Valentine's Day a Week Late

So tonight we're going out to celebrate Valentine's Day because on the actual Valentine's Day Ryan was sick in bed (reference the picture below). Tonight we'll be going to one of the best restaurants in Quito, courtesy of my father, as we could not afford it on my $0.07 pay check.

Anyways, the menu looks great and it's been reviewed by the New York Times. This restaurant may be, in fact, the only thing in Quito EVER reviewed by the New York Times. But we'll see... I often get my hopes up for these great, swanky restaurants only to feel very uncool in the crowd and disappointed by the food. If there's one thing I can't stand its a restaurant that tries too hard.

Recently I've started to miss some of the things from home. I saw that Katie joined the facebook group for Chicago Festivals 2010 and it made me nostalgic. Even though I worked too much last summer to enjoy most of the festivals, it's nice knowing they're going on and that they're available to anyone who wants to grab some beer and greasy street food and sit on the sidewalk listening to local music. Ahhh... Chicago.

I also miss, Dad just keep your mouth shut, a good Gin and Tonic made by a bartender for under $5. Maybe I'll have one tonight, although I'm sure it will be much more than $5.

I miss Trader Joes like mad. We have great produce here, so that's not it. I don't even know what it is but I miss shopping there, just being in the store with the free samples and the constantly changing selection. Plus there's nothing remotely close to 2 Buck Chuck here. The cheapest wine we've seen has been $4 in a box and about $8 in a bottle. Too expensive.

There are certainly things I don't miss one bit though too. I don't miss writing a rent check, a car payment check, a car insurance check, and utilities checks every month. I don't miss that at all.

I also don't miss one bit all of the hours I spent at work. Don't get me wrong, I miss my co-workers, but not the hours I spent there. Certainly not.

I also don't miss having a car. This might be suprising, considering the amount of time I spent in my car. But goodness, I'm soo happy to not have one. I've got two legs that work great and for 25 cents I can get anywhere in this city. It's nice to be my own mode of transportation.

I also don't miss not seeing Ryan everyday. Living together is great for the sole fact that we get to see each other everyday. I love that!

Anyways, wish us luck tonight! I'm sure it will be great!

MULUB,

Taylor

PS. Can anyone guess what I miss probably the most about living in Chicago (besides seeing my girlfriends everyday)?