Oh Joy!

Fun new blog: Off the Rack

For those of you who love to follow celebrity gossip & fashion, Off the Rack is a great dose of daily reading from the people behind People Magazine. It's a mix of shopping, celebrity news, and product reviews!

I Heart Melanie

Recently, I have become friends with a girl named Melanie. (You may remember Melanie from the Bloomingdale's adventure.) Melanie is the girlfriend of my fiancé's good friend, Carlos. I have never before in the past become friends with a girl through her connection to my boyfriend, so this was an unexpected surprise. Melanie and I share a love of Southeast Asian food & an innate state of craziness that the guys just don't understand. She is Chinese, but lived in Vietnam for a while so she really loves Thai and Vietnamese food as well.

Last night, my dad brought me a very special authentic Thai dish (pronouced Si Keuw Si Moo), which you can never get at a restaurant because it is not very easy to make. They are small dumplings filled with pork, ground peanuts, and a variety of spices...they are sweet and salty all in one little piece of heaven. But they are definitely one of those acquired dishes, that most people would not be accustomed to. I had Bob try some with the preface that he may think it's a little weird, but to try it anyway. While eating his (standard) Phad Thai, he tried the new dish and did think it was weird. I shrugged my shoulders feeling like no one will ever understand me.

So, I bring some over to Melanie's apartment. As I am explaining what it is and opening the container to reveal the food inside, she says.."Oh, I've had those before!" "Really?" I reply. I tell her to try one and if she doesn't like it, I will take it home and it eat myself. She takes a bite....her eyes light up and she exclaims, "I LOVE this! I love the combo of sweet & salty...Joy, it's sooo good." I happily gave her the rest of the container to enjoy.

I left her apartment with a sense of piece and satisfaction knowing that not all is lost and there is someone out their who can appreciate the untraditional food that I grew to love. I come home and tell Bob, "See...this is why I like Melanie. She really understands me."

Jubi is my HERO!

Today, my dear friend Jubi ran her 1st half marathon. I watched from the window of my apartment as everyone began. Then I greeted Jubi at the finish line...13.1 miles later. If you're ever feeling like crap, just watch the end of a long race (in person). It's amazing how inspired you become simply by watching people cross the finish line.

Jubi is my hero!