You're so Vain, You Probably Think this LJ is About You

Have been out of touch because my life is both busy and humdrum. Not that I mind...I used to crave constant change and now...eh, not so much. I guess in my heart, I love ruts.

My mom and I went to Houston last weekend to see the ballet. It was Romeo and Juliet and the dancing was sublime! I love the balcony scene and also the death scene in the tomb. Romeo dancing with the unconscious Juliet is so sad and beautiful. *sob*

Mom and I stayed at the swanky Lancaster Hotel, enjoyed some cocktails, and generally had a smashing good time. The company sent me a coupon to get tickets to their next show for 50% off, so I think we will go again. It's Madama Butterfly, which I love as an opera, so hopefully the ballet will be just as wonderful. I will use the discount and spring for better seats because we were in the balcony six stories up, and mom got wicked vertigo until they killed the lights.

This weekend, we went to my cousin's wedding and it was a typical Tafoya experience. My dad scared the Hell out of us driving to the venue in the Hill Country. All the winding, tiny roads are not meant to be taken at 55 mph. Then, the ceremony was outside and it was so hot, one of the bridesmaids passed out. Down like a ton of bricks. Then my sister got into it with not one, but two of the wedding coordinators/staff. To be fair, both were incredibly rude and trying to hustle a bunch of old people around, including some of our relatives. So my sister let them have it. Otherwise, the event was lovely. The lady who owned the mobile bar recognized me from my friend's wedding two weeks ago, where she was also set up. So embarrassed because everyone was like, "Of course the bartender recognizes Melissa!" >_<

And finally, just wanted to give my dad a Father's Day shout out: he is the best father a girl could ever have. He doesn't always agree with the choices we make, but he always supports us. He sacrificed so many things for our family and has always taken great care of us. My sister was remembering the best piece of advice my dad ever gave us: always walk away from a fight if you can, but if they back you into a corner, throw the first punch and hit them so hard they can't/won't want to get up. LOL - oh, my dad...

Well, my anger has abated and I forgot half the stuff I wanted to bitch about in my last entry, so I guess I'll forget about that post. For now.

Although my birthday is not until tomorrow, I have been celebrating the Hell out of it all weekend long:

- Thursday night the familia took me out to eat (celebrating all the December birthdays/anniversaries) followed by cake and presents at my parent's house.

- Afterwards, JP took me to the midnight showing of Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows, which was entirely awesome (although I still like the first better). I mean, I enjoy hoyay! as much as the next gal, but it felt a little over the top/anvil-y for my taste. But all in all, a great movie. Can't wait to see it again!

- Friday I headed out of town to see Nay-nay in Austin. That night we went downtown to see Esther's Follies, an Austin institution. It's a part skit, part singing, part magic show that is lightning quick with the jokes and costume changes. Truly unique and hilarious! Afterwards, we wandered down 6th Street looking into all the bars, tattoo parlors, and fancy hotels. We stopped for couple of drinks at an Irish pub, which was the only semi-quiet place on the street (for us old folks) and finally went back to Nay-nay's house.

- Saturday we did some shopping and found ourselves back in downtown Austin, looking at the window displays that are part of the Holiday Window Walk. Students from the local college put displays in tony stores and people get to vote on them. My favorite was the ball gown made from wrapping paper. That was some serious Project Runway shit!

- Afterwards, we went to Romeo's for some awesome Italian food (the bruschetta was to die for, with roasted garlic, olive tapenade, and fresh tomatoes). There was also a band playing bluegrass music. I don't know why they were playing in an Italian restaurant, but they sounded good.

- We then found our way to Pioneer Farms to see an interactive performance of A Christmas Carol. The farm is a living history museum run by volunteers. For the show, they walk small groups around the farm to different tableaux where actors perform to you, as if the audience was Scrooge. It was simple, yet effective.

- We ended the night with a few drinks and fell into bed, exhausted. I didn't drink too much this weekend, mainly because the last time I was at her place, I drank a whole bottle of Rose Regale and nearly puked it up on her carpet. Huzzah for tolerance!

- Today, we woke up late, went for mani/pedis (my toes are glittery red), and I drove home. I can't wait to collapse into bed!

This weekend, I will be drinking smart cocktails and watching Notorious, my favorite Hitchcock movie of all time. I may or may not be wearing a trilby at the time.

No reason, really. Just felt like making some random, silly plan and following it through. Plus it's cheaper than retail therapy. My only problem is what kind of cocktails? I have pomegranate martini mix, but that seems too trendy. Manhattans would fit the time period, but bourbon? Yuck. Plain old martinis and I will be drunker than Ingrid Bergman's character. Decisions, decisions.

