tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42473343277714856312024-03-13T04:22:46.940-04:00Tattoos and ChampagneIt's surprising what things go well togetherAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-87385230112668405222012-06-17T11:11:00.000-04:002012-06-17T11:43:06.989-04:00The 3rd Sunday in June<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Holidays are weird.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last Halloween I was on the road (I may actually have recently arrived) to my parents' place in South Carolina. I'd received word that Dad was comatose. He'd aspirated when hospital staff had tried to remove a breathing tube. Dad in the hospital was, strangely, nothing new, but this time was different. This time Mom simply said, "I think you need to come home."<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That was all it took. I drove up to my brother's apartment and we made the 10 1/2 hour drive south that night. I saw the sun start to rise just as we made it to the hospital.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My sisters and I split Thanksgiving duties a few weeks later. By that time Dad was conscious, though not completely lucid, and his lungs were failing. He'd developed pneumonia (in the hospital, ironically enough). Several cousins and my Uncle (Dad's last surviving sibling) had made it into town by then. I remember I'd watch my Uncle - Dad's older brother by a decade - and marvel at how healthy he seemed comparatively. Uncle could walk on his own. He remembered conversations we'd had in the past. Hell, he even went to Arby's on occasion (culinary options around hospitals in Seneca, SC are a bit limited).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dad had been struggling for a while now. I'd call on Valentine's Day, Father's Day, his birthday. He'd usually ask the same string of questions: How's Tony? Is he at work? How's your research going? (At which point I'd have to remind him that my research had wrapped up some time ago.) Every year I'd call on Dad and Mom's anniversary, which happens to be the same day as my birthday, knowing that Dad would always end the call with the same phrase: "You're by far my favorite anniversary present."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJooKJ7mKnwFIn4YDypYHpfEFS64IixUcx-oew8zRxXFe8qziK08JYpTO-78mhjRmCCgb8uHtpX-WBz2byHBZS1l-8vLHcvZyUsjR1s6IVPwuvPNMdiwiU7eIEiVyaOe04rRtmXBOU5l_/s1600/me+and+dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJooKJ7mKnwFIn4YDypYHpfEFS64IixUcx-oew8zRxXFe8qziK08JYpTO-78mhjRmCCgb8uHtpX-WBz2byHBZS1l-8vLHcvZyUsjR1s6IVPwuvPNMdiwiU7eIEiVyaOe04rRtmXBOU5l_/s320/me+and+dad.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />I said goodbye to Dad a few times while I was home and told him I loved him every time I left the hospital to head to the house for food, sleep or a shower. Dad's speech was impaired (the tube down his throat had caused minor damage by pressing down on his vocal chords), but he always said "I love you, too" each time. <br /><br />When we first took out his breathing tube (a decision that took weeks to make as we weren't sure he'd survive without it), I had the chance to speak with him privately. I took his hand- one that always seemed so big to me when I was a kid but was now shrunken and swollen from lying in bed for weeks- and told him I'd always be his little girl. I remember stroking his fingernails. My sisters and I had filed them earlier because we'd hated how broken they had looked. (Dad was the epitome of a sharp-dressed man.)<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The day after Thanksgiving my sisters humored me by going to Kohl's at midnight for Black Friday shopping. Sometimes you just need a little normality, as it were.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Later that day, after speaking with multiple doctors, Mom made the decision to move Dad into hospice. I still can't imagine how hard that decision was for her. She and Dad had been married for over 40 years - she shared a longer life with him than any of us.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hospice was weird. It's this place that seems like a home but comes with hospital beds and care provision. It's a combination of relief and resignation. When someone says, "We need to make the best of a bad situation," hospice is what immediately comes to my mind.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Still, I lack the diction to describe my gratitude for the hospice in Seneca. Where we could barely fit our immediate family into Dad's room at the hospital (in fact, hospital regulations said that we weren't allowed to all be there at once - a family of 6 is too large, it seems), there was room to spare in his hospice space. Where </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">doctors at the hospital seemed unwilling to provide us with complete objective information (and had failed to read Dad's entire medical file and living will), the staff at hospice were forthcoming, held no punches, yet supportive and empathetic.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This came in handy when Dad passed away quietly two days later. (Not so much when one of the hospice nurses asked when I was due, which stung a bit as I've yet to be pregnant.) We had a memorial mass a few days later, and a formal military service when Dad was interred at Arlington National Cemetery in March.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today it's Father's Day. I have no phone call to place, no preset script of questions to answer. Instead, my brother and I are going to make another drive, and visit Dad at Arlington. I'll come home and spend some time with BHE and his father (and mother) instead.<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5p4mw7kRsEIDqvhnF3xsJpZ9DUw4e88daWadP90zws2BxyniIZ4sl5zlPLbutXa2dKa2Y-urJKbJ5eKSKFqszXHLtrdzeJpMi6WhFXUnWRxhSSExtUz4nZ_JtVl2khdgZxX1mzcWbKQ/s1600/reincarnation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5p4mw7kRsEIDqvhnF3xsJpZ9DUw4e88daWadP90zws2BxyniIZ4sl5zlPLbutXa2dKa2Y-urJKbJ5eKSKFqszXHLtrdzeJpMi6WhFXUnWRxhSSExtUz4nZ_JtVl2khdgZxX1mzcWbKQ/s320/reincarnation.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />And, yeah, it kind of sucks. But then I'll see little things that remind me of Dad at random moments: the Navy officers and cadets in uniform walking around the city (Dad was a retired Captain and pilot), the handkerchiefs I kept and use whenever I'm caught without a tissue (Dad used to pull one out like some kind of magic trick whenever I needed one as a kid), pulling on a pair of socks as the first line of defense against an oncoming virus (Dad asked me if I was wearing socks each time I mentioned I was sick during our phone calls. Every. Time.). I'll see these things and it will sting a little, but then I re</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">member how lucky I was to have my Dad in my life, and what an amazing human being he was.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And then I smile.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Father's Day, Daddy.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love Always,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your little girl in perpetuity,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Adj</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="347" src="http://www.nbc.com/assets/video/widget/widget.html?vid=1406389" width="512"></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-9457877212905147882012-05-20T23:16:00.001-04:002012-05-20T23:16:34.793-04:00Oh, Internet...<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...where else would I come across footage of <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2012/05/john-lennon-playing-basketball-with-miles-davis.html" target="_blank">John Lennon shooting hoops with Miles Davis</a>?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kGbkW_Ifc8Y" width="420"></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-65774765977699156322012-04-19T17:09:00.001-04:002013-01-10T10:33:12.904-05:00Paris Je t'aime! Day 6 Highlights (Or, How I Burned My Finger in a French Cooking School)<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Christa and I wish Mere luck as she heads out to work. We decide to spend the morning at <a href="http://www.aparisguide.com/leshalles/index.html" target="_blank">Les Halles</a>, chasing down <em>actual</em> bon marche deals. Les Halles is often described as "labyrinthine." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">People, that is putting shizz politely. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It takes us 15 minutes to figure out how to get the escalator that takes us to the third floor of shops. Because the 2 escalators we do find before that prove useless. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Les Halles, navigational issues aside, proves to be a great shopping center. We come across a museum store that carries French pop-up books on human anatomy. I somehow manage to show restraint and keep my credit card safely tucked inside my wallet. We do spend some money at a lingerie shop, which is having a semi-annual sale. The sales associate is very friendly and extremely patient when, after she asks (in French) if I need any help, I reply meekly that my French language skills are <em>pathétique</em>. We manage to hit up the Sephora before I start to crash.</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We decide to check out the <a href="http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm" target="_blank">Catacombs</a>. We get to the entrance, but at the last second I decide not to go in. It turns out to be a long tour and I have a cooking class I don't wish to be late to. Also, I feel weird snapping photos of people's remains for souvenir purposes - it seems, I don't know...disrespectful?</span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">All is not lost, however, as Christa has yet to check off a quiche Lorraine from her to-eat list. Thankfully, the street nearby is lined with cafes. I crush a large baguette with salami and a bechon/beachemel sauce (so, so awesome). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Time for some more shopping! We turn out to be surrounded by cooking good shops and food purveyors. SWEET. I buy some cookware and herbs at a Provence shop, where the store owner continually tries to feed Christa and I samples of various tapenades, bless) and then some jordan almonds at a local chocolatier. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We head home to drop off our gear. The news is doing a piece on the annual <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieux_du_Stade" target="_blank">Dieux du Stade</a> calendar and video. I'm almost embarrassed at how much I know about (a) French rugby and (b) the French rugby team's penchant for nudity. Almost. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But enough of naked athletes - it's time for my baking class! Today I'm heading out to La Cuisine, which offers a range of French cooking and baking classes taught in English. (You can check out a great interview with the school's owner at Lindsey's phenomenal blog here.) Today chef Jennie is teaching me and 6 other Americans (and 1 Irishman) how to make a Choux Chantilly Chocolat et Caramel (choux pastry stuffed with chocolate and dipped in a caramel sauce) and Fondant au chocolat et Sauce caramel beurre salé (molten lava cake with a caramel sauce). </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6otU8UUHOGI/TotKmaHJeLI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Z-WppzlR7Mg/s1600/shot_1317301202821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6otU8UUHOGI/TotKmaHJeLI/AAAAAAAAB-I/Z-WppzlR7Mg/s320/shot_1317301202821.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5EJx_-wB98/TotRCN9ZtqI/AAAAAAAACAQ/RJte91PpFM8/s1600/IMAG0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5EJx_-wB98/TotRCN9ZtqI/AAAAAAAACAQ/RJte91PpFM8/s320/IMAG0245.jpg" width="191" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9cFx7X38B4/TotRKjvCFWI/AAAAAAAACAU/LVgHoiJu9X8/s1600/IMAG0244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9cFx7X38B4/TotRKjvCFWI/AAAAAAAACAU/LVgHoiJu9X8/s320/IMAG0244.jpg" width="191" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YlY_su54mA/TotRVSkO_FI/AAAAAAAACAY/xZFrAmZu078/s1600/IMAG0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="191" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2YlY_su54mA/TotRVSkO_FI/AAAAAAAACAY/xZFrAmZu078/s320/IMAG0243.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2YUCsdLuSw/TotRhcFfgSI/AAAAAAAACAc/jTZMmsg2lEM/s1600/IMAG0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="191" qda="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D2YUCsdLuSw/TotRhcFfgSI/AAAAAAAACAc/jTZMmsg2lEM/s320/IMAG0246.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGudfcZZV7s/TotSTPJQ1pI/AAAAAAAACAo/8EPHifBP1mo/s1600/IMAG0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="191" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGudfcZZV7s/TotSTPJQ1pI/AAAAAAAACAo/8EPHifBP1mo/s320/IMAG0249.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4osoTrxDUuU/TotQlZIlQ_I/AAAAAAAACAE/oD1tYWr8f5M/s1600/IMAG0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="191" qda="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4osoTrxDUuU/TotQlZIlQ_I/AAAAAAAACAE/oD1tYWr8f5M/s320/IMAG0239.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3vRrQTAIEU/TotQto5rjXI/AAAAAAAACAI/nIBsOxegzn4/s1600/IMAG0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="320" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3vRrQTAIEU/TotQto5rjXI/AAAAAAAACAI/nIBsOxegzn4/s320/IMAG0240.jpg" width="191" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKjTtBZc3oY/TotSJfop3YI/AAAAAAAACAk/FNkZWHRC3Rg/s1600/IMAG0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="191" qda="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKjTtBZc3oY/TotSJfop3YI/AAAAAAAACAk/FNkZWHRC3Rg/s320/IMAG0250.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The class is great! I manage to burn my finger just once while dipping pastry into the caramel sauce - which is like friggin NAPALM in its heat intensity! And the food...Oh holy Mary, the FOOD! Only a few pieces of the choux make it back to the apartment. I'm sugar high for most of the afternoon. I give serious thought to extending my stay permanently to take the next day's bread baking course, but then remember that I have a husband and pets back home.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It's my last night in Paris, so of course Mere, Christa, and I decide to do it up and have a proper night on the town. We put on heels, dresses, hair and make up and hit the <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/l-experimental-cocktail-club-paris" target="_blank">Experimental Cocktail Club</a> to pregame. The bartender is flirty, the music is bumping, and the drinks continue to be awesome. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">We make it to <a href="http://www.maceorestaurant.com/Maceo_English_Home.html" target="_blank">Maceo</a> for our dinner reservation. I've mistakenly made the reservation for "M." (Monseiur) Baker, which the host finds entertaining. Oh well. We opted for Maceo based on their prix fixe menu selections. I opt for the Decourvertes, which comes with a roasted eggplant and minced salmon appetizer; roasted duck with parsnip mash and red wine reduction entree; and a nice frommage plate for dessert. (<em>Delicious</em> frommage.) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And a bottle of red wine, of course.