Feb 4
Recently, I reposted a Valentine cookie misadventure from 2007. In case you missed it and don’t want to click on the link, here’s a picture of how these cookies turned out in 2007.


Broken hearted cookies of 2007 :( Aw. The irony.

Well!! Brandi and I tackled these cookies again this year. They didn’t come out broken or smoking this time. Hurray. And are more tasty than I remembered! Irony might still be there, though.

If you missed it, first tip of the hat to Valentine’s day this year here.

Jan 29

I’ve always celebrated Valentine’s day as long as I can remember. It is my absolute favorite holiday. It didn’t matter if I didn’t have a boyfriend or if I was dating someone who cared enough to acknowledge it with me (I lived and learned!). Anyway, in 2007 as a single girl, I spent the day at a Single’s Mingle with my roommate at the time and my current roommate Brandi. After, I went home and baked Valentine’s cookies! The thing is, it ended up being a Vday misadventure. Read further to see. As taken from my xanga on February 14, 2007.

After my Roomie, Brandi and I mingled at a single’s mingle tonight (very fun by the way), we decided to end Valentine on a sweet and cute note by making those ready-to-bake sugar cookies. They were so so cute in the package I decided to take a picture of it. Still in it’s wax-paper package.

I lined the cookie sheet with wax paper instead of cookie paper. Roomie walked by and paused. “Linda, you sure wax paper is okay to bake?” I thought to myself a little. “Hmm. You’re right. Wax melts. Not good.”

Roomie read the box.. and here’s another phone camera picture. In case you can’t read it since it is poor quality, says “good for lining pans for baking.” or some shit like that.

5 minutes of the 8, things got a bit smoky in our apartment. Wax paper BAD idea. I acted without thinking and just pulled the wax paper out from under the undercooked cookies.

:( broken hearts.

We tried to fix them…

We couldn’t stop laughing…

We put the best looking ones on top.

This post still makes me giggle. This year, I’ve decided to relive this memory. I bought TWO packages of these same very cookies. You know, to account for any possible missteps.

Jan 15

1. Share your orders

When I went to Gourdough’s last week, I hardly knew 5 of the 6 other people there. One of guys announces that they’re all foodies, so they “know how to eat.” What he’s talking about is sharing and tasting your company’s order. We discussed how some people get a little possessive and snobby about sampling from other people’s order or vice versa. That’s fine and all but to truly be a foodie, you must get down and dirty with your friends. Share! The point is to try as much as you can.

2. Talk to the owner whenever possible

I always try to chat up the owners whenever possible. It’s a treat to see the faces behinds the great ideas. One of Gourdough’s owners (there are two) is Ryan, pictured above in the photo. Commend them if you had a great experience and introduce yourself! We all said hello to Ryan and gave him a few recommendations for new donuts. (We jokingly suggested he make a Papa John’s donut.) There’s no real purpose for this rule except etiquette and gratitude.

3. Roll with the misadventures

If you’re out in the field long enough, you’re bound to get shot by the bad luck sniper every now and again. Restaurants closing down before you get a chance of trying, food poisoning, trying something you don’t really like (for me it was octopus), throwing up because you ate so much (not me, but my opponent in an eating contest, hehehehe), or GETTING FARTED ON! That was such a bizarre moment for Kim and me. We were eating brunch at Backstreet Cafe, when a man (pictured above with his back to us), lifted his butt and let one rip. We were aghast! We could almost taste it!! Ug. I’m gagging as I relive this. The point is though, we didn’t let it ruin our experience at Backstreet. Don’t let the snags deter you from your pursuit of great food experiences.

Yuck. That fart.


Do you have any foodie rules to add?
Dec 31

In comparison to 2008, 2009 was awful! The one thing I can think of that 2009 had over 2008 was that I read more than double the books I read in 2008. I’m anticipating the fresh feel of a new year that is 2010. In the meantime, here’s a review of how my year has gone with heavier emphasis on my blessings verses my misfortunes.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January 2009


Celebrating New Year’s with the boyfriend

February 2009


Alan and I at the Killer’s Concert

March 2009


Rodeo, Austin, TX

April 2009


Selina’s Birthday

May


Celebrating Sae’s law school graduation

June 2009


Cindy and me at Grand Lux Cafe in Houston

July


Brandi and me on Fourth of July

August

  • The first two weeks of August, I tried to squeeze in as much time as I can with Alan because he was about to leave for Korea for up to 4.5 months.
  • Starting, August 16, I started counting days Alan was gone.
  • Kim came to visit the weekend of the 22nd and we saw Wicked.
  • I saw 500 Days of Summer three times this month, in theatre, of course. This is the first movie I’ve done that.
  • Jon visited from NYC.
  • I got a part-time, part-time (yes you read that right) job, thanks to Brittany dropping a good word for me.


