It's Tara's birthday, and I wanted to post a nice photo of a cake for her, like she does for everyone else. So I googled 'singing cake', and it turns out there's a recipe for a cake that sings when you cook it. There are multiple recipes! Here's just one.
So, Tara, you make need to bake one and see if it sings you happy birthday!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
eating
My name is Pamela and I have an eating problem.
It's not horrible - I'm not bulimic! I just have been stress eating more and more frequently. And I need to stop. My face gains the weight first - or is it that I can't ignore it when I see it in the mirror?
I'd like to blame it all on M. Who has cookies and candy lying around but has the self control to eat one or two at a time. Who can survive on 80% carb diet it seems, and not gain weight. Who doesn't like to leave food lying around nor have leftovers so he serves out and eats a big big serving of whatever it is for dinner.
I grew up with candy and cookies all around. I thought I learned how to say no to it. At some point or another I started saying yes all too often. I used to be militaristic about sugar - no cereals with any sugar, no soda, no candy bars, no chocolate before lunch... And over time became lax.
Yesterday for example. Half a candy bar at 10:30 instead of my banana. Soup for lunch, good. Doctor's appointment at 2:15 where they had a big bowl of M&M's. I knew I didn't really want or need them, but took a small cup anyway. Leaving the office, I tripped and dropped all of them. Instead of taking that as a sign, I picked them up and ate them. Kidding! I picked them up and brought them inside to throw away, and got another cup. They lasted until I got home and I ate the whole cup. And then I had a banana for my snack AND a big piece of Irish soda bread and something else. And dinner was a much too big plate of rice and string beans and pot stickers. I was fine but right before I went to bed I was feeling hungry, so I had a little cheese, and then for some reason had a big piece of cheese.
OK, it doesn't sound like much, but it adds up over time. And I'm 44 so the metabolism is slow. And I don't bike to work every day like I used to.
OK, so my mantra is now, Stretch, Don't Eat. It's on my monitor. I will follow it.
It's not horrible - I'm not bulimic! I just have been stress eating more and more frequently. And I need to stop. My face gains the weight first - or is it that I can't ignore it when I see it in the mirror?
I'd like to blame it all on M. Who has cookies and candy lying around but has the self control to eat one or two at a time. Who can survive on 80% carb diet it seems, and not gain weight. Who doesn't like to leave food lying around nor have leftovers so he serves out and eats a big big serving of whatever it is for dinner.
I grew up with candy and cookies all around. I thought I learned how to say no to it. At some point or another I started saying yes all too often. I used to be militaristic about sugar - no cereals with any sugar, no soda, no candy bars, no chocolate before lunch... And over time became lax.
Yesterday for example. Half a candy bar at 10:30 instead of my banana. Soup for lunch, good. Doctor's appointment at 2:15 where they had a big bowl of M&M's. I knew I didn't really want or need them, but took a small cup anyway. Leaving the office, I tripped and dropped all of them. Instead of taking that as a sign, I picked them up and ate them. Kidding! I picked them up and brought them inside to throw away, and got another cup. They lasted until I got home and I ate the whole cup. And then I had a banana for my snack AND a big piece of Irish soda bread and something else. And dinner was a much too big plate of rice and string beans and pot stickers. I was fine but right before I went to bed I was feeling hungry, so I had a little cheese, and then for some reason had a big piece of cheese.
OK, it doesn't sound like much, but it adds up over time. And I'm 44 so the metabolism is slow. And I don't bike to work every day like I used to.
OK, so my mantra is now, Stretch, Don't Eat. It's on my monitor. I will follow it.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
a potato in the oven
I went this weekend to help a friend with her rental - prepare it to show and rent out April 1, hopefully... Yesterday was the first day she had gotten in there. OMG. What a disgusting horrid state it was left in. I'm not exaggerating. First off, let me say she at first defended him, saying that he always paid on time or before, and didn't cause any trouble. It's the first time she rented.
I wish I had taken pictures, because it's just too amazing to believe. And apparently I didn't even get to see the potato he left in the oven. Cobwebs everywhere and lots of them. I shudder just thinking of it (I hate hate hate cobwebs). One year old carpet completely trashed. Tape left around the windows where he was supposed to paint, and maybe did a year ago. Burn/oil marks on the linoleum countertop. Mold everywhere in the shower and fridge. Pieces of various appliances, countertops, outlet covers, walls - missing. The new blinds - bent and destroyed. In all the rooms.
I can't even go on. And the SMELL. Ugh. After a couple hours, she moved to not being able to speak his name. Ugh. She didn't get a deposit from him, but he had paid for all of March, so she has some money from that. Not enough to cover all the damages though. Ugh.
So, we started cleaning and fixing. I was not required to clean the fridge or shower, thankfully. I patched walls, cleaned countertops, washed windows, etc. Doesn't feel like much, but it did look so much better after a day of work. We went to ReStore to look for things, but didn't find much, and went to Goodwill also. I happened to mention that I liked her hammered aluminum cups (I sort of collect it), and we get back to her place, and she gives me the set of six. Very nice, and couldn't be dissuaded.
She felt really guilty that we didn't do much/anything. She wanted to do something today, and I mentioned that the only thing that would be nice would be to go to an olive place. So, she pulls out a bottle of olive oil - the first pressing of the first batch of olives from her friend's house.
