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Weekend Ruins

For the most part this weekend was shit. I won't lie, I spent 2/3 of it cursing my body and consuming copious amount of cran and water and ibuprofen. But now it's Sunday and I'm feeling better.. just in time for work tomorrow. Hmm..

Saw Boogie Nights (and Mark Wahlberg's "prosthetic" penis) for the first time, as well as part one of Spike Lee's documentary about Hurricane Katrina. Also whipped up some slightly undercooked multi-colored potatoes and Dutch Babies and sweetened raspberries for breakfast this morning. And mimosas, which helped the disappointment of making a slightly undercooked meal more bearable.

I bought another cookbook, mostly for the cover picture of greens that looked strangely similar to the ones that Hunter and I had in Chinatown a couple weeks ago...So maybe I can recreate them. Maybe. It's called Fresh Food Fast and has such recipes as Seared Tofu with Spicy Black Beans and Mango Salsa, Chipotle Roasted Potatoes, Balsamic-Roasted Seitan with Cipollini Onions and Warm White Bean Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Smoked Mozzarella. I'm dying just thinking about it. Hopefully there'll be lots of excuses to cook in the next few weeks.

Melissa and Sean are gonna be in NYC at the beginning of March. She called this "good but annoying" news but I just call it good news.. cause 4 hours by bus is a hell of a lot closer than 5+ hours by airplane. Plus they're like, my favorite people ever. Melissa once kicked some guys ass at a show cause he crowd surfed on top of my head. By beat up I mean she ripped his glasses from his face and threw them on stage. It was a Hot Hot Heat show in Canada. Shut up.

Picture weekend

Totally Stuffed

Last night Doug, Loryn and I headed to Park Ave. for some restaurant week extravagance at the wonder that is Artisanal. Here's what I put in my belly:


ORGANIC MESCLUN
with Herb Vinaigrette

PUMPKIN RISOTTO
Wild Mushrooms & Truffle Essence

FROMAGES DU JOUR
(goat cheese from Montreal, blue cheese from France and one other)


We each got one of the desserts (or in my case, cheese,) so I also got to sample the Exotic Fruit Soup and Artisanal Cheesecake (which Loryn claimed gave her a physical reaction cause it was so good.)

By the time we meandered down the street looking for the subway, I was half-convinced I was gonna explode from overconsumption. Just the way I like it.

We headed to Piano's to catch Mason Proper's set and I of course took too many pictures (twice as many cause Brian wanted me snagging ones with his camera.) Afterwards I shared a table and some drinks with Maria and Loryn and felt content that I was with two people who have known me longer than anyone else on this coast (Loryn and I did some ridiculous story trading over dinner.. the "remember when we _______ when we were 14" types of stories. Completely embarassing types of stories.) By the time I realized it was time to go it was after 1:30am and I expertly maneuvered my way back to Astoria and into my guest bed.

I love New York City if only for the fact that I can get off the bus in Chinatown at 11pm on a Tuesday and practically walk into a music video shoot for some British singer-songwriter named James Morrison. There was a gigantic disco ball hoisted up from a crane and spilling lights onto buildings five blocks away. Ahhh I miss this place when I'm away.

Lindsey Kronmiller made my day today. I can't say why. I yoohoo.

Also, not this is of any significance to any of you, but last night I dreamt that my parents were still together (and still fighting) and I was cooking a big patty of meat!

Thank you weird dream world! You never make any sense!

TGIF

This morning as I climbed the steps from the T station to Mass Ave, no less than 5 and no more than 10 fat wet snowflakes fell on me. But that was it. I keep looking excitedly out the window when I wake up, hoping to see my alleyway blanketed in white, but no such luck. I want deafening silence! I want my sight blurred! I want my cheeks red and ice cold every time I step foot indoors. There's a storm on its way tonight.. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be trudging my way through 5 inches of snow.

I uploaded some pictures from The Dears/Annuals show on Tuesday. I'm still trying to get a handle on the new camera, which meant taking 25920437640973407 pictures and deleting all but 15 or so of them. The show was perfection.





A few months (years?) ago, Omar told me about this band from Canada called Wintersleep.I just got the full record in and can't stop listening to it. If you trust me (and you should,) listen to Wintersleep. I recommend Insomnia. Let me know what you think. You're welcome.

