bitter, bitter, bitter

I am not at a con this weekend. I am still in Idaho, doing Idahoish sorts of things. This does not mean it's not a good weekend, however. Actually, so far, it's been quite nice.

Yesterday Winter, the kids, and I went north and met Rice and the Spots for a viewing of the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The J-Spot's 26th birthday is tomorrow, and that's what he wanted to do: watch three hours of Johnny Depp. I can't complain. It was enjoyable, and quite entertaining; however, the fact that I had the end of the movie (even through the end credits) figured out by the end of the first act was a little sad, considering how the movie ends. (And the kids did not go to the film -- they stayed with their grandmother and had a rip-roaring time playing baseball and watching movies.)

Today I slept way in (still up north), took the kids to get haircuts, and then had a nice lunch with Rice, Winter, and the kids. We ate at this Oriental buffet Rice and some of his colleagues and local friends have become quite fond of. I know -- Oriental buffet? But I assure you, it was fabulous. They had the usual sweet and sour chicken and fried rice sorts of dishes, but they also had dumplings, pot stickers, and buns, which were beautiful and delicious. (Mmm... red bean buns.) People who have spent time in China have assured Rice this restaurant's buns, etc., are quite authentic. The restaurant also had sushi and the Mongolian grill option. They did great things with their vegetables. They also had macaroni and cheese, and Jell-O, and tapioca pudding because, well, it is Idaho. But the staff definitely were not originally from around here, and there were a lot of Oriental people eating there, which I thought was a good sign.

From there Rice took Winter and the kids back home and I went and bought my father's birthday present. I also purchased gardening stuff -- soil, flowers, etc. It was nice going shopping alone and being by myself, but also quite weird; I'm hardly ever truly alone anymore. At the same time I did miss the kids. But I certainly got a lot more done than I would have if they'd come.

I came home, dealt with plants, and we watched Robots with the kids. Cool eye candy, sorry script. Okay, it wasn't that bad, but it wasn't great.

I made protein pancakes and eggs for dinner because, well, I was craving Thai, but to make Thai I'd have to go shopping and I'd had enough of that. Besides, I thought taking it easy on my stomach might be best.

Let me tell you about my protein pancakes: They have eggs, rice flour, cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, and then the usual pancakey ingredients (salt, sugar -- or Splenda, baking powder, milk...). They are light, almost like a crepe. For Rice I added peanut butter, bananas, and almond syrup on top. He thought it was a lovely combination.

Tomorrow I am going home to visit my parents for my father's birthday. Avadore will be joining me. We will have a lovely time. Monday is Rice's and my eighth anniversary. We will work in the yard. We will plant lovely flowers.

I will not attend a con, I will not discuss writing and speculative fiction with lots of lovely people, I will not eat amazing food, I will not be attending any parties. I will be in Idaho, preparing my house to sell.

And yet, I suspect I'll still have a lovely time.

I'm trying to be bitter. Really I am, but it's so hard.