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

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ... It looks like M and I might be getting back together.  Recently, we've had amazing times together.  And, he seems to be open to us going to counseling.  I am hoping both individual and couple.  BUT, I haven't had the inclination to look into it because.  well.  I am stressed out about the whole stupid Government Shutdown. I AM GETTING SHUTDOWN ZITS!  WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!?! As for the other guy I was casually dating (remember: the hot bad kisser?), I let him down easy. WHICH, brings me to the title of my new book idea: How to Let Him Down Easy by Not Returning His Phone Calls. I KID!  I did return his phone calls.  well, his text messages.  And I was all "this just isn't working for me."  Because it wasn't.  I don't get it.  He was super-hot. Smart.  Good job.  Nice guy. BUT, I wasn't all that into him.  *sigh*  I should have been.  Oh, well. I hav...

Good lord, kittens.  It's been awhile since I've filled you in on all the strange and wonderful things going on in my life. So, let's see ... Tap class has ended.  It was only 5 weeks long, but it was fun.  Most of my classmates are signing up for "Next Steps."  However, because that class starts at 8:30PM, I have registered to repeat "Intro."  It's like I'm being held back.  I'm in Remedial Tap.  Oh, well ... The "real" reason I'm staying in Intro is because I want to get home at a semi-reasonable hour on a worknight.  If I took Next Steps, I wouldn't get home until around 11.  And that is way too late for someone who has to wake up at 5:45 the next morning.  Tap class starts again on September 9th.  The day after I run a half-marathon.  Joy.  Yes.  I'm running the Parks Half Marathon on September 8th.  If you're local, come out to cheer me on.  If you are hyper-local, give me a ride to the starting l...

Good Afternoon, Kittens!  I hope you had a delightful Thanksgiving and are using the rest of the weekend to relax and exercise off all those excess calories you consumed ... as for me, my Thanksgiving holiday has been possibly one of the Best EVER! On Wednesday afternoon, I got some VERY  GOOD news (which I will be sharing later once everything is signed and official). THEN, M in Las Vegas texted asking if I would be home on Thursday, because he wanted to pick up the car. Um.  WHAT?  "Are you in town," I asked.  He said he would be but was driving from DC to his family's in NC.  CRAZY PANTS! Later that evening, another M (this one local) called saying he and a friend were in the neighborhood and could they stop by.  "Sure," I said. When they got here, the friend stayed in the car.  Weird.  But, whatever.  So M and I chatted for a minute.  And then ended up having superhot buttsecks while his friend sat in the car waiting ......

Sligo Creek before the Deluge Good Afternoon, Kittens! Well, Sandy has come and gone.  She tried to do her worst, but we persevered.  The power flickered once, but that was it.  Hurrah! So, how did I spend my day "working from home?" I'm so glad you asked ... I baked a pumpkin in my toaster oven. I sat on the sofa a lot ... except when a certain Ball o' Kitteh stole my spot. I ventured out into the wind and the rain to take a photo of the roaring torrent, Sligo Creek. I made Blue Hubbard Squash Risotto, using this recipe (minus the radicchio). Isabella and I celebrated when the radiators came on. Then, I headed up to K-Factor and the Canadian's apartment for an evening change of scenery. And, that was my day.  Good times for sure. Today, I am trying to be productive, but it's not happening.  Boo. *smooches*

Good Evening, Kittens! This past week has been chock full of fun and excitement!  Especially if you define "fun and excitement" as "feeling like Death Warmed Over!"  YAY! I contend that V from Philly gave me some sort of Deadly Philadelphia Germ.  He refutes that claim, because he has not been sick. Whatever.  Carrier. ANYWAY, I spent most of the week feeling like El Crapola.  The cold has been mostly in my chest.  Lots of coughing and hacking.  Not much sinus pain (huzzah for small favors).  And, thus, I did not do much. I did go to pottery class, where I threw two (future) mugs and a bowl. I also made two very yummy soups: black lentil/tomato/vegetable and thai red curry butternut squash (pictured above). This weekend, I have been feeling a bit better.  Still, I cancelled my planned daytrip to Philly to hang out with the fabulous Lora and Bossy.  I will see them -fer sure- when I run the Philadelphia Half Marathon in Nove...

