Always one to listen to my mother, I hereby terminate the weekly Gilmore Girls blog. In the words of this mother I've mentioned, "Oh yay. I get to read another annoying blog on Gilmore Girls" I detected a bit of disdain..... anybody get that too?
Happy Wednesday and last day of January! (I'm celebrating with a blueberry scone and some steamed almond milk at Barnes and Noble this morning).
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Raw Foods Reassessment Take 2
A friend said it would be hit or miss, but I'll have you know, that brownies made of walnuts, raisins, carob chips, and honey are WONDERFUL.
Oh, my goodness. Everybody behave naturally.
Since it is Tuesday, and I am currently still in my pajamas being obviously very productive, I made myself French Toast for breakfast. I never take advantage of the fact that I'm at home in the mornings! Why not? And so today..... splurging gluttonously, I made some amazing and fattening and delicious french toast. I would supply you with a picture but a) I can't find my camera battery charger, b) I ate it way to fast anyway, and c) you're probably not interested.
In other news that has nothing to do with me:
1. Wolves are being taken off the endagered species list in three states and might be removed in three more in the next year! Isn't that cool? I think its cool. (To clarify the reasoning (kindly pointed out to me), it is because they are no longer endangered).
An Idaho Wolf. Soon to be taken off the endangered species list!
2. Japanese opposition parties tell the health minister to resign for calling women "birth-giving machines". Haha. Go brilliant men in politics!
The Tokyo Domes lit up. Much more interesting to look at than a picture of the Japanese health minister.
3. Archaeologists say they have found a huge ancient settlement used by the people who built Stonehenge. Real news. Fascinating news.
4. Malta is the only place in Europe where abortion is completely banned. Even to save the life of the mother, which is silly, because most of the time, if she dies, she takes the baby along with her. Ireland is the next most strict country.
5. Am I boring you with the news? Two more.
6. Three ex-ministers of Nepal's King are arrested on suspicion of conspiring to encourage violence in Southern Nepal. Brilliant! Suspicion of conspiring to encourage violence.
One of the Malta Ministers in the back of a police car! Conspiring to encourage violence!
7. And in England, the euphemism for drunk used for the press (since it is considered slander if you actually say drunk, plastered, inebriated, etc) is "tired and emotional." What my English friends must think of me!
Colin Firth. He's English. You can tell by the wallpaper.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The State of the Union
Last night was the state of the union address
I wasn't excited to watch it unless
I learned something new
That wasn't untrue
And didn't leave me with feelings of distress. (BAH!)
NCLB isn't working however
It hasn't been given the chance
Immigration is a concern
We want illegal workers to earn
A temporary worker program we must finance. (Wow. This is terrible!)
Health Insurance still must be privatized
Is privatized even a word?
Another tax break
Designed just to make
A problem today to tomorrow deferred.
A Diversified fuel supply is a must
But does "clean coal" even exist?
A half hour of this depression
And he's on to the bigger question
How long in Iraq will we persist??
We have a new strategy this time.
America has to give it a chance!
This time we won't fail
It's down to detail
Twenty thousand more troops to advance!
Iran is a problem once again
We fear they might be going nuclear
Some crap about diplomacy
Nothing rhymes with diplomacy
Bush still mispronounces it nucyoolur. (which doesn't rhyme)
The thing that really upsets me
Is the genocide going on in Darfur
With our sense of responsibility
Isn't it just hostility
To ignore it and let it occur?
Finally, the speech started to bore me.
Everybody falsely seemed to agree
I started to daydream
Because this address didn't seem
Like anything that would have an effect on me.
Time then to turn to Gilmore Girls:
My typical Tuesday communion.
A fantasy town
To successfully drown
My despair over the state of our union.
This is the worst poem I've ever written. In fact, I can't call it a poem. It is a mess. And if you read this far, well...... WOW! You must really love me!
I wasn't excited to watch it unless
I learned something new
That wasn't untrue
And didn't leave me with feelings of distress. (BAH!)
NCLB isn't working however
It hasn't been given the chance
Immigration is a concern
We want illegal workers to earn
A temporary worker program we must finance. (Wow. This is terrible!)
Health Insurance still must be privatized
Is privatized even a word?
Another tax break
Designed just to make
A problem today to tomorrow deferred.
A Diversified fuel supply is a must
But does "clean coal" even exist?
A half hour of this depression
And he's on to the bigger question
How long in Iraq will we persist??
We have a new strategy this time.
America has to give it a chance!
This time we won't fail
It's down to detail
Twenty thousand more troops to advance!
Iran is a problem once again
We fear they might be going nuclear
Some crap about diplomacy
Nothing rhymes with diplomacy
Bush still mispronounces it nucyoolur. (which doesn't rhyme)
The thing that really upsets me
Is the genocide going on in Darfur
With our sense of responsibility
Isn't it just hostility
To ignore it and let it occur?
Finally, the speech started to bore me.
Everybody falsely seemed to agree
I started to daydream
Because this address didn't seem
Like anything that would have an effect on me.
