There is life outside my apartment

I work ten hour days.  Five of them, every week, at what is at times, a fairly physical job. Once I got over the initial time of just sleeping when I wasn't at work (which was about two months, give or take) I began to emerge and start living life outside my apartment again. When before I couldn't imagine doing anything after my workday, now I can take some time and hang out. (Unless I have to be in the next day at 3am)

This weekend, I was able to do two awesome things: a picnic with my sister and cousin at Druid Hill Park, which was wonderful and relaxing.  We ate, and laid on the grass and talked about lots of things, did a lot of "would you rather" questions, and generally had a good time. 

Then, on Sunday, I made plans to meet Jackie in Fell's Point to get gelato, (note: this is one of my favorite things to do ever)  I left work at three, ran some errands, grabbed dinner at Five Guys, and still had an hour before I was supposed to meet her.  I (miraculously) found parking in Fell's, and walked down to the end of the pier.  The weather was gorgeous, there was a light breeze, and I was just able to sit, and soak in the beautiful day, and the dwindling sunlight.  I could feel any remaining tension seeping from me- I feel like being that close to the a body of water gives me perspective, and I just hung out for awhile, thinking, and watching the families as they strolled up the pier, putting coins into the viewfinders to look at the ships and sailboats floating around.  I felt peace- something that, as unsettled as I've been, has not been easy to come by, lately.  I walked slowly back to the main promenade, and people watched (an always excellent activity) until it was time to meet Jackie. 

We hit Pitango, and I got the Grapefruit Sorbet and Coconut (the grapefruit tastes like you are biting into the most perfect piece of cool, slightly sweetened, tart grapefruit- so good. And the coconut is rich, and has an amazing pure coconut flavor.   We walked down to the edge of the pier, and sat, talking and eating our gelato.  We decided to walk for awhile, and took a large loop around Fell's. 

And now it's my weekend- Harry Potter tonight, dinner at Tim's tomorrow. 

Life is good. 

Fake Thanksgiving!

I love fall.  I love leaves crunching under my feet, I love sweater weather, I love all of the fall flavors: apples, pears, braised meats, Turkey, pumpkin... I love them all.  This summer has been unbearably hot, and it's only in the last couple of days (and thanks to Hurricane Earl) that we've had a temperature drop in the area. And so when my friend Sarah Lynn invited me to her Fake Thanksgiving party, I thought it was a little crazy, because it was still in the 100's. But who can to turn down free turkey? I cannot. Especially with all of the trimmings.

It was so. good.  There was turkey, there was stuffing, and gravy, roasted potatoes, green beans, broccolini, and tofu,  There were awesome pumpkin squares, and chocolate muffins (which I didn't try, but have had before and know are awesome) I currently have sent an email harassing Sarah Lynn for several of her recipes. Especially for the gravy.... ooooooh, the gravy.  Plus, there was knock-you-on-your-ass sangria, which I need to get the recipe for, from my friend Joseph.  If  I hadn't been driving, I would have had more then one serving, and things might have gotten crazy up in there!  (It's probably a good thing I was driving.)

Plus! it had my crazy, and awesome friends.  Who, although at times inappropriate and try to make me blush,  are fun, and funny, and who I'd spend any Thanksgiving with, fake or otherwise.

It definitely got me in the mood for fall now too- I want to pull out my sweaters, and start looking up recipes for pie, and and perhaps make some pumpkin scones.  I foresee more soups and stews and braised things coming down the pike. 

I love the fall.

What I'm looking forward to in Japan

There are a lot of things that I am super excited about when I go to visit Japan (in thirty three days!).

Seeing Tokyo at night

picture from here

Eating lots of  Udon

link to pic here

Relaxing in a traditional Japanese Hot Spring  (I am getting over the You Have To Be Naked part)

pic from here

One word: Sushi

pic from here

I am looking forward to hiking and traveling around the country!

link here

and most of all I'm stoked about having a blast with this guy!

Tutti Fruitti in Ellicott City

My sister has been talking about a great frozen yogurt place in Princeton, where she works, that has pay-by-weight frozen yogurts with toppings. They have all sorts of flavors, and an insane amount of toppings- fruit, sauces, and candy,  you load up your little container, and they they weigh it and you pay.

Now Ellicott City has one, Tutti Fruitti on rt 40, near the interchange for 29.  The "regular tart" flavor is my favorite, with a real taste and tang of yogurt. I like that if you can be disciplined,  it is even relatively cheap! (mine today, was three dollars.  Plus, they have free wifi, which I'm using right now.  (also, a lot of high school students, which is... interesting in an anthropoligical way)

Best part? they have a frequent flyer card that you get a free one after you get ten of them.  Which, if I don't pace myself, may be sooner than I'd like to admit.

Sofi's Crepes

Downtown Baltimore, next to the Charles Theatre, there is a place. A place of delicoiousness, of sweet and savory, of the bbq crepe (with pulled pork and cheddar) and the nutty banana (nutella and banana). Sofi's Crepes is quickly becoming one of my favorite Baltimore places. next to the Charles, it makes it easy to grab a delicous bite before or after a movie.

They have a list of savory crepes, with meat, and vegetarian options, and a list of sweet crepes that I am working my way through. (up next- the crepe suzette, which I hear is boozy and awesome) The crepes I've had have been really good- a balance of flavors, and textures. Plus, it's resonable! a crepe and a drink will set you back less than ten bucks, and for sweet crepes, it's even less than that.

If you're in Baltimore, you should definitely check it out. If you're my family, be warned that this is going to be added to the list of baltimore places I take out of towners to.