sated

You know, there are evenings where I think, "No, I'm really not making it to the gym tomorrow morning." Tonight is one of those.

Forgive me. I'm 41, I can't rage hard all night like I could when I was 26 (and even then I couldn't do it all that successfully). I've had a very very very enjoyable evening of conversation, food, wine, and cocktails with the infamous and laudable John Chrastka and his wife, Deanna. I won't even tell you how long it is taking me to type this in the post-dinner state I'm in.

Look, here's the deal: Conrad is my husband, and I love him fully and unconditionally. But there are a few rare men I meet who are just, well, awesome in the truest sense of the word. John is one. The ALA gays adore him (count me among them), he gets thing done, and best of all, he came to Yoshi's! Our usual Sunday hang-out plus a terrific and handsome foodie library guy? With his lovely and genuinely charming wife? Oh yes, the night was a success.

I have no food photos, sorry. I do have photos of John and Deanna, at least. Conrad was super for soldiering on through dinner (quite enjoyably, he told me when I got home- the week he just endured had him drained, but he hopes for the company again) after an exhausting weekend up north and a 6-hour drive home. We ate well, drank even better, and as snow falls gently on a late winter night, I'm glad for a good dinner with friends at one of our regular places.

Now then. we'll have to stock up on some fine scotch and wine for dinner together at home some time this spring...

a quick word before I leave the country

So yes, we're at O'Hare, awaiting a flight to Vancouver. A few fun-filled days there of buying new furniture and redecorating the condo. No, I mean that. I'm altogether excited over it all.

A few quick things to catch all four of you readers up on things...

There was baking to be had this weekend: three batches of scones in all, plus individual Black Magic Chocolate Cakes. The former were tasty, the latter, even better than that.



Four of the cakes went with us to Rachel's for Saturday dinner. I tell you, that Rachel can put together a fine meal, thanks in part to Peachy, her consultant, and Vikram Vij, cookbook author. A rare treat to have someone cook for us, and we had an exceptional time of it.



And then we made it two meals in a row with breakfast at Nancy's. A working breakfast, you know - that Aruba presentation isn't going to write itself!

Frank lives! Gone from the Smelts for far too long, and we've not seen him since the morning after the wedding. But there he was on Sunday at Yoshi's, enjoying a VERY packed bar with us. Too packed for me to comfortably take photos until the crowds thinned in time for dessert.

Alright, a quick check-in as promised. Internet access in Vancouver will be spotty in among the work starting to put the condo together. But you four are used to my long silences by now, I know. And thank you for that.

best thing I've eaten this year

Yes, yes... the year is all of 5 weeks old. Is it really too soon to declare a best of the year so far? If not, then I humbly suggest this appetizer at our home away from home, Yoshi's:

Octopus carpaccio. So very good. I've ordered it the last two or three times we've been in there, and I have a feeling I will order it again and again, provided it is on the menu.

I should add that the rest of the meal was also very tasty.




:-)

restoring normalcy

Sunday, it has long been established, means Yoshi's. Travel, other plans, life in general - things keep us from getting to our favourite restaurant more then we might like. But it is good to be back.

We returned tonight, our first meal there in 2012. Some salmon for Conrad, a Cornish hen with mustard for me. A bottle of a Cotes du Rhone between us. Best of all, the company of other regulars and friends: Michael and Laura, Gil and Rakhael, Chris. Banter across the bar. Extra wine poured. An enjoyable night that recalled to us why we go there so very often.




For one weekend, normalcy restored to our lives. And thank goodness for that.

1000

I started this blog a little over five years ago, so on average, I've done 200 posts a year. Give or take. My audience is not large, I know. When Dad died in 2009, it got that little bit smaller. Since then, my interest in blogging has waned.

But I can't quite give it up. I'm not sure why. Vanity? Documentary? The pleasure of connecting however distantly and even anonymously? I thought I might get to 1000 entries then call it a day. I shan't do that. I like being able to lob my dining adventures out there, or my self-deprecating comments on my own self-obsession, or photos of lovely scenery I've enjoyed (usually with Conrad).

You, my few readers, are stuck with me a little while longer.

I promised an entry filling in the month+ gap during which I was too lazy to blog, so here we go.

After my birthday entry back in July, I flew out to join Conrad for a weekend in Los Angeles. A highlight of that weekend was getting to watch, for the first time, an ATP event. We saw Mardy Fish and Ryan Harrison play in a semi-final at the Farmers Classic at UCLA. Gorgeous weather, a match that had some compelling moments, and a great afternoon overall. Bonus points for shopping at the Penguin by Munsingwear store on the way back from the tennis.




