Random Bit of the Day

I've always disliked cooking and found myself drawn to folks who know how to cook and cook very well.  Well, now in my quest for healthy yet delicious alternatives to the many tasty temptations of the world, I'm slowly learning more about how to cook (and kind of enjoying it too!).  I used this website's brilliantly easy tutorial on how to saute chicken.  I would very much like to try to make a risotto the next dinner I cook for the household.  It would give them the chance to work out like they've been doing after work this past couple weeks and me the chance to practice my kitchen prowess.

Random Bit of the Day

Just read this interesting article about home remedies:

7 Home Remedies That Actually Work

Random Bit of the Day

I think the reason blogger was being janky last night and not loading properly had everything to do with the fact that I was trying to stream a movie online...
I was browsing one of my favorite movie streaming sites looking for something good to watch when I happened upon the original 1974 version of The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.  I had no idea that the 2009 version was a remake!  I totally loved The Taking of Pelham 123 with John Travolta and Denzel Washington.  After finding out that Walter Mathau was in the original, I felt I just had to see it.  I did a little research while waiting for my video to load and found that the original dispatcher's name was Lt. Zachary Garber but the remade character's name was Walter Garber.  It's a nice touch and a cool tribute to the late great Walter Mathau.  I didn't end up watching much but the intro to the old movie since it hadn't finished loading and I had to get to bed for today's early rising.  But I will be watching the rest of it when I can and I expect that it will be just as awesome as the remake.

Random Bit of the Day

I've been experiencing difficulties getting to sleep at a decent time these past few nights (for reasons completely obvious to me, but not worth sharing).  Last night, I was explaining my woes to my best guy pal Jason via Skype video chat when he said I should check out some video on YouTube.  So I opened a new Safari browser and the front page story on my Yahoo homepage at that particular moment was this:

5 Foods That Help You Sleep

What's really interesting is that I had just eaten a banana about 30 minutes before.  Synchronicity is awesome and creepy like that.  Unfortunately I couldn't really tell if the banana actually helped since we ended up talking until almost 1 am...

Random Bit of the Day

I just finished watching the movie The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.  This would be the first time I've seen it from beginning to end.  HOLY CRAP AWESOMENESS! :D  The part I find the most entertaining is that the little girl in the movie, Emma, is played by the actress Madeline Zima.  She's had cameo roles in tons of different network shows like Law and Order, JAG, Touched by an Angel, King of the Hill, Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven, Ghost Whisperer and Grey's Anatomy (only a few of which I actually watch or watched, ie the linked shows).  But her bigger roles were on The Nanny (barf) and on Heroes (yay!).

Random Bit of the Day

I took Z to lunch with Jon today; we had Chinese Express (naughty me).  Afterward we hung out at his house watching season 4 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  Sweet Dee is my favorite character, especially when she's drunk or performing in public.

Random Bit of the Day

I happened upon this site in my quest to find out the nutrition value of an orange last night.  Here's some other superfoods I've been eating in my journey to health:

Awesome nutritional information about Oranges

Awesome nutritional information about Cauliflower

Awesome nutritional information about Baby Carrots 

Awesome nutritional information about Asparagus

Awesome nutritional information about Bananas

Awesome nutritional information about Green Beans

Awesome nutritional information about Brown Rice

Awesome nutritional information about Coffee

Awesome nutritional information about American Cheese

Random Bit of the Day

So I've been stewing on this all day long...

Did you know that Sir Alec Baldwin narrates a totally awesome narrative wildlife show on NatGeoWild  called Planet Carnivore???

I saw snippets of 3 episodes today in my fragmented Z-day littered with work on the mural and working out.  The illustrious three:  Sharks, Polar Bears, Lions.  I love Alec Baldwin in 30 Rock.  But who doesn't, really??

