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This blog is dedicated to my lovely boyfriend. Love, your insane-scientist girlfriend.

Hey, hi, hello. How are you? Personally, I’m freezing cold. I don’t know if anyone else has looked out the window recently, but there’s a tree outside of Marvin K. Peterson Library that was ripped in half by the amount of ice on its branches.

Imagine being ripped in half because you got too heavy. That’s insane.

Anyways, in honor of this past Valentine’s Day, I figured I’d tell you guys all about mine. Of course, I understand that Valentine’s Day isn’t always a comfortable holiday to talk about, as it can represent many things pertaining to love, so, no worries if you decide to click out of the tab.

With that, our story begins with:

“Makin’ pancakes, makin’ bacon pancakes [unintelligible mumbling] makin’ bacon pancakes.”

I feel like men always come up with the most insane ways to wake their partner up, as if they’re some kind of exotic bird or something. Except the exotic bird is wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants holding a spatula. Is that a beak?

The author squints, burrowing herself deeper into her comforter: “It’s seven o’clock in the morning, dude. What gives?”

Boyfriend, continuing “Bacon Pancakes: The Sequel”: “I made you pancakes. Happy Valentine’s Day, darling.”

That was all I needed to hear. In about five minutes, I was given a plate of steaming heart and stegosaurus-shaped pancakes drizzled in maple syrup. I was given my current read – “The Martian” by Andy Weir (I also highly recommend reading “Project Hail Mary” by the same author, which is equally as fantastic) –and my favorite stuffed animal, Mr. Sloth (who’s a really big stuffed animal sloth).

Munching on pancakes together, we discussed the plan for the day:

1. Boyfriend goes to a class, Girlfriend does girlfriend things
2. MewHaven Cat Cafe
3. Buy a new beta fish
4. Dinner @ Wildcat (Hamden)

“G�Ǵǻ�?”

Girlfriend, still gnawing on her steggie pancake: “Me likey.”

So, my boyfriend went to his classes, and I decided on completing some homework with some skincare in between. Personally, I really enjoy doing something called “casual homework,” meaning that I’m able to work on assignments while doing other activities (i.e. skincare) intermittently. Usually, this involves me baking something in the background while writing an essay or stirring up a new compote while listening to a lecture video.

(Does anyone else listen to their lectures like it’s a podcast? Simply curious.)

By the time my boyfriend came home, not much homework had been completed, but my skin looked great, and a good chunk of chores had been completed. Dishes and laundry had been the true killers lately, so I was happy to get at least one of them done.

Soon, we were both on our way to . We’ve been going to MewHaven since our sophomore year, and always enjoy the time spent with all the cute kitties. Not to mention, the student discount they offer is helpful, too! Anyhow, to be honest, we didn’t stay very long. Given that it was Valentine’s Day, it was quite crowded, and it just wasn’t matching the vibe. So, to we went.

Slither & Swim is a locally operated fish and reptile store located in West Haven, and it has some of the most knowledgeable and sweet staff I’ve ever met. They take great care of their fish, they and truly do want to help you make good decisions for your pets. Walking in, we both said “Hi” to all of the snakes, turtles, bearded dragons, skinks, and geckos before making our way over to the fish.

After much conversating, we decided on a new beta, and four tetras (a minnow-like freshwater fish).

Currently, only one tetra is still alive. We don’t know if we’ve adopted a Jeffrey Dahmer beta, but it’s not exactly out of the question.

Getting into the car, we reevaluated our day so far: Cute kitties? Check. Acquire fish? Also check. Having fun and sneaking cheek kisses in the aisles? Check. Overall, the day had been going fantastic, and we hadn’t even reached the best part:

.

I’d been stalking Wildcat for a while. With an aesthetic for all things purr-fect and cat, Wildcat was opened on May 28, 2024, with the goal of serving well thought-out dishes, beautifully cultivated drinks, and, most importantly, bringing the culinary arts to life through its diverse staff. Surrounded by deep blues, perfectly furnished furniture, and gorgeous artwork, Wildcat became an immediate favorite of ours.

After perusing the menu about five thousand times, we decided on:

• Beef Tartare – shallot, cornichons, dijon, sherry vinegar, cured egg yolk, served with kettle chips
• Conserva – tinned mackerel in olive oil, herb butter, house giardiniera, confit garlic, sourdough
• Parisian Gnocchi – parsnip puree, chicken jus, candied fennel, chili-garlic breadcrumb, grana padano, chive
• Fried Calamari – grilled broccoli rabe & fennel, lemon herb aioli, pickled boquinhos



And last but not least:



• The Chocolate Red Velvet Cake (Valentine’s Day Special!)

Everything was a tastebud explosion of flavor, enjoyment, and a reminder of how good food can be when made correctly. One of my favorite parts about Wildcat was the shelf on which chefs put finished dishes; it was on the way to the bathroom, and you could see how beautifully busy it was in the kitchen. As someone who formerly worked in food service, I couldn’t not appreciate the work that went behind Wildcat.

Finally signing the check, Valentine’s Day had come to a close. Being in a relationship is never always easy. There are always going to be hard conversations and moments of lost trust and arguments, but then you get those moments where you’re laughing so hard you can’t breathe. You’re letting the wind through your hair, and you’re screaming Taylor Swift out of the car window, staring up at the stars on the beach, talking about your lives and how small they really are, and how weird love is sometimes.

Love can be weird, yes, but it’s the matter of allowing it to fill in space that really matters.

Before this blog ends, I do want to say that you’re allowed to spend that time to love yourself too, and it doesn’t have to be limited to one day! Love yourself every day! Or at least try to!

Author, throwing love at you: “Love yourself!! Rahh!!!”

Anyways, this is your reminder to give yourself some love, but to also share that love, too. There can never be too much of it 🙂

I hope you guys are all having a fantastic day, and that your week is filled with amazing things.
All my love,
XOXO – Bea