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Dinner takes roughly 2 hours and runs about 60 euros a person and I don't notice or mind one bit. A nice man at a nearby table asks if we are in town for the fashion week shows. Christa says the guy has excellent game, but I think he's simply observed and appropriately admired our table of hotness.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As we finish dinner Christa announces that no trip to Paris is complete without seeing the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilique_du_Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur,_Paris" target="_blank">Sacré Coeur</a>. We metro over and take the many, many, many steps and hills to get there. Mere and Christa are fine but I am huffing and puffing away like a fat kid at a track meet. Several jokes are made about my upcoming half-marathon. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The SC is beautiful at night. And crowded. The view though, is impeccable (if a bit smoggy). We take the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmartre_funicular" target="_blank">funicular</a> down to street-level and metro home. We're all exhausted, still full from dinner, and a bit sweaty from our hike, so plans for a heading out for champagne evaporate quickly. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Instead, we decide to stay in and watch more news coverage of the Dieux du Stade's calendar. I'll say this much: There are certainly less pleasant images to which one can fall asleep.</span> </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-83209679560156666052012-03-13T20:04:00.001-04:002012-03-13T20:04:56.738-04:00Huh<div><p>There really is a magazine for everything...</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoMszwG9FoUoHG8bc9o96sk-hjwazng9dWMJcnvkHnQvcIlx5rR642AKVvM6xK0X4dZomf0_TYtfjABiP9L1HrxE8tgH9JZVi65GMGEABd4mYKRDfRjSvOXor1HIKkL4GcUJnAvnwwdIB/' /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-91520617468650250672012-03-06T10:48:00.001-05:002012-03-06T10:51:17.823-05:00Home (Office) Life<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lina is determined to work against my productivity today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSR98VbCi9Xe7a380IhMxar34mXyUbWqgMevZ30Yty3aSu41IqkTysSkI1CxxiJKhV-YcnFk6bVbelIKTFpVQ0g2Of-DTh70XiO8gvi1ZVe2mhuFENSG7ZJR4Yqcz47tFZUUYXdPAd1a8/" width="320" /></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-24641988125028389262012-03-05T18:23:00.000-05:002012-04-18T12:32:52.367-04:00Paris Je t'aime! Day 5 Highlights (Or, My Introduction to French Street Crime n' Porn)<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bright and early Christa and I make a bee line for the Louvre. But first things first - we need breakfast. A quick stroll around the musee and we run into </span><a href="http://www.angelina-paris.fr/en/#/home/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angelina's</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, home to a beautiful cafe and tearoom.</span><br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beautiful...and completely out of our budget for the morning. </span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYwb2TOTFAk/TotPdWhMuwI/AAAAAAAAB_o/TILOymJRMeI/s1600/IMAG0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BYwb2TOTFAk/TotPdWhMuwI/AAAAAAAAB_o/TILOymJRMeI/s320/IMAG0231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, Angelina's also sells small treats in their gift shop, including...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66EuM9R6x3g/TotJWkOSBQI/AAAAAAAAB9o/qYBlkkGQ_00/s1600/shot_1317198437670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-66EuM9R6x3g/TotJWkOSBQI/AAAAAAAAB9o/qYBlkkGQ_00/s320/shot_1317198437670.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MACARONS! I score a creme, pistachio, and lait-flavored trio. And they are diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiviiiiiiiine! Soft and chewy and melty and just every other mouth-watering adjective ending in a "y." I may have whimpered while eating them. Twice. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back to the Louvre. The first thing we see is the distinctive glass sculpture in front. The second thing we see is the line to get in. The long, long, long, long line. No thank you, please. The desire to not wait in line supersedes any desire to see the Mona Lisa. We opt to take photos and walk around the building instead.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-roExjsVWEps/TotP6sWLKKI/AAAAAAAAB_0/VN95XRQONXQ/s1600/IMAG0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-roExjsVWEps/TotP6sWLKKI/AAAAAAAAB_0/VN95XRQONXQ/s320/IMAG0233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39VvJLjKvC4/TotPlGcDV4I/AAAAAAAAB_s/mU3anCV6gHo/s1600/IMAG0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-39VvJLjKvC4/TotPlGcDV4I/AAAAAAAAB_s/mU3anCV6gHo/s320/IMAG0232.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VTQcM_btRGM/TotJx2REoBI/AAAAAAAAB90/HETOeTVjOQQ/s1600/shot_1317200830333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VTQcM_btRGM/TotJx2REoBI/AAAAAAAAB90/HETOeTVjOQQ/s320/shot_1317200830333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oJfXNEvpEVs/TotJpGo_s0I/AAAAAAAAB9w/lT2QYSadYtY/s1600/shot_1317200330806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oJfXNEvpEVs/TotJpGo_s0I/AAAAAAAAB9w/lT2QYSadYtY/s320/shot_1317200330806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My photo-op turns out to be more exciting than anticipated, as Christa pulls me out of the way at the last second before I'm taken out by a police officer chasing down a pick pocket who's just grabbed some poor woman's purse. We watch this live-action "Cops" (or should I say "Flics"?) for a few minutes and leave after seeing the perp drop the bag, hurdle some shrubs on the grounds, and then sprint away. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's still unseasonably warm, so we decide to take a stroll through the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuileries_Garden">Jardin des Tuileries</a>.</span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; white-space: nowrap;"> </em><br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; white-space: nowrap;"><br /></em></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bs6AkqMqiKg/TotKYHpp2zI/AAAAAAAAB98/smgimAOy3eU/s1600/shot_1317202025884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bs6AkqMqiKg/TotKYHpp2zI/AAAAAAAAB98/smgimAOy3eU/s320/shot_1317202025884.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMhMDAj-iUQ/TotKTU1wS4I/AAAAAAAAB94/2lHRmSSmBZg/s1600/shot_1317202021658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMhMDAj-iUQ/TotKTU1wS4I/AAAAAAAAB94/2lHRmSSmBZg/s320/shot_1317202021658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vek2GxSI8XQ/TotPwp6WaDI/AAAAAAAAB_w/ysgmCai8x2I/s1600/IMAG0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vek2GxSI8XQ/TotPwp6WaDI/AAAAAAAAB_w/ysgmCai8x2I/s320/IMAG0235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's stunning - a great place to sit and relax (as many people were already doing). It also seems to be the place to go if you want to sunbathe, make out, or eat your McDonald's cafe takeout.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Towards the other end of the Jardin, Christa and I notice a large tent that is just <i>blasting</i> house music. So naturally we have to check it out. A few steps in and I notice a sign that reads "Guy Laroche." And suddenly it dawns on us: The tents we've noticed aren't weddings - they're fashion shows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yup! It looks like we synced our trip with Fashion Week in the city. A quick look around reveals hordes of well-dressed individuals and pretty people trying to gracefully walk past the equally-large groups of photographers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one stops to photograph us. Shame.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Christa suggests a walk up the <a href="http://www.champselysees.org/" style="font-size: 15px;">Champs-Elysées</a> to the <a href="http://www.arcdetriompheparis.com/" style="font-size: 15px;">Arc de Triomphe</a>. It's impressive. It's also located next to a mammoth Cartier. Which is framed by an distractingly large pile of trash on the sidewalk.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-tAnU45Y6U/TotKdPZKB6I/AAAAAAAAB-A/nBFuUCj1AZo/s1600/shot_1317205556801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-tAnU45Y6U/TotKdPZKB6I/AAAAAAAAB-A/nBFuUCj1AZo/s320/shot_1317205556801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuQxMI8DOeI/TotQGW-Q2YI/AAAAAAAAB_4/1t0A3tBrBIU/s1600/IMAG0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iuQxMI8DOeI/TotQGW-Q2YI/AAAAAAAAB_4/1t0A3tBrBIU/s320/IMAG0236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pQb9vtiX8X4/TotQRBancqI/AAAAAAAAB_8/0Ef02gGgZ78/s1600/IMAG0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pQb9vtiX8X4/TotQRBancqI/AAAAAAAAB_8/0Ef02gGgZ78/s320/IMAG0237.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">(Christa getting photo-bombed)</span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cartier has us inspired. We decide to do some more window shopping and I lead us over to <a href="http://www.lebonmarche.com/">Le Bon Marché</a>, which roughly translates to "the good (or cheap) deal." It is a beautiful store but TOTALLY misnamed. The Valentino floor may have been the most decently priced, if that's any indication for you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to head somewhere more fitting with our budget. Christa suggests we check out Montmartre to see the Moulin Rouge. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADeyRkeMCOU/TotQbHod1TI/AAAAAAAACAA/b-gZSRzfK08/s1600/IMAG0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ADeyRkeMCOU/TotQbHod1TI/AAAAAAAACAA/b-gZSRzfK08/s320/IMAG0238.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">I</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">t's the first thing you notice stepping off the Metro. The second thing you notice is the plethora of strip clubs. So. Many. Strip clubs. And viewing booths. And adult clothing shops. And
<a class="l" href="http://www.musee-erotisme.com/" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;"><em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">Musée</em> de l'<em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">érotisme</em> </a>(aka, the Museum of Eroticism). And something called the Supermarche Erotique, which as best as I can figure translates to "the Erotique Supermarket."</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this walking and adult entertainment has given us an appetite, so we find a little creperie and sit for a spell. I order a savory spinach and cheese with mushrooms. Soooooooooooooo gooood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.....But sooooooooooooo much butter! My stomach reminds me that I am not meant to ingest that much heavy dairy at one go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More shopping! We're in Montmartre for (1) the Moulin Rouge and (2) a small vintage store I'd read about called </span><a href="http://www.mamie-vintage.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mamie</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Talk about a hidden gem! I do some digging and find a vintage scarf for my mom and a new travel bag for myself. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqzhvjCO-c/Tp9YubxnsII/AAAAAAAACBM/r2WQnFvSoDI/s1600/IMAG0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RLqzhvjCO-c/Tp9YubxnsII/AAAAAAAACBM/r2WQnFvSoDI/s320/IMAG0270.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">It's after 4pm by the time I finish blowing out my checking account and we're fading fast. It's time for a nap. Back at the apartment, Christa reads from her guide book that Montmarte was home and stomping gounds to the likes of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec">Lautrec</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Degas">Degas</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Monet">Monet</a>... I wonder out loud what they would have thought of their old hangouts evolving into XXX shops. Christa supposes they would have probably had their own shops. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Reunited with Meredith, we have dinnner at </span><a href="http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=20810" style="font-size: 15px;">Tien Hang</a><span style="font-size: 15px;"> again. It's still amazing. (I enjoy a faux duck dish that still visits my dreams.) Plus, there's a half dressed man flouncing around in the apartment across the street from the restaurant, so it's dinner AND a show. I manage to order, ask for the bill and thank the hostess for a lovely evening in pseudo-perfect French. Woo hoo!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">The three of us decide it's a good night to drink at home. Christa and I head over to the local <a href="http://www.monoprix.fr/">Monop</a>, where the most expensive bottle of wine is 12€. (Lord bless this country!) We give up all pretense of being worldly tourists and guzzle merlot while watching what appears to be a French version of "What not to Wear" before collectively passing out.</span></span></div>
</div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-3201012760526525202012-03-05T14:42:00.000-05:002012-03-05T14:42:43.655-05:00Toonage<div>BHE and I had a busy weekend full of random errands and such in preparation for this week (I'll get into that in a later post). To say it was stressful (or that said stress may have made me a bit...edgy) is something of an understatement. So to try and pick up our somewhat soggy spirits, we made our way to the <a href="http://www.thecharles.com/">Charles Theater</a> here in Charm City to check out the 2012 Oscar Nominees for Animated Short Films, which included:</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 150px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 22px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></p><p class="MsoNormal">"Dimanche/Sunday" Patrick Doyon<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"La Luna" Enrico Casarosa<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"A Morning Stroll" Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Wild Life" Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I found <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmNdoeU5lq0">"A Morning Stroll</a>" extremely entertaining (mostly because I know the story on which it's based), while BHE quite enjoyed "Dimanche." We also were able to see shorts that received special commendations for excellence, which was cool. "Skylight" proved a particular favorite with the audience: </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d_MK2YZ9uOc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Unfortunately, Pixar's submission ("La Luna") was NOT among the shorts we could see[What the EFF, Pixar?!?], possibly because it will be the opening short to their summer release "Brave." Whatever...</p><p></p></div><div><br /></div>"Flying Books" won the Oscar, and thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can see it below:<br /> <br /> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Adzywe9xeIU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>On a side note, I TOTALLY missed Dr. Seuss' 100th birthday this past week! (*GASP*) I'm without recipes to properly celebrate the occasion, but thankfully the <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/03/happy-birthday-dr-seuss-10-seuss-inspired-food-recipes.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+seriouseatsfeaturesvideos+%28Serious+Eats%29">good people at Serious Eats stepped in to fill the void. </a> </p><p>I'm particularly looking forward to trying out the Hop on Pop(corn). </p><p>Chat you up soon, lovelies! Enjoy!</p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-71532630917472327992012-02-29T10:42:00.000-05:002012-02-29T12:21:10.537-05:00Note to the Radio<div><p>Dear Radio,</p>
