sweet dreams

I received a few concerns about my camp-pad situation last week, so you'll all be happy to know I'm now sleeping on clouds. Kind of.

Last week I went to Target with the intention of buying an air mattress, but after 30 minutes staring at the air mattress section (a surprisingly large section), I spied a sleeping bag in a neighboring aisle. Ooooo, sleeping bag... done deal. My bed is now assembled as follows: camp pad (so?) + sleeping bag + mattress pad + fitted sheet + (me) + sheet + quilt. Not bad. My logic was this: the sleeping bag doubles as, well, a sleeping bag! For visitors!

It's a trundle, of sorts.

many moves

I write from the “comfort” of my new apartment. I put “comfort” in quotation marks because, well, I'm currently using a camp pad for a bed. I actually have no problem with camp pads, but a lot of people apparently think that's weird. I'll probably upgrade to an aero-bed this week so I can really impress the visitors. Another option might be a real bed, but who does that? Not me, and not when I don't know where I'll live come January. One of these days I hope to stay in one place long enough to invest in such luxury, but the wandering continues for now.

Post grad house-hopping analysis:

# When Where Where? w/whom Pros Cons Note 1 Jun'04 Dulio’s house Monterrey, Mexico Dulio, Bea, Pedro guac tacos across the street one bathroom for four interim for apt search 2 July'04 Señora's house Monterrey, Mexico Señora, Bea cheap no A/C too hot, move to survive 3 Aug–Dec'04 Calle Nápoles Monterrey, Mexico Bea my own room for the first time since high school no oven, the occasional cockroach care packages never arrive 4 Jan–Feb'05 Alex's House Monterrey, Mexico Alex, Karla, Alex's mom my own bathroom alex's twin poodles winter session before Spain 5 Feb–Nov'05 Plaza de Castillo Madrid, Spain Bea, Karla, Joyce, Regis, Ileana six girls six girls all-time record: 10 months 6 Dec'05–March'06 Pacífico Madrid, Spain Bea adorable apt tiny apt after the six moved on 7 May'06 Meri's apt New York, NY Meri view of the gym Meri (jk, jk) interim for apt search 8 Jun–Aug'06 46th St & 9th New York, NY Chris rooftop everything on a slant summer sublet 9 Sept06 - Union Square New York, NY Julie TBD TBD TBD

mixing it up

I don't know what came over me yesterday, but I think we can all learn from it.

A few coworkers and I had adventured into a new deli for lunch, so I stepped calmly to the side while I surveyed the goods: pastas to the left, couscous to the right, soups in the back, hmmm. Then I spotted what I was looking for: the make-your-own-salad station. Perfect. Lots of deli's have a similar set-up, but the options will vary so I scanned the ingredients board as I took my place in line. Unfortunately, it was a line of two, and I soon found myself staring into the eyes of The Salad Man: "Yes, miss?" I started off calmly with the "Romaine mix," then requested my standard "mushrooms" (fresh) and "tomatoes" (cherry). I generally mix it up- so to speak- at this point, so I searched the mini-containers as Salad Man tossed the tomatoes and mushrooms. "And?" And... and... "blue cheese." And... and then I saw it: Pesto Chicken. Pesto Chicken?! I love pesto chicken! "Pesto Chicken," I said, "and oil and vinegar." Salad Man mixed it up, topped it off, and undoubtedly shook his head for the rest of the day.

Blue cheese + pesto + vinegar? Sick.