Time then to turn to Gilmore Girls:
My typical Tuesday communion.
A fantasy town
To successfully drown
My despair over the state of our union.
This is the worst poem I've ever written. In fact, I can't call it a poem. It is a mess. And if you read this far, well...... WOW! You must really love me!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Some Of The Best Company Was Had Today
Though I am a tidy person and keep things straight, clean, and organized; though I love to cook, and don't mind yard work, I hate HATE HATE folding and putting away clean laundry. Below is a mess of clean laundry just a couple of feet away from my closet. I actually step over it to get to the closet! It is all clean..... half of it is folded...... I just can't bring myself to put it away. Help!
And just so you didn't think my obsession with food had disappeared, I have a comment or two to add about my recent food experiences. Though my food cravings typically tend toward the gourmet, or the really healthy (at least usually the complicated), I have recently been craving the stuff that resembles food.
Does anyone remember handisnacks? Those delightful little packages with four rectangular crackers, a little tub of orange spread that resembles cheese, and the tiny little red plastic spreader that makes it all worthwhile?
Well, they STILL EXIST! Even now that I am an adult..... they still exist! I don't remember how I got these as a child...... my mom always made sure we ate REAL food. It seems like the kind of thing my sister and I might have bought at the White Hen with my babysitting money while we were skipping a music class one Saturday, but I don't really remember. It is cheese and crackers for dinner for me! However, my dinner is actually going to be halfway between foodstuff and food...... Olive Oil and Cracked Pepper Triscuts and Port Wine Cheese Spread. Does that go better with red wine or a martini? Anyone?
I'd far rather be happy than right
It's kind of early to be up and blogging on a Sunday morning, but now I have proof that I'm not weird! (Well, in this circumstance at least). According to Louann Brizendine, author of The Female Brain, due to hormones, women are naturally inclined to rise and retire approximately an hour earlier than men. And this typically lasts from puberty to menopause. So, there's my excuse! Goodmorning ladies! (Since we got Curry a new bed, it is hard to get her up in the morning.... if she were up, I'd be cuddling with her!)
Also, in Colonial America, women were occasionally put in the town stocks with wooden clips on their tongues for talking too much! Can this be true???
In other exciting news, the world has now taken my advice and is putting wine in juice boxes. That's right moms! When you're the refreshment mom for your child's sporting event, pack a little extra for you!
And now for the news that I don't care about! It has been snowing all weekend. The Bears are playing today and will probably lose. Lindsay Lohan is in rehab.
Cheers!
Also, in Colonial America, women were occasionally put in the town stocks with wooden clips on their tongues for talking too much! Can this be true???
In other exciting news, the world has now taken my advice and is putting wine in juice boxes. That's right moms! When you're the refreshment mom for your child's sporting event, pack a little extra for you!
And now for the news that I don't care about! It has been snowing all weekend. The Bears are playing today and will probably lose. Lindsay Lohan is in rehab.
Cheers!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Raw Foods Reassessment
Not to jump OFF the raw foods bandwagon here, but I have a complaint/concern/addendum. I'm sure some of you thought I was a little ridiculous in my enthusiasm for eating raw. [Roll eyes... there she goes again].
But, just so you don't think I'm still overboard on the raw foods, I tried today, a Karyn's Raw Cranberry Cookie. It was made of (I should say, IS, because it still exists since I didn't finish it) cranberries, cashews, almond butter, dates, and honey. It had a weird pasty taste to it. I didn't finish. I put it away and got myself something COOKED to eat. I think I'd rather eat all the ingredients separately. Why try to make raw food look/taste/behave like cooked food? I don't understand. What are we trying to hide by forming cookies out of it?? Let it be what it is. (clearly at this point, I've lost my sense of who I'm talking to).
So this blog wasn't a waste, in more important news, Britney Spears buys the love of men, and Miss Nevada turns down Girls Gone Wild for Playboy.
But, just so you don't think I'm still overboard on the raw foods, I tried today, a Karyn's Raw Cranberry Cookie. It was made of (I should say, IS, because it still exists since I didn't finish it) cranberries, cashews, almond butter, dates, and honey. It had a weird pasty taste to it. I didn't finish. I put it away and got myself something COOKED to eat. I think I'd rather eat all the ingredients separately. Why try to make raw food look/taste/behave like cooked food? I don't understand. What are we trying to hide by forming cookies out of it?? Let it be what it is. (clearly at this point, I've lost my sense of who I'm talking to).
So this blog wasn't a waste, in more important news, Britney Spears buys the love of men, and Miss Nevada turns down Girls Gone Wild for Playboy.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Implicit Association Test
As a curiousity, I checked out the http://www.implicit.harvard.edu (Implicit Association Test) to find out what would happen. These tests are created to find out how our unconscious attitudes might be incompatible with our stated conscious values. It is a powerful predictor of how each of us might act in certain unpredictable situations. Not what we would say or do, but our more subtle reactions that we don't realize we're having. The tests change all the time (there are apparently 100 of them).
