KirstenL4W

I love roasted garlic. And now everyone in the office knows it. I just had some Chicken Crostina from the Olive Garden that I originally had the other night - “Potato-parmesan crusted chicken breasts sautéed with roma tomatoes and roasted garlic. Served with linguine tossed in a creamy garlic-butter sauce.” - and it was absolutely delish. But after the salad, breadsticks, and Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip, it was all I could do to get the rest of my dinner down without exploding. So, to-go box it was and to-work it went.

I’m also reminded of another one of my favorite Italian restaurants - Vinny T’s. At Vinny’s, the bread basket is nothing short of spectacular. The bread itself is focaccia bread, but it’s the way it’s served that makes it what it is. They give you - get this - a whole head of roasted garlic to spread on your bread and taste the garlicky goodness! Oh yes! It’s worth it to go there just for that.

I myself am a bit lazy to roast garlic, since I spent most of my adult years cooking for 1. I usually keep a jar of the minced, roasted garlic in my fridge, and it’s great to just plop some on some pasta with garlic-infused olive oil. That, some fresh asparagus and fresh grated Parmesan cheese are a wonderful meal that combines the best of yummy flavors and comfort foods. These days I cook for Boyfriend as well as myself, and lucky for me he likes roasted garlic as much as I do. I even spied a garlic roaster in his kitchen, which will have to get dusted off and used one of these days. One thing’s for sure - he doesn’t mind kissing me when I have roasted garlicky breath!

I don’t consider myself a particularly creative person. I do appreciate creativity, though. One job I had for a few years was as a receptionist in a graphic design studio. I loved going to work every day and seeing the work the artists were producing. I loved that the creative mind carried over into the decor of the office. And I loved that I was able to express myself however I wished.

In high school, I was in the Art Club. I didn’t produce much, but it was a lot of fun walking around the art rooms, seeing what everyone was doing, and talking to them. I did a few mediocre paintings and made a pinch pot with pottery (since trying my hand at the spinning wheel wasn’t exactly successful). I think my mom still has that pinch pot somewhere.

I’ve tried my hand at various crafts. For quite some time I’ve found myself drawn to paper crafts - particularly card making. I don’t care as much for stamping, just paper. I love feeling papers, with all the different textures, materials, and prints. I used to work in a wallpaper store, but that’s another post. Right now, I have some card-making materials and I need to make a card for someone who is having babies (yes, babies. Twins!)

I also love photography. I don’t think I’m very good at it, but some people (including VegasRic, who is a professional photographer) have told me otherwise. And Boyfriend mentioned today that when he gets his tax return he wants to buy Photoshop. I can just see myself spending hours and hours and hours on there playing with it to see what I can come up with. Adobe Elements has been on my list, which is a much less expensive and watered down version of Photoshop. It’s more to my budget. I’m already imagining the possibilities. I’ve been participating in quite a few mix exchanges lately, and trying to make the cover art has been difficult without some sort of software to manipulate photos. Thank goodness for VegasRic and his mad skills for the V-Cat Version 2.07.

I’ve also been thinking about pursuing a more creative field of work. I’d love to study graphic design. I think I’d be better at the more technical aspects of it rather than the creative. I really appreciate creativity and know good work when I see it, but I am pretty much incapable of producing it myself. The technical aspects I tend to pick up right away, so I’d like to learn that. Someday, perhaps, someday. For now I’ll just wait for Boyfriend to get Photoshop and play with that, then see what happens.

Quote taken from Creative Juices website.

One can only hope. After a hectic week and weekend, things should be settling down a bit. I have not had much time alone with Boyfriend since we got together. First he was away on business and this past week, along with the weekends that bookend the week, for a grand total of 10 days, he has had house guests from out of town. Add to that all the things we had going on this week - my concert, his concert, a mutual friend’s birthday, etc., and we are exhausted. It will be so nice to sit and do nothing together tonight. And, there is the strong possibility for thunderstorms forecast for today, so sitting with his arms around me during a thunderstorm will be even better.

