Go green or you're a nazi

I came across this WWII poster. I love the bluntness. I wonder what Hitler's position is on global warming?

Lenten Promise

What are you giving up for Lent?

I love that this tradition never dies. I also love how as we get older, we get creative. My boss is giving up her flat iron. I know someone giving up plastic (water bottles, plastic utensils, etc). I am giving up restaurants.

I am not sure how this is going to work. I really don't eat out that much, but on the weekend, there is some take out and quick restaurant meals. I can't fight my Thai food craving every 2 weeks. When we go out to a nice restaurant, it's ridiculous. Bottles of wines, dessert, nothing we need. I have no self control once I am in the restaurant and someone (who is paying) offers up wine and extras. Instead of trying to control the situation and demonstrate self-restraint when I am out, I am just going to stay out of temptation.

As a planner and scheduler, I have tried to dream up every scenario that I could possibly get into and tried to determine if Jesus would make an allowance. Seriously, as a good Catholic, how can I NOT have fish fry? I think Vatican II made it a mortal sin to skip a fish fry.

My point of giving up restaurants is saving money, saving calories, and not going to restaurants out of boredom and laziness (and of course, sacrificing in preparation for Easter). Chuck and I are very guilty of..."what do you want to do?" "I don't care, what do you want to do?" "Why don't we get Chinese/Dewey's/fill in the blank?" Then 2 beers into our meal, a reasonable dinner has doubled in price. Again, since I can't say no, I am removing myself from the situation.

Best of luck to all of you in your lenten promises, I know I will need it.

The Secret Life of Bees

My bee-keeping class was great. The crowd was a little different than I expected: more farmers than hippies. I learned so much. It was definitely worth while to go. Now, I have to make a decision: to keep or not to keep. I have to make a decision by March 16th in order to get my bee order in for the season.


The pros: It is fairly low maintenance. Yes, I have to check the bees every 10-14 days, but I shouldn't be in the hive for more than 15 minutes at a time. I will be helping the Earth. Maybe my neighbor's dog will stop barking if he is stung enough times.


The cons: It is kind of expensive. It's not the price of a car, but I was expecting a couple of hundred of dollars and be done with it. Not exactly. People may stop coming to my house because of the bees and my neighbors may be a wee bit upset with me. Then there are the odd things like cutting my lawn in my bee suit. Will my neighbors need to borrow the bee suit to cut their lawn too? Every hive should potentially produce 5 gallons of honey per year. What am I going to do with all that honey?

I looked online for used equipment, but had no luck. The drawback with used equipment is that typically people sell equipment after their hive dies and they don't want to start over. Why does the hive die? Typically some sort of disease and they disease can linger on the equipment. I may buy tainted equipment, and then end up buying new stuff later.

My solution right now is to apply for a grant. If I receive the grant to have bees, my answer is clear. If I don't receive the grant, I will try again next year.

Annie Gunn's Mac N Cheese

This is from Sauce Magazine. You can find the recipe on their website too. I just copied and pasted the recipe from the website, so forgive any spelling errors. www.saucemagazine.com

INGREDIENTS
2 cups fonduta cream (recipe follows)½ lb. macaroni, penne or bow tie pasta¼ cup Riesling½ cup heavy cream12 oz. lobster meat2 Tbsp. unsalted butterBread crumbs
PREPARATION
• Prepare the fonduta cream.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

In a 2-quart sauce pot, combine 2 cups fonduta cream, the Riesling and the heavy cream and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat (be careful to not scorch).

Add the lobster meat and simmer for 1 minute or until the lobster is heated through; remove from the heat.

Swirl in the butter and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Stir in the cooked pasta.

Transfer the warm ingredients to a casserole dish.

Top with the bread crumbs and broil until browned.

Fonduta Cream

½ cup minced white onion

4 Tbsp. (½ stick) butter

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 cup Riesling

½ cup 40 percent whipping cream

1½ cups whole milk

¾ lb. Fontina Val d'Aosta (or any Fontina or Gruyère cheese), grated

Pinch mace or fresh nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onion in the butter until softened.

Stir in the flour and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.

Add Riesling and whisk to combine.

Add the whipping cream and whole milk and bring to a simmer.

Add the cheese, whisking until melted.

Season to taste with mace or nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Bodily Fluid Dinner Club (BFDC)

My dinner on Thursday was ok. We went to Pho Grand (yum!). The fluid talk seemed minimal, but it is flu season. We all know what happens when you have the stomach flu. We don't need a play by play. I understand this is your life, but why is bathroom talk appropriate when it comes to your children? You would NEVER talk about your intestinal problems at the dinner table (Tara, you speak of them, but it is in general terms, not a specific incident from earlier that day, it is gross, but a little better that the other option). All I can say is that mothers fascinate me.

