Monday, October 8, 2012
Sunday, October 7, 2012
House Rules
Right on... applies to the car, too!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Menu Plan 10/7/12
Dinner last Saturday night was at my favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City... SOOOOOO good!
We were with Mr. and Mrs. SuperGeek and their cute baby and had a lovely time!
Nope, no plan for last week... we were out of town the weekend prior, with no time to plan or shop. THAT is why having a little stockpile of stuff in the freezer comes in so handy! We did get In 'N Out one night, which I picked up on my way home from class.
Back to routine - here's the plan for this week:
Sunday 10/7/12: Slow Cooker Beef Stew with fresh rosemary from the backyard, green salad, Cheddar Biscuits.
Monday 10/8 (I have class): CrockPot Pork Chops and Gravy, mashed potatoes (the scary kind from a box), green salad.
Tuesday 10/9 (I have association board meeting): Honey Hoisin Chicken (from the freezer) with egg noodles or rice, green salad, green beans.
Wednesday 10/10 (I have class): Easy Oven Pork Chops, green salad, Rice-a-Roni.
Thursday 10/11: Tostadas with chicken and black beans (from the freezer) topped with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and sour cream (for Mr. Mamie).
Friday 10/12: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches (from the freezer), green salad.
Saturday 10/13: Chicken Tetrazini (this keeps getting bumped!).
And yes, you do see Rice-a-Roni and boxed mashed potatoes... it's survival when I have so many nights of class and meetings this year!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Menu Plan 9/23/12
I don't have a lot to say tonight; my heart is heavy with grief for a friend and colleague who has suffered a terrible loss. I do have a menu plan, but things may change as there are some uncertainties this week. We are also planning to go north next weekend for a family event on Mr. Mamie's side. We'll see what develops as the week progresses.
Sunday 9/23: Three-envelope roast with carrots and potatoes.
Monday 9/24 (I have class): Slow Cooker Italian Chicken with Birdseye brand "fresh steamers" rice and vegetables, green salad.
Tuesday 9/25: Beef and barley soup made with the leftover roast from Sunday, some kind of bread from the freezer, green salad.
Wednesday 9/26 (night off from tech class, yay): Sloppy Joes - I use the highly processed McCormick packet because that's what I grew up with and all other sloppy joes taste weird! I do like to mix in a 10 ounce bag of frozen corn. We'll have green salad also.
Thursday 9/27: Cajun Pork Chops, whole wheat couscous, green beans, green salad.
Friday 9/28: Dinner out while running errands, most likely.
Saturday 9/29: I have every intention of being at the original Red Iguana!
Sunday 9/30: On the road home, some probably something hideous. Sunday would have been my mom's 70th birthday. Since she's been gone I've done a "Mom Meal" on her birthday, but this year I had to do it a week early. NOTHING could beat my mom's pot roast and vegetables, and while mine is great, Mom's was... Mom's.
Have a good week, and hold you beloveds close.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday 9/23: Three-envelope roast with carrots and potatoes.
Monday 9/24 (I have class): Slow Cooker Italian Chicken with Birdseye brand "fresh steamers" rice and vegetables, green salad.
Tuesday 9/25: Beef and barley soup made with the leftover roast from Sunday, some kind of bread from the freezer, green salad.
Wednesday 9/26 (night off from tech class, yay): Sloppy Joes - I use the highly processed McCormick packet because that's what I grew up with and all other sloppy joes taste weird! I do like to mix in a 10 ounce bag of frozen corn. We'll have green salad also.
Thursday 9/27: Cajun Pork Chops, whole wheat couscous, green beans, green salad.
Friday 9/28: Dinner out while running errands, most likely.
Saturday 9/29: I have every intention of being at the original Red Iguana!
Sunday 9/30: On the road home, some probably something hideous. Sunday would have been my mom's 70th birthday. Since she's been gone I've done a "Mom Meal" on her birthday, but this year I had to do it a week early. NOTHING could beat my mom's pot roast and vegetables, and while mine is great, Mom's was... Mom's.
Have a good week, and hold you beloveds close.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Menu Plan 9/16/12
Another busy week!
Sunday 9/16: Chicken Tinga Tostadas with refried beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, etc. We have a peach-blueberry pie that we picked up at Veyo Pies on our way back from hiking with the doggies on Pine Valley Mountain today. These tostadas got bumped from another night last week when schedules changed. I went ahead and prepped everything and just put it in a Ziploc bag in the freezer, which made it handy this morning when we were headed out to the mountain!
Monday 9/17: Slow Cooker Taco Soup, green salad, tortilla chips (I have class).
Tuesday 9/18: Grilled Basil-Balsamic Pork Chops, some sort of rice, green salad (I have an association meeting).
Wednesday 9/19: Slow Cooker Garlic Honey Chicken (from the freezer), egg noodles, green salad (I have class).
