Bouncing Off Clouds

Re-re-re-rehearsing

2011-02-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

I'm backstage at rehearsals and sporting some awesome fingerless mitts that the BF picked up for me at Target on super clearance because Southern California thinks winter is over. Might I add that the weather for today is a high of 55 and low of 40. And raining. It's also super refrigerated in this convention center. ANYWAY, I love this mitts. Though, I find myself wondering if I could remake them better. I think the gauge is a little loose and they'd be better in superwash merino, but still, I think I love them.

What do y'all think about fingerless mitts? Did I mention it's cold in here?

Song of the day/week whatever is "Rainy Night in Georgia" by Brook Benton. Makes me want to curl up by a window with a cup of mulled wine. Recipe is below.

Di's Mulled Wine
A great drink for a cold evening, watching the rain go down and relaxing. It's strong though, so be careful!

1 bottle inexpensive Cabernet or cab blend
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced
whole cloves
cinnamon sticks
1 cup brandy (+/- to taste)
1 tbsp to 1/4 cup sugar (add in 1 tbsp increments to taste)

Stud the fruit slices with cloves. Over very low heat (or the "warm" setting on a crock pot), warm the wine and brandy. Add the fruit to the pot. Drop 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks in and let the flavors blend for at least 30 minutes. Once the mulled wine is warm and delicious, ladle into a hefty goblet (or mug) and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Enjoy!

BLOGGING FAIL

2011-02-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

I think I meant to do more posts. I honestly think so. But sometimes it's hard to take the thoughts in the brain and put them places on the Internets where they're visible to everyone. So, again, I took a leave of absence. Apologies to anyone that still ready my quarterly posts. And no offense taken if you don't.

Assuming everyone is familiar with kayak.com, I want to express my combined love and hate for that website. I love it for allowing me to search multiple sites at once and find the best deals to get to my destination. However, when Kayak sends me a notice that Air France has flights to Paris for $700 RT ($350 each way LAX - CDG, round trip or 1-stop), it pains me. April in Paris? I have until March 2 to decide.

I remember telling myself during one of the dozen trips to Atlanta last year that it would all be OK because Delta is a partner with Air France. And since my Delta status transfers to Air France, it's hard to tell myself not too. Especially since I've been getting that "need to really get away" bug lately.

(photos from my trip to Paris in September 2009)

Well, what do you think?

Why, Georgia, Why

2010-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

Note: Did a little redesign because a) Blogger said I could and b) I like incorporating the whole clouds and travel themes. Further reinforces the blog's title, I think.

Anyway, I've been in Georgia since Sunday, and am here for three weeks. Thus begins the travel entries of Di in the South. Expect trips to Walmart, an astounding lack of coffee, Waffle Houses, and other discoveries that make this LA girl (who considers herself decently traveled) feel a bit like a fish out of water.

Yesterday I went to the Walmart (don't judge too harsh, it's the only store open after 9 pm and I needed food and had the shakes from coffee withdrawal). While in search of some plain t-shirts/tank tops that I could wear while working and not care if they got damaged/ripped/painted etc (by the way, it's like 87 degrees and 1000000000% humidity), I almost bought an American Flag bikini and sandals to match. Well, not really "almost." More like looked at it and then said, yeahhhhh no. But I did find some Miley Cyrus & Max Azria tank tops for $4. It's funny, since those tank tops are next to the store band tank tops, and they look essentially the same, yet I'm a large in the Miley tops and a small in the store brand tops. Maybe the Miley ones are meant for children?

As I was driving back from said Walmart the sky lit up with lightning. I couldn't hear the thunder, but the flashes continued during the 5 minute drive back to my hotel. It was pretty intense.

I need to hit a bookstore, even though I bought both The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest last night. I started The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo on the plane home from Minneapolis on Saturday and finished it when I arrived in Atlanta on Sunday. Even though I'm working 14-16 hour days, I'm still reading like a maniac. I'm thinking I'll grab up some southern lit (which I love, after taking several classes in it during college) and start with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which takes place in Savannah. Or maybe I just like really long book titles. Who knows?

Because Cancer Sucks

2010-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

As many of you may know (and some of you don't), my favorite fundraiser is Relay for Life. This year marks my fourth year as a participant, and as we gear up for it, I am very excited. This year is different, though. Our team captain, Eli, lost his mother to brain cancer this past year. This year we relay for her. We relay because we don't want another person to go through that pain. We relay because there is always hope. There is hope for a cure, hope for life without cancer.

I relay because I've seen the pain that cancer causes in not only those who battle it, but both their friends and family who hope to see a day where cancer doesn't exist. I relay because I want to continue the hope. I still hope for a future without cancer, and I relay to, one day, have that dream become a reality.

Please support my team by donating to them or me:

Even $10 can make a difference.

Want to do more?

Join our team. We will be walking July 10-11 in Santa Monica. You can sign up online. Just click "Join our team." It's an unforgettable and incredibly enriching experience. And did I mention that's it's incredibly fun? Well, it is!

Want to fight cancer and become an über l33t Dreamweaver user? Well, now you can. Thanks to my teammate Mollie, and eSync Training, we're raffling off a free spot in their upcoming Dreamweaver CS5 course, which you can read about here (it will download a pdf). Donate by midnight on Friday. For more information, please see the Girls in Tech article.

CAKE OR DEATH

2010-05-05T17:50:00.000-07:00

Drama + blackberries on special at the grocery store = hot blackberry cobbler. NOM.

I would post a picture, but I ate it. Yes, I had (some) help.

Anyway, I'm too bleh to really blog, but for those with a desire for trivia (or maybe feeling a bit morbid, who knows) here's a list of everyone famous who's died this year. Good for settling debates or bets. And it gets updated, so that's always good.

Explaining Absences

2010-04-21T09:12:00.000-07:00

I realize I was kinda AWOL for a while. Let's just say that while drama makes for good tv, the fears of putting it in writing (say, on a blog) and thus making it "real" is just too hard. So hard. Yeah, yeah yeah.

However, I think I can blog again and not be all... whatever. Yes, I realize none of this makes any sense. So, onward!

Dinner last night (Girls' Glee Night) consisted of a prosciutto-arugula-Parmesan pizza followed by a butter lemon cake with a lemon curd filling and lemony buttercream frosting. Oh and there was wine. Of course. We had a tart and tangy sauv blanc from South Africa, which I thought was awesome.

I've been doing quite a bit of travel for work lately. And though I'm jetsetting to some really glam locations (ha!), whenever the plane comes in for its descent to LAX, I realize that I am almost ridiculously happy to be back. I love this city. This love (obsession) has caused me to actively seek out my favorite places in LA. These range from coffee shops to train stations to roads I like to drive. Currently, I'm obsessed with the stretch of Avenue of the Stars between Pico and Galaxy. It's a wide boulevard, and in the middle is this gorgeous fountain. At night, they light it and it's really quite magical.

What about the rest of you LA-ites? What little part of LA makes you feel all happy just to see it?

The Clouds Below Look Like Bad Buttercream

2010-04-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dated 4-14-10, 5 p.m. Los Angeles time

Not that there's really such a thing as bad buttercream. I mean, it all pretty much tastes delicious. But if your ingredients are the wrong temp, well, then your buttercream can get mottled and lumpy, like the clouds beneath me.

I'm on my way back from my second trip to Hotlanta in 10 days. Thank you Delta for having direct flights from anywhere to Atlanta. Three more trips to-from Atlanta and I'll make silver on their frequent flier program. With the way this is going so far, I think I'll make it.

I've made a list of "crap Di needs to get done," and by golly, I'm going to do it. One of those things Di needs to get done is start blogging/writing again. So, here I am. What better place to write from than when you're stuck for several hours on an airplane.

Good as my intentions may be, it is time for me to get back to doing work (even without Internet at 34,000 feet, it follows me). Until I can come back and enjoy this drink with you, I'll leave you only with the recommendation (since it's not my recipe). Go get Barefoot Contessa at Home, and make her fresh Whiskey Sours. You will be glad you did.

Christmas Crafting Commences!

2009-11-30T13:58:00.000-08:00

God I love alliteration. Whenever I see it, I get a small happy feeling. Is that weird?

It's officially the start of the holiday season, which means I'm into my full-tilt crafting binge. It started with the 9 aprons I made for Turkey Day. They are way precious and I'll post photos as soon as I find some (I didn't take any, sad face).

Even so, the weather is chilly and I want nothing more than to cuddle up with some hot tea and my yarn. I'm in love with a drop stitch pattern with merino blend variegated color yarn, and it knits up super-quick!

Scarves or aprons, oh it's so difficult to choose. What do you want?

Additionally, I've got flannel fabric with penguins on it. I sense some PJs coming into existence soon.

If it seems like I'm ignoring my phone, it's just because I can't hear you over the sewing machine.

