Les bons temps..

There is a new(ish) restaurant in The Classic City that I absolutely love, Love, LOVE! When Harry Bisset's closed I cried actual real tears for the london broil, she-crab soup, and etoufee that I would never eat again. In fact, I had almost decided to go ahead and move the The Crescent City because where the heck else was I going to find food that good? Enter NONA. I was a little skeptical of the new Nawlins joint taking up where the old Nawlins joint left off, but doubts were soon cast away. It. is. so. good.

Col. Brandon took me for dinner a few weeks ago and ordering went like this:

Me: Do you recommend the scallops or the eggplant pirogue (half an eggplant deep-fried and stuffed with crabmeat, shrimp, and crawfish etoufee)?

Waitress: That depends on how hungry you are. I've never seen anyone finish the pirogue.

Me: Challenge accepted.

Not only did I eat the whole thing, but I took the last piece of bread and sopped up the last remnants of etoufee from my plate. It was so good that I decided to take B- there a few days later. I had the half an oyster po-boy and a cup of sherry crab soup that made me want to march down the street with my trumpet and throw some beads at passersby.

With two good meals under my belt, I decided today would be a good day to try the brunch. Brunch is my favorite meal and I really can't judge whether a restaurant will make my list of favorites until I've tried theirs. My confidence in this place was so high, in fact, that I decided to try something I've never tried before. Poached eggs. Eggs are disgusting and I only eat them if they are covered in cheese or if I'm a guest and the hostess serves them to me...obvi. To be specific, I had poached eggs over steak tips and grilled onions with bernaise sauce. A bold move for me. Given my hatred of eggs, what I'm about to say is high praise: I cleaned my plate and didn't hate it. I will probably never order poached eggs again, but I didn't hate it. Everything else was fantastic and I can't wait to go back and try the banana's foster which, I assume, was on the menu instead of French Toast. Overall, a lovely morning with my friend, C-.

After brunch I went home and passed out making every effort to keep my eggs down. You see, I forgot that I ate 2 (yes, I know we're only supposed to eat 1, but they were still warm) Krispy Kreme donuts before Sunday School. I think God was punishing me for skipping church and being a plate-cleaning, donut hogging glutton. Oops.

Fondest regards,
The Lady

This doesn't feel like global warming to me...

It's pandellerium down here, y'all. Southahn people do not handle the snow well, but normally it snows overnight, disappears by mid-afternoon, and we all go on with our lives. Not this time. This time the clouds covered up the sun, dropped a butt-ton (Emily would not approve, but I can't think of a better description) of snow on the ground, then sent us some rain to freeze on top of the snow, and theeeen kept the sun covered for 3 more days so that it WOULD. NOT. GO. AWAY! Seriously. Trapped. In a frozen, icy wasteland. For 3 days.  I finally ventured out yesterday because I couldn't stand it anymore, but I nearly wiped out on frozen road a couple of times so that was the end of that. Slowly but surely it's getting better. I was starting to miss The Little Lady (and sunlight) and I think The Little Lady's parents were starting to miss me, so Little Lady's Big Daddy picked me up in his truck this morning to spend the day with her. After doing nothing but sitting on the couch and reading for 3 days, it was really nice to get a change of scenery. She had a friend over, so I got to sit on her couch and read today. Really, it hasn't been that bad for me. I mean, my life goal is to not ever have to work, so I'm pretty good at the read, watch tv, nap, repeat routine. Leisah, however, does not come quite so naturally to The Little Lady. Including the weekend, she has been out of school for 6 days and she's starting to go a bit stir crazy. She's got snow day #5 tomorrow and a holiday Monday, so I'm trying to come up with some creative snowpocalypse activities. The cookies have been baked and the movies watched, so what else is there? Glad you asked. Here are some of the ideas I've come up with:

1. Hair dryer driveway de-icing races. You'll need at least 2 kids, a hair dryer, driveway, and extension cord per kid. Let the kids race to see who can de-ice their driveway the fastest. Make sure to plug the dryers into different circuits so you don't blow a fuse.

2. Walk around town and look for cars stuck in ditches. Strap the kid into a harness equipped with a sturdy rope and let him or her use all that pent up energy to tow the cars out. It wears the kid out and helps the neighbors at the same time.

