sure to be of interest only to myself

2008-09-10T20:52:00.001-07:00

hey! i'm over here now

http://angeliccorn.wordpress.com/

we'll see how it works out...

thoughts, unspecified

2008-08-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

spotted on a minivan: a bumper sticker reading "minivans are tangible evidence of evil."
and then another bumper sticker reading "careful, that's a beverage" or something like that. then it had the web address www.lebowskifest.com. a week later i saw a similar bumper sticker, which made me curious. i guess i could actually look up the website, but i am more lazy than curious, i guess. i like the mystery?

i have, to my own chagrin, the song "rock me sexy, jesus" running through my head most days of the week.

i am smitten with smittenkitchen. i just made grapefruit yogurt poundcake, and i am in the middle of making kefta and zucchini kebabs. it smells so good i want to eat the meat raw. but i won't, i promise. i wish i had more pictures, but i cook in the later evening and it's dark when everything's done.

i just heard a good joke. it's not only that was bush born on third and thinks he hit a triple, but bush came into the office on third and then stole second. i'm listening to the speeches at the dnc on the radio. i'm pretty sure that most people reading this are republicans, so sorry.

i went back to school august 11th, school started the 19th. it's always a busy time. the counselors have to set up summer school before we leave, so it's hard to prepare for the beginning of school, and since i've been there, the schedules haven't been "loaded" until we get back from summer, so there is tons and tons of work to do in less than a week. i worked last saturday and sunday, trying to get everyone's schedules fixed before school started. maybe i was a wee too enthusiastic, because i completely strained my wrist, giving myself tendonitis, or wrist strain, unspecified. i like that phrase, unspecified. it's much more upscale than random. random has gone the way of totally. they used to be legitimate words, now they're just valley girl speak.

some one threw away these old athletic bags at school, and someone else dug them out of the trash, washed them, and gave them away at the staff party on saturday. i was pretty pleased with them and snatched two. there were extras...i don't think everyone appreciates the vintageness of them.

this is the fate of most of brophy's toys...poor little bear.

things that make me feel lucky, even when i'm drowning in work and bothers like check-engine lights and fleas on the dog

2008-08-20T19:54:00.001-07:00

ordering a 4' shelf from pottery barn with gift cards leftover from my wedding almost 2 years ago, and finding that they were worth almost 3 times the amount i thought (even though i intended to buy a bathroom light fixture that we picked out months ago only to find out it's no longer available.)

driving by the ocean twice a day, but getting the best view on the way home from work, which is amazing every single time. it's been looking especially aqua lately, which is my most favorite color.

having the check engine light turn out to be nothing, and not even getting charged for the service guy to figure that out.

not seeing a flea in two days.

super star!

2008-08-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

so, it's no secret that i love my puppy, brophy. if you have seen us together recently, you may have been slightly sickened at how gaga i am over him. yust a widdle bit siwwy, i am. but, it's not just me, i swear! over at the breeder's from whence brophy came, they are trying to make their own brophy! they are breeding his mother and father together again trying to duplicate the cuteness and sweetness that is my pup. check it out! read about his mom and dad, then click on the link to see her past litters and check out their tribute to brophy. brophy's kennel name was adonis (appropriate), and clearly, he was the pick of the litter.

taco salad

2008-08-05T19:50:00.001-07:00

taco salad is one of those dishes that i remember as being such a treat growing up. the last few times i've made it, it's been nothing special, but i wanted to make a really good one this time. i think jake and i both agree that i succeeded. wildly.

recipes are difficult to write, because if i don't make it all up, i use a mixture of recipes i find online and adjust them as i see fit. i'm sure you do the same. especially for salad, you don't need to measure, you just use as much of each ingredient that you think is good, or how much you actually have. aside from the salad dressing, such is this recipe.

kelly's awesome taco salad

1.25 lb ground turkey
half an onion
two cloves garlic
olive oil
cumin
chili powder
cayenne pepper
salt
less than one can pinto beans
less than one can black beans
about 1/2 cup corn kernels
romaine lettuce
half a tomato (because only i eat tomato)
avocado
trader joe's organic white corn tortilla chips

dressing, adapted from martha stewart:
3/4 cup lowfat plain yogurt or light sour cream thinned with milk (i tried both, they taste about the same)
half cup cilantro, very finely minced or just throw all dressing ingredients in the blender
salt
juice from half a lime
a wee bit o' very finely minced jalapeno...i started with about a teaspoon because i didn't want it to be too hot, and it was enough to make it very mild.

so, when i make taco meat, this is how i do it: cook the onion, super finely chopped, and minced garlic in olive oil until very soft (medium low heat) add turkey, salt it, and chop up so it's finely crumbled when cooking is complete. brown, drain the fat. i use a ratio of two parts cumin to one part each chili powder and cayenne pepper, differing amounts depending on how much meat i'm cooking. about two T of cumin for a pound of turkey (or beef). then i add about 3-4 T of unauthentic la victoria red taco sauce. for the salad i added the beans, probably about a cup, just until it looked pretty.

then i just piled the meat/beans on some lettuce, added some corn, tomatoes, half an avocado for each of us, dressing and crumbled up chips. i bought some cheese (pepper jack) for it, but i think it was complete without it!

don't date the nanny

2008-08-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

so, five years ago today, i met jake at Q's in santa barbara. holly and i went downtown for fiesta.
it turned out that jake knew a co-worker of mine and had watched her baby for her. though this is the only time in his life he has ever baby-sat, holly misunderstood what i told her and assumed i was interested in dating a "manny."

but it did give him some credibility with me, so i gave him my phone number before we left.

i was super excited because he was cute, tall and smart.
i really wasn't expecting to meet anyone
of that description!

obscure quotes

2008-07-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

"my neck is a gargantuan monkey fist."

first person to identify who said that wins my undying respect....

looky! look what i did!

