Ritz Bites

Post-Election Day

Time will tell if yesterday proves to be an auspicious day in Los Angeles history. Although it's likely our mayor elect will govern from a politically moderate standpoint, I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few years hold. But watching the lastest ep of The Shield on Tivo after catching AV's victory speech broadcast live at midnight was perhaps a mistake. I might've slept a little easier had I reversed the order of my viewing choices. (Not that I have much love for staged political presentations, either.)

Post-Election Depravity and Deprivation

It goes without saying that it's been a terrible week for us Blue-state voters. (Revision: awful for our entire nation.) There's a different brand of fresh hell for my Dallas friends who are adrift in a sea of Red. I mean, at least we can find support in our Blue city and county. I can't imagine what it must be like to function in a workplace heavily populated by Bush supporters, such as my lawyer friend in Chicago has to endure.

And now to make matters this week worse, Henry's decided to recommence the strict two-week part one of the South Beach Diet. It's all, you know, just part of our efforts to embody the stereotypes of the Hollywood decadent, liberal elite lifestyle. Now that it's gotten this ugly we may as well goad the other side as much as possible.

In all seriousness, I regressed to compulsive levels of food and drink consumption Tuesday not experienced since college. Plus there was the entire bottle of Prosecco I drank myself. Yet nothing was enough to dull the pain. We did a bit of post-election pity and comfort food eating which can only continue for so long.

Individual goals can provide a psychological boost during these bleak times, so it's as good as any time to diet. Not to mention the fact that once Thanksgiving rolls around, forget it. So it's now or 2005. And at least I don't have to live with the daily scent of Atkins,
i.e. fried bacon and eggs permeating every surface.

I, however, refuse to diet so long as my metabolism holds out at a decent rate. Yet I'm still in the "support" position of helping him stick to the regimen which prohibits sugars, carbs, and alcohol for the two-week period. This role means that pan of banana bread I made last night will be given away, or frozen. The lovely wines we have in stock will stay uncorked.

I'll have to recruit someone to attend the Sideways tasting at Silverlake Wine this Sunday which features wines from the movie, three of which we have sitting at home. But since those bottles will have to wait, the tasting preview is tempting. Morgan and I attended the Chianti/Gruner Veltliner tasting last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. They've also added a new rack dedicated to champagne and port.

Perhaps an attitude adjustment is in order. It can't hurt to cut down on the verboten items for only for two weeks, right? Especially if I'm allowed to cheat since it's not my diet. Besides, this is an opportunity to take on new cooking challenges, including round two of Marcella's carciofi alla romana.

November 2nd

The firehouse on Hillhurst and the Chabad House on Santa Monica were interesting polling places, yet not as cool as the quirky midcentury house at the top of Beachwood Canyon where we cast our vote this morning. Another reason why I'm glad to have skipped early electronic voting.

Who knows how these precincts are drawn/gerrymandered. Katie who lives around the corner votes in a completely different location, and we passed two other polling places (with long lines, thankfully) en route to our designated station.

What a day...