Pizza, Ice Cream, and Isolation

Some friends and I tried Lala's Wine Bar and Pizzeria last weekend, lured by the gluten-free menu (for our friend with celiac disease), vegetarian options, and Westword's assertion that the flat-bread pizza is the best in Denver. I ordered the Il David pizza, minus the herb grilled chicken. While the cheese and roasted garlic were tasty, the crust was soggy in the middle. Flaccid, even (and as my friend would say, "That's what my last date said."). And the abundance of Peppadew peppers kind of sucked. I guess I'm not a peppers person.

So, I was not impressed. Maybe I need to give them another chance, but first impressions are hard to shake. Plus, some restaurants are just consistently excellent and don't need a second chance. Take Zengo, for example. I've never had a bad experience there. The crispy tofu and the roasted plantains are consistently de-lish.

Marco's Coal-Fired Pizza, then, remains unchallenged as the best thin-crust pizza in Denver. The Abruzzo is simply to die for and the Margherita is a close second. The Campania is next on my list. And, of course, the Nutella dessert pizza is a must. I must caution, though, that I found their Queens pizza to be rather bland. Everything else I've had at Marco's has been wonderful.

After the disappointing dinner at Lala's, we headed to Sweet Action, the new homemade ice cream joint on South Broadway. They use local ingredients, which is cool, and the ice cream is tasty. The Shoppe's Death by Chocolate Cupcake ice cream is the best chocolate ice cream I've had since I can't remember when. The shop is spacious and open as well. Liks is still my favorite local homemade ice cream shop, though. Great ice cream and good sized portions. I'm eagerly awaiting the return of Sleepless, an espresso ice cream with crunchy chocolate nuggets.

After the festivities ended, I got online and worked from about 11 pm to 4:30 am. I was on a bridge with a handful of coworkers. The personal chatter between a couple of coworkers made me realize, once again, just how distant I am from them. How, at past jobs as well as this one, I don't really form many personal relationships at work. Sure, I have a few. OK one, but we chat personally a lot. And sure, some of said coworkers knew each other from previous jobs, and others have kids--yes, kids, the great divide between the parents and the rest of us--and lives that revolve around them. Who can relate to that? When people talk about their kids, all I can do is talk about my kittens.

I think years ago, at both school and work, I've been called aloof, much to my surprise. I don't think of myself as aloof. I'm just an introvert, that's all. And I'm busy working. Introverts are so misunderstood. But happily, an old article from the Atlantic, Caring for Your Introvert, clears everything up. This is required reading for all friends of introverts. Thank you, Jonathan Rauch.