Does anyone else have the problem of not being able to mark text messages as unread?
If you are going to ask me a question or otherwise send me something which requires follow-up on my part, please do not do it via text message. Once I read it, I can't mark it as unread, and I can almost guarantee that I'll forget to do whatever it is you want. That's one of the beauties of email - it can overwhelm me later with all the things I need to get back to!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
What I'm Reading Now -- Sugar In My Bowl
The title comes from a Nina Simone song, "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl."
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Gooey Butter Cake and NY Magazine
I had a lovely Sunday morning this past weekend. Radar and I went for a long walk, during which I walked past Park Avenue Coffee. K and J were so kind as to get me a gift certificate to there for my birthday which I haven't used yet, and I didn't have anything on my agenda until Sunday afternoon, so I decided to try it out.
I had already made my own pot of coffee, but I packed myself up with a magazine and book and headed back to PAC for a slice of their gooey butter cake, which has gotten rave reviews all over town. I tried the Triple Chocolate, which was every bit as sweet and tasty as I hoped. However I'm used to gooey butter cake that's a bit deeper and more substantial.
In an effort to savor every bite of my slice, I settled in with my magazine (a Christmas stocking stuffer subscription from E) and read a few pages between tastes. I learned some fun things I have decided to share with you:
Women's salaries as a percentage of men's (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics):
- Chief executive: 69%
- Doctor: 79%
- College professor: 81%
- Architect: 85%
- Lawyer: 87%
- IT specialist: 106%
I'm happy to see that lawyers, conservative as we are, are not at the bottom of the list. (You can find more such info here.)
In an article about a documentary about Beyonce's life of overachievement (made by Beyonce, though she did not also write the article about the documentary she made about herself), I especially liked this bit from the intro:
"She spent the [Super Bowl] game's halftime show striding around like a Titan, clinching her status as American pop's reigning megastar; her performance inspired more tweets per minute than the half-hour blackout its energy demands were rumored to have cause. That rumor was a metaphor - a treat for anyone who wanted to believe Beyonce's feminine fierceness was so powerful it literally short-circuited the masculine ritual around it."
Mm hmm.
And last but not least, there was a photo of the new Giorgio Armani calfskin purse, priced at $2,280. That's ridiculous, but so is the process that goes into making it. From the caption:
"Each tote is crafted from 120 separate pieces by seven Italian artisans in a three-day process that involves 75 stages of dyeing, welding, galvanizing, hand-stitching, and sanding. A rivet even a fraction of an inch out of place is grounds for scrapping the whole thing and starting over."
At least you know that when you pay for perfection, you're getting it.
I had already made my own pot of coffee, but I packed myself up with a magazine and book and headed back to PAC for a slice of their gooey butter cake, which has gotten rave reviews all over town. I tried the Triple Chocolate, which was every bit as sweet and tasty as I hoped. However I'm used to gooey butter cake that's a bit deeper and more substantial.
In an effort to savor every bite of my slice, I settled in with my magazine (a Christmas stocking stuffer subscription from E) and read a few pages between tastes. I learned some fun things I have decided to share with you:
Women's salaries as a percentage of men's (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics):
- Chief executive: 69%
- Doctor: 79%
- College professor: 81%
- Architect: 85%
- Lawyer: 87%
- IT specialist: 106%
I'm happy to see that lawyers, conservative as we are, are not at the bottom of the list. (You can find more such info here.)
In an article about a documentary about Beyonce's life of overachievement (made by Beyonce, though she did not also write the article about the documentary she made about herself), I especially liked this bit from the intro:
"She spent the [Super Bowl] game's halftime show striding around like a Titan, clinching her status as American pop's reigning megastar; her performance inspired more tweets per minute than the half-hour blackout its energy demands were rumored to have cause. That rumor was a metaphor - a treat for anyone who wanted to believe Beyonce's feminine fierceness was so powerful it literally short-circuited the masculine ritual around it."
Mm hmm.
And last but not least, there was a photo of the new Giorgio Armani calfskin purse, priced at $2,280. That's ridiculous, but so is the process that goes into making it. From the caption:
"Each tote is crafted from 120 separate pieces by seven Italian artisans in a three-day process that involves 75 stages of dyeing, welding, galvanizing, hand-stitching, and sanding. A rivet even a fraction of an inch out of place is grounds for scrapping the whole thing and starting over."
At least you know that when you pay for perfection, you're getting it.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Microbrewery: Schlafly Bottleworks
Craft beer has become a thing here. There are loads of microbreweries around town, each just brewing away, doing their thing. And we keep drinking their beer! I've made it my mission to drink more of it.
Over the weekend, I went for some food and beer at Schlafly Bottleworks, one of two restaurants operated by St. Louis's biggest and probably most loved microbrewery.
