^_^

This weekend was probably the best weekend I've had in years that didn't involve sex. ;-P After all of that snow and the resulting inability to drive anywhere, I was in just the right mood for the five-ish hours it took to get to anastras and taytheer's place, Friday. I haven't driven that far before, so it was quite the adventure. The only hairy bit was getting through Indianapolis on the way up. There, I learned the cardinal rule of traveling on the interstate while in unfamiliar territory: when in doubt, stick to the middle lane. Otherwise, you wind up being hard-pressed to get across three busy lanes to get to the correct exit.

After that, it was just a strait shot up I-65, then west for an hour, driving into the prettiest sunset I've seen in ages. Once we were there, we went grocery shopping and got some tastey things to eat, and grabbed some Arby's. After that we spent the evening setting me up with a character in FFXI, so that I can play when I'm up there with them. (I don't have a good enough computer down here for it, but anastras made me one, but I'm keeping it at their place, since it's just a matter of months until I can move up anyway.) We also watched almost all of a really good Anime called Ergo Proxy.

Saturday, we went to Joliet to look around the Barnes and Noble (I finally found a good book to start learning Kanji, and found an interesting book on multi-media art that gives me all kinds of nifty and diabolical ideas), then went to see Coraline with a couple of their friends. (There were some changes from the book, but it was still pretty fantastic. I loved it! Going to see it again tomorrow with my little sis.) After that we went to the local Game Stop (They got me a couple of games--one of which will help me further with my Japanese! :-D), then to dinner at this place that was like a piece of Texas, but which had really good steaks. (I had tastey pasta and a salad.) Then we all went back to hang out at the apartment and watched Doctor Who.

Sunday we just stayed close to the apartment, aside from a quick run to the IHOP. I found a new favourite thing in their Chicken Florentine Crepes. (ZOMG *drools*) Then we watched a really good comedy special (don't remember the guy's name, though), and Brisco County Jr., while playing FFXI. I can't wait to really get into the game.

Today, before I came back, we went for a drive around town and had tea and a sort of brunchy-thing at this little cafe. It was on Liberty St., so its owner had chosen to do a patriotic thing with the decor. It was just this tiny little place with maybe five tables to its name, red, white, and blue all over the place. Then, for some reason, in the midst of it all, there's this yellow-and-black sign that says "Fall Out Shelter". o_0.... They make a really good Chai Latte, though.

We drove past some of the houses they're considering, including the Glorious Brewery of Doom. It's even more impressive up close, but we've pretty much decided that it's probably too much of a fixer-upper for us, even though the building itself is within price-range.  There were some other really beautiful houses we saw--that won't require a majour overhaul--but none I have pictures of.  Once anastras gets his tummy put back in order (Surgery next week! Good thoughts please!) the really serious house hunting can begin.  The goal is to have one picked and have me moved in by June at the latest.  I can't wait! :-D