Yum-O

Pardon me while my girlie side shows. Tonight we had an AMAZING concert at my place of employment.

Steve Tyrell

Now, six months ago, I didn’t have a clue who this guy is. So, if you don’t either, get yourself a copy of Father of the Bride (the modern one, with Steve Martin) and listen to the soundtrack. It’s Steve Tyrell’s buttery voice crooning the love songs throughout that movie.

Anyway, he is a wonderful songwriter turned singer, a really, really nice guy….and loads of fun to look at. These pictures really don’t do him justice. He’s a cutie patootie.

I was actually able to sit and enjoy most of the concert. That’s a real rarity for me.

Just one more look….

The next time I whine about how tough my job is…you have my permission to refer me back to this page.

I’m going to bed now.

“…the look…of love…is in your eyes…it’s saying so…much…more than just words can ever say…”

SIGH….

Believe it or Not #3 – Debbie Meyer Green Bags

This pitch made a bit of sense to me…and sounded like an idea I should check out. So, I forked over $9.95 at my neighborhood Kroger and took home 20 Debbie Meyer Green Bags. This is the same price as in the TV offers…but no shipping and handling.

My plan was to package assorted veggies in green bags…and also in regular zip bags. I would compare the contents of the bags after storing them in the fridge for a while. The problem is…I kept eating my subjects before they had any real chance to get funky! Who keeps vegetables forever, anyway? The answer to that question might just save you ten bucks.

So, of the veggies that made it long enough without being eaten, I present some of the results:

These carrots are one month old. They look pretty good. They’re snappy and moist. I got lazy and didn’t put any in zip lock bags. (I guess I wouldn’t make much of a scientist.). So, I don’t know if they would fare as well in any other bag. But…they did pretty well in the green bags. The month-old cauliflower looked as good as the day I put it in the bag. I was pretty impressed with that. The two-week old cut bell pepper fared well in the green bag, too. Sorry, no pix of those. I got lazy after a couple of weeks of messing with this.

Tomatoes didn’t do quite so well. These were two weeks old when I photographed them:

They seemed to fare identically in both bags. What you can’t see is their texture. They had become disgustingly soft in both bags. I didn’t eat any of them. The verdict…eat your ‘maters quickly.

Now we come to the lettuce. To be fair, the directions say that anything put in the bag must be totally dry. There ain’t no way you’re going to get your lettuce dry. It didn’t do well at all. This is three weeks old. I should have thrown it out a week prior. In all honesty, though, the lettuce in the zip bag did even worse. It was just a pile of goo. But, that picture was poorly focused, so I can’t show you. Take my word for it. It just wasn’t salad material.

So, what’s the answer? Believe it or not? Well…sorta believe it. Just don’t bother, if saving lettuce is your goal. I’m not sure the product works well enough to justify spending another ten bucks, however.

I am Suzette Crim, and I approve this message.

Life has gotten in the way of things like blogging lately. I’m just squeezing time in for this update. And, it’s really not an update. I just wanted to remind everyone that time is drawing close for the most important national election many of us have experienced. I don’t have to tell you how bad things are…and how bad they can get! It is vital that each and every one of us exercise our right to vote and affect our destiny.

Here in Tennessee, the deadline for registering for the upcoming election is October 6. Most states have a comparable deadline looming on the horizon. If you’re not registered to vote in your state…get out there and do it NOW!

Do it! For your children, if not for you.

Kitty Stuff

My cats are so weird. I have begun to suspect that everyone’s cats are weird. I guess that’s what makes them so endearing.

My older kitty, Nicky, is a real sweetheart. She starts purring if you merely speak to her…or if she THINKS you are speaking to her. Don’t get me wrong. She has some really irritating habits….like that litter box thing. (She hates them.) And, if I’m not as responsive as she would like in the mornings…she pokes me incessantly until I do whatever it is she wants me to do – usually, scratch her tummy. There is no ignoring her.

She’s getting old. I took her in as a stray about 15 or 16 years ago. She was an adult already. I really have no idea how old she is. A couple of years ago, she began to experience kidney failure. I guess that’s why she drinks a whole lot of water. Lately, she’s gotten lazy about her water obsession. More than one time in recent weeks, I’ve caught her in the following position:

I had just startled her awake by entering the room.

I got on the internet and found that older kitties often do this. The assumption is their energy levels are waning and it’s just easier this way. I’m not going to worry about it. If she is indeed on the final glidepath, she’s had a pretty darn good life, for a stray picked up on the banks of the Trinity River.

And, then there’s Max.

