i'm at school...again? funny how that happens.
I made it all the way to the bus stop this morning before realizing that I had left not only my chicago card but also my upass at home. pay cash or run back home to pick them up? running (and praying that I wouldn't be late) it is. now would be a good time to mention how annoying it is to carry a book bag. once i finally got on the bus i was in such a fowl mood, i put my bag on the seat next to me and glared down incoming passengers. i dare you to try and sit here. i double dog dare you. then i started to feel bad when an old lady came on, so i moved it. she did not sit next to me. sniff. whatever.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
La Cocina de Frida
So I pretty much love mexican food. And I pretty much believe that it is hard to go wrong with mexican food. I'll take la pasadita late on a saturday night or el tapatio for dinner. Its all deliciously wonderful. and this probably biases my review...so I thought I should be upfront about that.
My mom wanted to take my out to celebrate my first week of graduate school and we decided to check out La Cocina de Frida. She has been here a bunch but I'd never been. It has been on my radar for a while, but I just never had a reason to travel so far up north for food. Now that I'm going to Loyola, it is much more convenient :) Anyways...thats just the back story that you probably don't care a whole lot about. Let me get down to the nitty gritty.
+We ordered the nachos w/ chorizo on an indulgent whim. While we immediately regretted the order, I actually enjoyed them the most. I don't know if it was just because I was ravished, but the sinfully delicious combo of sour cream, guac, chorizo, chips, etc was just excellent. Very balanced. I wanted to dive right in.
+The margaritas. We were told that they don't use a mix, so we each ordered one. I'm not a huge margarita drinker and so the drink seemed particularly strong to me when they first arrived, but I persevered :) By the time the glass was have empty, I was very content with my drink.
+The main dishes. Plantain enchiladas with mole sauce? omg. yes please. Delicious. My mom ordered a chicken dish in a peanut sauce which was ... just not what my mom thought it was going to be. My mom mentioned this to the server (in response to being asked if she wanted to take home her leftovers), and they took it off the bill! We were both really surprised and thought that was extremely generous of them.
+Only flan for desert. I was going to order it, but I had already maxed out so I had to pass.
+Service. i could see where people thought it was a bit slow....but for some reason it wasn't bothering me that night.
My mom wanted to take my out to celebrate my first week of graduate school and we decided to check out La Cocina de Frida. She has been here a bunch but I'd never been. It has been on my radar for a while, but I just never had a reason to travel so far up north for food. Now that I'm going to Loyola, it is much more convenient :) Anyways...thats just the back story that you probably don't care a whole lot about. Let me get down to the nitty gritty.
+We ordered the nachos w/ chorizo on an indulgent whim. While we immediately regretted the order, I actually enjoyed them the most. I don't know if it was just because I was ravished, but the sinfully delicious combo of sour cream, guac, chorizo, chips, etc was just excellent. Very balanced. I wanted to dive right in.
+The margaritas. We were told that they don't use a mix, so we each ordered one. I'm not a huge margarita drinker and so the drink seemed particularly strong to me when they first arrived, but I persevered :) By the time the glass was have empty, I was very content with my drink.
+The main dishes. Plantain enchiladas with mole sauce? omg. yes please. Delicious. My mom ordered a chicken dish in a peanut sauce which was ... just not what my mom thought it was going to be. My mom mentioned this to the server (in response to being asked if she wanted to take home her leftovers), and they took it off the bill! We were both really surprised and thought that was extremely generous of them.
+Only flan for desert. I was going to order it, but I had already maxed out so I had to pass.
+Service. i could see where people thought it was a bit slow....but for some reason it wasn't bothering me that night.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
texts from last night
(+27): I feel fat after drinking my meal replacement shake.
(+27): I added chocolate sauce, a bsg of m&ms and a crushed up brownie to make it taste better.
ooooooh this is so my life.
(+27): I added chocolate sauce, a bsg of m&ms and a crushed up brownie to make it taste better.
ooooooh this is so my life.
The Map Room
This place is far less pretentious than I thought it might be. In fact, I am embarrassed to admit that I've avoided this place for years for fear of being burned by some serious beer snobbery. Well, jokes on me because I've been missing out.
The Map Room has a lovely neighborhood pub vibe and it happens to have lots of yummy beers. I'm not a huge beer drinker so I had my companions pick some out for me, and I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed them. This is true drinkability :)
I am definitely going to be coming back here!
