So Cal Admirers

I'm back in SD for the second weekend now after a long week in the O.C. traveling from fair to fair. The first half of the week I stayed in hotels and the second half I got to chill with Shawn and his family. I've really been enjoying my internship lately, and while I go back and forth, I'm starting to feel more like I could do this as a real job for awhile, which is good since recruiting is the most likely way to break into this business.

Last weekend was great fun, what with Rachael's birthday, going out dancing, Oktoberfest in El Cajon, and the Little Italy Chalk Festival. There was so much to do, we hardly got in any relaxing at all! Well, I guess drinking beer in a massage chair would qualify as pretty darn relaxing...

My most interesting night this week was definitely in Long Beach. I checked into what I assume to be the nicest Super8 on the planet. Edwin, the sweet sweet clerk, always called me by name, escorted me from the car to the lobby, and upgraded me to a suite (who knew?). And, they offer a happy hour with Chex Mix and boxed wine. Alright, it is still Super8, remember...

I went out to an authentic, family-run Italian restaurant on my own for dinner. The place was small, so one could hear everyone else's conversations. I was enjoying chatting a bit in Italian to the waitress, the owner's daughter and watching the other parties dine.

Then, in the middle of my pasta scamorza the retired gentleman from the table next to mine who was dining with his wife got up, came over to my table, and declared, "You are beautiful and you do NOT deserve to be eating alone." He proceeded to kiss my hand and introduce himself, then continued, "Seriously, you are gorgeous. And I hope there's someone waiting for you." I was totally flushed, to the stay the least, and babbled out that he was very sweet and made my night. The best part of the whole event was that when he sat back down, his wife chastised him in sharp whispers. He defended himself with "She liked it!" and I sent a reassuring smile over to their table. "See, she liked it!"

It got even better when the owner came over and we began conversing I suppose more loudly in Italian than I had before because out of my periphery I could see my admirer light up with a look that said, "And she speaks Italian?!" It was fabulous.