One of my ex-employees owed my workplace $221. When he came in to pay last week, he only had $220 on him. Out of the goodness of my heart, I put my own $1 in to fulfill his debt.
This morning I found a dollar bill on the ground. I headed to the mall after work and outside of the entrance was a Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell. I had the dollar in my pocket and figured since it wasnāt mine to begin with, placed it in the red kettle before I headed inside.
When I finished my shopping and walked out of the store I was in, I found another dollar on the ground. I didnāt see who had dropped it and people kept walking by it. I picked it up and started walking away, almost positive someone would stop me because it was some sort of prank. But no one did.
The universe really wants me to have this dollar.
Is it so bad that Iām constantly wishing for more?
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This post has been a long time coming. The first time I ever went to Uchi was last July so this post is...exactly six months late (as of now, while I'm typing this. I'll prob post this two days after I start). Go me. Always punctual. I have been to Uchi four more times since the events of this post. Hey, practice makes perfect! I think each meal I have there is perfect but it seems to get better every time because I realize from the time before what dishes I like and then sometimes I get some free goodies. I love knowing people in the food biz.
I decided to take my cousin here for her birthday dinner (two months late, of course). We'd both been talking about it for a long time so it was just time for us to finally take the leap and try it out. This was the decision that changed my wallet forever.
Uchiviche -Ā salmon, striped bass, tomato, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro. Nice chunks of fish and so very fresh-tasting. This was my cousin's order. I haven't ordered this since the first time and I question that sometimes. As much as I enjoyed it when I had it, I don't think it was anything amazingly special. It was great to try once though. I'd opt for the machi cure instead.
So we had an idiot server who messed up our order. We were idiots for not telling him he'd messed up and just took what we got. So we told him at the very beginning that all the fish we were ordering were going to be sushi pieces. Of course two of the fish we ordered that could be served as sashimi came as sashimi. They were easier to share but more than I wanted to pay. It was pretty frustrating that something like this would happen at such an esteemed establishment but, hey, whatever.
Walu Walu -Ā oak-grilled escolar, candied citrus, yuzupon, myoga. One of the best things I've tried at Uchi to date. It melts in your mouth (so cliche but true) and the ponzu complements the fish really well.
Wagyu - torch-seared beef. I think there might have been yuzu on this? Not too sure. There was an overwhelming presence of citrus that I felt really took away from the flavor of the beef. Not sure what the beef tasted like actually. I haven't gotten this again since the first time so it wasn't all that great, sadly. Glad I tried it though.
Unagi is always a real treat.
Pitchfork roll - wagyu beef, leek crisp, avocado, yuzu kosho. Uchi isn't really known for their maki. This was kind of underwhelming. I don't think there was much flavor, save for the sauce, and the leek crisp just kind of got in the way. Nice concept and artsy presentation though.
Ham & Eggs roll -Ā katsu pork belly, yolk custard, espelette. So good! I wish it came with 50 million pieces instead of just five. The salty pork belly and the rice remind me of something from my childhood. When food can make you nostalgic, that's a good sign.
OH MY GOSH. I know I say that I could eat this or that or something or another every single day but sometimes I am lying. When I say that I could eat ten pieces of this foie gras nigiri every day, I am straight up, hand-to-my-heart telling the truth. Praise Jesus!
After the first piece I wasn't yet sure if I loved them yet. This wasn't a love at first taste ordeal. I'd never had foie gras before and I was afraid to because of the bad vibe around it. I thought this would be my one and only visit to Uchi so I went ahead and tried a piece for the hell of it. Then came another piece. And another. I wish I could have this every day but I'd probably die from a heart attack. But I WOULDN'T CARE because this is HEAVEN.
The only thing I knew about Uchi before I went there was this dessert: fried milk -Ā chocoĀlate milk, toasted milk, iced milk sherbet. Every comment on it on Foodspotting was how it was the best dessert they'd ever tried and how it was phenomenal, palette-changing, life-changing, etc. I will I admit that I really disliked it at first. I wrote a critical rant about it on my Foodspotting post. I had a tiny, unsatisfied wrinkle on the bridge of my nose with every bite I took of this dessert. I thought something was wrong with me for not liking/loving this dish like everyone else seemed to.
Then I got it again the third time I visited. And I loved it. This led me to think about my first experience with this dish and how completely polar my reactions were. Maybe there was something wrong with it the first time? It was so bitter. And now it was a great balance of bitter and sweet. Where was that sweetness the first time? Who cares. All that matters is that I am now a normal person because I like this dessert and I would gladly get it again the next time I go. The only reason I didn't get it last Monday was because I had so much food already and wasn't sure if I could get another bite in me without being sick all over the sushi bar.