Despite all the busyness, guests and crazy schedules, things have been going very, very well with Boyfriend. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Well isn’t this an interesting turn of events. A short time ago, Bobby promised to make good and get his site back to being the link exchange heaven it used to be. But he slacked off once again, and it seems that someone, or someones, got upset and reported the blog to Blogger for TOS violations. I don’t know how it will turn out, but for now I’ll leave the link in my blogroll until there is resolution. What that resolution is will determine what my course of action is regarding Bobby’s link.

I went to see Chantal Kreviazuk tonite. She wasn’t touring on her own, but opening for Five for Fighting, but that doesn’t bother me. The ticket price was reasonable, so going to see her for a half hour set was very worth it. She played a few familiar songs, including the one you see above, and then played some songs from her new album, Ghost Stories, and the best thing is that I got to meet her after the show and get it autographed.

Actually, I lied. My boyfriend was dropping me off at Mandalay Bay to see that I got into the venue ok. Then, as I was being my boring old self standing there at the House of Blues all by myself waiting for the concert to start, I was checking the time on my cell phone and saw that there was a voice mail. I called Boyfriend back and he told me to go to the stairs by the bathroom. So I do, and there he is. He bought a ticket to see the show with me because he knew how much I enjoy Chantal’s music. Now is that the sweetest thing ever or what? He did enjoy the show, and said that she is a very good performer, even though generally that’s not his style. He’ll be back at HOB tomorrow night for the Type O Negative concert, which I will not go because loud raucous music is not for me, especially in concert. I’m just not into crowd surfing, ya know?

So I just had to type up this post and 1. share Chantal’s music with everyone and 2. let you all know that I have the Best. Boyfriend. Ever.

So there.

You’re sweet as green apples, you must be the one

Ok, so you probably know by now that I have a new boyfriend. He is absolutely wonderful. No need to go into details, really. I just don’t feel like getting intellectual about it. We were talking last night and I think it was he who said (I can’t remember exactly because we were talking about deep stuff and we both feel the same way) that it feels like we’ve known each other forever. And you know what? He’s right, we have known each other forever. I was beginning to think that he was just all in my head, but he was real, out there somewhere, so yeah, we have known each other forever.

One of my favorite singers, Chantal Kreviazuk, (who I’m going to see in concert Wednesday night when she opens for Five for Fighting, who I am not going to see) has a song called Green Apples. In it she sings of a love, and compares him to all the sweet and comforting things that can be found in everyday life.

You’re toast and jam
And you are cotton candy
You’re double rainbows
Beside a settin’ sun
You’re wood burnin’ outside
There’s a fire glowin’
You’re sweet as green apples
You must be the one

You bring me
To the heart of a golden man
You bring me
To the natural truth
You take me
To the solid hollow
And keep me sailing
This ocean of youth

That’s why you’re toast and jam
And you are cotton candy
You’re double rainbows
Beside a setttin’ sun
You’re wood bunin’ outside
There’s a fire glowin’
You’re sweet as green apples
You must be the one

So take me to an altar of diamonds
And run with me through sheets of jungle rain
Show me all your manly mystery
And let me heal your beautiful pain

Be my island in crowds of faces
My oasis
Be there

And lead me to the holy water
And introduce me to the place you are from
Wherever you go you know I will follow
So take me there and I will come
I will come

You’re toast and jam
And you are cotton candy
You’re double rainbows
Beside a settin’ sun
You’re wood burnin’ outside
There’s a, a fire glowin’
You’re my sweet green apples
You must be the one

I’m sayin’ you’re toast and jam
And you are cotton candy
You’re double rainbows
Beside a settin’ sun
You’re wood burnin’ outside
There’s a fire glowin’
You’re sweet as green apples
You must be the one
You’re sweet as green apples
You must be the one

Sweet as green apples
You must be the one

(taken from Chitowngal who took it from Poi who took it from Henna)

aprons - y/n?
nope, I don’t have any, therefore don’t wear any. Perhaps I should though.

baking - y/n?
If I can cook it in a toaster oven, sure.

clothesline - y/n?
No, nowhere to put one. But I do have clothespins.

donuts - ever made them?
Nope, but I might have to start because there are no Dunkin’ Donuts here.

everyday - one homemaking thing you do everyday?
Homemaking? Daily? You’re kidding, right?

freezer - do you have a separate deep freezer?
I live in a studio apartment. That should tell you what you need to know.

garbage disposal - y/n
Now this I have. I like using my disposal.