Random Bit of the Day

I was just poking through my old sketchbooks and notebooks on my bookshelf (books, books, books...didn't think I said it enough times in that sentence).  I came across an idea notebook from high school and found this poem written inside:

Reflecting Beauty by Pamela Dugdale

Small Child, clear crystal

Bright and clear

Faceted as none before you

Catching the light from every lovely thing

and turning it to rainbow

Reflecting beauty back into the world

Making all things new

I know I liked it back when I jotted it down in my notebook but that's nothing compared to now.  Now, with a heavy anniversary looming ahead this weekend, I'm thinking about motherhood.  I've spent a huge amount of time with my nephew but he could never replace what I lost.  And I guess now that a year's gone by I can agree with Nature's assessment that 2010 was not the right time for me to become a mother.  With all I've experienced this past year I know that I can and will be a great mom...when the time is right.  Right now is the time to focus on kicking my career into the fast lane.  That's the really tricky part.  That and landing a Mr. Wonderful to father my babe(s).  But I digress...

I just read a little further along in the notebook and found that the notes carried over into early freshman year at SAIC (2004) including:

-detailed (yet cryptic) notes from a class trip to the Art Institute.

-a list of things for my family to bring out to me on their Thanksgiving trip to Chicago

-a Christmas list and shopping agenda

-the first 9 songs I emailed to my sister Jessica and her college roommate Tammy as the "Song of the Day"
-an AWFUL list of books to read, of which I've only read one. HAH!

Now if that's not a random post from beginning to end, I just don't know what is.

Random Bit of the Day

It just took me five minutes to get this page to load...wtf blogger?

Whatever, this performance of this song just popped into my head when I was driving home from work a little bit ago.  It took place on the second season of The Sing Off, just last month on NBC.  The group, Street Corner Symphony, was the runner-up at the finale, but this performance of Creep by Radiohead was phenomenal.  It still gives me goosebumps.  I hope they still get a contract or something after seeing how talented they are.


Street Corner Symphony "Creep" Sing Off Performance
Street Corner Symphony "Creep (Studio version)"

Random Bit of the Day

This is too damn cute not to like...Angela and I cracked up when we saw it for the first time last night


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjt5qUcWGUI

Though I can't eat this cereal anymore on account of the sugar, I must say that as a pro couch potato, this commercial is a job well done.

Random Bit of the Day

I've been meaning to make this a random bit of the day since I first saw this poster at work almost 2 weeks ago...I just kept forgetting the link in my car...

At any rate, the poster is of my favorite place and other home, Chicago.  And I MUST HAVE IT!!!


http://www.orkposters.com/chicago.html



The poster I saw was the 24" x 34" sweet blue...and the customer had gotten a narrow white custom mat to fit in a 24" x 36" pewter Trendsetter poster frame.  Eww...If I were to get a poster, I'd get the 18" x 24" black and white for $22 and put it into a black 18"x 24" frame.  Buuuut, now that I've browsed the site a little I'd rather pay $27 for an 18" x 24" screenprint, either the Windy City Blue Print or the Neo-Punk Black Print.  I will be getting this...eventually.  Maybe tax return or my birthday...

Random Bit of the Day

Jason reminded me last night of this most awesome invention of our dear Benjamin Franklin and quite possibly the most beautiful sounding instrument ever, the glass armonica.

Glass Armonica
Tchaikowsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" on the Glass Armonica

Random Bit of the Day

Zidane turned 9 months old yesterday.  I just realized when I looked at the calendar.  He's still almost completely sedentary.  While it's not that unusual for a baby boy his age to not be moving around on his own by now, it's totally awesome for me... I have complete confidence that he won't move from where I put him if I leave the room for a minute (at least not far enough to get into anything).  But that could change at any time since he's trying really hard to figure it out.

At any rate, the random bit I really wanted to share is actually a tidbit from the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.  Terri recently decided to use the 'points' we earn for recycling on a couple magazine subscriptions for the house.  This is the second issue we've gotten.  I haven't read much Cosmo in the last few years so I had forgotten how much crap is in there about sex and relationship nonsense.  However, one of the articles in this issue is how to look leaner in 2 weeks, an easy workout plan that targets abs, buns and thighs.  Hah, easy my ass!  I tried all of the different positions, the required 30 reps each and some were pretty hard...and I'm not that out of shape!  I did like a few moves so I'll be incorporating them into my regular workout but I will more than likely be working out more than the 3 times per week they recommend.  Hopefully I'll look a lot leaner in two weeks but my goal is still to be looking fly for the summer.

