tales of a traveling librarian

Every once in a while, I get into my head that I can bake. This is not true. I have no sense of food chemistry (baking powder? baking soda? what makes them different? I have no idea). I’m also not picky. I think true cooks must be very picky eaters. Me? I’m like, it’s tomato-y and has mushrooms, throw it on the pasta. I just do.not.care. enough. But, it’s my birthday today, and oddly enough, my cubicle-mate’s birthday as well, so, I thought, MISTAKE, that I would bake.

Now, technically, there are forty eight cupcakes at work with me today. So, simply in terms of presence, I guess I did okay. But I just ate my first one, with green icing, obvs, and well, they are a little heavy. Dense perhaps? They are not the light and fluffy cupcakes I had envisioned. They are not the airy little treats that Carolanne brings whenever we get together. But, they have a touch of a taste of almond, and that is delicious, and I think they’ll pass inspection. And by pass, I mean, I suspect I won’t be bringing any home with me tonight.

Which is just as well, cause I’m going out for a fancy dinner. Slash fancier than I’m used to. Which, after reading the first paragraph ain’t saying much, but hey. Sometimes I know how to do it right and the restaurant tonight…is doing it right.
So, let me back track a little bit and see how we got to here from there.

First of all, Dominion on Bloor sucks.

Okay, I have to admit. I’m not much one for New Year’s Eve. Its busy and expensive and overrated and people are just trying so hard to have a darned good time that it always seems that people are disappointed. In order to avoid this, I didn’t plan anything. The day before yesterday, a few friends and I semi got our plans in order. But, it was less plans and more mutually planned hanging out.

By nine or so, my living room was nicely filled by the usual suspects. Tasha, Court, Stephanie and Eddie, his brother Bert, Julia and I hung out in living room while, with breaks to the deck to visit Jarrod and Chris, or to the kitchen to pour more wine or treats. I think it was pretty quiet until Tasha brought out the mojitos. Then it got really rowdy–I mean, we played Trivial Pursuit. On the Xbox, so at least we didn’t have to worry about losing any pieces.

Even with static-y (we don’t have cable) Nathan Philips Square coverage on to announce the New Year, I think it was one of the most enjoyable. I have had exactly one other New Year’s that was excellent. It was three or four ago now, but, it was the only time I bought a ticket, got dressed up, and went out with girlfriends. Actually, when I think about it, maybe going out for New Year’s isn’t so bad. Maybe next year.