Monthly Archives: October 2012

I gave blood for the first time yesterday.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. And it was uncomfortable. And it did hurt, though I had an excellent phlebotomist who was funny, calming, and took great care of me when, as soon as the needle was removed, I developed a tingling/burning sensation all over my body, and instantly got really overheated and nauseous. He was also dressed as the grim reaper.

No, really.

Last year the theatre was doing Dracula during the annual blood drive (which also happens to be within a week of Halloween and takes place at a theatre, of all perfect places), so the Red Cross folks dressed up as vampires to collect blood. This year in anticipation of Halloween and – it’s a stretch but it kind of works – with our current production of Freud’s Last Session, they came dressed up as grim reapers and the like. I bet they look forward to the blood drive at the theatre every year. I love people with a sense of humor. Nothing cuts the tension or nerves quite like a grim reaper asking you personal health questions.

I told them next year they should dress as mosquitoes.

But 45 minutes of rest, a few cold compresses, and about 8 cookies later, I survived and feel great knowing my blood will hopefully be a lifesaver to somebody in need.

Donate blood. Do it.

PSA complete.

And last night Sandy made landfall. 24 years living in Texas, mere hours from the Gulf….and nothing. Less than 2 months living mere hours from the east coast…and bam! Hurricane.

Alas, Sandy is nothing if not punctual. Just as forecast, the wind and rain started in at promptly 5 p.m on Monday. But between some hot Vietnamese pho for dinner with a friend, apple cider and rum, some sea salt dark chocolate, autumn scented candles, relaxing music, a cozy blanket, and a great book…I was all set for a night in while the storms raged outside.

It could always be worse. You just gotta be thankful it’s not.

:)

1. – 6. These are a few of my favorite eats! YES. It happened. All of it. The gyro and tzatziki pizza from Mac’s, the red dragon roll and veggie fried rice from Hibachi Master, the sweetest, densest and most epic Belgium waffles in existence from Taste of Belgium (courtesy of best friend Allyson who, literally, smothered me in hugs and kisses when I walked in…it was the best thing ever!), unfiltered pomegranate hibiscus ginger ale from the new Jungle Jim’s at Eastgate (a total foodie’s paradise! I could live in their olive bar), garlic rosemary fries from Smashburger, and a fresh pizza and out-of-this-world harvest salad from Dewey’s. It was, indeed, a weekend of magnificent food. Every. Last. Morsel. I’m drooling just thinking about it.

7. & 8. I would like to point out that gas in Cincinnati is $2.99….that would be $1.04 per gallon cheaper than what I’ve been paying. I die. Really. I’m half flabbergasted and half bitter. I can’t even think straight. That’s $14.56 cheaper per tank. I’ll let that soak in while my heart shrinks two sizes – a la Grinch. Also, the Buick hit 160,000 miles somewhere along the 20 hours and 1,200 miles I drove this weekend. In the rain. Thanks, Mother Nature.

9. & 10. Can you even believe that these two pork chops are Gigi and Ace!? They’re enormous! And loveable and hungry and snippy and skeptical and everything crays are supposed to be. I love them.

Weekend = excellent. But then again, any time spent with the one you love, no matter how much or how little, always is. No mugs of us this time around, sorry folks. :/ Apparently it’s obvious where my priorities lie…

I’m counting down the days until this (uh, less the horrific quantity of utterly unhealthy food) is our daily norm again.

Soon.

And until then, there’s always hope.

Taste of Belgium waffles, Smashburger rosemary garlic fries, Dewey’s harvest salad, Mac’s gyro pizza, Pho Lang Thang’s Banh Mi Thit Nuong, and Hibachi Master sushi, fried rice, and ginger seaweed salad….

Happening. Soon.

JOY.

Bring on the thunder thighs!!

1. & 2. – Unwinding beach-side on a chilly Friday afternoon.

3. & 4. – Public market goods; fresh healthy apples and an epic chocolate doughnut…an ideal combination.

5. & 6. – Pumpkin carving party goodness. Love those guts! Have you ever seen such dedication? Stencils, X-Acto knives, measuring implements…

7. & 8. – What’s a pumpkin carving party without a menu full of autumn treats? Pumpkin mac n’ cheese, apples with homemade caramel dip, chicken and beet salad, pumpkin cheesecake brownies, sparkling apple cider pound cake, pumpkin chocolate chip bread, spiced hummus….

9. & 10. – Crockpot apple cider with cinnamon sticks, cloves and oranges (and maybe a shot of spiced rum – if you insist) and the new best way to carve a pumpkin…cookie cutters!

