Absinthe

I had always been curious about absinthe since I was a teenager, seeing it in a movie one day. It was a mysterious green spirit with a ritual preparation of a sugar cube, spoon, water and sometimes fire. The drink was banned in Europe in the late 1800s or early 1900s (this ain't wikipedia, people! You want stats, look em up!). Thats what drew me to this drink. The fact that I'm not supposed to drink it, makes me want to drink it MORE!

I went to Spain in 2004. I went on a search for absinthe. Unfortunately, due to the shitty value of the US dollar vs the Euro, my $500 spending money turned into 340 Euros upon exchanging it =(

The cost of living equaled America so there was no money for expensive souviniers. Especially since upon my return, I'd have to pay the rent. My plan WAS to buy a bottle of absinthe and sneak it back into the country in my luggage. Thankfully, I didn't buy it cuz I was selected for a random luggage check at the Madrid airport on my way home and they went thru all my luggage. They would've confescated the bottle since at the time Absinthe was illegal in the US. My absinthe dreams were crushed and stuffed aside somewhere until recently.

I don't really remember what started up my quest for absinthe THIS time, but at a bbq, I mentioned to some friends that I really wanted to try it. Everyone else said they did too. I decided to buy a bottle from Europe and have it shipped to me, and have a get together of my more adventurous friends to taste it.

Absinthe for those who don't know is a spirit distilled from wormwood which contains a chemical called thujone. It is rumored to cause hallucinations, and spark creativitiy. Many great artists of the belle epoque were absinthe drinkers. It was also rumored to drive people crazy. This is arguable, with people saying that the symptoms of some of these absintheurs were those of alcoholism, rather than drinking too much absinthe.

I don't do drugs. Never tried any (except my lifelong desire to try LSD just once - haven't yet)
but I wanted to see what the absinthe effect would be like. Would it make me hallucinate? Would it make me want to paint some dark twisted picture? Would I do crazy shit, totally out of character for me? I dunno! But I was sure as hell gonna find out.

Old Absinthe ads

"The Absinthe Drinker" . The green fairy, or fee verte was a nickname for absinthe.

Later on, there was propaganda against absinthe, saying it caused you to go insane.

Worried yet? Nahhhhh, this made me want to try it MORE.

I finally got my bottle of Strong 68 from Alandia, cooked some burgers, and chicken, broke out the slotted spoons I ordered, and decided to git 'er done.

Glasses lined up with spoons and a sugar cube.

There are two "rituals" to prepare absinthe, just like in the old days. The French ritual is to pour 1 oz of absinthe in a glass, top with a slotted spoon and a sugar cube. Drip cold water onto the sugar cube so it melts into the drink. You are supposed to dilute the drink with 3-5oz of water. I don't think we even used that much. Oops.


The Czech ritual is the same except you drip a few drops of absinthe on the sugar cube and light the cube on fire til it caramelizes, then you dunk it in the absinthe. You can also set the absinthe on fire and let the flame melt the sugar cube. I didn't do this because I didnt want to set the house on fire lol.

The essential oils of the drink come out when mixed with water and it turns into a cloudy liquid called a louche. Stir and bon apetit!

The taste was spicy, not bitter like everyone said. I did put 2 sugar cubes in though fearing bitterness. It had anise in it, like what's in sausage. Everyone laughed when I said absinthe tasted like sausage. But I am a fan of flavor and spice. I really enjoyed the experience. I even had 2 glasses, after swearing I'd only have one to start. Everyone had multiple glasses except 2 people.

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Did I hallucinate? No. Was I drunk out my mind? No. Did I feel different? YES. It took a while for it to kick in. I felt a little light headed, and due to my lack of experience with drugs, I'd assume it was a high feeling, but I really don't know. I remember laughing hysterically at a kid across the street trying to lean on a bush to take a picture of something in the next yard (it was dark and 1am at this point) and we all started cracking up. More than we probably would've if we weren't drinking.

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2 friends went home, 2 left. We went for a walk on the beach. It'd be all good as long as I didnt decide to walk to Portugal at low tide in the pitch black. That didn't happen. Returned home and cleaned up. Another friend went home. The last one was staying over because they wanted to hang at the beach the next day. I put my stuff away and went in my room to catch up on the daily Facebook happenings. Thats when I noticed something.

