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Monday, May 24, 2010
Day 30: Global Rich List
Allrighty then! Get thee to this website and make yourself feel a whole lot better about how rich you are!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Day 29: Yes On the Sarcasm Font!
A lovely list from Lists Galore. And yes, Suzi, I'm thinking you should definitely take ownership of my computer history!
1
I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5
How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6
Was learning cursive really necessary?
7
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10
Bad decisions make good stories.
11
You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12
Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13
I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14
"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this — ever.
15
I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18
I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Lite than Kay.
20
I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
21
Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
22
I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
23
The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
24
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
26
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28
Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?
29
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
30
As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
31
Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
32
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey — but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
1
I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2
Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3
I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4
There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5
How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6
Was learning cursive really necessary?
7
Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8
Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9
I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10
Bad decisions make good stories.
11
You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12
Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13
I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14
"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this — ever.
15
I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Darn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16
I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17
I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18
I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19
I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Bud Lite than Kay.
20
I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
21
Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
22
I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
23
The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
24
I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
25
How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?
26
I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!
27
Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
28
Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?
29
There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
30
As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
31
Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
32
Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey — but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Day 28: Festive Festivals
I have a new goal. Columbus Underground recently posted a list of festivals in the coming year, and I've decided that I'm going to go to at least five of them. Here's the list:
- Hell City Tattoo Festival - May 21, 22 and 23
- Eco-Chic Craftacular - May 22 and 23
- Agora - May 22
- Columbus Beerfest - May 28 and 29
- Asian Festival - May 29 and 30
- Columbus Arts Festival - June 4, 5 and 6
- Park Street Festival - June 10, 11 and 12
- Go West - June 12
- City Hop - June 12
- Juneteenth Ohio Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
- Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
- Columbus Pride Festival - June 18, 19 and 20
- Comfest - June 25, 26, and 27
- Red White & Boom - July 2
- Doo Dah Parade - July 4
- North Market Food & Ohio Wine Festival - July 9, 10 and 11
- Parking Lot Blowout - July 10
- Franklin County Fair - July 17 through 24
- Shadowbox Sketch Comedy Festival - July 20 and 21
- Jazz and Rib Fest - July 23, 24 and 25
- Ohio State Fair - July 28 through August 8
- Dublin Irish Festival - August 6, 7 and 8
- Festival Latino - August 14 and 15
- Greek Festival - September 3 through 6
- Bike the CBUS - September 4
- Hot Times Community Festival - September 10, 11 and 12
- Riverfront Art Festival - September 17, 18 and 19
- Independents’ Day - September 18
- India Festival - September 18
- Oktoberfest - September 24, 25 and 26
- Italian Festival - October 8, 9 and 10
- Circleville Pumpkin Show - October 20 through 23
Friday, May 21, 2010
Day 27: Birds, Birds, Birds!
And, being from Columbus, I have to give a shout out to our very own Peregrine falcons. Too. Freaking. Cool! There are two cameras--one inside the nestbox and one out on the ledge. Enjoy!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Day 25: Thrifty Girl
This girl is amazing!
"I've never heard of a teenager buying a house," said Nikki Gasbarro, spokeswoman for the Ohio Association of Realtors. "Smart girl."
The Greenfield teenager has been saving money since she was 4 years old and won $100 showing a hog.
"I didn't get the money; it went to the bank," said Binegar, now a 19-year-old freshman at Ohio University's Chillicothe branch.
And so the pattern began. She'd raise a few hogs every year on the family farm in Highland County, show them at competitions and add any winnings or sales proceeds to her savings account.
"She's pretty tight," said Lindsay's dad, Gary. "She's always been big into 4-H, and every penny she made she just banked."
That included $15,540 for showing the reserve champion and grand champion hogs at the county fair in recent years.
By the time she graduated from Greenfield McClain High School last June, she had saved more than $40,000 for college.
But her parents had a proposition: They'd pay for college if she'd live at home and commute to Ohio University's Chillicothe campus.
The idea appealed to Lindsay's thrifty, practical side but left her wondering how to invest the money she'd saved.
Her dad, who runs Binegar Auction Service, had a suggestion.
"I said, 'You should buy a house,' " Gary Binegar said.
"I was like, 'Oh, Dad, that's a lot of money,' " she said.
But in August, Lindsay bought a house when her dad was auctioning one as part of an estate sale. She paid $40,000.
