Jul 26

Girls’ weekend was so good for my soul. Alex and Hillary left their towns to come spend the weekend with me in Austin. I will bullet point my highlights and then share snapshots of our weekend (save the food, I’ll save that for the food blog. Have you checked that out yet?)


Girls Weekend Highlights

  • I saw my very first firefly, thanks to Hillary pointing it out. It was fluttering and lighting itself around my apartment entrance. Sadly, by the time I ran into my apartment to grab my camera to video, it had flitted away. I will say its short presence has made my apartment entrance a little more magical.
  • Our conversations, stimulating, nostalgic, hilarious, superficial, and deep never ceased til we literally talked ourselves to sleep Friday and Saturday night.
  • We miss high school.
  • At the urging of Hillary’s boyfriend (awww!), we went engagement ring shopping for Hillary.
  • 3 girls, 3 bottles of wine Saturday night as prelude to a night out.
  • Constant eating. Weekend menu: gelato, escargot, duck confit, ratatouille, scallops, Gourdough’s, tacos, chorizo nachos, wines, cheeses, fruits, chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, pho, egg rolls, spring rolls, pear chocolate tart, pumpkin tea cakes!
  • Camping out on my living room floor and couch.

In short, a wonder-full weekend and I miss them already. We made plans to do this one more time before the year closes. Next time, we’ll go to Hillary’s city.


Question: If your best friend turned into a zombie, would you kill him/her?

Jun 4


1.

Last night had date night with zee dude. Alan was pretty sweet and accommodating to go watch a documentary on babies (aptly entitled Babies) with me. The documentary followed 4 babies from different corners of the world, San Francisco, Namibia, Mongolia, and Tokyo. It’s ALL babies, the documentary. No narration, hardly any other dialogue save the gurgles, baby coos, and baby teary outrages for an hour and 20 minutes. We laughed out loud a few times and I enjoyed it but it was a little slower than I was hoping. My rating is 3/5 stars. See trailer below.

When we got home, Alan reattached his manly bits by watching first game of NBA championship series. ;)


2.

Our fridge at work has pictures of current lab members. The photos have to be humorous and non-serious. I thought I could go unnoticed without a picture up but it has recently been threatened that if I don’t put a picture up, someone else will take one of me and post it. I value my autonomy so I cropped myself out of this photo taken from the weekend.

photo bomb
Photo courtesy of Jason’s facebook


3.

I finished listening to Julia Child’s My Life in France (Ten fricking CDs). It inspired me to buy her first Mastering French Cooking book. I think I’m going to make my 2nd quiche from that book this coming week. If you don’t know how to read or speak French or even sound out French words, I recommend getting the audio book to listen to instead of the actual book to read. It’s fun to repeat after the reader and laugh at yourself as you drive to and from work.


4.

I finished this book at the end of February and much to Martin‘s chagrin, I still haven’t done the book review. As much as I wanted to. I just didn’t quite understand the ending. But up to the ending it was a very humorous story about a Fup, duck (named for “Fucked up”), a grumpy but hilarious Grandfather, and his grandson, Tiny. Written in the early eighties, the story was outrageous and makes you want to own a pet duck with as much character as Fup. (She enjoys chick flicks and bullies the dogs and if memory serves, she also drinks alcohol religiously.) I’m afraid I can’t offer that much of a review, but lucky for you Martin wrote a thorough review on his blog.


5.


So last week’s 7 Quick Takes, I shared that I made my first lasagna and how excited I was. Lasagnas aren’t too terribly exciting but I’m not a skilled cook and the most mundane cooking skills (making lasagnas) are new and wondrous to me. Intimidating at first sight but fulfilling when accomplished. And I’m always surprised when things turn out well. I was surprised that the lasagna was edible and Alan’s even told me he could eat it again and wish he had more. This week’s mundane to others but intimidating kitchen skill I tackled was ZEE PINEAPPLE! I’ve always steered clear of buying a whole pineapple and cutting it myself. I’m a give it to mom to cut or buy it already precut kind of girl when it comes to this tropical fruit.

Emboldened by my conquering the lasagna (and recently the quiche), I finally conquered my silly fear of cutting a pineapple. It’s not very hard. You cut off the top and bottom, and shave off the skin. Then cut in desired pieces. All that fear for nothing. The pineapple recipe I chose was from my Steamy Kitchen cook book. Involved grilling the pineapple, drizzling coconut rum chocolate sauce on the top and sprinkling coconut flakes on the chocolate. The combination was a hit or miss with our Memorial Day pot luck crowd. Brother hated it, Brittany loved it.

cutting a pineapple isn't that hard!


6.


