Friends

"In times of prosperity your friends know you. In times of adversity, you know your friends"

-Unknown

I've been trying to find the author of this quote for weeks without success. But, I've decided whoever said it first isn't the important part. Over the last year I have lived the words. I have the most amazing friends. I can say without reservation that my "unplanned sabbatical" was an absolute blessing. It hasn't always been easy, though and I never would have made it without such great friends. They were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to play with or a swift kick in the a$$.

I will never find the words to adequately express my gratitude so let me just say, sincerely and from the bottom of my heart....

Thank you!

Love Happens

I wanted to love it, I really, really did. I love Aaron Eckhart, "Thank You For Smoking" is one of my favorite movies. And, of course, I love Jennifer Aniston. (I think Eloise may be my new favorite name.) I liked both main characters and the supporting players were delightful. All the characters are fully-developed, quirky, fun and real. The story was interesting, slightly off-beat and no more predictable than any other movie, I've seen lately. So, why is it that several times during the movie I kept thinking "what is the point"?

I did enjoy it, I'd even recommend it, but I have to be honest, I was a little disappointed.

First There Were Two...

And now there are three.

Ever since I arrived in Houston, I have been tickled by the fact that there are two Starbucks at the intersection of West Gray and Shepherd. Even more amusing is that regulars are fiercely loyal to "their" Starbucks. Rarely do they venture to the "other" store; which may have something to do with the fact that both were spared during the great store closing of '08. I have to admit, I'm not that picky, I hit whichever one most closely matches my trajectory; of course, I'm not a regular, so I don't count.

Apparently, two Starbucks aren't enough, with the opening of the new Barnes & Noble there are now THREE Starbucks at the intersection of West Gray and Shepherd. Seriously, how much coffee can we drink (she asks as she's sipping a mocha Frappacino)? Some might say that the Cafe inside the bookstore doesn't count, but if it walks like a duck and it sounds like a duck.......

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I like Starbucks. I'm just fascinated by two successful stores so close together.

Seen This Week Around Town

Just a few random things spotted around town this week:

• Fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror..... of a Lexus; not judging, just curious
• The cutest little boy ever in the post office on West Gray. Little khaki shorts, little stripped polo shirt, fat little bare feet.....too much cuteness (why are there never any cute boy clothes when I'm buying baby boy presents?)
• A woman at Chik-Fil-A helping herself to enough free mints for her next three dinner parties
• Someone being polite in traffic. Big thanks to the guy who moved over when he noticed my blinker to allow me a right on red

Words

"My heart broke, but it beat."

The crucial difference between depression and grief, according to Kay Redfield Jamison and lifted from her new memoir, Nothing Was The Same; the story of her life with and without her late husband. (A review is featured in the October 2009 issue of O The Oprah Magazine.

I've always been amazed how words, in the hands of a master, can be hauntingly beautiful or unbelievably hilarious or desperately cruel. For some reason today, those six words have stayed with me all day. Six little words that capture so much emotion.

Oddly appropriate that, by pure coincidence, my 100th post is about words.

The Glorious Aroma of Waffle Cones

Something very strange is going on in my neighborhood. For the last few days I have been enveloped in the glorious aroma of waffle cones baking while walking down to the park. Since Petey arrived, we have walked down to the park at least twice a day. Starting this weekend as soon as I get within a few blocks of the park it starts; subtly at first, but stronger with every step....the scent of fresh waffle cones. I even took a witness with me last night to make sure I wasn't losing it. Yep, there is was, confirmed by a second person. Waffle Cone Smell. I can't figure out where it's coming from, there is nothing for blocks but houses. Surely, someone isn't making waffle cones all the time in the house....for days?

It's a mystery.

It's also wrecking havoc on my program to fit back in to at least one pair of jeans in my closet.

The Joys of Central Market on a Sunday

During my "unplanned sabbatical", I have carefully avoided Central Market on the weekends. If you can shop in the middle of the afternoon, you should shop in the middle of the afternoon, is my motto. {An aside here, the always impressive meat counter is fantastic on Friday afternoons.}

This morning, however, I found myself needing to go on Sunday. EEEKK. THE WORST day to go to Central Market. It's very crowded, full of food tourists and sample-seekers and generally incredibly aggravating. So, I decided to go early, as close to opening (8:00 a.m.), as I could muster and re-discovered something I'd forgotten. As long as you don't need to buy wine, (it's illegal in Texas to sell alcohol before noon on Sunday) Sunday morning is a great time to visit. The sample stations are just beginning to pop up and yes, there are more people than a typical weekday afternoon, but, most of these people are at least semi-serious foodies; a treasure-trove of ideas for an aspiring foodie, like me. I love to watch what people choose, especially produce I'm not familiar with or ambitious cuts of meat or any seafood. (Beyond already cooked shrimp, I'm pretty much afraid of everything in the seafood department.) Discreetly scoping out their carts will frequently send me backwards in the store to grab something new. Today was no exception, I walked in with a list of eight items and walked out with two bags full of stuff.

Yum!