I'm leaving Los Angeles soon to pursue new adventures in Dallas, TX. If you like what you read please continue to follow my antics at:
Dallas Detour
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Recipe: Crab Rangoon
When I lived in Butte, one of my favorite restaurants was Asia Garden. Situated off in one of the lesser-used entrances to the mall, Asia Garden was one of a small handful of Chinese restaurants in town, and they had the red wall hangings and big round table with the lazy susan to prove it. While I frequented the restaurant quite frequently with one of my former boyfriends, and later with friends and family, I never figured out the name of the proprietor.
I don't even quite remember my list of "usual" dishes I'd order there, although I vividly remember my now-ex-boyfriend always ordering the sweet-and-sour chicken. Maybe I ordered sesame chicken. Or cashew chicken. I think they had a good rendition of Moo Goo Gai Pan. The mu shu pork was decent too. I remember getting wonton soup there a lot, but eventually crossed over to hot-and-sour territory. But indelibly marked in my mind was the crab rangoon appetizer. Little triangle-shaped pillows filled with cream cheese, imitation crab, a touch of ginger and the tiniest hint of chives. Delicious.
I've made them a few times since, always using real crab. And they are tasty. I usually prefer a 2:1 ratio of crab to cream cheese, although you can feel free to fiddle with it.
4 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. crab meat (I usually use canned crab)
1 TB. minced ginger
1 tsp. chopped chives
wonton or egg roll wrappers
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, crab meat, ginger and chives together thoroughly. Dab a bit of filling in the center of the wrapper, and wrap the wrapper up. Asia Garden makes these up in triangle forms, where one point of a square-shaped wrapper is brought over to it's opposite point. But you can make them up in any variety of traditional wonton folds. Deep fry for a couple minutes, in batches.
Alternatively you can spray a mini-muffin pan with an oil and place a wonton wrap in each cup. Spoon a spoonful of filling in the center of the wonton wrap, and bake in an 350 degree oven for around 10 minutes.
I don't even quite remember my list of "usual" dishes I'd order there, although I vividly remember my now-ex-boyfriend always ordering the sweet-and-sour chicken. Maybe I ordered sesame chicken. Or cashew chicken. I think they had a good rendition of Moo Goo Gai Pan. The mu shu pork was decent too. I remember getting wonton soup there a lot, but eventually crossed over to hot-and-sour territory. But indelibly marked in my mind was the crab rangoon appetizer. Little triangle-shaped pillows filled with cream cheese, imitation crab, a touch of ginger and the tiniest hint of chives. Delicious.
I've made them a few times since, always using real crab. And they are tasty. I usually prefer a 2:1 ratio of crab to cream cheese, although you can feel free to fiddle with it.
4 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. crab meat (I usually use canned crab)
1 TB. minced ginger
1 tsp. chopped chives
wonton or egg roll wrappers
In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, crab meat, ginger and chives together thoroughly. Dab a bit of filling in the center of the wrapper, and wrap the wrapper up. Asia Garden makes these up in triangle forms, where one point of a square-shaped wrapper is brought over to it's opposite point. But you can make them up in any variety of traditional wonton folds. Deep fry for a couple minutes, in batches.
Alternatively you can spray a mini-muffin pan with an oil and place a wonton wrap in each cup. Spoon a spoonful of filling in the center of the wonton wrap, and bake in an 350 degree oven for around 10 minutes.
Backpacking Recipe: Chicken Curry Wrap
Got this from Backpacker Magazine and tried it out this weekend after our trip (it ended up being cold and rainy so we opted to stay in a hotel and have a slightly different adventure around Palm Springs). It's super-filling and really tasty, so I just know it will work great for when we actually do go backpacking. It serves two generously.
Before you go, pack in a 1-quart ziploc bag:
1 TB. salted cashews
1 TB. raisins
1/2 TB. curry powder (oooh imagine how awesome this would taste if you made your own curry powder!)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pack separately:
1 2.5 oz ranch dressing cup (Hidden Valley makes these, you can find them in the regular dressing aisle)
1 foil package of chicken (found near the foil packages of tuna and salmon)
2 tortillas or pitas (we actually filled 3 pitas with this)
When you're ready to eat, add the chicken and ranch dressing to the ziploc bag and mix thoroughly. Fill the pitas or tortillas with the curry mixture, and eat.
You don't even taste the ranch dressing with this, and there are enough textures and flavors going on that it tastes like "real" food and not reconstituted-in-the-woods food. I'm almost tempted to see what this would be like heated in camp over rice.
