happy november. since my last post, things in my life have seemed smoothed over– i’m in a pretty great place as of now. making a group of new friends, starting to make cheeses for work, testing out new dessert recipes/concepts, and celebrating a good friend’s birthday– along with my mother’s! a nice wine dinner is coming up on the 16th- Rocky 4, a ressie for 4 has been made. much to look forward to. i like november thus far.
ps, the best sort of reunion is occurring this evening. i’m so excited. also, congrats WVBS!
the best day so far in 2011. -snowday, bought a poncho, ate fried chicken, kissed my boyfriend, got my dream job, watched the new tosh.o, and listened to some serious beats. i don’t want this smile to go away.
hi, how are you? i’m good thanks for asking. and just in case you forgot, i’m enfin and this is my blog which has been neglected for the past month and a half or so. i must apologize on many different levels, but as i mentioned in the recent past, my life has taken a turn that i did not expect. i don’t mean that in a negative scary sense, in fact it’s a really good change- much needed, and much appreciated. i contemplated ending this blog- taking an extended hiatus if you will, and it seems as if i did- but that’s only because my precious laptop broke in the midst of exams, and also because the holidays came and went, and then just this past week i celebrated my birthday. classes are in full swing again, i’ve made it my resolution to stop procrastinating- to get things done on time, to be efficient, to be productive, the be the student i’ve always been. a side note- my other resolution is making blogging the most regular of duties. from santa i received a nikon dx 3000, which is making the photography aspect much easier on the eyes. so expect regular posts once i get my new macbook air (in three-four days).
i miss blogging more than you would assume. i’ve been writing restaurant reviews, adapting recipes, and i have so much to share on vin et grub it’s surprising- seeing as i usually have limited material. i miss having an outlet to the outside world, one where i can say what i need to say, acquire knowledge that inspires me to take on new projects, and give me that extra little oomph that gets me through my days.
the other reason why i haven’t been blogging, besides exams, winter break, and a broken laptop is because i’m spending my time with cherished and loved ones (this is my way of saying that i met someone… and i now have a boyfraan, who i must add, is ridiculously spectacular and understands me better than most). i have this life that i’ve cultivated, one that i’ve been yearning and one that i’ve finally received after seventeen years. relationships in my family are the best they’ve been in a long time, and it’s not everyday (although for the past two and half months it has been) that i wake up smiling and i fall asleep smiling.
i was really pleased this past birthday- entering my seventeenth year to receive twenty friends at a semi-surprise party. as a capricorn, i need to be involved in everything, i hate outright surprises, and i like to lead, so it’s only customary for me to have had part in planning my own party. but it was the best time i’ve ever had on a birthday. a reservation for 21 at local 188, paella, quail eggs, steak tartare, chocolate chocolate cupcakes, goat cheese salads, scallops, braised short ribs, culinary feats conquered. the best company i’ve ever had, and just all around smiles and good vibes. i spent last evening in boston, where we had a reservation at petit robert bistro, and enjoyed good conversation, culinary excellency, and family time. i’m headed home to portland today to spend time with my peach, and then i guess i’ll sleep a good sleep all to enter another week at the flete. but i must say, this is the absolute happiest i’ve been in the past two years, and i’m just in this euphoria- this absolute bliss where everything is fine and dandy, where i’m looking forward to the next day just as much as i’m enjoying the moment.
tell me how you’ve been! tell me about your resolutions, your holidays, your fresh start to 2011. i want to hear it all.
