This will be a completely random post, but I was listening to Alphaville today and it reminded me of when my sis and I visited my dad in Madison, and, while he was at work, we would play his Alphaville's Forever Young cd over and over. I even sneakily dubbed "Forever Young" onto a mix tape I had with me. This past November 27th marked five years since his death...it's crazy to think that it's been five years already. Well, for some reason this past weekend, I thought about him a lot. Perhaps it was due to the late night dessert with Z at The Knick on Friday, or how Katie asked me if I had any contact with my dad's 'partner' Jeff on Saturday, or maybe the fact that Sunday was Oscar Night...my dad was everywhere! And like I told Z at the Knick, it's so strange but, to this day, I still feel like I see him and when I do, I ALWAYS do a double take to make sure it isn't him. She does the same thing, so I'm not crazy ;) In any case, listening to Alphaville, I was flooded with all kinds of memories of my dad and I thought I'd list a few of them for the heck of it.
In a sort of chronological order:
-When I watched my dad deliver sermons, I'd think he was Jesus? Which is funny because he sooo wasn't, but isn't it a tad adorable coming from a four year old?
-He, my sis, and I would go to Adventureland (a poor man's Six Flag's) in Altoona, IA. And just as we were coming up on the entrance, my dad would stop and say "Wait a minute, this isn't where I want to turn, we're actually going to the dentist!" and it would crack us up!
-Dancing in the living room to Madonna's "La Isla Bonita" and knowing, at age 6, that it was my dad's favorite song, YET completely unaware that he was gay!
-Seeing BOTH my parents dress up as Rocky Horror characters to go to the midnight showing...still oblivious to my dad's homosexuality. Jeez.
-Watching To Kill A Mockingbird in his studio apartment, which was on Cass and very near to where I live now! It could honestly be south of our apartment building right across the parking lot!
-When he took Mandsi and I to La Péniche several times when we visited him in New Orleans circa'93. She and I gave every waiter there a nickname, like after Soap characters and whatnot? Likewise when he took us to Cafe du Monde for late night hot chocolate and beignets.
-Going to the three hour, late night Easter Vigil at St. John's Cathedral and then grabbing some dessert afterwards at what I think was Ma Fischer's or perhaps Annie's cafe (which was replaced by Kohl's and then replaced by my beloved Metro Market!)
-Going to see Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Chicago and then heading to this diner afterward where this gay guy pretended to strut a runway during the breakdown in Wilson Phillips' "Hold On".
-Driving to Madison late at night in his teal Pontiac Sunbird, the cozy dark countryside, and the sleep inducing buzz of talk radio.
-Being all stoked and feeling awesome when I walked into his favorite bar, the Crystal Corner, to partake in Jeopardy shenanigans after getting my tattoo when I was 18.
-"Letting me" order a rum and coke at a restaurant when I was so not 21!
-The dinners he'd make when we'd visit...nothing extravagant, but there was something about them that rocked. Especially that special barbecue sauce he had.
-His and Jeff's joint birthday parties in October: their apartment stuffed with all kinds of interesting folk, young and old: the air filled with cigarette smoke, we all drank red wine, and Abba, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, The Talented Mr. Ripley soundtrack, etc would play in the background.
-Many viewings of our favorite musicals: Hair, JC Superstar, Evita...
-His hilarious rants about some customer he had at [insert sales company here, i.e. Steinhafels, Ruben's, the jewelry store in N.O., Jack's Shoes...]
-When he wrote me this very out-of-the-blue email that simply said I love you not too far before he commit suicide.
-And all the little things: his cotton vertical striped dress shirts, when he'd raise one eyebrow to let us know we were in trouble, his singing voice at church, his crazy voice pretending to be a customer, when he'd say "Pardon?" even when we didn't say anything (he had no hearing in his right ear), his kickass apartment in Madison and rad furniture, his record collection, his hilarious sense of humor and his, infrequent, but really great hugs.
To conclude, I think that if my dad were still alive today, he'd get a real kick out of all our lives. I think he'd really enjoy the fact that my mom was writing erotica. I think he'd LOVE the fact that Mandsi lives and breathes film. He'd probably really like our cat Floyd and say that he reminded him of our old cat Steve. He'd enjoy John's decorating style and roll his eyes when I'd tell him that John sort of reminds me of him in some vague way though they're nothing alike! He'd enjoy the fact that I still go to St. John's Cathedral, and am now a member and a Eucharistic minister. And he'd definitely be amazed that Z and I live in the same neighborhood he did after he and my mom separated. Some days I feel like he knows, some days I feel like he doesn't. And I wish we could just grab some coffee and chat for a few hours. The spookiest part is that I feel that that wish isn't all that far fetched. Like one of those things that's so close yet so far away...just out of reach. Because even after five years, it still seems so strange that he's gone. And at the end of the day, maybe that's why I always do double takes when I see a short gray haired man or a teal Sunbird pass me by.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Lunar Mooner!
