last wednesday, i made a huge mistake in eating at chipotle after going to the 8pm yoga class. around 3am, i awoke with an intense tummy ache. i thought it was because i ate some quacamole (i have an avocado allergy but it tastes!so!good!) and i figured i was paying my dues for sampling. an hour later (an hour of moaning and scaring the cats), all that i ate came roaring back up - undigested. from 4am thursday morning until 8pm thursday night, i was throwing and going. ugh. lovely imagery but screw this, it's my blog! i begged J to stay home with me from work - she obliged - and i was a miserable patient i am sure. sick sick sick. like i haven't been since elementary school.
not sure if the culprit truly is chipotle or a virus - though i had no other symptoms (no fever until friday morning when the scale revealed that i also lost 5lbs, no aches, no pains aside from the knives in my gut, no sweats or chills) it matters not. the mere thought of that cheap vegetarian friendly burrito joint brings the taste of bile to the back of my throat. damn IT!
5 days later and i am back on the road. in dallas now - at my favorite hotel! they upgraded me to their swankiest suite - i have a balcony and a full kitchen and a soaking tub - but unfortunately i am only staying one night. i am still under the weather a bit and go from feeling nauseous to feeling hungry and back again. i ate my first full meal last night and then today it's been touch and go. just had dinner and though my hunger won at the table, i feel too full for my own good. i have to work but in an hour, i am going to use that soaking tub. this is the good life... or it can be... wait until i report from texarkana and see what swank i'm experiencing.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
yoga update
Yoga update, as promised. Oh my goodness! Shame on me for poking fun at yogis for all these years. It is hard! It is grounding. It is the best!
My neighbor Mary invited me and J to attend class with her a few Sunday mornings ago. We decided to pay for one month unlimited, and those of you who know me know that I absolutely needed to use up the free month in excess of what it would have cost to attend so many classes in a month. Right now, I’ve brought it down to about $8 a class (normal charge for a drop in is $20).
There have been a few instructors that I haven’t liked that much but even so, each and every class been a work out like nothing I expected. My arms are killing me today, and other days it’s been my hamstrings (one teacher talked about making our hamstrings “juicy” which made me a bit nauseas) but I got through it. I don’t really love the meditation part but I find it useful in grounding me. And I can’t stand the exercise of squeezing out every last fraction of a breath of air before inhaling because that makes me feel panicky. All the complaining aside, I love yoga! Love! It!
In between yoga classes and flights around our large country, J and I went to see Tegan and Sara. I can’t say enough about these two! Their music is fantastic – fresh, interesting, catchy. Ok, so the critic that is my brother probably won’t love them, but then again, maybe he will. I can’t predict his taste in music anymore. And if he does take my advice and listens to them, mark my words, in two years he’ll be trying to introduce them to me (as he did with The Glands).
I am en route to St. Louis for work and I get to squeeze in dinner with Sarah G! It’s the best when work coincides with friends. If only I didn’t have to fly back tomorrow.
My neighbor Mary invited me and J to attend class with her a few Sunday mornings ago. We decided to pay for one month unlimited, and those of you who know me know that I absolutely needed to use up the free month in excess of what it would have cost to attend so many classes in a month. Right now, I’ve brought it down to about $8 a class (normal charge for a drop in is $20).
There have been a few instructors that I haven’t liked that much but even so, each and every class been a work out like nothing I expected. My arms are killing me today, and other days it’s been my hamstrings (one teacher talked about making our hamstrings “juicy” which made me a bit nauseas) but I got through it. I don’t really love the meditation part but I find it useful in grounding me. And I can’t stand the exercise of squeezing out every last fraction of a breath of air before inhaling because that makes me feel panicky. All the complaining aside, I love yoga! Love! It!
In between yoga classes and flights around our large country, J and I went to see Tegan and Sara. I can’t say enough about these two! Their music is fantastic – fresh, interesting, catchy. Ok, so the critic that is my brother probably won’t love them, but then again, maybe he will. I can’t predict his taste in music anymore. And if he does take my advice and listens to them, mark my words, in two years he’ll be trying to introduce them to me (as he did with The Glands).