I jokingly said, hey, I have a big car and can take some furniture. She looked around for something to give me - kind of joking. I had to say No No No!!! :-)
In any event, a nice weekend. It's good to pay it forward a little. Apparently she helped me with one of my houses, so, she didn't feel so bad with me helping all weekend...
I seem to be fascinated by the light and clouds out here...
I wish I had taken pictures, because it's just too amazing to believe. And apparently I didn't even get to see the potato he left in the oven. Cobwebs everywhere and lots of them. I shudder just thinking of it (I hate hate hate cobwebs). One year old carpet completely trashed. Tape left around the windows where he was supposed to paint, and maybe did a year ago. Burn/oil marks on the linoleum countertop. Mold everywhere in the shower and fridge. Pieces of various appliances, countertops, outlet covers, walls - missing. The new blinds - bent and destroyed. In all the rooms.
I can't even go on. And the SMELL. Ugh. After a couple hours, she moved to not being able to speak his name. Ugh. She didn't get a deposit from him, but he had paid for all of March, so she has some money from that. Not enough to cover all the damages though. Ugh.
So, we started cleaning and fixing. I was not required to clean the fridge or shower, thankfully. I patched walls, cleaned countertops, washed windows, etc. Doesn't feel like much, but it did look so much better after a day of work. We went to ReStore to look for things, but didn't find much, and went to Goodwill also. I happened to mention that I liked her hammered aluminum cups (I sort of collect it), and we get back to her place, and she gives me the set of six. Very nice, and couldn't be dissuaded.
She felt really guilty that we didn't do much/anything. She wanted to do something today, and I mentioned that the only thing that would be nice would be to go to an olive place. So, she pulls out a bottle of olive oil - the first pressing of the first batch of olives from her friend's house.
I jokingly said, hey, I have a big car and can take some furniture. She looked around for something to give me - kind of joking. I had to say No No No!!! :-)
In any event, a nice weekend. It's good to pay it forward a little. Apparently she helped me with one of my houses, so, she didn't feel so bad with me helping all weekend...
I seem to be fascinated by the light and clouds out here...
Friday, March 18, 2011
Another Book
So, this one I read in a little over 24 hours.
love walked in: Marisa de los Santos
It seems I agree with the Washington Post: ' the kind of book that makes you want to hunker down on a chilly day in a comfy chair and read straight through until dark'
The problem is, I read it way too fast. I skimmed in the beginning because there was just much to much reference to old movies. I understand now why it was there, but it irritated me, in part because she gave away endings to old movies I haven't seen! Of course, I could also look at it as recommendations for movies to see... so I'll try and do that.
I kind of feel like I fast forwarded a movie. I got the gist and I read certain parts slowly...but not enough in depth. My overall vision of the book is that it was actually quite good. Real characters. Believable situations. Etc.
I liked this: "knowing what you love and why is as real as it gets."
Hmm...might be a girly book. But it's good.
love walked in: Marisa de los Santos
It seems I agree with the Washington Post: ' the kind of book that makes you want to hunker down on a chilly day in a comfy chair and read straight through until dark'
The problem is, I read it way too fast. I skimmed in the beginning because there was just much to much reference to old movies. I understand now why it was there, but it irritated me, in part because she gave away endings to old movies I haven't seen! Of course, I could also look at it as recommendations for movies to see... so I'll try and do that.
I kind of feel like I fast forwarded a movie. I got the gist and I read certain parts slowly...but not enough in depth. My overall vision of the book is that it was actually quite good. Real characters. Believable situations. Etc.
I liked this: "knowing what you love and why is as real as it gets."
Hmm...might be a girly book. But it's good.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Recent Reads
Say You're One of Them: Uwem Akpan
Nigeria author of these short stories. An Oprah book selection. I normally don't read short stories but I decided to try anyway. They are extremely well written. All cover violent times in Nigerian history. From the back cover: 'pays tribute to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances.' In some cases, resilience is to be assumed - because several leave one hanging as to their future. Tough read though.
Alive in Necropolis: Doug Dorst
Set in the San Francisco area (specifically Colma). An intelligent and sometimes thought provoking easy read. Not your average mystery/horror story - more of a look at human behavior.
Look Me in The Eye- My Life with Asperger's: John Elder Robinson
Robinson is the older brother of the guy who wrote Running with Scissors. He has Asperger's (this end of the autism spectrum - vs the end that cannot communicate) but was not diagnosed until he was 40. He wrote this himself, and is really able to communicate what he went through and who he is. He's done some fascinating things in his life (quite a character), and I would recommend this highly.
Nigeria author of these short stories. An Oprah book selection. I normally don't read short stories but I decided to try anyway. They are extremely well written. All cover violent times in Nigerian history. From the back cover: 'pays tribute to the wisdom and resilience of children, even in the face of the most agonizing circumstances.' In some cases, resilience is to be assumed - because several leave one hanging as to their future. Tough read though.
Alive in Necropolis: Doug Dorst
Set in the San Francisco area (specifically Colma). An intelligent and sometimes thought provoking easy read. Not your average mystery/horror story - more of a look at human behavior.
Look Me in The Eye- My Life with Asperger's: John Elder Robinson
Robinson is the older brother of the guy who wrote Running with Scissors. He has Asperger's (this end of the autism spectrum - vs the end that cannot communicate) but was not diagnosed until he was 40. He wrote this himself, and is really able to communicate what he went through and who he is. He's done some fascinating things in his life (quite a character), and I would recommend this highly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
