Had a hankering yesterday for something tangy and cool, tasty, refreshing and well, interesting. Also wanted something that would compliment the chicken I had planned to marinate & throw on the grill later in the evening. What came to mind was slightly less ordinary than the usual grilled chicken & coleslaw. Nothing too crazy now, in fact I stayed within those same parameters but instead of simple chicken & mayo based coleslaw I went with Asian flavors for something a bit more unique & light.

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Back from break and back at it. Yesterday was the first day of essentially our last course. These next 28 days will wrap up my classroom time at Cordon Bleu- no more tedious commute, no more stupid uniform, no more wretchedly early mornings. Hallelujah- the countdown to liberation begins. Now, I wont be quite through with my schooling just yet (in August, Ill begin my externship) but at least Ill be done with the more formal parts of my education.

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I met Brandi on one of many visits to Las Vegas years ago. I first caught sight of her while drinking at a crusty bar with an ex of mine. Strutting in, she was quite the distraction- tall, blonde, nice teeth and in great shape (partly, I’m sure, due to her work with the police department). The woman was stunning…just hot as hell. We hit it off, had a tryst and over time have established a lovely friendship beyond our initial carnal attraction. Not only is the woman a fox and a good pal but it turns out she makes a damn fine jelly to boot.

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Two Xanax + half a bottle of wine= the only way that I would get on that goddamn plane. Awful, awful…I hate flying. Oddly, this is a brand new development - air travel never used to bother me. Up until the last year or so, I boarded planes like an absolute pro. The idea of lounging back en route to a desirable destination and getting a block of uninterrupted reading/writing in sounded like a good ol’ time. Ah, but no more- now I’m a wreck and sedating me like an unruly animal seems to be the only answer.

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The drive down takes about 5 days total. Seattle shrinks in my rearview, my foot is as heavy as concrete on the gas. The only real stop I will make before hitting Mexico is Tucson, Az. There I will sit down for a good meal at Epic Cafe, stock up on supplies at the cozy co-op and maybe do a little visiting dependent on who may happen to be in town (Tucson is a very transient city- folks are in and out). Then, Ill cross the border and begin the trek down to Bucerias. This is going back in time- I watch as modern cities recede giving way to cinder block homes and dirt roads.

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My morning routine is as follows- brush teeth, wash face, locate eyeglasses, turn on radio (NPR), set up french press coffee, drink first cup, find brain, make breakfast. Ravenously hungry from the moment my feet touch the hardwood floor, its a wonder I find time to hit the bathroom at all before making my way to the kitchen. Eggs, pancakes or pastry are no good- all sit too heavily in my stomach. Butter & jam slathered toast or a peanut butter/honey sandwich used to do it for me once upon a time. They used to…that is until I had a change of heart.

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It’s thawed..slowly but surely the patch of rough snowy weather has dissipated. The misery has come to an end and my feelings can only be described as sweet sweet liberation from a frozen hell. I feel like a refugee-is there still a living, breathing, functioning world out there? Unbelievable. This must be what they call cabin fever- I am cabin fever. That is the word I identify the most with right now. Not tall or blonde or brown eyed…nope, just straight up cabin fever.

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The snow is forcing me to stay indoors and be domestic. Thoroughly outfitted… pearl necklace, red lipstick, a frilly apron and duster in hand-I am a Stepford down to my congenial head tilt. No no, not really but it certainly feels that way at times when I bake. Disoriented and a bit out of my head…the urge to set fire to the curtains and climb aboard a Greyhound is borderline irrepressible. Crazy? yes. Alas, it does not keep me from baking…instead I kind of relish the domesticity for a minute before lighting up a cigarette and taking a healthy swig of gin. It’s all about balance folks. With the weather being so shitty and the oven being so warm, clearly biscotti baking was bound to occur.

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