Holy Crap week 5!!

DAMMIT I so owe you all a post

sorry, but you'll understand!

I can't believe its week 5!  I'm not actually counting the week I got laid off, especially since I was in Mexico at the time!  The layoff happened the 21st of January, but I didn't get home until the 24th, so that is where I'm counting from, and now its Feb 24th!  One month plus!  Damn.

OK, so real quick, I just don't have the time or energy to do the full posts on what went down in the last few days, but I'll give you the best summary I can!

• Thursday:  Drove up to Portsmouth to work on my friend Steven's boat for the day.  I promised him I'd help.  I took a bunch of fun pictures, which will be posted very soon.  That night, had dinner at Dali, a Tapas restaurant in Somerville, with our friend Lisa.  Good stuff.  More on that later.
• Friday was pretty uneventful.  Cleaned, relaxed.  The BBB had a Doctors appt that morning, and sadly the cast cannot come off yet.  So she worked from home, I cleaned, and we watched TV.  Ten Tables of course that night, which was yummy.  I had the calamari salad, an amazing spicy lentil soup, and the steak.  yummers.
• Saturday is the beginning of the real reason I'm too damn tired to post right now!  I started a Yoga Teacher Training.  I don't know what the hell I'm thinking, but I love it.  Yes, the Yoga studio that i TRY to go to each week, but haven't since before the BBB broke the foot, the people I go to Mexico with, et al, do a Teacher training at the studio.  Its pretty damn intense, I'll tell you.  And I'm in the thick of it.  It started Saturday, and ends this coming Sunday.  And that's just the first week.  I have a few more weekend sessions and 2 more full 7 day sessions to go.  Good lord!!!!   And for anyone who's done Yoga and is familiar with Primary series, well, its the second most intense yoga practice in the states, and that is what I'm learning all about.  Its the basis for the style of yoga that happens at my studio.  So, I have to learn all the poses, the sanskrit names for the poses, the different modifications students need to do if pregnant or injured, and the different adjustments that teachers do for the students when in the poses!  its Nuts!!!!  So, more on that in a minute!  I still want to wrap up my other extra curriculars!!!!
• Saturday night I was too tired to do anything, so I think we just chilled out.  I don't remember.
• Sunday, after Yoga, was a PARTY!  and not just any party.  It was the TEN TABLES CAMBRIDGE pre-opening party!  And it was a blast.  Got there at 7, drank lots of wine, hung out with the staff and friends of the restaurant, ate lots of yummy passed snacks (cuz i dont feel like spelling ourderves correctly right now), and had a blast!  Left there at about 10, drove my buddy and his wife home, and came home.  Tried to watch the Oscars, but SOOOOOO BOOOORING!   Passed out on the chair.  woke up at 3 am, went to bed!  
• Monday, yoga at 830!!!  to 330!   The picked up the BBB and headed to Cambridge for the actual opening night of TEN TABLES CAMBRIDGE!!  You know it.  Yeah, I went to the party, buy I had to go and actually have dinner on the first night!  Yyyeah!  We were there about 3 hours, and had a great dinner!  Its a really nice restaurant.  I'll have to put up a link to the blog Mike made about making it all happen.  But, too lazy right now.
• Today, yoga again.  Was supposed to have acupuncture after, but the BBB was stuck in meetings, so we just headed home and cooked a bunch of stuff!  I made Farrow, sauteed onions, tempeh bacon, and peas, and roasted tomatoes. She made Mac and Chrees (not cheese, she's vegan), with peas.  I have a cat on my lap right now that isn't happy with my typing cuz I'm not petting him.  
• Heroes was only ok last night.
• Oh, I remember on Thursday maybe, or no, it must've been the weekend after the BBB went to bed, I watched the Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton.  Can't remember what day it was, but it was actually pretty good.  
• Also watched the Descent on Saturday night, which was a fun little scary movie about 6 women who go speelunking, and run into scary flesh eating man things underground.  Actually not bad!

So, just a quick fill in on why I'm so tired from doing Yoga Teacher training

• The weekend sessions aren't bad, 1230 to 630.  Primary series class at about 2.  Crazy tiring and intense, that yoga.
• Weekday sessions are 830 to 330.  Actual yoga class is 945 to 1115.  
• Before hand is discussion or review of some poses.
• After class, we break down poses and how to adjust.
• Lunch
• after that, we partner up, guide our fellow trainees through the poses, and then they do the adjustments and we do the adjustments
• I did the actual practice on Saturday and Sunday, but yesterday just observed (which is encouraged), and today observed and did adjustments when I could.  Fun, but scary at first.
• When we were doing the partner sessions, I did my first successful headstand.  My back hurts a bit now, but my whole body is sore from Primary series, and I feel pretty damn badass about doing a headstand, cuz that shit ain't easy.

So, I guess that's it.  I'm gonna go watch some TV before putting away all the food I just cooked for lunches.  

I promise I'll post up pictures from Sunday soon enough.

TEN TABLES CAMBRIDGE IS OPEN!!! To all my friends across the river, get excited!  They're on Opentable too!  Go eat!  

I guess that is it!  I gotta shower and stuff too, cuz i smell!  

lates

Comments and Such

Just a quick FYI

Someone told me yesterday that you had to have a Gmail account to leave comments.  I just checked it, and you don't.  You can do anonymous, or even better, put whatever name you want and a url if you want.  so, please, leave comments.  Let me know who you are and if you are enjoying this silly exercise in excess!!!!

also, on the right, I've added a subscription link.  If you enjoy reading this, but get tired of checking it each day to see nothing new, put your email in there!  It will let you know when I post.  THEN come back here to read and comment (i don't think it emails you the whole post, but if it does, you won't show up on my counter and make my ego bigger with the increasing number of readers!!!!)

So, thats for you, dear readers, whomever you are!

My goodness! Week 4, day 3, and the rest of week 3 and 4

Woah, almost a whole week?!  What the hell happened??

So, Where did I leave off (sorry, Jacob, but this is going to have to be a bit of a catch up post!)?

Wednesday ended after picking up the BBB, went home, ate a tad, and went to Band Practice.

Have you not listened to Burnt Fur yet????   GO NOW!!!!!!!

Oh, wait, I already did Wednesday.  Whoops.

Thursday is not memorable in any way.  I'm sure I watched some television and ate some food, but I can't remember anything significant.  I may have vacuumed, but I don't think so.  Dishes, probably.  Oh well.