My first beer was the Tripel, which was very light and reminded me of their summer ale, but with more alcohol. Then I had the Singel, which was a bit more substantial than the Tripel, with a slightly nutty flavor. My last taste was the Scotch Ale, a dark, warm chocolatey half-pint of richness.
For eats, I had the Mortadella & Egg sandwich. (I had to use the power of the internets to look up mortadella before I ordered.) The sandwich arrived on a huge brioche roll with four slices of bologna-looking mortadella sliding off the melted cheese onto the plate. I restacked everything but needed to cut the monster in half just to be able to get a grip on it. Of course, as soon as I did that, the yolk from the fried egg ran everywhere, soaking the already soggy bun.
I dove in, knowing that this is the type of sandwich you can't put down once you pick up, because it will fall to pieces on the plate and you'll end up eating it with a fork (not an acceptable method of sandwich-eating); that's another reason I cut it in half, so I could have two gos at it. By the time I was finished, I was a mess - egg and grease running halfway up to my elbows. It was probably the least healthy thing I've eaten in a long time, but every bite was heart-attack-inducingly delicious. To boot, I got it with a side of sweet potatoes with pecans, and I was happy to see they didn't skimp on the pecans a bit!
Over the weekend, I went for some food and beer at Schlafly Bottleworks, one of two restaurants operated by St. Louis's biggest and probably most loved microbrewery.
My first beer was the Tripel, which was very light and reminded me of their summer ale, but with more alcohol. Then I had the Singel, which was a bit more substantial than the Tripel, with a slightly nutty flavor. My last taste was the Scotch Ale, a dark, warm chocolatey half-pint of richness.
For eats, I had the Mortadella & Egg sandwich. (I had to use the power of the internets to look up mortadella before I ordered.) The sandwich arrived on a huge brioche roll with four slices of bologna-looking mortadella sliding off the melted cheese onto the plate. I restacked everything but needed to cut the monster in half just to be able to get a grip on it. Of course, as soon as I did that, the yolk from the fried egg ran everywhere, soaking the already soggy bun.
I dove in, knowing that this is the type of sandwich you can't put down once you pick up, because it will fall to pieces on the plate and you'll end up eating it with a fork (not an acceptable method of sandwich-eating); that's another reason I cut it in half, so I could have two gos at it. By the time I was finished, I was a mess - egg and grease running halfway up to my elbows. It was probably the least healthy thing I've eaten in a long time, but every bite was heart-attack-inducingly delicious. To boot, I got it with a side of sweet potatoes with pecans, and I was happy to see they didn't skimp on the pecans a bit!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Goal #8
Goal #8: that last computer hard drive.
Attacking this last computer is either going to be really interesting or really easy. If the computer actually functions (not likely), it'll have some interesting old stuff on it from college and maybe even high school. If it doesn't work (more likely), there's not going to be a lot to tell.
Recap of goal #7: another computer down! Score!
Attacking this last computer is either going to be really interesting or really easy. If the computer actually functions (not likely), it'll have some interesting old stuff on it from college and maybe even high school. If it doesn't work (more likely), there's not going to be a lot to tell.
Recap of goal #7: another computer down! Score!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Fun Stuff around St. Louis
I've been doing some fun stuff lately, so I thought I'd share:
- Rock climbing at Upper Limits and So iLL
- Trapeze class at Bumbershoot Aerial Arts
- Shooting at Bullseye
And I'm about to start a series of posts (since I'm out of weeks for dresses, although I do actually have a couple more dresses) which will take me to local microbreweries. Tomorrow it begins. Wish me luck in my drinking adventures!
- Rock climbing at Upper Limits and So iLL
- Trapeze class at Bumbershoot Aerial Arts
- Shooting at Bullseye
And I'm about to start a series of posts (since I'm out of weeks for dresses, although I do actually have a couple more dresses) which will take me to local microbreweries. Tomorrow it begins. Wish me luck in my drinking adventures!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Dinner at Olio
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my dinner with Dad at Elaia. On Wednesday night, I was joined by my friend M for dinner at Olio, Elaia's wine bar counterpart. We had delicious food: olives as a started, I had the red pepper and ricotta sandwich and M had the Wednesday night lasagne special, and a chocolate cake with coffee gelee and espresso cream for dessert. Delish.
As for the wine, I first asked our waiter to bring me a glass of something red, old world, not too heavy. It was good. For my second glass, I perused the list and picked out a rosy Giacomo Vico nebbiolo. "Interesting choice," the server said. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah, that's the one you just had."
I guess it was a good fit.
As for the wine, I first asked our waiter to bring me a glass of something red, old world, not too heavy. It was good. For my second glass, I perused the list and picked out a rosy Giacomo Vico nebbiolo. "Interesting choice," the server said. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah, that's the one you just had."
I guess it was a good fit.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
What I Watched -- Zero Dark Thirty
That is not to belittle the excellent job done by Jessica Chastain as Maya, the tenacious CIA agent determined to find "UBL," as they call him, and certain that she finally has. It's only at the end that the military operation begins, but it's exciting once it does.
