Mood Music

 A sweet lion-embroidered hankie my mom found in an old treasure chest of my Grandma's.

My fun-credible, super-light, trail-running shoes! (which will probably not be seeing any trails for awhile, unless they be of concrete)

Until two seconds ago, when I turned it off for concentration purposes, I was listening to Patty Griffin's album Children Running Through on Spotify. I listened to this album quite a lot a couple years ago, but lost it and subsequently forgot about it. Shame on me, because it is one to remember! Fantastic power-up song, "I Don't Ever Give Up".  "Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent is still my favorite empowering song, but Patty Griffin's sets a different kind of mood, so would do better in certain situations I suppose.

Speaking of music that sets a mood, when I am feeling stressed and need to calm down, Brett Dennen is the musician for the job! His songs are peace-filling and unflinchingly positive. Daniel and I were listening to his album "Children's Songs for Peace and a Better World" which would probably have crossed the line in to too much gooey-ness, except that we have both been feeling fairly cranky this week and [I] decided we needed to listen to that album like it was medicine.

Was going to write more, but...we are going to meet a friend and get drinks. Whoo!

WEEKEND...is gone :(

What a fun weekend! House guests, party, pie (and may I say, that Martha Stewart totally outdid herself with her butterscotch pie recipe?! THE BEST! i can get it to you if you want....), baby raccoons, library cards, chicken and dumplinsdidimentionpie???? Which all meant that Monday came WAY too soon and I was Grumpy Pants for the first hour or so at work. *glare* The fact that I was utterly humiliated during the first of hopefully-many morning runs didn't help. Oh muscles, where have ye gone? *wail*

Here's a story: I finally got a library card so I won't be tempted to buy books (not that that's bad, but i don't need to go out and drop $25 on the newest Maisie Dobbs just because I've been waiting for MONTHS and can't wait any longer!). So what do I do? Head to amazon to start a book list, search "journalism" because I would like to learn something about that subject, realize that the library doesn't have the top-rated journalism textbook and that I can buy it used for $20 instead of new for $63, and....buy a book. Fail! ah, well :)

Am running out of time for the morning, but I wanted to mention something about salads. Specifically, Panera's Thai Chicken Salad (or something or other) is Delicious! Daniel and I came up with a few "salad" rules as to what makes a good salad:

1. Killer dressing
2. Interesting toppings
3. An even lettuce-to-toppings ratio. No all-lettuce bites, or a bunch of lettuce left for the end, UGH!

anyway, those rules are not groundbreaking, i realize, but seriously. salads.

TIME FOR WORK!

Variation on a Theme of Sandwiches

Good morning! I just wanted to share with you the "recipe" for the World's Greatest Grilled Cheese!
*Rosemary and Olive Oil  Potato Bread (found in the discount bin at Dillons!)
*Gouda cheese
*Cheddar cheese (melts better than the Gouda)
* Mushrooms sauteed in balsamic vinegar, olive oil, dill, and Italian seasoning
*Sliced Tomatoes
*Fresh basil

Sides: a giant dill pickle spear! and extra-crispy bacon! (or limp, sickly bacon, if that's your preference...)

It was just perfect. And Happy birthday to Daniel and Jenny! WHOO! Here's another picture of the sandwich. Because, once again...formatting issues :) Have wonderful days!

Produce Pixie

woo! my own personal photo booth! so...new haircut!! let me explain the terrible faces. A week ago, one of my co-workers confessed than a certain husband of mine reminded her and someone else of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. 1) I'm not sure I see it and 2) She genuinely meant it as a compliment. I imagine that was in the back of my mind when, after viewing a couple pictures of my new haircut, my first thought was "There's a hint of Sheldon there!!" How bizarre, how bizarre! My kindly subconscious made me erase those photos before I could share them with the world, but then my more-adventurous (hah!) conscious regretted that and tried to recapture the moment by making Sheldon-inspired faces. I think the moment was way passed, though, so all you get is some strange faces.

(My semi-official official title at work is "Produce Pixie" and now i've got a pixie haircut to match!)

Feeling downright jittery about the trip to Tulsa this evening, and for once it's not a fear of travel, just excitement about the Tulsa Tough!!

