Hey! You're part of it.

I went to a show on Thursday night. It has been ages since I've been to a show like that, and I loved every minute of it. It was Piebald's final NYC show; the third to last show (The final two being in their hometown, Boston). If it Weren't for Venetian Blinds... & We Are the Only Friends We Have is always in heavy rotation on my i-pod and are two such feel-good albums. I put them on, and I'm instantly in a good mood. I haven't seen Piebald live since sometime in the early aughts back when Skate and Surf use to be a big thing. The show was bittersweet and fun and I felt like a kid again. Denny and I felt nostalgic for shows like that since most of the bands that would put on a show of that caliber have since broken up or have fallen into obscurity.

We talked about our fantasy line up for shows that will never happen. We limited to those whose band members were still alive and had the option to choose their set lists. Mine:

1. The Get UP Kids (sans The Guilt Show. They can play On the Wire though. Must play all songs from Something To Write Home About and Four Minute Mile)
2. New Order
3. Smashing Pumpkins (w/ Jimmy Chamberlain)
4. Death Cab for Cutie
5. The Smiths
6. Piebald (just because their final show has been one of the best shows i've been too)

Since, I've been nostalgic for Piebald, old Saves the Day, Get up Kids, Bouncing Souls, Lifetime, Midtown. It's all I've been listening to.

press.

I haven't updated in a while. Sorry.

Anyway, with my writing, i got the chance to answer in the popular website Apartment Therapy's the Kitchn food section:

How can I find Good Decaffeinated Tea?

And Bentley's, a specialty grocery store asked to use an article penned by me and my coworker Cynthia about making the perfect glass of iced tea:

Making the Perfect Glass of Iced Tea

Check them out :)

SIIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGGHHHHH

The baby shower went off without a hitch. Everyone loved the favors and decor, most importantly Tricia and John. John cooked a lot of fabulous food, people brought desserts, and my cupcakes were way better than the Bent Spoon's. Dare I say? Yes, yes I do :) I was worried about the frosting job, but they're beautiful, and of course I took plenty of pictures (of both the cupcakes and baby shower), so I will post some up here.

During Thanksgiving and today, I was able to talk to John,and I just want to say how happy I am that my cousin is married to him, because he's such a sweet guy. My mom talks about how 'cute' he is, because of his short size (he's shorter than me, like 5'3") and his Army-stature walking. Anyway, him and Tricia are adorable together, and I am so happy that they're having a baby. A prospective name is Miabella, which is pretty. Miabella Gabrielle? It's an option, and most likely what they'll name the baby. I wasn't much help with names, as I like old stodgy ones. Like Catherine (not Cathy. ugggh).


OK, time for some well-needed rest. I want another party to come up so I can make favors. The favors I ended up making were plain paper mache boxes with the labels and the multi-colored m&ms nestled in tissue, and tied together with pink and orange thin ribbon. I think they're darling, and maybe I will make something like that for the gang's xmas gathering, though I've already bought some glassine envelopes to keep big cookies in. Tomorrow, though, I am looking forward to sleeping in, online shopping, and reading and perhaps cleaning my room and wrapping xmas presents.

My wish list for this year:

-external hard-drive (too many pictures. too much music. ugggh. my shit's gonna blow up)
-Voluspa candle set
-things from Anthropologie. They have these chocolate bars that are wrapped in a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL embroidered wrapper, and I love it and want it, though I would never buy it myself.
-Vosgses chocolate; the exotic truffle box, plz thks
-cupcake carrier
-Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD
-cuddles
-stocking. I really miss having a stocking. SIGH.
-some rest.
-a personal assistant for work.
-Mariebelle Mexican hot chocolate


Muahzz.

