24-year-old me is dubious

In a neat coincidence, I re-started blogging right around the time Jess of Du Wax Loolu started blogging again after a hiatus of her own (although she did at least post monthly check ins during that time. Unlike some people). Jess was actually one of the first bloggers I met in person from The Big Scary Internet back in... ::checks archives::... wow, April 2008 (!!). Anyway, since we started up again so nicely in sync, Jess has informed me that our tandem phoenix-like rise from our bloggy ashes has effectively sealed us into a blogging pact, requiring us to post on par with each other. (She perhaps did not actually phrase it like that, but it's been a long day. I apologize for nothing. WE ARE PHOENIXES!!) ANYWAY. Since Jess is posting regularly, so must I! Pact rules.

So, let's have a weekend recap, shall we? Over Memorial Day weekend, Chris and I (and my sister's fiancé!) took the train up to NJ to meet up with my parents, then headed into New York for the evening because no big deal or anything, but my cousin is a legit no-shit playwright and currently has a play, The Other Thing, being produced by the 2econd Stage Theatre on the Upper West Side. I'm related to famous and talented people!

After a lovely dinner and show, we all trooped back to NJ for the rest of the weekend. My mom is an amazing cook and host, and loves serving new and interesting food or drinks (or both!) when we're over. This time though, we just had a no-frills, simple, backyard cookout.... with wagyu beef burgers. You know, just your typical holiday weekend BBQ fare. If you're my mom. But even with those burgers (which were INSANE. So good) the real belle of the ball was a cocktail she dug up called a Rib Tickler, with a liquor none of us had ever heard of, called Suze.

(Some of) the ingredients in a Rib Tickler

My sister's fiancé is actually really talented at making and mixing cocktails, so my mom often saves her most interesting and complicated drinks for when Ryan will be there to mix them. It's a pretty brilliant strategy, because he can't exactly turn down a job from his future mother-in-law, and the rest of us get beautifully crafted drinks.

The finished product. Our ribs were well tickled.

The BBQ bar has been raised. I will be expecting lobster and monk-crafted champagne at the next one.

Lastly and not at all related, when I was looking up the date when Jess & I first met, it made me curious to see how far back this ol' blog goes. Turns out I just missed my own anniversary! I started this blog on May 18... 2005. TEN YEARS AGO. WHAT THE. I just. That's a long time. Well played, little blog. And good call, 24-year-old me.