On the road again...

Well, maybe...

Before I get all Willie Nelson on you, I'll preface by saying that I'm still debating.  

Its been almost 2 years that I've been car-less.  This is a BIG deal for a girl raised in Southern California - where your car is your home-away-from-home.  Having a car, and the kind of car you have is all a part of who you are in SoCal.  But, not so much up here in the Bay Area.

Obviously, when I was living in the city, I realized that having a car payment, an insurance payment, AND paying for a garage in order to keep a car handy to be used MAYBE once a week was becoming a waste.  So, I got rid of it all.  With Muni, cable cars, BART, taxis, and my good 'ol 2 feet, getting around the city was a piece of cake.

But now, *sigh*, I am an East Bay resident. (give me a moment...)

Ok...

And being without a car has proven difficult. Not impossible, mind you...but inconvenient.  

So, I'm thinking of taking the plunge.  Nothing fancy.  Just something small, reliable, cheap, and nothing I have to really care about at all.  Everyone's encouraging me to buy used, but I just don't know how to do that.  Too much to consider and be careful about.  I'd rather just buy new.

My frontrunner: the Nissan Versa. Not bad. Reliable. Hecka-cheap.

Ack, we'll see.  Not having a car was getting me serious street-cred in Berkeley.  It made up for my poor eating, drinking, recycling habits...and for the fact that I like myself a 20 minute shower every now and again. Shhhh...don't tell the neighbors...

Lifelong dream fulfilled...

Ok, so maybe "lifelong" is a bit of an exaggeration.  However, for many a moon now, I have been DYING to see my main guy, my UMC himself, Conan O'Brien, live.  And now, the day has finally come!

Tomorrow night I get to see Conan on his live tour before starting his new gig at TBS!  2 hours of pure hilarity, bliss, and yes, maybe wetting myself a bit (sorry...).  I hope and pray his hair has that extra little wave and bounce I have come to love.  *le sigh*

See you tomorrow night, my love...(no, not you Janet...)

Dinner party...

The fabulous Emily, party planner extraordinaire, hosted an SF earthquake blackout-themed dinner party last night on the anniversary of the SF Earthquake back on April 18th, 1906.  Cioppino, sourdough, and candlelight as well as "teaching" games about making splints, building shelters, shock positions, and "30-2-can do"...(courtesy of our NERT-certified host, Rob).  

Great information in light of all the major earthquakes around the world lately.  And the food was amazing!  Thanks, Emily & Rob, for a lovely time!

gorgeous table setting...

...including emergency preparedness pamphlets

...candles lit as it got darker

Yum, cioppino and sourdough...

Remembering the great earthquake that devastated the city in 1906

When life gives you lemons...

...make Limoncello! I've made 5 bottles to date! They have to "stew" for a month...counting the days to ice this puppy up and have a sip!

Peanut butter jelly time...

I'm a little late in posting this, but this past April 2nd was National Peanut Butter & Jelly Day!  And at my office, this is a BIG deal!  We had our 3rd annual celebration and it was, as usual, a blast...

The big 100!...

Although my house is "new" to me, she's actually been around the block!  April 2010 celebrates her 100th birthday and I didn't want this to go by without a big celebration!  I bought a new bbq grill and was ready to have friends over for a party.  The weather didn't cooperate, but an amazing brunch was still had by all. My girl kept us all warm and safe from the storm and everyone left with full bellies!

The menu:

• phyllo-wrapped parmesan asparagus
• spinach artichoke dip w/ crackers
• caprese
• grilled cheese sandwiches w/ apples & ham (yeah, new grill!)
• ham & asparagus frittata
• pesto foccaccia bread
• chocolate croissants
• banana crunch muffins
• ruby red mimosas
• white sangria
• coffee

photo courtesy of Anna's tumblr...forgot to take a picture when the whole spread was put out.  this is about 2/3 of the way through!

Thanks everyone for braving the rain and joining in the celebration!

Spring flings...

The weather has been so gorgeous lately in the city!  And though another storm is right around the corner, I can't help but be swept away by ALL THINGS SPRING!  I'm looking forward to wearing sandals and going to baseball day games and sitting outside at restaurants.  

Spring dresses...I must have...

3.1 Phillip Lim

Diane Von Furstenberg 

Leifsdottir

Milly

Yeah, yeah, I know...like I need any more dresses in my closet...

Still, *j'adore*...