Shiny Random Thoughts

I'm back

2007-03-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

OK, so I FINALLY figured out how to get access to this thing again - I'd actually been logging in with the wrong username, so of course this blog didn't show up. However, now that that period of stupidity has passed (or at least temporarily lapsed), I have decided to actually try to keep this thing up.

The only interesting thing that has happened to me since I wrote this blog last...My Intro to Estate Planning put the lyrics to "Gold Digger" in his power point presentation. It blew my mind and left me wondering where education was headed.

OK, back to pretending to do reading but really watching SVU.

Elkhart Lake

2006-07-11T18:02:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, L-Dawg and I went with my summer employer to a resort in Elkhart Lake. The lake was really nice, but the "resort" was not. It was pretty much a holiday inn with crappy breakfast instead of good breakfast.

Actually, the food the whole weekend was horrible with one very memorable exception. We did go to this pizza place that was certified by the government of Naples, Italy for pizza making. It really did taste authentic, and L-Dawg and I stocked up on proscuitto di Parma and real Parm cheese from the deli attached to the restaurant. But that was pretty much the food highlight of the trip.

As for activities while we were there, L-Dawg and I did get to go on a trail ride. L had never been on a horse before, so he thought it was pretty neat. I'd ridden some when I was younger, so I kept expecting to trot or gallop or something, so walking the entire time made it seem a little slow. However, the ride itself was really nice - we went up into the forest around the lake and through fields full of flowers.

The rest of the time, we just drank. A couple of the important people at my work got drunk enough to do some pretty stupid stuff. One of my favorites actually got up to dance on a table with a poll in it (no, it wasn't a strip club, just a dive bar) and then proceeded to trip and fall into one of the other summer interns. It was pretty funny.

Overall, it was a pretty good weekend, but I'm sorry I had to put off going to a theme park with my friends over it. I probably would have had a better time soaking wet, burned, and fill of really bad theme park food, floating in a lazy river. Maybe next weekend...

Yet another movie trivia game

2006-07-10T19:52:00.000-07:00

In response to the numerous "identify my favorite ----", here's a list of quotes from our favorite movies. Good luck!

1. "Looks like the cows have come home to roost"
Vice got this one: Lt. Frank Drebin, Naked Gun 2 1/2

2. "We're not just doing it for the money... We're doing it for a SHITLOAD of money"
Vice got this one too: Captain Lonestar, Spaceballs

3. "Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident."
Andy: Derek Zoolander, from Zoolander

4. "Some men are longer than others."

5. "Are you sure? Because it looks like he's *leaning.* "

6. "Sonny, true love is the greatest thing, in the world-except for a nice MLT - mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe."

7. "Then, on the fourth day, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed 'em together and made a raft."
Andy again: Gibbs, Pirates of the Carribbean.

8. "You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years."
I'll give this one to Andy, but I really shouldn't: Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Bennet)

9. "We was always taking long walks, and we was always looking for a guy named 'Charlie'."
Vice again: Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump.

10. "I see you are no stranger to pain."

11. "You have the whitest white-part-of-the-eyes I've ever seen. Do you floss? "

July 4th rules

2006-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been great! Due to Independence Day, I got a four day weekend, and I enjoyed it thoroughly! The only sad note is that we had to give back a cat we'd been sitting. Our friend was at a wedding, and asked us to take care of his cat, Smash. The cat was aptly named - he really liked to smash and crash around the house, but it was really nice to have a cat again. I used to have a cat growing up, and sometimes I miss the affection that only a cat can give you. I think it has something to do with the purring....

Despite missing Smash, the weekend was still awesome. Saturday was spent roaming around the farmers market and going food shopping. The highlight of the day was definitely making home-made pasta. I decided a while ago that I would try to do it, and I bought a hand cranked pasta maker. Then I struggled because I couldn't find a recipe I liked...but I finally found it:

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3/4 C semolina flour

3/4 C all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

2 tbsp. water

2 tbsp. olive oil.

Combine the flours and salt on a cutting board and make a well in the center. Combine the eggs, water and oil in a small bowl and beat lightly. Pour the egg mixture into the flour well and slowly mix the flour into the egg mixture until it forms a dough, being careful to keep the mixture inside the well. Kneed the dough for 10 minutes, then wrap it in plastic and let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes (don't skip this step).
Divide the dough up into egg sized pieces, and pass each piece through the pasta maker until it is as thin as you want (1 or 2 on my machine). Then, starting at the beginning again, take each strip of dough, cut it the length you want it, and then pass it through the pasta machine cutters. Hang the pasta on a pasta hanger (or, if you don't have one, on clean hangers) and let it dry for 10 minutes.
Boil pasta water with a handful of salt and add the pasta. Cook it until it's done to your liking, about 2 minutes for me. Serve it with your favorite sauce.
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Being half Italian, my favorite sauce is a simple tomato sauce with garlic, onions, and canned San Marzano tomatoes sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with fresh basil and oregano. I also like to put in some black pepper and crushed red pepper in it to up the flavor ante. If I want to make it more substantial, I'll add baked eggplant or sauté some pancetta before I add the garlic and onions.