3. Play "olden days." Tell the kid that in the "olden days" you had to walk to school in the snow with no shoes uphill both ways. If you're feeling generous, you can let them wear shoes. Have them race to school and back going up as many hills as possible both ways. Points for longest distance and most hills. It's important to remember that it's not necessarily about who's the fastest. This will also get them to school if only for a couple of minutes.

4. A number of schools have teachers reporting tomorrow. Suggest that the kids go and help them clean up the classrooms. This will get the kids off your hands and help the teacher at the same time. Really. I'm sure they've missed him or her.

5. "Cinderella." It's a classic way to get the kid to do housework and feel like a princess at the same time.

Feel free to use any of these ideas. Hopefully it will help the kids get some energy out and benefit you in some way as well. Otherwise, stay warm and sane and remember to thank your lucky stars you live below the Mason-Dixon Line. Yankees keep talking about how silly we are for panicking about a little bit of snow and saying things like. "It's less than a foot." HELLO! If this is what "a little bit of snow" looks like, then I will stay down here thank you very much. This is more than enough for me.

Fondest regards and stay warm,
The Lady

There may be something there that wasn't there before...

Things between me and football didn't end well this time around. I don't really want to talk about it. Suffice it to say that I have spent too much time and too many tears on a team that I just don't feel loved me back. I deserve better.

I know that I have suggested that basketball is little more than a way to kill time between football and baseball, but we've been spending more time together lately and...well...I kinda like it. I know I shouldn't rush into this as, let's face it, basketball has not always been reliable in the past, but I think it might be different this time. We had a really great time together last Saturday. Maybe our best time ever. The team not only kept me interested for the entire game, but they delivered a victory against #11 Kentucky!!! Things are looking really promising for the Dawgs. I know, I know...it's a long season and I should go slow. Relax, it's not like I'm shopping for championship rings or a dress to wear to the final four. It is nice, though, to know that I have a team that I don't have to make excuses for. In fact, I'm proud to tell my family and friends about our relationship. I like basketball and I don't care who knows it!

No worries, baseball, I still love you, too. Basketball's cool with that kind of thing.

Fondest regards,
The Lady

Walking in Memphis...

I just got back from Memphis with Colonel Brandon and D-. While our reason for going did not turn out as we planned (really, y'all, I don't want to talk about it), there were a lot of positives on which I will focus.

1. Memphians know how to do bahbeque. Y'all know I'm pretty particular about my Q and I was not disappointed. The sauce was dangood too.

2. Beale Street is a really fun place.

3. Elvis really was the king, y'all...of Christmas lights! We drove past Graceland at night and it was better than any tacky light display I've seen.

4. It's not Mississippi, Arkansas, or Alabama...or East Tennessee.

5. I got to ring in the New Year with some of my favorite people in the world. Last New Year's Eve wasn't so hot. I miss Michael and wish he could still be with us, but I know that he is exactly where he wants to be and we will get to party with him again soon enough.

I hope you all have a wonderful, leisahly New Year!

Fondest regards,
The Lady

Outgifted...

I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas! I spent mine in Columbia, South Carolahna with the parents, siblings, my cousin, and quite a few dogs. It was a ton of fun and it's always a treat to have The Lady's Mother cook for a few days. Yum!!! I even enjoyed the soysage. Seriously. Plus, I scored tons of sweet gifts like a camera, a sweater, mom found these really neat pictures of The Daynes Building (yeah, there's a building), some CDs, jewelry, and...AN OYSTER SHUCKER!!!

Unfortunately, due to the first white Christmas The Classic City has seen in over 120 years, I had to scoot a bit early to beat the snow home. Y'all know Southahn Ladies do not drive in snow. The deal was sweetened a bit, however, since CB had actually left his parents on Christmas Eve (naughty son!), so we got to exchange presents. I put together a stocking full of random things he likes in addition to his big gift which was a Scott Parker replica Westham United FC jersey. What the heck is that? It's not important. Suffice it to say that it's really cool and thoughtful because I'm the best girlfriend ever...at least that's what I thought. When I got to his house, I was presented with this:

An instruction book on how to open my gift. First was a pair of sparkly red shoes. And no, they were not in my size. He did, however, subject himself to receiving the American Girl catalogue until the end of time in order to get them.

Next up was a "straw"basket filled with chocolate. 