2008-07-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

i made a mosaic

here are the directions

if you want to make one

1. Grevillea Ned Kelly with native bee, 2. jelly belly beans :P, 3. Golden Dome, 4. Eid Mubarak :), 5. Zig out., 6. llibreria - bookstore - Amsterdam - HDR, 7. conquisteremo siena!!, 8. Xana & Brownie, 9. Reading book..., 10. The Comfy Chair, 11. King's College Chapel, Cambridge, 12. Portofino a village of rare beauty

by the way, life without coffee sucks

2008-07-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

"last" cup of coffee: saturday @ 10 am

this cup of coffee: friday @ 2.30 pm

inbetween cups of coffee: incessant headache.

i bought this just because i liked the label.

i'm a sucker for packaging.

how to avoid salmonella poisoning from jalapenos

2008-07-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

grow your own!

aren't they cute??

midyear resolution...

2008-07-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

since watching my new favorite show, you are what you eat, and after a particularly heinous round of pms, i have decided to start eating better. i already eat pretty well: no fast food (save occiasional subway and hamburger habit), no soda, very little processed food, etc. but i could be doing a lot better. as in, more variety of vegetables and fruit, less dairy, and less meat. i used to eat hardly any meat and was even a vegetarian for over a year, but jake had never eaten much but meat, so my habits changed when i started cooking for him. i have gotten him to like some vegetables, and he does want to eat healthy, and readily agreed to have a few vegetarian meals a week.

i am also, wait for it...............cutting out coffee. i love coffee, love, love, love it, and was never in the least ashamed of my addiction. i have an awesome coffee maker with built in grinder, buy fair-trade, shade grown, organic coffee, and don't go a day without my 16 ounces. i have read a lot about coffee's benefits, too. i don't really think it's that bad for me, but i want to see what life is like without it. for now, i am substituting green tea, which i also love. can i ever go caffeine free? we'll see.

i love whole wheat bread and crackers, but the last time i tried whole wheat pasta and even some brown rice pasta, i just didn't like it. BUT, i just tried trader joes multigrain spaghetti with flax, and it was very, very good. i made this recipe and it is incredible. make some and be convinced.

newest distractions...

2008-07-18T19:29:00.000-07:00

sarcastic responses to stupid people:
baby's named a bad, bad thing

more sarcasm:
stuff white people like

i can't stop searching the interwebs...help!

oops. subtitled: i did it again. alternately subtitled: i crapped my pants.

2008-07-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

are you ever overwhelmed with the sense that every recent day has been filled with mistakes, and no matter how you resolve to be more careful, you are doomed to keep making them? forgetting about the candied pecans in the broiler until they are a black and smoky heap? leaving your cell phone and important papers in the reach of the puppy who loves to chew, not to mention the remote control and the NETFLIX DVD?!?! forgetting to get licenses for the dog and cat, resulting in a $200 ticket? mistakes make life so tedious and disappointing. sigh. now i have to clean up this mess i made and have lost enthusiasm for whatever i wanted to do.

somtimes, i get really morbid and start worrying about what future mistakes i am bound to make. since i am still healthy and all, and my mistakes have not yet been too damaging, sometime i'm bound to make a huge one. it's scary.

i wish i could say i'm like anne and i never make the same mistake twice, but alas, my cell phone has multiple teeth marks, i've wasted many pieces of garlic bread in the broiler, and i'm surprised i have any credit at all i forget about so many bills.

i guess all i can do is try to think of something positive, like this gem i found while looking for the anne link: anne and gilbert, the musical!

poll by twiigs.com

my new show

2008-07-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

i have found a new show. like many preceding it, i will probably watch every episode (on cable, that's several per day) for a few weeks and then get bored and move on. but for now, i have a season pass to:

i enjoy the disgusting displays of food and poo and the british accents!

