Friends
What now?
I want to talk about the gun control legislation struck down by the Senate today.*
Embarrassing seems to be the only way to describe it. Truly embarrassing. Embarrassing for Republicans, Democrats and the gun lobbyists that killed this bill against all common sense. Embarrassing for any past or future victim of senseless gun crime.
I won’t pretend to know every detail of the bill or the implications that could have been massaged out had it passed. Instead I’ll use this quote.
Even a bipartisan amendment to impose stiff penalties on gun traffickers, which was supported by the N.R.A. and expected to be adopted by voice vote, instead was defeated, receiving 58 votes, as the partisan lines hardened.
A segment of the bill supported by both the Senate and the world’s most powerful gun lobby didn’t stand a chance. Balance that against this quote from a Reuters article.
The Manchin-Toomey background checks amendment allowed exemptions for private sales or gifts between families and friends and prohibited the creation of a national registry of guns. Polls show more than 80 percent of Americans support expanded background checks.
80% of Americans and at points a majority of Senators supported this bill. Still dead.
One last quote
“Criminals do not submit to background checks now,” said Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa. “They will not submit to expanded background checks.”
I don’t think I risk exaggeration to summarize his statement thusly: Criminals don’t follow laws, so why create laws?
What’s happening here? How does a representative body of government ignore the stated will of 80% of the population? How many national tragedies must happen before that representative body considers action? What alternatives are there?
Anti gun control types often say that we should arms ourselves to prevent becoming victims. But I imagine no clearer definition of victimization than a country unwilling to ensure a safer future.
Apologies for the rambling. Still getting used to this opinion writing stuff. Join me next week as I shake my fist at teenagers playing loud rap music.
——
Since college I’ve tried to keep from posting politically or religiously sensitive topics. Journalistic ethics and whatnot. In the six months since leaving journalism I’ve carried that brand forward, partly from habit and partly from the unwillingness to prove to myself that the internet doesn’t forget. But this I can’t not speak on.
Categories: Friends
What We All Lost Yesterday
Yesterday, just as the Boston Marathon starter's pistol was fired, my flight was landing in Jacksonville. From a frequent traveler standpoint, everything was business-as-usual. I've run countless marathons over the years, and qualified for and completed the Boston Marathon 3 times. At one point almost a year ago, I harbored aspirations of re-qualifying for this year...but then real-life got in the way and I figured it best to wait until I can give it a proper effort. You see, roughly 5% (give or take) of those that run marathons are fast enough to qualify for Boston...it is every American marathoner's holy grail.
Yesterday afternoon, as the horrific events at the finish line unfolded, my inbox started lighting up with pings from friends, asking if I was running it this year. Later I read posts and comments from some people online who dismissed the bombings as if to say "Hey, it doesn't really affect me, that's just a bunch of crazy runners up north...what do you think of my new hairdo?" To this I'm here to tell you: it will affect EVERYONE.
Do you remember taxiing to your gate, and seeing the bubbly faces of your children through the gatehouse windows, jumping up and down in anticipation of their dad coming home? I do. Do you remember not having to worry about "liquids, gels, and aerosols" and the 3-1-1 rule? I do. Do you remember strolling into concert venues with a tote bag of snacks & supplies, without security personnel demanding to rifle through the contents? I do. These are but a few of the freedoms we lost after 9-1-1. Now we can't buy a cup of coffee or bottled water in the main terminal and carry it through security, because it somehow presents a risk.
Think the Boston murders (let's call it what it is) of innocent bystanders at the marathon yesterday won't have any affect on your life? Think again. Security measures will perhaps get tighter, even at simple local events. Insurance premiums could rise for those events, meaning the entry fees of your next softball tournament, charity walk, or fishing tournament could rise significantly.
In contrast to yesterday's simple, routine flights - today's were a whole different matter. News crews were noticeably on-site at 2 of the 3 airports I flew through today. Security was tighter; it took much longer to get through the screening area, as everything became more thorough. Whether you are an athlete or not, the heinous bombing of innocents yesterday at one of America's most storied events - on Patriots Day no less - will have a ripple affect that will impact every one of us. We all lost something yesterday. We all lost another measure of our freedom.
Yesterday afternoon, as the horrific events at the finish line unfolded, my inbox started lighting up with pings from friends, asking if I was running it this year. Later I read posts and comments from some people online who dismissed the bombings as if to say "Hey, it doesn't really affect me, that's just a bunch of crazy runners up north...what do you think of my new hairdo?" To this I'm here to tell you: it will affect EVERYONE.
Do you remember taxiing to your gate, and seeing the bubbly faces of your children through the gatehouse windows, jumping up and down in anticipation of their dad coming home? I do. Do you remember not having to worry about "liquids, gels, and aerosols" and the 3-1-1 rule? I do. Do you remember strolling into concert venues with a tote bag of snacks & supplies, without security personnel demanding to rifle through the contents? I do. These are but a few of the freedoms we lost after 9-1-1. Now we can't buy a cup of coffee or bottled water in the main terminal and carry it through security, because it somehow presents a risk.
Think the Boston murders (let's call it what it is) of innocent bystanders at the marathon yesterday won't have any affect on your life? Think again. Security measures will perhaps get tighter, even at simple local events. Insurance premiums could rise for those events, meaning the entry fees of your next softball tournament, charity walk, or fishing tournament could rise significantly.
In contrast to yesterday's simple, routine flights - today's were a whole different matter. News crews were noticeably on-site at 2 of the 3 airports I flew through today. Security was tighter; it took much longer to get through the screening area, as everything became more thorough. Whether you are an athlete or not, the heinous bombing of innocents yesterday at one of America's most storied events - on Patriots Day no less - will have a ripple affect that will impact every one of us. We all lost something yesterday. We all lost another measure of our freedom.
Categories: Friends
New Beginnings: Home Buying for a single gal
Let's get right to it: I bought a house! This has been a goal of mine since college and it's the silliest single goal I've ever had. To me, buying a house as a single woman meant I could take care of myself. I didn't need to wait to get married or for a man to do this for me.
I never had career goals, just a goal to buy a house. In the process of reaching this goal I've had a lot of time for reflection. While this goal is note-worthy and a symbol of success in the modern world, I find it silly that I ever put my hope and dreams into "owning" a thing.
Last year I almost bought a house that is very similar to this one but it needed a lot of work. I was hung-ho and it was an AMAZING deal: only $36k with about $30-50k of work needed. Through that process things started going wrong and it wasn't as much of a "dream-house" as I thought. I wanted to fix up a house and be a part of the Springfield story of turning something that was unwanted into a beautiful home.
As the list of chores to fix the house got longer my heart grew with anxiety. At first it was manageable but the list got longer every day. The anxiety literally kept me from functioning and I had to take a few days off from work because of the buzzing in my brain.
Putting all my hope and pride aside, I prayed and listened to the Lord. I searched and found that I had been spending all of my time searching for a house and seeking a house so much that I totally forgot about God in everything. I was going to spend time and money on a house when in reality God was drawing me to invest in something else. I let go of that house and the dream for now.
About two months later I started a new job working at Fort Caroline Middle school, serving students who were really struggling through school. I worked long hours and weekends occasionally, totally throwing myself into the students. I had totally given up on the idea of buying a house but would still check Trulia from time to time just to check on the market. The prices of homes in Springfield were steadily increasing and the inventory decreasing. I just pushed the idea away and focused on my work.
This year I took a different position within Communities In Schools to connect adults from the community into our schools to serve as mentors to our 6th graders. This in itself has been a blessing for a couple of different reasons. My landlord was talking about renovations to our apartment and gave me a not so polite "your cat can find a new home or you can find a new home" a few months ago so I new I needed to find a new place. I wasn't thinking about buying, but was casually looking for a new home. I had once again decided to stay put, with the landlords agreement until further notice.
One day I was painting and Ariane just said, "you should buy my little house. I'm moving and its perfect for you. I already talked to my parents about it and they said it would be great!" I laughed! Well, it was probably too expensive, too this, too that. but I think i told her "maybe, that might be interesting."
To make a long story short, it wasn't too expensive, it wasn't too small (as I thought), and it wasn't too bad ;-) I was one of the last people to receive a $15,000 grant to boost neighborhood development, my grandmother had the wisdom about money and saving for future generations that I was able to put money down on the house, and when I moved in I literally thought it was too big for just me. This house is less than 1000 sqft, no garage, no driveway and I'm just feeling so incredibly blessed about everything it does have!
I'm writing this because I don't want anyone to feel like they need to buy a house because I did. Facebook seems to stem jealousy (even if we don't recognize it) and the need to keep up with the Joneses. I was blessed with an opportunity to achieve a dream and I know that God lead me to it in the quiet moments, in the workings of His hands. The point for me was not home-ownership but Jacksonville ownership. I had been so unsettled and always wanted to move and not knowing if or when that would happen. Now I know I can invest, plant my feet, dig deep and be a part of the renewal of this city. When my life feels less than perfect, I'm not going to think about running away to another place to fix things, I'm going to run to God to heal my hurts.
That is the blessing God gave me through home-ownership. Not just stuff, but peace. My new goal is that as I live out the next 5 years in this home, this will be a Joshua 1:9 house. It will be a home of mercy, love, forgiveness, peace, and comfort. It will be a refuge for the hurting and the abandoned. It will be a place of God's healing. It will also be a place of tasty food and healthy hearts.
Thank you to first: my God who has been with me and pursued my heart every step of the way and then to my family for being emotionally and spiritually supportive and having the fore-thought to support future generations, and lastly to my friends who are my treasures. Also, a big shout-out to the Simon family for being incredible and helping me along the way. You all are pretty amazing and I love your family - you have blessed me for sure along the way and I am happy to help you not be a landlord anymore :-)
My advice for other people in their 20s considering buying a house:
I never had career goals, just a goal to buy a house. In the process of reaching this goal I've had a lot of time for reflection. While this goal is note-worthy and a symbol of success in the modern world, I find it silly that I ever put my hope and dreams into "owning" a thing.
Last year I almost bought a house that is very similar to this one but it needed a lot of work. I was hung-ho and it was an AMAZING deal: only $36k with about $30-50k of work needed. Through that process things started going wrong and it wasn't as much of a "dream-house" as I thought. I wanted to fix up a house and be a part of the Springfield story of turning something that was unwanted into a beautiful home.
As the list of chores to fix the house got longer my heart grew with anxiety. At first it was manageable but the list got longer every day. The anxiety literally kept me from functioning and I had to take a few days off from work because of the buzzing in my brain.
Putting all my hope and pride aside, I prayed and listened to the Lord. I searched and found that I had been spending all of my time searching for a house and seeking a house so much that I totally forgot about God in everything. I was going to spend time and money on a house when in reality God was drawing me to invest in something else. I let go of that house and the dream for now.
About two months later I started a new job working at Fort Caroline Middle school, serving students who were really struggling through school. I worked long hours and weekends occasionally, totally throwing myself into the students. I had totally given up on the idea of buying a house but would still check Trulia from time to time just to check on the market. The prices of homes in Springfield were steadily increasing and the inventory decreasing. I just pushed the idea away and focused on my work.
