Day 191

This blog entry is being typed as I sit in an empty Sushi restaurant in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. My first stop in a hectic week of work. I hope all of you J’s out there repented last night and were fasting all day today. Leah and my mom went to temple last night while Casey and I stayed home and entertained two of the Kaufman girls, Lindsay and Allison who were in town for a funeral. It was great as always to see them. Allison and I had one of usual engrossing deep conversations that we always seem to have had over the years. What is funny about me and AK is that over the years, she and I have explored each other’s crazy lives at length. We have literally covered every topic under the sun. The semester I was at home, AK and Ags were my two best friends. One was 17 and in high school, the other 26 and in grad school. We logged a lot of hours burning and talking on the back porch. While AK was like my little sister, she was (and still is) more mature than I was and had such a great perspective on things; and that is what I needed the most when I was struggling to figure out where my life was going. It was great seeing both of them last night at the house.

Leah and I had a great weekend. Friday night we went to Boulevard Blue near Shaker Square with our friends Aimee and Steve, followed by a trip to Mitchell’s Ice Cream for desert. That place is solid. Saturday morning, we took the short two hour trek to Pittsburgh. My friends Doug and Andrea, from the burgh and now in Atlanta; and Greg and Genna, also from the burgh, now living in Chicago, have had children recently that we have never met. Our friends Brian and Jamie were in Pittsburgh for the holiday as well, so this was a natural time to go and see all of them. The shame of it was that Jeremy and Amy. Who planned the trip to begin with, couldn’t make it at the last minute as Jer’s grandmother Rose passed away in Atlanta. So we went up, had a late long lunch and walked around those Italian street fair where I proceeded to bury and chocolate covered funnel cake in the rain (how solid is that?). After walking down Walnut Street in the burgh, which felt like being on Southport in Chicago, we had coffee with Jamie and Brian as the kids had to take their naps. Around 6, we checked into our hotel, took a little nap, and then headed out to a late dinner at this Pan-Asian spot called Soba. It was excellent. Got up the next morning, had brunch at Pamela’s on Walnut, and headed back to c-town. It was the perfect little jaunt. Good food, good friends, cute kids. I’ll say this, it was definitely good to see new parents in action so I can see what I am about to have going on in my life. My friend Jodi, who now lives in the DC area, stopped by on Sunday with her little girl Jordyn. She is adorable and looks exactly like her father. What is funny is that Jodi grew up on my street and her parent still live there. She couldn't get over the fact that we were home owners in Orangewood. I still can't believe it either.

Speaking of food, I saw this feature on the Philadelphia Eagles defensive line eating cheese steaks at Pat's King of Steaks. Anyone who has been to Philly knows which is the best place for a cheese steak. Its Pat’s, bar none. Pat’s and Gino’s are right next to each other in the city and I am proud to say that I have buried one from each place in the same sitting. Gino’s did not even compare. The bread fell apart, the steak was rough. My boy Gregg, my personal zagat when it comes to food all over this country, is a Pat’s guy. Doug, a Penn grad – also a Pat’s guy; Justin, my brother in law, Penn grad, and one of the smartest people you will ever meet, knows Pat’s is the whup. And that famous slob fat man, Brad Migdal, loves him some Pat’s.

My in laws, well essentially Stacey, have purchased a a new dog, about a year after they had to put down their cocker spaniel Cleo. She is a Cavishon (the picture name is Madonna), which is half Casey and half Bichon. The struggle now is what to name her. The names have been narrowed down to a few – Maddy and Bailey among them. But they are in need of a consensus pick that everyone likes. Leave any suggestions in the comments section.

I have been known to watch too much TV, and adding on to that is now the addition of the soap opera network on our digital cable. Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but at 2 PM every day, my alltime favorite drama, Dallas, is on. They are in a great run of them too. Cliff Barnes just found Kristen floating face down in the Southfork Pool, Sue Ellen just found out Dusty is still alive, and Jock and Miss Ellie have been fighting over the Takopa development project. I Tivo it every day. So good.

Like I said earlier, I am in Canada right now. I am here for a trade show tomorrow. I go from here to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a VIP awards dinner at one of our clients, followed by a two day food show. I arrive back home Thursday and Friday is the big day – our 20 week appointment and the day we find out the sex of our baby. I am taking a straw poll here. Now I know you readers out there don’t like to leave comments (except MD and P), but lets have some fun here. You don’t have to leave your name, but leave your vote in the comments section - boy or girl. People ask us all the time if we have a feeling either way. I know its a girl. In honor of all of this kid talk today, I have posted a picture that MD sent me of my niece Reese. How cute is she?

Lastly, Mom went to the Oncologist today and everything looks good. No need to check in for another six months. I am ecstatic to report this great news.

Song of the Day: “Officer” by The Pharcyde