A few minutes ago my boss and one of my co-workers asked me about my weekend plans (they are both in the 40s and married so they like to live vicariously through me). I filled them in somewhat and mentioned how Josh is pretty much leaving in a week. My boss was like “REALLY?!? I have someone waiting in the wings for you.” She said after a meeting like 2 months ago that her and I attended, SOMEONE asked her my “status.” She told him I was seeing someone, but now that, that is wrapping up she’s apparently going to let my admirer know. I didn’t ask who because I was too shocked. My sister’s first reaction (via gchat) was “the photographer that saw you drown i hope.” On the camping trip I went on in August for work we have a university photographer and videographer that came to chronicle portions of the trip. The guy was really cute (and tall) and during our lunch break while kayaking he started talking to me because I had a water bottle from my undergrad and he asked if I went there. His old roommate (who I knew of back then) had gone there too. Too bad soon after I WIPED out on the rapids in a VERY embarrassing manner. However he did come to my classroom last month to film me and my class as a follow up piece. And I saw him on campus a few weeks ago and we chatted briefly. Sadly I can’t find him on facebook because he has a common name much like me. SIGH However, based on timeline I don’t think it’s hunky camera man. I looked back on my work calendar from the past 2 months and I have some suspicions. I may casually ask my boss next week to spill the beans. EEEEE!
My date for tonight has been postponed to this weekend since the guy still isn’t feeling well and wants to be “at this best” for the date. However like that playa I am I got myself a new date for tonight…with Jillian Michaels. Shred Level 1 Day 4!!
Today I was listening to a radio morning show and the DJs were talking about how between mid-November and mid-December people (women especially), really carve out time to date and make an effort to be in a relationship around the holidays and for New Years.
I can see that, but for me it’s much more fun to snuggle with someone when it’s cold out and like Buddy the Elf snuggling’s my favorite.
I find myself in an interesting position this year:
Like I said in a previous post Josh leaves for his Foreign Services job overseas on 12/10 which I’ve know from the beginning and we kept things casual, but it doesn’t mean you don’t get comfortable. We ate in last night and caught up on 3 episodes of Homeland while camped out on his living room floor on an air mattress since he’s mostly packed up. He was in Florida for the past 2 weeks visiting family and during that time I really started to pull away and actively try to get back into the dating game (which I did this week). I’m going to enjoy this last week or so with Josh. He was being extra sweet and snuggly last night and at one point referred to at “ravishing” – I’ll take it!
Meanwhile I had a really good first date on Tuesday. Really good conversation and this guy is a “grown up” with his shit together. I’m intrigued. We are going out again tomorrow!
I have another first date with a guy for tonight, but he hasn’t been feeling well this week, so I’m not sure if we’re going to need to reschedule.
Oh and FYI, I failed to mention on here that the day of my wisdom teeth surgery my ENGAGED ex e-mailed me for the first time since April. General consensus from friends (both male and female) that it was an inappropriate email from an engaged guy to send his ex-girlfriend. I waited until I was off my pain-meds to write him to back in a “politely dismissive” manner. My friends think I was way too nice, but I wanted to take the high road, plus I’m sad for him. If he’s engaged and still trying to rekindle some connection with me who is across the country, it’s just sad.
Never a dull moment. My love life waxes and wanes more than the moon and the tide!
Ingredients (serves 1-4, depending on how much coffee you drink)
Coffee beans Water (Some kind of) Milk (optional)
Boil water. Grind coffee beans. Put into french press. Add water to french press. Steep for five minutes. Serve hot in a mug with or without your cream of choice. Give yourself a pat on the back for being thrifty and very adult!
SMOOTHÉ from above 1 egg 1 slice bread Water Salt and pepper Butter
Put egg (uncracked) in a saucepan of water. Set to boil. Drink SMOOTHÉ while waiting for egg to boil. Toast slice of bread. Boil egg for 3 minutes.
Butter the toast. “Empty” soft boiled egg onto toast and smear all over the toast. Garnish with salt and pepper. Have a glass of water to drink because it’s good for your skin and aura. Eat with your hand a la “open faced sandwich” or with fork and knife. Prepare to feel hungry again in 20 minutes.
4. #HASHTAGBROWNS
Prep time: 25 minutes Approximate cost: $0.75
Ingredients (serves 1 – 2)
1 large potato (any kind of) Vegetable oil Butter Salt and pepper
Put large pan over medium-high heat. Add about a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Grate the large potato in its entirety with a cheese grater. *IMPORTANT TRICK*: take the now-grated potato over the sink and squeeze all the juice out. Squeeze as much as you can.
The oil should be hot by now. Make sure it’s covering the entire surface of the pan. Add the now-grated potato. Garnish with salt and pepper. 5 minutes in, add a few small slices of cold butter to the top of the potatoes. Let them melt.
Once one side is brown and crispy, flip to the other side. When the other side is brown is crispy you can eat the hashbrowns… but not before you Instagram your beautiful creation and annoy all of your friends with your smugness.
5. A SOBER QUESADILLA
Prep time: 15 minutes Approximate cost: $1
Ingredients (serves 1)
3 Leaves lacinato kale (or swiss chard) Cheese Half can of pinto beans (mostly drained) 1 Tortilla Vegetable Oil
Put large pan over medium heat. Add about a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Slice enough cheese to sort of cover half the tortilla and put it on ONE half of the tortilla.
