I'm off tomorrow and I'm sitting here eating homemade chicken and noodle soup and getting ready for tonight's scheduled
What are you up to?
Will you be watching?
What's the spread in Vegas on this thing?
Will they focus on the issues? Or just jump right in with the straight hate?
So many possibilities....
It would be awesome if this was like wrestling and there was a running commentary throughout the debate. They could have a Democrat straight man and a Republican doing color commentary...because clearly they are the heels.
Something for the alternative press to think about.
Just about a half hour to go!
- Mood:disgusted
I'm still here.
Just lacking motivation to do anything but the bare minimum of everything just to get by. I'm not sure if I'm depressed, or just bored.
That said, I have made some observations this week:
Bacon in a box.
And I thought wine in a box was bad. Seriously, has anyone tried this stuff? Imagine my shock and horror when I saw this product sitting on the shelf in the boxed foods aisle. It just seems...so...wrong.
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I was listening to a (new?) Janet Jackson song the other day when it dawned on me that everything she sings sounds like she's talking/singing like a baby. Why guys find that sexy I'll never know.
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While driving to Chicago this weekend, I passed an exit for a town called Climax, MI.
(uh?)
I wonder how that town got THAT name.
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I'm suffering the ghosts of past lifetimes again. Someday I hope to make sense of all of that.
And last night, I was either granted a vision...or my imagination is wayyy more actively vivid that I could have ever imagined.
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"Shake it like a Polaroid picture" - Andre 3000, "Hey Ya!"
In my office, we "shake it like the toner's running low" ...
...because it generally is. And that's the only way you can make sense of the stuff coming out of the printer. And there's never money to purchase more toner in a timely fashion.
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Rest in Peace Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes
- Mood:
awake
If my grandmother heard me say that, I'd be accused to being bourgie.
I once mentioned buying something on foccacia bread and I got a look like I had said something profane.
Don't even get me started on the gouda cheese and the chicken gorgonzola they have there.
::shrugs::
What are some of your favorite foods/drinks?
- Mood:
curious
I think I made it to work on time one day this week.
Yep. Just once.
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For Bones fans:
Agent Booth?!!! For reals?
Oh NOooooooooeeeeez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Am I the only one who turns into a complete space case when going to get the oil changed or getting the vehicle inspected? I swear, you'd think I was taking a test to become an FBI agent by how frazzled I get. Suddenly I can't distinguish the windshield wiper gauge from the left turn/right turn indicator. I don't remember how to shut the lights off and God help me if they want me to locate my emergency indicators with any kind of swiftness.
Arggh...I feel so stupid.
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John Edwards endorsement FOR THE WIN!
I keep getting this image of Barack Obama smackin't the table in front of HRC while yelllin' "DOMINO MUHFUKKA!!" a la Ice Cube in "Boyz in the Hood."
Not that Obama would do something so ghettoliciously crude...I'm just saying.
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Did anyone else see Tonya Harding on The Today Show this week?
WTF was she talking about?? Did she give an acceptance speech at the end of her interview? She was all "And I wanna thank my publisher for giving me a chance, and I also wanna thank Blah Blah Blah for believing in me...." I was laughing my ass off.
And LOL @ Meredith Viera pointing out Obama using her name as in "pull a Tonya Harding" and Tonya Harding trying to turn it into people not focusing on the issues but focusing on her.
Bitch please....take your infamy, own it, and move on. Nobody cares anymore.
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McDonald's Sweet Tea is laced with crack...I'm convinced. I can't stop drinking that stuff!
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My love for Anderson Cooper increases exponentially by the day. What the hell is John King gonna do after the election is over and there is no more need for the magic board? He's like the John Madden of politics with that thing.
"Hillary lost another superdelate...DOINK!" ::draws lines on the screen...moves the dark blue line forward::
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I just finished watching SNL and I'll be damned...I had a feeling that geezer John McCain could bring the funny funny.
Oldness indeed.