(BBC America)

dan in real life

2008-06-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

i so enjoyed this movie. it's just the kind of movie i like. about people and relationships. it made me cry, it made me want to hug my mom, learn to play guitar, sing a song, kiss my husband. and it was quoteable! "this corn is like an angel." "love is not a feeling, it's an ability." "you are a murderer of love!"

the family togetherness was a little too unrealistic (but still left me warm and fuzzy). it was like a bunch of happy and fun family moments that normally would happen over a course of years were condensed into a holiday weekend. in "real life" these scenes/moments would be punctuated by long periods of bickering, whining, eye-rolling, boredom and messes.

i will probably watch it again tomorrow, and try to get jake to watch it. though, it's not really his type of movie....

the difference between geeks and nerds

2008-06-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

i recently read an article about the differences between a geek and a nerd. i'm not sure i ever thought that one was thought to be a less offensive designation , but the author believed it was nerd (come to think of it, though, i do refer to myself as a nerd). anyhoo, one of the examples was that nerds will go to the midnight opening of the new starwars movie, but a geek will go dressed up as one of the characters.

the screen cap did not turn out so well....click on pic for better view, i think.

i don't know if being very excited about this new feature of goodreads makes me a geek or a nerd, but i lack any shame in my love of trivia, and about books at that! could it get any better? i submit that it could not.

serenity now!

2008-06-07T18:34:00.000-07:00

so, my mil has a circle of serenity in her yard (i don't have a pic).

my sister in law has a square.

mama-in-law and me at jackie's square of serenity

i now have an oval of serenity!

it's where the pond used to be.

it's a lot more comfortable now.

kielbasa, a bunch of grains, spinach....

2008-06-05T19:48:00.000-07:00

update! i found it...
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=6c2a3e8661aa5110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=wild%20rice,%20squash&rsc=rf_result1

this is an acorn squash stuffed with deliciousness. i made it in november, but i can still taste it. i don't even remember all that i put in it, or where i got the recipe, so it may have been a once in a lifetime experience. sigh.

2008-06-05T19:33:00.000-07:00

What's this, you (and Brophy) might ask? well, it's the ophy. you win it if the your o's basketball teammates deem you worthy of possessing it for a week. this important honor is won at topper's pizza after the weekly games. topper's has the best salad bar ever. and the games are fun to watch.

very behind in updates

2008-05-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

but to start, here are some recent pics!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakeandkellynixon

30 years, the Pearl Anniversary

2008-03-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

1978

2008

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Could you guys be any cuter? Thank you for everything! I love you!

pup and circumstance

2008-03-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

brophy done us proud.

for his last day of class, brophy was again banished from the small dog pen (stupid--but adorable--diesel). but he was vindicated when his pal lito thought diesel was boring and whined to get in the big dog pen with brophy.

lito and brophy are great pals. brophy has a slight size and strength advantage, but lito's more pointed snout makes him champion of the neon frisbee that's in his mouth.
the only picture of diesel i got. not because he moved too much, but because all the other doggies kept running in my shot! he was really sweet and mellow. jake and i are now considering a greater swiss mountain dog when we're ready for a big dog.

for his graduation demonstration, brophy had to sit, lie down, stay, leave-it and do a recall. everyone "wowed" his leave-it, and though his stay was between a sit and a down (he dislikes cold floors), and though his recall wasn't obeyed until the trainer pointed him to me (brophy's a very in-the-moment puppy, and the trainer had treats!) he has clearly mastered his basic commands.

brophy was also teacher's pet when he demonstrated shake/high-five for the class, then hung out and sniffed while the rest of the class tried to learn how. aww, my heart was all swelled up and we (jake and i) were both grinning big!

i'm mean II

2008-03-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

hidi. for heidi. that's an oldie, actually. my parents used to entertain us with the tales of the poorly named girl. i think she was a childhood neighbor.

p.s. see this old post if this makes no sense to you.

to kasey: in response to comment about fettucine with prosciutto and peas

2008-03-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

well, i was attempting to make this recipe, and didn't have anything but 1% milk. so i threw in that and three single-serving packets of cream cheese (that i had because when the nixons came to visit, i bought bagels at the coffee shop). they were about a tbsp each. it was really good, and i think that the shallots were really important to the flavor. i also substituted prosciutto for bacon, which i recommend crisping briefly in a skillet, otherwise, it's too chewy.

one of our favorite meals

2008-03-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

bbq chicken and bacon pizza, with garlic & herb crust from trader joe's. usually made with trader joe's bbq sauce, which i adore and usually eat a couple spoonfuls plain while i'm making it. i think it reminds me of mcdonalds sauce, but definitely better. anyhoo, this time made with dr. pepper bbq sauce, a christmas gift from me to jake. it doesn't really taste like dr. pepper. this is jake's favorite pizza, and despite its lack of veggies, it may be mine, too.

so, to compensate for no veggies, we had a wedge salad which is defintely in the top two or three salads for both of us.