Before you go, pack in a 1-quart ziploc bag:
1 TB. salted cashews
1 TB. raisins
1/2 TB. curry powder (oooh imagine how awesome this would taste if you made your own curry powder!)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Pack separately:
1 2.5 oz ranch dressing cup (Hidden Valley makes these, you can find them in the regular dressing aisle)
1 foil package of chicken (found near the foil packages of tuna and salmon)
2 tortillas or pitas (we actually filled 3 pitas with this)
When you're ready to eat, add the chicken and ranch dressing to the ziploc bag and mix thoroughly. Fill the pitas or tortillas with the curry mixture, and eat.
You don't even taste the ranch dressing with this, and there are enough textures and flavors going on that it tastes like "real" food and not reconstituted-in-the-woods food. I'm almost tempted to see what this would be like heated in camp over rice.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Earwax
I told this story to my boyfriend last night and he about doubled-up laughing. So I thought I'd share it with everyone, because it *is* funny, and also because I can definitely say I've gotten something out of dating so many people who were so obviously not right for me.
I used to date this dude who would tell me his earwax smelled sweet. On occasion he would proffer me a used q-tip, saying, "Smell it!"
No. I don't want to smell your earwax. I don't even want to smell mine. The rabid curiosity of people-with-Y-chromosomes and their bodily fluids/substances never cease to amaze me.
So imagine me getting chased around this guy's apartment by him wielding a earwaxy q-tip.
Yeah. He was a real winner, that one.
By the way, I have so-called "dry" earwax. Most Caucasians have "wet" earwax. Learn more about it here.
I used to date this dude who would tell me his earwax smelled sweet. On occasion he would proffer me a used q-tip, saying, "Smell it!"
No. I don't want to smell your earwax. I don't even want to smell mine. The rabid curiosity of people-with-Y-chromosomes and their bodily fluids/substances never cease to amaze me.
So imagine me getting chased around this guy's apartment by him wielding a earwaxy q-tip.
Yeah. He was a real winner, that one.
By the way, I have so-called "dry" earwax. Most Caucasians have "wet" earwax. Learn more about it here.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Chicken Marsala
My boyfriend made this for me Valentine's Day weekend. So delicious! I tried making it a few weeks later but it didn't come out the same. We decided that I made the chicken part the best and he made the sauce part the best. So the next time we make it together I guess that's how we'll divide who does what.
I made this tonight with a leftover chicken breast that I sliced up.
Adapted from the Cooking for Engineers recipe.
Add the wine, and reduce until it coats the back of a spoon. Stir in the cream and add the chicken back. Coat the chicken with the sauce, then serve over your starch.
I made this tonight with a leftover chicken breast that I sliced up.
- 2 Boneless Chicken Breasts
- Salt, Pepper, whatever else you like to season your chicken with
- 1 TB Crushed Garlic
- 1/4 c. Shallot or Onion, finely chopped
- 8 oz chopped mushrooms
- 1 c. sweet Marsala wine
- 1/2 c. heavy cream
- Some starch (fettuccine, mashed potatoes) to serve with the chicken marsala.
Add the wine, and reduce until it coats the back of a spoon. Stir in the cream and add the chicken back. Coat the chicken with the sauce, then serve over your starch.
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Make Your Own Oatmeal Packets
I lament I don't have photos for this. Maybe I'll go home and take some photos of the packets I made, then I can post them to show you.
I like oatmeal for breakfast on occasion. Not the instant Quaker Oats kind of oatmeal, but the rich, steel-cut kind. The stuff that tastes like anything but wallpaper paste. Add some dried fruit, a dash of cinnamon and a spoonful of heavy cream, and it's a filling breakfast. Perfect for cold mornings.
Anyway, I don't know of anyone who makes 'instant steel-cut oatmeal' packets, so I guess I'm stuck in making my own. There's something really convenient about not having to measure stuff out in the morning. Eyeball some hot water, add packet, mix and microwave. Really easy.
There's a fellow who did the cost breakdown using regular oatmeal, which is helpful. I think the steel-cut stuff is slightly pricier. I don't remember how much a canister of instant steel-cut oatmeal cost at Trader Joe's, but it couldn't have been more than $5.00. I bought a packet of their mixed fruit, which included golden raisins, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, and dried cherries ($3.99). I already had cinnamon and cardamom at home, and I bought snack-size Ziploc baggies beforehand (not sure how much that cost, but I plan on reusing them, so. . . . ).
I think a canister of steel-cut oats from Trader Joe's is supposed to be like 17 or 18 servings, which ends up being about $0.53 a packet when it's all said and done. Not bad for a tasty breakfast, and way cheaper (not to mention healthier) than anything I could buy for myself! I guess I'm also not counting the cream or milk, but technically you don't have to add that.
Instant Steel-Cut Oatmeal Packets
Add 1 TB of dried fruit to each baggie. If you have a little left over you can distribute the remaining fruit among all the baggies. If you have a lot left over it's probably best to save for another time or use.