Friday the BBB worked from home, so I slept in until like noon.  Did some house cleaning I guess.  Oooh, and I think I did some Laundry.  

And then, of course, Ten Tables.  Had a lovely meal.  Calamari over lemon salad.  Portuguese Fish Stew.  Pasta with Lamb Ragout.  Stinky cheese.  YUM.  

THEN, I came home, and realized that we were going to my mothers the next day and hadn't cooked a damn thing!  We were going to make that Fritatta, but it wasn't very good.  Mom had already had the Sausage Potato thing, and we wanted to continue showcasing new Vegan foods that are good, so not that again.  It's supposed to be just lunch, and I knew Mom was making 2 soups, so............A-Ha!!!  CHICKPEA SALAD!!!!    

This is a great and easy thing to make.  It was passed on to us as Mock Tuna Salad (seaweed gives it that fishy taste), but I prefer it just as chickpea salad.  YUMMSY on sammiches.

Just 2 cans of chickpeas, pickles, celery, onions, lemon juice, and Mayo (veggenaise, cuz its just as good and way less nasty when you think about it).  Recipe is posted and linked above.  I recommend giving it a whirl!  

Made 2 batches of it at like midnight, cuz, well, why not!

Saturday is easy.  Woke up, picked up flowers for Mom and her cousin Bonnie who came to visit my mom for the weekend.  New Leaf Flores is the best florist, if I haven't mentioned them already.  Gotta plug my friends.

Then we stopped by Flour in the South End to pick up these yummy chocolate cherry sourdough loaves as Hallmark Day gifts (VDay is a myth.  its all Hallmark!!!) and some vegan chocolate cupcakes, which are YUM.  got 2 loaves of regular bread for the chickpea salad, and some dirty heart cookies for the band.

Drove down to Plymouth to the Mom's house.  Nice day.  Niece chloe (age 5) was there.  Sister came too.  Had some cheese, chickpea salad on bread, Split Pea Soup, and coincidentally, Portuguese Kale soup with Linguica.  All Yummers.  

Went for a drive with the sister for a bit, Mom's cousin showed up, BroInLaw came over, and we had a nice afternoon.  Wine, talking, eating, fun.  Sister n BroInLaw n Niece left, had Pizza with the ladies.  Drove home at like 1030 (crap), watched something, went to bed.

Sunday was a nice calm day.  Slept in.  Laundry.  Had a fire all day.  Did some computer stuff.  I figured out how to put a password on my wireless router all by myself, with the internet to help.  I'm impressed.  And posted another recipe to the Vegan blog.  Other than that, relaxed, watched TV.  Nice calm day.

Monday was the same.  BBB had a holiday.  Fire all day.  More Laundry.  Made smoothies (chocolate soy milk, peanut butter, bananas, vanilla protein powder, ice - YUM).

Then met up with my oldest friend in the world, Todd, who I met just after I was born (he's about 3 weeks older, our Moms are friends), and his wife.  The 4 of us went to Oleana, one of my favorite restaurants.  Its an Arabic Turkish restaurant, very much bent on the spices they use.  Fantastic very high end yummy food.  I had:

• 3C's Ale, a beer made special for them by Cisco brewery on Nantucket (containes cumin, coriander, and cardomom).  So yummy, and Cisco is one of my favorite brewers.
• appetizer of Seared Pork Belly (confit style), Prosciutto, Fried dates stuffed with cheese, and frizee.  YUM
• Entree was  Venison Shish Kebob with Carrot Kibbeh, Escarole, Dates, and Haloumi
• Dessert was Muscat!

Amazing meal, and got back early, cuz it was an early dinner.  Actually, we were there 4 hours!  Came home and watched the season finale of Dr. Who, which I've been getting in to lately.

Crap, I gotta go get the BBB in a minute!

Tuesday, which was yesterday.  What did I do.  Very little!  

Drove the BBB to work, visited the xoffice friends, and came home.  Cleaned a bit.  

Watched Heroes from last night while eating Ten Tables leftovers.  Then watched the newest Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton and Tim Roth.  WAAAAY Better than I expected.  Not amazing, but way better.  Applied for a job (not telling where), cleaned a bit, and picked up the BBB.

Acupuncture.  Then home.  Cooked Trader Joes frozen Arrabiata pasta with Vegan meatballs, made salad.  Watched House, America's Midol, the Negotiator.  BeD

OOh yeah, and i got my first unemployment check (why, since i signed up for Direct deposit, i don't know!)  YEAH!!!!

today.  drove BBB to work.  We've actually been ontime this week!  visited the friends.  came home.  dishes.  met the 3 xcolleagues for lunch at Fugakyu. Sushi Lunch.  Yumm. 

 Now this.  Now off to get the BBB, then band, then Lost.  then Bed.

Tomorrow I got visit my friend Stephen in Portsmouth NH and help him work on his boat.  then dinner with friends.

busy busy busy

Readers Poll #1

So, I'm taking a vote

Should I buy this shirt?

comment yes or no!

Hunting the 3 footer Yahbut..

This winter, I began to notice strange tracks in the snow around my house.

Tracks the like of which I've never seen, and is very rare in nature.

The creature who left these tracks appears to have only 3 feet. 

2 of these feet are small round hooves.  

But the most curious attribute of this creature is its 'middle' foot, which appear to have the same structure as a human snow boot.  

At first, I feared this creature to be the dreaded Manbearpig, 

but upon further research, that theory was thankfully debunked.

Here, for your knowledge and protection, are some

 examples of the Yahbut's tracks.

Now, my search for the mythical Yahbut must continue.  Should you spot similar tracks in your yard, beware.  Keep a watchful eye outside, especially at night.  Travel in groups.  Heaven

 knows what the dreaded Yahbut may do to any lone wanderers.  

  Keep a watchful eye, children, or you could be next!!!

Week 3, Deep Blue Nothing

So, what did we do so far this week, hmmmm???

Monday was already posted.  I don't remember if we cooked that night.  Oh wait, we did try to make this tofu Fritatta, but it didn't come out so hot.  Oh well.  I also sauteed some baby bok choy, and made some farrow, just so we have it.  And then, Heroes.

Tuesday, well, dropped of the BBB, and came back home.  Actually accomplished a few things on the computer, such as figuring out how to take one of these blogs and incorporate it with an existing website, so the url isn't a blogger url.  Very Handy!

