MistressFizz

Obligatory New Years Resolutions Post

2012-01-01T10:07:00.004-05:00

Four for 2012:

* Half or more meals without any meat

* Go to the public library more often

* Leave work by 5 PM at least once per week

* Learn WPF

Waking Up

2011-09-11T10:00:00.004-04:00

A cloudy Sunday morning, a breath of wind and sighing leaves. Cup of tea, dog walked and fed and resting head on paws, Coldplay's Viva la Vida soft in the background, contemplating and reflecting and glad to be alive.

Fall Fashion

2011-09-09T08:32:00.013-04:00

Another reason why fall is my favorite season: fall fashion always seems to work best on me.

First, the colors! Gone are the pale pastels and wan flowers. No more pinks and yellows and Hawaiian prints. Instead, all the stores are stocking mulberry and paisley and dusky teals.

And then, the return of sleeves! I do not wear strapless well, given my shortcomings in the boob department. And my workplace frowns upon sleeveless shirts. So I always welcome cool weather fashion, with its sleeves, cuffed and trimmed and buttoned in all their glory.

Fall fabrics are also much to my liking. Not as thick as winter clothing, but nothing you can see through, either. And most fall styles are meant for layering, which is wonderful when shuttling from home to an office where temperature regulation is nonexistent, to grabbing a drink outdoors, to walking the dog.

Oh, and I love fall jewelry. Leaf and acorn motifs, purple and black gems, bronze and copper accents. Plus pumpkins, apples, and other harvest related designs. They sure beat seashells and roses!

The sad part is that fall is so short. Everything turns into sweaters and peacoats within a few weeks. But I'll enjoy while it lasts!

Goat!

2011-08-19T08:01:00.008-04:00

Checking "goat" off the list of meats I have tried. This one was done by the geniuses of Stage Left, roasted whole for several hours until the meat fell off the bone. Surprisingly, it tasted like a gamey duck, tender with just a hint of chewy. Of course, it helped that the curry sauce served with it was absolutely delicious - delicate and spicy, a perfect accompaniment.

Book Splurge

2011-08-16T10:55:00.004-04:00

The Borders going-out-of-business sale has been extremely bad for my bank account.

But very, very good for my bookshelves!

I guess the one near us is a "superstore" which is receiving stock from other locations that are closed. We keep going back each week and seeing new things to buy at very nice discounts. Man, sometimes I wish we weren't such book whores!

Another One Bites the Dust

2011-08-05T15:07:00.005-04:00

Yet another alt-rock station in the NY/NJ area has shut down. FM 101.9 used to play everything from Pearl Jam to Cake to The Bravery. Now they play tepid soft rock. Sigh. That's the third radio station to go since we've moved here.

Savage Beauty

2011-07-20T17:51:00.004-04:00

Went to see the Alexander McQueen special exhibit at the MET yesterday. Gorgeous stuff. I'm not really a follower of fashion, but it's easy to see how he crossed into visual design and art in general. No wonder the community was devastated at his passing last year.

Tick Tock

2011-07-14T08:33:00.003-04:00

So I always interpreted the "biological clock ticking" phrase as feeling like you want kids because your body/mind insists it's time and you feel this urge to procreate. Kind of like an alarm, indicating "hey, it's time, get to it!"

But now I think it means something else. Not hormones or a switch which signals "time to have a baby!" but instead, it's a "have that baby before your body fails!" message. More like a bomb ticking than an alarm clock.

Pandemic

2011-07-10T15:04:00.005-04:00

Not to worry, there isn't some outbreak. We played the board game Pandemic last night and I really liked it! Unlike most games, it's cooperative rather than competitive. You are essentially racing the clock, to cure diseases and prevent their spread across the world.

There were two advantages to working with the other players, rather than against: that nice sense of team accomplishment (though we lost the first time we played...) and it went by so much faster, since you didn't have to sit idly by while your opponents determined their next move.

I think cooperative games are probably harder to design well, since you have to prevent the players from becoming too powerful when banded together, but still ensure they are motivated to work with each other. I think Pandemic handles that pretty well. I definitely want to play more!

Bath Suds

2011-07-05T14:13:00.005-04:00

About two months ago, I tried a sample of Villainess Soap and I've been smitten ever since. It started with a thin little sample slice, and now I'm contemplating buying half a dozen bars at once.

Starting at $5 per 3.5 oz bar, they are definitely luxury items. But I love, love, love how they feel on my skin. The lather is smooth and silky, the fragrances are delicious without being overbearing, and the formula manages my oily skin without turning it to sandpaper.

It's actually kind of sad - I wish I could take more showers each day!

Closing Time

2011-07-04T20:51:00.004-04:00

Sign of the economic hard times: my favorite bagel place, ice cream vendor, framing store, and Italian restaurant have all closed within the past six months.

I guess there just weren't enough customers, no matter how good the product or service. It saddens me when small businesses go, especially these little mom-and-pop places which offer something unique at a reasonable price. I can only hope the owners bounce back when times get better.

Emerald City Comic Con

2011-04-24T20:50:00.027-04:00

This is more than a month old, but I wanted to state for the record: We had a blast at ECCC! Seattle is my favorite US city and though we only stayed the weekend, it was still great. I loved the friendly vibe and not having to wait four hours in line to get in!

The biggest highlight for me was meeting Kurt Busiek, who turns out is not only the most talented writer in the industry, but the nicest man in the world!

There was a charity art jam at a local bar, where we watched David Mack go nuts with paint, and local artists mix it up with big names to make some beautiful pieces.

And as usual, we got some quality original art. A few examples:

Axe Cop! Dinosaur! Dinosaur Gun Arms!

I adore Scottie Young's style. His work on the Marvel Wizard of Oz is just gorgeous. We got a cowardly lion and FROG THOR cover! Yay, FROG THOR!

Ryan Ottley, of Invincible fame.

I've just recently gotten into Elephantman, which is a freaking amazing book. They did these sketches for free!

Panel from The Darkness, a guilty pleasure of mine.

We got prints and lots of other sketches too. Since it was so laid back and chill, we spent a fair amount of time just talking to the artists and writers. While NYCC is a great event, it's good to attend a smaller Con and get away from the crush of people and attitudes. I think we may have to make an annual trip to ECCC!

Tax Season

2011-04-10T16:45:00.004-04:00

Alternative. Minimum. Tax.

We got hit with AMT this year. This must be how Republicans are made.

Victory Sleep

2011-04-05T21:50:00.007-04:00

Having slain the terrible fuzzy stuffed cow, the warrior pup takes a well deserved nap.

Sometimes I think she's a little cat trapped in a big dog's body.

Verse

2011-04-04T09:11:00.022-04:00

This weekend I read through my T.S. Eliot collection and remembered how much I like his work. Today, I had images inspired by these lines running through my head:

I do not know much about gods; but I think that the river
Is a strong brown god - sullen, untamed and intractable,
Patient to some degree, at first recognised as a frontier;
Useful, untrustworthy, as a conveyor of commerce;
Then only a problem confronting the builder of bridges.
The problem once solved, the brown god is almost forgotten
By the dwellers in cities - ever, however, implacable.
Keeping his seasons, and rages, destroyer, reminder
Of what men choose to forget. Unhonoured, unpropitiated
By worshippers of the machine, but waiting, watching and waiting.
His rhythm was present in the nursery bedroom,
In the rank ailanthus of the April dooryard,
In the smell of grapes on the autumn table,
And the evening circle in the winter gaslight.

