Friday morning, I woke up to find an empty suitcase with this note on it:

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It was quite exhilarating – I have never received a note like this before!

Well, the surprise we’re-going-out-of-town part, anyway.

But the thought-out, typed-up, appropriately-bolded, planning-for-my-aggressive-curiosity-and-telling-me-not-to-ask-for-more-details part – oh yeah, that’s my husband.

Ali was quite thrilled with this development also, and kept telling me all day, “I want to stay at Grammama’s a LONG time, okay? A LONG TIME.”

“Okay.”

“A LONG time, Mommy. Alongtime.”

I asked her where she thought Daddy was taking me, and after putting some thought into it, she said, “I think you’re going to Sweden….or Outtakes Deli. I’ve been to Sweden. It’s a pretty place. You can splash your feet in the water.”

I packed according to the detailed specifications laid out for me, with one qualifying question: Would I need a pair of sensible shoes?

After trying to understand my definition of sensible shoes and when I would or wouldn’t find sensible shoes a necessity, Chris decided that no, I did not need sensible shoes.

Thank goodness. I look horrible in sensible shoes.

We headed East. That immediately ruled out a few places I had on the possibilities list, including the Alabama A-Day game (which would have been more of a surprise date for him than me), the Tennessee Mountains, and, quite obviously, anywhere south.

I re-evaluated the options of our destination with each turn and each exit we passed. It was quite the intellectual stimulation.

Not too long into our trip I realized that we must be headed for our favorite “date” city, Atlanta. We arrived at a hotel on the same block as the location of our grandest adventure ever, the one where we lied our way to the roof of an under-construction Atlanta skyscraper – and managed to accidentally lock ourselves onto said roof.

However, since our mugshots are probably hanging in the Security Guy’s office under the heading of “threats”, I figured we wouldn’t be repeating that adventure.

We left for dinner and headed in the general direction of our favorite restaurant, Taverna Plaka. But then things started looking very unfamiliar.

Our destination, although lacking in Chris belly-dancing, had so much more of everything else. We went to Kyma, another Greek restaurant; one that we’d never been to before.IMG_8866

And I’m pretty sure I ate the best meal of my entire life.

But that didn’t happen until after doing a bit of proposal coaching.

When we walked into the restaurant, there was a guy nervously talking to the host, who was apparently a friend. The host held out his finger to us and said, “What do you think?”

We looked at the way-too-small-for-his-manly-fingers diamond ring and gave the obligatory oohs and aahs.

He nodded toward nervous guy. “He’s about to propose. In just a few minutes. We’re planning it now.”

Nervous guy looks at me and says, “We’re here with both of our families. I’m thinking I’m going to have it in her champagne glass. What do you think?”

I immediately realized that a guy that is mere minutes away from proposing doesn’t REALLY want my opinion, he just wants my affirmation. Which is what I gave him…kind of.

“That sounds fun…as long as she doesn’t swallow it.”

Had he wanted my opinion, my answer would have been quite different.

Sure enough, as soon as we sat down, we were able to watch the champagney drama play out, which led to squealing and screaming and kissing and hugs and awkward-in-law kisses and more screaming and a bit of crying.

It was quite romantic, even, apparently, the sticky ring.

Our food was even better. They had amazing Tzatziki Sauce (almost as good as my Mom’s):IMG_8857
The best fish I’ve ever eaten in my life (imported from Greece – who does that??):
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French Fries a la Cheese Snow:
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And gorgeous lamb chops:
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The wait staff were all Greek, and quite a lot of fun, such as jumping in front of my photos right before I took them:

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The next morning, Chris said he had a present for me – he bought me “something pretty”.

The box was a bit heavier that I would expect something pretty to be, but when I unwrapped it, I found it to be quite gorgeous:

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A mini netbook. My husband knows me well.
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I introduced it to my regular laptop (who was feeling a bit depressed) for size comparison:

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It’s the prettiest something pretty I’ve ever seen. My travelling just got a WHOLE lot lighter, and Chris just earned a whole safety deposit box full of brownie points.

Saturday’s agenda was still a complete surprise, other than to tell me it would only include things we’ve never done before. First stop: lunch at The Flying Biscuit, which holds the esteemed designation of being the first place I’ve ever photographed the bathroom ceiling:IMG_8878
Although my food was so good that I forgot to photograph it before I started devouring it,IMG_8875

The most fascinating thing was on Chris’ plate: Chicken Sausage and Turkey Bacon.IMG_8876
I thought the bacon was pretty bland, but the sausage was great! I have no idea how they make chicken taste like pork, but I’m definitely interested.

(I know, it was Chris’ food, not mine…but such a curious creation begs to be tasted!)

After lunch, we walked across midtown to the High Museum of Art (after which I was starting to question Chris’ decision that I didn’t need sensible shoes, but my feet curling up and falling off was a small price to pay for such a perfectly surprising weekend).

We soaked up some culture and history, then headed back to get Ali, who didn’t necessarily feel that she had been allowed to stay for a LONG time, but pretended to be slightly happy to see us anyway.

22 thoughts on “Destination: Unknown.

  1. You lucky duck. Let me go smack my husband and get back to reading blogs. Just kidding about the reading blogs part, I have to cook dinner! I'm so glad you had a wonderful weekend. The food looked especially wonderful! I could almost taste that lamb chop.

  2. This was not a good post for a pregnant woman to read. Also, LOVE me some chicken sausage. At Whole Foods they have Spinach and Asiago Cheese Chicken sausage…YUM. It's in the back with the rest of the meat cuts. I don't like the packaged kind. Sorry for the rant, but you made me hungrier! I just called my husband who is at the store right now and told him to bring me biscuits.

  3. You are so blessed to have such a romantic husband!
    All the food at the Greek restaurant looks delicious, but I'm dying to taste those french fries w/ "cheese snow"!

  4. What a fun and sweet surprise! Jason has surprised me ONE time and it was when he proposed. He did really good that day :) It will be 3 years ago tomorrow.

  5. HOW FUN! What a cute, romantic husband. I love how thoughtful husbands can be. The food looks amazing. Once again you have me drooling on my laptop. I don't consider this a "food blog" but somehow this blog always makes me salivate ;).

  6. I kept seeing your FB status updates about guesses as to where you were headed glad to hear the details! That food is making me hungry even though I just had the most delicious gourmet roast beef compliments to Arby's ;)

  7. How fun! You have an awesome husband! I am leaving this post up for my own to get a few ideas. :) Love your new computer!

  8. So awesome! Chris is the best! Well…second best, but he is right up there near Blake in uber wonderfulness! I'm so glad you had such a great time. I can't wait to try both Greek restaurants and give my verdict. Yumminess!

    What wonderful thing did you do to merit a surprise trip AND a new mini me laptop?

  9. Oh what grand plans! He did so well! He usually does based on past surprises. What a great romantic you have there, Rachel. I love how he thinks things through so well to keep you on your toes.

    And your new laptop is ever so pretty.

  10. That was just dreamy. How blessed you are to be married to a romantic!

    I have had so much fun reading through your blog this evening and getting caught up with you. The picture of Ali licking the knife made me cringe and sort of cracked me up all at once!

    Have a wonderful week Rachel.

  11. Wow! A trip and a gift. I'm jealous. Way to go Chris! Well thought out. Tim did this a couple of times pre-kids. Notice I said pre-kids. (: The food looks divine!
    April

  12. Good job Chris!! very sweet of him!

    let me know how you like your netbook…i havent decided if thats the route i want to go for my next computer…i am coveting a macbook, BUT for the price…

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