This year I took a different position within Communities In Schools to connect adults from the community into our schools to serve as mentors to our 6th graders. This in itself has been a blessing for a couple of different reasons. My landlord was talking about renovations to our apartment and gave me a not so polite "your cat can find a new home or you can find a new home" a few months ago so I new I needed to find a new place. I wasn't thinking about buying, but was casually looking for a new home. I had once again decided to stay put, with the landlords agreement until further notice.
One day I was painting and Ariane just said, "you should buy my little house. I'm moving and its perfect for you. I already talked to my parents about it and they said it would be great!" I laughed! Well, it was probably too expensive, too this, too that. but I think i told her "maybe, that might be interesting."
To make a long story short, it wasn't too expensive, it wasn't too small (as I thought), and it wasn't too bad ;-) I was one of the last people to receive a $15,000 grant to boost neighborhood development, my grandmother had the wisdom about money and saving for future generations that I was able to put money down on the house, and when I moved in I literally thought it was too big for just me. This house is less than 1000 sqft, no garage, no driveway and I'm just feeling so incredibly blessed about everything it does have!
I'm writing this because I don't want anyone to feel like they need to buy a house because I did. Facebook seems to stem jealousy (even if we don't recognize it) and the need to keep up with the Joneses. I was blessed with an opportunity to achieve a dream and I know that God lead me to it in the quiet moments, in the workings of His hands. The point for me was not home-ownership but Jacksonville ownership. I had been so unsettled and always wanted to move and not knowing if or when that would happen. Now I know I can invest, plant my feet, dig deep and be a part of the renewal of this city. When my life feels less than perfect, I'm not going to think about running away to another place to fix things, I'm going to run to God to heal my hurts.
That is the blessing God gave me through home-ownership. Not just stuff, but peace. My new goal is that as I live out the next 5 years in this home, this will be a Joshua 1:9 house. It will be a home of mercy, love, forgiveness, peace, and comfort. It will be a refuge for the hurting and the abandoned. It will be a place of God's healing. It will also be a place of tasty food and healthy hearts.
Thank you to first: my God who has been with me and pursued my heart every step of the way and then to my family for being emotionally and spiritually supportive and having the fore-thought to support future generations, and lastly to my friends who are my treasures. Also, a big shout-out to the Simon family for being incredible and helping me along the way. You all are pretty amazing and I love your family - you have blessed me for sure along the way and I am happy to help you not be a landlord anymore :-)
My advice for other people in their 20s considering buying a house:
- Don't ever buy more than you need
- Whatever you qualify for a loan, buy something at least $15-25k less than that.
- Check to see your intentions and your pride
- Be realistic about your needs (having granite countertops and stainless steel appliances wont make you happier than someone who doesnt have them).
- Be completely open to God's leading
Categories: Friends
Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
I used this recipe to convert my momma from cabbage to "baby cabbage", aka brussel sprouts. The sprouts retain their crunch and the flavor has a mix of tangy, sweet food-love. Bon appetit!
1 strip Bacon, diced
1/2 Onion, diced
3 C. Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 Tbl of Balsamic vinegar
2 Tbl of Sugar
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees
2. In oven safe skillet, render diced bacon until slightly crispy
3. Add diced onions and saute until translucent
4. Add brussel sprouts and saute for 5 minutes
5. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar and sugar on top and toss
6. Place skillet in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes
1 strip Bacon, diced
1/2 Onion, diced
3 C. Brussels Sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 Tbl of Balsamic vinegar
2 Tbl of Sugar
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees
2. In oven safe skillet, render diced bacon until slightly crispy
3. Add diced onions and saute until translucent
4. Add brussel sprouts and saute for 5 minutes
5. Sprinkle balsamic vinegar and sugar on top and toss
6. Place skillet in oven and bake for 10-15 minutes
Categories: Friends
TangySweetFoodLove Turkey
Below is a nice shift from the traditional seasonings of sage, rosemary and thyme. There are a lot of ingredients here that will give the bird some tang, tart and spice. Enjoy!
TangySweetFoodLove's Turkey
Serves 10
15 Lb. Turkey, brined in TSFL's Turkey Brine
1 Stick of Butter, slightly softened
2 Tbl. of Cumin
2 Tbl. of Chili Powder
2 Tbl. of Garlic Powder
2 Tbl. of Orange Zest
2 Tbl. of Salt
1 Tbl. of Pepper
1 tsp. of Ground Cloves
1 tsp. of Ground Ginger
1 tsp. of Paprika
1 tsp. of Cinnamon
- In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients except the turkey
- Using your hand slowly rub the butter-spice mixture underneath and on top of the turkey's skin
- Place turkey in a cover baking pan and bake
- Baste turkey occasionally with the tangy sweet goodness that oozes out
- In the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove baking lid and increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees to help skin to crisp
- In the last 5 to 10 minutes, turn on broiler to finish the crisping
TangySweetFoodLove's Turkey
Serves 10
15 Lb. Turkey, brined in TSFL's Turkey Brine
1 Stick of Butter, slightly softened
2 Tbl. of Cumin
2 Tbl. of Chili Powder
2 Tbl. of Garlic Powder
2 Tbl. of Orange Zest
2 Tbl. of Salt
1 Tbl. of Pepper
1 tsp. of Ground Cloves
1 tsp. of Ground Ginger
1 tsp. of Paprika
1 tsp. of Cinnamon
- In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients except the turkey
- Using your hand slowly rub the butter-spice mixture underneath and on top of the turkey's skin
- Place turkey in a cover baking pan and bake
- Baste turkey occasionally with the tangy sweet goodness that oozes out
- In the last 30 minutes of cooking, remove baking lid and increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees to help skin to crisp
- In the last 5 to 10 minutes, turn on broiler to finish the crisping
Categories: Friends
Start brining!
If you want your holiday bird juicy, moist and flavorful you have to brine it. The brine below works on all kinds of poultry. Brine today, juicy bird tomorrow!
TangySweetFoodLove Turkey Brine
For a 15 lb. Turkey
2 C. of Kosher Salt
1 C. of Sugar
1/2 C. of Brown Sugar
1 Head of Garlic
1 Orange, sliced thinly
3 Bay Leaves
1 tsp. of Allspice
1/2 tsp. of Cumin
1/2 tsp. of Chili Powder
Dash of Red Pepper flakes
Enough cold water to cover bird
- In a large pot, combine all of the ingredients
- Stir until salt and sugar dissolve
- Add bird and let sit in brine overnight
The accompanying TangySweetFoodLove Turkey recipe will be posted tomorrow.
TangySweetFoodLove Turkey Brine
For a 15 lb. Turkey
2 C. of Kosher Salt
1 C. of Sugar
1/2 C. of Brown Sugar
1 Head of Garlic
1 Orange, sliced thinly
3 Bay Leaves
1 tsp. of Allspice
1/2 tsp. of Cumin
1/2 tsp. of Chili Powder
Dash of Red Pepper flakes
Enough cold water to cover bird
- In a large pot, combine all of the ingredients
- Stir until salt and sugar dissolve
- Add bird and let sit in brine overnight
The accompanying TangySweetFoodLove Turkey recipe will be posted tomorrow.
Categories: Friends
Just in time for Turkey Day!
Here are some Thanksgiving recipe ideas to use for this year's turkey feast.
TSFL Roasted Turkey
TSFL Roasted Turkey Brine
TSFL Cranberry Sauce
TSFL Sweet potatoes
Cilantro Pesto Mashed Potatoes
Six-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
Green Beans with Rendered Bacon
TSFL Roasted Turkey
TSFL Roasted Turkey Brine
TSFL Cranberry Sauce
TSFL Sweet potatoes
Cilantro Pesto Mashed Potatoes
Six-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
Green Beans with Rendered Bacon
Categories: Friends
The February Finale: Breakfast at Target Bids Thee Adieu.
Y'all, it's not you.
(Sean Luca reflecting my sentiments.)
It's me.
I've sadly come to the point where something has to give.
And for the sake of my waning sanity, the people I may not see for a long time after the next few months because of graduation, the people I may not see because I haven't made time for them, and the general status of life... Breakfast at Target is saying farewell.
Indefinitely?I have yet to say.
I have NEVER been as busy as I have been this semester. Quite literally, my days are scheduled from 5:00AM - 10:00PM... and it's taking its toll. Even last semester, it was a heavy workload and I was super busy -- but this time, I'm running towards the next big step in life, and the pressure is mounting beyond what I can handle. Here's what I'm up against:
1.) A Capstone/Thesis Project that entails creating a report and plan for our Group-X team. It involves three major components of expanding our Group Exercise programming at the University, including special event development, bench-marking research with other peer institutions, increasing online and social media PR and presence, leadership and professional development among our instructors, research on student wellness, and tying it all back into the discipline of public administration.
2.) An independent study that involves co-instructing a service-learning course in which I'm responsible for student management and support, curriculum development, planning lectures and discussion, and grading/organizing student work. OH, and that's just the first part. The second is developing a paper in which I'm conducting interviews with students, program/site sponsors, and university administration personnel in areas of integrative and service learning; doing case study and benchmark research on similar programs; and projecting the forecast of service-learning at our institution by collecting data and researching current trends and historical development. My professor and I are lined up to present at three conferences on our paper.
3.) A course in higher education and student affairs researching trends in higher education, which entails a literature/book review; an issue brief where I have to breakdown a report on a topic related to higher education (and no, I can use either of the topics mentioned above); a report on a specific state the trends in higher education there (I chose Wisconsin); and posting/replying to articles posted by the professor and fellow peers... as Friday, I had over 200 articles/comments I had yet to get through (as of now, I'm at about 100).
4.) A presentation at a fitness conference next weekend at Virginia Tech - I've been working on it since last semester and I'm nervous I'm going to BLOW it. I'm bringing lots of candy for my participants just in case.
5.) Similarly: Planning and teaching 3 fitness classes a week, though I've subbed a good bit and have taught up to 5 classes on certain weeks.
6.) Several photo sessions I STILL have yet to get to because I can't find the hours to squeeze them in... I found myself staying up til midnight trying to get them edited and organized, only to realize I had to be up at 5:00AM... I had to start over several times because I should NEVER edit under the influence of late-evening coffee and mounting exhaustion.
7.) Working 20-30hr weeks for my boss doing community development and grant-writing work.
8.) Job hunting. My resume is a disaster.
Needless to say, I'm burnt and nowhere near the end. I've already scaled back on several things (eating and sleeping were the first to go), but I still can't find enough time or energy to get it done. I had a conversation with a friend recently who graduated last spring - like me, she was a high-energy person and hating saying "no" when she thought she could be of help. But in end, she got extremely sick after graduation -- to the point she was hospitalized. I'm on that road if I don't do something... and do it quickly.
After much deliberation, I've decided my dear, sweet, wonderful blog is something that needs to carefully wrapped up and put on the shelf for a while. Just knowing it’s one less thing I need to worry about eased some of the torment that is my To Do list.
