12 of 12 February 09

3:35 AM- Halfway in to my Plyo Legs workout before leaving for the airport. Am I crazy? Yes. Crazy about eating in New Orleans.


5:00 AM- I take pity on my poor starving kitties, who assume that since I'm awake, it's feeding time,and have been whining for two hours as if they're dying when really they're being fed on time.


5: 30 AM- GMiller looks pretty chipper for this time of morning. He's got NOLA fever!


6:40 AM- We get off the Metro at the airport. We are WAAAAY early for our flight, but as GMiller reminds me, it's better than feeling rushed, which is how our Scotland trip worked.


8:20 AM- On the plane to New Orleans. It took me about an hour to fall asleep, which is unusual, as I am generally asleep instantly if I'm in a car or on the couch. GMiller was asleep pretty fast, but woke up enough to take my picture as I snoozed. See his 12 of 12 for that glamour shot.


11:10 AM- Heading in to the city, we pass the larger sister location of this famous bar. Professor Longhair played consistently in the French Quarter location. Bless him.


2:15 PM- Lunch with friends at Mandina's on Canal. This place was under eight feet of water after Katrina. If you don't know how high that is, they have a high water mark on a column inside the dining room. That's a lot of water. Lunch started with an Old Fashioned for me and Jake, Brandy milk punch for Christina, and an Abita Mardi Gras Bock for GMiller. Then onion rings and shrimp remoulade were brought to the table. Our entrees were the stuffed pepper special, side of mac-n-cheese and lima beans; a cup of seafood gumbo and quarter catfish po'boy, dressed; catfish Meuniere with fries; and liver and onions. Buttered french bread came to the table with all this. Outside, I called Cochon to change our dinner reservation from 6 to 8 PM and added four people to the headcount.


2:30 PMKilling time in Mid-city waiting for a small Farmer's Market to open, GMiller and I discover an old commercial laundry building in a neighborhood that looks like it won't be coming back any time soon. Having the NOPD actually get you is no idle threat. They have a reputation for being corrupt and vicious.


2:40 PM- The tile work on the actual laundry building was pretty impressive, and definitely made me wonder what the area looked like when it was thriving. It must have been quite pretty.


2:55 PM- A trip to City Park reveals wild life both avian and mammalian; primarily in the form of small children playing on ancient live oaks and swings while swans, ducks, geese and pellicans search the river for companionship and snacks.


7:35 PM- After naps and a quick spruce up, GMiller calls for the car as we head out to dinner at Cochon.


10:15 PM- Walking back to the car after an excellent dinner of Cochon platter (charcuterie that was some of the best we've ever had); rabbit and dumplings; paneed pork loin with mashed potatoes, baby turnips and spinach; a spledor in the grass cocktail; an old fashioned and a nice white wine that Jake picked out. The buttermilk strawberry ice cream sounded tempting, but we all passed on dessert.

12 of 12 November 08

From 12 of 12 November 08

5:43 AM- Pepper is so greedy, we've started making him sit before we put food in his dish. I always tell him "be a gentleman" and his little butt goes right on the floor. When GMiller is feeding him, Pepper crouches like he's going to get pegged with the scoop.

From 12 of 12 November 08

7:02 AM- I had yesterday off for Veteran's Day and chose to use pockets instead of my purse since we took the Metro in to DC. Before I leave for work, I've got to stuff everything back in to my handbag.

From 12 of 12 November 08

7:45 AM- I am mildly annoyed that my boss' new AE did not yet get this box mountain out of my office as he instructed her. Oh well, now I can build a fort!

From 12 of 12 November 08

9:23 AM- Heirloom apples have been a leitmotif in my life recently. I heard a lot about them when watching the BBC while in Scotland, and my friend Alex brought me this one from the Arlington Farmer's market. It's an Arkansas Black. It was very crisp, not too juicy or too sweet. I think it would make a good baking apple. Inside it looks like a regular apple. I wondered about that before I bit it.

From 12 of 12 November 08

9:01 AM- I finally get a chance for breakfast and have APPLE cinnamon oatmeal and coffee. Both were pleasantly unremarkable.

From 12 of 12 November 08

11:58 AM- I reheated last night's Scarola for lunch. A hearty soup is difficult to eat when your spoon has a puny little bowl, like the plastic ones at work do. I'll have to remember to bring a nicer spoon. Or get a bib.

From 12 of 12 November 08

3:31 PM- I have to get cash for tonight's dinner with Discussion Club. We're going to Ray's Hell Burger, and they don't take credit cards. But they do give you the best burger in DC. When I say Ray's, you say Hell Burger... Go MEAT!

From 12 of 12 November 08

3:45 PM- A snack of popcorn and tea. This is the 12 of 12 food chronicle in case you didn't notice. I thought you guys would get sick of looking at pictures of me on the phone.