I am en route to St. Louis for work and I get to squeeze in dinner with Sarah G! It’s the best when work coincides with friends. If only I didn’t have to fly back tomorrow.
Monday, November 19, 2007
sugar spell it out
You know when you learn a new song and it takes all of your strength to not sing it aloud? That's what The Con - the album in it's entirety - is doing to me! I am crazy with Tegan & Sara songs! I am also still at work and it's after 7 pm because my ride had a late meeting. I would have worn smarter shoes had I known she'd be 2 hours late. I can't walk to the metro in gold heels. Really.
Off to ABQ for work/turkey day. I might be missing out on some good family time because my brother and his GF are introducing the parents to each other on Thanksgiving Day. Dang! That just smells of drama. Especially since my dad is hard of hearing and her dad speaks Spanish. So I think there is going to be a lot of "huh, what did he say?" and "CAN YOU PLEASE PASS THE TURKEY" (because my dad simply speaks louder when someone doesn't understand him) and I am going to miss out on every last moment of it. Good luck, J and M. May I suggest you have a bottle of scotch handy to ease the aggravation. I'll be drinking at a casino with my faux-in-laws. Hells yeah!
Off to ABQ for work/turkey day. I might be missing out on some good family time because my brother and his GF are introducing the parents to each other on Thanksgiving Day. Dang! That just smells of drama. Especially since my dad is hard of hearing and her dad speaks Spanish. So I think there is going to be a lot of "huh, what did he say?" and "CAN YOU PLEASE PASS THE TURKEY" (because my dad simply speaks louder when someone doesn't understand him) and I am going to miss out on every last moment of it. Good luck, J and M. May I suggest you have a bottle of scotch handy to ease the aggravation. I'll be drinking at a casino with my faux-in-laws. Hells yeah!
Monday, November 12, 2007
southwest airlines, argh
On Southwest Airlines. In the second-to-worst seat on the whole plane. Last row, but at least it isn’t the middle. I am heading back to AZ, this time to Flagstaff. I have an exciting executive team presentation to give tomorrow morning (yay!) so that’s something to look forward to. But my ass is aching and we have 2.5 hours left to go on this flight from hell. The gentleman seated in the aisle mentioned that he has an upset stomach and that’s why he wanted the last row to be close to the loo, “but don’t worry, I won’t throw up on you!” Perhaps not. Instead, he’s been farting. I want to throw up.
My opinion on this airline? Even with the new herding system (I was B29) it still sucks. SUCKS! However, they gave me a little snack box, which is more than American Airlines gives. So.
Mole update: big nasty scab. I think something went wrong at some point because everyone else I’ve spoken with about mole removal hasn’t had such an ordeal. I think it’s my weak constitution.
Can’t write a sentence more. The man in front of me is in full lounge position, forcing my laptop into my gut. Next time, I’ll update you on my discovery of yoga! I need some of that shit right now, in fact. And if you are bored with your music collection, click on over to iTunes and download Tegan & Sara’s The Con. It’s the best.
My opinion on this airline? Even with the new herding system (I was B29) it still sucks. SUCKS! However, they gave me a little snack box, which is more than American Airlines gives. So.
Mole update: big nasty scab. I think something went wrong at some point because everyone else I’ve spoken with about mole removal hasn’t had such an ordeal. I think it’s my weak constitution.
