Dinner @ The Black Sheep tonight with one out-of-town and other in-town friends. I had never been. I liked the place -- the "Ara Burger" (I think that's what they called it) -- lentil based -- good, except I didn't like the horseradishy/pickly stuff they put on it. The hard cider was good.

Oddly enough, in the bathroom, there was this little mirror at waist-level. So, I got a good view, of well, me, lol! I decided that the mirror may have been there so that women could check out their makeup whilst sitting...otherwise, I got no idea...

Funny...while we were eating, a cute guy came in, and our eyes locked -- for a good, long while, right? -- pleasant enough when that happens, but one of the friends sitting next to me at the table asked if I wanted her to just get up, so the guy could sit down with me -- evidently, she thought he was cute too, but had noticed that he was staring at me, and me at him, lol!

There was a male-female couple who also came in while we were there. I watched them for a long while. She was considerably older than he. I found myself wondering if it was mother-son or May-December.

Ride Today

I went on a bike ride with the local bike association today. It was just shy of 36 miles, which is the longest ride I have done. It was in the East End -- mostly flat, although there were some hills in the last part of the ride, and it was windy.

I rode the "B pace" ride, which at first was PERFECT for me -- exactly the speed I wanted to ride. B rides are supposed to be 14 - 16 mph, although I think that we were going faster than that at first.

After 20 miles, we stopped at a store for bathroom break, water, etc. Then, we got back on the ride -- and someone quickened the pace! Lawd, I think they were going the B+ pace -- which was totally not what I wanted at that point in the ride! At one point, we were going up hill and I looked at my speedometer -- just to keep up, I was going 18 mph -- which is fast for me going up hill! Down the other side of the hill, I hit 25 mph -- again, I was just keeping up!

So, another guy and I paired up and finished the race together, leaving the "A-wannabees" to fly away by their damned selves, lol!

Christmas Lights

I got the lights on the hedges yesterday. I tried a new color this year -- purple. But when I lit them, they sort of looked fuchsia. I was afraid that it would look a bit "ghetto," but I think the fuchsia, white and blue do pretty well together!

Garnett's Again

A couple friends and I went to Garnett's again for dinner last night. This time, instead of the "WBLT" (white bean lettuce and tomato), I had a grilled cheese with hot mustard and red onions on rye. It was pretty tasty!

Afterwards, we watched a movie. It was a totally forgettable movie -- I don't even remember the name. It had Ben Affleck in it, but um, I was bored and was texting C during the movie to see if we were still going on our date today...which we did not. He asked to postpone it until later this week, since he is just getting over a bad head cold that he's had for like 10 days now!

New Theme

As you can see, I've changed the theme here at Chez Dragonfly...I was tired of the blue. It's a bit of work to change the theme, because I always overwrite some of the CSS, so that it suits me. And I have to figure out what the class and ID names are in the new theme in order to overwrite. I've been in an orange, red and gray mood for a while, so I think this theme will be around for a few months at least!

Hail

So, I was waiting around for a bike ride today to see if it would warm up any...and it started getting colder...and then the hail storm made my decision about whether I was going biking!

Carrots

I had totally forgotten sowing some carrot seeds earlier this year. I remembered today, and so I got my harvest (after the hail stopped, lol!) --

Friends' Get-Togethers

Tonight, Deege and I went to two different parties -- the first by a male couple in my neighborhood -- they've been in their house for 22 years! The other guests were mostly from my neighborhood as well, so it was nice to meet other gay men in the area! And their house is of about the same time period as mine, so the furnishings & colors were to my taste.

We were probably only there an hour and 1/2 or so before we left to go to the party in the Fan. Enjoyed the second one very much too -- different crowd, but very enjoyable. I'm totally going to be dry tomorrow when I wake up. I have to be sure to drink a lot of water before hitting the sack tonight.

Trojans, Viruses

On a different note -- I was in Facebook tonight, and without clicking anything, the browser URL was suddenly transferred to a different site.

The new site promptly told me how many trojans and viruses were on my system. (I can guarantee you that I have ZERO of those on the Mac...) I was rolling my eyes...

