This is a slow weekend

In the past month I haven't had more than two nights in a row without plans. This caught up with me last week so this week I tried to take it easy. And knowing that it was going to be miserably hot on Friday and Saturday, I delighted in continuing this slowed place and made no plans for the weekend. Or at least no plans involving other people or (almost no) leaving my apartment. Instead I decided to stay in my pajamas, watch a lot of movies, and be productive. 

Now, because I am just that cool, a little play-by-play of the most mundane weekend activities, broken down into action, reason, and entertainment. Again, because I'm just that cool.

FRIDAY

Action: Re-organized my makeup into new containers.
Reason: The silverware caddy I'd been using was overflowing.
Entertainment: How to Deal

Action: Worked on some blog posts.
Reason: I have a lot to say and finally some motivation to say it.
Entertainment: Anastasia

SATURDAY

Action: Made two necklaces and two bracelets.
Reason: I bought the jersey fabric and pinned the tutorials months ago.
Entertainment: Three episodes of Doctor Who and some Gilmore Girls. (There was a lot of braiding involved.)

Action: Ate a smoothie.
Reason: It was hot.
Entertainment: More Gilmore Girls

Action: Ate Chinese takeout.
Reason: I was hungry.
Entertainment: DVRed ABC World News. (Doesn't everybody DVR the news? You should.)

Yes, that is food for one. Or maybe it's actually for three, as that's how many fortune cookies they gave me! If I'm going to order out I prefer to order enough for several meals.

Action: Sorted mail.
Reason: My mail pile was out of control. And mostly just junk.
Entertainment: Before Sunrise

Action: Painted my nails.
Reason: I let my nails go bare for a week to breathe and it was killing me.
Entertainment: Before Sunset

SUNDAY

Action: Spent a few hours downtown at the Newseum, lunch, and browsing for clothes.
Reason: Needed to get out of the house for a few hours. And activate my new museum membership, bought through Groupon.
Entertainment: Amy Winehouse (RIP) on the iPod.

Action: Rest.
Reason: It's hot.
Entertainment: Once

Action: Writing articles for work.
Reason: So I'm ahead on Monday.
Entertainment: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Action: Deconstructing three Forever 21 necklaces and constructing one mega necklace.
Reason: I wanted a nice statement necklace to wear in San Fran.
Entertainment: DVRed World News, 60 Minutes, and The Proposal (This one took awhile, plus a break for dinner.)

I'm pretty sure I've never watched so many movies in my life. But it felt nice to just relax and watch some favorites while getting a lot of silly things done.

Hanging around the Hotel Monaco

On Thursday I met Brandie at a nice hotel restaurant in D.C. for happy hour drinks and snacks. It was the first day of the heat wave and (several glasses of) chilled white wine and (two orders of) pommes frites were a great antidote. Of course, air conditioning would have also been a nice antidote, but the bar's did not seem to be working properly. Nevertheless, it's always a good time with Brandie as we drink, eat, talk, and drink. And then en route to the bathroom decide to have an impromptu photo shoot. 

Pretty flowers. In the bathroom.

My turn with the flowers.

B posing in front of the curtains that wouldn't open.
 (Clearly my phone camera doesn't do well in direct sunlight.)

Taking my turn in the window. (That doesn't sound right.)

We stumbled upon the Tokyo Boardroom.
Brandie had some very important business to attend to.

Signing papers because I'm terribly busy and important.

Making a move on TJ, of course.

B&B causing trouble, as usual.

My friends and I do group emails and recently Brandie wrote something about how when we have someone that is so comfortable and contributing in our lives, we should do what we can to keep them there. My instinct is to push people away so this really hit me and I've been repeating it daily. Not to get too mushy -- because B&B don't do emotional -- but she's definitely someone so comfortable and contributing that I must keep her in my life for a long time. Whether she wants me there or not.

Right Now

Well, this is just unacceptable.

Any day where you're told to stay inside and where temperatures "fall" to 96 is just not going to be a good day. I plan on riding out this heat wave in my cool apartment with some movies, craft projects, and a smoothie. And maybe risking a little exposure by taking a quick trip to Target after work.

Fountain Friday

The River Walk

San Antonio, Texas

The subtitle of this edition of Fountain Friday is "Texas Forever," in honor of the series finale of "Friday Night Lights" last week. Texas forever holds a piece of my heart as my paternal grandfather, Poppy, grew up in West Texas and also made his home with my Mamaw in San Antonio for many years.

The River Walk was a favorite area of his and our family and all these photos come from my last trip in 2007. A nice description from the official River Walk website:
"The San Antonio River Walk is a public park open 365 days a year, lined with individual businesses composed of restaurants, hotels, attractions, and more."