Happy Turkey! As I'm waiting to get my eat on, I'm working on doing stuff for Tricia's baby shower. I'm getting nervous, cos as I was going to make up the baby bingo cards for the gift opening, I looked at her registry, and NO ONE HAS BOUGHT ANYTHING. UGH! Well, not exactly. I know her one aunt-in-law is sending her a gift. Also, I bought something for her. I know some of my cousins are getting her gift certificates to Babies r' Us, fine. My mother bought her some clothes for the baby, fine. But what about everybody else? Ugh. I guess baby bingo won't be as fun, and I should put 'Gift Certificate' under the thing. I told her I didn't want her to buy all this other stuff, but she doesn't really listen, and she ended up spending all this money on these balloons she wants. I went to the party store to make my order for balloons, and the woman said that it would be $5.00-$8.00 per balloon- the ones that she purchased, that are humungous. I dunno. I'll get them for her, but it's kind of like, I can't think of a bigger waste of money- honestly. I have regular balloons, and maybe I'll get like two or so blown up, but it's like, seriously. UGH. I'm not mad at her, maybe I'm just venting cos no on on her husband's side has really RSVP'd, so I'm expecting either 30 or 70 people. Great. Fucking fabulous. HA! oh, and the favors are a disaster, so I have to go out on the busiest shopping day of the year to buy something else- luckily I have a back up idea. I mean, i think everything is going to be really cute and fun, and I just hope that she will have a good time, get lots of stuff (I really, REALLY hope that people get stuff for the wishing well, cos when I talked to my aunt, and she was like oh, yeah that what is that?), and you know? I understand her wanting to buy a lot of stuff for her shower, as I'm a bit of control freak when it comes to that stuff, but I kept on telling her to stop ordering stuff oneline, but what can I do- butt heads with preggo, hehe? I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully things will fall to my side- people show up, people bring gifts, people don't drink (ugggh, don't even get me started on this), and all will be well.

i'm a bit piturbed because none of her family has really contacted me to help with anything- I'm not asking for it, but I mean, even to just tell me who is really coming and who isn't. And everyone is like, oh I don't know what to get her...um she has a registry. I just want people to bring her gifts, so she doesn't have to go out and buy all this stuff- she's due next month, guys! ugh. Anyway, it's time to get my turkey on.

Gobble gobble, to you and yours. <3

Baby Fever.

I don't have it. Well, I don't have it in the sense that I want to have a baby. The idea of a small watermelon passing through my privates makes me want to throw up. A lot. I'm also somewhat anti-children right now. I can't picture myself with a kid now, or in the future, and children over the age of six drive me nuts (there are a few exceptions. note-few).

BUT...in my world of exciting news, my cousin Tricia is having a baby. She's due next month, and she asked me if I would be goddmother to her new daughter. Of course I said YES. It's funny, cos I'm not religious at all, but I think it's more of an honor in name than in actually telling this child that god is great and what not. I'm spiritual but not religious...though I'll probably have to go to church for the baptism and what nots. But anyway, it's an awesome title and job, cos I get to hang out with this kid, spoil her, and then get to give her back to my cousin and cousin-in-law. The best. Also, since Tricia has gotten married, she has moved to Pennsylvania, and this kid if anything will be an excuse to send lots of letters and gifts and definitely visit.

As a responsible godmother, I am throwing her a baby shower, soon. A bunch of us in our family was supposed to throw a surprise one last month, but none of her immediate family could make it, which made it kind of pointless. I was just planning on sending her a gift, until she asked. She really wanted a baby shower, and she said that she would throw herself one, and I was like NOOOO...anyway. She is taking care of some things, such as invitations and ordering some stuff. Her husband caters, so he will be cooking, but I am taking care of everything else. I think it also gives her something to do, as she is home all day long with no one to talk to except her dog, so I think the shopping online and looking up ideas is good for her.

I am just worried as I am hoping that her side of the family- meaning her immediate family (she's my second cousin)will show up on time and get her lots of awesome gifts and give to the wishing well and not stay late. I love them all very much, but sometimes I jsut worry, cos they've collectively flaked out on family things, and it's just depressing. Also, I didn't see any of them volunteering to throw her a baby shower- in the beginning, when we decided on the first surprise one, it was me and my mom our side of the family. Oh well. I have to talk to my aunt, as it doesn't seem like Tricia has spoken to her, and get her to bring stuff. I don't mind at all putting out the money, but also, I'm not rich. And since I'm already doing a good amount, I think it's reasonable to ask them to bring some bread or something. Gah! Family is so fickle, and I just hope that everything goes well, she gets a lot of nice stuff for the new baby, and that the whole business goes smooth. It's the Saturday after Thanksgivey too, which makes for a hectic holiday weekend. Gah!

Why is Pushing Daisies like the best show on TV right now???

