Author: Jessica Dickerson

You guys. I've been out of the hospital for six months! Yep, as of yesterday. How cool is that? That means I'm all better, right? Right?

Thursday night was our one-month anniversary, so Kyle and I celebrated by attending Livermore's Shakespeare Festival, which was presenting A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was outdoors at Concannon Vineyard, and it's gorgeous up there.

The picnic area opened up before the show, so I got a dinner of fried chicken, corn, and mashed potatoes all ready for when Kyle got home from work. He stopped on the way home and got some beautiful flowers...

...and cheesecake. Yes, my husband knows me well. We headed out, parked, picked up our tickets, and set up dinner at a table under an arbor. There were grapes hanging down and everything! The view was amazing--rolling hills, grape vines, rose bushes, and a sunset. It was definitely one of the more picturesque things I've done in my life. And yes, we ate the whole cheesecake (it was a small one, though).

Now, to the actual play. I have a harder time reading Shakespeare's comedies (the tragedies tend to be my favorites). But seeing them performed is another matter entirely! I just struggle with interpreting things properly without any actors to provide intonation or gestures, and what's supposed to be funny often just ends up being confusing. But this performance was wonderful, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. I laughed myself silly, which is always a good way to celebrate anything.

Yesterday, Kyle told me he was coming home for lunch and mebbe I could pop some popcorn to go with it? (We got an air popper as a wedding gift, and Kyle's been converted.) So I got it all set up and going, then left the room. (Yes, I thought this might not turn out well. I did it anyway. And aren't you glad I did? You know there's awesomeness on the way!)

Well, something sounded off--I think the popping sound stopped rather early--so I ducked back into the kitchen. I found this:

Please note the blob of partially melted butter to the right of the paper towel roll. That was in a little tray atop the popper, melting. Pre-launch, of course. The tray thingie is visible over in the sink.

Needless to say, I was still cleaning up when Kyle got home. Our best guess as to what transpired is that 1) I didn't get the top on securely and/or 2) the corn popped up too quickly and raised the top right off. It was, well, amazing. Just wow.

I have medical insurance again! It's a beautiful thing.

Yep--I have migraine medication again and everything. So lovely.

Papa John's doesn't deliver to us. The nearest one is a couple of towns over. [weeps]