Argan...

A few weeks ago KB and I got together again in center city to catch up. It just so happened to be the same day as the Philly Pride parade so we watched as tons of people gathered between locust and Penns Landing. It was nice to see so many different types of people out and about in the city. There's just something about being in the presence of a large crowd that are just celebrating life.

Anyways after the parade went by KB and I decided to catch up over some lunch, which is starting to become a pattern with us. But definitely a pattern I enjoy, because it seems like anytime we go out together we find a great new restaurant. This time we ate at Argan Morrocan Cuisine, which is located in the lower level of a building on 17th street. (I actually have to duck to enter.) I had originally heard about it from Christine who said they had a really great variety of vegetarian options, but I ended up getting the lamb which was seriously soooo soooo good. And I need to find out what kind of bread they used. I'd liken it to a cornbread type pita, but even better. And warm. Sooo good. And at $6.50 a sandwich I was pretty pleased!

Pad Thai.

Ritten House Square is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to eat lunch. Especially when that lunch consists of pad thai and the company of the wonderful KB. We both made a promise to hang out more this summer in Philly and I'm pretty excited about that.

On a different note, I'm going home to Harrisburg either tonight or tomorrow morning. I am beyond excited!

Another Sunny Day....

So earlier this week I had a lovely impromptu lunch out on the beach by the bell tower with Mercedes, Kelsey, Corrie, Dee, Keiran, and Julie.

They were even nice enough to find a place that was half in the shade so I wouldn't get too burned. (They're good friends!) The weather has been sooooo nice lately.

It seems like all of Philadelphia has been outside this week.

Photos Courtesy of my Cell Phone...

Senegalese Soup: Heaven in a Cup...

Sweet Christ Almighty! Caitlin was not lying... last week I tried this soup for the first time and I am hooked! It is absolutely wonderful! And to be honest, I sort of fell in love with it even before even trying it. Read Cait's own blog post about this cup of heaven and you'll see what I mean.

Cilantro.

I LOVE NEATO BURITO!!!

Almost as much as I love this girl!

Seriously... she is by far one of the best conversationalists I know.

She gets me.

Monday's Burrito of the day is "We Salute You Cilantro"

And it just so happens to be my favorite of the neato variety.

After lunch, Dax and I headed over to Dauphin to meet up

with the always lovely Ally Coy.

And as mentioned, it was lovely.

We drove over Peter's Mountain for ice cream and got lost in the country.

I love spontaneous trips.

Lunch Dates...

So I know I've been slacking on the blogging situation. But I swear it's not because I didn't want to... I've just been sooooo busy! Spring break is just around the corner and honestly, I couldn't be happier about that. Here are a few photos of the wonderful ladies to which I've had lunch with this semester...

Sarah always knows how to make me smile.

Not to mention boost my morale and get me in a better mood every single time.

These ladies say they hate my pictures.

But deep down I think they are lying.

Even though Chrissy hides from them...

The food this one makes me is like heaven in a bowl.

And these two brave the bitter cold when I want to get a late night, 2 am snack at Sev.

Because they love me.

I know--I'm lucky to have them all in my life.

Southern Cookin...

Had lunch at the SAC today... I love that building, but it was soooo packed because we decided to go right at the peak for the lunchtime rush. I ended up getting Pulled pork, mashed potatos, and macaroni at Charleston Market.

And I was accompanied by the ever pleasant Liz, Mercedes, and Corrie.

Also had my first classes today. Art History was kinda boring. Here's the still life I drew in my Drawing Studio.

Burrito Buddies...

Went to Neato Burrito with Kim today for lunch. She leaves for the Cayman Islands tomorrow so I wanted to see her because she'll be gone for 11 days! We went to Checkered Past after and Kim got a new green belly button ring. We laughed like usual. I love that all we do is talk about our future plans... no matter how extravagant or farfetched they might be. I'm gonna pick up my Harry Potter midnight premier tickets later tonight. Maybe I'll go paint my room now... or finish my book... the possibilities are endless.

Cowboy Crunch on honey wheat tortilla. Kim got the same, but with a spinach tortilla.

Baby Steps...

Some pictures from the past few days...

Picked up Christine and Keiran at the train station with Cait. Met Jen and Audrey for lunch at Neato downtown. Got a Cowboy Crunch.  Delicious. 

I can't wait to be a dad, or an uncle, or till more of my friends have babies... I just want to spoil them. Audrey is by far the cutest most adorable baby I know. 

