I wish I had more to discuss here than just a few recipes, but no dice. I think all my creative juices have been zapped by the energy I've been putting into my job lately...the good news is that I'm really getting the hang of this web design thing. And I think I can admit that I no longer HATE it as previously mentioned here. It can get frustrating but 'hate' is a strong word haha!
#45 - Recipes
1. Blackberry Turkey Sandwich
I recreated the same sandwich from Fat Abbey/Cafe Hollander: thick cut roasted turkey, blackberry jam, hot giardiniera, and muenster cheese on french bread...all toasted and melty! Highly recommend. I also recommend said blackberry jam and peanut butter on Kashi waffles. YES.
2. Hot 'n Spicy Corn Dip
THANKS MONICA for this wonderful recipe!! The only differences are: I used a can of sweet corn and white shoepeg corn instead of a bag of frozen, and I used chive cream cheese instead of regular. Definitely worth a try at any soiree. I ate it around 9pm heavily under the influence of Tanqueray...on a random weeknight?
3. Turkey Pumpkin Chili
Alright so I kinda already made this recipe last fall, but I think I'm a better cook one year later, so I wanted to try it again (and still count it as new? yeah) Here are the ingredients:
• ground turkey browned with nutmeg/cumin/S&P...set aside
In the same deep skillet/pot with a pat of butter:
• sautee 4 cloves garlic and a whole chopped white onion
• add chopped red bell pepper and tomato
• once soft, add a couple cups of chicken broth, bring to boil
• add a can of black beans, can of sweet corn, can of green chillies, can of Thick & Zesty tomato sauce, AND a can of pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling!!)
• add ground turkey back to the mixture
• also add various spices to taste (more nutmeg, cumin, all spice, cayenne/red pepper flake...as well as a few splashes of Worcester sauce and a half cup of brown sugar
• add anything else you see fit. Need it spicier? Hot sauce. Need it sweeter? more brown sugar.
• let simmer for as long as you can handle your growling stomach
I actually had to divvy up this chili into two pots toward the end because there was so much! So definitely start out with your biggest pot.
Yay for food!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
never too late for the first of the month post
And not only is the month practically half over, but it's all WARM and stuff! My last post was all "summer's over wah wah" and it's going to be a balmy 77 today! And what better to celebrate the warmup than to have a cold, CLASSIC. But I'm already on the mend, I think this was my shortest cold ever, thanks immune system!
In other news, my various updates:
#1 - oh man have I been given one fantastic opportunity!! All I'll mention is that it does involve building websites. All last week I slaved to the bone day and night working on a 'test' project and I think that considering I have barely any web experience, I've done pretty well! It's a little buggy and I think I might have gone about it in the wrong way, but that's why I do definitely need some professional training whether it be a class or what have you. I've done a decent job of teaching myself what I can, but I do so much better when I have structure around me. For example, thought I could go about teaching myself photography? Well I know enough to get by, but I would fair so much better if I was in a real class. In any case, I think I might go ahead and cross this one off as soon as I'm done with the project!! I earned it!
#17 - Hmmm selfish. I wrote a letter...which wasn't so much selfish and more focused on self. Self centered? I don't know...reading lots of Dalai Lama lately, I truly and honestly wanted to move along a more positive path and I guess I felt as though that warranted a letter. Has the letter changed things? Partly yes and partly #1 happened and I was incredibly touched by that...whether or not that situation was aided by my letter is debatable and something I'll never know, but it was a positive event and it made me feel great! As for the 'partly no,' I still feel the distance. It isn't cold anymore, but I wish I was just like the rest of my group. The sad thing that I have to admit to myself is that I never will be. Anyway, sorry to be so vague here, but I just didn't want to go into it TOO much.
#57 - While I mentioned Six Flags in my Ode to Summer of '08, I have yet to wax poetic. I can't believe I went back after TEN YEARS. I admit, I was honestly pretty afraid of how my body would handle a roller coaster after all this time, but it was bloody brilliant!!! I'm really stoked that I still love the thrill and it doesn't terrify me. Ok it terrified me a little. Going up that first hill of Raging Bull for the very first time? I mean if someone was standing halfway up and asked me if I wanted to continue...that it would be perfectly ok to stop the ride? I think I might have taken him up on it! But since I had no choice, I hit the top and took the plunge and it was GLORIOUS!!! Ahhh thank you Kohls! See you next year!!
#50 - Atypical veggie = leeks (see below)
#45 - Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing
Alright so I cheated. This recipe called for the sweetest of sweet bakery and yet I gave up sweet bakery for October. But I fulfilled my Sept recipes and then some, so I made this one on like Sept 29 and finished eating it Sept 30...blah.
Anyway, here's the recipe for the most awesome stuffing of all time (aka I'm never having regular stuffing again):
2 leeks - rinsed, cut lengthwise into half-moons and chopped
(yeah I cheated again and had my atypical veggie for Oct in Sept, BUT I had leeks in my soup later in the week!)
2 ribs of celery - chopped
1 gala apple - peeled, cored and chopped
3 pumpkin muffins (I have the unadulterated pleasure of purchasing these delectable treats at my local Picknsave Metro Market...I hope you can find them somewhere??)
sausage (I had to use links that I cut into pieces, but I suggest getting the regular, non-encased stuff)
1 cup of chicken broth
poultry seasoning (I actually used pinches of thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram, and All Spice...or nutmeg...from my Wheel O' Spices)
Brown the sausage and set aside on a paper towel to drain. To the same pan, add the leeks, apples, and celery along with some S&P and stir for a few minutes until soft. Crumble in the muffins and add seasoning/spices. Add the broth, a little at a time...you don't have to add the full cup, it depends on how moist you like your stuffing (that's what she said?). Then add back in the sausage and you're good to go! Super super easy especially for a day like T'Gives where you've got 948230423 other recipes to worry about!
In other news, my various updates:
#1 - oh man have I been given one fantastic opportunity!! All I'll mention is that it does involve building websites. All last week I slaved to the bone day and night working on a 'test' project and I think that considering I have barely any web experience, I've done pretty well! It's a little buggy and I think I might have gone about it in the wrong way, but that's why I do definitely need some professional training whether it be a class or what have you. I've done a decent job of teaching myself what I can, but I do so much better when I have structure around me. For example, thought I could go about teaching myself photography? Well I know enough to get by, but I would fair so much better if I was in a real class. In any case, I think I might go ahead and cross this one off as soon as I'm done with the project!! I earned it!
#17 - Hmmm selfish. I wrote a letter...which wasn't so much selfish and more focused on self. Self centered? I don't know...reading lots of Dalai Lama lately, I truly and honestly wanted to move along a more positive path and I guess I felt as though that warranted a letter. Has the letter changed things? Partly yes and partly #1 happened and I was incredibly touched by that...whether or not that situation was aided by my letter is debatable and something I'll never know, but it was a positive event and it made me feel great! As for the 'partly no,' I still feel the distance. It isn't cold anymore, but I wish I was just like the rest of my group. The sad thing that I have to admit to myself is that I never will be. Anyway, sorry to be so vague here, but I just didn't want to go into it TOO much.
#57 - While I mentioned Six Flags in my Ode to Summer of '08, I have yet to wax poetic. I can't believe I went back after TEN YEARS. I admit, I was honestly pretty afraid of how my body would handle a roller coaster after all this time, but it was bloody brilliant!!! I'm really stoked that I still love the thrill and it doesn't terrify me. Ok it terrified me a little. Going up that first hill of Raging Bull for the very first time? I mean if someone was standing halfway up and asked me if I wanted to continue...that it would be perfectly ok to stop the ride? I think I might have taken him up on it! But since I had no choice, I hit the top and took the plunge and it was GLORIOUS!!! Ahhh thank you Kohls! See you next year!!
#50 - Atypical veggie = leeks (see below)
#45 - Pumpkin Muffin Stuffing
Alright so I cheated. This recipe called for the sweetest of sweet bakery and yet I gave up sweet bakery for October. But I fulfilled my Sept recipes and then some, so I made this one on like Sept 29 and finished eating it Sept 30...blah.
Anyway, here's the recipe for the most awesome stuffing of all time (aka I'm never having regular stuffing again):
2 leeks - rinsed, cut lengthwise into half-moons and chopped
(yeah I cheated again and had my atypical veggie for Oct in Sept, BUT I had leeks in my soup later in the week!)
2 ribs of celery - chopped
1 gala apple - peeled, cored and chopped
3 pumpkin muffins (I have the unadulterated pleasure of purchasing these delectable treats at my local Picknsave Metro Market...I hope you can find them somewhere??)
sausage (I had to use links that I cut into pieces, but I suggest getting the regular, non-encased stuff)
1 cup of chicken broth
poultry seasoning (I actually used pinches of thyme, sage, rosemary, marjoram, and All Spice...or nutmeg...from my Wheel O' Spices)
Brown the sausage and set aside on a paper towel to drain. To the same pan, add the leeks, apples, and celery along with some S&P and stir for a few minutes until soft. Crumble in the muffins and add seasoning/spices. Add the broth, a little at a time...you don't have to add the full cup, it depends on how moist you like your stuffing (that's what she said?). Then add back in the sausage and you're good to go! Super super easy especially for a day like T'Gives where you've got 948230423 other recipes to worry about!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Fall is officially upon us!
This morning I wore my glovens for the first time this season! It was a crisp 44 degrees this morning and yesterday I noticed leaves falling, as well as a significant change in color on the tops of the trees outside my living room window. We can't fight it anymore, summer is over. When I got home after work, the heat was on...also the first time this season. And last night I had to finally shut all of the windows.
