Is the week over? Random Randomness.
1. I’m ready for the week to be over. Because I’m over it. Too sleepy to go into the office but unwilling to miss lunch with Instigator to hear about her horrible business trip.
2. Dinner was very fun last night, despite the hole where a Plush should have been; she is under the weather. We started with red wine, bread, cheeses, fresh berries, and olives. It was a simple meal – bacon wrapped filets with rustic mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus. The most successful dish was probably the salad. Spring greens, yellow heirloom tomato, candied walnuts (which I candied the day prior), sliced dates, and goat cheese. The dressing was inspired by The Ballerina, who likes pear martinis. It was a pear infused white balsamic whisked with extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper. I stirred, she dipped spoons and tasted. The hit of the night was The Ballerina’s peach pie which we all ate with ice cream while sipping a Moscato d’Asti. The food was a good excuse to get together and laugh.
3. What the hell is up with the weather in Chicago? With the windchill today, it is below freezing down here by the lake.
4. Anyone hear how many of those teenagers who were taken from that compound in Texas were pregnant? Of the 53 girls aged 14-17, 31 of them have been pregnant. Jesus. And world is broiling over Hanna Montana showing skin at age 15. Just wait until she gets pregnant. Oh wait, that’s right…that’s Jamie Lynn Spears. Thank you, Today Show, you are most informative.
5. I think I’m going to compliment a stranger today. I feel slightly odd but I think that if I think something nice/good about someone, I’m going to tell them, even if I don’t know them. We’ll see how this goes over. This is the kind of stupid thing I decide to commit to that ends in disaster, or at least with a funny look from Instigator as I try to explain my reasoning. Like the time I decided to go an entire weekend without speaking. My own idiocy keeps me entertained.
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Just a random attorney writing about daily life with Little Filthy, my rotten dog.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:30 am
2. That salad sounds sooo good. I make a mean mixed salad so whenever I eat salad at other people’s houses I’m usually dissapointed, but this one sounds like it would get me past my salad snobbery.
4. I’m reading a book about these polygamy peeps and their dillusional.
5. I always compliment strangers. I’m cool like that and I enjoy the confused look on their face when they realize I’m talking to them. I love doing it to all the uptight people at my work to make them uncomfortable hehe >:o)
April 29th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Just when I think I’m a bit of a foodie, you post something like this and TOTALLY blow me out of the water. Wow. Dinner sounds amazing.
I’ve got a bone to pick with you though – haven’t seen any blog love coming my way – no comments anymore – I’m just not one of the cool kids I guess *sniff*
April 29th, 2008 at 9:48 am
1. Sadly, my week STARTS tonight. Tuesdays are my Mondays. Ugh. It’s very hard to get up and go waitress now…
2. So, I’m assuming that you did filets because you sent me the monkfish, right? haha. What does rustic mashed mean? Does it mean they were red potatoes with skin left on and in the mashed? I like those. Haha. The salad sounds phenomenal. I like me some goat cheese.
3. Weather in Boston isn’t any better (like how I actually can say that now?!). We’ve been rainy and cold the last 2 days. In fact, it rained when we moved me on Sunday. nice, huh?
4. I always wonder how people find themselves in these cults. How does one completely throw away all of their prior beliefs and then believe the bullshit these people spout. Is it not nice to call it bullshit? ugh. As for Miley… I think the media WANTS it to be a bigger deal than it is.
5. You definitely do come up with these strange personal challenges once in a while. I like to compliment women who are being bitchy at my tables just to throw them off. It’s fantastic. But I am sure Instigator will give you enough strange looks to make the challenge fun and like a game. How many strangers can you compliment in one day? Make that the game!!
April 29th, 2008 at 10:09 am
don’t worry, your idiocy keeps us entertained as well.
mmm moscato d’asti. gotta say, better than the trader joe’s finest i was sipping last night. i wish i had moscato to go with my lunch.
April 29th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Snarky– Based on what I can tell from the book I’m reading, they are mostly born into it (or some similar f*ed up religion) and don’t know any other way. They actually believe all that bullshit (I don’t care if it’s not nice) and are totally brainwashed. It really sucks to be them. They make being Catholic seem like a snap hehe.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I am ultra, ultra sad that I missed the dinner last night. But trust me when I say that the Plush-sized hole was a much safer bet than my actual presence. “Under the weather” is about the most polite description of how awful I was yesterday. Ick. Ick ick ick.
On an up note, I highly recommend complimenting strangers. I do it whenever I find myself getting just too cranky to manage, and find that it invariably makes both me and the random stranger smile.