After painting the inside of the two-story frame house and adding new carpeting, Lindsay rented the house to a great aunt and uncle who wanted to relocate to Greenfield.
Walter Molony, spokesman for the National Association of Realtors, said it's extremely unusual for a teenager to buy a house.
Lindsay's dad, it turns out, did something similar - but not as grandiose - when he got out of high school. He bought a house, too.
"I paid $7,000 and there was 3 feet of snow in the living room," he said.
He fixed it up, rented it, then sold it and bought the farm where he, his wife, Mandy, and Lindsay now live.
Mr. Binegar, 44, isn't sure why his daughter is so fiscally responsible at an age when many teens spend every cent they get.
Then again, it fits her personality. She's always been at the top of her class academically. She volunteers each Friday at an elementary school to further her dream of becoming a teacher. She has been involved in 4-H for 11 years, was a cheerleader and was crowned homecoming queen her senior year of high school.
"We tried to lead her in the right direction and make her know the value of a dollar," her father said.
Lindsay said she hopes to finish college in three years, get a teaching job and raise a family in her hometown.
"I would never move out of Greenfield," she said. "I just love everybody here."
She's saving the $450-a-month rent payments from the house so she and her 22-year-old fiance, Heath McNeal, can buy a small house when they get married in 2011.
Eventually, the couple wants to buy land and build their dream home on top of a hill.
Her father has no doubt that'll happen.
"She's got a really good head on her shoulders," he said. "She's the perfect girl."
Frugal teen buys house with 4-H winnings
Lindsay Binegar was 14 the first time she spent any winnings from years of showing hogs. She bought a purse. The second time, at 18, she splurged. She bought a four-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a two-car garage. And she paid in cash."I've never heard of a teenager buying a house," said Nikki Gasbarro, spokeswoman for the Ohio Association of Realtors. "Smart girl."
The Greenfield teenager has been saving money since she was 4 years old and won $100 showing a hog.
"I didn't get the money; it went to the bank," said Binegar, now a 19-year-old freshman at Ohio University's Chillicothe branch.
And so the pattern began. She'd raise a few hogs every year on the family farm in Highland County, show them at competitions and add any winnings or sales proceeds to her savings account.
"She's pretty tight," said Lindsay's dad, Gary. "She's always been big into 4-H, and every penny she made she just banked."
That included $15,540 for showing the reserve champion and grand champion hogs at the county fair in recent years.
By the time she graduated from Greenfield McClain High School last June, she had saved more than $40,000 for college.
But her parents had a proposition: They'd pay for college if she'd live at home and commute to Ohio University's Chillicothe campus.
The idea appealed to Lindsay's thrifty, practical side but left her wondering how to invest the money she'd saved.
Her dad, who runs Binegar Auction Service, had a suggestion.
"I said, 'You should buy a house,' " Gary Binegar said.
"I was like, 'Oh, Dad, that's a lot of money,' " she said.
But in August, Lindsay bought a house when her dad was auctioning one as part of an estate sale. She paid $40,000.
After painting the inside of the two-story frame house and adding new carpeting, Lindsay rented the house to a great aunt and uncle who wanted to relocate to Greenfield.
Walter Molony, spokesman for the National Association of Realtors, said it's extremely unusual for a teenager to buy a house.
Lindsay's dad, it turns out, did something similar - but not as grandiose - when he got out of high school. He bought a house, too.
"I paid $7,000 and there was 3 feet of snow in the living room," he said.
He fixed it up, rented it, then sold it and bought the farm where he, his wife, Mandy, and Lindsay now live.
Mr. Binegar, 44, isn't sure why his daughter is so fiscally responsible at an age when many teens spend every cent they get.
Then again, it fits her personality. She's always been at the top of her class academically. She volunteers each Friday at an elementary school to further her dream of becoming a teacher. She has been involved in 4-H for 11 years, was a cheerleader and was crowned homecoming queen her senior year of high school.
"We tried to lead her in the right direction and make her know the value of a dollar," her father said.
Lindsay said she hopes to finish college in three years, get a teaching job and raise a family in her hometown.
"I would never move out of Greenfield," she said. "I just love everybody here."
She's saving the $450-a-month rent payments from the house so she and her 22-year-old fiance, Heath McNeal, can buy a small house when they get married in 2011.
Eventually, the couple wants to buy land and build their dream home on top of a hill.