Excerpt from The Dry Salvages

It's been a long time since I've written poetry. This month I plan to read more, in celebration of National Poetry Month. Maybe I'll turn out a verse or two of my own as a result!

Three Zero

2011-03-31T21:48:00.014-04:00

Where did Q1 2011 go? We're on the prowl for a new house, work is ridiculously busy, and oh, I turned thirty. Yeah. Thirty used to be mid life. Half gone. Crisis time.

Well, maybe not. Certainly we're living longer these days, so 30 isn't exactly panic time. I hate the thought of getting old, though. Despite all the shit life dishes out, ultimately, I'm content and don't want it to end. It's still early, but I'm finding it difficult to come to grips with aging.

It seems I've spent most of adult life fulfilling petty childhood dreams. I own a dog. I went to San Diego Comic-Con. I own a Lego Star Destroyer and Death Star. I routinely feed my insatiable appetite for books. I collect original artwork. I order from Previews. I indulge in pretty paper, paint, and all manner of art supplies. I have awesome sex. I watch whatever TV shows I want. I own more than one corset. All these things I wanted as a child, all these small wishes, I've spent the last two decades fulfilling. It sounds selfish and ignoble, but in the end, the little pieces add up to a significant whole.

The best is that I've achieved financial independence. As a teenager, this was my wildest dream, my greatest hope - that some day I wouldn't need to rely on anyone else for money. In my thirtieth year, I can pay my own bills, provide for my loved ones, and plan for the long term. I'm proud of this fact, and while I'm sure the inevitable fall will come, at least for now, it makes turning 30 not so bad.

But then again, mid-life crisis is a good excuse to buy a Maserati...

Starting 2011

2011-01-08T18:18:00.023-05:00

Had a lovely vacation in Washington DC before New Year's. It was so nice to take some real time off! I haven't been that completely disconnected from work since the honeymoon in March.

We stayed at The Monaco, which was wonderful. In addition to being pet friendly (we got to bring the dog!), the building is historic and beautiful (it was formerly DC's general post office) with friendly staff and complimentary benefits: coffee/paper in the mornings, wine each evening, reliable wifi. We were upgraded for free to a spacious room with comfy king bed. It was walking distance to the metro, national mall, and a host of eating spots. I would definitely stay there again!

We did the usual DC tourist museum hopping and ate lots of great food. My favorite was Jaleo, a Spanish tapas restaurant, where the mixed drinks were amazing and every dish was fantastic.

It was a nice, relaxing trip. None of the snow hit DC while we were there. We spent the days sleeping in, taking long meals, strolling the streets, and generally enjoying ourselves. I couldn't have asked for a better way to wind down.

Make With the Happy Holidays!

2010-12-23T21:48:00.002-05:00

Tis the Season

2010-12-17T08:55:00.012-05:00

A few weeks ago, I went to a firing range for the first time.

Having never held a gun, much less fired one, I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were two experienced shooters in our group: a long time gun owner and a state trooper. Because of that, the range allowed the rest of us to rent pistols. The folks at the range were no-nonsense and quite friendly. And gun safety is really just common sense. Don’t point a loaded gun anywhere except down the range, wear ear protection and goggles, set the safety back after shooting, hands off the gun when talking to someone, etc.

I shot around 80 rounds, which isn’t really much. It proved to be a wonderful mental exercise and actually relaxing. My mind was focused on nothing but the gun and what I was doing with it – the immediacy of handling something that could so easily kill pushed aside all other worries and stress. The routine of loading, checking safety, taking stance, aiming, breathing, created its own kind of zen. I can definitely understand why some people love shooting and could spend hours at a range just being in the moment.

The rental was a semi-automatic .22 pistol and hardly had any kick at all. I think with enough practice, I could have shot that thing one-handed with considerable accuracy.

Then I tried my friend’s .44 and big difference! Thanks to Tai Chi, I didn’t fall over or hit myself in the face. But it definitely takes some strength to keep steady while firing. Movies and TV shows where the badass shoots high caliber pistols from each hand – yeah, I don’t think it works that way.

While I won’t consider owning a gun, I wouldn’t mind going back to the range and renting again. It was really fun and certainly a skill I wouldn't mind having.

Curling!

2010-12-12T17:21:00.008-05:00

Tried curling today! Super fun way to kill two hours on the weekend. It actually requires more stamina than expected and I totally fell while sweeping. But it's a good time and the folks at the rink were delightful!

Autumn Leaves

2010-12-01T16:11:00.004-05:00

Trees are awesome, until it's time to rake the fallen leaves in autumn. This year I learned how to operate the leaf shredder, which allowed us to process double the volume. The joy of being outdoors during lovely fall weather almost makes the cleanup worthwhile.

In Which We're Amazed at How Fast Time Flies

2010-11-29T10:51:00.007-05:00

Wow, almost an entire month since my last post!

Mostly I've been working. Lots and lots of work.

Attended cousin's wedding at The Foundry, a really awesome spot for a party. Brick alcoves lit by candles, dancing under exposed beams, and good fun all around.

Hosted thanksgiving this year. Nothing huge, just his side of the family. Yummy Dr. Pepper glazed ham, apples & fennel stuffing, potato gratin, and my signature lemon cheesecake squares. Having parents over, even for a few days, is exhausting. I can't image how they dealt with us kids for 18 years!

Morphic

2010-10-31T16:31:00.006-04:00

We met Halee of Morphic at the ChristChurch arts center in New Zealand and bought two hoodies from her. They were made by her and her husband from NZ merino wool. With the weather getting chilly, I broke out the hoodie this weekend and discovered all over again how awesome this stuff is. The merino is warm but breathable, and not itchy at all. It's comfy and stylish and perfect for a fall evening. I think I would actually sleep in this thing!

They're on Etsy as well!

Dog Eat Dog

2010-10-20T10:44:00.009-04:00

Well, our dog isn't a cannibal. But she loves bread. More than chicken or sausage or any other meat. The only time she has ever tried to snatch food from our hands, was for a fresh baked Philly pretzel. Forget training with treats or a clicker. She will do anything for a slice of plain white bread.

I wonder if it's a carbohydrate craving born of being fed mainly protein? She also flips out for noodles and rice. But bread is her ultimate ambrosia.

Every time she looks up with those big brown begging eyes, just imagine a thought bubble above her head with one word: Bread?!

NYCC 2010 - Art Goodies!

2010-10-16T14:35:00.022-04:00

Finally, some time to post a few art gems from this year's NYCC.

Adam Hughes! For a $5 donation to an English Sheep Dog rescue, you got a quickie head sketch:

Also, his wife is such a sweetheart. She manned the booth and kept the line interesting. And she loves dogs!

Awesome commission by Esad Ribic:

Ken Knudtsen. This one was really fun to watch! He went mad with these huge oil pastels, then razor bladed in a flurry. The colors are actually super vibrant, the photo doesn't do justice.

Alex Maleev watercolor. Again, the photo doesn't capture how amazing this really is!

Dirk Shearer, who did this using a technique called scratchboard, where blades are used to "scratch" the black ink, revealing white clay underneath. The results are pretty amazing - reminds me of a mix between woodblock print and inking.

We're considering getting the rest of the FF in this style by him.

Two commissions are still outstanding, and we got a bunch of other sweet original art, including pages and sketches. Having artist's alley in a separate section was definitely a plus this year. We got to meet lots of new talent and chat with the artists at length. I love how NYCC is still mostly about comics, and not overrun by TV and movie studios.