Can’t write a sentence more. The man in front of me is in full lounge position, forcing my laptop into my gut. Next time, I’ll update you on my discovery of yoga! I need some of that shit right now, in fact. And if you are bored with your music collection, click on over to iTunes and download Tegan & Sara’s The Con. It’s the best.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
in search of good pizza
greetings from dallas! if ever you find yourself here, i highly recommend staying at hotel lumen and eating at a small italian joint called olivella's. i had the best pizza since my last visit to pino's in boston. DC pizza sucks (as a rule) and i dream of opening a pino's II one day.
good news - the giant hole in my leg was all for nothing as my mole is benign. that's great and all, but i did THROW UP for this. what am i saying? it's not like i'd be happier if it was bad news bears. if i toss my lunch based on a little mole removal, imagine me going through chemo. how did my dad do it? ugh.
packing for this trip, i didn't have a new book to take with me, so i pulled the tao of pooh out of the bookshelf and started to read it again. i'm not sure if it's going to help me much, but it's nice to revisit. maybe the book will chill me out a bit.
boss sent me an email tonight asking for time to chat before friday and then said "don't worry, you are absolutely not in trouble" which sort of makes me think i am.
good news - the giant hole in my leg was all for nothing as my mole is benign. that's great and all, but i did THROW UP for this. what am i saying? it's not like i'd be happier if it was bad news bears. if i toss my lunch based on a little mole removal, imagine me going through chemo. how did my dad do it? ugh.
packing for this trip, i didn't have a new book to take with me, so i pulled the tao of pooh out of the bookshelf and started to read it again. i'm not sure if it's going to help me much, but it's nice to revisit. maybe the book will chill me out a bit.
boss sent me an email tonight asking for time to chat before friday and then said "don't worry, you are absolutely not in trouble" which sort of makes me think i am.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
mole be gone
One week without travel and I am totally off my game! I loved being home for the past 10 days, but I hated being in the office. Cubby hell makes me feel completely crazy. As I write this, I am happily on a plane to Tucson AZ (again). Warm Arizona weather…just like warm DC weather I guess.
Yesterday, I went to the dermatologist about a mole that my doctor didn’t like. I had a full body mapping which involved me lying in a paper gown, completely naked, with the doctor looking me up and down. Far more intimate than the average physical. The only point of concern was the mole on my leg, and she asked if I wanted to come back or if she could simply take a biopsy of the mole right then and there. Those of you with any medical knowledge would have understood what she meant. Fool I am, I thought she was going to take a piece of the mole – to “biopsy the mole” as opposed to remove the mole. Right, I get it now, it’s the same damn thing. Plus, who wants a half-mole left? But I was unprepared. And alone. And I had to return to work, and then ride my bike home. You can see this is going in a bad direction.
The “little pinch” of lidocane was more like a huge giant pinch. (I am on a plane and feeling nauseous just thinking about this)… she took a big chunk of my leg off. I was queasy so she had me remain horizontal for a few, and then I had to sit up for a few. I felt relatively ok 10 minutes later, but as I walked to the check out counter, I had to use every last ounce of energy to keep, as the page on 30 Rock would say, “the sick down.” Since I was about to ralph, I tried counting backwards and then forwards and WHY IS SHE TAKING SO LONG TO RUN MY CREDIT CARD and out to the waiting room, into the bathroom, up with lunch.
Sadly, our neighbors made us dinner the night before and I had leftovers for lunch, food that was delicious going down that I will likely never be able to eat again.
I suffered through the rest of the day’s meetings and slowly rode my bike home, wincing the whole ride. When I got home, I passed out for over an hour. Of course, los gatos were running over me and Lucas wanted to sleep ON my sore spot. It wasn’t until J came home (armed with white bread for toast) and changed my bandage that I realized the whole mole was missing. Mole to hole. OUCH!
It hurt about 1000x worse than “a simple cut, like if you cut your leg shaving” which, for the record, I haven’t done since I was 14. It still hurts now. I can feel a phantom mole in the hole. I’ll know in 2 weeks if it was cancerous or en route to becoming cancer. To be honest, I liked that mole. It looked good. Mole no more. Wonder if I’ll get used to the hole. For now, Hello Kitty bandages….for a long time.
