so close to something better left unknown
Mmm, well let's just start with the most interesting and unexpected part of my birthday. Brad and I went to Chapters so he could pick up a gift for his friend, whose birthday is tomorrow, and afterwards we popped into Fortinos so we could pick up some fresh vegetables. As we're checking out, I vaguely hear my phone ring, but don't get it in time to answer. When I look at the missed call, it's from a number in the 248 area code. "Where the hell is 248?" It always makes me very curious when I get calls from numbers I don't recognize, but even more so when it's an area code whose location I have no idea about. A couple seconds later, a notification shows up telling me I have a voice message. I listen to it when we get back to the car, and apparently, it was from my Grandpa Paul, who was possibly the last person I would ever have expected to receive a phone call from.
Necessary backstory: to say my family tree is complicated would be a massive understatement. My mother's parents, my grandmother and my Grandpa Paul, divorced sometime when my mom and her sister were children. My grandmother remarried to the man I knew as my Grandfather. I presumably met my Grandpa Paul as an infant or toddler, but after my parents divorced when I was 4, my relationship with him was limited to a birthday and/or Christmas card as appropriate. I never really knew the man or had any contact with him. Especially given that I didn't speak to my mother for a good portion of my childhood and adolescence, I really never had much interest in getting to know her father. So, you can imagine my surprise at hearing a voicemail from him.
Anyway, it turns out that my half-brother, who I haven't seen since he was an infant and I was 9, graduated high school and Grandpa Paul is throwing a party for him in Michigan (which is where he lives and where Chase finished high school). Apparently my mom and my other half-brother are coming up from Florida, and there will be a whole slew of other aunts and uncles from that side of the family, so he wanted to know if I could come. Oh, and this party is next weekend. And maybe I could bring my sister. Hahaha. The whole thing is just so bizarre and out of the blue, BUT I haven't seen my mom or younger half-brother in two years, and as mentioned, haven't seen the older half-brother essentially ever. So uh, sure? My grandfather said he would cover my gas costs, which I really appreciate as I wouldn't really be able to afford that right now since I'm not working and haven't started to get unemployment yet. Basically, I'm going to call immigration on Monday and make sure that me leaving won't have any adverse effect on my PR application, and as long as that's good, I'm apparently going to Michigan next weekend! Life is so crazy sometimes.
As for the rest of my birthday, Brad and I had Summerlicious reservations last night at Il Fornaro, and it was a really nice time all around. The restaurant was only about 15 minutes or so away, even with 6 pm traffic, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was nice. The food was delicious and the service was excellent (I might quibble that I could have used a few more minutes between courses, but our server was nothing if not prompt). We had browsed their regular menu online and they have a wide variety of offerings that sound good to both of us, so I think we can safely say that we'll be going back there again. They didn't have strawberry juice, but aside from that, we may have found our Langolino replacement! Definitely a nice night out. And then Brad cooked for me on the grill tonight, chicken breasts, red peppers, asparagus and potatoes, and it was delicious. Chicken breasts just come out so perfect on the grill; I love it! Tomorrow night is my Snakes & Lattes party, and about 10 people are coming, so it should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to it.
And here is my one gripe about birthdays. I probably can't say this without coming across as ungrateful to the people who have wished me well today, but I promise that it's not my intent. I just hate facebook birthday greetings. I do. And I've left them for people, too, but they just irk me. It seems like the least personal of all possible ways to wish someone well on their birthday. It's probably not fair for me to be irritated by them as a whole, when realistically, facebook is the main way a large number of people stay in touch with me. But when people who could otherwise call or email or text or SOMETHING choose to only post on my facebook wall, like I said, it just kind of bugs me. And I know, I live in Canada now, most of my friends can't call me without incurring large charges and I wouldn't want anyone to do that. And really, I AM grateful that people are thinking of me enough to send me a message of any kind. Let's just chalk this up to my irritation with facebook in general and how I really really wish I could get rid of it without losing contact with a large number of people. Blergh.