Thursday 9/19: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches on French rolls with Provolone cheese, green salad.
Friday 9/20: Best Burgers with Secret Sauce, Oven Fries using a mix of russet and sweet potatoes.
Saturday 9/21: Zesty BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (from the freezer), green beans, green salad. Bunco night for me! We eat like maniacs while we play, so just Mr. Mamie, GrandmaT and anyone who happens to be at our house will have the sandwiches.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday 9/16: Chicken Tinga Tostadas with refried beans, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, etc. We have a peach-blueberry pie that we picked up at Veyo Pies on our way back from hiking with the doggies on Pine Valley Mountain today. These tostadas got bumped from another night last week when schedules changed. I went ahead and prepped everything and just put it in a Ziploc bag in the freezer, which made it handy this morning when we were headed out to the mountain!
Monday 9/17: Slow Cooker Taco Soup, green salad, tortilla chips (I have class).
Tuesday 9/18: Grilled Basil-Balsamic Pork Chops, some sort of rice, green salad (I have an association meeting).
Wednesday 9/19: Slow Cooker Garlic Honey Chicken (from the freezer), egg noodles, green salad (I have class).
Thursday 9/19: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches on French rolls with Provolone cheese, green salad.
Friday 9/20: Best Burgers with Secret Sauce, Oven Fries using a mix of russet and sweet potatoes.
Saturday 9/21: Zesty BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (from the freezer), green beans, green salad. Bunco night for me! We eat like maniacs while we play, so just Mr. Mamie, GrandmaT and anyone who happens to be at our house will have the sandwiches.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Menu Plan 9/9/12
This last week was more "normal" in terms of schedule, but I still had class on two nights - which IS the normal for this school year!
Saturday we didn't up going to the Preparedness Expo and then having a fun mountain adventure with the doggies, as we intended. Instead, five school colleagues who are also in my technology endorsement program came over for the afternoon so that Mr. Mamie could teach us how to use Google SketchUp for a class assignment. Let's just say we didn't receive adequate (or any!) instruction in the actual class, so we needed tutoring! That meant Saturday morning was spent cleaning, making food, arranging the dining room to accommodate six people with laptops, setting up wireless access for guests, and moving our flat screen TV and setting it up so that Mr. Mamie could use it as a giant display monitor. A fun time was had by all, everyone got a good start on their projects, and the food was yummy! We had tortilla chips and Blender Salsa, Zesty BBQ Chicken served as sliders on awesome pretzel rolls from Costco, and brownies. Being a nerd is so much easier when there's excellent noshables! Here's the only photographic evidence of our hard work:
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Saturday we didn't up going to the Preparedness Expo and then having a fun mountain adventure with the doggies, as we intended. Instead, five school colleagues who are also in my technology endorsement program came over for the afternoon so that Mr. Mamie could teach us how to use Google SketchUp for a class assignment. Let's just say we didn't receive adequate (or any!) instruction in the actual class, so we needed tutoring! That meant Saturday morning was spent cleaning, making food, arranging the dining room to accommodate six people with laptops, setting up wireless access for guests, and moving our flat screen TV and setting it up so that Mr. Mamie could use it as a giant display monitor. A fun time was had by all, everyone got a good start on their projects, and the food was yummy! We had tortilla chips and Blender Salsa, Zesty BBQ Chicken served as sliders on awesome pretzel rolls from Costco, and brownies. Being a nerd is so much easier when there's excellent noshables! Here's the only photographic evidence of our hard work:
Yes, this is what teachers do on a Saturday afternoon!
This coming week has the usual classes and homework, on top of teaching the 24 mini-peeps all day long. Here's the menu:
Sunday 9/9: Navajo Tacos with lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream, etc. I make them with 1 pound of browned ground beef combined with one can of Bush's chili beans.The beef/beans combo yields plenty to freeze for another meal. I had planned something else but had a craving for Navajo Tacos, so....
Monday 9/10 (class night): Teriyaki Pork Chops on the grill, Rice-a-Roni "fried rice," green salad (yes, I'll be stooping to Rice-a-Roni more often than usual over the next few months!).
Tuesday 9/11: Chicken Tinga Tostadas with with lettuce, cheese, tomato, sour cream, etc., Mom's Arroz Mexicano.
Wednesday 9/12 (class night): CrockPot Chicken and White Bean Chili, corn bread, green salad.
Thursday 9/13: Cheeseburger Pie (nostalgia meal for me!), green beans, green salad.
Friday 9/14: Cheddarwurst turned into pigs-in-a-blanket (Mr. Mamie's nostalgia meal request), Bush's baked beans, green salad. I'm going to try the Neely's recipe - it actually sounds really yummy!
Saturday 9/15: Leaving it open until we see what we're doing!