NYC Comic Con 2010

2010-10-11T10:55:00.060-04:00

The crowd at the Javits Center was crazy this year! On Sat, it felt the same as SDCC - one could barely move between exhibits. There were more people in costume (though we didn't feel compelled to take many pics) and a huge PC gaming floor that wasn't around previously. I'm really glad we went on Friday and Sunday too; it gave us some extra time to wander the booths. In terms of panels and retailers, I wasn't too impressed. But on the art side, it was all we wanted and more.

That's mainly because artist's alley had its own large area, away from the main exhibit hall crush. I'll post the art haul separately. A few highlights first:

* There was an excellent epic fantasy panel, featuring some of the hottest writers on the market right now: Jim Butcher, Joe Abercrombie, Peter Brett, Naomi Novik, Brandon Sanderson. Everyone was friendly and funny and well spoken. Wordsmiths talking about their craft always makes for an interesting time. The next day, we got to meet Peter Brett and Brandon Sanderson for autographs, which was definitely awesome!

* My costume was a win! I dressed up as Liandra from Fallen Angel and got to meet the creative team. It was pretty much the best reaction I could hope for. Peter David frantically called his wife and daughter so they could take a picture. JK Woodward offered to use me as the cover model for an upcoming issue (he wasn't quite sober, so not sure if that will really happen). What a great feeling, to bring some appreciation and joy to people who have provided me hours of entertainment and good reading.

JK Woodward, Me [fist bump] Peter David:

I fights the good fight:

Blurry but badass:

* We got to meet Bruce Campbell! Twice!
Red Suit Saturday:

White Tux Sunday:

* BPAL was selling their entire general catalog of scents, along with a bunch of exclusives. In addition to buying enough oils to last a lifetime, I got tons of free sample imps. They were super nice folks and hopefully they come back to NYCC every year!

* And the best toy...Adult Swim's humping robot! With wind-up lovin' action!

We also picked up a bunch of new graphic novels and comics, which is one of the best things about attending a Con. There's immense pleasure in discovering a new creation by speaking directly with the author/artist/publisher. We definitely have some great reading material for the months ahead!

Anticipation!

2010-10-07T21:30:00.004-04:00

We are NYCC-bound tomorrow! This year's convention is looking really good. For the first time, we found things we're interested in on Friday. So excited!

Rotten Tea

2010-10-05T20:46:00.027-04:00

I didn't actually hate the tea party until now.

On the Nov 2010 statewide ballot in Missouri will be Proposition B, also called the "Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act."

And next Tuesday, the Missouri Tea Party will be hosting a Vote NO on Proposition B meeting.

What the fuck?

Granted, the Missouri Tea Party isn't the only opponent of this Act. But to see them join the ranks of large scale commercial breeders and puppy mill operators just gets my blood boiling. In my eyes, those groups are the lowest scum and filth of the earth. For any political organization to ally themselves with such ilk is simply abhorrent. The tea party always struck me as a bunch of idiots who enjoy bitching, but not providing viable solutions. I understand it's a stressful time and everybody needs an outlet. But to direct that energy against helpless animals, especially dogs, who have been bred as sensitive companions keenly attuned to their environments and reliant on us for physical and social fulfillment, is sinking to a whole other level.

Yeah, I know it's just this Missouri chapter, and that doesn't necessarily reflect the entire movement. But I don't doubt they are receiving some national funding and the fact that anyone who professes to be in this party could be against something like Proposition B just leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth.

Mooncakes

2010-09-25T07:41:00.007-04:00

We discovered a bakery nearby that makes the most delicious mooncakes! They have a fresh taro version that is amazing, along with the usual red bean and lotus. For a long time, we would buy imported boxes containing pastries pumped with preservatives, individually sealed in plastic. These always brought nostalgic satisfaction, since my parents served pretty much the same thing when I was young. But mooncakes still warm from the oven, direct from the baker, are simply far superior!

Ghostly Greyhounds

2010-09-20T10:02:00.009-04:00

Yesterday we attended a picnic sponsored by Greyhound Friends of NJ. I can't think of any other dog breed where 50+ of them can all gather so peacefully within a few yards of space. There was minimal barking, a little whining and soft "roo" every now and then, lots of polite sniffing, and hardly any territory squabbles. All the dogs just sat or stood around panting. It was seriously awesome seeing so many beautiful animals clustered together, and seriously spooky how quiet and calm they all were.

One person there put it best: "It's like a bunch of cute aliens came down to earth, and are just milling about."

Sometimes Mona is so chill, we wonder if it's normal. But then we see a whole pack of greys and feel relieved - they're all like that!

Gathering the Pieces

2010-09-17T13:30:00.009-04:00

For NYC Comic Con this year, I'm planning to take the plunge and attend in costume. It's my first attempt at this kind of thing. I'm not investing too much effort (or money!) into this endeavor, having selected a pretty obscure and practical character. I figure after seven years of attending conventions, it would be fun to dress up at least once.

I've been collecting materials for a few months now. Halloween is just around the corner, so hopefully the rest of the components I need will be readily available!

BPAL Verdict

2010-09-09T15:41:00.010-04:00

After much delighted sniffing, I've decided that BPAL is my thing after all. I love the variety and while not every scent agrees with me, there's still something wonderfully real about each one. The chemistry in the oils yields something totally different from conventional perfumes from cosmetic companies. There's a warm organic quality about them that invokes emotional response.

While I'll never amass the hundreds that others have collected, I think I'll start picking up interesting scents in the secondary market.

Fantasy Is Not Dead!

2010-09-05T06:41:00.029-04:00

Although I've only posted a small number of book reviews, I'm a voracious reader, especially of fantasy. There's a lot of crap in that genre, but I'm happy to report that this year I've read at least two thoroughly satisfying series.

Mistborn has been around for a while, but I only just finished the trilogy (yes, an actual trilogy; the third book does conclude the story!) and the best feature of the books is the unique and inventive magic system. Sanderson really fleshes out the world's arcane rules and mechanics, which totally appeals to the gamer in me. Lots of action, plot twists, and interesting characters with great relationships.

The second series I'm really digging isn't done yet. First book is The Warded Man and its sequel, The Desert Spear, just came out this year. Again, I'm attracted to the well designed magic system, and the way its rules govern the world. Plus, the main characters are badass and their adventures much fun to follow.

These two authors have built wonderful standalone universes that are consistent, filled with creative creatures and personalities, and best of all, they both write well. In a sea of tropes and bad fiction, it's nice to find books I'll definitely read again and again.

Mall Escapade

2010-08-22T07:34:00.012-04:00

To blow off some steam yesterday, I went to the mall. It was hot and humid outside, and after spending six hours at work on a Saturday I really needed to get away from anything remotely resembling a computer or chair.

I walked into a random clothing store manned by two guys, probably around my age. I was the only customer and they were really friendly, striking up a conversation in a non overt sales-in-your-face kind of way. It was the last day of work for one of them and he joked that he always wanted to cause a scene before he left. I joked back that I would totally play along if he wanted.

So we chatted until some other customers came in. I winked, went into the changing room, then came out in a fury, cursing and saying how the clothing sucked and the sales clerk had better bring me three sizes of all the dresses in the store and how could he be so rude and everything in the store was ugly and disgusting and I deserved better.

Without missing a beat, he yells at me, "Yeah, well, fuck you and fuck this, I fucking quit!" and storms out.

