*Black's Bar and Kitchen (Bethesda, MD)

For some reason, we always end up in Bethesda. Poor M, it is where her current project is located (NIH). Not that Bethesda is horrible - it is a really nice tree-lined area with a Gucci store! But, I'd be sad if I had to go into midtown on a weekend.

We do have reasons to be there. Previously, it was to enjoy steamed to order blue-crabs coated in old bay seasoning on plastic cafeteria trays and paired with frosty glasses of Hefeweizen (www.dcseafood.com). This time, we went to look for a dress for M to wear to the upcoming nuptials of her cousin. She is also officiating so we were thinking of a black dress she could wear under a jacket. After a quick jaunt at Filene's Basement and a perfunctory stop at JCrew, we headed to Loehmann's where we found a few dresses for her. She didn't buy anything but I ended up finding PERFECT spectator pumps (low with grey and black!), a grey sweater dress and a frilly white shirt to wear under (you guessed it) a cardigan. Taking her shopping is very dangerous for me. We found a few more dresses at TJMaxx but it was closing and we could not locate the dressing rooms. Then off to Bloomingdale's where I think there was a very nice halter dress but not perfect. I think the best thing at this point is to find a fun fancy tank to wear under a black pant suit. I keep gravitating towards something v-neck and sparkly!

M: Can we eat now?

Off we go to Black's Bar and Kitchen. M first picked it before we left because it had an oyster bar and we LOVE oysters. It is also one of the top 100 restaurants in DC for 2007 and 2008, winner of best Bethesda Seafood 2008, Maryland's favorite new restaurant 2007. We got there and I loved its modern, sleek and cozy design. It was a beautiful cool and low-humidity evening so we got a table outside by a small pool. We also got to sit catty-corner - my favorite! I read the menu and it is everything I love. There's a little notice about how the restaurant uses recycled and renewable energy and resources. The hand towels in the bathroom are real washcloths that they launder (I know argument between energy used for blowers vs energy used for washing washcloths). It is a small menu which showcases the best, local, most fresh and flavorful. A small menu means no giant lockers of frozen food. And beautiful words like chicken liver mousse with sherry jelly, premier and boutique fresh oysters on half shell, fried oysters with cornmeal, fried soft shell crab and seared sea scallops.
We got all of the above except for the crab which M traded in for a skirt steak. I had a lovely fresh glass of -you guessed it, albarino and M tried a rose. It had a gorgeous deeper rose color, rich flavor, great legs and was quite dry. Everything was delicious and gorgeously presented - even the biscuits that were served for bread - so buttery, flaky and delicious. I told the server, I love anything with "point" in it and she didn't disappoint. The oysters were amazing - especially the raspberry points. It was delicate, briny but not too briny, fresh and sweet. Thanks for a perfect date, baby.

http://www.blacksbarandkitchen.com

Side note: we were not the only date dining outside. There was a older couple on their first date - very cute. We think there were 2 guys out together. And then this Caucasian girl and Asian guy. She goes, "oh, that's it on the menu? I'll take a cheeseburger medium well." I'm thinking, lady, if I were out on a date with you, I wouldn't waste my money at Black's - you are going to Burger King. I had hopes for the guy because he ordered the fried oysters but then he went "I can't eat this" and off they went with the food barely eaten. They deserve each other. See, every pot has a lid.

Pyoo-ma

If you get a chance, you need to see the episode of Man vs Wild Patagonia.

M and I watch a lot of Discovery Channel and Man vs Wild is a bit of a joke for us - especially the notice in the beginning about how Grylls and his crew use may rely on professionals and the show is really to demonstrate skills. Yeah, we know you are sleeping in 5 star hotels. Eating bugs and taking your clothes off won't change that.

This episode, I think I was blogging and not paying attention and
M: What's a Pyoo-ma?
A: You mean a puma?

That must be how the brits call pumas but it is HILARIOUS.

"We are in Pyoo-ma territory"
"See the Pyoo-ma tracks in the ground"
"The calf had no chance against the Pyoo-ma"
"I will cry like a baby if a Pyoo-ma came after me"

Update: M looked up "puma" in dictionary.com and pyoo-muh is the first pronounciation followed by poo-muh. And when I googled it, pyoo-muh is typical for brits and aussies. Who knew?

Update (9/5): my Australian co-worker says pyooma.

Obama's Tax Plan

So, not to distract from our pursuit of life, love, food, shopping and happiness, I'm very concerned about the upcoming election and our future. I'll take some posts to try and figure stuff out - choose the better of two evils. Feel free to bypass these political meanderings.

As we all know, I am a democrat. However, I struggle with a few things. One being, if you work hard for something, you should be rewarded for that or be allowed to keep the reward. Someone from work had forwarded me an email between a father and daughter. The daughter was saying it wasn't fair how at college, she was the only one in her work group to work on the project and everyone else got to get the A for it. The father goes, welcome to the Republican Party.

Similarly, in my Forbes magazine (not the most left leaning periodical), there's a excerpt from Investor's Business Daily, "Senator Obama has proposed lifting the tax cap on earnings subject to the 12.4% Social Security tax, which now covers only the first $102,000... The take-home pay of 10.3 million workers would be reduced by an average of $5,650 in the first year alone. Taxes would be raised on 4 million workers over the age of 50. Taxes would also be raised on 3 million small business owners who file their taxes as individuals. By fiscal 2015 the number of job opportunities lost would exceed 865,000 and personal savings would decline by more than $55 billion... Eliminating the earnings cap would raise taxes for many middle-class families, impose a huge tax burden on small business, slow the economy and cut jobs."

A couple things. Small businesses do not have to file as individual and be taxed on the personal level. I'm not an accountant but to me it would be better to be taxed at the lower corporate level. What's also infuriating is that I'd be okay with paying taxes if I knew it was going to something good and not being wasted. Our tax money is flushed down the toilet all the time (hello, record oil revenue for Iraq) and we have to be taxed MORE because our government can't manage money.

Jell-o Pudding Cookies

D made them for me once and they were AMAZING. They are soft, cakey and decadent. I can't eat them anymore but I'm going to make them for M with vanilla pudding, white chocolate, light brown sugar and macadamia nuts. Update: made and beautiful. I don't think I made big cookies - maybe about 2-3 inches in diameter but the recipe ended up only yielding 28 cookies. And it took way longer than 15 minutes!

