Weekends like these...

There are times when I really miss New England. They are far and few between, but they exist. I always miss my friends on the other side if the country, but as far as actually living there...not so much, but there are days when I wish I could go back. Luckily for me, I am constantly reminded how lucky I am to be where I am and it is weekends like this one that help me remember.

This weekend was simple, but amazing. Friday was league night and that is always a blast. Saturday morning I went to the gym with my mom (as usual, she put me to shame. My mom is beast in the gym!). It is our quality time together. I know most mother/daughter combos might go shopping or out for a meal as their quality time, but my mom and I, we aren't like other mother/daughter combos. The only thing we seem to agree on is that gym time is sacred and fried pickles are worth every calorie they contain. So we go to the gym, laugh and push each other for 60-90 minutes (almost) every Saturday morning. I love gym time with my mom. Saturday night it was dinner with the girls! The girls are friends from elementary and junior high. I am lucky to have friends in my life that I can say I have known for 20-25 years at the young age of 29. These aren't friends that I lost contact with over the years and we found each other again later; no the six of us have been the best of friends since day one. Some of us are married with kids now, but we still manage to get together every couple of months for dinner and to catch up. We still rely on each other when we need something, we still call each other with the good news (and the bad) and we all know, no matter what, we will always have each other. Although there are times where months go by without seeing one another, we always pick back up and can spend hours together like it was just yesterday we saw each other. I cherish these times with my friends.

Love me some funnel cake

Today was....Stanislaus County Fair day! I love this day! I haven't been able to go to the fair in five years and I missed it! The food, the people, the exhibits; it is all great. The food especially. When I go to the fair, I have a mission. It is to consume, in no particular order, a lingucia sandwich, an egg roll on a stick dipped in sweet & sour sauce and a funnel cake with strawberry topping, powdered sugar and whipped cream. Today the mission was accomplished in record time (less than 2 hours)!! I would have added fried zucchini to the list, but I couldn't seem to find them this year :(  I seem to remember the fair's exhibits being more entertaining in years past, but thankfully the animals were still awesome! Pigs, cows, chickens, rabbits, etc...all great to look at. This year I went to the fair with two friends and we had a blast. We chatted, we laughed, we ate incredibly unhealthy food (me more than them) and had just enjoyed hanging out.

It is weekends like this one that when I start missing New England, I can look back and remember why I came back to California...