tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60570929814347136512024-03-13T14:42:20.850-06:00Super KarenKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-63919819834397866532012-05-01T00:25:00.000-06:002012-05-01T00:25:12.263-06:00Long time no postSo its been a good long while since I've posted. Yeah, yeah, I know a little bit of the sparkle has been missing from each of your lives without my rapier wit making your day every time I posted. Well, I've decided to get back in the blogging game. A bit. Well, we'll see. For sure this week, because Friday is Star Wars day, and I need to make sure you are all ready to see the awesomeness that is going to be my cupcakes this year. You probably remember the<a href="http://thekaren.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-4th-be-with-you.html"> Darth Vader cupcakes of 2010</a> and the <a href="http://thekaren.blogspot.com/2011/05/may-4th-be-with-you.html">Princess Leia cupcakes of 2011</a>. These ones are going to be of comparable awesomeness. Just you wait.<br />
<br />
Right now I'm totally multi-tasking. I'm blogging and watching Grey's Anatomy. Why did no one tell me about this show sooner!? I'm totally hooked. My roommates were watching the current season, and it looked interesting. Then I found out that all of the seasons but the most recent one were on Netflix. The rest is totally history. I've been multi-tasking all throughout my TV watching, so I have lots of cool things to show you. A Death Star quilt, blocks from the Hobbit quilt-along, and more! I'll get around to writing posts about each of these awesome things eventually, so you can partake in the awesomeness.<br />
<br />
In the mean time, I thought I'd share a bit about why I've dropped off a bit. There are a lot of reasons but the main one is that I've started suffering from depression as about a year ago. Now, don't worry too much... my health is good and my roommates are awesome. One of my roommates has been through a whole mess of depression-related stuff, so she's helped talk me through a bunch of things, and directed me to a great doctor. He started me on Zoloft, and I think that has helped some. True, it makes me more tired, and I gained 20 pounds the first few months after I started taking it, but I consider the side effects worth it if it helps my brain be less wonky. I've also decided to try therapy. I have an appointment this week. I'll let you know what I think. I'm pretty sure that having someone whose job it is to listen to me vent is going to be great.<br />
<br />
I do have to say that I really really really appreciate the several people out there that have been so open about their own journey with depression. They were useful to me, so I thought I'd share them with you.<br />
<br />
Allie at Hyperbole and a Half wrote a post called "<a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2011/10/adventures-in-depression.html">Adventures in Depression</a>." This pretty accurately describes how I feel sometimes. I don't really have a reason to be depressed, but I can't make myself do what I used to do. It's a struggle to get out of bed some days. And when I do, sometimes I just sit at work like a zombie, unable to motivate myself to do any actual work. And then I feel guilty about not actually doing my job. And the guilt makes me more depressed. And then I just cycle down the drain. This isn't consistent, but this kind of thing isn't uncommon in my life these days. Anyways, thanks to Allie for sharing this and making me feel like less of a worthless freak.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite movie critics, Eric D. Snider, used to write a column for the Daily Universe at BYU called Snide Remarks. I first fell in like with his humor my freshman year way back in 1998. Did I mention that he was one of the founding members of the Garren's comedy troupe? Yeah. This guy is pretty funny. And he's the big brother (well, older brother) of one of my most favorite-ist home teachers of all time. So this guy kinda feels like family. You can read his columns from the beginning<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/celebrities-wanted-dead-or-alive/"> here</a>, but the one that is really relevant to this situation he called "<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/the-great-depression/">the Great Depression</a>." My depression isn't to the level that his is, but I really relate with many of the things that he said. Thanks to Eric for sharing this and making me feel like less of a worthless freak.<br />
<br />
I discovered Jenny Lawson, also known as The Bloggess. As of this month, she's a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2012-05-06/combined-print-and-e-book-nonfiction/list.html">New York Times Bestselling Authoress</a>. Fair warning, though... she swears like a sailor and is not shy about saying exactly what is on her mind. I bought her book, and totally loved it. I even got a signed book plaque by being one of the first few thousand pre-orders of the book. I connect with a lot of what she says, but I wouldn't recommend her particular way of viewing the world to all of you. Some of you, yes, but not all of you. If you read her stuff, be prepared for a lot of profanity and fairly twisted stuff. Like squirrel carcass hand puppets. And her stuff is sometimes somewhat offensive. Depending on how easily offended you are. Anyways... she is very open about her struggles with depression and social anxiety, etc. She has written several posts about her struggles, but her most recent post about depression is actually a video called "<a href="http://thebloggess.com/2012/04/depression-lies/">Depression Lies.</a>" Thanks to Jenny for sharing this and making me feel like less of a worthless freak.<br />
<br />
I'm not sharing this so you will worry about me. I know that the handful of people that actually read this blog are all people that love me and care about me deeply. I don't want you to worry. I'm in a safe place, physically, and am working hard on getting my brain healthy as well. I have good support around me and I have good professionals to turn to. I just wanted to make public that I am struggling.... and that struggle is pretty normal... and that brains sometimes get screwed up just like any other organ can get screwed up. I just feel grateful to those who have been public with their struggles and decided that it would be good for me to share as well.<br />
<br />
That's all for now... I love you all!<br />
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-58443647924556014712012-01-18T21:45:00.002-07:002012-01-18T21:45:37.661-07:00Color QuizHey folks,<br />
<br />
I know, I know... long time no post. I've been a bit crazy and haven't really had the energy to post. Today a friend posted<a href="http://www.colorquiz.com/"> a link</a> to a kind of personality quiz online, and I went ahead and took it. It only took a few minutes, and some of the things the results said were strangely accurate. Since you are probably interested in my life if you read this blog, I thought I'd share. I might share actual details about my actual life sometime, rather than results from a silly test, but hey... this is better than nothing, right?<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3 style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Existing Situation</span></h3>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Organized and detail-oriented, she has a very precise and methodical
manner. she needs relationships which offer her understanding,
respect, and approval."</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Stress Sources</span></h3>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Current problems are seen as dangerous and threatening. she is
angry a the thought she will have to continually put off her own goals
for the time being, leaving her feeling powerless to change things. she
feels used, overwhelmed, and exhausted at the demands placed on her. "</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Restrained Characteristics</span></h3>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Open and emotionally involved in relationships and easily finds satisfaction through sexual activity.</span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Giving
more than she is getting back and feels misunderstood and
unappreciated. Feels she is being forced into compromising and even her
close relationships leave her feeling emotional distant.</span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Believes
her hopes and dreams are realistic and sticks to them stubbornly, even
though circumstances are forcing her to compromise. Very precise in the
qualities she seeks in a partner."</span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Open and emotionally involved in relationships and easily finds satisfaction through sexual activity.</span></div>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Believes
her hopes and dreams are realistic and sticks to them stubbornly, even
though circumstances are forcing her to compromise. Very precise in the
qualities she seeks in a partner."</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
</span></span><h3 style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Desired Objective</span></h3>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Seeks to be known for something she has accomplished and uses her
social abilities to win people over. Emotional and sensitive and
romantic.</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your Actual Problem</span></h3>
<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Feeling a lack of energy, she does not wish to be involved in
further activity or give in to demands. she is feeling powerless
causing her stress, agitation, and irritation, all which she tries to
escape by refusing to participate altogether. she tries to escape into a
fantasy world where things go her way and her desires are easier to
reach."</span></div>
<br />
<br />
P.S. Yes, yes it did mention the sex thing twice. Kinda funny, seeing as I've had one date in the past 2 years (and no, there was no sex involved on said date).Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-73446477406095457502011-11-09T16:13:00.003-07:002011-11-09T16:13:33.944-07:00I'm gonna help Book Bomb!<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
Hello Everybody, </div>
<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
So, um... I feel off the blog wagon. I'm going to try and get back on. I do have some fun stories to tell, I just need to sit down and type them up. In the mean time, here's a good cause that may be worth checking out. It involves books, so I'm totally in. I've just copied and pasted a post from <a href="http://larrycorreia.wordpress.com/">Monster Hunter Nation</a>, seeing as how he told the story better than I could:</div>
<br />
Mark your calender. On Thursday, November 10th, I’m going to book
bomb somebody, and not only that, I’m going to ask all of you for help
spread the word because this particular author is in dire need of a
boost.<br />
<br />
I’ve already plugged Variant by Robison Wells once before. I know
many of you read it and liked it. Rob is a friend of mine and a member
of Writer Nerd Game Night. Variant is an excellent read, sort of a
sci-fi take on Lord of the Flies with a twist, and don’t just take my
word for it, it made the Publisher’s Weekly list of the top books of the
year. (which is quite the honor, despite PW hating Hard Magic and
giving it a sloppy review that made it obvious their lazy ass reviewer
only read the first 1/4 of the book. Ultra good Grimnoir and ultra evil
Imperium my ass) <img alt=":)" class="wp-smiley" src="http://s0.wp.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif?m=1303860135g" /> <br />
But I digress. Variant was one of the best books I’ve read this year. I stayed up late to read it in one sitting.<br />
<br />
Normally I wouldn’t bomb the same book again, but Rob is also going
through a really tough time. A little while ago he was diagnosed with a
severe panic disorder. Basically, something in his brain chemistry has
gone out of whack, and his fight or flight reflex is constantly switched
on. As a result this has really screwed up his life. He has been trying
to get it under control and his doctors have been experimenting with
different treatments trying to find the one that will click.<br />
Recently, Rob was laid off from his day job as a result of his
illness. This is a real financial hardship for him and his family.<br />
<br />
What many people don’t realize about writers is that we keep our day
jobs until we have about five or six books in circulation, and sometimes
longer depending on how well they are selling. Writing isn’t the most
steady of paychecks. (I’m doing well enough now that I could just be a
writer, but I happen to love my day job, so I plan on doing it for
probably another year). You’ve got to earn back the advance and even
then you only get paid every six months. Variant is Rob’s first book on
the national market. He had a ways to go before he would be able to quit
the day job, but his illness totally wrecked that plan.<br />
<br />
So I want to book bomb the HELL out of Variant. I want to shove that
thing up the bestseller lists on Amazon and I want to give my friend a
hand.<br />
<br />
What is a book bomb? Well, Amazon has its own bestseller list. It is
calculated hourly and you are given a sales rank based up on how you
stack up against the other six million books on there. It is some sort
of strange rolling average algorhythm, but what it comes down to is, the
more books that are purchased during that particular time frame, the
higher you rank. The higher you rank, the more of their top 50 or top 10
lists you show up on. The more of those you show up on, the higher you
go, the more attention you get, the more books you sell.<br />
<br />
By getting as many people as possible to purchase the book on a single day, it really kicks a book up the rankings.<br />
<br />
So mark your calenders, this Thurday the 10th.<br />
Amazon link to Variant: <a href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=monshuntnati-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0062026089&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr">http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=monshuntnati-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0062026089&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr</a><br />
<br />
If you were planning on buying a book anyway, I highly recommend
Variant. I recommended it before its author fell on really hard times.
