The interview today went very well and the interviewer assured me that he would recommend me to round 2. Really liked the firm! The principals seemed like fun guys and all the paralegals I met could not have been more helpful, polite, and professional. The firm fairly screamed, "we have our act together!" Plenty of firms do not...

And that perfect job listing I mentioned the other day? They called to set up an interview. It is on Monday morning. Plaintiffs' side and the position would be be a lot of medical malpractice work. Fun stuff.

Keep the prayers/karma/rain-dancing/sage burning a' comin!

***
Usefulness of the day: No coffee grinder? The Magic Bullet works just fine.

garden stuff

I've been doing a ton of yard work the past week.

Jack helps.


Irises! Love them. The purple ones smell like grape jelly; the yellow ones of lemon cake. And they all look as if they lost a fight with a lawn mower.

The rhododendrons are in full bloom, too.

I put in 18 tomato plants, 6 per box. 18! I usually do 12. Guess I'm still miffed over last year's late blight. A box of cucumbers, a box of eggplants, and a box of banana peppers and jalapenos. There is a hedge of raspberry trees on the side of the house and I'm eyeing the space next to those for blueberries. What am I not growing? Zucchini. Don't care for it. And anything that I can buy cheaper at the flea market, which includes corn, garlic, onion, mango, and avocado.

Oh, and I also had the great idea of starting pumpkins, squash, and watermelons from seeds...which means that I will have to build another 2-3 boxes. I was worried that I wouldn't have space in the yard, but I had to take a chainsaw to one of the rhododendrons yesterday. She was talkin' smack to me.

Still lots more to do. I have pots and hanging baskets that need to be filled with flowers, a small porch herb garden to start, hopefully a couple boxes to build if the pumpkins and squash and watermelons germinate, and some very hard labor in tilling up a place for the blueberries.

***

Usefulness of the day: I've said it before and I will say it again: red plastic! Insulate tomatos with red plastic sheeting and your plants will be at least 8ft tall. Not white. Not black. White and black plastic only provide heat insulation. Red light, however, triggers a growth hormone. While you're picking up red sheeting, buy some taaaall support crates and strong rods - you will need them in August!

prayer request

I have a promising interview on Wednesday morning. Prayer warriors, good-vibe senders, sage-burners, rain-dancers, etc...DO YOUR THING!

Update: Woohoo! Another one to be scheduled.

***
Usefulness of the day: Ever if you don't drink the stuff, vodka is a rather useful item to have around the house. Swish plain unflavored vodka to remove odors in a Nalgene. Put a little fruit-flavored vodka in a glass, shape a piece of paper into a cone shape and place the narrow end in the glass with the paper just above - but not touching - the vodka. Great way to send fruit flies to a boozy death! And I've never tried this myself, but I've heard that spritzing plain vodka on musty clothing will rid the garment of storage odors. And if you actually drink it...my new favorite drink is plain vodka, plain seltzer, and a few olives. Hey, olives are good for you! Heathy fats!

argh.

This has happened at least a dozen times over the past five years. And I don't get it.

We - me, Jack, Coco - will be walking in the city. Lots of people like to stop and say hi. We like that! But a few people feel compelled to insinuate that I am making some kind of a social comment by having a big handsome fit white boy and a little, so-ugly-she-is-cute, not very fit*, black girl. One an expensive breeder purchase, one a $30 rescue dog. "What, you'll pay for a white dog but not a black dog?! Huh? Huh?" One happy and confident and lovin' life and one who isn't quite sure about life...but she will bark at it.

We're just on a walk, people! No one is "oppressing" anyone else. I judiciously avoid try very hard to avoid giving unsolicited social commentary...and I don't even know how I could use the dogs to illustrate issues on which I would opine.

The worst was Coco's Halloween costume...that one got me cussed at.

At a very crowded fundraiser for a shelter. With as many children at the party as dogs! Who does that?

I would point out that it has always been someone of a specific race and gender making these not-too-kind comments. But specifying that race and gender would, I'm sure, strike some as sexi-racist. Raci-sexist. Nothing sexi about racism!

