An open letter to Chef Kent

Dear Mr. Rathburn

I guess I should start with a little history. Seven years ago I moved to Dallas. I knew exactly two people in town, and neither of them very well. One of them, a friend of a friend Dave, and I had one big thing in common, food. Seeing as I had just moved down here from the food wasteland known as Detroit, he offered to take me out for a very Dallas night. I told my boss about this, and she handed me a copy of D Magazine and told me to find something fun.

When Dave called to see where I wanted to go, I flipped through the magazine to the food section and jokingly said "lets do this alphabetically". He was up for it. The first restaurant listed was Abacus. He made a reservation and we came the next weekend.

That meal was one of the most amazing of my life. You have to understand. I spent five years of my life living off of coney island food and Labatts. My system was about to shut down. Abacus was a revelation. On a whim, I ordered the lobster shooters and the entire time I was eating them, I didn't speak a word. You have to understand. I'm a talker. The food was so good, it shut me up.

Anyway, over the next couple of years, Dave and I went to Abacus with friends, parents, coworkers etc. But Dallas being Dallas, the last couple of years, so many good places have opened up, that I haven't really frequented Abacus lately. I have been to Jaspers, but for some reason not Abacus.

This week, friends wanted to get together for drinks, and I saw your email about happenings at different Rathburn restaurants, and I saw that Abacus was having specials. One friend is on a significant budget, and I thought this would be a cheaper way to have a nice meal.

We met in the bar last night and ordered a couple of glasses of wine, which we knew were discounted, and a couple of sushi rolls. Unfortunately, I had read your site wrong. I had read it that the sushi was discounted along with the drinks from 5-7 and after 9. I swear that was how it looked when I saw the newsletter.

So, imagine my shock when we received the bill and the sushi was full price. The waitress explained I had read wrong. Sushi was only discounted after 9. I felt so awful. It was way too much for my friend to pay. Between her being in shock and me feeling awful, my third friend swiped up the bill and paid it.

Trully, I just felt awfull.

I just wanted to let you know that there are some of us non-english majors out there that might need some things spelled out more clearly for us. Unfortunately, the stimulus package almost gave a good friend a heart attack.

Thank you,
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UPDATE

Abacus just called. They had messed up in the newsletter. They had listed sushi was half price before seven. The waitress was supposed to honor this. They are giving us a full refund and paying for us to come back and have sushi and drinks on them.

YAY!!!!!!!!

My first sports injury

I just realized this morning. I have my first one. I never really did any sports before. Therefore, I've never had one. I was always artsy. You don't hear of too many art injuries. Especially if you were in choir.

Anyway, about a week ago, while I was running at the gym, my left calf just started hurting after 2.5 miles. I finished my three and just kind of walked it off. The next day it seemed to get a bit better. So, I decided it wasn't anything much. I went to my Wednesday night run and it was ok. I kept working out, and on my Saturday 5 miles, it started hurting near mile 3, but it wasn't awful. So, I kept on.

Tuesday morning, I was doing three around the neighborhood, and my calf started aching again after 2.5 miles. Then just at about 3 miles, it tweaked up. I don't know how else to put it. It just started really hurting. I had to stop.

I talked to a number of people, and they all agreed that I needed to stop running. I had probably strained something, and by ignoring it, I was just making it worse. I was told to take ibuprofin ever couple of hours for 3-4 days and to ice it at night.

I have been dilligent. I have a bottle of Advil by my side at all times, and at night, I have been laying on the couch with my leg atop a bag of frozen, shelled edemame.

I felt guilty this morning, so I woke up early and went over to the gym (in the horrid thunderstorm). I rode a bike for an hour. I just thought I needed to do some cardio. Unfortunately, someone took over the TV control and put on CNBC and their hour long Republican discussion on socialized medicine. I see both sides. So, when one completely biased uneducated side is presented, I get fired up. That did make me start to bike a bit faster.

Anyway, I'm supposed to run 6 on Saturday morning. My calf is still pretty tight. I'm going to keep it on a wait and see basis.

Lyrics

As I stated yesterday, my memory is not good, BUT for some reason I can remember song lyrics. I think its because they are just in the background of my life and seep into my brain. For example, this is currently going through my head:

"I like big butts, and I can not lie. You other brothers can deny. That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist and a round thing in your face, you get sprung."

Earlier this morning, I was putting on my makeup and singing:

"If you want my lovin. If you really dooo. Don't be afraid baby, just ask. You know I'm gonna give it to yoooouuu." (When I'm in my bathroom, I think I sing Aretha really well)

And there was an entire day when I could not get the Spandeau Ballet song catalog out of my head. All one of it ("I know this much is true").

I was at the gym the other week and just walking around between the weights, and I found myself seriously singing along to the following:

"I ain't as good as I once was, but I'm good once, as I ever was"

Toby Keith, SERIOUSLY, I'm singing Toby Keith. I think stuff just gets into my head and stays there forever.

