Dreams, they complicate my life (Dreams, they complement my life)

Last night, ATM & I conceded to the fact that we need to put our plans to travel to New Zealand on the backburner.  I have relatives that I really want to spend time with; so, that's a trip to Cortez, Colorado and a trip to Seattle, Washington.  Too, we need new tires for the automobile.  And we need a new front door.  New windows. The list goes on and on like that.  Unless we happen upon a bag of money, we're just going to have to knock these off the list slowly, one by one.  Here's hoping that we stay healthyish & no ridiculous expenses crop up.  In much happier financial news, I paid off a credit card today!  I may've quit the pizza-slingin' job, but have two housesitting gigs coming up, so, thankfully, I still have a little extra $$$ coming in.  And I can't complain.  Things are lovely.


Went to Memphis again this past weekend with KMHD & Brittany.  We didn't have a plan other than eat & loiter.  It was lovely!  I did not return home miserable, broken & worn out, but at ease & better for it.  Ready for this?  When we rolled into town, we got had our lunch at Gus's.  As per usual, we had to wait in line, about 30 minutes.  Thankfully, we had a properly-loaded jukebox to help us along.


Brittany:



Yusssss...






Ran into Rebekah & Keiko!  It's always neat to run into friends in other cities.



After some responsible window-shopping (I mean, we shopped, but only for the necessities), we checked into our hotel and went swimming.



The sun completely drained us of energy, so we went to the juice bar for shots of wheatgrass (really) and juices.  I considered it an act of penance for all of our indulgent consumption.  We then returned to our room and prepared for an evening out.  After getting gussied up, we drove to RP Tracks for BBQ tofu sandwiches & BBQ tofu nachos.  I'm almost ashamed to say it, but we totally overindulged.  I had a will to go out to have drinks and have a bitchin' good time, but I. ate. too. much.  After having searched high and low for the perfect bar for years, we discover the Lamplighter Lounge and are too full to even enjoy the one beer we ordered.  It's a true locals-only dive with an attentive barkeeper & a relaxed atmosphere.  I was grateful that there was no loud music blaring, so you could have conversations or eavesdrop on others.  There was the smell of greasy (and forbidden) burgers and stale cigarette smoke hanging heavy in the air.   Great lighting.  Cheap drinks.  Just perfect. We vowed to return and do it properly, but all I could think about was going to our room to have a lay down, engage in girl-talk, and watch the telly.  Ridiculous.  I hang my head in shame.


Photo by Brittany:



Photo by Brittany:



Brittany & KMHD:



Me, photo by KMHD:



The next morning, we woke up early (because we are DAYHAWKS!!!) and, unbelievably, got stuffed at Brother Juniper's, the best breakfast spot in Memphis.  We ate, but didn't overdo it this time.  If you've no self-control, pour salt all over your food and drop your flatware on the floor, and voila!  You're done.  Of course, carbo-loading leads to more in-room lounging.



We slowly packed our things and hit the streets.  And, for the umpteenth time, because I always have someone in tow who hasn't been yet,   we payed respects to Jay Reatard.  


Photo by KMHD:






Finally, we took the poor man's tour of Graceland and STAX Records.  All that means is that we didn't pay the exorbitant admission fees.


Graceland:
























Around the corner from STAX.  Memphis has the best old signs:



On our way out of town, photo by KMHD:



Ladies, anytime you wanna go to Memphis, call me!  xx 


(((((some SOUNDTRACKING)))))

Big (KIM/KELLEY) Deal

If I wasn't going to Memphis w/ KMHD & Brittany (who are on their way right now!) this weekend, I'd suggest that we all grab a watermelon, some SPF & head on over to Heber Springs and get purified in the healing waters of Lake Minnetonka Greers Ferry.  The water levels are high, which makes for a short jump off of the cliffs, but it's still amazing.  It probably won't last with these temperatures.  Oh, Arkansas.  SUMMER 2011!


An adorable photo of  Kelley & Kim Deal bein' 50 y.o.:

Ooooh, they're here!  Byeee!

Vegetarian Scotch eggs

I promise, we don't eat only fried things, but once the idea of making vegetarian Scotch eggs entered my mind, I couldn't do anything but make them.  'Ere's how I did it:


1.  Boil your eggs.  That's 17 minutes total.  After you pull them, drain the water, and shock them with ice cubes + cold water.  You don't want to work with warm eggs.





2.  Peel the eggs, rinse them for shell bits, and dry with a paper towel.  After drying, coat the hard boiled egg with some Gimme Lean!








3.  You know the drill!  Coat with flour, then egg mixture (1 egg, a bit of buttermilk), and finally with panko.  





4.  Fry





5.  Drain





6.  Search and destroy










I might have to make these for the next big brunch.  

