Let Go, Let Be

Because you refuse to answer when called on, because I know you lurk here…

I wanted to be kind and gracious.  I wanted to show that, in every way, I was taking the high road.  And while all of this remains true, I cannot deny that most of me now abhors you and not addressing it feels like part of me is polluted.

There have been a lot of disappointments over the last seven and half years.  I did all I could to stand by you, even when no one else in the world would.

This time, this latest disappointment, was the last one.  This time, you went too far.  The secrets and lies, the abandonment, are more than I can bear.  The emotional, physical, and financial cost was intolerable.  After so long, and so many sacrifices, I have accepted that you never intended to keep the promises you made.  I never thought you would choose to become a coward and a liar.  And after so many years, I can no longer make excuses for you.  The line has been crossed and I am finished wasting the prime of my life on empty promises and broken dreams.

You should know there is someone new in my life.  To be honest, he has been a part of my life for a while.  As soon as I let go of you, there was space for him.  I wish I had let go sooner than I did.  We take it day by day and I no longer feel the pressure to please someone who will never ever be satisfied.  He does not do things that make me weak and insecure.  He does not build me up so he can tear me down.  With him, I am assured, secure, and happy.  Most importantly, he has made it clear to me that I am safe, my happiness matters to him, and that we do not have to rush into making big decisions about our future.

That has been liberating.

Wordless Wednesday

Blessed

Thank you, Mr. I.T., for the laptop.  It is perfect and you exceeded all expectations.  You are awesome sauce and I am blessed to have you in my world.

And yes, Photoshop made that!

Wordless Wednesday

Blessed Farewell

I'd heard The Bruce Springsteen Band was nearby at a club called The Student Prince. A rainy, windy night it was, and when I opened the door the whole thing flew off its hinges and blew away down the street. The band were on stage, but staring at me framed in the doorway. And maybe that did make Bruce a little nervous because I just said, "I want to play with your band," and he said, "Sure, you do anything you want." ~ Clarence Clemons on how he met Bruce Springsteen and began playing with the E Street Band 

Blessed

Wordless Wednesday

I Should Have Packed A Lunch

The Lunchbox Diner.

(picture totally ripped off from Google Maps, street view)

I really really really wanted to love this place.  It is within walking distance to The Office (14413 115 Avenue) and I imagined myself power walking down there, grabbing my order to go and power walking back to the office.  I am pretty sure this is not ever going to happen.

Outside, this place has all the appeal a quirky diner should have.  Inside, it has all the disappointment a foodie's heart can hold.  Seriously, this place could use a Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmare makeover... so much potential being wasted.

This diner is in a very unique spot (there is zero competition for blocks and blocks and blocks), but is wasting that potential by being caught in a time warp.  Or maybe time just stood still there.  Its hard to take a place seriously when the booths are in an eggplant vinyl.

Now, before you think I have thrown this place under the #121 bus that goes by it, relax.  I can say that the place is clean and the service is fast.  This, however, may be due to the fact that there were only four other people in the place and they had already been served.

Ratings:
Appearance: Clean but timeworn.
Service: Fast and friendly.
Food: Dated. Disappointed, 4/10
Overall rating: Will not be back.

Daily Special: Chicken fingers with fries and salad (9.50 + tax):
To be honest, the chicken fingers were the same chicken fingers that you get in every restaurant, even the specialty Mexican restaurants that get pissed off that you will not eat a taco but still want your business so they have them on the menu.  I have seen them served at Thai places too.  For really.  And to me, that is ten degrees of wrong but we can talk about that another time.  You cannot polish a turd and you cannot do anything sexy with chicken fingers.  That is legal.  Or morally acceptable.

The surprising highlight were the fries that had been seasoned perfectly with Lawry's seasoning salt, which I like but my partner in crime that day behaved as though someone had shit on her plate.

The most disappointing thing of all was the salad.  I opened the container up and was uber excited because, at first glance, it looked all fresh and full of yummy goodness.  Sadly, it was dying.  The meal was a take away and the cook had drowned the salad in dressing and only the parts that weren't drenched in ranch dressing survived.  Also, when one makes and/or serves a salad, the pieces should be bite sized, not a third of the romaine leaf.  Home Economics, eighth grade, just sayin'.

To be honest, it was a whole lot of meh and that makes me sad because this place has the potential to have lineups out the door and down the parking lot.  Which, perhaps, in its day, it did.

Ironically, a co-worker commented, "The Lunchbox?  Oh I haven't been there in fifteen years."  Do not worry your heart out.  Not a thing about the place has changed.

Random Sauce, Part Ten

I would die for you, but I won't die without you.
~~~~~
No loitering, only dancing.
~~~~~
I am dying to know how your mouth tastes.
~~~~~
You want to save me?  Who said I needed to be rescued?
~~~~~
Is it too late to ask Santa for a pet unicorn?
~~~~~

The Lady Is A Scamp

It has been a while, I know.  Sometimes life kicks you in the ass and you need to go away and recharge.

On Friday I was at the local Asian market and saw these really great tiger shrimp.  The kind of shrimp that make your head spin with ideas.  I bought a pound without even thinking about the fact that, while they were headless, they were still in their shell and had to be peeled and deveined.  I thought I would be able to talk Mr. I.T. into doing this for me because he's all manly and good with his hands, but even on the phone I heard him squirm.

Peeling and deveining shrimp is not as nasty as it sounds but a few tips:

-rinse the shrimp thoroughly in cold water first

-be sure to pull the legs off and work at opening the shell from the underside of the shrimp

-if you do not want to serve the shrimp with the tail on, remove it by pinching just above the tail where the meat starts and gently pull away from the body of the shrimp

VEGETABLE AND SHRIMP SCAMPI

Makes about 4 lunch sized portions.

Ingredients:

1 pound tiger shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 small red pepper, diced

1 small yellow pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 green onions, diced

2 c. fresh mushrooms, sliced thinly

1/2 c. dry white wine (can be substituted with chicken stock)

1 1/2 tsp. prepared mustard

1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp. margarine

1/2 tsp. salt

freshly squeezed  juice from one lemon

1 lb. angel hair pasta, cooked

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)

Method:

-in a pan with high sides, heat oil on medium heat

-add shrimp to the pan and cook, stirring constantly until the shrimp is translucent and pink but not fully cooked

-remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside

-immediately return the pan to the stove and add peppers, garlic, onions, and mushrooms

-saute vegetables until they are sweating (Note: Add a couple dashes of salt to vegetables when you are sauteing them. This will draw out the water from the vegetables and helps to prevent them from scorching)

-add olive oil if necessary

-stir in the wine, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, cooking over medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes

-return the shrimp to the pan

-stir in the margarine, salt, and lemon juice and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, combining all ingredients thoroughly

-if you find the sauce reducing, add a few tablespoons of wine and a dash of Worcestershire sauce

-serve immediately on angel hair pasta

-top with grated Parmesan, if desired

This recipe is best served with fresh garden salad and crusty bread.