Her father has no doubt that'll happen.
"She's got a really good head on her shoulders," he said. "She's the perfect girl."
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Day 24: k.d. lang's Hallelujah
During the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics, k.d. lang performed a stunning version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. The video is available here (I couldn't embed it), but if you'd just like to listen, then click below and enjoy. The song is also available on iTunes. I listen to it just about every day. Breath taking.
P.S.: Am I the only one who can't spell "hallelujah"?
P.S.: Am I the only one who can't spell "hallelujah"?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Day 23: Taiwanese Whitney Houston
This video is from Taiwan's version of American Idol. Fast forward to the 1:10 mark and prepare to be amazed. More info is available here, if you're interested.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Day 22: Worst Website in the World
I was going to do a screenshot to show you how amazingly wretched this is, but that would ruin the fun. This site IS suitable for work, but there's sound. Because it couldn't be the world's worst website without sound, of course.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Day 21: I Want My Life Back Update
I'm honestly doing very well with all of this. I tried three new food places this week, took the kids to the library, and went to Chuck E. Cheese's with Rohan. I've also launched a Cupcake Quest, but having eaten at Pattycake Bakery twice this week, I'm not going to be making any cupcakes right now. My body can only take so much!
I have a lot of things going on in my life. About the only one I feel comfortable discussing publicly is my job search. I need a job. Desperately. I had hopes that this week I would hear back from a promising interview, but unfortunately I did not. Let's hope I get good news next week.
But, I have lots of good things coming up. In a little over a week, a dear friend of mine takes his oath of citizenship. I can't wait! I studied with him for nearly a year, so it's almost as important to me as it is to him. I'm wearing waterproof mascara that day.
I'm heading to Toronto on May 28. My best friend and I are going to the I Can Do It! conference. No kids, no husbands, just the two of us. Wheeee!!!
So, I just need to get through the next week, then I'll have some diversions coming up. I'll be OK. Still need a job, but I'll be OK.
I have a lot of things going on in my life. About the only one I feel comfortable discussing publicly is my job search. I need a job. Desperately. I had hopes that this week I would hear back from a promising interview, but unfortunately I did not. Let's hope I get good news next week.
But, I have lots of good things coming up. In a little over a week, a dear friend of mine takes his oath of citizenship. I can't wait! I studied with him for nearly a year, so it's almost as important to me as it is to him. I'm wearing waterproof mascara that day.
I'm heading to Toronto on May 28. My best friend and I are going to the I Can Do It! conference. No kids, no husbands, just the two of us. Wheeee!!!
So, I just need to get through the next week, then I'll have some diversions coming up. I'll be OK. Still need a job, but I'll be OK.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Day 20: Pattycake Bakery
But I heard so many good things about it that I finally announced to Rohan one morning, "I have a surprise for you!" and took him to Pattycake Bakery.
Um...he liked it. Loved it even, and I'm telling you, I felt the same way! Seriously! Their stuff is AMAZING! I mean, it's not just good by vegan standards--it's GOOD, period. Honestly, I had a fleeting thought while I was there that perhaps they lie and really do use eggs and milk. Then I realized there were an awful lot of people working in the back and at least one of them would have spilled the beans if that were the case. That good.
I tasted the chocolate cupcake (amazing), the lemon cupcake (good), the Toll House cookies (how in the HELL can these be vegan?!), the pumpkin whoopie pie (swoon), and the vanilla cupcake (delightful). Yeah, I brought home some stuff for the rest of the family. And, I might have presented it thusly: "Isn't that cookie amazing?! Yeah, well guess what? IT'S VEGAN!!"
Fun thing, that goal of trying things outside of my comfort zone!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Day 18: The Cupcake Quest
I am adding something to my I Want My Life Back list: I want to find the perfect cupcake recipe. Details are hazy. I'm not sure what the "perfect" cupcake would be, but I guess I'll know it when I taste it. I got a bunch of cupcake books from the library, figuring that's as good a place to start as any. I hope to make my initial batch this weekend.
P.S.: I am under no delusions that my cupcakes will look anything like the gorgeous ones that grace today's entry. :-D
P.S.: I am under no delusions that my cupcakes will look anything like the gorgeous ones that grace today's entry. :-D
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Day 17: Asking for Help
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there last night. I'm sick.”
“What’s wrong?”