Soooo...HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY to my cousin. Again.
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1. I finally got a job. Seven months ago. Yep, I'm great at updating this darn thing, huh? It's at this place called Uni Sushi and I'm a badass server/hostess deadly duo/combo/thing. Not that badass though tbh. I'm making good money and I enjoy my coworkers. However, I am ready for a real job. I want a set work schedule andĀ benefits. Let's finish school first, loser.
2. I'm still super behind on updating this blog. I'm seven months behind to be exact. Just gonna put myself on blast and hopefully humiliate myself into finally posting all my happenings. They were really great happenings! I'm just so, so, soooo lazy.
3. So close to finishing the Mass Effect trilogy, guys. Don't get me wrong, I love the games. I just can't bring myself to finish the third one. I shouldn't have spoiled myself on the ending(s). I'm also super rusty on those keyboard controls too. My aim is probably off. (And so many more excuses.) I'll try to finish before spring break. Check back then.
4. I've seen Tegan and Sara twice since my last 'update' post. And Mumford & Sons. And Avenged Sevenfold and Wicked (the musical). Again (to both). I've also purchased my tickets for the One Direction concert in Houston next August. Bring it on!
5. I turned 22. Nothing too spectacular there. I don't know how you felt it, TSwift.
6. I lost a pretty penny gambling in Lake Charles. I also dropped a chunk of change on two Coach purses and a Kate Spade purse + wallet. Also, a North Face jacket and J. Crew travel bag. Of course all of these things were completely necessary! And one Coach bag was for my mom so don't even bother giving me a lecture. I also got her a Le Creuset french oven pot so I'm not completely selfish.
7. I hate Jagerbombs now. That's actually pretty disappointing and upsets me quite a lot. Found that I like Ketel One and scotch, surprisingly. Bo introduced me to Strongbow hard cider and I can't get enough of it. I think I cleaned out our local sports bar of their Strongbow inventory. It's been out for literally three weeks and they keep telling me they'll restock but WTF. It's been a loooong time. I have to settle for Angry Orchard because they don't have Woodchuck either. I recently tried the cider that Hi Hat (Austin, TX) had and it was one of the most disgusting things I'd ever drunk. The aftertaste tasted like what I would expect to smell in a high school boys' locker room. Not pleasant at all.
8. I know I keep talking about how I'm going to eventually move to London and all but I feel like I'm not doing anything to help me get there? It's such a definite plan in my future but 'how far along in the future' is the question. It all depends on when I start preparing for it. I got a job but I can't seem to start saving for that move at all. I can't seem to save for anything, honestly. Every paycheck just mysteriously disappears. I need to finish school and start paying back my loans before I can even think about leaving the country for half a decade. I knew it was going to be hard but I guess I looked at it as too much of a dream and now that it's getting closer to the time that it should be becoming a reality, I find myself completely unprepared and lost. Sure, I've picked out neighborhoods I want to live in and looked at things I want to do but how to get from here to there? How to even get a visa? How to find a job? What to bring with me to my new life? I need to do more research and I need to save more money. Which brings me to my next thing...
9. Stop going out. This is getting ridiculous and out of hand. Just because I have a job and a not-so-disposable income doesn't mean that I'm free to use it on a whim. There were weeks when I went out any day that I worked. That kind of negates the money I made that day. Then I told myself I'd only go out on the nights that I closed. That didn't even last for a day. I need to get used to just getting out of work and then going straight home. I need to stop saying 'yes' to my coworkers whenever they invite me out for a drink or food after our shifts. People say 'no' to me all the time. I should get used to doing the same to others.
10. I desperately need to clean my room/living space. I haven't even unpacked since Dragon Con and that is disgusting. I don't know what my life has come to. I never used to be this messy. Wtf happened? The couch in my room is completely obstructed. You'd never even know it was there. My bed is never made. I have miscellaneous items strewn all over the floor. I barely have room on my desk for my laptop. Like, why is this jar of cookie butter just sitting here?! Where did this tangerine come from? Do I really need a million cough drops? What if my house catches on fire because my stuff is too close to my little room heater? I need a maid. Actually, I just need to get off my lazy ass and clean my room instead of making pointless posts on tumblr that no one will ever read.
A traditional Portuguese dish with marinated prime beef in garlic herbs and spices. Served on a skewer that is hung on a stand at your table with garlic drizzling down from the top. Served with spinach, couscous, and roasted new potatoes.
