.

How to Determine You Might Have Grown Up a Wee Bit

2007-11-12T17:13:00.000-05:00

(Though...not entirely of course.)

1. Go to Panera Bread on a Sunday morning to read the newspaper.

2. Order yourself your usual cinnamon sugar crunchy bagel-ey goodness with hazelnut cream cheese.

3. Scan the menu even though you usually order the same non-fat double latte, no flavor.

4. Think to yourself, wow, that pumpkin spice latte sounds good.

5. Order pumpkin spice latte.

6. Pay.

7. Wait for said latte to be made.

8. Say yes to whip cream.

9. Watch as the 14-year-old making your coffee creates a pile of whip cream on your coffee somewhat resembling the Grand Tetons - only whiter. And whipped.

10. Take coffee and sugary bagel-ey goodness to a table.

11. Realize that together your breakfast has the same amount of refined white sugar that Louisiana produced last year.

12. Eat bagel.

13. Attempt to drink latte.

14. Think a lot about tooth decay and of those episodes of Extreme Makeover you watched but never would admit.

15. Stop drinking latte altogether.

15. Try to think of creative ways you could remove the syrup and whipped cream from latte.

16. Fail miserably.

17. Leave 3/4 full mug of latte in dish tub.

Menu Plans, Wish Wash and Saying No to HFCS

2007-11-11T18:13:00.000-05:00

There's something about fall that causes me to want to do things around the house and the range from cuddling up under a blanket with a good book to actively doing things around the house. The past few weekends, I've been making progress on several projects.

1. I've almost caught up reading all of my Gourmet and Bon Appetit magazines and this morning actually constructed a meal plan before going grocery shopping. This evening I kicked off my week of meals with a hearty cannellini bean, tomato, spinach and sausage stew (I subbed sausage and spinach). Very delicious indeed. For the rest of the week, I plan to try my hand at a chicken and cashew stir fry (I'm trying to replicate take out so I can eliminate all that MSG); Crisp Pork Medallions with Creamy Caper Sauce; and I'm also going to make and freeze some Make Ahead Lunch Wraps so I can avoid eating out so much.

Here's a pic of tonight's stew:

2. Today I made my own laundry detergent. Yea you heard me. I know it sounds crazy. But when I have to dish out $15 to $18 for a huge bottle of Tide, it's painful. And, I've got to think that there's a bunch of chemicals in there that aren't necessary. So I found this simple recipe online and made it myself. It took about 30 minutes and cost about $2. That will be about a $0.01 a load. Now I have some extra cash for saving for my next trip or my next splurge on good cheese.

3. I made and canned salsa a few weekends a back with the last of the good summer tomatoes and Serrano peppers from the farmer's market in Muskegon. It was my first time canning on my own and if I ever have my own garden some day, I'm definitely going to do more of it.

4. I've also been trying to stop eating high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) altogether. It's really difficult to eliminate it completely. Usually I cook things fresh, but sometimes ingredients you have in your pantry sneak it in there. Ketchup will be the toughest thing to give up I think, though I have read recipes for canning this...I'm intrigued. I also discovered recently that Worcestershire sauce has HFCS in it and the label says the recipe is from the early 20th century. I'm not a betting girl, but somehow I suspect HFCS wasn't in their original recipe. I wrote the manufacturer's a scathing letter. :-)

5. I've also made some progress on my living room pillows, but not enough to really report yet. More on that later.

I Define Blogging Underachievement

2007-08-12T22:09:00.000-04:00

As much as I really enjoy writing, it seems that I don't do all that much of it on here any more - for the love, I've been averaging one post per month!

But regardless, assuming anyone actually reads this anymore, I thought I'd share my top five summer highlights:

Number 5 - Herb Garden
I've always wanted to have a garden, but living in an apartment has its limitations and access to soil is indeed one of them. But, this year, I did manage to put some herbs in two four foot long planters on my patio and the herbs have grown beautifully and made my salads, sauces and dinners all the more flavorfull and delightful. This weekend I made a roasted vegetable lasagna with a fresh marinara sauce with thyme, basil, oregano and Italian parsley from the garden - delicious.

Number 4 - Patio Paradise
One of the perks of my place is the size of the patio and I promised myself this summer that I would make it an extension of my living space with some chairs, a rug and a fountain. The two chairs I bought at IKEA have the design elements and appearance I love, but also they are super comfy. I've sipped many a cocktail out there this summer and Sallycat seems to enjoy the purple rag rug as well.

Number 3 - Making Gazpacho in my Cuisinart
I knew the Cuisinart I received last winter would be put to good use and I knew one of those uses would be to make gazpacho. It's funny because the recipe for this deliciously fresh and cold soup in the Cuisinart instruction manual is actually quite delicious. After a trip to the farmer's market, I can barely wait to head home make this...and I have been all summer long.

Number 2 - Getting a shout out from one of my favorite bloggers

Number 1 - Canoe trip to the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada
I had always hear the Boundary Waters was a terrific place to go, but when I was invited to go north of there to the Quetico with a small group, I could hardly turn it down. I spent seven glorious days up there in July, paddling, trying to learn to fly fish and cooking gourmet meals over a camp fire. I tried northern pike for the first time and had small mouth bass prepared as ceviche (a cooking method where the acid and citrus from lime juice cooks the fish) - terrific! The weather could have been warmer and less rainy, but the location and the remote wilderness experience made me forget about feeling soggy. I long for the next time I go there. I have never been somewhere that I went almost seven days without hearing anything mechanical or seeing another group of people. It was the best.

Somehow You Know Your Genes Can't Be Too Bad When This is Related To You

2007-06-13T00:03:00.001-04:00

On Bonnets, Apple Butter and Designer Dickies

2007-06-12T20:36:00.000-04:00

I bet you didn't expect that to be the first title I'd write upon my hiatus from blogging. But it seems to ring especially true as I reflect on last weekend's activities - a trip to Shipshewana with my mom, aunt and cousin. One of the highlights of the trip, other than the beautiful contemporary mission style dining room table set that I'm still dreaming about, was a brand of terribly disgusting women's clothing called Shipshe Casuals - a brand dedicated to women who prefer to have a holiday sweater each month of the year and require that all capri pants, cardigans and other items be bedazzled, puffy painted or embroidered with creatures. The title of this post is reminiscent of the sign on one of the rotating racks..."Designer Dickies." Now I ask you...how is that even possible? Apple necklace anyone?

This photo pretty much sums up how I felt about the sidewalk sale.

The funny part is that as I jigged about on the porch wearing the depicted hideousness, completely mocking the style of clothing that I will NEVER wear, a woman complimented me on how nicely the vest fit me and exclaimed, "I wish they had that in my size," and was completely serious and began to scan the rack. I then exclaimed "We need to get out of here immediately."

In other weekend highlight news, I have officially purchased fabric for my first "person-with-hobbies-and-out-of-graduate-school" project. The solid green and Amy Butler (thanks Jen for clueing me into her fabulousness) lotus fabric will be used to make new throw pillows for my couch to accent my green area rug and the fruit panels will go on some flour sacking kitchen towels - I just have to find the sacking.

And, here's a bit of news I should have reported months ago, I got rain boots. Be Jealous.

Maybe In A Week I'll be Interesting Again

2007-04-17T22:55:00.000-04:00

Must. Finish. Graduate. Degree.

Until then, it's one post for every month that passes and plenty of reading on Canadian interstate trash imports in Michigan and next week it will be fiscal federalism. (Feel free to wipe the drool off your keyboard...I know that you're dying of envy right now.)

Signed,
Becky
Future MPA of America

Pure Michigan

2007-02-27T22:56:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I traveled to Kalamazoo for an art fair "garage sale". It was your standard art fair with many things that I really liked and others that are one step above this.

Before the day was done, I managed to find a collection of prints that I really liked and definitely got a deal. My friend Paula's friend Paula (very easy to learn her name) indicated that at towards the end of the day, artists usually slashed their prices. Our strategy then became check stuff out in the early part of the day, lunch somewhere and then return to the discounts. Paula also instructed us all to bring small bills, because at the end of the day, people give stuff away like strippers. I found that understandably amusing.

The following four prints were purchased for $35 in total. They came matted so I only needed to frame them. Target helped with that. So for less than $100 I have new art for my bedroom.

When I moved away from Grand Rapids to Louisiana I made a pact with myself that wherever I lived in the future, I'd always try to buy something that I could display to remind me of the places and communities I had been a part of. I started that collection with a coffeetable book of Grand Rapids prints by photographer Brian Kelly called Grand Rapids: Night After Night. In Louisiana, I bought two black and white framed prints - one of a New Orleans trolley and another of Alligator Bayou Cafe - a back woods restaurant very representative of the places there. These Michigan prints contain an image of Grand Haven pier in the winter (near where I live now) and the other three - Tahquamenon Falls, Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Lake Superior beach rocks - all resonate with me because of camping trips and childhood.

Lake Superior Stones

Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Tahquamenon Falls

Grand Haven Pier (the smallest of the four, but the picture is misleading)

Becky Had a Little Lamb (with beans and sundried tomatoes)

2007-02-09T22:14:00.000-05:00

Tonight I made Lamb and White Beans with Rosemary from Everyday Food Magazine - a Martha Stewart publication. One of my co-workers is ever so very generous each month and lets me have the whole magazine. Her husband gets it and reads it, but never even rips out the recipes. I've made some delicious things out of it before, but this recipe was indeed one of the best. The lamb was delicious and the beans and sundried tomatoes were cooked to perfection. The recipe doesn't call for parsley but I threw some in for some color at the end. I paired this deliciousness with some snow peas made Italian style and a fine glass of red wine and it was a great evening.

These Are a Few of My Favorite New Things

2007-01-29T20:44:00.000-05:00

Since the holidays I have been so fortunate as to acquire a few new items around the house - many of which I've been coveting for a long time. Three are gifts, one is homemade, two are fun purchases, two were offered to me and one appeared naturally. Here is the run down...(ahem)...clockwise from the top left:

1. Gift - Pottery Barn Cheese Plates - A gift from my brother-in-law for Christmas, this set of four vintage look cheese plates made me giggle with glee. Not only do I love cheese, love vintage label art and asked for them specifically for Christmas, they also filled the plate rack in my kitchen that has been sitting empty for some time. Note: the fourth plate - a green one - does not fit in the rack and is currently taking up residency in the cupboard. The plates read: "Camembert Superieur"; "Bumble Bee Brie"; and "Five Point Cheese Company: Parmigiano Reggiano." Perfect.

2. Homemade - A funky green tablecloth with ball fringe (my absolute favorite sewing notion) that I made with the careful assistance of the Joanie (aka my mother). She's trying to teach me to sew and this being the simplest thing a girl can make, it was a good starting project. I really enjoyed the project because it's very fun to actually pick out the fabric you like for something to make it as opposed to being limited to what manufacturers are putting out there. And, did I mention the ball fringe? No really...did you see the ball fringe? I love the ball fringe. I think I'll say it one more time..."ball fringe."

3. Purchase - I've been coveting this green leaf serving platter at Target for some time now. This weekend I was at Target with my friend Rachel and it was marked down to $5. I purchased it immediately. I'm seeing some lovely sushi or bruschetta on it in the future.

