Neck , Out

It takes a long time to get life, and one's self, figured out. I'm grateful for what I've learned so far, and look forward to being more aware in the future.

This week, I've had an epiphany about myself. I think I've known all along, but never really clarified it: to accomplish good things, I need to make a public commitment in order to force myself to follow through.

Case in point: NaBloPoMo. I rarely blog unless I declare that I intend to post daily for 30 days. Yeah, I'm motivated by not appearing to be a quitter. But once my intention is out there, I feel like it is locked in! More than I hate looking flaky, I hate being flaky.

I once had a habit of waking up early and heading to the gym before work. Brenden bought the gym membership for me and I promised him that I would use it. I also told a bunch of my friends that I was going to be a morning exerciser.

And now that I have realized this, I want to maximize my tendencies as much as possible. Should my new motto should be, "Stick your neck out, and the rest of you will follow!" or "Bite off more than you can chew, and find a way to swallow!" Well, I never said my strength was slogan making.

This is a scary realization. Making a big commitment in the open is is like jumping first and checking your parachute later. It's so much easier to fail in secret. Perhaps for now I'll stick with blog posting marathons. But know this: I do have an itch to chronicle and accomplish some bigger jumps.

Let Me Be Frank

This is my least favorite haircut a man can have. Those stringy, over-gelled bangs really flatter no one.



I always associated this look with an unsophisticated set, but there was something else bothering me about this "hair-don't" that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

Tonight, it dawned on me:



Really, who wants to have a look in common with Frankenstein's monster?

Back to the Library: 11/27/10

Deadliest Catch: Season One
I could only stand to watch one episode of this with Brenden, and he didn't even finish watching the whole set. It just seemed like an endless tale of a terrible and exhausting job on the cold, angry seas. Now I'll feel guilty the next time I see Alaskan crab on a menu.


The Sarah Silverman Program: Season Two, Vol. One
This show is so totally wrong which is why I enjoy it. I think the second season is better than the first. I am intrigued by Mini Coffee, the drag queen with a five o'clock shadow, and host of Cookie Party.

Man vs. Wild, Collection 1
Bear Grylls is ridiculous! This program is like a freak show. Bear falls into an icy lake on purpose, eats a scorpion, and drinks his own urine to rehydrate. All the while, he spouts non-specific facts. "One time a guy died out here!" I am left wondering how they have milked this concept into so many seasons.

A Morning With Brenden

My husband is in a fake huff that he isn't mentioned enough on this blog. I reminded him that I am never mentioned on his blog, but this answer did not satisfy him.

Actually, Brenden and I did have a pleasant morning together. First, we went to Orvis and I didn't even complain! I got some great ideas for his Christmas gifts there; outerwear, a reel, fancy fishing socks, etc. Of course, Brenden also kindly mentioned that he wants a gaming console so I now have the opportunity to spend even more on his gifts.



We tried a new place for brunch; Ruth's Keystone Cafe. Our waiter was charming and helpful without being in our faces. Brenden ate breakfast and I had lunch. My warm mushroom salad was delicious.



We agreed that there are more things on the menu we want to try and since it is close to home we will be back.

Then, we popped over to Bed Bath and Beyond for a new pillow for him and a new spice grinder for me. Last, we hit Trader Joe's. Brenden can't get enough of their cannolis. We came home and ate them while giggling on the couch. I do love these days when we hang out together.

The Mac and Cheese

I was really excited to try a new macaroni and cheese recipe for Thanksgiving. It's from Martha Stewart, promised a "grown up" taste, and was big enough to feed a crowd. I spent $15 on the cheese alone.

I grated boiled the cavatappi to a perfect state pf partial doneness, shredded pounds of quality cheese, made a cheese sauce, and my own bread cube topping. I have to admit it looked pretty good!



People seemed to like it, as it was all bubbling with cheesy goodness. But when I tasted it, it was pretty much a "so what" experience. Sometimes when I make a time consuming recipe, by the time I actually get to sample some, I am just over it. After I have put forth so much effort and dirtied my kitchen, I'd rather go hibernate than eat.

