Delcious Detroit

Last Friday Bill and I drove up to Detroit to visit some of our favorite friends. It just so happened to be the same day that Detroit filed for bankruptcy. Upon entering the city, we couldn't help but notice an abundance of abandoned skyscrapers and busted out windows on the homes visible from I75. This contrasted perfectly with the vibrantly lit casinos, reminding Bill of Hill Valley under the reign of Biff Tannen.

How did they get the graffiti up there?

We continued north several miles out of downtown and arrived at our friends' house in the hip Royal Oak neighborhood. It has a bustling main street that feels like a bigger version of the Short North in Columbus, a far cry from the destitute city we had just passed.

***

On Saturday, we were excited to get the royal driving tour through the ruins of downtown. Even though, half of the buildings are abandoned, there are still a great deal of people who work in the city, so naturally there are some great eats. We stopped at our friend's favorite sandwich place, Mudgies Deli. It's small vintage orange interior matched up with the funk tunes on the speakers for a perfect 70's vibe. I felt right at home.

My friend and I decided to try the sweet and savory turkey sandwich, 'Sho'Nuff'. It was delicious, and I have been craving it for several days.

***

Today, I tried my take on it, which was quite successful if I do say so myself.

      Sweet & Savory Turkey Club

• 2 slices whole wheat toast (the bread is from the bakery at Whole Foods)
• cream cheese on one slice
• strawberry jam on the other slice
• Applewood Farms smoked turkey breast
• crispy bacon
• fresh baby spinach

Every time I make this sandwich, I'll remember how much fun we had last weekend! -ALT

I'm So EXCITED!

I am super stoked for this weekend! Bill and I are driving up to Detroit to visit some friends we haven't seen in over a year. Its time to bust out the dancing shoes and the Ultimate Falsetto Dance Mix. Let's see if Bill can handle the upper body 'car dancing'.

1. Don't Stop Me Now - Queen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM

2. The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRYNYb30nxU

3. Danger! High Voltage - Electric Six

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a4gyJsY0mc

4. Of Montreal - Gronlandic Edit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBfgQvM7wtE

5. Kiss - Prince

6. Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I

7. Love Today - Mika

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWiccrTB4LM

8.Canned Heat - Jamiroquai

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vE4VlA_9OrI

9. Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft. T.I, Pharrell (Clothed Version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU

10. Superfly - Curtis Mayfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cmo6MRYf5g

11. Got to Give It Up - Marvin Gaye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ3Mh_JfYC0

12. Debra - Beck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL_9zWmDcjs

Love Y'all! Have a GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Safe Space

I have anxiety. I always have and I always will. Have. ANXIETY. It’s not the normal nervous kind of anxiety before an important test or speech. I actually handle those situations quite well. It’s the ‘wash my hands an even number of times after touching the bathroom doorknob or my family will perish’ crazy kind of anxiety. It. Doesn’t. Go. Away.

I’m 28 and I still have panic attacks, but I’m learning how to deal with them. I have to process my emotions in a safe space. I have moved at least once every year since I left my parents’ house and in every new location I have to set up a new quiet space. For me, this means a comfy chair in a peaceful room with a lot of natural light.

This is my current safe space and my favorite yet…

I like it because there’s only one chair. Bill knows that when I’m sitting in that chair, I am reflecting, reading, or watching Pretty Little Liars. And before you start... don’t even hate on PLL! It always brings back some of my favorite childhood memories. When I watch it, I remember going to my elderly neighbors’ house to watch Murder She Wrote. Monie would always give me a scoop of Rainbow Sherbet on a sugar cone. Sometimes she would lick the scoop and her tongue would stick. She resolved the issue by running some warm water and would stick her mouth under the faucet until the scoop unfroze. We would move to the living room to play solitaire until it was time for Jessica Fletcher to solve her next crime. I usually sat on the floor next to George’s recliner because I liked how he smelled like the cherry pipe tobacco that he smoked outside. I always wanted a chair that was all mine. Now that I have one, I sometimes close my eyes and can smell the tobacco and taste that last bite of ice cream cone.

... and so it begins

Journaling has been on my mind for the past few years. It’s something I’ve wanted to do and have attempted on several occasions. Every so often, I will buy a new moleskin journal and write in it for a week or so, but it never sticks. Later I might find this sad remnant of self-preservation lying around the house, only to use the remaining pages for grocery lists. It’s not that there’s a lack of inspiration, I am merely too busy following my ‘passion of the moment’ to focus long enough to chronicle the thoughts buzzing through my head. I am always reminded of Flora Post from Cold Comfort Farm, settling down to write her novel. She never does progress beyond ‘the golden orb….’

With that being said, I am going to start this blog, but don’t expect that:

1. I will stick to any one topic

2. I will make complete thoughts

3. I will post in a consistent pattern

Welcome to my world.