FOOD:  for all you interested cooks out there, I posted the first recipe on the Vegan Exchange blog!  Its a damn good and easy thing to cook, so give it a shot!  

I may post my soup recipe on there as well.

I also finally uploaded pictures off of my camera.  I should have some Mexico pics on my facebook soon.  I may play with the layout of this blog a bit as well.

I also ended up watching Hitman, an action movie based on a videogame, but it looked like fun.  Plus, Timothy Olyphant is the star, and I like his acting.  It was not a bad movie, for what it was.  Enjoyable, and had a really hot Russian woman!  

Tuesday night, after picking up the BBB (reminder, that means Beautiful Broken Bride), we decided we should stop at Myers & Chang, one of our favorite restaurants (Imagine amazing Asian Fusion cooking in Tapas small plate form, with really cool friendly staff in a casual fun place with excellent music, and there you go).   One of our all time favorite chefs, Alison Hearn, formerly of Ten Tables, has been the Exec. Chef at M&C since they opened, but she's going back to Ten Tables in the new Cambridge location, so, we wanted one more fun night with her at M&C (one of the best things about this place is the kitchen is behind the bar, so you can watch them cook everything.  The other nice thing is its around the corner from O2 Yoga, so after class when you're starving, you get some yummy food!  They also serve plenty of Vegan and Vegetarian food.  Hell, they even have a special where you can buy a gift certificate for 2 people to take a yoga class and then have dinner at M&C - yeah, that was an idea they had inspired by Me and the BBB).  We had a fantastic dinner, and glad we went because it was Alison's last night there!  She'll be missed, but we know where to find her!

Went home, watched some TV, including Fringe and America's Midol, then Bed.  Done.

Wednesday was interesting.  

Dropped off the BBB at work, and then went to Flour for a bottomless cup of coffee and yummy pastries.  I had some time to kill, you see, because I had lunch plans in the area.  At 1130 I met the CFO of my xEmployer for lunch at the Channel Cafe.  He's a real cool guy, and I never got to say goodbye, so it was nice.  Plus I had a great grilled dill havarti and mushroom sammich.  Quite yummy.

After that, picked up the BBB at 1230, and off to the dentist in Cohasset.  It had been over a year since my last visit, but NO Cavities!!  Yay.

Stopped at Whole Foods to pick up a few things, then back home!

THEN, Band practice, which was pretty damn awesome!

Then home, ate some M&C leftovers, and watched, oh yes, so bad its good, Deep Blue Sea.  You know the one with the smart killer sharks.  Yeah, well, it was on, and stupidly fun.

Then I watched Lost.  Love Lost, but this season, which has been good, but not mind blowing, all i can think is GET TO SOME ANSWERS!!   Its all just leading us somewhere, but I'm getting impatient!!!!!!

Wednesday, Done.

Today, dropped off BBB late, El Starbucko's, then reading to my little 3rd grade buddy for an hour.  Saw some friends at the office, then headed home.  Ate some of the ok fritatta, made some calls, and now i'm here.  

thank you

the end

Week 3, Day 1

Here we go again!!!!

and again, CRAP, now i have to remember the last 3 days.  I thought remembering would be easier when I stopped smoking the wacky stuff, but....well.......

So, Friday, Week 2.  What was to be done?  CLEANING!!!  

Yes, it was time!  The house really needed more work, and so there I went.  Vacuuming like a madman with my Dyson Pethair Vacuum, which is phenom!  Loves it.

I cleaned the living room, hall, stairs, and dining room, which is no small task, especially when you haven't vacuumed in quite a few weeks and you have 6 cats!  

I did manage to squeeze in watching Hells Kitchen from Thursday night, which was quite enjoyable.  OOh yeah, and I ended up finally watching Grindhouse: Planet Terror.  A silly little zombie movie from Robert Rodriguez, from the double feature he did with Quentin Tarantino (Death Proof, which I enjoyed!).  It was pretty good, damn funny, totally silly, but it has the guy from Six Feet Under, the assistant mortician (I think his name was Rico) as a total badass, and Rose McGowan with only one leg!  Nice.  Plus, the end scene is an arial shot of the Tulum Ruins, right down the road from where I go in Mexico, and where I was just a few weeks ago.

Anyways, so I cleaned cleaned cleaned, put this new RugStayFriggenPut tape on the bottom of one of the rugs, and just did a number on the mess.  House looks much better!

Picked up the BBB at about 630, and off to Ten Tables, as usual.  Yet another fantastic dinner!  Now, I've become about 92% vegetarian, but not on Fridays, which are Ten Tables night!  There was a new sausage on the menu I hadn't tried, so I wanted that.  I had the steak last week, so Sean recommended I go with the Pork Chop, and since that's 2 dishes of swine, he said 'Hell, lets do Porkapalooza!'  So, I had Pork Rillet for my first, the Sausage over yummy creamy mustardy lentils, and finally, the excellent Pork Chop with 2 potato gratin and spicy broccolini!  Yummers.  And some nice stinky cheese for dessert!  Another fantastic meal.

Saturday was a nice calm day, didn't have to leave the house.  Had a nice roaring fire in the fireplace all day, did some laundry, a little cleaning, made smoothies (banana, soymilk, peanut butter, ice, and protein powder), ate leftovers, didn't really watch TV, just hung out.  

Saturday night we met our friend Heather, who manages and teaches at O2 Yoga, for dinner, since we hadn't seen her in a while.  We met for a nice early dinner at Tremont 647.  They have a 5 course dinner for $45 bucks, which ain't bad.  BBB did Vegan, I did vegetarian, and Heather did a bit of fish.  A good meal.  I probably would've been still hungry, but I also order the yummy cheesy tater tots and the momo's, which do have meat, but oh well.  Very yums!

When we got home, we watched Wanted, that movie about assassins with Angelina Jolie.  I actually thought it was pretty bad ass, though it did have some dumb stuff (The Loom of Destiny?  Lame).  I need to read the Graphic Novel, because that is apparently much better.

Sunday was another quiet day.  Laundry, leftovers, and lots of television.  I did watch the movie Vantage Point, which was ok.  Fun to watch, but way too overblown, the rewind thing was too repetitive, and the ending was unlikely based on the rest of the movie (like that bad guy would swerve, after all those other people he killed?  Please.)

