Drinkypoo

Last night my friend Jackie came over and we had dinner with wine.

Lots and lots of wine.

I emailed myself last night (the modern day form of a drunken phone call) and, while I won't specify what exactly was in that email, I will say it was hilarious and a little disturbing.

This morning I found that not only had our second bottle of wine been left in the freezer all night, froze and the cork popped out leaving a small puddle of wine slush on the shelf, but also that the bottle we drank was 1.5 liters.

That's roughly two bottles.

What's even more terrifying is the fact we both ended the evening relatively sober.

This wine slush is GOOOD.

Introughspekshun

Have you ever looked at your life, who you are, what you enjoy and habits you have, then compare that to others your age and wonder what the hell went wrong? Sometimes I swear there was an orientation or training in life and normalcy and I missed it. Somebody forgot to send me the email or gave me the wrong conference room number and instead of "Life: Blending in and succeeding" I ended up in "How to make money selling painted figurines" down the hall. It's okay. Life is more interesting this way I suppose, but sometimes I just wish I were plain and normal like everyone else.

Also...garbage bags in the U.K. are called bin bags. I like that. I'm going to start referring to them as such.

Random?

Bayhgoo!!

Hi.

Sometimes the most simple thing can bring so much pleasure, can't it? I took a frozen Tilapia fillet and mango peach salsa from Costco (THANKS MOM!!), dumped them in a dish and baked at 375 for 45 minutes.

HOLY SHIT IT WAS SO GOOD.

What would have made it better would be a nice glass of Rioja but I'm about to go to hydroaerobics. I don't think pool-based exercise and booze mix too well.

Dammit.

Oh! On the happy note, my friend went to Florida for a week and a half so she gave me her share of produce from the collective farm she belongs to (no, it's not a kibbutz or something, she pays a yearly fee and picks up fresh veggies every few weeks). These are the crunchiest, tastiest most flavorful veggies I have ever had. I am chewing on a cucumber right now. MMMMM. You can join for about $180/season and I may do that next year. It works out to around $8 a week. $8 of DELICIOUSNESS if you ask me. And you did. Didn't you?

I am so making veggie soup. Does anyone have chicken stock?

When did this become a foodie blog?

What was that noise?

Did you hear that?

It sounded like...

No.

No it's the neighbor.

Anyway my new job is excellent and everyone there is really nice. I'm thinking of finishing out my Associates degree in Spring so I can take my sweet time finishing my Bachelors as general education credits expire after 10 years and mine are almost 8 years old. Did I mention tuition is free now with this new gig? Yes. FREE. You know what I'm going to do now, don't you?

Aaaaalriiiiiiiight.

Sundaydayday

Hi.

I'm doing my laundry. Usually it's done at my parents' house but I don't have the energy to schlep it all over there today. They're probably playing laundry catch-up from their vacation anyhoo (they were GONE for THREE WEEKS at the BEACH).

I'm definitely getting used to living here. While taking my clothes into the laundry room I almost subconsiously noted which machines to avoid (the dryer that actually moistens your clothes, the washer that doesn't rinse or drain), and which coin machines need a little extra persuasion to take your quarters and how to position them to ensure a return on your investment.

That's freaky. I need a life.

Speaking of that, last night I went to my friend's house for dinner (so I do have somewhat of a life I guess). I made salmon and California rolls and she made really tasty miso soup and salad. We were supposed to take pictures of the food again but SOMEBODY forgot their camera. So here's a picture of the leftovers.



Mmmmm. Feel the sushi gooooodneeeeeess.

Yeah. It looked a lot better when there were 3 million of them on a fancy platter. There's always a next time.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYPEEPS!

WOOOOO!!

Okay.

Okay okay okay.

Okay.

Sorry. Okay.

I have been busy because I GOT A NEW JOB!! YEAH!!

(Yes I realize how schitzy that sounds).

Remember how my old job took me back on a temporary basis (GRACIOUSLY) until I found a permanent job with them? Well they did and I did and MY FIRST DAY WAS TODAY.

Everyone there is hilariously nutty (just like me) so I know it will be okay. Plus I have an office! A whole office all to myself! With my name on the door! YAY!!

OH...and tomorrow is a holiday! YYYAY!!

So I'm sorry for this extended absence. I will try to be more blogilent in the future.

Gotta go...stuff beckons...

More to come! :-D

Honey Garlic Chicken

Here is the recipe per all of your requests. My friend Rebecca who came over on Saturday (I know 3 Rebeccas) emailed it to me today!

HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN

2 lbs. chicken (whatever pieces you like, but breasts and thighs work best - with skin on looks prettier)
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup olive oil
3T garlic
2T mustard
2t curry powder
1t garlic salt (or other seasoning, to taste)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix honey, olive oil, mustard and curry powder in a small bowl. Season chicken with garlic salt and "Slap Ya Mama" or other such seasoning (basically a spicy seasoned salt). Pour sauce over chicken. Sprinkle garlic on top and in sauce in the dish. Bake for 1-1/4 hours until chicken is golden brown, basting every 20 minutes or as desired until color is achieved. Yum!

From Rebecca's friends in Edmonton, AB. (eh!)
_______________________________________________

Here is the rice recipe from yours truly.

COSTA RICAN RICE

1 cup rice
1/2 (chopped) green pepper
1/2 (chopped) red pepper
1/4 (chopped) white onion
1 can black beans
1T Caldo de Pollo (chicken bouillon)
Olive oil (to cover bottom of pan)
A pinch of Safflower

In a large pan, sauté the rice and chopped vegetables in olive oil until the onions begin to look transparent. Add 2 cups water to the rice, the Caldo and sprinke the safflower on top. Cover and let boil as you would normal rice (about 15 minutes or until the liquid is gone). While the rice is cooking, drain and rise the black beans so the ookey crap from the can doesn't get in the rice. When the rice is done, add the black beans and serve! Yay!

Can you feel the flavah? Mmmmm.

Smelleaux.

Oh. What a nice night. My friend came over and we made an exquisite dinner of honey garlic chicken, Costa Rican rice and vegetables, laughed until our sides hurt, had brownies, then took pictures of fireworks outside. No, I don't know what they were for.

Pictures!!

Chemise nouvelle

I bought a new shirt. It was $5. I didn't need this new shirt but it was such a great deal (cheap and weird) that I HAD to have it. It's quirky. I like quirky.

What do you think?

Canadian Candy.

I sent some candy to my friend in Canada six weeks ago.

It was returned to me today.

Nobody has a clue as to why or what went wrong.

Isn't that lovely?

Dammit.

New Stuff.

Okay it's time for something happy here. Irma would be pissed. :-P

So...yesterday was AWESOME for me. Did you have a nice yesterday?

I did.

My friend and I went to the mall, bought stuff, had lunch, went to a COOL store with new age metaphysical doodads the size of a warehouse, bought some more stuff (JADE!!!), went to a funky coffee shop and watched people, then went to her deliciously appointed townhouse with suede wall treatments and Scandinavian furniture for a delectable dinner of lemon chicken, sugarsnap peas, basmati rice, HOMEMADE HUMMUS, AND dessert of strawberries with freshly made whipped cream drizzled with Grand Marnier.

Holy SHIT what a nice day. :-)

So now I am waiting for the laundry to be done and then I'm going to the supermarket for some food.

Yes I am getting Basmati rice.

Yes I will remember the strawberries.

No you can't have some.

Just kidding.

OOH! I remembered something (AMAZINGLY).

While we were at the funky coffee shop (in Sugarhouse) a woman was outside on the patio having a drink. She finished, gathered up her garbage, and promptly threw away her car keys.

Shiiiiiiit.

My friend and I watched through the window as she laughed and walked around the garbage can looking from every angle. The coffee shop is on a busy street so people were walking by and several stopped to help. Soon there was a crowd of people helping her lift and turn the can (one of those city ones with the pebbles on the sides) to get the keys. Finally she got them and everyone cheered. She came running in and said to one of the baristas "Hey Ken!! Guess what?? I threw away my keys! Woohoo!" as she bolted to the restroom (hopefully to wash the keys and her hands).

What really made it perfect was that we didn't hear anything but the soft, friendly music (some introspective local musician) playing in the background as we watched. It was too perfect and renewed my faith in humankind.

Don't you love it when that happens?

So anyway I have to get my laundry. Bye!

Irma Alicia Garcia, 1984-2006

I don't want to do this. But I will.

While I was working as a reading tutor in an elementary school I met her. She was one of those people who seem to have known you in a previous life or something like that. Talking openly and honestly about everything in my life was not a big deal with her and she felt the same way. After a few conversations we decided to hang out. We drank the night away at her friend's place playing goofed up Uno and I couldn't remember having more fun any other time in my life. It just clicked.

Later, through her, I would not only discover new and wonderful people from many diverse backgrounds but also develop a Latino identity that was there all along - it just didn't have someone to coax it out. She was the one who took me to a club for the first time, and who taught me how to salsa dance. When I seemed to catch on (for a little bit) she told me "It's in your blood!" as the music blared around us. I believed her.