Add a big dash of cinnamon to each packet, and a little dash of cardamom. If you like sugar you can add a tsp of sugar to each packet.
Seal up all the baggies, and you can store them in the canister they came in.
When you're ready to have oatmeal for breakfast, you can mix one packet with 3/4-1 cup of water (the recipe on the box says 3/4 cup, but you also need a little extra to rehydrate the fruit) in a deep bowl. Microwave for two minutes, stir, and then microwave for 3 extra minutes. You might have to recalibrate the recipe if you're using a different brand of steel-cut oat. Let stand for one minute, then add cream or milk before serving.
I'm getting into backpacking, and the idea of packing my own delicious breakfast-away-from-home is really exciting to me. I can just grab a couple packets, throw those in my bag, and go!
I like oatmeal for breakfast on occasion. Not the instant Quaker Oats kind of oatmeal, but the rich, steel-cut kind. The stuff that tastes like anything but wallpaper paste. Add some dried fruit, a dash of cinnamon and a spoonful of heavy cream, and it's a filling breakfast. Perfect for cold mornings.
Anyway, I don't know of anyone who makes 'instant steel-cut oatmeal' packets, so I guess I'm stuck in making my own. There's something really convenient about not having to measure stuff out in the morning. Eyeball some hot water, add packet, mix and microwave. Really easy.
There's a fellow who did the cost breakdown using regular oatmeal, which is helpful. I think the steel-cut stuff is slightly pricier. I don't remember how much a canister of instant steel-cut oatmeal cost at Trader Joe's, but it couldn't have been more than $5.00. I bought a packet of their mixed fruit, which included golden raisins, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, and dried cherries ($3.99). I already had cinnamon and cardamom at home, and I bought snack-size Ziploc baggies beforehand (not sure how much that cost, but I plan on reusing them, so. . . . ).
I think a canister of steel-cut oats from Trader Joe's is supposed to be like 17 or 18 servings, which ends up being about $0.53 a packet when it's all said and done. Not bad for a tasty breakfast, and way cheaper (not to mention healthier) than anything I could buy for myself! I guess I'm also not counting the cream or milk, but technically you don't have to add that.
Instant Steel-Cut Oatmeal Packets
- 1 canister of steel-cut oats from Trader Joe's (McCann's is also good, and I think Quaker also makes steel-cut oats)
- 1 8-10 oz bag of dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, apricots, whatever)
- Cinnamon
- Sugar (optional, I didn't add this but a lot of people like their oatmeal sweet)
- Cardamom (optional)
- Snack-size ziploc-style baggies
Add 1 TB of dried fruit to each baggie. If you have a little left over you can distribute the remaining fruit among all the baggies. If you have a lot left over it's probably best to save for another time or use.
Add a big dash of cinnamon to each packet, and a little dash of cardamom. If you like sugar you can add a tsp of sugar to each packet.
Seal up all the baggies, and you can store them in the canister they came in.
When you're ready to have oatmeal for breakfast, you can mix one packet with 3/4-1 cup of water (the recipe on the box says 3/4 cup, but you also need a little extra to rehydrate the fruit) in a deep bowl. Microwave for two minutes, stir, and then microwave for 3 extra minutes. You might have to recalibrate the recipe if you're using a different brand of steel-cut oat. Let stand for one minute, then add cream or milk before serving.
I'm getting into backpacking, and the idea of packing my own delicious breakfast-away-from-home is really exciting to me. I can just grab a couple packets, throw those in my bag, and go!
Monday, January 31, 2011
On "Still Having It"
My boyfriend recently went on holiday for a few weeks, leaving me somewhat stranded in L.A. I attempted to entertain myself, with and without friends, with some success. Actually, I did a lot and did a good job of entertaining myself in L.A. over the two weeks, even though emotionally I was somewhat of a basketcase.
The night before he was to return, I decided to go see 127 Hours by myself. I dressed up, treated myself to sushi, then headed over to the theater, like I used to in my single days. My big "Single Girl Night Out" involved going to the same Japanese restaurant and downing plum champagne and spider rolls before heading over to the adjacent movie theater to see a film where I could pick my own seat. The theater has changed somewhat, so now the seating is a free-for-all. I guess you can't expect things to stay the same. Everything always changes.
I got to the theater early, so I sat on one of those long cushy benches to wait for people to filter out. There were some screens set up so you could watch upcoming movie trailers.
"You could almost skip buying a ticket and come here to watch the trailers." This guy was sitting on the other end of the cushy bench. Blue jeans, button down shirt. He was the only other person hanging around, so I guess he was talking to me.
"Yeah, some of them look pretty good."
He gets up, then walks over to me. "Hi, I'm John." We shake hands and he sits down next to me. John is an architect and lives in Playa. We chat for a few minutes while he waits for his friend to show up. He introduces me to his friend, who I honestly don't remember. They turn to go into the theater, and then John turns back to me.
