I don't make resolutions...

BUT... that being said... I have some things I would like to accomplish in my personal life this year...

• Read more - this is an easy one... I have a ton of books that I have bought with the intention of reading and just haven't gotten to them... sooooo this is very exciting for me.  So far I have a couple on deck and look forward to turning off the tv in the evenings and read.  I also include actually reading the Vanity Fair and New Yorkers that I get before I get the new one in the mail.  I tend to let them pile up to about six months worth and then I can't really process everything that I have so just put them in the recycling bin.  If I don't read the magazines right away I am actually going to cancel the subscriptions.  I don't read Interview anymore... it's done.  I don't read some of the other magazines that I have let the subscriptions slide.  I love magazines but seriously if I don't read them why subscribe?  

• Save more - so how am I planning on doing this? I mean in all honesty I am pretty frugal.  I don't want to say I am cheap, because I am not that at all... but I am pretty frugal.  So how to I put that frugality into something that actually will financially make a difference?  Ok so here goes.  And this was a really really hard decision for me to make. But with everything the way it is now in the world... I am no longer contributing to my IRA.  Last year I lost over $3000.  Which is basically what my contribution was.  So sure I broke even.  But that is not the point.  So I have decided that I am not contributing in 2012 but will use that money to pay off even more of the principal on my mortgage.  This potentially increases my home value 25%.  That is much better of a return than my IRA at this time.    

• My friend L has this thing she posted on line that in even numbered years she doesn't buy new clothes.  Ok so this might be really really difficult for me, but I love and adore the idea so I am going to actually think about adopting this model for the year.  It's really funny because I have lots of clothes in my closet and dressers that I should wear and don't.  So now I will... L said that it's like shopping in your own closet.  I have to add for me it will be like shoe shopping too!  

• In addition to this... I used to fill my fridge with food that I don't eat.  So that is a tremendous waste.  I am actually going to plan out meals.  Yep... plan out meals.  And well rounded meals too. Not just pasta.  Ok pasta with chicken.  But something with some protein.  I will bake more.  I will try new recipes and share.  I want to have dinner parties. 

• I want to reach out to my friends more.  I am not a real fan of the phone so much anymore.  Funny how as an adult the phone isn't as important as it was when we were teenagers!  So because I have bought over 100 postcards in the past year that are gorgeous to look at but won't they mean more in the hands of the people I like?  I do believe so....

• Make these last days and months (hopefully) of Herschel's magical and comfortable.  I know that I have limited time but its so very important that he has a great life and in this last chapter I have to face all the challenges that face us with the dignity that he has shown me for the past 15 years. 

• Take pictures!  Take more pictures!  I am so in love with photography that I don't know why I don't take pictures everyday of every little thing. So I am going to be far less judicious and just shoot away. It's the only way I am going to learn more about my cameras and their functionality.  F bought me a camera to replace the one that was stolen when we were in California and honestly it's lovely. But it wouldn't hurt me to learn to love the camera that I bought to replace it right?  I don't like the way it handles but learning to love it is a goal. And also with my frugality... I can't buy anymore camera apps.  I have about 40 on my phone now and really only use the hipstamatic and sometimes the Camera+... both GREAT apps but there are 38 more that I haven't used but maybe once.... so I will use them more.  

• Keep a clean and less cluttered home.  Which means no more magazine piles.  No more paper piles.  No more buying soaps and just putting them in the linen closet to use later... use what I have ... make room.  (again pointing to the frugality....)

• Turn off the tv for at least an hour every night.  I have a dvr so I really do not watch live tv anymore so I have to turn off the tv for at least an hour.  I figure this will give me time to read, write, clean and be productive!

So all these are things I should already be doing.  But I don't completely actually do full on.

Its really important to set some goals and make some plans for sure, and nothing is better than sharing with the world.  So make a plan... put it in writing... put it out in the world because to share yourself with others is a gift in and of itself!

Ok off to finish the latest batch of bacon jam and clean a drawer and finish The Wednesday Letters . 

Denver has a burgeoning food truck scene. It seems that this gastronomical phenomenon is country wide. You can see the Food Truck Race on Food TV and the Cooking Channel. It's the "in thing" right now. It will pass, food fads always do, but in the meantime it's always a pleasure to happen across Denver's great chef's cooking out of trucks. I have to admit, I totally love it.

We have partaken in the Waffle Brother's yummy sugary waffles (at their storefront actually but it started on a cart), the fabu burgers from Stuebens at the UMS this year, walked by but talked to Dylan Moore of the Orange Rocket from Deluxe (we weren't into the idea of ceviche at the time...) and had a GREAT conversation,picked up a loki moki from the Steamin' Demon from Watercourse and City O'City, picked up cupcakes from the Cupcake Truck at Jazz in the Park a few weeks back, and I have gotten a cheese steak or three.

What I found today (via Cafe Society's blog on Westword) a fine gentleman in Denver has built an entire website that will closely follow the trend and the vendors and their locations....

Please to enjoy: From Denver with Fries !

I just rocked through the Golden Globes from last night on my dvr in like an hour and a half ok seriously like two. Thank you Steevoh for saving me the time and energy it would have taken to watch it live.