Recently, the Center for Investigative Reporting and Esquire magazine put out a piece called "The Shooter," based on a series of interviews with the still-anonymous SEAL Team 6 member who pulled the trigger which fired the bullet that killed Osama bin Laden. It's interesting to hear his side of the story, it's sad that he's ended up where he is today, and it's tough to say whether he should have said anything in the first place.
But he did, and the movie and article make nice complements.
Bottom line: not all about the thrills, but Jessica Chastain keeps it interesting. A military action worth taking some time to appreciate.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
What I Watched -- Babel
I must admit, this movie was not quite what I expected. I thought it would be about American tourists trapped in war-torn Afghanistan. Why you would be a tourist in Afghanistan at the present moment I do not know. Regardless, that's what I was waiting for.
No dice. Babel is actually set in a number of places, none of which are Afghanistan: Morocco, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Mexico. And rather than being about a war-torn country, it's the story of a troubled marriage and the people whose lives are tangentially related to it - sort of Love Actually-style, but a couple of the connections are a little more attenuated in Babel. Some are close, but some are akin to the butterfly effect, and I didn't quite see how they fit together until the very end. There is also a little bit of a time warp aspect to it too.
The title for the film comes from the biblical allegory of the tower of Babel. The tower was a construction project of a united people, all of whom spoke the same language. When God realized that nothing they sought would be out of their reach so long as they were united, he "confounded" their tongues and scattered them across the Earth. The word babel is Hebrew for jumble or confusion.
The title for the film comes from the biblical allegory of the tower of Babel. The tower was a construction project of a united people, all of whom spoke the same language. When God realized that nothing they sought would be out of their reach so long as they were united, he "confounded" their tongues and scattered them across the Earth. The word babel is Hebrew for jumble or confusion.
Bottom line: a seriously heavy version of Love Actually. With guns.
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Wonders of a Good Shower
Something amazing (I guess) happened this weekend. For three days in a row, I got to take a shower in my own house.
This sounds like a strange thing to be excited about, and a not particularly notable one; I get that. But most days I shower in the locker room after I work out. I'm lucky if I get one or two showers a week at home, and there are more great things about it than I realized until I didn't have it every day. So here, in an ode to my awesome apartment, are the wonders:
1. It's clean. Someone, namely me, is responsible for keeping it clean. Someone, namely me, also tries to prevent it from getting too dirty in the first place. Neither of those things are true of the locker room, and I get out of the shower feeling, well, not clean.
2. It's warm. My apartment is heated to something higher than 45 degrees. Warm air is awfully nice when you're stepping out of the shower.
3. Hot water. That's right, there's enough hot water for my entire shower when I'm at home. And, brace yourselves here folks, I can even run the washing machine at the same time! It's getting crazy! Seriously, it's nice to be able to enjoy the water until I want to get out, rather than being forced to get out when the water gets cold (which is about four minutes after it gets warm).
4. Towel warmer. Indeed, I have a towel warmer. K gave it to me a couple of years ago, and there's not a lot better when you get out of the shower, even if it's not 45 degrees, than a nice, warm towel.
5. Stuff. On those lovely days that I get to shower at home, I don't have to drag all my stuff around in various duffel and shoulder bags like a hobo. Seriously, my friends laugh at me when they see all the stuff I carry down to my car every morning. But there are no lockers in the "locker" room and I've had stuff stolen before a couple of times, so I can't leave anything there. It all has to come and go when I do.
6. Counter space. In order to get ready for work, I need to be able to get to the aforementioned stuff. In a regular bathroom, which mine is, there's a counter on which you can put the things you're going to need: lotion, toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, makeup, etc. Not in the locker room. I can use the benches, but then I'm constantly trekking back and forth from the sink to the bench across the dirty floor, only able to take as many things at a time as I can hold in the hand I don't need to use. This is inconvenient and a waste of time.
7. Privacy. Yeah.
All these things just add up to a feeling of not-quite-put-together-ed-ness (that's a technical term) when I'm walking out of the locker room and heading to work.
Basically, the simple (and hygenic) pleasures of being at home are totally wicked.
This sounds like a strange thing to be excited about, and a not particularly notable one; I get that. But most days I shower in the locker room after I work out. I'm lucky if I get one or two showers a week at home, and there are more great things about it than I realized until I didn't have it every day. So here, in an ode to my awesome apartment, are the wonders:
1. It's clean. Someone, namely me, is responsible for keeping it clean. Someone, namely me, also tries to prevent it from getting too dirty in the first place. Neither of those things are true of the locker room, and I get out of the shower feeling, well, not clean.
2. It's warm. My apartment is heated to something higher than 45 degrees. Warm air is awfully nice when you're stepping out of the shower.
