So yesterday, I had all the intention in the world to update the blog. However, I got completely sidetracked by a book my work-study boss recommended to me for summer ‘fun reading.’ Let me tell you, this book was disturbing as all get out! The book is called The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, and it’s basically about an outbreak of the Ebola and Marburg viruses in the 1960s-1990s. The outbreaks took place in Germany, Africa, and Washington, D.C., and the book is based on a completely true story, which is the most disturbing thing of all.
Don't read this book at night
I started reading the book today while I was with the bf, Blake, at his work. He works at a school and had kids in and out all day, so I mostly stayed in his office, holed up with the book. My boss told me it was “terrifying”, and it even had a review from Stephen King, so I thought it would be REALLY scary. However, while reading it, the fact that it was a true story somehow made it less scary… that is, while I was reading it. The minute I put the book down and went about the rest of my business, I kept thinking about the book. Even though the book was published in the 1990s, and I’m pretty sure significant research has been done on Ebola since then, I couldn’t stop thinking about people dying from Ebola.
The way the author describes everything was so graphic, it was hard to NOT think about it. Needless to say, I couldn’t fall asleep last night for a very long time. Even when I was able to close my eyes, I kept seeing people bleeding from the eyeballs in my dreams. Scary enough for you? Words to the wise: Don’t read this book before bedtime!! Such a mistake… and even worse, I kept waking up throughout the night! Thank goodness for coffee, albeit lukewarm coffee…
Yesterday itself, in between reading the book, was pretty awesome though. In the morning, I was with the bf at work. Around 10 AM, my friend from high school came to pick me up and take me to breakfast. Every time I’m in Phoenix, visiting the bf or my family, I always make it a point to visit my two closest friends from HS. One of those friends I saw last weekend (the inappropriate birthday party), and yesterday I saw the other friend, Donna.
We went to one of my favorite breakfast places ever: First Watch!
Get in my mouth!
My friends and bf go here ALL THE TIME. I’m not even kidding. Back when I lived in Phoenix, right after graduating from college, two friends and I lived right around the corner from this First Watch, so naturally it would be a place we’d go to when we were hungover, hungry, tired, didn’t have enough food, didn’t feel like cooking… pretty much all the time on the weekends! After Blake and I started dating, we started going to First Watch too, because it was right around the corner and had food that we can both eat! Now that I come back to Phoenix pretty frequently, for my closest friends and me, it’s turned into our “get brunch and multiple refills on coffee and catch up for 2 hours” type of place. Don’t worry, we leave amazing tips.
Anyway, I was so ravenous by the time we got to First Watch that I didn’t take a picture of my food when it came out. However, I did get a sweet picture of the part of food I didn’t finish and took home…
It looked better plated...
I ordered from the “Lighter Side” of the menu, which is where all the healthier items are located. This meal was the Triathlete omelette, which is an egg-white omelette with green chilis and mushrooms and tomatoes… plus some chili salsa on top! It also came with an English muffin (dry) and a side of fruit. Yum!
The best part of the whole visit? Other than catching up with my friend, of course! Our waitress, who we’ve had many times before, gave us some First Watch coffee to go!! Holla!!
Today, after last night’s nightmares, I’m also drinking coffee, but it is not as good as First Watch’s. However, it’ll do for now! This weekend I’m going back down to Tucson to see my family. It’s kind of a pain to have to go back and forth between Tucson and Phoenix (a 2 hour drive) when I don’t have a car, because I have to rely on other people to pick me up and take me back, and I have to rely on their time frames. Also, a lot of people don’t like making the drive, whereas I don’t mind it at all.
But I am really excited to see my parents, grandparents, and cousin one last time before I leave to go back to school. I also can’t wait to go swimming one last time!
Finally… TGIF! 
