TinyTall 2.0

So it was NT’s birthday last week. On his actual birthday, I took him out for dinner, but the “real” gift was last night- we went to Aida at the Performing arts center here in town. Now, this was a slightly selfish gift, because I wanted to go and I didn’t want to go alone, but since NT is all about music and theater and performance, it truly was for him.

Anyway, all explanations of gift-giving reasoning aside, the evening was WONDERFUL. I got off work at about 4:30 (got kicked out by my boss is more like it), went home, got showered and changed and actually did my hair and makeup. Eyeliner all the way to lip gloss… I don’t get much of a reason to dress up anymore, so I figured why not.

NT came over and picked me up at about 5:30, and we drove downtown for dinner. Ate at a place called Nikko’s. Their Hummus plate was WONDERFULLY good, the waitress (whom I think was also the manager/hostess… it was a fairly slow evening) was attentive and helpful. I had a spinach/chicken/tomato/feta/rice plate (Spani- something) and NT had the Musaka. The plates were put together well, portions were huge, and it tasted pretty good. My rice was a little extra bite, but it’s very possible I just am not used to true Mediterranean flavors. The spinach and chicken and feta combination was very good… the spinach was even properly wilted and not cooked down into a mush. Overall, a very good dinner option.

From there, we walked over to the performing arts center- it was a beautiful day out (I didn’t even need the coat I’d brought). The performing arts center itself is really a very pretty building- your standard theater wood-greens-maroon motif, but very interesting architecturally, and it allows for people-watching very well. We hiked up to our seats (yay for nosebleed section) only to discover we could have taken the elevator. Oh well.

A quick discussion with the usher led to the realization that the row of seats right next to the rail was not sold out- so we moved down and got a little better view Then we wandered around the lobby for a while until the show started- people watching and chatting and generally soaking up the environment.

The show itself was good. It wasn’t Oh-My-God-Best-Thing-Ever, but it was powerfully performed, the music was stick-in-your-head good, and it was so nice to actually be seeing a large production again. Even tho NT kept working out the chord progressions and playing them on a tiny air-piano

Intermission I usually wouldn’t mention, but I was people-watching from the balcony, and this older gentlman who had been doing the same came up to me and said “you are Gloriously tall and beautiful… and don’t change a bit.” Damn! Wow! Talk about an ego boost!

The end of the show was played well. I have to admit I need to research the actual history behind this show a bit more, because while there are rumors of a female Pharaoh, I’m not sure how that fits into the rest of the historical basis of the opera. We walked back to the car (again, a beautiful night) and went to this cute little place with red floors for chocolate cheesecake and to talk out our thoughts about the show.

Overall, it was a wonderful evening. Good food, good company, good theater– how could anybody ask for more? I am just so very very glad that NT had a good birthday (if a week late.)

I know I haven’t been updating lately. As NT would say, I’ve been suffering from “stuck typewriter” syndrome. I’ve had so many different thoughts/directions I haven’t been sure what to put here and what to leave alone.

So, here’s the quick basics.
I’ve found a new place to live- a cute little studio with RED, yes, red, floors in the living/bedroom and a HUGE kitchen. The bathroom is tiny, but it is my OWN space where I will even be able to get my mail on a regular basis. It’s been joked that it will be the ultimate “bachelor pad” with a queen bed in the middle of the room and a giant TV. Oh, right, speaking of which…

I also picked up a CRT projector for $50. Haven’t set it up or worked with it much, but I found it amusing as my brother, just a few months ago, also picked up a CRT for $50. His is a little higher-end than mine, but hey, an 8-foot image for less than a flatscreen TV- I’m not about to complain. I just have to convince my new landlord to let me mount the thing on the ceiling.

Work went crazy busy (overtime like mad) and now has slowed down. There were minor frustrations with two of the three of my “team” working 50+ hours, and one leaving right at 5pm every day. Oh well.

I did the poetry slam last night. Used a poem I’ve had written for a long time- didn’t make it to the second round (out of nine slammers)- got 8’s pretty much across the board (out of 10) so I didn’t do horribly. I’m not sure if I’ll do it again though, because the adrenaline hit of competition did things to me I’m not entirely sure I like… afterwords I got shaky and my brain wouldn’t stop rushing ahead… and while I used to do that every weekend, I don’t know if I like that part of myself anymore.

And lastly, things seem to be falling into place for NT, and this makes me incredibly happy. It’s been darn long enough for him!

It’s not my story to tell, though. What is my story is the fact that I feel like the crayons that the pictures in my head get drawn with are shading differently than they used to. I’m not entirely sure how to react to this yet, but I’ve written more, and want more badly to get my camera out, than I have in a long time.

Oh, and I’m finally getting to the point I don’t get ENTIRELY lost when I try to find my way around town.

Overall, things are going well, and updates will hopefully be coming more often these days.

NT lent me a copy of one of his CDs that was made pre-Spokane. I put it in this morning at work, and have listened to it twice now (ok, a few songs more than that). Part of this is because I’d never heard him sing before, and his voice is truly gorgeous.

I am somewhat surprised at my other reactions, though. I know that much of what is on this CD is no longer who NT is, that many many changes have happened since this recording was made. I can hear some of the seeds of these transitions in the music. It’s also like looking through windows that are lit-up on a dark street… you know you shouldn’t be peeking in, but something in you just wants to keep watching.

I’ve also had a mini-burst of creativity and introspectiveness (bad poetry, here we come).

Long story short, listening to this CD has been an almost… intimate experience, getting a glimpse into the history that has influenced a good friend. I’ll probably get in trouble when he reads this, and there are many more half-formed thoughts, but in the end it’s a glimpse in history’s window I’m glad I got the chance to see.

As of late, with the combination of snow on the ground and projects (and problems) coming out of my ears, I haven’t been able to devote the mental energy to food that I usually crave. This, however, means I am more intent on concentrating flavors and food-ie-ness into every moment I spend in the kitchen. Last night’s dinner turned out exceptionally well, and can be made easily with things I usually keep on-hand (or are inexpensive to pick up). It combines Mediterranean flavors- which I’ve been trying to work with more- and an earthiness that the soul craves when the world is frozen.

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 drained can (or about 1 cup frozen) corn niblets
1 fresh tomato
Crumbled Feta Cheese to taste (I used about 1/2 a small package)
Olive Oil
Garlic Powder
Paprika
Thyme or Basil
Salt

Fill a skillet with about 1/4 to 1/2 inch water, and place over a burner on high. When water is barely beginning to bubble, add the chicken breast. Poach lightly until the chicken is mostly cooked through. Set the chicken aside, and drain the water. Drizzle olive oil in the skillet, and place chicken back in the skillet, turning once to coat with oil. Sprinkle herbs to taste over the chicken. Add drained corn over the chicken, and grill over medium heat, turning chicken once and adding herbs to the underside.

Remove pan from heat, and add feta. Cover pan for 2-5 minutes so residual heat can soften the cheese.

Slice tomatoes into wedges, or dice into cubes. Plate chicken with corn, and arrange tomatoes around the dish.

And there you have it- quick grilled dinner, comparatively healthy, and with enough flavor to wake up your taste buds after a long day at work.