3. Hot water. That's right, there's enough hot water for my entire shower when I'm at home. And, brace yourselves here folks, I can even run the washing machine at the same time! It's getting crazy! Seriously, it's nice to be able to enjoy the water until I want to get out, rather than being forced to get out when the water gets cold (which is about four minutes after it gets warm).
4. Towel warmer. Indeed, I have a towel warmer. K gave it to me a couple of years ago, and there's not a lot better when you get out of the shower, even if it's not 45 degrees, than a nice, warm towel.
5. Stuff. On those lovely days that I get to shower at home, I don't have to drag all my stuff around in various duffel and shoulder bags like a hobo. Seriously, my friends laugh at me when they see all the stuff I carry down to my car every morning. But there are no lockers in the "locker" room and I've had stuff stolen before a couple of times, so I can't leave anything there. It all has to come and go when I do.
6. Counter space. In order to get ready for work, I need to be able to get to the aforementioned stuff. In a regular bathroom, which mine is, there's a counter on which you can put the things you're going to need: lotion, toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, makeup, etc. Not in the locker room. I can use the benches, but then I'm constantly trekking back and forth from the sink to the bench across the dirty floor, only able to take as many things at a time as I can hold in the hand I don't need to use. This is inconvenient and a waste of time.
7. Privacy. Yeah.
All these things just add up to a feeling of not-quite-put-together-ed-ness (that's a technical term) when I'm walking out of the locker room and heading to work.
Basically, the simple (and hygenic) pleasures of being at home are totally wicked.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Goal #7
Goal #7: computer number 3.
Last week I mentioned that I have at least three (possibly four) functional laptops, and I'm working on clearing their hard drives. This week, on to another one!
Recap of goal #6: I managed to get all the info from my last Dell's hard drive onto external storage, and have mostly integrated it with the documents on my current laptop. There will have to be a great deal of cleanup at the end of this whole process, but for now, it's good enough.
Last week I mentioned that I have at least three (possibly four) functional laptops, and I'm working on clearing their hard drives. This week, on to another one!
Recap of goal #6: I managed to get all the info from my last Dell's hard drive onto external storage, and have mostly integrated it with the documents on my current laptop. There will have to be a great deal of cleanup at the end of this whole process, but for now, it's good enough.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
What I Watched -- The Spy Who Came In From the Cold
In order to pick Bourne Legacy and The Man Who Would Be King as our movies to watch when I was in Breck, we had to sort through Dad's whole collection. I came upon The Spy Who Came In From the Cold in the pile, though we never got around to watching it. I took it upon myself after I got home to pick it up and give it a go.It's one of those classic Cold War spy stories, based on a John Le Carre book of the same name. The 1965 movie stars Richard Burton as the Alec Leamas. He's a spy on a last-ditch effort to salvage his career, one final mission in East Berlin.
As with most spy movies, it's not clear until the end, and sometimes not even then, who is telling the truth, who's loyal to whom, who can be trusted. But that's the fun of it - trying to solve the puzzle before the answers are given to you.
Bottom line: a dark, dreary puzzle, but a puzzle indeed.
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Song I'm Loving Today
Feeling of Beauty (Tift Merritt)
A while back, I posted a random link to an NPR story on Tift Merritt, and I finally got around to getting the CD a couple of weeks ago (yes, I got the CD). As the NPR piece and the CD's title, Traveling Alone, indicate, it's a pretty melancholy album. Regardless, she has a lovely voice and I'm really enjoying it.
Despite it's general lonely tone, there are a couple of bright(er) spots, including this one. The link above and the video below are actually just the audio. There is a live version with video here.
Driving without destination,
Leaving our clothes there on the bank and
Swimming in a river with no name.
The crazy way the motor jangles,
Talking to somebody ain't got no angles,
Somebody meeting somebody halfway.
Every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my breath, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
Finding out just what you're made of,
A stretch of green grass made to make love,
Racing stripes and hurricanes.
The few things really worth knowing,
Like where you think that red bird's going,
And no illusions on a clear day.
Every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my breath, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
Doing right when it's not easy,
Calling out without thinking,
Something sweet you just wanted to say.
I'm alright, thanks for asking,
Still got a few hopes in my basket, and
Light in the kitchen still on real late.
I love the way that screen door catches,
A stranger with a pack of matches,
And starting out when I don't know the way.
And every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my heart, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
If it's alright with you, I'll stay on another couple of days.
If it's alright with you, I'll stay on another couple of days.
A while back, I posted a random link to an NPR story on Tift Merritt, and I finally got around to getting the CD a couple of weeks ago (yes, I got the CD). As the NPR piece and the CD's title, Traveling Alone, indicate, it's a pretty melancholy album. Regardless, she has a lovely voice and I'm really enjoying it.
Despite it's general lonely tone, there are a couple of bright(er) spots, including this one. The link above and the video below are actually just the audio. There is a live version with video here.
