Come on Baby Light My Fire...

There are few things in life that scare me. Bees are one, and fire is the other. My sister and her husband just lived through a fire storm like no other in So. California. Stupid BrotherInLaw is a fireman so while I understand his thought on his ability to protect their house, I would have much preferred if they would have vacated the area. ESPECIALLY after seeing her photos.

These are chronological from them seeing it just over a ridge to it being at their place, and then what it left in it's wake. They were lucky. Other people in their neighborhood were not so lucky. My heart goes out to all those who weren't so fortunate, and I'm so very thankful for the talented men and women who were out there fighting the fire...

Note to Stupid BrotherINLaw...I may have to beat you senseless next time I see you. = )

Adding to the 40...

The weeks sure speed by don't they? I'm still trying to catch my breath from moving in January and here I am having lived here for 7 months already. Unbelievable.

Well, lucky me gets to add two new things to my list of 40 New Things. I got to go in and have a girly procedure done testing for some other girly issues. And thanks that new thing, I get to go in and have a small girly surgery! Oh goody! Thankfully it's absolutely standard and has no serious issues related to the surgery. I'm not looking forward to it, but I'm not afraid of what they'll find either. We know there's already a "growth" - that's the tough part right? My doctor - who is a woman in her 60's is about 5'2" and has the wit of no one I've ever met. Anyhow, she's almost certain they won't find the growth to be anything abnormal - she just prefers to remove it...and I'm with her.

I think what has me more concerned is the being put under part. I've only one other time have been out of complete control of myself and I can say that being a control freak I really don't like it. The thought of going to sleep and waking up having had the house cleaned is just a bit scary to me. But I'll be fine. The MomUnit will be here - in fact I'd have the surgery sooner if the MomUnit didn't "demand" that she be here. Moms. Sheesh!

In other non-medical news, I've been scanning ALL my photos. I started with my first scrapbook which is for 1968 through the Jr. High. I just finished 2000. I'm not scanning each and every photo - but the good ones and the ones that have certain stories with them. And of course, ANY photo that can be posted to FB that shines an 80's light on any friends in which I can exact some revenge for something they've done to me in my life. A few of you should be scared...very scared.

Just pulled the recipes for this week, and I gotta tell you I'm hungry already.
Sunday - Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms - one of my ALL time favorites. So easy and quick and makes a pretty good left over...considering I'm someone who doesn't like leftovers that's saying something.

Monday - Panaeng Beef in Red Curry Peanut Sauce
Tuesday - Parmesan Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Wednesday - Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders & Salad with Tangy Maple BBQ Dressing
Thursday - Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Sandwiches - this is a do over. I have a friend coming for scrapbooking and thought this would be a nice simple dinner.

So, if any of you want to come to dinner - let me know for how many to set the table!

The Little Chef in me...

Anyone who knows me knows two things are an absolute about me 1) I am a coffee girl - specifically Starbucks, but whatever and 2) I can cook.

I love to cook. I love the fact that when I was in 7th grade my parents told me, one hot summer night in Lancaster, California, that from then on out I would pick one night a week (I picked Thursdays) and I would be responsible for dinner. I had to have my grocery list to them for the weekly grocery shopping, and they'd get me anything within reason.

Up to that point my kitchen chores were relegated to cracking the ice, making the salad for dinner, and of course the dishes - which I hated. So I was a bit - as a teeny bopper - not that interested in another chore.

I quickly discovered though that it wasn't so much a chore as it was an outlet. I can't say that I wow'd anyone with new and different recipes. Truth is I only really have memories of cooking some of our family favorites. I do have some vague memory of trying some recipes that mom and dad had stashed away, but for the most part, I played it safe.

Both parents were in the kitchen "helping". In that if I didn't understand, they were there to explain the culinary technique or word I didn't understand. Thankfully both my parents could cook too, which helped groom my love for food.

We all had our specialties. Dad's was the BBQ. He could BBQ a tritip like no body's business. He'd take a tritip roast (back in those days it was a very inexpensive cut of meat too) and he'd cut slits throughout it and stuff those slits with garlic cloves. He'd then BBQ it slow...saliva is pooling in my mouth even as I type. Anything else that could be BBQ'd was. If he could find a way to do spaghetti on the BBQ he would.

Mom's speciality - at least to me - was her tacos and enchiladas. She learned from an old Mexican woman who owned a restaurant in her home town. I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but I can remember going there one time and fully appreciating mom's enchilada history. They aren't glamorous or difficult or anything like that. They certainly aren't lo-cal (and trust me I've tried over the years to make them lo-cal and you just can't. You have to just know that you're going to be eating some calories that night). And being not one for leftovers, mom's enchiladas - cold - the next day...heaven. Blissful heaven.

And so I didn't have a speciality. I tried baking for many years and discovered I had no patients for that. All the exact measuring, blech! I'd leave that to someone else. I can cook though. And I can follow a recipe - sometimes.