And with that said, I don't do this too often, but I'm going to whip up a Favorite (and not so favorite?) Things Tally from this past summer, the summer to end all summers. Well, ok, hopefully my "best summer ever" doesn't end here in 2008, but it definitely was one for the books!
APRIL
April isn't so much summer at ALL, but I'd say with the breakup at the very end of March, April 1st was the first day of the rest of my life, summer, whatever.
-Teenage hijinx at Gameworks (aka "Steve & Barry's") with Monica, Tim, and Steve
-Mandsi getting the KOHL'S JOB just as we're leaving in Floyd to go check out, er PURCHASE, Bloodball my new car!!
-The Fateful Night I met up with Bekky at Houlihan's to have dinner and began the 2.5 month whirlwind that was my Something'Ship with Jeremy the Beautiful Disaster
-Grand Music for a Grand Space at St. John's Cathedral with Z during a thunderstorm followed by a night at Blu
-The discovery my ex was dating someone five years my junior and 12 years his...not to mention he was crushin' on her whilst we dated!
MAY
-Walking around the city with Jeremy while he shows me Third Ward buildings he's worked on
-Getting the InterMet!!!
-At Random followed by a swirly and cheap time at the Bottle
-Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, cooking up some awesome Mexican food, and chatting with coworkers about my breakup
-Frigid Cubbies Game at Wrigley! (and using Steve's parking spot!)
-Nights at Trinity and Scooter's with Jeremy and Z
-The Art Museum followed by Marne's graduation party
-IRONMAN followed by Bee's and the unfortunate meeting of Ken (aka Jaxon/Jakom/Douchebag)
-David Cook winning American Idol ;)
-Random Red Robin beers?
-Jeremy's private guitar concert ;)
-Painting at the rents, listening to The Brew!
-The Saloon with Z and Nicole (learning about how John couldn't tell me he went with Nicole to the strip club while he and I were dating??)
-Scampering around in a rainstorm with Jeremy and Z
-"Katie Day" (aka Memorial Day) spent with Jeremy (Mykonos, walk around lakefront, people watch on the grass, parade, etc...lovely)
-RIVERSPLASH!! LOTS of Miller Lite, Falafel, King Solomon, and Footloose?
-Edgar's Calypso, crazy cold front, and Clovie at the rents
JUNE
-Bill's rendition of "Build Me Up Buttercup" on my voicemail at 4am?
-The Sex & the City Movie party at the Palladium in the Majestic...cosmos and apps a plenty!
-The Annual Bead & Button Show with mom :)
-Watching Once with Z
-Managing to make it out to Brookfield Fridays alive in the t'storm of all t'storms...one of the best nights with Jeremy though: relaxing and cozy :)
-Getting my new sleek phone!
-Jeremy and I swinging in Cathedral Square park followed by chilling on the couch at Mocha
-Lunches at Borders with Jeremy
-Making dinner for Jeremy in the tiniest of tiny kitchens
-Tumbleweed and The Happening with Jeremy: the last good night
-Chelsea's wedding shower followed by my hosting of her Bachelorette party because the boat was CANCELED due to the NON storm followed by interesting fellows at Trinity
-Bekky and Todd's second son Josh is born!! Visit them in the hospital :)
-The Jazz Estate and Vitucci's with Jeremy, Marrlo, and Z
-Marrlo's apartment to play Wii
-Monica's birthday at Finn McCool's where we got SWINDLED!!!
-Show of Shows in Rockford, IL (the beer tent!!! Alpine Inn?? Machine Shed!)
-Blue flowers and the end of Jeremy
-Shannon's birthday drinks at Bad Genie
-CKYP Summerfest is actually really fun??!
-The ginormous rainbow outside the window of Qdoba
-Looooong walk with Mandsi around lakefront (rugby!!)
-Night of Tomfoolery: dinner at Osteria, drinks at the Knick, Trinity, and Cuddy's questionmark??? RUBY DEE!!!!
-McGinn's with Drew discussing our pathetic love lives ;)
JULY
-Best BUTTERWORKS ever! Also known as "The Year of John Thompson"
-HC Fireworks! Also known as "I Can't Believe It's Not Butterworks"
-The loooong talk with Z at Bucks regarding Jeremy and The Lost Email which tumbled into what will forever be known as....
-TOUR DE CHANCE: A poor time at Summerfest (aside from the awesomeness that was the Zombies) leads to boredom, which leads to the mutual decision to drive to Houlihan's (BIG MISTAKE), Bee's (regroup), T'Bell (great idea), and Genie (WORST idea). The cherry on top of the Tour de Chance Evening of Shame was the txt: "have your cake and choke on it too". Fun!
*Tour De Chance ushered in the second half of the summer, however, and it was all uphill from there!
-28 Day Detox: good stuff!
-Teaching myself Dreamweaver
-AT&T road side assistance and "Roadrunner" to the rescue!
-Annual Point Beach Camping Trip with just the Nelson/Lau ladies this time! (gourmet meals over a campfire, pix to try and win the photo contest...whoops, never sent those in...crazy t'storm and the tortured baby, bags on the beach, most PERFECT sand turtle ever, bourbon & decaf, and a Neil Gaiman bedtime story)
-BASTILLE DAYS! Chill outside Taylor's and walk around fest with Z, capped off with a tour of Steve's apartment ;)
-A surprisingly fun CK Picnic? Won $5 Alterra card as well as many grass stains as I "slid into last place" in the footrace. (also a stab at 'closure' with John in the car that didn't work out so well)
-ALL THINGS DARK KNIGHT!!!!!!! (went 4x!...The first time being particularly awesome as Z and I arrived four hours early and had fun waiting over martinis in the bar and over nachos in line...Jim and Joe?!!)
-Not having meningitis!
-Hanging at Nicole's new apartment: Saw II, George Lopez, King of Queen's, Sex & the City, and CHEATERS!!! ExtenZe Sodas!!!
-Church and Mykonos with Drew
-CUBE•B•GONE!!!!
-Fun at the laundromat?
-Txts from Bob :)
-IOWA ROADTRIP with Z!!!!! (YeCoCo "which is YELLOW now!!" at the I-80 truckstop, the gloriousness that is Sugar Shack malts, ducks and rabblerousers, pool thugs, filet and crab stuffed shrimp and wine that tastes like Heath Ledger at the Big Steer, Jay and Steve in the Lounge, Prairie Meadows Casino and "when in Rome" Bud Lights and Point Beach??, court jester dog, tour de SKYWALK and the cozy Marriott, BALLOOOOONS "The Big Idea", the nightmarish Liars Club and 515 Live ecstasy fest, road trip snick snacks and a BIG SODA from the I-80 truckstop, and "What's He Gonna Do?" and Dark Knight quotes galore!!
-The Miller Park Massacre :)
AUGUST
-ROOFTOP CUBS GAME!!!!...chilling outside Ellen's drinking beer, playing bags, and eating Chicago's most ginormous pizza
-Z consoling me after The Metro Market Umbrella Fiasco, which ushered me into another new, and better, stage of The Breakup
-I'views :)
-STATEFAIR...mmmmHeathBaby at the Saz's tent
-Joshua wins SYTYCD!!!
-My Jamo shot (purchased by my boss) induced toast at Kristen's Last Day party at Kenadee's followed by dinner at Bayou with Nicole and Z and fun music, but weird peeps at Mark's bar...T'BELL!
-Surf's Up and I'm Not There Night :)
-Josh and Tina's son Zachary's baptism and the BEST FOOD EVER (hushpuppies!!) at the following party
-All things Flickr and photography
-Meeting up with Katie at Metro Market before she leaves for Hahhvahd.
-Free drinks at Karma...Joey from Iowa at Buckley's
-dinner at the Sheridan House for mom's bday
-DOCO WEDDING DEBAUCHERY!!!! (breakfast at the Pancake House, Girl Talk, coziest retro hotel EVER, Kalin/Karlin/Baby Heath bartender at the Rehearsal dinner, Room 114: Party Headquarters, vomming from 75% of the room, Cabin #3 spa time, The Wedding, Trolley shenanigans!!!, CUSTER JUMP ON IT, Mikey vs Jake, THE LIFT, a blanket...some wood chips...and the stars: crossing off #18 because everyone and their mom discovered us, and last but certainly not least: ALL THINGS HUMAN GIANT.
-HARLEY FEST!!!
-Random last minute tooling around Jazz in the Park, followed by the Genie...F/Phish sigh
-Margarita Paradise for Josh's birthday followed by Human Giant and CHECKBOOK fun at J&T's house, FOLLOWED by more Genie after close!
-Annual Drive In Party
-Trinity with Nicole and Z: Steve the drummer, and the unfortunate meeting of Wayne and Derrick (tastes like Smarties, smells like Romance, and acts like a total D'bag)
SEPTEMBER
-Mandsi got KOHLS PROMOTION!!!...Firefly to celebrate!
-First PSL of the season!
-Office Space!
-Shannon's Wedding and everything that was the entire summer leading up to this moment going better than I could've ever expected :)
-following Shannon's wedding: JUMP ON IT dancing in our apartment, shots of Vodka, two seconds in Genie, back to apartment to get into our PJs, late night deliciousness at Mykonos
-Pure hilarity at my Tazinos photo shoot!!! (and dinner with Kim at The Perk)
-Sake Tumi, Blu, and Genie
-LESTIVITIES FINALLY HAPPENS!