NO SCHOOL FOR 5 DAYS. i’m in raptures to say the least, partly because i’ve had some vin blanc, and partly because i’m exhausted, but it’s so nice to know that i don’t have to worry about homework, about exams, about awkward situations, about waking up on time. i can busy myself with trivial concerns like what should i pack for the holiday? when should i bake the cranberry currant tarte? what should my weekend consist of? the more trivial, the better i believe! i ought to express my sincere apologies for the lack of blogging on my end (but truth be told, i’m not too sorry). lately my life has been consumed with occurrences, with new people, new places, new emotions. i can’t say that i’d want it any other way, and to put it frankly, the upcoming times won’t allow me too much time to blog. i’m not saying this is the end of floating over babylon. BY NO MEANS is this the end. i just can’t commit to posting every few days anymore, but at the same time, i do promise that i will do as much as i can. i’ll jump the gun now, and tell you what the purpose of the post is. ONE: recent happenings, TWO: TSA bullshit policy, THREE: reflections, FOUR: lookbook.
tonight was perfect. i woke up and it was misty and mild, walked all the way to school and listened to noah and the whale and typhoon (good AM combo), finished the day, ran home, slept for five hours, ate some hummus, TRAVELED TO FIGA, and had a wonderful last meal with A. we ran into some wonderful english teachers and spent a while engaged in a fulfilling conversation with them, and also chatted a great deal with an older couple who sat next to us. we indulged in sev crusted scallops, wild boar rendang, tandoori chicken, meatloaf, a trio of creme brulees (lemongrass, orange cardamom, and chocolate espresso). this past weekend i spent some much needed time with my little brother, ate a lot of cherry garcia, went roller skating, worked and decorated and produced/composed my first ever window display (GO LOOK AT IT), and had a movie marathon. tomorrow: yoga, cranberry currant tarte, train to boston, family dinner, etc. etc. did i mention that i’m so incredibly happy?
screw the TSA. i’m not one who travels too far during the holiday season ( thank god for new england ), but for the past three nights ABC news with diane sawyer has focused on the measures the TSA is taking this holiday season. of course it’s wise to take precaution, especially since the threat of terror has been increased as of late, but the extent they’re taking it is RIDICULOUS. this won’t be the most eloquent opinion i’ve ever put forth, but i need to get it out, so here goes nothing. pat downs have existed for a very long time in the world, and ever since they were first used, nobody has enjoyed them. but the new version of pat downs being used by the TSA are appalling. they encroach on groping, and when a TSA employee is groping an 8 year old child, you know something is wrong. they are invasive, and time consuming. in addition, a TSA employee should be able to use their instinct and trust their intuition about a person. surely it’s not common for a 65 year old woman is not a terrorist (then again, it is possible, but how many 65 year old women have you heard about that are terrorists? i can say i’ve never heard of a single one). the lack of common sense in regards to the TSA’s new policies is what bothers me. it’s both time consuming and overly cautious. of course the safety of all should be put above convenience for a single person- but in other news, when has utilitarianism ever been important to the USA before now? let’s just use common sense and not strip an 8 year old girl down in the middle of an airport because her barrette set off the metal detector. plus, who wants to be groped at any age? pas moi.
so as i mentioned, i am incredibly happy. ridiculously happy that my head hurts, and that i can’t even figure out how i’ve gotten to this point in my life. everything is right, everything makes sense. i’m appreciating what i have, not thinking about what i don’t have. my family is healthy, my friends are sane, and i’m being treated like i should have been a long time ago. of course the only thing wrong is that i’ve been sleep deprived for the past three weeks or so. but that’s curable. sort of. there are always hills and valleys in life, and currently, i’m walking up one of those really high hills that is promising and rewarding. i’m flourishing in this new environment, and i’m thankful for all i have, for all i know, and for all to come. connections are undeniable, emotions are not hindered, rather they are facilitated. i’ve been able to cook, i’ve been able to clear my head. i’ve just entered this new stage in life, and i’m so glad that it’s come now, rather than sooner or later.
i’ll leave you with this video- because it’s so good and you should watch it. OH YEAH. i’m reviving my lookbook, so get your hype on. i’m sorry about the bad news in regards to a small amount of posting, but hopefully soon i’ll get my act together and update frequently. i’ll make it clear when that will happen- perhaps 2011? a hiatus is sort of needed to be frank. HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HOLIDAYS.
