Ode to Michael Feinstein

Oh, Michael Feinstein, how do I love you? Let me count the ways.

  

I love you because even though last week Sucked. Hard. the mere knowledge that I had tickets to your Saturday night concert in Atlanta gave me the will to live to the weekend.

I love you because, unlike other performers....other men.... even other humans, you have never disappointed me. Fourth time seeing you in concert and it was just as excellent as each and every time before. You are always charming, gracious, funny, and full of life. It is readily apparent that you love, love, love what you do and I love you for it. And you do it So. Damn. Well.

I love you because you are all that and a big ol' bag of chips, but you don't act that way on stage. That other Michael cannot hold  a candle to you on his best day. My only regret (and, yes, I do have a few) is that the last time you were in the ATL, I did not stay and meet you. I was hoping you would be signing CDs this concert, and I could finally reveal my undying devotion, but alas, it was not meant to be. For now, I can only hold onto my dream....a trip to your NYC joint one day to see you in person there. And maybe meet you. And have a late supper with you. Then have you invite me back to your fabulous apartment where we'll sip cocktails while you noodle on the piano and sing my favorite songs and share great stories of all the interesting people you've met and places you've been. I mean, a girl CAN have a dream, right?

 Until then, I will continue to enjoy your lovely music
and appreciate you from afar.

Your devoted (almost) Georgia stalker, Bunny

**Sorry, peeps, but I was just feeling the love for MF today. Be back soon with a "regular" post.**

Wiped Out

Peeps. Oy. Sorry I disappeared there for several days but I think you all know that I started my new job Monday. So, here's a recap and thoughts from this week:

• Sunday I spent the day cleaning house, cleaning my office and, in general, trying to set a clean slate to start my new job.
• Sunday night, I barely slept because I was all worried about my new job.
• Monday, I arrived at my new job and was immediately overwhelmed by the 1) lack of resources and 2) the great need. Yes, a typical non-profit. But, wow, I have to admit it was worse than I thought.
• Monday night, the hubs takes me out to dinner and I question whether I have made the right decision. I eat a lot of ice cream. I sleep badly Monday night.
• Tuesday, I start afresh, with a better attitude. However, I learn Tuesday that the last person who had my (sorta) job was 1) a computer illiterate and 2) a bad record keeper. Hence, I will be creating everything from scratch and have little background to help me.
• Wednesday, I start to feel sick. Only three days in this job and already feeling sickly. Sigh.
• Thursday, Pepsi pees on two rugs. Acting out because Mom has returned to work? Possible diabetes like her sister? Neither good.
• Still tired. Still exhausted. Not used to working 8 hours days and getting up so earlier. And still feeling sick.
• In good news, I did manage to pull together a hot meal that I cooked myself tonight--the first this week. It was really good too--another Publix Apron recipe but I forgot to take photos. I also cannot find it on the Website. Sorry.
• And I did get paid today, for my first three days of work. Whee. Cash money = good.
• And there is just one day left in this first week.

Right now, I plan on getting some more ice cream and heading to bed early because my ass is dragging and I am still worn out tired. Worn. Out. Tired. But I keep reminding myself it has only been four days. It has to get better, right?? At least that is what everyone keeps telling me.

I promise to write a longer post this weekend and maybe I will have something to tell. I hope you will bear with me through this transition. I am not giving up....just got to gets a new groove. Love and kisses, B.

Award-Winning Bunny

This week I have been given not one, but two, blogging awards from friends. The first was from Bobs, over at his blog Bob Out. Bobs nominated me for (insert drumroll here):

The "rules" for Bob's award are as follows:

ONE: Thank the person who nominated you for this award.

Thank you, Bobs! You are the best BGFF a girl could have short of a gay plastic surgeon! (j/k)

TWO: Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Done! (see above)

THREE: Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

Done! (see above)

FOUR: Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.

Ok, some of these will be a repeat, but here goes:

1. I have a fear of clowns and little people. Let's not even discuss little people clowns.
2. My current dream is to buy a farm in Virginia and raise goats and grow vegetables.
3. I am not a big sweet eater.
4. But my favorite sweet by far is ice cream.
5. And I don't like peanut butter or mint in sweets.
6. I have an abnormal fixation on lip products. 
7. I own a truck and love it. I just wish it were bigger.

My second award was from my friend E. over at Babbette's Book Blog. She nominated me for:

 

Thanks, E.! Her award "rules" are as follows: I must answer the following questions with one word answers. 

Your Cell Phone? Hate

Your Hair? Mess

Your Mother? Supportive

Your Father? Hardworking

Your Favorite Food? Italian

Your Dream Last Night? Weird

Your Favorite Drink? Beer

Your Dream/Goal? Lottery (stole this from E.)

