Hey thanks, you too.

Moving...

2011-11-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

I'm shifting this blog to tumblr. I've seen some really nice tumblr sites lately. I like their user interface a lot more, and it's very mobile friendly. I found a pretty simple blogger>tumblr importer so have moved everything over. I've only found one glitch in the import, but it's not bothering me enough to fix it. I'll delete my blogger blog soon probably. I'm hoping this will change the way I post things and actually allow me to post more.

Yesterday I was thinking about how cool it would be if the internet disappeared and we were forced to be fully human again. I was probably listening to this song.

But really, I love you internet.

More fun to come. http://heythanksyoutoo.tumblr.com/

Crackling With Static

2011-11-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Light paintings, Brian Hart.

Days Move Faster When Nightlife Is Involved

2011-10-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

This is one of the weirdest times in my life. I'm having some really strange dreams. I'm getting older. I feel kind of like this at times--like nothing can harm me. I've got emails to write, paintings to finish, books half finished. Oddly, I'm insanely happy at the same time. Sometimes. Sort of. Just trust me, it's all good.

I really liked this song until after I downloaded I saw that it came from the Twilight soundtrack. I'll throw in the second song to make up for it.

A Period of Silence and Ill Will

2011-10-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

BAM! Just like those orange leaves I'm back. After a month+ hiatus here we are. Things are different, things are new. The season is changing. I wait all year for the leaves to change in Portland. We're not quite to the good stuff yet, but I knew it was coming today when I saw these leaves while walking through PSU on my way home from class.

So yeah, SCHOOL. I've gone back to school to take some classes a few times since graduating college, but this is the first time I really didn't want to leave my job. ...And I haven't fully left it either. It's different. It's not bad, it's not awesome. It's okay though. Week three is over and I think I'm settling in a bit. I know what I need to read and what I don't. I know the teachers' personalities and how they're going to test. I'm comfortable.

I'm still running. <6 miles right now, never two days in a row. So far no pain with running, but I did have one day that from the minute I woke up to the minute I went to sleep my hip was bugging me more than I thought acceptable. But that was just one day so we're going to just forget about that. I'm trying to fit in two spinning classes a week and three runs. The spinning classes were going well, but then got put on the back burner when school started. Hopefully my schedule will even out a bit and I can start adding them in again.

In other news... the movie Drive was fantastic. Way better than I expected, but I don't know what I expected, really. I had seen the trailer long before the movie, so didn't remember it at all. I suggest not watching the trailer before seeing it, because I think it kind of ruins it. I can see how some people might not like the movie based on their expectations going in. I really like the loner aesthetic, the sexiness of a movie without any sex in it, and the ending. Oh, the music! I'm not an 80's music fanatic or anything, but the 80's style songs are so good. Here you go...

When She Was Suddenly Seized, Magically, with the Urge to Paint a Picture of a Cowboy in Sixteen Colors.

2011-09-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

It was once around 8:00 at night, and I was overcome with the urge to paint these geometrical color gradients on some canvases I'd made. I needed paint and told my dad and someone he didn't even question this urgent need, and drove me to the art store.

I get these spontaneous urges to do things. Sometimes they're new ideas, sometimes they're ideas I've had for a while, but that have never been fully imagined in their completed state in my mind--thus never being fulfilled. But when the urge strikes, it's like I instantly know how to do the entire task--start to finish--and exactly what it will look like in the end.

Such an urge struck today at around 2:30 when Justin called to let me know he was on his way home and would be home around 6:00. "I am going to take out the sliding shower door." I HATE sliding shower doors. They are disgusting and ugly. Well, except for those amazing glass walk-in showers you see in fancy houses that can fit, like, nine people--those are sweet. Anyway, I've hated this thing since we moved into our apartment over two years ago. It was actually way easier to do than I expected. I'd say the hardest thing was that I chose to do it in the peak afternoon hour of 90 degree heat. A trip to the store, a few screws, some prying, lifting, moving, a ton of scrapping and cleaning, a bit of caulking, and just under two hours after the urge struck... I have a new, door-less, curtained shower. Luckily, the tub and tiles were in really good shape underneath, so it looks 12,466,703 times better than it did before. We also have a really small bathroom, so I think it opens it up a bit.

I was going to write a story to go along with this comic, but I just can't seem to word it right...

Perhaps Too Many Times I Find Myself Looking at The Snapped Spine of a Lemon Wedge at the Bottom of a Glass.

2011-09-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

In the process of downloading the new album... anxiously awaiting, revisiting some classics.

Each Time You Read It You Know A Little Less About Me

2011-08-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

Yeah Google, I KNOW. I need to listen to more upbeat music.

And the other song from the trailer... It makes me want to drive through California, down I-5, with the sunroof open.

I got a bow.

Dear Person,

2011-08-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

What's the best way to start a Saturday? With a cheesy croissant that looks like a Dutch clog and is bigger than my hand.

I dragged Justin to see The Future last night. He said he wanted to go, but he hated the movie. Of course I thought it was the best movie I've seen in a long time. I honestly loved pretty much everything about it. And I cried during all the Paw Paw scenes. BUT I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. I lied when I said I dragged Justin there, I actually suggested I see it by myself because I had a feeling it wouldn't be his cup of tea. I will only recommend certain people see it. The rest of you can continue life as usual. Perhaps you should just take this simple test to see if it's for you.

My next anxious anticipation is Bellflower. It looks like it's gonna be goooood. The cameras used to shoot the movie were actually handmade just for the film. Neat?!

OMG

2011-08-11T21:37:00.001-07:00

The slideshow on American Apparel's shop page is out of control. That's all I'm gonna say.

A Dinner of Microwaved Fake-Meat Chicken Nuggets

2011-08-11T21:17:00.000-07:00

An evening spent listening to music, painting, and baking cookies is an evening well spent.

People Are Getting Lazy

2011-08-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Saw them in concert some time back.... Total douchebags. Still love some songs though.

I Am Ridiculously White

2011-08-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

The first concert I ever went to was when my dad took me to see Weird Al Yankovic. He also took me to a Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz laser show as a child.

The first real concert I ever went to was Dropkick Murphy's with two guys from high school when I was 16. I still can't believe my parents ever let me go... but I don't think they really knew exactly what I was going to anyway. I probably told them it was celtic music.

I relived a bit of high school on my iTunes today. I'm really glad I saw so much live music in high school, even if it was crazy. I appreciate those times the same way I'm glad I gained appreciation for and saw Bob Dylan and Tom Petty while I was in college. Some of my weirdest and best memories are from concerts.

...You know you wish you were there.

Nice.

Still one of my favorite running songs.

I like that this video is only from a couple years ago. Wow. I can still remember singing this super loud in my car.

Paragraphs.

2011-08-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

I just put $650 worth of textbooks on my credit card. I never use my credit card.

As soon as I opened the mailbox and saw the textbook list I raced to Amazon.com to get the cheap used ones before everyone else did.

I drank a drink and listened to rap to get me through it.

This is only the books for term one. Granted, some of them will be used for more than one term. Thank GOD.

When I was an undergrad I would boycott books altogether. Yeah, I was AWESOME. Fuck books! No seriously, I just decided not to buy them. But you know what?? I was RIGHT! We never used those stupid things.

Then again, being an art major RULED. But we still had books, people...

Somehow I've become a totally different person. Yet so the same.

At Once I Knew

2011-08-03T11:23:00.000-07:00

The newest Bon Iver album was recently recommended to me. I actually didn't really think I liked Bon Iver, but this album is good. Justin happened to see that he's playing the Edgefield Concerts on the Lawn this summer. And guess what?! When I checked the website, THERE ARE STILL ROOMS AVAILABLE that night! Obviously this is some kind of sign seeing as how whenever there's something I want to go to there, there are NEVER ROOMS. So I reserved the room and bought the tickets. End of September.

Amalfi Calamari Pasta

2011-08-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

You know why I don't post more recipes? Because I refuse to post without a photo and I often start eating before I think of taking a photo. I did that with this meal, but you can't tell because the answer to this problem is... close up! I got this recipe from Bon Appetit's website, which is so aesthetically pleasing... I mean how fun is this article/art?!

Amalfi Calamari Pasta

Serves 2

3/4 cup flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 pound cleaned squid bodies only, cut crosswise into 1/4-1/2 inch thick rings

1 cup olive oil

1 cup canola oil

1/2 pound spaghetti

2 tablespoons unsalted butter (I used black truffle butter because I LOVE IT)

2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons heavy cream

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Parmesan cheese

-In a small bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, salt, baking powder, cayenne, and garlic powder.

-Place the squid rings in the flour mixture and toss to coat.

-Heat the olive and canola oil in a small saucepan. Test the temperature by tossing a squid ring in--it should bubble like crazy. Place rings one at a time into the oil, about 20 at a time. Cook until the bubble settles down significantly, about 2 minutes. Remove and place on paper towels.

-Cook the pasta in well salted water. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water and drain. Return to pot.

-Add butter and lemon juice. Mix until butter is melted. Add Cream and a bit of pasta water. Add more pasta water to get the consistency you like. Add the parsley and toss.

-Split pasta between two bowls and top with calamari rings. Grate some parmesan cheese on top.

Always Be A Batman

2011-07-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

My week is finally OVAAAAAAAA! It's just been a weird week. Stress and stuff and stress. I need Thursday night pizza. And wine. Discovered imgur today. Plenty of awesome to waste your time with.

Nice.

2011-07-27T17:03:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I Had A Chain Wallet

2011-07-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

As ridiculous as it may be, I love this picture. Thank you for being the person I can never live without. ...And I don't throw that around lightly. anything.

