Don't you see why he needs the kitchenaid food tray?!
He still managed to make quite a bit.
mmmm!
Okay, that concludes our pictorial history.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Update
I figured after the last picture I'd posted I should add a couple more. These are from the day my boy made breakfast sausage.
Don't you see why he needs the kitchenaid food tray?!
He still managed to make quite a bit.
Don't you see why he needs the kitchenaid food tray?!
He still managed to make quite a bit.
Sweet (Italian Sausage) Nothings. . . .
My boy who seems quiet and unflappable is also extremely passionate. His passion is for meat. For his birthday I got him the meat grinder and sausage stuffer attachments for the kitchenaid mixer (I swear he's only dating me because I have a kitchenaid mixer -- an item I have now come to associate with barbie -- it's expensive to buy in the first place and then it needs all these freakin' attachments that are far too expensive, the sausage stuffer retails for $12.99 and it's essentially a giant frosting tip!! but this far too long already parenthetical phrase is a post for another time).
So far he's just made breakfast sausage, but the sausage making kit I got for him had natural hog casings which means that the sausage is a little large for breakfast sausage. He's been discussing this problem with me at various times and went so far as to print a 50 page sausage supply catalog that he showed me. Today he even sent me this link "for the next time we make breakfast sausage." I pretend to be interested and supportive, because, as has been pointed out numerous times, I obsess about seemingly insane things as well.
We're having a "laid back bbq" on the fourth --as in I have enough things going on in my life, let's for once not over-do it and just have something basic and chill. Today he's sent me a number of links for things that would make "our" grilling (another obsession of his) life better. He's planning on grinding his own beef for the hamburgers and so he sent me a link for the Kitchenaid food tray attachment something that would make meat grinding go faster. Then he began toying with the idea of making his own hot dogs. We have the seasoning kit for it. He thinks that the casings I bought might be too large though. He has spent all afternoon researching alternative casings. First he worried about using natural casings, asking if I thought people would be bothered by it if we used natural casings. I pointed out that most people have a don't ask don't tell policy toward hot dogs in general so he'd probably be pretty safe as long as he didn't bring it up in the first place. Then he asked if I think 3/4 of an inch diameter sounds about right for hot dog casings. I said I thought that most hot dogs were at least an inch, but I didn't know. That's when he let me know he thought he was going to go with this:
So far he's just made breakfast sausage, but the sausage making kit I got for him had natural hog casings which means that the sausage is a little large for breakfast sausage. He's been discussing this problem with me at various times and went so far as to print a 50 page sausage supply catalog that he showed me. Today he even sent me this link "for the next time we make breakfast sausage." I pretend to be interested and supportive, because, as has been pointed out numerous times, I obsess about seemingly insane things as well.
We're having a "laid back bbq" on the fourth --as in I have enough things going on in my life, let's for once not over-do it and just have something basic and chill. Today he's sent me a number of links for things that would make "our" grilling (another obsession of his) life better. He's planning on grinding his own beef for the hamburgers and so he sent me a link for the Kitchenaid food tray attachment something that would make meat grinding go faster. Then he began toying with the idea of making his own hot dogs. We have the seasoning kit for it. He thinks that the casings I bought might be too large though. He has spent all afternoon researching alternative casings. First he worried about using natural casings, asking if I thought people would be bothered by it if we used natural casings. I pointed out that most people have a don't ask don't tell policy toward hot dogs in general so he'd probably be pretty safe as long as he didn't bring it up in the first place. Then he asked if I think 3/4 of an inch diameter sounds about right for hot dog casings. I said I thought that most hot dogs were at least an inch, but I didn't know. That's when he let me know he thought he was going to go with this:
Yes, those are the sweet little nothings my boy sends me; not roses or love notes, piles of guts. I am blessed :).
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
FUN!!
This week I have gotten two random (but exciting) presents.
One was a Rachel Ray Cookbook and the other was a road side food book called Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood. It looks REALLY fun.
Anyone planning to randomly send me the 3rd and 4th seasons of The Cosby Show?
Makes me feel a little bad that my father's day present for my dad is a book I promised him at Christmas and virtually writing my name on a card for pedals for his bike.
One was a Rachel Ray Cookbook and the other was a road side food book called Jane and Michael Stern's Roadfood. It looks REALLY fun.
Anyone planning to randomly send me the 3rd and 4th seasons of The Cosby Show?
Makes me feel a little bad that my father's day present for my dad is a book I promised him at Christmas and virtually writing my name on a card for pedals for his bike.
So Much Going on, So Little Inspiration
This weekend was a whirlwind. Friday night was spent making cookies and prepping stuff for sandwiches for the wedding we were going to. Sat am, early Suzib started assembling 50 cucumber sandwiches while I hovered around trying to help. We left the house loaded with cookies and sandwiches by 8:45 and were on our way to the wedding (I hate busing btw).
The wedding was great, informal and charismatic, but no snake charming or any other extremes that one fears after spending a bridal shower listening to spiritual healing talk that involves both voodoo heads swirling around on their own and people being healed while going through "evil" yoga moves. There was an incredible rendition of Amazing Grace, it was definitely the woman's own version, and she sang unaccompanied and very well (as far as I could tell).
