1. Thai food
2. Dinner with dad
3. JellyBabies
4. my beloved cowboy boots from Austin, Texas
5. my brother fixing my watch for free
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Gratitude 3/28/07
1. Central Park (I am bad for forgetting how wonderful it is)
2. Ducks in the pond in Central Park
3. the ability to walk miles and miles in Manhattan
4. McDonald's strawberry sundae (just today it hit the spot)
5. Chantel
2. Ducks in the pond in Central Park
3. the ability to walk miles and miles in Manhattan
4. McDonald's strawberry sundae (just today it hit the spot)
5. Chantel
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Gratitude 3/27/07
Whew! I never imagined this lil' list would be difficult, but lately it really is.
1. Sunshine and 75+ degrees
2. The kindness of strangers
3. Jackie
4. The ability to give myself a manicure others think is a professional job
5. All My Children and One Life to Live and its silly escapism
1. Sunshine and 75+ degrees
2. The kindness of strangers
3. Jackie
4. The ability to give myself a manicure others think is a professional job
5. All My Children and One Life to Live and its silly escapism
Monday, March 26, 2007
Gratitude 3/26/07
1. God's Love We Deliver, and the volunteers there who give me support
2. Peter
3. my brother Dan
4. the friends I seem to be making on the 'net
5. My view of Manhattan
2. Peter
3. my brother Dan
4. the friends I seem to be making on the 'net
5. My view of Manhattan
Sunday, March 25, 2007
My results kitchen
Love, love, love having DVR. I don't watch a heck of a lot of television, but the stuff I do watch, I am devoted to, and thanks to the DVR, I always have a bunch of my shows at the ready.
Only this dork has a usual roster of cooking shows on the ol' DVR. My favorite is America's Test Kitchen on PBS (http://www.americastestkitchen.com/corp/about-americastestkitchen.asp). It's a real test kitchen, located just outside of Boston, in an area called Brookline. I think my dream would be to work there and live in Brookline. I thought the area was lovely when Jenne lived right near there and we would stroll through it. There is a companion magazine to the test kitchen, called Cook's Illustrated, which I subscribe to and also love very much. I also get another mag they offer, called Cook's Country. Both magazines accept no advertising, so it's all about cooking from cover to cover, written by people who are damn serious about it, but the articles are also written with a little bit of playfulness.
I was watching today's episode of America's Test Kitchen, which was about making excellent fish n' chips, and I thought about just what kind of cook I am. Many people have suggested or told me to go to culinary school, but I'm not sure I'd want to cook for a living. It's far too much fun to have the freedom to make what you want, when you want to. No pressure. And the restaurant business is all about pressure. And awful lot of work, with little payoff, from what I can see. For those that love it, great. You have to love it, because you work harder than you ever have in your life.
I'm also not the kind of person to invent her own dishes. I realized that I get enough of a kick from merely following recipes and discovering the results for herself. And in the case of America's Test Kitchen and their magazines Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country, they've done all the testing until a recipe is perfect, and then they publish them. If I follow these recipes to the letter, I'm guaranteed quality. This perfectionist appreciates that very much. :o)
I've finally realized that even a cook that relies on someone else's recipes all the time is still a great cook if they get great results. It's a good thing to be able to follow instructions correctly. (Can I get a job with that skill? LOL) There are many people that don't, and then wonder why they don't get good results. I do add touches of my own, once I have made a recipe correctly, because only when it's done correctly can I actually make a real judgment on improving it, or tweaking it to suit my tastes.
America's Test Kitchen gives its readers the opportunity to help them test recipes, and I've signed up for it. I like the idea that I'm now part of the process. I will make the recipe they sent me for Rosemary-Scented Salt-Roasted Potatoes with Roast Garlic Butter before the week is over to participate. :o)
I keep hoping that if I watch enough cooking shows, I'll learn enough to replace a very expensive culinary education...
Haha... yeah, right. ;o)
Only this dork has a usual roster of cooking shows on the ol' DVR. My favorite is America's Test Kitchen on PBS (http://www.americastestkitchen.com/corp/about-americastestkitchen.asp). It's a real test kitchen, located just outside of Boston, in an area called Brookline. I think my dream would be to work there and live in Brookline. I thought the area was lovely when Jenne lived right near there and we would stroll through it. There is a companion magazine to the test kitchen, called Cook's Illustrated, which I subscribe to and also love very much. I also get another mag they offer, called Cook's Country. Both magazines accept no advertising, so it's all about cooking from cover to cover, written by people who are damn serious about it, but the articles are also written with a little bit of playfulness.
I was watching today's episode of America's Test Kitchen, which was about making excellent fish n' chips, and I thought about just what kind of cook I am. Many people have suggested or told me to go to culinary school, but I'm not sure I'd want to cook for a living. It's far too much fun to have the freedom to make what you want, when you want to. No pressure. And the restaurant business is all about pressure. And awful lot of work, with little payoff, from what I can see. For those that love it, great. You have to love it, because you work harder than you ever have in your life.
