Post-Disney Depression

I has it. Pictures are here-- it was so. Magical.

Proof of nerditude

Megan's Dewey Decimal Section:

484 [Unassigned]

Megan = 357149014489475 = 357+149+014+489+475 = 1484


Class:
400 Language


Contains:
Linguistics and language books.



What it says about you:
You value communication, even with people who are different from you. You like trying new things don't mind being exposed to unfamiliar territory. You get bored with routines that never change.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

What's your Dewey number?

P.S. Yes, this is what happens when I tire of taxonomy work at my internship.
P.P.S. I have informally quit NaBloPoMo. But I am trying to post more!

Lunch of champions

On a normal day at the internship, I am ravenous for lunch by about 10:45. However, today-- and of course today is the day that I come prepared with delicious leftover minestrone, lovingly prepared for me by mom-- I was either so full of my apple-and-sharp-white-cheddar breakfast, or so anxious about this case study I have to write that I didn't get hungry until about 3. And when that happened, did I go heat up the soup? Nope. I took my $2 up to the cafeteria and bought a Diet Coke and peanut M&M's. Lunch fail.

What I think of Prop 8 passing

My sheer elation about Obama (yes, I am still glued to news programs so that they will continually reassure me that it actually did happen) is tempered by the seething rage I feel about California passing Prop 8 last Tuesday. Granted, there was a lot of money spent on both sides (and I don't know enough to form an opinion of the funders), and the margin was the smallest it's ever been in a vote on this issue...but I feel so let down by my reliably blue state. I know that I'm in a blue bubble here in the Bay Area, and have been raised with values of acceptance and love for everyone that others simply weren't...it is truly unfathomable to me, that anyone thinks that we can, in the 21st century, ban any two consenting adults from marriage. Inspired by Renee and The Modern Matriarch, I had to take this picture:



(Yes, I am aware that this makes my hand look beefy.) I am so fortunate that no one will question my impending marriage, that no one is scared that their kids will learn about me in school. (God forbid! Oh, and parents? Someday your kids will learn about homosexuality, and there is nothing you can do to stop it.) I don't believe the struggle for equal marriage is over, and I will fight until it is, and everyone's love is considered legal and legitimate.

Friday fill-ins are baaaack

Now I only have to put actual effort into entertaining y'all six times a week. I'm tearing myself away from a dvr-ed NBC Nightly News to present to you...Friday Fill-ins! Get in on the action!

1. My blueprint for success includes finishing library school in a reasonable amount of time and finding a job that is both fulfilling and better-paying than my last full-time job. (I'd like to think that I have more earning power post-master's degree, right?) Besides that, I am excited for my now-less-than-a-year-away wedding and all that will follow it!
2. A mini Crunch bar was the last candy I ate. Damn you, Halloween!
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is this Pond's one that I found on a recent Rite-Aid jaunt. The packaging is mostly in Spanish, which is fine for my bilingual self, and a little internets-research told me that there is some awesome "science" behind this overwhelmingly baby-powder-smelling lotion! (Not my favorite frangrance, btw, but I'm willing to deal.
4. Cooking can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about all the competing color schemes that I have floating around in my head for the wedding. But I won't, because even I am bored by wedding stuff, most of the time.
6. My willingness (nay, compulsion!) to be truthful with everyone (sometimes much to my detriment) is my strongest characteristic.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching this weeks episodes of The Office, 30 Rock, and Grey's, tomorrow my plans include a presentation/class meeting in the morning, work in the afternoon, and a wine/cheese party in the evening, and Sunday, I want to visit another potential wedding place with my mom. So begins the process...

FAIL.

Yep, I managed less than a week of consisted NaBloPoMo. However, I am planning a double-post Friday to make up for it! Seeing as there is no governing body for this "everyone write, every day!" month, I am not afraid of much censure, so let's just move on. I'm sure all eleven of my readers will forgive (right?).

Today is an unofficial day off, as there is no work-work to be done, but a ton of school and a bit of wedding stuff to do. That means I got to sleep in (until 8! Nice!), and watch multiple episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8...before beginning my prep for a presentation I have to give tomorrow on blogs. Yes, blogs. Specifically, blogs about/by libraries/librarians, which will be a scintillating 7 minutes in Elluminate. Yay, Powerpoint (picture the Michael Scott emphatic pointing here)! Later, my mom and I will check out the house that is a potential wedding venue-- it's in Morgan Hill, and is the home of my former boss's mom and stepdad. GP and I have been there before, but I have to run it by the benefactors before we finally have a venue decision made (this is the other current front runner-- any feedback?).

The most wonderful time...

What with the election over (bittersweet, really, because Prop 8 looks like it's going to pass in CA, and that just makes me sick to my stomach), it is officially time to start looking forward to the Holidays. Yes, Halloween is over, and judging from the displays just about everywhere, we'll be skipping Thanksgiving this year and heading straight for holly and tinsel. No? Fine, then. We'll talk about Thanksgiving, instead.

I love Thanksgiving. Because I am a ridiculous sap, and definitely do not take time to think about incorporating gratitude into my everyday life (in between episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8), I an thankful for Thanksgiving. Really, it's like Valentine's Day, but with less chocolate and more gravy. Probably slightly less sex, but that's really up to you. I have been alternating Thanksgivings between my parents since they split up (I think that was...10 years ago?), and luckily that will likely continue post-marriage because GP's parents live in New York, which is just far too far to travel for a holiday based on eating (presents, I will travel for). This year we will be celebrating with my dad's side, at my aunt's house in Modesto. Modesto is a slightly terrifying town in the Central Valley, which is about as red as California gets-- very, very socially conservative and whatnot, and they have the distinction of being the former stomping grounds of both Gary Condit and Scott Peterson. Woo, Modesto. My aunt's cooking, however, makes up for all that-- she's been doing Thanksgiving so long that she's basically a pro, which means turkey and ham, as well as all the obligatory sides, but dessert is really the star. (When is it not?) Pie as far as the eye can see, cookies, and some pineapple/Jell-o/whipped cream concoction that I can never re-create. I'm salivating just thinking about it...

Two questions, y'all:
1) What's your favorite Thanksgiving dinner food?
2) What are you thankful for?

P.S. Bonus! Because my boss at the library internship is Canadian, we got to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving there a few weeks ago. There were bacon-wrapped green beans, and I almost melted with pleasure.

In short...

I am so, so proud of America. It was all worth it-- all the worrying, all the hoping, all the rollercoaster that the last 18 months have been worth it. This night is one that I will be proud to have been part of the making of, and I that I am already looking forward to telling my children about (don't worry, though, it'll be awhile before there are any of those). The past eight years, the abomination that the Bush administration has been...I feel like they have pushed us in this direction. One that is so many of the ideals that we hold closely to our American identity, come to fruition. I'm teary and even more full of hope than I've been in a long time (I know, "change and hope"...but get used to it).

What are you looking forward to in the next four years?

P.S. I am still edgy about some of the California propositions...we'll see.

Tense

I am watching the final episode of "The Daily Show" before the election, and really? Y'all, I'm more excited about it than I was about watching the NBC Nightly News (ok, I have repeatedly asked GP if we can name our future son Brian Williams Ourlastname, that's how obsessed I am). And I don't know what it is-- school, two jobs, what have you, but this election is bringing back the TMJ that I so enjoyed in high school/college. Greeeeat. I am hoping tomorrow night that the overriding emotion in The Apartment will be joy, followed by relief, but still worried about the presidential race (what if all the polls are wrong?), but also Props 4 and 8. Time will tell, but mostly I am hoping that a) our country will changed for the better because of this election, and b) that my damn jaw will stop with the tension, popping, and clicking.