We did move on from birthing and nursing and had more talks about children in general. A conversation I can participate in is coming. If I hold out through a couple of more dinners, I think I can actually be able to engage in a dialogue with another person.

Until they read my blog and kick me out. This is a great group of intelligent, non-convential thinking women. I am very excited to know them. I really can't wait until a year from now I can tell them about my first impression of them.

What I am grateful for in the BFDC: there is no talk about what happened on American Idol. They are fashionable and trendy moms. They pick good places to eat. They are all socially responsible conscious-living people.

Hodge Podge

Nothing is really going on right now. I am right in the middle of hibernation. So here is a brief synopsis of everything:

Green Tip: The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons a month. Think of the money you will save!

Last weekend: Friday night, I made Annie Gunn's Lobster Mac N Cheese. Chuck and I enjoyed lots of good wine and some very decadent chocolate cake. MMMMMMM. Saturday I had a great day at the mall using all my old gift cards. Saturday night was dinner at the parents for Jeremy's birthday.

This week I have the bodily fluid dinner club and Saturday I have a bee-keeping class. I am very excited about both. First, to see if I can take back the conversations or just sit back and see how far they will go. I haven't decided which I will do, probably depends on my mood. The bee-keeping class is an all day class at Maritz. I am very interested to see what they will say, how expensive it is, and how much maintenance keeping 3,000 pets actually involves. I am not looking to go into the honey-selling business, I just want to get more bees on this Earth. I can't wait to buy my bee suit. Then I can pretend that I am Michael J Fox in "Back to the Future." Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told me if I didn't take Lorraine out that he would melt my brain.

And for the rest of you that may not know...George called and he needs me on the 10th. That's right, March 10th I will be on set with Clooney (hopefully). I get details of times, place, ad wardrobe the week before. Just in case, I am perfecting the line, "these pretzels are making me thirsty." (Seinfeld quote, don't take it seriously).

I watched 'The Duchess' and 'Vicky Christina Barcelona' this weekend. Both good. Penelope Cruz was nominated for best supporting actress. It is deserving, but the reviews I read seemed surprised how much Cruz out shined the whole cast. Yes, the rest of the cast lacked passion and Cruz had it, but I think she is a great actor. She always shines for me. 'Woman On Top' rent it, it's a great movie. I felt there was something lacking in 'The Duchess.' Maybe it's just me, but I feel like every movie I have watched lately does not give me enough to empathize with a character before jumping into their issues, and I can't ride along in their journey. I am just left watching it, feeling like the characters are heartless, stupid or lacking some sort of emotional core. The Oscars are Sunday. I can't wait to see who wins and what everyone wears.

Aquarians Rule

Happy Birthday Grandma. She celebrates her birthday today on Friday February 13th. Thank you for my love of reading and talk radio.

Happy Birthday Mr. Lincoln. We all need to celebrate by visiting the Lincoln Museum in Springfield then toasting him over a horseshoe and a pint from Darcy's. MMMMMM

Happy Brithday Charles Darwin. We can celebrate by turning off American Idol and evolving.

Happy Birthday to my brother Jeremy on the 17th. Thanks for everything you do and you do a lot for me, the family (so then I don't have to do it), etc. etc. Once Luke is potty trained, I will baby-sit all the time.

Welcom to the world Delaney (February 4th). I am sure you will be as cute as your sister, just don't cry when you see my boyfriend.

Welcome to the world Jersey (February 6th). I can't wait to see you perform in your first rock band.

Welcome to the world Jill's kid. You had the same due date as the other two so I am sure you have birthed. Just waiting to hear....

The picture is from Cake Wrecks, the best blog out there. Who knew there were so many bad cakes in the world?!

Saturday Night At the Movies

Last Saturday Chuck and I went to see the oscar nominated animated shorts at the Tivoli. I wanted to see the live action ones too, but saving the world got in the way and I didn't want to give up dinner reservations to see the late showing. I love the nominated shorts. It's something different, easy and I seem more qualified to watch the Oscars.

We get to watch the last of the live action nominations because we arrive early as required to see a movie with Anna. The last live-action short was pretty good (I am not going to lie, sometimes they really drag on). After seeing the last live action short, I was really pumped to see the animated ones.

We settle in and start watching. It's a little bit unusual. Lots of small off-color shorts in between some mediocre longer ones. (The crotch-biting slooth? Yes, it's exactly what you think it is) I also see references to MTV productions in many of the credits. Which is interesting, with the giant pool of award-winning filmmakers, MTV doesn't seem like the go-to choice, but I am not educated enough on my film production companies to really make a call.

We walk out of the Tiv and head to Araka for drinks. We are a little bit confused because we couldn't figure out what exactly were the nominated films. I heard they were adding in extra shorts this year, which was going to make it more confusing than just watching a simple 5 films. We narrowed it down to 7 possibilities based on length, not film-making. We let the conversation drop there because we were just confused.

