Project 365: Week Six (January 30 - February 5, 2011)

Sunday

 

This is my promo picture from when I was fighting.  I know it wasn't a picture I specifically took today but it felt appropriate for what's been going on in my life physically and spiritually as a reminder to keep fighting and not to give up.  The tattoo is in Thai and reads "strong/fighter" and "divine grace."


Monday

Earlier in the month, y'all were introduced to my replacement iPod.  I initially named him Frank but it just didn't seem to fit.  His permanent name has now suggested itself so I would like to (re)introduce you to Vlad which stands for Very Little Audio Device.  Long may he reign :).


Tuesday

This is the unexpected present my husband brought home to me.  It's a dough cutter/bench scraper.  It was especially nice because it came at the end of what had started out to be not such a great day and his gift was really lovely; what was needed without him even knowing it.

If you're asking why not real flowers, well, besides the cost, it's the fact the cats eat 'em.  We can't leave anything plant-like, leafy, green or flowery unattended or it will be chewed, gnawed, snacked, nibbled, licked, tasted or any other assortment of eating verbs - all of which leads to one or both of us throwing something at one or both cats and yelling, "Hey!  Not for you, D'Amato!"

(And I've now realized what a complete NERD I am.  So far in P365, I have managed to quote or reference Firefly, X-Files, Fringe, Princess Bride and now Star Trek.  Oy vey...).


Wednesday

Making flour tortillas for chicken chimichangas (recipe for both on blog).


Thursday

I am the cat's footstool.


Friday

Driving home during the rumored Snowmageddon.


Saturday

Dried ancho chiles.  These are the start to the sauce for spicy short rib tacos.

Sustenance

Yesterday was starting out to be one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. There has been a lot of stuff going on with Casa de Cyber Hermit physically, spiritually and relationship-wise, and yesterday was just...one of those days. I tried to do some of my reading before I left for work but my brain was living up to its Indian name of "Mind Like Steel Sieve" and all I could pray was "God, I'm just so tired."

As I left the house, my husband texted me with "Good morning, my queen.  How may I serve you today?" which made me smile.  A good friend texted me out of the blue to get together for coffee after work.  And my husband brought home a small, surprise present (pictures in my Project 365 this week).  It was nothing big but it was something that took him out of his way and also showed he'd been listening and remembered.

So, nothing big or huge.  No burning bush.  No voice from on high or anything like that.  Just a few little things to remind me that I'm not alone in all of this and that God is just as involved today as he will be tomorrow.

Project 365 - Week Five (January 23-29, 2011)

Sunday

 

Let me 'splain.  No.  Is too long.  Let me sum up:  I mentioned the Circus Animal cookies to my mom as a fond childhood memory for both me and the Spousal Unit.  She said she would send us some since they are not made or sold here in our little corner of the South.  What she didn't mention was the nine bags of cat treats that would be coming along for the ride.  Makes you wonder where we all rate, don't it? :)

 

Monday

 

 

Today's Project 365 picture(s) brought to you by what happens when your apartment complex signs an exclusive deal with the cable company you are NOT using. 

Looking at the diagram, does anyone remember back when there was one dial that you had to actually get up and turn?  And there was, like, maybe five channels?  I remember practically BEGGING my dad to put an aerial on the roof so we could get NBC and I could watch the Krofft Supershow on Saturday mornings (and I've now totally dated myself, haven't I?


Tuesday

In the midst of the first rise of making pizza dough tonight.


Wednesday

Some of the bribes...er, treats on hand I keep for the students and faculty who stop by my office.


Thursday

The steps leading to and from my apartment.  In this case, this is the view after climbing them which is doubly challenging lately since my workouts this week seem to be focusing largely on quads and hamstrings.  Ow.  Elliot.


Friday

One of my other few "appointment TV" shows...

Smart, well-written and engaging.  What X-Files might have been if Chris Carter hadn't lost the plot...

