required loving

i love to read. always have.

soon as i could link those consonants, vowels, verbs, nouns, conflict, character, resolution;

i was a goner.

while my friends were playing handball at recess i was convening with jo and amy.

exotic vacations with the family i spent burrowed in a book; my love affair with my stories far outweighed  any canyon, tower, or beach.

until the summer of the required reading list.

upon entering junior AP english, students are given the list: books deemed necessary for the following term.

books never to be discussed, quizzed or essayed, but requisite nonetheless.

suddenly 12 books i had longed to read and intended to devour, interested me as much an infected hangnail.

suddenly the sweet valley high twins started to feel cerebral and seductive.

so where am i going with this?

valentine's day.

last night i finally realized why i'm not a fan

i love.

i love hunkiest. i love my family. i love my friends. i love strangers.

i don't need a day of red (my least favorite color) to remind me to love.

force feed me something and i'll come back with a different recipe not so tasty.

most valentine's day my mind goes to people like the guy on 17th street living out of his shopping cart, or my neighbors who are splitting up.

i can't help but see all the heart-shaped mylar balloons and pink carnations through their eyes.

february 14th my heart hurts for those who might not be as lucky as the rest of us.

so, forgive me if i respectfully decline to participate in the valentine's day pomp.

it feels like required reading for the heart.

valentine happy

typically i'm not fond of february 14th.

too much red {my color liked least} and too little spontaneity.

hunky and i choose to celebrate everyday as valentines rather than designate one silly day.

{pause for involuntary gag}

but just in case,

this one wacky year (oh those silly rabbits),

let's just say hunkiest couldn't bear the thought of his bride going gift-less, this day of lovers' sweet.

i've compiled a list {websites included honey} to guide him into gifting.

dreams caught and evil spirits thwarted with my  pretty new pendant.

my inner alice in wonderland forever quenched in the high back cushion of a new chair.

navy and black. my new favorite combo bite. a side of sequins for dipping.

strappy stellas for stomping and romping 'round town.

a second stalactite for all of my costume changes. romping and stomping can get a girl a sweaty y'know.

no fancy words or pleas here, other than.....i'm out of my perfume baby.

doesn't matter if i don't have anywhere to where it. what matters is that it becomes mine.

doesn't hurt to ask.

in the end, if there are no bows to untie, no champagne to sip, no new pups to potty;

i cry stupid, ugly, re-united with your long lost sister you never knew you had, tears, at how lucky i am to have this man by my side. it truly is valentines day around here all year long.

the presents have already been opened.

oink oink

full disclosure: this is not a review.

i don't eat bacon. anymore.

(pause for moment of silence as i commemorate days of crispy salty, sweet love. love that made all things bad and scary..disappear, for 12 seconds as i chewed and swallowed).

i'm not one of those vegetarians who doesn't miss meat at all (take that double negative and shove it where the seitan don't shine). i crave tofu and tempeh like i crave being hungover. so when my friend, tara simon, started selling her katie treats candied bacon, i tried my best to avoid her.

but unfortunately, my plan to evade my fellow pilates co-worker (yes, you read that correctly; she is also an amazing pilates instructor) worked out disastrously.

her new company, the sticky pig is cooking like betty crocker!!! people are losing their minds over her candied bacon confections. seriously, say those two words together "candied"/"bacon".  they're perfection. that's like  "parisian"/"vacation"...."cashmere"/"bathrobe"..."folded"/'laundry"...(you get the idea). flavors come in coconut curry lime, raspberry jelly doughnut, s'mores, orange ginger, maple cinnamon, apple pecan dulce de leche, dark chocolate peppermint, the elvis, chocolate covered strawberry, and original.

these morsels sell and ship all over the country. orders range from 4 pieces to 12 month supplies.

this is a fabulous valentine's day present....a nice break from the normal chocolate, wine and flowers. how great would these be at your next chi-chi dinner party or reception?

love it tara!