Even if it's for a sticker and free coffee, donuts, and/or ice cream, I hope everyone gets out and votes tomorrow! I am shameless about my leanings (truly, because I feel no shame), but whatever yours happen to be, get out there and express yourself. And if you're still undecided (which I am beginning to believe is like being bisexual-- I just don't buy it), read this. It's graphically pleasing and informative!

That extra hour

...totally helped me out, because by the time I BARTed and drove home from the city, it was half past one in the morning, waaaay past my bedtime (yes, shut up, I am old now).

Matturday was awesome, with the concert preceded by dinner at Out the Door in the SF Shopping Center (which I hadn't been to in ages, and is so much nicer than I remember!). We shared a couple tepid (at best! come on) vegetarian steamed buns, then a bottle of white Bordeaux, cellophane noodles with Dungeness crab, and spicy lemongrass chicken. When we were stuffed and lightly sauced, we walked the two blocks to the Warfield, where we proceeded to drink $9 gin and tonics (and I managed to find a bar that demanded a $35 minimum on a credit card...seriously) and enjoy the dulcet tones of whatever band was the opener for the opener, Jessie Baylin. Jessie Baylin is adorable, and was dressed like a blonde Pinky Tuscadero, complete with biker jacket (no word on whether it has ever belonged to Fonzie) and rocker-chick gyrations. If I were in a more music-acquiring mood, she'd definitely be on my list. And then there was Matt! Nathanson! His shows are, as previously mentioned, on the rocking side of awesome, and last night was no exception...the notable sing-along was "Take on Me," truly a test of audience falsetto skills (luckily Andy and I are fantastic singers), a bit of "Jesse's Girl," as well as the perennial favorite of the audience doing the "I can fall alone..." background during the encore of "Answering Machine" (which holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first of Matt's songs I ever heard).

The rain that assaulted my car as I drove up to catch the train had thankfully ceased, and I had that jangly, too-alive feeling that usually follows concerts. Does that make sense? I feel like there's something about all that sensory overload that dulls and sharpens everything at the same time...

Matturday!

I had to do it, you guys... I am so. Freaking. Excited. For tonight! My friend Andy and I are going to see Matt Nathanson at the Warfield, which will be the third time that we've seen him together, and the fourth time that I've seen him in concert. Yes, I realize that that is insane, especially given that I am not an especially frequent concert-goer (I am a grad student with two jobs...and no free time or money. It's all podcasts and NPR for me), but I try to make a point of seeing Matt when I can. His concerts are always really fun, with a sing-along or three (greatest hits include "Livin' on a Prayer," "Starfish and Coffee," and any number of Journey songs-- I'm hoping for "Faithfully" tonight). The opener is Jessie Baylin, who looks pretty groovy on her website, and if MySpace and previous Matt openers (Ingrid Michaelson! Marc Broussard!) are any indication, tonight is going to kick all the ass.

In other news, I have decided to crash back into the blogging world by doing NaBloPoMo. Yep, I have joined the group and everything...but I am warning you, some of it is going to be boring. So don't say I didn't tell you, okay?

The winding-down of Barack-tober

Yeah, that's right...I am not even going to mess around with the Rock-tober promises, because this month has been too full of The Busy to apply any such term to it. However, there were some highlights, including:

-a haircut, with deep conditioner treatment that was kicked into the deal and totally blew my mind. Sure, I am annoyed with my sort-of side-bangs now, but at the time? I was so excited about my hair.

-attending the last wedding of 2008, and possibly the last one before my own, which is a scary thought. No, we haven't picked a date (because it turns out I fail at wedding planning so far-- no decisions have been made), but we have heard nothing and gotten nary a Save the Date, so I'm thinking it might be a year-long wedding drought.

-rocking the hell out of most of my Library School assignments. Turns out I have found my calling, even though I still think distance learning is pretty isolating.
-carving the best jack-o-lantern ever. Seriously, friends, all I need now is a couple others that say "No on 8" and "No on 4" (because I loooove gays and hate babies! No wait, only one of those is true), and I will be an official commie. Is it election time yet?

Now, for the lowlights:

-being near tears during a timed online assignment because my professor had given such poor directions that I was almost entirely unprepared for the damn thing. I have survived, but we will see what the grading gods think of my efforts.

-finding out that my 18-year-old stepsister had gotten married in mid-July. Oh, and I found this out...in mid-August. From my mom and stepdad...who had found out only a few days previous. If I felt that this marriage was in any way based on some sort of adult, mature, well-reasoned decision, I might be a bit more supportive. As it is now...well, it hurts to think that one's sibling wouldn't deign to notify her family of her marriage.

-working two jobs sucks. I even did the math, see? Two part-time jobs + graduate school < one full-time job

Am I being too ambitious when I am even considering doing NaBloPoMo?

Michael Phelps is Not Funny

Yes, friends, fall is upon us. Because there is very little in the way of autumnal coloring in California, one of my favorite parts of fall is new tv! So exciting! And we’re back, with the SNL recapping and our friend Michael Phelps. Before I turn on the Tivo…I have to say, I have been trying really hard to avoid coverage of the Tina-Fey-as-Palin, Amy P.-as-Hillary sketch, because I want to be surprised. We’ll see. Oh, and I have huge, huge doubts as to the hilarity of Michael Phelps, despite his abs that I want to eat brunch off of.

(Note: turns out Tivo didn’t record it—wtf—and I am having to use our DirecTV dvr to watch this. This dvr is le suck.)

We begin with “A Nonpartisan Message from Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Hillary Clinton.” Yay! Tina Fey+Amy Poehler=awesome. I’ve paused it, and “Hillary” looks bored. Can’t wait to hear Tina Fey do that godawful accent, with its flattened and horrific vowels. Also, sexism? Is not the reason we hate you, Sarah Palin. We hate you because you are a Big Fat Idiot. What’s a flirge? Ooh, I would love to see Sarah Palin side-hug Hillary, and watch Hillary punch her in the throat. No, no one else? Ok, it lived up to the play it got on the internets…I am satisfied.

Same cast as last season? Huh. Ok. A couple new featured players, maybe? Nah, just this Bobby guy. And Casey Wilson, whose face I always recognize but whose name always escapes me. Thanks, Don Pardo.

Michael Phelps, monologue. Can I just say, he reminds me a lot of my younger brother? About the same age, kinda tall and goofy… But I am still willing to bet the bro-ham is funnier. Yes, Michael Phelps, the gauntlet has been thrown. At least you dressed up for this. Hee hee, Amy P. is playing his mom, who I think is totally adorable. She’s a middle school principal, too, which means that she is a big damn deal. “Swim Cop.” Not funny. Will Forte in a Members Only jacket offers to have MP endorse My First Meth Lab, “a product [Michael Phelps] should not endorse.” Duh. OMG SHATNER!!! Teaches MP a lesson about integrity…and Priceline, an online travel site that I have never found that useful (Travelocity/Expedia/Kayak 4-eva!). Ahhhh, the real Debbie Phelps! So cute. Wow, I am totally glad that others saved the monologue, because he could NOT carry that thing.

I officially want to see Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. Am I hip enough to do that?