Anyway, I started writing this entry about 4 hours ago, and then was interrupted by dinner and cuddles and such, so I think it's time to wrap this up. Many thanks to those of you who left me birthday wishes, in whatever form you chose to do so! ♥
OH, wait! Here, let me end this on a better note. I got a package in the mail on Thursday from my best friend Sarah, who went to Loop in Philadelphia and bought me the prettiest yarn for my birthday! It's Silky Alpaca Lace, which is lace weight yarn that is something like 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk, and it is a beautiful shade of light blue, and a total yarngasm. I cannot wait to make something with it, and it was really sweet of her to buy it for me. So I do totally have awesome friends who do nice things for me, and I love all of them. :) Yay!
Necessary backstory: to say my family tree is complicated would be a massive understatement. My mother's parents, my grandmother and my Grandpa Paul, divorced sometime when my mom and her sister were children. My grandmother remarried to the man I knew as my Grandfather. I presumably met my Grandpa Paul as an infant or toddler, but after my parents divorced when I was 4, my relationship with him was limited to a birthday and/or Christmas card as appropriate. I never really knew the man or had any contact with him. Especially given that I didn't speak to my mother for a good portion of my childhood and adolescence, I really never had much interest in getting to know her father. So, you can imagine my surprise at hearing a voicemail from him.
Anyway, it turns out that my half-brother, who I haven't seen since he was an infant and I was 9, graduated high school and Grandpa Paul is throwing a party for him in Michigan (which is where he lives and where Chase finished high school). Apparently my mom and my other half-brother are coming up from Florida, and there will be a whole slew of other aunts and uncles from that side of the family, so he wanted to know if I could come. Oh, and this party is next weekend. And maybe I could bring my sister. Hahaha. The whole thing is just so bizarre and out of the blue, BUT I haven't seen my mom or younger half-brother in two years, and as mentioned, haven't seen the older half-brother essentially ever. So uh, sure? My grandfather said he would cover my gas costs, which I really appreciate as I wouldn't really be able to afford that right now since I'm not working and haven't started to get unemployment yet. Basically, I'm going to call immigration on Monday and make sure that me leaving won't have any adverse effect on my PR application, and as long as that's good, I'm apparently going to Michigan next weekend! Life is so crazy sometimes.
As for the rest of my birthday, Brad and I had Summerlicious reservations last night at Il Fornaro, and it was a really nice time all around. The restaurant was only about 15 minutes or so away, even with 6 pm traffic, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was nice. The food was delicious and the service was excellent (I might quibble that I could have used a few more minutes between courses, but our server was nothing if not prompt). We had browsed their regular menu online and they have a wide variety of offerings that sound good to both of us, so I think we can safely say that we'll be going back there again. They didn't have strawberry juice, but aside from that, we may have found our Langolino replacement! Definitely a nice night out. And then Brad cooked for me on the grill tonight, chicken breasts, red peppers, asparagus and potatoes, and it was delicious. Chicken breasts just come out so perfect on the grill; I love it! Tomorrow night is my Snakes & Lattes party, and about 10 people are coming, so it should be a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to it.
And here is my one gripe about birthdays. I probably can't say this without coming across as ungrateful to the people who have wished me well today, but I promise that it's not my intent. I just hate facebook birthday greetings. I do. And I've left them for people, too, but they just irk me. It seems like the least personal of all possible ways to wish someone well on their birthday. It's probably not fair for me to be irritated by them as a whole, when realistically, facebook is the main way a large number of people stay in touch with me. But when people who could otherwise call or email or text or SOMETHING choose to only post on my facebook wall, like I said, it just kind of bugs me. And I know, I live in Canada now, most of my friends can't call me without incurring large charges and I wouldn't want anyone to do that. And really, I AM grateful that people are thinking of me enough to send me a message of any kind. Let's just chalk this up to my irritation with facebook in general and how I really really wish I could get rid of it without losing contact with a large number of people. Blergh.
Anyway, I started writing this entry about 4 hours ago, and then was interrupted by dinner and cuddles and such, so I think it's time to wrap this up. Many thanks to those of you who left me birthday wishes, in whatever form you chose to do so! ♥
OH, wait! Here, let me end this on a better note. I got a package in the mail on Thursday from my best friend Sarah, who went to Loop in Philadelphia and bought me the prettiest yarn for my birthday! It's Silky Alpaca Lace, which is lace weight yarn that is something like 70% baby alpaca and 30% silk, and it is a beautiful shade of light blue, and a total yarngasm. I cannot wait to make something with it, and it was really sweet of her to buy it for me. So I do totally have awesome friends who do nice things for me, and I love all of them. :) Yay!