The pastor had never officiated at a wedding before and so he was noticeably nervous (slightly amusing since he is a street minister who takes on far scarier things on any given night of out reach and who also happens to be six foot something and burly -- but oh so sweet). Anyway, he said the bride had asked for him to hurry the wedding along she wanted a short wedding etc. He said sorry, you're always getting me, this time it's my turn to get you back. I am not hurrying through this opportunity. They went through the ceremony and then when it got to the part about objections he paused and said, the bride specifically told me to leave this part out. She said just skip over it. I said I couldn't do that. I've never done a wedding before and it says in the instructions we have to do it. She insisted we skip. . . . No one wants to say anything right? At this point the bride turned around and looked at the audience. We laughed and no one spoke. The recessional was the entire church singing a lively song that's popular with their street ministry and it was so happy and fun.
The reception was great. The food was incredible (we even got the number of the woman who makes empanadas so we can set up a date and learn from her). Everyone was so obviously happy for the bride and groom. We left after a rendition of an interactive song: I strut, I strut, I strut I strut on Jesus side, I dance, I dance, I dance I dance on Jesus side (it goes on, come up with whatever verb you want :)).
My boy, who went to his usual soup kitchen instead of the wedding, came over when he was finished and we hung out till it was time to go meet his friends for dinner and a movie. We had a lovely walk (instead of taking the buses again) and ended up at the restaurant slightly early. After much confusion everyone ended up at the restaurant and we rushed through dinner and went to the movie. We saw Ocean's 13, I fell asleep through the first part and was so wiggly at another point that the woman sitting next to me got up. So it could have been a better evening for me. I went home tired and slightly cranky (but, as my father points out, what's new?).
Sunday I made pancakes from Bisquick while my boy gave me pointers (he's the pancake expert, I hate making them). Then he and I grabbed fruit at the store and I made creme anglaise that turned out a little lumpy and he made fruit kebabs (that looked beautiful) for me to take to the bridal shower I was going to that afternoon. We listened to the sermon from our church on full blast while participating in our activity.
The shower was nice. There weren't any horrible games and I actually won a prize on the fairly laid back game they did have. One of the women and I made a fairly terrible page for a scrapbook (before I found out that it was optional) and some of the women made truffles which was a fun activity. I skipped because I don't need any excuses to eat poorly and chocolate was not high on my list since it was so warm out. The food supplied was great (I know my faithful readers care about that). There was an excellent cheese plate, risotto balls, an avocado, corn, black bean salsa, and guacamole, a tortellini salad that got rave reviews and much more. Also, a lovely white sangria. The presents were fun ranging from slightly dowdy bathrobes and kitchen/housewares to a kit from the local sex shop and some how to books.
My boy met me back at my house after the shower but I had two hours to myself before he got there. It was wonderful. No one was home. There was just silence. I put a couple dishes in the dishwasher (big time for me, I hate dealing with dishes) and then I sat down thinking I would just sit in silence, maybe knit, maybe write a letter to one of our homeless friends in jail. . .. Then I remembered it was father's day. So I called my dad and he made me laugh as he described his latest home improvement project.
We had breakfast for dinner (eggs and toast and potatoes) and I fell asleep watching MASH the movie.
The wedding was great, informal and charismatic, but no snake charming or any other extremes that one fears after spending a bridal shower listening to spiritual healing talk that involves both voodoo heads swirling around on their own and people being healed while going through "evil" yoga moves. There was an incredible rendition of Amazing Grace, it was definitely the woman's own version, and she sang unaccompanied and very well (as far as I could tell).
The pastor had never officiated at a wedding before and so he was noticeably nervous (slightly amusing since he is a street minister who takes on far scarier things on any given night of out reach and who also happens to be six foot something and burly -- but oh so sweet). Anyway, he said the bride had asked for him to hurry the wedding along she wanted a short wedding etc. He said sorry, you're always getting me, this time it's my turn to get you back. I am not hurrying through this opportunity. They went through the ceremony and then when it got to the part about objections he paused and said, the bride specifically told me to leave this part out. She said just skip over it. I said I couldn't do that. I've never done a wedding before and it says in the instructions we have to do it. She insisted we skip. . . . No one wants to say anything right? At this point the bride turned around and looked at the audience. We laughed and no one spoke. The recessional was the entire church singing a lively song that's popular with their street ministry and it was so happy and fun.
The reception was great. The food was incredible (we even got the number of the woman who makes empanadas so we can set up a date and learn from her). Everyone was so obviously happy for the bride and groom. We left after a rendition of an interactive song: I strut, I strut, I strut I strut on Jesus side, I dance, I dance, I dance I dance on Jesus side (it goes on, come up with whatever verb you want :)).
My boy, who went to his usual soup kitchen instead of the wedding, came over when he was finished and we hung out till it was time to go meet his friends for dinner and a movie. We had a lovely walk (instead of taking the buses again) and ended up at the restaurant slightly early. After much confusion everyone ended up at the restaurant and we rushed through dinner and went to the movie. We saw Ocean's 13, I fell asleep through the first part and was so wiggly at another point that the woman sitting next to me got up. So it could have been a better evening for me. I went home tired and slightly cranky (but, as my father points out, what's new?).
Sunday I made pancakes from Bisquick while my boy gave me pointers (he's the pancake expert, I hate making them). Then he and I grabbed fruit at the store and I made creme anglaise that turned out a little lumpy and he made fruit kebabs (that looked beautiful) for me to take to the bridal shower I was going to that afternoon. We listened to the sermon from our church on full blast while participating in our activity.
