Bob's Sandwich Challenge and the Worker Strike

As I mentioned in today's earlier post, my household is on a bit of a trimmed budget lately, making things like eating out, buying dresses, inexplicable trips to Funspot, etc sadly not possible (at least for the month of November).  It's not a totally bad thing to cut back - we are having a ridiculously good time trying to game Shaws for all their worth coupon-wise - but it does mean there's going to be a pause in the Bob's Sandwich Challenge.  Let's call it a Worker's Strike where the workers are the cash money that we don't currently have.

We're hoping that December will see the return of giant, saucy, Italian subs (at least on a monthly basis!) but have no fear - the bracket may be paused but it is far from canceled. 

DIY to the Max!

For those of you who are unaware, Nate recently got a shiny new job (he keeps threatening to guest post about it but... ) which is fantastic in that it's given him a way to explore a new career path - one that will hopefully provide him with a lot more growth, challenge, and enjoyment than his last one (no judgement).

Another bonus of his new job is that it's giving us a chance to really work on our budgeting skills since it's a bit of a pay cut (check out that spinning!). Not totally unexpected given the change in focus that comes with this job but I'm warning you - I foresee lots of DIY, 'X' on a budget, and similar posts in the future.

And hey, maybe even a guest post from the man himself. ;)

To check out the new venture that Nate's a part of (and see if you can identify his nerdy tech posts) go visit The Verge!

Book 6 - Under the Banner of Heaven

Under the Banner of Heaven

By, Jon Krakauer

433 pages - 3.5 stars

Under the Banner of Heaven is a book that came out awhile ago and I've heard a lot about it but never read it.  Growing up in a part of the country where there is a fairly prominent contingent of Mormons, I like to think I know a fair amount about their culture and religion but I have to admit that I'm probably largely influenced by our own popular culture as well.  

Krakauer does a pretty amazing job of delving into Mormon history, both standard Mormonism and fundamental Mormonism, and explaining it to those of us who aren't Mormons.  I can't say he paints a pretty picture of the religion's founding, which seems to be both fraudulent and bloody.  Then again, how does that really differ from most of the world's religions.

The really interesting part of Krakauer's book focuses on the struggle between mainstream Mormons and fundamentalist Mormons (another aspect of their religion that rings true to many others throughout the world) and to those who read strict law in the writings of their prophet.  Krakauer investigates the sub sect of Mormonism that believes in polygamy and specifically into the story of one family and a murder.

The Lafferty family, a standard Mormon family verging on fundamentalist, is the center of a story about murder and god's will and the future of the Mormon church.  Two of the Lafferty brothers kill a Lafferty wife and infant daughter in the name of God and the righteous.  Krakauer interviews pretty much everyone connected to the crime (including the surviving Lafferty brother) but really goes back in to the weeds to propose a connection between the founding of the Mormon church and the killings that happened in the Lafferty family.

The story is pretty intense and incredibly interesting.  I will warn you that the text verges on gratuitous (I had to sit down to settle my stomach on the subway) but the book is worth reading, if only to better understand a pretty significant section of our population.  

Is it really October?

Well holy crap dear readers.  It's October.  And not even October, but LATE October.  Oye.

I have a million excuses (lots of travel, handful of weddings, house stuff, work stuff, life changes) but you know, it's the same ole 'keeping up the editorial calendar.'

It's fall now and I'm staunchly in the camp of those who believe fall and winter are hibernation season so here's hoping I have some time to catch up.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 4

For those of you who haven't been spending time in Boston for the last few weeks, it's been really f***ing hot; hot enough that eating a warm sub is less than appetizing so we've been focusing on some of the warmer weather sandwiches (read: lighter, cooler, less sauce and cheese).

Today's battle? Smoked Turkey Breast vs. Plain Turkey Breast! And please, I don't want to hear any guff from you readers. I know this isn't the most exciting battle but a good, cold turkey sandwich on a hot day? Amazing.

Smoked Turkey	Plain Turkey

Look at those beauties? Don't you want to sink your teeth in?

Smoked Turkey	Plain Turkey

In the end, we gave the victory to the Smoked Turkey but I'd be happy to eat either of these sandwiches again any time. Bob's really gets the quality out by freshly slicing the meat as you order and piling it on. This isn't that gross, slimy deli meat you find some places but is actual meat, from an actual turkey.

Yum.

Book 5 - Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

Running with Scissors

By, Augusten Burroughs

352 pages - 3.25 stars

Another Book Club book!

Running with Scissors is Augusten Burroughs' memoir of his messed-up childhood. In a nutshell. The book is a engaging, and a really quick read but when you've finished it, you're left with what amounts to a really messed-up childhood.

That's not to say that you're overwhelmed by that the entire time. Burroughs does a really great job of putting you in the mindset of a child, specifically of him as a child, so that you don't necessarily even notice that he's surrounding by chaos and craziness. The weirdest of moments seem normal as they happen - as I'm sure they came to feel normal (in a sense) for him - but at the end of the book you look back upon a cadre of weird moments, abusive moments.

It's hard to know whether Burroughs embellished, or whether the story is tainted by his perspective, or whether this is how his childhood actually went. The book was engaging but I have to admit that I wasn't left with a ton afterward. The book didn't stay with me and looking back, I wonder if I was driven forward by the quality of the book or by the incredibility of the story.