Excuse Me While I Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

2009-09-30T18:09:00.000-07:00

That was a line said to me today by Patty. I thought it was amazing.

Anyway, this is something to ponder for you thirsty people, since I haven't done a drink post in a while: What do you drink with chicken soup? I'm making chicken soup today since it cures just about anything from a headache to the flu to a bad day, and as I'm really into proper pairings of food and beverages, I ask again: What do you drink with chicken soup?

I'm open to your suggestions...

Backdated Entries?

2009-09-18T02:20:00.000-07:00

Yeah, OK, call it whatever you want, I'm still going to call it writer's block.

Venice:

Venice was incredible. We spent the whole weekend there. While I'm not a fan of the huge amounts of tourists everywhere (I advise to go during the week or when there isn't a cruise ship in port), I absolutely loved the city. I think it was a really good introduction to Italy.

The canals are amazing (and not smelly), and the entire city is a pedestrian's heaven. No, I didn't take the gondola ride (I almost barfed on the big water taxi, so no way was I spending an hour in a dinky little boat with a dude that has only one paddle).

Rome:

Rome is so old. It's incredible in it's antiquity. Loved the Colosseum -- I really could almost picture the lions and the Christians battling it out (I'd put my money on the cats, personally). The Vatican is incredible in it's structure and intricacy. Not my kind of thing, really, but it's definitely imposing. If I believed in any of it, it would probably make me pretty terrified. While it was great to visit Rome, I don't feel the kind of connection to it that I feel with Paris or LA.

Today, we head up into Umbria and Tuscany. There's been a "mixup" with the "van" (Craig wants to call it a drunkbus, I call it a shortbus, whatev) so there's some issues to be worked out before we can get there. Since we've stashed ourselves in one of the hotel rooms that we were supposed to have checked out of about 35 minutes ago, we'll see how the rest of the day plays out. Pictures will have to follow later.

When in Rome...

2009-09-15T01:33:00.001-07:00

...and apparently I have writer's block. Ugh. Looks like the updates will have to wait until later.

Nice Is... Nice

2009-09-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ahaha had to make the joke. And for those that are perdu (lost), the city I'm in is Nice (pronounced kneece) and it is quite lovely. Yet another quiet and efficient train ride, and the station is just a few blocks from my hotel. The afternoon is winding down, so I hit up a market, got some provisions (read: fruit, wine, bread, cheese) and thought I'd do my update from the tiny but adorable balcony attached to my tiny but adorable room.

I'm less than a ten-minute walk to the sea, which is really incredible. Walking down the Boulevard d'Anglais, it really hits you that you're in the French Riviera. And if you're still perdu, here's some hints.

There are way too many men in either speedos or swim trunks that make boxer briefs look modest.
There are a lot of perfectly tanned bare breasts, and it's no biggie.
The boats offshore are either fabulous sailboats or giant yachts.

OK, so I see why it's the Cote d'azur (blue coast).

Oh, and I managed to get (well, he attempted) picked up while minding my own business and staring out at the beautiful blue sea. Though I repeated, “I have a boyfriend” his response was along the lines of “so what?” LOL. I said a “merci, mais non” followed with an “au revoir” and decided to walk inland and find the gardens.

The gardens are gorgeous, and when you turn the corner along the path, you could lose yourself along the flowers and shrubbery. Also, I noticed that they really seem to like fountains in Nice. They're really cool fountains, there's just like five or six all within eyesight of each other.

Boom goes the dynamite!

The street below is a constantly varying sea of activity. A Vespa will scoot by, or just below me, two me shout at each other in a heated but not physical conversation. When there is a moment of quiet, like after the car has just passed, I think I can hear th sea. Or maybe I simply have come to associate the sounds of sea gulls and the wind through the palm trees as being equivalent to the crashing of the waves on the shore.

It's a little chilly to go for a dip now, so I think I'll just have to drag Craig down to the seaside when he gets here tomorrow. Like the whole water-within-walking-distance thing is new for the Malibu boy, but maybe I can tempt him anyway.

Also, for you thirsty people, a recommendation...

My new favorite red wine is a Cotes du Rhone. It's amazing. The two major grapes in it are Grenache and Syrah, which are two of my three favorites – the other is Pinot Noir. I found a rose Cotes du Rhone at the market today, it's chilling in the mini-fridge and I'll open it up later/tomorrow. Also, I finally found a Languedoc, and that's good too. It's a big red, but it has a certain almost-sweetness (like a tart apple) that you're not getting with the Cotes du Rhone. Both are good and I highly recommend them should you try them. One last thing: neither one of these was more than 4 euros.

Marseille to Nice, on Another Train

2009-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

On the ~~road~~ tracks again...

11:50 a.m. Voie G at Marseille-St. Charles train station

I freaking love trains. It's like an unhealthy obsession. Maybe I was a conductor in a past life? Oh, and "Thomas the Tank Engine" the TV show was totally my fave growing up.

I'm on board the 11:59 train to Nice-Ville. Stops in several seaside cities along the way, but I decided to forgo them and head straight to Nice. I'm looking forward to strolling along the Boulevard d'Anglais, and maybe even going for a dip in the Mediterranean. I did bring my swim suit, after all. So far, I've got a window seat and the seat next to me is unoccupied. I'm hoping it stays that way. And if it doesn't, I hope it's occupied by someone who wears deodorant.

Since I've got a good two plus hours on this train, I think it's time to bust out my new book, which I purchased at the Red Wheelbarrow, and English-language bookshop in Paris. I found it one day while looking for a boulangerie (it was time for baguettes and tartlettes aux framboises again). It's a delightful little shop, piled to the ceiling with books. The lady was quite helpful, and I purchased a book by Alexandre Dumas (of course) that I'd never heard of: The Women's War. Women ruling the world? Secrecy, lies, espionage, betrayal, probably murder, and all set during the reign of Louis XIV? Oh yeah, I'm down.

12:44 p.m., Toulon station

When the buildings spread out, you could see the sea off to the right. On the left were fields of peach trees, nestled in the valleys with the rocky hills behind them. Soon, maybe some vineyards? Book is good so far, but the guy kinda over-translates. I prefer when they leave the names of places/titles in French, but oh well.

1:42 p.m., Somewhere Between St. Raphael and Cannes

The sea is directly to the right of the tracks. There's a grey sky out today, and in the bay sail boats are bobbing along. Beautiful houses dot the hills, and you can see the waves crashing on the rocks. In a way, it reminds me of the Caribbean, though it's as if the colors have been muted, and the lines have been blurred by the brush of a water colors painter. I should be in Nice within the next hour, and I'm very excited.

I'm in Marseille!

2009-09-08T12:42:00.001-07:00

I'm following in the footsteps of Edmond Dantes! And, I'm on a boat!

So, the Marseille post...

After a surprisingly fast train ride (even though we were precisely on time, it still seems like 3 hours to cross basically all of France is fast), we arrived in Marseille. We managed to hoof it the few blocks to the hotel. It is so fantastically warm in Marseille, and I finally felt warm after the wet and chilly week in Paris.

Boats and forts, and beyond that, the sea!

Walking along the Vieux Port of Marseille, you're affronted with a manner of smells. It smells like faraway breezes from the Sea, like the fresh fish the vendors sell on tables, with their fishing boats bobbing in the port behind them. Up a few streets, you find open-air fruit and vegetable markets, flower stands with tiny plants whose signs say "adopt me!" and long narrow shops practically overflowing with bins of couscous and grain, and shelves loaded with jars of spices I've never heard of.

Monday, we went exploring. Heading up the hill to the Abbaye St. Victor, you can see the sailboats sitting in port, the fortresses surrounding the city, and the juxtaposition of 15th century architecture next to the 20th century rebuilding that happened after the city was mostly demolished in WWII.

This thing is ancient and still formidable.

The Abbaye is really incredible, considering it was built in the 5th century and is still there. The giant ceilings and dark sense of antiquity gave me a feeling that I was in a place like in the end of "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." It was way cool. They have a tour of the crypts, but I just wasn't quite up to it.

Dinner was an incredible Tunisian restaurant, with lamb couscous, and a generous helping of harissa. We made friends with the guy at the table next to us, and with his ok English and my surprisingly ok French, had a pretty cool conversation.

Tuesday we decided that it was time. Time to set aside my now battered copy of The Count of Monte Cristo, and go to the Chateau d'If (pronounced eef not if). A ferry boat takes you to the Isle If, where you can explore the prison and the island, which is more rock than land. Think of it as a several hundred year precursor to Alcatraz.

Bienvenue a le ROCK.

In the prison, several exhibits were dedicated to Edmond Dantes -- the most famous prisoner of If, who is, in fact, fictional. Additionally, the Man in the Iron Mask, who is real, was never actually imprisoned in the Chateau d'If.

Walking in the place immortalized by Dumas was simply incredible. Surrounded by the Mediterranean, every angle of If offered a beautiful view.