Oh, the looks! Wide eyes and dropped jaws. I'm sure it cost the store some sales, as the customers glanced around nervously and left. But a few moments later he came back and we all had a good laugh.

Probably the most fun I've had at the mall for a long time. Those guys were awesome.

BPAL Initiation

2010-08-19T11:42:00.028-04:00

In my various travels across the web, I've often seen 'BPAL' mentioned in the blogs and websites of artists. Usually this 'BPAL' is allowed as a form of payment, phrased as 'I accept BPAL trade' the way one would say 'I accept American Express.'

For a long time, I assumed this was another payment system, like Google CheckOut or PayPal. But turns out it's perfume.

Actually, that's not quite accurate. It's a scent experience. I recently discovered BPAL stands for "Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab" and they make an astounding variety of scents based on steampunk/goth/horror themes. I'll let the website tell you more.

Apparently there's a large community obsessed with this stuff. Collections can contain over 200 fragrances, with limited editions and different versions of the same scent (I guess from separate batches or yearly runs?). Certain rare stock can sell for hundreds in the after market! There are trading forums all over the world, and a whole culture revolving around the products, complete with its own traditions and vernacular. And the materials are supposedly of excellent quality and hand blended. This is not your drug store celebrity brand shit spray. This is olfactory art.

Enough folks I respect are into BPAL, so when someone offered cheap samples, I took the deal. 24 little vials of scented oil just arrived at my door and now I'll get to see what all the craziness is about!

Summer Days

2010-07-30T17:20:00.007-04:00

Life these past few weeks has been a blur of work, dog, work, tai chi, work.

August is traditionally when everyone takes vacation, though. So hopefully less work in the upcoming month.

There are some parts of summer I'm enjoying at least - fresh NJ tomatoes, new season of Mad Men, fireflies at dusk...

Happy Home

2010-07-15T14:52:00.005-04:00

After a few rough nights of whining and pawing and crate shaking and completely traumatized cat, we finally figured out the bedroom situation.

One side is Mona with her bed and toys.

One side is Killer with her food and access to the rest of the house.

Our bed, in conjunction with a wooden barrier, divides the room.

The funny thing is, the cat is the one who doesn't get along with the dog. Mona appears pretty indifferent about that fuzzy thing which curls up on the pillow every night. Killer, however, is kind of disgusted and terrified at the same time.

But last night, there was peace!

Mona!

2010-07-11T17:31:00.006-04:00

Today we took the plunge and brought home Mona, a dark brindle female greyhound!
(Better pictures to come - right now we have a dog to acclimate!)

PostScript Flashback!

2010-07-09T17:56:00.003-04:00

This week I installed LaTex on my machine.

It's been eons since I've made a Tex document. It took a few hours to get back into the groove. But now I'm hooked all over again!

There's just something about that typeset which brings back fond university memories...

American History

2010-07-04T07:17:00.003-04:00

One perk of the Independence Day holiday: TV channels air all sorts of cool shows about our country. I love when they dig into a particular aspect of history, like the 1812 War or National Parks.

Time for Another Pet?

2010-06-27T08:38:00.011-04:00

We've been considering adopting a greyhound for some time now. Yesterday, we attended a meet & greet, spoke to a few folks from Greyhound Friends of NJ, and were utterly charmed by the dogs with them.

The breed seems perfect for us. Low maintenance grooming and walking, super friendly, laid back, easily correctable, and just the right size. Plus, the ones from GFNJ are retired racers, so they're already socialized with humans and other dogs. Ideal for first time dog owners!

So we buckled and submitted our application. Once approved, we can then visit the kennel and meet the dogs they have available!

Mazel Tov!

2010-06-22T20:52:00.002-04:00

Just got back from a wedding! Lots of singing, dancing, yummy food, and so many smiles!

Now that I don't have to worry about ours anymore, it's nice to just sit back and enjoy everyone else's!

Potluck Weekend

2010-06-13T15:53:00.030-04:00

Two potlucks this weekend! Got rave reviews on our dishes for both:

Spud & Spinach Casserole
5 large potatoes, milk, butter (for mashing)
2~3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 white onion, chopped
2 large bunches fresh spinach
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
2 stalks green onion, sliced (green part only)
paprika for seasoning
the basics: olive oil, salt, ground black pepper

(1) Peel and boil potatoes; mash with milk, butter and salt to taste
(2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
(3) In large skillet, heat olive oil medium low. Add garlic and onion, then saute until soft
(4) Add spinach and saute until just wilted
(5) Stir in ground pepper to taste
(6) Now the casserole part: spread mashed potatoes in lightly greased 9x12 inch baking dish
(7) Cover with sauteed spinach mix. Layer cheddar cheese on top, then sprinkle feta and paprika on top
(8) Bake 20-25 minutes until hot and cheeses have melted
(9) Garnish with green onion

Lemon Cheesecake Squares
Crust:
9 whole graham crackers
5 tablespoons butter
Filling:
1 8-oz package cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
3 tablespoons sour cream
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
berries of your choice for garnish (my personal favorite is raspberries)

Crust:
(1) Prep 8x8x2 baking pan by lining 2 sheets of aluminum foil inside the pan, one lengthwise, the other crosswise. Leave about 1 inch overhang on all four sides.
(2) Once pan is lined with foil, grease foil along bottom and sides.
(3) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
(4) Place graham crackers in heavy duty plastic bag. Use rolling pin or mallet (we use a hammer!) to crush crackers finely
(5) Melt butter in skillet over low heat
(6) Remove skillet from heat. Add crumbs and toss to coat
(7) Time to get your hands dirty! Pour buttery crumbs into prepared pan. Press firmly and evenly along bottom to form crust.
(8) Bake crust until golden brown, 12~15 minutes. Cool crust while preparing filling!

Filling:
(1) Beat cream cheese and sugar in large mixing bowl until smooth.
(2) Beat in egg and sour cream
(3) Beat in lemon juice and vanilla
(4) Spread the batter evenly over crust
(5) Bake cheesecake until slightly puffed, about 30 minutes. The toothpick test works well here - if it comes out without any batter sticking, the cake is done.
(6) Let cool in pan. Keep in pan, chill in fridge until cold, at least 2 hours
(7) Then comes the awesome part! Once cold, just lift the entire cheesecake out by using the foil overhang along the edges. Peel foil off bottom, cut cheesecake into squares and serve with berries.

* Snicker *

2010-06-10T17:10:00.004-04:00

The word "goatse" was repeated multiple times on NPR today. Hehe.

Crafts in the Park

2010-06-05T20:30:00.008-04:00

Went to the Renegade Craft Fair today in Brooklyn. Me plus artists selling their wares equals serious wallet danger. I am such a sucker for handmade stuff.

My favorites:

* Awesome wood block print studio: Tugboat Printshop

* Hand painted resin from Fernworks. The photos on her website don't do these mini masterpieces justice. They actually have an incredible 3D depth effect.

* I can't quite explain The Mincing Mockingbird. He is clearly talented - several of his original paintings were on display and quite amazing. But then he does this thing with the subtext...it almost feels like a gimmick, except it's too damn well executed.

* Pretty shiny silver things: Daphne Olive

Round Up!

2010-05-28T21:57:00.010-04:00

Work has been utterly insane. It's our season for investing in vast quantities of assets, which translates to vast quantities of hours at the office. I've been working 10 hour days and weekends too....