At least until the asshole behind us in line at the bank decides to start screaming obscenities.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
2. Email me the how to’s (recipe…whatevah) for your dressing pwetty pwetty pweese! I need something new to try. We eat salad pretty much every dinner and I’m always in need of a little variety.
Also…wtf… did you actually candy your own walnuts? I’m impressed. It’s the kind of thing I would buy – but have no clue how to actually do it myself.
2. You shall get no sympathy from me. I live in Seattle. Our weather is about as wacky as you can get. In one day we actually had sun, rain, hail the size of gumballs, followed up by some nice slushy snow…only to melt and get nice and sunny again.
3. Brainwashing…that’s all I can say. When you don’t know anything else you think your life is nomal. Also – it’s not like they have T.V. or any kind of education, they don’t know that the rest of the world thinks they are whack-a-doodle. They don’t know they have options. Think how scary the world outside of their known universe must be. My heart just bleeds for these girls, all of a sudden you find out that your whole way of life is seen by the rest of the world to be perverted? How confusing is that? Are they the freaks, or are we? They have to be thinking that. They need a lot of help, and understanding, not condemnation – and I’m afraid they’ll get far less of the first and too much of the latter.
5. I like to just start talking to random people. It’s funny because people don’t know if you’re A. Crazy B. Lonely or C. Friendly
People these days just don’t make small talk with strangers…I have no idea why. Last week in the grocery store I say to my toddler, “very nice choice my love” (She’s picking out apples) and the guy next to me says, “Are you talking to me?” and looks all offended and confused. I reply with, “no… my toddler. I usually reserve pet names for people who’ve at least bought me a cup of coffee.” and I smiled at him.
He looked at me like I was crazy and rushed off like I was a stalker. LMAO. See… tease someone a little – try to make small talk and they think you’re a psycho.
Maybe the poor little bald guy was offended I wasn’t talking to him – I doubt it though. He had an air of anti-socialism. Those are the ones I love to talk to the most, just because I can. Heh..I’m doing them a favor really – they should increase their social skills
April 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
You wrote “Of the 53 girls aged 14-17, 31 of them have been pregnant. Jesus.”
Right about now…if I were an Islamic extremist and you’d written Allah as a swear word, I would be publicly vying for your blood with a legion of supporters. Wanting to behead you.
TOTALLY PISSES ME OFF WHEN PEOPLE USE JESUS AS A FUCKEN SWEAR WORD!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
There are others you can use, you know!
Shit, read my blog if you want examples!!
April 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
MissMegs – I didn’t realize there was such a thing as salad snobbery! But now I have a goal, with respect to salads. I must pass your salad snob level.
Are you reading Under the Banner of Heaven? That’s the one I read. Absolutely nuts.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Bev –
I think you’ve made far more elaborate meals! How’d your short ribs turn out? I do owe you some blog love. To my credit – you got some Amazon love today!
April 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
SnarkyRunner –
2. I did filets because Whole Foods had no monkfish. Which means I could not fly your entree to you. Which means I did not get to enjoy the finery of you walking around not in a leggy dress. BOO!
Rustic Mashed – I used small yukon golds because they have more moisture and tend to be creamier. That’s to cut down on butter/cream in them. I did add a small amount of butter and half & half, chopped fresh parsley, salt and pepper and half-assed mashed them with a wooden spoon so there were still large pieces of potato in it.
3. Rain while moving = teh suck.
5. I failed in my personal challenge today. I hate to admit this but I think I’m ill. I forgot about complimenting a stranger.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Vittoria – My idiocy is here to serve you.
You really missed out on the pie. That was the best part. But the Moscato was nice, too.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Plush – You were missed. I hope you’re feeling better, hon.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Tiffany –
The salad dressing was truly as simple as it sounds. I found a pear infused white balsamic vinegar at Whole Foods for like…$3.50. I poured some in a bowl, added a dash of sea salt and some white pepper. Then I drizzled in olive oil while whisking. Tasted it every so often until it tasted right to me.
Yeah, I candied the walnuts myself. It *sounds* difficult but it is very simple. 1 cup of walnuts, 1/2 cup of sugar, dash of salt.
Put the sugar and salt into a frying pan (I did not use non-stick). Put on low heat. The sugar will begin to melt and caramelize. Once fully melted, it’s a nice goldten to nutty brown color – dump in walnuts. Stir. Dump on parchment paper and quickly pull apart with forks. The sugar hardens very quickly so I had to break some of it apart with my hands after it had cooled. That’s it to candied walnuts.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Cara,
I’ll probably do it again so consider yourself warned.