So as I'm sure everyone knows, a total lunar eclipse exploded into our viewing area last night! It was truly quite spectacular and the best part was having a front row seat in my living room!! I set up my tripod on the heat register and took photos throughout American Idol. Then paused the Season Four Project Runway Reunion and took a few more pix outside in the bitter cold. Now my photos aren't the most fabulous, some are blurry because I need one of those remote shutter release things, whatever they're called. Plus, once the total eclipse was in full throttle, it was hard to get enough light from the darkened moon. However, my new camera took MUCH better shots than my old camera ever could. I mean the zoom alone! Imagine if I had a telephoto lens!!
Anyway, enjoy the following shots:
And in the above post, you'll find my makeshift photobucket slideshow of the first half of the eclipse [I want to KILL blogger...it won't let me post this entry BEFORE the slideshow. And I wasn't able to embed it in this post for whatever reason...maybe I'll change it to a flickr slideshow some other time because this photobucket version is just "aight fa me". The slideshow is ruining the ch'i of the lunar eclipse!]
Anyway, enjoy the following shots:
And in the above post, you'll find my makeshift photobucket slideshow of the first half of the eclipse [I want to KILL blogger...it won't let me post this entry BEFORE the slideshow. And I wasn't able to embed it in this post for whatever reason...maybe I'll change it to a flickr slideshow some other time because this photobucket version is just "aight fa me". The slideshow is ruining the ch'i of the lunar eclipse!]
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
the whole enchilada
New post right away! But I HAD to mention my enchiladas from last night...DIES. I normally don't post my entire recipes...usually I just recap, but I want to just in case one of the two people that read this blog want to make it sometime. I highly recommend because they are FREAKING AWESOME!!!
Tomatillo Salsa Verde!
•6-8 small tomatillos (the larger ones are more bitter, they say)
•1-2 serrano peppers (I used two and it's a pretty hot salsa!)
•quarter of a white onion
•1 garlic clove (or 2 small ones)
•juice of half lime
•a couple generous splashes of white vinegar (I used half rice vinegar/half cider vinegar, but any NON red will work)...it probably totaled about a half cup or so
•TB of extra virgin olive oil (optional)
•small palmful of cilantro
•tsp of cumin
•chicken boullion cube
Boil the husked tomatillos and serrano(s) with stems cut for about 10-12 minutes (until the tomatillos turn an army green and split open a bit). In the meantime, fill a blender or food processor with the vinegar, lime juice, quartered onion, garlic clove(s), cilantro, cumin, and boullion cube. Once the tomatillos/serranos are ready, drain out most of the water (keep a little bit on the side) and add them to the blender/processor. Blend until everything is broken down, and, while on low, at the top of the processor drizzle in the EVOO. The extra boiled water can be used to thin out the salsa if too thick, so add that if you need to.
Enchiladas!
•salsa verde of course!
•tortillas (I got the large size, pack of 8)
•vegetable oil
•a mozzarella/provolone shredded cheese mixture is my personal fave!
•small rotisserie chicken (in the deli) OR a couple boneless chicken breasts
•optional additions like chopped onions, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
Either shred your rotisserie chicken (there will be plenty left over for another recipe or another round of enchiladas) OR poach/boil a couple of chicken breasts and shred those. Preheat oven to about 400 degrees. Add veggie oil to a hot skillet...JUST enough to cover the bottom with a thin layer. Once hot, turn down a touch and add a tortilla to the skillet..."fry" for a minute or so each side until the tortilla is browned and slightly crispy (not TOO crispy though or it will crack when you fold it!). Pour some of the salsa onto a plate and dip the browned tortilla, both sides, in the salsa until it has softened up again. On a baking sheet (covered with foil for no mess!), place the tortilla, add some cheese, the shredded chicken, and some more salsa verde. Fold up the tortilla like you would a burrito. Add some more cheese on top. Repeat for as many enchiladas as you want to make or until salsa runs out. Place into the oven for a few minutes, until cheese is melted and the chicken inside heats up again. Remove and add your choice of toppings!
I had two enchiladas last night and have about half the salsa left over. I also used the rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts. I bet that in order to make four enchiladas total, you would use all of the salsa and about half the rotisserie chicken, if that gives you an idea of the total servings here.
