don't stop me if you've heard this before. . . .

We took a mini road trip yesterday. It was the usual route to New Hampshire and we passed several signs that always make me laugh.

We passed the Stone Zoo sign and yet again a picture of a zoo dedicated to pet rocks popped into my head. I pictured all the unwanted pet rocks being saved and put in appropriate habitats there. I know that's not true, but come on, you know it's a more exciting picture than just another zoo.

We also passed the shriner auditorium and (this is probably soo wrong) I chuckled to myself thinking if you were going to ever scream fire as a joke in any theater, this is probably not the right one!

A bonus to this road trip was when we passed a "passive park" yes, that's exactly how it described itself on a sign. It said something like this is a passive park, no dogs or ball playing allowed. The sign went on quite a bit more but since we were driving by I didn't have time to read it all. The idea of a park with so many rules calling itself passive made me think it was more like a passive aggressive park. . . .

I'll have one of everything

We went to Rock Bottom last night for dinner. I have never been incredibly impressed by them. They're as good as any chain restaurant really. . . Last night was incredibly fun though. My group ordered their beer sampler. It came with one of every beer they make plus the bartender's choice.

When we discussed where to go last night and rock bottom had been suggested I fought for it because I'd seen their beer sampler earlier and had wanted to try it. When we got to the restaurant though, I didn't see any beer samplers and I didn't see it on the menu. So I TOTALLY chickened out on ordering it. I got mild flak from my group about it and when the waiter came back to check on us someone else ordered the sampler for the table. It was soo fun!

It was almost like being a kid and having a new box of crayons delivered to a table with a paper table cloth. The beers were such pretty colors and each one came in an over sized shot glass. We each took a sip and then divvied up the left overs according to each's favorite. Leaving the stout to sit in the corner by himself (there's a good joke in there somewhere about being stout and relegated to corners but I can't figure it out right now). I got the IPA which had a bitter aftertaste that reminded three of us of grapefruit juice and one of us just thought the others were nuts.

How much did a beer sampler cost? you ask. $6.97! I thought it was such a steal. I was convinced we should always get the sampler. It was brilliant. Everyone else seemed to think that it was probably better to pay $5.00 and get an entire glass of what they liked. Clearly they know nothing about diversification!

I <3 Sprecher

So my first real true love when it comes to root beer is Henry Weinhard's. Consider yourself lucky if you live in the west or in Chicago (the one city outside of the west where they supply their root beer). There's a lovely honey flavor in Henry Weinhard's and no minty herbiness that gets in the way. I had really great communication with someone from Henry Weinhards awhile back sadly the upshot of that communication was that they're not in Boston and they don't plan to expand.

A few weeks ago the New York Times ran an article about root beer. They mentioned a website that my boy is now hooked on: http://rootbeerbarrel.com/ (did you know that there's a root beer producer just outside his home town?! guess what we're stocking up on when we go visit his family in September :)). Also in the NYT article they discuss a root beer produced by Sprecher Brewing. My friend Christina who tends to be more on the ball with these sorts of things sent away for the root beer (and got a lovely mix that also included orange cream soda that my boy thoroughly enjoyed as well). She gave us each a bottle of the root beer and last night we split one bottle (and by split I mean I let my boy have one sip and then I drank the rest -- no easy feat since it's 16 oz).

I. LOVE. Sprecher. While I still love Henry Weinhard, Sprecher has a similar flavor to the one I love AND it comes in 16oz bottles (larger than that if you're actually in Wisconsin, then you can get the 1/4 and 1/2 barrels -- you lucky wisconsonians!!!). I checked the price for sending the bottles to Alaska and it was a little pricey, but if you're only sending to Massachusetts, the price for the soda AND the shipping comes out to about $2.00 a bottle. If you figure that you get 16oz bottles instead of the normal 12 or 13 that comes in cans it's actually not that bad a price (and if you compare it to actual beer, you're coming out way ahead :)). I highly recommend looking into purchasing some of this lovely root beer if you're in the lower 48, it's well worth the expense. Also, since the article, it looks like stores in NY are actually stocking the soda so perhaps it's only a matter of time before Boston starts stocking it too :).

Jack and the tomato stalk

So we checked on our tomatoes last night. While our other friend is up to two pints of cherry tomatoes, we have only one close to ripe. My boy ended up cutting down several long branches that had green tomatoes on them. Why? Because the tomato plants, instead of putting their energy toward ripening their fruit so that we can partake in the delicious juiciness of home grown tomatoes, are growing absolutely enormous. There are at least three plants that are taller than I am and at least a foot over the 54 inch supports we bought for them (if not two, I want to bring our tall friend over and have him stand next to them!). My boy thinks they're trying to reach the sun since they're in a slightly shady section of the yard. I am starting to think we're on our way to finding a golden goose. My boy prefers the golden tomatoes that we were supposed to have though, so, as I said, he cut the plants back last night hoping to encourage them to re-focus their energies.

Oh, yes, that's right, I am totally counting this as a post even though all I did was talk about tomatoes!