<p>Please, please, please more of this:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vulture.com/2012/02/estelle-do-my-thing.html">Estelle’s New Song Featuring Janelle Monáe, ‘Do My Thing’</a></p>
<p>And much less LMFAO.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-64833213917879432232012-02-25T09:17:00.001-05:002012-02-25T09:17:07.175-05:00Saturday Mornings<div><p>Sometimes I wonder if my cats think I'm just some kind of extra-comfy couch...</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepOfhzsJkgnKacppGOcYoiJQiUqAahksfi5jQBdpSSQZP-44V2iellhsexZHibfpTmCgMFc5CN07awWoIf9K5xzeAYZluPmyYCtngXRNWzVKY21Io4pXr1zYUidz0_esC7P89wueyYOTa/' /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-75795969451629097062012-02-22T16:30:00.000-05:002012-02-22T16:30:00.923-05:00And I'm Back<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hey, peeps!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm finally back after a long-needed break to deal with some life events that arose unexpectedly. (Expect an updated post on that later.)<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hadn't realized how much time had lapsed! I have a handful of updates and recipes to share in the coming weeks, as well as an update on a new project I'm undertaking with a fellow food blogger in DC.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok, that's all I have at the moment. Instead of my usual banter, I'll instead leave you with this little gem.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enjoy!<br />
</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kJ4s3G7hgR4" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-22916586900193237742011-11-23T23:35:00.001-05:002011-11-27T16:07:40.361-05:00temporary downtime<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://cdn.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/pillow-fort-architecture.jpg" src="http://cdn.dornob.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/pillow-fort-architecture.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sorry I've been absent lately, but I've been holing up in my emotional pillow fort.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'll return shortly, promise!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">xoxo</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Adj</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-76133595737345879692011-10-19T21:33:00.008-04:002012-04-18T12:33:16.818-04:00Paris Je t'aime! Day 3 & 4 Highlights (Or, my attempt at Ginger Pumpkin Macarons)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*With <a href="http://www.ex-boyfriendcollection.com/">Mere </a>away at work, I hang out at the flat waiting for our friend Christa to arrive. I find myself caught up watching (1) the Fiji v. Samoa Rugby World Cup game and (2) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_destin_de_Lisa">Le Destin de Lisa,</a> which is like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugly_Betty">Ugly Betty</a>, except it's German and I'm engrossed in French-dubbed version for close to 2 hours. (Seriously, it's riveting stuff.)<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*The apartment manager arrives to fix the washing machine and mentions passing a blonde girl with a suitcase on the stairs. Turns out Christa's here!<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0z4uhRCRA/TotPJAPmQ4I/AAAAAAAABhs/0rcsmCdj43o/s1600/IMAG0228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0z4uhRCRA/TotPJAPmQ4I/AAAAAAAABhs/0rcsmCdj43o/s320/IMAG0228.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(Christa's shoes, which she insists smell like puppies. I think the jetlag got to her.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Christa and I engage in lunch eating and people-watching. She teaches me how to ask for the check in French. Which it seems I have been doing really, really, really wrong.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*My goal for the day is to check out one of the big flea markets in the City, <a href="http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/France/Ile_de_France/Paris-99080/Shopping-Paris-Les_Puces_Flea_Markets-BR-1.html">Les Puces</a> in Clignancourt</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Thanks to extensive directions courtesy of <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2011/03/how-to-get-to-the-paris-flea-market/">Jordan at Oh Happy Day</a>, we manage to make it past the UBER-sketch vendor vans and find ourselves exploring one of the largest open-air markets I've ever seen. This place is MASSIVE. It takes several hours to explore all of it, and I'm still not convinced that we did. Both Christa and I manage to score some unique buys for home, friends, and family.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We head back to the apartment to wait for Mere. No dice. Homegirl texts to say she's been kidnapped by her co-workers for dinner and drinks after work. (She's eventually able to escape around 2:30am.)<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Since Christa and I are on our own we decide to walk around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmarte">Montmarte </a>for dinner and drinks. Thank God Parisians like to eat late, because it's after 10pm before we manage to sit down.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*The next day we all wake up to the sound of screaming teenagers and rolling garbage bins. What the hell?<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucoW46DSx04/TotNgbuYDnI/AAAAAAAABgY/rjee9YpTjbw/s1600/IMAG0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ucoW46DSx04/TotNgbuYDnI/AAAAAAAABgY/rjee9YpTjbw/s320/IMAG0218.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sFKp7z0oA8/TotNwniYzlI/AAAAAAAABgo/k16IQKyw3Nc/s1600/IMAG0219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_sFKp7z0oA8/TotNwniYzlI/AAAAAAAABgo/k16IQKyw3Nc/s320/IMAG0219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
*It's apparently some kind of protest taking place at a nearby school, the Lycée Turgo. Despite Christa's investigations, we never do figure out what was going on that morning, except that the bins were stacked up against the protesters' target building. (We later discover that it has something to do with <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8066710/France-strikes-high-school-students-and-oil-workers-protest-against-pension-reforms.html?image=17">pension reform</a>.) Christa does, however, return with a pain au chocolate for me, earning my most sincere admiration for all eternity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
*Mere is back at work with a hangover, so Christa and I are once again the Dynamic Duo for the day. Armed with the book </span><a href="http://astore.amazon.com/simplluxur-20/detail/2080200739" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Parisian Chic</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> (recommended by fellow blogger Shannon over at </span><a href="http://www.thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Simply Luxurious Life</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">), we decide to do some shopping. Unfortunately, there's a typo in the book and as a result we walk for friggin MILES with no luck.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We eventually stumble upon the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B4tel_de_Ville,_Paris">Hôtel de Ville</a>...<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncBahJo3AWQ/TotI8R73hwI/AAAAAAAABeE/ObBhwu-gCQY/s1600/shot_1317123060208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ncBahJo3AWQ/TotI8R73hwI/AAAAAAAABeE/ObBhwu-gCQY/s320/shot_1317123060208.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_3gY0IP5ndU/TotIywH-e9I/AAAAAAAABd4/2xveZwM-g9o/s1600/shot_1317123026716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_3gY0IP5ndU/TotIywH-e9I/AAAAAAAABd4/2xveZwM-g9o/s320/shot_1317123026716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gM816hEWZQM/TotI3M10nUI/AAAAAAAABcw/EwVXPztOjPY/s1600/shot_1317123036858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gM816hEWZQM/TotI3M10nUI/AAAAAAAABcw/EwVXPztOjPY/s320/shot_1317123036858.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvom2AQp79E/TotJFCGpZwI/AAAAAAAABc8/tuOyg8gdXvg/s1600/shot_1317123055500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dvom2AQp79E/TotJFCGpZwI/AAAAAAAABc8/tuOyg8gdXvg/s320/shot_1317123055500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*More importantly, we stumble upon one of the shops mentioned in my book: <a href="http://www.bhv.fr/">BHV </a>or Bazaar de l'Hôtel de Ville, one of Paris' most iconic department stores. What is it with the French and their super-sized shopping centers? This place is at least 7 floors of merchandise. By the time we make it through 3 floors' worth of shopping, we're about to crash from low blood sugar. Time to eat!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<br />
*Lunch is followed by the one museum I'm actually geeked to check out: the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9e_Rodin">Musée Rodin</a>. It turns out that the musée costs 10€ to check out, but the jardin costs 0€. No brainer there. Besides, the jardin is home to some of Rodin's most famous pieces: </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0AmSrpzQSE/TotOXwyNZfI/AAAAAAAABhU/STzokvW2ceg/s1600/IMAG0223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0AmSrpzQSE/TotOXwyNZfI/AAAAAAAABhU/STzokvW2ceg/s320/IMAG0223.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FU5EPL7BSPw/TotJBYczJjI/AAAAAAAABc4/N4P4GCz1SxI/s1600/shot_1317130993235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FU5EPL7BSPw/TotJBYczJjI/AAAAAAAABc4/N4P4GCz1SxI/s320/shot_1317130993235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DSdK6Z60-mY/TotOsy678mI/AAAAAAAABhg/a7-LFESKi2Y/s1600/IMAG0224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DSdK6Z60-mY/TotOsy678mI/AAAAAAAABhg/a7-LFESKi2Y/s320/IMAG0224.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWM_5JWv_eE/TotJMoOZT3I/AAAAAAAABd8/VORmD5gi2Y0/s1600/shot_1317131961937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yWM_5JWv_eE/TotJMoOZT3I/AAAAAAAABd8/VORmD5gi2Y0/s320/shot_1317131961937.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Part of our view of the jardin is blocked by a massive white tent. Christa and I ponder just how much you have to shell out to have your wedding amongst Rodin's artwork. We check out the museum giftshop, where I buy a pen that comes with a moving figure of the <i>Thinker </i>on one end. Classy.<br />
<br />
*The kids are still protesting, albeit more silently, in front of the Turgot. <br />
<br />
*We, of course, couldn't care less, as Christa has a sudden hankering for macarons. We find some at a local boulangerie - a 6-pack of mini-rainbow-colored delights. Christa is semi-elated, since she's not convinced these were made in-house. Not that this stops her from generously sharing. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LSYRpU0I1i0/TotJQoUCwUI/AAAAAAAABdE/aQoxTyz-b88/s1600/shot_1317135755192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LSYRpU0I1i0/TotJQoUCwUI/AAAAAAAABdE/aQoxTyz-b88/s320/shot_1317135755192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*It's a bust. Christa explains how a proper macaron will melt in your mouth, both crispy and creamy at the same time. The search will have to continue. But first: a nap! Followed by dinner at a lovely vegetarian bistro called <a href="http://www.soya75.fr/">Soya</a>. I mistakenly order a carafe of rosé instead of a glass. Or did I?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
And now, for your recipe......</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*****************************************************</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This fuss over macarons piqued my interest. I mean, how good could they really be?<br />
<br />
Pretty f'ing amazing, as it turns out. (But more about that later.) After returning home, I decided to give making macarons a try.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, an online search for macarons will turn up cooking instructions that put baking these crispy treats on par with neurosurgery. Turns out macarons are temperamental little f*ckers: one misstep and you end up with cracked shells, hollow meringues and broken dreams. <br />
<br />
Tasty broken dreams, of course, but fractured nonetheless.<br />
<br />
I scoped out a few different bloggers and came up with an amended recipe for Pumpkin Ginger Macarons. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQTtKJ1tack/Tp9YzJm7P3I/AAAAAAAABog/WMhfaFpq2OI/s1600/IMAG0267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eQTtKJ1tack/Tp9YzJm7P3I/AAAAAAAABog/WMhfaFpq2OI/s320/IMAG0267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_itzNacqGQ/Tp9Y4eNmBRI/AAAAAAAABoo/C8kOZUPUROY/s1600/IMAG0268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s_itzNacqGQ/Tp9Y4eNmBRI/AAAAAAAABoo/C8kOZUPUROY/s320/IMAG0268.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9stNPErpMCk/Tp9Y_I4QMDI/AAAAAAAABow/LnxEl3rkLB8/s1600/IMAG0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9stNPErpMCk/Tp9Y_I4QMDI/AAAAAAAABow/LnxEl3rkLB8/s320/IMAG0269.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How did they turn out?<br />
<br />
Meh. <br />
<br />
They were DELICIOUS, granted, but I think I fudged the macronage stage (when you mix the dry ingredients into the whipped egg whites). There's a test you can use to see if you've under-mixed the batter, which I've included in the recipe. <br />
<br />
Godspeed to you, fellow bakers. And as per usual, enjoy!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***************************************<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Ginger-Pumpkin Macarons</b><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Adapted from <a href="http://bravetart.com/">Bravetart.com</a>)</span></div>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(NOTE: I STRONGLY suggest you check out Bravetart.com's macaron <a href="http://bravetart.com/blog/MacaronMyths">Myths</a> and <a href="http://bravetart.com/blog/TheTenCommandments">Commandments</a> postings. They'll make you a stronger baker, promise.)</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>INGREDIENTS:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">4 oz (115g) almond flour (Red Mill makes a decent one)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8 oz (230g) powdered sugar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">5 oz egg whites (144g)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2 1/2 oz (72g) granulated sugar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 vanilla bean, scraped, or 2 tsp vanilla extract</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/2 tsp (2g) salt</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 tsp (2g) pumpkin pie spice</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1/4 tsp (2g) ground ginger (powdered form, please!)<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a few drops of orange food coloring (optional)<br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
<br />
<b>DIRECTIONS:</b></span></div>
<br />
Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper (or with a silicone baking mat). Set aside.<br />
<br />
Preheat the oven to 300°F/148°C. Sift the flour with the powdered sugar and set that mess aside. (You can go ahead and toss any clump or lumps that wouldn't sift.)<br />
<br />
