Monthly Archives: March 2008

Darling's Surprise

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Happy Birthday to Darling today! I’ll save all the cutesy, lovey, tear-inducing words for another time (Dad did enough of it on Friday at her surprise party that I organized), and instead embarass her by posting a few pictures from the very happy, very much a surprise, party.

The Pouty Picture (this was our attempt at doing the best Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen that we could. I rather like it, actually)

The Party People (friends from when we first moved here to the present and everything in between.)

Cutting Hanks Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake (If you haven’t had Hank’s Cheesecake, you better go! It’s the best in the StL.)

Flying Solo with HB

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(First of all, thanks to my readers for making yesterday my best day for blog views! I hit 50! WooHoo!)

True to Nora form, I was nervous about this date all day yesterday. I did my usual wander around the apartment, sans shirt, trying to cool down. I was that nervous. This happens to me every time I go on a date. Kind of annoying. Maybe because this was the first time HB and I wouldn’t have our friends around?

Anyway, HB, true to his gentlemanly self, showed up just a few minutes early and spent the five minutes that I still needed to get completely ready playing with Jack. Good Sign #1.

HB, an import from KC to the STL, admitted to me several days ago that he had NEVER been to “The Hill.” This “Hill,” is famous for it’s fantastic Italian restaurants, both fancy, casual and even slumming, depending on which restaurant you choose. The food is always amazing. The service impeccable. And it’s Italian. And yes, I’m biased. This revelation required we go to Zia’s, one of my favorite casual Italian dining experiences in the area. Thankfully he loved it and told me he can’t wait to try more restaurants in the area. Good Sign #2: He paid the bill without glancing at it and he carried my leftovers to the car for me. Nice.

After dinner we wandered over to the piano bar (the one famous for jerky bouncers) for a few drinks and live music. Thankfully there was no mean bouncer and the people watching was at its prime. We think the bar was taken up by drug dealers and/or pimps and hos. Seriously. Good Sign #3: He didn’t let me pay for my drinks though I offered NOR did he look (that I could tell) at the chicks in the short dresses that kept walking past.

After two drinks and realizing it was midnight and we both had to be at work at 8 am today, we reluctantly left the bar. He walked me up to my apartment and then joined me for a brief stroll to walk Mr. Jack.

The evening ended with a first kiss in the doorway to my apartment building which was quite nice despite the fact Jack was trying to run out of the door to meet a cat that was flirting with him, causing him to circle the leash around HB’s arm. That did not ruin the enjoyment however.

Good Sign #4: He wasn’t sure if he would go to the wedding event I am attending tonight, though he was invited. He told me last night he plans to be there.

Holding my breath underwater

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I really don’t like to rant and complain on here since it’s not my style. I’m more light and love, peace and hugs, happy all around the world kind of gal.

However, today… I feel like I fell off a surfboard and got stuck under the current. I have five new projects which is great job security, but overwhelming mostly because the deadlines are May 1st. And my regular tasks which have skyrocketed in many ways. And for the first time in the history of working here I really feel like I. AM. GASPING. FOR. AIR.

Work weekends and longer hours? Sure, if I had the time. I have about ten lists of things to do in my head for each project and my hands and fingers can’t type fast enough to get them out of my brain.

Days like this I force myself to find the good in the day…

  • I had a project where I had to call the US Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, specifically) on a hunt for laptops to rent for a special project. While the search has been anything but fruitful so far, the last lady I talk to tells me in her very St. Thomas Accent, “have a great day, darling.” Ah, to be on an island right now. My tan would be killer
  • For some reason, I was chosen for a special pilot program which required a few web meetings and conference calls. I was glad to participate as my feedback was meaningful and helped shape the final product. The end result? I received a $50 Amex gift card in the mail from them today. Unexpected clothes money… Darling, shall we go to Limited soon??
  • Another T calls me during lunch to ask for a third date. Scheduled for Monday.
  • HB sends me an email saying he’s looking forward to our date this evening.
  • I make a dent in one project… it will be ongoing, but the prototype is there.

Looking at the above list brings my light and smiley attitude back. Just in time to run five miles, shower and get ready for Italian food and candelight.
 

A year of doing what…?

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I think I mentioned that I joined a new book club: one with young professionals. Lawyers. Teachers. English majors.

Our next book is “A Year of Living Biblically,” by A.J. Jacobs. I personally voted for Suite Francaise, but obviously lost. I’ve never been a huge memoir fan unless it’s Mafia related although surprisingly Mr. Jacobs writes with humor and purpose. I’m 50 pages in and already hooked, not to mention the many random things I’ve learned about the Bible that I (sadly) confess I was unaware of.

 I’m off to read about Jacobs’ quest to grow a long beard, teach his child the Ten Commandents and wear tassles on his clothes everyday… among other things.

Dining with HB

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HB called… (I’ll have to give the full story on that later) and asked me out for dinner tomorrow. The newly purchased Limited Red pants and fantastic newly purchased white, very cute, shirt are being put to use tomorrow.

(thank goodness for Sudafed PE. I feel a million times better.)

Two dates, two guys, one week. I think that might be a record for me.

Date Two with Another T

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Last night was Date Numero Two with Another T.

The Plan? No Country for Old Men at the Chase Park Plaza Cinema. Not exactly creative but considering my party girl attitude this past weekend landed me a cold, not a huge deal.