On The Strength of This Coincidence

2011-07-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

Ever since the thunder woke, and continued to wake me up last night, I've felt like this video. A series of fast and slow motion movements in shades of gray--and not really 100% sure of any of it. How depressing is that?!
In other news: This guy moved out of our building (thank God, I always swore he was on steroids) and I went in today to make sure the cleaners/painters had been by... So I don't know HOW I missed this when I went in before but APPARENTLY this DUDE thought it would be a great idea to write grocery lists, in Sparpie, DIRECTLY ON HIS FRIDGE. I should have taken a picture of his grocery list before I miraculously managed to clean it, but it included (among other things): neosporin, toilet paper, water, and progesterone. Yes, I found that interesting as well. I also found a small vial on the floor containing a holistic medication for helping to heal surgical wounds.
Pet Peeve #39: WEIRD DUDES.

I Know There's a Moral to This Story But I Don't Know What It Is.

2011-07-22T17:00:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Conversation In The Whole World

2011-07-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

Vacations are awesome for a multitude of reasons. Duh. But I particularly like how much they make you appreciate your home. It is so good to be back in Portland. It is so good to not have to worry about getting sunburned. I currently look like I have some weird disease on my legs due to the sun. But wait! The most awesome part is that it's only on FRONT of my legs, and it's seriously like black and white... well, brown and white. Good think I live in Portland and it won't be weird to wear pants for a month.

Here are the five magical pictures I managed to get while on vacation...

This and the one at the top were taken at my favorite Tahoe restaurant, Garwoods, in Carnelian Bay, CA. Justin's mom kept trying to take pictures and I quickly realized that the camera does a double flash, so if you time it right, you can get someone really frustrated filling up their memory card with gems like these.

The meal I've been craving for around seven years, at Sierra Nevada Brewing in Chico.

One of many cute frogs in my parent's backyard.

A sign on a coin counting machine in a Safeway.

Sweet phone skills, I know.

Sunday Song: Never Shook My Shadow

2011-07-17T23:05:00.001-07:00

Sunday Song

2011-07-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I hear a song and think, I love this song and I will never hear a song quite like this ever again. Well that idea just got blown out of the water when I heard Bon Iver's cover of "I Can't Make You Love Me". It parallels Jeff Buckley's "Forget Her"--to some extent--for me. It's the first thing I thought of when I heard it. Honestly, this Jeff Buckley song will forever be one of the most (if not the most) tragic love songs I've heard. God I love it. It just breaks my heart every time I hear it. And, I mean Jeff Buckley, and that hair... you really can't top that.

Ok, I might be wearing out my welcome with this now, but I have to include this. Elvis Costello's "I Want You". Maybe the sexiest tragic love song ever. As with Buckley's, it progresses into something more intense as the song goes on. Like first they're telling the story and then they're actually letting the feeling get the better of them. So good. (Sorry, can't find a decent video.)

Her Laughter Was a Question He Wanted to Spend His Whole Life Answering

2011-06-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been busy. This week Justin and I did a spontaneous apartment renovation including new furniture, spackle, paint, moving lots of things the weight of actual pyramids, thinking, doing, and not doing. All in all, I'm REALLY happy with everything. The weather was awesome today. Saw some sweet Alfa Romeos outside the museum today. Used a lot of gold paint.

Oh my god... discovered the BEST ice cream you can get in pints. Graeter's. The coconut chocolate chip is soooo amazing. Seriously. It is. So amazing.

I'm reading the book The History of Love. Already, I almost cried. I'm on page 14. Hopefully I'll finish it fast because I really want to start on The Average American Male.

I acutally think this band is kind of annoying, but it's just screaming summer to me. I really love the polaroid aesthetic, and I really like that it's a video of a quinceañera.

How Long is 30 Days

2011-06-17T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have not been running. I'm injured. It sucks. I think it's slowly getting better. Too slowly.

Here are my top 15 running songs, some newish, some have been staples for years. Right now they're more like gym rat songs rather than running songs. I guess the benefit to being injured in one area (hip) means you get to focus on working out areas you normally wouldn't.

Positive Ions

2011-06-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Waited and waited for this to come to Portland and actually saw it a couple weeks ago now. I'm a huge Woody Allen fan and this did not disappoint. So good in so many ways. I thought it couldn't get better than the guy playing Hemingway, but then Dali showed up... so funny.

A Patient, Big, Phony Smile

2011-06-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

Some songs just sound better when it's not day, not night, through headphones, on the porch.

Rendered Every Line

2011-05-26T20:54:00.000-07:00

Every time I attempt to organize something in my iTunes I get frustrated and overwhelmed. I should just accept that it will never be as organized as I want it to be.

As of today I'm narrowed down to 11,331 songs. I'm always trying to condense so they'll fit on my iPod. I love rediscovering things I've forgotten about.

This is a horrible video, but the only one I could find. So I made it really small.

Voyeuristic Weirdo

2011-05-18T19:24:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't say I'm a fan of the Beatles, but I am a fan of this.

Trying On and Abandoning a Long Series of Shirts

2011-05-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

I think a lot of people are in a funk lately. I'm trying to fake like I'm not when people are around, but as soon as I'm home all I want to do is sleep. I was watching house hunters and they were in Budapest. I have no desire to move to Budapest. There was this one little house though that was out in the country and everything was green and there were these fantastic orange leaves on trees and this little road--and I just thought maybe I would like to move there and not tell anyone.

I would now like to use this opportunity to give a big shout out to Katy Perry. Thanks for making my spinning class today a total success. My hip is feeling better. Not 100%, but it's definitely getting better. My goal is to shoot for running again next Tuesday and Wednesday, with a long run on Thursday before I will be forced to leave town and most likely sit on my ass for four days. Or not. I really have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

I have part two of my admissions thing this Friday. It's a proctored essay of exactly 45 minutes on an unknown topic/question. How do you prepare for something like that? Justin says to memorize big words.

I dragged Justin out to see Bill Cunningham NY yesterday. It's really not what you might expect and it made me smile.

I didn't post a song this weekend, so I'm posting one now.

I'm hungry.

Common Household Items

2011-05-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

My grandma died on mother's day. That's her with and my dad's dad. He died when my dad was young--14 maybe. We've never been really close to my dad's side of the family. None of them can seem to let things go from the past. It was interesting to find out that since my dad's dad died, he and his siblings had only seen one picture of him. They didn't even know my grandma had boxes of old photos. I took a bunch of them, and I don't know exactly why, but I feel sort of different after seeing them. Yeah, I'm cheesy like that.

Although I only spent a day visiting, this might have been one of my favorite times with my parents. My mom, dad, and sister picked me up at the airport and within five minutes I was in tears laughing. They are so hilarious. And weird.

My grandma is one of the kids in this one. Yosemite.

My dad's dad.

My dad and his brother.

My dad's the youngest.

My dad.

Maybe my favorite picture of my parents.

My first bike.

My dad and I could not for the life of us remember this day, but we both liked this photo. My brother, dad, me, sister. Let's just say Redding, CA doesn't get much snow.

Be Afraid Only of Standing Still

2011-05-11T19:57:00.000-07:00

The new Death Cab for Cutie video directed by Shepard Fairey is dumb. Just my opinion. I'm just saying. I actually think both parties are ok, but I think this video was a bad idea. I'm not even going to link to it.

But you know what is AWESOME?! The Future. I have a huge crush on Miranda July.

I have a flight to catch at 6:10am, so I should pack.

Sunday Song: The New Blue Blood

2011-05-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know this is old. You know how some band/artists/songs sing about shit that makes you feel old? Like, high school crap? This band still makes me feel like I have things to learn. Saw them live last summer, would do it again in a heartbeat. Not many bands are that good live.

Oh God and this... (skip to ~1:30)

I Made a Sudden, Frightened Vow Never to Become that Boring, and to Devote Myself to Getting More and More Impressive.

2011-05-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

Every scene in The Graduate seems so intentional. Which is only part of why it's so good. Right now I'm dedicating my evening to equal parts The Graduate, The Tim and Eric Awesome Show, and red wine.

I'm depressed.

My hip has been bothering me for over two weeks. Last week I went to urgent care in hopes of scientific medical magic, and all I got was "rest." Which I've basically been compliant with. I went to the gym for one spinning class and also did some weights another day. I kind of do a 50/50 sitting/standing at work, so I didn't think that would be too bad. But you know what? My hip is fucking hurting. I HATE having nagging pains. I've taken a continuous dose of enough ibuprofen to made my stomach rot away. Honestly, I'm not sure how I'm going to solve this. My boss got a call that a friend had an extra entry to a half marathon this weekend and I would have taken it in a heartbeat if I actually thought I could run a mile without limping right now. I feel old.

Today was rough at work. I should maybe rephrase that. I really love my job, and even on a "rough" day like today, I can look at myself from outside my body and think, wow, that was a really easy day. I know I am really lucky to have a boss that says she wants to marry me and corners me in the office to vent about other people and make me feel like an integral part of something larger than myself. We're like this (points two fingers eyes-to-eyes). All I wanted after work today was some Cinco de Mayo sangria and she read my mind and we went out. Pitchers of sangria and calamari make for a good Friday.

I passed phase one of admissions into my program! I am officially somewhere in the top 40 out of some hundreds of applicants. Phase two is a proctored essay which I've been thinking a lot about. I try to think, "If I was administering an essay, what would I ask?" I think I'd be a lot tougher than they will be.