Easy Pudding Cookies

Prep Time: 15 min
Total Time: 27 min
Makes: about 3-1/2 doz. or 42 servings, 1 cookie each

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 pkg. (6 squares) BAKER'S White Chocolate, chopped

HEAT oven to 350°F. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with mixer until light and fluffy. Add dry pudding mix; beat until blended. Add eggs; mix well. Gradually add flour and baking soda, beating until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate. DROP tablespoons of dough, 2 inches apart, onto baking sheets. BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 1 min. on baking sheets; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.

http://www.kraftfoods.com/jello/recipe.aspx?s=recipe&m=recipe/knet_recipe_display&wf=9&recipe_id=64915

Bug Bites

Summer of 2008, grand total 57. Am looking forward to the colder bug-free weather. Until next year...

*Apple's Chicken Adobo Recipe

I had this chicken on Saturday and IT BLEW MY MIND! It is amazing over rice with a glass (or 4) of chilled Albarino. I think I'm just really into home cooking these days.

Apple's Chicken Adobo

• Chicken Wings
• Soy Sauce
• Vinegar
• Garlic (at least 12 cloves of garlic diced)
• Peppercorn
• Ground pepper corn
• Corn Oil

Put chicken wings in the pot with the soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, pepper (note: the amount of vinegar that I used depends on how much chicken I cooked but this is always my ratio with the vinegar and soy sauce that I put in 1 cup of vinegar then half a cup of soy sauce or 2 cups of vinegar then 1 cup of soy sauce (you get the point J) and it depends on your preference if you think that it's too sour add a of soy sauce or if it's too salty then add vinegar). Then let it boil once you think that the chicken is cooked heat a frying pan and fry the chicken wings until they are brown then put them back to the pot where you boiled them (make sure to strain the oil before you put it back. Put all the chicken you fried back to the pot and list it simmer for like 10 more minutes.

Lastly and the number 1 you don't want to forget is make it with LOVE.

Excerpts from Bill Clinton's Speech at the DNC

Things that particularly resonated with me (yes, this is the man that signed the Defense of Marriage Act and it is arguable that things that happened during his administration has led up to this). But, I have to have hope in something and I think he eloquently and concisely summarized the issues that we are facing today and the issues that the candidate we elect for President must address to make a better world for us and our children and our children's children. And I'm not saying that I'm personally having a child (M is enough child for me to handle right now) but children collectively and really our legacy and future.

"Our nation is in trouble on two fronts: The American Dream is under siege at home, and America’s leadership in the world has been weakened.

Middle class and low-income Americans are hurting, with incomes declining; job losses, poverty and inequality rising; mortgage foreclosures and credit card debt increasing; health care coverage disappearing; and a big spike in the cost of food, utilities, and gasoline.

Our position in the world has been weakened by too much unilateralism and too little cooperation; a perilous dependence on imported oil; a refusal to lead on global warming; a growing indebtedness and a dependence on foreign lenders; a severely burdened military; a backsliding on global non-proliferation and arms control agreements; and a failure to consistently use the power of diplomacy, from the Middle East to Africa to Latin America to Central and Eastern Europe.

He will work for an America with more partners and fewer adversaries. He will rebuild our frayed alliances and revitalize the international institutions which help to share the costs of the world’s problems and to leverage our power and influence. He will put us back in the forefront of the world’s fight to reduce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and to stop global warming. He will continue and enhance our nation’s global leadership in an area in which I am deeply involved, the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria, including a renewal of the battle against HIV/AIDS here at home. He will choose diplomacy first and military force as a last resort. But in a world troubled by terror; by trafficking in weapons, drugs and people; by human rights abuses; by other threats to our security, our interests, and our values, when he cannot convert adversaries into partners, he will stand up to them.

Look at the example the Republicans have set: American workers have given us consistently rising productivity. They’ve worked harder and produced more. What did they get in return? Declining wages, less than ¼ as many new jobs as in the previous eight years, smaller health care and pension benefits, rising poverty and the biggest increase in income inequality since the 1920s. American families by the millions are struggling with soaring health care costs and declining coverage. I will never forget the parents of children with autism and other severe conditions who told me on the campaign trail that they couldn’t afford health care and couldn’t qualify their kids for Medicaid unless they quit work or got a divorce. Are these the family values the Republicans are so proud of? What about the military families pushed to the breaking point by unprecedented multiple deployments? What about the assault on science and the defense of torture? What about the war on unions and the unlimited favors for the well connected? What about Katrina and cronyism?

They took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 5 and a half million falling into poverty – and millions more losing their health insurance.

Now, in spite of all the evidence, their candidate is promising more of the same: More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will swell the deficit, increase inequality, and weaken the economy. More band-aids for health care that will enrich insurance companies, impoverish families and increase the number of uninsured. More going it alone in the world, instead of building the shared responsibilities and shared opportunities necessary to advance our security and restore our influence."

http://www.demconvention.com/bill-clinton/

McCain Chooses Palin as Running Mate

My spidey senses were tingling. On Sunday, mom, D and I were driving back and I was telling them that they NEED to vote in November. Mom goes, "I don't like Obama. I really wanted Hillary. I really wanted a woman for president." Then, as news started speculating about McCain's potential running mates and how many of Hillary's supporters would back McCain instead of Obama, I thought, he should pick a woman. And he did. She is the Republicans’ first female candidate for vice president, conservative, pro-life and supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. This is serious.

------------

M sent me a long email this morning about her thoughts of the campaign. Being in DC and and a Republican, it has been really interesting to talk through issues with her and see where she's coming from. A friend said, "In DC people don't date across party lines" but in all the ways we are different we expand each other's boundaries.

The End of Summer

It snuck up on us but I've noticed that for the past few days I've woken up in the dark (more like the gentle sun isn't nudging me awake and I'm startled by the blaring of my alarm clock) and G pointed out that soon we'll be leaving work in the dark...

I met up with my friend T on the bus and she did say that meant snowboarding season was on its way. So true! I swear, if there was no snowboarding, winter would be hell.

So good-bye beach, sun, bbq, watermelon, sweet corn, tank tops and flip flops. Hello, autumn leaves, cozy sweaters, low humidity (and good hair days!), apple pie and pumpkin bread.

P*Ong: L, G2

It was so great to see my Stern girls last night: L, G and G's boyfriend G (hence G2). L actually works around the corner from me so she "picks me up" at my office. Even though dinner was at 7, I was starting to get antsy and she rescued me at around 5:45. We walked through the diamond district to look at sparkly things. I was ... bored. Everything looked the same, nothing different. Want to see something special? L's engagement ring is gorgeous, low-set, with a vintage leaf design. Stunning and totally unique. Her mom is a jeweler and L always has great pieces - last night a Satya lotus earring and necklace combo (http://www.satyajewelry.com/). At a previous Chinatown run, she got a beautiful gold leaf necklace. For my birthday last year, she gave me a Dogeared (http://www.dogeared.com/) gold chain with a little wishbone that I adore (and am wearing right now).

