A big juicy steak

So, for those of you who are unaware, I'm trying to become more vegetarian. I'm not striving for 100% meatless, because that is just ridiculous, but I am trying to be more conscientious about my decisions - incl. eating more locally grown food, limiting my intake of corn fed meat...etc... So, because of my revised outlook on food, I have not eaten steak in months and months and months. Last night, Brad and I went to Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Boston. We'd eaten at the Michigan location, but we had never been to the Boston one. Needless to say, the Boston one runs circles around the Michigan one. The restaurant is housed in Boston's old City Hall building; the vibe is reminiscent of Rita Moreno meets John Edwards. Looking at the menu, I saw so many tantalizing dishes but immediately veered my attention to the vegetarian section. I scanned the veges - all looked great - then scanned the rest of the menu and couldn't pull my gaze away from the big juicy steak dish that, I swear, was typed in a larger font than the rest of the menu. So, of course, I threw caution to the wind and ordered myself the filet. It was INCREDIBLE. I had forgotten how magical steak tastes. Yum. Preceded by a light salad and gin martini, accompanied by some mushrooms, potatoes, and a bold red wine, and followed by a cappuccino and chocolate something or other, the steak dinner was indescribable. I called Jim & Carol on the way home from the restaurant and thanked them for the gift certificate birthday gift that instigated and supported this fantastic dinner.

We topped off an elegant dinner with 1.5 hours of Will Farrell's Semi-Pro, a movie celebrating mediocrity like it is the most desirable human trait.

And, thank you for pointing it out Luke...my birthday flowers were not just from my momma, they were also from Luke, Brian, Jenny, Mark, and the cats. Sorry for misleading anyone:-)

Grandad, I'm happy to read that you keep track of our lives via the blog! The internet is amazing, eh? We're going to Hawaii in a few weeks to relive the glory days of St. Thomas!

Laura's eudemonic experience

I took care of three children last weekend so their parents could attend a wedding in New York. I would have watched these children free of charge, they're great kids and I'm close with their parents... but their parents insisted on paying me! Here are pictures from their kickin' pad.

I'm enjoying my morning coffee and newspaper on their deck!





Below is a restaurant where Brad and I have eaten a few times! Good seafood!

Almost done...

So, I'm almost finished catching you all up with the past two week's happenings. Lets see...I went out to dinner with some friends last Wednesday to a great little tapas place: Taberna de Haro (www.tabernaboston.com)and we sat and gabbed and ate delicious Spanish food and drank Sangria for a couple of hours. Then, the following day, I went out with a different group of friends to Cuchi Cuchi (www.cuchicuchi.cc), which is rapidly becoming one of my favorite hot spots. Hmmm... Brad and I spent Friday night on Bruce and Christy's Cambridge deck eating veges and drinking margaritas (I only had 1, Brad, Bruce, and Christy, however, drank enough for the 4 of us:-)). This morning, I met a friend for coffee and pedicures before meeting up with Sloan and Katie for bag shopping and lunch. Brad finished work for the year on Friday (well, work as he typically knows it), but he is attending a couple of workshops this summer about which he is really excited. Here is a picture of Brad at the end of a long day.

The birthday celebration continues...

Not only did I have a birthday dinner and celebration on my actual birthday, plus a birthday celebration the Saturday following my birthday, I had a plethora of cards from around the world and the most beautiful flowers you'll ever see from my mom.


My friend, Tanyika, and I share the same birthday so we treated ourselves to a nice outdoor dinner at the Beacon Street Tavern the Monday following our birthdays. Today, Sloan and Katie accompanied me into town where Sloan treated me to a fantastic birthday surprise: we went to 1154 Lill Studio (www.1154lill.com), a place in town where people can make their own bags! Incredible. I made a fantastic piece that will be available in a couple of weeks to pick up.

Not just another Saturday in Boston!

On this specific Saturday, we hit up the rose garden, visited the local art festival, had dinner at an incredible restaurant in the South End, a trendy neighborhood of Boston, and watched the play "The History Boys". For my birthday, Brad planned the dinner and play and, as usual, he outdid himself! The restaurant where we ate has been a neighborhood fixture for a couple of decades. Back in the 1980s, when the South End was not the thriving, trendy place it is today, the restaurant employees would escort patrons from their cars into the restaurants due to the dangerous streets. After a fantastic meal of crab and artichoke (and lots of wine), we leisurely strolled the streets until the play began. The play was an incredible literary piece on grammar school goings-on in England.

Stopping to smell the roses...

This is one of my favorite neighborhood spots...especially in early June. Every day, when we're smelling the roses or having a coffee on the park bench, I wish my mom could be here - she would LOVE the rose garden!

June 5th recap!

Busy busy busy! Always the excuse...always the truth. Fact is, I've had an incredible 2 weeks...filled with friends, school, work, fun, good food, creativity, happiness... On my birthday, I didn't get home from school until about 9. Brad greeted me at the door with a glass of wine, dinner, a homemade cake, flowers, and pressies!!!!

TODAY IS...

...MY BIRTHDAY!