OOOh, yeah, the BBB made me put on the grammy's for a little while.  I HATE THE GRAMMYS!  NO RELEVANCE TO REAL MUSIC!!!  But, as I posted to my facebook status, its nice to watch that stuff every once in a while, just to BE REMINDED THAT I'M RIGHT!  So much Crap.  I am sorry I missed M.I.A.  but that was not my favorite track from her anyways.

So, today.  

dropped the BBB off, and headed to Cambridge to check out the New TEN TABLES CAMBRIDGE!  Its looking fantastic in there.  Not opening for another 2 weeks I guess, but they'll be ready.  Hung out with Mike C the Sous Chef, who gave me the tour and we just hung out and chatted.  Co-Owners Krista Kranyak and David Punch, chef extraordinaire showed up, and I hung with them for a bit.  KK headed out, and there was a million things for them to do, so I didn't want to be in the way (though I was there about 3 hours).  Dave had to pick up his broken car, and Mike was gonna drive him, but I wanted to help, so I gave him a lift to Medford.  We were both starving on the way, so we stopped at Dave's Fresh Pasta in Davis Square, which I miss terribly.  Dave's Fresh Pasta is amazing, has great sammichs, cheeze, ravioli, and lots of fancy foods, and free samples (I love the basket of hot peppers by the register - just take one and warm your belly!).  We both had Muffalata sammiches, which rocked.  Then I drove him the rest of the way and dropped him off.

Back to home, stopped at CVS to pick something up, Blanchards for beer (6pack of Blue Moon spring seasonal, which is eh, and a 6 of Harpoon Celtic, which used to be called Hibernian - i like that name better), and a losing scratch ticket.  HOME

Got some unemployment stuff in the mail, so signed up for the web stuff and direct deposit, called a potential band photographer, and here i am.  Not much accomplished, but I'm still having fun

Now, its off to pick up the BBB.  Dinner will probably be leftover soup RECIPE COMING SOON, but who knows.  And Heroes is on tonight!  YEYYYEAAAHHH!!!!

lates

Week 2, Day 4 "Dishes are Done, Man!"

For those of you not on Facebook, or missed that Status update, can you name the movie that quote is from?? (I thought it was Dishes are Done, Dude, but was corrected)

....another day older and deeper in debt.  HAH!

So, what have I been up to?

Finishing yesterday, I DID manage to unload and reload the dishwasher, but still had many pans that can't go in the dishwasher.  I DID manage to watch Fringe, which was pretty good.  I THEN went to pick up the BBB, and to Acupuncture at our crazy Asian doctor's new office.  Love the guy.  When we left, I said goodbye, he said "Hello!  Have a good week!"  Love him.

Then home - had to rush in and out because I had to go to Band Practice.  Of course, rushing doesn't happen when you have a BBB.  The poor thing.  Love her to death.  She hates this right now, cuz she can't do anything.  I mean, she just can't CARRY anything, because she has to walk with crutches and put NO weight on the broken foot.  So, she can't just go get a drink and bring it to the living room, unless she seals it in a travel mug and carries it in a plastic bag!  poor thing!  SO, I got her dinner, tea, PJ's, set her up on the couch, and out I went!

Practice was good.  First time we've played in a month!  Didn't get home until about 11pm.

Watched LOST, which was, well, good enough, but not a lot happened, really.  Just plodded along.  Started to watch Lie to Me, and passed the hell out in the chair.  

THURSDAY - 

slept in a LOT!  The BBB decided, due to a tad bit of oversleeping, to work from home today!  Which means I did not have to drive!  and it was FREAKING FREEZING, LIKE 12 DEGREES TODAY!!!  I did build her a fire in the morning (Barely, since i didn't get outta bed till 11am) and kept the fire going all day!  It's still burning now, at 2 am!

So, what the hell did I do today.  I'm actually struggling to remember.  OK

Made coffee in my french press.  I am trying out Trader Joe's Soy creamer, and I'll tell you, it works.  Unlike putting S0ymilk in your coffee, this ish is just like HalfnHalf.  Loves it!

at probably noon, I sat down with my coffee and watched Lie to Me.  It was pretty good.  I'm enjoying the show, and I think Tim Roth is spectacular in it.  

After that, well, I didn't want to waste the day watching TV, and the BBB was working, so that wouldn't work either.  

So, I cleaned all the dishes that needed cleaning.

Oh, and I made lunch, which was a smoothie of ice, banana, peanut butter, protein powder, and soy milk.  Really damn good!

Umm, what else did I do.  

continuous runs out to get firewood and take out the trash.

finally put the Tuscan White Bean soup through the Blender.  Nice.

Took all the root vegetables we had and..well....DIGRESSION!

If you live in Boston, and like organic produce, you must check out Boston Organics

Every other week (or every week if you want), Boston Organics delivers a bin of produce to my front step.  ANDDDDDD, its delivered by bicycle!  

This is a fantastic service, and another fine point of living in the city.  Don't waste gas and pollute going to the store, and they don't add pollution by delivering on a bike!

The boxes come in different sizes, and you choose a percentage of fruit versus veggies.  You also make lists of stuff you never want, and substitutions.  And you can order extra stuff to come with it whenever you want, like bread, coffee, chocolate, cookies, and tons more.

And, everything is ORGANIC!  They also try to keep it as local as possible, but that is difficult to do.  

The newest box is called the DOGMA box, and this box is entirely local.  The demand is exceeding the supply, so there are restrictions, like no NO lists.  So, its winter in New England, yr getting a lot of root vegetables and apples.  But hey, they're good too!   

Try it out!

END DIGRESSION

So, I had a bunch of carrots, parsnips, and sweet potatoes lying around, and I needed to use them.  MMMMM, roasted root veggies.  Chopped em all up, and mixed em together in 2 different bowls.

One bowl, I drizzled olive oil, and added Kosher salt, a bit of thyme, and a bunch of fresh rosemary.

The other bowl, I grated 2 tablespoons of fresh ginger (FRESH GINGER SUCKS TO GRATE!!!!!  HATE IT HATE IT HATE IT), added 1/4 cup Maple syrup, 1/3 cup olive oil, kosher salt, cinnamon, allspice, and mixed it all together.

Laid each one out in its own cookie sheet, and roasted at 350 for about 45 minutes, stirring half way through.  

And, I must say, they both came out pretty friggen good!  

I also sauteed some Kale in olive oil, lotsa garlic, and some lemon juice.  Also pretty good.