Nicknames

I have an attrocious memory. In order to remember people's names, I have to create games. Many people receive a nickname. When I first joined bookclub, all those years ago, I met 6 girls at once. There was no way I would remember everyone. So, I made up internal nicknames. Mostly there were about hair color. Elizabeth was the redhead and Shandi had the streaks.

Now, as I seem to date an awful lot, the men have acquired nicknames. I know its awful, but it the only way I can keep them apart over time. Some are very simplistic. The Fireman was referred to as the Fireman because he was a Fireman. Some were kind of funny. Jumbo jet was referred to as that because he had more baggage then one (and I say that with love). There were also nicknames that were not entirely nicknames like Big Giant Red Flag and Loser. You can guess why they got those.

Funny enough, I actually talk to all those guys still, but I do use their proper names when talking to them. I don't think Loser would like to know his nickname.

I'm wondering what internal nicknames people have for me??

Google me

Have you ever done it? Its fascinating. Mine doesn't really produce a bunch of stuff. You see a book list I created on Amazon, some of my friends on Facebook, an article I helpe publish in college on African American women physicians, and my linked in resume.

Now, other people. Other people need to seriously Google themselves because there is stuff out there that should not be associated with them. Seriously, I google most of the guys I date.

Googling proved to be the end of one relationship for me. When the guy's search came up, there were the usual things. His resume, his work website etc. And then, there was this link that said "photographs". Of course I clicked. The next thing I know I am transported to a very weird place. Lets just say there was an overabundance of liquid latex, dog collars, gas masks, and girls.

Of course I was performing this search at work. I was hitting the back botton so hard and fast smoke was almost coming out of the screen.

The next time I talked to him, he said I seemed distant. Uh huh. Yeah.

Seriously people, google yourself and clean some stuff up. You don't need goth party pics of you out there. No one does.

The shopping triathalon

My sister is in town. What does that mean? Shopping. Seriously, she has the entire weekend planned out.

Shani moved to Little Rock about 4 years ago. Its actually a very sweet city. It's not what we are used to. She loves it except that the only place to shop is Dillards. I would be fine with that, but my sister is addicted to Neiman's. It's her Mecca. Coming to Dallas is her pilgrimage, and I'm her bag carrier.

We started yesterday with a warm up. I took a half day off of work and went and picked her up. First stop, Sam Moon. We went on Friday afternoon in order to not have to deal with the Saturday rush. Even on a Friday the place was pretty bad. Its just so overwhelming. I think her senses were on overload. She only bought a necklace. I, on the other hand, now have a great collection of chandelier earrings.

Then, we travelled up into Plano to Charming Charlies. It was the first time at that store for me. IT'S FABULOUS. It like an extremely organized Sam Moon with clothing. I wouldn't wear half the clothing, but it was nice to see. Everything was organized by color. Shani went hog wild here.

We ended up staying in Plano and raiding a couple of other stores near by. I came home with a slight hole in my budget. I'm just going to have to stay in and cook more next month.

Here is the deal, that was only Friday and we only really went to bargain stores. Today we head over to Northpark. I purposfully have set myself only one goal for the day. I just need to find a dress that goes with a gold pair of stilletos I bought a couple of months ago that I never wear. I took pictures to keep it in my mind. Of course the cats had to come and get in the photo shoot.

Pacesetter

I show up for my new running group last night with no expectations. My friend Chris is very big into the DRC, and he convinced me to give them a shot. Because I was a bit scared, I wore my fancy schmancy running watch. We will just refer to it as the Garmin. It pretty much does everything but feed you breakfast.

Anyway, the pacesetter for my group wasn't there that day. I found out later she had injured herself playing kickball. Oh the perils of reliving our youth. They looked at our group of 10 people and asked if anyone had a Garmin. I raise my hand. The next thing you know, I'm being asked to set the pace for our group.

Your thinking, that's easy. Yes, that is easy, but have you met me? I spent three miles stressed out. Every other second I was looking down at the watch to make sure we weren't too above or below the mark. And, this is where I point out, I wasn't sure at all where we were going. I almost tripped 3 times.

The girls in my group kept asking me how long I've been running and how many marathons I've done. I loved responding, "I've been running since January, and I've never actually gone more then 9 miles. I just got the watch because I'm into gadgets."

Next Wednesday I'm bringing the watch, but I'm going to pass it off to someone else if I have to. I prefer to gossip and laugh while I run.

Jacque

The other month, I was scanning through Dallasfood.org forums, and someone wrote a good review of Jacque Pepin's biography. Being who I am, I put it on my list at Amazon and purchased it within a week.

So, last week, I was packing for my trip to San Diego for work and looked at the book I was reading on my coffee table. "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" is so far proving to be a good read, but I really didn't want to be stuck on a plane for 3 hours there and back reading about the world's dependence on oil. While I agree, it just gets to be a bit old fast. I picked up Jacque and ran out the door.

