Saturday, November 29, 2008

Leftovers

I ate what?

That's right - Thanksgiving Pizza. Now I can't say that I'm actually giving thanks for it right now, but it was better than good. Sadly.

Why did I do it?

So I said to David and Rose, "I think we're just having Thanksgiving leftovers for dinner tonight." And then he said, "Well, have you ever tried Thanksgiving Pizza?" To which I replied, "Are you high?"

What is it?

Apparently you take a blank pizza crust and then pile on all of the bits and bobs that are left in your refrigerator after the big day. David was quite artistic about it, because that's the way he is about pizza. It went something like this:

- Spread some plain tomato sauce on the crust
- Artfully arrange mass amounts of shredded turkey breast. We used baked, but I'll bet fried or smoked would be just as good.
- Mash your stuffing/dressing all over the top of the turkey.
- Cover in a soft white shredded cheese - we used mozzarella.
- Bake at 450 degrees for about 13 minutes.
- Spoon on cold cranberry sauce after it comes out of the oven.
- Lastly, let your willing victims pour a little bit of warm gravy and some freshly ground pepper.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Life

Random Stumble:

'I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy.' They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life. "

Happy November 27th

I'm sitting at my parents house, watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I have to say that Michael Flatley's Irish accent sounds fake. That made me laugh.

I was also really amused as the announcers were running down the list of "celebrities" making appearances during the parade. When they got to the name Rick Astley, I giggled. I said out loud, they're going to Rick Roll the WHOLE country. *LOL*

Unaccountably, I felt kind of sad too. Probably because I'm missing Jes. Maybe because I feel really thankful to be in a warm home with people who love me. But probably because of the former more than the latter.

Cheers and enjoy the holiday in your own way.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Green things

Today I got the last piece of my birthday present. I guess I am now officially 32 and all of the month long celebrations are complete.

On my desk I have a lovely green Rosemary Bonsai tree. The smell is phenomenal and is actually going straight to my head (at home I won't be sitting on top of it, so no worries).


It's so pretty!

I'm reading all about the care and feeding of an indoor bonsai right now. I hope I'm up to the challenge. The sad houseplants in our apartment would probably tell a different story, but I'm hopeful.

Can't wait to get it home and unwrap it!

But I'm nervous. Apparently these things take some work, which I'm not notorious for keeping up with. (Hey, knowledge is power, right?) I'll be pruning the branches and the roots.

It would appear that bonsai are traditionally outdoor plants, I never knew that. I DO know that my outdoor options are death to plants (as evidenced by my botched container garden this summer). My porch is an inferno for plants.

Okay, I'm back to feeling nervous. I just read about watering the bonsai. This website ends with the adage, "Watering is a learned skill in Japan an apprentice is given pruning shears on his first day but he won't touch a watering can for another four years!" If that's not written to inspire fear, I don't know what is.


Oh, and wish me luck.


Monday, November 17, 2008

Feelin' Sappy

The title says it all. I'm getting excited about the Mr.'s impending return. I found this song today and it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Hope he can actually listen to it while on the ship. Probably not, but it's worth a try.

*waves* Hi, sugar!



Mom's New Head

Check out the fir Sorcha's new hair cut - I think it turned out really well.

Pretty Lady

Thank you to Paula who recommended we go to Cherie's Nail Spa to visit Nanette. The spa was nice and she got a great style.

Hope she still likes it tomorrow. And no, Mom, the picture is really a good one, honest.

Monday, November 10, 2008

New York City?


Sorry, every time I hear the words "New York City," I think of this commercial.

But in all seriousness, I had a most excellent weekend with the Sisters Buck in the Big Apple.

Kelly and I packed some great bus food and we were on our way Saturday morning. Thanks, Sam, for dropping us off!

We took the Bolt Bus from DC to NY (and back) and it was a super sweet ride. We all took part in "Bolt for Buck" while I bolted WITH Bucks. Ha. After a solid, and swift, 4 hours, we arrived in NYC. It was rainy, but warm, so not as miserable as advertised.

