PRAGUE

It was crazy leaving on Thanksgiving Day... baking the night before and having a couple of friends over for dinner didn't help either. Then there was the whole flooding toilet incident. However, Thanksgiving lunch was very good! I had corn casserole for the first time and really enjoyed it! I liked the cranberry sauce, and the pumpkin pie I made was wonderful. The pecan pie had WAY too many pecans in it... definitely writing that in the epicurious review - not the best recipe! Flying later that day on a full belly - not the brightest idea, but what are you going to do when you are flying on Thanksgiving Day???

Let's get to the good part... Prague was wonderful. I really enjoyed the sites, and I actually didn't find the food all that much. We tried about 10 different beers (including a vanilla and a sour cherry beer at a microbrewery we went to), so that was fun! Ultimately though... the last meal at Kampa Park really tied everything together. The setting was SO romantic - swans, incredible view of Charles Bridge, candlelit room, and soft jazz playing in the background. Rob said something along the lines of, "Well... I thought it was time to maybe stop all the comments" and he pulled out a ring!! He totally had me convinced the whole trip that nothing was planned - said that his brother had asked him, and he said that he didn't have a ring, so nothing could be planned, etc. etc. etc... he definitely fooled me! The ring is beautiful! I love it... today we went to the designer, as this is only a sample/base for the real ring. I made some suggestions for things I would like, she made a wax model (while we had dinner across the street), and then we went and it looks SO great! December 17th estimated date for the arrival of the real ring... the one that is mine. Edwardian antique style, which is what I love! Round diamond, with some smaller diamonds. The ring is actually from a place that a friend of ours got his ring from a year ago... I had said that I liked his wife's ring, so Rob asked him for the address of the jewelry shop. The only stipulation in exchange for address was to not get the same ring - we didn't, of course! I want my own ring too!! I'm excited to see it, as it's not her standard settings, and she was excited to try something a little different too... can't wait! It's what I had been looking at online (ssssh... don't tell Rob!) only better!

So now... the calls and e-mails have begun. I quickly realized I couldn't call everyone, so I've already sent an e-mail, though a second round of those have to go out too. I've talked to a few people, missed a few people... first call was my sister; she was SO happy! She really likes Rob, and she is going to fly to Toronto for the INTRODUCTION. Time to meet the parents. This is what makes it so scary... I really feel like this is a transition in my life, and it makes me SO nervous. Things will never be the same, but I can't wait! I know my parents will love him, and I'm sure he'll love my family, and I can't wait for it to be the end of the month... and then again, maybe I can. It's all a bit overwhelming right now... but I figure it's got to all be downhill once the meeting is over with...

Toilets

I hate when things go wrong with toilets. Mine just decided that it no longer wanted to work. The tank wouldn't stop overflowing, but thankfully it was not the bowl overflowing as the troubles started after a flush. I had to call my landlord (at midnight) and ask him to come on over and figure it out. Well... it's not an easy fix. So we turned off the water to the toilet (which took some effort as the switch-thing was stuck... but it got done), and the issue will be dealt with on Friday. Thankfully, we have a second bathroom in the apartment, and it is the one I primarily use... not that it matters much, as I won't be home for much longer... and by the time we're back, I fully expect that the toilet will have been set straight. (What a way to meet your landlord... my new roommate also moves in on Friday; I made sure to ask our landlord to introduce himself and not just walk in. ;p)

Pies are done... just need to make whipped cream for the pumpkin pie in the morning. Of course, "the proof is in the pudding." I won't know until tomorrow how they really came out. I'm waiting for the pumpkin pie to cool down a bit now, and then I'll cover it and refridgerate it for tomorrow. I am SO looking forward to dessert! It's amazing just how bad both those desserts are for you... but whoever said that Thanksgiving is a day to be healthy? It's a day to celebrate gluttony!!! (Ok, I know the Pilgrims a.k.a. Puritans would disagree with me... but are they around to say anthing??? NO.)