Yesterday, I went to the dermatologist about a mole that my doctor didn’t like. I had a full body mapping which involved me lying in a paper gown, completely naked, with the doctor looking me up and down. Far more intimate than the average physical. The only point of concern was the mole on my leg, and she asked if I wanted to come back or if she could simply take a biopsy of the mole right then and there. Those of you with any medical knowledge would have understood what she meant. Fool I am, I thought she was going to take a piece of the mole – to “biopsy the mole” as opposed to remove the mole. Right, I get it now, it’s the same damn thing. Plus, who wants a half-mole left? But I was unprepared. And alone. And I had to return to work, and then ride my bike home. You can see this is going in a bad direction.
The “little pinch” of lidocane was more like a huge giant pinch. (I am on a plane and feeling nauseous just thinking about this)… she took a big chunk of my leg off. I was queasy so she had me remain horizontal for a few, and then I had to sit up for a few. I felt relatively ok 10 minutes later, but as I walked to the check out counter, I had to use every last ounce of energy to keep, as the page on 30 Rock would say, “the sick down.” Since I was about to ralph, I tried counting backwards and then forwards and WHY IS SHE TAKING SO LONG TO RUN MY CREDIT CARD and out to the waiting room, into the bathroom, up with lunch.
Sadly, our neighbors made us dinner the night before and I had leftovers for lunch, food that was delicious going down that I will likely never be able to eat again.
I suffered through the rest of the day’s meetings and slowly rode my bike home, wincing the whole ride. When I got home, I passed out for over an hour. Of course, los gatos were running over me and Lucas wanted to sleep ON my sore spot. It wasn’t until J came home (armed with white bread for toast) and changed my bandage that I realized the whole mole was missing. Mole to hole. OUCH!
It hurt about 1000x worse than “a simple cut, like if you cut your leg shaving” which, for the record, I haven’t done since I was 14. It still hurts now. I can feel a phantom mole in the hole. I’ll know in 2 weeks if it was cancerous or en route to becoming cancer. To be honest, I liked that mole. It looked good. Mole no more. Wonder if I’ll get used to the hole. For now, Hello Kitty bandages….for a long time.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
a toothpick holder IS a good gift!
This week proved to be relatively slow for travel, save for October 9th. My acting assistant (my real one is on vacation) scheduled me for a visit on the day after my birthday. In Gallup, 2 hours west of Albuquerque. Seeing as I didn’t want to travel on my birthday, I was creative and tried to solve around this issue by implementing the following travel schedule: get up at 4.30am to catch the 6am flight to ABQ via Dallas, arrive at 10am, pick up a green chile breakfast burrito, drive 2 hours to the meeting at 1.30pm, drive back to ABQ for a 5.30pm flight home via Dallas, and be back home at 1am. As I write this, it is 10.30pm EST. I’ve been awake for 18 hours now, save a nap or two on the multiple planes. Best practice is to avoid day trips to the west. Lesson learned.
When I travel to warmer climates, I typically wear flip flops, especially in the summer. I always keep a pair of socks with me in the event of hot pilots. Somewhere between landing in New Mexico and taking off from New Mexico, I lost my socks. This tragic incident reminds me of Tom Robbins’ Skinny Legs and All which, incidentally, I just read for the second time. I am not a huge fan of re-reading books, but since the last time I read it I was in undergrad, I gave it another go. I love that book! A tale of a dirty sock, a spoon, and a can o’ beans learning how to be animate inanimate objects (along with some stuff about fighting in Jerusalem which rings true today as it did the day it was written). Oh lost socks, may you learn how to wiggle around in this big world without me.
I had the glorious opportunity to have dinner from the bookstore in DFW: Fig Newtons (fruit, fiber) and Reese’s Pieces (protein) and an apple juice (fruit again) on the plane. Who is jealous?
Oh! I had a birthday! Most creative birthday ever, courtesy J. She came up with a scavenger hunt and each clue led to a present. I was so impressed and I have to share it with my loyal readers (if you exist).
Clue #1: When Lincoln was president, he did a lot for the relationship between blacks and whites. I wonder if he were around today, if he’d do the same for gays and straights.
