Based on my weekend, you'd never know what a massive introvert I am--well, except for the fact that I had to spend Sunday in my Fortress of Solitude to recover from all of the socialness.
I began the weekend by meeting up with a friend at a fabulous butcher shop/restaurant downtown, Ted's Butcherblock. In the first place, I find it absolutely charming that there are still dedicated butchers plying their meaty trade in this day and age. Ted's offers a vast array of meats, cheeses, gourmet raviolis, and a wide variety of spreads, wines and appetizery delights. On top of their butchery, they have a sizeable menu of sandwiches, soups, and salads, and every Friday night, they serve a delicious dinner and dessert for $12.
On Friday, we were treated to a mouth-watering Lemon Garlic pork loin served over an eggplant tapenade and goat cheese couscous, all sprinkled with delicious fresh peas. For dessert, there was a massive lemon bar--we're talking about 4-5" square--topped with a mango chili granita. I wasn't sophisticated enough to appreciate the spicy/sweet combination, so I scraped off the granita, but the lemon bar was phenomenal. They were also having a $5 wine tasting with proceeds supporting charity, so we got to taste four delicious French wines and I found a new favorite: Château de Ségriès Cotes du Rhone. We wrapped up the evening taking in a stunning performance by the Shen Wei Dance Arts who is in Charleston as a part of the world-famous Spoleto arts festival.
Saturday, I rolled out of bed and headed to a local county park to beat my all-consuming fear of heights into submission at the rock climbing wall. There was a portable climbing wall that was about 30 feet high and the 50 foot permanent wall with a wide variety of routes at various skill levels. I started out on the 50 foot wall, and made it a little less than halfway up the first time, before the sweats, nausea and dizziness set in and I had to rappel down. So, we headed over to the portable wall so I could get a little more comfortable with less height. I somehow made it to the top of that wall before closing my eyes, dropping downward and landing on the ground in a quivering pile of jelly. Then it was back over to the 50 foot wall where I made it about 3/4 of the way up before I just couldn't bring myself to go any higher. We're planning to go back next week to give it another go, and I really want to get to the top of that dang wall.
I wrapped up the day with a first birthday party for an adorable little buddy of mine, and then went to a going-away party for a couple who we first knew in Washington, and is now leaving us for greener pastures in the Northeast. We've had to say goodbye to so many people over the past couple of months, it's hard to believe that we've already been here for a year and a half, and may only have another year and a half left to go.
Sunday, I settled firmly into my little groove on the couch and became thoroughly obsessed with HBOs Game of Thrones. I also fit in a run and did a little cleaning because COLBY IS COMING HOME TODAY!!!! And I always like him to think that I keep the house spotless in his absence so that he is pressured to put his socks in the laundry bin.
Yay for Colby coming home! I'm glad there's so much to keep you occupied when he's gone but I seriously don't know how you do it. I would be a hermit-ed mess!
Posted by: Miriam | June 06, 2011 at 03:26 PM
Hurray for Colby coming home!
Also hurray for you trying out the rock climbing wall! I've only been once, but I loved it!
Posted by: Thoughts Appear | June 06, 2011 at 04:24 PM
Do you still have the picture of your back flip effort to come down the rappelling tower in AFROTC upside down? I wasn't ever quite sure if that made your fear of heights better or worse.
Posted by: Old Warrior | June 06, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Hooray for a fabulous weekend! I'm happy to hear your Colby will be home today :)
Posted by: Melissa | June 06, 2011 at 06:27 PM
Oh man, we've just started watching Game of Thrones, and it's so good! Now I've GOT to read the books! Also, I was wondering what was going on with your job of being a historical tour guide? Maybe I missed the update on it, but I wanted to know if the job panned out? Glad to hear Colby is headed home!
Posted by: Julie | June 06, 2011 at 08:45 PM
Haha, I also make it look like I keep the house spotless every time Jason is gone.
Posted by: Heidi | June 06, 2011 at 09:22 PM
So glad your trip to the rock climbing wall was successful! Let me know how the socks things works out, because it seems to me that the first thing to get messed up around here is whatever I just cleaned. Vicious cycle but somebody's got to manage it, right? ;)
Posted by: Sarah V | June 07, 2011 at 03:04 AM
I'm an introvert with moments of extroversion too, haha. YAY - so glad your hubs is coming home. Enjoy the reunion!
Posted by: Jen | June 07, 2011 at 04:27 AM