1. I made him clean out the refrigerator, clear away all the crumbs, and wash every shelf and drawer inside and out.
2. I bought him a navy Calvin Klein suit, patiently explained why alterations were needed, and laid out my expectations that he will indeed wear this suit on special occasions.
3. I took him to Crate and Barrel, where we examined all the kitchen tools and discussed their usage. He was especially fascinated by the cherry pitter.
4. I took him to La Difference furniture store, where he “test-sat” in dozens of chairs and oohed and aahed the gorgeous modern, European pieces.
5. As he began to covet the furniture, I explained that he could only afford such pieces if he went to college, got good grades, and found a solid job.
6. I enlisted his help in balancing my checkbook.
7. As he began to express dismay at the amount of monthly bills, I explained that he could only afford to run his own household if he went to college, got good grades, and found a solid job.
8. I have re-assured him that cooking supper and folding laundry are no more emasculating than weed pulling and lawn mowing. This morning, however, he chose lawn mowing over laundry duty.
9. I complimented him on his masculinity as I gently applied baking soda and ice packs to the 4 hornet stings that occurred during previously-mentioned lawn mowing.
This morning Dear Husband reminded me that today is the 29th anniversary of my 29th birthday. (His timing wasn’t great–I normally don’t appreciate being reminded that I am growing older. But then he presented me with a gift and a mushy card, so I forgave him.)
We tried to remember my first 29th birthday. I was a new mom with a 6 month old, so I was probably sleep-deprived. We probably did not go out for drinks, and we probably took photos of me and the baby in front of a store-bought cake. I don’t remember, really. I was undoubtedly happy with my life, and wondering what the future held in store for me and my young family.
Today’s birthday is definitely going to be one I will never forget, thanks to our current pandemic. My sweet girlfriends have dropped gifts on my porch, but I couldn’t hug any of them. The only people that will share my birthday cake are Husband and Youngest Son.
I couldn’t bear to have the day go by without doing something fun, something to pamper me a bit, something splurge-worthy. (I can be selfish on my birthday–don’t judge me!) I discovered that a local vineyard had set up a “pop-up” restaurant (cheekily named “Phase II”) on its deck, and had covered it with a canopy, so providing shade but not obstructing the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Husband and I split a lovely bottle of Chardonnay Reserve, nibbled on smoked trout and salads, indulged in perfectly-grilled scallops, and finished with a flight of mini-pies.
WE ATE ON REAL PLATES AND HAD ACTUAL SILVERWARE AND CLOTH NAPKINS! Yes, we have eaten “out” in the outdoors several times this summer, but this was the first place so far to not use paper products and plastic cups. I cannot tell you how absolutely NORMAL that felt! Oh, how I missed those simple pleasures!
And yes, all the tables were spread out, and all the staff members were wearing masks. We were outdoors, in a gentle breeze, and we felt quite safe.
As we ate, the dark clouds started gathering above the mountains, and soon we heard rumbles of thunder. The rain started to pelt the canopy, but we just laughed and refilled our glasses.
But, this is 2020, right? Something had to go wrong. Just as we finished dessert, the storm was directly over us. The winds started to knock down the smaller tents on the property, and the rain started coming in sideways under our canopy. All the guests were shooed indoors to wait it out. But I was still smiling–our lunch had been glorious, and I will never forget it.
Today’s “cocktail” was quick to make, and includes some of my favorite flavors, colors, and textures.
I simply poured a shot of mocha-cream liqueur and topped it with whipped cream and sprinkles. Looks festive, and tastes great alongside cake.
Today hasn’t been a great day. I am worried about a few people I love, I have been short-tempered with other people I love, and I am frustrated with this pandemic in general.
But at least I am comfortable here at home. Sure, I still shower every day, but I have stopped doing other things.
I have stopped wearing make-up, because whenever we go outside I am wearing sunglasses and a mask.
I have stopped wearing earrings, because they get caught in the elastic of my mask.