- Mood:
frustrated
To compensate for my lack of blog inspiration I thought it would be cool to blog my favorite things, sans the Oprah Winfrey yells of "You get a car, you get a car, and YOU GET A CAR!!" After all, though I may temporarily be deficient in my passion for lj-ing, I still gotta live, right? And I can't deny that LJ sustains me.
So to ease my antsy spirit and to appease my compulsive need to list things, I present to you some of my favorite things:
Now tell me my dear friends..what are some of your favorite things?
- Mood:
sleepy - Music:"My Favorite Things" - John Coltrane
Why do women on TV and in the movies hardly ever carry a purse? Sometimes when I'm walking around town or in a store and feeling slightly less than totally fabulous, often times it's because I'm lugging the
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Why are you supposed to wash raw meat before you cook it, but you don't have to wash ground meat? Every time I ask someone this they look at me like I'm nuts or something.
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What's the difference between lemon juice and lemon extract? I'm pretty sure I know the difference and I could easily look it up, but I want to know what you all think.
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I was thinking the other day that Bobby and Whitney probably had some of the same conversations that Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have:
Marc/Whitney - "Honey, you're a pretty decent entertainer, but you can't sing for shit."
Bobby/Jennifer - "Whut???????"
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Am I the ONLY one on the planet who thinks that Carson Daly looks JUST LIKE Jimmy Neutron?
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- Mood:
calm
It wouldn't have been as funny had she not landed in a full sitting position, then popped back up and smiled all hard like nothing ever happened. I know her heart was in her throat after that!
The dress was pretty though.
::channeling Juliette Lewis in "The Other Sister."::
I know. I need to go stand in the corner.
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Against my better judgment and a strong inner voice, I had a Mexican pizza today for lunch from Taco Hell. Those things used to be so good, but the one I just had was just NASTY. Too bad they don't use the green onions anymore. I know that was believed to be a possible culprit for all those people who got sick in Jersey, but that's also what made them good. Without them or some good sour cream, it was just a refried nightmare.
Uggh. Never again.
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Mom got invited to go to the playoff game tonight. I'm happy for her and so want her to have a good time, but I can't help it...I'm jealous and a little pissed that I never got tix like that.
..but I'll get over it.
Go Pistons!
- Mood:
blah - Music:"Ecstacy" - Barry White
Grrrr!
Is it too much to ask that the local market carry shallots and fresh mint??!!!
- Mood:
busy - Music:lamb chops sizzlin' in the oven
It started out with a toothache from hell which made me call in way late this morning. I ended up dagging in around 11:30am with a throbbing jawline and a bag full of Thai food. Why is it that you seem to get really hungry during times when it's probably best that you avoid eating?
Anyway, I managed to eat a good deal of food and actually get some work done. A very productive work day for such a late start.
After work I picked up the kid and dropped him by my mom's job then headed off the the DSG idea generation meeting at WSU. That was good and a lot of great ideas got tossed out in the mix. I enjoyed meeting new folks and catching up with the ones I know. One woman got a little agitated when she witnessed another woman "cheating" by voting for more than 1 idea. Although it really wasn't the right time to bring it up as an issue, I could kinda sympathize with her. People of color are so used to being cheatted, disenfranchised, and otherwise dissed that the issue of "fairness" is a really sore topic for some of us. And when we see things that aren't fair, we take it to heart and that can manifest itself in any number of ways. At any rate, I think we can safely say that any good and feasible idea will be explored and for that I'm happy. Detroit can always use more people with ideas and people who care. I was glad to see that so many came out tonight.
And what did I do after all that at around 9:45pm? Well, I went out dancing of course! Yep, my sis-in-law along with some of our dance classmates and our instructor hit the Sky Bar in Royal Oak. It was dark, packed, and a little disorienting at first, but the night picked up quickly and I think we were all a little surprised at how much fun we wound up having.
Thank you Eric, Alan, and Alejandro for the dance. Espero que bailaramos otro vez.
Tomorrow Night....we shall rock the yacht.