For those of you who don't know, Burrough's book was made into a movie in 2006 and both Burroughs' mom and brother have since written memoirs, somewhat contradicting this one, somewhat enforcing it. I have to admit that I'm curious about them, but probably not enough to read them.

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 3

Check me out! I'm eating sandwiches! At this rate, it'll only take us 3 or 4 years to declare an overall victor in Bob's Sandwich Challenge. Life is hard.

Todays battle brought together two strong contenders: Roast Beef vs. Proscuitto and Mozzarella. Proscuitto and Mozzarella happens to be my favorite Bob's Sandwich so far but Roast Beef is an old favorite too. We topped the Roast Beef with all toppings (except onions) and got the Proscuitto and Mozzarella as is (with tomatoes, basil, and some olive oil).

Roast Beef	Proscuitto & Mozzarella

The Roast Beef was pretty amazing. A bite by itself revealed that Bob, in fact, does know his meats. The beef was perfectly cooked and still moist with that really great taste that comes from fully cooked but still slightly rare Roast Beef. It was only enhanced by the tang of the pickles and the spice of the hots - my favorite bites consisted of a little bit of it all to really bring all the flavors together.

Roast Beef	Proscuitto & Mozzarella

But, (and it's a big one!) every time I transitioned from the Roast Beef to the Proscuitto and Mozzarella, it was like taking a step towards heaven. There's just something magnificent about the combo of the salty Proscuitto, creamy mozzarella, acidic tomatoes and fresh, delicious bread. It's light but tasty and I just want to eat it all the time.

In the end, we gave this round to Proscuitto and Mozzarella. No one is surprised that I chose that sandwich but I was intrigued to see how Nate netted out here. While he may not have been quite as emphatic about the heavenly characteristics of the Proscuitto and Mozzarella, he too agreed that it's near sandwich perfection.

Pizzeria Posto's Whole Hog!

For those of you who don't know, Tuesday was the 29th anniversary of my birth, otherwise known as my 29th birthday. I am a big fan of my birthday (and really, everyone's birthday) and this year, I decided to celebrate with a few of my favorite things - a big dinner with my nearest and dearest, a dinner sourced from local, well-treated (and well-cooked) ingredients, some good wine, and just a splash of adventure.

Luckily for me, Davis Square is home to the much hallowed Pizzeria Posto, a delightful wood-fired pizzeria that bases its changing menu on what's in season and super fresh and has some pretty delicious options. Nate and I recently tried Pizzeria Posto for the first tmie and enjoyed a delightful meal (and an awesome basil gimlet) with Fireman Ben. It was during this dinner that we devised the perfect meal for celebrating a 29th birthday.

Pizzeria Posto, in line with a number of other Boston are eateries, offers its diner the chance to experience a pretty unique food offering in the form of an entire pig. They ask for 2 weeks notice and at least 10 guests and in return, the pick out a local pig for you, brine it for over a day, and cook it for hours. They pair it with some delicious sides and, if you're the birthday girl, they give you an amazing tiramisu.

Pizzeria Posto's Famiglia Dinner appealed to me for a number of reasons - one, it's the kind of meal that is an event in itself and pairing it with my birthday made it really feel like a holiday, everything is super fresh and local (and yummy) and Posto really wants to make you feel loved. They treat the meal as an event for them too, explaining all of the steps to you and encouraging the ambitious to try something new (pig brain anyone?).

It was a delicious meal with delightful friends and I didn't even have to figure out the check - thanks Nate! I was pretty darn full afterward but what a fantastic way to usher in the last year of my 20s.

For the record, I did try brain (as well as cheek, neck, and toe!) and I didn't love it. It was more of a texture than a taste but thanks to Sanjay, Ben, and Steve for diving in with me.

P.S. Posto wraps everything up for you (no, we did take the brain) and I've made some yummy ragu from the sausage filling and some spicy green chili & pork tacos with the tenderloin. The meal keeps on giving!

Goal: Get a Dog!

For those of you who know me personally, you know that I have {desperately} wanted a dog for roughly... forever - otherwise known as about 5-6 years. Now that Nate and I have our own place, everyone is under the impression that a dog is imminent.

They're right! We're slated to get our doggie this coming weekend (she's coming from an organization in Indiana) - stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, we've been prepping the house and buying all sort of doggie-related items from PetSmart. I also spent a fair part of the last weekend finishing up a sweater blanket that I started over a year ago - I finally have the right motivation!

This isn't a great photo but I think you get the idea. It's a new dog blanket made of old sweaters! It was pretty easy to pull together and I think it'll be very cozy.

Sweater Blanket:

1. Wash and dry old sweaters (drying them helps to avoid pulling after the blanket has been put together

2. Cut Sweaters into squares or rectangles (I believe mine were 8" square)

3. Sew together (1 to 1, then 2 to 2, 4 to 4, you get the idea)

4. Do a quick stitch around the edges to avoid fraying (FYI: I didn't have too much trouble with each of the squares fraying - just wanted to avoid it o the entire blanket)

Voila! A cozy doggie (or person) blanket!

