Turkey Lurky

Well, Thanksgivng 2011 is over. I was invited  to Jess’s house in Enfield, New Hampshire, and off I drove with Ross(another “not going home for the holiday” student) in a lovely blue Tacoma truck. I think I drove it well…it was a pretty, snowy drive and had fun hanging with the Lynch family. Singing “We Gather Together” at the table was funny since only her parents out of 16 people truly knew it:). While I tried chipping away at the massive amount of homework, assignments, and projects due in the next two and a half weeks, I went to see Breaking Dawn with Cora, shopped at J.Crew/Urban Outfitters/American Apparel today, and bought Super 8 earlier in the week. Burlington is gearing up for the holidays with the Christmas tree being lit tonight on Church Street. It’s a massive 38 foot blue spruce.

I’m still not believing it’s almost December, and I’ve been here for about four months. I’ll be home for Christmas for a week. The holidays are always a strange feeling for me-another year is ending, all of us are getting older, some are still stuck in their ways, yet it’s a time for togetherness, good food, and pretty lights. I dunno. Just odd. I don’t want to “just get through it,” but the last five years, it’s been that way. But, I’m still happy where I am, and look forward to 2012.

Memphis and Me

      With my decision to leave Memphis and head to New England(read here) coming quickly, I’ve decided to make a list of places, and eateries that I have never been to or tried in the city of Good Abode. Some I probably won’t get to do, but here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

*Restaurants/Bars*
-Three Angels
-The Cove(been once)
-Broadway Pizza
-Cockadoos
-Iris
-Bari
-Sweet Grass Next Door
-La Guadulapana–or any Mexican restaurant on Summer that people rave about online
-Local-DONE
-Flight
–The Arcade. Only stopped in once for a Sprite en route to picking up my towed car. Read about that here  DONE
-South of Beale
-Pancho’s-not kidding
-Gus’s

*Places/Experiences*
–Civil Rights Museum….I know. I KNOW. This should have been a third grade field trip experience, but I feel like I was sick on that day. DONE
-Stax Museum
-Graceland Too
-Spend a day exploring the South Main district. DONE
-One more show at the Hi-Tone
-One more time scarfing down at Jerry’s Sno Cone
-Eat as much barbecue as a I can.
-Duck walk at the Peabody. Never seen it.
-See as many summer movies at the Orpheum.
-Ride the trolley a few times
-Elmwood Cemetery

What are your suggestions?

"Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

I’m a little out of chronological order with this posting.

I decided that I would walk the two blocks and one street over to Cafe Eclectic for breakfast on this past Sunday and to work on my dreaded research paper. Lugging my purse, Patagonia messenger bag with Macbook Pro, textbook, and steno pad, I headed out–damn it was HOT. I was gross and sweaty when I sat down(this walk consisted of about seven minutes), and I felt sorry for the very nice server who had to deal with me. Yes, water AND ice tea, please.

It probably didn’t help that I was wearing jeans on that bright and 95 degree morning(it was only 10:30am…). If I could have taken off my pants, and not get arrested or thrown out, I would have.

Anyway, breakfast was good, and I recommend Cafe Eclectic. It’s close, yet the service can be a bit slow(breakfast/brunch is pretty popular), but an enjoyable place to eat and people watch.

Sippin’ on the detox tea…

It seems that the “detox” fad has become more and more trendy these days-pills, food tips from Dr. Oz, and $350 “Clean” product line has you mixing a powdery substance into your water three times a day, et voila–DETOXING!

I was out grocery shopping, and picked up Yogi Detox tea–made of dandelion and a whole lot of other herbs and spices. It said it would help the kidney and liver, plus it comes in a tea form-eh, why not? I also picked up a box of green tea chai tea, which is funny to drink since it has been in the high 90s the last 10 days. Gooood times.

The detox tea is going well-I try to drink at least two cups a day, and I actually feel more comfortable. Not too tired in the afternoons when I get home from work, and seem to have a clearer head. My body is reacting well to it–yes, detox means “internal cleaning,” therefore, you can figure that one out:)

I’ll see how the rest of the month goes-it could all be in my head, but I fee less bloated and in general, more upbeat(mostly).

Have any of you tried any detox methods? Let me know.

Bust out the Firetrucks…or not.

June 7th was a big day for fast food eaters: The southern favorite, Chick Fil A, announced that the restaurant will now be selling spicy chicken sandwiches…oooh, ahhh.. Much hype was built up over the last few weeks of May-billboards alluded to it, and patrons could reserve a pre-order tasting of the new sandwich.
So, I decided Monday evening to give it a try. With the new menu redesigned, one could eat it plain, OR with a choice of American, Cheddar, or Provolone for the “Spicy Chicken Deluxe” meal. No thanks, I’m good. When I drove away, I said to myself “why do I smell bacon?” oh, right, the sandwich…hmmm, not a good start.

It was piping hot coming out of the bag, which pleased me. But…this was the zenith of my dinner. I expected explosions of spices-like J-Lo spiciness. Nope. It just tasted like the regular chicken sandwich with a hint, a HINT of some sort of pepper.
Yes, I finished it. But, about an hour later, I was soooo thirsty. Over 1700 grams of sodium in this sammich!!! No wonder.

So, dear readers, go ahead and try it, but I’ll be in the Wendy’s drive thru for my spicy chicken fix.