4. Gift/Offered - I received The Silver Spoon, one of the greatest Italian cookbooks of all time for Christmas. I've been dreaming of owning it for months. In addition, I received some correspondence from one of my airline frequent flier programs that I had to use some of my miles or lose them, so I subscribed to Gourmet and Bon Appetit for free. I've already received two issues and I've really enjoyed the articles about food around the world. They are different magazines than Cooking Light and a nice change. They tell the stories of chefs around the world. One of the interesting facts I've read so far is that prosciutto di parma (the really yummy Italian dried ham I adore) is so yummy because they feed the pigs the whey from making parmigiano reggiano cheese. Who knew?

5. Naturally - The snow today! Grand Haven got over 6 inches of snow today while I was at work. It is absolutely beautiful. What I love about the picture is that it is taken in color but looks black and white. Those are the trees across the field that my apartment overlooks. In other related snow news today...my office overlooks the Grand River in downtown GH. The channel is just now starting to freeze. The floating ice masses become little boats for the sea gulls. There were whole flocks of them riding ice boats down the river. It cracked me up. Some were only large enough to hold one bird, while others hosted whole flocks.

6. Purchase - Behold the new curtains in my spare bedroom. I found them yesterday and splurged on them. I think I really like them, my only concern is that they might be too 1970s and in a few years I won't like them. They are made from a light blue dupioni silk with screened flowers in navy highlighted with gold. They match my navy bedspread really well and give the room more color. One of the things I don't like about my apartment is that the walls are all white.

7. Gift - And finally, the food processor. I can already taste the gazpacho in the summertime from this baby. I should admit to the Internet that I actually watched the instructional video and enjoyed it. Yep, that's me...total kitchen GEEK.

So that's the tour. I assure you not much else has changed around here. But, if you are curious about any of the above...come visit. I'll make dinner with my food processor from recipes from Silver Spoon, Gourmet, and Bon Appetit, serve it to you on my leaf platter and cheese plates on my green tablecloth, while you blissfully watch the falling snow and anticipate sleeping in the very well decorated spare room.

Cue Julie Andrews...I'm out.

Friends Forever

2007-01-24T11:22:00.000-05:00

My nephew - Zachary Isaac - was born last week on Wednesday. I met him last weekend and he agreed that we should definitely watch Saved by the Bell on DVD together. And, if the little guy demands a cell phone the size of a walkie talkie and a cardboard cutout of Kelly Kapowski for his closet, I'll be more than happy oblige as his aunt. It's the little things you can do for your nieces and nephews that really matter. This will definitely guarantee that we will forever be "Friends Forever."

My Joy For Today

2007-01-23T22:30:00.000-05:00

"Madam Speaker"

Enough said.

Let Santa Eat Candy Canes

2006-12-13T17:56:00.000-05:00

If you are going to visit Santa at the mall, you might as well feed him a candy cane while you are there. My staff from work had a Holiday Extravaganza this morning and afternoon. We started the day off at Frederick Meijer Gardens and then went to a pottery painting studio for some artsy fun. Right before we left we realized Santa didn't have any customers and he let us all get a complimentary pose with him if we had our own camera. I haven't had my picture with Santa since I was about 2-years-old. He offered me his lap and I understandably declined. Instead I thought it might be fun to mix it up a bit and make him eat one of the candy canes in his basket.

Some of you have been asking for pics of my neices. Here's a few from Thanksgiving - Gracie and my pops and then me with Meg:

Open Letter to Citi PremierPass Card Marketers

2006-12-11T22:48:00.000-05:00

Dear Citi PremierPass Credit Card Marketers,

Last month when I subscribed to two free issues of Real Simple magazine and thought it would be funny to have them sent to my cat instead of to my attention, I had no idea you would be stupid enough to buy their distribution list and do this:

For the record, my lovely feline might actually yell at me like a human when I'm not home enough or even communicate in ways that I understand better than some of the human beings I run into on this earth, but she by no means qualifies for a $100 gift card and up to $10,000 of credit if she applies today.

You have taken credit card marketing a bit to far. All Sally really wanted was to give me the distinct pleasure of a giggle when my complimentary magazines arrived addressed to her. She knew how much I liked it when I got my Crate and Barrel catalog the other day addressed to her, too.

But this, this is too much and I think you are even more annoying than usual.

Sincerely,
A concerned citizen with a cat with a potential line of credit higher than her own

Holiday Gifty Goodness

2006-12-10T19:47:00.000-05:00

This year, I decided to make my co-workers holiday themed take-out boxes filled with yummy homemade holiday food goodness. They will receive their bundles tomorrow morning. Here's a run down of what was included in each:

Sally inspects the collection. She gave the presentation four paws up I can assure you.

Sugared Cranberries - These are a Cooking Light recipe I've been saving since 2002. The process was fairly simple. You make a simple sugar syrup, soak the cranberries overnight in the syrup and then roll them in a superfine sugar to coat.

Vanilla Bean Pancake Mix - This mix is really simple and contains a vanilla bean inside to flavor the pancake mix. I also included the recipe and some maple syrup.

Almond Croquant - This is a simple French candy with almonds. It's a better alternative to fattier pralines because it only contains sugar, water and almonds.

Lemon Ginger Biscotti - Probably my favorite of the bunch! I can't believe I've never made biscotti before. These delightfully crunchy cookies are so delicious I almost don't want to give them away. They contain crystallized ginger and fresh lemon zest. Delicious!

Hope everyone has a tasty holiday!

The Adorableness is Killing Me

2006-12-08T22:45:00.000-05:00

I discovered these two adorable creatures on the Web recently. Check out their videos on manners. You'll have to select the "hoops and yoyo on manners" on the left nav bar. I thought the were absolutely adorable. I'm still giggling over it.

Also, if you need to tell someone thank you. I recommend going here.

She Was Certainly Not a No Name Slob

2006-12-06T09:04:00.000-05:00

One of the three dresses Audrey wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's has fetched over $800,000 for charity. I think Ms. Hepburn would have liked it that way. She and cat are certainly no name slobs any longer.

Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!

2006-11-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

I bought my bottle for Thanksgiving, did you? Learn more about the interesting history of Beaujolais Nouveau, I just did this year and hope to continue celebrating it's arrival each year in the future.

Stranger Than Fiction

2006-11-20T22:01:00.000-05:00

I went to see this film on Friday. It was delightful. Though it wasn't Will Ferrell's typical delightfulness like Old School or More Cowbell Gene Frenkle, it was an all new kind of delightfulness for him. I truly enjoyed his portrayal of the character and several of the lines he delivered as only Will Ferrell could do with his sort of monotone sarcasm. My favorite (badly paraphrased) line was while he was riding on the bus speaking with Maggie "I must have left my socialist literture at home."

Go see it if you haven't already.

I Love Origami

2006-11-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

To Have and Have Not

2006-11-13T22:56:00.000-05:00

I watched this film tonight...it was perfection. Bogart was so young and sexy and Bacall was smart and striking. It was full of the witty banter I love in classic films. I can't believe I haven't seen this yet, but somehow I made the time, even with my deadline for grad school this week.

It was the witty banter...I couldn't stop watching.

Where I Admit to Listening to Christmas Music in November

2006-11-12T14:59:00.000-05:00

Yep. It's on in the background right now...my beloved Harry Connick, Jr., or HCJ as I lovingly refer to him. "Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin..."

I really can't believe that I broke down two weeks prior to when it is reasonable to do anything Christmas. I've clearly broken one of my rules. But, I'm planning on making these fun homemade holiday food gifts for co-workers and I went supply shopping yesterday with Jen and when I came home I was in the mood. With all the fun Christmas patterned Chinese food take-out boxes and ribbons around, all a girl wants to do is get crafty and deck those halls.

You've probably noticed I've posted more this week than I have in the past 3 months. Let's consider the possibilities why: (1) I have been truly inspired to write lately; (2) I have tons of news to share; (3) I have a grad school deadline this week. If you voted for (3), you're the big winner. Oh yea...it's a big grant proposal and it's due Thursday! Yep...I'm back kids and it's purely based on procrastination, didn't want to disappoint you.

You'll notice the ad to the right about Ann Coulter. If you care about women's issues at all, I encourage you to take a look at and sign a petition that makes a lot of sense. Please join me in standing up to ridiculous women in the world like Coulter who are working against the steps strong and intelligent women have taken in the battle for women's rights. The joke of Coulter is that she has a platform to speak and be heard as a woman and she doesn't realize that the ability to do the very things she does is a gift from the strong women before her.

Somebody Call The Doctor...

2006-11-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

Quinn, that is!

Jane Seymour was a keynote at the recent annual conference I helped plan at work. I feel rather unattractive in the photo, she's just as lovely as she looks on TV.

Honest Arrogance or Hypocritical Humility

2006-11-06T22:25:00.000-05:00

"Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change."
- Frank Lloyd Wright

Love this.

And, Twins.

2006-09-05T22:58:00.000-04:00

My sis had her babes last week. She's holding Megan Anne and I'm holding Grace Elizabeth. It's too bad that I look like a bad auntie the way she's wailing away...even Megan looks concerned.

They are beautiful, no?

Let the crazy auntedness begin.

What I Did On My Summer Vacation - By Bex

2006-07-10T22:31:00.000-04:00

This summer was a busy one. After (graduate) school got out in the spring, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at a computer in the evening after I got out of my busy job each day. So I took a break from the electronic marvel that is blogging and had some adventures. After all, there wasn't any homework to procrastinate from, so blogging didn't appeal all that much compared to romping around in the Lake Michigan waves that are a short half mile away.

This summer I:

Bet $10 at the horse races in Muskegon and came home with $12.10 - a $2.10 profit. Watch out for me...I'm a professional horse racing gambler.

Spelled the word "petunia" twice in a game of Scrabble against my friend Todd - both vertically and horizontally.

Visited my friend Emilie for her 21+4 birthday in Louisiana

Went to a conference for work in Baltimore and also saw my friend Aaron. Somehow we took pictures with almost identical faces to some photos we took last fall, which I realize because it's the two of us, is actually quite possible, because well we both make a bunch a kooky faces.

Made strawberry freezer jam with my mum

You'll notice also the plethora of vegetables from the GH farmer's market in the hanging basket. It's been a delicious summer already and its only July. I can't wait for the tomatoes to get good and the corn!

This weekend my sister-in-law and I are throwing a baby shower for my sis. The word is that the twins are in fact two little girls. Very fun indeed! I'll try to get some belly photos to show you all.

Mmmm.....Glaze

2006-05-14T23:17:00.000-04:00

I was blessed this weekend to be visited by my parents--the Joanie and the Denny. We had a delightful time antiqueing and checking out the shops in downtown GH. Today my mom and I went hiking at Hoffmaster and looked for wildflowers. One of my mom's favorite wildflower's common name is Jack in the Pulpit. We were lucky enough to not only see one of these, but a whole 3 x 3 foot patch of them in the woods and five female deer up on one of the ridges about 100 feet from us. It was a terrific day for a hike and made extra "mother's day special" for my mom when we saw the Jack in the Pulpits.

After my folks left, I tried another recipe from my favorite magazine, Cooking Light. I've been saving this one for a while. I made Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze. I doubled the recipe to get two loaves. Here's the outcome and the recipe:

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze - Cooking Light, September 2003

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
3 tablespoons dark rum
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon flaked sweetened coconut
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Preheat oven to 350Â°.

Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk to combine.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, rum, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut. Bake at 350Â° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool bread completely on wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf, 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 193(21% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.3g); PROTEIN 2.9g; CHOLESTEROL 35mg; CALCIUM 15mg; SODIUM 179mg; FIBER 1.1g; IRON 1mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35g

My Need for Volunteer Firefighting

2006-05-04T22:31:00.000-04:00

So I officially completed my grad school semester last week. Phew.

But in doing so I reduced my stress level way too much--I've spent the entire week still feeling as if I'm not completing something I should be and like I'm missing something. I'm considering volunteer fire fighting to make up the difference (kidding...but I'm needing something...)

This past weekend I did some cooking which was a great treat. I made homemade pasta for the first time with real semolina flour. It was pretty delicious and I'm totally excited to try it again. This weekend I'm excited to undertake some additional gourmet goodness.

Well...here goes the survey Mel has required that I do.

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn on page 18 and find line 4.
I hope Cooking Light Magazine counts...."Other shelves were stocked with masa harina (Mexican-style corn flour), pink peppercorns, juniper berries, Sriracha Thai hot chile sauce, panko (Japanese bread crumbs), English Stilton cheese, and Italian buffalo mozzerella.

2.Stretch your left arm out as far as you can and describe what you touch.
I'm touching the mosquito netting I have draped on my four poster bed.

3. What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Lost.

4.Without looking, guess what time it is?
10:37 p.m.

5. Now look at the clock, what is the actual time?
10:43 p.m.

6. With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
Sallycat cleaning her fur.

7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
Leaving my work, heading home.

8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
www.ljcfyi.com - one of the cutest blogs on the Web

9. What are you wearing?
Red v-neck tee with a tan knee length cargo skirt. Bare feet.

10. Did you dream last night?
Yep. But dreams are personal and not to be posted on blogs.

11. When did you last laugh?
Tonight while watching Bridget Jones's Diary on tape while eating dinner. The part where she introduces Kafka's Motorbike as "one of the top 30 books of our time" always kills me.

12. What is on the walls of the room you are in?
My IKEA picture collage and my birthday butterflies.

13. Seen anything weird lately?
The guy that was my cashier this weekend at GB Russo's in GR. He was a weirdo--totally a gawker...totally weird vibes.

14. What do you think of this quiz?
I think it's a bit silly and unimportant.

15. What is the last film you saw?
West Side Story

16. If you became a multimillionaire overnight, what would you buy?
A farmhouse with a gourmet kitchen and a wrap around porch.

17. Tell me something about you that I don't know.
I am totally grossed out by belly buttons and I worry that if I ever have children and mine pops out or stretches it's really going to bother me. Also, I don't like the idea of umbilical cords.

18. If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? I'd change all the signage in the world so that it was completely readable and always intuitive.

19. Do you like to dance?
Yes--especially interpretive dancing.

20. George Bush.
Need we go there? Isn't it obvious? Blech.

21. Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
Jane Sophia

22. Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
Samuel Aidan

23. Would you ever consider living abroad?
Sure. If the job was right.

Yet Another Reason to be Proud of My Hometown

2006-04-21T10:48:00.000-04:00

Spring is a Time for Lovers...I mean Papers

2006-04-15T11:46:00.000-04:00

Big paper due tomorrow...

Number of pages written = 0.5

Number of pages required for the paper = 15-20

Number of minutes of procrastination already today = 90

Number of times I will gripe about my current situation before midnight = 134,678

Number of smiles that will occur after April 27 = infinite.

Happy Birthday Barb

2006-04-09T21:11:00.000-04:00

I'm Finally Adjusted

2006-04-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

I don't know about any of you, but the time change last week was killing me. Several days I just slept through my alarm to wake up an hour past my still buzzing alarm and realize...YIKES I should be at work two minutes ago. But I think I've finally adjusted so we'll see how the waking goes this week. (And now after reading that title I think some of you might think I was announcing I was adjusted psychologically....ummm...I think I've always been that.)

In other news:

I received my very first "reward" from Discover Card. It only took me three years to earn $20. That's pretty pathetic. I decided to take one of their offers of a gift certificate to a store, thus increasing my reward to $25 at the Gap. I'm hoping to get some new white t-shirts for summer. This wardrobe staple is my signature in the summertime.

Today I'm going to celebrate my mentor Barb's birthday. I'll spare you the age for her sake. But she always told me that life begins at 40, so no matter how much above that it really doesn't matter. She's practically my age! I'm very excited to see her and celebrate with her. I've planned a very special gift I know she'll love.

So, three more weeks to go on my grad school semester. I have two more big papers, a presentation, and a statistics assignment left. I can almost taste April 27 when everything will be completed and I can play for the summertime. I can't wait to actually have hobbies again for a few months. I'm planning on cooking a lot this summer and I'd really like this blog to do what I originally intended--to be a place for me to post pictures and recipes for things I'm cooking, eating and drinking. I also want to spend some time outdoors this summer hiking in different parts of Michigan. I've dug out my backpacking in Michigan book and plan to take a few trips, either solo or with a friend or two.

In swishy pants girl news, I did have a face-to-face class last weekend for my online section. Thankfully I managed to sit across the room--fully avoiding the swishiness. Phew.

This is No April Fools

2006-04-01T22:02:00.000-05:00

It was just a normal April day of geocaching with my sis and bro-in-law.

Though there were some strange signs along the way...we kept on trekking.

We were not frightened by the tripping hazards, nor the warm water discharge.

No...we kept trekking. And, in Scott's case....to the depths of the ocean...a.k.a. Lake Michigan.

This was not a day for wimps.

Some might say that it was a day for fools.

But, my sister and I and the three people on the P.J. Hoffmaster beach who witnessed this great feat...knew that indeed it was a day for champions.

Even though champions might turn all red, chapped and numb for two hours afterwards.

May it also be said that these two great people featured above will be bringing twinsies into the world in September(ish) and you may view their pictures here. I lovingly like to refer to them as the "doublemints." I'm going to be an aunt...hopefully the crazy one! But, not the one who collects too many cats. Sally is my limit, thank you and good day.

It IS a Small World After All

2006-03-15T08:26:00.000-05:00

Or, maybe that was just my claustrophobia after that ride and not being able to stop singing that song for three hours after the ride. Another favorite music hit included the song from the Carousel of Progress at the Magic Kingdom..."There's a great big beautiful tomorrow.....shining at the end of every day...."

I spent the last week in Orlando with my family. This will be the last trip we ever take without the next generation of Noricks' being present. My sister is currently pregnant and the little bun in the oven is due sometime in September. So what better way to enjoy our last trip as adults only but to go to Disney World? This makes very little sense at all but we did it anyway. I will say this however, I won't be returning to Disney World any time soon. After doing all four parks in a five-day span, the last place I want to be for a while is an amusement park. If I have to walk behind one more triplewide stroller or have my Achilles tendon rammed by another electric cart for persons incapable of walking, someone is going down!

But it was a great week with my family....some of my favoritest people on Earth.

Here are some photo highlights:

My sis and her hubby Scott rented a convertible for the week. Since I spent most of my days with them I got to enjoy it, too.

Jules and me at the Philharmagic 3-D Movie which was one of my favorite things at the parks. The Bugs Life movie at Animal Kingdom was also highly enjoyable.

Scott and Jules on the Astro Orbiter. Notice my sister's clenched hands...she's not a spinny ride person.

Me, Pooh, and the sibs. I'm almost frightened by how much my bro and I look alike here. Jules wasn't exactly camera ready in this pic, so I apologize in advance, Jules, for including it.

Mum and Tigger.

And Last my not least...my absolute favorite pic, of which I will always get razzed about by my pops...... (it's a well known fact that my dad NEVER smiles in pictures....but somehow he found it in him).

MY DADDY AND PIGLET!

I pointed at my father for a picture and Piglet was happy to oblige. I'm thinking of using this pic as a Christmas card next year. It's classic.

Go Mariners

2006-03-14T22:08:00.000-05:00

I discovered the mug actually belongs to a woman in my office, so I blurred the boy's face. I'm not sure if I'm going to keep using the mug now that I now the kid actually belongs to someone! Who leaves their mug in the community mug cabinet?

My New Favorite Thing About My Job

2006-02-24T08:55:00.000-05:00

I just got my morning cup of coffee in the office kitchen. Normally, I use just any mug that's available. That's until I found Jimmy. I'm now drinking out of a circa 1989 mug that someone proudly purchased at one of those mall kiosks who will put a photo on just about everything but your neighbor's forehead. The photo on the side is pixelated in a early technology color printer sort of way. It's terriffic. Jimmy is probably 29 years old now with the beginnings of a receding hairline, but he will forever be preserved as the rugged 12-year-old he is. I'm sad I don't have my camera with me today. But don't worry kids...I'll post a pic soon. In the mean time, here's a preview for you: "Go Mariners."

How You Know You Aren't Lame Any Longer

2006-02-20T22:23:00.000-05:00

Back to the Real World

2006-02-05T22:28:00.000-05:00

So tomorrow is the day for which I've been waiting for over 5 months now. Tomorrow I will begin a new job and next weekend, thankfully, I will have my own house. It's been a full past week and half. I've been scouring Grand Haven for a house and have ended up where I was trying not to end up...in an apartment complex. I had found the close to perfect first floor in a house, right down town, 2 blocks from work, wood floors, etc. But, I waited too long to nab it because I was a bit intimidated by the price. I had all these visions of grandeur--like how I would walk to work each day, ride my red bicycle to the farmer's market on weekends placing my vegetables in the attached wire basket on the front of my bicycle, and how I'd buy little bags of groceries from the adorable market on Washington Ave (main street in town). But, I will return to apartment complex living once more and forget those visions...at least for now. BUT! I will still wear my favorite red sneakers when I go to the farmer's market in my Jetta on Saturdays and I will still walk to the adorable market after work and buy groceries to put in my Jetta and drive home.

Here are several perks about the apartment I am going to live in:

1. 1/2 mile from the Lake Michigan shore and a quaint community beach that's much more private than the state park.

2. Washer and dryer....mmmmmm....fabric softener smell in my apartment....love that.

3. Beautifully large kitchen with built in pantry

4. I can paint the walls in the apartment and the complex is okay with that. I'm thinking red accent wall here I come.

5. Having my own key to a place again instead of my car key with a key to my parents' house only. I have officially stopped being pathetic for this reason.

6. A lovely spare bedroom with a really nice queen size bed for visitors (this means you).

7. Wooded views with lots of deer (so I've been told by Sheila at the complex).

8. I get to open all my boxes that have been on hiatus (I guess this isn't really the apartment but more of an I'm on my own again...so let's celebrate it statement...but deal with it...it's going to be like Christmas and I can't wait).

9. Lots of counters for me to cook and prep food upon! I'm going to make a yummy pot of gumbo soon...you should come over.

10. Did I mention that I'm not going to live with my parents anymore? Yea....that. (I should assert that they are really great people...I just love to live alone and I won't have to be disgusted by the newspapers all over the kitchen island putting whatever it is that newspapers have on them on the counters.)

