Hey blog peeps! I've been neglecting you again but really I haven't been inspired to write. Since I'm not a great writer anyway when I try to force a post it comes out plodding and boring with no real point. So really it's not laziness, I'm saving you the trouble of reading something bad, or something.
The Captain and I are not really Valentine's Day people. There's nothing wrong with people who go all out and gift gifts or flowers or anything else. It just isn't that important to either of us. We'd rather go all out on our birthdays or anniversary. The Captain is an excellent gift giver and I'm always happy with what he gets me on our "special days". Last anniversary I got a pair of fantastic diamond and emerald earrings he designed to match my engagement ring (which he also designed). So on Saturday we slept late, exchanged cards (his funny and mine sweet) and ate Bojangles for lunch. I went to the gym and we had some errands to run. We've been looking at moving to a different place so we wanted to check out some apartments. No cupids or hearts or flowers. Just us.
It was really nice. Besides a quick trip to the hospital to see The Captain's grandmother (she's ok now) it was just the two of us, hanging out together. As cheesy as it sounds, he really is my best friend and my perfect day are always with him.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wordy Wednesday-Butter Edition
Biographies are one of my favorite types of book but I tend to read a million of them and then fade out for a couple months. Maybe it's a voyeristic nature or maybe I just love gossip but I get kick out of reading the details of these seemingly larger-than-life celebrities.
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
What I thought: Yum, and yuck.
After hearing about this book several different places I finally remembered to put a hold on it at the library. I sped through it in several days because of the easy writing style and episodic chapters that allowed me to pick it back up without having to reread several pages. I fell in love with Julie and her huge task of making all 524 receipes from Julia Child's most famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. Julie orginally wrote a blog about her journey but instead of printing out the blog and binding it, the editor allowed Julie to talk more about her family, friends and crazy job while quoting from certain blog passages. I admit to being more than a little sick when reading about extracting marrow from a bone or eating brains but cheered along with her after her sucessful boning of a duck. I highly recommend it for two reasons. It made me want to cook and I want to know more about Julie.
Julia Child by Laurie Shapiro
What I thought: I had no idea!
I actually read this a while ago at the begining of my chef biography period. Julia Child facinates me because she was so larger than life. This woman, in the 1940's, was a spy during WWII, married late in life to her soulmate Paul, was one of the first women to study at the famous Cordon Bleu in Paris and created a cooking empire. Laurie abviously cares about her subject but doesn't shy away from the bad sides of Julia's personality. This is a great way to learn more about an amazing woman.
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously by Julie Powell
What I thought: Yum, and yuck.
After hearing about this book several different places I finally remembered to put a hold on it at the library. I sped through it in several days because of the easy writing style and episodic chapters that allowed me to pick it back up without having to reread several pages. I fell in love with Julie and her huge task of making all 524 receipes from Julia Child's most famous cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. Julie orginally wrote a blog about her journey but instead of printing out the blog and binding it, the editor allowed Julie to talk more about her family, friends and crazy job while quoting from certain blog passages. I admit to being more than a little sick when reading about extracting marrow from a bone or eating brains but cheered along with her after her sucessful boning of a duck. I highly recommend it for two reasons. It made me want to cook and I want to know more about Julie.
Julia Child by Laurie Shapiro
What I thought: I had no idea!
I actually read this a while ago at the begining of my chef biography period. Julia Child facinates me because she was so larger than life. This woman, in the 1940's, was a spy during WWII, married late in life to her soulmate Paul, was one of the first women to study at the famous Cordon Bleu in Paris and created a cooking empire. Laurie abviously cares about her subject but doesn't shy away from the bad sides of Julia's personality. This is a great way to learn more about an amazing woman.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Who Knows and Who's Just Talking?
With 4 strong willed women in my house growing up there was a lot of talking and even more opinions. It drove my scientist dad CRAZY whenever we would just start answering questions without having any knowledge of the subject (besides what we made up in our minds). This phrase was commonly used to cut through the bullshit and get to the heart of the matter.
