Texas Lou

One of the worst things you can do at work is burn popcorn.  This terrible offense brings about the punishment of hearing “What’s that terrible smell?” and “Who burned popcorn?” for the rest of the afternoon.

It’s one thing to burn popcorn in your own home where you only risk offending the sense of smell of your loved ones, and really loved ones were made to offend.  But burning popcorn AT WORK, disrupting all of that productivity because each and every coworker HAS to comment on that god-awful smell?  What kind of person would do such a thing?  THE INSANITY!

Ok, so I burned the popcorn…I admit it.  I was distracted while it was in the microwave and I should have been monitoring it very closely.  I apologize VGT and for future reference, for the love of all that smells decent, please don’t talk to Leslie Elsaifi while she is cooking popcorn in the microwave…it can only end badly.  🙂

Today, February 22, 2010, is National Margarita Day and to celebrate, I want to tell everyone about one of the most unique margaritas I’ve ever had.

Now my mom’s homemade margaritas are definitely my favorite.  She usually makes them out of frozen limeade, Jose Cuervo tequila, Triple Sec, ice, and salt on the rim.  However, recently I discovered a new type of margarita.  It was a jalapeño margarita!

I know it sounds dangerous, but it was actually quite delicious.  For those who are not a fan of anything too spicy (definitely NOT me), the heat of this drink would definitely be tolerable.  It tasted like a regular margarita with a hint of jalapeño that was spicier to the lips than the tongue.

Where did I discover this new beverage you ask?  At a high-end Mexican restaurant in downtown Charlottesville called Ventana.  They don’t currently have a website, but I figure it’s only a matter of time.  I dined there a few weeks ago with a couple of friends before attending the Complexions Contemporary Ballet at Charlottesville’s Paramount Theater.  It was the perfect beginning to the evening!

We dined during Restaurant Week since Ventana was offering a 3-course  meal for only $26 (substantially cheaper than their usual prices).  The food was different and delicious and I can’t wait to check it out again for a taste of what is on their regular menu.  However, the drinks were what really wowed me!  In addition  to the jalapeño margarita that I ordered, the drink menu featured several other unique drinks that I’d love to try in the future, including a cucumber margarita, a habañero margarita, a $100 dollar margarita called “el dinero”, and according to a friend, the best long island iced tea they’ve ever tasted!

I definitely plan on making a trip to Ventana again soon for both dinner and drinks and will introduce it to any of my Texas friends and family who make the trip to Virginia for a visit!  For a more descriptive account of Ventana’s cuisine and atmosphere, you can check out the local Charlottesville blog, Cvillain.  You can also read more about Ventana’s unique margaritas on the local Charlottesville blog, Mas to Millers.

Happy National Margarita Day!  I hope everyone celebrates with something cold and delicious that hits the spot!

This is a cheap little souvenir I bought myself at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin back in December.  Even though it’s just a coffee mug, I think it might be one of my favorite pieces of Texas memorabilia, not just because I love the quote, but because it reminds me of a wonderful weekend trip that I spent with friends and family in the lonestar state.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!

Whenever I’m driving down the road and happen to see a vehicle pass me with a Texas license plate, something inside me jumps for joy.  It’s like that feeling I used to get when my high school crush would call and I would see his name on the caller id before picking up the phone.  A tiny bit of excitement takes over my heart because I know that the person in that vehicle has something wonderful in common with me!

So it is somewhat rare to see a Texas license plate in Virginia which is why I react this way.  However, when I travel to Texas and my mom picks me up from the airport, the first few cars that I see trigger this feeling inside of me.  And then I realize how silly I am because I’m back in Texas and seeing a Texas license plate IN Texas is no big deal!  But then I smile because I’m in Texas!

I know it’s random, but nothing feels like home, quite like Texas does.

Friday, February 12th, I drove to Virginia Beach with three friends from work to compete in the Virginia is for Lovers 14K.

We were all a bit worried as the weather forecast was calling for a 90% chance of snow.  However, I consider us to be lucky that the race wasn’t canceled and the snow didn’t begin until halfway through the 8.68 mile run.

This race was part of our training for the Yuengling Shamrock Half Marathon that we are running in March.  All in all, the race went well.  Aside from the sideways snow and the 20 mph wind that started around the 5th mile, it was a fun race!