AND NOW,  A BUNCH MORE DISHES TO CLEAN!  Which I did, because i'm trying to be a good house husband so i don't have to go back to work!!!!  Hence, its 2 am!

didn't really watch anymore TV, but did turn on the computer and rip a bunch of CD's to iTunes.  I'm reburning my entire collection in the biggest file size possible.  This is taking time.  I have GOT to set up that new laptop to speed the process.

I also finally cleaned up the cat's waterfountain that has been sitting in the bathroom sink for a few days.  CAT OWNERS, YOU NEED THIS PRODUCT!!!!   Its a perpetual waterfall that circulates and filters the water for the cats, and they LOVE it.  Plus, you only need to refill it once a week or so, and it has a little water tank to keep it full longer.  It really kicks ass.

I WAS going to watch Hells Kitchen, but while I was busy cooking away, the BBB started it without me.  Sigh.  and now its 22o am, too late to watch it!  I guess there's always tomorrow!

COMMENTS

I forgot to mention

If you are actually reading this blog, and haven't yet, PLEASE:

LEAVE A COMMENT!

WHY??  Just because I'm curious as to who is actually reading this.  That is pretty much it.

Leave whatever you like.  Say Hi.  Express your love or hatred of me.  Suggest things I should write about, or do with my spare time.  Whatever you want.  

Thanks

Week 2, Day 3

So, Tuesday tuesday tuesday...

what the hell did I do on Tuesday?  

Well, I guess we have to start by finishing up Monday.  We went to that Veggie Planet special Monday night dinner in Cambridge (I guess the first Monday of the month is always a special prixe fix dinner there), and it was entirely Vegan.  The food was not bad.  I've had and made better, but overall I was happy.  Good soup, yummy aoli on the salad, entree was ok, desserts were phenom.  We got there just past 7 because we didn't leave early enough, I stupidly didn't use the GPS (I got us 9/10ths of the way there, but screwed up the last block, damn one ways!), and there was a problem with the gate at the parking lot.  But we got it.  This is the type of dinner that they seat you with other people you don't know.  Shudder.  BUT, it turned out we sat with an excellent couple, Lora and Eric.  We had a lot in common with them.....music.......good beer........bad eyesight, and we had a lot of fun.  Then we came home, had a fire, watched some TV.  The poor BBB accidentally knocked over a glass with some ginger ale in it, and wouldn't you know, right on the Modem.  NO INTERNET.  Oh well.  TV, Fire, Bed, Monday - Done.

So, Tuesday tuesday tuesday.....

What the hell did I do on Tuesday?

Ah yes, left a bit late as usual.  Had a rough commute, cuz we were both a bit grumpy.  Ladies, don't take offense to this, but you gotta understand something.  Men will always defend themselves.  It amazes me that when a woman is grumpy, and she snaps at the man, and he defends himself, HE is accused of being the grumpy one.  KILLS ME!

DIGRESSION!

Dropped off the BBB, El Starbucko's, stopped by the Xoffice again to visit friends, then called the evil Comcast to find out if their stupid South Boston location was open and what the address was.  Amazing, it was.  Got the address - NO PARKING - double parked - HATE DOING THAT - and a nice big sign on the door - ALL OUT OF MODEMS!!!!!

awesome.

Had to drive past my house to go to Roslindale, but luckily, NEW MODEM!

Went home (was going to run a few other errands, but F that), and installed Modem.  Took forever to work, and finally had to reinstall Comcast for whatever reason (didn't have to do that with the last new modem that wouldn't work because someone spilled someI MEAN just stopped working for some reason).  GREAT!

So, then, what else.  

AH YES - my first attempt at filing for UNEMPLOYMENT!!!!

The great beast!  The government teat that so many of us are currently forced to suckle.  

Well, I called about 9 times, waiting to use that secret prompt someone told me about (thanks Blev!) (shhh, i won't post it, but i'll tell you it works.  fb me if you wanna know).  But NOOOOOO!  After entering in my GPS tracking chip id government slave number - oop, i meant Social Security number - it told me to call back Wednesday.  That poor office must be flooded like a gravy boat explosion (IT'SA FLOODIN' LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE - Brak).  So, with that done, and I did not watch TV, what the hell else did I do? At a Trader Joes tomato pesto flatbread which was mediocre, and I guess that is pretty much it.  OH YEAH, IT WAS SNOWING, so I shoveled a lot.  This is the revenge you all wished upon me while i was in Mexico updating my facebook status!  

Anyways, picked up the BBB, waited.......and went home.  She called me earlier in the day and asked me to soak some dried cannellini beans so we could make Tuscan White Bean and Rosemary soup, a favorite of ours.  So, we spent the evening chopping onions, garlic (recipe calls for 3 cloves, we were doubling the recipe, so we put in 12!  THATS RIGHT, 12!), and cooking.  I'm gonna post the recipe to the O2 Vegan Exchange soon, but its pretty damn easy to make.  The only thing I haven't done is put it through the blender, cuz hot soup and a blender generally = BIG MESS!  The soup came out good, and I made salad dressing so we could have a salad with it.  Not bad, too salty, but good.  Sat in front of the fire, no TV, and ate some soup and salad.  That's that.

TODAY is Wednesday, and I don't have a ton to show for it!

Drove in the BBB, kept a smile on my face the whole time, cuz i don't wanna be a grump (hate mornings and other drivers, she hates that i beep at people, but i was only beeping cuz the light was green), El Starbucko's, Xoffice, then went to CVS - the BBB's shower seat needed to be returned cuz she found a much better one online which we bought last weekend at, coincidentally with the BBB, bed bath and beyond.  At least this one can be a table and is made of wood), returned the seat, went to the convenience store to get money and buy a $10 scratch ticket in hopes of grand winnings - WON $20! Not bad, now i get my money back and another chance at LOSING!  Came home, and now, its time for UNEMPLOYMENT, TAKE 2!!!!!!!

UNEMPLOYMENT, TAKE 2!!!!! 2!!!!!! 2!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i felt the need for a dramatic echo)

So, its the day they said to call, and let me tell you, THANK GOD FOR CORDLESS PHONES THAT HAVE SPEAKER PHONE CAPABILITY!!!  BEST THING EVER!

 Sat at this damn old machine waiting for it to work (I really need to set up that laptop!), and had speaker phone going and games on my iTouch.  

