Something delicious!

Another fine day of telecommuting from my back porch. I love it. :)

I just took a break to mow the grass in the side yard -- it finally stopped raining and I figured I'd better do it before the rest of the neighborhood got home from work and mowed their grass too. (I'm allergic to grass when cut with a power mower, and asthmatic to exhaust fumes. :b ) So I feel all virtuous.

Dinner's in the oven - another frozen Indian dinner. I love those things.

If y'all get a chance, wander over to today's News from the Net thread and take a look at my comment there -- one of the stories was very closely aligned to a class I went to last night, and I figured I'd try doing that "let's talk about the issues through our faith perspective values" thing we've been meta-ing about.  

In theory, tonight I will start on cleaning the house, since I didn't manage it last weekend. In practice? well, I might just revel in my first week post-semester and post-choir practice. All this free time! Seems a shame to use it all up at once in housecleaning. Heh.

ok... Here is a little diversion...  What kind of Geek are you? I rated a Goth Geek  I think it has something to do with my penchant for heavy metal. Here is the entry for Goth Geek from the Urban Dictionary

a Goth - Geek is nesscesscarily a mixture of the two. quite to contrary belief, many people thing they are depressed, when in actuality, they are probably some of the happiest people you could know. they usually wear combats and shirts, generically one without logos and one conforming to a colour scheme, usually black or white. they identify the features of geeks, and watch anime & manga, while also conforming to gaming culture (note: gamers are also a tribe)
they identify the idiolect of 1337, and often can be judgemental. some identify "emo" as posing and pathetic. they listen to metal from the late 70's to early 90's. and see most new music as a Dire attempt to make money without skill.

Anyhoo... since it is very hot here in San Jose, I am thinking something hot for dinner.
Hot Wednesday Dinner

• Chinese long beans in Thai curry
• Hot and sour pork with wood ear
• Steamed brown rice

...
... or something like that!

for supper tonight. Quick & easy. I was thinking of switching over from being a pescatarian to a vegetarian. I like salmon and tuna fish but I am concerned about overfishing.

 I'm sad today, so much death and heartbreak in Asia. My eyes are wet but my prayers are dry. The money I donated to Catholic Relief Services won't go far. Sometimes I feel the absurdity in life seems stronger than love.

Watching the sparrows at the bird feeder and listening to Under the Pink by Tori Amos.  I am going to try entering a deep state of silence tonight.

"tears on the sleave of a man don't want to be a boy today"

Cod with Chick Peas & Summer Vegetable Medley

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 yellow bell peppers, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 c. white wine
1/2 tsp. fresh saffron [we're omitting]
1 c. grape tomatoes
2 c. canned chick peas, drained & rinsed
1 lb. cod, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 c. vegetable stock or water

In wide, heavy sauté pan, heat oil. Sauté onions and peppers until onions are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
Add paprika and cumin and sauté 1 minute
Add wine and saffron and stir well.
Add tomatoes, chick peas, cod, and stock or water. Simmer until fish is cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.

Serves 4.

We're having it with:

Roasted Asparagus
Wash asparagus and trim off the white ends. Lay whole stalks of asparagus flat in a glass baking dish. Brush lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme. Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes.

Went to an informational meeting after work about the new transit line they plan on building nearby.  It's still in the planning stages and has yet to be finalized, but I learned a lot.  From everything I'm seeing, this line needs to be built; traffic and gas prices are worsening, more transit-centered development is happening, and some federal rejiggering is expected to produce some new jobs along the transit corridor.  Various decisions need to be made (rapid-transit buses or streetcars?), and various plans exist for getting through various neighborhoods.

I like the idea of it; I'd be able to head into Bethesda for shopping or an evening out, or over to the University of Maryland for a concert, and not have to drive.  

All our vendors want to meet with me at work; Monday I chatted with our UPS account rep and today I chatted with our postage meter account rep.  My phone has been ringing off the hook, esp. with this one student who called four times with various inane questions.  

I'm going to fix my patented pasta/tuna/garlic/spinach dish tonight for dinner, and I will make some stuffed pork chops tomorrow for dinner.

I saw my psychiatrist this morning and then went to noon communion at Grace Episcopal then I came home and worked.

I'm not sure what we're having for supper tonight. Although I am thinking of taking Sister Quarterstaff's recipe and replacing the cod with grilled chicken. I'll have to get some cod while The Hubby Who Doesn't Like Fish or Seafood is gone next week, and make that dish up right!

Just hit the wrong browser and negated this comment.  Sent it to oblivion.  Made it have an encounter with the abyss.

So, reconstruction.

Was hoping to have a swim and dinner at my dad's tonight, but he has other plans.  That's going to be tomorrow.  Was also hoping to borrow some spackle and a scraper, but I think I might jaunt up to a friend's (this will take a while) to get those things instead.  Also need to go to ACE Hardware.  

Been cleaning and waiting on this guy who responded to a craiglist ad for a shelving unit I don't want anymore.  I have a feeling he's going to blow me off, so I might go ahead and offer it to one of the other seven people who expressed an interest.  

I got a real job for the summer!  

Not that working at the law library isn't a real job, but seriously...it doesn't look the same as an actual clerkship.

So I'm the Law Clerk for the General Counsel's office of Civil Air Patrol, and I'll be working on some projects that have been on the GC's desk for a while, and that they haven't had time to get to.

Squee!

was something that turned out well that began life as a lead balloon.   My boys balked at first.  The minister promised us parents that our kids would love the program and be thrilled to go after only one night...he was right.  I wouldn't be shocked if one of my kids wound up years from now dating/involved with a very nice girl from the program.  After a couple of years of separation, they still chat about matters of great importance to each other.  It's nice.
Dang, I miss that church.

I found this link on Yahoo:

Network for Good

It lists a dozen or so aid groups soliciting donations for earthquake relief in China. Many of them are Christian. Do you (SP readers) have any advice or knowledge about which ones are most effective?

The squawl this morning when I realized at the bottom of the hill that I had left something home was a definite complaint, and I got a bit sharp about needing things for the 6 manuscripts, 1 grant proposal and - well, no, I didn't work on any of the 17 abstracts today.  The grant proposal is submitted, and one of the manuscripts.  Most of the rest only need letters to go with them.

Come Saturday, I'm going to the graduation party for a woman I've worked with off and on for the entire time I've been with Dr. Sahn.  She's just finished her Master's in Counseling.  

On Sunday, I'm going to watch Clear Cut with my friend down the building - it's about our hometown and the situation involving the scholarship foundation the local millionaire started.  It continues to get uglier.

Dinner was mixed vegetables of a variation with lots of corn in.  I think I liked the chopped broccoli/snow peas/carrot/water chestnut mix a lot better.  This will be another make my own, I think - much cheaper that way (I have about 10 bags of the asparagus/mushroom/onion blend I made up last night, too).

My new office suite neighbor is an enthusiastic Democrat.  She is entirely disappointed with Mrs. Clinton, and for reasons she wasn't very clear about, does NOT like Jeff Merkley.  Another Novick fan - I can live with that!

chicken a la king in a veloute sauce base. It was intended for pie filling, but my Meniere's is acting up and has been all day long. Grr.

Which has meant I have been watching TV all day long. At least now we get the History Channel.

Not a lot to say, but I'm wanted to drop in. Leaving Friday night for my trip to Scotland so I will be even less here, not that it means much these days. But, hi y'all. ;-)