The "and more" clearly refers to the fountains and water features that appear on practically every street. Which is refreshing when you're out in the unrepentant Texas sun. And with a 113 degree heat index expected in D.C. today, I'd kill for just one of these Texas forever fountains right now.

Scenes from my 'hood

When cleaning photos off my phone, I came across a few that had yet to be shared. Thus I present weird things around my apartment building.

I stepped off the elevator about 9 p.m. one night and saw this shopping cart in the hall. My apartment building is clean and tidy and in a good area so this was a bit odd. I'd expect this in my old neighborhood, where someone once pushed a diabetic kit through our mail slot, but not here.

While sitting in my living room one Saturday afternoon, watching TV, there were some loud noises outside. But since they've been working on some of the sidewalks they didn't bother me much. But then there was an especially loud bang and when I looked out the window there was this building, hovering in the air. My area's primarily residential but there is a school nearby and it looks like they are putting portables in.

Apparently Elmo lives in my neighborhood. So that's cool. It was late or else I may have been tempted to look for him. And maybe punch him because I'm a Grover girl.

"It gives one a feeling of solidarity, almost of continuity with the past, that sort of thing." (Salesman, Breakfast at Tiffany's)

There are a number of outdoor film nights that take over the green spaces around D.C. each summer. But for more than a month I'd only had eyes on the one at the Yards Park on July 14 with some friends for a sundown showing of "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

This has been my favorite movie since the 8th grade and despite countless viewings in my own home over the years, I'd never seen it on a big screen. Until now.

I'm still building up to writing about my love for both this film and Ms. Audrey herself. But in the interim I'll just say that I love this movie with all my heart. It makes me laugh, cringe, sigh, blush, and cry. I am equal parts Holly, "Fred," Cat, Doc, and laughing/crying woman in mirror. And when the "mean reds" hit sometimes "a place that makes me feels like Tiffany's" is a place where I can spend time with my friends on a beautiful summer night watching a "darling" little film.

Blast from the past

Last week wore me down so that by Friday I felt like a zombie. But instead of going straight home from work, since napping would be inevitable, I went to Target for a little comfort shopping. One day I'd like to write about my comfort shopping habit, the different levels of it, and what mood necessitates what purchases. But not right now.

Pajama bottoms are one of my comfort items, though, and thus the cute polka dot shorts seen below. And while I generally just sleep in a Carolina T-shirt, when I stumbled across the shirt, it just had to be mine.

A triptych of a majorette. Or, more simply, a baton twirler. Why did this speak to me? Because for six years, from the ages of 5 to 11, I was a baton twirler.

Circa kindergarten, 1990

I had a lesson every week, parades maybe twice a month in the fall and winter, and a recital in the spring. There were cute costumes with lots of sequins that required shiny tights and a little makeup. For $2 we could get colored tape wound around our baton and for a few dollars more we bought little rubber end caps. Each week after practice we'd get fun pencils and scented stickers.

My sister did it for a few months at the beginning and my mom walked many a parade with me. (She was most definitely not a stage mother, but there were plenty of others that were. Plenty of others.) It was fun to dress up and I even enjoyed the performing.

Circa first grade, 1991

(Incidentally, this was taken shortly after I asked to have all my hair cut off, making this the first rash hair decision of my life. I don't know what emotional event occurred that caused me to do so. Someone stole my pencil box?)

Now, if you think I'm shy now, and you didn't know me as a child, imagine the shyness magnified times 100. But I don't remember any major meltdowns, and my childhood best friend was there all the way. It was just a fine time.

My one regret from this time was never mastering the throw it up, turn, and catch move. (No idea the actual name.) I managed it ONCE, my entire last year of twirling. At the awards ceremony at the end-of-year-recital, each girl did a little twirling on stage as a biographical snippet and list of skills was read. The goal was always to get so good that when you were called, you could do the throw it up, turn, and catch without worrying if you were going to drop it off the stage or throw it in the audience. This was never to be for me. I did, however, win the sportsmanship award out of the 100 other girls my last year. So, take that, bitches who can turn and catch!

Circa third grade, 1993

(Pretty sure I'm wearing more makeup here than I do now.)

Throughout high school I'd see the names of girls I'd twirled with from other schools in the paper, getting awards and such. Or I'd pass girls in the halls at my school that I twirled with but were no longer close to. It's odd now because I know plenty of girls who did ballet or dance or played sports, but I've never met another twirler.

It really was a good time. It was also before I was clumsy so for a short time I got to have a little rhythm and grace. Maybe if I had of stuck with it I would never have found my inner klutz. But that's doubtful. I'd likely have just been concussed or concussed someone else with the baton.