We got the results back from our personality tests at work. It was pretty intense and if this means anything to anyone, I'm an INTJ. Goal-oriented, jerk. Basically. I honestly got PAGES back explaining me to myself. I was pretty pleased with my results, but I mean, I could have expected them, they're pretty spot on. One of the more specific things it indicated was kind of weird, but actually completely accurate:

"Often this respondent gets obsessed with his or her ideas. Sometimes the respondent thinks so much about his/her project that in his/her imagination it already has been implemented. This is the reason why some of this respondent's projects exist only in his/her mind."

Weird, right? But totally true! I don't know that I've ever even acknowledged this about myself but it's completely true. I guess it's kind of good that I can think about it now--maybe I can try and change this a bit.

When Justin's gone, I get a lot accomplished. I have no idea why. Maybe because I stay up past midnight instead of going to bed at 10:00. I made two pretty large canvases this week. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them. I just know I wanted them big. I had this amazing linen I found at Mill End that I just wanted to stretch out really long and smell and feel and look at. Weird, I know. Art is weird. I want to paint SOMETHING on them, but I would be content just hanging them as is. Beautiful linen. Stretched as precisely as I could get it. Whatever I paint, I'm going to leave a significant portion of the linen untouched.

I have no exciting pictures to share. Well, except this one. I found this boner-enducing fabric at Mill End while shopping for linen.

Obviously those old ladies were LOVING this fabric because they hung it up. Duh, why wouldn't they?

This Post is Dedicated to Miss Tracy Schmidt.

2011-04-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

So we went to the Banff Film Festival last night. The first movie was The Swiss Machine. It was awesome. I am in complete awe of Ueli Steck. I want to have a child just so he can be named Ueli. (That might be the only reason I would have this child.) Seriously though, I really enjoyed the films. Most of them. Here is a sweet clip from The Swiss Machine.

So obviously this song rules, right? So they're like, "Go to the Banff Film Festival website and get the soundtrack listings." So I googled every song from the listing and it wasn't even on the list. Seriously? So I just used shazam. "Welcome Home" by Radical Face.
Tracy-- This song will be on a mix cd which I swear I will finally send to you this weekend.
Runner up was the film Eastern Rises. Yeah, I didn't think I would enjoy a film about fly fishing either.

Coconut Blackberry Macaroon Tart

2011-04-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yeah, this actually turned out looking a little more... eh, eccentric(?) than I'd anticipated. But it's seriously good.
Coconut Blackberry Macaroon Tart
Serves 8-12
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons matzo meal
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
6 tablespoons sugar
3 egg whites
6 ounces fresh blackberries
1/4 cup pistachios, chopped
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the sides and bottom of a 9-inch tart pan, and place a circle of parchment in the center.
-In a medium bowl combine the matzo meal, coconut, sugar, and salt. Add the melted butter until it's all combined. Press into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 15 minutes until golden.
-Meanwhile, combine the coconut, sugar, and egg whites.
-Let the crush cool slightly.
-Place the blackberries evenly around the pan. Add the coconut mixture in little spoonfuls around the blackberries. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the peaks of the coconut are nice and golden.
-Sprinkle pistachios.
-Let cool and cut into wedges.

Sunday Song: I See That You Think I'm Wrong

2011-04-24T03:38:00.000-07:00

I might hate this video.

Internet Forever

2011-04-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Check out those three uphill miles--all under 10:00! Goal achieved. I'm not including a map since I'm still doing the same route. However, I had to backtrack 3/4 of a mile on Fairmount in order to make it 11 miles.

I rewarded myself by buying these awesome shoes. Well it wasn't a reward for running per se, I ordered them a week ago and just went to pick them up after my run. Justin says I'm not allowed to wear them anywhere that requires me to walk any sort of distance to get there. I told him he could hollow out the wood and insert some cleats so I could ride my bike with them. I feel this is the obvious solution to a simple problem. I did google this, and all I came up with was this. Not very inspiring.

I wasted some time over at Hyperbole and a Half today. I'm going to marry her. She just has this amazing ability to convey things via MS Paint-like renderings. I mean, I'm sure we've all had a moment just like this, where we look at ourselves from outside our pathetic little futuristic bodies and say, time for bed. Or nachos. No judgements.

Hands on the Wheel

2011-04-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

When I grow up I want to be this cool.

Sunday Song: Rounding Things Out

2011-04-17T00:06:00.000-07:00

So this song by The Weeknd has been in my head all week. I don't think this is something I'd typically listen to, but I think I'm aesthetically drawn to it. Maybe it's the whole voyeuristic American Apparel look of it all, or the ambiguity of who's making it... maybe the missing e. I do agree with this article in that overall this song (and album) are kind of creepy.

So to round this post out, here's another song that's been in my head for weeks now. I would love to see this guy live.

Wandering Through The Wreckage

2011-04-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am a huge Bret Easton Ellis fan. His newest book, Imperial Bedrooms is great. But in more up-to-date and fun news, his recent article for Newsweek, Charlie Sheen Is Winning, is so great. Read it.

An unrelated list written by a 10 year old:

Wet and Uncomfortable

2011-04-16T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hey! Look at that! Pretty pleased with this run. I'm especially happy because I was most definitely NOT feeling well. I felt ok starting out, but then it started raining on my way up Vista, and I actually had to stop a couple times to let some uncomfortableness pass. When I wasn't feeling crappy I was feeling good though... that doesn't really make sense. Oh well.

I'm going to go make some really tasty looking pasta now. Got the new "Italy Issue" of Bon Appetit in the mail the other day and have been dying to make some of the recipes. There's even a recipe for a ricotta cheesecake that included matzo meal--only a few more days to get rid of all your chametz, people!

When You Go To The Gym Before 7am On Your Day Off, You End Up With A Lot Of Free Time

2011-04-15T16:16:00.000-07:00

Punishment Week

2011-04-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe not the greatest trail run of all time, but this was my makeup for not doing my 9 miles this weekend. I felt like crap and am still not feeling quite right. I also skipped a spinning class this weekend and will be adding an extra one in this week. No days off for me this week! I'm punishing myself. So that's my excuse for not doing as well as I would have liked on this run. As long as I'm under a 10 minute pace I'm happy. I think last year my trail pace was like, 13 minutes or something. So, SUCCESS! At least I have successfully avoided stitches thus far. Man, that 12:50 is KILLING ME.

Whatever. Whatever. I'm over it. Full stop.

The Cider Project

2011-04-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

The test batch worked! Now on to new experiments... details to come.

Perhaps It's Something They Put In The Ink

2011-04-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

These are addicting.

Well, It WAS Sunny...

2011-04-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

I've lived in Portland for almost three years now and just maybe two weeks ago discovered the neighborhood of Council Crest. Seriously, this park has some of the most stunning views of... well, everything. You can see a 360 of the Portland metro area, and you can see WASHINGTON. THE STATE! That's neat! So after the driving discovery of this magical park on a hill surrounded by all those cute little million dollar homes, I decided this was a run that needed to be conquered.

It's only 3 miles from my door to the top, so I figured that's only 3 miles of hell before I can coast down. I was scheduled to run 8 miles today so looking at google maps I thought SW Fairmount looked like a good loop after I got to the top. I printed out a tiny map to stick in my pocket, because I get nervous running somewhere new where I could potentially get lost. This picture of the map is actually slightly more legible than it was when I took it out to look at it because the map is now DRY and not soaked with sweat.

Here's what my Garmin says it looked like...

Have I mentioned how much I dislike that Garmin switched to bing maps? Dislike!

As you can see from this elevation profile, mile 2 is basically death. Mile 3 isn't as bad because you've already accepted it. I was actually quite surprised when I got home and looked at my Garmin and realized I was under 11 minutes on that second mile... felt like I was walking up that damn hill. Which is SW VIsta, by the way. But an overall 8:33 pace--I'll take it. I actually felt like I could have been pushing it more around Fairmount, but most of the time I was ogling either views, houses, cars, or squirrels. Also, I'd like to note that I was a little nervous when I started on Fairmount because there are no sidewalks and it's really curvy. I quickly learned though that it's more of a road for runners than cars. Maybe 4 runners to every car I saw. Critical mass!

Sunday Song

2011-04-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

I haven't watched this video, but this is one of my favorite running songs at the moment. They also play it in my spinning classes. It's that type of song. I'm hoping to post a playlist of my favorite running songs soon.

Sunday Song: 7 Shades of White

2011-03-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

What I've been listening to... Somewhat reflective of my current hibernation-mode, with a few bright gems thrown in to keep it upbeat, somewhat.

FYI, 8tracks has FANTASTIC support. I emailed them with an issue at 5:00pm on a Sunday and they responded, problem solved, within 10 minutes. Awwwwesome...

An Effortless Genius for Manners

2011-03-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit absent lately. Hibernation-mode. Happens every year. I've been kind of an ass lately when forced into social situations so have been somewhat trying to avoid them. I'm sure I'll come around soon.

I completely failed at keeping up with my running recap posts. Oh well. It's been going really well though. I actually spent three hours at the gym on Friday, which sounds crazy but it's a good stress relief. My pace is around 8:30 right now, probably thanks to the speed work and tempo runs. Oh... here's a picture of my sweet new trail running shoes...

Took this just after their first try in Forest Park. Love them. Special thanks to Justin's friend Dave who works at Nike for snagging them for me. And thanks to genetics for making my feet the sample size 8.

Now here are some pictures from my phone I found while looking for that last one.

Sunday Song: Nothing Wrong With a Single Inch

2011-03-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Quite easily the sexiest song ever.