Recently, I’ve noticed I’ve taken an interest in nature and green surroundings. I credit this to working at a job that requires me to walk about 20-40 minutes from and to my car. The University has great landscaping. Also, I’ve never been the kind to take leisurely walks outside unless it’s an outlet mall but Brandi and I have been walking more in our neighborhood. 6 months ago, I wouldn’t ever think to myself, look at those leaves! Those leaves are different shape from the other leaves on the tree. Or lookit that flower! It’s practically the only flower on that tree!

But it’s happening. I like flowers and leaves that are not delivered to me in a vase (those won’t ever get old, just to be clear :p).

flowers!
cell phone picture from one of our walks


7.

I always run out of things to share by 7. 2 of my closest friends turned 27 and 26 yesterday and today. So happy birthday Will and Jen T. My brother got accepted into a PhD program in San Antonio. Congrats to him.

Happy Friday to everyone who reads my dribble. Thanks for that by the way. Reading. Say hi or something :).
May 17
Over the weekend, I saw Conan and his Legally Prohibited to be Funny on Television Tour at the Austin Music Hall. It was better than I expected and I was surprised and appreciative that he customized his show it seems by miles to cater to Austin and Austin culture. Down to inflatable bat, Austin rocker to do a song, wearing UT Jersey, and a “commercial” that really was a blast of Dirty Martin’s (a greasy hamburger joint on campus). He made us feel special. I was also surprised to see he’s such a musical person. He was on his guitar rocking out about half the time and for the first time during his tour, broke a guitar string.

Conan's Legally Prohibited to be Funny on Television Tour in Austin
I managed to snap a picture of his back when he ran around the floor. Thanks to Alan for giving me the heads up to get my camera ready.

Conan's Legally Prohibited to be Funny on Television Tour in Austin
me & my date

So I was gonna share several more shots from the weekend (I had a lovely date at a trailer eatery with Brittany and we saw live camels!) but I left my usb cord at home so it’ll just be Conan’s back, Alan’s face, and my face for now then.


What did you do this weekend?

Apr 2


1.

I thought it was a full week since I’ve updated this blog and it was giving me withdrawal. My happy posting schedule is 5-7 times at the very minimum. (I’ve been slammed in terms of schedule and my food blog’s new layout was giving me an obsession that was sucking my blog posting time.) This got me thinking. I LOVE it when my real life friends start blogs. I love reading about their lives and seeing what they deemed appropiate to share with the world. I noticed though, save for a few select people, the dedication towards posting frequency is usually lacking. This may also fuel my dedication to commenting on a lot of of their blogs as kind of a motivation, that HI, I read your blog. I’m your friend. You OWE ME AN UPDATE. :) Damnit.


2.

Anthony Bourdain is the shit.

I saw Anthony Bourdain with Jamie last night. I knew I always really really really liked him maybe even love. But after last night, I’m more deeply so!! He’s the shit. Curses more in person. Hilarious. Really mean. With a good center. I will post a recap next week on the food blog. This got me thinking though. If I have a type in men, it’s funny mean men with a good center. It really explains a lot.


3.

Speaking of my attraction to funny mean men. I got April Fooled by the boyfriend a couple of nights ago (past midnight so it was totally legit.) Dude woke me up and told me that the last guy’s night he had, he got drunk and made out with a girl and couldn’t tell me til now. I sat right up, shot him dagger eyes, and was about to let him have it when he very just-in-timely shouted out, “APRIL FOOLS” and then laughed his butt off.

Clearly. I have a type.


4.

I had sweetbread for the first time ever. I’ve had haggis, and pig’s intestines, and silkworms, and other odd conceptually unappetizing foods in my life and have enjoyed them. I was still surprised in hindsight that I did not get queasy eating sweetbread. I think perhaps I wasn’t quite sure if I remembered correctly what it was and did not want to scare my eating partner from not trying it. In case you don’t know what sweetbread is, check it on my Friday Food Definition for today.


5.

I love good funny dialogue. Yesterday, an organization on campus chose to remember the Holocaust by handing out 1,000 white roses. I did not know this. I walked down the hallway and saw 3 white roses in a vase at work. That’s the scene for the following dialogue.

Me: OOooh!!! Flowers!!!
My Boss: Don’t get excited, Linda. They’re for the Holocaust.

Cracked me up that, “Don’t get excited.”

Later:

Someone else at work: So they thought today (4/1/2010) is the best day to celebrate the Holocaust?
Yet another person: Celebrate?
Me: Muhahahahahahhahahahahahah

My Boss walks by at this point in the conversation.

Boss: Don’t get excited, Linda

Tickled. I was absolutely tickled. (I don’t think I need to clarify, I’m not making light of the Holocaust. My readers (a few IRL friends mostly) are smart enough to know that.)


6.

