Vibrant.(Still) Unrepentant. Badass. Old. Queer

Good morning, Kittens! So, Monday at Pottery Class was good. I made a large, shallow fruit bowl like thing. I think it will be pretty stunning if it turns out (meaning, I don't screw it up at some point). I left class earl because I was sooooooo tired (after sleeping poorly Sunday night). Tuesday, I struggled through work. The day seemed to drag on and on and on and on and on. But, eventually, it was Go Home Time. And I arranged to meet M in Downtown Silver Spring. We walked back to my place, talked, caught up, had a good time. I made dinner - Red Curry Sweet Potato and Black Bean Stew over red and black rice. It was pretty tasty. Then, we watched the best worst movie (possibly) ever, Burlesque and ate Haagen-Daaz. After the movie, we went to bed ... and didn't get much sleep (if you know what I mean *wink wink nudge nudge*). It was great to see him again. And, I realized how good being with him makes me feel ... It helped me put my wacky dating life into perspective...

Good morning, Kittens!  Happy Monday!   Friday, after work, I was feeling kinda like box wine and frozen pizza.  So, I made pit stops at the likker store and the Whole Foods.  I spent the night drinking, knitting, and watching DVDs.  I started watching the PBS series "Downton Abbey" ... It is soooooo good.  OMG!  I only saw the first two episodes.  I can't wait to watch the rest.  My favorite line so far was when the Dowager Countess said, "Weekend?  What's that?"   Saturday, I went for a 7 mile run.  Then, I cleaned a bit before meeting SCGB, K-Factor, and the Canadian for brunch at Eggspectation.  After brunch, I bought a new pair of running shoes .  Went home. Cleaned more. Around 3PM, Tomokito and I headed into DC for "Mommy's Night Out."  We met SCGB and Mike (Who Makes Cakes) for many margaritas at Lauriol Plaza.  Then, SCGB left, and the three of us walked to 9 (the bar formerly known as Mova and Halo) for 2-for-1 one cocktails.  St...

Well, not really.  That phrase popped into my head a few minutes ago ... AND,   GOOD AFTERNOON, KITTENS!!!   I thought I would take a few moments to answer a few questions that have been asked in the comments (or on Facebook?  or Twitter?  Somewhere, I know someone asked me some of these questions at some point).  And, I can't remember the exact questions either, but they had to do with one of two things: (1) the new rug and/or (B) the soup I made.   So, first, the new rug. It is fabulous.  I bought it online from Hautelook (which is one of those daily bargain feeder things, like Gilt or Groupon or something).  I do not know the maker/brand because I threw out the label.  Sorry.  But, the rug was totes cheap, only $240 (or so), marked down from over a $1000.  Yayz.   As for the soup, it was also fabulous.  I did not follow a recipe (who follows recipes for soup?  I mean, really.  Soup is so easy).  I used, 1 butternut squash (peeled and cubed), 2 small apples (diced, not...

Good morning, my sweet sweet furry purry little kittens!  How are we doing this fine (if slightly drippy rainy dreary) day?   Last night was my first pottery class for the Fall session.  YAYz!  The bad news is that the class scheduler people made a mistake and the class is mixed beginners and intermediates.  UGH.  Which means I won't have much time with the instructor because she will be working mostly with the pathetic beginners.  The class is all women except for me and this Korean guy (who is cute) ... but who totally pushed my "Grrr.  Go By Your Real Name" Buttons, when the instructor asked him how to pronounce his name and -without even telling her- he said, "You can call me James."  Um.  Great.  But that wasn't the question.   Now, I get that some names are difficult to pronounce.  However, no one will ever say it correctly if you don't bother to teach them.  There is an Indian woman in the class with a rather long, complicated name, but she w...

Good morning, Kittens!   What a weekend!  On Friday, after work, I met C at Matchbox in Chainatown.  The booze and pizza were delicious.  Because my horrible tongue canker sores were still horrible at that point, I had a beer (followed later by a glass of wine).  Then, we headed back to C's place for a night (and morning) o' fun.  I still don't think much is going to happen with C over the long-term.  For the short-term, I am enjoying the now.    Saturday, after C drove me home, I went for a four-mile run.  Then, I blobbed.  And knitted.  Around 3, I left to meet Ray in DC for drinks and dinner.  We started at Bar Dupont, which has a pretty decent happy hour.  From 4 to 6, their specialty cocktails are $6.  Suh-WEET.  The crowd was rather eclectic - typical hotel business types, some families with kids, and barely above drinking age gay African-American boys.  After 3 cocktails (each), we walked up the street to Sette, where we had yummy pizza and a bottle of wine.  ...

Good morning, kittens!   TGIF, fer sure.  Right? It has been a long week (even though I was off on Monday), and I am glad it is coming to a close.   I should have gone for a run last night; however, a cold front was moving in.  It was rapidly cooling off and a bit drippy spitty rainy, so I opted to stay in and cook dinner.  Which I did.  Mushrooms, sugar peas, yellow bell pepper, and tofu stir-fried in a soy/mustard sauce over red & black rice.  It was tasty.   I also discovered that hot green tea makes my Horrible Tongue Canker Sores feel better.  I have been drinking LOTS of green tea since then.   While I was cooking, C texted to see if I wanted to come over.  His text was a little confusing, saying that it was a bad night for Happy Hour.  So, I assumed that he had happy hour plans which were cancelled.   After some internal dithering, I decided to go over for a couple of hours.  It turns out that his text was referring to me going to happy hour (which is odd, since...