Book 4 - Motherless Brooklyn

Motherless Brooklyn

By, Jonathan Lethem

311 pages - 3.50 stars

This is another of those books that ends up on my Amazon wishlist and I have no real recollection of where I got the recommendation. In writing this post I did a quick search for the title and it turns out the book is not a new one - it was published back in 1999 and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.

Huh, well look at that.

I picked it off my wishlist, got it as a gift for Christmas, and started reading it earlier this year with little to no expectations. Motherless Brooklyn tells the story of some low level, petty criminals who get involved in some larger schemes (inadvertently for some) and are thrown in to the crime family arena. It follows some standard crime novel, hard boiled, detective fiction plot paths and tricks but it's a good book. Even though it stays true to its genre, it's inventive enough that it doesn't feel like just another detective novel.

Lethem's characters are cliche in some ways but they still feel three-dementional and he throws the reader a curveball with his narrator - who suffers from tourette's - but manages to not become a caricature in the novel. For the most part, you know Lionel (the tourettic detective) through his inner narration, a 1st person's account of what's happening via the play by play in his head. His tourette's only makes itself known in his interactions with the others in the book and in this Lethem manages to make Lionel a vulnerable character that you identify with. Because you know him through his internal voice he never seems like the "freak show" that he seems to others around him so the reader builds an affinity and a loyalty to Lionel, wanting to shield him from the cruelty of everyone else; even as he's physically beating a suspect.

I'm not gonna spoil the mystery for you but only partially because I want to save it for you. The mystery seems almost secondary to Lionel's story in the book so months later what I remember is him and not the surprising ending.

An interesting tidbit: my google search also returned an IMDB listing for a movie "in development" of the same title. Slated for 2013, it'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

Check out the Salon Review here.

Bob's Sandwich Challenge... Thwarted Again!

Alright, alright... I know. Here I am, talking about this weekly sandwich challenge and really, I'm only eating sandwiches every other week. Well, you have a point there... but to be honest, there's a lot of food out there and it's not all in sandwich form. Some of it comes in funfetti cake, some of it comes in the form of an entire pig (more on that later), and some of it comes... in beautiful, foil-wrapped packages of brisket.

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I said brisket. Nate decided it was time to give the ole smoker another turn on the dance floor and decided that this time, he'd give brisket a try. He's only used the smoker once to date (last fall - ribs) but I know he's been eager to break it out again. We picked up an 11 pound mother of a brisket at the Meat House in Arlington (an amazing meat shoppe BTW) which he trimmed and rubbed yesterday. Today, we started bright and early and after a few hiccups (i.e. starting the smoker on the 3rd floor porch only to have to move it downstairs) we were off to the races... you know, metaphorically.

Even with the hiccups, Nate did an amazing job with the brisket. It was succulent but crispy - amazing. I'm pretty sure I can't say it better than:

For the record, I wasn't sitting on my laurels while Nate was smoking the beef. I did some serious yardwork and pulled together some yummy sides (if I don't say so myself) for our impromptu BBQ - watermelon & strawberry salad, sweet & spicy coleslaw, baked beans, corn muffins, and rice krispy treats.

Nom.

Goal: Guest Post!

I know I've been a little slow in sharing my new goals with you - I'm using Day Zero (more on them later) to build a list of 101 goals to be accomplished in 1001 days. The site was down for awhile so I lost some time but I'm pushing forward and I'm happy to tell you that I've accomplished one of my goals - guest posting on someone else's blog.

This goal was a bit of a cheat since I knew I'd be doing it but... just the same, I'm pretty excited and it feels great to check something off. Last fall, Sara (blogger over at 2000 dollar wedding) put out a call for guest posts on her blog while she took some much needed mom time after the birth of her baby. I haven't used Quitsville for much wedding stuff but let's just say that I have a lot of things to share after my experience with getting married; some really happy things and some challenges, which I think don't get as much attention as they should.

So, voila! My guest post: Keeping Bridal Expectations at Bay

I'm pretty proud of my post and, all these months later, am happy to say that it remains true to my experiences and thoughts. I hope that it will help some brides to be to stay themselves and to take it all with a grain of salt.

Book 3 - A Visit From the Goon Squad

A Visit From the Goon Squad

by, Jennifer Egan

288 pages - 4.5 stars

If you're a fan of books (like I am), you've probably heard of Jennifer Egan. She kept popping up in various NPR podcasts talking about her newest book, A Visit From the Goon Squad, and at some point I added it to my Amazon wishlist (for the record, my Amazon wishlist is not for the faint of heart - I am constantly adding books to it and not remembering why) and then chose to purchase it for my Kindle App - not an insignificant feat given the number of books I weed through to choose one.

Not really remembering much about this book (or the author, for that matter), I went into the book without a lot of expectation... and was blown away. This was a book chosen for my commute (thus, the Kindle purchase) but it quickly sucked me in and I was reading it at home - on my phone. Nevertheless, the book pushed on and made me forget I was reading it on a 3.2 inch screen. It was really quite a wonderful book. I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob with books sometimes so an author's popularity can work against them in my mind - but I stand corrected with Jennifer Egan (on at least this book). The fanfare is warranted, the interviews reasonable - this book is really quite good.

