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Sat, December 29
Apple Cider
Ever since the fall, I've been on a hot cider kick. Not just any hot cider--but Starbuck's version of it. It's called "Caramel Apple Cider", which means they put whipped cream on the cider, then drizzle caramel over it. It is totally yum. So yesterday I went with MK after lunch at La Bonne Soupe (could not believe I had work this week). The girl making the drinks was new. When she handed me my drink, she said:
"One caramel apple SPIDER!"
The guy working with her behind the bar corrected her. "It's called CIDER."
"Spider. That's what I said."
"No, cider. C-I-D-E-R."
"I ain't never heard of that before."
"You never heard of apple cider?"
"Nope. And you know, I'm still shocked that you can actually MAKE foam. I didn't know where that came from before!"
MK had to look away so as not to burst out laughing in the barista's face. I guess the pickings were low when they hired that one, huh?
In other news, I went to Greenpoint Brooklyn for the first time ever yesterday. J and I met with wedding photographers there. It is such an odd place--it's like being in another country. A Polish country. I didn't see one non-white person there. The bakeries are amazing. Almost every block smells like freshly-baking pastries and bread. We bought a chocolate babka for J's aunt's party (later that night), and the bakery had every type of bread imaginable baked right on the premises. They even had crescent shaped bagels! Sadly, I am still doing the gluten-free (or less strictly, wheat-free) for my headaches and being near and inside bakeries is just torture.
Oh, and I joined the gym again. Not to get in shape as much as just wanting to get those feel-good endorphins going. For someone who used to go every day to the gym it has been so freeing to take a six month break. But I'm ready for sweating again. The Crunch gym that I joined has spin classes, hip hop, and yoga. Basically those are all the activities I like to do, all in one place. And it is actually clean! I can't believe I put up with the cruddy NYSC all those years.
While I was getting the grand tour of the place, the gym representative (wearing stiletto knee-high boots, a low-cut shirt, and spandex) suddenly pulled me behind a pillar and motioned for me to keep my voice low.
"Shhhh! Don't look! That guy over there has been stalking me!"
She pointed to the entrance of the gym, to a slim unassuming-looking nebishy guy. "Ugh. I can't STAND needy trannies."
"???"
"C'mon, let's make a run for that wall over there!"
So apparently I'll be sharing my gym time with needy trannies. I am determined not to make any friends at this gym. Just in case.
Oh, she also asked me how old I was. When I told her I was twenty-seven, she responded:
"So you're no spring chicken. I can say that, because I'm thirty-two."
Way to make me feel good, Lady!
Posted by lexzog at Sat, December 29 | Comments (0)
Sun, December 16
Sphinx
My grandpa has the most beautiful Maine Coon cat. It looks like this:
Mmm. Meow! So cute! So fuzzy and lovable.
Jesse is allergic to cats.
Since this is the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with, I have to come to terms with the fact that the only cat we can ever buy/adopt will look like this:
Its Dr. Evil's cat from Austin Powers. Or a gremlin. Its horrible!
Woe's me. The reality of marriage now settles upon me...A lifetime of hairless cats.
Posted by lexzog at Sun, December 16 | Comments (0)
Fri, December 7
Buffalo Rant
I'm sitting in the Buffalo airport coming home from a business trip (man it is COLD here). Seriously, the most exciting thing in this town was the five and dime I went to last night where I bought a pound of old fashioned candies. To waste time I purchased an internet connection in the airport, and found that J sent me this:
Laughing out loud.
It's been a nutty couple of weeks. I am beginning to regret that I have not been planning my wedding since I was five like some of these girls on the internet. They have it all figured out: The dress, the venue, the appetizers, the cake. J and I have NO IDEA yet where we're having our big day or when it will be. Our plan A got totally derailed (mom didn't like the idea of her high heels digging into the grass at the outdoor wedding we'd planned at Grandpa's farm. It worked out as in the end the farm would have been an insane amount of work for J to plan and really hard on the grandparents with all the people we wanted to invite.) Plan B, Jamaica, couldn't work because my other Grandpa "doesn't fly". Last weekend we went to Woodstock to look at a beautiful venue on a mountain. But when we did the math, it was over our budget. Sigh. Something will work out.
Last Friday was really awesome. We met up with my friend Julie-Anne and her boyfriend Andrei at his art studio in Chinatown. His art was beautiful and abstract (though I don't know if he would categorize it as abstract) and changed depending on how much we dimmed the lights. We drank champagne and closed our eyes as he put up each new painting so that we'd turn around and he would hear our immediate gut reactions to it. Afterward, they took us to some secret club that Andrei belongs to. Apparently it is a big celebrity hang out (more like famous writers, theatre actors, artists rather than say, Lindsay Lohan). What I liked about it was the decor and design. On the main floor were these huge tiffany blue seats built into the wall. Above the fireplace was a John Currin-like woman's portrait and over the bar there was a chandelier made of branches. Every room had a different vibe but overall the whole place was really cozy and warm and full of surprises.
The next day we went to Peekskill to see where J does his wood firings. I hung out and took lots of pictures of the stream that ran by the property and an abandoned house while J prepared and glazed his pieces. I stole a rice ball from one of the Japanese women who were glazing (I didn't know that that was part of someone's lunch!) It was so peaceful there. Then we drove on up to Brattleboro VT to a bed and breakfast. We were greeted not so happily by a crochety old man with an affinity for bright red shirts. When I said "nice to meet you" he said "how can you be sure?". Our friends met us for dinner there later and the man asked me what I'd like to drink. He was about to make himself a martini so I said I'd have the same. He asked me how I took mine, and I said "Dirty, with olives." He looked at my friend Alan and said, "What is that young woman talking about? What is it she wants? Listen, I make a martini two ways: With vodka or with gin. Which way would you prefer?"
Tonight we have a Hannuka party at a BBQ restaurant. Not my 1st pick after eating airport food two days in a row, but I'm looking forward to celebrating with friends.
Hopefully boarding soon!
Posted by lexzog at Fri, December 7 | Comments (0)