I <3 Ned, Chuck, n' company.

Work has been keeping me busy. I sorted out the thing with the guy who can't write very well. I felt bad about it, but my boss was, "If it stinks, don't print it", which makes sense. This is was editors do...even little ones like me for an e-newsletter. I'm going to write an article about tea and cheese pairings, in time for any holiday parties, which I hope will go well. I really wanted to focus on local cheeses, but to no luck. It'll have to be the Pennsy Dutch Market this Saturday (which is in a sense pretty local, but I wanted to actually visit a creamery) or Whole Foods which was the last thing I wanted to do.

I went to the doctor yesterday for the first time in a year. I don't do the doc thing too often, as i am pretty healthy. I got two shots, an HPV vaccine (to help prevent cervical cancer- I suggest all the ladies get it. It's pricy, but worth it) and a tetanus booster because my doctor said a lot of adults who were vaccinated at birth or a young age for tetanus is now getting whooping cough. Whooping cough? Didn't that disappear around the Civil War or something? I don't know, I always think of Native Americans getting pushed off their land when I hear Whooping Cough. Hmmm. I had to get a new doctor because my insurance changed- a huge pain in the butt, cos I still have to get a new lady doc, eye doc, etc- but he prescribed me some expensive ass lotion for my face, that I did buy because I'm tired of breaking out like a 13 year old. There was a little discount (it was originall 178.00) so I GUESS insurance helped. Otherwise, I hate health insurance. I think my plan is really sucky, and doesn't cover basic preventive visits and vaccines, which would suck, because that's what I got yesterday. My doc is cool and talks very fast. I always try to get in a year's worth of problems in the 1/2 an hour visit; we were able to hammer out my problems quickly. I go back tomorrow so they can take my blood. I'm sure that'll be another dent in the bank :(

After work I am going to stop by the bookstore so I can buy a journal. I've been really wanting to keep a record of all the restaurants I go to, with the exception of fast food/chain restaurants. I figure it'll help me remember things better, and I'll also have a great reference for out of towners and anyone else asking for a rec. I try to do this with other things- my other journal is books I've read. I haven't updated it in a while, because I'm still in the process of reading The Omnivore's Dilemma. My reading has taken a back seat for my other hobby, the embarrassing one where I write Mighty Duck fan fiction. It is helping as a writing exercise, as I have posted 3 chapters since I started on Sunday. I love it. I listen to my music or put on some historical documentary I like to watch obsessively (It's been the History Channel's Russia: Land of the Tsars). I hit a writer's block last night, but mapped out the entire story and i am so excited for it! I know, nerd! ha! I've gotten several reviews of people who are excited about my shipper- adam/connie, and I like reading them! I hope I don't disappoint. Nick read two of my reviews and was a bit taken aback about the realm of nerdy I had entered. I swear, it's the most Fangirl thing I do. I guess it's worse, because it's a subject that isn't even very popular among the mainstream- think Harry Potter or I dunno Lord of the Rings. And I'm not goth. But there is this really substantial MD lovers online. It's crazy. I'm not alone.

i've been compiling lists of tea rooms from our website teamap.com, and it's kind of crazy how annoyingly frou-frou some of these places are! Cynthia and I talk about how many tea room owners are either pesky divas who need your attention about buying like 2 tea makers from you (small orders and what nots) or they are complete backwoods women who do not know what email or the internet is. Gah! If I see another tea room with 'Victorian/Lace/Roses/Petit Fours' in their name, I'm going to scream. There is a time and place for frills and lace (ooh, that rhymed!), but seriously, enough is enough!

<3

I've given up! I got my third pair of boots (a lovely Corso Como pair from Nordstrom) in the mail today. They do not fit. I don't think boots are in my destiny for this fall anyway. I also bought a bunch of fun beauty stuff- already stocking up for some xmas gifts! I know, I'm silly, and it's far too early, but with a certain amount of beauty purchases, I got a great bag of premium samples-Bulgari, L'Occtaine, Bliss Labs, philosophy, Vera Wang, Clinque, Lancome, Smashbox- all sorts of goodies! Even a set of fake eyelashes. How fun! However, I bought a Voluspa candle (one of my favorites) and the tin arrived all sorts of dented and I couldn't open it! How disappointing.

