Banana Pancakes

I woke up this morning singing Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes".

Can't you see that it's just raining, ain't no need to go outside ... But Baby, You hardly even notice when I try to show you this song is meant to keep ya from doing what you're supposed to waking up too early, Maybe we can sleep in I'll make you banana pancakes, pretend like it's the weekend now ...

I was late to work; I woke up to thunder -- so soothing to go back to sleep. So I did. Then when I finally got up and took a shower to go to work and was almost ready to go, Lola was acting strange and I got worried about her ... her stomach was making weird noises and she wasn't acting like herself. I'm a little worried about her; can't wait to get back home to check on her. Plus Christen was at home and I haven't seen him much so I had to update him on everything. I hate when he works so much like this. I don't sleep well when I'm home alone, so I get to bed very late (he still gets home after I fall asleep) and then I go to work before he gets up in the morning so I really don't get to see him. So being late today I actually got to talk to him for a few precious minutes before hopping off to work. I can't wait until Back To School is over. He told me this morning that they are getting another assistant on Monday, so hopefully that will take some of the strain off because he'll only work every third weekend and hopefully not so many nights. They've decided to build an OD in the old Winn Dixie a quarter mile from our house, so if he stays with them for awhile longer maybe he can transfer out here. It's really bad with all the driving. He spends so much in gas. I get gas once every week to week and a half and it costs about $30. He spends $45-$50 to fill up and has to do it every couple days.

Enough complaining about all that though. Today's Friday, and the next two days are free, so I'll actually be able to spend quality time with ... well, I guess with Lola. Christen is off on Sunday so we have to go to the Club to book it for our reception, and take his parents to see it and the chapel and everything. And it's Scott's birthday so I need to go get something for that (hello, Best Buy gift card). Hurrah! Being a grown-up is hard!

Crying over spoilt milk

So overnight the milk in my fridge decided to spoil. I know it was overnight because last night we had pie and milk and everything was fine. This morning I poured myself a big glass of milk to take with me to work. I got on the road, I took a giant swig ... and was almost sick. It actually made me ill all day. Sadly, this also made me have to throw away the rest of the pie since it was made with the same milk and it wasn't cooked, so it spoiled too (or at least I wasn't going to take the chance).

The storms are bad bad right now. I had to lock Lola inside because she wouldn't stop going outside and the lightning is very close. It's pretty bad -- it would be nicer if it were morning and I was able to sleep in. But alas, I'm just hanging out at home watching WS of Pop Culture (it's the finals, baby) and soothing the dog.

I played Sims tonight for awhile and got really far ... and then the computer froze. And I had just gotten Shell and Richard to fall in love ... damn it. I'll have to work on that again, I guess. I'm waiting for a non-storm night though.

pink elephants prancing

I’ve written a couple blogs since my last and neglected to post them … lazy, you may say? Yeah, I’ve been lazy. It’s been nice, too. :) Sunday after my crappy day Christen came home and we went for Chinese food, which was a pleasant excursion. The day did get better before he got home though – I watched Shopgirl and The White Countess (liked the first, bored by the latter) and addressed all my Save the Date cards (I keep trying to shorten that, but STD cards doesn’t portray exactly what I wish to portray) with my new caligraphy pen (I bought a cheap-o but it works great). The culmination of the “bad day” part of Sunday was when I started crying because I couldn’t find the Sims cd (Christen put it in this little drawer thing in the computer). I found it, but I think it was just one of those days where you need to go to bed and wake up the next day and forget about the rest of the day. Or maybe if we just had a “reset” button like on Nintendo.

Irony: On the TBT, Sweetbay has an ad that says “Taste the Passion” right under the article about Mel Gibson’s DUI arrest. Hehe. So Monday, Christen had the day off and decided to take me to work and pick me up, and also to take me to lunch. It was a nice day, although I wished I was just home with him instead of at work for him to pick up. We were supposed to take the deposit for the reception hall over, but the lady wasn’t there so we’ve had to reschedule for Sunday. And so we ended up spending the hours after work at Borders looking at wedding magazines and bouquet books. I found a beautiful bouquet that I think might work if I replace some of the flowers with tulips (it had a lot less tulips than I would prefer). Monday we also started working on the Save the Date cards because Christen was home to get the printer working (I don’t understand; it works for him but never for me) and actually got them almost done. I finished them yesterday when I got home. The girls and I had planned on doing them tonight but this is better – we can have a nice night and talk shop but not actually have to do anything, which is the nicest thing. Last night I made a Chocolate Banana Pie for tonight (if it’s any good I’ll post the recipe for you), finished the cards, and played Sims 2 (hurrah! I finally graduated college in the damn thing!). Tonight I’m making dinner for the girls – Chicken Bryan (an altered recipe from one I found online and it’s fantastic) with garlic spinach, croissants or cheese biscuits (I haven’t decided yet) and chocolate banana pie. Woohoo! I think we might mosy on over to The Zone if the boys are playing again tonight. I’m sure it’ll all be fun! Toodles!

