Weekend Wind-Down #43 - Valentine's Day Edition

VAL 2228 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. Yesterday, Missy and I went to the GEORGIA AQUARIUM in Atlanta for Valentine's Day. We had purchased tickets thru work about a year ago and had to use them before they expired...so we figured, "why not on Valentine's Day?" Well, we thought that maybe the aquarium wouldn't be so crowded because of Valentine's, but boy were we wrong. So many families were there. Also, because we ran errands in the morning and got stuck in traffic, we got to the aquarium about an hour and a half before they closed. We were afraid that we wouldn't get to see all the exhibits but we were able to hit them all despite the crowds... Missy was super excited to see the BELUGA WHALES: VAL 2249 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. My favorite part of the aquarium was the GLASS TUNNEL...truly amazing: VAL 2276 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. They had these cool little GARDEN EELS that looked like little plants. They would duck down into their burrows when the bigger fish rushed them: VAL 2279 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. I really dug the JELLYFISH tanks: VAL 2282 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. VAL 2286 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. A bunch of couples were trying to take their pictures in front of this tropical reef, so we decided we should too: These OTTERS were another favorite exhibit of ours: VAL 2329 from Raoul de la Cruz on Vimeo. After the aquarium, we went to our favorite vegetarian restaurant in Atlanta, CAFE SUNFLOWER, and we ordered our favorite dish. It's a mountain of mashed potatoes shored up by a "garden loaf", roasted asparagus, and spring rolls, all floating on a puddle of mushroom gravy. You wouldn't think that the spring rolls would work with something as traditional as "meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy", but it totally does in the most delicious way. We capped dinner off with a peanut butter mousse cake... After dinner, walking back to the car, we came across this cage with a bunny rabbit in it. It was right outisde this 24 hour fitness place and we thought at first that maybe it belonged to somebody in the gym but then saw this note on it that said FREE...we didn't even have to think twice about it. Missy and I carried the cage and put it in the back of my car and took it back home to Athens with us... We put the bunny in our back porch, which is enclosed, and wrapped a blanket around it for warmth. This morning, Missy took the blanket off and introduced the newly-named OREO to NILLA. Fortunately for us, neither of them seemed to be freaked out by each other. Oreo is so friendly too...she isn't skittish or timid at all and doesn't mind being petted. What a totally unexpected Valentine's Day present: FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK? MISSY - Going to the aquarium. RAOUL - Valentine's Day! WORST MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK? MISSY - Fear of getting laid off at work. RAOUL - Finding an abandoned bunny...it's terrible that someone would abandon a bunny on Valentine's Day! WORD OR PHRASE OF THE PAST WEEK? MISSY - "Do you have a bed at home?" RAOUL - "Captain Lou" FAVORITE MEAL OF THE PAST WEEK? MISSY - Cafe Sunflower...peanut butter mousse! RAOUL - Dinner at Cafe Sunflower. FAVORITE EXHIBIT AT THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM? MISSY - The beluga whales. RAOUL - I'm gonna have to go with the jellyfish. PERSONAL RESOLUTION FOR NEXT WEEK? MISSY - Get more rest. RAOUL - Get back on my exercise and eating routine. PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK FOR LAST WEEK? MISSY - Lykke Li, of Montreal, Beirut, Hawk And A Hacksaw. RAOUL - The Sisterhood of Convoluted Thinkers, Hawk And A Hacksaw, Beirut, M.I.A., Cannanes, Praying Mantis, Danielson, Beck, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Komeda, TeenBeat Records' "Wakefield" box set.