Unlike most of my stuff, it is appropriate for adults and teenagers. My
11 and 9 year olds have both read it and really liked it, but they read
grown up books anyway. So it makes a good Christmas present. Even the
lovely Mrs. Correia really liked Variant, and she is the toughest critic
I know. <br />
<br />
If you’ve got a blog, I’d like to ask a favor and please post about
this. Rob is a good dude and needs a hand. And you get an awesome book
out of the deal.<br />
<br />
I’ll put up another post on Thursday linking to some reviews.<br />
<br />
EDIT: And here is Rob’s blog, <a href="http://www.robisonwells.com/">http://www.robisonwells.com/</a> He doesn’t know I’m doing this yet.<br />
<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-85466595449022683092011-07-17T22:16:00.000-06:002011-07-17T22:16:41.783-06:00VanitySo I am going to brave the Arizona DMV (or MVD as they call it here) this week to register my car. I'm thinking about getting a personalized license plate. You know, to give my mode of transportation that added personal touch. Here are some ideas I have:<br />
<br />
This one is self-explanitory<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k1JtDfhoYF0/TiOvoLZrunI/AAAAAAAADzU/yUvIsgZ7frM/s1600/byugrad+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k1JtDfhoYF0/TiOvoLZrunI/AAAAAAAADzU/yUvIsgZ7frM/s1600/byugrad+copy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As is this one:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fR6Z5txd11Q/TiOvoa5GN5I/AAAAAAAADzY/s4DxfK3nG1s/s1600/byuphd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fR6Z5txd11Q/TiOvoa5GN5I/AAAAAAAADzY/s4DxfK3nG1s/s1600/byuphd.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As in "May DAFORCE be with you." I am a nerd, its true...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---GIWTNLCIM/TiOvobZ9g6I/AAAAAAAADzc/4myvfNhLA1M/s1600/DaForce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/---GIWTNLCIM/TiOvobZ9g6I/AAAAAAAADzc/4myvfNhLA1M/s1600/DaForce.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'd be worried that someone would think I'm a "do you want to see my rash" kind of a Dr. With this one...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8VFLvArPlg/TiOvovLq-XI/AAAAAAAADzg/dp0iW2ExYV8/s1600/drkaren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o8VFLvArPlg/TiOvovLq-XI/AAAAAAAADzg/dp0iW2ExYV8/s1600/drkaren.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A shortened form of my name. Well, with my pretend middle initial in the middle...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnxXm5Uk8zs/TiOvohLr6jI/AAAAAAAADzk/Mp9zUkqNjk4/s1600/kajmerr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnxXm5Uk8zs/TiOvohLr6jI/AAAAAAAADzk/Mp9zUkqNjk4/s1600/kajmerr.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Maikar. As in not your car.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRljc_qHeH8/TiOvo3IXKMI/AAAAAAAADzo/QgwG8qxaev8/s1600/maikar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uRljc_qHeH8/TiOvo3IXKMI/AAAAAAAADzo/QgwG8qxaev8/s1600/maikar.jpg" /></a></div><br />
"KAREN" is taken. This one still gets the point across...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUqatUU5twg/TiOvo9j3x4I/AAAAAAAADzs/DqGMJsYz8Sg/s1600/kkarenn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oUqatUU5twg/TiOvo9j3x4I/AAAAAAAADzs/DqGMJsYz8Sg/s1600/kkarenn.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This one references the "Mistborn" trilogy by <a href="http://brandonsanderson.com/">Brandon Sanderson</a>. I'm a HUGE fan of his work. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hRutLXjFPg/TiOvpFAn6eI/AAAAAAAADzw/Pyp9635Ft9U/s1600/Mistbrn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8hRutLXjFPg/TiOvpFAn6eI/AAAAAAAADzw/Pyp9635Ft9U/s1600/Mistbrn.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Karen spelled backwards. Watcher in the woods, anyone?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hv3LCK3kXe4/TiOvpcynCUI/AAAAAAAADz0/eEcsaSmObVE/s1600/nerak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hv3LCK3kXe4/TiOvpcynCUI/AAAAAAAADz0/eEcsaSmObVE/s1600/nerak.jpg" /></a></div><br />
This one is self-explanatory as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yX9FM4xG4fU/TiOvpRleFZI/AAAAAAAADz4/im_r_4wJbqM/s1600/Phdnerd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yX9FM4xG4fU/TiOvpRleFZI/AAAAAAAADz4/im_r_4wJbqM/s1600/Phdnerd.jpg" /></a></div><br />
So what do you think? <br />
<script language="javascript" src="http://www.blogpoll.com/poll/view_Poll.php?type=java&poll_id=199491">
</script> <br />
<br />
If you think of a different one, you can check the availability <a href="https://servicearizona.com/webapp/vehicle/plates/personalizedChoiceSearch.do">here</a>. Just leave a comment at the bottom of this post with your idea. I'm sure some of you will think of something awesome that I haven't.<br />
<br />
I'll be going in Thursday or Friday, so make sure you pick something by then!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-46648255528532750492011-07-15T08:00:00.000-06:002011-07-15T08:00:13.125-06:00Fun with GingerHere is exhibit A:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gXr4N51RsHA?rel=0" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Here is exhibit B: <br />
<br />
I found a <a href="http://darksideofthefridge.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/were-not-really-soda-drinkers/">blog post</a> on making your own Ginger Ale and had to try it. It turned out to be really easy.<br />
<br />
You just get a few pieces of ginger root and a few lemons<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MpL1OK1sfQw/ThcXvcSaaOI/AAAAAAAACvQ/XG2g8CdlN-M/s1600/2011-07-04+13.41.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MpL1OK1sfQw/ThcXvcSaaOI/AAAAAAAACvQ/XG2g8CdlN-M/s320/2011-07-04+13.41.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You rough chop the ginger and grind it up in a food processor with some sugar<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ-2_uC8Kyo/ThcXYvMMyGI/AAAAAAAACuU/sBk-0vOhC84/s1600/2011-07-04+13.49.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ-2_uC8Kyo/ThcXYvMMyGI/AAAAAAAACuU/sBk-0vOhC84/s320/2011-07-04+13.49.10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Until it makes a paste<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jidevf7rdg4/ThcXTBb7hwI/AAAAAAAACuM/AbYiTD8is9U/s1600/2011-07-04+13.49.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jidevf7rdg4/ThcXTBb7hwI/AAAAAAAACuM/AbYiTD8is9U/s320/2011-07-04+13.49.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You add some water, the lemon juice (and the zest if you want) and bring it to a boil. You let it simmer for a half-hour or so and then strain out the liquid. Add some of your ginger syrup to some carbonated water and enjoy!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxoADbhnA1Y/ThjyJcQIyvI/AAAAAAAADy0/pK3WF_wEOuE/s1600/2011-07-09+17.22.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LxoADbhnA1Y/ThjyJcQIyvI/AAAAAAAADy0/pK3WF_wEOuE/s320/2011-07-09+17.22.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It's pretty good. Sweet, yet kinda spicy from the ginger. I dig it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kjg4Vl6I7E/ThjyBt7jt7I/AAAAAAAADyw/E5ZfxK9gwuM/s1600/2011-07-09+17.26.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kjg4Vl6I7E/ThjyBt7jt7I/AAAAAAAADyw/E5ZfxK9gwuM/s320/2011-07-09+17.26.11.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-28215455852632941052011-07-13T08:00:00.000-06:002011-07-13T08:00:07.392-06:00"Winging It" and Caramel Don't MixWhen I went to Denver last month I had a cinnamon roll that was covered in caramel instead of frosting.<br />
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Blew my mind. It was A-Ma-Zing. I took it as a personal challenge.<br />
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The cinnamon rolls came out pretty well. The yeast didn't work quite as well as normal, but they still rose some. Good enough. Ive made these cinnamon rolls often enough that I don't read the recipe. I just kinda wing it.<br />
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I've made caramel before, so I just decided to kinda wing that one too. Bad idea. You see, to make caramel, you mix sugar and water and heat it. Once the water boils away the temperature starts to rise and the sugar starts to burn. Caramel is burned sugar. The color of the mixture starts to darken and the flavor of the caramel gets a bit stronger.<br />
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I thought I would just watch the color of the caramel and know when to pull it from the heat intuitively. Not so much. If the sugar gets too dark, it gets bitter and nasty. This batch got bitter and nasty.<br />
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Even though it was 10:30 in the PM, I decided to try it again. Since I had used most of my supplies, I had to go to the store and get more cream. I tried it again, this time using the correct equipment. That is to say, I used an actual thermometer to tell when the sugar had caramelized to the correct degree. But this time I stirred it to much and the sugar crystallized out. I wasn't prepared to accept failure this time. I added several cups of water and wisked the crap out of it until all of the little crystals dissolved. And then I re-boiled it (with a thermometer) to be able to pull it off at the correct temperature. It worked this time. <br />
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And it was good... See?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IfiKzHR8Qg/ThcXGxfWHeI/AAAAAAAACt4/T5brPQJg6mw/s1600/2011-07-07+23.58.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9IfiKzHR8Qg/ThcXGxfWHeI/AAAAAAAACt4/T5brPQJg6mw/s320/2011-07-07+23.58.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-39209777619129998622011-07-11T15:00:00.000-06:002011-07-11T16:00:15.964-06:00Only When I'm With AmySo I'm not a girly girl. Most of you know this about me. I'm not little and cutesy, and that's ok. The aim of this post isn't to elicit sympathy or compliments or anything like that. I just need to establish a baseline for this post.<br />
<br />
No matter where I am, I've usually had a friend or two who are little, or cute, or universally pretty. they are the ones that get noticed by the men-folk. Sometimes this results in them being asked out by a new guy every single week, sometimes it has allowed them to bat their eyes and get out of speeding tickets when they get pulled over, and sometimes this results in them getting stuff for free. I am not one of these people. Usually.<br />
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Once every blue moon or three, though...<br />
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There was this one time I was out with Amy for her birthday dinner. We went to The Trolley in Springville. I was on one that night, and giving the waiter a hard time the whole night. Well, at the end of the night, he asked if we wanted Amy's free birthday treat. We asked if we could have a piece of their famous carrot cake, because Amy and I had talked about how delicious it looked. He hesitated, saying that they normally only gave ice cream or something small, but then looked at me and said OK. This is the only time (that I can remember) flirting my way into something free. And, yes, the cake was delicious.<br />
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Fast forward to June of 2011. I went to Utah with the EVMCO (more about that later) and take some time to visit my go to my favorite Italian deli in Salt Lake City. Once again, I was on one, but due to lack of sleep this time. I was joking around with the dude behind the counter as I was ordering. He was kinda cute, but I was skipping town the next day (yes, I did bring this up in conversation) and so chose to be more excited about the sandwich I was getting.<br />
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Amy and I sit down and enjoy the food and the conversation. When we were done, we went up to the counter to get something for our leftovers, and the guy (Doug) gets all smiley and asks me if I'm on Facebook. I say yes, so he hands me his card and says that I should look him up if I ever make it back up to Utah.<br />
