Cracked open a bottle of a 2003 Marques de Caceres Rioja (that last word is Rose for all of us who don't speak Spanish or aren't fluent in the ways and means of wine). Quite tasty, with a finish that I can only describe as slightly bubbly. Not quite champagne, but more of a smooth on the back of your tongue layer of bubbles. Perfect for a slightly muggy but at the same time cooler San Francisco day (and yes, that is exactly what the weather is like, what can I say, it's San Francisco)
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Housewarming
Nothing says that you've moved and settled into a new home like a housewarming party. Since the boxes are now unpacked, pictures hung and kitchen fully tested, no time seemed better than last night. (Only after the date had been set and the evite sent did I discover that my housewarming party also happened to coincide with one of the biggest parties in San Francisco, Pride Weekend).
I tried to keep food simpler than at previous parties. My traditional layered dip (my spin on refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, grated cheddar), hummus and baba ghanoush, cheese and fruit (brie, herbed chevre, sage cheddar) and smoked salmon with cream cheese, red onions and capers. Plus margaritas, beer and wine. And a few bottles of champagne and a bit of wine (time to try rose!). Oh, and dessert - chocolate chip cookies with coconut and toasted almonds and frosted lemon shortbread.
All in all, a good party. At least one person got completely wasted, with a lot of other alcohol consumed. That's a sign of a good party, IMO.
The party guest list is always an opportunity to evaluate the state of various friendships. New friends were added, old friends that had drifted away were removed. I've observed that while some friends remain constant in my life (in various forms), others cycle in and out. A few that I considered to be my best friends 5 years ago are no longer really a part of my life. Instead, they've been replaced by new ones.
Perhaps your friends are indicative of where you are in life - your needs, wants, desires. Those things change with time as you - an individual - ages, lives through new experiences, continues to evolve as a person. And, that is life.
I tried to keep food simpler than at previous parties. My traditional layered dip (my spin on refried beans, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, grated cheddar), hummus and baba ghanoush, cheese and fruit (brie, herbed chevre, sage cheddar) and smoked salmon with cream cheese, red onions and capers. Plus margaritas, beer and wine. And a few bottles of champagne and a bit of wine (time to try rose!). Oh, and dessert - chocolate chip cookies with coconut and toasted almonds and frosted lemon shortbread.
All in all, a good party. At least one person got completely wasted, with a lot of other alcohol consumed. That's a sign of a good party, IMO.
The party guest list is always an opportunity to evaluate the state of various friendships. New friends were added, old friends that had drifted away were removed. I've observed that while some friends remain constant in my life (in various forms), others cycle in and out. A few that I considered to be my best friends 5 years ago are no longer really a part of my life. Instead, they've been replaced by new ones.
Perhaps your friends are indicative of where you are in life - your needs, wants, desires. Those things change with time as you - an individual - ages, lives through new experiences, continues to evolve as a person. And, that is life.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Flu Attacks!
Either from being trapped on a plane many more hours than necessary when coming back from Seattle last week or from the 15 kids under the age of 5 at a birthday party Saturday night, I somehow contracted the flu. It started not so innocently with a sore throat Sunday night and within 24 hours, had escalated into a full-blown flu, complete with all of those things that make having the flu so memorable...and so horrible.
For the first time since beginning life sans roommates, I missed having someone around. When illness strikes, a roommate functions as a built-in nurse, whether by simply providing soup to raid (I only eat soup in a can in case of illness) or doing more complex things, like making store runs to purchase supplies of ginger ale or more soup. Actually, the last time I got sick, I called an ex-boyfriend to help. That was a mistake.
I guess I could have called someone for help...but instead, I muddled on my own. I fluishly stumbled my way a few blocks and almost drunkenly (why does the flu make us feel like we're drunk?), managed to buy some soup and echinacea tea.
Never fear, dear readers. I am on the mend...and tomorrow should be back to almost normal, terrorizing unsuspecting co-workers, ready for the ever delicious glass of wine and cooking up a storm.
For the first time since beginning life sans roommates, I missed having someone around. When illness strikes, a roommate functions as a built-in nurse, whether by simply providing soup to raid (I only eat soup in a can in case of illness) or doing more complex things, like making store runs to purchase supplies of ginger ale or more soup. Actually, the last time I got sick, I called an ex-boyfriend to help. That was a mistake.
I guess I could have called someone for help...but instead, I muddled on my own. I fluishly stumbled my way a few blocks and almost drunkenly (why does the flu make us feel like we're drunk?), managed to buy some soup and echinacea tea.
Never fear, dear readers. I am on the mend...and tomorrow should be back to almost normal, terrorizing unsuspecting co-workers, ready for the ever delicious glass of wine and cooking up a storm.
Friday, June 18, 2004
midori mushi
A few people mentioned that a very tiny, great little sushi place was just down the street from my new home. The thought of living within walking distance of sushi has always captivated me; unfortunately, the sushi restaurant in the Costco shopping center at Mt View (within walking distance of my old home) provided the basis for such a horrible luncheon experience that I vowed never to return. But now was a good start with Midori Mushi, attached to a Days Inn hotel, three blocks from home.
It seems that the restaurant is a bit plagued with financial troubles, although it appears that their troubles may now be resolved. I hope so, because Midori Mushi was so fabulous and wonderful. Without much convincing, Gabe joined me for my maiden meal at Midori.
Wonderful fish, interesting combinations, and the best part - the sushi chef took a lot of liberties with our sushi. At one point, we asked her to surprise us. It's also a great atmosphere. The waiter scared us with his infatuation with Chelsea Clinton (who by the way is the true Swan story). We also got into a very loud conversation with the two lesbians and their straight male friend at the table next to us. Ahhhh, life in San Francisco.