handbook - y/n?
Well, my mom brought me to see this show for my First Annual 29th Birthday, and I bought the DVD after the show. It came with a handbook. I can’t do anything in it though. Cuz I’m a girl.

ironing - love it or hate it?
Hate it. I avoid it to the point that I wear mostly knits.

junk drawer - where is it?
I don’t believe in junk drawers. Everything should have a proper home.

kitchen - design and decorating?
One of these years, yes. But right now I live in a van down by the river studio apartment. I can try to give it all the love I have, but it’s still gonna be a tiny, horrible kitchen.

love - what is your favorite part of homemaking?
How about “home - what is your favorite part of lovemaking?” to which I answer NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS!!!!!!

mop - y/n?
Mop? I’m confused.

nylons - wash them by hand or in the washer?
I live in the desert. It gets very hot here in the desert. Hotter than the sun sometimes. Nylon has a very low melting point - about 420-430 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, I don’t wear nylons because I don’t want them to melt onto my legs.

oven - do you use the window or open it to check?
I don’t use the oven. I use a toaster oven. I live alone, don’t forget. No sense firing up the big old oven to cook a little something for myself. Did I mention that I live in a studio apartment?

pizza - what do you put on yours?
Sauce, cheese, and sometimes I like sausage and onions on it. Just as long as it’s not spicy. And it’s not on me.

quiet - what do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?
A quiet moment during the day? Nothing, it’s too short. But if there are enough of them all strung together, then I take a nap.

recipe card box?
I have a bunch of cookbooks that I don’t use because I’m rarely home to eat. Does that count?

style of house?
Dumpy, needs to be renovated 20 year old studio apartment. But it’s a good size for a studio.

tablecloths and napkins - y/n?
Tablecloths no. I tend to drag them off the table with my thunder thighs when I sit down. Napkins are a necessity. Can’t live without them.

under the kitchen sink?
cleaning supplies and tools. Neither of which I use very often.

vacuum - how many times a week?
I vacuum semiannually. People actually vacuum multiple times per week?

wash - how many loads do you do a week?
1? 2? It depends on how many clothes I wear.

x’es - do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off?
I am a compulsive list maker. I am not, however, a compulsive list-crosser-offer.

yard - who does what?
I live in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!!!!! The landscapers take care of all that.

zzz’s - what is your last homemaking task for the day?
I may or may not be home for my last task of the day. And it may or may not have to do with homemaking.

It is windy today. I knew it would be, because the company I work for gets wind advisories and I have to let everyone know. But man, over the course of about 5 minutes the wind whipped up something fierce, the temp dropped about 15 degrees, and I can barely see Mandalay Bay from here, which I should be able to see because I work very close to it. At least I wore a long sleeve shirt today, but I should have brought my parka.

My shoulders and neck on my left side are a bit painful right now. I slept very well, too well in fact, because I didn’t move and it all got knotted up while I slept. I have a heat patch on it right now but it doesn’t seem to be making a difference except that I’m not freezing my butt off. I wish my new gentleman friend were here right now. He did an excellent job of taking care of the foot cramp I got the other day, so I can only imagine the magic he can work on my neck and shoulders. Sigh. Soon enough, and as much as I’d love to feel his big strong hands on my shoulders I do hope this pain is gone before I see him again. Anyhoo.

Photo of current weather map from The Weather Channel 

Just wanna know ya
Just wanna talk to ya
I wanna hear about your day
I’d never leave ya
Never be mean to ya
I’d always let you get your way

Something good will come our way
And maybe this good thing’s gonna happen today

- Something Good by Bic Runga

There are just not enough words in the English language (nor any other language that I have limited ability to communicate in) to describe how I feel right now. But I do feel good.

I was recounting this anecdote to someone over the weekend, and thought I’d post it here - especially seeing as how Crowjoy posted pics of yummy looking appetizers made with quail eggs.

When I was a kid, my dad used to like to do silly things to amuse us kids. By silly, I mean lame. One time we were having Deviled Eggs, but Dad kept calling them Eggs Deviled. In trying to correct him, the conversation went something like this:

Dad: Mmm, these Eggs Deviled are pretty good!
Me and/or Sis: Daddy, they’re Deviled Eggs.
Dad: That’s what I said, Eggs Deviled.
Us: Nooooo, it’s Deviled Eggs.
Dad: Eggs Deviled!
Us: Dad, say ‘Deviled’.
Dad: Deviled.
Us: Say ‘Eggs’.
Dad: Say eggs.
Us: Now put it together.
Dad: Deviled Say Eggs.

