so freaking good

The weekend was so full. Friday night I went with MW to a place with the best crab cakes and that was one huge crab cake. I felt full until past lunch the next day, so it was probably 120000 calories. Saturday was lunch with the Hopkids and AK's boyfriend, who was very nice, presentable, and AK was happy. Then Sunday was brunch with my cousin YM, where we discovered the best savory crepes I have ever tasted in my entire life. That might have been plainly the best food period I ever tasted.  Here: Fontaine Caffe. So clearly, this was the place to be. I had the Moroccan crepe and it was so freaking good. We both literally stopped talking when we tried our first bites. We had to eat slowly in order to enjoy all the goodness in our mouths. And throughout our meal, we'd stop talking to each other just to savor. That. Freaking. Good.

That was a lot of driving. It was a great weekend - beautiful weather. So hot and nice. The highways I was on: 95, 695 (Baltimore Beltway), 395 (Baltimore), MLK, 295 (BW Pkwy), 495 (DC Beltway), 395 (GW Pkwy), 695 (DC), 110 (I accidentally wound up on this road and saw the Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon).

crab cake itis

Crab cakes at G&M tonight because I wanted them. I am still so full. Had one crab cake, kale, and fries. By fries, I mean I had 3 fries because I was too full from the giant crab cake. Definite food baby. Going out for lunch in Baltimore tomorrow, so I'm going to have to go on a walk tomorrow or something to work it off.  Need to get some cash to pay for parking.

New song recommended by sissy - okay new to me.

I really need to google the words to it. And then I need to listen to the Spanish version.

S didn't text me at all today, which kind of bothers me. I texted him last, so it's his turn though. I've got stuff to do every day this weekend, with rest time thrown in, so I guess I'm fine with it.

so dogsbody is a word

I had no clue that dogsbody is a word. I need to use it in real life. At work, I sometimes feel like I could be one. Definition - a person who is given boring, menial tasks to do. Okay, not at this work really, but at other works. And yes sometimes at this work too, but thankfully not most of the time.

How do my fingernails grow so fast? I used to have problems with them breaking off, but now they never do and one day it's weird to type so I know I have to cut them. Back when I used to play the piano all the time, I'd hear the clicking of them on the keys and know it was time. Should I buy a keyboard?

Was all rainy today. I was tempted to break out the fall boots, but that was getting ahead of myself. Plus it wasn't that cold. Tomorrow AK flies in with her boyfriend, so I'm meeting up with the Incredible HopKids for dinner at 8pm. So really late and I know I'm going to eat before then. I can't help it. MW and I are carpooling up, which works because I know she doesn't really like to drive at night.

Yesterday I went to the 2nd Chance thrift store place and found some books and some really pretty shot glasses. I don't know if they're actually shot glasses, but that's what I'll use them as. I poured soju into one of them and drank to try it out. :-). There was really no reason for me to buy them, but I just instantly loved them. They have a bamboo trunk painted on the side, and if you stack them all up you get one tree. One of the books I got, I read in one sitting. I thought it was going to be a funny chick novel, but it had the cover of a funny chick novel while actually being a standard crime novel. It's the kind of novel I don't like that I can inhale. If you skim, you're fine. I only kept reading to find out whodunit.

failed shopping trip

Before I went to the grocery store, I stopped by my local TJMaxx, and let me tell you, that store has gone down in quality since I've moved here. They had barely any dresses; I spotted not one blazer; and the skirts were all leftovers from the summer. Is it just a weird time to shop? No, this store doesn't get the best stock.  Their shoe section for the 8 and a half sizes was pitiful. Pitiful, I tell you! I know that TJMaxx and Marshalls are owned by the same company, but Marshalls is so much better.

I'm being influenced by My Secret Hotel a little: My Secret Hotel, which is a currently running Kdrama on TvN. "Influenced" means I went shopping in a jean pencil skirt (H&M - bought Black Friday) with a chambray shirt (Kohls a couple years ago), tucked in. I was really looking for some shoes, but saw naught, so I went looking for interesting pieces, but again zilch. I did try one on interesting dress from the teenage section, but it didn't flatter my figure, so I didn't get it. No need to pay for something I don't even look that good in.

Came back and made those Lipton Onion soup potatoes that my mom got me started on. I don't make them often because I have no self-control. I have to eat them ALL. It was hard going with those last four bits of potato, but I did it. Now my pee is going to smell like onions. TMI, I know. TMI.