Driving without destination,
Leaving our clothes there on the bank and
Swimming in a river with no name.
The crazy way the motor jangles,
Talking to somebody ain't got no angles,
Somebody meeting somebody halfway.
Every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my breath, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
Finding out just what you're made of,
A stretch of green grass made to make love,
Racing stripes and hurricanes.
The few things really worth knowing,
Like where you think that red bird's going,
And no illusions on a clear day.
Every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my breath, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
Doing right when it's not easy,
Calling out without thinking,
Something sweet you just wanted to say.
I'm alright, thanks for asking,
Still got a few hopes in my basket, and
Light in the kitchen still on real late.
I love the way that screen door catches,
A stranger with a pack of matches,
And starting out when I don't know the way.
And every once in a while, the feeling of beauty
Catches my heart, runs right through me.
If you don't mind, I'll stay on another couple of days.
If it's alright with you, I'll stay on another couple of days.
If it's alright with you, I'll stay on another couple of days.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
52 Weeks of Dresses -- Week 52!!
Otherwise titled: Dinner at Water Street
For my last hurrah, T and I went out to dinner at a place in Maplewood called Water Street. I'd been there once before (with Dad and K), and thought it deserved a return trip.
I had two cocktails - the grapefruit giblet and the basil rathbone. Both were delicious, but quite different. My dinner started with the medjool dates, which were everything I hoped they would be. I was hungry that night, so my main was the strip steak. I can't say that was a mistake because it was decent (and the cheesy potatoes were quite good), but I think they do better with the smaller, trendier dishes - flatbreads and the like. For dessert, T and good split the strawberry/raspberry tart (one of my transgressions), which was delish.
But can I please reiterate: I did it! I started this 52 Weeks project a few months shy of two years ago - one dress every other week, on average - not too bad, actually! Should I do 52 more weeks of something? 52 weeks of what?
For my last hurrah, T and I went out to dinner at a place in Maplewood called Water Street. I'd been there once before (with Dad and K), and thought it deserved a return trip.
I had two cocktails - the grapefruit giblet and the basil rathbone. Both were delicious, but quite different. My dinner started with the medjool dates, which were everything I hoped they would be. I was hungry that night, so my main was the strip steak. I can't say that was a mistake because it was decent (and the cheesy potatoes were quite good), but I think they do better with the smaller, trendier dishes - flatbreads and the like. For dessert, T and good split the strawberry/raspberry tart (one of my transgressions), which was delish.
But can I please reiterate: I did it! I started this 52 Weeks project a few months shy of two years ago - one dress every other week, on average - not too bad, actually! Should I do 52 more weeks of something? 52 weeks of what?
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Random Links
That's a lot of ice.
Photorealism.
My many, many road trips have left me appreciative of the amount of freight moved by long-haul truckers. Here's an industry update.
The TV bad guys we can't help but love - a good compendium if you need a good new (or old) show.
The Pitch Drop experiment.
Quick, stock up now!
Photorealism.
My many, many road trips have left me appreciative of the amount of freight moved by long-haul truckers. Here's an industry update.
The TV bad guys we can't help but love - a good compendium if you need a good new (or old) show.
The Pitch Drop experiment.
Quick, stock up now!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Monday, February 11, 2013
Dinner at Elaia
Dad was in town last week for some work stuff, and even though we had just spent six days together, we decided we could handle a little more. We met up one night for dinner with one of the new kids in town: Elaia. It is part of the duo Elaia & Olio, where the head chef is Ben Poremba of Salume Beddu fame.
Our dinner was delightful! We shared charred haricot verts as a starter, then each had a small pasta plate: his was beef ragu, I had winter squash ravioli. We both had the same main: Berkshire pork with - lemme see if I can remember - farro root mash and grilled onions. I think? I meant to write it down, but I've been busy, and their menu changes all the time. In any case it was delicious! Oh, and we shared the aforementioned carrot cake.
And the best part about it was that everyone was so nice. You want a half-plate? No problem. Wine flight? Sure. Half a glass of wine? You got it. A starter as a small plate and a small plate as an entree? Whatever you need. It was, as Dad and I discussed, an experience in sharp contrast to the one we had at Little Country Gentleman a couple months back.
For their tasty eats, interesting wine list, and willingness to accommodate, I'll go back to Elaia. In spite of their potentially good food, I won't be back to LCG ever.
Our dinner was delightful! We shared charred haricot verts as a starter, then each had a small pasta plate: his was beef ragu, I had winter squash ravioli. We both had the same main: Berkshire pork with - lemme see if I can remember - farro root mash and grilled onions. I think? I meant to write it down, but I've been busy, and their menu changes all the time. In any case it was delicious! Oh, and we shared the aforementioned carrot cake.
