back to the nest

A few hours ago I was in the car.  Driving.  I heard a strange ad on the radio for Peeps-flavored ice at Rita’s.  Peeps.  As in Marshmallow Peeps.  Rita’s.  Ice.

I feel that few-to-one-word sentences are almost as awkward as Peeps water ice, and that’s why I’m using so many.  I was so intrigued by this odd flavor that I rerouted and aimed straight to the nearest Rita’s, which luckily is right in Newtown.  Hard to believe, but this was my first ice custard happiness since Rita’s opened for spring.  Usually I’m much quicker.

Went with a Gelati to be on the safe side.   In the case of this weird Peeps flavor sucking majorly, at least I’d have my favorite vanilla custard to be excited about.  Here it is, in my hand:

The very first thing that threw me off was the radioactive yellow color.  Since I ate it, I’ve been checking my skin periodically just to be sure.  So far, I think it’s just FD&C Yellow Lake #5 and not battery acid or anything.  Also off-putting was the fact that there were no mashed pieces of Peeps throughout the ice itself.  I was expecting that for some reason.  Or maybe like mini-Peeps?  Or stick one Peep on top?  Anything to let me know it’s flavored like Marshmallow Peeps!

So I ate it.  And it was good.  Like really good.  But did it taste like Peeps?  I don’t think it did at all, but I haven’t had a Peep in years, so I forget what they taste like.  I thought this tasted like cake frosting.  The vanilla kind.  Which I love.  I don’t know if it would appeal to everyone though, but since I’m a bigger fan of the creme ice flavors than all the other flavors they have at Rita’s.  A regular size was way too big though; I have no idea why I went with it.  Normally I just get a kid’s size.

I give it a thumbs up for being yummy, and a thumbs down for not tasting anything like its namesake.  If I had more hands, I’d throw up another thumb for having a radio ad that succeeded in making me drive straight to Rita’s to get one.  I don’t think that’s ever happened before.

Yo Rita, just a thought:  since you’re clearly not opposed to turning any arbitrary flavor into an ice, you should consider a waffle-flavored one.  What’s your problem?  Waffled-flavored ice would be the most amazing thing ever.  With vanilla custard?  Think about it!

And for no reason, here’s a picture of this evening’s sunset I took while leaving work.  I’m really proud of it.  I love pictures of sunsets, but I’m never the one taking them.  So fun times.

Not only am I ending my hiatus, I’m blogging from a public place from the first time:  the Starbucks on State St. in Newtown.  I thought taking it a few blocks from the comfort of my own home might light a fire under my butt or something.  I’m feeling pretty motivated because the day has been productive so far, and also because said butt still hurts a little from the couple of times I’ve been verbally spanked at work by Michelle for my recently weak sauce blogging action.  The tough love works on me, I guess.

I really wanted to have my camera with me today, so I could take pictures of what I’m eating, (SB’s huevos rancheros wrap + vanilla rooibos tea.  Fabulous.)  but I didn’t realize I forgot it until I got here.  So.  The guy next to me is far from impressed by my antics and clearly fighting the urge to tell me I’m a complete moron for what I’m about to do:

Whoa, brightest and worst picture ever, but it stays.  Directly in front of the window so I can people-watch though, so not a lot I can do about it.

Gah!  I have some great news!  But I have to wait to announce it!  Thinking about anything else is tough, so let’s discuss the fact that we’re supposed to get ANOTHER major snowstorm here in the great Philadelphia area.  Last time, I got two days off work.  So bring it, snow.  It’s a complete pain in the ass, but if it has to be winter I may as well get something out of it, right?

Time to catch up on GoogleReader.  213 posts.  Whoops.  Fingers crossed for me for snow, people!!

It was unseasonably warm and gorgeous outside in Southeastern PA on Monday, so after after taking advantage of a fantastic warm weather run that day (might just be my last before winter strikes around here), I took a very long walk around Newtown before heading into work.  People here always do really cute and classy fall/Halloween decorations, and even though Halloween’s over, I thought share a few shots of whatever pumpkins haven’t been tossed just yet.  Plus I saw the opportunity to hone my photography skills, which are essentially nonexistent.

Of course there's a Phillies one.

I like that you can tell a lot of these were carved a few days ago. The fact that they're all smushed makes them looks more Halloween-esque.

I wasn't even remotely close to this one. But I just discovered that I can zoom and crop on my camera. Yay!

Here’s to trying to extend fall for as long as possible.  It always seems to pass by so quickly every year.