Grand Marnier. A delightfully perky spirit with the sweet hints of orange balanced with the sharpness of cognac.
When I was younger, my father would enjoy sipping on his brandy or cognac in the winter months, whether it was at home in Pinole during chilly weekend evenings or up at our glorious cabin in Tahoe, playing Zolīte (the card game, not the cat) around the dining room table, making jokes about my mother always needing to stretch out (I think it was an excuse to go to sleep early) and listening to ABBA. At the young, tender age of we'll say 15 (could've been 14, but we'll play safe here), brandies and cognacs were a bit too strong for me. My initial reaction to them was "it tastes like cardboard...with a kick." I have since primed my taste-buds to appreciate such apéritifs; however, back then, I needed a little sweetening to my beverages. Alas, I was introduced to Grand Marnier. Probably a bad idea, but oh man, did I enjoy sipping on Grand Marnier. Not only did I feel cool with my little brandy sniffer taking appreciative sips like my Dad, the sweetness of the liqueur satisfied my sweet tooth and the sharpness (and alchohol level) of the cognac gave me that nice light, buzzed feeling of enjoying the moment. So when I saw the latest commercial for Grand Marnier, a very 60s style cartoon with a backdrop of classic french music, it brought back some memories.
Ah, to feel so chic sipping on Grand Marnier! Just saying it makes you sound a bit swankier. I definitely appreciate the vintage feel of this commercial. It honestly made me think, "Hmm, I haven't had Grand Marnier in a while...and it is tasty...and it does have that Parisian nose in the air appeal." I haven't gone out an purchased it yet (the $20+ for a fifth price tag is a bit daunting); however, if it was offered to me, I wouldn't turn it down because I would like to think that I'm wearing a chic black cocktail dress with a fabulous party hat and a cigarette stick recalling those memories from my youth, enjoying this fantastically satisfying spirit.
15 July 2010
11 July 2010
Oh, Hello Blog, It's Been Too Long
Wow, no blog for 4 months. I've failed miserably; however, I will make up for this failure by starting over, starting fresh and keeping as much activity on this blog as I possibly can. For starters, I'm making some changes to my way of life. Now that I've been enlightened that money sadly does not grow on trees (actually, I already knew it didn't, but I just binged on a careless spend-happy month, so shame on me), I'm going to make an effort to clean the lifestyle, get organized and budget properly. What does this all entail? Well, a couple of things:
1. I joined mint.com and will now have friendly push notifications bombing my iPhone when I go over the budgets I've set for myself.
2. I will adjust my budgets each month so that I don't go on careless spending sprees, but will allow myself wiggle room in the important categories like spending time with friends (dinners, bars, random adventures, etc), museum trips and retail therapy (not excessive, but just enough so I don't get withdrawals and turn into a crazy person).
3. I will sell things I no longer need, use, wear, etc. That means any objects ranging from books, electronics, clothes, even shoes, will be sold. My first attempts at eBay haven't been wildly successful, but I'm not giving up. Someone will buy by $600 Christian Louboutin's because Lady Gaga has the exact same pair. I know she's hot right now and so are these shoes!
4. I am giving up TV. Yup, saying goodbye to the boob tube. Any shows I want to watch can most likely be streamed online in some shape or form and that is much better than spending $50-$60 a month on channels and programs that I don't need to be losing brain cells on. Sorry Real Housewives, you were a guilty pleasure, but I can do without. Anyone that is interested in my small pathetic television (could be good for a garage or some obscure setting not requiring a 36" panel screen), I'll sell it to you for $15.
5. I am going to finish my paintings. Without TV, there's now absolutely no excuse for me to not get in the zone after I come home from work and execute on this cobwebbed talent of mine.
6. I will read more. Books are stimulation of knowledge and my brain needs to be reinvigorated. Green Apple is calling my name (they did send me, and 5000 other people, an email saying they missed me...aww, how sweet) and I will return the call...after Madame Bovary and Atlas Shrugged...and possibly War and Peace (eek.).
7. I will prepare lunch for myself for the week and not spend $8-$10 everyday on expensive FiDi food...though I will allow myself an 'out' lunch once a week, if needed, so I don't feel too pathetic with my daily tupperware tucked in the office fridge.
