boys, burgers, breaking dawn, and a future brother-in-law!

I know I’ve been MIA for the last week or so, but it’s the holidays and I’m actually really enjoying this little mini-vacay/hiatus from my online life.  I’ve managed to accomplish three-dimensional real-life things like:

1. make out with my [I think I'm almost ready to start calling him my] boyfriend while he’s back in town
2. gorge myself on things like steaks, bacon, fudge, cookies, and my new favorite – dark chocolate-covered pretzels
3. watch old episodes of South Park that still manage to crack me the f* up
4. spend gift cards that are burning holes in my pocket
5. sleep until noon.  (Ok, I only did that once, but it was LOVELY)
6. drink too much wine.  just about every other night.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m on a quest for the best Jucy Lucy in the Twin Cities.  Last night, I tried Shamrock’s for the first time.  Now, I almost didn’t count this as a new place since it’s owned by the same folks as The Nook (CDH grads Casper and Runyon) and the menus are the same (I think).  At least the burger offerings are.  At The Nook, I typically opt for the Paul Molitor (pepper jack instead of American cheese), but last night I was in a more classic mood and opted for the Juicy Nookie with fried onions.  I’m no Ju[i]cy virgin; I know how hot the cheese is, yet I still managed to burn my THUMBS with every single bite as a chomp into one side of the burger would ooze the cheese out of the OTHER side of the burger, dripping down my thumb and leaving what I thought would be really awesome greasy blisters.  (Next day evaluation: no blisters.  Maybe I overreacted.)

Anyway,  I can’t say I like Shamrock’s better than The Nook, but the two bars are so different that while the burgers taste the same, the experience is anything but.  While The Nook is small, cozy (cramped, in a good way), and dive-bar-ish, Shamrock’s is big, spacious and last night was completely alive with the live musical stylings of old jazz and variety band, The Mouldy Figs.  The Nook has no stage or room for live entertainment, but its cramped little well, nook of a bar is just a different kind of awesome.  So while the burger was as amazing as any I’d ever had at The Nook, being treated to the brass and banjo music while sitting in a crowded bar with friends and an awesome waitress (who happened to go to my high school) was just the ticket for a Sunday night out.

Finally, things-keeping-me-busy-and-reasons-I’m-not-blogging-this-week include the fact that my little sister and her boyfriend of 2 1/2 years just got engaged!  (Ok, so she’s not little; she’s 24, but since she’s younger, she’s still my lil’ sis)

Congrats, Jeff and Mir!

So… any suggestions on where they should start looking for their reception?  Any local sites of listings that I can send her way as the faithful Maid of Honor that I get to be?!  Help a girl out, I’ve never done the wedding thing (and don’t have a shoebox covered in lace of with magazine clippings and pictures of dresses hidden under my bed).

Oh, and I’m just about halfway through Twilight Saga’s Breaking Dawn.  At this point, this one is my absolute FAVORITE so far.  And is consuming a LOT of my time.

So that’s where I’ve been – making out with he who might be boyfriend material, eating myself stupid, falling in love with vampires and werewolves, and basking in the engagement glow that my best friend AND my sister are now radiating.

Tagged as: Foodie File, Holidays, my biggest wedding year until my own, Wine