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This is his card...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELrcBA6HVHI/ThjT2mkpXEI/AAAAAAAADxs/StVqWzbSYik/s1600/BodyDoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ELrcBA6HVHI/ThjT2mkpXEI/AAAAAAAADxs/StVqWzbSYik/s320/BodyDoc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I thank him, and manage to make it all the way outside before Amy and I start into the giggling. It took me by surprise and left me wondering...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cRDCLiyrEgc/ThjfdFk30jI/AAAAAAAADyg/zsvRVpdUzu0/s1600/FryMeme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cRDCLiyrEgc/ThjfdFk30jI/AAAAAAAADyg/zsvRVpdUzu0/s320/FryMeme.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These things only seem to happen when I'm with Amy. I need to hang out with her more often.</div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-26330277970244580062011-07-09T16:02:00.000-06:002011-07-09T16:02:18.053-06:00HaboobedNo, Its not something dirty. A Habob is a massive dust storm. One hit Phoenix last week. This one was somewhere between 3 and 5 thousand feet high. Ka-razy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVJnuzQ5Y0Wm-j8SMbEMYV86CnsR-VFP9UhTh2_WczGLgBp0RaPXS3F7XCwnYhdr0qsBP4Es1EgtafT9zCkghqvHy4AL-vkdGGiNT2xZoN69I4A1iWhQBJIa25aSWTO7FmTpVVbv3Xchs/s1600/PHOENIX-ARIZONA-DUST-STORM-PHOTOS-VIDEO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVJnuzQ5Y0Wm-j8SMbEMYV86CnsR-VFP9UhTh2_WczGLgBp0RaPXS3F7XCwnYhdr0qsBP4Es1EgtafT9zCkghqvHy4AL-vkdGGiNT2xZoN69I4A1iWhQBJIa25aSWTO7FmTpVVbv3Xchs/s320/PHOENIX-ARIZONA-DUST-STORM-PHOTOS-VIDEO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's a video someone put together. It's pretty scary looking!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lrcVqtmugj8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
I should have gone outside to check it out. I just heard the crazy wind, looked up from my book, and said "sounds windy" to my new roommate Wendy. She looked up from her book and said, "yup" and then we both went back to reading. We're an exciting bunch.<br />
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I had no idea what was happening, but this is what I saw when I went outside the next morning...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJvfHpIGOX8/Thdj_MsG6rI/AAAAAAAACvw/8pMFHos8Jr4/s1600/2011-07-06+06.34.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EJvfHpIGOX8/Thdj_MsG6rI/AAAAAAAACvw/8pMFHos8Jr4/s320/2011-07-06+06.34.48.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And here's a side view:<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyTxR5OZm7A/ThcXfCau2GI/AAAAAAAACuk/nrlCidVChOA/s1600/2011-07-06+06.34.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyTxR5OZm7A/ThcXfCau2GI/AAAAAAAACuk/nrlCidVChOA/s320/2011-07-06+06.34.19.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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There is still dust blowing all over the place several days later. Such exciting weather!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-75893942960004048882011-05-23T22:07:00.000-06:002011-05-23T22:07:37.426-06:00Collin and ShamanKatI'm a member of EVMCO, a local choir/orchestra. We had the privilege of playing a concert with Collin Raye this last weekend. It was super fun. That man has a voice like butter. Love it. I didn't shake his hand or anything (I figured that he was being mobbed by enough people) but was a really nice guy. I did give him a thumbs up as he was walking by once and he pointed at me as if to say "No, <i>you</i> are the one that deserves a thumbs up." He was probably right. I do deserve a thumbs up.<br />
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Seeing as I play percussion, we're off to the side of the orchestra towards the back. We don't play every song, so we have some chairs set up back there. Well, during rehearsal while he wasn't singing, but I was standing up playing, he did come and sit down in my chair. So there's that. I don't know that I would call it awesome or anything, but I can now say that I've sat in the same chair as an artist that had some #1 hits. I'm pretty much cool by association. Well, maybe just my backside. Since that's the part that was sitting in the chair. My cheeks are 3.4% cooler than they were the day before. Awesome. I took one picture during a rehearsal in a stake center on Friday night. He was way on the other side of the room, so the pic isn't a great one. I jazzed it up a bit, and put a singing-bubble so you could see where Collin was. Butter.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNt7-UWBTeA/TdsqTvf4IFI/AAAAAAAACkM/AeB7nnRhm-k/s1600/CollinRaye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KNt7-UWBTeA/TdsqTvf4IFI/AAAAAAAACkM/AeB7nnRhm-k/s320/CollinRaye.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I'm coming up to Utah next week with EVMCO, and then I'll be in Denver for a week for work, so I have a LOT of work to get through this week. So tonight I walked down to Taco Bell to get some grub at dinner time. After I had eaten my chicken burrito and munched on some cinnamon twists, I start to walk back on campus. I was walking along, diet pepsi in one hand, nerdy sci-fi book in the other, and some guy asks me if I'll buy some art off of him for some change. Sure. Why not? He looks like a young, blonde, Chuck Norris with a ponytail, complete with black leather vest. And Chuck Norris is awesome. <a href="http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/">The internet says so</a>. <br />
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Alas, he wasn't Chuck Norris. This guy goes by the name of ShamanKat. Yes, with a K in the middle of it. Mr. Not-Chuck-Norris starts rummaging through a backpack and pulls some pictures out of a binder. I tell him to give me whatever he's willing to part with for $5. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and I figured that he needed the $5 more than I did. He gives me a credit-card sized magnifier thingy with a built in light and a picture of an elf.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NF3L-wxz5dA/TdsmmbwmGlI/AAAAAAAACkY/s9umIY_NzyY/s1600/2011-05-23+20.10.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NF3L-wxz5dA/TdsmmbwmGlI/AAAAAAAACkY/s9umIY_NzyY/s320/2011-05-23+20.10.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Its actually a pretty cool picture, even if it does smell a bit weird. Like incense. (No, not like weed. Incense.)<br />
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Those are my awesome stories so far this week. Just thought I'd share with all of my devoted fans. If anything else awesome happens (that I'm willing to share with the world) I'll be sure and write a post about it.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-61682109180330898602011-05-04T23:50:00.000-06:002011-05-04T23:50:04.776-06:00May the 4th Be With YouWell folks, its that time again... International STAR WARS DAY!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV-PdQLMQImgDy9BfOy4k6jkG9LAFJOEi3DcLMXQscDgK6SJhlJlKH8zTnOx-gDB2dK6bxwTw16jBi2Jt9Nqf2xwZUEOHJ8iExfvjy0cMakLBe7Cq2JgyUc5A2bWjZMoPmi_qojFxc0vC/s1600/maythefourth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV-PdQLMQImgDy9BfOy4k6jkG9LAFJOEi3DcLMXQscDgK6SJhlJlKH8zTnOx-gDB2dK6bxwTw16jBi2Jt9Nqf2xwZUEOHJ8iExfvjy0cMakLBe7Cq2JgyUc5A2bWjZMoPmi_qojFxc0vC/s320/maythefourth.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This year's festivities were a bit more low-key than those of <a href="http://thekaren.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-4th-be-with-you.html">last year</a>, but there were still cupcakes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kariEqG8VQ/TcD5z2l4xSI/AAAAAAAACa4/okysEkaxnVU/s1600/2011-05-03+23.54.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1kariEqG8VQ/TcD5z2l4xSI/AAAAAAAACa4/okysEkaxnVU/s320/2011-05-03+23.54.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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These were a little easier to put together. Frost cupcakes in white, color the rest with quite a bit of cocoa to make the hair dark. The amount of dry cocoa powder that I added made the frosting pretty thick, so I had to thin it out prior to putting it in the piping bag. I made the bangs with the chocolate frosting, colored in the middle of the oreos so the white filling wouldn't show, and then I stuck the oreos to the sides with more chocolate frosting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcDEx5q47PY/TcI4MrQt_zI/AAAAAAAACbY/f-djIxCqq-Y/s1600/2011-05-04+22.38.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZcDEx5q47PY/TcI4MrQt_zI/AAAAAAAACbY/f-djIxCqq-Y/s320/2011-05-04+22.38.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I did the lips and eyes and lips with gel colors I picked up at the grocery store. It's a pain to get frosting to a good, dark black or red color and I really didn't feel like dealing with it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7abcSofysU/TcD55il5LnI/AAAAAAAACa8/zfrnv7gDwbs/s1600/2011-05-04+00.01.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7abcSofysU/TcD55il5LnI/AAAAAAAACa8/zfrnv7gDwbs/s320/2011-05-04+00.01.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I think they turned out dang cute!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sAS7BMP52rw/TcIqjb9mGlI/AAAAAAAACbM/g_8OjHvVcIw/s1600/2011-05-04+21.40.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sAS7BMP52rw/TcIqjb9mGlI/AAAAAAAACbM/g_8OjHvVcIw/s320/2011-05-04+21.40.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I also decided to make a "Bantha Milk" punch, rather than just coloring milk blue like I did last year. (The milk that comes from Banthas on Tatooine is blue. It's a Star Wars thing. Obviously)<br />
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<b>"Bantha Milk" Punch</b><br />
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2 cans pineapple nectar (you could use regular pineapple juice)<br />
4 pouches Kool-Aid Blue Raspberry Jammers<br />
1/2 can coconut milk<br />
1/4 cup Lemon Juice (needed a little more tartness)<br />
1/4 cup sugar (needed a little more sweetness)<br />
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Mix all ingredients well just before serving. The coconut milk will slowly rise to the top, but just mix it back in and enjoy. It's a pina colada type of flavor. I really enjoyed it. The pineapple nectar was really yellow, so it turned more of a teal than the blue I was looking for, but it was a fun experiment. Pineapple juice would probably be a little less yellow.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1p0EgCkrXQ/TcIqoEIjjyI/AAAAAAAACbQ/N-mHTL6IAAk/s1600/2011-05-04+19.19.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1p0EgCkrXQ/TcIqoEIjjyI/AAAAAAAACbQ/N-mHTL6IAAk/s320/2011-05-04+19.19.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
May the force be with you all!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-50630911783708168172011-04-21T09:15:00.001-06:002011-04-21T09:15:00.400-06:00One Less Item on my Bucket ListTurns out, they have a killer Ren-Faire in Arizona. I had a few friends that clued me in and took me with them. At the Faire, I paid $5 to ride an elephant. It was a really, really big animal. Like really big. In the words of the lady sitting in front of me "This is definitely the biggest thing I've had betw..."<br />
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Um... I'm not sure how many kids read the blog. Better leave it at that...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPDQ1dJ25XQ/TYJVGFXasFI/AAAAAAAACV4/9adLLEbcH78/s1600/2011-03-12+13.02.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wPDQ1dJ25XQ/TYJVGFXasFI/AAAAAAAACV4/9adLLEbcH78/s320/2011-03-12+13.02.37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It wasn't a long ride, and it wasn't a fast ride, but it was pretty dang fun. And from this point forward, I can say "I have ridden an elephant." Good times!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYKc1dzFgRI/TXxW4kgwnqI/AAAAAAAACTs/u2kjOgkTbnw/s1600/2011-03-12+13.02.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gYKc1dzFgRI/TXxW4kgwnqI/AAAAAAAACTs/u2kjOgkTbnw/s320/2011-03-12+13.02.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Here's a few of the folks I went with. Yes, we're crazy, but not as crazy as a few of the folks we saw walking around. I have nothing against dressing up for these things. I was, in fact, rather jealous of a few of the people that were all medevially-gussied-up. But some of the costumes... yikes. Either because the people were rather... corpulent... and their costumes were rather snug... or because others weren't wearing nearly enough costume. Also, there was inappropriate use of chainmail. Nothing against chainmail, in and of itself, but I do question the judgement of females who wear halter tops made out of it with nothing underneath. For one, there were kids walking around. For two, there's a much greater danger of sunburn that way. And finally, I mean, move too quickly and you're likely to be pinched in a rather uncomfortable spot or two. Ouchie ouch ouch ouchie. No thank you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2gTI5BAhR4/TXxSGNAbzFI/AAAAAAAACTc/J4dWmFfGmYY/s1600/2011-03-12+12.53.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2gTI5BAhR4/TXxSGNAbzFI/AAAAAAAACTc/J4dWmFfGmYY/s320/2011-03-12+12.53.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We walked, we saw some shows (<a href="http://www.heynunnienunnie.com/">Hey Nunnie Nunnie</a> was hilarious) attended the jousting tournament, and ate some giant smoked turkey legs. All in all, it was a pretty good day!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r26NRFIt-YY/TXxTzUtnAJI/AAAAAAAACTg/2OOSzgEoPdI/s1600/2011-03-12+13.00.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r26NRFIt-YY/TXxTzUtnAJI/AAAAAAAACTg/2OOSzgEoPdI/s320/2011-03-12+13.00.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-34923530204025606042011-04-19T09:40:00.001-06:002011-04-19T09:40:00.613-06:00I do it because I can...Pi. A mathematical constant used all of the time in calculating things like the area of a circle and stuff.<br />
