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 January 09

This 12 of 12 let's play a game: What I'd like to imagine vs. What's really going on.

4:48 AM- I'd like to imagine that Pepper loves me so much he can't wait for me to open my eyes in the morning so Kissfest can begin anew. What's really going on here is that he's so fat, he starts crying for food at 4 AM. I'm surprised I resisted this long...


6:35 AM- I'd like to imagine that this breakfast combination will increase my fat to fit conversion. What's really going on is that a liquid breakfast is quicker to make and eat than 'most anything else.


6:56 AM-I'd like to imagine that GMiller views driving me to the Metro while my car is in the shop as an opportunity get a jump on filling his days with fun. What's really happening is that he's counting the miles 'til he can resume slumber.


7:42- I'd like to imagine that taking the Metro will make me feel somehow virtuous and more green. What's really going on is that I've learned to love my car and morning privacy with renewed vigor.


9:37 AM- I'd like to imagine that this pile of feedback from a recent beta test of our Website will be full of non-constructive blather.What's really going on is a pretty good perspective on how we can improve the site for our users. Bonus!


1:01 PM- I'd like to imagine one day this list will winnow away to nothing. What's really going on is a whole bunch of reasons to keep me employed.


3:55 PM- Speeding towards home, I'd like to imagine that my garage will call to say that my car's ready. What's really going on is that as I travel, the phone will not ring.


4:10 PM-I'd like to imagine these seashell sculptures were an effort by my city to beautify a public space. What's going on is a deterrent to skateboarding youth.


4:20 PM- I'd like to imagine that the garage will call as I walk to GMiller's car. What's going on is no phone call, but a great opportunity for simultaneous 12 of 12 action! HOT!


6:28 PM- I'd like to imagine that I'll be able to buy a share in a Community Supported Agriculture farm for the upcoming growing season. What's happening is that I'm doing research and inviting another couple to share the share.


7:06 PM- I'd like to imagine that one day, Pepper will dissolve in to a furry puddle and be featured on the Jerry Springer Show on the "Too Fat To Live" episode. "I don't want to die, Jerry... I don't want to die." What's happening is that Jerry Springer will not consider feline obesity as a show focus, I'll bet.


11:06 PM- I'd like to imagine that I'll read more than two pages of this book tonight. What's happening is the book falls out of my hands and hits me in the nose as I drift off.

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.

An Unsurprising New Year's Resolution

I'll bet you won't guess what my goal is for the first part of 2009... That's right, it's FITNESS! Not just physical fitness, though. There are some things I want to find out like why do I fall asleep whenever I sit on the couch for longer than half an hour? GMiller used to put that down to the twice a day workouts and 14 hour days, but since we got back from Scotland, both of those things took a hiatus, and still I'm worse than the doormouse from Alice in Wonderland. So I don't think it's those things.

I also used to assume that my tiredness was a function of my depression; the general ennui that comes from out of whack chemicals and brain dents like I've got. I've been faithful to my supplement routine for nearly a year, and think that the gross symptoms of my depression have lessened significantly. I feel okay to pretty good most of the time. Now I'm wondering whether there isn't a metabolism component in play. I noticed, during the intense workouts period, that whether I ate a rich diet or a lean one (always striving for appropriate portion control) that I didn't loose much fat. I gained strength, flexibility and endurance, but the fat was still there, on top of the muscle to the point that it literally looked as if I had put on a fat suit, it was that obviously not going anywhere.

So, while re-introducing more exercise and portion control in to my routine, I'm also going to begin talking to my doctors. I really hate the idea of becoming reliant on pharmaceuticals to make my body work right, but I guess it's inevitable for all of us.

12 of 12 December 08

From 12 of 12 December 08

8:15 AM- I am way behind on tidying up for the holidays. All this stuff has got to go, accompanied by a massive dusting effort. I like to decorate with sparkle, so dust is not welcome.

From 12 of 12 December 08

12:47 PM- I won't bore you with a photo of Pepper in my laundry basket, since GMiller copped my idea. Instead, look at the pretty blue flame under my cookpot as I prepare lunch.

From 12 of 12 December 08

1:09 PM- Now drool with envy over my bacon pasta with shaved Romano cheese. It was fantastic. I love the roasted garlic in this dish.

From 12 of 12 December 08

1:51 PM- GMiller comes home from a sad errand, and gets welcoming and sympathetic kisses.

From 12 of 12 December 08

3:06 PM- Working at home on my job, holiday cards and bereavement/get well soon food.

From 12 of 12 December 08

3:33 PM- I'm no closer to cleaning up the foyer at the end of the day. GMiller relaxes on the couch.

From 12 of 12 December 08

4:39 PM- My work day is over, so I pack my computer for Monday's return to the office. I didn't leave the condo at all today!

From 12 of 12 December 08

6:38 PM- I fixed a tuna noodle casserole for my MIL. She had a bad spell recently and needs a little TLC. She has a minder, so I had to put instructions on the lid to remove before baking. You never know about the common sense level on some people, and I'd hate the meal to be ruined because the minder didn't think forward very well.

From 12 of 12 December 08

7:56 PM- I also make a chicken and sausage dish for GMiller, who also needs some TLC today. This is one of our favorites, which is good because it makes a ton and we eat it for about three days after baking.

From 12 of 12 December 08

11:19 PM- Back on the couch after dinner, lamenting the lack of entertainment on TV. We're getting a HDTV for our holiday gift to one another, and it will only serve to enhance the clarity on the known quantity of the programming selection. We'll be watching a lot of movies.

From 12 of 12 December 08

11:20 PM- Our holiday cards are signed by both and are now ready for the mailbox.

From 12 of 12 December 08

11:26 PM- Visions of sugarplums, or at least candied mouse peel dance in his head. Flannel is adorable.

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 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.