My stats were as follows:

Place	Name	City	Bib No	Age	Overall	Chip Time	Gun Time
243	Leslie Erin Elsaifi	Charlottesville VA	633	27	1829	1:52:32.8	1:56:12.8

After the race, we got to enjoy free Yuengling and burritos at the after party.  Despite the cold weather and snow, it was a pretty awesome experience and I can’t wait to do it again next year!

A couple of months ago, Mattel held an online poll to see what Barbie’s next career would be.  I voted and chose the profession of Computer Engineer because:

1. I’m a computer engineer
2. I’m all for empowerment of women in the sciences

The votes were tallied and two professions for 2010 were chosen:

1. News Anchor
2. Computer Engineer

I love Barbie’s new look for her new job!  You can check it out here.

New experiences for January 2010 include:

• Petting a live chicken
• Trying escargot
• Going to the ballet

The ballet actually doesn’t take place until Sunday, but I’m pretty excited about it!

Update:  I am now subscribed to 97 blogs.  Scary!

If you know me well, then you know that every year in January, I spend a long weekend in Las Vegas with several of the most awesome ladies in my life.

The tradition started twenty years ago.  My mom was having the most hellish year…her mom died, father-in-law died, the dog died, and the van got stolen.  So in January, when the new year started, her best friend, Mrs. C, and favorite aunt, Aunt Platt (aka Mary Fuckin’ Poppins) said after last year, this year cannot get any worse, so let’s go to Vegas to start it off right.  And so the tradition began.

When I was a little girl, I used to cry and cry when my mom left us every January for that long weekend.  My dad thought I was crying because I missed my mom, but honestly, deep down, I think I was crying cause I knew how much fun they were having without me and I wasn’t old enough to join in!

Well the year I turned 21, that rite of passage awaited me, and I got to go to Vegas for the first time!  I haven’t missed a trip yet and this will be my 7th year!  It’s pretty much my version of Christmas and it’s the best damn 5 days and 4 nights a woman could ask for.  No men allowed…only ladies…and we party our asses off until we are sick!

I’m going back to Vegas tomorrow.  I’ll get to see cousins, aunts, good friends, my mom, and my sister and I ABSOLUTELY CAN’T WAIT!  So in honor of my Vegas Girls and because it is Vegas Eve (yes, it is a holiday in my book), I wrote this poem!

Twas the night before Vegas, when all through the houses

The ladies were packing and picking out blouses.

Bracelets were hung from their wrists with Sin City charms,

As they decided which Vegas purse to wear on their arms.

The Vegas girls were way too excited for bed,

While Elvis sang Viva Las Vegas in their heads.

Now was no time for sleeping or resting or naps,

All that business could wait until they got back.

Thinking back on all of the past Vegas trips,

They grew more excited to trade money for chips.

Even though they might be digging into their secret stash,

They hoped to return home with a big wad of cash!

They would celebrate with drinks on that long Southwest flight,

Waiting for touchdown, to start that great night.

As the fabulous Las Vegas sign came into view,

The ladies would cheer along with the Southwest crew.

They would enter the Flamingo and finish check-in,

Drop off their luggage, and get ready to win.

Passing Bugsy’ Bar as they’d head to play black jack,

There would stand Elvis with the party pit pack.

“Now Tito! Now, Mireya, now, Claudine and Chip

Come dealers and pit bosses, please hurry quick!

See who’s come to visit us once again this new year,

The Vegas girls are back to take over you hear!”

The trip would be filled with great friends and good fun,

The ladies would sing “Way to go dealer!” at the top of their lungs.

Playing black jack, and craps, and hitting the slots,

They’d take over that casino and play till they drop!

They’d eat cheeseburgers in paradise at Margaritaville,

And catch up and visit as their fruity drinks chill.

Trying to beat the house, they’d stay up till all hours,

While the cocktails waitress kept bringing amaretto sours.

From Texas, Seattle, Virginia, and all over the place,

The girls traveled far and wide with a smile on their face.

They come every year to forget all their worries and cares,

And have a fun time and get away from  men, which is rare.

They’d head to the Bellagio champagne brunch as the trip neared its end,

Pretty soon Leslie would be calling dad asking for money to lend.

They’d all say goodbye as they got into cabs,

After paying their bills and closing their tabs.

The Vegas girls saddened that the trip was already over,

Would already be wishing for next year’s trip to come closer.

Back to the real world, they would have to go.

Back to work, responsibilities, and earning the dough.

But don’t fret Vegas girls, because it’s only Vegas Eve,

I shall see you all tomorrow with an ace up my sleeve!

I survived the Great Snowpocalypse of 2009…and so did my cats!