ipod nation
Now that Adam has joined the ranks of ipod nation with a silver ipod mini, he can bond with Steve over their silver minis when they tire of baseball. They can discuss how Steve likes to keep his ear buds on even when the music is off to signify citizenship to ipod nation and to deter the "crazies" from chatting him up.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
A Happy Birthday To MGDub and let me tell you about the Skinless Bake
Last night, a bunch of us gathered at Unos to celebrate MGDub's birthday. Just a couple of observations from the evening:
1. Both Adam and I "mentioned" to our waitress it was MGDub's birthday hoping to milk Unos for a birthday treat. MGDub choose the "deep dish sundae" for her birthday treat and milked the waitress for an extra scoop of ice cream.
2. MGDub heckled the Unos Wednesday night magician during a card trick. To MDGub's dismay, our "introverted" magician did not heckle back and failed to entertain. We did not give him a tip and Dave suggested we give MGDub a tip since she was more entertaining than the magician.
3. MGDub received a lovely tangerine cable knit cashmere ensemble from GJDubya & Co....we all agreed it was very soft and cozy.
4. No one ordered pizza at pizzaria unos last night because Wayne sold many of us on the burger. I had the "Wayne Special," medium rare: Bacon Cheeseburger with the skinless bake substituted for the fries. The skinless bake is simply wonderful, a baked gratin of mashed potatoes mixed in with bacon topped with melted chedder and it comes with sour cream on the side. Kristen had to order her own skinless bake after trying it. Kudos to Wayne for thinking outside of the box when asking for substitutions.
Last night, a bunch of us gathered at Unos to celebrate MGDub's birthday. Just a couple of observations from the evening:
1. Both Adam and I "mentioned" to our waitress it was MGDub's birthday hoping to milk Unos for a birthday treat. MGDub choose the "deep dish sundae" for her birthday treat and milked the waitress for an extra scoop of ice cream.
2. MGDub heckled the Unos Wednesday night magician during a card trick. To MDGub's dismay, our "introverted" magician did not heckle back and failed to entertain. We did not give him a tip and Dave suggested we give MGDub a tip since she was more entertaining than the magician.
3. MGDub received a lovely tangerine cable knit cashmere ensemble from GJDubya & Co....we all agreed it was very soft and cozy.
4. No one ordered pizza at pizzaria unos last night because Wayne sold many of us on the burger. I had the "Wayne Special," medium rare: Bacon Cheeseburger with the skinless bake substituted for the fries. The skinless bake is simply wonderful, a baked gratin of mashed potatoes mixed in with bacon topped with melted chedder and it comes with sour cream on the side. Kristen had to order her own skinless bake after trying it. Kudos to Wayne for thinking outside of the box when asking for substitutions.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Knife Sharpener
I ended up eating two oranges last night. I had originally intended to eat one orange, but decided to try sharpening my knife so I had to cut another orange to determine whether the knife was sharper and therefore I had to eat both oranges...organic and pesticide. While I was home in lala land, I picked up a knife sharpening tip. Take a ceramic dish, flip it over and sharpen your knife at an angle against the unglazed bottom. My dull knife was becoming a safety issue and the knife was inexpensive so I figured I had nothing to lose even if I ruined it. I ran the blade of my knife slowly against the bottom of a bowl about 15 times on each side of the blade and tadahhhhh....it's noticably sharper now.
I ended up eating two oranges last night. I had originally intended to eat one orange, but decided to try sharpening my knife so I had to cut another orange to determine whether the knife was sharper and therefore I had to eat both oranges...organic and pesticide. While I was home in lala land, I picked up a knife sharpening tip. Take a ceramic dish, flip it over and sharpen your knife at an angle against the unglazed bottom. My dull knife was becoming a safety issue and the knife was inexpensive so I figured I had nothing to lose even if I ruined it. I ran the blade of my knife slowly against the bottom of a bowl about 15 times on each side of the blade and tadahhhhh....it's noticably sharper now.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Boston Organics
Thanks to MGDub's plug, I started getting Boston Organics delivered. Friday was my first vegetable/fruit box delivery. So far I've eaten one apple, but I'm comforted by the idea that I now have fresh fruits and vegetables coming my way every other week without any effort on my part. I don't actually care about organic, but I like not having to think about what to get and I also like that the food just shows up like clockwork. Organic is just a bonus so I can feel "hip" and "cool" like I'm actually a concerned citizen and I'm sure there are some health reasons for it as well. This week, I received kiwis, pears, apples, oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, lettace, an avocado and a bunch of other stuff. I'm not a huge fan of of eating tons of bosc pears and the weird apples that are a little small probably because they're organic. I'm going to make a crisp out of my supply because there's nothing a little butter and sugar can't take care of. plasticmom thinks I'm pathetic, but then again almost everyone thinks the same when I admit that I don't really know what I eat.