Alan’s last night out with friends before going to Korea.

September

October

November


Having hot chocolate at Ren Fest.

December


After party in the car.

I’m a blessed girl. Instinctively, I’d tell you my 2009 was pretty awful but when I write it all out like this and focused on the good rather than the bad, I can see now I’m still quite lucky. Farewell, 2009.

Tell me how your year went. Or better yet, if you have a year in review entry, I’d love to read yours.

Dec 13

Sigh.

I’ve been excited about my first chili cook off that’s taking place at work tomorrow. I’ve never made chili before and I’ve always wanted to try a chili recipe with chocolate in it. I found the perfect recipe and have been REALLLLLLLLLLY looking forward to trying it out and making my first piping hot pot of chili. The recipe I chose has won numerous cook offs around the US.

I get in late today from a day out (late is 830pm) and after catching my breath, I sit the inside pot thingy of a Crock Pot on the stove and I brown my 3 lbs of beef. (The recipe called for 3 lbs beef, 2 lbs sausage, and 1 lb bacon. Meaty huh? Mmm.) Look, I didn’t know the inside of a pot is not stove friendly. It felt and looked like a dutch oven which was what the recipe recommended I use as a pot. Next thing I hear is a loud ass crack and I look over and the pot cracked and almost exploded and was still making scary noises. :( That is also not my Crock Pot. I borrowed it from my dear friend, Jamie not but an hour before. It was gifted to her from her grandmother! After chatting with Mary Ellen and confessing to Jamie, I learned that dutch ovens are made of iron and you cannot put porcelain on top of the stove. Good to know!

So no chili tonight. I accepted defeat and put the sausage and bacon in the freezer. I guess I’ll repurpose the meat for spaghetti.

I’m bummed, yo.

Apr 1
  • I’ve been pulling a lot of 10 hour work days and then lugging binders home to work on. At least I’m no longer averaging three hours of sleep.
  • Today is my daddy’s birthday. I wanna go back to Viet Nam with him one day. That’s my birthday wish for us. I’ve never been to Viet Nam with my dad.
  • I think I’m burning out on Thai food. I had it over the weekend with Cindy and Kim in Houston and again last night with Will. The company though makes it all worth it. I also have a cooking date with Kate this Sunday and she wants to try this Thai recipe she got from a cooking class. I also haven’t scheduled a cooking date with Dave, our next theme is vegetarian pad thai.
  • I’m going to NYC next week to visit the city for the third time, see Jon, and see the Jennifers. I’m looking forward to the obvious break from my work routine and spending time with some friends I only get to see once or twice a year now that they’ve grown up and moved away. I also have intermittently felt a little out of place and sorts for a few weeks now where I don’t feel so grounded. It happens every now and again for me and I don’t find it alarming.. I just start craving the old familiar. Old stuffed animals I have only in Houston. Mom and dad. Friends I only get to see once or twice a year. A city I haven’t visited in 2 full years. Not unlike a blanket and good book on a crisp breezy day reading on the balcony.
  • My original Big Brother/Big Sister of America little sister match fell through a month or two ago. BBBS called me yesterday letting me know they found me another match. I called them back yesterday and left a message but forgot to call back today. I can’t wait to hear more about her and hopefully this one will follow all the way through.


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Yesterday, I had Thai Kitchen with Will. The last time I had Thai Kitchen was at least a couple of years ago and every time I’ve gone was with Will. He swore by Thai Kitchen back in the day when I swore by Madam Mams. Since I’m still broken up from Madam Mams, thought I’d give Thai Kitchen another chance for old time’s sake when Will was in town this weekend. I decided after my cooking dates with Kate and then Dave, I think I’m taking a big break from Thai. I enjoyed the Tom Yum. The Kee Mao was too sweet.

The fun times happened when we parted ways in the parking lot. It was after we hugged good bye and I got in my car that I noticed I’m boxed in. One car on both sides of me and then 2 feet behind me is another car parked perpendicular to me. I was boxed in! I backed up the two available feet and at a lost, reached for my phone hoping Will hadn’t gone too far. Will’s a gem and was already walking towards me.

“I couldn’t help but notice the confused car body language of yours.”

What ensued was 30 minutes of Austin Powers manipulating. Will did most of the manipulating. I stupidly placed my hand in between my car and one of the other three when he crushed it. I’ll admit I’m glad my hand is okay and that it saved my new car from being scratched. Eventually we had no where to go, literally maybe ONE itch both sides. Tickled, I took pictures.


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Here’s my front.


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Here’s my back.

We trapped ourselves inside a nook of parking space. I actually had to climb over the cars to get through.


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Found the owner and all was well soon after. Ah :) Misadventures.

Well I have things to tend to. Good night.