I have stopped wearing rings and bracelets, because they only get in the way of a thorough hand-washing.
I have stopped caring about the color of my hair, because it’s usually pulled back in the heat of the summer.
And, yes, I have stopped wearing a bra, on most days, because, well, why bother if I am just hanging out at the house?
Too Much Information, maybe, but the ladies out there know what I mean.
Today I made myself a shooter, since it hasn’t been a great day, like I said. The actual recipe for the Bra Buster Shooter calls for an entire tablespoon of Tabasco sauce, and I refuse to torture myself that way, so my version is calmer and gentler.
In a large shot glass, combine 1 ounce vodka, 1/2 ounce triple sec, and a dash of Tabasco. Stir and shoot it down as fast as possible. (I find the tingle and warmth to be comforting, actually.)
1. The chefs from the Greenbrier Hotel in WV make some mean fried green tomatoes.
2. Everyone in the car enjoys the music on the JB channel. No, silly people, not Justin Bieber, I mean Jimmy Buffet!
3. Customers at gas stations in eastern Kentucky will stare at you if you roll down the car windows and blast Skrillex from your radio.
4. Indiana lawyers have the BEST names! From a billboard: Craig, Kelley, and Faultless injury attorneys. And the name of my in-laws’ attorney from a few years ago: Larry Lawhead. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up!
5. Basketball is serious business in Indiana. Even for freshman girls. Even for summer league, which doesn’t count for anything really. Don’t mess with the parents.
6. Vienna is the only acceptable hot dog. Ketchup is never an acceptable condiment on previously mentioned hot dog. And the brighter green the relish, the better.
After almost a year of living in different states, Oldest Son and the number-one-woman in his life are now both residents of Nashville, Tennessee. (I like to think that I am number-two-woman and I am OK with that.) These talented and hard-working young people had spent the majority of the quarantine (so far) apart and alone in their homes with their respective cats. I worried about how each was coping, but now I am relieved.
We haven’t seen Son in person since February, and we don’t plan on visiting him until the pandemic is under control. And we have yet to meet number-one-woman in person, but we are getting to know her from Zoom calls and social media interactions. I am so grateful that she is there to take care of Son. (Yesterday was her birthday! So raise your glasses in a toast to her! Happy Birthday!)
Husband and I have never visited Nashville, so we are looking forward, eventually, to exploring this flourishing city. Plus I hear that the food-and-beverage scene there is pretty great. And oh, yeah, isn’t the city famous for its music, too?
I wanted today’s drink to showcase both summer and southern flavors, in honor of our two Tennesseans. This is my version of a Bourbon Peach Smash.
Cut up a half a large peach into cubes. Place in a shaker with 4-5 leaves of mint, and muddle together. Add 1 1/2 ounces whiskey (Tennessee makes some fine ones!) and 1 ounce simple syrup. Stir, pour into glass, and add 2 ounces ginger beer. Top with ice and stir again.
Throwback to July 13, 2014, when we could move around freely and took it for granted!
1. College Girl went to a club in London and ran into her favorite British singer.
2. Gainfully Employed Son went to present at a conference in San Diego and discovered that one of his favorite breweries happened to be right there and open for a drink.
3. I went to the basement refrigerator and discovered that I did have butter in the freezer and I would not have to go to Kroger after all.
10. The stage is so much smaller than it appears to be on TV.
9. You will pass through several checkpoints, where young, beautiful, and peppy CBS employees will repeatedly ask you to show your driver’s license and give a “password.”
8. Bodyguards who look like they walked off the set of the “Sopranos” stand around the edges of the stage.
7. Dave takes off his regular glasses and puts on reading glasses when he reads the Top Ten list, but switches back to regular glasses as soon as the camera comes back on him. And if he really messes up while reading a cue card, he will ask for a re-take.
6. Dave and his guest (Emma Stone) chat during the promoted-movie clip, and never really watch the clip.
5. Parts of the stage, like the backgrounds, need to be taken apart and moved to bring in props and/or equipment for the guest band.