Funny thing was that the site was using a bunch of Windows terminology to warn me -- showing me "My Documents" for example, when there is no such thing on the Mac...or popping up a fake dialog box about Windows alerts...Helllooo -- I'm on a Mac here -- no Windows!







I hate sites like that!

Had a good time last night.

I did a quick run to the wine store to pick up a couple of bottles of a favorite Nebbiolo to take with me to a couple of "day after Thanksgiving" parties that I've been invited to (no, alas, the cutie that works at the wine store was not working last night).

Deege and I went to Garnett's on Park for dinner. Not a bad place. I went there once when it was Table 7, but I like the food better now. It's owned by the same folks as Ipanema, although this place is not strictly vegetarian. As a matter of fact, there were only a few options for veggie folks, but what I had was good - a "WBLT" -- a white bean lettuce and tomato. The white bean and garlic spread they used on it was very tasty.

Then, we went to hear Pennyshaker at Bogart's. The lead singer had a good voice, and the musicians did a great job as well. They were giving away one of their CDs, so I picked one up. Ripped it to iTunes this morning, so I can give the original CD to Deege later.

Right now, I'm doing some laundry while I wait for it to warm up enough for a bike ride.

Deege and I went to Enoteca Sogno for dinner last night -- wine bar with good Italian food.

I liked it. I'll go back. One blogger suggested that it was overlooked and that is is an alternative to the crowded Edo's Squid and to Mama Zu's. I'd probably agree with that, except that I really liked the eggplant at Edo's.

It's on Broad across from Pleasant's, so you almost have to know it's there -- it's not something that you notice much as you drive by. I think the interior could be improved on -- I am not a huge fan of a big exposed brick wall. Deege mentioned that it looked like a store.

Having said that, the food was good, as was the service (waiter was a cute, pleasant guy that I recognized from his other job). I had no idea how to pick from their list of wines, so I got the waiter to help.

It was a cold, rainy Wednesday night (Thanks, Ida!). There was another 4 top in there when we arrived. By the time we left, a second 4 top arrived, and there were a few folks sitting at the bar. Not a lot of people, but the weather was nasty, and it was a Wednesday.

I had the gnocchi in marinara sauce and some butternut squash soup. I can't remember what Deege had -- something with meat sprinkled on it...totally of no interest to me.

We chose a Montepulciano wine because I had never had that grape, and because Deege said he didn't like heavy reds (blasphemy!). This was sort of tannic -- but perfectly good to me (it's hard not to please me in that respect).

We split a cannoli -- I don't remember having had a cannoli before, and I decided that a pastry with sweet cheese piped into is not my fave. I prefer fruit -- like pies and cobblers. So, I'll have to see what else they have for dessert next time.

As an aside, I mentioned the Mascarpone cheese and bagel from the other day, and Deege muttered something in Yiddish (goyish or goyemish or something)...saying that no Jew would ever eat that on a bagel, lol! I thought that was funny -- as if I was trying to eat bagels like a Jewish person. I liked my Mascarpone, thankyouverymuch! I probably deserved the comment, since I called him a NY Jew a few weeks ago (all in good fun of course, lol!)

I noticed the (cute, pleasant) waiter brought the check to me, lol! I think he was surprised when we split the check.

Had a nice time tonight. A friend and I went to Lewis Ginter for their Flowers After 5 thing -- wine tasting and music. It was a bit bleak and cool, but I enjoyed myself. And I look cute in the hoodie that I was wearing, lol.

Was not as pleased with the wine selection tonight as I was last time.

They have an old Mulberry like mine. Except that the limbs on theirs hit the ground, whereas my Mulberry's limbs are all above my head.


This is a picture of "my" Mulberry -- similar and not similar at the same time --



Afterwards, we ate at the Fat Goat in Lakeside. We did the prix fixe menu, which was good, and not too bad in price. I like it much better than Zed's Cafe. Zed's was not consistent, nor did it always have a vegetarian option (a black mark in my book!) But the food on the prix fixe menu was very good!

