Italian night

For months some of the girls at work and I have been talking about getting together more often as a morale boost and a chance to get to know each other. Awhile ago, we all went out and saw Sex and the City together (free of charge thanks to my love!). Last night, Lisa hosted an Italian themed dinner. We had an Italian salad, smoked mozarella fonduta, pasta, lots of cheeses, red wine and a lot of laughter. We all decided to make something and bring it over. I made the smoked mozarella fonduta. True to my nature, I messed up the recipe a little bit and forgot one of the cheeses, but it still tasted delicious. There was also tomato/caper/other topped pasta, wine, salad and homemade tiramisu (soooo good).

Since I've not really had "girlfriends" since high school, I really didn't know what to expect from a group of 5 girls sitting around a coffee table, drinking wine. Little did I know, I was in for a fun night. We all come from such different places. There was Susan who tried to convince us she is from the ghetto of Durham, complete with only knowing how to "butt and grind" and being related to someone who got held up at gunpoint at the local grocery store. Then quiet Nora who dropped in a quick story every now and then, but seemed more content to sip her wine and laugh at the rest of us making fools of ourselves. Maggie the Polock put in her 2 cents with her bilingual abilities. And finally (but not the least), Lisa, our hostess. She always had a funny story up her sleeve - usually something about an awkward situation we can all relate to and how she elegantly (or embarassingly) maneuvered her way out of it.

It was definitely a fun evening. I had more cheese than I care to admit to eating, but it was worth it. Lisa's house was so lovely. It makes me wonder when I'll become a real adult, married with a nice house to nest in. I still feel like a college kid, renting and not knowing where I'll be for anything past the next year. But she had all these coordinated decorations and matching furniture; luxuries which I have yet to experience. I hope we do it again sometime soon, especially before Ryan and I move.

the best laid plans...

Way, way, way back in January I made a few goals, some of which have actually been achieved. I have lost 16 pounds and counting. I took the GRE (gasp!) and did shockingly better than I thought I would (1180). Ryan and I finally decided to stop waiting on Privateer Press and moved on with our lives. We scoped out places to live in Orlando, after he finally decided on a theater to work out and picked an area that would be ideal for us to live. Then, I applied for UCF Graduate School to become a teacher, was accepted and registered for classes.

After months and months of agonizing and searching, complaining and despairing, it all seems to be coming together. Then we had to hit the breaks on our newly laid plans, to wait for one glitch. After July 11, we'll have a better idea of what will really come to fruition. I will not complain or despair this time. I'm getting really good at waiting, it's not any fun though.