He explained to me that he had a terrible toothache. He called for an appointment, but the dentist couldn’t see him until the twenty-fifth. In the midst of this terrible pain, he was on his way to drop off his brother Ali for surgery to have his tonsils removed. And he'd just finished dropping off his sister, who had to take her son, Ismail, to get braces. After he took Ali for surgery, he was going back to get Khadija and Ismail, then back to the surgery center for Ali.
He explained to me that he had a terrible toothache. He called for an appointment, but the dentist couldn’t see him until the twenty-fifth. In the midst of this terrible pain, he was on his way to drop off his brother Ali for surgery to have his tonsils removed. And he'd just finished dropping off his sister, who had to take her son, Ismail, to get braces. After he took Ali for surgery, he was going back to get Khadija and Ismail, then back to the surgery center for Ali.
“Oh my God, Khalid! Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll call my dentist. She’ll be able to get you in and look at your tooth."
“OK. I’ll call you after I’m done with Ali.”
I hung up and immediate called his sister, Khadija. Her English is much better than Khalid’s. “Khadija, can I come pick you and Ismail up so Khalid doesn’t have to do it?”
“Yes please!”
I went over and picked them up, then we went to the surgery center. After getting Ali settled at home, Khalid and I went to my dentist, who not only saw him today, but also fixed the lost filling. For $60 cheaper than what Khalid’s dentist was going to charge him two weeks from now!
Why do I mention this? No, not so you all will think, “Oh, she’s such a wonderful person.” THIS is why I tell you this: sometimes you simply have to ask for help. I was truly angry with Khalid that he didn’t ask me for help. He’s in pain, his brother is having surgery and his sister has to take care of her son. Why in God’s name would you NOT ask me for help?
He said he didn’t want to bother me, of course, which is what we would all say. And it’s absolutely true—we don’t want to bother people. But I’ve noticed that the same people who never ask for help are the same ones we’d do anything for. My best friend Suzi almost never asks me for help. Occasionally she’ll ask my advice on how to write something, but generally she goes it alone. It’s a little annoying. :-)
I totally get the “not wanting to bother” people idea. I feel the same way most of the time. But I’ll tell you what--being on the receiving end of Khalid’s not wanting to bother me felt really horrible. I was truly sad that he hadn’t asked me to help lighten his load today, not to mention it was terrible that he'd had to suffer so long with a toothache.
So next time you’re in a situation that could be made better by the help of a friend, reach out and ask for it. Sure they might say no, and that would be unfortunate. If they do, don’t take it personally. It’s possible that I might have had something going on if Khalid had asked for help, and I would have had to tell him no. But what would have been the harm in asking?
The adorable photo on this entry is Kitty Rescue by fofurasfelinas.
The adorable photo on this entry is Kitty Rescue by fofurasfelinas.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Day 16: Photobomb
A photobomb is when someone or something unexpectedly shows up in your photo. There's a whole site devoted to this phenomenon. OK, probably more than one, but there's only one that I go to frequently. I thought this one was hilarious.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Day 15: Popcorn!
One of my goals is to make two new recipes a month. On Friday, I made a rice salad that my friend Khalid's mother taught me a few months ago. Today, I impulsively decided to make real popcorn. You know--the kind you make on a stove with oil and popcorn kernels.
Eh.
It was OK. Well, technically, it is OK because I'm stuffing my face as I type this. I mean, it's good. It's just that it's kind of a pain in the ass to make, plus I fully recognize that I'm eating a crapload of calories thanks to the oil and real butter it contains. I like my air popper better, but hey! I tried something new. Wheeeeee!!
Eh.
It was OK. Well, technically, it is OK because I'm stuffing my face as I type this. I mean, it's good. It's just that it's kind of a pain in the ass to make, plus I fully recognize that I'm eating a crapload of calories thanks to the oil and real butter it contains. I like my air popper better, but hey! I tried something new. Wheeeeee!!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Day 14: I Want My Life Back Update
I think it might be a good idea to update every Saturday how I'm doing on getting my life back.
I'm happy to say I did very, very well this week.
I'm happy to say I did very, very well this week. - I worked in the garden with my three-year-old son, Rohan two days this week. We also planted a bunch of seeds (zinnias, cosmos, and basil), which he's happily watched sprout.