It really was amazingly delicious. The potatoes seemed more like they were fried than roasted however. No complaints here though.
Also over spring break, I coerced Clare to go and watch Tegan and Sara with me at Warehouse Live. This was my first time at the venue and I have to admit that it was a pretty good experience.
We arrived about an hour and a half before doors opened so we were a bit far back in the line. No matter, picture time!
I love this picture of Clare! So pretty! I don't think she felt the same way though. :)
There was this ice cream truck that was parked right next to us trying to sell ice cream and bottled water to the impatient line. And yes, the song was playing the entire freaking time. Really? We're all lined up against a fence for you. And you're right there in front of us. It's not like we're gonna go, "Oh, shucks! I can't find the ice cream truck that just moved three feet down the line that way." So to entertain ourselves, we just kept singing along to the song.
And day quickly turned into night????
Finally, the line begins to move and we get some wristbands because we're over 21. You know, for in case we want to drink.
We get inside and first things first, we get in line for merchandise because obvs the line will be insane at the end of the show. While we wait, we notice the mailbox in which fans can put their fan mail for Tegan and Sara to read. Such a sweet thing.
There's also a cool insert-your-face-here cardboard cutout of their newest album so you can have a photo op as the headliners of the show!
Hey, look! I'm Tegan and Clare is Sara! So convincing, mirite?
The show itself was amazing and I had such a great time! I'd definitely go to another Tegan and Sara show, no doubt about that. But man, all that singing/jumping/dancing really worked up an appetite. 'Oh, it's nearly midnight? Nothing's open?' Denny's it was!
She happily cleaned her plate(s). A very low-rated Denny's got a high rating from us. Super satisfied!
Setlist
Back In Your HeadĀ
Walking With A GhostĀ
I Was A FoolĀ
I'm Not Your HeroĀ
I Couldn't Be Your FriendĀ
ArrowĀ
The ConĀ
Love They SayĀ
Goodbye, GoodbyeĀ
Where Does The Good GoĀ
Burn Your Life DownĀ
Living RoomĀ
How Come You Don't Want MeĀ
Call It OffĀ
NineteenĀ
Shock To Your SystemĀ
Drove Me WildĀ
AlligatorĀ
Now I'm All Messed UpĀ
CloserĀ
Encore:
My Number / Monday Monday Monday / You Wouldn't Like Me / Speak Slow / Hop A Plane / Sentimental Tune / On Directing / I Know I Know I Know)Ā
Feel It In My Bones
(TiĆ«sto feat. Tegan & SaraĀ cover)
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So.
We obviously went to Citycentre so we could stuff ourselves full of happy hour sushi from Ra. I'd just gotten my new iPod touch at the time (this was during spring break; I know, I'm super late with this post) so we took lots of unnecessary pics of ourselves and food and shenanigans.
DO NOT DISTURB THE FAMILY
Because Stoker.
This isn't going to be an interesting post at all actually because tbh, it's just pictures of us being silly. I have nothing to really say about this day except that it was exceptionally good and I haven't had too many days like this one in a while. I'll just post the rest of the pictures now then. (I also don't remember too much since this took place almost four months ago. Whoops.)
Phong whispering sweet nothings into Benny's ear.
Happy!
Silly!
This looks like it could be the cover of some romantic comedy where best friends are in love with each other but neither knows about the other's feelings. It also looks like Phong said some really douchey comment to Abigail but she likes douches so she smiles like it's a nice thing and she's really flattered by it.
So I was supposed to go up to Austin and Georgetown for the Kurth 2 reunion and Priscilaās birthday. But nooooo, life wanted to shit on me and give me one of the worst colds Iād ever had. Ever. I swear I was feverish for three days and thought I was going to die from it and turn into a zombie. To this day, Iām still unsure whether I got a very bad cold or a mild case of the flu. But whatevs, I ended up going up a month later and it was still all good. Missed the reunion though, poo!
So my first stop was in Austin and I met up with the lovely Phong and Chelsea for dinner at Carrabbaās. I was seriously craving those mussels they have, donāt judge. I am a rather big fan of Italian chain restaurants.
They had a blackberry sangria on their menu and I, still reeling from that beautiful sangria I had at Mia Bella with Clare, couldnāt help but try it.
It was really good! More of a real wine taste with some nice fruity accents. Iād order it again. I want one now.
And here are those mussels I was talking about. I tried these mussels about five years ago with my mom and bro and fell in love with mussels. It had literally been five years since Iād had these and my tastebuds were dying for them. Butter, garlic, and white wine. WHO COULD SAY NO???? I sure couldnāt. Iām sure I ate more than my fair share of these beauts because cāmon. You would too.