Michael Phelps wears a swim cap to beckon us into “Quiz Bowl,” where there are people barking like dogs within fifteen seconds. Terrifying. Also scary? The wigs. The joke here is that home-schooled fundamentalists don’t know about sex, physics, biology, or dinosaurs. Regular public-schooled kids aren’t that hot either. Ohh, America. Kristen Wiig steals the show, awesomely. However, this sketch is the lame.

Commercial about how hard jars are to open! Sucks. I mean, come on.

Yay! Will Forte takes another star turn as a high school swim coach. (Remember the Peyton Manning episode?) “Fudged my Speedo”? Poor showing, Michael Phelps. I hope there will be singing at some point…and a cassette tape makes an appearance. Yessss! Forte fixes his mustache and the song plays, a little muzak, and everyone manages to mostly keep their shit together as Will Forte performs Balki’s Dance of Joy. Phelps joins him, but is still wearing his warmups/tracksuit. I’ll give it a B-

I hope Ghost Town isn’t going to be as bad as it looks, because I really only want the best for Ricky Gervais.

Now that’s more like it! Hot Olympian with Laurels Michael Phelps brings us back to the show. What am I, made of stone? Something is wrong with the boss’s kids. Phelps as cousin Jeremy is in headgear, and together he and Kristen Wiig twitch their way through the French for numbers one through ten. It is strange, y’all. There is the display of a yodeling doll, and Phelps does some five-pound bicep curls, which are the highlight of this crapass sketch. I don’t want to be so negative about the season premiere of one of my favorite shows…but come on! I want some more Tina Fey or something.

Leonardo diCaprio with a neck beard? Not ok. But maybe Body of Lies won’t totally suck. Nah, it probably will. Miracle at St. Anna, though? I will probably need to see that. Woo, Spike Lee!

Li’l Wayne. Wearing those sunglasses that old people wear, all angle-y and wraparound. I am not cool enough to like this, not at 10:30am on a Friday morning.

I want to punch the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua in it’s bulging-eyed head. Sorry for the violent threats, but tell me you disagree.

Weekend Update! The highlights: Sarah Palin sucks, OJ is finally going to go to prison forever and ever (finally), Russell Crowe and Snoop Dogg are friends, who knew? Larry Craig doesn’t understand what entering a “guilty” plea means, despite being a freaking lawyer. Online mating databases for zoo animals (hilarious shot of a tiger sitting at a laptop), Nicholas Fehn comes and craps all over comedy. Cabbage Patch kids are 25 years old now (really? I am old), a bird called New Jersey 911, Seth Myers adorably celebrates a sort of lame joke. Andy Samberg is Cathy, of comic strip fame, and I think Rachel Dratch could do it better—what’s she up to these days?

Anyone seen Burn After Reading? I love me some Coen Brothers.

Charles Barkley’s talk show…with our friend Darrly Hammond as Bela Karolyi, who is probably completely insane. Michael Phelps gets to play himself, which is a relief. My little sweet potato is a hell of a swimmer, but not much of an actor.

Family dinner, with that obnoxious T-Mobile commercial where the daughter has hot friends. Dad, that is gross. I am happy to see the “aftermath” of this commercial.

Digital short! Andy Samberg in a white wig, somewhere in space/the future. This song could be by Styx, and is about the Space Olympics in 3022. It is not as awesome as you think it might be.

Aww, Amy Poehler is pregnant. This is the first time we’ve seen any hint of the belly this evening. She and Michael Phelps are on a date at a place like Friday’s or something, and our new featured player is acting much like I imagine regular Friday’s servers do. He fidgets with his do-rag, and I worry about the flammability of his Dragonball-Z shirt.

Um, friends? I heard there was to be some Barack Obama in this episode. There are only 15 minutes left. Where is he???

Li’l Wayne has at least two pairs of sunglasses. This means that he is a true baller, no? Well, Li’l Wayne, I have no fewer than four pairs of sunglasses on my console table right now. It would seem that we have more in common than I thought.

Woo, the Michael Phelps diet! I wish I had crazy Michael Phelps-ian muscles, but I worry about what they would look like in my wedding dress. And Jared Fogel even makes an appearance! It is a rough life for Jared these days, I’m sure.

Okay, the episode is over. And I saw no such Obama. Shame on you, SNL. Did I just miss it, internets? Help a girl out here!

Dear Sarah Palin, Part 2

Dear Sarah Palin,

It's me, again. I can't look away from all the coverage from you, I just can't. It's like a car accident, and I can't believe America would be so stupid as to want you for vice-president. Please America, you've fucked up before, but please don't disappoint me by being so short-sighted and voting on personality rather than issues as to get this woman who makes me ashamed to be female into any part of the White House. As I watch the ABC News interview with you, I have the following thoughts:

1) Hey, you can see Russia "from land!" in Alaska, and that gives you foreign policy experience?! Well, guess what, I can see the moon from my balcony. I guess that makes me an astronaut.

2) Do not fucking compare yourself to Abraham Lincoln. I know Abraham Lincoln, ma'am, and you are no Abraham Lincoln.

3) I think it is a noble thing, that your son is going off to fight a war (that I, personally, believe is completely misguided) in Iraq. Really, I admire him for that. You know why that is? Because I, too, am an American. I am proud of my country, and appreciate that there are those who are willing to do what I never could to protect us. Even if I never could. So don't you, for a goddamn second, pretend that I don't love my country. Because I do, and I will cut you.

Toodles,
Megan

Quick note on the RNC

Dear Sarah Palin,

I know that if I started writing all the things about you that make me want to scream continuously until election day, when Barack Obama will become our president, it would take too long. But as I sit here, I have to say just this: do you really have nothing else to talk about besides your fucking family? I thought they were off-limits. No, only when it's not convenient for you? Fair enough. I realize there are so many other reasons to dislike you, I'll let it go that you are using the language of choice to describe what your daughter is going through-- how convenient that she has the luxury of choosing, no?

How about, oh, I don't know...anything that might convince me that you are in any way qualified to be a heartbeat away from leading my country? Pure insults directed toward your opponent don't count. Go!

Love,
Megan

P.S. Stop lying about the Bridge to Nowhere! We have the internets now, you know.

On being a bad blogger, or why I haven't posted in about a month

Sorry, friends, I don't really have an excuse or apology for you...I was busy, and when I was not busy, I was...not in the mood? Oh well. The point is, I'm back(ish)! How about a little recap? In the past month, I have:

attended a wedding in New York



attended a wedding much closer to home (only 20 minutes away, a new record!)

concocted a watermelon, feta, and mint salad (and not posted an official Whip It Up! entry, sorry)



gone on a small field trip with GP and his parents to the CIA in Hyde Park, for a delicious Italian dinner



...and another field trip to the place on the Hudson where our Big Fat Engagement Party is going to be, next Memorial Day (GP's mom is a planning powerhouse, people, and I totally fail so far at wedding-planning)



had Engagement Party #1, a much smaller affair hosted by my mom and stepdad. The first attempt at getting various friend-groups together, as well as the first "All About Us" activity, and it went pretty well. Cupcakes were involved, so what else would we expect? (Note to self: write those thank-yous NOW!!!)



worked diligently and for very little money at my internship and at the tutoring place

started library school, in which I am taking three classes. I am told that this is an "intense" course load...and so far am not convinced. UCLA's quarter system prepared me pretty well for intense educational experiences, so there.

watched my Bruins beat #18 Tennessee at football. I began watching the game fully expecting us to lose, and was pushed further into the doom-and-gloom category by the (under)performance of our new quarterback (who I still might like to punch, despite the victory)...and then lost my mind when we finally beat them. Yay, college sports!

vowed repeatedly that I would be more diligent in blogging and commenting. With as much attention as all this blog/wiki/Web 2.0 (bleah) stuff is getting in all of my classes, I feel like I should do it, if only to stay on the forefront of the field...you know, because my personal blog has so much to do with library business.

