Who’s Running This Joint?

Well, for the last couple of weeks…it obviously wasn’t me.

Administrative duty was split between everyone but me.

Nuts and Coco-Loco

I felt like I was the crazy old cafeteria lady monitoring junior high lunch hour minus the hairnet. Maybe a hairnet would have made it better.

His Highness, King Louie

And arrogant cats don’t help the situation. But I survived. They almost made me crack but I survived.

Plotting...

And then I realize I have written a whole blog about these crazy animals including photos.

Animals: 1, Lynne with an E: 0

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One Session on The Elliptical Does Not A Skinny Girl Make

So I actually made it to the gym last night. Quite miraculous, considering the chaos of my last two weeks involving a big crazy house, three crazy dogs and two crazy cats. So I was feeling pretty good this morning. Enought to try on a pair of pants that would fit if I was ten pounds lighter. But alas, no luck! After my failed attempt, I shook my head. And thus, “One session on the elliptical does not a skinny girl make!” Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. Nothing does. Well, some things do but all the things that are hard and worth the wait, they take time. Losing weight, running a marathon, getting a new job, a college diploma, having a baby – none of these things happen overnight. And thank goodness they don’t! Because don’t bragging rights feel so well earned when it is something you have struggled towards? 

I think the main person I write this for is myself. Because obviously after my pants debacle this morning, I still lose focus on the big picture especially when it involves making my rearview smaller;)

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I need a little color.

It has been raining all day. Which can be an unusual and disconcerting experience for a majority of San Diegans. We always need rain since we are mainly a desert region but we have no clue how to drive in rain. Pure panic ensues so staying off the road is the easiest way to deal with the problem. I spent a majority of the day indoors learning some advanced picture-framing techniques. Fabric-wrapping, double-matte, circular cuts – sounds sexy huh? One of the photos I framed was from an exhibit of Dale Chihuly a couple of years ago in San Francisco. So with the combination of the rain and my inability to find my digital camera battery charger, I am going to share some photos with you from a Dale Chihuly exhibit I went to about a year and half ago in San Francisco. With this rainy weather, I definitely need some color.

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Bésame Mucho

The Main Characters

Cocktail Time! My belief is that great cocktails are a combination of high-quality liquor served ice cold. So let’s get shakin’ with my latest addition, Bésame Mucho. If you like white chocolate and raspberries, you will definitely enjoy this cocktail. Just the right amount of sweetness.

Ingredients:

  • 1 oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
  • 1 oz Vanilla Vodka ( Absolut is a fine choice for an infused vodka.)
  • 1 T Chambord

Pour Chambord in cocktail glass.

Pour Chambord in a cocktail glass. Then place the cocktail glass in the freezer to allow the Chambord and cocktail glass to get ice-cold.

White Chocolate Liquer and Vanilla Vodka are mixed in cocktail shaker.

While the cocktail glass is chilling, pour the white chocolate liquer and vanilla vodka in a cocktail shaker. Note: another way to measure the liquer and vodka is with the ratio 1:1, equal parts liquer to vodka. I usually use the cap that comes with the cocktail shaker as my measuring tool. Once you have added the white chocolate liquer and vodka in the shaker, add a ton of ice. Put the lid on and shake like mad. I mean really get into it. So much so that you may have to use a towel to hold the shaker because your hands start suffering from mild frostbite.

Once the shaker is in icicle state, pull the cocktail glass out of the freezer and pour the vodka/liquer mixture over it.  

Enjoy! Bésame Mucho mucho mucho mucho!

Besame Mucho! I know you wanna.

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Bummer, Bumper, Beso

In the Excel graph of life, the last seven days have been a series of highs and lows. There’s no explanation for it, that is how life goes. Reminds me of my grandmother when subjected to a long-winded sermon would shout out in a stage whisper, “That’s enough.” So here is how the last seven days have gone.

First the Bummer. Last Thursday, Sammy (a.k.a. Sam, Samuel, Land Shark), loyal dog companion, was put to sleep. A large mass was found and was pressing on his heart. And he was in pain, so after 11+ years of faithful service, he got his wings.