Sunday was shopping day. I bought some more work clothing and finally decided to open an account at Banana Republic. I've been putting that off for years, but came to the conclusion that I shop there enough to warrant it. I also got my eyebrows waxed, which hurts like hell and makes my face red for about 24 hours. The good news is I no longer look like cookie monster.

Monday was also awesome. I got up early and played golf. I suck at golf (I hit a 65 on a 9 hold course!), but I'm trying to learn and I'm getting a lot better. I actually hit a couple of really great shots with my new clubs (I bought them two weeks ago). I was especially proud of my 180 yard shot with my 3 wood. That one shot made the entire day worth it. We topped this off with an incredible cook-out. A bunch of friends came over and we had grilled filet mignon, loaded baked potatoes, grilled corn and apple pie. We also had daiquiris and mojitos. The last thing I remember was passing out into a food coma sometime around 3am. It was wonderful!

The best thing about Monday was that we got a new couch and a temporary replacement TV. We found this couch on Craig’s List for $100. Up to now, we were using a broken futon, so the couch, even used, was a big upgrade. We also broke down and got a $20 TV, also off of Craig’s List. There are some things a person just can't live without. Best of all, Best Buy came through, and we managed to get the repair guys to come to our house on Monday. We found out that Best Buy finally screwed up in a good way - they apparently think we paid $800 for our TV, which means if it is really beyond repair, we get a new $800 TV or a store credit in that amount. I think I've already mentally spent the money on a $300 TV and a $500 sound system. Laurence (my boyfriend/fiancée) and I have been wanting one for a while. Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice $500 sound system?

Tuesday was also great. Laurence and I went to and Indian food buffet - the all you can eat kind. We ate too much, and then went home to sleep it off. I actually got some work done, and then we went to see Superman Returns in 3D. Now, I know I said I would never do movie reviews, and I won't. All I'll say is that this movie is worth seeing. We got out of the movie theater just as the fireworks were starting, and we sat in the parking lot and watched the show. We went home and watched Frasier (the really good one where Daphne leaves Donnie at the alter and runs away with a newly married Niles and the Donnie sues Daphne and Frasier).

Today was also good. I had to go back to work, which should have sucked, but it didn't. I got to see one of my law firm's lawyers prepare a witness for a hearing. It was pretty neat to see what she thought was important, especially since I'd worked on a project related to the litigation. Then I picked up a few pretty neat projects and turned in one that's been on my desk for weeks. It felt really good to get the one turned in. I got home and actually worked out for the first time in weeks. I hurt quite a bit now, but Laurence is cooking a pork recipe we found on epicurious and the smell is so good, it's killing me! The recipe can be found at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/233147

So, as you can see, I had an awesome weekend. Next weekend, I'm going to Elkhart lake and get to go horseback riding (which I have not done in years). I only hope I can get the 3 projects I have due by Friday done in time to really enjoy the weekend.

One Crappy Day...

2006-06-29T17:50:00.000-07:00

Today sucked. It sucked for two separately sucky reasons. Each one, alone, would have been enough to qualify this day as bad, but put them together and you get a masterpiece of crap.

First, my employer took us all on a field trip. I live in Madison, and we had to be in Chicago by 9:45am. So we left Madison at 6am drove to Milwaukee, and then took the train to Chicago. After sitting through some very boring speeches, we went on this boat tour. We were the last ones to get on the boat, and we sat in the 'middle.' You know what I mean - there are lucky people in front of you blocking your view, behind you enjoying the breeze and above you with perfect views, and you are forced to sit in this cramped, dark, smelly hole and not see anything. Next, we went to a very nice restaurant, and got the crappiest service I've ever had at a place with white table clothes. The food was actually bad, the service staff was rude, and they took so long to serve us, we had to leave before we got dessert. We topped off this experience with the train and car ride home. Overall, a waste of time and energy. I would rather have spent the day working out at the gym. At least I would have gotten something out of it.

