"I think...
it's better to look stupid than to be stupid." This was Nina's catch phrase of yesterday and plasticmom confirmed Nina's sentiments with some sort of Chinese Olde Timey saying of her own that loosely translates as, "those who are wise often appear to be daft."
Friday, August 29, 2003
Strawberry & Vanilla Wafers
Not having done much heavy lifting, I was nevertheless treated to some Cafe Podima frozen yogurt courtesy of Adam as a thank you to a group of us who helped him move over to Zrad and Zeith's last night. My Strawberry and Vanilla Wafer combo was delicious, even better than Cracklin' Oat Bran. While I enjoyed Adam's Blueberry Banana and Zeith's Pineapple, I liked my flavor the best...it's really great when everyone likes what they ordered the best and doesn't covet what others are eating.
Not having done much heavy lifting, I was nevertheless treated to some Cafe Podima frozen yogurt courtesy of Adam as a thank you to a group of us who helped him move over to Zrad and Zeith's last night. My Strawberry and Vanilla Wafer combo was delicious, even better than Cracklin' Oat Bran. While I enjoyed Adam's Blueberry Banana and Zeith's Pineapple, I liked my flavor the best...it's really great when everyone likes what they ordered the best and doesn't covet what others are eating.
Thursday, August 28, 2003
Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels are simply divine. Unfortunately, I had it in my mind that a serving was 12 pretzels when it was really 12 four pretzels servings per bag...that's 300% more than what the nutritional panel designated. Oops...my bad!
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels are simply divine. Unfortunately, I had it in my mind that a serving was 12 pretzels when it was really 12 four pretzels servings per bag...that's 300% more than what the nutritional panel designated. Oops...my bad!
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
80's Hip, 90s Square Now Hip Again
I was in Urban Outfitters (momentary lapse in judgment on my part) searching for something fun for a care package I was putting together. I didn't end up buying anything, but I was shocked and dismayed to find Lesportsac handbags. Lesportsac sounds "French," but is proudly made in the "U.S.A." I loosely interpret "Lesportsac" to be "the sporty sack." Taking a trip down memory lane, Lesportsac was hugely popular in the 80s. I remember my aunt owning copious amounts of Lesportsac. Given that she was in her twenties and a swinging hipster of her time, I take that as indication that Lesportsac was COOL. By the early 90s, Lesportsac was nowhere to be found. Somehow Lesportsac never lost quite lost it's luster in Asia, so one could find cool bags in stores catering to Japanese tourists. Other than that, department stores usually carried the bags in a few "square" styles and in some very unexciting colors (black, beige, white, red, navy blue). The brand with its dull shapes and dull colors became associated with "moms," practical, versatile, and BORING! Flash forward to 2001, I was in Singapore when I came across a stunning display of kelly green paisley print Lesportsac bags. WOW! Back home, I logged onto their website and purchased some green paisley for myself. Their website is really cool and has vastly improved technologically over the past year. Now you can visualize what each pattern looks like on each bag. So slowly, Lesportsac has reentered hipness with guest designers like Gwen Stefani, but now that Urban Outfitters is carrying the bags I'm not sure how I feel...is it way to "hip" that it's mainstream or does it still retain it's "square-ish" qualities. I don't know, but these are the deep profound questions worthy of pondering on a Wednesday afternoon.
I was in Urban Outfitters (momentary lapse in judgment on my part) searching for something fun for a care package I was putting together. I didn't end up buying anything, but I was shocked and dismayed to find Lesportsac handbags. Lesportsac sounds "French," but is proudly made in the "U.S.A." I loosely interpret "Lesportsac" to be "the sporty sack." Taking a trip down memory lane, Lesportsac was hugely popular in the 80s. I remember my aunt owning copious amounts of Lesportsac. Given that she was in her twenties and a swinging hipster of her time, I take that as indication that Lesportsac was COOL. By the early 90s, Lesportsac was nowhere to be found. Somehow Lesportsac never lost quite lost it's luster in Asia, so one could find cool bags in stores catering to Japanese tourists. Other than that, department stores usually carried the bags in a few "square" styles and in some very unexciting colors (black, beige, white, red, navy blue). The brand with its dull shapes and dull colors became associated with "moms," practical, versatile, and BORING! Flash forward to 2001, I was in Singapore when I came across a stunning display of kelly green paisley print Lesportsac bags. WOW! Back home, I logged onto their website and purchased some green paisley for myself. Their website is really cool and has vastly improved technologically over the past year. Now you can visualize what each pattern looks like on each bag. So slowly, Lesportsac has reentered hipness with guest designers like Gwen Stefani, but now that Urban Outfitters is carrying the bags I'm not sure how I feel...is it way to "hip" that it's mainstream or does it still retain it's "square-ish" qualities. I don't know, but these are the deep profound questions worthy of pondering on a Wednesday afternoon.
Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut...
..., but first you have to become a "Friend of Krispy Kreme" turning over your soul (personal information) in exchange...small price to pay for a delicious treat...then again one could shell over the 70 cents instead...couch change anyone?
Note: Check out the Caramel Kreme Crunch, available this month at your local Krispy Kreme.
..., but first you have to become a "Friend of Krispy Kreme" turning over your soul (personal information) in exchange...small price to pay for a delicious treat...then again one could shell over the 70 cents instead...couch change anyone?
Note: Check out the Caramel Kreme Crunch, available this month at your local Krispy Kreme.