Sailboats and tiny rocky islands in a beautiful blue sea.

Marseille is a city of incredible combinations of new and old, faraway spices and French flair, ancient nobility and casual living. It's a true melting pot, with French history influenced by whatever the trade winds continue to bring. Truly gorgeous. Tomorrow, Mom departs for home, and I head on to Nice. Au revoir, mama, and bonjour, la cote d'azur!

Updates From the Train

2009-09-08T00:29:00.000-07:00

10:10 a.m.

We hopped on board the train a few minutes ago. Gare de Lyon is one of those really cool “old-fashioned” (to my new-to-trains-as-a-legitimate-method-of-travel American eyes). It's got the giant ceilings, the trains pulling in to platforms every which way, and though the departures board is digital, the arrivals board is still the flip-flap rotating letters. The noise it makes when it announces a train is in the station is really pleasant.

Surprisingly enough, the train left exactly on time at 10:16 a.m. We'll depart the train at Marseille-St. Charles, but it continues on to Touloun and Hyers. Maybe next time we'll go there, too.

As I sat in the train station, thinking about all the places I could go, I really wished there was a way to travel in the U.S. As there is in Europe with the rail system. Trains (with dedicated railway lines) are fabulous, as you don't need to drive (no traffic), there's much less stress with train travel than there is with air travel (at least it seems for me), and once you get to where you're going, there's usually a metro system to take you the rest of the way.

One thing that's really surprised me, however, is how quiet this is. The wheels make a few squeaks, but otherwise simply roll on by, and the outside passing by is little more than a gentle hum outside my window.

11:35 a.m.

After an episode of the BBC show Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure, where they travel through the French countryside tasting wine, I'm back to the blogging. The countryside is beautiful out my window, with farms, sheep, cute little houses and rolling fields. I keep hoping that I'll see some vineyards, but so far nothing. We're cruising at a rather fast pace, and I can only look out the window when the horizon line is far. But so far, it's still fields, sheep, and cows. Guess it's back to the two Brit blokes drinking wine.

Le Week-End

2009-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Saturday...

While we still haven't gotten any better than getting a "lazy sack of shit start," we didn't really care on Saturday morning and headed to Montmartre. Famous in recent years due to popularity of the films "Amelie" and "Moulin Rouge," the area is on the northern part of Paris, and rises about 300 feet above the city, allowing for some pretty awesome views.

Downtown Montmartre is kinda skeezy, priding itself on being a pre-Vegas City of Sin, with peep shows, cabarets, X-rated cinemas, sex shops, and one store just called "Pussy's."

The red windmill is still there, as it has been for over 120 years. It is one of only two windmills left in Montmarte, when there used to be dozens.

From there, we climbed up the hill to the Sacre Cour. It's a beautiful cathedral, though the area around it is incredibly touristy. It felt a bit like Solvang, in a way. Though, it's much more authentic in it's cobblestones and shops. However, at one point, I turned a corner and came face-to-face with a clown in full makeup, smiling at me in his terrifying manner. I had to stifle the scream that arose and practically ran the other way. Let's just say I'm really not one for clowns.

The Sacre Cour is often referred to as the "sculpted cloud."

Post hot dogs (avec fromage, of course!) we went to l'espace Dali, a tiny museum with several Dali sculptures and a few hundred drawings. I dig the melting clocks.

I guess time really is fluid. LOL.

Back in le Marais, we ate some more pastries (my skinny, skinny mom is going to get me fat!), had a glass of wine, and went out for some shopping. Guess who got boots this time... Mom got some super cute ankle boots. Thus, armed with adorable shoes, we decided to walk down the block for dinner, which was totally incredible. I don't think I've have a bad meal in Paris, though. It seems to be impossible. Also, I discovered that I love a good glass of Cotes du Rhone. Mmmmmm.

Sunday...

Yet another late start. Damn sleep deprivation seems to be catching up with me. It didn't really matter, though, as it was Sunday and nothing really opens up until after 2 p.m. We did some more shopping, wandering around the Place de Vosges (King Henri IV's royal palace) and then heading back to the left bank at St. Germain. Another amazing meal (finally got my steak au poivre and the mousse au chocolat I've been searching for), and more shopping (scarves, scarves, scarves!) had us full and tired. A beautiful day, but it's time for laundry. Tomorrow, we head to Marseille, where new adventures await. And bouillabaisse.

Museums and Shopping!

2009-09-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

On Thursday...

We had a sort of late start (what my mom calls "a lazy sack of shit start") and hit up the Musee de la Mode. In it they had a really cool exhibit on Madeleine Vionnet, a designer from the '30s and '40s, who worked with bias cuts, Grecian-style draping, hand beading, and really exquisite piece work. The posters of and inspired by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec were quite awesome as well.

Post-museum, we went in search of the amazing brasserie on the Left Bank with the French onion soup. Now, before y'all start yelling at me, yes I know that it's simply soupe l'oignon here, and it's pretty likely that most brasseries will have it. However, I really wanted a scarf from the shop next to the brasserie, so I had a doubled interest in the area (which we figured out was in the St. Michel area).

After the soup and scarf, that was when I found them.

I don't know if I've ever loved a pair of shoes like I love these. And I love shoes.

A few stores later, I found the most amazing dress, which, yes, works great with the boots.

And on Friday...

Today, we hit up the Louvre and the shops around it. We saw quite a bit of it, including Winged Victory, the huge portrait of Cardinal Richelieu (yes, he totally looks like Tim Curry), the Venus de Milo, and of course, the Mona Lisa.

How do you feel about the pyramid?

I saw a bunch of fruit paintings -- don't worry, Lizzy, I'll send you a picture. :)

Nom nom nom, tastes just like chicken.

After the Louvre, we did some more shopping, where I got a super cute blue bubble dress that looks great with the cute satin flats I found (finally! I've been searching for satin flats for months!)

For dinner, we had three kinds of cheese, amazing baguette, and fresh fruit. Dessert was even more amazing. Champagne, petit plums, grapes, and a sponge cake sprinkled with pomegranate seeds wrapped around a raspberry mousse column. On top were fresh berries which were sprinkled with powdered sugar.

You know you want some.

Now, we're off to see the Eiffel Tower, all done up in lights. Should be beautiful. We may hit up an Irish pub after that. Don't wait up...

Second day/night in Paris... And We Make Friends!

2009-09-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Bon soir, mes amis!

Even though we got a really late start (damn shutters, I didn't wake up 'til noon!), we had a really amazing day. We hit up the Musee d'Orsay, which is housed in what used to be a train station. There, the ceiling is huge, and it houses some of the most amazing impressionist work (Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, Manet, eat your heart out!) I saw some of Monet's best, yet I still longed for more water lilies (though I always seem to want more water lilies). I saw some of Degas work with pastel, including some of his ballerinas, which are always my favorite. It's probably my favorite musee en France, even though I love the Louvre with all my heart, this place was amazing.

A view of the d'Orsay from inside... But it doesn't do it justice.

I totally love this guy. He's totally baller, and knows it. He's like, "look at mah cane, bitchez."

After the d'Orsay, we got sandwiches and walked over to the fountain next to l'iglese de St. Sulpice. If that name sounds familiar, it's because that chapel was featured in The Da Vinci Code. We went inside. It's beautiful. As always, I got stuck staring at St. Jeanne d'Arc, beceause I love this crazy girl who stopped at nothing to do her task from God. Talk about commitment to a cause.

From there, we headed to les Jardin de Luxembourg. They are exquisite, and definitely the kind where one does not walk on the grass. I realized that as I walked there, I was walking around where D'Artangan was supposed to have one of his three duels in The Three Musketeers. And yes, I realize this blog is becoming the history of Paris according to Alexandre Dumas. So shoot me. LOL.

The flowers are put together in combinations that are truly gorgeous.

From there, we headed back to the apartment, and after a breif respite, decided we should go out. We went to a bar called Le Fanfaron, a bar that combines Iggy Pop, the Rolling Stones, and some really interesting '60s posters with cheap beer and an amazing shot. We made some friends (yes of course I made friends with the bartender, don't I always?), had a few beers, and I learned about the most amazing shot (and y'all had thought this blog had gone dry).

True Love
(though one patron called it l'orgasme. You decide.)

"Une peu" (a bit) of creme de violette
2-3 red ripe currants
The rest with a smooth French vodka

Pour in the order listed above into a shot glass. Down the liquid, then bite into the tart currants for the most amazing taste in your mouth. All the way from France, I keep on bringing you thirsty people drinks. Enjoy!

First Post From Paris!

2009-09-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Oh my god do I love this city. I love the Seine and the flower markets. I love the boulangeries and brasseries on every corner. The bread, the wine, the cafe, oh la joie de vivre!