Our first stop was the Museum of Sex. Whoever recommended this gets a cookie because it was a pretty fun museum. It could have been bigger for the price, in my opinion, but was still worth it. There were three exhibits to see last weekend including:



As the wall says, "The Sex Lives of Animals." We perused bits and pieces about animal bits and pieces - and what they do with those bits and pieces.



The next exhibit was about "Sex and the Moving Image." It was more interesting to me and quite well done with loads of movie clips illustrating points from early stag films to porn stars to big budget films. It was very dark in there, so no photos, but here's a link to their page.

The last gallery was a back closet of whatever else they had laying around. At least it seemed like it to me. Still very interesting stuff, but no real theme to the room. It included power tool dildos, real dolls, and this beauty:

Do you like yours with pulp? Or without?

After a quick jaunt through the gift shop, it was off into the rain to find a street vendor to feed us. I had a lamb kofta. It looked shockingly just like the lamb gyro, but was tasty at any rate.

We found the hotel with no trouble, no thanks to me. (I spent most of the weekend in a haze of following the Buck girls around. The only thing I took away from this visit, geographically, is that downtown is South.) The hotel itself was pretty and the accommodations were clean, if a little on the tiny side. I learned that economy in NY means something different than it does in WV, or VA Beach for that matter. I also learned that shared bathrooms in hotels still exist and that they are not as scary as advertised. It was a great find for us. Here's a picture:

Our room was on the second floor and the view was of an alley. The cooing pigeons were nice.

We rolled out to Chinatown and it was PACKED and there were a lot of fun shops to see. We stopped in to a tea shop, an art shop and a shop that only sold chopsticks. Kelly took a great picture of Sharon and I there.





The rain was just clearing up and it was still pretty overcast. But as you can see, we were radiant!






We took a taxi to ground zero, but it was full dark and there was nothing for a tourist to see. Other than a void of anything in a square block of downtown. That was kind of awing in and of itself. Everything else is so packed together, all through the city... and then... nothing.

We managed to find our way to Ninja New York for dinner. Again, whoever recommended this gets a cookie, and a gold star. I haven't been to a theme restaurant in recent memory and this one was a blast. You go down an elevator and the ninja that scares the shit out of you as the door opens invites you to take the easy path, or the "ninja path" to your table. The "ninja path" involved going up a few stairs and then down a few stairs in the dark. Again, same ninja scaring the same shit out of Kelly as she rounded a corner.

The dinner was amazing. We sat in a little room, made to look all feudal dungeon-chic with sliding doors and all. We decided to split one of the prix fixe menus and then add on whatever else looked good.

So we had, in no particular order:
Duck
Flounder
Shrimp Tempura Roll
Sushi Soup (which attempted to kill Kelly with spiciness)
Chocolate Mousse
Lamb on fire
Apple Cream
A Four Elements Roll
Tempura Prawns
and lots and lots of dry ice... for effect.

I have to say, I love:Link
Ninja!

We went back to the tiny hotel and all promptly passed out. We are hard core party girls. Seriously.

The next morning saw us up bright and early (because we had gotten so much good sleep, seriously) and out to breakfast at a cafe down the street. The food was tasty and they had a juice bar so I experimented with tomato & beet juice. It tasted like REALLY fresh tomatoes. Yum!

The bus trip home was quiet and speedy. I whiled away an hour of it on the phone with Jes. I kept saying how amazed I am with technology. I was speeding along the highway and he was on the other side of the world, yet we jabbered away like it was cool. Thank GOODNESS for technology - it has helped keep me sane this Fall.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

What a girl wants

When it comes to men, what exactly are women looking for? Here's a humorous look at what a woman wants in her man. (From greatdad.com - don't ask, I Stumbled.)

