i stew

i've been sitting on so many things lately. no, not literally sitting my ever-expanding ass on things. but i've just had so many things that are consuming the small, vacant spaces in my head. and instead of bloging about them like i used to, i'm just stewing on them myself. and it's making me bonkers.

so i think that calls for a vacation! tim and i are off to vail tomorrow for some fun in the sun mountains. more than anything i'm looking forward to just escaping work and doing a lot of nothing. i can do nothing like it's nobody's business!

off to pack for trip. it is ridiculous how much room in the suitcase ski clothes take up. especially when i'm not even planning on skiing.

below is a picture from my ski trip last year with my mom & sister. wait, i mean last 1987.

valentines day goodie

This is a late Valentines Day post. I’ve been busy, so bear with me on the slightly untimely story.

My parents were in town for Valentines Day so we decided to stay in, have some friends over, and cook a lovely gourmet meal. My mom brought out her Cornish Hen recipe – which I think she’s made 3 times in my life because they are such a pain. But they are so delicious, and since it was a special occasion, she agreed to make them.

A couple of days before V-Day she picked up the hens at Whole Foods. She asked for 6 because they were going to be 6 of us. She saw that they were $6.99 a pound, but didn’t run through the calculation in her head before they handed them over and realized she’d just spent $68.00 on meat. The next day she saw them at another store for $4.99 a piece – she kicked herself over and over and over.

Regardless of the cost, she got to work on the hens V-Day morning. She had to cut their necks, clean them out, season them in and out… all sorts of nasty prep that I wouldn’t even consider doing. But she got them going, and into the oven they went for however long they had to cook, with continual basting every 10 minutes. These puppies are a time investment, but definitely worth it.

The table was all set with my china, crystal, tulips… I must say it looked fantastic. Our guests were set to arrive any minute, and we had just popped some champagne so Mom & I could have something to sip on while we finished up the meal preparations.

I was standing at the kitchen sink cleaning the asparagus when the oven timer went off – time for another basting. My mom opens the oven door and pulls the rack out. The hens are looking mighty good, and she turns around to get the basting sauce (aka melted butter) and says "Damn, I am good!"

Just as the words came out of her mouth, the pan slid off the rack, hit the oven door and tumbled onto the floor. Hens and sauce went absolutely everywhere. I turned around to see our dinner on the floor, and my mom looking like a cartoon character as she slipped with every single step trying to get her balance. Oh and she was also now screaming "SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! Grab the hens!!!"

Our kitchen is in a direct line with the front door, of which has two windows that anyone can look through into the house and down to the kitchen. I was just waiting for our guests to ring the doorbell as we scurried to collect the hens. Luckily for us, they were late. We grabbed the birds and got them back into the sizzling pan, and collected our breaths.

Then like nothing had even happened, my mom grabbed the sauce and basted them again and threw them in the oven. We both looked at each other and said "Nobody has to know about this!" Even when Tim came into the kitchen and asked if everything was okay after hearing the ruckus we said "Oh, yes – just spilled basting liquid all over the floor like a klutz. Can you help clean it up, honey?" After all, my mom had just mopped the floor that afternoon, and those darn hens were $68.00!!

And you know what, they were delicious! I accidentally swallowed half of my wish bone though. That can’t be good for luck, can it?

Definitely a fun V-Day story to remember and tell to everyone. Well, everyone except our guests!

monday minor breakdown

after being at work for only about an hour, i managed to completely lose it in a meeting with boss.

things i said resembled the following:
1. i don't like the work i'm doing.
2. i don't think any of the other work our team is doing sounds interesting.
3. i have no motivation.
4. i hate coming here everyday.

yeah... i actually said the word hate. think i'll still have a job by the end of the week? i'm taking bets.... i'll need the money!