I have not eaten another Deviled Egg since then, but I have eaten many, many Deviled Say Eggs. Perhaps now someone outside of my household will enjoy the delicious wonders that are Deviled Say Eggs.

Photo courtesy internet search 

That is all.

My damned air conditioner doesn’t work right. I had it recharged a few weeks ago, and now it’s not working again. It’s currently 91ºF out, and will probably get close to 95, and my damned air conditioner isn’t working. The coils are all frozen. The maintenance man said it’s because I have the exhaust open, but let me tell ya something - I had it open all year last year, and I could get this place resembling a meat locker. Now it’s an oven. I think they’re gonna have to replace the unit, which would be nice. It would also be more energy efficient if I got a newer one. The unit I currently have has got to be nearly as old as I am.

Why is it when I tried to google images of “hot” I got nekkid ladies? I know my mind is in the gutter, but the rest of the world?

I just received this email:

From: “DAVID JONES” infodepth80@bellsouth.net
To: d@jones.net
Subject: RE: HELLO FRIEND
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2007 12:10:26 -0400

Dear Friend,

Good day to you. I may have to trouble your sense of personal achievement and reward for an opportunity properly taken advantage of. I am Mr. David Jones, a representative and attorney to Kenneth Lay, the former chairman & CEO, Enron Corp.Industry: Energy & Natural Resources Home, he was jailed and facing trial on charges of corruption and embezzlement of funds but, presently death now. While in Power. He deposited fifteen million united states dollars ($15,000,000.00) with me when he was in power as the chairman.

I am contacting you because I want you to deal with the bank and claim the money on my behalf since I have declared that the Funds belong to my foreign business partner. You shall also be required to assist me in investment in your country. I hope to trust you as a God fearing person who will not sit on this money when you claim it but rather assist me properly to share in this ratio, 60% to me and 40% to you. When I receive your positive response I will give you viable information relating to this project i.e. the Finance institution where the money was deposited and the required documentation that will enable you lay claims to the funds, which is very important. What I need is for you to indicate your interest that you will assist us by receiving the money as the beneficiary .

Once I have your details as stated below, the finance institution will contact you for Release of the funds to your account. As soon as payment is effected, and the amount mentioned above is successfully transferred into your account, I intend to use my own share in acquiring some estates abroad. For this too, I will need your assistance to acquire and manager the properties and you will be paid based on a certain percentage agreed on by both parties. I guarantee you that this transaction will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please get in touch with me urgently by E-mail:(djones050yahoo.co.uk)and provide me the following:

1. Your Full Name
2. Your Telephone and Fax Number
3. Your Current Contact Address.
I look forward to your prompt response.

Best Regards,
Mr. David Jones.

Now this is a new one. This is not some fictional, foreign dignitary. No, this time he went for a disgraced CEO, The government has picked over every detail of Lay’s life. The feds probably know more about what he likes for breakfast than his wife did. So this spammer, the alleged Mr. David Jones, somehow thinks that I will believe all this and want to give him the $30 or so I have in my checking account.

Gotta love them spammers that give you a laugh.

Edited to make email links even more attractive to SpamBots. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!

I found this over at Lizza’s blog, and even though these internet quizzes can be a bit hokey, I really like this one:

You’ll die from a Heart Attack during Sex.

You’re a lover not a fighter but sadly, in the act of making love your heart will stop. But what a way to go!

‘How will you die?’ at QuizGalaxy.com

I just hope it’s good, and that my partner gets over it. I’d hate to have him think he gives killer orgasms - and it actually turns out to be true!