Good thing we left early because we got a bit lost. I wasn't quite paying attention - I get very distracted in the west village with people watching and stores and everywhere we turned there was a mob of NYU first years being led on a tour. Ai! Quick, cross the street! Finally, we found it - so not where I thought it was. The bakery arm of P*Ong called Batch was next door and we had to go in. It smelled SO good. Everything was beautiful - we almost had a nibble before dinner. I asked and there was a non-dairy rice pudding made with coconut milk (I used to make it myself and should try again). Yum! We went to shop a little more (passed a really cute little girl wearing a chicken hat!) but went back to just sit down and have a drink. She had a very interesting drink called the Vegetarian and I had an Electric Ice-T (which got me quite tanked - I'm a very cheap date).

G2 joined us seconds later. I hadn't seen G (boyfriend) in such a long time! G (girl) looked stunning as usual - she is a major style influence for me. Classic, beautiful, lady-like AND sexy - we've had many good times shopping. It was nice to have a boy in the mix. We talked about football and he reminded me that the Giants won the Superbowl last year. M likes the Redskins (doesn't "Go Skins" sound weird to you?) so I feel compelled to stand behind one of the only teams physically left in Jersey. Plus, the Giants are playing the Redskins on Thursday. M: if the Redskins lose, it'll be because they are overpowered by the stench from the Meadowlands.

The company outshone the food. The restaurant was strangely very quiet and empty for a Thursday night (perhaps they cater to a late night crowd?). My shrimp cerviche and short ribs were ok. Maybe I'm just not ordering the right food. The duck that I had wanted was not on the menu (it is online), they ran out of the arctic char, and the eggplant was salty. The bread they served as AMAZING - a beautiful fresh out of the oven focaccia with a thin crispy crust. I liked the fava bean salad that G2 had - it had a lovely sprinkle of sesame oil. We did enjoy the play between the sweet and the savory. The salt in the sorbet reminded G and I about this pound of unbelievable toffee we devoured back when financial firms used to get gift baskets for the holidays and I used to eat diary (http://www.enstrom.com/).

Perhaps it was a collective change in taste. When discussing our next culinary adventure, everyone got excited about Jewel Bako and Back Forty. L's suggestion was a small place in the lower east side that served simple, fresh, locally-sourced comfort food. I think we're all looking for some comfort.

www.backfortynyc.com

Big Kitty!

On my way to meet my Wellesley little sister L for lunch, I passed by the Lever House to see if the giant Hello Kitties ( 2 kitties and a bunny) were still there - they were! Generally, there are neat little art installations at the Lever House including one of maybe 20 statues of naked men (wonder what the finance people in midtown thought of that!). For the past few months, there have been giant Hello Kitties - some with water coming out of their eyes like they were crying (I know, very sad). I keep meaning to take a photo of them and finally, L took one of me in front of the 12 foot kitty! So cute!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/arts/design/13gall.html




[Other pictures taken in Taiwan]

*Graffiti Bistro & Bakery

Tonight I'm having dinner with 2 NYU gals and a boyfriend at P*Ong. Before we get to that review later tonight, I'm reminded of another pastry chef that does fabulously innovative things, small plates and really neat pairings (and also worked for Jean Georges).
I heard about Graffiti from a Wellesley pal, J. She raved about it and I thought it would be a great place to take M to. Chef Jehangir Mehta has created masterpieces at Jean Georges and Aix and now has a little shoebox to call his own. It literally fits like 12 people. "Eclectic, international small plates feature his trademark affinity for bold flavors and spices: chiles, sambhar, tumeric and star anise." M and I sat next to each other in a cute little alcove, very romantic. She really liked her Prosecco Lychee Martini - like a lychee slushee with happy juice! We enjoyed the chili pork dumplings with grapefruit confit and foie gras rasberry crostini over walnut salad (foie gras that she actually liked!). The fun part of this was going to the bathroom (so tiny with sink over the toilet!). You actually go through the minuscule ally kitchen and wow, there's the chef and the sous chef cooking at a 4 foot long counter and 2 hot plates. That's it.

http://www.graffitinyc.com/

[picture from before we went to Grafitti]

System: Make-Up

Again, Dana taught me everything I know. When she's not making the world beautiful one pore at a time, she's adding gorgeousness as a make-up artist that does everything from weddings to commercial. She was even on a wedding show - I'll have to find it and report back to you. She's such a superstar!

Pick a feature on your face that you want to emphasize. I have a big mouth so emphasizing that would be a bit much. Plus, I eat a lot so lipstick is a pain and lip gloss clogs my pores, gets caught in my hair, and I read, attracts the sun (cancer!). I just put an Alba SPF 18 balm and focus on my eyes.

Start with a clean face (see System: Skin Care). I use a Bobbi Brown Corrector for spots and then puff my face with Philosophy Super Natural. This was L's suggestion - she loves all things Philosophy. I like the idea of Bare Minerals because the binder that they use in compacts can clog pores. But, Bare Minerals is MESSY. Philosophy Super Natural is so easy and like an air brush in terms of coverage. Plus, it's concealer, foundation, powder and SPF all in one (buy extra sponges to replace and keep clean)! I cannot stress SPF enough. SPF EVERY DAY!

Curl your lashes (Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler) and then mascara (I only do my top lashes). Again, I have a really greasy face and for years did not find any mascara - even waterproof that didn't end up in a puddle underneath my eyes. I LOVE Blinc or Kanebo. These are 2 Japanese companies that make mascara that forms TUBES around your lashes. Like glue you used to play with in elementary school and peel off. This mascara peels off. No make-up remover needed, it just comes off with soap and water. Stays on all day through laughter and tears and sweat. They make eyeliner, too (I only do top lid from middle to outer). I get them autoshipped from drugstore.com.

Now the frames of your face - your eyebrows. Keep them neat and trimmed. Dana introduced me to Rubis tweezers and they are so sharp and great. I don't have a lot of eyebrows so I fill them in with Philosophy Brow Zings.

You can stop there or...

I use a Stila cream blush on the apples up and a dusting of Bobbi Brown shimmer brick (S introduced me to the Peony line) on my brows and cheeks. Bright, fresh and natural.

Wash your brushes often (a drop of shampoo and warm water is fine). Also, make-up expires so be sure to replace as appropriate. Let's avoid bacterial infections, shall we?