Sunday 9/16: Planning to have the Chicken Tetrazini that we didn't have last week with green salad.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Monday, September 3, 2012
Monday Meme
I got this from Mrs. Chili, of course!
Why do you think so many people cheat? Fear, laziness, self-absorption.
Tell me what’s on your mind? Asking myself why I'm doing this instead of the house chores that NEED doing!
What are you looking forward to in the next three months? Making progress in my two endorsement courses, seeing my students start to become actual readers and writers, a visit to Mr. Mamie's cousins for a family event.
Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing? Regularly.
When did you last talk to your BFF? Mr. Mamie is my BFF, so about 30 seconds ago.
When is your next road trip? A weekend trip at the end of the month up north for a family event with Mr. Mamie's cousins.
Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell anything to? Mr. Mamie, duh.
How’s your heart?Overall, OK I think.
Have you ever felt like you weren’t important? Yep.
Do you think somebody’s secretly in love with you? Nope.
What are you planning on doing after this? Check the progress of the bread machine, take may lunch plate into the kitchen, iron some clothes, do some lesson plans.
Last time you yelled at someone? The dogs, for jumping on someone at the dog park.
Have you told anybody you loved them today? Yes! :)
Who do you not get along with? There are a couple of people I could do without in my work environment, but there's not outright dispute or hostility.
What does your most recent text say? From my friend KB telling us how much we will love the new dog park (and we do!)
What are you wearing right now? Jeans, black t-shirt with a QR code graphic.
You’re locked in a room with the person you last kissed in high school, how is it? Rather strained.
When’s the last time you had a grilled cheese? It's been awhile, but I was just considering making one today!
What’s your favorite boy and girl name? Ick, I hate that question.
How did you feel when you woke up? Pretty well-rested, and ready to head off for dog park fun.
Do you wish someone would call or text you right now? Not really.
Do you think Clint Eastwood would have been better talking to a table? I really have no clue what he was doing.
What were you doing yesterday at midnight? Sleeping!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Why do you think so many people cheat? Fear, laziness, self-absorption.
Tell me what’s on your mind? Asking myself why I'm doing this instead of the house chores that NEED doing!
What are you looking forward to in the next three months? Making progress in my two endorsement courses, seeing my students start to become actual readers and writers, a visit to Mr. Mamie's cousins for a family event.
Have you ever worn the opposite sex’s clothing? Regularly.
When did you last talk to your BFF? Mr. Mamie is my BFF, so about 30 seconds ago.
When is your next road trip? A weekend trip at the end of the month up north for a family event with Mr. Mamie's cousins.
Do you have someone of the opposite sex you can tell anything to? Mr. Mamie, duh.
How’s your heart?Overall, OK I think.
Have you ever felt like you weren’t important? Yep.
Do you think somebody’s secretly in love with you? Nope.
What are you planning on doing after this? Check the progress of the bread machine, take may lunch plate into the kitchen, iron some clothes, do some lesson plans.
Last time you yelled at someone? The dogs, for jumping on someone at the dog park.
Have you told anybody you loved them today? Yes! :)
Who do you not get along with? There are a couple of people I could do without in my work environment, but there's not outright dispute or hostility.
What does your most recent text say? From my friend KB telling us how much we will love the new dog park (and we do!)
What are you wearing right now? Jeans, black t-shirt with a QR code graphic.
You’re locked in a room with the person you last kissed in high school, how is it? Rather strained.
When’s the last time you had a grilled cheese? It's been awhile, but I was just considering making one today!
What’s your favorite boy and girl name? Ick, I hate that question.
How did you feel when you woke up? Pretty well-rested, and ready to head off for dog park fun.
Do you wish someone would call or text you right now? Not really.
Do you think Clint Eastwood would have been better talking to a table? I really have no clue what he was doing.
What were you doing yesterday at midnight? Sleeping!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Menu Plan 8/26- 9/9, 2012
Well, school has started and I've made it though the first three weeks - which has included the first head/chest cold of the year and the first parent-teacher conferences of the year! I'm taking both math AND technology endorsement classes this year, so I have class two nights a week. And finally, as an elected Executive Board member of our local "education association" (because we theoretically don't have UNIONS in this state) I have meetings two or three times monthly. It's been busy!
Here's what we ate LAST week:
Sunday 8/26: Zesty Roasted Chicken, Ranch Potatoes (toss cut potatoes in olive oil and then sprinkle ranch dressing mix over them - we use this homemade version, roast in the oven until golden), green salad.
Monday 8/27: Spaghetti (whole wheat) with Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce, green salad, garlic bread sticks (from the grocery store bakery). [I had class]
Tuesday 8/28: Garlic Honey Chicken, egg noodles, green salad. [I had an association meeting.]
Wednesday 8/29: Ranch Pork Chops, egg noodles, green salad. [I had parent-teacher conferences after school until 8:00.]