So, this morning, I biked over to Deege's house, and we went to Zeus Gallery Cafe for brunch. It was a nice brunch --I had coffee and an omelet with chèvre and spinach. I had a good time chatting with D -- it was one of those chats where you're talking and the subjects change wildly, and you're stepping on each other talking sometimes (in a good way) -- I enjoy his company :)

Then, V and I went out for a bike ride. He's been biking at Westcreek so much that he didn't want to do that again, so we went on my more "urban" ride (V lives in the suburbs). It's better in the morning because there is less traffic -- this afternoon, I felt like we were on constant alert for cars -- and I really am still getting used to the straps on the pedals of the new bike.

I tried out my "waterpack" or water backpack, or whatever it is...It's a backpack that you fill with water, and then you suck water through a tube. D thought it looked like a catheter, lol! Anyways, I didn't really like it very much - the water tasted like plastic...ewww....the instructions for the thing said you can sweeten the taste with baking soda...but it was pretty harsh today. I mean, it would keep me alive, but ewww.

Here's our route from today (as best as I remember it)...I really dislike the intersection at Idlewood and Boulevard -- I need to find a different way to cross Boulevard -- there are too many turning cars at that intersection -- ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY PEDAL STRAPS, LOL!


The new bike made the ride MUCH EASIER! I have a very basic speedometer/odometer. But V has one that he measures his heartrate (by way of a transmitter on his chest), and he can upload the info to the web. One hill made his heartrate go way over his target...it was a pretty bad hill -- and when I changed gears, my foot came out of those dratted straps, and then I accidentally changed to a harder gear -- OMG...I just stood up and biked my ass up the hill. And then we took a break.

Deege and I walked around First Fridays tonight. Then we went to Ipanema for dinner.

I like the way the "antique light" effect looks on us both, sitting in the booths at Ipanema.

I'm totally tipsy right now...luckily, the friend I was with was driving!

We went to a wine tasting at Lewis Ginter tonight...then dinner at La Casita (I had not been there in YEARS!)..

Tonight's wine selections were all sparkling wines..there were a couple good ones!

Nice berries on this plant as we walked in --


G --


Afterwards, we went to La Casita on Azalea...I had not been there in YEARS, FOREVER...still had all the blinking Christmas lights for decor :)


Music while we drank :)

While I was doing laundry last night, D texts asking if I wanted to do dinner...

Laundry vs dinner with a friend...laundry vs dinner, hmmm...lol...Sounded good to me!

Anyways, we went to Max and Emma's -- chain, meh, okay -- but I liked the ice cream at Gelati Celesti afterwards...and the company, of course :)


***
I think I've mentioned that I'm a user interface guy at heart...not to say that I was ever very good at creating them, but, like porn and art, I know a good UI when I see one.

Apple does a great job at creating a UI.

Except, there's one thing that just bugs me. I like my action buttons to perform the actions they say they perform. For example, an Edit button should put a record into edit mode, so I can make changes. A Save button should save my changes.

What I particularly dislike (it's a pet peeve) is when the button doesn't change names -- Edit means edit, and then, what?? what??, Edit means Save?

Like in the Mac Address book. Here's how you edit--


And then, here's how you save your changes --


It's just a pet peeve of mine that the text on the button doesn't change.

I have not been posting lately because I have just been TIRED from work. It's challenging, but the project has so many moving parts, and I'm picking up after the last project manager who was there from the beginning, and there is some (old, ancient, deep-rooted) politics that I'm only beginning to grasp, and the timeline is pretty unreasonable for the work to be done, and, and, and, and...

I'm just tired!


Last night, a friend and I went to Pizza Fusion out in the Trader Joe's shopping center. Cute waiter...but I think I like Sette's pizza more. Actually, I know I do. And I like Sette's patio...and martinis! Anyways, if you have a gluten intolerance, then Pizza Fusion would be an excellent place because you can get a gluten-free crust! It'll cost ya though -- I think there was an extra $7 charge for the gluten-free crust.


OUCH! I just was filling out some survey questions to download a free trial of software....and I had to pick the next higher age range...


I have not been taking care of the plants outside very well lately....but the Black Eyed Susans seem to be blooming pretty well!

I cut up cherries and peaches together tonight. Good stuff :)

Weekend has been quiet...had dinner with a friend one night at Cielito Lindo -- a Mexican place over on Forest Hill.