-Zim's where the Bears lose, the Packers won, but the Brewers lose hooray!!
-The Cubbies and Astros at Miller Park that we did NOT go to...Big Z's No Hitter!!!
-Going to the lakefront to watch the moonrise :)
-Angela's bday at Hotel Metro where we saw Cindy Crawford and found out about divorce, followed by Taylor's with Joe and Josh and shots all around!
-Walking to the new CK building only takes 23 minutes!
-Ale House with the fam, CUBBIES CLINCH!!
-Bella Cafe with Drew :)
-Nate and Mandsi's first date at Blu!! :D
-Walking six miles around the lakefront and messing up my foot, cuz that happens.
-Zim's to watch the Cubs lose, SEE Cubs outside the Pfister, D'Lee and Jim Edmonds "following us" to Taylors...BRONX BOYS!
-Shopping Spree at Bayshore ;) ($280 worth of clothes for $126!)
-Buying Aussie Pink Floyd tix at the Mac Store
And what better way to cap off the fabulous Summer of 2008????
-KOHLS DAY AT SIX FLAGS and the gloriousness that is Raging Bull! "Cuz that happens."
Plus, smattered throughout:
-Various drinks, often time free, at Buckley's after a night out
-Many many coffees at Metro Market on the weekends
-Monday nights at Bucks!!! (the $2 Bucks card mmm Vivannos)
-Too much Facebook?
-Lots of Cup and Bread Duty
-The Ninja Report
-Inappropriate txts with Bill
-All things Steve the apt manager
-Summer shows like AI, Top Chef, Flipping Out, SYTYCD, The Paper, the Hills, P'Run, and MadMen
-Kiss FM and so much new music: Portishead, MMJ, Girl Talk, Coldplay, all things THE FAINT, "Knowitall" "Rest My Chemistry" "Outta Heart" "Fearless" "Oh Well" & "Dear Valentine" on repeat. And Ray :)
-Great books like Mere Christianity, Of Human Bondage, and The Art of Happiness
-and finally "Where does that end..." because honestly? where does it?!
WOW I did it! And I'm impressed if anyone aside from Z is still reading ;) I look forward to rereading this post at the beginning of next summer and imagining how different it will be, well different and similar I'm sure!
And with that said, I don't do this too often, but I'm going to whip up a Favorite (and not so favorite?) Things Tally from this past summer, the summer to end all summers. Well, ok, hopefully my "best summer ever" doesn't end here in 2008, but it definitely was one for the books!
APRIL
April isn't so much summer at ALL, but I'd say with the breakup at the very end of March, April 1st was the first day of the rest of my life, summer, whatever.
-Teenage hijinx at Gameworks (aka "Steve & Barry's") with Monica, Tim, and Steve
-Mandsi getting the KOHL'S JOB just as we're leaving in Floyd to go check out, er PURCHASE, Bloodball my new car!!
-The Fateful Night I met up with Bekky at Houlihan's to have dinner and began the 2.5 month whirlwind that was my Something'Ship with Jeremy the Beautiful Disaster
-Grand Music for a Grand Space at St. John's Cathedral with Z during a thunderstorm followed by a night at Blu
-The discovery my ex was dating someone five years my junior and 12 years his...not to mention he was crushin' on her whilst we dated!
MAY
-Walking around the city with Jeremy while he shows me Third Ward buildings he's worked on
-Getting the InterMet!!!
-At Random followed by a swirly and cheap time at the Bottle
-Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, cooking up some awesome Mexican food, and chatting with coworkers about my breakup
-Frigid Cubbies Game at Wrigley! (and using Steve's parking spot!)
-Nights at Trinity and Scooter's with Jeremy and Z
-The Art Museum followed by Marne's graduation party
-IRONMAN followed by Bee's and the unfortunate meeting of Ken (aka Jaxon/Jakom/Douchebag)
-David Cook winning American Idol ;)
-Random Red Robin beers?
-Jeremy's private guitar concert ;)
-Painting at the rents, listening to The Brew!
-The Saloon with Z and Nicole (learning about how John couldn't tell me he went with Nicole to the strip club while he and I were dating??)
-Scampering around in a rainstorm with Jeremy and Z
-"Katie Day" (aka Memorial Day) spent with Jeremy (Mykonos, walk around lakefront, people watch on the grass, parade, etc...lovely)
-RIVERSPLASH!! LOTS of Miller Lite, Falafel, King Solomon, and Footloose?
-Edgar's Calypso, crazy cold front, and Clovie at the rents
JUNE
-Bill's rendition of "Build Me Up Buttercup" on my voicemail at 4am?
-The Sex & the City Movie party at the Palladium in the Majestic...cosmos and apps a plenty!
-The Annual Bead & Button Show with mom :)
-Watching Once with Z
-Managing to make it out to Brookfield Fridays alive in the t'storm of all t'storms...one of the best nights with Jeremy though: relaxing and cozy :)
-Getting my new sleek phone!
-Jeremy and I swinging in Cathedral Square park followed by chilling on the couch at Mocha
-Lunches at Borders with Jeremy
-Making dinner for Jeremy in the tiniest of tiny kitchens
-Tumbleweed and The Happening with Jeremy: the last good night
-Chelsea's wedding shower followed by my hosting of her Bachelorette party because the boat was CANCELED due to the NON storm followed by interesting fellows at Trinity
-Bekky and Todd's second son Josh is born!! Visit them in the hospital :)
-The Jazz Estate and Vitucci's with Jeremy, Marrlo, and Z
-Marrlo's apartment to play Wii
-Monica's birthday at Finn McCool's where we got SWINDLED!!!
-Show of Shows in Rockford, IL (the beer tent!!! Alpine Inn?? Machine Shed!)
-Blue flowers and the end of Jeremy
-Shannon's birthday drinks at Bad Genie
-CKYP Summerfest is actually really fun??!
-The ginormous rainbow outside the window of Qdoba
-Looooong walk with Mandsi around lakefront (rugby!!)
-Night of Tomfoolery: dinner at Osteria, drinks at the Knick, Trinity, and Cuddy's questionmark??? RUBY DEE!!!!
-McGinn's with Drew discussing our pathetic love lives ;)
JULY
-Best BUTTERWORKS ever! Also known as "The Year of John Thompson"
-HC Fireworks! Also known as "I Can't Believe It's Not Butterworks"
-The loooong talk with Z at Bucks regarding Jeremy and The Lost Email which tumbled into what will forever be known as....
-TOUR DE CHANCE: A poor time at Summerfest (aside from the awesomeness that was the Zombies) leads to boredom, which leads to the mutual decision to drive to Houlihan's (BIG MISTAKE), Bee's (regroup), T'Bell (great idea), and Genie (WORST idea). The cherry on top of the Tour de Chance Evening of Shame was the txt: "have your cake and choke on it too". Fun!
*Tour De Chance ushered in the second half of the summer, however, and it was all uphill from there!
-28 Day Detox: good stuff!
-Teaching myself Dreamweaver
-AT&T road side assistance and "Roadrunner" to the rescue!
-Annual Point Beach Camping Trip with just the Nelson/Lau ladies this time! (gourmet meals over a campfire, pix to try and win the photo contest...whoops, never sent those in...crazy t'storm and the tortured baby, bags on the beach, most PERFECT sand turtle ever, bourbon & decaf, and a Neil Gaiman bedtime story)
-BASTILLE DAYS! Chill outside Taylor's and walk around fest with Z, capped off with a tour of Steve's apartment ;)
-A surprisingly fun CK Picnic? Won $5 Alterra card as well as many grass stains as I "slid into last place" in the footrace. (also a stab at 'closure' with John in the car that didn't work out so well)
-ALL THINGS DARK KNIGHT!!!!!!! (went 4x!...The first time being particularly awesome as Z and I arrived four hours early and had fun waiting over martinis in the bar and over nachos in line...Jim and Joe?!!)
-Not having meningitis!
-Hanging at Nicole's new apartment: Saw II, George Lopez, King of Queen's, Sex & the City, and CHEATERS!!! ExtenZe Sodas!!!
-Church and Mykonos with Drew
-CUBE•B•GONE!!!!
-Fun at the laundromat?
-Txts from Bob :)
-IOWA ROADTRIP with Z!!!!! (YeCoCo "which is YELLOW now!!" at the I-80 truckstop, the gloriousness that is Sugar Shack malts, ducks and rabblerousers, pool thugs, filet and crab stuffed shrimp and wine that tastes like Heath Ledger at the Big Steer, Jay and Steve in the Lounge, Prairie Meadows Casino and "when in Rome" Bud Lights and Point Beach??, court jester dog, tour de SKYWALK and the cozy Marriott, BALLOOOOONS "The Big Idea", the nightmarish Liars Club and 515 Live ecstasy fest, road trip snick snacks and a BIG SODA from the I-80 truckstop, and "What's He Gonna Do?" and Dark Knight quotes galore!!
-The Miller Park Massacre :)
AUGUST
-ROOFTOP CUBS GAME!!!!...chilling outside Ellen's drinking beer, playing bags, and eating Chicago's most ginormous pizza
-Z consoling me after The Metro Market Umbrella Fiasco, which ushered me into another new, and better, stage of The Breakup
-I'views :)
-STATEFAIR...mmmmHeathBaby at the Saz's tent
-Joshua wins SYTYCD!!!
-My Jamo shot (purchased by my boss) induced toast at Kristen's Last Day party at Kenadee's followed by dinner at Bayou with Nicole and Z and fun music, but weird peeps at Mark's bar...T'BELL!