Thursday 8/30: Baked Chicken and Bean Taquitos (from the freezer). [I had parent-teacher conferences after school until 8:00.]
Friday 8/31: Mr. Mamie and I ate out at our favorite Mexican restaurant.
Saturday 9/1: Mr. Mamie and I snacked at a local harvest fair and again later at the movies.
And here's what's going on this week:
Sunday 9/2: Orange Chicken (frozen, from Costco) and Yellow Rice.
Monday 9/3: Sausage Tortellini Soup, green salad, French bread.
Tuesday 9/4: Grilled "flat" Italian chicken (pound chicken breasts with a mallet and marinate in Italian salad dressing), rice or couscous, green salad.
Wednesday 9/5: BBQ Turkey Meatloaf, green salad, maybe some rolls or extra veggies. [I have class.]
Thursday 9/6: Spaghetti (whole wheat) with Bolognese sauce from the freezer (see link above), garlic toast, green salad. [I have class].
Friday 9/7: Grilled chedderwurst dogs, oven fries.
Saturday 9/8: Up in the air, depending our our activities - we're planning to attend a Preparedness Expo at the convention center, and then may take the dogs up to the mountains for an afternoon of frolicking.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Here's what we ate LAST week:
Sunday 8/26: Zesty Roasted Chicken, Ranch Potatoes (toss cut potatoes in olive oil and then sprinkle ranch dressing mix over them - we use this homemade version, roast in the oven until golden), green salad.
Monday 8/27: Spaghetti (whole wheat) with Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce, green salad, garlic bread sticks (from the grocery store bakery). [I had class]
Tuesday 8/28: Garlic Honey Chicken, egg noodles, green salad. [I had an association meeting.]
Wednesday 8/29: Ranch Pork Chops, egg noodles, green salad. [I had parent-teacher conferences after school until 8:00.]
Thursday 8/30: Baked Chicken and Bean Taquitos (from the freezer). [I had parent-teacher conferences after school until 8:00.]
Friday 8/31: Mr. Mamie and I ate out at our favorite Mexican restaurant.
Saturday 9/1: Mr. Mamie and I snacked at a local harvest fair and again later at the movies.
And here's what's going on this week:
Sunday 9/2: Orange Chicken (frozen, from Costco) and Yellow Rice.
Monday 9/3: Sausage Tortellini Soup, green salad, French bread.
Tuesday 9/4: Grilled "flat" Italian chicken (pound chicken breasts with a mallet and marinate in Italian salad dressing), rice or couscous, green salad.
Wednesday 9/5: BBQ Turkey Meatloaf, green salad, maybe some rolls or extra veggies. [I have class.]
Thursday 9/6: Spaghetti (whole wheat) with Bolognese sauce from the freezer (see link above), garlic toast, green salad. [I have class].
Friday 9/7: Grilled chedderwurst dogs, oven fries.
Saturday 9/8: Up in the air, depending our our activities - we're planning to attend a Preparedness Expo at the convention center, and then may take the dogs up to the mountains for an afternoon of frolicking.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sunday Stealing
Get your own from Sunday Stealing!
1. You have been awarded the time off from work and an all-expenses paid week anywhere in the United States. The catch is that it must be somewhere you have not been before. Where do you choose to visit? Coastal Maine or Hawaii, both beautiful but in different ways.
2. Name three of your guilty pleasures. (1) Air-popped popcorn, with lots of butter and salt; watching endless reruns of "Gilmore Girls"; (3) in the winter, driving with the windows open and the heater on.
3. The best kind of Girl Scout Cookie is: Scot Teas! Darn, though don't make those anymore… OK, Thin Mints.
4. What do you value most in other people? Genuineness.
5. Be honest. Do you sneak some raw cookie dough when you’re baking cookies? Heck yes!
6. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise? I think so….
7. What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited? Zion National Park, just down the road from me.
8. Are you more of a thinker or a feeler? Both! Which is hard.
9. Name three things you are thankful for right now. Wonderful husband, wonderful pets, wonderful colleagues.
10. Have you ever participated in a three-legged race? Not that I can remember.
11. When you are at an event that plays the National Anthem, do you place your hand over your heart? Yes.
12. What kind of work do you do? First grade teacher.
13. During the course of your lifetime, which job or career has been your favorite or most fulfilling? First grade teacher!
14. Do you think it’s necessary in your life to have a day-to-day “career” that is meaningful and service-oriented or do you function better in “just a job” with a steady paycheck? I'm definitely of the career mindset.
15. Was there ever a time in your life when you wanted to stay home with your children instead of working, even if it meant less money in the household? It would have been very tempting, yes.
