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Monday, 31 March 2008

Hurry Up Springtime!

I used to be funny!! I swear.  I used to be cheerful and witty and make interesting observations about the world around me.  Then somehow I became soul-sucking Arlene, who had a bad day if I got a hangnail and it rained.  And then my mind became obsessed with a finite number of things:  purses and exotic vacations and taking pictures of my hamster.  Boooorrriiinnng.

So what did I do with my weekend?  Let's see, I engaged in some retail therapy at Georgetown, where I added to my already outrageous handbag collection with a purse that I've spent the weekend rubbing all over my body....oh right we're not talking about purses anymore. 

I was feeling a bit down in the morning and stopped off at Agraria where I had a mimosa and then I had another mimosa and by then I was feeling so generous I left the bartender an outrageous tip.  I've realized a pattern with mimosas: they are like some sort of super drug that makes you feel awesome in the beginning and then act as some sort of downer, leaving you sleeping all afternoon.  Hmmm, what kind of drug would that be?  Oh. right.  Alcohol. 

Yesterday The Boy came over and mentioned casually that his perfect evening would involve me making macaroni and cheese and blah blah blah blah I stopped listening because his perfect evening involves me cooking?! I can tell you a few things my perfect evening involves and between the well-made cocktails and someone doing my laundry, cooking is nowhere in there.  Unless it involves the words "professional chef" and "Thomas Keller." And "free."
by: DJGroovySlug at March 31, 2008 10:08 | link | comments (2)

Friday, 28 March 2008

I just read Christopher Orr's review of the movie "21" (you know, the gambling movie about card counters starring Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and a white guy) which he wrote only by watching the theatrical trailer.   I wasn't surprised that he managed to guess the entire movie's plot and quality without ever having seen it. 

On a similar thread , it's amazing what you can glean about tv show story lines via gossip rags and interviews without ever watched said tv shows.    I don't follow many shows but I imagine that any person that has seen a few ads here and there and reads enough about pop culture could guess what happens.  Here are my synopses of some popular shows I have never seen:

The Sopranos:  Mob man has issues, discusses them with therapist.  People go ga-ga over dichotomy over man who makes money using illegal tactics while also very family oriented and "normal."  Various people are killed, including people you wouldn't expect.  Someone is gay and it's a really big deal because duh! Mob men aren't gay! They have wives and children and mistresses named Diane who wear lots of gem-toned makeup! Eventually it's clear that one man can't ever hold all the power and soon begins the downward spiral of his being sold out to feuding mobsters and/or the Feds.  Insert controversial final episode where we never find out how it all goes down.

House:  Sometimes people have medical problems that can't be explained and this surly doctor is really good at solving them.  This one is pretty formulaic:  person with mystery ailment appears, doctor begins solving medical mystery, with sprinkles of allusions to his own problems thrown in, mystery solved at episode's end.  Season finale ends with no solution to mystery and we are left wondering about the patient's fate.  Once we've run out of good medical mysteries, a D-list celebrity is introduced. 

Grey's Anatomy: ER mates with Days of Our Lives.  Being physicians proves to be only a vehicle for the relationships, as medical practices are rarely discussed, except as they pertain to the emotions of a character who has no other interesting relationship issues going on that week (i.e. a patient died on his/her table, how will she deal with it?!)  Lots of people have sex, probably in places they shouldn't be having sex.  Some people marry and others break up.   Someone skinny is wishy washy about two equally attractive men.  One couple is ridiculously happy and will remain so until the ratings go down.  Another couple breaks up.  Some people cheat on each other.  Once everyone has in some way rotated to be linked to every other possible mate, a D-list celebrity is introduced.

Lost:  Some plane full of an extremely diverse group of people representing all genders, ages, races, religions, weight classes, mental capacities and attractive looks, falls to a tropical island and no one can explain why.  Those that live struggle to survive on island which has a "Heart of Darkness" quality.  Then they find some sort of mechanical thing which they can't explain. Then it turns out there was another group that survives, which they can't explain.  Then it turns out there are people who actually live on that island and are referred to by an ominous name, which they can't explain.  Then there's a season that sucks, which the writers can't explain.  And then someone is coming to save them, but then,  while they are waiting, people who had left unexpectedly return, which they can't explain.  And sometimes people die randomly while it's stormy out, which they can't explain.  Once they've thrown out enough things that can't be explained, a D-list celebrity is introduced. 