this week passed by in what seemed like a very drawn out moment. i jammed out to dark dark dark at space with some pals, and i got tea with some friends, practiced a lot of yoga, made a lot of food, slept a grand total of 16 hours over the entirety of the week, and then painted myself in glow in the dark paint, dressed up as a girl scout, and got crunk to MJ with lyllie. last evening was the highlight, just because everything was just a hot mess. i mean, i suppose what i learned is that i’m really grateful that i have such good female friends, and i’m also glad that they are who they are.
this morning started out fantastically, what with making a potato frittata and homemade granola for lyllie, and relaxing. then the day started to turn for the worse. as it seems to be a predictable pattern, i sulked over “spilled milk” if you will, and tried to better my overall mood with a big cup of black coffee, which i only drink when i’m off the wall angry. but my femme friends were there to try to help me- and they did, sort of. i’m glad that they were, because if they weren’t then i’d still be fuming opposed to now being solely frustrated. as far as what the day shall bring, i’m unsure. i don’t care at this point. i just want to go do something fun to relieve my mind of this current agitation.
alien girl scoutz
maybe i’ll just go take a nap and listen to some records. or maybe i’ll go read on the promenade, though i don’t feel like walking up there for the second time today. maybe i’ll just watch every episode of jaime oliver at home. or perhaps i’ll just conjure up a menu for the dinner party that i’m planning. i don’t know. i suppose i should update vin et grub. i hope that tomorrow will be fulfilling. but then again, i lack plans. AGH. i’m indecisive and definitely not eloquent. MORE coffee wakes the dead. sleepysleepysleepysleep.
this photo was taken by m. nichols- isn’t it fantastic? it’s so beautiful.
tomorrow! so excited. can’t wait to be in good company and hear some of my favorite tunes at my favorite venue. it’s been a while since i’ve done anything of the sort, so why not make an appearance in town when i have the opportunity? a was delayed, and she got to eat some of my raspberry plum pear pie, watch 8 mile with me, and eat this:
i have found my newest and only muse at this time. unfortunately, jaime oliver is married with kids, but i still find him to be so terribly cute! the way he cooks outside on an open fire, how he cans and pickles and makes his own ketchup- oh he’s just so fantastic. maybe someday, when i’m pursuing my passion, i’ll meet someone with similarities to jaime, and then, if fate permits it, we’d get along famously.
i’m planning on doing a lot of cooking this week, so look out Vin et Grub, recipes galore tba asap. i survived standardized testing today, actually, i’m quite confident. i made some progress on b108, and i cleaned the kitchen and reorganized all the cabinets. i also took a trip to the market, and picked up some food for the upcoming week. i’m rarely excited enough to talk about what i will be cooking- but i think i’m elated tonight, so i may as well share. tomorrow evening’s menu: seared mahi mahi wrapped in a thin layer of russet potato with brown butter and sage sauce. monday evening: roasted stuffed tomatoes, with artichokes, chevre, and panko, served with a watercress and black cherry salad. tuesday evening: roasted chicken, basted in champagne vinegar and aged balsamic, with tarragon, three-variety mashed potatoes, stuffing, and brownies. wednesday evening: fagiolini in umido, and fried chicken. thursday evening: tandoori tofu, and basmati rice. friday evening: a trip to local, or perhaps figa/new miyake. so excited for my week in food. in addition, it’s obvious that i’ll be swamped in homework, and also, i’ll be baking a black plum raspberry pear pie tomorrow night. it’ll be more like a free form tartette, but it should be wonderful nonetheless. i’m headed to sonny’s tonight to visit with some folks, and party just a little bit. tomorrow: so much homework, so much baking, coffee, and lots of sleep, plus a brunch date. VERY EXCITED FOR MONDAY NIGHT @ SPACE. DARKDARKDARK= BRIGHTBRIGHTBRIGHT.
floating over babylon 