And the best part about it was that everyone was so nice. You want a half-plate? No problem. Wine flight? Sure. Half a glass of wine? You got it. A starter as a small plate and a small plate as an entree? Whatever you need. It was, as Dad and I discussed, an experience in sharp contrast to the one we had at Little Country Gentleman a couple months back.
For their tasty eats, interesting wine list, and willingness to accommodate, I'll go back to Elaia. In spite of their potentially good food, I won't be back to LCG ever.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Goal #6
Goal #6: computer number 2.
I am currently the owner of four home computers, all laptops. I have the one I use every day, plus my three prior laptops (at least two of which actually work).
The reason I have all these old computers is because they still have data on their hard drives that I want to back up before I get rid of them. This week, my goal is to clear off at least one of the drives. (One step at a time, right?)
Recap of goal #5: So, it turns out that I'm not great at not eating sugar. That actually doesn't surprise me; maybe I'll have to try this one a few times this year and see if I get better about it. Slip-ups:
- a chocolate when I was visiting G&G on Tuesday morning;
- I split a piece of carrot cake with Dad on Wednesday night after dinner;
- after my party, I froze my leftover house cookies, and I had one for dessert on Thursday;
- I split a piece of strawberry/raspberry tart with T at dinner on Friday (stay tuned for notes about both dinners this week). Then I got home and this happened:
So I had to eat a few of the mints to make myself feel better!
One major note of success: I didn't put any sugar in my coffee all week! Given that I'm a crazy sugar fiend, these are impressively few transgressions.
I am currently the owner of four home computers, all laptops. I have the one I use every day, plus my three prior laptops (at least two of which actually work).
The reason I have all these old computers is because they still have data on their hard drives that I want to back up before I get rid of them. This week, my goal is to clear off at least one of the drives. (One step at a time, right?)
Recap of goal #5: So, it turns out that I'm not great at not eating sugar. That actually doesn't surprise me; maybe I'll have to try this one a few times this year and see if I get better about it. Slip-ups:
- a chocolate when I was visiting G&G on Tuesday morning;
- I split a piece of carrot cake with Dad on Wednesday night after dinner;
- after my party, I froze my leftover house cookies, and I had one for dessert on Thursday;
- I split a piece of strawberry/raspberry tart with T at dinner on Friday (stay tuned for notes about both dinners this week). Then I got home and this happened:
So I had to eat a few of the mints to make myself feel better!
One major note of success: I didn't put any sugar in my coffee all week! Given that I'm a crazy sugar fiend, these are impressively few transgressions.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
I Grew!
T measured me the other day, and I was 5'4"!
All my life, I've wanted to be taller, and IT'S WORKING!!!
All my life, I've wanted to be taller, and IT'S WORKING!!!
Friday, February 8, 2013
What I Watched -- The Bourne Legacy
It's cold in Colorado, so sometimes (okay, frequently), it's inviting just to stay inside and watch a movie. In addition to The Man Who Would Be King, we also watched The Bourne Legacy, the new one with Jeremy Renner (who is not a terrible substitute for my boyfriend, Matt Damon).It's usual Bourne movie stuff: confusion, explosions, lies and deceit, smokin' hot men who are heavily armed and know how to handle themselves.
Bottom line: what's not to like?
Thursday, February 7, 2013
What I Watched -- The Man Who Would Be King
The basics: men, adventure, political incorrectness, humor, sadness.
The line that made me laugh out loud: "The problem is: how to divide five Afghans from three mules and have two Englishmen left over." Great question.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Breckenridge, Days 5 and 6
My last day skiing got off to a great start of pancakes, bacon, and sauteed apples. That led to a late start on the slopes, but it was just fine that way. It was Super Bowl Sunday, which meant that everyone who wanted to get back down to Denver for the game was going to ski early and then head out.
We got on the lift around 11:15 or so, and had short lift lines and fairly empty hills. It was windy (again), so by then most of the remaining powder had blown off the slopes. That made the surfaces a little bit tough - a combo of thin spots, scraped ice, and occasional pockets of powder still hanging around. It was a little hard on the legs, because you had to be ready for who-knows-what. We three skied a few runs, then Dad and I skied the rest of the day, having some fun on the runs over on Peak 7.
We got back just in time to make all the unhealthy food we were planning on eating for the Super Bowl, and only when we were finished cooking it did we decide it probably would make us more legit (and make us feel slightly less bad about our dinner) if we actually turned the TV on. Ravens 7, Niners 3 when we joined.
My last day of all, skiing or otherwise, turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, so Dad and I took Keystone and headed back up the same path we had cross-country skied up a few days before. This time we had stunning views of Baldy and Mount Guyot.