Place the egg whites into the bowl of your standing mixer (you can use a hand mixer here, but be prepared to do some work). Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, until the egg whites start to look frothy. Add the granulated sugar, the scraped vanilla bean or vanilla extract, and salt. Mix on medium-high speed for another 3-4 minutes. Your egg whites should begin to form soft peaks. Add the pumpkin pie spice and the powdered ginger. Mix at high speed for another 3-4 minutes. Add the food coloring (if using) and whip for another minute. Your egg whites should form nice, shiny white peaks. Go ahead and pick up the bowl. Turn it upside down. If the egg whites stay in place, well done! If not, shower and try again. <br />
<br />
Now here's the part where I miffed up a bit. You need to incorporate the dry ingredients into your egg whites. Sounds easy right? <br />
<br />
Not so much. This stage, the macronage as it's been called, is where you can make or break your macarons. (<a href="http://kitchenmusings.com/macaron-faqs">Kitchen Musings</a> has some great explanations for this.) Using a rubber spatula, fold in your dry ingredients into the egg whites (break the contents of the bowl into 2 halves to make mixing the dry ingredients a bit easier). Your goal here is to completely incorporate the flour/sugar combo. That means you need to SCRAPE THE SIDES while you're working the batter. <br />
<br />
There's no need to sweat with panic, as there's an easy test to check if your batter is done. Every 5 - 10 stirs, spoon a little bit of the mixture onto a plate, making a small puddle of batter. If the puddle has a peak that won't dissolve, you need to keep stirring. If the peak does dissolve quickly (i.e., your batter flows like lava) then you're good to go! Check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZG0jm0nW8">Dulce Delight's clip on YouTube</a> for a visual reference. <br />
<br />
Spoon your batter into a piping bag. (No bag? No biggie! Just clip the corner off of a quart-sized ziplock bag and be sure to watch your pressure.) Pipe the batter into 1 1/2in discs on the baking sheets, keeping them approx 1-in apart. (Seriously, the batter spreads while cooking, and no one wants a double-macaron. Or DO they???) Rap the pans against the counter a few times to work out any air bubbles and them let them rest for 15 minutes or so (feel free to go longer if you like). <br />
<br />
Place the baking sheet in the oven for 12 - 18 minutes. Why the huge time range? Well, basically ovens are like finger prints - no two are the same. (That is to say, some have hot spots while others can maintain a consistent temperature.) To accommodate for this , you'll want to check in on your macarons at the 12 minute mark. Try to pop off a meringue. It should stick a bit to the pan without separating entirely. You can also go ahead and tap one sucker in the middle. If it's super gooey, you need to cook them a bit longer. Close the oven door and check on them every 2 minutes until done. Completely cools the cookies in the pan.<br />
<br />
The filling is considerably easier to assemble: Simply blend together 1/4 cup pumpkin puree (aka, canned pumpkin), 4 oz (or half a box) of cream cheese, 2 tbsp powdered sugar (or more to taste), and 1/4 tsp ground cloves. <br />
<br />
Pipe or spoon a quarter-sized dollop onto a cooled macaron shell and sandwich together with an unfrosted half. <br />
<br />
Now for the hard part: HANDS OFF. No, seriously - macarons need time to "ripen." So stick those suckers in an air-tight container and sit on your hands for a night before snacking. <br />
<br />
Even if your first attempt is a bit of a fiasco, I promise that they'll be the best tasting mistake you've ever made. <a href="http://howtodoeverything.org/post/4037283638/how-to-pick-a-name-for-your-military-operation">Paula Deen suggested turning failed macarons into a trifle</a>, and that sounds like a better plan than crying over cracked cookies anyday. <br />
<br />
Let me know if you need a tissue. Good luck!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-22221068589518432382011-10-13T14:08:00.000-04:002011-10-13T14:08:11.444-04:00Risotto Mexicana (Or, What to Do When MarxFoods Sends Mystery Samples)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes I'm lucky enough to enjoy little perks of being a blogger who likes food. I've had a chance to review grass-raised beef from <a href="http://adjdes.blogspot.com/2010/09/perks-of-being-blogger-free-steak-from.html">Hearst Ranch</a> and to try out <a href="http://adjdes.blogspot.com/2010/08/palm-leaf-plate-bonanza-shrimp-with.html">Palm Leaf Plates</a> on a picnic date with BHE.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <br />
So you can imagine how big my eyes grew when <a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/">MarxFoods </a>announced that it would send a box of mystery ingredients to a set of volunteer bloggers, with the challenge of coming up with a recipe based on the contents of mystery package.<br />
<br />
Gauntlet thrown, MarxFoods!<br />
<br />
My mystery box arrived while I was on my girl-cation. Thankfully, BHE kept it out of Donald's reach. I opened it as soon as I came home and here's what I found:<br />
*<a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/Dried-Pasilla-Negro-Chilies">Dried Pasilla Negro Chilies</a><br />
*<a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/dried-lobster-mushrooms">Dried Lobster Mushrooms</a><br />
*<a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/Diced-New-Mexico-Chiles">Diced New Mexico Chilies</a><br />
*<a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/Smoked-Sea-Salt">Smoke Sea Salt</a><br />
*<a href="http://www.marxfoods.com/Whole-Wheat-Couscous">Whole Wheat Couscous</a><br />
<br />
My original idea was to make a dish that consisted of a couscous crust with sauteed lobster mushrooms seasoned with the sea salt and maybe a hint of the diced chilies. But, I decided I wanted something a little heartier. <br />
<br />
Soup?<br />
Nah.<br />
<br />
Pasta?<br />
Nope.<br />
<br />
And then it hit me: Rice! Or, risotto, rather. It's quickly becoming that time of year when my racing needs (i.e., carbs and lots of them) converge with cooler temperatures. I start craving things both warm AND filling. <br />
<br />
So risotto it was! But then I began to wonder: what kind of risotto? Most of the dishes I've had tend to be cheesy/creamy with spring veggies in them (think parmesean and asparagus). This dish would clearly need a spicier finish. Maybe something with mushrooms?<br />
<br />
I began thumbing through past recipes looking for inspiration. How could I incorporate the pasilla chile without overwhelming the dish? Spice is one thing - but mind-numbing heat is quite another. <br />
<br />
Help came in the form of a soup recipe from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.rickbayless.com">Rick Bayless</a>, who likes to blend chilies with tomatoes in some of his recipes. <br />
<br />
Eur-friggin-reeka!<br />
<br />
And so combining this little trick with some risotto-making basics, I came up with my Risotto Mexicana. Hearty and smokey, with a little heat to help you through the increasingly cooler nights.<br />
<br />
Now, I am aware that the peeps over at <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/">Serious Eats </a>just did a big piece on <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/10/the-food-lab-the-science-of-risotto.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+seriouseatsfeaturesvideos+%28Serious+Eats%29">making the perfect risotto</a>. It involves rinsing the rise with the stock and then preserving the stock for later use...all of which I did not do here. (In my defense, the article came out like 2 days after I had finalized my dish.) <br />
<br />
That said, if you want to take the longer route, I'll provide directions for that, too. As for me, well, my evenings can get a little hectic, so I use the quick n' easy routine when necessary. <br />
<br />
The dish was a hit and BHE went back for thirds, which is always a good review in our house. Let me know how it works out for you!<br />
<br />
And, as always, ENJOY!<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">******************************************</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Risotto Mexicana</span><br />
<br />
<b>INGREDIENTS:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1 medium to large dried pasilla negro chile (stem and seeds removed)<br />
1 15oz can diced tomatoes with juice<br />
3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped<br />
2oz dried lobster mushrooms <br />
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth<br />
2 cups arborio rice<br />
1 medium onion (or 3 shallots), diced <br />
1/4 tsp Diced New Mexico chilies<br />
1/4 tsp smoked sea salt<br />
3 tbsp olive oil, divided<br />
2 tbsp unsalted butter<br />
1/4 cup mild cheddar cheese or queso fresco (optional)<br />
fresh cilantro to garnish<br />
<br />
<b>DIRECTIONS:<br />
</b></span></div>Reconstitute the mushrooms by placing them in a bowl (preferably glass) and covering them with boiling water. Set aside for 20 minutes or so, until the mushrooms are tender. Strain and dice the mushrooms, but reserve 1 cup of the water for the risotto. <br />
<br />
**EASY RISOTTO COOKING METHOD PRESTEP** Preheat the oven to 400F <br />
<br />
Pour the tomatoes and its juice into a blender. Break up the pasilla chile into small pieces and then add it to tomatoes. <br />
<br />
Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil over med-high heat in a large pan or skillet. Add the garlic, diced chilies and HALF of the diced onion. Stir frequently, sauteing for about 5 -7 minutes or until the onion is translucent and the garlic golden. (Do NOT burn the garlic.) Add this mixture to the tomato blend and process until smooth.<br />
<br />
Place a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the butter and remaining tbsp of olive oil. Once the foam has subsided, add the diced mushrooms and saute them for 5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms (keeping the butter and olive oil in the pan) and set aside. Add the remaining dice onion and continue sauteing for another 3-4 minutes. (Add an extra tsp of olive oil if the pan is a little dry after removing the mushrooms.)<br />
<br />
**ADVANCED RISOTTO PREP 101 (via <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/10/the-food-lab-the-science-of-risotto.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+seriouseatsfeaturesvideos+%28Serious+Eats%29">Serious Eats</a>)* "Place the rice into a bowl and pouring the chicken or veggie broth directly on top. Agitated the rice to release all of the starch, then poured it through a fine mesh strainer, reserving the starchy, cloudy broth on the side."**<br />
Add the rice to the onion mixture and cook for 1 more minute, stirring frequently until the grains are a nice golden brown. <br />
<br />
**EASY RISOTTO COOKING METHOD** Add the blended tomato mixture to the pan with the rice. Add the sea salt, reserved liquid (from the mushrooms) and broth. Stir to combine. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Take out the dish, add the mushrooms and (if you're using it) the cheese. Stir to combine. Recover and bake the dish another 10 - 15 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Season with additional New Mexico chilies if desired. Serve with a cilantro garnish. <br />
<br />
**NOT-SO-EASY RISOTTO COOKING METHOD (again, via <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/10/how-to-make-perfect-risotto-recipe.html">Serious Eats</a>)* Add the blended tomato mixture to the pan with the rice. Add the sea salt, reserved liquid, and 2 cups of the reserved broth (mix the broth before adding to distribute the starch). Increase the heat to high and cook until simmering. Stir the rice once, cover, and reduce the heat to low. <br />
<br />
Cook rice for 10 minutes. Stir once, shake pan gently to redistribute rice, cover, and continue cooking until liquid is mostly absorbed and rice is tender with just a faint bite, about 10 minutes longer. <br />
<br />
Remove lid and add final cup of broth and the mushrooms. Increase heat to high and cook, stirring and shaking rice constantly until thick and creamy. Remove from heat and add the cheese (if using) and season with additional New Mexico chilies (if desired) and a cilantro garnish.** <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJWukr8amzK2HMyO77Axf4g4bqmue995teX-iodCNInB1u3DKOd6GJOw-lsKKZzdSIK-ATmnagS_TbaWlUXvBUP8hnj74qwFq7eztB7YF9pP0813L-dgoHnkMa6Kmb3yKgBDTfkjYvUZk/s1600/IMAG0261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJWukr8amzK2HMyO77Axf4g4bqmue995teX-iodCNInB1u3DKOd6GJOw-lsKKZzdSIK-ATmnagS_TbaWlUXvBUP8hnj74qwFq7eztB7YF9pP0813L-dgoHnkMa6Kmb3yKgBDTfkjYvUZk/s320/IMAG0261.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIFqImwH7BoQAL2_xu4ULPw_DnJ5No7VtWfzBE5Jfssu08OAp1wRqU6e9aeGOoGKgvKNZkM5Zj4XxH11DnjJP84vKoEKFJsNhM5mJPu64NjtI5gdUyngVBacCCd8L8kyM0K6LyMMcB7uD/s1600/IMAG0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRIFqImwH7BoQAL2_xu4ULPw_DnJ5No7VtWfzBE5Jfssu08OAp1wRqU6e9aeGOoGKgvKNZkM5Zj4XxH11DnjJP84vKoEKFJsNhM5mJPu64NjtI5gdUyngVBacCCd8L8kyM0K6LyMMcB7uD/s320/IMAG0260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's a damn tasty dish, if I do say so</span> myself! Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-82035558127655304152011-10-12T15:26:00.000-04:002011-10-12T15:26:47.913-04:00Paris Je t'aime! Day Two Highlights<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* We wake up and realize it's Sunday, which means most of Paris will be closed for the day. This is a tad problematic as said closures include supermarkets and several restaurants. So I flip through some of suggestions shared by Parisian-based blogger Jordan of <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/">Oh Happy Day!</a> and we opt to hit up the open market.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Mere and I metro over to the <a href="http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/">Eiffle Tower</a> to find the market. We find instead several break dance performances (I find out that Mere was a breaker in a past life. Who knew?), <a href="http://www.parisversailles.com/index.php?lang=en">the remanents of the something called the Paris-Versailles Le Grande Classique</a>, and something else called the <a href="http://www.famillathlon.org/">Famillathon</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AgV8PxqBaWM/TotMS-8MLqI/AAAAAAAABfA/G3wbM1VEbvg/s1600/IMAG0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AgV8PxqBaWM/TotMS-8MLqI/AAAAAAAABfA/G3wbM1VEbvg/s320/IMAG0209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6HCGSf0C0Lg/TotMHenIlzI/AAAAAAAABe4/0p7nrnvRX5M/s1600/IMAG0208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6HCGSf0C0Lg/TotMHenIlzI/AAAAAAAABe4/0p7nrnvRX5M/s320/IMAG0208.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMH5_ru9POs/TotIkqwpywI/AAAAAAAABcg/WKCmVE27XyQ/s1600/shot_1316947598709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uMH5_ru9POs/TotIkqwpywI/AAAAAAAABcg/WKCmVE27XyQ/s320/shot_1316947598709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We even come across the pools in front of the l'Ecole Militaire, which appears to be quite popular with the locals.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QX73hZa0TCY/TotMfryXuJI/AAAAAAAABfM/Di3PTQsATCA/s1600/IMAG0210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QX73hZa0TCY/TotMfryXuJI/AAAAAAAABfM/Di3PTQsATCA/s320/IMAG0210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*What we don't find is the market (which, I figure out later, was at least one stop before the Tower. Sorry, Mere!) This doesn't change the fact that we're both starving, so we sit down at a local cafe for brunch. Mere has an AMAZING dish that consists of artichokes and chanterelle mushrooms lovingly bathed in butter and chives, while I did into a salad and a roasted avocado.