Oink’s Neighbors

Erm....?

nobody@vox.com(Daisy) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:45:33 +0100

From: Techy Bloke at work

To: Me

RE: Your name

Do you want your name changed for next year to Mrs. N. Oldmarriedladywhoisdistinctlypastit – or do you wish to continue as Ms N. Spinsterwhowilldiealoneandhaveherfaceeatenbyhercat?

Please let me know.

Thanks

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: I Never Should Have Asked...

nobody@vox.com(Runnergirl) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:33:08 +0100

What question do you wish you'd never asked.
Submitted by cha0tic.

Je ne regrette rien.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

QotD: I Never Should Have Asked...

nobody@vox.com(cha0tic) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:09:11 +0100

What question do you wish you'd never asked.
Submitted by cha0tic.

There's probably many more than just one question I wish I'd never asked:
"Would you like to come back to mine for a coffee or something?"
"Should we go for a quick pint after work?"
"Do you want to go sliding on the ice?"

They'll do to be going on with.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Guess who's...

nobody@vox.com(cha0tic) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:58:10 +0100

...responsible for QotD today?

Brick bats and scorn in the comments please :)

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

ladies is pimps too

nobody@vox.com(california pearl) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:11:15 +0100

So this is it, I'm finally 21. The thing is, I don't drink and I don't party so essentially it's just another day. But hey, any day with cake is a good day to me.

Birthday Cake!

Just a simple birthday. I treated myself to a "small" little craft shopping spree. Got presents. Had dinner. Had cake. My brother usually buys my birthday cake so he puts stupid messages on them. This year, it was "Happy Birthday Vietnamese Girl (Judy I'm Kidding)." Exactly those words. The past years' were just as bad. It's kind of a tradition. Only this year, my brother and sister plotted to push my head into the cake (unsuccessfully).

Sometimes, I fail to see how wonderful I have things.

I'll list off 21 random things about me. I never do these things so here's my chance. How many did you guys actually already know?

My favorite cereal is Lucky Charms. I hate soggy cereal, and so there is always a less milk to cereal ratio. I start with the cereal on the bottom and push the top layer down as I chomp!
I'm really kind of short. I haven't grown since I was about twelve years old. I've been 5'2" for as long as I can remember. My mother makes fun of me because she had me pegged to be a tall girl because I had long arms when I was a child. She warned me that drinking coffee would stunt my growth, but I think it's just the genes.
I live in sandals and flip flops. I don't think I own a pair of tennis shoes. I have some flats, and bunch of heels because I'm obsessed, but I buy flip flops very often. They're cheap and comfortable!
My favorite animal is a giraffe. I love sheep and lambs.
I think of myself as a farm girl fascinated by the big city. Besides the traffic, I love the big city feeling and the busy people and loud distractions. However, I would prefer to live out in the country with lots of open space and greenery.
I don't see myself as multi-talented, just very indecisive. I'm usually keep myself busy with lots of activities.
I don't like to read, but I love to write. I don't quite write as much as I did when I was younger but I still love it.
Driving is one of my major stress relievers.
I love movies that feature music as a main theme. LOVES IT.
I come from a very, very large family. When I have kidlets, I'd want to have many. I love children; I find their innocence so captivating because they're so pure. I sound like a pedophile.
I don't consider myself passionate.
I don't like walking out of a store empty handed.
I sleep with tons and tons of pillows. It makes me feel safe.
I strive towards 'normal' more than I should.
I'm a major hypochondriac. Srsly. Hide your crazy!
I love Scrubs more than I should. I quote it too often. I can't watch Garden State or Clueless the same way anymore. Even Roseanne reruns make me angry. Mean Girls just isn't the same anymore.
I LOVE PUNS.
I like to think that I'm very ambitious. I have plans for everything. Ideas are stored away in a box until I can dedicate enough attention to it. I want to make a difference somehow, someway.
I worry too much! I'm an over thinker.
I want to be an artist 'when I grow up.' A painter, writer, photographer, whatever.
I am so lucky.