I'm looking forward to sleeping in, not looking forward to packing, and looking forward to going to my friend's for our Thanksgiving lunch. I'm loving the beginning of these 6 days or so already (despite toilet issues!)

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

I'll make pumpkin and pecan pie tonight, but I made the cranberry sauce last night. It's SO easy to make, and it's really good! I was a little worried when I took it off the stove, as it seemed WAY too liquidy, but it quickly got the right consistency as it cooled. It even changed colors. R and I agreed that the sound of the splitting cranberries was definitely akin to popcorn popping.

I learned that a friend got divorced a few weeks ago (honestly, I'm not surprised), and that he has a preliminary hearing for a DUI today in court. That part is SO not him, especially as he is very against driving drunk in general. He's SO irresponsible sometimes that it is frustrating. He just finished a school program for post-production. I hope he gets back on track, as he is quite older than I am.

Prague Christmas markets open on Saturday... did I write this already? I can't wait! I want to get some sausage, mulled wine or hot cider, and a snack/dessert thing and just walk around and absorb it all. So happy it'll open! I was worried that it might not be opened yet.

Opera Choices

Anybody know anything about opera? Which one should we go to? We can go on Fri, Sat, Sun, or Monday night. We have dinner reservations on Sunday night, but we can probably change those. I've never been to an opera before, and I know Prague would be the perfect place for my first experience. I'm leaning towards Dvorak, only because he was Czech. I do like Verdi... and Carmen is very tempting, but only because it's the only one I've heard of before. Is that a good basis for making a decision? (It also means we'll have to change the night we have our dinner reservations for...)

This was disheartening. What is the world coming to?

pecans

how can pecans be so expensive? and how much do you have to put in a pecan pie for it to be good? I have a recipe that says about 2 cups, but I've found one that says 5 1/2 cups. That's a pretty big difference... not just in amount of pecans, but in cost as well! Pecans run at about $4/bag, WTF? That just strikes me as ridiculous. I feel like there must be a story about pecan shortages that I don't know about... I should do some research.

Just got an e-mail from a friend about his travels through Latin America. He just finished his Peace Corps time in Paraguay, and has gone through Brazil (the Pantanal! I just read an article in National Geographic about it), Ecuador, Peru, and he is now in Columbia... He then plans on heading back home to TN via land. Crazy! I love Latin America. Reading his e-mails makes me wish I was on one of those reggae beaches right now...

BUT I am going to Prague! It's so exciting! I've never been before and based on a friend's sister's suggestion who studied abroad there, we've already picked at least one restaurant to go to. To make it semi-fair, we've decided that meals will be on me. He is a grad student after all.

I'm so looking forward to a long weekend away from the office. I only have two more days to get through.

I am good!!!

We are going to Prague. He' s decided he wants me to help plan our days, so he's let me know where we're going! woo-hoo! Now to see if there are any other secrets remaining???? (I'm so excited! I've never been, and itPrague has definitely been on my list of places to visit!)

yesterday, today, and four days after tomorrow

I called in sick yesterday, as I've been sick for a couple of days. It was nice to just sit in the sun, watch the Food Network or Discovery Channel (my two favorites!), read a random blog that I linked to from a friend's account that I'm growing sickly addicted to, and just doing nothing. I am feeling much better, thank you.

Last night, I continued the relaxed pace, instead of going drinking for a friend's b-day. I didn't really have it in me, and a girls' night was just what was in order. It was the first time all of us (local) girls were able to get together. We went to M's house and had sushi, baked the triple chocolate cookies (better the first time for some reason, but still good!), watched Happy Endings and a few Sex in the City episodes from the first season. We stayed up until 2, and it was such a good night. Then I slept in this morning, which was also fabulous.

Today, I have started to unpack some of my dishes, etc. as my roommate is moving in with her boyfriend. I look forward to living a settled life again, as things feel so up in the air right now. (I also look forward to feeling 100% better... Rob's being sicker (worse off than I) is no help either. So demanding, aren't I???)

Tonight, we are going to a friend's for a surprise menu. We've been asked to bring a cushion each (not a huge apartment, and she's having 13 people over!), and she has said that the dress is semi-formal. Interesting. Of course, we're expected to bring some wine as well.

