You know some days are just better than others. Yesterday in general was a good day, until after diner when I tried to bake my brothers birthday cake. I got L & E settled down, and then set out to bake a flourless chocolate cake. I am on a wheat-free, corn-free, and dairy-free regime and my bro is working hard to lose some extra pounds. So I thought this might be a good choice for us all. (I figured the leftovers could go home to the bros housemates!)
So I grabbed my trusty mix-master, chopped 12 oz of yummy chocolate, melted some butter and beat the snot out of 6 eggs with sugar. (Let's face it, it is always better to beat stuff up with sugar, right?) I lined my springform pan with parchment paper - so my cake would have a smooth top and since this was a special birthday - I went ala Martha and made a stencil out of parchment - "30" that's right - he is 30! I was going to put powered sugar on top using the stencil.
I was living large......
So I beat the eggs and sugar, folded in the melted chocolate and butter and filled up my spring form. Popped it in the over and settle down with some tea, to watch some television as it baked.
So 15 minutes into my rest break, I hear this "Pop, whoosh!".... think it is outside and keep on resting. Then I start to smell this awful burning chocolate smell. (Ok, strange the cake is supposed to bake for an hour!) Go into the kitchen to check it out - Yep, you guessed it, cake everywhere all over the oven. One big, huge, gooey cake eruption & explosion. Yikes. So I switched off the oven and let the thin layer of cake left in the pan cool and cleaned up the best I could.
Needless to say the cake was well -- Toast!
So I served Girl Scout Thin Mints and Raspberries - because really - chocolate in any form is really ok! (I refrained from the cookies and went right for the dark chocolate I had tucked away!) Everyone seemed happy and chocolate satisfied!
Happy Birthday, little brother :)
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Saturday, March 3, 2007
It was true then and its true now...
"America was drunk on physical comeliness. America was on a diet. America did its exercises. America, indeed, brought spirituality to its dedication to pink-cheeked, straight-legged, clear-eyed, health-exuding, attractiveness-- a fierce, strident dedication. It was the dedicated spirituality that the dancer might come to experience what we call Art. To what I asked myself, was America coming?"
-- Fred Exeley, A Fan's Note
I first read this book in Elliott Gorn's American Studies 201 survey course at Miami University in 1992/1993. I was very full of angst back then. I was frankly pissed off at much of the world, my parents and well life in general. Looking back I was an emotional stew, but this quote hit me again the other day.
What are we as America coming to? I think our popular culture and frankly our political landscape are looking pretty scary of late. I mean do your own little survey. For example, check out the magazines on display in the grocery. We as a society are more interested in Brittany and Kevin's marriage or lack thereof - than with what is happening in Washington, DC, Iraq, Dafur, & our own communities.
Frankly I really don't care if Paris ever has sex again, but if we have to hear about it, I wish she would talk about the importance of using birth control (especially condoms.)
I also could care less about what diet, so and so is on, but I would love for more celebrities to talk about the need for a well balanced diet, exercise and the merits of being well balanced in your lives. How about focusing on the scary rise of diabities in this country or making sure the school lunch programs actually include fresh fruits and veggies.
I would like for our politicians (let's be frank, our employees - we pay the taxes that pay their salaries) to get their collective heads out of their asses and actually work on the big issue. Like why do so many children in the country not have medical and dental care. Why are families struggling with the American dream, when we are the richest country in the world. Furthermore, they could sit down and shut up and figure out how the hell are we getting out of Iraq and when - before more young American die for a war I just don't get. They could figure out how we, bought such a load of crap from the Bush regime hook, line and sinker. How about they figure out to really strength our borders - effectively. How about looking at why in the last year our food supply has been tainted with e coli.
We are so dedicated to being casual that we have forgotten that to be truly great, truly successful and truly admirable, we must tackle the the real issue, we must be real and we have to be willing to really put in the time. Hard work is messy, it is not neat, it requires you to roll up your sleeves and it requires a huge amount of mental outlay. I am seeing less and less greatness.
