Birthday Joys

I stocked up on all my favorite snacks and drinks yesterday. I also got something we could eat for dinner and lunch the next couple of days so I don't have to cook. Reason being, tomorrow's my birthday and I don't want to have any stressful moments. Lauren's coming into town from NY and a few of us are going out to dinner. Then on Sunday we're meeting a bunch of friends at the Renaissance Fest to hang out and be merry all day. It should be a great birthday!

Here are a few of my favorite things (sing with me):
pistachios
popcorn
cheese and crackers
chicken salad
potato salad
grapes
olives
frozen pizza (I prefer this over pizza delivery, I'm aware that it's strange. :)
black cherry ice cream

As you read in Jason's blog, I also got ingredients for a yummy new drink creation and I picked up a couple 6-packs of our favorite beers.

Special Lunch Dates

Being able to have lunch with friends during the weekdays is a great benefit to being unemployed. I've had lunch with Jason a couple of times. I had lunch with another past Renegade a couple of weeks ago, Nick. Jason has mentioned Nick in a few of his entries now, we went to a local dive and eat the best cheeseburgers with a couple of beers, great conservation and great times were had. Nick's been out of a "real" job for a while, he gets steady freelance writing gigs that keep him busy most days.

Today I'm going to meet Jason's mom, Jan, in Columbia for lunch. She's a great lady and I really can't wait. Not getting to see and talk to people during the day really makes these lunch dates that much more significant and that much more needed.