I was given pictures of two people (Reemolap and Vabbenif) follwed by statements about their actions. I was then asked to categorize them into right and left columns along with words that fit under the categories "good" and "bad." The combinations changed and I was asked to respond to each as quickly as possible (it measures the time it takes you to hit the correct key). These are my results:
"In this study, we are investigating the formation of preferences for different groups. By having you read positive and negative statements about two social groups, and then measuring your automatic associations, we are hoping to better understand how information that occurs in the environment leads to automatic associations. We used fictitious social groups in this study because we wanted to see how new automatic associations form; we could only do so by using groups about which people have no preexisting attitudes. You may have noticed one behavior that seemed very strong compared to the others that you read ('burned a flag at a soldier's funeral' or 'beat a man to death for being gay'). The addition of strong statements allows us to test whether the quantity or strength of information has a bigger impact on implicit attitude formation.
Your data suggests little or no association between Vabbenif and Reemolap with bad and good.
Depending on the magnitude of your result, your automatic associations may be described as 'slight', 'moderate', 'strong', or 'little to no preference'. How implicit associations affect our judgments and behaviors is not well understood and may be influenced by a number of variables. As such, the score should serve as an opportunity for self-reflection, not as a definitive assessment of your implicit thoughts or feelings. This and future research will clarify the way in which implicit thinking and feelings affects our perception, judgment, and action."
Hmmmm. So, even though I was told that Reemolap beat a man to death for being gay, I didn't automatically and unconsciously associate him with the words that fit under the category of "bad." From what I've read, that means that my unconscious isn't working like it ought to or that I think too carefully with my conscious. I'm going to go back and take other tests like these and find out if there are ideas I have that I don't realize might affect my reactions.
This was fun! I encourage all of you to participate!
I was given pictures of two people (Reemolap and Vabbenif) follwed by statements about their actions. I was then asked to categorize them into right and left columns along with words that fit under the categories "good" and "bad." The combinations changed and I was asked to respond to each as quickly as possible (it measures the time it takes you to hit the correct key). These are my results:
"In this study, we are investigating the formation of preferences for different groups. By having you read positive and negative statements about two social groups, and then measuring your automatic associations, we are hoping to better understand how information that occurs in the environment leads to automatic associations. We used fictitious social groups in this study because we wanted to see how new automatic associations form; we could only do so by using groups about which people have no preexisting attitudes. You may have noticed one behavior that seemed very strong compared to the others that you read ('burned a flag at a soldier's funeral' or 'beat a man to death for being gay'). The addition of strong statements allows us to test whether the quantity or strength of information has a bigger impact on implicit attitude formation.
Your data suggests little or no association between Vabbenif and Reemolap with bad and good.
Depending on the magnitude of your result, your automatic associations may be described as 'slight', 'moderate', 'strong', or 'little to no preference'. How implicit associations affect our judgments and behaviors is not well understood and may be influenced by a number of variables. As such, the score should serve as an opportunity for self-reflection, not as a definitive assessment of your implicit thoughts or feelings. This and future research will clarify the way in which implicit thinking and feelings affects our perception, judgment, and action."
Hmmmm. So, even though I was told that Reemolap beat a man to death for being gay, I didn't automatically and unconsciously associate him with the words that fit under the category of "bad." From what I've read, that means that my unconscious isn't working like it ought to or that I think too carefully with my conscious. I'm going to go back and take other tests like these and find out if there are ideas I have that I don't realize might affect my reactions.
This was fun! I encourage all of you to participate!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Infinite Majesty and Calm
Because I am a hooligan, I read books at bookstores without buying them. (I do this in part because the portion of my expenses pie chart set aside for books is already extensive and taking over most of my expendable income).
Today, aside from a guide on writing cover letters, I started a couple of other rather interesting books which I intend to go back and continue reading until such time as I either finish the books, or decide to buy them. Anything I read in these books that I want to share, I will do so here. This way, you can keep track of my literary criminal activity.
The first of these books is titled This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. Having studied music for years, a bit of music psychology and enough music therapy to consider pursuing it as a career, I find this book right up my alley, as well as easily readable to the non-musician. You know how we call low sounds low and high sounds high? Well, according to Levitin, this was not always the case. Apparently the Greeks used the labels oppositely. Since the instruments they used were typically vertical, the shorter strings and shorter organ pipes (that produce what we call "high" pitches), which were also lower to the ground produced the low sounds.
The second book that I am reading at no expense is titled The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. I have not read further than the first 30 pages, but I am astounded at all the evidence of hormonal interplay in the early development in boys and girls! For example, in the first two years of life, when a girls brain is being flooded with estrogen, she is extremely susceptible to the stresses her mother might feel and those could be with her for the rest of her life. In animals, this can even be passed down through several generations of females!
Today, aside from a guide on writing cover letters, I started a couple of other rather interesting books which I intend to go back and continue reading until such time as I either finish the books, or decide to buy them. Anything I read in these books that I want to share, I will do so here. This way, you can keep track of my literary criminal activity.