What I love about cooking is the fact that it's like a little science experiment each time. Sure I could follow the well developed and tested recipe, but I'm convinced I can improve on it. Anyone who comes to Chez Jenn's knows that I do try to follow the recipe. And yet somehow I decide a dash of this or a pinch of that might make all the difference. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't.

I've told you about the recipe bowl in a couple of previous posts. (Side note: did you know if you misspell previous you can get pervious?) This bowl has about 300 recipes in it. I recently cleaned it out and "re-did" the recipes cuz I knew there were some I had already made and others I'd most likely not make. So I got down to business and started fresh.

So far in the year of 2009 I've made 62 new recipes. Some will make it to my annual cookbook, some won't make it off the page ever again. I have tried to make it my goal to document this experience too and to make these recipes available to everyone. This week I had two fantastic recipes that I feel I have to share.

Chicken Curry in a Hurry and my favorite Slow Roasted Salmon.

I posted a stat counter and realized not too many people are hitting my cooking blog, which is fine, it's not just out there for the world to see, but it's out there for me to go back to when I wonder when it was I last made a recipe...or if - god forbid - I can't find the recipe.

My routine has been to make about 3 new recipes a week. If you're ever bored with what you're making...check out my cooking blog. I'm sure there's something you can find there. I can't guarantee everything will be lo-cal but I can at least guarantee it's been tested by one of the greatest unknown chef's in the free world. At least in her own mind. Now if I can only find someone to do the dishes.

How does it happen...

time flying that is. I can't believe tomorrow's Friday already. I mean don't get me wrong, I'm glad. Very glad, but I couldn't tell you what I did this week if asked. Besides going to Starbucks, going to work and going to the doctors.

Side Note: I was just notified by the TV that it's been a "shocking" 2 months since the King of Pops death!

ahem

Right, so doctor appt. I've been having some physical issues and thought it was time to go in and have a chat with someone other than WebMD. I really can't read WebMD anymore. By the time I'm done reading any pages, I'm convinced I'm dying. Not helpful at all.

No need to worry, cuz I know you are, it's nothing serious, just a bit out of sorts. The nurse and the doctor both told me it could be my "age". Huh! So unfair. I'm only - ahem - well older. I'm not quite dead yet (read in a heavy British Monty Python sort of way). I do get to go back next Friday for a fun little procedure - don't be jealous!

The doctor decided to have me do a blood work up today. I swear to Dog they took a gallon. So maybe it was only two small viles, but it felt like a gallon. Now I have a real pretty bruise on my arm. I looked away when she stuck me with the pole (okay so a small needle- but still) and have to admit it wasn't as bad as I was sure it was going to be. I didn't get woosy nor did I pass out - so that's good right. And I had to celebrate my not passing out with a nice dinner at home.

No big plans for the weekend. I think I will walk over and see Julie & Julia! I get exercise and entertained...can't beat that combination.

ShHHHH, you hear that...

Yah. There's nothing. No sound. Nothing but the tippity tap of the keys. No dog chains jingling, no barking, no other movement in the house, but me. Oh wait, there's a cat somewhere.

The Oodles of Poodles are gone. The Parental Units have come and gone and have taken the Oodles with them. I have to admit, it's weird to not have them greet me at the door, but it's oddly nice too. Weird.

In other very interesting news, I'm in pain. I've done something to my back and it hurts like, well let's just say it hurts. My pain threshold is very low and this is testing my sanity. Every standing or sitting position is uncomfortable. When I lay down it's okay until I have to roll over or flip, then it hurts. I'm going to spend this weekend hopefully doing nothing to let it try to let it work it's kink out. The only "kink" I prefer to have is the musical group playing on the POC.

ahem

Let's see what else has happened this week. I've worked, but not too many hours. I slept on the Murphy Bed. I bought Starbucks every day this week. MMMM toasty! I met two very fun girlfriends for dinner and some very needed girl catch up time. And now I'm watching America Funniest Videos wondering if 9:30 is too early to go to bed. I have such a thrilling life.

Life View from the High Dive...

Now that I have my brain about me. I swear to God I can't stay up late anymore and not pay the ultimate price the next day. Though secretly it was all worth it. All of it.