Getting in had its issues yesterday, not the least of which was the rain. Although it wasn't terribly cold, it was rather wet. Once we finally got to the apartment (which is the cutest thing I've ever seen. It's tiny yet never feels cramped. The space is used incredibly efficiently and they have a machine that is both washer and dryer -- *want*). There's mirrors everywhere, and the accents are in my favorite shades of red and purple. I think my favorite thing about this place is the texture. The floor is stone, the walls are smooth plaster or inset with stone or smooth maple flats. There are dark wooden beams offset with white plaster in the ceiling, and the white tile of the shower is beautiful with the red damask stripe shower curtain. These rich tones have me inspired to do some decorating when I get back.

My dinner/lunch jetlag meal from the first evening -- cheese, baguette, salami, wine (a really nice Bordeaux) and petit plums. Mmmm

After this meal, I took a mini nap, and then we headed out along the Seine with the intent of seeing Notre Dame during Sunset. It was beautiful.

Notre Dame at Sunset. It's like they planned it that way.

After that, we walked some more along the quai, seeing le tour Eiffel in the distance. Our time-confused stomachs finally got hungry, so we found a brasserie and I had amazing onion soup, complete with the melted cheese and bread on top -- so delicious. For dessert, perfect creme brulee!

Post dinner, I fell in love with a burgundy-colored beret, and with a "Je voudrais ce chapeau, s'il vous plait" and a few Euros, I had a hat. It'll live with the black one (which I wear all the time, LOL) I got on the last trip to Paris. A tradition in the making, puet-etre?

Anyway, tonight we're off to a bar that boasts of cheap beer, casual dress, and Iggy Pop and Rolling Stones on the speakers. I'll have to tell today's story later.

Updates from the plane(s)

2009-09-01T03:28:00.000-07:00

Written previously, posting now because I'm finally somewhere with an Internet connection...

10:34 a.m. Los Angeles time, approximate location: 30,000 ft. over Colorado Springs (give or take)

The fires over La Canada are impressive from the sky.

The captain just informed us we're about 2 hours out of Chicago. We've gotten to that part of the trip where the mountains and deserts pass and the ground below is comprised of perfectly constructed blocks and circles – and even a few Pacman shaped ones. Where the wriggling ghosts and bonus cherries are, I don't know.

Mom and I made it to our gate just as they'd started boarding. There was enough time, but I would still a bit nervous about cutting it so close. And my massive coffee addiction would have liked to hit the Starbucks in terminal 4 before we boarded, but the huge line of similarly addicted people and the ticking clock made me think better of it. Now, a 70-page reading stint (I'm two thirds of the way done with The Count of Monte Cristo), a nap and a cup of airplane coffee later, I'm typing away on Craig's little baby computer, since mine was still having too many issues (Linux/Skype/wired Internet compatibilities) for him/me to be comfortable with me taking it with me. He'll meet me with Red Delicious when we catch up in Nice. Thanks, Craig!

It's starting to “get real,” and I'm excited and nervous. I think one of my bigger concerns is that my French is a bit rusty. Why I didn't study up more, je ne sais pas. However, I've got a translation book that fits perfectly in my back pocket. As soon as we get to Charles de Gaulle, I'll get a map, we'll board the RER and head into Paris. From there, it (hopefully) will start coming back to me. The first trip there was so incredibly life-altering, let's hope the magic of the city wasn't simply due to novelty. I don't think that will be the case, though. I think it will be like the line from “Sabrina,” when she quotes in her letter, “America is my country, but Paris is my hometown.” I have a feeling (and a hope) that will hold true for me, too.

4 p.m. Local time (2 p.m. Los Angeles time), Chicago O'Hare Airport

The clouds over Chicago look like little poof balls.

Our flight takes off in about an hour and a half. Across from me is a group of four people about my age, who I'm pretty sure are Spanish. The girl has a computer just like the one I'm working on, though hers is white. One of the guys keeps muttering “T-N-T” to the tune of the song “T-N-T, it's dyna-mite!” Hahaha

I'm nervous about doing something wrong, in a country where I don't have a mastery of the language. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm such an English grammar nazi. Peut-etre. Though, as Craig says, “you can always point.”

6:18 p.m. Los Angeles time, somewhere over Newfoundland...

OMG I'm on a plane to France. OMG. OMG.

We've still got five hours, so I guess I should contain myself a little bit. LOL.

7:02 p.m. Los Angeles time, somewhere past Newfoundland...

I finished my book. What now? Sleep? Maybe... The in-flight magazine says that the second feature is “Wall-e,” my favorite movie like ever. Can't wait.

T-minus 2 days... and counting.

2009-08-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm drinking my coffee, trying not to freak out, but the excitement is mixed with anxiety, then shaken, stirred, and poured into a tall glass sitting in front of me. I'm not sure if I should sip it or down it in one gulp, but either way, I'm leaving on a jet plane that departs LAX a little after 8 on Monday morning.

So, I'm going to restructure the blog to fit it's new purpose: travel updates. For the next four weeks, I will try and update at least every other day, if not more often than that. The drink recipes will have to go on hiatus (unless of course I discover something while I'm gone... it could happen), but I'll post pictures, stories, and updates.

I'll start in Paris, where I arrive Tuesday morning, and travel through France and Italy over the next four weeks. My mom travels with me for the first week and a half, leaving in Marseille. Craig joins me in Nice a day or so later. From then, it's on to Venice, and then Rome where we meet up with the Calkins fam, as well as Courtney and Christina, who are already in London and blogging their way through their travels as well. From Rome, we drive up to Todi, through Umbria, and on to the villa in Tuscany, south of Florence.

Tune in, check my updates, subscribe to RSS, whatever makes you happy. I'll be posting, and (hopefully) you'll be reading.

That's all for now, but it's time for me to go pack. Don't let me forget my power adapter/converter!

Previously Promised Photos

2009-06-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

So, when I first started writing about planting the veggie garden, I'd said I'd put up some pictures when stuff started growing. Here we go! Here's a view of the veggie garden. Everything seems to be growing really well, except the bunnies ate all of the lettuces!

Peppers. The long yellow ones are Hungarian Hot Peppers. Mmmmm.

The corn is doing pretty well, though the bunnies got all but one of the sunflowers. Little buggers.

Baby yellow crookneck squash! The zucchini and squash are ridiculous, does anyone want a delivery of fresh squash? Because in about a week I'm going to have wayyyyy more than I can deal with.

The cherry tomatoes aren't quite ripe yet, but they're getting there. I had some the other day and they were delicious.

These are the zucchinis I picked yesterday, next to an 8" santoku. Yeah. Like I said, the squash are crazy.

And since I'm continuing the theme of photographic evidence for this post, here's a drink post, with photos!

The French Horn
Simultaneously tart and sweet, this is a perfect substitution for dessert. Think of it like a lemon-raspberry tart in classy drink form.

1 oz vodka (I suggest a French vodka, in keeping with the name -- I used Grey Goose)
3/4 oz Chambord (you can sub creme de framboise, but the original stuff is the best)
1/2 oz lemon juice

Shake ingredients together and strain into a small cocktail glass. Serve with a speared raspberry.

Input Wanted: Free Travel to...?

2009-06-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

So last September I went to a wedding in Tuscon, AZ. We flew Southwest, and due to some plane issues, arrived a good two hours late and they nicely sent me a travel voucher for $125. This voucher expires this September, and I'm never one to turn down free travel. So here's where I need your help: Where do I go?

I did some research, and have thusly made a list of all the fares that are (one way) $125 and under (though only if I leave on a Tue/Wed, which may make it a little more difficult).

I could fly from Burbank to:

Albuquerque, NM
Las Vegas, NV
Oakland, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Reno/Tahoe, NV
Sacramento, CA
San Jose, CA
Seattle/Tacoma, WA
Spokane, WA

Or I could fly from LAX to:

Austin, TX
Denver, CO
El Paso, TX
Houston, TX
Kansas City, MO
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco, CA
St. Louis, MO
Tuscon, AZ

So, I'm taking Tuscon and Phoenix off the list, since I've been to both places before and I don't really think I need to go back. Also, I usually drive within state (and to Vegas), so I'm scratching off the CA places unless someone can convince me otherwise. This leaves me with the following destinations:

Albuquerque, NM
Reno/Tahoe, NV
Seattle/Tacoma, WA
Spokane, WA
Austin, TX
Denver, CO
El Paso, TX
Houston, TX
Kansas City, MO
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
St. Louis, MO

Help? Ideas? Tell me what you think.

I also think it's time for a drink. Here's one of my favorite's that's been rather popular lately.

The Lemon Drop
Incredibly simple, yet sophisticated, the Lemon Drop is a classic and staple for when you want a strong yet delicious drink. The level of sweet to sour can be adjusted to fit your desires. I usually omit the simple syrup for a sugared rim, but that's just me.