Good Evening, Kittens! And, suddenly, it is Monday again.  How the heck does that keep happening?  Oh, well ... I am back to fill you in on all the fun and excitement of my weekend ... On Friday, after work, I had a date.  With someone new.  Let's call him "T" ... We went to El Chucho in Columbia Heights.  They have delicious margaritas.  He doesn't drink.  I had two.  They also make tacos and other foods ... which were pretty good.  He is also vegetarian. That is nice.  Dating vegetarians is easier than dating Omnivores.  I'm sorry.  But, it is.  He drove me home.  We kissed good night.  Good times. On Saturday, I woke up (eventually) and went to the Whole Foods.  And, then, I went to the Likker Store.  But it wasn't open yet.  So, I stopped by Marshall's.  Where I found a pair of Lucky Jeans.  In my size.  For only $35.  I bought them. Then, I went back to the Likker...

Good Sunday Morning, Kittens.  I can't believe I haven't updated all week.  Remember when I used to update daily/several times a day?  Yeah, me neither.  ANYWAYz, work has been work.  Everything is spiraling down into a cesspit of despair.  One colleague put in her two week notice, and the rest of us are frantically looking for different jerbz.  I don't think my situation is as shaky as some others', but, still, the handwriting is on the wall ... Besides work stress, I did go running 3 times this week.  Yay!  I am thinking of waking up early in the morning to run, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not.  It would involve me getting up around 4:20AM.  Which means, I will need to go to bed around 8:30 or 9.  That seems ridiculously early. I may give it a try for a week or two to see how it works.  I'll let you know. On Thursday, I took a long lunch and met Carolyn and Kristen.  We haven't hung out togethe...

Good Evening, Kittens!  I hope your weekend (and the last of last week) was full of fun and excitement and delicious foodz.  Mine sure was! On Thursday, I made like an animated rat and made ratatouille.  The photo on the left is the Pre-Cooked Ratatouille.  I found a recipe in my Mark Bittman cookbook, How to Cook Everything Vegetarian , which included instructions for a stovetop version.  It was super easy.  And really yummy.  Yay! Plus, it used up almost all of my CSA veggies for the week. On Friday, I *finally* had my hairz did.  I missed my last two appointments because of my back and the training I went to.  SO, it had been almost 12 weeks since my last cut.  UGH.  My hairs were driving me crazy.  On the plus side, I suppose, is that you can now see what my actual natural hair color is ... So dark!  So gray! Fortunately, an hour or two later, I was restored to my full blond glory ... My Natural Color...

Good evening, Kittens!   And Happy Monday (Thank goodness it is almost over)! I had a superfun weekend, even though I spent most of it on my back (and not in the *bow chicka bow bow* kind of way).  During the times when I felt I could be vertical, I was very productive.  Yay me! On Friday evening, I watched the latest Muppet movie, The Muppets .  It was cute.  Funny.  Sentimental.  I say everyone should go out and watch it now! On Saturday, I did some major cooking ... even though I'm not sure if it is still "cooking" if you don't turn on the stove ... First, I pickled jalapenos (see photo).  I also made gazpacho.  And, then, I made vegan pesto, which I suppose could also justifiably be called "basil puree."  I was texting with M that day and was telling him about the jalapeno pickling process and he wrote back, "Mmmm.  jalapenis." Which I believe should now enter the World Lexicon and mean "a very HOT guy,"  a...

