Happy birthday to Amanda!