We went back to Phongās place and did our usual shenanigans. I think I finally got to play Battleshots with Abigail and I lost. My intention all along MWAHAHAHA! More Jagerbombs pour moi.
No pics of the game because thatās scandalous but you can see these two beautiful people.
Next dayās plans included going to eat at Magnolia because itās so difficult for me to make a stop in Austin without eating at one of their wonderful cafes. There was a wait so we walked across the street to get some juice at Juice Land.
This was both a good and bad choice because yummms and we walked into Magnolia already semi-full. Too bad for my stomach because there was no way I was not going to eat everything I ordered at Magnolia.
Mag Mud is a MUST whenever I step foot into Magnolia. Queso with avocados and black beans and some other good stuff in there. Why is that salsa even included? You know Iām not gonna touch that!
It was Texas Independence Day so I went ahead and got myself a Texas Benedict. Two buttermilk biscuit halves topped with breakfast sausage, poached eggs, and chipotle hollandaise sauce. The chipotle hollandaise was just hollandaise with Tabasco, Iām sure. So freaking filling. I recommend eating these quickly because I talked a lot and my food had gotten cold. Not as good cold, which Iām sure many things are the same way. Came with home fries and your choice of fruit. Chose bananas because I did.
The next day was my designated Georgetown day with my suitees! We decided to eat at El Monumento, a sort of upscale south-of-the-border restaurant that was resurrected during my months away. I guess you could say itās the sister restaurant to Monument Cafe. I had set my eyes on getting the duck but when no one else ordered any food, I just settled on a sangria. It wasnāt good. :( But the company more than made up for it.
Apparently I missed the memo that there was an Animal House party that night so I just did with my clothes what I could. I ended up going as a pretty crappy peacock. More like I just put on blue and green and announced myself as a peacock. And Kelsey did āpeacock makeupā for me.
Totally caught off guard.
Yeah, so usual party night and I slept on an air mattress in the living room. Woke up and had breakfast at El Charrito! What a great decision we all unanimously made.
I had carne asada for the first time and it was so good! I couldnāt finish it after all the chips and salsa I had.
Had quality gossiping and chatty time with Pris, Eddie, and Ty back at Prisās apartment. Here are the guys posing seductively for my camera.
And to end a wonderful weekend, here is the ever-typical unflattering picture I take of Priscila. Iām sorry, Quizzy.
It's been more than three years since I became good friends with a most special girl. It's been three years since we walked back to our dorm building from lunch and I noticed that my shoe was untied. Clare, being the kind girl she is, obligingly knelt down and tied my laces for me.
"Of course I'll marry you!"
Heads turned and giggles fluttered. Clare didn't even bat an eyelash; she took it and ran with it. I started to wear my mom's old engagement ring. Somewhere along the way, we decided to get married and make it Facebook official. February 25, 2010 suddenly became a very special day.
Our first year we celebrated by going out to Valloween at the Sig Haus and writing cute posts to each other on Facebook. Our second year completely slipped our minds and we ended up celebrating a month late by going out for cupcakes at Sweet and catching John Carter. We also made gifs (1 & 2) for each other on Tumblr!
But this year, this year was special. We've come a long way. We've attended two Dragon*Cons together. We've gotten completely messed up together. We've shared secrets and stories. And 3 is my favorite number so...yeah. I figured we'd go for a little bit more.
The first thing on the list was dinner reservations. I looked through countless restaurant reviews and details on Yelp and scoured the earth for happy hours worth going to. At the end of my journey, we settled on Mia Bella and I made the reservation on OpenTable. Monday, Feb 25 at 4:30pm.
The second thing was a gift. Clare and I had both been ragging on the ridiculousness that is Safe Haven. I was curious one night and decided to read the plot of the movie and was tickled by the ending. I told Clare to read it for herself and she had a similar reaction. I figured it would be a good idea to share the Safe-Haven-watching-experience together and laugh our butts off. Tickets to Safe Haven at 7pm at Sundance Cinemas? Check. (Btw, Sundance Cinemas is an amazing place. I'm in love.)
So Mia Bella's website needs some updating because their menus aren't matching. I was really looking forward to $3 mimosas during happy hour but that apparently is no longer on the menu. I instead "settled" for their $3 sangrias. I put the quotes there because...dear LAWD, I found the tastiest sangria ever. It might not be that strong because it was only $3 and tasted basically like juice but it is so delicious.
Look at that beauty!