Thanks to MGDub's plug, I started getting Boston Organics delivered. Friday was my first vegetable/fruit box delivery. So far I've eaten one apple, but I'm comforted by the idea that I now have fresh fruits and vegetables coming my way every other week without any effort on my part. I don't actually care about organic, but I like not having to think about what to get and I also like that the food just shows up like clockwork. Organic is just a bonus so I can feel "hip" and "cool" like I'm actually a concerned citizen and I'm sure there are some health reasons for it as well. This week, I received kiwis, pears, apples, oranges, broccoli, tomatoes, lettace, an avocado and a bunch of other stuff. I'm not a huge fan of of eating tons of bosc pears and the weird apples that are a little small probably because they're organic. I'm going to make a crisp out of my supply because there's nothing a little butter and sugar can't take care of. plasticmom thinks I'm pathetic, but then again almost everyone thinks the same when I admit that I don't really know what I eat.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Not Circumference, Not Diameter, But Radius
Last night was GMA's marathon holiday party at Radius. A six course tasting menu paired with wine followed a cocktail hour of passed hors d'oeuvres. At one point, I had a barricade of six glasses in front of me. For some odd reason, the wait staff would take away other people's glasses, but would always leave mine. At some point, I told a waitress that I was finished with my glasses and there were too many and I felt a little overwhelmed. I guess I wasn't communicating clearly because she empathized by rearranging my glasses toward the center of the table, but didn't come back to remove them until much later. Dinner lasted until 11pm and we shot out of there as soon as we finished dessert. All the food was delicious, but here are my favorites in no particular order:
Apple Martini: Very fruity and refreshing, comes garnished with some apple slices.
Chocolate Torte: I'm glad we waited for dessert.
Cheese Puffs: Like cream puff pastry, but cheesy.
Prime Rib: Potato (good), port reduction sauce (good), BEEF (GOOD)
Potato Soup: We got bowls of little pototo chunks and then the waiter came with a teapot (I kid you not) of potato soup and poured each person a serving in their bowl.
As to be expected, there are always conversational highlights to be reconstructed. Steve was not sitting at my table so I have nothing to report on that front. My table of six included Adam, Leah, MC (Leah's husband), Amy and Shannon (Amy's roommate). The following is a reconstructed conversation about flags.
Shannon: I ordered some office supplies from the store room and I actually got all the flags I ordered. Usually, I'm lucky to get 4 packs. I couldn't believe it.
MC: You know, ribbons are the new "flags."
Leah: Man, I love those flags. I use them for everything and I don't know what we'd do without them. I have dozens in my office.
----start of a passionate 15 minute dialogue about flags--feel free to skip content----
plasticann: You never used them at Putnum?
Leah: Not really, maybe here and there, but now I use them for everything...pink, purple, blue...
Amy: I can't live without them either. When I go through a report, I use different colors to represent different things, but I forget what the colors represent by the end or I run out of the blue flags and I wonder whether I should go back and replace all the blue ones with a different color to maintain consistancy.
plasticann: I wonder how much we spend on flags for the office. They're expensive, it must be a major part of our overhead.
Amy: Rachel has to order all kinds of flags, some people like the ones with arrow and other ones like the big ones. Rachel says we would be the natural predators for flags.
plasticann: Yeah, but those opaque ones are the worst...they really unproductive.
Amy: You mean the tape ones?
MC: Are they like ribbons?
plasticann: No, they're opaque so you can't see where the sticky part starts and ends so they're really hard to use.
Amy: Those are terrible. I try to use them up so we can get nice ones, but I think Rachel keeps ordering them because they disappear.