I find myself using it more and more in my adult life. Especially during this past election year when the muck-raking (or is it mud raking?) was going full force and there were daily "scandals" showing just how terrible one politician was because they did/associated with/gave money to "X". I assure you I was not an very informed voter and usually didn't know the details behind the daily drama. Whenever a friend or stranger tried to fill me in on the "truth" of the matter that little phrase repeated in my head. Even now during this historic administrations first month there are always people who know the truth. And even when I agree with them I force myself to remember "Who knows, and who's just talking?" More often it's the latter than the former.
And in the worse segue ever, I do KNOW that Circa 1922 is now one my new favorite restaurants. The menu is different without being pretentious, they have a wide range of options and their portion size is perfect. Oh yes, this will be my new "special occasion" restaurant.
After reading over this post I also now KNOW that I use way too many quotation marks. "See?" "Great!"Now I can't "Stop" "Help!"
I find myself using it more and more in my adult life. Especially during this past election year when the muck-raking (or is it mud raking?) was going full force and there were daily "scandals" showing just how terrible one politician was because they did/associated with/gave money to "X". I assure you I was not an very informed voter and usually didn't know the details behind the daily drama. Whenever a friend or stranger tried to fill me in on the "truth" of the matter that little phrase repeated in my head. Even now during this historic administrations first month there are always people who know the truth. And even when I agree with them I force myself to remember "Who knows, and who's just talking?" More often it's the latter than the former.
And in the worse segue ever, I do KNOW that Circa 1922 is now one my new favorite restaurants. The menu is different without being pretentious, they have a wide range of options and their portion size is perfect. Oh yes, this will be my new "special occasion" restaurant.
After reading over this post I also now KNOW that I use way too many quotation marks. "See?" "Great!"Now I can't "Stop" "Help!"
Monday, February 9, 2009
Mission Accomplished!
I left the house several times this weekend! Yay! Go me!
We had amazingly beautiful weather and I'm finally feeling better so I had several big adventures. Recently I reconnected with a friend from college who lives in my town. We met for lunch at a food Co-op but they don't have an official cafe. We were going to just get sandwiches and drinks to eat outside but they were organizing a protest and we felt like jerks just sitting there so we went to Panera instead. I know, it's terrible.
Sunday we went to the Chocolate Festival put on by the big senior center in the county. It was fun and we ate lots of samples and bought some raffle tickets. Then we worked off about 1/8th of the calories by dragging heavy branches and bushes to the curb. (And of course when I say "we" I mean I ate most of the chocolate and The Captain did most of the work).
Tonight I've got dinner at a yummy restaurant with friends and the high is supposed to be 65.
Awesome.
We had amazingly beautiful weather and I'm finally feeling better so I had several big adventures. Recently I reconnected with a friend from college who lives in my town. We met for lunch at a food Co-op but they don't have an official cafe. We were going to just get sandwiches and drinks to eat outside but they were organizing a protest and we felt like jerks just sitting there so we went to Panera instead. I know, it's terrible.
Sunday we went to the Chocolate Festival put on by the big senior center in the county. It was fun and we ate lots of samples and bought some raffle tickets. Then we worked off about 1/8th of the calories by dragging heavy branches and bushes to the curb. (And of course when I say "we" I mean I ate most of the chocolate and The Captain did most of the work).
Tonight I've got dinner at a yummy restaurant with friends and the high is supposed to be 65.
Awesome.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Wordy Wednesday-Friday Edition
Yep, so I blew it 4 weeks in. Really it was for your own good. No one wanted to read yet another whiny post about how sick I was. I survived most of the day Wednesday at work mostly by taking 1 minute naps at my desk. Several times I woke myself up snoring, I'm klassy like that.
BUT I'm feeling better, we're supposed to get some warmer weather this weekend, I've got plans for lunch AND I'm going to a chocolate festival this weekend so all it right with the world. I also discovered the secret for picking out cute outfits. Take a strong cough syrup then wake up several times a night for about a week. Somewhere in the haze your brain will put together pieces in your wardrobe that actually look good. I wore a sweater yesterday I haven't touched all winter because I couldn't figure out what shirt to wear with it. Thanks codine cough syrup!
