Date Night #1: Stuffed Chicken and Baked Lemon Pasta

So, it's date night in the big city! And I'm in my jammies on the couch watching A League of Our Own ("There's no crying in baseball!") and waiting for Matt to tell me he's leaving the restaurant so I can put everything in the oven. The time is currently 12:38 a.m.

It's crazy that bars are open until 4 a.m., but we haven't been out to any yet. It's so hard. He gets home so late, and he never wants me to meet him out because he's all sweaty and gross and tired from the kitchen. And I don't blame him. And the drinks are pricey. It'd be better to pregame and head out, but we live so far away from everything that by the time we'd get anywhere downtown, we'd be sober. Especially if we had to wait a half hour for a train.

I'd ask some people from work to go out on the weekends, but it's difficult because none of them actually live within a reasonable distance. Bronxville, Astoria (that one may be doable, but we haven't been talking much these days), and Connecticut. Effing Connecticut. That's like, an hour and 20 minute train ride every day, twice a day. I wouldn't ask anyone to make that trip in to get coffee or a drink or anything like that. And I sure as hell am not making the trip out!

I learned today that there's a really good chance that my publisher will accept my first pitch next week. There aren't too many cookbooks on the Spring 2013 schedule, and the one woman's blog is well-written and her pictures are fantastic, so there's really no reason not to take it on. I'm really excited about this opportunity. I mean... less than a month full-time and I'm already acquiring titles? It's unreal. And, again, something I didn't think would be happening for a very, very long time.

I also learned today that I get two copies of every book I work on. I didn't really do more than a pass or two of the books I got today (three), but it's still pretty cool. Free books are always okay with me! I'm giving the other copies to the girl who I replaced, since she really did most of the work for them. I think I'm going to meet up with her and another girl from the office for coffee one of these days. And then she goes to med school and I'll probably never see her again... Oh, well...

Back to date night... It's 12:50 and Matt's still not out yet. He's texting, though, so they must be cleaning up. This dinner will be later than I thought. But that's okay. I'm a natural night owl, anyway. (And I went to the gym today!) I've always done my best work at night. I think it's the college student that's still left in me. That'd explain all the naps I like to take, anyway lol.

I'm about three-quarters through Apron Anxiety and I'm loving every minute of it. I don't think I've read a book that I can relate to so much since MWF Seeking BFF (which I still highly recommend!). It's so weird because I feel like I'm reading about my own relationship. The late nights, the constant disappointments (due to work-related events... private parties, early prep, inventory, weekend specials, holidays), the feeling of being "second." I can't necessarily say I relate to the love of the kitchen the author develops as her relationship breaks down and she travels the country looking for new places to eat and cook, but I did kind of enjoy playing around in the kitchen tonight. I had the New Found Glory channel on Pandora playing as loud as my Kindle could handle and I sang and danced around to bands I listened to non-stop in high school. It's crazy how you don't hear a song for years, but the second it comes on, you can remember every lyric...

It's 1:06 and Matt's still at work. Hasn't left yet. I'm hungry. Very hungry. The table's cleared off, all the dishes are done, and I finished the little bit of freelance work I've been able to scrape up at around 9:00 while I watched the opening of the Olympic Games (big creepy baby...). I guess I can just try to stay awake and maybe read a bit until he at least tells me he's getting on the train. Once the oven is on, I have to stay awake and check it every now and then.

I was going to make a salad, but I don't think we really need one now. I'm just cooking some cheese and cranberry stuffed chicken breasts that I bought at Trader Joe's last night and then I made Baked Lemon Pasta. Hoping it all turns out okay... As in, the chicken is cooked and the pasta tastes decent. Never know with low-cal stuff.

Matt's on his way home now! Time to get movin'! We're going to see The Dark Knight Rises in the morning (if we get up) and then I'm going to head out on my own and buy him a half-birthday present. Because we celebrate half-birthdays in this apartment. Always have, always will. People (I...) like to feel special!