Random Bit of the Day

I went to the grocery store this evening in an effort to stem the cabin fever.  I was going to pick up some asparagus to do this recipe I found on that tv show Tyler's Ultimate.  However, the asparagus was almost 5 bucks per pound!  I didn't buy any but I did want to find the recipe so I will be prepared when I do end up getting a bundle...

Steamed Asparagus

Random Bit of the Day

This word makes me sad and upset.  And the worst part is that it happens to me all the time...


patronize
verb
-treat condescendingly, condescend to, look down on, talk down to, put down, treat like a child, treat with disdain


...just like 20 minutes ago.  I guess I'll be spending the rest of the night holed up in my room despite a nasty case of cabin fever.  Take that random bit and suck it.

Random Bit of the Day

I made a similar version of this delicious savory monkey bread recipe the other night to share with Matt and Angela.  We didn't have it at our Christmas breakfast dinner like I had hoped because apparently I forgot to request that Jessica make it (though I know I requested someone to make it!).  At any rate, it's amazingly tasty but it doesn't really follow my new diet plan very well so I won't be making it much.  But just in case any of you food-loving folks out there would like a taste of pure awesome, here is the recipe (which I requested from my sister after Christmas):

Savory Monkey Bread

1/2 cup melted butter
1 clove minced garlic
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 packages of refrigerator buttermilk biscuits

Mix seasoning with butter. Cut up biscuits (6-8 pcs per biscuit) and dip in butter mix, place evenly in greased fluted pan (bunt cake pan). Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 to 20 min or until golden brown.  Remove from pan and serve.

Random Bit of the Day

I haven't been enamored by a video game in FOREVER.  I really like all the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games and have from the beginning.  Other than that, I don't play any games, I mostly watch other people play (unless I get bored).  However, my brother/roommate Aaron is an avid gamer...He's on his XBox  360 at least a couple hours every night and a whole lot more on his days off.  After Christmas he bought himself a Playstation 3 and a few games.  One of these games has in 3 days become my new favorite game to play.  I used to be into the old school Nintendo games like Mario Bros, Mario Kart and Donkey Kong.  But this one may just take the cake...Little Big Planet.  I love my little personalized sackperson and all my stickers and decorations.  The levels are interesting, clever and fun.  You can even make your own levels and share them online (although I've found that the levels made by other people tend to be a lot tougher).  I'm not all that far in the game yet and though I do plan on plodding right along while I'm home on my Z days, I've definitely got to limit how much time I play or I'm not going to do anything else.  That is extremely bizarre for me...

Random Bit of the Day

I went over to Matt and Angela's tonight...we totally just vegged out and watched TV.  I saw this absolutely fascinating show called Extreme Couponing about people who save oodles of cash by being ridiculously OCD about clipping coupons.  Here's a little tidbit more about that.... http://thekrazycouponlady.com/2010/12/28/good-morning-america-tlcs-extreme-couponing/

We also watched that show What Not to Wear.  It made me take a look at what I'm wearing tonight and laugh a little.  Right now I'm wearing a pair a light blue/green fleece drawstring pants (with a burn hole and several paint stains), a pink/white floral sports bra loosely covered by a wife-beater style tank with a black/white hexagonal pattern print, a black hoodie with a black/white horizontal stripe pattern inside the hood, purple/tan argyle socks...and earlier a multi-colored pastel striped scarf and my fur-lined short snow boots.  W. O. W.  I am the epitome of style.

And that was the random bit of the day.

Random Bit of the Day

So this random bit is going to be really really random... We've been kind of half watching reruns of The Office on TBS this evening.  And Dwight said something in passing about him and Michael being like the Lone Ranger and Tonto...which made me think of this song.  I kind of like it and haven't heard it in awhile.



Wild West Show by Big and Rich

Hey-ya...