Speaking of problematic purchases, I bought the world's most complicated scale. I figured I should get one to keep progress of my weight during my work-out/lose the fat/get buff n' stuff goal. It programs my height, age, sex, and body fat percentage. But apparently no one else can use it? I haven't read that far into the instruction manual. My mother has already decided she cannot use it because describing it to her was too complicated.

Anyway. I went apple picking with a bunch of friends this past weekend and it was fun. I feel kind of autumned-out; impossible, but maybe. Though I am enjoying this weather, and I fear of how colder its going to get. I'm going into the city to see Carin who I haven't seen since Vegas (GASP! I know!) for dinner at Florent. I keep on meaning to pick up a notebook to start keeping write-ups of restaurants and other significant food places. Angela, our west coast sales rep is coming out in February and says I should have some places for her to check out. I like to have a nice arsenal of places to recommend to friends and out of towners, it's good to have favorites.

It is freezing! I watched this movie EAsy last night, which I hadn't watched in ages. So good! I forgot how charming Marguerite Moreau was in it. If you've ever slept/dated/whatever jerky guys, or boy-hopped, you'll identify. Now, I am watching a documentary about Elizabeth the I. I brought my mom to the movies on Monday night and we saw Elizabeth the Golden Age. They showed a trailer for Atonement- made me cry (I'm a big softie when it comes to that book...the love...the war...oh! I live for war-torn romances).

gaah!

I don't like delivering bad news to people (for the most part), especially when it involves someone's artistic endeavors. Rather, I don't like handing out criticism. I've never had to in the past really, unless I was proofreading someone's paper back in school and found inconsistencies or didn't like the way so and such designed a flyer for Radigals or what have you.

ANYWAY...being the editor (is there such thing as an 'editress'?) of the company's newsletter, I venture to find writers or whoever can make 'words sound pretty' to write a little article about tea. This helps me, because I have different people writing for the newsletter, as opposed to the Christine show every month, and it helps them because when they Google their name, they will see an accomplishment, as opposed to , I dunno, ebay listings or porn.

So, someone who owns a little website about tea contact me some time ago interested in writing a little piece. Wrote one, and I said, this is too basic (it was all about loose-leaf tea), as many of our customers already drink loose-leaf tea. He agreed, and I gave him some direction to what I wanted- something about Fall, cold weather, drinking tea, comforts, all that bullshit. He wrote another piece, again, it falls short and is just boring, boring, boring.

I'm not a huge writer, but I like to think I can conjure up an entertaining piece. And I do like to write about food and tea because you can utilize all your senses to convey the experience. You can do it with other things too, yes, but I find that comfort and familiarity with food, cooking, baking, etc that one might find with sports or what have you.

Anyway, it also sucks cos its not like I'm Ruth Reichl or anyone important. What do I know? Who am I to tell him his writing blows? Gahhhh...it also does not help that he's pretty 'nice-sounding' over our various email correspondence. I guess what I am trying to say is that I like to write about food and why doesn't anyone like to write something interest about tea? This is a poorly structured vent, and I apologize.

In other news, I've been in the biggest NPR/podcast kick. I haven't listened to music in a couple of weeks while at work, or in the car. I've also revisited this highly addictive, slightly mostly embarrassing habit of reading Mighty Duck fan fiction while at work, or until 1am because you know, I don't need to get up early or anything. Geez, Christine.

Note: I've returned the JCrew boots featured a couple of posts back. I am also boycotting them because Nick's anniversary shoes' insole began to peel away from the shoe after four hours of wear. WTF, JC? Anyway, I will not be buying anything from them, as they are overpriced for shoddy apparel. The only clause is their Merino wool cardigans, which I bought in maroon, and am coveting in the French blue (only because I've confirmed my Franco-philia). Pfft!

Aha!!! Two posts in one day? Is it senior year at college again? Anyway, On Kyu's request, easy chicken vindaloo:


Adapted from Epicurious.com:

what chu need:

3 Yellow Onions, chopped
2-3 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp of white vinegar
2 garlic cloves (chopped if you want)
1 tsp of fresh ginger, minced
1 tsp of tomato paste

1 tsp of the following spices:
paprika, garam masala, ground coriander seed, tumeric, cumin,

1/4-1/2 tsp of Cayenne Pepper (I like using a heaping 1/2...spicy!)