"Hey, I never do this, but you're kinda cute. Can I have your number?"
The night before he was to return, I decided to go see 127 Hours by myself. I dressed up, treated myself to sushi, then headed over to the theater, like I used to in my single days. My big "Single Girl Night Out" involved going to the same Japanese restaurant and downing plum champagne and spider rolls before heading over to the adjacent movie theater to see a film where I could pick my own seat. The theater has changed somewhat, so now the seating is a free-for-all. I guess you can't expect things to stay the same. Everything always changes.
I got to the theater early, so I sat on one of those long cushy benches to wait for people to filter out. There were some screens set up so you could watch upcoming movie trailers.
"You could almost skip buying a ticket and come here to watch the trailers." This guy was sitting on the other end of the cushy bench. Blue jeans, button down shirt. He was the only other person hanging around, so I guess he was talking to me.
"Yeah, some of them look pretty good."
He gets up, then walks over to me. "Hi, I'm John." We shake hands and he sits down next to me. John is an architect and lives in Playa. We chat for a few minutes while he waits for his friend to show up. He introduces me to his friend, who I honestly don't remember. They turn to go into the theater, and then John turns back to me.
"Hey, I never do this, but you're kinda cute. Can I have your number?"
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Marathon Doping
I'm not plugged into the running news like Don is with cycling, but I read this today and thought it would be good to share.
The Confessions of Eddy Hellebuyck
It's a very well-written editorial; I'm so used to Runners' World publishing new diet and training fads. I was pretty sad when The Penguin left Runners' World and it felt like the quality of writing there declined dramatically. So this piece was very refreshing to me.
The Confessions of Eddy Hellebuyck
It's a very well-written editorial; I'm so used to Runners' World publishing new diet and training fads. I was pretty sad when The Penguin left Runners' World and it felt like the quality of writing there declined dramatically. So this piece was very refreshing to me.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Dinner Tonight - Greek Chicken & Pasta
I just found a recipe that will save my evening.
I wanted to make something that involved penne pasta and chicken, with minimal cleaning and tasty. Of course that pretty much leaves me with heavy alfredo and tomato sauces, but I found something that I think will be just as tasty and healthier:
Penne with Greens, Olives and Feta
Yes! He loves olives, so I think this will be a hit. Coupled with chicken breasts marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and oregano, ala Braised Greek Chicken and Artichokes, I think that would be tasty.
I wanted to make something that involved penne pasta and chicken, with minimal cleaning and tasty. Of course that pretty much leaves me with heavy alfredo and tomato sauces, but I found something that I think will be just as tasty and healthier:
Penne with Greens, Olives and Feta
Yes! He loves olives, so I think this will be a hit. Coupled with chicken breasts marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and oregano, ala Braised Greek Chicken and Artichokes, I think that would be tasty.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
One Year Later
Just a year ago I ran my first marathon, not knowing what it was going to be like after mile 20 or how hard or painful it would be to just keep going, one step in front of the other. There are some official race photos where it's obvious I'm walking and in pain. Quads and feet aren't supposed to burn like that. I remember around mile 18 my feet swelled up in my shoes and I honestly didn't know if I was going to physically be able to keep going. By mile 20 my feet weren't bothering me anymore, but it was certainly a scare for me. I had made the cosmic bet that I was going to finish that day, and I had gone all-in with everything I had.
I accomplished my goal, which I admit at this point seems fuzzy and perhaps contradictory. To be honest when I crossed that finish line I was just happy to not be pushing myself forward anymore. I didn't feel changed, or like I had restored whatever honor or face I thought I'd lost. It was anti-climactic and somewhat disappointing. I remember my friends had opened a bottle of champagne with dinner that night and all I really wanted to do was lie down and hope my legs would stop hurting. The realization I might have actually accomplished something came months later, when I was thinking about going out for a run and thinking, "Damn! 26 miles is far!" It came when I would tell people I was training for a half or another full, and they would give me those funny looks that said "You're crazy!"
Where do you go from there? When you've spent so much energy consumed by one goal, what happens after? I guess in my case I go out and do it again. I really enjoy running half marathons, and I feel I'm a strong-enough runner where I can start to strategize my approach to running half marathons pretty well. Full marathons are another story. I still feel I'm just surviving that distance.
I'm stronger and faster today than I was a year ago. I'd like to think I'm healthier mentally and emotionally as well. I probably still push myself much too hard in races and not hard enough in training, but it's something I can work on.
I'm running marathon #2 this weekend - MCM again - it's a nice course and the logistics/support are most excellent. Plus my dad can get off my case about the colors they use on the ribbon (I'm pretty sure it's going to be scarlet and gold this year - 35 years of MCM!). I bought a bike recently and I'm going to incorporate some triathlons into my racing season next year.