I'm also not the kind of person to invent her own dishes. I realized that I get enough of a kick from merely following recipes and discovering the results for herself. And in the case of America's Test Kitchen and their magazines Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country, they've done all the testing until a recipe is perfect, and then they publish them. If I follow these recipes to the letter, I'm guaranteed quality. This perfectionist appreciates that very much. :o)
I've finally realized that even a cook that relies on someone else's recipes all the time is still a great cook if they get great results. It's a good thing to be able to follow instructions correctly. (Can I get a job with that skill? LOL) There are many people that don't, and then wonder why they don't get good results. I do add touches of my own, once I have made a recipe correctly, because only when it's done correctly can I actually make a real judgment on improving it, or tweaking it to suit my tastes.
America's Test Kitchen gives its readers the opportunity to help them test recipes, and I've signed up for it. I like the idea that I'm now part of the process. I will make the recipe they sent me for Rosemary-Scented Salt-Roasted Potatoes with Roast Garlic Butter before the week is over to participate. :o)
I keep hoping that if I watch enough cooking shows, I'll learn enough to replace a very expensive culinary education...
Haha... yeah, right. ;o)
Gratitude 3/25/07
1. My two legs, and the ability to take a walk on a sunny day.
2. 50 degree weather, with sun
3. coffee ice cream (still my favorite!)
4. my LL Bean zip-up fleece (one of the best things I ever bought)
5. Peter's meows and purring
2. 50 degree weather, with sun
3. coffee ice cream (still my favorite!)
4. my LL Bean zip-up fleece (one of the best things I ever bought)
5. Peter's meows and purring
Friday, March 23, 2007
Gratitude
Got away from my daily gratitude, and now it's back:
1. Serene. She just rocks, and she's awesome with hair!
2. Spring. Need I say more? ;o)
3. Karaoke. I had loads of fun singing for Courtney's birthday on the 13th. I needed the release.
4. My Mac. Two years now, and the love affair is going strong.
5. Bananas and peanut butter.
1. Serene. She just rocks, and she's awesome with hair!
2. Spring. Need I say more? ;o)
3. Karaoke. I had loads of fun singing for Courtney's birthday on the 13th. I needed the release.
4. My Mac. Two years now, and the love affair is going strong.
5. Bananas and peanut butter.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Pay it forward
Sigh. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow. I feel like I'm not gonna get any real answers, so I suppose I'm just calling because I don't know what else to do with Peter. We have changed his food a few times now, and things haven't gotten better. He just had a bout of diarrhea and puking, poor kitty. This has nothing to do with the recall, by the way... He's been on dry food pretty much for the last couple of months, and he's eating prescription food, which is unaffected. The last time I went to the vet to buy him more dry food, I picked up 6 cans of the Science Diet prescription w/d wet food. Peter LOVES wet food and really misses not having it, but I swear, it goes right through him!
He looks so skinny it makes me sad. I leave him dry food 24/7, and he eats just enough to sustain himself. My friend Alex stopped by the other day, and agreed that he looks pretty skinny. It breaks my heart. He and Elvis were always a bit on the "round" side, so seeing Peter not look the same kills me.
I met my hairdresser's cat today, 'cause I went to her house for a trim. More on that in a minute. Her cat is a gorgeous black and white boy... named "Boy"... LOL He's very affectionate and talkative. I just loved him. And I could tell he liked me too, since he showed me by head-butting my face and caressing me with his tail. :o) But I was truly stunned when I learned his age: 14! This cat does not look 14! He was the picture of health! Super-soft coat, bright eyes, healthy weight. I became a little sad that Peter isn't that weight anymore, and it frustrates me that my vet hasn't found an answer as to why he's having issues with food and his insides. When he uses his litter box, I swear it smells like he's decaying on the inside! I would love to get another opinion and maybe find out once and for all what's going on with him, but there's no money to do that.
Back to my hairdresser. The last time I went to the salon for a trim (January), she and I were chatting, and I mentioned that I still hadn't gotten a job. She whispered to me that she could cut my hair in her house for a flat $60, no tip, and that she was only extending that offer to me, since we know each other so long. My hair has gotten mighty out of shape, and I really feel that I need to look my best when I'm trying to get a job, so I'm trying to keep these things up. So she and I arranged for me to go to her house in Brooklyn today, and I silently figured $60 was worth spending, since a trim from her usually lasts me two months, maybe a little more.
She moved to the Park Slope area of Brooklyn in the fall, and I can see why she's happy where she is now. She's a half a block away from the subway, and it's about 25 minutes to Soho, to the salon where she works. She's got everything she needs within footsteps of her apartment, and I began to miss "borough living." :o) But I still don't miss the rents. She pays a lot more than I do a month. You pay for conveniences. But her apartment is lovely, and perfect for one person. It gets a lot of light and has nice things like an exposed brick wall (in the bedroom) and hardwood floors.
We chatted about things as she worked her magic, and although we both shared astonishment that I can't seem to get hired anywhere, we agreed that things must (and will) turn around. I told her about my blessed friends and family and how much they've helped, and that's when she told me she was trimming my hair for free (!!!)... She believes in "paying it forward," where you repay the good deeds you have received by doing good things for other, unrelated people.