2 Tbsp of cooking oil
1- 1.5 lbs of potatoes, scrubbed and peeled, chopped into small pieces (I like using regular russet baking potatoes or golden yukons)
6 chicken skinless, boneless thighs, chopped into smaller pieces/strips.
1 C of carrots chopped
1.5 cup of low-sodium chicken broth (or water)

what chu do:
1. Put the first six ingredients and all the spices (including the cayenne) in a food processor or blender. Mix/puree until well blended, but not smooth.
2. Heat up cooking oil in large pot over medium heat. Add mixture from the food processor/blender to the pan, and cook for about 5 minutes.
3. Add potatoes, chicken, and carrots into the mixture, and saute for 5 minutes.
4. Add chicken broth or water, and bring to a boil. I add salt to taste here. Then reduce to a simmer and let it cook until chicken is cook thoroughly and potatoes and carrots are tender, stir occasionally. This is about 13-15 minutes.

I eat it with some naan bread, or rice. Also, a nice addition is fresh cilantro on top with some plain yogurt (or mix some plain yogurt- I find Greek yogurt the best- with a pinch of cumin if you want, or mix it in a food processor/blender with chopped cucumber and cumin). Yum.

Fall adventures :)

Nick and I decided to go to Chadds Ford in Pennsylvania for a day trip in celebration of one year together. It was also the third game in the Phillies v. Rockies series and we planned on watching the Phils in their hometown. Needless to say, they were swept but it was cool to watch them in PA, especially since it's so nearby. Also, we took an awful pit stop in Bryn Mawr, where i have never seen such a concentration of people I wanted to strangle. Seriously! The movie theater there on the main street is quite nice though, it's right across the street from Daddy's Bank (long story). Anyway:

Starting the day in P'ton for breakfast:



You KNOW it..oh Trenton:



We went to the Brandywine River Museum, where they have a bunch of NC Wyeth and Family- they lived in the area. They also had this amazing exhibit of early children's illustrations from the late 1800s, early 1900s. Taken outside of the museum:

Piggy:



Anybody say Lechon????



Happy Fall. Next week...apple picking! so excited.

This makes me very happy:



Team Hung!

I have been in my pjs all day with both my laptops in bed, in almost complete darkness. Being sick sucks!

I am rarely sick. I get migraines once in a while, and some lady problem crampage during that time of the month, but other than that I am a walking stamp of health. Well, not really :) But for the past week, I've had a sinus headache, allergies, a slight fever, a toothache, and cramps like I've never had before. Yes, yes, I should get to a doctor, but with the problems with my insurance, I have had to change over all my doctors. SIGH. New general practitioner, gyno. Gah. Insurance is frustrating.

Last night I made a big old pot of chicken vindaloo. So tasty. Ate it with fresh cilantro and greek yogurt (i've fallen in love with fage yogurt, 0%...so good, plain!). I had it for lunch and I will have it again for dinner. Indian food is such a treat because Nick is not a big fan of it, so I rarely get to make it or eat it if we go out, so cooking up a huge quantity will keep me appeased until the next time I can get to it.

Also, I am working on quitting smoking! Seriously! I haven't bought a pack in a about three weeks- which is a step. I haven't had a cigarette in the last 3 days, and have broken the smoking-in-my-car habit. I still nipped a bit during the past two weeks if I was around smokers, but only 1 or 2, definitely not as much as I used to smoke. Yay! It's pretty liberating- I like not having to depend on making a stop to a store or anywhere when I don't need anything else, and spending that 5.00-7.00 dollars per pack. It's nice to have some cash left in my wallet- more money to spend on pretty clothes.

Speaking of pretty things, I finally got a pair of boots I enjoy:




They're a bit wrinkly on the bottom, but tuck really well into my jeans.

Cook.

Happy Friday!

It's been a bit slow today at the office. I'm a bit fidgety, as the weather is beautiful out, and I can't get started on my weekend. Tonight, a party at Judi to warm her new casa, tomorrow i'm relaxing- reading The Omnivore's Dilemma, going to the Pennsylvania Dutch Market, and maybe making something yummy. Sunday entails a shopping trip with Katie. I'm really excited tonight because I get to see my friends, most of which I haven't seen since Vegas- a shame!

