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March 7, 2007
Blackfish
I have a bottle of Silverado cabernet that I bought on an amazing sale a few months ago, and I've been waiting for an occasion on which to drink it with one of my favorite wine drinking friends. So tonight we've finally gotten our schedules together to go out for dinner. We're going to Blackfish, the new BYO in my little town that is walking distance from my house! It's a great restaurant where the chef used to work at Le Bec Fin (widely regarded as Philly's best restaurant.) In fact, last week while I was there with my other friend we saw Georges Perrier, the owner of Le Bec Fin, eating at Blackfish! The chef/owner came out to say hello, exchange those little kissies in the air next to both cheeks, and talk about the food. He was with a gorgeous woman with long wavy black hair, and a lovely looking bottle of wine. We had tons of fun watching.
My meal last time we went was excellent: I had the soup of the day, which was a celery root soup, not cream based. Vegetable purees seem to be all the rage in Philly restaurants right now, a trend I heartily endorse. Then for my entree I had the arugula salad with grilled chicken, about 3 oz, on top. It was all fabulous.
I was looking at today's menu for dinner and after looking up nutrition info on several items, I think I'm going with the title track: blackfish! Here's the entry in nutritiondata.com. Looks good, doesn't it? When they called to confirm my reservation, I asked about the soup, and sure enough, it's another veg puree, this time roasted beet! I love beets! Needless to say, I'm very excited.
I'm eating light today to save calories for dinner. I had my eggwhites with flax, cheese and salsa, then for lunch I only had my salad and almonds, no yogurt, no megamuffin, for a total of 160 calories. I will be very hungry by dinner, but we're eating early (5:15) so I should be fine.
I feel I can go muffin-less today because yesterday turned out to be a double muffin day. I headed up to Scranton after hitting the gym in the morning, and on my way up I ate my muffin du jour, along with my salad and cottage cheese and flax oil (we're out of my favorite brand of yogurt till the Giant gets the special order in Saturday.) Then as I drove into the parking garage I ate the 20 g of almonds and 28 g of dried blueberries that MR had packed for me.
Then I went into the bathroom at the Scranton office to put on my makeup before the meeting and noticed something odd: my lips were blue!
Now it was very cold yesterday, 0 F with wind chill, and I was up in the mountains. I was cold pre-CR and I'm even colder now (though I love summer!) But I didn't think I was THAT cold! Blue lips? Isn't that supposed to happen right before you die of hypothermia?
Oh, right. The blueberries. Good to know.
Thanks to the miracle of modern makeup, I managed to look like other than a doll from the early eighties Strawberry Shortcake collection by the time the nurses arrived.
I had been planning to say overnight as our last meeting wasn't supposed to end until around nine, but a co-worker called to say that a snow storm was heading in and that they were talking about cancelling Philly schools. Then my other co-worker, the one working in Scranton, said that no one was confirmed for the later meeting, so the turnout would be at most one or two. I decided to hit the road at about 7, but due to a kerfuffle with my car, didn't make it home till after 10. I hate being out late, but I was so happy to be home in my warm bed with my soft cuddly kitty and my orange one. It was worth the drive. Sure enough, it snowed overnight and the roads were a mess. People here really freak out at the slightest hint of snow. I know I do, but I'm from North Carolina -- what's their excuse?
I had packed a Lean Cuisine to eat between meetings (we have a microwave in the office in Scranton) but since I hit the road early, I ended up eating my megamufin that MR had packed for me to have for breakfast today. Double muffin day.
Got up and went to my Pilates class this morning, even though I was quite exhausted. I really have to get up early no matter what, since MR gets up at 5 and the cat starts howling for his mommy. He's trained that I get up and feed him, and then I lie down with him on the couch, sometimes for just a few minutes but often until breakfast just after six. So even if MR feeds him, he still comes to the bottom of the stairs and howls for his mama cuddle time. I like to absord NPR while MR makes breakfast salad and the cat purrs on top of me. My mother has done the same thing with her cat for years, minus MR and the breakfast salad, of course. There's a lot of purring in our house. And a lot of howling. And a lot of fur.