Last night The Captain made dinner for the first time almost completely by himself and it was awesome! Of course he's cooked a frozen pizza or made some noodles but this was a whole meal. We had ground chicken burritos, spicy refried beans, rice and tortillas. He did ask me to supervise but I am terrible at explaining why I do certain things. Like cutting up the meat as you brown it. I just know it's easier.
Here is my half assed Wordy Wednesday:
The Curious Incident of a Dog in Night-Time by Mark Haddon
For full disclosure I read this as part of the January discussion on Very Bookish. It was one that had been on my list for forever but I'd passed over for fluffier Lisa Jewell or Marion Keyes books. I was turned off by the back cover blurb but it was amazing. It's written from the point of view of an autistic boy so everything is filtered through his logical but emotionally void mind. Read the comments on Very bookish for more insightful comments. Just know that I really enjoyed it and would read it again.
BUT I'm feeling better, we're supposed to get some warmer weather this weekend, I've got plans for lunch AND I'm going to a chocolate festival this weekend so all it right with the world. I also discovered the secret for picking out cute outfits. Take a strong cough syrup then wake up several times a night for about a week. Somewhere in the haze your brain will put together pieces in your wardrobe that actually look good. I wore a sweater yesterday I haven't touched all winter because I couldn't figure out what shirt to wear with it. Thanks codine cough syrup!
Last night The Captain made dinner for the first time almost completely by himself and it was awesome! Of course he's cooked a frozen pizza or made some noodles but this was a whole meal. We had ground chicken burritos, spicy refried beans, rice and tortillas. He did ask me to supervise but I am terrible at explaining why I do certain things. Like cutting up the meat as you brown it. I just know it's easier.
Here is my half assed Wordy Wednesday:
The Curious Incident of a Dog in Night-Time by Mark Haddon
For full disclosure I read this as part of the January discussion on Very Bookish. It was one that had been on my list for forever but I'd passed over for fluffier Lisa Jewell or Marion Keyes books. I was turned off by the back cover blurb but it was amazing. It's written from the point of view of an autistic boy so everything is filtered through his logical but emotionally void mind. Read the comments on Very bookish for more insightful comments. Just know that I really enjoyed it and would read it again.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Not Dead Yet
This weekend I...well, let's see...there was...no, not that..maybe...nope, well, hmmm. Ah yes, now I remember. I spend the entire weekend breathing through my mouth and drinking cup after cup of hot tea to soothe my firey throat. Oh yes my friends, I have caught another cold bringing the grand total to 2,456,965 (with rounding). Seriously 2009, enough with the head colds. I've been buying kleenex by the case and I'm sure my neighbors have seen me stumble outside in slippers and pj's often enough to consider calling the police. And my great "work-out 3 times a week" plan? Yeah, not going so well considering walking from my couch to the stove makes me want to take a nap.
I've tried everything, taken airborne, vitamin C, drank gallons of OJ, washed my hands, etc and I still keep getting infected. I took some old perscription cough medicine last night to help me sleep and man that stuff is strong. I felt drunk the first half of the day which I guess is better than feeling like I got hit by a truck. I am also declaring a red and peeling nose the must-have accessory for January. It goes so well with the bags under my eyes. I am a vision of lovelyness.
My goals for next weekend are: 1. Don't have a cold and 2. Leave the house.
It's ambitious but I think I can handle it.
I've tried everything, taken airborne, vitamin C, drank gallons of OJ, washed my hands, etc and I still keep getting infected. I took some old perscription cough medicine last night to help me sleep and man that stuff is strong. I felt drunk the first half of the day which I guess is better than feeling like I got hit by a truck. I am also declaring a red and peeling nose the must-have accessory for January. It goes so well with the bags under my eyes. I am a vision of lovelyness.
My goals for next weekend are: 1. Don't have a cold and 2. Leave the house.
It's ambitious but I think I can handle it.
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