Come and join me, Walter, Peter and Olivia on Friday nights...

Just, um, don't eat dinner during it...


Saturday

Today's hike was here:

No, seriously...

It only could have been more perfect if Mal and Zoe had shown up.  (Internet cookies to anyone who gets that reference...*g*)

Bullet Point Day

I've been seeing people doing "Wordless Wednesday" or "Thankful Thursday" but I find I just can't be that alliterative so I'm having Bullet Point Day today!

• There is a notion floating around at work to make me full-time.  My boss has brought it up before a few times and I told her I'd be amenable to discussing the option if it came about and today I was apparently on the meeting agenda.  It's not set in stone if it's going to happen but it's out there and I'm trying to determine how I feel about it.  I have worked full-time for decades; heck, before I was sixteen.  And it's not like we couldn't use the money from when God had us open a coffee shop.  But this is the first time I have ever worked part-time and I've really enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of such a schedule.  I know I'm putting the cart before the horse in a way; still, it's something to think about as a potential change to the CH/SU household.
• My cat is snoring.  Loudly.  It must have been an awesome game of cup hockey.
• I hate my insurance company.  In medical terms, my body chemistry has gone whacko.  That, along with my PCOS, is causing various and sundry unwanted and unenjoyable effects.  The medicine that looks like it might have the best chance at actually alleviating some of the symptoms and issues is, of course, not covered by my insurance because I do not technically fit under the qualifications for it.  Ergo, I'm having to go the conventional and totally ineffectual routes first to prove they don't work so we can petition the insurance company to try the Best Chance Drug.  In the meantime, I get to enjoy a buffet of side effects like constant neuropathy in my hands and feet, nausea, fatigue and somnolence.
• I want popcorn. I have none. Must fix that soonest.
• QVC must die.  I need to find a way to block QVC from my mom's TV and somehow use my amazing Karnak-like mental powers to spirit her credit card out from her wallet and over to where I live.  I'm pretty sure if her credit card bill doesn't contain a comma in it, she gets a get well card from the channel.  Granted, she ships most of it back every month, but still...
• I hate my ovaries.  That is all.
• Oooooo!  Chocolate milk!  Chocolate milk makes everything better.

Recipe - Pizza Dough

I love to cook.  My favorite foods to cook and eat are probably Thai first and Filipino second.  I'm from SoCal originally and I'm still looking for a good lumpia recipe to deal with the lack of lumpia where I now live (holy cow, I miss the lumpia!).

Yeast-based foods that need to rise have been my nemesis on occasion.  And please do not ask about pie crusts.  The first rule of Pie Crusts is do not talk about the Pie Crusts.  I  know I could buy pre-baked shells but it's the principle of the thing.  The Spousal Unit loves lemon meringue pie and, as God is my witness - and apparently Scarlett O'Hara too - I am going to make one from scratch.  Someday.

Ahem.  Anyway, I saw this recipe on Food Network and thought, "Oh heck, even I can't screw that up."  I tried it and, ergo! Voila!  Viola!  Presto Magnifico!  I created pizza dough that actually worked!  And worked again!  (I realize this is a lot of exclamation points but y'all really have no idea :)).

Pizza Dough (via Food Network courtesy Giada DeLaurentiis)

The Players:

5 cups all purpose flour
1 (1/4 oz) packet active dry yeast
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 cups warm water @ 100-110 degrees
Olive oil, for drizzling


Put the water in a small bowl.  Add the yeast and stir until dissolved.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour and salt together.  Add the yeast mixture and stir until a soft dough forms.  If the dough is too dry, add a little extra water, one tablespoon at a time.  If the dough is too sticky, add extra flour, one tablespoon at a time.  Transfer the dough to a floured work surface.  (This part took me once or twice to get the "feel" of the dough that told me I had enough of a water to flour ratio. What I found was if my palms felt like they were slightly sweaty then the dough was generally moist and elastic enough.)

