Russian Vodka Room, how I love thee. Located on West 52nd Street off Eighth Avenue in the Big Bad Apple, it is deliciously low-rent in decor, but first-rate in food and of course, vodka (53 different kinds, including their own infusions). Went there for a holiday meal with 8 wonderful friends. Man oh Manischewitz, did we indulge. To wit:
Potato Pancakes
Gravlax
Chicken and Mushroom Blintzes
Eggplant Caviar
Cheese Platters
Bratwurst
Served on cute little appetizer platters and split between the 9 of us, it wasn't too terrible, but I can't say I felt particularly wonderful about myself afterwards. It's sad that these grand dinners are going to have to become much more infrequent, but I just have to keep reminding myself of the horrid, horrid fate that awaits me in May if I don't meet my goal. I really can't imagine the amount of red wine and garlic it would take to disguise Chuck Wagon Stroganoff (shudder).
DAY ONE. December 12, 2008. I've just decided to put my money where my mouth is, in a BIG way. Here's how:
1) My initial goal was to drop 50 lbs by May 1. Which is ridiculous and likely to fail. 30 lbs in 4 1/2 months is totally doable, but the likelihood is that I will NOT do it, because I am not much in the way of finishing what I start. And then I happened upon this website at HuffingtonPost.com.
2) Fucking brilliant. Set the deadline and put up the dough, but if I fall short, I don't just lose the money...
2a) It goes to an organization I detest and despise, ProtectMarriage.com, which has been working to deprive the people I love most of the right to marry and pursue the same rights of life, liberty and happiness accorded to (straight) me;
2b) Aforementioned people will KNOW I failed and that my contribution was made thusly;
2c) In addition to being a big fat failure who's enabled my worst enemy, I have to eat a can of dog food every day for a month. Yeah, that's just gross (although ever since reading the Prince of Tides, I've wondered what kind of culinary magic I could work with dog food).
3) So it's out there now. Here goes nothing.