The first of these books is titled This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. Having studied music for years, a bit of music psychology and enough music therapy to consider pursuing it as a career, I find this book right up my alley, as well as easily readable to the non-musician. You know how we call low sounds low and high sounds high? Well, according to Levitin, this was not always the case. Apparently the Greeks used the labels oppositely. Since the instruments they used were typically vertical, the shorter strings and shorter organ pipes (that produce what we call "high" pitches), which were also lower to the ground produced the low sounds.
The second book that I am reading at no expense is titled The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. I have not read further than the first 30 pages, but I am astounded at all the evidence of hormonal interplay in the early development in boys and girls! For example, in the first two years of life, when a girls brain is being flooded with estrogen, she is extremely susceptible to the stresses her mother might feel and those could be with her for the rest of her life. In animals, this can even be passed down through several generations of females!
Cooking up a storm
I have been cooking and I cannot get the smell of garlic out from under my fingernails! This actually keeps me up at night!
My good friend Lesha brightened my weekend by sending me a package which included the following hat:
My good friend Lesha brightened my weekend by sending me a package which included the following hat:
No wonder people stare at me.
She MADE the hat though. I'm so excited about it. There are three things that I am excited about regarding this hat: a) it is purple.... I've never had a purple hat! b) it has pom poms on the ends of the strings.... now I can hit myself in the face when performing stupid jumps of excitement! and c) it has EARS. This is perfect because my ears are covered up by the hat! How am I supposed to hear clearly???
One of the books she sent me I have been waiting to read since I heard about it months ago (no.... it is not the trashy romance novel she sent me. The other one). The book is Blink by Malcolm Gladwell. It is about those split decisions we make without thinking. I'm excited about it because as a rather impulsive person, I always make decisions that way. I'm reading this book to feel more justified in my decision making strategies.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Housebound by my aversion to cold
According to weather.com (and not to my own senses because since shovelling this morning, I refuse to leave the house) it is cold out. "Cold? You baby." I know that's what you're thinking. I may be a baby about some things (being hungry is definitely one of them) but seriously..... it is currently nine degrees with a windchill of negative five. And what is the temperature where YOU are?? (Unless you're in Colorado Springs, in which case, I sympathize!)
Also, when leaving that raw food restaurant I mentioned several blogs ago, I bought some cookies and snacks for the road. Well, I didn't eat them on the road (what DID I eat???) and so I'm enjoying them now. Today I had a Pumpkin Seed Cookie. The ingredients are: pumpkin seeds, almond butter, dates, cinnamon, walnuts, and honey. I am lazy. So, if anyone can put those ingredients together to come up with a cookie (kinda sticky, which is okay), please send me the recipe! If not, and you're interested in it, it'll be probably about a year before I get around to it. My 2007 is sort of booked.
Also, when leaving that raw food restaurant I mentioned several blogs ago, I bought some cookies and snacks for the road. Well, I didn't eat them on the road (what DID I eat???) and so I'm enjoying them now. Today I had a Pumpkin Seed Cookie. The ingredients are: pumpkin seeds, almond butter, dates, cinnamon, walnuts, and honey. I am lazy. So, if anyone can put those ingredients together to come up with a cookie (kinda sticky, which is okay), please send me the recipe! If not, and you're interested in it, it'll be probably about a year before I get around to it. My 2007 is sort of booked.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Welcome to 2007
Okay, as hackneyed as it might be, I am writing a blog "reflecting" on the year past. But, I couldn't even get that right. It is already the 8th of January! So far, I'm feeling that 2007 is better than 2006. I hope everyone else is feeling that way as well!
Okay..... the word for 2006 is disquiet.
Last year, there was a distressing amount of war. It is happening all over the world and I think you can feel it. At the same time, there has been an astounding increase in philanthropy in Americans. I don't think it is enough. I think it is easier to give money than to make changes in yourself and the world around you, but at least people are noticing.
There was a 20% increase in bank robberies in Chicago compared to 2005. Researchers that looked into it have declared it to be a result of the increased number of banks.
Britney Spears, Katie Holmes, and Angelina Jolie all had babies. Nobody ought to care, but there they were.... all over the news.
Dick Cheney shot lawyer Harry Whittington in the face, gas prices continue to rise, there is genocide in Africa, Teri Hatcher almost lost an eye, the Democrats have taken over Congress and are now expected to work a five day week, we can expect to hear very little of Donald Rumsfeld, Pluto is no longer a planet, and we are "staying the course."
The Winter Olympics were this year (I'm surprised I remembered), the Republicans have had a hard year ethically, the real estate boom is over, the NSA has been collecting telephone records on us, Americans no longer eat vegetables since it has been reported that you have to actually wash them, immigration is still an issue, and Pirates of the Carribean; Dead Man's Chest has made the most money.
Speaking of movies though, quite importantly, and as a sign of the times, the following movies came out this year as Americans continue to awaken to what is important: Thank You for Smoking, Fast Food Nation, An Inconvenient Truth, and Final Destination 3. However, in this same year, The DaVinci Code and World Trade Center were released. The DaVinci Code was a fun movie, though the controversy over the ill-written book highlighted some of the strange fanatacism in our day. I think however, that it is cheap and inconsiderate to have already released a movie about September 11th. It was only 2006.
