My Year of Meaningful (2011)

So yesterday was the first day back at work after being away for a lovely 5 days. That is always hard. I've always hated coming back to reality. Hell I even hate coming back to the office on a monday after only a normal weekend!

Anyway, yesterday was the Mr's big 3-0 (see post below), as well as being exactly 7 years since the day I summitted Mt. Kilimanjaro. DeW, whom I did it with, always sends me a sort of "happy anniversary" message, which always ends up making me remember that I did it. I do forget I did it. Sometimes I don't even remember what month I did it. I don't know if that's because overall it was pretty miserable of an experience, or if it's because I do these random acts of memory-purging and at that point in my life I was in a bit of a weird place (read: dating a dickhead who would soon officially make me more miserable than I have ever been in my life) and therefore my memories of Kili accidentally got wiped when I created that memory black spot for myself. Either way, in hindsight of course I'm glad I did it so I need to make more of an effort to at least be able to remember that summit day was on my husband's birthday!

Yeah right so anyway we had a great time down in Jozi/Durban with everyone. The Mr. put photos on The Other Blog so I won't bother. The highlight was probably running on the beach and body surfing in the huge waves (something we never did once in Ireland) and of course eating delicious food (we tried this fish called a Dorado and it is MAGIC - I only just found out now that's another name for mahi-mahi). The lowlight (?) was probably the post-holiday depression that always hits me on the drive home as per the 1st paragraph.

OK so I had a very weird experience in Joburg on our last night (the "going out big for the Mr's birthday") with J (or as Beth would say, GBJ). One which I can only describe as a "Will and Grace" moment. It's touchy because I can never be sure who reads this or who may read it in the future so I won't get into the nitty gritty, but I found myself in that episode where Will's boyfriend brings his hag over to meet Will for the first time.... (and naturally I was guest star Kristin Davis who played the role of "Vince's Grace"). So plot line may have not been entirely parallel with my experience but that is definitely what popped into my head during that ever so surreal evening with.... nevermind.

But anyway J., Alan, the Mr., and I all had a wicked good night out on the town (after we got rid of someone) and that deserves some photos.

This one's called: "Spot the 2 heterosexuals in the room"

This is the Mr. and I at Ratz bar after many a gin.

During the night it was my mission to prove to Alan that you can indeed have WAY more fun as a non-drinker once you realize there is more to N/A drinks than just coke. So all night I ordered him fun N/A drinks and he eventually had to agree with me. His favourite one ended up being cranberry and red bull. EXCEPT FOR the fact that they served it to him in "some stupid big gay glass". And J. didn't even order it for him! But I think bartenders just assume anyone ordering anything made with cranberry must be a girl, and therefore are given a big gay bell-shaped glass. (?!?!?)

Ooh yes and I REALLY enjoy having an enterogue. Now I am going to miss having Alan around in Gabz because it was so much fun to walk around town with 2 hot white guys and all the local girls with their mouths a-gape, wondering which one I was with, so they could decide who to try and throw themselves at.

(see the big stupid gay glass?)