Drawn to the Rhythm

Blogging again...

2007-12-14T13:59:00.000Z

...but not here.

New food blog: Trouble With Toast

Enjoy!

Fare thee well.

2007-10-29T14:41:00.000Z

During a delightful dinner with two of my favorite DC damsels, the subject of blogging (not surprisingly) came up. In response to my lamenting about having nothing to write about, one of my gal pals said, wisely, something to the effect of “I can’t force myself to write. I have to be inspired. It has to just hit me.”

I remember when blogging was like that for me. I would see something, hear something, read something—and a post would begin rumbling around in my head. More often than not, that spark of an idea turned into a piece of writing of which I was proud (some more than others, of course). Occasionally, those pieces entertained and provoked others, igniting debates and kindling friendships.

Lately, though, nothing has made that light bulb above my head start burning bright with creativity. There are many things going on in my life, but none of them move me to write. And if I don’t have any desire to write about something, I can guarantee that folks out there in the blogosphere—myself included—won’t want to read it. My passion for “Drawn to the Rhythm” has waned, and I feel guilty every time I visit the site and the date of my last quality post is farther and farther in the past.

Therefore, I have decided to put an end to this blog, in an attempt to exit gracefully and with some artistic dignity in tact. It was not an easy decision—this little site has meant more to me and done more for me than most of you will ever know. It helped me through many a heartbreak, introduced me to some of my most treasured friends, and challenged me in ways I never could have imagined.

I could take a hiatus, but that would merely be delaying the inevitable—and I have more respect for this blog and its role in my life than that. I must recognize that this relationship is over without denying its past importance. I must recognize that every exit provides a subsequent entry, and that, as my favorite poet (T.S. Eliot) wrote, “The end is where we start from.”

I suppose all of this is a bit melodramatic, but after two and a half years, dozens of happy hours, a few heated controversies, and countless laughs, I couldn’t just shut down the site without a teensy bit of explanation. So, there it is—thanks for everything, and I’ll see ya on the flip side.*

* My only remaining writing-related passion centers around food, so I hope to christen a new blog with that theme in mind. To be continued…

Breakthrough.

2007-10-21T02:01:00.001+01:00

I did something today that I never thought I would do. It forced me to leave my comfort zone, it stretched my abilities to their limits, it required significant patience and concentration, and it had the possibility of causing me great humiliation.

I used a sewing machine.

It may not sound like a monumental accomplishment, but anyone who knows me understands what a huge deal it was. And I didn't completely fuck it up!

Just thought everyone should know. Move along, nothing to see here.

Guilty.

2007-10-19T20:33:00.001+01:00

Pleasures, that is. We all have them--the shameful things that bring us joy, but only if we can keep them a secret from those we respect. But what really makes these indulgences so heinous and humiliating? Guilty pleasures are not inherently bad. What makes them so seemingly wicked is the fact that someone else might judge us for our choices.

Judgment is a funny thing. We all judge others, whether we're honest about it or not. We're human beings, we're fallible, and we like to put things into nice, neat little compartments (so our brains can handle the vast amounts of information we receive every day). So how do we function without constantly fearing the judging finger of another, pointed in our direction?

We find comfort in those whose weirdness surpasses our own.

So, in the spirit of helping my readers, I present to you my current compilation of guilty pleasures...I hope this list makes you feel better about yours.

* McDonald's--Yes, I know I'm supposed to be a foodie, and I'm supposed to cook Julia Child-esque meals and dine only on foie gras and truffles. But come on, I work for the government. And dammit if those McNuggets don't have crack in them!

* "One Tree Hill" reruns on the Soap Network--I just can't help myself! All of the characters are so pretty, and the gals are all sassy and sexy, and the guys all spew romantic drivel whilst staring at their loves with deep, expressive eyes.

* 80s music--They were a long time ago, but I refuse to acknowledge that the 1980s are over. Between "Endless Love," "Maneater," and "Call Me," it's a wonder I have any new-ish music on my iPod at all.

* "Bring It On"--I own it on DVD, and I find a way to watch it every time it's broadcast on ABC Family. I think my adoration for this movie stems from my desire to be a cheerleader, a dance troupe girl, or even a flag corps member in high school. I did none of those things, though. I was a chorus and theater nerd, so the football field was off limits for me. Sigh. I did get to sing the National Anthem from the press box, though.

I'm sure this is just the tip of the iceberg. But I hope it sends you into your weekend feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. If nothing else, this post got me--in a VERY rough and ugly sense--back into the blogging game. Whew!

Committed.

2007-10-16T03:10:00.000+01:00

It's official--I have registered for the 2008 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Washington, DC. Want to join me? Shoot me an e-mail! It's an amazing experience that you won't soon forget.

For those of you who'd rather put your money where your feet are, feel free to donate! My fundraising page is here, though I haven't really had time to personalize it yet. To be continued.

I've been crazy busy with work and rehearsals, but I have so much to say. I hope to get some writing done soon...I've been neglectful of the ol' blog (and its four whole readers), but I'm definitely not throwing in the proverbial towel.

So, I'm reaffirming my commitment to fighting breast cancer and to blogging. Seemingly unrelated, but in my funny little brain, it makes perfect sense.

Thursday is the new Friday.

2007-10-04T17:43:00.000+01:00

It's been a long week already--not only did I have an upsetting semi-tiff with my boss at work, but I had two dance rehearsals in a row and our director decided to treat us to "trenches" (dance steps consisting of slides back, alternating from one foot to the other, and swinging the arms 180 degrees in a windmill fashion--VERY tough on the quads). Don't get me wrong, I patched things up at the office, and the choreography looks incredibly cool, but I am plumb tuckered out.

No matter--I am taking the day off tomorrow and flying to the Volunteer State for a little bit of R&R, reminiscing, and rowdiness. To wit, THIS is where I will be sitting (with my hunny, of course) at 3:30 PM on Saturday:

Yeah, buddy! Nothing like some SEC-on-SEC action to really rev up the weekend, especially with seats right on the 50-yard line of Neyland Stadium. Add some tailgating, dinner with a beloved professor, reuniting with long lost friends, and honky-tonking in Music City USA (the second half of the trip will be spent in Nashvegas), and we've got ourselves one helluva vacation. Woo hoo!

Enjoy the long weekend, folks!

In honor of October

2007-10-01T18:22:00.000+01:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Many of us in the blogosphere have been touched by this terrible disease, and it is crucial that we do everything in our power to improve access to quality care and to strive for a cure.

Last year, I participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer here in Washington, DC. The Avon Walk is a marathon and a half walk spread out over a Saturday and Sunday. You can walk as far as you choose, but if you walk the entire distance, you will travel almost 40 miles total throughout the weekend. Walking doesn't sound very challenging--we walk every day, and it's no big thing--but trust me when I tell you that it IS a big thing and it IS very challenging! However, with proper training and a little can-do attitude, I was able to finish the entire distance (and it was an incredible feeling of accomplishment).

In order to participate as a walker, each person commits to raising a minimum of $1,800 towards the fight against breast cancer. It sounds like an insurmountable feat to raise that much cash--but you'll be surprised how easy it is. Not only will you have the help of an Avon Walk staffer, but you'll also notice that your family and friends are eager to help you reach this impressive goal. After all, there's no one out there who DOESN'T want a cure for breast cancer! I ended up raising over $2,200, and all I did was send a bunch of e-mails. Piece of cake!

The most important thing to note about the Avon Walk is how you'll feel while you're participating. The people you meet along the way--staffers, crew members, fellow walkers, survivors, and community members cheering you on along the route--are the most kind, generous, and wonderful people you will ever encounter. I've been participating in cancer fundraisers since my own diagnosis in 1999, and very few are as life-changing as this one. There's truly nothing like it.

On this October 1, I pose a challenge to my friends out there in DC Blog-land: sign up for the Avon Walk with me! It's May 3-4, 2008, so you have plenty of time to train and fundraise. I will be signing up regardless, but this year I'd really like to experience this event with others.

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions--and if you cannot join me, I hope you'll consider donating to the cause through my personal page, which will (hopefully) be up sometime this week. Thanks for your support!

Uh...what now?

2007-10-01T13:22:00.000+01:00

It's 8:30 AM. I've already worked out, showered and dressed, watched the news, dried my hair, put on full make-up, fed the cat, packed up my lunch, gotten a smoothie, and arrived at the office.

Does that mean the day can only go downhill from here?

Here's to maintaining my morning productivity...

Things I have been doing instead of blogging.

2007-09-20T15:21:00.000+01:00

* Singing and dancing: I got a (small) part in the upcoming Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society production of Anything Goes, and we started rehearsal last week. I did this same show when I was a freshman in high school, and it’s one of my favorites—great songs, big dance numbers, and plenty of humor. The actual show dates are November 7-10, so mark your schedules accordingly!

* Running: My first-ever 5K race was last Saturday, and it was a lot more fun than I anticipated. I was worried about how my knee and ankle would hold up, but I actually managed to run about half of the 3.1 miles (which, for me, is a great accomplishment). While I know I’ll never be a marathon runner, I was pleased and encouraged enough to sign up for two other 5K events this fall. Hopefully, with continued training (and some glucosamine), I’ll eventually be able to finish the whole distance without walking.

* Learning Portuguese: When my man decided that he wanted to learn another language, we originally waffled between Mandarin Chinese and Arabic. However, after thinking that through and realizing that whole different alphabets would be involved, we decided to start with a romance language instead. I already know Spanish, and Jason didn’t want to learn French, so it was between Portuguese and German. The less phlegmy language won out in the end.

* Dining divinely: After much anticipation, my best gal pal and I went to Minibar to celebrate her birthday. The restaurant didn’t disappoint—if you are serious about food, the experience is not to be missed. I’ll probably post something on EatFoo in the next couple of days, for those who want a more detailed description.

* Networking: Not for myself, of course—I love my job, and I’m in a good place professionally. However, my boyfriend is in desperate need of a J-O-B (for after he graduates from Georgetown law school in May), and I’ve been reaching out to anyone and everyone who might have a lead. Ahem…readers, any help here?

* Being sick: The beginnings of a cold popped up last Friday, but then they disappeared until Tuesday night. Now, I am congested, scratchy-throated, watery-eyed, and hopped up on Nyquil. Suh-weet.

Have a great weekend, everyone! I should be back to normal (and blogging) on Monday...

Hope, healing, and helping others on 9/11.

2007-09-11T13:53:00.000+01:00

On this day, six years after the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, people will have many different ways of dealing with their grief, confusion, anger, and lasting sorrow. Some will recount exactly where they were when the planes hit and the towers fell. Some will memorialize the victims. Some will debate conspiracy theories. Some will rail against our country’s response, urging the powers-that-be to exit Iraq and end the war.

Me personally? I’m not going to do any of those things. Instead, I would like to highlight a way that you can draw a message of hope from the terrible events of six years ago. It’s called myGoodDeed.

According to its FAQs, “myGoodDeed.org is the official Web site of myGoodDeed, a nonprofit 501c3 organization leading the effort to establish September 11 as a national day of voluntary service, charity and good deeds. Our mission is simple: to encourage people everywhere to set aside time every September 11 to perform good deeds of their choice to help others in need. In this way, we hope to keep alive forever, in our memories and actions, the spirit of giving and selfless service that unified our nation following the terrorist attacks.”

The website, in addition to being a forum for posting pledges to perform good deeds, allows users to search for volunteer activities by zip code and donate to specific 9/11-related charities. It also provides ideas for good deeds for those who might not already have something in mind.

The good deed doesn’t have to be monumental—they range from spending more time in prayer to being a kinder version of oneself to rebuilding disaster-destroyed homes to donating a kidney. The point is to ensure that future generations of Americans remember more than just the horror of the attacks. They should also remember the extraordinary outpouring of strength, support, and spirit that followed.

This September 11, I pledge to make an appointment to donate blood. I’ve never done it before (for various reasons, largely having to do with my cancer and my penchant for piercings), but it’s about time I did. It's a small gesture, for certain, but it has the potential to make a difference in someone's life.

What will your pledge be?

Battle of the Badasses

2007-09-07T19:18:00.000+01:00

Over the past week, I have seen all three Jason Bourne movies, including the most recent installment, The Bourne Ultimatum. In my opinion, they are top-notch action flicks, and each chapter is better than the last.

As the credits were rolling last night, I stood up and said to my honey, “Jason Bourne is the best badass EVER!” His retort: “What about Jack Bauer?” What about Jack Bauer, indeed? Obviously, the two characters share a lot of traits—they even have the same initials, for goodness sake! But who would win in a grudge match? Let’s investigate further…

Background

Jason Bourne: What I gleaned from the movies is that he was born as David Webb on September 13, 1970, in Missouri. He joined the Army and was deployed in the Gulf War. He was a Captain in the United States Army Special Forces. He was a Catholic with blood type O, as shown on his dog tags.

Jack Bauer: Born on February 18, 1966, he has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from UCLA and a Master of Science in Criminology and Law from UC Berkeley. He served in the U.S. Army and was asked to join the elite special operations unit Delta Force. He was offered a place in the covert team and worked as a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT team member. He also did work for the CIA before being seconded to the Counter Terrorist Unit.

Edge—Pretty much a draw, but if I had to choose, I’d go with Jason Bourne, since he didn’t mess around with that literature crap.

Body Count

Jason Bourne: He mostly killed “assets” or other people sent to kill him. That is, unless you count the people who likely died as a result of his many car chases. Also, he refrained from killing a number of people, including some of the ones who were trying to track him down.

Jack Bauer: Every season, I lose track of how many people meet their ends at the hands (or guns, or bombs, or knives) of Jack Bauer. Heck, he even killed two of his own colleagues. When you add all of the people who died either helping Jack, hunting Jack, or getting in the way of Jack, that adds up to a whole lot of carnage. There are even multiple websites that track the kill count for each episode.

Edge—Jack Bauer, hands down.

Love Life

Jason Bourne: Fell in love with the woman he paid to get him out of the country. Got her killed. Never loved again.

Jack Bauer: Fell in love with Teri. Had affair with Nina. Got Teri killed. Fell in love with Kate. Fell in love with Claudia (a.k.a. “Hot Mexican chick,” a.k.a. Vanessa Ferlito). Got Claudia killed. Killed Nina. Fell in love with Audrey. Got Audrey kidnapped, tortured, and nearly killed.

Edge—Jason Bourne. Jack Bauer has WAY too much drama (and the mushy, lovey-dovey nonsense takes away from fighting and blowing shit up).

Physical Appeal:

Jason Bourne: While Matt Damon is as baby-faced as ever, he’s pretty damn stacked. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes where his arms were visible. Yummy.

Jack Bauer: As much as I love me some Kiefer Sutherland, he’s not getting any younger and he’s workin’ on a respectable set of man boobs.

Edge—Jason Bourne.

Catchphrase

Jason Bourne: “I can’t remember” and “Who am I?”

Jack Bauer: “Secure the perimeter” and “You’re gonna have to trust me!”

Edge: Jack Bauer. He always knows just what to say!

Longevity

Jason Bourne: Three movies, with the action stretching over about three years.

Jack Bauer: Six of the worst days in history. Oh, and many nights with Audrey.

Edge: Jack Bauer—a true survivor.

Looks like we’ve got a tie—anyone else care to weigh in?

I could always blog about blogging...

2007-09-06T19:01:00.000+01:00

I have been a bad, bad blogger. I know I said that I would try to be better about posting, but apparently I’m a dirty liar.

To be honest, it hasn’t even been a time issue—since quitting the part-time restaurant gig, I’ve been far more relaxed and I’ve had plenty of extra hours to do things that I actually like. Writing is something I actually like, so why the lack of inspired blogging?

Part of the problem is this particular blog’s themeless existence. Sure, I try to let folks know about charity events and volunteer opportunities, but that’s tough to write about all the time. My job is pretty interesting, but I’ve never been one to blog about work. I’ve been trying to exercise more and lose a few pounds, but no one wants to read about my diet and fitness routine. I’m in a fabulous committed relationship, so I don’t have any funny dating stories. Overall, I lead an incredibly satisfying existence—but I don’t find it particularly blog-worthy.

I could delve into politics, but come on, this is DC—we all get plenty of that already. Of course, food is a passion of mine, but I cover all sorts of culinary topics over at EatFoo. College football is gearing up, and I’m definitely gung-ho about that, but there are plenty of sports bloggers, all more knowledgable and entertaining than I am. The fact is, I’m interested in many things, but I find myself uninterested in writing about them.

Perhaps I’m just going through a rut—a little blogger’s block, if you will. In any case, I’m curious to find out how other folks deal with this issue. When your life isn’t providing compelling material, what do you do? Do you write about it anyway, not caring? Do you look to others’ lives for inspiration (anonymously or otherwise)? Do you latch onto what fellow bloggers are writing about? Do you turn to memes? How do you deal with blogger's block?

Be Fashionable and Fabulous—For Charity!

2007-08-28T18:11:00.000+01:00

You may have already heard of this event, but I figured I’d throw it out there in case you are as clueless as I am.

The District Sample Sale will take place on September 12 from 7-9 PM, and the participating stores (which represent some of DC’s hippest boutiques) will be offering deep discounts, special pricing, and previews of their new lines. Tickets are $40 in advance (they will be $55 at the door, if they’re not sold out by then), and Miriam’s House will be the beneficiary of the proceeds.

According to its official website, “the mission of Miriam’s House is to provide a dynamic residential community for women living with HIV disease that empowers recovery from homelessness, disease and addictions in an environment of compassion, integrity, and accountability.” Miriam's House offers comprehensive services and support for recovery and sobriety, and it also serves as a hospice for women who are living their last days. On-site assistance includes addiction counseling, secondary medical care, respite care for mothers, support groups, financial counseling, transportation, and the presence of a loving, compassionate community.

If you’re looking to spruce up your closet, please consider attending this important event and shopping for a good cause. Not only will you look great, but you’ll feel great, too!

Back tomorrow…

Grandma and me.

2007-08-23T17:03:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow, I will board a bus at 7:30 AM and ride to Manhattan. Unlike my last NYC trip, this time there will be no late city nights or 10-course tasting menus or double-decker bus tours. Instead, immediately upon my arrival in the Big Apple, I will descend into Penn Station and catch the Long Island Railroad. After about an hour, I will see my grandmother’s smiling face in Huntington, the town where I was born and where she has lived for over half a century.

My grandma is a very special lady. A hard-worker and fiercely independent, she held down a job until she was 85 years old (which, incidentally, was this year)—she had been a waitress for over 50 years, and when she could no longer handle the physical strain of the restaurant business, she decided to become a cashier at a local drug store. She loves people, so providing good customer service came easy to her—and she swears that my waitressing prowess came from sharing genes with her. I’m inclined to agree.

We have a very special bond, my grandma and I. While my family lived on Long Island, she took care of me when my mom and dad were away. She spoiled me rotten (to this day, she keeps junky, sugary cereal in the cupboard for me, since my mom would never let me have it), but she could also be a strict disciplinarian. One day, we were strolling around the pond in Heckscher Park and she told me not to get too close to the water while I was feeding the ducks. I decided to be a disobedient child and test her authority, and sure enough, I got a scolding and a spanking. Later, I tugged on my grandmother’s shirt and said tearfully, “Gramma, I’m sowwy I was bad today at the park.” No matter how naughty I was, she couldn’t stay mad at me for long.

I have so many memories wrapped around my grandmother and her house and the town that has been her home for so long. I remember going “belly-whopping” down her hilly, snowy street while my sister was being born (in the same hospital where my dad and I greeted the world). I remember learning to sing “You Are My Sunshine” with Joe, the short-order cook at the Swensen’s where she worked after the Hamburger Choo Choo burned down (he called me “Little Mama,” a nickname that still makes me grin). I remember getting Carvel soft-serve when I had been a good girl. I remember marveling at the simple beauty of grandma’s house all decorated for Christmas (I liked to play with the tiny, delicate, ceramic angels). I remember going to the local apple orchard in the fall for sweet, homemade cider. I remember the smell of grandma’s kitchen while she made baked clams, home fries, potato salad, clam chowder, fried shrimp, and other family favorites. More than anything, I remember the love that has been bursting through the seams of that rickety old house for decades, no matter what the occasion.

Over the weekend, I’ll get to spend time with my dad (he’s coming up from Atlanta) and visit my grandfather’s grave (which I haven’t done since his funeral last November). I may get to see my uncle, and I’ll enjoy a couple of great meals. But what I’m looking forward to most is seeing my beloved grandma and making her smile, as she has done for me my entire life.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Friday randomness (or, in the alternative, "my brain is too fried from meetings to compose anything but a bulleted list")

2007-08-17T19:47:00.000+01:00

* I just signed up for a 5K. While that distance may serve as a mere warm-up for all y’all runner types, it is a HUGE deal for me and my rickety joints. I hope to be able to get through at least half of the race without resorting to walking. Maybe I should start taking glucosamine now.

* In DC, driving while talking on one’s cell phone is illegal (unless it is via a hands free device, of course). In DC, cyclists must obey the same rules as motorists. In DC, if you are riding your bike while talking on your cell, you run the risk of me chucking my coffee at you.

* Hooray, my sister bid farewell to San Francisco today! Unfortunately, before she returns to DC, she will stop in L.A., Austin, New Orleans, and Atlanta—meaning that I still won’t get to see her until Labor Day weekend. Boo.

* Kudos to Citibank, who cleared up a significant discrepancy with my account in minimal time and with maximum politeness. Customer service is largely a lost art, so it’s nice when it pops up in unexpected places.

* My low-fat diet is going well—but I miss French fries. A lot.

* I soooooo wish I could fast-forward through this weekend. It’s my last one working at the restaurant, and I have many fun things in the weekends ahead (including a trip to Long Island, an Indigo Girls concert, and a trip to Atlanta). Sunday evening, please do not delay...

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Relief

2007-08-13T17:59:00.000+01:00

I quit my restaurant gig last week. After this coming weekend, I will return to the land of only one job. I couldn’t be more excited.

Sure, the extra money was nice, especially since I had a particularly expensive summer. I definitely met some cool people, a lucky few of whom I’d actually like to hang out with outside of the manager/customer framework. I learned even more about the food service industry, which continues to simultaneously fascinate and frustrate me.

But, in the end, a human being can only handle so much stress, and my part-time job was the most easily expendable contributor to my headaches and wrinkles. I’ve notified my bosses and staff members and I’ve begun to train my replacement, so the only question that remains is…

…what will I do with all of my free time? Here are some goals that I have in mind (in no particular order):

* Focus more energy on my full-time job.
* Spend more time with my boyfriend, my sister, and my friends.
* Become a regular at the gym.
* Read at least one book a month.
* Volunteer more with the American Cancer Society.
* Attend the 20-week “Cooking Techniques 101” course offered by L’Academie de Cuisine (which will help me decide if culinary school is something I want to pursue).
* Write at least three posts a week—for EACH of my blogs.
* Take advantage of DC’s free cultural activities.
* Watch lots and lots of college football (only 19 days till kickoff, woo hoo)!

Any other suggestions? I’m feeling more relaxed already!

Legal ethics--not just an oxymoron anymore!

2007-08-08T20:00:00.000+01:00

After professing on Monday that I was going to be blogging more regularly, what did I go and do on Tuesday? I’ll give you a hint: it wasn’t blogging. D’oh!

I did have a good excuse—I was stuck at the Reagan building all day, sans internet, attending the DC bar’s mandatory course on legal ethics. That’s right—instead of being productive at work, I sat in a freezing cold conference room with 500 other attorneys and learned, among other things, that 1) your bossy client CAN, in fact, refuse to hire one of your colleagues because she is a woman; 2) you CAN, in fact, loan money to your clients, but you’re pretty much a dumbass if you do; 3) if your client gives you a smoking gun, you CANNOT, in fact, give it to the police; and 4) a sentence containing the words “metadata mining software” sounds really complicated and smart. I also realized that there’s some truth to the contention that you can’t spit out a window in DC without hitting a lawyer.

