Ali's Visit

Sorry so slow again, I was doing much better. Anyway, Monday I slept in and ran errands and things, and then Ali was deposited on my doorstep. Hooray! She was pretty wound up still from finals and general "college things," but we sat and drank tea and calmed down for a bit and then she worked on her papers while I made enchiladas. We ate dinner, then she worked and I played and we ate ice cream and all was well.

Tuesday we both got up early, Ali to go to the Chinese consulate and me to go to a wine class at work. At 9am. One thing I may not have mentioned is that I recently got promoted to supervisor at work, so I'm trying to show up at these kinds of things. Had an informative class with Paul Roberts, who is the wine director for all of Thomas Keller's restaurants. He reeeally knows about wine, and the best part was he took the wine I've always thought was bad off the menu. Met Ali for lunch at Spice, then went with her to the consulate to pick up her visa. It was insane in there, good for her for figuring it all out. We walked to a Pinkberry so I could make Ali try it (she liked it, for the record) and tried but failed to buy some clothes. Went home and rested, then she and I met Matt at Franny's, which is a nice pizza place on Flatbush, sort of similar to Punch at home but a little New York-ified. We were there to celebrate her 21st birthday, so we drank sparkling wine and had great pizza. Then we went to the Chocolate Room for dessert, and then, since it was her 21st birthday and all, we went to the 4th Avenue Pub, although by that time we were so full we could barely have one drink before we had to call it a night. Happy birthday, little sister!