From 12 of 12 November 08

4:24 PM- BAM! Ha, ha! Fooled you, suckers! Just kidding. This really is a picture of me on the phone. My dad is at the Cleveland Clinic for surgery and my stepmother called to give me an update. He's fine. But don't yell BAM! at him for a while.

From 12 of 12 November 08

5:53 PM- My best friend Nuvi and I go everywhere together now. I get lost a lot, and she's always there for me.

From 12 of 12 November 08

6:51 PM- While we wait for the group to gather, my Discussion Club girls and I have a drink. We missed our window for both Ray's Hell Burger and Ray's the Steaks and ended up in a largely disappointing Mexican place in the same strip mall. Clouds of billowing acrid smoke brought a hasty end to the evening. The waiter claimed it was fajitas. If true, don't order them there. The girls speculated that it could be a mass poisoning in the style of 24. Which makes me think that 24 might get the credit for softening the heart of America to a black president more than the Cosby Show, since everyone knows a black doctor or lawyer, but only 24 had a black PRESIDENT.

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

6) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.

12 of 12 October 08

From 12 of 12 October 08

7:09 AM - I pull my tea out and contemplate oatmeal for breakfast. I stick with tea and decide not to go to weight class.

From 12 of 12 October 08

9:30 AM - Since I've got time on my hands, I clean out the refrigerator in preparation for our honeymoon. All perishable items that won't be eaten this week have got to go. Plus there's a bad smell that needs to go.

From 12 of 12 October 08

9:43 - Using leftover challah from Rosh Hashanah and eggs, I have toad-in-the-hole for breakfast. Even though I call it the British name, whenever I cook this, I remember the movie Moonstruck, one of my favorites. Olympia Dukakis makes it for breakfast in one scene.

From 12 of 12 October 08

11:13 AM - I'm at the mall to get three last minute things for the wedding, and am shocked to see a ghost town in the parking lot. On Sunday. On Columbus Day Weekend. I believe our dire economic predictions. The parking lot is proof. Or it could be the abundance of truly hideous clothes in stores this season. Let's all dress like oatmeal colored Oompa Loompas!

From 12 of 12 October 08

6:22 PM - Later in the day, GMiller decides to do some minor surgery on the carpet. If the vacuum cleaner runs over that, it will pull whole rows out of the carpet. Not good.

From 12 of 12 October 08

6:32 PM - My dad sort of forgot that his anniversary is the day that they fly in for the wedding. I convince him that taking is wife to a stand up burger joint for eats is probably not going to score a lot of points, and make reservations for us at Indebleu instead. They have good food and chairs.

From 12 of 12 October 08

7:06 PM - The clock is ticking down on when I have to leave to meet some friends, so dinner is a tag-team effort. Penne alla vodka with pancetta, done and eaten in less than 40 minutes.

From 12 of 12 October 08

8:11 PM - I find a sweet parking spot in Adams Morgan, just one street over from the speakeasy I'm going to tonight. Rumor has it that this is the last night for the floating cocktail bar, Hummingbird to Mars, so I'm glad we got reservations.

From 12 of 12 October 08

10:25 PM - After a cup of Porter Punch, a Corpse Reviver #2 and a Ginger Manhattan, the drinking part of the night is over. We all agree that much starch and cheese must immediately be consumed, and I dread the staircase that will lead me to the street, as the bar has suddenly been transformed into a ship in stormy seas, judging from the pitch and yaw of the deck. No, that's just me trying to walk. Where's Carrie Nation when you need her?

From 12 of 12 October 08

11:09 PM - We found relief downstairs at Bourbon. Tater tots, chili cheese waffle fries and mac 'n' cheese came to our rescue and we polished them off in short order.

From 12 of 12 October 08

11:50 PM - I find Flannel where he's been most of the day, but now he's in my way. We discuss the options, then decide the best idea would be for him not to move, and for me to squeeze in the best I can.

From 12 of 12 October 08

11:54 PM - I managed to find some space from Mr. Bed Hog, and am asleep, passed out, whatever the kids are calling it these days.

12 of 12 August 08

6:16 AM - With my bags packed, I'm ready to head off to work.


7:08 AM - There's some big deal tennis competition in town, so they're using Rock Creek Park to catch the overflow traffic for volunteers and ticket holders. There's lots of new signs with bags for the traffic minders to stow their rubbish.


7:36 AM - In the elevator. I wish that the stairwell doors would open from the stair side, but they don't. We have to take the elevator even if we want to travel one floor up or down.


11:58 AM - My lunch of soy and brown sugar glazed mahi mahi with Thai style rice and green beans is extra delicious. I love that GMiller packs leftovers in meals for me when he cleans up the kitchen. I did it for myself when I lived alone, but it's nice to have someone else take care of you from time to time.


1:26 PM - Looking out my window to gauge whether it will rain today. This week is what I consider unseasonably cool for August in the Washington Metropolitan Area, and we're getting rain more frequently, too.


3:17 PM - I am very sad that one of my favorite comedians, Bernie Mac, died this weekend. I read more about his career online, while I was on a call.