Random thought process from last night: it is amazing how accustomed we are to Christianity. A friend was saying how her bf (Jewish) was perhaps uncomfortable going to her family's for xmas, as he would be the only non-Christian. I said that I could understand that, but said that at least he would know most of what was going on... I found it very hard going to my ex's for Passover, as I really had no clue what to do and when. (It also didn't help that his Grandmother decided that she wasn't going to talk to me, because I'm Muslim - really great experience, I must say. Thankfully, I can't imagine anyone in my family doing such a thing, let alone one of my Grandmothers!) I said that anyone who grew up in the US knows so many Christian rituals from school and society, so it makes the transition for a non-Christian to a Christian home (holiday) much easier. The response was that there are so many more rituals that take place for Passover (or in Judaism) that it doesn't quite compare... but as I was falling asleep, I thought about all the rituals that we know from xmas, and we don't even think about. The gift giving, a traditional xmas dinner, ALL the xmas songs - imagine going to someone's house and not knowing "Jingle Bells!," midnight mass (which I've never attended), the stockings, the tree (and putting gifts under it) and the star/angel on top, the fact that it's considered Jesus' birthday, and so on. That's a lot to know about a holiday - especially as a non-Christian! I guess it's good in a way (easier for me to date someone Christian - as I am doing now), but a little sad at the same time.

My official guess for where we fly Thursday night: Prague. Let's see if I'm wrong.

I love Internet Access

Rob's brought the computer back from the conference, and wireless access miraculously came back. Thank goodness!

I've got just enough time for a quick post before my new roommate comes over... we're going to have a mini-roommate talk and then maybe go out for dinner/drinks. It does not help that I am sick! Not in a big go out and do anything mood.
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One week to go to the mystery trip. I have found out that the cost aspect was not true, as it is more expensive than he said - liar. Here is what I know so far:

- We're flying Alitalia (and we have good seats)
- Not Vienna
- Somewhere I've never been before
- Today he asked if I'd be into a "cultural" experience, such as a concert... hmmmm? (I asked in what language, but he caught me in the act of trying to find out - haha!)
- Staying in one city for all 4 nights (yay! I didn't feel like moving around.)

I'm allowed to ask a question a day, but he won't answer if he feels it divulges too much info. Honestly, I had NO clue that Rob is so good at keeping a secret. It's kind of scary! His plan is to ask me a question a day, so he can plan an itinerary we'll both enjoy. I can't wait!
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We are no longer going to Harvest for Thanksgiving. We got an invite! A co-worker invited us to his place to share T-lunch with him and his roommate. They know we fly that night, so they said we don't have to help with clean up and don't have to bring anything! But, me being me, I have offered to bring cranberry sauce, garlic mashed potatoes (Rob's are SO good), pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. Let me know if you have any good recipes for any but the potatoes. I've made pecan pie before, but I never keep the recipe for some reason. I may also make some zucchini bread, as I made some Sunday (first time I'd ever had it) and it was quite good and easy! It was still good even though there was no white flour (it was moved out of the house, and I did not know,) so I had to use 3/4 cup regular flour (all I had left) and then 1 1/4 cups of organic wheat flour. I think next time I'll try only wheat flour and a little less sugar. It was sweeter than I would prefer... I was happy my forced healthier version was so yummy! (In case you're wondering why I had some flour but say all was gone - I bought some flour recently, as I've been cooking so much, and filled up our canister. But the whole thing wouldn't fit in the jar, so I had to keep some in a bag in the cabinet. This is part of the reason I hadn't noticed the moving until I had already shredded the zucchini; fortunately, this resulted in the discovery of the yummy healthier version. I figure healthier is better, right?)

The difference a night can make...

Yesterday was a miserable day... a tense outlook on the roommate search, battles over motivation and workload at the office, and a worrisome call from my dad about family matters. But come 8 pm, I have a seemingly amazing new roommate for December (if only I can remember her name!), the President of the company makes a change in goals and makes everyone's life easy and I win a dinner with her and the VP to Aquitane, and talking to my dad, I'm not as worried as I orginally was... I'm sure that will resolve itself too.