1/4 head of iceberg (nutritionally underrated. actually a great source of folic acid.) blue cheese dressing, crumbled bacon. a bit of left over tomato salad consisting of heirloom red, orange and green tomatoes, cucumbers, olive oil and basil. sans red onions that usually top this salad in restaurants--we don't like them!

brophy is seven months old

2008-03-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

this doesn't seem like a significant birthday, but the contract with the breeder who sold us brophy stipulated that they receive pictures when he is 3 and 7 months old. this was on feb 24 (mom's birthday :)), but i took these pictures a week later. oh well.

broph is going to graduate from puppy school next saturday. i HAVE to remember to take the camera. he goes an hour before class for "pooch play" and there have been some great little dogs that are the perfect size and age for brophy to play with. and he does not take this activity lightly. pooch play is his JOB. he plays his little heart out for the full hour. it's so fun to watch.

his latest accomplishments are:

shake/high five/waving (his paw-control makes the action pretty much the same on his part!)

stay:

he's doing so well at down-stays. thank goodness, because without them, it would be impossible to put my shoes on in the morning!

leave it:

this is also one of brophy's signature commands. we can put a treat on his paw and he won't eat it until we say, "ok!"

we need to work on greeting people on and off leash and consistent recalls. he loooooves meeting new people and will jump, and he is very distractable and if he's somewhat far away, he doesn't respond to his call to come. i'm glad his shortcomings are because he's a happy, friendly dog. though he met his first puppy since he's been more grown up at pooch play yesterday. he played too aggressively and had to be removed to the big-dog pen, which isn't as much fun for him, because the big dogs are annoyed by him and his attempts to play. i think the dog-center owner was too quick to remove him because the puppy was new and she didn't want to upset its owners, though. brophy was growling, but the regulars there often play pretty rough and it isn't that big of a deal. i hope brophy gets a good play session next week, since it's the last one, and without being enrolled in the class, it costs $10, meaning we probably won't go anymore.

"sit, brophy, sit. good dog." "ruff!"

catching up

2008-02-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

ok, here are some pictures i took for the blog, but never posted....

i made sugary- cheesy-nutty goodness wrapped up in puff pastry for the superbowl. (no party, it was just me and jake). it was so good with slices of apples and baguette. (those are supposed to be footballs on top!)

it looks gross close-up, but trust me, it tasted pretty awesome.

________________________________

i got a new pasta maker for christmas. (thanks, mama!) unfortunately, i left it at my in-laws, so i didn't get to make it until they came to visit a couple weeks ago. jake took pictures of me using the new machine, but they turned out terrible, so here is the finished product. i ate two huge bowls (fettucine with proscuitto and peas in cream cheese sauce--soooooo good!)
________________________________

i finally framed a few wedding pictures and hung them up. what?! it's only been a year and a half!

_________________________________

chubbs and brophy: the stare-down.
________________________________

so, brophy has been on a rather destructive streak lately. behold my (week-old) hat:

fortunately, he didn't rip any important pages...

but he makes up for it by being so dang cute!

the best candle ever

2008-02-21T17:45:00.000-08:00

i am currently meandering the internet, enjoying the smell of my newest candle:

my lovely mother-in-law gave me this one as a valentine's gift. she bought it in avila beach, where i bought one when jake and i stayed there after the wedding. it's pricey, but completely worth it. the smell is strong, as in, it penetrates the whole house, but not strong as in naseous or head-ache inducing. the soy wax burns away completely, and it lasts forever. i received this candle for christmas:

and while nice, can't hold a well, you know, to my bluewick.

it is opposite day

2008-01-13T13:36:00.000-08:00

this has always been my favorite car from the 70s--when they really produced so many irresistibly attractive cars.

i'm so glad they brought it back!

i wouldn't go so far as to call it an "a-ha" moment...

2008-01-04T17:36:00.000-08:00

so, i've been thinking about this topic for a while. i love that phrase "you learn something new everyday" because, while not always precisely true, it is a lovely idea. i love learning new things. the other day, robert at espresso espresso told me that while people often stumble in come morning time asking for a dark roast, but in the evening prefer a light roast, dark roast actually has less caffeine, because it's dissipated during the long cooking. now that was interesting. however, sometimes i learn new things, and i am embarrassed that i didn't learn them years and years ago, like the time my peers might have.

for example, not until driver's ed in 10th grade did i learn that this:

does not tell drivers that they are in the middleish part of california, where i in fact was, as i grew up there. (if you need such a broad landmark to tell you where you are, you probably should not be driving. however, this never occurred to me. i mean, look at california:. you can see the similarity in shape, can't you?)

another example happened just THIS YEAR. you know the phrase, "smooth move, ex-lax?" now, i always knew when you would USE this phrase, but only a few months ago did it dawn on me, the EXACT meaning of this phrase.i never had thought it was a particularly clever expression, but my curiosity went no further. now i know.

i know i have other examples of this. i actually find them really amusing. i don't always find it easy to laugh at myself, but in this case i can't help it, and i invite you all to laugh at me.

and in addition to marveling at what an idiot i can be, i will anticipate eagerly the next epiphany that everyone else in the world already knows.

not crafty

2008-01-03T21:29:00.001-08:00

ok, here is my most prominent new year's resolution.

i'm going to stop pretending that i will ever make anything. i don't have the patience. i won't peel the labels off those wine bottles and make a collage. i won't use the adorable sur la table gift boxes i got for my wedding as matting for a picture in the kitchen. i won't melt down all those used candles into new ones (though i HAVE done that, once.) what i WILL do is throw/give away/recycle all that stuff i was collecting to craft with, and stay away from michaels.