Also, ew, I saw overalls in the store. I wore those in 1997, and you can't make me wear them now. No one can.

the shell collector

Why do I not own Anthony Doerr's The Shell Collector. It's the most fabulous short story collection that I have ever read. So why do I not own it? I'm going to go to the thrift store tomorrow and get some books and if I don't see it, then I'll go online and buy the hardcover version. I've read it twice, so it's not like I need overnight shipping. I can wait.

My grandmother was moved to a different rehab facility. It's hard, I can feel myself drifting away with time because I'm not able to see her every day like my mother does. I was invited to a bratwurst picnic this weekend. What is bratwurst? Is it some type of meat in a pigskin like a sausage? I don't even like beer, so this doesn't seem much like my thing, but then again am I supposed to go so that I can find some single friends? Help me rhonda, help help me rhonda. Okay, I need to stop bursting into song.

Last night I tried to make lentil chili in the crock post, but it's way too tomato paste-y. I don't even want to eat it, but I have a grand total of 8 cups of it left, so I am going to be eating it for a while. Maybe there's  away I can make it taste better. I should  have put less tomato paste in. It made me work too, because I didn't start the crock pot until after 8pm, so I had to set my alarm for an unGodly early morning hour in order to turn it off. And the whole apt smelled like cooking food, which was really distracting when I kept waking up from sleep. Boo to onions. I swear I smelled like them when I went to work today.

Tomorrow I cannot get any Amish food until I take that check to the bank. At least the bank is open until 6pm on Fridays, as I recently learned via google. For the first time in months, I wrote a brief post for E's company blog. I really need to do that again. And not being able to watch a drama until I write a page has made me write 3 pages so far. No sugar in my tea is not that easy. I'm kind of cheating by using this flavored creamer, but I'm measuring it out so that I then have to use half and half. More fat, but less sugar. I loaned several dresses to L so she can pick two to wear to a wedding this weekend. I miss them. Why were most of them blue/green/tan? Don't I own dresses with color?

S depresses me. I need to just forget about him. He's not even a good friend.

pain, so i vow

For no good reason, my right shoulder hurt all day. I'm talking pain, not ache. So bad I had to take ibuprofen and now I know why people get hooked on pain medication. I only hope it's better in the morning.

I vow for the entire week to put no sugar in my tea. I am also not allowed to watch dramas unless I've written a page or read 30 pages.

Tomorrow I'm going to try some different crock pot food. We'll see what happens with lentils, tomatoes, and chicken.

bunch of crock pot food

Yesterday I bought a crock pot from walmart for $15.92. This morning I put in the random food I had in the order the crock pot company said I should. Then I put it on Low and went to work. I confess I worried off and on all day that the crock pot would malfunction and set the apartment on fire. When I got near Rt1 I was relieved not to see smoke billowing up over the trees. So yeah, basically when I walked in the pot lit was doing that thing lids do when there's pressure built up underneath, so rattling basically. I came in and turned the crock pot off. It did make the whole apartment smell like food. It's a little weird because I used these ingredients:

1 can condensed mushroom soup
4 red potatoes, cut into chunks
1/2 a green pepper
1 pack of chicken breasts, cut into chunks
thyme dumped on top
salt
pepper
water

The food cooked perfectly and nicely, but I think I needed a bit more water because there were a couple too dark potatoes and the meat on top was a bit dry. It also needed more salt. Maybe I needed to come back sooner? It cooked for 9 hours because I stopped at the grocery store on the way home. Anyway, it was good enough that I stuffed myself with at least 2 servings in a big bowl. Then I put away the leftovers into microwavable dishes. So I've got lunch for Monday already, plus 1 meal each for Sat/Sun. I look forward to experimenting. I need to put in more veggies next time, but I think this is the start of me eating a lot better than I have since I moved in.

i don't feel permanent

I watched the first episode of "It's Okay, That's Love," a Kdrama that's actually been on for a few weeks. I think next week is it's last week if it's a 16 episode show. The reviews that I've read on dramabeans were a little mixed, so I didn't start it before, but I think the consensus is that it's worth my time, so it's now on my Watching list. The only other thing on that list is Joseon Gunman, which has become a little less exciting as the episodes go on, but I'll still finish while doing my hair or something.

