Product placement, version 3

these are awesome :)

What's a lost apostrophe between friends?

For some reason if I post to this blog first and then copy it to my MySpace, I lose all the punctuation except periods. Never lose your period.

Went out with the girls last night for sushi at Bonsai sushi -- it was fantabulous! The usual suspects, of course, and a couple specialty rolls like a Rising Sun roll and a Gator Roll (with tempura gator on top) ... yum yum! But no yum yum, because I'm not a fan. We also meandered through the stores and went shopping but we were all pretty good about our spending (for once ... hehe). I stayed later than I meant to at Shelley's, because Christen was going to be home late and I didn't want to be home too long by myself late at night. It turned out he got home about 45 minutes after me, and we stayed up talking until far too late. It was hard to get up for work this morning. To tell you the truth, this whole week has been tough. Hopefully I'll get caught up by tomorrow afternoon and next week will be easier. I don't like not enjoying work.

we can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind

So I’ve been trying to read The Way the Crow Flies, and I just can’t get into it. Technically, I guess I’m into it – I’ve read 56 pages of it. But it’s just not thrilling me. So I bought 15 books from a Jordan, some of which I bought for my brother but all of which I plan on reading and borrowed two Anthony Bourdain books from Brad, so I think I’m going to put this aside. If someone has read it and liked it, please tell me if it gets more intriguing. I don’t want to read all 810 pages thinking as I turn the page, “I don’t want to put this down, because one day it’ll get good” and then it just doesn’t. That happened when I saw Not Another Teen Movie in the theater. I was sick, and wanted to sleep through it, but I kept thinking I was going to fall asleep and miss the one funny part. It turned out I should have just taken the nap. So I brought A Cook’s Tour with me to work, which I’ll probably start reading during lunch. I love food porn.

I’ve decided not to worry about the divorce rate in America anymore. I figure, in my family there’s not nearly as much divorce as I would think: My parents are divorced, and my uncle has been divorced twice, and my aunt has once (she’s been remarried for 10-15 years). But that’s it. So theoretically, my family has a very low divorce rate. And in Christen’s, the rate is even lower – I think two of his uncles have been divorced, and one of them has been remarried for awhile, and his aunt has been divorced and remarried for ages. Plus, I could have gotten married when all my friends from high school got married, but I’d probably be divorced now too. I was just too young; everything about me has changed. The guy I would have married and I are just two completely different people now. Nothing against him, I’m still rather fond of him (although it did take awhile for us to grow up enough to be friends again).

Last night I went over Jordan’s and cooked for him and Brad. I made that veggie pesto pasta with shrimp and a chocolate peanut butter pie, and I must say – all food was fabulous. Hehe. It was a lot of fun though, which I am very happy about. I was starting to worry about some of the friendships there, as it had been a long time since I had seen either of them and a very long time since I had even spoken to one of them. But there was great conversation, lots of laughter, good food, good wine (Jordan got a bottle of wine for us, and it was not bad at all – La Bastarda, or something like that). Very pleased, I was. It must not be that long before we do it again.

Tonight is girl’s night, and I have pledged to make the trek back out to Tampa because I am the only one with air conditioning and they’ve been driving out to see me for the past two or three weeks. I don’t know what we are to do – currently there’s not a lot of wedding issues to iron out, although I do need to get on with a photographer, dj, and florist. I’ve picked out the dj & florist, but I really need to contact them to make sure that they are available for that day. And I have a few prospects for photographers. Man, if you want to make good money, become a wedding photographer. They make money hand over fist, seriously. I wish I made $225-350 an hour. I should get Christen start doing weddings. He’s a really good photographer; he just needs a good digital camera, which he plans on getting for the honeymoon anyhow. So afterward I can start farming him out to different weddings, maybe at a discount price until he gets some experience so he has pictures for his Web site, and hike up the prices to two grand for a 6-hour session. Sound like a plan? I do need to start working out. I put on this dress that I love today and it was a bit tighter than usual – still fits, but not as comfortably as it should. Plus, I ordered my wedding dress, and though I didn’t order a size too small, I did order the tighter size, with the intention of dropping 5-10 lbs to make it more comfortable, which would mean that I wouldn’t need to get the bodice taken in at all (read: cheaper). I want to join a gym close to home, so that when I’m sitting on my butt at home I can just go around the corner to work out. I was working out at the work gym, but my workout partner stopped coming, and then I kept on for a little while longer and then I got waylaid as well. I might just buy some little weights and try to start walking, but I don’t know how much drive I’ll have that way either.

