A ridiculously gluttonous day

When we first met, we used to go out to eat all the time.  That was back when we both had jobs that paid us 100% and when we were courting. . . so we spent WAY more time together than we do now.

So yesterday was a bit of a throw back to our courting days.  And MAN - it lived up to what I remember it to be like.

First - I got up and went to breakfast alone (this is very normal for me, my husband likes to sleep in and isn't that much of a breakfast man - which could have been a deal breaker, but he's way cute, so I can't complain too much).

Then we went to the, very seriously anticipated by us, King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science center.  Now, I could go on and on and on about how cool it was. . . but that would be a big lie.  We left disappointed.  Very disappointed.  The coolest thing there was this cat sarcophagus.

NO MUMMY was there (unless you count the plastic one they made look like the real one on the way out of the exhibit). . . this sucked on an epic scale as our expectations were fairly high.  We bought our tickets for the exhibit at 1:45pm and the mummies movie at 3:30pm.  We were done with the exhibit by 2:10 - NOT KIDDING.

There were too many people and most of the stuff was from other pharaohs.  And you don't even have any context about who those other pharaohs are unless you go to the movie, which you have to consciously choose to purchased before you go to the exhibit.

The movie wasn't much better - I prefer the real national geographic stuff to this 40 minute thing that kind of made sense, but only kind of. . .

But my husband and I did have a fun time at the act the PSC doing other stuff.  Bathrooms, hippies, music, sun, hamburgers, cheese, water, weird people that cut in line and could have caused alarm, the sun telling me I need to lose weight, and my husband espousing on motors and levers. . .

The best part of the day, though, was dinner.  We went to Bizzarro's - and there are exactly three pictures from there and NONE of them are of the food.  Why?  Well, two the pictures were taken before I saw the cell phone surcharge sign and one because I felt a little bit like being naughty.  It's a picture from my seat.  The picture on the right is actually a shot of where I was sitting on the left side by the window (from their website).  The  picture on your left is of my view out the window (and up).  So pretty.

The staff seemed friendly enough and I felt like it was a bit bizarre that the three wait staff seemed to be either a 50's pinup type, a 60's twiggy throwback, and a 70's rocker chick.  I kind of liked it. I was, however, disappointed in the fact that two things did not happen as I thought maybe they would.  There is a sign when you walk in that says "no one is "fine" with just water" - and the table before us, ALL FOUR OF THEM, said "we're fine with water".  Not a peep from the waitress. . . the sign without action kind of lacks conviction.  Secondly, when I took my flower picture, no one told me not to and didn't charge me a surcharge. . . disappointment on lack of follow through.  It could have been a more fun evening with that kind of follow through.

But without further ado, I would like to say that I had a great meal.  Not everything was great, but overall, I would totally come back to this place.

We started off with the drunken clams - menu actually said the sauce was something to die for - and it was SHAMEFUL I did not finish the last of the clams (did I tell you I hate clams - do not like them. . . unless they are these drunken clams, and then I will eat clams for the rest of my life and only clams).  There were enough clams for both of us to have for a real meal - and this was the STARTER!!!

I ordered the soup of the day, creamy cauliflower.  At first, I burnt my tongue because it was so hot - not a good start.  I think it needed some salt (which I didn't put in there), but after a few spoonfuls, I was enjoying the soup a little too much.  It was creamy and yummy and had a great aftertaste.  Our next course came too quickly - the caesar salad.  Here, nothing too remarkable.  The dressing was original and good, but really, meh -  and next time I would do without and should have tried the caprese salad.

The main courses came - the leg of lamb and brussel sprouts my husband was having smelled SO good.  As did my pesto and shrimp capallini.  My dish needed some salt (and this time I kind of wished I had had some to put it on there).  I'm not a huge salter, but even though the flavors were good, I think it needed a bit more salt.

The brussel sprouts were the winner of the evening - in that lamb sauce - holy ravioli - I would eat that and the drunken clams for every meal every day.  My husband said the lamb was over cooked, but that the closer to the bone he got, the better it was.  I confirmed (of course) with one of the last brussel sprouts and a bit of meat from near the bone.  It's not Plaka's lamb, but it was good - and the sauce and roasted brussel sprouts were DEVINE.