Also, went to trivia with Frances and friends and we won first place! We made a huge comeback, and won by 15 points! Unbelievable... got both of the last round questions right - yay!

And symbolically, representing the revitalization of our team (at work), our Betta fish (mascot as we're Team Beta) has come back from near death!

Might go to a few parties this weekend... we'll see how motivated I feel. Rob took his computer with him to the conference in Baltimore/D.C. so I'm probably outie for the weekend.

Is Book Club Dying??

It's been a two year run... I can't believe it's lasted so long, but I'm worried that our book club may be suffering a slow death. The next few book clubs may reveal the path that our book club is destined to travel... I hope it continues. I've read so many books that I never would have read on my own; tonight's book is just one example of that (1776by David McCullough.) My mom was surprised to hear that we're still doing it, because she thought it would be a passing phase for some reason. She was actually really pleased to hear it, which was nice. I hadn't talked to her in a week, so it was good to catch up a bit.

So something I've been wondering about lately is how it's possible for some gays or lesbians to question the existence of bi-sexuality. Being gay is questioned so frequently and strongly that I am surprised that someone who is gay would question anther in the same way. In fact, I feel like most gays or lesbians I've spoken with do not believe bi-sexuality exists, and think it is a result of people just playing around with simply a sexual response, rather than the emotional (preference) that they experience. I can't help but feel that this view of bi-sexuality is sometimes as though they feel threatened by bi-sexuality... and I can see why that could be: presenting the idea that there could be a choice in the decision of sexuality, opens doors to the arguments that some are simply choosing to be gay. Personally, I think everyone is bi- to some extent. I view sexuality as a spectrum, rather than one of a few options. I guess I'm just willing to admit that out of the 3 billion women on this planet that there may be one who exists that I would be interested in having a relationship with... I have yet to meet that woman, but I can see that such a thing is possible, I guess.

Danish Pastry House

Yesterday, Anna and I made the most unbelievable cookies. Ultra-rich, SUPER chocolately, and delicious! Never going to lose that recipe! It was a perfect day for baking... I totally just needed a day when I did a lot of nothing. (I accomplished most of my list... except for cleaning and laundry. Funny how it often works out that way!)

Tonight, I say Salman Rushdie speak, and it was very interesting. He was funny, and very much an artist. He was presented and held a discussion with a Harvard English professor, Homi Bhabha, who distinctly differed from Rushdi in his very academic approach to the conversation.

After the talk, I went to Border Cafe for dinner and drinks with friends. Now I'm back home... ready to shower and go to sleep. It was nice to come home and see that a friend had left some homemade pumpkin-apple bread (I believe that's the combo) for me. yum!

I have to try the Danish Pastry House out! What great reviews! I'd never heard of the place before, but I just saw it on the Food Network. It's got to be good! Definitely looked great on tv...

Interesting...

Hmmm... I just learned that someone "bitched out" my ex's ex (on my behalf), but I have no clue who it was! Let me know if it was you! And from the sounds of it, it was someone who knew me pretty well in college. Very interesting.............

Back from NC, rather exhausted. It's nice to have a whole day free to myself. It's a bit of a shame that Rob has to work all day long. He's been working 12 hour days for this conference he goes to in a few days. It sucks (for him) that he has to work like that over the weekend even. Hopefully, he'll get some good data to present.

NC was good - always reminds me of New England with a little fewer coniferous trees... at least when driving. But then you see the Bojangles, here the Southern accent, and can't find a decent beer selection anywhere, and you know you're no longer home.

My proposed itin for the day (in no particular order):
1. Eat breakfast
2. Do laundry
3. Go to the gym
4. Do some cleaning (bathrooms at least!)
5. Determine what to make for dinner - okra (beef) stew or walnut-pomegranate (chicken) stew.
6. Make dinner

I think I can keep to that list. We'll see.