The Map Room has a lovely neighborhood pub vibe and it happens to have lots of yummy beers. I'm not a huge beer drinker so I had my companions pick some out for me, and I was really surprised with how much I enjoyed them. This is true drinkability :)
I am definitely going to be coming back here!
Friday, August 28, 2009
as promised
I am currently sitting in my office trying to convince myself to continue reading my statistics text book. snooze. I've already ready about 40 pages AND sat in on the lower level statistics class that I TA so my brain is on stats overload. Fine. Before I move on to my next task, I wanted to share with you the awesome things my awesome statistics teacher said at my awesome first class. Note: This may be the only time I have refer to statistics class as awesome. But, it was truly an inspiring and motivational class. Who knew that was possible where math was concerned?
"Statistics are a gift from God!"
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is interesting, but what they conceal is vital."
"You're going to look mahvalous dahling. And it is better to look good than feel good." (In reference to how we will look when we understand statistics)
"Move towards the stuff you don't know and attack it . . . or caress it."
"SPSS. It's sassy!"
"Statistics are a gift from God!"
"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is interesting, but what they conceal is vital."
"You're going to look mahvalous dahling. And it is better to look good than feel good." (In reference to how we will look when we understand statistics)
"Move towards the stuff you don't know and attack it . . . or caress it."
"SPSS. It's sassy!"
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
super woman
classes attended? check
homework started? check
hardcore sweaty workout? check
wedding planning details attended to? check
e-mails returned? check
I can do this. At least for today.
homework started? check
hardcore sweaty workout? check
wedding planning details attended to? check
e-mails returned? check
I can do this. At least for today.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
should have thought of that before we kissed
Gosh I don't know what happened to me. I've been so mia! I'm sure my five readers have missed my lively updates, right??? haha. Well if you are really jonesin for some alisha info you can check out my new TWITTER. yes. thats right. twitter. I did it. I'm still figuring out how to work it and such, but so far I like how quick it is!
I would say I promise a long update soon, but I don't know if I can really follow through on that. I have so much work! It is cray cray. I have my first advanced stats class today and I'm sure my piles and piles of "to do" are only going to increase. Actually, so far, I only have "to do" for 1 class (as the first day was yesterday) and it already feels full time....not a good sign.
my only non school related piece of update is that Heather Hoffmann from Knox came and stayed with me and Neill last Tuesday. She was leaving for the IASR conference on Wednesday and needed a place to crash Tuesday night that was semi-close to O'hare. Enter us! Being off the blue line, we are prime o'hare crashing space. We went out for yummy noodles at Zen Noodles on North Avenue (delicious) and then checked out The Map Room. Sweet! I had two awesome beers there that definitely need to be had again. On Tuesdays they have an international food buffet for people and I really feel as though we need to get on that wagon. Free yummy food and great delicious beer within walking distance??? Um how have I not known about this? (well . . .actually I have known about it, but I just was ignoring it.)
Schedule for today?
-squeeze in some laps before class. if i decide that i can fit it in. pool opens at 11:30 and class is at 1.
-class 1 to 3:30
-lab meeting at 3:45 to 5:15
-laps if I didn't do them before
-HOME
note to self: must pack lots of food so that i do not eat gross vending machine crap.
I would say I promise a long update soon, but I don't know if I can really follow through on that. I have so much work! It is cray cray. I have my first advanced stats class today and I'm sure my piles and piles of "to do" are only going to increase. Actually, so far, I only have "to do" for 1 class (as the first day was yesterday) and it already feels full time....not a good sign.
my only non school related piece of update is that Heather Hoffmann from Knox came and stayed with me and Neill last Tuesday. She was leaving for the IASR conference on Wednesday and needed a place to crash Tuesday night that was semi-close to O'hare. Enter us! Being off the blue line, we are prime o'hare crashing space. We went out for yummy noodles at Zen Noodles on North Avenue (delicious) and then checked out The Map Room. Sweet! I had two awesome beers there that definitely need to be had again. On Tuesdays they have an international food buffet for people and I really feel as though we need to get on that wagon. Free yummy food and great delicious beer within walking distance??? Um how have I not known about this? (well . . .actually I have known about it, but I just was ignoring it.)
Schedule for today?
-squeeze in some laps before class. if i decide that i can fit it in. pool opens at 11:30 and class is at 1.
-class 1 to 3:30
-lab meeting at 3:45 to 5:15
-laps if I didn't do them before
-HOME
note to self: must pack lots of food so that i do not eat gross vending machine crap.