People are ridiculous. Entirely too much "that offends me as a X" and entirely not enough common sense or manners.

Will adding a black-and-white pup next make it all better? Because Harlequin Great Danes make me smile.

* She came to me at 30lbs! Minpins are supposed to weigh 8-10. She is down to 15, so don't yell at me for having a fat dog :)

Photo from Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League.

***

Usefulness of the day: Do not put your actual home address as "home" in your GPS. Use the address of a nearby business instead. If your GPS is stolen, do you really want the thief knowing where you sleep at night?

best bread. ever!

Please, for the love of all that is tasty, make this! The result is a rustic ciabatta bread, airy and chewy and crusty and wonderful.

Mix together 1 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon yeast, and 2/3 cup warm water for about 2 minutes. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise at room temperature for at least 12 hours. This is called the biga. Within 1-2 hours you will see very small bubbles forming - that's good!

Add 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon yeast, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/3 cup non-skim milk, and 1/2 cup water to the biga. Be sure the milk and water is room temperature. Mix for about 5 minutes, then knead for 8-10 minutes. The dough will be very sticky, but do as best you can.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours.

Very gently fold dough a few times with a spoon, re-cover, and let rise for 45 minutes. Repeat. Do this very gently and only a few times - you don't want the gluten to go crazy. Fold, don't mix!

Gently divide dough in two. Take each half and gently fold in half, then press your well-floured fingers into both loaves so that there are indents all over the surface. The key word is "gentle" here! Let rise for another 45 minutes or so. Heat oven to 450.

When ready - finally! - spray surface of dough with water. Bake for 5 minutes and spray again. Repeat. Bread is done when the surface is golden and crusty and wonderful.

This is really, honestly, truly, the best bread! I've taken to keeping a little biga in the fridge, just in case I want a snack later.

Now, I'm the queen of substitutions and otherwise "doing it my own way" recipe-wise. However, don't you dare try to use yogurt, soy milk, or skim milk! The proteins in the milk are what makes the texture airy and bubbly. I'm going to attempt a gluten-free batch next week. If you can manage to save some of the bread for the next day, it does not go stale overnight and makes for wonderful paninis in the morning.

***
Usefulness of the day: If you prefer to air-dry your clothing but don't like the stiffness, pour plain white vinegar in the fabric softener holder. The stiffness is a result of detergent residue, and vinegar will dissolve it.

thou shalt not

steal!

On Friday night I went out for dinner and drinks with a few girlfriends. One friend parked on a main street in the middle of the city. We had a lovely time. I got my fill of baba ganouj and garlicky cucumber yogurt soup with iced mint tea and sampled a tahini sauce that made my palate sing and...

Well, I'm turning into my grandmother, aren't I? No story can be told without detailing the food.

Around midnight, we walked Friend back to her car. A few cars away, we all saw that the rear passenger window was open. Now, if you live in the city, you never think, "did I leave the window open?" You know that "oh, great. Someone broke into my car."

Friend did an inventory while I reported it to the police. This city's police handle all broken-in cars by phone these days because, as the officer noted, "there are so many; crime is really, really bad these days."

That's brotherly love for you.

Gone was her GPS, satellite radio, a fistful of random cords, and cool little coin purse. Before you feel pangs in your own empathetic heart: the GPS was low-end $50 unit, the radio was broken beyond repair, and the coin purse contained an estimated $.12. Even better! All those cords were broken. They left the only working cord! And they left the GPS cord, too. Replacement GPS cords, I'm told, are almost as expensive as the unit itself. They also took two vouchers for a complimentary meal for two at any Hilton restaurant. (I'm praying that the thief uses those to treat his mother next month.)

Then, a howl. "They took my WORK clothes!" My heart stopped. I know how expensive work clothes are, especially hers. I quickly prayed that the work clothes would find their way to someone who needed a really, really nice interview suit. "Was it your interview suit?" I asked, afraid to hear the answer.

"Nah, just a few shirts," she said, calming down. "And something else, too..." she murmured.

