Trouble

So I'm in trouble. A new shopping center has popped up on my chosen route to work. This particular shopping center is trouble. Not only does it have a Starbucks (what shopping center in Northern Virginia doesn't?) it also has a Panera...right across the "street". I say "street" because really, its just a break in the parking lot. Nevertheless, the Starbucks and the Panera are less than 100 ft away from each other (okay so maybe I don't know how far away 100 ft is, but it's freaking close). This proves a problem...especially since the rest of the shopping center isn't open yet (except for the Pei Wei...yes, that's right this is basically the best shopping center for eating that was ever created...next to open...the Z-Pizza....jealous?) In the mornings, between 7:15 and 7:45 when I tend to frequent this fine shopping center there is NO ONE around. It's amazing...and very difficult not to stop by Panera and grab a bagel, then leisurely wander over to Starbucks for my morning beverage. Yesterday when I made my weekly (I'm going to try and only do this weekly...) visit to the Best Shopping Center Ever, the Starbucks, which I think employees the friendliest workers of any Starbucks ever, was offering samples of the Pumpkin Spice Latte...in teeny tiny espresso cups...complete with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It was irresistible....and who am I to judge. I happily sipped on my free sample while waiting for my Tall Sugar-Free Caramel Skim Latte. It was basically the best morning ever.

Nectarines

I have decided that nectarines are my favorite fruit. Sure, my daily banana helps with the Charlie horses I get in my feet due to the inappropriate arch support in my favorite shoes. Sure, apples make great pie. Sure, rhubarb (is that even a fruit) when combined with strawberries make my favorite pie. But the nectarine is the perfect blend of taste and texture, no peach fuzzies, yet a peach-like quality...firm like an apple, but without the crunch (and without the allergic reaction from Hubby). Nectarines are essentially perfect. The pit is easy to cut around, there is no real stem to worry about...just slice around the middle and you have an amazing snack.

I bought four nectarines at Wegman's (or Weggie's if you're a member of my household) this week because they were on sale and I had *gasp* forgotten how much I LOVE them. They are perfect right now (perhaps in season, our friend at the "Vegetable CIA", a.k.a. USDA, would have to confirm that for me). I shall be stocking up next week and taking advantage of their abundance at my local grocery store.

Go get yourself a nectarine and enjoy!

Peanut-Butter

If there's one thing I have learned from my grandfather it would have to be the deliciousness of peanut butter. Creamy or extra chunky, I could not care less as long as its not that all natural "stir the oil back in before you take a bite" kind...I am a happy camper. (Note: I do not think I will ever be a happy "camper" but the phrase still applies just the same.)

I may or may not occasionally indulge in a straight-up spoonful of the peanut-y goodness...at work...from the jar hidden in my cube...savoring every moment until the spoon is licked clean. That may or may not happen...on a semi-regular basis.

;-)

Today

...is the day. The day that I postthe link to this blog on my MySpace and Facebook pages.

It's a big day. Almost six months in the making. I'm still not 100% sure about the decision (but then again I'm not 100% sure about the decision to maintain my MySpace page...Facebook has been my "social network" of choice but since I like photos and most friends post photos on MySpace rather than Facebook I am stuck).

This blog is way more in depth than my old (old) Xanga blog...man...that means like forever ago...and the blogging capabilities in MySpace are just not up to my standards. Facebook has implemented Notes and other ways to enhance profiles, none of which excite me...I preferred the old, boring, plain Facebook (although was excited when the ability to add photo albums was added....this just shows you how long it's been since I joined Facebook).

I almost ate an entire bag of home-made trail mix while writing this entry. Nervous eater perhaps? Afraid that the real me won't be pleasing to the reader? Notsomuch. It's 11am and I'm starving, the norm for a Wednesday morning I assure you.

Enjoy!

Mike

Dr. Mike.
Dr. Michaela Quinn.
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.

