Baltimore in…1, 2, 5!

So yesterday was quite full. “Let me ‘splain. No; there is too much. Let me sum up.”

1.       Misty! I met with Misty of Misty’s Laws for lunch by Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Here’s a picture of the two of us together:



You didn't think I'd really show our faces, did you?



It was great fun. A fantastic “hello!” at a lovely restaurant. She looks exactly the way she sounds on her blog…if that makes any sense. And she now knows my true identity, which makes her my double-extra-special Secret Squirrel! We did have a real picture taken of the two of us together, so we have blackmail photos of each other if we misbehave. Hmm, wait… WHAT was I thinking!

2.       I actually got there a little early, and wandered the Inner Harbor because it was a too hot for April gorgeous day!  There’s this sort of walkway, water feature (ha! On a harbor. Because they need a water feature), relaxation spot that connects the Harbor area to the businesses that don’t have the grace to sit ON the water.

Here’s one of the sculptures.

Then as I walked up towards the bridge, I saw this tunnel thing:

Looking out the other side of the tunnel, you look through a waterfall:

Here’s that sculpture from the front:

This was all about half a block from where I met Misty. It was a short but sweet lunch-time visit. A couple hours downtown, and I headed north of the city. I was meeting my rollercoaster buddy for dinner, but the place we were meeting was attached to a major shopping center, so I knew I could entertain my inner bibliophile at Barnes & Noble, and perhaps even satisfy the Movie Whore at the cinema.

3.       My inner bibliophile is laughing her butt off! She’s so happy with me for buying her THIS:

Yes, I bought the Bloggess’ book.

And I was laughing out loud in the café.

Unashamedly.

Every other sentence.

Because she’s such a hoot.

4.       Then, I took the Movie Whore off to see Mirror, Mirror. She’ll review it in a separate post.

The dwarves are AWESOME!

5.       THEN I met my rollercoaster buddy for dinner. The food was great. I couldn’t help, however, thinking of another person we all know, who would have been better company at that moment. >sigh<

I had just been up at Hersheypark over the weekend, riding rollercoasters with the rollercoaster buddy, who is a friend I know from the theatre. He’s a lighting techie, and very good at what he does. We have precisely two things in common: Theatre and rollercoasters. I believe he’s suffering from separation anxiety because he’s never moved anywhere before and doesn’t seem to be a big fan of change.

He kept saying “you’ll be back.” …”You’ll be back.” …”You’ll be back,” at random intervals in the conversation, sometimes generously adding “after you get settled in”. He started making plans for the fall. So I finally got annoyed and laid down the law. “Stop pushing me into my future! Right now I’m focused on moving. After I get there, I’ll focus on getting a job. Then a place to live. THEN I’ll start settling in!”

I’m really trying to distance myself. (can you tell?) In my perfect world, I’ll move and my memory will fade away! I’ve not told him about my internet fiancé Brett for the simple reason that he’s not very computer savvy and would probably dismiss the concept because of the internet involvement. (But don’t worry, Squirrels, Brett is aware of this whole rollercoaster buddy situation, and fully understands that it is no competition to him. At all!)

So I imagine, if I don’t fade away out of the rollercoaster buddy’s mind after moving, and the rollercoaster buddy actually does start contacting me to try to get me out there, I’ll have to say, “Um, sure. Can I bring my boyfriend?”

Finally, I submit for your approval:

My Random Act of Kindness for the day.

THIS is what a “normal” person (or, at least, me) brings in to feed her coworkers:

Let me zoom in on that label for you:

See – the local orchard’s market is open. I know it’s not apple season, so the Apple Cider donuts are not from “freshly pressed” cider but from last season’s “freshly pressed” cider. Still.

Something sweet, yummy, and guilt-laden.

NOT dried fruit!

Do you think anyone will get the message?