Keepin' It Real

Friday night, Darin and I drove to Tampa to see my friends from graduate school, LaShan and Cheryl. I've known them both for a long time - yikes, over five years now. And Darin has met them both as well at a Clemson football game we went to last year. So all was fun fun fun.

LaShan is kind of like my 'sounding block' for ideas/worries/etc. Though I don't talk to her as much as I should (bad Del), back in the day we'd talk for hours about boys and their stupidity as well as work, school, and all that jazz. She really was the first person who knew about Darin and my relationship (we kept it quite for awhile because we worked together when we first started dating), and she talked me through a lot of things and I thank her for that!

Enough of that...

We meet up with them at their hotel and went out to dinner at one of our favorite places here in Orlando, but in the original Tampa - Shells. LaShan wanted fish. And fish she got. Numm numm. There is nothing like good fresh Florida fish (it's something I think makes my mother jealous, having good fish all the time). LaShan got this pasta dish with mussels so we enjoyed playing with the shells.

Cheryl and LaShan; Del and Darin

Then we decided to try to find Ybor City, which is a big entertainment/shopping/tattoo place in Tampa that I had never been to and Darin had been to, but didn't know how to get to. It was funny actually because we tried to use the Garmin to get us there, but we wanted to go a different way initially, and it was getting annoyed at us. If one of those things CAN get annoyed, that is. And Cheryl changed it's voice to an Australian woman's. Quite entertaining.

We did get there alright, and walked around, talked, drank some beer, watched the weird people, looked at the tattoo places, got some shot glasses, watched more weird people, looked at the strange mannequins; you know, all the normal stuff. It was fun. But too short. And we should have stayed out longer and drank some 3 for 1s, but we were tired, and Darin and I had to drive back home.

Del, Cheryl, and LaShan; Del, the Knight, and LaShan

Had a really good time - there is nothing better than spending some time with great friends.

Jake's Spots

The other night Darin and I decided to give Jake a haircut. Now Jake is a mix of wired-hair terrier, jack russell terrier, and monster. Okay, not monster, but some other random dog probably. I used to get his hair professionally cut, but it's expensive and I'm cheap... so we bought a clippers and cut his hair ourselves.

It's so worth it by the way - super easy and fast.

(I got practice cutting Cricket's, my parent's dog, and my dad's hair.)

Anyways, we realized that Jake was looking pretty hairy. And the back part of his fur gets really thick and not soft and gross. And he looked fat - or his fat folds were emphasized. Or skin rolls, whatever.

Though Darin was being a little annoying particular about the blending and cut, Jake did good and is now back to his handsome self. (Though there was a lot of hair. Ick.)

And he's got spots!! How cute is that?

Nothing like a cute well groomed dog.

I am so smart.

Happy Birthday Darin!

I think he had a good day - you'd have to ask him. All I know is that he was lazy this morning (which is a good thing, I think) and happy when he got home from work.

We had some friends over for dinner and instead of making a easy dinner (like steak or something on the grill), we made chicken parmesan. And by we I mean the birthday boy and me.

Draining the water...

Had a good time eating and watching the Olympics.

Frank and I; the Group - Kerry, Carrie, Mike, me, Frank, and Darin

Then he opened his presents - Kerry and Frank got him a fishing pole. It's pretty fantastic. I got him running shorts. Yeah, I know. But he needed them and wouldn't tell me what he wanted and I've lost all of my creativity with presents with him. Who doesn't wear flip-flops, honestly?! (I think that was two years ago...)

The 'pole'.

Oh, the title. I almost forgot. Carrie and Mike got Darin a Homer Simpson card that sings "I am so smart, I am so smart. S. M. A. R. I mean S. M. ART." I don't do it justice, but it's awesome.

Happy Birthday Buddy. I love you.

Weekend Galore

First of all let me say that the Olympics are addictive. I just can't stop watching them. Darin is not effected by this at all, just me. And I guess Jake too because he sleeps on the couch next to me when I watch them. I watched the Opening Ceremonies on Friday night instead of going to Beer Olympics with my friend Carrie. It's sad.

