"I feel safe within the arms of love's discovery"

*Sigh*

So where did we leave our intrepid heroine? Ah, yes, on the way to her heart test. It sucked. There were some cool things about it, like getting to see the echo images of my heart before the test started. They luckily didn't have to start an IV to inject any contrast dye (which S informed me later was originally an invention of his grandfather, although they probably are using new and improved versions...). I got to see one image that showed one of my heart valves opening and closing. Then they hooked me up to all the EKG thingies. No problem. Then I got on the treadmill.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've been on a treadmill before. I've even broken a pretty good sweat on the treadmill on the past, but I was always trying to maintain a fairly moderate heart rate. For this test, they want at least a heart rate of 184 (no higher than 196, apparently). This may have been no problem for me, but the doctor forgot to tell me not to take my Atenolol the night before. This keeps your heart rate down. So, lucky me, I got to work that much harder to try to get it up to the lowest heart rate. I got there, just barely. I honestly thought I might drop from sheer exhaustion. I got a wee case of shin splints because I was walking so fast.

But, not to worry, kind readers, for the best of the story is ahead...

After running a bunch of errands, going to therapy, taking a wee nap, I went to meet S. He and I BARTed over to the City to meet SS for dinner at this place called Original Joes. It's an Italian restaurant that's been open since the '30s. It definitely looks like a place that would be the perfect setting for a mob gathering. It's a little run down these days...the veggies were clearly frozen, the salad was iceberg, etc. But there was a great half circle booth. I still had no idea where we were going for the evening, although I had the head's up that it involved dancing.

After dinner, we left the restaurant and walked down to Market. It's not a great neighborhood where we were, but it is the home of the Warfield Theater (originally a vaudeville stage that now hosts mostly music). And then I saw the name of the performers: The Indigo Girls! It was a special treat just for me! I haven't gotten any of their recent CDs, but it was a testament to their brilliance that I loved even the songs I couldn't sing along to. They had an interesting opening act...her name is Bitch and she is quite fun and quirky. I was completely blissed out. I've never had anyone do something like that for me. I didn't even know that they were in town, and I don't think that I have even talked about how much I like them to S. I can only guess that the times he's been at my house he's noticed that I have about 7 of their CDs and made the not so giant leap.

We all spent the night together both Friday night and last night. I just have to say that I'm tempted to buy him a bigger bed. Although I don't think it would fit in his bedroom. 3 in a bed together is a bit of a cozy fit. It does work, but it takes some getting used to and I didn't sleep as well as I would have liked to on Friday night.

Saturday a.m., I saw my clients, then headed back for our next adventure. S' mood was a bit distracted and down Saturday afternoon, as his sister-in-law is having serious health issues. I just wanted to snuggle him, but he wasn't in that type of space at the time. We carried through with our plans for the afternoon. SS and I dressed in gypsy outfits and we drove down to Hayward for the strangest thing...a Bellydance and Comic convention. It was mostly bellydancing, but one of the organizers is also a comic creator, so she invites some of the underground comic folks in, as well. It was a bit strange, but fun.

We had dinner at another strange place: The Hayward Ranch. It's probably been around since the '50s and has a cow's head on the sign. Generally, the food was good, although it was definitely pretty meat and potatoes. I have to admit that the desert was not the greatest. We had the tapioca (that was good) and the "chocolate seduction cake." It was more like chocolate hit-you-over-the-head-with-a-club-and-drag-you-off-by-your-hair cake. It's the first time I've ever been put off by chocolate.

We wandered around a local 99 cent store after that, imagining what adult uses we could put some of the rather innocuous items to.

This morning was a lazy morning...we went for a short hike this afternoon, then SS had to go to a class, and S planned to get some things done before going out "hobnobbing" tonight - a party for a former professor. I came home, took a shower, and took a nap. Tonight, I'm going to watch TV and generally indulge in this feeling of contentment that I am feeling.

Have I mentioned that I love this man?