Whip It Up! Fresh produce edition

This next chapter in the Whip It Up tale finds our heroine alone in the kitchen with a dead-batteried camera, four appropriately soft avocados, and a decree to use fresh produce in this week's featured recipe. What's a girl to do?

GUACAMOLE!

Easy choice, friends. As a native Californian, I can think of about 489,524 things to do with an avocado, some not legal in all fifty states, so I decided to keep it real with some good old guacamole. Oh, and because I am a badass...I "made" my own tortilla chips. Less than five minutes under a broiler, some nonfat cooking spray, chili powder, salt, and pepper, and I was in Snack Town. And the guacamole? Here we go...

Megan's Easy Way to Run Through Some Avocados
2-3 ripe, but not too soft avocados
half a jalapeno, seeded ('cause that's where the heat comes from, you know)
salt and pepper
juice from 1 lime or 1/2 a lemon
chili powder
1/4 to 1/2 cup of salsa, if desired
(really, anything else your tummy tells you needs to be in there, too, because much can happen in the heat of guacamole-making)

1. Remove skin and pits from avocado (I'm sure there's some great YouTube video of how to get that pit out, but believe me when I say that it is best to avoid hand laceration by putting the halved avocado on the counter before whacking a blade into the pit to remove it. Just be safe, people.) Place into serving vessel and mash roughly with a fork.
2. Finely dice the jalapeno and add it to the mashed avocado. Add lime or lemon juice.
3. Season with listed spices (and anything else that tastes appropriate), and leave in refrigerator to let flavors meld for about 30 minutes, or as long as you can stand.
4. Eat with chips, tortillas, or your hands. Really, any way to get the guacamole into the system is acceptable.

Was the recipe easy to follow? Yep! Satisfying cravings is something at which I've become greatly skilled, and this is something that is pretty easy to improvise.
Did the dish taste good? Oh, yes. I didn't eat it in one sitting or anything, but it stood no chance at the second one.
Would you make it again? Absolutely. I am a little sad that I only have one avocado left-- it seems like such a meager amount of guacamole!

Note: I have made guacamole from scratch with different ingredients (obviously, there were avocados involved...), as well as using the little powder packet that is available at the grocery store. So, it is a new *formulation* for me, I swear!

Whip It Up! Catch-Up edition

I've been a bit of a WIU delinquent as of late, but I assure you, interwebs, that I have still been cooking (and eating...) as much as ever! A couple weeks late (maybe just one? Who can say?), I present to you...an old favorite! More so for GP, who fell in love with Helper meals in college and, being a capable but lazy male cook, still has a soft spot for them. I, being a bit of a snob (or quite snobby, but still of with that), have refused to buy or eat the Helper meals, but agreed to put a similar, preservative-free version. Of course, this required making things up as I went along, which I seem to be getting more and more comfortable with.
The prepped veggies-- not exactly a mirepoix, but I had a ton of mushrooms on hand, and had to use them before they became complete slime. Garlic and onion because, come on, that goes in everything. FYI, this is about half a pound of whole mushrooms that I sliced, about three quarters of a small onion, and three cloves of garlic (because I am a garlic fiend). Soften the onion and garlic in about 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium/medium low heat until they are golden, while in a separate pan (I know, high maintenance), cook the mushrooms in a teeny bi of oil and a couple tablespoons of red wine (I used a Viansa merlot, which GP would have discouraged use of while cooking because it is too delicious and expensive, but shhhh). Take the mushrooms from looking like this:
To this:
Drain the liquid and set the mushrooms aside. As you begin to brown the meat (I believe we had about a pound of lean-ish ground beef, but I am a firm believer in ground turkey as well) in the pan with the onion and garlic, start cooking your pasta. I used slightly less than a pound of fusilli, but feel free to change that as your pasta and pasta-to-sauce/meat ratio desires see fit. When the meat if browned, add the mushrooms to the mixture, as well as a can of condensed tomato soup (I used Campbell's Healthy Request because that's what we had on hand-- the important part here is to only use half of the recommended amount of water, so as to avoid a too-soupy faux-Helper meal). Into this mix, also add your spice mixture:
Things will be looking very brown at this point, so feel free to add a splash more of that wine you used to cook to mushrooms. Can't hurt, right? While you're at it, pour a glass or two, drain the pasta, mix the pasta and "sauce," and call your fiance in from the study, because you are done concocting a from-scratch Helper meal! Take that General Mills!

Ok, now for the recap:
Was the recipe easy to follow? Well, yes. I coupled my vague memories of Helper meals with my willingness to make things up as I went along, and it ended pretty tastily. (Is that a word?)
Did the dish taste good? Yup! And there was no salt headache or waxy post-meal mouthfeel like I sometimes get with the actual Helper meals.
Would you make it again? Absolutely. I assume that it might be a little different, based on what we have on hand, but this is such a simple recipe that I think it can be adapted really easily to fit that sort of thing.

Megan's Made-Up "Helper" Meal
Ingredients:
1 small yellow onion
8 oz whole mushrooms
2-3 cloves garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
about 1/4 cup of red wine, divided
about 1 pound of ground beef or turkey, depending on preference
1 can of low-sodium condensed tomato soup
salt
Italian seasoning blend
garlic powder
ground black pepper
1 pound desired pasta shape (recommended: penne rigate, fusilli, elbow macaroni, rigatoni, shells)

Method:
1. Prep your onions, garlic and mushrooms by finely dicing, mincing, and slicing, respectively.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large pan over medium/medium low heat, and add the onions and garlic. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, until softened, being careful not to scorch the garlic.
3. In another pan, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and the red wine, and cook the mushrooms over medium low heat until softened, about 10 minutes. Once they are softened, drain the liquid and set aside.
4. Begin to cook your pasta.
5. To the onion and garlic mixture, add the ground meat. Cook over medium/medium high heat until browned.
6. Add condensed tomato soup, half the recommended amount of water. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning mix, and garlic powder to taste.
7. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes.
8. Drain pasta, combine with sauce, and serve.

Coming up: I have a bunch of avocados on hand! What could possibly ensue?

...and we're back?

I know, I know...I still have to bring the Whip It Up goodness to blog-town, but believe me when I say that this week has been just short of madness. Apparently, I find sending out 25 engagement party invitations very, very overwhelming. Oh, and I am working two jobs. So shut up. Now, for the comeback of the Friday Fill-Ins:

1. I believe whatever doesn't kill you makes for great cocktail party stories. As long as it's that kind of party.

2. If you're good at something, let it show! For instance, I am good at procrastinating, making little comments, baking, and playing FreeCell. You're welcome, world.

3. Why so many people in California use the left lane for driving rather than passing is beyond me. Being that my longer of the two job commutes is along a mountainous, two-lane highway, this drives me completely insane.

4. Something is out there, it's that gardenia that I bought before we went to Paris and has since withered. I'm convinced I can somehow resurrect it, though! Any advice? It's so sad and yellow right now...

5. If my life were a sitcom, it would be titled Tea and Cake Time. I realize this sounds more like a talk show, but I am feeling lazy and, hello, it's my blog name! What is not to love about that? Oh, and if my life were a sitcom, there would be nary a laugh track, and we would have to think long and hard before any spinoffs occurred.