And that, as they say, was that. We trekked back to the car, had lunch, packed up, and drove out of the mountains to Denver, where we were greeted with this little bit of amusement:
We got on the lift around 11:15 or so, and had short lift lines and fairly empty hills. It was windy (again), so by then most of the remaining powder had blown off the slopes. That made the surfaces a little bit tough - a combo of thin spots, scraped ice, and occasional pockets of powder still hanging around. It was a little hard on the legs, because you had to be ready for who-knows-what. We three skied a few runs, then Dad and I skied the rest of the day, having some fun on the runs over on Peak 7.
We got back just in time to make all the unhealthy food we were planning on eating for the Super Bowl, and only when we were finished cooking it did we decide it probably would make us more legit (and make us feel slightly less bad about our dinner) if we actually turned the TV on. Ravens 7, Niners 3 when we joined.
My last day of all, skiing or otherwise, turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, so Dad and I took Keystone and headed back up the same path we had cross-country skied up a few days before. This time we had stunning views of Baldy and Mount Guyot.
And that, as they say, was that. We trekked back to the car, had lunch, packed up, and drove out of the mountains to Denver, where we were greeted with this little bit of amusement:
Heh.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Breckenridge, Days 3 and 4
Really, day 3 in Breck was actually a day in Vail. While we were getting great snow in Breck, Vail was getting the same. So up we got early on Friday, had some breakfast and coffee, and set off over the the oft-closed Vail Pass.
Lucky for us, today it was open. The snow wasn't so bad any more that it required closure, and if they did any avalanche control they must have done it overnight. (They have to close the highway to do it - the charges send snow tumbling down across the interstate, and the front-end loaders [or whatever they use] have to clear the decks before cars can get through again.)
We arrived at Vail, suited up, and hit the slopes. We skied the front side in the morning - the lines for the lifts up to the back bowls were loooong and we were still getting our ski legs (heh) under us anyway. Even on the front side the snow was great, and the lift lines were basically non-existent, so it worked out splendidly for us. We broke for an early lunch at The 10th, the new restaurant at Mid-Vail, which is classy as ski lunches go. The coat room has loads of cubbies and hooks for coats, helmets, gloves, and boots, and there are fuzzy slippers for you to wear while you eat.
My lunch was a slice of leek, Gruyere, and bacon quiche, plus I scammed some truffle fries, a taste of a Kobe burger from Dad, and of a tuna burger from D. Really, I did pretty well. And we all split a chocolate bread pudding for dessert. Not too shabby.
After lunch we headed over the top to the bowls. The snow was deep but pretty well broken up. That alone would have been okay, but the light was f-l-a-t, and it was impossible to gauge the terrain. Honestly I sort of lost track of where we spent the afternoon - I was more of a follower than a leader - but apparently the enormous lunch didn't slow any of us down.
Then, wonder of wonders, we're on the way home and I emailed a friend of mine who's been living in the Middle East (but loves to ski) that I just had a great day in Vail - and it turns out he's been over near Beaver Creek, just a little bit past where we were! Too bad we didn't figure that out in the morning!
Day 4 was another day in Breck - pretty good snow, but not as good as the last couple of days. I skied with Dad and D in the morning, then alone in the afternoon. It was good practice, time to work on the stuff G and D had been trying to get me to do over the last two days on the slopes.
We had a simple but delicious dinner of spicy chicken with onion and green beans over rice, and ice cream! Have I mentioned before that they sell Graeter's ice cream in the grocery store here? I feel like maybe I've shared that, but it's worth sharing again!
Lucky for us, today it was open. The snow wasn't so bad any more that it required closure, and if they did any avalanche control they must have done it overnight. (They have to close the highway to do it - the charges send snow tumbling down across the interstate, and the front-end loaders [or whatever they use] have to clear the decks before cars can get through again.)
We arrived at Vail, suited up, and hit the slopes. We skied the front side in the morning - the lines for the lifts up to the back bowls were loooong and we were still getting our ski legs (heh) under us anyway. Even on the front side the snow was great, and the lift lines were basically non-existent, so it worked out splendidly for us. We broke for an early lunch at The 10th, the new restaurant at Mid-Vail, which is classy as ski lunches go. The coat room has loads of cubbies and hooks for coats, helmets, gloves, and boots, and there are fuzzy slippers for you to wear while you eat.
My lunch was a slice of leek, Gruyere, and bacon quiche, plus I scammed some truffle fries, a taste of a Kobe burger from Dad, and of a tuna burger from D. Really, I did pretty well. And we all split a chocolate bread pudding for dessert. Not too shabby.
After lunch we headed over the top to the bowls. The snow was deep but pretty well broken up. That alone would have been okay, but the light was f-l-a-t, and it was impossible to gauge the terrain. Honestly I sort of lost track of where we spent the afternoon - I was more of a follower than a leader - but apparently the enormous lunch didn't slow any of us down.
Me and Dad
Then, wonder of wonders, we're on the way home and I emailed a friend of mine who's been living in the Middle East (but loves to ski) that I just had a great day in Vail - and it turns out he's been over near Beaver Creek, just a little bit past where we were! Too bad we didn't figure that out in the morning!