16. Tell us your worst boss story. That person is still within my professional realm, so I think I'd better not!
17. Have your ever been the boss? Yes, ugh.
18. What is your dream occupation? Independently wealthy preschool teacher!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
1. You have been awarded the time off from work and an all-expenses paid week anywhere in the United States. The catch is that it must be somewhere you have not been before. Where do you choose to visit? Coastal Maine or Hawaii, both beautiful but in different ways.
2. Name three of your guilty pleasures. (1) Air-popped popcorn, with lots of butter and salt; watching endless reruns of "Gilmore Girls"; (3) in the winter, driving with the windows open and the heater on.
3. The best kind of Girl Scout Cookie is: Scot Teas! Darn, though don't make those anymore… OK, Thin Mints.
4. What do you value most in other people? Genuineness.
5. Be honest. Do you sneak some raw cookie dough when you’re baking cookies? Heck yes!
6. Have you ever looked back at your life and realized that something you thought was a bad thing was actually a blessing in disguise? I think so….
7. What is the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited? Zion National Park, just down the road from me.
8. Are you more of a thinker or a feeler? Both! Which is hard.
9. Name three things you are thankful for right now. Wonderful husband, wonderful pets, wonderful colleagues.
10. Have you ever participated in a three-legged race? Not that I can remember.
11. When you are at an event that plays the National Anthem, do you place your hand over your heart? Yes.
12. What kind of work do you do? First grade teacher.
13. During the course of your lifetime, which job or career has been your favorite or most fulfilling? First grade teacher!
14. Do you think it’s necessary in your life to have a day-to-day “career” that is meaningful and service-oriented or do you function better in “just a job” with a steady paycheck? I'm definitely of the career mindset.
15. Was there ever a time in your life when you wanted to stay home with your children instead of working, even if it meant less money in the household? It would have been very tempting, yes.
16. Tell us your worst boss story. That person is still within my professional realm, so I think I'd better not!
17. Have your ever been the boss? Yes, ugh.
18. What is your dream occupation? Independently wealthy preschool teacher!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Meme on a Sunday
This came from Sunday Stealing.
1. How long have you been blogging? Since August of 2008… that's four years!
2. Did you go to college? Yes, for five years and to graduate school for another three. Plus, years of off and on post-grad classes. I'm a perpetual student, obviously.
3. Where have you traveled? Throughout most of the continental U.S., a little British Columbia, Mexico, and to Aruba/Panama/Costa Rica while on a trans-Panama Canal cruise.
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? Ha, none!
5. What are your three biggest pet peeves? 1) Inconsiderate drivers, 2) People who leave time on the microwave after taking their food out, 3) People who leave trash on the soda counter at my corner store.
6. What is your favorite movie? I can't pick just ONE! All the Harry Potters, Elizabeth, several Monty Pythons, Harold and Maude, Love Actually…. there are quite a few more.
7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea? Cold water, iced tea (unsweetened), Diet Coke (in that order)
8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time? Hike, read, swim, troll the Interwebz.
9. What is your biggest phobia? Airplane crashes, ladders, bees.
10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? How about NOT! Oh, all right, here's a recent one: We're were Target late one recent afternoon and the monsoon dumped a TON of rain. We leave, the parking lot is swimming, I am in wedge flip-flops with NO tread/traction. I tell myself: Go slow, step carefully... yes, indeed, 10 feet later I am SPRAWLED flat on my back in the driving lane directly outside the front doors of the Tarjay! Niiiiiiice! Mr. Mamie is trying to scrape me off the ground and the two ladies coming out the door stop to help. In the middle of this delicate operation Lady #1 says to Mr. Mamie: "Hey, are you a [insert our last name here]? I used to be married to your cousin Kenny!" Meanwhile, Lady #2 says to me: "Hey, are you the flipchart lady, the teacher who puts all the cool stuff in the online Dropbox?" AWESOME! So glad I could meet these fine folks when I am looking and acting my best, hahahahaha!!!
11. What day would you love to relive again? Why? Any day before my mom died, so that I could still have her.
12. If your life was turned into a movie… what actor would your best friend think should play you? That's a frightening thought, better left unexplored!
13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years? High school: McDonald's, frozen yogurt/donut shop, clerk in an accountant's office, childcare. College: Cafe waiter, "cater waiter," pizza restaurant, conference services clerk, clerk at the UCSD School of Architecture, clerk at the UCSD Science and Engineering Library, childcare. Grad school: Clerk at the UC Berkeley "Daily Californian" newspaper, clerk for the Oakland continent of "teach for America," nanny, private academic tutor, exam prep tutor, substitute teacher, private school teacher. And I've been a public school educator ever since!
14. Show us a picture from high school or college. I don't think I have any in digital form.
15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go? England/Scotland/Ireland.
16. Where do you see your life 6 and 1/2 years from now? Hopefully right where it is now, at least interns of home/job/spouse/pets!
17. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be and why? Nah, I don't like stagnation.