Actually, the class wasn’t as excruciatingly boring as I anticipated. I started to worry when the woman to my right started mumbling to herself, but the instructors were fairly lively and managed to keep me and my crazy neighbor entertained. At 3:30 PM, after 6 hours of lecture, we were unleashed into the swampy air, all newly knowledgeable and ethical and stuff. Or something like that.

I’m just hoping not to get spit on.

Whew.

2007-08-06T18:37:00.000+01:00

It’s been quite a week. Since I last blogged, I had my stitches removed, my dryer broke (when I had a full basket of laundry to do, no less), I bought a new computer, I sold my old computer, I reunited with my best gal pal from law school, I dined and drank at Rasika with a bunch of college buddies (one of whom just moved to DC to clerk for Chief Justice Roberts), I went to the Legg Mason tennis tournament, and, of course, I worked at both of my jobs.

This week is shaping up to be just as busy--I’ve got four different Restaurant Week reservations (two lunch and two dinner), a trip to Let’s Dish, an ethics course for the DC bar (which I’m sure will be thrilling), a welcome lunch for some new colleagues, a catch-up lunch with a lovely local blogger, some tax-free shopping, two shifts at the restaurant, and the usual day-to-day domestic tasks that make my life oh so interesting. Riiiiiiight.

I don’t know where the summer has gone. Before I know it, school will be back in session, the Hill interns will have departed, the heat and humidity will be far less oppressive, and I will count the passage of time by the Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas displays at the local CVS. Come to think of it, it’s not just the summer that has sped past--the year is practically 2/3 over, and I’m having trouble remembering how I spent it.

I need to slow down. In an effort to do that, I’m going to try really hard to sit down and blog more regularly, both here and at EatFoo. It will give me a chance to pause and flesh out my thoughts, and to focus on the less mundane aspects of my life (since no one, myself included, wants to read about those).

Hold me to my promise, people--flog me in the comments if I don’t write better and more often. I’m counting on you!

Starting tomorrow, of course. :-)

Benign is a beautiful word...

2007-07-30T19:48:00.000+01:00

...when it comes from the mouth of my dermatologist, who just so happened to cut off a sizeable chunk of my skin last week. Yes, a large reason I’ve been off the radar recently (blogospherically speaking, anyway) is that I had to have minor surgery to remove and test a suspicious mole and its surrounding tissue.

I’ve written about my cancer before, about how I understand that the very nature of an incurable disease is that there’s always the possibility of recurrence. But just because I’ve learned to live with and come to terms with that ever-present possibility doesn’t mean it’s any more fun. Especially when it necessitates stitches.

The wound, which is in a decidedly inconvenient location on my back (that makes it nearly impossible for me to bandage myself and wear a bra), still hurts. Thankfully, though, the pathology report came back clean and my treatment is over—for now. There’s yet another suspicious spot on my thigh that will have to be monitored, measured, and potentially removed. There are countless moles on my skin that could turn against me in the future.

There are worse crosses to bear, to be sure. But, to have a constant reminder of the frailty of the human body…well, it’s certainly eye opening, and not always in a pleasant way.

In any case, I’m relieved and grateful, and I will be even more so on Friday when my stitches are removed. Then, I’ll add one more scar to my litany and pray for it to be my last.

I'm glad to be back...

This represents my life right now.

2007-07-18T19:31:00.000+01:00

From the best website ever, I Can Has Cheezburger.

Seriously, between work (BOTH jobs, thankyouverymuch), getting my man ready to move in with me, increasing the length and frequency of my workouts, and dealing with a nagging health issue, blogging has been waaaaaaay down on the list of priorities. Not that I don't love it--I absolutely do--but it's just not a great time right now.

So, I'll see ya when I see ya--I should be at this event, wishing a fond farewell to one of DC's most controversial (and hairy) bloggers. Hopefully between now and then, I can write some of the things that have been bouncing around in my pretty little head.

Laters...

Back in the saddle.

2007-07-16T18:51:00.000+01:00

Well, my pretties, I wish I could say that I missed blogging while I was at the beach. But I didn’t. I was too busy drinking beer and lounging by the waves to even think about blogging. It was marvelous.

Compared to last year, I ate fewer shrimp but purchased more Coach bags—a good trade, methinks. That, combined with a few Target trips, one rowdy dive bar adventure, a few spirited rounds of Bocce, and some quality time with my parents and my sweetheart, made this past week one of the best in recent memory. And we only had ONE run-in with local law enforcement!

I highly recommend St. Augustine (well, Crescent Beach, really) for anyone who loves the sun and the sand but also enjoys a low-key, laid-back vibe. My vacations there always leave me feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to take on the world. Which is a good thing, since the rest of July looks like it’s going to be a doozy.

So, back to work for now—happy Monday, all!

A fool on the fourth.

2007-07-06T02:01:00.001+01:00

As Fourth of July celebrations go, Jason and I had a pretty good one. After working a profitable shift at the restaurant, we cleaned ourselves up and headed to the Southeast waterfront to watch the fireworks from a lovely 58-foot boat owned (and lived in, actually) by one of his colleagues. I knew the Metro would be crowded and full of tourists, but I had no idea that we would witness something as appalling as we did.

On the Green Line, I noticed a group of vacationers talking about where they should get off the train. When they departed at L’Enfant, one of the men in the group—a slight, white man wearing a “Support Our Troops with Prayer” shirt—ended up (inadvertently, I presume) blocking the doors. A large, black man pushed his way past the sightseer, but certainly not rudely or roughly—he was just trying to enter the train and find a seat before the doors closed. It was a typical public transportation situation—until the tourist shouted, “Asshole. Faggot.”

The black man looked up quizzically, as if he couldn’t even begin to process what was happening. The white man threw back some more insults and an invitation to get off the train and fight (though I imagine he would have run like hell if his offer had been accepted). Luckily for all of us, the doors closed and the situation dissipated.

I’ve defended tourists on this very blog, claiming vehemently that they have a right—nay, a responsibility—to visit the nation’s capital and absorb its history and charm. I’ve felt sorry for travelers who were given poor directions by vindictive DC residents. I’ve even engaged a few chatty out-of-towners in conversation when they looked overwhelmed by the big city.

However, after seeing such unnecessary disrespect and offensiveness, I may have to rethink my position (especially since the irony of the man’s shirt was not lost on me). My message to him? You can pray for the troops, you incredible bigot—I, on the other hand, will be praying for karma to bite you in your ignorant ass.

Searching for the bar.

2007-06-29T15:55:00.000+01:00

Around this time of year, this here blog gets a lot of visits from folks searching for bar exam-related information. As a service to those of you who are prepping for the July 2007 ass raping—-I mean, test—-I’m going to address some recent queries.

“frustrated barbri mbe questions”—-I really don’t think the MBE questions are frustrated at all. On the contrary, I think they get great pleasure out of torturing recent law grads with their cryptic logic. Oh, wait, the searcher meant that HE is frustrated BY the MBE questions! Right-o. No getting around that, really.

“PMBR blue book versus red book”—-They both make excellent doorstops.

“mbe mnemonics”—-The general rule is, the dirtier the ditty, the more likely you are to remember it.

“Maryland bar exam seat assignment location”—-You won’t get it until shortly before the exam (maybe 2-3 weeks, max), so stop stressing and start studying. It doesn’t really matter where you’re sitting, as long as you can tune your tablemate out when she has her nervous breakdown.

“I passed the Maryland bar exam”—-Not yet, you didn’t! But I did, and many others have, and so too shall you (if you quit reading blogs and start studying, that is).

“Paula Franzese”—-Oh, that saucy minx! Pay attention to her fast-talking and horrible singing, and you might survive real property.

“Ambien and bar exam”—-If commercial paper and hearsay exceptions don’t put you to sleep, I suppose Ambien is the next best option.

“if you don’t know the answer c barbri”—-If the searcher is asking whether to bubble “c” for questions for which you have no earthly idea of the correct response, I would have to disagree. Come on, after three years in law school, you should be able to make an educated guess. Besides, everyone knows you bubble “b” if you don’t know the answer.

“I hate my barbri life”—-This is my favorite search. Who wouldn’t hate a BarBri life? It’s filled with anxiety, self-doubt, and geriatric law professors who want to test their newest corny jokes on hundreds of captive wannabe lawyers.

“Board of Law Examiners and Maryland and ear plugs”-—The latter are very helpful when tuning out your tablemate’s nervous breakdown.

“Maryland bar flash card’—-Methinks you’ll need more than one, kiddo.

All (bad) jokes aside, I wish all of the bar-takers out there the best of luck. For inspiration, you can read some of my day-before tips here, and you can find some excellent resources at this now-defunct California bar blog.

Happy weekend!

100 Years, 100 Movies, 100 Opinions

2007-06-21T21:32:00.000+01:00

Last night, I watched the tenth anniversary edition of the American Film Institute’s “100 Years…100 Movies.” Morgan Freeman hosted the special, and I really enjoyed debating the merits of each film with my roommate.

The reason for the updated retrospective (and the most interesting aspect of it) was the fact that ten years worth of new films were eligible. What would that mean for the overall rankings? What modern films would be added, and which classics would be forced from the list?

Citizen Kane is still, not surprisingly, number one. Happily, The Godfather usurped the number two spot from Casablanca (which is a fantastic love story, but not the second-best film of all time, in my humble opinion).

The first “new” addition was The General, which appeared at number 18. Also welcomed to the list were Intolerance, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Nashville, Sullivan’s Travels, Cabaret, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Saving Private Ryan, The Shawshank Redemption, In the Heat of the Night, All the President’s Men, Spartacus, Sunrise, Titanic, A Night at the Opera, 12 Angry Men, The Sixth Sense, Swing Time, Sophie’s Choice, The Last Picture Show, Do the Right Thing, Blade Runner, and Toy Story.

So which films were booted entirely? All Quiet on the Western Front, Amadeus, An American in Paris, The Birth of a Nation, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Dances with Wolves, Doctor Zhivago, Fantasia, Fargo, Frankenstein, From Here to Eternity, Giant, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Jazz Singer, The Manchurian Candidate, Mutiny on the Bounty, My Fair Lady, Patton, A Place in the Sun, Rebel Without a Cause, Stagecoach, The Third Man, and Wuthering Heights .

I’m fairly pleased with the new additions, but there are some films that I would have preferred to see ousted besides the ones listed above. Seriously, if Rocky and A Clockwork Orange deserve to be in the top 100 instead of Patton and Rebel Without a Cause, I must be living in some sort of alternate reality.

Here’s a link to the updated list, side-by-side with the previous version. What do you think?

Stupid Shuttle

2007-06-20T19:35:00.000+01:00

Well, I’m back from San Francisco, and I bought enough wine to keep me good and buzzed until my next jaunt (which is to the beach—hooray!—in two and a half weeks). For the most part, the trip was excellent—I spent quality time with sis, I ate and drank very well, and I explored a cool new part of the country.

It wouldn’t be a vacay, however, without a little travel-related drama. This time, the evil airline industry had nothing to do with it. Instead, it was Super Shuttle that started my journey on an extremely sour note.

Two days before I left, and at my sister’s urging, I booked a reservation with Super Shuttle to get me to Dulles Airport. My flight (which was direct, thank goodness) was scheduled to depart at 8:40 AM, so the big blue van was supposed to pick me up outside my apartment between 5:10 AM and 5:25 AM. I even got a confirmation call the day before, so I knew my reservation was solid in the system.

On Friday, I woke up at the buttcrack of dawn and hauled my luggage out to the curb at 5 AM (just in case our watches weren’t synchronized or something). 5:10 came and went, as did 5:15, 5:20, and 5:25. At 5:30 AM, I called Super Shuttle and inquired about the status of my ride. “The driver is about 4.5 miles away,” said the agent. “Give him about ten more minutes.” No problem.

5:40, 5:45, and 5:50 passed with no sign of the van. It’s time for “Annoyed Betty” to place a call!

Annoyed Betty (AB): “Hi, I was supposed to be picked up between 5:10 and 5:25, and it’s just before 6 AM. Can you give me some sort of update?”
Customer Service Lady (CSL): “Sure, let me contact the driver.”

* Crickets *

CSL: “Okay, he’s not responding—I’m going to call on the phone. Can I put you on hold?”
AB: “Sure, whatever.”

* Bad hold music. For over ten minutes. *

CSL: “Ma’am?”
AB: “Yes, I’m here.”
CSL: “Yeah, dispatch just informed me that there isn’t a van available.”

* Screeching record *

AB: “WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me?”
CSL: “No, I’m not kidding.”
AB: “I paid in advance, I received a confirmation call, I stood outside my building for over an hour, and NOW you’re telling me that I need to hail a taxi?!?!”
CSL: “Yes, you need to hail a taxi.”
AB: “And who is going to pay for this taxi? It’s going to cost me twice as much as Super Shuttle to get a cab to Dulles.”
CSL: “Well, when you reach your destination, give us a call and we’ll tell you all about our complaint and reimbursement process.”

Click. String of expletives.

I managed to hail a cab, and I shelled out the $60 necessary to get me to the airport. I was steaming the whole time, though—I mean, Super Shuttle had my phone number. How hard would it have been to, I dunno, CALL ME WHEN THEY KNEW THEY COULDN’T PICK MY ASS UP? Their only job is to shuttle people to and from the airport, and they can’t even get that right.

As far as that reimbursement process goes, I called on Saturday and filed a complaint. An agent is allegedly going to call me in the next few days to discuss the situation. Meanwhile, I still have a $30 debit from my checking account and $60 less in my wallet (not to mention the $100+ I spent on cabs on the way home, since there was no way I was using Super Shuttle again).

Let’s just say I’m glad I’m flying out of National next time…

Bus-ted.

2007-06-14T17:38:00.000+01:00

Sorry for the absence, folks--between kicking ass and taking names at the day job, working at the restaurant (I've been promoted from sassy waitress to sassy part-time manager), traveling, spending time with the man, and working on some extracurricular pursuits, I have had precious little time for blogging. My schedule should normalize after this weekend's trip to San Francisco--woo hoo!

My reason for signing in today is to vent about public transportation. I know, I know--not very original. But I saw something yesterday that made me want to rip out my earbuds and rip a few new assholes.

I was riding the S2 bus up 16th Street, and it stopped at L Street. As usual, there was a large group of folks waiting to get on and head north; among them was a man in a wheelchair. I thought that the passengers already on the bus would rearrange themselves appropriately (so that the designated wheelchair space would be accessible), and that the folks waiting to board would hold their horses until the wheelchair-bound gentleman was settled. Wrong!

Not only did the bus driver have to practically assault a guy to get him to remove his fat, lazy butt from the handicapped seats, but the throng of people outside just pushed and shoved their way past the man in the wheelchair and crowded the front end of the bus. The driver actually had to force people back off so he could lower the ramp and allow the disabled man to get to his seat. I was appalled.

I can forgive someone who stands on the left side of an escalator. I can look beyond a person who blocks a seat with his or her laptop bag. I can turn the other cheek to any number of Metro offenses.

When a man in a wheelchair can't use public transportation because of the rudeness of his fellow citizens, though? Unacceptable. I hope they miss every one of their buses for the next month.

Okay, rant over. Have a great weekend, enjoy happy hour, and I'll see everyone when I'm back from California (pronounced a la Arnie, of course)!

Something new for the blogroll.

2007-06-05T13:37:00.000+01:00

In a city where, as the saying goes, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know,” networking can be crucial to one’s personal and professional development. For the internet-savvy, networking websites play an ever-increasing role in helping folks to meet people, exchange ideas, and create useful webs of interaction.

I’d like to highlight a new networking website—MyGovster. According to its creators, “MyGovster is targeted to bring together local, state and federal government and those individuals who interact with the public sector, but offers something for everyone. Whether you're a government employee on the West Coast, a contractor in the Midwest or a Hill staffer in DC, MyGovster can help you locate a business contact, find recreational activities or answer a question.”

The site includes classifieds and event listings, and it also features blogs, clubs, and message boards. MyGovster also has chat and instant messaging capacities (in addition to more traditional e-mail-type messaging), making it incredibly easy to get in touch with fellow members.

A very dear friend of mine founded the site, and I was involved in beta testing. So, I can tell you first-hand that the folks behind MyGovster are interested in hearing feedback and making the site (which is already quite intuitive and easy to navigate) as useful and successful as possible.

Please visit the site, join up (it’s free), and enjoy all of the features that MyGovster has to offer. Of course, the site is supported by members' patronization of the sponsors' links, so definitely click away and help to ensure that MyGovster continues to develop and grow. And feel free to pass along your compliments and criticism—again, I know for a fact that the folks behind this endeavor are interested in hearing what you think.

Thanks so much—have a great one!

Philly and NYC--done and done.

2007-06-04T19:30:00.000+01:00

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." ~Lin Yutang

While my first-ever visit to the City of Brotherly Love was for business purposes, I tried to have a little bit of fun. I had an amazing dinner at Morimoto (my in-depth review can be found here), and I enjoyed browsing through Reading Terminal Market and taking a brisk post-work walk along Boathouse Row. Some other Philly tidbits:

* For a city with so much history and culture, Philadelphia sure is dirty. Perhaps my perspective is skewed because DC is so clean (for a large metropolitan area, anyway).

* My experience at Morimoto was almost ruined by a crying baby. Seriously. If you are going to a restaurant where folks are dropping over $200 on a single meal, leave the little ones at home. Even if the sound of your offspring’s bloodcurdling screams don’t bother YOU, your fellow patrons may not have such deadened eardrums. I promise, if you can afford Kobe beef, you can afford a babysitter.

* Philly has something that I wish DC had—a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner. Awesome.

* During one of my solo dinners, I inadvertently sat in the middle of a large law firm social outing. I attempted to be cordial (while eating as fast as was humanly possible), but the lawyers (read: sleazy old partners) goaded me into conversation and then snubbed me when they found out that I worked for the government. Hey, Biglaw Attorneys, wherever you are—you are NOT better than your public sector counterparts. We may not make as much money, but we work every bit as hard, and we deserve your respect.

After recovering from Philly and showing my face briefly at the office, I headed north once again—but this time, it was for a girls’ weekend in New York City. For someone who was born in New York, it had been a shamefully long time (as in, over 20 years) since I had experienced the Big Apple. We couldn’t do nearly everything that we wanted to, but I believe we made a dent in our list. My without-a-doubt, hands-down favorite activity was dinner at wd~50 (a review will be forthcoming on EatFoo, but it will probably take me at least a few days to draft)—it was one of the most memorable evenings of my young life. Other highlights:

* Being geeky tourists and seeing most of downtown (south of Central Park, that is) from the top of a double-decker bus. Don’t judge us—we didn’t know where we were going, and we wanted to cover as much ground as possible so we’d know the lay of the land for our next visit.

* Taking a pedi-cab from 57th and 5th back to NYU—whoa, nelly!

* Bagels and lox, and my friend’s very first black and white. Best. Breakfast. EVER.

* Many beers, Vietnamese food, Latin brunch, and people watching in the park—all with wonderful friends, both old and new.

* Browsing through Saks and Tiffany’s and Henri Bendel. I could have been reeeeeeally naughty and bought a pair of perfect-fitting Joe’s Jeans, and I know my gal pal could have hawked everything she owned for a platinum-and-diamond ring in a bright blue box. However, we exercised every bit of restraint that we could summon, and I ended up with the only purchase of the day—two “retro” candy bars from a cute little coffee/chocolate café.

Despite the intense fun I’ve had over the past couple of weeks, I am very glad to be back in DC. Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel, and I’m certainly looking forward to my next jaunt (San Francisco, for the first time ever, in less than two weeks). But, it is pleasant and comforting to be back in my routine for a while. Plus, I really did miss the blog, and I hope to do some good writing before I leave again.

I hope everyone had a great weekend—now, to catch up on what YOU have been doing while I’ve been away!

Memorial Day Weekend Update

2007-05-28T00:10:00.001+01:00

I'm not dead--I've just been in Philadelphia! The short story is that it was a great trip. The long story? Well, you'll just have to wait till next week, after I'm caught up on my laundry and cleaning and errands and work.

I wanted to blog today because of a VERY worthwhile charity drive that is somewhat time-sensitive. I've written about the Fisher House Foundation before, but in case you don't remember, it is an organization that donates houses near military and veterans hospitals so severly injured/ill servicemembers can have their families nearby while they're receiving or recovering from treatment. Often, the servicemember ends up at a hospital far away from his home state. Thus, the Fisher House Foundation solicits donations of airline miles in order to fly wives and husbands and children and parents to the bedsides of their loved ones.

During Memorial Day weekend, the Foundation's airline partners (which include Delta, AirTran, American, United, and Northwest) are matching the public's donations. So, if you donate 1,000 of your Delta Sky Miles, Delta will donate 1,000 right to the Fisher House. See this website for more information about how it works.

I know that air travel is expensive, so frequent flyer miles can be very valuable and important. However, please consider donating some (if not all) of your miles to this noble cause. A family member's presence can have a tremendous impact on a patient's recovery, and these particular patients have certainly earned our support.

Enjoy the holiday weekend, everyone!

Hot or not?

2007-05-17T19:16:00.000+01:00

I learned at Tuesday night’s pub quiz at Stetson’s that Lindsay Lohan has topped Maxim Magazine’s list of the 100 hottest women in the world. The rest of the top 10 consists of Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera, Jessica Biel, Ali Larter, Eva Mendes, Rihanna, Eva Longoria, and Fergie.

"There is no other star in the world (who) causes more of a stir in the public eye than Lindsay," said Maxim Editor in Chief Jimmy Jellinek in a statement. "Her every move is watched and reported on."

Now, I liked Mean Girls as much as the next chick. And, as much as I hate to admit it, La Lohan can actually sing. But there is no way in hell that she is hotter than Jessica Alba. Even on her best day, and even if Jessica Alba had hat-hair.

Thinking about the Maxim Hot 100 made me wonder—is there a comparable catalog of male hotties? It seems discriminatory and wrong that female magazine readers don’t have a similar list to discuss (intelligently and sensitively, of course).

So, to open up that intelligent and sensitive dialogue, here is my top 10 (apologies for the lack of photos, but Blogger will only upload 5, AND my computer is being moody):

1. Rodrigo Santoro—SO much Brazilian yumminess! While I love him in the Chanel commercial, I adore him the most as Karl, the nerdy-hot designer in Love Actually. I can’t believe Laura Linney visited her brother in the psych ward instead of sleeping with your fine ass, Rodrigo. I would not make the same mistake.

2. James Franco—I mean, he looks like James Dean, so how can you go wrong?

3. Adrian Grenier—My favorite Brooklyn-born babe! I don’t know if it’s the impish smile or the floppy hair, but this Entourage star has a very mischievous, unassuming, Hugh Grant-esque style of hotness.

4. Nigel Barker—Modelicious, Sri Lankan, British, bald-headed, broad-shouldered goodness.

5. Justin Chambers—He can be a total jackass, but I’m betting that LOADS of women would love to be screwed and screwed over by Dr. Alex Karev.

6. Benjamin McKenzie—Smokin’ hot, college educated, AND a Democrat?!?! Swoon…

7. Mark Wahlberg—I never would have guessed that this pants-dropping troublemaker would end up as an honest-to-goodness heartthrob. Marky Mark = Hotty Hot.

8. Taye Diggs—I have lusted after this hottie for so long, I don’t even know how to summarize what makes him so fabulous. I think Jack McFarland said it best in Will & Grace: “Me digs Taye Diggs.”