Sadly… this may also mean I’ll be taking a step back from reading the blogs I have so long come to look forward to… at least, as involved as I may have been prior. It’s hard to read through some of the blogs and really enjoy them when I know I should be reading the crap-ton of other pieces mounting in my roster. I will checking as I can. I promise.
I feel like it’s really hard to explain to people how tired, busy, and broke I am lately. I promise I’m not being dramatic. It’s just hard to put down everything to catch a beer when I know my mind will be racing chaotically the whole time and wondering how I can afford – financially and emotionally – the time away from what I should be doing.
It sucks.
But I’m so close. 76 days to graduation.There is light at the end of the tunnel.It’s bleak and pathetic and dim, but it’s there.
If I can survive this, you bet I’ll be back – and it will be a GRAND return.
Thank you for your patience. Your empathy. Your hugs and tequila shots.
I love you all.
So long and fare thee well,Celia
**That said, you can still find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Ten minute social media interludes are quite the brain-break between craziness...
(Sean Luca reflecting my sentiments.)
It's me.
I've sadly come to the point where something has to give.
And for the sake of my waning sanity, the people I may not see for a long time after the next few months because of graduation, the people I may not see because I haven't made time for them, and the general status of life... Breakfast at Target is saying farewell.
Indefinitely?I have yet to say.
I have NEVER been as busy as I have been this semester. Quite literally, my days are scheduled from 5:00AM - 10:00PM... and it's taking its toll. Even last semester, it was a heavy workload and I was super busy -- but this time, I'm running towards the next big step in life, and the pressure is mounting beyond what I can handle. Here's what I'm up against:
1.) A Capstone/Thesis Project that entails creating a report and plan for our Group-X team. It involves three major components of expanding our Group Exercise programming at the University, including special event development, bench-marking research with other peer institutions, increasing online and social media PR and presence, leadership and professional development among our instructors, research on student wellness, and tying it all back into the discipline of public administration.
2.) An independent study that involves co-instructing a service-learning course in which I'm responsible for student management and support, curriculum development, planning lectures and discussion, and grading/organizing student work. OH, and that's just the first part. The second is developing a paper in which I'm conducting interviews with students, program/site sponsors, and university administration personnel in areas of integrative and service learning; doing case study and benchmark research on similar programs; and projecting the forecast of service-learning at our institution by collecting data and researching current trends and historical development. My professor and I are lined up to present at three conferences on our paper.
3.) A course in higher education and student affairs researching trends in higher education, which entails a literature/book review; an issue brief where I have to breakdown a report on a topic related to higher education (and no, I can use either of the topics mentioned above); a report on a specific state the trends in higher education there (I chose Wisconsin); and posting/replying to articles posted by the professor and fellow peers... as Friday, I had over 200 articles/comments I had yet to get through (as of now, I'm at about 100).
4.) A presentation at a fitness conference next weekend at Virginia Tech - I've been working on it since last semester and I'm nervous I'm going to BLOW it. I'm bringing lots of candy for my participants just in case.
5.) Similarly: Planning and teaching 3 fitness classes a week, though I've subbed a good bit and have taught up to 5 classes on certain weeks.
6.) Several photo sessions I STILL have yet to get to because I can't find the hours to squeeze them in... I found myself staying up til midnight trying to get them edited and organized, only to realize I had to be up at 5:00AM... I had to start over several times because I should NEVER edit under the influence of late-evening coffee and mounting exhaustion.
7.) Working 20-30hr weeks for my boss doing community development and grant-writing work.
8.) Job hunting. My resume is a disaster.
Needless to say, I'm burnt and nowhere near the end. I've already scaled back on several things (eating and sleeping were the first to go), but I still can't find enough time or energy to get it done. I had a conversation with a friend recently who graduated last spring - like me, she was a high-energy person and hating saying "no" when she thought she could be of help. But in end, she got extremely sick after graduation -- to the point she was hospitalized. I'm on that road if I don't do something... and do it quickly.
After much deliberation, I've decided my dear, sweet, wonderful blog is something that needs to carefully wrapped up and put on the shelf for a while. Just knowing it’s one less thing I need to worry about eased some of the torment that is my To Do list.
Sadly… this may also mean I’ll be taking a step back from reading the blogs I have so long come to look forward to… at least, as involved as I may have been prior. It’s hard to read through some of the blogs and really enjoy them when I know I should be reading the crap-ton of other pieces mounting in my roster. I will checking as I can. I promise.
I feel like it’s really hard to explain to people how tired, busy, and broke I am lately. I promise I’m not being dramatic. It’s just hard to put down everything to catch a beer when I know my mind will be racing chaotically the whole time and wondering how I can afford – financially and emotionally – the time away from what I should be doing.
It sucks.
But I’m so close. 76 days to graduation.There is light at the end of the tunnel.It’s bleak and pathetic and dim, but it’s there.
If I can survive this, you bet I’ll be back – and it will be a GRAND return.
Thank you for your patience. Your empathy. Your hugs and tequila shots.
I love you all.
So long and fare thee well,Celia
**That said, you can still find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Ten minute social media interludes are quite the brain-break between craziness...
Categories: Friends
The February Finale: Breakfast at Target Bids Thee Adieu.
Y'all, it's not you.
(Sean Luca reflecting my sentiments.)
It's me.
I've sadly come to the point where something has to give.
And for the sake of my waning sanity, the people I may not see for a long time after the next few months because of graduation, the people I may not see because I haven't made time for them, and the general status of life... Breakfast at Target is saying farewell.
Indefinitely?I have yet to say.
I have NEVER been as busy as I have been this semester. Quite literally, my days are scheduled from 5:00AM - 10:00PM... and it's taking its toll. Even last semester, it was a heavy workload and I was super busy -- but this time, I'm running towards the next big step in life, and the pressure is mounting beyond what I can handle. Here's what I'm up against:
1.) A Capstone/Thesis Project that entails creating a report and plan for our Group-X team. It involves three major components of expanding our Group Exercise programming at the University, including special event development, bench-marking research with other peer institutions, increasing online and social media PR and presence, leadership and professional development among our instructors, research on student wellness, and tying it all back into the discipline of public administration.
2.) An independent study that involves co-instructing a service-learning course in which I'm responsible for student management and support, curriculum development, planning lectures and discussion, and grading/organizing student work. OH, and that's just the first part. The second is developing a paper in which I'm conducting interviews with students, program/site sponsors, and university administration personnel in areas of integrative and service learning; doing case study and benchmark research on similar programs; and projecting the forecast of service-learning at our institution by collecting data and researching current trends and historical development. My professor and I are lined up to present at three conferences on our paper.
3.) A course in higher education and student affairs researching trends in higher education, which entails a literature/book review; an issue brief where I have to breakdown a report on a topic related to higher education (and no, I can use either of the topics mentioned above); a report on a specific state the trends in higher education there (I chose Wisconsin); and posting/replying to articles posted by the professor and fellow peers... as Friday, I had over 200 articles/comments I had yet to get through (as of now, I'm at about 100).
4.) A presentation at a fitness conference next weekend at Virginia Tech - I've been working on it since last semester and I'm nervous I'm going to BLOW it. I'm bringing lots of candy for my participants just in case.
5.) Similarly: Planning and teaching 3 fitness classes a week, though I've subbed a good bit and have taught up to 5 classes on certain weeks.
6.) Several photo sessions I STILL have yet to get to because I can't find the hours to squeeze them in... I found myself staying up til midnight trying to get them edited and organized, only to realize I had to be up at 5:00AM... I had to start over several times because I should NEVER edit under the influence of late-evening coffee and mounting exhaustion.
7.) Working 20-30hr weeks for my boss doing community development and grant-writing work.
8.) Job hunting. My resume is a disaster.
Needless to say, I'm burnt and nowhere near the end. I've already scaled back on several things (eating and sleeping were the first to go), but I still can't find enough time or energy to get it done. I had a conversation with a friend recently who graduated last spring - like me, she was a high-energy person and hating saying "no" when she thought she could be of help. But in end, she got extremely sick after graduation -- to the point she was hospitalized. I'm on that road if I don't do something... and do it quickly.
After much deliberation, I've decided my dear, sweet, wonderful blog is something that needs to carefully wrapped up and put on the shelf for a while. Just knowing it’s one less thing I need to worry about eased some of the torment that is my To Do list.
Sadly… this may also mean I’ll be taking a step back from reading the blogs I have so long come to look forward to… at least, as involved as I may have been prior. It’s hard to read through some of the blogs and really enjoy them when I know I should be reading the crap-ton of other pieces mounting in my roster. I will checking as I can. I promise.
I feel like it’s really hard to explain to people how tired, busy, and broke I am lately. I promise I’m not being dramatic. It’s just hard to put down everything to catch a beer when I know my mind will be racing chaotically the whole time and wondering how I can afford – financially and emotionally – the time away from what I should be doing.
It sucks.
But I’m so close. 76 days to graduation.There is light at the end of the tunnel.It’s bleak and pathetic and dim, but it’s there.
If I can survive this, you bet I’ll be back – and it will be a GRAND return.
Thank you for your patience. Your empathy. Your hugs and tequila shots.
I love you all.
So long and fare thee well,Celia
**That said, you can still find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Ten minute social media interludes are quite the brain-break between craziness...
(Sean Luca reflecting my sentiments.)
It's me.
I've sadly come to the point where something has to give.
And for the sake of my waning sanity, the people I may not see for a long time after the next few months because of graduation, the people I may not see because I haven't made time for them, and the general status of life... Breakfast at Target is saying farewell.
Indefinitely?I have yet to say.
I have NEVER been as busy as I have been this semester. Quite literally, my days are scheduled from 5:00AM - 10:00PM... and it's taking its toll. Even last semester, it was a heavy workload and I was super busy -- but this time, I'm running towards the next big step in life, and the pressure is mounting beyond what I can handle. Here's what I'm up against:
1.) A Capstone/Thesis Project that entails creating a report and plan for our Group-X team. It involves three major components of expanding our Group Exercise programming at the University, including special event development, bench-marking research with other peer institutions, increasing online and social media PR and presence, leadership and professional development among our instructors, research on student wellness, and tying it all back into the discipline of public administration.
2.) An independent study that involves co-instructing a service-learning course in which I'm responsible for student management and support, curriculum development, planning lectures and discussion, and grading/organizing student work. OH, and that's just the first part. The second is developing a paper in which I'm conducting interviews with students, program/site sponsors, and university administration personnel in areas of integrative and service learning; doing case study and benchmark research on similar programs; and projecting the forecast of service-learning at our institution by collecting data and researching current trends and historical development. My professor and I are lined up to present at three conferences on our paper.
3.) A course in higher education and student affairs researching trends in higher education, which entails a literature/book review; an issue brief where I have to breakdown a report on a topic related to higher education (and no, I can use either of the topics mentioned above); a report on a specific state the trends in higher education there (I chose Wisconsin); and posting/replying to articles posted by the professor and fellow peers... as Friday, I had over 200 articles/comments I had yet to get through (as of now, I'm at about 100).
