KF Favorite Things - Week #2

Unfortunately, yesterday’s date with Frog #1 was postponed at the last minute due to an unforeseen family issue.  We rescheduled for this coming Tuesday, so I will report back then!   Additionally, I’m going out with Frog #2 and to a sports conference (target rich environment) next weekend, so hopefully I’ll have some good stories to share in the next couple of weeks!

In the meantime, here are some of my favorite things from the past week:

1.       Definitively deciding to be cremated…

After watching Brad Picklesimer  climb onto a “prep table” in a funeral home for a date on ABC’s The Bachelor and observing the meat hooks dangling from the ceiling and syringes for draining blood, I have decided to be cremated.  I think it’s environmentally friendly (takes up less land) and distinctly less creepy.  For any readers who are also friends, I won’t make you go on a scavenger hunt to figure out where my ashes should be scattered a la Stealing Home (highly underrated ‘80’s movie with Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon – perfect for a Sunday afternoon hangover)… just a nice cliff overlooking the ocean. 

Sorry to be morbid, but here’s a great quote I saw this week which might appropriately lighten the mood:  “Do not resent growing old.  There are many who are denied the privilege.”

2.       Never trust a skinny cook

Instead, put yourself in Mario Batali’s pudgy, yet genius hands!  Last Friday, B and I decided to cook a recipe from his book, Molto Gusto: Easy Italian Cooking, spaghetti alla gricia.  I highly recommend this no-fuss dish – could anything with pancetta, onions, cheese and pepper taste anything less than magically delicious??  I suggest buying fresh pasta and pancetta from Whole Foods, pair with a bottle of barbaresco… molto gusto, indeed!! 

3.       Beauty is pain

S and I decided to dedicate 24 hours of our long weekend to self-improvement.  On Sunday, we attended a long yoga class with a new instructor who was great, but definitely made us push the boundaries of both muscle strength and flexibility.  Ouch on the double pigeon/crow!! 

Then, we woke up on Monday morning and cashed in our groupon for Zoom! Teeth whitening… even though my teeth are probably ~4 shades whiter, they hurt like a mofo!!  Shooting pain brought on by air and non-room temperature water for 12-15 hours.  Worst of all, we could only eat or drink white or colorless foods/liquids for two days.   So, my diet consisted of: string cheese, egg whites, potato salad, clam chowder, white bread, chicken and… mayo.  Lesson from the strange diet: mayo really makes everything taste better.   

Finally, we worked out with our trainer – shout out to Heidi Brown at thetrainingroomboston.com  - who made us do a workout with kettle bells, TRX  and 5x circuits.  We love you, but you make us hurt!  

More toned + whiter, we realize that beauty is pain… but probably worth it for those of us who *might* be slight mirror lookers.

4.       An oldie, but a goodie…

Sadly, one of my oldest and best friends is leaving Boston in a few months.  So we decided to go to her favorite restaurant, Hammersley’s, in the South End.  Even though we’ve been eating here for years and years, it never fails to disappoint.  The chicken is great of course, but we branched out to the fish and it was amazing… light, but flavorful sauce + prosciutto, wow.   I’m also routinely impressed by how unexpectedly affordable it is… and a great place to go with parents from out of town.  9 out of 10 stars

5.       Looking forward to trips! 

Operation Kissing Frogs is being transported to South Florida for 4 days.  I cannot wait for sun, 80 degree weather and OPERATION RETOX with B&M!   I will recount any adventures when we return… Have a great weekend, KF readers!!

"You never get a second chance to make a first impression..."

After a bottle of wine, some makers mark & ginger and a bowl of pasta, B & I decided to try on potential first date outfits for you, the Kissing Frogs readers, to vote on!  I have a date on Wed. coming up, so would love some feedback in the comments section!!

Outfit #1: potentially more appropriate for my upcoming trip to FL?

 Outfit #2:  When I last wore this, a friend told me "you look like the kind of person Japanese businessmen would pay $1000/hr to um hang out with"

Outfit #3: With a sweater, this might be more seasonally appropriate...



Outfit #4:  It has sleeves!!

Outfit #5: W/a sweater... even w/o a bra, this miraculous shirt makes me look like I have some cleavage!

Favorite Things of the Week

Taking a cue from the fabulous Ms. O – here are a few of my favorite fun things from the past week:

1. Flying, Fuddruckers, Richardson’s, oh my!

On Saturday, B and I ventured out of the city limits and enrolled in trapeze school -  http://boston.trapezeschool.com/

Predictably, she flew through the air with the greatest of ease, while I…almost maimed an instructor.  However, I did manage to execute a knee hang, back flips and a catch with an instructor wearing flame covered pants. 

After two hours of flight, we met up with our friends and headed over to the deliciousness that is Fuddruckers…. mmm… buttered hamburger buns, hearty fries, and the scent of Middle America.  After my ½ pound of beef, I was full, but gamely soldiered on with the superpremium mint chocolate chip ice cream.  All in all, 4.5 entertaining hours in the Jordan’s complex - I give the experience 8.0 out of 10 stars.  (docked 2 stars for nausea) (Thanks to W, J, K & S – we couldn’t have done it without you!)

Here’s B’s take on the experience:

It was a 7.5 out of 10.

Lessons learned:

1. trapez'ing is an activity for 11 year olds, women with enormous biceps, and small men under 205 lbs

2. nothing is more amazing than the moment when a man pulls his sweatpants down to reveal flaming spandex underneath

3. hopping off the edge of the platform requires years of practice - let's go find some stairs, pronto!