i'm mean

2008-01-03T20:19:00.000-08:00

people, people. i'm not unsympathetic (well, i can be). nor am i unrealistic (not sure about that one either). i know some people aren't great spellers. it's not that big of deal, though it does bug me. what's sad is when that flaw is inflicted on these people's children. permanently. in the form of an unphonetically, non-traditionally spelled name. i mean, if you want to spell kelly KELLEE or KELLI, fine. within the confines of the english language, that works. or if you want to spell sean, SHAUN, great, that follows all the rules. but i wish that there was an advice nurse that grilled women before they left the hospital. "are you SURE you want to spell the kid's name this way? it really doesn't look the way it's pronounced, and no one will ever get it right. are you ABSOLUTLEY SURE???" because, i have come across these unfortunate names in various places, and i bang my head against the wall. and really, i don't always blame the mom--she may not be fluent in english or have any education. but, someone help a woman out! so, i blame nurses. some names have been left off the list, due to the fact that they may or may not be related to me.

1. gabriele. for a boy.

2. kiaya. this was meant to be "kaya." i think the mom combined "kaya" and "kaia" and got this ridiculous combination. i thought of her as "kee-ya-ya."

3. gyno. for gino. this is an NCAA basketball player. too bad it looks more like "vagina doctor."

4. deeby. for debby. poor girl has to introduce herself by saying, "i know it looks like deeby, but it sounds like debby."

i know there are more, and i look forward to adding to the list.

while i'm on the subject of pet peeves, can i mention when people misuse the word "I" when trying to be gramatically correct? "please call my husband or I at home." Me is not a dirty word. sometimes it's the right choice.

and here's something i learned from a family circus cartoon: use "fewer" instead of "less" if you're talking about something that you can count. i.e., drink less alcohol, make fewer mistakes (those are two unrelated examples. i don't believe that sentiment for a second.)

poor kitty

2007-11-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

this is the kitty, in his natural state. he surveys the neighborhood, making sure every person, cat and chihuahua stay in line.

some evil cat thwarted kitty in his pursuit of neighborhood order and did this to him:

so for the past 10 days, our lives have revolved around him and this, which altogether need to be administered 6 times daily:

but kitty is on his way to recovery, thanks in part, no doubt to the prayers and thoughts of his supporters all over the state! i'll post some pictures of his repaired eye soon!

little thanksgiving

2007-11-24T17:17:00.001-08:00

the guests:

the meal:

getting ready to eat:

mmmm...

kitchen carnage:

brophy watching jealously:

happy thanksgiving!

i love carbs

2007-11-12T16:30:00.000-08:00

two excellent easy pasta sauces...

balsamic sauce:

3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 handfuls grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Salt and pepper

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, a couple of handfuls

heat a skillet over medium low to medium heat, add butter to the pan and let it begin to brown. When the butter has browned, add cooked pasta to the pan and turn in butter to heat through. Add balsamic vinegar to the pasta and cook a minute or 2 longer to reduce the vinegar and glaze the pasta. The vinegar will become thick and syrup like. Add cheese, parsley, salt and pepper to the pasta and remove the pan from the heat.

goat cheese sauce:

3 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces

5 ounces (small log) of soft goat cheese (chevre), crumbled (note, this cheese cost half as much at trader joes as at vons--same brand and everything. this cheese is very versatile, so i've started keeping it in supply.)

whatever herbs you have, optional

in a medium bowl, combine butter and cheese and half a cup of reserved pasta water. add salt and pepper, whisk until smooth, toss with pasta and whatever meat, veggies or herbs you wish/have on hand...

skinny jeans

2007-11-12T16:10:00.000-08:00

i think one new pair of jeans a year is a must, at minimum. i bought three last year (all from marshalls and all three worth $100 each and totalled to less than that--i've got to get back there soon) and ended up only really liking one, and not loving it, because i had them hemmed a hair too short, so i can't wear them with heels, which is just as well, because i prefer flats. when i bought them, i attempted to try on some skinny jeans, but just wasn't ready to take the plunge. i work with teenagers, and though you can take fashion cues from them, i really don't want to copy them. but this year, this year i'm ready. it's ironic, because i distinctly remember the day i dared UN-pegging my pants and wearing straight legs (8th grade), then the first time i bought flares (sophomore year in college). they were acts of bravery i tell you. and the fashion has come full circle.

i haven't been able to find the camera for the past few days, so this picture from the website will have to do. anyhoo, i love them. they're comfortable, and what saves them from the horridness of previous narrow legged jeans and keeps them flattering is the low waist, (which isn't uncomfortable because of the fashion gods' gift of long shirts) and they are a wee bunchy in the ankle and not completely skin tight.

also the first pair of jeans i've ever ordered online (i don't have much time to shop these days--if it's not at the old navy or target by my house, i probably won't buy it...) and for the record, they're AE Skinny 77 Stretch Jean Dark Rinsed WashStyle: 0431-798899% Cotton, 1% Spandex from American Eagle. which, if i had to get a pair of jeans from there, it would by necessity be online, because i can't stand how loud they play the music in that store, which along with the moral victory of buying and wearing skinny jeans, is another sign that i am old.

on second thought...

