FO and Waiting by the Phone

Is it wrong to embroider a onesie while watching Sex in the City? If it is, well I don't wanna be right! My ex-SIL is scheduled for a C-section delivery of her second daughter on the 17th, and I thought I'd play with this cutie poodle for a little gift. I like the fairly instant gratification of little embroidery projects. I'm such a slow knitter that I sometimes need the boost of a FO to keep me crafting.

There's snow in the NE, have you heard? I spoke with my cousin this morning and had a spark of glee when I heard that. Surely, I thought, Neal can't fly home in this. He'll have to find a flight tomorrow morning. But he's smart, my guy. He called me on my "yippee, it's snowing, I don't have to do my homework" attitude. If you grew up in a snowy region, you know what I mean. Well, if you grew up in the South or NM, it probably only took two flakes before school was cancelled. If you grew up in TN, a little rain seems to do the trick (so MB tells me).

So, after a few tears I admitted that he was right. Most likely, he would not be staying here that extra day. Now I'm waiting by the phone to hear he's safe and sound. Another hour or so. Fly safe, Delta plane, fly safe.

While I'm waiting, I may as well bask in the memories of our too short weekend. Dinner on my birthday (thanks, btw, for all the lovely wishes/cards/gifts) was yummy: rigatoni with artichoke hearts and lemon caper sauce. On Friday we bought paint for touching up a few marks on the walls and to FINALLY paint my closet doors (installed a year ago. Yup, I didn't once think I should tackle that myself). Friday night we met D&M for dinner at il vicino. At the risk of sounding all NY on you, it's the closest thing to pizza I've found in NM. After dinner we headed out to the UNM Works in Progress. My pals Carson and Allen both did strong readings, and then my teacher Dan made me laugh as I envied his skill. More important, he got Neal to want to read a short story. Neal's been begging off reading b/c of tired eyes, and this frustrates me. He went home with Dan's collection, How Animals Mate. My best birthday gift of all.

When we came home, Neal read the essay I'm working on for my CNF class. It was so great to be able to talk about my writing with him, to hear what he thought, to talk about all sorts of things. Sometimes phone dates just don't cut it. Face-to-face conversation with him reminds me how lucky I am to have him in my life. I'm gushing now. Sorry.

Saturday we returned to my puppy's home: Madrid, NM. I like going there, but it's starting to feel like Santa Fe South. I'm not such a fan of Santa Fe, can you tell? I bought myself an egg separator at Conley Studio Pottery. If you go to Madrid, stop in there to see some neat things. After a nap on Saturday (Neal painted closet doors, I napped), we found a little Albuquerque miracle: a beautiful meal. My girly Ramona's place Graze is worth a visit. Worth planning my next visit. Soon. Neal and I shared a Graze plate...such flavor! such perfection in portion size! Neal opted for a sea bass special, while I luxuriated in the wild mushroom orzo. With truffle oil...possibly my favorite taste of all time, and this, my dear reader, is my new comfort food.

Now...I'm waiting for the phone call that lets me know my lovey is home safe. How long until the end of May?