The shower was nice. There weren't any horrible games and I actually won a prize on the fairly laid back game they did have. One of the women and I made a fairly terrible page for a scrapbook (before I found out that it was optional) and some of the women made truffles which was a fun activity. I skipped because I don't need any excuses to eat poorly and chocolate was not high on my list since it was so warm out. The food supplied was great (I know my faithful readers care about that). There was an excellent cheese plate, risotto balls, an avocado, corn, black bean salsa, and guacamole, a tortellini salad that got rave reviews and much more. Also, a lovely white sangria. The presents were fun ranging from slightly dowdy bathrobes and kitchen/housewares to a kit from the local sex shop and some how to books.
My boy met me back at my house after the shower but I had two hours to myself before he got there. It was wonderful. No one was home. There was just silence. I put a couple dishes in the dishwasher (big time for me, I hate dealing with dishes) and then I sat down thinking I would just sit in silence, maybe knit, maybe write a letter to one of our homeless friends in jail. . .. Then I remembered it was father's day. So I called my dad and he made me laugh as he described his latest home improvement project.
We had breakfast for dinner (eggs and toast and potatoes) and I fell asleep watching MASH the movie.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
The Weekend
So the quick re-cap for this weekend is:
Friday we went home and had a random dinner of a tub of bbq pork and a frozen pizza -- not our most shining culinary moment. We prepped food for the bridal shower I/we were co-hosting the next day. The menu for the shower was:
tea sandwiches (salami with an olive cream cheese, open faced heart shaped sandwiches with a blue cheese pate topped with two grape halves, and traditional cucumber watercress sandwiches)
tomato, basil mozzarella skewers with a basil/garlic oil
mini-heart shaped strawberry shortcakes (with whipped cream from one of those William Sonoma dispensers)
short bread spoons dipped in chocolate, and sugar cookies shaped like ice cream cones (store bought)
assorted truffles
madelines (made by our other hostess)
banana cupcakes with an INCREDIBLE cream cheese frosting (also made by the other hostess)
tea and a strawberry lime punch
(I think that was it, someone remind me if I am missing something)
Anyway, we held it at the library and everything looked lovely (I had to make a quick run to Crate & Barrel to pick up some things I forgot and a skirt was drenched in oil so suzib wore a towel for a good portion of the shower but by 1:00 we were all presentable and the table looked lovely thanks to the addition of a purple ribbon and some tea cup tealight holders).
Guests started arriving and the party seemed to be off to a good start. Then craziness ensued. Conversation about street outreach was light and interesting (also informative to hear what our friends are up to on other nights of the week). Somehow the conversation turned to spiritual healing though. I mean like revival tent type spiritual healing, as in throw down your cane and walk type healing. A little out there for the more conservative of us, but smile and nod, it's a bridal shower, make nice. . . .
Then Ernie started talking. She's one of the difficult people from my Wed. night group (she's the one in an earlier post who was chasing the other problem person around the kitchen with a dishcloth screaming what did you call me?). She is also the kind of person who keeps randomly saying "Thank you Jesus" as she spreads peanut butter and who truly mourned for Jerry Fallwell last month, because we've lost a great leader in the fight. I am conservative. She makes me look like a Unitarian.
She has a habit of taking over things. She talks and you have to agree because if you argue back she'll keep at you till you wish you had just agreed in the first place because she's not going to change her beliefs and you're going to have to suffer through an even longer discussion of it. She stood up and started talking about her work as a missionary, about how now more than ever Christians should not be divided and how we must keep in our prayers that marriage is between only a man and a woman and that we need to pray for those Christians who don't agree with everything we say so that they can see the truth (that's the point where I lost it, the other two hostesses had lost it already and one had to take a breather). Finally one of the women (such a good soul who I really need to write a huge thank you note to) stepped in and started moving presents and started to say "lets open. . ." When Ernie sensing attention starting to shift said, lets pray and started in on one of her interminable prayers. I walked out at that pt. I was in the hall talking to suzib when I heard the group start to sing. I said, "Oh, it's ok, you can come back, she'll make them sing it three times through and then we can move on" Sure enough, after the third time and much, thank you sisters, thank you jesusing she sat down.
Presents were opened and conversations concluded and everyone (including after much persuading Ernie left).
My boy came over to help with the dishes and then he, suzib and I went to an organ concert. It was good as organ concerts go. The woman was certainly incredibly talented. Not being one for music though, I was slightly bored till the last song (which sounded like a cross between some 60's pop song and a scary carnival). I realized half way through what a great place to pray so accompanied by stately music in a cute little church, I used some of the time to ask God to come in where all the people on my prayer list need him.
We were starving when the concert was over and so bowed out of the reception and dessert and headed into town for sushi (they were busing so it took a long time). We went to Suishaya, my favorite place for sushi in Boston and I ordered far too much, almost an entire roll was left behind :(. We got duk bo kee (a spicy Korean dish with rice cakes and cabbage and in this case crab), an eel appetizer (sizzling grilled eel) a Godzilla roll (basically like a giant caterpillar roll with crab inside --- YUM!!!!!!!!!), a caterpillar roll, a dragon roll, a redsox roll (sort of like a spider roll) and a tempura sweet potato roll.
It was so good and we were sooo full we went home and went straight to sleep.
Sun. I slept late again, not helping at the church picnic like I should have. My boy and I got there three hours after we had first thought to go. We had a good day though, mostly spent sitting on a blanket and talking to friends from the common. Friends from our outreach team and just hanging out.