System: Shoes

This will sound like heresy but truthfully, you only really need 6 pairs of shoes. I've come to this realization because despite a closet and attic full of shoes, I really only wear a few. I made a decision early on to: (1) wear flats (so all pants are hemmed for flats), (2) no brown in my wardrobe (so no brown shoes, belts, bags, etc.), (3) comfort AND cuteness.

I keep 2 pairs of shoes at work: a black and a bronze (metallics are great neutrals) pair of pointy toe JCrew flats with skinny buckles. They are simple enough to go with everything and have a little bit of detail to be interesting. Black pair for black outfits and bronze pair for lighter/ white outfits.

In the summers I wear Fit Flops everywhere (see Fit Flop) and in the fall/winter, my UGGs. I know, I know, L started it! We went to Short Hills and she got a pair and I HAD to have a pair that very day. I went home and started feverishly looking for a tall black pair - impossible to find! Then, at 9:45 PM, I found them at Campmor, called to reserve them, threw my sister in the car (D: A, you are crazy! you are so crazy!), and drove like Nascar to pick them up before the store closed at 10 PM. They changed my life. Never again will I have cold feet. I got the spray so they are also water resistant. And I think they are cute. I wear them all the time. D: It is spring, it is hot, you cannot wear your UGGs anymore. I admit, I wore them once to a party and nearly overheated to death.

For those of you who just cannot stand UGGs, I highly recommend any boots by La Canadienne or Aquatalia. Cute, comfortable (memory foam sole!), and waterproof. If I have to go without my UGGs, my Canadienne Lilis are hot enough to commute through a snowstorm, wear all day at work, and go out for drinks. And they won't get all messed up from salt and yuckiness. I like wearing them with fancy tights/ fishnets. Boots are a fall/ winter must but fit is really important. I can't stand pirate boots! Gar! I'm short with skinny legs so I have a very hard time. La Canadienne Lili has a shorter shaft at 13 inches (yes, SHAFT, there I said it). I like boots to hit right at the fattest, roundest, part of the calf and not over. Most boots are 15-16 inches which is practically over my knees (which is a good look for class but not everyday).

Sneakers, of course (I got fitted at Jack Rabbit Sports - not pronated baby!), and evening shoes. I have a "wedding dress" that I wear to all weddings and fancy occasions. I didn't know it when I bought it from a little boutique on Bleeker St. but it's the pink dress that was in "Mean Girls." I got these adorable patent leather peep toe flats with grosgrain bow from Barneys. Fantastic for all fancy events.

I will say, activity shoes throw a big wrench into this system. I have rock climbing shoes, snowboarding boots, water shoes (my very lesbian Tevas), stripping shoes, travel shoes...

A Moment of Silence for Del Martin

Can you imagine losing your partner of 55 years? I mean, I will have to be institutionalized if any of my loved ones pass. D will be as sad as I am - she is all up on Lesbian Lists.

From http://www.gomag.com:

Del Martin, who recently married her partner of 55 years this past June in California, has died at 87 years of age. Her and her partner, who was by her side at the time of her passing, Phyllis Lyon, were the first same sex couple to wed in San Francisco, CA. The two have devoted their entire time and life to the LGBT community. They, along with six other women, formed the first national organization for lesbians, the Daughters of Bilitis, in 1955. Del Martin was the first openly lesbian woman elected to the board of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and in 1971, she helped pass a resolution that lesbian issues were feminist issues. In 1975, Martin became the co-founder of the Coalition for Justice for Battered Women, and shortly thereafter, in 1976, her publication of Battered Wives played a major part for the movement against domestic violence. In 1995, Martin and Lyon were named delegates to the White House Conference on Aging: Martin by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Lyon by Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi.“Del lived her life with great compassion, wit, tenacity, generosity, and valor,” said The Honorable Donna Hitchens, Founder of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.The pair were among the first inducted into the LGBT Hall of Fame. “We are greatly saddened by the passing of such an extraordinary and courageous woman," Kathryn Kolbert, president of People for the American Way, said in a statement. "Del Martin and her partner of 55 years, Phyllis Lyon, fought for decades to secure equal rights for all Americans regardless of sex or sexual orientation. In recognition of their legendary struggle, Del and Phyllis became the first same-sex couple to wed in California after the state supreme court mandated equal marriage rights for gay men and lesbians.A public memorial and tribute celebrating the life of Del Martin will be planned in the next few weeks.

System: Skin Care

I'm starting a new category of posts called "Systems" because these are little things I've figured out. Feel free to add if improvements can be made.

So, skin. It's the first thing that people see. Mom likes to point out all the time how none of her children have her beautiful, clear skin and how she's never had a zit in her life. Yes, mom. We all take after my father in a number of ways and skin is one of them. Very oily, prone to breakouts and lots of clogged pores. The good news is we won't wrinkle.

Some of my friends had the fortune (they may not admit it and I'm sure it was torture at the time) to have been taken to the dermatologist and shown proper skin care. I wasn't able to get around to that until I started working. I now have a dream team. My facialist Dana is AMAZING and should take all the credit for getting me where I am today. Prior to this whole budget yuckiness, I would go the week after my periods to clean up all that period break out nastiness. Now, I go every other month (boo). I have a Bioelements acne facial package at Glow Skin Spa (http://glowskinspa.com/). Smoother skin, clean pores, and really fun girls chat time.
She has taught me everything. I use the Bioelements line at home, this awesome chemical exfoliant called Transport Pads (chemical exfoliants are BETTER than manual exfoliants) and the Desert Essence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash. A chemical exfoliant uses chemicals to breakdown dead skin and gross stuff. A manual exfoliant (think scrubbing beads or apricot seeds which are really walnuts) only takes away a superficial layer (not completely) and even worse, irritates the skin causing it to make MORE oil to be trapped under that layer of yuck that didn't come off. Bad. I'm also super paranoid about aging (that may backfire if I look too young to get promoted) and LOVE the Bioelements Probotix Anti-Aging Serum. Note, it is really important to have a professional check you out because certain products are only good for certain skin types. For example, most anti-aging stuff have a lot of grease in them but since I'm already greasy and need hydration and not oil, Bioelements Beyond Hydration moisturizer (like a jelly!) and the Anti-Aging Serum are super.

Dana also referred me to Dr. Day (yes, her name is DORIS DAY) (http://www.myclearskin.com/) whom you've probably seen on television or in Elle magazine (she reviews the beauty products). I see her about every year or so and she is the epitome of professionalism and efficiency. She whizzes in with her laptop, scans you like an eagle, types everything in and even points out where you've gotten a new birth mark. I get benzoyl peroxide pads that I use when I'm in the shower. Phenomenal.