What Room Are You In? Office

Your Hobby? Cooking

Your Fear? Clowns

Where Do You See Yourself In Six Years? Happy

Where Were You Last Night? Couch

Something That You Aren't? Serene

Muffins? Chocolate

Wish List Item? Vacation

Where Did You Grow Up? Georgia

Last Thing You Did? Taxes

What Are You Wearing? Warm

Your TV? Movies

Your Pets? Dogters

Friends? Joy

Your Life? Better

Your Mood? Expectant

Missing Someone? Always

Vehicle? Truck

Something You Aren't Wearing? Jewelry

Your Favorite Store? Cooking

Your Favorite Color? Orange

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? Today

Last Time You Cried? Yesterday

Your Best Friend? Mr. Martha

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? Internet

Facebook? Unfortunately

Favorite Place To Eat? Home

And, finally, both asked me to nominate other bloggers for the awards. Well, since both of them nominated me, I cannot nominate them, but here are a few blogger folks I have been following for a while who I think are sorta coolio:

say la vee: classy and sublime

cooking for assholes: funny and irreverent

daily beer review: need I say more?

little miss sunshine state: my bloggie twin

social primer: because good manners are a sadly lacking these days

jen on the edge: love her gardening posts

So that's all. It's cold, wet and icy here today and I am off to make dinner (soup) and watch a movie with Mr. Martha. Tomorrow will be mental prep for the return to work Monday. Oy. Later taters! B.

Hump Day Recap

Holla, peeps! Yesterday, Bobs and I decided to spend one last day living it up before I head back to the land of the employed. First, we struck out to the happiest place on Earth: IKEA.

I loves me some IKEA. I purchased me a new floor and desk lamp for our home office (with two people in there now, we need more light) as well as some other small items for my new office at work. I also think I might need me a lamp for my desk at work, but I want to wait and see how the light is before I make that investment. My new office has lots of windows (yeah!) which may be enough to offset the glaring overheads that make you look all putrid. After IKEA, Bobs and I decided we wanted to eat lunch somewhere new, so we chose the nearby West Egg Cafe:

They serve breakfast ALL day, but alas, we checked the website too early because, since we checked, they posted that they are MOVING and they were closed for the move. So, this photo was in vain. We were foiled, but foodies always have a backup plan, so we regrouped and drove two blocks to:

The Real Chow Baby. This place is super cool--you get a big bowl to fill with your starch (rice or noodles), veggies, sauces and spices, then a separate bowl for your protein, and they stir fry it all up for you on this HUGE griddle thingy. Here is Bob's concoction:

So many choices, so many decisions, and so affordable! Technically, it is all you can eat for $7.99 at lunch but, trust me, one trip and you are too full to move. We gots some tips from the very nice fellow in line in front of us about "balancing your bowl" so we were like pros. They can also make your choices into a soup, wrap or salad. Cool. Cool. Cool.

After lunch, we decided to go see Avatar, which Bobs has been aggravating the shit out of me wanting to go see for a while. I was on the fence about Avatar--lots of acclaim but just wasn't sure I was going to be into it. We opted for the 3D version and, let me tell you, it was great! Esp. the battle scenes at the end. Some of the criticism has been that the story is weak and, yeah, it sorta is, but the effects are incredible, even if you are not into special effects. James Cameron is a mother-'effin genius. A very, very, very rich mother-'effin genius.

Even though I wasn't hungry when I came home last night after our gorge fest at lunch, I actually did manage to make dinner, and a new recipe at that, so there. The dish was Cuban Beef Picadillo from W-S:

This recipe was interesting--sorta like fancy Hamburger Helper or Cuban spaghetti. A friend asked me last year if I had ever heard of it and I had not but I found a recipe and decided to give it a whirl for kicks and giggles. The unique taste of the dish comes from the spices--it contains cinnamon and allspice as well as raisins.

First, you brown ground beef and onions, then add the spices. It's very fragrant, that's for sure.

Next, you add the tomatoes, red wine vinegar, raisins and beef broth, and let it simmer until it reaches a thicker, stew-like consistency.

The recipe suggests serving over rice, which I did. I will say that the flavors are subtle, and I think this is one of those dishes that may be better second day (once the flavors have more time to meld). Also, it made a TON--we both ate, I dished up three containers of leftovers, and then froze a quart baggies of the "sauce." I was trying to think if there would be any cheese that might be good sprinkled on top, however, with the sweetness of the raisins and allspice,I am not sure what that would be. Ideas??