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3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820974944592307816406286... and so on and so forth.<br />
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Turns out there is a 3/14 that comes every year. And on this day, nerds of the world unite in the eating of pie. That delicious, wonderful dessert.<br />
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So on pie day of this year, I went to Village Inn and bought my favorite, strawberry rhubarb. And then I took it home, and started eating it from the middle. That's not something that you get to do very often. Its fun. I highly recommend it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-As-u-sRksJY/TX6_jYLBLVI/AAAAAAAACUg/Ti29Zb_LBHA/s1600/2011-03-14+18.21.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-As-u-sRksJY/TX6_jYLBLVI/AAAAAAAACUg/Ti29Zb_LBHA/s320/2011-03-14+18.21.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-88257027574791620022011-04-17T21:12:00.000-06:002011-04-17T21:12:25.136-06:00Finally, a use for ugly ties...So I got an email this week that had a really fun craft idea. It involved destroying ugly ties. How is that not something I would have fun doing? I went to DI and picked out my 6 favorites. I was just going to pick up 2 or 3, but they were only $1 each, and there were so many to choose from so I ended up with 6.<br />
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It's important that the ties are 100% silk. You'll have to check the labels, either the bit on the large half of the tie, or a little label tucked into the back of the small part of the tie. It will either say 100% silk, or All Silk. Either way.<br />
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Once you have your ties in hand, you want to cut them up the back and remove the material inside that keeps them in tie-shape. Also, cut out the lining that you see on the either end. You'll end up with long, skinny pieces of silk.<br />
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You can color hard-boiled eggs, but if you want to keep the eggs around longer, you can blow the shells empty and color them like that. If you do use hard-boiled, its important to not plan on eating the eggs. Tie-dying dye is different from food-dying dye. I wouldn't risk it.<br />
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To blow eggs, you poke a tiny hole in one end (I used a safety pin)<br />
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Then you poke a larger hole in the other end. Put your lips over the side with the small hole and blow into the egg. It takes quite a bit of pressure, but the guts will come out the other end. <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/04/how-to-make-blown-egg-ornaments/">You can read here</a> for how to do it with a baby snot-sucker thingy.<br />
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Once the eggs are have been hollow-ified, you cut a piece of the silk that will cover the egg completely. You also need another piece of material (preferably light-colored) that will fit around the egg as well. This will keep the color from the tie bleeding over from egg to egg. I used some quilting fabric that I didn't really like all that much. You want the right side of the silk (the part of the tie that was seen) to face the egg.<br />
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Wrap the material around the egg and secure with a twisty tie. You could use string here, but I think twisty ties make things a bit easier. Also, I would tie the silk bit first, and make sure that as much material as possible was in direct contact with the egg shell. I just tied both pieces of material at once. I wasn't able to make sure that the silk contact was at a maximum, so I ended up with more white swirly bits on my eggs than some of the pictures you see <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2011/04/silk-dyed-eggs-aka-tie-dyed/">at other blogs</a>.<br />
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Here are my little egg bundles. I started out with an even dozen, but had three casualties in the egg-blowing process.<br />
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After you're all wrapped up, put the eggs in a pot of boiling water with 1/4 C. vinegar added. I didn't measure the vinegar, just slopped some in. My pot probably had closer to 1/2 C. in there. It worked just fine.<br />
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You need to weigh down the eggs. Being hollow, they are pretty floaty otherwise. I used a vegetable steamer and put a glass of water on top. You don't want it heavy enough to crush the eggs, but you do want it heavy enough to keep them down.<br />
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Let them boil for 20 minutes or so. My kitchen pretty much reeked of vinegar both during and after this step. Also, the water turned pinkish from the tie dye.<br />
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Pull the eggs from the water, and let them cool completely before you unwrap them. I just let them sit overnight.<br />
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This is what I found when I did the opening upping. Here's the flowery one. I really didn't get enough of this tie in contact with the egg. Would have been even purdier if I had.<br />
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The red stripeys transferred really well, I think...<br />
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This tie was really ugly, but the egg turned out pretty fun.<br />
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The red paisley one was my favorite. Once again, it would have been even cooler if I had tightened the silk more. D'oh!<br />
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The yellow tie didn't transfer as well. Still kind of fun.<br />
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This one was fun too.<br />
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Here's the other paisley one. Very cool.<br />
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Well, I thought I'd share my Easter festivity. Seeing as I didn't really decorate for Christmas. Or Valentines day. I did eat corned beef on St. Paddy's day. That was festive, I guess...<br />
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Happy Easter week to you all!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-14310252271740816102011-04-15T00:34:00.000-06:002011-04-15T00:34:23.328-06:00Shoulder AngelsThe Emperor's New Groove is a great movie. Here's one of my favorite scenes. I just love the whole dialogue between Kronk, and his shoulder counterparts:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fv-sKP17xTw?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Great, Right!?!<br />
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Well, today I ran across a spin-off on that theme that BYU's Divine Comedy did. Check it out:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nItNbL-CfMQ?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br />
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I 'bout busted a gut! Serious belly laughter! Just thought I'd share with you all :)Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-77635561482511776772011-03-07T00:22:00.002-07:002011-03-07T00:32:48.052-07:00I came for Snider, then stayed for BayerDo you remember how annoying it was to walk all the way around the huge hole that they dug in the ground to expand the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU?<br />
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Or the season the BYU football players changed their uniforms to make themselves more visible to each other and it looked like the entire team was wearing bibs?<br />
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Remember the old BYU Health Center?<br />
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Have you ever been to a<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/lyrics/official-garrens-history/"> Garrens </a>comedy show?<br />
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Do you remember the dances in the step-down lounge of the SFLC?<br />
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Does the acronym SFLC make you giggle?<br />
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Were you annoyed when BYU changed their 'official' colors from Royal Blue to Navy blue because you had to change a large part of your fandrobe? (Fan wardrobe. I just made that word up. I have a PhD now, so I'm allowed to make words up) <br />
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If the answer to most of these questions is a resounding YES, you were at BYU during the era of the "<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide.php">Snide Remarks</a>" columns that first appeared in the the Daily Universe. This is where I first experienced the hilarity of a man named "Eric D. Snider." Eric wrote a regular column for the Universe for several years, and I was a pretty big fan. If you were, or are, currently stationed at BYU, you will probably find these hilarious. Eric has kindly posted the entire run of his Snide Remarks articles on his <a href="http://ericdsnider.com/">website</a>.<br />
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Here are some that I enjoyed during my stay at BYU:<br />
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"<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/a-freshmans-guide-to-byu/">A Freshman's Guide to BYU</a>"<br />
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"<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/ncmorons/">NCMOrons</a>" <br />
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"<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/michael-mclame/">Michael McLame</a>"<br />
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"<a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/letters-entertain-you/">Letters Entertain You</a>"<br />
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Eric's brother was my home teacher the next year, and I actually got to meet Eric once. Well, I'm not sure we actually met, but he was visiting the Centennial Apartments where I lived, and someone pointed him out to me. If I remember correctly, he was mooning someone up on one of the balconies from the hot tub. It could have been someone else, so don't hold me to that memory. Pretty funny whether or not it was him. Well, funny to me now. I'm pretty sure 19 year old me was pretty shocked. Which makes it that much funnier thinking back on it.<br />
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Fast forward a bit. The Snide Remarks Column left the Daily Universe. Sad Day. Luckily for the world, Snide Remarks lives on! Well, they have been a bit sporadic in the past few years, but are about to get regular again. A bunch of us <a href="http://www.ericdsnider.com/blog/2011/01/04/a-year-of-new-snide-remarks/">chipped in</a> and talked him into writing the columns weekly once again. It's going to be good.<br />
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So Eric has moved on, and is now a professional movie critic. I enjoy reading his reviews, and have come to trust his rating scale. If he gives a movie a A- or B+, I'm probably going to go and see it.<br />
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About a year ago, Eric started doing a movie podcast with <a href="http://www.koinstudio6.com/content/contributors/story/Jeff-Bayer/kU8gI6CdNUGHXno2oT8fzg.cspx">Jeff Bayer</a>. They call it "<a href="http://moviebs.cascadia.fm/">Movie BS with Bayer and Snider</a>". Get it? BS? Because their last names are Bayer and Snider? They do a weekly show and talk about movies. Well, mostly they talk about movies. Sometimes they get a little off subject, but mostly they stay on track. The occasional word or two of profanity slips out, but they keep it pretty clean other than that. So don't be worried if you see an "Explicit" warning in iTunes. Yours truly is the official "Arizona Fan" as of<a href="http://moviebs.cascadia.fm/2011/03/04/movie-b-s-episode-49/"> Episode 49</a>. Well, I get all of Arizona for now. As more fans claim turf, I'll probably have to share.<br />