9. Goran Visnjic—I can’t pronounce his last name, but he definitely made George Clooney’s departure from ER a lot less painful.

10. Brad Pitt—I know, I know, he’s been on every “hot” list from here to Timbuktu. But…there’s a reason for that. Everything about the man is chiseled and beautiful. Though, in the interest of full disclosure, if I had the choice of hooking up with him or his girlfriend, I might have to go with Angelina.

What say you, ladies? Who’s on your list? And for my male readers, what are your thoughts on the Maxim Hot 100?

Drawn to the Food?

2007-05-14T17:40:00.000+01:00

The more I think about it, the more I think that I should turn “Drawn to the Rhythm” into a food blog. Lately, it seems that 90% of my time is spent dealing with or talking about or experiencing food. And that’s fine by me.

I spent a large part of last week agonizing over which restaurant in New York City would be my big, splurgy, over-the-top treat during my upcoming visit. I came up with a list of about eight hot spots, with cuisines ranging from Spanish to Italian to Mexican to good old-fashioned comfort food. After MUCH brain-wracking and review-reading, I decided that wd~50 would be the superior dining experience—with emphasis on the word experience. Chef Wylie Dufresne is a really interesting figure in the current culinary landscape, and his focus on molecular gastronomy (signature dishes include “Pickled Beef Tongue with Fried Mayonnaise” and “Carrot-Coconut Sunnyside-Up”) should make for a delicious and challenging meal.

In addition to planning for NYC and looking forward to next week’s omakase at Morimoto in Philadelphia, I ventured to Urbana on Saturday night. I have been wanting to try the restaurant (located in the Hotel Palomar at 21st and P Streets), so my sister’s last night in DC seemed a good occasion to do so. The atmosphere is cool and chic, with really simple but beautiful place settings, stemware, and accessories (I really liked the salt and pepper “shakers,” which ground the seasonings to an impressive fineness). The wine list is excellent, and the service was pleasant, attentive, and knowledgable. The food was tasty and attractively presented, and I found the prices to be reasonable for what we got. My one major complaint is that the chef was a bit heavy-handed with certain flavors. For example, my gnocchi with seared tuna had perfect texture and the fish was impeccably cooked; however, the garlic overpowered nearly all of the other ingredients. The tiramisu also had a great mouth-feel, but the liquor was too strong for my palatte. With a bit more subtlety, Urbana could turn into one of my favorite neighborhood spots.

I also worked three shifts at the restaurant this weekend—two as a manager trainee, and one behind the smoothie counter. While I don’t work in anything close to haute cuisine (that may be the understatement of the year), being a part of the food service industry helps me hone my instincts and truly understand what creates memorable—good AND bad—dining experiences. I hope that, at the very least, working in “the biz” makes me a more perceptive, participatory restaurant patron, since I have some idea of what can go on behind the scenes.

I suppose I have EatFoo as a place to air my culinary kudos and complaints, so there’s no immediate need to switch the focus of this blog. And on that note, I plan to put down the fork (so to speak) and get back to the “Drawn to…” feature. Right now!

Drawn to…Food and Friends. According to its website, the mission of F&F is “to foster a community caring for men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-challenging illnesses by preparing and delivering specialized meals and groceries in conjunction with nutrition counseling.” They value accountability, community, compassion, dignity, diversity, excellence, and reliability, and they have been serving the DC area since 1988. These folks tirelessly supported the Avon Walk (they followed the route and passed out delicious homemade cookies), and they were rewarded with a $450,000 grant from the Foundation. Each year, a number of events raise funds for F&F’s services, so go check them out!

Miracles of modern blogging.

2007-05-10T19:21:00.000+01:00

Okay, so maybe I was lying when I said "Back tomorrow" on Monday. Since my sister is leaving for San Francisco on Sunday (for the whole summer, sniffle), I've been spending a lot of time with her at home. On the couch. In my jammies. Not exactly the ideal way to craft page-turning (or mouse-scrolling, as it were) blog entries.

There is one interesting bit of news, however--because of this here blog, I have finally gotten back in touch with a dear, dear friend from my storied past. And all thanks to this post (and the magic of the Google, of course)! I tell ya, just when you think the internets aren't paying attention, they really surprise you.

Have a great afternoon, everyone...

What a weekend!

2007-05-07T14:47:00.000+01:00

Ouch. That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling right now. My body hurts in all kinds of ways, but it was definitely worth it to be a part of the 2007 DC Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Thanks to MANY kind and amazing people, we had 3,100 participants and raised over $7.4 million!

I headed down to 16th and U at about 6 AM on Saturday, packed and enthused and ready to cab it over to the Kennedy Center. As I approached the intersection, I noticed two lovely ladies decked out in pink and carrying sleeping bags. I figured they were going to the same place I was! Once we hopped into that taxi, we were bound together for the rest of the weekend--so thanks to Heather and Sima for being such great walking companions!

The opening ceremonies were nice (and quite emotional), and before I knew it, we were on our way. On seemingly every corner, there were crew members, volunteers, and community members cheering us on. After 10 miles, I thought, "This is a piece of cake!" After 15 miles, I started slowing down. After 20 miles, I wanted to hitchhike to the campsite. With the encouragement of my new friends, though, I trudged on and made it to our overnight home in Silver Spring. Since I had no tentmate (due to my partner-in-crime breaking her foot before the event), I stood around and made sad, confused faces until a cute crew boy helped me set up my tent. Thanks, cute crew boy!

After a yummy meal and a shower in a trailer, I snuggled into my sleeping bag, put in some earplugs, and tried to sleep. Sadly, camping + me = no good, so I only actually got about 4 hours of shut-eye. I arose at 5:00 the following morning, disassembled my tent (without help, thankyouverymuch), ate a quick breakfast, and started trucking again.

The second day was shorter (13.1 miles, as opposed to Saturday's 26.2), but it was much, much harder. My body was rebelling against the previous day's activities AND the unsatisfactory night of sleep on hard, uneven ground. The route was nice, though, as it wound us through beautiful parks and neighborhoods and into DC via 16th Street (never have I been so happy to see my 'hood). After a brief lunch stop, I powered on until I saw my sister standing in front of my house and waving in support. I took a REAL bathroom break (as opposed to the porta-potties I'd been using all weekend), I pulled myself together, and I walked the remaining few miles to the Kennedy Center. I was rewarded with a photo op with MooCowGuy, who was one of the most vocal and motivational volunteers. I also got a shot of the middle school pep band, who played us on at various points along the route (one of their moms was walking in her 8th Avon event--incredible).

Upon reaching the end of the journey and listening during closing ceremonies, I realized that we had accomplished many great feats. Not only had we challenged ourselves physically during the actual event weekend (and the preceding training, of course), but we had challenged our families and friends and colleagues and neighbors to donate in order to support research and access to care, both of which can be life-saving to countless individuals facing the disease. And all of those challenges, while significant, simply pale in comparison to the challenges faced by the 235 breast cancer survivors who participated with us. Thanks to those brave men and women for inspiring us and showing us how it's done!

It was a terrific weekend, and I hope to participate again--maybe next year, I'll travel to a new city and meet a different crop of incredible people who are fighting hard for a cure. If any of you are on the fence about signing up, I encourage you to get over your fears and insecurities and register to walk. You CAN raise $1,800, you CAN walk 39.3 miles, and you CAN make a difference!

Back tomorrow, hopefully with less pain...

Avon Walking.

2007-05-04T14:34:00.000+01:00

After months of fundraising and training, the Avon Walk is finally here! I’m just a registration and a VERY early morning away from starting what my mother refers to as my “40-mile death march.”

The weather is supposed to be nice (though a tad cooler than I’d prefer), and I’ve got my sleeping bag, camping pillows, and tent tarps ready for the overnight campout. I’ve got two pairs of sneaks, loads of wicking socks, and more cute pink duds than you can shake a stick at. As soon as I hit the Safeway and stock up on hydration supplies (Smart Water and Vitamin Water are my favorites), I’ll be good to go.

If you want to enjoy the lovely day AND cheer on thousands of dedicated breast cancer fighters, here are the designated “Cheering Stations”:

Saturday—

Francis Scott Key Park (Mile 2.75), M St. NW and 34th St. NW
Peak viewing times: 7:30 am - 8:30 am

P St. NW and 26th St. NW (Mile 4.3)
Peak viewing times: 8:30 am - 9:30 am

44th St. NW and Reservoir Rd. NW (Mile 6.50)
Peak viewing times: 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Arizona Ave. NW and MacArthur Blvd. NW (Mile 8.7)
Peak viewing times: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Foxhall Rd. NW and Nebraska Ave. NW (Mile 10.70)
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

42nd St. NW and Albemarle St. NW (Mile 12.50)
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA (Mile 19.60), 9401 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda MD
Peak viewing times: 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

St. Paul Park (Mile 24.50), Plyers Mill Rd. and St. Paul Street
Peak viewing times: 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Corner of Dennis Ave. and Evans Pkwy., Silver Spring, MD (Mile 25.80)
Peak viewing times: 4:00 pm - 6:30 PM

Sunday—

14th St. and Van Buren St. (Mile 4.85), 7611 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring MD
Peak viewing times: 8:30 am - 10:30 am

Rock Creek Park (Mile 6.10), 16th St. NW & Colorado Ave. NW
Peak viewing times: 9:30 am - 11:30 am

Corner of 16th St. NW & T St. NW (Mile 11.21)
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

16th St. NW & Eye St. NW (Mile 11.90)
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

G St. NW & 24th St. NW (Mile 12.24)
Peak viewing times: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive, both financially and emotionally. It’s been a long journey—I begged for money, I walked till I couldn’t feel my feet, and I even lost my walking partner/tent mate to a nasty stress fracture after our longest training hike. Through it all, though, I’ve tried hard to remember that fundraising, sore muscles, aching joints, and even broken bones are small problems when compared with the daily struggles of breast cancer survivors. I am walking with them AND for them this weekend.

Have a great one—wish me luck!

I keep getting older, and the hangovers keep getting worse...

2007-05-03T17:35:00.000+01:00

A wise woman once told me, “It's not a good birthday if you aren't hungover the next day!” Well, friends, based on that yardstick, I had a very good birthday indeed.

I knew it was going to be a rough Wednesday morning when, after indulging in many beers and margaritas, and after participating in an evening of Glam Metal Karaoke in which no glam metal was actually performed, I found myself trekking up 16th Street with no shoes on. Sure, it was no bicycle assault, but it was still pretty upsetting in hindsight.

What was not upsetting was the hilarious look on my boyfriend’s face when he found the playing card with the naked man on it that was gifted to me by a very sassy blog-ette and that had been hiding in my shirt all night long. Come on, once we admired his come-hither pose and named him Lance, how could he reside anywhere else but in the protective warmth of my bosom?

Seriously, I had a great time on Tuesday night, and I want to thank EJ, Kassy, and Freckled K (and a few very brave co-workers) for making it a fabulous birthday bash. THAT is why the DC blogging community rocks my face off—good friends, good times, and erotic playing cards.

Back tomorrow…

Happy Birthday to ME!

2007-05-01T14:10:00.000+01:00

Since it is my birthday, I expect to be treated like a princess (though I will not dress like one, as I did so many years ago)...

I will eat many sweets. Heck, I may even share some (if the mood strikes me)...

Most importantly, though, I will celebrate with buddies and beer tonight at the Reef (on 18th Street, in Adams Morgan). If you want more info, please e-mail me--anyone who wants to honor the day of my birth and buy me drinks will certainly be welcome. :-)

Happy birthday to all of my fellow May Day babies!

What is the traditional gift for a two-year blogiversary?

2007-04-30T14:13:00.000+01:00

Since I’ve been expending much energy getting excited about my birthday (which is tomorrow, ahem), I almost forgot about another important milestone—my two-year blogiversary. In April 2005, I started this crazy journey, and I have to say that it’s been quite a ride. In addition to happy hours and memes and drama and what not, there was a lot to blog about over the past twelve months. For example...

May 2006—I passed the Maryland bar exam, moved into the District, and discovered threading. I'd like to say otherwise, but the latter of those three probably changed my life the most.

June 2006—I was sworn in to the Maryland bar, and I pondered the feasibility of being friends with one’s exes. I also almost died at the gym.

July 2006—I went on the best vacation ever, and I saw the Indigo Girls with one of my favorite girls. I also solicited opinions on the appropriateness of flirting with someone else’s significant other.

August 2006—I vented about certain restaurant customer behaviors, I was appalled by a VERY troubling tattoo, and I confirmed that Shakira’s hips don’t, in fact, lie.

September—My boyfriend gave me the best anniversary gift in the history of anniversary gifts, and I waxed rhetorical on perfume personalities.

October—I found out I had to have invasive lady-part surgery, and I contemplated the brutal homicide of my downstairs neighbors.

November—I was devastated by the death of my gramps, but I was amused by the wedding of my uncle.

December—I drew a lot of ire (and understanding) when I chatted, from a server's perspective, about the many obnoxious things people do when they go out to eat.

January—I attended the interesting WaPo blogger summit, and I registered for the Avon Walk in an attempt to recenter my life (and my blog) and focus on giving back.

February—I went on a whirlwind tour of the country (during which I ate my weight in pie) and afterward decided to give pescetarianism a try.

March—I extolled the countless virtues of Wolf Trap and shoes that double as flasks.

April—I was treated to a visit from the ‘rents, I was frustrated by the apathy of college students, and I sang the praises of my fabulous stylist.

For sure, the past year has been filled with ups and downs. However, thanks to my blog and all of the opportunities it provided, I think I enjoyed the highs more and dealt with the lows far better than my pre-blogger self could ever have done. This humble little site may not be the most popular or frequently visited, but it has helped me in too many ways to outline here.

So, happy blogiversary to you, "Drawn to the Rhythm"--can't wait to see what next year has in store!

Books a hundred.

2007-04-26T20:26:00.000+01:00

I'm not usually so meme-crazy, but I saw this one CrazyGirlCity's site and had to play along. What can I say, I'm a book nerd!

Directions: Place in bold type (note: for some reason, blogger is messing with me and not showing the things I've bolded, so I've italicized instead) the books you've read from this list of 100. If there are other books you've read by the same author, include those under the original, without the author's name in parentheses.

1. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
Anne of Avonlea
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)--one of my favorites.
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)--sooooooo good!
26. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)--very, very good.
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible--I haven't read the whole thing cover to cover, but enough to count it, I think.
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela's Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She's Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)--it's a monster of a book, but I couldn't put it down and finished it in 2-3 days. Excellent!
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
The Vampire Lestat, The Queen of the Damned, The Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil, The Vampire Armand, The Witching Hour.
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)--in Spanish, no less.
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones' Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
Anil's Ghost
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)--a childhood favorite.
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte's Web (E.B. White)--another great one from my youth.
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard's First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)--I hated this when I read it in the 6th grade, but I love it now.
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)--my least favorite, most hated book of all time.
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)

There are some notable (in my mind, anyway) omissions from this list, at least if it's supposed to represent 100 great books or 100 books you have to read before you die or something like that. For example, where is Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man? Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness? Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451? Hemingway? Twain? Kafka? Swift? Camus?

If nothing else, this list makes me nostalgic for the many amazing books I've read, and it gives me some ideas for my next trip to Barnes & Noble.

What say you?

Alpha-bits.

2007-04-26T13:35:00.000+01:00

I'll fill this one out, so I-66 isn't just hangin' out there on a ledge. :-)

A- Available or Single? Aren’t those the same? In any case, I’m neither.

B- Best Friend: My sister.

C- Cake or Pie: Pie. Mmmmm...strawberry rhubarb, chocolate pecan, Dutch apple...

D- Drink of Choice: diet soda, orange Vitamin Water, sugar-free vanilla soy latte.

E- Essential Items: Besides water, food, and shelter? Hmmm…probably lip gloss, Internet access, and good beer.

F- Favorite Color: Pink and green.

G- Gummi Bears or Worms? Worms, especially if they are sour.

H- Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia. I wasn’t born there, but that’s where I grew up.

I- Indulgence: Handbags and haute cuisine.

J- January or February: January—no month sucks more than February.

K- Kids: Does my boyfriend count? I keed, I keed!

L- Life is incomplete without: Family, friends, and fun.

M- Marriage Date: Not quite yet. Plus, I won't be having the kind of wedding that must be planned eons in advance.

N- Number of Siblings: One.

O- Oranges or Apples? Both—but I only like apples if they are super crunchy and not mealy.

P- Phobias/Fears. Flying, fire, and bees.

Q- Favorite Quote: “Dream as if you’ll live forever…live as if you’ll die today.” James Dean

R- Reasons to smile: Too many to list—I'm a naturally happy person. It would be easier to ask for reasons NOT to smile!

S- Season: Summer!

T- Tag Three: I’ll tag Jeanette three times, just so she’ll update her blog.

U- Unknown Fact About Me: I can’t stand it if the television volume is set to an odd number.

V – Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animals? Lately, I’m a Monday through Friday pescetarian—I’m still transitioning to full-time meat avoidance, but I could never give up fish.

W- Worst Habits: Inflexibility, nagging.

X – X-rays or Ultrasounds? I’ve had them both, and I can’t say I prefer one over the other—neither procedure is particularly invasive.

Y- Your Favorite Foods: Pizza, my dad’s fried shrimp and clam chowder, my mom’s brownies.

Z- Zodiac: Taurus—and my birthday is Tuesday, so you better get to shoppin’!

Follicle fun.

2007-04-23T20:18:00.000+01:00

On Saturday, I did something that I am usually VERY hesitant about—I ventured into a new hair salon.

I’ve been getting my hair cut at Bang on U Street since the traumatic BPI (Bubbles Perm Incident) of 2005. When I decided to get some color added to my ‘do, I went to Bang and had the good fortune of sitting in Steve’s chair. He listened to me, he made me feel comfortable (he’s got a great personality), and he gave me some AMAZING highlights.

Sadly, Steve and Bang were not a good match, so he left. No one knew where he had landed—or, at least, no one was willing to tell me. One afternoon, I noticed a sign on U Street that said something to the effect of “Steve from Bang has gone to Subairi Salon.” Excellent, I thought. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a pen handy, so within moments I had forgotten the name of my hairdresser’s new digs. When I returned to check the sign out again, it was gone.

It was only through my semi-regular perusing of the Craigslist Missed Connections that I found Steve once again. One of his former Bang clients generously posted information about his new place of employment, and I made an appointment immediately. Big thanks to whoever it was, because I had a lovely experience with Steve at Subairi.

From the moment I entered the space, I felt more relaxed than I ever did at Bang. The stylists and the clientele seemed more down-to-earth and quiet, more concerned with being pampered than with seeing and being seen. I gave my long-lost friend a big hug and sat in his chair, at which point I was offered a glass of wine. “We like to ply you with liquor while we’re making you beautiful!” Steve exclaimed. Now that’s my kind of salon! After 90 minutes of beautifying and bantering, I left with a lighter head of hair (both in color and volume), a slight buzz, and a huge smile. I also left with a mission.

A stylist’s success depends a great deal on how many clients they bring in. Since Steve was largely unable to let his Bang clients know about his move, he’s forced to basically start from scratch. That’s where you come in. If you’re looking for a stylist, whether it’s because you’re new to the area or you just want to try someone new, please make an appointment with Steve. He’s absolutely wonderful, especially if you are in the market for highlights—he uses a really cool no-foil technique (he paints the color directly onto the strands) that results in a more natural, less streaky look. He’s also an absolute hoot to chat with, and he really cares about making sure his clients are happy (for example, he told me to live with my cut for a few days and to return—on the house—if I wanted to go a bit shorter).

Right now, you can get a cut and partial highlights from Steve for $100, which is a total steal in this neck of the woods. I promised that I’d do my best to help him out, so be sure to drop my name if you decide to go for it—in the interest of full disclosure, I may get a free service or two if I successfully increase Steve’s client base, but I’d recommend him wholeheartedly even without a beauty-related incentive.

So, there you go—help a great stylist do well in Dupont, and help yourself to some lovely locks. Win-win!

Whew.

2007-04-20T20:06:00.000+01:00

It’s been a tough week to blog.

Between Monday’s unfathomable tragedy and its immediate media-fueled aftermath, a disappointing (for me, anyway) Supreme Court decision, a violent week in Iraq, some tense (but warranted) Senate hearings, and loads of nastiness and ignorance in our blogging community, I’ve had a lot of trouble putting my thoughts together. Add to that a mid-week illness and a sick kitty cat, and you’ve got one tapped out gal.

I have a lot going on this weekend—a movie double date, a trip to the salon, a visit with an old friend (in what looks to be some amazing weather), some volunteer work, and the usual Sunday brunch shift. During it all, though, I plan on doing the most important thing of all—healing.
No doubt, our individual roads to recovery may differ. However, it is crucial that we come together, even in seemingly insignificant ways, to make it through such a life-altering week. It is the only way to heal.

Just like any wound, the ones inflicted this week will be sensitive for a while. They will need protection from dangerous, painful infections. They will need to be treated with great care, at least until they are strong enough to finish the healing process on their own.

So, please pardon my ill-conceived metaphors and enjoy the weather this weekend. Take care of yourselves, spend time with the ones you love, and pay no mind to the people and things that cause you to suffer.

See you next week...

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

2007-04-17T18:20:00.000+01:00

Today, if you visit my Avon Walk fundraising page, you will notice that the little thermometer thingy that measures my progress is bubbling over. That’s right, I have exceeded my personal fundraising goal!

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the bloggers who donated: I-66, Martin, Barbara, Unblague, EJ, Jason, Chai, Velvet, and WT. Your generosity astounds me, and I am so appreciative that you dug into your hearts and your wallets to support me.

Despite some recent drama (of which I only learned yesterday, and about which I know virtually nothing), the DC blogosphere can be a wonderful place. I have met some amazing people and learned some unexpected things, and I wouldn’t trade my experiences for anything. However, given the nature of most blogging and commenting, there are often waves of nastiness that threaten to shatter reputations, friendships, and even lives.

I will not attend Friday’s happy hour, because I pride myself on avoiding situations that are rife with negative energy. I do NOT support the “official” boycott of the event, however, since, among other reasons, the sponsor of the boycott has been known to cause plenty of trouble in and around the blogosphere, and I refuse to have my name used in connection with his.

In all sorts of life challenges, people must decide for themselves what is right and what is good. In this particular case, I have decided that my absence from happy hour is right and staying out of the muck and mire is good. Always make your decisions wisely, but, more importantly, make them yourselves.

Action, not apathy, please.

2007-04-17T16:08:00.000+01:00

Last weekend, my sister and I volunteered at the AU/GW Relay for Life. For the unfamiliar, Relay for Life is a fun-filled overnight event designed to celebrate survivorship and raise money for research and programs of the American Cancer Society. During the event, teams of people gather at schools, fairgrounds, or parks and take turns walking or running laps. Each team tries to keep at least one team member on the track at all times.

We were there to get students to send messages to their legislators asking them to support increased National Cancer Institute funding and to improve access to early breast and cervical cancer screenings (particularly for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women). We stood at our designated table until the Relay was officially underway, and then we decided to take our clipboards into the thick of the action. We approached a number of teams, and the response was mind-boggling.

Apathy. We were met with pure, unadulterated, unapologetic apathy.

Sure, some of the students were fantastic (for example, the Sigma Delta Tau team—as soon as I mentioned that sis and I were alumnae, they absolutely rose to the occasion). By and large, however, our pleas for support were rebuffed in favor of ignorance and sarcasm.

We weren’t asking for money—we weren’t even asking students to draft lengthy correspondence. All we needed was a name and address on a pre-printed letter, and maybe a short statement on why the issues were personally important. The whole form took about 5 minutes to fill out, and we assured the students that their information wouldn’t be used for solicitations or junk mail or commercial purposes. So why the hesitance? Why the fear of action?

