About sixteen years ago, I met him for the first time. My trainwreck sibling brought home this adorable puppy he had no business adopting because he had not one thing in his life that wasn’t a mess. I was furious at my sibling – he didn’t even take care of himself, how could he drag
Read More
October 29, 2009
I had to switch from an interesting stuffed bell pepper recipe found on Oil and Garlic that called for a tuna base to a boring old ground beef version because I couldn’t find capers today. This isn’t unusual; any recipe that calls for capers always gives me pause because I don’t want to buy a whole jar of capers only to use a single teaspoon. It made sense until I started tallying the recipes I’ve passed on simply because it wouldn’t taste right without capers.
I should buy capers so I can make these stuffed bell peppers/ripieni [Oil and Garlic].
This Halibut with Lemon, Butter, Caper and Dill Sauce [Closet Cooking].
This Tilapia Piccata [Closet Cooking].
What else should I make with capers? And why are they listed as “non-pareil” type capers? I know the definition of non-pareil for laymen, but not why or how it applies to capers/foodstuffs.
October 28, 2009
I don’t really sleep at night anymore. Trying to sleep is like cricket hunting. As soon as you think you’re close, the very awareness of your being so drives it away. You know it’s there, but sleep doesn’t have a substance you can grab onto and hold tight until it surrenders. You give up first…… Hours later, you might accidentally, caught unawares by your prey, drift off.
Some nights, that doesn’t happen until an inexplicable egg craving is satisfied. The poached egg with melted string cheese on a whole wheat English muffin is one way to go. It’s just missing a few slices of tomato to make it a full breakfast rather than just a post-post-midnight snack. Or perhaps the very lateness of the concoction makes it breakfast. I don’t really know. I just want muffins to come in two halves and a quarter so I can sop up all the runny egg yolk goodness.
October 27, 2009
There are some days when it feels like the big bad news is torrential, and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. Usually you can’t. But there’s almost always something you can try to make it better: use your words.
vs. State of California
I called EDD five times a day since reading that letter, caught in the mill of bureaucracy. I kicked myself, over and over, for scheduling my trip for the exact day that they wanted a phone interview. “But,” I thought, “nothing I can do but keep on calling.” Until I really listened to the voice prompts, and realized one day that they change slightly. They mentioned Saturday service during which most services would not be offered but that representatives would be available to help log online requests. You’d better believe I was all over that website again, searching for that elusive online option. I found a series of drop down menus that would suffice, and I wrote a thorough explanation for why a phone interview wasn’t necessary. They provided a list of some 20-odd questions I had to be prepared to answer: I answered all of them in that form. At the end of it, I clicked “send” with a prayer.
Result: Win.
vs. county of San Diego
Immediately after receiving those fines, I fired off letters disputing the Toll Evasion Accusations. In detail, I pointed out all the problems with paying a toll for which the amount was unstated. I stopped short of making any nasty comments and offered to pay the original toll fee.
Result: 80% Win. They want me to pay the original toll, plus $10 (vs. the original $50 fee) to cover their collection and processing. To justify this, they’re calling the judgment “we’re right, but we’ll reduce the fee this one time for you. Just pay our costs.” Uh huh. Jerks.
$39 cost to me, with a $120 discount.
vs. online class instructor
On a short quiz of only 10 questions, with a forced completion time, the percentage point loss when two of the questions are poorly worded is substantial. I ran the possible equations, closed my eyes and picked a set of answers to submit – and lost the 50/50 gamble. I sent the instructor an email letting him know the questions were ambiguous, and that I had run the numbers correctly supposing one of two interpretations. I didn’t ask for my points back since he had to first acknowledge that my interpretations were valid.
Result: Win. The HTML had incorrectly rendered his text, and the question was posted incorrectly. Points were returned to me.
Have you argued or negotiated your way to victory lately? Will you, now? Do share! I’ve got a few more pots on the stove bubbling away, I’ll fill you in on those when the incubation period is over.
October 26, 2009
Hel-lo, GCal! Where have you been all my life?
I’ve finally cracked down and logged all my classwork on the calendar, quizzes, homework, etc., and figured out how to get three weeks’ worth of work done over the next seven days to make sure that schoolwork doesn’t follow me on my trips. GCal sends me annoying helpful reminder emails when events on the calendar approach or should be happening, which is great because I’m still getting the hang of it.
During that time, I’m also ….