6. Sitting on my back porch I see my sad little gardenia, my more-thriving palm tree and star jasmine, our complex's pool, and some screamy kids playing outside. What, still summer vacation?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to arriving in Roseville at the home of GP's friend (mostly due to the fabulous Peju we'll be drinking), tomorrow my plans include hanging out at the pool of the aforementioned friend and not thinking/worrying too much about upcoming wedding/school madness, and Sunday, I want to see my uncles on the way home. Rumor has it that there will be ribs and corn on the cob!

What are you up to this weekend, internets?

Whip It Up! Week One, Apple-Onion Pork Chops

I tried a couple new recipes this week, but due to photography constraints and general blog ennui, I am only sharing my favorite. Inspiration came in the form of the ingredients, and the recipe that was used was the simple result of a Google search that contained the words "pork," "apple," and "onion." (I have a "bad" habit of bulk-buying things like apples and onions because I feel like they're "anytime" ingredients, and some are invariably wasted because that "anytime" really isn't.) Thanks, AllRecipes!

First, the lineup. So few ingredients, which I loved:
(Note the bag of pre-cut sweet potato fries...I'll get to them in a sec.)

After trimming and browning the pork, it was time for the apples and onions to join the fun. What I loved about this step is that you're using the same pan, so there is less to wash, and as the cider vinegar is added, it helps everything form a really nice pan sauce!
Ok, now for the sad tale of the sweet potato fries. Last week, I was a total badass and walked to Trader Joe's rather than driving (yaaay!), and picked up a bunch of produce, including a tempting bag of pre-cut sweet potato fries. I had had them before in restaurants as more of a sweet than savory item, and was eager to try them out. They seemed like a good match for the general sweetness of this dish, so I followed the really, really easy directions on the back of the bag, and popped them into the oven. When I opened the oven to turn them about halfway through, it became clear that we would not be eating them as traditional fries-- I had neglected to lubricate the baking sheet, and there were bits of sweet potato allllll over it. Despite my best scraping efforts, this was the resulting sweet potato "bed" for our pork chops: After the pork chops had done their thing in the pan along with the onions and apples for about twenty minutes, this was the resulting plate:
And now, the verdict!
Was the recipe easy to follow? Yes, absolutely. There were two steps, folks!
Did the dish taste good? Yup-- it was very tasty. Having the combination of apple, slightly caramelized onion, sweet potato, and pork in each bite was the ultimate comfort food experience. So sweet, but in a very healthy-seeming way!
Would you make it again? Certainly. I think that, because it is so similar to a Rachael Ray recipe that I have made a bunch of times with chicken, I will borrow from that one and not cook the pork all the way through when browning. All that simmer time, despite the liquid, can tend to dry it out a bit. Otherwise, it's perfect-- though I might also want to re-try to sweet potatoes, or play with some root vegetable puree next time.

Apple-Onion Pork Chops, from AllRecipes.com (this one serves 4, I halved it)
INGREDIENTS

* 4 (4 ounce) lean boneless pork loin chops
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil, divided
* 2 cups sliced red onion (1/2 inch slices)
* 1 large tart apple - peeled and chopped
* 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
* 1/3 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

DIRECTIONS

1. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, brown chops in 1 tablespoon oil on both sides over medium-high heat. Remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, cook onions and apple in remaining oil over low heat until golden brown, about 30 minutes.
2. Return pork chops to the pan. Add vinegar; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 18-20 minutes or until meat is tender.

The bonus with AllRecipes-- you can scale back the recipes using a really cool clicky-number field (technical term) that they include. Not that I am that awful at math, but come on, I need all the help I can get.

The swing of things

My three-day weekend begins now, with a cranberry, lime, and vodka, and a pledge that I will get to the following in the next 48 hours:

1) my WIU report for this week. Spoiler alert: it was delicious!

2) doing a meme that Gretchen tagged me for. I do love the summertime!

3) Friday Fill-ins. Remember those?

4) rehash of what the heck I've been doing the last two weeks. Not being on vacation is haaaard.

In the meantime, my lovelies, I have finally gotten all the Paris pics into Flickr. For your viewing pleasure, I present pictures taken by me, those taken by GP's dad, and even some of My Precious. Ask and you shall receive, right?

Whip It Up! Week One, The Pasta Challenge

All right, you guys, so technically I made this way earlier in the week, and am just posting it now that I have miraculously found my special digital camera uploader cable in a pile of post-Paris stuff. Forgive me!

For Pasta Week, it was hard for me to choose just one thing-- I am looking at beginning The Great Wedding Dress Weight-Loss Plan of 2008-09, and carbs will be the thing I miss most of all. I settled on a Giada recipe, because she has never steered me wrong, and this one in particular satisfied my need to feel like I was being "healthy" about my my fat bowl of pasta (she even recommended multi-grain pasta! ...too bad I didn't have any on hand). I present to you..."Penne with Spinach Sauce" (oh yeah, and I substituted farfalle, which I figured would "hold on to" the sauce just as well as a penne rigate):

The suspect lineup-- both for WIU photography purposes, and because I hate to have to be rushing around the teeny kitchen in The Apartment while I am making something for the first time.

I find pasta recipes help me out more than any other with pacing myself, in terms of being able to multi-task. For instance, while the water was bubbling away on the stove, cooking the farfalle, I took the spinach/garlic/goat cheese (I skipped the cream cheese, mostly because GP is a lactard and we didn't have any on hand, and it still ended up deliciously) mixture from this:

...to this:

Once the pasta was cooked and drained, I mixed the sauce into it, back in the big pasta pot:

Now, finally, into the bowls that have some of the fresh spinach layered in the bottom (note to self: register for proper pasta bowls):

The beauty of making a recipe that serves four, for only two people? Lunches! (Clearly, this one is mine, what with all the cheese and red pepper flakes.)

Now, for the judgement:
Was the recipe easy to follow? Absolutely. I rarely have any issues with Giada's recipes, and I think pasta is simple enough-- in a recipe that includes only 8 ingredients (including the pasta!), there is little room for misinterpretation.
Did the dish taste good? Yup! Definitely a good recipe for summer, with the lightness of the spinach and the fact that it is a completely stove-top meal. In the future, I plan to play with the flavors a bit, maybe with some lemon (which is a WIU trend, so how could I not? Lemon is apparently to WIU what red accessories were to M:PT), sun-dried tomatoes, or chicken added in.
Would you make it again? Certainly. I might make some changes or additions, but I think that the recipe is a great base upon which to build. The first thing that GP said when I presented him with his bowl of pasta was, "There's no meat in here, is there?" I like that this recipe is easily adaptable to whatever tastes are being served.


Penne with Spinach Sauce, courtesy of Giada de Laurentiis
1 pound whole wheat or multi grain penne
3 garlic cloves
2 ounces goat cheese
1 ounce reduced fat cream cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the penne and cook until it is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes.

Mince the garlic in a food processor. Add the goat cheese, cream cheese, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, and half of the spinach leaves. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Set the cheese and spinach mixture aside.

Meanwhile, place the remaining spinach leaves in a large bowl.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Spoon the pasta atop the spinach leaves in the bowl. Scrape the cheese and spinach mixture over the pasta mixture and toss to coat, adding enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the Parmesan over and serve.

The Good Stuff

I have had this grand plan of chronicling our entire New York-Paris trip-- and I will, I swear!-- but really, I am in no mood to write about anything but what might arguably be called the highlight of the trip.