Perhaps it is because I am a cancer survivor, but this sort of advocacy comes quite naturally for me. Sign a petition? Sure thing. Donate to the cause? Of course. Submit an op-ed to the local paper? In a heartbeat. I’ve gone so far as to lobby the Tennessee state legislature for smoke-free residence halls—and I won. Not everyone has what it takes to be a professional political activist, but grassroots advocacy isn’t about that—it’s about regular people standing up for a worthwhile cause. And it’s so easy to make a difference.

There’s a lot that we could have done better to get the students excited about our drive. However, there’s a lot that the students could have done—CAN do—to show the rest of the population that they’re not as selfish and uninterested as some people and polls might suggest.

Sis and I will be at the Georgetown University Relay for Life on Saturday night, and we’ll be asking once again for students to support the American Cancer Society’s legislative initiatives. We’ll be excited about the event and about the very important cause, and we hope that our requests won’t be met with too many “No thanks” or “I’m good” or “I already support that” responses.

The Georgetown students have already raised over $198,000, which is an incredible feat—let’s hope they show that same enthusiasm and commitment in regards to rallying for change.

Go Hoyas--show those AU/GW kids who's boss! :-)

A week of dichotomies.

2007-04-12T16:12:00.000+01:00

Good: Booking my June trip to San Francisco!!! I've never been, so let the recommendations fly.
Bad: Having to admit that my sister/roommate/best friend will be in San Francisco all summer long. Boo!

Good: Making a reservation at Morimoto in Philadelphia.
Bad: Not having a fellow foodie with whom to share such a unique experience. Guess I’ll just have to make friends at the sushi bar.

Good: Getting a very large check in the mail.
Bad: Thinking about what I lost to get that very large check.

Good: Being busy at work--with projects about which I am passionate, no less!
Bad: Being so busy at work that my creative impulses are shot by the end of the day, making it quite difficult to blog and/or work on some soon-to-be-due articles.*

Good: Almost reaching my Avon Walk fundraising minimum.
Bad: I said “almost,” people. Please donate!

Hope your weeks have been more good than bad!

* This explains (but does not excuse) the lame post. I promise, no more lists for a while.

On a completely unrelated note, R.I.P. Kurt Vonnegut--he was an incredible writer and a deeply intelligent and complex person, and the literary world was lucky to have him for as long as it did. I was going to write a whole post about what his work meant to me, but it wouldn't do him any justice. "So it goes."

Things I learned after spending 5 days with my parents.

2007-04-09T19:29:00.000+01:00

* My parents rock.
* No matter how tired or drunk or loaded up on sleeping pills one may be, no quality sleep can be had on an Ikea couch.
* Vidalia is definitely my favorite restaurant in DC (see my forthcoming review at EatFoo).
* When my family gets together at a sushi restaurant, NO ONE is eating light. Especially when we have to wait an hour for a table.
* My dad can whoop my ass in bowling, but at least I won’t be sore after three games.
* I reeeeeeeeally hate golf.
* Lunch at Five Guys can make even the most frustrating day better.
* In the hands of yours truly, a $50 Starbucks card isn’t going to last very long.
* I’m getting old.
* I’m turning into my mother. I no longer think this is a bad thing.
* My parents have a higher alcohol tolerance than I do. This is embarrassing.
* Working a job fair while your sister and parents shop is cruel and unusual punishment.
* Despite the fact that Jason and I have been dating for over a year and a half, I still get nervous when he “meets” my parents.
* Did I mention that my parents rock?

Donate!

Hodgepodge.

2007-04-02T16:29:00.000+01:00

* Though this mini-recap is a few days late and many dollars short, I had a lovely time at Thursday’s Blogger Happy Hour. I met some incredible new people (new to me, anyway) and caught up with some delightful old friends, which, when combined with the numerous Blue Moons I consumed, made for quite the entertaining evening. Thanks to I-66 for organizing, and apologies to those folks I either a) didn't meet, or b) forgot to mention.

* Allergies are absolutely no fun.

* I did a 21+ mile training walk on Saturday--and I survived! We started at Foggy Bottom, followed the Capital Crescent Trail (which is beautiful, by the way) into Bethesda, continued along the Georgetown Branch Trail, and traveled south on Beach Drive through Rock Creek Park. It took about 7-8 hours, and it made me a pain-ridden mess for the rest of the weekend, but I am incredibly proud of myself. Now I'm ready for the Avon Walk--if only I could come up with that last $200-400 of fundraising money (hint, hint)!

* I am 100% uninterested in watching yet another Ohio State vs. Florida national championship game.

* Congratulations to Chef Jose Andres (of Jaleo, Cafe Atlantico, Zaytinya, Oyamel, and Minibar fame), who handily beat Iron Chef Bobby Flay last night in Battle Goat. Any episode that forces Alton Brown to make a Cheech and Chong reference is okay by me.

* My mom will be arriving tomorrow afternoon, and my dad will be following on Wednesday evening, so posting may be a bit light for the rest of the week. Some of our plans include taking my mother to trivia at Stetson's, dining at Dino and Vidalia, bowling at Lucky Strike, strolling through the American Indian museum, and doing some good, old-fashioned shopping. I expect that some excellent stories will come out of such a long visit--stay tuned.

Have a great day, and enjoy the spring-like weather while it lasts!

Pretty please, donate to the Avon Walk--click here!

Reef madness.

2007-03-28T17:59:00.000+01:00

When I was in college down in the SEC, football Saturdays were legendary. Sorority girls dressed in all of their school-color-coordinated finery, fraternity pledges donned ties and collared shirts, proud alumni smoked cigars and exchanged nostalgic tales, grills were ablaze with the smell of charcoal and seared meat, and a sense of spirit and camaraderie filled the air. As far as we were all concerned, we had found perfection—and nothing could shatter our bubble of friendship and frivolity.

Well, nothing except the buzzkill of a dry stadium.

Since NCAA rules prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol in its football arenas, and since there was usually some sort of pat-down or inspection upon reaching the entrance gates, students both past and present used NASA-appropriate ingenuity and determination to sneak in their hooch of choice. One of my girlfriends swore by the “Ziploc bags of Jack in the bra” approach (since the security guards weren’t supposed to touch any lady parts)—that is, until the time she forgot to double-bag the booze and whiskey ended up leaking all over her boobage. It was a smelly, sticky mess—though I’m sure her boyfriend enjoyed cleaning it up after the game.

Anyway, college students across the nation can rejoice today, as I have found the ultimate solution to this very disturbing quandary—the Dram sandal, by Reef.

Not only is it comfortable, but it has a canteen in the heel. A canteen in the heel, people! Do you know what this means?!?!

That’s right—it means that the only hard decision that remains is whether to put the mixer in the right shoe or the left.

This MUST mean that summer is on its way...

2007-03-26T21:01:00.000+01:00

Today marks one of my favorite days of the year—the day that Wolf Trap announces its summer lineup.

If you haven’t already attended a concert at the Filene Center, definitely try to make it out there this year. It is a great outdoor venue, located in “America’s National Park for the Performing Arts.” About half of the seating is covered, but I highly recommend sitting on the lawn. Not only can you enjoy the gorgeous evening weather, but you can bring a picnic dinner, complete with your adult beverage of choice (sadly, only water is allowed if you’re sitting in the covered section). Also, while the covered seats get you closer to the performers, it’s not always as fun or collegial of an atmosphere. For example, when I saw Ben Folds there in 2005, people actually got upset when we stood up and cheered during a particularly good number (I believe it was “Not the Same”).

I can already tell you that my best gal pal and I will be heading to the Indigo Girls show on August 26. We went last year and had a blast, eating cheese and drinking wine while we sang along to our favorite tunes. Other 2007 shows that pique my interest include Steely Dan, Chicago, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aretha Franklin, Steve Miller Band, Randy Travis, and Travis Tritt. I can’t wait!

Tickets go on sale to the public on March 31st, and more shows will be added on April 9th. Oh, and for those of you (like me) who don’t have cars, have no fear—Wolf Trap is Metro accessible (there’s a shuttle that takes you to the amphitheater from the West Falls Church station)!

I promise, you won’t regret it—that is, unless you swipe my Indigo Girls seats. Ha!

TGIF, fo' sho'.

2007-03-23T17:37:00.000Z

I’m starting to feel sicky, so I just have a few random thoughts to impart before I attempt to use the weekend to relax*:

First, I don’t care what anyone says, I am LOVING what’s happening on Grey’s Anatomy right now. I understand why many people are unhappy with the “Gizzie” development, since Callie is so interesting and fabulous and plus-sized and quirky. I personally adore Sara Ramirez, and I think she is a beautiful woman and a fine actress. However, the fact remains that—gasp!—friends do sometimes get drunk and fall into bed together, and husbands do sometimes cheat on their wives, and people do sometimes make mistakes, and that is what television and life are all about. Stop acting like you’ve never had an “oh, shit” moment when you realize what you’ve done in a tequila-induced stupor—and remember that a show full of flawed (but constantly developing) characters is far more realistic and interesting than a show full of happy, mushy, perfect couples. Bring on the next episode!

Second, sometimes living in DC sucks. I got just over $200 in tax refunds from the Fed and from Maryland, but I had to write a check to the District for double that amount—and I only lived there 8 months in 2006! No fun at all.

Finally, I am still about $300 short of my minimum (and about $500 short of my personal goal) for the Avon Walk. I reeeeeeeally appreciate my blogger buddies who have donated so far—you all rock my face off! As for the rest of you, I still desperately need your support. Anything you can give—even if it’s just $5 or $10—will not only help me in my quest to walk a marathon and a half, but it will also help breast cancer patients in DC and nationwide (the latter, of course, being the more important consideration). Please click on the link below and help a great cause—I promise that if you do, I will buy you a drink at the next happy hour! :-)

Have a terrific weekend, everyone!

Here is my personal fundraising page--until I reach $1,800, it will replace the "Drawn to..." segment.

* If, by relax, you mean “do a 15-mile training walk AND work a busy Sunday brunch shift AND attempt to be mildly social with long-lost friends.”

Movie Tuesday

2007-03-20T18:37:00.000Z

Last night, I hosted a small dinner party for myself, my man, and three other couples. At the end of the evening, we were having quite the impassioned conversation about movies (and, of course, the actors and actresses therein). In honor of that excellent but largely unfinished discussion, I decided to do a movie meme. Enjoy!

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.

This is a very long list, as I tend to latch onto movies that I really enjoy. Some that jump out immediately are Rebel Without a Cause, Pulp Fiction, Legally Blonde, The Godfather, Top Gun, When Harry Met Sally, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Sunset Boulevard.

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.

Given the outrageous prices, I think Chicago is the only one.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.

Nicolas Cage (though that backfired recently), Kiefer Sutherland, and Hugh Grant.

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.

These days, Tom Cruise—though I adore his vintage, pre-crazy (or, at least, pre-publicly-crazy) stuff.

5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a perennial favorite. I also enjoy quotage from Love Actually and any of Kevin Smith’s flicks.

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.

The easier question would be, “Name a movie musical that you DON’T know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.” I can definitely hold my own with Guys and Dolls, Chicago, South Pacific, A Chorus Line, Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, Les Miserables, The Sound of Music, and The Phantom of the Opera.

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.

See my answer to question #6. Then and add Selena and anything Disney-related.

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.

Not to be cliché, but my vote goes to Citizen Kane, hands down. It’s not my personal favorite movie of all time (though it’s up toward the top of the list), but it is a masterpiece.

9. Name a movie that you own.

Waaaaaaay too many. Since I haven’t mentioned it yet, I’ll throw Cocktail out there as an example.

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.

None other than Mark “Marky Mark” Wahlberg. Loved him in Fear (so creepy, yet soooooo hot), ADORED him in The Departed. He was robbed for Best Supporting Actor.

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?

Nope, can’t say that I have.

12. Ever made out in a movie?

Yup…isn’t that a teenage rite of passage?

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.

Dreamgirls, for sure. And The Last King of Scotland, which I tried to see last week (but I was thwarted by a fire alarm and a theater evacuation).

14. Ever walked out of a movie?

Nope. That probably has something to do with the fact that I have to pawn personal property just to buy a ticket.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.

Most of them do, to be honest.

16. Popcorn?

Hells yeah…with extra butter and some Junior Mints (hey, I go to the movies so rarely, I’m allowed to splurge).

17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?

Not very often. So far this year, only once (I’m not counting the aforementioned fire alarm incident, since we only got to see 10 minutes of the film).

18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?

Ghost Rider. Or, as my boyfriend likes to say, Crap Rider.

19. What's your favorite/preferred genre of movie?

I used to love the really dramatic flicks, but lately I just want to be entertained. So, comedy it is. I’m especially a sucker for a clever romantic comedy.

20. What's the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?

Snow White.

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?

Ghost Rider. I was also not a fan of A Clockwork Orange.

22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?

Rocky Horror Picture Show. Elbow sex, baby!

23. What is the scariest movie you've seen?

I don’t really dig horror movies—but I think crime movies are pretty freaky, like Seven and The Silence of the Lambs.

24. What is the funniest movie you've seen?

Oh, geez—tough question! Most of my favorite comedies are either from the Cohen Brothers (The Big Lebowski and Raising Arizona) or Kevin Smith (Clerks and Mallrats, and Dogma if I’m in the right mood), but I also love Office Space, Dodgeball, Best in Show, and The Princess Bride.

* No "Drawn to..." feature today. As always, you can donate to the Avon Walk by clicking the link on the right. I am about $300 short of the minimum, and I only have about 40 days left!

Where did this week go?

2007-03-15T18:34:00.000Z

First, a shout-out: Café Phillips ROCKS. I ordered my usual (a wheat bagel with light cream cheese and a large coffee) this morning, but in my caffeine-deficient state, I forgot that the store doesn’t take credit cards. Being sans cash due to a birthday dinner for sis last night, I thought I would have to forfeit my breakfast. Not so! The lovely ladies at the register printed out a receipt and told me to come back later with the payment, no problem. Now THAT is excellent customer service!

In other news, I have never been so excited to come into the office. For the past three days, I have been stuck in a FOIA/Privacy Act training class with an instructor whose voice sounded like a combination of Wallace Shawn (the “Inconceivable!” guy from The Princess Bride) and Gilbert Gottfried. In addition to listening to his annoying voice all day, I had the joy of watching one of my classmates get fatter by the second. Seriously, I could actually see her expanding. On each of our 10 AM breaks, she would go to Starbucks and scarf down 1-2 butter croissants and a venti, whole-milk, loads-of-whipped-cream Frappucino. Then, when we broke for lunch at noon, she’d venture to McDonald’s and bring back some sort of fried goodness. Now, I’m not one to criticize, since I know it takes all sizes and shapes and types to make the world go ‘round. But it really horrified me—I mean, do people even think about what they’re putting into their bodies? You don’t have to count every single ingredient and calorie to be a more responsible, healthy eater—you just need a smidge of accountability. * Descends from soapbox *

Speaking of eating, I am visiting Philadelphia in May (for the first time ever), and I’m looking for restaurant recommendations. Other than the omakase at Morimoto and a creperie that my sister suggested, I’ve got nothin’—care to help a girl out? All cuisines and price ranges will be considered, but I’ll give you a bonus if a) the place has better-than-average vegetarian options, and/or b) the tab will leave some of my per diem in tact.

Have a great one!

Drawn to…So Others Might Eat (SOME). Founded in 1970, SOME is an interfaith organization that provides assistance to DC’s homeless and destitute population. In addition to meeting immediate hunger needs, SOME also offers shelter, legal services, health services (including behavioral, mental, and addiction treatment), job training, and elderly services. Some students from my undergraduate university were in DC this week volunteering with SOME, and it reminded me of how important the organization is to the area. Check it out!

Think Spring!

2007-03-09T18:35:00.000Z

TGIF, kiddies--it's a crazy day at work, so I'll give you a meme to tide you over. Thanks to the Fabulous Miss S for this one!

1. How do you celebrate the arrival of Spring?

By splurging on a spa pedicure and ceremoniously retrieving my flip-flops from their winter hibernation. How I love thee, Reefs!

2. What other holidays and events do you celebrate or mark in the spring?

I’m a May baby, so my birthday is probably the biggest holiday/event that I celebrate in the spring. I tend to drag it out at least a week. You may commence shopping now.

3. Do you have any interesting traditions that take place during this time of year?

Since my favorite television shows usually end during spring sweeps, I love having season finale parties. Before I relocated to the big city, the first BBQ/kegger of the season was always a great tradition, too.

4. What colors and imagery do you associate with spring?

Blooming dogwoods, the smell of fresh-cut grass, little girls in pastel Easter dresses, and pre-vacay white legs.

5. What are you most looking forward to about spring?

Ditching the layered look in favor of skirts and sundresses, retiring my closed-toe shoes and breaking out my fabulous strappy sandals, being able to walk to work without slipping on patches of ice, opening the windows in my apartment (if I can manage to find some screens that fit), and meeting friends for happy hour on the patio!

Sorry for the lack of a "Drawn to..." feature today--I just haven't had a lot of time this week. I promise, I'll get back to normal soon!

For good or for bad, I'm official.

2007-03-06T15:43:00.000Z

First and foremost, a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY goes out to my fabulous kid sister. Have a great one, Netty!!!

I know that I’ve been a bad, bad blogger recently—not only have my postings been sporadic at best, but I missed last Thursday’s happy hour, which seems to have been a huge success. In my defense, I’ve been pretty busy—I saw the oncologist on Thursday (if you’re interested in the details, you can contact me offline), which was a less-than-pleasant physical and emotional experience. Friday I worked like crazy, and Saturday I did a 9-mile training walk. I also enjoyed sushi with an old boss and drinks with a long-lost friend. Sunday was, quite possibly, the worst shift ever at the restaurant, and I rewarded myself with a long nap and some Iron Chef.

Which brings me to yesterday—the day that I was sworn in as a member of the DC bar. That’s right, kiddies, I am now dually licensed—if you fuck up in either Maryland or the District, I can represent you in court! Not that you’d want me to, that is, since I’m a public sector slave and don’t actually know anything about litigation (as is evidenced by the fact that the only two times I’ve been in court have been for swearing-in ceremonies).

The most important thing about yesterday’s ceremony was that I got to share it with someone (unlike my Maryland swearing-in, which I had to attend alone). Jason accompanied me to the courtroom, sat next to me as I took the oath, and drank heavily with me when it was all over (hey, we were celebrating enough for both jurisdictions, thankyouverymuch). Even though I don’t actively practice law, having a loved one present for the official proceeding made me pleased and proud. It also made me realize what a long journey it has been—between law school and bar exams and paperwork, it took me almost five years to get to this point.

That’s an awfully long time—but I wouldn’t trade it for a thing.

Drawn to...the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. According to its mission statement, "SLDN is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' and related forms of intolerance." Right now, the organization is spending significant time supporting the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (which was reintroduced on February 28, 2007), and the website provides information about writing to Congress and/or participating in scheduled lobby days.

This is why I'm walking.

2007-02-28T17:35:00.000Z

I nearly started crying when I read this. But I wasn't weepy because it was sad--instead, I found myself moved to tears by the inspirational, positive attitudes of the brave young women in the story.

Especially in light of recent revelations (short story: I am being referred to an oncologist for the second time in my young life), I can understand and appreciate the need for laughter in times of pain and sorrow. I can also feel grateful that, like the cancer survivors featured in the article, I am extremely lucky to have a support system of wonderful friends and family members.

I've never had breast cancer, nor have I had to endure chemotherapy or radiation (my disease was treatable with surgery, since I caught it very early). But I feel an unspoken bond with these so-called "Cancer Vixens," and I hope to meet some of them in May when I walk to show my support and my dedication to finding a cure.

No "Drawn to..." feature today. But, feel free to donate to my Avon Walk efforts by clicking the link on my blogroll!

Happy Wednesday... :-)

Luck, long walks, and lots of Oscar love

2007-02-26T17:23:00.000Z

First, and most importantly—GOOD LUCK to all of the February bar takers!!! Last July, I wrote a post with some advice about the exam, and you can read it here if you’re at all interested. Whether you’re a first-time taker or a repeater, I send my best wishes and hope that you make it through the experience with your sanity in tact!

On to the weekend of walking. Seriously, besides dinner at Jaleo (yummy) and a showing of Ghost Rider (which was AWFUL, by the way, except for the Spidey 3 preview), all I did this weekend was walk. Friday night and Sunday afternoon were spent hoofing it around the restaurant, but Saturday was the real challenge—I grabbed a girlfriend and embarked on my longest training walk yet, a 10-12 mile jaunt from Foggy Bottom/Georgetown to Haines Point and back again (the actual route can be found here, along with some other good ones). In addition to being good for my Avon Walk preparation, the journey allowed me to see some DC landmarks that were previously unfamiliar to me, such as the FDR memorial (which I would like to revisit in the springtime) and “The Awakening,” a huge and somewhat grotesque statue that appears to be coming out of the ground. I’m still nursing some sore muscles and aching joints, but I’m already looking forward to next weekend’s lengthy walk.

And what was my reward for working hard and challenging my body all weekend? The best Sunday night ever—snuggling with my man on the couch, analyzing red carpet fashions with sis, eating pepperoni pizza, and watching the Academy Awards. Woot! Here are my assorted thoughts on the evening’s ceremonies:

* Ellen was a great host, though the show would have been a wee bit shorter without some of her antics. I’d definitely support the decision to hire her for next year (you know, because they ask me).
* I’m very pleased that Martin Scorsese and his eyebrows finally won an Oscar, and I am even more pleased that The Departed garnered Best Picture honors. It’s always nice when a film combines excellent writing, directing, and acting with a whole lotta hotness (ahem, Mark Wahlberg, I’m talkin’ to you).
* How is Gwenyth Paltrow ending up on everyone’s worst dressed lists? I thought the color was lovely, and the cut of the dress gave her some gorgeous and shapely curves. I also didn’t think that Anne Hathaway’s dress was nearly as bad as people were saying—sure, I could have lived without the black butterfly-cutout thingy on her chest, but I still think she looked WAY better than my three worst dressed picks, Naomi Watts, Kirsten Dunst, and Cameron Diaz. Yuck, double yuck, and vomit-rocious, in that order.
* Best dressed? Helen Mirren (you go, girl), Celine Dion (loved the green frock and the jewels), Jennifer Lopez, Penelope Cruz, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Gorgeous! Rachel Weisz could have jumped to the top of the class by ditching that over-the-top necklace, and Reese Witherspoon would be my fave again if she would eat a sandwich.
* As political as it was, I loved the banter between Al Gore and Leonardo Di Caprio. I also enjoyed the bit where Ellen asked Steven Spielberg to take a picture of her and Clint Eastwood “for MySpace.” I wonder if Clint Eastwood even knows what MySpace is. Hmmmm.
* I could have lived without that weird pilates troupe that was contorting behind a screen to make human statues of various movies. This is the Academy Awards, not the circus.
* Ryan Seacrest is a giant toolbag. He chastised his co-hosts for making him talk about underpants, but then he actually said something about there being “a lot of Wang” on the red carpet. Fucktard.
* LOVED the foreign films montage. It made me want to watch Cinema Paradiso and Rashomon over and over again. I was not a big fan of the writers’ montage, but at least it showed bits and pieces of Sunset Boulevard, which is one of my favorite movies of all time.

Now that the Superbowl of Entertainment is over, life can return to normal, and I can resume looking forward to each week's new episode of "24" and "Grey's Anatomy." At least until summer blockbuster season...