So, wash face at least twice a day, every day and especially after working out, getting dirty, etc. In the AM: face wash, peroxide pad if in the shower, Bioelements Breakout Control, Bioelements Beyond Hydration moisturizer, lip balm with SPF (I love Alba). At night, face wash, Transport Pads, anti-aging, breakout control, moisturizer, lip balm. Once a week, Bioelements Amino Mask (so awesome for overnight spot treatment, too).

I try to use vegetarian products that have not been tested on animals, organic, and free of alcohol, parabens and laurel sulfates.

Favorite body lotion: Alba Cocoa Butter (http://www.drugstore.com/). M uses the Kukui Nut Body Cream - it smells so delicious. M: you like it because it makes me smell like food!
Favorite body wash/ all over soap: Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Pure Castille Soap

The Cafeteria

I really like cafeterias. Even when I was in school and everyone made fun of the cafeteria, I secretly really liked it. I LOVED beefaroni, the soggy pizza, chicken tenders and fries, hot dogs and the salad bar. The food at Wellesley was really good. The best cafeteria I've ever been in was the cafeteria at the World Bank in DC. It was huge and had stations that represented cuisine from around the world. Chinese, Japanese, African, Italian, American, Greek - it was heaven.

I heart our cafeteria. Actually, we have 3 cafeterias within a 2 block radius and the one in the former Bear Stearns building is quite nice. I like the one next to my building. Sure, it's smaller but the food is really fresh and good. They have inventive salads and specials. I'm trying to practice good portion control so I use the the little food containers (they've switched to paper from Styrofoam - the paper sweats a little). And I know M has told me a thousand times about buffets (M: anything that requires something called a "sneezeguard" should not be eaten), but I feel like there are less contaminants at our cafeteria and the food itself is cleaner, higher quality. In the mornings, when I don't get breakfast from the healthfood store (multi-grain oatmeal and egg whites) I'll pick up a hash brown, some egg whites and a sausage patty (all under $3!). At lunch, I like the salad bar which has really yummy chicken, Indian buffet or Chinese buffet (around $5). The onion rings are also really good. And maybe I'm trying to get this all in before the end of summer but I get a container of watermelon, too (breakfast AND lunch). N gets a chicken wrap or a turkey burger with fries.

Note on trying to save the environment. I keep utensils at my desk that I wash every morning. Hopefully, that helps lessen my carbon footprint. I do feel bad about all the containers I throw away.

Call for Submission: Sexy Music

We have to bring a song to each class and as you know, I only have the Wall Street Journal podcast, Bon Jovi, Erasure and Dixie Chicks on my iPod. Not very sexy. M has been so sweet to burn some music for me but I'm running out.

What turns you on? What songs make you feel sexy? Frisky? Luscious? Dangerous? In the mood? Send titles my way. Thanks!!!

Extra incentive, people that bring music to class are the "lead" dancer... c'mon, help me be teacher's pet!

A: Maxwell
N: Quincy Jones, Secret Garden

Shopping Accident: JCrew

M, "I was thinking of wanting to be at the beach, and then thinking of swimsuits and then I realized that I just wanted to read a JCrew catalog." One of my favorite quotes from Best in Show, "We are *so* lucky. We are *so* lucky to have been raised amongst catalogs."

And then it appeared, the beautiful JCrew catalog and there I was on the sale site. Budget, what? I had written an email to JCrew about how I liked the old sale site better but this one's fine. It will do. I got 2 cute ruffly tanks to layer under jackets and cardigans in acqua and yellow ($12.99 each!), a bright blue Jackie cardigan (love these cardigans) and a cute navy jacket (double-breasted with tie belt). Fun, colorful, great for work AND machine washable. Note: for some reason their pants are either too big or give me wedgies. I get pants at Theory, H&M or Zara.

The other great thing about JCrew is that THEY TAKE THEIR STUFF BACK! I remember at Wellesley, W would just bring any old ratty JCrew thing and return it. Then last season, I ordered a bunch of sale stuff marked no exchange no refund, even hemmed the pants and they gave me a full refund. Love them. Can't wait to hit the outlet at Woodbury Commons in September.

The Reverends

M and I are both ministers of the Universal Life Church (http://www.themonastery.org/). Internet! Free! There are only 2 tenants: to ensure for each of our ministers the absolute right of freedom to practice their religion in the manner of their choosing, and to encourage our ministers to do that which is right and in accord with their government’s laws.

A few years ago, I applied for ordination when my best friend H got engaged and asked me to officiate their wedding. It was a gorgeous hiking wedding with 3 dogs zipping around, rolling in mud and shaking mud all over us (my white suit no less). Yes, Petunia was there causing trouble. We stopped a few times for wedding poo. I had gone through some of H's early letters about Z as well as asked for wishes from family members. We talked about where they had come from, where they were and where they are going. The hike led us to a waterfall and that is where H and Z said their vows. It was a really beautiful way to celebrate this amazing love between H and Z.

M was ordained this year when her cousin asked her to officiate their wedding in September. M is an introvert so when she decides to say something, it is sincere, thoughtful and quite poetic. I read a draft of her sermon and it was so beautiful. I'm so lucky to be with this woman who has such an incredible mind, heart and soul. And well, is pretty hot.

Annoying Asian Guy II

After my email about directing legal inquiries to our lawyer, I wrote another short email about general project practices. I think that worked. Annoying Asian Guy seems more cooperative.

SFactor: Level 2, Class 1

I was so happy to leave work at 5:15 but also felt like crap. I was busted from SFactor last night and ate a Luna bar and it just wasn't sitting right. I think I'm going to have to eat something easy to digest at around 4 PM for this 6 PM class. Otherwise, I am going to vomit during abs.

But, I arrived at the main studio and was so happy. The main studio is really nice with a beautiful locker room and nice classrooms. It was good to see some of the girls that I met when I attended the make-up class as well as 2 girls that were in my Friday class. Teacher, as always, looked ripped. So happy to be in class with her, she's amazing. We had a fun little chat about cute things we could wear to class and then got started. Teacher worked us - I see there's extra ab work and 12 push-ups instead of 8. I pushed through and learned 3 pull-ups that we do on the pole. See, exercise now has a reason. Push-ups and pull-ups are awful things on their own but if it means I can go up on a pole and flip upside down... now you're talking!

We also learned a new spin trick - brings the count up to 4! This one was not in the book so I was a bit anxious because I like to study before class. It looked harder than it was and while we did it with our legs bent and toes pointed (kind of like a spider), I see great potential in this move if we do it with our legs spread. This level is going to be something.

