Hospitals...

There are so many things not to like about hospitals. I like the IDEA of them - healing the sick - but the reality, for a patient, or, in my case, the daughter of a patient, far from a place where they help you get better.

Here I sit, as I type, in the nuclear medicine lab as my father has a "stress test." Apparently there's a worldwide shortage of a particular isotope they usually use for this test, and they have to use another, slower one. Which means lunch in the hospital cafeteria! Yikes. And then a 3 hour wait to repeat the test. My father is not pleased and cranky. I don't blame him.

I think, also, that I would hate a job where I had to wear scrubs every day, was subjected to primarily flourescent lighting, and the weird-smelling, dry, cold hospital air. And then there's the ugly art, the strange color choices and other aesthetic issues. I'm glad I didn't choose medicine as a career!

Internet Is (almost) totally silent about AMAZING TASTE TREAT!

My father belongs to an Atlanta country club (Capital City Club). It is not the very most socially sought after or elite. That distinction would go to the Piedmont Driving Club, but the CCC is right up there. It does have one particular food that would make it worth joining just to have in unlimited quantities. I am, of course, talking about the basket of hot butter Saltine crackers served as you sit down for dinner. In recent years other Atlanta clubs have added these onto their tables as well, but make no mistake, the CCC had it first.

The internet is virtually silent about these hot buttery crackers with the exception of a brief note in an article in 1999 which you can see here (about midway down the page).

How could this be? Have Atlantans been keeping this delicious secret on purpose? I remember as a kid trying to make them at home. I put butter on my saltines and stuck them in the oven, and got soggy crackers. I even tried different temperatures to no avail. The real things are crisp! The butter has saturated them without making them soggy in the least. I actually assumed they were fried in the butter. I still don't know how they do it.

I'd like to share a picture with you, but I have none. Imagine the cracker a golden yellow, warm, crisp, buttery, melting in your mouth. You could eat a dozen. As a kid I would spread extra butter on them. Decadent in a very Southern way. Does anyone really know how to make them? Can we share these with the world? It's about time!

Desperately Seeking Wi-Fi

So when I visit my dad, I always have my trusty Blackberry (I just upgraded to the Curve! Loving it.). However, sometimes, for work etc. I need the Real Thing. Not Coca-Cola, but the True Internet. And my technologically-impaired father has none. Lucky for me, I live less than a mile from Brookhaven Station where no less than 3 establishments have free wireless. Dunkin' Donuts, Hudson Grille, and The Mellow Mushroom. I usually sit in my car (as I am now!) and quickly upload/download what I need to do and split. It works. Not ideal, but whatever. What's strange to me is none of these 3 places strike me as the kind of place that would have free wi fi. Maybe Dunkin, but the others - a sports bar/restaurant and a pizza place aren't exactly the kinds of places. Whatever. I'll take it! (that's my computer, in the car, outside the Dunkin')

Weed 'Em Out?

view from the day
Originally uploaded by absolutwade

Why aren't there pedestrian crossing signals on Park Avenue in Midtown? Are they trying to elminate the weak ones in the herd? What's the deal? I mean, honestly.

The Incredible Edible Cancer Stick

This morning I went into a local bodega because I was running late and I knew they sold hard boiled eggs. A great portable breakfast. I saw the sign on the counter, "2 hard boiled eggs $1."

"Great," I thought to myself, "they have some this morning."

After waiting for the person ahead of me to pay, I went up to the counter.

"Hard boiled eggs," I requested. The man mumbled something back. I thought he was repeating my order as he turned around to grasp an item.

The clerk placed a pack of Marlboro Lights onto the counter saying, "Marlboro Lights?"

Um, no. HARD BOILED EGGS.

I thought that these two things sound alike. How did this happen? This man was not a native English speaker, was that the problem? Was it because it was early in the morning and I was mumbling? A bit of my sounthern accent coming out?

HARD BOILED EGGS. MARLBORO LIGHTS.

I laughed.

It's Electric.

Polaroid Transfer, Tower
Originally uploaded by Ryan Thomas

I've almost always prefered city-scapes to landscapes.
This one captures a mood pefectly.

VZ = PO

Is it just me, or is the Verizon store an awful lot like the Post Office? And not in a good way.

A Ploughman's Lunch At The Bull In Barkham

A Ploughman's Lunch At The Bull In Barkham
Originally uploaded by marty_pinker

A much prettier ploughman also from flickr.com.
I'd rather eat this one, I believe.

ploughman's lunch 1

ploughman's lunch
Originally uploaded by marty_pinker

Just read about a sandwich over at thekitchn.com that was close to a ploughman's lunch. Here's where a very detailed person on flickr.com uploaded a photo with each food diagrammed.

