I wish I had a good "DPS escorted me back to the dorm because I was naked and running around a sculpture" story.

I like to enjoy the Huffington Post with my morning coffee.  I typically read the major political and world headlines first, move on to the "Books" section (found under "Entertainment"), and then scan the other subcategories for random articles that seem interesting. This one by Hemal Jhaveri, published on March 27, really stuck with me: 35 Things I Wish I Had Done Before Turning 35.

I decided to do the same thing in this post: 32 things I wish I had done before turning 32. I thought it important to not venture into the world of "regret," however.  Things like "I should have taped oral histories with my Dad," or "I should have finished the dissertation," will be stuff I will always question. To the contrary, the things I chose to include here are more whimsical in nature, things that would have been fun or interesting in the moment, but that I won't necessarily dwell on, or even really think about, down the road. In short, this is just a "boy, that would've made for a good story" list.

1. Shaved my head. I've just always wondered what I would look like.
2. Gone skydiving. I still plan to do this at some point.
3. Changed my own tire.
4. Let Adrienne sing the national anthem at my last home basketball game my Senior year.
5. Run the flame at Centre.
6. Taken guitar lessons.
7. Studied abroad a full semester while in college.
8. Kissed the boy on the bus ride home from Kentucky Kingdom.
9. Eaten more donuts.
10. Lived in Vermont...and worked for a baker.
11. Competed in a barrel racing competition.
12. Read more for enjoyment between the ages of 15 and 30.
13. Done a two-year Peace Corps stint.
14. Pursued the vet tech position at Heartland.
15. Reapplied to Emory.
16. Stayed in a hostel.  Most interesting people I know have a good hostel story.
17. Hitchhiked. For the same reason just mentioned.
18. Led/organized a flash mob.
19. Got into a fight.  I stole this from Jhaveri, but it really is a secret wish; in my head, I'd be scrappy and quite impressive.
20. Danced with the boy at the Centre convocation who walked up and asked even though my parents were sitting beside me.
21. Gone to see the Ellen show.
22. Traveled to Portland, Oregon, the Grand Canyon, and northern Maine.
23. Completed a triathlon.
24. Taken a hip hop dance class.
25. Paid more for a few pairs of really good-fitting jeans.
26. Tried oysters. And fried Twinkies (and any other State Fair equivalent).
27. Sent someone a singing telegram.
28. Taken more pictures....of everything.
29. Written more notes in class.  I love going back and reading ones I kept from middle/high school.
30. Been called up on stage to karaoke in a "students v. teachers" singing competition...especially if the selected song was Lil' Mama's, "Girlfriend."
31. Traveled to at least one restaurant in every state that has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
32. Kept the J. Crew dress that will always remind me of Ferris wheels, and the Cheesecake Factory, and Che Guevara.

What would some of yours be?

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Recipe of the Week...
Polenta, via The Backyard Homestead (has the consistency of, and is cooked like, grits, but I think it is much more versatile; can be topped with a whole host of flavors)

This makes about 3-4 servings:

Combine 1/2 c. water and 1/2 c. cornmeal in a small bowl. In saucepan, bring 2 1/2 c. water to a boil, then pour moistened cornmeal and 1/2 tsp. salt in, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook on low heat until thickened (only took 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Add 1 tbsp. butter, 1/4 c. Parmesan, 1/2 tsp. oregano, and pepper to taste.

 

Because I wanted mine to have a crust-like top, I then moved the mixture to a casserole dish, topped with a cheddar/jack blend and put in the oven for about 20 minutes.

 

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Project of the Week...
Bunny tail Easter cake via...a million pictures on Pinterest (seriously, just type in "bunny bottom cake like I did):)

Isabella's Easter "basket": pistachio bunny cake, eggs filled with IOUs like "One tea party and nail painting" or "Pottery lesson at Aunt Sherry's," and the stuffed bunnies featured in the last post.

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Restaurant of the Week...
Adelia's Bakery & Cafe in Frankfort

"This hometown favorite is owned and operated by the Sims family who has been serving Frankfort for 30 years. They invite you to come and enjoy their sandwiches, salads, and soups for lunch.

The café menu includes made-to-order grilled paninis and classic deli-style sandwiches served with your choice of homemade side salads such as potato, broccoli, and pasta. Café combos are another great way to try the variety of garden-fresh salads, chicken and tuna salads, and hot soups that are offered daily. Top off each meal with one of the bakery’s yummy desserts which include homemade pies and banana pudding."

Tough call, but I believe I'll take numerous trips to Paris over poisonous berries.

"Road trip: those are still the two most inspiring words to vagabonds and couch potatoes alike; after all, the great American spirit was forged by road trippers from the Pilgrims to Lewis and Clark to the Dharma Bums. Le Road Trip combines the appeal of the iconic American quest with France's irresistible allure, offering readers a totally new perspective of life on the road. Le Road Trip tells the story of one idyllic French honeymoon trip, but it is also a witty handbook of tips and advice on how to thrive as a traveler, a captivating visual record with hundreds of watercolor illustrations, and a chronicle depicting the incomparable charms of being footloose in France. Armchair travelers, die-hard vagabonds, art journalists, and red wine drinkers will all find something to savor in this story." - Review, goodreads.com

Road trip, vagabond, great American spirit, irresistible allure, iconic quest, witty handbook, captivating visual record, incomparable charms, red wine drinkers...One of my greatest hopes is to write a book one day both inspired by and reflective of this most perfect of combinations.  If a product of numerous trips to Paris or Prague rather than an Into the Wild journey, all the better.
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If you've read this blog much at all, you are well aware of my obsession with all things Vivian Swift. I love her wit, her confidence tinged with self-deprecating hilarity, her slightly Bob Ross-esque illustrations (by the way, I saw in a magazine yesterday that there is actually a BR teacher certification program), her ability to tell a story, her willingness to say things others might deem irreverent and blasphemous, but that remain unequivocally funny (but not mean-spirited), and her appreciation of the little things that make her happy. 