We went to dinner at Fajitas and Ritas and after consuming a pitcher of ritas Suzib and I stumbled to my boy's house and then home, where again, we promptly fell asleep.
A good weekend over all.
Friday we went home and had a random dinner of a tub of bbq pork and a frozen pizza -- not our most shining culinary moment. We prepped food for the bridal shower I/we were co-hosting the next day. The menu for the shower was:
tea sandwiches (salami with an olive cream cheese, open faced heart shaped sandwiches with a blue cheese pate topped with two grape halves, and traditional cucumber watercress sandwiches)
tomato, basil mozzarella skewers with a basil/garlic oil
mini-heart shaped strawberry shortcakes (with whipped cream from one of those William Sonoma dispensers)
short bread spoons dipped in chocolate, and sugar cookies shaped like ice cream cones (store bought)
assorted truffles
madelines (made by our other hostess)
banana cupcakes with an INCREDIBLE cream cheese frosting (also made by the other hostess)
tea and a strawberry lime punch
(I think that was it, someone remind me if I am missing something)
Anyway, we held it at the library and everything looked lovely (I had to make a quick run to Crate & Barrel to pick up some things I forgot and a skirt was drenched in oil so suzib wore a towel for a good portion of the shower but by 1:00 we were all presentable and the table looked lovely thanks to the addition of a purple ribbon and some tea cup tealight holders).
Guests started arriving and the party seemed to be off to a good start. Then craziness ensued. Conversation about street outreach was light and interesting (also informative to hear what our friends are up to on other nights of the week). Somehow the conversation turned to spiritual healing though. I mean like revival tent type spiritual healing, as in throw down your cane and walk type healing. A little out there for the more conservative of us, but smile and nod, it's a bridal shower, make nice. . . .
Then Ernie started talking. She's one of the difficult people from my Wed. night group (she's the one in an earlier post who was chasing the other problem person around the kitchen with a dishcloth screaming what did you call me?). She is also the kind of person who keeps randomly saying "Thank you Jesus" as she spreads peanut butter and who truly mourned for Jerry Fallwell last month, because we've lost a great leader in the fight. I am conservative. She makes me look like a Unitarian.
She has a habit of taking over things. She talks and you have to agree because if you argue back she'll keep at you till you wish you had just agreed in the first place because she's not going to change her beliefs and you're going to have to suffer through an even longer discussion of it. She stood up and started talking about her work as a missionary, about how now more than ever Christians should not be divided and how we must keep in our prayers that marriage is between only a man and a woman and that we need to pray for those Christians who don't agree with everything we say so that they can see the truth (that's the point where I lost it, the other two hostesses had lost it already and one had to take a breather). Finally one of the women (such a good soul who I really need to write a huge thank you note to) stepped in and started moving presents and started to say "lets open. . ." When Ernie sensing attention starting to shift said, lets pray and started in on one of her interminable prayers. I walked out at that pt. I was in the hall talking to suzib when I heard the group start to sing. I said, "Oh, it's ok, you can come back, she'll make them sing it three times through and then we can move on" Sure enough, after the third time and much, thank you sisters, thank you jesusing she sat down.
Presents were opened and conversations concluded and everyone (including after much persuading Ernie left).
My boy came over to help with the dishes and then he, suzib and I went to an organ concert. It was good as organ concerts go. The woman was certainly incredibly talented. Not being one for music though, I was slightly bored till the last song (which sounded like a cross between some 60's pop song and a scary carnival). I realized half way through what a great place to pray so accompanied by stately music in a cute little church, I used some of the time to ask God to come in where all the people on my prayer list need him.
We were starving when the concert was over and so bowed out of the reception and dessert and headed into town for sushi (they were busing so it took a long time). We went to Suishaya, my favorite place for sushi in Boston and I ordered far too much, almost an entire roll was left behind :(. We got duk bo kee (a spicy Korean dish with rice cakes and cabbage and in this case crab), an eel appetizer (sizzling grilled eel) a Godzilla roll (basically like a giant caterpillar roll with crab inside --- YUM!!!!!!!!!), a caterpillar roll, a dragon roll, a redsox roll (sort of like a spider roll) and a tempura sweet potato roll.
It was so good and we were sooo full we went home and went straight to sleep.
Sun. I slept late again, not helping at the church picnic like I should have. My boy and I got there three hours after we had first thought to go. We had a good day though, mostly spent sitting on a blanket and talking to friends from the common. Friends from our outreach team and just hanging out.
We went to dinner at Fajitas and Ritas and after consuming a pitcher of ritas Suzib and I stumbled to my boy's house and then home, where again, we promptly fell asleep.
A good weekend over all.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Make Me a Servant
So last Tuesday night my small group discussed gang violence, and homelessness, two topics that I think are pretty important for an urban church (even if it's not in the middle of Roxbury, Dorchester or Mattapan -- the three neighborhoods identified as being the worst).
The "study" was really good. We had productive conversations about the needs we see, though not great resolution as to what could be done (probably why one of the guys from my Thurs. night outreach said Park Street doesn't do anything but pray -- not true, but I can see why he gets that impression).
I handed out some sheets with info on places offering free meals in the city every day of the week though, so that was a start toward helping fix the problem, I thought.
I sort of monopolized the conversation and probably turned it more into a lecture than a discussion, but I've been bothered in the last week by various congregants being upset with obvious homeless people in our services. . .