2007-10-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

upon very careful consideration, and after consulting many experts and spiritual guides, i've decided to remove desperate housewives from a list of shows that i love. i really only like it and regularly watch it becuase i'm sure to be home sunday nights, and jake enjoys it, too. if it suddenly got cancelled, i wouldn't really mind....i hope this news does not damage anyone's understanding of the world as we know it....

what in the--?

2007-10-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

so either they do things special in ojai, or taco bell changed its curriculum at burrito making school, because instead of this:

i got this:

. i turned it over, thinking i opened the wrong end, but i was WRONG (rare, but it happens). it was folded over on both ends. i mean really--does tradition mean nothing these days??

(which reminds me of when my friend worked at taco bell in high school and during her first week was super excited because she had "learned" how to make a burrito. my other friend and i just looked at her and were like, "you mean fold over one side, fold up the bottom and fold over the other side?" she looked very deflated as she answered, "yeah.")

what gets me through the work week...

2007-10-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

so, ok, not the ONLY thing, but it definitely helps, especially around 2:30 each afternoon. (the bell rings at 2:45, at which time i start cleaning off my desk, checking lists of things i should have completed that day, making a list for the next day, etc. unless i'm in the middle of something unexpected, which is like 80% of the time, so you can see that it really only acts as my savior when there is an afternoon lull.)

ANYHOO...i love: a fancy picture, yes; they clean up good.

and:affectionately known as "HIMYM"

as well as:

but since i only have basic cable, i must resort to DVD or http://www.tv-links.co.uk/ to see:

and i can't wait for these seasons to start:

on which is the cutest little boy ever:

(this is a newer picture, not as cute--and the killer is when he giggles.)

and:

FX is a pretty good network, too. i enjoy:and (the riches)

i do understand that some people don't love tv, and some people have a lot of hobbies, and tv can be a major waste of time, but there are some really good shows on (better than any movies that have come out in the past 5 years), and it's always bothered me when people have this condescending attitude towards those of us that do enjoy the tube...TV is awesome!

my word! i forgot:

1 year

2007-10-14T20:14:00.000-07:00

our first anniversary...we hope to take a weekend away sometime soon, but our lives are a bit too hectic now. we went out to a lovely dinner, though not the dinner we planned. unbeknownst to us, it was oktoberfest in camarillo, and the restaurant, california grill, which i have been longing to eat at for a year, was only serving german food. damn germans!!!

i got:

from jake,

and he got:

(note: not jake's actual truck, but the same model/color) from both of us!

anyway, i can't believe it's been a whole year! we had a lot of changes--2 new jobs, a new car, a new puppy, a trip to europe, a garage makeover, our first joint family holiday celebration, 2 new eyes (for me)...we've learned a lot and look forward to more travels and new hobbies--biking, which the truck will help us to do--and even more home makeovers!

bloomin' halitosis

2007-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

i had more than a few petals of a bloomin' onion at outback last night. we went with jake's old coworker and his girlfriend. everytime i woke up to take the doggy outside, all i could think of was, "what did i EAT to make my mouth taste so horrendous??"

sunday night...

2007-09-30T19:21:00.000-07:00

i've made this recipe so many times and adjusted it, i feel it's ok to call it my own:

kelly's corn chowder

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 small onion, diced

3/4 cups baby carrots, sliced

2-3 celery stalks, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

4 medium red potatoes (give or take), diced

3 cups white corn kernels, fresh or frozen (the safeway brand is the best)

3 cups chicken stock

2 cups mixture of milk and half-and-half --the ratio depends on how healthy i want to be and if there will be enough half-and-half left for my coffee in the morning.

Pinch freshly grated nutmeg

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Remove puppy from your feet and leave on the couch, sleeping after an hour of manic hyperactivity.

Melt 1 stick of butter in a smal saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, and saute for 5 minutes. Add the flour and stir to make a roux. Cook until the roux is lightly browned, 3 or 4 mintues; set aside to cool to room temperature.

Check on puppy--he might have woken up and he doesn't seem to understand the concept of heights--find him moved up to your spot on the couch:

Meanwhile, combine the potatoes and chicken stock in a large stockpot, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, add the corn and simmer for 10 more. Spoon the roux into the boiling stock, whisking briskly so it doesn't lump. Bringto a boil. The mixture should become very thick.

check on puppy again-- he may be chewing on anything from a power cord to the iron leg of a table--find that he has walked across the couch to jake's spot:

In a pyrex measuring cup microwave the half-and-half/milk mixture for two minutes; stir it into the thick corn mixture. Add the nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste.

try to enjoy the chowder with puppy now completely awake and rarin' to go:

fresh baked puppy

2007-09-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

this little guy is feisty.

he likes to shake up his toys.

he pulled out my earring, unbeknownst to me until i found it in his mouth.

he barks and growls while jumping at his reflection in the mirror. the propsect of seeing himself, or that other puppy he thinks it must be, in the mirror motivated him to go inside through the doggie door on his own for the first time.

he likes to snooze on the floor by the couch. we're pretty sure it's because the name of the fabric on our couch is actually named "puppy velvet." smart dog.

