riverjacksonx

[riverjacksonx]

Peppermint oat nog sounds like something invented in a fever dream. I respect the scientific dedication it took to try it, but I can’t say I’m surprised by the outcome. Holiday drinks really are getting more… experimental. Or unhinged. Depends on how charitable you’re feeling.

Saw a carton of peppermint oat nog at the grocery store today, and it begs the question: have we, as a society, officially gone off the rails and are we okay with that? I mean... naturally I picked some up in the name of science - I know, I'm part of the problem - and it was as disgusting as I'd imagined. I just wonder... have we lost the plot with holiday drinks? Discuss.

Annnd if you're looking for an egg-less alternative this season, why not stop by EDUARDO'S for half-priced Coquitos. Every weekend after after 5, from now to the new year. Superior flavor and peppermint free, you can quote me on that.

[riverjacksonx]

[riverjacksonx]

I know the feeling. I lived in Vegas for a while, and there was this place I went to that had the best chicken tikka masala. I haven't been able to find anything like it since, such a shame. I'd make it myself, but I guess I just don't have the nose for the spices or something. It's always a bit off.

Oh, I'm a sucker for a good curry. The one thing I miss most about New York is the Indian place three blocks from my apartment, they have the BEST chicken curry -- I've got a few recipes I can manage to scrape together, but anything I make is never quite as good.

[riverjacksonx]

See, you get all that variety with Italian too. I know people tend to think spaghetti and meatballs is all there is, but there's eggplant Parmesan, chicken Parmesan, stuffed peppers surprisingly are an Italian dish. And I'll counter your margarita with a negroni -- it comes with lemon. Plus there's all kinds of Italian wine.

Oh that's easy, Mexican food hands down. You've got tacos, quesadillas, burritos, margaritas. I know, margaritas aren't really a food, but still it counts. I mean it comes with a lime, right? And you can have chicken, beef, even seafood options if you want with any of those dishes, not that I myself would go for anything with fish.

[riverjacksonx]

I need to try authentic French food. I've just had whatever passes for it here, but I'm sure it doesn't compare to the real thing. And I'm actually pretty sure the restaurant I went to was just passing a regular roast as joue de boeuf.

If I had to pick just one dish to eat for the rest of my life, I'd have to pick French cuisine if only because of my background." Clarity said with a casual shrug of her shoulder. "My second choice would be Italian though. For the same reason that you chose it.

[riverjacksonx]

You got great taste, my friend. Italian is my go-to at home, especially lasagna. Yeah, it takes a while to put it all together, but man is it worth it. If you ever want to expand on your cooking though, I got some recipes that helped me learn back in the day stored in an old recipe box. Nothing too extravagant, just the basics like pot roast, a couple chicken recipes and my mom's old meatloaf recipe.

Dude, Italian, absolutely. There's literally very few times in my life I've ever told somebody that I'm not down for Italian. Plus, I mean, it's probably one of the few kinds of food I at least feel kinda confident I can cook, so... yeah, my hands are tied.

[riverjacksonx]

I know, right? It's almost impossible to pick. Mediterranean is a good pick, though. But see, I'd skip right over the pizza and go straight for the hummus. I don't know who decided to mash up chick peas and eat that, but they were a genius.

Damn. That’s a hard one! I want to say burgers and fries but the cholesterol alone will kill my ass before I see 40! Hahaha I think I’ll go with Mediterranean. The great thing about that is it also includes pizza which is a total bonus.

[riverjacksonx]

Okay, random question time. If you had to pick one cuisine to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be? I’d go with Italian, no question. I mean, there’s just no beating pasta. It's the ultimate comfort food, plus all the ways you can make it? Hands down, beats everything else.

[riverjacksonx]

I guess that's one way to look at it. But honestly, I don't think minimalism is all that bad. I mean, less stuff means less to clean. That's a plus, right?

As for the perks, there's just a great community vibe. There’s actually quite a bit of stuff to do for a small town too. There's usually something going on for the whole town, we got good coffee shops, and just a lot of little local spots you can hang out with friends.

Minimalist is a label people give themselves when they can't afford what they really want, I don't know how it's become such a cute & quirky thing. What I should have done is gotten a two bedroom instead of a one & used the spare as the closet. Guess hindsight's always 20/20, makes sense why people say that all the time now.

Yeah? Care to elaborate on said perks?

[riverjacksonx]

Blast music as loud as you can and just jam out. Or if you happen to have a guitar or some other instrument, sometimes that can help. Honestly though, the best remedy I've found is food. But hey, if screaming into the void helps, maybe find a place where you can let it rip? Better out than in, right?

The closer we get to Halloween / Samhain, the more I just want to stand outside screaming. Which is neither productive nor a good idea, but it's better than wanting to jump in my truck and drive until I feel like I can breathe again.

What do normal people do to get weird feelings out of their system? I'd like to live vicariously through you.

[riverjacksonx]

Well, he sounds like my kind of guy. You'll definitely want to give that food truck a try, though. I hear the owner’s grilled cheese is legendary 😜 But seriously, a staycation sounds perfect. Sometimes staying local is the best way to recharge. Let me know when you're free, and I'll treat you to something from that amazing food truck.

Well thank you for the reassurance, sometimes even I need a little confidence boost. And I am staying home, just having a little staycation and relaxing around town. You know, maybe hitting up this hot new food truck I keep seeing people talk about, though I hear the owner is pretty cheesy.