Drawn to...the National Film Preservation Foundation, which was created by Congress to help save America's film heritage through preservation, education, and exhibition. Check it out--new Oscar-winner Martin Scorsese is on the board!

"Sacrificial tofu" just doesn't have the same ring to it...oh, well.

2007-02-21T16:16:00.000Z

As I walked to work today (which was quite a task, given how many icy sidewalks I had to navigate), I noticed many Washingtonians with sooty crosses on their foreheads. I may be Jewish, but I understand that Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period during which many of my friends will be cranky as hell because they’ve chosen to give up chocolate, or swearing, or video games, or booze.

While I don’t necessarily get all of the symbolism surrounding the various pre-Easter rituals, I can comprehend the idea of sacrifice. The world is full of it, and humans give up countless things for countless reasons.

For example, I have decided to sacrifice meat in order to further my health goals. For someone who has been a carnivore since childhood (I would eat the veggies and starches on my plate first, in rapid fashion, so that I could save my blessed cow for last), that’s a really big deal. However, after a few months of experimenting with decreasing my meat consumption, I realized that I felt better when I filled my tummy with vegetables, fruits, grains, and alternative protein sources.

I do have a few hang-ups that are keeping me from total vegetarianism, at least at the moment. First and foremost, I love fish, and I think it is an important part of a healthy diet. So, ocean creatures, you will not be spared. * Insert evil laugh here. *

Second, since I am VERY aware that you have to set realistic goals in order to actually achieve anything, I am allowing myself to eat meat on the weekends if I so desire. I still have to use appropriate portion sizes, but at least I’ll be able to let loose every once in a while and enjoy some nice steak, or chicken breast, or sausage. I’m hoping that I won’t really miss those things, and that I’ll find myself choosing meatless options even when given the opportunity to do otherwise.

The hardest thing I’ve ever given up was smoking. Anyone who’s ever quit knows what I’m talking about—it really is miserable, especially if you have loved ones who are not accompanying you on the journey. But, I made it through the worst of the withdrawal and the cravings, and now I can honestly say that I am a non-smoker.

So, even though Lent is temporary, and even though my vegetarianism is only semi, it is important to constantly challenge yourself and your body in order to achieve optimum results. Who knows? Maybe my improved diet will give me a new, enthusiastic perspective on exercise!

Okay, one step at a time…

Drawn to…the Capital Area Food Bank, which is a public/nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the DC metro area. According to their website, “[e]ach year the CAFB distributes 20 million pounds of food, including 6 million pounds of fresh produce through over 700 member agencies.” Founded in 1980, the CAFB supports its food distribution and community-building initiatives by hosting such events as the Blue Jeans Ball (which is coming up at the end of March) and Capital Cooks.

But I am le tired.

2007-02-20T20:30:00.000Z

Whew. I reeeeeeally hope that I can stay in DC for a while, because I have had my fill of travel. Rather than drone on and on about my voyages, I’ll sum it up by the numbers:

* Days on the road: 11
* States visited: 3 (New York, Texas, and Georgia)
* Bus trips: 1
* Bus seats moved due to smelly passengers: 1 (seriously, who eats spicy beef jerky at 10 AM?)
* Bus seats I wish I could have moved due to loudmouthed passengers: 1
* One-way flights: 4
* Security lines suffered: 5
* Movies watched: 2 (The Guardian and Little Miss Sunshine)
* Taxis hailed: 4
* Taxis hailed that subsequently got lost in the ghetto: 1
* Cowboy boots purchased: 0 (but I was VERY tempted)
* Visits to Chick-fil-a: 2 (yum)
* Sushi meals: 2 (yum yum)
* Varieties of pie eaten in a single day: 4 (chocolate pecan, Dutch apple, strawberry rhubarb, and Bavarian chocolate banana--yum yum yum)
* Pounds gained: 3
* Scatological jokes made by my colleagues: Too many to count!
* Times I contemplated relocating to Atlanta: About a million.
* Times I contemplated relocating to Houston: 0
* Atlantic Station condos coveted: 2
* Books finished: 1 (a great James Dean biography)
* Magazines finished: 3 (hey, I had to catch up on my fashion and celebrity gossip)
* Alcoholic beverages consumed: Too many to count, but far fewer than anticipated.

All in all, it was a great trip—I learned a lot, and I got to spend some much-needed time with friends and family. Unfortunately, there was also some bad news to deal with (none of which will be discussed in this forum, at least for the time being), but I’m processing that the best way I know how.

While the DC to which I returned was a little slushier than the DC I left behind, it was still a welcome sight when I saw it from the plane. I hope to explore more of it as the city slowly warms up and blossoms into spring, especially since I have a long walk to train for!

To my boyfriend, my sister, my cat, and all of my lovely friends--I've missed you tons! Hope to see you soon...after I've caught up on my blogs, of course. :-)

Drawn to...The Tim Redovian Memorial Fund. This organization is very close to my heart, as it was founded in honor of my friend Tim, who died of viral pneumonia when he was just 16 years old. The Fund "grants scholarships to students, many in need, with solid academics and talent. The fund enhances the learning experience of students with special talent in the performing arts, including drama, dance, voice, instrument, and technical theatre. It provides an opportunity for growth and development to those who might not otherwise be able to benefit from a professional learning experience outside of their school." Over the past ten years, the Fund has awarded over $112,000 to deserving students, and I know that Tim is so proud of all of the good work that has been done in his name.

Love in the time of travel.

2007-02-08T17:54:00.000Z

Tomorrow, once again, I will leave for some personal and business travel. I’ll take a bus to New York, where I will help my grandmother celebrate her birthday. Then, I’ll fly to Houston, where I will observe field operations and probably buy a pair of cowboy boots (sorry, sis). Finally, I will return to DC and then hop another plane to Atlanta, where I will enjoy a relaxing weekend of movies, sushi, and shopping with my parents. Whew.

Unfortunately, my whirlwind tour of the U.S. means that I’ll be missing Valentine’s Day with my sweetie. I wasn’t terribly upset about that (since we probably would have treated it like any other day and ended up falling asleep watching “Family Guy”), but I changed my mind last night when my significant other hypothesized that he was in a bad mood because he was so sad that I was leaving for eleven days. Precious, no?

In any case, I know that many people, both single and attached, feel bitterness toward February 14th. Yes, it’s a Hallmark Holiday. No, you shouldn’t need a calendar notation to tell someone, “I love you.” But, we often get so caught up in our daily hustle-and-bustle that I don’t think it hurts to see the red-and-pink-draped stores, to remember that you have special people in your life, and to commence with treating them accordingly.

So, here’s the goal: don’t spend next Wednesday wearing black and gorging on Ben & Jerry’s and being generally unpleasant. Don’t go out and spend a small fortune on some fancy dinner that will NOT put you in the mood when you get home. Instead, try to embrace the true spirit of the holiday, which is one of love. Call your parents. Put a little extra change in the tip jar at your favorite coffee joint. Send a friend a nice e-mail. Make a charitable donation. Compliment a co-worker. Buy a cute stranger a drink. Hell, if you can’t find it in your heart to love someone else (even platonically), then go out and do something nice for yourself.

I’ll even start: I sure do luuuuuurve all of my readers! See how easy it is? :-)

Seriously, have a great weekend and a happy Valentine’s Day, no matter how you decide to spend it. I’ll be back soon!

Drawn to…the American Heart Association. Not only is February the month of Valentine’s Day, but it’s also Heart Disease Awareness month! According to their mission statement, the AHA (founded in 1924) “is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke.” Take a look at their website, where you can get health information, donate funds, take a risk assessment, or learn about upcoming events in your area.

Everything old is new again.

2007-02-05T15:53:00.000Z

Wow. That was some hiatus. Not only did it give me some time to think about “the state of the blog” (more on that in a moment), but it allowed the following things to happen:

* I traveled to Florida. I really enjoyed the fabulous 80-degrees-and-sunny Clearwater weather, especially when I learned that it was snowing in DC while I was boating, biking, and walking on the beach. Suckas! After my mini-vacation, I spent the week learning about field operations and touring our offices in St. Petersburg and Orlando. I wasn’t particularly fond of the latter, but I could definitely see myself relocating to the former (or, at least, somewhere in the vicinity).

* Two of my favorite blogs went dark, but for vastly different reasons. Cookie, I respect your decision to lay low, especially since you seem to have some great things going on in your life right now! As for Kassy, it’s a damn shame that someone else’s nastiness and negativity caused you to shut down. Keep your chin up, and take comfort in the fact that it’s not YOUR bad karma that will come back to bite you in the ass.

* I raised more money for the Avon Walk—I’m just over 1/3 of the way to my goal! I’ve also added some links (at the top of my blogroll) to make it easier for folks to learn more about the event and/or donate to the cause. On a related note, I officially started training. Walking a marathon and a half over the course of two days may not sound difficult, but the preparation has already been humbling. I’m stickin’ with it, though—my pedometer is permanently attached to my waist, my shoes are properly broken in, I’ve bought Smart Water in bulk, and I’m ready to tackle a 12-week training schedule that has me walking an average of 20-30 miles a week!

* Peyton Manning finally got his ring—woo hoo! While the ads were somewhat disappointing (which prompted me and my boyfriend to watch “Puppy Bowl III” during the breaks), it was beautiful to watch Rex Grossman pull the big chokety-choke.

* I attended a unique dinner party, hosted by Mr. Barzelay. Basically, each guest was asked to bring three “raw” ingredients. Once everyone convened, we brainstormed about recipes. Then, we got to cookin’! Some of the culinary highlights included grilled bacon-wrapped dates, butternut squash soup, crab and goat cheese stuffed mushrooms, grilled Hawaiian shrimp-and-vegetable skewers, and red peppers stuffed with lamb, mushrooms, goat cheese, and chives. Yum!

* I saw “Into the Woods” at the Signature Theatre. The new space is absolutely gorgeous (despite the fact that it is in Shirlington), but the show itself was so-so. I mean, there were some great vocal talents, don’t get me wrong. But the characters were nowhere near as endearing and funny as they were in the Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s version. The GGSS set was also far more creative.

It has certainly been an eventful couple of weeks. Shockingly, I found time in between all of the activity to think about this here blog. The most important thing I realized was that I cannot simply shut it down—it just means too much to me, as do the amazing people I’ve met on account of it.

I did decide to make a couple of key changes. First, I changed the title from “Till human voices wake us, and we drown” to “Drawn to the Rhythm.” I still adore J. Alfred Prufrock (and his creator, T.S. Eliot, of course), but I wanted to align the title of the blog with the URL (thus eliminating awkward responses to the happy hour question, “So, which blog do you write?”).

In addition to the convenience factor, the new title allows me to tie my writing into a common theme—the rhythm of life. Cheesy, perhaps, but it was the best way I could find to focus myself without trashing the old and starting something new. As you can see from my revised profile information, I will continue to share my experiences with you—the rhythm of my life—from the funny to the touching to the just plain ridiculous. But, in addition, at the end of each post I will give you information on how to tap into the rhythm of someone else’s life, whether it is with your time or your money or through some other means. That way, I can keep on amusing you with my DC adventures while simultaneously satisfying my desire to be a more philanthropically active individual.

So, there you have it. I hope the changes will be good ones, but I am not so naïve as to think that I have it all figured out at this point. Therefore, your feedback, as always, is appreciated and seriously considered.

I hope everyone had a great weekend--I'm so glad to be back in the blogosphere!

Drawn to...the Fisher House Foundation. From their website: "Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates 'comfort homes,' built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times--during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment." I was lucky enough to visit a Fisher House while I was in Florida, and I was immediately and profoundly affected. There are Fisher Houses at both Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval; the above website gives the names and phone numbers of the house managers, if you are interested in volunteering.

A change will do me good.

2007-01-18T15:26:00.000Z

Well, I did it--I registered for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. So, on May 5-6, 2007, I will walk a marathon and a half (and camp out overnight, which will be a first for me) in order to raise money and show my support for this monumentally important cause.

If you would like to donate, you can visit my personal page and have at it. I know that many of you are students or government employees or non-profit staff members, but even a small gift will help me reach my $2,000 goal (I have to raise a minimum of $1,800 to actually walk).

At the WaPo's blogger summit, we debated a lot about how to bring more readers to our blogs, how to make money with advertising, and how to further all of our various goals. What we didn't talk enough about, however, was the ability (and responsibility, some might say) of blogs and bloggers to really make a difference in our communities--and in the world. Instead of warring and spewing insults and posturing for fame and fortune, I choose now to blog for betterment--my own, and that of the people and places around me.

So, don't weep--this ol' blog isn't going anywhere. But I'm going to take a little hiatus, not only because I'm traveling to Florida for business next week, but also because I really want to think about how I can revamp my space in the blogosphere to make the absolute most of it.

Have a great one, and have no fear--I'll be back soon, better than ever!

Hodgepodge.

2007-01-17T18:35:00.000Z

* WARNING! FIRST PARAGRAPH CONTAINS "24" SPOILERS! *

Last night, after a delicious meal of eggplant parmesan, garlic bread, and steamed fresh spinach, I settled into my favorite corner of the couch for four solid hours of Bauer—Jack Bauer, that is. All I can say is, holy shit, this season is going to be good. Apparently, last season’s pain-infliction method-of-choice, the thigh shot, has been replaced by various injuries to the neck. I mean, damn, Jack, was The Silence of the Lambs the only movie aboard the slow boat to China? Anyway, R.I.P. to Agent Curtis Manning, who I thought might still be alive until I saw this. The jury is still out on most of the characters (except for Chloe—I will always love Chloe, now that I have fully realized her awesomeitude), and I really want to know what the Chinese did to Jack to make his hands look so uggo. Oh, and why in the HELL the first word out of his mouth was “Audrey.” Can’t wait till next Monday…

In case anyone is interested, the weekend jaunt to Savannah was really nice. For reasons that will be wholly uninteresting to you and anger inducing to me, we did not rendezvous with my boyfriend’s ex-wife. We did, however, have dinner with her parents, which was far less awkward than it could have been. Plus, the look on my man’s face when he was reunited with his dog—well, it made everything worthwhile, and then some. Other than that one meal, the weekend was just about my sweetheart and me. We had a delicious dinner at Il Pasticcio (complete with the best gimlet I’ve ever consumed), drinks and conversation at some colorful local watering holes, and a bunch of lovely strolls through the city in the wonderful 80-degree weather. Now, my boyfriend can start his semester with a relaxing trip under his belt, and I can embark on my upcoming travel with fond memories to accompany me.

Finally, in light of a number of factors, not the least of which is the general nastiness that has seemed to enfold the DC blogging “community” of late, I am considering changing the (nonexistent) focus of the site or perhaps even shutting it down completely. I don’t expect anyone to cry over either of those possibilities, but it’s something that I’ve been pondering. My lack of involvement in volunteer activities has been troubling me a great deal recently, and I think that I could use my blogging time to do something more productive and personally satisfying.* Or, even better, I could use the blog to further my service-related goals and maybe even get others interested and involved. After all, this blog has brought me some very good things, so it might be time to give something back.

No decisions yet, of course. But I’m going to be thinking long and hard about what and why I write—and it might behoove some folks to do the same.

* Like this, for which I think I'm going to register. Anyone want to join me?

A tip for DC Blogs Live users.

2007-01-16T13:20:00.000Z

Okay, kiddies. I know that you all want to blog about your favorite television shows (read: "24"), especially when a main character dies or the plot takes an unexpected twist or something equally interesting happens. I have no problem with this--I occasionally do it myself.

But, please remember that not everyone gets to watch a given program on its original air date/time.* And also note that the first sentence or two of each post (and the title, obvy) appear on the live feed of DC Blogs.

So, if you're going to write about a major TV surprise, please, please, PLEASE DO NOT DO IT IN THE VERY BEGINNING OF YOUR POST!!! That way, my day (and others' days, I imagine) won't be ruined by reading about what I was looking forward to watching after a long, hard day of work.

That is all. More on the trip to Savannah later...

* Just so you know, when I was perusing the live feed this morning, I specifically avoided blogs where I know that the writer is a "24" fan and/or that had "24"-related titles. I would take responsibility if I clicked on a link that was obviously going to lead me to a spoiler, but I feel like I should be able to scroll through DC Blogs without this happening. One girl's opinion.

Not a great day for blogging.

2007-01-12T19:48:00.000Z

Happy Friday, everyone.

I have a lot of stuff floating around in my head right now, but, unfortunately, most of it is a big fat bummer. So, I'm going to spare you my depressed musings and simply say this: please pray for the families of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, two young people who were brutally murdered in Knoxville (my pre-DC home) last weekend. If you want more information, you can find it here, but suffice it to say that no one deserves to spend their final moments in the kind of fear and agony that this beautiful couple did. I'm thinking a lot about how awful this must be for the families of the victims, but I'm also thinking about how our justice system better damn well work.

On a slightly more pleasant note, I have very little blogging time because I have to pack for my weekend in Savannah, Georgia.

"What will you be doing in Savannah, Betty Joan?" you might ask.

Well, dear readers, I will be strolling along River Street (and buying some beers and homemade sweets, most likely). I will be indulging in a pecan sticky bun at the Express Cafe. I will be treating my wonderful boyfriend to a romantic birthday dinner. And I will be meeting my wonderful boyfriend's dog. And ex-wife. And ex-in-laws.

Yup. That's what I said.

So, though I may be a little too pensive and sad to blog today, you can bet your sweet asses that I'll have a LOT to say when I return from this little jaunt. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's going to be contentious or unpleasant in any way. But how could a vacay like that NOT provide excellent material?

Have a great weekend, kiddies, and stay safe.

Summit-tastic recap.

2007-01-10T15:55:00.000Z

Sorry for the unintentional hiatus during the beginning of this week—work was (well, IS) a little nutty, not to mention the fact that Blogger sucks ass. Have no fear, though, as I am back with much to report.

I attended the Washington Post’s Blogger Summit last night, and it was truly an enlightening experience. Basically, the first segment was a panel discussion with WaPo editors and execs, the second segment was a lecture/Q&A session with a libel lawyer, and the finale was a “look what WaPo.com has planned” demo/feedback forum. Here’s some of what I gleaned from the evening:

* Any table that seats yours truly, Kassy, Circle V, and I-66 is surely the coolest one in the room. Add to that the presence of our new friends from Beyond the Mall and Young DC PR Pros, plus the fact that two other hip chicks were perched nearby, and you’ve got a veritable pantheon of awesomeitude. Or something.

* Some bloggers reeeeeeeally want to be famous. And to get jobs with The Washington Post. And to hog the microphone.

* Apparently, I am the only blogger (besides that geo-coding guy, of course) who isn’t worried about stalkers.

* Even though I am (ostensibly) a grown-up, the words “penetrate” and “erect” are still hilarious when I’m sitting next to I-66.

* Three-hour blogging summits should have some kind of alcohol. And probably wireless internet, since liveblogging would have been interesting.

* It is amazing to me how a good attorney can take a difficult legal principle (for example, defamation) and boil it down to its most salient features. I wish some of my law school professors had learned that trick—though I suppose it comes with years of actual legal practice, in which a frightening number of academics have never engaged.

* Unintelligent cynicism comes off as plain ol’ bitchiness.

Anyway, I feel like the folks over at WaPo.com have some good ideas, and I applaud them for their interest in and commitment to the local blogging scene. However, I would remind them that they’ve only scratched the surface, and they should continue to think outside the box and break new ground. For example, one of their demos was a “Local Blog Directory,” complete with search features and “highlight reels” (that focused on recent or particularly relevant posts). The ability to tailor a search is certainly useful, but a lot of the functionality is duplicative of what DCBlogs already does (and well, I might add).

I asked a question about where “personal” blogs (in other words, blogs without one consistent theme or topic) fit into the Post’s master plan. While I didn’t get a solid answer when I asked the question, a fellow blogger later in the evening actually suggested that some blogs shouldn’t be part of the WaPo.com structure (whatever it turns out to be). No lie, he really said something to the effect of “Not all blogs are important” or “Not all blogs matter.” I truly hope that the Post disagrees with that gentleman, or I’m going to cancel my subscription. There are scores of local blogs that defy categorization, and some of them are better than others. But they’re all important and they all matter because they contribute to our local blogging landscape and say fascinating things about the area and time in which we live. Sites like DCist and Metroblogging DC are great, but there’s a lot more out there than that, and it’s often very thoughtful and relevant.

* Descends from soapbox *

Anyway, a good time was had by all, and I appreciate the folks who put the event together. Now, on to more social blogging pursuits—January’s Happy Hour! :-)

Food, glorious food!

2007-01-05T16:15:00.000Z

Last night, I did a great thing for my health—I watched Super Size Me. Not only did it reaffirm why McDonald’s (and other fast food) should only be eaten as a once-in-a-blue-moon “treat” (if at all), but it reminded me that eating out—whether at a burger joint or an exclusive bistro—is hazardous to the most well intentioned health goals.

When you dine at a restaurant, you surrender control—over the ingredients, over the preparation methods, and over the portions (though, of course, you can deal with the latter by, you know, NOT inhaling every morsel on your plate). You also feel obligated to “get your money’s worth,” which often leads to overeating.

All of that said, eating out (in moderation, of course) is a fantastic experience, and one that can introduce you to new flavors and textures while expanding your cultural horizons. While I plan to cook at home more in 2007 (a habit I began in earnest in 2006, when I started having fresh produce delivered every week), I can’t help but look back on my top twelve dining experiences of the past year.

12) Merkado Kitchen (DC)—I really don’t like this restaurant. I find the food to be middle-of-the-road at best, and the service isn’t any better. However, I found a tiny gem in their tempura-fried chile relleno, which is stuffed with goat cheese, black beans, and jalapeno. Very tasty.

11) Morton’s (Jacksonville, FL)—Sometimes, you just need beef. Well, at least I do. Sadly, though, the overpriced steak was not the highlight of my meal. Instead, it was the Wellfleet oysters on the half shell that stole the show with their sweet and salty balance and crisp finish.

10) Georgia Brown’s (DC)—I visited GB’s twice in 2006, and much of what I tasted was mediocre. However, the sugar and spice pork chop with maple yams was moist, sweet, savory, and just plain delicious.

9) Indebleu (DC)—While I wasn’t thrilled with the meager Restaurant Week offerings, what little was available was done quite well. I particularly enjoyed the duck confit samosa appetizer and the cassoulet entrée (with chicken confit, boudin blanc, and navy beans).

8) The Wine Cellar (Jacksonville, FL)—My boss raved about this restaurant, and it generally lived up to his review. On my first visit, I had salmon with Vidalia onion risotto and a tomato-caper Zinfandel sauce, and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My second meal was not so memorable as far as the main course (I think I had some sort of fish), but I indulged in the Bananas Foster and was blown away.

7) Ruth’s Chris (DC)—Now THAT was a good steak. Everyone else got filets, but I went with the ribeye, and it did not disappoint. It was incredibly rich and tender and flavorful, which, shockingly, did not help me forget the fact that it was cooked in pounds and pounds of butter…

6) Acadiana (DC)—Two words: barbecued shrimp. Believe your server when he/she tells you that they are the house specialty! I’ve had them twice, and even though the shrimp tended towards being overcooked, I forgave the chef when I began sopping up the spicy sauce with the crusty bread. The beignets are pretty damn good, too.

5) Circle Bistro (DC)—During a pre-theater meal with my mother, I enjoyed my gnocchi with organic vegetables. But what really made our three-course meal stand out was mom’s appetizer, which was a pot roast-esque combination of tender beef, egg noodles, and slow-roasted vegetables. We both wished we’d ordered the entrée portion!