So the question is do we, in 200 years, want to be remembered as a nation of beautiful people - empty on the inside or do we want to be remembered as a nation of dedicated people, willing to put forth some serious effort to achieve greatness?
Only we can answer that - one day at a time. (and one vote at a time when the time comes.)
-- Fred Exeley, A Fan's Note
I first read this book in Elliott Gorn's American Studies 201 survey course at Miami University in 1992/1993. I was very full of angst back then. I was frankly pissed off at much of the world, my parents and well life in general. Looking back I was an emotional stew, but this quote hit me again the other day.
What are we as America coming to? I think our popular culture and frankly our political landscape are looking pretty scary of late. I mean do your own little survey. For example, check out the magazines on display in the grocery. We as a society are more interested in Brittany and Kevin's marriage or lack thereof - than with what is happening in Washington, DC, Iraq, Dafur, & our own communities.
Frankly I really don't care if Paris ever has sex again, but if we have to hear about it, I wish she would talk about the importance of using birth control (especially condoms.)
I also could care less about what diet, so and so is on, but I would love for more celebrities to talk about the need for a well balanced diet, exercise and the merits of being well balanced in your lives. How about focusing on the scary rise of diabities in this country or making sure the school lunch programs actually include fresh fruits and veggies.
I would like for our politicians (let's be frank, our employees - we pay the taxes that pay their salaries) to get their collective heads out of their asses and actually work on the big issue. Like why do so many children in the country not have medical and dental care. Why are families struggling with the American dream, when we are the richest country in the world. Furthermore, they could sit down and shut up and figure out how the hell are we getting out of Iraq and when - before more young American die for a war I just don't get. They could figure out how we, bought such a load of crap from the Bush regime hook, line and sinker. How about they figure out to really strength our borders - effectively. How about looking at why in the last year our food supply has been tainted with e coli.
We are so dedicated to being casual that we have forgotten that to be truly great, truly successful and truly admirable, we must tackle the the real issue, we must be real and we have to be willing to really put in the time. Hard work is messy, it is not neat, it requires you to roll up your sleeves and it requires a huge amount of mental outlay. I am seeing less and less greatness.
So the question is do we, in 200 years, want to be remembered as a nation of beautiful people - empty on the inside or do we want to be remembered as a nation of dedicated people, willing to put forth some serious effort to achieve greatness?
Only we can answer that - one day at a time. (and one vote at a time when the time comes.)
Friday, March 2, 2007
Ice machine Part 3
Ok recently I wrote about my funny ice machine story. Well it is broken again. It has been for a month or so. H called Sears and Sears called today to let me know that they could come by today. Same guy. This is the 4th trip here (it broke this time last year too!) We agreed we needed to stop meeting like this.
Anyway - he fixed again.
The funny thing this time - I have lost my voice. I can hardly talk above a whisper......
Anyway - he fixed again.
The funny thing this time - I have lost my voice. I can hardly talk above a whisper......
Thursday, March 1, 2007
13 Places I would like to visit before I die
1. Australia. I really want to go there. It is such an interesting and diverse place and let's face it the accent rocks! The beaches rock! The Outback rocks! and the wines rock! Plus kangaroos and koala's are cool too.
2. Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. I have been many places in the US, but never there. It looks so pretty, lush and green. Plus Seattle seems like a pretty neat city.
3. Thailand. I have read books with Thailand as a setting and I have seen movies & documentaries about Thailand. I have to say I am not a hot and humid weather kinda of girl, but I think I could make an exception for this destination.
4. India. I have always wanted to go to India. A friend of mine from my study abroad days - did some work in India and Nepal and her pictures were breath-taking. India is one of those place where I think you would have to devote at least a minimum of a month to really see it all and experience all it has to offer.
5. Maine. My mother has been and a friend has lived there, but I have never made it. It looks so lovely.
6. Grand Canyon. Sad to say I have not been there! Flown over more times than I can count, but never been there.
7. Iceland. Well let's face, it is such a rare place. And a country which can produce such luscious chocolate (seriously, bought some at Whole Foods and it is outstanding.) Plus there is Bjork, hot springs, and so much more.