But onto a few positives. The veggie harvest has begun (oh how I've missed that box of delectable green goodness!) and none of my tulips were destroyed by deer. The new Dresden Files book returned the series back to its rightful pulp-fiction urban-fantasy legacy. Iron Man 2 was awesome. I got to see Joel McHale live stand-up and lo, he was funny! My husband made me fresh blueberry muffins this week. There's cold beer in the fridge. Our cat is purring contently on the pillow.

Sometimes it's the little things.

Eulogy

2010-05-13T10:19:00.027-04:00

It was my first sleepover at Chloe's house. One of my best high school friends, Chloe and I bonded over sword and sorcery. We were fans of Meredith Pierce and Robin McKinley, Monica Furlong and Anne McCaffrey. Brooks, Tolkien, Moorcock, Weis & Hickman, Le Guin -- these were the superstars of our world, the creators and keepers of our lore.

Chloe was the storyteller, the dreamer. I was the illustrator, the one who brought her tales to life. After spending several hours filling notebook pages with words and drawings (yes, this is how kids amused themselves before the internet), Chloe suddenly said "Wait, I have to show you something!"

I followed her downstairs, through a dark living room, into the family library. Chloe thumbed through rows of books and pulled out a handful of thin softcovers.

They were from the 1970's. They belonged to her dad. I was utterly smitten.

Three of the books were simply titled Frank Frazetta with numbered volumes.

Frank Frazetta: The Living Legend.

The Fantastic Art of Frank Frazetta.

Artbooks filled with amazing, vibrant, captivating paintings and sketches: pale skinned princesses, warriors with bloody blades, furred and fanged monsters, wild sorcery, heaving muscles, the excitement of battle, the blush of exoticism, all with an undercurrent of raw sexuality.

I spent the next few hours examining and absorbing those sacred tomes, finding new delights at the turn of each page. Like millions of others, I drank from the Frazetta wellspring of inspiration and my approach to art changed forever.

I never became a professional artist. But Frazetta still holds a special place in my heart. His style is instantly recognizable, always imitated but never duplicated. Nearly every comic book and fantasy artist has paid him homage. The Moon Princess, the Death Dealer, the Egyptian Queen, Conan the Adventurer -- these are fixtures in the world of sword and sorcery I love so much, the standard for fantastic and mythical imagery.

Humanity has lost a great talent, a genre defining master, a legendary influence. Rest in Peace, Frank Frazetta.

Calorie Conundrum

2010-05-12T21:24:00.006-04:00

Regular Coke: 140 calories per 12 oz can.

Simply Orange brand 100% Orange Juice: 110 calories per 8 oz serving.

So there's roughly 2 more calories per oz of orange juice! If you're simply limiting calories in your diet, juice actually isn't the better choice.

Now, I bet a person is more likely to drink an entire can of Coke, and maybe just half that amount in juice. And Coke is truly void of any nutritional value, while the juice at least has vitamins. But it does make you wonder if public perceptions of soda are skewed.

Guess when it comes down to it, water is still the healthiest beverage!

Should I be Offended?

2010-05-04T21:44:00.012-04:00

On several occasions now, our new manager has described me as "cute." It's not sexual in any way. Walking into my office today, she says "Oh, you're so cute concentrating so hard on that computer screen!" Or a few weeks ago, "It's so cute how you cough into your elbow to avoid getting germs on others!" Or "What a cute habit you have of walking everywhere with that notepad!"

I don't sense any malice, but it does have a patronizing vibe, like she can't get over how young I am. Perhaps I'm some sort of managerial kitten or little puppy director, and she can't help but coo when she sees me do grown-up professional things.

But I'm not sure if I'm offended. She's doing her best to run a business completely new to her, while trying to win over those of us in the core group. Maybe this is just her attempt at making nice. It definitely catches me off guard, though!

Covet

2010-04-30T22:40:00.005-04:00

Wow. I want.

Too bad it's nearly a grand...

Happy 20th, Hubble!

2010-04-23T17:32:00.010-04:00

Hubble was launched at just the right time for my budding scientific curiosity. At nine years old, I found space enthralling (doesn't everyone want to be an astronaut at that age?!) and the media attention around Hubble only encouraged me. Of course, I didn't end up working for NASA, but the fascination with math and science endured.

So bottoms up, Hubble! Testament to humanity's innovation, and provider of awesome wallpapers!

The Best Way to Start a Sunday Morning

2010-04-18T13:07:00.005-04:00

Just came back from a private viewing of Kick-Ass, courtesy of our local comic book store. It was fucking awesome. Pretty much everything I wanted in this kind of movie was there, and in a spectacular way.

No spoilers here, but one of my favorite parts: first person shooter fans, there's a scene that belongs to you!

Heartache and Headache

2010-04-03T08:18:00.022-04:00

This past week has been the most tumultuous in my life so far.

On Wed afternoon, the entire risk mgmt team of my business unit was fired, along with our head managing director and chief operating officer (my boss). Not because of financial performance or budget woes, but some legal shit that unfortunately couldn't be explained in detail due to that most haunting of phrases: "ongoing investigation."

I didn't expect to be so emotionally impacted by this. But these guys have been with the business since its inception. They were around when the company was struggling to meet payroll and meetings took place in someone's kitchen. Later, they took a shot at a graduate fresh out of school, trusted her with tons of responsibility, and rewarded her for hard work and the right attitude.

And so I realized not only did the business lose valuable experience and knowledge, but I personally lost mentors and friends. I respected my managers, not just for their financial acumen, but also the small company corporate culture they fostered and maintained, even though we were swallowed by two large institutions in as many years. It hurt to see them let go, especially when 2009 was our most profitable year to date. I surprised myself by oscillating between rage and depression.

Oh, and fear as well. I have a new boss. A whole chain of folks from outside the business have been called in. I have to start all over establishing myself, making sure my direct reports are taken care of, finding where I fit in the new world order. I have to play the corporate politics game. The small company feeling is already gone; in its place is the typical Wall Street jockeying and bureaucracy built on ego. I fear not only for myself, but for the business as well. Risk is everything in asset investment, and by taking out our risk team, they have taken out the core of our success.

The shock and fear will ebb, I suspect. But my job has become that much more stressful. Spring is traditionally our busiest season - there is so much work to be done, and to achieve both financial results and coalesce with new management is going to be one hell of a challenge.

Respect

2010-03-29T20:00:00.014-04:00

Much respect. Seriously.

Even after seeing her live in concert, I'm still impressed. I think she is completely underestimated by most people.

Like a Memory of a Dream

2010-03-24T16:36:00.005-04:00

Honeymoon highlights here: http://picasaweb.google.com/fuzu.jen/Honeymoon#

There are lots more photos, I just picked a few choice ones. So far, only the New Zealand pics are up. Such a beautiful country - postcard worthy scenery everywhere!

Thirty Hours Later...

2010-03-21T18:53:00.002-04:00

That was a long flight! Finally home from an awesome vacation. Not looking forward to work tomorrow...

New Zealand = Awesome

2010-03-11T00:33:00.004-05:00

Five days into our NZ honeymoon! It's been absolutely amazing - there are moments when I wonder why we don't just stay here the rest of our lives...

Photos and highlights will follow; there's just too much fun to be had for now!

Disco Stick

2010-03-03T20:00:00.005-05:00

So Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour in Sydney was moved to a new venue. This opened a block of additional tickets, and since we're planning to be in town and staying near said venue, we acquired some of those additional tickets.

