sweatin' to the oldies

Peeps, it was an action-packed weekend. I mean, I am a celebrity, after all. Speaking of, my celebrity status did not afford me a life of recognition and luxury as I'd hoped. In fact, it was pretty anticlimactic. But, I know you have it in you. Here's the plan, next time you see me, you should treat.me.like.a.queen and then all will be forgiven, k?

Saturday I hit two Halloween parties--one at the Haunted Cafe of my friends Sandra and Jessica, and one at Cattivo (where I was supposed to be a celebrity--judging the costume contest). I was, as promised, Richard Simmons. See?


and



and, check out these moves!



and, these!



and, these!



and, then later that evening when Richard was partied out:



and



Good times. That was a fun and comfortable costume. I like. I heard that Richard was me on Saturday (we celebrities like to do that). I hope there are pictures.

Last night I met a Hurd out for dinner and a movie. We got some food at The Library, then caught the PILGFF closing film, Itty Bitty Titty Committee.

First, the food. It was the first trip to The Library for both a Hurd and I. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, because even though there was a definite library theme, the actuality was more sports bar (complete with drunken Stillers fans, tvs and loud music). So, they get an 'eh' on atmosphere. The menu was pub-grub. There weren't a ton of vegetarian options, but I settled on the portobella sandwich. Even though I love mushrooms, I'm kinda tired of seeing the portobella sandwich on the menu as the token vegetarian offering. But, it was good. Like, really good. The mushrooms were really nice, tender, and subtly balsamic. The roasted red peppers were sweet. The boursin cheese was melty and plentiful. And, the cilantro sprouts were a nice touch. I got sweet potato fries on the side, and they were tastilicious, too. All-around, surprisingly yummy!


The movie was fantastic! Super-cute dykes, a womens' studies crash course, hot sex scenes, and very low on the cheese factor, but very high on the awesome factor. Plus, afterwards there was a cheesecake hangout thing (at, um, The Cheesecake Factory, which unlike the movie, is very high on the cheese factor). Our end of the table tried Pineapple Upside-Down, Vanilla Bean and Raspberry-Lemon. All incredibly delicious.

Tonight I have a date with a Hurd again. We're having dinner at Spice Island (okay, I practically live there. so?), then going to see Ryan Adams! That is the way to handle a Monday.

Woot!

now, that's good friday.

Okay, it's not actually Good Friday, but all Fridays are good in that they're the kick-off to the weekend. I'm so ready. Waking up this week has been really tough. I've snoozed for over an hour nearly every morning. It's just too hard to get up when it's dark outside, and kinda cool. That's perfect sleeping weather, and it's just sick and wrong to squander it. Of course, since I don't have to work tomorrow, I'm sure I'll be up at the cracka with no problem. That's how it works.

I just tracked down some spirit gum (necessary for affixing my chest hair for my Richard Simmons transformation), and I have the Bedazzler ready to do some serious bedazzlin' tonight/tomorrow. Now, I just need some pink tights. Actually, I wish I could find a whole-body pink leotard. That'd rock. Except when you have to pee, then it'd probably suck. Unless it came with an ass-flap like the old school longjohns. Anyone know any place in Pittsburgh that sells full-body leotards for chubby ladies at bargain basement prices?


I've also always secretly wanted to be Slim Goodbody for Halloween, and if I happened to find a full-body (with or without ass-flap) pink leotard this time, next year I could dress it up to be him. And, I could use the same wig as for Richard!


Just sayin'.

K. Thanks for the feedback yesterday on my quandary. I'm gonna let these go, and then next time I'll give up the goods about my meals out. I did have some good food yesterday. Mags and I went to lunch at Spice Island, and check it out--I actually got something other than java fried rice! I went for the fried tofu with chili-peanut sauce. Yum. And, at the farmers market I picked up some potato-n-cheese pierogies for dinner. Holy cow, those are so good! They're from Gosia's Pierogies in Latrobe. I signed up for their holiday list (they'll be taking holiday orders, and making a delivery to the 'Burgh some time in December). If you're interested in getting on their order list, check them here:

Gosia's Pierogies
Terry and Jan Smith-Rawecki
75 Pauline Drive
Latrobe, Pa 15650
724-205-9938
terrsmith@comcast.net

Or, just come to the Bloomfield farmers market on Thursdays. The farmers markets are going away soon! They end at Thanksgiving! And, so does my CSA! That's merely a few weeks away. It's so sad! It breaks my little heart! It makes me wish I were in Barbara Kingsolver's family, and I'd been farming and canning and storing all spring and summer so that I could reap the bounty of my labors with local foods all winter. Yinz guys should read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Such a fantastic book!

K, folks. Have a fantastic weekend!

The rain is like a baptism upon my car.

(Do you know that quote?)

I like rain. I like it especially when I'm on the couch, under an afghan (the blanket, not the countrymen), reading, snoozing, watching teen movies. Now, that is a good time. However, that is not what my day is about today. Instead, my day was about a ton of traffic, getting re-routed all over creation on my way to work, and pumping out expense reports. Eh. But, I am going to see the Women's Shorts at the Film Fest tonight, and that's a good time!

In other news, I saw this little dealie on the Pittsburgh Women's Blogger site, and it's interesting, but I don't really understand how they calculate this. But either way, I'm pretty much rich.

My blog is worth $6,209.94.
How much is your blog worth?

I did not cook last night because I was attending this really cool women's discussion group thingy. Really nice--great conversation, good eats, good times. But, I'm gonna have to feed myself this evening. I think I'm just going to make a tofu-veggie stir-fry. I think I'll use the leftover vinaigrette that I made for the fennel relish as the sauce, maybe with a little more ginger. Dang. I want that right now. But, instead I have a Campbell's Classic Tomato soup-at-hand to microwave. Harumph. And, I want a Dozen cupcake. Or, a dozen cupcakes. Either one (or both).

The Richard Simmons costume is slowly coming together. I still need a pair of pink tights (for under the shorts), a pair of tube socks (but Kramer thinks she has a pair I can use), and I need to bust out the Bedazzler to make it all fabulous (oh my god, that site is frightening!). My best costume to date was a couple years ago when an ex-gf and I went as John Waters and Divine. Since she is not a fan of mine anymore, here's a slightly altered image of the awesomeness:


Isn't that the best EVER???

I showed that to a co-worker last week, and he made me a copy of the film Lust in the Dust, starring Divine. It was absurd. I loved it.

eat your vegetables.

Folks, I'm plumb-out of inspiration lately. I've got a case of the blahs. But, this helps:


I'm planning on being Richard Simmons for Halloween. Maybe. But not in the "outfit" above. And, if I can find some shorts (I hate shorts). But still. What are you going to be?