The Omnivore's Dilemma made the New York Times top 10 list for the year. I mention it because I read it and loved it. James Frey's book A Million Little Pieces was touted as spectacular and important, and then, received even more publicity when Oprah announced her feelings of personal betrayal when it was outed as a pack of lies. There is an website on the best space books of 2006 (http://www.universetoday.com/2006/12/20/best-space-books-of-2006/), and Playstation 3 is OUT.
In more personal news, we bought a house. I am now a citizen of Colorado, though my license plates tell you I'm from Wyoming, and my drivers license tells you I'm from Illinois, and am also ugly. I got my green belt in Tae Kwon Do and promptly quit. I have a beautiful Schimmel Grand Piano, a dog who just turned a whole year old, and a pink front door. I got my MTNA certification (its a music teachers thing), visited New York, have a storage unit, and am exasperatingly tied to material posessions. I have zero friends in Colorado Springs, but feel so grateful for the ones outside of it. As I get older, the years get crazier. While this one was nuts, I expect the next one to be eccentric (that means crazy, but with more money).
Happy New Year!
Okay..... the word for 2006 is disquiet.
Last year, there was a distressing amount of war. It is happening all over the world and I think you can feel it. At the same time, there has been an astounding increase in philanthropy in Americans. I don't think it is enough. I think it is easier to give money than to make changes in yourself and the world around you, but at least people are noticing.
There was a 20% increase in bank robberies in Chicago compared to 2005. Researchers that looked into it have declared it to be a result of the increased number of banks.
Britney Spears, Katie Holmes, and Angelina Jolie all had babies. Nobody ought to care, but there they were.... all over the news.
Dick Cheney shot lawyer Harry Whittington in the face, gas prices continue to rise, there is genocide in Africa, Teri Hatcher almost lost an eye, the Democrats have taken over Congress and are now expected to work a five day week, we can expect to hear very little of Donald Rumsfeld, Pluto is no longer a planet, and we are "staying the course."
The Winter Olympics were this year (I'm surprised I remembered), the Republicans have had a hard year ethically, the real estate boom is over, the NSA has been collecting telephone records on us, Americans no longer eat vegetables since it has been reported that you have to actually wash them, immigration is still an issue, and Pirates of the Carribean; Dead Man's Chest has made the most money.
Speaking of movies though, quite importantly, and as a sign of the times, the following movies came out this year as Americans continue to awaken to what is important: Thank You for Smoking, Fast Food Nation, An Inconvenient Truth, and Final Destination 3. However, in this same year, The DaVinci Code and World Trade Center were released. The DaVinci Code was a fun movie, though the controversy over the ill-written book highlighted some of the strange fanatacism in our day. I think however, that it is cheap and inconsiderate to have already released a movie about September 11th. It was only 2006.
The Omnivore's Dilemma made the New York Times top 10 list for the year. I mention it because I read it and loved it. James Frey's book A Million Little Pieces was touted as spectacular and important, and then, received even more publicity when Oprah announced her feelings of personal betrayal when it was outed as a pack of lies. There is an website on the best space books of 2006 (http://www.universetoday.com/2006/12/20/best-space-books-of-2006/), and Playstation 3 is OUT.
In more personal news, we bought a house. I am now a citizen of Colorado, though my license plates tell you I'm from Wyoming, and my drivers license tells you I'm from Illinois, and am also ugly. I got my green belt in Tae Kwon Do and promptly quit. I have a beautiful Schimmel Grand Piano, a dog who just turned a whole year old, and a pink front door. I got my MTNA certification (its a music teachers thing), visited New York, have a storage unit, and am exasperatingly tied to material posessions. I have zero friends in Colorado Springs, but feel so grateful for the ones outside of it. As I get older, the years get crazier. While this one was nuts, I expect the next one to be eccentric (that means crazy, but with more money).
Happy New Year!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Scotch Tasting Session Two
I'm trying to catch up from my blogless holidays! Or rather, I'm faced with a completely unplanned day in which I can get no work done because I'm not home! And so I use my time wisely. How? By trying all of my dad's scotches. The tiniest sip can tell you a lot!
I have now tried the following scotches and have this to say about them:
1. Isle of Jura, 10 year old. I found the aroma to be very earthy and light and the finish very fresh, earthy and actually with a second finish of nuttiness. This wasn't mentioned in my guide (the nuttiness) and so I wonder if it was something in the glass or my nose! Anyone drink this? Very light though overall, I'm not sure I really liked it as a highland.
2. Laphroaig 10 year old. UGH. I remember trying this as a kid. Horrible. There is a pretty interesting and very distinct seaweedy taste to it and it is very medicinal. The taste is also salty. Ick. My poor dad. He likes this!
3. Macallan 12 year old. I was surprised by this one! I really enjoyed it! The flavours were mostly in the nose, which I like and it was sweet and a little orangey I thought. The finish was fuzzy. I could easily polish off a bottle of this!
