bag.

I feel like a real working adult now. I recently upgraded my north face backpack to a filson canvas briefcase.

 

really loving it so far and definitely worth the investment. I can't wait to "break it in," which may take a year or two since it is rather stiff (but not a bad thing). I somewhat aspire to live the type of lifestyle like these people photographed here.

 

the shallow dreams I have...

break from shopping.

wrote this wednesday:

"I must say this a bajillion times, but I really did decide to stop shopping for now. and not for monetary reasons. just that clothes are meant to be worn, and I already have so many. so many sit in my closet and I just don't get around to wearing them. as if I'm saving them for some "occasion" that will never happen. plus, slim people in ugly clothes can look better than fatties in "designer" goods. step one: lose more weight. step two: got to wear what I got. step three: outwear the old before buying the new. gym time."

thursday: "I went to the gym, and I also bought a new jacket."

need to exercise better self control.

slide.

charlene's friend katy came to visit from west virginia. after a week of endless eating, we did a great farewell dinner at il fornaio and gorged ourselves on their freshly baked bread, which we then slathered with butter/dipped in oil and balsamic. the rest of the food was pretty awesome. got the gnocchi and some tenderloin. it was rich, but tasty. the waiter was a little much. and by that, I mean he was over the top and made everyone uncomfortable with his jokes. he couldn't take an order/interact without making some sort of off-the-wall comment. he did send us home with a loaf of bread, so that made up for the awkwardness.

ferris then invited the crew to go to youtube and check out the newly installed slide from the second floor to the first. we raced (ferris, katy, and I), and I ended up last (only due to a slow start). used the burlap sacks to make the sliding smoother. 'twas slightly painful. I look very awkward and don't know why I'm "lying" down.

consolation prize: we literally raided the kitchens for snacks. probably not welcome back for a while...

 

little b.

never shared my experience at this Senegalese restaurant. I love anything coconut, so it was really awesome that one of the dishes had a coconut milk based sauce. I don't eat shrimp, but I did inhale the potatoes drink this sauce. overall, an awesome place: the lamb was not lamby, the tilapia had an almost italian twist, tofu with peanut sauce a hit, the chicken was uber tender, and the plantains are were reminiscent of those at fogo de chao. couldn't find my camera, so I only have these bad cell phone pictures.

there is a painting of the restaurant's namesake "little baobab" above a boxer. when really, "little baobab translates to some tree. weird, not to mention confusing.

city view.

my desk faces our conference room, and I get a view through the peering window. a sunny day outside. glad I'm under the shade of the indoors.

mingalaba still tops.

just thought I'd share for those making the decision on where to go on the peninsula for that burmese fix.

and yes. I really do believe so. (in my book at least) I finally tried burma superstar yesterday, and I have to say that mingalaba is just better overall. that's not to say that burma superstar was a miss! they had some of the most delicious appetizers. the samusas and pratha were both delicious. my boss said that the pratha and coconut sauce was basically crack in bread form. we also ordered the brussel sprouts, which were definitely the best that I've ever had! seasoned with fish sauce, crispy rice, and parmesean cheese, who'd a thunk it? but an amazing combo. the tea leaf salad was just okay. a little bitter, and too much romaine for me. I do love salads, but it just tastes better when done with cabbage like at mingalaba.

the entree I ordered was also just okay. I had the lamb curry with coconut rice. a little too fatty and lamby in my opinion. also did the sangria. the fruit wasn't sweet, and for some reason, I've become partial to the one at elephant bar... should've ordered the coconut chicken noodles, but I'll fulfill that craving with a trip to mingalaba. (and gain back those two pounds I lost in one meal.)

cookies.

our office's safeway delivery arrived this morning. and the tray of cookies have officially entered the office. I am not one who does well with temptation. case and point: the chocolate chip was too good to resist. eating it (on my second) and listening to James Vincent McMorrow makes for a very chill afternoon. ironically, I eat.

working.

working leaves very little time for the passions in my life -- cooking and tv. I cram as many tv shows as I can when I get home, watching literally back to back. then gym, if I have time. otherwise I have to make time. pretty busy, but some shows are coming to a close, which should mean more free time to cook. and room for new shows! still need to watch the next food network star. at this point, I'm pulling for the self-dubbed "sandwich king". all the girls seem pretty weak. just starting to run out of the frozen food from trader joes I take to work.

obsession with jeans.

I think I need to buy new pant alternatives. I now have a big stack of jeans sitting in my room, most untouched and needing to be hemmed. I probably bought about 4 pairs of dark wash jeans in the last month too. and am pretty happy with all of them, but never fully satisfied for some reason.

and yet I still cylce through my old pairs. and I don't even touch the ones I've purchased since last december. what is wrong with me? I should start breaking them in. what I do like though, is this pair of chinos I bought from banana republic.

awesome fit. so, I think I'll go back for more. got to lose weight first so I can buy a size down.

my to do list is very lengthy.