2 oz vodka
1 oz lemon juice
up to 2 tsp. simple syrup (optional)

Use a lemon wedge to coat the rim of a martini glass with juice, then dip gently into caster's sugar. Tap off the excess. Shake the lemon, vodka and simple syrup (if using) over ice until cold. Strain into the sugared martini glass, and float a paper-thin lemon slice on top, if desired. Enjoy!

Getting Pwn'd by Xbox...

2009-06-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

...is the story of my life lately. But it's winding down to a manageable level, which means I can jump back into the 50 zillion other things I'd put on hold. And with that, I think it's time for a list/countdown. I love lists! Also, shoutout for those who love lists: Ranker.com. It is list-making goodness!

Countdown:
3 days until I go back to Legoland to get paid to play with Xboxes
36 days until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince arrives in theaters (FINALLY!)
38 days until I see Tori Amos @ the Greek (only the 3rd time I've seen her in concert!)
2 months, 3 weeks until I leave for my month tour of France/Italy

List of things that need dates so I can put them into my countdown:
- SF trip to see Wheels, my cousin
- Launching of my website, www.dithespy.com
- Acquire modeling jobs
- Make recipe book
- D-land trip

What else am I forgetting?

I don't know, but until then, here's a tasty shot recipe from my friend Cynthia:

The spicy Mexican
1 shot gold tequila (make it a good one)
orange slices
cinnamon

Sprinkle an orange slice with cinnamon. Take shot and chase with aforementioned orange slice. Enjoy!

Because Cancer Sucks!

2009-05-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

I realize the title is obvious. Cancer totally sucks. It sucks for the people who's body it destroys, it sucks for the people who have to watch their family members struggle through chemo, it sucks for the parents who have to bury their children before they reach adulthood. Cancer sucks the life out of the people it touches, and we have all been touched by cancer one way or another.

In High School, I watched my cheerful, constantly humming grandpa spiral downward as the esophageal cancer took over his body. He was sick and in pain for the last few months of his life. The moment when I realized the cancer had control over his body was when he stopped humming and playing the harmonica. That was such an integral part of my grandfather for me. When that left, so did he.

However, many people are making progress in the fight against cancer. Doctors are finding and treating it earlier, and have raised the life expectancy rates several times over. But we're not there yet. Over 1500 Americans die every day from cancer, and each of those people has a family that is affected by that death. Cancer just doesn't hurt the person it kills. It hurts everyone around it. This is why we walk.

Last year, I gathered some members of the UCSB student newspaper the Daily Nexus. Together, we joined thousands of others in walking for 24 hours during Relay for Life. The walk is symbolic of the pain that those affected by cancer go through. This year, we're back for the event's 25th anniversary. Our team, the Good News Bears, is currently fundraising for the event. The money raised goes to the American Cancer Society, where it is used for a number of things, including research, treatment, and improving the lives of those with cancer. So, I'm asking you to please donate to the American Cancer Society. Do it for my team, do it for your father, your nana, your sister.

Please, donate to us. We pledge to walk these 24 hours, from Friday, May 15 to Saturday, May 16, celebrating life and hoping for a better future. I know that money is tight right now, but just $10 can pay for a patient's ride to chemotherapy.

To donate in support of me, follow this link:
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/djobson

To donate in support of the team, follow this link:
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/GoodNewsBears

For more information about Relay for Life, check out the American Cancer Society's page.

Crafting Binges

2009-04-20T13:22:00.000-07:00

So it seems that if the winter is the time for knitting, then spring is the time for sewing. In the past two weeks I've made two pairs of PJ bottoms, an uber-preppy skirt, and I'm halfway through my second dress. Along with my usual several cakes. I think that means I need a life.

Oh, and we planted a vegetable garden this weekend. It's cute. Pictures to follow when there's more plants growing.

Lately I've made a bunch of sangria. Here's my recipe for it with white wine.

Di's Delicious Sangria
Cheap and cheerful, white wine sangria is very refreshing on a warm afternoon and a good way to use really cheap wine. Mix in the fruit you've got on the counter, and you've got a pitcher of yum! Serve with a slice of citrus-based cake and you're in afternoon snack heaven.

1 bottle (750 ml) inexpensive white wine -- sauv blanc is a good one
1 orange
1 apple
3 oz smooth gold rum (Mt. Gay is, as always, my favorite)
1 can club soda or a citrus soda (i.e. Fresca, Sprite) (optional. If you don't like bubbles in your booze, don't put this in there.

Slice the fruit into bite size pieces, drop into a pitcher, add the rum and stir. Pour in the wine, and stir in the can of soda. Serve in large tumblers to accommodate the fruit, and take outside to the garden of veranda as you take in the beautiful weather. Enjoy!

Muppets and Models and Monsters, Oh My!

2009-02-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

By request, here's a photo from the weekend of modeling. It's not mine, I snagged it from Artease's Facebook page. Hopefully they won't mind too much ;)

Seth, my fabulously talented hairstylist was showing off my hair onstage. And yes, I was like 8ft tall.

Anyway, I realize it's been a while since I posted, but there were dance performances, saucy Aussies, overall I.V. debauchery, oh and that thing called working that have been consuming my life. Oh and *coughblushcough* Diablo II lans. Those uniques, man. They'll drain you. But playing Diablo II only makes me even more impatient for Diablo III. Lucky Starcraft kids know that Starcraft II comes out in Novemeber. Us Diablo fans, well, it's somewhere in the ether. Yeah. Nerdcore, I know.

While looking up Sesame Street characters for the boss man this morning (don't ask why), I stumbled across the Yip Yips. I'd totally forgotten about these guys, but it partially explains my love for things characters like WALL-E and Spongebob. Example below:

It seems that these guys scared the crap out of a bunch of kids. I don't remember if they terrified me, but currently, I think they're hilarious. And thus, muppets are the subject of this post's drink.

The Muppet
I found this drink online. There seems to be some disagreement whether it's a shot or a long tasty drink. I guess it depends on what you're in the mood for. So, I'll put it in here both ways.

2 oz. tequila
2 oz. lemon-lime soda (Spite, 7-up, whatever)

Stir ingredients together (don't shake the soda!) and either distribute amongst shot glasses or pour into a higball glass and serve with a lime wedge. Enjoy!

So, Like, This One Time, When I Was a Model (And a Birfday Drink!)

2009-02-05T11:06:00.000-08:00

I had a very interesting weekend. I decided to see what it was like on the other side of the curtain, and after answering a Craigslist ad for models, I got a call and ending up booking a gig with a hair color company called Artease. The event was the International Salon & Spa Expo, down in Long Beach, CA. We did three shows a day, with crazy Ziggy Stardust inspired makeup, cool hair, and runway modeling. It was totally new and interesting experience, and I made two friends (I found some girls with brains, we played several games of Scrabble). What was really hilarious were the gems of statements I overheard by the other models. You know what they say about most professional models being idiots? Well, it's all true. Check this out:

"I'm a vegetarian. I only eat sushi."

"Did you know Caesar salad has as many calories as Fillet Mignon and a baked potato?"

"You shouldn't eat sushi because the fish are swimming in, like, this dirty water and when they breathe in the water through their gills, they like absorb the microbes and stuff that's in the water and then you eat that when you eat the fish raw. So you shouldn't eat sushi." To which my Scrabble fiend of a friend Lira scoffed, "Don't they have, like, a digestive system?" Ahahahaha.

And the best one (told to me by LK):
"I can't shop at Old Navy because they use child labor. I only shop at the Gap."

It was a good time. I walked away with a fab hairstyle, a fat paycheck, two new friends, and a wicked blister on my left heel. You know what they say, no pain, no gain.

And with that sentiment, I present to you this post's drink: Dianne's Birfday Drink aka...

The Pile Driver
(Created with the help of Craig and Brandon)
Confronted with an abundance of Stoli and Orange Fanta, we reckoned that the two would taste delish together. We were right. Inspired by the classic Screwdriver, the piledriver is tasty and packs a punch.

2 oz. vodka
6 oz. orange soda

Stir together in a highball glass. If desired, serve with one of those crazy straws.

Long Time, No See aka I Love Chuck Bass (But Who Doesn't?)

2009-01-20T02:11:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a while. I know. But as the minutes click away on the clock and it grows closer to 3 a.m. and I still can't sleep, what else to do but blog? Why haven't I rambled on incessantly here earlier? Well, I've been a little busy. In the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's, I've knitted six purses, five scarves, nine hats, and three pairs of fingerless gloves. Yeah, ok, so maybe I have a new addiction. Tonight while catching up on episodes of "Gossip Girl" (no shame, I know), I doubled the length of the scarf I'm working on (I did a foot and a half), so really, I should get some help. Or I can just go online shopping for yarn. Maybe someone has some silk-bamboo stuff...

Anyway, shout out to Obama's inauguration. I catch a clip from the "Today" show this morning — these ladies made Obama cupcakes. I think I'll need to copy that. The only problem is that my family has started to complain that the quantity of cake I'm baking weekly is starting to show on their waistlines. Apparently my stress baking isn't good for anyone except me (I don't eat the cake, the baking of it just seems to relax me. Well, not really relax, it more occupies my time, but whatev).

