The Reason I Haven't Blogged in Almost a Year Is..............

The M*A*S*H box set. That's right. 11 seasons. 33 discs. I bought it "for" David as an 1st year wedding anniversary, but it turns out that the gift entertains me just as much. Pierce and McIntyre drop one-liners every other second and they are really funny, 30 years later. For instance, the latest noteworthy one-liner was delivered by Hawkeye was to Father Mulchahey. They were in surgery together and Father M. was called upon to act as a nurse since most of the 4077 caught the flu. Hawkeye says: "Father, now that we're working so closely together, can I call you "Dad?" See? Still funny. We're still in the Henry Blake (so, so funny with his Illinois varsity sweater + fishing hat) phase but look forward to seeing Winchester and Colonel Blake down the road. David chuckles every time Frank Burns is called "ferret face," and I beam, knowing that I found a perfect anniversary gift. One thing that really came as a shocker to me was that, until this recent purchase, I had no idea why Radar was named Radar. I had ZERO recollection of him detecting the choppers before anyone else. Of course, I was 10 years old when I truly watched M*A*S*H the first time around, so I'm cutting myself some slack.

No really, the REAL reason I haven't written is that my Chatham job has pretty much taken over my life. No lie. I really have put things on hold. For instance, I only recently--13 months after our wedding--ordered some wedding pics. Now, knowing what a photophile I am, how is it even possible that I waited that long? I started Chatham in March and was "on probation" for months (a.k.a. I wasn't allowed to take vaca time for that long) and really, that's what I've been up to. Work has made me pretty lame, but it also could be the 37 sneaking up on me. Oh wait, I already had a birthday, so 37 HAS sneaked up on me. Well, I'd love to write more, but disc #4, episode #5 beckons. Shhhhhh, don't tell David I'm gonna watch a couple without him. I'll be ahead but I suspect he watched some too without my knowledge. It's a nasty addiction, I'll tell ya.

Christmas in Kilarney....not really, but in Dormont

So my first married Christmas. Awwwwww. David and I hosted dinner. I am proud to boast of our cheese plate, which David picked out. There was goat cheese with green and red herbs on it that was fabulous and when I asked my new husband if he got it because it was Christmas colored, he replied "No, I got it cause they had samples of it at the store." OK then.

We did the cliched Honeybaked Ham, which--no joke--is amazing how it's spiral sliced and all. Wish I woulda come up with the patent for that. Why people give credit to anyone who cooks a pre-cooked ham is beyond my comprehension, but yet, we did get compliments.

Also on the menu, all made from scratch: Zucchini casserole. Yams with bourbon and pecan sauce. That's right. Green beans with shallot vinaigrette. I blanched 2 lbs. of beans, and felt very Julia about doing so. My mom helped me with a salad --simple red leaf lettuce with her perfected oil to vinegar ratio--and minestra, which is a Greek orzo side dish.

For dessert, I made something I hadn't made since 8th grade French Club--the classique "Buche de Noel" which is French for Yule Log, which means it's supposed to look like a real log. Ours ended up looking like a cocoa-colored pumpkin roll, but whatever. It was tasty. It's not going to win any food photography contests, that's for sure.

After dinner, we had lottery scratch cards for everyone. Real classy, we know. And 5 out of the 8 of us won. David and I found ourselves in the loser category. We had a great day and I was very very happy and satisfied as a hostess. The day went by too quickly, but I did enjoy it and counted my blessings the entire time.

Here Was The Bride

So, I got hitched. Finally. At age 35. Turned 36 the next week (Proud of my strategic move there). Very happy day. Went by too quickly. Kinda seems like a long time ago now. A gorgeous day in Mellon Park. Red. David. Greek dancing to a Dylan remix. I loved my veil. Actually, the veil was borrowed. I loved my dress even more. My double French reverse bustle. Walking down the aisle. Being told I was a "funny bride." Our first dance. Allison's toast. David's speech. Fig and mascarpone. Lamb lollipops. The gorgeous gorgeous Gatsby-like porch and wonderful patio. The lighting. The cookie table. The big silver samovar-looking coffee urns whose price shall remain unnamed. "Do you remember? The 21st day of September?". There was a Johnny Cash sing-along. The room full of insulation. The blue bookshelves.