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We walk back towards the tower. On the way, we come across a <a href="http://www.photoquai.fr/en/2011/accueil.html">photography exhibit</a> outside along the Seine. We take our time looking at each country's contribution.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Home again! Of course, it's a bit unnerving when we pass some 4 or so vans full of armed police en route. They're just standing around for the moment, chatting. There doesn't appear to be any crisis. For now...<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Since cooking at home is out, Mere and I take a look online for some dinner ideas. We find a place suggested by another blog, <a href="http://hipparis.com/">HiP Paris</a>. The restaurant is actually open on Sundays. Hooray!<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*What the hell is that noise? Mere and I look outside. So that's why the police were out and about: There's a street protest taking place! </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmjuCn5-mFs/TotNJNkQpKI/AAAAAAAABgE/AyUAlUB2wsU/s1600/IMAG0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RmjuCn5-mFs/TotNJNkQpKI/AAAAAAAABgE/AyUAlUB2wsU/s320/IMAG0216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVnfpRqwT7Y/TotNVPwJqkI/AAAAAAAABgM/_aZBzfKkTZs/s1600/IMAG0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVnfpRqwT7Y/TotNVPwJqkI/AAAAAAAABgM/_aZBzfKkTZs/s320/IMAG0217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rFi6oLvI0g/TotM8irrIAI/AAAAAAAABf4/ZH5l6c27oJE/s1600/IMAG0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5rFi6oLvI0g/TotM8irrIAI/AAAAAAAABf4/ZH5l6c27oJE/s320/IMAG0215.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Apparently, there's a fellow named GBagbo who may have been unjustly detained (and taken into custody by French military) in the Cote de Ivoire. The protest is over and out of ear shot within 20minutes.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Time for wine!<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We make our way to our dinner selection for the evening: Tien Hang. It's hole-in-the-wall joint that serves some 60 vegetarian items, all of which can be prepared as vegan entrees upon request.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Holy crap this place is AMAZING! I have a black pepper "steak" clay pot that brings a tear to my eye it tastes so good. I also have an order of steamed dumplings and split a spicy papaya salad with Mere. Coconut juice with large shreds of coconut meat to drink. Sticky rice on the side. It's way, way too much food for one person but I persevere.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We roll out of the restaurant and walk a bit just to aid the digestion process. Also pitching in: a glass of cognac ordered at a bar near the Bastille (Mere opts for champagne). Time to metro home before I fall over again. There's an accordion player at the metro stop. Nice.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THINGS I HAVE NOT SEEN IN PARIS:</span><br />
<ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mimes</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unshaven Ladies</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Berets</span></li>
</ol><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">THINGS I HAVE SEEN IN PARIS:</span></div><div><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Smoking. SO. MUCH. SMOKING.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fashion shows (more on that later)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Public Protests</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Crazies in the Metro/on the Metro</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little Dogs</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Couples mid-Makeout Session</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Naked Rugby Players on TV (more on that later, too)</span></li>
</ol></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-18585328267588929002011-10-11T16:27:00.001-04:002011-10-11T16:28:22.023-04:00Paris Je t'aime! Day One Highlights<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Spend the flight squished into my seat. The other seats are occupied by a nice, though portly, elderly couple who are apparently new to international travel. I show them how to use the in-flight entertainment system correctly. Twice. As sleeping becomes increasingly less of an option, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I decide to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1605783/">Midnight in Paris</a> (yay!) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491152/">Something Borrowed</a> (not so yay) instead.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*I make it through customs (which, seriously - do they even bother checking for banned items?) and onto the train. At the metro station I ask a young girl for directions to the Rue des Fontaines du Temple. No luck. I ask again. No dice. I figure my French can't be <i>that</i> bad. I ask an ice cream truck vendor, who (1) corrects my speech and then (2) points me in the right direction. I start walking and realize that I've managed to surface from the Metro right into a Deaf-rights awareness rally. It seems I was using the wrong kind of French in this instance.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Finally make it to the apartment <a href="http://www.ex-boyfriendcollection.com/">Mere </a>has rented for the week. We hug and realize that we're wearing matching outfits. Huh. I desperately want a shower, but that may send me straight into a coma so I opt for a change of clothing and we hit the streets instead. We stop for lunch at a cafe, where I place a garbled order for an omelette and a glass of rosé. People watching ensues.<br />
</span><br />
<em style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Commence project Keep Adrienne Awake to Fight Jetlag. Which consists of more walking. Lots more. At least it's nice out - Paris is experiencing an unusual break in the weather this week. Fine by me! We pop into a sports bar quickly so I can ask about the France v. All Blacks game. (Which my team won, thank you very much!)<br />
</span></em><br />
<em style="color: black; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We end up at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notre_Dame_de_Paris">Notre Dame de Paris,</a> which is very cool. And extremely crowded. </span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lR8JsdGoSQ/TotIugtNmRI/AAAAAAAABcs/z8L7OB_BpsE/s1600/shot_1316872754658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6lR8JsdGoSQ/TotIugtNmRI/AAAAAAAABcs/z8L7OB_BpsE/s320/shot_1316872754658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZfAoZM7Sys/TotL9LojWFI/AAAAAAAABes/unxqAcquamU/s1600/IMAG0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZfAoZM7Sys/TotL9LojWFI/AAAAAAAABes/unxqAcquamU/s320/IMAG0207.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><em style="font-style: normal;">* More walking. We explore the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Quarter,_Paris">Latin Quarter</a>. I almost buy a handmade animated music box for 72 euros but sanity stays my hand. We eventually stop for caffeine and beer, which made sense at the time.</em></span><br />
<em style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> *We start to walk towards the Bastille. We're a few blocks away when my feet start to really, really hurt and I'm having trouble staying awake while standing, which is a new and unpleasant experience for me. We metro back to the apt and I cat nap for a few minutes</span>.<br />
</em><em style="font-style: normal;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Using what has to be the slowest Internet connection in the Western world, we find some vegetarian places to eat dinner and some bars to drink in afterwards. Time to put on our fancy clothes before hitting the town!<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*Dinner is ...not good. But the drinks - now <i>those </i>are impressive. We first stop at the <a href="http://www.experimentalcocktailclub.com/">Experimental Cocktail Club</a> near Montorgueil. It's tiny and there are a LOT of people crammed in there, but the music is all kinds of fantastic. And the cocktails are off the friggin chain. I have a Brunette, which contains something like 6 types of liquor (I'm estimating based on how loopy I felt after just one), while Mere has something called the Experience. All I know is that it contains lemongrass. And a hefty dose of deliciousness.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*The next place is a Brit-rock-like pub. There's no other way to describe. We're definitely out of our age group and the top shelf liquor appears to be Jack Daniels. I settle for a whiskey and make Mere watch some of the soccer game that's played on a big screen in the main room. All kinds of 80s and 90s Brit rock and pop is coming out of a smokey room on the side, which we check out. I last all of 6 minutes before heading for the exit.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We stumble around some more before I pull a full pumpkin and beg for a cab. We manage to find some in front of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Opera">Opéra de Paris</a>, which is beautiful. However, I am just too damned tired to care at this point.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*We make it back to the apt, but Mere is hungry. This proves problematic as (1) it's after two in the morning and (2) Mere is vegan. Most of the kitchens we find serve either meat or cheese (seriously - even the one salad we were offered was a cheese salad). We finally find a fried chicken joint that for reasons I don't quite understand has a veggie burger on it's menu. SOLD. It's a crappy burger, but mine comes with fries and a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKPBiplRYkg">Fanta</a>, so I'm good and happy.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*FINALLY- we make it home! We watch a dubbed episode of <a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural">Supernatural</a> and I enjoy another 1/2 glass of wine before completely crashing.</span><br />
</span></em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em style="font-style: normal;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyVeVxRV4pXMz5HWj10I3yTxKkrP_RPzcSOAhmM-dKwKWOnVQHlHR7MRAfTsztMKl-UEFOsnhnunzEk-eRHgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></em></div><em style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*It's the end of my first Saturday in Paris and I'm equal parts exhausted and stoked.<br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">*I still need that shower though...</span></span></em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-51711014726428351432011-10-05T13:34:00.001-04:002011-10-05T13:36:07.021-04:00A Word from Our Faux Sponsors<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A mini-post before I start recapping Paris...<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BHE and I are preparing to celebrate our favorite holiday. The one where we met. The one where it's not only acceptable for us to be simultaneously loaded on booze and refined sugar, it's actively encouraged. The one where we get to throw the kick-butt costume party.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's right, ladies and gentlemen. It's time for Halloween!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, BHE and I already have our costumes picked out, but I thought I'd share this article from <a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/10/the-best-halloween-costume-i-never-wore?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thehairpin%2FBdYj+%28The+Hairpin%29">the Hairpin </a>to inspire others. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Big costume plans this year? Do tell!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Till the, enjoy!!</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">**************************************</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;"><a href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/10/the-best-halloween-costume-i-never-wore" style="color: #036237; text-decoration: none;" title="Take This Halloween Costume Idea ... Please">Take This Halloween Costume Idea ... Please</a></span><br />
<div class="byline" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #5f5f5f; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By <a href="http://thehairpin.com/user/519/the-hairpin" style="color: #036237; text-decoration: none;" title="The Hairpin">The Hairpin</a> <a class="time" href="http://thehairpin.com/2011/10/the-best-halloween-costume-i-never-wore" style="color: #5f5f5f; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none;">@ 1:00 pm</a></span></span></div><div class="entry" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Cecilia Rebecca Ziko</strong>: One year my brother's friend dressed up as The Best Man: disheveled and in an ill-fitted suit, top buttons and tie undone, shirt half untucked. Maybe missing a shoe. He spent the night standing on chairs making toasts, spilling his gin and tonics, putting his arm around people and telling them awkward stories. Doing the worm. Whenever someone asked who he was suppose to be, he would act all offended, "What do you mean 'Who am I?' I'm the best man!" I think he ended the night passed out in a closet.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Drew Zandonella-Stannard</strong>: One of my old coworkers once went as a garden gnome. She basically just dressed herself as a gnome (very comfortable and warm) and carried around a plot of fake grass that she would stand on from time to time. Sort of brilliant! This could easily be reinterpreted as a "sexy" garden gnome, but really, who can beat wearing a cozy drinking suit AND having a clean place to plop yourself down?</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Jane Marie</strong>: The best one I ever saw was on a stranger BUT all my friends were with me so it would be lame for me to copy it. Here's what it was: a door guy. He was a dude dressed up like a regular juicebox wearing sunglasses, and he had a velvet rope, complete with the metal stand thing (where did he get one?) and a clipboard. The best part was that he never broke character and he was such a jerk and kept stationing himself in busy places like in front of the bathroom door. Luckily, his "guest list" had every single "sexy" costume on it: Sexy Nurse, Sexy Vampire, Sexy Zombie. I was Suri Cruise that year so I got in to the bathroom as "Sexy Baby."</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Jaya Saxena</strong>: There was a girl in an engineering school that went as "Sexy Transistor" and wore a nude bodysuit with <a href="http://101science.com/images/transistor.gif" style="color: #036237; text-decoration: none;">this design </a>all over it.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Helen Rosner</strong>: My all-time favorite was worn by a UChicago grad student (of course). He had on a t-shirt with a silhouette of the continent of Asia on it, and was wearing one of those forehead flashlights. Get it? ASIA MINOR.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Marie Lodi</strong>: Mormon kid on a bike — white button up shirt, bike helmet, backpack and name tags.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Lili Loofbourow</strong>: The God of Small Things sported a toga made of a sheet with lots of tiny items pinned onto it: tiny scissors, miniature saw, buttons, etc. Princess Leia hair topped by a crown of laurels.