[riverjacksonx]

I feel you on that. Moving’s already a nightmare without having to play Tetris with your stuff. Honestly, living out of boxes isn’t the worst thing in the world—you could call it a minimalist phase or something. If the closet's that bad, maybe some new shelving or an extra dresser could help? Bearcreek has its perks, though. You might end up liking it here, once you're not surrounded by cardboard.

Is it even worth unpacking or would it be considered just pure laziness to live out of boxes? Considering my clothes probably won't even fit in the new closet, it makes it all kind of a moot point anyway. You're not off to the best start, Bearcreek.

[riverjacksonx]

Yeah, I hear you on that. I think when you really love something, even the overwhelming parts feel kind of... worth it, you know? I bet those first few surgeries must’ve been intense but rewarding in the same way. And you’re totally right, Bearcreek folks aren’t exactly the type to make your life difficult. Plus, if they did, I’m sure you’d have my back, ha.

It’s great that you’ve been able to ease back into things so smoothly. That whole "relaxation" thing is definitely a weird adjustment when you’re used to being on the go all the time. Maybe next time, you’ll be even better at it. Got any other vacations or big plans lined up, or is it back to full-on work mode for a while?

That's great, though. That's when you know that you have a job you really love. When it can be overwhelming, but you still enjoy that rush of something you're passionate about. I felt similar to that during and after my first few surgeries. I can't imagine it getting the bad kind of overwhelming in Bearcreek; most people here are too nice to make your life hell, ha. I think taking things day by day is a good idea, especially in the beginning phases of a new business. If I've learned anything from watching all those shows on HGTV, it's that you have to take it day by day or you could get (bad) overwhelmed or even burn out quickly. I did! It was really great, and I'm glad that I got to check off so many things from my bucket list. I mean, in the overall sense it doesn't even make a dent, but that's not the point lol. I've been okay since I came back. It didn't take me too long to get back into the swing of things and shrug off vacation-mode, but I don't think anyone is surprised by that ha. I'm still getting used to this whole "vacation" and "relaxation" thing.

[riverjacksonx]

Haha, you’re definitely not slippin’—you’re just juggling a million things at once! But yeah, that vacation sounds like it’s coming at the perfect time. You’ve earned it, Daria. Where are you thinking of going? Somewhere warm and sunny or more of a cozy fall getaway?

Don't even worry about it! You've got your own boomin' business taking off so I totally understand. And thank you, I appreciate all the kind words, as always! Definitely have Thriller down, but oh my god, I can't believe I forgot about Somebody's Watching Me! Especially when that also features Michael Jackson. I'm slippin' up, all the more reason I need my vacation coming up in a couple weeks here.

[riverjacksonx]

I seriously wish I could’ve helped more with the remodel, but even though I wasn’t there, I’m really proud of you. You’ve done such an incredible job and I think it's safe to say that Java Jams is officially my new favorite spot to chill. Also, I’m so ready for the Halloween vibes! Maybe you could toss in 'Thriller' or 'Somebody’s Watching Me'?

Just wanted to thank everyone who came out today and celebrated the re-opening of the cafe. I hope you all enjoyed the tune selection and will have fun getting your groove on now while getting your coffees and treats! For those who weren't aware, Java Jams - formerly called The Confection Connection - is fully back open for business. And, if anyone has suggestions for some Halloween-themed songs to toss into the mix starting October 1st, let me know! I promise, I won't be switching to holiday-only playlists when the seasons change, I know especially if I did that for Christmas I'd likely drive quite a few customers away if it was non stop Jingle Bells. And also, special thank you to those of you who helped with the revamp, you're all amazing and the best friends I could ask for!

[riverjacksonx]

It’s been a bit overwhelming, but in a good way. The customers have been great so far though, so hopefully it doesn't get bad overwhelming. Hopefully you're right and it won't be too hard, but I won't stress that until we get there. Right now I'm just enjoying the ride and taking it day by day. It sounds like you had an amazing time in NYC—I'm so happy you got to tick off some bucket list items! How's it been since you been back? You still in vacation mode or did that shake off pretty quickly?

You should be jealous. Totally. Anjelah was amazing, so I was genuinely honored to see her show. I haven't laughed that hard in a very long time, so I'm happy that I got the chance to see her. The city was great! I've never been able to afford to actually go, so you know I did as many touristy things as I possibly could. I didn't get to do everything I wanted, but I got to do more than a few things that have been on my bucket list for years; with how close the city is, though, I'll get back eventually ha. I'm glad that your truck has been doing so well! Not at all surprised, your food is amazing so I would be surprised if it wasn't a success, but I'm super happy for you! I would offer my help, but with my shifts at the hospital I don't think it would work lol. That being said, I doubt you'll have a hard time finding help if you need it. Are you getting overwhelmed with all the orders? I can't imagine anyone from Bearcreek yelling at you, but if they do just let me know. Your food is totally worth the wait, and I have no problem yelling at someone on your behalf.

[riverjacksonx]

Not gonna lie, I'm a little jealous! Anjelah Johnson-Reyes is hilarious, that must have been an awesome show. How was the city? Did you get to do anything touristy? As for me, things have been good, just busy with the food truck. The response has been awesome, but I’m definitely feeling the grind. I might have to look into getting someone to help if it stays as busy as it's been.

I know I've been gone for a while, I apologize. I know you all missed me, but I needed a brief vacation. That being said, a few girls from the hospital and I went to New York City for a couple weeks for a much needed break. I was able to catchy a show Anjelah Johnson-Reyes put on, and may I just say that I am pretty sure I laughed my lungs out of my body. Anyway, how has everyone else been?