It sure will be interesting to see what a production that's being flown into Australia on two chartered 747 aircraft looks like. Should be a crazy show!

Really?

2010-02-27T11:10:00.001-05:00

Here's some good old American ignorance for you.

I didn't know until last night that My Country, 'Tis of Thee, a song we sang at every elementary school assembly after pledging allegiance to the American flag, is actually to the tune of God Save the Queen, commonly used as the British national anthem.

Why didn't our teachers ever mention this?!

USA vs. Canada

2010-02-22T08:45:00.005-05:00

That was one intense hockey game! The US could not have pulled it off without the wall that was Ryan Miller. Man, I miss hockey...

Phew, for a minute there, I lost myself...

2010-02-20T13:48:00.006-05:00

Driving home yesterday from a long day at work in standstill traffic, I decide to put on Radiohead's OK Computer.

More than 10 years later, and it still plays like a dark revelation. Every now and then, it's good to hear real music again.

(and yes, it's scary that my commute lasted the entire album...)

Vancouver 2010

2010-02-16T18:27:00.012-05:00

Yeah, I know the Olympics are all about competitive sports channelling the human spirit and hope and world unity and all sorts of good stuff.

But this year, there's some extra good stuff. Namely, extremely attractive half asian short track speed skaters from the U.S. Yum.

In the Dark

2010-02-11T08:57:00.003-05:00

Lost power for several hours last night.
Thank goodness for gas stove, matches, and obsession with candles!

Expectations

2010-02-08T17:05:00.011-05:00

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of my favorite cartoon shows, and as such, I had a feeling the live-action movie would suck.

First of all, Avatar: The Movie with Blue People stole the namesake away. Talk about marketing confusion.

Second, despite being a show where all the main characters practice a specific form of Chinese martial arts, not one of the actors is Asian.

Third, most translations of animation into live action don't work. At all.

But then:

And the spot last night:

So far so good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

One Cannot Survive on Veggies Alone!

2010-01-23T14:03:00.009-05:00

Having been completely satisfied with our CSA membership last year, we've signed up again for this year's harvest.

In addition to veggies, we've also decided to try some local meat. In this case, pork and beef from a farm in northern New Jersey (separate from the veggie farm). We have reserved a whole pig and 1/2 cow, to split between a few people. If all goes well, that means at least 75 lbs of pasture fed meat for our share. The animals won't be ready to butcher until fall, which gives us time to redo our garage for some hefty freezer action.

I'm really excited about this - the local veggies turned out to be a great investment both for health and culinary enjoyment. Hopefully the meat will have the same results!

Earthquake Donations

2010-01-15T21:21:00.007-05:00

Kythryne of Wyrding Studios is an amazing artist who not only created my awesome wedding torque, but is now donating her time to help the victims in Haiti.

Details on her LJ page: http://community.livejournal.com/wyrding_studios/181564.html

I highly suggest using this opportunity to do a good deed and also get a beautiful piece of jewelry in the process. I have an ever expanding collection of her work - you will not be disappointed with what she makes. Her talent is matched only by her generosity in this time of need.

More Bonus Bashing

2010-01-13T08:56:00.007-05:00

I can't believe there is still so much bitching about Wall Street bonuses. Haven't we gotten over that yet?

Listen, most of the major banks PAID BACK THE TARP FUNDS.

According to the US Treasury in Dec 2009: Taxpayers have already received over $16 billion in profits from all TARP programs and that profit could be considerably higher as Treasury sells additional warrants in the weeks ahead.

How many other federal programs have that kind of return direct into the Treasury's coffers? Few and far between.

If a bank has repaid its obligation to the government, then it should have the right to determine compensation as it sees fit. I think any business would have it no other way. So shut up already!

Regretsy

2010-01-08T09:21:00.004-05:00

As a full blown Etsy addict, I find this hilarious: http://www.regretsy.com/

My buying experience on Etsy has been nothing but excellent. The sellers I've dealt with were extremely friendly, and the products have been wonderful. I spend a lot of time browsing Etsy and rarely do I see things as ridiculous as those posted on Regretsy. It makes me wonder what search terms they are using!

Fictional Crush

2010-01-05T21:24:00.043-05:00

I've been re-reading Hellblazer and falling in love all over again with John Constantine.

I've had a huge crush on him since my teen years. Back then, it was all about the bad boy aspect. A chain smoking mage who nonchalantly fucks over people, plays hardball with demons, doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks, yet is fiercely protective of what he holds dear -- that was a win for me. I don't think he was ever intended as a heartthrob. But damn did I want to hump him hard!

Constantine has been around since 1985 and it's amazing how through various writers and artists, he's remained relevant and consistent. Reading now as a more mature woman, I realize just how dark all his stories are, how haunted and twisted. I see the edge of misogyny in his protective attitude, and I better appreciate his relationship with the occult: a deep furious passion barely controlled, combined with the loneliness and desperation that is often the price of power. I'm probably crazy, but that totally makes me want to hump him. Still.

Of course, it helps that he's always portrayed as a lean rogue with a most eloquent manner of speech and wit. Like many books, the dialogue would sound pretty stupid spoken aloud. But on the written page, he's quite the charmer, even when he's swearing at the devil.

I don't often crush on fictional characters. But Constantine holds a dear spot in my heart.

(Don't even get me started on the film adaptation. It was utterly, disgustingly tragic. For starters, John is blonde, British, and gets along with nobody. Pretty though he is, Keanu Reeves just wasn't right for the character...)

Random Things!

2009-12-23T11:18:00.005-05:00

What a great idea! Pay the Something Store ten bucks, and they mail you a random item.

Hooray for surprises!

Difference Engine

2009-12-10T09:17:00.006-05:00

Holy crap, this is awesome: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121206408

A team of engineers used Babbage's designs to build an operational 5-ton difference engine, with materials available in the 19th century.

Those of you who live near Mountain View, I am jealous! I don't think the east coast will have an opportunity to see this thing.

Thanksgiving in the Sun

2009-11-30T22:03:00.010-05:00

Just returned from an eight day trip to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for a destination wedding. This was my first all-inclusive resort experience, and it was pretty fun, although I probably wouldn't do it again. It's nice getting food and drinks whenever and wherever you want (plus, they were extremely generous with the alcohol) but I discovered I'm not really a beach person. I enjoyed the pool, horseback riding, and snorkeling (another first for me!) and it was great relaxing amid the coconut trees and sand, but after a few days, I was ready for something else.

Did I mention they were extremely generous with the alcohol?

Overall, it was a good vacation. There were some hiccups with the particular resort we stayed at, but the wedding was beautiful and the setting was lush. Definitely the warmest Thanksgiving of my life!

A Monumental Waste of Time?

2009-11-13T08:47:00.020-05:00

I've been selected to attend some sort of Management Training next week.

On the one hand, it means my bosses are paying attention to me, because those invited to this training are a small hand-picked group, obviously being groomed for something.

But it's an all day session. About Management. More specifically, about "Managing for Value" which is about as bullshit as corporate training gets.

Of all the courses I took in college, management was the most useless. Not because management as a discipline is useless - on the contrary, good management is necessary and difficult. It's because no classroom can ever imitate real life. No class can prepare you for navigating petty departmental in-fighting, coping with inane employee sensitivities, and surviving the general stupidity of corporate politics and policies. Management in real life is about dealing with people. And the only way to learn how to successfully deal with people, is to truly deal with them, again and again, in all their various fucked-up forms. All those case studies, fancy models, paradigms and methods, fly out the window when you're in an actual room with actual people. At that point, you have to rely on force of will, personality, healthy doses of common sense and luck, and experience.