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Jeff Bayer is "the tallest film critic in America," not that that really matters for radio. I've been accustomed to Eric's snarky humor, and Jeff brings his own. It's so much fun to listen to their banter. Their opinions line up most of the time, but they aren't afraid to butt heads if they disagree. Also, Jeff has the cutest little giggle when he gets really excited about something that a movie did right. Eric is an online critic, working for film.com and cinematical.com (and probably others). Jeff is a TV critic and has a segment on his local news segment (look for "<a href="http://www.koinstudio6.com/content/featured-on/default.aspx">Flicks on 6</a>" to see a clip of him). He goes on more junkets than Eric (Eric has been on only one) and so gets to interview more of the celebrities. He also has a <a href="http://thescorecardreview.com/">website</a>.<br />
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I really enjoy how Jeff and Eric both balance each other out and enable the crazy of the other. I have subscribed to the show on itunes, but listen live whenever I can. I am a<a href="http://www.facebook.com/MovieBSpdx"> Facebook Fan</a>, and I got a twitter account so I could follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BayerJeff">Jeff</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/EricDSnider">Eric</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/MovieBS">the Show</a>. <br />
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Check them out!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-71948161472716070702011-02-22T23:37:00.000-07:002011-02-22T23:37:06.893-07:00Wulfie and the Soldier BoySo Jack died. I already covered that. Brian and Caroline upgraded to a Swagger Wagon, and were nice enough to sell me one of their cars. He's a 2003 VW Jetta, Wolfsburg edition. I've named him Wolfgang, Wulfie for short. A good, strong, German name. He's great. A nice, quiet, smooth ride. It has a factory-installed CD player, that may not appeal to the criminal element around here and prevent it from getting stolen. We'll see. They might break in after they see what is right underneath... a tape deck! I know. Awesome, right? I hadn't noticed it until my ride home from work today. When I got home, I looked around and found an unlabeled black cassette tape on one of my bookshelves. Now, I haven't had a cassette player in a decade, give or take a few years. I'm not 100% sure on that timeline, but I do know that it has been a good long while. There have been at least 5 or 6 moves since then. And for some reason I still have it here in Arizona. I was so psyched to find out what was on it that I went out and listened to the first bit of Side A.<br />
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Here's the lineup so far:<br />
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Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis<br />
When I think about Angels - Jamie O'Neal<br />
Te Aviso, Te Anuncio - Shakira<br />
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Any guesses as to what the remaining songs will be? I don't see the pattern yet, but I'm sure the whole tape is great.<br />
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Back to the car. It has a beepy thing to open the doors, automatic windows, an automatic transmission, cruise control, a speedometer that goes up to 160 mph, and a full spare. Which is good, because I totally ripped one in public on the way home from LA. Ripped a tire, that is. Yeah, I was pulling into a gas station and there was a truck pulling a trailer taking up the middle of the entrance, and I thought I had enough room to get by. I hit the curb, and just knew. I pulled forward to the pump, got out and just looked at the tire. Some kid pointed out that it was flat. Thanks kid. It was a really busy gas station, so I decided to pull away from the pumps to change my tire. There was a nice handicapped spot directly ahead of me, so I pulled forward. I got out and looked at the tire again. Sighed, and then figured out how to pop my trunk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Byi_Q4vzPnw/TWLOyaIV63I/AAAAAAAACSM/ddam9qeemjw/s1600/2011-02-20+17.27.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Byi_Q4vzPnw/TWLOyaIV63I/AAAAAAAACSM/ddam9qeemjw/s320/2011-02-20+17.27.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I pulled out the spare (yay for full spares!), and the jack. I tried to figure out how to remove the bolt covers (because my new car is hip like that). My brother-on-law Ben taught me how to change a tire years ago, but the bolt covers must have left me with a helpless look on my face. A nice soldier dude (Air Force, I think) offered to help me. He went and got a screwdriver and took off the bolt covers while I started figuring out my new jack. It didn't take very long to get the spare on. I thanked the nice soldier man, and filled the air in the spare with the air hose that happened to be right in front of that particular parking space.<br />
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Driving off into the sunset never felt better!<br />
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Here's a side-shot of Wulfie. Isn't he fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWA3OKz63cw/TWR0Ykov1LI/AAAAAAAACSc/BJ6GDwKz0q4/s1600/2011-02-22+18.20.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jWA3OKz63cw/TWR0Ykov1LI/AAAAAAAACSc/BJ6GDwKz0q4/s320/2011-02-22+18.20.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-66573715823857701242011-02-16T23:09:00.000-07:002011-02-16T23:09:46.200-07:00The most comforting smell on the planet...Ah, the smell of bread baking... Is there anything that is more homey and comforting?<br />
<br />
My claim of domestic-goddesshood rarely goes challenged. There are many women out there with skills, but few who rival my own when it comes to things domestic. Okay, not really, but you do have to admit that I do have <i>some</i> skills worth bragging about. But I do have a friend named Debbie who is even more talented than myself in many of the aspects of domesticity. She comes by her amazing talent honestly seeing as how her mom, Jeannie, is pretty amazing as well. She put together Debbie's wedding cake, and I can say that it was THE most amazing piece of food art I have ever, ever, ever seen. My mom and I make wedding cakes, true, but we are just hobbyists. We are not really cake perfectionists. Our generally accepted rule of thumb is that if a mistake cannot be seen from the back of a galloping house, it's not enough to worry about. Jeannie's creation was perfect. Huge and perfect. Huge, perfect, and beautiful.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure I have all the facts right, but I'm sure the story went something like this:<br />
<br />
Jeannie got frustrated with the dense, dark whole wheat bread that resulted from the recipes in the cookbooks, so she slaved and toiled in her kitchen until, after years of trial and error, she came up with something better. Light, fluffy, delicious. I first had a taste at Debbie's house. She has shared the recipe with me several times. Several times, because I keep losing the ones she gives me. Partially because I love all of you, but mostly so I won't lose it again, I'm going to post it here on my blog. Debbie said as long as I give credit where credit is due, I was welcome to make this recipe public. To make it the way Debbie does, you need a wheat grinder and the amazing guts that are found inside a Bosch mixer.<br />
<br />
The following has been brought to you by the kitchen wizardry of Jeannie Prete:<br />
<br />
"The Yummiest Wheat Bread on the Planet!"<br />
<br />
Place the following in the bowl of a mixer:<br />
<br />
1 cup Potato Flakes<br />
1 1/2 cup Oatmeal<br />
1/2 cup vital wheat gluten<br />
1/3 cup Honey<br />
1 cup sunflower seeds or grains (optional)<br />
4 cups hot water<br />
<br />
Mix a little and then add:<br />
<br />
3 Tablespoons active dry yeast<br />
<br />
Let proof for 5 minutes.<br />
<br />
While you wait grind 4 1/2 cups of wheat. (This ends up being somewhere in the vicinity of 7 1/2-8 cups or so of flour)<br />
<br />
Add to mixture (it should be a bit bubbly):<br />
<br />
3 cups of the flour you just ground<br />
1 Tablespoon salt<br />
1/4 cup olive oil.<br />
<br />
Turn on the mixer and slowly add the rest of the flour you just ground.<br />
<br />
Mix for 10 minutes. Yes, I know its a long time. Just set a timer and go and do something else. This long mixing time is crucial for the loaf to turn out light and fluffy. This is where the Bosch mixer really shines. I used to have a Kitchenaid. I tried to make bread in it, but the dough just tended to stick on the dough hook and get a ride around the bowl. Entertaining, yes. Effective, no.<br />
<br />
After 10 minutes of mixing, form the dough into loaves and place in bread pans. This would make 3 big loaves, 4 medium loaves, or 8 small loaves. Approximately. The dough is very sticky, and will seem wetter than the dough made with other recipes. If you'll grease your hands before you work with the dough, you'll have an easier time working wit it.<br />
<br />
Butter the tops of the loaves, and let them rise until the dough doubles in size.<br />
<br />
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. If you take a loaf out of the pan and tap the bottom, it should sound hollow. And it should be a pretty golden brown color. That's how I tell if they've baked long enough.<br />
<br />
Let cool for 5 minutes in the pan. The bread will come out of the pan much easier if you let it sit first. Turn out onto a cooling rack and let sit until completely cool. Don't wrap them in plastic until they are completely cool. Otherwise, the steam will collect and make the outside of the bread mushy. Mushy = bad.<br />
<br />
There you have it folks. Enjoy.<br />
<br />
Here are some pictures I took tonight:<br />
<br />
<br />
Here is my wheat being ground into flour. I used hard white wheat. White wheat has a bit milder taste than the red wheat. Plus, I have a 45 lb bucket of it in my pantry. <br />
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Here is the bin of freshly ground flour. There was a late-night incident involving myself, a piece of cardboard, and a bottle of gorilla glue. Its a fairly entertaining story that I will save for another day. The result is that the Magic Mill that I got from my grandma doesn't produce flour as fine as it should. As a result, I have to grind 5 cups of wheat berries to produce the same volume of flour (for this recipe) that Debbie can produce with 4 1/2. I think she has a WhisperMill, or MagicMill, or somesuch. <br />
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Here is a fairly low-quality picture of the bubbles the yeast made in the ingredients that were mixed before any flour was added. <br />
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This is what the dough looks like after it has mixed for 10 full minutes. <br />
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I was able to make 4 little loaves and 2 medium-sized loaves with one recipe of dough. <br />
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They rose beautifully. I haven't made anything with yeast since I moved in, so I was a bit nervous that my yeast had died in my freezer.<br />
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Here are my happy little loaves, all golden-brown and delicious. Well, I'm assuming they're delicious. I actually binged on pizza and bread pudding tonight, so I haven't actually tried any yet. I'm looking forward to breakfast tomorrow! <br />
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This is the least brick-like whole grain bread that you will ever taste! Thanks again to Debbie and Jeannie!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-85099667356424292882011-02-11T22:14:00.000-07:002011-02-11T22:14:54.488-07:00My $100 miracleI was pretty crazy about couponing when I was in Provo. I still am at heart, but I haven't had the time to keep up on it. I'll get around to it one of these days. It takes quite a few hours to get organized, but then only takes a few hours each week to keep up with the coupons. I'll blog about the whole process at some point in case any of you turn out to be that particular flavor of crazy as well. It's pretty fun, if you're into that sort of thing. Getting away with 70% savings at the grocery store gives me quite the rush. Right. Back to the story.<br />