Anyway, I was thinking of keeping this blog food- centered, but not at the same time because it's cathartic to write about life and all that fun stuff. But food is fun and part of life, so- yeah. I want to take lots of pictures of food and funtimes and various culinary adventures.

I recently bought seasons 1 and 2 of Top Chef off of iTunes, and have been watching it like non-stop. It's kind of sick! ha! Top Chef 3 is winding down, with the finale to happen next week. Season 3 just doesn't do it for me- it's good, but 'meh'. I'm sure that'll change once Season 4 premieres, whenever that is. Specifically, I have had this recent infatuation with Season 2 contender Marcel Vigneron:



This might have something to do with my long standing 'professional crush', Mr. Chris Cason who had once worked with my company:



I think it has something to do with the exploding haircuts. The first time I watched Top Chef Season 2 it, I was rooting for Ilan, but now looking back on it and rewatching it, I'm totally Team Marcel. Man! Did they throw that kid through the sh$$! He is such a great chef- innovative, gutsy, and has this certain pretencion that I like. And I find him increasingly attractive as I watch each episode. ? Anyway...

Betty is a pain in the ass and reminds me of the poor man's Suzanne Sommers. Ilan and Frank were bullies. I still like Elia, though I've heard she's been 'braggy' about 'training' Marcel, etc etc. Josie is a favorite, as is Sam, but only because he is sexy. Season 1 has also been good; nothing ever beats the first season. The personalities are so good the first two seasons, and I think that was my biggest dislike of Season 3. Once Howie was gone, blah. That's the reason why they have three contenders for the finale-they all like each other for the most part. Anyway, I'm Team Hung all the way.

In other news and junk, I had a really exciting day this past Wednesday. A production company came to the Rillo casa and shot a short cooking segment about Cooking with Tea, with yours truly. It was a lot of fun yet slightly nerve wracking. I improved everything, as the best way to go about these things is to be natural. The cooking short will be shown at this Chinese tradeshow about tea. I'm in good company as it is part of a series of 15 shorts from all around the world ie. a bit from the woman who owns the famous Tea and Sympathy in NY, a rooibos farm in South Africa, and some other stuff. We ate a whole lotta food...I'll post the video once it becomes available to me. A big thanks to Jacob and Michael at Greenpoint Pictures, for giving me this awesome opportunity.



!I'm ready for fall weather. BRING IT! I'll bring the butternut squash soup...!!!

Gah, i started writing about my vacation, ten million weeks after it happened. Anyway, It's over, I had a lot of fun- San Francisco is beautiful, and if I didn't like the East Coast so much, I could conquer the crazy hills and get brioche at Tartine every morning. Ha. Maybe? We'll see.

Anyway...

I miss things. I can't pinpoint what they are, but I do.

I am still dwelling on certain people I shouldn't, and I don't know why, but it happens and I don't like it.

I am very happy otherwise.

I cleaned out my closet and got rid of a lot of things. I feel better. I read Tim Gunn's Guide to Style and have decided that I need to cultivate one. I'm aiming for feminine, romantic, slightly edgy and preppy. Wish me luck.

I realized tonight that I read far too much celebrity gossip. I need something else to read online.

I've been waking up earlier the past 5 days and doin an hour workout. I feel better, fitter, faster, stronger (cue Kanye here)

I think I may leave my job in six months. I want to stay there for a year, and get more stuff 'published'. I miss the social aspect of work and I feel that it is not doing anything for my social skills.

I helped my cousin fix a dress of hers. We talked about her wedding (in Puerto Rico). I hope Nick can come, because it looks like it will be alot of fun.

I need to read a book (other than Tim Gunn's Guide to Style).

I want to watch more movies. Good ones.

I want to cook dinner for someone (other than Nick. I cook for him far too much).

I want to buy these boots I've had my eye on for the past month. I will, but I'm holding off until PD.

(started like last week...finished 8/21).

so yeah, summer is almost half way over. I got back from my big vacation late saturday. It was such a slap in the face to get back to work. Especially since my boss didn't file any of my emails. Or do my amazon orders. Or auto deliveries. But let's not dwell on that. Lets talk about how friggin sweet Vegas and San Francisco is. Cos I miss vacation. I tend to dwell on things, if you haven't noticed.