4:13 PM - If I don't leave RIGHT NOW, I'm going to be hella-late to exercise class.


5:53 PM - I got to class on time and sweated a ton. I'm not sure whether it's the new face cream I'm using or what, but I'm sweating more from my face than ever. Clear pores are a blessing and a curse, I suppose.


6:39 PM - Flannel greets me when I get home. Usually both cats are running towards the door as I open it. I see Pepper trundling towards me a moment later. He's so fat, he's going to need a Hoveround. I bet Medicaid won't cover it.


7:31 PM - After my shower, I check the mail. I'm much more on top of this chore now that the wedding RSVP's are coming back in. We got two in this batch. Hooray!


9:12 PM - Our friends' baby arrived last Friday. Now he's home from the hospital, so we went for a visit. This baby is a sugar-bear! He slept most of the time, which is expected when you're only four days old.


9:22 PM - I relinquish the baby to GMiller, but not entirely, as I was holding his little feet and waving them around.

If you are new to 12 of 12 - here are the basics:

1) ALL PHOTOS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE 12TH OF EACH MONTH.

2) After you post your pictures onto a webpage of your choice (Livejournal, typepad, MySpace, Flickr, etc...) please post the TIME, LOCATION, and A SMALL COMMENT in the pic.

3) You own the rights to all of your pictures. The idea "12 of 12" is Chad Darnell's. While credit is not necessary, please don't credit someone else with the idea.

4) The original concept was at least one body part in the picture. That idea was slowly faded away. The important part is that it is 12 pics.

5) The monthly Bonus pic is a 13th picture and is optional.

6) When referring to the project, please refer to it as "12 OF 12" - not "12 ON 12."

7) Once completed, please e-mail or post the PERMALINK of the post AND the city and state or city and country of WHERE THE PICTURES WERE TAKEN. (If you are on vacation, it's where the pics were taken.)

(The permalink is the link to the ENTRY of your page. If you just send me your website, I have to track it down. By listing the permalink, it helps for people to go back and view your previous 12 of 12 entries from previous months.)

ANYONE is welcome to join in, even if you've never done it before! I hope you will.

12 of 12 July 08

12:59 PM- I load my purse with the supplements I take for depression. A few entries ago, I posted about the SPECT scan I was taking. The results showed interesting stuff, but that did not happen on the 12th, so you'll have to wait for another post.


1:36 PM- Lunch at Clyde's. I liked the sherry vinaigrette they used on my arugula salad. I'll have to remember that for home consumption.


2:44 PM- Walking to the diamond store after looking at china and silver patterns in Bloomingdale's. I was horrified to discover that all the silver was actually STAINLESS STEEL. I don't want stainless steel formal flatware! I want silver! I want to have to polish seemingly endless stacks of forks, spoons and knives before a formal dinner. That's part of getting ready. Call me crazy, but I think that stainless steel formal flatware is leading to the devaluation of ceremony and ritual in America.


3:23 PM- Retailers are catching on to the fact that there's money in Chevy Chase, but I think they might be just humoring us. These stores look great from the outside, but if you look closely, they only have low-cost (for them) stuff in the stores; neckties, purses, scarves, etc. If I go in to Bvlgari I'm not interested in a keychain, you know what I mean? 80% of the folks around here think that having a mass produced LV bag is the e-pit-o-me of status, meanwhile they're wearing clothes from Caldor or some mess like that. In case you didn't get the memo, this is my super-snob posting for the month.


4:48 PM- A good looking spread greets us when we join our friends in Frederick for a cookout. There is a bowl of Cheet-o's on the table that will thwart my goal to eat in a restrained and considered manner this weekend. Damn you Cheet-o's with your salty satisfying crunch! Damn you to Hell! They were delicious.


6:21 PM- Our frends' son rapidly pursues other pint-sized guests. They had lots of fun.


6:26 PM- GMiller takes a call from his dad outside.


7:43 PM- I find release for my cupcake craving.


8:36 PM- Checking on the restoration work at National Park Seminary. It's going slowly. They priced the project during the height of the real estate bubble, and now the developers are full of rue, I'm sure. No way can people afford $500k for a dinky townhouse any more. They spent all their money on Bvlgari key chains and Chanel sunglasses.


8:37 PM- Here's a better shot contrasting old and new. What you can't see in the photo is the old firehouse that will eventually be converted into two or three condominiums. GMiller gets all starry-eyed thinking about that, though he wishes that they would just convert the whole thing into one big house. So he could live there. If they keep the pole, that would be cool, too.


8:39 PM- Since my last 12 of 12, the Colorado Kitchen has closed. That was a bad, sad day. The bright spot is the GSPOT (General Store and Post Office Tavern) that Chef Clark is going to open this October. You can see that there is a long way to go. I hope they make it, because it broke my Dad's heart when he heard CK had closed.


9:52 PM- Back home with a cup of tea and Law and Order. Check GMiller's 12 of 12 for what happens in about 45 minutes.