God I Want a Burger

I am so hungry for meat. I've been craving a burger since... the new year? possibly earlier. Maybe it's because I've been running a lot more. They say that I should be eating more protein (more than you'd ever think necessary) when you exercise. Better than bread, but I crave bread too. So I guess that's a no go.

Anyway, I want a huge hunk of beef smacked between two loaves of bread. Yes whole loaves! Meat that has been cooked slowly over a flame grill so that the outside turns that gorgeous brown while keeping the inside juicy and pink. Pink pink pink pink pink... I want the meat to have the texture of dough, soft, delicious, malleable dough. So that when you bite into it, it falls apart in your mouth and melts with juicy flavor. And I don't mean just any type of juice. This isn't grease we're talking about. The juice runs clear brown-red with tiny bubbles of liquefied fat that glisten on the surface as they swirl around my plate. Juice that drips out the back of the bun, down my hands and wrists. Juice that is salty and savory and sweet all at once.

Then on top I will have sliced tomatoes straight from the garden, ripe and red and tender - the seeds of which have been removed so that only the swollen flesh clinging to the skin is left. Diced onions mixed into the mayonnaise, tart and tangy has been spread onto the bun to keep them from slipping off. And fresh shredded lettuce, as much as could fit in the palm of my hand, has been stashed between it all before the bun is closed.

Meanwhile, a miracle has occurred beneath the burger where cheese has melted into an ooey gooey mess. Pickles, sweet bread and butter pickles have been arranged in an overlapping counterclockwise circle stuck to the bottom bun with ketchup so thick it doesn't move until you tear your bite away. The bun itself is a dense potato bread dusted with cornmeal and sesame seeds before being toasted a golden brown.

It has all been stacked neatly and pricked with a single cocktail toothpick. Ready and waiting for me to scoop it up, two handed, and devoured!

Things To Be Thankful For

I've got so many things to be happy for this year. The first of which are 1) I'm 24. I'm at the prime of my life, so to speak. I'm young, healthy (er... that's healthier), I'm not living in a box and at this point I could do anything and everything that comes my way, I'm getting along with my parents and have all the time in the world to do the things I want to do. And 2) it's 2010. A new decade to start things off fresh. Combined, these two things form this sort of "good omen" over my head like a giant, puffy, silver-lined cloud just hovering up there with a thousand fairy dust rain drops ready to come sprinkling down on top of me. Fun thought, no?

Anyways, so along with this sparkly New Year's Eve image I've come up with a few New Year's resolutions: 1) Loose weight. Easier said than done, BUT I've decided that since it takes 21 days to form a habit, that if I go jogging every day... 21 days from now I'll have to go jogging in an obsessive compulsive way. And by jogging every day I'll stay active, keep up my metabolism, and help curb my appetite. 2) Keep tabs on my progress for both weightloss and jogging in my shiny new calendar!! (Half-price at Borders!!) It's an Ireland calendar with lots of pretty green pastoral pictures. 3) Obviously keep jogging.

And thankfully, I'm actually seeing progress! In the 5 days that I've been jogging, I've lost 3 or 4 pounds! If I can just keep this up (PLEASE GOD LET ME KEEP THIS UP) I might actually hit my goal of getting skinny/sexy and running a 10k in the not too distant future! (Am I using a lot of exclamation points? I don't know if you've noticed but I am very excited at the prospect of looking decent for a change)

Yet another thing to be thankful for... I have projects to do! Yay!! A new sheer dress for civil war with beautiful flowy soft gingham sheer in a light honey color with what I'm thinking will be a deep rosey pink accent color. I think i might spend time doodling this one up. I can't decide on the bodice, but I've got some time before I need to make a decision on details. I'm also getting better at knitting and have made myself a hat and one matching mitt... the second mitt to come! I like how intricate knitting can get, crochet always seems so bulking and grandma-ish!

I'm one step closer to finding the perfect job! I can feel it in my bones, this is my year to move out and make money! I just know that I'll hear something from someone... or find the perfect job to apply for! And then I can live independently and meet new people, make new friends, possibly a boyfriend which would be splendid! I can see it now, an almost adult-like life! I'll be able to pay off bills!! And see a doctor!! And save some money for a grand trip to New Zealand or Ireland to visit the places in my calendar!!

This is my year... I can feel it!!