This required a little extra help from J. She told me to start walking where I think the answer would be. My first guess was a new gay bar that’s 2 blocks from our house. Fortunately, it was hot out and she didn’t want to walk to the wrong place. I guessed another place but I was wrong again. “You’re thinking about the wrong part of the riddle.” Ah-ha! Lincoln Theatre on U Street. But…. Most of the shows there are very expensive (believe it). The GLBT Film Festival is taking place there and she got us tickets to see Itty Bitty Titty Committee which I’ve been dying to see! Awesome.
Clue #2: Creamy, sticky and sweet. Here are some hand-sewn concoctions you’d love to sink your teeth into.
Mayday! What the hell? Candy….sewn? My simple brain struggled. It wasn’t until J mentioned the Daily Candy and a new place she had just pointed out to me the day before. She had me lead her to where I think it might be and we arrived at a new boutique called Caramel. She had a purchased a gift card for me and I got to try on all of the clothes (well, the ones in my size) and pick out a fancy article of clothing that I’d never buy for myself. Awesome! (This gift forced her to take me to Nordstroms the next day to buy another gift – Spanks. If you haven’t tried them, go now! It’s like a crash diet without the diet!)
Clue #3: Don’t let your new digs sit out too long or they’ll attract these.
Got it! Shoefly! She had another gift certificate to this cute store with funky shoes.
Kudos to J. Not only did she come up with a creative way for me to discover presents, but she kept it all local and at locally-owned stores/venues! Rock star girlfriend.
What did I get her but 10 days prior for her birthday? I bow my head in shame. I got her a toothpick dispenser, a belt, and a pillow. But she loves toothpicks!
When I travel to warmer climates, I typically wear flip flops, especially in the summer. I always keep a pair of socks with me in the event of hot pilots. Somewhere between landing in New Mexico and taking off from New Mexico, I lost my socks. This tragic incident reminds me of Tom Robbins’ Skinny Legs and All which, incidentally, I just read for the second time. I am not a huge fan of re-reading books, but since the last time I read it I was in undergrad, I gave it another go. I love that book! A tale of a dirty sock, a spoon, and a can o’ beans learning how to be animate inanimate objects (along with some stuff about fighting in Jerusalem which rings true today as it did the day it was written). Oh lost socks, may you learn how to wiggle around in this big world without me.
I had the glorious opportunity to have dinner from the bookstore in DFW: Fig Newtons (fruit, fiber) and Reese’s Pieces (protein) and an apple juice (fruit again) on the plane. Who is jealous?
Oh! I had a birthday! Most creative birthday ever, courtesy J. She came up with a scavenger hunt and each clue led to a present. I was so impressed and I have to share it with my loyal readers (if you exist).
Clue #1: When Lincoln was president, he did a lot for the relationship between blacks and whites. I wonder if he were around today, if he’d do the same for gays and straights.
This required a little extra help from J. She told me to start walking where I think the answer would be. My first guess was a new gay bar that’s 2 blocks from our house. Fortunately, it was hot out and she didn’t want to walk to the wrong place. I guessed another place but I was wrong again. “You’re thinking about the wrong part of the riddle.” Ah-ha! Lincoln Theatre on U Street. But…. Most of the shows there are very expensive (believe it). The GLBT Film Festival is taking place there and she got us tickets to see Itty Bitty Titty Committee which I’ve been dying to see! Awesome.
Clue #2: Creamy, sticky and sweet. Here are some hand-sewn concoctions you’d love to sink your teeth into.
Mayday! What the hell? Candy….sewn? My simple brain struggled. It wasn’t until J mentioned the Daily Candy and a new place she had just pointed out to me the day before. She had me lead her to where I think it might be and we arrived at a new boutique called Caramel. She had a purchased a gift card for me and I got to try on all of the clothes (well, the ones in my size) and pick out a fancy article of clothing that I’d never buy for myself. Awesome! (This gift forced her to take me to Nordstroms the next day to buy another gift – Spanks. If you haven’t tried them, go now! It’s like a crash diet without the diet!)
Clue #3: Don’t let your new digs sit out too long or they’ll attract these.