I haven't peaked yet - I'm not sure I'll run MCM next year, as it's an expensive trip for me, but I'm certainly going to keep running!
I accomplished my goal, which I admit at this point seems fuzzy and perhaps contradictory. To be honest when I crossed that finish line I was just happy to not be pushing myself forward anymore. I didn't feel changed, or like I had restored whatever honor or face I thought I'd lost. It was anti-climactic and somewhat disappointing. I remember my friends had opened a bottle of champagne with dinner that night and all I really wanted to do was lie down and hope my legs would stop hurting. The realization I might have actually accomplished something came months later, when I was thinking about going out for a run and thinking, "Damn! 26 miles is far!" It came when I would tell people I was training for a half or another full, and they would give me those funny looks that said "You're crazy!"
Where do you go from there? When you've spent so much energy consumed by one goal, what happens after? I guess in my case I go out and do it again. I really enjoy running half marathons, and I feel I'm a strong-enough runner where I can start to strategize my approach to running half marathons pretty well. Full marathons are another story. I still feel I'm just surviving that distance.
I'm stronger and faster today than I was a year ago. I'd like to think I'm healthier mentally and emotionally as well. I probably still push myself much too hard in races and not hard enough in training, but it's something I can work on.
I'm running marathon #2 this weekend - MCM again - it's a nice course and the logistics/support are most excellent. Plus my dad can get off my case about the colors they use on the ribbon (I'm pretty sure it's going to be scarlet and gold this year - 35 years of MCM!). I bought a bike recently and I'm going to incorporate some triathlons into my racing season next year.
I haven't peaked yet - I'm not sure I'll run MCM next year, as it's an expensive trip for me, but I'm certainly going to keep running!
Monday, October 25, 2010
President Obama Speaks at USC
I got to hear President Obama speak at USC on Friday. Unfortunately I didn't get to see him because of the way the stage was set up and the size of the crowd.
I really hoped he would have a very inspirational, motivating speech, but it was just a pro-Democratic stump speech. I thought he sounded a bit desperate. I was really sad and disappointed as President Obama is known for his uplifting and inspirational speeches and I hoped I could hear something I could take away from the experience.
I've been trying to find a place to upload his speech (around 20 min, 521 MB). If anyone knows of a good free video hosting site, please let me know so I can get the video out.
And hey Trojans. . . . .Fight On!
I really hoped he would have a very inspirational, motivating speech, but it was just a pro-Democratic stump speech. I thought he sounded a bit desperate. I was really sad and disappointed as President Obama is known for his uplifting and inspirational speeches and I hoped I could hear something I could take away from the experience.
I've been trying to find a place to upload his speech (around 20 min, 521 MB). If anyone knows of a good free video hosting site, please let me know so I can get the video out.
And hey Trojans. . . . .Fight On!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What Else He Shaves
I'm starting to think I must *really* suck at relationships. They fail when I feed them with much love and affection, they fail when I feed less love and affection. They fail when I try too hard. They fail when I give up trying. What? What is it? Why can I get it to work?
I'm a bit lost that people say women have so much power in relationships, because I just am not seeing that at all. I don't think I'm ever going to get married to that guy who's the perfect teammate for me and have little fat babies. I'll have fat Shiba Inus instead. Because the people love just isn't working for me. It's tragic and I'm frustrated and I honestly cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong. I can suspect, and change the gameplan a little each time I go out with someone new, but it's always, without fail, an epic failure every time.
How is it that I can be so damn smart and yet so dumb with this relationship bullshit? I mean, the player I knew in college got married, and the jerk who used me to move to South Bay before dumping me has been married for a year and a half already.
Maybe I'm just un-marriable.
Strangely enough I think I'm picking better guys with each iteration, although the last guy (not the current guy) is a bit of an outlier. Weirdo.
Anyway. We had this "State of the Relationship" talk the other night. One of the the things that came up was jealousy and opposite-sex friendships. I thought we had already talked about it, but apparently we didn't really see eye-to-eye on things. I certainly did not see that I was here and he was way the fuck over there (on that topic, the relationship, etc. etc.). How'd I miss that? To tease me at the end of the conversation, he said,
"So who's this guy you went to dinner with the other night?"
"He's a friend from cycling. He's nice; I got the impression that he wanted it to be a date but I told him beforehand that I had a boyfriend. He seemed disappointed, poor guy."
"You're not attracted to him?"
"No, not really."
"Why not?"
"Uh (I don't need to look when I'm *with* someone already! Gee, one guy is hard enough for me to figure out! What am I gonna do with two!?), I don't know. He's a cyclist. He shaves his legs. That's weird." (Sorry Don! I had to say something!)