Love & Marriage

Does it ever worry you that so many of our contemporaries are already divorced? I saw a girl I went to school in Target today, and asked her how things were ... asked her what her last name was (haha), whether it was still her maiden or if she had gotten married by now. She said it was, and then it was another and now she's back to first again. And on MySpace I've met up with so many old friends who married and divorced, a few of them more than once by now. And I'm only in my mid-20s! So who's to say that my marriage will work? Why should I be any different?

I know that I feel more for Christen than I've ever felt for anyone. That even after almost 4 years together, a look from him can still make my heart flutter. I've never needed someone so much and yet been capable of having my own life with him in it rather than making him my whole life. He's the straight man to my craziness -- calm and easygoing and quiet. But has the capacity to be the biggest goof I've ever met.

How do I know, though? Didn't they all feel the same way before too?

Books devoured this week

All were beautiful, lovely, and each was finished in less than a day.

Hawtt

I think this woman is hot.



And I hate when they hide her freckles.

Sushi Snob

So I've come to grips with the fact that I am indeed a sushi snob. I realized this when I called Shiki Sushi to order take-out on my way home. "We open at 5. You come at 5?" He said. Of course, it was 4:30, but I said sure thing. So driving there, I realized that I didn't have anything to eat it on. I have my usual plates, but they're these old green flowered plates that my mom got me as a housewarming present in college and they're not the most attractive plates in the world. Mom even said so when she gave them to me. So since I had half an hour to kill I stopped by Super Target and bought really pretty white plates to eat my sushi on. With my little black soy ramikans and my new red chopsticks (Thank you, Shelley) it was the perfect setting for my meal. I got a spider roll, a phillie roll and a dragon roll, but they don't put eel in the dragon roll. However, they do serve it with eel sauce. Very suspicious. I figured out what I'm not fond of with the sushi there: it's too salty. The tempura breading tastes like it was fried in seawater. Not inedible, but not as satisfying as Toki. My final judgement.

Banana Pancakes

I woke up this morning singing Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes".

Can't you see that it's just raining, ain't no need to go outside ... But Baby, You hardly even notice when I try to show you this song is meant to keep ya from doing what you're supposed to waking up too early, Maybe we can sleep in I'll make you banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend now ...

I was late to work; I woke up to thunder -- so soothing to go back to sleep. So I did. Then when I finally got up and took a shower to go to work and was almost ready to go, Lola was acting strange and I got worried about her ... her stomach was making weird noises and she wasn't acting like herself. I'm a little worried about her; can't wait to get back home to check on her. Plus Christen was at home and I haven't seen him much so I had to update him on everything. I hate when he works so much like this. I don't sleep well when I'm home alone, so I get to bed very late (he still gets home after I fall asleep) and then I go to work before he gets up in the morning so I really don't get to see him. So being late today I actually got to talk to him for a few precious minutes before hopping off to work. I can't wait until Back To School is over. He told me this morning that they are getting another assistant on Monday, so hopefully that will take some of the strain off because he'll only work every third weekend and hopefully not so many nights. They've decided to build an OD in the old Winn Dixie a quarter mile from our house, so if he stays with them for awhile longer maybe he can transfer out here. It's really bad with all the driving. He spends so much in gas. I get gas once every week to week and a half and it costs about $30. He spends $45-$50 to fill up and has to do it every couple days.

