Last night Craig and I stopped in at Teardrop Lounge, a lovely place that Blair deserves nothing but praise for introducing us to. Also, Blair sucks because did I need a gorgeous cocktail lounge 15 minutes from work? No. Thank goodness they don’t open until 4, if I could go there for lunch I’d never come back to work.

We had a lovely evening - Teardrop really does have wonderful drinks. I don’t write about cocktail crap here much - I leave that kind of blather to the pros - but you all know I quite like drinking them. For reasons unknown (probably because I am the youngest in my family and the urge to be the bratty little sister never goes away) I kept giving Daniel (the Man of Teardrop) shit about his cocktails, calling then [unenthusiastic tone] “all right.” His revenge was to make me & Craig (who, being the smart husband he is, stayed out of it) a Last Word with Chartreuse VEP (Craig calls this a “Final Word,” Daniel voted for “Ultimate Word”). Killing with kindness, I tell you. Licorous (specifically the lovely bartender, Sara) gets all the credit/blame for finally turning me on to Chartreuse.

You guys should hit up Teardrop - maybe come to Tiki Third Tuesday on February 19th! - and be nice to Daniel (and David!). I’m allowed to be mean, but you aren’t.

Those of you who know me well (considering the extremely limited readership of this blog, that’s probably like 5 people, one of whom lives with me) know I binge on books/movies/tv shows/things. I get into something and just sort of wallow in it for while until I’m saturated in it, then I chill. Tragically, I haven’t done this with school! But I’ve been into some other stuff lately.

Here are my latest obsessions, in case you care:

• Doctor Who (I had never watched it before, I have no context. But it’s brilliant!) And it lead me to…
• Torchwood (Like X-Files except everyone sees the aliens!) And it led me to…
• John Barrowman (A happy gay man who sings? And he likes dogs? I’m sold)
• Julia Quinn (I like romance novels, sure, but I’d never really been honestly jealous that I hadn’t written one until When He Was Wicked).
• Three Dots and a Dash. Craig’s been keen on them lately, and I am sold. I’m also 2.5 sheets to the wind right now, thanks in part to said cocktail.

Lately I’m also sort of obsessing in general about food and cocktails. Of course there are a ton of cocktail and food blogs out there (see my blogroll) but it all seems so…pretentious I guess. I mean, I love good and good cocktail a LOT, but it doesn’t need to be so snotty. I guess I always think of my Granny, who made the most gorgeous wonderful food but never graduated high school (she told me once she got married (at 15 to my Grandpa, a really tall angry Scot with a drinking problem) because she was tired of picking cotton!). She never would have known the word “de-glazing” but that’s exactly what she did with bacon-cooked greens when she dumped vinegar in them. I guess the whole concept of “peasant food” is intriguing me (though how condescending is that term?). I just want to make good, real food that is pleasing to the planet and the palate, without making a big to-do about it.

Assuming everything doesn’t go to shit, Craig and I will very shortly be homeowners. After a convoluted negotiation process (ever the bargain hunters!) we will be closing on a 1910 Portland (or American) Foursquare in North Portland in the next month or so. You can see pics of it here (from the listing) or here (from our inspection). It needs some work (it is 98 years old!) but nothing too drastic.

I am very much looking forward to decorating (in addition to being very different from our usual mid-century style, my mother has decided to bequeath me most of her (fantastic antique) furniture, which is going to really change the aethestic), I am not looking forward to packing. Those of you who have been to my house or been through a move with us know what it is like. So.Much.Crap! I’m hoping this move is a good motivator to purge!

I’m going to try and emulate Making it Lovely and record the process of decorating, remodeling (the kitchen has got to go), projects, etc. We’ll see how much better I am at documenting this than anything else.

Edited to add: I guess I should tell you something about it - it is 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 3 (4 if you count the (as yet unfinished) attic) level, 2800 sq feet, full basement. The yard is not large, and it backs directly up to a large metal warehouse, which I think gives it a wonderfully urban feel (to me it feels like a San Francisco house). It is close to Lombard (note for non-Pdxers, this is a major street in North Portland). There is lots of room (clearly) so I expect people to come and visit!

For the past ~5 days, I have been sicker than I can remember being in at least 10 years. I was out TWO days at work (that’s how you know you’re really sick - one sick day is migraine or mental health, two is death’s door). It was the influenza, given to me by Craig and shared (friends share!) with Blair. Damn you and sorry, respectively.

It was the dreaded man cold!

Have you guys seen this commercial? I know they are trying to convince me to buy an overpriced electronic device, but I really want Sven!

Actually, any traditional valet/butler will do: Jeeves, Bunter, Ianto.

When did “stuffed animals” become “softies”? Is this an effort by the craft mafia to make them seem more grown up? Or less like Beanie Babies? Or something?

is to write on my blog more! Honestly. Or at least post pictures. I have boatloads of pictures I have taken - of food, of Budgie, of my house, of random things - that never see the light of internet.

In light of my resolution, here are a bunch of pics I’ve had languishing on my desktop, waiting for retouching and uploading. But since I never got around to it, I’m just dumping them here already.