Sigh. I hope to be able to "pay it forward" too... soon.
He looks so skinny it makes me sad. I leave him dry food 24/7, and he eats just enough to sustain himself. My friend Alex stopped by the other day, and agreed that he looks pretty skinny. It breaks my heart. He and Elvis were always a bit on the "round" side, so seeing Peter not look the same kills me.
I met my hairdresser's cat today, 'cause I went to her house for a trim. More on that in a minute. Her cat is a gorgeous black and white boy... named "Boy"... LOL He's very affectionate and talkative. I just loved him. And I could tell he liked me too, since he showed me by head-butting my face and caressing me with his tail. :o) But I was truly stunned when I learned his age: 14! This cat does not look 14! He was the picture of health! Super-soft coat, bright eyes, healthy weight. I became a little sad that Peter isn't that weight anymore, and it frustrates me that my vet hasn't found an answer as to why he's having issues with food and his insides. When he uses his litter box, I swear it smells like he's decaying on the inside! I would love to get another opinion and maybe find out once and for all what's going on with him, but there's no money to do that.
Back to my hairdresser. The last time I went to the salon for a trim (January), she and I were chatting, and I mentioned that I still hadn't gotten a job. She whispered to me that she could cut my hair in her house for a flat $60, no tip, and that she was only extending that offer to me, since we know each other so long. My hair has gotten mighty out of shape, and I really feel that I need to look my best when I'm trying to get a job, so I'm trying to keep these things up. So she and I arranged for me to go to her house in Brooklyn today, and I silently figured $60 was worth spending, since a trim from her usually lasts me two months, maybe a little more.
She moved to the Park Slope area of Brooklyn in the fall, and I can see why she's happy where she is now. She's a half a block away from the subway, and it's about 25 minutes to Soho, to the salon where she works. She's got everything she needs within footsteps of her apartment, and I began to miss "borough living." :o) But I still don't miss the rents. She pays a lot more than I do a month. You pay for conveniences. But her apartment is lovely, and perfect for one person. It gets a lot of light and has nice things like an exposed brick wall (in the bedroom) and hardwood floors.
We chatted about things as she worked her magic, and although we both shared astonishment that I can't seem to get hired anywhere, we agreed that things must (and will) turn around. I told her about my blessed friends and family and how much they've helped, and that's when she told me she was trimming my hair for free (!!!)... She believes in "paying it forward," where you repay the good deeds you have received by doing good things for other, unrelated people.
Sigh. I hope to be able to "pay it forward" too... soon.
NJ drivers suck
Okay, I've really had enough of New Jersey drivers. What's the deal? Why can't they drive? Insurance is so high in this state, and it's because we have really bad drivers. This happened in the next town... it makes me mad, 'cause one of those passengers coulda been me. Well, if I was working in NJ...
A few other states have it bad too. Florida goes without saying. Then there's Massachusetts...
NJ Transit Bus Crashes in North Bergen
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- An NJ Transit bus driver was hospitalized, and at least seven passengers were injured after a bus rear-ended a dump truck on Thursday morning.
The crash took place at about 6:50 a.m. at the corner of Westside Avenue and 69th Street, according to NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett.
The bus driver was pinned to the side of the cab and suffered serious leg injuries. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, police Lt. Mark Cerbo said.
The bus driver, pinned inside of the vehicle, was extricated after 25 to 30 minutes, North Hudson Regional Department acting deputy fire chief Robert Duane said.
While he did not know the condition of the driver or passengers, he told NorthJersey.com there was a "considerable amount of blood on the bus."
About seven other passengers reported injuries, with some taken to area hospitals, Cerbo said.
The bus was on the 83 line, and was heading north on Westside Avenue, on its way from Jersey City to Hackensack, Hackett said.
Westside Avenue was closed in both directions from 68th to 89th streets and delays were expected on route 83.
A few other states have it bad too. Florida goes without saying. Then there's Massachusetts...
NJ Transit Bus Crashes in North Bergen
NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- An NJ Transit bus driver was hospitalized, and at least seven passengers were injured after a bus rear-ended a dump truck on Thursday morning.
The crash took place at about 6:50 a.m. at the corner of Westside Avenue and 69th Street, according to NJ Transit spokeswoman Penny Bassett Hackett.
The bus driver was pinned to the side of the cab and suffered serious leg injuries. He was taken to Jersey City Medical Center, police Lt. Mark Cerbo said.
The bus driver, pinned inside of the vehicle, was extricated after 25 to 30 minutes, North Hudson Regional Department acting deputy fire chief Robert Duane said.
While he did not know the condition of the driver or passengers, he told NorthJersey.com there was a "considerable amount of blood on the bus."
About seven other passengers reported injuries, with some taken to area hospitals, Cerbo said.
The bus was on the 83 line, and was heading north on Westside Avenue, on its way from Jersey City to Hackensack, Hackett said.
Westside Avenue was closed in both directions from 68th to 89th streets and delays were expected on route 83.
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