I Get Up and I Go

For the past month and a half, I've been working with a physical trainer at my local gym. It may be the best $2,000 I've ever spent. I wake up, I go, and I do whatever she tells me to do. Because when you're tired and hurting and your muscles are sore and you don't want to run anymore, the last thing you have energy to do is think through your next move and force yourself to finish x repetitions. There may be cheaper ways to lose weight, but I'm willing to spend the money in lieu of intrinsic motivation.

Now I just need a personal trainer for all the other parts of my life.

Your Life, For Sale (or Lease)

I found the online listing for my apt ("apart") today and it sort of creeped me out.

For one, the inside picture is not my apartment. It never was my apartment. It must be some other apartment. Some BORING apartment.

For two, there's no built-in-microwave. It's MY microwave and it's coming with me. Bitches.

For three, my landlord upped the rent by $55 dollars -- and that is already more than I could have paid had I signed a year lease agreement. So, a total increase of $75 dollars/month since December 1. (And when I rented the place, it was newly renovated and CHEAP(er).)

I was going to link to the post, but I still don't trust you internet jerks, even if I'm only living here a few more weeks.

But, according to the internet, it is "awesome" and "has it all." But, no microwave. You don't want my microwave, anyway, new renters. Many vegetables have died in there.

Ur Mah Cupcake

M: Is that cupcake for me?

J: What? No! You looked?

M: I mean... what's in the foil?

J: A cupcake. My mom made them for me.

M: And you brought one home for me?

J: No, I brought it home for me.

M: ...

J: What?

M: Can I have half? Can we share the cupcake?

J: No you can't have half.

M: You are sleeping on this couch tonight.

J: Me and my cupcake are sleeping on this couch tonight.

WE ARE MOVING

The long, frustrating, drama-laden search for a new apartment is over.

It's hella-scary and filled with trepidation, and we have to move on my BIRTHDAY WEEKEND which kinda sucks because it should be filled with champagne and raspberries and not lifting boxes, but it is OVER. So, let the adventure commence, Great Gatsby style.

I posted some pictures on flickr which is over there -->

I dig the heck outta those glass blocks and high ceilings.

Also, I dig the heck outta Jason. I think sometimes we both forget it in the fray.

This Will Change Your Life

ROASTED CHICK PEAS

Dried or canned

With garlic salt

(I don't think you need all that oil in link 2)

So good! They taste like popcorn!

I am going to try this with one of the seven cans of black beans in my pantry right now. Seriously, lady, quit it with the black beans.

In other news, did you know you could grill romaine lettuce?

Uh huh. The internet tastes like awesome.

Mr. Seven Sixty Three

Stolen from Kim, 'cause you gotta see this.

(Some explicit language.)

(Ok, a lot.)

Happy New Year's Eve! Chili Day Take 4

Look at these lovely cranberry beans soaking for tomorrow's chili! In a pink bowl!



I am not a huge fan of black eyed peas so we are making a new tradition. These beans are especially gorgeous bought fresh, which mine are not, but check them out in their spotty pods.

Jason suggested making a Tabasco cream sauce but IKEA scale says I am officially FAT so I will be eating mine simply, with some lemon and herbs, per the Eat to Live guide. I suppose it is not strictly chili, but it is beans and so we press on.

I think I did pretty well for December blogasm. I missed some days but did not beat myself up about it. In the spirit of success and new chances, here are a few modest resolutions:

-Eat better and move more. Now that I know I have a good 50 pounds to lose (the internet says I am officially "obese" which is something of a wake-up call) I'm resolved to cram myself full of beans and vegetables until I can at least qualify for "pudgy" again -- and maybe less.

-Reclaim my hobbies. I love to knit but it all has been stuffed in the closet for so long that it is hard to get started on anything. Likewise, I am a huge theater buff but I rarely go to shows anymore. It is desirable to spend money on things that will make me happy and more interesting.

-Do not sweat the small stuff. 'Cause, you know, it's all small stuff.

Happy new year to all!

Chili Week Day 2 - Dumplins

3 bean chili with corn dumplings, from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker.

This is so neat because it cooks all day (or, night, as the case may be) and then you drop the dumplings in during the last 45 minutes and they cook right in the pot.

Nom!

Chili Week! Day 1

Sunday: steamer broccoli; Hormel chili in a can

Questionable Gifts for Your Formerly Vegetarian Friends and their Omnivore Children

Hubert the Pudge might be considered hilarious or it might get you off the xmas list permanently.

Let's find out!

People who loved Hubert also loved:
Benji Bean Sprout Doesn't Eat Meat
Herb, the Vegetarian Dragon

Xmas Spirit

Well, howdy!

We made some format changes around here. Sorry about the flashy picture thing over there. It was the only option.

Pulled out the wrapping paper today to make some merry. I found the "nice kitty" cat stocking from Ryan J. last year. So, the cat has a stocking and none of the rest of us do. Typical for how things work around here.

Tonight: EGG NOG.

If I were in the vegan food business, I'd make a mock-nog called "Egg not." "Mock nog" is pretty good, too.

The new archive format highlights months in which I was particularly verbose. No surprise there: the beginning and end of the school year.

Hope you and yours are making merry, too.

But Mom Lets Me Do It...

All year, the rule has been "bed is for humans and cats" and the dog has never argued, save for the first few days home after staying with a more lenient dogsitter.

Today, though... man.



Every time I turned around that dog was all "whoooooo dog on the bed!"

And I was like no, NO, no dogs on the bed!

And she was like: Come ON. I have put up with you people and your ridiculous "loveseat" for like a YEAR and it is cold and I miss my couch. Let a dog on the bed.

And I was like NO. The cat is going to claw your eyes out.

And the cat was like: Nah, I'm cool.

And I was like FINE but you CANNOT tell Jason -- and then we all took a nap. One huge calico Christmas vacation 3pm nap.

It was soooo good.

Still Here

Nothing to report.

Oh, except, I have been trying to figure out how to eat my persimmon but I can't figure out what kind of persimmon it is, so it just keeps sitting there getting riper.

I am going to go slice it!

UPDATE:

Looks like salmon, tastes like spicy mango. MMM.

Dream Jobs

Lucky guy.

"Three months ago, Favreau lived in a group house with six friends in Chicago, where he rarely shaved, never cooked and sometimes stayed up to play video games until early morning. Now, he has transformed into what one friend called a "Washington political force" -- a minor celebrity with a down payment on a Dupont Circle condo, whose silly Facebook photos with a Hillary Rodham Clinton cutout created what passes for controversy in Obama's so far drama-free transition."

It's Beginning to Feel

a lot like Starbucks should never have replaced their Gingerbread Lattes. Seriously. Get those soggy ginger bits outa my coffee.

Christmas carols this morning on NPR were not annoying. NPR in general is annoying. Give us Diane Rehm! I want to hear about dogs and morality!

Jason's co-worker's bestest mixest mix is almost as good as Christmas carols.

I hand addressed 75 Christmas cards today. By the end, my cursive was indecipherable. I'm sorry: none of the cards were for you. Bizness only.

This daily blogging thing is a pain, and I missed a few days, but I am trying.

2 more days until Vacay...