4. Dave’s warm-up comedian and other writers stand around Dave’s desk during the commercial breaks and nod and laugh and hang on every word Dave says.
3. Prior to entering the theater, you will be given a lecture on how to act: no whistling, no woo-woo-ing, no cameras or phones, applaud very often, and– my favorite– laugh first, think later.
2. Your place in line does not determine your seats, since you will be shuffled around repeatedly and assigned a “group,” likely based on your age. The pretty 20-30-somethings in the line, seemingly, were all given seats on the main floor, whereas the fans who have been watching Dave for longer than some of these kids have been alive were assigned balcony seats. That would include us, and most of those around us. Then again, the tickets were free, so I should not complain, I suppose.
1. And, the number one thing we learned while being audience members at the Late Show: if the weather is bad/threatens to be bad, CBS will rent the Three Monkeys Bar around the corner where you wait for 2 hours alongside fellow “older” audience members and buy a few drinks in the meantime so you can be “liquored-up” and giggly when the cameras roll.
1. Riding Amtrak in the “quiet car” means you are spared from hearing loud talking and/or other people’s cell phone conversations.
2. Times Square, especially at night, overloads many of your senses.
3. Porgy and Bess rightfully earned its Tony award as Best Revival–the Gershwins are timeless and the cast was incredible.
4. Choosing to leave the camera and cell phone in the hotel safe and just EXPERIENCING modern art is strangely appropriate and liberating.
5. Brian is the kind of wonderful friend that you can re-connect with immediately, even if you haven’t seen him in 19 years.
6. Brian can be counted on to introduce you to porchetta and Brooklyn pizza and lobster roll and a Salty Pimp ice cream cone.
7. Yeah, we may think we are forward-thinking and accepting, but seeing a topless young woman walking toward us in Times Square is nonetheless surprising.
8. An hour-long wait to get to the observation deck of the Empire State Building on a clear Sunday night is a small price to pay to cross one more thing off your bucket list.
9. There are 10 US restaurants at the Michelin three star level, the highest recognition in the culinary world.
10. If you plan ahead by weeks, you too can dine at one of these restaurants.
11. The cocktails will be sublime, the entrees amazing, and the desserts breathtaking.
12. You will be grateful that your wonderful spouse and you see eye to eye on the necessity of a big splurge to usher in the milestone birthday.
In honor of my super-efficient appointment this afternoon at the Department of Motor Vehicles, I made this cocktail. A toast to the DMV during this time of pandemic! My visit was a piece of cake!
Since this is my birthday month, my license was expiring, plus I wanted to obtain a Real ID, too. Granted, the state has extended deadlines on many matters of official business, but I decided weeks ago to just get it all done, so I made an appointment online for 2:05 PM today.
I exited my car at 1:55 PM, and waited in an outdoor line for maybe 2 minutes, all the while maintaining a safe physical distance from other customers. When my turn came for the pre-screening, I stepped forward, had my name checked off a list, and presented my documents (passport, Social Security card, voter registration card, and driver’s license, but I also brought additional documentation just in case, because that’s who I am). Another employee escorted me inside and led me to the clerk at window 9. The clerk administered the eye test, took my photo, took my payment, and even completed the application for me. I signed it, she thanked me and returned my documents, and I walked out. Back in the car, I checked my phone–the time was 2:06 PM. TEN minutes! The whole process took 10 minutes!
Appointments are the way to go! Congratulations, DMV! Please use this system indefinitely, even after the pandemic ends.
I told the clerk that I appreciated the new system, and she agreed it was going smoothly. She was super-friendly and appeared to be in a good mood. Hmmm. Of course she was, because the customers were not grouchy! Win win!
Today’s drink is my version of the Lemon Cake Cocktail. And the recipe is also a piece of cake, if you have a bottle of RumChata Limon at home.
Pour 2-3 ounces of RumChata Limon into a shaker. Add several ice cubes and shake until frothy. Pour into a glass and enjoy.