Also, at big gatherings I tend to get a little anxious. The process of going through a buffet line, finding a seat, and balancing cutlery and my beverage is a little jangling for my delicate nerves. Then, to keep up with 5 conversations swirling about me make it hard for me to truly taste what I am eating.

I'll still continue to make new things, because I like the process. I'm just bummed that it's hard to enjoy the results.

Overload

Today I woke up too early.

Next, I baked two pies, assembled a green bean casserole, and a large pan of unbaked macaroni and cheese (with bechamel sauce).

Then I got to the Thanksgiving venue, and was alarmed to discover that the oven's temperatures had long been worn off the dials so I had to guess at the setting. I guessed too cold. But after some adjustments the casseroles I made were hot and served on time.

During the meal, I tried to be in too many conversations at once, not really getting a grasp on any of them. It left me too perplexed to eat dessert. I was thirsty, there was no water.

Everyone seemed pooped today. Even my young cousins put their heads down on the table after dinner. My uncle showed slides, then a few board games broke out. It seemed like as soon as the games were complete, everyone decided to leave at once, and we cleaned up and cleared out at record speed.

I'm tired and thankful to home.

Awakeness Fail

I was doing great; 23 posts during the first 23 days of November. Now, I've woken up to realize that I'm 5 hours late in making my 24th post.

Here's my pathetic story. On Tuesday night I had an awful headache. When I woke up on Wednesday, it was even more painful. So I puttered about for a bit and laid back down, since that was all I felt I could manage. I woke up past noon, feeling slightly better, and my headache faded over the rest of the day.

After dinner, Brenden and I cuddled in with Wendy and watched TV. I was so warm, so relaxed, that I fell asleep! Who does that? Who falls asleep when they have only been awake 9 hours that day? Me.

I should have known better. I fall asleep so easily when it's cold out. If I'm under a blanket and reclined, forget about it! I'm out! I thought there was no way that I'd doze off last night since I'd already slept so much. Now, I know that doesn't matter.

What's the remedy here? Stay cold and upright until I want to sleep? That doesn't sound very fun either!

Full Throttle Thanksgiving

Tonight I have a headache, but even this made me laugh.

A Word to the Holiday Eaters

About this time of year, I start seeing news bits everywhere on "lightening up" holiday meals. My aunt posted on Facebook that she will not make her favorite pecan pie for Thanksgiving because it contains the devil's nectar, also known as corn syrup. I've seen many alarmist articles proclaiming that a holiday meal can reach epic calorie levels. Others I know are wringing their hands about possible holiday butter consumption.

I have one thing to say to all of this: oh, please. Thanksgiving dinner is one meal. One! Meal! Christmas dinner is also...wait for it...ONE MEAL!

So, OK maybe you have multiple sides of the family to visit. Now we're up to four meals for the end of year holidays. And, there are other holidays and celebrations throughout the year, like Memorial Day and your birthday. Maybe that's ten to a dozen indulgent meals for the year, right?

I do appreciate everyone's vigilance concerning a healthy diet. But looking at the big picture, I seriously doubt that some buttery mashed potatoes and a slice of pie on Thanksgiving are the reasons for anyone's health or weight management problems.

Of course, we know that eating these indulgent foods daily would be unwise. Can't we have a few days a year where we proclaim we are celebrating by eating treats? America is such a strange place. People eat huge portions and processed crap on the average day, but when it comes time to feast, half the world is on a diet. They're called treats because you're not supposed to eat them all of the time! Enough!

Three Olives

I like it when TMC comes over for dinner. She is easygoing, agreeable and always brings a treat to snack on. Tonight she brought a special cheese and three varieties of olives. The dark ones were very sultry-tasting. As an added bonus, I got to use the little vintage spears I bought at a garage sale a few summers back. As it turns out, they are so perfect for picking up olives, it seems that is their designed use.



I always wondered who bought from the olive buffet at the grocery store. Now I know: wise dinner guests!

Back to the Library 11/20/10

My Secret Public Journal Live by Mike Birbiglia
I first heard Mike Birbiglia on an episode of This American Life in which he told a story of his severe sleepwalking problem...yet it was very funny. So, now I've discovered he's a comedian not just a guy who was on TAL once time. It's like he's a good friend just telling you stories from him life, but he's way funnier than any of your friends.


