limiting strenuous activity

Its a code red day here in tropical Washington, DC, which means that people need to limit strenuous activity. I’m taking this warning as seriously as I possibly can and am limiting pretty much all activity. For serious. I just now managed to take a shower and put on clean pajamas. I’m not a complete sloth - I spent Thursday winging it to and from Chicago for a meeting and it really messed with my sinuses. Unfortunately, this means I’m not inclined to running to the liquor store for Teh Smitten so he can have a bonafide sazerac when he gets home tonight. Also, it means we’re having Totino’s pizza rolls and frozen corn for dinner. At least I have a brownie mix - dessert tends to make things better.

My niece started pre-school yesterday. Her backpack is nearly as big as she is. Why do pre-schoolers need backpacks?

I bought her that outfit.

Her backpack is cute in the extreme. Teh Smitten tells me he’ll pay me to get one like it and wear it to work. I accepted immediately, but what he doesn’t know is that I would have done it anyway.

I mean, who wouldn't want one of these?

I loves me cupcakes and accessories.  And pizza rolls.  I’ll feed Teh Smitten properly tomorrow.

this will be our year

Teh Smitten is teh awesome. Srsly. A couple months back he gave me tickets for us to go see The Zombies at the Birchmere in celebration of our twelvemonthaversary. The show was tonight.

First thing - for those of you who are not familiar - go visit wikipedia for some background. The Zombies are a major part of rock and roll history. I had to explain this group to a twenty-something at work today and they broke up 2-3 years before I was even born. Kids today. Harumph.

Second - and this will be interesting to those of you who do know about the Zombies - they planted a fecking facemelter in the middle of She’s Not There. So, they still have a sense of humor. Here’s the 1965 version, which has not changed all that much:

I had initially worried that we would be the youngest people there. We weren’t. Some dude brought his 10 year old and there were a couple of ironic hipster types. Dressed ironically.

Now, while I fully acknowledge The Zombies’ widespread legacy and influence, I did not realize that one of the two founding members was responsible for Hold Your Head Up- a truly great rock anthem:

[OMG -did you see that they were on a show hosted by John Denver?]

My discovery of the Zombies was quite indirect. Several years ago The Brooklyn Freckler and Alabama Slama took me to see a tribute show in NYC by a very interesting group of folks who perform as The Loser’s Lounge. They performed at least 15 perfectly rendered songs - there was no deviation from the original and they were funny without having to “wink wink” at you all night. If you get a chance to see the Losers do a tribute (which have ranged from Elvis Costello to Serge Gainsbourg) and you’re in NYC, go. If you’re interested in the Zombies then start with the Odessey and Oracle - deemed #80 of the top 500 most important albums by Rolling Stone magazine. Time of the Season, my friends, is one of the most covered songs ever. I particularly liked Snowden’s version. Am including a clip below, but the free download I got off their site a couple years ago was much better.

As for Teh Smitten, I get to start and end most every day next to him and get him all to myself each weekend. Luckiest. Woman. Evar. Thank you, baby.

sunday blues

I don’t know what the The Bangles were rattling on about, as Sunday has to be the most depressing day of the week. Unexpectedly, work is reach a fevered pitch this month: my contractor is leaving (for exhaustion), I travel to Chicago this week and Columbus next week, major quarterly meeting is looming next month… As a result, I eagerly await the start of each weekend and have come to bitterly dread the end.

Now that I’ve unburdened myself, let’s move on to nicer subjects.

I’ve discovered my new favorite allover scrub - it is Scrub of Your Life by Soap and Glory. It smells of dryer sheets, and maybe jasmine and honeysuckle - clean and fresh. I’m so tired of these overwrought fruity bath things - coconut lime flavored stuff is particularly offensive. Soap and Glory is some frou frou company from the UK - it is sold at either Barney’s Coop or Target here in the US. (Harvey Nicks in the UK). I found it at Target in an aisle next to where they were selling some Kiehls and Clarins stuff. Wow.