The Movie? Intense, but definitely amazing. Javier really did deserve the Oscar. Another T, who admitted last night that he- by choice- doesn’t own a television and had no clue what the movie was about, leaned over halfway through the movie to make sure I was okay with the subject matter.

The Date? Considering I’ve been fighting off a cold and yesterday was probably the worst day of my sneezing/coughing and etc, it went well. I find myself surprisingly comfortable around him even though he clearly has his guard up and gives me sidelong glances which I can’t decipher as flirting or staring. He grabbed my hand during one of the more intense shooting, blood and guts scenes… and it was good. That’s one of my favorite “firsts,” with a guy. The hand holding. He offered dinner afterwards and though my stomach was growling through the whole movie (embarassing), I declined as the cold medicine was wearing off. In hindsight I wish I had gone. Ah well.

First Kiss? Yes, yes, there was. It wasn’t earth shattering, but seldom are a lot of first kisses fireworks. Lets consider the situation:

- Nora, totally stuffed up and not really wanting to give Another T my cold (honest)
- Another T, across the car from me, both of us bungled in our coats
- The console and etc in between us, make it difficult to lean equally or comfortably to accomplish the task

Add it up and you get a decent but slightly awkward first kiss.

Third Date Plans? Not yet, but it seems promising. I have to go to at least see if the next kiss will be better than the first.

HB = Boy #1

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I shall call him HB.

The basic rundown:

6 ft, 5 inches (my favorite)
Former second-grade teacher, turned lawyer (caring, ambitious)
31 years old (i think older is better)
Totally handsome (I mean, seriously)
Intelligent (asks good questions, gives good answers, but doesn’t talk just to hear himself talk)
Likes DMB and the beach just as much as I do (it doesn’t get much better than that)
Went to MU (hooray for a fellow Tiger!)

My friend, who is getting married on Saturday (!) introduced me to him after insisting for the last six months that we meet. Our first encounter was during our inaugural book club meeting where we exchanged glances, smiles and probably not more than three sentences during the two hour meeting. Our conversations bloomed during emails over the last few weeks and a personal invitation to his birthday party, which I graciously accepted.

I arrived late as I was busy hanging out with Little Man & being Nanny Nora, but was greeted with a smile and a beer. It was HB’s birthday but he insisted on buying my drinks all night, introduced me to his friends and surprisingly turned all of his attention to me. A lot of things happened that night that probably would be boring to you, but are important to me (and surprising!). We ventured to after bars at his very snazzy loft which necessitate that he ride with me: he opened the car door for me, even though I was driving. He took my coat, toured his loft, put my coat on back for me when I left, walked me to my car, made sure I got home okay, etc etc. HB is pleasant. Gentlemanly. Very handsome. Great sense of style. And more…

He invited me to a trivia night which I unfortunately can’t attend but we discussed heading to my favorite Italian place as he has never been there, sharing music, and a variety of other things, so I’m hopeful he’ll call.  Besides, I’m saving a killer outfit for the event.

The New T

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Last Wednesday I was wined and dined by the New T.  (Or maybe I should call him Another T? There is no Old T for him to be New. Yes, Another T is more suitable).

Another T has visited my office regularly for the last two years during which times we usually chat about work, latest trips, and other random, mostly blah things. Out of the blue, he called me at the office and asked me to dinner. I will admit that if I know he’s coming to the office I do my best to look nice and for quite sometime (not so much anymore) I would get nervous around him, so of course I accepted.

Another T apparently knows people in the StL as he took us to 1111 Mississippi where upon our arrival we were whisked to a prime table surrounded by windows, served by a spunky, knowledgeable waiter and were comped (or so he says) a trio of desserts and port wine, in addition to our wild boar ravioli appetizer, several glasses of Chardonnay (for me) Jack and Coke (for him) and our respective entrees.

He’s a go-getter: self-employed until recently, merged with a larger company in the StL area and is refurbing a house. Not quite my usual style of guy (he looks like he belongs at Yale or Harvard; long-sleeved shirt buttoned to the top with a sweater over it, coiffed hair, glasses), but mysterious and challenging in a way I suppose.

Conversation was the usual first date talk: families, college (he didn’t graduate), jobs, books, movies, music, food, etc. I did find out he’s a huge fan of Star Wars, which prompted discussion about my name (which only makes sense to those of you who really know me), the gold bikini and bun situation and why I have never seen the entire Star Wars movies.

We have a second date planned for tomorrow night. Dating on a week night is quite interesting but he has promised to come up with “… something creative for a Tuesday night…”

Stay Tuned.

I heart vs. I hate

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Love: News of a tax return!
Hate: Actually sitting down and doing my taxes. (Okay, so I didn’t do them this year. Dad did. Thank goodness!)

Love: The Limited. Everything about it. Most especially the new red pants and dress I bought today.
Hate: That I’m being a total girl and waiting to wear the red pants until HB (nickname for guy I met last night) asks me out for date #2.

Love: A whole week of freedom from school. No excuses for skipping the gym, not cleaning the apartment and of course, spending more time with the Jackers.
Hate: I probably didn’t perform as well as I could have on my statistic final.

Love: Signs of spring: birds chirping, daffodils are starting to sprout, I have intense urges to put on flip-flops.
Hate: With my new workout regimen my feet are less than spring friendly.