Kitchen Sink (breakfast) Casserole

This weekend I made a breakfast casserole out of mostly leftovers. It was awesome. I did buy the eggs, because to make a good casserole/strata in a 9x13 pan you need about 10 eggs. Or 12. The fact is, these things are so forgiving you almost can't mess it up. I don't even measure - I eyeball it.

It's called "Kitchen Sink" because you can kind of throw whatever into it (except the sink) and it works. No two are the same.

The things you need are: bread, milk, eggs, butter, and cheese. And from there, just see what's lying about.

10 eggs, scrambled into a bowl.

The milk was leftover from a houseguest earlier in the week. She insisted on 1% and got it herself. I put maybe a little less than a pint in the bowl.

A dash of nutmeg. This is a secret and key ingredient. You can't even really tell what it is, when mixed in, but it keeps everything interesting.

I had some leftover butter, about half a stick or so, melted and combined with the milk and egg mixture.

Then, in the pan I took 3 frozen whole-wheat dinner rolls left over from a party about a month ago and sliced them up. I also had about a pound of honey-backed sliced ham from the same party. Frozen ham slices very nicely. I diced it and mixed it into the pan.

If my roommate hadn't just cleaned out the fridge, I would have taken the slightly-old but not too old onions or zucchini and sauted them and thrown them in, too.

Salsa or tomato sauce would also have worked, but I didn't have any. And that really changes the attitude of the dish, so strictly optional.

I poured the milk and egg mixture over the bread and ham. Then put the cheese on top.

The cheese this time was gouda left over from a graduation party a few days ago. I was feeling lazy, so I just sliced it on top. I guess ideally one would grate it. Whatever. It worked fine.

Let that sit and absorb overnight and pop it in an oven that's at about 375 for around 40 or so minutes, or until it looks done. Big hit. Wish I had a picture.

Water Towers

What exactly do they do? I realize that's a dumb question. But are they just for fires, or do they supply the regular water for a building? And why can you only see them in some buildings? Is it only older buildings of a certain size? Even though I have a lot of dumb questions about them, I like them. There's something really pleasing about their shape as they perch on the top of buildings in the city.

Belated Yogurt Update! I made it myself!

Ta da!

(and dang was it good)

Grilled Mexican corn, Café Habana (New York City)

Grilled Mexican corn, Café Habana (New York City)
Originally uploaded by ardenstreet

Just because we didn't conceive of this particular dish ourselves, those of us raised in the Deep South (in the US, that is) can greatly appreciate the Mexican version of corn on the cob.

Corn is my Georgia-native dad's favorite vegetable, and fresh corn, properly prepared (on or off the cob) is one of my favorites as well.

If you are in New York City and happen upon a street fair in the spring or fall, grilled corn is a must. They also do a great job with it at Cafe Habana in the NoLIta neighborhood of Manhattan.

2 Life Observations Made at the Gym

1. I have seen the future, and it is saggy.

2. Some people who look great in their workout clothes look weird in street clothes, and vice versa.

Artsy

1. I love city-scapes.

2. "I'll have what she's having."

3. Why can't the L.E.S. be closer to where I live?

4. I love Jorge Columbo's work (with an iphone, no less!). Buy it here.

Sleepless In The City

Amen, brother. Amen.

Table Setting

Were I to be registering for china, which I am not, I would register for this one.

Tobacco Leaf by Mottahedeh.

And I would use it every day.

Greetings from Copenhagen

Greetings from Copenhagen
Originally uploaded by Happymeat

Dear Mom,
We thought the hats were a good idea at the time.

Beep Beep

I love the design of this stamp series...I've never ridden in a Mini. I don't know if reality could live up to the hype because they seem wicked awesome. Love the way they look, not sure if they'd deliver in the actuality of driving. I think I'm just too tall. Thoughts?

Something In My Head Yesterday...

Some of my favorite clothes
Are hand-me-downs
Lost and founds
Thrift store finds
And left behinds
But baby I'm glad I found you.

[not sure what this means... how well it hangs together... but there it is]

Inspired By "Keep Calm, Carry On"

Love it. Buy it here.

A Harrowing Realization

Trolling through I-Tunes I realized several of the artists I was drawn to were on the same I-Tunes Essentials mix. That's one of the themed mixes that I-Tunes offers with multiple artists within a genre, such as "70's Dance Party" or "Italian Dinner Party". I clicked on this mix, and sure enough I already own at least a third, if not more, of the tunes on there.