Enough complaining about all that though. Today's Friday, and the next two days are free, so I'll actually be able to spend quality time with ... well, I guess with Lola. Christen is off on Sunday so we have to go to the Club to book it for our reception, and take his parents to see it and the chapel and everything. And it's Scott's birthday so I need to go get something for that (hello, Best Buy gift card). Hurrah! Being a grown-up is hard!

Crying over spoilt milk

So overnight the milk in my fridge decided to spoil. I know it was overnight because last night we had pie and milk and everything was fine. This morning I poured myself a big glass of milk to take with me to work. I got on the road, I took a giant swig ... and was almost sick. It actually made me ill all day. Sadly, this also made me have to throw away the rest of the pie since it was made with the same milk and it wasn't cooked, so it spoiled too (or at least I wasn't going to take the chance).

The storms are bad bad right now. I had to lock Lola inside because she wouldn't stop going outside and the lightning is very close. It's pretty bad -- it would be nicer if it were morning and I was able to sleep in. But alas, I'm just hanging out at home watching WS of Pop Culture (it's the finals, baby) and soothing the dog.

I played Sims tonight for awhile and got really far ... and then the computer froze. And I had just gotten Shell and Richard to fall in love ... damn it. I'll have to work on that again, I guess. I'm waiting for a non-storm night though.

pink elephants prancing

I’ve written a couple blogs since my last and neglected to post them … lazy, you may say? Yeah, I’ve been lazy. It’s been nice, too. :) Sunday after my crappy day Christen came home and we went for Chinese food, which was a pleasant excursion. The day did get better before he got home though – I watched Shopgirl and The White Countess (liked the first, bored by the latter) and addressed all my Save the Date cards (I keep trying to shorten that, but STD cards doesn’t portray exactly what I wish to portray) with my new caligraphy pen (I bought a cheap-o but it works great). The culmination of the “bad day” part of Sunday was when I started crying because I couldn’t find the Sims cd (Christen put it in this little drawer thing in the computer). I found it, but I think it was just one of those days where you need to go to bed and wake up the next day and forget about the rest of the day. Or maybe if we just had a “reset” button like on Nintendo.

Irony: On the TBT, Sweetbay has an ad that says “Taste the Passion” right under the article about Mel Gibson’s DUI arrest. Hehe. So Monday, Christen had the day off and decided to take me to work and pick me up, and also to take me to lunch. It was a nice day, although I wished I was just home with him instead of at work for him to pick up. We were supposed to take the deposit for the reception hall over, but the lady wasn’t there so we’ve had to reschedule for Sunday. And so we ended up spending the hours after work at Borders looking at wedding magazines and bouquet books. I found a beautiful bouquet that I think might work if I replace some of the flowers with tulips (it had a lot less tulips than I would prefer). Monday we also started working on the Save the Date cards because Christen was home to get the printer working (I don’t understand; it works for him but never for me) and actually got them almost done. I finished them yesterday when I got home. The girls and I had planned on doing them tonight but this is better – we can have a nice night and talk shop but not actually have to do anything, which is the nicest thing. Last night I made a Chocolate Banana Pie for tonight (if it’s any good I’ll post the recipe for you), finished the cards, and played Sims 2 (hurrah! I finally graduated college in the damn thing!). Tonight I’m making dinner for the girls – Chicken Bryan (an altered recipe from one I found online and it’s fantastic) with garlic spinach, croissants or cheese biscuits (I haven’t decided yet) and chocolate banana pie. Woohoo! I think we might mosy on over to The Zone if the boys are playing again tonight. I’m sure it’ll all be fun! Toodles!

Ick.

I'm in a wretched mood today. I wish it would rain again to match my mood, but knowing the weather it'll only rain when I don't want it to -- like every other day. I'm still upset about my hair, which I know I should get over but I'm having trouble doing so.