There are a couple of comments in case you missed the show, here is what I think and probably would have said aloud had you been sitting on the couch next to me.  Meryl Streep was wearing earrings looked like Eiffel Towers at first but were amazing!  Tina Fey's character is the head writer for a show called TGS not AGS.  Christina Hendriks is unbelievably hot. Stanely Tucci is hot.  For the record Michael C Hall is going through chemo give him a break on the cap ok? He is amazing.  Thank you Drew for taking out the tongue stud for the night you looked absolutely gorgeous and classy.  Quentin Tarintino freaks me right out with the constant weird smirkie smirk.  Martin Scorsese is a total mensch.  Suzy Amis ... brush your hair, you once were in the movie Twister your hair shouldn't look like it was too.  Ok that was harsh.  The Hangover? Really? Huh....No I still haven't seen Avatar.  I would like Kate Winslet to read the phone book to me. George Clooney? I get it now. Toby Maguire looked pissed he didn't win... sorry brother Jeff Bridges IS the Dude remember?  The Dude abides indeed.  Toby wouldn't have thanked his stand in.  That is another mensch.  Jason Reitman looked man too... but what did you expect? Of course Avatar won.  Start your Oscar campaigns now. 

In other little things going on... Denver Restaurant week is coming up in a month or so.  I am excited because there are a couple places we will go to that offers a great bargain for a great meal.  We haven't chosen exactly where but I am looking forward to it.

Saturday we went for Brunch to Colt and Gray.  The place has gotten some great press and lots of props, that they do brunch is a bonus for us since it really has become one of my favorite meals.  We walked in and the first thing that struck me was how absolutely lovely the room was.  The chairs were sexy as hell.  I want a set...bad.  Our waiter came and took my coffee order and returned with a french press and a hourglass timer. Nice touch.  Then we had a waitress which was really weird to switch servers halfway through the meal I have to admit.  Our waitress took our order, I could hear the line call our order since we were sitting right by the kitchen door. Then fourty minutes later our french toast and panckes came out.  My pancakes sat on the pass bar for so long my plate nearly glowed it was so hot.  The syrup was absorbed into the pancakes and actually crystalized in the cakes.  The orange compound butter had a peice of paper still stuck on it. I understand how a compound butter is made and wrapped in wax paper traditionally but having to peel it off hot pancakes while it was melting nearly took the bloom that  the nice coffee service put on my morning.  F's french toast stuffed with apple and marscapone was lovely and the apples were slightly crisp.  I personally would have liked them a little crisper, but it's a good idea.  I would also probably add a little vanilla to the marscapone.  Our friends got the french toast and the sausage breakfast. The sausage was room temp.  The foie grois fat fried potato triangles were delightful, but deep fried I think.  All the flavor of the liver fat had cooked off which is a shame because it would have been an amazing compliment to the spicy and herb induced sausage.  Our meal ended and we cruised out.  I totally over tipped ... WAY over tipped.  Oops.  I didn't check my math... learned a lesson there.  But maybe because of that over tip I will get better service off the line next time we go in... hey there is that chick that tipped almost 18 bucks on a cup of coffee (which basically is what I did almost) lets make it right this time!

We also went to dinner at Marco's Coal Fired Pizza.  Ordered the spectacular lemon wings.  The onions, those sweet sweet onions could easily be my favorite thing in the whole world.  There is something about them acting a bed for the wings.  F ordered the Toscana Napoletana pizza, the crust was thin and chewy and hot.  The grape tomatoes were sliced in half and scattered across the top and were like little bombs of yum.  But the shaved parm, salty and placed on the tongue just melted. But seriously the best part of the pizza was the thinly shaved Prosciutto di Parma.  Oh ma gaw.  It just melted. And when F let me have the last couple of slices that had fallen on the plate of the cheese and meat, I knew in that moment that he really does like me.  I wouldn't have been so nice I don't think.  Ok I would have but I would have been sad about it.  F is super sweet and knows just what it takes to make me fall just that much more for him... prosciutto. 


And Sunday we went to Zorbas for breakfast. We like our breakfasts what can I say? A plate of gyros each was enough food for a family of five. I have left overs which is a great thing for the rest of the week!  But the highlight I have to admit was the Kotosoupa Avgolemono. I initially was a little turned off by the idea of chicken soup with lemon and rice and egg... but I thought what the heck I will try anything.  I seriously am so glad that I tried it because it was amazing.  It was an authentic treat that unexpectedly knocked me out it was delicious.  I almost asked for a to go order. 

So much for the New Year's diet.  I fell off the wagon and hit my head and realized that is a dumb move to even try it.  I might have to try the work out route instead. 

I am ending the night watching Anthony Bourdain in Paris (again... I want to go to there) and Tunisia.  I am making a goal to enjoy the simple pleasures and watching this great travel show about food makes me happy to have such great options here. 

It might not be lamb's head kabobs in Tunisia but I have really enjoyed my eating opportunities of late.  The company of course is always great too.  I am lucky to have a great boyfriend, great friends and all available to join me! 

Here is this week's list of my weekend MovieRama!