4. Strathisla 1987 vintage. Wow. Seriously? WOW. This had a very fresh and citrusy aroma, was very creamy in the body and had a spicy and strong finish. My tongue tingled! Whew. Mmmmmm.
For those of you who don't drink scotch, these recent blogs are probably not that interesting. However, luckily for you, I don't see myself having the opportunity to try many more in the near future. You know..... work, life, money...... all getting in the way of my nasty new scotch habit!
On my list to try as soon as possible: Glenlivet 18 year, Glenlivet Nadurra 16, Aberlour a'bunadh, and Bushmills Malt 16 (I hear the 21 is pretty good too!).
I have now tried the following scotches and have this to say about them:
1. Isle of Jura, 10 year old. I found the aroma to be very earthy and light and the finish very fresh, earthy and actually with a second finish of nuttiness. This wasn't mentioned in my guide (the nuttiness) and so I wonder if it was something in the glass or my nose! Anyone drink this? Very light though overall, I'm not sure I really liked it as a highland.
2. Laphroaig 10 year old. UGH. I remember trying this as a kid. Horrible. There is a pretty interesting and very distinct seaweedy taste to it and it is very medicinal. The taste is also salty. Ick. My poor dad. He likes this!
3. Macallan 12 year old. I was surprised by this one! I really enjoyed it! The flavours were mostly in the nose, which I like and it was sweet and a little orangey I thought. The finish was fuzzy. I could easily polish off a bottle of this!
4. Strathisla 1987 vintage. Wow. Seriously? WOW. This had a very fresh and citrusy aroma, was very creamy in the body and had a spicy and strong finish. My tongue tingled! Whew. Mmmmmm.
For those of you who don't drink scotch, these recent blogs are probably not that interesting. However, luckily for you, I don't see myself having the opportunity to try many more in the near future. You know..... work, life, money...... all getting in the way of my nasty new scotch habit!
On my list to try as soon as possible: Glenlivet 18 year, Glenlivet Nadurra 16, Aberlour a'bunadh, and Bushmills Malt 16 (I hear the 21 is pretty good too!).
Who here eats raw???
On another note about food, (yeah..... sorry. I can't seem to help myself)....
I went to this wonderful restaurant in Chicago the other day called Karyn's Gourmet Raw Food. For more information on this restaurant if you're interested, go to: http://www.karynraw.com/. There is a cooked restaurant, a raw restaurant and a sort of cafe type store. We had Basil Ravioli, Stuffed Pizza, Pesto Linguini (the "pasta" was zucchini), and a burger (made entirely of raw grains and vegetables!). Then we split [we, by the way is Monte, me, Tim and Luke (two of my brothers)] a carob pudding comprised of carob, avocado, dates, and walnuts. I felt SO GOOD after this meal. And now I'm all pumped to learn how to cook like this!
Well, I WAS..... until I found out that I need a blender, a food processor, and a juicer. Sigh. Next time perhaps. Happy New Year Everyone!
I went to this wonderful restaurant in Chicago the other day called Karyn's Gourmet Raw Food. For more information on this restaurant if you're interested, go to: http://www.karynraw.com/. There is a cooked restaurant, a raw restaurant and a sort of cafe type store. We had Basil Ravioli, Stuffed Pizza, Pesto Linguini (the "pasta" was zucchini), and a burger (made entirely of raw grains and vegetables!). Then we split [we, by the way is Monte, me, Tim and Luke (two of my brothers)] a carob pudding comprised of carob, avocado, dates, and walnuts. I felt SO GOOD after this meal. And now I'm all pumped to learn how to cook like this!
Well, I WAS..... until I found out that I need a blender, a food processor, and a juicer. Sigh. Next time perhaps. Happy New Year Everyone!
Greek Islands
Last night, I went with my family to Greek Islands for dinner. This is fabulous for MANY reasons. Lydia and I (my youngest sister) have been perfecting this meal for years..... carefully tweaking our ordering each time we go. This time, we finally enjoyed the perfect meal. It was as follows:
3. Tzatziki and pita bread (to share)
The bunch of us after a LARGE meal. Hmmm. Brian (April's boyfriend) was there somewhere too....... [Me, Monte, Lydia (16 year old sister), Brigitte (step-mom), Dad, Adam (17 year old brother), April.]
1. Avgolemono (which is an egg lemon soup) and some saganaki as an appetizer.
2. Three glasses of red wine for me, a couple of sips for Lydia.
3. Tzatziki and pita bread (to share)4. Whitefish (but hold the nasty potato crap that comes on the side) we got baked okra instead.
5. This amazing honey yogurt almond dessert which is no longer on the menu but can be requested apparently.
Scotch Tasting
So, for Christmas, I received a nice gift certificate to Sam's Wine. Yippee! Right?
Right.
Well, I went last night with my very special scotch guide (The Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch) to find myself a nice (and interesting) bottle. Back in Colorado, I'm almost out of Auchentoshan as well as my Glenmorangie so I was about due for a new bottle.