I am so glad that the 20 somethings group is focusing so much on volunteering this month. If you get a chance please pray that through these studies our church culture changes slightly so people aren't as bothered by the obviously homeless in our midst. Please pray that the minority of people who are frightened of them have their hearts softened and see what we see on Thursday nights, or even better, what Jesus saw. . . . Pray that the conversations in the other small groups were just as productive, and that hearts are moved to serve.
Also, tonight is Large Group. I wanted to go so badly, one of my favorite pastors is speaking on something I am passionate about. I have a prior engagement though. So please, if you're free and you're in the area (and by some fluke you're reading my blog) GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The "study" was really good. We had productive conversations about the needs we see, though not great resolution as to what could be done (probably why one of the guys from my Thurs. night outreach said Park Street doesn't do anything but pray -- not true, but I can see why he gets that impression).
I handed out some sheets with info on places offering free meals in the city every day of the week though, so that was a start toward helping fix the problem, I thought.
I sort of monopolized the conversation and probably turned it more into a lecture than a discussion, but I've been bothered in the last week by various congregants being upset with obvious homeless people in our services. . .
I am so glad that the 20 somethings group is focusing so much on volunteering this month. If you get a chance please pray that through these studies our church culture changes slightly so people aren't as bothered by the obviously homeless in our midst. Please pray that the minority of people who are frightened of them have their hearts softened and see what we see on Thursday nights, or even better, what Jesus saw. . . . Pray that the conversations in the other small groups were just as productive, and that hearts are moved to serve.
Also, tonight is Large Group. I wanted to go so badly, one of my favorite pastors is speaking on something I am passionate about. I have a prior engagement though. So please, if you're free and you're in the area (and by some fluke you're reading my blog) GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, June 4, 2007
catching up against all odds (read in shifts)
ok, I don't remember everything we did the weekend of the 13th-the 16th. I know that on the 14th we were in charge of cooking at the Chelsea Soup Kitchen. We made jambalaya and except for the fact that most of the rice was undercooked, we had plenty of food and most things turned out right (I did get a lecture the next week telling me that we should have cooked the rice separately when I pointed out that the thing that made jambalaya jambalaya was that the rice was cooked in it he started over at the beginning explaining I should have cooked the rice separately like I was a big dolt).
That Sunday (the day before Patriot's Day or maybe it was on the Monday of Patriot's Day) we went for a Greek Easter dinner. It was great. It deserves more recognition, but I have no time.
Friday April 20 was our churches big dinner. It was a very fancy affair at the Copley Westin Hotel. Sadly, they didn't have enough wait staff to serve the number of people who showed up (huge delays in the first being served and the last). Also, some of the donated flowers impeded the view. We had a very pleasant table though. With three lovely couples and my friend's parents who had come in from their own church's retreat. Her parents are actually stellar people able to talk to any number of weirdos (which is good since a good number invariably show up at large church events -- oh, wait, have I mentioned that I am a bad Christian?). Anyway, good event.
That Sat. we helped in the soup kitchen in the morning then my boy went to a crosswalk event and I went with friends on a route one road trip. This time we managed to find Costco (though it did take two passes) and we went to the mini golf place where the dinosaur had been vandalized the week before (he'd undergone a gang beating). We managed to miss a good number of other fun sites though, so another road trip is definitely in order!
Sun. we went to costco and ran other random errands ending by picking up a friend and taking her all the way to the 'ville to get dumplings at wangs. It was good (I LOVE their cucumber salad so garlicky and light and good).
That brings us to April 28th -30th or the Boston Independent Film Festival (the same festival where I saw chalk last year and am still anxiously awaiting it's widespread release -- go contact them, tell them we all want to see it over and over again!!!!). We saw several great films that weekend. We saw Eagle v Shark which is a New Zealand film combining elements of Napoleon Dynamite and Little Miss Sunshine.
The next day I watch Low and Behold an insurance film (of course) it was quite good and it turned out that the creators had been through hurricane Katrina And one of them had been a claims adjuster. It was quirky and a pseudo-documentary. I recommend it.
My favorite film we watched though was the King of Kong, we randomly ran into a friend in Harvard Square shortly before the movie and convinced her to join us (which made it even more fun) The King of Kong was just exactly the kind of fluff documentary I LOVE!! It reminded me a lot of Cinemania (if you haven't seen that you totally should) and a little of Trekkie's (another must see!). It was just such a good movie with good v. bad and suspense and lovable wackos. So good. I can't wait to see it again. I am so glad I chose it as my random third choice.
Ok, that brings us to May (YAY!!! aren't you excited we've made it this far?). On May 1st I randomly ran into the gang I usually ride the redline home with (sans two very important people). The four of us tried to ride home but due to a random fire, we ended up stranded in Lechemere. So we decided to hoof it home from there. It was a lovely (if long) walk. I am sad I can't remember all the amusing things we talked about. I do know that after we'd made it all the way to Harvard Square I convinced John to go with me to Unos and we both convinced Suzib to get out of bed and join us. It was fun and good practice for my upcoming walk.
May 5th we went to Chelsea and then rushed to a farewell picnic for two of the people leaving our small group. Then I rushed to meet my old roomie for a pedicure at Bella Sante. It was great (it's only now fading slightly and only b/c my nails have grown) nice to catch up and good to be pampered. After the pedi, we convinced my boy and my current roomie to join us in Roslindale for dinner and an HDTV version of a devils game. We stopped at Viva Mi Arepa in West Roxbury (the food there is amazing -- you MUST try the garlic sauce and the owners are really helpful/nice) on the way back to the house. It was a lovely evening except I started to fall asleep and the devils weren't doing so hot. So we headed home for a fairly early evening good since we had to be up early for the walk the next day.