The Land Shark

But then some good things happened. A little bit of creative revival helped me heal. Thursday night headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art Downtown San Diego to see the Tara Donovan exhibit. Locals take note: Both locations of the museum (Downtown and La Jolla) are free on the 3rd Thursday of the month, 5-7p.m. I thought I had the prize of hot glue gun queen, but Tara Donovan definitely outdoes me. Styrofoam cups arranged in cloud formation, tar paper existing as a Mars-like mountain landscape, sculpted mylar shrubs…Warning: HOARDERS should not attend this exhibit.

What an unlimited supply of styrofoam cups and hot glue gets you...

  I was only able to snap off a couple of photos before I was instructed that photos were not allowed. Hey, there wasn’t a sign! And I wasn’t using a flash. And the family dog just died! Well I didn’t use that last phrase. But anyways, there is only one photo.

The Creative Revival continued on Saturday by attending an all day class at Palomar Junior College, Beginning Picture Framing. This class and many other creative subjects are available through the Palomar Ventures program – continuing education classes that don’t require you to register fully. They vary in cost. So I highly recommend looking at your local community centers or colleges and seeing if they have similar programs. You cannot beat picking up a new skill and having fun while doing it. This next week I am learning how to do a double matte. Kind of sickening how much excitement you could detect from me in that last statement? It does serve a purpose especially when I went to a framing store and they wanted $250 (mind you this was 50% off) to frame a $12 print. So let’s just say this is my retribution.

So of course, I was on too good of a high for it to last that long. This is where the Bumper comes in.

The Bummer Bumper

Lynne with an E got rear-ended. Well, my car that is. Minding my own business, at a complete stop at a red light when I get rammed. And the driver was uninsured at the time of the accident. So, my advice to all – review your insurance policy immediately and have uninsured drivers insurance…doesn’t cost much but saves you a lot of grief!  

 

So that was the Bumper Bummer, and at this point, I was ready to pack it in and retreat from life for a couple of hours. But guess what showed up in the mail tonight??? What would be the best thing ever to happen???

Shark Adapter

Yup, there is that lovely Shark vacuum adapter. It came in the mail. And with the addition of a fantastic Besame Mucho cocktail (recipe to be added soon), I don’t think today or the last several days have been a total loss. Life is all about how you look at it . And from my photo below, I don’t think the view is so bad.  

Aaaaaahhhh...

P.S. WWBD? Well of course, I’M A SURVIVOR;)

Posted in Animals, Art and Culture, Cocktails, San Diego | 1 Comment

Shark On Backorder

Well, maybe not an actual shark but a replacement adapter to make my shark vacuum cleaner be in working order again. I figured it was about time to start cleaning out the spare bedroom/office if I wanted to get it into working order to start my crafting. Almost forgot the perfectly good shark vacuum minus a required adapter…one of the many things that suffered during the wrath of the puppy. So I finally order it and I submit my order, they are more than happy to take my money. And when I receive my e-mail invoice, the item I have ordered is on backorder. And has been for the last three weeks!

I knew it was just too easy. Things were going too smoothly. Something had to mess up and of course it had to be on backorder. So the question is will this photo of the adapter be the closest I ever actually get to it?

The Elusive Adapter

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Another Beautiful Day in Paradise

We have had rain the last couple of days.

 

But today, the San Diego that I know returned in full glory.

No rain for awhile…even though we always need it in Southern California.

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Cowboy Ciao Restaurant Stetson Chopped Salad

Place: Cowboy Ciao Restaurant, Scottsdale, Arizona

I love trying different food. And I am always excited when a chef comes up with a unique combination that I would never EVER think to do. So here is my attempt to recreate the Stetson Chopped Salad from Cowboy Ciao Restaurant. 