I am overweight. There, I said it. I’ve briefly mentioned in the past about my weight, but it’s gotten to a point that I’m really not happy. Here’s a brief synopsis, with (gulp!) numbers:

As a kid I was never very athletic. Was the only one in my class who could not run the 50 yard dash in under 10 seconds. As a result, I’ve always had a bit of a gut, some belly fat. As I grew, I watched the numbers climb - mostly size numbers. I rarely kept track of my weight. In high school, I outgrew a size 9 my freshman year and remained a size 11 all throughout, until I hit college, then went up to a size 13/14. Wore a size 14 for awhile, sometime in my mid-20’s I went up to a 16 and stayed there. I remember when I was at my heaviest (at the time), the winter before I decided to sell my condo and move to Las Vegas, I weighed close to 180lbs. Then I moved here. One of the first things I did was sign up at Curves, first weighing in at 169lbs. I liked it there, and got down to about 155lbs and was wearing anywhere between a size 12 and 14. But then life got in the way. Working 2 jobs didn’t leave me much time to work out or eat a proper meal, and a bout of depression made me seek out antidepressants, which unknown to me at the time, brought what little metabolism I had to a screeching halt.

That brings us to today. I weigh, according to my scale this morning, 200lbs. Yes, I have hit the 2x mark. I’m wearing a size 18 pants and because I am well endowed, either a 1x or 2x top. I have very few clothes that fit anymore because let’s face it, it is very depressing to go shopping for clothes when you’re buying fat clothes. I have a closet full of 12/14 clothes that I can’t wear and I absolutely loved shopping for. Regarding the antidepressants, I am weaning myself off of them. I have a schedule to gradually reduce the dose so the side effects of withdrawal will be as minimal as possible. I’ve only noticed physical effects of withdrawal, so I know I will be just fine once I’m off for good. I signed back up at Curves, but am always making excuses as to why I can’t go (last week it was clogged sinuses and PMS making my ta-ta’s hurt). I hate looking in the mirror or getting dressed in the morning.

So, I really have to start making an effort. I have no one at my house to nudge me along, to pester me when I eat too much for dinner (pasta again!), to get me moving. Self motivation was never a strong point for me. Curves is right next door to my office. That in itself should be enough to get me to go. I’m gonna go today, I have to. I do eat out with friends a lot, but I need to look to healthier choices when we’re out. With the weather getting warmer, that shouldn’t be too difficult. I did sign up for SparkPeople, but the only thing about that is that I need to do, not surf. I can read about it all I want, but reading doesn’t burn calories.

I need encouragement. I need something that will fit in with my lifestyle, which is always on the go and always on a budget. I don’t have much time for grocery shopping, and I hate grocery shopping anyway (working in a supermarket for 10 years will do that to you). I’m posting a weight loss ticker at the top of my page here, hopefully seeing that will encourage me. It will more likely depress me until I see it start to move, but I need to do something. I need to lose weight.

Every now and then I think about starting over. I start to feel burdened down by what I have and where I am, and I feel the need to start fresh, usually in a new location. I’m going through that right now. Vegas feels old and stale, especially with the heat of the summer well on its way. It’s 7:40pm as I write this, and 82ºF outside. We had one or two weeks of spring, and now summer has arrived. But more than that I think about somewhere a bit more refreshing, with greenery, water, and an end in sight when the oppressive heat hits. I think about a smaller town, a slower pace, a simpler way of life. I think about shedding myself of many of the possessions weighing me down.

I sold a lot of things when I sold my condo to move to Vegas, but acquired new things to replace it as I settled in here. Now it seems like I have more than I did than before I sold it all. I’m starting to feel the urge to not only downsize a bit, but swap some of my things for simpler, multi-functional pieces. For example, I have my home theater pieces that I bought about 7 years ago when my boom box crapped out on me. So now, while I have a very decent system, I have separate pieces for the receiver, CD player, DVD player, VCR, cable box, and 5 relatively large, obvious speakers. If I had to do it again today, I would choose something more multi-purpose and less obtrusive, like this. And (I should add this to my to-do list) I would be more vigilant about finding someone with a VCR/DVD recorder combo to burn to DVD those last few movies I have on VHS that aren’t available on DVD.

I’d get rid of so much of those little things I have that I know I really don’t need. I’d be more organized so that I don’t need so much stuff. I dream of having a home as organized and uncluttered as the magazines. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a total clutterbug. I do have a lot of stuff, but it is organized - somewhat.