I got engaged in Paris!

Yes, apparently we are those types of people, the ones who go to the most romantic city in the world and go and get engaged. Truthfully, I had no idea it was coming-- I had been hearing from so many people, "Oh, he's going to propose there! Of course he will! It's Paris!" that I was convinced that there was no way that was going to happen. I didn't want to come back from the trip snapping at everyone who asked to see my left hand, so I was determined to have a simply amazing trip, diamond ring or no. Rest assured, friends, that I am completely appreciative that it did happen there, and that an already-wonderful trip was highlighted by a perfect proposal. What happened, you ask? Well...

It was the fourth day of our trip, one that started with a visit to the Louvre with GP's parents, but the two of us decided to make an Express Trip of it: Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Hammurabi's code, and the Winged Victory, a couple more things along the way, and we were headed out. Lunch in the Marais, with its labyrinthine streets and slight drizzle, peeking out from under an awning and finishing a bottle of wine. Then it was a few hours in the Picasso Museum, and back to our local supermarche in the 16eme (where our apartment was) to get some picnic items. The plan was to head to the Bois du Boulogne for a picnic, complete with a fresh baguette, some insanely cheap and delicious French wine (seriously, not a bad bottle was had on this trip), and a blanket that we had pilfered from the apartment (likely not intended for outdoor use).

Now, between the two of us, we knew that "bois" meant "woods." Why we went to a park that translates into "the woods of Boulogne" for a picnic may seem silly now, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. After wandering through several of the park's trails, surrounded by trees and any number of Parisian predators, ready to spring out of the aforementioned trees and grope one or both of us, we found a suitably grassy area and spread our blanket under a tree. Bread was broken, wine was drunk, and pigeons were shooed away. It was a perfect "early" dinner-- apparently in the summer, the sun is up in Paris until about 10:30pm, so this picnic began at about 7. I had already been talking about what we had to do when we came back to Paris, and GP began talking about how we have to come back to Paris now, as he pulled an Estee Lauder gift-with-purchase bag out of his pocket. What follows is a combination of what actually was said, and what was going on in my head...

Huh. What is this? Did he get me mascara?
GP: I never want to go anywhere without you, ever again. And I want us to always remember this trip...[He pulls a small green box out of the bag.]
What?! The boxes from New Brother-In-Law's jewelry store are green! It's too small to be a bracelet, or a necklace...did he get me earrings? What a wonderful way to remember a trip...
GP: [Opens the box, which contains my beautiful, cushion-cut solitaire on a white-gold band, ring] Will you marry me?
Me: Oh my God! Yes!!! [Begin crying, because really, who does this?]

So, that's about it, folks. That's how it happened. Now we're back home, and as surreal as it felt to be engaged in Paris, it is even more surreal to be engaged at home, and to begin to think about a wedding, my wedding, and a marriage, and a husband, and forever. But you know what? I can definitely get used to this...

Les nombres

Dear France (and other French-speaking countries),

I have just been informed that your people are unable to use single words/word pairs for the numbers 70-99. Now, I think we can all agree that that is just plain stupid. I mean, you guys have math, right? And numbers? I know this isn't a Latin-roots thing, because my Spanish-speaking ass is here to tell you that I can count to 100 (and beyond!) using such handy words as ochenta, and, at worst, setenta y nueve. I ask you, French-speaking nations...what the hell? I love you to death, and am in a constant state of joy that I am visiting your lovely capital in one week, but seriously, get on the ball with the counting-- I am freaked enough about the language as it is.

Love,
Megan

P.S. Yeah, I know "nombres" is Spanish for "names," but seriously, just shut up about it.

What I won't miss about my job

I was reminded by a friend and former colleague of one of my least favorite parts of my job: all the menial stuff that is in constant competition with much higher-level tasks. (Note to Boss: Do you want an admin, or do you want someone who will help your business work better? You don't necessarily even have to pick one, just don't be surprised when the more sophisticated tasks get higher priority, mmkay?) I laughed out loud for real when I read this email today:

"Also keep in mind that training is a good time to create and perpetuate myths/legends/lies/exaggerations…For example, you could tell her that the reason [Swedish girl that used to work here] went back to Sweden was because one day [Bossman] wanted a diet coke and there weren’t any in the fridge (even though there were some in the locked room) and he had her deported."

Background information, so you get the joke, too-- I am "training" my summer replacement (wow, wish I had had some training when I started...), and refrigerator stocking is an Essential Part of My Job. Feel free to laugh or cry as needed.




Note: there will, of course, be things that I do miss, but I had to share this because I thought it was too hilarious to keep to myself. All for you, internets.

The value of fathers

I know that I am lucky to have such a close and strong relationship with both my dad and my stepdad-- I am well aware of the conflicts and schisms that exist in other father/child relationships. I definitely appreciated it very acutely this past weekend, as every news program was a retrospective of Time Russert's career, Russert himself the consummate family man, successful in his career, but grounded by the love he felt for his namesake father, as well as the sheer joy derived from having a son that he was proud to call his own. In Tim Russert, I saw a lot of both of my father figures: he was passionate about life, always willing to share a story, and just brimming with pride that he had been blessed with the life that he had. Watching the unending news coverage Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, I was constantly in a state of near-tears. This could have been my dad, could have been my stepdad, could have been any number of men in that same age bracket that have impacted any number of lives.

My dad spent Saturday night with us, in "his room," where we have our office/guest room. When I went in on Sunday morning to see if he was up, I found him watching Meet the Press and crying. You all know this already, most likely, but seeing your father cry is among the hardest things you will ever have to witness. My dad being the softhearted guy that he is, this was not the first time; I had seen him weep from sadness as my childhood dog was put to sleep, and with joy as I graduated from high school and college (my mom, conversely, was dry-eyed both times...because she is a total bad-ass). What made Sunday morning difficult was that I knew he was crying because he felt like he had lost a friend, a comrade-in-arms, who had lived through the same years that he had, and shared the common joys of family and country, that so many of our fathers feel. I sat next to him and rested my head on his shoulder, tearing up myself, and feeling so grateful that he was right there with me, sharing this loss and appreciating the relationship that we have.

I know that this election year will be a little quieter, a little empty, without Tim Russert's joy at each step of the way, but I also know that I will love it no less, sharing each state's electoral results with my two dads, who represent both ends of the political spectrum (sorry, stepdad, there is no way in hell I am supporting McCain...I am truly my father's daughter, hippie leanings and all).

On not having the words

This will be fleshed out at some point later, but really...I had to come home from work early today because I was so stunned at the news of Tim Russert's passing. Since coming home a bit after 2 (shhh!), I've been watching the news and tearing up, wondering what I'll do on Sunday mornings now.

Window-licking

(The title comes from my first day-trip to Paris, when I was 12. My uncles took me on a Eurostar/bus tour of Paris, and as we drove past the many, many drool-worthy shops, our native French speaker of a guide talked about "window licking," as opposed to "window shopping." Because I was 12 and a little dense at the time, I swear she said "window leaking." I did not get it.) Long intro, I know. So, without further ado, I present to you...things that I would love to own and sport in Paris, but am too depressed about the dollar/Euro exchange rate to actually purchase, courtesy of Shop It To Me.

First, the dresses. A DVF, from Nordstrom, a steal at $171 (that's half off, folks!).I am loving the bateau neck and the chic ponytail, both of which I can pull off for much cheaper. Sorry, Diane. I still think you're lovely.