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I was looking at the font of the words on the screen. It was so THIN and WIDE. Why didn't i notice this before. I saw the dots on my sheets had a lining around them, and they had a pattern that repeated. The weaving of the fibers on the lampshade. The wood on the ceiling (I have a hardwood ceiling like a hardwood floor. weird). The numbers on the clock were dimmer than the numbers on the cable box clock. The triangular pattern of skin cells on my hand. I was staring at them in wonder. I never gave a SHIT before about those things.

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Then my hearbeat sped up for no apparent reason. I hoped I'd be able to sleep. I got up to pee. When I got in the living room my friend was still up watching tv. I felt like I was floating (but not drunk-drunk). Then I went back into my room and fell asleep. When I woke up I was fine.

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We barely made a dent in the bottle. We are gonna do it again. I was defintely a fan of absinthe. But if you don't like spice, you probably won't like this.

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I felt a connection to people during the Belle Epoque era carrying out age old rituals of preparation and feeling to some extent, the same buzz they did. I didn't paint any pictures or write any deep poems, but absinthe just gained a few more fans that night.

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The people who were too scared really missed out. I can't wait to do it again! I have it here but its lame to drink by yourself, so...until the next time!

Get a Real Job

The phrase I get the most nowadays is "When are you gonna get a real job?" or just "Get a real job already!" I'm so sick of hearing this bullshit. Today there was major drama at my temp job. Some tenants number was given out to another tenant, who then called the first tenant and accused her of having roaches. Then she called me cursing me out thinking I gave out her number (i didn't), and said she's offended that anyone would accuse her of being unclean and shit. She said she had maintenance issues from when she moved in in January (before I came here), and they haven't been fixed. Then she continued to curse me out, rant about my cheap jewish boss, and hang up.

Today the main office called and blamed me saying that she's had issues for months and I never reported it. The woman from the main office told me the tenant said this. I said if she called while I was here, it was reported. But its my word against theirs. Apparently the super said he never got the work order too.

When all else fails blame the temp.... >=/

So then I was told to call an exterminator. Since I am a lowely temp and not allowed to do anything, I had to call a woman at yet another office to call them. She wasn't available so ANOTHER woman told me she'll give her the message (she usuallyDOESNT pass along messages and just blames me and says she never heard anything from me). I was told to have the tenant write a letter stating that she needs an exterminator. Never heard of that before! But fine. I called her and told her. She was infuriated. I said I was doing as I was asked and I can't even write it myself. So she came over and wrote the letter. Her husband asked me if I was working with a temp agency. I said "unfortunately yes. It's all the work I can find right now." Her husband says "Go get a real job! Don't do this SHIT. This place is horrible! you'll get a bad reputation working here!" Although I see his point, I don't like to be talked to like I like temping and want to be a fucking career temp! I hate temping! I have to live and UE doesn't pay me shit this year. Plus I'm able to have somewhat of a social life, resulting in a much happier ME !

Then she says to me "I have children, and I want to see young people do well. Don't stay here. Get a real job!" Whatever lady. I thought I already made that clear that I'm only here because that's all I can find.

Anyway after I faxed the note to the Neptune office, I was told she has to provide me with a dead roach as proof that she has roaches. It was the end of the day and I didn't call her back. She'll be amused when she hears that. But different people say different things! Noone's story is the same. I complained to my boss that it was made to look like I never reported her leaking WHATEVER from Jan. Turns out she was calling in June, documented in computer, and the super said he completed the work. So I wrote a long email to my boss bitching that I am made to be the scapegoat. She is mad because someone gave out her NUMBER and YOU are screwing her over and she refuses to pay rent til they fix the problems (the whole complex is falling apart). And they are trying to twist it around blaming ME saying she's mad cuz of ME. The boss is a cowardly hasidic jew who doesn't deal with confrontation. Needless to say, he didn't answer. I am looking even harder for new jobs (temp or perm).Although I really need perm but theres just NOTHING!

My boss ^

I apply to tons of jobs, most of which I am overqualified for, and get no response. So I'm kind of in a rut. All I've done is temp, and my last real jobs were higher level jobs. Now I'm applying to entry level jobs. And getting nowhere. It seems that there are more bad temp jobs than good ones. I am so sick of being a fucking temp!! But i dont want to give up the happiness that comes with being able to do things and have a social life.

Band and Firework Wednesdays Once Again

So once again Summer Band has started up in my town. I'm glad I once again have something to do that I LIKE (as opposed to temping and running errands, which is all iv'e been doing as of lately).

But the downside is that we are in the middle of a 2 week (or more?) long heat wave with temperatures regularly in the mid to high 90s with high humidity, and the nights in the low 90s or upper 80s. I've barely turned off my AC the past few weeks. I love playing in the concerts, but playing in 94 degrees with 100% humidity is as close to hell as you're gonna get.