- I went to the Gahanna Herb Festival today. I didn't buy anything, but I went. In the past, I tended to think about doing such things, but then I would think it was just too much trouble and I wouldn't bother going. Today, I followed through.
- To my great joy, I set up my outside fountain. The birds are enjoying it, too, truth be told. :-)
- I did spend less time on the computer this week. Yay!
- I exercised five times this week, and what a wonderful week it was. Last night I went for a walk at 8:30. It was still warm, but the wind was amazingly hard. I love wind.
- I cooked Moroccan food for the family last night (which is pictured on this entry). Moroccan main dishes are heavy on meat, and since my kids and my husband are vegetarians, I had to adapt a recipe for them. It came out very well, and Rohan told me, "Thank you for cooking me Moroccan food, Mommy!" Melt.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Day 13: Go Bucks!
All right. I'm an Ohio State alum, so I do admit I might be biased. However, I think I might enjoy this video even if it were performed by Wolverines instead of Buckeyes. 'Course, they wouldn't have Gordon Gee and Brutus, so it couldn't possibly be as cool as this one, but still.... ;-)
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Day 12: Smart Ass
A friend sent this on to me. SO glad there's finally an explanation for this!
With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief, look how smart I am!"
Must be where 'Smart Ass' came from!
With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.
Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, "Good grief, look how smart I am!"
Must be where 'Smart Ass' came from!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Day 10: Boiled Water
This soup, dubbed Boiled Water because it's just about that easy to make, is surprisingly delicious.
BOILED WATER
6-10 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 thick slices of bread
1/2 freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh parsley leaves for garnish
Combine four cups water with the garlic, bay leaf, and some salt and pepper in a saucepan or stockpot. Bring to a boil, cover partially, and turn the heat to very low. Let the liquid bubble gently for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, brown the slices of bread in the oil, turning once, for a total of about 5 minutes.
Put the bread in bowls and top with the grated cheese. Strain the soup into the bowls, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Day Nine: Go Green
Photograph: Landscape at Goetre belongs to DaveRoberts3 of Flickr.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Day Eight: Pound for Pound Challenge
Wheee! If you need to lose weight, you can help the hungry in your community. Simply go to the Pound for Pound Website and click on the Pledge Now Button. All you have to do is enter a few bits of information, and they'll donate 14 cents to your local food back for every pound you pledge to lose.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I Want My Life Back
For the past year or so, I've been hopelessly distracted by a bunch of things that are happening in my life. I kept motoring on, hoping that things would settle down or go away or be resolved and then I could get back to my real life. But it's been a year now, and there's no end in sight to the distractions. Worse, there are more things looming on the horizon, and it might be the end of the year before I can relax.
I don't want to wait until then to get my life back.
So, I've decided I'm going to take my life back. I'm going to get it back myself, and I'm not going to stand helplessly by and wait to be rescued by fate. As of now, no matter what's going on I'm going to live my life as best I can, as fully as I can. Here's my plan for how I want to take my life back:
I don't want to wait until then to get my life back.
So, I've decided I'm going to take my life back. I'm going to get it back myself, and I'm not going to stand helplessly by and wait to be rescued by fate. As of now, no matter what's going on I'm going to live my life as best I can, as fully as I can. Here's my plan for how I want to take my life back:
- Do strength training 2-3 times a week
- Continue exercising 5 times a week
- Get my finances in order
- Try two new recipes a month (I did manage to do two in April)
- Learn to cook 10 Moroccan dishes (2 DOWN, 8 TO GO)
- Cultivate new and existing friendships
Organize my jewelry collectionDONE!- Spend less time on the computer
- Read magazines
- Read books
- Complete my 365 day blog project
- Go do fun things with the kids
- Try new restaurants
- Take a class
- Learn Arabic
- Get a job
- Care about my garden again
- Set up the outside fountain
Set up the inside fountainDONE!- Finish writing my book
- Try things that are out of my comfort zone
Day Seven: Northern Coastline Magic Hour
Enjoy this gorgeous photo from one of my favorite flickr artists, CHEZ ANDRE 1. Amazing!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Day Six: To The Rescue!!
Aw...this one made my day! :-)
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Cheeka is her name; being intelligent, alert and swift is her breed's claim, according to dooziedog.com, a dog breed information Web site.
