New York, New York

So, not really along the "Jill & Keith's SF" vein... but it's what went on this weekend. Well, the exciting stuff, that is. I visited my mom, several cousins and aunts in Manhattan. Around SF, there was lots of red-sauce eating (because I hate red-sauce), concerts being watched on TV(same reason) and general rebuilding-of-computer-mayhem that was all cleaned up before I came home on Sunday night. Well on his way to earning an "A+" in the "great-husband-in-training" class, isn't he?

I had a super time in New York with my family; joining my mom and I were my Aunt Oweta, cousin Bryn, Aunt Sheri and cousins Stacia and Haleigh. The big event was brunch at the American Girl Cafe. It was all I could do not to buy a doll, you should see the clothes and accessories for these dolls. It's insane. This is not your 80's Cabbage Patch doll with a precious little birth certificate. These dolls come off the shelf needing braces, music lessons, dog carriers (dog not included) and lucky owners should probably start that college fund now for little "Jess". I'm not entirely kidding, and I'm completely jealous these weren't invented when I was a 'tween.

My mom and I spent Saturday going to a play, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee", which was hilarious and I highly recommend it if you have the opportunity. After the play we hired a rickshaw to go through Central Park. It was terribly fun and relaxing.

Well, must sign off and sit down to dinner. It's white-sauce. Like I said, well on his way.

Laundry Day... BO-ring

Okay, just to let you know that we don't just hang out with the SFPD and schmooze at fancy hotels, this is where we spent a majority of our Sunday. The ever-exciting, LAUNDERLAND! 5 or 6 loads down, none to go. I am headed to San Antonio tomorrow for work, and can hardly wait. That is a huge, huge joke.

CSI: Octavia Street

We had quite a surprise waiting for us when we returned home from work last Thursday... our apartment had been broken into. I arrived home first and thought Keith was home with the door open, alas, he was not taking out the trash. Entering the apartment I noticed a random router lying on the living room floor, then realized my jewelry box was strewn across the bed. I don't think it sunk in until I ran back into the living room and realized my laptop was gone. Very frightening. Keith arrived home minutes after me and we did a quick inventory of missing items... two laptops, two digital cameras, high-def video camera, palm pilot, lots of my costume jewelry (picky little burglar left a few pieces behind) and my "favorite" item of missing possessions, a pillowcase with which to take it all away. So... SFPD was called, arrived much later and took the report. The policeman was incredibly nice. They sent the crime lab back on Friday to dust for prints. Unfortunately, no useable prints were found. The landlord changed our locks on Friday and the downstairs main gate code. All parties involved were very responsive, which was comforting. It's highly unlikely that we'll recover anything, but I see a shopping spree in our very near future (and already am tapping away on a replacement laptop). Which actually isn't so bad... I lost a 6 year old machine, which has "ta-da" turned into a nice, new, light laptop.

The whole situation was challening and frustrating, to say the least, but we are both safe and have gotten to know our neighbors better! It's also been a good lesson for us. Not to lecture, but here are some tips from Crime Central on Octavia: Always lock the deadbolt. Always save your serial numbers. Always backup your computer. Update your insurance!

Follow up to Engagement Extravaganza! (Finally)

Oh my gosh – I am such a liar! I forgot to post Engagement Party photos and someone (who shall remain nameless :) ) was just kind enough to remind me.

See, if you’d come to the party, you would have received the email link with all of the pictures… but hey, to all those family and friends that weren’t able to make it, we know, you love us and we love you too, and I just haven’t been great about updating lately. Slap. My. Hand.

The party started right on time, we love that. Who else hates sitting there after "stated-start-hour", as the host, when everyone else is trying to be fashionably late (or, okay, find a taxi)? It kinda sucks, but as a non-host, totally makes sense. We nearly burned the kitchen down with our In-N-Out Burgers, but the chef in the family should have warned me that paper wrappers would burn in chafing dishes. I'm playing dumb, sorry Mr. Keith. The wine flowed all night and we had a great time with family (Sandra, thanks again for coming!) and good friends. So, there are some fave pics at this site, I couldn't pick just one, so you'll just have to click on the link below!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanandjill/sets/72157594155824109/

And, if you are in need of matches - I really over-ordered. TheKnot.com is addictive and a strangely fun site to visit. We have about 200 books of matches with "Keith & Jill: The Perfect Match" printed on them, and well, we just really don't smoke that much anymore... or light that many candles. Sadly, I have also never been able to talk Keith into that freestanding fireplace from the Spiegel catalog. He just knows me too well. Let me know if you want me to send you some matchbooks. It's probably against some sort of rules for mail delivery, but I won't tell anyone if you won't. And they are the accessory of the season.

SLO Mini Vacation

SLO = San Luis Obispo, and a sloooowww 600 mile car trip (because we stop every 30 miles, approximately). Mini = left Saturday, returned Tuesday and we took the Mini. Vacation = well, duh, and sun, sand and good friends.

Saturday night we spent in SLO and fell in love with the cuteness of it all. Keith likened it to, "Boulder, CO, plopped on the Central Coast." On Sunday we went on a whale watching excursion from Morro Bay. No whales, and definitively THE longest boat ride of our lives. We both could not wait to be back on dry land. The sea was pretty choppy, and while we were only 5 miles out, I could have sworn we were going to be tossed over at any time. Luckily, we weren't of the few that actually got seasick. Anyway.... this photo shows our catamaran in the lower left. You can just make out the "ch..g" of Whale Watching plastered on the side.

On Sunday evening we checked into the most amazing place in Pismo Beach, Dolphin Bay Hotel & Residences. Our room was a steal, er, nothing actually... as two of our friends who formerly lived in SF, Jon & Shaw, live here because Shaw is the GM of the resort. It's an amazing place, and we already can't wait to go back.

This is the view out the front door of their 2 bedroom unit, which is just gorgeous. And a pic of us at Lido, the wonderful on-site restaurant. This place is a "must-see", so call or email me if you want to visit. Hope you had a safe and great 4th of July!