Sunday Song: Live on the Right Side, Sleep on the Left

2011-03-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

Running Recap: Week 9

2011-03-06T11:15:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
2 x 400m2 x 800m
400m RI
1 mile CD
Distance: 4.25 miles
Time: 34:34

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
2 miles
1 mile CD
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:25

RUN #3: Long
5 miles
Time: 39:49

(5 miles under 40 minutes... yesssssss...)

Chai Tea

2011-03-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

First, let me point out that this is basically a complete copy cat post. Kimmy posted this Chai from Scratch post today, and lets just say I jumped on that bandwagon pretty fast. I love Kimmy. She's awesome. I made a few minor tweaks based on my likings, but her recipe was pretty spot on. New addiction! Note, although some of these spices may seem large or scary, they actually really easy and affordable to find. I've raved about it before and I'll rave about it again, World Market has THE BEST AND CHEAPEST spice section around. Also, this is actually REALLY easy to make. It's so worth it. I like to go 2/3 chai to 1/3 hot vanilla soy.

Chai Tea

Makes ~4 cups

4 1/2 cups water

2 sticks cinnamon

5 good-sized slices ginger

14 whole cardamom pods

2 whole star anise pods

20 whole cloves

1 whole vanilla bean, sliced once down the middle (Oops! Forgot to put this in the picture.)

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 good heaping teaspoon fresh orange zest

2/3 cup brown sugar, or less

1 tablespoon honey

15 black teabags

-Bring water to a boil. Add all the spices, vanilla bean, and orange zest. Take off the heat and let steep for 15 minutes.

-Put back on the heat just long enough to bring back to a boil. Turn off heat and add teabags. Steep 5 more minutes.

-Remove all the big stuff from the mix, squeezing out the teabags and the vanilla bean.

-Run the mix through a fine-mesh strainer into whatever vessel you want to store it in.

-Add the brown sugar and honey and stir or shake.

-Store in the fridge and be sure to shake/mix when you want some.

Running Recap: Week 8

2011-02-27T20:04:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
3 x 800m
400m RI
1 mile CD
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 32:54

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
2 miles1 mile CD
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:26

RUN #3: Long
5 milesTime: 42:39

Lemon Bars: Two Ways

2011-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

I used to work at Sue's Java Cafe in my hometown of Redding, CA. (With Kimmy!) The book for everything we made there consisted of a mix of handwritten recipes on stained binder paper and some great cookbooks. Sue is a recipe genius. She has a knack for picking out unique, yet traditional comfort foods. She and Kimmy taught me how to make pies. When I left I copied a decent amount of those recipes, but have misplaced them over the years. Sue recently found me on Facebook and I mentioned my love of the lemon bars we used to make at Sue's. She shared a new lemon bar recipe that has a ginger snap crust! In the words of Sue herself, "These fuckin' ROCK!" I made them for my new boss recently and they were well received. I do still have a place in my heart for the traditional recipe as well. So here you have it, lemon bars: two ways.
Ginger Snap Lemon Bars
Makes 8-9
20 ginger snaps
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup firmly packaged brown sugar
1/4 cup cold butter, cubed
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
powdered sugar
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil.
-In food processor, crush the ginger snaps into a fine crumb. Add the flour and brown sugar and pulse. Add the butter and pulse until it turns into coarse crumbs.
-Pour into the pan and press firmly to create the crust.
-Bake 15 minutes.
-Meanwhile, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs, flour, lemon zest, lemon juice, and baking powder. Pour over crust.
-Bake 25-30 minutes or until center is set. Let cool completely before cutting. Dust with powdered sugar.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lemon Bars
Makes 8-9
1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 eggs
2 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest
1 cup lemon juice
1 cup flour
powdered sugar
-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 9x13 pan with foil.
-For the crust, cream the butter and sugar in a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Combine the flour and salt. With the mixer on low, add to the butter until just mixed. Flatten dough and press into pan. Chill for 15 minutes.
-Bake the crust for 15-20 minutes, until very lightly browned.
-Meanwhile, for the lemon layer, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and flour. Pour over the crust and bake for 30-35 minutes, or about five minutes beyond the point where the filling is set. Let cool completely before cutting. Dust with powdered sugar.

Green Chili & Homemade Tortillas

2011-02-25T11:54:00.000-08:00

When we lived in Corvallis we would frequent Bombs Away Cafe, a great restaurant just on the edge of campus. It was often a weekend gathering space that included live music, good beers, and good food. Justin and I became obsessed with their Terminator Green Chili Stew, although I don't remember anyone else loving it quite as much as we did. Most people went for their burritos, but I never saw the appeal of them--being a burrito connoisseur and all, they just weren't up to par. The BEST thing to get, if ever you are passing through, is a bowl of the green chili and the Bomber Nachos. Whenever we find ourselves back in Corvallis hitting up Bombs is always on our to-do list. After playing around with a few recipes we've finally settled on this variation being the closest. It makes A TON and I am still sad when we finish it off.

Green Chili

Serves ~8

4 pounds boneless pork shoulder/butt

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 medium yellow onions, chopped

5 garlic cloves, mined

3 tablespoons cumin

36 ounces salsa verde*

3 7-ounce cans diced green chiles*

1 32-ounce box chicken broth

1 tablespoon dried oregano

salt and pepper

chopped cilantro

sour cream

lime wedges

-Cut the pork into 1-2 inch cubes. Trim any really large pieces of fat, but leave the rest. Fat is flavor, fat is your friend.

-Combine the pork with 1/3 cup water in a large pot (I use an 8-quart, stainless steel, NOT non-stick). Cover and cook on medium-high heat stirring occasionally 15-20 minutes. Uncover and cook on high, stirring often, until all liquid is evaporated and meat is browned and there are nice brown bits formed on the bottom of the pot. Lift out the meat and set aside.

-Reduce heat to medium and add the canola oil. Add onions, garlic and cumin. Stir and cover. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft, ~8 minutes.

-Return meat to the pot. Add chicken broth, salsa verde, chiles, and oregano. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook 1 hour.

-Turn off heat and season with salt and pepper.

-Let sit for another hour or so. Use a wooden spoon to press the meat against the side of the pot to break it up some.

-Top with sour cream, cilantro and lime.

-Serve with tortillas.

Homemade tortillas are the best. Hands down. They are really simple to make and I think make all the difference.

Tortillas

Makes 8

2 cups all-purpose flour, maybe more

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 tablespoons butter

3/4 cups warm water

-Mix the salt into the flour in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter.

-Add the water and knead a bit. The dough should be slightly tacky, but not wet. If you need to, add flour.

-Cover the bowl and let rest for 15 minutes.

-Divide the dough into 8 and form into balls. Cover and let rest 30 more minutes.

-On a floured surface, roll out each ball.

-Heat a skillet over medium heat and place tortillas in one at a time. Cook ~3 minutes on each side or until you get nice little brown patches. If bubbles form, just pop them. You should be able to get a rhythm going between rolling and cooking.

-Store covered in paper towel in a ziploc bag.

Sunday Song

2011-02-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

This song has been running through my head all week. One of those songs that perfectly captures a mood.

The Cloud Factory

2011-02-19T12:15:00.000-08:00

This is always the pattern. I go a few weeks thinking my life simply could not get more hectic, tiring, and busy, and then I get sick. I know it's really the body's way of saying slow down, and it sucks. I'm not THAT sick, just sick enough to make it inconvenient. So I'm just hunkering down inside this weekend. I'm of the mindset that when one is sick, one needs a healthy diet of equal parts health and junk food. Smoothie and tea with honey and lemon for breakfast, half-sleep through movie during lunch, Stouffer's mac and cheese and Ben & Jerry's Bonnaroo Buzz for dinner. More whining. More sleep. I'm a whiny sick person.

I finally got a new bike last weekend to replace the second bike I've had stolen in the last year. It's a Gary Fisher to replace the Fugi that replaced the Specialized. I think it's the best one yet. I can't wait until the weather is nice and I can ride it some.

Downloaded The King of Limbs last night. Listening as I type. I bought the newspaper album. So far so good.

We just finished season two of The Wonder Years last night. Not like I haven't seen them before, but I always loved the show, and I think I love it even more now that I'm older. I always felt like that show had like, 20 seasons, but it turns out there are only six.

OH MY GOD. Is that not the BEST ending monologue EVER?? Seriously. So good.

Running Recap: Week 7

2011-02-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sick week.

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
2 miles
1 mile CD
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:44

Running Recap: Week 6

2011-02-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

Better (posting) late than never, right?

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
2 x 3/4 mile
400m RI
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.75
Time: 31:49

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1.5 mile
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 28:55

RUN #3: Long
4.5 miles
Time: 36:43

Pine Point

2011-02-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

The coolest thing I've seen on the internet in a long time. It's worth it to get to the end.

Running Recap: Week 5

2011-02-06T19:15:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
1 x 400m
2 x 800m400m RIs
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.75
Time: 31:55

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1.5 mile
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 29:33

RUN #3: Long
5.6 milesTime: 52:10

Running Recap: Week 4

2011-01-30T11:59:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
5 x 400m
400m RIs
1 mile CD
Distance: 4.25
Time: 35:31

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1.5 mile
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 28:21

RUN #3: Long
4.4 miles
Time: 38:12

Did the long run outside today even though it was still cold and I'm still a wimp. My legs felt heavy and I was a bit disappointed with my time, but I haven't been outside in the cold for a while so that's my excuse. Garmin switched from using Google maps to using this Bing map. Dislike!

