eating & drinking

Last night Ezer and I stopped by the birthday gathering for a woman from church. It was a mixed groups with cousins, co-workers, etc. all thrown together at Soho 323. It reminded me that for large numbers of people, alcohol is a central part of social functions. I have to admit I have a prejudice against those who have more than two drinks in any one sitting (Southern Baptist upbringing?). While the birthday gal was downing a Jaeger Redbull shot, I couldn't help but start thinking about all those stats about body size and alcohol absorption, hoping that she wouldn't try to keep up with the boys. It also started at 10pm, an hour that usually signals time to start winding down and brushing those teeth...well maybe a little later than 10pm.

The area we were in, Soho, just above Tribeca, was also our destination earlier this week. Friends gave us tickets they couldn't use to EatOut05. It was a large hall with booths for 40 different restaurants and a sponsored open bar in the middle. Ezer and I joke that we can finally say we've had food from Nobu. My favorite tasting was the "Halibut roulade with arugula, cauliflower, mushrooms, verjus and grape beurre blanc" from DB Bistro Moderne. Ezer went back for seconds of the Ebi shinjo (shrimp fritters) from EN Japanese Brasserie and Chanterell's "Ginger picked salmon with seaweed and wasabi."

This afternoon I worked on putting together a summary of my dissertation project. I have an informal meeting with my core committee members on Monday. Hopefully they all think I am on track to finish in May!

I just finished reading this book called The Friendship Crisis by Marla Paul: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You're Not a Kid Anymore. It was good inspiration to press forward in terms of trying to make new friends. It's helpful to feel like you're not the only one who has had your efforts rebuffed, had friendships end, have had a hard time creating meaningful relationships with other women. It also talked about the importance of groups as well as one-on-one friendships, things you could try to do to cultivate friendships and maintain or deepen the ones you have. It's like one of those things probably many women go through but you don't really talk about it...I just moan to Ezer that I don't want to have a birthday party because I don't have any friends in the City and he still somehow finds ten people who are willing to show up for a surprise party and eat cake with me.