I actually got to sleep through the night last night – thanks to the fact that Conrad never woke me. I’m hoping it never happens again, but – hey – you never know!
The woman who’s been training me was back from vacation. Unfortunately, she got a terrible earache and flew back last night, making it even worse. She came in today, but the whole side of her face was swollen and she left before 9:00am to go to a doctor’s appointment and never came back. I’m not sure she’ll even be in tomorrow.
It’s a shame, because we left to many things to do when she got back, and now she may not be back for the rest of the week. I feel so bad for her, because she has one of those jobs that a lot builds up while you’re gone and you almost regret going on vacation, because you’re so overwhelmed when you get back!
I got a text from my friend, Kris, this morning. She and another friend, Suzanna, arrived in San Diego yesterday with Kris’ sister-in-law, Stephanie. The three of them are on a vacation here for the week. I have been SO excited because I haven’t seen them in a year. They said they were going to play it by ear and would contact me when they could get together for dinner and tonight’s the night! I just texted back one word: Wheeeeeeeeee!
I didn’t have much to do all morning, so I worked on a filing project. I’ve been helping someone in another group (one which I’ve worked closely with for the past 7 months), so even though I don’t really work with her, I saw her moving files around and offered to help. I’ve really gotten a lot done for her, and she’s so appreciative. She’s been telling everyone in the office. Even the girls in HR heard about it and told me I’m such a “team player.” The truth is, I just like to keep busy!
At noon I went downstairs to HR. They’re posting a lot of new jobs, which makes me busier than ever. I love this kind of busy, because there aren’t deadlines, so it’s not stressful, it’s just that I always have something to do. I’ve been working through lunch since I started there, because I have nothing else to do. Today they told me that it’s the law that I have to take at least ½ hour for lunch, so they said to bring a book. Fortunately, Eric went to the library today and brought back another Dick Francis novel for me – SHATTERED. So, I’ll bring it tomorrow and make sure they all see me reading!
This afternoon Kris called and we made plans for me to pick the girls up in Pacific Beach and I’ll drive them to La Jolla where we have reservations at the CRAB CATCHER Restaurant and Seaside Grill, which is right on the water and has fabulous seafood. I arranged for a table by the window, so we could look out over the water.
When I got home, I changed into the same dress I wore to see SPRING AWAKENING with Ilene on Saturday night. It’s dressy, yet comfy, and I’m adding lots of jewelry, because I know these girls will be dripping with vintage. That’s what we all have in common – a love for anything vintage. Kris and Suzanna were regular customers in my shop, and loved to buy purses, jewelry, and accessories for their homes. That’s how I met them, and how we all became friends. I’m also good friends with Kris’ mother and father, Dutch and Eugene, because Dutch used to come into the shop all the time also, and Eric and I used to double date with them.
Kris, Suzanna and Stephanie are all in their early 30s, so there’s quite a difference in our ages, but our love of the same things brings us together. Suzanna also designs gorgeous purses and is a talented designer and artist. Kris is an English teacher at a middle school and Stephanie teaches elementary school. They’re all fun, beautiful girls.
I picked the up at their hotel (TOWER 23) in Pacific Beach, which is right on the ocean. We drove north to La Jolla and I dropped of Suzanna and Stephanie and Kris and I went to the underground parking down the block, which is only $8.00. We both commented at the exact same time that in NY it would be $40. That’s one thing about San Diego – some things are just as expensive, but some things are SO much cheaper!
The restaurant is huge with many different rooms and you have to go down several flights of stairs to reach it. When I called for a reservation, I begged for a table by the window, and he said he’d try to accommodate me. Unfortunately, when we got there, they didn’t have one available, so we sat pretty much in the middle of the room. The good news is there was a huge picture window about ten feet away, so we still had the view – we just weren’t as close as we had hoped.
We started with a Calamari appetizer – Panko crusted, deep fried, with a charred tomato horseradish sauce. I thought it was great, but the girls went crazy. They said it was the best calamari they ever had! Stephanie doesn’t eat calamari, so she got an Ahi Napoleon appetizer – Spice crusted yellow fin tuna, Asian slaw, on a crispy wonton. I got to taste some, and it was delish!
For dinner we got four choices off the menu: Suzanna got the Salmon with summer corn polenta, warm heirloom tomato fennel relish and a mustard lobster sauce. Kris got the Halibut – macadamia nut crusted with coconut sticky rice, papaya coulis and a miso honey buerre blanc. Stephanie got the Sea Bass with charred tomato basil couscous, baby bok choy and saffron garlic cream. I got the Ono with Alaskan King Crab stuffing, Peruvian purple potato and carmelized garlic hollandaise. Wow!
They were all so beautifully presented – each on a different kind of dish. Stephanie’s was spread out on a long, clear green glass dish. Mine was on a white oval dish. Suzanna’s was on a small square cobalt blue dish and Kris’ was on a different white plate.
They shared a bottle of wine and I had my usual – an unsweetened iced tea with Splenda. I don’t enjoy wine, and I was driving, so I figured it best to stick to just tea. We talked and laughed and enjoyed each other’s company. We filled each other in on everything that’s going on and there was much too much to talk about at one dinner.
For dessert Suzanna and I got Green Tea Gelato. Kris got Strawberry Sorbet and Stephanie got a crème brulee. They also got dessert liquors, and I got a decaf mocha latte.
We were so stuffed and so satisfied with the delicious meal. Then came the best part – Kris insisted on treating me! I was so thrilled. She had mentioned it when she first spoke about getting together while she was still in NY, but I really didn’t pay attention. Of course I tried to chip in, but she was adamant and said she really wanted to do this, because I was so good to her in NY (and I was!). She’s easy to be good to, because she’s such a sweet girl and she helped me SO much in the shop and always wanted to be there. How could you not fall in love with someone so wonderful? I told her she’s like the daughter I never had.
I’ve always told my nieces the same thing – and I treat them the same way – but Kris is not my niece – she’s just a girl I met who really had a positive impact on my life. I’m forever grateful for her help and her company in the last year I owned the shop. She made it much better than it would have been without her!
After dinner we took some pictures (which I will post very soon!) and then I drove them back to Pacific Beach, dropped them off and headed home. I got home at 11:00pm and just washed up and went to bed. It was too late to blog and I was really tired. It was a wonderful evening and I’m looking forward to seeing them again over the weekend!