On my 25th birthday my mom made me promise never to try crystal meth.

on the plate for this weekend

I love love love love IChef.com

Ziti Baked with Spinach, Tomatoes and Smoked Gouda

8 ounces uncooked ziti
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14.5 ounce) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
1 can (10-ounce) Italian seasoned diced tomatoes (such as Rotel Bold Italian)
4 cups baby spinach
1-1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded, smoked Gouda cheese, divided

Instructions

1. Prehead oven to 375 degrees.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat.
3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and peper, saute 5 minutes. Add garlic to pan, saute 2 minutes or until onion is tender. Stir in tomatoes, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add spinach to pan; cook 30 seconds or until spinach wilts, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add pasta and 3/4 cup cheese to tomato mixture, tossing well to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into an 11 x 7 - inch baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

Humans Have a Drink Called Beer That Makes Them High-Five

I Need Help

I'm working (very slowly) on a new project and I need some help! I want to make a weekly or bi-weekly podcast, which I've never done. Have you? Cause you should teach me.

Also, if you're interesting in contributing to this new endeavor, please let me know.. It's basically gonna be a blog (yawn) dedicated to getting us music nerds who do nothing but sit around and read blogs all day off our asses..

So this may include, but not be limited to:
-podcast of new/old music to listen to while exercising during the week
-recipe ideas
-how to not gain 10 pounds while on tour and eating fast food every night
-how to repair your liver after sxsw (which might be helpful to me)
-pictures of your favorite muscians pumping iron? what?
- etc. etc. etc.

It'd also be rad to have the blog not look like Blogger pooped it out, so if you know how to help with that, let me know.

And finally, if you know a way for me to focus my attention and actually get one thing done instead of having 8,000 new ideas constantly, that would be great.

Insta-love

Approx. 30 mins ago:
"What's this Steve?"
"Bodies of Water"
"I like it.... oooooo I really like it"


Ahhhhhhhhh....

Sensory Overload

This weekend I saw my worst nightmare realized.

The movie was excellent... dark and emotionally heavy.. and violent, which no one warned me about (*ahem* Doug.) I may have spent much of the movie with my eyes closed.

Friday night Heather, Laura and I "made" (aka heated up chili) dinner and drank wine before heading out to see my new love Via Audio at the Paradise Lounge, where we each scooped up a copy of their 2004 EP. The band slightly reminds me of Noise For Pretend who put out a record a few years back on Hush. Anyway, I've been constantly listening to VA's song We Can Be Good, which should be on their upcoming full length.. Jessica's vocal inflection is absolute perfection. Can't wait to see what this band does this year.

Sunday I got what I wished for in my previous post (sorta.) Hunter and I went shopping in the morning, gathering fresh veggies and cans of beans and stewed tomatoes and whatnot and went to work for the next few hours... After a non-blind taste test, Nate said he liked my chili more, and since he was the only person who took part in the chili cook-off tasting, I guess that means I won. Ahahaah!**

I took the rest of my chili down to GS where I watched the Pats beat San Diego and debated with Christine and Laura whether or not Tom Brady is attractive. Following the win Carl put on Melissa's pink and white Pats jersey and did the most embarassing ass shaking dance I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of ass shaking dancing. Oh just another grand day the Great Scott..

THE DEARS ARE IN BOSTON TOMORROW!!!!! AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

** sorry Hunter***
*** not really

A Few Things I Need

If you can assist, please let me know.

1. drum set.
2. drum lessons.
3. March 8 to be tomorrow.
4. new National record
5. a trophy for best chili ever made
6. 1 million dollars
7. endless summer
8. austin, tx
9. bite
10.

Via Audio tonight. mmm.

I Love This Time of Year

1/16 The Dears & Annuals @ Paradise Lounge
1/20 Girl Talk @ Middle East Downstairs (can't go, but whatever)
1/24 Mason Proper @ Pianos in NYC
1/27 Camera Obscura @ Paradise
2/10 PLUG Awards in NYC
2/18 Lily Allen @ Axis
2/25 Little Brazil & Via Audio @ Middle East Upstairs
3/8 Shout Out Out Out Out & Cassette @ Paradise Lounge
3/9 Holly Golightly @ Middle East Upstairs
3/27 Menomena & Field Music @ Great Scott
3/29 Long Winters @ Great Scott (not confirmed)
3/30 Birdmonster @ Middle East Upstairs (just confirmed)
3/11/-/3/17 SXSW!!!!! (fourth year in a row! holy shit)
4/20 John Vanderslice @ Middle East Upstairs
4/26 Dr. Dog @ Middle East (uncomfirmed)

There's more, but I think I just exhausted myself.