Suffice to say, I'm not looking forward to losing a whole day of work to this training. Perhaps I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm not betting on it!

Veggies Weeks #15, 16, 17

2009-11-02T21:56:00.018-05:00

Despite the wedding, veggies still came in during Sept! Here's a quick catch-up post. As you can see the bounty was quite good!

The last of the tomatoes, along with plenty of green beans.

We also got more eggplant, and a lovely variety of peppers and squash. The butternut (pale whitish one) makes for a tasty soup. The jalapenos were very flavorful and perfect for nachos and chile.

There was fresh watermelon two weeks in a row!

And the beginning of fall heralded the return of lettuce!

Twilight Zone

2009-10-24T15:15:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning, I had a craving for pumpkin spice latte. And that's when realization dawned...there are absolutely no Starbucks along my commute route!

That is so freaky.

Baseline

2009-10-10T16:17:00.004-04:00

It finally feels normal again! The past three weeks (insane client on-boarding, wedding festivities, crazy month-end accounting) have been exhausting, and this weekend has been the first relaxing one in a while.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but it's nice having routine again. Something as common as making Sat brunch together feels so comforting, after a long time without.

Work is still as busy as ever, and there's always house chores and personal projects waiting in the wings. But it's familiar, and a nice calm after the storm!

W00T!

2009-09-27T20:35:00.003-04:00

I'm not sure I have the linguistic capacity to describe our amazing wedding weekend. So I'll just leave it at that :)

The Final Countdown!

2009-09-24T07:49:00.005-04:00

(cue heroic synthesizer riff)

Wedding shenanigans start today!

I actually feel pretty good. I'm excited and a tiny bit tense, but nothing close to the wholesale panic some brides go through. I've been sleeping well and have a good appetite. Things will go as they may!

Still Alive!

2009-09-20T13:34:00.004-04:00

I managed to squeeze a ten day project into five days of insanity. Part of me is relieved it's over and I can concentrate fully on wedding stuff now. Another part of me feels bad for those who now have to support my release while I'm out. I'm pretty sure it's riddled with random issues that nobody could have caught in the condensed timeline!

Murphy's Law

2009-09-11T21:45:00.008-04:00

We have a transaction that's been delayed for several months. A few weeks ago, I joked that we would close at the worst possible time: right before my wedding.

Fuckit, I shouldn't have said anything...

Two weeks before the big day, the deal closes. Today. At 5 PM.

So not only will I be scrambling to get all the myriad wedding tasks done over the next few days, but I'll be onboarding our biggest client of the year as well. As if I didn't have enough to do!

Sometimes the universe just needs to give it a rest!

Veggies Week #14

2009-09-06T11:48:00.011-04:00

Lots of green beans this week! And also fresh dill, which we used to flavor grilled salmon.

A whole bunch of beets and two lovely eggplants.

Behold, more tomatoes! Cherry and grape, along with three huge heirlooms. The heirloom tomatoes definitely have a more "meaty" texture than supermarket ones. They are actually great by themselves, sliced and brushed with olive oil, then sprinkled with fresh herbs and grilled.

Leeks in the back, along with an assortment of peppers and a fresh garlic bulb.

Veggies Week #13

2009-08-30T08:42:00.009-04:00

This was the week for heirloom tomatoes! Because of the late blight, they are harvesting these before ripening, so we can ripen them at home away from spores. They darken to a lovely rust red.

There are also cherry and grape tomatoes, which I've taken to snacking on like candy.

A bundle of pale chard up top, then along the bottom a bonanza of herbs: parsley, basil, and cilantro.

Eggplant! We made eggplant parmigiana, which was far better than any I've had at a restaurant. This variety is just so damn yummy!

Green and jalapeno peppers, along with cabbage and a whole mess of green beans.

Jitters?

2009-08-27T09:28:00.008-04:00

Last night, I had my first wedding "nightmare." In my dream, my boobs disappeared the morning of the ceremony and suddenly my gown wouldn't hold up. A frantic scramble ensued to find all sorts of tape and glue and padding, none of which worked. Somehow the photographer got involved (eh?!) cutting up sheets of sticky vellum to fit around my chest. We even stuffed the gown with bubble wrap, to try bulking it up.

Isn't it odd to dream about something that could never physically happen? I know brides have nightmares about catering being bad, flowers arriving late, inclement weather, losing/gaining weight and all sorts of possible disasters. But me, I dream about vanishing boobs. Maybe it reflects some unconscious worry that my gown won't fit. But it sure was a weird way of showing that!

Democracy (In)Action

2009-08-25T07:16:00.005-04:00

Our rep, Frank Pallone Jr (D), jumped on the town hall bandwagon last night. However, he failed to realize just how many people would attend. So a line of at least 800 people snaked around the municipal building, vying for entrance into a room with 150 capacity.

We weren't able to get in, but it was pretty fun standing in line for an hour, listening to cranky old folks and random ranting.

Veggies Week #12

2009-08-23T10:02:00.016-04:00

There's an outbreak of late blight infecting New Jersey tomatoes this year. Unfortunately, some plantings at the farm got hit, so the tomato yield is decreasing.

Which is too bad, because we were really enjoying them. This week, we did get enough to make plenty of fresh salsa and guacamole. We also got cherry tomatoes and more basil, plus two huge heirloom tomatoes (they will ripen to a lovely red on the counter).

Eggplants! The camera does no justice to the deep aubergine of these beauties. They were absolutely delicious sliced, brushed with olive oil, and grilled. I love eggplant, so this was quite the treat for me!

A fine selection of peppers and squash:

The leafy light green bunch in the back is chard, with fresh cilantro, cabbage, and garlic bulb.

We made an awesome cabbage medley, with chopped tomatoes and squash, stir fried in bacon grease. Mix with polish sausage and top off some rice or noodles, and a tasty meal is served!

I guess the late blight strain isn't the kind that hits potatoes, so we've got more this week! They are going into curry this time around.

The Wire

2009-08-19T10:32:00.012-04:00

Over the past few months, we've devoured all five seasons of HBO's The Wire.

By far the best cop drama I've ever seen, it's brilliant in all ways, from dialogue to characters to plot and even cinematography and music. The show follows the Baltimore police dept through a series of related drug and homicide cases, deftly weaving together subjects like big city politics, school policy, the prison system, unions, newspaper media and of course, the drug war.

Unfortunately, it ran on HBO the same time as The Sopranos, so I think it was overshadowed by its neighbor to the north. I believe The Wire is far superior, though. There's a consistency, a gritty practicality paired with moments of revelation and heartache, that makes you question and think about our justice system and those employed by it. If you enjoy a good crime story, this one is a must watch!

Veggies Week #11

2009-08-16T20:46:00.009-04:00

This was an awesome week for tomatoes! In addition to our regular box of goodies, there was another shoebox full of these lovely guys:

I'm not sure what's with the saucer shaped squash, or the purple pepper. But they're tasty, so I guess we should just admire how pretty they are. There's also yellow squash, along with some (hot!) jalapeno peppers.

A giant bulb of garlic, surrounded by a ton of shallots. Every meat seems to play well with shallots; so far we've flavored burgers, pork, and even buffalo with them.

More sweet corn and a huge head of cabbage!

And more potatoes! I wish there was a way to preserve these things for long term storage. Guess there will be more mashing, baking, and gratin in our near future!