8. Italy. I really would like to visit Italy. Was in northern Italy once for an afternoon, but I would like to take a week or two and really see the sites. Venice, Rome, Florence. My host family in high school spent time on the Island of Sardinia, the pictures look lovely. I think I would like to learn some Italian before I set out though. It is always a better experience when you can speak the language.
9. I would like to go to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. H goes there off and on for flight training and for the occasional overnight layovers. He has brought back city guides from time to time and I think it looks like a good time and romantic. My French is bad, but maybe I would be inspired.
10. England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. My family is Welsh and English on my mother's side. I would like to get there. We were all set to go in the Fall of 2001, but after 9/11 we decided to stay stateside.
11. Japan. I have always wanted to get there too. It has such a rich history and the geography is so diverse. Plus I am sushi obsessed so I think I could eat it every day there - no problems :)
12. Sweden & Norway. I was in Denmark in 1995 - lovely. I want to see the rest of Scandinavia - mmm, maybe a cruise.
13. Alaska. Then I can say that I have been to Alaska and Hawaii. The wild life and the views from TV and friends pictures look so great.
Honestly, I love to travel, so I could go anywhere and be happy. It is such a rush to check out new places and cultures. There is so much to see and learn! ( I am alittle worried about the water someplaces - I have heard some terrible terrible stories....) But nothing ventured nothing gained - right?
The trip that wasn't meant to be; Clearly
Well, the day started bright & early at 5 am. I was up and dressed, checked our flight and the weather (kinda iffy, but hey bring it on.) Got the little people up and dress and fed and we were on the road at 6:45 am. The sky was alight with some beautiful lightening and it was raining, but hey we were rolling along.
Got to the airport and parked at SunPark which I highly recommend. They come right to your car, help you unload your luggage and even helped me with the stroller. Cool. Well worth the few dollars for the tip. (they also graciously let me out of the lot at no cost since my flight did not work out. Very cool. Will park there again!)
Got in to the airport and got my stand by boarding passes. Then waited. Turned out between the time I checked and the time arrive at the airport, the flight got full, mmmmm. Not sure how that happened, but it did. The joys of stand-by.
While I could have tried for the later 2 flights, I decided not to. Too risky, when the last leg was already almost full. So we came home.
The downside is I do not get to see my friend and she is stuck with a gallon of soy milk and a clean house. (Although, H called to say that Atalanta is under a ground stop. No flights going in or out.) It is better to be at home, wishing you were where you had planned to be - rather than stuck in Atlanta.
The upside, I know the jogger fits thru the X-ray machine, the little people were very very well behaved and I can push the jogger and pull my little rolling suitcase at the same time. I am superwoman today :)
I am so glad I am at home........ and not in Atlanta.
Got to the airport and parked at SunPark which I highly recommend. They come right to your car, help you unload your luggage and even helped me with the stroller. Cool. Well worth the few dollars for the tip. (they also graciously let me out of the lot at no cost since my flight did not work out. Very cool. Will park there again!)
Got in to the airport and got my stand by boarding passes. Then waited. Turned out between the time I checked and the time arrive at the airport, the flight got full, mmmmm. Not sure how that happened, but it did. The joys of stand-by.
While I could have tried for the later 2 flights, I decided not to. Too risky, when the last leg was already almost full. So we came home.
The downside is I do not get to see my friend and she is stuck with a gallon of soy milk and a clean house. (Although, H called to say that Atalanta is under a ground stop. No flights going in or out.) It is better to be at home, wishing you were where you had planned to be - rather than stuck in Atlanta.
The upside, I know the jogger fits thru the X-ray machine, the little people were very very well behaved and I can push the jogger and pull my little rolling suitcase at the same time. I am superwoman today :)
I am so glad I am at home........ and not in Atlanta.
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