The last 6 months or so, I’ve been working on speaking my mind in relationships. It’s a skill everyone should have and I do think at 26, I’m a late bloomer to only start practicing and developing the habit now. Growing up, my parents programmed me (program seems more apt a word than “raise”) that whenever people hurt you, don’t let them know as it’s a sign of weakness. That MAY be true. I’m not sure if it is a sign of weakness, admitting pain, but what I am sure of, and it took me til recently to put together the pieces, is bottling resentment is not conducive to keeping people in your life. Communicating feelings, even when they’re bad, gives people the opportunity to understand where you’re coming from. Gives you the opportunity to maybe hear their perspective and therefore understand them better. Finally, it gives your relationship room to not only grow, but survive.


7.

Jumping from number 6, another lesson that I’m learning is that just because you communicate your feelings, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the results you want and expect. For instance, I was hurt last year by several people. In efforts to speak my mind more, I tried telling them as clearly as I could what it was that bothered me. I was taken aback when not once did they acknowledge the validity of my feelings and was a little disillusioned by the ‘speaking your mind’ thing. It doesn’t ensure anything! Since then, I’ve learned that though it doesn’t mean you’ll get what you want (seriously ya”ll, apologies and conveying understanding = magic), the ability to communicate your feelings is a reward in itself.
Feb 8

In the spirit of relationships and Valetine’s day on the horizon, I thought I’d repost this blog entry I originally posted in June of 2007. I discussed why men should pay attention if their ladies suddenly seem to have dropped issues they were having with their relationships.

Last weekend I had dinner with 2 boys and a girl. We girls forced the boys into girly-slumber-party-like questions and conversation. We called it game of “Truth or Truth.” Poor boys. We asked them fun questions from last time they cried to weirdest place they had sex. The juvenile game soon morphed into a conversation about gender differences. One guy wondered why females have a tendency to go into this silent psychological warfare where they are grading their significant other silently, going through a “check list.” He likened it to a ticking bomb.

“Tick tick tick.. and all of a sudden they go off and do something drastic, like break up or start a blow out fight.”

The other girl and I nodded knowingly. We’ve done this ‘ticking bomb’ thing. We’re both sticking to our guns that the “ticking bomb” is a fantastic last resort. Often times we find ourselves voicing what we want over and over again. It’s not fun. It could be as small as “You don’t ever ask me how my day is” to something bigger such as, “I’m not going to wait for you to get your shit together another year, it’s already been 6 years.” Eventually, the asker gets tired of hearing her (or his) own voice so she (or he) stops asking.

Cue “Ticking Bomb” phase.

This is the point where they’re deciding on whether to fold and walk away with least amount of damage to themselves. I like calling it the silent tally. Silently counting how many times the party in question is falling short. No more reminders. No more gentle coaxing. No more arguments. So my hint to mainly the men out there. If your significant other has been nagging you about something for a long while and all of a sudden, she’s quiet. Contrary to what my male friend thought it was (“I thought she changed her wants”), you’re probably being silently monitored and about to approach a tipping point in the relationship. :) Beware of silence.

Why I will stand by it? People generally don’t change. Unless the pain of their not changing exceeds the pain of changing.. right? Why fix something that ain’t broke? So if someone doesn’t embody something you think you need in a relationship, the “ticking bomb” helps illustrates the futility of waiting for someone to change… Count the tally marks then fold and walk away with what you have.

Jan 1

I wish everyone a safe, better than 2009, healthy new year in 2010. I had a wonderful time last night and spent today eating good barbecue, seeing Jen T one last time before she goes back to Philly tomorrow, browsing a bookstore, and now I’m doing some cleaning and game planning for 2010. I’m feeling good over here.

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 22

10611 Research Blvd
Austin, TX 78759
(512) 382-5864
www.terraburgeraustin.com

Alan texted me while I was at my night job tonight asking where the spaghetti was. I told him I threw it out and feeling nice, I offered to pick up something on my way home. He wanted to try out Terra Burgers. Neither of us have had it. It’s an all organic burger joint. I’m pretty indifferent to the organic movement. I know Alan prefers it so sometimes I cook with organic ingredients when I cook for us, but really, I don’t care.

So my goal was to only buy him a burger and at most take a bite of Alan’s. I had dinner at work with bags (2) of chips and pudding and wasn’t hungry. I almost succeeded in ordering just for him. “I want a Thousand Island Burger with fries, please…………….um make that two Thousand Island Burgers.” Dangit. It’s the lure of a new place. I like to try new eats, dammit. It’s impossible to ask me to order something for someone else at a new place and not expect me to get in on the action.

My bed time is midnight which gives me 6 hours of sleep a night on weeknights. It was 10:30pm when I ordered that burger. Bad! I have a New Year’s dress that has very little no room to grow in. I was counseled by a friend only to eat HALF of the burger and no fries. So on the way to Alan’s, I told myself that I’ll only eat half a burger and bring it for lunch tomorrow.


