It's Tuna Tuesday

Every year I try to out do myself for Ryan's Birthday with a big surprise. Two years ago I had big flat screen TV and matching stand delivered to the apt. Ryan was exhausted from the night before and happened to be asleep when it came. When he woke up I blindfolded him and placed him in front of the TV for the big reveal. He loved it!

Last year I got all of his best friends together at his favorite pizza place for a surprise dinner. They are Italian so their arrival times kept getting later and later. Back at the ranch I tried to stall him. Eventually he said he was starving and began to make his way down to Vesuvio's. Halfway there I told him I had to come back to change my shoes, and that he had to come with me. Eventually we made it to the restaurant and he was surprised. I also bought him a meat grinder. He had been talking about one for months. Now we make homemade ground beef.

Surprising this guy on his birthday is a challenge. This year his birthday is this Thursday. Last week I tried to secure a reservation at his favorite seafood restaurant for Thursday. Ryan loves the fresh tuna at this place. The problem was Claudio, the chef/owner, could not be sure he would have tuna on Thursday. He could promise me tuna on Tuesday. I made the reservation for Tuesday feeling secure in my efforts to surprise Ryan. He would never suspect a surprise dinner the Tuesday before his big day. Then the unexpected happened:

Me: Hi honey. How was your day?
Him: Fine. I bought fresh tuna for dinner
Me: But my friend Yumi is making us dinner. She wants us to meet her family visiting from Korea
Him: Oh can we go another time. I got fresh tuna from the pesceria. It's tuna Tuesday!
Me: But she made all this food
Him: But it's tuna Tuesday....

We went into the kitchen to inspect the tuna. It did look quite fresh.

Him: See, it's tuna Tuesday
Me: I lied. I made reservations at Claudio's. It's tuna Tuesday...

He vacuum froze the tuna. We leave for Claudio's in a few minutes.

Vicenza Highland Games

The year is 2013 and I am sitting in the Great Town Hall meeting known to all throughout the Kingdom as the Info X. As is customary, I was sitting close to the front of the Great Hall as the leaders of our clans regaled us with tales of their accomplishments. After a time the first Highland Games were announced. I lept at the opportunity to be part of the momentous occasion unaware of the athleticism planned for the day.

Two days before the games the events were listed:

Run 5K 

Scale a 7ft wall

Crawl through a mud pit

A stone throw

Wade through an ice bath

Climb over a car 

Slide through muddy tubes

Navigate a tire maze

Terrified of the majority of the events, the ice bath elicited the most apprehension. As the day drew near I intensified my fitness regimen. On the day of the games we dressed ourselves in raiment according to our lineage. 

The 5k caused me to draw labored breath. The sight of the muddy tubes gave me slight pause; I pushed forward. At the stone throw, my mate located a small stone for me. I threw it. Hard. Missing my mark I received a penalty of five push ups. Undeterred I pressed onward. The other members of my clan dug deep to encourage me even as I questioned my motivation in the dastardly mission. At the base of the seven-foot wall my countrymen provided foot and shoulder to hoist me over the wall. Once on the other side I landed squarely upon my feet and ran, stretching my legs wide to reach the next obstacle. 

When we came upon the ice bath I was near delirium. I waded into the water until I was chest deep. The passage of the other clans created a churning current. My mate shouted over the waves, but I could not hear of what he spoke. The water was a cleansing of the mud and grit. I emerged renewed. Climbing over the length of car was all that stood between me and glory. Once over the car I set my sights upon the finish line, and ran there with the swiftness of a cheetah. 

After the Games

Makeup, hair and a new purse

It's been an eventful few weeks.. again. GEN Ray Odierno came to Vicenza this week and I briefed him on some of my work. This was a big deal for me and all of my colleagues. He took lots of notes and asked informed questions. It was very exciting.

As much fun as that was, I'd rather write about my new hair. I love my new hair, and I think it looks great. In addition to my new hair I have been wearing a lot more makeup. For along time I shied away from anything more than a natural look. More than once friends have chided me that I should wear brighter colors, but I always stayed with muted tones..until now!

I invested in a set of Realtechniques make up brushes, and a few other necessities. I typically used whatever brushes came with the products I bought. I didn't understand the difference a good brush can make. A few hours of youtube makeup tutorials and in person discussions with with a dear friend and I was in the fast lane. I love these brushes. My favorites in the bunch are the stippling on the far left and the buffing on the far right. I use the stippling for my blush and the buffing for my foundation. It took me awhile to get here and I still have a long way to go, but I am certainly on my way!

Realtechniques brushes

In addition to my recent investment in makeup, I try to experiment with different looks.  I don't think I'm quite there yet. Most my looks are still very similar. I need to work on using different colors. The problem is I buy more of the same because I like it. I have to push out of my comfort zone if I want to achieve different looks.

I bought this very unusual purse. I actually wear yellow and grey often enough to have a yellow and grey purse. Today I went overboard and was a little too matchy, but it should be a great addition to my Spring wardrobe.