When we first met Max, he was recovering from a ruptured anal gland. I’m happy to report his behind is all healed, and even the hair has grown back. He’s his gorgeous self again.

Max is weird, too. First of all…he’s huge. HUGE! He has a foot fetish. If you’re wearing the right kind of white socks, he will practically turn himself inside out, trying to get friendly with your feet. He likes to check up on you when you’re at the computer. Especially in the wee hours of the morning. He comes up behind and taps you on the shoulder with his little paw. HEART ATTACK! But, the neatest thing he does is talk. He only knows one word, but he does it so well. “Mama.” He says “Mama.” He will do it on command, if you ask in just the right way.

Both kitties have had – well…let’s call it like it is – poop problems. They have been chronically constipated for eons. This was a contributing factor to Max’s anal gland disaster. The vet gave me some kitty laxative. Didn’t work. He also suggested I add PUMPKIN to their food – or find some other way to get fiber down them. Now, I don’t know about YOUR kitty, but I figured MY kitties were NOT going to take very well to pumpkin.

So I got unflavored Metamucil. A generic version, actually.

It works. It works really well. I keep a little jar of it mixed up with water until it’s nice and slimy (have I totally grossed you out yet?) and then mix a couple tablespoons with their morning canned kitty food. They lap it right up. The rest of the day, they snack on dry kibble. They are pooping better than they have ever pooped before. It’s a small but important victory.

So, the next time your pet seems to have iron-clad poop…just get ‘em a little Metamucil. It’s the miracle cure.

Now…back to your previously scheduled breakfast.

I’m Losing It – Week 5

I lost a pound this week, but am not celebrating, really. I could have lost more. I’ve been doing a lot of emotional eating this week. One of those girl things, I guess…even though I haven’t had hormones in years – the memory lingers on.

Still no exercise. Let me tell you why this is even more shameful than it appears.

I am a city employee. The city-owned building in which I work is split. Half of said building is the theater that employs me. The other half of the building is an ATHLETIC CLUB. Yes, indeedy…not 50 yards up the sidewalk is a completely revamped, with all the bells and whistles, athletic club. It includes a walking track and pool (with water aerobics classes). I haven’t checked on costs in a while, but I think it’s about $500 per year for individuals. But, get this…as a city employee, it’s FREE for me.

I do not own a club ID because I am too lazy to use my key to the fire door and go to the registration desk to get it taken care of. I don’t even have to go outside! See the not-to-scale map below.

I’ve worked here 2 years. What IS my problem? The only thing I can figure is I must have a death wish.

I Don’t Like IKE!

Who else is old enough to remember that old campaign slogan…I like Ike? Anyone? Anyone?

Well, today, I do NOT like Ike!

I’ve been scouring the internet for pictures that might include my two favorite seafood restaurants – one in Galveston and the other in Kemah. I didn’t find much. What photos there are focus on people – which is as it should be – or piles of unidentifiable rubble.

I did find this shot of the parking Garage in Kemah where we park for the short walk to the best shrimp in the world.

This was taken Friday, showing the pre-storm surge. From what I’ve been able to tell today, the Kemah area was about as hard hit as Galveston last night. There will be no fried shrimp in Kemah for a while.

When I first started going to Kemah – way before my now-grown daughter was born – Kemah was a fishing village. Restaurants sprang up right on the docks. You had to go through bait shacks to get to the piers, and it was a really good idea to eat early before the sun started setting, because the rats and roaches began taking over at dark-thirty. But, the shrimp was worth it. And still is, even if it has gone decidedly “uptown.”

My other favorite shrimp connection is Gaidos – on Seawall Blvd. in Galveston.

I hope it’s still there this morning. There is nothing in the news that gives any insight.

Auntie Two lives in Katy, a suburb on the North side of Houston. She’s a long way from the coast. I found this photo of the Katy sunset taken last night just before Ike started bearing down on the coast. Made for some pretty skies – for a while.

But, they were expecting high winds and probably some flooding due to all the bayous running through Houston. When I heard from her on Friday, she had provisions, was freezing lots of ice and had brought in her collection of butterfly cocoons from the yard. There’s no power anywhere in Harris County today, so I don’t know how she fared, but her house is new and made of limestone. It sits on a little hill and has huge drainage grates very near it. I feel confident she’s OK.

Intellectualizing aside…there’s still a bit of unease in not knowing.

We Spring to Life

It’s amazing to watch a theater come to life after a long, dark summer.  I wish I could walk through the building and record all the sights and sounds I’m encountering right now.

Electricians have been here all day, pulling wires and testing this and that…replacing lighting fixtures and who knows what else.  We’ve had people literally hanging from the ceiling since early this morning. 

