Recent adventures, in brief

One Night In Vegas

Our very good friends were going to be in Vegas for a week, and we found a killer deal ($120 per person for flight, hotel, and transportation to & from the airport), so off we went to hang out with them for just one night! We arrived in time for a late dinner at the Wicked Spoon buffet in the Cosmopolitan, closed down the strip, and spent the entire next day lounging by the pool before heading back home around 10pm. It was an amazing trip, spontaneous and fun, and so good to see our friends.

Oakland airport catching our flight - this is the only photo I have - as we all know, what happens in Vegas!
@Oakland airport catching our flight – this is the only photo I have – as everyone knows, what happens in Vegas…!

Laguna Seca Racetrack during Monterey Car Week

For Nick’s birthday, I got him tickets to a race at Laguna Seca (a famous racetrack) – but this was a very special race of ONLY vintage cars. Cars from as early as the 1930’s took a spin around the track and it was very fun and cool to watch! Nick also hadn’t heard about Monterey car week until I told him about it and was very excited to spend a couple of days in Monterey checking out all of the amazing cars. A few of his favourites:

A Lincoln concept car - the only one in existence.
A Lincoln concept car – the only one in existence.
The original Shelby Cobra (cue Nick drooling)
The original Shelby Cobra (cue Nick drooling)
An Anteros Corvette
An Anteros Corvette
The original Lamborghini - when it launched in 1966, it was the fastest car in the world.
The original Lamborghini – when it launched in 1966, it was the fastest car in the world.
Lots of old cars.
Lots of old cars.
The theme this year was Corvette - here are two beauties.
The theme this year was Corvette – here are two beauties.

Two Birthdays!

Nick turned 32 and I turned 29 (for the FIRST time!). We always have a lot of fun with birthdays and this year was no exception! Nick had really wanted to go camping for his birthday, but by the time I got my act together to reserve a campsite, they were all booked up (who am I kidding, I needed to get my act together back in February to book a campsite for August), so instead I kicked Nick out of the house for a few hours and put up our tent in the backyard for a little back-yard camping! We even made hot dogs and s’mores on the barbecue.

And then, I felt really special when it was my turn – Nick made an amazing chocolate cake from scratch, as well as Julia Child’s beef bourguignon (beef bourg was the first thing I cooked for him – although my method is the slow cooker lazy chef method, definitely not the all-out Julia Child method!). A friend sent me a beautiful, fragrant bouquet of flowers; and my coworkers took me out for drinks! Not to mention all the sweet messages from friends and family throughout the day. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day. Nick also got me a negatives scanner, so expect to see some old film photos popping up on the blog in the next couple months!

the cake!
the cake!
So many candles!
So many candles!
balloons!
balloons!
flowers!
flowers!

Upcoming adventures: Camping & hiking in Yosemite (again), Depeche Mode concert in Mountain View, and a Canadian Thanksgiving!