what i like best about him, besides his cuteness, is that he sleeps all night long :)

morning dog

2007-09-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

he's here! it's 7 in the morning, and we've been up since 5! he's been soooo good; he slept the whole six hour drive home, slept in his crate all night, only one pee in the house, and only one tiny whine this morning. yay, brophy!

save the turtles

2007-09-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

i hate plastic bags. i don't have enough uses for them and every trip to the store results in what seems like dozens of bags. why must they put only 2 or 3 items in each bag? the worst place is target. they'll put a bar of soap in one bag and a candy bar in another. i ALWAYS ask them to put it all in one bag (they protest because they're "trained" not to put food with cleaning products. are they trained to not do what customers ask? clearly, the answer is yes) or not put stuff in bags at all. my car is 300 yards away. i can carry a rubbermaid container just as easily in my hands as in a bag. one time, a checker tried to convince me to put a measuring cup in a bag instead of a basket i was also purchasing. a basket that is designed to HOLD THINGS AND BE PORTABLE. "really? are you sure you don't want a bag?" is asked with the same level of doubt as, "really? are you sure you want to operate that forklift after those sake bombs and benadryl?" the worst thing is, you're pushing so many buttons on the atm machine (yes 25.45 is ok. yes, i authorized 25.45. no i don't want cash back. yes, 25.45 is still ok. i don't have a problem with 25.45. i'm sure.) that they've already practically removed each cheezit from the box and put them in separate bags before you even realize it.

jake's handiwork. subtitled: isn't domestic life thrilling?

2007-09-20T17:46:00.001-07:00

in an effort to broaden (but not really) the topics explored thus far, i turn it over to jake. last week before he left for atlanta, the sink clogged up. while jake was checking it out, the faucet broke. now, the faucet sucked and was ugly and had a non-essential piece that kept coming off, but i delayed buying a new one as it was "unnecessary". so i believe the delayed gratification gods blessed me with this event. a new faucet, guilt-free! unfortunately, the homeowner gods frowned upon jake, as he spent almost the whole day taking out the old faucet (welded in?) and placing this one in, and repairing the part of the sink that got damaged by his gargantuan efforts to remove the former. but all's well that ends well, and i have a pretty new faucet that really improves the kitchen (in that it's all i see when i walk in, instead of the the not-so-awesome tile and old dingy dishwasher!) plus, the nozzle detaches and has a shower mode! lots of fun!

chicka whata?

2007-09-19T19:37:00.000-07:00

that's what jake asked when i told him the name of the food simmering on the stove. it smelled delicious, looked, eh, and tasted somewhere in between.

it's called chicken tikka masala, and the story goes like this:

...in the 1970s, a plateful of overcooked chicken tikka--boneless, skinless chicken chunks, skewered and cooked in a tandoor oven--was sent back to the kitchen of a London curry house by a disappointed patron. The Bangladeshi chef acted quickly, heating canned tomato soup with cream, sprinkling Indian spices, and pouring it over the chicken before sending it back....diners worldwide (including India) fell in love with the...chicken. It went on to overtake... fish and chips as the "true national dish" of Great Britain. (from cook's illustrated magazine).

so i made this tonight, and it was a lot more time intensive than the recipes i usually follow (my repetiore consists of mainly rachael ray 30 minute meals, supplemented by martha stewart everyday food.) so much so that i completely forgot you're supposed to serve it over rice! i did have some naan (indian flat bread) from trader's, so that took the place of the starch. turns out, i like the chicken--the tikka, if you will--pre-dunking it in the sauce a LOT. more than the dish as a whole...i think i will use that part of the recipe for other chicken dishes, or just eat it plain. yum!

Chicken Tikka Masala

This dish is best when prepared with whole-milk yogurt, but low-fat yogurt can be substituted. For a spicier dish, do not remove the ribs and seeds from the chile. If you prefer, substitute 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper for the garam masala. The sauce can be made ahead, refrigerated for up to 4 days in an airtight container, and gently reheated before adding the hot chicken. Serve with basmati rice.

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Tikka
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon table salt
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts , trimmed of fat
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (see note above)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Masala Sauce
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion , diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 medium garlic cloves , minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 fresh serrano chile , ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced (see note above)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon garam masala (see note above)
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon table salt
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1. FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres. Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.

2. FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.

3. While sauce simmers, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position (about 6 inches from heating element) and heat broiler. Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on wire rack set in foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Broil chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.

4. Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce). Stir in cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt, and serve.

pictured with sauteed spinach with garlic and toated, buttered naan, but sans rice! duh!

my dream is coming true

2007-09-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

to the right of this post is a short list of my dreams. one of them, owning a boston terrier has/will come true. that is, i've paid (a lot) for my new puppy, but i won't possess him until i pick him up in coulterville (near modesto) on sept. 22. so if possession is nine tenths of the law...

anyhoo, he is the most adorable guy ever. i had settled on a name, brophy, but then remembered how cute i think the name henry is, and now i have a dilemma. i may wait until i meet him and see how i feel, how he responds. i'm sure i can research what phonemes dogs respond better too, and as i don't make many decisions with out researching them, i may in fact search for this information.

pictures of my gorgeous puppy can be viewed at
http://www.daybostonterriers.com/pricillaspups2.htm
his kennel name is "adonis"

books can now be located...