The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season
I normally dislike any show with a laugh track, but I make an exception for this one. I love Sheldon. And, sometimes you actually learn a thing of two from the nerdy characters.

A Night Out

We went out for sushi with friends.

My drink had a flower in it, but it was actually quite strong. Oh, and we also had sake bombs.



Then we ate a whole bunch of sushi!



The End.

Daily Mugshot

Forgot I made this over the summer...must resume.

Daily Mugshot

Ode to Aldi

I used to think that Aldi was just for poor people and all of the food just had to be totally disgusting, since very little is brand name.

Then I found out that Aldi and Trader Joe's have the same German owners. I began to see Aldi's lack of selection as German efficiency, rather than being sub-standard. Seriously, do you need to choose between multitudes of brands and flavorings of canned diced tomatoes? Just buy the one style Aldi has, and quit over thinking it. Just buy the Aldi sour cream, it all comes from cows, no matter what the label says. About 95% of the time I can't taste any difference between what Aldi offers and the big name brands.

I even noticed some items are strikingly similar to Trader Joe's, just with different packaging. And, many German treats are stocked; Ritter Sport, pumpernickel, and frozen black forest cakes. Brenden is loving it!

I love their shopping cart system that requires you insert a quarter before you can release one. If you're too lazy to put your cart away, someone is always willing to pluck a cart from the lot and get the quarter back out. The lot is always neat and tidy

I admire that if you don't bring your own shopping bag, you have to pay for each paper or plastic one of theirs you use. They can pass that savings on to me! And, my goodness is it cheap! I can already tell that after a month of buying just 50% of our groceries there, it has made a difference in the budget. (Their produce selection is utilitarian at best so I get most fresh vegetables and specialty items at Meijer.) Just be sure to bring cash or your debit card, because Aldi doesn't take credit cards.

Back to the Library: 11/8/10

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home by Rhoda Janzen

The book jacket promises a tale of what happens to the author after her husband leaves her, she gets in a severe accident, and moves in with her parents to recover. Except, I wouldn't so much call this a "memoir of going home" as I would call it a memoir of growing up Mennonite and a memoir of being married to an emotionally-abusive crazy person.

I can read a book about anything if it is written amusingly. And I must say this book brings out the LOLs. Yes, I laughed out loud, which is not something I do often when reading. By far, the descriptions of her perpetually cheerful (and gassy) mother are the best. The language does get R-rated when describing her ex-husband, so for those of you with baby-eyes, consider yourselves warned.

This would be a great read for traveling; funny, sweet, and with a narrative that would be easy to pick up and put down.

Fun with Flowers

Saturday night, Loretah had some light-up flowers on display because her grandchildren think they are beautiful.



All that is needed to turn on the flower's light is for the sensors to be immersed on water. So we got to thinking...what if you just licked the flowers?

I tried it...(even though you can't see my light going on because of the flash



Zoe tried it...


Yep! Licking works!

Feasting Party

Last night, I got together with some old family friends (Loretah, Chris, and Joy) and my mother to sample some recipes. We sampled a lot of food. When there's any variety of fun things to taste, I call that a feast!



Loretah's kitchen was a frenzy of activity, we were rotating things in and out of the oven nonstop. Timers were beeping every few minutes!



There was a crescent roll ring stuffed with cheese and veggies, a baked bread bowl filled with artichoke dip, and angel food cupcakes topped with creamy pineapple.



I made wonton artichoke cups, brought 1000 day old gouda with apples, and a Ritter Sport chocolate sampler pack.



The most adventurous eaters of the bunch, Chris and I were the only ones who liked the very strong-tasting aged gouda.

So naturally, Chris made the most palate-challenging dish of the evening: baked bone marrow.



I thought it might look more appetizing once cooked. Not so.



Chris scooped the marrow onto a thin slice of toasted baguette. I asked that the lights be dimmed for my tasting.



I expected a spongey meat texture, but was surprised to find that the marrow was very oily. A bite or two would make an OK appetizer, but I certainly wouldn't make a meal of it. Good thing we had lots of other things to eat!

It was a really fun, delicious evening. I love cooking and feasting with friends.