Now! This recipe may seem all crazy complicated, but it's not that bad at all! And it's the "REAL" way to make enchiladas as they do in Mexico...not like in some Mexican restaurants here...at least that's what they say :) Anyway, if you decide to take on this challenge, you won't be disappointed. They are delicious and very satisfying!!
Tomatillo Salsa Verde!
•6-8 small tomatillos (the larger ones are more bitter, they say)
•1-2 serrano peppers (I used two and it's a pretty hot salsa!)
•quarter of a white onion
•1 garlic clove (or 2 small ones)
•juice of half lime
•a couple generous splashes of white vinegar (I used half rice vinegar/half cider vinegar, but any NON red will work)...it probably totaled about a half cup or so
•TB of extra virgin olive oil (optional)
•small palmful of cilantro
•tsp of cumin
•chicken boullion cube
Boil the husked tomatillos and serrano(s) with stems cut for about 10-12 minutes (until the tomatillos turn an army green and split open a bit). In the meantime, fill a blender or food processor with the vinegar, lime juice, quartered onion, garlic clove(s), cilantro, cumin, and boullion cube. Once the tomatillos/serranos are ready, drain out most of the water (keep a little bit on the side) and add them to the blender/processor. Blend until everything is broken down, and, while on low, at the top of the processor drizzle in the EVOO. The extra boiled water can be used to thin out the salsa if too thick, so add that if you need to.
Enchiladas!
•salsa verde of course!
•tortillas (I got the large size, pack of 8)
•vegetable oil
•a mozzarella/provolone shredded cheese mixture is my personal fave!
•small rotisserie chicken (in the deli) OR a couple boneless chicken breasts
•optional additions like chopped onions, sour cream, cilantro, etc.
Either shred your rotisserie chicken (there will be plenty left over for another recipe or another round of enchiladas) OR poach/boil a couple of chicken breasts and shred those. Preheat oven to about 400 degrees. Add veggie oil to a hot skillet...JUST enough to cover the bottom with a thin layer. Once hot, turn down a touch and add a tortilla to the skillet..."fry" for a minute or so each side until the tortilla is browned and slightly crispy (not TOO crispy though or it will crack when you fold it!). Pour some of the salsa onto a plate and dip the browned tortilla, both sides, in the salsa until it has softened up again. On a baking sheet (covered with foil for no mess!), place the tortilla, add some cheese, the shredded chicken, and some more salsa verde. Fold up the tortilla like you would a burrito. Add some more cheese on top. Repeat for as many enchiladas as you want to make or until salsa runs out. Place into the oven for a few minutes, until cheese is melted and the chicken inside heats up again. Remove and add your choice of toppings!
I had two enchiladas last night and have about half the salsa left over. I also used the rotisserie chicken instead of chicken breasts. I bet that in order to make four enchiladas total, you would use all of the salsa and about half the rotisserie chicken, if that gives you an idea of the total servings here.
Now! This recipe may seem all crazy complicated, but it's not that bad at all! And it's the "REAL" way to make enchiladas as they do in Mexico...not like in some Mexican restaurants here...at least that's what they say :) Anyway, if you decide to take on this challenge, you won't be disappointed. They are delicious and very satisfying!!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
couple things...
Nothing exciting here, but I thought I'd update my list a touch. Valentine's Dinner with Johnny was SO delicious!!! I got a salad from the salad bar, and made steaks, mashed sweet potatoes, and Portobello mushroom "fries". Those last two (#45 & #46) were from a Rachael Ray cookbook I think...the sweet tatos were made with bananas, orange juice/zest, chicken broth and nutmeg. Yum. And I grilled the Portobello mushroom caps, cut them into slices, dipped them in egg/Italian breadcrumbs/parsley, and then fried them. THESE were the biggest hit...maybe even more so then the steaks?! Tonight I'm picking up fixins to make my own Tomatillo Salsa Verde and I'm going to whip up some enchiladas! So just one more recipe for the month of Feb.
So I hate to admit it but I blatantly cheated on this month's "give up" sweet bakery. It was Z's last day on Friday and she brought in brownies and mini cupcakes. So I said ENOUGH! FIRST of all, I'm technically giving up TWO things this month because of Lent...and it was three that day because I couldn't have meat either. SECOND of all, it was her last day at work and I wanted to, um, give her the proper sendoff she deserved?? haha! Anyway, I didn't even feel guilty after indulging in BOTH treats ;) And I made up for it all weekend: I ate out TWICE on Friday and didn't eat a smidge of meat, and while I was visiting Monica and Tim in Chicago I was taunted by coffee all over the place, but obediently sipped my Chai at Starbucks, and my Cherry Coke Zero whilst eating the best homemade waffles ever (thanks Chef "Not on Friends" Monica!)