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Bianca Turetsky</strong>: My friend Kristen has been trying unsuccessfully since college to get a Donner Party together. Everyone in the group would be wearing ripped and dirty pioneer-style clothing. Some people would be missing limbs and maybe someone would carry a heart on a stick or be eating ribs.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Abe Sauer</strong>: My favorite, that I attempted last year but ran out of time, is perfect if you have babies. Dress yourself (dad) up like the Empire State Building. Tall hat with Empire State Building characteristic top. Cardboard flat sides with windows on them (open a few and hang Barbie dolls out for extra awesomeness). Baby dressed as a gorilla (suits are available for this) hangs on the front of the the dad dressed as Empire State Building, as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Disguise-Infants-Gorilla-Halloween-Costume/dp/B0059CQEJ0" style="color: #036237; text-decoration: none;">King Kong</a>. Baby King Kong also holds blonde Barbie (obvs). On top of hat, use hard wire to make two or three biplanes circling. Extra credit: Other child (old enough to walk) is dressed as one of the biplanes. <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Toddler-Airplane-Costume/-/A-13479701#?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=%7C13479701&CPNG=&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=13479701" style="color: #036237; text-decoration: none;">Kind of like this</a>, but with an old biplane look to it. That child then runs around the Empire State Building and King Kong. HIGH CONCEPT!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Molly Shalgos</strong>: The best one I ever saw was the one my babysitter wore to take me to a costume party in third grade. Not sexy, not sultry, 100% awesome — she came as a gumball machine. Red leggings, red turtleneck, and a little red pillbox hat, and she'd cut arm holes into a huge, clear plastic bag. She tied off the bottom of the bag, and then filled it up with tiny multicolored balloons, and taped a cardboard 25c sign on the front of the bag. The pictures still crack me up.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Erin Sullivan</strong>: I’m aways a fan of a conceptual costume, and one of my favorites was A Lightening Victim, where a girl teased the S out of her hair, smeared dirt all over her body, and charred her clothes.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Lisa Richey</strong>: The Morton salt girl.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Allie Pape</strong>: A was a guy wearing a T-shirt that said "Go Ceilings!", a hat with a big C (might have been a Cubs cap), and a big foam finger with "#1” on it. What was he? A ceiling fan!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Danielle Roderick</strong>: The best I've ever seen was "the woman who wants your slot machine." This was a couple of years ago, so she had a big plastic cup full of quarters, some NICE Oscar de la Rentas, and a thriftstore warm up suit, complete with fanny pack and cigs. It was fun because she got to wear major makeup (big lips, mascara city, fake wrinkles), and another dude had dressed up as her husband, who was always circulating the party looking for his crazy wife, who said she was going to the penny slots, but now he can't find her. He had on suspenders, faux belly, and was smoking a cigar. They would shout at each other across the party to shut up, and to meet at the buffet.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Kathleen Walsh</strong>: Sexy Gorilla (gorilla suit with bikini on top, high heels).</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Katie Heaney</strong>: My friend and his group of friends once went as The Baldwins and basically all wore leather jackets and then made duck lips/Blue Steel faces in every picture.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Megan Dietz</strong>: Unladybug. Ladybug costume plus cigarettes, ripped stockings, and a bad attitude.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Josh Duboff</strong>: A few years back, my friends and I for some reason decided to go to the Halloween parade in Chelsea. On our way back to our friend's apartment afterwards, a beautiful man dressed in a tuxedo (a red rose in his lapel!) biked in front of us. He was holding a white sign that had "I'm sorry" written on it. We all shouted some variation of "What are you?!!" at him at the same time. "I'm... <em>a formal apology</em>," he responded, and we all swooned as he biked off into the distance.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Megan Collins</strong>: My favorite — and maybe this has been done, but I thought it was clever? — was a guy dressed up as a kissing booth. I have no idea how he rigged it up, it was kind of like a cigarette girl thing, where there was a strap across his neck and then the flat surface in front of him, but it extended up on both sides and connected at the top where the sign was.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Edith Zimmerman</strong>: A sexy lamp. Gold bodysuit, lampshade on her head, tassel coming down from her ear or somewhere. Amazing.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Arianna Stern</strong>: A few years back, my brother dressed up as grapes. He stuck a safety pin through the stubby knot-end part of inflated, purple balloons, and attached them to an all-brown outfit. The nice thing about this dirt-cheap getup is that it's able to accommodate hot or cold weather. Beware, though: In a tell-all email, my brother wrote, "People kept running up to me throughout the night and trying to pop them or pull them off. By the end of the night I was literally pushing away drunk strangers."</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><strong>Nozlee Samadzadeh</strong>: The best costume I've ever seen was Miss America in a Parade: the girl in question wore a leotard that she'd bedazzled to look like the top of an evening gown, a sash with MISS AMERICA 2006 written on it, elbow-length white gloves, nude pantyhose, and gratuitous heels. Her hair was upswept, hairsprayed, and tiara'd and she wore a ridiculous amount of makeup. And...there was a <em>tiny papier-mâché red convertible </em>hanging around her waist, with a clear windshield, little doors painted on, <em>working headlights,</em> and everything! She spent the entire night smiling really big and waving with her white-gloved hands.</span></span></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-30335705241314201812011-09-23T13:12:00.000-04:002011-09-23T13:12:35.269-04:00Must Thing Positive Thoughts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what I just found out that my flight if via Continental (boo!) and not Luftansa...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what that Donald decided to eat all my in-flight snacks while my back was turned (including an entire bar of dark chocolate - that made for an uncomfortable night for him, I'm sure)...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what that the sky is just <i>pissing </i>down rain in a sky so dark that it looks like it's ten at night when in reality it's only 1:30...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I AM GOING TO PARIS, DAMNIT! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bring it on! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzZq_EHZ0LMYEebSdgCw0mdiwUjCupVU7NgPeyYYRfF9-z-vV7" /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-15287576979206861592011-09-14T11:10:00.003-04:002011-09-14T11:15:43.342-04:00Quickie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honest to God I haven't disappeared or abandoned my blog or suffered a freak jigsaw accident and lost the use of my fingers. I've just been busy.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">REEEEEEALLY, really busy.<br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Legit busy, even. Things involving mortgages and DIY/HGTV-esque projects, (upcoming) trips to Europe, cooing over Baby Button, the Rugby World Cup, and a new place of employment. And wine. Let's not forget the wine!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I promise promise promise to post a proper update in the coming days. Until then, enjoy my newest music obsession live in mini-concert on NPR: <a href="http://www.npr.org/artists/15333117/aloe-blacc">Aloe Blacc.</a><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iR6oYX1D-0w" width="560"></iframe></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Or, alternatively, get your giggle on with <a href="http://vader.starwars.com/">Ask Vadar</a> and find out the Empire's take on life's questions. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2011/08/medium_sw_ask_vader_screenshot_01_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2011/08/medium_sw_ask_vader_screenshot_01_01.png" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See you soon! Enjoy!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-48061773947335392162011-07-25T12:41:00.000-04:002011-07-25T12:41:35.358-04:00It's Hot Out There, People!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Science! It says we'll manage as long as we can sweat balls through this heat...</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" base="http://www.npr.org" height="386" src="http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=138603776&m=138604038&t=video" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="opaque"></embed></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It still bloody uncomfortable, though. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks again for all of the birthday love! Many (many, many) ice cold drinks were had!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BHE and I are staring down the barrel of a VERY big week, so details on bday celebrations, four-century-old pop up books, and Baltimore Comi-con happenings will come later. Promise!</div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Try not to melt in the meantime...</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-11466721068377562962011-07-18T09:55:00.002-04:002011-07-18T09:57:35.478-04:00Monday Blah-buster<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had a wonderful set of photos and stories about various topics, including:</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><ul><li>BHE's and mine questionable decision to celebrate our anniversary by completing a private bar crawl of every joint in our neighborhood. Good times! However, there's a reason we stopped doing these after grad school. </li>
<li>The A-M-A-Z-I-N-G meal BHE and I had at the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=4247334327771485631">Woodberry Kitchen</a> to celebrate aforementioned anniversary, which included the C.M.P. (Malt ice cream, chocolate sauce, marshmallow fluff, roasted peanuts). Duff of <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/ace-of-cakes/index.html">Ace of Cakes</a> fame drooled about the dish on <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-best-thing-i-ever-ate/index.html">The Best Thing I Ever Ate</a>.</li>
</ul></div><br />
<center> </center><center></center><center></center><center><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,124,0" height="323" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://common.scrippsnetworks.com/common/snap/snap-3.1.1-embed.swf?channelurl=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/channel/xml/0,,47385-VIDEO,00.xml&channel=47385"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"/><embed src="http://common.scrippsnetworks.com/common/snap/snap-3.1.1-embed.swf?channelurl=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/channel/xml/0,,47385-VIDEO,00.xml&channel=47385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="400" height="323"/></object><br />
Note: It's not even the best dessert on the friggin menu!</center><br />
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li>Pics from my time in Chicago, where I got to watch my formerly little cousin kick bum as wing for his rugby 7s team and spent time making Baby Button giggle while hanging out with my BFF and her hubby. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead, the ether-verse has once again erased most of my photos, leaving me with the following to entertain you this Monday morning.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In our first installment, BHE and I like to troll garage/yard sales, Salvation Army shops, and Goodwill stores from nifty home items (more on that in an upcoming post). Things like baskets, bar ware, a </span><a href="http://www.preservationsociety.org/shop_selection.asp?SubCateID=22&cateID=12" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Julia Homer Wilson</a><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> original, and a nifty pint glass with Ringo Starr painted on the side (SCORE.). Granted, they can't all be winners</span>...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWOxy6BPTZVRr0CUxkIpU-jiqqGCm7XmiTpa9bvSpYz_EJjHYnMMMzahKOn31exqKR1IxTyVDzWZNgn2R87cFehSh4DpCSy4Hx4_v2LSmrYKHOkv5eNthmBQ6MR_mDzA_rCGeonWTAeTT/s1600/IMAG0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWOxy6BPTZVRr0CUxkIpU-jiqqGCm7XmiTpa9bvSpYz_EJjHYnMMMzahKOn31exqKR1IxTyVDzWZNgn2R87cFehSh4DpCSy4Hx4_v2LSmrYKHOkv5eNthmBQ6MR_mDzA_rCGeonWTAeTT/s320/IMAG0170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<center>Is it too much?</center><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our final piece comes courtesy of the <a href="http://www.artscape.org/">2011 ArtScape</a> festival here in Charm City. It's apparently America's largest free arts festival, though from what I saw it was mostly food booths and a LOT of people crammed into a small section of Mt. Vernon. Still, we saw some cool stuff. BROS performed on a small stage, BHE found a print that made him smile, and I managed to locate the art car exhibit:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHuSpsL4RrKy3rTSS9-W-tx0jTTRdieodcUY3P1NACa6HZFaVBnPFINvp0RQgrzO9luzGVQXBdJBR09NQyYFkA_Nr-1cXH5ErbzzAFuxev9sdu6W_EltjfdZ2JFh5WTRUp3Pk_zU2wAWo/s1600/IMAG0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHuSpsL4RrKy3rTSS9-W-tx0jTTRdieodcUY3P1NACa6HZFaVBnPFINvp0RQgrzO9luzGVQXBdJBR09NQyYFkA_Nr-1cXH5ErbzzAFuxev9sdu6W_EltjfdZ2JFh5WTRUp3Pk_zU2wAWo/s320/IMAG0167.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not too shabby for a week and a half. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This week I plan to partake in the time-honored tradition that is the Birthday Week. Mine, to be specific. I've got plans to enjoy some drinks, to go out for dim sum, and - fingers crossed - to close on our first home. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of course, work beckons in the meantime. Hope your Monday is treating you with kid gloves, hon! See you at my birthday happy hour Friday. :)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Until then - Enjoy! </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<ul></ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-434428646150869842011-07-01T12:00:00.000-04:002011-07-01T12:00:02.786-04:00Maybe this is how I'll FINALLY learn French<object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"></param><param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2011U/Blank/MattCutts_2011U-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/MattCutts-2011U.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1183&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days;year=2011;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=a_taste_of_ted2011;theme=how_we_learn;event=TED2011;tag=Culture;tag=success;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;" /><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgColor="#ffffff" width="446" height="326" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talk/stream/2011U/Blank/MattCutts_2011U-320k.mp4&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/MattCutts-2011U.