Back to the Library 11/13/10

Oh No She Didn't: The Top 100 Style Mistakes Women Make and How to Avoid Them by Clinton Kelly

I've loved Clinton for years, especially back when we had cable and I could watch him on What Not To Wear marathons. The problem is, there is a fundamental flaw regarding his advice: those who most need it couldn't care less about heeding it.

Once I was watching WNTW in the office kitchen. In walks a coworker who always wore the most unflattering pants; pulled up very high with her shirt tucked in, accenting her belly. They were polyester and bright purple. She was not overweight but those pants were not making the most of her figure, while also making her look about 10 years older. She declared, "I don't like that show! People should just have their own style!"

Oh, dear. Audrey Hepburn had her own style. I don't think it included a Mickey Mouse jean jacket.

So, as I read this book I was thinking that Clinton was really speaking The Truth. He hit on some of my personal fashion pet peeves; mom jeans, slogan/cartoon character t-shirts, wearing athletic shoes when not working out, tucking in, and holiday sweaters on anyone under 75 years of age.

But then when I read things I might be guilty of, I bristled a little. Maybe he's right about everything, except the points that might apply to me. Nope, I can't think about it that way. If he knows what he's talking about, I've got to accept that he's talking to me too!

Now it looks like I need to modify the following: wearing less black, wearing fewer plain, solid shirts, and finding generally more flattering shirts. He suggests shirts with structure that don't cling to my belly. That seems like a tall order, but I will keep an eye out for it.

This I Believe Lite

Have you heard the This I believe essays on NPR? They're excellent but they are generally serious or noble. People believe in the good of the human soul, the power of tradition, the joys of hugging, stuff like that.

For now, I am considering some of my less serious beliefs, but they are still strongly held!

I believe canned peas should be banned and never produced again.

I believe that if you don't check your email at least every other day, you no have no business having an email account.

I believe that bringing only a bag of chips to a pitch-in is pretty lame.

I believe that you shouldn't save seats in a busy order-at-the-counter restaurant. It backs everything up! Go through the line, and by the time you've ordered, a seat will free up!

I believe that people who overuse the word awesome don't understand what the word even means.

I believe in the power of bacon.

I believe, sometimes, that my husband was raised by wolves....or born in a barn. Take your pick.

Biff!

So...I drank a high alcohol content beer before dinner and I'm a smidge buzzed. I recommend the Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout, oh yes I do!

Meanwhile you really should watch this, even if I may have linked to it before. It is Back to the Future's 25th anniversary!!

Church Free

The majority of people in my life are religious. And being as such, they proclaim their gladness about what God has done and how pleased they are to go to church, go to Bible study, sing in the church choir, participate in the ladies book club, and go on church picnics. I do not begrudge them these pleasures and activities. I'm glad that they are glad.

But, since this is my blog, may I just proclaim my own gladness? I am every bit as satisfied to NOT go to church or any accompanying activities. Every weekend, I'm 100% happy to have as my own. Can I just say I LOVE not being in a religion and going to church? Love it!

I'm happy that I don't have to pretend the sermon was interesting. I'm happy I don't have to over-analyze every thing I do. (Following the golden rule seems to work OK.) I feel free.

I'm sure the church goers pity me or think I'm bitter. Please, please don't. I am happily unchurched.

Thoughts as I Browse the Internet and Eat Dinner

25 years ago Christopher Lloyd looked old, frazzled and crazy...and today he looks just the same. What's his secret?

I wish Antoine Dodson would have his own talk show.

They make muffin tops, what about lasagna tops? The top it is so cheesy and crunchy, to hell with the supporting layers.

Who in their right mind would want to go see that movie where James Franco plays the guy who got his arm trapped under a boulder and has to chop it off. I mean, how long can you watch a guy lying trapped by a huge rock? And then when he starts to cut...gross!

Why, NO I am not going to watch a YouTube clip about a dog's brave last days with cancer, and his subsequent euthanization. I'd have to call in sick tomorrow due to a broken heart.

I will never be the type of woman who wears a headscarf. (Unless I'm in the woods and need to keep ticks out of my hair.)