Teh Smitten and I sent to see Hellboy II last night and enjoyed it muchly. He’s taking me to see The Zombies this week at the Birchmere. On Thursday I head to Chicago for a meeting, but just for the day. With luck, I’ll be able to procure a bottle of a Chicago-distilled absinthe called Sirene. Also, we recently got a bottle of Creme de Violette and are figuring out ways to drink it properly. It is very pretty in the glass - and tastes and smells floral. Well, it vaguely smells like a perfume you might find on your great-grandmother.

drinkses

Well, actually, we’ve had a blottle of wine (think I’ll let that typo stick as it makes sense right now) and Teh Smitten has had 2 or so dark and stormy’s.  I followed up my glasses of wine with a wee absinthe and water - this puts me in a happy place without feeling drunk.  Now, the boy says he is a drink away from falling down - I have yet to see Teh Smitten so drunk that he’d fall down.  The concept is right up there with finding the abominable snowman.  This is actually a golden time in the evening for us - everything I say is funny (example: Me: “I’m not dominant, I just like things a certain way.” Him: laughing his ass off).  Also, he’s quite physically affectionate - I’m treated to head strokings and neck rubbings and other gentle  pettings one would expect from their love.  He also treats me to less gentle ministrations like insisting on putting his finger on my nose.  This last thing one that I cannot bear.  If he keeps it up he will find all future pairs of his undershorts in the freezer.

Tomorrow, to celebrate our nation’s independence from the British imperialists (and oh how I miss the British Bombshell and her Man - we had such a great 4th together 2 years ago - spend the afternoon at the Elephant and Castle - a faux English pub to watch the footie games and then dinner at a Mexican place.  I was this close to exploding from all the Guinness and Mexican food.) we have NO plans.  I think we’re going to sleep in, make waffles and eggs, watch a few dvds and then head up to the Palace of Wonders since they don’t have a cover charge tomorrow night.

I wonder how the Brits are doing right now - am thinking of you both!

post vacation let-down

i know I should be posting about the wonderful lunch we had at Boulevard while in San Francisco, or about the awesome lunch in Chinatown, or about our lodging in Carmel, but I just can’t. I’m beat. Work is madness and due to get madder before it gets better. Work will start improving in early August, when I bring on board a truly competent and talented person to help me on this project. My contract support seems to be on the decline and people in the federal government are restless and tense. This happens towards the end of presidential administrations - there’s a lot of bluster to be made at the end regarding accomplishments and successes. People are worried about their programs being sunsetted or where they’ll end up. I have no pretensions about this. While my current position is good, there’s no guarantee that the new leadership would keep me there. This is okay - change is good and provides opportunities.

In the meantime, I dream of the next vacation. Where shall I take Teh Smitten next?

second favorite part of trip (hint: booze involved)(yeah, shocker)

Hidden in Alameda, CA, is one of the coolest distilleries I’ve ever encountered.  If you go, I highly recommend borrowing a GPS to help find your way.

St. George’s Spirits is known for their very nice vodkas - the brand is Hangar 1 - flavored with real whole fruit - the Buddha’s Hand citron flavor vodka was fantastic.  Rightly so, the distillery is all located in the old Hangar One building adjacent to the Alameda Naval Station (mostly defunct and reimagined now).  They are also known for being the first distiller in the US to make and distribute absinthe.  Now don’t get the wrong idea - I like to sip absinthe as a digestif - I don’t knock them back like some idiot club kid.  The chemical reaction that results from adding water to absinthe is kind of cool (when the drink becomes cloudy as the water hits the oils).

We had the tasting room to ourselves and a very capable/friendly representative to walk us through the eau de vie’s, 4 of the vodkas, the whiskies, the white tea and black tea liquors, and sweet liqueurs (Aqua Perfecta).  Oh, and the absinthe.  I drank a bucket of water to try and stay sober.  This made the trip back on the Bay Bridge a particular torture (yes, I went before I left - but the damage had already been done).  Have you ever done the peepee dance while in traffic?  In San Francisco?  Oof.

Teh Smitten bought himself a bottle of the Qi Black Tea Liquor, flavored with smoky lapsong souchong tea.  It is really nice.  I got a bottle of the raspberry Aqua Perfecta - it will be wonderful in Kir royales or drizzled over the top of frozen yogurt and brownies.  We also bought matching (!) t-shirts to celebrate our love of their absinthe.  We have promised to never wear them at the same time.  The St. George Tasting room is really quite nice - they have a direct view across the bay of San Francisco.  They’re having a big opening party on the 28th that we so wish we could attend…  If you live in the area, get on their mailing list.  I get the feeling that their events are quite something.

my favorite part of the trip

Big Sur. Of all the places in the world, it is among the most beautiful. Teh Smitten and I drove down from Carmel to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park on the 9th. My parents took my sister and I out there and drove US 1 from LA to San Francisco when I was five (and my sister was three). I did not appreciate it then (nay, I don’t even really remember that trip except for the smell of Fisherman’s Wharf), but surely do now. We weren’t equipped for the hike all the way down to this beach where an 80 foot waterfall meets the beach, but did appreciate it from the well-situated walkway. We stayed at this lovely B&B in Carmel by the Sea - the Seaview Inn - where a very friendly couple from San Luis Obispo recommended the park and lent us a book Big Sur’s best hikes.