On Sunday I looked up the nominees to so I could make my educated guess on the winner. I pull up the page, and I am staring at strangers. Out of the 5 nominated shorts, I saw one the night before. I didn't see 'Lavatory-Lovestory.' There was no "Octopodi." I stare at the list of nominees dumbfounded. What is this? I am a little miffed, but more confused.

I dial the Tivoli and explain the situation. Out of 10 shorts I was suppose to see last night (5 noms, 5 "good ones"), I only saw two (This Way Up and John and Karen). The woman at the Tivoli was very understanding yet very confused. She said she would have to call me back.

I receive a phone call back. They played the wrong reel. I was a little relieved and a little disappointed. I am getting free passes to another movie so no harm done. I have been looking online and it rumor has it, you can watch all the shorts on YouTube after the 17th. You all may want to wait until then.

Other than my nominated shorts investigation, Friday night, the girls went to Pi and had pizza and PBR (this is how bad the economy is getting, I am drinking PBR). Saturday, had a recycling event at UMSL and Sunday, mmmmm, birthday dinner at my parents. We has cornflake potatoes, homemade applesauce, corned beef, and an all fudge icing cookie cake from The Cookie Company. Good stuff.

The picture is of 'Madame Tutli Putli,' a nominated film from last year. Last year when I saw it, I actually teared up. It go robbed of the statue.

Vindication?

They just announced that there will be a sequel to Sex and the City. My reaction is mixed. Michael Patrick King did such a lousy job with the last one, I was left with a very bad taste in my mouth. Maybe this is to right the wrongs.

Maybe Carrie and Big will divorce. I know this upsets people, but I am of the mind that Carrie deserves a happy healthy relationship with an emotionally-mature man that respects her. Call me crazy for wanting what is best. The show spent the whole time discussing that men weren't worth their time and then she ends up with the biggest slimeball of them all? This show was suppose to empower women, not tell them to settle for jerks. HE LEFT HE AT THE ALTAR. I am sorry, but that is a deal breaker for me. But again, I want mutual respect and a healthy relationship, maybe I am in the wrong.

The essence of the show was not needing men, not settling, and making mistakes and learning. Until the last episode and the movie, the writers completely respected this idea. Then they must have hired Nicholas Sparks because it turns into "love conquers all" story. You know what? Love DOESN'T conquer all. Love can't fight credit card bills, drinking, bad behavior and overall bad people. Respect conquers all. If you have the mutual respect you can see each other through a lot. You have respect to help each other and grow the relationship. You can love all you want but the the immature selfish man will never blossom into a the mature adult he should be.

Michale Patrick King, thank you for taking a positive feminine viewpoint and turning it into a disgusting fairytale. This is your chance, make it right.

A ray of hope

I try to stay out of politics. All politicians are dirty and greedy and it's about voting for the lesser of two evils. Here is a small ray of sunshine that made me momentarily forget what politicians typically do: Clarie McCaskill from MO is sponsoring a bill that limits the compensation that can be received by CEO's that have received bailout money. She even called these people "idiots." It burns me that hard-working people are losing their jobs while they are spending money on corporate jets. We are all in a crises, I think $400,000 will do you fine for now.

She's not perfect, I know, but but it's still nice to see.

Oy yeah, and Blogovehich is gone. That's another step in the right directon.

Birthday

It is not referred to as my birthday, it is now referred to as, "ipod anniversary." Yes, I am obsessed.

Friday night I went and saw "The Reader" with Kim. Good movie. Lots of nakedness. Not sexual, just naked. It was a good movie, raises questions. I like questions.

Saturday morning we loaded up the car and drove to Chicago. We checked in, watched UK basketball, had a beer, went to church, went to dinner and went to sleep. It was exhausting. I am also on some sort or steroid that is making me crazy so that really didn't help the tiredness.

Sunday we got up, went to breakfast. It was a cute little diner that gives the ladies Milk Duds when you sit down at your table and gives you ice cream at the end of breakfast (for the men and women). Quirky. I like it. It is also where Bush eats when he is in town visiting Daley.

After breakfast, we checked out of the W and started home. Very quick trip. We did make a stop at Ikea. Great place. I will go back again. It made me want to move so that I could buy new things.

Monday. I was greeted at work with two dozen roses (wow, I was impressed) and my desk decked out in Back To The Future pics. My department decked out in puffy vests for the entire day in honor of the movie. It was awesome. (By the way, a guy at my work actually owns a Delorean, since I have found this out, I am obsessed with having some sort of "Enchantment Under The Sea Dance" in honor of it, also, he weirdly resembles Christopher Lloyd). I went to The Crossing for dinner with my mom (highly recommend it) and then was home for How I Met Your Mother. Good day.