Lucky & Naked

Listening to Lucky Dan and Naked Mike at Schlafly's. Http://luckyandnaked.com

Post Walk

After a break (finally!) from rain, the sun came out and I was able to
take Baby on a well deserved walk!

It's been a week since we could go thus her state afterwards instantly
turned to this:

Gus - Part Deux

After 10 days of antibiotics, Gus is still a bother. Headed to the surgeon this morning hoping to get it removed but there is still a ton of inflammation. It's like there is a golf ball embedded in my back. The pain is less but the redness and swelling are still around.

The surgeon looked at it and said, yep still inflamed but we are draining it today so it will have a chance to resolve somewhat. Then in several weeks I can come back and have it completely excised!

I will not go into the procedure here, you can google it if you're interested.

All I can say is, DAMN THE ANESTHETIC HURT! I though my head was going to pop off from the burning! Also as soon as she poked the needle in there was fluid coming out. I tried not to think about it as she worked on me.

Beach, ocean sounds, seagulls flying above. Blood, Pus, Fluid, NO! Peaceful beach scenes, sand beneath my feet, salt air, ahhhhhh. Hydrogen peroxide, fizzing sounds, Wha?, NO! You get the idea. I like reading about medical conditions, I enjoy medical television (non graphic), but I AM NOT A FAN OF ACTUAL MEDICAL PROCEDURES. NO WAY NO HOW!

So, I'm hopeful this procedure gives Gus a run for his money, reduces the pain and annoyance for me, and gets Gus on the eviction track! Unfortunately (for Mr.Lacubrious) there are some "wound care" duties that he will need to help me with over the next few days. One word..."packing"..and we're not talking suitcases! Ewwwww!

Sweet Angelina's Cafe

sundayafternoon0466_NI
Originally uploaded by dehmystic

We were out on a fall foliage drive on Saturday when we ended up in Defiance. We passed by Frisella's Nursery and had, on a previous trip to Chandler Hill Winery, noticed a sign for Sweet Angelina's Cafe. We decided to stop for lunch.

What we found was a little cafe tucked into the Nursery's store. Complete with an espresso machine! Awesome! The gal who waited on us was really nice and we tried a couple of sandwiches, a 3 cheese on ciabatta, and brisket on french roll with horseradish mayo. Yum, yum, both were tasty. I didn't feel like a coffee at that point so we passed on that, but they have GIANT cookies there and some baked items too.

All in all a cute little place for a bite to eat.

Here's a link to their web page:
http://frisellanursery.com/My_Homepage_Files/Page19.html

Passing of seasons

Baby Out For Fall

Javi at Brandts Cafe

Paparazzi Wars

Apple-oatmeal-carrot-smoothie

Mmmm with cinnamon and ginger!

MALA FE "LA VACA"

When we were in Spain, a version of this song played every morning at
breakfast. We went around saying La Vaca at inopportune moments during
the whole trip! Actually 3 years later we still do!
Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H9y_qDty-Y&feature=youtube_gdata

Sent from my iPhone

Gus

I picked up a friend while on vacation. I thought the t-shirt or the beach shells a worthy souvenir but alas, Gus has decided otherwise.

Gus is painful, I think he is armed with a tiny knife.

Gus made me go to Urgicare.

Gus made me have to take antibiotics.

Gus made me make an appointment with a surgeon.

Gus will be leaving next Tuesday, I hope.

He has overstayed his welcome.

I hate Gus.

Gus is the infected cyst on my back.

Videos from the Outer Banks...

Uploaded these vids to youtube, so check them out.

Last night at the beach...

Wright Brothers Memorial

We went to the memorial today with an hour to spare before they
closed! We heard a cool talk from a park ranger about the first
motorized flight (12 seconds).

Location of first flight:

Then we picked up a couple of slices of pizza and headed here:

Day 6.5 Roanoke & Wright Brothers

Slept in AGAIN but managed to head out in the pouring rain to Dunkin Donuts for a latte and donut. I can't wait to get home for the simple reason of being easier for me to get more FIBER in my diet...OMG...I need veg and oatmeal and water on a regular basis or else.