----15 minutes later----
MC: What are you guys talking about?
Leah: Flags.
MC: Like American flags?
Leah: No...they're post-it plastic flags for marking papers.
MC: No wonder I was confused why you all were talking about flags.
plasticann: Is that why you said "ribbons are the new flag?"
MC: Yeah...like those yellow ribbons for the troops.
----conversation moves on to ribbons...yellow, pink, red, etc.----
Last night was GMA's marathon holiday party at Radius. A six course tasting menu paired with wine followed a cocktail hour of passed hors d'oeuvres. At one point, I had a barricade of six glasses in front of me. For some odd reason, the wait staff would take away other people's glasses, but would always leave mine. At some point, I told a waitress that I was finished with my glasses and there were too many and I felt a little overwhelmed. I guess I wasn't communicating clearly because she empathized by rearranging my glasses toward the center of the table, but didn't come back to remove them until much later. Dinner lasted until 11pm and we shot out of there as soon as we finished dessert. All the food was delicious, but here are my favorites in no particular order:
Apple Martini: Very fruity and refreshing, comes garnished with some apple slices.
Chocolate Torte: I'm glad we waited for dessert.
Cheese Puffs: Like cream puff pastry, but cheesy.
Prime Rib: Potato (good), port reduction sauce (good), BEEF (GOOD)
Potato Soup: We got bowls of little pototo chunks and then the waiter came with a teapot (I kid you not) of potato soup and poured each person a serving in their bowl.
As to be expected, there are always conversational highlights to be reconstructed. Steve was not sitting at my table so I have nothing to report on that front. My table of six included Adam, Leah, MC (Leah's husband), Amy and Shannon (Amy's roommate). The following is a reconstructed conversation about flags.
Shannon: I ordered some office supplies from the store room and I actually got all the flags I ordered. Usually, I'm lucky to get 4 packs. I couldn't believe it.
MC: You know, ribbons are the new "flags."
Leah: Man, I love those flags. I use them for everything and I don't know what we'd do without them. I have dozens in my office.
----start of a passionate 15 minute dialogue about flags--feel free to skip content----
plasticann: You never used them at Putnum?
Leah: Not really, maybe here and there, but now I use them for everything...pink, purple, blue...
Amy: I can't live without them either. When I go through a report, I use different colors to represent different things, but I forget what the colors represent by the end or I run out of the blue flags and I wonder whether I should go back and replace all the blue ones with a different color to maintain consistancy.
plasticann: I wonder how much we spend on flags for the office. They're expensive, it must be a major part of our overhead.
Amy: Rachel has to order all kinds of flags, some people like the ones with arrow and other ones like the big ones. Rachel says we would be the natural predators for flags.
plasticann: Yeah, but those opaque ones are the worst...they really unproductive.
Amy: You mean the tape ones?
MC: Are they like ribbons?
plasticann: No, they're opaque so you can't see where the sticky part starts and ends so they're really hard to use.
Amy: Those are terrible. I try to use them up so we can get nice ones, but I think Rachel keeps ordering them because they disappear.
----15 minutes later----
MC: What are you guys talking about?
Leah: Flags.
MC: Like American flags?
Leah: No...they're post-it plastic flags for marking papers.
MC: No wonder I was confused why you all were talking about flags.
plasticann: Is that why you said "ribbons are the new flag?"
MC: Yeah...like those yellow ribbons for the troops.
----conversation moves on to ribbons...yellow, pink, red, etc.----
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Pink Paper
I didn't know the copier was in the middle of a print job when I tried to copy something on my pretty pink paper. To my horror, the machine started sucking in my lovely paper and spitting out printouts of blackberry help directions. Fortunately, I overcame the initial shock and salvaged the chartreuse paper, but all in all...I lost seven sheets of pink. Now some guy at work has blackberry directions half pink, half white. I sure how he enjoys my high quality paper.
I didn't know the copier was in the middle of a print job when I tried to copy something on my pretty pink paper. To my horror, the machine started sucking in my lovely paper and spitting out printouts of blackberry help directions. Fortunately, I overcame the initial shock and salvaged the chartreuse paper, but all in all...I lost seven sheets of pink. Now some guy at work has blackberry directions half pink, half white. I sure how he enjoys my high quality paper.