Just a White Haze

2011-01-28T12:12:00.000-08:00

Jon Rafman's 9-eyes tumblr from Google street view is fantastic. Our world is so, so weird in a scary and beautiful way. My favorite might be this great sighting of Wayne and Garth...

I am AMAZED at how little clothing prostitutes are allowed to wear in certain places.

I managed to find two shots in Portland!

...and one I WISH was in Portland...

Sunday Song: 28-track

2011-01-23T01:33:00.000-08:00

New discovery! I've been wanting to figure out how to easily upload playlists and share them online for some time now, and I finally just kind of stubbled across 8tracks. They have a great uploader for Macs which makes it super easy to drag and drop. I went a little overboard on my first upload and uploaded a pretty epic 28 song playlist. It started as a mix months ago and has slowly evolved through deletions and additions. It's actually a bit of a compilation between a friend and I--I sort of sandwiched our mixes together. What I DON'T like about 8tracks is that you can't just look at the full track list on a mix, you have to actually go through all the songs to see what they are, and you can only skip a certain amount of songs per hour. Oh well, I guess if you want to know you have to listen to them all--all 1.6 hours of them. Also, it says that the second time someone listens to the mix the tracks are required to be randomized, which I strongly dislike. I mean, they're in order for a reason, duh. Oh well, overall a good service. Check it out.

Thomas Moran

2011-01-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we went to see Thomas Moran's Shoshone Falls before the show closed at the Portland Art Museum. I was impressed. Looking forward to their summer exhibit.

Running Recap: Week 3

2011-01-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
1 x 400m @ 1:51
2 x 800m @ 3:45
400m RIs
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.75 miles
Time: 31:48

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1.5 mile @ 8:20
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 30:08

RUN #3: Long
4 miles
Time: 32:31

WU=warm up, RI=rest interval, and CD=cool down.

We All Know What Art Is, It's Paintings of Horses.

2011-01-21T10:31:00.000-08:00

My friend Christina posted yesterday about her emotions after a recent season finale of the show Dexter. No, I haven't seen Dexter (although Justin just finished season four as well), but we finished the third season of Breaking Bad. We don't have tv, so we wait until we can find an alternate way to get the episodes and watch whole seasons at once. You always expect a good cliff hanger at the end, and it didn't disappoint in that respect. But I couldn't get too upset over it because WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT EVEN HAPPENS! How infuriating is that?? I have been in love with this show since I watched the pilot online years ago. Bryan Cranston running around an RV in his underwear. His acting in this show is amazing, he deserves every Emmy he's won. It's amazing how you can get so emotionally attached to the characters. I think the show is about ethics. More specifically, when you are put in a situation that is out of the ordinary, do our ethical values change? Do the rules change? And how do we balance these actions and feelings in a society that is still the same as before? Seriously, this show is genius. I highly recommend checking it out. And I think the third season was the best yet.

In other tv news... We also watched the first episode of Portlandia online last night. Oh. My. God. HILARIOUS. Two things I love about it... it is all filmed in Portland--"Hey I know that place!" AND it's all so true. In a somewhat absurd and dreamy way. Two things I don't like about it... I'm not sure how many non-Portlanders will "get" it, I'm not sure how you can really go bigger and better with it--I mean how many jokes can you really make about it? You can watch the entire first episode online, but I think they should make this video the official Portland tourism video.

Oh, and the title of this post is a Jack Donaghy quote from last night's episode of 30 rock. Never disappoints.

Running Recap: Week 2

2011-01-15T10:03:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
2 x 400m @ 1:51
400m RI

1 x 800m @ 3:45
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 28:51

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1 mile @ 8:20
1 mile CD
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 26:30

RUN #3: Long
3.5 miles
Time: 30:18

WU=warm up, RI=rest interval, and CD=cool down.

Pet Peeve #38

2011-01-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

When people say they are going to do something, or even strongly act like they are interested in doing something, only to completely not do it in the end. This could be something as simple as, "Oh hey, I've got this really great book you should read, I'll bring it over tomorrow!" or something more like, "We should totally go skiing this weekend! I've got a cabin and we can leave Saturday and there's this restaurant, and this other thing, and it will be awesome!" Why would you lead someone on like that? When I was younger, like high school age, I used to think it was practically a sin to tell someone I would do something if I wasn't sure I could or wanted to. I've become a little more lax with this with age, for a few conscious/unconscious reasons I suppose. But I still get incredibly offended if someone tells me they're going to do something and they don't do it.

Running Recap: Week 1

2011-01-09T18:09:00.000-08:00

RUN #1: Track repeats
1 mile WU
4 x 400m @ 1:51
400m RI
1 mile CD
Distance: 3.75 miles
Time: 33:39

RUN #2: Tempo
1 mile WU
1 mile @ 8:20
1 mile CD
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 27:22

RUN #3: Long
3.5 miles
Time: 30:38

WU=warm up, RI=rest interval, and CD=cool down. I do all of these parts at a real easy pace, which for me is around 9:30.

The Best Granola

2011-01-07T15:59:00.000-08:00

This is actually my THIRD shot at granola. The first two times I made it, I failed. How do you fail at granola? You burn it. Lesson learned? Most granola recipes tell you to cook it for 25-30 minutes, but oven prefers the more conservative baking time of 15 minutes, tops. This is such a great, versatile recipe because you can change it up a bunch. Don't have almonds or cherries? Use whatever you have or like.

Granola

Makes ~6 cups

1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup agave nectar
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
seeds of 1 vanilla bean*
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sliced almonds
3/4 cup shredded, sweetened coconut
1/4 cup wheat germ
2 tablespoons flax seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup dried cherries

-Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
-In a small bowl, whisk together the canola oil, agave nectar, honey**, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla bean.
-In a large bowl mix the oats, almonds, coconut, wheat germ, flax seeds, and salt.
-Microwave the wet ingredients for about 30 seconds to loosen them up and make them easier to stir.
-Pour the wet over the dry and mix until everything is coated.
-Spread the mix onto the prepared pan and bake for 15-30 minutes. Watch the oven carefully! This stuff if like popcorn and will burn on you if you blink. Well... not really, but just keep checking it.
-Once you pull it out, use a spoon to just flip it around a bit. Let it continue to cool completely.
-Mix in the dried cherries.

*TIP: I use vanilla bean in almost all recipes that call for vanilla extract. I think it adds a better flavor. Vanilla beans can be quite costly, but as I've mentioned before World Market has an AMAZING and CHEAP spice section that includes vanilla beans. They sell them one in a jar for around $3, and 2 in a pack for something less than that! If you've never bought vanilla beans before, this is a steal! And the quality is good too. I just buy a bunch when they're in stock and store them in a jar.

**TIP #2: When measuring agave and honey, it really helps to measure the oil first and them the agave and honey just slide out of the measuring scoop. If you don't need oil for the recipe just spray the scoop with whatever spray oil you have.

Thanks Hans Zimmer

2011-01-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

Ghostbusters recut to the Inception soundtrack. Doesn't it make you really want to watch Ghostbusters?

Smoked Salmon Bisque

2011-01-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

This soup is awesome. I've been trying to get some new soup recipes this season to get away from the typical 3 soup rotation in our kitchen. Typically I wouldn't go for a "cream" based soup, but this one called for cream cheese, which I just replaced with Neufchatel cheese. I really can hardly taste the difference between Neufchatel and regular cream cheese normally, and can't tell the difference at all in this recipe. The original recipe calls for 2, 8 ounces bricks, but I think you could easily get by with less if you wanted. Seriously, this soup is so so good and so easy.

Smoked Salmon Bisque

Serves 5-6

6 tablespoons butter

1 small yellow onion, diced

3/4 cup chopped fresh dill

2 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

8 ounces smoked salmon

2 tablespoons flour

8 cups chicken (or vegetable) stock

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

1-2 8 ounce packages Neufchatel cheese, cut into 1 ounce slices

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

salt and pepper, to taste

snipped chives

-Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute 10-12 minutes, until soft.

-Stir in dill, and tomatoes.

-Break up the salmon into small pieces into the pot. Cook 3 minutes. Add flour and cook 1 minutes more.

-Add the stock and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20 minutes.

-Season with salt and pepper.

-Stir in spinach and simmer 5 minutes.

-Stir in cream cheese, little by little. Taste once you have put one whole brick in, and add more as you need to.

-Stir in the lemon juice.

-Garnish with snipped chives.

First Run

2011-01-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

Sike! This wasn't actually my first run of the year. It's the first run of my "scheduled running."

I have to take my last prerequisite course this term and although it won't be as hard as the last one (uuugh...) the only time I could take it was Monday/Wednesday from 7-10pm (UUUGH...). So waking up at 5:20am on Tuesdays and Thursdays is not going to be awesome. I have no idea why I was just writing about that.

Back to running... I've decided my plan of action for the year is going to be somewhat as follows: Since I bonked out on most real physical activity this fall/holiday season, I need to get my mileage back up. I'm going to start with a 5-k training plan to get me through the crazy schedule I'm going to have for a couple months (that's where that last paragraph was going), and to get my legs back up to speed.

The plan I'm starting with the 5-k intermediate program from the book Run Less, Run Faster, which is put out through Runner's World. I LOVE this book. I've used it a lot in the past. One of those books that has writing all over it, dog-earred pages, and multi-colored post-its sticking all over the place. I love this book because it is totally set on PLANNING. Like super planning your runs. I know, I think most runners hate this type of thing, they want to run and be free and not think. I'm a thinker. I'm a planner. If I have a plan, I'll stick to it. Another reason I love this book is because it's full of SCIENCE. Yeah, science. Without reading the whole book, the focus is on 3 key runs each week with cross training in between. The 3 three runs include a track repeat, tempo run, and long run. You use the charts in the book to determine what speed you need to be doing each at and then you do it. It's supposed to improve your endurance, oxygen handling, lactate-threshold, and speed. Seriously, I think it works pretty well. As long as you can stick to it and aren't the type that gets frustrated with the planning side of it.