4. the official/unofficial uniform for trapez'ing is all lululemon all the time

2. Douch-ay?

S and I tried out a new-ish restaurant in the Back Bay, the pretentiously named, Deuxave.  http://deuxave.com/  Although our experience might have been influenced by the special (extortionist?) Valentine’s Day menu, I thought the food was quite decent, although the portions were very small.  In particular, I recommend the trio of lamb and creamy mashed potatoes. Décor – contemporary New American, Service – sloooooooooooow and the Crowd – well, maybe it would be best to check back on a different night. 

6.5 out of 10 stars

3. Farewell, Village Idiot

When I first moved to NYC, one of my favorite bars was the Village Idiot in the West Village - $5 pitchers of PBR, a juke box that only played country music and magical drunken nights that I can barely remember.  Coming from years spent in the fraternity basements of a certain New England college, the Village Idiot felt like home – a refuge from the exciting, yet sometimes overwhelming glamour and excitement of the big city. 

On Tuesday, I was in NYC for a work meeting and met a couple of friends for dinner.  To my surprise and dismay, the “newest, trendy” restaurant, Scarpetta, was where my old haunt used to be.  With the soaring popularity of the Meatpacking district, rent had escalated to the point where neighborhood dive bars were priced out.  Contemporary architecture, $30 entrees and fine Italian wines replaced sticky floors, 3:30AM last calls and Johnny Cash.  While the restaurant was mouthwateringly good, it was the end of an era. 

4. Is Gwyneth Paltrow bad at anything??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6-gc5rOqow

5. Shout out to my Celtics for beating Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat while severely undermanned.  Special props to Jesus Shuttlesworth for breaking the NBA’s all-time record for three pointers and looking sooooooo good while doing it.   

The Area Code Game

Online dating styles can be quite revealing about one's level of superficiality.  After all, humans are visual creatures - and in this situation, the amount of data you have to assess your potential connection to someone is limited. 

Last summer, a friend introduced me to the "Area Code Game" where you assign everyone an area code in the following manner:  the first digit represents a 1 to 9 rating on someone's face, the middle digit is binary - would you sleep with the person or not? and the last digit represents a 1 to 9 rating on someone's body.  So, the "best" someone could be is a Raleigh-Durham, or a 919, the worst a 101, and hey, everyone has had secret sex with NYC or a 212, right?  One question that arises from the game is, if someone was your soulmate in every way - you understood each other perfectly, they consistently made you laugh, etc., etc., what is the lowest score that person could have where you would still want to be with them?  I always gave myself the benefit of the doubt and said 414. 

Yet, as I look at the guys who have nicely taken the time to wink at me or send me an email, I consistently find myself having a hard time responding if they're not in the 717 range and above.  I hope I am not as superficial as my initial reactions seem to be!!!

SO... I forced myself to do it!  I wrote back to a couple of prospects who I would naturally respond to and one additional person who seemed really nice and smart, but is a 5(hopefully 1)4.  I will keep you posted if/when I hear back! 

PS.  For the single men out there, posting a photo of your arm covered in tattoos makes you fall into the "lotion/basket" category... :)

"Thank you for being a friend.... traveled down the road and back again...."

A special KISSING FROGS thank you to KG for designing such a wonderful header for my blog! 
You're the Rose to my Blanche! 

(Happy) Valentine's Day!

Congratulations, ladies of Boston.  Last night, I was out on a reporting/observation mission at a few bars with a friend who embodies every one of those qualities we associate with "TOXIC PLAYER THAT YOU SHOULD RUN AWAY FROM, BUT...."  He couldn't have been more excited for his self-proclaimed favorite national holiday, Desperation Day or February 13th.  He was looking to capitalize on the loneliness of single ladies making a last ditch effort to find a Valentine's Day date.  However, his plot was foiled as the bars and restaurants of Boylston, Newbury and Mass Ave were thankfully empty!  Yay single ladies of Boston who are confident in themselves and were not moved in any way by the blatant manipulations of the chocolate/greeting card/nameless blue box companies.... Happy Valentine's Day to you!
Better luck next year finding someone who makes you feel like a pudgy, naked child has shot an arrow through your heart.  (holla, someecards.com!)

"About Me and What I'm Looking For" in 2,500 words or less...

When I first sat down to write my online dating profile, I looked at other people's summaries for inspiration.  From what I can tell, most people are "laid back/low maintenance" and "really love" drinking a beer at Fenway Park, beaches and their friends and families.  At first, I thought, not a lot of originality here, but then I tried to write my own profile and.... it's damn hard!!!  So, here's my first attempt... please feel free to comment and let me know, if you know me, whether you think this captures the essence of BOSTON GAL. 
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Random facts about me:
1. I kick butt at fantasy football and scrabble
2. My favorite authors are Ernest Hemingway…and Bill Simmons
3. I have not yet ruled out the possibility of being a writer for National Geographic. Hope springs eternal.
4. Bernese mountain dogs, red wine, Boston playoff games and witty guys are my kryptonite
5. My grandfather was the coolest guy I’ve ever known. He once wrote me a list of 87 countries he visited in his life. I hope someday to equal that.
6. I have a seriously salty tooth.
7. The music on my ipod is more embarrassing than my 7th grade school photo.
8. I wonder if I’m actually part fish…. I love anything water-related… swimming, scuba diving, sailing, white water rafting, beaches, lounging by pools with margaritas…
9. I think that some day cool ranch Doritos will be illegal, but until that day, I’m not questioning it.
10. Nothing is scarier to me than snakes. This would be mildly embarrassing, but I think it just brings me one step closer to being Indiana Jones.
11. My desert island movies are: Shawshank Redemption, Cast Away (for tips), Godfather II, Breakfast at Tiffanys and Princess Bride. 


What I'm looking for:
That's tough... I feel like there's either a connection or not and it's hard to describe in words. Generally, I'm looking for someone smart, fun and with a good heart... if that's you, please send me an email!