The cleaning crew just finished their final vacuuming and wipe-down and waved goodbye with a laugh, joking about the mess they’d have to clean up in a few hours.  Those girls are an efficient, dedicated team.

Coming through the doors and windows are the sounds of an army of landscapers, working both by hand and with several different machines.  I have to admit, they made a nice area out of the place where the first murdered tree stood (the others have not yet been molested).  There are new shrubs in several places, and fresh mulch in all the beds.

As I walk down the hall, I hear the tech crew shouting instructions to one another as they put the finishing touches on tonight’s stage.  There are ladders and lifts and poles and banners everywhere.

Further down the hall, the sounds of the piano mingle with those of the workers as tonight’s artist practices.  Orien Weiss will perform in a private concert tonight to thank all those who donated to the purchase of our new Steinway, and he’s giving it a good first workout.  Since I was among the donors, I get to put on good duds, drink wine and mingle with the VIPs on a social level. 

It’s very exciting.  It’s almost enough to make me forget how hard I will have to work before this season is over.  This is a pretty cool job, all in all.

Time to…

My life seems a little fragmented right now. There’s a little of this…and a little of that…and lots of other stuff…but nothing worthy of a post all by itself. So, I figured, once in a while, it’s good to just babble on about the little stuff that seems to fill my life.

The tree murderers came today. Remember when I blogged about how someone decided to take out two trees because they blocked our sign…and then I pointed out that trees elsewhere in our parking lot ALSO blocked our sign. Well…someone also figured that out. (I have no idea who someone is, BTW.) So, we’re told that FIVE trees have got to give their lives for our sign. I…am…not…happy! But, nobody cares whether I’m happy or not. In any event, today the tree murderers came and took out ONE tree. And then they left. I have no idea what is going on. They were supposed to have all the trees murdered, the sign installed, and our new portico ceiling reinstalled by tomorrow – the last day before we start having events. Guess what? They’re not going to make it. This gets curiouser all the time.

We’re presenting Red Priest in October. They do avant garde baroque music. Now, THAT’s something to twist your mind around, isn’t it? Their program will be “Nightmare in Venice,” and since it’s near Halloween, they have suggested we make the concert a costumed event. You don’t have to ask us twice! Staff is definitely dressing. I’m quite proud of myself. I got the pattern for my costume this week:

It will be a hoot! An old, fat broad dressed as Really Fat Elvis. I’m not telling a soul. I can just see their faces when I make my grand entrance! The wig has been ordered. Now I’ve got to find just the right sunglasses, some boots….and get to sewing! Can’t WAIT!

I sold my second piece on Etsy yesterday. Both sales were of rather expensive pieces. My less expensive pieces really don’t even garner many looks. Hmmmmm….I put those in deliberately so I would have something for every pocketbook. But, they apparently don’t light anybody’s fire. Let’s face it, though, at one sale every other month, you can’t really say I’m burning up the jewelry market. It’s interesting. I’m busy making replacements for the two that have sold. They won’t be identical, since each of my pieces is made by hand…but they’re the same “flavor.” We’ll see if this trend continues.

I made it over to the middle school this weekend, and decided my wild grapes are indeed wild grapes. There’s a tell-tale seed test to differentiate them from their close copy-cat. They’re grapes. But, the birds have discovered them, and there are not enough left to fool with. Oh well…I didn’t need the extra jam, anyway. But, at least I learned something about wild grapes this summer!

I see I’m fifteen minutes late on my bread-baking schedule for tonight. I’ve got an entire bread blog coming up. I thought tonight’s loaf was going to be “the answer” to my bread quest. But, alas…I can tell already that it’s not. In any event, it’s past time to get it in the oven. I feel better now, having devoted a little bit of attention to my blog. Would you like fries with that ketchup?

I’m Losing It – Week 4

I stayed the same this week. I totally earned this stall. When I stop and look back, it’s a miracle I didn’t gain.

My boss’ birthday was this week, and there was a Meyer lemon bundt cake. A really good one. Those who know me know I am a total sucker for citrus…and I lived up to my reputation. Then, on a really stressful morning, Pete the Donut Guy brought a gift of fat and sugar. He pointed out that he had specifically chosen one of my favorite kind. At least I didn’t eat TWO!

Let’s talk about pudding. I am not what you’d call a pudding fan. But, just to have a little something sweet, I made a package of sugar-free, fat-free pudding. It was soooooo good! You’re supposed to have one a day, if there’s room in your meal plan. I had 3 on Saturday. Made another batch and had 3 more yesterday. Pudding has got to go!

