(no subject)
I had a really great weekend, spending time with Mark, my family, Nana, and her family. Got lots accomplished, too! Attended an art gallery exhibit opening Friday night with Mark and Nana... the art on display was created by kids at Marcus, with the help of local artists and it was really very cool. If I could have afforded to purchase it, I would have bought a piece! Maybe there will be something at the art auction Friday night that is within my meager budget. We also browsed some other galleries, and had drinks at two bars. Not quite a crazy night, but I don't do crazy nights much anymore. It was nice and relaxed and fun.
Got my oil changed and transmission/coolant flushed on Saturday morning. Brought the car people doughnuts so they'll like me and be good to my car and not overcharge me. (It totally works- Mark dropped his car off before I did and just got an oil change, not the other stuff, and my car was ready 15 minutes before his! )
I hung out at my grandparents' nursing home for their "State Fair" on Saturday and made snow cones for the old peoples and their visitors. They had all kinds of food, and games set up, and even prizes to win. It was funny watching my grandparents play the games... and a little sad, because they are getting so old and simple movement is quite a chore for them. But they had fun, and I'm glad I went.
We ate pizza Saturday night! Mmmm! And went to see Ocean's Thirteen. At the movie theater! I haven't been to the movie theater since ... hmm, January or February?
Sunday was grocery and laundry day. And I took a long nap. And had dinner with Nana's family and lined up some babysitting jobs with her sister, who lives here and has two adorable little girls. (And not only do I get to hang out with the cuties, but I get paid! Extra money in the bank....always a good thing.)
Hung out at the bookstore Sunday evening with Mark, and then we headed home and he ironed his clothes while I started researching rates for our trip to CHINA and TIBET next year!! I'm so excited. We decided to go to China vs. Nepal this year, since it's actually cheaper, and Mark can practice his Chinese language skills. And since my Tibetan family moved back to Lhasa, we can visit them, too.
It's actually getting easier to travel to Tibet... which is good and bad. If too many tourists start flooding the place, the ecosystem will be in danger. But hopefully with the rise in "green" tourism, things will be okay. The good part is that it's actually feasible for us to get a permit and afford to get in to Tibet- apparently you don't need to be assigned to a guided tour anymore, which means costs go waaaaaaay down, because you don't have to pay a tour guide and the jacked-up tour fees.
So needless to say, I am very excited and although we don't plan on going until next May, I am happily looking up air fares, train tickets, sights we want to see, etc. I figure I'll get a huge mega-itinerary worked out and then we'll wheedle it down to a more reasonable one. But I'm really hoping we can take three weeks off for the trip, instead of just two.
Travel talk just makes me so very excited. *sigh*
Got my oil changed and transmission/coolant flushed on Saturday morning. Brought the car people doughnuts so they'll like me and be good to my car and not overcharge me. (It totally works- Mark dropped his car off before I did and just got an oil change, not the other stuff, and my car was ready 15 minutes before his! )
I hung out at my grandparents' nursing home for their "State Fair" on Saturday and made snow cones for the old peoples and their visitors. They had all kinds of food, and games set up, and even prizes to win. It was funny watching my grandparents play the games... and a little sad, because they are getting so old and simple movement is quite a chore for them. But they had fun, and I'm glad I went.
We ate pizza Saturday night! Mmmm! And went to see Ocean's Thirteen. At the movie theater! I haven't been to the movie theater since ... hmm, January or February?
Sunday was grocery and laundry day. And I took a long nap. And had dinner with Nana's family and lined up some babysitting jobs with her sister, who lives here and has two adorable little girls. (And not only do I get to hang out with the cuties, but I get paid! Extra money in the bank....always a good thing.)
Hung out at the bookstore Sunday evening with Mark, and then we headed home and he ironed his clothes while I started researching rates for our trip to CHINA and TIBET next year!! I'm so excited. We decided to go to China vs. Nepal this year, since it's actually cheaper, and Mark can practice his Chinese language skills. And since my Tibetan family moved back to Lhasa, we can visit them, too.
It's actually getting easier to travel to Tibet... which is good and bad. If too many tourists start flooding the place, the ecosystem will be in danger. But hopefully with the rise in "green" tourism, things will be okay. The good part is that it's actually feasible for us to get a permit and afford to get in to Tibet- apparently you don't need to be assigned to a guided tour anymore, which means costs go waaaaaaay down, because you don't have to pay a tour guide and the jacked-up tour fees.
So needless to say, I am very excited and although we don't plan on going until next May, I am happily looking up air fares, train tickets, sights we want to see, etc. I figure I'll get a huge mega-itinerary worked out and then we'll wheedle it down to a more reasonable one. But I'm really hoping we can take three weeks off for the trip, instead of just two.
Travel talk just makes me so very excited. *sigh*