4.) A presentation at a fitness conference next weekend at Virginia Tech - I've been working on it since last semester and I'm nervous I'm going to BLOW it. I'm bringing lots of candy for my participants just in case.
5.) Similarly: Planning and teaching 3 fitness classes a week, though I've subbed a good bit and have taught up to 5 classes on certain weeks.
6.) Several photo sessions I STILL have yet to get to because I can't find the hours to squeeze them in... I found myself staying up til midnight trying to get them edited and organized, only to realize I had to be up at 5:00AM... I had to start over several times because I should NEVER edit under the influence of late-evening coffee and mounting exhaustion.
7.) Working 20-30hr weeks for my boss doing community development and grant-writing work.
8.) Job hunting. My resume is a disaster.
Needless to say, I'm burnt and nowhere near the end. I've already scaled back on several things (eating and sleeping were the first to go), but I still can't find enough time or energy to get it done. I had a conversation with a friend recently who graduated last spring - like me, she was a high-energy person and hating saying "no" when she thought she could be of help. But in end, she got extremely sick after graduation -- to the point she was hospitalized. I'm on that road if I don't do something... and do it quickly.
After much deliberation, I've decided my dear, sweet, wonderful blog is something that needs to carefully wrapped up and put on the shelf for a while. Just knowing it’s one less thing I need to worry about eased some of the torment that is my To Do list.
Sadly… this may also mean I’ll be taking a step back from reading the blogs I have so long come to look forward to… at least, as involved as I may have been prior. It’s hard to read through some of the blogs and really enjoy them when I know I should be reading the crap-ton of other pieces mounting in my roster. I will checking as I can. I promise.
I feel like it’s really hard to explain to people how tired, busy, and broke I am lately. I promise I’m not being dramatic. It’s just hard to put down everything to catch a beer when I know my mind will be racing chaotically the whole time and wondering how I can afford – financially and emotionally – the time away from what I should be doing.
It sucks.
But I’m so close. 76 days to graduation.There is light at the end of the tunnel.It’s bleak and pathetic and dim, but it’s there.
If I can survive this, you bet I’ll be back – and it will be a GRAND return.
Thank you for your patience. Your empathy. Your hugs and tequila shots.
I love you all.
So long and fare thee well,Celia
**That said, you can still find me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Ten minute social media interludes are quite the brain-break between craziness...
Categories: Friends
Holidaze 2011, Part One: Christmas Festivities
As Life would have it, once things slowed down a bit in the last week, everything else caught up: I stand (sit?) before you a disgusting wad of funk, inevitably brought on by weird shifts in weather (71 and sunny to 54 and rainy in 24 hours), holiday stress, and 4 months of being completely inundated and running on 5 hours of sleep (nightly? weekly? no good either way).
The best part of a sick-day quarantine is that you have no choice but to avoid the ridiculous amount of errands and chores and people-dealings, unless you want to be the poster child for public health threats and wear a bag over your head. No, I sat in my apartment all day on my day off yesterday and brilliantly made sense of the piles in corners, under my crappy furniture, and shoved between things - stuff I accumulated and never took the time to deal with... 2 bags of trash and 2 more for donations later, I felt relieved that the only clutter I had left to manage was the phlemgy mess in my nose and chest. Despite the gunk load, I slept soundly for the first time in months. A lighter apartment and a heavy dose of NyQuil work wonders.
Christmas this year came just how I wanted it: slowly yet with punctuated moments of chaos and excitement, and it left just the same. In my very Catholic house, we celebrated the joy and sentiment of Christmas until the Feast of the Holy Family on Jan 6th (or maybe because we were too lazy to take down the decorations and wanted an excuse to keep eating lots of food). In a world were things often stop or leave so abruptly, the quiet transition into a new year is what I crave the most, seeing that January and February is quite possibly the ugliest time around here.
I spent Christmas this year with John's family, and they always do a marvelous job planning and cooking and decorating. My family was down in Florida visiting with my Dad who's been on assignment in the central part of the state since earlier this year - they were really supportive of my decision not to travel and fray the last little nerves I had left. (I'm leaving today for a grand NYE celebration at the beach with them, so I think it's a faaabulous trade off.) I managed to stay right where I wanted most of the short trip over the long weekend: behind my trusty Nikon. Below are some of my favorite shots from the trip. Speak for themselves. :)
*All photos copyright Breakfast at Target/Celia G Photographie - you steal, you risk the wrath.
** Blogger still isn't compressing photos correctly, excuse the grain/rough edges in some of the photos... grr.
Yummy frozen peach bellini.
Cadey and her delicious candy-cane pizza.
My Christmas tree: Pesto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and pineapple. Sounds weird but I promise, it was SO good!
Mama C's snowman pizza.
Right here is when I discovered the enchantment of Words with Friends. And immediately downloaded it to the iPad, because I was tired of being left out.
High scorin' Mama!
Y'all thought I was kidding.
My handsome attorney.
Wondering how I scored a handsome attorney.
Da girls.
Christmas crazies.
Cadey's Christmas Steve Maddens.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree. AH YEP.
Nana and her 2011 photo book, made by Mama C.
Christmas Day lunch across the way.
Part two around the corner... lots to share. :)
The best part of a sick-day quarantine is that you have no choice but to avoid the ridiculous amount of errands and chores and people-dealings, unless you want to be the poster child for public health threats and wear a bag over your head. No, I sat in my apartment all day on my day off yesterday and brilliantly made sense of the piles in corners, under my crappy furniture, and shoved between things - stuff I accumulated and never took the time to deal with... 2 bags of trash and 2 more for donations later, I felt relieved that the only clutter I had left to manage was the phlemgy mess in my nose and chest. Despite the gunk load, I slept soundly for the first time in months. A lighter apartment and a heavy dose of NyQuil work wonders.
Christmas this year came just how I wanted it: slowly yet with punctuated moments of chaos and excitement, and it left just the same. In my very Catholic house, we celebrated the joy and sentiment of Christmas until the Feast of the Holy Family on Jan 6th (or maybe because we were too lazy to take down the decorations and wanted an excuse to keep eating lots of food). In a world were things often stop or leave so abruptly, the quiet transition into a new year is what I crave the most, seeing that January and February is quite possibly the ugliest time around here.
I spent Christmas this year with John's family, and they always do a marvelous job planning and cooking and decorating. My family was down in Florida visiting with my Dad who's been on assignment in the central part of the state since earlier this year - they were really supportive of my decision not to travel and fray the last little nerves I had left. (I'm leaving today for a grand NYE celebration at the beach with them, so I think it's a faaabulous trade off.) I managed to stay right where I wanted most of the short trip over the long weekend: behind my trusty Nikon. Below are some of my favorite shots from the trip. Speak for themselves. :)
*All photos copyright Breakfast at Target/Celia G Photographie - you steal, you risk the wrath.
** Blogger still isn't compressing photos correctly, excuse the grain/rough edges in some of the photos... grr.
Yummy frozen peach bellini.
Cadey and her delicious candy-cane pizza.
My Christmas tree: Pesto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and pineapple. Sounds weird but I promise, it was SO good!
Mama C's snowman pizza.
Right here is when I discovered the enchantment of Words with Friends. And immediately downloaded it to the iPad, because I was tired of being left out.
High scorin' Mama!
Y'all thought I was kidding.
My handsome attorney.
Wondering how I scored a handsome attorney.
Da girls.
Christmas crazies.
Cadey's Christmas Steve Maddens.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree. AH YEP.
Nana and her 2011 photo book, made by Mama C.
Christmas Day lunch across the way.
Part two around the corner... lots to share. :)
Categories: Friends
Holidaze 2011, Part One: Christmas Festivities
As Life would have it, once things slowed down a bit in the last week, everything else caught up: I stand (sit?) before you a disgusting wad of funk, inevitably brought on by weird shifts in weather (71 and sunny to 54 and rainy in 24 hours), holiday stress, and 4 months of being completely inundated and running on 5 hours of sleep (nightly? weekly? no good either way).
The best part of a sick-day quarantine is that you have no choice but to avoid the ridiculous amount of errands and chores and people-dealings, unless you want to be the poster child for public health threats and wear a bag over your head. No, I sat in my apartment all day on my day off yesterday and brilliantly made sense of the piles in corners, under my crappy furniture, and shoved between things - stuff I accumulated and never took the time to deal with... 2 bags of trash and 2 more for donations later, I felt relieved that the only clutter I had left to manage was the phlemgy mess in my nose and chest. Despite the gunk load, I slept soundly for the first time in months. A lighter apartment and a heavy dose of NyQuil work wonders.
Christmas this year came just how I wanted it: slowly yet with punctuated moments of chaos and excitement, and it left just the same. In my very Catholic house, we celebrated the joy and sentiment of Christmas until the Feast of the Holy Family on Jan 6th (or maybe because we were too lazy to take down the decorations and wanted an excuse to keep eating lots of food). In a world were things often stop or leave so abruptly, the quiet transition into a new year is what I crave the most, seeing that January and February is quite possibly the ugliest time around here.
I spent Christmas this year with John's family, and they always do a marvelous job planning and cooking and decorating. My family was down in Florida visiting with my Dad who's been on assignment in the central part of the state since earlier this year - they were really supportive of my decision not to travel and fray the last little nerves I had left. (I'm leaving today for a grand NYE celebration at the beach with them, so I think it's a faaabulous trade off.) I managed to stay right where I wanted most of the short trip over the long weekend: behind my trusty Nikon. Below are some of my favorite shots from the trip. Speak for themselves. :)
*All photos copyright Breakfast at Target/Celia G Photographie - you steal, you risk the wrath.
** Blogger still isn't compressing photos correctly, excuse the grain/rough edges in some of the photos... grr.
Yummy frozen peach bellini.
Cadey and her delicious candy-cane pizza.
My Christmas tree: Pesto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and pineapple. Sounds weird but I promise, it was SO good!
Mama C's snowman pizza.
Right here is when I discovered the enchantment of Words with Friends. And immediately downloaded it to the iPad, because I was tired of being left out.
High scorin' Mama!
Y'all thought I was kidding.
My handsome attorney.
Wondering how I scored a handsome attorney.
Da girls.
Christmas crazies.
Cadey's Christmas Steve Maddens.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree. AH YEP.
Nana and her 2011 photo book, made by Mama C.
Christmas Day lunch across the way.
Part two around the corner... lots to share. :)
The best part of a sick-day quarantine is that you have no choice but to avoid the ridiculous amount of errands and chores and people-dealings, unless you want to be the poster child for public health threats and wear a bag over your head. No, I sat in my apartment all day on my day off yesterday and brilliantly made sense of the piles in corners, under my crappy furniture, and shoved between things - stuff I accumulated and never took the time to deal with... 2 bags of trash and 2 more for donations later, I felt relieved that the only clutter I had left to manage was the phlemgy mess in my nose and chest. Despite the gunk load, I slept soundly for the first time in months. A lighter apartment and a heavy dose of NyQuil work wonders.