Friends with Money
Syriana
Babel
Capote
Charlies Angels
Fierce People
Girl Interrupted
The Fountain
Talk to Me
Timecode


and say goodbye to jpgmag.com. (the link may or may not work past Jan 5, hard to tell since there are some savethejpgmag sites out there, unlikely though). I actually used to submit to the site before I found my footing on flickr.  Once things changed with the "management" and founders I let my subscription that Valentine bought for me expire and stopped regularly visiting.  I will say that I am sorry it couldn't survive in print format and online (think about how expensive it really must be to host all those photos for free and publish... wowza!) because it really was a great concept, perhaps they should have stayed quarterly, self published and not gone "national" but big dreams sometimes don't always work out.  And it is a shame.  Sure there is speculation on the horizon it might not shutter but it still is a statement on the publishing industry as a whole for sure.  I just hope for personal reasons of course that the local free paper stays around and keeps F employed.

F and I went to some friends for dinner last night and I have been obsessing about the cheese straws ever since I let the first buttery sharp cheddary spicy bite hit my tongue.  I have found a couple of recipes and being that F and I probably aren't doing anything tonite outside... I probably will run to the market in a little bit and buy the fixings and give it a shot.  All the recipes that I have found are mostly the same basic recipe so I am super excited. I only hope I can duplicate the deliciousness that I had last night.  It was amazing to go and have dinner and be a couple.  Nuts that I say it but it was really nice.
~~~
Just finished baking.  They turned out pretty damn good if I must say so myself.  Not as spicy as last night but that is fixable in the next batch.  For sure.  Next batch I will bump up the spice.  But honestly what was the most amazing part of the whole thing was using my Grandma Dorothy's cookie press.  I didn't ever think that I would use it and packed it away but tonite when I pulled it out (because amazingly enough I knew just where I packed it away) and made my recipe I have to say I got a little twinge, a twinge of sad that I couldn't call her and thank her for giving it to me because it was PERFECT  and a twinge of pride that I will use it often now that I have something great to use it for.  Melancholy joy for sure. 

I am totally obsessing about shoes too.  Next week I might have to pull the trigger on these.

With the windchill factored in to tonite's weather... 36 below zero. That is mightily cold. And I have been out and about in this tonite. But its 10:15 and I am home, cozy in the house. I have moved the plants away from their original location near the patio doors, it is just freakin' cold and they shouldn't suffer either. It is going to be VERY difficult to get up and motivated tomorrow morning I can already tell. But I will be honest, I have my coffee ready for tomorrow morning.

I have a couple things going on this week which is good to keep me motivated.

Had a funny conversation about WalMart Friday night. I am going to say this one thing... I thought it was just me, but I am so very glad that it isn't. Phew. Speaking of Friday night, had a great time the whole evening. Was privy to a really nice conversation and liked having the Denver Local Music Scene Braintrust Overlords in my car, that was great. Later, the Red Bull and Vodka liquid courage ALMOST got me in trouble and I am glad Andrew pulled me outside to calm me the fuck down because Zoe was about to go a little silly and inappropirate, and yes, the cigarette helped. Thank you Andrew, Zoe has learned her lesson. Thank you F for not ridiculing me and beating me home as well. I do think that my interested is piqued... I might have to go to American Apparel as well by the way.

Had a really pretty nice weekend. Didn't bake like I wanted to today but I think that since I don't have much on deck I have to get into holiday gear. I am really truely just NOT feeling it at all. Not in a bah humbug kind of way, just not in a wooo hoooo big time holiday feeling. Seriously. Just not feeling it this year. And talking to J he wasn't either so again... phew... glad I am not the only one.

Ok this is a pretty sucky entry. I know this. So its done. Sorry you wasted the few minutes perusing... more when I am feelin' it.

I am tired today. For no other reason than I am. I haven't done anything of any consideration outside of working last night. But I will say that I am happy that I finished up my work last night because this Monday when I go into the office I won't be stressing at all. I think I have only had one and a half cups of coffee at this point in the day which mid-afternoon is really strange for me. This probably explains alot.

I planned to run a couple errands this afternoon but really it ended up just a while ago as a run to Goodwill (glad I got the call beforehand) and took the bags of clothes and stuff for donation. There was this guy unloading his car who was being a little mean to the helper guy because he didn't just have receipts handy. It was sad to me. Give the guy a break dude.

I am watching Iron Chef now and am completely disgusted by the concept of gooey duck. This is probably something that I wouldn't search out to eat. I am enjoying watching the last minute scramble of the plating. That is always my favorite part of the show, watching the chefs plate.

It makes me hungry though and I am trying to figure out what I am going to do for dinner. I might go and hit The Counter. Mr. Sheehan didn't like Five Guys (even though for the size of the burger it is about a third less, much closer to my house and from my experience really good and cooked perfectly (sorry my burger wasn't burnt Mr. Sheehan, but we did go on a Saturday where it was PACKED and maybe the burgers spent less time on the flattop than yours) but makes The Counter sound like the second coming of Round the Corner. I don't so much care about the alcohol factor, but humane raised cows, ok I won't feel AS GUILTY. Can you tell I am craving some protein? But after looking at the menu, I realize I have all the ingredients to make burgers here. The only thing that is missing is french fries or potatoes of any kind here.