Bumped into a guy briefly this weekend, and we're supposed to have drinks later this week, as our schedules allow it. Seems like a nice guy -- I had talked to him once before.

Got a couple of bike rides in. Starting the bike ride today around 1:30 -- almost the full heat of the day -- was probably not the brightest idea I've ever had.

There's a hill at Bryan Park -- between the gatehouse and (I think) Rosina's Lane (the one where you turn left to go to the Azalea Gardens) -- the hill is steep and has always given me trouble. I don't even come into the park by way of the gatehouse, but I've taken to going out of my way, so that I can bike up that hill...trying to get better at biking. I made it today without having to push the bike, only I went up the hill very slowly (in a lower gear) -- it was nice not to wimp out and have to push!

My one and only gladiolus has started its annual bloom --

Went to dinner at Starlite with D tonight...the food was good, and had a good time talking. We walked around Carytown afterwards, just to talk...

This song has been in my head for days, lol!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNVmt4466WI

Here's my latest "daily" wine -- it's not bad, and at $8 a bottle at Once Upon the Vine on MacArthur is affordable as my daily wine. I've actually been buying it in the case, so as to get the case discount.



Some of the coneflowers are getting to the blooming stage. This is Echinacea 'Merlot' --

I was weak this past weekend...I admit it. I wanted something sweet, so I threw a cobbler together, using some frozen fruit from the freezer. It definitely cured my sweet tooth! Oddly enough, I did not lose any weight over the weekend -- I wonder what the cause might have been?? Greek Festival? Cobbler? Brunch?




In the same color palette, I decided my bruise was gross enough to be photo-worthy, lol! Remember, this is on the OPPOSITE side of my leg from where I actually hit -- I'm sort of dreading what the front of my leg will look like...

So, now do you see why I've been whining about how sore my leg has been, lol?!



I have been very tired the last couple of days. I started the new gig yesterday -- I've probably met a 100 people...the project is very complex...I'm a bit overwhelmed, but that will pass as my mind grasps all the 3 letter acronyms being thrown my way, and as I come to understand all the players and their roles.

I'm starting to scope out the veggie-friendly restaurants and food carts in walking distance. Today, a co-worker and I ate at the Valentine Museum's café. Yesterday, I got some Indian food from a cart. So, there are definitely some options.

Had a pleasant day today -- did some clothes shopping. I've lost more weight, so I had to buy at least a few things! I'm having problems finding shorts in the stores -- they all seem to be made now with an inseam of 10+ inches -- which makes me look like a dwarf!

I hate to shop for clothes, grrr!

Anyways, tonight a friend and I went to Mezza on Main for dinner -- I had no experience with a hookah bar -- people sitting at tables using bongs for flavored tobacco -- the smell of it was good actually. But we ate outside on a very nice little patio that they have. Mediterranean food -- I had a Falafel wrap and a side of hummus. Beautiful evening to be out on the patio, and good company!

We ate at Edo's Squid tonight before seeing Chicago at the VCU theater. I had always intended to eat at Edo's and never had made it there.

The food was great -- particularly the broccoli raab on pasta and the eggplant parmigiana. Oddly enough, if you have more than 4 in your party, they will only bring 4 entrées and will serve it "family style," meaning you pass the entrées around. For a minute, I thought I would be the odd man out (being the vegetarian), but everyone else seemed happy to order several of the non-meat items. So, I had plenty of choices and didn't care about the one entrée with crab in it or the scallop appetizer.

The food was great! However, the coffee was terrible.

I would definitely go to Edo's again!

***
We had terrible seats for Chicago -- it was odd that there was an audience on 3 sides of the stage, yet the choreographer completely ignored where we were sitting! The actors played mostly to the center and a little to the other side, but never played to our side at all.

The seating was general admission -- we could have arrived earlier for better seats, but we really didn't think about it, and just hung out at the restaurant.

***
Before I left for the play tonight, someone's dog was roaming through my yard! I intended to go out and check his collar for tags -- until I saw him wallow in my muck of a pond -- see how filthy he got, lol?!! There was no way I was going near him after that!

It serves his owner right for letting him roam -- to have him come home covered in putrid muck, lol!

He was just the sort of dog I would like for myself! My first dog was a German Shepherd mut!