Cheeka's human would agree after the events of Tuesday night, about 10:20. "The dog woke me up. I looked all around, didn't see anything. I said, 'c'mon, let's go back to bed Cheeks' and she wouldn't go back to bed. She kept barking," said Ed McCollum of Gloucester who adopted Cheeka more than two years ago from the Cape Ann Animal Aid shelter.
Tiny Dog Helps Save Woman's Life
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Cheeka is her name; being intelligent, alert and swift is her breed's claim, according to dooziedog.com, a dog breed information Web site.
Cheeka's human would agree after the events of Tuesday night, about 10:20. "The dog woke me up. I looked all around, didn't see anything. I said, 'c'mon, let's go back to bed Cheeks' and she wouldn't go back to bed. She kept barking," said Ed McCollum of Gloucester who adopted Cheeka more than two years ago from the Cape Ann Animal Aid shelter.
He says she's on medication for a liver illness and rarely barks.
McCollum explained Cheeka ran to a first floor window after running downstairs, which she never does alone, so he took her outside and she took him to an accident scene at the edge of his yard, a van on its side.
He said he called 911 bringing rescuers to the scene in minutes.
Inside the van was a woman, Mary Orlando, bleeding, pinned upside-down. "She didn't look good. She was having hard time breathing," said McCollum.
She was taken to Beverly Hospital where she remained Thursday night but was listed in good condition. "She could have been in there (in the van) all night long. Nobody even knew where the car was," said McCollum adding, Cheeka is such a good dog she would have dialed 911, if she could have, and let him keep sleeping.
Gloucester Police have not concluded what caused that crash and say no charges have been filed but it is under investigation.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Day Five: Kindness of Strangers
I read about this couple last week. So happy to hear that strangers have reached out to them!
"I think it's great, because I never really expected this much help," Morgan Hayden said Wednesday from a hotel in her hometown of Yazoo City.
Hayden, 27, and her 31-year-old fiance, Josiah Moton, huddled in their bathroom with three relatives Saturday when a tornado blew apart the house the couple had helped build a few months ago in a wooded area just outside town. The storm left them homeless — but uninjured.
The National Weather Service said the tornado was 1.75 miles wide — a record for Mississippi. It killed 10 people, injured at least 49 and damaged about 700 homes as it plowed nearly 150 miles through state.
Left with few belongings beyond the clothes they were wearing, Hayden and Moton delayed their plans to go to Little Rock, Ark., on Monday for a small, informal wedding. Hayden said she had not purchased a wedding dress but was planning to wear something from her closet.
Katie Smith, 20, who lives near Louisville, Ky., said she read about the couple in an Associated Press article and decided to find Hayden and offer her the dress.
Smith said she had planned to marry this summer, but her fiance from England broke their engagement last month.
"Honestly, it still hurts like hell," Smith told the AP Wednesday. "But life goes on."
Smith said she has been trying to give away the wedding items she'd already purchased, including the dress she bought on sale for $350. She described the gown as "the perfect combination of innocent and slightly seductive," with plenty of ribbons and lace.
Hayden accepted the offer, and Smith said she mailed the dress Tuesday.
"I know every girl wants to look pretty on her wedding day," Smith said.
An executive at a resort in the Bahamas also said Wednesday that he had read the AP article and the resort offered the couple a honeymoon when they're ready for it. Rick English, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Baha Mar Ltd., said the resort will provide two round-trip air tickets and five nights with an ocean-view room "as kind of a way to make some new memories and help them get past what happened."
Moton said he and Hayden accepted the honeymoon offer Wednesday.
"I think it was wonderful. I really do," Moton said.
Hundreds of tornado survivors in Mississippi are getting help from strangers. Charities are providing meals and bottled water. Church groups, civic groups and random people from in state and out of state are in the storm-damaged areas to cut fallen trees and clear debris.
Hayden works for a company that collects child-support payments under a contract for the state, and Moton was laid off from his job as a house painter in December. They have four children.
Hayden said a homeowners' insurance policy is paying hotel expenses for a week, and she and Moton hope to move into an apartment. She said they'll reschedule the wedding when life becomes somewhat normal again, and the ceremony will probably be in Yazoo City.
Miss. tornado couple receives wedding dress, trip
JACKSON, Miss. – Days after a tornado obliterated their home and delayed their wedding, a Mississippi bride and groom say they feel blessed by the kindness of strangers, including the gift of a wedding dress from a jilted bride in Kentucky."I think it's great, because I never really expected this much help," Morgan Hayden said Wednesday from a hotel in her hometown of Yazoo City.
