Rib update: much improvement has been observed (and felt). I was getting quite worried that the pain would still be there into March, which is when I'm going to BOW winter session. Shooting guns and dog sledding would probably be a bad idea. But the prognosis is looking good, peoples. We can all let out a collective sigh of relief.
D and I attended a boat show a couple days ago in the new convention center (which D worked on) and while the show was so-so -- not the selection we were expecting -- D did get to give me a private tour around the facility. He pointed out lots of little interesting things that I wouldn't have noticed on my own. The industrial-sized kitchen is supposed to be amazing, but I was too chicken (kitchen-related food pun!) to venture in further than the staging hallway.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Brain dead...call back later
Half of the calls that I receive at work would be eliminated if people would just read and pay attention to what is in FRONT OF THEM.
Just look over the flier or email or letter and read it in its entirety before picking up the phone and calling me.
Please.
Pretty please.
Want to know a secret? Sometimes I don't answer my direct line and let calls slip off to voicemail-land because I just cannot take one more painfully obvious question. Where is this event? What time? How much? READ THE AD that you have already mentioned is in your hot little hands!
I am so frustrated today.
Just look over the flier or email or letter and read it in its entirety before picking up the phone and calling me.
Please.
Pretty please.
Want to know a secret? Sometimes I don't answer my direct line and let calls slip off to voicemail-land because I just cannot take one more painfully obvious question. Where is this event? What time? How much? READ THE AD that you have already mentioned is in your hot little hands!
I am so frustrated today.
Mooses
It seems like we see more moose in town than we do in the woods. Case in point: this morning I drove into work and circled the employee parking lot looking for a spot...and there was a mama moose having breakfast with her kiddo. I didn't dare get any closer because when I first walked up mama looked straight at me. Nobody wants to start the day off with a moose stomping!
Can you tell that it's snowing today?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Are you going to eat that?
I actually made dinner last night (yeah, D couldn't believe his luck either) and it turned out pretty good. King salmon fillets baked in the oven with steamed broccoli and potatoes. After the salmon came out of the oven I added cream cheese to the top -- it was pretty darn good peoples. And we had apples and strawberries for dessert because I'm not buying ice cream regularly anymore (diet and all that). Poor D.
We don't buy seafood anymore, or meat for that matter. Sometimes I'll pick up chicken from the grocery store, but it's nice to not worry about the additives and growth hormones in the meat and seafood we eat since we catch our own fish and D goes hunting for bear and caribou every year. Some people ask me if it's odd to eat that sort of meat and I say no, because when you grow up thinking squid and fish eyeballs are regular food, bear and caribou are not going to freak you out.
We don't buy seafood anymore, or meat for that matter. Sometimes I'll pick up chicken from the grocery store, but it's nice to not worry about the additives and growth hormones in the meat and seafood we eat since we catch our own fish and D goes hunting for bear and caribou every year. Some people ask me if it's odd to eat that sort of meat and I say no, because when you grow up thinking squid and fish eyeballs are regular food, bear and caribou are not going to freak you out.
Calgon take me away
I have vacation on the brain -- I cannot stop thinking about the beach! It's probably because two coworkers just came back from Hawaii and two of our friends are departing for Hawaii this week. D has never been to the islands before and we've discussed going there but it's just more expensive than Mexico. On Maui you cannot find a 6.5 peso bus that runs everywhere you need to go! I do love Hawaii though -- I've been lucky to be able to visit all the major islands.
In weather news, we have hit another cold snap -- it was something like -10 degrees at the house this morning. And no volcano eruption yet, although it's likely to happen any day. In the ADN story I linked to there is a quote from one of the volcanologists at Alaska Volcano Observatory. I'm so embarrassed for these people that have no common sense and call the AVO with stupid questions -- what a waste of time for the staffers!:
' "It comes in all flavors," McNutt said. "When something like this happens, you get this wide variety of stuff. You get a real clear sense of the incredible variety of views and educational backgrounds in the public."
One recent caller had a ticket to Hawaii and wanted to ensure the volcano wouldn't disrupt the flight, he said.
"They said please do everything I can to make sure the volcano doesn't erupt until after 8 o'clock," said McNutt, adding that the observatory tries to respond to all inquiries. "I gave it the attention it deserved." '
D'oh!
My ribs are feeling better and sometimes I even forget about the soreness, so that makes me mucho happy. I hope to be fully healed by next week!
In weather news, we have hit another cold snap -- it was something like -10 degrees at the house this morning. And no volcano eruption yet, although it's likely to happen any day. In the ADN story I linked to there is a quote from one of the volcanologists at Alaska Volcano Observatory. I'm so embarrassed for these people that have no common sense and call the AVO with stupid questions -- what a waste of time for the staffers!:
' "It comes in all flavors," McNutt said. "When something like this happens, you get this wide variety of stuff. You get a real clear sense of the incredible variety of views and educational backgrounds in the public."
One recent caller had a ticket to Hawaii and wanted to ensure the volcano wouldn't disrupt the flight, he said.
"They said please do everything I can to make sure the volcano doesn't erupt until after 8 o'clock," said McNutt, adding that the observatory tries to respond to all inquiries. "I gave it the attention it deserved." '
D'oh!
My ribs are feeling better and sometimes I even forget about the soreness, so that makes me mucho happy. I hope to be fully healed by next week!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Reflecting on dining rooms
Full-length mirrors in the dining room have been popping up on all the design blogs I read. So far I'm liking the idea, especially if the mirror frames are thick and chunky. Adds light and dimension to the room.
However it probably wouldn't work in our current dining area -- not enough space. Maybe for the next house...
However it probably wouldn't work in our current dining area -- not enough space. Maybe for the next house...