I feel like the more I drink, the faster I sweat it all out. Maybe I shouldn't drink? Then I won't sweat? Yeah but then I'll dehydrate and end up with an IV in my arm like many times before. I seem to dehydrate faster than the average person. I know once I lose my voice, I better start chugging a gallon of water, STAT!

The band plays a large variety of songs, and I really like the selection (usually). The problem is that alot of these pieces have been played for years, and the people know them well (even the difficult ones). I have only been in the band 3yrs, and I'm not as seasoned as the rest of them. I have one day to learn a song. its frustrating that sometimes fast 16th note passages can't be played up to speed when most of the others can do it. I consider myself a decent player, but in a day I can't work up to the level everyone else is at. Not all the songs have fast 16th note runs though. But usually the ones that do are my favorite. I love difficult pieces! But yeah, only one day to learn it can get a little frustrating is. The good thing is, I copy the hard pieces that i like to put in my music collection so I CAN learn them for the future. So when the songs repeat, I'll know the songs just as well as the other people.

I started writing out some music, which I haven't done since I was a teenager, and now I remember why! Its soooooo tedious. I have no patience and when I think that the famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven wrote 100s of symphonies, I think they mustve had no social life and been recluses or something (probably were). I do not like writing music! I would rather buy the piece online. Problem is, most of the songs I want to do for youtube aren't available. Soooooo, I got thru some of Cab Driver, by Daryl Hall. Its easy and it repeats alot, so once i write the verse, chorus and bridge, I'm done. It leaves room for improvisation. Now will I have the time to perform these songs? The temp job has great acoustics! My apartment does NOT. I dont know where I can really play these things. I also can't find my tripod. I think it might be in my car though. I'll have to dig thru the beach shit to see if its in there.

This blog is really random. I felt like writing one but its very uninteresting, talking about summer band, which most people dont' even know that I do this, and don't give a shit (which is why noone comes to see me play). But WHATEVS!

I finally got paid after going almost 5 days with no money, eating whatever edible crap I have left at home, eating once at the temp assignment, and rehearsing out in the sweltering heat. My check didn't get accepted in the ATM, of course,so I had to deposit with a teller. The ATM gives me cash asap. The teller deposits don't. Luckally my stimulus check was accepted by the ATM and I got $25 whole dollars to eat with. Spent 7. Will get gas. I have so many things to do now and I'm waiting for one more check tomorrow.

Oil Change, gas, eye exam, 2 cavities filled, new box of contact lenses, bills, AC fee, groceries, car wash (my car is so filthy its ridic), season beach pass, kayak paddle leash, big dry bag, flare for the ocean, and pay XM radio. I'm sure thers more. And I'm sure I'll be broke again by Sat. Ah the life of an unemployed person! Still pushing on looking for a job. Nothing but temp jobs out there tho'. Thats what I do now. Temp. i'm so sick of temping. But that helps me survive, so...

Oh, so after band theres fireworks. I really am not into them. Everyone else stars at them in wonder. They're not that impressive to me. They do them all the time at the shore. I watch them from my Bathroom (best seat in the house, not cuz i'm always in there! but because thats where you can see them from ). I just got in the car (i drove cuz i came straight from running errands to band and sat outside in the sauna .....er.... boardwalk), and drove straight home and went straight into a cold shower. I feel much better now and I really hope that this heat wave shit is almost over. I like the nights when we play and its like 73 and breezy since we play right by the ocean. But the nights lately are 93 and humid stagnant air.

Now I'm looking for some trashy reality show to watch to amuse myself before bed time. I'm pretty hyped up (always am at this time of nite esp if I'm out doing something), so sleeping is gonna be difficult. Ireally wish I had a job that goes with my nocturnal nature. I can sleep FINE during the day! Its getting to bed bfore midnight thats the problem.

Ok this was an uneventful blog. I got it out of my system. I dont knwo why I'm even gonna post it on facebook.... but. Maybe someone'll be bored and read it, as I was bored in writing it. *shrug*.

G'nite

Rebound Relationships

Are you in a rebound relationship? To those who are, please read this article. If you are gonna ask me "is this meant for me?", maybe just the fact that you even think it's about you means you are in this situation.
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Breaking up with a beloved one is hard, and while there are people who aren't upset if they just broke with the love of their life, many other people can't get over an ex for months and years. Sure, an ex belongs to the past and the sooner one forgets him or her, the better. However, rushing into a rebound relationship is not the way to forget an ex.

