I am tired, I am weary,
I could sleep for a thousand years...
(The Velvet Underground)

I wish I updated my blog more regularly. When I started blogging, I tried to post once a day, at least during the week - weekends have always had a way of getting away from me. But it's becoming more difficult as I don't have anything all that interesting or funny to write about on a regular basis: went to work, stupid people upset me, traffic sucked, came home, had dinner, went to bed. Lather, rinse, repeat. I don't want to convey, however, that I am at all dissatisfied with my life being dull and predictable; I really like that I don't have a lot of drama or upheaval with which to contend.

I haven't been very inspired by the last few Vox questions of the day, either: I couldn't think of a 'better on the big screen' movie, I don't have a motto (at least nothing leaps to mind) and I don't speak a foreign language - I took classics in school, but no one 'speaks' Latin, and although I once had an impressive command of reading/writing French (did an original translation of a Baudelaire poem for my brother to use as a libretto in one of his musical compositions) I don't think I ever spoke it with anything other than laughable ineptitude. That leaves today's Vox question, "What's up?" The short answer is 'not too much'. The more detailed answer follows.

Friday night Alan took me to dinner at one of my very favorite places, The Imperial Fez. Not only is the food incredibly wonderful, the decor is beautiful and the atmosphere is fabulous. Salima did the sword dance - belly dancing with a huge sword balanced on her head - which was awe-inspiring. At this restaurant, the meal is five courses, of which you choose only your entree. Soup, breads, an assortment of salads, b'stella and assorted desserts automatically come. It's not as gastronomically imposing as it sounds: the salad and dessert assortments are intended for everyone to get a taste of several different things. It's not like they bring a heaping platterful of each item, but it's still plenty more than most people can eat. I took home most of my entree, which was lamb with artichokes, lemon and olives. [<--- I typed "lamp" the first time. Lamp with olives and lemons, like if Bob Villa and Rachael Ray combined shows.]

After stuffing ourselves up to our esophagi, we took a walk through the Fez's art gallery/shop. Alan bought me a new toe ring, hand-painted enamel in yellow with blues and greens, some rosewater like they wash your hands in between courses, and some tooled brass finger cymbals. One of the last times we were there, I bought some harem pants and a scarf with bangles all over it, but I haven't been brave enough to actually belly-dance, even just in front of the pets. The cat, particularly, has some rather harsh things to say about thigh fat.

On Saturday, Alan's parents and brother came up to my parents' house. We arrived there mid-afternoon and hung out, talking and having snacks. Later on, everyone went out for steaks at Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. I had a pomegranate margarita along with my steak and lobster tail - yummmmmmm. Pomegranates must be "in" - there was a card on our table at the Fez encouraging the pomegranate martini, and I loved the tagline: "take one step closer to tasting forbidden fruit!". I didn't have one, though, so I can't tell you how the two pomegranate drinks compare. I must go back to the Fez soon; I owe this to my readers.

Once we got home, I lay on the couch pretending to watch CNN, but I was asleep by 8:40. Around 9, I repaired to the bedroom and slept until nearly 11 this morning. I'd gone to bed comparitively early, for me anyway, on Friday as well, so Alan asked if I felt all right. "Sleepy," I replied. Seriously, I could nap right now, but I don't feel at all unwell.

I haven't posted a book review in a while as I am still slogging through Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell - not that 'slogging' should imply that I'm not enjoying it, which I am, but it is quite long and I can only read for short periods as the teeny, tiny type is truly uncomfortable and straining for my eyes. Also, I have thrice had real-life happenings intrude such that I've had several days lapse between reading, and have had to go back a few pages to refresh my memory.

And now you know 'what's up?' - I feel better now, don't you?