"He shaves his legs huh? I wonder what else he shaves?!"
"Eew!"
I'm a bit lost that people say women have so much power in relationships, because I just am not seeing that at all. I don't think I'm ever going to get married to that guy who's the perfect teammate for me and have little fat babies. I'll have fat Shiba Inus instead. Because the people love just isn't working for me. It's tragic and I'm frustrated and I honestly cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong. I can suspect, and change the gameplan a little each time I go out with someone new, but it's always, without fail, an epic failure every time.
How is it that I can be so damn smart and yet so dumb with this relationship bullshit? I mean, the player I knew in college got married, and the jerk who used me to move to South Bay before dumping me has been married for a year and a half already.
Maybe I'm just un-marriable.
Strangely enough I think I'm picking better guys with each iteration, although the last guy (not the current guy) is a bit of an outlier. Weirdo.
Anyway. We had this "State of the Relationship" talk the other night. One of the the things that came up was jealousy and opposite-sex friendships. I thought we had already talked about it, but apparently we didn't really see eye-to-eye on things. I certainly did not see that I was here and he was way the fuck over there (on that topic, the relationship, etc. etc.). How'd I miss that? To tease me at the end of the conversation, he said,
"So who's this guy you went to dinner with the other night?"
"He's a friend from cycling. He's nice; I got the impression that he wanted it to be a date but I told him beforehand that I had a boyfriend. He seemed disappointed, poor guy."
"You're not attracted to him?"
"No, not really."
"Why not?"
"Uh (I don't need to look when I'm *with* someone already! Gee, one guy is hard enough for me to figure out! What am I gonna do with two!?), I don't know. He's a cyclist. He shaves his legs. That's weird." (Sorry Don! I had to say something!)
"He shaves his legs huh? I wonder what else he shaves?!"
"Eew!"
Sunday, September 26, 2010
So There I Was . . . . .
Standing in Victoria's Secret, a bit vexed they didn't have the pretty lacy "lilac frost" panties to match the bra I found, and perturbed that their selection of pretty white delicates were lacking. I have the free cotton panties in my hand, along with the white delicates I decided to settle for.
A fellow who was there with his wife and small daughter looked at me, and said, "You work at The Company, right?"
I honestly never saw this fellow before in my life. How the hell did he know? "Uh, yeah. I work at The Company."
"I knew I recognized you! I see you all the time walking by my building! You're always going somewhere!"
"Yeah, I'm on my way to Coffee Bean." I'm standing there with panties in my hand talking to some married guy I've never seen before who's apparently been spying on me at work long enough to notice that I frequent the nearby cafe. This seems ripe for comedy.
"That's right! You're always walking back with coffee!"
He's got me like a deer in headlights now, because I'm not walking to Coffee Bean all that much these days. Not only that, but how can someone notice me for so long and yet not eventually say hello and introduce himself? Preferably in the context where he's been noticing me, and not in a lingerie store?
I'm not sure whether to be slightly disturbed that this guy recognized me without my Company Badge (which, if you don't socialize with coworkers, ensures your anonymity at The Company. At least, I have a hard time remembering names of people I rarely interact with when I don't see their badges), or to be perplexed that I was having a random conversation I did not initiate with a married man at Victoria's Secret.
At any rate, I obviously need to find a better way to get to Coffee Bean. Or do a better job at becoming a mistress of disguise. Or figure out how to exploit this strange ability or quirk to profit and make my millions.
A fellow who was there with his wife and small daughter looked at me, and said, "You work at The Company, right?"
I honestly never saw this fellow before in my life. How the hell did he know? "Uh, yeah. I work at The Company."
"I knew I recognized you! I see you all the time walking by my building! You're always going somewhere!"
"Yeah, I'm on my way to Coffee Bean." I'm standing there with panties in my hand talking to some married guy I've never seen before who's apparently been spying on me at work long enough to notice that I frequent the nearby cafe. This seems ripe for comedy.
"That's right! You're always walking back with coffee!"
He's got me like a deer in headlights now, because I'm not walking to Coffee Bean all that much these days. Not only that, but how can someone notice me for so long and yet not eventually say hello and introduce himself? Preferably in the context where he's been noticing me, and not in a lingerie store?
I'm not sure whether to be slightly disturbed that this guy recognized me without my Company Badge (which, if you don't socialize with coworkers, ensures your anonymity at The Company. At least, I have a hard time remembering names of people I rarely interact with when I don't see their badges), or to be perplexed that I was having a random conversation I did not initiate with a married man at Victoria's Secret.
At any rate, I obviously need to find a better way to get to Coffee Bean. Or do a better job at becoming a mistress of disguise. Or figure out how to exploit this strange ability or quirk to profit and make my millions.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Brown People vs. Black People
You know how people are either brown people or black people? Brown or black being the predominant "accessory" color. Brown shoes, black shoes. Brown belt, black belt. Brown bag, black bag.