She was like a sister. In the short time I knew her we acquired so many inside jokes and references it was like speaking another language when anyone else was around. We had a favorite song. There was even a long and complicated story as to why that song (Choke Me, Spank Me (Pull My Hair) by Xzibit) was our favorite song as we both found it atrocious.

Around her and the friends she introduced me to, I felt so safe and comfortable in my own skin. She was comfortable in her skin too. That's why it worked so well. She was never, ever afraid to look at something from a different angle. She was never afraid to consider what the other side had to say in any issue - which is why she would have made one hell of an attorney. Her dream was to become a Civil Rights attorney and fight for equality and freedom. That was so important to her.

Irma died last week in a car accident in Mexico. I don't really know much else at this point but a memorial service will be held Friday for her in Missouri. I wish I could go but I know she would understand why I couldn't right now. Due to her ROTC obligations she had to put law school on hold for another few years. I just wish she could have made it. There are so many people who could have used her help.

If anyone who knew her is reading this, will you contact me? We need to have a memorial service for her here too.

Besitos, Irmy. Te amo mucho mi vida.

Slammo!!

My friend Rebecca and I had brunch last weekend at Eggs in the City. It was so good! Since I hadn't seen her in so long, I decided to take photographic evidence...I don't know when we'll see each other again...she's a little nuts but was very willing to allow it just this once.

After brunchie munchies I took pictures of the neighborhood. If you're local you'll know it well. Enjoy!

Whooooo??

Okay.

There are some serious problems with Blogger. Posts aren't posting and pictures disappear and reappear and all that crazy crap. I'm not even sure if you can read this BUT IF YOU CAN...here's what's going on.

Mah Dream

So a couple nights ago I had a dream I was laying in bed in my apartment. It was MUCH more snazzier than usual with huge windows, recessed planters, aqua colored carpet and multi-level floors a la the Space Age 1960's. It was rad.

Well as I was staring at the ceiling in bed these people trounced through the door and started looking around. Being in my pajamas I freaked out and asked why they were there. It appeared as though the apartment building owner had decided to sell off the units individually and these were potential buyers with a real estate agent. I had to get out as soon as possible because my unit was now "Active" and for sale.

Before anything else happened I woke up. The first thing I noticed was the boring normal window on the wall above me (in the dream my bedroom window was a long "L" shape taking up both walls with plants on the sill). The second thing I noticed was that it was not for sale and I could chill a minute in bed if I wanted to.

What a relief!

But it got me to thinking. My lease ends in August. My job also ends in August. I have applied for other jobs here but nothing has worked out yet...though it's likely it could. Or is it?

What if...what if...what if...stuff??

You know how my life is. Expect some earth-shattering update in a few weeks. It's just the way I roll. :-P

Peace out.

Yippity Doo!

Today was a good day.

My friend John and I went grocery shopping where we found some delightful Kosher cereal bars on clearance in the Hebrew food section (SCOOOOORE!), then we made delicious foodmeals, then we laid around in a post-meal stupor watching South Park.

IT

WAS

AWESOME.

I can't wait for the next time. :-)

(No I'm not Jewish and neither is John).

Tuesmon.

You know that feeling one gets when returning to work on Tuesday after a long, fun-filled weekend?

No?

Well it feels a little something like this.



HAPPY TUESMON EVERYONE!!

WOW!

Sorry I have been gone so long.

Two reasons atrribute to my absence.

1. My overall outlook on life and living has changed radically during the past couple weeks in a positive way. It's a good change, but it does cut into Blogging Time...which is fine by me because this is awesome. :-)

2. My friend is visiting from Dallas and we are having a HELL OF A TIME!! WOOOOOO!!

That is all. No further information is available. Yes I will post pictures of our funtimez.

Floopypants

So it appears as though my “problem” has vanished.

You have no idea how relieved I am. Besides the obvious, I have an interview at 1:00 p.m. today for a new position, my friend will be visiting this weekend AND I MISS FOOD.

None of those situations will allow for extra poopiness.

None.

Now I am going to (gasp!) eat something. It’s time. Yes it is.

Bye!

Dietary flexibility

I have "You Know What."

I don't know what I ate, but it was something bad because there it is. I've had it since yesterday morning. I haven't eaten anything for a long time in hopes it will get better.

Blah.

Can you tell I'm trying to find something to write about? Send Pepto if you have some.

Sincerely,

Pjamms McPoopypants

Hiking and stuff

Hi.

Finally an update! Hot damn!

I went hiking on Saturday with a good friend and we took these lovely pictures. His turned out better than mine. The weather was incredible. Good times were had by all. :-)