Christmas on Mars

We're watching the Flaming Lips' "Christmas on Mars", and I think it's gonna be 86 minutes of my life that I can't get back. Sorry, Chad. But I did recognize Fred Armisen right off. I think I'll go take a nap now.

Getting XMas Done Before Thanksgiving

I hate dealing with shopping during the xmas season. The combo of working retail and shitty weather make me want to be done with it as soon as possible. I probably got 80% of it done today. I got both of M's big presents today while he was at work.

Target first thing in the morning before it got busy. I love how Target has all those packaged "gadgety" gifts at xmas. I found a new manicure kit (since M picked up my cuticle scissors last week and the handle broke in two). I also bought the remote control holder I eyeballed last year and didn't get. Why can't Target have all those cool gifts year-round? I also got all my gifts for my Secret Santa, and I'm pretty happy with my choices. Last year Target had a crockpot with three different sized inserts, but I can't find one anywhere, and now we want one, of course.

Then off to Value Village. I found a couple of shirts, but no pants. I want a pair of dark brown pants, and I am always on the lookout for jeans that fit. No crockpots, and no cast iron skillets either.

I picked up the last of the groceries we need for tomorrow. We're having:
fresh angel hair pasta w/ pesto cream sauce, baked baby carrots, mashed sweet potatoes, salad, and pecan pie. We've got appetizers from Trader Joes to snack on all morning.

Now I'm watching Food Network and coming up with cooking ideas for the weekend. We're trying to cook a lot more instead of eating out. Our food tastes are kinda gourmet and we buy as much organic as possible, so we're not really saving any money by eating at home. Mostly, we're tired of our usual restaurants, it's cold outside, and it's basketball season.

I happened upon what I think is going to be my new favorite Food Network show, Quick Meals With Robin Miller . Everything she made today was super-easy and looked so good!

My friend Gabe is home for Thanksgiving, and we're gonna hang out later. I'm gonna make baked Garlic Mac & Cheese for dinner, and we'll watch the Blazers play the Heat. However, now it's nap time.

A Fun Thursday Night Was Had

I met up with Katie and Dusty at Davis' for a friend's birthday dinner. The poor service and the fact that I never got my change back on my beer reinforced my dislike for the place. Granted, it was $1.50 change on a five, but maybe if I wasn't a member of the working poor, the principle of it wouldn't bother me. Especially when I asked for my change, and she said she'd bring it.

Davis' sure is pretty looking. I like the color scheme. However, the menu is too chi-chi and spendy for my low-wage job taste. I'm not a yuppie or yuppie-in-training, or aspiring to be one, and that is the crowd that it desires & draws. I am normal folk who like kicking it with normal folk. The positive I can give Davis' is that you can dress casually and still fit in. And that their burger is the shit--get it with blue cheese and bacon.

Next we got dinner (mmm chicken strips!) and drinks at Horsehead. I like Horsehead because all kinds of people go there. You've got your resident alcoholics, business people getting a drink after work, aging hipsters, troubled hipsters. It has more of a feel of a neighborhood bar with awesome food than its uptight prissy cousin across the street.

M was supposed to meet up with us when his band practice ended, but of course, some stupid bullshit happened like it always does. Katie and Dusty walked me home because M's band practice didn't get started until late, and we were ready to leave by then. Anyone got a band my BF can jam with?

Anyway, the three of us hung out at my house for awhile. They got to check out the Memory Foam mattress pad, and we talked about all kinds of pop culture. I wish I got to hang out with Katie and Dusty more often because I like them so much. They are super-cool and we think alike on a lot of the same things. I'm glad they're my friends.