Falling

Well, it's back to work after the flu and with a running start! 10 days in a row, exhausting, though fun.

First a stop in Rochester, NY























Church front downtown. The back was all eroded brickwork, very picturesque.

Then back to Atlanta for a dinner with Baron at OK Café! Great and much needed fun times.







Even the chicken pot pie was festive!













Then I got another Rochester trip, but it was a much longer layover so I drove over to Niagara Falls for the day! I have to admit the drive was just as much fun as the sightseeing because my rental car was a brand new 2010 Mustang with a V6 engine and iPod connection. It went fast. And had that great all-American roar to it.

















The first rule is never to name something.. so, I called her Sally appropriately (though maybe not too creatively). It was fun for the day!

















Onto the Falls!, I crossed into the Canadian side to get a better view..













American Falls















Canadian or 'Horseshoe' Falls

I think that approaching the Falls was more powerful than actually seeing it. The thundering but unseen presence is more exciting than standing before it somehow. Though, watching something so incredibly powerful is quite breath-taking!




And on a completely different subject.. Someone once asked me how I wanted to be proposed to and I spontaneously answered at the airport. Yeah, not so much. But I do wish someone would meet me at the airport one day. With flowers would be nice. It seems I delve into the attitude of whatever style of book I'm reading.. maybe I need to not read English Romanticism next.

In other news, I all out chef-ed tonight. I made a ratatouille dish, baked potatoes, black-eyed peas with greens, and biscuits with sweet tea for dinner. It was way too much and it was wonderful. I can't wait to start cooking big meals for people again! Hopefully that will be soon as I'm moving into a house with friends next week! Woo hoo!

On the mend

Emily is still sick. It's been 10 days of not-too-productive yet restful recovery, but I'm still symptomatic.. So I called out sick for yet another trip! My manager suggested I file a short-term disability claim as well. So, I'm now officially short-term disabled! Depending on what is approved, I might even get paid for the trips I missed! Here's to hopin'!

The past month has just been a roller coaster it seems. I was sitting pretty sturdily mentally/emotionally but apparently it was a small ledge, because I was kicked off without much effort. And it's all been so empty lately! And I lost interest in things around me, which in turn just made me sad that I wasn't excited about anything or anyone! I started the challenging climb back up, then, the oh-so-ominous swine flu! And it made me miss multiple engagements. (Baron, we will be going to a Beyoncé concert somewhere, sometime!) My week(s) of recovery have served me well though, because I am getting back up there! I'm so excited about getting out of the house and going on some newly planned vacation-trips that I'm feeling much more upbeat!

Another sign I'm feeling better, I'm back in the kitchen! Steak and eggs for lunch. And I made a simple yet delicious chicken casarecci pasta for the fam for dinner. I missed having all my kitchen items and spices out. :)

Whoa. I just saw an ad for Hawaiian pineapple upside-down pancakes at IHOP. Yes, please.