Back in Chicago, I enjoyed a rare visit by Terraceites: Arjunna and Sonya.



There were meals at Yoshi's. Of course.


My sister came to town for the first time in years, and we were able to get her to a very good and indulgent dinner at one of our favourite places in Chicago, Topolobampo. I cannot speak in praise of sommelier Jill Gubesch often enough. Oh, and the food was pretty darn good.





Marie and I picked up my best friend, Todd, from Milwaukee, and once Allison joined us at Yoshi's that night, the four of us had a terrific bachelor party weekend that featured ComiCon and a Tiffany and Debbie Gibson concert. Yes, you read that right. Be jealous of me. That whole Saturday kicked serious ass.







Conrad and I joined teammates in Madison for an open water swim. He cheered, I swam (and came in second in my age group).



We continued to get to know our neighbour Jeff better. Good guy - a runner, but more importantly, someone who dines. We totally respect and appreciate that. We took him for a maiden voyage to Yoshi's. Of course.


I don't talk work on here, but oh heck. I will note that Val and I co-presented a well-received poster session at the Society of American Archivists conference in Chicago.



And then August came to a close, and Conrad and I made it to our second home, happily.

I won't resolve to do better with blogging, to be more regular. I will beg your indulgence. 1000 posts is a good milestone. But no, I'm not stopping. Care to join me as I press onward in my own particular way?

41

Apparently I had a birthday yesterday. How old am I? 34. The title of this post? A typo. The white in my goatee? Bleaching effect of sun and chlorine.

Ah, who am I kidding? I'm as old as I am, and it bothers me not a whit. I put on an aloha shirt (it is an aloha shirt, more or less, from Tori Richard) and proceeded to open presents, have a nice little lunch with Max at our usual place,
then join Daniel for dinner at the bar at Yoshi's.



A day older today, not much wiser, and in possession of at least a few photos to prove that I had a rather nice birthday indeed!

week without Conrad

Hmmmm... maybe that's a little melodramatic. It wasn't a FULL week, though given his time out of town the week before this past one, it all added up to feel like so much more than a week.

Let me be kind of honest here and allow some light in on the relationship that Conrad and I have. We're together a lot. We don't need to talk much - I learned a long time ago that Conrad is a person who appreciates silences, and while I am a person who naturally wants to fill silences, I've come to enjoy the value of being quiet together. Even now, sitting in our favourite Vancouver coffee shop, I'm blogging and Flickring and Facebooking and e-mailing, and he's reading. We're close by each other, but we haven't said anything in some minutes. And really, it's very comfortable. When we're apart - usually his work, sometimes mine - it's odd to us. We have only phone conversations to share, and the warm silences we share just don't quite work.

So yes, I'm overly dramatic about his absences, and I miss him a lot. And, happily, I have good people in my life who kept me good company this past week. A rundown so that I can properly thank them:

Scot invited me to a beer and cheese pairing dinner at Kendall College on Monday, and along with his friend Larissa (I hope I have that right), our teammate and friend George came along while his wife was out of town. The College has a very nice culinary school dining room, and it's been far too long since last I had been there. A rare (this year, at last) , warm spring evening, good company, and some tasty food. I especially liked the tart apple salad. I still wonder what made the "sexy" gingerbread sexy.

Wednesday lunch I enjoyed the company of my former officemate, Eric, in town on research leave. We ended up at a Brazilian place on Taylor, and I was quite impressed by the bowl of moqueca - fish and shrimp in a coconut broth. A side of rice, and I was well-nourished. Plus, great to see Eric while he was in town!

Fred joined me at the bar at Yoshi's for half-price bottle night on Wednesday. A newer teammate, he's a sweet and funny guy, and I was delighted to learn that we both share a real interest in tennis. Bonus points for enabling my sweet tooth by agreeing share dessert with me.

Thursday (Conrad got in much much later that night), I ventured far south to Hyde Park to Chuck's place. Chuck - and his adorable dog Rex - were hosting a small gathering to raise funds for a literacy center.

I have no photos of the food, but be assured that the Indian buffet Chuck had had catered was tasty AND substantial.

I missed Conrad a lot while he was gone, I won't lie. I was glad, however, for people who kept me company and who ensured I did not go hungry. As if there's ever any fear of that last possibility.