Spring Break: 2010

After a very long and hard winter, The Husband and I treated ourselves to a weekend away.  We didn’t go far, opting to drive to Omaha for a romantic weekend.  Does the Henry Doorly Zoo and SAC museum count as romantic?  In our world it does.  I busted out of work early and we hit the road as fast as we could.   Sadly, this vacation took place almost two months ago but things have been so crazy that my brain thinks it’s still January. Someone please tell me how it’s already May! 4th!  Tomorrow is Cinco De Mayo and I don’t have a single cumin scented recipe to share with you! Blasphemy! Enough with the overuse of exclamation points!

When we arrived in Omaha we met with my friend Deanna and her husband for dinner at Spaghetti Works.  Catching up on the last few months of our lives was great. There’s something refreshing about being around another military couple. The silly jokes and mil-speak is not lost on them and we have a chance to sit back and not think before we speak.  (I’m working on creating a recipe for the Beer-Cheese Sauce from Spaghetti Works, when I nail it down I’ll share.)  There’s never enough time spent with friends though and our evening came to an end all too quickly.  I’m still kicking myself for not snapping a picture of Deanna with her buzzed head.  (The Marines won the Valour-IT fundraising last year and as a victory dance, Deanna, a former Marine, opted to shave her head.. of course, she’s adorable.)

Saturday morning brought cloudy skies, but a lightening in The Husband’s demeanor.  Just what I was looking for, a smile from the man who is enduring entirely too much stress.  I was incredibly excited about going to the zoo because for the past year or so I’ve been recognizing the amazing works God has created with the earth’s other living things.   When I was a kid and someone pointed at a cow and said, “Whiskey… that’s a cow,” who was I to argue?  Great.  A cow.  Same thing with zebras, mountain lions, sea creatures… As an adult, I find it utterly amazing that we live amongst these magnificent creatures.  I find myself dumbfounded by the animals, how beautiful and intriguing they are and how I can’t believe that I let God’s beauty escape me for so long.

That evening we went to the Old Market again for dinner at a great little Tex-Mex joint, Julio’s where we shared fajitas that were served with broccoli, zucchini and carrots! They were more than fantastic.  Unfortunately, the KU/K-State game was on while we were eating dinner and the poor Husband had to endure dinner with my leaning backwards on the pub stool to watch the game through the bar.  We won though!  Anywho, if you’re ever in Omaha, definitely get the fajitas at Julios.  You won’t regret it.

With all of the drama surrounding The Husband and his job selection, I wasn’t sure if he wanted to go to the Strategic Air Command Museum so I left the decision up to him.  To me, a trip to Omaha is pointless if you’re not going to the SAC Museum though.  What can I say?  Aircraft is my porn.  Jet fuel is the perfume of the elite. Thankfully, he decided that he’d be able to handle a trip to the museum.  We spent the entire day at the museum, talking about what lies ahead for us and enjoying the history of this great nation’s air power.

If you are planning a trip to Omaha, I highly recommend the Magnolia Hotel.  The staff is friendly and intelligent about the area.  They offer a complimentary breakfast that is far superior to any continental breakfast I’ve ever had.  Another couple great perks about the hotel is the complimentary cocktail hour and cookies and milk service.  The hotel is a short walk away from the Old Market and all of the fabulous dining, shopping and nightlife opportunities offered there.  The hotel is gorgeously restored to create an old-world ambiance that cannot be beat.