- Mood:
bouncy - Music:"Tainted Love" - Soft Cell
Little did I know that when I saw Paolo Nutini on The Today Show a wee bit over a month ago (and since fell in love with his CD) that I'd actually have the opportunity to see a performance so soon and also have a chat with him. What a nice guy. (Holy crap, I can't believe he's only 18. But those lyrics are all grown up baby.)
The kid and I sat and sang along to 5 or so songs, and Paolo really took a liking to the kid which was too cute. He gave him a "soul hand shake" that really let me know that soul is alive and well in the UK. The kid didn't seem at all perplexed about Paolo's Scottish accent. My baby is so cultured! :-) His publicist even took a picture of the kid for the band's American tour pics. All in all it was a good time.
We spent the rest of the day stolling the streets of Ann Arbor and then we headed back for errands and whatnot. Since it was also my brother's birthday I had to pick up a little something for his milestone 30th birthday. He played it low key though. I hope he's not getting depressed or feeling old. Life is good. 30 is the new....something...shit I dunno.
The day ended for me with a kick ass Cha Cha class and a slice of home made egg custard pie. Yum!
Man, it made me wanna call off the rest of the week and just chill.
But since I couldn't do that, I'll just leave it with this and remember the wonderful day that I had with my little cutie patootie.
He really is wonderful that kid.
- Mood: bouncy
- Music:"Last Request" - Paolo Nutini
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1/4 cup oil (I used vegetable)
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups onion, chopped (I used 1 medium yellow onion)
1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup celery, diced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chicken base (I found that I had to use a little more of this to add salt and keep it from being bland. I'd start with the tablespoon and keep adding a little bit as needed since a little goes a long way.)
3 cups water
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/3 cup dried parsley
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I cut this down to a little more than a 1/4 teaspoon because I can't handle anything too spicy and I wanted everyone to be able to eat it.)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce (I used worcestershire)
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes seasoned with garlic, basil, and oregano or 2 cups fresh diced tomatoes (I used a can of plain stewed tomatoes)
4 cups sliced Cajun-style fresh link sausage (I skipped this step, but I'm sure it's good :-)
4 cups cut okra (fresh or frozen) (I used canned okra)
2 cups oysters and liquor (I skipped this ingredient as well.)
1/2 pound crabmeat (I used a 6oz can of fancy crab meat. The last time I tried the imitation stuff I didn't like the way it tasted.)
1 1/2 pounds fresh peeled shrimp (I used a bag of frozen shrimp - peeled, deveined & uncooked)
3 cups scallops (I didn't used quite that many...too expensive!)
File powder (I don't know what this is, so I skipped it but apparently it's a thickening agent. I added 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch to 1/4 cup of cold water, mixed it up and dumped it in. Same effect! ;-)
I also added a cup of cooked rice to the recipe at the end. The original recipe pours the gumbo over the rice.
Enjoy!
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In a large pot combine oil and flour. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the roux has browned to a light chocolate color. Add onion, pepper, celery and garlic. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add chicken broth, and chicken base, stirring as you go. Add water, bay leaves, thyme, basil, parsley, lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, salt, garlic powder, pepper, soy (worcestershire) sauce and tomatoes.
Cut sausage into 1/2-inch pieces. Add to pot along with okra. Cover pot and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add oysters, crabmeat, shrimp and scallops. Simmer for an additional 15 minutes.
Serve over hot buttered rice. Sprinkle with file powder on top of bowl and stir in.
- Mood: sleepy
I just spent $70 on groceries and only walked out with 5 bags.
Something ain't right about that.
Kick ass!
Everything in the fridge is green and healthy. I LOVE IT. There are so many foods, spices, and dishes to try!
The other night, I made Coconut Curry Chicken, Rice, and Apply Chutney for dinner.
Yum! And the kid even liked it.
Tonight, Pan-Seared Pork Chops, garlic noodles, and (fresh) green beans.
Sunday, I made big pasta (Risotto) thanks to Nigella Larsen and her Quadruple Chocolate Cake Loaf. (Got milk?)