I ended my crappy work week by splurging on some ballet flats and sandals at DSW, picking up a six pack of Dos Equis, and getting pissed while watching The Mighty Boosh.

Things are looking up!

What y'all doing this weekend, flist?

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies on my flist! Hope you have a great one!

I met up with Nay-nay on Friday night and we enjoyed watermelon martinis at Olive Garden (YUM) and then went shopping for clothes I didn't need (bought a fabulous dress, though).

Yesterday, JP and I went to see Thor and, I must say, it was pretty good! Chris Hemsworth is just gorgeous and even though I am pre-disposed to love anything Kenneth Branagh does anyway, he did a great job moving the story forward and preventing it from looking or sounding ridiculous (which is no easy task when you are talking about THOR). My favorite bits included the main character coming to Earth because I love 'fish out of water' scenarios. Oh, yes - Stellan Skarsgard and Kat Dennings are fantastic in their small roles. Highly recommended!

And now I leave you with this...JP found it and thought of me. A skinny, English steampunk rapper. Does my boyfriend know me or does my boyfriend know me??

Yay, announcement! I am officially a Treasury Analyst for the VP and I start on Monday! Scary! I am totally frightened of my new boss, but hopefully it will all work out.

I went out tonight and had sushi with a friend - it's a great little place, very chic and low key at the same time. I enjoyed just hanging out at a nice restaurant on a Friday night, sampling sashimi and people-watching. The only thing that would have made it better is if I had a giant martini, but I stuck with hot green tea for dinner. Then I came home and drank 3 large diet cokes with vodka. Yay!

Tomorrow is shopping with mom and a hockey game with JP. I feel like I am riding an incredible winning streak right now. I will enjoy it while it lasts.

In American Idol news, I am in serious like with Paul McDonald, the indie and laid-back singer with the beautiful tone to his voice. ♥

( I will end this entry with MOAR poetry because I love it! )

Today, for the first time in a long time, it was not sticky, scorching, so-humid-you-need-gills-to-breathe hot. I drove with the windows down earlier this evening, enjoying the cool wind an incoming storm kicked up. There was crazy, scary lightning to boot. ♥

Kicking off my Labor Day weekend by drinking some of the airline-sized bottles of flavored rum that Nay-nay gave me last weekend. The cherry was my favorite, but a little too sweet for serious imbibing.

Watched a weird double feature of How to Marry a Millionaire and Lost in Translation tonight. Don't know why, just felt like it. LiT is still one of the saddest, most beautiful movies I've ever seen. It feels so intensely personal, even though I don't necessarily relate to either of the main characters.

I am feeling sad and yet strangely content tonight: God's in his Heaven, all's (almost) right with the world.

Yay, JP called me! I feel like I used to when we first started dating and I was always waiting for the phone to ring. ♥ ♥ ♥

1. Thanks to my friends who remembered that I was on my own this weekend and invited me for drinks at a local bar.
2. Thanks to the generous bar patron who bought the house a round of beers.
3. Many, many thanks to the crazy bar patron who bought the house not one, but two shots of Patron tequila. That really fucked me up. ^__^

I hope I am not hung over tomorrow...

My weekend is almost gone and I have done nothing. I honestly don't know where people find time to clean their houses. I can fit in working, cooking, spending time with family, and shopping, but cleaning just gets away from me. I need more hours in the day. Or a maid. Hmmm.

Anyway, meme!

Day 21 → A recipe

The following is the original Berry Sangria recipe from the Olive Garden. Every time I make it (with a few alterations), I get rave reviews. So, enjoy!

    * 1 1/2 liters red table wine
    * 1 cup grenadine
    * 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
    * 1 1/4 cups sweet vermouth
    * 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water mixed
    * strawberry, cut into thirds
    * orange, slice thin,then quartered
    * crushed ice

Directions

   1. This makes a gallon.
   2. Mix all the ingredients (except the ice)
   3. Let sit in refrigerator at least 4-5 hours, if not overnight.
   4. Pour sangria into serving glass, fruit and all, then add ice.

Notes
- I use Lambrusco, like the Olive Garden, but you can use any kind of red wine you want
- I cut the grenadine and the sugar water mixture in half because I think the original is too sweet
- I don't like letting it sit overnight because the wine loses its fizz and the fruit gets all mushy. A couple of hours is fine.

I am a little buzzed and it rocks!

Also, David Cook is coming to Texas (no where near me, of course...what are you trying to SAY, Dave?). I may have to sit this round out, which makes me LOL considering my out of state ventures. Oh, wells.

Work makes me want to eat my own hand but today, walking through the parking garage, me and my iphone caught this lovely photo...



Made me glad to be alive and shit. In other news, New York trip is imminent. I would be freaking out right about now, but for the vodka. Yes, indeedy.