I'm sure this list will continue. But for now...time for sleeping. It kind of feels like the night before school starts and I'm but a girl of 13. Let's hope not...I couldn't bear to have my hair look like it did when I was 13 for my first day of work. I think they'd take one look at my attempted to be brushed natural curl frizz afro and reevaluate their decision to hire me.

Ain't Life Grand?....Haven

2006-01-25T16:37:00.000-05:00

Well it's official, I've been offered the job in Grand Haven and I've taken it! After all the crazy sadness and mixed emotions these past few months about where my life was headed, I'm happy to report that I'm headed where I planned to five months ago when I came back from Louisiana...West Michigan. I'm feeling pretty grand right now....maybe it's because it's in the name of the town.

I can't wait to open my boxes of belongings. It's going to be like Christmas. Hopefully Morty won't be discovered when I've written him off for so many months. Let the house searching commence...and bring on the celebratory cocktails!

My Last Night as a Kegler

2006-01-23T12:27:00.000-05:00

Tonight is our last night of bowling and I can't say I'm too disappointed. It's been a fun ride, but I think the only bowling I should commit to on a regular basis is the occasional dollar bowling on a weekday night. I'm normally not one to complain about a broken nail, but every week after the league my right thumb nail looks like I took it to a belt sander and permanently blackened it with lane grease. It's all a bit disgusting.

I also confirmed something about myself this morning...yep, I am fully capable of eating pickles for breakfast. A few weeks ago I discovered them....cornichons. They are these teeny French sour pickles that lots of folks eat with pate. I've always been a pickle lover, but these are better than any pickles I've ever tried...perfect texture, perfect size, perfect flavor, and perfect pickle dispensage because most packages come with this really cute pickle lifter. These are the type of pickles that I could eat the whole jar in one sitting. They are sort of like chocolate for me, as I typically crave sour and salty before sugar. The jar is gone kids and let's face it, most jars of pickles last for months.

I Don't Care What They Like at the Casinos

2006-01-21T12:08:00.000-05:00

Last night I went to my mom's fundraiser ball. There was a terrific martini bar and dessert bar. I think I could eat chocolate mousse every day. There were also the most perfect petit fours with silver icing. The band left something to be desired, however. Whatever band member made the recommendation of "I think it'd be a really good idea if we played "Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me" at a party consisting primarily of middle aged married people" needs a reality check. I would love to sit down with them and assist in the reevaluation that decision. First point of discussion: white middle aged married people dancing like white middle aged married people to a 97.9 FM rap song is really quite hilarious and completely uncool. I don't think that song resonates with a married woman and it certainly shouldn't resonate with a married man. I don't care what they like at the casinos in Detroit...

Here are some pics of my friend Katie and me at the Party:

Because She Lives--The Joys of Online Learning

2006-01-15T19:15:00.000-05:00

Swishy pants girl showed up yesterday in the first class for my online course. For the first week you meet face-to-face and from then on it's cyberland. I knew there was a reason I could embrace online learning.

Tonight we made a very delicious dinner here at the family headquarters. We bought some breaded red snapper filets with Caribbean seasoning and then I made some risotto primavera to go with it. I adore risotto. This creamy rice never disappoints and I topped it with some sauteed asparagus and yellow squash.

I re-learned how to knit last night thanks to my sis, Miss Julie. I'm starting with something small, a dish cloth. We'll see how that turns out. I haven't worked on it since last night under her supervision, so it could all unravel in front of my eyes very quickly. (Yes, that cheesy pun was intended).

Here's a pic of my progress. Please admire the lovely colors in the yarn as I do:

In other crafty news, it sounds like I might get some private bowl turning lessons this winter from a buddy of my pops. This would mean that not only could I make rolling pins on the lathe, I could also turn out sets of bowls, which is great because I always admire beautiful wooden bowls in stores.

Too Many Decisions With Too Little Information

2006-01-13T16:31:00.000-05:00

This has been a week of confusion. Up to about five minutes ago I was registered for a full-load of grad classes, of which I have now dropped a class. There are several reasons for this--reasons that are all based upon, in my opinion, very limited information. But they are reasons enough that I had to make a decision...because if I didn't decide something, I was likely to be consumed with crazy. And lately, I've been all stocked up on crazy. I'm looking for some even keeled sanity right about now. Does this even exist? Well that's another post all together.

I had another interview this week. I think it went pretty well actually and will hear next week if I am one of the chosen two to make it to the next round. Let's say I do get this job, this would require moving to West Michigan. That would take both time and money, both of which I don't have much of lately. And, if I did start to work full time, it'd be crazy to have signed up for a full-load of grad classes when starting a new position. I'd probably have to drop a class anyway. And, today was the last day to drop with 100% refund in tuition.

I bought my books for school this week. Maybe it's been a while since I bought books for a full load semester, but when the total rang up in the bookstore, I thought I felt a blood vessel burst in one of my eyes because they bugged out so much. To make matters worse, my prof last night snickered at how much the books for her class cost and how she just HAD to require 4 texts for the course! When I paid for my books, I just about told the clerk to forget it, I really didn't need them after all. I have been online and found some of them a bit cheaper, but goodness! I haven't paid this much since I was but a girl of 18 and thought I was a pre-med major. Those books were expensive like these ones. So now that refund in tuition can pay for the new library of books that my profs probably won't even require us to use.

I do feel some better after making this decision. Sometimes it just feels good to make a decision and stop weighing options that you aren't sure are really options yet but could be. I really hope for some clarity soon. Maybe this decision is the catalyst to get me there.

In other news, I did get to attend the January Series at Calvin today. It was really enjoyable. I didn't know too much about the speaker and author, Lauren Winner, but thoroughly enjoyed her honest and at times sarcastic dealings with what I believe were all true statements about the Church and chastity. Oh, and I really liked her glasses--fabulous.

San Chez Would Be Proud

2006-01-07T17:03:00.000-05:00

I've returned from Louisiana with many happy times spent there. I've pictured the paella we made above. It's a bit out of focus, unfortunately, but the dish itself included fresh lobster, mussels, clams, Louisiana shrimp, chicken, Spanish chorizo sausage, and hickory smoked bacon. This is in addition to rice, peas, capers, onions, garlic, and chicken stock. We also used fresh saffron purchased at the local international market. It was muy deliciouso. In addition, we made these delightfully thin and fried potatoes (you can see them in the back cast iron skillet) and served them with a homemade aioli, a garlic mayonnaise.

This weekend I also tried a bunch of new cheeses including a Spanish cheese called manchengo. It was really dry and parmesanish. But, at $19.99 a pound, I probably won't be consuming this every day. It was very delicious paired with serrano, a Spanish ham much like prosciutto.

I also went birding and helped with the new years bird count for the Spanish Lake area of Alligator Bayou. By helping I mean that I helped with the captaining of the canoe. All the folks with me were the bird experts. We even saw a bald eagle and an alligator sunning itself in the bayou. This probably explains the whole name of the bayou thing. Normally, alligators aren't out at this time of the year, but the temperature was pushing 80 degrees on Monday, a welcome change after all the grey coldness Michigan has had lately.

Other highlights included spending New Years with friends eating snow crab legs and beef tenderloin. I hadn't had crab legs in forever, they were delicious.

I finished watching the first season of Lost last night with my sis and bro-in-law. I sure am thankful I gave that to Scott for Christmas. It really was a selfish Christmas gift on my part, but boy was it worth it! New episodes start this week!

School starts this week, so I'm sure to be busy up to my neck in homework soon. For those of you in GR, I'll probably be over there quite a bit, so plan on seeing more of me. I know you're excited already.

Happy New Year (a bit early)

2005-12-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

School's been out for a few weeks, so I've been enjoying my evenings once again. This probably explains my lack of blog postings as well because there is nothing to procrastinate from. So never fear everyone, once school begins in a few short weeks, there will be blog posts a plenty!

I've been watching Lost Season 1 all week long. I think I'm on about the 15th episode or so. This show is completely addicting, not to mention haunting. I've been having crazy dreams about Ethan abducting me in the night all week. But he bit the dust last night on the show so my sleep last night was peaceful.

For the new year I'm headed down to Louisiana to see some friends. There are plans to make paella, which I'm very excited about. This is a traditional Spanish rice dish that I absolutely adore. I had it the first time in college when my roommate Becca made it for us upon her return from Honduras. Since then I've only had it at San Chez, my favorite restaurant in GR. But this weekend I will make it for myself--I just need to dig out my saffron from a box in the garage. That might take a while.

Speaking of the garage, it looks like Morty has left us, that or he has taken up residence in one of my casseroles. But it appears he was only a resident for a short while.

Here's wishing everyone a safe new year! I should have some fun pics to post next week. Get excited...I already am.

Learning New Skills

2005-12-18T18:29:00.000-05:00

I've been spending time with my pops in his wood shop lately learning to use the lathe. A few weeks ago I made my first pen and today I made a rolling pin from a block of wood. I can't believe how much fun it is to do this kind of thing. I'm really excited about this new hobby. I would very much like to graduate to turning wood bowls. My dad works part time in a wood working store that has occasional classes available on turning. If I'm still around these parts in January, I'm going to take a bowl turning class. It is my hope to make a set of salad bowls some day. How cool would that be?

I've always romanticized about building my own furniture. Secretly I want to be a carpenter. I think that would be a really interesting job.

Anyways, here's a picture of Sally cuddling next to my first big project. I'll spare you from a picture of me in the wood working smock, face shield, and dust mask....even though I totally looked hot.

Swish This

2005-12-14T13:49:00.000-05:00

Most of you remember swishy pants girl. Well last night, in my final class of the semester she not only did the jiggly leg thing for 3 hours, she also proceeded to tap out a drum beat on her desk top. Of course this wouldn't be a problem if it were break time or maybe before or after class. But no, this occurred in fact DURING five presentations our classmates were delivering.

No amount of "aheming" on my part made any difference whatsoever.

But, it gets better.

At one point she became so twitchy that she proceeded to latch onto the front edge of her table and rock it back and forth. This lasted approximately 12 minutes. (I timed it using my cell phone.)

Swish. Swish. Swish. da da dum. Swish. da da dum. AND NOW TIME FOR ROCKING!

There are many reasons I am thrilled to be done with another semester of graduate school. Two of the top three consist of lack of swishy pantsness and table rockage.

"Hey swishy pants girl...your middle school band teacher called...he wants his percussion section back."

Adventures with Morty

2005-12-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

This morning I exited our house through the garage only to find a puddlish mound of animal droppings dead center outside the door. Yek. I looked to the left to see all the garbage shredded to pieces. A few weeks ago, we had shredded garbage and thought an animal must have just come in for a snack. However, it looks as if it may have taken up residence now.

Let's call the little bugger Morty.

This may sound like just a nuisance, but for a girl who's whole life is packed in boxes that are stored in the same said garage, it can be a bit nerve wracking. I can only imagine what Morty is doing to all my housewares. Just stay away from the kitchen gadgets Morty otherwise we're going to be in a big fight!

The joy in all of this (I'm always looking for the little joys of being 25 and squatting with your parents) is that when I saw the Morty puddle, I just ran back in the house and told my dad about the problem. Then I promptly left the scene of the Yek and went to the library to write my last paper for the semester. When you're a girl on your own, you have to deal with the puddle. When there are others more senior than you....you can alert and move on.