After Burns State Park, we headed back up the road and had lunch at Nepenthe - former hippie paradise/current post-hippie consumer mecca. The burgers are way overpriced - you essentially pay for the view. Also, gift shop!!! Filled with many overpriced and nice items (not just incense). I bought post-cards as they perk up scrap books a bit.

A few miles up from Nepenthe there is a poorly marked road that leads you to Pfeiffer Beach. An incredibly windy (pronounced whine-dee) one-lane road leads you about two miles down a steep decline to the beach, known for great rocks that have been carved through by the sea. We rested for a while here and just enjoyed the 70 degree weather (we had just left 100+ degree weather in DC). You’d think that I would have gotten some color out in all this gloriousness. You’d be wrong. Teh Smitten insists that my only two colors are white and pink. I no longer tan. Also, the Pacific is c o l d ! And kelpy.

back

We have made it back.  We are seriously jet-lagged.  Woke up at 1 am last night and didn’t know where I was.  Fun was had.  I was maid of honor at friends’ wedding.  There may be video of me spilling plum sake on the bride and into a koi pond.  Things we love:  Big Sur, St. George Spirits in Alameda, Boulevard on Mission Street and Brandy Ho Chinese restaurant in Chinatown.  Things that suck: gas is at least $4.59 out there.   More to come along with snaps.

Despite the jet lag, we learned that Olssens Books is closing their Penn Quarter location via email today, so Teh Smitten and I headed over after work to take advantage of the 50% prices - listed most of the buys on my Facebook page.

gah

We are leaving this hellhole just in time.  The temperature will hit 99 F tomorrow, and with the heat index Monday could see the 100s.  INSANE.  Of course, we are none too pleased to have to worry about getting ourselves and our excessive amount of luggage all the way to Dulles tomorrow while trying not to get too warm.  There’s nothing like being smushed up against other passengers when either you or they are scented with sweat.  Blech.

So, guess what its like in California?  First of all, its freaking gorgeous.  No sign of thunderstorms.  Its the foggy time of year for San Francisco.  Highs for the coast will be the mid 60s to 70, highs around San Jose will be maybe 80.  People staging outdoor weddings out in San Jose have little to fear when it comes to weather.  (Manic - you’re going to be glorious against the backdrop of those gardens.) Hell, I’m afraid I will be too cold!  What ho!  Another reason to shop?  I hope to boost the local economy in my own small and insignificant way.

So, things to buy:  a surf shirt and “cool” stickers for his skate board for my nephew, maybe earrings for my mom, Pebble Beach golf stuff for my dad, Hello Kitty stuff for my niece, a bento box for Teh Smitten and me, maybe some  granola  comfort  sandals for me…

In any case, we cannot wait.  I’ve got us pretty much packed.  We can sleep in tomorrow, have a relaxed brunch, finishing packing our carry-on bags and head to the airport around 2.  Tomorrow night we’ll be staying south of SFO, and then we head to Carmel, CA for a couple nights, Santa Cruz for a night, back to SF to pick up some friends, then a couple nights in San Jose for the Manic Bride’s nuptials, and then one last night in SF…  We have lunch reservations at the highly regarded Boulevard on Mission Street on day, and hope to make it to the Winchester Mystery House as well.  Wish us luck, and please send me comfortable shoe karma.  My dogs are killing me.

daydream believer

Picking up from Obscurorant, an oversharing meme:

1. Name the singer/band/performer you are most embarrassed to admit you actually paid good money to see in concert.

This is easy.  My mom made me go see The Monkees with one of her friend’s daughters when I was in HS.  Mortifying.  It was at The Fox Theatre, which is this very lovely sit-down concert hall in St. Louis.  We were definitely the youngest people there.  Wait, I also saw The Thompson Twins there but I’m not embarrassed about that.  Really.  Anyway, its kind of like the National Theatre or Kennedy Center- you feel undignified dancing in front of your seat. Teh Smitten got me tickets to see The Zombies in July.  I have a feeling we will be the youngest people there too.  Since I’m no longer an idiot teenager whose mom guilts her into hanging out with clingy needy doofi (the plural of doofus), this doesn’t bother me.  This is the one good thing about getting older; I just don’t give a crap about what other people think.