Since I'm not the most consistent blogger in the world, but I do want to "log" it on here, I think I'll do weekly recaps of my runs at the end of the week.

I'll leave this post with something I made months ago...

The bacon cinnamon roll. Although delicious in thought and pictures, not actually as delicious as one might expect. Mostly it was just difficult to eat. If you're interested though, cook up some good maple bacon, unroll a pack of jumbo cinnamon rolls, re-roll with bacon, and back as usual.

Sunday Song

2011-01-02T06:03:00.000-08:00

I think everyone has at least one of those friends that you can go years without talking to and then when you do it's truly as if no time has passed. It's almost as if you've evolved in very similar ways so even if things are different, they're still the same. When I got to my parent's house this Christmas Eve there was a package from this person with a mix cd. Seriously, the mixes this guy has given me throughout the years are like gold to me. I have kept every one.
Woods by Bon Iver is one of the songs in the mix.
I have no idea who these people are in the video picture.

Today Only: The Daily Survey

2011-01-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

1. What was the highlight of your week?

Life is essentially sad. Happiness is sporadic. It comes in moments and that’s it.

6. Are you good looking?

Don’t complain about your looks until you have to. At some point, you’ll look back on it and think, God, I wish I had the looks I had in my twenties. Years of unnecessary anxiety.

7. Last place you went?

Never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home, and never, ever be both.

8. Who were you with?

I’ve never loved a dumb man. The brain, combined with even moderate good looks, is an overwhelming aphrodisiac.

9. Last thing you ate?

I go to the gym. The thing is, I’m only trying to live longer so I can eat more cheese and drink more wine.

11. When was the last time you had your heart broken?

Ten years seems only a few years ago.

12. Who came over last?

I don’t want to impress people I wouldn’t cross the road to talk to. I want there to be a strict door policy at my club. I want to go, “you can’t come in. You won’t like this. And I don’t want you to like it.”

15. When is the last time you used a pay phone?

Chances are, if you’re using a pay phone, things aren’t going well.

17. Who do you hate?

It’s possible to have friends that drive you out of your mind. Don’t you have friends that you’ve had since you were a little kid? And you constantly have to explain to people who’re just meeting them: “I’ve known this guy since fifth grade. He really is a good guy. Trust me. Really--He has a huge heart.”

20. Favorite Vacation?

Don’t let making a living keep you from making a life.

21. What do you dislike currently?

Sometimes if you have financial restraints, it’s a benefit. It forces you to come up with a more creative way.

26. What were you doing at midnight last night?

The beginning is not all that important anymore.

27. When is your birthday?

To grow up knowing you’re loved is astounding. It’s a huge gift to a child.

29. Last time you went swimming in a pool?

A lesson learned with humor is a lesson retained.

31. Where was the last place you bought something?

The biggest waste of brainpower is to want to change something that’s not changeable.

33. Who is your prettiest friend?

There’s always going to be somebody smarter, prettier, nicer. It’s better to appreciate it instead of being threatened by it or defending yourself against it.

37. How fast have you driven a car?

Be brave, but not reckless.

39. What did you want to be when you grew up?

If you don’t have heroes in the beginning, you don’t grow.

40. When is the last time you cussed?

You’ll be able to say “motherfucker” on network television before you’ll be able to take God’s name in vain.

41. What type of boy or girl do you usually fall for?

Sometimes your gut doesn’t work.

42. Do you have any hidden talents?

No one can say I’ve failed except me, artistically, because no one knows my ambitions. They don’t know what I was trying to do.

43. Favorite Song?

Music is still to me the greatest art form. I’m in awe of it. A chord can make me feel sick.

45. Dream Job?

If it’s the right chair, it doesn’t take too long to get comfortable in it.

47. Are you an only child or do you have siblings?

If my sister wanted me to do something, I would consider it very seriously even if I wasn’t interested.

48. Would you consider yourself to be spoiled?

It’s a waste of time to think that if you colored a painting red what might have happened if you painted it black.

50. Do you drink?

You get older, you get more cautious.

51. When is the last time you worked out?

Get in shape to play. Don’t play to get in shape.

52. Ever write a coded message?

I don’t understand how people live without creating. You know?

56. Who has the same birthday as you?

Marie Antoinette

57. Can you play any instruments?

If you can’t get laid playing Van Morrison’s greatest hits, you never will.

58. Do you want to be famous one day?

You’d have to be inhuman not to be flattered. But it would be so obsessive so quick that some part of you wouldn’t trust it.

59. Any Pet Peeves?

Religious or not, no one going through a tough time minds hearing the words “you’re in our prayers.”

60. Are you multitasking right now?

If there’s a shortcut taken when you’re building a house, people are going to notice and feel cheated out of something. It’s kind of like cooking: Cumulatively, all the shortcuts and cheats take away from the texture.

62. What is your least favorite chore?

Do what you say you’re going to do. And try to do it a little better than you said you would.

63. Last book you read?

I’m not going to read all the books I want to read.

66. Could you handle being in the military?

Always think fastball. You can adjust to an off-speed pitch.

70. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

There are people far worse off than I am.

71. Who did you vote for?

Everybody can criticize. But at the end of the day, you know Obama’s intentions are in the right place.

72. How many piercings do you have?

You can be very wild and still be very wise.

73. What are you doing today?

One of the saddest things about Americans is that we’re too much in a hurry.

74. Have you ever been gambling?

Some people understand what it is to create something special, and others are thinking what they can get out of it.

79. Last thing you cooked?

Never eat at a chain restaurant while on vacation.

83. Last time you were sick?

A sore throat means cancer until the doctor says, “don’t be so stupid.”

84. What is your biggest regret?

If you don’t do the right thing now, it’ll never be what it should be--and it’s there forever.

85. Do you wish you could move?

Don’t be afraid to do what your instincts tell you. You may not get it right, but people will take notice.

89. If you could be anywhere right now where would it be?

Reality is this moment.

Technicolor Health and High Spirits

2010-12-31T17:42:00.000-08:00

I have decided upon two New Year's Resolutions:

To subscribe to a Community Supported Agriculture food box this spring/summer. I hear you have to nab your subscription pretty quickly, hence getting things in order now. I've decided to go with Gathering Together Farms in Philomath, OR. When we lived in Corvallis (about 10 minutes from Philomath) we would often buy their produce at the farmer's market and we've been to brunch at the farm a few times as well. Their price is good and their season long, as well as being reliably good produce.
To run the Helvetia Half Marathon, the Fueled By Fine Wine Half Marathon (again), and the Portland Marathon. It may sound like a lot, but the first two should be difficult, and as long as I've got those under my belt in the summer, the marathon should be fine.

I have one more somewhat undefined goal regarding cooking/baking, but I'll leave it off the list since I don't have any real parameters set up for it yet.

Sunday Song

2010-11-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

The other night I had this amazingly vivid dream when this song started playing and I just started dancing but it was like I was ice skating because the floor was really smooth and I guess my shoes were too. I was just gliding and it was amazing. The whole dream started out really weird involving the longest salad bar in existence, an old crush, a strange dress, Justin, and awful yellow lighting... then things got even weirder and then this song came on and it just turned into the most perfect, magical, real feeling dream I've had in a long time.

Pet Peeve #451

2010-11-04T17:27:00.000-07:00

Bad spelling and/or grammar. Ok, let's say you're just typing really fast and you slip up and type, "I was ver there for the party last night too." That's fine, obviously you were just typing so fast you forgot the "o" in "over". No biggie! It's obvious you're not retarded. However, if you type, "I was over their for the party last night to." I'm sorry, you should not have been admitted into high school. Or at least college. The two things that bother me the most are misuses of the three forms of "there," and when someone spells a large (or even small) difficult (or even easy!) word incorrectly. ESPECIALLY if you are using it for a facebook update or the title of your blog. I mean, COME ON, most computers just put a squiggly red line under it if it's incorrect or if you're unsure of how to spell something like "pomegranate," just google the damn word!

I know, so anal.

Tilt Shift

2010-10-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

View from my old apartment in Corvallis, OR

I don't pretend to be any sort of awesome photographer or awesome computer photo-alterer genius either. Actually, I don't even enjoy taking pictures. I feel like my camera is always in the way of me actually experiencing something. However, I am super jealous of all the people I know that know how to use their cameras well and take amazing photos all of the time.

I found this website randomly today and tossed a few photos in its generator. I love it! I've always loved the tilt shift videos I see roaming around the internet and now I can make my own little miniature world.

San Fransisco

Puerto Rico

Boston

Cappuccino Creams

2010-10-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Two Tarts is a fantastic bakery here in Portland that specializes in fantastic little cookies--only 75 cents each! Justin's favorite is the cappuccino cream, an espresso shortbread sandwich cookie with cinnamon buttercream filling. He's been begging for probably a year to recreate them at home. I guess my hesitancy lay in the fact that when someone loves the original so much, it's kind of tough to compete. Yesterday I was in the mood though and my first shot was pretty dang close! I think the cookie part is spot on, but the buttercream filling may need some adjustments.

Cappuccino Creams

Makes many

2 tablespoons instant espresso powder

1 1/2 tablespoons boiling water

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

-Dissolve the espresso powder in the boiling water and set aside.

