_________________
Sunday
26 Sept. 99
12 32 am edt
Actresses that I get confused (there are two pairs):
Renée Zellweger | Joey Lauren Adams
of Jerry Maguire (1996) | of Chasing Amy (1997)
Christina Ricci | Reese Witherspoon
of The Opposite of Sex (1998) | of Pleasantville (1998)In addition, I actually though Heather Graham was two different people, based on the great variety of roles she has played. I'm sure the only reason I get these two pairs of women confused is because I don't pay attention to names of actors at all, so I just recognize them by the shapes of their faces. One gets jaded living in Los Angeles, and either has to elect to immerse themselves in the Hollywood culture or to ignore it completely.
1 07 am edt
Matthew more or less got me addicted to balsamic vinegar. I have always been an olive oil fiend, but I never got into the balsamic accompaniment until Matthew. Now I find myself, at one in the morning, prowling the kitchen wondering if I can dip bagel chips in it or if it would be good on leftover steamed white rice. I did have some lovely roasted red peppers this evening with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (unfortunately I didn't make it to the market to pick up fresh basil, which really makes the dish complete).7 08 pm edt
I t was a second day of shopping, following yesterday's purchases. Yesterday added a blender and a beautiful set of seven Wüsthof knives along with various other kitchen utensils, and two new bathmats and three new towels to the apartment. Today saw the obtaining of two pairs of flannel sheets and a mattress pad, as well as the invitation to live here for two years. I can't believe the generosity I have been embraced with. I didn't complain about my little bed (I certainly don't mind the small size of the pull-out-from-couch bed) but a few of the springs managed to get me in my bony hips, so I am delighted for the extra padding the new purchases will bring. We also bought a new stove today, which should be delivered in less than two week's time. I'm sure I will promptly go into a cooking frenzy in celebration. I am already concocting all sorts of excuses to use the new blender (which I love!).7 59 pm edt
I flipped on the tv for noise and it was on WWF. It occurs to me (having never watched it before) that the wrestlers behave as though they are acting out the stereotype of being on PCP. I am excited to be curled up in bed, and am about to watch The Pillow Book, which has been highly recommended to me. Run Lola Run [seen 30 July] and The Sixth Sense19 Sept.] were the best two movies I have seen thus far this year, and my mum just sent me the soundtrack to Run Lola Run, which makes me feel so good to listen to as I prowl the streets of New York City. I love to traipse about with a soundtrack to my life. My recent favorite has been The Best of Sade, but RLR's soundtrack easily usurped that.11 01 pm edt
Shopping today was interrupted by a visit to Java n Jazz at 868 Broadway between 17th and 18th. They had a What is Tea? pamphlet which I took and read. Here are its contents:
WHAT IS TEA? Tea is comprised of the most tender leaves and buds of the tea tree, camellia sinensis. It is categorized by the method in which the leaves are prepared.
BLACK tea is rolled and allowed to oxidize or ferment for one to five hours. Firing the leaves halts the fermentation process. Fermentation gives Black tea its characteristically bold flavor.
OOLONG tea is withered and briefly fermented in the sun before it is pan-fried or fired in baskets over charcoal. Oolongs have an intoxicating fragrance reminiscent of ripe fruits and flowers.
GREEN tea is steamed or fired before rolling to prevent fermentation. Green teas possess an incredible repertoire of flavor -- from rich and nutty Dragonwell to bright, refreshing Sencha.
WHITE tea is simply steamed and dried so that it retains a very fresh and subtly grassy flavor.
HERBAL/FRUIT teas contain no actual tea leaves. They may be composed of many kinds of fruits, flowers and other botanicals like rooibos and peppermint.
SCENTED teas are Black, Oolong, and Green teas which have been dried along with flowers and/or fruits.
FLAVORED teas are usually, but not always, Black teas infused with the natural aromatic oils of spices, flowers, nuts, and fruits. They may contain actual pieces of dried fruit, peel, blossoms, and spice.
Why, you might ask, did I type all that up? I find it fascinating (I'd never even heard of white tea, which is ok, because I am rather put off by the thought of a grass-flavored libation). But even more so, now I don't have to save that piece of paper. This is the closest I can get to taping it into a paper diary or scrapbook (I don't have a scanner, and somehow that still wouldn't cut it for me).
After the shopping excursion was completed, we went for a lovely dinner at Angelo and Maxie's Steakhouse at 233 Park Ave. South (at 19th Street). The menu listed its contents as "MEAT" and "NOT MEAT", however, the "NOT MEAT" section contained not only lobster, scampi, and salmon, but chicken! It would have been better labeled "COW" and "NOT COW". The only non-meat selection in the non-meat section was grilled vegetables, which I didn't get. Instead, I opted for "the wedge salad" with a scrumptious mustard vinaigrette and delicious hash browns (which I have never seen on a dinner menu before). Full Rachel!
Rachel's Daily Diary | evolving entries | yesterday | tomorrow