Go ahead. Do one with your age ;)

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Finally...

nobody@vox.com(Runnergirl) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:26:50 +0100

Got connected to the internet and the work network etc. from home. Hurrah. It's taken 17months for me to figure it out...

It does, however, mean that I have to sit on the stairs. Hmm.

I am currently downloading the databases to my hard drive, at which point, I should then be able to resume my position at the kitchen table.

I am preparing for my appraisal on Friday. Boss wants us to really spend a lot of time on it, as they will be scrutinised by HR more than usual (looming restructure announcement), and I suspect that we could all be under threat of headcount cuts. Unfortunately I am finding it hard to do a good sell job on my achievements to date this year, because none of the things that have gone down really well are really aligned to my objectives. And I am off-track on most of my objectives, mainly due to things out of my control, but that doesn't go down terribly well with the powers that be.

So, now I am feeling pretty shit about what I have achieved this year and dreading my appraisal - that's a great frame of mind to be in to go in and sell yourself and ensure that you keep your job, right?

In other news, the cleaners we arranged to come today and do a big clean couldn't make it after all. But now I've done the tidying away, I reckon I can clean the house myself - I'll tackle it over the next few days in the evenings. Although I have a birthday cake to bake on Friday night, and then ice on Saturday morning. And we're out on Saturday and Sunday as well. Pants.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Odd and odder

nobody@vox.com(Daisy) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:19:43 +0100

Two odd things have been happening to me lately...

One is that I have been taking an hour nap every afternoon when I get home. The other is that I have been having a selection of disturbing dreams about ex boyfriends. I assume this is my minds way of purging myself of my past but still - it is all really unsettling. The dreams haven't been about desire, more about guilt.

Anyway. Some stats;

In 11 days I will be getting married. In 2 weeks I will be flying (on the big lush seats!!) to America on my honeymoon. In three days I finish work and I can't bloody wait!

On the plus side - the weather might be OK for the wedding (crossing fingers - although I keep saying I don't mind - but I do) and I am looking quite pretty at the moment. You know how some weeks you look in the mirror and think - good god, who is that ugly beast of a woman and no amount of makeup sorts you out and other weeks you look in the mirror and you think that you are actually OK? Well at the moment I am feeling the latter (I think its the evil sunbeds).

I am quite convinced by the way that it was this mirror trickery that sent Britney mad.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Why did I do it? It was asking for trouble...

nobody@vox.com(Artzy Carmen) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:46:14 +0100

I entered "JESUS" in the search engine at CafePress.com. I ended up with a long list of bumper stickers, some of which I'll share. Here are some of my favorites: (Ok, before the stones are thrown – I found these really funny. Some are truly horrible as well… just because I posted them does NOT mean I agree with them. …all)

I FOUND JESUS(He’s in the trunk of my car)

I FOUND JESUS (He was behind the sofa)

Christianity does not teach hate

Aslan is on the move

Christian who thinks

Jesus saves sinners! (And redeems them for valuable prizes)

The real Jesus forgives your jesus for being a greedy republican warmonger

Jesus would use His turn signal

Jesus was a social activist liberal

WWJT = Who Would Jesus Torture?

Get Real! Like Jesus would ever own a gun or vote republican

Jesus is coming ~ look busy

The fish symbol with “sushi” in it

Jesus told me to mock George W Bush

Hatred, bigotry and intolerance are not Christian values

Want less

Draft SUV drivers

So many Christians so few lions

Who would Jesus Bomb?

God doesn’t exist so I guess no one loves you

We’re making enemies faster than we can kill them

Ok, so stone me later... these were funny! I'm shopping for stuff to make my momivan "findable" in the parking lot. Honda's tend to congregate enmasse in this town. Gahhh!