Um weirdness....George Duran is now hosting Secret Life of..., which is pretty cool. I love Ham on the Street though. I got a really great recipe for Rice Crispey treats with coffee from him. OH MA GAW that is totally what I am going to go and make RIGHT NOW. Seriously.

Signing off to go and bake...thank you FoodTv for getting me off the couch!

Things are good...

So the gift giving season is officially upon me.  Yesterday I was completely freaking out because I totally thought Chanukah was on the 12th this year.   Then when the holiday didn't show up on my Google Calendar I was really whiggin'. But I am a goofball... Oops totally looking at 2009's calendar. So PHEW, I didn't totally under estimate how much time I had to shop, but now I am actually totally on schedule, I am actually far more ahead of the game than I usually am.  I have only one more, no wait, three more stops to make. 

I have a couple more gift cards to get, one stop at the mall and one other stop (look at me being all vague, but I don't really know who reads this and can't give my secret shopping joy away).  So I am totally way ahead of my game. 

Went to dinner last night at the original Pasquini's on Broadway.  It was so delicious and I have to admit the pizzetta was delicious this morning for breakfast even though I wanted it for lunch, breakfast was so much better.  I thank you F for treating me. I haven't been back at that location because it was the first place I went after WH died and I think I always associated it with that really bummer of a memory.  But you (F) made me remember Wilco and then I realized I need to break out those files and listen again because they are really good and I know that.  Then just as I sent him the links for the Colbert Report appearance he was watching it.  Funny. 

Oh and I shopped off list at Target last night and only forgot one thing. My dishwasher is not functioning (meaning the latch won't close, it isnt' worth spending 185 dollars to pay someone to come and fix it when I can get something that uses less water, makes less noise and is more energy efficient if I save for a couple of months and buy a new one).  So a 9 dollar dish rack isn't a bad investment but certainly not something that I absolutely need and I think that is why I didn't remember it, but it is on the list.  Pleanty of people survive with out a dishwasher, I can too for a little while.  F reminds me he survived with one bowl for years.  UM that totally freaks me out, but I can live without a dishwasher. 

I got some great work to do at the office today too.  I feel like I am making myself known for quality and dependability and that is what I want.  After so many years of feeling invisible and scared that I wasn't valued at the other places I worked (The Island and The Firm... for those of you following along all these years), I feel better finally about my job.  I actually very much like going to work and know how completely lucky I am that I am able to say that I am going to work daily.  This is a great company and really a pretty great group of people.  Lucky Lucky Lucky. 

I have turned on the fireplace because it is friskily cold outside.  It is really comforting.  And so is the result I just got from my Magic 8 ball. 

I had a terrific weekend. One that hit all the right notes.

Friday at work I just didn't keep myself busy enough. I tried really hard, but I set myself up for knowing what I will do this upcoming week which will probably be even a little slower since there is the holiday and all the big kahunas are out of the office. I am actually a little excited about the idea of having the time to do what I have to do to get my desk and cubie thing all cleaned out.

When I came home I got all sorta spruced up. I met up with F and his friends D and L (and for a brief moment a flash...D) for a little snackie and beer at Sputnik. I ordered the arepe's but I realized I made a dining faux paux and should have ordered the mac and cheese. Oops. Didn't see it on the menu, didn't look down far enough. So corn cakes with spicy meat it was.

From there we went over to the Pepsi Center for Coldplay. Now here is the deal. My boss (who left the company in August bought the tickets but since he left I inherited them. I was a little excited about the idea of going to the big rock show. Seriously it was entertaining. The neon confetti leaf things (oops the article says they were butterflies, which when they came out of the machines were magical) were honestly my favoritest moments. My least favorite moment... the super sticky floor, seriously that was nasty. F and I walked out of the venue amused and entertained which was the total point. There were alot of people who probably got much much more out of the show. One thing that I also enjoyed was the band walking out into the audience and playing in the "bleachers". It was charming (which is a word I used more than once this weekend).

We were going to go to a party but because it was about 11:30 decided to just come home. I stopped at the liquor store for some beers (at the total last minute) at the place over on Evans and Colorado Blvd. The guy yelled at me "hurry up we are closing" as I walked in the door. OK OK gosh. But I knew the six pack of Heineken was all I needed. Stood in line behind a couple of kids buying Vox Lemonade and Sprite. It sounded like a nasty ass mix but they invited me over to their dorm. Hi, and no, I have my man waiting for me at home, can't.

Came home had some beers and F showed me some nuances of my new camera which was rad. Showed him the "through the lens" action with my arrow. It was fun to share something funky with him technique-wise.

Saturday we went for burgers to Five Guys. It was packed and busy and delicious. I really liked how I made my burger and the fact that they pack the bag with French Fries. Phew on ordering only one order. We had a great lunch. It is also really good to know it is delicious because it is so close to my office.

Saturday night there was alot going on. Met F up at the Meadowlark for the Jason Cain CD Release (he is the singer of Astrophagus, who are terrific, but didn't get to see him unfortunately). Saw Elin Palmer and The Beebs and had to jam over to the 3 Kings for the Velvet Cash show (which I promised to shoot some pictures at, they really should update that shot... lord knows I have taken more recent ones than the one they have up there... bygones). Then cruised back to the Larimer Lounge for Dead Confederate which was surprisingly good. I got to shoot a little bit and it was so great. I got a little geeked out and I really appreciate F not making too much fun of me. Chatted with some people after the show and Brian asked me if I was F's other half... uh.... ummmmmm..... huhhhhh.... yeah? It was awkward. But I kinda liked saying it.