It seems that the restaurant is a bit plagued with financial troubles, although it appears that their troubles may now be resolved. I hope so, because Midori Mushi was so fabulous and wonderful. Without much convincing, Gabe joined me for my maiden meal at Midori.
Wonderful fish, interesting combinations, and the best part - the sushi chef took a lot of liberties with our sushi. At one point, we asked her to surprise us. It's also a great atmosphere. The waiter scared us with his infatuation with Chelsea Clinton (who by the way is the true Swan story). We also got into a very loud conversation with the two lesbians and their straight male friend at the table next to us. Ahhhh, life in San Francisco.
excuses, excuses
A recent article in the NY Times reminded me that the enthusiasm I had when I set up this blog has now waned. Around the same time, Nilay (who hosts the blog) sent me a somewhat geeky e-mail, telling me how I could post pictures directly from my camera to this blog. Technology is simply amazing. Until it begins running my life and I have to go on missions to destroy replicants. Then it will be evil.
So I do have some very valid excuses for "blog neglect". A move, work travel, trying to get settled into a new life and new patterns. Actually, you'd think by now, with move number 4 in a little over 5 years, I'd have figured out how to find a home, pack, move, unpack and get settled with minimal disruption to my life. I thought that the move from Palo Alto to Mt View proved that theory - moving doesn't have to be more than a bothersome little nit in your life.
But this move was different. Not only did I move from Mt View to San Francisco (a distance of 37 miles, a fact dully reported to my auto insurance company), but for the first time in my life, I am now living sans roommates. Thus, the move involved pre-move shopping trips for previously never needed items such as a TV (yes, ponder the irony that I own 4 videogame consoles and do not own a TV). As well, the new apartment required a dish drain, a garbage can, cleaning supplies, rugs, curtains and lots of other miscellaneous and required stuff that is required with a move, or I had always lacked. And, practically in the middle of the move, a few business trips. Logistically, life became difficult.
And the process of unpacking was a bit unusual. I've become used to simply making room in a preexisting home for all of my stuff. This time, the choice of where to put the glasses, the bathroom towels, the TV, etc. were mine. Under the best of circumstances, I'm not the best decision maker, and in this case, it was simply hard.
But it's done. With the exception of trimming the curtains, buying a few new rugs and hanging some pictures, I would say that I am as settled as I'm ever going to be. Having said that, I can make a few observations about trends in my life in regards to moving:
--Toilet issues. This is the second time that I've lived in a home in which the toilet doesn't function properly. I think that the problem is now resolved, but I do wonder, do toilets see me as an evil being? I've never been anything but respectful, but obviously, somehow the toilet gods see me as less than.
--Ants. With the exception of my apartment in Berkeley, ants always seem to follow me (and in that case, instead of ants, cockroaches were a mainstay. Gross). This time, I smartened up and ran to Target as soon as possible, purchasing $10 worth of super strong and poisonous ant raps and placing strategically in my apartment, a process which allowed me to ponder, "if I were an ant, where would I want to hang out in Schelley's place?"
--Electronics failure. This time, my PC video card blew out. Considering it was sent free with a ridiculously low priced monitor, I'm not that sad. But still, I now need to figure out if the card is AGP or PCI or something like that, and then purchase a new one.
So I do have some very valid excuses for "blog neglect". A move, work travel, trying to get settled into a new life and new patterns. Actually, you'd think by now, with move number 4 in a little over 5 years, I'd have figured out how to find a home, pack, move, unpack and get settled with minimal disruption to my life. I thought that the move from Palo Alto to Mt View proved that theory - moving doesn't have to be more than a bothersome little nit in your life.
But this move was different. Not only did I move from Mt View to San Francisco (a distance of 37 miles, a fact dully reported to my auto insurance company), but for the first time in my life, I am now living sans roommates. Thus, the move involved pre-move shopping trips for previously never needed items such as a TV (yes, ponder the irony that I own 4 videogame consoles and do not own a TV). As well, the new apartment required a dish drain, a garbage can, cleaning supplies, rugs, curtains and lots of other miscellaneous and required stuff that is required with a move, or I had always lacked. And, practically in the middle of the move, a few business trips. Logistically, life became difficult.
And the process of unpacking was a bit unusual. I've become used to simply making room in a preexisting home for all of my stuff. This time, the choice of where to put the glasses, the bathroom towels, the TV, etc. were mine. Under the best of circumstances, I'm not the best decision maker, and in this case, it was simply hard.
But it's done. With the exception of trimming the curtains, buying a few new rugs and hanging some pictures, I would say that I am as settled as I'm ever going to be. Having said that, I can make a few observations about trends in my life in regards to moving:
--Toilet issues. This is the second time that I've lived in a home in which the toilet doesn't function properly. I think that the problem is now resolved, but I do wonder, do toilets see me as an evil being? I've never been anything but respectful, but obviously, somehow the toilet gods see me as less than.
--Ants. With the exception of my apartment in Berkeley, ants always seem to follow me (and in that case, instead of ants, cockroaches were a mainstay. Gross). This time, I smartened up and ran to Target as soon as possible, purchasing $10 worth of super strong and poisonous ant raps and placing strategically in my apartment, a process which allowed me to ponder, "if I were an ant, where would I want to hang out in Schelley's place?"
--Electronics failure. This time, my PC video card blew out. Considering it was sent free with a ridiculously low priced monitor, I'm not that sad. But still, I now need to figure out if the card is AGP or PCI or something like that, and then purchase a new one.
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