And the weight keeps falling off. I haven't really been trying but I have started exercising again after taking about 6 weeks off. Stress can go either way, so I'm not sure how I'm doing it other than the moderate dietary changes.
Who knew eating better could be so gratifying? The funny things is, once I make my weight goal, I'll still be considered "overweight" according to the BMI calculators, but I know that doesn't take into account my body build and overall health. Now that my clothes are hitting the single digits, I think I can relax. I returned a size 10 skirt at Old Navy for a perfect fitting size 6!
Shut up! I'm so glad I never got rid of those smoking hot jeans that I've been holding on to since the last time I could fit them (in 2000!)
The lightest I can remember being in my adult life is about 18 lbs lighter than I am now. I know that my weight is distributed different post-baby because I don't remember fitting into clothes much smaller than the ones I wear now (although my chest/upper body is slightly larger still). I do know that at that weight I didn't really like the way I looked. I had no boobs and my face looked really drawn in. I think most people need a little fat on the face to maintain a youthful appearance.
Anyhow, pilates is starting to show some results and that's wonderful. I just hope I can stay the course.
In the meantime, there are sooo many recipes that I can't wait to try....
- Mood: awake
But there are times that I feel unmistakably grown up, and it has nothing to do with job or status or station. It has to do with a feeling and a freedom of being able to do the things that you can never get away with as a child or even want to bother with for that matter.
Things like:
- Whipping out a credit card to pay for something frivolous and fun
- Going to the movies by myself and laughing or crying with abandon
- Buying a vacuum (argh)
- Staying out late and coming home slightly tipsy
- Having a spirited conversation with other grown ups about politics, religion, entertainment, or life in general
- Wearing sexy pjs or underwear
- Getting on a plane and going on a fun trip
- Listening to news radio...all day long
- Eating chinese takeout with chopsticks...straight from the carton
- Going against the grain
I love being an adult even though I sometimes miss how uncomplicated life is when you're a kid. The problem is, when you're a kid, you don't realize how simple life is.
All in all, I have to say I'm pretty blessed to be an adult with good sense and a healthy love of life and those around me.
I love being an adult.
I love being a girl.
I love being me.
My own brother is trying to "out-gourmet" me, and I can't have that.
How is he gonna start cooking these awesomely awesome meals right when I've decided to conquer my fear of the kitchen and actually start throwing down some kick-ass meals?
Can you believe the unmitigated gall? Puh! ;-)
I mean, he threw together the most delicious salmon croquette dinner, complete with fancy field greens, parsley garnish, and fresh salsa. Then he tops it off with a peach cobbler with fresh peaches and homemade whipped cream. Our momma doesn't even get down like that (and I'm gonna tell her too!)
Naw, but seriously I always enjoy good food, good wine, and good conversation with my brother and sis-in-law. It was a perfect way to end a lazy day after we took the kids to the Zoo Boo tonight. But still...it's on!
Now I have to really comb the internet and the food channel for some stellar dishes to experiment with. The funny thing is, if nothing else comes out of this, our kids will at least develop a very sophisticated palate by the time they get to middle school.
- Mood: amused
I'll be hanging out with
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angiej and other synergizers. I'm anticipating a night of good food and good conversation. In case you're interested, here's the menu for tonight:
- Assorted California greens with Mandarin oranges, candied almonds and strawberry juice -or-
- Trio of cold soups - gazpacho, carrot and English pea
- Roasted Norwegian salmon with lobster risotto -or-
- Roasted beef tenderloin with salsify potato salad and green beans -or-
- Melange of Vegetables - A "virtual tour" of Chef's vegetarian culinary creativity.
- Assorted Sorbet
Personally, I think I will go for the California greens and the Salmon/Lobster risotto main course.
The diet will be shot to hell for the day, but whatever. I'm eatin'!
...but I will be on the treadmill tomorrow.
- Mood: hungry
- Music:"Spanish Grease" - Willie Bobo
Last week we went to the Ribs -n- Soul Festival. The Ribs were "meh" but the night was beautiful and I got to see one of my all time favorite male singers...Mr. Howard Hewett.
