T-minus 5 months and 21 days

The complimentary age of 30 has been looming over me for the past few years. At least, over my consciousness. The ago of 30 means nothing to some and means the end of life to others. I'm still struggling to determine which camp I am in.

A few months ago, a friend told me she was essentially "an old lady" and she is only 36. Is this what I have to look forward to? I listen and apply, "is this the right fit?" I ask myself. What kind of 30-yr-old do I want to be? A few people I know mark their own passage into a new decade with a huge trip, weight loss, marathon or a new car. What the hell am I going to do when I turn 30?

My mom recently celebrated a birthday and I began to think about what she was doing 30 years ago. She gave birth to me! What is she doing 30 years later? She is grammy to Sofie, retired, traveling monthly with my dad, volunteering weekly, still attending church faithfully and gracefully accepting her years on this earth. A lot goes on in the short span of 30 years. It seems like a long time but at the same time, it can quickly pass while you blink.

In lieu of a baby, I've been trying to figure out what I want to do with all of my spare time. My friends who all have kids remind me each time I see them that time is something you don't have once you take on the responsibility of raising your own. This year, I'm trying to pack in as much travel as we can afford, exercise whenever and wherever I want and sleep in as much as I can possibly handle. I enjoy the silence that squeezes my house in the morning when I wake up, knowing my first job isn't to feed anyone other than myself. I enjoy the simplicity of my life at the moment knowing that I have a million different ways to spend my time, when I'm not at work of course.

Sometime next year I intend to jump off the cliff of childhood (I still consider myself a kid) and dive straight into motherhood. Parenting sounds a bit like what friends have described as cave tubing - you know there is a sculpted, pre-determined path to follow and there is a "guide" in the tube chain who is also being delivered through the dark via tube, wearing a limp head lamp. The bacteria-soaked head lamp strapped to your head is there only to provide comfort, not utility. Occasionally you experience your bottom scraping against a shallow spot and wince at the thought of your suit tearing and bronzed skin revealing its painted status. But your partner is there with you, holding your hand and your both seeking the light at the end of the tunnel, the end of the cave tube. Meanwhile you both are asking, "why did I sign up for this"?

Really Happy at the Happy Gnome

Last night I ventured over to the Happy Gnome with a few friends for dinner. I knew it featured an extensive list of beers on tap but I've never seen that many before that were worth drinking, Old Chicago's list does not count as a fair rival.

We were led upstairs by our hostess into the Firehouse room and seated directly under one of the building's features, an old shaft that has been converted into a tower that held an animated neon sign. While the historical feature was interesting to ponder its once-significant functional contribution to the building, the cobwebs strewn about inside did not have the same allure as we dined underneath.

I ordered a beer from the extensive list of offerings. I think they have around 40-50 on tap - and "bud" is not on the menu. Each beer is a unique, hard-to-find sampling from around the word. Several had very high A.B.V., mine was 9% so I drank it slowly, verrrry slowly just to be sure I wasn't caught off guard by my last sip. It was a New Holland Dragon's Milk (yum?) from Michigan. From their menu, "A complex ale with a soft, rich caramel malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones; all dancing in an oak bath." Yeah, and it was very good, sweet but not too sugary.

We started with Baba Ghanoush as the appetizer. It was served with candied chick peas and delicately spiced with a small amount of heat. The warmed pita bread was my favorite - fluffy with a bit of crisp on the edges and a small dusting of flour. It was really tasty and the light ghanoush mixture did not fill us up too much before the main entrees arrived.

My main dish was a butternut squash risotto with pancetta. Other risottos I've had with that featured butternut squash had a rich, creamy sauce but this sauce was not based with cream and instead had several accompanying steamed vegetables that added to the cozy, spiced dish. Asparagus and brussel sprouts studded the dish throughout so each fork full remained hot and each new bite was the perfect temperature as if it was my first. The honey and pepitas were not overly invasive in flavor and added another unique element. I thought all of the flavors balanced nicely and it was welcome change to the traditionally heavy version. If risotto is at all "traditional".

The other dishes my companions ordered looked just as mouth watering and everyone enjoyed their meal. The drinks were priced fairly and overall we had a really good time.

Mexico - Revisited

Sooo, turns out that Azul Fives wasn't open and won't be until November of this year!! Severe construction issues...luckily we discovered that 2.5 months in advance and we were able to book at a new resort thanks to our travel agent, Colleen. I highly recommend that you use a travel agent when you are going to a new destination for the first time, especially out of the country. She basically saved our vacation.

We stayed at Secrets Capri just north of Playa Del Carmen, which was a seriously decadent and wonderful all-inclusive resort. The size was just right for us (290 rooms) and there were plenty of restaurants and bars to keep our taste buds singing and waistlines expanding for the short five days we were in Mexico.

By the time we left, we had taken over 600 photos. My sister is an "amateur" photographer and takes great photos. She always has a camera with her wherever we go to capture the moment and create the memories we can look upon later.

See our trip here.