California Dreamin'

This weekend was one of the best--and busiest--weekends I have had in a long time. Friday morning, Dad and I woke up at the crack of dawn (well, before the crack of dawn really) so that I could catch a flight to San Francisco!! This would be my shortest trip to the West Coast, lasting about 36 hours, but so incredibly worth it. My sister Katie's birthday is coming up in a few days (Nov. 23) and her husband Dave's birthday was a few days ago (Nov. 9), and they had this awesome idea to throw a joint birthday party. The party would be at a bar in the city called "Butter." You can visit their website at www.smoothasbutter.com (and I highly recommend doing so--it is such a unique place!) At the party, I spent some time chatting with the owner, Oliver, and he mentioned that they have been featured on the Food Network three times. Well as far as the party goes, I've always heard that "what happens in San Francisco, stays in San Francisco." Isn't that how the saying goes? Haha, but here are a few pictures to give you a general idea of the festivities :)


I got off the plane and was planning on taking the train to Katie and Dave's house. But no--Katie and Dave made other plans! Their driver, Om, came to pick me up! I was told to call him, and when he answered, he told me to just follow the signs for "Limousines!" He pulled over and asked me if I was "the sister of the Galvins." I tried to take a picture of me AND the sign, but I wanted to be nonchalant about it. There were other people who looked like it was no big deal to get picked up in the LIMO section of the airport, and so the picture with me in it didn't turn out so hot...


The theme of the night was to dress a little white trashy, since the bar was a white trashy type place. They have a trailer backed into the side of the building, and everyone wears camo hats, AND they serve beers in paper bags! It was pretty hard to get trashy clothes out of Katie's gorgeous closet, but we did our best! Her shirt was perfect: hot pink and rhinestones that read "Caviar, Champagne, Chocolate, French Fries."


This was taken on the party bus that took us from Katie and Dave's house to "Butter." I think its pretty cute...that is Dave and his big Texan cowboy hat, and Katie!


They work out. Look at the gun show!


Katie and I, sporting the beautiful camouflage "Butter" hats.


Another major bonus of the weekend: my brothers John and Jeff and my sister-in-law April came to the party as well! Here is John and I getting our picture taken. I look ridiculous because someone was offering to take this picture for us (I stretched my arm out to take it myself) and I was in the process of waving them away and telling them that we were fine. But I like this picture anyways, because it is one of the VERY few of John actually smiling!! John, you should do that more often!!!! I had such a blast hanging out with my brothers, we should definitely do it more often. They are pretty cool guys :)


I leave the fun after only 36 hours so I can return to the bitter cold East Coast to teach. After staying in Katie and Dave's beautiful house, I thought I should include a picture of my hotel. This is what is immediately outside my hotel room door. No joke. Trash, and roof shingles! And caution tape. Yikes! Stay tuned for a post on my teaching this week...I'm in Accomack County (Eastern Shore), teaching little darlings all week long, and dreamin' of my family and all of the fun to be had in California.