Hoooray!

So, Summer Party happened on Saturday night at Paramount Studios. It was HOT and setting up Saturday afternoon was not a treat for anyone. I was very, very sweaty before the party even began. I’ve got to hand it to our event staff. They were there by 8am and didn’t leave until the wee hours of the morning. Despite some miscommunication and snafus at the start of the evening, we got everything in line, guests bought tickets and were checked in. People ate (though according to Jason, the food was pretty mediocre. All I had time for was cold pasta salad and some pizza-bread stuff), drank, danced, bought raffle tickets, bid at the silent auction, and rode the ferris wheel. No one died and I don’t think anyone is going to sue us, so all in all I would say it was a great success. Also I would like to mention that I do not have to deal with the damn auto raffle anymore, which makes my life a lot easier. It’s all over, and we may now move on with our regularly scheduled lives.

Sunday I had a fabulous time eating late breakfast at the farmers’ market in Santa Monica and basking in the sun at the beach. I got my boogie board in the water for the first time this summer. I need to get some feet fins so I can boogie it up right.

I’m schedule for my root canal at the dentist today. Maybe they will give me some drugs this time if I ask nicely.

I would also like to mention that it is officially Jason’s birthday week (actual birthday Wed, July 27), so you should all go over to J’s blog and send him some birthday love!

What's for dinner?

Work has been nuts lately. It’s nearing 4pm and I just finished my lunch not too long ago. At least I got everything ready for the 3pm FedEx pick-up and I don’t think I royally screwed anything up (accounts receivable kids, kind of scary). For those of you who asked, King Tut was great and a big hit with most of the donors that came. The exhibit was very interesting, I only wish I’d had more time to peruse and take it all in. I saw a sarcophagus that used to hold good ol’ King Tut’s dried liver y’all. Awesome! What I found most interesting was the focus and attention on preserving and careful storage of internal organs with the mummy in the burial tomb, supposedly because they would be needed in the next life, with the exception of the brain. They just chucked it out after they pulled it out through the nose (hope you aren’t eating as you’re reading this). I guess no one uses their head in the world beyond? Sounds like a scary place to me, or maybe we’re there now. Maybe we are all reincarnated ancient Egyptians and the "ruling elite" who would have been important enough to mummify are all walking around with no brains in their heads. Hmmmm, I think I need more sleep.

Anyway, on that note, this post is really about food. Thanks for the inspiration Crazy Aunt Purl. Because when the notorious C.A.P. has long busy days at work she continues to blog witty and entertaining posts, where as I will ignore my blog for long periods of time and then poach other’s ideas when I finally post again.

It has always amazed me that most all humans are basically equipped with the same tasting/smelling/eating apparatus, yet what one person considers food another will hurl at just the mention of. For example, I HATE and cannot tolerate in any way pickles of all kinds. Even when I pick them off a sandwich I hate that I can taste pickle juice on my food. I don’t much care for anything pickled or briny for that matter (sauerkraut? ewwww!). Don’t like radishes, beets, or green olives, but I love the black ripe ones. Jason hates all olives, and doesn’t like raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, raisins, dates or pineapple (I know, what’s not to like?)

I also don’t eat meat, as I’ve been a vegetarian for 11 years and counting. Meat is just weird to me. A lot of people are like, “Oh you don’t eat meat? That must be really hard. Poor you, what is there for you to eat?” I can’t decide if these people are condescending jerks or just really ignorant, or maybe a little from column A and a little from column B. But in all honesty, it doesn’t even really occur to me that meat is food. I mean, I know it kind of is and people eat it all the time, but that’s muscle tissue dude. Muscle tissue from an animal that was once walking around mooing/clucking/gobbling and what have you. What really grosses me out is meat on bone. Mmmm, think I’ll rip me a big piece of muscle tissue off that femur, chew it and swallow it. I’m really not trying to make the meat eaters feel bad or anything, but that is just how I see meat, which would explain why putting it in my mouth is about one of the most unappetizing things I can think of. If I can start doing comparative anatomy between myself and what’s on the plate you can bet I’m not going to eat it.

Shellfish and lobster and shrimp I also do not eat, but for different reasons. I do not much identify with any of these animals personally, so that’s not it. And the commercial fishing industry is none too pretty either from an ecological perspective, but even besides that, shellfish are just gross. The lobster and it’s kin are a Darwin’s baby step away from their cousin the cockroach. And clams, scallops, mussels and the like, not too far from the common sidewalk slug, but I understand the French smother these in garlic sauce and call this food too. Come on now, that’s disgusting.

Also, there’s a huge difference between your palate as a child and when you’re all grown up. I used to shun most vegetables as a child and now I can’t get enough of them. I also used to love Roman Meal bread and ketchup sandwiches.

So, what can’t you stand to eat, and what do you love to eat that no one else can stand?

I’m still here.

Just very busy with work and taking care of the dog while Jason is visiting family in Florida this week. One of the perks of working for a major non-profit org of a popular cause is Special Events. Events are a big deal, and they make everyone nervous and excited and stressed out. Tonight is the private reception and viewing of the King Tut exhibit at LACMA. Newly elected Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa will be among the speakers! And a good number of celebs are going to be in attendance. (Debbie Gibson! I mean Deborah, Deborah Gibson.) This is my first event, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t do or say anything embarrassing. Many big donors are coming, so good impressions are key.

In other news, I lost a button on my blouse this morning. After chugging my coffee in the car, racing to the gift shop with my jacket on to buy a sewing kit (got the last one thank god!), and walking a couple more blocks to the office, I was a sweaty mess. Anyway, my blouse is now back together and I’m ready for a busy day.

And much more upsetting than a missing button this morning was the news of the attacks in London. Another sad reminder that we are not as safe as we may think we are.