After entering in my number of the beast secret government way of tracking insurgents and revolutionaries I MEAN social security number (hey, if a joke works once, why not twice.  IT DID SO WORK!  SHUT UP!), I actually got to enter my date of birth!  OOH, GOOD SIGN.

AND THEN, NEW PROMPTS!!!!

I used the secret prompt - ok, its not a secret, its just a prompt for if you worked a certain type of job that I did not work, but it gets you to an agent faster and they don't know what prompts you pressed, so I tried it, AND GOT THROUGH IN UNDER 30 MINUTES!!!!   amazing!

Debbie was a lovely woman, and we bonded.  We actually had a good conversation, and she got me all set up.  THATS RIGHT, SUCCESS!!  I CAN NOW COLLECT as soon as it processes.   Heaven knows how long that will take!

And here I am!  Plans for the rest of the day:

1. empty dishwasher and reload, thus cleaning up after last nights cooking

2. maybe watch Fringe, since I didn't last night

3. possibly play FIELD RUNNER, a most addicting game for the iPod Touch that just got an update

4. Maybe clean some of the boxes of stuff from my office up, or at least move them

5. pick up the BBB and go to Acupuncture

6. Band Practice!  Its been like a month!  Can't wait!!!!

7. Come home, eat, and watch Lost, and maybe more, and then go to bed!  

Speaking of eating, I need some Lunch!

gotta go

bye

Week 2, Day 1

HAPPY MONDAY, SUCKERS!!!!!!

HOWS WORK?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

relatively uneventful day today - 

slept a bit late, the BBB stayed home too because she had that doctors appt rescheduled for today at 1130.

So, drove her there, went to the JP licks in Chestnut Hill for coffee (the only JP licks I've been to that makes weak coffee, so sad),

Ran into a friend as I was walking in to the medical center and she was walking out.  Too funny.

Went to Harvest CoOp to get a few more things we needed for another recipe.

Home now.

Set up the Vegan Blog

At some of the yummy potato thing we made Saturday

and have now completely caught up with this blog.  What a waste of a beautiful day!!!!!

its now 413.  tonight we go to Veggie Planet in Cambridge (life with a Vegan) to try them out on their special Monday night Dinners ($28 per person, not bad).  Tonight's all Vegan menu is:

• Aperitif: Raspberry Rosemary Soda or Prosecco
• Soup: Jerusalem Artichoke with Garlic Croutons and Basil Olive Oil
• Salad: Asparagus and Baby Lettuces with Vanilla Lavender Aioli
• Entree: Polenta cakes with Chiles, black beans and mole negro
• Intermezzo: Champagne and Grapefruit Sorbets
• Dessert: Panna Cotta with Muscat sauce and Strawberry Balsamic Syrup

Sounds pretty damn good, actually.  So, I'll let you know.

Now, I'm off to do litter boxes again, and clean something!

I still have to file for unemployment, create at least 2 more blogs, clean more, call a bunch of people, and set up my new laptop.

Damn, I'm busy!!!!!!!

Week 1, Day 4 and 5 and 6 and 7

Holy Crap, I hate catching up.  Except that I love this.  

I always thought about having a blog, but didn't think it'd be all that entertaining, but as I write and just let myself DIGRESS however the hell I feel like, well, it seems to work.  I guess.

Anyways, now we're on Thursday.  I actually took notes on my iPod touch for you guys on this day.  Why?  well, you'll see.

We woke up late Thursday (so typical of us), and I had to get the BBB to work.  Also, there was a....thing that my Xemployer set up for everyone in this area who got laid off.  They extended the EAP benefits longer for us (if you need a hug, the EAP will give you one), hired a company and gave each of us a 4 hour career planning session, and both of these companies were doing an introduction seminar.  It was also a nice way for us to say goodbye to people we didn't get to say goodbye too.  This was at the Radisson downtown, and was starting at like 930 i guess.  

But, as usual, we were LATE!!!!!  

So, I dropped off the BBB at a bit before 10 am, hit El Starbucko's (my usual Starbucks, which I love, employs 90% Spanish women.  They are wonderful, and very good to me,

 but I just can't help but call it El Starbucko's!) and got my 4 shot 3 pump vanilla latte on my Starbucks Gold Card (which I got for free, cuz i'm insane and spend money at Starbucks), and went on my way.  I got to the session a bit late, and I knew I had to leave early too, but it started late.  There was about 35 people there (less that I had expected, though I wasn't surprised), and the EAP lady was spouting her crap.  

And that brings me to my notes, which I will now transcribe for you:

• Woah.  This must be the EAP person.  She's talking about the stages to acceptance!  Denial bargaining acceptance anger!  This is hilarious.
• Only goof off for a couple of days???  but I have months planned for that!  OK, I'll admit it, I'm one of the lucky few in a position that I may be able to do that, but still...
• She's talking about nutrition now.  Do people really get THIS Fucked up from job loss?
• There's about 35 people here.  Someone brought up relief.  Everybody laughed.  I think most of us are relieved.
• Don't blame the company or ourselves.  CHECK!  I blame the company for so many things, but this isn't their fault.  I actually really loved that place for a lot of reasons.  6 jobs in 5 years no dress code lots of fun people it was like college plus I got away with my fair share of slacking!  Now, I worked really hard, don't get me misinterpret.  I had some damn hard jobs and I WORKED!  But, over time, I learned to balance working my ass off with absolute slack!
• Ut, she just said our job search was a mountain and we can't climb it with one step but ooooohhh someone carved stairs!!  VOMIT  Does this work for people???
• What she's saying is the importance of the journey.  Now, she's a pile of cheese, but the lesson is important.  Life is a journey and thats where we learn and grow.  Where you end up in unimportant.  
• Someone just brought up being numb.  Ooh, its queen negative.   Moving on.
• Ron mentioned being past anger.  That made me crack up.  Ron?  Love you, but when have you ever been past anger?
• I love Jen Grindl!  We just keep giving each other that pompous 'I'm enlightened and this woman is full of shit' smile.  Glad she's here.  Her silent giggles keep me going through crap like this.
• Is it fucking worth it YES IT IS

There.  That was it.  Fun, eh?  Then I had a few minutes to talk to people and collect email addresses, and I had to be off.  See, each week I read to this 3rd grader on my lunch break!  Its a program called Everybody Wins.  For 45 minutes a week, we read as much as we can.  It helps the kids develop reading skills.  We're currently reading about Vermicious Knids.  name that book.

