Cows fly by

I am honestly trying to work today, and all people can talk about is the weather. Loudly. Eve 6 and No Doubt are NOT drowning out the talk of tornadoes, and honestly – it’s a bunch of rain and wind, people. The tornadoes three counties away have not affected anyone in this building. Can we get back to work now?

I wouldn’t care, but I have decided to take next week off from work for no good reason, and the last-minute decision coupled with tomorrow’s half day (Opening Day for baseball, woohoo! … Oh my god, who are you and what have you done with me?) means that I need to get a ton of work done today. Work that is not getting done because I can’t concentrate, and for once it’s not my fault that I can’t concentrate.

PLUS! I slept last night! I fell asleep at 9:45, and slept straight through until 5:30 when the Child The Elder woke me up to tell me he had to pee. And then afterward I forced him back to bed and went back to sleep for 45 more minutes. Sweet, sweet sleep.

Okay, so the weather is pretty bad. The power went out completely at work until the generator kicked in, and there was a reported tornado coming down our road toward us. No cows, though, just a semi trailer blown over and some uprooted trees. Tornado watch until 8pm. Oops!

First quarter books

January

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - JK Rowling

My Horizontal Life - Chelsea Handler

Strange Bedpersons - Jennifer Cruisie

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - JK Rowling

Deathly Sanctuary - Sylvia Nobel

Last Sacrifice - Richelle Mead

The Demon Girl - Penelope Fletcher

February

Alone - Lisa Gardner

Truly, Madly - Heather Webber

One Day - David Niccolls

Baltimore Blues - Laura Lippman

Holiday Chick - Amber Carter

Will Grayson Will Grayson - John Green

Arm Candy - Jill Kargman

Married with Zombies - Jesse Peterson

Listen - Rene Gutteridge

March

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot

Matched - Allie Condie

Spying in High Heels - Gemma Halliday

Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr

Seven Year Switch - Claire Cook

The Recipe Club - Andrea Israel (abandoned)

The Pact - Jodi Piccoult

Love Overboard - Janet Evanovich

How to Marry a Vampire Millionaire - Kerrelyn Sparks

Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger

Millie's Fling - Jill Mansell

The Vampire's Image - BV Larson

Camille - Tess Oliver

Kiss Me, Kill Me - HP Mallory, et al

Metro Girl - Janet Evanovich

Baby Led Weaning - Gil Rapley & Tracey Murkett

Rewards

I'm going to try to write this blog while punishing myself on the stationary bike, so if it makes no sense you know why.

I was signing up for my Panera rewards card when I pulled all of these out of my change purse. Seriously, do all these stupid things really help me save money? Probably not. In fact, it's more likely that they help me spend money so when I get all the little discounts on things. But here I go, signing up for another one.

I am exhausted. I think that's another reason why I'm unlikely to make much sense today also. Every time I open my mouth today it's been a variation on how tired I am. I just can't sleep! I thought that getting healthier and working out was supposed to help that but it's just getting worse.

I should be reading our book for book club, but instead I got sucked in to starting on Grey's Anatomy from the beginning (I've never seen an episode). I've watched 14 episodes in two days. Also not helping the insomnia.

I think that's all I've got for today. Over and out - I need to finish my workout and sleep it off at my desk.

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TOT - Food, Take 2

What is a food that you never though you would try but then tried and liked?

I can’t really think of anything – I’m up for trying anything and I really try not to have any preconceived notions. Except that I have a texture aversion so there are some things that I will never eat because, just yuck. Like corned beef hash – I made if for my husband, but gross! Also, I always think I hate peas but I really don’t. I just assume that I hate them so I won’t actually eat them.


Do you subscribe to any foodie publications? If so, which ones?

A girl at work used to bring me her Gourmet magazine, and then when that folded she gave me her Bon Appétit. I have a subscription to the Rachael Ray magazine which my husband likes because he likes her food but hates her voice. This way he doesn’t have to listen to her.


What ingredient do you find yourself reaching for the most when you cook?

Pam, these days. God, that stuff is a godsend.


Are there any foods that you hated as a child but then learned to like as an adult?

Avocados. First, nothing avocado would pass my lips. Then, guacamole. Then avocado was fine, but only on sandwiches. Now I crave them. I currently have 4 avocados from different shopping trips in my fridge, because I feel compelled to pick one or two up every time I pass a display.


What do you like that others might consider weird?

I love all the foods that children refuse to eat. Brussel sprouts are my best friends. Lima beans, spinach … we’re tight.


What is the weirdest ingredient you’ve ever cooked with?

I can’t think of anything offhand, but I did make a macaroni salad once that called for jicama, and I had no idea what it was so I kept calling it Jick-a-ma until finally someone corrected me.


Do you have any major food allergies?

Nope, but the proteins on raw shrimp makes my eczema flare up (and burn) so I have to wear gloves when I handle the little yummy suckers.


