Ouchies

Twisted my left ankle during my Insanity Workout this morning. It didn't hurt at first, but by the time I left work, I could barely walk. Not fun.

I'm Every Woman

Just back from Chicago, met up with Missy and some of her friends for dinner. Funnily enough we ended up hanging out pretty close to my office, at The Smoke Joint. Almost three years and I've never stopped by the place and after my recent experience with BBQ I thought that I'd give it a try. We began the evening by chilling at Moe's Bar, until it was time to go back to the restaurant. It was nice to just chat and hang out.

Eventually we made it to the The Smoke Joint. Being Saturday night and all the place was pretty packed. It was six of us and we ended up sitting in a pretty cramped area, near the door where people waited and ordered food to go so I'd say the place gets a Meh for atmosphere. After much deliberation I ended up going for some pulled pork with a side of cornbread, coleslaw, pickles, and mac and cheese.

Unfortunately the food was not the highlight of the evening. I was very disappointed with the pulled pork, the mac and cheese was just so-so, but the cornbread was good.

The music playing at the restaurant skewed very 90's, and soon enough Whitney Houston came up. Missy piped up to share that Whitney was her first crush and before we knew it we were all cursing Bobby Brown and remembering Maya Rudolph's SNL hilarious imitation. No sooner I had finished my last "Awwrite!" when Mi Cariño texted me to let me know that Ms. Houston had been pronounced dead.

It felt like too much of a coincidence. Something about the death of a celebrity... you don't know them, you know things about them, but they and their work are present in your life, specially when we're talking about music... and then it's worse when you start with the "they were so talented, so young," etc. etc.

All I know is that the weeks I spent obsessed with The Bodyguard and its soundtrack are embedded in my memory and are important to the being that I am. Talking to my neighbor Paola, daydreaming of my voice suddenly developing into Whitney's and being able to belt out her notes and suddenly earning the admiration of everyone around me... hell, even just the morning in Miami when I watched The Bodyguard on cable while Mi Cariño slept. Her life integrated with mine, even though we never met.

I went home soon after dinner, and the pork came back to haunt me later when I needed to regurgitate it out of my existence. Let's just say I will not be going to The Smoke Joint again.  And I will miss you, Whitney.

First Saturday

Mi Cariño and I have vowed to try different things this year and we tried this one upon her suggestion. Enter Brooklyn Museum's Target First Sunday! It was my first time at the place. We tried our best to just walk through. Really enjoyed Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party. And the mummies. Mummies are fun. We also ran into Naomi and Carolina there, and it was nice to just chat for a bit.

Also, a picture of really, really old cross stitching. The art has come a long way baby!

We finished the evening with some pizza and beer, really just relaxing. Not a bad way to begin a year I say!

Vacation all I ever wanted!

Today began my "Holidays" vacation - I am off until next year! I worked until 1:30pm, then came home to this wonderful meal cooked by my mother.

Locrío de pollo with a banana, and a wonderful salad comprised of romaine, carrots, chayotes, cucumbers, radishes, and an oil, vinegar and onions dressing. Lick your fingers good, and the perfect start to a vacation!

Later tonight the girls and I will have our "Christmas/Hannukah Dinner." This is our second year having it, and it's kind of nice - we're going back to the same steak place where we ate last year to exchange gifts, have some good conversation, and devour some meat.

Working Lunches

Yesterday for a working lunch, we went to Olea Mediterranean Taverna. The working part was - meh. The food was tasty. Although we waited a while for our food, it was worth it.

I had the Olea Chicken Club Sandwich - which consisted of chicken breast, bacon, some type of herb-y yogurt, endives, a tomato spread, on brioche with salad and "patatas bravas." I love patatas bravas!

If anything I would've changed the bread, because I think a club benefits of a bread with substance - but otherwise it was quite delicious. To think I've worked around that area for two years and I've never been!

Here's a picture I took at the Bodega, for my kitty-loving friends:

Aside from this, not much of excitement happened. I went back home, and relaxed on my couch. All is good.

Thursdays are made of this

Although still trying my hardest to save money, decided to go for lunch at work after flying in from Indiana. Mostly because that's about the only way I can guarantee I actually take the full lunch hour and not start working while I eat or something. Gaspar and I chose to stop by National Thai. I know, I know, Thai food again! But, I at least chose to eat something different. Pad Pak Thai, which is essentially tofu and veggies in a yummy sauce

Come night time, I joined Cesar for a small, small dinner party. This time I actually helped with the preparing of the meals! We had sausages and french bread toast

and many more delicious things: Corned beef and cabbage with roasted vegetables (potatoes, carrots, broccoli and what not, all tossed with a creamy substance I don't remember the name of). Then there was  the Irish Soda Bread, olives, mushrooms and canolis for dessert.

Here's the table set for the guests

I did not take pictures of the finished meal because I was too busy eating and having a good time. Wake up in Indianapolis, lunch in Brooklyn and Dinner in Queens... not bad for a day's work.

Last Day Of Recording For the Year

Recorded in Brighton Beach today. The ride down flooded me with High School Memories. It was cold, but it was nice to look at the Ocean. This year brought 82 recording days, with 289 interviews. I like the sense of accomplishment, and the thought that I touched all those lives...

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