<br />
So back in my couponing heyday of yester-month, I signed up for a whole passel of couponing newsletters. I still get the newsletters and occasionally sort through my un-clipped coupon stash for a specific coupon so I can get a few jars of peanut butter for $0.50. For example.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, a few weeks ago there was a notice saying that there was going to be a market survey in Scottsdale and we were all invited to put in our information (Marital status, number of people in my household, etc...) to see if they needed someone from our demographic to fill up the study. I've done a few of these and they usually pay fairly well for a few hours of work, so I filled it out. A few days later I got a very polite email saying that they were full and didn't need me. Ah well. C'est la vie.<br />
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A few days later I got a phone call from them asking if I had received an email. I told them that I had and that It had said that they didn't need me. I had a sudden burst of excitement that maybe someone backed out and they had an opening to fill. Alas, twas not to be. They just hadn't written down who all was coming so some pore sap had to make a bajilion phone calls to find out.<br />
<br />
A few days after that I got <i>another</i> phone call saying that they did want me after all. So Monday after work I drove up to Scottsdale. As it turns out, it was a market survey for a brand of bagged salad. Fresh something or another. They took six of us into a room, gave us each a bag of salad. As instructed, we looked carefully at the packaging before we got to eat some. They had my favorite kind of salad dressing (Brianna's Honey Poppyseed) and that made it even better. The salad was actually pretty good. We went around the table and talked about our collages and what we did and didn't like about the salad. Oh yeah, we had homework. We each made a collage about bagged salad. It was pretty great, in a scissors and gluestick kind of way. Then we went into the other room where there were six women who had only <i>heard</i> about the salad. We talked about it with them, and then the people in charge asked them what they thought about what we had told them. And so on and so forth. After a few hours of this they gave us $100 each in cash.<br />
<br />
It was pretty great. So I hopped in my little green truck and started to drive home. I had been noticing all day that I had to gas it pretty hard to get going. And even when it could, it sounded like it was revving more than normal. But, what's a girl to do. I just kept going, hoping to make it home.<br />
<br />
But fate was not smiling on my truck. I was fairly close to home, but still on the freeway, when there ceased to be going, and was only revving when I put pressure on the gas. Since I knew there were problems a brewing underneath my hood, I was sticking in the righ-hand lanes. I was able to pull over just fine.<br />
<br />
I sat in the seat for a bit, putting the truck in and out of gear, revving the engine, hoping it would catch enough to go. Then I popped the hood and checked the oil. It was low. My truck has pretty much reached drinking age, as it were. I remedied this problem, and then tried going again. Not really surprising, but the transmission had little to do with the fact that my oil level was a little low. But it was worth a shot. The transmission fluid wasn't low.<br />
<br />
A highway patrolman pulled over to let me know that if my truck stayed on the freeway past 6 AM that it would be towed. I assured him that I would have it gone by then. I then looked up tow-companies nearby on my Android phone. Hooray for smartphones! I was even able to look up reviews on Google to make sure I was calling a reputable place. I found one that I felt comfortable with and they showed up in less than 30 minutes. The nice tow guy jacked Jack onto the back of his flatbed tow-truck and we dropped him off at my mechanic.<br />
<br />
The charge for the loading and towing came to $73.50. I didn't have that much in my checking account, seeing as how I had just purchased a couple of tickets to Comic-Con on Saturday. I couldn't transfer money from my savings account right there. But wait! I had $100 dollars cash in my pocket. It's was a February miracle! Ok, perhaps not. It was pretty amazing either way.<br />
<br />
I called a friend (my new Comic-Con buddy) and she took me home. The mechanic looked at my transmission. The hydraulics aren't gone, but it still needs quite a bit of TLC. I may fork out the cash to fix it, or I may invest that money in something a little more reliable. Right now, I'm ejoying the joys that are public transportation. Seeing as how my work bought me a bus pas that's good until August, this inconvenience is costing me a little bit of time, but not any additional money.<br />
<br />
Good times.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-24925518087108978182011-01-06T21:50:00.000-07:002011-01-06T21:50:34.033-07:00Eating for HamiltonA few weeks before Christmas, it was suggested by a recent acquaintance that I try out for the EVMCO. That is, the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization. No, not singing. I mean, I have a decent voice and I can carry a pitch and all, but singing isn't really my thing when the option to hit things with sticks is a possibility. There is an orchestra attached to this choir organization. Orchestras usually have percussion section. This was about two weeks before Christmas. Problem is, I didn't have anything to practice on. I knew a few music people, so I'm pretty sure I could have found a band director to let me practice on a marimba or somesuch.<br />
<br />
Enter Craigslist. Search term: Xylophone...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TSaK8qaBuJI/AAAAAAAACQY/vX57DUaIbT8/s1600/2011-01-06+20.21.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TSaK8qaBuJI/AAAAAAAACQY/vX57DUaIbT8/s320/2011-01-06+20.21.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is what now takes up half of my tiny, tiny living room. I've named him Hamilton (after the famous <a href="http://georgehamiltongreen.com/">George Hamilton Green</a>). Could I really afford this right now? No, not really. Have I wanted one of these for a really long time? Yes, yes I have. How long? Well, back then my wardrobe involved a grungy flannel and wearing overalls with one of the straps unhooked. Probably with a hyper-color shirt underneath. With pogs in my pocket and a slap bracelet on my wrist. Dreaming about the boy with steps shaved in his hair and rocking the Hammer pants. You get the idea.<br />
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It was a good deal, and then someone asked me if I would drive up to Utah with them for Christmas. Paying for gas is a lot cheaper than any plane ticket, so I was able to save some of the money that way. It was a stretch, but I scraped up the rest too. The lady selling it couldn't believe that someone actually wanted a xylophone. It seemed so random to her. I think its random that she had one in the first place. Things will be tight for the next little bit, but its been really fun to play again. Seeing as I only had 4 days to practice before the auditions for the EVMCO, it probably doesn't surprise anyone that I really blew the audition. Like REALLY blew the audition. I got really nervous and started 30 or 40 bpm faster than I can play that piece right now. Don't worry, I'm OK. Failing means I tried in the first place or some other sappy saying like that. I'm not scarred for life or anything. In the past not being part of an organized group meant that I didn't have any way to play. But now I do. Hooray for Hamilton!!<br />
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What does this have to do with food? Well, since I've moved down here I've tried several new restaurants. You know, scouting out the lay of the land and such. Problem is, restaurants are expensive. Especially the really yummy ones that have real waiters. Even the ones that involve drive-through windows and/or dollar menus can take a toll on your wallet if you go with any form of regularity. Spending money I hadn't planned on spending to get Hamilton in my life means I really need to keep an eye on my budget. One of my New Year's resolutions is to eat more of the food I already have at home. So today when I saw an ad for Sonic and I really wanted that BLT and Tots for $3. It would have been so easy and Sonic is on my way home. I resisted. Some way, somehow. Instead, I went home slapped something together that ended up being pretty tasty. I thought I'd share the 'recipe' with you. I didn't use a formal recipe, I just threw together stuff that seemed tasty and it worked out:<br />
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Chicken Pasta a la Hamilton<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1 lb. Bowtie Pasta<br />
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cubed<br />
<br />
1 large onion<br />
8 oz. cream<br />
1/3 C. flour <br />
32 oz. chicken stock <br />
4 large cloves garlic, chopped<br />
1 lemon, zest and juice <br />
~3 Tbsp. olive oil<br />
1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves<br />
Salt<br />
Fresh ground black pepper<br />
<br />
Put a large pot of water on to boil. Add a few teaspoons of salt to the water. While this is heating up, cut the onion up. I peeled the onion, cut it in quarters, and then cut these in 1/2 inch strips. Put these in a large saute pan with the olive oil. Cook over medium heat until they start to soften. Add the garlic and chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally. Add lemon zest, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. When the chicken is cooked, add the 1/3 C. flour and stir to absorb all of the olive oil. Cook this, stirring occasionally until the flour coating the chicken and onions starts to brown. At this point add the chicken stock. I had a box that was 32 oz and I didn't want to store a partially used thing so I added it all. You could easily substitute the canned stuff or even just use water and a couple of bouillon cubes. Oh, I threw in the lemon juice at this point too. Bring this all to a boil, stirring to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan. Turn the heat down, but continue to simmer the mixture. The flour will start to thicken the stock. While this is cooking, add the pasta to the boiling, salted water. Boil pasta for 5 or 6 minutes. Drain the pasta (it won't be all the way cooked yet) and then add to the chickeny mess in the other pan. Add the cream at this point. Cook all together, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is done. The pasta will absorb some of the liquid and be more flavorful than if you let it cook all the way in the water. Pull off the heat and let sit for a few minutes for the sauce to thicken up a bit more. It was pretty saucy, so I ate it out of a bowl with a spoon. And then I had seconds.<br />
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I didn't take a picture of this one. Once you've seen one pasta dish with a white-ish sauce, you've seen them all. Plus, I didn't think of it until after I had already eaten. You're going to have to use your imagination. <br />
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There you have it. A tasty dinner with plenty of leftovers! I had some cheese I thought about adding, but this didn't really need anything else. I know most people don't have fresh thyme on hand, but using the dried stuff will change the flavor quite a bit. It would still be good, but not as good as if you had fresh thyme. I found some fresh thyme on clearance at the store a few days ago. Fresh thyme with lemon is SO TASTY to me. You could use fresh basil and throw in a few sun-dried tomatoes if you are fancy enough to have those on hand. Or, you could just use dried Italian seasoning instead of the thyme. This whole thing was just using what I had on hand. Feel free to experiment. This particular recipe was extra fun, because the lemons on the tree outside my house are finally getting ripe. So I got to walk outside and pick one. It was super cool. I give you permission to be jealous. The grapefruits are still pretty green, so I haven't experimented with them yet. I might make a batch of grapefruit marmalade or something.<br />
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We'll see.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-85829200009423692012010-12-16T21:26:00.002-07:002010-12-19T18:20:50.893-07:00Oh gingerpig, oh gingerpig, how tasty is your frosting...Maybe because its my first Christmas in 9 or so years without snow, but I haven't really gotten into the Christmas spirit all that much yet this year. So I decided to bake. Food is a great mood-altering substance.<br />
