every day's a new dumb adventure
Rainy day urban adventures
This weekend I finished up all my chores and got a bunch of things crossed off my list. As a reward Randall and I were going to spend today on an adventure. We talked about heading to tomales bay for a hike and picnic and oysters, or just going up for a lovely drive and hike in the sonoma area. Last night I even bookmarked a few pages in the day hiker's guide to california state parks (a gift for donors) and dreamt up lunch concoctions. Sadly, when I woke and threw open the windows I was greeted with rainy sludge. Booooooo. So much for my plans. Instead I sat around pouting and waited for the cat in the hat to arrive. He never showed so I made new plans instead. Randall and I headed to hd buttercup for their big furniture sale. I didn't see anything I was looking for (or not looking for) but afterwards we hit up both sight glass coffee (it had been on my list) and goody goodie for treats. Yah i know, I've been pigging it on cookies lately, but goody goodie puts kettle corn in theirs and I never have the chance to swing by there so took advantage of the opportunity while I could.
In other news, it's supposed to be nice the rest of the week. Go figure.
Ps. This photo says it all. Randall thinks I'm nuts.
In other news, it's supposed to be nice the rest of the week. Go figure.
Ps. This photo says it all. Randall thinks I'm nuts.
Au natural moonface
I need a haircut something fierce. When my bangs get long I stop straightening my hair because it just doesn't work out with the wavybang thing (and straightening those lasts like an hour). So this is me and my moonface and my I went to bed with wet hair and woke up and didn't run a brush through it look.
Ps. Randall says I look weird here but he can't figure out why. I think it's the moonface. Can someone explain to me how I weigh the same each year and yet my face keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger? I thought gravity worked the other way...
Ps. Randall says I look weird here but he can't figure out why. I think it's the moonface. Can someone explain to me how I weigh the same each year and yet my face keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger? I thought gravity worked the other way...
The life domestic (my house smells delicious)
This morning I dropped Randall off at caltrain and decided to find an adventure. Sadly, I wasn't feeling that adventurous, and just ended up at the gym. After a 2 episode workout it was time to run some errands. I was still in my workout clothes (juju would've been appalled), but I had to pick up the bubbles for thanksgiving and some stuff for the house. Apparently I was really tired because I also felt the need to test out new pillows.
Once the errands were run, I headed home to start dinner. It was only 1pm, but I was doing a slow cooked citrus-spice beef stew. It's a recipe I made up (beef stock, oj, aniseed, cumin, white pepper, garlic and then some) and it turned out pretty nice. It stewed for 7 hours, but I wish it could've gone a bit longer. While I was dicing up vegetables for the stew, I remembered the roast chicken leftovers in the fridge and decided to cook up a batch of chicken stock too. I'll use it next week to make some risotto.
After the cooking I did a proper vacation thing and napped. I actually didn't mean to, but it was cold and there was a new pillow and the couch looked cozy (it was).
When I woke up I bumbled about a bit, then picked up Randall from the train station. We came home and uncivilly ate our dinner (meaning in front of the tv catching up on walking dead), but I was feeling festive so I decide to keep cooking and whipped up some pumpkin yogurt bread with chocolate chips. It was a hacked together recipe and came out decently. The loaf (and straggler muffins) rose really ridiculously, but the taste was there. I wasn't sure what to expect, for whatever reason, I hate on recipes these days. I think I'm turning into morm.
Overall it was an adventure-less day, but there was lots of festive aromatic tasty foods, and that has to count for something, no?
Once the errands were run, I headed home to start dinner. It was only 1pm, but I was doing a slow cooked citrus-spice beef stew. It's a recipe I made up (beef stock, oj, aniseed, cumin, white pepper, garlic and then some) and it turned out pretty nice. It stewed for 7 hours, but I wish it could've gone a bit longer. While I was dicing up vegetables for the stew, I remembered the roast chicken leftovers in the fridge and decided to cook up a batch of chicken stock too. I'll use it next week to make some risotto.
After the cooking I did a proper vacation thing and napped. I actually didn't mean to, but it was cold and there was a new pillow and the couch looked cozy (it was).
When I woke up I bumbled about a bit, then picked up Randall from the train station. We came home and uncivilly ate our dinner (meaning in front of the tv catching up on walking dead), but I was feeling festive so I decide to keep cooking and whipped up some pumpkin yogurt bread with chocolate chips. It was a hacked together recipe and came out decently. The loaf (and straggler muffins) rose really ridiculously, but the taste was there. I wasn't sure what to expect, for whatever reason, I hate on recipes these days. I think I'm turning into morm.
Overall it was an adventure-less day, but there was lots of festive aromatic tasty foods, and that has to count for something, no?