Thursday, January 13, 2005
You're Cruisin'
Wow...an apprentice cruise. I hope the complimentary tote bags are silk screened with an image of "The Donald" and all the entertainment consists of remixing that nifty jingle "Money Money Mondy...Maaaahneeee!"
Wow...an apprentice cruise. I hope the complimentary tote bags are silk screened with an image of "The Donald" and all the entertainment consists of remixing that nifty jingle "Money Money Mondy...Maaaahneeee!"
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
La La Land
The following is a reconstructed conversation with the saleswoman (I'll call her "lala") when I used my auto club of southern California credit card to pay at the coop today. This is classic!
lala: [scrutinizing the card after swiping it through] So you're from Southern California?
plasticann: [waiting for the zinger to come anytime now] Yup!
lala: What part? Los Angeles?
plasticann: [bracing herself for the zinger and desperately trying not to smirk] Yup!
lala: You know, sometimes I like to call it "La La Land."
plasticann: [totally grinning by now] Yup...we've had this conversation before.
lala: Oh...we have! It's hard to remember faces sometimes.
The following is a reconstructed conversation with the saleswoman (I'll call her "lala") when I used my auto club of southern California credit card to pay at the coop today. This is classic!
lala: [scrutinizing the card after swiping it through] So you're from Southern California?
plasticann: [waiting for the zinger to come anytime now] Yup!
lala: What part? Los Angeles?
plasticann: [bracing herself for the zinger and desperately trying not to smirk] Yup!
lala: You know, sometimes I like to call it "La La Land."
plasticann: [totally grinning by now] Yup...we've had this conversation before.
lala: Oh...we have! It's hard to remember faces sometimes.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Bios: "small" wedding...not so "small" wedding party
I've selected and secured the services of my team of bridesmaids. Wheezy says she'll use this as her bio if she ever gets on imdb. I'll be holding her to that. Here's the edited rundown of "Team Bridesmaids."
MGDub: (Maid of Honor) MGDub is finishing up her degree in TelevisionProduction at BU and is currently editing her thesis project. Although MGDub and I met at Brown, we didn't become friends until we both moved to Boston. She’s been a huge part of my life in Boston over the last five years. MGDub is my "date" to office functions when Adam is unavailable and she's almost a bigger hit with the office than Adam himself. MGDub has graciously chauffeured me around in "Ben," the name she impetuously bestowed on her SUV. To her credit, this was before the "nnifer" hoopla. MGDub is looking forward to her many MOH duties such as bustling, holding random stuff and compiling mildly embarrassing stories about Adam and me.
Laurel: (Bridesmaid) Laurel is finishing up her PhD in Bioengineering at "BIT." Laurel and I have been friends since third grade. Since we both work in Kendall Square, we regularly meet up for lunch. Laurel brings the sandwiches and I bring the snacks. I get the better end of the deal because she usually brings snacks as well. She's an amazing baker and is a longtime Food TV addict. She's been an incredibly loyal and faithful friend to me over the last (26-8=18) eighteen years and it's been such a treat spending the last few years living in the same city. Laurel will be providing photos of me during my awkward years and boy is she excited.
Kristen: (Bridesmaid) Kristen is obsessed with teeth. Fortunately, she’s a dentist. Watching a movie with Kristen will sometimes include a running commentary about celebrity cosmetic dental procedures. By the way, Halle Berry's teeth aren't real, but you'll have to ask Kristen about that. What I love most is about Kristen is her enthusiasm and hospitality. Dinner at her house is always a feast. Kristen, my consultant, has taken me ring shopping, wedding dress shopping and is pretty darned excited about hair and makeup. She's also refreshingly enthused about the prospect of bridesmaid dresses. Kristen will undoubtedly make sure I look good on the big day and make me laugh throughout the process.
Cara: (Bridesmaid) Cara, my futuresister-in-law, is Adam’s lovely big sister. She’s incredibly affirming and has always been extremely kind and welcoming. Cara and her husband Bryce are parents to the famous Baby “Zess.” Super smart and multi talented, Cara epitomizes good taste and style. Cara will be anchoring Team Bridesmaid from the West Coast and she’ll also be supervising Baby Zess, who will be in charge of tiny bow tying since she’s still got wee little fingers.