2007-09-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

at goodreads.com

be my friend, if you wish :)

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/202170

sex, drugs and cocoa puffs

2007-06-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

ok, another re-read. that way you know it's good. what better endorsement could i give? i will probably read this once a year until circumstances prevent me, such as having children or developing cataracts.

the amazing thing about this author is that he expresses, in these essays about "low culture", what you think or know on some vague level, but expresses it in the most witty, intelligent manner, rendering random, seemingly meaningless parts of my, and people my age's, life into philosophy. i often agreed, outloud, with things expressed in this book. like why i don't like it when people say, "i like everything" when asked what kind of music they like. and how the real world started changing how people conceive of themselves. and how tv doesn't have to be good, it just has to be watchable, as espoused in a chapter about "saved by the bell." i appreciate the honesty in his admission that at a point in his life, he watched all 4 re-runs of saved by the bell that were aired every day. reading this book makes you think (or me think, anyway) for a little while, that i could write a book like that, but in reality, i'm in no way as astute as the author in his observations and theories.

somethings, i was just a little too young for, but was still enjoyed reading about. references to music i wasn't allowed to listen to as a child, for instance. and i never liked star wars, but the connection he makes between the empire strikes back and the concept of generation x is still pretty mind-blowing.

basically, i wish i was friends with chuck klosterman. he "likes everything" (music, sports, bad tv) but he knows why he likes it, and it's not just because it's what's there, or if it is, he has a very entertaining rationalization for it.

Little Children

2007-06-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

This was a re-read (the day before i read prep), as i wasn't feeling to drawn to any of the unread books i have sitting on my shelf. sometimes you just want a sure thing...

i passed by this DVD in blockbuster yesterday and saw that kate winslet is in it. i think kate winslet is amazing, and very pretty, so i couldn't really see her as the barely attractive frizzy haired stay-at-home mom, sarah, i was assuming she portrayed. it made me sure that they had taken liberties with other parts of the story about two suburban marriages, well three, actually, and the bizarre circumstances that break them down.

this book was actually really disturbing in some parts, but overall hilarious and engrossing. the characters were super stereotypical (the "perfect" mom who never forgets snacks, has a to-the-minute schedule, including sex, and talks to her 4 year old about getting into harvard, the meathead cop) but they still seemed like very real people, in the cliche way that stereotypes are based on truth. somehow, it worked. he was making fun of the people in the book, but like the way you make fun of yourself as part of a group.

some of the plotlines were just surreal, too, how matter of factly some characters who would normally be marginalized were portrayed. you would think a child molester placing a personal ad would be a horror story, but when you're reading it, you're like, "of course, what else would he do?" (how would the movie deal with that?)

i enjoyed it just as much the second time i read it, and it's definitely staying in the permanent collection. i don't think i'll see the movie. movies based on books i like are never worth the time.

i got nothing done today

2007-06-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

i was reading prep by curtis sittenfeld. a book about a girl's four years at a private boarding school near boston, i picked it up at a thrift store, where i find most of the books i love (maybe there's less pressure on them to impress me, as i only spent 99 cents on them, as opposed to the $13.95 cover price, so they perform better). i initially saw it on the shelf of a friend whose apartment i recently visited, and discovered she and i are identical book-taste twins (there's gotta be money in that). i think something about its cover led me to believe it was a non-fiction book about the history of "prepiness", which i still probably would have enjoyed, but it fact, it was a wonderful novel, and not just because i saw myself so much in the character, and the similarities between her experience in boarding school and my first years at college (which not contrary to popular belief, was a lot like high school.)

i pretty much took this book to be a fictionalized account of the author's true experience (it seems to be a book trend these days, a la the nanny diaries and the devil wears prada) because of the detail and extreme honesty, and because of the frequent "looking back on it now" realizations that i suppose someone could just invent, but seem to truly grow from acutally having experienced this life, and the events shaping her life and beliefs. however, i have not verified it to be true.

"lee" the main character, verbalized sentiments i've felt since i was pretty young, which are rather awkward to admit, but probably aren't as singular to me as i've always believed. they're ridiculous and self-defeating, but feelings nonetheless, that inform decisions in a stupid way. she talks about always declining invitations because she assumes if the person isn't wildly entheusiastic about her coming, isn't literally pulling on her arm, then they're asking out of obligation, and in truth, her presence would be a nuisance. but then, as she wonders why she wasted her years purposely not having fun, what is so bad about being a nuisance? at least she wouldn't be alone, where she spends time making up fantasies about when people will realize how cool she really is and how much they want to hang out with her. she reassures us that years later, she sheds her insecurity. (thank god for college. i spend a lot of time grateful that i'm not in high school anymore.)

so, i was so into this book that i kept telling myself to save it for italy, so i would be sure to have a book i like to read (the flight is so long, and i plan to spend so much time at the beach in cinque terre, i'm starting to worry about how many books i should bring), but it was futile.