This liquor store is so cool... in fact, the gentleman who helped me even tasted the scotches with me. That's right. I got to sit around a liquor store tasting whatever scotch I could come up with. (I know some of you are just gagging right now. To each his own. Go get yourself a wine cooler).
I tasted a Glenrothes Select Reserve which I thought had a semi sharp scent, no taste at ALL and a beautiful butter cookieey finish. I then tasted a Compass Box Hedonism which is supposed to be very popular. I bet it is popular due to its name. Compass Box is actually pretty interesting. It is a vatted malt, meaning it uses malt whiskeys from different distilleries. It had little scent, a very sharp and smoky taste, and quiet finish. Almost the exact opposite of the Glenrothes! I then tasted an Aberlour 10 which was simply tasty. It really opened up at the end with a very doughy flavor.
I am typically very fond of Glenmorangie. They started a trend in identifying the varying types of wood finishes used. I am fond of the sherry or the madeira. I didn't get one though because they are easy to come by. I recently tasted the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve which I thought was fabulous. But, I was inclined to use my gift certificate to get something different. I got a bottle of the Glenrothes which I drank last night with my dad (the only one around who actually appreciates scotch)!
Although I'm nervous now..... my step-mom and my husband both expressed interest in several sips. Must be the sweetness. I should learn how to drink the nasty Islay stuff in order to keep it all to myself!
Right.
Well, I went last night with my very special scotch guide (The Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch) to find myself a nice (and interesting) bottle. Back in Colorado, I'm almost out of Auchentoshan as well as my Glenmorangie so I was about due for a new bottle.
This liquor store is so cool... in fact, the gentleman who helped me even tasted the scotches with me. That's right. I got to sit around a liquor store tasting whatever scotch I could come up with. (I know some of you are just gagging right now. To each his own. Go get yourself a wine cooler).
I tasted a Glenrothes Select Reserve which I thought had a semi sharp scent, no taste at ALL and a beautiful butter cookieey finish. I then tasted a Compass Box Hedonism which is supposed to be very popular. I bet it is popular due to its name. Compass Box is actually pretty interesting. It is a vatted malt, meaning it uses malt whiskeys from different distilleries. It had little scent, a very sharp and smoky taste, and quiet finish. Almost the exact opposite of the Glenrothes! I then tasted an Aberlour 10 which was simply tasty. It really opened up at the end with a very doughy flavor.
I am typically very fond of Glenmorangie. They started a trend in identifying the varying types of wood finishes used. I am fond of the sherry or the madeira. I didn't get one though because they are easy to come by. I recently tasted the Glenfiddich Solera Reserve which I thought was fabulous. But, I was inclined to use my gift certificate to get something different. I got a bottle of the Glenrothes which I drank last night with my dad (the only one around who actually appreciates scotch)!
Although I'm nervous now..... my step-mom and my husband both expressed interest in several sips. Must be the sweetness. I should learn how to drink the nasty Islay stuff in order to keep it all to myself!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Ooooh! Chocolate!
For years, I have been driving by a psychic reading sign and have never stopped in. So, today, on a lark, Lydia and I stopped in. There was a Christmas special...... $10.00 for a palm reading! SCORE!
So, from what I can remember because the woman spoke SO QUICKLY:
1. I am good hearted
2. I am free hearted (what??)
3. I am going to spend six months out of state for my career.
4. I will have a big move and change of residence next year.
5. There is one minor illness in my family but everyone else is healthy and will remain so for the near future.
6. I am very independent and make decisions based on that.
7. I will have a kid in the next two years.
8. I will have two kids.
9. Some other stuff.
10. I'm ten dollars poorer than I was this morning. :)
I hope everyone else is enjoying a holiday treat as special as mine!
I am currently in Madison, Wisconsin, enjoying a nice glass of wine, chatting with my sister and her boyfriend and listening to the puppies exhaust eachother with no effort on my part at all!Monday, December 18, 2006
The Mozart Effect
I am currently in Glenview, Illinois with my family. The Christmas lights here are beautiful. This morning, in sitting with my step-dad while he is recovering from a recent surgery, I was handed the following very excellent joke, which I delight in sharing with you:
A new report now says that the Mozart effect is a fraud. For you hip urban professionals: no. Playing Mozart for your designer baby will not improve his IQ or help him get into that exclusive pre-school. He'll just have to be admitted to Harvard some other way.
Of course, we're all better off for listening to Mozart purely for the pleasure of it. However, one wonders that if playing Mozart sonatas for little Hillary or Jason could boost their intelligence, what would happen if other composers were played in their developmental time?? (I am inclined to think that rather than simply to make your child more precocious, listening to Mozart may instill in your childhood a love of simplicity and a leaning toward dramatic flourishes).
BEETHOVEN EFFECT: Child is prone to loud outbursts followed by moments of exquisite intelligence.
BRAHMS EFFECT: the child is able to speak eloquently and will be on a new subject before you have even realized the subject is changing. However, he may be quite a while before he is ready to let go of the apron strings.
WAGNER EFFECT: Child becomes a megalomaniac. May eventually marry his sister.