June 2011 TOP TEN

1.  I am so envious of these beautiful, rad women.

Carving the Mountains from Juan Rayos on Vimeo.

2.  CARNIVORES (of ATL)


 I Like To Be Confused (I Love You) by fear_ants 


 Parent's Attic by fear_ants 


3.  Quitting my second job.  It's the fun part of being employed.  What I haven't told you is how mean the girls are at this place.  They are overly faux-nice to me, like, "Oh, hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, AiLien".  Very nasal & sarcastic.  One day, I got a coffee on the way to work.  I put it where all employees keep drinks while we work.  Anyway, I went to take a drink, but could smell that someone had rubbed onions and lemons all over my cup!  I was so pissed, I chunked the bev into the trash bin really hard and shouted "WHAT THE FUCK?!!".  Anyone else probably would've asked me what was wrong, but they just stood there, looking at me, trying to act casual.  I can't even guess what it was that I did that offended them.  Unreal.  I'm so accustomed to my rad friends, that I forget how bitchy and cruel girls can be.  I did feel some satisfaction, though, when I told ATM & my friends what happened that they wanted to go down there and be awful, unruly customers.  Anyway, it's not THE reason why I'm quitting; it's just one of those things where you want to go do your job, go home & collect a check.  It seems they don't allow that up there.  So.  Anyone else hiring?  Preferably like-minded people, please.  Also, I house-sit and have proper references!


4.  I have a love/hate thing for these because they are adorable, but like I need something else to waste hard-earned cash on.  Saving one of these for my trip to Memphis:





Houndstooth (and gardenia):



5.  Hello again, Memphis!  I can't stay away, can I? 

6.  Twin Shadow





7.  Vegetarian Scotch eggs.  I'm going there.  Pics soon.


8.  Summer.  It happens every year, so I can't  act as if I wasn't expecting it.  I'm into it this time 'round.  The ultra-fiery, ultra-sunny, ultra-humid, ultra-buggy, very berry time of year.  How are we going to beat the heat?  Lake swimming (at least once!), sno-cones, watermelons, and laying in front of a box fan.  I may be singing a different tune and begging for mercy sooner than later.



9.  New Moka pot.  It has completely diminished our need to get espresso coffees from a coffee shop.  It is saving us tons of money.  The drawback is that it doesn't make rad pastries, soups, and sandwiches OR emits free wifi, so we do still have to go to Boulevard time to time.  That's ok!





10.  If you still haven't ordered the LR CREAM cassette, then I might be questioning your taste-making status.  Get it here.  MP3s coming soon.  Rumors of a show are abound!

Newly acquired art!

My pal Sergio did this:














He also writes stories & poetry.  He also has a Japan Club & he's asked me to join!  He will teach me how to count to 5 in Japanese and  we're going to write letters of support and raise money for those affected by the big tsunami in Japan.  

Fried green tomato po'boys

I've learned some new moves in the kitchen.


You'll need: 
A baguette (preferably from Boulevard, locals)
3 large or 4 medium green tomatoes (the best are at the produce market on McCain Blvd.)
1/2 c buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 c self-rising corn meal
1/2 c all-purpose flour (divided)
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper
Lettuce, to dress sandwiches
Avocado
Frying oil


For remolaude sauce:
1/2 c mayonnaise
1 T Dijon mustard or any whole grain mustard
A few dashes of Louisiana or Crystal hot sauce 
A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp horseradish
1/4 c sliced green onions
3 cloves of garlic, minced


Stir the above together & chill until ready to serve.



--------------------------------------------------------


Cut green tomatoes into 1/3-inch-thick slices.



Pour oil to a depth of 1/2 inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375 degrees over medium-high heat.

Whisk together egg and buttermilk. Combine cornmeal mix, salt, pepper, and 1/4 c of the flour in a shallow dish.  Dredge tomato slices in remaining 1/4 cup of flour; dip in egg/buttermilk mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.

Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden.  Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt to taste.



Might as well...



Spread remolaud on both sides of toasted baguette, lay down a bed of lettuce, three piping hot slices of fried green tomato, avocado (we accidentally left our avocado at the grocery store), a few dashes of hot sauce & then TUCK IN!  Lotsa napkins...

Real quick...

I just finished a book about psychopaths.  It was both fascinating and frightening.  A drawback is that I walk around trying to figure out who in my vicinity is a complete psycho; I've only counted one thus far. You pretty much want to stay away from these people.  It's a quick read and I highly recommend it.  