Good Morning, Kittens! As further proof that (if there is a God) S/He hates me, on Tuesday my back was almost entirely pain-free.  Not 100% better, mind you, but close ... maybe like 95%.  I was ecstatic.  I made all sorts of plans for the weekend ... like going for a short run.  And, well, that was it.  I was going to get back into running. And, then, Wednesday happened.  I awoke at my regular time (5:15AM) and tried to get out of bed.  "Tried" being the operative word.  WTF?  My back was in excruciating pain ... AGAIN!  SRSLY.  I am totally over this whole Bad Back Thing.  At least this time, I knew to get up and move around.  But, still, I have been in mucho pain the past couple of days.  I have left work early every day just because I can't stand it and I want to come home and be horizontal.  Hello, Heating Pad, my old friend.  I've come to lie on you again ... But enough about the sharp stabby...

Good evening, Kittens. I know, I know. I haven't blogged all week.  BUT, in my defense, I think you would've gotten tired of posts that were all "my back hurts" and "work sucks" and "did I mention that my back hurts?" So, consider yourself lucky ... Of course, my back *still* hurts.  I am taking the Miracle Pills and using the heating pad and trying to do some stretches.  Let's hope it gets better soon.  I am really tired of walking around in constant pain. In other, non-back-related news, this weekend, I made pickles for the first time.  It was so easy!  and they are so delicious!  I used this recipe and some white cucumbers from our CSA farm share. I also made this super-yummy lemony green bean salad (using green beans from our CSA farm share): And, today, I drove to the pottery studio and made this: It's handbuilt.  I trimmed a vase on the wheel and quickly realized that bending over the wheel was painful.  I doub...

Happy Friday, Kittens! And, seriously, what happened to this week?  It started, like, yesterday.  And, now, it is over.  Sheesh. So, Monday, was my regular day off.  Yay for flex-time!  I went to the Trader Joe's.  And, then, I went to the pottery studio.  I made this .  And this .  And this . On Tuesday, after work, it was my turn to pick up our CSA Farm Share Veggies.  See pictured chard (which I later cooked with olives and lemon.  So tasty!).  I also got some green squash, some sort of onion thing, broccoli, and some red-skinned potatoes.  Hail to the Redskins, bitches! And, I had to attend our monthly co-op board meeting.  Joy. On Wednesday, there was laundry. And, yesterday, I had to make a cole slaw for today's work barbeque.  I made a red cabbage, hot and sour slaw.  It looked like this: Also, during the week, I did some Major shopping.  I bought some Cute New Shoes (surprised...

Good Evening, Kittens. After my rather boozy weekend and the interesting way brunches have been ending for me recently, I decided to declare this week (and maybe next) International Liver Resting Week(ish) 2012! Yes, I'm going off the sauce for a little while and drinking delicious smoothies (like the blueberry, apple, spinach, carrot, cashew one pictured) every day. Mmm. Smoothies. My liver has been working overtime and needs a vacation, fer sure. I think I'm going to wait until after the Parkway Classic 10-Miler on 22 April to fall off the wagon again. That way I can also use the "I'm training" excuse for the whole Not Drinking Thing. On the plus side, K mentioned that he is also giving up the boozy deliciousness for the week. Apparently, he, too, had a little too much fun this past weekend. We're going out to dinner on Friday. Hm. What is dinner out without booze even like? So odd ... In other news, pottery class yesterday was rather uninspiring. ...

Good Morning, Kittens! and, weeeeeee're back. Who missed me the most? So, the four-day weekend was Chock Full o' FUN and ADVENTURE ... actually, I spend most of it like Isabella, curled up on the sofa. I watched movies. I knat. I drank. like. a. fucking. fish. Oh, hello, Glass of Wine, who is helping me type. Thursday (aka Thanksgiving), I got up EARLY (like 6AM) to run the Turkey Chase 10K with some of my neighbors. I finished in 1:03:22, which is not too bad considering the course is HILLY and it was COLD and WET out. After the run, we went to K-Factor's for a delicious brunch. Mimosas! Coffee with Candy Cane Vodka! Brunch ended, and I headed downstairs to nap and knit and nap and knit and cook. I had Thanksgiving Dinner at my neighbors' apartment. I made braised butternut squash with pesto pasta: and spicy sauteed brussels sprouts with hazelnuts: Nomz. Friday and Saturday were lots of the same - food, booze, knitting, naps, shopping, food, booze, naps, knitt...