-Surf's Up and I'm Not There Night :)
-Josh and Tina's son Zachary's baptism and the BEST FOOD EVER (hushpuppies!!) at the following party
-All things Flickr and photography
-Meeting up with Katie at Metro Market before she leaves for Hahhvahd.
-Free drinks at Karma...Joey from Iowa at Buckley's
-dinner at the Sheridan House for mom's bday
-DOCO WEDDING DEBAUCHERY!!!! (breakfast at the Pancake House, Girl Talk, coziest retro hotel EVER, Kalin/Karlin/Baby Heath bartender at the Rehearsal dinner, Room 114: Party Headquarters, vomming from 75% of the room, Cabin #3 spa time, The Wedding, Trolley shenanigans!!!, CUSTER JUMP ON IT, Mikey vs Jake, THE LIFT, a blanket...some wood chips...and the stars: crossing off #18 because everyone and their mom discovered us, and last but certainly not least: ALL THINGS HUMAN GIANT.
-HARLEY FEST!!!
-Random last minute tooling around Jazz in the Park, followed by the Genie...F/Phish sigh
-Margarita Paradise for Josh's birthday followed by Human Giant and CHECKBOOK fun at J&T's house, FOLLOWED by more Genie after close!
-Annual Drive In Party
-Trinity with Nicole and Z: Steve the drummer, and the unfortunate meeting of Wayne and Derrick (tastes like Smarties, smells like Romance, and acts like a total D'bag)
SEPTEMBER
-Mandsi got KOHLS PROMOTION!!!...Firefly to celebrate!
-First PSL of the season!
-Office Space!
-Shannon's Wedding and everything that was the entire summer leading up to this moment going better than I could've ever expected :)
-following Shannon's wedding: JUMP ON IT dancing in our apartment, shots of Vodka, two seconds in Genie, back to apartment to get into our PJs, late night deliciousness at Mykonos
-Pure hilarity at my Tazinos photo shoot!!! (and dinner with Kim at The Perk)
-Sake Tumi, Blu, and Genie
-LESTIVITIES FINALLY HAPPENS!
-Zim's where the Bears lose, the Packers won, but the Brewers lose hooray!!
-The Cubbies and Astros at Miller Park that we did NOT go to...Big Z's No Hitter!!!
-Going to the lakefront to watch the moonrise :)
-Angela's bday at Hotel Metro where we saw Cindy Crawford and found out about divorce, followed by Taylor's with Joe and Josh and shots all around!
-Walking to the new CK building only takes 23 minutes!
-Ale House with the fam, CUBBIES CLINCH!!
-Bella Cafe with Drew :)
-Nate and Mandsi's first date at Blu!! :D
-Walking six miles around the lakefront and messing up my foot, cuz that happens.
-Zim's to watch the Cubs lose, SEE Cubs outside the Pfister, D'Lee and Jim Edmonds "following us" to Taylors...BRONX BOYS!
-Shopping Spree at Bayshore ;) ($280 worth of clothes for $126!)
-Buying Aussie Pink Floyd tix at the Mac Store
And what better way to cap off the fabulous Summer of 2008????
-KOHLS DAY AT SIX FLAGS and the gloriousness that is Raging Bull! "Cuz that happens."
Plus, smattered throughout:
-Various drinks, often time free, at Buckley's after a night out
-Many many coffees at Metro Market on the weekends
-Monday nights at Bucks!!! (the $2 Bucks card mmm Vivannos)
-Too much Facebook?
-Lots of Cup and Bread Duty
-The Ninja Report
-Inappropriate txts with Bill
-All things Steve the apt manager
-Summer shows like AI, Top Chef, Flipping Out, SYTYCD, The Paper, the Hills, P'Run, and MadMen
-Kiss FM and so much new music: Portishead, MMJ, Girl Talk, Coldplay, all things THE FAINT, "Knowitall" "Rest My Chemistry" "Outta Heart" "Fearless" "Oh Well" & "Dear Valentine" on repeat. And Ray :)
-Great books like Mere Christianity, Of Human Bondage, and The Art of Happiness
-and finally "Where does that end..." because honestly? where does it?!
WOW I did it! And I'm impressed if anyone aside from Z is still reading ;) I look forward to rereading this post at the beginning of next summer and imagining how different it will be, well different and similar I'm sure!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
even MORE eatery
Could I BE writing any more blog posts this month???
For my last Sept recipe, I made THIS! Thanks Zeetlebug it was yumtastic!!
I also have to mention the best spaghetti sauce ever!! I've always been sort of whatevs about red sauce. I hated spaghetti, or any Italian food, as a child (bizarre right?)...and to this day, I'll usually order something more exotic like a vodka tomato cream sauce or simple garlic infused olive oil type sauce if I'm at an Italian joint...never a plain, run of the mill, basic spaghetti sauce. But I now create a red sauce myself that I would eat above all other options if I had the choice!
1 small eggplant
1 zucchini
1 tomato (a really beefy one from the farmer's market would be great!)
a boatload of cremini mushrooms (like 10+)
half white onion
4+ garlic cloves
...all chopped
After sauteeing all these guys for several minutes (onion/garlic...then other veggies, but the mushrooms last!), I add a can of Contadida thick & zesty tom sauce (because why should I do all the work?) plus a couple TBs of tom paste. Then spices...anything you've got like dried oregano and/or basil, red pepper flakes, pepper. PLUS, and here's the trickery, a tsp or so of chicken stock granules AND a tsp or so of sugar! Now let that all stew together-covered-stirring every so often, for 10-20 mins. DEEEEELISH! If I had some, I would've added chopped fresh basil leaves to the sauce once it was done. Maybe next time!
To accompany this fine meal, I made this concoction that Z developed the other day. Mashed Cauliflower that tastes WAY better than mashed potatoes...well, at least in my opinion. The fact that it's better for you may have something to do with it. Just steam a heck load of frozen cauliflower in a half inch of chicken stock for awhile (until fork tender)...throw the drained veggies into a blender with some pressed garlic and a tiny bit of sour cream (I actually used a TB of this garlic dip my mom gave me)...blend away until the consistency of mashed tatos and you're done. No need to add salt as there is plenty in the stock, but add pepper or any other spice that suits your fancy. I swear, you gotta try...they are freaking GOOD!!
So that's my food rant for now. I think it's because I've been nothing but HUNGRY these days. I may or may not have mentioned the layer of fat my body wants to put on for the oncoming winter.
Meanwhile I'd like to touch base on the fact that, lately, when I go to bed at night, I cannot fall asleep for the life of me because I think about 234983204 projects and really cool ideas I want to do. I feel as though I need to hire a team...like I'd come up with projects, and then delegate tasks to them. There are not enough hours in the day! Especially when it's suddenly tv season again :\ In any case, today I'm going to write down everything I've thought of and try to come up with a game plan to get them accomplished.
For my last Sept recipe, I made THIS! Thanks Zeetlebug it was yumtastic!!
I also have to mention the best spaghetti sauce ever!! I've always been sort of whatevs about red sauce. I hated spaghetti, or any Italian food, as a child (bizarre right?)...and to this day, I'll usually order something more exotic like a vodka tomato cream sauce or simple garlic infused olive oil type sauce if I'm at an Italian joint...never a plain, run of the mill, basic spaghetti sauce. But I now create a red sauce myself that I would eat above all other options if I had the choice!
1 small eggplant
1 zucchini
1 tomato (a really beefy one from the farmer's market would be great!)
a boatload of cremini mushrooms (like 10+)
half white onion
4+ garlic cloves
...all chopped
After sauteeing all these guys for several minutes (onion/garlic...then other veggies, but the mushrooms last!), I add a can of Contadida thick & zesty tom sauce (because why should I do all the work?) plus a couple TBs of tom paste. Then spices...anything you've got like dried oregano and/or basil, red pepper flakes, pepper. PLUS, and here's the trickery, a tsp or so of chicken stock granules AND a tsp or so of sugar! Now let that all stew together-covered-stirring every so often, for 10-20 mins. DEEEEELISH! If I had some, I would've added chopped fresh basil leaves to the sauce once it was done. Maybe next time!
To accompany this fine meal, I made this concoction that Z developed the other day. Mashed Cauliflower that tastes WAY better than mashed potatoes...well, at least in my opinion. The fact that it's better for you may have something to do with it. Just steam a heck load of frozen cauliflower in a half inch of chicken stock for awhile (until fork tender)...throw the drained veggies into a blender with some pressed garlic and a tiny bit of sour cream (I actually used a TB of this garlic dip my mom gave me)...blend away until the consistency of mashed tatos and you're done. No need to add salt as there is plenty in the stock, but add pepper or any other spice that suits your fancy. I swear, you gotta try...they are freaking GOOD!!
So that's my food rant for now. I think it's because I've been nothing but HUNGRY these days. I may or may not have mentioned the layer of fat my body wants to put on for the oncoming winter.
Meanwhile I'd like to touch base on the fact that, lately, when I go to bed at night, I cannot fall asleep for the life of me because I think about 234983204 projects and really cool ideas I want to do. I feel as though I need to hire a team...like I'd come up with projects, and then delegate tasks to them. There are not enough hours in the day! Especially when it's suddenly tv season again :\ In any case, today I'm going to write down everything I've thought of and try to come up with a game plan to get them accomplished.
Friday, September 19, 2008
more food!