Ick.

I'm in a wretched mood today. I wish it would rain again to match my mood, but knowing the weather it'll only rain when I don't want it to -- like every other day. I'm still upset about my hair, which I know I should get over but I'm having trouble doing so.

I tried to print my Save the Dates and the f&@$# printer has decided to not work. It works when Christen uses it, but being that he's never home (damn back-to-school time) I'm stuck not being able to do anything. It's one of those wireless deals, and a friggin' expensive one at that, and it won't friggin' work. I went out and got a USB cable, because in the mess of all those extra cables we have I couldn't find a single USB cable. Still doesn't work.

But I went ahead and bought a caligraphy pen to do the addresses, so I might just do that today and try to get Christen to do the printing if and when he ever gets to come home. Tomorrow is his only day off this week. Don't get me started.

Would you like an orange with them apples?

We dyed my hair today.

I hate it.

I'm hoping at least Christen likes it, because he likes my hair really red, and it's really really red. R.E.D.

Maybe I'll get used to it, and maybe I'll change it, and maybe I'll just wait for it to fade a little bit. Who knows; time will tell.

I spent the day with Mom and the sibs. We got mom in a few Mother of the Bride dresses, and found a very pretty but ridiculously priced one. At least it gives us an idea of what works and what will look nice. The lady says, "Oh this one is moderately priced; it's a good price." Good price, my ass. She should buy the damn thing, then. That thing cost more than half what my wedding dress cost. :) I bought a few things at HomeGoods (I love that place) and a Jack Johnson cd at Target and hung out at the house dying hair and watching Capote, which was an awesome movie. I was a little perturbed that they changed the order of some things from the book ... but theoretically I guess I can see why. Ian says it's to make it more "theatrical". Blah :) But still a great movie.

I think I may start on my Save the Dates tomorrow. I've been putting them off, and I don't know why. Perhaps I'll stop by Michaels and get a caligraphy pen since my fountain pen is on the fritz. I'm so sleepy -- weird dreams last night. And a tummy ache when I woke up. It went away during the day, but it's back again. It might be because I can't get ahold of Christen -- who knows. I'm going to go read in bed though. Toodles!

PS

That pasta below is fantastic cold the next day. Or even later the same night. Fucking fantastic.

we call it inter-species erotica

So last night was a nice night. I made a Rachel Ray recipe that turned out really fucking tasty (see below) and we had some wine. We've been getting this Chardonney called Fish Eye that's not the best, but it's pretty decent for $8.99 and it's always in the fridge part of the store so we can get it last minute. We then proceded to waste time at the bookstore reading wedding books and getting ideas (Some of them were awesome, and not that expensive, like covering the "kids" table with butcher paper and giving them crayons as favors).

Then we went to see Clerks II. I had been on the fence as to whether I wanted to see it. I have adored all Kevin Smith's movies, but I was afraid it was going to be just a rehash of the first movie with a bunch of inside jokes and vulgarity and I'd be bored. I used to love the first one, but now it seems every time I try to watch it I just get bored and change the channel. It has become un-funny to me.

This one was not like that. It was really very funny, and although it may cross the line in some parts, Kevin Smith always crosses lines. The only problem I had with it was the guy sitting behind me -- I think he had the worst laugh I've ever ever heard. Ever. It was loud and annoying and I couldn't hear some parts because of his donkey bray. He should have been in the movie ... you know the part.

But overall, very good -- Two thumbs up. I'm sure I'll get it when it comes out.

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Three Vegetable Penne with Tarragon-Basil Pesto

1 pound penne rigate (with lines) pasta
Salt
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed of tough ends
1 small zucchini
1/4 pound, haricots verts (thin green beans) trimmed of stem ends
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 cup basil, 20 leaves
1/2 cup tarragon leaves from 10 to 12 stems
Handful flat-leaf parsley
1 lemon, zested
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to pass at table
Coarsely ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it

Heat a large pot of water to boil for pasta. Salt the water and add pasta to cook to al dente or, with a bite to it. Cut asparagus spears into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Cut zucchini into matchstick shapes. Cut haricots verts or green beans into 2-inch pieces on an angle. Add vegetables to pasta after penne has been cooking about 5 minutes. Cook veggies and pasta together 2 minutes.

While pasta cooks, toast pine nuts in a small pan until golden, then cool. Place nuts, basil, tarragon, parsley, lemon zest, garlic, cheese and a little salt and pepper in a food processor. Turn the processor on and stream in the extra-virgin olive oil until thick sauce forms.

Scrape pesto into large, shallow serving dish. Add a ladle of hot, starchy pasta water to the pesto. Drain penne and veggies and add immediately to pesto. Toss to coat pasta and vegetables evenly. Adjust salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with extra grated cheese to pass at table.