Despite this adoration, however, her most recent book, Le Road Trip, has cozily rested on my bookshelf for months, the hidden nook it has occupied since April.  I had pre-ordered it.  I was so excited when I picked it up at the post office. I have read reviews and her blog religiously since early spring.  Why the wait then to even crack the cover? 

I don't really know the answer to this, but I assume it has something to do with me considering it the "perfect last bite," the literary "Christmas morning," the "saved-for/long-awaited/much-needed vacation departure" (the one in which I would be wearing something totally hip like the stuff I pin on Pinterest, but don't actually own).  Sometimes the anticipation is where inspiration is found.  Sometimes it is hard to start something we don't want to inevitably end.  Sometimes the quest is the irresistible allure. 

And sometimes we just sit down, forget about the sadness we may feel when it's over, and relish the incomparable charm of the actual experience.
***
Probably my favorite passage thus far...

"Question:
What is the official color of Paris?
A. Gray Without Melancholy, as in the sky on a typical overcast day in the Ile-de-France.
B. The honey color of the morning sun warming up the Oise limestone exterior of the Louvre.
C. The quicksilver surface of the Seine in the wake of a Bateau-Mouche.
D. Mansard Blue, the color of Paris rooftops with the sound of an Edith Piaf record playing in the background.

Answer:
All of the above"  (27)
***
"Gray without melancholy"....oh, that's good. 

Take some time this weekend to think about how you would describe your own town or your favorite vacation spot. 

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The Catbird Seat in Nashville is not a French restaurant.  However, when I imagine French cuisine, I think of beautiful presentations, small decadent bites, and a fundamental ethos that eating is not just about consumption, but an appreciation of the food culture.  If you find yourself with a particularly fat wallet one week, I encourage you to try this somewhat hidden Nashville gem.  I have to admit, it is a pretty amazing experience.

A wise man once said I had impeccable taste in films; little did he know, that skill extends to bird figurines as well

It seems I talk about Main Street 210, Burkesville's own gem of a consignment store, in every other post, but my newest finds warrant yet another mention. If you haven't stopped in yet, make a point to swing by today (Houchens shopping center). I'm confident you will find, as I do, that Robin and Freda simply have the best taste, in terms of style - eclectic, yet classy - and in regards to whom they select as occasional staff members (even if Leigh Ann does arrive a couple of minutes late and has customers waiting on her).
I love it when families have chalkboards in their homes. I love to see nightly or weekly menus written on them. I love to see sweet or funny messages family members leave for one another. I love it when people jot down quotes or random thoughts that inspire them or at least brighten their day. I may not have a family, but I do now have a chalkboard. *Notice the persuasive advertising. Liza: reads. Liza buys it.
I have no idea where I'm going to put my birds (you know how I feel about trinkets and things that just "sit around"), but they made me too happy to not take them home (that's pretty much my buying philosophy on anything).
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As much as I enjoy consignment knick knack shopping, I really have to be in a particular mood to go clothes shopping. And, even when in that particular mood, I rarely enjoy it. I am convinced that my body is just weird: my arms are freakishly long, my legs and waist apparently disproportionately arranged, and my mind too spastic, incessantly filled with thoughts of other things I should be doing instead of trying on clothes that look dumb anyway. With that in mind, it seems logical that I don't peruse fashion magazines very often or really even notice ads when looking through my wide range of subscribed choices - The New Yorker, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, National Geographic, and Food & Wine.

Nonetheless, I saw this the other day and for some unknown reason, really wanted to go buy it.

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And, in keeping with the "good taste" theme (Yes, I am choosing to assume that you find the bird/chalkboard/dress medley in good taste), I have a restaurant recommendation for you. WHEN MOM AND I WENT TO SEE MICHAEL BOLTON in concert a few Sundays ago (yeah, that's right we did; and he was AWESOME), we ate at Varanese on Frankfort Avenue. I picked it based on really great reviews and simply from getting a "good feel from it" when looking at the website.

First of all, Frankfort Avenue is just a really neat part of Louisville, like Bardstown Road in terms of locally-owned, eclectic shops and restaurants, but a little more like a small town neighborhood in feel. Secondly, the ambiance in Varanese is a careful balance of sophistication and hospitality; you will feel like you've gone out for a nice dinner, without feeling the weight of pretentious stares. There is plenty of room in-between tables, the decor is classy, but comfortable, and the white tablecloths, fresh flowers, and tiled water fall along the back wall seem homey, rather than stuffy. Thirdly, we found the staff to be both incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The chef even came out toward the end of our dinner to tell me what was in the apricot chutney:). Finally, it was very reasonably priced; Mom and I had an appetizer (pork belly with pancetta), a bottle of wine, two entrees (she, the prime rib, me, a Mediterranean-inspired pork chop), dessert (bourbon bread pudding) for roughly $80.

To top it off, Varanese is actually located in a converted gas station. Pretty cool, huh?