Stand Tall

I knew that being tall had advantages.  For example, I believe that the tallest presidential candidate in the last number of presidential elections has won the office each time.  People seem to associate being tall with being able to do a better job.

When I applied for my current job, I made a point of wearing high heels to the interview.  Keep in mind that I am 5'11" without any heels whatsoever.  Adding 3-4 inches makes me taller than most men.  I have no idea how tall my competition is, but he must have been shorter than 6'2-6'3".

While reading the June 2012 issue of Whole Living magazine, I noticed a snippet regarding being tall.  "Research has shown that taller people are more likely to get promotions."  AMEN!

It did also note that "vertically challenged folks who feel powerful will believe that they are taller than they are - as will the people around them."

As the article pointed out, this is "another reminder to think tall when you're feeling small."

I am just happy that I don't have to think tall.  No offense to my vertically challenged friends.

I do have to say "thank you" to my vertically challenged friends for enjoying the 6" wedge shoes.  Because of you, they are making the inseam of jeans longer.  I almost don't have to buy the tall version of pants anymore!

How's the Food by You, Part II

I had lunch with a friend today.  She is a former student who is heading to Charlotte soon to work with Teach For America.  We had a great conversation about the foods we would miss if we left Buffalo - and the foods she will miss.

I told her that Charlotte has horrible pizza and wings.  She was not happy about that.  I told her things may have changed since I last tried pizza in Charlotte, but I doubted it. 

People have a hard time believing that Buffalo has some damn good foods.  Buffalo is a very diverse place.  We have all sorts of ethnic restaurants and all sorts of really, really good restaurants.  I often say to people that if a restaurant is bad in Buffalo, it won't be open long because people will just go to a better restaurant which won't be far away.

What foods would I miss if I left Buffalo:

• Pizza and wings absolutely.  No one does either the way we do.  It's a shame.
• Sahlen's hot dogs.  I don't eat hot dogs that often, but when I do it has to be a good one.  Sahlen's are the best.
• Beef on weck.  I could make my own damn weck roll and could cook my own beef, but it wouldn't be the same.
• Frank's hot sauce.  I think I can get this other places, but I am not entirely sure.  And I would have to take the big ass bottle with me when I left.

This isn't a huge list, but it is Buffalo.  Buffalo has many other unique items, but I could live without them.  For example, I prefer fun mustards made locally that I purchase at art and craft shows.  Weber's doesn't do it for me.  I've just made a few enemies with that comment, but if your mustard glows in the dark, you should question it.

What favorite Buffalo foods would you miss, or do you miss?  What are some of your favorite foods in your area?

How's the Food by You?

That is a question that was asked in today's Parade Magazine.  The food by me is damn good. 

Other questions noted in the article with my responses:

• Who's the best cook in your family?

I am.  I know that sounds arrogant, but honestly, I am the best cook in the family.  Most people will probably say "my mother."  My mother is a horrible cook which is why I am the best.  Necessity is the mother of invention.

• Which supermarket aisle do you spend the most time in?

That depends.  Most of the time it's produce.  Sometimes it's seafood.  Sometimes cosmetics and toiletries.  Sometimes cleaning.  Sometimes dog food.  I usually stick to the perimeter of the store unless I need toiletries, cosmetics, cleaning supplies or pet food.

• Which famous chef would you like to whip up dinner for you?

Cat Cora.  I admire her a great deal as the first, and I believe only, female iron chef.  From what I've read about her, she seems pretty down to Earth.  She also does some amazing things in the kitchen, it seems.

• How would you rate your family's table manners?

That depends.  If we are expected to have them - holidays, fancy restaurant - we do.  If not, there are no rules!  (It's not as bad as that.  We do have table manners.)

• When you're dieting, are you most likely to cheat with chips, candy or alcohol?

First of all, I never consider alcohol cheating.  Red wine is a perfectly acceptable "diet" beverage.  If I cheat, chips are the way to go.  I am trying not to eat chips since I was told I have high cholesterol and need to get it in check, but chips all the way.

Wee, Wee, Wee, All the Way home

After our outside painting project this summer, 'wee' has emerged as my new favorite word.  After visiting Ireland this past spring break, I've realize that it is used by everyone - young, old, man woman, children, pets (maybe not pets).  In fact, the word is used in the names of things.  Examples:

Wee Cottage.  I love it!

A close up, in case you didn't catch the picture above.

We didn't get to go in.  I took this picture from the bus.

This has nothing to do with "wee," but Belfast, Ireland is where the Titanic was built.  They are quite proud of that.  This is a Thai restaurant.  I didn't get to eat here because it wasn't open, but I got the picture.  Damn clever wee folks.  (I don't know if they are wee folks.  It just sounded good.)

My husband still won't use the word. It's not manly enough, I don't think.

The House Is Coming Along

A few months ago, Jamie, my brother and I started some work on the interior of our house.  It was sorely needed. 

The first thing we did was revamp our back room. It went from cluttered catch-all to half-bathroom with organized storage and a window seat/storage.

Our half bathroom.  My favorite room. 

We also added custom-built and custom-designed storage.  Thank you, Everett!

This room is so wee, that it's tough to get a good picture.  We added a nook for the freezer with storage above (to the right).  The cabinets to the left were made by my brother Everett.  Walls and floor were painted.

I have always wanted a window seat.  This is more for looks than functionality, but who cares!  I used fabric that I brought back from Africa.  It's a nice little nook.

A bit dark, but you can see the huge window, cabinets to the right, closet to the left, cool fabric on the seat.

A better picture with the cabinets visible.