Came back home and lounged around in bed all morning. It was terrific.

And today I ran over to the mall to pick up Calexico tickets for tomorrow night. Its is actually ok to pay for a show now and again. I would have waited until tomorrow night but I was worried it would sell out and didn't want to walk up and see the "sorry sucka" sign. Walked through the mall which was really busy actually. I walked through a couple of stores and was largely disappointed by the stuff stocked. I am at a huge loss for some of the holiday gifties I need to work on. Yikes. I just don't want it sneaking up on me and getting stuck with something really bad.

I am hoping that this week I can get over the end of this cold and stop coughing, its really f'n annoying.

Ok... off to get stuff ready for the work week and to finish up on a little tv now that it is 10:00. Hope your weekend ruled as much as mine did.

I had buz tonite at dinner

blame it on the fact that I really am thirsty.... way thirsty... have been all day since the breakfast at (unnamed location) had SALTED FUCKING BACON. I mean seriously who salts bacon? So tonite F and I met at Moes for bbq. It was amazingly good. And get this... tonite was the first time I have eaten pork ribs. Crazy huh? I mean really... I have never had pork ribs before tonite and they were good. I need to make beef ribs for F though, he doesn't know what he is missing.

So I am in the good life right now.

I have a bunch of errands that I have to run today. I don't want this to become a "to do list" but it kinda is.

I have to go and get in the shower and get ready for my day. It is early and I am raring to go. I had a great night last night. We went to dinner with the family (I stand by my choice by the way), came back and watched a movie (it wasn't all that bad, but not all that good either), went to the Larimer Lounge to see The Giraffes (who were all sortsa awesome... but the putz in the brand new Joy Division t-shirt, you are lucky you didn't get a swift kick in the head... no I am not expecting just not a size fucking 2... nice brand new shirt by the way... F said he probably doesn't even know what the band name comes from...), came home laughed at some stuff and no Valentine words were not said... still. Gah.

Today I have to get a book, pack up some books, I need to get rice crispies for brownies (maybe for a little snackie for my office and F's editorial meeting or data day depending on when I get to baking), vacume (the autumn leaves are totally finding their way into the house and it makes me crazy), I have to finish some work work, and catch up on some tv.

And I just saw our Urban Bunny so I am so happy to see it alive. It is a good omen for the day I think!

Happy Sunday, hope your day is a great as mine has been so far.

so I am sitting here on my couch watching the Ex List which I have to admit is now my dirty little secret show.  It used to be America's Next Top Model which sadly Steevoh isn't recording anymore.  Well not really sad because I told Steevoh to not record it anymore but seriously The Ex List is really quite funny.  And I hated Rachel Boston as Ava on Grey Anatomy but she is adorable on this new show.  Now that I have said I like this show, it won't last. 

I had a moment of great angst last night but I am much much better today.  I had a moment where I was questioning everything, walking through a muck of insecurity and crazy.  But... I walked into the house after my night out and was better. I have this tendancy to make myself overthink things and get overly nostalgic.  So I get home and fall asleep knowing I am completely irrational.

Today is a great day so far. I am going to make some cupcakes, clean the house a little bit and run a couple errands in a little bit.  I have to drop off some old cell phones to Sprint, get this winter's supply of Keils Creme de Corps (I was sitting in F's car last night and could not stop itching it was awful I thought I was going to peel off my skin it was terrible), get some boxes to storage and then meet F for a private show at the Bluebird (fun!). 

It is my Grandma D's birthday today and even though she isn't with us anymore I feel like I need to celebrate her in some way.  I miss her tremendously and it breaks my heart that she isn't on the planet anymore and can't share in how things are in my life.  She would be so happy for me, for us, and I am sad that I can't just call her and say Happy Birthday, buy her some little tchotcke for her as a gift (she actually would have loved the wisks that I got Mom for her birthday, they are awesome and I would have gotten them for her I am sure).  I miss her tremendously. 

Back to the cute show. 

OH and I have to harvest the mint today too.

I baked last night. I was impressed with the lightness of the cupcake when I tasted it out of the oven, but today... blargh so not tasty.  Actually the cupcake itself was super bland and boring and the icing recipe that came with it was boring and tasteless.  The jimmies had more taste than anything else.  So ... I will put them in a box take them to work tomorrow and try a different recipe tonite since I doubt I will be going out and doing anything.  I certainly don't mind baking.  I really enjoy it actually.  But I am using my old standard chocolate cupcake recipe that seriously rocks and making peanut butter buttercream instead of that chocolate cream cheese blach that I tried last night. NOT tasty, sour.  Even with remixing it with vanilla... sour.

So... I get back to the drawing, baking, boards which actually is all sorts of awesome actually.

There was a comment made today by a consultant that said something anti-semetic to me today on the phone. He said the (he) wasn't being "prejudiced"... but you are fine sir, you are.  Just because you went to Kinkos to save some money doesn't make you "cheap like a Jewish person", it makes you practical assmunch.  I didn't say anything about his comment and because I was on the phone I just kept my mouth shut.  I certainly have lost an incredible amount of respect for someone that my company has engaged to provide us with some training.  I should have said something.  I think tomorrow I am going to call him back, give him the respect I didn't get and tell him I thought it was completely offensive, unprofessional and has effected my opinion of him.