4) Kirin House (Lawrenceville, GA)—There is little better, in my opinion, than a reliable and affordable sushi bar. This one, which sits in a little shopping center down the street from my parents’ house, definitely fits the bill. The sushi chef prepared delicious nigiri and classic maki rolls, and he even whipped up some spur-of-the-moment specials after polling us about our likes and dislikes. If I could pick this place up and plant it in my neighborhood, I’d be the happiest girl alive.

3) Zengo (DC)—I know that many folks have been less-than-impressed with Zengo. When I went there, though, everything was impeccable. The service was the hands-down standout, but the XO-style edamame with Serrano ham and the Key lime flautas were winners as well.

2) O’Steen’s (St. Augustine, FL)—It’s just a hole in the wall off of A1A, but O’Steen’s serves up the best fried shrimp on the Atlantic coast. Add to that a bowl of their homemade Minorcan clam chowder, and you’ve got one helluva meal.

1) Vidalia (DC)—No year would be complete without at least one trip to this fine dining staple. It really is my favorite restaurant in the Metro area. Our visit during August Restaurant Week was absolutely sublime—from the fried green tomato appetizer to the Carolina mountain trout (with Vidalia onions, fingerling potatoes, and cherry tomatoes, in a pecan and brown butter emulsion) to the chevre cheesecake, I savored every bite. Add to that a thoughtful wine selection and respectful (but not stuffy) service, and you’ve got yourself quite a meal!

Lest you think all I did was gorge myself in restaurants, I also perfected some great cook-at-home recipes, including champagne risotto, oven roasted potatoes (my boyfriend's favorite), roasted chicken, turkey chili, butternut squash soup with sausage and wild rice, pecan bars, and, of course, my homemade Key lime pie.

So, what will 2007 hold in store for my inner food geek? My goals include more new ingredients, less meat and potatoes, and a more targeted approach to dining out. Sure, there will still be restaurants to review, and I will certainly return to a few favorite spots, but I hope that the positive reports from my kitchen will outnumber the eating-out fodder.

Here's to a heathful--and YUMMY--new year!

“Dirt”—Filthy Fun, or Just Plain Filthy?

2007-01-04T16:31:00.000Z

I reeeeeeally want to like “Dirt.” After all, it is brought to me by FX, the same network that gives me “The Shield” and “Rescue Me.” And it stars (and is produced by) Courteney Cox, my favorite “Friends” femme.

Unfortunately, I think that “Dirt” lives up to neither its hype nor its potential. It takes a salacious industry (that of Hollywood tabloid reporting), one that scores of Americans drool over daily, and makes it dull as…well, dirt.

Part of my problem with the series is the casting. Cox is lovely to look at, but, perhaps in an effort to shed her Monica Geller-ness, she plays the part of Lucy Spiller with more rigidity and iciness than is necessary or advisable. Sure, she has to be a cold-hearted bitch to run two successful gossip rags, but in order for audiences to tune in every week, she also has to be likable and human enough for folks to want to root for her. At the end of the episode, I didn’t hate Lucy (after all, she did have a hilarious line about homemade porn)—I just didn’t care about her. I think the latter is more problematic when trying to sell a television series.

The celebrities whose frailties and foibles fill the pages of “Drrt” and “Now” magazines fall into the same category—they’re pretty faces, and they occasionally say clever or amusing things, but they’re just not gripping. Not even Holt, the B-list has-been who manipulates his annoying (but more famous) girlfriend and her friends in order to beef up his image and marketability (though the character has potential, depending on where the next few episodes take him).

The only remotely likable personality is that of Don, a schizophrenic photog who barely functions but somehow manages to get the shots that no one else can. His humanity is achingly visible in some touching yet disturbing scenes with his cat, and his loyalty to Lucy is unwavering (and, to be fair, the scenes between the two of them were the only ones in which I felt even a remote connection with the frosty editor). While I found Don to be the most redeeming feature of the show, I can see how his psychotic antics might start to grate on my nerves. Hopefully, the writers will temper the character somewhat and develop him properly.

“Dirt” tackles an inherently interesting topic, but it falls short—why? In my estimation, part of the problem is that we already know too much about how the Hollywood gossip mills work (for example, we’re not surprised when nannies and assistants sell scandalous pictures of their famous employers). Much of the reason that “Nip/Tuck” was so successful was that there was still some intrigue surrounding the Beverly Hills cosmetic surgery industry (it premiered pre-“Dr. 90210,” remember), but we don’t have that mystery here.

“Dirt” takes itself far too seriously, and it’s hard to be entertained or challenged or provoked by such a sanctimonious bunch. I’ll give it another episode or two, but I won’t be surprised if I decide to wash my hands of the whole mess.

Thoughts?

* Once I say what I'm about to say, my credibility as a TV critic (if I ever had any, that is) will be totally shot. However...I am totally bummed that "The O.C." has been cancelled!!! No more Thursday nights with Benjamin McKenzie--waaaaah!

All play and no work = this past weekend!

2007-01-03T17:45:00.000Z

Wow, four-day weekends are awesome! Going back to work after a four-day weekend is somewhat less than awesome, but I shan’t complain too much, lest those of you who had to report to the office yesterday set out to lynch me.

Anyway, the weekend allowed for plenty of relaxation, but it was also chock full of activity. For example:

Saturday—I went to see Noises Off at the Arena Stage. I had seen neither the venue nor the play, and both were impressive. The acoustics of the theater were top-notch, and though the restrooms were inadequate and many audience members left something to be desired (which seems to be the case more and more often, regardless of the location), it was a superb experience overall. The show was absolutely hilarious—I’m talkin’ belly-laugh funny, people.

Sunday—My man and I celebrated New Year’s Eve by dining at Matchbox. We were loyal customers before, but now I think I want to buy stock in the place. They were offering a “No Package” package, which basically meant that the regular menu items and prices were in effect—but they also included a bottle of champagne, a dessert, and party favors for each table. So, we had the champagne, a round of drinks, six miniburgers, a large salad, an appetizer (a pepperoni and sausage roll), and the dessert (a strawberry shortcake with chocolate mouse—not what I would have chosen, but tasty nonetheless) for $60, tip included. The space was decorated very festively, and it was so nice to have a special night and not spend a fortune or have weak drinks spilled all over us. Well done, Matchbox!

Tuesday—Jason and I trekked down to Pentagon Row to go ice skating. We were quite the backwards couple, with me speeding along in hockey skates (I am my father’s daughter, after all) and he desperately clutching the rail in his figure skates. I will give him credit, though—before we departed, he managed to complete a whole lap around the rink without falling or holding onto the wall. But, alas, when he approached the exit—BAM! Ass over teakettle. Poor baby! I wish I had photographic evidence, but take my word—it was quite a sight to behold.

Tuesday was also excellent because I found the perfect pair of black pumps (though not at Nordstrom, and not at either of those prices), for which I have been searching for many moons. I wanted to wear them today, but my ankles are too sore from the Ice Capades. Oops!

I hope everyone had fun this weekend--now, back to work! I have lots to say this week. including a review of last night's "Dirt" premiere and my top ten 2006 DC dining experiences (better late than never), but unfortunately a boring conference call requires my immediate attention. Stay tuned!

New Year's Roundup.

2006-12-29T16:22:00.000Z

Wow, I can’t believe 2006 is about to wrap itself up. It’s been quite a year, so in the grand tradition of this here blog (read: since I did it last year, I’ll do it again this year), I’m going to run down the good and bad of the past twelve months.

Why 2006 rocked:

* I passed the bar exam: Yessirreebob, I finally became a licensed Maryland attorney. Even though all that really meant was bar association dues and trekking to Baltimore and Annapolis for various ethical and procedural requirements, it was a HUGE accomplishment, and it alone made 2006 a success. Next up--getting licensed in DC.

* I quit smoking: It took a lot of attempts and some strategic “cutting down,” but I finally managed to kick the nasty habit once and for all. The smoking ban will make my life even better in this regard, as will my boyfriend giving up the cancer sticks (which I hope will happen in 2007, but it’s up to him to put it on his resolution list).

* My migraines were minimal, and I didn’t have to undergo any skin biopsies: ‘Nuff said.

* I went on vacation: Ah, yes, seven beautiful days in the St. Augustine sun (well, actually, under a tarp in the St. Augustine sun—gotta keep those skin biopsies away, after all). I think I was drunk for six of those days, usually before lunchtime. Plus, I got to hang with my beloved fam and eat lots and lots of fried seafood. Here’s to 2007’s trip, baby!

* I got a raise and a bonus: Mo’ money, mo’ money! :-)

* I moved: I love my new apartment, the location, and all of the fabulous folks I’ve met in the neighborhood.

* I started eating better: After learning about Washington’s Green Grocer, I was able to incorporate lots of fresh fruits and vegetables into my diet. I also made a conscious effort to eliminate the needless take-out and fast food, and I was rewarded with a noticeable difference in how healthy I felt AND a smaller pant size.

* I made some significant financial strides: Most importantly, I rid myself of credit card debt and socked some cash away in my savings account. Down payment, here I come (in, like, ten years)!

* I celebrated my one-year anniversary with my hunny by taking the best trip ever: To Athens, Georgia, for the UGA vs. UT game! Even though the action on the field didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, it was a perfect weekend in every possible way, and I’ll never forget it.

Why 2006 sucked:

* My grandfather died: There’s nothing I can say to emphasize how hard my grandpa’s passing has been on me and my family. I can only hope that, in 2007 and beyond, the pain will ease and we can all move on with our lives.

* I moved: Yes, net-net, this was a positive thing. But with moving came fighting with our Bethesda landlord, breaking down in the U-Haul truck, wanting to blow up the Comcast headquarters, and learning to live with some rather difficult new neighbors.

* I was stuck on a rather miserable work project: To be fair, I did learn a lot. However, the personalities on the team just didn’t mesh well, and there were many painful assignments, awkward exchanges, and tense meetings. I did the best I could with what I was dealt, but I won’t be sad to return to my regularly scheduled professional responsibilities.

* I had surgery: Unfortunately, while my brain and skin were relatively healthy, my lady parts were not so agreeable. I had endless unpleasant tests, one VERY yucky surgical procedure, and some post-op mishaps that are so horrifying, I’ll have to cover them in their own post (now that a lawsuit is likely out of the picture).

* I missed my family and friends: Due to a lack of leave (which comes from both being a fairly new employee AND having to take the bar exam twice) AND the strains of working two jobs, I wasn’t able to travel and visit my loved ones as much as I would have liked. Very boo.

All in all, I'd say that I came out on the plus side in 2006--especially since I enjoyed the camaraderie of a fantastic family and many amazing friends.

That said, I still have a few goals (not resolutions, mind you) for 2007:

* Exercise more: My 2006 gym attendance was far better than 2005, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Ideally, I’d like to work out 3-4 times a week, including one yoga class, one Chisel class (read: torture session), one spinning class, and one free-workout (which usually includes the elliptical machine and some weights). If finances permit, I’d also like to have a few sessions with a personal trainer.

* Travel more: I’m already on a roll with this one, with trips to Savannah, Tampa/Orlando, New York (Long Island), and Atlanta planned for January and February. I also plan to visit my sister in San Francisco over the summer, to take my once-again-annual beach trip, and to enjoy at least one long weekend in a city I’ve never visited.

* Volunteer more: Unfortunately, the American Cancer Society has not been utilizing me, and they’ve left me pretty cold and unsatisfied. I still support the cause financially, but I need somewhere to donate my time that will actually put me to work and benefit from my skills. Maybe I can get involved with a political campaign—Edwards in ’08, anyone?

I hope everyone has a fun and safe New Year's Eve--I will be enjoying my four-day weekend (thanks, President Ford) by ringing in 2007 at Matchbox, sleeping in with my man and my cat, catching up on some pleasure reading, and maybe even ice skating down at Pentagon Row.

Take care--catch ya on the flipside!

Betty on Betty.

2006-12-28T20:48:00.000Z

Much is being said about President Gerald Ford, and that is as it should be. After all, his presidency—most specifically, his unconventional ascension to the post—was noteworthy. However, I’ve been thinking a lot about his widow, and not just because we share the same name (though, for the record, she’s a “short for Elizabeth” Betty and I’m a REAL Betty). Betty Ford was an important, courageous woman, and she forever changed the role of the First Lady of the United States.

Betty Ford was always willing and eager to speak her mind, which was a novel concept for a nation accustomed to First Ladies who were seen but not heard. She talked openly about sex (freely admitting during a televised White House tour that she and her husband—gasp!—shared the same bed) and drug use. She spoke out for women’s rights, supporting both legalized abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment. She was also a passionate advocate of the arts.

She suffered her share of heartache, but she always bounced back and used her experiences to help others. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently underwent a mastectomy, but she spoke candidly and truthfully about her plight; both the disease itself and its treatment, once topics that Americans had been reluctant to discuss, became more visible with Betty Ford as a spokesperson.

Nearly everyone knows of Betty Ford’s unfortunate addiction to alcohol and opiates, about which she was—true to form—open and honest. After her treatment and recovery, she established the Betty Ford Center which, combined with her forward and upfront conversations, led to an improvement in how Americans dealt with such matters as substance abuse and chemical dependency.

Even though her husband was the President of the United States, Betty Ford wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she believed in her heart. She, like her husband, was a healer—of herself, of other people, and of a nation. I wish her the best in dealing with this great loss, and I hope that she carries on both of their legacies as long as she remains on this earth.

Countdown to the countdown.

2006-12-26T14:47:00.000Z

First and foremost, I hope everyone had a lovely long weekend--mine was fantastic! It consisted of me and my sweetheart going on a date (to delicious Cafe St. Ex and Bar Pilar), watching our favorite Christmas movies (mine is Love Actually, and his is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), enjoying a couple of homecooked (by yours truly, naturally) meals, and digging into some Chinese take-out (a Jewish Christmas would not be complete without it).

With Hanukkah and Christmas 2006 in the history books, I suppose it's time to get excited about New Year's Eve and Day. New Year's Eve is certainly NOT my favorite holiday, and the only reason New Year's Day is any better is because it's a federally sanctioned day off. However, I shall try to embrace the spirit of starting over in 2007, starting with a few themed trivia questions. Good luck!

1) The Scottish tune "Auld Lang Syne" is a common song sang right after the stroke of midnight. What is the literal translation of the song's title?

2) True or False—New Year’s Day is oldest known holiday celebrated by mankind.

3) What is the most common New Year's resolution made by Americans?

4) Who officially established January 1st as the first day of the new year?

5) What is the most watched parade on New Year's Day?

6) Who is the 2007 grand marshal of the aforementioned parade?

7) The name January is derived from the Roman god Janus. What is he the god of?

8) What happens to a raisin when you drop it in a glass of champagne?

9) In what year was the ball first dropped at Times Square?

10) What New Year-related holiday falls on January 21?

PLEASE can I go home now?!?!

2006-12-22T18:25:00.000Z

Seriously. We ALWAYS get to leave early the Friday before Christmas, yet I have heard no word about this year's declaration. Most of the employees took leave today anyway, and those of us who don't have enough leave aren't actually getting any work done, so just throw us a bone, okay? Sheesh.

On an unrelated note, WTF is my mp3 player thinking? I keep it on shuffle to get maximum variety with minimum effort, but it has played Ben Folds' "The Luckiest" three mornings in a row. Yeah, it's a great song, and it reminds me how much I love my hunny and how lucky I am to have him in my life, but it's a little bit too slow for the 7 AM hour. How about we aim for something a tad more upbeat next week, hmm?

Oh, and even though I love my hunny and am so lucky to have him in my life, Benjamin McKenzie is HOTT. Observe:

I don't care how bad "The O.C." gets*--I'll keep watchin' this man candy for as long as FOX will let me. Delish, no?

Speaking of celebrities, happy belated birthday to Kiefer Sutherland, who turned 40 yesterday. You're a badass, Jack Bauer, and I can't wait to watch you save the day--again--starting in January.** Boop, beep, boop, beep!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone, and Merry Christmas to all the gentiles! ;-)

* To be fair, recent episodes have been looking up. Last night's was probably the worst one of the fourth season, and even that wasn't so bad.

** My hunny and I will be in Savannah during the 2-day, 4-hour season premiere. Would anyone be willing to tape/TiVo the episodes for us? We may be able to get back to the hotel for the first part (on Sunday, January 14), but we'll be on a plane for the second part (on Monday, January 15). Let me know!

If this doesn't say "Happy Sixth Night of Hanukkah," I don't know what does!

2006-12-20T20:37:00.000Z

Thanks to Cute Overload for the wonderful Wednesday pick-me-up. Too prosh!

Anyway, between responding to my last post's MANY angry commenters and finishing up a big project at work, things have been nutty for the past couple of days. I should be back tomorrow or Friday, though--whoopee!

Have a great one...

Addenda.

2006-12-18T20:35:00.000Z

A while back, I posted some advice for restaurant patrons. After working two eight-hour brunch shifts in a row this weekend, I have a couple of items to add to my running list. Let's call this installment, "How NOT to encourage your server to 'accidentally' spill bleach into your vegetable soup."

* Do not, under any circumstances, sit at a dirty table. Just don't fucking do it.

Now, I understand that most restaurants have hostesses to help control the flow of customers. I, however, happen to work at a non-hostess establishment, so it's every man for himself when it comes to seating. I get that you're hungry, and I get that you don't want anyone to snag the table you've rightfully claimed as your own. But dammit, it's just plain nasty to settle down with someone else's nappy napkins and lipstick-stained glasses right in front of you. Just give me a few minutes and I'll clean that shit up for you; if you're really anxious about table-theft, you can stand a few feet away and subtly trip anyone who dares try to thwart your dining plans.

Sanitary concerns aside, it's super-duper degrading for you to sit smugly at your table while I mop up pancake syrup and baby drool.

* Do not bother your server while he/she is at the computer.

If you forgot to tell me about a deathly allergy, I might excuse you from this rule. But, generally speaking, the time I spend in front of the Micros screen is my happy time--I'm impeccably pacing your meal, I'm organizing my thoughts, and I'm figuring out how to serve you and your fellow customers more efficiently and pleasantly. I'm also communicating with my co-workers, trying to make change, and, if you're an extreme pain in the ass, making funny faces while you can't see me. When you leave your table to harrass me about a lemon for your water or the fact that you would prefer your dressing on the side, you are breaking my concentration and yanking me out of my zone. You stay at your table, I'll visit often to check on you and bring you things, and we'll have a copacetic, non-homicidal relationship. Deal?

Next in the series: why "the chef has made it that way for me before" sounds frighteningly like nails on a chalkboard. Ta! :-)

De-mystifying the Festival of Lights.

2006-12-15T15:40:00.000Z

First, to my readers who are M.O.T., I want to wish you a happy Hanukkah! Enjoy all of the gifts and grub (especially the grub...mmmm, latkes).

For all of the goyim out there, I thought I'd provide some educational information about the Festival of Lights. However, I'm probably not intellectually qualified to teach anyone anything, especially about Judaism. So, Todd Levin is going to clear up any misconceptions you may have about Hanukkah and all of its joys (the article can also be found on Mr. Levin's blog, along with some other very hilarious stuff). Enjoy!

HOW TO DISPEL THE MYTHS OF HANUKKAH.

The holidays are upon us! Like most Catholics, I am looking forward to Christmas with the limb-twitching anticipation of a small child. Unlike most Catholics, I am Jewish. That means I won’t be celebrating Christmas. Instead, I’ll be celebrating a less “mainstream,” but nonetheless magically mysterious holiday called “Hanukkah.”

Like it or not, there exists a great many misconceptions about the holiday Burl Ives once called “Christmas, minus joy.” As a service to non-Jews, I would like to answer some of the more common questions surrounding the great festival of lights. I hope this will serve as an invaluable reference guide to those wishing to better understand their dentists or moneylenders.

QUESTION #1: HOW DO YOU SPELL IT?
This question reminds me of a great trick I used to play in summer camp: I would approach the smartest kid in camp and say, “I’ve got a spelling challenge for you!” Then, once a crowd gathered, I would say, “Chrysanthemum is a tricky word. Well, I’ll bet you can’t spell it.”
I’d let him give it his best shot, take a dramatic pause, and say, “Ooh, I’m so sorry. The correct spelling is ‘I-T’. It. If you’d listened to my challenge carefully, you would have known I said, “I’ll bet you can’t spell ‘it’.” Then snatch the “World’s Smartest Camper” sash from him, place it around you, and run around in a circle shouting, “I AM SMARTER THAN MOSES!!”

What does this have to do with Hanukkah? How about everything? You see, there is no single correct spelling of the holiday. That’s one of its many mystical qualities. “Hanukkah” is perfectly acceptable when addressing gift cards. Alternately, any of the following spellings are also acceptable:

Chanukkah
Hannukah
Hachachanukkah
Chakakhanukkah
Cockblockanukkah
Count-Choculanukkah
Star Trek II: Wrath of Khanukkah
Fake Christmas

QUESTION #2: WHAT DO THE HOLIDAY’S MANY SYMBOLS REPRESENT?
Hanukkah, like many Jewish holidays, is ripe with symbols. These symbols are inextricably bound to a rich Jewish history. Unfortunately, I don’t know any of it because I spent most of my time in Sunday school drawing pictures of the Incredible Hulk and Garfield. However, since even my patchwork knowledge of Jewish history far surpasses the information you non-Jews have gleaned from watching Friars’ Club roasts, I will do my best to illuminate your dark ignorance about the symbols of the Jewish faith.

The Menorah: This is the most commonly known symbol of Hanukkah. A menorah looks a bit like one of the tasteful candelabras Liberace kept perched atop his piano during intimate performances. Liberace was not Jewish. I cannot stress that enough.

There were 12 tribes in ancient Israel, six on the National team and another six on the American team. The menorah holds nine candles, with each flame representing one of the nine tribes that anyone cared about. Sincere apologies to the tribes of Levi, Dan and Expos. Maybe you should have worked harder on your bullpens.

The Dreidel: The dreidel symbolizes the Jewish people’s love of gambling. Dreidels have four sides, with each face marked by a Hebrew character. Children spin the dreidel and pray that it lands on the side that symbolizes “take everyone’s pennies and, as you slide them all to your pile, laugh maniacally to rub it in.”

The Chalice of Immortality: In my family, we would traditionally bring this out on the first night of Hanukkah. My father would recite a prayer as we passed the chalice around, taking turns drinking the blood of Christians from it. Every Jewish family I know has one of these but for some reason they are not as commonly associated with Hanukkah as the menorah or those chocolate coins, which, if I’m not mistaken, also contain the blood of Christians. For confirmation on that last part, I’d suggest consulting a rabbi or chocolatier.

QUESTION #3: WHY IS HANUKKAH CELEBRATED OVER EIGHT DAYS?
This question finds its answer in the Old Testament. If you do not have a copy handy, you can also consult Stan Lee’s book, How To Draw Comics the Old Testament Way. The Maccabees, who were later known as The Anheuser-Busch Maccabees, were everyone’s favorite tribe and were charged with protecting the temple. According to the Old Testament, they fucked up. The temple was destroyed by trolls, and the Maccabees were left in the rubble. One of the Maccabees had the idea that they should re-build the temple before God showed up, or they would all get in huge trouble. It was decided that the work required to erect a temple—even a lousy one—was nothing compared to the guilt they would feel when they saw God’s disappointed face, so they got to work.

There was only enough lamp oil to light them for a single day, but by some miracle that oil lasted a full eight days. That still wasn’t enough time to build a whole temple and God smote the Maccabees upon his return, but you have to admit that eight days is still nothing to sneeze at. Some say the nine candleholders represent each of the eight days the lamp oil stayed lit, and the ninth candle represents the day God killed all the Maccabees and arranged their slaughtered bodies to spell out the words “HAPPY HANUKKAH (OR CHANUKKAH – WHATEVER YOU LIKE).”