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Hmmmmm... What to make. Well, Christmas = Cookies. And the whole Birth of Jesus thing, of course. YAY for the Nativity.<br />
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But also... yay for gingerbread!<br />
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Nana shared a great recipe with me quite a few years ago. It's pretty much great. So great, in fact, that I don't even feel guilty for eating a half dozen-ish while catching up on The Biggest Loser. I mean, how can you say no t this. (Hint: The answer = you can't. Even Chuck Norris would cave)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TQrgEVkcdII/AAAAAAAACPU/lihAsh6VGYc/s1600/2010-12-16+20.34.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TQrgEVkcdII/AAAAAAAACPU/lihAsh6VGYc/s320/2010-12-16+20.34.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm going to take some to work tomorrow to contribute to the growing stack of Christmas junk that is accumulating at the office.<br />
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Here's the recipe so you can make some of your own:<br />
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<b>Stained-Glass Gingerbread Cookies</b><br />
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees<br />
<br />
<i>Ingredients:</i><br />
<br />
3 1/4 C. Flour<br />
1 tsp Baking Soda<br />
1 tsp. Salt<br />
1 tsp. Ginger<br />
1/2 tsp. Allspice<br />
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon<br />
3/4 C. Butter (room temerature)<br />
3/4 C. Sugar <br />
1/2 C. Molasses<br />
2 Tbsp Water <br />
Jolly Ranchers (or other hard candy)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JUwKwzho5Ml9c9-gCwuBImdO4h1gzAfaztsAU2uRX693KRr5e-plUJxvUr3sbokNsimASDTwXK81FosaGnlCwgAnx3r8Dlz7nmPk07miO_ZPHHkXYnDZL1tJ5fNVt_Y7CnaO-H9RbOk4/s1600/mrtchoc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JUwKwzho5Ml9c9-gCwuBImdO4h1gzAfaztsAU2uRX693KRr5e-plUJxvUr3sbokNsimASDTwXK81FosaGnlCwgAnx3r8Dlz7nmPk07miO_ZPHHkXYnDZL1tJ5fNVt_Y7CnaO-H9RbOk4/s1600/mrtchoc.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JUwKwzho5Ml9c9-gCwuBImdO4h1gzAfaztsAU2uRX693KRr5e-plUJxvUr3sbokNsimASDTwXK81FosaGnlCwgAnx3r8Dlz7nmPk07miO_ZPHHkXYnDZL1tJ5fNVt_Y7CnaO-H9RbOk4/s200/mrtchoc.png" width="149" /></a>
<li>Mix all dry ingredients together and set aside</li>
<li>Cream butter and sugar.</li>
<li>Beat Molasses and Water into butter and sugar.</li>
<li>Gradually add flour mixture, beating at low speed until completely mixed.</li>
<li>Refrigerate overnight.</li>
<li>Line cookie sheets with foil or parchment paper.</li>
<li>Divide dough into 6 pieces. </li>
<li>Roll out one piece at a time to a thickness around 1/4 inch, keeping the dough you are not using cold in the fridge.</li>
<li>Cut out cookies with your finest cookie cutters. </li>
<li>Place unbaked cookies on parchment or foil-lined cookie sheet.</li>
<li>(Optional step) Cut out smaller shapes from the middle of the cookies and fill with crushed hard candy. Crush the candy by putting in a sturdy bag (Each color in a different zip lock freezer bag inside a paper grocery bags work really well) and then smash them with a hammer. I take this outside and smash it on the cement. If the bag thing doesn't work, you can put the candies in a box, then put that box in another box, mailing it to yourself, and then smashing it with a hammer when it arrives. Either way. Put the cookies on the lined cookie sheet, and then put the candy powder in the cutout. Fill just to the top of the cookie. <i>If you do this step, make sure to line the cookie sheets.</i> I pity the fool who has to clean melted Jolly Ranchers off of their best cookie sheets. </li>
<li> Bake cookies for 5-6 minutes at 375 degrees. DO NOT OVERBAKE. The cookies will puff up, but won't change colors. They may not look baked, but take them out of the oven. Take them off of the hot cookie sheet and put them on a cooling rack. They will cool and stay nice and soft. However, if you like your gingerbread a little crispy, feel free to bake them for a few more minutes.</li>
<li>If you want to frost the cookie, do it after they are completely cooled.</li>
</ol>Enjoy! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMtvvKygPI/AAAAAAAACJc/7RmpafcjR9s/s1600/2010-11-22+08.29.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><br />
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.fg-a.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Clipart" border="0" class="embeddedObject" height="152" src="http://content.screencast.com/users/fg-a/folders/christmas/media/7d014586-ce64-442b-a1e6-276c8414d7dc/ctree_5a.gif" width="100" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-20743368974391672582010-12-02T12:00:00.000-07:002010-12-02T12:00:02.015-07:00When life gives you pink lemons...When life gives you pink lemons, you can consider yourself better than people that have been given boring yellow lemons.<br />
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Just Kidding! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMv2SjSo9I/AAAAAAAACKo/Rx7ih7naOrA/s1600/2010-11-14+19.48.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMv2SjSo9I/AAAAAAAACKo/Rx7ih7naOrA/s320/2010-11-14+19.48.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Did you know that there was such a thing as pink lemons? So cool! There was someone giving away a bunch of pink lemons at a garage sale, and I took a handful of them. Since life had given me pink lemons, I decided to make myself some pink lemonade.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMvgkjXEzI/AAAAAAAACKY/S8NnrwxiMhg/s1600/2010-11-14+20.00.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMvgkjXEzI/AAAAAAAACKY/S8NnrwxiMhg/s320/2010-11-14+20.00.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Juicing the lemons gave me about 1 1/4 cup of juice. I put this in a 2 quart pitcher, added somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 cups of sugar, and filled it with water and poured myself a cool tangy glass.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMtvvKygPI/AAAAAAAACJc/7RmpafcjR9s/s1600/2010-11-22+08.29.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMtvvKygPI/AAAAAAAACJc/7RmpafcjR9s/s320/2010-11-22+08.29.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
By the time it was diluted down, it was a pale pink, and was just as tasty as normal yellow lemonade.<br />
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Hooray for the citrus-friendly climate of Arizona! In a few more weeks, the lemons, oranges, and grapefruits growing in my yard will be ripe! Yummers!!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-79782197356568814102010-11-30T21:55:00.001-07:002010-11-30T21:56:48.962-07:00The Violation of Jack, in Four Acts<b>Act One: The Acquisition of Jack</b><br />
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In contemplating a move to the greater Phoenix area, I decided that I needed a vehicular with working air conditioning. Ron helped me find a cheap truck that fit the bill. We pulled it down behind the U-Haul, and It's served me well so far. There is a bevy of problems with the truck, but it gets me from place to place and that's good enough for me. The suspension is a little wonky so it leans a bit. I named it Jack, after the guy in "While You Were Sleeping"<br />
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<b>Act Two: Riding on the Metro</b><br />
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Since I've moved to Arizona, I park and ride to work. You see, the Metro Light Rail goes right through both ASU and downtown Phoenix. (♫ Riding on the Metro-o-o ♫) Some days I work at ASU, and some days I work at TGen in downtown Phoenix, and sometimes I go back and forth between the two. The Metro is pretty convenient for this. Plus, my work bought me a year train pass, so I get to ride the Metro for free.<br />
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<b>Act Three: The Violation of Jack</b><br />
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Today I drove Jack to the Park and Ride lot like I always do. I rode the Metro to TGen in Phoenix. I went to my meeting. I had lunch. I rode the Metro back to ASU. I finished my normal workday out. I rode the Metro back to the Park and Ride Lot. (♫ Riding on the Metro-o-o ♫) I went to where I had parked Jack, The first thing I noticed was bits of glass sparkling in the lamplight.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPW5D85767I/AAAAAAAACPI/Gu9Omq4_v6Q/s1600/2010-11-30+17.50.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPW5D85767I/AAAAAAAACPI/Gu9Omq4_v6Q/s320/2010-11-30+17.50.29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The second thing I noticed was the lack of glass in the driver's side door of my truck.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPW42wHOAxI/AAAAAAAACPE/UoE6VN3gxjI/s1600/2010-11-30+17.49.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPW42wHOAxI/AAAAAAAACPE/UoE6VN3gxjI/s320/2010-11-30+17.49.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The third thing I noticed was a bunch of wires sticking out where my stereo used to be. A bunch of other things hit me faster than I could number them. My glove box was open, but the only thing that seemed to be missing was a small box of tampons. Maybe the thief was a female and had a need for such supplies. I resent the taking of the stereo, but I'd never begrudge relevant supplies to a fellow female in need. I had assumed that the thief was male, but I couldn't figure out why a dude would steal that and not the pair of pliers that were right there. Later, I found the box on the floor and alleviated that particular bit of confusion. I was back to resentment. I could tell they looked behind my seat, but I don't think they took anything else. I'll check a little more carefully when its light outside.<br />
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I dedicate the following song (starts at around 1:34) to my stereo...<br />
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<b>Act Four: Comfort Food</b><br />
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The thieves took many things. They took my stereo. They took my sense of security. They took some of my time, as I called the police and such to report the crime. I'll get back to you on the other things they took.<br />
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One thing they didn't take? Maurice the dash pig. (crazy ol' Maurice, always good for a laugh). Also, they didn't take the ten dollars I had in the ash tray! I used this ten dollars to buy myself some comfort food, namely, a Sonic hamburger with green chile on it (hooray living in the Southwest again!), french fries, diet coke with the lovely little pebbly Sonic ice, and a chocolate malt. And then I went home and ate it all as I watched several episodes of "Jeeves and Wooster." There may or may not be a long list of chores that need doing, but I decided to neglect them all in favor of venting to you in this blog post. I think it worked, as I feel much better. A bit emotionally drained, but better.I'll just go to bed early tonight. Things always look better after a good nights sleep...<br />
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I'll most likely ride the bus to the Metro tomorrow (♫ Riding on the Metro-o-o ♫), so I can call around and find out the best place to take Jack to have his window replaced. It's not the end of the world. Its just a pain. At least it does't snow in Phoenix. In fact, it's supposed to get back up into the 70s this weekend.<br />
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Pros of living in Phoenix include the great winter weather. Cons of living in Phoenix include the rampant thievery. Also, people that with a lack of personal hygiene that ride the Metro. (♫ Riding on the Metro-o-o ♫) Seriously people, would a bath every few days kill you? Blech.<br />
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Ah well... C'est la vie... Such is life...<br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/YdCM4stFFP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/YdCM4stFFP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-57157071014611144352010-11-28T21:24:00.000-07:002010-11-28T21:24:00.633-07:00Thanksgiving 2010Several of the Merrells went and spent Thanksgiving with Brian and Caroline in Santa Monica. They recently moved to an apartment that is 11 blocks from the beach. A few of us took a jaunt down to check out the ocean on Thursday morning. Mom was determined to go into the ocean. It was much colder than she had anticipated...<br />
