Now Instant Reaction

Check this out...a new feature of the blog...at the bottom of each post, you can now either continue to make comments (me love me some comments) or just select one of the instant reactions (currently 'too funny', 'cool' and 'whatever' but that might change)...it's just another way to let me know what you like about the posts.

So come on and try it!

Trick or Treat

Halloween 2008.....

Trick: I was tricked (not really but makes for a good story) into dressing up as semi-indecent Dorothy from Wizard of Oz for a friend's Halloween Party while Jen dressed in a matching Little Red Riding Hood getup. Ended up looking better than I thought...and had a blast with Jen making comments about all the other costumes parading around and the late night Denny's run after the party.Speaking of other costumes, some high/low lights...Crate & Barrel, Gladiator (host with the most), Save the Boob and Mr. Penis (don't ask...just know he was very anatomically correct, but probably very politically incorrect!).

Also here's a couple of pics from my work Halloween TGIF...Mr. Clean, Mulan, Mother Teresa, Napolean Dynamite and Genuine Ken Dolls!

Treat: Before Jen & I went to the Adult Party, we took her kids around Coronado for some kid-friendly trick or treating. PowerRanger (Dylan), Lightning MacQueen (Nathan) and Bumblebee (Wyatt) were hits and had a ball. It's amazing how one square block seems like miles for a kid...we got out cheap this year!

Hope your Halloween was just as fun. I'd love to see pictures!

Ah the Spa!

Yesterday, my two gal pals, Jen and Becs, and I met up for our October GNO: An evening at the Spa then dinner. Here's us pre-treatments (visions in white...we know!)

All of us having been running ourselves in overdrive lately so the Spa was a natural choice. No, sing alongs or bull riding here...just serenity now! Plus, we gave Becs a giftcard to the Spa for her birthday and didn't think she should have to go by herself, so being the best friends we are, sacrificed and treated ourselves to a couple of treatments as well. Look at all the pampered little piggies (I'm referring to Becs' fingers & Jen's toes that is...pigging out comes later read on!)

It was heavenly and blissful, and all of us agreed that for a day spa, probably the best we have been. (If you get a chance check out Coldcreek Day Spa in Otay Ranch...though their front desk lady needs to attend a customer speedy service seminar...the treatments were worth it!)

Oh yeah almost forgot: Dinner. After our 3 hour blissfest, we were starving (hey, being pampered is hard work), so we headed over to Macaroni Grill (high class...again, we know!) and proceeded to take down our pasta dishes like no one's business. We shared food, wine and laughter and had another great GNO evening.

Thanks ladies...can't wait until next month's adventure....LOVE YOU GIRLS!

Look At Those Fangs!

My friends, Mike & Stacy, and their little one, Corrine, were over at my house for dinner a couple weeks ago to resume an almost lost Monthly Dinner routine.

The whole reason we started the tradition of well over 2 years is for the very fact if we don't have a standing 'date' we don't see each other except at birthday parties. We're kinda lame like that (well I'm kinda lame like that...I need spontaneous structure!)

Well, we slipped in the month of September, with a combination of Triathlons, and studying for GeoPhysist tests (that would be Mike not me!) and life in the general fast lane, and almost lost traction this month too, but pulled it out in the nick of time.

Here's us muggin for the camera...notice the impeccable camera up the nose shot I took...hey it's hard to get four peeps in the same frame!

In the course of dinner conversation I discovered a little known fact about Corrine, the little girl is a vampire in training...think Kirsten Dunskt in Interview with A Vampire. Check out Corrine's little fangs...one...mwha ha ha...two...mwha ha ha....she's just so fang (I mean dang) adorable!

And just for good measure...another portrait of the happy Quesada family (how photogenic can one family be? I think I'm going to start charging for the monthly sittings!).

Friend SnipIt

My long lost (well not so much lost as hadn't been in contact with in a few years) friend, Jill, has moved back into town after 13 years of nomadic military and beyond life across the United States. Have to say I'm so glad to have her back in my life. Since she's been back we've managed to get together for a couple dinners....here's what happens when you haven't seen a good friend in a while:

Nuff Said!

Chocolate Covered Bacon

During my trip to (hint..Dylan and Nathan know):

Yes, Santa Cruz in September for my latest Triathlon Adventure (sidebar: finished 10 minutes faster than last year and with a smile on my face...whoot whoot...more on that later), me, Jen (my BFF), her three kids and her mom hung out at the boardwalk. So much fun. Here are some of the highlights from the day:

Rides: We had a blast watching the kids go on ride after ride after ride.

As a matter of fact, Dylan had so much fun he went on the same airplane ride 7, yes count them 7, times!

Nathan really enjoyed the Pepsi Big Rig Ride and the RollerCoaster.Even little Wyatt got in on the action...check him out on his first unassisted ride. Doesn't he have the 'I'm not quite sure I'm diggin' this yet' look on his face? Here's all of them cruizin! Hey, wait...look at me..over here...with the camera..awh nevermind!

Food: After all our riding adventure we had lunch.

Check us out cheesin' for the camera.

And check Jen and I out tasting some Chocolate Covered Bacon (we both heard about it on the DSC and just had to try it for ourselves). Have to say, kinda tasty...I only wish we had saved a piece for our friend Mike 'cause he loves himself anything with bacon!

Oh yeah and later that night we ate again (I know...oink!) at a fabulous (not) Chinese/Thai/? restaurant with Jen's Aunt/Uncle. What a motely but awesome crew!

And finally....here's some feel good pics from the weekend.

As you can tell I had a great time....though we won't be seeing Santa Cruz next year...we'll be back in 2010!

Dinner at the Shanks

Last week, my co-worker Janet and I stopped by our other co-worker's, Crista, house to have dinner.....Oh and see their newest addition....HALEY ADELLE! Janet brought yummy Thai from a place in PB and we proceeded to pork out in between cooing at little Haley (so cute!).

Here's a couple pics of Haley (and her proud parents) in her happy and not so happy moments:

After dinner Janet and Crista gave Haley a bath....she loved it! Just look at how calm she is.

Had a great time, can't wait to see Haley, Crista and Bruce again...and can't wait until Crista is back from Maternity Leave! We miss you at work (though Janet is doing a great job keeping the troops entertained in your absence)!

Another great dinner visit with another great family, how lucky am i? BTW, are you noticing my pattern of visiting my friends with kids during dinner time so I get double the treat...babies and food...coincidence? hmmmm