The kitchen is our favorite room because Jamie and I both love to cook.  It was, however, not as functional as we would like.  I have always liked yellow kitchens so we painted the walls.  We were also told that we should either redo the floors with hardwood or ceramic tile.  I didn't want to pay for tile.  Jamie and I installed the bamboo floors ourselves.  I couldn't use my hands for a day.  Damn hard work.  I think for a living; I don't install floors.  Thinking doesn't hurt.

Maggie, the St. Bernard, says "get the ..... out of my kitchen and stay away from my Pedigree kibble."  Notice the yellow walls, bamboo floors, cutting board with new cabinet and exposed beam original to the house (to the right).  Also notice the new closet in the back room (visible on the right).

We had this annoying dishwasher/nook that made not one damn bit of sense.  I made Jamie rip out this stupid shelving unit that used to be here so that we could "install" a nook for eating.  This way if folks come to visit and we are cooking, they may sit and nibble or drink wine.  Cozy.

My apron collection is to the right; new table/chair combo is where the dishwasher/cutting board/stupid shelf was. 

Maggie is bored with you.  Please notice the exposed beam to the right, right next to the new spice cabinet build by Everett.  He also did our new cutting board visible in front of our knives.  Notice the bamboo floor and yellow walls.  Delicious!

A better view of the exposed beam, new spice cabinet and cutting board.  We moved the cabinets beneath around a bit to make room for the dishwasher (not in picture) that would be to the right of the sink.

Make fun of my veggie people if you will (on shelves to the left), but I love the little buggers!  The yellow and white make this room pop.

My plan was to paint the laundry room an obnoxious color, but we thought it would take two gallons of paint to paint the kitchen.  It did not.  That's why the laundry room is also yellow.  Hey, we won't waste expensive paint.

This room is even more difficult to photograph than the back room.  The slanted roof makes it hard to use this room for much.  This is just before the arrival of our new washer and dryer.  Floor is vinyl.

Hook-ups are ready for use!  Just before the washer and dryer arrive.  Notice our new lighting fixture.  It reminds Jamie of a 1930's fixture.  I told him it worked in the laundry room and made it retro.

We used the cart that was in the kitchen for our laundry room.  It serves as storage for laundry things and a sorting/ironing table.  The picture on the wall is a watercolor I picked up in Nova Scotia.  It depicts clothes hanging outside to dry.  I thought it appropriate to put it in the laundry room.  It is hung so high because Jamie and I are tall and because it is covering a slight blemish on the wall.

The washer and dryer work like champs.  And this room finally has a utilitarian use.  Woo hoo!

"Drunk People Solve Some Creative Puzzles More Easily."

This quote is from People Magazine this week:  "Drunk people solve some creative puzzles more easily."

Now I know what I'm doing wrong!  I'm trying to solve puzzles while I'm sober!

The note did suggest that one drink should do it, a six-pack would not.  Take it easy when solving puzzles.

It also isn't clear which puzzles one might solve more easily.  Is Sudoku a creative puzzle?  If so, perhaps you aren't actually solving it but you think you are.  You've filled in all of the numbers and think you are girl genius, but you're really a dumbass.

Cheers!

Pi Day

Goobers unite to celebrate the great Pi day. 

This is when super smart people show their true colors (is dork a Pantone color?).

My Ten Favorite Comfort Foods

I'm reading an article in Cooking Light Magazine, one of my favorite magazines, and it asks what are you ten favorite comfort foods?  Actually, I don't know that it asks, but the editor wrote his piece about his ten favorite comfort foods.  Here are mine in no particular order, but if it came to mind first, perhaps that means something:

1. Macaroni and cheese - but it has to be homemade, none of the glow-in-the-dark, save sailors from reefs, crap from a box.
2. Sauerkraut and Polish sausage - I have always loved sauerkraut and now my husband makes it for me from scratch.  I heard that there is an island off the coast of Nova Scotia that makes sauerkraut and nothing but.  I think these are my people and we should meet, hold hands and sing kumbayah.
3. Corned beef and cabbage - my mother would make this for us at least once us month, but would also add potatoes, carrots and turnip.  Best dish ever!  I now make mine in the crock pot.  Best invention ever.
4. Meatloaf - mine, not my mother's.  Her's was more of a ground beef goulash.  Mine is an actual loaf and is delicious!  Top it with ketchup or bbq sauce - your choice.
5. Soup - I know this could mean any number of soups, but I have to lump them together because it often doesn't matter what soup when I want soup to comfort me.  Chowders, my mother's pea soup, my mother's bean soup, chicken noodle, pumpkin, you name it.
6. Tuna noodle casserole - I just love this little gem.  When done properly it can be creamy goodness that melts in your mouth if it doesn't burn it first.
7. Homemade bread - this especially works when it is fresh out of the oven.  Spread a little butter on it or dip it into a little olive oil and you have yourself a bit of heaven.
8. Ice cream cake - I have loved ice cream cake since I was a tot.  In fact, I still remember the cruelest thing my father ever did to me was buy a faux ice cream cake all iced up to look like cake.  It was on April Fool's Day so it was allowed.  The look on my face was priceless from what I understand.  I still remember that sinking feeling when I thought I had an entire cake and all I had was a frosted cake pan.  Luckily he had the real thing in another freezer.  Luckily.
9. Pizza - sometimes you just want a greasy pepperoni pizza.  Often when I travel, I come home and want a pizza.  That says something.
10. Milk - does a beverage count as a comfort food?  When I am traveling, I always want milk when I come home.  I know I'm old-school in wanting to drink only pasteurized milk.  Not interested if the bad stuff hasn't been killed off.

I thought I might have some trouble putting this list together.  It was surprisingly easy.  That might explain why I'm in need of weight loss.  Notice that you didn't see fruit or veggies on my list.  Perhaps I could stand a bit less comfort.