QUESTION #4: DO JEWISH PEOPLE REALLY JUST WISH THEY CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS?
No, but Jewish people do wish they celebrated Easter instead of Passover. Consider the contrast between chocolate bunnies and unsalted matzo, and try to convince an eight-year-old child that he’s one of the chosen people.

QUESTION #5: DO YOU REALLY GET GIFTS FOR EIGHT DAYS IN A ROW? IF SO, THAT KICKS CHRISTMAS’ ASS.
Yes and no. Let me explain. Getting gifts for eight days in a row may sound fantastic but try to imagine how you’d feel staring at a pile of gifts, opening one, and discovering it contains only the left partner of a pair of slippers. Add to that the following night’s anxiety of trying to avoid opening what you know will be nothing but the other slipper.

This prolonged cycle of stress and disappointment may be the single most Jewish tradition of them all.

QUESTION #6: SO, LET ME REITERATE MY PREVIOUS QUESTION. DO JEWISH PEOPLE REALLY JUST WISH THEY CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS?
*Sigh.* Yes. (sound of pistol being cocked.)

A Billy Joel State of Mind.

2006-12-13T16:43:00.000Z

Last night, I went to see Movin’ Out at the National Theatre. It was my second viewing of the Billy Joel “musical” (in quotations because it’s really more like a concert with a dance accompaniment), but I was still quite enthralled with the production.

Say what you will about Mister “Piano Man,” but there’s no denying that he’s a gifted songwriter. And while the plot is certainly NOT the highlight of the show, Joel’s songs are extremely relevant and effective in conveying the tumultuous nature of the times (in this case, pre- and post-Vietnam War).

Take, for example, “Goodnight Saigon”:

We met as soul mates on Parris Island
We left as inmates from an asylum
And we were sharp, as sharp as knives
And we were so gung ho to lay down our lives

We came in spastic like tameless horses
We left in plastic as numbered corpses
And we learned fast to travel light
Our arms were heavy but our bellies were tight

We had no home front, we had no soft soap
They sent us Playboy, they gave us Bob Hope
We dug in deep and shot on sight
And prayed to Jesus Christ with all of our might

We had no cameras to shoot the landscape
We passed the hash pipe and played our Doors tapes
And it was dark, so dark at night
And we held on to each other
Like brother to brother
We promised our mothers we'd write

And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together

Remember Charlie, remember Baker
They left their childhood on every acre
And who was wrong? And who was right?
It didn't matter in the thick of the fight

We held the day in the palm of our hand
They ruled the night, and the night seemed to last as long as
Six weeks on Parris Island
We held the coastline, they held the highlands
And they were sharp, as sharp as knives
They heard the hum of our motors
They counted the rotors
And waited for us to arrive

And we would all go down together
We said we'd all go down together
Yes we would all go down together

This song has always moved me, and it’s especially powerful when accompanied by Twyla Tharp’s explosive yet sensitive choreography. But what’s amazing is that, even though it was written specifically to address the Vietnam War, it is still fitting today. I mean, change “Saigon” to “Baghdad,” and I doubt that many present-day soldiers would disagree with the lyrical themes.

Sadly, songs about war will always be germane (until we declare world peace, that is, which seems a farcical concept at best). But many of Billy Joel’s songs—and not just the politically-fueled ones—remain applicable decades after he penned them. There are still plenty of struggles between rich and poor like the one in “Uptown Girl.” Love songs like “She’s Got a Way” and “Just the Way You Are” still convey the simple yet heartfelt emotions that we’ve all felt. And the plight of the working class in Long Island is still very similar to that described in “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” and “The Downeaster Alexa.”

For me, that is what makes a great musician—timelessness. There are certain voices, certain songs, certain performances that will always stick out in our collective memory. Many artists come and go, but the true classics are the ones that define—and transcend—generations.

Billy Joel is just one of my favorite classics—who are yours?

Reading is fundamental.

2006-12-12T19:36:00.000Z

I’ve been very frustrated with myself lately—I cannot seem to finish a book. Before I started law school, I was a voracious reader. In addition to my required, English-major texts, I usually finished at least one “pleasure book” each month. Now, I’ve been plodding through Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien for nearly six months (and not because it’s a bad book—quite the opposite is true), and the Primo Levi biography that I bought two years ago is still serving (very effectively) as a doorstop.

There are many more books that I’d like to read, so in honor of my pre-New Year’s resolution to get crackin’ on that, and in honor of the many, many, MANY books I actually have managed to finish in the past, I present to you a literary meme that I got from my dear friend Chai (who read two books on her recent flight to India, so she’s currently my hero).

1) One book that changed your life?

I’d have to go with either Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man or Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. They represent radically different themes and styles, but they are both executed so artfully that they’ve resonated with me for years. I read them both at about the same time (in AP English my senior year of high school), and they helped propel me to study literature in college.

2) One book you have read more than once?

Sooooooo many choices, since I love to re-read. I’ve probably read Farenheit 451 more times than any other book, as it seemed to appear on every reading list from 6th grade on. Not that I minded—I think it’s one of the greatest books ever written.

3) One book you would want on a desert island?

Probably Memoirs of a Geisha. I only wish they hadn’t made a movie out of this one—it really didn’t do the book any justice. I might also consider bringing Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, but the irony might just be too much.

4) One book that made you cry?

A Farewell to Arms. I know, I know, Hemingway was an arrogant, misogynistic bastard. But I adore his simple, no-nonsense prose, and I think he wrote a damn fine love story here.

5) One book that made you laugh?

Burroughs’ Naked Lunch. And anything by Kurt Vonnegut.

6) One book you wish had been written?

Hmmm. Not sure I understand the question. I wish I had written a book, but I suppose there’s always still time for that, right?

7) One book you wish had never been written?

Lord of the Flies, without question. Words cannot express how much I loathe that book. Unfortunately, it was on almost as many reading lists as was Farenheit 451. I would also be satisfied if William Faulker had never written a word.

8) One book you are reading currently?

Going After Cacciato, as previously mentioned. I really enjoyed The Things They Carried, so when a colleague suggested that I read O’Brien’s earlier work, I jumped right in.

9) One book you have been meaning to read?

The new James Dean biography, written by his former roommate and sometimes-lover. I’ve read LOTS of books about the young star, but this one should be especially interesting, since the author has kept mum for so many years. Then there’s always that Primo Levi monstrosity...

Your thoughts?

Lovin' on a Monday.

2006-12-11T16:41:00.000Z

Things I'm diggin' right now:

-- The fact that my mp3 player is not, in fact, in need of replacement
-- Winning
-- The hot red pants I got at Express (and the fact that I got $25 off)
-- Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong"
-- The fact that my first bonus ever may appear on this Friday's paycheck
-- The Kenneth Cole boots (in black and brown, claro) that I got on sale at Macy's
-- My sushi-and-a-show outing tomorrow night with one of my favorite gal pals*
-- Clinique skincare
-- People who are NOT kissing Senator Obama's ass**
-- "Christmas Crack" (otherwise known as peppermint bark)
-- A slow week at work
-- Coffee--in large quantities
-- The fact that 2007 is three weeks away (which means the enactment of the DC smoking ban AND the end of a very tedious project at the office)

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

* This used to read "my sushi-and-a-show girl-date," but too many people read it as "sushi-and-a-showgirl date." As of now, none of our plans involve a showgirl. I will let you know if that changes.

** Please do not misunderstand--I think the Senator from Illinois is a swell guy (at least, he seems so from my admittedly limited vantage point). However, it is December of 2006, and the man has only spent one full term in Congress, and I'm already tired of hearing about his potential presidential aspirations. Let's see what he accomplishes in his sophomore stint on the Hill before we jump on the "Barack Bandwagon" and assume that he will be the next Commander in Chief. Sheesh.

A giving mood.

2006-12-08T14:06:00.000Z

The holiday season is rife with opportunities to give to those less fortunate, or to support an important cause. While I believe that we should strive to be generous year-round, I'm a take-what-you-can-get kind of gal, so I'll give props to anyone who wants to do their part this winter to make the world a better place.

For starters, you could attend tonight's All-Holiday Blog Celebration at Science Club. Buy a raffle ticket for $5 and support Manna, an organization that focuses on renovating/building affordable homes, educating first-time homebuyers for success, and training them to become community leaders.

If you're not quite ready to jump into a blogger happy hour, no worries--you don't even have to turn away from your computer screen to participate in Light to Unite. Bristol-Meyers Squibb is donating a dollar to AIDS every time someone goes to their website and moves the match to the candle to light it.

For the more politically active (and financially inactive), give Congressman Joe Barton a call and tell him to stop playing political games with the Ryan White CARE Act (more information about the Act can be found here). This legislation, which supports primary and home health care, case management, substance abuse treatment and mental health services, nutritional and housing services, and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, must be reauthorized, and soon.

These are just a few of the many ways you can show your generosity--feel free to share others in the comments or on your own blog. Whether you donate your money or your time, whether you give a little or a lot, you--we--can really make a statement about what holiday spirit truly means.

Happy Friday!

Today is a Peppermint Mocha kind of day.

2006-12-06T19:03:00.000Z

And not just because I just drank one (yummy)!

I had lunch with this fabulous lady, I'm having dinner with three incredible gal pals, my pub quiz team won $50 off last night's bar tab, I got a solid eight hours of sleep, and work today has been relatively drama-free.

I love it when things are going my way. However, good times don't necessarily lend themselves to the best blogging fodder.

So, here's to riding the wave of positivity for as long as possible--and to at least getting a good story out of it when I inevitably crash and burn. :-)

Back tomorrow...

Death to the BCS.

2006-12-04T15:57:00.000Z

I may have to forfeit my GRITS (Girl Raised In The South) card for saying this, but college football is really starting to piss me off.

I mean, come on--Ohio State versus Florida in the National Championship game? Seriously?

There are mountains of angry editorials about yesterday's BCS announcements (two of my personal favorites can be found here and here), but you don't have to be a paid sports journalist to understand why the current system sucks a big fat one.

My disdain for the Florida Gators is fairly well-publicized. However, when it comes to the post-season, I'll root for a rival team any day of the week and twice on Sunday--IF the team actually deserves its bowl placement. After all, I was crushed when the 2004 Auburn Tigers--the team I hate more than any other in the NCAA--were snubbed from the national title hunt. They were undefeated, and they had strength of schedule in their corner, but yet they didn't get a chance to vie for the championship. It was wrong then, just like it's wrong now for Michigan to be left out of the fight.

You could argue that Florida has strength of schedule, and I would agree--I've preached many a time about the stoutness of the SEC and its many storied teams and traditions. However, strength of schedule is only one factor in the national championship decision. Florida's only loss was doled out by a fairly lackluster Auburn squad (I mean, they lost 37-15 to Georgia, for goodness sake), and the Gators didn't exactly win handily over Tennessee, Vanderbilt, or South Carolina. Michigan's only loss came against the number-one-ranked, undefeated, national championship favorite, and it was only a three-point game. Hello? Dr. Obvious?

Don't even get me started on Urban Meyer's blatant campaigning or certain coaches' abstention from voting. The fact is, Ohio State is the number one team in the country, Michigan is the number two team in the country, the National Championship game is supposed to pit number one against number two, so, thus, ergo, Ohio State should be playing Michigan in the National Championship game. Florida should be playing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, end of story.

It will be somewhat cathartic to watch Chris Leak (cough, big weepy vagina, cough cough) get pounded by the Ohio State defense on January 8, but I'll still have to put up with four hours of that annoying Gator chop. Fuck you, BCS pollsters.

Oh, well--at least Georgia got a bid to the Chick-fil-a bowl. Go Dawgs!

Grrrrrrr.

2006-12-01T15:44:00.000Z

Something happened to me yesterday that has never happened before: I was literally too angry to blog.

I've put off blogging for many reasons--busy day at work, lack of internet access, laziness, travel plans, the usual stuff--but NEVER because I was so incredibly livid that I couldn't see straight.

I'm just not an angry person by nature. Sure, I get frustrated and upset on occasion, but I am very rarely just plain pissed the fuck off. Yesterday, I was all of the above.

I've decided not to post about the specifics, as the situation may necessitate a lawsuit, but suffice it to say that last night's happy hour was incredibly timely for me. It was a blast, and after such a taxing day, it felt wonderful to be in the company of friends, both human (Roosh, V, Velvet, Kassy, Martin, and Kathryn, for example) and not-so-human (ah, Grey Goose, how I love thee). Thanks to Roosh and V for hosting!

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend--if you couldn't make it last night, I hope to see you next Friday!

Oh, and if anyone knows a good medical malpractice/negligence lawyer in DC, feel free to pass that info along.

Thanks to my gal in Cali!

2006-11-29T15:25:00.000Z

I’m looking at a fairly hectic day today, so a meme is what you’re gonna get, at least for the moment. This one is courtesy of one of my fave bloggers, Roonie—who I hope I get to meet sometime soon!

Three things that scare me: bees, fire, religious fanatics.
Three people who make me laugh: Jason, Velvet, myself.
Three things I love: my cat, afternoon naps, color-coordination.
Three things I hate: olives, hypocrisy, the word “irregardless.”
Three things I don't understand: math, closed-mindedness, my boss.
Three things on my desk: photos of my family, giant water bottle, a banana.
Three things I'm doing right now: procrastinating (obvy), looking forward to the month of December, making a grocery list in my head.
Three things I want to do before I die: go to culinary school, visit South America, learn that someone has found the cure for cancer.
Three things I can do: bake a mean Key lime pie, sing karaoke, make a difference.
Three things I can't do: whistle, braid my own hair, sew.
Three things you should listen to: your mother, music that makes you want to sing along, advice (when you ask for it, that is).
Three things you should never listen to: street preachers, the word “can’t,” anyone who puts you down.
Three things I'd like to learn: to read Hebrew, to take better photographs, to be more flexible.
Three favorite foods: pizza, Chick-fil-a, my dad’s fried shrimp.
Three beverages I drink regularly: Diet Coke, coffee, water.
Three TV shows I watched as a kid: Fraggle Rock, The Cosby Show, Reading Rainbow.

To the cutest couple ever.

2006-11-28T21:32:00.000Z

With all of the recent craziness, it might be easy to forget--like I almost did--that today is the 31st wedding anniversary of a fantastic couple. That's right--on November 28, 1975, my adorable parents tied the knot. Here are some of my favorite shots of the happy couple (ah, if only I could have gotten my hands on their oh-so-70s nuptial photos):

Happy Anniversary, you crazy kids! You are incredible parents and even more incredible people, and you never cease to amaze me with your resilience, supportiveness, sense of humor, and love for each other. If anyone out there wants a lesson in what marriage is supposed to be, go hang out with these folks--you'll get it right away.

I love you very much, and I hope you enjoy your special day!

The Post-Thanksgiving, Five-Pounds-Heavier Edition

2006-11-27T17:00:00.000Z

Well, I’m back from my Thanksgiving voyage to Atlanta, and I’m not too much worse for the wear. Yes, I will have to spend a little extra time at the gym this week, but I should be back to the old routine in no time.

The trip was, if you can pardon the contradiction, simultaneously eventful and uneventful. It was eventful because we did quite a lot, but it was uneventful because some of the expected headaches (mostly involving travel) were avoided altogether. Here’s the recap:

Tuesday: Got to airport at 7 PM to find a practically empty security checkpoint (so empty, in fact, that they thoroughly searched our bags—stupid liquid restrictions). Left DC on time and arrived in Atlanta early—gasp! Received baggage incredibly quickly and had a congestion-free drive to the ‘burbs.

Wednesday: Woke up at 6 AM to accompany mom to the new Whole Foods, which opened at 7 AM and was expected to be a pre-Turkey Day madhouse. Arrived to find it eerily quiet. Marveled in the suburban goodness, then exclaimed, “What, are people not fucking EATING for Thanksgiving this year?” Left the store pacified with beer (Blue Moon and Sweetwater IPA, yummy), oyster stuffing, and orzo salad. Bought new digital camera. Took nap. Helped my dad make his famous homemade clam chowder, the recipe for which he FINALLY let me write down and take home.

Thursday: Woke up at 7 AM to accompany my mom to the Georgia Aquarium. Acted like a five-year-old while gawking at whale sharks, penguins, and beluga whales. Enjoyed the animated musical 4-D movie WAY too much. Checked out the ballroom at family’s request, just in case weddings have to be booked four years in advance (they don’t like my city hall idea, imagine that). Took nap. Pigged out on prime rib, roasted potatoes, green beans, sautéed mushrooms, stuffing, and chocolate pecan pie. Watched “Grey’s Anatomy.” Entered food coma.

Friday: Slept in, having decided to forego Black Friday retail madness. Ate many bagels and donuts. Drove to my grandfather’s apartment to pack up some of his things. Brought home ichibana (Japanese flower-display thingy), a couple of framed family photos, and a very cool Dali etching of Cervantes. Took nap. Ate lots of leftovers. Entered food coma.

Saturday: Slept in. Went to outdoor mall to engage in retail therapy with mom. Returned with bath products and a new sparkly sweater. Took nap. Watched Georgia beat Georgia Tech. Smiled a lot. Went out for massive sushi dinner. Entered food coma (hmm, I’m sensing a theme here).

Sunday: Arrived at Atlanta airport at 11:30 AM. Made it through check-in and security by 11:50 AM—gasp! Sat at gate. Took nap on plane. Arrived in DC basically on time—gasp! Waited on sis, whose plane definitely did not arrive on time. FINALLY got home to waiting boyfriend and cat.

I hope everyone had a great holiday, however you decided to spend it! Hopefully, I'll be back to regular posting tomorrow.

* Don’t forget, there are a couple of nifty upcoming blogger events (read: excuses to drink)!

"Music melts all the separate parts of our bodies together." ~Anais Nin

2006-11-21T18:46:00.000Z

So, TIME Magazine recently published a list of the top 100 albums of all time. I love lists like this, as they are great conversation topics—and, not surprisingly, great blog topics!

First, here are some of my favorite selections from TIME’s collection of superlatives. I definitely think that these deserved inclusion:

Outkast, “Stankonia”—While I almost prefer “ATLiens” just because of the good times I associate with some of the tracks, there’s no argument in my mind that “Stankonia” is the superior album. The rapping is cleaner and smarter, and the mixing of genres is really innovative.

Madonna, “Like a Prayer”—Come on, what girl who grew up in the 80s DIDN’T adore this album? The video for the title track combined social commentary, a melodramatic mini-movie, and Madonna’s vocals at their very best. “Cherish” is another great song (and great video).

Miles Davis, “Kind of Blue”—A classic, plain and simple. “All Blues” is one of my favorite songs ever. If you’re not a jazz fan, buy this album and you will be.

Michael Jackson, “Thriller”—Ah, Jacko before he was Wacko! I’m so glad I remember first-hand the good ol' MJ days. I am not glad, however, that this album is second in U.S. sales to the frickin’ Eagles. I mean, how can Don Henley beat out “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and the cheesy-yet-awesome “The Girl is Mine”?

Dolly Parton, “Coat of Many Colors”—Dolly Parton says the title track is her favorite of all the songs she’s written, but I actually prefer “Traveling Man.” Either way, the whole album is really good.

Stevie Wonder, “Talking Book”—Another classic, I’d say. I actually like this one better than “Songs in the Key of Life,” mostly because “Superstition” is one of my favorite songs of all time. Stevie also won a Grammy for “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” so not too shabby, I’d say.

Simon and Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”—It’s really too bad that Paul and Art weren’t friends anymore when this album was released, because it is soooooooo good. There is not one song on it that I don’t love dearly. If I had to pick a favorite, though, it would probably be “The Only Living Boy in New York” or “So Long, Frank Llloyd Wright.”

Johnny Cash, “Live At Folsom Prison”—Anyone who doesn’t know all the words to “Folsom Prison Blues” can’t truly call himself/herself a country fan. However, my real favorite on this album is “Long Black Veil.” It’s a great story song, and the energy in the prison gives it a really interesting feel.

Aretha Franklin, “I Never Loved a Man the Way That I Love You”—The title track is one of this diva’s most powerful vocal performances. Between that and “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” you might actually forget that “Respect” is the lead-in song on the album.

Now, here are a few albums that I’m disappointed didn’t make the cut:

James Taylor, “Sweet Baby James”--Some people think this album is cheesy, but I think it's raw, emotional, and honest.

Radiohead, “The Bends”--Yeah, yeah, "OK Computer" and "Kid A" were on the list, and they are incredible albums. But I think "Fake Plastic Trees" alone makes "The Bends" a must-listen.

Steely Dan, “Aja”--Love it, love it, LOVE IT! I remember jamming out to "Black Cow" and the title track in the car with my daddy.

Green Day, “Dookie”--A revolutionary album, in my opinion.

R.E.M., “Automatic for the People”--Again, some of R.E.M.'s other albums were included, but I can't believe they overlooked this 1992 gem. "Nightswimming" and "Everybody Hurts" make this one unforgettable for me.

Lauryn Hill, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill”--As much as I sometime question Ms. Hill's personal politics, her talent cannot be denied. Between the vocals and the songwriting, I think her first solo attempt was a big success.

Finally, some of my favorite artists shockingly didn’t make the list at all--for example, Ray Charles, Aerosmith, Beck, Violent Femmes, Billy Joel, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So, what's your take? What do you like/dislike about the list?

* If you're interested, there's a good top 500 album list compiled by Rolling Stone Magazine, and it can be found here.

Thanksgiving Week--Dave Barry's Take on Turkey Day

2006-11-20T16:05:00.000Z

While I summon up my thoughts about Thanksgiving 2006, I'm going to let my good friend (I wish) Dave Barry carry the load for today...

We'd Rather Eat Turkey

Thanksgiving is that very special holiday when we take a break from our hectic everyday lives to spend quality time with our loved ones, rediscovering all the reasons why we don't actually live with them.

But Thanksgiving is also a spiritual time of quiet reflection -- a time when we pause to remember, as generations have remembered before us, that an improperly cooked turkey is--in the words of the U.S. Department of Agriculture--"a ticking Meat Bomb of Death.''

Yes, it is a tragic but statistical fact that every Thanksgiving, undercooked turkeys claim the lives of an estimated 53 billion Americans (source: Dan Rather). Sometimes the cause is deadly bacteria; sometimes--in cases of extreme undercooking--the turkey actually springs up from the carving platter and pecks the would-be carver to death.

The only way to be sure you've killed all the bacteria in your turkey is to cook it until a meat thermometer inserted into the breast melts, indicating that the turkey has attained the same internal temperature as the sun. ''Basically,'' advises the Surgeon General, ''you want to be serving your family a 16-pound charcoal briquette.'' Even then you should keep a flamethrower handy.

Speaking of which: The ''hot'' new Thanksgiving culinary trend is to cook turkeys in big deep-fat fryers, which are hugely popular because they give guys an excuse to spend Thanksgiving outside drinking beer and messing around with a device that could potentially destroy an entire neighborhood. Now that guys have decided to become seriously involved in Thanksgiving food preparation, it's only a matter of time before they come up with a recipe for mashed potatoes that involves a grenade launcher.

Of course, not everybody is comfortable with the idea of eating turkeys, which are, let's face it, living organisms, like dogs, or celery. You may wonder: Is there a more humanitarian option that you can serve for Thanksgiving dinner? There certainly is: It's tofu, a semi-foodlike substance secreted by soybeans as a defense mechanism. Tofu can be used as a high-protein meat substitute, as well as a denture adhesive or tile grout. In its natural state, tofu is tasteless and odorless, but if you form it into a turkey-shaped lump, season it well, add gravy and bake it for two hours in a shallow pan at 350 degrees, you can also use it for minor driveway repairs.