Got it! Shoefly! She had another gift certificate to this cute store with funky shoes.
Kudos to J. Not only did she come up with a creative way for me to discover presents, but she kept it all local and at locally-owned stores/venues! Rock star girlfriend.
What did I get her but 10 days prior for her birthday? I bow my head in shame. I got her a toothpick dispenser, a belt, and a pillow. But she loves toothpicks!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Travel back to NOLA
I am going to turn my blog into a travel diary of sorts. I am really bad about updating it, but now that I have hours upon hours on airplanes during which I can work (boring), read (averaging about ½ a book per flight I am wearing out my library card), and listen to my tunes, I reckon I can also create documents that I can simply cut and paste into this blog. Plus, I have a terrible memory, and some random shit happens to me on the road, stories that, left unrecorded, will slip away if not caught in the net of my blog.
And I certainly can use practice writing.
When I travel, I try to make it as exciting as possible. I like to eat at cool restaurants and run in the great outdoors and shop in locally owned stores. Though I respect the joys of eating at Panera Breads all across this land of ours’ (internet access is always free and always works), I enjoy discovering quirky eateries and learning new neighborhoods.
Last week I was in Little Rock, AR. I hate this town. Ok, that’s not exactly fair. I hate Hertz at this airport in this town. Every time (ok, twice) that I’ve flown in and tried to pick up my car, reserved with GPS, they never have GPS. Whoops, we just gave away our last car with GPS! Whoops! Can I give you directions? Would you like a map? No, woman, I’d like a little computer telling me where to go. Argh.
I landed in the early evening and checked into the Hilton (in name and toiletries alone – overall a slight disappointment). After a quick search online, I discovered Loca Luna’s as a vegetarian friendly restaurant that uses local produce in a cute little neighborhood… which looked cooler on the map than it did in person. It was a tricky place – the front door evaded me and I stood waiting for a long time at the back door before a waitress asked me “honey, you waitin’ for a seat?” and directed me to the host. I was seated outside, alone with my book in tow. Within minutes, the host seated two ladies who I think are gay too (guessed by the universal cues: smoking, baseball hats, baggy clothes, and 2 Miller Lights. They were also a little chubby. Why my mother believes that lesbians are always skinny, I’ll never know. Hasn’t she seen Rosie O’Donnell?) Dinner was rather nice – I ordered a vegetable and rice skillet, and it was a literal order. It came in a skillet, handle and all, hot off the stovetop. For dessert, I had a decadent dark chocolate crème brulee, which wasn’t eggy at all but like a dense mousse, topped with caramelized sugar and whipped cream. Delightful!
For shame, I didn’t make it to Central High. It is the 40th anniversary of that day when segregation ended in schools and a few brave students, escorted by men with guns, entered school. I wanted to drive past the school, but I was on a tight schedule and it was seeing a landmark or eating lunch. Had I more time, Central High and the Clinton Library would have been on my tour de Little Rock. Instead, I dined at Starving Artists Café. As the title suggests, it’s run by a group of hungry (for money) artists. I had mushroom soup and a lovely, if small, salad of greens with toasted pecans, gorgonzola, and apples. Yum. The joint is covered in art for sale by local starving artists. My eye has not been formally trained in art, but I’ll leave it at this: there is a reason some of these self-appointed artists are hungry.
From the Rock, I flew to New Orleans. My car (Hertz again) had GPS but smelled a bit like Katrina. I had a bare bones Corolla, but that car gets gas mileage to brag about! It was 7pm and I decided to wing it, to drive home the backroads I used to take when I lived in the City That Care/Government Forgot. You know, it’s really not that nice there – still. Two long years and there are tons of boarded up houses, businesses closed for good, cars abandoned on the side of the road… though they might be recent abandonments, truth be told. I drove to Flying Juan’s Burrito, the one on Carrollton and Canal, and ordered a Veggie Punk burrito. It took what felt like an hour to get my take away order. In the meantime, I watched the bartender mix margaritas and pour them into paper cups with lids and straws to boot. Sometimes, I really miss the drinks-to-go policy in NOLA. It cracks me up, the freedom that I feel when I am allowed by state law to walk around in public with an open container of booze. The drive-through daiquiri bars are my favorite. Well, if people wouldn’t drink and drive, I’d like them much more. Just pick up your drink and drive home, then drink. “One for the road” literally translated into action, I suppose.