18. What 5 songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? (You can pick "Middle School", "High School", "College", "Post College" or any format you like.) Middle School--anything by Air Supply; High School--anything by The Police, Blondie, or tears for Fears; College-- Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun," Depeche Mode "Violator," Madonna "Vogue," anything by Hothouse Flowers; Post College-- Indigo Girls, Hothouse Flowers (again), Joan Osborne, Santana, John Mayer.
19. Romney picked Paul Ryan to run as his veep. Any thoughts? Just that I'm sick of the whole thing already.
20. Your chance: Pick a meme you've done for us to steal. Bud and Judd will visit EVERY post today. Feel free to say, "Bugger off", or anything like that. Too lazy!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
1. How long have you been blogging? Since August of 2008… that's four years!
2. Did you go to college? Yes, for five years and to graduate school for another three. Plus, years of off and on post-grad classes. I'm a perpetual student, obviously.
3. Where have you traveled? Throughout most of the continental U.S., a little British Columbia, Mexico, and to Aruba/Panama/Costa Rica while on a trans-Panama Canal cruise.
4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for? Ha, none!
5. What are your three biggest pet peeves? 1) Inconsiderate drivers, 2) People who leave time on the microwave after taking their food out, 3) People who leave trash on the soda counter at my corner store.
6. What is your favorite movie? I can't pick just ONE! All the Harry Potters, Elizabeth, several Monty Pythons, Harold and Maude, Love Actually…. there are quite a few more.
7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea? Cold water, iced tea (unsweetened), Diet Coke (in that order)
8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time? Hike, read, swim, troll the Interwebz.
9. What is your biggest phobia? Airplane crashes, ladders, bees.
10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? How about NOT! Oh, all right, here's a recent one: We're were Target late one recent afternoon and the monsoon dumped a TON of rain. We leave, the parking lot is swimming, I am in wedge flip-flops with NO tread/traction. I tell myself: Go slow, step carefully... yes, indeed, 10 feet later I am SPRAWLED flat on my back in the driving lane directly outside the front doors of the Tarjay! Niiiiiiice! Mr. Mamie is trying to scrape me off the ground and the two ladies coming out the door stop to help. In the middle of this delicate operation Lady #1 says to Mr. Mamie: "Hey, are you a [insert our last name here]? I used to be married to your cousin Kenny!" Meanwhile, Lady #2 says to me: "Hey, are you the flipchart lady, the teacher who puts all the cool stuff in the online Dropbox?" AWESOME! So glad I could meet these fine folks when I am looking and acting my best, hahahahaha!!!
11. What day would you love to relive again? Why? Any day before my mom died, so that I could still have her.
12. If your life was turned into a movie… what actor would your best friend think should play you? That's a frightening thought, better left unexplored!
13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years? High school: McDonald's, frozen yogurt/donut shop, clerk in an accountant's office, childcare. College: Cafe waiter, "cater waiter," pizza restaurant, conference services clerk, clerk at the UCSD School of Architecture, clerk at the UCSD Science and Engineering Library, childcare. Grad school: Clerk at the UC Berkeley "Daily Californian" newspaper, clerk for the Oakland continent of "teach for America," nanny, private academic tutor, exam prep tutor, substitute teacher, private school teacher. And I've been a public school educator ever since!
14. Show us a picture from high school or college. I don't think I have any in digital form.
15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go? England/Scotland/Ireland.
16. Where do you see your life 6 and 1/2 years from now? Hopefully right where it is now, at least interns of home/job/spouse/pets!
17. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be and why? Nah, I don't like stagnation.
18. What 5 songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? (You can pick "Middle School", "High School", "College", "Post College" or any format you like.) Middle School--anything by Air Supply; High School--anything by The Police, Blondie, or tears for Fears; College-- Sting's "Nothing Like the Sun," Depeche Mode "Violator," Madonna "Vogue," anything by Hothouse Flowers; Post College-- Indigo Girls, Hothouse Flowers (again), Joan Osborne, Santana, John Mayer.
19. Romney picked Paul Ryan to run as his veep. Any thoughts? Just that I'm sick of the whole thing already.
20. Your chance: Pick a meme you've done for us to steal. Bud and Judd will visit EVERY post today. Feel free to say, "Bugger off", or anything like that. Too lazy!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Menu - August and into September
Long time, no posts - I know. REALLY busy getting ready for school to start and tending to GolfDad following knee replacement surgery.