I've always thought I was a black person. I have more black shoes than brown, I think black eyeliner looks better on me than brown eyeliner (when I actually manage to wear the stuff).
And then of course he has to say, "I think you're more of a brown person, with your skin tone and hair color." Then again, he's biased, because he's most obviously a brown person.
So because I'm curious, here starts the great Brown Experiment of 2010. I'm still skeptical.
I've always thought I was a black person. I have more black shoes than brown, I think black eyeliner looks better on me than brown eyeliner (when I actually manage to wear the stuff).
And then of course he has to say, "I think you're more of a brown person, with your skin tone and hair color." Then again, he's biased, because he's most obviously a brown person.
So because I'm curious, here starts the great Brown Experiment of 2010. I'm still skeptical.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Dinner For One - Meatball Sandwich
I'm pretty sure this could be a dinner for two or three, but let's be lazy and say that I'm making a meatball sandwich for dinner and I'm gonna eat meatball sandwiches for lunch all week.
Meatball Sandwiches
1 bag of Trader Joe's frozen Meatballs
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes
garlic (I used a spoonful of pureed garlic from Trader Joe's)
olive oil
basil
oregano
pepper
provolone cheese
whole wheat french rolls
OK. Heat up a small saucepan, and pour in a little olive oil. When it heats up put in the garlic and add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir in basil, oregano and pepper. Wait for it to bubble and turn into a really good sauce. Add the meatballs and disappear for half an hour.
Toast the french roll, add the cheese and some meatballs, and eat. I recommend you be unhealthier than me and eat with potato chips. :)
Race Report - Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon
The Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon at Camp Pendleton was certainly more difficult for me than San Francisco. It was hot, the dirt-packed trail was uneven and hilly, and my foot decided to act up on me too. But finishing this race was certainly one of the most satisfying things I've done.
I really like being on Marine bases. I don't know why. It's just a nostalgic thing; I know what to expect from the experience and everyone is just there to have a good time.
There was a woman Marine who was carrying the flag that day; she was dressed in all black and on the flag were all the names of the people who died on 9/11. I'm not particularly sentimental about 9/11, but I thought what she did was pretty cool and she's much tougher than me. We passed each other up until just after the half-way mark, and then when we passed her up for the last time we chatted a bit. We remarked on the super-fast man who practically finished just as we were passing the 3-mile mark, and the uneven terrain. We were just past 9 miles when she said that they're going to send the snipers out in a couple miles. "Let's hope they miss!" I said.
I don't know if I'll do this race again; the shirts were pretty cool (although the fabric isn't the best technical t-shirt fabric) and it was really a nice experience to be on a base again and be around all that military spirit, but this was truly an energy-sapping race. On the other hand, it was really cheap ($40) and it was very, very satisfying to finish.
I ran this with a friend who runs triathlons. He is a much stronger runner than I am, even though he's been on the "cookie eating training plan". He gave me a bunch of tips on motivation and breathing, and I was able to give him tips on running hills. Even though he was stronger, I have a slightly better technique for charging up and down hills than he does. So that was nice that we could share knowledge like that with each other. Even though I kept pestering him to run on ahead of me, he insisted we stay together and cross the finish line together. It was really nice of him and his encouragement certainly helped me finish faster than I otherwise would have.
Friday, September 10, 2010
I Feel Like I Must Be A Racist. . . .
Because I think the "good" dancer must be a black man. . . . and the "bad" dancer is a white engineer.
Psychologists Identify Killer Dance Moves For Men
Psychologists Identify Killer Dance Moves For Men
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Dinner For One - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken
The Alfredo sauce is based on the one I've posted before (incidentally one of the most popular posts on this blog), and I marinated the chicken breast in lemon juice and olive oil.
Alfredo Sauce
- 2 TB Butter
- 2 TB Heavy Cream
- 1/4 c. Grated Parmesan (I honestly have no idea how much I used, I'm a bit of a mouse and love cheese), plus more to top
- Dash Nutmeg
When the pasta was done I drained the pasta and put it somewhere else, somewhere not the pot. Melt the butter and add the cream to the pot, put it back on the stove on low. When the sauce gets warm and starts to thicken, add the cheese and noodles. Toss. Top with the nutmeg.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Why Do Free Upgraded Drinks Bother Me?
I ordered an Original-sized Pomegranate Paradise with soy protein. Why did this dude just give me one that looks like the Original-sized cup took steroids? Sure, he was being flirty and extra helpful when I ordered, but. . . . oh. I get it now. It's not that I don't appreciate the favor, it's that I asked for one thing at a beverage counter (in this case, Jamba Juice), and distinctly got something I did not want. I'm pretty sure I eat enough sandwiches, so it can't be because they think I need to eat more. In which case, I don't think all the frozen smoothies from Jamba Juice can help me.