Free breakfast
I saw this ad during the superbowl -- Denny's is offering a free Grand Slam Breakfast on February 3rd (tomorrow!) from 6 am and 2 pm.
Fair warning peoples, it's going to be crazy crowded!
Fair warning peoples, it's going to be crazy crowded!
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Around the house
I am in love with our new dining set -- the bench is hiding underneath the table, on the side closest to the wall. I've repurposed the table as a computer desk and craft station. Soooo roomy. When we have company, I'll pull the set out so it's more centered in the dining area -- but for now we need the space to walk around in.
After returning home from a superbowl / birthday party, I found Drift very hungries -- evidenced by the TWO hard hats he has dangling from his muzzle pouch. FYI, he did not get two servings of dinner.
Nice try, puppy...although the adorable look is hitting below the belt.
Recipe
Prior to last year, I had never been to an actual Indian restaurant. My goodness I had no idea what I was missing! The food was amazing - rich flavors, thick sauces, yum. My favorite dish is the chicken tikka masala and this recipe has been floating around the blogosphere for a while now:
Chicken Tikka Masala
"This is an easy recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala - chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and then served in a tomato cream sauce. Serve with rice or warm pita bread."
INGREDIENTS
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
4 long skewers
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat a grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Chicken Tikka Masala
"This is an easy recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala - chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and then served in a tomato cream sauce. Serve with rice or warm pita bread."
INGREDIENTS
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
4 long skewers
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat a grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.
Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Ash masks
Our CFO just came into my office and handed me two N95 face masks, which is great because otherwise I was going to head down to one of the units and sweet-talk someone into giving me a couple. Everyone is concerned about the volcano -- currently on "orange" status.
Longing for summer
Just purchased my 2009 fishing license and king stamp online - woohoo! I'm all ready to catch the heck out of some fish -- as soon as this pesky winter season is over with.
I can't wait to get back out there...I miss summer. May is usually the earliest that I'll get on the boat, but D will probably do the Winter King Tournament in Homer again this year, which takes place on March 21.
I can't wait to get back out there...I miss summer. May is usually the earliest that I'll get on the boat, but D will probably do the Winter King Tournament in Homer again this year, which takes place on March 21.
Dining like adults
After daily phone calls to Target, I finally received word yesterday that my dining set was available and ready for pickup. However I did go in somewhat pessimistically this time because I already dragged D there once (after calling to check on stock) and there was NOTHING! I even tried to get the salesguy to sell me the display set and he said nope.
D met me at the store (all the way on east side of town, very near my old high school as it turns out). After having the manager check on the status he tells me that they're not getting anymore in and that the only set left is the display. Geez -- so I say I'll take the whole display: table, 4 chairs and bench. The whole set was already 30% off -- good, but not enough. I pointed out a few scratches on the pieces and negotiated another 10% off the discount price. Woot! Overall I saved about $350.
D does not seem to be as in love with the swoon-worthy set, but he did admit that it was better than our old set and he likes that it is made of heavy, real wood. Peoples, that is high praise coming from my man.
D met me at the store (all the way on east side of town, very near my old high school as it turns out). After having the manager check on the status he tells me that they're not getting anymore in and that the only set left is the display. Geez -- so I say I'll take the whole display: table, 4 chairs and bench. The whole set was already 30% off -- good, but not enough. I pointed out a few scratches on the pieces and negotiated another 10% off the discount price. Woot! Overall I saved about $350.
D does not seem to be as in love with the swoon-worthy set, but he did admit that it was better than our old set and he likes that it is made of heavy, real wood. Peoples, that is high praise coming from my man.
Blowing your top
Mt. Redoubt has been all over the news lately -- the volcano has been rumbling and threatens to blow any day now. Apparently the story has made national news and Alaskans are having a hard time accessing the Alaska Volcano Observatory site because so many Outsiders are checking it out!
The last time Anchorage was covered in ash was '92 with Mt. Spurr. I remember shoveling ash almost an inch thick from the driveway and porch with a mask on. Auto parts stores had empty shelves where air filters used to be (ash is horrible for your car).
So, we're all getting ready for another volcano eruption -- if the wind blows ash towards Anchorage I'm prepared to pull everything from the yard into the garage along with the cars. I'm not sure what to do about Drift and his potty breaks. With our luck, I predict Mt. Redboubt will blow this weekend while D is out snowmaching up north!
The last time Anchorage was covered in ash was '92 with Mt. Spurr. I remember shoveling ash almost an inch thick from the driveway and porch with a mask on. Auto parts stores had empty shelves where air filters used to be (ash is horrible for your car).
So, we're all getting ready for another volcano eruption -- if the wind blows ash towards Anchorage I'm prepared to pull everything from the yard into the garage along with the cars. I'm not sure what to do about Drift and his potty breaks. With our luck, I predict Mt. Redboubt will blow this weekend while D is out snowmaching up north!
Law of averages
D and I always say, if it wasn't for bad luck, we'd have no luck at all. You are probably thinking, ha ha Audry is so delightful witty, that can't possibly be true! Well, it is sadly very true. Case in point - all the stuff that happened to us in Cancun (door lockbox not working, crummy weather, bruised ribs, cancelled excursions, etc.) We still manage to have a good time because we're used to this bad luck thing -- we've lowered our expectations, ha ha.
But I've heard that the universe evens itself out, so it is possible that some other couple out there has all GOOD luck as opposed to our bad luck. So if D goes fishing and loses a big halibut or I hurt myself once again, this other couple catches the fish of a lifetime or wins a radio contest or something. Makes you think...
But I've heard that the universe evens itself out, so it is possible that some other couple out there has all GOOD luck as opposed to our bad luck. So if D goes fishing and loses a big halibut or I hurt myself once again, this other couple catches the fish of a lifetime or wins a radio contest or something. Makes you think...
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