11. & 12. – Jack-o-lantern success! Someone’s front porch is gonna look mighty fine this Halloween! Would you believe that Emelyn and Raymond are first-time-ever pumpkin carvers!? Not too bad for a first try. Every stairwell should be so lucky!

13. & 14. – A little bit of fall; A little bit of winter.

15. & 16. – The fire tree!

17. & 18. – My roomie and I – our after-work run through the park turned into a bit of a fall love-fest. Needless to say, it wasn’t quite as run-centric as we’d planned when we set out.

19. & 20. – Also, we may or may not have borrowed a few branches of leaves from the fire tree to turn into a fall centerpiece for the kitchen table. Do they look out of place in the elevator? No? We didn’t think so either.

21. & 22. – Monday night sushi date with my friend Kristen – seaweed salad, volcano roll, jasmine tea, and great company…perfection!

Over the past seven weeks I have been privy to an outpouring of kindness I can only describe as welcoming, humbling, and heartwarming. Being new to a place is never easy. Being new to many new things and many big changes all at once is never easy. But I think I’ve been very fortunate to have met so many kind people in such a short amount of time, and especially at a time when a little bit of friendliness can really go a long way.

The people I work with have just been, hands down, exceptionally fantastic. A few will, and already have, become good friends. On Saturday morning two sweet friends from work selflessly volunteered to give up their Saturday morning to help me with the notoriously un-fun task of moving…and we knocked the whole shebang out in an hour and fifteen minutes then went for brunch at a local diner to celebrate. I went to a new church Sunday morning, was instantly recognized as someone new by the young adults coordinator and she made a point to find me right away, welcome me warmly, and sit and chat with me for a few minutes. A guy on an elevator in my new skyrise apartment saw me struggling with a heavy basket full of stuff and he asked if he could carry it to my apartment for me. Another woman at a different church downtown has emailed me several times a week just to check in on me, invite me to things, and see if I need anything. Strangers on the street make eye contact and actually say hello. One of my new friends started as a work contact who emailed me one day and invited me to dinner because she knew how hard it must be to be new. Since then she’s been my date to opening night this weekend, we email a few time a week, and have more dinner and theatre date plans for next week. I also have fun plans with two more awesome girls I happened to meet who were kind enough to strike up a conversation with me. My new roommate has totally gone out of her way to make things comfortable and welcoming! And these are only a few examples. Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe it!

In other news, while Saturday was all about the moving (and the autumn baking!), Sunday was all about sleeping in, trying out another new church, soft pretzels and warm beer cheese while watching the Packer game at my favorite bar (love Sunday football!!!), gorgeous sunny windy fall weather that blows and swirls colored leaves all over the roads (beautiful driving weather!), and a pumpkin carving party and fall potluck with some new friends.

What have you been thankful for lately?

Yesterday I was smacked with an anxiety I haven’t felt in a few weeks – an overwhelming desire for something comfortable and familiar.

I suddenly craved an evening with Ted at The Outpost in Lansing, MI – the log cabin bar we used to frequent alone or with cast and our coworkers over three years ago, after working a long day of shows at the theatre. It had cold beer, fantastic pizza that I still get a hankering for, and a rustic casual atmosphere that we loved. It was also our first date. I would have given anything to be there again with Ted last night. Comfortable, relaxed, at home.

I also craved the one thing in this wild world full of changes that seemed the most familiar to me over the past four months – a beach. All summer while teaching at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp I was just a 15-minute drive from the beach. Whenever I wanted, I’d finish my last choreography session or rehearsal of the day, grab a good book, throw on my suit and some sunglasses, hop in the car, roll down the windows, and just GO. I liked the sound of the water lapping, the sun and the sand and the seagulls. I liked the peace and the feeling of being so small. Isn’t it crazy how everything has changed so much in the past four months that the most comforting and familiar place I can think of is a beach I called home for only 6 short weeks? So after work I got in the car and just drove until I was at a beach. As soon as I stepped out of the car there was an instant feeling of relief – I could breathe again. And all I wanted was to be sitting on a blanket on this beach, wrapped in a cozy sweatshirt, beside a hand-built bonfire in the sand, roasting s’mores with my friends.

It’s not that I don’t love it here…because I do. Sometimes, like we all do from time to time, I just miss the things that helped make me who I am. The things that are familiar and make me feel comfortable and content.

I think I’d like to go on vacation…..to Vermont.

And then Arizona.

With the husband of course.

Yes, that would do just nicely.