Last night, I went out again looking for a laptop. I found one which I am going back to buy today. If all goes well, hopefully my laptop and new laser printer will be installed tomorrow. Cross your fingers and say a prayer for me to the computer gods. I hate it, but my history with most things electronic isn't so great.

Well, lots to do today, so I'm off. Be back soon with laptop reports! Later, taters! B.

Do The Hustle

Oy, peeps! I have been running around for two days, trying to take care of all the little things that need to be done before I head back to work. Cleaning teeth? Check. Girls groomed? Check. Dry cleaning dropped off? Check. Pee in cup for pre-employment drug screen? Check. Damn, now THOSE dudes will treat you like you've been a drug-smuggling junkie your whole life. Sheez. I felt abused in more than one way when I left that place today. I am surprised they don't walk in and watch you. Seriously, bitch, I am too old and too tired to be trying to figure out ways to smuggle piss into your bathroom, 'kay??

And talk about abuse, I tried to go laptop looking today and, Lord, computer sales people are somewhere on the sleazy list between used car salesmen and bankers. They just want to talk you into something bigger/better/shinier. I was trying to tell this VERY ENTHUSIASTIC little sales person (who I could have given birth to) that I really didn't need a Cadillac. I just need a steady Buick. "No, no, Miss Bunny....LOOK A SQUIRREL! A SHINY SQUIRREL!" I am so confused, I wanted to scream. So I did. And also dropped the f-bomb in the middle of Best Buy. So there. And I still have no laptop.

Other than that, I am chasing my tail trying to finish up some freelance projects without killing the hubs. I, mean, would you LOOK at my office:

It's like the damn husband tornado touched down. Every. effin'. surface. is covered with books and papers. I don't do that. I keep a neat desk. I am a stacker/sorter. This shit drives my ape crazy. Seriously.

On a good note, the other night I made the most delish, cracktastic new recipe from Publix--Party Chicken. It met my two criteria--1) Easy and 2) Tasty. Oh, and cheesy. And bready. Here's how it goes down:

You can use tenders, but I butterflied some chicken breasts, lightly floured, S&P'd, and placed in a sprayed casserole.

Mix one can of cream of chicken soup (shut up! I don't want to hear it from you cream soup snobs!) and mayo; spread generously over chicken.

Mix panko, butter, cheese and layer over sauce. Bake until crispy golden good. And you know Bunny is never one to not change things up, so I added a little spice to it with a heaping tablespoon of red pepper flakes which gave it a nice kick.

I had some grape tomatoes about to go South, so I tried another new recipe for those--saute in 1 tbsp. brown sugar and 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar. You were supposed to add fresh basil at the end, which I did not have, so I added a sprinkle of Herbs de Provence. Wow. This dish was simple and yummy.

I served the tomatoes over lightly buttered noodles with broccoli on the side. I will def make those tomatoes AND the chicken again. Yummers.

Tomorrow, I am going off with Bobs for the day, our last fling as it were before I rejoin the land of the employed. You will have to check back later about our adventures. Until then, be good! Love, B.

Stealing 'Puter Time

Yo, peeps! Oy. It's been a week. First, I have to tell you that though I have WANTED to blog, the hubs and I have been in a war over computer time. You may remember me telling you that he started back to school a few weeks ago, so every waking minute he is home, he is on the computer. And, yes, we are one of those lame-o fams who only have one desktop. Which has not been an issue...until now.

But never fear....a laptop is looming in our immediate future. In order for me to continue freelance and Mr. Martha to continue his learnin', it's going have to be. I may even run out to Best Buy today to check out what they have on the roster. I really wish I could just go Mac, but that would require a $$$$ investment for me to change all my hardware AND software. Which, yes, I have a job, but we still have a hole to climb out of finance wise. We sorta blew through the savings+ the past year, as you can imagine.

Anyhoodle, THANKS for everyone who sent well wishes about the job. I am still swinging widely--and wildly--between high excitement and deep anxiety, but it's all gonna work out, I am sure. I know I didn't say WHERE I would be working, but I am going to be doing marketing and fundraising for the local Humane Society. I am all about the marketing, but it's the fundraising that sorta has me sweating. Esp. in this economy. So if you know any high-rollers who love the furry creatures, hook me up.

My gallbladder also has decided to rear it's ugly head in a different way after being better for several weeks--horrible abdominal cramps. At least that's what my surgical PA friends says it is. Yesterday, I was begging her to cut out the bitch with a sharpened spoon. She's all, "just have surgery." Well, see, I STILL don't have health insurance and won't for at least 90 days. So I am screwed until then. Oh well. It will be a great diet because I have no desire to eat since noshing = pain. Talk about effective conditioned response.