Veggies Week #10

2009-08-08T08:44:00.009-04:00

Tomatoes! From left to right, grape, heirloom, and cherry. Our homemade pizza sauce from these pretties came out quite nicely!

Jersey sweet corn! We got four tasty ears. They don't even need butter, just grill in the husk and eat right off the cob!

Cabbage, fresh garlic, a whole mess of basil, and red onion.

We made an awesome cabbage stew that lasted the whole week! It was very simple: sliced cabbage, carrots, celery, potato, onions, garlic, dill, and two cans of beef broth. Boil with water for a few hours, and yum! The stew worked great on rice, poured over kielbasa, and with hearty chunks of bread.

Even more potatoes! These are kind of weird looking. Not quite for salad, but definitely for baking, with dill, shallots, and butter!

Speaking of shallots, we got a bunch of those, and also some lovely zucchini.

The summer harvest is great, even with rains ruining several crops and delaying others. The farm cultivates a wide range of plants (I guess to be organic, you have to, otherwise you can't compensate for losses) and I've been pretty happy. I'm eating more variety, consuming less processed foods, and enjoying the better flavors. So far, this has been a great investment!

Cash for the Conscientious?

2009-08-06T09:40:00.011-04:00

This whole "Cash for Clunkers" thing has got me pissed. Mainly because I won't be benefiting from it.

When I bought my first car, I specifically looked for something small with high mpg. I chose a Ford Focus (ZX3 hatchback, which alas, they don't make anymore). I've taken good care of this vehicle for six years, making sure my maintenance was kept, tires pressurized properly, cleaning filters, all the things one does to maximize fuel efficiency. I was doing this back when gas was under 2 bucks a gallon.

And while I've been a good environmental citizen, those schmucks who bought Explorers and Hummers and vanity trucks (honestly, there is no reason anyone who works a desk job needs an F150 to commute every day) are now getting a break on a new car. It just rankles me, that doing the smart thing means I get nothing, while those who made mistakes get rewarded. If anything, the government should send me a $4500 check, to thank me for oil and pollution costs I've saved the country over the past six years!

One silver lining: the Ford Focus is the top seller in the program!

Veggies Week #9

2009-07-31T19:01:00.008-04:00

Finally all caught up!

This week's farm delivery had a pleasant surprise - fresh flowers! A colorful little splash of summer! I like the variety; arrangements with all the same flowers can be a bit dull sometimes.

Lettuce has taken a hiatus until fall. Now we have green onions in the back, along with squash and cucumbers.

Some beautiful red onions, garlic bulb, tomatoes, and parsley.

The garlic has been excellent. These fresh ones have a stronger flavor than store-bought, with just the right hint of sweet, and a velvety texture. It's been a joy adding them to burgers, pasta sauces, and mashed potatoes.

Speaking of potatoes, we also got more of those, ripe for mashing!

At some point, we also want to try our hand at potato salad. We'll probably wait until another batch of the reddish ones.

Veggies Week #8

2009-07-25T20:28:00.005-04:00

It was very colorful this week!

Tomatoes are in! There's also red leaf lettuce in the back, yellow squash, and a really cool round squash.

Big bag of fresh basil, plus cucumbers and scallions:

Lots of potatoes, a huge cabbage, and fresh garlic.

The basil, tomatoes, and garlic, along with last week's parsley and onions, went into a pretty awesome sauce. Potatoes were roasted with thyme, basil, and savory herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil. Yum!

Comics Themes!

2009-07-23T13:14:00.003-04:00

OMG, it's Fables on my browser!

The Jim Lee logo promo for this is pretty snazzy too. Just in time for San Diego Comic-Con. Nice one, Google!

Veggies Week #7

2009-07-23T08:58:00.005-04:00

Almost caught up!

Two heads of lettuce in the back there, along with onions and beets.

A lovely selection of squash and two large cucumbers (men, start feeling inadequate....oh, about now!)

Dandelion greens, fresh parsley, and kale.

Like the rest of the herbs we've been getting, the parsley will be dried for future use.

The dandelion greens are way bitter, though! So far, I've only used them sparingly in salad. Not sure what else can be done with them, the bitterness is far stronger than collards or kale, so I don't think they're even suitable for pesto. Maybe in a soup later?

Potatoes! Boil them, mash them, stick 'em in a stew...

Coffee Conundrum

2009-07-22T17:51:00.004-04:00

Coffee from a french press is awesome.

But they need to design a better way to clean those things. Scraping out handfuls of moist grounds from the bottom of the glass is just not fun, nor is watching swirls of them chase each other down the sink.

Veggies Week #6

2009-07-20T20:59:00.004-04:00

I'm playing catch-up on the veggie tracking. Weddings and work keep getting in the way! But there was definitely some cool stuff this particular week.

More zucchini! The little red bulbs are salad onions (which were excellent raw), and fresh garlic in the front.

Giant fennel bulb! I'm not a huge fan of fennel. I've tried it raw in salad, sauteed with olive oil, and the flavor just doesn't agree with me. We did make a potato gratin last Thanksgiving with fennel, but it was more of an enhancement ingredient. I think we'll stick to using it that way. And of course, more lettuce there as well!

Kale and another radicchio, this one not quite as scary as last week's!

Trickling Down the Bad Way

2009-07-17T08:34:00.008-04:00

In a recent interview, NY Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith noted that "...for every job that you lose on Wall Street, you lose two jobs...in the service sector..."

So like it or not, the fat cats are key to NYC's economy. No rich people out spending their bankroll, no work for those providing the product.

Interview is here, Ms. Smith gets her quote on around 2:30 into the segment.

Summertime Living

2009-07-15T19:32:00.006-04:00

And it's not easy! Work is still insane. The craziness was confirmed in chart form, when a presentation to upper mgmt showed net revenue climbing up at a fairly steep angle (especially in the last few months), while number of employees stayed a flat line. It was scary. That money doesn't earn itself; we've been working our asses off!

I know it's every company's perogative to squeeze more from less. We are damn productive, but there's only so much blood in a stone. With the fiscal mid-year over, hopefully that means the crunch is winding down and I can actually relax a bit!

Veggies Week #5

2009-07-06T18:20:00.011-04:00

The insanely wet weather has messed with the harvest quite a bit. There were actually some crop failures (spinach and arugula died), but the haul has still been pretty good!

Broccoli:

And beautiful summer squash! Perfect sliced and grilled:

Lots more kale! We are going to make a pesto this time around:

More garlic scapes. We are chopping and freezing these, for soups and such later on.

A huge and kinda creepy looking radicchio:
(feed me, seymour...feed me!)

Box o'goodies, with lots of lettuce and a chinese (napa) cabbage in the upper right corner. That's one of my favorites veggies ever. They're naturally sweet and so tasty fried with shitake mushrooms and little shrimps.

Long Live the King of Pop

2009-06-29T10:54:00.001-04:00

Commuting the last few days has been more enjoyable than usual, since the radio stations are all playing MJ tributes. The sheer amount of hits that man created is mind blowing.

A Tale of Corporate America

2009-06-24T14:05:00.008-04:00

One of my co-workers turned 30 today, so her cubicle was decked with ribbons, confetti, and a giant balloon proclaiming "Happy 30th B-Day!" which soared above her desk in a wonderfully embarrassing fashion.

A project manager stopped by and asked her, "Hey, is it your birthday?"

No wonder project managers get no respect around here.