OH AND THE THERMALS ARE COMING. MEEP!

Ah a lovely Wednesday night

Don't cross Judi Dench! AGHAGHGHGHAAH




Also, more of this please:

Last night's benefit for Pan 9 went off really well, with over 100 people coming out to show support.. It was awesome to look around and see so many friends and familiar faces. A big slap on the back to Nate for putting it all together..

Maybe it was how good last night was.. but I think 2007 is gonna be a fantastic year.

I am happy happy happy happy.



Misty??

10:00pm Unmasking- Merriment Ends

People really hate it when you don't dress appropriately for the weather. I found this out the hard way. See, Saturday afternoon was a balmy 70 degrees. In Boston. In January. I celebrated this by breaking out a skirt and walking around jacketless while showing Christine around the wonder that is Downtown Crossing/Boston Common/Newbury Street. There were dogs to squeal at and babies chasing squirrels and ducks swimming in the ponds and all sorts of things that screamed NOT WINTER! NOT AT ALL! Naturally I assumed this weather would last through the weekend, so Sunday morning, on the way to the much-neglected Paris Creperie, it was skirt, gleaming white moccasins and a short sleeved shirt. Too bad it had dropped 30 degrees. I've never gotten as many dirty looks as I did during that four minute walk. Women scowled at they clutched their floor-length goosedown parkas closer to their bodies. Passers-by threw hand-knitted scarves and hats. Rabbits hopped out of the woods offering their pelts. Ahh no matter how much I hope for it, spring does not come in the dead of winter. Not for more than a day at least.

The weekend was filled with activity, from stuffing my face with sweet potato tempura sushi (oh. my. god.) and reveling in the BYOB at Tsunami with Caitlin and Janelle, to ranting to not one, not two, but four different people about a not-to-be-named individual saying "it's the no-name bands that pay the bills" (are you fucking KIDDING ME?), to squinting at sub-titles during Volver (it means "returning" in Spanish. I looked it up!) to attending my first Collective meeting. Whew.

Oh, and then there was the ChoiceStream holiday party, which, of course, deserves its own paragraph. As unnerving as it was to meet 50,000 of Hunter's co-workers in the same night, it was interesting to see how a company of 70+ celebrates vs. a company of five. The basics were the same (booze, food, music).. but instead of a fake french pop band and a Dr. Dog listening party, there was a string quartet and a singing human statue. Instead of jeans and t-shirts, there were white gloves and coat-tails. Oh! And masks! Not The Knife kind. The food was incredible (roasted vegetables, sweet nutmeg gnocci, artichoke, red potatoes, tiramisu, gelatto etc etc etc.) and I waltzed awkwardly around the room with a man in slightly heeled shoes and a more than slightly unbuttoned shirt. It was a fine evening and our heads hit the pillow no later than midnight (before we could turn into pumpkins of course.)

Do You Feel Electrical

TEAM COURAGE AND HAPPY ENDINGS PRESENT...



SHOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT
and guests

THURSDAY, MARCH 8TH
PARADISE LOUNGE

I'm afraid that, at this rate, I will never find out who killed Laura Palmer.

Sometimes I wonder if, 100 years from now, seagulls will grow so large that they will be able to snatch up our infant children and swallow them whole like so many McDonalds french fries and pieces of trash.

Edit: LIKE THIS!! THIS IS WHAT I AM SAYING!!

IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR THE THERMALS TO PLAY BOSTON FOR ONCE???????? AGHHGHGHGHHGHGH.

Ahhh the simple pleasure of spending your last day of vacation watching True Life: I'm a Staten Island Girl while stuffing your face with crumbled Christmas cookies and trying to find new places for your newly acquired belongings..

My luggage finally arrived at about 10pm last night, after a few days of constantly calling Alaska Airlines, cursing under my breath and reminding myself that the employee on the other end of the line is not out to purposefully ruin my day. But yes, my things are returned.. broken hairdryer and crumbled cookies and all.

New Years was a good time.. our low-key party of a few close friends swelled into a mid-key party with a few close friends and their close friends and their close friends.. We all cheered at midnight and the champagne flowed and kisses were exchanged.. and ehhh maybe some wax was poured over the table and some glasses were broken and I may have spent half the night with a bottle of Resolve in my hand to stamp out red wine stains, but it was all in good fun. I think that over all, there's a general feeling that 2007 will be a good year.