Jane Seymour was named as one of the contestants on Dancing with the Stars this morning. I could not be more thrilled. I have been a fan since the early '90s. I can now say that I am thoroughly pumped for the season premiere (September 24th). After a long period of waiting and a summer full of crappy TV (with the exception of my personal summer favorites Top Chef and Last Comic Standing) I am ready for the regular season of TV to grace us with its presence.

I attempted to get my "dancing fix" through So You Think You Can Dance this summer (I began watching half-way through the season) but I must say, I am quite partial to Dancing with the Stars. I like the idea of taking your gift of dance and sharing it with another person through teaching them to dance. Watching amazing dancers is all fine a good, but I love the element of instruction that goes along with Dancing with the Stars. At times it even makes me feel like I could maybe dance, if I had enough practice and if Hubby would indulge in dancing...ever. Regardless, my mind is made up. Dancing with the Stars is my favorite of the dancing reality television shows.

Where does it fall in my ranking of favorite reality shows? Let's take a look:

1. Beauty and the Geek
2. Top Chef
3. Dancing with the Stars
4. Last Comic Standing (used to be higher in the rankings...but the hosts just keep going downhill for me)
5. Grease: You're the One that I Want (although that was a one-time show)

Not too shabby...

News

It's a weird news day. I opened up to cnn.com this morning and found the following headlines:

11 Hurt at Tom Cruise Film Shoot
Illegal Immigrant Arrested After Year in Church
Mudlines, Floods Sweep People, Cows Away
Murder Plot Involved Rattlesnakes
Father Accused of Shooting, Paralyzing Daughter's Boyfriend After Finding Him in Closet
Blacksburg Carbon Monoxide Leak
Jetliner Burns, All Survive
Bears Eat Man at Beer Festival

Just strange things in the news today...strange, sad, weird, odd, ironic...so many things...none of them "normal".

...in other news...today is:

Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary =)

Coffee

My office pretty much has the worst coffee ever made by all of mankind.

I like coffee....and I know that I, personally, can make bad coffee...but even my nasty cup o' joe can't compare to the mug of nasty that is coffee from the 4th floor kitchen.

Perhaps I became too spoiled at my old job in the coffee department. It's not my fault that my old job included frequent trips to Starbucks as well as fresh brewed coffee made by my boss (of Colombian descent). I'm sure those two factors really have hindered my entire future in regards to coffee and my preferences, turning me into a bit of a coffee snob.

But this? This is NOT coffee.

I suppose there could be many reasons for this being quite possibly the WORST cup of coffee of my entire life, here are my top ten:

10. Who is "Cory Collection" and why must they insist on packing ground coffee only to be forced upon low level corporate employees?

9. Why does the 5th floor have a Flavia Coffee machine and 4th floor does not? (9b, why am I too chicken to use the coffee machine on the 5th floor?)

8. I sleep in and cannot brew my own coffee at home...maybe if our coffee machine had a timer...since going in and out of our bedroom would be sure to awaken Husband who would not be pleased...

7. I have been told it would be "irresponsible" to stop by my neighborhood Starbucks each morning before work...so I try to keep it down to once a week (although this week it was twice...and by this morning's events...should have been three times).

6. Our coffee comes in pre-measured pouches...of which we have 100s stuffed into various drawers in the kitchen.

5. My local gas station has better coffee (notice, gas station, not Sheetz station, since Sheetz coffee is far superior to the regular gas station...and I would totally settle for good ol' Mobil/Exon brewed coffee...)

4. It's gross and I dirtied my "real" coffee mug at work which I now have to wash rather than using a disposable cup (freaking Al Gore and his "Let's All Save the Planet" rants causing my office to desire energy efficiency!...which incidentally caused me to eat my lunch in a room in which the light repeatedly shut off because unlike most people, I can only assume, I sit still when I eat my lunch causing the lights to think the room is empty.)

3. Husband is not creating his signature lattes each morning for my enjoyment.

2. Who knows how long the coffee sits in the pot...I mean, it's disgusting, maybe only one person drinks it and they come in at 6:30am so by the time I decide to have coffee it's scorched?

and finally...

1. This cup of coffee is not a Tall Skim Extra Hot Peppermint Mocha.