Christmas this year came just how I wanted it: slowly yet with punctuated moments of chaos and excitement, and it left just the same. In my very Catholic house, we celebrated the joy and sentiment of Christmas until the Feast of the Holy Family on Jan 6th (or maybe because we were too lazy to take down the decorations and wanted an excuse to keep eating lots of food). In a world were things often stop or leave so abruptly, the quiet transition into a new year is what I crave the most, seeing that January and February is quite possibly the ugliest time around here.
I spent Christmas this year with John's family, and they always do a marvelous job planning and cooking and decorating. My family was down in Florida visiting with my Dad who's been on assignment in the central part of the state since earlier this year - they were really supportive of my decision not to travel and fray the last little nerves I had left. (I'm leaving today for a grand NYE celebration at the beach with them, so I think it's a faaabulous trade off.) I managed to stay right where I wanted most of the short trip over the long weekend: behind my trusty Nikon. Below are some of my favorite shots from the trip. Speak for themselves. :)
*All photos copyright Breakfast at Target/Celia G Photographie - you steal, you risk the wrath.
** Blogger still isn't compressing photos correctly, excuse the grain/rough edges in some of the photos... grr.
Yummy frozen peach bellini.
Cadey and her delicious candy-cane pizza.
My Christmas tree: Pesto, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and pineapple. Sounds weird but I promise, it was SO good!
Mama C's snowman pizza.
Right here is when I discovered the enchantment of Words with Friends. And immediately downloaded it to the iPad, because I was tired of being left out.
High scorin' Mama!
Y'all thought I was kidding.
My handsome attorney.
Wondering how I scored a handsome attorney.
Da girls.
Christmas crazies.
Cadey's Christmas Steve Maddens.
Rockin' around the Christmas tree. AH YEP.
Nana and her 2011 photo book, made by Mama C.
Christmas Day lunch across the way.
Part two around the corner... lots to share. :)
Categories: Friends
Well, Now That's Pinteresting...
I survived my exams.
I survived my last crazy work week of 2011.
Holiday parties, deadlines, and laundry... these awaited me after my end-of-the-semester chaos. I conquered them with my usual grace and charm anxiety and baffling blundery just the same.
And now? Two brilliant weeks off... but not out of the clear, yet. A flippity-gillion photo sessions to edit, a disaster of an apartment to clean up, and somehow I need to be running 8 miles 4x's a week to prepare for my 1/2 marathon in February.
But dangit, betches... I'm on my own time. And I'm kicking it off with a much needed girls retreat to the Holy City (that's Charleston, SC, for my lovelies in other parts of the world).
Don't consider this my magical return to the blogosphere just yet, but I wanted to check in and let you all know just how much all your support meant to me. I needed it, all of it, so know not an ounce of your concern or well wishes went to waste.
You all saved me a considerable amount of money on vodka.
Expect a valiant return soon -- some news to share and a few tell-all posts inspired by recent conversations -- but in the meantime, I have a tidbit of "I beg your pardon" to share with you all before I head out of town....
During my usual early morning coffee-sipping and Pinterest perusing before attacking emails and the news, I came across gem:
PINTEREST FAIL.
Congrats, Joseph - you're officially The Biggest Creeper on Pinterest. Send me the address to your basement haven at your mom's house so I can send you your award.
And to Hana, whoever and where ever you are, HIGH FIVE, GIRLFRAN.
---
So don't forget, people - Jesus and Santa Claus are always watching.
And occasionally, everyone else on the internet.
I freakin' love you all.
I survived my last crazy work week of 2011.
Holiday parties, deadlines, and laundry... these awaited me after my end-of-the-semester chaos. I conquered them with my usual grace and charm anxiety and baffling blundery just the same.
And now? Two brilliant weeks off... but not out of the clear, yet. A flippity-gillion photo sessions to edit, a disaster of an apartment to clean up, and somehow I need to be running 8 miles 4x's a week to prepare for my 1/2 marathon in February.
But dangit, betches... I'm on my own time. And I'm kicking it off with a much needed girls retreat to the Holy City (that's Charleston, SC, for my lovelies in other parts of the world).
Don't consider this my magical return to the blogosphere just yet, but I wanted to check in and let you all know just how much all your support meant to me. I needed it, all of it, so know not an ounce of your concern or well wishes went to waste.
You all saved me a considerable amount of money on vodka.
Expect a valiant return soon -- some news to share and a few tell-all posts inspired by recent conversations -- but in the meantime, I have a tidbit of "I beg your pardon" to share with you all before I head out of town....
During my usual early morning coffee-sipping and Pinterest perusing before attacking emails and the news, I came across gem:
PINTEREST FAIL.
Congrats, Joseph - you're officially The Biggest Creeper on Pinterest. Send me the address to your basement haven at your mom's house so I can send you your award.
And to Hana, whoever and where ever you are, HIGH FIVE, GIRLFRAN.
---
So don't forget, people - Jesus and Santa Claus are always watching.
And occasionally, everyone else on the internet.
I freakin' love you all.
Categories: Friends
Well, Now That's Pinteresting...
I survived my exams.
I survived my last crazy work week of 2011.
Holiday parties, deadlines, and laundry... these awaited me after my end-of-the-semester chaos. I conquered them with my usual grace and charm anxiety and baffling blundery just the same.
And now? Two brilliant weeks off... but not out of the clear, yet. A flippity-gillion photo sessions to edit, a disaster of an apartment to clean up, and somehow I need to be running 8 miles 4x's a week to prepare for my 1/2 marathon in February.
But dangit, betches... I'm on my own time. And I'm kicking it off with a much needed girls retreat to the Holy City (that's Charleston, SC, for my lovelies in other parts of the world).
Don't consider this my magical return to the blogosphere just yet, but I wanted to check in and let you all know just how much all your support meant to me. I needed it, all of it, so know not an ounce of your concern or well wishes went to waste.
You all saved me a considerable amount of money on vodka.
Expect a valiant return soon -- some news to share and a few tell-all posts inspired by recent conversations -- but in the meantime, I have a tidbit of "I beg your pardon" to share with you all before I head out of town....
During my usual early morning coffee-sipping and Pinterest perusing before attacking emails and the news, I came across gem:
PINTEREST FAIL.
Congrats, Joseph - you're officially The Biggest Creeper on Pinterest. Send me the address to your basement haven at your mom's house so I can send you your award.
And to Hana, whoever and where ever you are, HIGH FIVE, GIRLFRAN.
---
So don't forget, people - Jesus and Santa Claus are always watching.
And occasionally, everyone else on the internet.
I freakin' love you all.
I survived my last crazy work week of 2011.
Holiday parties, deadlines, and laundry... these awaited me after my end-of-the-semester chaos. I conquered them with my usual grace and charm anxiety and baffling blundery just the same.
And now? Two brilliant weeks off... but not out of the clear, yet. A flippity-gillion photo sessions to edit, a disaster of an apartment to clean up, and somehow I need to be running 8 miles 4x's a week to prepare for my 1/2 marathon in February.
But dangit, betches... I'm on my own time. And I'm kicking it off with a much needed girls retreat to the Holy City (that's Charleston, SC, for my lovelies in other parts of the world).
Don't consider this my magical return to the blogosphere just yet, but I wanted to check in and let you all know just how much all your support meant to me. I needed it, all of it, so know not an ounce of your concern or well wishes went to waste.
You all saved me a considerable amount of money on vodka.
Expect a valiant return soon -- some news to share and a few tell-all posts inspired by recent conversations -- but in the meantime, I have a tidbit of "I beg your pardon" to share with you all before I head out of town....
During my usual early morning coffee-sipping and Pinterest perusing before attacking emails and the news, I came across gem:
PINTEREST FAIL.
Congrats, Joseph - you're officially The Biggest Creeper on Pinterest. Send me the address to your basement haven at your mom's house so I can send you your award.
And to Hana, whoever and where ever you are, HIGH FIVE, GIRLFRAN.
---
So don't forget, people - Jesus and Santa Claus are always watching.
And occasionally, everyone else on the internet.
I freakin' love you all.
Categories: Friends
"Breakfast at Target" Takes a Sabbatical
Y'all.
I don't know even know where to start.
This has been, BY FAR, the worst semester of my life. My class work, my work-work (all three jobs), and my beau's tireless search for gainful legal employment have been downright painful, frustrating, and, worst of all, hopeless. That pathetic little light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther away with each new craptastic situation, unfortunate set of circumstances, or heart-breaking dead-end after lots of time and energy wasted. Once someone who made long-term plans and decisions to get there accordingly, I find myself living a day or two at a time - because honestly, I live in terror of things to come. More work to be done. More bad news.
There comes a point when drinking yourself into a numbed stupor and rationalizing your challenges as "tests of the cosmos" make you just want to punch somebody and walk away from it all.
As my To Do list got heavier and messier and my life along with it, I found myself in a place I wasn't sure to get out of - my energy zapped, my ambitions tossed careless by the wayside, my creative breath knocked right out.... as of today I stand (sit?) before you all as a tangled mess of despair, loathing, exhaustion, and vapidness.
The worst part?
For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. A self-proclaimed organization and planning freak, I'm left without even the slightest clue of how to move forward.
I need a victory. A manageable To Do list. Something to look forward to. A top-shelf cocktail and a hug.
In the end, I decided I needed to put my beloved and precious blog on a mini and formal hiatus. And for a short while, I may also be taking down my Facebook. Cutting down on distractions seems to be the first step to getting out of the crap-hole that is my existence.
(To my blogging pals, new and old, I'll be catching up in the coming weeks after I survive final papers, projects, presentations, and exams. I can't say it enough, but I do take time to read, I'm just bad about commenting due to lack of brain-power.)
INNNNN the meantime... I've compiled a list of "Best of B@T" to keep you thrilled and entertained during my (undisclosed) time away. Want more? Click "The Mean Reds"in the titlebar...
1.) I Got 99 Problems.... My in-depth look at the crazy - and I mean CRAZY - womenfolk in our lives.
2.) Group Projects: Welcome to My NightmareI swear the only thing worse than group projects is... no, actually, group projects are the embodiment of hell-on-earth.
3.) I Be Up in the GymAs a fitness instructor, I have a few tips on how to not be a total ass-hat at the gym. Oh, and get that workout you deserve. (Yup, there are tips for the fellas in there, too.)
4.) Summer has it's EtiquetteIt's December. Why am I posting about summer? Because it relates to vacays and I know some of y'all have bang-up plans to hit the road this holiday season.
5.) Workin' On My Cred': Get the Picture? (Part I)My testament and personal reflections on the journey into professional photography. There's a Part II, a follow-up, you can find under "The Mean Reds."
With that, I'm off to down my 3rd (maybe 5th?) cup of coffee... and possibly crank up Mumford & Sons.
-----------
I know there are good things, good people, and good moments in my life. I'm grateful for those and hold on to them like a 2nd-grader to a pudding cup. I'll come out of this one way or another, and your patience is more than I could ask for.
6' foot blondes are hard to keep down.
I don't know even know where to start.
