that’s just the way it is

Yo ladies and gents

Guess what day it is? It’s HUMP DAY

Woot woot

 

Boss is gone all week in Amsterdam so it’s basically been my holiday too.

The last two days I’ve sat on our couch and watched Breaking Bad and episodes of 48 Hours Mystery. This is the life.

I wonder if I would like it better if I had a really high stress powerful responsibility job.

Nope.

My job has its times when I’m feeling very overwhelmed… but there’s definitely a balancing act between those times and the times when I take naps on the couch.

 

On Monday, I woke up and my kidneys hurt. In addition to my hangover. So what does that mean? Oh yeah I need to stop drinking for awhile.

The weekend was definitely a doozy… I drank both mornings with breakfast and then again starting in the afternoon. Not to mention Friday’s booze fest for the show at Nectar.

So Monday and Tuesday were sober sister days. Thinking tonight will be sober too, and maybe tomorrow.

This weekend is Chicago which just means more boozing. I’m okay with it. But starting September… definitely not drinking at all during the weekdays.

I’ve already quit drinking beer, for the most part, and just drinking whiskey/diet gingers. It’s still not awesome in any way for you, but it is a small improvement.

 

I made the best dinner last night (I think every dinner I make is the best) – homemade spanish rice with shrimp (kind of like paella), baked rockfish and grilled zucchini. So good.

Spanish Rice:

– dice 1/2 red onion, 1 jalapeno, and 1 clove of garlic

– sautee in a large skillet with olive oil and 1 cup brown rice, until rice is brown

– meanwhile, in a sauce pan, heat up 2 cups of chicken (or veggie) stock, 1 regular sized can of diced tomatoes, and 1/2 small can of tomato sauce

– once the rice is browned and the stock/tomato mixture is near boiling, pour the stock mixture into the rice

– bring to simmer, turn heat down to medium low and simmer for 25-30 minutes until thickened and rice is cooked through.

If you want to add the shrimp, I cooked the shrimp as soon as I combined the stock and rice and brought to a simmer. I took the shrimp out as soon as they were cooked through, about 2 minutes per side, or until pink and curled. Set aside until rice is ready to serve, then mix in shrimp to re-heat.

 

Baked fish:

– place fish in the middle of a large piece of tin foil

– drizzle olive oil, season with S&P

– seal the tin foil with plenty of room on top of the fish, like a tent. This will cook the fish as a steam.

– cook at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes. If after 15 minutes the fish is not done, open the foil and put back into oven for a few more minutes until fish is flaky.

Easiest. Ever.

 

Grilled zucchini (can you tell I’m really bored right now?):

– slice zucchini long ways, about 2/3 inch thick

– coat with olive oil, S&P, any seasonings you like

– in a grill pan or on an outdoor grill, place directly on grill. turn after a few minutes.

Also. so. easy.

 

I’ve been drinking a lot of water lately. Like a lot. It’s good for me.

On Monday when I woke up all hungover, I looked rough. I did not look pretty.

When I got to work, I drank about 5 pints of water in the first few hours. Immediately I could tell a difference in my face, in my skin. I was clearly dehydrated to the max.

It was kind of a wakeup call that I need to get on the water train. I’m usually really good about water during the week and I’m at work, but on the weekends, when I have the option between water or a screwdriver or a whiskey ginger, you can guess which one I’m going to choose.

 

Paco is a stoner, and I’m a drinker.

He’s kind of both actually. But given the choice, he’d choose smoking. I’d choose drinking.

He smokes so much you guys.

Morning, after work, every half hour until he goes to sleep.

I don’t care that he’s high, but I hate the taste of his kiss and breath and the smell it leaves in my apartment.

I’ve never told him not to, I’m not going to govern his smoking. But he knows I prefer that he not.

 

And because it’s the talk of the country… two thoughts:

Miley Cyrus is a trashy immature idiot.

If you’re mad that your kid watched that performance, why are you letting your child watch MTV.

End of that story.

 

Kickball has been going well… we’ve won 4 of out 5 and tied the other. We’re the best team defensively, only allowing 15 runs in 5 games.

Personally, I’ve been doing incredibly well offensively, both bunting and kicking the ball. I get on base nearly every time, maybe getting out once every 10 kicks. It feels good.

Defensively, I haven’t been quite as lucky. I only get a couple chances a game to make a play, and when my plays aren’t taken away from me by the first baseman who is a MAJOR ball hog in every way, I somehow mess them up (most of the time).

At second base, I felt completely useless, so I asked Paco if we could switch. He play 2nd and I play shortstop.

After that game that we switched, he now realizes how ridiculous first baseman is with playstealing.

When first baseman leaves his base to field a ball that is clearly the second baseman’s, the base is left wide open. It’s stupid.

So now Paco is going to make more of a case and stand up a little more for that position.

I’ll continue playing shortstop until first baseman figures his shit out.

They have this thing called "Player of the Game" for the winning team of the game. The whole team suggests a person who played outstandingly and deserves the title.

I’ve never been chosen.

I feel like I never will.

I feel unremarkable, even though I’m one of the better members of the team.

I told Paco as much, because I was feeling a little glum after the games on Monday.

So badly I want to do something awesome that everyone thinks is awesome, not just me.

On Monday I made a play that nearly broke my back, running and jumping for a ground ball right up the middle and getting it to second base to get the last out of the inning.

Awesome to me, but everyone else was just glad the inning was over.

OH WELL

I just like to be best at most things I do.

 

I don’t want to stop writing, because I’m so god damn bored, but I don’t want to bore anyone else anymore.

Sometimes I wonder if I write these days for myself, because it helps me in some way, or if I do it out of habit, or if I do it to keep in touch with all you guys.

Who knows. I’ll just keep writing when I’m compelled to.