Then, stopped by the office since I missed my morning visit.  Saw a few friends I hadn't seen yet.  

Off to Newbury Street.  

Its time for the story of my boots:

Sometime in the fall of 2006, I finally got this pair of John Fluevog boots that I had always

 wanted.  Aren't they excellent?  Yes, they are.  So, after 2 winters, all of the stitching in the front had come apart.  So, in about April of 2008, I brought them back for repairs (they have

 some sort of guarantee).  I picked them up later that month, and put them in the closet until winter came.  So, sometime in December 2008, as I'm wearing them, I notice my back hurts.  I also notice that one of the boots feels taller than the other.  I look at the soles, and one is way more worn down than the other.  I've never done that to shoes before.  I look a bit closer, and things look weird.  Strange markings, things like that.  Then I notice the size is on the inside of the tongue.  The boots I bought are size 10 1/2, as was the right boot.  The left boot, on the other hand (not foot, though, yes, foot) was only a size 10!  yup, they gave me someone else's boot!  And it had been 8 months before I noticed!  DAMMIT!!!  So, I had been meaning to do something, and now...well, now I have the time!!!  I had called on Wednesday and spoke to the manager, and she thought it was bizarre, and promised some sort of solution by Thursday when I came in.  So, we talked and laughed about it for a while, and she brought me out a new pair.  They went back to their original manufacturer since the new one they had been using wasn't as good (hence the stitching falling apart in my boots).  So, these new boots should actually last me.  I got to keep the old ones in case the other poor soul with my boot happens to come in, and got a brand new pair at a HUGE discount.  SUCCESS!!!

So, that made the day worth it.  Especially since, when I got to back bay, I was starving, and decided to go to California Pizza Kitchen in the Pru mall.  I never go to malls, and thought as I was wading through the muck and mire that is the general populace of mall shoppers, shit, how do I even know if CPK is still there?  And, of course, when I got there, it was temporarily close for remodeling!  DAMMIT!  In hunger desperation, I stupidly went to Legal Sea Foods.  Here's my notes from that:

• Stuck at Legals.  Clam Chowder n Crispy fish sammich
• Good service so far.  Drinking a Julius Echter.  He did the bottle roll, but didn't leave enough beer to really catch the sediment.  oh well.
• Chowder is ok.  good thickness, but needs bacon and more clams.  Bland at first, but got better.  
• Roll with Cabot foil wrapped butter.  a bit low class.
• Wow, organic ketchup!
• Listening to two woman probably in their forties cluelessly talking about facebook.  "I don't lke people to be able to see what I look at and that I'm online"
• Sammich HUGE, greasy, tall, too greasy, very bland, thank god for tartar n lemon n vinegar.
• Full now.  Waiter was excited about my beer choice.  Points for him.
• Never eat Legals again!!!

So, now that that's over, I have to pick up the BBB for a doctors appointment to look at the broken foot.  I'm so early, I stop by my Xoffice to see more friends, cuz why not.

Then, to her office.  Of course, she's in the middle of stuff and I wait, and wait, and wait.

Needless to say, we drive to the doctors very late and they are closed.  So, time to go home.  

I don't remember what is for dinner, oh well.  But there's the season premier of Hells Kitchen is on tonight.  Love it.  Watched a bunch of other stuff too, Flight of the Conchords, a bad movie, etc.

DAY 5

TGIF!!!  NOT FOR ME!! Everyday is Friday.  Actually, everyday is Saturday, suckas!!!!!!

This day is much easier to document.  And I'm sure you're getting tired of reading!  I do appreciate your interest, however.  So, I'll try to list this day out for you!

• Drive BBB to work
• El Starbucko's
• Stop by Xoffice and see peeps.  Every time I see someone else, which is nice
• Drive an hour to my Father's house in Ashland
• Hang out with him, have lunch, secretly hope he'll give me money (to no avail)
• Get my LAPTOP!!!  Yes, my Father, who has used Mac computers since the beginning, was talking about getting a new MacBook Pro since his was 2 years old and he uses it lots for work.  I have a 9 year old G4, so I said PLEASE DO, and give me your old one.  SUCCESS!!!  I now have a 2 year old MacBook Pro.  Psyched!!!!!!!!!!
• Go to the Mall, so I can return a pair of way too expensive way too fancy boots that I bought in leu of my Fluevogs, and then ended up hating (yes, Xcoworkers, the Prada's are GONE).  Returned to Nordstroms no questions asked, cuz they love me there!
• Joined my dad in the Mac Store.  He was having some computer issues, and needed to buy a few things.  Got all my questions answered about how to move everything from my G4 to my MacBook.  Now I just need to find the time.
• Back to my Dad's, got the car, stopped at the Citizens bank near his house to deposit my severance check that came in the mail on Thursday, and the $500 in gift checks from my 5 year anniversary at my Xemployer.  Yay, I have money!
• Drove back to Boston, to the BBB's office.  Of course she was busy, and I waited....and waited... and waited......
• Finally left, and went straight to Ten Tables!!!  Yes, its Friday, which is Ten Tables night.  Had a nice bottle of Beajoulais, a charcuterie plate of Chicken Liver Pate and Pork Rillet with homemade mustard, pickled shallots onions and cauliflower, and apricot compote, Then a Moroccan spiced swordfish, then a yummy steak with Salsa verde and rosemary spiced polenta cakes.  YUM.  Finished with a cup of coffee and Ginger cake.  
• Home.  Bed.  Friday, DONE (watch the F word and you'll understand the whole 'Friday, Done' thing

Weekend:

• Saturday, sleep in a bit.  
• Drive to Needham, Acupuncture
• Trader Joes in Needham, cuz we has need
• Bed Bath and Beyond, cuz the BBB needs a shower seat
• Home, make fire, eat frozen TJ's pizza
• Pick up Patrik, drive to friggen Groton Ma (didn't realize there WAS a Groton Ma) to see Scott perform a few songs with an old college friend.  Pretty good show.  They played M by the Cure, Dancing Barefoot by Patti Smith, and (!) Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benetar.  Oodles of fun
• Dropped them both off, Home, Bed.  Saturday, DONE

