Thursday Thirteen #1 - The Museum

After this weekend, the American History Museum in DC will be closing its doors for two years. Since it is my favorite Smithsonian musuem, here are the Thirteen Things that I will miss about the American History Museum 1. Julia Child's kitchen - my absolute favorite thing. 2. Kermit the Frog - I love the Muppets. 3. The Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz - I always wished I had a pair. 4. The First Ladies Exhibit - can you believe some of the stuff they wore? 5. Museum Store - face it, I love to shop! 6. Fonzie's Jacket - he is still cool. 7. The ride cars from Disneyland - one of my favorite childhood memories. 8. Superman's outfit - reminds me of my Dad and brother. 9. Lance Armstrong's bike - I love Lance! 10. Oscar the Grouch - reminds me of my brother growing up. 11. The Dollhouse - I always wanted one growing up. 12. The Old Lunch Boxes - I love vintage stuff like this. 13. All of the Pop Culture Goodness.

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Confessions of a Picky Eater

Growing up in a small town in Ohio our idea of ethnic cuisine was Taco Bell (where I refuse to eat), two Chinese restaurants and Italian (not that we had an Italian restaurant, but I did occasionally make it out of town). My diet was pretty much meat, potatoes and a vegetable. Nothing was ever really spicy or too outside the box.
** If my mother is reading this – The food was great, we always ate as a family and my mother ALWAYS made me try something at least once.

When I went to college, I started to broaden my horizons. I retried several foods that I previously disliked and things like spinach and yogurt are now part of my ever-expanding diet. Although, watermelon still makes me want to vomit. I also tried Indian and Thai food for the first time (Thanks, Sarah).

After moving to DC, I have continued to be open-minded by checking tapas and sushi off my list. My weekends spent with friends in New York are always good for an out of the ordinary dinning experience. Jenny and Gil took me to this great Spanish-Cuban fusion restaurant (Gil was right the bread was amazing).

For all this being said, I am still a picky eater. Despite my effort to try new things, ordering dinner still slightly resembles that scene in When Harry Met Sally – I have to have my salads without cucumbers, onions, definitely without peppers, I don’t like blue cheese and could I have fat-free dressing on the side? All of this is the bane of my boyfriend’s life.

Last night, my boyfriend made potstickers for dinner. I had never had them before so I tried them and didn’t really care for them. Before I could say anything he said, “Let me guess they’re not your favorite.” He had me - that was exactly what I was going to say. “You don’t like anything. I wish that you liked more foods,” he continued. Frankly, I wish I did too.

The trouble with being a picky eater is that, as much as I try new things, I continuously add to the list of things that don’t like. It’s not like I can just decide that I like the way something tastes when I really don’t. It would be so nice to go out with my friends and not have to get my own pizza. As much as I love food, it would be amazing to really enjoy the new foods that I try. Here’s wishing…

Stop Staring at My Cupcakes!

For those of you who don't know, I love to bake - and by bake I'm talking Martha-Stewart-
from-scratch-baking. My confections are most frequently created for my coworkers. I love to bring in some goody for a birthday or just because.

Once completed my cake, cookies, etc. must make the arduous journey on the Metro from my apartment to my office downtown. Last Friday proved to be another adventure on the Metro trekking a glazed lemon pound cake into work as birthday surprise for one of my coworkers.

In the year that I have lived in DC, I have come to realize that few things excite curious stares and interesting comments like a freshly-baked goody in a crowded rush hour train.

Typically, the curious glance and smile as I precariously balance a plate of cookies, my work bag and hang on as the train slams to a halt at each stop, is an amusing way to start the day. I am always grateful to people who offer their seat, but I must admit that there have been times when the curious glances have turned into all-out envious stares.

I have found that nothing solicits these stares like my colorfully iced cupcakes. I am not really one for being the center of attention and I find it is slightly disconcerting to have someone stare at me for the duration of my ride to work.

While I admit that my cupcakes are slightly out-of-place on the morning train – and I have no qualms with the curious glances, I must say that I would appreciate it if people would stop staring at my cupcakes.

