she eats.

Test, one, two. Test, one, two.

Is anyone still here?

There. I thought those might do the trick.

I’m not dead. Far from it; in fact, I’ve been busier than ever lately. Funny how that happened. Here I was, thinking Now I can fully concentrate on writing and editing and social media and bunnies instead of doing all of that while performing all the duties of my day job – I’ll have more spare time than ever! Not so much. Instead, I’m busier than I can ever recall being in my life. But it was a nice thought while it lasted. Especially the bit about the bunnies. The fluffy, fluffy bunnies…

Anyway, life at the Press is wonderful. I enjoy my job more than I ever could have expected, although – as with all good things in life – it comes with the constant terror that it might all be taken away at a moment’s notice. Don’t act like I’m the only one who thinks that way. Whereas before, I batted at things like pageviews and linkbacks as if they were cat toys – interesting diversions, but not all that important to my trifling little blog – they have now become my very own Sword of Damocles. I live and die by pageviews now. Although I’m sure I’ll become more comfortable with it over time, for now I’m all too terrified of not meeting our pageview goals each month, something which has all but overtaken any enjoyment I take from writing for the time being.

That said, I was in print again last week with my review of Manena’s, a lovely Argentinean deli and pastry shop off Westheimer. If you missed the print edition, you can still read it online. And a million thanks to Jeff for being the first person to take me to Manena’s and making me wonder how I’d missed such a little jewel all this time.

As for my other food writing, I’m still at it (links below). I’m still plugging away at the photography, too. Some of my recent slideshows for the Press have been the most highly-viewed each week, so I’m both pleasantly puzzled and excited to have them so well-received. A sampling, for your clicking pleasure:

• Rockets vs. Lakers Game 3 – Pregame Festivities
• Art Car Parade Kickoff at the Continental Club
• Houston Tea Party at Jones Plaza

And, of course, you can keep up with my food photography over at my Flickr account.

Now, to the meat of it all: what I’ve been writing…

I simply can’t include all of the articles I’ve written in the past month, or we’d both be here all day.  Here are a few of the highlights instead:

• The Valet Problem (currently at 72 comments on this one…)
• A Day In the Life of a Personal Chef
• Starbucks’ Artisan Bacon Sandwich: Taking One For the Team
• Making Change on Montrose
• Recession Lunching at Feast
• Graeter’s Makes a Sweet Texas Debut
• Steam Table Special at Country Kitchen
• Feliz Cinco: It’s Taco Porn!
• A Better Breakfast at Manena’s
• 4/20 Food: Crap You Only Eat When Stoned
• A Long Way to Mango
• Cooking With Dog

Now that I’ve adjusted – somewhat – to the new job, I’ll be back here soon with some regularity as there will always be, of course, things I want to write about that aren’t appropriate for the wider audience of the Houston Press.  I’ll save the pissing and moaning just for y’all.  Or not.

For now, I’m off to Austin for the weekend to attend a friend’s wedding.  Everyone have a safe, happy, hot weekend and I’ll see you on the other side of some barbecue and The Oasis.