Rebound Relationships Defined
A rebound relationship is relationship forned when a person, who has just ended an affair with somebody he or she loved a lot, jumps into a new relationship in an attempt to heal his or her broken heart. A rebound relationship could be a one-night stand, but usually it is a longer-term relationship. The rebound date could be a really nice person but it could also be a random guy or girl.



Read more at Suite101: Rebound Relationships are Unhappy Relationships: Starting a New Relationship is Not the Way to Forget an Ex http://dating.suite101.com/article.cfm/rebound_relationships_are_unhappy_relationships#ixzz0ro55uAJW

The purpose of the rebound relationship is to forget the ex. Also, many people have fear of being single and if they had been dumped, a rebound relationship looks like a life-jacket. Needless to say, love is the last thing found in a rebound relationship. Rebound relationships can be short but they can also last for a long time.

Examples of Rebound Relationships
Rebound relationships come in many flavors, but one of the signs all rebound relationships have in common is that they are unhappy relationships – for one or both of the partners. For instance, if one of the partners has been dumped and he or she starts seeing somebody new, when the previous partner calls, the dumped one rushes back into the relationship and dumps the rebound date. For the rebound date, this situation is very hard to handle because it feels as if he or she is dumped because of doing something wrong, while the truth is that he or she has simply been used by his or her partner as a way to find some comfort.

CLICK FOR RELATED CONTENT
Uncoupling's First Stage: Relationship Secrets
Blindsided, the left, or the person broken up with, does not realize that the initiator has been uncoupling for years. Uncoupling starts with secrets.Another case of an unhappy rebound relationship is when the dumped one finds a new date and the new date takes advantage of his or her broken heart. There are many such cases and sometimes it is quite possible to see that somebody in a rebound relationship marries after knowing his or her new partner for a couple of months only and becomes trapped in an unhappy relationship he or she can't easily break from. If the reader wants to read more about rebound relationships and rebound relationship stories, Rebound Relationships is one of the places to start with.


Generally, the best way to deal with a rebound relationship is to end it right away. Yes, it might feel hard to do it, but this is really the best move in such a situation.

Cruise Tomorrow!!!

Yay! Tomorrow is my cruise and I'm so hyper and excited just to get the HELL out of HERE! I hope I can sleep tonight. i still have so much to do, like my nails, and get layers trimmed in my hair and getting contact lens solution, and a few other thingamajigs, then wait for my temp pay (even tho I get 2 checks a week they're smaller and I STILL feel like I have no money). I want my temp check so I can pay some bills before departing. Most bills are due the day I get back =(.

I wanna pay em so I can go with a relaxed mindset of not having anything to come back and worry about. Of course I need more money,esp since I had to buy a suitcase and stuff, and I went out for thai one night w/ a friend. But I'm bringing $160 with me for my cruise acct and then just have to buy lunch, water and admission to whatever in Canada on Sat. If I dont' spend $160 I get it back. I dont think I will. I'm not really a big drinker and alkee is the only thing you really pay for.

Gonna TRY to go to sleep soon. Gonna TRY to get up at 7 (ha!) so I can finish packing, go do the hair thing, ok maybe 8. 7 is unneccesary. I can see where this is going. Jen is gonna have to wake me up on this cruise cuz otherwise I aint getting up til NOON! eff that. She's an early bird and I'm a night owl. This is gonna be interesting. I CAN get up.... I just need a reason TO get up.

CIAO!!!

Slum

The place I'm working at as a rental agent is the shittiest apartment complex I've ever seen! This isn't actually it (pictured), but even online the picture was probably taken 2 decades ago, so it doesn't capture the derelict state of the complex today.

When I interviewed, I had to go to another complex in Highland Park. The complex where the main office is located was kinda on the shitty side. But I figued they'd be the typical 70s brick garden apartments which genrally have cheaper rents for people who need them. Shit, my rent is cheaper and my apartment is in much better condition. I just dont like my kitchen.

When I met with the owner, a hasidic jew named Ari, he made it sound like the complex was so nice and that we'd be rented out by the end of June. My job was to sit in the office and try get the place rented. No prob. Its the Jersey shore. Its summer. The place should sell it self. I'm not doing sales, so I really don't have to get out there and pimp the place but I have to get people to fill out applications.