Now, who should read this book? Well, the book chronicles a group of folks (punk fans) across multiple decades. Everyone is connected in some way (whether it be obvious or founded on the thinnest of hairs) and their stories merge and disconnect across the years in ways that alter others' course - or not. It's a wonderful portrayal of life in a way - some people "make it", some people don't; there are losers and victors, villains and victims; and each character is multi-dimensional so that one minute you're on board with them and the next, aghast at their decisions. You get sucked into the minutiae of their lives - because this book isn't really about grand events or anything like that; it's the story of multiple lives intersecting in various ways. Do you like music? Read the book. Do you like books? Read it. Do you like music and books? Stop reading this and go to the bookstore.

All that said, it's good. The characters are real and solid - you want to know what happens to them. You're invested in their lives and you're happy (or sad) with them. It's a real story with real people in it. I liked this book so much, I wanted to find people to give it to (Hi PVG!).

And, I guess I'm not alone, because A Visit From the Goon Squad won the Pullitzer Prize for fiction. Congrats Jennifer Egan, I'd like to see more!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 2

Happy Memorial Day Dear Readers! A very happy holiday found Nate and myself at Bob's Italian Food Imports once again for the resurgence of Bob's Sandwich Challenge. According to our pre-determined sandwich bracket, Round 2 found the mighty Meatball Parm facing off against the underdog Seafood Salad. Anticipating a win in favor of Meatball Parm, we camehome with a small Meatball Parm and only a roll of the Seafood Salad.

Though I don't want to spoil the results for you, I will tell you that the Meatball Parm was pretty delish - the meatballs are mighty and nicely browned, clearly homemade. I prefer a bit more sauce on my Meatball subs but this one wasn't hurting for much. The Seafood Salad too was pretty good. It surprised both of us when Nate actually finished off his half of the roll. From what I can tell, the Seafood Salad is comprised of some shredded "crab" (probably whitefish) with chunks of lobster and crab in a mayo dressing. They do a really good job of n

ot letting the seafood get overwhelmed by the mayo (as is always the risk) but the shredded "crab" was mostly distracting - not adding much to the sandwich expect bulk. The sandwich was much improved by the addiction of tomatoes, pickles, and hot peppers - adding the contract between salad and condiments that made both that much better.

I admit we'd both sort of written off the possibility of a Seafood Salad victory but it put up a fight.

In the end, we had to go the route of meat and cheese (shocking) as the Meatball Parm was pretty damn good.

The contenders:

Meatball Parm		Seafood Salad
Meatball Parm (cross)		Seafood Salad (cross)

Book 2 - The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag

The Aquariums of Pyonyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag

By, Kang Chol-Hwan and Pierre Rigoulot

272 pages - 3.0 stars

After reading Nothing to Envy last year, I got on a bit of a North Korean non-fiction kick. I've got a stack of new books and started it all off with this book. The story of North Korea, the gulags, and all of the stuff that's been going down there is really interesting to me, especially given how little I knew about it before reading Nothing to Envy.

The Aquariums of Pyongyang was a bit different in style - more of one person's experience with and account of spending a decade in the prison camps of North Korea. It was an interesting perspective and did have details that Nothing to Envy didn't but I have to say that I didn't like it as much as Nothing to Envy. The story was very powerful and it was interesting to get a single person's perspective but I appreciated the journalistic style of Barbara Demick's book and the many interviews that were included in that.

If you're into personal accounts of terrible things (no judgement, just calling it like I see it!), this book is probably in your wheelhouse. If you're looking for more of a report on North Korea, I'd check out Nothing to Envy.

New Book Goal!

I know May seems like a little late in the game to introduce a 2011 book goal but here's the caveat - this isn't exactly a 2011 goal (mostly because it'll definitely take me longer than one year).

So where does one go when they've crushed 10,000 pages and blown 52 books out of the water (sometimes you have to toot your own horn)? I'm instilling a little bit of culture into this piece and focusing on nobel prize winners.

I've read a few books written by nobel prize winners in my day but I want to cover them all! In no particular order I will be working my way through all of the Nobel Prize winners in Literature. Just for the record, I'll be reading a book by EACH of the Nobel Prize winners, regardless of past books read. And since an author wins the prize based on his/her body of work, I'll be allowed to choose the book.

If you don't have all of the Nobel Prize winners committed to memory (ahem-me-ahem) check out the official stats here: All Nobel Prizes in Literature.

I'll keep you all posted as I read my way through the prizes - I hope you will join me!

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 2... Er, Cake

I know what you guys are thinking. That looks like a cake, not a sandwich. You're very astute.

Nate and I are still pursuing the Bob's Sandwich Challenge but sometimes... the best laid plans and all that jazz. Yesterday, instead of heading into Medford for Round 2, we headed down to CT for some exciting family togetherness. An impromptu barbecue resulted in two very full people with no room for sandwiches.

The good news? I got an early birthday cake (funfetti is my fave - see above!) and we'll be ready for sandwiches next week.

Do not despair!

We Love Bookshelf Porn!

Okay, I know what you're thinking - what the F is Bookshelf Porn?

Well, dear readers, let me clear it up for you. Bookshelf Porn is a wonderful, magical tumblr blog (you know tumblr? home of -mostly- photo blogs with no real purpose except to entertain and delight?) that I have in my reader and that, no joke, brightens my day. The wonderful folks (folk?) over at Bookshelf Porn collate and aggregate the most wonderful images of books, bookshelves, and libraries from all over the world. Some of the images are actual photos and some are more artistic renditions or even simple "metaphorical" images that make you think of books.