Baby M

Jobs on the Side

It seems like quite a few people I know have jobs on the side. Things they love to do and are launching when they are not at work. B is starting a T-shirt line, P has an aromatherapy line, and I just found out my friend M is co-owner of an event planning group. She did have a pretty fabulous birthday party. Wonder what I'd do...

- Stock photography model

- Shoe designer (I have quite a few designs I want to try out)

- Teach basic pole dancing

- Thanks D for reminding me about my love of mimicking weird male "talking" in songs. Can that be monetized into voiceovers?

- Weddings: M and I are both reverends with the Universal Life Church (you can be, too!). Flowers, hair, make-up, photo direction, catering, you name it. Yes, I have a wedding file.

http://www.clieventgroup.com/

Baby S goes Shopping

Cuteness! Wow, there are quite a lot of babies in my life!

I'm in a Brochure!

My Wellesley big sister who works at my firm just sametimed me...

I: Did you know your picture is on the front page of the firm HR guide? You're a super star!!!

Wow! *Squealz*

I have to get my hands on this brochure...and I guess my images from the photo shoot (see Shameless Self Promotion) are property of the firm. Over the years, I've also been in two issues of this DC LGBT newspaper, on the cover of the Wellesley magazine and in the Prudential Diversity brochure. No modeling royalties for me but very cool nonetheless.

*Cafe Zest w/ C

C came all the way from the Financial District to have lunch with me! I met her and her partner at an NYU LGBT graduate students event and it's been amazing to see these women kick butt. I'm happy to say that C is part of the JP family and will be starting a new fantastic assignment on 9/8. She's so excited about this job that she is foregoing a week off to attend meetings! She is such a superstar. B is starting a new fantastic business. And they are tying the knot in a couple of months and are in the midst of planning and getting paperwork done in Massachusetts. It was so great to catch up.

I picked Cafe Zest for out little lunch date. At my previous firm, I used to go to its parent Cafe Zaiya for terrific packaged Japanese yummies and...Beard Papa! My co-worker E told me that they were opening a place right on our office block and I've been dying to go. It is bright, clean and airy (if not a bit narrow). There is a terrific choice of salads (soba salad, udon salad), sandwiches (I had a nice fried fish sandwich), bento boxes, sushi, onigiri and yummy pastries (I can't eat them but you should)! D must be sooooo jealous because I know she'd be eating here every day (there's Calpico!). There's a great little dining area in the back with sky lights. I get to have actual rays of the sun helping me make vitamins! A fabulous addition to the multitude of Japanese food in the area: SEO, Menchanko Tei, Sushi Express, Haru, Katsu-Hama, Sakagura...

Bro-Mail

An email from my brother, makes me proud:

hey a
my enrollment's already confirmed. We didn't have to pay anything again and I get a check, pretty sweet. We can start a car fund.
Let me give u my schedule, I actually have a Saturday class, o well.
and I should be able to make both of those meals fortunately haha, those are my off weekends so that's perfect.
My applications will be out this fall for about 6 nursing schools, many of them in this area, some in bergen. All I need to do is send my rutgers transcript, take the entrance exam for some schools, and write an essay. There are some prereqs I may need to take, which I can do at community during the summer before the next fall semester starts. I think it's better to take them at community than rutgers because they will be cheaper and easier, but I'll consult a dean and the health professions for some help.
other than that, we're all set to go. I've been contemplating transferring floors at the hospital but my coworker friends are threatening me haha. But picking up extra night shifts seem to be a good option right now, plus they tend to be easier.
I started reading the finance book, it's great, I already got an organizer with folders for receipts and statements and stuff, pretty fun, and I started a money journal where I record my balance at the beginning of the day and write down all my expenses. So I hope I can get better.
yep that's about it, everything's cool, hope everything's going well for u. Tell me what you guys wanna do and I'll work everythin out.

Skull Found in Leonia!

Oooo. It was found in dredge they were using for landfill that came from the Hudson River.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Human_skull_found_at_landfill.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20080825_ap_workersfindhumanskullatbergencountypark.html

El Quijote with M & W

M is back from Beijing for about a week or so and I was so excited to see her and W for an early bird dinner at El Quijote (I had class at 8 PM, boo). I really have a lot of respect and admiration for M to move all the way around the world to a crazy land where there is no alphabet (I mean, it is a tragedy that I can't read menus!), no lines, children are spoiled and have no manners (she hates badly behaved children as much as I do and she works for a publisher of children's guides to Beijing!), and elderly people are sent to re-education camps. I mean, sure, China is blossoming day by day but I know that I would likely be arrested within the first day of setting foot on the mainland (M: I am not leaving the US! I'm not getting a passport! You will have to pry my dead hands off the American flag). But, honestly, f-d up things happen everywhere.
She looks and is doing great. We miss her terribly so I wanted to find non-Asian food for her close to my class. I had my graduation lunch at Francisco's Centro Vasco and was not impressed. We also just wanted little nibbles so I picked El Quijote. It was like going back in time where decor was kitschy, waiter's wore captain's jackets and desserts were wheeled over in a giant refrigerated cart (all dairy). We had a salad, clams casino (I kinda am having a clams casino obsession - the one's at Meson Sevilla had chorizo!), escargot in this flaky pastry, gambas al ajillo (classic and quite good), and manchego cheese with olives (I miss cheese). They shared a beautiful tartufo. M tried to tell me she overcame her lactose intolerance by eating ice cream every day. Yeah, I'm not sure I want to put the people around me through that.
Keep on living it up in Beijing, keep us up to date on your stories, travel safely and come back soon!

Baby A

Welcome, sweetpea!

10/16 JPMorgan PRIDE Fall Wine Tasting and Networking Event

Join JPMorgan PRIDE and sit down in the cellars of VNY Broadway and learn to taste wine the Vintage New York™ way. No hype, no snobbery, just an intimate setting where you can ask the questions, get the answers and come away with confidence in your own opinions. We will taste at least 6 wines. Cost is $35 (plus Tax) per person. There are only 25 slots so reserve your spot now! Friends, family and loved ones welcome. Networking after class at the UWS Wine Bar.