Good morning, kittens! My weekend was chock full of fun and excitement. Friday night, I went to bed early. And Saturday, I didn't even leave the house. On Sunday, I left the house once (to go the grocery store). Mm. Hm. I am living the Crazy (sub)Urban Life! I did accomplish a few things during my convalescence though ... On Saturday, I made Garlicky Red Chili Sauce: Here's the recipe I used (adapted from the New York Times): 2 habenero chili peppers 1 red bell pepper, roasted and roughly chopped 4 small cloves garlic, roughly chopped 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1. Wearing rubber/latex gloves, roughly chop the chilies. Combine all ingredients in a small pot over medium-high heat. Once mixture is simmering, reduce heat to low, cover and continue to simmer until peppers are tender, 7 to 10 minutes. Do not inhale vapors; they will sting. 2. Transfer mixture to a blender and puree. Pour into a medium jar and allow to cool uncovered. Cover tigh...

Good Morning, Kittens ... Behold! Baba ganouj (noush? noosh?) I made it! I am so clever. Actually, my friend, Nida, is so clever. I followed a slightly modified version of a recipe she gave me. I have pictures, but dead camera batteries. Sorry. Anyway, the (modified) recipe ... In pan, add some olive oil and saute three cloves garlic and a chili pepper. When soft, add peeled and diced eggplant. Cover. Cook until soft and mushy. (Stir occasionally) While cooking, decided to add juice from one lemon. Once soft, transfer to blender and puree the living shit out of it. Pour into bowl and cool in fridge. Then, add more lemon juice (if needed), salt, and a couple spoons of tahini and yogurt (to taste). It was delicious. Is delicious, actually ... I have baba ganouj galore. Yesterday, I also went to pottery. Here are pictures. What I made in class on Monday night: What I made in open studio yesterday afternoon: and There you have it. Plans for today include lunch followed by Museum Da...

Good morning, Kittens! This sudden cool spell we are having is not making my basil plants very happy. So last night, I made pesto. First, I made it with sweet basil. Yum. Although it was a bit too salty. Then, I decided to go all crazy and use purple basil. Surprise. Purple Basil Pesto is kinda gray (see photo). Here's what I did ... 1 cup purple basil leaves 2 cloves garlic 1 thai dragon chili pepper (green) approx 1/4 cup of grated fulvi romano approx 2 tbsp (maybe more) pepitas (pumpkin seeds) 1/3 cup olive oil salt and puree the livin' Hell out of it. The end. Although it looks a little unappetizing, it tastes pretty good. Not much else happened. I did some co-op board stuff. I called about a job. I knitted. I watched movies. I had Martini Time. Typical day in the life. I didn't watch the Mad Men episodes. Might do that today. No other plans. Maybe laundry. Oh, I haz teh exciting life. Have a great day. *smooches*

Good Morning, Kittens. It's actually Sunday afternoon (hurray for post-scheduling) and I am ... irritated. So, I thought I would pound out a blog post rather than sit and fume and drink (more). I had a lovely day on Friday. SCGB joined me for lunch at Panera (I had a gift card!) ... although he only had a muffin and coffee. Then, after much internal -and external- dithering, I braved the impending storms and headed into DC to the National Gallery of Art. I wandered around snapping photos. The entire set is here . I don't know why, but this painting reminded me of Marve (Muinamir on Twitter): Perhaps it's the eyes. The NGA has an amazing exhibit right now, the Art of Power . I felt the totally coolest part was towards the end of the exhibit, where they had portraits alongside the actual armor worn by the subject of the portrait. Totes fascinating. The catalog was $60, though. So VUBOQ no buy. On the way back to the metro station, I stopped by the American Art Museu...