#90 - Well I finally watched the moonrise! I didn't actually get to see it come up from the lake horizon, but it was pretty close. I originally had "watch the moonrise 4x" on my list and changed it for fear that I'd barely get to do it once! So I think I'll try it again within the next year, hopefully when I have a tripod and can take some pix. In any case, this particular time was extra cozy! Mandsi walked with me down to the hill that overlooks the lakefront and we indulged in some lovely boy talk as the large orange waning gibbous hung low amongst wisps of clouds in the dark sky. ;)
#45 - Two new recipes for Sept!
1. Chicken Curry and Rice mmmmmmm
Oh man was this a recipe and a half! SO delicious!! Here's my best translation:
First, prepare a couple servings of jasmine rice per package directions and keep warm to the side. Then, in a hot dry skillet, brown a medium sized palmful of curry powder...this brings out the flavor and spiciness! After a couple minutes, constantly stirring so it doesn't burn, add a tsp of paprika, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. Then add a half of an onion, a couple garlic cloves, and a red bell pepper...all chopped. Cover to steam and stir every minute or so until veggies are soft. Cut two chicken breasts into bite sized pieces (season with salt and pepper) and add to the veggie mixture. Then add a TB of tomato paste or ketchup, 2/3 cup of plain yogurt, and 3/4 cup of coconut milk (I used like 2/3 of a can). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped green onions (and salt if necessary). YUM!!! It's even better the next day, per usual! It made my whole apartment smell like curry of course, but this was NOT a bad thing!!! Unless someone in your living quarters doesn't like Indian or Thai food of course. Then I guess you're out of luck ;)
2. Butternut Squash Chicken Bake with Rice
This was sort of a cheating recipe, but I just took my leftover V8 butternut squash soup (like a third of the box), to which I had added a quarter of an onion and a couple garlic cloves...and added barely a quarter of a cup of water, a half cup of uncooked jasmine rice, and a cubed small sweet potato (for seasonings I added some red pepper flakes, a little brown sugar, and some nutmeg). I seasoned a chicken breast with paprika, steak seasoning, and cumin and seared both sides on a hot pan with olive oil for a couple minutes each side (until slightly browned). I put the breast in a small greased baking dish and topped it with the soup mixture. Baked in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 40 minutes. I added a little bit of mozzarella to it when it was done. GLORIOUS.
So just one more to go which I'm sure I can squeeze in next week.
By the by, I will fully admit that knowing I only have a smidge over a year left to complete all 101 things, and have barely touched any of my creative projects, keeps me up at night :\
#45 - Two new recipes for Sept!
1. Chicken Curry and Rice mmmmmmm
Oh man was this a recipe and a half! SO delicious!! Here's my best translation:
First, prepare a couple servings of jasmine rice per package directions and keep warm to the side. Then, in a hot dry skillet, brown a medium sized palmful of curry powder...this brings out the flavor and spiciness! After a couple minutes, constantly stirring so it doesn't burn, add a tsp of paprika, 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, and a sprinkling of red pepper flakes. Then add a half of an onion, a couple garlic cloves, and a red bell pepper...all chopped. Cover to steam and stir every minute or so until veggies are soft. Cut two chicken breasts into bite sized pieces (season with salt and pepper) and add to the veggie mixture. Then add a TB of tomato paste or ketchup, 2/3 cup of plain yogurt, and 3/4 cup of coconut milk (I used like 2/3 of a can). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped green onions (and salt if necessary). YUM!!! It's even better the next day, per usual! It made my whole apartment smell like curry of course, but this was NOT a bad thing!!! Unless someone in your living quarters doesn't like Indian or Thai food of course. Then I guess you're out of luck ;)
2. Butternut Squash Chicken Bake with Rice
This was sort of a cheating recipe, but I just took my leftover V8 butternut squash soup (like a third of the box), to which I had added a quarter of an onion and a couple garlic cloves...and added barely a quarter of a cup of water, a half cup of uncooked jasmine rice, and a cubed small sweet potato (for seasonings I added some red pepper flakes, a little brown sugar, and some nutmeg). I seasoned a chicken breast with paprika, steak seasoning, and cumin and seared both sides on a hot pan with olive oil for a couple minutes each side (until slightly browned). I put the breast in a small greased baking dish and topped it with the soup mixture. Baked in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 40 minutes. I added a little bit of mozzarella to it when it was done. GLORIOUS.
So just one more to go which I'm sure I can squeeze in next week.
By the by, I will fully admit that knowing I only have a smidge over a year left to complete all 101 things, and have barely touched any of my creative projects, keeps me up at night :\
Monday, September 15, 2008
stuffing my face...and ears?
First off, a couple more recipes to add to this month's Big Seven (#45):
1. Veggie Mexican Casserole
Preheat oven to 350. Saute onions, garlic, sliced mushrooms, cubed eggplant, diced bell pepper and jalapeno until soft. Add a small can of mild green chilies, a small can of sweet corn, and a half packet of taco seasoning and let that simmer for a few minutes. Line the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish with 1/4 inch slices of firmed polenta (#50), top with the veggie mixture, then top that with a can of black and garbanzo beans, and finally top that with a Mexican cheese blend. Bake for 20 minutes and once out of the oven, top with sliced black olives, green onions, and sour cream. ENJOY!!! It's even better the next day, and like three times as good the day after that! It lasted me all week and I had like three servings at each meal...WHOOPS!
2. Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza
Bake a Boboli crust (I recommend the whole wheat kind!!) per the instructions. Combine a good sized package of spinach dip from the deli (or make your own...two cups perhaps?) along with a can of chopped artichoke hearts as well as a half cup or so of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (or prepackaged shredded Italian blend). Heat up four slices of bacon and some shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken from the deli, but you can shred a couple poached chicken breasts as well). When the crust is done, let cool a bit, and then top with the spinach artichoke dip, the shredded chicken and crumbled bacon, and some green onions. Voila! Quite a spectacular appetizer for a party, especially when coupled with my recipe for BLT pizza!
#51 - Fried Food
Two things. I went to a sushi restaurant on Friday and could NOT partake in the deliciousness that is tempura and thus simply drooled over my sister's Spider Roll while I [thoroughly enjoyed] my Philly Roll. Additionally, yesterday I went to this sports bar to watch the Bears game and while they typically have a bunch of menu options, sammiches and the like, on "Game Day" they have a bit of a stunted menu that features 95% fried food! So I had a choice between some sliders or pizza. I chose the sliders and they arrived atop a mountain of greasy golden French fries that I had to stare at longingly while I consumed my mini burgers. It was torture, but I made it through ;)
#68 - Speaking of eating a lot, jeez I've been eating a lot! I blame this early cold snap. My body is completely freaking out that I need to build up a thick layer of fat for the oncoming winter...especially if it's a winter like last year! So I've been stuffing myself with sweet bakery and one too many helpings of the dinners I make. I think I've gotta slow down a bit!!
#87 - On a completely different note, on Friday I received one of many emails about upcoming concerts and such and there was this article about a band called Elbow. They compared the music to Coldplay and Radiohead, but I don't really think this is the case. I purchased their latest album on iTunes for $7.99 (sweet freaking deal!) and I'm loving them!! I'm not exactly sure who to compare them to, but they're definitely British and moody. Sometimes they sound like Morrissey/The Smiths...sometimes Peter Gabriel...sometimes Blur...sometimes even My Morning Jacket. Try them today!! ;)
1. Veggie Mexican Casserole
Preheat oven to 350. Saute onions, garlic, sliced mushrooms, cubed eggplant, diced bell pepper and jalapeno until soft. Add a small can of mild green chilies, a small can of sweet corn, and a half packet of taco seasoning and let that simmer for a few minutes. Line the bottom of a greased 9x13 baking dish with 1/4 inch slices of firmed polenta (#50), top with the veggie mixture, then top that with a can of black and garbanzo beans, and finally top that with a Mexican cheese blend. Bake for 20 minutes and once out of the oven, top with sliced black olives, green onions, and sour cream. ENJOY!!! It's even better the next day, and like three times as good the day after that! It lasted me all week and I had like three servings at each meal...WHOOPS!
2. Spinach Artichoke Dip Pizza
Bake a Boboli crust (I recommend the whole wheat kind!!) per the instructions. Combine a good sized package of spinach dip from the deli (or make your own...two cups perhaps?) along with a can of chopped artichoke hearts as well as a half cup or so of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (or prepackaged shredded Italian blend). Heat up four slices of bacon and some shredded chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken from the deli, but you can shred a couple poached chicken breasts as well). When the crust is done, let cool a bit, and then top with the spinach artichoke dip, the shredded chicken and crumbled bacon, and some green onions. Voila! Quite a spectacular appetizer for a party, especially when coupled with my recipe for BLT pizza!
#51 - Fried Food
Two things. I went to a sushi restaurant on Friday and could NOT partake in the deliciousness that is tempura and thus simply drooled over my sister's Spider Roll while I [thoroughly enjoyed] my Philly Roll. Additionally, yesterday I went to this sports bar to watch the Bears game and while they typically have a bunch of menu options, sammiches and the like, on "Game Day" they have a bit of a stunted menu that features 95% fried food! So I had a choice between some sliders or pizza. I chose the sliders and they arrived atop a mountain of greasy golden French fries that I had to stare at longingly while I consumed my mini burgers. It was torture, but I made it through ;)
#68 - Speaking of eating a lot, jeez I've been eating a lot! I blame this early cold snap. My body is completely freaking out that I need to build up a thick layer of fat for the oncoming winter...especially if it's a winter like last year! So I've been stuffing myself with sweet bakery and one too many helpings of the dinners I make. I think I've gotta slow down a bit!!
