To give the Cliff’s Notes version, the business opened (www.SecondCoats.com) and I decided to take a well-deserved short vacation.
For the non-Cliff’s Notes version: I went to DC for my short vacation, leaving Raleigh on Friday evening and getting back late last night. Darin, of course, lives there, and Cammie Jan flew in from Tucson on Saturday, so the Fearsome Threesome…The Rat Pack…CaJaDarKad…whatever the three of us are called (this is more inside joke for Darin, Cammie Jan, and myself than anything)…had a bit of time to hang out.
The drive up wasn’t too shabby, other than having to call a potential drunk driver in to the state police. It was a bit on the crazy side. Upon my arrival, we went to dinner at a good Italian place that was very tasty, though I was hungry enough at that point it wouldn’t really have mattered if it had been bland and horrible. Well…maybe not. It probably would have. Regardless, it was me, Darin, Darin’s gf Melanie, roommate Adam, and Adam’s gf Emmy. After dinner, we went to a birthday party for one of Darin’s friends, which of course was just a load of fun for me, only somewhat knowing one person who was there. Thank heavens Melanie is very nice and talkative…we had fun chatting.
After that, we headed back to Darin’s, where he and I both fell asleep watching this horrible, awful, scary show that gave me nightmares. Saturday, we got up and went shopping for a swimsuit for Darin (he had some fun in one store, as it turns out they have a very odd communal changing room) and I, meanwhile, bought me some more shoes. Because I need them. Badly. We went to a couple of stores and then headed over to the airport to pick up Cammie Jan, after which we headed into the District for a delicious appetizer meal of grasshopper tacos and guacamole. Well, I say delicious, but by delicious, I mean the guacamole was quite tasty. The tacos were very spicy and very crunchy and I can’t say I’d necessarily have them again. If I was really hungry and there was a lot of water on hand, then yes, I would eat them again. Otherwise, I’ll leave my grasshopper portions for others to enjoy.
After the tasty little vittles, we went to the portraiture museum and looked at a few exhibits from the Lincoln inauguration ball, as well as the Steven Colbert painting that graces the entrance to the bathrooms. We then met up with Cammie’s friends Rachel and Carrie. I knew Carrie from my last trip to Mexico (ole!
We then headed off to pick up Melanie to go to our next interesting meal of the day…Ethiopian food. Now, I did not think that the Ethiopians have food and I believe I have discovered why that is—it’s all here in America at Ethiopian restaurants. They seemed to be everywhere in DC. There wasn’t too much on the platter that wasn’t spicy (Kade + Spice = Misery and Sweat) and I must say, the foods that weren’t spicy weren’t entirely enjoyable for me. Yes, I’m a picky eater, but I am willing to try new things. This was one of those that I’ll probably not have again. I also didn’t care for not using silverware…not my cup of tea.
Anyway, after dinner, we headed back to Darin’s and though he and Melanie chickened out, Cammie Jan, Rachel, and I headed off to the District to go dancing at Black Cat. It was most enjoyable! We danced for almost two hours—it was ‘80’s night—and my knees are definitely still feeling it. But, it was a blast!
On Sunday morning, we headed up to Gettysburg, PA, to do a little site seeing. We had a great lunch at a home-cooking style diner, followed by lots of site seeing, and then we had ice cream at a fun little malt shop there in town. Darin and I headed back to DC, so that I could get on the road to Raleigh, while Cammie Jan, Rachel, and Carrie stayed behind to do more exploration.
Other than the snarled traffic for 20 miles, it wasn’t too bad of a drive back until I had to stop at a gas station to use the restroom. It was one of the most disgusting bathrooms I’ve ever been in. I would’ve been better off peeing in the woods. There was scum caked to the urinals, writing everywhere (including etched in the mirror), and the kicker was that instead of a soap dispenser, they had a bar of hand soap! It had hair stuck to it. I almost vomited. Anyway, back on the road, I caught up on a bunch of phone calls and learned that it’s not necessarily a bad thing that I missed my nephew’s birthday party as not everyone (i.e., an adult figure of step parentage) played nice.
I picked up Matza at Beth’s last night, after learning that Matza had been a complete and total terror while I was gone. Poor Beth had to deal with Matza messing all over the house, biting her own dog, attacking her cat, and keeping her up at night with a lot of movement and barking. So, I picked up the brat and took her home, where she was her usual little self and thankfully didn’t try to pull any of that with me. I think she was just reacting to being out of her usual environment, with different people and a different routine. It’s still very embarrassing.
The one good thing Matza did this weekend was she got along fine with some of Beth’s guests who are black. It sounds crazy, but I have a racist dog. She seriously wigs on me anytime she sees a black person. It’s beyond mortifying and I have worked at breaking this habit of hers. Well, my work seems to have paid off, as Beth said she did just fine. I could just see it going down horribly and Beth’s guests coping with this ridiculous, barking mutt. However, I’m grateful it wasn’t the case. :)
So, today I’m back at work while Darin is flying to Florida for vacation and Cammie Jan is still in DC playing for a few days. How I would heart that. Instead, it’s a Monday at work and I have a FULL week of work for my business and a big party to prepare for as well. Yeehaw. However, I am grateful I finally had a fun, relaxing weekend and was able to spend time with my wonderful friends as well as to spend time making some new friends. They’re good people and I’m very blessed to have them as friends.
As a side note, if you texted me this weekend, I most likely didn’t get it. My phone is having issues, apparently. I’ll have that looked in to.
Well, back to work I go…have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
~me