1) logging about 12 hours of babysitting time to help out my friends who have doctor’s appointment and bad backs. Between the three of us, you might be able to construct one fully functional human sans aches and pains.
2) visiting a cousin (maybe)
3) packing and making a shopping list for clothing I might need depending on the NY weather
4) paying bills
5) making an insanely decadent mac and cheese for friend’s Halloween hang-out night.
Am I missing anything? Oh yes, actual studying. You know, so I can take those exams without failing. That’d be nice.
October 25, 2009
It was with great regret I forwent sushi last night. I will eventually, I don’t have FB + her BF’s fantastic sushi skills, but I didn’t feel right dining out just to satisfy a craving. (Ok, I shouldn’t have linked that, the sushi cravings are back!!
Anyway, in lieu of spending $20 on sushi or some such, I went grocery shopping instead:
Vons (aka Safeway)
7 pounds of chicken drumsticks on 50% clearance
6.5 pounds of center cut boneless pork loin
1 (8-ct) pkg turkey hot dogs on clearance
1 loaf whole wheat (Orowheat, my favorite!)
1 (6-ct) pkg English muffins
4 ripe bananas
Total: $25.61
Walgreens [The assistant manager was a little perturbed because I pointed out that I’d stupidly printed over my coupon – it was mostly legible but I was prepared for rejection – but he took it anyway. Nice guy.]
1 (24-tab) Zantac [w/$5 coupon]
Total: $4.68 + $9 Register Rewards printed up.
That’s going to be enough protein to last well over a month and enough carbs for a week. Now, at last! I can try some of those delectable pork chop recipes I’ve been reading. The freshly baked French bread loaves were tantalizing, but tearing myself away was worth the effort – I might never have made it to the meat aisle if it was in my cart. Come to think of it, this is probably the 5th time potato chips were promised and forgotten. Ah well. Next time.
October 23, 2009
Cooking recap/pretasting: This has the potential to be the worst recipe ever. My taste test of the original recipe with honey was rather sickening. I only used one round of that terrible tomato-honey blend, and used salt, pepper and another 8 oz of tomato sauce trying to counter the overpowering honey taste. And there was too much mixture left over at the end (about 12 oz?). My hopes aren’t high, but that was a lot of work so I hope hope hope that it works out. And now, on to the pictures!
Prep Time!
The recipe did not call for garlic. But garlic is oh-so-right.
This pan has seen better times. I didn’t do that to it.
+ Rice
+ Tomato Sauce Blend.
After +salt +pepper and +plain tomato sauce to counter the honey blended sauce.
Ready for the oven!
Voila!
Final Verdict: A smidge heavy on the pepper, and really wish I’d skipped the honey entirely. Now I know. And knowing’s half the battle.
Final Cost: Peppers: 2 x 89 cents/pepper = $1.78
Beef: (Expensive at) $2/lb.
Tomato Sauce: 3 x 27 cents/can = 71 cents
Onion: 50 cents
Rice: already cooked at home
Garlic, Honey, pepper, salt: already in the cupboard
Total: $5.20
October 22, 2009
The Privo Kivas were on sale at 6pm.com for $14.95 plus $7.95 shipping. I couldn’t find any deals on the shipping, and they don’t pay for returns, so I passed. The price is now back up to $41, only ~50% off of MSRP.
Regret factor: Low. My blistered feet don’t thank me for this pass. On the other hand, I didn’t know how comfortable they’d be or how they’d fit, so I would have been out $8+ return shipping if they weren’t good.
This cute silk ruffle scarf top from Banana Republic. Available in my size in teal or purple for $19.99, but hand wash only, and no free shipping.
Regret factor: Medium. My non t-shirt wardrobe is mostly variations on the button down shirt theme, and I’ve been looking for a few nice shirts that could be casual but not t-shirt casual. But hand wash only always gives me pause, I’ve got to be very particular about how much more complication I bring to my life and hand wash isn’t high on that list.
The sweaterdress from Kohl’s on sale for $23.99. It was cute, and even fit me, but the neckline is just a little too wide, and the fabric was on that side of scratchy. Probably not the best of materials.
Regret factor: Low. Knit clothing is always iffy in my book because of the care needed so whatever I purchase has to look stunning to be worth the extra work.
And for the return bin…..
This has to be the last of my close, but no cigar, interview tote attempts. The straps aren’t designed to drop down/bend so they either stick straight up or bend very unattractively. It’s only a matter of time before they start cracking and breaking.