Put half can of pinto beans in a bowl and mash into a paste with a fork. Spread that stuff on THE OTHER HALF of the tortilla.
Semi-”chiffonade” the kale into sort-of-wide ribbons. Put all the kale onto the CHEESE SIDE of the quesadilla. Close the quesadilla now. The bean side should now be smooshed into the kale and cheese side. Do you get it? Hon? The bean paste sticks it all together.
Put on the frying pan — but make sure the entire pan is coated in the hot oil. Don’t burn it, you fool! Once one side of the quesadilla is golden brown, flip to other side and do the same. You may need to add a little more oil for the other side.
Remove from pan, quarter (that means cut into quarters, noob), and eat it like the ravenous barbarian we know you are!
6. BRUSSELS SPROUTS THAT TRICK YOU INTO THINKING THAT YOU LIKE HEALTHY FOOD
Prep time: 15 minutes Approximate cost: $1
Brussels sprouts are a good complement for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They pair well with fried eggs, pinto beans, onions, garlic, couscous, noodles, potatoes and a bottle (or two) of wine.
Ingredients (serves 1)
Brussels sprouts Half a small onion Sea salt Black pepper Butter
Put large pan over medium heat. Add about a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Chop brussels sprouts lengthwise, 3-4 chops per brussel sprout (chiffonade style). They should resemble little discs. Dice the onion. Add brussel sprouts, onion, salt and pepper. Stir often, frying until slightly singed but with integrity maintained. OMG, you did it, babe!
6. “LOST IN TRANSLATION” DINNER
Prep time: 25 minutes Approximate cost: $2
Ingredients (serves 1)
1 package ramen (discard flavor packet)/ soba/ udon noodles 1 carrot 1/3 block of tofu Small head of broccoli 1 clove of garlic Curry paste Soy sauce Vegetable oil Toasted sesame oil Drama (if needed) Jealousy (if needed)
Boil the ramen, drain, and cover. Slice carrot at diagonal angle so that slices are long. Cut tofu into half-inch cubes and remove broccoli head from stem. Slice garlic if you don’t have a garlic press.
When water is halfway to boiling point, add less than a tablespoon of canola oil to pan on medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add carrot, tofu, broccoli, garlic, around a teaspoon of curry paste, and a little toasted sesame oil. Mix together. Cover ingredients LIGHTLY in soy sauce (better to underestimate than overestimate as too much soy sauce will make it too salty and inedible). Fry on medium high heat 5-7 mins, stirring often.
Add noodles to stir fry. Mix well and fry for a minute or so. Tofu cubes should be browned and crispy on one or two sides, but carrots should not have lost their integrity. Google images of Asia and eat in front of the photos.
7. “STUDENT LOAN” SALAD
Prep time: 5 minutes Approximate cost: $0.75
Ingredients (serves 1)
Mixed greens Fresh corn Sexual tension Cucumber Whatever other raw vegetables you have Salt and pepper Toasted sesame oil Balsamic vinegar
Put all the above ingredients in a bowl. Toss. Eat from the big bowl. Add kale chiffonade if you want to feel pretentious.
8. GRANDMA GRANOLA
Prep time: 2 minutes Approximate cost: $0.50
Ingredients (serves 1)
Granola Sunflower seeds Yogurt Fruit Flax seeds (optional)
Put all that stuff in a bowl and mix it up. Eat. Duh.
1/3 cup oatmeal ½ cup water ½ cup (whatever kind of) milk Butter Fruit jam
Add oatmeal and liquids to medium high heat saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add oatmeal, reduce heat to simmering, wait for the plot to thicken a little. SHOULD BE SOUPY WHEN YOU SERVE — DRY OATMEAL IS GROSS, YOU GUYS. SERIOUSLY. Pour in a bowl, add butter and a scoop of fruit jam. Mix, eat. Tweet about it. Rub your noggin. Sigh wistfully.
10. VEGETABLES (FLOURA + FAUNA!!!)
Prep time: 1 hour Approximate cost: $1.50
Ingredients (serves 1-2)
1 small beet 1 medium potato 1 carrot 1 apple 3-5 leaves lacinato kale Half an onion 2 cloves garlic Olive oil Salt and pepper Chicken leg (optional)
Preheat oven to 400 F. (Yes, you have an oven in your apartment.) Quarter beet and potato, chop carrot into half inch pieces. Remove core from apple and slice it. Peel and chop in half garlic cloves. Slice onion into wedges. Put all that into a square glass pan (incl. chicken leg if you are using it, which I mean it’s cool if you are, I just prefer not to eat living things when I’m hungry, LOL). Drizzle with olive oil, garnish with salt and pepper.
Bake until root vegetables are almost tender. Stir around once or twice so that the root vegetables below are exposed. Add kale, cut into half inch ribbons, during the last 5 minutes of baking (they will become crispy). Serve when root vegetables are as tender as two lamb chops on a spitfire grill. Don’t let the kale burn. That would be embarrassing for you.
All information provided in this article is for reference purposes only.
One of my students just walked in with THIS amazing “watch"
It’s a band for your Nano – so you can wear it as a watch or have your music there. He also said you could connect your nike+ to it for it to track running.
I LOVE my garmin, but to downsize from a watch AND an ipod is something to consider.