Whatever your fancy, Bookshelf Porn is magnificent. Any good bibliophile (like yours truly) will drool over this blog.

And oh, they have a Twitter too. (Of course they do!)

Book 1 - Boy: Tales From Childhood

Boy: Tales From Childhood

by, Roald Dahl

176 pages - 3.50 stars

Is it just me or did everyone have an obsession with Roald Dahl when they were kids? Anyone? No? Alright. Well, for me, Roald Dahl books were amazing! Matilda, BFG, etc. I loved them all. In my adulthood, I've heard a lot more about Roald Dahl as a person and I don't think anyone will be shocked that he was a little weird, but that doesn't bother me. Weird is good, weird makes you not average.

Boy is the story of Roald Dahl's childhood which is appropriately weird and bleak but also comical in a way that you can see influenced his writing. I see the genesis of a number of his characters and it's a reminder that Dahl is from a different time. He feels contemporary to me but he really isn't. He was born in 1916 after all.

For anyone who is a fan of Roald Dahl, the book is a good read. It is a nice snapshot of his childhood and is extremely digestible. And if I can recommend it for nothing else (which is not the case), it did instill in me a brief obsession with travelling to Norway. Anyone care to join me?

Bob's Sandwich Challenge: Round 1

For those of you who don't know Nate (or me!) personally, you might not know how much sandwiches are loved in our household. I'll admit that Nate's love of sandwiches makes mine look trivial but still, sandwiches are pretty fantastic.And for those of you who didn't go to school in, live in, or work in Medford, MA, you might not be aware of the haven that is Bob's Italian Foods Imports. Bob's is amazing and authentic; with amazing food cooked on site, every type of olive you could want, a vast assortment of imported Italian goods and... the sandwich menu. OH, the sandwich menu.

In the new house (see: We Love.. the Journey?) we're even closer to Bob's than we were before and it's led to frequent visits and the birth of a fantastic idea.

I present to you, the Bob's Sandwich Challenge - a bracket style assessment of ALL of Bob's sandwiches to find the ultimate winner. Okay, I know what you're thinking - these kids have too much time on their hands - but seriously, the menu has 48 sandwiches on it. LOVE.

We started the tournie off last night by comparing the Italian Deli Combo with the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo (the rest of the pairings were determined at random by assigning numbers to each sandwich and then using a random integer generator). This round was fairly easy for us to determine - both Nate and I preferred the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo with it's 4 meats (compared to 3 in the Italian Deli Combo) and prosciutto (oh how I love thee). Future rounds will be trickier as Nate and my personal preferences come to light but it'll be interesting to see which sandwich wins out. Stay tuned for weekly battles.

For now, Round 1 goes to the Deluxe Imported Italian Combo.

Some pics:

Deluxe Imported Italian Combo	Italian Deli Combo
Deluxe Imported Italian Combo	Italian Deli Combo

We Love... the Journey?

Oh my dear blog, I am so sorry that I have neglected you lately. It's not you, it's all me!

For those of you who don't know, the past few months have been full of the house-buying process; looking, offering, negotiating, closing, etc. Turns out buying a house isn't the most stress free process and there have been more than a few tearful calls made to my Dad (thanks Dad). In true Dad fashion, he's done a good job of reminding me that life isn't just about the destination but about the journey, that we need to spend time focusing on the path to what we want and how we get there. And I, in typical teenage daughter fashion, have mostly whined and pouted about the journey. I'm impatient, I just want to BE there!

Well, we are officially there. We closed on the 31st of March and moved in this past weekend. We've been thrilled to have help from some amazing friends (woo, painting party) and to have made some great changes to the space (stay tuned for DIY photos!). I am 100% in love with the house and awed every time I come home and the journey really was worth it. I won't say that I loved the journey but... it was an important part of getting to the destination and all in all, our journey was not that difficult.

I'll be posting room by rooms but in the meantime, if you want to check out some photos, here's the House Set on Flickr.

I Made That: Hamburcake!

In honor of Nate's 30th Birthday, I broke out all the baking skills I've got (I'm more of a cook than a baker) and whipped up this amazing (if I don't say so myself) Hamburger Cake. It went over very well.

Happy Birthday Nate!

from the front

a closeup

hamburcake on fire!

52 Books - Owned!

I know, I know. You guys already know that I blew my 2010 goal out of the water but come on, don't I deserve a few moments of self fulfillment here? (Especially since I fell short on the other goals?)

55 Books

17, 769 Pages

Average Star: 3.78 stars

*Curtsies*

Books 52-55: Recap

I'm not even trying to pretend I'm remotely on time recapping my 2010 "Year of Reading" but... finally, here is the end of 2010!

Book 52 - Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch

Finishing out the year with some moderately fluffy Kindle reading. Katie Crouch's novel didn't break any literary barriers or blow my mind but it was a solidly good read. I identified with the characters and was interested in the plot, I wanted to find out what happen. And I did. And then I forgot. Sorry Katie, it was a nice book.