The Stars At Night So Big and Bright....

2005-12-11T22:55:00.000-05:00

My future? Maybe.

Oh, and p.s., my pops says there was a bolt missing or something on the snow blower and that's why it was so tricky for me. THANK GOODNESS! I was beginning to think my future in outdoor maintenance was doomed.

How to Determine You Aren't in College Any Longer

2005-12-10T13:22:00.000-05:00

Make Ramen Noodles for lunch at the house for which you are dog sitting. Chew. Swallow. Pour the remaining 3/4 bowl down the garbage disposal. Realize you are definitely not in college any longer.

The Blind Leading the Snowblower

2005-12-09T22:13:00.000-05:00

So this morning Joanie awakened me with the idea of blowing the 7-8 inches of snow we received last night off the driveway. My response..."I've never done that before. I'm not sure I know how." I'm not kidding here people. I honestly have very limited knowledge of how to operate pushable lawn and driveway machinery. My knowledge of lawn mowers came to halt the first time I volunteered to mow the lawn and I slaughtered a frog. I bawled for an hour in my room and vowed to never mow again. I haven't since.

But, today I ventured outdoors and did the driveway...all 2 miles of it (okay maybe I'm exaggerating here, but it's really really long and crooked.) And the whole time I was doing it, I thought to myself--If I was in Louisiana I wouldn't be doing this. It would be 67 degrees. If I was in Louisiana I wouldn't be doing this....." I think I must have missed the snowblower gene. When I was done (after slaving for 2.5 hours) it looked like a blind person had done it. I really think I just moved the snow around the drive way and packed it down. There wasn't very much removal about it. There was a lot of snow blowing in my face and a lot of shoulder blade pain. When I compared our driveway to the neighbors', there was a lot of cement showing on theirs and ours just looked like an extension of the yard. The feeling just returned in my thighs an hour ago.

It's funny. Another thought I had while doing the driveway was this--and I may deny this later--I contemplated abandoning any feminist inclination I may have had or will have in the future. I think there are certain jobs in this world that I'm completely okay with folks with Y chromosomes taking care of--this is one of them. I do not aspire equality here. You can have it fellas.

When I think of ever buying a home in the north, I'm definitely going to consider the length of the driveway. And, if I'm buying real estate for just me I think I'll consider a condo or just keep on renting. Yea renting...the life when you look out the window at the snow plow and say yea...clean that up, please. And the maintenance staff shovels the walks. Yea, that's beauty.

Smart Women Make Changes

2005-12-05T16:38:00.000-05:00

I bought these erasers at a little shop in Grand Rapids this past weekend. I thought they were really great. There were also pencils that said "Smart Women Get to the Point", drinking glasses that said "Smart Women Thirst for Knowledge", and chip clip bags that said "Smart Women Seal the Deal."

This weekend I also went to a dinner gala for the local symphony. The party was a pretty big snoozer. I think the average age of the guests was 67 and that's only because I attended the party and brought down the average. I went with my mom as her date as a favor. I thought I'd get a decent meal out of it. Though it wasn't the standard plated rubber chicken at most receptions, my salmon with lobster sauce left much to be desired. It was accompanied with rubber chicken's close companions: dry flavorless overcooked cubed red potatoes and saltless green and yellow string beans. There were however, chocolate covered strawberries and a decent dessert table...so I'll try to forgive the boring reception food. I sound pretty snotty, I realize, but I'm anticipating the day when I attend a banquet dinner party the food is actually creative and the wine selection at the bar is more than chardonnay, merlot, and white zinfandel (not a wine at all in my opinion). When the bartender said he had zinfandel, I was like..."ooooh, red zinfandel?" And then he said...."no, white." I'm pretty sure I made a scrunchy eeewww face.

Bowling is tonight. It's been two weeks as I was out of town last Monday. We'll see how she rolls.................

Have I Lost My Mind?

2005-12-02T09:28:00.000-05:00

Absolutely not. So the new obsession is this little show called Lost on Wednesday nights. So far I've only seen about 4 episodes total, but it is as if I've been lassoed and pulled in because I think I'm hooked. Does anyone else watch this show? I'm going to Netflix season one soon so that I can catch up on the beginning.

In other news, I have two fire ant bites on my two of my left foot toes. I've never had these kind of bites before. But, typically with any sort of mosquito bite, I swell up and itch for weeks. This is even worse because the bites actually hurt and are blistery. Fire ants...we're in a fight.

Last night, I made jambalaya for my family with some of the exceptional smoked meats I got in Louisiana. The tasso (a Cajun smoked ham), andouille sausage, and pork sausage made it absolutely teriffic. It was amazing how these locally made meats improved the jambalaya I already know and love to make. Yummers.

There hasn't been a picture on here lately, so I'll leave you with a shot of the Sally Cat, taken on Thanksgiving day. I was trying to make it look like she had been hunting a turkey...but we all know that the feather she's pounced on is a pheasant feather. So who am I trying to kid?

She's Back in the Kitchen

2005-11-29T14:23:00.000-05:00

So it was a busy week last week with Thanksgiving and everything. But I just had a delicious time in Louisiana. And in saying delicious, I mean that I did lots of cooking this weekend, which was great because I haven't done a whole lot of that lately. I learned to make a few new things: turkey gumbo, crab bisque soup, and lobster tacos. And, I also did some snacking on my bruschetta recipe and on this cheese called robusto cheese. It was a really dry Italian cheese, very nutty and wonderful. Thank you Whole Foods.

I also got the chance to finish the book Freakonomics, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in some new perspectives on education, crime, abortion, and parenting. I found it distinctly refreshing and I couldn't put it down. I read the book in about two afternoons.

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving. Strangely, I still am not feeling very ready for Christmas. I suppose I'll tune into 100.3 FM and hope to have a change of heart.

Taste and See that Karen's Is Good

2005-11-21T10:48:00.000-05:00

So this weekend, after I had a 2nd interview on Friday at a certain educational institution (I'm always afraid to mention this because if I don't get the job then I will have gone public with me being considered and feel sad that I announced it publicly on this blog...but what the heck), I headed to G-Raps to see Mel, Jen, and Kris and then headed south on Saturday morning to do some work for Earth Care Connection. I met up with my friend Jane down there and we spent Saturday and Sunday working at her friend's house that was right on Lake Manitou, a very pretty inland lake.

We were in this cute American small town called Rochester, Indiana. There is something about driving through small towns that makes me happy that I live in this country. This is probably really good therapy for me because lately I've been really soured by what the U.S. is up to under our current administration and what people think of us in the world. But there is a beauty to American small town life. I attended a small craft show at the local county fair grounds and saw all the standard homemade projects of wood, overly decorated hand towels, and crocheted toilet paper covers. Somehow I know you'd never see that abroad. And, even though I'd never put any of that stuff in my house...it still makes me smile every time I see it. These are just "folks." Maybe it's my simple southern roots, but I've got a soft spot in my heart for ugly handicrafts.

We also went to this incredible diner called Karen's Family Restaurant. It was directly across the road from a small local airport. What was fun was that the restaurant had a parking lot for cars and across the road there was a parking lot of sorts for small airplanes. Apparently, some people fly down from Chicago and other areas of Indiana and Illinois just to eat at Karen's. After eating my delicious hashbrowns, poached eggs, and sausage patties I could taste and see why. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me to take pictures of the very cute little colorful planes all in a row. But, if you are ever in Rochester, Indiana (about 35 miles southeast of South Bend) make sure you stop at Karen's for breakfast.

I'm Gonna Go Ahead and Have to Disagree

2005-11-21T10:20:00.000-05:00

Ummmm...so I took one of those quizzes Shay recommended. Somehow, I think I must have been born another day of the year and someone isn't telling me. Introverted? Withdrawn? Yea...I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree with you there.

Your Birthdate: September 16

You're incredibly introverted and introspective. You live inside your head.
You spend a lot of alone time meditating and thinking.
People see you as withdrawn, and at times they are right.
You are caring and deep, but it may be difficult for you to show this side of yourself.

Your strength: Your original approach to thinking

Your weakness: You tend to shy away from others

Your power color: Pale blue

Your power symbol: Wavy line

Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Somehow This Always Feels Anticlimactic

2005-11-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Just turned the paper in via email with 1 hour to spare. Click send.

How to Prevent Being Miserable

2005-11-16T10:21:00.000-05:00

One day when you think it will be a great idea to go to graduate school because education is so valuable and you think it will be novel and responsible of you to get a master's degree in public administration, DON'T. Keep watching The OC instead.

That way you won't be stuck at the library all day writing a 20-page research paper that's due tomorrow that you haven't even started writing. If someone showed up at this library right now and told me to get in the car and drive to Mexico, I totally would. Bring on the Coronas with lime.

The Sister Strikers Come to Town

2005-11-16T00:53:00.000-05:00

So bowling was a blast again on Monday, even though most of us had sore body parts from last week. My soreness is in the form of what I like to call "bowler's callous" on my thumb. Somehow I always get it a blistery type deal on the inside side of my thumb and I always end up destroying my fingernail from the holes in the ball.

This week had other highlights...like me having the third highest women's score in the league last week. I should also mention that there are only about 5 women in the league. You can still celebrate my success. I still smell terrific. And, I also won what is called the "mystery." After you play a game, the people at the front desk call out numbered chips that correspond to bowling scores. If they draw yours, you win a mystery prize--this week it was $13.50. Aw yea, I'm rolling in the dough.

I was able to dig out my Sister Strikers shirt to wear along with my sis. The shirts were purchased a few Christmases ago for me and Jules by Scott. We even have matching bowling shoes. I don't usually wear pink, but in this case I make an exception. We even got compliments from some of the regulars at the alley.

Another enjoyable part of bowling is consuming large amounts of greasy snack bar grub. I will close with half of Bryan's sandwich. I normally don't eat grease like this, but when you embrace the grease on your ball, the lane, and your hands from the ball...you might as well in your stomach as well.

So ends another fine week of El Cheapo bowling. I'm $13.50 richer and just a bit greasier than I was before.

A Bottle of Red....A Bottle of White...

2005-11-13T13:11:00.000-05:00

In the words of Billy Joel..."A bottle of red....a bottle of white..."

Katie, my mom, and I attended A Toast to Canton, a wine and food tasting on Friday evening. It was a delightful event and I got to try a bunch of new wines and eat lots of sushi.

A few of my favorites from the evening (unfortunately I forgot to write down the vintage for most, I was having too much fun):

1. Tamari Malbec - $12.99
2. Taz Pinot Noir - $26.99
3. Laplaya Carmenere - $10.29
4. Crois Torrentes - $17.89
5. Tikal - $25.99
6. Marietta Zinfandel - $17.61
7. Joseph Phelps Pastiche Red - $12.99
8. Tormaresca Bucca Di Lupo - $29.99
9. Pelee Island Late Harvest Riesling 2004 - $8.59
10. The Furst - Gewurtztraminer, Alsace - $14.29
11. Seshesio Sonoma Zinfandel - $20.00
12. Cockburns Special Reserve Port - $15.79

After the event, I went to the market and bought a bottle of the Laplaya Carmenere. I'm a big fan of this Chilean wine. So delicious. I drank it with Katie, Mel, and Jen because the two of them came down to play from G-Raps.

