Birthday Weekend and Boston Marathon

First and foremost, my condolences and prayers to those affected by the tragic events at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  As a runner, it saddens me to think that some sicko would do something so depraved and disgusting as plant bombs at the finish line of a race  like that so that people's loved ones and kids who were cheering them on would be maimed or killed.  So depressing.

In happier news, I had my birthday last weekend and we were blessed with the best weather Dallas can offer and a fantastic weekend.  My birthday was on Saturday but I started it off a little early with a big sushi dinner with a friend on Thursday night.

Sushi at Shinsei

Friday was work and an afternoon gym workout with my trainer.   Then I had to take the angel dog to the vet for a check-up.  She's pushing 13 years old now and her arthritis has really been bothering her.  Some mornings it's as if she can barely get up.  Fortunately, all her blood work came back fine and she's actually in pretty good health other than the arthritis and the fact that's she's overweight due to the fact that I constantly give her table scraps and tidbits of cheese.  So, the tidbit giving is over as she's on a diet now and we are even starting to take her on short walks.  The doctor also prescribed her a joint supplement and an anti-inflammatory, both of which seem to be helping already.

Fly at the vet.  She won't look at me when I take her picture.

Friday night was a casual dinner with the hubby at The Londoner pub on Greenville Avenue where we sat on the patio, had a few Harps and some fish & chips.  Saturday I slept in and then went to meet my old law school friend and former bridesmaid at Highland Park Village for a girlie lunch and shopping.

Off for lunch and shopping.  Maybe it's just me, but I feel
seriously stupid taking these photos of myself

Janet has a twisted sense of humor like me and she gave me the most hilarious Bday card ever.  I died laughing:

Most hilarious Bday card ever!

Sat on the patio again at Bistro 31 and enjoyed a light lunch of tomato basil soup and a salad. Afterwards, we stopped into Trina Turk where I got a blouse and used the $50 off birthday gift card they sent me.  We then decided, on a whim, to pop into the brand new, super swank Christian Dior boutique they just opened. Wow.  This place was amazing.  I felt like a slob walking in there even though I was actually pretty put together that day.  The boutique is covered in mirrored walls and there are hidden doors everywhere so you felt as if you were in the boutique in Paris.  They offered us champagne while we browsed, which we readily accepted, and looked at the amazing handbags and shoes.  I ended up buying an overpriced pair of sunglasses, which I don't really need but decided to treat myself to anyway and Janet decided to go big or go home by spending her bonus check on an incredible handbag.  There are only 4 bags left in the entire country of the one/color she wanted so they are shipping it here and she and I plan to meet this Thursday for another lunch and to pick up the bag.  After this, we decided we had both spent enough and needed to go home before we did anymore damage to our bank accounts.

My insanely overpriced sunglasses

Here is the bag she bought but she got it in a bright royal blue.

My friends insanely overpriced purse...except hers is in royal blue.  I'm so jealous.

After lunch it was a few errands to the grocery store and Starbucks and then dinner at Oak Restaurant in Dallas.  Oak was as amazing as ever.  It is hands-down my favorite "special occasion" restaurant in town right now.  We recently tried the other new hot spot, FT33, and I still think Oak is better.  We split an appetizer of gnocchi with spring peas and a small caesar salad.  I had the duck breast with lentils and my husband had the steak with parsnip puree.  We shared a cheese plate for dessert.  We also had a great bottle of French red.  Sorry, I was too busy pigging out to take any pics.  Afterwards, a friend met us back at our house for a nightcap which ended up being a few too many nightcaps.  I had a bit of a hangover on Sunday morning.  ;-(

Still, I managed to get up Sunday, take the dog for a walk, plant some herbs in my planter, go grocery shopping and then sit on the patio outside and watch The Masters with the hubby as he set up our outdoor TV.  We also cooked fajitas and I made guacamole.  The weather couldn't have been better - about 80 degrees and sunny.

Alas, the Bday weekend came to a close and I am now back on my strict low carb, high protein diet and my achilles seems fine now so I am back to running.  Now, I just have to plan for Steve's bday which is the weekend after next!  Not sure what I will do but I have to think of something good....