A Little Sunshine

"I was at a dinner party this weekend with a bunch of retired NY cops - those guys have phenomenal pensions!"

"In highschool I was on the shooting team, I used to carry a .22 to school every day and keep it in my locker - and nothing was wrong with that."

Yeah, I voted for Bush the first time, but now I'm sorry, he's just fucking us all up the ass."

"You know how I got chlamydia in '68?"

"Oh man, she's got a body on her but a face you gotta push into a pillow. You should see the tramp stamp she's got on her."

The last three were said by a little beer barrel of a man with sun leathered skin and tobacco yellow teeth.

This is what I hear all day at work now. Just by general political conversation I can tell I'm back in a red state. Despite the political climate, I find that it feels more like home. The people are SO much friendlier, there is more wide-open space. I went to the market my first week here and had five entire conversations with total strangers.

The beaches are absolutely stunning. I had planned to go last Sunday, but I just didn't have it in me to venture out again. I had spent all day Saturday driving around shopping. And Oh. My. God. The shopping? Ahhhhhhhhhhh. The shopping here is definitely like home. The stores are big, plaza layouts are fantastic - it's just so inviting. You come and actually want to spend your money.

I've noticed that I get more done during the course of my day here. Of course there's no one to talk with, so that is likely a huge contributing factor. There isn't a lot to do right now on the project they sent me here to work on, and likely won't be for a few months. They (those who make these brilliant decisions) are talking about calling me back and sending me back in a few months for a week or so at a time. Who knows.

I've been going out to dinner now and then trying to get a feel for what the locals love. The sushi? Awful. I love me some sushi, and the two places I've been here are terrible. I find one cuban place that makes these slow cooked short ribs - phenomenal. But their black beans? Bland. Such a disappointment. There are still quite a few places I want to try, so we'll see how it goes.

All that being said, I miss my team, my beach and my little house. And oh man do I miss Cleopatra Jones. She needs a brake job and an oil change, I'll have to get that taken care of quickly.

I'm going home for the weekend and I'm so excited. I haven't seen my family since Christmas and it's just so great. I'm surprising Johnny Cash for Mother's Day.

I hope y'all are doing well and that your efforts are fruitfull.

Apparently...

I'm a potty mouth.


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Who knew?

I leave tomorrow. I've got most of my packing done, now I'm just trying to finish everything up - laundry, house keeping...

I'm nervous. And excited. And overwhelmed. And eager. And hopeful. And intimidated. And maybe, just maybe, up for the challenge. I'll be taking my camera and hopefully each weekend will hold some new landscape or adventure. I've been thinking about getting SCUBA certified while I'm there, apparently there's lots of great diving there. I'd like to go deep see fishing as well.

Aside from all the distractions, there is so much I'll be able to learn and it's exciting. This is a chance I didn't think I would get early on and I plan on imersing myself in this and syphoning off all the knowledge I possibly can. I don't want to disappoint my boss. I want him to be happy with and proud of the work I accomplish.

No pressure. No. Pressure.

TMI Tuesday No. 131: The Tax Edition

A day late, but I won't tell if you won't.

1. Did you have to pay or did you get money back? A little return, I'd rather keep out just enough to know I won't have to pay.

2. What was your biggest financial mistake? Suspending my contribution to my retirement fund for the last six months of 2007.

3. Are you a screamer? Depends how pissed off I get.

4.a. What part of your body, other than your genitals, do you love to have touched? I love to feel someone's touch on my cheek. Very intimate.
4.b. What part of a partner's body, other than their genitals, do you love to touch? I'm a big fan of rubbing the belly.

5. What [edit: 12:30] commercial catch phrase best describes your life? We will sell no wine before its time.

Bonus (as in optional): Who is moving to Palm Beach for a three month assignment from work? ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I leave Monday. Shit.

So I'm Cooking. A Lot.

Two weeks ago I did a paella. It was perfectly rich, savory and bright. I still can't find chorizo here so I've started using andoulle and it's coming up with just enough spice to feel on your tongue, but it doesn't hang in the back of your throat and make you wheeze. The olives and capers are likely two of my favorite components, they bring such a bright flavor to the dish. I'm thinking next time I'm going to add lemon zest or wedges to the final simmer to cut a little of the richness. The crust on bottom was the most perfect thing ever, it was crisp and brown and so effing tastey. Sadly I didn't get a picture of the crust, I stirred it all up and broke it to pieces...



Last weekend I cooked like crazy. I love Thai food and haven't found a realy great place here just yet so I broke out this recipe for pad thai. It was good, but it needed more lime. There was just enough ginger to make your tongue tingle though and the noodles were perfect, I used thin udon. Sorry, no pics on that one.

Last weekend I also made bread. Yeah. And it was amazing. And easy. And kneading bread is as mentally effective as retail therapy. The feel of the dough in your hands is so sensual. The rolling motion you work into with your arms and shoulders - it's just so physical. I found the recipe at another blog I read - The Homesick Texan - appropriate, no? It turned out perfectly, you just can't screw up this recipe. The honey makes the bread sweet, but not so much so that it's unappealing. It is perfect for breakfast. I'm thinking of adapting it and making oatmeal cookie bread - roll it flat, sprinkle a layer of brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins, roll it up and plop it in a loaf pan. We'll see.

I also made pancakes. Who doesn't love a fluffy tender stack of warm syrup kissed deliciousness? The recipe is standard, nothing special, but I mixed up enough dry ingredients for 4 batches - the remaining three are cozy up in the freezer. So when I crave them all I have to do is scoop out a cup of mix, add an egg, a cup of milk and a tablespoon of melted butter. And if you'd rather buy the frozen microwavable pancakes instead - you should not be allowed to eat pancakes because you do not understand them.

The ingredients for the mix are:

4 cups flour
3 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons +
2 teaspoons sugar

You can just as easily mix up one batch at a time - divide each ingredient amount by 4. I'm just lazy and want to do it the easy way.

Eat it Up

I was watching television this evening and I think I found the absolute best job on the whole entire planet and I'm deadly envious of the man who holds it. I've been lucky enough to eat his delicious food and read his insightful and edgy books, but his current job really is the bizbomb.

I imagine most of you have heard of him, some worship, some hate - to each their own. His name is Anthony Bourdain and he currently has a television show called No Reservations. If you are a foodie then you'll know about his delicious restaurants Les Halles (3 of 4 locations now I think.) It's delicious, hearty food that's quite elegant in it's simplicity, and for a joint run by a celebrity chef the prices are dead cheap.

Along with his really great food he's written a few books. I've read them and his writing is the perfect reflection of his personality - edgy, a cynical (nearly sardonic) sense of humor, and just enough wonderment to keep him from being a total dick.

His current gig on No Reservations lets him travel the globe and go native. He has a guide that takes him through the awesome sights of a city (not necessarily the tourist places), teaches him the culture and he eats. He samples the strange stuff, he eats the local staples, he goes from the high class joints to the kind of dives that will leave you with a case of two day shits.

I'm so jealous I could die. He gets PAID to do this! How do I get that gig? No, really. How do I get that gig?

Oh, and Deadliest Catch will be back on soon. w00t! Now if I can just find Oil, Sweat and Rigs' schedule.