(288 pages; 3.25 stars)

Book 53 - Waking Up in the Land of Glitter: A Crafty Chica Novel by Kathy Cano-Murillo

Oye, this book. For those of you who aren't aware, I'm a bit of a crafty girl myself. I craft and sew and DYI and most importantly, I obsessively follow quite a few craft blogs - which is where I heard about this "crafty" novel. I admit it, I was intrigued. And, in the end, it wasn't a bad book exactly but I say again, Oye. The characters were less than one-dimensional, the plot was incredibly see-through... it just wasn't great. I almost stopped reading a quarter of the way through (and for the record, that's saying something - I've only stopped reading two or three books). It got better after that but still, not something I would ever recommend.

(335 pages; 2.75 stars)

Book 54 - Between the Assassinations by Aravind Adiga

I LOVED Aviga's first novel (White Tiger) and so, was excited that there was a new one. Between the Assassinations is very much in the style of the first novel, which I dug, and it's clearly another book in the same vein. I liked the book, but I have to admit, not as much as the first one. I got confused by what was happening and when (it skips around a bit) but that's probably on me and not the book.

(339 pages; 3.50 stars)

Book 55 - Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine

What better way to end the year than with an easily-read, graphic novel? Oh, maybe reading one that isn't supremely depressing and makes you question all human relationships. Happy New Year. Okay, okay, I'm over-reacting, it wasn't that bad, but the characters in Tomine's novel are pretty unlikeable and the plot is dismal. Tomine's work in the book (you know, art... writing... etc.) are great though and I'm hoping that his next book is a bit more encouraging.

(104 pages; 3.50 stars)

Boston Burger Battle - Results!

I know, the burger battle was ages ago! Okay, not ages, but... weeks at least.

Turns out that while KO Prime excels at putting on top notch events centered around burgers and donating to a good cause. What they do NOT excel at is posting the results for said burger-centered event.

I have been googling and I've been finding a bunch of local food blogs who have weighed in but figured KO had to be updating themselves right? If they are, I haven't found it and I google for a living. The facebook page is silent, the official website equally so.

Fine, I give. I can't wait any longer KO Prime - I need to update my readers!

Without further ado, the winners:

1. Bristol Lounge (agreed!)
2. Sel de la Terre
3. Island Creek Oyster Bar

I will say that all of these burgers were delicious but I just had different opinions here. I do have to wonder... how do they pick these winners? What if people don't try all the burgers? Etc.

I'm not trying to say the voting is flawed... but...

Many questions.

Boston Burger Battle - I Need a Nap

Oh dear readers... are you ready for a new era of Quitsville here? I haven't written about food much in the past, which strikes me as pretty odd given the amount of time I spend thinking about, reading about, and making food (not to mention eating!). Well, those days are over.

I love food. I love cooking and canning and drying and smoking and grilling and eating, definitely eating. I spend a lot of time and energy on trying new foods, new restaurants, and new techniques - so it only seems fitting that I spend some of my precious blog time on one of my past times.

This evening I attended KO Prime's 2nd annual Boston Burger Battle - an epic competition of Boston area chefs to create the best burger in the city (as vote upon by yours truly... and you know, hundreds of other eager carnivores). I knew this was going to be a big night, don't get me wrong, but I'm not entirely sure I knew exactly what I was getting into.

The Burger Battle is a fundraiser for Autism Speaks, an organization founded around raising autism awareness, and is a veritable mecca for burger lovers. 13 local chefs (correction - 12 chefs - Craigie on Main sadly dropped out at the last moment) compete with sliders or quartered burgers for the title and its pretty amazing.

Nate and I kept our excitement in check throughout the day - not knowing entirely what to expect - but when we arrived it was time for full on glee. We checked in, got our wristbands and proceeded to the 2nd and 3rd floors where burgers were spread before us like a heavenly banquet! I grabbed a glass of wine but a word to the wise - you don't need it, it only hampers the shoveling that can be accomplished with two hands.

In the end, I did manage to get at least a bite of every burger on offer: the onion-ring topped delight from The Bristol Lounge, the fried oyster topped burger from Island Creek Oyster Bar, the veal burger with cinnamon sugar pork rinds from Trina's Starlite Lounge, the biscuit burger with cheese sauce from Garden at the Cellar... all of them. And oh heaven were they amazing. Each one was like its own little experience with different flavors, different buns and sauces, different toppings. Amazing.

In the end, my favorites were the burgers brought to you by KO Prime (yes, the host but OMG that meat, it was like eating an amazing little steak on a bun), Bambara (a classy take on an In-and-Out style burger), and Blue Ginger (burger purists will disagree but Ming Tsai's sloppy joe had just the right combination of flavors and textures). Honorable mention for The Gallows for their homemade pickles!

As I'm writing this post the Burger Battle hasn't even wrapped up so we'll have to wait and see who the winners are! For those of you who are interested, watch out for next year's Burger Battle!

Dear Migraine... We Need to Talk

For those of you who haven't heard of WEGO Health - it's a fabulous site (and happens to be where I work). I participated in this month's Health Activist Blog Carnival and wrote a letter to my Migraines (don't even get me started).

You can check out my post on WEGO Health but I've also copied it here!

Dear Migraine,

Nobody likes to have these conversations but we really need to talk. Our relationship has got some problems and I feel like I'm the only one that's paying any attention to them. I've done all I can to pay attention to your needs but I can't let your needs rule my life and I can't let your needs be more important than my own. We need to compromise because our relationship is all about you, and not about me.