May 6th was the Walk for Hunger. Thank you all for your incredible support. I have been meaning to write a good post and take pictures of my shirt and mug and sticker and everything, but I haven't had a chance yet. Anyway, I made it to the end and my boy was incredibly encouraging and it wasn't so tough if you kept breaking it down into small steps. I am only walking to Brookline. I am only walking to Newton etc. I will try and write more, but I think that sums it up.
May 12th was my roomies special day (it was the day she was adopted). We spent the day pampering her. We started with a manicure (for me) and a pedicure (for her) at the Square Nail Studio. We then went to breakfast next door at Johnny D's and then headed over to Harvard square where we got her a new nose ring and searched high and low for a breast cancer pink ribbon pin. We didn't find one. We found a breast cancer t-shirt, pen, mug, scrubs, but no pin. We finally gave up and came home. I tried curling her hair but it fell out. I told her that my sister could have made it stay, but she didn't believe me (I think that's a challenge, you should come visit now Lea). Anyway, she rushed off to her benefit and my boy came over and we watched tron (which apparently has two actors who went on to Babylon 5 -- I only recognized one).
I can't remember what we did May 13th. . . .
May 18th was women's night in at my house. It was sort of done in shifts. we made taco fixins and gin punch and then consumed them at 9:00 or so when we traded women (one came and one left) there was lots of punch left because no one was at the top of their game. We had a good time though and talked and watched Friends (hence why my mood improved on May 18th).
May 19th my boy and I were in charge of cooking for Chelsea. We did extremely well this time with the incredible help of one of the women from my tues. night small grp and one of the guys from my thurs. night small grp. Our plan of peach muffins didn't work out so well (too much baking powder in the mix I swear the batter almost started to foam over the side). I improvised with dinner rolls drizzled by butter and raspberry melba sauce (not sure how that went over). We made spaghetti and meatballs with a side of spinach and incredibly yummy garlic bread made with garlic we'd roasted on the grill. That got great reviews (and let me tell you they're a difficult crowd). Probably their favorite part was that we had so many leftover meatballs. So many in fact, that my boy was eating meatball sandwiches for days afterward. . . .
My boy and I went back to his house after the soup kitchen and I promptly fell asleep. I was out cold for two or three hours. I woke up and we discovered the bread dough we'd brought home was bursting out of the bags it had been placed in. We went on an adventure to find a baking sheet. It was a lovely walk to the fenway Bed Bath and Beyond (where we also picked up a rib rack). When we got home I was hungry and so we ordered bad Chinese food (bad in a fairly good way). As we were dealing with the bread it got to be too much. We finally just stuck a giant loaf in the oven and struggled to stay awake till it was finished.
I don't remember what we did May 20th.
May 25th was my boy's photo show. It was a lovely affair good music, interesting conversation and a good display of artwork. My boy's was a shining example. He also looked very nice in a great pair of jeans (suzib and I helped him buy them) and a pretty blue striped shirt (and you could hardly notice the little seaweed salad spot he'd gotten on it at suzib's new favorite sushi place -- she like it b/c it has karaoke).
May 26th was my boy's birthday party. He managed to lose his mp3 player in one of the zipcars but other than that and a mishap with a missing zipcard it was a pleasant evening at the decordova sculpture park. People seemed to enjoy themselves and my boy was happy. Our picnic featured, ants (on a log), lady bugs (on honey dew melon) and snakes, and was terribly yummy. People didn't even notice they were being slipped healthy brownies (they're still healthy if the only thing good for you in them is the eggs and the whole wheat flour right? even if they're covered in chocolate and marshmallows).
May 27th was my boy's actual birthday. We attempted Church but after an hour and a half driving, we ended up dropping a delivery at church and then going out for happy meals where I treated everyone. For dinner my boy grilled incredible ribs with a marinade and bbq sauce he'd made from scratch the night before. I quizzed my roomie on CNA related questions while my boy finished up the grilling.
May 28th I was planning on taking my boy out to a special breakfast, instead we went to one of our usual weekend spots b/c we overslept. I was taking him skating (not an easy feat in the Boston area in May). I had researched it and was very excited. It required taking a train and then a bus (which I hate). We made it though with few mishaps and we were putting on our skates when my boy realized one of the worst mishaps you can have happen. His wallet fell out on our bus. It took us over an hour to catch another bus (two of them passed us by) and then much hassle which I just can't go into again asking around for the wallet until we gave up and went back to his place to cancel credit cards etc. It took us all afternoon. We were not happy campers when we ended up at the Memorial Day bbq we'd been invited to (an hour late). The food there was good though and the company comforting. I think it was good that we got out among other people again.
June 1 we stopped at the butchers for meat and then came straight home so we could listen/watch my boy's AHL team play for the Calder cup (more on the game he took me too later -- it was on a wed. night not a weekend -- hitting the highlights here people). My roomie watched a sox game at the same time. I was so distracted by both I didn't watch either. Both games ended up lost I think.
