Three Times Dope

Sake Bomb

-1 shot of warm sake

-6 oz of cold domestic beer (I used Coors Light because someone left a case at my house during my last party) 

-chopsticks

Pour beer into a frosted pilsner glass. Set chopsticks parallel across the top of the glass.  Balance the sake in a shot glass on the chopsticks.  Bang on the table until the shot glass falls into the beer and chug.  Don't expect to feel like a lady when you're done.

As you can imagine I have been crazy busy and life has been a complete whirlwind.  I decided on an awesome awesome awesome condo in Hyde Park (ya know, Barack Obama and Farrakhan's hood? Yeah, that Hyde Park).  I chose this place because of the location, it has a great walk score, and because it had elements that I have always loved about my homes.  I love old fixtures and a building that has some history, but it's also very modern with stainless steel and granite everything. It also has something that I've coveted for like eva' - exposed brick. I heart exposed brick.  Don't worry kids - I'll be sure to have virtual housewarming in a few months, and I'll show the place off.

So now I have the place, and I have the date.  All's I gotta do now is just move.

Oh, and party.

I've already mentioned my Rock Kicking Party, but I've decided to do a three part extravaganza that I'm calling Three Times Dope.  It's my birthday party/girls night in/going away party all wrapped into a 3 day event that's sure to give out nothing but good memories and hangovers.  So why the sake bomb?  Part 1 is a private karaoke party at Yakitori Boy. 

mmm sake.  

A Change Gonna Come

Optimism (when life hands you lemons, make lemonade vodka)

2 oz lemonade vodka (brand: Sweet Carolina)

1 oz triple sec

3 oz cranberry juice

Frozen cranberries (get 'em at Whole Foods)

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker over ice.  Boom! Shake shake shake the room

Pour over ice into a Collins glass  

Float three frozen cranberries in the drink.  Helps to keep it cold, and when they thaw, they're fun to squeeze in the drink for an added burst of flavor and color

We interrupt the last post (that I started writing nearly a month ago) to bring you some exciting news:

I. Got. The. Job.

!!!!!

I've been stressing at work lately and have been feeling at my wits end.  One day in particular I was feeling out of sorts and my cell phone rang from a familiar area code.  When the caller said "Alice, I apologize for taking so long to get back to you, but we would like to formally extend you an offer..." I almost wet my pants.  It was the perfect call, at the perfect time, with the perfect opportunity.  Oh and did I mention that in addition to an $11,000 salary bump, I'm also getting a signing bonus to help with my move to Chicago?

Yeah.  Who has 2 thumbs and rocks? [pointing thumbs at self] THIS GIRL!!!!

So I just got back from spending 4 days there apartment shopping, and I've narrowed it down to two awesome places.  I'll be moving in mid March and have already started planning my "bon voyage extravaganza" complete with a "Rock Kicking Party".

You know, because I'm about to kick rocks. 

When life hands you lemons, make a vodka lemonade cooler, and wait for the fruits of your labor to fall upon you.

Hello 2010, how are ya?

Candy Cane Martini

2 oz peppermint schnapps

1 oz vodka

2 oz half and half

Sloe Gin

Combine schnapps, vodka and half and half with ice in a cocktail shaker.  Shake Shake Shake Shake, uh Shake it!

Strain into a martini glass.  Drizzle sloe gin down the side of the glass until it rests at the bottom

Garnish with a mini candy cane (I ate mine before I remembered to take the picture)

So I'm still waiting for something final about Chicago.  Things slowed down during this holiday season, because of vacations, but I'm still extremely optimistic.  In an effort not to jinx it though, I'm not going to go into it right now.

*beep ba deep beep beep ba deep beep*

Breaking news, breaking news!

 

750 miles to the left

Chi-Town (Alice's take on the old classic Chicago Cocktail)

2 oz. White Brandy (Christian Brothers makes a great, if not the only, frost white brandy)
1 oz. Lemon/Lime flavored seltzer water

1 oz. Triple Sec 

Dash of Angostura Bitters

Use a cocktail glass with a sugar rim (rub a lemon around the rim of the glass then dip it in powdered sugar). Combine ingredients (except the seltzer) in a shaker over ice. Shake it up, shake it up, shake it up, shake it.  Then strain into the glass adding the seltzer simultaneously.  The original recipe uses regular brandy and champagne, but mine is better, so there.