Speaking of my visit, all weekend I played Guitar Hero and I now have a crush on the game. SO MUCH FUN!!! I even went to Best Buy yesterday when I got back and played it. THAT obsessed! But for the time being, I can't really justify getting Playstation, Xbox, or Wii JUST for Guitar Hero...so I guess I'll just patiently wait to visit Monica and Tim again...by which time they will have mastered the game and I'll still be on Easy mode. BLAH!
I surprised Johnny (#17) with a BOWLING PIN from the bowling alley I went to in Chicagoland this weekend. He's always wanted one...we've seen them at antique shops, but for like $35 or so...rip! This one was a steal at $5!! I think he let out a yelp when he opened his eyes...haha!!
This weekend is the Oscars people!! And full fledged Oscars...no weird writers strike version yeehaw!!
So I hate to admit it but I blatantly cheated on this month's "give up" sweet bakery. It was Z's last day on Friday and she brought in brownies and mini cupcakes. So I said ENOUGH! FIRST of all, I'm technically giving up TWO things this month because of Lent...and it was three that day because I couldn't have meat either. SECOND of all, it was her last day at work and I wanted to, um, give her the proper sendoff she deserved?? haha! Anyway, I didn't even feel guilty after indulging in BOTH treats ;) And I made up for it all weekend: I ate out TWICE on Friday and didn't eat a smidge of meat, and while I was visiting Monica and Tim in Chicago I was taunted by coffee all over the place, but obediently sipped my Chai at Starbucks, and my Cherry Coke Zero whilst eating the best homemade waffles ever (thanks Chef "Not on Friends" Monica!)
Speaking of my visit, all weekend I played Guitar Hero and I now have a crush on the game. SO MUCH FUN!!! I even went to Best Buy yesterday when I got back and played it. THAT obsessed! But for the time being, I can't really justify getting Playstation, Xbox, or Wii JUST for Guitar Hero...so I guess I'll just patiently wait to visit Monica and Tim again...by which time they will have mastered the game and I'll still be on Easy mode. BLAH!
I surprised Johnny (#17) with a BOWLING PIN from the bowling alley I went to in Chicagoland this weekend. He's always wanted one...we've seen them at antique shops, but for like $35 or so...rip! This one was a steal at $5!! I think he let out a yelp when he opened his eyes...haha!!
This weekend is the Oscars people!! And full fledged Oscars...no weird writers strike version yeehaw!!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentine's Day
It's almost over, but right at the end of the day here, I watched this video from the days of yore...Bono wrote this song as an apology to his wife for forgetting her birthday. That's her in the video. It's crazy how stripped down Bono is here...you know, from his usual theatrical antics. He's still theatrical, but in this humble way. Plus I can totally imagine that I'm the one he's singing to. For those of you who don't know, I was a U2 FREAK in high school. I even got a shamrock tattoo as a token of my devotion (I'm not even Irish!) In any case, I thought it would be the perfect little thing to remember good ol' v'day today. Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
One Year Anniversary come and gone...
So it's almost the middle of the month and I feel like I'm missing out on my life!! Instead of celebrating my one year 101 Things anniversary, I was simultaneously shivering and sweating in my bed fighting a wicked case of Influenza. So here it is the 12th already and I've gotta whip out my survey before the month is up!
February. Quite a month amongst the other months. And by that I mean, it's not the greatest month on the block. Last February, instead of the flu, I dealt with a wicked case of Heartache when John and I broke up. Saturday it'll officially be One Year Later and I cannot BELIEVE the difference 365 days makes. I can imagine February 16, 2007 like it was yesterday, yet I am WORLDS away from the person I was back then. And lucky for me, John is worlds away from the person HE was back then too. I feel like we grew up, mellowed out, and honestly took stock of what is truly important. Life isn't perfect. The relationship isn't perfect. But I'm not complaining!! Any flaws that are here are the kind of flaws that make it beautiful. The flaws that make it organic, something that breathes and changes. The flaws that make it interesting...as opposed to the flaws that make it nightmarish? Ha! Anyway, I digress. I'm here to survey my past year in regards to THE LIST, so here goes!
The official tally:
I have completed 31 tasks on the list.
6 are in progress, but do have an upcoming completion point.
17 are in progress and will be until the end of the 1001 days.
That leaves 47 tasks that I have yet to even START.