• Sunday, sleep in a bit.
• Start getting laundry together and doing it
• Coffee in my french press with TJ's Soy creamer (actually good)!
• Start cooking and cleaning!  Kitchen needs a sprucing, and we've got things to make.  You see, I volunteered to pick up my friends Mimi and Steven (who own O2 Yoga) and their 2 kids from the airport as they end their 6 week Mexico trip (jerks) and drive them to Rye, New Hampshire where they live.  So, BBB and I decided it would be nice to cook them dinner, since they've been gone so long.  She's also a vegan, as are the kids I guess (at least Veg), and we had a great recipe in mind.  From the book Vegan with a Vengance (from the Post Punk Kitchen), its a casserole I guess, Maple Mustard Potatoes, but basically its Potatoes, Onions, and Green Beans with Garlic, Dijon Mustard, Maple Syrup, Olive Oil, and Tamari.  So easy, and So yummy.  We've made it from a side dish to a main course by adding Tofurkey Sweet Italian Sausage, which are really good in things!  We also made Vegan raspberry chocolate cookies from the same book (or perhaps their other book, the Veganomicon).  Made 2 things of the casserole, cuz we wanted one for us (in fact, I'm eating it right now, so yummy!).  I'm going to post the recipe at the blog I created for Mimi, the O2 Yoga Vegan Exchange!
• So, cooking, and cleaning up while cooking.  And eating while cooking!  
• Left the house at 6pm, drove to Logan.  Things were clusterf*cked, but I won't go into detail.  
• Picked up the family, and began the trip to Rye, about an hour.  Fun drive.
• Got to their amazing house, which I'll tell you about some other time
• Joined by 3 of their friends, and everyone LOVED the casserole.  And the cookies.  We also brought salad fixins (I made the salad dressing myself - Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Basil, and fresh minced Garlic with salt n pepper), a bottle of Allagash Interlude (which is amazing, and better be at $20 a bottle), a bottle of Unibrou's Trader Joes special anniversary ale, and a bottle of Cisco's Celebration Libation that I've been aging since my wedding!
• Fun was had by all.
• I left at about 1030, drove all the way back home, got here about midnight
• watched some bad TV, Bed, Weekend DONE

WEEK 1, DAY 3 catching up

Well, I fell so far behind that I didn't even realize where I left off!!!!   And now I have to remember everything that happened last week????  Crap!

Ok, well, Wednesday (Day 3)  was cleaning day, and boy did I clean.  The sad part it, I was only able to clean my kitchen.  The thing was a friggen STY!!!  Hadn't been moped in god knows how long, dishes in the sink, etc etc.  Not to mention that it was a horrible day outside!  Snowy for a while, and I shoveled twice. Then, it turned to rain, whilst I was on the damn road going to pick up Hobbles (my new nickname for my beautiful broken bride) at work.  It started to pour, which meant flooding because of all the snow, and then lots more ice.  NICE.  I laid down a bunch of salt on the front steps before I left, and a bag of Cat Litter all over the front walk and side walk so that she wouldn't slip.  

In case you're wondering, I use Worlds Best Cat Litter.  It is all natural, made simply from corn!  Why do I bother, do you ask?  You did ask that, I fucking heard you!  And why am I sharing this information?  I guess I can use this blog in part to talk about the ways that I refuse to give money to the big corporations who are poisoning us all with chemicals every day.  There, thats the short answer.  I'm sure it will get longer in other posts.  So, I don't want to breath in all that crap from the fresh steps and things like that.  Its nasty chemical smoke everytime you fill a box.  No thanks.  This stuff is simply dried up corn, looks like sand, and works wonders in my Litter Robot!  

You don't know about the Litter Robot??????!!!!!  Who ever thought a cat box could kick ass?  Well, this is the Chuck Norris of Cat Boxes, my friends.  Watch the demonstration video, and you'll understand!  IF I STILL HAD A JOB, I'd be buying a few more of these bad boys!  

I digress.  Have you noticed my habit of doing that?  well, get used to it.  I also have something against using capital letters, but only about 58% of the time.  Deal.

So, Wednesday was horrible crap weather!  So bad in fact, that the boys in the band let me know that practice was off for the night, and they don't even leave the house for it!    Oh, and if you've not listened to my band yet, Burnt Fur, then I am very upset with you!  GO LISTEN TO BURNT FUR RIGHT NOW!!!  Got myspace?  We're on it!  Got Facebook??  We're on it!  Got iTunes?  Yeah, we're there too!  Go listen.  

Go on.....

I'll wait.....

Good, eh?  I hope you enjoyed it!  I'll let you know when we're playing a show, and you can come out.  Please?  I mean, its the closest thing I have to a job at this point....

DIGRESSED AGAIN

So, Wednesday night, after picking up the BBB (Beautiful Broken Bride), we decided to grab food at Flour Bakery and Cafe over in Fort Point, near her office, even nearer to my offiOH WAIT I don't have an office anymore!  Anyways, the BBB is a Vegan now, and I've cut back severely on my meat intake (haven't fully given it up,  just mostly), and she's been chatting with the owner of Flour online about Vegan stuff.  They already make tons of good Vegan stuff!  BBB just suggested better labeling.  Anyways, I ran in to grab us some quick food to bring home, because we really hadn't been shopping, and all our leftovers from before the Mexico trip were either eaten or gone bad.  So, I picked up:

• 2 quarts of soup - they usually have one vegan and one non vegan soup, but of course tonight they had 2, so which one to get?  Sweet Potato with Cardamom, or a Spicy Carrot soup.  Got em both.  Figured the BBB would want the Sweet Potato, but funny enough, we both liked the Carrot better.  Spicy and damn good
• Hummus Sammich!  - Always a winner
• Some crazy dinner salad with Shaved Fennel, Tangerines, greens, and more.

That's pretty much it for Wednesday.  Came home, oooh yeah, of course, Wednesday night is the magical night of one of the best shows ever on television..........Rock of Love!  WRONG!  I hate that show.  I'm talking about LOST!  So happy its back!  If you don't watch Lost well then you're a damn fool with damn fool notions!  

So, we ate our food, watched some more Gordon Ramsey shows (The F Word on BBC America is the best), as he is the Chuck Norris of the food world, and then enjoyed a great episode of Lost.

There, Wednesday, DONE

holy crap am I busy

Will someone please tell me how it is that I've been more busy last week than I have in a while, and I don't have A JOB to get in my way?????

I can't believe people are actually reading this thing.  I hope you are actually getting a kick out of it (whatever that means!)!

I'll soon post up a subscription element to this blog, so you can be notified by email whenever a new post is up! 

And now, Catch up time!