This has been, BY FAR, the worst semester of my life. My class work, my work-work (all three jobs), and my beau's tireless search for gainful legal employment have been downright painful, frustrating, and, worst of all, hopeless. That pathetic little light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther away with each new craptastic situation, unfortunate set of circumstances, or heart-breaking dead-end after lots of time and energy wasted. Once someone who made long-term plans and decisions to get there accordingly, I find myself living a day or two at a time - because honestly, I live in terror of things to come. More work to be done. More bad news.
There comes a point when drinking yourself into a numbed stupor and rationalizing your challenges as "tests of the cosmos" make you just want to punch somebody and walk away from it all.
As my To Do list got heavier and messier and my life along with it, I found myself in a place I wasn't sure to get out of - my energy zapped, my ambitions tossed careless by the wayside, my creative breath knocked right out.... as of today I stand (sit?) before you all as a tangled mess of despair, loathing, exhaustion, and vapidness.
The worst part?
For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. A self-proclaimed organization and planning freak, I'm left without even the slightest clue of how to move forward.
I need a victory. A manageable To Do list. Something to look forward to. A top-shelf cocktail and a hug.
In the end, I decided I needed to put my beloved and precious blog on a mini and formal hiatus. And for a short while, I may also be taking down my Facebook. Cutting down on distractions seems to be the first step to getting out of the crap-hole that is my existence.
(To my blogging pals, new and old, I'll be catching up in the coming weeks after I survive final papers, projects, presentations, and exams. I can't say it enough, but I do take time to read, I'm just bad about commenting due to lack of brain-power.)
INNNNN the meantime... I've compiled a list of "Best of B@T" to keep you thrilled and entertained during my (undisclosed) time away. Want more? Click "The Mean Reds"in the titlebar...
1.) I Got 99 Problems.... My in-depth look at the crazy - and I mean CRAZY - womenfolk in our lives.
2.) Group Projects: Welcome to My NightmareI swear the only thing worse than group projects is... no, actually, group projects are the embodiment of hell-on-earth.
3.) I Be Up in the GymAs a fitness instructor, I have a few tips on how to not be a total ass-hat at the gym. Oh, and get that workout you deserve. (Yup, there are tips for the fellas in there, too.)
4.) Summer has it's EtiquetteIt's December. Why am I posting about summer? Because it relates to vacays and I know some of y'all have bang-up plans to hit the road this holiday season.
5.) Workin' On My Cred': Get the Picture? (Part I)My testament and personal reflections on the journey into professional photography. There's a Part II, a follow-up, you can find under "The Mean Reds."
With that, I'm off to down my 3rd (maybe 5th?) cup of coffee... and possibly crank up Mumford & Sons.
-----------
I know there are good things, good people, and good moments in my life. I'm grateful for those and hold on to them like a 2nd-grader to a pudding cup. I'll come out of this one way or another, and your patience is more than I could ask for.
6' foot blondes are hard to keep down.
Categories: Friends
"Breakfast at Target" Takes a Sabbatical
Y'all.
I don't know even know where to start.
This has been, BY FAR, the worst semester of my life. My class work, my work-work (all three jobs), and my beau's tireless search for gainful legal employment have been downright painful, frustrating, and, worst of all, hopeless. That pathetic little light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther away with each new craptastic situation, unfortunate set of circumstances, or heart-breaking dead-end after lots of time and energy wasted. Once someone who made long-term plans and decisions to get there accordingly, I find myself living a day or two at a time - because honestly, I live in terror of things to come. More work to be done. More bad news.
There comes a point when drinking yourself into a numbed stupor and rationalizing your challenges as "tests of the cosmos" make you just want to punch somebody and walk away from it all.
As my To Do list got heavier and messier and my life along with it, I found myself in a place I wasn't sure to get out of - my energy zapped, my ambitions tossed careless by the wayside, my creative breath knocked right out.... as of today I stand (sit?) before you all as a tangled mess of despair, loathing, exhaustion, and vapidness.
The worst part?
For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. A self-proclaimed organization and planning freak, I'm left without even the slightest clue of how to move forward.
I need a victory. A manageable To Do list. Something to look forward to. A top-shelf cocktail and a hug.
In the end, I decided I needed to put my beloved and precious blog on a mini and formal hiatus. And for a short while, I may also be taking down my Facebook. Cutting down on distractions seems to be the first step to getting out of the crap-hole that is my existence.
(To my blogging pals, new and old, I'll be catching up in the coming weeks after I survive final papers, projects, presentations, and exams. I can't say it enough, but I do take time to read, I'm just bad about commenting due to lack of brain-power.)
INNNNN the meantime... I've compiled a list of "Best of B@T" to keep you thrilled and entertained during my (undisclosed) time away. Want more? Click "The Mean Reds"in the titlebar...
1.) I Got 99 Problems.... My in-depth look at the crazy - and I mean CRAZY - womenfolk in our lives.
2.) Group Projects: Welcome to My NightmareI swear the only thing worse than group projects is... no, actually, group projects are the embodiment of hell-on-earth.
3.) I Be Up in the GymAs a fitness instructor, I have a few tips on how to not be a total ass-hat at the gym. Oh, and get that workout you deserve. (Yup, there are tips for the fellas in there, too.)
4.) Summer has it's EtiquetteIt's December. Why am I posting about summer? Because it relates to vacays and I know some of y'all have bang-up plans to hit the road this holiday season.
5.) Workin' On My Cred': Get the Picture? (Part I)My testament and personal reflections on the journey into professional photography. There's a Part II, a follow-up, you can find under "The Mean Reds."
With that, I'm off to down my 3rd (maybe 5th?) cup of coffee... and possibly crank up Mumford & Sons.
-----------
I know there are good things, good people, and good moments in my life. I'm grateful for those and hold on to them like a 2nd-grader to a pudding cup. I'll come out of this one way or another, and your patience is more than I could ask for.
6' foot blondes are hard to keep down.
I don't know even know where to start.
This has been, BY FAR, the worst semester of my life. My class work, my work-work (all three jobs), and my beau's tireless search for gainful legal employment have been downright painful, frustrating, and, worst of all, hopeless. That pathetic little light at the end of the tunnel seems to get farther away with each new craptastic situation, unfortunate set of circumstances, or heart-breaking dead-end after lots of time and energy wasted. Once someone who made long-term plans and decisions to get there accordingly, I find myself living a day or two at a time - because honestly, I live in terror of things to come. More work to be done. More bad news.
There comes a point when drinking yourself into a numbed stupor and rationalizing your challenges as "tests of the cosmos" make you just want to punch somebody and walk away from it all.
As my To Do list got heavier and messier and my life along with it, I found myself in a place I wasn't sure to get out of - my energy zapped, my ambitions tossed careless by the wayside, my creative breath knocked right out.... as of today I stand (sit?) before you all as a tangled mess of despair, loathing, exhaustion, and vapidness.
The worst part?
For the first time in my life, I don't know what to do. A self-proclaimed organization and planning freak, I'm left without even the slightest clue of how to move forward.
I need a victory. A manageable To Do list. Something to look forward to. A top-shelf cocktail and a hug.
In the end, I decided I needed to put my beloved and precious blog on a mini and formal hiatus. And for a short while, I may also be taking down my Facebook. Cutting down on distractions seems to be the first step to getting out of the crap-hole that is my existence.
(To my blogging pals, new and old, I'll be catching up in the coming weeks after I survive final papers, projects, presentations, and exams. I can't say it enough, but I do take time to read, I'm just bad about commenting due to lack of brain-power.)
INNNNN the meantime... I've compiled a list of "Best of B@T" to keep you thrilled and entertained during my (undisclosed) time away. Want more? Click "The Mean Reds"in the titlebar...
1.) I Got 99 Problems.... My in-depth look at the crazy - and I mean CRAZY - womenfolk in our lives.
2.) Group Projects: Welcome to My NightmareI swear the only thing worse than group projects is... no, actually, group projects are the embodiment of hell-on-earth.
3.) I Be Up in the GymAs a fitness instructor, I have a few tips on how to not be a total ass-hat at the gym. Oh, and get that workout you deserve. (Yup, there are tips for the fellas in there, too.)
4.) Summer has it's EtiquetteIt's December. Why am I posting about summer? Because it relates to vacays and I know some of y'all have bang-up plans to hit the road this holiday season.
5.) Workin' On My Cred': Get the Picture? (Part I)My testament and personal reflections on the journey into professional photography. There's a Part II, a follow-up, you can find under "The Mean Reds."
With that, I'm off to down my 3rd (maybe 5th?) cup of coffee... and possibly crank up Mumford & Sons.
-----------
I know there are good things, good people, and good moments in my life. I'm grateful for those and hold on to them like a 2nd-grader to a pudding cup. I'll come out of this one way or another, and your patience is more than I could ask for.
6' foot blondes are hard to keep down.
Categories: Friends
Curry in a hurry
I don’t know about you, but I love Indian and Thai food. It’s the curry. It provides such rich flavor.
When served in small amounts, it provides a smoky, masculinity to a dish. When proportioned by the palm-full it has the potent heat to make eyes water, foreheads sweat and tongues gasp for fire-extinguishing liquid.
I’m somewhere in the middle. I want a little bit of heat, but I want flavor rather than pain.
For most of us, if we want a curry fix, we either order take-out or go the restaurant for the sit-down experience. There’s no need. Curry can easily become part of your home cooking repertoire.
The quickest way to introduce it is to add a dash to scrambled eggs. In fact, I often test new spice combos in scrambled eggs. The eggs are a wonderful and inexpensive medium for spice. The next time you have a “I wonder if how this would taste” moment, simply add the herb and spice mixture to beaten egg yolks and bit of milk or water and see what happens.
When I make chicken salad, I often give it a heavy dose of curry powder. It gives what can sometimes be a rather bland sandwich filling an unexpected zing.
However, the curry flavor Judy and I wanted the other night was to be found in Thai cuisine. Neither of us was in the mood to go out, so she did some research and found the Chicken Green Curry recipe in the The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatston, MD.
Regular readers will wonder if we ever use another cookbook. Folks, if you want low calorie, low fat recipes that are high in flavor, get yourself a South Beach book. I swear if forced to, I could eat for a year, no make it two years on nothing but the recipes found in the South Beach cookbooks. And not once would I think I was on a restricted diet. I have yet to try a recipe that I haven’t liked and made at least three times.
OK, let’s talk about the recipe. It is pretty straightforward. If you’re not a big eggplant fan, this is a perfect dish to give it a try. Just cut it in half, lengthwise and then chop it into 1-inch chunks.
If I have a complaint about this dish is that it is sort of mushy. To add crunch, I roasted a half-head of cauliflower. That is way too easy. Slice the head in half through the stem and detach the florets and toss in a bowl. Add about 4 tablespoons of oil and season with a favorite seasoning (hey, curry powder might even work. Hint, hint.) Give the bowl a shake to cover the cauliflower with oil and seasoning. Spread out in a sheet pan and cook in a 400–degree oven for about 10 minutes. When roasted, turn off the oven and leave inside to absorb the residual heat. Once the Chicken Green Curry is cooked, serve in a bowl and add some cauliflower florets on top.