So, Obama cupcakes or not, we need an awesome drink for the inauguration tomorrow. Since it's a celebration, I'm focusing on a few things we can do with champagne. I'm listing multiple recipes here that are completely suitable for the different times of the day people may decide to celebrate.

Option 1: The Mimosa
For those that decide to pop the bubbly as he gives his inaugural address tomorrow morning, try mixing equal parts champange and orange juice (no pulp!). Serve in a champagne flute and toast.

Option 2: The Champagne Cocktail
6 oz. champagne
1 sugar cube
dash of bitters

Throw a few dashes of bitters over the sugar cube, then drop into the flute and cover with champagne. Serve with an option twist of lemon.

Option 3: The Kir Royale
1/2 oz creme de cassis (black currant liqueur)
5 oz. champagne

Pour ingredients together in a champagne flute and serve. This can also be made into a Kir Lethale by adding a shot of vodka.

P.S. The inauguration drinking game can be found here. LOL.

Six or Seven Things

2008-12-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

So, Anna, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to do six things you don't know about me or seven. Let's just start and then see how it goes.

1) I am an anxious person. I tend to get wound up about a lot of things, but lately, I discovered I have knitting anxiety. Like, I finished two projects (a striped scarf and a little black clutch) last night and this morning was freaking out because I have a box full of yarn and no project that requires my immediate attention. Meaning, I'd have to start a new project. Sure, starting is an easy task, but with the 50+ patterns I have bookmarked that I want to make, it's really hard to decide what to knit first, and with what color, and for whom. Yeah, I'm crazy. I don't have a cat, but just you wait. Then the image will be complete.

2) I'm one of those people who would buy really expensive replica swords and then walk around my house (empty, because I'm too weird for BFs or friends) and wage battle with the furniture. I had this image the other day (while watching The Lord of the Rings, no less) of me in my silver elven cloak threatening tables and chairs with Hadhafang (Arwen's bitchin' curved blade). It's a damn fine looking sword, thank you very much.

3) I don't have bicuspids (canine teeth). They were removed when I was twelve to make room for the rest of my teeth. Apparently, I have a small jaw. This lack of pointy teeth makes it hard to tear tortillas. Thus I always look like an idiot when I eat a burrito and usually order nachos.

4) I have a special place in my heart for bad forms of entertainment. Think of it this way: "Executive Decision" starring Steven Segal and Kurt Russell is one of my favorite movies ever. Additionally, my favorite bands include Foreigner, Journey, Eddie Money, Avril Lavigine and Rush.

5) I am addicted to lip balm. I have to have that waxy feeling on my lips -- if I don't, I get anxious and cranky. Currently, my favorite is Burt's Bees Replinishing Lip Balm with pomegranate oil.

6) I used to have a lazy eye. It (mostly) went away on it's own when I was about 2 and a half, but when I get drunk my right eye will list a little bit, much to my sister's amusement.

7) I don't like drinks where you can't taste the alcohol. If you're going to drink booze, man up and drink it.

And with that, this post's drink:

The Seven and Seven
A classic drink, easily made with only two ingredients. And this is something for those readers who are yearning for me to post a whiskey drink among the other tasty treats previously posted.

2 oz. Seagrams 7 whiskey
5 oz. 7-up

Pour ingredients together in a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge. Enjoy!

Stuck in the Middle

2008-11-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

I've been doing a lot of research about Australia for work lately and I remembered something the saucy Aussie said to me once. She expressed her surprise that so many people live in the middle of the U.S., since almost all of Australia's population lives in the coastal areas of the continent. Since I also live along the coast of our country, I was like, well, people have to live somewhere.

But I've been thinking about it, and really, there's a whole lot of not much in the middle of Australia, except for the big rock in the middle. So, as someone who's never been to the Midwest, what's in the middle of our country? As always, I started with Wikipedia. The entry for Midwest was useful: We've got Chicago, Detroit, and the St. Louis Arch. All are cool things. But I was like, eh, ok, whatever, until I discovered this page under "See Also":Heartland Rock. (I'm sure Anna is just as excited about where this is going as I am.) The Midwest is responsible for The Boss, Tom Petty and John Mellencamp, who wrote one of my very favorite-ist songs ever, "Jack and Diane" (wonder why I like it, ha). Creedence is also cited as a precursor to Heartland Rock, which makes this even more amazing. Artists also associated with this genre include Steve Miller Band, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams (this gets better and better, doesn't it?). So, pump up the volume on these classics, pour this drink, and raise your glass to the U.S. of A.

The Crimson Tide
I can't take any credit for this drink. It comes to me by way of Anna's bf Nick, who is from Alabama. Yes, I know Alabama isn't really like, midwest/Heartland but the drink does have SoCo in it, so I figure I'm close enough. Also, I don't really have any recipes involving whiskey yet so this is the best I've got. And he says it tastes damn fine.

Fill a pint glass with ice, then add:
3/4 oz Southern Comfort
3/4 oz Crown Royal
3/4 oz Blackberry Brandy
Fill glass to near full with cranberry juice.
Add a splash of grenadine and a splash of Sprite.

Mix, drink, and shout "Roll Tide!"

Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo

2008-11-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

So, I'm absolutely jazzed that Barack won last night. So excited, in fact, that I made a Barack cake LOL.

Additionally, I have some reqs to make today.

1) Guitar Hero World Tour. If you're not playing, you should. If you want to play, come visit me. I'm addicted.

2) Snow Patrol's new album, A Hundred Million Suns. It's a must for any fan, but as someone who's followed them since before they became huge with Final Straw, I have to say that I do enjoy how it reminds me of some of their older stuff on Songs for Polar Bears. It's a little edgier and much less emo than Eyes Open, which I liked yet was really kinda like, whoa, chick music. I've been listening to A Hundred Million Suns in my car since last Tuesday, and it's fabulous.

3) "Questionable Content." Jeph Jaques webcomic is amazing. It's got a little of everything for computer nerds, indie music nerds, crazy cat ladies, coffee lovers, robot lovers, and those who love the socially awkward set. Check it out at www.questionablecontent.net. Personally, I think you should start at the beginning and work your way through to get the full story, but that's your perrogrative.

And, for today's drink, we have an old personal favorite of mine that I invented with the help of my friend Craig.

Craig and Di Love Gin
This is a tasty drink for those who like the taste of gin. It's not a drink where the flavor of the alcohol disappears, so be prepared for that. We based it off the theory that a) gin + orange is good, b) gin + pineapple is good, and c) gin + bubbles is good. Thus, today's drink.

3 oz. gin
6 oz. Cactus Cooler

Pour chilled items into a higball glass half-filled with ice. Serve with a wedge of lime, though watch the quantity, as these go down very, very well.

Cute Boy Crushes

2008-10-24T09:38:00.000-07:00

So I've been planning my best friend's wedding for a while now, and am currently working on shower games. The one I like best is plant a kiss on Mr. Darcy, which is like pin the tail on a donkey though with lipstick and hot boys. If it were me, I decided yesterday, I'd want to use a great big glossy photo of Michael Vartan so I can just gaze at him. He would be my one, my only. Or, so I thought.

Last night, I saw what might have to be the highlight of my week. Hilarious. Also, the new love of my life. Presenting Jensen Ackles, better known as Dean from "Supernatural," being amazing.

After that bit of amazingness, I think it's time for a new drink. Now, this one I did not invent. In fact, credit goes to Beth, a cool chick from Microsoft who introduced me to this one while we were doing a Gears of War 2 event in San Francisco. As she made it for me, she said, "now hopefully it's not too strong, because that's how I make them. But if you do think it's too strong, well then you're a pussy."

After a line like that, it was love at first sip.

Beth's Tasty Treat
3 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
5 oz. Cream Soda

Pour ingredients together over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a cherry (we didn't, but we made ours outside by a pool, so, you gotta do what you gotta do), and enjoy.

An Actual Drink Post (With Photos!)

2008-09-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Cognac sidecars on the left, sugar cane brandy sidecars on the right.

My mom asked me a while back if we could make sidecars, so i said sure. This used to be her favorite drink when she went out, however, she often found it to be poorly made. An old drink, the sidecar brings about ideas of old fashioned soirees with dresses and bow ties -- much like my trip around Isla Vista's "loop" this weekend, where we drank beer at about a dozen places organized around a looping street in our old college town, while wearing (you guessed it!) bow ties and/or dresses.

So, a few days ago my mom and I decided to do a tasting, and make two very different but drinkable versions. One is the classic, made with cognac and a fine sugar rim. We also decided to shake things up a bit, and make sidecars with a sugar cane brandy that we brought back from the Caribbean. Both were tasty, but I have to say that I preferred the more elegant taste of the traditional sidecar. However, for your tasting pleasure I'll include both recipes.