Saturday we went to the soup kitchen and then came home and relaxed before we went to a friend's engagement party. There were some false starts (I put a glaze on my boy's pineapple upside down cake and while we walked to the train it leaked all over him so we had to go back home and start over again). We finally made it to the party. It was so great. The hostess had an incredible eye for design. There were beautiful lanterns, lights, candles and draping of swags. The dessert table was gorgeous, a two tier affair with a mirror top and hurricane candle. It was very nice. The couple we were celebrating looked ecstatic the whole evening flitting from group to group. One awkward moment was when a couple of women came up to me and my boy and said, isn't this lovely? My boy and I nodded and then the other woman said, so when are you two going to have one? The first woman said I am glad you could see where I was going with this. I think, perhaps I am being a little sensitive, especially since it does seem like something I might say, but my first thought was we've been dating slightly less than four months people!!! Calm down!
June 3, I slept and slept and then slept some more. My boy was surprisingly supportive (he doesn't usually tolerate that sort of laziness. He gets bored with it and wants to go out and do something. He was oddly compliant though. Around noon he started grinding meat for homemade sausage. We took a break to get a new toilet seat (long story) at home depot and then we went to church and came home and replaced the old toilet seat and my boy finished making sausage while I posted two craigslist ads. So all in all a very lazy day.
Let the record show, I am officially caught up!!!!!
That Sunday (the day before Patriot's Day or maybe it was on the Monday of Patriot's Day) we went for a Greek Easter dinner. It was great. It deserves more recognition, but I have no time.
Friday April 20 was our churches big dinner. It was a very fancy affair at the Copley Westin Hotel. Sadly, they didn't have enough wait staff to serve the number of people who showed up (huge delays in the first being served and the last). Also, some of the donated flowers impeded the view. We had a very pleasant table though. With three lovely couples and my friend's parents who had come in from their own church's retreat. Her parents are actually stellar people able to talk to any number of weirdos (which is good since a good number invariably show up at large church events -- oh, wait, have I mentioned that I am a bad Christian?). Anyway, good event.
That Sat. we helped in the soup kitchen in the morning then my boy went to a crosswalk event and I went with friends on a route one road trip. This time we managed to find Costco (though it did take two passes) and we went to the mini golf place where the dinosaur had been vandalized the week before (he'd undergone a gang beating). We managed to miss a good number of other fun sites though, so another road trip is definitely in order!
Sun. we went to costco and ran other random errands ending by picking up a friend and taking her all the way to the 'ville to get dumplings at wangs. It was good (I LOVE their cucumber salad so garlicky and light and good).
That brings us to April 28th -30th or the Boston Independent Film Festival (the same festival where I saw chalk last year and am still anxiously awaiting it's widespread release -- go contact them, tell them we all want to see it over and over again!!!!). We saw several great films that weekend. We saw Eagle v Shark which is a New Zealand film combining elements of Napoleon Dynamite and Little Miss Sunshine.
The next day I watch Low and Behold an insurance film (of course) it was quite good and it turned out that the creators had been through hurricane Katrina And one of them had been a claims adjuster. It was quirky and a pseudo-documentary. I recommend it.
My favorite film we watched though was the King of Kong, we randomly ran into a friend in Harvard Square shortly before the movie and convinced her to join us (which made it even more fun) The King of Kong was just exactly the kind of fluff documentary I LOVE!! It reminded me a lot of Cinemania (if you haven't seen that you totally should) and a little of Trekkie's (another must see!). It was just such a good movie with good v. bad and suspense and lovable wackos. So good. I can't wait to see it again. I am so glad I chose it as my random third choice.
Ok, that brings us to May (YAY!!! aren't you excited we've made it this far?). On May 1st I randomly ran into the gang I usually ride the redline home with (sans two very important people). The four of us tried to ride home but due to a random fire, we ended up stranded in Lechemere. So we decided to hoof it home from there. It was a lovely (if long) walk. I am sad I can't remember all the amusing things we talked about. I do know that after we'd made it all the way to Harvard Square I convinced John to go with me to Unos and we both convinced Suzib to get out of bed and join us. It was fun and good practice for my upcoming walk.
May 5th we went to Chelsea and then rushed to a farewell picnic for two of the people leaving our small group. Then I rushed to meet my old roomie for a pedicure at Bella Sante. It was great (it's only now fading slightly and only b/c my nails have grown) nice to catch up and good to be pampered. After the pedi, we convinced my boy and my current roomie to join us in Roslindale for dinner and an HDTV version of a devils game. We stopped at Viva Mi Arepa in West Roxbury (the food there is amazing -- you MUST try the garlic sauce and the owners are really helpful/nice) on the way back to the house. It was a lovely evening except I started to fall asleep and the devils weren't doing so hot. So we headed home for a fairly early evening good since we had to be up early for the walk the next day.
May 6th was the Walk for Hunger. Thank you all for your incredible support. I have been meaning to write a good post and take pictures of my shirt and mug and sticker and everything, but I haven't had a chance yet. Anyway, I made it to the end and my boy was incredibly encouraging and it wasn't so tough if you kept breaking it down into small steps. I am only walking to Brookline. I am only walking to Newton etc. I will try and write more, but I think that sums it up.
May 12th was my roomies special day (it was the day she was adopted). We spent the day pampering her. We started with a manicure (for me) and a pedicure (for her) at the Square Nail Studio. We then went to breakfast next door at Johnny D's and then headed over to Harvard square where we got her a new nose ring and searched high and low for a breast cancer pink ribbon pin. We didn't find one. We found a breast cancer t-shirt, pen, mug, scrubs, but no pin. We finally gave up and came home. I tried curling her hair but it fell out. I told her that my sister could have made it stay, but she didn't believe me (I think that's a challenge, you should come visit now Lea). Anyway, she rushed off to her benefit and my boy came over and we watched tron (which apparently has two actors who went on to Babylon 5 -- I only recognized one).