HikerGirl and I started the night off with dinner then headed into Seattle for a night of DMQ. They are trying out a new guitar player so I was a bit concerned how that would work out. I've been watching these guys since 1998 and have seen them go through some changes. So far most the changes have been for the better (after a brief adjustment period on my part).
On the way to the High Dive, which I originally thought was in another part of Seattle than it was - but thank heavens I figured that out before we left. Though it didn't help us much. HikerGirl and I were chatting (shocking, I know.) and we missed our turn. But never fear, HikerGirl was there to "help" get us back on track. We turned at the following corner. I turned to HikerGirl and asked, "So? Do I go straight?" Her response, "Yes, go left." Huh? We hadn't even been drinking - I think we both needed that giggle.
In Fremont, I had no idea where the High Dive was. After driving up and down, parking and checking the interweb (thank god for CrackBerries). We parked again and strolled to the bar. Interestingly enough, the outside of the bar has a photo of an woman in a diving position - huh? Clever.
The bar was ultimately empty...I thought...then I realized it was just a super duper small bar. As we walked in I was greeted by the Bass Guitarist with a "Hey Jenn - thanks for coming." You do know I giggled like a little girl who got her first barbie. I turned to HikerGirl and was all, "TeeHee...he knew who I was..." She, I believe, just rolled her eyes.
We ordered our drinks and proceeded to jibber jabber and people watch. When we noticed these two VERY large paper mache type sculptors hanging from the ceiling. I thought the one was of a kangaroo...keep in mind I was looking from the side to these - not straight on. When HikerGirl said, "I think that one is male." I glanced over and was searching for how she could see it was "male" when my eyes bugged out. Yep. Male. We both assumed the other was female, but we couldn't be sure.
I had to go find the little girls room so my mission was to check out the other and confirm if she was female or not. Off I go to the potty. I find the hallway and see two doors. Neither are marked for the gender. Instead they have two photos on it. One of a rooster. The other with a cat. I stood there for a second and wondered which one. I went for the cat. Inside I was greeted with "stalls" made out of velvet curtains. Weird. As I walked in the door art hit me. I'm such a goober.
Back to the table HikerGirl asked me about the female sculpture...dammit I forgot to check. The night progressed and I glanced over again and noticed the sculpture had boobies. How I missed them before is beyond me...but sure enough...female.
Ahem. Shortly after PhotoGirl and the Yank joined us. We danced and sang to the first set - well PhotoGirl had to get physical with some drunk dancers to keep her dance space from being invaded by elbows - but still we danced and had a blast.
Super small crowed consisting of mostly females. But the band sounded great. I'm not a big fan of the new guitarist. He didn't seem like he was having fun and just didn't seem to fit the personality of DMQ. He could play, that wasn't it...he just didn't seem like DMQ to me. So we shall see.
Yesterday, after recovering from being out until 2AM - I took the clean and shiny poodles to the doggy park. Just a few more days of babysitting and the Parental Units can have their mutts back. Today we'll go later most likely, but I have some cleaning and laundry to do. Then meeting HikerGirl and BlueBerry for dinner. And then...bah...back to work. WAHHHH!

Every family has a crazy aunt...

I can say with 100% certainty that my family never EVER has to worry about me being THIS crazy....

I nearly fell over laughing when I read that article. I mean really? Who does that? But what really got me laughing out loud was the part where she's quoted as saying she carries its spare nuts and parts around to feel closer to the machine. Oh. Dear. God.

I have this funny visual of family dinners with her. The table is set nicely. Each family member has brought their significant other. Conversations ensue. Aunt Amy shows up with her pockets jingling and she plops down a few nuts and bolts on the chair next to her. Personally, the family may want to check though, cuz those nuts and bolts might just be missing from her own noggin.

But if you're brave enough, scroll to the bottom of that article and click on this article. What the...? See earlier I was going to say "Only in Pennsylvania could such crazy's exist..." but Mr. Smith from this article is from Washington State. Great. I guess I better keep my car out of his view, I don't want him lovin' up on the Mustang...EWWWW

And in other brightly colored, sparkly news...going to see Dudley Manlove tonight with HikerGirl, PhotoGirl and the Yank! New band member debut tonight. He has pretty big shoes to fill...so we shall see...

Reunited...and it feels so good...

...Peaches and Herb...1970's group...one of their more successful songs was Reunited. It's stuck in my head. I know you're wondering how on earth this song got into my head. Well, it's simple really. Let me tell you the story.

It all started yesterday when I decided I wanted hamburgers for dinner. I called Blueberry and then I called HikerGirl to invite them over. Both of them were busy, but we planned to do burgers on Sunday instead.

HikerGirl called me on Sunday to see if there was anything I needed from a fruit stand. I mentioned peaches. (no, that's not what got the song stuck in my head...but close).

HikerGirl made it for dinner and brought dessert. Ice cream. She's evil that one. But she didn't just bring ice cream, she's found my soul mate.

Oh.
My.
God.

I'm a chocolate fanatic - I come by it naturally in case you've never met the MomUnit - in that, dessert should only be of the chocolate persuasion. Ice cream in particular should only be chocolate or have a very solid chocolate element to it. I may have been converted tonight and found a new religion.

This ice cream was absolutely delicious. And by "absolutely delicious" I mean it was OH MY GOD SOOOO GOOD. You really have to try it. HikerGirl may be my new favorite person (or enemy depending on how you look at it ) for introducing me to this luxury.

Right, so anyhow, because of the Peaches and Cream aspect of the ice cream, I started singing Reunited...and that is how it got stuck in my noggin.

BTW - my cousin Ted believes, and I have to say I agree with him 100%, that Stuck Song Syndrome is an affliction people of high intelligence suffers from. It must be true, I mean he and I both have it.


In other none ice cream related news, the heat wave in Seattle is coming to an end. Thank God. I found myself today homesick for the rain. And wishing it would just rain... a little. I'm sick. I know.