Isn't she aware...

I made red velvet crinkle cookies yesterday and took them to work today. I still have a bunch left. They are pretty good, but we had bunches and bunches of food. One co-worker brought enchiladas and baked them at work and it was really really good. Everything was good today. For me, tonight is one of those evenings when you've eaten almost non-stop all day long, and rather than feel full and tired of eating, you bask in the glory of the awesomeness of your all-day grazing. Mmmm.

I did some readin' tonight. Readin' of a different sort than I'm used to. I read poetry. I'm taking part in a reading challenge, whereby I've been given the task of reading certain genres of books. These genres haven't really been my normal go-to book for my everyday (and night) reading. I've read science fiction, a mystery, and now poetry. I've liked nearly everything I've read. Tonight was E. E. Cummings, who I already knew that I liked. I've made artwork out of his poetry, for heaven's sake. But, I really only knew a couple of his poems. To be honest, some of his stuff I don't understand. At all. I can't make any sense out of some of his gobbledygook, but some of it is really good. And some of it strikes a chord. Like tonight:

"isn't she a
ware that life (who
never grows old)
is always beau

tiful and
that nobod
y beauti

ful ev
er hur

ries."

That poem shows up about halfway through the book I got from the library and until that point, nothing had really struck me as truly insightful. I knew my 'I carry your heart' poem would be showing up toward the end, so I continued on, and glad I did, or else I might have given up completely and missed that new-to-me and very-true poem. It reminds me of Italy, actually. I think that's probably the true reason I like it. Anything that reminds me of Italy is probably something I'm going to really like.

I know I'm slow to arrive to the nice, grown-up restaurant party, but listen here: I have a good one to share.

I went to Sycamore tonight for the first time ever and it was delicious! I recommend it. Not only is the food good (although at first I wasn't sure, but by the end of my meal, I was more than convinced that the chef clearly knew what he was doing). Also, far be it from me to criticize the workings of a culinary master when I mostly survive on instant oatmeal and peanut butter sandwiches. But I had the gnocchi+squash as my entree and then I got some chocolate cake for dessert. Mmmm. And the atmosphere at the place was really cool. It also seemed to attract a much cooler crowd than I'm used to seeing at my regular eating establishments...which would be Wendy's, Steak N Shake, Subway, and my kitchen...  You're thinking, 'No way. A cooler crowd than those four hoppin', trendy locales?' I know. It's pretty incredible, but true.

I'm shopping around for post-graduation celebratory eating places for the family. Another restaurant was actually on the bill for this evening, but plans change and I am flexible about that. All this rambling is to say that Sycamore on Broadway in Columbia is a must-try kind of place. Not for the quicky meal, mind you. But for the 'I'm going to enjoy this food and this atmosphere with my friends/family/significant other' kind of meal. It seemed pretty popular (good food tends to do that to a place). By the time my friend and I had left, the place was getting packed, but not uncomfortably so. If you've not been there before: do try!

http://sycamorerestaurant.com/

And if you happen to have a favorite sit-down kind of nice restaurant in Columbia that is your go-to place and you'd like to share, puh-lease leave a comment. I've coerced a co-worker or two into trying some places with me after work sometimes, and we have a list of places to try, but there's room for more!