The stolen bag held her dirty, filthy, disgusting laundry from a recent business trip. Work shirts, gym clothes, and unmentionables. All stinky and sweaty. Sexy. But even better (or worse!) she had suffered what she delicately called "extreme ladybit issues" on her trip and the evidence was all over the bottoms.

So that was the haul: a bunch of useless plastic, two meals for two, and a bag of clothing that definitely qualifies as biohazardous material at this point.

Crime doesn't pay, kids!

On a more serious note, I am increasingly saddened by how many people out there have zero regard for the property of others. I'm not naive and I know that there are far more serious crimes. But it makes me sad. Remember when I hit my friend's neighbor's car? The guy was floored that I knocked on his door. Plenty of people told me that I could have - and even should have - just driven off. I don't say that to put the spotlight on my values :) but to show the sad, sorry state we're in. Where honesty and doing the right thing is rare and, when we see something we want, we are loath to let trifling matters of finances or ownership get in the way.

The break-in occurred on a busy street on a Friday night between 8pm and midnight. The car was alarmed. And the Upright Moral Citizen(s) had plenty of time: the mess of papers in the glove compartment was meticulously sorted and several expired vouchers for complimentary meals were left behind. I'm certainly not proposing that any of the multiple people who had to have seen this go down were under any obligation to step in. I know I would not, not with the number of trigger-happy thugs in this city. But, to put it bluntly, one has to have some pretty big cahunas to smash a window and take his sweet time. Don't tell me it was some crackhead, because he had enough presence of mind to sort through the unexpired and expired meal vouchers. Yes, I know that theft or damage to another's property has been around for a while, but...I can't help but theorize that it is related to today's culture of gimme, gimme, gimme, and gimme now!

***
Usefulness of the day: Can't hurt to stash a roll of duct tape and a couple of heavy-duty contractors trash bags in the car just in case you need to tape up any windows!

sewing update 1

Someone chided me for not posting pictures so here they are!

The machine. It belonged to a woman's father who was a tailor. Included with the machine was a box packed with very old sewing stuff. Buckets of vintage threads on what looked like hand-carved spools, bags of sharp tools and brushes, some kind of a ruler and clamp contraption that I'm guessing is as to a shirt as a vise is to a carpentry project, vintage cigar boxes of buttons, more than 100 zippers, and more stuff I don't even know how to describe. All of it promptly freecycled. As I combed through this cool vintage stuff, all perfectly labeled in the handwriting of someone who actually learned penmanship, I imagined the father would have been good friends with my cobbler, who is 95 years old, blind as a bat, perpetually high as a kite from all the polish fumes...and who does an impeccable job on my shoes for a good price.

And the fabric that started it all. "That is going to be an obnoxious bedspread," my mother said. "Perfect! I replied. "Matches your daughter's personality!" I used to be painfully shy. Then I learned to overcompensate. Then overcompensation became natural. Then I needed a matching bedspread.

About a year ago I discovered Heather Bailey fabrics, swooned, and dashed over to etsy for anything in her prints. The photo of these pre-cut squares caught my eye and didn't let go until check-out. I suffer from twin problems: poor impulse control and the mistaken belief that I am crafty. Which is why I am not allowed in Michael's anymore. I am chock-full of grand sweeping ideals, but the follow-though and actual requisite skills don't exist.

I laid out the squares last summer to hand-sew. Then, after threading a needle, I got distracted by some shiny object bored. And that was the end of that. Until a sewing machine landed in my car trunk.

I love it when things land in my life.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

I posted on freecycle yesterday, offering a homemade meal or resume editing for a sewing lesson. Reason 436 why I heart freecycle: a dozen ladies offered to come over, give some demos, and have me start the quilt as they watch and correct.

If you have Johnson & Johnson stock, buy. Band-Aid sales are going to dramatically increase.

***
Usefulness of the day: Can't find (or broke) your camera cord? Pop out the memory card: there is usually a drive on your computer that will take it. To get the pictures, go Start>Computer>Devices with removable storage. The card should be listed there.

what is the world coming to?!?!

In breaking news, the Wall Street Journal reports that leather shorts are in.

For summer.

Sorta how bare legs in a skirt were/are in. For winter.

