A New Roommate

Just after one o'clock today, my dear friend, Matt Madeiro, arrived at LAX on a sunny, crisp January day in California.

In one word.. win.

We left for my studio apartment - which was actually larger than what Matt had expected, given my warnings of how small it would be for two bodies - and then set out on the grocery run, which entailed stops at Fresh & Easy, Ralph's, and Trader Joe's. A great thing about both shopping with and living with Matt is that he is as much of a health and foodie freak as I am. There are only a few people who I can take to the store with me, to share moments of gawking at macadamia nuts or to discuss the merits of full-fat cheese with in aisle two. These little random moments of health geek glee make me smile. (Dear Veeren, wherever you are, you are still my original grocery shopping buddy; fear not!) We came home with a treasure chest of nutritional deliciousness, featuring such prized booty as turkey sausage, red meat, red grapes, avocados, mozzarella, and even canned sardines in olive oil (which Matt swears by, so I'll give them a shot). It was a joyous shopping bonanza, and I am very much looking forward to getting to make food with someone else regularly. On this note, I'm debating having weekly potlucks at my apartment, just as a chance to catch up with friends and to share wonderful, homemade food. If the way to a man's heart is through his belly, surely friends are similar.

Following our grocery run, we drove to Melrose to eat at this little brunch place I had discovered with Kevin while he was staying with me back in October, called 'Blue Jam Cafe'. Their omelettes had been divine and their ambiance delightfully cozy, and so I was sad when we walked inside to discover the kitchen had just closed. We meandered down a few blocks and found a little Thai spot, where we enjoyed Pad Thai and an Ahi Tuna Salad, before going on our merry way.

After our late lunch, Matt and I practically ran to LA Fitness to catch the 5:45 'Body Sculpt & Abs' class, a class I had never taken, but which I assured Matt was not a cardio-based class. Sure enough, we walk into the group fitness room, and everyone is jumping onto and off of step units. Needless to say, after twenty minutes of cardio and calisthenics, Matt was shooting me some evil looks and occasionally mustering an, "I'm going to kill you". Yet he did it with a smile, so I knew my life wasn't in total danger. It was a decent class, and I always love hitting up the gym with a friend. Matt ended up getting a discounted membership for the next month, after I fought with a representative about having been originally told I could bring guests. Tomorrow we are aiming to try the 7pm 'Cardio Kickboxing' class. Matt has never tried kickboxing but is willing to, so I am crossing my fingers that we get a great class.

We came home from LA Fitness, listened to this delightful little band called 'Pink Martini', as per Matt's recommendations, took our respective showers, made a positively gargantuan salad with chicken for dinner, and then made a late-night dash to Yogurtland. This brings me to now, sleepy and trying to mentally gear up for selling sandwiches for eight hours tomorrow, including a big order for the show 'Family Guy'. But hey, we've all gotta make a living. And it could be McDonald's, let us not forget. So I choose to wear a smile, as I bake chocolate-chip cookies and serve up Chicken Pesto sub sandwiches.

My quote-of-the-day from the calendar Arlie gave to me was, "Today is full of miracles." And indeed, it was.