Wheezy: (Bridesmaid) Wheezy is using the quantitative skills gained from nearly five years of economic litigation consulting toward a degree in Film Studies at BU. Wheezy was my mentor and she taught me everything I know and shares my love for programming in STATA. Most importantly, Wheezy has been an awesome friend. plasticmom loves talking to Wheezy about their shared love of gridded notebooks (especially the French variety). plasticmom always has movie ideas she wants to share with Wheezy, including a black and white film about economics. Wheezy is always up for a conversation about obscure film topics, foley artists, what's "cool," what's "square" and finally, what's so square that it's cool. Nina's many intellectual interests include: logit models, punk, hip hop, silent films, jazz, musicals and of course gridded notebooks. wheezymom may feel inspired to knit her a special butt bow for her dress.
I've selected and secured the services of my team of bridesmaids. Wheezy says she'll use this as her bio if she ever gets on imdb. I'll be holding her to that. Here's the edited rundown of "Team Bridesmaids."
MGDub: (Maid of Honor) MGDub is finishing up her degree in TelevisionProduction at BU and is currently editing her thesis project. Although MGDub and I met at Brown, we didn't become friends until we both moved to Boston. She’s been a huge part of my life in Boston over the last five years. MGDub is my "date" to office functions when Adam is unavailable and she's almost a bigger hit with the office than Adam himself. MGDub has graciously chauffeured me around in "Ben," the name she impetuously bestowed on her SUV. To her credit, this was before the "nnifer" hoopla. MGDub is looking forward to her many MOH duties such as bustling, holding random stuff and compiling mildly embarrassing stories about Adam and me.
Laurel: (Bridesmaid) Laurel is finishing up her PhD in Bioengineering at "BIT." Laurel and I have been friends since third grade. Since we both work in Kendall Square, we regularly meet up for lunch. Laurel brings the sandwiches and I bring the snacks. I get the better end of the deal because she usually brings snacks as well. She's an amazing baker and is a longtime Food TV addict. She's been an incredibly loyal and faithful friend to me over the last (26-8=18) eighteen years and it's been such a treat spending the last few years living in the same city. Laurel will be providing photos of me during my awkward years and boy is she excited.
Kristen: (Bridesmaid) Kristen is obsessed with teeth. Fortunately, she’s a dentist. Watching a movie with Kristen will sometimes include a running commentary about celebrity cosmetic dental procedures. By the way, Halle Berry's teeth aren't real, but you'll have to ask Kristen about that. What I love most is about Kristen is her enthusiasm and hospitality. Dinner at her house is always a feast. Kristen, my consultant, has taken me ring shopping, wedding dress shopping and is pretty darned excited about hair and makeup. She's also refreshingly enthused about the prospect of bridesmaid dresses. Kristen will undoubtedly make sure I look good on the big day and make me laugh throughout the process.
Cara: (Bridesmaid) Cara, my futuresister-in-law, is Adam’s lovely big sister. She’s incredibly affirming and has always been extremely kind and welcoming. Cara and her husband Bryce are parents to the famous Baby “Zess.” Super smart and multi talented, Cara epitomizes good taste and style. Cara will be anchoring Team Bridesmaid from the West Coast and she’ll also be supervising Baby Zess, who will be in charge of tiny bow tying since she’s still got wee little fingers.
Wheezy: (Bridesmaid) Wheezy is using the quantitative skills gained from nearly five years of economic litigation consulting toward a degree in Film Studies at BU. Wheezy was my mentor and she taught me everything I know and shares my love for programming in STATA. Most importantly, Wheezy has been an awesome friend. plasticmom loves talking to Wheezy about their shared love of gridded notebooks (especially the French variety). plasticmom always has movie ideas she wants to share with Wheezy, including a black and white film about economics. Wheezy is always up for a conversation about obscure film topics, foley artists, what's "cool," what's "square" and finally, what's so square that it's cool. Nina's many intellectual interests include: logit models, punk, hip hop, silent films, jazz, musicals and of course gridded notebooks. wheezymom may feel inspired to knit her a special butt bow for her dress.
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