Ahem...anyhoo we did manage to get some sightseeing in today. We headed to Roanoke Island to the aquarium which was small but nice enough and had quite a few kids visiting. It took us about an hour to see everything there then we noticed a break in the rain so we headed to the Elizabethan Gardens. It was very nice but somewhat messy (especially for DH) due to the rain/mulch/pine needle pathways.

DH and the garden

Here DH has realized how dirty he and his chair were getting from the
paths.

Sent from my iPhone

Roanoke Island / Manteo

So yesterday afternoon we drove around Manteo on the island of
Roanoke. It looks to be super quaint area with a few attractions. It
was cold and rainy and late so we didn't see too much except the
Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse.

Dognutz!

Went to this doggy paraphernalia store near Corolla yesterday. Love
the sign!

Day 5.5 - Southern Shores

So today we got a late start after needing to rest up after yesterday's monolithic drive/ferry trip. We ended yesterday at a place called Chilli Peppers after a walk on Nags Head Pier. We had a couple margaritas, some chili and chicken and black bean spring rolls. Yummy stuff but it was just enough to put us over the top for the day and we basically had to drag ourselves, semi-comatose back to the hotel...ugh..me need sleep. Once again, we left the door to the balcony open and a window thrown wide to hear the ocean only to wake up to a 55 degree room...brrrrrrrrr.

So after snoozing til 10, we managed to pull ourselves together and head out. We drove to the Southern Shores today, which is actually North of us and constitutes the towns of Duck, Ocean Beach, and Corolla.

We stopped for lunch at a place called Route 12. Mmmmm, crab bisque and salad while DH opted for the lasagne. We wandered the small shopping areas nearby, picking up some trinkets before heading out.

One of the things we've noticed are places called Drive Thru Brew...



It's a drive thru "beverage" store!

After continuing on we end up in Corolla, home of the Currituck Light House!



And an added bonus, it's open for climbing! Yeah, just in time for my legs which have barely recovered from Hatteras. So I pay $7.00 and hike on up! Check out the videos I'll be uploading in the next post.



After this we continue driving to the END OF THE ROAD...seriously, we ran out of road. Check off route 12, we drove the whole thing on OBX!

At this point it started raining, which spoiled our plans to do the jeep/mustang drive in Corolla...so we headed back and drove over to Roanoke Island...a place we plan to head back to tomorrow. We found yet another lighthouse! Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

DH catching some rays at the shore.

Day 4.5 - Ocracoke

I don't like Okra nor do I like Coke. And after all was said and done
I'm not sure the drive+ferry+drive was worth spending to see this.

We had a nice lunch at the Creekside Cafe: Island Burger & Bass Ale
for DH, Bluefish & Blue Moon for me. And the ferry ride was pretty
cool. I had never driven a car onto a boat before, plus it was free!
However the small village was best navigated by bike and with the
weather being so nice we would have preferred to spend it on the
beach. Plus we hated the driving...and at only 45 or 50 it was
agonizingly slow. Lesson learned.

Tomorrow we hope to head North!

Missing my pup!

Out for an evening stroll

Beach View

Wave at DH! He's in the 3rd window down on the left...

A room with a view

View from our hotel window...

Out the window...

Outer Banks Fishing Pier

Stopped at this pier for the view. The lunch counter lady let us go
out to the picnic area. It was bit too windy, too crowded (with
fisherman), and somewhat wobbly for Darrin's taste to pay $1.50 and
head out to the end of the pier. Yo ho blow the man down as it were!

Day 3.5 - Sunrise

Dinner and...

OMG...seriously good eats at Owen's Restaurant! DH read about them on chowhound.com
so we made plans to stop there on our way back today.

Surf and Turf fine dining place yet cozy and comfortable and service
which was impeccable!

DH had the prime rib and I had a small filet & crab cake with a
coconut shrimp appetizer. Glasses of Sterling Cabernet & Sterling
Merlot were great choices. The seabreeze mashers were delicious and
flavored with shallots, scallions, and cheese. Veggies were tender yet
crisp and our salads were lovely with the housemade tomato basil
vinegarette.

Dessert was tiramisu and cinnamon cheesecake with tart apples, plus
coffee and hot tea. Soooo good!

Owens Restaurant

Where we had an amazing meal, at the end of one of the best days of my
life! I nearly cried from being tired, happy, contented, and realizing
an excellent vacation day with my best friend and love of my life.