BRUCKNER EFFECT: Child speaks very slowly and repeats himself frequently. Gains reputation for profundity. (Goes on and on!)
LISZT EFFECT: Child speaks rapidly and extravagantly, but never really says anything important.
MAHLER EFFECT: Child continually screams - at great length and volume - that he's dying.
STRAVINSKY EFFECT: Child is prone to savage, guttural and profane outbursts that often lead to fighting and pandemonium in the preschool.
SCHOENBERG EFFECT: Child never repeats a word until he's used all the other words in his vocabulary. Sometimes talks backwards. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child blames them for their inability to understand him.
IVES EFFECT: Child develops a remarkable ability to carry on several separate conversations at once.
BABBITT EFFECT: Child gibbers nonsense all the time. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child doesn't care becaue all his playmates think he's cool.
GLASS EFFECT: Child tends to repeat himself over and over and oever and over and over and over and over and over and over.
RILEY EFFECT: Child may take forever to get to his point and will have a propensity to micromanage everything.
...... and then of course there is the Cage effect - the child says nothing at all for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Preferred by nine out of ten classroom teachers!
I changed a bunch for those of you who may have encountered this before.
In other news: my step-dad is recovering well, Kansas and Missouri haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw them, and Paris Hilton is practically a nun.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
A new report now says that the Mozart effect is a fraud. For you hip urban professionals: no. Playing Mozart for your designer baby will not improve his IQ or help him get into that exclusive pre-school. He'll just have to be admitted to Harvard some other way.
Of course, we're all better off for listening to Mozart purely for the pleasure of it. However, one wonders that if playing Mozart sonatas for little Hillary or Jason could boost their intelligence, what would happen if other composers were played in their developmental time?? (I am inclined to think that rather than simply to make your child more precocious, listening to Mozart may instill in your childhood a love of simplicity and a leaning toward dramatic flourishes).
BEETHOVEN EFFECT: Child is prone to loud outbursts followed by moments of exquisite intelligence.
BRAHMS EFFECT: the child is able to speak eloquently and will be on a new subject before you have even realized the subject is changing. However, he may be quite a while before he is ready to let go of the apron strings.
WAGNER EFFECT: Child becomes a megalomaniac. May eventually marry his sister.
BRUCKNER EFFECT: Child speaks very slowly and repeats himself frequently. Gains reputation for profundity. (Goes on and on!)
LISZT EFFECT: Child speaks rapidly and extravagantly, but never really says anything important.
MAHLER EFFECT: Child continually screams - at great length and volume - that he's dying.
STRAVINSKY EFFECT: Child is prone to savage, guttural and profane outbursts that often lead to fighting and pandemonium in the preschool.
SCHOENBERG EFFECT: Child never repeats a word until he's used all the other words in his vocabulary. Sometimes talks backwards. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child blames them for their inability to understand him.
IVES EFFECT: Child develops a remarkable ability to carry on several separate conversations at once.
BABBITT EFFECT: Child gibbers nonsense all the time. Eventually, people stop listening to him. Child doesn't care becaue all his playmates think he's cool.
GLASS EFFECT: Child tends to repeat himself over and over and oever and over and over and over and over and over and over.
RILEY EFFECT: Child may take forever to get to his point and will have a propensity to micromanage everything.
...... and then of course there is the Cage effect - the child says nothing at all for 4 minutes and 33 seconds. Preferred by nine out of ten classroom teachers!
I changed a bunch for those of you who may have encountered this before.
In other news: my step-dad is recovering well, Kansas and Missouri haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw them, and Paris Hilton is practically a nun.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Holiday
Every year it seems, Hollywood produces a romantic comedy full of top billed actors in mediocre roles that revolves around the holiday season. Last year wasn't it one with Sarah Jessica Parker and Claire Danes? Anyway, we just saw the movie Holiday with Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law. It was okay. It was VERY cliche. (I typically am not fond of ANY of these actors, but they didn't hurt to watch this time!)
I normally wouldn't drag my husband to a movie like this (actually, I would typically try my best to avoid any theater experience, but we are on a bit of a movie seeing roll here), but I was intrigued by the idea of house swapping. THAT was the hook. And it worked!
So, if anyone is interested, I have a beautiful three bedroom house in Colorado Springs and am currently looking to vacation in the following places: Cairo, Barcelona, London, Toronto, Seattle, Chicago, and New York. Must be a non-smoker, must feed my puppy.
I normally wouldn't drag my husband to a movie like this (actually, I would typically try my best to avoid any theater experience, but we are on a bit of a movie seeing roll here), but I was intrigued by the idea of house swapping. THAT was the hook. And it worked!
So, if anyone is interested, I have a beautiful three bedroom house in Colorado Springs and am currently looking to vacation in the following places: Cairo, Barcelona, London, Toronto, Seattle, Chicago, and New York. Must be a non-smoker, must feed my puppy.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Food
I am currently too busy eating to blog.
I love coming up with new recipes when cooking for myself with little to no food in the house! (Oh my gosh.... this is so good!)
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