Then it got a little weird. The next gift was a splatter guard. I think he and my mom were in cahoots to see who could get me the most random kitchen item. Mom won. The hint that I didn't get: This is supposed to be made of "tin."

Next up was a pair of hand knit Gryffindor socks!!! We could've stopped here and I'd have been a happy camper. I love knit socks. Cousisns, if you read this and you don't wear the knit socks Grandma sends...I WILL!!! P.S. The symbol for Gryffindor is a lion...

If' you've guessed it by now, you're a lot smarter than I (calm down, it's not that big of an accomplishment). I didn't really try to guess, though. I turned the page and found...

Two tickets to see WICKED!!! He told me I could take whomever I like, so favors and bribes will be accepted until March 1; however, I must warn you that CB is the front-runner at the moment despite the fact that he totally and completely outgifted me.

Overall, it was a pretty amazing Christmas...and not just because of the loot. It's so nice to be able to take a break and see family, spend some time celebrating with friends, eat Candy Cane Joe Joe's, and most of all, to remember the birth of Christ which is the best gift of all and why we celebrate in the first place!

Fondest regards,

The Thankful Lady

P.S. Thank you cards are in the mail. Obvi.

When you just don't know what to say...

Only two days left to Christmas, dear friends, and I thought it might be time to remind you that a Lady of Leisure never balks at the hand crocheted vest from grandma or the set of cat mugs from her aunt that you could swear you saw at last year's family gift swap. No, she is able to graciously accept all gifts good or bad. Here are some pointers:

1. You know the gifts that are likely to be less than stellar. Be prepared.

2. Keep a smile on your face NO MATTER WHAT!

3. Avoid umm...eggnog when opening gifts. It makes you a little more prone to honesty.

4. Try to remember how much thought, time, energy went into making, preparing, purchasing your gift. It really is the thought that counts.

5. When all else fails, go in for a long hug. This will make it more difficult to see your face and the giver will just assume you were too touched for words.

Here's a little more help from a couple of people funnier than I:

I hope you all get just what you want this year!

Fondest regards,

The Lady

The Lady and the Little Lady

The Kid is out of school for the holidays which means we get to think of creative ways to entertain ourselves from 9-5. I had a lock-in Sunday night, so Monday I was pretty much out of commission. Thankfully, her school had a "Parents' (or sitters'!!!) morning out"deal, so I was able to get 3 hours of sleep before hanging out with her. For the afternoon it was kind of an "I'm here, but I'm not really here" situation. I got a lot of, "Miss Daaaaynes, why are you so tired?" I managed to stay "awake" for the afternoon, but I felt like I needed to make up for it today with a super fun activity...

ICE SKATING!!! We headed into Atlanta to skate at Centennial Park. We listened to the Mary Poppins soundtrack on the way in and she asked if we were in Atlanta yet between every song. Once we got to the rink though, the complaints were silenced. For a kid who'd never put on skates before, she was a champ! She fell a few times, but she'd get back up, dust herself off, and skate on. After that was a trip to The Varsity where we stuffed ourselves (in the most lady-like fashion, of course) with a chili dog and a half each plus onion rings, and then home, but not before some hot chocolate...

Notice that pinky? Also, she talked for most of the trip about how much she wanted to live in Atlanta because they have a skating rink and The Fox Theater. I think we may have a future LoL on our hands. It was a pretty great day overall, but I think we wore each other out. I saw her and her aunt leaving the basketball game (which the Dawgs dominated!) at the half because she needed to go to bed. Me too. Chuck-E-Cheese tomorrow and then we'll have Christmas presents to play with!!! Apparently she asked Santa for a dragon and a fairy, so those should keep us pretty busy for the rest of the break. Anyone know if dragons can be housebroken?

Fondest regards,

The Lady

P.S. I asked CB if I could give him my present tomorrow (the lady-like way to ask if I'm getting a present tomorrow) because it's our last chance to hang out before Christmas. I got a maybe. And not a teasing sort of maybe, an actual maybe. Apparently part of my gift is still at the post office! I offered to go pick it up for him, but I took his laughter as a "no, thank you." I suppose it'll be something to look forward to after Christmas. He told me he wouldn't open his gift until he had mine, but I may force it upon him anyway. I'm pretty excited about it.