Now, a great, summery Lilly Pulitzer. Not the trademark Lilly pink and green (love! Drool!), but a yellow that I know everyone is digging right now. Available from Bloomingdales, $195.


One last DVF, a bit on the safari side. I can't decide what I think about the neckline, but I am leaning towards affection. dvf.com, $207 (Yikes)



Now, the shoes! Just one today-- a Steve Madden wedge that I envision would be either on the "horribly uncomfortable" or "like a dream" end of the comfort spectrum...what do you think? $60 on shoes.com


Finally, just for comparison sake-- I give you these, which look suspiciously like a pair I got at Target for about, oh...$6. So there. I win shopping!

Best day I've had in awhile, actually

(Not that my life is that terrible, I swear! Today was pretty great, though-- I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.)

1. Idle hands are either baked goods, or a good, long Girls Next Door mini-marathon on Tivo (Bridget is my favorite-- don't judge me!) waiting to happen,
2. I love exfoliating and singing in the shower.
3. My favorite time of the day is when I first get home from work and pour the first glass of wine, feeling the weight of the day slide off my back. (Feeling so weighty today, aren't I?)
4. The last tea I drank was some Breakfast Americana that I had this morning. Coffee has been making my stomach angry recently, and tea never does, so it is my morning beverage of choice these days.
5. I like to read outside on our balcony, slathered with SPF 45 in the Summer. Yes, I am pale and nerdy in all seasons!
6. My mother always said, "Beauty is not quick, easy, or painless." And you know what? She was right. My mom is one smart lady.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to getting creative with dinner (we are out of obvious meal makings, and I am refusing to grocery shop before we leave town) and buying a brand new suitcase (!!!), tomorrow my plans include a trip up to the City to visit some friends and do some drinking, and Sunday, I want to laugh until I hurt as I watch America's Funniest Videos. Now you know my secret shame, internets.

Oh, and to clarify the travel plans in the preceding post-- we are going to NY strictly for GP's sister's Big Fat Armenian Wedding and related festivities (into EWR on the day of the rehearsal, hanging out with family, then doing the whole wedding thing), and then heading to Paris a day or so later. NYC activities, I'm afraid, are out. But-- if you have a good response to the "So when are you guys getting married?" question, fire away. I don't want to have one too many drinks and end up punching some defenseless aunt.

The countdown

It has officially begun-- well, that's a lie. It began officially about a week ago, when I realized that the date of our departure for our New York/Paris odyssey was just over three weeks away. Officially, it is time to completely freak out about my Big Summer Trip, which marks more than a passport stamp for me.

I am entering the last days of my employment at Current Job, which is just fine with me. For what it's worth, I learned a lot here, and we all know I love to learn. Coming in, I knew that this wouldn't be my career, but I never suspected I would have as much trouble with the structure, expectations, and communication here. Since my previous job had been so structured and choked with bureaucracy, I looked forward to working for a small company, one in which there was "no hierarchy," and one in which everyone worked so closely together. What I found was a bit different, and I will be leaving having made some great personal friendships, but feeling like a big disappointment because I couldn't meet "goals" that had no business even being on my plate. I don't want this to be about work, though-- frankly, not enough exciting bad stuff happens here for it to be a compelling read, and I want you people to be entertained.

So, on to the entertainment! Friends, I am leaving for New York (GP's sister's Big Fat Armenian Wedding) and Paris (GP's parents' and our Big Parisian Non-Honeymoon) in two short weeks. I am losing hair over how excited I am. Have you any suggestions for things I Simply Must Do while I'm there? I have only ever been before on day trips when I was visiting London, so really have only covered going up the Eiffel Tower and walking on the Champs Elysees... Oh, and if you want a postcard, I may be able to arrange that. Just give me your address, and I will try my best to find something appropriately cheesy.

Also entertaining? What I get to do when I get back! This is more nerd-entertaining than actually entertaining, but I will be starting my internship (woo, libraries!) and back at Previous Employer, only this time as an instructor. I will have so many exciting and weird kid stories for you!

Now, if only "two weeks from now" would just hurry up and get here...

M.I.A.

Really, I have no great excuse for being a terrible, terrible blogger when it comes to new posts this week. I have been completely wiped out this entire week, having had a very fun, very event-filled Memorial Day weekend (the short version: GP's graduation and ensuing luncheon and dinner, trip out to Half Moon Bay, and then some Santa Cruz Mountain wine tasting), and developed this sleep thing where my body likes to wake up around 5:30a rather than a more reasonable time. Blame stress, blame activity, blame earlier sunrises...I am just exhausted. But not too exhausted, it turns out, too do some Friday Fill-Ins!

1. For me, data entry is the opposite of creativity. I was recently reminded of a summer job that I had while home from college one summer, in which I learned that one truly can spend too much time reading gossip blogs-- in between soul-crushingly boring sales data entry. Thanks, though, stepdad, for employing me when no one else was interested in a motivated and organized UCLA sophomore! Seriously, that job, though...
2. Heat, by Bill Buford was the last excellent book I read. The foodie nerd in me relished (ha!) every word of his descriptions of working in various kitchens in NYC and Italy, and made me envious that I may never get to do the same. But at least it's not data entry, right?
3. I like fill-ins because sometimes there is simultaneously too much and too little interesting crap going on in one's life to be able to craft a well-thought-out post.
4. In nature I like looking at the ocean. Luckily, I get to do so fairly often, and am always mesmerized by it, to the point of being completely dazed.
5. Obama should win the US elections. ...but that's an entirely different post. We can still be friends if you disagree, though, I promise. I don't want to shy away from talking politics, but I just don't have the energy right now.
6. The last time I laughed with all my belly was at The Office last night. Yeah, yeah, it was a rerun, but Michael Scott rarely disappoints. Well, actually, that is untrue. But the disappointment is the funny kind, so I am all right with that.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to drinking some wine and watching the rest of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (thanks, dvr!), tomorrow my plans include checking out a new pedicure venue (and potentially the place that I want to do a hair trial before GP's sister's wedding) and Sunday, I want to have the obligatory weekly dinner with my mom and stepdad! (In reality, I may end up skipping it because I have to go to a conference for work in the afternoon...but we'll see)

Have a great weekend, internets! I promise that I'll be more interesting soon...

My favorite kind of Monday

...is one on which I don't have to work. Instead, there may be some wine tasting. Go check out my guest post on Life in Pink if you need a break from all the sunshine and barbecuing. I'll be back tomorrow, with a recap of all the graduation and family activity that has filled my weekend!

Domestic goddess

Because I couldn't be bothered to be PT today, I figured I would earn my Girl Points by whipping up a fantastic dinner that did not consist of hot dogs (my immediate response when GP asked what we had for dinner). Rather, I concocted this, which was my first foray into the world of frying things in my own kitchen. All in all, it was pretty successful-- despite the fact that I got to experience My Very Own First Grease Fire. Yes, friends, olive oil will ignite if you try to tidy up with a paper towel when the burner is still on. I can't say that I recommend it. Oh, and you know there was an apron involved...I have ruined far too many shirts being spattered by wayward pan contents.

This weekend will be mercifully cooking-free, I believe, but more on that later. I am way too busy drinking wine to talk about the laundry-list of things that will be done this weekend.

Just keep swimming

This poster hangs on the wall in my office, and serves as a more stylish reminder than, for instance, a "Hang in there!" poster, that I need to keep plugging away at the interminable phone calls and emails that constitute the majority of my job. Now, for instance, I am in a tangle of CC's, unreturned phone calls, and multiple scheduling conflicts, and I want the hell out! Good thing the British Empire is there, encouraging me to maintain the stiff upper lip of my forefathers (well, Granny, at least).