I could make a habit of this type of event.

Try Bowling a Seven Sometime

2005-11-11T08:01:00.000-05:00

I meant to post this earlier this week, however, it's been one of those weeks where it's already Friday and you feel like you just went to church yesterday.

I am in a bowling league.

Let me repeat that again for you, I am in a bowling league. Jealous aren't you? I'm sure you are. I'd be jealous of me, too, especially since the name of the league is "El Cheapo." Aw yea kids, and you thought being unemployed was boring. For the next 11 Mondays I will be bowling three games with my sis, bro-in-law, and his good friend. We've named our team "Spare Change." This week my sis (who coined the title of this post after she in fact did bowl a seven in college...classic) and I did pretty well for ourselves. I bowled a 134, 134, and a 150. This is pretty good for me considering that I usually am happy to break 100. I should also mention that the games are played with this special kind of scoring called 9-pin no tap, which means if you hit 9 pins down on your first ball, then you get a strike. It's a beautiful rule.

So call me a Kegler kids...I'm hitting the lanes.

How to Make Me Laugh Out Loud in Public

2005-11-11T00:04:00.000-05:00

Me: "I want a glass of wine tonight with dinner."

My mom Joanie: "Me, too."

Me: "Let's see what they have on the menu."

Joanie: "They have a special on wine tonight."

Me: "I've never heard of that kind of wine before...I think I'll try it."

Joanie: "How do you pronouce it? Menage a trois? (only she pronounced it like it was spelled.)"

Becky: "(laughter) No mother, you know Menage a trois....like three people GETTING IT ON!"

Joanie: (whispering) "I know what you're talking about, I just don't know how to pronounce it..."

Becky: "Do you want me to say 'getting it on' louder?" "What about penis?"

Joanie: "Shhhhhh...."

$7.50 Skirt...I Heart You and I'm Fit for a Catalog

2005-11-07T10:51:00.000-05:00

There is nothing better than shopping for clothes under $10 and finding some. This weekend, I found some fabulous sales and scored two new skirts, two new shirts, and a new pair of jeans for a grand total of just under $75.00. There's something about wearing your new clothes and being able to pair them with other things you own, looking in the mirror and thinking..."wow, I feel as if this outfit could be in a catalog." This is directly opposite of how I sometimes feel instead-- "wow, this shirt is incredibly wrinkled and faded, I'm not sure why I keep wearing it...ah well...time to go."

Of course, there are reasons not to want to look like you are in a catalog. I sometimes get confused as to why there are people dressed up all preppy with oxford shirts, riding boots, argyle sweater vests, and corduroy jackets eating smores in the woods. This is typically in J. Crew Catalogs. Though I do love the J. Crew, I find it hard to believe people actually wear those sorts of clothes on camping trips. Usually when people go camping they have their favorites, as in the case of my father who insists on wearing this white faded University of Michigan sweatshirt circa 1988. However, somehow that shirt just doesn't make the marshmallows look as delicious as a salmon colored cabled sweater vest and oversized cardigan with leather elbow patches. Perhaps I should plan some kind of camping trip where everyone I know get's all yuppied out and we'll feel grand. Until then, I guess it will be wrinkled shirts for me...except for when I'm wearing my new clothes around town and feel catalog worthy (or until they get wrinkled).

How to Annoy Me: Part Deux

2005-11-04T09:24:00.000-05:00

Start playing Christmas music on the radio beginning November 1st.

What the heck 100.3 FM?

I am so not ready to hear John Lennon and his off-key children's choir singing "A Very Merry Christmas......And a Happy New Year" WHEN IT'S TWO MONTHS AWAY. Nor is anything worth Feliz Navidading or Jingle Belling quite yet. And I would also wager that Mommy has not even thought of kissing Santa Claus.

Hold on to those reindeer folks and back the truck up...we've got a month or so left.

It is very unfortunate that we've never really developed any sort of pilgrim or turkey music. That would put an end to all of this. So all you musicians out there, I've identified a niche for your fill...go at it. In the mean time:

Dear 100.3 FM:

I think you are ridiculous. Please reconsider your choice about the Christmas music and I may continue to listen to your soft rock favorites of yesterday and today.

Concerned,
Becky

P.S. Please take the Delilah show off the air, too. Playing songs I danced to in 6th grade with romantic dedications makes me gag.

He's Off to a New Kingdom

2005-11-03T16:48:00.000-05:00

My good friend Aaron, "Little Prince" (a nickname he received on the children's improv team we were both a part of in college), is leaving the area next week on a new adventure. He's off to Baltimore, which is really sad because I was so enjoying getting to hang out with him these past few months since I've been back in Michigan. I took the opportunity to take a few very Becky and Aaron photos before he left.

I will miss you Little Prince.

How to Annoy Me

2005-11-02T00:56:00.000-05:00

Wear swishy nylon pants in one of my graduate school classes, sit three feet away from me, and shake your leg for the three hour duration of the class. I thought I might have to rip out all my hair with the frustration. I just wanted to grab the girl and say "Sweetie, everyone can hear that....and (to quote Meg Ryan in French Kiss when she talks to the French hotel concierge) IT MAKES ME COMPLETELY INSANE!"

Little noises are no good for me, no good at all.

It's a Post and Max Helped

2005-10-28T14:50:00.000-04:00

I write this post with my new best electronic marvel friend, Max. He is my new Gateway Laptop computer with a 15 inch widescreen. Mmmmm....we're becoming very good friends as I write this post sitting atop my new bug sheets in my bedroom with Sallycat cuddled next to my thigh. I was calling him "very pretty" last night but was told that pretty was not a word to describe a computer. However, I disagree. I'll let you judge for yourself the prettiness of Max:

Yea, and the sunbeams radiating from Max....those come standard.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

2005-10-26T23:07:00.000-04:00

Sally inspecting my new bug sheets from the Pottery Barn Outlet. I think she's very impressed.

Christmas in October??? I'm Wearing Flip Flops

2005-10-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

So I don't know about anyone else, but I am so not ready for it to be holiday season. I still feel like it should be the beginning of September. There are many reasons for this: (1) I could recelebrate my birthday giving everyone another opportunity to buy me a pony and (2) I really just don't know where the time went. One of the big things that drives me even more crazy is the fact that everywhere you go they are already selling large inflatable Santa's for the yard (holiday inflatables are one of my biggest pet peeves. The worst is the house on Burton in G-Raps with a full Winnie the Pooh gang out front dressed fully for a Christmas Winter Wonderland.), motorized Christmas light reindeer, and wrapping paper. OH MY SHAKA! It's October people. After going shopping with my sister on Saturday, I realized that people are already Christmas shopping. I am so not ready for this. I'm going to wear flip flops tomorrow in protest.

Treasure Curiousity more than Certainty

2005-10-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

I spent this past weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah at a board meeting for Earth Care Connection, the non-profit I am so fortunate to be a part of. In this time of transition in my life, it is often difficult not to be discouraged. However, after sitting in a circle of women conservation leaders this weekend, I was rejuvenated and uplifted. I was also reminded about how important it is to be hopeful. I think too often in the past few months, I've been craving certainty. And in our lives, can we ever find certainty? EVER? I'm not convinced of that anymore. In fact, I am quite UNCERTAIN about ever being CERTAIN again.

However, this poem below was a revelation to me. I've heard it and meditated on it before. But am convinced that the line about curiousity and certainty will be my inner mantra for a while.

There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about.

Ask “What’s possible?” not “What’s wrong?”
Keep asking.

Notice what you care about.

Assume that many others share your dreams.

Be brave enough to start a conversation that matters.
Talk to people you know.
Talk to people you don’t know.
Talk to people you never talk to.

Be intrigued by the differences you hear.
Expect to be surprised.

Treasure curiosity more than certainty.

Invite in everybody who cares to work on what’s possible.
Acknowledge that everyone is an expert about something.
Know that creative solutions come from new connections.
Remember, you don’t fear people whose story you know.

Real listening always brings people together.
Trust that meaningful conversations can change your world.
Rely on human goodness.
Stay together.

Taken from:
Wheatley, Margaret J. 2002. Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations to Restore Hope to the Future. Berrett-Koehler: San Francisco. p. 145.

So Maybe It's Not a Pony...But It's Close

2005-10-15T18:47:00.000-04:00

I was at my friend Sylvia's house in Utah for a board meeting. Those are only a few of her beautiful horses. They're about as close as I'm gonna get to a pony any time soon. I liked to pet their noses and watch Sylvia feed them peppermints.

Oh, and p.s., that view...yea, that's Sylvia's back yard.

Oh, and p.p.s....I must move out of the suburbs IMMEDIATELY.

Birthday Butterflies

2005-10-09T19:27:00.000-04:00

The pretty birthday gift from my friend Mark. Yes they are real, they were all caught on my birthday, and they were all put in that pretty cedar box just for me.

She Sure Knows How to Throw a Party

2005-10-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

I saw my friend Emilie in Louisiana this weekend. She threw a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend Preston. As you can see from the large cooked carcass and fridge full of beverages...she sure knows how to throw a party. That was some of the best prime rib I've had in a long time. You're the best, Em. So good to see you...even though Preston beat us all at the best game ever.

Currently in Morgantown

2005-10-01T13:03:00.000-04:00

I know Katherine is going to be terribly upset with me because I drove through Caraopolis yesterday on my way to Morgantown, WV to see my friend Shay. However, Katherine, before you think that I don't love you or that I didn't want to see you, let me explain.

I was supposed to go camping this weekend in Michigan. But, then my folks decided that they'd rather go to West Virginia. And, I was all "wow...my friend Shay lives there....please drop me off on your way to central West Virginia to visit relatives." And, they were all, "yes, we can do that." And I replied "great, grand, good."

So I am currently in Morgantown overhearing chants of "Go Mounties" in the distance because apparently I chose the biggest rival home game of the year to be here, WVU vs. Virginia Tech.

Now, I know Katherine that I haven't really addressed why I didn't attempt to see you. But know this, I will come to Pittsburgh alone in the next month or so and visit only you, I absolutely promise. If I do not, then may I be categorized your mind as the same as those whose terrible writing we used to edit at the blessed SSI.

We're going ot be participating in a bit of Karaoke this evening...documentation soon.

They smell bad...but they're still cool.

2005-09-24T12:57:00.000-04:00

Today I went and did two things traditionally fall, we went to the apple orchard for cider and donuts and then we went for a hike at my favorite day use state park in Michigan, Mayberry. It was a crisp cool day....perfection.

I'm sad that I was unable to document the event with my camera. My batteries died just as I wanted to take a photo of me sticking my head through the large plywood apple with a hole for your head. You all are understandably disappointed I'm sure.

The best part of the day was hearing a young lad, about age 13, say as he peered into the pig pen at the petting farm "They smell bad...but they're still cool." Classic.

I'm still giggling over that one.

Jumble Apparel: Ain't It Grand?

2005-09-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

Yes, it can be done. I can single handedly get all the Jumble words in a puzzle while competing against another person and I can be rewarded with my very own Jumble t-shirt....

This was graciously provided by a person who shall remain nameless other than the description as the one who did not get any words in the same said puzzle.