LOCATION: Vintage New York - Broadway, 2492 Broadway (@93rd Street)
DATE: Thursday, October 16, 2008
TIME: 6:30 - 8:00
LINK FOR TICKETS: http://www.vintagenewyork.com/Merchant/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VNY&Product_Code=JPMPRIDE
Contacts: Me

9/21 LGBT Networking Brunch

Sunday, September 21st
Downtown Jersey City Brunch
LITM (www.litm.com)
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Hosted by me

9/17 JPMorganChase PRIDE and FSIX NY 2nd Annual Fall Women's Networking Event @ Eden

Networking plays an important role to one’s success – and it’s fun! JPMorganChase PRIDE and FSIX NY brought you the most attended and highly successful networking events and are partnering again to host our 2nd Annual JPMorganChase PRIDE and FSIX NY Fall Women's Networking Event at Eden - the hottest party in NYC for women. Bring your business cards, relax, reconnect with those from past women’s events and meet our colleagues from:
· MetLife GLBT Marketing Advisory Council
· Lambda Legal Education & Defense Fund
· A Different Kind of Ladies' Night
· Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
· AXA Equitable
· Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender Law Association (LeGAL)
· UBS
· Merrill Lynch
LYNX, the Women's Network of Out Professionals
· and more!

Please note: due to the overwhelming support of the community, please RSVP by 9/15 so that if we exceed capacity, those that RSVP have first priority.

Location: Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West, NY, NY (take the N,R,L,4,5,6 to 14th Street - Union Square)
Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Time: Networking starts at 6:30 PM, dj.shErOck from 8:00 PM to 3:00 AM
Other: Cash Bar, No Cover
RSVP by 9/15: http://www.f-six.org/event/public_eventdetail.asp?eventID=353
Contacts: Me

S says Hi

Got this pic and voice text of S today, so cute! Right back atcha, baby!

1/2/2009 is a Friday!

People, 1/2/2009 is a FRIDAY! Go ahead, put in your vacation requests before those other people at work. Aw yeah.

Chicken Adobo Recipe

Chicken Adobo
(I felt it wasn't as good (but certainly healthier) as the one we had on Saturday but M likes the below version that I pieced together from 5 different online recipes. One of which called for 7-up! It reminds me of the soy sauce chicken or the 3 cups (san bei - 1 cup each of soy sauce, vinegar and water) chicken that my mom makes. You can also substitute the vinegar, onion, pepper, cloves and bay leaves for a 5 spice packet.)

• Wash and dry chicken (we used wing drummettes and boneless thigh)
  
• Sweat half a yellow onion, ginger, garlic
• Saute chicken in the onion, ginger and garlic until golden brown
  
• Pour in 1 cup of soy sauce (we used reduced sodium) and 1 cup of white vinegar, 3 bay leaves, 4-5 whole cloves and a tbsp of whole black peppercorns
• Braise for 1 hour and serve over rice

This is the kind of dish that just gets better day by day. It's also easy to pack and heat up for lunch at work. I'm thinking we'll braise some kind of meat in a sauce for M every Sunday so that she has food for the week (or at least most of the week).

I made a little caprese salad (see "Home Cookin'") just because I saw some fresh mozzarella M would like. Cheese side for her, tomato side for me.

Update: Don't do this at home, kids. M, "i messed up. so this morning i noticed that the sauce in the chicken was running awfully low, so i thought i'd add some more. 1/2 cup of soy and 1/2 of vinegar and viola! I was thinking i was a genius! well, not so much now... since my food taste like it's been pickled! ...and i think it smells like feet, sour feet."

Update: M has saved the chicken by adding another half cup of soy sauce and simmering it.

The Sexecutioner

We'll get to the title in a bit. So, Saturday we get all gussied up because we have a full day of events. We were at the 7-11, where the cashier (young Asian girl) didn't even know what a case of water was!
A: Excuse me, do you have a case of water?
YAG: What is that?
A: This thing right here. This is a case of water.
YAG: oh.

So we get 2 cases of water and 2 large bags of ice (YAG: is that a large bag of ice or small?) and this random guy carries the ice for us and the waters to the cash register and then to the car! We generally are in sweats with no make-up and ponytails so this just reminds us that guys do all kinds of stuff for you when you show a little skin. As he's loading up the car, he notices all of our gear in her trunk: roller blades, helmets, cleats, knee-pads, guitars for guitar hero, etc.
Guy: How many kids do you have?
M: None.
Guy: You play guitar hero?
M: I am the guitar hero. Uh, well, thanks for helping us.
Guy: Don't thank me, thank God.

Whoa.

So, we're off to event, part 1. It's your regular soiree BUT with this kick-ass spread. This woman made Filipino Chicken Adobo and my god, did it taste amazing with the Albarino I brought. This is a killer pairing. I ate like 5 bowls of the rice and chicken. Not sure what was going on with the party. Can't talk, eating.

Part 2 of event was about an hour behind. The guest of honor was told to stay outside because the bathrooms were being fixed, never mind the garbage bags that have been hastily taped up on the doors. So, then she goes and pops a squat near a bush! Mind you, this is in the community center of a very nice condo complex. Then, M notices her grab a leaf and is like, "No! It has thorns!" Girl: "oh, it has thorns!" Lordy. So finally, the Sexecutioner rolls up in a Dodge Charger with toilet paper on the front. You would think that a man who's livelihood depended on him getting someplace on time would make full effort to do so. It was interesting to see him in civilian wear and what kind of car he drove. He was a pretty big guy in jeans, baseball cap, backpack and polo. I did note that he carried 'tims that showed no signs of being worn outdoors (I guess costume is sporty thug?). I think that in the South, 'tims are a guy's version of CFMPs (new acronym of the day). Well, let's just say the next hour was really hilarious. He had about 5 songs, did very scandalous things and - this killed me - lip-synced to the very cheesy songs. Hello, Phil Collins, I can see it coming in the air tonight?!

We then cleaned up the place and went our merry ways. I suggested that since we had to be at part 3 by 11 PM, we might as well just park there and eat nearby to avoid multiple iterations of driving and parking. Well, DC can be somewhat of a wasteland after 9 PM. There isn't a hell of a lot open. M's feet were in pain so I tried to minimize the walking but she was not having any of my food suggestions. I couldn't shake her unhappy face and was getting a dose of my own medicine. After a little spat where we almost just went home, we found satisfaction at McCormick and Schmidt's (she had seared yellowtail tuna and I had half a dozen malpeque oysters and some rice pilaf). Oh, we passed this really neat art installation of pipes that lit up when you touched them and played music. Very fun!