So Bret Michaels allegedly slept with Miley Cyrus's mom. All those skanks on the Love Bus, and he gets with a woman kind of close to his own age. It's kind of cool, except it's not. But, score one for the older woman!

New York has a 311 line? What's a 311 line? I want one!

Know what walking three half marathons has taught me? I am never, ever, ever, ever, running or walking a whole marathon.

I think I like the Big Bang Theory because I identify with Sheldon. Some social conventions are so strange.

Come, Join My Tiers

At my last job, we categorized our clients into threes tiers, based on their sales. For example, Best Buy was in tier 1. They bought a lot from us. The independently owned convenience store, well, they were tier 3.

As I got used to this categorizing system, I started categorizing my friends in tiers. Among my tier 1 friends, we've even started classifying secrets, "Oh this is tier 1 level clearance!"

Now, I'm not too rigid about this, the tiers are just for fun and forever changing. I know a lot of people who need my friendship intermittently. Some people would be offended by the lack of consistency. But, if someone needs a friend, I'm here. I don't mind where you've been or who you've been hanging out with instead of me. There's always a place for you with me, if you want it.

If you're coming and going in and out of my life, that's usually OK with me. I know my needs for companionship can change with the seasons, too. Really, who am I to get fussy about people who want to spend time with me? You need friend, and you're not a jerk? I'm there.

Far too many friends have come and gone in my life. Years-long relationships have been ruined by hateful words. I'm no longer part of the religious community I grew up in, and many, many friends faded away. I am happy to know the people I do; I'm not about to be denied the chance to hang out with cool people!

Now, if I would get over my shyness about inviting people to do things...

My New Party Classic

Sometimes I wonder how a song becomes a classic. Wherever there is a party, you're more than likely to hear Kool and the Gang's "Celebration". Did it become a hit, then the DJ's just never stopped playing it?

Also, it is possible to identify a song that will become a classic when the song is current? I'm going to take a stab at it. I think The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling" is the next ubiquitous party song. Maybe it's because it always cheers me up. It gives me the feeling I always got when I was younger, setting out for a night on the town.

A while back I couldn't stop watching this lipdub to "I Gotta Feeling" by some French Canadian students. It's filled with some clever moves and a youthful energy that never fails to make me smile.

Back to the Library: 11/6/10

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
Lately I've been on simultaneous Jeff Garlin and Sarah Silverman kicks, so since this movie stars both of them, it was an easy choice. It's kind of simple and low budget, but there were some laughs, for sure. It reminded me of Curb Your Enthusiasm without all of the cringe-worthy moments and a yelling Larry David. Overall, it was worth watching

Paper Heart
Charlyne Yi claims to be filming a documentary about love, but when she starts dating Michael Cera, it becomes clear that this isn't really a documentary. Are they acting? Is this her real boyfriend? Who knows! Even the Wikipedia page says the stars have given conflicting reports of whether they were a couple in real life. It all felt quite strange, yet pleasantly quirky. Except, I fell asleep about 75% of the way through, so don't ask me how it ends.

One Small Thing

As I was scrolling through some pictures I stumbled on the smoothie I drank for breakfast last winter and spring.



Various healthy living blogs I was reading claimed that adding leafy greens to a smoothie didn't change the overall taste. My friend Brooke confirmed that his was true so I tried it. The internet has dubbed such a drink, "The Green Monster".

I made mine with spinach, soymilk, chocolate GREENSuperFood, a banana, flax seed meal, and ice.



I was excited to drink this shake every morning because it was refreshing and delicious, but it came with some unanticipated benefits.

1. It was a good feeling to start the day with servings of fruits and vegetables. I think it led to me making better choices the rest of the day, food wise. And even if I didn't choose wisely, I was assured of that one healthy meal.

2. My car stayed so clean. I have breakfast while I am driving to work. When I don't have the shake, I have something bready, and that means crumbs. Crumbs, everywhere. Shakes have no crumbs!

3. My kitchen stayed cleaner. (Confession: I don't always do the dishes every night.) Using a blender daily meant that I had to wash it daily, or it wouldn't be ready for breakfast. And while I was at the sink, I just went ahead and cleaned the whole kitchen most of the time.

And now I've convinced myself to go back to this breakfast!

