No better way to spend a rainy weekend

Steve and I just spent a wonderful weekend with friends, C and J, in Cincinnati. It was just the kind of break we needed. Even though it rained just about the entire time (it rained at home, too, so it wasn't like we were missing anything), it was a perfect weekend.

We stopped at PF Chang's on the way and enjoyed spicy green beans, which we decided we'll definitely have to try making at home. I had Mongolian beef, which was quite yummy, and Steve had lamb of some sort, which he loved. I tried it (gotta give me credit for that) but I just can't stand the texture of lamb. Or the idea of lamb. Ick. Anyway, dinner was a much needed hiatus after a long day at work and half the drive to Cincinnati. We arrived at C and J's beautiful home around 11:30 and stayed up unto the wee hours talking, laughing, and drinking wine.

The next day we managed to rouse ourselves around nine in the morning, had a delicious breakfast of sausages, eggs, toast, and fruit, and then headed out. We went first to the Krohn Conservatory and spent a while wandering around the lovely greenhouses. It almost made us feel like it was spring already. The air inside smelled sweet, and the sunlight lit up the place.

We then stayed in Mount Adams for lunch, choosing Guido's Lounge for their pizza and beer. We enjoyed the good food, good music, and good company until the sports fans and the basketball game on the big flatscreen drove us out. After lunch, we were all too wiped out to do much else. Realizing we're too old to stay up to the wee hours of the morning doing anything, and most of all drinking wine, we decided that movies and C and J's sectional couch sounded great. We rented In Her Shoes, which, as J had promised, turned out to be quite good, and deeper than most romantic comedies, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, just to find out the latter didn't work. Back to the store it went, and we watched The Machinist instead. Twisted, disturbing fun.

Sunday we slept late. And by "we" I mean "me". I can't be sure how late everyone else slept because I was the last one up. But boy did it feel good to sleep in. We skipped breakfast and went straight to lunch, as late as it was, and ate at Claddagh Irish Pub. For a while, it stopped raining, all but maybe an occasional mist, and we took a refreshing walk. After that, Steve and I headed home with soup and chilli provided by J, which we feasted on later that night (very yummy!).

Thanks, C and J for a truly enjoyable weekend! You good people!

Now it's back to the daily grind. I leave you with photos from the conservatory . . .