 

Stetson Chopped Salad

Salad Ingredients:

1/2 cup Israeli (pearl) couscous, cooked
1/2 cup Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup super-sweet dried corn 
1/2 cup arugula, chopped
2 ounces smoked salmon, diced
2 ounces asiago cheese, crumbled 
1/4 cup toasted pepitas  (a.k.a. Mexican pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup dried black currants

Pesto dressing (Recipe below.)

Salad Preparation and Presentation

In the restaurant, the waiter comes out with all the ingredients being in rows on a platter. The server then pours the dressing over the top and tosses it tableside.

So with that said, prepare all the individual ingredients and then prepare to display in rows.

 

Dry out corn kernels before putting in oven

Ingredient Tips

  • Combine the asiago cheese, pepitas and currants and use as one row.
  • If pearl couscous is unavailable, substitute a tiny pasta like ditalini or acini di pepe.
  • Supposedly, sweet dried corn is available at natural food markets, but I live in Southern California and I wasn’t even able to find it. So for a substitute, use canned sweet corn kernels packed in water. Drain well and remove as much water as possible. Preheat oven to 500 Degrees. Spread corn kernels out on tray and place in oven for 20 minutes. Check on the kernels once during 20 minutes. You want them to be as crisp as possible.

Assemble the ingredients in rows. Start with tomatoes or arugula at one end; push previous row back with one hand as you place and line up the next ingredient with the other hand.

 

Key Ingredients for Delicious Salad Dressing

Pesto Dressing :

1/2 cup basil pesto
1 cup mayonnaise
1 shallot, roughly chopped
1 cup buttermilk
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon coarse black pepper
Salt to taste

Add first three ingredients to food processor and blend thoroughly. With motor running, pour in buttermilk. Add remaining ingredients to combine. If using prepared pesto (you can find it in the refrigerated section by cheeses), taste before adding additional salt. Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Posted in Recipes | 1 Comment

WWBD? For The Everyday Decisions

WWJD? A question that I have seen often enough while driving my car or going on roadside runs. “What would Jesus do?” For Christians, it can be considered a valid question when confronting life’s big choices. Cheating on a test, telling a lie, etc. But what about the other times? Like when you are at the local burger joint and the question is French fries or onion rings? When you are filling up that gas tank and the prompter asks if you would also like a car wash? Go to the gym or go home to catch up on your latest Netflix? Somehow I don’t think that these are questions that need to evoke the Big J’s name (Yeah, that’s my nickname for him. You gotta a problem with that?).  I mean he has enough problems to solve, why bother him with your fast food order?

So I propose a different question to be used during these minor crises. WWBD? What Would Beyonce do? I think this question will serve you much better during day-to-day decision-making. Here’s how it works. Take whatever the question may be and base the answer on a lyric from a Beyonce song (and yes, that does include Destiny’s Child lyrics).

Example: French fries or onion rings – well that’s obvious. “If you liked it, then you should have put a ring on it.” Interpretation: onion rings it will be! Even though, judging by her sick unitard-clad self , I highly doubt Beyonce is indulging in many onion rings or French fries these days.

Example: You have a plumber/electrician come to give you an estimate on a job. He/She quotes an outrageous estimate. What do you say? Well, what would Beyonce do/say? “You must not know about me. I can have another you by tomorrow. So don’t you ever for a second get to thinking you’re irreplaceable.”

Those are just a couple of examples. Do you have moments where you too could pose this alternate question?

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Second Lease on Life – The Tale of The Bureau Part I

I have been gifted an old bureau. Well, we will see if it really is a blessing or a curse. At this point, I see the potential. The wood is oak. My plan for refurbishing involves the three S’s: Stripping, Sanding and Staining. Plus I have a feeling along the road that other not so holy ‘S’ word will be finding its way into my vocabulary. This bureau has a lot of potential. I have a great guy that can redo all the glass work. Matter of fact, had a visit with him this last Saturday. With the possibility of replacing the clear glass with German antique glass. Are your eyes starting to cross? I thought so. It will be a process and thus the tale begins…Am I just slapping lipstick on a pig?

Stainglass; 6 of these flowers in total

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