In other much more happy and funny news I just pulled a batch of cupcakes out of the oven.  Holy yummy they smell amazing and are gorgeous.  I just made a second batch because seriously the recipe was THAT easy and the results are good.  This is the recipe that I used. The cupcake is really light.  Now to pick the frosting!

Things are getting better and better.  Seriously.  No sarcasm in that statement.  I am serial.  I got a notice in the mail yesterday for my polling place with a mail in ballot piece of information.  I think I missed the deadline, but when looking online I found a early polling place about a mile from work.  So no long long lines for me on November 4th.  This is a huge relief for me I have to admit.  Colorado's ballot is the largest that it has ever been and there are a lot of measures that need serious attention outside of the Presidency and I didn't want to and was worried that I would, get frustrated and walk away from the lines on the Election Day. 

So ... tomorrow I am going to go on my lunch, do my civic duty as a registered voter and git it dun. 

I was going to bake cupcakes last night but got completely sidetracked by television... shocker.

I found when I went to get Guinness last night... Coney Island lagers....seriously if only for the labels how freakin' fun (yes blah blah blah pun intended).  It looks like they have it on tap at the Double Down if you are in the Las Vegas area you too can try it (hey now... they opened one in NYC? What the hull... that's not right.. that is probably where you can get it actually not in Vegas... so go to Houston and A if you are in NYC to get it on tap and your ass juice shot I suppose with midgets... huh). and if you are perhaps in NYC for CMJ you can go to Katz's Deli or like 100 other places or Doc Hollidays in Manhatten. Just a couple of ideas.  Look at me pimpin the beer... and midget pO*rn.  I bought the beers solely on the labels but also the fact that HeBrew is not bad at all.  Dad and I got wasted (ok I did) at Grandpa's one night so how bad really can it be?  And it's kosher so I can bring it to the frummie family events and look like I am being fun instead of trying to erase the fact that I am there. 

G is moving back in Feb I just found out. Sweet.

I totally forgot to point out that I had a fantastic breakfast at Dixons on Saturday.  No doubt it was so good.  AND I really like their green chile.  I keep forgetting to call and let them know our waiter was really terrific.  And the tip was NO accident my friend, yes you were that good.  Ok so we didn't exactly get beverage refils like I would have liked but that was the only thing that was lacking.  F picked it and I have to admit I wasn't thinking much of it but then the food came and I was a happy little pre-museum going camper. 

After lunch and feeding our meters we went over to the MCA Denver to see the Damien Hirst exhibit.  Now... here is the thing.  I like Damien Hirst alot.  I think he is about as audacious at Jeff Koons who I would wet kiss if he would let me. BUT four peices?  Wow.  Kind of a serious let down, the man is prolific as hell, why two Butterfly Paintings, One Medicine Cabinet Peice and St. Sebastian?  That is it.  LET DOWN.  No spin art? Seriously?  I am not kvetching seriously here people.  I loved it.  LOVED IT. And good for the MCA for getting what they did, its a huge thing for such a small contemporary art museum, it means Denver is on the map, but fuck all... four peices? 

Plus our docent was giving out all sorts of misinformation on all the other peices on our tour.  It was horrific.  I finally just started tuning him out.  I am sure the dude is a nice enough guy but really?  Dead Guy (F pointed that one out to me)? Che Guevara? Nope you don't know your peices buddy.  And he kept trying to insert what he thought of the peices too.  Not at all appropirate with out being asked by the group my friend.

Bad, no one is interested.  He left out significant information about the works too. Didn't even discuss the Hirst stuff out side of the fact that he didn't know squat about St. Sebastian and the fact that the butterflies didn't hatch in his studio but he found them and curated them dead already and that the medicines in the cabinet were prozac and "some other animal drugs".  After the auction there is so much information out there there is no excuse for him to not know anything... read wikipedia for goodness sake... sha. 

But, that being said I got to see some Hirsts (if just four peices) up close which was a thrill. Now if I could just find the peice at the Denver Art Museum (supposedly they have "Party Time" but I haven't EVER seen it) I would really be happy. 

There was a photography exhibit too that was pretty sensational.  And the docent guy seemed to know a little bit more about her process than any thing else there but also probably gave us wrong information.  I tried to look interested since I have the photography bug but seriously grrrr it was frustrating.  And he was dismissive about why they didn't put the titles under or near the works but on a hand out on a shelf outside the gallery but didn't tell us the list was there until I asked...(it would take away from the peice he said... um.... really? The titles of the work helped me to understand what Jane Hammond was doing with her collages but pardon me not for "getting it" with out the title sheets... it was bullshit). But everyone else was so eager and so nice it was hardly worth getting annoyed by the guy.  He probably is totally a volunteer and this was maybe one of his first groups or something.  I don't know.  I would definately just pick up the gallery cards next time and come to my own conclusions. 

Saturday I hope to get to the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design Steele Gallery as they have some peices by the  Starn's hanging now.  I didn't know about it until I saw a post on 20x200 today about them. The show comes down Saturday night so it will be interesting to see how they work for sure.  I am trying desperately to find something to kick  my ass back in gear photography wise.  I feel like I am in this rut.  Sure show shots are cool but honestly I don't have the gear for it and the shots I took Friday of Velvet Cash show. 