So last night, the hubs and I decided to take a break from our boringly dramatic lives and go on down to the ATL for a little night music. For Christmas, we bought a packet of cheapo passes for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) and last night was the first concert. The celeb musical guest was Jean-Yves Thibaudet. JYT is an accomplished pianist and the hubs loved his work on the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack (the one with Keira Knightly). Here he is:

This was the promo photo....which apparently is from several years ago. Add about 10 years, 20 pounds and change the grey to blond and that is what he looks like today. Actually, he played the HELL out of that piano, though I think he was channeling Stevie Wonder with all the swaying and head rolling and such (no disrespect to Stevie, but JYT was a tad dramatic...someone has told me he was a diva and I believe it). Robert Spano conducted:

Robert Spano is the Mack Daddy of the ASO. I cannot remember that I have ever seen him conduct, but he REALLY gets into it. And he is a nice looking man in that bald, artistic man way. I liked that he wore this tunic thingy to conduct in rather than a tux. I suppose you need lots of movement to gesticulate so wildly. In two weeks we will return, this time to see one of my ALL TIME FAVES, Michael Feinstein:

I LOVES me some Michael F. That other Michael, while good, pales in comparison. This concert will be the 4th time I have seen him in concert. The last time he played with the ASO, he signed CDs in the lobby and I didn't stay. I have already told the hubs that, BY GOD, if he is signing this time, I WILL be staying and meeting him. I don't care how fat, geeky or acne-riddled I am or if my gallbladder is busting as I wait in line. He is performing, in part, his Sinatra songbook this concert. If you've never heard MF, he is a "standards" singer and his rendition of this song is one of my top three favorite songs he performs:

Ah. SO good. Cannot WAIT. Well, I am off like a herd of turtles...house to clean and the gallbladder is starting to act up so I think this day will include some prone positioning on the sofa. Be good, peeps, and I will be back as soon as I can drug the hubs have a window of opportunity. Love, Bun.

Thursday Thirteen

Things are still pretty boring here at Casa Bunny, so I just have bits and pieces to share today. Here we go:

1. The reality of my new job is still sinking in. I am starting to freak out ever so slightly at what I need to do before I start to work and how difficult in many ways returning to work is going to be. 
2. For example, I need to pull out all my "office attire" (that hasn't been worn for three years) and make sure it is presentable (as in clean and not missing buttons or such). Today, I also went and bought 12 pairs of trouser socks because I doubt I have any hosiery worth a damn in my drawer.
3. Getting up early is going to suck. Hard. I haven't risen before 7:30 a.m. in a LONG time. Yes, I am glad I have a job. That doesn't mean I have to like getting up early though.
4. I am going to be working for a man for the first time in my life. I am glad from the perspective that men, in general, are direct and don't create drama. I am hesitant because men can often be unorganized and all "let the ladies do it." But I do respect my boss and think he is a good man (I sorta already knew him) so that's a good start.
5. I am in a tailspin to get everything done and organized before I start back to work. I know. I have had a year to do all this shizz. But now it is a priority. What can I say? I work well under pressure.
6. I am worried about leaving my girls at home all day. I have been working/not working from home for almost three years. Even though all they do is sleep all day, I am here to take them out and keep an eye on Savannah for diabetes-related issues. Yes, I know. There has been like two problems in 3 years. But, no, that doesn't make me feel better. I could take them to work, and probably will some days, but it is unrealistic to think I will do so every day.
   
7. Thus, I think my initial excitement is now being tinged somewhat by "buyer's remorse." I suppose that is natural. Especially for me, since my last career move turned out to be sorta bad in many ways. 
8. I am excited about this weekend though--the hubs and I are planning on going to a Symphony concert and dinner, a friend is taking me out for a celebratory dinner and I may be going out with Bobs. YEAH.
   
9. I feel like my getting a job has been like my birthday. All the congrats. All the offers to celebrate. It's nice. Thanks, everyone!
10. I am really glad I took that vacation last October because it will probably be late Spring before we are able to go anywhere. Oh, the joy of probationary periods.
11. Someone asked if I was going to purchase a "go back to work" gift for myself. UM, HELLZ YES. I am still thinking, but I am leaning toward that All Clad skillet I have been coveting.
12. I am worried my cooking is going to suffer going back to work. And my garden. Again, I know I should be worried about losing my house and having health insurance, but change is difficult, okay???
13. And I should tell you now that I am not sure how things here at BGR will be. Def not daily anymore for a while. But I will be around. Because I loves you. You complete me, peeps. XO, B.