Is there an ingredient that you would like to cook with but are intimidated to try?

I’m not really intimidated by much, cooking wise. Give me a kitchen with no children under my feet and I can find something decent to make.


Do you bake?

Not often. I have a hard time taking chances with ingredients so unless I’m following a recipe to the letter, it doesn’t often get done. I’m a big fan of no-bake cookies though, and I make a mean oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. And the one thing for which I made a recipe completely on my own was strawberry loaf bread, and it was amazing. Ooh, I need to make that again while strawberries are still in season.


If you could go on any “foodie” show to compete, which one would it be and why?

I don’t have any interest in competing in a foodie show AT ALL. I would, however, kill someone to be a judge on Iron Chef. That is all.

For more, see Chelsea.

New and news (and of course, food)

This was dinner tonight:


And this was Henry enjoying his dinner (the pea puree under the scallops mixed with rotini pasta and apples:

I saw this recipe in my feed today and couldn't resist it. I needed to do my grocery shopping after work today anyhow, and I had all the ingredients at home except the scallops so I picked them up when I was doing my shopping. I subbed 2 slices of thick cut bacon for the pancetta and it was amazing. Make it, seriously. I put mine on top of a little whole wheat linguine because it needed a little filler but I cannot rave enough ... you won't be disappointed, and it's very very easy.

I've added a couple things around here. To the left <---- I put up my resolutions because I was having a hard time remembering them. To the right ---->; I added a daily mile icon, although I might have to delete it because there's no easy way to add my miles. It's unlikely that I will to convert my miles from the program I use (cardiotrainer) to Dailymile, and they don't have an app of their own. I'll think about it, but I might just drop it. Also, I took Jennie's lead and started a Tumblr blog which I will probably add things mostly training and healthy food-related.

Unfortunately, the only thing up there right now is a picture of the monsoon happening outside from my floor at work. It's looking like there will be 4 days of this nonsense, so FUN! Looks like I'm running on the treadmill for a bit!

Drawing a blank

I've been sitting here for about 50 minutes thinking vaguely about what I could be blogging about. Otherwise, I've been running to the bathroom every five minutes, searching running socks through Google and researching Dante's fifth circle of hell and trying to figure out our wretched governor's current approval rating.

In retrospect, all those things appear related.

I ran 3 miles tonight, and I only stopped to walk twice: at 1.9 miles I walked approx 100 yards, and at 2.1 I walked about .1 mile. The rest I jogged. I have never felt so good about myself exercise-wise. When I started this whole running thing about 12 weeks ago, I could go .2 miles before walking. I ran 3.1 miles in nearly 46 minutes. Tonight I ran 3.0 in 35 minutes.

Unfortunately, I also overdid it a little. Hubby and I went out for a matinee dinner and a movie and I had wine (mmm, wine), and then my run tonight was a little impromptu and I didn't actually drink water before I set out so my stomach is revolting against me.

WE had a great weekend. No sickness, hallelujah! Took the kids to Touch a Truck, had Winghouse for the first time in three months (if you want to dissuade yourself from eating something you know is bad for you, look up the calorie count. Then when you breakdown three months later it will taste that much better). UF lost so I'm not compelled to watch any more basketball, can I get another Hallelujah. I mean, not happy they lost but oh well! Sunday brought me a haircut (there might be a photo of it one of these days) and a date at Cinebistro with the Hubby to see Lincoln Lawyer.

To bed! To bed I said! I said to bed! Sorry, slipped into Dr. Suess-mode.

Hodge to the Podge

a) I wish I could properly explain a night in our house. Just know that it involves copious amounts of laughter, occasional hiccups called "Hiscs-cups", seeing a doctor for "escar-rays", trying to scare the Hiscs-cups out of eachother, a toddler running in circles singing a song that ended in "give the computer back to momma!!!! Tada! Thank you Thank you!", more running in circles with his stethoscope around his waist, taking falls (like this)

b) the only things I really want to complain about in the "things that drive me batty" catagory are 1) people who bathe in their perfume right before getting into the elevator or before coming over to my desk and 2) companies who back time their emails so I can't find them in my inbox. What is wrong with these people?

c) We are rocking the Baby-Led Weaning at this house. I feel like I'm being lazy, but Henry's so much happier feeding himself. Last night we had butternut squash ravioli and he could not get enough. I can't vouch for how much he actually ate, but he squished every bit of the squash out of the pasta and I think a lot of that ended up in his mouth, and he munched on the pasta until couldn't suck any more flavor out of it. I'm reading up on it, and I'm much more comfortable with BLW than I was when I first started. He's had squash, peas, bananas, sweet potato, and all kinds of baby snacks, happily.

d) Now I just need to get my daycare lady on board.

e) I hate basketball, but for some reason I can always sit through a UF game. Go Gators!