5 Things to do on Metro

I'm a DC snob (everyone has their faults) and I admit that I find the thought of having to Metro more than five stops anywhere appalling - after all, that is why I live in the District.

Now that I am dating a Virginia boy, I have found myself frequently making exhaustingly long Metro trips to Old Town. In order to appease my ADD (and yours too), I have compiled my 5 favorite things to do on Metro.

1. Count the "CrackBerrys" - my high score 9. (Hint -this one is especially good during morning rush hour)
2. The iPod Guessing Game - try to figure out what songs/type of music people are playing in those little white earphones. (I like to trick people by going with something by Common or the Ying Yang Twins)
3. Metro Police - who on your train is breaking one of Metro's rules. (You people with a cup of coffee watch out.)
4. Fashion Police - give the red carpet review of your fellow riders. (Always more fun with a friend)
5. Find the Spy - As I learned at the International Spy Museum, DC has more spies than almost any other place in the world.

The Need to Fix: Some Think it’s Meddling – I’m Going with Mediating

Okay – granted there are few times when you absolutely should not step in, but is it really that wrong to want to fix things?

Typically, women are notorious for stepping into situations that aren’t necessarily theirs to begin with. We have that urge to make sure everyone is happy and often times forgo the possible consequences.

As I am venting to my boyfriend (whom I love dearly) about the present situation, he simply asks, “Why did you get yourself involved? “Didn’t you learn from the last time you got in middle of your friends and it backfired?”

Well, no, apparently I didn’t learn because here I am. As much as I hate to admit it, he has a point.

So where does that leave me?

I know that as hard as I try I will still on occasion attempt to “mediate” situations. I know also that occasionally my efforts won’t work out as planed. When that happens, shouldn’t I (and all other mediators) be granted some clemency? Our efforts are strictly driven by a desire for everyone to be happy and in my book that’s not such a bad thing.

Starbuck’s High-Maintenance

Every Friday I indulge my inner coffee-diva and make a trip to Starbucks. Usually it is my reward for making through the week, at least that is my justification for spending $4 on a cup of coffee.

Last Friday, I placed my usual order and waited in line and as I was waiting one of my coworkers came in. She placed her order and we started talking quietly. The conversation lulled as the baristas started calling out orders.

In the silence I hear “venti-iced-vanilla-sugar-free-skim.” I make my way to the counter, pick up my coffee and walk back to wait with my coworker. As I walked back to meet my coworker, I realize I am completely Starbuck’s high-maintenance.

I pride myself on being low-maintenance. I can get ready for work in 20 minutes, go days without wearing make-up and I have no fear about breaking a nail. For some reason, as low-maintenance as I am, I have to be a “venti-iced-vanilla-sugar-free-skim” the instant I enter a Starbucks.

On the way back to the office, my coworker and I wonder – what is it about Starbuck’s that turns a perfectly normal girl into high-maintenance?

Another MySpace Addict

Hello, my name is Katie and I am a MySpace addict.

There I said it. Isn't the first step admitting you have a problem?

I have been a member of MySpace for less than two weeks and already I am addicted.

I was intially very skeptical about the whole MySpace trend. Could it really be that interesting? Isn't it enough that I spend all-day on the copmputer at work? How many people would I really know? Isn't this just a way to cyber-stalk all those people who teased you in high school just so you can prove that you are finally cool? (okay - maybe that is just me)

We had been talking about MySpace at work and some of my friends had accounts so I finally bit the bullet and signed up. Well, the curiousity might have had something to do with it - maybe.

Once I had my account it didn't take me long to realize how great MySpace really is. I had so much fun customizing my page (yes, I know I'm a nerd) and looking around. I was surprised at how many of my friends had pages that I didn't know about.

In the last two weeks I managed to recconnect with a couple of people who I had completely lost touch with, found a new creative outlet and learned a bit more about some of the people I already new. Maybe this addiction isn't such a bad thing.

Check out my addiction - http://www.myspace.com/katiebug_06.