I didn't finish the pesto dish because I really wanted the bavarian cream cake. . . and it was completely worth it.  I finished every last bite and did NOT share.

I didn't mention the wine I had because it was unremarkable. . . and I had to drink it because my husband says nice days are for white wine.  I disagree with this statement and this house pino grigio wasn't so good (the more you drank, the less you cared).  I prefer red wine, but marriage is compromise sometimes and wine seemed to be a small sacrifice.  Mikal had put up with a lot today with his leg and the disappointment in King Tut.

All in all, quite a nice date day with my husband.

The struggle for young women today

It's weird how things come together . . . hang with me here, this will all make sense in a minute (or more)

About three days ago, I was reading my facebook feed and an article from NPR came up. It was an article on the first female african american CEO of a fortune 500 article, Ursula Burns.  I loved the article and thought about sharing it with some of my female co-workers because it had some pretty cool things in it about women and how we should be empowered and just rock it.

Then I got angry.

WHY IS THIS REMARKABLE in 2012?  WHY ARE WE WRITING ARTICLES ABOUT HOW HARD IT IS TO MAKE IT AS A WOMAN (or any part of the "minority")?  WHY? IN 2012?

Because the tragedy of it all is - it is still remarkable in this day and age.  

So, I didn't share the article.  I went on my way ignoring the reality of the situation.  I don't want this reality to be true, so therefore, I pretend it doesn't happen.  And a typically random but wonderful way, I ended up talking about this article with someone I work with who is a fellow female.  She felt the same way - WHY IS THIS NEWS??  It made me feel just defeated that this is still an issue.  And my ignoring the reality is contributing to the fact that it is the reality.

It's funny because I feel like I talk about a lot of things pretty openly.  I give my opinion about anything and everything, but this particular issue, I do not opine or lament about the inequalities for women.   EVER.  I think I thought this type of strategic silent rejection of the situation would make it not so.  I walk the walk so I can talk the talk in so many other ways, I think I felt that by walking the walk (being a good role model by action) that I could talk the talk - unfortunately, we are not there yet for that.  There are still too many "the first female " articles out there for me to just pretend it doesn't exist.

So, last night, I came home and started talking to Mikal about it last night.  And he shared a commercial he remembered about this topic.

Even he was lamenting the choices for his daughter.  I want my step daughter to have role models that ARE NOT reality stars, NOT celebrities for showing skin, NOT fashion models that contribute to eating disorders, NOT famous people that have been made.  I want my step daughter to look up to real women that have MADE THEMSELVES, and are NOT made by an anonymous metaphorical machine.

Women like the following remarkable, amazing  women.

Liz Burns Good - Production Manager for Pearl Jam - one of the ONLY women doing this kind of job for a band of this scale - She hires women and works in a music world old boys club. I am honored to call her my friend.

Terri Weagant - a passionate, courageous, talented artist, director, writer and dreamer - she makes fantastic dreams into reality. I could not have made it through the first part of 2012 without,her, my kindred spirit.

Amanda F'ing Palmer - someone that challenges the status quo for the good of the craft.  She doesn't follow the crowd.  I am proud to have contributed to her cause.

Sharon Nelson - an award winning science teacher and mentor.  She inspired me then and now works with other women to inspire them (including my mom).

Ciara McGrath - a fearless traveller and passionate civil rights activist.  She reminds me every day to reach for places unknown.  Plus, no one can have a beer in a cool bar in a foreign place better than  she! She is my friend and my family.

These are people I want to be like - that I wish I had as much talent, patience, honesty and integrity that they have.  Some are people that I've never met, some are very close to me, some are famous, and some aren't (but should be).

With my discovery of Amanda Palmer, recent connection with a kindred spirit, meeting of new people, and the discussions about why I pretend the inequality of women in the world doesn't exist, and the fact that I'm now a step mother - I have to take a more active role.  I want to inspire like these women.  I want to challenge the current standard, I want there to be NO NEWS - it should just BE.  I want to be part of that.

I'm going to actively have this discussion from now on - I will not be silent.  I will walk the walk and talk the talk in a different way - in a way that will change the WHY these stories are remarkable.  We are remarkable, not because we are the "first" to do anything - we are remarkable, because we ARE remarkable.