Fabulous Stuff (Resurrected)

 

1.  Clean Water.  E Coli bacteria was found in the Pembroke town water supply about a week and a half ago.  Since then we’ve been under a “boil water order.”  My clothes hamper is over-flowing.  There are dirty dishes in the dishwasher, sink, and hiding in the oven.  And it freaks me out to take a shower!  You never know how much you depend on something until its taken away from you.

2.  The Support of Friends and Family.  Especially my boss, Tom, who listens to my features on 95.9 WATD every Thursday morning — even when he’s out of town on business!

3.  The Spiced Mexican Chocolate Torte with Avocado Creme and Candied Pepitas at Chez Henri in Cambridge.  Trust me, this is the best $8 you’ll ever spend!

4.  Getting Cards and Letters from My Mother-in-Law.  Okay, so technically she’s my “ex” Mother-in-law, but you’ll never hear me refer to her as that.

5.  Those green “canvas” shopping/tote bags from Stop & Shop.  Finally, I can carry milk,orange juice, AND toilet paper up the stairs to my apartment at the same time!  (And they’re only 50 cents each when you use your Stop & Shop card!)

A few of my favorite things

Here are a few of my new favorite things:

1.  Parducci Petit Syrah 2001.  Yes, more wine!  Someone brought this to a party I had in January.  I don’t know who it was; I wish I did so I could thank them.  I opened the bottle on Monday just for myself.  Boy was this yummy!

2.  Letters of Affirmation.  My college girlfriend’s daughter (got that?) is in confirmation class.  Each of their family members sent them off to a retreat with Letters of Affirmation.  Letters that talked about their strengths, how much they were loved, etc.  Isn’t that awesome?  I think everyone deserves these!  Maybe next year I’ll skip the Christmas cards and send everyone I care about letters of affirmation for Valentine’s Day.  Now that’s love!

3.  My new Genna di Rossi pink handbag, high-waisted wide leg jeans, and a new diaphanous bubble shirt — NOT to be worn together.  That’s too much — even for me!

4.  Getting change back from the cashier with all the presidents’ heads facing the same way.  I really appreciate this.  Don’t they teach kids anything these days?  Back in my day, when I worked retail, we always had to keep our cash drawer neat and in order.  Yes, I’m one of those who keep all their bills in descending order in their wallet and all the heads facing up.  Doesn’t everyone?

5.  Golden Delicious Apples.  Okay, you may think I’m stretching here, but I’m not kidding.  I’m up to one a day. 

6.  Livingston Taylor, John Pizarelli, The Fools, English Beat and the Tupelo Music Hall in Derry NH.  Check them out.

Big Red

I went to the Boston Wine Expo this weekend.

If you like hedonistic, big red wines with lots of tannins then check out these babies!

Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut:  100% cabernet sauvignon harvested from prestigious Sonoma hillside vineyards.  Big and ripe with blackberry jam, plum, black currants, and cherry cola highlights.  Great with grilled steak, roasted pork and braised meats.

DaVinci Chianti Riserva:  100% Sangiovese with aromas of dark fruit and cherry, balanced with hints of vanilla and cinnamon.

Houghton Shiraz:  berry and plum aromas with notes of black pepper, violets, smoke and mint.  Berry, rich cocoa and savory spice flavors are delicious and complex.

Houghton Cabernet Shiraz Merlot:  This ripe, layered ample red wine is redolent of red fruits, cocoa, sweet herbs and toasty oak.  Full and rich on the palate, with smooth supple tannins.  Its lush red berry, currant, plum flavors are deliciously enhanced by rich chocolate and warm spice tones.

Find of the Day:  Moonstruck Artisan Chocolates – especially the Dark Chocolate Chile Variado — dark chocolate with ancho and chipotle chile powder. Yum!

Fabulous Stuff #5

1.  Steak Carpaccio — After years of wanting to try this dish, I finally did, with friends in Plymouth MA of all places!

2.  The DC Metro System– As easy to navigate as Boston’s T, but much cleaner!  And I actually understand and can use their farecard system without assistance!

3.  The Willard Hotel in DC — Where I am right now.  And the biggest room I’ve ever had in a metropolitan hotel — or any hotel for that matter!

4.  Selling the condo – finally!

5.  Good old-fashioned manners.

6.  The Olive Tapenade at Todd English’s restaurant “Olives” at 1600 K St NW in DC.  I know he seems affected.  I didn’t like him either until I ate at this DC joint a few years ago.  I was excited to visit again during a recent business trip.

7.  Older Gentlemen in Seersucker Suits & Bow Ties– with fond memories of Beatson Wallace, a Boston Globe columnist who always had a smile and a kind word for me.  His wife used to make his bow ties out of scrap fabric after making her own aprons.

8.  Rodeos – only if you’re there in person.

Fabulous Stuff #4

1. “Do You Want to Dance” by Bette Midler

2.  Bodies the Exhibition - I can’t find anyone to go with, but I hear its totally worth it.  Would love to hear from someone who’s gone.

3.  “When Did I Stop Being 20 and Other Injustices” by Judith Viorst.  I haven’t thought about this book in years, but I found it on my bookshelf last night.  I’m going on Amazon right now to order “How Did I Get to be 40 and Other Atrocities.”

4. Erotica

5.  Book-sharing web sites.  Just learned about this phenom.  Anyone know anything about them?

6.  Swedish massages

7.  MORE Magazine

Fabulous Stuff #3

1.  Anything with a cheetah print

2.  Author Joyce Carol Oates

3.  The Goddess Bra – I can’t stop taking peeks at myself at work!

4.  Old Vine Zinfandels

5.  Artist Roy Lichenstein

6.  Pate, shrimp cocktail, and goat cheese on rosemary crackers

More Fabulous Stuff #2

Here’s my latest rant on some more fabulous…and not so fabulous stuff.

Totally Fabulous — getting “romantic” under the Christmas tree.     Not so Fabulous — taking down the Christmas tree.  It’s the saddest day of the year!

Totally Fabulous — Nip/Tuck, Bones, Men in Trees, The Closer, Rescue Me, new episodes of the original Law & Order.     Not so Fabulous — Repeats.

Totally Fabulous — mailed cards & invitations, love letters, personal journals, jazz albumns.     Not so Fabulous–  E-vites, E-cards, and text messaging.

Totally Fabulous — volunteering.     Not so Fabulous — not living purposefully.

Totally Fabulous — organization.     Not so Fabulous — clutter.

Totally Fabulous!

A regular ranting listing fabulous things that recently caught my attention.

1.  Pizellas and anisette cookies

2.  Rain, instead of snow

3.  Wellies — I hope I find a pair under the Christmas tree

4.  Christmas with my niece and nephew

5.  My DVR — I haven’t been affected by the writers’ strike yet

6.  Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

7.  My recent discovery of the music of Lyle Lovett, especially the song “She’s No Lady“

8.  Blogging