Seriously, I should have known there would be recipes in there before the plane took off. I was stuck for three hours with no food and one cup of water reading how to make roast chicken and gnocchi parisianne. I was dying. I decided right then and there, I was going to cook.

My sister is coming to visit this weekend, and I told her I was going to cook. She was a bit shocked. Neidell women don't really cook. My mom prepared dinner for us when we grew up, but it wasn't really cooking. It was more like cafeteria style get the food out for the masses kind of thing. So, for me to say that I was actually going to cook is a big deal.

Its on for Friday night. I'm thinking roast chicken with potatoes and asparagus. I'm already salivating thinking about it.

The 15k

Back in January, I signed up for a beginners running class at Runon. It was a just for fun kind of thing. They made us write down goals. Mine were "to like running and to stop eating crappy food."

That first real class after the timed mile, I came to discover I had somehow placed into a real running class. They were not going to let us walk at all. I was shocked and upset, but I had signed up for this. It was my own fault. So, I went with it.

Six and a half months later, I somehow was able to run 9.3 miles around white rock lake, with the help of some good new friends, a couple of water stops, and a package of Gu. I was tired, smelled awful, and feeling like a million bucks. Seriously, I couldn't believe I did it.

Some things I discovered last Saturday:

1) You can really do anything for a mile. No matter what your body is saying. Its only a mile.

2) Friends point out the port-o-potties. True friends form a human wall around you when you can't make it to the port-o-potty.

3) Dallas does have hills.

4) Somehow, after almost crying at mile 6 because you are so beat, you are still able to sprint the last 3/10s of a mile to the end.

5) Orange burst Gu is edible.

6) The best way to celebrate a run is with champagne and a pedicure.

More things people should now about me

Again, I have been awful with the blog. I swear, its the running and the traveling for work. That's my excuse.

Anway, something that my good friends know is that I like challenges. I have admitted before that I'm kind of competitive. I know I'm actually a lot competitive, but lets leave it at kind of competitive to make me feel better. Part of that whole thing is the challenge I'm trying to win/figure out.

This applies to all things in my life: work, friends, men I date etc. Many of my friends would have two cents to comment on the men. Let me say, I have had my fair share of "challenges". That's what I'm calling them.

I took some weeks off from dating this summer. I was just tired. Most of the winter and spring, I was dating like a mad women. It was just hard to fit everything in, and I wasn't finding anything substantial. The past couple of weeks I've just been able to relax and look back over things, and I've come to discover that half of my dating life is dating "challenges". Or, my attempt to desperately not date someone who is and getting bored and upset.

So, I think I need to find a middle ground. No more weirdos who intrigue me. If I meet a guy and he says he is into fire spitting, I'm just going to walk away, even though I would love to see him do it. Also, no more sweet boys who I think are the people I'm supposed to date. They just get really into me, and I end up hurting their feelings, and then I feel awful.

I just need to meet someone average. Average sounds really good to me right now.

Kinda Competitive

I don't know if I have brought this up before, but I'm a bit competitive. Others disagree and say I'm extremely competitive, but I disagree. I'm not Lance Armstrong or anything.

I usually keep it hidden though and then it pops out at unexpected times and slightly shocks people. For example, in college, we used to play two person spades. I don't even remember exactly how to play it, but my suitemate Joanne and I used to be obsessed. It got to the point that when she would win a hand, I would start cussing like a sailor. I remember her looking at me one time like I had just grown horns. Not very classy of me. And, it is only spades.

Then I moved to Dallas (almost 7 years ago) and it was a friends birthday. We decide to throw her a surprise bowling birthday party. This is the first time any of these people have ever bowled with me. Boy, were they in for a surprise. I was a task master. When it was their turn to bowl, I would get upset if they weren't around and go searching for them. I did all this and yet I only scored a 70.

Yes I'm competitive but it doesn't mean that I'm actually good at the sport.

Anyway, I think Sunday, I just got competitive with myself over the running. Why? Its supposed to be fun and good for me. I'm letting it go. No point. I will just do what I do and have fun with it and stop when its not fun anymore.

Beating myself up

I've been so good about running, but it seems when I have business trips, vacations or a cold, I just drop it. I want to focus on getting my life done.

So, I didn't really run for two weeks. I know. Bad me, but I gotta have a life. This Sunday, was the 9 mile run. Our last long one. I was not looking forward to it. The longest I had run before this was 6. I think I completely stressed myself out, and I couldn't get to sleep Saturday night. I think I maybe got 3 hours.

The run this morning starts out ok. I'm doing fine, but by mile 4 I'm about to fall apart. Seriously. I get to mile 5 and just stop. I'm not going to make it back. The humidity was just way way way too much.

So, I have a 9 mile rac ein two weeks. I'm not sure I'm going to make it, but after thinking all day today, I'm going to do it. I'm gonna try. I'm so not looking forward to this.