What freaked me out was the title of said mix:

"Soccer Mom Chillout"

Ouch. I neither have kids, nor do I own a mini-van, nor frequent soccer games. Please say it ain't so. Apparently, according to musical taste, I am, at heart, just like a soccer mom who likes to chill out. It's not how I'd like to think of myself, to be honest. Aren't I hip, sophisticated, and young-for-my-age?

No. The answer, according to I-Tunes is a firm no.

I fit a far more "average" demographic than I'd like to admit.

Well, if the mom jeans fit...

Oh Blue Chair, wherefore art thou?

I'm trying to sell a pair of these chairs. They are blue. Blue leather. I didn't pick them out. I guess my mom did back in the day, and now that my dad is retired, we don't need them. We had a pair of brown leather chairs that sold in an instant. But not these. I think I get it. When it comes to leather, blue is a very particular choice. And, apparently, since 1985, not the choice of many. I've even reduced the price a couple of times. Still no takers. I don't even know if I can blame the economy. Surely someone in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area would like 2 chairs like this along with another blue leather desk chair on wheels. Surely. Anyone?

Needle-less to say...

I had acupuncture today. Also suction cups. It was for my neck and shoulders. We'll see if it makes an impact. Some say acupuncture is simply the "placebo affect." But my MD friend thinks there may be some legit things going on with it. I don't know. But I don't have a fear of needles. So that's good.

Streams of Travelers

Streams of Travelers
Originally uploaded by Ettubrute

This is the 2nd time lapse of his I've uploaded. Enjoy.

Bad Combination

I went to Blue Ribbon Bakery last night for the first time. I really enjoyed it while I was there. We were seated in a timely fashion, the waiter was friendly. And I ordered a horrific combination. Not that the flavors tasted bad, or, for that matter, in combination. But immediately after the meal I was filled with regret. Regret and bloating.

The following should not be eaten together in a "meal". Limit yourself to a combination of no more than 3 of these foods at a sitting. At least if you are going to have the portions I ate.

1. Brussel Sprouts. These were roasted.
2. Hummus

3. Assorted breads and butter

4. A cheese plate featuring 1 each of goat, sheep, and cow's milk cheese. The goat, in particular, was excellent. It also came with raw Mexican honey which I completely consumed.

5. Chocolate-chip bread pudding with vanilla ice cream and very rich chocolate sauce

All washed down with a glass of red wine and several glasses of water.

I know. I should have seen this coming.

Flight of the Conchords - good, cheap, fun.

My friend has a thus far failproof technique for getting cheap or free tickets to sold-out shows. No, no scalpers are involved. Just normal show-goers who want to help a girl out.

We saw Flight of the Conchords on April 15th.

3 of us showed up to Radio City Music Hall without tickets at 7:45, and after a little waiting, smiling, hoping, and slight negotiation, got 3 seats together, front of the 1st mezzanine, $20 each, which was $40 below regular cost with service charges. Not to shabby. And a funny show!

Great Poster, Great Music

Tyler James' song "Stay Humble" is a near perfect song. Lyrics, sound, everything. And I dig the poster, too. The stars have been crossed everytime I knew he was playing in NYC. One of these days I'll get there.

Do I wish I was cooler? More Ironic? Like this?

Let's Talk TACOS

I recently returned from a trip to LA, where I consumed vast amounts of Mexican food. Probably I should say "Mexican" food. Because so much of what we eat and call Mexian has been adapted and changed, hasn't it?

For me, my touchstone taco comes from eating at Jalisco's in Atlanta, GA as a child. All other tacos are compared to theirs. Specifically in Buckhead (Taxco's and El Azteca being close seconds and thirds). This was a basic crispy shell, ground beef, shredded white mild cheese, lettuce. That's it. I still love Jalisco's. It's an affordable, family friendly, table-service place. And, extra bonus, there's a Baskin Robbins next door. Like lots of places in Atlanta, it's in strip mall, but we will overlook this.

I was pleased and intrigued to try Tito's Tacos when I visited L.A. It lived up to it's reputation. Like Jalisco's this is Mexican food for an American palate. You order at the window, and there's some sort of system there that I couldn't quite figure out. Their tacos have a thick shell, mild yellow cheese, and ground beef. I could get used to that. Be prepared to wait in line, but not regret it.

It's interesting that you can't really find places in NYC doing these kind of tacos. I mean, I guess there is Taco Bell, but it's so oily, so bad... and otherwise you are left with "burrito based" places (as I would call them) that have tacos as a side, or fancy-shmancy Mexican like Rosa Mexicano. Love it, but for totally different reasons (not the tacos!).

I'll be honest. I prefer the crispy to the soft tacos. I know that's inauthentic and that really I should be eating tostadas. They are the real crispy fried corn tortillas one finds in Latino markets. Normally, I prefer the "real" thing. Not so, in this case.