I think I'm the only female in my generation who would consider going without nylons for a summery beach dress. Maybe. Then again, my skin is nearly blue so going bare-legged is practically an affront to public decency.

Anyway.

Do you see those? Those shorts have a "paper bag waist."

"Paper bag waist" sounds rawther shabby chic. Taking a cue from Mugatu's Dere-lict! campaign, are we?
Ladies, don't be fooled! The only people who should be wearing pleat-front bottoms - and that is what the "paper bag" is! - are the gentlemen who grace the pages of Brooks Brothers and L.L. Bean.

Just watchin' out for ya!

***

Usefulness of the day: Well, if the above wasn't useful enough for you...even if it doesn't look dusty, be sure to regularly clean your computer (and television) screen to reduce eye strain.

forsaken

This is probably either (1) a really stupid question or (2) one of those questions that, along with "where did Cain's wife come from?" we're just not supposed to ask. I actually did ask the below (and preceding) question in my ladies Bible study group, which were met with assorted clucks and variations on the passive-aggressive "I'll pray for you," which we all know is nice Christian speak for "you are a total moron."

Why did Jesus think that God abandoned him?

***
Usefulness of the day: Need to buy a large quantity of fancy resume paper? FedEx/Kinkos usually has 500 packs of it. Much cheaper than Staples. You probably have to ask for it; the big packs are not typically on display. Ask how I know :/.

lime and turquoise

I've been on a lime-green-and-pale-turquoise kick for a while. I think they look just lovely together. This summer, I stocked up on Anthropologie's latte bowls in those two shades with eventual plans to add kitchenry in those shades.

A few friends beat me to it, deciding that it was the right thing to do because I had a birthday/do most of the cooking in my friend circle/like pretty things. (Camera loaned to a friend, but these will do...)

Dutch oven!

Big stockpot!

Covered baker!

Mortar and pestle!

All four are on display in my kitchen bookcase because you simply don't go storing Le Creuset in the cabinet. The alternating lime and teal make me smile every time. And, my, won't mashed avocados look lovely in that bowl?

***
"Sweet surprise" my arse. High fructose corn syrup now linked to liver scarring.

I had a birthday.

I've really never celebrated my birthday. Not my thing. Maybe when I hit 30 I'll throw a big bash.

I start the day by calling my parents at the crack o'dawn to wish them a very happy aniversary of the day of my birth, a.k.a the best day of their lives.

For the past few years, my "party" has been an afternoon pedicure, then, later, dinner, drinks, and desert with a single close friend. I really wanted to go to one particular restaurant - right across from where I wanted my desert - but getting reservations on a Saturday night was impossible. I morphed into shameless dirty slimeball trial lawyer mode and tried to sweet talk my way in to something around 7pm...they weren't having it.

We went to one of our favorite places instead, where I got fried green tomatoes and my new go-to drink: Grey Goose, soda, and (lots of) olives.

Ended the night with basil gelato. Man, do I have weird tastes.

Good times!

***

For fluffier popcorn with fewer unpopped kernels, soak the dry kernels in water for about 10 minutes and let dry.

Misfits

I have yet to find a house of worship. I have visited many and recently semi-settled into one where I just didn't feel comfortable. Throughout my life, I've often felt "too X for the Y people and too Y for the X people." I don't fit in many places.

For the past few months I have participated in a young ladies study group. Definitely did not fit in there.
I think the final straw was last week when I said that my marriage models are Gomez and Morticia Addams because they are so clearly deeply, passionately, and almost madly in love with each other after years of marriage, children, and family members living with them. Don't worry - I linked it back up to Song of Solomon. I was politely told that one doesn't talk about s-e-x in Bible study. Which confused me, because (1) it's in the Bible, (2) I was hardly even approaching any level of explicit discussion and, mostly, (3) because once the hour is over and the Bibles are closed there is a whole lotta very explicit talk about sitting in a gentleman's shadow and tasting his sweet fruits. Blowing into the garden, the flowing of spices, and pleasant fruits. Perhaps some discussion over whose boyfriend has the tallest apple tree.

