Le ballon rose

Monday, February 13, 2012


Isn't this photo impossibly sweet? I usually pick red over pink, especially the week of Valentine's Day, but I thought I'd try something just a bit different this time around!

After a very busy work week and a "One in a Million" celebration (we've now reached 1.5 million active daily users!), I was thrilled to finally see Friday night. I grabbed John from school and we both agreed–tonight was the night for Indian food, maybe even in bed. Ultimately we decided that curry sauces and white sheets wouldn't mix well, but our late night supper was no less heavenly at the kitchen table. 

John was out of the house early for a Saturday morning rehearsal, so I lounged in bed and spent the day catching up on all of your blogs with a cup of tea and a slice of brioche toast. We indulged in an afternoon documentary from Netflix and then hustled to get the house ready for our guests–John's parents! We picked them up from SFO and brought them back to our spotless apartment, then served my Mama's delicious paella with a bottle of Rioja. After a walk around Golden Gate Park (one of our favorite evening activities after a big supper), we all headed to bed early to catch up on some much-needed rest.

John's been working around the clock for the last six weeks to prepare for a Masterclass with Odair Assad (his teacher, Sergio Assad's brother) and his audition for the Professional Studies Diploma, and the week has finally come! We grabbed coffee at Trouble Coffee Sunday morning and John whipped up a Spanish tortilla for breakfast. I curled up with a cup of Paris tea and The Paris Wife (it's taking me ages to finish, but I'm enjoying every page) while John practiced his scales and took a pre-performance nap that afternoon, and finally it was time to head to Hayes Valley. We ate kebabs before John went to warm up, and held our breaths waiting for him to play. One and a half hours and many excellent performances later, John finally took the stage with his arrangement of Honegger's Danse de la chèvre for guitar; he played brilliantly, I breathed an enormous sigh of relief, and all the performers grabbed a beer at Suppenküche to toast a job very well done.

Tell me, what were you up to this weekend?

Photo by Corbin Gurkin.

27 comments:

  1. Congrats John!

    Lately, my grandmother has been coming to our Sunday night family dinners, which really makes me feel closer to her. Seeing her at her assisted living apartment is nice, but having her actually come out & eat with us is so lovely.

    Also, I've always been more of a red girl too, but lately a few pieces have been changing my mind... Namely these balloons. :)

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  2. Huge Congrats to you Miss Lena!!! How exciting!! Wonderful News for John!!

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  3. Big weekend! We caught up on movies, dinners in and some family time. It's collllldddd here!

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  4. What a great weekend! Congratulations, darling. I'm captivated by the idea of a Spanish tortilla. Holy!

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  5. Huga congrats to you my dear!!! I went out to the Artwalk and that was great... and then yesterday I dedicated my night to Downton Abbey... it was soooo good!!!!
    Have a nice one my dear!

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  6. Sounds just amazing...and I wish I could have been there to hear John! I bet it was wonderful!

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  7. Heart balloons in my post today too! Kindred spirits? :)
    What a weekend!! 1.5 million active daily users is incredible...wow! I did homework pretty much all weekend (trying to get ahead so I won't have to do any when John gets here!), with a few breaks to watch Sex and the City and eat macarons, and to sign a lease with one of my best friends for next year...apartment ideas pinning has ensued :)

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  8. The photo is too cute! What a lovely weekend. & congrats!!!

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  9. Love that photo and I love hearing about John's performance. Your support for one another is incredible.

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  10. Sounds like a full, fun weekend!

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  11. wow you busy lady!!!!

    p.s. LOVE the pink! xx

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  12. you are kidding, you guys had Indian food?! I would have never guessed :)

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  13. Such a busy and wonderful weekend! Congrats.

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  14. paella sounds amazing. what an accomplished weekend you had. :)

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  15. I love the pink balloons! Parents visiting! How fun! xx

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  16. How exciting! Congrats John! You must be so proud.

    Love that photo... must get my hands on some of those adorable balloons!

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  17. Sounds like another great weekend! We found our wedding venue and booked it -- so excited! xo style, she wrote

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  18. Yay to John! You two are such a power couple :) Heart you pretty lady xo

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  19. a big huge congrats to your main man. Tiho also has a big day tomorrow and I don't know if I'll breathe normally until it's through!

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  20. I wallowed in sorrows sipping margaritas and listening to Whitney Houston at my fave Mexican place. Old lady status, but I'm pretty sad about it. Great news on John's performance though! xo

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  21. congrats to both of you!
    what netflix doc did you watch?
    ps- you would love downton abbey on netflix if you aren't yet a fan.

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  22. 1.5 millioooon users - said with pinky to lips ;) Congrats!!

    I swear you're weekends always sound like a DREAM!

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  23. What a wonderful weekend! if I had people staying with me I wouldn't have lounged in bed...I would've been cleaning like a madwoman.

    Danse de la chevre?! I'm picturing the little goat puppets in Sound of Music. Bravo John!

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  24. Sounds like a most delightful weekend! Glad everything worked out so perfectly for John.

    I have The Paris Wife on order actually - can't wait to read it! :-)

    ~ Clare x

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  25. It's official, I need to order some heart shaped balloons. Just to have. This photo is DARLING!

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A Crimson Kiss – Timeless Events and Classic Cocktails by Ana Degenaar : Blogger