Stuff In Mail
Plasticmom loves sending me stuff in the mail: letters, random articles from the WSJ, funny print advertising, Japanese super elastic rubber bands, photos, toilet paper (to pad and cushion other things she's sending me in a box) and the usual out of state parental duty of forwarding my mail (jury duty and DMV renewal info). USPS was her most favored carrier, but now she prefers UPS since she works for a fishing fly mail order company that uses UPS. Getting mail, especially boxes, is just really fun and it was especially great in college when she would flout agricultural state borders sending me fruit from home. She even keeps a supply of extra USPS paraphernalia beyond postage in her home office: priority mail stickers, certified mail forms, return receipt postcards, etc. Joy derived from sending mail and willingness to hang out at the post office must be either genetic or a learned behavior because I also love sending mail to my buddies including plasticmom. Likewise, having just viewed plasticmom's photos of her newly reconfigured home, "style" or what some might call "lack of style" must also be a genetic or learned trait. Plasticmom's apartment oddly looks like plasticann's room and shares similar characteristics. Perhaps I should also mention that both plasticmom and plasticann bought some of their furniture from Staples and plasticmom picked out the shelves in plasticann's room during one of her visits. Lastly, Jessica created an awesome care package for her friend who lives far far away. It had all the right elements of frivolous fun, practical and useful gifts and of course...candy. My favorite element was the free maps and brochures of local attractions she grabbed from the hotel lobby...I'm definitely filing away that excellent care package idea for the future.
Plasticmom loves sending me stuff in the mail: letters, random articles from the WSJ, funny print advertising, Japanese super elastic rubber bands, photos, toilet paper (to pad and cushion other things she's sending me in a box) and the usual out of state parental duty of forwarding my mail (jury duty and DMV renewal info). USPS was her most favored carrier, but now she prefers UPS since she works for a fishing fly mail order company that uses UPS. Getting mail, especially boxes, is just really fun and it was especially great in college when she would flout agricultural state borders sending me fruit from home. She even keeps a supply of extra USPS paraphernalia beyond postage in her home office: priority mail stickers, certified mail forms, return receipt postcards, etc. Joy derived from sending mail and willingness to hang out at the post office must be either genetic or a learned behavior because I also love sending mail to my buddies including plasticmom. Likewise, having just viewed plasticmom's photos of her newly reconfigured home, "style" or what some might call "lack of style" must also be a genetic or learned trait. Plasticmom's apartment oddly looks like plasticann's room and shares similar characteristics. Perhaps I should also mention that both plasticmom and plasticann bought some of their furniture from Staples and plasticmom picked out the shelves in plasticann's room during one of her visits. Lastly, Jessica created an awesome care package for her friend who lives far far away. It had all the right elements of frivolous fun, practical and useful gifts and of course...candy. My favorite element was the free maps and brochures of local attractions she grabbed from the hotel lobby...I'm definitely filing away that excellent care package idea for the future.
Monday, August 25, 2003
When was your first memory?
My first memories are from around age two (trip to Hawaii, plastic ice cream cone toys from the gift shop...my fixation with plastic apparently started young), but I remember a fair amount starting from two and half, which was when I started pre-school. I can remember my first friend's name (The-a-DOOR-a, phonetically emphasizing the "Door"), teacher (Ms. Joyce), favorite crayon color (Green) and another teacher's eye shadow (green and cornflower blue at the same time...we're talking eighties). I can still draw an approximate floor plan of the place as well. Lunch was served on pale green melamine divided plates and sometimes included boloney cut in quarters (YUM) and cottage cheese (BARF...I still hate the stuff). Rainy days involved making butter by shaking heavy cream in baby food jars later consumed on crackers as a snack. I cried (three year olds tend to do this) one morning about my birthday and plasticmom showed up at pre-school later that day and surprised me with a homemade chocolate cake decorated with hot pink origami flamingos...I don't think it was even my actual birthday. My favorite drink while the adults, everyone but me, ate tempura was 7-Up with a cherry and I had a propensity for nose bleeds, which is still true today. Adam tells me that my memories start "unusually" (a.k.a. freakishly) young. I'm curious folks, when was your first memory?
My first memories are from around age two (trip to Hawaii, plastic ice cream cone toys from the gift shop...my fixation with plastic apparently started young), but I remember a fair amount starting from two and half, which was when I started pre-school. I can remember my first friend's name (The-a-DOOR-a, phonetically emphasizing the "Door"), teacher (Ms. Joyce), favorite crayon color (Green) and another teacher's eye shadow (green and cornflower blue at the same time...we're talking eighties). I can still draw an approximate floor plan of the place as well. Lunch was served on pale green melamine divided plates and sometimes included boloney cut in quarters (YUM) and cottage cheese (BARF...I still hate the stuff). Rainy days involved making butter by shaking heavy cream in baby food jars later consumed on crackers as a snack. I cried (three year olds tend to do this) one morning about my birthday and plasticmom showed up at pre-school later that day and surprised me with a homemade chocolate cake decorated with hot pink origami flamingos...I don't think it was even my actual birthday. My favorite drink while the adults, everyone but me, ate tempura was 7-Up with a cherry and I had a propensity for nose bleeds, which is still true today. Adam tells me that my memories start "unusually" (a.k.a. freakishly) young. I'm curious folks, when was your first memory?
Friday, August 22, 2003
Perhaps not so shocking revelations about Shaw's sheet cake
With regards to the Shaw's sheet cake decorated with the cheesy frosting roses available in their in house bakery. The following is a reconstructed conversation between plasticann and Shaw's Bakery Lady or "SBL."
plasticann: How long can I keep this cake unrefrigerated?
SBL: For a while, I wouldn't worry about it.
plasticann: A couple hours?
SBL: It's really not going to go bad, you can keep it out for like two months. We keep it in the fridge just for show.
plasticann: (warily) How often do you bake these cakes?