I know that I've been gone for a while, but I've been crazy busy.  My sister is doing really well, and that stress has been lifted.  After all of that I've decided to make some significant changes in my life.  I've been thinking about goals that I've had for a while and how I need to start making things happen, rather then daydream and live in regret.

I'm actually part of a small group of fabulous women who are generally separated by one degree or less.  We've created a list of 40x40.  Meaning 40 goals that we would like to accomplish by the time that we turn 40 years in age.  Now on my 40, I have a gang of things, but one that has been paramount is to move to Chicago.  I fell in love with the city after seeing the movie Love Jones (corny, I know), but after visiting a  few times I decided a few years ago that one day I would call Chi-town home.

So over the last few weeks I've been interviewing with a company in my coveted city.  I've had a gang of phone interviews, one face to face interview locally and I'll be out there next week for what may be a final interview! I'm super optimistic about this job - so much so I've started apartment hunting and last night I'm convinced that I found THE perfect apartment! It's in the neighborhood that I want, in my price range and has 3 of my fave architectural features - clawfoot tub, exposed brick AND hardwood floors. 

Somebody pinch me. 

The interviews have been going extremely well and at this point I think that the only thing that I could do to ruin it would be to show up late, drunk and to piddle in the middle of the conference room floor.  Since I stopped drinking malt liquor when I was 17, the chances of that happening are slim to none.  I'm trying not to jinx myself, but I also believe in willing things to happen, so I can't wait until I get the offer from my new job, so that I can call my new landlord and tell him to hold my new apartment, cuz Mama's coming. 

Now where did I put my drink?

Mi Hermana - crazy wonderful

Perk Spot

1 cup of hot, dark brewed coffee

1 shot of Baileys Irish Cream

1 packet of sweetener (I prefer Equal because Splenda is weird and Sweet n Low makes everything taste like toothpaste)

If you need instructions for this drink, you should not be drinking coffee nor alcohol. tyvm.

My sister is in the hospital.  2 days ago she had an abscess in her mouth that became extremely infected and threatened to block her airways.  After visiting the ER they admitted her and performed emergency surgery.  She hasn't woken up yet.

They say  that it's normal and that she's fine.  She's just sedated because of the breathing tube but she'll be just fine. They say that in the morning they'll remove the breathing tube and she will wake up and other than not being able to speak immediately, she'll be just fine. So why can't I stop crying?  I mean I know why, but since all you guys know is that I loathe crying you may not really understand.

My sister and I are 17 months apart in age.  One would think that we'd grow up as thick as thieves. But one would be wrong.  While we were close (sharing a bedroom for 15 years tends to MAKE you close, at least in proximity) but all through childhood we fought like cats and dogs.  Hell, we didn't even start getting along until about 3 or 4 years ago. Yes I'm 32. Do the math.

I'm not exactly sure what our problems were.  I mean everything would stem from something minor but it would always end with an all out knock down drag out fight as if we were strangers in the street and a bitch just spat on you. I mean, I loved my sister, but I think it was more out of obligation and a shared bloodline than anything else, because I sure as hell didn't like her. She was mean. And stubborn. And angry. And just not friggin' nice.  Then suddenly something just clicked and changed.  We just got along. We never talk about it (although my mother has noticed), but it just is. We hang out. Laugh together. Openly love each other. And even when we get into a little bit of a tiff, it's squashed immediately.  She actually has a key to my home and is welcome to come and go as she pleases.  Even my parents have to call before just coming by.  My sister with all of her pride calls on me and counts on me for anything and I can count on her as well.  It's crazy, but crazy wonderful.

So seeing my tough sister who I just started this REAL relationship with laying in a hospital room motionless with tubes in her is devastating.  I just wish that I could fix her and make her all better so that we can hurry up and continue being the best sisters ever. But I can't.

And it makes me sad.  But I know that she will be okay. And as soon as she is, I'll make us a couple of Perk Spots and we'll hang out.  Just my sister and me.