Of old pals and vaulted factories
Oh what a day. This evening fresh guide hosted a party at saks fifth avenue. (Believe it or not, I occasionally shop there.) Overall it was a fun party, but the random highlight was when I ran into Russ. I hadn't seen him since the old tower days (over four years ago) and it was a nice surprise. Turns out one of his new coworkers is brothers with one of the fresh guide dudes. Talk about small world. Great to see you Russ, glad to hear you're doing well!
During the party, all of us had enough bubbly alcohol. At one point both Erin and I were double fisting and the bubbles actually made us believe that makeovers were a good idea. $30 lipsticks later we might have sobered up enough to realize our mistakes. However we were not sober enough to realize that cheesecake factory was a bad idea. We went with a large crew (thanks to stacia and Morgan for securing the tables) and it took for freaking ever. I have only been to cheesecake factory once before and I kind of hope to never go again. Our server was fantastic, but man that place is too much.
Afterwards heather dale and her pal magically appeared. It was great to see her again after all this time. All these old faces, it was like a surreal version of this is your life.
Oh and if you're wondering about the pic with Randall, he and I ran a bank errand this morning. We're fancy with a safe deposit box in a ye olde vault. Everytime we go there it's like we're in a ridiculous movie. But then again, my life feels that way too. Ridiculous until the end credits.
During the party, all of us had enough bubbly alcohol. At one point both Erin and I were double fisting and the bubbles actually made us believe that makeovers were a good idea. $30 lipsticks later we might have sobered up enough to realize our mistakes. However we were not sober enough to realize that cheesecake factory was a bad idea. We went with a large crew (thanks to stacia and Morgan for securing the tables) and it took for freaking ever. I have only been to cheesecake factory once before and I kind of hope to never go again. Our server was fantastic, but man that place is too much.
Afterwards heather dale and her pal magically appeared. It was great to see her again after all this time. All these old faces, it was like a surreal version of this is your life.
Oh and if you're wondering about the pic with Randall, he and I ran a bank errand this morning. We're fancy with a safe deposit box in a ye olde vault. Everytime we go there it's like we're in a ridiculous movie. But then again, my life feels that way too. Ridiculous until the end credits.
Lemongrass, cheesecake, and treasure hunts
Morm's house holds a lot of hidden treasures. Some of them, like the
seemingly overgrown grass which is actually lemongrass stalks, are
right under your noses. While others, the usual suspects like jewelry,
are squirreled away in the weirdest places.
This evening samshrew, morm, and I went on a hunt. I ended up with a
few nice things and a huge mountain of lemongrass. Afterwards we
helped morm eat a cheesecake even though she's not supposed to.
Somedays just end better that way.
seemingly overgrown grass which is actually lemongrass stalks, are
right under your noses. While others, the usual suspects like jewelry,
are squirreled away in the weirdest places.
This evening samshrew, morm, and I went on a hunt. I ended up with a
few nice things and a huge mountain of lemongrass. Afterwards we
helped morm eat a cheesecake even though she's not supposed to.
Somedays just end better that way.
Life is delicious
This morning miss anneh came back from her excursion to Iceland and
surprised me with a delicious kleinur. It's been six years since I
last had one and it was a super awesome treat. Anneh also brought me
back the weirdest chocolate bar topped with a strip of licorice. So
strange and yet so wonderful. I need to get back to the island.
After work, Erin and I headed out to off the grid. It was bananas
there. I have never seen it that busy before and a bunch of the trucks
were running out of food. Erin and I were really craving the bao truck
pork belly bun and decided to wait in line. Unfortunately when we were
about three people back, they announced they were out of pork belly.
We were sad and defeated, but had waited so long in line, we just went
with it. Then, miraculously, right as our orders (duck and tofu) were
coming up, they said they had a few more pork belly orders. I tried to
get our order swapped, but it was too late. Surprisingly though, the
awesome bao truck folks hooked us up and we were able to do the pork
belly dance! Life is indeed delicious.iceland
surprised me with a delicious kleinur. It's been six years since I
last had one and it was a super awesome treat. Anneh also brought me
back the weirdest chocolate bar topped with a strip of licorice. So
strange and yet so wonderful. I need to get back to the island.
After work, Erin and I headed out to off the grid. It was bananas
there. I have never seen it that busy before and a bunch of the trucks
were running out of food. Erin and I were really craving the bao truck
pork belly bun and decided to wait in line. Unfortunately when we were
about three people back, they announced they were out of pork belly.
We were sad and defeated, but had waited so long in line, we just went
with it. Then, miraculously, right as our orders (duck and tofu) were
coming up, they said they had a few more pork belly orders. I tried to
get our order swapped, but it was too late. Surprisingly though, the
awesome bao truck folks hooked us up and we were able to do the pork
belly dance! Life is indeed delicious.iceland
Shadowplay
The best part about coming home when it's dark is checking out the
shadows cast all over the ground.different
shadows cast all over the ground.different