I tried to print my Save the Dates and the f&@$# printer has decided to not work. It works when Christen uses it, but being that he's never home (damn back-to-school time) I'm stuck not being able to do anything. It's one of those wireless deals, and a friggin' expensive one at that, and it won't friggin' work. I went out and got a USB cable, because in the mess of all those extra cables we have I couldn't find a single USB cable. Still doesn't work.

But I went ahead and bought a caligraphy pen to do the addresses, so I might just do that today and try to get Christen to do the printing if and when he ever gets to come home. Tomorrow is his only day off this week. Don't get me started.

Would you like an orange with them apples?

We dyed my hair today.

I hate it.

I'm hoping at least Christen likes it, because he likes my hair really red, and it's really really red. R.E.D.

Maybe I'll get used to it, and maybe I'll change it, and maybe I'll just wait for it to fade a little bit. Who knows; time will tell.

I spent the day with Mom and the sibs. We got mom in a few Mother of the Bride dresses, and found a very pretty but ridiculously priced one. At least it gives us an idea of what works and what will look nice. The lady says, "Oh this one is moderately priced; it's a good price." Good price, my ass. She should buy the damn thing, then. That thing cost more than half what my wedding dress cost. :) I bought a few things at HomeGoods (I love that place) and a Jack Johnson cd at Target and hung out at the house dying hair and watching Capote, which was an awesome movie. I was a little perturbed that they changed the order of some things from the book ... but theoretically I guess I can see why. Ian says it's to make it more "theatrical". Blah :) But still a great movie.

I think I may start on my Save the Dates tomorrow. I've been putting them off, and I don't know why. Perhaps I'll stop by Michaels and get a caligraphy pen since my fountain pen is on the fritz. I'm so sleepy -- weird dreams last night. And a tummy ache when I woke up. It went away during the day, but it's back again. It might be because I can't get ahold of Christen -- who knows. I'm going to go read in bed though. Toodles!

PS

That pasta below is fantastic cold the next day. Or even later the same night. Fucking fantastic.

we call it inter-species erotica

So last night was a nice night. I made a Rachel Ray recipe that turned out really fucking tasty (see below) and we had some wine. We've been getting this Chardonney called Fish Eye that's not the best, but it's pretty decent for $8.99 and it's always in the fridge part of the store so we can get it last minute. We then proceded to waste time at the bookstore reading wedding books and getting ideas (Some of them were awesome, and not that expensive, like covering the "kids" table with butcher paper and giving them crayons as favors).

Then we went to see Clerks II. I had been on the fence as to whether I wanted to see it. I have adored all Kevin Smith's movies, but I was afraid it was going to be just a rehash of the first movie with a bunch of inside jokes and vulgarity and I'd be bored. I used to love the first one, but now it seems every time I try to watch it I just get bored and change the channel. It has become un-funny to me.

This one was not like that. It was really very funny, and although it may cross the line in some parts, Kevin Smith always crosses lines. The only problem I had with it was the guy sitting behind me -- I think he had the worst laugh I've ever ever heard. Ever. It was loud and annoying and I couldn't hear some parts because of his donkey bray. He should have been in the movie ... you know the part.

But overall, very good -- Two thumbs up. I'm sure I'll get it when it comes out.

*************************************************

Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto

1 pound penne rigate (with lines) pasta
Salt
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed of tough ends
1 small zucchini
1/4 pound, haricots verts (thin green beans) trimmed of stem ends
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 cup basil, 20 leaves
1/2 cup tarragon leaves from 10 to 12 stems
Handful flat-leaf parsley
1 lemon, zested
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to pass at table
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it

Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente or, with a bite to it. Cut asparagus spears into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Cut zucchini into matchstick shapes. Cut haricots verts or green beans into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Add vegetables to pasta after penne has been cooking about 5 minutes. Cook veggies and pasta together 2 minutes.