Back to the Library: May 2010, part 2

From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris
All of the Sookie Stackhouse books started to blend together after the first few. Actually, each one is a little less entertaining than the one before. I'm still going to read them though, because they're like candy; not Godiva, just a Crunch Bar.

Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes
I like to geek out on nutrition studies but this was way beyond what I would consider pleasure reading. It was like a textbook, citing study after study, with no pizazz. I skimmed, and basically I think the take away here is that refined carbs (flour, sugar) make you gain weight, not fats. So, be more afraid of the toast than the butter.

Born Rich
Once I popped this in the DVD player I realized that I had seen this on HBO years ago. The heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune made this film to document the feelings of his friends who were born into extreme wealth. Their families may not have to work for generations. Being rich had various results on these young people; from the classic spoiled douchebag, to the humble heir who really just wanted to be a normal person. I was most fascinated by the scene where Donald Trump's daughter goes back her childhood bedroom in Manhattan, left exactly as it was when she was about 13. The view was amazing. It's some of the world's most expensive real estate, and they could just afford to close the door and visit as a curiosity several years later.

Back to the Library: May 2010

I have a huge backlog of library items to report on!



This was an interesting set because I ended up buying two of these! (It will be easy to figure out which ones.)


Vegan Yum Yum by Lauren Ulm
This has become one of our favorite cookbooks. Well, I like cooking from it, and Brenden likes eating the results. There is a photo of every meal, which I love. And while I am not vegan, this cookbook actually offers some great flavors an omnivore might not normally experience. And, of course, vegan cooking is a great way to heed Michael Pollan's motto: "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants".

My only criticism would be that the recipe instructions are not ordered how I would have done them, but this was easily solved when I made something a second time. Also, the author admits she isn't into onions, so she skimps on them. I usually add more onions quite liberally with great results.

30 Day Shred by Jillian Michaels
Did you know that in just 20 short minutes it is possible to go from a normal human to someone who feels like dying and simultaneously wants to punch Jillian Michaels? This workout is hard, very hard (the Amazon reviewers agree). And it is short, so I can talk myself into using this DVD from time to time.

F Word Series 3 by Gordon Ramsay
I rather enjoyed the first two seasons of this show. The formats changed up a bit. But series 3 was too similar to series 2, so I grew bored and didn't finish watching it. There's only so much of his yelling I can take.

My Office

In 1999, working at a tiny market research company, I had an office. It was very retro, and featured wood paneling. I found some 1970's motivational plaques featuring distressed-looking kittens to complete the decor. I left that job to go work at the mall, a decision I have never regretted, except that I had to sacrifice an office.

Since rejoining the masses of desk-based workers in 2002, I have sat at some form of cubicle or out-in-the-open desk. For years, I have complained about excessive noise, distractions, lack of privacy, and people coming by to sniff my lunch.

On Monday, I moved into my new office.

When I dribbled part of my lunch on my pants yesterday, no one saw. I sneezed and no one said "bless you". Someone had a question and they knocked instead of standing two inches from my chair. This is going to take some adjustment.

And I must admit I'm a little lonely. Not lonely enough to move out, of course, but it's so peaceful.

Everyday Annoyance

I should never have started reading the (very funny) blog of a woman who proofreads for a living. It's like any other humorous personal blog, except June peppers her posts with comments about grammatical shortcomings of others.

People, I do not need to be aware of any more grammar issues. I'm already driving myself batty with the old standby annoyances like "suppose to" and "use to". Don't even get me started on people who see a cute baby and respond with "awe" when I am pretty sure they mean "aww". Unless, they are indeed truly awe-stricken?

Anyway, back to June and Bye Bye, Pie. She has shown me the light concerning "every day" and "everyday". Now, I am painfully aware of the difference and I am just NOTICING it everywhere. You see, when you eat breakfast as a habit, you do it every day. But when you combine every and day into everyday, they become an adjective! Sly Stone, he loves everyday people!

OK, so maybe that is not the best way to explain it. Review this grammar website. Or, buy this mug from June's Cafe Press store as a reminder.



Oh! What a nice tie-in. Today is the first day of NaBloPoMo, in which I will attempt to blog every day. Huzzah!