Salads and Bail Outs

Well Julia, you came through once again. Why I ever doubted you, I will never know, but tonight, you came off looking like a rock star. I shouldn't be surprised, really, but given my rather pessimistic nature, I was. These types of surprises are always helped when you have someone sitting in the chair across from you, complimenting the food on every second bite.

I am staying with the most delightful people in Oshawa. My boyfriend, I'm sure, finds it very odd that for my first vacation in 9 months, I come to Ontario to hang out with people my parents age. The reasons why I'm here are too great to list, and I know that even if I did, you would never understand, but suffice to say, coming to the 'Shwa regenerates my soul and calms my ever racing mind. To show my affection and gratitude, I decided that dinner was on me and what a coincidence, I just bought a new cookbook.

My quest to find the perfect recipe started last night, as I slid my fingers over the fresh pages, and inhaled the lingering smell of ink. I finally decided on a Nicoise Salad, because it seemed like the one recipe that had the least amount of butter and cream in it - which is to say, none. I went to the store this morning, loaded up on the necessary ingredients and slowly, over the course of the day, put the components of my salad together. I over shot the amount of dried mustard to put in the dressing and had to compensate with a little honey (shhhhh, don't tell Julia! In the recipe she claimed that adding sugar or the like was heresy!) but I followed everything else perfectly. The results were delightful, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. Except for dessert. Dessert was divine.

Elaine made cookie dough that I consumed straight from the bowl, which left me having the need to stretch and take a walk. I had run out of room to put the never ending amount of dough which I kept baling into my mouth. After a 45 minute walk, I finally stopped feeling like the Pilsbury dough boy.

I have to tell you that even though I had a great day, made an awesome meal and consumed more cookie dough than should be legally allowed, I'm not feeling 100% tonight. I'm feeling closer to 15%. I was informed by email tonight that the friend I had really wanted to see, wouldn't have the time . He might be able to make an hour or so, somewhere, but there were just too many other things going on. "Life is crazy right now". Honestly??? A friend that you have known since your second year of university tells you she's coming in July, and you agree to get together, make plans, meet the new woman, only to blow her off. Fantastic. No wait, I've got something better then that: I get blown off, followed by a consolation prize of "maybe an hour of so". You know what I wanted to tell him "Fuck you." But I didn't. I kept my mouth shut and wrote the typical Julie response "Let me know when you find time". I don't know whether to be mad at him for being an asshole, or at myself for letting him off the hook. I'm too damn forgiving and it pisses me off.

On this note, I'm going to bed. Julie out!