Archive for September 2012

« Older Entries

26 September 2012

I really love fried chicken

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random

I do, I really love friend chicken.

In fact, if I were to choke and die on a piece of fried chicken, I would be okay with that.

My life would have ended with something I really enjoy…in my mouth (TWSS.)

I’ve had some good fried chicken in Chicago but I have yet to have it in the South, which I imagine is like dying and going to heaven.

Speaking of which, the next time I’m in New Orleans, I plan to visit Willie Mae’s Scotch House, who is said to have some of the best fried chicken in America. Well, I love fried chicken and America, so bring it to me (even if going alone to that part of New Orleans isn’t totally safe.)

Recently, TC and I went to a Southern Side Yard party where we got to gorge on honey butter fried chicken, collard greens, corn bread, grits (the best I’ve had) and Miller High Life. Sitting under a cool Chicago night sky.

Here is a picture of our bounty (well the first serving of it) and our menu. Not too shabby.

A colleague told me that was enough food to feed three people. Um, incorrect.

And yes, there was real honey butter to go with that fried chicken. You’re supposed to slather it on the chicken to eat. But that butter is so fucking good, I would (and have) eaten it with just a spoon.

So, there is no real point to this post other than to try and express how much I love fried chicken.

Because I really, really do.

 

6 Comments

24 September 2012

I am bad at day drinking

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Random

I love to drink, but I am shockingly bad at day drinking.

That’s probably why I don’t do it, or if I do, I’m passed out shortly thereafter.

For example, when my brother came to visit, we went to the Hofbrauhaus and had a few large German beers. Follow that by some strong beer at Goose Island and some unintentionally free beers at Cubby Bear and I was wasted.

Like, ridiculously wasted and nearly passed out at another bar by 8pm.

Embarrassing. And that was with some food (although I could have eaten more).

Here is the real reason why I suck at day drinking: I cannot pace myself.

And I couldn’t really come up with the best way to describe why, until I watched Tommy Boy on TV and found this clip online. This exactly explains it (replace chicken wings with alcohol…mostly).

Sound dramatic? Maybe, but it’s also kind of true.

The only time I’ve successfully day drank was in Napa when I drank all day and then took a 2 hour nap at the pool while working on my tan.

Maybe the nap is the key?

Anyhow, now you know. Clearly, I need more practice to get my pacing correct.

 

2 Comments

19 September 2012

Dating a real man

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Relationships

Saturday night, a friend and I went to dinner and I started nicely asking for details about a guy she is seeing. I was not in a coherent state when she first mentioned him a few weeks ago so I wanted to sit and get the details because, I could tell something was different about this one.

And when she was done telling me the updates, I sat back in my chair and said one thing.

“You’re seeing a man.”

And she nodded, both of us looking at each other a little like, “holy shit.”

The conversation and my comment immediately made me think of an article Mindy Kaling (love) wrote for Glamour about dating men vs. boys. The full article is here, but the crux of it is below.

“Until I was 30, I dated only boys. I’ll tell you why: Men scared the sh*t out of me. Men know what they want. Men own alarm clocks. Men sleep on a mattress that isn’t on the floor. Men buy new shampoo instead of adding water to a nearly empty bottle of shampoo. Men make reservations. Men go in for a kiss without giving you some long preamble about how they’re thinking of kissing you. Men wear clothes that have never been worn by anyone else before.

OK, maybe men aren’t exactly like this…The point: Men know what they want, and that is scary. What I was used to was boys.”

As a woman, let me be clear: This is pretty dead on. I’ve dated boys and a man and it was that man’s security and sureness that scared me away.

In Chicago, I feel like there are a lack of men. In my experience, men here are married, dating, engaged or interested in you for a few weeks and then don’t respond to texts, because remember, we should just KNOW when you’re done with us.

But more than him being a man, my friend said that he likes her just as she is. Which made me immediately think of this.

Note: Bridget Jones Diary is applicable in almost every woman’s dating life.

As scary as it is to date a man who knows what he wants (e.g. you), it’s equally scary to realize, he likes you just as you are. After years of dating bad guys, who like you but would like you so much more if you JUST did this one thing, It’s refreshing to be the real version of you, but unnerving too.

So, no real point here, just saying, Mindy Kaling gets me, and my friends.

6 Comments

17 September 2012

Tea time!

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: Food, Random

This week, I leave for London.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OMG IT’S TIME!!!

There are so many things I’m excited about for this trip and I’m focusing on those and not my nerves.

So to kick off vacation right (once I arrive), I scheduled an Afternoon Tea session at Fortnum & Mason’s Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at the recommendation of my food guru, Robin.

And to prepare for my formal English tea service (because I’m not that fancy), I went with two friends to high tea at The Drake’s Palm Court in Chicago. It’s not London, but it gave me a chance to observe and prepare myself because, I don’t want to that girl at tea.

Okay, I don’t know that much about tea but it’s fancy and fun experience and I am really kind of digging it.

So here are some photos to show a lovely afternoon with good friends, conversation and snacks. Pinkies up!

 

Palm Court at The Drake Hotel – The harpist was on a break

Menu and fancy china. Obviously, tea is on the menu

Three tiers of joy. My favorite: second tier in the center. Roast beef w/horseradish. Divine

 

Three lovely ladies at tea – Instagram style

How was your weekend?

12 Comments

12 September 2012

Wifi and me, so happy together

By: Jessica B.
Tagged: apartment

Lately, things around my house have been under construction.

The city of Chicago is repaving my street, my building is getting a new sidewalk and my apartment needs to have some touch up repairs done.

And then, on top of this, my wifi went out at 3 am on Sunday morning (don’t ask why I was up and online then to know that).

Fortunately, I was able to coordinate with the cable company to fix it on the same day some work was getting done on my apartment and now….wifi and I are back together.

I missed you so much baby!!

So for the three days I was without wifi/internet and I got to experience life in the wilderness.

I’m being dramatic, sort of.

Not having internet was actually kind of nice. I did a lot more reading and was able to actually detach myself from my phone and computer. Two things I seem to be very involved connected to.

I have a bad balance between online and offline, especially since my work focuses so much in social media, but I like the break sometimes because it gives me a chance to refocus.

But seriously, I’m glad wifi and I have been reunited :)

How is everyone else doing??

 

4 Comments
« Older Entries