On my fifth day inside the Beltway, I awoke to hear my mother rustling in the kitchen and wandered out in my pjs. The first thing I heard came from the television, “all flights grounded at Heathrow Airport in London.” WHAT?! My husband was meant to join me on our American holiday and at the exact moment I was padding through my parents’ house, he was sitting on the floor or Cork International Airport trying to get a new itinerary with a TG3 cameraman capturing him for the news. So, why all the airline havoc? Well, the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajökull. It’s hard to spell, harder to pronounce (ay-yah-FYAH’-plah-yer-kuh-duhl), and even harder to travel through. Already missing my husband was not much fun, but being faced with uncertainty about when I’d next see him was just rotten. At least he’s safe.
My day quickly brightened up with a late breakfast with Alicia, my wonderful high school friend and bridesmaid at my wedding. We went to Silver Diner, a high school hangout. I then went to lunch with my mom and Valerie. The ladies were kind enough to let me choose the restaurant and having been without spinach artichoke dip for two years, I opted for Chili’s. Mmm. I even got to drink a bottomless Arnold Palmer (photo below).
After that, I had tea with my dear friend Buffy and enjoyed a red velvet cupcake from Georgetown Cupcake alongside sweet tea with a sprig of fresh mint (make it yourself).As if I had not already eaten enough, I then straight over to Sara’s where we caught up over grilled Chilean sea bass from Metropolitan Meat, Seafood, and Poultry. I was treated to Erin’s Ireland vacation photos.
Slainté 