I've got a sinus infection

Yeah, the reason I've been m.i.a. for a while is that I've been sick. :( I came down with a really bad chest cough 11 days ago. Then it moved up to my head, and I've been really congested ever since. Last weekend, it got really bad, and the pressure was so intense that I thought my head was going to explode. Seriously, I can't remember the last time I've been in such pain. It was terrible.

After googling my symptoms (which include toothaches--my molars are incredibly sore, and I can hardly chew on one side), I was 99% sure that I had a sinus infection. I couldn't get in to see the doctor until today, and she confirmed my self-diagnosis. I'm now on the Z-pack antibiotics and I also bought a neti pot, though I haven't used it yet. I'm still a little intimidated by it. :)

6-Month Anniversary & 2941 Restaurant Review

Yesterday was 6 months that we've been married! Crazy--it's gone by soooooooo fast. Such a special occassion deserved a special meal, and we definitely found that at 2941. The restaurant is in Falls Church in the first few floors of an office building. Doesn't sound like much, does it? But the building is actually on a lake, and the walls facing the lake are solid windows at least two stories high. It really is quite lovely inside, and you don't even realize that you're in a commercial building. Photos here.

We're not usually fans of French cuisine, but the offerings at 2941 were not sauce-heavy nor too exotic (I'm sure snails are lovely, but they are not for me), which are normally my complaints about this type of cuisine. On the contrary--the food was incredibly light, while at the same time packed full of flavor. The wine list was 60+ pages long, so we asked the sommelier to suggest a California cabernet sauvignon, and he made a great selection for us. I think many people are intimidated by wine lists, and my advice is to ask for help! If there is a sommelier available, put his/her expertise to use! Just give them a price range, tell them what food you plan to order, and give them a general idea of what you're looking for, and they are more than happy to suggest a great pairing.

After ordering, we received an amuse-bouche, which was comprised of Yukon gold potato, citrus crème fraîche, and a tiny bit of caviar. It was a delightful bite! I started with the candied beet salad, because whenever I see beets on a menu, I cannot help myself! I love beets. My salad contained several different types of beets in vibrant colors along with apple slices, blue cheese, and candied pecans. M started with a half portion of the gnocchi, which was very light. For the entrees, I had the duet of veal (tenderloin and short ribs) with a purée of fennel and some fried chickpeas. M had the rabbit, which was sliced into medallions and came with lemon raviolinis. Both entrees were cooked perfectly, very tender, and not gamey at all. The portions were filling, but we didn't feel stuffed.

For dessert, M had the apple tarte tartin, and I had the chocolate praline parfait. Both were nice, but they weren't my favorite part of the meal. We also received two small cheesecake bites with grapefruit on a plate with a candle (we told them it was our anniversary when we made the reservation). When we were finished, the manager came over and asked us if we wanted to tour the kitchen and meet the head chef. How could we refuse? So we followed him back into the kitchen, and my first impression was that it was huge! So many people hustling and bustling around the space. We saw the chef's table, which looks like a fun experience, but it would be very loud to sit there for dinner! We finally got to meet Chef Bertrand Chemel, and he was very nice. And very young! We didn't tarry for long, since we knew the chef was busy. It was a great way to end our celebratory meal. I'd definitely recommend 2941 for a special occassion when you don't feel like going into the city.

Spring is here!

I love my neighborhood. It's so pretty in the spring. This street in particular caught my eye. Unfortunately, it also caught a lot of rain & wind before I could get out there with my camera to take a picture, so the blooms were much more impressive than they are here. It's still purty, though.

Second game: Better, but not there yet!

Isn't this a blast from the past! Sadly, it's the only pic I have in digital format from my "golden era" of volleyball. I should really scan all the prints I have, since they are fun to look at. Oh, to be 21 again! Well, I really don't want to be 21 again. I just want to be able to play like I'm 21 again. :)

We had our second game tonight. Since my sports goggles aren't ready yet (some "mishap at the lab" with my lenses, they told me this morning), I wore my regular glasses. It wasn't so bad, and I could actually see! Oh, sweet, sweet vision!

We ended up losing the match, but WE WON A GAME! And it was my kill that gave us game point! It felt fantastic. The team we played was much different than last week's team. This team was stronger at the net with a consistent hitting & blocking presence. Definitely my kind of play--I was actually able to play at the net, jousting and blocking. I had one awesome solo block. But my blocking percentage was probably still in the negative, considering my errors. And I didn't get many sets, so I didn't hit much (except for that one game-winning kill), but oh well! At least it was FUN tonight. And while our passing (mine especially) needs definite improvement, we are coming together better with each game.