Moving on...
Anniversary!
As I mentioned previously, our anniversary was last week. Matt used his "connections" (his wd hostess called Atera's hostess) to get us much-coveted reservations at a really cool restaurant in Tribeca. The atmosphere was pretty awesome and relaxed, but sophisticated, and we looked really snazzy all dressed up. The entire experience was great—definitely one of the more impressive fine-dining experiences we've had (though... nothing has topped Alinea thus far!) and we'd definitely want to go back if the menu changed. The food was phenomenal; I didn't dislike a single thing I tasted. And the wine pairings (and beer and sake!) were perfect. And the music... so reminiscent of my childhood! I kept flashing back to Saturdays at my family's old apartment, music blasting as we cleaned house. Not bad memories at all.
Twenty courses, fourteen glasses of booze, and a really great night. Some of my favorite dishes included (I don't have the menus near me; Matt's keeping them safe for framing) the following:
Squab! (First time I've had it; it was delicious.)
The charcoal-ish looking thing is a beet. And I think that was asparagus and salmon roe.
I don't remember what was inside this, but those green parts are lettuce-flavored ice chips.
Inside: bone marrow, Outside: heart of palm, Everything: DELICIOUS.
Hard-boiled quail eggs. I typically hate hard-boiled eggs, but these were phenomenal. Not my first time for quail.
This was the best dish of the night. That looks like, and tasted like, and smelled like smoked ham... but it's fish. Salmon or tuna. I think salmon, though. It was fantastic. And the little plastic-looking thing on top brought the salty, seafood flavor.
One of the desserts. Loved it. So yummy.
I think the best part of it all was knowing that Matt pulled it all together himself. I shouldn't, after eight years, be singing his praises re: his ability to make plans. But this was truly a big deal for us. We've really grown as a couple this past year, and I think his effort this anniversary really showed that. Other than dinner, we kept it pretty simple: just exchanged cards. He was really sweet the next day, too, when I stayed home from work with a really bad headache...
Luckily, by dinner time, the headache went away and he again pulled some strings and we went to his boss's new restaurant, Alder. And we ate about 85% of the menu, paid for half of it, and were treated really well. They've only been open a few weeks, but everything was really low-key and the food was delicious. It was the first full day we'd spent together since New Years (a day we barely spent together because we were both horribly hung over), so even though most of the day part was spent in bed with a headache, it was still one of the best sick days I could ask for.
Visitors
Our apartment will be a revolving door for a few people from NEPA the next few weeks. My sister visited this past weekend; we walked in Central Park, shopped at Bloomingdales, snacked at Shake Shack, and ordered delivery cupcakes, sipped wine, and watched Pretty Woman. Nothing too crazy; satisfying. First time she's come to NYC alone—and she survived!
Tomorrow, Matt gets his first visitor since he moved out here (minus one or two day trips from his parents). Chili will be staying with us Wednesday and Thursday, then I'm going home to W-B Friday through Sunday to see my parents and grandparents (and Amy!), and then Stan shows up the following Wednesday and Thursday. It'll be difficult to keep our apartment in one piece (rather than 40,000 little piles), but we've done the mad-rush-Tuesday-night clean in the past and we'll probably do it tonight and next week, as well. Luckily, we don't live like total animals (or college males) so it's never too much cleaning. We're just... not completely unpacked yet. Damn my obsession with lotions, body sprays, and candles... =X
I think we have a lot of eating out planned for these next two weeks (Matt wants to show off his favorite stops), so I think we'll be in and out of restaurants and bars... and perhaps even Yankee Stadium, if time and weather permits. Should be an interesting and exhausting couple of weeks.
The gym!
Sales conference totally kicked my butt a few weeks ago. (I stress ate like whoa.) But now things are slowly getting back to normal. In addition to trying to diet (... again ...), I also started training for a 5k! Not that I will ever participate in one, but I think learning to run the right way and adding running to my elliptical sessions and weight lifting will hopefully get me some of the results I'm looking for. Plus, it'd be really cool to run in the park with Matt on his nights off. He can go for a while; I can barely run more than a minute and a half right now. But! I can do that minute and a half every other minute without crumpling over and dying so... progress!
We'll see how long this lasts. I downloaded an app for it, have been consulting Michele (who is running her first 5k on Sunday!!), and need to dedicate three days a week if I want to stay on track. I'm fully expecting a few set backs, especially with all these visitors and work and what not, but it'll be cool if I actually see some progress in the coming weeks. My main goal is to be able to run around the reservoir in the park with Matt without stopping. That's a bit over 2 miles, which is less than a 5k, so if I can do that, then I'll be happy. Wish me luck!
Love!
He's so handsome. <3