So I need to branch out.  Try something new.  That is the goal.

I am getting ready for my evening. I was beginning to slow down a little bit after I got off hte phone with PoPo. I was really worn out from work today I put in almost 11 hours. I know that there are people who work far harder than I do but I was whipped. But I am watching the Drag Queen challenge on Project Runway and can I be honest, those ladies rocked my world. Seriously... if I can't get my act together enough to stand in front of the mirror and put on one layer of lipstick when those ladies really seriously work IT than I really am super sad. So those ladies kicked my ass in gear.

Plus secretly there is something really great about hearing Heidi Klum say "we have seen it before, you do not have anything else to show us". But that being said I promise this probably will be the last episode I watch because really I am not so much interested in this fashion they are working.

I am getting all sorts of motivated now for sure. I am not going out tonite all crazy but I am definately going to not kvetch about being tired and not wanting to put any make up on.

Tomorrow I am going up to Boulder with F for L'Atelier I am sooooo damn pysched! What a good sport. I don't know if he is really as much into is as I am but I am excited, the whole thing came out of my need for the Pirates of the Caribbean Pez and wanting to go to Powells Candy on the Pearl Street Mall on Tuesday and not having enough time, it just jammed into something really rad. I don't know if I will have enough time tomorrow night but seriously I will have teh decent amazing meal so I don't really care.

I also on a whim just staged my house, for an online promotion for Jonathan Adler's Happy Home Chic contest. The contest ends tomorrow so I totally had to jam it out. I loves me some Jonathan Adler, we all know that. And it was a total thrill to take some pictures of MY happy home and share them with what I am sure is his webmaster. I don't stand a snowflakes chance in somewhere tropical of winning but still it was such a hoot. THANK YOU Mr. Adler. I promise, with the gift card the Bro and SIL sent me for the birthday this year, I will fill my house will some more treasures, but shhhhhh and I am whispering this now.... shhhhhh.... are you listening ..... i would love to win......

I am off to put on some makeup, go out on the town and have a fun night on my solo own!

So today ran the gamut... from going "yessss" almost aloud to going "oh shit" totally out loud. So things are good and things are going to be tough but good I think. Good not necessarily for me, but certainly for those involved for sure. I am happy about all the potential good that may come of this but really things will be busy and complicated for me, but again this will only prove my mettle and what I can withstand. I was talking with a co-worker about some things and certainly got an earful about some serious office gossip too. OY. People are kinda stupid and making bad choices. (edited to add: this is about the boss man quitting and the office romance that now everyone knows about)

Today is my Grandma Dorothy's yortzite and certainly this is not an easy day for me. But I am really thinking about her alot. Thinking how in alot of ways she would be very happy for me, proud of me and certainly if she was here still would just an inspiration for us. I have to remember that instead of being sad, I have to remember what she would say or do to encourage me through all my daily trials and tribulations.

I am trying to figure out what to do for dinner. I could either go and pick up pizza or even go and pick up a chipotle' but not sure. I was thinking about seeing if F wanted to meet before his jam tonite but I know he has lots going on tonite before. I might just go and get pho on my own. There is a place near my house that my bro tells me is good and tonite might be the night to walk in sit down and just break out the gastronomy.

I am working too on my clean up too. I think really it needs to be pizza tonite so I don't put this off anymore. I think tonite will be my laundry room clean up. Ho nelly wish me luck.

Ok funny thing... I just actually went to look at this here blog and see the bookmark chiklet on the bottom of my entries. Now this is funny because I remember going "huh that would be cool to add to my blog" at somepoint, so I had to go and look at the code to see where and when I actually built it into my page layout, because I do not at all remember actually doing it and seriously... I really did. When I install anything into my template, I make a note in the code to let me know that I did do it and when and where I got the code... which I actually didn't do this time... but yeah it is really pretty cool that its there.

Meet F for Lucille's brunch. Then we went to the Denver Art Museum. It was really great. There were peices there that I wished I had known were there earlier, I would have made more of a point to go but it was great to make it there today. Sorry G I couldn't wait for you to come back, but that being said there are many peices I want to go back and visit again. And I was really surprised that the Warhol wasn't the one I thought it was. AND it was really fucking cool. I get it now.

It was a great afternoon.

the Magic 8 ball STILL hasn't failed me...

So kick ass allaround last night.  Left work a little early, not as early as I wanted but it's all good.  I got home with enough time to catch up on a little personal work, but didn't get a video edited down like I wanted... tonite. Anyways, so F and I met up at the Roo Bar.  Ok see this is what is really freakin' hilarious here... I would always suggest the Roo Bar as a launching pad when they were in Cherry Creek.  It was a good starting place.  I always had a good time there (even with the whole Shrug debacle... more on that later) and it was nice to know no matter what when you walked in there you would be comfortable.  So... it was funny when F mentioned meeting there before going out last night. 