We've made some progress around the house.  Put new summer plants into the bed & pots: sweet potato vine, geraniums,  petunias (which is a very odd choice for me as they aren't my type at all), and lavender.  We moved the sage out of the rosemary's way; need to wait a little bit longer for the basil seedlings to mature before we put them into the ground.  


ATM installed shades in the utility room, which is lovely because before the shades, anyone could see clearly into our home at night.  Frankly, it didn't stop me from being inappropriate at times --  you know, no pants wearing.


Having two jobs is pretty awful and there was one recent shift in particular where I seriously considered quitting, but finding another job would be more work.  I'm just going to stick it out until I've met my goal.  Or, most of it.  It's working with younger people where I struggle.  They are spastics & some are mean.  Also, they listen to terrible music and wear ugly shoes.   And managers.  What is their deal?  Don't ever become a manager, there's nothing noble about it.  I get along with them fine, but they don't really contribute anything.  They just boss people around and aren't helpful, which drives me nuts.  A common thing we all do is make rude gestures at them after they turn their backs to us or walk away.  You'd think that you could just report to work, do what you have to do and leave.  Alas, no.  Some people will front and you have to deal with it.  It's not all bad.  I love working the Tuesday night shift because I have cultivated friendships with that crew, but I NEVER get to work that shift.  I usually have to work with the assholes.  I think I'll just give myself a deadline.  Yeah, some time in September.  I miss my free time.


A planned trip to Memphis with my friends didn't work out, BUT IT DID!  I'll be going with KMHD & Brittany -- can't wait!  It's a dead weekend in Memphis, meaning that there aren't any shows, but I don't think we'll have a shortage of things to eat do.  


Am considering becoming a mentor.  My cousin in Seattle mentors TWENTY kids and she loves it.  She was bragging on one that very recently graduated high school.  She was beside herself when I told her I was merely thinking about doing it.  I'll definitely do some research on it.


I have new kitchen know-how to share.  Coming soonish!

Camping is in tents

I love camping, it's one of my things.  But, for whatever reason, I just wasn't into it when we went this past Thursday.  I went through the motions of setting up the tent, etc., but remained in a foul mood.  It took a long tent nap, some driving around the countryside, and dusk to fall for me to start enjoying myself.  It's so off-putting to not have fun at something that I love to do.  It worries me and makes me wonder things like, "Are you sad about something?"  I don't want to find myself in such a way again.  NO








Ouachita River:

Kilgores know how.

Collins + Lauren got hitched!  They had a seriously bangin' reception @ the Little Rock Country Club -- I got to see a lot of people I haven't seen in a good while, expats and otherwise.  Lots of free-flowing champagne and dancing, so you know I had the best time.  Too much fun, one might argue.  (Me, actually. The next day.)


ATM, Keiko:

ATM:

Collins, Natalie, Lauren, Hank:

Collins + Lauren:

By KMHD's

NWA

MaaaaaAAAAaaaaaay!

First of May, first of May...

TOP TEN

1.  Coming out on the sunny side of a weeks-long gloomy weather fest.  I had to keep reminding myself that you cannot have good weather without the bad, but, honestly, towards the end there.  Dreadful.

2.  Boulevard Bake House & Market on Main St.  I am officially a regular and Pearl takes extra good care of me.  So, delicious/quality food/drink and a nice friend.  And free wifi.  Little things.

3.  LR Cream ep.  Available here.

 LR Cream, track 2 by fear_ants

4.  ATM.  Again, little things, but they add up!  Changing bed sheets for when I get off work from job #2, DJing while I cook, taking me out to eat when I obvs feel blue, and just general "getting" me.

5.  Future May events include attending a lecture by HH Dalai Lama, CKIII's wedding, and Leigh's birthday!

6.  Tonight, I started a long cooking project, way too late on a Sunday evening.  It'll be 9:00 p.m. before we have our supper.  App: salt & malt vinegar kale chips, Entree/side: korroke drizzled with vegetable/fruit tonkatsu sauce & steamed broccoli with ginger-chili dipping sauce.  Yesss!

7.  Camping soon.  I desperately need this.  This world is crazy.  I need to spend time in the woods, inhale exorbitant amounts of campfire smoke, and sleep in a tent.  Possibly swing by my favorite green thumb and Hot Springs.

***I got interrupted by Pres. Obama's late-night address right about here.  All I gotta say about it is this:  People, don't be so disgusting.  No one won anything.  This world is crazy.***

8.  Izzy's vegetarian  tamales.  Those tamales are so good that we had to keep checking to make sure they were meat-free:

9.  Staying home to work on and putter around the house.

10.  First paycheck from second job.  Straight to the GOOD TIMES savings account.  Cheers.