This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me. Go all the way back to 2006, Twin Falls, Idaho, at the Starbucks inside Barnes & Noble. There was this barista who had spent a lot of time in Lodi and in some weird way we got along and over time I realized he had taken a liking to me. He started adding stuff to my coffee orders as "favors" that totally annoyed me and made me not want to go there.
"Do you like it? I added an extra shot of espresso for you." Thanks man, now the coffee-to-flavor-to-steamed-milk ratio is all fscked up. If I drink the whole thing I am going to be extra-super wired for the rest of the day. This is not what I wanted. :(
I know I should just smile and roll with it, be grateful and thank the Beverage Gods that there are beverage service people who want to do favors for girls they think are cute. One day I will not be cute anymore, and the baristas and juice guys are not going to surprise me with an upgraded drink for free.
But man, it bothers me. It's not fair to all the other random strangers who wander into the cafe or juice joint and wander out with exactly whatever drink they ordered. It bothers me because I don't want to turn into one of those snobby bitches who ask the barista to scoop off the foam (why would I do that?!? The stuff tastes great!). It bothers me that I can't be a random stranger whenever I go to whatever place. I gotta be the odd person out. I should take my free upgrade and run, but I wish I didn't feel so guilty about it.
I don't get this kind of treatment at my Coffee Bean near work. They're all just nice to me because I go there a lot and we're all friendly. They know what I like (it's Americanos with room now) and they've never tried to surprise me with some magical "favor".
This isn't the first time something like this has happened to me. Go all the way back to 2006, Twin Falls, Idaho, at the Starbucks inside Barnes & Noble. There was this barista who had spent a lot of time in Lodi and in some weird way we got along and over time I realized he had taken a liking to me. He started adding stuff to my coffee orders as "favors" that totally annoyed me and made me not want to go there.
"Do you like it? I added an extra shot of espresso for you." Thanks man, now the coffee-to-flavor-to-steamed-milk ratio is all fscked up. If I drink the whole thing I am going to be extra-super wired for the rest of the day. This is not what I wanted. :(
I know I should just smile and roll with it, be grateful and thank the Beverage Gods that there are beverage service people who want to do favors for girls they think are cute. One day I will not be cute anymore, and the baristas and juice guys are not going to surprise me with an upgraded drink for free.
But man, it bothers me. It's not fair to all the other random strangers who wander into the cafe or juice joint and wander out with exactly whatever drink they ordered. It bothers me because I don't want to turn into one of those snobby bitches who ask the barista to scoop off the foam (why would I do that?!? The stuff tastes great!). It bothers me that I can't be a random stranger whenever I go to whatever place. I gotta be the odd person out. I should take my free upgrade and run, but I wish I didn't feel so guilty about it.
I don't get this kind of treatment at my Coffee Bean near work. They're all just nice to me because I go there a lot and we're all friendly. They know what I like (it's Americanos with room now) and they've never tried to surprise me with some magical "favor".
Monday, August 09, 2010
Whitewater Kayaking
Last weekend I spent up at the Kern River whitewater kayaking. I took a 101 course from Shannon at Sierra Sports, and she's an awesome instructor and guide.
I obviously don't have quite the upper body strength or endurance for two full days of kayaking, but I had a lot of fun and learned something new. I didn't quite get to the point where I could perform rolls unassisted, but I'm sure with practice I'll get there. I got banged up a bit on some Class II/III rapids that turned me over and forced me to bail out, but it was all in good fun.
One of the best parts about the weekend was the camping! I haven't been camping in years and even though there were no showers and just a port-o-potty, I had a great time. I saw the most magnificent sky of stars both Friday and Saturday nights. We saw 5 meteors on Friday night and 3 on Saturday (probably part of the Perseid meteor shower), plus a couple spy satellites on Saturday night.
If you're ever up by Bakersfield and want something fun to do, go check out Sierra Sports and take a class from Shannon!
I obviously don't have quite the upper body strength or endurance for two full days of kayaking, but I had a lot of fun and learned something new. I didn't quite get to the point where I could perform rolls unassisted, but I'm sure with practice I'll get there. I got banged up a bit on some Class II/III rapids that turned me over and forced me to bail out, but it was all in good fun.
One of the best parts about the weekend was the camping! I haven't been camping in years and even though there were no showers and just a port-o-potty, I had a great time. I saw the most magnificent sky of stars both Friday and Saturday nights. We saw 5 meteors on Friday night and 3 on Saturday (probably part of the Perseid meteor shower), plus a couple spy satellites on Saturday night.
If you're ever up by Bakersfield and want something fun to do, go check out Sierra Sports and take a class from Shannon!
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