I did finally sit down today and figure out some dinner options for the next few weeks. We have chicken, pork, and ground beef in the freezer after a summer of eating mostly vegetarian. Vegetarian is good, but we're ready to add some heavier proteins back in the mix. I made a list of meals I could do a lot of advance prep for, as the coming weeks are EXTREMELY busy. All the links are below. We'll be supplementing with several "big salad" nights, and sides will be light and easy - green salad, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Chicken:
Easy Garlic Chicken
Garlic Honey Chicken
Zesty BBQ Chicken
Lime and Coconut Chicken
Baked Chicken with Dijon and Lime
Chicken Fajitas
Zesty CrockPot Whole Chicken
Asian Grilled Chicken
Pork:
Ranch Pork Chops
Teriyaki Pork Chops
Basil-Balsamic Pork Cops
Ground Beef:
Best BBQ Burgers
Beef and Barley Skillet
Goulash
Easy Cheeseburger Casserole
Vegetarian:
Black Bean and Rice Bowls
Lentil Tacos
Bean and Cheese Tostadas
Slow Cooker Marinara with Spaghetti
Zucchini Tots
Vegetable Tamale Pie
Breakfast for dinner with Sour Cream Blueberry waffles and eggs
Breakfast for dinner with Kris Kringle (oatmeal) pancakes and eggs
I'll be making a bunch of "freezer bags" in the next few days, and hopefully that'll carry us for awhile!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
I did finally sit down today and figure out some dinner options for the next few weeks. We have chicken, pork, and ground beef in the freezer after a summer of eating mostly vegetarian. Vegetarian is good, but we're ready to add some heavier proteins back in the mix. I made a list of meals I could do a lot of advance prep for, as the coming weeks are EXTREMELY busy. All the links are below. We'll be supplementing with several "big salad" nights, and sides will be light and easy - green salad, rice, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Chicken:
Easy Garlic Chicken
Garlic Honey Chicken
Zesty BBQ Chicken
Lime and Coconut Chicken
Baked Chicken with Dijon and Lime
Chicken Fajitas
Zesty CrockPot Whole Chicken
Asian Grilled Chicken
Pork:
Ranch Pork Chops
Teriyaki Pork Chops
Basil-Balsamic Pork Cops
Ground Beef:
Best BBQ Burgers
Beef and Barley Skillet
Goulash
Easy Cheeseburger Casserole
Vegetarian:
Black Bean and Rice Bowls
Lentil Tacos
Bean and Cheese Tostadas
Slow Cooker Marinara with Spaghetti
Zucchini Tots
Vegetable Tamale Pie
Breakfast for dinner with Sour Cream Blueberry waffles and eggs
Breakfast for dinner with Kris Kringle (oatmeal) pancakes and eggs
I'll be making a bunch of "freezer bags" in the next few days, and hopefully that'll carry us for awhile!
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Photo Class
I am taking a photography class as part of my Educational Technology endorsement. These are my best efforts from today (edited with Picasa). All the photo were taken right in the Town Sqaure area of the BigTown. The final one is a portrait of our school district's Media Center coordinator.
~Mamie"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!"(Hunter S. Thompson)
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Recent Goodreads Reviews
I'm using Goodreads to track my reading, rate books, and write reviews. They conveniently offer HTML coding to post the review one writes on their site right into a blog, so that's what I'm going to start doing. Let's begin with:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastic! There's humor in the vein of Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods," which I read as my sister was preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail and from which I gained an appreciation for the momentousness of an undertaking like walking the AT or PCT (as Strayed does). But Strayed's tale is more than a funny travel journal; it's an emotional traverse of her mind and soul following life-altering events. Her description of what it felt like to lose her mother at too-early an age could have been plucked right from my own mind and heart, which was intense. I'm familiar with the California and Oregon she inhabits on the trail, though certainly not as intimately, not having hiked the Pacific Crest Trail myself - of course, now I want to! This is a great book on so many levels, and I reveled in the experience of reading it.
Fifty Years in Polygamy: Big Secrets and Little White Lies by Kristyn DeckerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I know the author of this book personally, and while it was incredibly hard to read, I'm grateful to have a better understanding of her life and experiences. Yes, the writing is uneven and a bit *too* personal at times to make a flowing narrative; however, this is a *real* person's memoir that has something to say to all of us about inner strength and being able to rise above immense challenges. For those unfamiliar with polygamous sects, Kristyn's story will help you to understand the evil that has been perpetuated in people's lives.
Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah FeldmanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an interesting book to read right after "50 Years of Polygamy: Big Secrets and Little White Lies" (Kristyn Decker). The two memoirs touch on many of the same themes of religious fanaticism, misogyny, and the inner struggle of women to reconcile their culture and beliefs with a growing self-awareness and self-respect. Feldman's book is more polished than Decker's, and benefited from much better editing. However, Feldman writes almost at a remove, as if distancing herself from events in her life that happened only a few years before. I was disappointed that she told nothing about the actual process of separating herself and her son from the Hasidic community, because I think that it would have given even more insight into the power of the rabbinical courts in everyday Americans lives (well, Americans who are also Hasidim). Overall, like "50 Years of Polygamy," "Unorthodox" provides insight into a relatively unknown aspect of religious culture and the lives of the women caught in a web created by others.