Send to a friend

Update on Sandy Pit

nobody@vox.com(Artzy Carmen) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:42:45 +0100

Well, Animal Control came to visit Sandy Pit, the chained pit bull next door. The neighbors say they did not breed her and that there were only four in the litter - that none died. (Uh huh) And they already knew who complained. And we got the one finger wave as we were leaving today. If I put one of those “chains hurt” bumper stickers on my car, think something would happen to it?

Send to a friend

Ile de France Camembert

nobody@vox.com(Elly) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:27:48 +0100

To know me is to know I love cheese. In fact, my friend Renea sent me this mug a while back and it pretty much sums up my daily life:

So, when I got an email regarding sampling Ile de France cheese, I was all over it. I had my choice between camembert, brie, and goat. Now, even though goat is my favorite of the bunch, I decided to go with the camembert because it's a cheese I don't really eat all that often and, come to think of it, I don't think I have ever bought.

Camembert

Camembert is a very mild cheese and it has some nuttiness to it. I would say it is similar to brie in taste and texture (though it has some more punch than brie). It's creamy and, while it's probably "better" to just eat it at room temperature and not necessarily cook with it, there are few things I like better than a nice, melty cheese. Mmm. So, I decided to use it in one uncooked application and 2 cooked dishes (and, of course, I ate some on its own).

Camembert (3)

This Ile de France camembert was delicious! It's got a fabulous texture and just enough flavor that it lends itself to many pairings, but can stand on its own, too. I'm hoping to order some of the goat cheese next!

Now, onto the dishes!

First, I used it in a porcini risotto. I think the slight nutiness of the cheese pairs well with the earthiness of the mushrooms. Plus, I will take any chance I get to make risotto since we don't eat it all that often. This was so good that I think I may make it again next week!

Porcini and camembert risotto

Porcini and Camembert Risotto
Serves 2 as a main dish

1 (1.5 oz.) package dried porcini mushrooms
1.25 cups boiling water
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup arborio rice
2 sprigs thyme
1/3 cup dry white wine
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth, kept warm on the stove
2 oz. Camembert
1 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper

Place the porcini mushrooms in a bowl and then add the boiling water. Allow the porcinis to reconstitute for about 15 minutes. Strain them, reserving the water you used, and chop the mushrooms.

Heat a large, heavy bottomed pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once shimmering, add the shallot and cook until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds before stirring in the rice, chopped porcini, and thyme. Stir the mixture so that the rice is coated with the oil and begins to toast slightly.

Add the wine and deglaze, allowing nearly all the wine to evaporate. A ladel or so at a time, add the porcini liquid and the broth, alternately, stirring continuously and allowing the rice to absorb most of the liquid before adding the next ladel.

Continue adding the porcini liquid and broth a ladel or so at a time, stirring, until the rice is cooked al dente. It should still be slightly firm to the bite, and it should be a little "loose." You're not looking for a rice type dish that has absorbed ALL its liquid. There should be some liquid still in the pan.

Remove the pan from heat and stir in the camembert and the butter. Season to taste with salt and pepper if necessary and serve immediately (as if you could wait!).

Next, I made a simple salad. This is an endive salad with toasted walnuts, room-temp camembert, sliced apples (use your favorite kind) and cider vinaigrette. I like my dressings more acid-y than most, so I do equal parts apple cider vinegar & olive oil. (I also added pressed garlic and salt and pepper, of course.) As you know, I am working on having the love for fruits with savory dishes and this one won me over. Delicious! To let the apples absorb the flavor, and to keep them from browning, add the sliced apples to the dressing as you prep the rest of the salad.

Endive salad

And, finally, I made some camembert and maple bacon cups because the only thing better than cheese is cheese and bacon. For this I just chopped and cooked some bacon. I mixed just a tiny bit of maple syrup into the cooked/drained bacon and filled pre-made phyllo cups with that and the camembert. Easy and delicious!

Camembert and bacon phyllo cups

Read and post comments | Send to a friend