SBL: We don't even bake them. They actually come frozen and they say the shelf life is a week and a half, but there are so many preservatives in there you could keep it for two months.
plasticann: Thanks!
I ended up getting a yellow cake decorated with very natural looking blue roses. The cake was actually pretty good and I ate two slices. My friend Heather pointed out that the cake had a "Twinkie-esqe" quality, which we all know, is shelf stable for years and most definitely non-perishable.
With regards to the Shaw's sheet cake decorated with the cheesy frosting roses available in their in house bakery. The following is a reconstructed conversation between plasticann and Shaw's Bakery Lady or "SBL."
plasticann: How long can I keep this cake unrefrigerated?
SBL: For a while, I wouldn't worry about it.
plasticann: A couple hours?
SBL: It's really not going to go bad, you can keep it out for like two months. We keep it in the fridge just for show.
plasticann: (warily) How often do you bake these cakes?
SBL: We don't even bake them. They actually come frozen and they say the shelf life is a week and a half, but there are so many preservatives in there you could keep it for two months.
plasticann: Thanks!
I ended up getting a yellow cake decorated with very natural looking blue roses. The cake was actually pretty good and I ate two slices. My friend Heather pointed out that the cake had a "Twinkie-esqe" quality, which we all know, is shelf stable for years and most definitely non-perishable.
Thursday, August 21, 2003
The Green Line
For once I'm actually envious of the Green Line, an entire website devoted to restaurants found on the Green Line where you can actually search by Green Line T Stop. I optimistically tried redlinemenus.com only to find myself redirected to greenlinemenus.com. Oh well, the Green Line is a nice place to visit on the weekend, but a bit of a pain for everyday.
For once I'm actually envious of the Green Line, an entire website devoted to restaurants found on the Green Line where you can actually search by Green Line T Stop. I optimistically tried redlinemenus.com only to find myself redirected to greenlinemenus.com. Oh well, the Green Line is a nice place to visit on the weekend, but a bit of a pain for everyday.
Slogans that never quite made the cut…and this depressing note on bananas
Courtesy of the WSJ: slogans of yesteryear and ones that never quite made the cut. My favorite slogan that never quite made the cut is for Spree candy, "A kick in the mouth!" Listerine's 1921 ad slogan told young women that they would "Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride," if they had halitosis. Jessica liked the olde timey Camel's slogan, "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette." While I first heard a rendition of the Chiquita banana jingle in Woody Allen's Everyone says I love You, the song was played over 350 times a day on radio stations during its heyday. As Nina and I discovered, you can find both the original lyrics and the updated 1997 healthy eating version on their website. Lastly, because 75% of our global supply of bananas consists of only one species, pests and disease are gradually destroying the banana crop. While researchers have spent decades trying to develop a comparable banana species, the results have been lackluster so one day our beloved fruit staple may cease to be...now I'm depressed.
Courtesy of the WSJ: slogans of yesteryear and ones that never quite made the cut. My favorite slogan that never quite made the cut is for Spree candy, "A kick in the mouth!" Listerine's 1921 ad slogan told young women that they would "Always a bridesmaid, but never a bride," if they had halitosis. Jessica liked the olde timey Camel's slogan, "More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette." While I first heard a rendition of the Chiquita banana jingle in Woody Allen's Everyone says I love You, the song was played over 350 times a day on radio stations during its heyday. As Nina and I discovered, you can find both the original lyrics and the updated 1997 healthy eating version on their website. Lastly, because 75% of our global supply of bananas consists of only one species, pests and disease are gradually destroying the banana crop. While researchers have spent decades trying to develop a comparable banana species, the results have been lackluster so one day our beloved fruit staple may cease to be...now I'm depressed.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
A Straw Poll
The Scene: You're at the store buying something with cash (difficult to envision this situation in our plastic day and age, but work with me here). The cashier hands you your change, coins neatly piled on top of the bills. Do you find this practice A: Helpful or B: Enraging?
I find this to be helpful because I can use the bills to funnel my coins neatly into my coin purse, but this practice enrages Adam and is one of his biggest pet peeves. Lately, he has taken it upon himself to invoke social change by explaining to unsuspecting cashiers why this whole “coins piled on bills” business is most unhelpful. Since most men carry their change in their pants pockets and bills in their wallets, receiving change in the form of “coins piled on bills” requires them to free both hands in order to stow coins and bills in their separate locations. I propose two solutions to this irritating problem.
1. Cashiers should be trained to discern when to use the “coins piled on bills” method versus the “hand over bills then coins” method. Patrons (women or men carrying stylish “European Carryalls”) who pay out of a wallet that is coin enabled most likely prefer the “coin piled on bills” method while patrons (men or women carrying coin disabled wallets) who fish their coins from their pockets and bills from their wallets most likely prefer the "hand over bills then coins" method.
2. Men should carry coin enabled wallets or coin purses.
The Scene: You're at the store buying something with cash (difficult to envision this situation in our plastic day and age, but work with me here). The cashier hands you your change, coins neatly piled on top of the bills. Do you find this practice A: Helpful or B: Enraging?
I find this to be helpful because I can use the bills to funnel my coins neatly into my coin purse, but this practice enrages Adam and is one of his biggest pet peeves. Lately, he has taken it upon himself to invoke social change by explaining to unsuspecting cashiers why this whole “coins piled on bills” business is most unhelpful. Since most men carry their change in their pants pockets and bills in their wallets, receiving change in the form of “coins piled on bills” requires them to free both hands in order to stow coins and bills in their separate locations. I propose two solutions to this irritating problem.