I hate to tell you this but even my friends and family agree - you're a bummer to have around. They want to spend time with me WITHOUT you and they want to know that I'm not going to have to cancel at the last minute because of you. Frankly, I'd like to know that too. I'd like to know that I'm not going to have to miss a birthday or a meal or even just a quiet night with my husband because I need to pay attention to you.

We both know that's unlikely but what if we meet in the middle? I already avoid the triggers that get you going, doing my best to feed you things you love, things that keep you satisfied and quiet. I hydrate and watch my medication and my diet, I think about you all the time but it seems that you never think of me.

What if we set aside some time for you in my life? I'm willing to agree to give you the occasional Sunday if you'll give me back my Saturdays and work days. And maybe eventually, we can go our seperate ways.

What do you think? Can we compromise? I promise to continue to avoid red wine and drink water constantly. I promise to do my best to get enough sleep and avoid foods that make you angry. And in return, you can find some new hobbies? Maybe find an outlet for yourself that isn't painful?

What do you think Migraine? I want to make this work but I can't think only of you.

Sincerely,

Susan

Books 47-51: Recap

Books, books, and more books! For you my dear readers, another recap! We're almost done with 2010 and just beyond... I see 2011! What? You say it's nearly March... bah! I won't have such treason hear in Quitsville...

Right, back to the recap!

Book 47 - Heat by Bill Buford

Oh how I love food and cooking books! Heat was recommended to me by a fellow food lover (note: not foodie, we just love food!) and it was a great book to read while on vacation - 1. on vacation you're allowed to eat whatever you want so it's okay to act on impulse after reading an entire chapter about cheese; 2. it's a novel-worthy daydream about food and 3. he does a fair amount of travel in the book and who wants to spend their reading hours being jealous? Buford's book tells the story of his journey from journalist to line chef under Mario Batali (who, it turns out, I knew very little of). Buford investigates all manner of dishes, cuisines, and ingredients and writes with such love that you can't help but want to try everything he does, except maybe using up an entire pig.

(336 pages; 4.0 stars)

Book 48 - My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

I've been hearing about Jodi Picoult for awhile now but I've never picked up any of her books. I got My Sister's Keeper on our shiny new Kindle, thinking it would be a good book for the big trip. I once read an Entertainment Weekly review that described Picoult's novels as something like 'based on current events, written in a year, and neatly wrapped up' (my remembering of their review of course, not an actual quote) - and I've got to say that's pretty accurate. This book pulls on your heart strings (ever visibly cried while on a cross-country train? you should try it!), does its best to paint all characters in 4 dimensions but clearly favors one or two, and is pretty neatly wrapped up in the end. All that said, the book does what it does well. I got what I expected and I was extremely drawn in to the story.

(448 pages; 4.0 stars)

Book 49 - One Mississippi by Mark Childress

One of my favorite things about travel is new book stores and how you inevitably run into a book that you never would have found otherwise. One Mississippi is a book like that - I picked it up at a tiny used book/cd store/video rental place in a tiny town in New Zealand on the way to our overnight cruise - I couldn't go on an overnight cruise without a book after all! The book was utterly surprising, mostly in that I had no idea what it was going to be about and expected far less of it than it gave (my fault). One Mississippi was surprising and heartbreaking and definitely worth a read.

(400 pages; 3.75 stars)

Book 50 - Daughter of Fortune by Isabelle Allende

Daughter of Fortune is one of those books that I've had on my shelf for as long as I can remember and yet, I bought a second copy of it while on vacation and only then did I read it. Allende is a magical spanish storyteller, weaving fantastical notions into romantic, adventurous plot lines. It's almost unbelievable that I haven't read any of her books before. I loved Daughter of Fortune - it was everything I hoped for in an epic melodramatic love story. Allende avoids the cliche but keeps the fantastical and weaves a beautiful story with rich, impulsive characters, characters that belong on the frontier of a budding nation and in the adventure of that frontier.

(399 pages; 4.0 stars)

Book 51 - Sleepwalk with Me by Mike Birbiglia

I picked up this book (signed!) when I went to see Birbiglia do stand-up last fall - and while I'll give the book a 3.5, I'd give Mike himself a big fat five point oh stars! He's a great comedian with a style that's unlike the standard stand up comedian - I've been following him for a few years now and I just really want to be his friend. He's self deprecating without being whiney and he has a knack for turning the typical of life into hilarity. The book is a collection of stories that he's told in his acts - with a few additions - so for the most part, I'd heard them before and they were funny. The problem comes because Mike isn't there telling the story to you and so much of his comedy is in his inflection and style that it can be missed in the written form. If you know and love him (like I clearly do) you can add his style back in as you read, which is what I'd recommend. Go see Mike Birbiglia live - then read his book.

(190 pages; 3.5 stars)

2010 in Review

So, it's February (in case you hadn't noticed) and I've yet to recap my 2010 goals and progress... or lack-thereof - let's be honest.

A quick refresher since I first posted these goals back in January 2010 ( a full 13 months ago):

1. Get the official Dr. Mario Record

2. Read 52 books (one a week for you math geniuses)

3. Take the GMAT

For all the nitty gritty details, read the original post: 2010 Quitsville Goals.