-R.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Thanks for warning me in advance. It might make me spare your life next time.
-C.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Well, you certainly didn’t spare me much – calling me a pompous twat.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I’m with Tiffany. I’d still buy the candied walnuts. Parchment paper – is that your fancy ass lingo for ‘wax paper’?? Or something else. It still sounds like too much effort. Maybe I’d feel different if you made them for me *sniff*.
I too feel sorry for those girls caught in the cult. Hopefully the little ones will be put into nice foster homes where you can watch tv and wear shorts in the summer and shit. I also feel bad for the young men – seen the tv spots on them? They are cast aside and expelled from the cult for the slightest infraction because if every man needs 3+ wives, then you have to seriously pare down the men. Then they have no coping mechanisms on the outside. Sad all the way around.
April 29th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
I feel I have nothing to say. You put my cooking skills to shame! Let me get back to my pot of boiling water…
April 29th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
You are certainly forgiven for the lack of blog love because you sent me FOOD PORN! I’m going to dig into it tomorrow.
You also have food porn coming your way
April 29th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
2. What a splendid way to spend a Monday evening. The food sounded perfect. I, too, am in awe of you candying your own walnuts. It may not have been difficult, but your organization is impressive.
“half-assed mashed” – that’s how I’m making my potatoes from now on.
April 29th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
1. Check. I’m there with you! Ready for the weekend. The past two weeks have been “one of those weeks”
2. Oh yum! My wife also kicked some major arse this weekend with braised short ribs with a red wine reduction mole sauce. Eating her incredible nummies and reading about your yummies makes me… hungry
Hehe! It sounds great! I hope you’ll cook us some monkfish while you’re out here!
3. Seriously. That’s how it was last week. It went from an 80 degree weekend to snow and sleet the next few days. Thanks Global Warming!
4. I’ve been blown away by this. Have you read Under the Banner of Heaven? If not it’s a chilling look into the FLDS and the events that are going on right now. http://www.amazon.com/Under-Banner-Heaven-Story-Violent/dp/1400032806/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209526507&sr=8-1
5. Hehe, now I’m intrigued. How did it go!?
April 29th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Cara – You know, if you’re so offended by someone using specific words I have a suggestion (in list format for RE’s benefit):
1. Push the power button on your computer
2. Sell your computer on eBay
3. Never use the internet ever again
My point being you can’t tell others what to think or how to speak. I’m sorry, but that’s not how it works.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Instigator – Parchment paper doesn’t have wax on it. If you use wax paper, the wax will get melt into your nuts – not good.
I hadn’t even thought of the young men in the cult but that makes perfect sense. The whole thing is sad. Though, I’m sort of curious…I wonder what you’d look like with that haircut all the women are sporting. You know – the “compound cut”.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Brenda – What’d you eat for dinner?
April 30th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Bev – we love pron. PRON PRON PRON.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Angie – It’s funny to me to hear people get excited about the walnuts because it was the same story at dinner. The walnuts won the day. Next dinner party, I may just candy the entire meal.
*laugh* Glad you liked the “half-assed mashed” description.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Lynchseattle –
I read Under the Banner of Heaven, too! I remember that I kept putting the book down and telling Boss stuff and each time thinking that it couldn’t get any nuttier.
As for complimenting a stranger…I didn’t do it. By the end of the day, it was clear I was coming down with a bad cold and so I was comatose. I’ll have to try again tomorrow.
April 30th, 2008 at 5:50 am
I’m reading Escape, by Carolyn Jessop… its so weird. But I wanna read Under the Banner of Heaven now hearing all this craziness about it.
Maybe once I finish all the Harry Potters hehe.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:39 am
No not yet
( I had a couple glasses of chardonnay (eh) at my grandparents house last night but I’ve been more in the mood for something dry and red. One of these days.
April 30th, 2008 at 6:42 am
Ugh replied to a comment from a different post
April 30th, 2008 at 6:47 am
MissMegs – Ahh, okay, I did see that you were reading that book. Ohh, that’s the woman who has been on the Today Show! I’ve seen her – that didn’t click before in my head. Yeah, I bet you’re hearing all kinds of crazy stuff, too – similar to Under the Banner of Heaven.
April 30th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
That cult thing is SICK …and hence why I despise organized religion. Sorry if I just insulted anyone … just can’t stand religion. YUCK!
April 30th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
MsSingleMama – AMEN. You sure as hell didn’t insult me.