Prepping this dish is the only hassle. It’s a perfect occasion to get a couple in the kitchen or involve the kids. Trimming the spinach stems is easy but a bit tedious. Bring is someone else to do this chore and they will feel some ownership in the dish and I bet you’ll see them more enthusiastic about eating that evening.
If I may be so bold, please buy the fresh lime. Half a fresh lime produces 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice. Squeeze both halves into a shallow bowl. Add the recommended amount, and reserve the rest so that you can season to taste. I’m confident you’ll want more.
One last note about the curry — we found the amount of curry paste suggested in the recipe to be very timid. I would at least triple it to bring it to a medium heat level. If you’re feeding a group that can’t decide on the heat, have a jar of curry powder on the table so that the more adventurous can turn up the heat in their own bowl.
In under an hour, you’ve made a dish that is low in calories and fat but full of rewarding flavor.
Chicken Green Curry
6 cups (1/2-pound) bunch spinach
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 small onion, roughly chopped
1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon green curry paste (from a jar)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
1 (1-pound) eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Cut tough stems from spinach; submerge in cold water and rinse thoroughly to remove any dirt.
Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, broth, curry paste, and salt; bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 8 minutes.
Add chicken and eggplant; bring to a low boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink inside and eggplant is tender, about 8 minutes. Add spinach, stir, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in lime juice and serve.
Yield: 4 servings.
Prep time: 15 minutes.
Cook time: 20 minutes.
Source: The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatston, MD
When served in small amounts, it provides a smoky, masculinity to a dish. When proportioned by the palm-full it has the potent heat to make eyes water, foreheads sweat and tongues gasp for fire-extinguishing liquid.
I’m somewhere in the middle. I want a little bit of heat, but I want flavor rather than pain.
For most of us, if we want a curry fix, we either order take-out or go the restaurant for the sit-down experience. There’s no need. Curry can easily become part of your home cooking repertoire.
The quickest way to introduce it is to add a dash to scrambled eggs. In fact, I often test new spice combos in scrambled eggs. The eggs are a wonderful and inexpensive medium for spice. The next time you have a “I wonder if how this would taste” moment, simply add the herb and spice mixture to beaten egg yolks and bit of milk or water and see what happens.
When I make chicken salad, I often give it a heavy dose of curry powder. It gives what can sometimes be a rather bland sandwich filling an unexpected zing.
However, the curry flavor Judy and I wanted the other night was to be found in Thai cuisine. Neither of us was in the mood to go out, so she did some research and found the Chicken Green Curry recipe in the The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatston, MD.
Regular readers will wonder if we ever use another cookbook. Folks, if you want low calorie, low fat recipes that are high in flavor, get yourself a South Beach book. I swear if forced to, I could eat for a year, no make it two years on nothing but the recipes found in the South Beach cookbooks. And not once would I think I was on a restricted diet. I have yet to try a recipe that I haven’t liked and made at least three times.
OK, let’s talk about the recipe. It is pretty straightforward. If you’re not a big eggplant fan, this is a perfect dish to give it a try. Just cut it in half, lengthwise and then chop it into 1-inch chunks.
If I have a complaint about this dish is that it is sort of mushy. To add crunch, I roasted a half-head of cauliflower. That is way too easy. Slice the head in half through the stem and detach the florets and toss in a bowl. Add about 4 tablespoons of oil and season with a favorite seasoning (hey, curry powder might even work. Hint, hint.) Give the bowl a shake to cover the cauliflower with oil and seasoning. Spread out in a sheet pan and cook in a 400–degree oven for about 10 minutes. When roasted, turn off the oven and leave inside to absorb the residual heat. Once the Chicken Green Curry is cooked, serve in a bowl and add some cauliflower florets on top.
Prepping this dish is the only hassle. It’s a perfect occasion to get a couple in the kitchen or involve the kids. Trimming the spinach stems is easy but a bit tedious. Bring is someone else to do this chore and they will feel some ownership in the dish and I bet you’ll see them more enthusiastic about eating that evening.
If I may be so bold, please buy the fresh lime. Half a fresh lime produces 2 to 3 tablespoons of juice. Squeeze both halves into a shallow bowl. Add the recommended amount, and reserve the rest so that you can season to taste. I’m confident you’ll want more.
One last note about the curry — we found the amount of curry paste suggested in the recipe to be very timid. I would at least triple it to bring it to a medium heat level. If you’re feeding a group that can’t decide on the heat, have a jar of curry powder on the table so that the more adventurous can turn up the heat in their own bowl.
In under an hour, you’ve made a dish that is low in calories and fat but full of rewarding flavor.
Chicken Green Curry
6 cups (1/2-pound) bunch spinach
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 small onion, roughly chopped
1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk
1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon green curry paste (from a jar)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin strips
1 (1-pound) eggplant, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Cut tough stems from spinach; submerge in cold water and rinse thoroughly to remove any dirt.
Heat oil in a large straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, broth, curry paste, and salt; bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 8 minutes.
Add chicken and eggplant; bring to a low boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink inside and eggplant is tender, about 8 minutes. Add spinach, stir, and cook 1 minute more. Stir in lime juice and serve.
Yield: 4 servings.
Prep time: 15 minutes.
Cook time: 20 minutes.
Source: The South Beach Diet: Quick & Easy Cookbook by Arthur Agatston, MD
Categories: Friends
Seared Scallops With a Wallop
I know this has happened to you because it used to happen to me. You walk by the fish counter and see beautiful, milky-white sea scallops, the size of Eisenhower silver dollars. You’d love to buy them but you sigh and realize you have no idea what to do with them.
Read and be prepared to buy.
I’ve discovered a wonderful recipe that will make all of your friends think you are a gourmet chef and your special someone will request it again and again and again.
The dish is Seared Scallops on Shrimp and Truffle Risotto.
Oh my, the inexperienced cook says. Scallops. Risotto. Truffle oil. I can’t do that.
Got 45 minutes?
Ok, first lets go shopping. Tuck this recipe in your purse or backpack in the event the scallops are right.
Go directly to the seafood counter. Check out the scallops. It they aren’t big and plump like a sore thumb, buy the steaks and save this recipe for another day. But if they are beautiful white sea scallops — not the tiny bay scallops — be prepared to make this dish. The recipe, by the way, is not mine. It comes from www.epicurious.com, the best recipe website in cyberspace. However, I have tweaked it just a tad.
Next is the risotto. Go to the rice aisle and look for Arborio rice. It soaks up liquid and is perfect for risotto. The cooking technique isn’t difficult, you just can’t leave the stove for 20 or minutes.
Then there is the truffle oil. Don’t be scared — it won’t cost a gazillion bucks. I bought an 8.45 ounce can for $10 and I’ve made this dish 5 times and I haven’t used half the can. The stuff lasts. Buy it at World Market or Williams-Sonoma or any other kitchen supply store.
OK, the trick with this dish is not to turn the burners super hot. The stock doesn’t need to be to rolling boil. When adding the stock to the prepared rice, it need not be scalding. When sweating the onion, garlic and peppers they need not dance in the searing hot pan.
Moderation is the key.
Think of preparing risotto as a zen moment. You, the stove, the spoon, the ladle — 20 minutes — and you’re cooking. Let people come to you to talk. Make them turn the TV towards you. It will be worth their sacrifice.
OK, my tweak is that I think the dish, even with the chives, looks a bit bland. I add a 1/4 cup each of diced red, green and orange sweet bell peppers. It adds some interest to the dish and gives it an added crunch.
When cooking the scallops, season with salt and pepper place in a hot pan (this time you do want the burner on high), lightly coated with olive oil. Sear one side for 2 minutes season, turn over and sear for another minute. You want some char on the scallops but don’t cook so long that they turn rubbery. Four minutes is good, six is acceptable but getting close to eight and your scallops have become chewing gum.
This recipe is good for 6 appetizers or 2 dinner portions. It can easily be doubled.
Read and be prepared to buy.
I’ve discovered a wonderful recipe that will make all of your friends think you are a gourmet chef and your special someone will request it again and again and again.
The dish is Seared Scallops on Shrimp and Truffle Risotto.
Oh my, the inexperienced cook says. Scallops. Risotto. Truffle oil. I can’t do that.
Got 45 minutes?
Ok, first lets go shopping. Tuck this recipe in your purse or backpack in the event the scallops are right.
Go directly to the seafood counter. Check out the scallops. It they aren’t big and plump like a sore thumb, buy the steaks and save this recipe for another day. But if they are beautiful white sea scallops — not the tiny bay scallops — be prepared to make this dish. The recipe, by the way, is not mine. It comes from www.epicurious.com, the best recipe website in cyberspace. However, I have tweaked it just a tad.
Next is the risotto. Go to the rice aisle and look for Arborio rice. It soaks up liquid and is perfect for risotto. The cooking technique isn’t difficult, you just can’t leave the stove for 20 or minutes.
Then there is the truffle oil. Don’t be scared — it won’t cost a gazillion bucks. I bought an 8.45 ounce can for $10 and I’ve made this dish 5 times and I haven’t used half the can. The stuff lasts. Buy it at World Market or Williams-Sonoma or any other kitchen supply store.
OK, the trick with this dish is not to turn the burners super hot. The stock doesn’t need to be to rolling boil. When adding the stock to the prepared rice, it need not be scalding. When sweating the onion, garlic and peppers they need not dance in the searing hot pan.
Moderation is the key.
Think of preparing risotto as a zen moment. You, the stove, the spoon, the ladle — 20 minutes — and you’re cooking. Let people come to you to talk. Make them turn the TV towards you. It will be worth their sacrifice.
OK, my tweak is that I think the dish, even with the chives, looks a bit bland. I add a 1/4 cup each of diced red, green and orange sweet bell peppers. It adds some interest to the dish and gives it an added crunch.
When cooking the scallops, season with salt and pepper place in a hot pan (this time you do want the burner on high), lightly coated with olive oil. Sear one side for 2 minutes season, turn over and sear for another minute. You want some char on the scallops but don’t cook so long that they turn rubbery. Four minutes is good, six is acceptable but getting close to eight and your scallops have become chewing gum.
This recipe is good for 6 appetizers or 2 dinner portions. It can easily be doubled.
Categories: Friends
Cedar Plank Salmon
Everyone wants to eat better. That said, I say, turn to the grill.
Cooking on the grill uses less fat, it’s perfect for vegetables, look to fish and chicken as your proteins and you’re well on your way to a very healthful meal.
One of the best — and easiest — is Cedar Plank Salmon with grilled vegetables.
Let’s start with the plank. You can buy these at Publix or Williams-Sonoma or barbecue stores. Do not buy the plank from a hardware store unless you are in the grilling section. You cannot use treated wood that would be used in construction.
Once you’ve bought the proper plank, be sure to soak it in water in the sink for at least three hours before grilling.