Good morning, Kittens!   One of us is having a hard time waking up this morning ... and I think it is me!   I have these really painful canker sores on the bottom of my tongue.  I am almost positive they are from an allergic reaction to a toothpaste I started using a few days ago (and have since stopped using), Tom's of Maine Cinnamon & Clove something.  A friend suggested it might be a reaction to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent used by Tom's of Maine.  However, I use other flavors of their toothpaste, which also contain SLS, and have not had canker sores.  I'm wondering if I am reacting to the cinnamon or clove oil in the toothpaste.  That would be weird.   Anyway, it hurts to talk, to eat, and to drink.  So it hasn't been a fun few days.  Fingers crossed that these sores heal quickly!   In other news, my new rug arrived!  YAY!  Here is the old rug .   And this is the new one .  It's very bumpy, like getting a foot massage with every s...

Good morning, kittens!   This morning, as I munched on my delicious Asian pear ($0.89*  each at Trader Joe's), I read an article/blogpost/thing on the WaPoDotCom, " The Starvation of America's Middle Class ," which led me over to the USDA's Food Desert Locator . Fascinating.  I had no idea about the inaccessibility of food to a great number of people, even in the booming megalopolitan*** DC Metro Area. It made me want to eat.   So I gnawed on my Asian pear and thought about apples  ... because in a totally random early morning textual conversation w/ M, we were chatting about disco music.   And pancakes.   and he sent me this video .   I think I should go to the Farmer's Market this weekend.   And, that's pretty much been my morning.  Last night, I ate a veggie burger and watched "Red."  It was pretty cute (the movie, not the veggie burger ... although, I guess, as far as veggie burgers go on the attractiveness scale, this particul...

Good afternoon, Kittens!  Happy Tuesday!   I had a very nice long weekend ... although there was some (minor) drama with C. Friday night, I drove over to his place.  Google Maps sent me some weird way and I had to drive all around trying to find the entrance to his complex.  Once I finally found it and gave the guard the apartment number I was visiting, the guard told me that they started towing at midnight.  What?  I was confused.  I mean, they had my car information.  But, whatever. So, when I finally got to C's apartment, I was a little snippy.  My bad.  And I had to leave at midnight. Which made me wonder what was the point of even going over there.   Saturday, I worked on de-cluttering my place.  So far, I have 2 bags of clothes to donate ... with much more still to go.  In the evening, I metro'ed into DC to go running with a friend.  We ran about 7 miles.  Then, we had frozen pizza (nom!).  I ended up crashing at his place.  Sunday morning, I made breakfast (pancakes...

Good morning, Kittens.   Yesterday, I had a fun happy hour with a friend.  We went to Molly Malone's in Eastern Market and drank lots of beerz.  Then, I went home and went to bed.  Good times.   Today is a co-worker's last day.  So sad.  We are having a little going away shindig for her this afternoon.  Cake!  Punch!  And probably some tacky ass plaque that I had to contribute $20 for.  *ugh*   My original plan for after work was to go running with a friend on the Mall; however, the current weather situation (never-ending torrential downpour) and a change in his schedule put a damper on that.  So, instead, I was thinking of organizing an impromptu happy hour for after work today, but -now- it looks like I *might* be hanging out with C.  We'll see ...   Most of this weekend is going to be filled with errand-running and cleaning.  I have this grand idea to de-clutter my apartment.  I need to make use of M's car, filling it full of my crap and hauling it to the du...

Good morning, kittens!   I think it's the rain, but my mood has not been stellar lately.  At least I'm blaming it on the rain ... and the stars that shine at night.  Things with C have been stagnating.  I think mostly I'm upset that he didn't go to Philadelphia with me ... and I am wondering if he's trying to distance himself from me emotionally.  Our Sunday date after I returned from Philadelphia never happened.  And, last night, he texted to see if I wanted to do dinner and drinks tonight.  Unfortunately, I had already made happy hour plans.  I suggested getting together Saturday or Sunday.  He said no to Saturday (with no explanation ...) and he was unsure about Sunday. I feel the drifting apart happening.  And I don't seem to be overly upset about it.  However, it is on my mind.  I'm pretty sure the end is near.  Oh, well.   I have the inkling of an idea for a short story that I need to get down on paper ... maybe tonight.  It will be loosely based ...

Good Evening, Kittens! What a superfuntastic weekend I had. On Thursday, after work, I met C for a fun-filled dinner at Jaleo. He had never been there before. The food was fabulous. And we had lots of sangria. Yum. Then, I had to go home to pack. On Friday morning, I boarded the train to the City of Brothers Who Love! Yay! Once there, I got on the trolley (they go underground!) and met the most fabulous Lora at the Continental for lunch (and martinis!). Lora had to go back to work (boo), I went to the hotel. Then, I walked around for a bit. And maybe had some gelatto ... and then I might have had a cocktail . I staggered back to the hotel and waited for David to arrive. he finally did! Yay! We rushed back downtown to catch Lora's Improv show. It was fun. and funny! After the show, David and I went to some restaurant/bar and had food and cocktails. The next day, we had a delicious brunch (with a slightly out of it waiter) and went shopping! yay...

Good Morning, Kittens.   This morning, around 4:30, I awoke, checked the clock, and thought "SWEET!  I still have an hour or so to sleep."  During that hour, I had this dream where I was meeting my boyfriend's family.  We were standing underneath the deck to my house when it started to shake.  "Earthquake!" and we all ran out into the yard ... where we were dive bombed by big exploding balsa-wood gliders (remember those?).  "What a weird dream," I thought after I got up.   Later, on NPR, they announced that around 5:10AM there had been a 3.4 aftershock.  I wonder if I felt it in my dream.  That would be KA-razeeeee.   Anyway, I went on a book buying spree last night for my nook.  I recently cashed in some credit card points for a $100 Barnes and Noble gift card.  And, since I finished reading "Emma" yesterday on the commute home, I thought I should buy some new books.   I bought:   "In War Times" and "This Shared D...