1. Cashiers should be trained to discern when to use the “coins piled on bills” method versus the “hand over bills then coins” method. Patrons (women or men carrying stylish “European Carryalls”) who pay out of a wallet that is coin enabled most likely prefer the “coin piled on bills” method while patrons (men or women carrying coin disabled wallets) who fish their coins from their pockets and bills from their wallets most likely prefer the "hand over bills then coins" method.
2. Men should carry coin enabled wallets or coin purses.
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
How many slices of pepperoni on a large pizza?
Interesting tidbit from today's WSJ Cranky Consumer review on delivery pizza...how many slices of pepperoni on a large pizza? Here's the lowdown: national chain favorites Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut and some random mom and pop pizza place all ring in at exactly 40 slices of pepperoni. Papa John's ups the ante with 50 slices of pepperoni. Finally, the la-la land staple of yesteryear now defunct in my hometown and most likely replaced by something Asian, Round Table Pizza wins the pepperoni count with a "gut-busting" 76 slices. This reminds me of Adam’s story about an economics professor at Wesleyan who brings in a box of Cracker Jacks each year to his intro class, pours out the Cracker Jacks on his desk, counts the peanuts and graphs the number of peanuts. Apparently, the number of peanuts in a box of Cracker Jacks has steadily declined over the past few decades. Though it peaks my interest, I've never actually had the privilege of seeing this graph so you'll have to ask Adam for the eyewitness account. On another note, snaps for Adam who received a whooping two job offers just in the past week. Woohoo..."it's time to party like it's your birthday...drink 'orange juice' like it's your birthday"...blah blah blah
Interesting tidbit from today's WSJ Cranky Consumer review on delivery pizza...how many slices of pepperoni on a large pizza? Here's the lowdown: national chain favorites Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut and some random mom and pop pizza place all ring in at exactly 40 slices of pepperoni. Papa John's ups the ante with 50 slices of pepperoni. Finally, the la-la land staple of yesteryear now defunct in my hometown and most likely replaced by something Asian, Round Table Pizza wins the pepperoni count with a "gut-busting" 76 slices. This reminds me of Adam’s story about an economics professor at Wesleyan who brings in a box of Cracker Jacks each year to his intro class, pours out the Cracker Jacks on his desk, counts the peanuts and graphs the number of peanuts. Apparently, the number of peanuts in a box of Cracker Jacks has steadily declined over the past few decades. Though it peaks my interest, I've never actually had the privilege of seeing this graph so you'll have to ask Adam for the eyewitness account. On another note, snaps for Adam who received a whooping two job offers just in the past week. Woohoo..."it's time to party like it's your birthday...drink 'orange juice' like it's your birthday"...blah blah blah
Monday, August 18, 2003
Restaurant Week
This week (Aug 18-22) is Boston's Restaurant Week, a phenomenon closely correlated with economic downturns. Fixed price three course meals at area restaurants, some more exciting than others, $20.03 for Lunch and $30.03 for Dinner...the celebratory, but gratuitous $0.03 is a reference to our calendar year. The following is a reconstructed conversation between MGDub and plasticann:
plasticann: It's Restaurant Week next week. Adam and I are going to try two new places.
MGDub: I'm not into it, but I'm very excited for you.
Unfortunately, my dinner reservations are not for another two and a half hours and I'm already faint with hunger...I think I'll need a snack.
This week (Aug 18-22) is Boston's Restaurant Week, a phenomenon closely correlated with economic downturns. Fixed price three course meals at area restaurants, some more exciting than others, $20.03 for Lunch and $30.03 for Dinner...the celebratory, but gratuitous $0.03 is a reference to our calendar year. The following is a reconstructed conversation between MGDub and plasticann:
plasticann: It's Restaurant Week next week. Adam and I are going to try two new places.
MGDub: I'm not into it, but I'm very excited for you.
Unfortunately, my dinner reservations are not for another two and a half hours and I'm already faint with hunger...I think I'll need a snack.
Friday, August 15, 2003
"Sabbath Cookies"
Each week on Wednesday, I attend a church small group led by Adam and MGDub. This past Wednesday, MGDub led a compelling look at taking a regular "Sabbath" or a day of rest and restoration as strongly suggested by the Ten Commandments. Because I don't do well with the whole Sabbath thing, attempting to take an entire day of rest is too ambitious for me. However, MGDub gave us all a few minutes to pray silently at the end of the evening about the issue of resting. After a few minutes of prayer and contemplation, we all shared our thoughts. Adam, not surprising because he secretly aspires to be a member of the intelligentsia, felt he would enjoy extended time studying the bible (with concordances and such) during his Sabbath. I, on the other hand, envisioned my day of rest literally feeding myself. While I normally bake cookies, the cookies I baked for my Sabbath would be the ones I felt like eating and would not be for sharing. In addition, I thought eating whatever I wanted on my Sabbath seemed quite restful. Having shared my profound thoughts, my friend Dave decided his Sabbath would include coming to my house to eat my "Sabbath Cookies." I was quick to remind Dave that I would have no interlopers on my day of rest and the whole point was not having to share my "Sabbath Cookies." Although, if Dave did come over, I probably would share my "Sabbath Cookies" especially if we coordinated and took our Sabbath on different days. I mused out loud whether I was “food obsessed,” and MGDub confirmed, a little too enthusiastically, that having read my blog, I was most definitely obsessed. Harumph!