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They had lots of toys, and some of them were adult-sized. The boys took a turn climbing (well... trying to climb) ropes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMA9NsiM1I/AAAAAAAACIU/qD0hmmp2pGw/s1600/2010-11-25+12.39.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMA9NsiM1I/AAAAAAAACIU/qD0hmmp2pGw/s320/2010-11-25+12.39.24.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>It was pretty funny. Allen made it up a little higher once he took his shoes off, but didn't quite make it all the way to the top.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMBZdlaNaI/AAAAAAAACIY/k8R_UXwfj2Y/s1600/2010-11-25+12.39.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMBZdlaNaI/AAAAAAAACIY/k8R_UXwfj2Y/s320/2010-11-25+12.39.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Johnny had a great time. He's a fun kid. Quite the man-child. He's big enough that you forget that he's not even a year and a half yet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMBzZ4MFEI/AAAAAAAACIc/mHYpQQIQiWI/s1600/2010-11-25+12.38.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMBzZ4MFEI/AAAAAAAACIc/mHYpQQIQiWI/s320/2010-11-25+12.38.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Mom and Allen rushed between waves to write "Happy Thanksgiving 2010" in the sand. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMY7NmR16I/AAAAAAAACJA/o0vRiuLHo-E/s1600/2010-11-25+12.29.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMY7NmR16I/AAAAAAAACJA/o0vRiuLHo-E/s320/2010-11-25+12.29.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> It was a beautiful day!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMC1m58MlI/AAAAAAAACIs/QgVtbkruBC0/s1600/2010-11-25+12.30.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMC1m58MlI/AAAAAAAACIs/QgVtbkruBC0/s320/2010-11-25+12.30.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here's a bit of a better angle on the beach writing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMGT24x-kI/AAAAAAAACI4/IEcQOqK3D4c/s1600/2010-11-25+12.29.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMGT24x-kI/AAAAAAAACI4/IEcQOqK3D4c/s320/2010-11-25+12.29.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I flew in a day early to start the cooking. I really enjoyed making so much food... I've had limited opportunities for cooking in Arizona. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Not all that surprising seeing how much I love food. We had turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, corn, rolls, and green bean casserole. The green beans were kind of an afterthought. Mostly because we realized that we hadn't planned for anything green on the plate.<br />
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Here's the 'before' picture of my plate. The turkey is hiding under the ham, and the roll hadn't yet made it on the plate. But you get the idea.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMAcK-sbyI/AAAAAAAACIQ/NEqUNgOt_Is/s1600/2010-11-25+14.04.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMAcK-sbyI/AAAAAAAACIQ/NEqUNgOt_Is/s320/2010-11-25+14.04.07.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>And here's the 'after' picture. It was delicious. So was the Thanksgiving-induced coma. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPL_xPkUknI/AAAAAAAACIA/LtTUZm7Sy9o/s1600/2010-11-25+14.31.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPL_xPkUknI/AAAAAAAACIA/LtTUZm7Sy9o/s320/2010-11-25+14.31.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was a good time. I've missed hanging out with my family these last few months. Seeing family was just what I needed. I got to play with my nephew Johnny.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMZAEUxGZI/AAAAAAAACJE/UJrw5ihM3lw/s1600/2010-11-24+13.40.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPMZAEUxGZI/AAAAAAAACJE/UJrw5ihM3lw/s320/2010-11-24+13.40.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And I got to meet my newest nephew, baby Tyler.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHegQ0jGEI/AAAAAAAACHk/1qRxCMbRV_A/s1600/2010-11-26+18.33.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHegQ0jGEI/AAAAAAAACHk/1qRxCMbRV_A/s320/2010-11-26+18.33.35.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>I took this picture myself with my cell phone camera, and I guess I didn't aim very well. Little Tyler is a super cute little guy. Grandma loved playing with him as well. He was pretty alert for such a new baby. We all had fun passing him around.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHdU2fHRKI/AAAAAAAACHU/LOaWTnCryS4/s1600/2010-11-27+09.07.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHdU2fHRKI/AAAAAAAACHU/LOaWTnCryS4/s320/2010-11-27+09.07.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We went and checked out the Santa Monica Pier the next day. There were lots of people there that day, including a bunch of people fishing off of the end of the pier. Yuck! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHfIikh00I/AAAAAAAACHw/nunI1DZ6jMc/s1600/2010-11-26+15.25.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TPHfIikh00I/AAAAAAAACHw/nunI1DZ6jMc/s320/2010-11-26+15.25.21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was beautiful weather, and good times with the family. I took a few pictures of Caroline and Verenda, but they must have been with my mom's camera because I can't seem to find them. Caroline is looking very well, especially for someone who had a baby last week. Verenda looks like she's ready to have her baby any day now! I can't wait to meet baby Valerie, and hopefully, Verenda and Ron's new baby.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-64265679849257836402010-11-11T22:32:00.000-07:002010-11-11T22:32:50.476-07:00Remembering CoryWow. This is a hard post to start. It hurts to refer to a friend in the past tense.<br />
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Cory Jenkins was such a great guy. I first met Cory working with him in the Chemistry Central Stockroom at BYU. That was a fun job, and Cory was one of my favorite people to work with. He was a goofy guy, and always happy. Well, he was pretty miserable when his allergies acted up, but would still make the most of things.<br />
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He also worked for Lecture Prep., setting up all of the classroom demonstrations that the Chemistry professors use to spice up their lectures. Here's my favorite Cory memory: I was working at the stockroom, and Cory comes streaking in with a panicked look on his face. He grabs the green Merck index off of the shelf and searches the pages for a few minutes. He finds what he's looking for, lets out a sigh of relief, and only then tells me what is up. While working in the lecture prep room one day he had noticed a big bottle of Methylene Blue. For those of you not familiar with this gem of a chemical, it turns your pee blue if you eat it. I guess seeing this big bottle of pee-color-changing potential was too much for him to resist. He opened the bottle, got a scoop of it out, and then ate it. That is when the panic set in. In his own words, Methylene Blue is "OH, so bitter!" It was only then that he wondered about how safe it was to eat. Thus the panicked rushing into the stockroom to check the entry in the Merck Index.<br />
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The funniest part of this whole story is that this whole episode didn't scare him off at all. Rather, it made his scientific brain kick in, thinking of ways to mask the taste, alternative methods of ingestion (like putting it in gelatin capsules), and finding the minimum effective dose for effective pee coloring. He was going to use himself as a test subjects, as well as a few volunteer classmates. I'm not sure what came of all of the plans. I think he gave up after a few rounds. It's still pretty funny. There are still blue fingerprints on the Methylene Blue page of the Merck Index in the Chemistry Central Stockroom. Good times!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFhpjiIXphqGYsaus93MIes62GXgV7lZutLemLGr8uILtWKvUBP93eaLa26FGDzEPiA8_G_ov0G_K5wc8fJJAh3NFT7_Mph7fR1ONyChoK_Y7TOSHWBovGvD1vxF6AHjfsD-Bss-oug5R/s1600/coryandreagan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFhpjiIXphqGYsaus93MIes62GXgV7lZutLemLGr8uILtWKvUBP93eaLa26FGDzEPiA8_G_ov0G_K5wc8fJJAh3NFT7_Mph7fR1ONyChoK_Y7TOSHWBovGvD1vxF6AHjfsD-Bss-oug5R/s320/coryandreagan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cory graduated and I never saw him again. He moved away and got married. He went to PA school, and decided that he could get some good experience in the Army. His daughter was born a month before he was deployed.<br />
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Capt. Cory J. Jenkins, 30, of Arizona, died Aug. 25, 2009 in southern Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Wash.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TNzKlbuXLfI/AAAAAAAACFc/MBfBtMiPO4M/s1600/101111+Cory+Jenkins+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_K1Mi9LmKXl4/TNzKlbuXLfI/AAAAAAAACFc/MBfBtMiPO4M/s320/101111+Cory+Jenkins+Grave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Since Cory was from Mesa, I thought I'd go pay my respects. It is Memorial day, after all. I went to a florists shop a few blocks from my house to pick up some flowers to take. Funny how its appropriate to take a guy flowers after he's dead, but kind of weird otherwise. Anyways, she was running a little low on red, white, and blue flowers, but she had a few left. I told her what I wanted to spend, and she put together a really nice bouquet. I have a feeling she gave me a bargain. Sometimes people are great. I'm definitely going to her next time I need some flowers.<br />
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It breaks my heart that a guy that was only over there to help people was lost to us. And that he was only 30 years old. He was such a great guy. My heart breaks for his family.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Here's a nice tribute I found on YouTube.<object height="344" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/CD29zvSSNP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/CD29zvSSNP0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />
I count myself lucky to have known such a great guy... We'll miss you Cory!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6057092981434713651.post-14119128131462659482010-10-10T00:34:00.000-06:002010-10-10T00:34:39.053-06:00Mrs. Rashae!So my ex-next-door-neighbor Rashae moved to Arizona last year, met the man of her dreams and got married this last Thursday. I moved down here just in time to be able to make their wedding cake! I normally do one, maybe two a year, but this is my fifth so far in 2010!<br />
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l think it turned out really well. The reception was beautiful, with fall colors, great music, and amazing food (including an ice cream bar!)<br />
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Brian and Rashae are so dang cute together! Seriously adorable!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The place was packed, and the happy couple barely had any time to eat. They did manage to grab a few bites here and there!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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They didn't shove the cake into each other's faces! They were very nice to each other.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rashae's students will have to get used to calling her Mrs. Aldridge instead of Miss Holt. I remember when I was in 5th grade and a teacher got married in the middle of the year and I thought it was so weird that we had to call her a different name all of a sudden. Funny how things look different from the other side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><br />
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I almost can't stand how happy they look!<br />
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And I love the comfy footwear!<br />
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Corinne and Emily were thee too. It was really good to see Utah friends!<br />
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At one point the DJ had the groom pick 4 other men from the crowd, and then made them wear Village People headwear and dance to the YMCA. It was pretty random, but hilarious!<br />
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Gotta love any couple that will make a silly face for the camera on their wedding day!<br />
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Hooray for the newly-formed Aldridge family!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01308187912796977775noreply@blogger.com5