8. I will blog more. Yes, I've neglected this page and I feel bad. Granted, I did start a new post, but never finished it because it rallied too many emotions all at once; however, it may present itself at some point in the near future.
9. I will be healthier. Healthier in food and beverage (the beverage part will be difficult because I love beer and wine and liquids with calories in them); healthier in mental state of mind (my brain is emotionally exhausted and is in need of repair); healthier in physical form (perhaps pilates will return as long as Zolite leaves me alone and doesn't attack me when I'm doing the one hundred on the floor...or maybe evening walks when I come home...we shall see); just healthier all around.
10. I will watch more foreign films and form a stronger bond with Netflix. I've always loved the foreign cinema -- the films are just a bit more stimulating and since Netflix has online streaming, hellooooo movie time. Don't worry, I'll still need silly films to take a break from intellectual overload.
I know I can make changes in my life by setting goals for myself and sticking to them, and hopefully, these goals will help me guide me on this long path of life, because right now, I've lost my way and I need to get back on track. And with that, I give you one of the bubbliest songs I can possibly think of. A little Hall & Oates:
1. I joined mint.com and will now have friendly push notifications bombing my iPhone when I go over the budgets I've set for myself.
2. I will adjust my budgets each month so that I don't go on careless spending sprees, but will allow myself wiggle room in the important categories like spending time with friends (dinners, bars, random adventures, etc), museum trips and retail therapy (not excessive, but just enough so I don't get withdrawals and turn into a crazy person).
3. I will sell things I no longer need, use, wear, etc. That means any objects ranging from books, electronics, clothes, even shoes, will be sold. My first attempts at eBay haven't been wildly successful, but I'm not giving up. Someone will buy by $600 Christian Louboutin's because Lady Gaga has the exact same pair. I know she's hot right now and so are these shoes!
4. I am giving up TV. Yup, saying goodbye to the boob tube. Any shows I want to watch can most likely be streamed online in some shape or form and that is much better than spending $50-$60 a month on channels and programs that I don't need to be losing brain cells on. Sorry Real Housewives, you were a guilty pleasure, but I can do without. Anyone that is interested in my small pathetic television (could be good for a garage or some obscure setting not requiring a 36" panel screen), I'll sell it to you for $15.
5. I am going to finish my paintings. Without TV, there's now absolutely no excuse for me to not get in the zone after I come home from work and execute on this cobwebbed talent of mine.
6. I will read more. Books are stimulation of knowledge and my brain needs to be reinvigorated. Green Apple is calling my name (they did send me, and 5000 other people, an email saying they missed me...aww, how sweet) and I will return the call...after Madame Bovary and Atlas Shrugged...and possibly War and Peace (eek.).
7. I will prepare lunch for myself for the week and not spend $8-$10 everyday on expensive FiDi food...though I will allow myself an 'out' lunch once a week, if needed, so I don't feel too pathetic with my daily tupperware tucked in the office fridge.
8. I will blog more. Yes, I've neglected this page and I feel bad. Granted, I did start a new post, but never finished it because it rallied too many emotions all at once; however, it may present itself at some point in the near future.
9. I will be healthier. Healthier in food and beverage (the beverage part will be difficult because I love beer and wine and liquids with calories in them); healthier in mental state of mind (my brain is emotionally exhausted and is in need of repair); healthier in physical form (perhaps pilates will return as long as Zolite leaves me alone and doesn't attack me when I'm doing the one hundred on the floor...or maybe evening walks when I come home...we shall see); just healthier all around.
10. I will watch more foreign films and form a stronger bond with Netflix. I've always loved the foreign cinema -- the films are just a bit more stimulating and since Netflix has online streaming, hellooooo movie time. Don't worry, I'll still need silly films to take a break from intellectual overload.
I know I can make changes in my life by setting goals for myself and sticking to them, and hopefully, these goals will help me guide me on this long path of life, because right now, I've lost my way and I need to get back on track. And with that, I give you one of the bubbliest songs I can possibly think of. A little Hall & Oates:
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