It's Just Another Manic Monday...

The Weekend Highlights

Friday
I went to watch Fast and Furious. Ahhh-mazing. I kinda wish I were a 13 year old boy so I could have appreciated the greatness even more. I think there was a plot between the high speed chases, but I was too busy laughing with Tamsin to notice. The special effects were actually pretty cool, which was good considering the money they had to spend to get the original cast. I was also impressed with the skankiness of the ladies in the film. I would have loved to see that casting ad...."Wanted: Skanky Hos". As Tamsin put it, "It was almost on par with Snakes on a Plane bad...almost". If you want to wait till this comes out on netflix, so be it, but I highly recommend this movie.

Saturday
I convinced Fernando that we had to go to the Hispanic market in Adams Morgan. He had his doubts. While driving over the Potomac he cursed at the tourists in town for the cherry blossom festival, and when we hit Adams Morgan I think he was a bit upset that I didn't know exactly where we were headed, (I left the directions/ address at work) BUT none of it mattered when we found the market. The market is set up on the corner of Columbia, Champlain and Eucild. You would pass by it if you didn't know it was there, 7 or 8 white canopy tents set up in the tiniest of parks. We parked the car and made our way over. Now most of you know my Spanish is "Eh" at best. It was much better when I lived in Texas, but I don't have any reason to speak it in DC. Unfortunately I had to break out the rusty Spanish for this. There are no signs indicating what people have in their tents, instead you wander from tent to tent asking what they are serving that day, or you can try to catch glimpses of the food as the middle aged Hispanic women uncover their chaffing dishes to serve the hoards of people waiting. We settled on the first place. We ordered a plate "taquitos", (this dish is actuality called "flautas"). Flautas are deep fried rolled up tacos. They were good, but I wasn't wowed. I can make flautas at home, and often do. We hit the next booth and watched as two women had a crowd gathering. They were serving tacos. Fernando asked what was in their tacos.... Barbacoa. Jackpot. I quickly stood in line and ordered 2 tacos for myself, complete with greasy barbacoa served on not one, but TWO corn tortillas, piled high with diced onions, jalapenos, cilantro, and a lime wedge on the side. I ordered the salsa roja (red salsa) on mine, because I'm a wimp. Fernando, being the braver of the two of us, opted for the salsa verde (green salsa). I'm not sure how he did it, my mouth was burning at the end, though the burning didn't impede the eating. We sat on a park bench with our paper plates and cups of aqua de jamica and aqua de fresa. I'm still not sure what jamica is, but Fernando loves it, Fresa is strawberry water. I was in heaven. It was by far the best meal I've had in awhile. We were full by the time we came to the end of our tacos, which took a surprisingly short amount of time. We didn't sample any of the other food, but I can say with certainty, I will be going back.

The base of a statue in "Unity Park", where the market was. Fernando made me take a pic because it's a quote from a movie. He told me which one, I forget though.

Sunday

It was a pretty day and the wind from Saturday had died down. I decided to spend it in the park. I loaded up my LL Bean navy and cranberry monogrammed boat and tote (Thanks Annie and Frank!) with my pink Gamma Phi Beta blanket, a bottle of water, apple slices, cheese and crackers, and an unread copy of Something Borrowed (Chick lit/ beach reading). I choose the park on Pershing just half a mile from my house, found a spot and set up camp. I have to say I am amazed at how few children were there, not that I'm complaining. I spent a good 3 hours at the park (what it took me to read my book cover to cover) before heading home. While it wasn't a super exciting outing, there is something to be said for the simple things in life. God, I love spring.

TV/ Movies/ Books

The Tudors

I spent Friday night with the boyfriend watching the first three episodes of The Tudors. He had ordered it though netflix. I was intrigued as it was recently a category on Jeopardy. Also I remember studying up on my English royal family history in the 8th grade.

The show is ridiculously well done. The costumes are superb, and the actors are magnificent. I recommend this show highly... if you don't care about historical facts.

