Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen

I have to admit, I borrowed this book from the library for it's title and cover.  It was a little slow moving at first, but towards the end I was reading until 2 am to finish it!  Sometimes I like stories about small town folk and this book about a girl yearning to move to Atlanta from Ringgold, GA fit the bill.  For example, Catherine Grace saves money to move to Atlanta by starting a homemade jam business!  The book is set in the 70's and I guess it was a simpler time back then, especially in the south.  The fact that the Greyhound bus stop is at the Dairy Queen that she goes to everyday is really symbolic and the story does get better after she finally steps on that bus. 

I finally found my pin-up sweater!

This past Halloween, I was searching for a pin-up sweater to wear for my pin-up girl costume. I settled on a bright blue leopard print wrap around sweater that I wasn't really comfortable in. This morning, I bought the most darling grey with white polka-dot cardigan at Target!  It was fresh on the rack that they use to bring the clothes out that are new shipments.  I don't usually buy clothes at full price but I just couldn't pass it up!  Isn't it cute just to wear out?  I am so excited! :)

Cards!!!

I've been stalking a few crafty blogs and decided I wanted to try to make homemade cards. Kelly from The Sunset House was so helpful when I emailed her and turned me on to the world of Stampin' Up. Weddingbee is hosting their second annual Valentine's Day swap so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. P.S. Making cards is harder than I thought! There were multiple trips to Pat Catans in the making of these cards!

I also got a new rug at Target for 50% off!  It was originally 30 and I got it for 15.  I saw it sitting there in the global home section and just couldn't pass it up.  

Doesn't it look like it came from Urban Outfitters? Awesome.

Sabotage

When I was pulling out of my driveway this morning, the opening chords of Sabotage by the Beastie Boys was playing on the radio.  I felt so cool!  Like my life had a soundtrack for a minute.

Wonton Gourmet

This past week was terrible, weather-wise.  I mean, it was reported that this is the snowiest winter since 1995.  In 1995 I was getting carted around by my parents, taking entrance tests for high school and listening to 107.9 The End.  So anyway, I got my car stuck in the driveway about 6 times, backed into Danny's car because I was too lazy to wipe the snow off my back window*, AND had to drive on a day that was dangerous to drive to help Danny jump his car.  

To treat ourselves for having such a stressful week, we decided to go to Wonton Gourmet in downtown Cleveland where there is a little Asiatown.  I was so excited to find this place because I read online that they serve Hong Kong street food.   A Cleveland foodie blogger, Nancy Heller, always blogs about Wonton Gourmet and I actually took notes on what to order.  One app we ordered based on her suggestions were awesome, the chive potstickers.  Here's a craptacular photo: 

We also ordered pan fried turnip cakes and scallion pancakes for apps.  For our entrees, I got Jade tofu with pork and Danny got his standard pepper steak.  At the end of the meal, they presented us with sliced oranges instead of fortune cookies and the bill was written in chinese characters.  Hey, it's the little things that make me happy!

*The damage to my car wasn't that bad.  I just bent my rear license plate and there's a hairline crack in my bumper.  Oh well :)

Hardcore Arts and Media recap

I knew RENT couldn't hide from me for long.  The show came back to Cleveland Jan 6-11.  Guess who got to go opening night?  MEEEEE!!! (Danny surprised me with tickets)  Guess why I was so excited to go?  Cause original cast members Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal and Gwen Stewart were in it!  The first half of the show I was in awe that I was actually watching these actors live and grateful that they agreed to reprise their roles 10+ years later.  Then the second half I was able to enjoy it.  Gwen Stewart plays many roles including the homeless lady, but her amazing gospel solo in Seasons of Love is what I was looking forward to most.  She didn't disappoint me by sounding exactly like my RENT CD.   I walked out of the theatre on a goose pimpled RENT high and promptly bought at $20 poster that had Anthony and Adam on it.  The next day I looked at the poster and kind of second guessed that purchase, ha ha.  It will look good framed though.  

source

Because of all the annoying snow and single digit temperatures, I had no desire to go out so I was able to read Anthony Rapp's biography, Without You.  It satisfied my urge to learn about how Anthony got involved in RENT and the early productions, but a huge chunk of the book was dedicated to Anthony's struggle with his mom dying of cancer.  Which was sad!  I almost cried.  I also commend Anthony for being so honest about his early sexual experiences which are really interesting.  

In my self-imposed seclusion from the outdoors, I also watched the first season of Big Love.  I have never done that before, watched a whole season of a show all at once on DVD.  It was intense, but good.  Danny's parents have HBO so I told him to tape the first show of Season 3 for me which aired this past Sunday.  I really like Chloe Sevigny after watching her in the movie Gummo in my Motion Picture class in college.  She plays the part of pioneer hardcore Fundamentalist Mormon perfectly.

Danny and I ALSO saw Revolutionary Road in the theaters last Monday.  We have never seen an Oscar worthy movie together (hey, our first movie was Boat Trip!) so that was different for us. The story line was "heavy" as I like to say but the acting was really great.  And I secretly loved the fact that Leo and Kate Winslet were together again after all these years since Titanic.  Now only if Britney and Justin would get back together, ha ha.

Only in Cleveland......

6° today and next Saturday is supposed to be 54!?!?!  How is that even possible???????