Kade didn’t have school last Friday (teacher in-service day), so my mom offered to have the kids over for the weekend (it’s like she knows when I’m about to lose it and steps up to rescue me…must be a mom thing). She came up to spend the morning with us last Thursday. She helped me get the kids ready for school and came to the preschool with us. Kade was so excited to introduce his grandma to all his friends and teacher. I don’t think he was too thrilled with the idea that she was going to be across the hall with Liv and I at Liv’s Stay and Play class, though. Grandma got to meet some of my friends, participate in circle time and helped make a lantern with Liv to celebrate the Lunar New Year. We all went to lunch together and my mom loaded her car up with what looked like a week’s worth of stuff and drove off with both of my kids for the weekend.

I sat down on the couch, noticed how absolutely quiet it was, and immediately had to turn on some music because it was freaking me out. Of course, my borderline-medication-worthy anxiety prevented me from relaxing until I got the phone call they were safely in Sandusky. Then I took a BATH. Truthfully, it wasn’t a great idea because I just sat there thinking about how much it needed to be cleaned, but the glass of wine that followed quickly mellowed me out.

I had the brilliant idea to wear heels since a) I wanted to wear some really cute jeans that only fit if I’m 3 inches off the ground (they were hand me downs) b) I wanted to feel sexy and c) I never have a reason to put anything other than “sensible” shoes on my feet (heels and playdates just don’t go well together). Kyle came home and whisked me out the door for our “date.” I took one step outside and fell flat on my face. Seriously.

After limping to the car, we were off to Shaker Square with no plans other than a need to eat. A new Moroccan restaurant, Darna, looked warm and inviting and reminded me of our old Pittsburgh days at “The Road to Karakesh,” which was one of our favorite dining spots and had the yummiest tagines. Darna didn’t quite have the selection of tagine I was hoping for, but everything we ate was very good (see below for example of slow-cooked goodness).

Actually, their braised vegetables ranked just as highly as the appetizers, entrees, and desserts we sampled. And if we had been there on a Saturday, we would have been entertained by belly-dancers…boo that we went on a boring Thursday.

We woke ourselves up with some Moroccan coffee and stopped at the brand-spanking new wine bar, Grotto, before making it home. No review yet because it had literally just opened so I’ll give it another shot before judging the place.

On Friday I was at the preschool all morning doing some busy work to prepare for the upcoming open house, so I spent the entire afternoon running errands in record time given that I didn’t have to unstrap a 2-year-old in and out of a car every stop I made. By the time Kyle got home from work and I got home from big-box hell, we were both in the mood for a burger and scotch beer.

I have memories of the best burger I’ve ever eaten, which happens to have been almost a year ago, from the Tremont Taphouse. However, it was devoured after running a half-marathon in Pittsburgh, shopping for hours at Ikea, and driving the two hours there and back all in the same day. So, I’ve been nervous to try it again in fear that the memory of the most-delicious-burger-ever would be tainted in some way.

It came and yes, there is an egg on top of it, and yes, I knew I was in heaven, and yes, despite a rather messy eating experience, it lived up to the memory and I was happy and content until….

The mussels with homemade fries, gorgonzola and bacon came along and my heart was forever changed. Honestly, I wanted to pick up the bowl and drink the broth after Kyle and I had inhaled the nearly 2 pounds of mussels. Now I dream of mollusks when I close my eyes at night…

In our fog of bliss, we stopped at the Purple Shamrock on the way home and enjoyed cheap drinks, good company, and even better music (gotta love a place with MGMT on the jukebox).

I felt like Kyle and I were dating again. We talked, listened to each other, and realized just how much we love to be together.

Saturday morning I dined on Tommy’s while catching up with a friend I haven’t seen since Thanksgiving. She acted as my pseudo-therapist as I blubbered about the mess in my head. I’m thinking she should consider a second career since she managed to leave me with some really good advice about how to re-focus.

Kyle and I bummed around doing things that the kids always hate…like window-shopping, and anticipated our upcoming night of fun.

Our evening began with a mind-numbingly delicious dinner at L’Albatros (Kyle did the website). We’ve eaten at the bar once, but it was only a sampling of appetizers and pizza so I was really looking forward to an entire meal. It started with these…

I could have drunk the mignonette sauce by the glass…it was that good.

Then we moved on to these little beauties…

I’ve always shunned escargot served without their shells, but this presentation is now my new favorite.

I stole Kyle’s pied de cochon (which translates into pig’s feet, but it’s so much nicer to refer to it in the French form) and it was one of the most complex, rich, delicious things I have ever eaten. The pigs feet were pulled from the bone and prepared in sausage form with spices, etc.

Needless to say, I was punch-drunk from the fabulous meal and could have easily gone home a happy woman.

But the night was still young and we had a date to rock out with the Black Keys at the Agora.

I’ll let Kyle review the concert because he did such a masterful job of it on his blog. Their sound haunts me and always leaves me wanting more. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.

I don’t think we could imagine a more perfect day. That is until Sunday came along…

The Steelers then went on to make history and win, which was like the cherry on the sundae. I’m not sure if the victory champagne tasted better than the toast we had for President Obama a few months ago, but it’s nice to have reasons to celebrate.

Life is good…very, very good. Sometimes it takes a recap, some pictures, and a video to bring it all into perspective.

A big thank you to anyone who managed to bear with me to the end of this post. It is marathon in proportion…but so was the weekend.