Can't wait for the videography. These are just a few of the million images I have from our big day, which took place on Sept. 21, 2008.

I am indeed a lucky bride to have wed such a wonderful guy. I loved our ceremony and we were married by Jeff Liebmann, a student Unitarian minister and a self-proclaimed atheist. Whatever. MOre later, but this event should explain why there have been NO 2008 entries. Until now. Gettin' back in the swing o' things.

Duh, I Just Now Realized You Can Read French Newpapers Online

La fin des vraies blondes ?
LE MONDE | 14.07.07

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I Think I May Have Made History

If you know me, then you are familiar with my proclivity/propensity/whatever you call it,
towards bakeries. You might also know that I used to run regularly, when I
lived in Boston. Lately, I run when I can, and there seems to be no time, so TODAY, I decided to start my running routine (30 minutes) in the morning-before work-to get it out of the way.

On this day, July 12, 2007, I may have made bakery history, or perhaps running history. And here's how: When I started running this morning, I wasn't feeling it. Not in the groove, not having it. No inspiration..until I saw the OPEN sign of a new bakery near where I live. So, after 8 minutes of half-assed jogging, I stopped into this local bakery--I did have to order a cake anyway--and placed my mid-jog order.

I think I need to write Running magazine, or Bakery Monthly...probably the latter.

Thought you all could envision this Tina T. scenario in your head. You'll be amused to know, in the interest of "serious" running, I did stop my stopwatch, waited until I was done perusing the goods in the bakery, and finished my pseudo-run after my order:-)

Boston, You're My (Second) Home

On May 19, David and I flew to Boston for his friend Adria's wedding. The beautiful Princeton, MA wedding started at 11:00 a.m. and we landed at Logan at 9:07 a.m. Needless to say, we rented a car and flew down the Mass Pike, and got there a stunning "only 15 minutes" late. We were proud. We had a minor setback in that they rented us a nasty Kia-something that looked like the previous renter's sole activity was throwing dirty junkyard parts on the front and back seats and rubbing them into the upholstery. Nonetheless, a very lovely ceremony was followed by an awesome dinner at a local lobster shack in Fitchburg, MA. I got to meet many of David's Chicago amies and everyone had great stories to share. From Fitchburg, we traveled to Concord, MA (start of the Revolution) to show David the cutest village green ever! and to walk to the Old North Bridge for ye olde towne centre. However, our stay in Concord was short, due to the fact that Friendly Fenway was a'calling. The Sox play the Braves at 2:05, but a rain delay took us (me, D, and J.F.Klug) to Anna's Tacqueria in Brookline and we got to the game just before it started. My other boyfriend David [Ortiz] did not disappoint, and I think he was 3 for 4 that game. Met my Boston friends in Somerville for dinner, and boo hoo, we only had Monday left to see my second city. We ran my old route the next day and I took David to Renee's Cafe in Somerville.....where i'll have to explain the "It's Yah Muffin" story in person. (I loves me the Boston accent somethin' terrible). We also got our does of aggressive East Coast driving, and I reminisced LOUDLY as it took us over 30 minutes to find parking in Cambridge at lunchtime. We walked around Harvard Square, wound our way to the North End for brick oven pizza and of course, ended our trip by double parking in front of Mike's Pastries. TTFN Beantown.

Hilton Head: Where Rules are Meant to be Broken, and Somebody, Please Install Some Lights on that Island Before We All Get Ourselves Killed

Yep, it’s that time again, where I force you to listen to all the fun I had on Hilton Head Island, where I spent 5 days with David and his gracious hosts of parents, Nancy and Roger. We had a grand time: took walks on the beach, ate great seafood, biked a bit, and made two day trips to Beaufort, SC and Savannah, GA. My only regret is that I lost camera juice and so I took rien de photos of Savannah. Fortunately, we didn’t hear "The South will rise again" once, nor did we see any confederate flags. I don’t think the HH "rules and regulations" handbook would’ve allowed for them. HH is a nice place, I suppose, if you golf or play tennis with a manic streak. Pics: David, doing lord knows what pose on the beach, then D and Roger chillin' in the cafe,