Caitlin had a dinner party. We dressed up as elderly couples and made macaroni and cheese. Christine and I were a classy old couple from Bocca Raton. 

Photos courtesy Caitlin and Christine...

Up Up And Away!

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today that I thought I'd share...

Ever since seeing the movie UP my fascination with any and all means of flying have been rekindled. It's the superpower I would most want if ever give the option to choose a superpower. So you could imagine my delight when I woke up to find this hot air balloon outside my window! Bucket List addition: take a hot air balloon ride.

This is Victoria Ernst... remember that name, you'll be hearing it in a few years. Tori and I went to CASA and she just graduated high school this year. I drew this for her graduation party. She is sooo talented!

Brielle and I went to Neato Burrito. Lovely conversation, witty banter, and rapid sarcasm occurred. Lots of laughter too.

I deviated from my normal Cowboy Crunch and got the Monday Burrito of the Day. 

Cilanto Chicken Pesto. I'd get it again.

Then B and I went to Shipoke for our traditional chalk and talk conversations.

This is Brielle's...

The dandelions are mine...

As is the couple...

Take A Walk on the Wild Side...

Yesterday I woke up and looked out my window to find one of the most beautiful days of weather we've had this summer in Central Pennsylvania. So I did what anyone else would do... I called Sarah and told her we were going on a picnic.

 An hour and a half later we were off to Fort Hunter! It is this beautiful park on Front Street in Harrisburg that has beautiful views of the Susquehanna River.  

I hadn't been there in years and when I got there couldn't believe how nice it still was. 

Sarah and I took a little stroll before we finally set up the blanket, which was actually Sarah's college comforter, and laid out all of our delicious food!

I got to talk to Marylou on the telephone... I love our conversations. She always makes me laugh.  Sarah and I tried to throw popcorn into each other's mouths. I preformed an interpretive dance to Pocohantas's "Just Around the River Bend." You know--business as usual.

I couldn't get over how GREEN everything looked. Seriously... it was so beautiful.

I didn't get a picture of it... but as we were eating and talking a train was going across this bridge. That's another thing I love about going to Temple... I get to occasionally take the train to and from there!

The trail we strolled down...

Then we packed up and headed to Middletown to surprise Liz!!! I was driving, so we got lost of course. But when we made it she took us to get ice cream, even though she still wasn't feeling all that great. I had raspberry... for the second day in a row! It's like heaven in a cone.

Because she was sick she refused to have her picture taken... but come to think about it, she usually refuses to get her picture taken...

Liz being illusive on Middletown's version of CoaCoa Castle. Hoffer Park is beautiful. They were setting up for their craft show. We swung on the swings and ate ice cream.

Then Liz took us on a tour of Middletown... and it ended in another beautiful park. We went on a small trail that led us to this beautiful view of Three Mile Island. Oh Nuclear Power Plants... gotta love em...

The day was wonderful. Filled with great conversation, friends, and constant laughing. What more could I ask for?! 

The Day We Arrived On Time...

Side Note: Cran-Apple Juice is delicious...

So my computer is broken. Picture a fully functioning laptop. Now picture a fully functioning laptop where anything on the screen appears to be rotated counterclockwise. Yeah... it's actually kinda annoying, but I'm treating it like a challenge. A kind of game almost.  Hopefully I'll get it fixed soon, because it's actually a lot harder to maneuver than you'd imagine. 

Anyways-- Yesterday I went to the Lower Paxton Youth Center where they were having a benefit show for CASA.  It was nice catching up with some of my CASA friends. Not to mention great music and awesome music videos/animations!  

Today Ellen invited a couple of us over for a tea party on her back porch. It was glorious! Ellen's house is beautiful. And her garden reminds me of a mixture between Narnia and Spiderwick Chronicles.  Not to mention it is right next to Italian Lake... which is this beautiful park. And Kim and I were the first ones there... Shocker! I know. We saw people getting their wedding pictures taken. Then a whole bunch of kids showed up in brightly colored prom outfits.  Kim and I were mistaken as a couple multiple times... awkward. We had chocolate ship scones made by Ellen and Ally, Eric made pumpkin biscotti, Tyler brought bean dip, Kim and I provided Chips. Ice and hot tea were also served. We also made plans for wizard week, which included a proper send-off for our dear friend Dumbledore.

Becca Ellen and I had to take our own prom picture...

Food was sooo good...

Sarah "The Fonz" my love!

Becca and her burnt scone...

This is as close to camping as Kim and Tyler will get...