Each week on Wednesday, I attend a church small group led by Adam and MGDub. This past Wednesday, MGDub led a compelling look at taking a regular "Sabbath" or a day of rest and restoration as strongly suggested by the Ten Commandments. Because I don't do well with the whole Sabbath thing, attempting to take an entire day of rest is too ambitious for me. However, MGDub gave us all a few minutes to pray silently at the end of the evening about the issue of resting. After a few minutes of prayer and contemplation, we all shared our thoughts. Adam, not surprising because he secretly aspires to be a member of the intelligentsia, felt he would enjoy extended time studying the bible (with concordances and such) during his Sabbath. I, on the other hand, envisioned my day of rest literally feeding myself. While I normally bake cookies, the cookies I baked for my Sabbath would be the ones I felt like eating and would not be for sharing. In addition, I thought eating whatever I wanted on my Sabbath seemed quite restful. Having shared my profound thoughts, my friend Dave decided his Sabbath would include coming to my house to eat my "Sabbath Cookies." I was quick to remind Dave that I would have no interlopers on my day of rest and the whole point was not having to share my "Sabbath Cookies." Although, if Dave did come over, I probably would share my "Sabbath Cookies" especially if we coordinated and took our Sabbath on different days. I mused out loud whether I was “food obsessed,” and MGDub confirmed, a little too enthusiastically, that having read my blog, I was most definitely obsessed. Harumph!
Thursday, August 14, 2003
ruminating...
I snacked on some leftover Cracklin' Oat Bran Frozen Yogurt from Cafe Podima with a glass of Orange Juice last night...would that be a well balanced breakfast? Yogurt, Cereal, & Juice...Yep...sounds pretty good to me.
I snacked on some leftover Cracklin' Oat Bran Frozen Yogurt from Cafe Podima with a glass of Orange Juice last night...would that be a well balanced breakfast? Yogurt, Cereal, & Juice...Yep...sounds pretty good to me.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
The Julie/Julia Project
nytimes.com dining section article, "A Race to Master the Art of French Cooking" about a woman named Julie's quixotic quest to methodically cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. She's got until August 26 to complete her project and she's been blogging about her cooking project daily. Having gone through 60 pounds of butter thus far, Julie ("Jesus of Extreme Cooking") and her husband are looking forward to eating salads for dinner and wax nostalgically about the days when they were thin and beautiful. They plan to properly celebrate by sneaking water bottles filled with champagne into the Smithsonian's Julia Child's Exhibit in DC...good luck getting past security.
nytimes.com dining section article, "A Race to Master the Art of French Cooking" about a woman named Julie's quixotic quest to methodically cook her way through Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking in one year. She's got until August 26 to complete her project and she's been blogging about her cooking project daily. Having gone through 60 pounds of butter thus far, Julie ("Jesus of Extreme Cooking") and her husband are looking forward to eating salads for dinner and wax nostalgically about the days when they were thin and beautiful. They plan to properly celebrate by sneaking water bottles filled with champagne into the Smithsonian's Julia Child's Exhibit in DC...good luck getting past security.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
Dazey Donut Factory
Zrad hosted a donut making session this past Sunday morning featuring this 70's waffle iron/sandwich maker type contraption called the Dazey Donut Factory. Although there is no frying involved, you do pour oil into the reservoir above each donut. Zrad was kind enough to bring MGDub and I each a blueberry donut to try. It was kind of like a donut shaped blueberry muffin and I hear from Zrad, the chocolate chip variety is pretty darned tasty as well.
Zrad hosted a donut making session this past Sunday morning featuring this 70's waffle iron/sandwich maker type contraption called the Dazey Donut Factory. Although there is no frying involved, you do pour oil into the reservoir above each donut. Zrad was kind enough to bring MGDub and I each a blueberry donut to try. It was kind of like a donut shaped blueberry muffin and I hear from Zrad, the chocolate chip variety is pretty darned tasty as well.
Monday, August 11, 2003
Cafe Podima Frozen Yogurt
Saturday night found MGDub, Adam and I at Cafe Podima trying out their frozen yogurt. You can order a myriad of flavors that they swirly smushy mash into a cylindrical section of frozen yogurt base (vanilla, chocolate, sugar free & tofu). MGDub went for the Raspberry, I went for the Cracklin' Oat Bran having heard my coworker Bina ponder out loud that very froyo combo and Adam went for a double whammy shelling out the big bucks for both Strawberry and Blueberry in one fell swoop. The results were refreshingly delicious and light, both in texture and in impact on one's pocketbook. At $2.39 plus $.49 per topping for a pint of froyo specially made for you, I unabashedly declare this place a delight and a "steal." I give it nine thumbs up.
Saturday night found MGDub, Adam and I at Cafe Podima trying out their frozen yogurt. You can order a myriad of flavors that they swirly smushy mash into a cylindrical section of frozen yogurt base (vanilla, chocolate, sugar free & tofu). MGDub went for the Raspberry, I went for the Cracklin' Oat Bran having heard my coworker Bina ponder out loud that very froyo combo and Adam went for a double whammy shelling out the big bucks for both Strawberry and Blueberry in one fell swoop. The results were refreshingly delicious and light, both in texture and in impact on one's pocketbook. At $2.39 plus $.49 per topping for a pint of froyo specially made for you, I unabashedly declare this place a delight and a "steal." I give it nine thumbs up.
Friday, August 08, 2003
Q: Where have all the Cowboys gone?
A: Kendall Square by way of Central.
Nina was heading back from the Coop yesterday when she spotted a Cowboy, hat and all, walking two horses down the street. Nina thought he was a protester, Jessica wondered if there was a Seabiscuit movie promotion with horses at the Harvard Square movie theater while I speculated it was some form of performance art. The following is a reconstructed conversation between Nina and her dad, let's call him "Dad."
Nina: I saw a cowboy walking two horses down the street in Kendall today.
