Hurricane!

Massimo went down to Tosca this morning, but they quickly decided to close the restaurant. We hit Whole Foods, line ONLY extended through the cheese section, not like during the snowstorms when the line reached the front door. After confirming that - thank God - the liquor store was open, we stocked up and cooked lunch. Later, we rode around on empty streets to check both restaurants for flooding. So far, only a little water in Posto's basement, but we'll see. Then it was in for the night. Right now, it seems to be hitting the hardest, the wind is howling through the elevator shaft and all we can hear through the open window is wind, rain rolling off the balcony above us and sirens. But we're safe, warm and thankful to be on the White House power grid. Stay safe.

Natitude

So the Nationals clinched the divison title and Teddy finally won the Presidents' race.   It was a good day.  We used the new MLB at the Ballpark app which allows you to order food and booze from your seat and have it delivered.  It's awesome, as you can imagine.  It did result in my husbnd accidentally ordering an extra hot dog along with our second round of vino, but we gave the superfluous sausage to a homeless man hawking hats outside the stadium.

Heat! and Wine!

It was 105 degrees in DC so I escaped to the Sugarloaf Winery in Dickerson MD with my mom. Despite the heat, they had a band going and a pretty good crowd had gathered to drink. We did a $10 tasting of their Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, unique and award-winning Comus blend and others. Inside, they have a small bar and seating area where you can order glasses or bottles and buy cases. I bought Pinot Grigio, Vigonier and Comus. The winery is about 40-45 minutes from downtown DC, past the historic Comus Inn.

A Rare Night Off

Massimo finished early tonight at Tosca, for once, so we actually had a "date night." This phrase is normally used by couples with children but believe me, in our case, it applies. We went to Posto - I know: shocker. But we sat at a real table this time and enjoyed a plate of charcuterie, martinis, pici senesi, burrata with zucchini, pork tenderloin and branzino with caper sauce. I know I'm biased, but it was delicious! He was in a good mood because Italy beat Germany 2-1 in the Euro Cup semifinals even after Germany's media basically called Italy "pizza makers." So Italy will face Spain in the final on Sunday. Forza Italia! I wore my Italia flip flops over my Aircast and Massi wore his jersey, with "Fabbri" on the back!

Oops

I had been kicking ass at the gym.  I ran more than 6 miles on Monday, then Tuesday I met with Lisa, my trainer, down at Vida on 7th Street for an intense upper body workout.  I gathered my things, and started walking down the two central flights of stairs, while checking my email.  I completely missed the last step, rolled my right ankle and snapped the tendons.  I know because I did the exact same thing almost ten years ago in a club called San Lorenzo in Italy, wearing my Steve Madden platform boots, about two weeks before my wedding.

And just like then, my embarrassment threshold was way lower than my pain threshold, even though I knew very well that I was seriously hurt.  I managed to make it to the metro, back up home and flop over on the couch with a bag of frozen peas.

Meanwhile, Massimo was entertaining our good friend and master pecorino maker Guido Pinzani, who was in town for the Fancy Food show at the Washington Convention Center.  Guido dropped off about 8 pounds, or three wheels, of different types of his aged pecorino, shipped from Volterra, for Massimo to bring home to his injured wife.  Massimo excused himself a little early, telling Guido, "mia moglie ha  fatto una stortaccia," or basically, my wife really hurt herself.

Now I've been to the George Washington University Emergency Room many, many times.  It's kind of been my primary care for the last five years.  I was even born there.  So I wasn't looking forward to another trip down there to wait 5 hours behind a guy scooting along with one shoe in a stolen wheelchair.

But my neighbor Lisa Amore came to the rescue, taking me to Simplicity Urgent Care on Columbia Pike in Arlington.  There was no one waiting, so they got me right in for x-rays, a wrap and crutches.

So now I'm on crutches.  And my damn armpits are killing me.

New Video

New video of me.

Italy 2012

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