So the kickoff to vacation crazy time was a well deserved venture into the dirty Bruns for Pham's going away party. It was so exciting as that I haven't seen many of these people since either RU Fest in April or way back in September at alumni jug. Anyway, New Brunswick always gets me all teary eyed and slightly nostalgic. Before the party, though, me, and my two littles Reeta and Lou went out for dinner- it was for Reeta who's being all big and bad going to Law School in U of Maryland. Oh man, every one is going on to higher education, I ought to get my ass checked to do it. MBA? MLS? MMM? hehe. All these other people are doing it- Lou to nursing grad school, Pham to med school, Lisa to law school, Q to 2L. crazygrownupmadness. anyway, after dinner, we went to Olde Queens, and to our disappointment there were like 5 people there. Ohwell, went to Pham's party, which was incredibly fun. It is always great seeing APO people, new brunswick. Reminds me good times in college, which is almost two years behind me- tear!

Anyway, my Vegas vacation was hottttttt. So much fun! I like to party, but I've only recently really embraced this into my life. I was a bit nervous that Vegas was going to be overwhelming, but it totally wasn't. You get engulfed in the whole- THIS IS VEGAS!!!! mindset the minute you get onto the strip- it's hot, there's people everywhere, from all around the world, who you'll never see again. You wear stuff you don't wear back at home, you eat what you want, and you get caught up in the bright lights and constant cling-clang of slot machines. We went to 5 clubs, including Rehab which is a Sunday outdoors pool party at the Hard Rock- the others were Rum Jungle Sunday night at Mandalay Bay, Jet at the Mirage, Pure at Caesar's, and Studio 54 at MGM Grand. At Pure we were 'treated' to a free concert courtesy of myspace.com- Mims as in 'This is Why I'm Hot' (sung 2 times, the second time 'remixed' aka he sang it faster). Studio 54 was full og gays or Europeans, me and Judi could not decipher. The clubs are pretty ridiculous, and it's kind of cool to think that celebrities who go out to Vegas also visit the same places. Anyway, Vegas was fun (finished 9/10/07)

I always want to write in my blog, but by the time it comes around to it, I am tired from being at work all day. Also, even though I'm on the comp all day at work, I feel kind of weird updating my blog while I should be working. I mean, I do a lot of stuff at work that I shouldn't, like read trashy celebrity blogs and look at pictures of Daniel Radcliffe, but if I am writing, I should be writing something about tea to feel less of a useless employee.

I can't believe summer is almost over. THough, I still have a vacay coming up to Vegas and San Francisco, which is really exciting. I'm super excited about the food I will be eating, I hope to take lots of pics of amazing things (edible and not). I'm sure ther will be a lot of debauchery too, at least in the city of sin. I just need to go once I think.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is coming up soon- 3 days! I can't believe it. Kyu, Lisa, and I went to see the fifth movie, which was good, but we all agreed that a lot of stuff was left out, it could have been a scant longer, and it was truly a reader's movie (because if you didn't read the book, you wouldn't get half the shit going on). I heard on the news about someone leaking the first 400 pages of the final book online. If it is a true, and someone did that, I'd like to extend a giant FUCK YOU to the useless individual(s) who did it. Be alert HP fans, just in case that the leaked stuff is the actual book. Why ruin it for the fans? Especially the last book? We don't have anything else to look forward to except the final 2 movies and the prospect of Harry Potter world in Universal Studios in Orlando. Or a HP musical (which me and Nick have been working on. By working on, we mean we came up with one line and it sounds really good :P). I will be joining Kyu and Lisa for reading on Saturday morning after we get our books. I'm so crazy, that I'm worried I will not receive my HP until later on in the day (i preordered from Amazon, and I can't cancel it) i'm going to go anyway to b&n at 8am and pick up another copy. Yes, crazy=confirmed. The only break I will be taking is to go to Bryan Adams (my friend, not the singer)' birthday bbq, which is also a potential 'going-away' party.

Speaking of 'Going Away', I am attending at least 4 events that have a certain 'I'm getting the hell out of where I've been living in the past year(s) to go somewhere else that's not within an hour's time. I mean, I understand- there is grad school, job opportunities, and moving on with the rest of you life, but as I glance at my calendar which is dotted with these events, I get a little sad. Maybe it is time that I get going on a 'going away' plan. I might move out early next year. I haven't taken my GREs, but maybe it is time to live a little and move out and experience that thing called life. Not like I'm not living it up to the fullest, but yeah, independent living is a challenge that I might be up for.