Dad: That explains it.
Nina: What?
Dad: I was walking through Central today and there were these big things of poo and they seemed too big for a dog.
Nina: At work, we saw a huge turkey in the street a few months ago.
Dad: What kind of drugs are you all on?
Addendum: The "cowboy" is raising money for Paraguay.
A: Kendall Square by way of Central.
Nina was heading back from the Coop yesterday when she spotted a Cowboy, hat and all, walking two horses down the street. Nina thought he was a protester, Jessica wondered if there was a Seabiscuit movie promotion with horses at the Harvard Square movie theater while I speculated it was some form of performance art. The following is a reconstructed conversation between Nina and her dad, let's call him "Dad."
Nina: I saw a cowboy walking two horses down the street in Kendall today.
Dad: That explains it.
Nina: What?
Dad: I was walking through Central today and there were these big things of poo and they seemed too big for a dog.
Nina: At work, we saw a huge turkey in the street a few months ago.
Dad: What kind of drugs are you all on?
Addendum: The "cowboy" is raising money for Paraguay.
Thursday, August 07, 2003
"Excellent Chinese Noodle Cookies"
More on why I find that quote enraging and disconcerting on so many levels, but last week I appropriated two of Jessica’s Oatmeal Scotchie cookies for MGDub and Adam, who both loved them and said they were delicious. The following is a reconstructed conversation between MGDub and plasticann post Oatmeal Scotchie consumption:
MGDub: That butterscotch cookie was really yummy. They remind me of the best candies I've ever had. We made them in class in third grade and I’ve never had them since. We were only allowed to eat two each and I remember loving them so much I could eat them forever. I think you'll be very interested in these candies.
plasticann: (intrigued) Do you have a recipe? What's in them and how do you make them?
MGDub: Well, there are chocolate chips and butterscotch chips melted together and then these crunchies you dip in the melted mixture. These crunchies are…they're Asian.
plasticann: What are they? Are they sweet or savory?
MGDub: Neither, you know…they're these crunchy crunchies.
plasticann: Vermicelli?
MGDub: No, I'm not sure what they're called, but they're really good.
The next day during lunch, I was at the salad bar with Nina and Jessica relaying this cryptic conversation with MGDub hoping they might shed light on the mysterious “crunchies” MGDub spoke of. They were uncharacteristically clueless and of no help, but the woman in front of me interjected with, "I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I think they're Chow Mein Noodles."
Turns out, the recipe is simply melted chocolate chips, melted butterscotch chips with Chow Mein noodles thrown in there. You drop the mixture in clusters on wax paper, chill and eat the little clustered candies. No wonder they're yummy: sugar, fat, and fried carbohydrate food products. MGDub was right, sounds exactly like something I would enjoy.
The recipe MGDub sent me called them "Hobgoblins," but a simple web search yielded the following recipe titles: “Haystacks” (very Monet and I fully intend to use this name) and “Chow Mein Noodle Cookies.” When I found a review for one recipe titled "Excellent Chinese Noodle Cookies," I could feel the rage rising inside of me.
First of all, I'm offended as a cookie baker, these are clearly not "cookies" in my book, but "cluster" type candies. Next, I find offense culturally because there is nothing "Chinese" about these candy clusters they call “cookies.” Somehow, "Chow Mein Noodle Cookies" didn't bother me as much namely because I consider "Chow Mein Noodles" from a La Choy Can in the "international" aisle of my supermarket to be so universally Americanized that there is no question in my mind that they clearly are not "Chinese." Don't get me wrong, I enjoy "Chow Mein Noodles" as a crouton type topping on my salads, but "Chinese" they are not. I think calling them "Chinese Noodle Cookies" is crossing the line.
Nonetheless, I'm going to try to be open minded and I've purchased the requisite butterscotch morsels and a can of the La Choy "Chow Mein Noodles" (Incidentally, La Choy is owned by the ConAgra conglomerate and therefore very “authentic”…NOT!). I'm excited to try the recipe and I know my good friend MGDub will be so excited to revisit a nostalgically sweet memory from age eight, but I'll be calling them "Haystacks." Perhaps I'll even serve my "Haystacks" on one of those trays they sell at museums depicting haystacks by the great impressionist...now would that be metaphysical or just plain "whhed."
More on why I find that quote enraging and disconcerting on so many levels, but last week I appropriated two of Jessica’s Oatmeal Scotchie cookies for MGDub and Adam, who both loved them and said they were delicious. The following is a reconstructed conversation between MGDub and plasticann post Oatmeal Scotchie consumption:
MGDub: That butterscotch cookie was really yummy. They remind me of the best candies I've ever had. We made them in class in third grade and I’ve never had them since. We were only allowed to eat two each and I remember loving them so much I could eat them forever. I think you'll be very interested in these candies.
plasticann: (intrigued) Do you have a recipe? What's in them and how do you make them?
MGDub: Well, there are chocolate chips and butterscotch chips melted together and then these crunchies you dip in the melted mixture. These crunchies are…they're Asian.
plasticann: What are they? Are they sweet or savory?
MGDub: Neither, you know…they're these crunchy crunchies.
plasticann: Vermicelli?
MGDub: No, I'm not sure what they're called, but they're really good.
The next day during lunch, I was at the salad bar with Nina and Jessica relaying this cryptic conversation with MGDub hoping they might shed light on the mysterious “crunchies” MGDub spoke of. They were uncharacteristically clueless and of no help, but the woman in front of me interjected with, "I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I think they're Chow Mein Noodles."