Had one of those long meetings today, which make the work day go by super fast. And then I got a bonus check for winning those awards last month! So yay, when that comes in the next pay period I won't have to worry about maybe moving funds from savings to pay the bills. I'm trying to make my attitude about money be more holistic, as in I think lifetime rather than month-to-month. That may mean that I have to move somewhere else when my lease is up because this place is a great central location, but the rent keeps creeping up, and I now live in a non-rent-controlled state. Does this mean I need to save money in the 401(k) to use to buy a house? I don't feel that permanent yet though, what with the PhD thing not laid to rest. Should I just do it?

Stroke Update - Last weekend I went home so I could see Nana. I'm talking I woke up at work time on Saturday, so I was heading up 95 by 7:22am. I was north of Baltimore by 8am, the time when I'm normally just getting to work. Traffic is crazy, peeps. So I got home and Mom and my middle sister were just getting up. Heck, even Darcy was just uncurling from her rug. Turns out she rejected the pillows I gave her, but is all for bathroom rugs. Anyway, Aunt Shauna came over and then Mom drove to visit Nana. Pop went over to 913 to help Poppi put in a mailbox. When we got to Nana's room she was sitting up in the wheelchair like normal. It shocked everyone I think. For a moment I thought she was cured. But as we were there she started to lose her energy. And by the time Michelle tried to help her choose her meals for the next day, Nana was confused again and hear head progressively lowered. We got to watch as she ate lunch though - she had solid foods, but not too solid as she's still having swallowing problems. Mom says that her insurance is going to run out, so they have to send her home. Mom had a meeting with the doctor on Monday, but I don't know how it went since when I called no one was home. I guess I can ask my middle sister.

My brother hopped a train to FL and my parents keep telling me (in a very laidback way) to make sure he's still alive. I think they're worried, but they're not going to say they're worried. And I get it. I mean, the only money he has is the security deposit from moving out of his apartment. He only got to FL because my dad bought him and his car a train ticket. Mom says I was born with my hands in fists and he was born with his hands wide open. If that means anything, I save money and he spends it. Example, yes I got that bonus check, but I have no plans to buy anything. I don't have anything I want to buy, except I know I'm going to have to buy a new laptop in the next year or so and a new cell phone when the one I have craps out. My brother buys people things and gives people the expensive things he bought but doesn't want to use any more because he wants to use some other thing. I think I could use a little more generosity and he could use a little more selfishness. My middle sister spends and saves, so she's perfect. My youngest sister is just like my brother. Looks both of them are going to need someone to reign them in from spending when they start earning a lot of money. Budget.

My apt is putting new siding on my building and it looks awful because first they rip off all the old siding. They started on the edge of my building and haven't made it to my actual apartment yet, but I'm not going to like it when they do. I foresee a lot of awkward conversations with random men in hardhats in my future. I hope they're attractive men in hard hats.

yeah my mama she told me don't worry...

May have a problem. I know I have to cook so I can eat. I don't feel like cooking, so I'd rather go to bed hungry. That's what I did last night. Can't today - I need to cheer for myself! I need to be motivated to cook the tomatoes my grandfather gave me from his garden. He grew them himself, ya'll.

from MD, not PA, but close enough

Meghan Trainor's All About that Bass song is stuck in my head. I really haven't listened to the radio much this summer, so I don't know the new songs. Somehow I picked up this one though.

Praying for my nana.

live well

Nana is doing a lot worse than I thought. I didn't know what a stroke could do to someone. And everyone at the rehab facility has been hit in a different way. Why does my nana seem the worst off? It's so hard to leave her there after visiting. I was upset, I had indigestion and she asked me if my stomach hurt. That felt so good. She didn't talk before unless you ask, but she'll sing a song she knows with you. Her skin is so soft and she's so frail. She can hold a glass and drink from it though. Before going I told myself the stroke wasn't that bad, that she'd be almost back to normal by the time I saw her, but I was wrong. When I first hugged her, I started crying and got her sweatshirt all wet. It's cold there. I need to go see her again this weekend. I can't leave her there all alone, even if all I can do is hover uselessly. My mom visits every day she can except for Tuesdays.

I also saw my brother, who is going to take the train to FL, along with his car. Didn't know you could pay for that, but you can. I won't see him again until maybe October. But that's not very far away. I hope he doesn't injure himself playing basketball and lives well.

I discovered the secret to perfect chocolate milk made with syrup. It's half and half.