Uh...hey...

So it looks like it's been a whole lotta days since I've last posted. I'd like to submit the following excuses:

I've been completely crazed with work. Which is good when you're a freelancer and bad when you're someone who doesn't like working that much. I'm doing the annual Dining Guide for Gentry, a feature on Lance Williams and his writing partner Mark Fainaru-Wada for CAFE, a few food stories for San Francisco Magazine, and some blurbs for BizBash Magazine because they're really sweet and overpay. (Though I recently made some crack to them about their outrageously generous rates and I think they might be retooling the numbers. Forward-thinking, I am not.)

I've also been in L.A. with the family. And my cellphone broke. And I was kinda sniffly for a few days. So there! That should cover any of the ways I might have let you down recently! I'll issue one last blanket "My bad!" and now we can be done with it.

Have lots of stories to tell you - some wondrous and magical, and some about listening to myself sneeze on a tape recorder. I have to return to work right now, but I'll leave you with a bit of entertainment. It's a home-made montage - to clarify: not from my home - of great moments from 'The Office,' my new favorite television show. (I surely did not spend 2 hours last night watching related bits of footage instead of working. That would be unprofessional and indicate serious problems with my work ethic!!! )

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME/WE

So yesterday was my three-year anniversay with said-boyfriend. Big day. Big number. Go us! Florian had instructed me to meet him at 5:15 p.m. outside his office. (Much like I had instructed him to plan a surprise. ) I was told to dress warmly and wear comfy shoes. Something with nature, I suspected. And with food, I hoped.

I really love surprises. Or maybe it's more that I love anticipating them. So of course, when we get into the taxi and Florian has to tell the driver where to take us, I jam my fingers in my ears and start humming and then Florian has to yell so that I can hear, "Okay! I'm done! We're done talking! Take your fingers out of your hears! Mali?!?" I feel bad that he's dating an eight year-old but there's not much anyone can do about it. So we then arrived at Pier 39 and I learn that we're going to take a 'Sunset Cruise.' I don't know how fun I am to surprise because I promptly asked "Are we going to be alone!?!?" ("Uh, I don't think so") and "Is there gonna be dinner??" ("Uh, no.")

Of course, the boat ride was completely lovely. There we were, snuggled together, Florian and I, headed off into the sunset, under the Golden Gate and then back around Alcatraz. Great jaunt. My favorite part was probably when the "Captain" put out some bread and cheese, and I put up a good fight to consume these snacks despite all the bouncing around and getting sprayed with water. (I was a sight to behold. Really. At one point my sunglasses felt into the spinach dip and I picked them up only after cramming another piece of bread into my mouth. I think that act alone brings shame upon my family.)

Anyways, really great day. Really great boyfriend. Happy Anniversary loverboy!