Heroes:  People all of a sudden realize they have amazing powers (or maybe, they always knew they had them but all of a sudden, they realize they aren't the only ones!).  Various heroics ensue.  The youthful, blonde, busty one realizes she might be in the center of all this.  Then there's a season that sucks, which the writers can't explain.  Some people fall in love while even more people with super powers appear.   Their super powers may or may not be the result of the government funded science experiments.  (Just once I'd like to see God or Allah or the Flying Spaghetti Monster be responsible for super powers.  Something different, ya know?)  Once we've seen all the various ways the heroes use their powers to save people, a D-list celebrity is introduced.

Rock of Love: Polyester, silicone, and gonorrhea.
by: DJGroovySlug at March 28, 2008 11:05 | link | comments (3)

Thursday, 27 March 2008

Last night I was determined to treat myself after a crappy day in the middle of a crappy week.  Damnit I was bored, all of my friends were busy - and we're talking friends I haven't spoken to in ages - and I was feeling a little despondent over it all so I figured I would get some nice kabob takeout and have a glass of wine and sit on my couch.  Hey, don't knock it, it's the little things in life.  I was very excited about this plan and didn't even bother changing out of my work clothes or putting gas in my car because the kabob place is literally 7 minutes away and I'd be back in a jiffy right?

I left my house around 6:50pm and arrived home at 8:07, without kabob.  I had gone to said kabob place and circled for parking and let me tell you, circling in this neighborhood is Not Fun.  So I figured, okay I'll try this other kabob place, farther away but supposedly equally as good and close enough that I won't have lost much time.  Again no parking, and even harder to circle back around.  I figured at this point, I would have better luck at the first kabob place and went back and circled several more times.   Twice I gave up and started heading back home and then I was like NO I AM HAVING A BAD DAY THAT ONLY KABOB CAN CURE.  Finally around the 40 minute mark I gave up and said, NO I will not give up!  I need something!  I'm getting cupcakes.  But on the way to the bakery my gas light came on and I had to stop and suddenly it's 8pm and I haven't had anything to eat and I truly gave up then. 

I went home and was determined to do SOMETHING for myself so I reached for my emergency box of Three Cheese Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, which is disgusting and goes against everything I feel towards processed foods and GOD but I love it.  And I started the boiling pot and was thisclose to dumping in the pasta when it hit me: we have no milk in the house, which is a key component for the desired creaminess.  I would've started crying if I didn't find it so damn amusing. 

What resulted was an interesting dinner to say the least: leftover pasta sauce from a previous dinner and some dried meats that I had sitting around.  Who doesn't have a log of pastrami in their pantry? 



It was a bit salty but it was pure comfort food and was made all the better with a glass of wine and a few episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Eight. 



Over Easter we had discussed the mechanics of eating a chocolate bunny.  Via a very scientific process,  I've confirmed that it's true: you must always eat the ears first. 

by: DJGroovySlug at March 27, 2008 10:18 | link | comments (1)

Wednesday, 26 March 2008

I had a nice little week planned out and day by day I'm watching it go down the toilet, as I get sick and skip happy hour,  then tickets to a show I wanted to see are sold out.  And since I'm harboring a head cold I'm not trying to be to rambunctious anyway.  I'm not sure if I should be drinking or exercising.  But god I'm bored sitting at home.   What a crappy week.  The only good piece of news is that Liz says the high is 78 in L.A. these days, that and my final paper was made optional.  Insert least enthusiastic "yay" ever here.
by: DJGroovySlug at March 26, 2008 11:12 | link | comments (1)

Monday, 24 March 2008

Perfectly lovely weekend, dinner at CenTRAAAHHLL (as it will now forever be known), combination errands and chillaxin, dinner at both sets of parents for easter, and lots of desserts from Buzz.  And also, today is quite possibly the fastest deterioration of my life.  Woke up feeling spry, am now shivering in the warmest room on campus (the computer room, which is notoriously hot with all its computers whirring nonstop).  Head cold, nasal congestion, fever.  Just want to go home and lie under warm bedcovers. 
by: DJGroovySlug at March 24, 2008 18:08 | link | comments (3)

Thursday, 20 March 2008

Harbinger of Good News

Things my friend Sanjay said to us over the course of dinner last night (at Proof, which, btw, EXCELLENT):

"Isn't tuna the one that has a lot of mercury in it?"  - when my tartare arrived

"That's where bird flu is concentrated" - when I announced my intentions to take my next trip through Southeast Asia. 