I can't remember what we did May 13th. . . .
May 18th was women's night in at my house. It was sort of done in shifts. we made taco fixins and gin punch and then consumed them at 9:00 or so when we traded women (one came and one left) there was lots of punch left because no one was at the top of their game. We had a good time though and talked and watched Friends (hence why my mood improved on May 18th).
May 19th my boy and I were in charge of cooking for Chelsea. We did extremely well this time with the incredible help of one of the women from my tues. night small grp and one of the guys from my thurs. night small grp. Our plan of peach muffins didn't work out so well (too much baking powder in the mix I swear the batter almost started to foam over the side). I improvised with dinner rolls drizzled by butter and raspberry melba sauce (not sure how that went over). We made spaghetti and meatballs with a side of spinach and incredibly yummy garlic bread made with garlic we'd roasted on the grill. That got great reviews (and let me tell you they're a difficult crowd). Probably their favorite part was that we had so many leftover meatballs. So many in fact, that my boy was eating meatball sandwiches for days afterward. . . .
My boy and I went back to his house after the soup kitchen and I promptly fell asleep. I was out cold for two or three hours. I woke up and we discovered the bread dough we'd brought home was bursting out of the bags it had been placed in. We went on an adventure to find a baking sheet. It was a lovely walk to the fenway Bed Bath and Beyond (where we also picked up a rib rack). When we got home I was hungry and so we ordered bad Chinese food (bad in a fairly good way). As we were dealing with the bread it got to be too much. We finally just stuck a giant loaf in the oven and struggled to stay awake till it was finished.
I don't remember what we did May 20th.
May 25th was my boy's photo show. It was a lovely affair good music, interesting conversation and a good display of artwork. My boy's was a shining example. He also looked very nice in a great pair of jeans (suzib and I helped him buy them) and a pretty blue striped shirt (and you could hardly notice the little seaweed salad spot he'd gotten on it at suzib's new favorite sushi place -- she like it b/c it has karaoke).
May 26th was my boy's birthday party. He managed to lose his mp3 player in one of the zipcars but other than that and a mishap with a missing zipcard it was a pleasant evening at the decordova sculpture park. People seemed to enjoy themselves and my boy was happy. Our picnic featured, ants (on a log), lady bugs (on honey dew melon) and snakes, and was terribly yummy. People didn't even notice they were being slipped healthy brownies (they're still healthy if the only thing good for you in them is the eggs and the whole wheat flour right? even if they're covered in chocolate and marshmallows).
May 27th was my boy's actual birthday. We attempted Church but after an hour and a half driving, we ended up dropping a delivery at church and then going out for happy meals where I treated everyone. For dinner my boy grilled incredible ribs with a marinade and bbq sauce he'd made from scratch the night before. I quizzed my roomie on CNA related questions while my boy finished up the grilling.
May 28th I was planning on taking my boy out to a special breakfast, instead we went to one of our usual weekend spots b/c we overslept. I was taking him skating (not an easy feat in the Boston area in May). I had researched it and was very excited. It required taking a train and then a bus (which I hate). We made it though with few mishaps and we were putting on our skates when my boy realized one of the worst mishaps you can have happen. His wallet fell out on our bus. It took us over an hour to catch another bus (two of them passed us by) and then much hassle which I just can't go into again asking around for the wallet until we gave up and went back to his place to cancel credit cards etc. It took us all afternoon. We were not happy campers when we ended up at the Memorial Day bbq we'd been invited to (an hour late). The food there was good though and the company comforting. I think it was good that we got out among other people again.
June 1 we stopped at the butchers for meat and then came straight home so we could listen/watch my boy's AHL team play for the Calder cup (more on the game he took me too later -- it was on a wed. night not a weekend -- hitting the highlights here people). My roomie watched a sox game at the same time. I was so distracted by both I didn't watch either. Both games ended up lost I think.
Saturday we went to the soup kitchen and then came home and relaxed before we went to a friend's engagement party. There were some false starts (I put a glaze on my boy's pineapple upside down cake and while we walked to the train it leaked all over him so we had to go back home and start over again). We finally made it to the party. It was so great. The hostess had an incredible eye for design. There were beautiful lanterns, lights, candles and draping of swags. The dessert table was gorgeous, a two tier affair with a mirror top and hurricane candle. It was very nice. The couple we were celebrating looked ecstatic the whole evening flitting from group to group. One awkward moment was when a couple of women came up to me and my boy and said, isn't this lovely? My boy and I nodded and then the other woman said, so when are you two going to have one? The first woman said I am glad you could see where I was going with this. I think, perhaps I am being a little sensitive, especially since it does seem like something I might say, but my first thought was we've been dating slightly less than four months people!!! Calm down!
June 3, I slept and slept and then slept some more. My boy was surprisingly supportive (he doesn't usually tolerate that sort of laziness. He gets bored with it and wants to go out and do something. He was oddly compliant though. Around noon he started grinding meat for homemade sausage. We took a break to get a new toilet seat (long story) at home depot and then we went to church and came home and replaced the old toilet seat and my boy finished making sausage while I posted two craigslist ads. So all in all a very lazy day.
Let the record show, I am officially caught up!!!!!
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