While pasta cooks, toast pine nuts in a small pan until golden, then cool. Place nuts, basil, tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, cheese and a little salt and pepper in a food processor. Turn the processor on and stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until thick sauce forms.

Scrape pesto into large, shallow serving dish. Add a ladle of hot, starchy pasta water to the pesto. Drain penne and veggies and add immediately to pesto. Toss to coat pasta and vegetables evenly. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with extra grated cheese to pass at table.

B Squared

We forwent the cookout Thursday night for a drier night out, and met up at Bahama Breeze (hereto forth known as B Squared or BB). Kevin is such a cutup; I'm really going to miss him when he moves to Georgia. It was such an amusing dinner. And there was a girl I went to high school with at the next table -- this is the second time I've run into her at BB, as she works at the insurance company across the street. I was home at a decent hour (in time to see the WS of Pop Culture) and even got a good amount of sleep. I'd like to say, though, that I long for not having to get up by the alarm clock; to be able to see my dreams to fruition instead of having to wake up halfway through to get ready for work. The end of today can't come soon enough.

Dealing with an opossum part trois

There was an opossum playing dead in my backyard this morning.It's no longer playing dead.I heard Lola growling and barking outside, and that's usually what it is when she sounds like that. So I went outside, but I forgot to put on my glasses. Remember Death of a Squirrel Toy? Without my glasses the little pile of fur in the grass looked like that damn squirrel toy. So I went back in, got my glasses and came back out. I thought it was dead, but then I saw that it was breathing, and then I saw its nasty little claws start to move -- it thought the threat was over. So I went back in and got Christen and we locked Lola inside ... and he took care of it. Thankfully today is garbage day, so it won't have to sit at all. The shovel method seems quite effective.
And you know the CSI episodes where they find a dead fetus in the garbage can? I keep thinking that the garbage men are going to find that garbage bag and call the cops. Fun fun!! It's just a dead opossum, guys! I swear it!

Huzzah for good wine, good friends, good music and good sushi!!

So last night was girl’s night, and this time it was just Shelley and I instead of our usual trio. We went to the sushi place in Boot Ranch that I have been dying to try since I noticed it six months ago. We walked in, ordered drinks, looked at the menu …. paid for our drinks and left. There was nothing good on the menu. I mean nothing. So we drove down the road to the sushi place that opened next to Emerald City comics and ate there – it was fantastic! So glad we skipped out on the other place. We ate way too much and spent about the amount we would have spent at Chili’s, and the rolls were really great. We had crunchy spicy tuna (Shea, you would have loved – a little spicy for me, of course), a Phillie roll, a Mexican Roll and a spider roll. Mmmm … god, I love sushi.

Afterward we went to HomeGoods to wander a little bit and I got a springform pan in which to make cheesecake … and then we went to The Zone in Tarpon to see some friends of mine play. The Zone is this neat little coffeeshop/bar/hookah lounge with comfy couches. The band was great (nods to Ben and Levin) and the company was great. We had a fantastic time. I had a couple glasses of a very good petit syrah and Shell had two Long Beach Ice Teas. We stayed out so late (well, for us anyhow) and had such a good time neither of us wanted to go home (I drove around the block a couple times while we continued to talk). This morning however, I woke up with a horrendous headache. It wasn’t a hangover headache (I do know what that feels like) but I couldn’t move. I had a couple days a few weeks ago the same way. I came in a couple hours late, hoping that the headache would go away. It didn’t, but finally after lunch it faded a bit so now I feel pretty okay. I’ve had plenty to do, so I haven’t really had time to think about it either. My iPod is on its last battery-operated leg today – I forgot to charge it. The battery says empty but it’s puttering along for me, thankfully. If it can just get me through the next 2 ½ hours until I leave, I’ll be happy. I’m going to a cookout at Stacy’s house tonight and I have to go home and get the meat before motoring over to her place. Fun fun! I’ll let you know how it goes … I hope it stops raining!