#87 - On a completely different note, on Friday I received one of many emails about upcoming concerts and such and there was this article about a band called Elbow. They compared the music to Coldplay and Radiohead, but I don't really think this is the case. I purchased their latest album on iTunes for $7.99 (sweet freaking deal!) and I'm loving them!! I'm not exactly sure who to compare them to, but they're definitely British and moody. Sometimes they sound like Morrissey/The Smiths...sometimes Peter Gabriel...sometimes Blur...sometimes even My Morning Jacket. Try them today!! ;)
Friday, September 5, 2008
it's getting better every day
Tonight I will finally indulge in a pumpkin spice latte as I heard through the proverbial grapevine that they are definitely officially available! Currently it is 62 degrees outside and I am loving the part where I wore a jacket to work this morning. Unfortunately a small part of my brain is screaming about how winter feels like it just ended, so that's too bad :\ Shut up brain!
Speaking of PSLs, Z just pointed out to me THIS FUN FACT:
In other words, when you google image "pumpkin spice latte", my blog banner is the sixth photo to come up?! That's devotion my friends.
Meanwhile, I made two of seven recipes for the month of Sept:
1. Enchilada Pizza (I made tomatillo salsa again to use for the sauce, and topped a wheat Boboli with black beans, a four cheese Mexican blend, guac, and green onions. If I wasn't poor I would've made some tasty shredded chicken to put on it as well.)
2. Squash and Sweet Potato Tortellini, which I will partake once again in about 20 minutes!
sweeeeet action!
Speaking of PSLs, Z just pointed out to me THIS FUN FACT:
In other words, when you google image "pumpkin spice latte", my blog banner is the sixth photo to come up?! That's devotion my friends.
Meanwhile, I made two of seven recipes for the month of Sept:
1. Enchilada Pizza (I made tomatillo salsa again to use for the sauce, and topped a wheat Boboli with black beans, a four cheese Mexican blend, guac, and green onions. If I wasn't poor I would've made some tasty shredded chicken to put on it as well.)
2. Squash and Sweet Potato Tortellini, which I will partake once again in about 20 minutes!
sweeeeet action!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Do you remember?!
I cannot believe it's already September. Thank all that is holy, because the summer should really be over soon. The weather has been ideal, especially after the winter we had, but the shenanigans have been plentiful and I need a break! I will say that this summer will go down as one of my favorite summers since Summer '98: post high school graduation, not a care in the world, also lots of shenanigans. It will also go down as one of the most tumultuous summers...full of soaring highs and devastating lows. I don't think I've ever in my life felt such an intense roller coaster of emotions over this length of time (five months straight). I look forward to what I can only hope is a much more calm autumn because at this rate, highs are great and all, but the higher you are, the harder you fall. And speaking of falling hard, I still have one more emotionally exhausting event to get through before the summer ends: my coworker's wedding, which my ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend will be attending. While I'm super excited for my coworker/friend, I cannot even describe how much I'm dreading this evening. It'll be one of the hardest things that I've ever endured. I can only hope that it'll be like running a marathon: takes a lot out of you, but makes you stronger and, um, more interesting? So on that note, wish me luck? ;)
In any case, I have a few updates, so here they are:
#5 - I'm picking away at the Q&A photo interview I mentioned awhile back. Who knew it'd be so difficult?!
#17 - I indulged in a pretty selfish decision the night of my friends Chelsea and Nick's wedding?
#18 - And on that note, I'm cheating a bit crossing this one off, but I don't think I'll get any closer to this task than I did that evening! That's all I'll say ;)
#34 - Nutcracker tickets have been purchased for Sat, Dec 13th!
#45 - I failed miserably at recipes in August. One...that's it. Pathetic. So September's going to be seven total. I wish food didn't cost so much :\
#50 - My atypical item this month will be polenta which isn't produce really, but I've always wanted to cook with it.
#51 - Guilty pleasure will be an oldie but goodie: No fried food.
#54 - I finally got my haircut last week after almost five months!
#68 - I ate like a crazy person the weekend of Chelsea and Nick's wedding: Like five helpings of taco salad at my parents Thursday night; ginormous greasy breakfast at the Pancake House Friday morning; way too much fried fish, fatty chowder soup, and piles of french fries at the rehearsal dinner; another huge greasy breakfast the wedding morning; and MORE fries and gooey Reuben the day after. I felt like I had been starving myself for weeks and I totally just let loose!
#87 - Band/artist of the month happened right at the end when a coworker recommended Love As Laughter...good stuff!
That's all I got! In really awesome news, it's about that time of year when Bucks rolls out the Pumpkin Spice Latte!!! You better believe I'll blog about it too ;)
In any case, I have a few updates, so here they are:
#5 - I'm picking away at the Q&A photo interview I mentioned awhile back. Who knew it'd be so difficult?!
#17 - I indulged in a pretty selfish decision the night of my friends Chelsea and Nick's wedding?
#18 - And on that note, I'm cheating a bit crossing this one off, but I don't think I'll get any closer to this task than I did that evening! That's all I'll say ;)
#34 - Nutcracker tickets have been purchased for Sat, Dec 13th!
#45 - I failed miserably at recipes in August. One...that's it. Pathetic. So September's going to be seven total. I wish food didn't cost so much :\
#50 - My atypical item this month will be polenta which isn't produce really, but I've always wanted to cook with it.
#51 - Guilty pleasure will be an oldie but goodie: No fried food.
#54 - I finally got my haircut last week after almost five months!
#68 - I ate like a crazy person the weekend of Chelsea and Nick's wedding: Like five helpings of taco salad at my parents Thursday night; ginormous greasy breakfast at the Pancake House Friday morning; way too much fried fish, fatty chowder soup, and piles of french fries at the rehearsal dinner; another huge greasy breakfast the wedding morning; and MORE fries and gooey Reuben the day after. I felt like I had been starving myself for weeks and I totally just let loose!
#87 - Band/artist of the month happened right at the end when a coworker recommended Love As Laughter...good stuff!
That's all I got! In really awesome news, it's about that time of year when Bucks rolls out the Pumpkin Spice Latte!!! You better believe I'll blog about it too ;)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
"I hate web design"
This is what I just googled to make myself feel better after scrolling through pages and pages of forums related to the web design problems I'm having. This has been going on since 7:45 this morning, as well as like 2.5 hours last night, and several hours on Sunday night. I've spent 99.9% of my time troubleshooting and .1% on the actual design part.
In my current breakdown, I found this guy's blurb to be the most comforting:
I hate web design. I really, truly, sincerely do....For those not in the know, this is a basic breakdown of what is involved in web design:
1. Put a single object/word/picture on the page.
2. Waste an hour trying to figure out why Browser ‘X’ doesn’t like that.
3. Try to fix it.
4. Have something else stuff up
5. Fix that
6. Repeat the whole process with the next element you’re trying to put on the page.
Ain't it the truth. Last night I figured out how to place the navigation bar I made like a month and a half ago over the background, and then how to change the length of this dotted line I wanted underneath the nav bar. And yeah that took me two hours. Oh but wait. I'm an idiot, and CSS backgrounds stay fixed, while the stuff you put over them are "fluid". So basically if I change the size of my browser the nav bar will move around while the background stays still. I mean duh, right? But apparently I'm an idiot. I have to figure out how to fix the nav bar now. But even if I do that? It's like, I'm literally like one millimeter off the ground and have all of Mt. Everest above me. I don't even LIKE web design!! Using the aforementioned percentages, it's 99.9% technical and .1% design. I didn't go to school to become some coding programming geek (absolutely NO offense to the coding programming geeks out there...without you, this bitch fest you are currently reading wouldn't exist!).
In any case, I can't tell you how many times I've given up, and then got back on the bike, only to give up, back on bike, give up, you get the picture. I think about just grabbing one of the 934803412908 free CSS templates out there. But then what's the point of having someone else's design showcase my own? Then I want someone to make MY design FOR me. But then I think about the Big Scary Future that is my career and how print design will cease to exist and how I better know how to do this because only web design jobs will remain. The horror. Not to mention this LIST. Number Freaking ONE on this list is to learn how to build a website, jeez.
So I guess I'll keep scratching and stabbing at this behemoth. Guh. Worse comes to worst, I could try just doing the whole thing in Flash as I think that'd be easier. My design is seriously SO simplistic...nothing complicated at all. Although, simplistic isn't always easy. Like check out the smashing Mr. Nate Smith's portfolio site I found today! VERY similar to how I want mine, right down to the rounded-tablet-with-dropshadow. Simple, clean, beautiful...and I bet it is crazy complicated Flash. Ok maybe not CRAZY complicated, but I don't know. Maybe I'll give 'er a whirl. Try some things out in Flash and see if I can replicate it. Too bad Nate and I can't stumble into one another in a dark bar where I whisper dirty promises into his ear in exchange for his web design skills. But no...Milwaukee can contain only so many talented people in one week or the world will implode.
In my current breakdown, I found this guy's blurb to be the most comforting:
I hate web design. I really, truly, sincerely do....For those not in the know, this is a basic breakdown of what is involved in web design:
1. Put a single object/word/picture on the page.
2. Waste an hour trying to figure out why Browser ‘X’ doesn’t like that.
3. Try to fix it.
4. Have something else stuff up
5. Fix that
6. Repeat the whole process with the next element you’re trying to put on the page.
Ain't it the truth. Last night I figured out how to place the navigation bar I made like a month and a half ago over the background, and then how to change the length of this dotted line I wanted underneath the nav bar. And yeah that took me two hours. Oh but wait. I'm an idiot, and CSS backgrounds stay fixed, while the stuff you put over them are "fluid". So basically if I change the size of my browser the nav bar will move around while the background stays still. I mean duh, right? But apparently I'm an idiot. I have to figure out how to fix the nav bar now. But even if I do that? It's like, I'm literally like one millimeter off the ground and have all of Mt. Everest above me. I don't even LIKE web design!! Using the aforementioned percentages, it's 99.9% technical and .1% design. I didn't go to school to become some coding programming geek (absolutely NO offense to the coding programming geeks out there...without you, this bitch fest you are currently reading wouldn't exist!).
