Cross-Country Dining

I may have invented a new sport today. I'll let my meals over the last 24 hours do the talking:

 

Tuesday: Dinner in San Francisco

Wednesday: Breakfast of Champions at JFK airport (chocolate croissant and orange juice)

Wednesday: Lunch with colleagues in Boston (sandwiches and cupcakes at Flour)

Wednesday: Dinner with colleagues in DC (Four Sisters vietnamese)

 

How many different states can you eat in during one 24 hour period?

 

 

It all started with a plan to ride the red-eye from SFO to JFK connecting to IAD (Washington-Dulles). Well, apparently there was fog in Boston which made the plane arrive in SFO late and I missed the connection in JFK. The next flight to IAD wasn't until 5pm and it was currently 8am. They put me on a flight to Boston with a quick connection to DCA (Reagan International). Well, as soon as I boarded the Boston flight the pilot announced that we would probably taxi for 30 minutes due to the long line of planes set to take off. Needless to point out, I missed the quick connection in Boston. I opted to stay until the 4pm flight and use the opportunity to visit my pals for lunch. It is super easy to hop on the Silver Line from the BOS airport. We indulged in chit chat, sandwiches, and cupcakes. There could be worse travel stories. Par for the day, my flight to DC was delayed by half an hour, but I arrived. I walked out of the airport into a torrential rainstorm with a tornado watch in effect. I arrived at my dinner plans a little soggy from the rain, but laughing about the events of the day. Phew!

 

All in all, the Jet Blue staff were very helpful in booking me on all these various flights. I'm proud to say that I've been to four airports in less than 24 hours. Now, I just need my luggage to be delivered.

 

 

Vote: Indulgence or The BEST Indulgence Ever?

A colleague (and friend) of mine just sent this. (We were pondering about cupcakes, and I mentioned I didn't think I'd stumble upon one this weekend, but I have Thin Mints.) Here's the recipe. You tell me if you think it's worthy of the title.

 

The BEST Indulgence Ever

1. Get a box of thin mints.

2. Get a bowl of bryers mint chocolate chip ice cream. (why do we have to use a bowl?) 

3. Do NOT get a spoon.

4. Use thin mints as a scooper.

Heaven!

An Ode to Home Ownership

I’d like to take this moment, not to make an acceptance speech for winning an Oscar, but to acknowledge two months of being home owners. In these two months we have enjoyed many “firsts” and conquered our first several challenges. An ode to home ownership:

• First cooked brunch: French toast with blueberries
• First felled tree: a rather large oak; only one broken window, no injuries
• First baked item: brownies (gotta test the oven somehow)
• First baked dinner: lasagna (yum)
• First kitchen sink clog: A plus snake plus many hours equals a sink that drains!
• First detected radiant heating leak: pending resolution
• First art project(s): painted cupboard doors (and coordinating dresser)
• First breakfast guests: deer in the back yard, munch and rest all day long
• First construction zone: master bedroom and office

We are cherishing the firsts of many things: painting walls, laying bamboo flooring, installing new toilets, watching the sunset over the fabulous view, finding the mail in our box wet from the rain, being invaded by ants through the kitchen window, meeting the neighbors, hiking on the nearby trails, walking to 4th street for dinner, etc.

We love our new ‘hood and love our house projects.

the purpose of a pickle

This afternoon, I was scarfing down a Michael's Sourdough sandwich for a late lunch. I'm usually a slow and meticulous chewer, but was so hungry that my sandwich disappeared into my stomach rapidly. I found myself sitting at my desk thinking "hmm. My stomach is full. My sandwich is gone (that was fast!). My mouth wants more stimulation".  Then I noticed the pickle I had earlier cast over to the side. Perfect!

 

That, I suppose, is the purpose of a pickle.

 

Earthquakes are for real

When was the last time you did an earthquake drill?

 

Is there room for you to drop, cover, and hold on under your desk?

 

Encourage your employer and family to particpate in California's annual earthquake drill!

 

www.shakeout.org

Summer is over? I disagree!

Some are saying that summer has ended. Wasn't it just yesterday that I was welcoming summer adventures? I don't believe summer can end until the baseball season ends. That makes sense right?

We've had some great adventures:
*A and I got out our backpacking gear, and spent a blissful two nights in the wilderness. It was just us, some roaming cows with cow bells, a very bright moon, a lot of dust, and the fresh dry air of the high sierras.

*We've made many trips to museums this summer:

• California Academy of Sciences (you can watch the pengquins online!) The re-model is quite impressive and they do have an amazing living roof.
• De Young, Legion of Honor Both of these museums are hosting exhibits focusing on Paris and the impressionist era.
• Oakland Museum of California There is an incredibly fun exhibit about Pixar, an amazing History of CA exhibit which focuses only on our beautiful state, how it came to be, and the memories of the more recent decades such as the 60s.

*We have enjoyed getting together with our friends and their little ones. People grow so fast!

*I recently had a great time with the ladies in Ashland, Oregon at the Shakespeare Festival. Note: We didn't actually see any Shakespeare Productions. We saw a speed version (2 hrs 45 min) play of "Pride and Prejudice" and an absolutely phenomenal musical called "She Loves Me". (She Loves Me is one of the stories which inspired "You've Got Mail".)

*Of course, we've been to more baseball games. Just yesterday, we saw the Red Sox play the A's. I love that the restaurant behind home plate is open to everyone, and we're allowed to sit at a table for the entire game. What a great view! The Red Sox squeaked out a win to stop the A's from sweeping them despite Beckett's not-so-good day of pitching. He walked the bases loaded and then walked Coco Crisp home! I would've been happy if the A's swept the Red Sox even though I was sporting a Youkilis shirt.

I'm sure I've missed recounting some of our adventures. Feel free to post anything you have to add or some of your own favorite summer adventures!

Crunching and Reading

This afternoon, during document review, I grabbed a bowl of pita chips, hummus, and guacamole. It seemed like a perfect afternoon snack. EXCEPT the crunching was too loud for me to concentrate on what I was reading. I'm looking for quieter snack alternatives.