What I Want In A Man, Original List (at age 22)

1. Handsome
2. Charming
3. Financially successful
4. A caring listener
5. Witty
6. In good shape
7. Dresses with style
8. Appreciates the finer things
9. Full of thoughtful surprises
10. An imaginative, romantic lover

What I Want In A Man, Revised List (at age 32)
1. Nice looking - preferably with hair on his head
2. Opens car doors, holds chairs
3. Has enough money for a nice dinner at restaurant
4. Listens more than he talks
5. Laughs at my jokes at appropriate times
6. Can carry in all the groceries with ease
7. Owns at least one tie
8. Appreciates a good home cooked meal
9. Remembers birthdays and anniversaries
10. Seeks romance at least once a week

What I Want In A Man, Revised List (at age 42)

1. Not too ugly - bald head OK
2. Doesn't drive off until I m in the car
3. Works steady - splurges on dinner at McDonalds on occasion
4. Nods head at appropriate times when I'm talking
5. Usually remembers the punchlines of jokes
6. Is in good enough shape to rearrange the furniture
7. Usually wears shirt that covers stomach
8. Knows not to buy champagne with screw-top lids
9. Remembers to put the toilet seat lid down
10. Shaves on most weekends

**************
I think I'm somewhere between list 2 and 3. *L*

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

An open letter to Barack Obama

From my friend Lisa, who cracks me up on a regular basis.
*************

Hi Barry,

I hope this finds you well. I didn't get a chance to tell you how special last night was for me. No one, not even my husband, has ever been able to send me to bed with tears of joy in my eyes! I mean, wow! That was SPECTACULAR!

But I have to admit that I'm feeling a little ashamed for enjoying myself so much. Not feeling guilty or regretting my choices at all. It's just that, well, I need to know where this relationship is going.

Yeah, I know you didn't even get my name last night, but you made me feel special in a way I haven't experienced in a long, long time. I felt a connection between us, like fate had stepped in and threw us together in a whirlwind of ticker tape and cheering masses. I know you felt it too. The sparkle in your eyes told me, the confident tone of your voice when you told me you wouldn't let me down, even the way you made it sound like we're together for the long haul (when you said that this could go on for at least four years). Four years is a long time, Barry, and I need to know what you plan to do to keep up your responsibilities in our relationship.

You see, I've put my full trust in you. I am so very happy for you. And I truly think you will at least try to do everything you promised. But you're also young and haven't been in a relationship of this magnitude before. I need to know you won't crumble under the pressure. I need to know that you'll take to heart the advice of those who have been around the block a few times. I need to know that when times get tough (as they likely will in a long term relationship), you will stand strong. Barry, I need to know if you really care or if you were just telling me what you thought I wanted to hear.

These things aren't easy for me to ask, but I've been disappointed too many times and I can't bear to go through that again. Please, Barry, promise me you won't break my trust. Promise me you meant every word you said. Promise me that "yes, we can" will become "yes, we will" and then "yes, we did". Promise me that I'll still mean as much to you in four years as I meant to you yesterday.

In turn, I promise that I won't give up on you, but neither will I let you do something stupid and hold my tongue. I promise to support you when you follow through with your promises and admonish you if I see you straying. After all, with the connection you and I have, I know you'll appreciate someone keeping you on the right path.

Please don't let me down, Barry. I want last night's magic to last a very, very long time.

XO,

Lisa

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Vote!

I have done my civic duty.  Have you?

I got to my polling place at about 5 'til 6 this morning.  The line was already around the building with the polls opening at 6AM!  I stood in line, in the rain, for about an hour and fifteen minutes.  I'm hoping that it was all worth it.

I'm hoping that my candidate, Barack Obama wins Virginia.  To be sure, I'm hoping he wins the whole shebang.  Maybe I've bought into a lot of hype, I don't know, but I do know that for the first time in a long time, I'm excited about the possibilities.

Whatever candidates or referendums you support, go to the polls and do it officially.  The time spent in line really is worth it.