I was surprised to learn that Fernando didn't learn about English history in school. He wasn't at all familiar with the life of Henry VIII or his children. While I kept marveling at the great number of historical inaccuracies, he was more interested in the story line. I was incensed. After all, this is the life of Henry VIII! Was there really a need to add unnecessary drama? The man started a new church, had six wives, beheaded two of them, beheaded a close friend, had affairs... the list goes on and on. Do we really need to add more? Is that really necessary? I think he provided enough drama. Not to mention the number of people watching this show in all likelihood were not familiar with the exact life of Henry VIII. They might know a few tidbits, but would not likely find fault with all the historical inaccuracies. People will take this show as fact, that bothers me.

While Fernando didn't share my outrage over The Tudors, he did share with me that he was upset with the show Dead Like Me. Apparently this show is the tale of a grim reaper. He was angry that the show choose Halloween as the day souls are at unrest. He claims that Halloween is a made up day on our calendar, and our calendar is ridiculously unreliable (just ask the Mayans). While I agree with him about our calendar and Halloween, I couldn't believe he was upset at that, but not The Tudors.

Here is the question. Do he and I take our TV too seriously? Or maybe we should just chill, and realize it's only a TV show?

From the Foodie in Me

Wing Sauce

1/2 cup of Frank's Red Hot

1/3 cup butter
That's it, 2 Ingredients. Presto! Best Wing Sauce ever.

My Addiction To...

My Blackberry

I recently realized that I am having a lot of eye problems. I have an optometrist appointment in a few days because I am positive my eyesight has become worse over the last year. I also realized that the problem really escalated when I bought my blackberry last summer.

My work pays for my plan, so I have no intention of giving up my blackberry in the near (or distant) future, but perhaps when I am at home, and I want to chat, I should fire up the computer instead of opting for the blackberry. The tiny screen isn't doing my eyes any good.

I will say it's hard to imagine not having a blackberry, and not having the information super highway at my fingertips... plus this past weekend I learned how to cut and paste. Sweet!

Around Town

Sort-of-Jane Austen Reading Series: The Tragedie of Antonie

Monday, April 6, 2009 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: National Museum of Women in the Arts

Directed by Lee Mikeska Gardner. Join the National Museum of Women in the Arts and Washington Shakespeare Company for this new series of six staged readings highlighting plays and poetry by historic and contemporary women. Featuring the talents of area directors and actors, the series brings to life works from the Renaissance that were never staged and more recent works that illuminate the lives of Renaissance-era women in the arts. Come see what women playwrights and dramatists wrote and thought in the age of Shakespeare and discover how their contributions pave the way for women playwrights today. The series opens with Mary Sydney's The Tragedie of Antonie, which provides an atypical portrayal of Cleopatra: she is Marc Antonie's devoted love, not a seductress intent on his betrayal.

Event Admission: $10 in advance, At-door pay what you can
Tickets: 800-494-8497
Address: 1250 New York Avenue, NW
Metro: Metro Center (Orange, Blue and Red lines) 13th Street exit
Phone: 202-783-5000

Politics

Abortion

This is an issue that has always been a struggle for me. Growing up Catholic I was taught that abortion was bad and immoral. It was a black and white issue. Good versus bad. As a teenager I was a part of Dallas' Catholic Ministries to help those who were thinking about abortion choose another option.

When I went to college. I changed my mind. I saw all the things going on around me and I knew exactly how someone could have an abortion. How girls were often scared, and how a night of partying could ruin their lives. I knew several people who had abortions, and I couldn't judge them for it, or say that I wouldn't have at least considered it, had I been in their position.

Then I graduated from college. No longer a teenager, or even in my early twenties, I began to think about what I would do in that situation. Abortion just didn't seem like the answer I would turn to. I did a lot of praying about it. I decided that I am against abortion. When it comes down to it, I believe it's a life, a person inside of you. I've seen the trauma women go through when they have miscarriages, whether or not the pregnancy was planned. You don't feel that kind of loss and anguish over a blob of cells. If you did, you would break down at ever hair cut, or every time you clipped your nails. I can't get over the fact that it's a life inside of you. It's a life which has been trusted to you for safekeeping. There are so many families in this country that are searching for a child of their own. Families that have to be on waiting list for years, families that seek children overseas, where adoption processes are lengthy and costly, but the children are more available. I implore women to seek adoption as an alternative to abortion.

I welcome all constructive feedback and questions on this topic.