The food there was disappointing so I think I'd only ever go back for their happy hour sangrias and maybe another calzone. The bottom picture is their Filetto Di Manzo.
Grilled 6 oz. beef tenderloin filet stacked atop a crustini and grilled prosciutto over garlic-leek mashed potatoes and topped with a green peppercorn demi sauce and gorgonzola cheese. Served with steamed vegetables.
I ordered this medium and it came out almost well done. The outside of the meat was super burnt. Why would anyone even plate this? Why?! Had it sent back and the second time it came back out, it was a nice medium and almost good. The mashed potatoes were good. The vegetables weren't steamed enough. Kind of a let-down, considering it was $20. :(
After our early dinner, we walked on over to Sundance. The wind wasĀ killer that day. There was this especially strong gust that felt like a slap in the face. I was wearing a skirt and the wind kept blowing it up. My hair was a bird's nest that kept sticking to my lip-balmed lips and we probably smelled like trees.
I tried my first michelada at the Sundance bar. Phong and Abigail had been raving about micheladas for months and so I took my chance to find out what all the fuss was about. Hmm, not bad but not for me. I prefer my drinks to not be savory. It was good but I'm not sure I'd ever get it again. It's too much of a shock every time I take a sip and taste the spices I'd use for a chicken breast instead of a cold, fruity desert sunrise.
Clare finally got the mimosa she'd been craving all day. This one was $8 instead of $3, however, but that didn't stop her from getting two of those bad boys.
Safe Haven went as expected and we tried to keep our laughing volume to a minimum as to not disturb the couples around us.
I made these yesterday. Bacon deviled eggs! My cholesterol is going to go through the roof because I made thirty of them to share with Abigail and Tasha but theyāre a no-show. More for me! (Which is the bad thing. But oh so gooood.) Hereās how to make them:
Bacon Deviled Eggs
makes 30
15 hard-boiled eggs (peeled, obviously)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2Ā 1/2 tablespoons sweet relish
2 teaspoons mustard
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
salt and pepper
paprika
5 bacon strips
Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and remove the yolks. (This can be done by gently scooping them out with a spoon but I find it easier to just squeeze in the sides a little.) Put those yolks in a bowl thatās big enough to hold them and a little extra.
Mash the yolks a bit first and then add in the mayonnaise, relish, and mustard. Mix it all up and mash it some more. Add the sugar and however much salt and pepper you want.
Now here comes the fun part! Get out a piping bag and a tip, fill āer up, and pipe that delicious, creamy goodness back into the eggs they came from. If you donāt have a piping bag, just scoop the filling back into the egg. It wonāt be as pretty and easy but it will have to do. Go out and invest in a piping bag! Sprinkle some of the paprika on top of it all.
Place the bacon strips on a baking sheet with a rack so that all that fat can just drip down. Be sure to put foil under the rack so cleanup can be super easy. Donāt preheat your oven! Just slide your sheet in, close the door, and then set the temp and time.
Bake your bacon at 400F for 15-18 minutes. Hear that sizzle and pop. Check on your bacon at around 15 minutes to make sure itās not looking like itās burning. If it looks like itās pretty much cooked through, take it out. It will finish cooking while it rests and cools.
Chop up that bacon and sprinkle on top of your deviled eggs. Be liberal with this because you can never have too much bacon! (You actually can. Donāt die.)
Eat them now or pop them in the fridge in an airtight container to eat later. Perfect for parties. Beware of the hawk-person who walks by and eventually eats the entire tray one-by-one without anyone noticing.
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1. I have so many things and photos I need to post for this account. I'm like two months behind. I just find it so difficult to type up anything interesting and this new tumblr posting feels really sluggish. :(
2. I started playing Mass Effect. So far I've logged 16 hours. Sigh. I was deathly afraid of video games before this. Don't get me wrong, I'm still terrified of landing on new planets and completing assignments but at least I can actually complete them now. Still can't bring myself to play Super Mario Galaxy.
3. Spring break is this week! Going to see Tegan & Sara with Clare on Friday. Other than that, no plans. Maybe I should study for that test...
4. I splurged on a new iPod. I hate myself sometimes.
5. Still haven't told my mom about D*C this year. Need to buy my plane ticket soon! She's not gonna be too happy about that.
6. Need to go back to biking consistently. I've been biking on and off for three weeks.
7. STOP SPENDING MONEY!
8. Think about getting passes to Free Press Summer Fest. (See #7)
9. Get a haircut.
10. Sweep and mop the floors. (This is starting to turn into a to-do list, whoops!)
