J and I headed into this weekend thinking that we were going to need to be nursed back into health by my 17 and 8 year old kids. We felt like we were coming down with something vile but felt fine by Sunday. That ended up being a great day. In the morning, Elliot and I headed out for our weekend ritual. (Pix above.) At the end of our hike, he and I raced back to the house. As far as he knew it was a game (that made my heart feel like it was going to burst!!) but it was really because his sister had called me from a gas station -- her car was on e and she needed some $ on her debit card. Oy!

Later J and I took our first scooter ride of 2008. AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHhh..... gad! that is so much fun! It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp day. We headed toward downtown Bellevue and found some twisty-turny roads with skylines in one direction, and water views in the other. Gorgeous. Stumbled upon some parks that I want to go back to with E (if I can find them again.) Those rich people know how to build their parks! The thing about tooling around on two wheels: you are completely immersed in the environment. I smelled flowers. Flowers! Spring is near. And there were a ton of people out walking and they were ALL smiling. (I love when folks on the street talk to me -- "that looks like fun!" is a common comment.) It's impossible to feel anything but happy when you're driving a Vespa. (Trust me: Flush your Prozac and buy a scooter or motorcycle instead.)

We topped off the evening off with a lovely dinner: beef stroganoff with asparagus, rosemary bread and red wine. Lovely, yes -- but it wasn't without drama. A potholder caught fire while I was browning the beef. Flames, back door thrust open, once trusted but now reviled implement hurled into the cold darkness... this *is* excitement in the 'burbs, my friend! Whew!