In any case, I can't tell you how many times I've given up, and then got back on the bike, only to give up, back on bike, give up, you get the picture. I think about just grabbing one of the 934803412908 free CSS templates out there. But then what's the point of having someone else's design showcase my own? Then I want someone to make MY design FOR me. But then I think about the Big Scary Future that is my career and how print design will cease to exist and how I better know how to do this because only web design jobs will remain. The horror. Not to mention this LIST. Number Freaking ONE on this list is to learn how to build a website, jeez.
So I guess I'll keep scratching and stabbing at this behemoth. Guh. Worse comes to worst, I could try just doing the whole thing in Flash as I think that'd be easier. My design is seriously SO simplistic...nothing complicated at all. Although, simplistic isn't always easy. Like check out the smashing Mr. Nate Smith's portfolio site I found today! VERY similar to how I want mine, right down to the rounded-tablet-with-dropshadow. Simple, clean, beautiful...and I bet it is crazy complicated Flash. Ok maybe not CRAZY complicated, but I don't know. Maybe I'll give 'er a whirl. Try some things out in Flash and see if I can replicate it. Too bad Nate and I can't stumble into one another in a dark bar where I whisper dirty promises into his ear in exchange for his web design skills. But no...Milwaukee can contain only so many talented people in one week or the world will implode.
Monday, August 11, 2008
you'll never know how great a kiss can feel...
Updates a plenty, especially in the creative world!
#7 - TBA artistic project = Zeetles!®
#22 - Three puffs for the Wisconsin State Fair,
the most glorious place on earth!!!
I could seriously take amusement-park-at-dusk photos for a lifetime. And what a perfect night with beautiful clouds and an amazing sunset! Next year I seriously have to spend more time doing this. This year I even turned down the Bunny Building in order to make the most of the dying light. THAT is dedication. I did snap this one right outside the building though...DIES!!!
[and this just in! my bun pickie got pickied on Cute Overload!!!]
#45 & #50 - I way cheated on this first recipe of the month, but whatevs. I made Garlic Shrimp Caesar Wraps, but totally picked up pre-marinated garlic jumbo shrimp from the seafood counter, as well as Caesar dressing from the salad bar. Hey! It's summer and I'm busy ;) But I used arugula as the leafy greens so that's taken care of too.
#91 - I learned from my pal Josh that Stein's has bonsai trees!! He and his wife had one in their living room and apparently it only cost like $20 or so? Sweet ACTION!! Maybe I'll go next weekend or something!
And finally, without further ado, my new baby...
#5 - TBA artistic project = My new photoblog, focusnapop! is officially up and running! The inspiration behind starting the blog is all over there, so I won't bore you with those details here. I really hope to keep it up though! Such fun!!
#7 - TBA artistic project = Zeetles!®
#22 - Three puffs for the Wisconsin State Fair,
the most glorious place on earth!!!
I could seriously take amusement-park-at-dusk photos for a lifetime. And what a perfect night with beautiful clouds and an amazing sunset! Next year I seriously have to spend more time doing this. This year I even turned down the Bunny Building in order to make the most of the dying light. THAT is dedication. I did snap this one right outside the building though...DIES!!!
[and this just in! my bun pickie got pickied on Cute Overload!!!]
#45 & #50 - I way cheated on this first recipe of the month, but whatevs. I made Garlic Shrimp Caesar Wraps, but totally picked up pre-marinated garlic jumbo shrimp from the seafood counter, as well as Caesar dressing from the salad bar. Hey! It's summer and I'm busy ;) But I used arugula as the leafy greens so that's taken care of too.
#91 - I learned from my pal Josh that Stein's has bonsai trees!! He and his wife had one in their living room and apparently it only cost like $20 or so? Sweet ACTION!! Maybe I'll go next weekend or something!
And finally, without further ado, my new baby...
#5 - TBA artistic project = My new photoblog, focusnapop! is officially up and running! The inspiration behind starting the blog is all over there, so I won't bore you with those details here. I really hope to keep it up though! Such fun!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
just because I'm losing, doesn't mean I've lost
ed. note: added #95
August. It's a new month. You know that old saying: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all? That's what this post is going to be.
Updates because I have to:
#22 - State Fair is happening Thursday, so I'll get to cross off that bad boy.
#45 - Recipes (two more):
1. While I didn't come up with them or cook them entirely on my own, I'll combine the following delicious meals we made at camp this year:
-Bourbon Chicken, Blue Cheese Burgers, and Pear Gorgonzola and Prosciutto on French Bread drizzled with a Balsamic Syrup
2. Fried Plantains (#50)
#50 - My atypical produce this month can be arugula, why not?
#95 - I finished Of Human Bondage, which most definitely made my top five books. I honestly didn't want it to end, it's such a great story! I told Mandsi that it was like an old friend who I'll really miss...
#66 - Iowa!
Mandsi and I reunited with the cornfields and rolling hills (there are hills!) and it was a blast. Road trip hilarity, best patty melt and corned beef hash ever, YeCoCo, not crashing into a plane, "leave them ducks alone boys", Sugar Shack malts, pool and hot tub sans thugs, steak and crab stuffed shrimp with wine that tasted like Heath Ledger, Steve and Jay shenanigans, Prairie Meadows Casino and "when in Rome" Bud Light, hangovers at the Farmer's Market, tooling around the Skywalk for hours and chillin in the Marriott, "what's he gonna do", $4 big beers and an abundance of hot air balloons including The Big Idea, an ecstasy rave in the streets of downtown, scuzziness of Des Moines night life, waiting an hour for food at Drake Diner, and a big soda and snick snacks at the I-80 truckstop....as well as many many more amusing memories and moments.
Ah, well reliving that trip cheered me up a touch. Good times. Well the summer is nearing an end and I'm relieved. I look forward to brighter times ahead...despite the fact that daylight is waning? Hm.
August. It's a new month. You know that old saying: If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all? That's what this post is going to be.
Updates because I have to:
#22 - State Fair is happening Thursday, so I'll get to cross off that bad boy.
#45 - Recipes (two more):
1. While I didn't come up with them or cook them entirely on my own, I'll combine the following delicious meals we made at camp this year:
-Bourbon Chicken, Blue Cheese Burgers, and Pear Gorgonzola and Prosciutto on French Bread drizzled with a Balsamic Syrup
2. Fried Plantains (#50)
#50 - My atypical produce this month can be arugula, why not?
#95 - I finished Of Human Bondage, which most definitely made my top five books. I honestly didn't want it to end, it's such a great story! I told Mandsi that it was like an old friend who I'll really miss...
#66 - Iowa!
Mandsi and I reunited with the cornfields and rolling hills (there are hills!) and it was a blast. Road trip hilarity, best patty melt and corned beef hash ever, YeCoCo, not crashing into a plane, "leave them ducks alone boys", Sugar Shack malts, pool and hot tub sans thugs, steak and crab stuffed shrimp with wine that tasted like Heath Ledger, Steve and Jay shenanigans, Prairie Meadows Casino and "when in Rome" Bud Light, hangovers at the Farmer's Market, tooling around the Skywalk for hours and chillin in the Marriott, "what's he gonna do", $4 big beers and an abundance of hot air balloons including The Big Idea, an ecstasy rave in the streets of downtown, scuzziness of Des Moines night life, waiting an hour for food at Drake Diner, and a big soda and snick snacks at the I-80 truckstop....as well as many many more amusing memories and moments.
Ah, well reliving that trip cheered me up a touch. Good times. Well the summer is nearing an end and I'm relieved. I look forward to brighter times ahead...despite the fact that daylight is waning? Hm.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This is absolutely amazing....
Quoted from Astronomy Picture of the Day:
"What are these humans doing? Dancing. Many humans on Earth exhibit periods of happiness, and one method of displaying happiness is dancing. Happiness and dancing transcend political boundaries and occur in practically every human society. Above, Matt Harding traveled through many nations on Earth, started dancing, and filmed the result. The video is perhaps a dramatic example that humans from all over planet Earth feel a common bond as part of a single species. Happiness is frequently contagious -- few people are able to watch the above video without smiling."
I love the music...
"What are these humans doing? Dancing. Many humans on Earth exhibit periods of happiness, and one method of displaying happiness is dancing. Happiness and dancing transcend political boundaries and occur in practically every human society. Above, Matt Harding traveled through many nations on Earth, started dancing, and filmed the result. The video is perhaps a dramatic example that humans from all over planet Earth feel a common bond as part of a single species. Happiness is frequently contagious -- few people are able to watch the above video without smiling."
I love the music...
Thursday, July 17, 2008
looking sideways?
Things aren't necessarily looking up or down, so I'll just say they're looking sideways for now. The beginning of 28 Day Detox was like the first few days after a breakup when you feel, not quite right, but like you're on a high for all the emotion and adrenaline...or like the hangover in the morning when you're running on fumes and something about it makes you giddy. Well in both scenarios, time catches up with you and you end up feeling exhausted and shitty.
