Total 1984 Freak-out Eclipse of the Heart

Thanks to Laura for posting this one. Too funny.

Grilled Veggie Medley with Balsamic Reduction

I've been enjoying the stovetop grill of late, and tonight's fare included portobellos, tofu, zucchini, eggplant and mango. I made a balsamic reduction to drizzle on top and we ate in style.

Leap of Faith

This morning at the gym I caught this on the tv news: (if no video appears, please click the link. It's not posting correctly for some reason)



It was nice to see something on there that didn't make me want to cover my eyes (or roll them). I needed a something uplifting to start the day and have been thinking about those little ducks all day.

Summmer Preview

This weekend was glorious: sunny, hot, and big blue skies. Here's what Adelaide wanted to do on Saturday afternoon after a warm walk home from martial arts class:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Today I participated in my first "fashion exchange" that a group of moms in the neighborhood have been hosting for a while. The concept is this: bring at least 3 items which are in decent shape, but they don't fit, or you just don't wear them, or whatever. The hosts sort through everything and hang it up in a semi-organized fashion, and then at a set time you come and try things on and take what works for you.

I had read about these going on before, and even thought it would be fun to do with friends (of course, you need friends about the same size as you), but I hadn't ever gotten organized to be a part of it. But this time around I was overdue to go through the closet and weed out the forgotten and ill-fitting items, so I had some incentive to do so.
Turns out, it was great! There were a ton of clothes to choose from, everyone tried things on to be sure that they worked and when they didn't you could turn to someone nearby and say "hey, do you want try this one, I bet it would work for you." I got rid of some perfectly good clothes that will be a better match for someone else, and I left with a bag of spring stuff for myself. No cash or credit required. Now that is a good way to shop!

Fishin' with Pa

Adelaide got to have her first try at fishing today with her Dad. Thanks to Rob, who tipped me off about the awesome program here that tries to get kids interested in fishing: $5, and they give you a rod and reel, a t-shirt and a fishing line clipper. A bunch of fisherman volunteer, bait your hooks for you, and load up a netted area with trout so everyone goes home with some success.Adelaide had a fun morning trying something new. This is a great program and Adelaide enjoyed her fish dinner!

Speaking of those parenting moments . . .

Another commercial (see earlier post), or viral video, or whatever it is, but good comic relief for anyone dealing with kids and their demands on a daily basis!

The Way It Goes

I just have to share this commercial, whose product I find utterly disgusting, but whose comic relief is worth posting a commercial for. It's just one of those parenting moments that is not to be missed.

The look-alike Meter, Round 2

A year ago when I did this with the baby photo I was up by 18%. But I think I need a better shot of Bill because she strongly resembles him sometimes.

Fruits of the Grill

Tonight it was the stovetop grill, easy and so tasty. All the veggies carmelized, the tofu crisped up and got a little smoky flavor, and while things were grilling I had time to slice up the tomatoes and cook the quinoa.The veggies: japanese eggplant, zucchini, asparagus and tomato.
The seasoning: fresh garlic, salt, pepper, and balsalmic.
The add-ins: feta, dash of olive oil, and the tofu.
The diners: satisfied!

Morning Activity

Adelaide is, and always has been, an early riser. This time of year is particularly challenging for me because she is up with the sun, and that is before 5 a.m., an hour that I believe should only be greeted from the other side, and only when one has been having so much fun that one wanted to stay up until 5 a.m..

This morning I capitulated on the "no getting up before 6" rule (which has really become no getting up before 5:30 of late) because I knew it could possibly buy me a little more sleep. Adelaide has gotten quite good at entertaining herself in the wee hours while I moan softly and hold the pillow over my head. Usually she listens to a book on tape and putters around the living room, but this morning she decided that her stuffed animals all needed leashes. The construction of collars and leashes took almost 2 hours, and with the exception of a few bumps and thumps I got to sleep for most of that time.