I stayed at the International House on Camp Street, on the other side of Canal from the French Quarter. My room must have had ceilings 15’ high. I love New Orleans architecture. Aveda-stocked bathroom and a robe for my relaxing pleasure all added up to a great hotel. The next day, I got up early for a conference call and then drove over to Audubon Park for a run. The path around the park seems to have shrunk, that or I was a lazy runner when I lived there. The park looks good, but on my run past the zoo I couldn’t help but wonder about the animals when Katrina hit. Did they starve to death in their cages designed for the general public’s viewing pleasure? Then I started to get sad.
Whole Foods on Magazine is up and running as it was before the storm. It was busy, too. In fact, that’s the only place I actually saw other people. I drove around the Quarter and it was empty, a ghost town. I know it was a Wednesday afternoon, but I expected to see a few shoppers. Nothing. Creepy!
I had lunch at Thirteen on Frenchman and again, I was the only one around. Me, the bartender/waitress, and the cook. Good food for standard lunch fare. It was a strange experience to be there again, and to explore New Orleans all alone. I had an appointment in Slidell, and I drove past New Orleans East on I-10. The damage out there is exponentially worse than anything I saw downtown. Even from the highway, the scenery was depressing. Shopping plazas closed for good, Six Flags a skeleton of an amusement park, and highway signs broken in half, left for the driver to decipher the full exit name. Across the lake, Slidell was fine, undamaged. What a few miles can do for your property.
And I certainly can use practice writing.
When I travel, I try to make it as exciting as possible. I like to eat at cool restaurants and run in the great outdoors and shop in locally owned stores. Though I respect the joys of eating at Panera Breads all across this land of ours’ (internet access is always free and always works), I enjoy discovering quirky eateries and learning new neighborhoods.
Last week I was in Little Rock, AR. I hate this town. Ok, that’s not exactly fair. I hate Hertz at this airport in this town. Every time (ok, twice) that I’ve flown in and tried to pick up my car, reserved with GPS, they never have GPS. Whoops, we just gave away our last car with GPS! Whoops! Can I give you directions? Would you like a map? No, woman, I’d like a little computer telling me where to go. Argh.
I landed in the early evening and checked into the Hilton (in name and toiletries alone – overall a slight disappointment). After a quick search online, I discovered Loca Luna’s as a vegetarian friendly restaurant that uses local produce in a cute little neighborhood… which looked cooler on the map than it did in person. It was a tricky place – the front door evaded me and I stood waiting for a long time at the back door before a waitress asked me “honey, you waitin’ for a seat?” and directed me to the host. I was seated outside, alone with my book in tow. Within minutes, the host seated two ladies who I think are gay too (guessed by the universal cues: smoking, baseball hats, baggy clothes, and 2 Miller Lights. They were also a little chubby. Why my mother believes that lesbians are always skinny, I’ll never know. Hasn’t she seen Rosie O’Donnell?) Dinner was rather nice – I ordered a vegetable and rice skillet, and it was a literal order. It came in a skillet, handle and all, hot off the stovetop. For dessert, I had a decadent dark chocolate crème brulee, which wasn’t eggy at all but like a dense mousse, topped with caramelized sugar and whipped cream. Delightful!
For shame, I didn’t make it to Central High. It is the 40th anniversary of that day when segregation ended in schools and a few brave students, escorted by men with guns, entered school. I wanted to drive past the school, but I was on a tight schedule and it was seeing a landmark or eating lunch. Had I more time, Central High and the Clinton Library would have been on my tour de Little Rock. Instead, I dined at Starving Artists Café. As the title suggests, it’s run by a group of hungry (for money) artists. I had mushroom soup and a lovely, if small, salad of greens with toasted pecans, gorgonzola, and apples. Yum. The joint is covered in art for sale by local starving artists. My eye has not been formally trained in art, but I’ll leave it at this: there is a reason some of these self-appointed artists are hungry.