(Mis)Adventures in Cooking: Part 3

For quite awhile now one of my go-to meals have been:

Pop six in the oven on 450 for 15 minutes and I'm good to go. However, I've been trying to change my eating habits and am working to scale back on processed or pre-packaged foods and fast food.

Last month I came across this recipe for homemade chicken taquitos, pinned it, and decided to make them tonite.

Full disclosure: I have no idea if these are actually more healthy than my precious Jose Oles. Especially once I get to the main reason this recipe caught my eye: cream cheese mixture. Three of the most beautiful words in the English language. The number of things I make simply because they involve a cream cheese mixture is ridiculous. And likely not at all healthy. And, also, silly since unless it's a honey walnut flavor, I can't even eat cream cheese on a bagel.

But moving on. After a quick trip to the grocery store for a few ingredients, of course, I started on Bonnie Ole's Taquitos. (Patent pending.)

This is the cream cheese mixture with chicken, cheese, and a few modifications. (No green onions or cilantro, red salsa instead of green, and a little black pepper.)

The taquitos with chicken filling all rolled up and ready to be cooked. No in-process shot as my hands were covered in gook. But it made seven nice-sized 'quitos, though I could have probably made more but was tired and hungry and stuffed them quite full. Per the recipe, they also have some kosher salt sprinkled on top.

Finished! (More salt on pan apparently, oops.)

The inside.

With some refried beans on the side, my dinner.

Not to dance around my own sombrero, but Bonnie Ole's taquitos were pretty darn good. They were rich, creamy, and not too spicy. I think next time I may add some more chili powder or salsa but they were very filling and tasty.

For desert I made a very easy fruit dip to go with fresh strawberries: one jar of peanut butter fluff and one block of cream cheese. Mix, chill, and dip. That simple. And oh so good. And any recipe that allows me to buy some fluff and reminisce about peanut butter and fluff sandwiches from my childhood, is a good recipe in my book.

Oh, in case you all are wondering if the lack of MISadventure in this post means I'm maturing or somehow becoming more together, fear not, that will never happen. Why? Because my shoe came off in the crosswalk again today. For the fifth time. Good to know that as long as one area of my life is going well, there will always be another area just waiting to make a break for it in the middle of an intersection. But, at least at the end of the day, I will still have my taquitos.

Things I Don't Find Annoying This Week

Some good things I'm thinking about this week:

• I missed the awesome Women's World Cup game on Sunday but have seen the replay and was able to catch the last half of today's game. So proud of U.S. women and in particular the Tar Heels on the team.
• Thanks to the odd beauty of Twitter I've re-connected with an old, very good friend. And this makes me very happy.
• The next book I'm going to read is a Diana Vreeland biography. I'm not really into the book I'm currently reading but this is on the shelf to read next.
• I'm headed west in a few weeks to San Francisco for a long weekend with a good friend and I'm getting very excited.
• We had a huge storm today while I was at work and it was incredibly soothing to hear the rain pound on the windows and skylights. And even more soothing when it dropped the temperature by about 20 degrees.
• There really are more things I don't find annoying than things I do find annoying but I'm stopping here because I'm tired.

Things I Find Annoying This Week

This week, I'm finding it annoying:

• When someone refers to a mixed-gender or female-only group of people as "you guys." (To be fair, this bothers me ALL THE TIME.) I don't understand how we've turned "guys" into meaning "guys and gals" or just "gals." I was watching the WOMEN'S World Cup game today and my (male) coworkers kept calling them "guys." THERE ARE ONLY WOMEN ON THE FIELD. HOW HARD IS IT TO SAY LADIES? (They insist that guys doesn't mean just men anymore, but I have to vehemently disagree.)
• That I bought a very nice, not cheap dress from Anthropologie and today, only the second time I've worn it, the hem came out in the back. And in case you don't know already, my daily life doesn't involve gymnastics, pole vaulting, or marathon running; there is no reason why sitting at a desk all day should cause a bum hem.
• For three nights in a row I've been waking up around 4 a.m. because of anxiety dreams. Except the dreams are about things I'm not actually anxious about. And I have A LOT of anxieties, so if I'm going to lose sleep over something, I'd actually prefer it to be something I'm legitimately worried about.
• I have a pair of brown sandals I've had for about 4 years and in the past month or so I've started "falling off" them repeatedly, every time I wear them. I say "falling off" because they are only about a 1/2 inch off the ground.
• That I signed up for Amazon one click ordering at some point and also connected my iTunes to my debit card so that I don't think twice about buying song after song after album after album.
• That last week I went home and have many good things to write about and many pictures to post but instead I'm writing this annoying post. But it feels really good to vent so I hope you all forgive me.