Tonight at bedtime, Adelaide reluctantly made her way to her room to put on her pj's, and brought the gang and their leashes along. I had noticed early that baby Rose had a collar and leash but didn't find it particularly troublesome until I saw her being dragged through the house across the floor:I guess it could be worse. It's not like Adelaide's taking them behind her on a bike ride off her back fender or anything . . .

Roasted Yam and Sweet Potato Rounds with Gorgonzola and Roasted Pecan Slaw

Today's lunch idea started with a hankering for Agua Verde yam tacos, and morphed into these savory, nutty, sweet, soft and crunchy little pieces of heaven. I sliced and roasted the yam and sweet potatoes into rounds, brushed with a light coat of olive oil, and seasoned with salt and pepper. While they were roasting, I sliced the cabbage and tomatoes, and mixed them with some gorgonzola, sour cream, cream cheese (to cut the gorgonzola), garlic and roasted pecans.

Filling and delicious.

Wanda Sykes on Obama

Comfort Food

I have been enjoying a lot of salads of late with the warmer weather and yummy spring greens, but today I felt the need for more of a carb-centric meal. Still managed to come in fairly low on the calories but this dish rocked flavor-wise: earthy shiitakes, creamy yukon golds, tangy buttermilk and greek yogurt, and salty feta and smart bacon. Basically a kind of stuffed-potato/mash/hash, with some broccoli to bump up the vitamins. Yum!

African Peanut Soup

Two rainy days and a refusal on my part to concede and fire up the furnace again = a need for hot, spicy soup. I was jonesing for PCC's African peanut soup but the soup bar failed me, so I whipped up something similar on my own. Spiced with fresh ginger, cumin, curry powder, coriander and jalepeno, and mellowed out with almond butter, sweet peppers, onion and fire-roasted tomatoes, this one is hitting the spot. Threw in peanuts and some leftover rice for texture and it is a great "heat up the house from the inside out" meal.

Car Quotes

This morning, as we were finishing up muffins and milk in the car outside of daycare:

A: Mom, I'm snorkeling.

C: mm?

A: Yeah. I am snorkeling, only I'm using a straw instead of a snorkel and milk instead of air.

C: Oh, I see.

/Pause/

(seatbelt clicks off)

A: Ahh, free at last!

This is Just to Say Spoof #5

I have written the blog post

that you found in your google search

and which

you were probably

hoping

had nudity

Forgive me

this blog

is rated

PG-13

Bank stress test

This morning I was listening to the news on the drive to work and was struck by the discussion of the "Bank Stress Test." All I could picture was a bloated banker on a treadmill in his suit and tie with the electrodes and gas-mask contraption strapped on him. Like the contestants on the biggest loser at the beginning of the show when they are evaluated by the doctor and he tells them that they have one foot in the grave. I took a look this evening and I was not the only one with this image in mind:
Bank stress test - Out of Line - Online Cartoons by Dan Wasserman, Boston Globe editorial cartoonist - Boston.comhttp://penroseonpolitics.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/geithners-stress-test-color-2-1-28-09.jpg

I also picture a seismologist setting off small charges at the cornerstone of some wall street brick building to see if the walls are earthquake-ready. I think there are any number of excellent cartoons to be created simply with the three words "bank stress test." What's yours?

A Lither Guh

This one is for my older brother, Dave, who suffered endlessly at my insistence on certain misheard lyrics in the late 1970's.

Summer Salad

Today was a lovely start to May, with temperatures above 70 degrees, blue skies and everything in full spring bloom. I wanted something nice and light for dinner, so I cooked up some red quinoa, cooled it, and added chopped tomatoes, sweet pepper, cucumber, avocado, olives, feta and crab meat. Seasoned with a little balsamic and salt and pepper, and this was a lovely salad. For those of you keeping track, starting with 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa and one can of crab meat yields two servings with 345 calories, 20 grams of protein and 15 grams of fat.