I'm totally coming to terms with the fact that I need some healing time. I put a lot of stuff on the backburner and it's all coming out now in forms of weeping and depression and anger and frustration. In the first 10 days, I tried to deal with healing on my own without really opening up about it too much. Mostly because everyone has heard quite enough about the Trials and Tribs of Katie. But yesterday I discovered that I really do need a support system in order to truly hash everything out. Only this time, I'm trying to use that support system as a way to bounce around ideas and emotions, rather than purely venting my anguish. I think it worked well because I did feel better today.
It's hard not to let the unfairnesses of life drag you down. It's hard not to dwell on that sort of thing and let it consume you until you can't breathe and you wonder if you'll ever feel normal again. But as cliche as it sounds, time heals all wounds and while I'm waiting, I've got lots of stuff to preoccupy my mind...in a HEALTHY way, as opposed to a way to postpone the inevitable explosion of ugly wrath that's bubbling under the surface! As I've said to many a person this week, my only hope is that I'll get to look back one day, with someone new and so much better for me, and say: "why the hell did I spend so much emotional energy on that OTHER situation??!" Until then!
Well, enough of that wah wah blabber, let's get our update on, sheesh!
#12 - While I continue to miss the 26 Things photography project, a different sort of photo project entitled "Q&A" is up and has no end due date, so I think I'll take a stab at that!
#45 - The two recipes I've made this month are a. apple caramel pound cake ice cream deliciousness for the 4th of July, and b. "Miss Leslie's Divine Ham Salad" or whatever it's called, from a Rachael Ray cookbook (#46).
#68 - I ate a heck of a lot at camp this past weekend and that was glorious!! But I think I worked it all off setting up/taking down camp, building camp fires, making a sand turtle and baby, and playing bags on the beach...
#80 - I am NOT rocking the budget...I don't think I have since last fall or something insane. Gotta get back there...
#83 - I've been slacking on savings too. Now that I no longer get money back from $$ I loaned out, and I have a new car payment every month, the savings train has come to a stop...except for the dollar a day, of course...but $30/mo is NOT really saving.
#87 - A coworker suggested I listen to Albert Hammond, Jr., from the Strokes, now solo. I really love! I listened to the album like six times over the last week!
#95 - I picked up Of Human Bondage to fulfill the second of the three classics.
And that's all I got! I honestly have a ton to look forward to in the coming months, so I'm hoping for my sideways glance to start heading upward way soon. Please please!
I'm totally coming to terms with the fact that I need some healing time. I put a lot of stuff on the backburner and it's all coming out now in forms of weeping and depression and anger and frustration. In the first 10 days, I tried to deal with healing on my own without really opening up about it too much. Mostly because everyone has heard quite enough about the Trials and Tribs of Katie. But yesterday I discovered that I really do need a support system in order to truly hash everything out. Only this time, I'm trying to use that support system as a way to bounce around ideas and emotions, rather than purely venting my anguish. I think it worked well because I did feel better today.
It's hard not to let the unfairnesses of life drag you down. It's hard not to dwell on that sort of thing and let it consume you until you can't breathe and you wonder if you'll ever feel normal again. But as cliche as it sounds, time heals all wounds and while I'm waiting, I've got lots of stuff to preoccupy my mind...in a HEALTHY way, as opposed to a way to postpone the inevitable explosion of ugly wrath that's bubbling under the surface! As I've said to many a person this week, my only hope is that I'll get to look back one day, with someone new and so much better for me, and say: "why the hell did I spend so much emotional energy on that OTHER situation??!" Until then!
Well, enough of that wah wah blabber, let's get our update on, sheesh!
#12 - While I continue to miss the 26 Things photography project, a different sort of photo project entitled "Q&A" is up and has no end due date, so I think I'll take a stab at that!
#45 - The two recipes I've made this month are a. apple caramel pound cake ice cream deliciousness for the 4th of July, and b. "Miss Leslie's Divine Ham Salad" or whatever it's called, from a Rachael Ray cookbook (#46).
#68 - I ate a heck of a lot at camp this past weekend and that was glorious!! But I think I worked it all off setting up/taking down camp, building camp fires, making a sand turtle and baby, and playing bags on the beach...
#80 - I am NOT rocking the budget...I don't think I have since last fall or something insane. Gotta get back there...
#83 - I've been slacking on savings too. Now that I no longer get money back from $$ I loaned out, and I have a new car payment every month, the savings train has come to a stop...except for the dollar a day, of course...but $30/mo is NOT really saving.
#87 - A coworker suggested I listen to Albert Hammond, Jr., from the Strokes, now solo. I really love! I listened to the album like six times over the last week!
#95 - I picked up Of Human Bondage to fulfill the second of the three classics.
And that's all I got! I honestly have a ton to look forward to in the coming months, so I'm hoping for my sideways glance to start heading upward way soon. Please please!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Starting Over......
This past weekend, I officially wandered waaaaay too far off the beaten path (#17 and then some...), but last night I decided many things:
1. to start a 28 day detox from the treachery that has been my mental state recently
2. to be more positive, less self indulgent, and healthier in body, mind, and spirit
3. to get going on some freaking tasks already!
And in the last 24 hours I've already accomplished two things!
#95 - I finished Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: LOVE! If you aren't hardcore Christian, but are open to hearing about it from a more logical standpoint, this book is for you. It was very inspirational and honest about the human condition: where we come from, who we are, where we're going...that sort of thing. I wouldn't mind reading it a second time just to more fully absorb everything Jack had to say!
#1 - Ohhhh Dreamweaver. So today I decided to follow this ginormous epic tutorial on how to build a website with cascading style sheets (CSS), as opposed to your 'old school' tables. It was CRAZY complicated, but after a few hours, I really got the hang of it! Below is the ungodly ugly site they made me build using the worst design elements imaginable, but hey, I don't care! I'm super proud I was actually able to do it all!
YAY! Super stoked!! Again, not something I'd put in a portfolio if you paid me a million dollars, but hopefully one day I can figure out how to combine my swank design skills with my new CSS knowledge. In the meantime, apparently I'll be able to practice as we'll be rockin' the CSS here at work as soon as John comes back from training in Florida. And who's the first to be trained? Yours truly. Wish me luck!
And going back to my opening sentiments, I will say the following: Sometimes wandering off the beaten path actually brings you closer to the right one. See, occasionally you take the wrong path...a selfish path full of jagged rocks and deep potholes (vampires?) that hurt you, as well as the other people walking with you. Suddenly you find yourself making some INSANE decision to completely walk off the path altogether! AND you drag those people in with you! So then you're in this dark thicket of God knows what...there are thorns and Rodents of Unusual Size, cesspools, and maybe even quicksand that could trap you there indefinitely. But look here, what's this? You might see a clearing up ahead, or hear voices (real ones, not ghosts). Turns out, it's the path you were supposed to be on the whole time! The "good path"! So basically you took a short cut. It might not have been the best decision because you probably didn't make it out of the deep woods unscathed: scraps and gashes galore. But you made it, and with a much clearer head on your shoulders.
That was me this weekend for sure! So I'm rebooting, debugging, defragging, running scan disk, all that stuff to try and be a better person for myself, as well as for those around me, whether I know them now, or know them in the future.
1. to start a 28 day detox from the treachery that has been my mental state recently
2. to be more positive, less self indulgent, and healthier in body, mind, and spirit
3. to get going on some freaking tasks already!
And in the last 24 hours I've already accomplished two things!
#95 - I finished Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: LOVE! If you aren't hardcore Christian, but are open to hearing about it from a more logical standpoint, this book is for you. It was very inspirational and honest about the human condition: where we come from, who we are, where we're going...that sort of thing. I wouldn't mind reading it a second time just to more fully absorb everything Jack had to say!
#1 - Ohhhh Dreamweaver. So today I decided to follow this ginormous epic tutorial on how to build a website with cascading style sheets (CSS), as opposed to your 'old school' tables. It was CRAZY complicated, but after a few hours, I really got the hang of it! Below is the ungodly ugly site they made me build using the worst design elements imaginable, but hey, I don't care! I'm super proud I was actually able to do it all!
YAY! Super stoked!! Again, not something I'd put in a portfolio if you paid me a million dollars, but hopefully one day I can figure out how to combine my swank design skills with my new CSS knowledge. In the meantime, apparently I'll be able to practice as we'll be rockin' the CSS here at work as soon as John comes back from training in Florida. And who's the first to be trained? Yours truly. Wish me luck!
And going back to my opening sentiments, I will say the following: Sometimes wandering off the beaten path actually brings you closer to the right one. See, occasionally you take the wrong path...a selfish path full of jagged rocks and deep potholes (vampires?) that hurt you, as well as the other people walking with you. Suddenly you find yourself making some INSANE decision to completely walk off the path altogether! AND you drag those people in with you! So then you're in this dark thicket of God knows what...there are thorns and Rodents of Unusual Size, cesspools, and maybe even quicksand that could trap you there indefinitely. But look here, what's this? You might see a clearing up ahead, or hear voices (real ones, not ghosts). Turns out, it's the path you were supposed to be on the whole time! The "good path"! So basically you took a short cut. It might not have been the best decision because you probably didn't make it out of the deep woods unscathed: scraps and gashes galore. But you made it, and with a much clearer head on your shoulders.
That was me this weekend for sure! So I'm rebooting, debugging, defragging, running scan disk, all that stuff to try and be a better person for myself, as well as for those around me, whether I know them now, or know them in the future.
"Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around."
[Vanilla Sky]
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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