Date Night in State College, PA

In September of 2008, we had our first date at Mad Mex in State College.  It was really good.  We had wings, guacamole, margaritas, etc.

Each time we come home to visit, we usually try to stop there because they do have some of the best margaritas.  Had, anyway.

We went there the other day and the margarita was kind of sour (more than it's supposed to be) and there were fruit flies around.  

The guacamole was bland, the slices of avocado were brownish, cucumbers were old, the steak was undercooked and tasted old too.  That was just my food.  Scott's rice and beans had clearly been under the heat lamp all day.  

Maybe I've just gotten better at Mexican food at home?  Maybe I've set the bar too high?  Maybe…Mad Mex is just really really really bad now.  

Anyway, we won't be going back.  What a waste.

Then we tried to go to Dunkin Donuts.  It was closed at 8pm.  

I said, "Let's go to Target, kill time before the movie, and get Starbucks."  Because every Target in the history of the modern world has a Starbucks and a set-up that is just designed to suck you in and empty your wallet.  Not this one.  It was the old Target set-up (circa 2001) with a snack bar instead of a Starbucks.  For shame, State College, for shame.

Do you remember these old Targets?  I barely do.

We walked next door to the "nice" grocery store because in my (apparently delusional) world nice grocery stores have coffee shops.  It didn't.

We went to Sheetz for our coffee.  It was awful.  First of all, we used the made-to-order "espresso" bar and it took longer than a 7:30am stop at the Starbucks drive-thru.  Scott's cup was half-full and not what he ordered.  My non-fat caramel latte tasted like bitter sugar water.

Onto the movie theater… we went to see American Hustle.  As soon as we sat down in the empty theater, two guys came in and sat right in front of me.  We moved.  The movie theater screen was showing commercials without actually showing them (just sound), so we figured the next logical step would be for the movie to malfunction and we wouldn't get to see it after all.  

It did function, however, and we were treated to American Hustle.  Good movie, but long movie.  I was getting completely irritated by the end because I was so uncomfortable.  Anyway..it was okay.  I didn't love it but I didn't hate it.  I liked Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence together in movie again (she'll get a nomination of some sort, I'm sure), but Amy Adams was kind of annoying.  Silver Linings Playbook was much better when we saw it last year.  

I usually make it a point to see all the Best Picture nominees and I'm sure this will be in the running.

See any good movies lately?  We used to go to the movies once a week in Alaska.  Now the theater in our town is less than desirable…We've only been once and that was to see Catching Fire.  

Photos & Explanations

I never understood how people had SO many pictures stored up on their phones.  A thousand photos on your iPhone?  Really?  Why you not delete unnecessary ones?

Well, now I see.  I had 1,200 pictures on my old phone.  I already have 230+ pictures on my new phone.  90% of them are of my dog.  But that's okay.  I've realized that if I constantly have a camera with me, I should be using it.  Why not, right?

So I'm sharing some of these recent pictures with you…not everything makes it onto Instagram, after all.

I don't even have the words to describe the journey from Missouri to Pennsylvania.  Google Maps says 13 hours.  It took us 18.  We, I swear, did not stop for 5 hours so I'm not sure how it adds up to 18.  I think the space/time continuum just gets screwed up in the land of Ohio. That's a logical explanation.

It was rough on all involved.

The dog now has depression.

My friend got us this picture of Scout.  It captures his personality so well.

(This picture was taken pre-trip-through-Ohio.  NOW he has depression.)

The ceramic tree jackpot at an antique store. 

Let me be clear:  I do not lose things.  Ever.  It's not my M.O.  It's Scott's.  But sometime Sunday night, I lost my phone charger.  I still have no idea where it is and it's driving me nuts.  Scott kept saying, "Did you check between/under the seats in the truck?" and I kept saying, "YES.  I DON'T LOSE THINGS.  YOU KNOW I DON'T LOSE THINGS."  And he kept saying, "Yes, I know you don't lose things".  

I had to make a 60 mile round trip for a new one.  

--------------------------------------------------

What'd you get for Christmas?

I'll share my goodies later on… Taking pictures now would mean getting up off the couch…

PA Pictures..kind of

I'd love to be one of those bloggers who takes 94 pictures over the weekend and has them watermarked, edited, and posted by Sunday evening in storybook fashion.  Those posts are always interesting to read because I know it's something I could never do.  

This is what I've got for you today:

Me, driving down the turnpike from Pittsburgh to Carlisle.  No makeup and unshowered.

I guess we don't visit enough.

She didn't hold onto my leg like that.

What that dress was supposed to look like, minus the leggings and boots.

Scott "accidentally" got gum in my hair.  He said he'd pick it out.  I saved him the trouble by taking the scissors out of the first aid kit, while we were driving down the road, and cutting it out.  I wasn't happy.

Also, that's the lid selection at a convenience store in St. Louis.  Mesmerizing, right? 

I bought Scott an Alaska air freshener.  I'm thought he'd appreciate that.

Also, it's rained 80% of our time in PA.  Go figure, right?  Yesterday, it was spitting some snow flurries.  Which is why...I had to wear my workout leggings.  I didn't pack any real pants.  I thought it'd be warm and stuff.

Finally...I had a blate!  Well, kind of.  Becky and I knew each other before I started blogging (she's blogged longer than me), but that's how we keep in touch now.  So let's call it a blate.

One more thing that's checked off the blogging to-do list! Thanks Becky!