Turns out, the recipe is simply melted chocolate chips, melted butterscotch chips with Chow Mein noodles thrown in there. You drop the mixture in clusters on wax paper, chill and eat the little clustered candies. No wonder they're yummy: sugar, fat, and fried carbohydrate food products. MGDub was right, sounds exactly like something I would enjoy.
The recipe MGDub sent me called them "Hobgoblins," but a simple web search yielded the following recipe titles: “Haystacks” (very Monet and I fully intend to use this name) and “Chow Mein Noodle Cookies.” When I found a review for one recipe titled "Excellent Chinese Noodle Cookies," I could feel the rage rising inside of me.
First of all, I'm offended as a cookie baker, these are clearly not "cookies" in my book, but "cluster" type candies. Next, I find offense culturally because there is nothing "Chinese" about these candy clusters they call “cookies.” Somehow, "Chow Mein Noodle Cookies" didn't bother me as much namely because I consider "Chow Mein Noodles" from a La Choy Can in the "international" aisle of my supermarket to be so universally Americanized that there is no question in my mind that they clearly are not "Chinese." Don't get me wrong, I enjoy "Chow Mein Noodles" as a crouton type topping on my salads, but "Chinese" they are not. I think calling them "Chinese Noodle Cookies" is crossing the line.
Nonetheless, I'm going to try to be open minded and I've purchased the requisite butterscotch morsels and a can of the La Choy "Chow Mein Noodles" (Incidentally, La Choy is owned by the ConAgra conglomerate and therefore very “authentic”…NOT!). I'm excited to try the recipe and I know my good friend MGDub will be so excited to revisit a nostalgically sweet memory from age eight, but I'll be calling them "Haystacks." Perhaps I'll even serve my "Haystacks" on one of those trays they sell at museums depicting haystacks by the great impressionist...now would that be metaphysical or just plain "whhed."
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
Loopholes
At Adam's current temp job, the IT department has blocked various web based e-mail sites including yahoomail so he's been able to surf the web while manning the front desk, but unable to check his e-mail. Yesterday, he figured out the international yahoomail portals had not been blocked so he logged in from yahoo's UK site and promptly sent me an e-mail titled "Shhhh" informing me he'd managed to bypass the e-mail blockers. Within a few hours, the IT department was on to him discovering the loophole and quickly blocking all the yahoo international e-mail portals. It was a triumph of the human spirit of sorts, but only for a few hours. Diamonds for Adam for his creativity, begrudging Diamonds for the IT department for being quick on their feet and Coals for e-mail blockers.
At Adam's current temp job, the IT department has blocked various web based e-mail sites including yahoomail so he's been able to surf the web while manning the front desk, but unable to check his e-mail. Yesterday, he figured out the international yahoomail portals had not been blocked so he logged in from yahoo's UK site and promptly sent me an e-mail titled "Shhhh" informing me he'd managed to bypass the e-mail blockers. Within a few hours, the IT department was on to him discovering the loophole and quickly blocking all the yahoo international e-mail portals. It was a triumph of the human spirit of sorts, but only for a few hours. Diamonds for Adam for his creativity, begrudging Diamonds for the IT department for being quick on their feet and Coals for e-mail blockers.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
"Dubble Bubble" in a Rubble
I braved the torrential downpours last night and trekked over to Walgreens, my "research" showed they were carrying the candy flavored lip balms, in hopes of triumphantly locating the elusive Cinnabon flavor. I methodically went through all the aisles and asked at least three "sales associates," with no avail. All I found was some "Dubble Bubble" in a rubble of misplaced lip balm. My quest for Cinnabon lip balm reminds me of a previous youthful obsession with a certain cherry flavored lip balm themed after Disney films by Kid Care. My first Lion King Cherry Lip Balm was in impulse buy, but then I discovered how much I loved the cherry flavor, the light reddish tint and how it withstood a variety of trying conditions and continued to offer smooth application. I tried to purchase some extra tubes my next visit home during Christmas, but was shocked and dismayed to discover that Lion King Lip Balm was a seasonal product and I'd have to wait until the following summer to buy more. Contrary to popular belief, there are "seasons" in "la la land," I argue that the very presence of "seasonal merchandise" rather than the occurrence of extreme temperatures and dead leaves (fall foliage) adequately validates my point. I patiently waited, and cleaned out the supermarket the next summer purchasing what seemed to be a life time supply. This time I procured some 101 Dalmatians Lip Balm in addition to the Lion King, all of which was of course cherry flavored. I thought I was alone in my quixotic love for this lip balm until I spied my friend Corinna using a tube of the exact same Lion King cherry lip balm one day early in our friendship. I could barely contain my excitement when I discovered she loved the stuff too. The irony is, I’ve never finished an entire tube of lip balm because I rarely use it. Like Adam, I like lip balm and I like using it, but unlike Adam, I never actually remember to use it.
I braved the torrential downpours last night and trekked over to Walgreens, my "research" showed they were carrying the candy flavored lip balms, in hopes of triumphantly locating the elusive Cinnabon flavor. I methodically went through all the aisles and asked at least three "sales associates," with no avail. All I found was some "Dubble Bubble" in a rubble of misplaced lip balm. My quest for Cinnabon lip balm reminds me of a previous youthful obsession with a certain cherry flavored lip balm themed after Disney films by Kid Care. My first Lion King Cherry Lip Balm was in impulse buy, but then I discovered how much I loved the cherry flavor, the light reddish tint and how it withstood a variety of trying conditions and continued to offer smooth application. I tried to purchase some extra tubes my next visit home during Christmas, but was shocked and dismayed to discover that Lion King Lip Balm was a seasonal product and I'd have to wait until the following summer to buy more. Contrary to popular belief, there are "seasons" in "la la land," I argue that the very presence of "seasonal merchandise" rather than the occurrence of extreme temperatures and dead leaves (fall foliage) adequately validates my point. I patiently waited, and cleaned out the supermarket the next summer purchasing what seemed to be a life time supply. This time I procured some 101 Dalmatians Lip Balm in addition to the Lion King, all of which was of course cherry flavored. I thought I was alone in my quixotic love for this lip balm until I spied my friend Corinna using a tube of the exact same Lion King cherry lip balm one day early in our friendship. I could barely contain my excitement when I discovered she loved the stuff too. The irony is, I’ve never finished an entire tube of lip balm because I rarely use it. Like Adam, I like lip balm and I like using it, but unlike Adam, I never actually remember to use it.