I failed.


I REALLY failed.

Well, here’s the review of Terra Burgers, written with a guilty conscience.

I prefer my Mighty Fine over Terra. At Terra Burger, all burgers are 1/3 lb and they’re 5.99 for just the burger. I’m guessing you’re paying for it being organic. Meh, it didn’t taste like a 5.99 burger to me. The fries were crumbly. Maybe it was my ordering at 10:30pm when they close at 11pm but the girl at the window told me I’m waiting a while because everything is being cooked as ordered. So, maybe they’re just crumbly or she just bullshitted me.

I like a little more seasoning in my burger or maybe a tiny bit more grease. Some more taste. I’m left wanting! Hard to believe with how much of it I ate, I know. The beef patty was so thick it was hard on my lockjaw. (BTW, I have a constant persistent case of lock jaw. The HORROR!)

Alan on the other hand enjoyed it. He think it’s pretty good for how healthy it is. I think he’ll be going back.

Anyway, it’s past my bedtime. Good night!

Dec 3

I’m a little disconnected and fragmented today.

The last two days I’ve hardly been online online mainly due to starting a new job and then going to an night job right after. I wake up at 6:30am (after going to bed at 3am last night) to go to work at my new job and I get off at 5pm after which I sit in traffic for 1.5 hours or 2 hours to go to my night job. By the time I make it home it’s 10:30 pm, I’m hungry and a little exhausted. I just had an eleven o’clock pork chop dinner with Alan. Brandi baked chocolate chip cookies. Though I’m pooped, it’s a good day. Alan cut up my pork chop into bite size pieces. Haha. Spoiled.

My Google Reader is backed up. I currently have 87 unread entries. I did manage to read Selina’s new blog post. She hardly updates anymore and I promised her a plug. ;) I always try to comment when friends start blogs as to encourage them to keep entertaining me/updating.

Another blog entry I read is Mary Ellen’s blog entry about word abuse. It echos a lot of my recent annoyances.

The good thing about just coming back from a packed weekend is that I have photos to blog without really haven’t to use my spent brain.

Today, I bring you photos from a high school reunion I had last weekend in Houston. I saw Hillary and Alex for the first time in a while. We’re lucky to see each other on holidays. I found some pictures of us that are duplicates of us from high school so I gifted them to the girls over Chocolate Bar’s hot chocolate. The BEST chocolate of my life STILL. I love that Chocolate Bar is purply. When I went over to pick up Hillary, she was wearing a purple shirt as well and her two sisters were in purple! Amused, her dad took a picture of us, all graduates of the same Catholic high school.


We forgot to take a picture of our hot chocolate before it turned ugly.


We asked a stranger to take a photo of us. It was kind of awkward. Note the folded hands and the nervous smiles.


So we took a self portrait. I wonder if that offended our photographer stranger.

Interestingly enough, December 2, 2007, exactly TWO years ago I blogged about my first time at Chocolate Bar.

Nov 26

I got to Alan’s from work at 10:30 PM. We’re both leaving for our respective hometowns after we wake up in the morning and pack. At midnight I had just gotten out of the shower and was lounging in just a towel while Alan was working in his office. I was pretty damn hungry since my dinner at work was a mere pudding cup and 2 bags of chips. I tiptoed into his kitchen hoping that he still had some tacos left over from dinner yesterday. No tacos. His fridge is bare, bare, bare. I looked in his freezers. He had tater tots, wings, and garlic bread. I opted for a snack of tater tots, preheated the oven, and then waited patiently for 20 minutes for the timer to ding. Mmm. Back in college, I lived with Laila and Aishah and I remember we used to make snacks of just tater tots. Aishah and I would have them with mustard. This was the happy memory I was nursing as I waited.

Halfway through my snack, Alan came out. He noticed I’m just in my towel.

“Put some clothes on!! It’s been an hour!”

I didn’t know what the big deal was. I’m in a towel. So what?! He practically PUSHED me into the bedroom. “Put some clothes on!!”

I humored him and was putting on a sweatshirt when the light bulb came on. THE MANIPULATIVE BOY WAS DISTRACTING ME FROM MY OWN SNACK! By the time I got back, my tots were gone!!

Thief!! I should have known better after him ninja stealing my organic lollipop last week while I was in the shower.

We went back to the freezer and decided a meal was in order. Out came the rest of the tater tots, the garlic bread, and the frozen buffalo wings. It was an impromptu feast.

Although it was a meal made of default items already in the freezer, it made me happy as technically, we’re spending the first few hours of Thanksgiving together and we broke bread.

« Previous Entries