2. Which reality TV show have you watched more than once (come on. I don’t believe you if you say “none,” unless you don’t own a TV)?

Hah!  Beauty and the Geek.  It has opened up whole new worlds of words for me.  Like LARPers.  I’ve also been guilty of Paradise Hotel, Temptation Island, and American Idol.  I have enjoyed reality dating shows like X-treme Dating, the Bachelor (we went to HS with Trista), and Love Connection.  Be back in 2 and 2!

3. Which complete trash novelist have you not only read but enjoyed enough to read more than one book of his/hers?

Well, “trash” is kind of subjective.  Anne Rice.  What?  I’m a girl; I’m allowed.  The Beauty series got me through having my tonsils out at age 23.

4. What sappy musical could you watch over and over and over again?

The Sound of Music.  I hate when I miss it.

5. Who was your first celebrity crush?

Ricky Schroeder a la Silver Spoons.

6. Who is the most embarrassing celebrity on whom you have a slight crush today?

Me:  Baby?  Who’s the most embarrassing celebrity I have a crush on?

TS:  Me?

Me: No.

TS:  Who’s the Scottish guy who has the late night talk show and who was in that movie about growing mj?

Me:  Craig Ferguson?  Is he embarrassing?

TS:  He’s not exactly hot.

Me:  I see.

TS:  You also like Dylan Moran from Black Books.

***

I don’t think either of them are embarrassing.  I also crush on Angelina Jolie, but who doesn’t?

7. What movie that everyone else and his cousin and even his dog has seen have you never seen?

Apocalypse Now.

8. What were you drinking the first time you ever got drunk?

Well, its been a rather long time, but I think it was wine coolers.  I swear they once came in two-liters.

four more days

I can’t believe its only Tuesday. Today seemed to last two entire days. Crap at work hit the proverbial fan: I have to move offices while I am on vacation - the lack of control over whether my stuff makes it to my new office across town is causing my heart to beat fast. Also, a project is cresting while I’m on vacation despite all efforts to avoid this. At least I have a great person backing me up on that one, but I fear that I will be spending absurd amounts of time on my blackberry and phone instead of enjoying Carmel, Big Sur and Santa Cruz next Monday through Wednesday. Boo! I had briefly hoped I might be able to leave the smackberry at home. No such luck. I am beginning to regret not taking more time off and slightly resent work for not really allowing me to take a real vacation. Things to raise with the bosses tomorrow…

My mom is great at mixing metaphors and names. Hence, “Facepage.” I think that’s pretty funny, but also fear that I will end up mixing it up like she does. On the Facebook front, I learned from this idiotic music application that I am woefully lacking in my Moby and Creed knowledge. I am also woefully not lacking in my Kelly Clarkson knowledge. Teh Smitten is embarrassed for me.

We leave on Saturday afternoon and I am beginning to panic about having the right vacation clothes. However, I understand they have malls in CA.

i love quick time harch

Here we are again. Tomorrow is my “compressed day”, meaning I have the day off and a four day weekend. The day was almost a good one - I let a very junior and useless employee get to me today. I’m a short timer in this department - I’ve been transferred to much greener pastures and am just waiting for them to find nice space for me at the headquarters. Accordingly, the old administrative staff is taking out their frustrations on the one person they no longer have to be nice to.

The good part of the day involved the short walk to get lunch at Cowgirl Creamery. CC usually makes two kinds of sandwiches for lunch - a vegetarian or a meat option. Today there was a “special option”: pork pate with sliced cornichons and lightly dressed field greens. It was fantastic. After spending the better part of my afternoon with my office door closed (I generally don’t advocate closed doors in office settings but it was either close the door or let my anger overcome me) I headed out a little early to the weekly farmer’s market where I picked up a delicious quiche ever: For $24, the baker has an applewood smoked bacon and spinach quiche made with a very nice gruyere. I also bought some baby bella mushrooms as they are nice for stuffing, and a pretty bunch of flowers. The quiche is pretty huge and makes 2-3 meals for us both. It may seem expensive, but I get six healthy slices out of that quiche for $4 a pop - really an excellent deal considering the quality and quantity.

Its game night for Teh Smitten, so while he geeks out next to me I’m, well, geeking out by blogging next to him. We’re really quite the pair. Teh Smit is very funny while he games. He’s playing some sort of cyberpunk adventure game online and via conference call with a few people across the US and world. He uses different voices for his character, makes little machine gun noises and such (he has been yammering on about “distant lizards”? “rats ate his pants”? “armor chafes with no pants”? really?). It makes him happy so it makes me happy.