This time of year I sometimes wish I had fur. I am currently wearing a long skirt with my gym pants underneath it for warmth, plus a camisole, a long sleeved shirt, a wool sweater, and a polarfleece jacket. I am sipping my third cup of tea. I need to order some of the extra warm silk understuff that a reader sent me a link to recently... being cold is no fun. Of course it doesn't help that there's a caulking problem with my office window, so on cold days it's about sixty degrees in here. We keep calling the building management... they keep saying they're going to fix it... nothing happens. I freeze.
I'm glad I went to Pilates, even though I was a bit stiff and tired from five hours of driving yesterday and not getting much sleep. I found out that my teacher is from Scranton! She's adoreable. I so enjoy the exercise.
Can't think of any snappy lines to end with, so I'll just say thanks to all for your kind comments on the last few entries and I'll talk to you soon!
Posted by april at March 7, 2007 12:28 PM
Comments
Enjoy dinner! Sounds tre' yummy!!!
Posted by: Jacqueline at March 7, 2007 2:16 PM
Silk underclothes are practical and elegant (and they feel good). Can be machine washed. Pack into tiny spaces.
Alternatively, you could move to California .. in Silicon Valley this afternoon the sun is shining, it's about 65F, with a breeze from the North to keep things from getting too hot!
Blackfish sounds wonderful - have a great time.
artifex
Posted by: artifex at March 7, 2007 4:09 PM
Heehee, I have a whole new appreciation for cute pet stories.
Here's ours: Up at 4:30 with Jack bouncing around in his kennel, oddly squeeking. I dress as quickly as possible and take him "potties outside". I come back in, he gets put into the kennel for another 15 minutes or so (hopefully he doesn't whine!) Then up for good, and we move his whole kennel and related accessories into the kitchen for the day. Finally WE get ready, and then play before leaving for work at 5:30. It's like having a kid! Cats are so much easier.
When we get home, he goes nuts and makes noises that sound remarkably like a crazed rabid piglet. Oh, but it's worth it! What does this have to do with CRON? Nothing. Just rambling....you don't have to approve this if you don't want to April! Haven't left a comment in a while, so hello!
Posted by: Christina at March 7, 2007 4:18 PM
As someone who is very into fitness and exercise, it is nice to know that other people doing CRON are doing exercise as well.
Posted by: Jake Silver at March 7, 2007 4:30 PM
Artifex,
Blackfish was amazing! More on that soon!
Christina,
That is so cute re: Jack! Post more pics!
Jake,
Exercise is better than any drug. I feel so great... and I felt good before! Pilates plus cardio plus very light weight lifting is doing very well for me.
a
Posted by: april at March 7, 2007 6:48 PM
Wow, I've actually got several comments today!
*grin*
I just bought a silk v-neck undershit at REI (it's that time of year, when the dividends arrive...), in their store brand, for $28. Not cheap, but not horrible either. I also adore wool and have been slowly acquiring more baselayer merino as well as sweaters. Being cold does suck, even in the desert southwest! But having a recently 'certified' bodyfat of 14.8 definitely explains the chilliness I feel.
On flax oil, do you like a particular brand? I recently got some Nature's Way brand and found that it gives me very little of the previous effects I got from Barlean's brand. Hmm. Now, the Barlean's was "high lignan" and the Nature's Way is not, so I wonder if it's a brand thing or just the lignans. Once I figure it out I'll let you know.... I kind of guess it's the lignans. My skin would get all soft and even smell a little flax-y, which I liked. Now it's just dry - even more than usual.
FINALLY, I hope you had fun at your dinner - looks like a great place!
Posted by: Miss Tenacity at March 8, 2007 9:03 AM