I believe June 15th (if I did that math right) is my official halfway point, so I best be halfway through this list by then...? A lot of the tasks have a summer-y quality, so I definitely hope to get going on those. I really really want to do that sailing task this summer. It's the middle of February and a sunset cruise on a sailboat on Lake Michigan sounds like absolute heaven right now.
What else do I foresee for myself in the coming months, task-wise?
-Well, I'm supposed to get on this website portfolio train, but it's taking a back seat to recent freelance projects and, well, end of winter laziness
-I'd like to finish up my photography book and get going on creating some photography lessons for myself. That way I could officially start these Four Seasons photos. An excellent portfolio item!
-And speaking of photography, 26Things has a new website and its fans are all waiting with bated breath for the first word list!
-As I previously mentioned: a lakefront picnic, Jazz in the Park, State Fair, sailing, the Farmer's Market, Six Flags, and even downpours are all right around the corner...well, not RIGHT around the corner, but a girl can daydream...
-And finally, I desperately need to read more often :\
Right now, I think I just really need to concentrate on the creative part of my life. I still make greeting cards, but something's gotta give with this portfolio situation. I am STILL waiting for a spark of inspiration, but it hasn't happened yet. Today during our company's State of the Agency address, instead of listening I thought about how lame my place is, not just in this company, but in life. I mean in the corporate life, MY life isn't lame ;) My good friend/exroomie from college just got into Harvard and she's literally going to change the world one day. Now I don't need to run and join the Peace Corps (something else she did!), but I do need to make some kind of difference. Nothing major, just something. Anyway, I'll find it one of these days. In the meantime, I'm just going to keep at this List and I PROMISE I'll be more creative soon. I just need to get out of February I think. There's next to nothing inspiring about the month of February. Although the fact that it's not Feb '07 is pretty damn close.
February. Quite a month amongst the other months. And by that I mean, it's not the greatest month on the block. Last February, instead of the flu, I dealt with a wicked case of Heartache when John and I broke up. Saturday it'll officially be One Year Later and I cannot BELIEVE the difference 365 days makes. I can imagine February 16, 2007 like it was yesterday, yet I am WORLDS away from the person I was back then. And lucky for me, John is worlds away from the person HE was back then too. I feel like we grew up, mellowed out, and honestly took stock of what is truly important. Life isn't perfect. The relationship isn't perfect. But I'm not complaining!! Any flaws that are here are the kind of flaws that make it beautiful. The flaws that make it organic, something that breathes and changes. The flaws that make it interesting...as opposed to the flaws that make it nightmarish? Ha! Anyway, I digress. I'm here to survey my past year in regards to THE LIST, so here goes!
The official tally:
I have completed 31 tasks on the list.
6 are in progress, but do have an upcoming completion point.
17 are in progress and will be until the end of the 1001 days.
That leaves 47 tasks that I have yet to even START.
I believe June 15th (if I did that math right) is my official halfway point, so I best be halfway through this list by then...? A lot of the tasks have a summer-y quality, so I definitely hope to get going on those. I really really want to do that sailing task this summer. It's the middle of February and a sunset cruise on a sailboat on Lake Michigan sounds like absolute heaven right now.
What else do I foresee for myself in the coming months, task-wise?
-Well, I'm supposed to get on this website portfolio train, but it's taking a back seat to recent freelance projects and, well, end of winter laziness
-I'd like to finish up my photography book and get going on creating some photography lessons for myself. That way I could officially start these Four Seasons photos. An excellent portfolio item!
-And speaking of photography, 26Things has a new website and its fans are all waiting with bated breath for the first word list!
-As I previously mentioned: a lakefront picnic, Jazz in the Park, State Fair, sailing, the Farmer's Market, Six Flags, and even downpours are all right around the corner...well, not RIGHT around the corner, but a girl can daydream...
-And finally, I desperately need to read more often :\
Right now, I think I just really need to concentrate on the creative part of my life. I still make greeting cards, but something's gotta give with this portfolio situation. I am STILL waiting for a spark of inspiration, but it hasn't happened yet. Today during our company's State of the Agency address, instead of listening I thought about how lame my place is, not just in this company, but in life. I mean in the corporate life, MY life isn't lame ;) My good friend/exroomie from college just got into Harvard and she's literally going to change the world one day. Now I don't need to run and join the Peace Corps (something else she did!), but I do need to make some kind of difference. Nothing major, just something. Anyway, I'll find it one of these days. In the meantime, I'm just going to keep at this List and I PROMISE I'll be more creative soon. I just need to get out of February I think. There's next to nothing inspiring about the month of February. Although the fact that it's not Feb '07 is pretty damn close.
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