-In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until very smooth. Add the vanilla and espresso and mix until incorporated.

-Add the flour and beat just until the flour is fully incorporated. Do not over-mix.

-Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap, mold it into a large disc shape about 2 inches thick, and wrap tightly. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Lots of recipes will tell you to refrigerate shortbread dough longer, but I find it cracks a lot more when you try to roll it.

-Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

-On a floured surface, Roll out 1/3 of the dough to about 1/4" thick. You can use a cookie cutter to cut the dough, or just slice it into squares of equal size. My round cookie cutter was 1 1/2" in diameter.

-Place the cookies on the cookie sheet--they don't need to be spaced very far apart, they don't really expand.

-Bake for 8-10 minutes, possibly longer if you used a larger cookie cutter.

-Move cookies to a cooling rack.

-To make the filling, start by beating the sugar and butter until smooth.

-Add the vanilla and cinnamon, mix until smooth.

-To assemble the cookies, put the filling into a ziploc bag and seal. Cut a 1/2" of one of the corners off.

-Squeeze the filling onto a cookie and top with another.

-Personally I think these are best after being in the fridge for a while, but I'll leave that decision up to you.

First World Problems

2010-10-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

In no particular order...

Microbiology is tough. My professor is like a walking, talking Stephen Hawking. No joke. The first week of class he strapped on a microphone and speaker and even SOUNDED like Stephen Hawking. Justin says there are two types of professors: ones that come from a teaching background and ones that come from a research background--this one being the latter. Most of the people I talk to agree that he is very vague in his questions and expectations. I think I'm fairly good at reading people, and other people seem to think I have the professor pegged as to what he's looking for. But of course I still worry. Could I get a C in this class? EASILY. But I NEED that A. This grade can literally determine the next few years of my life. I have never studied so hard for a class in my life.

Working a 12 hour day is tough. I didn't expect to work a 12 hour day--it just happened. And it was draining.

Boyfriend out of town is tough. Justin left for a business trip to Detroit on Sunday. You would think it might be relaxing to have some time to get things done alone. Trouble is, two weeks before his trip I started a list of tasks I wanted to accomplish this week in between work and school stuff. True, I have been doing an awesome job crossing things off the list, but it's left me with no free time. I guess it will be worth it in the end though when all my tasks are done. One of my tasks is to make brownies, so I shouldn't complain too much.

Blogs are tough. Sometimes I think of a great story that I really want to put up, but remember that so-and-so from work, school, family, etc. knows this blog exists or at least has the ability to to find it, and therefore I can't write about it. It's a fine line and maybe I make it thicker than necessary.

Positive notes...

The weather is awesome in Portland!
The crazy girl in my building finally moved out!
I only work 2 days next week!
My birthday is soon!
Here are the two pictures Justin has sent me from his trip!

I looooove Dunkin' Donuts.

Salad pizza?? What the heck?! *shudder* Gross.

Peggy Wolf

2010-10-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

Just purchased this amazing original watercolor from Peggy Wolf. Overall, I really love her work, but something about this one just grabbed me. You know how it is. She has a ton of prints available, but the fact that this one was an original just sealed the deal. Gotta have the original.

Red Sauce

2010-10-12T20:06:00.000-07:00

Although I am fond of testing elaborate, time intensive recipes, I am of the mindset of the simpler the better when it comes to the things I repeat time and time again. Pizza--how much more simple can you get, right?? Well, I am a FIRM believer in homemade sauce. This may not seem "simple" to some, but I assure you making a super simple sauce and keeping it in the fridge/freezer is well worth the little extra efforts. I mean, if you have some sauce in a jar that you just LOVE--heck, stick with that, but I've never found one that wowed me. I'm going to give you the basic sauce recipe and then go over some tips I find useful at the end.

Red Sauce
Makes (almost) 4 cups

2-3 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red peppers
3-4 minced garlic cloves
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 28 ounces can crushed tomatoes
Juice of 1/4 lemon

-Put the olive oil, red peppers, garlic, and sea salt into a deep pan. Cook over medium high heat only for 1-2 minutes--you don't want any color, just to get the flavors working.
-Add in the crushed tomatoes and simmer for ~10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
-Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice.
-Use, refrigerate, or freeze the sauce.

**Tip #1: The brand of tomatoes you use totally matters. Some are better quality, some are chunkier, etc. I think the one I like best is Hunt's.

**Tip #2: I made some of this last week and tossed in about a tablespoon of black truffle butter, just because I had it and decided to toss it into everything. It was good! I encourage you to toss things in, but remember the beauty of this recipe is that it is intended to be "basic" so the more stuff you toss in the more complicated it gets. Obviously.

**Tip #3: This has nothing to do with sauce. When you make pizza, always use fresh dough. Even if you don't make your own, there are so many available in stores like Trader Joe's and Winco. And please, use good cheese and shred it yourself. These simple things just make it so much better.

**Tip #4: Toppings rule. But once again, keep it simple. There is a restaurant here in Portland call Apizza Scholls that actually limits the amount/types of topping you can put on your pizza. I am a fan.

The Simpsons

2010-10-10T22:11:00.000-07:00

"In what has to be one of the most closely guarded secrets in TV history, the "couch gag" opening of tonight's episode of The Simpsons was storyboarded and directed by none other than Banksy. It's the first time an artist has been invited to storyboard part of the show and when you see it, you'll be shocked that it made it past the network executives."

How awesome is this?!

Thanks.

2010-10-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

Good advertising makes me happy.

The Reflection of My Walk, My Boots, My Mess of Hair.

2010-10-10T20:45:00.000-07:00

So guess what?!!!?? I fuckin' RULE! I was so paranoid about this microbiology course. I mean, I was completely panicked. But today I got my first assignment back and got an 9.8/10. (This was a minuscule assignment, but still.) The professor insisted on telling me I was the closest to 10 points. I almost screamed. Seriously, FUCK YEAH! It was fucking HARD! But you know what... I worked fucking hard! And it means something. I scoffed it off since it was in front of the class, but I really wanted to specifically point it out to a couple of know-it-all biology/chemistry degree holders. Like, screw you! I have an ART DEGREE and I RULE!

Anyway. To celebrate I made some of the best muffins which I will hopefully post soon.

I also jut finished a letter to an old friend that was pretty meaningful. I included a mix cd. I'd like to share it here, but I'm going to wait until she gets it before posting it. This is what it looks like after I wrapped it:

I might include the song list at some point. Or turn it into a podcast if I can figure that out.

Sunday Song

2010-10-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Something I talk about quite often, and one of my absolute favorite things about music, is when you rediscover a song/artist/album that you used to love but completely lost in the closet somewhere.

Beet Bundt

2010-10-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

This recipe is actually based on my FAVORITE carrot cake recipe--the one we used to make when I managed Sue’s Java Cafe in Redding, CA. I LOVED working there. We made some of the most amazing baked goods and soups. Kim also used to be a manager there and has also improved on some of the classic Sue’s recipes. A caveat to anyone ever travelling though Redding... Although Sue’s still exists, it’s just not the same. It’s no longer owned by Sue, AND... they bought a soda machine. I’ll let you be the judge of that. Anyway, this cake has a few modifications from the original, the biggest obviously being that I used beets instead of carrots. It turned out sooo good. I think one of the best things about this cake is that it forms this crispy kind of crust around the edges and stays really moist inside. Usually I make this cake in a 9”x13” pan, but it turned out REALLY good in the bundt pan because it highlights that crispy edge thing.

Beet Bundt

Serves many

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup canola oil

1/2 cup olive oil

4 eggs

seeds of 1 vanilla bean

3/4 cup crushed pineapple, in juice

1 1/2 cups coconut

1 1/3 cups beets (3-4 small beets)

4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

3 tablespoons butter, at room temperature

1-1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

juice of 1/4 of a lemon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a bundt pan.

-Cut the ends off the beets and wash. Cut into cubes and process in a food processor until the beets and as finely chopped as you can get them.

-In a large bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients.

-Add the oils, eggs, and vanilla bean. Mix thoroughly.

-Add the pineapple, coconut, and beets. Mix thoroughly until you have a hot pink batter!

-Pour the batter into the bundt pan.

-Bake for ~60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

-Let cool for 10 minutes and invert onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before frosting.

-To make frosting, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.

-Add the vanilla and lemon, beat.

-Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and taste. If it's not sweet enough, add the last 1/2 cup.

-Frost the cake and sprinkle with walnuts.

...And Because It Was a Drunken Perception, It Was Perfect, Entire, And Lasted About Half a Second.

2010-10-08T12:35:00.000-07:00

I feel like the last month the world around me keeps going at a ridiculously fast pace while I'm just here at my desk with my head in this damn microbiology book. Or at work. This is easily the most dedication I've ever put into any class, ever. I have this homework assignment that honestly feels like a set of 20 insanely bizarre riddles that I just stare at for hours. I thought I was going to have a breakdown the other night, but I stopped myself. Actually, I haven't even shed a tear yet over this whole thing, so I guess it can't be THAT bad. I know I just have to keep my nose to the grindstone (is that right??) because when I look back 1, 2, 5 years from now, this small amount of time I spent focusing on this will seem so small and so worth it. So that's where I've been.

Speaking of my hiatus, the WEIRDEST thing just happened. I was uploaded a few pictures for this post when I got a text from my friend Christina, telling me she included my blog in her blog post today. I mean, lately I never even post anything, so how weird is THAT! To make it double weird, I am listening to/burning a cd for her too. Somehow this weird connection with a friend is making me feel at ease about the stress I've been having. I guess just the knowledge that someone else still knows I'm ALIVE and have not fallen down a black hole.