On my first day (my first time seeing the complex), I drove up and was like "oh............" They WERE 70s looking garden apartments but were not maintained AT ALL! There were shutters that were rotted, moldy and falling off the building, gutters hanging off, cracked cement stairs, broken doors, weeds all over the place, crap like lawn furniture and decorations out in the grass in frontn of the apt (usually not allowed in the front of apts!) . I knew right away it was gonna be hard to rent a place like this.........unless it was to white trash or something. So ok, maybe I can get some white trash to fill out applications then.

A week after I started, I started heariing other tenants complaing to me. I had to write an introductory letter, I had no computer, printer, fax for a week - and I sitll have no internet! I'm on stolen wifi)to introduce myself to the tenants. I walked around at 5:15 to distribute them. Thinking 15 min was enough time so I could leave at 5:30. As went up to the doors to put the letters in the mailboxes, people stopped me to complain. They said the complex was falling apart. They showed me things in their houses, on their porches and stairs and balconies. At 6:30 I was done (its a small complex) and although I made a little extra money that day, I felt bad for these people! The company I'm temping for recently bought this property because the original owners died. I have heard that ever since this company took over, it's been horrible and no repairs are being made.

The super and other tenants told me that ceilings have fallen down, bathrooms have mold in them, there are ants, roaches, the windows are cheap and the place has been robbed several times. The windows look thin, and probably are the originals. The air conditioners too look like the originals and alot of tenants are complaining the ACs are broken. THe people here take their sweet time to order new ones. The super sleeps til 11 everyday and the maintence man,from the caribbean works his ass off doing hard labor for $10/hr! He's thinking of quitting! He should!

The whole complex is crumbling and one guy can't do everything. This place is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I woiuldn't want to live here! People are moving out like crazy, and of all the people who've seen the place, noone wants to fill out an application!

The Jew owner makes it seem like its my fault. I'm not a sales person. If I was getting commission (i e - MORE MONEY) I'd try harder but since I'm not, and I'm just an hourly temp, I don't. Plus, this isn't someplace you buy. You rent here. And as another tenant told me, it does not attract the market they want it to. It attracts mostly white trash and the elderly who live on low Social Security incomes.

Everyone who comes comments on the condition of the property. One guy who came yesterday said the balcony looked like it was gonna crumble. He said "You go out on the balcony first." I refused to go. I think by my refusal he knew something was up. No way in hell am I going on a rotted wood 1970s balcony when I have no health insurance! I have enough medical debt due to routine shit and stress related problems, thank you! Don't need any more! Noone seems to be suing. I'd defintely sue tho'. They have those lawyers that help unemployed people. Maybe my dad could sue. He has money. My dad sues everybody. Thats probably why he has so much $.

To welcome you into this lovely establishment, there is a mattress and box spring on the grass outside the development that someone dumped there. Noone has picked it up. The super says the garbage truck is supposed to pick it up. It hasn't. Bulk pick up is Wednesday and it's been there since last MONDAY! The garbage area, instead of a nice little dumpster with a fence , is an open dumptser with lots of little garbage cans next to it stuffed to capacity with SHIT, old tvs,beer bottles, furniture, toys, clothes, and they tip over and look a mess. . There is a sewage leak coming out of one of the apts which leaks into the parking lot forming a puddle of green sludge, and weeds growing in the cracks in the concrete. Peoples' mismatched lawn furniture is outside, along with grills, old phone books and storage bins.

I wouldn't want to live here. Its on the water (the shrewsbury river) and if this place were nicer,it could be a nice place to live. But its a health hazard! I have not had one application since I've been here. People come here and run. And its hard to make excuses for the poor state of this complex. I dont know if that means i'll get the ax after my vacation or not. I may just cuz they might need someone here period and they'll end my assign and send another temp.

I dont mind working here cuz its easy money and I watch dvds all day and get online when I can pick up the neighbors' wifi. But it gives me money to have a social life. On my UE alone I was really struggling and it's so hard to get by on that. This gives me a safety net and a source of happiness that I can be 'normal' for a while.

I just can't believe the condition of this place, and how noone is doing anything about it. They're threatening to kick residents out early if the dont sign the new lease (which arrived 3 mo prior to their renewal date). They have 15 days to sign a new lease. I think maybe they want as many people out as possible so they can maybe renovate? Not sure. Kinda hard when the one guy doing the renovating is threatening to quit, and the guy is too cheap to hire proper contractors to do it.

Homeboy gon' get sued right up the kosha kiester!

*shakes head*

P.s - once again I dont' know why this is all run together in one paragraph. I spaced it out and edited to re-space it but nothing worked =( . I dont know why this happens.