From the Rock, I flew to New Orleans. My car (Hertz again) had GPS but smelled a bit like Katrina. I had a bare bones Corolla, but that car gets gas mileage to brag about! It was 7pm and I decided to wing it, to drive home the backroads I used to take when I lived in the City That Care/Government Forgot. You know, it’s really not that nice there – still. Two long years and there are tons of boarded up houses, businesses closed for good, cars abandoned on the side of the road… though they might be recent abandonments, truth be told. I drove to Flying Juan’s Burrito, the one on Carrollton and Canal, and ordered a Veggie Punk burrito. It took what felt like an hour to get my take away order. In the meantime, I watched the bartender mix margaritas and pour them into paper cups with lids and straws to boot. Sometimes, I really miss the drinks-to-go policy in NOLA. It cracks me up, the freedom that I feel when I am allowed by state law to walk around in public with an open container of booze. The drive-through daiquiri bars are my favorite. Well, if people wouldn’t drink and drive, I’d like them much more. Just pick up your drink and drive home, then drink. “One for the road” literally translated into action, I suppose.
I stayed at the International House on Camp Street, on the other side of Canal from the French Quarter. My room must have had ceilings 15’ high. I love New Orleans architecture. Aveda-stocked bathroom and a robe for my relaxing pleasure all added up to a great hotel. The next day, I got up early for a conference call and then drove over to Audubon Park for a run. The path around the park seems to have shrunk, that or I was a lazy runner when I lived there. The park looks good, but on my run past the zoo I couldn’t help but wonder about the animals when Katrina hit. Did they starve to death in their cages designed for the general public’s viewing pleasure? Then I started to get sad.
Whole Foods on Magazine is up and running as it was before the storm. It was busy, too. In fact, that’s the only place I actually saw other people. I drove around the Quarter and it was empty, a ghost town. I know it was a Wednesday afternoon, but I expected to see a few shoppers. Nothing. Creepy!
I had lunch at Thirteen on Frenchman and again, I was the only one around. Me, the bartender/waitress, and the cook. Good food for standard lunch fare. It was a strange experience to be there again, and to explore New Orleans all alone. I had an appointment in Slidell, and I drove past New Orleans East on I-10. The damage out there is exponentially worse than anything I saw downtown. Even from the highway, the scenery was depressing. Shopping plazas closed for good, Six Flags a skeleton of an amusement park, and highway signs broken in half, left for the driver to decipher the full exit name. Across the lake, Slidell was fine, undamaged. What a few miles can do for your property.
Monday, June 04, 2007
all things green
not only does lucas love chives, he also loves broccoli rabe, arugula, and lettuce. he doesn't like swiss chard. the experiment continues. perhaps i should find out if any of these greens are good for him..... iamabadmom! damn!
i am going to (one day) put pictures up. *promise*
we saw baby lucas again this weekend (j's cousin's baby) and he is cutest! but the jury is out on whether i can do the real mommyhood thing. the cats are enough work, and require enough attention, for me and j. if we babysit a lot and enjoy it and save a ton of cash, maybe we can consider it in a few.... i want to say years, but then i will be too damn old. maybe in a year. who knows.
right now my job is my focus, that and planning a vacation. i miss the beach!
i am going to (one day) put pictures up. *promise*
we saw baby lucas again this weekend (j's cousin's baby) and he is cutest! but the jury is out on whether i can do the real mommyhood thing. the cats are enough work, and require enough attention, for me and j. if we babysit a lot and enjoy it and save a ton of cash, maybe we can consider it in a few.... i want to say years, but then i will be too damn old. maybe in a year. who knows.
right now my job is my focus, that and planning a vacation. i miss the beach!
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