Kyu just told me last night about her whole lost suitcases issue she had upon her return from England. Both suitcases! Including her business suits, numerous pairs of shoes, souveniers from her trip, etc etc. I've been reading a lot of crazy things on npr and msnbc about how much air travel sucks during the summer. I have decided that I'm going to pack my week's worth of crap for my vacay in a carry on and my huge north face backpack. I'm also planning to send some stuff to Nisha who is taking the train up to san fran and will be meeting me there for my second half of the week. In vegas, we're just all going to go in on some essentials like shampoo and conditioner and contact solution.

The tea business is going well. It's pretty slow during the summer. I got to go to the Fancy Foods Show a couple of weekends ago. That was nuts! I brought my fellow foodie in crime, Mike and we ate like kings for the day. Everything from olives (there was a lot of olives) to proscuitto, to soft shell deep fried crab sushi, sausages, cheeses, brownies, cakes, cookies, dips, chips, crackers, duck- the finest foods from all around the world, at our disposal to consume. I wish I had my new blog up and running so I could have had a crazy nice post about it, but perhaps next year. Also, I got to meet Paula Dean who signed my business card, which was pretty exciting (y'all).

I am working from home today, after sitting in traffic for about 2 hours (it took me close to an hour to get from exit 131 to exit 133 on the parkway) and then after waiting out a bit in the Clark Target, I decided it was probably best for me to jsut go home and work again from there. I hate switching up my home days- i'd rather have my home days every other (tuesday and thursdays) as opposed to back to back. Most likely, I will head up to Nick's anyway to spend the night and get some needed cuddlin' from my sweetie. I heard the commute tomorrow morning might be bad. Apparently this was all due from inclement weather, which backed up the parkway north from union tolls south to me in edison. Crazy. I hate commuting, especially when it's all dumb and backed up like that.

Sigh. Time for eats.

I'm in works on starting a new blog. It's going to be about me, cooking, buying shit I don't really need, and me taking lots of pictures- consumption, pretty much. We can only hope. But yeah, I'm working on it on paper for now- hopefully something will be of fruition soon-ish.

oh boy, talk about long time no update.

I'm watching Lost right now, and ummm I'm very Lost. I'm somewhat upset that this show has been dull lately. I used to be really really into it, but I can't even remember what happened the week before. Anyway,it just ended and eh! I don't know. I guess I'll have to wait until next week!

Work has been super hectic this week- of course, it is the week before Mother's Day and everyone wants to get mom, grandma, aunt, sister, wife tea. There is something wrong with the FedEx Express program and FedEx is being a huge n00b and coming to fix it. I've been in the office all week- which is new, because I've been doing my home days on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the past couple of weeks. It's been frustrating because I'm still not well- versed enough in what goes on in the office/warehouse to take care of issues without any guidance from my boss. Sigh.

Anyhoo, I'm pretty tired. The commute home sucked. Every weekend after this one is booked with weddings and trips- my cousin's wedding (the West Coast side of the family is coming so that will be nice!), Jen's wedding, Nick's birthday camping trip, and then World Tea Expo- Atlanta! Looking forward to all these events, but nonetheless- very hectic.

I'm published- www.teamuse.com- every month! yay.

Tired, tired, tired.

I acted like a total brat last night to Nick, and though he accepted my apology, I still feel bad. What should I doooo? I was thinking about buying this wine he likes so much from Utah. I need to come up with ideas.

Anyway, I registered for some seminars for the World Tea Expo (woohoo! Second weekend of June- the biggest convention about tea)- Tea- What Makes it Tea (discusses the different processes that make black, white, green, and oolong so unique, and the processes within those processes etc) and 3 Tea and Food Pairing classes- tea and chocolate, tea and cheese, and tea and dessert. Fun, fun, fun! i'm looking forward to June- camping weekend with Nick and friends, and then my first business trip. Excitement!

Anyhoo, I thought I had a real update, but I'm just really tired and I'm watching Bad Girls Club. SO GOOD.