Day 4 was another day in Breck - pretty good snow, but not as good as the last couple of days. I skied with Dad and D in the morning, then alone in the afternoon. It was good practice, time to work on the stuff G and D had been trying to get me to do over the last two days on the slopes.
We had a simple but delicious dinner of spicy chicken with onion and green beans over rice, and ice cream! Have I mentioned before that they sell Graeter's ice cream in the grocery store here? I feel like maybe I've shared that, but it's worth sharing again!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Goal #5
Goal #5: cut out the added sugar.
After a week of vacation and using the Super Bowl as an excuse to eat unhealthy food, I need to detox. I'm not going to do something silly like a week-long juice fast (ahem), and I'm not going to go overboard by saying I'm only going to eat green vegetables for the week. This needs to be achievable. So I will endeavor to stop adding sugar to my coffee, eating sugary snacks when almonds will work just fine, and having dessert (unless it's truly necessary, which sometimes it is).
Recap of goal #4:
1. Does denial count as deep thought? Fail.
2. Success!
3. I totally would have done this, except that I forgot in my frenzied packing fit to pack the extra notecards I needed. Oops.
4. More success! I have read all the magazines I brought (or will have done by the time I get home - I have two to go).
After a week of vacation and using the Super Bowl as an excuse to eat unhealthy food, I need to detox. I'm not going to do something silly like a week-long juice fast (ahem), and I'm not going to go overboard by saying I'm only going to eat green vegetables for the week. This needs to be achievable. So I will endeavor to stop adding sugar to my coffee, eating sugary snacks when almonds will work just fine, and having dessert (unless it's truly necessary, which sometimes it is).
Recap of goal #4:
1. Does denial count as deep thought? Fail.
2. Success!
3. I totally would have done this, except that I forgot in my frenzied packing fit to pack the extra notecards I needed. Oops.
4. More success! I have read all the magazines I brought (or will have done by the time I get home - I have two to go).
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Quote of the Day
“I tried not to think about my life. I did not have any good solid plans for it long-term - no bad plans either, no plans at all - and the lostness of that, compared with the clear ambitions of my friends (marriage, children, law school), sometimes shamed me. Other times in my mind I defended such a condition as morally and intellectually superior - my life was open and ready and free - but that did not make it less lonely.”
-- Lorrie Moore, A Gate at the Stairs
-- Lorrie Moore, A Gate at the Stairs
Friday, February 1, 2013
Breckenridge, Days 1 and 2
Welcome to Colorado, where it's bitterly cold but finally snowing!
Day 1 in Breckenridge, and I believe the high temperature we reached was 14 degrees. It was about 5 when I got up, with significant winds that drove the temperature well below zero. So what better to do than go play outside?
I had my first (mis)adventures with cross country skiing, which we opted for as the warmer alternative to downhill. It was indeed warmer - so warm, in fact, that I unzipped my coat part of the way. Go crazy, folks!
Seriously though, cross country skiing is a lot of fun, a good workout, and you get to see some beautiful places. And to boot, I only got my skis seriously crossed twice.
Dinner was a hearty and delicious venison stew with fresh-baked bread to sop up the goodness at the bottom of the bowl. Hard to beat, though I have to apologize for my lack of pictures. Will try to do better.
Today, day 2, took us out on the mountain for the first time, and it was glorious! It snowed all night and there were anywhere from a few inches to a foot of new powder on the slopes. Dad scheduled me a lesson for today, so I skied with G, my instructor, through some of the most fun snow I've ever had the privilege of playing in.
It snowed until early afternoon and was very cloudy most of the day. The sun managed to peek through a few times, and we had a lovely view of town at the end of the day after the snow stopped.
Day 1 in Breckenridge, and I believe the high temperature we reached was 14 degrees. It was about 5 when I got up, with significant winds that drove the temperature well below zero. So what better to do than go play outside?
I had my first (mis)adventures with cross country skiing, which we opted for as the warmer alternative to downhill. It was indeed warmer - so warm, in fact, that I unzipped my coat part of the way. Go crazy, folks!
Seriously though, cross country skiing is a lot of fun, a good workout, and you get to see some beautiful places. And to boot, I only got my skis seriously crossed twice.
Dinner was a hearty and delicious venison stew with fresh-baked bread to sop up the goodness at the bottom of the bowl. Hard to beat, though I have to apologize for my lack of pictures. Will try to do better.
Today, day 2, took us out on the mountain for the first time, and it was glorious! It snowed all night and there were anywhere from a few inches to a foot of new powder on the slopes. Dad scheduled me a lesson for today, so I skied with G, my instructor, through some of the most fun snow I've ever had the privilege of playing in.
It snowed until early afternoon and was very cloudy most of the day. The sun managed to peek through a few times, and we had a lovely view of town at the end of the day after the snow stopped.
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