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=1183&lang=&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=matt_cutts_try_something_new_for_30_days;year=2011;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=a_taste_of_ted2011;theme=how_we_learn;event=TED2011;tag=Culture;tag=success;"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-49896854533428983122011-06-28T12:42:00.000-04:002011-06-28T12:42:50.099-04:00Another 5 Second Post: What I'm Digging On (Presently)1. <b style="text-decoration: underline;">Podcasts.</b><div>Yup! I'm a talk radio listener. Most of my travel time (car/train/shuttle/walking) is spent on the following: <a href="http://www.nerdist.com/">The Nerdist</a>, <a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/">WTF with Marc Maron</a>, <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/">RadioLab</a>, <a href="http://science.howstuffworks.com/stuff-you-should-know-podcast.htm">Stuff You Should Know</a>, <a href="http://people.howstuffworks.com/stuff-mom-never-told-you-podcast.htm">Stuff Mom Never Told You</a>, the<a href="http://www.publicradio.org/columns/dinnerpartydownload/"> Dinner Party Download</a>, the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=129472378">Pop Culture Happy Hour</a>, <a href="http://howtodoeverything.org/">How to Do Everything</a> - and of course, NPR staples <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/">Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me</a>! and <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/">This American Life</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>BHE and I even had a chance to meet one of our podcast heroes, Mr. Ira Glass. (Apparently, he's originally from Baltimore and came down for a fundraising/speaking gig.)</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gInSSLNhEbKBgp8SANq74LKoJ7zh21sR07Bp50CPBENDvsIxZ7CyT068BDbM048xDA_d3Zrh-BzR0rgIpOM0v356TZLWjLy9gKj9v2fXEQ9vbaHNsTG_ef75NlQ-GMfKAX0BNeXFcYD1/s1600/IMAG0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gInSSLNhEbKBgp8SANq74LKoJ7zh21sR07Bp50CPBENDvsIxZ7CyT068BDbM048xDA_d3Zrh-BzR0rgIpOM0v356TZLWjLy9gKj9v2fXEQ9vbaHNsTG_ef75NlQ-GMfKAX0BNeXFcYD1/s320/IMAG0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>2. <b style="text-decoration: underline;">Music.</b></div><div>I don't know about you, but I'm winning Grammy's in my car. In my head anyway. The following are the artists whose work I'm currently butchering while on I95 or 83S...</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><a href="http://www.adele.tv/">Adele</a></b>. (LURVE her! And finally got to see her perform in DC. Good show! Made a bunch of new friends, too.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzl5-8Cowk5qp9R_2gumSl8XBF1kwJaWbEpN0_XLehNS9sidL4sV5HmSPNu-1wQnjmpI3lVzYCHhkbaIcWspPFg5KAYFt4PUJINBilBwhbDN8xXUZAQCb7sb9cKEO0nag8zX1n8m19mWo/s1600/IMAG0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzl5-8Cowk5qp9R_2gumSl8XBF1kwJaWbEpN0_XLehNS9sidL4sV5HmSPNu-1wQnjmpI3lVzYCHhkbaIcWspPFg5KAYFt4PUJINBilBwhbDN8xXUZAQCb7sb9cKEO0nag8zX1n8m19mWo/s320/IMAG0074.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8O15o0zg5W0-cHzuAcMyHBKKmFAGq8JjjQc76pGSfwJ_xVfAMFMDGtfD9v1c60eBMQzso4IxStqqOIW4_yxy9uW9CvPEwcIoK1ItpsxTPYlMFH7RMXnkxBkfumk9KGApTVpPsYrLJqh_/s1600/IMAG0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8O15o0zg5W0-cHzuAcMyHBKKmFAGq8JjjQc76pGSfwJ_xVfAMFMDGtfD9v1c60eBMQzso4IxStqqOIW4_yxy9uW9CvPEwcIoK1ItpsxTPYlMFH7RMXnkxBkfumk9KGApTVpPsYrLJqh_/s320/IMAG0073.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><b><a href="http://www.aprilsmithmusic.com/">April Smith and the Great Picture Show.</a></b></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gg9-I0ULERA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div> </div><div><b><a href="http://fitzandthetantrums.com/">Fitz and the Tantrums</a></b>. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bb6cBKE3WzQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br />
</div><div>And, of course, <a href="http://www.theoutdoorsmusic.com/">The Outdoors</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0hdTEK779fU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br />
</div><div>3. <b style="text-decoration: underline;">Summer Weddings/Travel</b></div><div>We've had 2 weddings and at least one drive South so far with another 3 weddings upcoming. There are also a few more trips to Chicago, Pittsburgh, and a few locations yet to be determined. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now, I won't sugar coat - driving is a pain in the ass. There's only so much of interstate you can admire while your crawling along in traffic while trying to get your dog to just SIT DOWN QUIETLY ALREADY. If you have any upcoming travels I suggest grabbing a copy of <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Abraham-Lincoln-Vampire-Hunter/Seth-Grahame-Smith/e/9780446563086?r=1&cm_mmc=Google-_-Google%20Keyword%20less%20Ads-_-Site-_-_cat%3Abarnesandnoble.com&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=abraham+lincoln+vampire+hunter&utm_campaign=Google%20Keyword%20less%20Ads&cm_mmca1=670372d7-239f-9908-3a8f-00002d8e6c19">Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter </a>for the drive. It's surprisingly entertaining if you like your drama on the Neil Gaiman side of things. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Still, the destination is almost always worth it. BHE gets to pal around with some of his buddies from back in the Cub Scout days, which is always worth the mileage. </div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQCqkUrNRVWT8a6bMk6Fj3_YDuYpIxeP_JZ1sjgFV9ZKUI1zSTw4aZzoWrycv5nJfLN2w2ZclyidD3uxib3sx9oG0LE7j-k4-zLpk_SMG8ioSsdv-HTqUrh2uRLOou9M1GwMqGJ9X0cyR/s1600/shot_1309046151563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQCqkUrNRVWT8a6bMk6Fj3_YDuYpIxeP_JZ1sjgFV9ZKUI1zSTw4aZzoWrycv5nJfLN2w2ZclyidD3uxib3sx9oG0LE7j-k4-zLpk_SMG8ioSsdv-HTqUrh2uRLOou9M1GwMqGJ9X0cyR/s320/shot_1309046151563.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>At the most recent wedding, these two came back to the hotel with 3 cases of alcohol for us to take home. Craziness...</div><div><br />
</div><div>Summer travel also includes trips to ball games. And while televised baseball is often neck and neck with C-SPAN in terms of entertainment value, nothing encompasses the season like a day at the ball park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiulsuw6epRvrQ_zchvALcX-EMshRJ-AcJXPWF-2WUByVt-NaESHX34lf2EDgtBskKaOeNQNiYZUNggV7DCDzR6SQNJfxzshBRZhanLalaUHRX72U-4XuNnMqtC89_uRIReSzOKKNve3v/s1600/IMAG0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiulsuw6epRvrQ_zchvALcX-EMshRJ-AcJXPWF-2WUByVt-NaESHX34lf2EDgtBskKaOeNQNiYZUNggV7DCDzR6SQNJfxzshBRZhanLalaUHRX72U-4XuNnMqtC89_uRIReSzOKKNve3v/s320/IMAG0140.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh6exzPnesN09U2s7xJkW1pC2nva_BC0ZSJVogRQ_Csay0gWSX8mKsneVHC2rCje4MyA7qFG8hAeglttnZpe1WdXtf86MSH-X6fsJH8toyxtLdmQ7qLMkEj_TE8WPubSEpa4M20J8mqMx/s1600/shot_1308509963850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh6exzPnesN09U2s7xJkW1pC2nva_BC0ZSJVogRQ_Csay0gWSX8mKsneVHC2rCje4MyA7qFG8hAeglttnZpe1WdXtf86MSH-X6fsJH8toyxtLdmQ7qLMkEj_TE8WPubSEpa4M20J8mqMx/s320/shot_1308509963850.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>I still can't stand the Phillies, though. </div><div><br />
</div><div>On one last note, if you're in the B'more area and are looking for a quick thrill this fall, might I recommend the <a href="http://runforyourlives.com/">Run for Your Lives 5K</a> in October? It's basically an obstacle course where you dodge "actual" zombies. I haven't made up my mind about it just yet (I may just volunteer instead), but who wouldn't want to take part in an event where the FAQs include questions like:</div><div><div class="faq-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: both; color: #999999; font-family: LeagueGothicRegular; font-size: 25px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 25px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 680px;"><a href="http://runforyourlives.com/?qa_faqs=will-the-zombies-be-chasing-me-slowly-or-quickly-are-they-the-walking-dead-or-the-running-dead" style="color: #333333; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 680px;">WILL THE ZOMBIES BE CHASING ME SLOWLY OR QUICKLY? ARE THEY THE WALKING DEAD, OR THE RUNNING DEAD?</a></div><div class="faq-answer" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; display: block; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">If we told you every detail, this wouldn't be fun at all. Our best advice: be prepared to run, duck, dive, and dodge.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div><div class="faq-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: both; color: #999999; font-family: LeagueGothicRegular; font-size: 25px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 25px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 680px;"><a href="http://runforyourlives.com/?qa_faqs=i-have-trained-my-dogcatbirdyoung-child-to-defend-me-in-case-of-a-zombie-apocalypse-can-they-race-with-me" style="color: #333333; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 680px;">I HAVE TRAINED MY DOG/CAT/BIRD/YOUNG CHILD TO DEFEND ME IN CASE OF A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, CAN THEY RACE WITH ME?</a></div><div class="faq-answer" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">No. Only registered participants meeting the age requirements will be allowed to navigate the course. Please do not bring any pets to race or to party; they will be eaten by zombies.</div></div><div class="faq-title" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; clear: both; color: #999999; font-family: LeagueGothicRegular; font-size: 25px; font-style: normal; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 15px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 25px; padding-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 680px;"><a href="http://runforyourlives.com/?qa_faqs=what-will-i-walk-away-with" style="color: #333333; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; width: 680px;">WHAT WILL I WALK AWAY WITH?</a></div><div class="faq-answer" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 85, 85); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><ul style="list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Warwear performance tee</li>
<li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Racing bib (we know you always wanted one)</li>
<li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Medals to signify your survival (or zombie transformation)</li>
<li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Admittance to the Apocalypse Party</li>
<li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Advanced training for the actual Zombie Apocalypse</li>
<li style="float: none; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 9px; margin-right: 9px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">One less appendage</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><div>AWESOME.</div></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div></div></div><div><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-24334398500164591502011-06-15T14:20:00.002-04:002011-06-15T14:30:06.038-04:00Dang it!<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So, I HAD all these cool photos of our last week, including some awesome <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinder_Surprise">Kindereggs</a> that M&M brought back for BHE and I following their trip to Berlin. <div><br /></div><div>AND some photos from the Baltimore celebration of kitsch otherwise known as <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.honfest.net">Honfest</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Instead, the etherverse ate my photos after sending them from my Android. I'd be more upset about it, but I just housed some Spicy Cilantro Chicken from the nearby <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/hot-mustard-baltimore">Hot Mustard</a>, where I foolishly ordered the extra hot. I am now waiting for the heat to burn a hole through my colon and some kind of Alien-like spice monster to burst through.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>So as I am now going to hunt down an antacid, I leave you with a quick pic of one of the final scenes from Sunday's final performance of the<a href="http://baltimorerockopera.org/"> Baltimore Rock Opera Society's</a> (aka, BROS) presentation of "The Terrible Secret of Lunastus."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdXxAu8r5-NEbMrG8LMHpqo-cke3wNvLV6bmK3ajn_yClTSi7fxQXFb89MhuN2epbO5nIMP27vDJhpgUMQSadGQYAyoDI5N4870PC4Lvx_ZkQuNSnZuy8wGUkWOCaPw9x6z9j-x4kWlIU/s320/lunastus.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 191px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618515388373754946" /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-6175945158047219782011-06-06T11:56:00.011-04:002011-06-06T13:08:28.071-04:00Recovering from Our Time in Dixie<div align="left">You know, it only takes a good week away from home before you start to really miss the place.</div><br /><div align="left"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">BHE</span>, Donald and I just returned from a long trip down South (read: South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia), where we worked on our tans and attended an extremely beautiful wedding in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Asheville</span>. (Congratulations, Tim & Leslie!!)</div><br /><div align="left">Now, Maryland is technically below the Mason-Dixie line. But there's the south - and then there's the <em>South</em>. Once you hit southern Virginia, you become distinctly aware that you're crossed over. As evidenced by a van we noticed in the parking lot of our vacation home.<br /></div><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139698030684066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRZZuhfBuCXg8O5zC2oTTxScNi5PIdKJVyUo_t2w3SHCMw3nyeem0zdl7_79R9zmgVLKbAbtp2c8bjonpaNRMyzcMH-wtTUJ2UKvtiN02FlNYc4JWAXrQvX-JWAsUQ9euGZXsLhv8WJXE/s320/poor+grammar.jpg" /></div><div align="center"><span>Colons and punctuation, people. Let's remember to use 'em</span>.</div><br />That said, we still had a very lovely time. We got to visit my family, where Donald pulled a frozen steak off the counter in my mom's kitchen and had himself a gourmet lunch. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BHE</span> and I both acquired fierce tans/sunburns. We bought vacation hats. I didn't touch my straightening iron once. We had BBQ for multiple meals.<br /><br />Now<em> that's</em> a vacation!<br /><br /><div>We also engaged in some of the local culture. During the week, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">BHE</span> and I headed down to Decatur to check out the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/museum/visitor.htm">CDC Museum</a>. Turns out, that was closed while a new exhibit was being installed. Bummer.<br /><br />Not to worry though as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Fernbank</span> Museum of Natural History is right down the road. And it had a wicked exhibit on Mythological Creatures.<br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139716793873234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAVuAqmlGv3O9fELDto4ozTlbt88NkGqZaUNSbu2PjDD43bZKc5G_qiRiYlXdremAEyxxGYixEVUWgWhhh60h6h3NeDfovND1qKG1hmaKmVSuMdcB7jvgME5kT9D5-2CD_G94ef6aoYF9/s320/warning.jpg" /></div><span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span>Warning: Boobs and ta-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">tas</span> ahead</span>.