Pouring the cognac sidecars.

Traditional Sidecar
A tasty, elegant drink that is often hard to find made well (it's not the same if the bartender uses triple sec and sour mix, so don't even try!). This is a drink that goes down well, especially on a chilly evening, and it is tasty and deceptively alcoholic. Don't say I didn't warn you.

1 1/2 oz. cognac (Remy-Martin is a good, reliable one)
3/4 oz. Cointreau
3/4 oz lemon juice
sugar for the rim

Sugar the rim of a cocktail glass by rubbing a lemon slice around the rim and then dipping the glass into a plate of sugar. Shake ingredients together and and then strain into the glass. Enjoy!

Sugar Cane Brandy Sidecar
Less formal, this drink is like a fancy party at the beach: it looks nice, but you still got sand between your toes (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). It is still a delicious drink that, as my saucy Aussie friend would say, goes down really well.

1 1/2 oz. cane sugar brandy (this is harder to find, so do some looking. Additionally, you can also use rum, making it a rum sidecar.)
3/4 oz Cointreau
3/4 oz lemon juice
raw cane sugar for the rim

Sugar the rim, then shake the ingredients together and strain into the glass. Enjoy!

Big Bangin'

2008-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

In a few days, the world's largest particle collider will attempt to recreate the Big Bang and study the moments immediately after it. It's a $10b project, and it's really freaking cool. CNN had a full story on it here, along with some asinine comments about how it will blow up the Earth. Oh my god. Someone's been watching too many bad Sci-Fi movies *cough* "The Core" *cough.* Seriously.

In other adventures, I went to my very first wedding. My friend Abe married his girlfriend Kristie in Tucson, AZ. Other than the hot exterior weather, everything was very pretty and they seemed really happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm still totally anti-marriage though. For me, anyway. I'm sure it's awesome for everyone else.

Before we left LAX, my two traveling buddies and I stopped at a bar in the terminal for a drink. I really just wanted a Moscow Mule (I like to have ginger ale when I fly), but it was more unknown than I thought. So, in order to promote this tasty drink, I'll put it here.

The Moscow Mule
Named for the *kick* the vodka gives the drink, it really should be made with a Russian alcohol. I like Stoli.

2 oz. vodka
4 oz. ginger ale
1/4 oz lime (or just squeeze in a large lime wedge -- only use fresh lime juice, though. Not sweetened!)

Pour vodka, ginger ale and lime juice over ice in a rocks glass. Serve with thin lime slices around the glass. Enjoy!

Nerd Alert!

2008-09-03T11:42:00.001-07:00

So last night, while watching "Star Wars: A New Hope," I saw this list of Internet phenomena on Wikipedia. Anyway, I realized that I was a total uber nerd because I recognized about 80 percent of the items on this list. OK, maybe 85...

But anyway, in keeping with the nerdiness of this post is a hilarious video from this Internet sketch comedy troupe, Those Aren't Muskets, about, well, the creation of the Internet. (How fitting.) WATCH ME.

And in honor of the utter loser dork status of this post, I give you the drink that outnerds the vodka Redbull:

The Vodka Bawls:
In true gamer fashion, you wouldn't take the trouble of putting this into a glass, just take a couple of sips of your drink and pour two shots of vodka into the bottle. Either way, this will keep you up all night whether you're hitting up a techno-dance club or playing Rock Band with your friends until dawn.

1 bottle bawls
2 shots vodka (I like Stoli, but that's just me. Something smooth like Belvedere is probably your best bet.)

Pour shots directly into the bottle, or pour both together into a tall glass over ice. Serve extra cold.

Man, Could He Shred

2008-08-30T13:37:00.000-07:00

So last night I went to a Melissa Etheridge concert down at the Greek, which may just be one of the most beautiful venues I've ever been to. It's outside, down in Griffith Park, and the house lighting really serves to accentuate the gorgeous scenery.

Anyway, the concert was rad and damn the guitarist was hot. In my opinion anyway. He really could shred, too. But I think I'm just really attracted to blond men in open white shirts. EX: Michael Vartan. Oh yeahhhhhh.

We met Melissa before the show, and she actually remembered that my mom, who's made her sets for the past few years, had sent her this book about language formation and gender. Melissa had actually read the book, which was like, wow, cool. She could totally rock though, for being a fairly fragile looking woman who was maybe 5'2. The arrangements reminded me of good ol' southern classic rock with a blues twist, and it was a fun show, even though I didn't know many of the songs.

During one of her songs she mentioned what I knew would be this posts' drink. She sang about how "Two greyhounds later / And I'm feelin' alright / Got to have you / And it's got to be tonight." So, in honor of that, today's drink is the Greyhound, a classic but simple drink.

The Greyhound
Traditionally, this is made with gin. However, like the martini, vodka can be used to as much success (but then it's called the Vodka Greyhound).

2 oz. gin (or vodka)
5 oz. grapefruit juice

Stir and serve in a highball glass over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice or cherry.

If You Like Piña Coladas...

2008-08-19T22:34:00.000-07:00

...and getting caught in the rain.

Then you should try this recipe at the end of the post...during a rainstorm. Haha.

After a reading binge during the last week of vacay (and I mean binge, I read 6 books), I’ve come back and continued the travel sesh. I hit up the wineries in Napa, saw “Tropic Thunder” in Modesto and realized just how bad cow shit smells off the five when it’s been heated up at 100 degrees all day. Oh yeah.

However, it was all quite fun. I learned that I really do love the champagne, and artichoke dip (but not artichokes themselves. Go figure).

But, most importantly, Warner Brothers announced last week that they will be delaying the release of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” until July. The film was supposed to come out in November. Oh. My. God. I’m really pissed off about this. But, apparently, not as pissed off as some fans, who’re calling for a nationwide boycott of the film via Facebook, according to this ABC News article.

You know you’re a nerd when you’re mad about the delay in you Harry Potter fix and then excited about the social justice groups retaliating on Facebook. Wow, I need a life, apparently. Let's have a drink.

Sweetie Piña Coladas (thanks to Lauren P. for helping me with the recipe!)
You can really use any kind of rum you want in a recipe like this. I prefer a gold rum, because it has a lot more flavor than a clear rum, but it's up to you. Also, you can use regular granulated sugar, but the caster sugar is finer and thus absorbs faster/better.

2 oz rum
3 oz pineapple juice
3 oz cream of coconut
2-3 tablespoons caster (baker's) sugar
2 cups ice

Blend ingredients until smooth. Start with the smaller amount of sugar and add more to taste. Garnish with a pineapple slice, cherry, and if you're totally ridiculous, a paper umbrella.

Drinking My Way Around the BVI

2008-08-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

So the last two days were filled with fun adventures on a boat and at bars at nearby islands. We went out with Uncle Julian, as he's known around here in the British Virgin Islands.

Yesterday, we hit up the Soggy Dollar Bar over on Jost Van Dkye. This place is supposedly the birth of the painkiller, a rum and juice drink that is extremely popular in the Caribbean. And may I say that it goes down very well. It's called the Soggy Dollar Bar because there is no dock, so one must swim in to get to it. Thus, by time you get up to the bar, your dollars are all soggy. Haha.

After the Soggy Dollar Bar, it was over to Sidney's Peace & Love Bar, where you make your own drinks and then jump off the dock. It's kind of exhilarating. I also got a few braids in my hair by a very persuasive business-oriented ten-year-old named Maya. She did a really good job, too.

Once we got back to Cane Garden Bay, Tortola (the area where we're staying), the group of us docked and then ran inside the nearest bar because it was pouring. And since it was Julian's birthday, we had a few rounds there. Lots of fun, but after the day drinking I was ready to pass out haha.

Then today, we headed over to the Willy T, the short name for the William Thornton, a floating barge bar off of Norman Island, which is the Treasure Island of the eponymous novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Let's just say this place is not all that different from a crazy I.V. party. Totally divey, this place had a second story with girls jumping off into the water topless. Bartenders give partons a skull and crossbones stick on tattoo.... and they apply it. After being instructed to lay down on the bar, he placed it pretty damn far down on my stomach. Let's just say he's gotten closer to my bikini than some boyfriends. Hahaha. While I did jump in the water (it's about a 12-foot drop), I kept my suit on. And totally cursed my dad (who had the great idea that we should jump off, too) the whole way down.

Anyway, down to the part of the blog that you all really want. Today's drink is, you guessed it, the painkiller. (And yes Nicki, I've had it before. And made it. Many, many times.)

The Painkiller
Popular in the Caribbean, this drink takes advantage of the area's supply of rum. Supposedly invented at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, BVI, the drink will kill any pains you might have.

I recommend using Mount Gay Gold Rum from Barbados, as it's widely available and tastier than Bacardi Gold. You can also use the Cruzan banana rum, if you like bananas. This recipe is my own, as the original from Soggy Dollar is secret.