I’m also feeling the desire to redecorate. I really don’t need to, but I’ve had the same stuff for so long now. My shower curtain and bathroom scheme I’ve had for 7 years now, since I bought the stuff when I first had my condo back east. My bedroom set I bought 4 years ago when I moved here, and while I still love it, I want something a bit fresher - and a bit more ME. Something like this, perhaps. That look certainly doesn’t fit in here in Vegas, in the millions of homes that all look the same with their stucco façade. And that brings me to my next point.

When I first started this blog, I did it with the intention of sorting stuff out and figuring out where my next move was to be. I think that “what next” feeling hits a lot of us - I know Macoosh has been struggling with similar feelings lately. Last summer, when I went back east to visit the family, I was overwhelmed with feelings of wanting to move back there. But not long after my vacation was over, I finally found myself a social life here in Vegas. For those who have never lived here, Vegas is a very tough town to make friends in. When one goes away to college, they say that second semester is when you meet your real friends. In Vegas, it’s not unusual for it to take 2-3 years. Anyway, once I made friends here, I became much more comfortable with the idea of staying here. But I still know that Vegas is not forever. Sooner or later, I will move.

And then there’s the question of where. Three places in particular come to mind. One would be the obvious answer of moving back home. While I do love my family, I do also need my space, so Portland, Maine would be a nice compromise. It’s got a lower cost of living than any of the other major cities in New England without being totally isolated from the rest of New England. Then there’s the idea of living closer to my sister. Florida keeps coming up, and I have enjoyed my time visiting my sister and also my cousin. I’m not sure I would want to live in either of the areas that they live in, but the sandy, salty air that is prevalent all throughout the state is intoxicating. And last but not least, there is the ever-present appeal of the corn-fed wholesomeness of the midwest, specifically Iowa. Not sure what’s drawing me there, especially since I’ve never been there, but the thought will not leave my mind. Therefore, it is a thought worth exploring when the time comes to decide where to go.

It’s definitely food for thought, but for now I think I’ll focus on one thing at a time.

A day late and a dollar short, but oh well. I’m gonna post about it anyway, because that’s the bloggy thing to do.

I’ve seen and participated in some great April Fool’s jokes in my day. Probably the most memorable one goes back (caution: revealing how old I am) 18 years to when I slept over at Belching Biker Babe’s on a seemingly innocuous day, March 31. Being the out of control 15-year olds that we were, we decided to stay up late and put in place a few pranks to have some fun with her fam the next morning.

Lacking anything that resembled fake puke, and not having the means to break into Spencer Gifts at such a late hour, we wrote up a note that said “Insert Fake Puke Here” or something to that effect and laid it on the floor next to the toilet - the very same toilet that was wrapped in cling wrap. We rigged a bunch of things to fall out of the pantry upon opening the door. We set up the microwave to have stuff come bursting out of it upon opening it. And we put up black string across the doorway to between the dining room and kitchen.

Results: Fake puke got a laugh. Cling wrap was noticed before urination, saving us a cleanup job. Precariously perched items in pantry remained precariously perched upon door opening, despite numerous tests. Many scrunched up paper balls came flying out of the microwave and onto hot stovetop, but quick thinking on the part of BBB’s little sis averted a major disaster. And the string? Well, BBB’s normally calm and cool mom walked through it before having her coffee. Have I mentioned that spider webs are one of her least favorite things in the world? Now in my mid-30’s, I am still not allowed in the house on this holiest of holidays.

A few years ago, while working at MRI, the girls and I decided to play a few pranks on the fun-loving boss. We all typed up our resignations, all quitting for ridiculous reasons, and did the usual “tape the receiver down to the phone” on the boss’ phone. I was going to put lots of cayenne in his coffee, but someone spilled the beans on that one before he took a sip. The next year, we all cling-wrapped his Lexus GX, which he discovered as he was running out to a meeting. And Pretty Lady Dammit and I pretended to have a huge fight which resulted in me storming out of the office and thinking Mad Scientist had some major personnel issues on his hands.

I went out with a bunch of people from Security Company Friday night, and a lively discussion ensued regarding what kind of prank to pull for April Fools. The only reason it did not get carried out is because SOMEONE didn’t want to listen to the humorless, insecure little DOPE complain about it all week. It would have been great to see the look on his face though.

I’m having fun reading about different April Fool’s jokes. What’s your most memorable April Fool’s Day?