In an airport for the fifth day in a row

I traveled every day this week. I'm posting from Phoenix airport, while I wait for my seventh - and last - flight of the week. Sat down for a pizza and a beer and the waitress (the lady with New Jersey hair in the middle of the picture) carded me. When I said I am 33, she answered "congratulations". I hate this kind of stupid irony - if you can't be smart, irony is not for you. Anyway, the beer was good and the pizza was burned. But pizza is always good even when it's bad. And I'm flying home in an hour, finally!

Still eating at my desk

Kellie didn't come. She left a message on my answering machine, around 8:30 am, and she could barely speak, poor girl. Maybe she caught the same cold that caught me last week. I just hope she's taking it well, being at home and not working anymore.

Anyway, I ended up staying in the office and had my usual Campbells soup and tuna again, instead of the planned breakfast, for lunch. If at least I managed to loose some weight while eating this boring meals, but apparently my scale focuses more on the dinners and glasses of wine....

On being a happy camper

Who said I'm not a camper? I am, but this is the kind of camping experience that appeals to me. With a big warm bed, shower and fireplace - a place where the days end in incredible fondues and fabulous wines.

No tents for me, sir!

Not anymore.

Never more.

Who's that guy inside the sauce?

The best thing about good friends is that they don't have to be like us. For me, it's important that they like sushi, sake and haagen dazs, but they can be the kind that go clubbing after dinner, when all I want is to trow myself in my warm bed with a book.

It's because we are so different that we complement each other so well.

Yes, last night's dinner included sake

It always does. And it's not only because Carol, our waitress, turns funnier and funnier as we drink.

I don't mind going always to the same places. Actually, I love places where I feel at home, where we know all the waitresses and don't even have to look at the menu, because everyone knows what we like to eat and drink.

vtp - by the kitchen counter

My kitchen has a bar. People arrive and sit around it – close to the finger food, close to the wine and close to the cook (a.k.a. myself). And the living room, all dressed up in flowers and candles, is left alone, remembering the time when visitors were more worried about behaving properly and less worried about having fun. Last evening was a girls only. Nine women.

- I’ve always wanted to paint a fake mark on my face, like Cindy Crawford.

- I’ve done it once! Got an eyeliner and painted it right here.

- Why? Where did you go with it?

- I was still with my ex boyfriend. We had to go to a boring party and I decided to have my own fun. But I had to go to the restroom a hundred times, to repaint it.

- And what did your ex think about the mark?

- He hated it. He got so angry about it… and as he got angrier, I repainted it more and more. I had so much fun on that day

My favorite kind of friend

My favorite kind of friend is that one that makes me feel good just to look at him.

My favorite kind of friend is that one whose simple touch makes me smile.

Or start laughing, out of control, if it happens after a couple of sakes.

Girls night out - part III

- Relationships are always so complicated...

- I agree. That's why I don't have a steady boyfriend.

- What? What about that guy...?

- Oh, you are right, I do have one.

Girls night out - part II

- I was all ready, waxed, manicured, massaged, everything. I even bough new panties with a red cross on the front because he's a doctor, as you know. I thought it would be a fun touch.

- I can't believe you, Bibs! You are the funniest! What did he think of it?

- He looked at me and started laughing like a mad man.

............................

- Did we tell you about that party in Pinda?

- You went all the way to Pindamonhangaba just to go to a party?

- Yes, the two of us and Carol - and we met a friend there. We arrived at the party and soon got lost from him. We just saw him again when there was a crowd around a fight. When we got close to take a look, there he was, punching a drunk guy that flerted with one of us.

- Oh! And what happened next?

- Well, then we did what every smart woman does when she sees a fight: we yelled. And, after yelling, each one grabbed a chair, made a Charlie's Angels face and tried to help.

............................

- Let me understand this right. You are telling me that you would go to the gym everyday, spent the entire afternoon there and, even though, you were fat?

- Yes, that't right. Carol had a restaurant on the floor above the Gym. We would face a spinning class and then run upstairs to hidrate the body with mojitos. And we would spend hours playing backgammon and eating those little potato breads that she makes.

............................

What do the handbags think of our conversations, when we leave them all together, on a chair?

Girls night out - part I

- We are on our way to Kosushi, do you want to meet us there?

- Oh, please, not sushi again, I ate sushi yesterday...

- We like sushi because it's light but, if you prefer, we can eat a little salad somewhere.

- Great! See you at Burger Bistro in half an hour.

In the picture, burger with creamy cheese sauce and chives. On the back, burger with a wild mushroom sauce. Each of them sitting on a nest of potatoes. Out of the picture, lots of wine and apple pie with ice cream. We are not that good with being light.

Change of plans

Shoes off again. Sushi, sashimi, sake. And a good conversation going on, with the other side of the table. Some plans change at a Friday night. Thankfully, always for better.

Things to do when fotolog is down (get a life?)

Things to do when fotolog is down:

- Spend quality time with friends.(I really missed this view, the friend behind the sake box)

Food and love

The person who taught me how to cook used to say that when you cook for someone, you are showing your love. That's what I've learned. Nowadays, when my friends come over for dinner, they say thank you and I feel a little weird, because I should be the one saying thank you. It's a great pleasure to cook for people I love.

This apron used to be his and I use it everytime I want to make sure nothing goes wrong. The star of today's dinner was dry meat mezzalunas with pumpkin sauce. Great!

At the Argentinean restaurant

A couple of friends.

A great conversation.

Several glasses, for wines that fit every course.

Is there a better way to spend a Saturday night?

Cheers

Another Friday night - yu-huuu

vacation series - gourmet shopping

We went in to get some bread for a picnic - but there's no way you'll take me to a Dean & Deluca megastore and I'll leave with only a bread in my bag.

vacation series - lunch in Napa

Domain Chandon, Napa Valley.

A hard day's night

It's really tiring to work at a trade show. But I think it must be harder for those who don't have access to the vip room ;)

Recipe for a great dinner party

1. Champagne and foie gras, just to get in the mood.

2. Great assistants (you didn`t expect me to peel the onions myself, did you?)

3. A really nice apron (I collect aprons, I love them).

4. Cool guests.

Pastéis de Belém

I used to think that real friends didn't get married and move, but I found out that they do get married and sometimes move to places far far away (even though they have a way of making me feel close).

Real friends move to Lisbon but don't loose their places. And, most important, they come to visit and bring "pastéis de Belém" (a famous and very tasty pastry, tipical of Portugal) with these sugar and cinnamon sachets that are the cutest thing. Thanks, Carol.