To start the meal, prepare your grill for indirect cooking. If using charcoal, it means being able to move the majority of the hot coals to one side so that you have a hot spot and cold spot. With gas, have a couple burners on high and a couple on low. You’ll want your grill around 400 degrees when you start.
Grilled vegetables can be any assortment you like. I am partial to red, green, yellow bell peppers, cut into 1-inch squares. To that I’ll also add red potatoes cut in quarters. Other great grilling veggies include asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli and even Brussels sprouts.
Cut the vegetables into bite-size chunks and place them in a large bowl. Cover liberally with olive oil and season with a favorite seasoning salt.
On my grill, I have an upper rack. I cover that rack with foil so the veggies won’t slip through. When placed on that upper rack the potatoes will take longer to cook, so I put them over the direct heat — more on that in a bit.
With the vegetables cut, tossed and seasoned, leave them to the side in the bowl. Now make a simple sauce for the fish. I prepared a take on the classic mustard-dill-butter sauce basically because I didn’t have any dill or spicy mustard. Instead I had sweNew Grill for around $100
I bought a great grill for under $100 this week. Actually, I just fixed my 3-year-old grill.
When I bought my grill I did a bit of homework. I bought a Charbroil, 4-burner grill at Home Depot for a couple of reasons. First, I was able to get a great grill for under $300. Also, I know that Home Depot carries the replacement parts.
I live at the beach and ever though I keep it covered, the components are going to rust out. Knowing that I can buy new burners means I can make my grill last twice as long.
I’m not the most handy guy, but I was able to change out three of the four burners in less than 45 minutes and no tools were needed other than a screw driver.
Why did I replace only three out of the four — because of Danny luck. Home Depot only had three burners. No worries, I’ll pick up the fourth burner next time I am in the store and take the whole 10 minutes to install it.
If you didn’t buy your grill from a large home store, my advice is when you buy a new grill, search out the company’s website. Go to your grill’s instruction manual and bookmark that site. That way, when you need replacement parts you can order them.
Do it while you have all of the paperwork. You’ll be so glad that you did.
So, I have a new grill for the summer grilling season. You can too if you do a little homework before buy a grill, you’ll be able to make it last twice as long.et mustard and cilantro. In a bowl I combined 6 tablespoons of unsalted, softened butter, 1 tablespoon of sweet mustard (honey mustard will work) about 3 tablespoons of chopped cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Mix this together, and taste. If it needs more mustard, add more. Same goes with the cilantro.
But remember, you want to still taste the fish — no slathering it as if you were icing a birthday cake.
To prepare the salmon, I like to go simple on this dish. Simply coat lightly with olive oil and salt and pepper. Place the wet wood planks on the hot grill and cover with a lid for 2 or 3 minutes. You want to char the wood but not set it ablaze. Flip the wood and repeat.
Move the planks (using tongs) to the cool side of the grill and place the salmon, skin side down, on the wood.
Also spread the vegetables on the grill rack, placing the potatoes over the hotter part of the grill. Cover the grill and let cook for 15 minutes. No peaking.
At 15 minutes, check to make sure the vegetables aren’t scorched and also check for the salmon’s doneness. This is done by inserting a metal skewer through the entire body of the fish, parallel to the plank. Remove the skewer, close the grill lid (as to not lose any more heat than necessary) and place the side if the skewer just under your lip. It will tell you exactly how hot the inside of the fish is.
You want the skewer to feel warm, just like you’d like the fish to feel inside your mouth. If it is cold, keep cooking and checking at 5-minute intervals. Cooking times are going to vary because of the size of the grill and the height of the dome lid. I have a high dome, perfect for cooking beer butt chickens; so much of the grill’s heat is at the top, not at the grilling surface when using this indirect cooking method. So, it took about 40 minutes to cook the salmon.
If the vegetables are done before the fish, just remove them from the rack, wrap them in foil and place on the coolest part of the grill to stay warm.
Why cook on a wood plank? It imparts a bit of smoke and wood flavor. Some of the planks themselves are seasoned to add flavor. And, it’s a no mess way to grill, as the protein never touches the grill grate.
Planks can also be used for chicken or meat but I’ve ha best success with fish and chicken breasts.
Cooking on the grill uses less fat, it’s perfect for vegetables, look to fish and chicken as your proteins and you’re well on your way to a very healthful meal.
One of the best — and easiest — is Cedar Plank Salmon with grilled vegetables.
Let’s start with the plank. You can buy these at Publix or Williams-Sonoma or barbecue stores. Do not buy the plank from a hardware store unless you are in the grilling section. You cannot use treated wood that would be used in construction.
Once you’ve bought the proper plank, be sure to soak it in water in the sink for at least three hours before grilling.
To start the meal, prepare your grill for indirect cooking. If using charcoal, it means being able to move the majority of the hot coals to one side so that you have a hot spot and cold spot. With gas, have a couple burners on high and a couple on low. You’ll want your grill around 400 degrees when you start.
Grilled vegetables can be any assortment you like. I am partial to red, green, yellow bell peppers, cut into 1-inch squares. To that I’ll also add red potatoes cut in quarters. Other great grilling veggies include asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli and even Brussels sprouts.
Cut the vegetables into bite-size chunks and place them in a large bowl. Cover liberally with olive oil and season with a favorite seasoning salt.
On my grill, I have an upper rack. I cover that rack with foil so the veggies won’t slip through. When placed on that upper rack the potatoes will take longer to cook, so I put them over the direct heat — more on that in a bit.
With the vegetables cut, tossed and seasoned, leave them to the side in the bowl. Now make a simple sauce for the fish. I prepared a take on the classic mustard-dill-butter sauce basically because I didn’t have any dill or spicy mustard. Instead I had sweNew Grill for around $100
I bought a great grill for under $100 this week. Actually, I just fixed my 3-year-old grill.
When I bought my grill I did a bit of homework. I bought a Charbroil, 4-burner grill at Home Depot for a couple of reasons. First, I was able to get a great grill for under $300. Also, I know that Home Depot carries the replacement parts.
I live at the beach and ever though I keep it covered, the components are going to rust out. Knowing that I can buy new burners means I can make my grill last twice as long.
I’m not the most handy guy, but I was able to change out three of the four burners in less than 45 minutes and no tools were needed other than a screw driver.
Why did I replace only three out of the four — because of Danny luck. Home Depot only had three burners. No worries, I’ll pick up the fourth burner next time I am in the store and take the whole 10 minutes to install it.
If you didn’t buy your grill from a large home store, my advice is when you buy a new grill, search out the company’s website. Go to your grill’s instruction manual and bookmark that site. That way, when you need replacement parts you can order them.
Do it while you have all of the paperwork. You’ll be so glad that you did.
So, I have a new grill for the summer grilling season. You can too if you do a little homework before buy a grill, you’ll be able to make it last twice as long.et mustard and cilantro. In a bowl I combined 6 tablespoons of unsalted, softened butter, 1 tablespoon of sweet mustard (honey mustard will work) about 3 tablespoons of chopped cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Mix this together, and taste. If it needs more mustard, add more. Same goes with the cilantro.
But remember, you want to still taste the fish — no slathering it as if you were icing a birthday cake.
To prepare the salmon, I like to go simple on this dish. Simply coat lightly with olive oil and salt and pepper. Place the wet wood planks on the hot grill and cover with a lid for 2 or 3 minutes. You want to char the wood but not set it ablaze. Flip the wood and repeat.
Move the planks (using tongs) to the cool side of the grill and place the salmon, skin side down, on the wood.
Also spread the vegetables on the grill rack, placing the potatoes over the hotter part of the grill. Cover the grill and let cook for 15 minutes. No peaking.
At 15 minutes, check to make sure the vegetables aren’t scorched and also check for the salmon’s doneness. This is done by inserting a metal skewer through the entire body of the fish, parallel to the plank. Remove the skewer, close the grill lid (as to not lose any more heat than necessary) and place the side if the skewer just under your lip. It will tell you exactly how hot the inside of the fish is.
You want the skewer to feel warm, just like you’d like the fish to feel inside your mouth. If it is cold, keep cooking and checking at 5-minute intervals. Cooking times are going to vary because of the size of the grill and the height of the dome lid. I have a high dome, perfect for cooking beer butt chickens; so much of the grill’s heat is at the top, not at the grilling surface when using this indirect cooking method. So, it took about 40 minutes to cook the salmon.
If the vegetables are done before the fish, just remove them from the rack, wrap them in foil and place on the coolest part of the grill to stay warm.
Why cook on a wood plank? It imparts a bit of smoke and wood flavor. Some of the planks themselves are seasoned to add flavor. And, it’s a no mess way to grill, as the protein never touches the grill grate.
Planks can also be used for chicken or meat but I’ve ha best success with fish and chicken breasts.
Categories: Friends
Where you’ll find me
So, where has jaxfoodtalk been for the last few weeks? I’ve been getting a real job.
Back in January I got lucky enough to be added to Mayor John Peyton’s staff as a temporary writer. I was filling in for a woman who went on maternity leave. I thought that was going to be my new career calling as I had just finished doing food sections in December when Liz Van Hooser returned from maternity leave.
I saw the City Hall job as a contract gig that would keep me busy full-time through the middle of July. Well, the Public Information Office was being reorganized and the woman I was filling in for decided this mommy stuff is pretty cool so she is now working part-time. The changes opened a full-time real job.
So what does this have to do with jaxfoodtalk.com? Basically, it went on the back burner. Honestly, food was my old job and I was basking in the newness of my new position.
I remember when I got off the music beat after reviewing music for about 10 years. I didn’t want to listen to music or go to a show. I think that is what got me hooked on talk radio. Eventually I began to miss it and I was again checking out music, bands and shows.
Food has been a big part of my life for the last 13 or so years, so when the new job came about that had nothing to do with food or even newspapers, I pushed food writing aside.
Not that gleam on City Hall is tarnishing or anything like that, but I am starting to miss writing and cooking. So I promise kids, I’ll give jaxfoodtalk.com more of my attention from now on.
Back in January I got lucky enough to be added to Mayor John Peyton’s staff as a temporary writer. I was filling in for a woman who went on maternity leave. I thought that was going to be my new career calling as I had just finished doing food sections in December when Liz Van Hooser returned from maternity leave.
I saw the City Hall job as a contract gig that would keep me busy full-time through the middle of July. Well, the Public Information Office was being reorganized and the woman I was filling in for decided this mommy stuff is pretty cool so she is now working part-time. The changes opened a full-time real job.
So what does this have to do with jaxfoodtalk.com? Basically, it went on the back burner. Honestly, food was my old job and I was basking in the newness of my new position.
I remember when I got off the music beat after reviewing music for about 10 years. I didn’t want to listen to music or go to a show. I think that is what got me hooked on talk radio. Eventually I began to miss it and I was again checking out music, bands and shows.
Food has been a big part of my life for the last 13 or so years, so when the new job came about that had nothing to do with food or even newspapers, I pushed food writing aside.
Not that gleam on City Hall is tarnishing or anything like that, but I am starting to miss writing and cooking. So I promise kids, I’ll give jaxfoodtalk.com more of my attention from now on.
Categories: Friends
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