Ahem.

Then I happened to meet some crazy lady. Crazy in a good way. I have a special affinity for the crazies. They're interesting. I love interesting. We got to talking and she invited me to her church. I couldn't tell from the name what kind of place it was. "We're all misfits there. Catholics, Protestants, Evangelicals, Jews (I'm going to presume of the Messianic persuasion), even an couple who used to handle snakes. And there's no preachin', just teachin'."

I'd go just for the former snake handlers.

So, that is my plan for Sunday: (1) farmer's market (2) meet the misfits, get taught, politely decline any profferred kool-aid, and (3) dog park time.

I'm excited.

***

Usefulness of the day: Phone get wet? Remove the battery and bury in a bowl of white rice. Not a guarantee, but it just might work. Ask me how I know. Unrelated, be careful when using the facilities with a cell phone in the rear pocket of your jeans.

Save for trims, I've never had a real, proper haircut. A childhood of traumatic bowl cuts will do that.

***
Usefulness of the day: I made yogurt last week, for the first time ever, and had great results. It was so much easier than I expected! If you are interested in trying it out, start here.

Discontinued!

I ran into a lovely acquantance this week. She is 90-something, spry, and just radiates goodness. And she smells like roses and cinammon rolls. But she looked down and dejected that day.

"They discontinued my bra. 60 years. And they went and discontinued it."

I think every female in the room heaved great sighs of sympathy before offering their own "I loved it, so, of course, they discontinued it" story. Here is my list:

1. The Black Donnollys.
2. Arrested Development.
3. Super-Sour Fla*Vor*Ice.
4. Strawberry-flavored chunks of dried rhubarb from Trader Joe's.
5. Gap's Om perfume! Why, oh, why?
6. Abercrombie's Fierce men's cologne, which technically wasn't discontinued...but the new formulation is nothing like the original.

What's yours?

***
Usefulness of the day: Buy diapers on Saturday March 20 at Toys R Us, get a $20 gift card.

a bone to pick

At the non-insignificant risk of sounding like your friendly neighborhood crazy dog lady, I sometimes forget that Jack is, well, a dog. And I have concurrence on this: two former roommates actually admitted to thinking, for just a split second, something like "well, if you can't pick me up from the airport, Jack can."

Seriously. This dog has been known to hold a grudge for days where he refuses to make eye contact with whomever embarrassed or offended him. That's not normal canine behavior. I can attempt to drown bathe Coco and still find her clamoring to sit on my lap 10 minutes later.

Anyway. Because he does so many human-like things - operating a toaster oven, faking a back injury, unlocking child-proofed cabinets - I am amused when he does typical dog stuff.

Like burying a bone.

I have never known him to bury anything. I have a suspicion there is a nest of my unmentionables somewhere in the house - to be waved around when a male walks through the door - but haven't found it. (Fun fact: approximately 71% of the city's plumbers, electricians, and contractors know my bra size.)

There he goes! It was dark and I was confused for a good few minutes as to what he was doing.

Wonderful use of that big block head.
Good job patting down the dirt, too.

Unfortunately, for all his hard work...

I dug that bone right back up when he was inside. Not leaving food items so close to the house when furry whiskered creatures with tails (don't make me say the word) are waking from hibernation.

***

Usefulness of the day: Use plain yogurt where you would use mayo or sour cream. Tuna salad is wonderful if you substitute a blend of yogurt and a little mayo for mayo!

Justified

Anyone else catch FX's new show Justified on Tuesday?

I did.

Raylan Givens makes my heart go pitter-pat.

Oh my.

The show itself decent. I'm still miffed about the cancellation of The Black Donnollys, though, so, in my mind, nothing compares. I generally avoid legal-type shows, and could have done without the blood, but I've definitely plugged Tuesdays 10pm-11:11pm into my calendar for the season.

Southern drawls and cowboy hats generally have that effect.

***

Usefulness of the day: Buy 1 5lb bag of potatoes, get 1 free.

Enchiladas!

I made enchiladas last night, and I am ever so glad I did. After Middle Eastern, Mexican ties with Indian for my second-favorite food. They were eaten before I could grab my camera. Fast, easy, tasty!