Monday, August 04, 2003
Unbelievable...Cinnabon Lip Balm
Inspired by last week's article entitled "The Art of Making Care Packages," I spent yesterday afternoon scouring the mall for fun finds with my friend Lara. A stop by the tween accessory haven, Claire's, resulted in the following discovery: lip balms in Junior Mint, Dairy Queen Dipped Chocolate Cone, Bubble Yum Grape, Hostess Twinkie and HoHos, Reese's PB Cup, PEZ, Sweet Tarts and Jelly Belly to name a few. I purchased a DQ Chocolate Dipped Cone lip balm for the care package I was making and went back for the DQ Butterscotch Sundae Lip Balm for Adam after the salesperson informed me it was "buy one get one half off." The Butterscotch Sundae looks, smells and even tastes like Butterscotch and the packaging is this cool cardboard diecut cone/sundae. My "research" indicates that a Cinnabon flavored lip balm was introduced this summer. Apparently, the lip balm tastes like a Cinnabon and is an olfactory trigger of that delicious Cinnabon scent wafting through the airport...I've gotta have it.
Inspired by last week's article entitled "The Art of Making Care Packages," I spent yesterday afternoon scouring the mall for fun finds with my friend Lara. A stop by the tween accessory haven, Claire's, resulted in the following discovery: lip balms in Junior Mint, Dairy Queen Dipped Chocolate Cone, Bubble Yum Grape, Hostess Twinkie and HoHos, Reese's PB Cup, PEZ, Sweet Tarts and Jelly Belly to name a few. I purchased a DQ Chocolate Dipped Cone lip balm for the care package I was making and went back for the DQ Butterscotch Sundae Lip Balm for Adam after the salesperson informed me it was "buy one get one half off." The Butterscotch Sundae looks, smells and even tastes like Butterscotch and the packaging is this cool cardboard diecut cone/sundae. My "research" indicates that a Cinnabon flavored lip balm was introduced this summer. Apparently, the lip balm tastes like a Cinnabon and is an olfactory trigger of that delicious Cinnabon scent wafting through the airport...I've gotta have it.
Friday, August 01, 2003
"I know you're not Adam!"
While I rarely frequent my local library, I do stop by on occasion mostly to pick up Adam's books and DVDs. Since he's kind enough to request books that I enjoy, namely light Bridget Jones' type fare, and I derive utility from some of the DVDs he borrows, I'm more than happy to run an errand here and there when he's too busy. However, I've run into the same, probably only, male librarian twice thus far and both times he's said, "I know you're not Adam," upon my presenting Adam's library card. The following is yesterday evening's reconstructed conversation between Ann and Male Librarian, let's call him "ML":
Ann: I'd like to pick up some books on hold.
ML: (glancing at the card) I know you're not Adam!
Ann: No, he's busy tonight.
ML: I've noticed Adam's been going through the entire graphic novel collection of the Minuteman Library System for quite some time.
Ann: He's methodical like that.
ML: (begrudgingly) I guess I kind of have to admire the guy for it.
Apparently, Adam is notorious at the library for requesting and transferring truckloads of "books" (usually "graphic novels" which are colloquially referred to as "comic books"), but they never make these comments to him personally, just to other people who pick up his books. While Adam is very intelligent, well read and reads real books, his reading material of late has usually been stamped "Young Adult." Adam suspects the transportation costs of his book transfers may have contributed to the recent budget shortfalls forcing the library to cut its hours, but then again it's probably Mitt's fault anyways or we could just "Blame Canada!"
While I rarely frequent my local library, I do stop by on occasion mostly to pick up Adam's books and DVDs. Since he's kind enough to request books that I enjoy, namely light Bridget Jones' type fare, and I derive utility from some of the DVDs he borrows, I'm more than happy to run an errand here and there when he's too busy. However, I've run into the same, probably only, male librarian twice thus far and both times he's said, "I know you're not Adam," upon my presenting Adam's library card. The following is yesterday evening's reconstructed conversation between Ann and Male Librarian, let's call him "ML":
Ann: I'd like to pick up some books on hold.
ML: (glancing at the card) I know you're not Adam!
Ann: No, he's busy tonight.
ML: I've noticed Adam's been going through the entire graphic novel collection of the Minuteman Library System for quite some time.
Ann: He's methodical like that.
ML: (begrudgingly) I guess I kind of have to admire the guy for it.
Apparently, Adam is notorious at the library for requesting and transferring truckloads of "books" (usually "graphic novels" which are colloquially referred to as "comic books"), but they never make these comments to him personally, just to other people who pick up his books. While Adam is very intelligent, well read and reads real books, his reading material of late has usually been stamped "Young Adult." Adam suspects the transportation costs of his book transfers may have contributed to the recent budget shortfalls forcing the library to cut its hours, but then again it's probably Mitt's fault anyways or we could just "Blame Canada!"
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