I have yet to step into a Greek, Indian, or Thai restaurant since I moved back here, and I feel the yearning for some flavor and heat.  I’ll be reporting the fruits of our adventures here, for both my own memory-keeping, and to perhaps prod other local friends into expanding their culinary appreciation.  I’m very excited!

We’ve ‘decided’ that it’s likely going to be every couple of weeks, budget willing, and this past weekend we went to The Olive Garden — an Italian franchise that I haven’t tried out in approximately 9 years or so.  The food was tasty — the service was foul.  The next time any of you go, I do recommend the asiago, alfredo, and roasted garlic sauce. I had it over penne, and it was delicious.   For the locals, we went to the O.G. at Turkey Creek, and though I wouldn’t turn my nose down at going again, it wasn’t something I’d want to run back to at high speed.

I’m really looking forward to testing out the Indian restaurant (that I know of off the top of my head) in Knoxville, called Sitar.  Their website is a little cracked-out, but the menu looks promising.  Especially because Mikey has a delicate palate that’s not very appreciative of the ultra-spicy, so there seem to be a few items that wouldn’t kill him..heh.

The job is still extremely frustrating — no cost of living raises until June/July of 2009, however TVA has announced that they’re raising the cost of fuel 20% in Knoxville, and in January, our benefits will not be nearly as beneficial to our wallets, as JTV will be cutting back on how much they subsidize our health care.  Which means it’s really past-due, my looking and getting a better paying job, or a second job.  Ah well.  Such is life.  What kills me is that 20 years ago, my mother was able to pay her bills with one job, and I — at her age — can’t seem to keep up?  It’s discouraging, and I feel like a failure most of the time.  It spurs me to look harder for work, but each rejection starts to weigh more heavily.  Blah.  I know it will work out in the end, it just becomes more difficult to see that light at the end of the tunnel and not mistake it for an oncoming train. ;o)

So, as the title suggests, I’ve read quite a few books since my last reviews, and I’ll have to dig around and find out which ones now — and I’ll start keeping an offline notebook to keep track of such things in the future, just in case.

As some of you may know, there has been a lot of wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth down here in Knoxville, where JTV is concerned.  There were layoffs, the call center is supposedly safe, but a lot of people are still jumping ship just to be safe.  For myself, I’ve been going on a lot more interviews lately, most recently to Scripps Howard Networks.  Really really hoping for a callback on that front, but it’s hard for me to unbiasedly read how well I did or didn’t do at an interview because they make me so damned nervous, I usually think I tanked.  Thanks to all who crossed fingers and toes for my interview last week.. keep ‘em crossed, if you would!

The internet is pretty locked down at work too, so it’s mostly Fox News and CNN and the Knoxville News Sentinel that I read from day to day, but there is a blog I’ve got access to that I really have fallen for, called The Barefoot Kitchen Witch, written by Jayne who has the wonderful good fortune to live in Rhode Island (my second tour of that awesome state ended in 1999, sadly).  Her posts on cooking and baking are heavily interspersed with photographs that she’s taken during most if not all steps of the meal’s progress, and she’s also very amusing. Try to contain your jealousy of her family though — I know it’s hard, because they have one of the most amazing women I’ve ever encountered for a mom/wife.

Michelle is coming up for a visit this coming week, and I’m super excited.  I won’t be getting the days off I need though, and though that’s frustrating, it’s just one of those parts of life one deals with.  The time I have with her will be worth the hassle of a job I haven’t yet escaped from.

Will attempt to update again soon, we’ll see how that goes!

Anyway, so this weekend has been wonderful. Lots of girly things. We ended up going to ‘s salon, where I got a manicure, and two firsts: My first pedicure. And my first eyebrow waxing. Ok. Yes, eyebrow waxing. I can’t believe I did it myself–I mean, I don’t have the mono-brow thing, so it’s never been one of those things I stressed about, ‘Oh my god, my eyebrows’, but…it seemed a nice and floofy girly froo froo shee shee thing to do, so..there you go. I have nifty little eyebrows now. And beautiful toe and fingernails!!

This all started, of course, over a fabulous lunch in which I was introduced to the concept of ‘appletini’ (sour apple schnapps, vodka, triple sec, and apple juice, served in a martini glass), perhaps the most delicious thing I’ve tasted in a long while.

Later that evening, and I watched Bridget Jones’ Diary and drank homemade appletinis, and got sloshed. It was wonderful. It was girly. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Now, it’s Monday, and I should be back home by this evening, but just thought I’d give that generic ‘buzz’ to let everyone who cares know what I’ve been up to.

Peace and hair grease.