"The Northern Lights?  Those are bad.  It means that more of the suns rays are entering the earth's atmosphere.  They are solar winds charged by the sun's particles" - upon hearing that our friend was excited to see the Northern Lights during her upcoming Iceland vacation.  Also: DORK.
by: DJGroovySlug at March 20, 2008 12:54 | link | comments

Monday, 17 March 2008


haha look at me and my awesome photoz.  I traded my hookah for The Boy's SLR.  Score.

I'm trying to embrace cooking at home but the meals generally remain vegetarian because I'm convinced I'm going to kill us all with my inability to tell if meat is done.  Every couple of months I'll get lazy and want to try something new like this greek turkey burger from an old Cooking Light I had lying around, even though The Boy specifically requested mac and cheese.  Damnit, I am not a short order cook. 

Staging is everything in photography, and both the picture here and the one accompanying the recipe from Cooking Light made the burger look much better than it actually tasted.  It wasn't bad, just not anything I would feel like making again.  The tzatziki was the best part, but that's because I got the pre-made tub from the fine folks of Fage greek-style yogurt, which is akin to liquid excellence. 

I think if I were to do it again - which I won't because every time I do make a dish with meat, I'm reminded about how stressful the experience is - I would find a way to make the meat a little richer, perhaps including the yolk and mixing in some dried herbs (I used fresh instead of dried dill).   Also, the feta in the burger that directly touched the pan burned, naturally, which was unavoidable without having the heat too low to cook the meat safely.  At least, that's how it played out in my head. 

So once again, until I cough up the $11 for an instant-read meat thermometer, I return to vegetarian meals, which will be much easier once spring time roles around and I can load up on wonderful fresh veggies.  For now, I'll enjoy meat the way it was meant to be enjoyed: prepared by someone else. 

Greek-Flavored Turkey Burgers from Cooking Light
by: DJGroovySlug at March 17, 2008 08:47 | link | comments

Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Ugh my life is about as boring as skim milk right now so I might as well talk about the only exciting thing on the horizon: yesterday I booked my ticket out to see my golden-haired Liz in Los Angeles.  It was hard finding a good weekend to go, work and school kick up right around this time of year.  I once again hold onto my youthful vigor by taking a flight that gets me into LA at 8pm on Friday and returns on the red-eye Sunday night, in time to get me to work at 8am, followed by regular class schedule.  

We've outlined some specific goals for this trip, as follows:
  • See nekkid celebrities at one of the local hot springs spas
  • Finish all four Sprinkles cupcakes this time
  • Shop on Melrose
  • Eat one of everything from typical roadside taco stand
  • Find and photograph ourselves in front of the real Bel-Air house that was used for the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air exterior shots. 
Last time I was in L.A. I did a lot of the typical tourist stuff and we're mostly just following up on things we didn't get to do last time.  Any other suggestions? 

Also, I have Whitney Houston's  "The Greatest Love of All" stuck in my head.  When you hear these songs in your head, do you still "sing" them with feeling?  Complete with eyes closed and fists clenched?
by: DJGroovySlug at March 12, 2008 15:06 | link | comments (4)

Monday, 10 March 2008

I was complaining about going to class today to everyone who would listen - believe me, even the hot water dispenser is tired of hearing about how much I didn't want to go to class.  It's the week before spring break and I could really use a mental health day, even if it means coming to work.  The thing about work and school simultaneously is information overkill.  My brain is full - backed up beyond relief and no help until some Spring Break Draino unclogs the tubes.

But really complaining about class is really unfair, I get so much done in class.  For example, today I calculated that I would spend less to park in the daily rates garage than to buy a semester pass.  Take that UMD transportation office. 

I read all the worthwhile "The Wire" finale media coverage.  I learned the Michael K. Williams received 5th billing in the credits of R. Kelly's operatic Trapped in the Closet (Chapters 13-22). 

Furthermore I also realized during our discussion of the decision-making process that I am destined to one day meet Jamie Hector and I had no suitable digital camera to record such event.  I used my knowledge of the decision-making process to help me decide which camera to buy.  I'm learnding!  Hooray graduate school!
by: DJGroovySlug at March 10, 2008 15:40 | link | comments (1)

Monday, 10 March 2008

I had this whole nice little thing written up about my weekend, which was a perfectly lovely weekend.   But all I want to say is that Daylight Saving Time can go to hell. 
by: DJGroovySlug at March 10, 2008 09:06 | link | comments (2)