Dresses, diets, and missing shoes

Today I had a pretty relaxing day. I slept til 1pm (*yes!!!!*), my friend came over w/ her doggies to chat, I took a nap on the beach (why do I need to take a nap when I slept til 1 is beyond me... probably because I only slept 7hrs and I need 9), got a nice tan, and came home and showered.

So after my shower I decided to pull out some dresses that I want to wear for the cruise. I didn't know if they'd all fit. Some I wear now and have been wearing for years. Some are not cut out for the cruise, some may be too tight, and I know one needs to be taken in at the stomach (a problem for big boobed people =/).

Everything checked out ok, except with the white dress I want to wear for formal night. I wore it last 2yrs ago OUT, but put it on here and there for profile pics and such since then. Its a little tight at the boob area (figures!!!) and it zips in the back. It zips fine til it gets to the top. Basically I need to lose some boob and PRONTO! (well.......I always thought I could lose some boob).

I recently started this diet (and then cheated this morning by eating garlic chicken with linguini, vodka sauce, sundried tomatos and basil. I wanted to eat REAL food! I dont deal w/ dieting well. I am a connoisseur of fine foods and like to eat good stuff! But being unemployed doesn't always allow me to eat well. I've had lots of stretches of oatmeal and granola diets, and rice diets (altho its not really a diet i did lose weight). I really hate eating tasteless food. But my thoughts right now are, just dont be HUNGRY. I'll eat good stuff on the cruise and most likely gain all the weight back cuz I'll binge eat since I was restricting myself, but if I can just wear the white dress i'll be ok. I dont really have anything else to wear to formal night! I have evening gowns but they were from before my weight gain. I weighed 150-160 when I wore those dresses. Now well.... lets not go there.

At my temp assign, I bought a carton of egg whites for $5.99, some frozen veggies and I made egg white omlettes. I am continuing to do this at home. I know I'm not gonna be taking in enough calories by eating only egg whites and veggies but... I really need to drop weight fast. and It aint like I'm starving myself. Lets see how long I can keep this up. I got paid early yesterday so I have some money. I hung the dress up on my closet door to look at it, to remind me why I'm doing this. I am also incorporating chicken into this diet w/ only veggies. No carbs (except this mornign when I cheated). I HATE veggies! This is why I tend to binge because theres nothing on my plate that I LIKE. Idont know how this will pan out but I'm not starving myself but merely doing a super calorie reduction. But I'm active and need more cals than a sedentary person. when I ate weight watchers meals I was starving and weak and tired and i knew I wasnt taking in enough calories. You can't win. Lets see how this plays out tho'. I'm sure I'll lose something!

Egg white omlette w/ spinach. I've been using an assortment of frozen veggies. Either way, I dont like the food. =p~

Another issue I have is I lost my silver stilettos. I brought them to AC earlier this year and wanted to wear them tonight to AC for my friends bday din. I haven't seen them since the last AC trip. I know I didn't leave them cuz we got everything from the room. I really have no other nice shoes to wear to a formal evening and to my own bday. I will wear my silver flats tonight but have to really go thru everything and my car to try to find these shoes. I need at least one pair of going out shoes. I don't know if I will be able to buy more.

Bday -

My bday is a-comin' up! I still am trying to find a place to eat that everyone will like, agree with pricewise, and is decent. I refuse to eat at Applebees, Fridays, Tuesdays, Chilis or any of those franchises! Everything else is upscale with dishes ranging from $18 for pasta to $35 to filet mignon. Other option is bar food. Thats not exactly what I had in mind. I know my outing is gonna be expensive. It s hould be looked at as a weekend activity, not necc as a birthday. I dont' know. I 'm thinking Lake House (pictured below). The inside is a bar w/ bands (not my thing - i hateeee alternative rock!!), but the outside is really pretty and its on a lake w a fountain. I went there once for wsomeone else's bday. The food is eh. Nothing special. Its american. But it may be the best bet pricewise. I DEF want to sit outside. Otherwise, I ain 't going there.

Parasailing prices went up to $65/per person =/ Its not much. I'm gonna try to get a group discount also. I wish I didn't have such expensive taste! Esp since I am only temping.

I ate an egg white omlette 3o min ago and am still STARVING! I gotta leave tho for AC so maybe I'll make another one and eat it when i get there.I'm just gonna have like 2 drinks at Buddakhan and hang out for a while (not a gambler) and head home. Got a drs appt and its a supa long drive. I kinda don't want to go but..... I promised I would.