Torillas
Oil
Enchilada sauce
Fillings: I used extra-sharp cheddar and green chilies, but shredded meat, textured vegetable protein, or refried or regular beans would all work, too. Please shred your own cheese; pre-shredded cheese melts differently due to the cornstarch coating.
Toppings: I used diced avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime, but just about anything goes...plain yogurt/sour cream, shredded lettuce, cheese, onions.
Equipment: skillet and tongs for frying, baking pan.


Heat up a skillet of oil and lightly fry each tortilla. If you skip the frying, the tortilla will soak up the sauce as it cooks and make for a yummy but mushy enchilada. Let them dry on a paper towel, spoon in your filling, and carefully wrap and place seam-side down in your pan. I tucked in the ends of the torilla, but I don't think that's required. Once all your enchilads are nicely snuggled together in the baking pan, pour a can or more of enchilada sauce over them and bake. I used the middle rack at 375 for about 30 minutes.

Make these tonight! Just in time for St. Patrick's Day :)

***
Usefulness of the day: Using a more intensely flavored cheese (e.g. extra-sharp cheddar) will allow you to use less cheese.

snow and venereal disease

***

I've finally turned my mother onto text messaging in the hopes that she would learn that a few lines of text is - for some matters - better than leaving her daughter a rambling, stream-of-consciousness voicemail. She is getting the hang of it...kinda.

Mom: so do u hve a hot date or VD???

Me: I get my lab results on Wednesday.

Mom: wht??? r u sick???

***

Usefulness of the day: Soak wilted greens in a bowl of cold water and set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for them to perk up. This works especially well for stalk-y types like celery and bok choy. Why? Turgor.

cookies

I know, I know: all of you were like, "wow, that Allison is such a good baker. I wonder when she'll post a cookie recipe."

That is coming. For now, just some cookie advice.


I have tried to make cookies. Oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, white chocolate cranberry. They all turned into rock-hard pancakes. Clearly, all those cookbooks were wrong. I set about writing various letters to the editors straight away. It is just downright deceitful to promise thick, soft, chewy treats and deliver flattened hockey pucks.


Then I picked up a few bags of cookie mix - the mixes where one need only add egg and butter and water. For the sake of scientific integrity, I tried Ms. Crocker's chocolate chip, oatmeal, and peanut butter. Hockey puck, hockey puck, hockey puck.


For reasons I won't get into, my oven was recently repaired and, in any case, turned out perfectly good bread, so I knew it wasn't the oven.


It was me.

(It generally is.)


Was I adding too much water? No. Over-baking? No. Failing to pre-heat? No.


That leaves...the butter!


Evidently, when the recipe specifies that one take 20 minutes and allow the butter to soften, they mean it. I was just cutting cold butter into pieces and stirring. And failing.


So that is lesson #1: follow the directions.

Lesson #2? I only know this because my cookbook failures led me down the boxed baked goods aisle. Because I'm an over-achiever, I couldn't let anyone think that I would resort to boxed cookie mix. Oh, no. I made little switches that would reasonably lead someone to think the cookies were made from scratch. Replace the tablespoon of water with eggnog. Shake in some cinammon, nutmeg, and allspice. Toss in a few peppermint-flavored chocolate chips. Fools 'em every time!

***
Usefulness of the day: Put a few kernels of (unpopped) popcorn in your salt shaker to keep the salt from clumping.

free food

Yes, there will be a frugality-and-food post coming soon, but in the meantime...

Free breakfast at Ikea. And since a few of you asked, my kitchen curtains are Ikea...if you live in a place with very high ceilings, Ikea is fabulous for floor-to-ceiling curtains. I've actually banned myself from the curtain section of Ikea as the impulse to just grab great big armfuls of fabric and wrap myself in rich forest green velvet or shimmery tangerine drapes becomes harder and harder to resist.

But that's my issue, not yours.

Where we we?

Free chicken taco from Del Taco.

Free classic taco from Del Taco.

Free chocolate fondue at Melting Pot.

Free appetizer at Friday's.