1. My brother and SIL sent me a package with a very old British edition of Sketches by Boz, which I've never read, and some barley sugar candies, and some good-smelling soap, ad a smallish, very pretty cerulean blue cross-body bag that will be perfect for bike trips. I wasn't expecting anything more than a card, so it was a very nice surprise.
2. Other people who share my birthday, most of whom I didn't know about, and many of whom are super nerdy:
We went to Enoteca Maria, on Staten Island, on the recommendation of my Work Husband.
Buffala Caprese (and even though they were April tomatoes, it was SO good)
Ceci, Cipolle, e Pomodori (chick peas, with minced red onions & tiny grape tomatos, with olive oil and herbs, and why am I not making this all the time at home?)
Insalata di Pera e Gorgonzola (I will never reject pears in a salad, and the balsamic reduction was thick and sweet and acid and perfect)
Pizza Norma alla Nina (with fresh ricotta AND ricotta salata, mozzarella,and eggplant, and the leftovers were even more delicious this morning, cold)
Fettuccine con Fagiolini (fresh pasta baked with green beans, ricotta, tomatoes, capers and oregano)
The wine was a Sicilian Nero D’Avola, 2007. Nice full body (heh), a slight bit of spice, and a mild, long finish.
There was no room for dessert, but we saw some ricotta-stuffed creampuffs that looked amazing.
We ate and ate and ate, for about two hours, and rolled back to the ferry, and it was a beautiful night with a clear sky and black water and we're already planning to go back, maybe when D's parents come into town for his graduation next month.
Also, I ran into a former student of mine there dining with her parents, and we chatted briefly. She said that her class with me was her favorite class ever (and that was the sweetest dessert of all, honestly), and asked if the rumors were true that I wouldn't be back in the fall. All I could say was that I don't have any firm plans yet, but jeez, maybe they know something I don't? No, of course not, but it was weird; I've been very closed-lipped about my job search at Photogenic Little College, and why would students be talking about that, anyway? It's a small school, so I guess everyone knows everyone else's business.
So I went out and got a long-overdue pedicure today. I had February Feet (tm). They were gnarly.
And usually I just grab the palest, sheerest pinkish-beige color, because I'm not really a nail polish person, but today I chose glittery, metallic silver-blue. It'll look like crap in 2 days, but but for now I kinda like it.
I don't have a camera phone, and heaving my foot up in front of my webcam seems ungainly, so you'll just have to believe me.
Today, the Really Good half of the Really Good Pot Roast celebrates a birthday. Rob is a couple calendars older than me, and we've honestly known each other my whole life. In the last dozen years, we've followed each other into music. We began writing tentative little jams, short little goofy songs we could trade off leading. We had no idea what we were doing.
Now, we're on the eve of releasing our second full length album together. We argue over song structure, have developed more complex arrangements, and support each other on wild musical tangents. And we still have no idea what we're doing. But it's a whole lot more interesting.
Thanks for making some of my favorite music with me.
We haven't spoken for quite a while, and not because of distance or life. I can't really explain it, but it was nice to see that response. It completely made my day, even though it doesn't necessarily mean we're going to go back to the way we were.
In other news, I am now officially excited for my birthday! And I am determined to make it one that I can remember.