R My Name Is Rachel by Patricia Reilly GiffMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
LOVED THIS! Patricia Reilly Giff never disappoints, and I love how her MANY main characters ALL have their own unique voices. This is a great snapshot of life during the depression, and Rachel is a sympathetic, admirable protagonist. I would certainly recommend this book for 4th - 8th graders, and of course for adult readers who enjoy YA fiction as much as I do.
Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. JamesMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
Argh. I thought it would never end! At least now I have completed the trilogy... that's the best I can say about it.
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Recent Reads
I am reading a FABULOUS book right now (The Preacher, by Camilla Lackberg), but I'm only 1/3 of the way through it and thus can't blog it yet. But it's SO GOOD!
Weird thing - my last "Recent Reads" post on May 27th didn't get picked up in my own Google Reader feed. So if you missed it, and you need book ideas (I'm talking to you, Nani!) click here and check it out. I had a lot of catching up to do, so there's 15 books mentioned in that post!
So, own to my most recent reads, mini-reviews, and recommendations:
~Mamie
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!"
(Hunter S. Thompson)
Weird thing - my last "Recent Reads" post on May 27th didn't get picked up in my own Google Reader feed. So if you missed it, and you need book ideas (I'm talking to you, Nani!) click here and check it out. I had a lot of catching up to do, so there's 15 books mentioned in that post!
So, own to my most recent reads, mini-reviews, and recommendations:
Heft was fantastic! A very unique storyline with compelling characters. At times I felt like Moore didn't change the voice enough as she switched between Arthur's and Kel's narration, but really this is a minor criticism. DEFINITELY worth a read!
My response to The Red Book was mixed. I did ultimately become invested in the characters, but they often annoyed me. Perhaps it was more Kogan's writing that annoyed; there was plenty of Harvard hyperbole and and wandering down paths that were not necessary. You could certainly file this book under #whitepeoplesproblems, but the the truth is there's enough meat to the story to keep you chewing. I'm going to say recommendation NEUTRAL and let you decide for yourself.
I've been reading Ann Lamott for yeeeeeeeeeears; she was a very hip Bay Area writer when I was a hip Bay Area reader. I've been to at least one of her book readings (back in the 90s), and I do like much of her work quite a lot. Unfortunately, this memoir doesn't fall into that category. It drags, Lamott whines, and she forces us to endure her trip to India for far too many pages. Disappointing for me, but I'm going to leave the recommendation NEUTRAL in case you're a more die-hard fan than I apparently am.
This was on my library's "new" shelf, but a quarter of the way through reading it I checked the copyright date, and it was published in 1993! I personally didn't find this to be one of Gerritsen's better efforts. The characters were thin stereotypes and the plot was entirely predictable with a mystery that was too obvious. Overall, pretty cheesy and kind of a waste of time... so, DON'T recommend.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Things We're Eating
What a cute summer friend!
The nearly-meatless summer plan has started... we'll see how it goes! We're all feeling positive, though. :) I have to add the caveat that this is NOT a foray in veganism. Mr. Mamie and GrandmaT both eat hard-boiled eggs on a regular basis, and cooked eggs (as in, scrambled or similar) about once a week. We are also NOT giving up cheese, at least not yet, though I know we should. We have a little bit of meat in the freezer still that I am sure we will use, and once in a while I know I'll be craving Five Guys! Baby steps, right?
Here's a little round-up of recipes we'll be having in the near future:
Southwest taco salad with taco-ranch dressing
Bean and cheese enchiladas (an already-favorite)
Kale and romaine Cesar salad
Yogurt-dill potato salad
Mac and cheese bites
Mediterranean black bean salad
Sesame and cilantro vermicelli salad (had this before and loved it)
Broccoli cheese bites
Black bean quesadillas (another favorite of the house)
Oven-baked garlic Parmesan fries
Ranch roasted red potatoes (I use this homemade ranch seasoning mix - soooooo good!)
Three-bean chili
Slow cooker marinara (over whole wheat speghetti)
Lentil tacos (we have two dinner-size portions of the filling already in the freezer)
White bean enchiladas (love these; this time I am going to mix some spinach into the filling and see what happens!)
Fresh veggie quinoa skillet (I am TRYING to learn to love quinoa)
Quinoa with pine nuts, green onions, and cilantro (see comment re: quinoa above!)
A couple of treats I have planned are:
Watermelon hedgehog (sooooooo cute!)
Pineapple sorbet
Pina Colada pops
Our favorite crunchy snack is Archer Farms Organic Blue Corn with Flaxseed tortilla chips (from Target) dipped in this fabulous blender salsa - this is snack we can feel not-too-guilty about!
Image credit
~Mamie "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro!" (Hunter S. Thompson)
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