And then there’s bread. South Beach allows whole grain breads – what they call “good carbs.” In controlled quantities, of course. I know that most commercial breads have a very small percentage of whole grain in them. And, since I like to bake, I picked up a much-touted book on whole-grain baking, and dug in. It was delicious. Half-a-loaf delicious! And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, I have a few tricks in my own baking arsenal, and so I decided to “improve” upon the author’s basic recipe and baked a SECOND loaf – my way – and it was delicious, too.

So, yeah…I earned this. I accept total responsibility. All I can do is try to focus and move forward. So far, so good. But, breakfast is always easy.

Turkey Basters! AAAARGH!

What IS it with turkey basters? You’d think that after decades of trying one after another, I would finally figure it out. That darn thing is NOT going to retain the liquid long enough to transfer it to your desired location. No way, no how!

I’m baking bread tonight. I like the nice, crispy crust that adding steam to the oven produces. I keep a cast iron pot lid in the bottom of the oven, and I pour water into it to make the steam. It’s kinda tricky to thread your hand underneath the rack holding the bread, while holding a container of water, all the while trying not to touch a hot surface. I had the brilliant idea to use a turkey baster to accomplish this task. Hah! Try as I might, I could NOT get the water to stay in the thing long enough to get it into the oven. I give up!

I got to thinking…have I EVER had a success with a turkey baster? I think the answer is a resounding “no.” In fact, more often than not, the turkey baster seems to have the unique ability to send the hot basting liquid flying through the air – just about everywhere except onto the turkey. That…or it lets the drippings dribble timidly back into the bottom of the pan from whence it came. Frustrating little tool. But, it LOOKS so functional!

How about you? Have you ever had success with a turkey baster? Or am I just baster-challenged?

The bread looks weird, BTW. We’ll probably have a weird bread discussion. Soon.

My New Toy

OK, so I’m on this diet. Er-uh…food program. Or something. I’m trying to be less fat. But, apparently, diets don’t work (do tell!) so I’m supposed to be learning how to eat differently. Well, that’s fine and good. But, I’ve got this huge sugar monkey on my back. Sugar gorilla, really. One of the things I really, really love is ice cream. There are so many ways ice cream is not good for me, not the least of which is the quantity I can consume. But, that’s a whole ‘nuther issue. Sugar and fat in any quantity have gotta go – at least for a while.

Well, while cruising the Walmart aisles last weekend, I found this little jewel…

It’s a Rival Snow Cone Machine. Fifteen bucks. I couldn’t pass it up.

The idea is that you freeze ice in just the right size, and put it inside this machine, which will shave it into snow. Then, you pour over a bit of flavored syrup, and voila! Snow cone….any time you want.

I have a hard time getting in all the recommended milk servings, so I had the brilliant idea to freeze MILK instead of water, thus giving me a way to get my ice cream fix. OK..it’s skim milk instead of cream, but it seemed reasonable to me.

They give you two little dishes to freeze cylinders for the machine to shave. The first few days, I froze several in various flavors, adding quite a lot of artificial sweetener (the flavor of the snowflakes is much more subdued than the original liquid mixture). My favorite so far is orange and vanilla extract – kind of a Creamsicle thing. Yummy!

So, you put your little ice block into the top of the machine….

And press down on the big button on the very top…

And out comes a pile of soft, flavorful snow!

Of course, I don’t put sweet syrup on it, but I COULD top it with sugar-free coffee-flavoring syrups. Those are pretty tasty. Right now, I’m just enjoying my snow right out of the machine. It’s really more of a granita than ice cream, but it hits the spot in any event. I think part of the experience is serving it in a pretty glass with a nice spoon. Don’t you agree?

This is a nifty, easy-to-clean little machine. You might get an end-of-summer bargain on one, if you look around a little. Give it a try. I think you’ll have fun with it!

I’m Losing It – Week 3

Down 2.5 more pounds…still 3.5 to go before I feel like I’m breaking new ground. I shouldn’t think like that, I know, but I can’t help it. I totally shot myself in the foot last spring, and I am very much aware of going over old territory. But, progress is progress.

I get to add one serving of “good” carbs and one serving of fruit per day this week. It is almost scary. Carbs and sugar are my downfall. But, I know I can’t avoid them forever. I have to learn to manage them, and I guess that’s the whole point of South Beach.

Still not exercising right. In fact, I only exercised once this week. I actually enjoy those walks. So, why is it I don’t do them more often? Like every day? I am a very complicated person, and I can’t even understand myself.

Next post, I’ll show you one of my diet “toys” that is helping a lot.

Thanks for all the private emails of support. I really appreciate hearing from you.