Finally, we head over to Josephine's for Part 3 (http://josephinedc.com/). I can't remember when I was last at a heterosexual club. I get major anxiety about such events, especially in DC. In 1998, some of us in the Wellesley In Washington program decided to hit the town. We picked this big party and were dancing when this guy starts freaking me from behind. I ignore him, he keeps doing it, I say "No, thank you", he keeps doing it, I say, "seriously, no", turn around and the mf hits me in the back. I turn around to kick his a-- and the coward was gone. So, I was stressed about part 3. It was a very nice, exclusive club. We had reserved 2 tables in the golden room and were roped off from the hoi polloi (not that weird guys didn't try). The DJ in the Golden Room was fantastic - great mix of hip hop, dance music and yes, and 80's medley (M can't get away from Livin' on a Prayer). I was very happy and secure. I knew that there were poles there but M was not thrilled about me using them and purposely picked a dress that would make it impossible to do (must get me some booty shorts!). This girl S was really excited so we headed off to give her a little lesson and for me to have my pole dancing debut.

These poles were obviously for non-dancers (mostly for drunk girls to fall off of). The pole was set up at the end of the platform so you had no room to walk around. I had to tap people on the shoulder and just really swing into them to get them out of the way. My shoes flew off and hit a few people. But, S did a nice job for a first timer and I had a blast. I was able to do 2 out of 3 spins and a couple of non-spin tricks because the others were not possible on this sorry excuse of a platform. We went back to the tables and it was a terrific time until some jackass started throwing ice. Seriously, I hate stupid club guys. God help any single girl who tries to find someone to date at a club.

All in all, very fun, I love dancing with M, and a night out that I hadn't done in a long time.

Maryland

My trip to Maryland usually starts out like this. I'm late from finishing up some projects and booking across town and down to Penn Station. For some reason I've thought that my train was 7:45 PM and I've missed the past 2 trains (next train 9:20 PM, boo). So, M made sure that I was aware that my train is 7:05 PM. When it became 7:05 is beyond me. I'm also realizing that fares have gone up! Curse the rising price of oil! I'm so not excited to get my heating bill this winter. Note on Amtrak: it is the only mode of transportation that has the highest chance of getting to New Carrollton MD (20 min. away from M) within 3 hours. I have gone cheap and ended up on 5-6 hour bus rides that SUCKED. Just because you have a ticket, doesn't mean you've got a seat on that bus. Plus, I'm not about to get stabbed (see "Stabbing and Beheading on Greyhound Bus"). I am paying out the nose for my sanity.

On the train, I like to have a soup (with bread to dip) and 3 trashy magazines (People, US Weekly, Life & Style). Now that I subscribe to People and Forbes, I don't have to pay newsstand prices but oh, I really do need 2 more trashy magazines. Mind you, I do have a ton of books waiting to be read and the Amtrak magazine is pretty darn good so I'll have to suck it up and read those. The good news is that I FINALLY finished When Genius Failed! Look out for my book review post. I read, eat, nap and catch up on phone calls unless I'm in the quiet car (last car on the train) where no phone calls are allowed. Which is fine by me except when people can't read the signs that say it's the quiet car. Luckily, there are people who'll shush others.

I let M know when I get to the BWI stop which is about 6-14 minutes from New Carrollton. I text her excitedly when I see the Red Lobster because that means I'm close! Then, our train arrives and I run down the escalator (wait, no, I'm actually trapped behind people on the escalator), past the homeless people that sleep at the bottom of the escalator and usually, that's where she meets me to usher me quickly past the dreadlock dude (older white guy with 1 big lock in the back) who just wants to say hi to people and I really want to say hi back.

Then off we go. Sometimes M will have food waiting for me. On Friday, we made what I call Bachelor Noodles with chili bamboo shoots. There's these skinny wheat noodles that I cook up, drain, pour in some soy sauce and sesame oil and mix. Then, crack open a jar of bamboo shoots in chili oil. Wala!

M's also been very sweet to make sure we have breakfast items in the house for Saturday morning. We kind of go nuts over breakfast. Eggs, "pannycakes" or biscuits made from whole wheat Insta-bake, center cut bacon, home fries. Yum!

Home Fries

• Night before, bake 1 potato per person (we just nuke them and they sit in the microwave overnight). A neat trick is to take them out after they are done and wipe down the microwave because the steam and the heat loosen any grossness in the microwave. Clean microwave with no chemicals to go into your food!
• Cut potatoes into cubes, rough chop shallots and fresh herbs (we like the poultry mix of rosemary, sage and thyme).
• Lightly coat potatoes in whole wheat flour
• Sweat shallots in canola oil on low heat
• Turn up the heat, put in potatoes and herbs, let sit between stirrings to get a nice crispy coating
• Turn off the heat and season with salt and fresh cracked black pepper

9/18: Let's See Pookie Patootie

The fabulous Pookie Patootie is performing on 9/18 at the New York Burlesque Festival. You may remember the spanking she gave me at my birthday last year. She is just the greatest and this performance is gonna knock your socks off.

Even if you can't go, please vote for her by sending the following to goldenpasties@gmail.com. Let's make sure she wins those Golden Pasties!

Biggest Media Whore: Pookie Patootie
Best Booty Shaker: Pookie Patootie
Best Gams: Pookie Patootie
Best Dressed: Pookie Patootie
Best Body: Pookie Patootie
Most Charismatic: Pookie Patootie
Hottest freshmen: Pookie Patootie
Most likely to win on Survivor: Pookie Patootie
Sexiest eyes: Pookie Patootie
Sweetest smile: Pookie Patootie
Classiest Dame: Pookie Patootie
Biggest Diva: Pookie Patootie
Biggest Tease: Pookie Patootie
Biggest Cougar: Pookie Patootie
Most likely to go Gay in 2009: Pookie Patootie
Most likely to turn their name into a unpronounceable symbol: Pookie Patootie

Bet you didn't know: my burlesque name is Trouble.

Corio, 337 West Broadway at Grand St

http://www.thenewyorkburlesquefestival.com/

10/2: Muay Thai Kickboxing

This is one of my favorite events to go to - Mayhem Muay Thai Kickboxing tournament at the Roseland Ballroom. Men fighting men, women fighting women, amateurs, professionals, light weights, heavy weights, rookies, title-defenders, fighters from all over the world.

A few years ago, my friend D was fighting (representing Five Points Fitness). See my blurry photo of her. Fights were held in the gym of a boys Catholic school in the Lower East Side. It was hot but there was beer, Thai food and great fights. There were all kinds of people - we even saw Zach Braff. Since then, the event has gotten bigger and was moved to the Roseland Ballroom last year. It's fun, dark, there are waitresses serving beer and air conditioning. I always feel like I'm going to those major heavy weight fights in Vegas and want to wear lots of diamonds, satiny dresses with big puffy sleaves and big, teased hair.

I'm taking my sweetie to see NKOTB so I'm going to miss this one. But, go, enjoy and may you get hit by an airborne mouthguard.

www.moonstonepromotions.com