</span></div></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615145071048421922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1YzDN5qWc9i0G7ADjOhI-CeI6kqtM9keDvaS9ZodeNdt8ZUR7MQOkzECvIhTWbUmuwILo8EreAKjmqc-DqtyqxF_rhyphenhyphen8Q6W5b2GGm0GmjIdRPsy_Ve10clwU5aNlOJJNyPIm5YDGaJkE/s320/tony+pretty.jpg" /></div><p align="center"><span>The Boob I married</span>. </p>AND it was free <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">hot dog</span> day at the museum! SCORE!<br /><br />We <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">putzed</span> about the exhibits for a good while rather than strolling outdoors in the 100+ degree heat. Besides, the museum had an interactive floor where you could play with experiments that you probably tried out in your grade school science class.</div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139723885554482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YLkIEz38o97Cuxh4O02JyAnBTWh97zBeQ0H8woBpWgdF6hQgUi8iEkgZFVqjimM2fTli012rxHn-Jyw6C2qKGAfLBkLMMwGm6UYlFDb0ecqCfPaKf7tCYIc85GOcjwY7tSGFjSxz1ZLe/s320/weatherman.jpg" /> <div style="text-align: center;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">HBE</span> doing his best weatherman impersonation.</div><br />And, of course, there was food. Thanks to a tip from our buddy Pete, we signed up for a <a href="http://scoutmob.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Scoutmob</span></a> account and went on a discounted feeding frenzy in downtown Decatur. The highlight, by far, were the sandwiches at <a href="http://www.sawickismeatseafoodandmore.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Sawicki's</span></a>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">BHE</span> had a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Tri</span>-tip Beef (served with french fries, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Primanti's</span> style), while I had the Roasted Pork with pickled red onions and fried lemon slices.<br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIG6Y28rJYs_V2Tcia92FbgC_SIjpwlRjvmg-bUxlzrJgNBMwXtNLAfHtwXYoMixzbQPHgHFmssPvO37TW-iWNf2tD2F7prPs9-S3HES9t3GWOsb2L8B8vUzG5-rE6YlYbfyTNAZugXf5/s1600/sandwich.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139706706134194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIG6Y28rJYs_V2Tcia92FbgC_SIjpwlRjvmg-bUxlzrJgNBMwXtNLAfHtwXYoMixzbQPHgHFmssPvO37TW-iWNf2tD2F7prPs9-S3HES9t3GWOsb2L8B8vUzG5-rE6YlYbfyTNAZugXf5/s320/sandwich.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oh - my mouth is watering at the memory of i</span>t.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also tried some Coco Vino at my parents' house. For those of you unfamiliar with the product, it's a bottle of red wine that's been flavored/mixed/violated with chocolate. The combo sounds promising, but you know they say about good intentions...<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139509583370146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwYX75GSN31mA-MCK5sqC0KSfpA0_lJ7LvhgWIQTFWeVx_8Q9qKcC-WphK-mMnIAdFmGjbWNnLuEybIywsoA9MzNVk_105Ltip3LHvuI974XHrjvEn3Bpt_8bEGHI3BxtzEgp3KSVwPtU/s320/govt+warning.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Raspberry flavored. Not good. We should have been tipped off by the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">governement</span> warning</span>."</div><div><br /></div>We spent some more money on Ninja-shaped cookie cutters and presents for friends and family next door at <a href="http://store.heliotropehome.com/">Heliotrope</a>. Also came with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Scoutmob</span> discount. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Woot</span>!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1KSAnUxQgvHFcQp6JgRm194A6iDMreoyyZ60DEY8ulsMg2cKMl38cnEluTET4XcubVVC1pQ5yEzKhCBXM8X4h_C47nlxS8BOb1VseKkQz7tQ3Le09ma4_okt6eJB6i8Vul5dCl1nt3SI/s1600/moustache.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139521746626370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1KSAnUxQgvHFcQp6JgRm194A6iDMreoyyZ60DEY8ulsMg2cKMl38cnEluTET4XcubVVC1pQ5yEzKhCBXM8X4h_C47nlxS8BOb1VseKkQz7tQ3Le09ma4_okt6eJB6i8Vul5dCl1nt3SI/s320/moustache.jpg" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Trying out "the Watson"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span">We also made our way to the<a href="http://www.chateauelan.com/"> Chateau Elan</a> for a winery tour and tasting. The tour was only $5 and included LOADS of samples. Best. Tour. Ever. </span></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139495288250994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSNcqefV2tYTkZKWChLWrFfxC_IyzTjTeOEt_jcCmbc3Rqm2xDU8yDgkEXAuLNld7umooYrqROomSZe20GpCxQTodVA8xwEYy7txGxkLSNYOJBlAPtf-tW66ykv3XZP28MxWRAM8qhpQXu/s320/chateau+mime.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Post sample <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">hijinks</span>.</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139491266584418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYvKGUwaZZClop0D5Ln413-ypXEZPwctvAohIazpaMh04jdETUPZEBrX2jvHe7iD4Vq_awF3lxy7RwCMMP5WxPDoKNsShtnd4O7tM7Rdr_rwu4XQlJx7-nHwejB-jfsj3aBfhDhtKWQOl/s320/chateau.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The wine source.</div><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">BHE</span> and I made the decision to come home on Saturday so we could have a day to recover before returning to work. Sunday consisted of pizza, appeasing some bitter cats who had to stay home during the week, a trip to the cinema to check out <a href="http://www.fandango.com/xmen:firstclass_133869/movieoverview">X-Men First Class</a> (totally worth the hype, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">btw</span>), and of course, some QT at the dog park.<br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615139516069551762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwFY8m9PcBZvxGbLCJ5O2FRbAg9yarXNv-sVz_UW56X02yYsOhj7fz2rxjOEDkbzxUIhxuZOOuGCcsRNM04ciQXqyULR5tG5T-pylj9V_CS8ManGSRws6kG_M8y5dtbZBQh_fYVIMcuWK/s320/dog+park.jpg" /></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><div>Like I said, it was just long enough to make us miss home.</div><div><br /></div><div>While we here at Tattoos & Champagne are done travelling for a few weeks, Jordan over at <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/">Oh Happy Day! </a>has pulled out all the stops and is offering 2 lucky people a trip to check out Paris. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, <i>THAT</i> Paris.</div><div><br /></div><div>To enter, visit Jordan's site and leave a comment after <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris/">her post about the contest</a> (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: cambria, georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; "> <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris" style="color: rgb(106, 181, 200); text-decoration: underline; ">http://ohhappyday.com/2011/06/goes-to-paris</a>)</span>. There are chances for additional entries as well, but you'll have to visit her post to find out the details.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out her other posts as well. The woman's kind of a mad genius. </div><div><br /></div><div>Best of luck! And until next time, Enjoy! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4247334327771485631.post-33940001948018319792011-05-27T13:59:00.014-04:002011-05-27T15:03:57.638-04:00The Warrior Dash (or, Would you like mud with your run?)So last Saturday I womaned-up and made the 2hr trek to the Eastern Shore to take place in the 2011 Maryland Warrior Dash.<br /><br />The Dash is essentially a 5K bred with a butt-busting obstacle course. The result is 3.1 miles of organized chaos. Mud and fire are main components of the course. You have to agree to things on the consent form like:<br /><ul><li><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px;font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;" class="Apple-style-span">I understand that the Warrior Dash is a hazardous activity.</span></li><br /><li><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px;font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;" class="Apple-style-span">I assume the risk of wild animals and insects that may be present on the course.</span></li><br /><li><span style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px;font-family:'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;font-size:medium;" class="Apple-style-span">I understand the Dash presents extreme obstacles including, but not limited to fire, mud pits, cargo climbs, junk cars, and steep hills. </span></li></ul>So, of course, I talked about 4 of my friends into it- Two of whom I missed on the course entirely (Lauren, Muffie - I'll see you in Frederick!) and another who wasn't spotted until the post-race hose off and was greeted with a big muddy bear hug.<br /><br />I spent the race with my buddy, Carla, who graciously walked the course with me after I gave my ankle a slight turn coming down from the hay bale tower. Which was fine, really, since it took the focus off the mud-covered gash on my leg (which happened either during the wooded trail run or during the wall climb).<br /><br />The mud itself came courtesy of the course designers and Mother Nature, who poured inches of rain on the area in the days leading up to the race. This made the trail run portion of the course a little more interesting since (1) the mud was deep enough that a few people (myself included) lost shoes on the course, and (2) given the smell of the mud, which we had to crawl through for one the obstacles, I'm pretty sure there were considerably less pleasant things than dirt and water in the mix. The rain also flooded parts of the trail, eliciting "Parkour!" proclamations while runners tried to bob and weave through the woods.<br /><br />Still, I had a great time! And while it looks like I'm the only one out of my friends who would run it again, I'm sure we can all agree that with the free beer and crazy <a href="http://www.uboutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/warrior-dash-girl-trio.jpg">Flintstones Order of the Water Buffalo-like hat </a>it was totally worth it.<br /><br />I managed to snag pics of some of the course obstacles:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutxfwvEzyYlXo2nlp2LY0Kiu8yERmpbBzZ2dAAG3Xw4tQRrglt_Paf37MHSho7lpltH9Jxs8nE2nvuQjanFC6RPvdbREF_5GAMxRKtzrRgxlAbvOSCENyypNlSMt6PNVbOT918h4KW7va/s1600/WD2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611459945088273922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutxfwvEzyYlXo2nlp2LY0Kiu8yERmpbBzZ2dAAG3Xw4tQRrglt_Paf37MHSho7lpltH9Jxs8nE2nvuQjanFC6RPvdbREF_5GAMxRKtzrRgxlAbvOSCENyypNlSMt6PNVbOT918h4KW7va/s320/WD2.jpg" /></a><div align="center"> Damn hay bale tower. It looks so innocuous, but hay is deceptively tall. I turned my ankle a bit when I jumped down the second half.</div><div align="center"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSZNA3NWhqNjgCEhUB254WRtxVWdAQZeaxCXptcPxthWvSEAsS4v1EN5ckDOTKUtVK6HUBSL6H_ir4xyfdRUHkIPOk4fNx61kcxutnbkZvKl9uOi0CjYwn0zgPtynJSYrN8wURElt35E/s1600/WD4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611459644609660482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDSZNA3NWhqNjgCEhUB254WRtxVWdAQZeaxCXptcPxthWvSEAsS4v1EN5ckDOTKUtVK6HUBSL6H_ir4xyfdRUHkIPOk4fNx61kcxutnbkZvKl9uOi0CjYwn0zgPtynJSYrN8wURElt35E/s320/WD4.jpg" /></a>The scene post-race. The inflatable warrior hat tent housed race results. Beer and giant turkey legs were available in the back.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm35KsEps7pqo8tPGCMKuPZryU_o0e1zEIivy5EhL8gmnF_3R9ueWqEcJp9FmRRFcPTWJIZG_LZvS9nCkavhU4n9Rf0Pw-ntKxyxiDak1tkG2Xt36IqcJB1TMOMHo1X6IBkUQDsa9GsFOJ/s1600/WD5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm35KsEps7pqo8tPGCMKuPZryU_o0e1zEIivy5EhL8gmnF_3R9ueWqEcJp9FmRRFcPTWJIZG_LZvS9nCkavhU4n9Rf0Pw-ntKxyxiDak1tkG2Xt36IqcJB1TMOMHo1X6IBkUQDsa9GsFOJ/s1600/WD5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: pointer" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611459637888856642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm35KsEps7pqo8tPGCMKuPZryU_o0e1zEIivy5EhL8gmnF_3R9ueWqEcJp9FmRRFcPTWJIZG_LZvS9nCkavhU4n9Rf0Pw-ntKxyxiDak1tkG2Xt36IqcJB1TMOMHo1X6IBkUQDsa9GsFOJ/s320/WD5.jpg" /></a>Ah, the rope tower. This one wasn't too bad, really!</p><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img style="WIDTH: 297px; HEIGHT: 170px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh025VBYL0oTIyAAccHpC4CGNiEdBqp6lJmDKbKpKDQyU62IZFkyU7KEU9gF9D3WSMUPNRDWwZAK9xTTCE2O7m21I-TTJTRZDKgGoWjEK98xnbccQKGfXGXKTNt6NvNzFVnf98FCAouTuYT/s320/WD10.jpg" width="227" height="120" /></div>The super slide. I was really looking forward to this until I started down and realized the rock pile underneath the plastic basically made the thing into giant cheese grater and my ass was cheddar. I lost a bit of my hand trying to slow down.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jTd4JZB5QoG1J5kXhY6QtTlwEAVlf5BxYom9brhGS1cO0aaZc19zpzpfT4lOFQhUZrel8aBTFOyOLiDE0A4Wccu9_XhF7FjuqK_H6lKFlb09-WHuw5AcnUH9MQEv92byIh4_mJDr9Mb9/s1600/WD6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611459640385350978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jTd4JZB5QoG1J5kXhY6QtTlwEAVlf5BxYom9brhGS1cO0aaZc19zpzpfT4lOFQhUZrel8aBTFOyOLiDE0A4Wccu9_XhF7FjuqK_H6lKFlb09-WHuw5AcnUH9MQEv92byIh4_mJDr9Mb9/s320/WD6.jpg" /></a> The warning before the last obstacle.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuPS0nbg3IIAOynPSoz-Wzw84A0WbAxjXXxesTRzwe2YRiEmFenTmGqL_3PQTIz5SRKxb_dm3qoz5CVRUOUjRmhThRqFmNAAs7J-gq70qbNK4UUnPq_8iEIVPMt8La3EsmsYpRDaOaudx/s320/WD1.jpg" /></div>The final obstacle: The mud pit! It was actually quite cozy and didn't smell as bad as the mud on the wooded trail.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 191px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611459635862482802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOgso1hj1XJqil47p1cPThYqzVMC1C4KAFcFOwLaOzpGE048l5QB_lQZKe_e20QIxxFh8HLFfuGaMp8H018iCXJGinmpGIvOtd1JMpgvS7I4RgTyCHqJqDdcyLdeK73q4XcC61eteSD9F/s320/WD7.jpg" />The fire hurdle!<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOgso1hj1XJqil47p1cPThYqzVMC1C4KAFcFOwLaOzpGE048l5QB_lQZKe_e20QIxxFh8HLFfuGaMp8H018iCXJGinmpGIvOtd1JMpgvS7I4RgTyCHqJqDdcyLdeK73q4XcC61eteSD9F/s1600/WD7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ClVdr0waH_7rvBj1aBhX_ppCMVUvnlQqPYi9v41RhsLY5o1h7SbLz_UZt1VjF6x12RyT83up2tkebSNQcg25Ec-q37yH82mhXMcdQ-cmBtksDEYhsNOAhDFhzM8ARVMc_oAr2uIKihxA/s320/WD9.JPG" /></div>A (slightly less than legal) screenshot of my taking down the fire hurdle!<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cL0UX6ETK9z7116VBJsHuc5cxSU9A1Pv4Mwpfj-HBN8EqIRgkyKQ9LfxwzKdws3wle6FRDOqtkrrWdg-hharBqew4SASi-eb__pA_TehZlcBNCBTrywyBXxEVy9aJYn6Abk6F1IMYuij/s320/WD3.jpg" /></div>This is how you clean up post-race. Volunteers hose you down with freezing cold water.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAtKtf_RqH4DuCB2wlX0UqbDX4DF3yjx86OQHOMQiWEB0bxvEEN95HYIt4BmRBtIDaILYGXfX6SP68E8Z97v3BCjUta6TvWTk2e3p_TyO47RkjP7UYaU7vcZzU5ngHB8VZg2IjzUp0iXl/s320/WD8.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">A happy camper.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>See you in 2012?<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Here's hoping you all have a kick-butt holiday weekend! I'll be driving down to South Carolina with BHE and Donald to attend a family wedding and to work on my tan poolside. Until next time, Enjoy!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17166337512911852386noreply@blogger.com3