I told my boss last week that I'm going back to school, and that I had been searching for library-related internships so that I can have some experience in the field even before I begin school in the fall. He took it pretty well (maybe there was some degree of relief? At any rate, he knew that what I am doing for him is not something I want to make a career of), and gave me a good reference for the internship woman, who called the day after I broke the news. The reference, along with that of a former boss (who is now a friend), sealed the deal-- I am starting an internship in a special library after we get back from Paris in July! That's not "special" as in "needs to wear a helmet at all times," just "special" as in, "a very specific collection and management system." I am pretty excited, but a bit apprehensive about being in over my head...I hope there's someplace to hang my poster at the internship place.

(Post) Weekend Update

While I can't claim to have been overwhelmingly busy last weekend, I still managed to be occupied enough not to blog. This, then, is what you are left with: bullets! What I managed to do in two days, aside from blog avoidance...

- entertain! Technically this was Friday, but I am including it because I am amazed that I was able to stay up past 10pm. I have been falling into the "in bed by 9:30" routine, which, while not bad in itself, sort of hampers one's social life. Oh, and I made a very popular (what? There were three other people eating it!) avocado mango shrimp salad (even though I ended up using papaya instead-- result of a very boring grocery-store tale). No heat required, and very refreshing. You have to try it!

- finish two library books! I am terrible, generally, at getting through books that I check out before they are (over)due, which is pretty shameful considering I am going to library school in the fall. This time, however, was different! I managed to finish Heat and One Perfect Day, both of which I highly recommend, especially the former, as I am food and cooking-obsessed these days.

- do a Major Apartment Clean-Up! We are not categorically messy people, GP and I, but we tend to have a bit of clutter in key places, including leaving drinking glasses (him) and shoes (me) in our wake as we go about our apartment business. I managed, through the weekend, to tackle the kitchen floor (thanks, Method O-Mop!), vacuuming with out teeny-tiny vacuum cleaner, dual bathroom cleanup, and balcony organization. Since the balcony (re) construction, there has been a ton of debris and whatnot due to further roof construction. It is a regular three-ring circus of construction crap and noise in our complex! If only we could...you know, enjoy it being done.

- get through two loads of laundry! Well...one and a half? We have big dryers, and each load is $1 wash and $1 dry. We are not Rockefeller, you know.

- spend less than $100 at Target! This is a big deal, folks. I finished birthday shopping for my mom, snagged some Jergens Natural Glow for me, and grabbed a full-length mirror so I have nothing holding me back from participating in Mission: Put Together but my own morning indecision and subsequent donning of jeans and a sweater. (Why yes, it is upwards of 80 degrees outside. I am completely insane.)

- was able to watch live television again! So, remember that week where the DirecTV tripod lived in our living room? Yeah, that week ended, and we were able to have it re-erected...only to have the dish knocked out of alignment by a wayward roofer. They said that they "might" be able to pay for the realignment, and I think I "might" kill them if we end up having to pay for something that we did not do (!!!!!). Anyway, the DirecTV contractor showed up a good 90 minutes after the 4-hour window during which he was supposed to arrive had elapsed, but at least he fixed our tv. To celebrate, I went home for lunch today and watched Access Hollywood and felt some of my brain disintegrating.

- hopped back on the Lost bandwagon! GP and I watched "The Shape of Things to Come" last night, and I am conscientiously avoiding spoilers so that he doesn't kill me during any of the ensuing four episodes we have to watch so that we're caught up. While we are obsessed with television, we manage to be obsessed on our own terms.

How was your weekend, internets?

Officially a wino

Better late than never, right? As you know (or should, at least, because I couldn't shut up about it), we went to Sonoma last weekend for Mother's Day with my mom and stepdad, my brother, and GP's parents. We had been planning a fun weekend full of wine tasting and delicious food, and that is exactly what we got! Oh, and all my worrying about mom competitions? Certainly for naught. I don't think that our parents are going to be forming drum circles or anything, but having them get along for a period longer than, say, a meal (which was the length of their previous exposure to each other), was encouraging.


Saturday began early, as we wanted to get on the road by 8 in order to make it to our northernmost winery destination by 10, which is when they open. After picking up GP's parents at their hotel, we made our way up the East Bay, past Berkeley and Oakland, and then over the Richmond-San Rafael bridge into the North Bay. As we got closer to the wineries, my brother called and told me that they were two cars behind us, so our planning worked out really well. The first winery we went to was St. Francis, which had a beautiful backyard-type area behind it, as well as a pretty gorgeous main building. Their wines were all right, but the girl who was pouring was basically ignoring us. If you haven't been tasting, you need to know that it isn't like going to a bar; of course, you are drinking, and have the potential to be quite smashed by about noon, but the people pouring are supposed to interact with you, as it is their job to make you want to buy the wine.

Winery number two was the polar opposite, though. We got there right at the time that they were beginning their cave tour, so we got to see the caves where they keep their barrels, which are really cool. It didn't hurt that it had started to heat up and the caves were at least 10 degrees cooler than outside. Going into their tasting room, we noticed that they had a specific area for a VIP-style tasting, and being the snobs (and cheese enthusiasts!) that we are, we seated ourselves on their classy leather sofas and sipped our four tastes (for a fairly-steep $20, but come on! There was cheese involved!). This was when the buying started, too. When GP and I go tasting in Napa, we might come home with half a case or so, total, of wines that we tried and liked. When we go to Amador County wine events, we might bring home a bit more than a case, because it is cheaper there (but still good wine!). When we were there this weekend, we came away with three cases of wine. I blame the parents-- my parents are huuuuge wine collectors (we're talking hundreds of bottles here, multiple winery memberships), and his parents are members of a couple Sonoma wineries, even though they live in New York.

We stopped at a cute Italian deli/cafe place for something to soak up all the wine we'd consumed (we are not apt to pour anything out unless it is pretty gross), and then headed off to another winery, where I got to hang out with the Official Winery Dog while we tasted. Being the smart animal that he is, he had decided to take a nap on the cool, tiled tasting room floor to escape the heat...right on one of my feet. Thanks, dog.


The families split after this, because my parents wanted to visit just one more place and then go to the hotel to rest before dinner, so GP and I and his parents headed, ambitiously, to three more places.

Pretty exhausted, we tucked into dinner at a place I had been eager to try, and made the (totally too-long) drive back to our hotel, where I am proud to say I passed out before 9pm. It had been a loooooong day.

The next morning, after having presented both moms with presents and spending some time hanging out at the hotel bar for mimosas and Bloody Marys, we made our way to , where GP's parents are members. We skipped the tour, having chosen some morning drinking instead, but got there in time to sample some Blanc de Noirs before we were seated for brunch. The brunch was surprising-- I had expected maybe a buffet or a range of options, but we all ended up with the same salad with bay shrimp, lamb, and fresh fruit trifle (no beef sauteed with peas and onions, sorry!). Other than the lamb being so rare it was near-bleating (woo, homonyms! Get it?), everything was very delicious. After our meal, we sat outside and tasted while enjoying a great view of the entire valley.

All in all, a successful weekend. Carrying the wine from the car to the apartment was a bit of a pain, but I'm pretty certain we won't need to buy anything until we go back to Amador for their Fall Crush event. The only problem now is that we have all these nice wines and only a couple "occasions" coming up... I'm sure we'll manage, though.