Oh, and here's a recommendation: Use a good razor! after a lifetime of cheap razors (and that's not necessarily going to change, i'm still cheap-o) Daniel made me throw away all the rusty ones, and let me use his Schick-or-something 5-BLADE razor! and it was silky silky smooth! made shaving a downright PLEASURE! or at least, closer to one than i'd previously experienced ;) 

Current favorite word: Lame-a-zoid. Does that come from anywhere? anyone? Feedback appreciated :)

So, here's what I came up with when I was intending to nap (remedy for sleepiness currently under testing--Emergen-C plus Grease soundtrack):

Write with your eyes closed,
The better to hear

To drift beyond reason,
Rash judgment, and fear

Explore possibility,
Hoping and dreams

'Tween waking and sleeping
Alive at the seams

Astronomically Incorrect

 My Favorite Muffins--Banana-Chocolate Chip-Espresso! from the Baked! Cookbook. Thanks to D, I have these fancy-schmancy coffee-brown tulip muffin holders :) They really do make them look more professional. (These are un-baked muffins, by the bye, in case you were wondering...)

 My favorite granola! Once again, from Baked! This version is hazelnut-golden raisin, because those were the cheapest nuts/dried fruit I could buy. (And why is it that golden raisins are so much less-noxious than regular brown raisins?)

 

Daniel's favorite Ramen--No MSG! = No Headaches. So, if you are ever in an asian grocery store, look for this brand! 

My favorite husband--looking ready for the Tulsa Tough Sunday! Unfortunately, we have to miss the first 2 days of this magnificent cycling event, but even one day is worth the drive! Especially Cry Baby Hill Sunday!

Ah, I was missing baking this morning! Working as a baker really is rather a privilege (obviously, with some exceptions. But as a profession, "Baker" is not undesirable!) . Thank goodness for kitchens at home :) Last night, Daniel introduced me to the Brian Setzer Orchestra, in particular, "This Cat's on a Hot Tin Roof." They are an amazing, fun, swing-type band (ugh I can't do music reviews!), and even have a song about coffee "Jumpin' East of Java." AND a whole album of now-swingin' classics including Beethoven's 5th symphony, called "Wolfgang's Big Night Out." If you have spotify (or, i'm sure, youtube) give 'em a listen!

I have not been feeling creative lately! Ugh! Embroidery died a quick death--hopefully not forever, because it could be fun! Every time I think about writing, my next thought is "can I still do that?" I suppose the important thing is just to try...

Pluto always knew
He was a diff'rent sort of sphere,
With so much solitude, he mused
The best part of his year.
And with such time to think,
He couldn't help but notice...things...
Like how the heavens marvelled
At Miss Saturn and her rings,
Or grovelled before Jupiter,
Of all the plantets, King,
Or wondered how Earth managed,
Hosting countless human beings...

That Universe plays fav'rites,
Pluto knew beyond a doubt,
And yet he ne'er suspected
He would one day be cast out.  

A happy ending, please? Just this-
Though planet nevermore,
He knows one thing will never change:
He's Pluto to the core.

Stormy Weather!

 Our Coffee Cupping Station!

 This is the road outside our house, carpeted in leaves. HAIL CITY, WHOA!

 Daniel watching the storm (my nice shiny bike is watching it, too! Daniel gave her some much-needed TLC recently! )

I need a haircut so badly! when i'm tired at work, the fact that i have a blanket of bangs to hide behind doesn't help me stay awake. plus, it's getting hot and humid out there! the phrase "shave it all off!!" keeps running through my mind...'ikes.

Command of the day: Get yourself a chocolate-covered banana! the one i ate on monday was dark-chocolate-covered, and a tasty treat it was! my first, ever! i thought about arrested development the entire time...

Daniel and i are working on a Dirt 'n' Worms cocktail. by working on, i mean that daniel asked one of his friends who went to bartending school for ideas, and she suggested a mudslide with a gummy worm garnish. YUM! (alas, i've never had an actual mudslide. i remember being too-young at Friday's at least once and jealously watching other people order/consume them, though. this must change!)

Future career plan: Running a bat sanctuary! we were watching bats flit around at dusk a few days ago. there's just something about them that makes me yearn-y. for what? i don't know. but i remember loving the idea of bats growing up, and even now...oh, if they would just flit right on over and let me snuggle them for a bit!

Recipe-Win: lemon scones turned into the base for strawberry shortcake! yum yum yum :)

Reflections of a Rock

All my words were whispered long ago
When no one heard them. Tragic, don't you know?
But even so, my credit's coming through,
For silence turned a virtue, and a proof
Of wisdom. Watch, therefore, a lowly stone
To sage and source and certainty transform.

Cheater-Gourmet

Daniel discovered something AMAZING the other day. Mac 'n' Cheese. With LOTS of garlic powder!! yum yum yum. this may be my new favorite food.

that, or the marinated portabello[w] caps i'm broiling tonight! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/portobello-mushroom-burgers/ (well, i haven't tasted or even finished marinating them yet, so i may have to, literally, eat my words later. hopefully not!)