Though Jake does keep himself entertained:

Saturday we went over to Darin's parents for his birthday dinner (his birthday is on Monday August 11th). Too much good food... and his mom's special cheesecake. I say special not because of the weird stuff she puts in it (come on people), but because it's like a combo cheesecake/key lime pie that's just wonderful. Ahh. (We have some leftovers in the fridge that I will eat later tonight unless Kerry or Darin have eaten it.)

Meatballs and Darin's cheesecake

Then today Darin decided he wanted to go to the beach - so off we went. I have to say we don't go to the beach often enough being that we live 30 minutes away (from Cocoa that is). It's pretty sad actually.

How beautiful is this? The beach and Darin on his boogie board (what a great picture!?)

Had a blast and I read my book. Darin boogied in the water. And saw a jellyfish so I didn't go in. I'm easily scared, what can I say. And I got a little red. Would post a picture, but I don't need people laughing at me.

That's it! Will post again on his actual birthday with presents and cake and all. Okay, he's not getting cake, but he doesn't like cake so... he's getting cobbler. Numm.

Some Wedding Stuff

Was talking on the phone to my good friend LaShan (see you soon!) and realized I didn't have wedding stuff on the wedding blog.

Oops.

First things first, we have a date - March 14, 2009. Hurray!

Second, we are getting married at First Congregational Church of Winter Park (FCC). I was raised/confirmed in this type of church and when we decided we wanted to get married in a church, we started going here to check it out. And like it. The ministers are good people and funny. (This is important to us.) And we like them!

Third, our reception is going to be in Baldwin Park in Grace Hopper Hall. We really are excited to have such a nice place - though I must admit I'm a little afraid of the pool being in such close proximity as the reception. Darin is mean. As are some of his friends (I'm talking about mean Mike who threw me in the pool once at his parents house on the pool cleaner thing. With my clothes on.)

I'll update more as soon as I know more to update. Hmm.

Jake is Three

Or I guess it's what, 21 in dog years? His birthday was August 1, and I forgot. I guess since I was the one that made up the date, it's okay? Not sure. But I gave him a hug and wished him a happy birthday. No cake for him though - he did get an extra Scooby Snack (these are his absolute favorite).

Thought I'd put up some cute pictures of the little monster for those that don't know him (1) well (2) at all or (3) think he's cute and like his pictures!

Jake and his mama - the first day I got him; him eating a flip chip; and laying on the ottoman.

And last, but not least, Jake and his best buddy Dante singing. Jake loves to sing, howl, and make strange noises. It's one of his endearing qualities and makes him the cute/annoying/unique/fun dog that he is.

Happy Birthday to Our Pup!

The Water Bed Treated us to Dinner

Friday night, Darin took the family out to dinner - Greek style. The story - our good friend Frank bought Darin's parent's old water bed and with the money we all went out to dinner.

Isn't that the best idea ever?

We decided to go to one of our favorite restaurants that we don't go to often enough. It's called Olympia and is good. Very good.

Don't know when I started liking Greek/Mediterranean food so much, but it's so tasty and there are lots of different things to try. One of my favorite things my mom made when I was little was pastitsio. What I really remember is cinnamon in it, but maybe that's just my weird childhood memory because I don't think it's in there. Hmm.

That's our waitress flaming the saganaki (it's goat cheese and nummy) and my pastitsio. I was very excited to order it finally because I always get tripped up on the gyro. I love me some gyro. And pita. And hummus. But nothing wrapped in leaves or with olives. Ick.

And then there was dessert. Ahh.
(I had saved room by not eating all of my dinner - but it's leftover, hurray!)

That would be Shirley (Diana's MIL) protecting her ice cream dessert, Darin after some chocolate ice cream thing, and my baklava.

I want some right now. It's sad.

Here are some more pics:

Me (with fat arms; I know, I know), Diana, and Goestov; Carol and Keay; and Darin and me

So I think you can tell we had fun. It was good.

We DID miss the belly dancer. Oh well. Next time. :)