3 oz. gold rum
2 oz pineapple juice
3 oz. orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 oz. cream of coconut (depending on your taste)

Shake ingredients together and pour over ice in a tall glass. Grind some fresh nutmeg over it and serve with an orange slice. Enjoy!

--
Editor's note: since my upload speeds kinda suck here/the Internets totally hate me, no photos on the blog 'til I get home. Sorry!

Who's Got the Power? Not Me, Apparently

2008-08-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

So last night I had like a legit power outage. Not like those rolling blackouts we get in SoCal because too many people are running both their A/C and washing machines at the same time. Like, there's a nasty storm outside and the whole power grid in the neighborhood goes out. Like whoa.

So, I spent about ten minutes in search of matches, candles and flashlights, using only the light from my laptop screen for illumination. Side note: For those who are unaware, I'm in the British Virgin Islands, at a house we're renting, so no, I'm not so dumb as to not know where anything is in my own house.

Once I found and lit some candles and set up some little flashlight torch things so that the roaches wouldn't come out (bugs are freaking HUGE in the Caribbean), I sat down, stared at my computer for a bit and then went, well, what now. Here's the thing I realized about growing up in 1) the age of connectivity and 2) a place where you really don't get crazy storms where the power goes off: you have nothing to do without said power. Before the outage, I was chatting with my friend online (the last words before I got cut off were "oh shit that [thunder] was loud" haha).

About 20 minutes after the outage, my dad came out and he and I watched the extremely bright lightning light up the entire bay. I could see from our side of the bay to the other side (several hundreds of feet, easily). I kept asking him if there were some games we could play and he kept answering, nope, there's none. I was actually kind of upset that whatever books I'd read that involved people + outages had included games. For some reason, my mind rests on A Wrinkle in Time, but it might have been one of the sequels. Who knows.

So, in honor of me not having any power for severals hours (and really mourning the loss of the fan during that time, as it's quite humid here), your drink is the Electric Lemonade. I've never tasted it, but it sounds both tasty and refreshing for a hot summer's day.

Electric Lemonade
1 1/4 oz Citrus Vodka
1/2 oz orange curacao
4 oz lemonade
1 tbsp pureed (or crushed) strawberries

Blend all ingredients with ice. Serve with a lemon slice.

The Working Girl Gets Pwn'd

2008-07-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

I've realized something while being owned by XBox. I'm a workaholic.

Now, before you get all concerned and start saying you're-going-to-give-yourself-a-stress-ulcer-and-wake-up-with-no-life-when-you're-30 on me, let's think about this a little. There are some benefits.

1) Money. More working x hourly rate = more $$. Plain and simple.
2) Ability to ignore my personal life. If I'm too tired from working a 16 hour day, I don't have to think about my mom nagging me for not being out and dating a bunch of random people to discover that I'm in love with my best friend. (Hypothetical example taken from the last movie I saw, "Maid of Honor" with the utterly sexy and totally doable Patrick Dempsy).
3) More coffee consumption can actually be good for you. See the study here.

And, since I couldn't find a drink called the workaholic, I found this shooter which sounds yummy and appropriately themed for a workaholic. However, I have not tried it so I cannot give a truly accurate recommendation other than it theoretically will taste good.

What Crisis?
Taken from SotallyTober.com.

1/2 oz. Melon Liqueur (such as Midori)
1/2 oz. peach schnapps
1/2 oz. orange juice
1/2 oz. cranberry juice

Shake together and strain into a shot glass and serve.

Nerdgasms

2008-07-01T11:43:00.000-07:00

So Blizzard recently announced that they're finally making Diablo III. Check out this discussion with one of the main guys here. Anyway, it sounds totally awesome. And yeah, I'll probably find my way into some midnight release party where I'm sure I'll show up in my rogue costume from Diablo I. And then collect the marriage proposals from the nerd boys there. Ahaha jk.

Also in the nerd realm, my friend sent me a link to this video. OMGs, I have to have one now. Forget a pet cat, I want a WALL-E.

Also, I've realized that I haven't been putting drink recipes here. My bad. This one is not original, but I've had it and can verify that it is delicious, although very hangover inducing if you drink too much of it. The recipe comes from the New York Times drink columnist, William Hamilton. Talk about dream job.

The Snack Bar Pitcher
Adapted from Snack Bar

4 ounces lemon vodka
1 ounce crème de framboise
8 ounces juice from freshly squeezed grapefruit (save a slice as garnish)
8 ounces sparkling white wine or sparkling rosé (I like a blanc de blanc — TJ's has a good one for cheap)
10 fresh raspberries

1. Fill a pitcher (at least 32 ounces) with ice cubes. Crush raspberries; mix with vodka and crème de framboise. Separately, mix grapefruit juice with sparkling wine. Add both mixtures to pitcher, garnish with grapefruit slice and serve.

Yield: 4 servings. (Or two if you're like me.)

Thank Tiffany...

2008-06-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Because if she and I hadn't had a funny conversation, I might just have talked about how "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna alludes to the work "Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" by Walter Benjamin. Ahaha film theory is inescapable.

No, but really. Tiffany and I were talking and we realized that boys are like shoes. And thus, through a simple math-based proof, I will show you.

Theorem: Boys are like shoes.

Proof:
Shoes are pretty. So are boys.
Sometimes new shoes give you blisters. Sometimes boys hurt your feelings.
Usually, you keep wearing these shoes that give you blisters because you really like them, even though after dancing in them on a table for a few hours, you come back with blisters. Even though the boys aren't perfect, you keep going because you like them.
You may find one pair of shoes that fits perfectly. These would be "the one."
Thus, boys are like shoes.

Ahahahahahaha. I love shoes. I just organized them in my closet and I found that I have 3 pairs of black, 5 pairs of red, and one of white. I think I have a bit of an obsession with red shoes.

You're makin' stayin' over here impossible
Baby I must say your aura is incredible...

So, this person Rihanna is singing about is thus like a work of art, since Benjamin states that works of Art have auras, and since film is a mechanical reproduction, is doesn't have an aura. So, this person must be one of those where they say "when god made you they broke the mold."

OK, so I lied. I did both topics. Oh well.

Suggestions From the Flying Pig People

2008-06-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

So my friend says I should use this blog for recipes and things like that. That could be a good idea, except for the fact that most of my recipes come out of a book written by someone else. Well, the drinks not so much. I guess I make my own drinks. So, ok, I can provide schmashingly awesome drink recipes. Not necessarily awesome because I think that I'm that amazing, but in that they succeed in getting you smashed ah ha ha.

Also, this way, this blog gets more away from the whole "personal emo ranting *coughlivejournalcough* bullshit" and into the "hey, this might be useful for someone" blog. So, without further interruption, Di's world-famous (they're known from California to Australia) margaritas:

Di's Margs on the Rocks
Like a large diamond on a ridiculous engagement ring, this drink gets your attention. Definitely not something that lends itself to sobriety. Proceed with caution.

3 oz. tequila (gold or silver, it just depends on your preference)
2.5 oz triple sec
2 oz sour mix
juice from about half a lime (about half an ounce, depending on your desire for tartness)

Pour into a pint glass filled with ice. Shake three times and then serve with a wedge of lime. Enjoy!

I'm a real adult now!

2008-06-15T22:46:00.000-07:00

Today was my last day of college ever. I'm probably still in shock. It's been quite the tumultuous weekend. Since I left my apartment and my college town and college itself basically right after the commencement ceremony, I don't think it's really set in. I'm not sure that I want it to. I'm a little bit terrified. And a little bit sad. There will never be a time like this again. I guess I'm just being sentimental and nostalgic.

You can't always get what you want
But sometimes you find you get what you need...

What Will This Really Do For Me In The Future?

2008-06-08T19:18:00.000-07:00

Really. Film theory? Like I'm ever going to use this again. Bazin and Metz and Eisenstein and OH MY GOD.

I'm probably just freaking out because the final is in less than 20 hours. And I'm just hating all of this. ARGH.

Jukebox Hero's Got Stars in His Eyes

2008-06-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

OK. Confession time.

I have a new, semi-ridiculous obsession. And it's called Foreigner. After spending another couple bucks on iTunes, I've found I'm in love with this crappy (according to my mother) 80s rock band.
And I like to listen to it loud. As I speed down the freeway in my... stationwagon. Oh well. Not every aspect of my hard rock fantasy can be true. That's fine. There's a black Impala in my future someday. Hahahaha...

I know the truth lies in between the first and fortieth drink

2008-06-06T19:26:00.000-07:00

So after a very long hiatus from blogging in general, I've decided to take it back up. This was mostly predicated from 1) me not wanting to study for my last finals EVER and 2) Xanga telling me that it's going to delete all of my old blogs back when I did it in H.S. and freshman year. After re-reading them, I found that I kinda enjoyed it. So, I'm back. We'll see how long it lasts.