Of course no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without the pumpkin pie. Here's an easy recipe for this delicious traditional dessert:

1. Using a dangerous knife, cut the top off a large pumpkin.
2. Inside you will find a mess of stringy, stanky, slimy pumpkin innards. Scoop these out and discard them.
3. Now discard the rest of the pumpkin, because the simple truth, obvious to anybody with half a brain, is that NO PART of the pumpkin looks, smells or tastes ANYTHING like so-called ''pumpkin'' pie. This is why nobody actually makes ''pumpkin'' pie; everybody buys it at the supermarket. The question is: What does the supermarket put in there? The Food and Drug Administration is investigating this, and according to one informed source (Dan Rather), "they think it's tofu.''

But enough about food. Thanksgiving is not merely a time of eating until we are big fat bloated carbohydrate balloons lying motionless on the sofa watching the Detroit Lions while actual gravy oozes from our pores. Thanksgiving is also a time of giving thanks--as the Pilgrims did so many centuries ago--for the fact that the malls are open on Friday. Otherwise we'd have to spend another day cooped up with our loved ones, not to mention toxic levels of leftovers, and the number of domestic drumstick assaults would be even higher than it is.

But in all seriousness, I want to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. I personally am very thankful that I have readers like you who have terrific senses of humor and thus recognize that I am just ''kidding around,'' especially if you are in the turkey, deep-fat fryer, tofu or pumpkin-pie industries. Also, even though I have ''poked some fun'' at Mr. Dan Rather, I sincerely believe he is a great journalist and a credit to his home planet.

In closing, let's have a big group hug and join together in singing this traditional Thanksgiving song that we vaguely remember from childhood: "Over the river and through the woods, To grandmother's house we go! The horse is reluctant, And we can relate, Because grandmother's house has that weird smell."

Originally published 11/21/2004.

Present-ing.

2006-11-17T16:20:00.000Z

I may never see my boyfriend again. No, he didn’t run off with another woman or take a long walk off a short pier. But I did buy him this. It’s okay, though. When I do see him (in between episodes and bathroom trips), at least he’ll smell good, since I also bought him this.

For someone who doesn’t really celebrate Christmas or Hannukah or Festivus or the winter solstice, I loooooove giving gifts. Don’t get me wrong, I love receiving them, too—but few things give me as much pleasure as watching someone’s face when they realize I’ve gotten them the perfect present.

I think my obsession with ideal gift-giving started after a high school trip to Europe (a gift from my grandfather, coincidentally). I had never been overseas before, and I wanted to bring something back for each member of my family. For my mother, I procured a beautiful piece of Lladro porcelain. For my sister, who was about 13 or 14 years old at the time, I opted for an art set from the Prado museum. I can’t remember what I bought for my grandfather, but we shared a fascination with unique postcards, so I probably gave him some of my best finds in that arena. My father, who is extremely difficult to shop for, got a tee-shirt with, I believe, prints of numerous dogs found in famous paintings in the Prado (including this one, which is one of my favorites).

In hindsight, I probably should have spent more time hunting for a present for my dad, especially since my mom’s was so extravagant. But we were only abroad for a week, and I wasn’t old enough to bring alcohol (which I now know to be a good stand-by gift) back into the U.S. So, he got the tee-shirt. And, to this day, he has never let me forget it.

So, the next time Jason watches Peter Griffin get into some sort of hilarious pickle, I hope he thanks my father—if it weren’t for dad and his disdain for the dogs, I may not have turned into the fanatical gift-giver that I am today.

"Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!"

2006-11-15T03:09:00.000Z

The moment I walked into the reception hall and heard those words come out of the DJ's mouth, I knew it was going to be an interesting afternoon.

My Uncle David (dad's brother) got married to a lovely lady named Dawn last Saturday in Long Island, and it started out as just your average, everyday nuptials. We met up for family pictures, "I do" was said a couple of times, and cocktail hour involved more booze and food than exists in most developed countries. However, upon entering the actual reception portion of the shindig, I came to a shocking realization:

My uncle was having a NASCAR-themed wedding. Yeah, that's right--I said NASCAR-themed wedding.

Look how excited I am to see the centerpiece! I mean, I knew that Table 6 was going to be the coolest table in the joint, since that's where me and the DC kids and my crazy cousins were sitting. But I had no idea that our coolness would be exponentially increased due to the fact that we were at the Mark Martin table! In case you didn't know, Mark Martin loves rap music and is nicknamed "Mr. Consistency." Woo hoo!

After the wedding party was introduced and shuffled in, the party really got started. Yes, kiddies, my uncle and his new bride made their first appearance as husband and wife...through a checkered flag tunnel. With some sort of "Jock Jams" track playing in the background, if I recall correctly. Vroom, vroom, indeed! But, shockingly enough, the madness didn't end there...

Oh, you're not hallucinating--that's definitely my uncle, and he's definitely removing the bride's garter belt while dressed like Tony Stewart. The costume was apparently pretty convincing; while watching this spectacle, my cousin actually leaned over and asked me, "That's Uncle David under the helmet--right?" I didn't so much have a question about that, but I couldn't help but wonder whether Dawn would have in fact preferred to have Tony Stewart's hands on her thigh. The world may never know.

One of the strangest things about the reception was this man, the percussionist. Perhaps I should explain further--there was no live band, but there was a drummer. He came out from behind the DJ booth at select (read: inopportune) moments, and he added his own delightful beat to songs that already had persussion tracks. Truly bizarre. Plus, as my sister noted, he looked like a Robert Smith-Jack White love child. I mean, what wedding isn't made better by an unnecessary, badly-coiffed instrumentalist? Jason, take note--when we take the plunge, we're totally booking that guy.

On the rare occasion that we broke away from the racing-themed decor of the reception hall, we were able to marvel in the interior design horrors that made up the common areas of the building. Blogger won't let me upload more than five pictures per post, but I think the best and most telling shot is this one of my sis with the mirrored cat (species unknown--though we decided it was a lynx). Yes, this is what greeted us upon our entrance to the wedding--a statue of a cat, made entirely out of little reflective chips. As we were leaving, David actually approached the manager/owner and asked, "Would you consider selling the lynx?" Surprisingly, the gentleman insisted that it was a treasure not to be parted with, and that generations of wedding guests had complimented him on it. Too bad for us. At least we got plenty of photos of our relatives posing suggestively around the majestic beast.

It really was a fantastic, hilarious day. There was lots of dancing, even more Budweiser-double-fisting, and loads of general merriment. After we were booted from the actual wedding site, we retreated to our hotel bar to continue the party with Renee, the Puerto Rican bartender/real estate broker; various groomsmen, most of whom knew my uncle from his monster truck-driving days (oh, yeah, that's right); and Bandit, the happy couple's Papillon puppy, who was dressed in a little doggie tuxedo and tophat.

Kitchiness and poking fun aside (that is, if you really can put it aside), the most important thing is that my uncle and Dawn are extremely happy. The end of the crazy NASCAR wedding signified the beginning of their life together, and I know it's going to be a great one.

So, congrats to the bride and groom, and here's a little toast (stolen from the internet, of course): "May your motors purr till you're 83, with lots of spunk and chemistry. Take time for pit stops along life's way, and live in the good lane all your days!"

For now, a meme.

2006-11-13T15:13:00.000Z

I returned late last night from the weekend I'll call "Family Overload 2006," which included my uncle's wedding and my grandfather's funeral (and various mini-events in between). I have a LOT to say about the trip, especially about the nuptials, but it will probably take a day or two to compile my thoughts and my pictures. Trust me, it'll be worth the wait.

In the meantime, I've been wanting to post this for a while, but Chai's version really prompted me to get off my bum and do it. So, here it is. Have a happy Monday, everyone!

"What Have I Done?" (Mine are in bold.)

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk.
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe.
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Thursdays are hard.

2006-11-09T13:52:00.000Z

Remember "Must See TV"? When all of Thursday evening's best shows were on one channel (NBC), and the other networks didn't dare compete with the ratings stronghold? Man, that was convenient. No decisions, no flipping back and forth--just three hours of quality boob tube viewing.

Now, everything is all topsy-turvy. Apparently, it's fun for the networks to pair awesome show against awesome show. For those who are lucky enough to have TiVo or DVR, I suppose this trend isn't quite as upsetting. But imagine the angst that I endure when, on Thursday night, after a hard day of work, I have to choose between this:

And this:

It really is a rough life. Smoldering, broody teenager or smoldering, toody intern? Why should a gal have to decide? Don't make me decide! DAMMIT, I WANT IT ALL!!!

Sigh. Maybe I should think about getting TiVo after all...

Oh, what a beautiful morning!

2006-11-08T16:50:00.000Z

I went to bed smiling because the Democrats had taken control of the House. I woke up smiling because I learned that they had a chance to do the same in the Senate. Here’s hopin’ that Virginia and Montana officially turn blue—while I don’t think that either party is perfect, it’s clear to me that Congressional changes are necessary, and I’m pleased that the American public voted largely in favor of shaking up the political machine.

My grandfather would have been so stoked about this!

A few notes after watching CNN's coverage of the election returns:

* Paul Begala looks really good. James Carville, on the other hand, looks like a very shiny alien.
* Anderson Cooper? I just don't get what all the fuss is about.
* While I liked the AARP commercial with the fake politician singing about his impeccable wife and his lack of knowledge about social security, isn't 10 PM on election night a little late to be running an ad about voting on the issues rather than the candidates' personalities?
* Paula Zahn is a MILF (actually, that observation came from Jason--I just happen to agree).
* We need some political bloggers who are actually good looking (male AND female).
* I really don't like Wolf Blitzer.
* I still love Tom Brokaw (though I couldn't stay on NBC too long, since Brian Williams talks sooooooo sloooooow).
* I'm as big a fan of Senator Barack Obama as the next guy/gal, but if he keeps starting every response with "Look," I may have to retract my support.
* Speaking of the good Senator from Illinois, one of my very astute observations was "Hey! Barack rhymes with Iraq!" That comment, of course, prompted the question: "So, if people who live in Iraq are called Iraqis, are people who support Senator Obama called Barackis?" Comedic gold, people, I'm tellin' ya.

Alright, no more election talk. Off to troll the internet for real news--about Brit-Brit's divorce!

Myron the Great.

2006-11-06T01:34:00.000Z

Until now, I've been extremely vague about the rough times with which my family has been grappling for the past two weeks. However, since writing (for me, anyway) can be an extremely cathartic activity, and since I think I'm ready to release some of the emotional load I've been carrying recently, it's time for my little corner of the blogosphere to pay tribute to a wonderful man. My grandfather, that is--Myron "Mike" Kaufmann--who died on Thursday night at the age of 81.

My grandpa (mom's dad) was one of only two grandparents who were alive when I was growing up, the other being my paternal grandmother. Of course, it was unfortunate and sad that I never knew my other two grandparents. But it was a positive thing in that it caused me and my sister to form extremely close bonds with our remaining extended family. Come to think of it, it seems inaccurate and wrong to refer to my grandpa as "extended family," because he was so much more than that.

My grandfather was extremely good-hearted, intelligent, witty, warm, loyal, and delightfully unique. He loved sports (specifically, the Mets, the Giants, and the Knicks, as he hailed from New York), he was incredibly politically astute (and increasingly left-winged with every year that passed), he gave liberally to charities, and he could tell a cheesy, pun-laden joke with the best of them. He had a mischievous smile, a contagious laugh, and an uncanny ability to find humor in seemingly ordinary, everyday situations.

I talked to my grandpa frequently, and we always had the same telephone schtick: I would call, and when he saw my name on the caller ID, he would answer, "Helloooooo, number one granddaughter!" I would reply, "Well, helloooooo, number one grandfather!" We would talk about his bridge game, my interesting work projects, our health, the weather, the most recent Republican scandal--the topic didn't matter, really. We just talked because it was fun, and because we loved each other very much.

Every Thanksgiving since I can remember, my grandfather has been with my parents, my sister, and me. We ate roast beef because his wife, my grandma Betty, hated turkey. Grandpa would make sure that all of the sauteed mushrooms were eaten (mostly by him). We'd gorge ourselves fast enough to watch the UGA vs. Georgia Tech football game on TV. No stuffing, no gravy, no elaborate place settings--just a very small, very special day that was truly centered on love and family and giving thanks for our many blessings. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, in large part because of my grandfather's contribution to the celebration. I still have a lot for which to be thankful, and I'm still looking forward to journeying home this November 23rd. But I'd be deceiving myself if I thought that Thanksgiving would ever be the same.

My grandfather lived a long, productive life. He traveled a great deal, he saw and did things that others only dream about, and he knew both incredible joy and profound sorrow. But the fact that he died at a ripe old age, or that he had countless friends and family members who loved him, doesn't make dealing with his passing any easier. I'm happy for the many years I got to spend with him, but I'm angry that there won't be any more. I'm proud of my parents for the way they dealt with his sudden illness (he had a massive stroke two weeks ago and deteriorated very quickly), but I'm worried about the burden that carrying this load has placed upon them. I'm relieved to be writing this post, but I'm disappointed in myself that I cannot properly capture the spirit of such an amazing human being.

Most of all, though, I'm just plain sad--and I miss my grandpa very much.

In case you're interested, the pictures are, from the top: 1) Gramps and his four granddaughters at his 80th birthday party; 2) me, my sister, and my grandfather at a Chinese restaurant in Atlanta; 3) the proud grandpa, at my law school graduation; 4) after Gramps surprised me by flying in from Arizona for my high school production of "Guys and Dolls"; and 5) my uncle, my mom, and my grandfather, also during his 80th birthday weekend.

Update.

2006-10-31T17:35:00.000Z

First, I appreciate the well wishes that many of y'all have sent my way. My family is still going through some rough times, but we're hangin' in there--we tend to do that, we're pretty tough cookies.

Second, I had my surgery yesterday, and I'm recovering at home. Everything went well, and the doctor thinks she got all of the abnormal cells, so I'm happy with my decision to treat the problem aggressively. I'm also VERY happy with my decision to have the procedure done under general anaesthesia--I was definitely more calm and cooperative than I would have been if I had been aware of what was going on. The only frightening part of the hospital experience was when the O.R. nurse came to talk to me, and the exchange went something like this:

Nurse: "Hi, I'll be the nurse attending to you in the operating room."
Betty: "Great, thanks."
Nurse: "Are you allergic to any medications?"
Betty: (Pointing to the bright red bracelet around my wrist indicating that I am allergic to naproxen) "Yeah, naproxen."
Nurse: "Oh, okay...what's that?"
Betty: (Stunned silence, terrified glance at my sister)

Aside from that, everyone at the GW surgery center was extremely pleasant and professional. The whole process took about six and a half hours, and it was worth every minute. So, that's that.

Despite everything that was going on, we managed to have a bit of Halloween fun on Saturday night. I broke out my "Flashdance" costume (Jennifer Beals in the audition scene at the end of the movie), and sis covered herself in polka dots and went as the pointilist movement. Jason donned some priestly garb with a sign that said "Altar boys wanted! Inquire below" (guess where THAT arrow was pointing). But Mr. Barzelay's costume beat all--he went as "the David." You know, the statue? He was next-to-naked, painted white (ish), and complete with a laurel-esque crown and drawn-on abdominal definition. Upon seeing him in his teeny, tiny briefs, the best conversation of the evening took place:

Betty: "There's so much penis!"
David: "Well, THAT'S good!"

Anyway, back to bed for some napping and bad daytime TV. I hope everyone had a great weekend--Happy Halloween!

Sigh.

2006-10-27T01:03:00.000+01:00

I feel pretty much like this right about now (only not NEARLY as cute):

It has been an incredibly draining week, as my family is going through some very difficult times, and I am struggling to be helpful and supportive from 500+ miles away. So, please think a good thought (or two, if you can spare them) for my clan, and forgive me if blogging comes second to couch-napping and boob-tube-watching.

Thanks, kids--I hope I'll be back soon.

Scorsese finally departs from bad filmmaking.

2006-10-23T16:52:00.000+01:00

On Friday night, Jason and I went to see “The Departed.” All I can say is—wow. It wasn’t as good as “Goodfellas” (very little is, after all), but it was pretty damn close. After a string of disappointments, Scorsese finally looked like Scorsese again. You go, Mr. Bushy-Brows!

I won’t go into the plot here—you can read summaries all over the internet, and I’m scared I’ll get excited and give something away—but I will say that it was the best-acted film I’ve seen in a while. It was an all-star cast, for sure, and nearly everyone had something noteworthy to contribute. Leonardo DiCaprio was amazing, and he just kept getting better as his character started to crack around the edges. Matt Damon, for whom I normally don’t care, managed to be effectively charming and creepy at the same time. Jack Nicholson was over-the-top, as always. Alec Baldwin and Martin Sheen gave great supporting performances, and Mark Wahlberg was Un. Be. Lieveable. Seriously, he made the whole movie for me—I was riveted, despite his horrific haircut. The only thespian who did not impress me was the female psychologist/love interest—I just didn’t find anything special in her role or her delivery of it. Pity, since there was precious little estrogen to be found in this flick.

I have NO idea how this film managed to squeak out an “R” rating—the F-bomb was dropped, according to my research, 226 times. That, and there isn’t a word for the quantity of blood that was spilled (I certainly won’t divulge whose, or how). I also didn’t realize that it’s a remake of a Hong Kong crime movie called “Internal Affairs.”

Anyway, if you haven’t already (and you don’t have sensitive ears or a queasy stomach), go see “The Departed.” It’s a fantastic story of doppelgangers and deception, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the film AND the actors were contenders come Oscar season.

* Kathryn posted about "The Departed" today as well, but don't click unless you're ready for some major spoilers.

Important pre-weekend question.

2006-10-20T18:58:00.000+01:00

Okay, internets, here's one for ya:

I'm going to a party this weekend, and the theme is "Movements." The examples that the hosts gave were "feminist" and "bowel." While I'm fairly certain that folks will be acting up, I'm not sure if they will be dressing up as well.

So, should I prepare a costume? If so (and this is the more crucial inquiry, so pay attention), what movement shall I capture?

Honestly, I don't know if I can think of five movements total, let alone movements that would be funny while drunk. Thus, I turn it over to you. And...go!

P.S. Thanks to Circle V and DCB/Sally for organizing last night's happy hour. I had a great time, and I wish I could have stayed longer!

Dear downstairs neighbors,

2006-10-18T22:11:00.000+01:00

Do you ever do any of the following:

a) go to work,
b) go to sleep,
c) listen to anything besides power ballads,
d) SHUT THE FUCK UP?!?!?!

You must understand why I ask this question, since, multiple times over the past few weeks, your (bad) music has disturbed both my slumber AND my general sanity and well-being. It's 5:00 PM right now, and I'm about to go to work, but please know that if those craptastic tunes are still playing at five thousand decibels when I get home from the restaurant, I'm calling the damn cops. No, forget that--I'm walking over to the precinct and hauling a cop back to our building with me, just to see when he starts hearing your racket (I've got my money on about 6 blocks away).

You are enormous douchebags, and I fucking hate you.

Regards,

The cranky bitch upstairs who is going to kick your sorry asses.

Random numbered post, because that's the kind of day it's been so far.

2006-10-18T17:07:00.000+01:00

1. We had a fire drill in my office building today. In typical efficient government style (ha), most everyone knew when it was going to happen and vacated the premises (either to go to the evacuation site or to wait it out at Starbucks) ten minutes before the alarm actually went off. This makes me extremely nervous about what would happen in an actual fire emergency. At least yours truly knows what the alarm sounds like and the proper escape route from the building.

2. Yeah, vegetarian soy sausage patties? Not as tasty as meat sausage. Next time, I’m going for the turkey variety.

3. I would like to remind everyone, but specifically the patrons at the Stetson’s pub quiz last night, that “excuse me” is a terrific phrase that should be used more frequently. Especially as your drunk asses are plowing into me on your way to the bathrooms. Geez.

4. Thanks to Miss M for turning me on to Washington’s Green Grocer. They’ve been so nice to deal with, and even though I haven’t gotten my first delivery yet (it’s coming tomorrow, woo hoo), I can already tell that it’s going to be fabulous. I mean, these are the fresh, healthy treats I’ll be getting this week: white potatoes, delicata squash, romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, golden pineapple, gala apples, black seedless grapes, and bananas (oh my). A couple of my co-workers have even jumped on the WGG bandwagon--it's amazing how one little blog recommendation can reach so many people.

5. I think my gal pal and I are going to check out Be Bar this Friday night. Anyone want to join?

Have a great one!

Going under the knife--a story about lady parts (so read at your own risk)

2006-10-16T16:42:00.000+01:00

It’s official—I’m having surgery on October 30th. Happy frickin’ Halloween, right?

Remember when I posted about my last trip to the gynecologist (of course you do—it was riveting reading)? Well, the test results came back, and even though the abnormal cells haven’t gotten any worse, they haven’t gotten any better, either. So, as a medical student friend once said to me, “When in doubt, cut it out.”

Actually, I’m not even sure that cutting is the most accurate term. I’m having a LEEP, which stands for Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure. LEEP uses a thin wire loop electrode which is attached to an electrosurgical generator. The generator transmits a painless (riiiiiiiiight) electrical current that quickly cuts away the affected cervical tissue in the immediate area of the loop wire. This causes the abnormal cells to rapidly heat and burst, and separates the tissue as the loop wire moves through the cervix. Awesome.

For even more fun, a tube will be attached to the speculum to remove the small amount of smoke caused by the procedure. Yeah, let that one sink in for a minute. An electrosurgical dispersive pad (a gel-covered adhesive electrode which provides a safe return path for the electrosurgical current) will be placed on my thigh. A single-use, disposable loop electrode will be attached to the generator hand piece by my physician. My cervix will be prepared with acetic acid and iodine solutions that enable my physician to more easily see the extent of the abnormal area. Next a local anesthetic will be injected into the cervix; the electroloop will be generated and the wire loop will pass through the surface of my cervix. Woo hoo.

As much as I’m dying to see smoke come out of my hoo-ha, and as excited as I am about the doctor using my thigh to ground an electrical current, I will be going under general anesthesia for this blessed event. Yes, I know I’m probably a big baby, since my gyno could do this procedure in her office. However, the thought of someone slicing and dicing my cervix with a hot electric wire makes me quite anxious, and I’d really rather not be mentally present. Actually, I’d rather not be physically present, but I suppose there’s no getting around that one.

The good news about the LEEP is that it’s a fairly foolproof way to remove any and all abnormal cells and give my cervix a fresh start of sorts (as long as I have two normal Paps after the surgery, I can go back to yearly gyno check-ups). The bad news is that I’ll need couple of days to recover from the procedure itself, I won’t be doing any heavy lifting or exercising for a week or two, and I won’t be having sex for about a month.

Anyway, sorry to be a bummer on a Monday morning, but I just wanted to keep everyone updated and ask for good thoughts in about two weeks. I’m sure everything will go well, but a little bit of positive juju never hurts, right?

Back to regularly scheduled programming (read: getting over my red wine hangover)…

It's finally Friday!

2006-10-13T14:42:00.000+01:00

First, good luck and best wishes to my pals in the Volunteer State who are anxiously awaiting their Tennessee bar exam results. Take it from someone who's been there (twice), the seemingly endless website-checking and self-doubting are worse than the test itself. I hope you all passed!

Second, whilst trolling the internet for Halloween costumes (in the event I don't find anything acceptable at the Arena Stage costume sale), I found this shirt, which I absolutely love:

Of course, now I have the theme song in my head. "Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high! Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!"

Last but not least, have a great time at the Blogger Happy Hour tonight. Unfortch, I will be workin' hard for the money, so I won't be there. Don't let that deter you, though--I know that our new hosts and the various slated attendees will make the evening a howling good time, despite my absence. :-)

Have a fabulous Friday the 13th, and a great weekend!