What are our weekend plans, you ask? Well, tomorrow I will be taking care of important business such as the dry cleaning, the CVS and the Schneiders (local awesome purveyor of wine and spirits ). If I do anything tomorrow, I must get more booze - we are in need of Stone’s Green Ginger Wine, which is incredibly refreshing served over ice. We also need dark spiced rum so we can make Dark and Stormy’s. If we’re lucky tomorrow, we’ll have another Thin Man movie to watch and drink to (along with?). Saturday we have reservations for the soft launch of Sticky Rice - purveyor of sushi and tater tots! Within walking distance! So much woot, so little time. Sunday will be spent at the home of the Chef and his Clever Girlfriend, and Monday with Teh Smitten’s parents eating fresh crabs at their Chesapeake home.

If I’m smart, I’ll get to the CVS too. I learned that I haven’t been taking the synthroid correctly, which has probably resulted in a lack of proper absorption. I didn’t realize I had to avoid all forms of calcium within 4 hours of taking it. I also learned that I need to be taking several vitamins and other supplements. 16.5 days till we leave on vacation. Hopefully a combination of taking this medication properly, taking vitamins and vacation will help with this hamster heart situation.

I leave you all with a favorite scene from a Mel Brooks movie - it was Empress Nympho or Lily Von Schtupp. Who doesn’t love quick time harch?

business hours are over

I realize that the Conchords are not new, but this video makes me happy:

Mr. Odney reminded me about their brilliance on his Facebook page, which brings me to another - more complicated - subject:  the Politics of Facebook.

I joined Facebook to see what the fuss was about and quickly got sucked into the insanity of its vampire application and scrabulous.  Mr. Odney has posted about the awkwardness of Facebook previously.  Click here to see the link to the British interpretation of Facebook (I wonder if posting that video to one’s Facebook page would cause the world to implode), and here to read his originating post about hitting the 100 friend mark.

Apparently, there is this unwritten rule that you must accept all friend requests.  Now, this wouldn’t be an issue if you could just hide your profile but that would fly in the face of the whole point of social networking.  Till now I have happily accepted all friend requests, especially since I get points for each person I “bite” via the vampire application.  Until now.  Just recently I received a friend request from someone with whom I attended high school.  It took me a while to figure out who this person was as they appear to have changed their first name (actually, they’re not going by their nickname anymore).  Unfortunately, this person grated on me a bit (no, DSR, not talking about you - you’re a doll) so I am loathe to accept the request.  Not even for the vampire points.  (Or the damnable Pirate v. Ninja application which I have also added in return for a friend who agreed to become a vampire minion.  I am that serious about it.)

So, for any Facebook users - what is the protocol?  If I hit “ignore” is the requester any the wiser?  I hate perpetuating high school bullshit cliquishness, but jeebus.  There is a reason I only keep up with a handful of the 425 people I graduated with.

Also, any of you on it?  If so, let’s be friends!  Vampire friends!

i not essposed to be doing this!

haunted iPod

Good lord.  iPod shuffle comes up with the oddest selections.  Cure, Police, Mr. Odney selections (he makes some great mixes), some stuff I’ve never heard before, Shakira and then George Thorogood.  Sometimes I have a hard time believing this is my iPod.  Where and when did I get half this stuff?  Teh Smitten looks at me in disbelief when I ask him whats playing.  Seriously.  I just said “What the hell is this?” He pokes me in the arm and says, “Its yours, baby.  Sounds like Donovan.”  I’ve never even heard this song before, but it is followed up perfectly by the Zombies (”Is this the dream you’re crying for?”), and then by Gogol Bordello which seems to go well with everything.  Does anyone else experience the work of iPod goblins?

Tomorrow I take off for three days of meetings in Chicago.  Well, not really in Chicago, but a quarter mile from O’Hare.  The back is better thanks to some sort of scary anti-inflammatories that can cause kidney failure if you take them more than five days and some flexoril (I hardly notice the flexoril - since when did muscle relaxants become so boring?).  Since I’m the coordinator, I don’t get any time to myself - even the evenings are dedicated to work stuff.  A shame, as it would have been nice to see EB.

May 18 will be the anniversary of my first date with Teh Smit.  How have 51 weeks passed already?  At this moment, he is playing Scrabulous with me and buying little organizing things for our wee kitchen.