Much ado about nada

I havent been blogging as of late Im not sure whats wrong with me; I dont even think about blogging. I just sit, really. Saturday went out with Andrew and Theresa and a few of their friends for karaoke. It was a lot of fun and no, I did not sing. Wouldnt want to clear the place out or anything. Listening to a few of the people singing makes me realize Im not as bad a singer as I think though. :) The weekend brought us to Linens n Things and Target to do wedding registries and to his dads house and grandmas house for visits. Monday was a couples night w/ Shea and Kyle, Shelley and Richard and us. It was so much fun! We really need to make them more regular events. I made this fantastic chocolate peanutbutter pie (recipe below), and Shea made tasty lasagna and bruchetta and Shell and Rich brought a yummy salad with MacGyver salad dressing (dressing made from the liquid contents of Sheas fridge). Stayed until far too late and had to drive myself home (blegh). Tuesday night I was home alone and ended up eating too much (cookies that I also made over the weekend also amazing I should put that recipe also) and going to bed too late, but I actually woke feeling rested this morn, which is a change from the norm. I met the girls for lunch at TooJays today, and lunch was also amazing. I had the turkey platter, which was sliced turkey and tabullah, fruit and cottage cheese. It was very filling and I didnt want to come back to work, but of course I did because Im responsible like that.

My next pie is a chocolate banana pie. Im already salavating. God, I love my mixer.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

(from www.cdkitchen.com)

Ingredients:
1 (9") graham cracker pie crust
8 ounces softened cream cheese, light or regular (1 pkg)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla
***TOPPING:***
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons salad oil (veggie oil or canola oil)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

Directions:

Whip cream cheese until fluffy. Slowly add sugar, peanut butter and butter. In another bowl, whip cream and vanilla until firm. Blend 1/3 of whipped cream into peanut butter mixture. Fold peanut butter mixture into remaining whipped cream until thoroughly incorporated. Fill pie crust, smoothing top. Chill.

Combine chocolate, butter and oil in top of double boiler (I just put them in a bowl in the microwave) until chocolate melts. Cool slightly. Spread chocolate on cooled peanut butter filling. Start at center and work out. Sprinkle top with peanuts, chill pie thoroughly.

hehe ...

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

What was I going to blog about?

So the girls and I are sitting around people watching at International Mall and snacking on Gelato when I said, "you know, I'm probably going to blog about this." The only problem is, I don't remember what I was going to blog about! So here's a lowdown of what we did:

--made Shea squeeze into all these tea length dresses only to decide that the full length one is definitely the one we're going with.
--went for sushi and it was disappointingly not as good as usual.
--wandered around the mall working off our sushi and to make room for gelato (Shea wanted to look at this ring in Tiffany's she's been ogling but the salesman was less than helpful).
--munched on tasty gelato (I got Nutella ... The Bracio was still better, but there's always next time!)
--dropped by DSW for a cute pair of tweedish brown pumps (Thanks Becky! Still lots of $$ left in credit!)
--came home and collapsed.

So while I still don't know what I had planned on saying (was it about the lady with the huge fake hard-as-rox boobs? or Shea's nipple popping out?) Come on, girls ... remind me. Nevertheless, we had a great time ... and I put money down on my dress! I made a decision on it! Ahh, it's real! Pinch Me!

Okay I'm done.



Oh!!!!!!! Update: I remember what I planned on blogging about. So we're in Waldensbooks because Shell wanted to check out their Manga, and Shea and I were looking at wedding books ... and right next to the wedding books are Kama Sutra books ... with giant color photos of these positions! So we're checking it out, and we were laughing so hard that everyone in the store knew exactly what we were looking at and one of the ladies working there comes up and asks if she could help us! It was f$#-ing hilarious! So we told her that we were looking at the wedding books and then had moved on to the honeymoon books :) hehe. She tagged on by saying if that doesn't work, you always have this section, and motioned to the Romance section (by far the biggest section, BTW). hehe ... so funny :)