Second, I've discovered why BEST BUY IS EVIL. They make a big deal about selling you these warranties, and then it takes them forever to service you. And you can't buy a product without the warranty, because the products are so shitty, they are guaranteed to break within 2 years. For example, take my TV. Best Buy convinced us to by a $60 warranty when we bought to TV less then 2 years ago. It recently broke (see the previous post). I called the service line, and Best Buy referred us to this little TV service shop in Madison, telling us that the local place would send someone out to try to fix our TV. We called the TV shop, and they told us the earliest they would be able to make it out was July 11th. That is almost TWO WEEKS from now. So I did the obvious thing, I called the particular Best Buy where I got the TV and asked if I could bring it in.

Of course not. Best Buy doesn't actually know anything about TVs, so they can't check it out themselves. They have to send it out, and someone 'qualified' must say it's broken before I can get a new one. This is the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. My TV is so clearly broken, that even I can tell it will never come alive again. It's so dead, even the Best Buy guy sounded sorry that he couldn't give me a new one. But he still did do anything to get me a working TV.

So I figure it will be three weeks before I get to watch TV again. In the interim, I figure I have several options: (1) Screw Best Buy, get a new TV from someone else, and then write a letter to Best Buy explaining why they suck and hope to get my money back (which I won't, but at least I'll have a new TV by tomorrow). (2) Buy a small crappy TV to tide me through until I get a new one, and for future emergencies. (3) Buy a new TV from Best Buy, keep it until they fix my old one, and then return the new one (and hopefully they won't charge me anything). (4) Just go without TV.

I realize the fourth option is probably the wisest. However, since my only real source of entertainment after work is the TV, I will probably succumb to temptation over the weekend and just go with option two. In the end, having two TVs in the house probably isn't bad - then I wouldn't have to fight with my boyfriend over whose show we are going to watch - I could just go watch it on the other TV....

That sounds good. I think I'll go check craigs list to see if I can find a used one...

Nothing like retail therapy to make a crappy day better.

I fought the TV

2006-06-28T17:59:00.000-07:00

And I won, but that leaves me without a TV.

I was flipping from TLC to the Food network to watch one of my all-time favorite shows, Good Eats, and the TV turns off. Or I think it turns off. So, I push the "on" button on the remote...and nothing happens. I sit there for about 2 minutes, jamming the "on' button, and finally, panic sets in - I broke the TV.

I calm myself momentarily, get up, and try the power button actually located on the TV, fully prepared to be embarrassed by my own stupidity in assuming that the remote would always work...and nothing happens. I go around the back to wiggle the plug to make sure it is actually plugged in...and nothing happens. Panic and Despair set in, and the Family Guy episode where Peter takes out cable for the whole town comes to mind.

After 30 minutes (actually a very short amount of time as these things usually go), I am told by a very nice woman who works for Best Buy that my TV will be broken until the Madison service people go to work tomorrow, and probably even later than that, because I have to call and schedule an appointment for them to come fix my TV. Also, since my guess is they will be unable to fix my completely lifeless TV, I will have to wait for someone to replace my TV, which will probably take even longer.

This makes me sad. I am currently missing Jack McCoy verbally beat the crap out of a Very Bad Guy (VBG). However, since I am also probably missing the spectacularly unspectacular cooking of Bobby Flay on Iron Chef, I am somewhat mollified.

Beginning

2006-06-28T17:07:00.000-07:00

I guess everyone has to start somewhere. I've spent years reading other people's stories and wondering if I would ever have anything interesting to say - so I decided to stop wondering and just try it.

I'm a pretty boring person. I go to work or school, come home, cook and eat dinner, watch the food network and go to sleep. On weekends I spend time reading, shopping, and generally hanging out with friends. Like I said, pretty boring.

I do have an "overactive imagination" though. My imagination will probably make an apperance here and there in this blog. It usually strikes right as I'm about to go to sleep, or just as I wake up. One night, I actually lay in bed all night and didn't move because I was convinced that the light on the smoke detector was some kind of evil insect. Unfortunately, I'm not making this up.

I think I'd like to try doing restaurant reviews. I've decided that since everyone and thier mother does movie reviews, I'll try to stay out of it unless there is something that really makes me angry. Otherwise, I'll focus on where (and where not) to eat in the different places I travel to.

In the end, I'm convinced this will be a pretty hum drum blog with a few funny stories and posts that have no relation to each other. Hence, the name of this blog. I have the attention span of a goldfish (or so I've been told), and I am easily distracted by shiny objects. My mind is extremely random, and most people have learned to stop asking how I mentally got from one topic of conversation to the next. Finally, this blog is about thoughts: I'm not really telling stories (stories have a beginning, middle, and end, and usually make sense); I'm not seeking or telling the truth, and I definitly won't be trying to get you to sign on to my political agenda. I'm just writing down all the shiny random thoughts I have, and hoping that someone will enjoy it.