Not Without My Rod... or My Pork Products

Well it's another pooptacular spring semester... hence my renewed fervor for this blog. I'll be posting about random observations as well as my weekly log for WS 6800: Global Feminisms: Space, Place, Race and Class. Should be interesting.

So on to the personal updates! I'm in a better place now as far as the leg goes. I'm not bionic anymore folks. Over break I finally had the hardware taken out of my leg as well as the meniscus tear in my knee repaired. Still feeling REALLY stiff (and I know the weather isn't helping.) Trying to get the swelling down and going to physical therapy twice a week for a month. I'm pretty happy about the results... except for the Frankenstein scars. I'll be REALLY happy as soon as I can get back on the treadmill!

In other news, thanks to the ''show money" I finally had a chance to replace a few things in my abode. I'm happy that I was able to get back to Ohio intact and replace my dryer... still have to unpack the rest of my car... but I'm almost done. I also invested in a new food processor! Made bean soup today and the mirepoix practically appeared out of nowhere! Accompanied by a few other gadgets that I unexpectedly received for Christmas (a totally bril panini press, mp3 player, and Sony Reader) I should be occupied for a while as far as readjusting to new stuff. Oh yeah, and I also got a new phone over the weekend in Chicago... lovin the Droid.

So my bfff and I had a really good time there as usual. Was glad that I was able to get around as well as I did! Also sampled the wares of some "exclusive little shops." Went to The Bleeding Heart Bakery and ate some punk rock pastry. Drank lots of coffee. Smoked lots of cigarettes (I'm back on the straight and narrow now... 4 days without any.) Watched The Lovely Bones, Up In The Air, and It's Complicated all in one weekend. Schaumburg and IKEA were extremely welcoming to my hop-along self. I found a wonderful new duvet cover (to replace my dingy old one courtesy of the suggestions from KWKE and many others) and some other stuff to reorganize my disaster of a bedroom.

The best part of the visit was the impromptu early birthday dinner on Friday night at The Publican (aka "The Pelican" if you ask Rae to remember.) IT WAS EFFIN AMAZING!!! I'm always happy to share a meal and try new things with my fave. Here are a few highlights:

house-made pork rinds... also on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Totally Fried" as (ironically) chef Michael Symon's pick

beets, satsumas & ricotta

Sweetbreads, endive, blood orange & almonds

and the infamous frites WITH (MAKE SURE) Louis's organic egg

If you love food and/or "pork products", you should definitely check this place out. Always trying to do the right thing... one slice of pig at a time ;-)

Oh well. Enough for now. That seems like a lot of narcissistic updates. Off to search for some bacon-riffic recipes for Dr. Cyn's Baconfest minana =)