Welcome to Fantasy Island

My boy shouted da plane da plane awhile ago and I looked at him like the freak that he is. He said "what? it's from fantasy island." I continued to stare at him and he said, "you know, fantasy island. . . ." The thing is, I don't, well didn't really. I watched my first episode last night. I am in the process of watching my third episode now. Perhaps it's because I only watch them late at night, or perhaps it's because this is actually "quality television" but I really like the show so far. I think the stories are rather inventive. Yes, they all end happily and you can kind of guess the endings to some. But still, overall, I really like it! If you haven't seen any episodes, it's worth a try.

Shout out for South End Flowers

I am not actually sure why they're called South End Flowers because they are worlds closer to the North End than to the South End. Though they may seem directionally challenged, they're still a really nice shop with the most friendly, soft dog ever (in case flowers and nice people weren't enough to sway you).

They're very good about working within your budget and listening to you when you explain you want something crazy like as many orange flowers as you can (not that I would have first hand experience being that crazy person :)). When I needed pink gerbera daisies STAT, they sent for them from another store and had them there by the end of the day. When I order corsages and boutonnieres they are extremely competitively priced and look lovely.

They have a lovely outdoor market in the Custom House Courtyard this summer and their store is across the street. You can also order online or call them and tell them your crazy ideas. I am a huge, huge fan so I thought I would post and tell people (Besides, now it looks like a blog again ;)).

A Bad Blogger

So I was told this weekend that my blog is essentially considered a "dead link" which is mildly sad. Especially since I think of blogs so often as my lifeline out of boredom. I can see where one might get the impression that my blog is a dead link what with me posting only about once a month at this point.

Here are some things I have thought about posting but haven't.

1. Much sadness!!!! The Incredibly great Garlic that I LOVE LOVE LOVE from Trader Joe's is no longer sold there and no longer will be ever as far as I can tell.

I so loved this garlic that I had wanted to figure out how to grow it myself so I wouldn't be dependent on having to go to trader Joe's to enjoy it. In researching growing this garlic I realized how hard it was to find bulbs to grow and I couldn't figure out if I could just plant them from the actual heads I bought from Trader Joe's. I had decided stocking up at Trader Joe's was the best bet.

When I went last week to get some I was so sad to find out they don't carry it anymore. But that was ok, I was willing to fight for it. I was willing to blog and email and convince other people who are easily intimidated (or swayed) by me to email them too and tell Trader Joe's how incredible the product was and how they should bring it back. I told one of the guys at Trader Joe's about this and he was terribly encouraging. He said the wasabi mayo had been brought back twice due to popular demand.

Sadly, the death knell was sounded this week. Someone from Trader Joe's called to tell me that they were no longer carrying the garlic and had no plans to carry it in the future because it was imported from China and their customers had voiced concern over products from china. So my favorite garlic is gone forever. I hope that a vampire comes and gets the buyer for trader joe's, just to show him!

2. I have moved. I have put off announcing it here for almost a month because I kept thinking I would be unpacked and I could show pictures and do some "splaining" as Ricky Ricardo might say. It hasn't happened though. I am hoping that since my friend is visiting in August, it will be unpacked enough for some pictures then and I'll write a full post at that point.

3. I am now the president of Chelsea Community Kitchen's Board. It's been sort of a challenge already . . . I think the greatest act of my presidency so far is commissioning a logo from my boy. I mean doesn't that look cool:

(and in case anyone cares, this blog in no way represents the CCK's beliefs or views nor is it endorsed or supported by CCK in any way so if you're unhappy with the blog, take it up with me, and don't blame CCK -- I am sure CCK would not support wishing vampires on people for example).

4. I just finished reading Water for Elephants and, while I thought the ending was a little too neat and quick, I still really liked the book. Also, I realized at one point as I was reading the book under the elephant lamp (which much to my boy's disappointment is what I continually refer to as our first purchase together) in the living room. I promise I'll enclose a picture when I take those pictures of the apt. Also in that same room, my boy lined up a bunch of elephants a friend from Africa gave me. I also found this article from the New York Times that I thought was fun: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/30/dining/30circ.html?_r=1&oref=slogin I've realized I've become semi obsessed with circuses.

5. Another obsession I have had of late is reading http://www.weddingbee.com/ I started when I was at the height of boredom because it's a good site for being quickly and consistently updated (as I said, blogs are a lifeline for me :)). I am sort of tapering off as the bees I liked are marrying off, but it has certainly made me think about weddings A LOT MORE. The fact that I am currently obsessed with circuses and the fact that every wedding seems to be a circus has made me embrace a circus theme for a wedding (you know if and when and all that).

My mother should be happy at one point she informed me her two dogs would have to be included in a wedding ceremony if I had one so now they can wear tutus etc. and be included :). I think people think I am kidding about a circus themed wedding but unless my obsession with the circus cools, I am almost positive that's what I'm going to do. I mean I even have brilliant (I think) ideas about what I want to include food wise etc.

6. I am not actually engaged. And no, my boy doesn't seem terribly worried about my obsession. Since two weeks into our relationship I've planned both our wedding and our break up. I think he's ok with my random planning as long as it stays evenly balanced ;). Besides, who wouldn't want a wedding reception with cotton candy and popcorn -- cheap and soo yummy!

7. I think that's all for random musings.