Hayden, 27, and her 31-year-old fiance, Josiah Moton, huddled in their bathroom with three relatives Saturday when a tornado blew apart the house the couple had helped build a few months ago in a wooded area just outside town. The storm left them homeless — but uninjured.
The National Weather Service said the tornado was 1.75 miles wide — a record for Mississippi. It killed 10 people, injured at least 49 and damaged about 700 homes as it plowed nearly 150 miles through state.
Left with few belongings beyond the clothes they were wearing, Hayden and Moton delayed their plans to go to Little Rock, Ark., on Monday for a small, informal wedding. Hayden said she had not purchased a wedding dress but was planning to wear something from her closet.
Katie Smith, 20, who lives near Louisville, Ky., said she read about the couple in an Associated Press article and decided to find Hayden and offer her the dress.
Smith said she had planned to marry this summer, but her fiance from England broke their engagement last month.
"Honestly, it still hurts like hell," Smith told the AP Wednesday. "But life goes on."
Smith said she has been trying to give away the wedding items she'd already purchased, including the dress she bought on sale for $350. She described the gown as "the perfect combination of innocent and slightly seductive," with plenty of ribbons and lace.
Hayden accepted the offer, and Smith said she mailed the dress Tuesday.
"I know every girl wants to look pretty on her wedding day," Smith said.
An executive at a resort in the Bahamas also said Wednesday that he had read the AP article and the resort offered the couple a honeymoon when they're ready for it. Rick English, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Baha Mar Ltd., said the resort will provide two round-trip air tickets and five nights with an ocean-view room "as kind of a way to make some new memories and help them get past what happened."
Moton said he and Hayden accepted the honeymoon offer Wednesday.
"I think it was wonderful. I really do," Moton said.
Hundreds of tornado survivors in Mississippi are getting help from strangers. Charities are providing meals and bottled water. Church groups, civic groups and random people from in state and out of state are in the storm-damaged areas to cut fallen trees and clear debris.
Hayden works for a company that collects child-support payments under a contract for the state, and Moton was laid off from his job as a house painter in December. They have four children.
Hayden said a homeowners' insurance policy is paying hotel expenses for a week, and she and Moton hope to move into an apartment. She said they'll reschedule the wedding when life becomes somewhat normal again, and the ceremony will probably be in Yazoo City.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Day Four: Wham-O!
The Daily Show ran this hilarious piece on toy company Wham-O moving jobs back to America from China. Enjoy!
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Wham-O Moves to America | ||||
| ||||
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Day Three: More Sex for Better Health
I love it! A Brazilian health official is urging his fellow citizens to have sex more often in order to reap the cardiovascular benefits it provides. Thankfully, he tells them to make sure they're having sex with protection.
This isn't the first time we've heard about the benefits of sex. Dr. Oz, of Oprah fame, also sings its praises, saying "If you have more than 200 orgasms a year, you can reduce your physiologic age by six years." Um...sign me up!
What if you're single with no prospects in sight? BOB (battery operated boyfriend) provides nearly the same benefits as sex with a partner you love.
This isn't the first time we've heard about the benefits of sex. Dr. Oz, of Oprah fame, also sings its praises, saying "If you have more than 200 orgasms a year, you can reduce your physiologic age by six years." Um...sign me up!
What if you're single with no prospects in sight? BOB (battery operated boyfriend) provides nearly the same benefits as sex with a partner you love.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Day Two: A Bra's Tale
This story is from NPR. Enjoy!
As a young woman, Betty Jenkins received a gift from her mother that was meant to attract the attention of young men. But as Jenkins, who is now 94, tells her niece, the attention she got wasn't the kind she was expecting.
"I was very skinny, and I didn't have any curves. I guess my mother got kind of worried, because she didn't think I had enough boyfriends," Jenkins said.
The gift was an inflatable bra that was designed to enhance its wearer's figure. A straw-like tube was used to inflate pads in the cups.
"I was real excited, so I blew and blew to about [size] 32," Jenkins said.
But things didn't go smoothly during a plane trip in South America. The plane was flying near the Andes Mountains when Jenkins began to feel pressure and sensed there was a problem.
It turned out the cabin was not pressurized, and the bra was expanding.