But Get Her to the Church On Time

2005-09-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

So Yennifair got hitched tonight and I turned the big quarter century old. Wedding day highlights included getting my hair done at a salon...this never happens...and while there having the lady blow dry my natural curls until they frizzed out like it was their job...(wait...it is their job...it's been my job to maintain them since age 4). At one point I looked like a classical music composer with a frizzy wig. I asked Jen to hand me a baton and a violin and I'd compose a concerto. All very funny and I apologize for not taking a snap shot to share. It would have been quite embarassing, but worth the mirth it would have provided readers. The hair ended up working out, glad this is the first time a hair blowdrying incident in a salon turned out okay.

Jen and Kris were sweet enough to put "Happy Birthday Becky" on the cake at our table to make me feel special on my birthday.

Here are some highlight pictures for your viewing enjoyment.

With Jen right before the ceremony.

With my birthday cake. I'm still looking for the matching pony.

With Jen, Shay, and Mel at the reception.

Jen and her boy.

Wanna Shake?

2005-09-14T16:30:00.000-04:00

It's rainy outside today and that is appropriate because it's been that way emotionally. My Grandpa Kensel died yesterday. It wasn't a surprise, he's been suffering from dementia for the past several years. My family has watched him fail slowly for months now. His death is actually something to be extremely peaceful about because it was for the best.

However, I can't help but be "adult sad" about losing him. By "adult sad" I mean that I will never again witness first hand the things that made my grandfather completely unique. He could call a squirrel over to his pant leg with a click of his tongue and feed him a peanut out of his pocket, while the squirrel climbed up his pant leg. When I was little he'd come over to our house, sit next to me, grab my leg just above the knee and make this "kkkskskskk" sound while I giggled with glee. There was the time that he and my grandmother walked to the edge of our camp site in West Virginia and poured the hot bacon grease down the yellow jackets next in the ground while insects flew out in a flurry. But my favorite memory is probably how my grandfather would sit in his chair, we would walk up and stand between his knees and he'd ask us if we wanted to shake while offering his hand to us. All of his grand kids would resoundedly say "YES" and he would proceed to grab our shoulders and shake us like a polaroid picture.

Grandpas are special, there's just no buts about it. They have their funny quirks and nobody's grandpa tells the same silly jokes or has the same hilarious habits. But they all got 'em and that's why we love them so much.

I often wonder what kind of grandparent I will be. What will my grandchildren make fun of me for? It's probably impossible that I would have any sort of flaws...but I'm sure if they are related to me, they'll find them and make fun of them to no end.

I love you Grandpa Kensel. I hope to see you in heaven someday and when I get there, would you please ask me if "I want to shake?"

Quarters for Everyone

2005-09-12T23:37:00.000-04:00

So I do apologize for the lack of postings for the past month. Has it been a month already? Golly. In the past month, I've been settling back in Michigan, catching up with old friends and getting back into graduate school. I must say that I've been very overwhelmed with what's been going on in Louisiana since I left it. It's all very sad to me. I've felt somewhat like the hurricane is symbolic of what's been going on in my life--the life I knew just a month ago will never be the same. I've changed states, jobs, and no longer am living in my fabulous apartment in Baton Rouge. How I miss it all so much.

But for those of you who were wondering...YES IT IS MY BIRTHDAY WEEK! Feel free to send me the pony you've been keeping a secret in your backyard for the past year in anticipation of one of the greatest calendar days of this year....September 16. It's okay if I get more than one, I've been mentally preparing for a pack of ponies for years. It'll give me a reason to move to Montana and stake that claim I've been threatening to stake.

I will be a quarter century old this year. I feel like I should do something funny like give everyone I like a quarter in celebration. If I had to choose they'd be Michigan quarters in celebration of returning to the state I love so much. But instead, I will celebrate my birthday in a way I never have before....by standing in a line of girls in matching outfits, holding flowers, and holding back all the mix of tears of joy and sadness as one of my BFFs get's hitched Friday.

KRIS (INSERT DUTCH LAST NAME HERE) YOU BETTER BE GOOD TO MY YENNIFAIR OR YOU'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY WRATH. I don't really know how much wrath I'm capable of. It's just sort of fun to write empty threats in caps lock.

More later this week on what I've been up to. I promise photos, too.

Thanks for your patience while I get this life of mine on the fast track to normalcy once again.

Moving Sooner Than I Thought.

2005-08-12T19:11:00.000-04:00

It looks like my move has been rescheduled for Monday from Thursday of next week. So, this weekend will be crazy packing. Not sure when I'll officially follow the movers...but it'll be a few days before I post again. Take care everyone. I'll be back when I have Internet access once again.

OFF TO MICHIGAN!

Oh Where Oh Where Has My Little Jetta Gone?

2005-08-11T09:32:00.000-04:00

I took my Jetta into the dealership yesterday for some work. They were unable to finish it in one day and arranged a rental for me.

Blue 2003 Jetta Wagon = Buick Lacrosse????

NO!

The bucket seats in this thing are wide enough to seat three people. Not too mention, I feel like I should have "Wide Load" on the back of my car. This thing is huge!

What's even worse is that this morning, I was even dissed by a potato chip delivery truck who chose to change lanes at a stop light so that he didn't have to be behind a granny car. Only I'm allowed to judge like that....I WILL NOT BE JUDGED FOR THIS RIDICULOUS CAR.

I would have preferred a tiny Ford Fiesta, Hyandai Accent, or one of those geeky Aspires. I don't do well with a comfort wagon.

I want my cute, zippy, and cobalt Jetta back STAT! That or I'm going to put a sign in the window that says, "Just Renting" or "I didn't choose this!"

National Champion Baldcypress

2005-08-08T21:02:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I went and saw the largest baldcypress tree in the United States. It is in Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Some speculate that this tree is in fact two trees, but no one has proven that theory just yet. It was pretty spectacular. (Sorry the photo is so fuzzy, I think the camera had a hard time focusing on anything but the tree.)

The sign at the NWR said this was the sixth largest tree in the U.S. But my botanist friend, Mark, disagreed. He thought that this tree could in no way compete with the sequoias out west. Either way, the tree was an incredible sight.

It's Official

2005-08-08T17:37:00.000-04:00

It's official and I've got the windshield to prove it! For the past year, I've observed nothing but chipped windshields in Louisiana. If you see a windshield without a chip, the car was probably purchased that afternoon. Somehow I've managed to keep my pretty VW Jetta Wagon windshield chip free for over 12 months. I've said several in the past month..."watch me get a chip in my windshield within the last week I live in this state."

The funny part is....TODAY IT HAPPENED and I've only got 12 days left down here. And, when it did, I didn't get ticked...I laughed out loud. I now have been officially Louisianized. I'll take back a little part of Louisiana with me when I return to Michigan.

My Famous Feline

2005-08-07T19:31:00.000-04:00

I've loved the Web site, mycathatesyou.com for about a year now. My friend Adale sent it out to my girlfriends and me in Louisiana because we all have kitties. The Web site was created by two guys who work at Microsoft in Seattle as a sort of joke. It has grown in popularity and they have created what I think to be one of the funniest sites on the Web, especially if you are a cat lover...but I don't think you necessarily need to be.

Back in December, I submitted Sally's photo. And last week, she made it on the site. There was much dancing and rejoicing in the Noricks household last Friday night. Check her out. I love the caption they gave her!

Now, I wonder when Sally will get her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

It's a Balloon Fest Anniversary

2005-08-04T11:12:00.000-04:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of working down here. I remember this day very clearly even though it was a year ago. One of the key reasons was because the day my folks left me the sky was filled with hot air balloons right over my apartment. The same thing happenend today because the Balloon Festival is in town once again. It's crazy how the sky can be full of hot air balloons right over where you live. This picture shows only four, but in the area around my house, there had to be at least 50 balloons in the air. Incredibly beautiful! At night they have glow shows where they light them up like light bulbs.

But, if you don't hear from me for a few days, it's because it's taken me that long to get to my apartment complex. I remember last years trip home on Friday night from work...it took a while with all the festival attendees clogging up the road to my place.

Eat Local Challenge

2005-08-01T21:45:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about the food I eat lately--what's in it, where it comes from, and why it has to come from so far away--especially vegetables. I was doing some Internet searching the other day, and I ran across this Web site with something called the Eat Local Challenge. I have long been fascinated with the Slow Foods Movement, and I thought this might be a good way to get started.

In order to get started, I have to answer these questions:

1. What's your definition of local for this challenge?
Since I will be moving this month and it will surely affect my eating habits, I will define local as any food that is locally grown in the state I am currently in, as I will be in Louisiana, Ohio, and Michigan in the next month.

2. What exemptions will you claim?
While I am on the road, I will prepare snacks from a local source from the beginning of my trip for the road, but will probably have to dine somewhere along the way in a restaurant. This will be an exception. Also, my Penzeys spice collection will be a huge list of exceptions! Coffee, too.

3. What is your personal goal for the month?
Because the move cuts the month in half and my kitchen will be packed in a week, I am going to set a goal of one meal a week completely from local sources. And, I plan to buy Gary Paul Nabhan's Coming Home to Eat to read on the road in order to learn more about this exciting concept.

My overall goal is to spend some spare time this month discovering and learning more about this concept so that when I settle again back in Michigan, I can do it on a more consistent basis.

Last Week's Stuffed Peppers

2005-07-31T22:29:00.000-04:00

Last week I made vegetarian stuffed peppers from a Cooking Light Magazine recipe (courtesy of a woman named Susan Gelb) I clipped a while back. They turned out very deliciously.

Here's the recipe--

Ingredients:
6 medium bell peppers (red and yellow work best)
1 tsp olive oil
3/4 cup finely chopped shallots
4 cups chopped mushrooms
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons dry sherry (I used red wine I had on hand)
1 1/2 tsp ancho chile powder
2 1/2 cups hot cooked brown rice
1 cup tomato juice
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder (I definitely quadrupled this)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup (1 oz) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook rice by directions. (Note: brown rice takes at least 45 minutes so plan ahead)
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cut tops off bell peppers, discard seeds and membranes. Cook peppers in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain.
3. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots, saute 3 minutes or until tender. Add parsley, almonds, sherry, and chile powder, saute 3 minutes. Add rice, juice, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt, saute 3 minutes. Spoon 3/4 cup rice mixture into each bell pepper. Top each with 2 teaspoons cheese (I recommend much more than this!) Place stuffed peppers in a 13x9 baking dish; bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Yield six servings (serving size: 1 stuffed pepper).

Notes: USE EXTRA CHEESE! I wished mine had more cheese.

Can I Make You Dinner or Organize Your Closet?

2005-07-29T13:18:00.000-04:00

It's been one of those weeks where I've been highly aware and observant to things in my life that happen specifically to people living alone and are self supporting.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately, probably because I have no idea what I will be doing professionally in about a month. My boss is still trying to get a telecommuting position worked out, but there are no guarantees there. It is quite possible that in one month, I will be jobless and living my parents for an indefinite amount of time. I never thought I'd be here right now, not after the past year and the amazing job and promotion I got when I moved to Louisiana. But that's all going away and I feel as if I've taken a huge step backwards and are almost right back where I started a year ago, give or take all that experience I've gained (don't get too sad for me just yet).