To say I LERVE this man's voice would be quite the understatement. From the days of Shalamar I can remember sitting in front of my radio as a kid singing along to "Make That Move," "Second Time Around," and "A Night to Remember." And who doesn't know the urban classic wedding song "For the Lover in You?" The grooves were upbeat and Howard's melodic voice just soared above the music like a heavenly sound solely to comfort my soul. I don't think I ever once gave notice to Jody Watley or Jeffrey Daniels. Vocally, visually, or otherwise. For me Shalamar = Howard Hewett.
As the years went by, Shalamar as a group became a shadow of its former self. Those awesome R&B grooves gave way to craptacular 80's pop fluff. Jody and Jeffrey left the group and eventually Howard went solo. As a solo artist Howard enjoyed a few moderate R&B and Smooth Jazz hits, but for me practically everything he sings is pure joy. It's amazing how some singers can possess a voice with the tone and phrasing capable of just stroking that nerve in your spine that bends you to their will. It's that way when I listen to this man sing.
When he sings love, I feel love. When he sings pain, I remember it well. Whatever it is, I'm along for the ride. So it was in 1994 the first time I saw him perform, and so it was again last week. As always, he had a wonderful stage presence and his voice was simply amazing.
Now he may have put on a few pounds and lost a lot of that wavy hair, but he is still pretty and I will always try to check him out whenever he comes to town. That's just the way it is, now and forever.
'Cause for me Howard Hewett is Love.
- Music:"I Commit to Love" - Howard Hewett
During my first week of work, the city was in full Super Bowl XL mode. The streets were blocked off and teeming with people. It was one of the most amazing things that I have ever experienced as a Detroiter.
Since then, the streets haven’t been as lively as they were during that week in February, but my enthusiasm for working in the city proper has not waned one bit. I absolutely love the fact that I don’t have to get into my car and drive around looking for someplace to grab lunch. Granted, most places that I’ve worked had a cafeteria, but sooner or later the company café just doesn’t cut it. Sometimes you just gotta get out!
How wonderful it is to go outside and see the people walking around Campus Martius, Cadillac Square and Greektown. Since I’ve started working Downtown, I run into people I know all the time, and since it’s such a central location, it’s much easier for me to get together for lunch with friends or run up to Wayne State for my classes. I can’t wait until the summer when Downtown really starts to blossom. This is what I’ve wanted for the longest time.
Today, I decided to go out for lunch. I was really hungry and eager to get out to soak up the sun, which has been so fickle these past few weeks. I set out in the direction of the Guardian Building to see what I could see. While walking down Woodward, I passed two street musicians playing straight ahead jazz. They were actually quite good. With just those two instruments, they managed to deliver a rather respectable version of John Coltrane’s “Afro Blue.” Seeing them playing in front of the Good Life Lounge made me smile.
Taking a left, I decided to try the food at Karmic Café. This is a fairly new eatery that features vegan and organic foods. Curious and hungry, I ordered the miso soup and the apple cinnamon bread pudding. My rating: Soup – good, not great. Pudding – Some things just need sugar, else why bother?
Walking back I passed the same musicians playing one of my favorite jazz cuts, “Soul Struttin" (Am I the Same Girl). I so wanted to tip them but just as I thought about it some iffy looking guy approached me and tried to sell me a rather worn jacket. I decided that was not the time to stop and dig around for change so I kept going.
When I got back to the office, I opened my window and gazed out at the skyline. For so long this is where I’ve wanted to be and I finally made it. I can’t say that I plan to stay at this company for any extended period of time, but wherever I go I hope I can remain Downtown.
Now that the weather is getting nice, the streets are coming to life once more and the energy is contagious. The thought of going back to the ‘burbs chills me to the bone. They will have to drag me out there kicking and screaming. I’ve done my time out there, now let me be!
I’m a citygirl at heart.
This is where I belong.
ETA: Changed title to match later lj name change
- Mood: cheerful
- Music:"Stolen Moments" - Oliver Nelson