"As the thing got bigger, I tried to stand up," Jenkins said, "and I couldn't see my feet."
The instructions said that the bra's pads could be inflated up to a size 48.
"I thought, 'What would happen if it goes beyond 48?'" Jenkins recalled.
"I found out what happened," she said. "It blew out."
Only one of the cups burst, Jenkins said. But the noise was loud enough to seize the attention of everyone on the plane.
"The co-pilot came into the cabin with a gun, wondering what had happened. The men all pointed to me."
Jenkins then tried to explain in Spanish what she could hardly explain in English, "that part of your anatomy just blew up."
The plane made an emergency landing, and Jenkins was handed over to the police. She was ordered to strip, as the officers looked for what they assumed could only be a bomb.
After she showed the officers the hole in her bra, Jenkins was allowed back on the plane and her trip continued.
"A month later, I got a bill from the airline for $400," Jenkins said, "for an unscheduled stop."
Her mother enjoyed the story so much that she kept the broken bra. Her mother died in 1967. As for the bra, Jenkins says she no longer has it.
Produced for Morning Edition by Nadia Reiman. The senior producer for StoryCorps is Michael Garofalo.
A Bra's Tale: Detour On A Daughter's Trip Abroad
"I was very skinny, and I didn't have any curves. I guess my mother got kind of worried, because she didn't think I had enough boyfriends," Jenkins said.
The gift was an inflatable bra that was designed to enhance its wearer's figure. A straw-like tube was used to inflate pads in the cups.
"I was real excited, so I blew and blew to about [size] 32," Jenkins said.
But things didn't go smoothly during a plane trip in South America. The plane was flying near the Andes Mountains when Jenkins began to feel pressure and sensed there was a problem.
It turned out the cabin was not pressurized, and the bra was expanding.
"As the thing got bigger, I tried to stand up," Jenkins said, "and I couldn't see my feet."
The instructions said that the bra's pads could be inflated up to a size 48.
"I thought, 'What would happen if it goes beyond 48?'" Jenkins recalled.
"I found out what happened," she said. "It blew out."
Only one of the cups burst, Jenkins said. But the noise was loud enough to seize the attention of everyone on the plane.
"The co-pilot came into the cabin with a gun, wondering what had happened. The men all pointed to me."
Jenkins then tried to explain in Spanish what she could hardly explain in English, "that part of your anatomy just blew up."
The plane made an emergency landing, and Jenkins was handed over to the police. She was ordered to strip, as the officers looked for what they assumed could only be a bomb.
After she showed the officers the hole in her bra, Jenkins was allowed back on the plane and her trip continued.
"A month later, I got a bill from the airline for $400," Jenkins said, "for an unscheduled stop."
Her mother enjoyed the story so much that she kept the broken bra. Her mother died in 1967. As for the bra, Jenkins says she no longer has it.
Produced for Morning Edition by Nadia Reiman. The senior producer for StoryCorps is Michael Garofalo.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Day One: Sweet Nothings
Things in my life have been pretty bumpy lately. Nothing I can talk about right now; but I'm sure it will all come out as we travel together this coming year. I've decided I need to do something to get myself out of this rut I'm in. I need to give myself something positive to focus on, so I've returned to my beautiful blog, ready to dedicate myself to something fun, something that will lift me out of my doldrums if only for a few minutes a day.
For the next 365 days, I hereby commit to posting something beautiful, something uplifting, or something that just makes me grin. Every day I'm going to add a new item to the list of things that fill my life with light. Starting now.
Today I read the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake, and these lovely wedding cupcakes from Cupcake Occasions brought a big smile to my face.
How much fun would it be to see these at a wedding?! I can imagine the delight of the guests when they were choosing which one they wanted. I've always been a fan of Animal, but the Gonzo ones are calling my name. Honestly, though, I don't know if I could eat it! Too beautiful.
For the next 365 days, I hereby commit to posting something beautiful, something uplifting, or something that just makes me grin. Every day I'm going to add a new item to the list of things that fill my life with light. Starting now.
Today I read the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake, and these lovely wedding cupcakes from Cupcake Occasions brought a big smile to my face.
How much fun would it be to see these at a wedding?! I can imagine the delight of the guests when they were choosing which one they wanted. I've always been a fan of Animal, but the Gonzo ones are calling my name. Honestly, though, I don't know if I could eat it! Too beautiful.
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