It's kind of like when you're playing the board game Sorry and you hit one of those slide things, only mine is going backwards. Or, better yet, to use another favorite childhood game, I've hit one of the medium sized slides in Chutes and Ladders (I don't think I've hit the gigundo one quite yet. I still remain more optimistic than that.) But when things happen to you like this and you are miles away from anyone that knows you really well and that you want to "puke" all your unrealistic and desperate feelings on someone like that...what does one do?

I'm starting to think that this single life thing isn't always as attractive as I tell myself it is sometimes. I mean, it's great when it comes to always knowing whose bread crumbs are on the counter and that if the kitchen is dirty you don't have to passive aggressively hint to anyone but yourself. And, when you buy cookies, you never have to share and the package lasts a week! But, people need other people and often in close proximity. Which isn't something I've had a lot of lately. I tend to get really overwhelmed in situations like what I've got now when there isn't someone that I really trust around. I've got the romantic ideals in my head of me and Sallycat facing great odds, trekking out on our own, and conquering the world. But, alas, sometimes it'd be nice to have someone on that journey with me. I've been thinking a lot about community lately and its importance. Sometimes when I freak out, I have to reach out through the phone and email nationally to receive support. But we need tangible and tactile community, too, and the phone don't cut it in the same way. Sometimes a girl just needs someone to sit with her.

But, enough of that. This too shall pass and in a year, I'll look back and think "WOW! what a crazy time." That or I'll be bunking with the friends and family that are reading this, earning my keep preparing their meals and organizing their closets.

Becky's New Resume Objective Statement : To obtain a place to sleep in exchange for cooking meals and organizing closets.

Qualifications: 24 years of personal organization and 5 years of recipe collection

In other news:

I'M PLAYING SETTLERS OF CATAN TONIGHT WITH EMILIE AND PRESTON.

Hmmmm....maybe I'll just become really good at that game and become a professional Settlers of Catan player and travel the world. I see a career developing. Oooooo! I need to work on my uniform.

P.S. I'm a bit frightened right now because when I spellchecked my entry, the suggested word for Catan was Satan. Get behind me Satan! This is the best game ever and you will not ruin it.

The Gods Play Bingo

2005-07-27T11:37:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have one of those weeks when you wonder if the Gods are playing bingo and your name was drawn out of the wire cage and they say...."yeah...let's mess with her"? This week has had several Becky moments, my friend Jen knows these well. They are the times when everything seems to be normal but just then things get really complicated and I get flustered and confused.

1. Yesterday. I left work in the morning because I wasn't feeling well. Fifteen minutes after I got home, settled into the couch for some rest, and was just dozing off--"MMA MMA MMA MMA..." Of course I choose the day to leave work when the apartment complex is testing the fire alarm system for two hours. The buzzers and elementary-school-fire-drillish alarms were definitely in high definition stereo. Sally cat is still walking around nervously hunkered down from one low-to-the-floor furniture piece to another.

2. Inspection Stickers. I know that I'm supposed to have an inspection sticker on my car from Louisiana. But I've avoided having it for the past 12 months, why can't I do it for another? I move home soon. Michigan doesn't require such things thanks to the lobbyists in the car industry. However, I refused to hand over another bit of money for an inspection after the state charged me $800 in import taxes to even put a license plate on my car. Well this morning, while getting a cup of coffee in the drive through, I was just about ready to order when a cop pulls up next to me and says "You don't have an inspection sticker." Cleverly I played dumb. "Huh?" Then she asks "Are you new here?" I said "yes" and I got off with a warning. It's my understanding that you can't get a ticket down here for that if you haven't done anything else illegal. But, FOR THE LOVE! With less than a month to go, I get informed while just trying to get a cup of joe. Meanwhile, during all of this, the lady on the loudspeaker at Starbucks keeps asking me "May I take your order...?" about six times totally frustrated. Then I had to go through the drive thru with all the Starbucks people thinking I'm a criminal.

Jen: "Is it Tuesday?"

So Now You Open It

2005-07-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

After living in Louisiana for a year, they finally open a store at which I have a high level of interest in shopping. Whole Foods opened in Baton Rouge last week. I haven't been able to shop yet, because the parking lot has been so full, it's almost like Christmas Eve at the mall. But, I did get to grab a bite to eat on Friday with my girlfriends. They're prepared foods section was amazing. Mmmm....Mediterranean Orzo Chicken Pasta Salad.

Some people call this place Whole Paycheck. I can see why. I don't think I'll do all my shopping there, but they do have several items that I'd like to treat myself to now and then. Oh well, I guess it's Albertsons for a few more weeks and the disgusting smell of rotting seafood. Soon I will return to the joys of Meijer and D&W in G-Raps, not to mention Penzeys Spices and Woody's Market. Ahhhh.....grocery shopping....one of my life's greatest pleasures.

09h09

2005-07-21T10:26:00.000-04:00

A unique blog on the Web. This fella takes a picture of himself every morning at 9:09 a.m. I like the concept and I also think it's interesting that he doesn't try to make the pictures more exciting. I have to appreciate that however, because it shows he's just a guy living his life...not trying to be funny.

Ahhh....The Joys of Candid Photography

2005-07-20T10:05:00.000-04:00

Did everyone see this picture on washingtonpost.com? I think it's absolutely hilarious. Daddy's getting the big recommendation from the President and his son is dancing crazy in front of live television and the press. I didn't watch this on TV last night, but I'm guessing the kid wasn't on the screen. But, oh joy, check out the look he's getting from his mom. His sis is terrified and he's just like "Woo Hoo....dancing in front of "W" in my shorts set." I'm still giggling at it. How can you not? He's got a seersucker mini suit on and saddle shoes! And, he's totally supposed to be the well behaved political son...but instead he's chicken dancing. Gotta love it. Thanks Associated Press.

The Best Game Ever

2005-07-18T20:12:00.000-04:00

This past weekend in GR I had a fabulous time seeing my friends and being in one of my most favorite places in the country.

Not only that, but I got to play what I will always call the "Best Game Ever", or until something else comes out that's better...but at this point, I think that's pretty near impossible. I think in total, I played this game almost 10 times in a two-day period.

The Settlers of Catan, manufactured by Mayfair Games, is the greatest game on Earth. It's a sort of combination between Monopoly, Risk, and demands some of the strategy of Chess.

Not only do I just love this game in theory. I also love winning this game, because when I do, I feel as if I really accomplished something. (p.s. I won 5 times this weekend...YIPPEE). You get to build roads, compete with your neighbor for ports, and trade resources. You get to build real estate, but also make deals for resources in order to do so.

If anyone has not played this game...YOU NEED TO DO SO IMMEDIATELY!

I just purchased my very own copy this morning. This game takes over your brain, even when you aren't playing it. It's kind of like in the early nineties when I used to play Sim City for hours on the computer. And then, when I would go to bed at night, I'd dream of buiding roads, placing my mayor's house, and deciding between light and heavy residential zoning. I've been dreaming of Settlers for two days now.

Emilie and my other Louisiana friends watch out. You will be playing the game with me soon AND you will love it.

Off to the G-Raps

2005-07-15T12:52:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I'm off to G Raps to search for an apartment and to see my best girlfriends. Shay will be in town and it's been over a year since we've seen one another.

Over an out for a few days.

Remember that in Louisiana ... alcohol, butter, cream and big piles of fried seafood are still good for you.

2005-07-14T10:23:00.000-04:00

This week I've been hanging out with my native Louisianan neighbor learning to make authentic gumbo, jambalaya, and possibly shrimp etouffee. Last night I learned to make a roux for a gumbo. And, we did the prep for jambalaya, which we will complete this evening.

I've made jambalaya in the past, however it was a New Orleans style red version--meaning with tomatoes. The one that Robert is teaching me is a Cajun-style brown version, which is just as good and is more common at festivals down here.

I am really pleased that I have this opportunity before I move north. The food is one of those joyous things down here that I'd like to bring back with me to the Midwest.

"Word" of the Day

2005-07-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Steatopygia - n. - an accumulation of a large amount of fat on the buttocks that occurs especially among women of some peoples of African descent —

Last night I hung out with my friend Mark from work. He pulled this word out of his hat and I was extremely impressed. Apparently his mom was talking about several young African American women she had seen around town with "shelf-like" bottoms. Then she used this word to describe what she saw. Mark describes his mother as brilliant...I can see why.

I love the English language and how there are words that describe things so clearly in several syllables.

Was this word the predecessor to booty?

I can hear the rappers now...."Back that steatopygia up!"

Word.

You've got that Deer in the Hitch Cover Kinda Look

2005-07-11T21:50:00.000-04:00

Today I drove home behind this completely authentic Louisiana Ford F-150 truck with this terrible deer head hitch cover. All the way home--all fifteen miles on the freeway going 30 mph because my work is making me work standard 8-5 hours so I have to drive in terrible rush hour traffic--both ways, uphill, in a torrential downpour, with no shoes, in blinding sun....(you get the drift--I miss flex-time.)

Anyways...not only was this thing completely ridiculous...it's absolutely freaky after about 2 miles. It stared at me the whole way. This thing is no sweet Bambi lookalike. It looks legitimately angry and seems to say "I hate you for shoving a trailer hitch up my neck and that my head is completely disproportional to my antlers. What? Were you worried that my antlers would put someone's eye out? Well, you should have thought of THAT when you started sticking trailer hitches up places they don't belong!!!"

Oh and that reminds me. I'd like to take this special opportunity.

Dear Michigan Deer Hunters,

I will be moving home soon. Please save yourself the $17.95 and my sanity. Help me to never see one of these again.

Thank you.

Signed,
Your BFF (best friend forever)
Becky

Join the Organic Rebellion

2005-07-10T15:18:00.000-04:00

In spirit of supporting sustainable agriculture, I provide you with this clever Web site. I thought it was hilarious. There's something about vegetables in costumes that always makes me giggle. Eat your veggies everyone...they are good for you.

Happy Birthday Adale and Shay Shay!

2005-07-10T00:56:00.000-04:00

Tonight my friend Adale's fiance Roy got us all together for a surprise birthday for Adale. We all met at a Japanese restaurant for some sushi and great conversation. Adale was completely surprised. It was also a terrific evening for me because I got to celebrate a birthday even though one of my best friends, Shay Shay, was celebrating hers far away. So happy birthday Adale and Shay. I'm so glad you are a part of my life!

Promises.

2005-07-02T21:42:00.000-04:00

Tonight as I was heading out to rent a movie and get a take-out burrito, I looked in the sky and saw the hugest rainbow I've ever seen. It was a full horizon to horizon rainbow. And, there was a faint complete double rainbow just above it. This picture doesn't even do it justice. There is something magical about a rainbow.

Mmmm....cucumber sauce.

2005-06-30T18:26:00.000-04:00

Today I gave a presentation for work at the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta national conference in Chicago, IL. In the evening we had the neat opportunity to visit the Garfield Park and Conservatory. Not only was the garden lovely, but the conference had the best snacks I've ever had at a conference. They were so much better than the standard rubbery chicken and dry green beans you get at most conferences. They had four stations of appetizers--Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, and Asian inspired. So delicious! I must say that the Mediterranean won hands down. They even had mini gyros made with mini pitas! And, the cucumber sauce (one of my favoritest foods ever) was divine.