The new location is off Globeville Road and Park Avenue West it is tucked into a strip mall (which is weird but then again it used to be in the basement of an office building so really not all that strange) behind the La Quinta and the gas station on the corner.  It isn't as shleppy as it sounds really, I promise.  It was actually pretty all right.  F got a little snackie and I will say it was nice to see the Spinach Pizza still on the menu.  I will let him talk about the place later.  Not my job.  I just hope the puppy gets his due, that is all.

Had a mind eraser...the Zoe way... ah good times. 

We cruised over to the Walnut Room for the JDub 5th Anniversary party.  When the DJs started spinning they opened with a Hebrew version of Pass the Dutchie, I loved it and can't find it on a quick search I am going to find it though. If anyone can hook a girl up...now would be the time.

I am not a big hip hop listener, I don't know any Hebrew anymore, I certainly don't know much about Hebrew/Israeli Hip Hop, but that being said, you really didn't have to. It was a great party. Spent a lot of the time gossiping about people that I knew there which I have to say now in retrospect was really gross.  I don't like that I did that at all.  But I did it and am sorry, that is the best I can offer at this point.

It was interesting to see some of the people that I did and for the record there was a sorta drunk girl that hit on F when we walked in the door and were waiting at the bar.  I liked that he was complimented.  I liked that she said that he better treat me good... and I like that I said oh honey... you have no idea.... and then she went on her merry little way.  I loved her necklace too.  But didn't get a chance to tell her because she moved on.

The group that put on the party is working to develop programming in the area that is relevant culturally to what I am interested in so that is cool.  Found them on facebook and their site from the name tag.  Smart.

I bought a tshirt from the merch girl.  Some jack ass was trying on the shirts then didn't buy anything.  It was gross. So I bought a shirt because seriously they have to pay to schlep that stuff around and it does support the artists and JDub is not for profit for goodness sake stop trying on the shirts and just buy one already...sheesh.  Then I look at the shirt this morning before I head off to work and um... yeah... it actually could be a wearable shirt.  Now I am really even happier that I bought the shirt and helped them out a little bit, even schmeered her with a couple extra bucks since no one was buying squat. 

Left the Walnut Room, had a little detour, which was perfect and was home by 1:00 which was just about what I had hoped for. 

Nearly talked about the whole Shrug deal too, not that there is anything to be ashamed of or embarrassed about outside of it being icky and him trying to hit me with his truck in October by the hotel. But seriously...Yikes. I didn't want to give up all the information that I did, but I suppose it eventually is going to come out I might as well just go there. But I held back.There are some things a gal should be able to keep a secret.  But apparently all you have to do is   give me a mind eraser and it's almost like truth serum.  Oop. 

Allright off to meet a friend for lunch!  I am starving.

This is from Friday and just found it in my drafts.... so thought I would post it anyways since the Tastespotting thing is a big deal for me.  But given that its been a couple days and the situation has shaked out enough for someone to build a similar site here is an alternative other than the onces listed below that looks great:  http://foodgawker.com/. 

So onto the old post:

bummer that Tastespotting is gone.... it was one of my favorites... metafilter commenters have some ideas about what happened and some alternatives thank goodness.  All I know is I am bummed because I didn't get all the things I had starred linked properly.  Thanks to the Bro for the heasd up on this situation.  Here is another link to some information....and yes another.  This kind of stuff went down years back in the infancy of the interwebs sure, but the organization that ran TasteSpotting seemed to have a great design, a good business model, a great way to drive traffic to blogs that are deserving of quality (if the food blog stalker situation is to believed this was not the quality I am talking about here) attention and this turn of events is sad.  And really a drag because I actually used it to find recipes just a couple days ago and the search function was second to none because of the depth of the links.  I found two chicken recipes that I literally merged together to make dinner last night and it was fantastic to have it as a resource.  Sad that it is gone. 

I am flippen exhausted, seriously slept like ass last night.  But not tired like I shouldn't be here at work, just tired like I am not motivated at all to be here at work.  And I should be at home packing my bag for Vegas.  I still don't know what the hull I am going to wear to this party. 

And holy crap I just read that Tim Russert died. 

Had a nice day yesterday, sorry I concerned you Valentine... trust me if something was down I would totally let you know, just to reassure you.

Dinner at Pasquini's was really delicious. Its been quite a long time since I have been to either of them, so it was a treat to go to the one on 17th for dinner. The dinner salad was superb. I love it when it isn't just a plate of lettuce and some salad dressing and a couple of croutons. They jam the plate full of cheese, olives, mushrooms, a fresh slice of tomato even, not that diced crap. It was delicious. And the pizza was really good. I anticipated that we were going to go and see this band but we ended up coming back here and watched A Dirty Shame. Seriously. So damn funny, really, not the most tasteless of John Waters films (he brought me Polyester and Female Trouble to watch later). And I dug seeing the credit roll come up with F's name. That was a treat. And I got some insight on what to listen to.

Booger, Mom is starting in, it's really funny. I knew it wouldn't take long.

I really need to get out of dodge today and get over to the greenhouse to get flowers and plants for my patio and entry way. I am sadly about four weeks behind on that chore. So I think I might jump over to Lowe's first for inexpensive petunias then go over to Country Fair for the cool bitchen accent plants. I also need basil, sage and rosemary I think. I actually might wait now that I have some serious writing to do. I am really procrastinating on the flower thing.