The bottom line here is that I was not as successful as one might have hoped. I didn't rock the world of the GMAT nor am I an official Twin Galaxies World Record Holder. Cue sad face.

I did read my 52 books however (54 if we're being exact - reviews still pending) and I did some other things that weren't on the list for 2010 but were on my life list - namely, getting married and going on an awesome trip! They weren't in my bullet pointed list for the year but they're pretty big accomplishments nonetheless.

But, we're not here to talk about success, we're here to talk about how I tanked on my yearly goals and why.

Goal 1 - Get the official Dr. Mario Record

You all know I've gotten the record, you've seen the photo, but sadly that's not enough to have my name immortalized for an unknown period of time on the Twin Galaxies website. No, they need cold, hard proof in the form of an in person viewing of my record game or a recording of said game. This creates two issues for me, the champion: one, the games are freaking long and I don't have anything to record 3+ hours of video game play nor can I even purchase a flipcam with enough time to do so and two, it seems I'm being snubbed by the Twin Galaxies Referee Union.

That's right dear blog readers - Twin Galaxies Referee Dave Nelson refuses to return my emails! Or I'm going into his spam folder. It's hard to tell. Either way, here I am, referee-less, camera-less, record-less.

Goal 3 - The GMAT

I like tests, I do well at them. Sometimes, when things are chaotic, it can be appealing to take a test and get a score and feel successful. But, I'm not entirely sure I want or need the GMAT to meet my life goals. In fact, my life goals are a little... up in the air... at the moment. I love my job, I think I'm good at it... do I want to do it forever? Nah... but the step after that? Still TBD really. GMAT is on hold for the time being. (It's expensive BTW).

So, I read all my books and I did some other big life goal things. Not a bad 2010 actually.

Books 42-46: A Recap

Book 42 - I Was Told There'd Be Cake by Sloanne Crossley

A reccomendation from a friend, I was told this book would make me laugh out loud on the subway (something you guys know I love doing!). I didn't think it was the funniest thing I've ever read but it did make me laugh on the subway and get some funny looks. Crossley takes a pretty askance look at her own life, especially her love life, and tells some great stories about her family, dates, etc. It's pretty fluffy - really a great commuter book. I'll be giving her other books a look.

(240 pages; 3.5 stars)

Book 43 - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell

Oh David Mitchell... you of your Cloud Atlas and your Number 9 Dream. I get it, you're a big deal, you're a NY Times Book List favorite, you're a good author. You've got me, I'll read it. After hearing countless reviews of this book, I just had to read it. It's a period novel (a fave of mine), and it's got a beautifully colored cover, and let's face it, I like David Mitchell. The book turned out to be quite good; maybe not quite worth the fanfare it received, but quite good. The story is a bit of a saga (again, something I love!) and you're introduced to a myriad of characters and plot lines but it all intertwines quite nicely and the story is actually very beautiful. Mitchell explores a time and place that I knew very little about (hello, colonial Japan?) and really surrounded me with its particulars - whether they are true or not, I don't know; but, really, it wasn't a concern.

(496 pages; 4.0 stars)

Book 44 - Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Some of you might remember Audrey Niffenegger from her first novel, The Time Traveler's Wife - which I read TWICE by the way. It was a very nice love story with fantastical elements (oh, say time travel) but that she spun in a way that was pretty believable. Her Fearful Symmetry, Niffenegger's second book, is very similar - it seems she has a wheelhouse, this one - a very nice love story with some fantastical elements. This second book is a fair bit darker though and has some pretty unexpected plot points (at least I did not expect them). It does lack a little of the believability that was so nice in The Time Traveler's Wife but maybe it's only me that has trouble with ghosts? That said, if you were a fan of the first book, you'll probably enjoy the second one as well. Niffenegger is, if nothing else, a very good storyteller and she draws you in to the book in a way that is more complete and engrossing than most novelists today.

(406 pages; 4.0 stars)

Book 45 - Wicked by Gregory Maguire

Some of you might be familiar with the musical Wicked - tells the story of the other witch in the Wizard of Oz, you know - the bad one. Well, it turns out that said musical is based on Maguire's novel of the same name. Wicked (the novel) follows the same general plot line as the musical (little green girl goes away to school, meets vapid blonde good witch, etc. etc.) but there are some vast differences between the two as well, mainly in its extremes. The novel is baser and naughtier but also darker in its themes and plot events. I wasn't sure about this one at the beginning but I really came to like it and was drawn into the story; it's very fantastical by nature and is true to a lot of the fantasy novel elements. I would definitely recommend it to fantasy readers!

(560 pages; 3.75 stars)

Book 46 - Drama City by George Pelecanos

For those of you who don't know, George Pelecanos was one of the writers behind thebesttvshowever The Wire. If you haven't watched it, stop reading my blog and go do that. But, assuming you have watched it, you're already familiar with gritty crime dramas and would probably dig Pelecanos' novel. Sure, it's not this year's literary masterpiece but it's a really entertaining read and perfect for travel. Pelecanos is clearly a fan of folks like Chandler and Marlowe and doesn't shy away from some good, old-fashioned, hard-boiled detectivedry. You can almost feel the gloom.

(304 pages; 3.25 stars)