With floured hands, knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 10 to 12 minutes.  This is the fun part 'cause you're gonna need some arm muscles:

Not necessarily like those (that's me on the left and, boy, do I miss those arms) but you do want to bear down on the dough and use the heels of your hands to fold and knead the dough rather than your fingers.  As you do, you'll notice it become much smoother and more pliable although it may still be slightly sticky.

After you've finished kneading the dough, drizzle the inside of a clean bowl with olive oil.  Put the dough in the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel.  Set the bowl in a warm, draft-free place, until the dough has doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Using a fist, deflate the dough in the center and cut it
into three equal-sized pieces.  Form the dough into three balls and put into three oiled bowls.  Cover each bowl loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let rest for one hour.  Remove the dough and wrap in plastic.  Refrigerate for up to one day.

Whatever portion I'm using within the next 24-48 hours I will just leave in the fridge in a plastic Baggie.  The rest I will put in the freezer until I'm ready to use it and it freezes very well.  The dough makes a very good thin crust pizza.  I usually add my sauce and whatever toppings I want and then cook it at 350-375 to the degree of doneness I prefer.  Is yummy :).

Project 365 - Week 4 (January 16 - 22)

Sunday

This is our other cat, Curious Grace.  She was tired of her sister, Munchkin, getting all the pictures.





Monday

When the Spousal Unit is away, the Cyber Hermit gets to have SALAD for dinner (salad for the SU = lettuce, parmesan cheese and Caesar salad dressing only).  These are all the veggies I had in my salad tonight.


Tuesday

Part of a yummy sushi selection from my dinner with Sara tonight.



Wednesday

The files from my graduation applicants for Fall semester.  They've all passed/not passed final checkout and are headed to storage or back to the files to try again in Spring semester.



Thursday

Part of my daily torture session wherein I encourage my spine to stay somewhat intact and support me in the upright position for just a little while longer.



Friday

The door prize from my doctor's visit today to discuss, among other things, my colitis.  One question, though.  If this is where the smart fiber goes, what happens to the not-so-smart fiber?



Saturday

Today's hike was through parts of Murray Park.  The stump interested me for some reason.  I didn't even see the thing on the right until after I'd taken the picture.

This was another point in the walk.  If I was being all artsy, I could call it "Self-Portrait" :P.  But I just liked the shape and the way it looked sitting out there.  Since I'm futzing with the I-wanna-be-Photoshop-when-I-grow-up program that came with the camera, I figured I'd see how it looked in black and white as well.

Doesn't quite do what it says on the label

Another semester is down and it's time to start dealing with my college's contenders for graduation in the Spring 2011 semester. I keep all the applicants' names on a spreadsheet. If I don't have a copy of their department's degree plan yet (DP), I have an asterisk next to their name; also means I don't have a file built for them yet. This is important for playing along with the home version :P.

I come in this morning, thinking I'll get started on the apps this morning. I have my weekly latte with me and coffee often lulls me into a false sense of security regarding my intelligence. So, feeling somewhat smart, I grab my spreadsheet and very carefully start wending my way through looking for the files I do have...until my brain grabs me by the back of my collar and has the following conversation with me (my brain will be playing the role of, well, Brain. I, apparently, have been cast as Pinky):

Brain:: Um...'scuse me? Remember the asterisks on this list?
Me: Yes, Brain. I see them right there.
Brain:: This means what?
Me: That I don't have their DP yet.
Brain (ever so patiently): Aaaaaand?
Me: WHAT? *light dawns* Ohhhhh....and that I...don't...have a file yet.
Brain: Exactly. So why don't you just pick up all the files and take them to your desk? Honestly, I don't know why I let you get coffee this morning.
Me: *meekly picks up files* So what are we doing tomorrow, Brain?
Brain: I'm going to try to take over the world. You...not so much.

Coffee. It promises so much yet delivers so little :P.