Here are a few semi-random photos from the last month or so...

We went to see The National, one of my absolute favorite bands. They were so, SO good live--even if they were kind of assholes.

This dude kept us entertained between bands with his awesome dancing skills. The concert took place in Pioneer Square here in Portland. If you've never seen it it's just a big one-block brick space in downtown where "things happen"--both weird and cool. This was the weird in the middle of the cool. I actually took an awesome video of his skills as well.

And here's a picture we insisted on taking while in Port Orford...

We were camping just near the town with Justin's parents and stumbled upon this beauty along the drive. If you look really closely you can see my awesome leg wound.

So that's what's up. I've also been cooking/baking so many amazing things lately and I just get so carried away and eat everything or mess it up before I ever take pictures. BUT I will post a good recipe maybe later today.

Sunday Song

2010-09-05T16:36:00.000-07:00

I just realized the song I wanted to post... well, I already posted it recently. Shows how quickly music tastes do not change. So I'm giving you this one.

I'm currently working on a mix cd for a friend and this is included so far--as is the song I wanted to post.

Mad Men

2010-09-05T16:28:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. Everyone and their mother has already posted these behind these scenes of Mad Men pictures. I'm a bit behind lately mainly due to the fact that I bought a new computer. Switching from a PC to a Mac is tough business. I have a mile long to-do list I'm struggling to get through since I really don't have much motivation at the moment. Good thing tomorrows a holiday.

But still, come on, Jon Hamm people. JON. HAMM. In my dreams I live in this show. I know I'm not alone in this.

Burritos!

2010-08-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

My mom recently told my sister that I make and freeze my own burritos. She was quite amazed by this and I tried to explain my methods over the phone, but my technique has been carefully honed over the last year+, that I felt a post about the specifics would be helpful.

First the ingredients...

Flour Tortillas - 2 packs of 10 - This is quite possibly the most important ingredient. These are Trader Joe's brand, and just called "flour tortillas". They are big and chewy. They provide that "stretch" and "sheen" that restaurant/food cart tortillas do. (This recipe typically makes 22 burritos, but I usually have these tortillas in the fridge so I just take two out of the fridge to make up for this.)
Spanish Rice - 2 boxes - This rice is Zatarain's brand. It is the only one I've found that doesn't have MSG in it, and it tastes really good too.
Crushed Tomatoes - One 28 oz. can - This is just part of the Spanish recipe on the box.
Refried Beans - Five 15 oz. cans - We prefer Rosarita's black beans, but pinto will obviously work fine.
Cheese - One 16 oz. brick - I use sharp cheddar, but whatever you like is fine. (I usually only use about 3/4 of the brick.)
Hot Sauce - One 10 oz. bottle - We like Tapatio, but your favorite is what you should use. I typically use about 1/3 of a bottle.
Sandwich Bags - Obviously, you need enough to bag each burrito.

Not including the sandwich bags, this all cost $18.41. So if I make 22 burritos this is about $0.84 a burrito. Seriously! That is a sweet deal.

The method...

1. Cook the rice. I use a rice cooker*, but you can just make it like the box says. I just dump the contents of both boxes in the rice cooker, along with the can of tomatoes, and I fill the tomato can with water and add that. Still and let cook. (I skip the butter the box calls for.)

2.While the rice is cooking grate the cheese. I just put it in the food processor because it's fast.

3. Once the rice is done (I like to work with it while it's still warm), put half of the rice into a large bowl and add half (2 1/2 cans) of the beans. Stir well.

3. Set out all your ingredients like a little assembly line.

4. Fill a 2/3 cup measuring cup with the bean rice mix. Level off and scoop out onto the center of a tortilla.

When I scoop the mix out of the measuring cup, I think it ends up actually being less that 2/3 cup. I'm only mentioning this because I think that the amount of stuff you put in the burrito greatly affects how well the burrito wraps up.

5. Add some cheese and hot sauce.

(Why is this picture sideways?)

6. Wrap the burrito. The method is important to ensure all ingredients stay securely inside. Here is a picture tutorial.

(Another sideways!)

(TA-DA!)

7. So now you have to freeze the burritos. I've usually just freeze them on a cookie sheet and then transfer them to individual bags once they're frozen. However, Justin have been having issues with ice crystals building up on them a lot, so I'm doing an experiment this time. I kept half of them on the cookie sheet to freeze first, and the other half I put directly into bags and into the freezer. I'll try and update this as to the results of the experiment.

Ok, now another tough part. The reheating. Seriously, even if these are poorly reheated, I still think they taste awesome. The big trick is to defrost them ahead of time. If you take one out in the morning when you wake up and keep it out in room temperature until lunch, that's ideal. Just heat it for a couple minutes. Remember to flip it. Also, the tortilla will crisp up if you don't wrap it in a paper towel while you're microwaving it. Just experiment with this and eventually you'll figure it out.

Here is the nutrition info!

*Note on rice cookers: They rule. I bought mine for like $10 a few years ago and think they are totally worth it.

A Little Hardcore, A Little Stupid

2010-08-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

I was feeling really good when I got home from work yesterday. Since Justin was going on a bike ride with the dudes, I decided to swap my 5-mile for the 12-mile run I was to run this weekend. It was kind of hot when I went out so decided to run up into Forest Park. It was awesome... super cool air, tree smells... all the usual trail running perks. Since I was feeling good I ran down Wildwood Trail for quite a while before turning back. Coming down around a bit after mile 6, I ate it. I tried to avoid a walker and lost my footing on some rocks. In an a attempt to not land on my face I somehow ended up on my left side. As I stood up and looked at my leg--blood... two nice quick streams right into my sock. I started walking down, but once the initial shock wore off, I realized it didn't actually hurt. Of course I know that this partly due to the body's defense mechanisms, but I figured walking was just going to take longer, so I ran down to the bottom of the trail--which was pretty close at this point. I went into the oh-so-nice-smelling public restroom and wiped everything off with toilet paper and water. It wasn't bleeding anymore and still wasn't hurting, so in my genius mind I quickly debating continuing the run. I decided that logically when I woke up tomorrow my leg would be sore, and therefore I wouldn't get my long run in if I didn't just finish it now. So I continued on and ran up Leif Erickson and then home. By the time I turned around on Leif Erickson at mile 9, I knew it was probably a bad idea that I finished the run, but it was just a straight shot home for the last 3+ miles. When I got home my leg had started bleeding again and When I took my shoe off I had this lovely wet sock...

After showering, I assessed the wound and decided I didn't need stitches on the part that split, pushed it together and secured it with a couple band-aids. When I woke up this morning I took the band-aids off, and saw that the wound had not miraculously closed up as I had thought it would, and actually started bleeding again. Crap. Justin took one look at it and said I should have gone to the doctor. So at 6:30 this morning I walked the 4 blocks (how convenient!) and got two stitches.

It's now all wrapped up. I finally plugged in the Garmin when I got back from the ER. The wound slowed my pace, but a 9:32 average isn't too awful considering the circumstances.

Mile 1: 8:31
Mile 2: 9:13
Mile 3: 10:46
Mile 4: 10:59
Mile 5: 9:43
Mile 6: 8:54
Mile 7: 12;28
Mile 8: 9:22
Mile 9: 9:09
Mile 10: 8:39
Mile 11: 7:58
Mile 12: 8:45
Total: 1:54:32

Sunday Song II

2010-07-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Wild Nothing - My Angel Lonely

...for good measure.

Sunday Song

2010-07-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

Old skool style today... I think it was prompted by my seeing Art Alexakis two days in a row on the block where I live. First it was at a random street celebration type thing. He was just sitting on the curb chillin'. Second I'm pretty sure he was judging some type of cute dog competition. Anyways, I know what he's talking about with that house in the west hills now... yes please. Seriously, isn't the beginning of this video a crack up? So easily amused.

Semi-Recent Acquisitions

2010-07-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

(Pardom my awful picture. Justin took my camera on his trip,
so you'll have to settle for an iPhone pic taken in the dark.)

I used to think I had an awesome sense of style. My style. Not what was necessarily "in style". I'm still the same way, when I see something I like, I buy it. I'm not tempted to just buy things. If there's a sale, or something's only a couple bucks--I'm usually not tempted. But when I see something I like, I usually don't just like it--it's like a quick obsession. I guess since I've grown into spending very, very little on clothing/fashion, I've also grown into letting myself buy nice, new, key pieces to add to my minimalist collection. I will only buy something if I know I'll wear it like a uniform. Or at least love it like one, if the occasion doesn't always present itself.

A few months ago I bought these Vivienne Westwood +Melissa pumps. Seriously, amazing, right??! There's made of like, the most insanely comfortable plastic and they still smell like the most delicious vanilla scented plastic too. Really, no idea how they did it. They rule.

So going back to my fashion philosophy, this week at work all the girls kept mentioning how Nordstrom was having their anniversary sale and how it's the best sale of the year, yadda yadda blah blah. I don't care. I wasn't even slightly swayed by talk of deals on fall fashion. Then today one of my patients walked in with these patent nude pumps on. Loooove. She promptly informed me that they were from the Nordstrom sale. I went straight after work. All business. Price? Didn't even look. Size 8 please. Slipped on. Perfect. Sold. And?? $52. A serious deal compared to the others. In case anyone looks and this and thinks, "Yes. Must have." They're Nine West.

Realizing most of my wardrobe is black, nude, and gold.

Sunday Song

2010-07-18T22:28:00.001-07:00