Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Reality bites



This is the beauty I get to stare at on my desk all day. They're for my friend Teddy's birthday. When I bought them this afternoon, a guy next to me in line was shocked I was getting a dozen. I was like, "look dude, they're not my lunch." But maybe he sensed deep down that they COULD  be my lunch. I wouldn't put it past me either.

Soon after I got back to the office with these beautiful bites, I had to head into one of my dreaded team meetings. I've said this before, but I do love my job. But even so, the reality of working in an office can be draining. My office can be comical at times, depressing on occasion and most often routinely crazy.

Of all the placs I have worked in my "career," the one in which i currently reside certainly contains the most vibrant and diverse cast of characters. I have never enjoyed coming to work on the regular as I do here. But there aren't enough pages to include all of the odd sayings, sound bytes, strange happenings and wild surprises that each week brings.

Now, normally my weekly team meetings are fraught with tension and include a visit from the Awkward Fairy. If you haven't met AF yet, he is well known for delivering uncomfortable silences, poorly placed comments, tasteless remarks and the like. These meetings are also my time to try out a new twist on my typical meeting look: the solemn face. I've got it all down now...like Blue Steel. But this week's gathering was, by far, the most odd.

There were random mentions of Grover; meeting Elmo and Bobby Flay on the same night; and the unfortunate lives of military children. There was heavy breathing. There was also a member of the IT team crawling on the floor under the table making all the females wearing skirts uncomfortable. I knew I should've worn pants today. Then the three long tables we sat at were rearranged by the IT staff. Anyone with ADD would never survive our meetings. I certainly can't recall the details of what was discussed. I was too busy thinking of the cupcakes back at my desk and worrying over the peep show I was giving under the table.

If only we had a reality show. Then we could capture all of the goodness that makes each day a memorable one. Or maybe I should write a book. Or only wear pants from this day forward. Life. Decisions.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Feeding the foodies

I happen to be one of the luckiest people when it comes to my job. I love what I do and enjoy coming to work each day with respectful, fun and intelligent coworkers. The best thing about my coworkers is the mutual love and appreciation for eating. We often hunt down coveted food trucks nearby or talk about new eating places coming soon to our area. We also spend many lunch hours eating together in front of the TV which is always tuned to the Food Network.

We've spent many months chiding Paula Deen's shameless attempts to market mayonnaise as a vehicle for fried food, her distaste for anything green or of value to the human body and her slick motives to crown butter as a main dish item. We've also had many a debate over why Ina Garten only wears popped collar dark dress shirts, what the deal is with her husband Jeffrey and if her voice has ever gotten angry before in her life. And there have been many a choice comment on a certain Food Network "personality" whose elaborate table-scapes and quick fix meals don't cut it for this crowd.

Most recently, we decided it was time to put our cooking skills on display. And yesterday, the day finally came where six of us brought in some summer dishes to share. The spread was the perfect balance of sweet, savory and guilty pleasures.


We prepared and devoured the following items:
  • deviled eggs
  • pigs in a blanket
  • orzo pasta salad with feta and zucchini
  • BBQ spare ribs
  • bulgar salad with mint, jicama and peaches
  • chocolate cream tart
  • white and yellow peach cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream
YUM. So much for getting back on the healthy eating train.