tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374827472024-03-07T00:21:13.685-08:00SaraInSanFranMy Musings About Life in San FranciscoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-15509627262187216872008-04-28T21:44:00.001-07:002008-04-28T21:45:48.312-07:00DiabeetusI doubt many of the non-D crowd will find this funny, but Wilford Brimley cracks me up. That is all.<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2hNu1I9r_1A&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2hNu1I9r_1A&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-34474834936264836222008-04-24T20:32:00.000-07:002008-04-25T07:47:23.033-07:00Can you have one without the other?I was in a car recently, on a long drive, with a professor and some fellow students. During the course of the ride, I referred to Zack, Zeph's brother, as my brother-in-law. The immediate response, understandably, was, "Oh, so you guys are married?"<br /><br />"No, we're not. In fact, we're going to try and avoid it for as long as possible." <br /><br />Later I felt the need to explain, especially to the married individual in the car, that this is not because I am anti-marriage in general. Sure, I think there is a lot to be said for standing in solidarity with those who cannot be married, and that has definitely influenced my decision, and marriage does work for some people. Just not me.<br /><br />My reason behind not marrying has always been that the institution is meaningless to me, and I refuse to go through the pageantry for the sake of other people. I was willing to do it when it still meant something to Zeph, but it doesn't anymore. Marriage brings us no more security in the permanence of our relationship than we feel now.<br /><br />Did my parents' divorce somehow influence that decision? Probably. Just because I marry you doesn't mean I am not going to leave you. It just means that I have to complete some paperwork after I walk out the door. Is that a harsh way to view it? Yes. Is it cynical? Yes. Is it unromantic? Yes.<br /><br />But that doesn't mean that my life is unromantic. Romance is what happens in your day-to-day routine as you interact with your partner. Romance is being awoken daily by a freshly-showered body crawling back into bed for one more dose of warmth before starting the day. Romance is brushing somebody's shoulder, or leg, or face, as you walk past him when entering a room. Romance is falling asleep late because the conversation after the lights go out is just that interesting. <br /><br />And I don't need a ring or vows or a slip of paper in order to experience any of those things. I just need his word. That's enough for me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-83913843906610896872008-03-18T21:29:00.000-07:002008-03-18T21:54:25.447-07:00Dear (Old) ShoesDear Shoes,<br /><br />I am sorry to tell you this, but I now have to refer to you as Old Shoes. Yes, you read that correctly. Much like a man going through a mid-life crisis, I have replaced you with a newer and sportier model.<br /><br />I know that our relationship has been rough. There was the time that I left you for New Pointy Shoes. But the red dye inside stained my feet a color appropriate for my adulterous ways, and I knew that only your pure white insides could surround my toes.<br /><br />Then there was the recent fling with oh-so-cute Polka Dot Vans. But after time Vans began to smell, and I felt myself washing repeatedly to remove the scent of disloyalty before I came crawling back to you.<br /><br />But this time it is over for good.<br /><br />It's not entirely your fault. I am the one who scuffed you repeatedly when I failed to tread carefully, and I take full responsibility for using you so often that I wore out your back end beyond repair. We did try to make it work, but the new sole I paid for did not restore you to your pristine former self.<br /><br />This is why I must move on. New Shoes can run with me when I need to catch a bus. New Shoes can go with me everywhere - to the office, on a hike, or shopping around town. New Shoes fit like a glove from the very first day, and our relationship hasn't yet caused me an ounce of pain. And, most importantly, New Shoes do not cause me to develop blisters that need medical attention like some of the cheap Young Shoes I have heard of.<br /><br />Thus, Old Shoes, I leave you. We can continue as friends, but only if you understand that New Shoes are now my primary shoes, my everyday shoes, my I-love-these-shoes! shoes.<br /><br />Thanks for all the good times,<br />Sara<br /><br />P.S. Here's a picture of New Shoes. Do you blame me for leaving you?<br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarainsanfran/2344994574/" title="New Love by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2025/2344994574_4527bf4d4c_m.jpg" width="240" height="194" alt="New Love" /></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-42334915878179855512008-03-05T09:59:00.000-08:002008-03-05T10:58:24.292-08:00Quote of the WeekAs I was walking home last night, I overheard a snippet of conversation from another group of students:<br /><blockquote>"You guys, I finally figured out what I am going to do with my life. I am going to be a mortgage broker."</blockquote>I chuckled to myself because I have made many such statements over the course of my college career, and indeed throughout my life.<br /><br />Age 8: I wanted to be a teacher<br />Age 12: I wanted to be a lawyer<br />Age 16: I wanted to be a mediator for family and divorce cases<br />Age 18: I wanted to be a counselor<br />Age 19: I wanted to be a therapist who specialized in sex and sexuality issues<br />Age 20: I wanted being a diabetes educator<br />Age 21: I wanted to be a college professor (specifically one who lectures while sitting on a table in the front of the room like all the cool profs in the movies)<br /><br />And now that I am graduating? I want a job that I don't hate that will give me health benefits. <br /><br />And eventually I want to go to graduate school, but definitely not now, and maybe not even a year from now. I want to find a grad school where I can study what I want to, but also one that is in the Bay Area.<br /><br />And I want to infiltrate a video game company and start a covert operation in order to improve representations of women in games. And I want to teach, either full time or part time. And I want to find somebody to fund the crazy web project ideas I have floating around in my head. And I want to work with Zeph on the crazy web project ideas floating around in his head. And maybe I want to do a combination of some or all of these things.<br /><br />For once, I am fine with not knowing where the hell things are headed. Life will work itself out. That having been said, the next person who asks me what I am going to do when I graduate is getting a punch in the nose.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-40538026272446879132008-02-28T15:01:00.001-08:002008-02-28T15:58:06.364-08:00Battle for the Microwave<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.marjennings.com/images/cooking/lasagna_mn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://www.marjennings.com/images/cooking/lasagna_mn.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>In an attempt to save some cash, I have started bringing my lunch with me a few days a week. Cassidy and I eat lunch together after class every Tuesday and Thursday in Club Ed, a grab-and-go lunch station run by USF's cafeteria company. Luckily, this cafeteria spot has a microwave, as well as plenty of free silverware, condiments, etc. should I ever need them.<br /><br />Today I brought a frozen spinach lasagna from Trader Joe's (which was awesome by the way), and thus I needed the microwave. So I tore the plastic film off the top of the lasagna, read the instructions (15 minutes? no way!), popped the lasagna in the microwave, and set the timer for 10 minutes.<br /><br />Given that most food usually takes much less time to heat, I was feeling kind of bad for monopolizing the microwave. But nobody else seemed to need it, and damnit, I need to eat too, so I tried to subdue my inner guilt. 7 minutes left to warm lasagna!<br /><br />A girl sitting toward the back of the room got up and made her way toward the microwave. It looked like she had some sort of lean cuisine, which takes very little time to microwave, so I considered letting her pop in her food. After all, I was only hoping that my lasagna would be done in 10 minutes, it might take as long as 15. What is proper public microwave etiquette if your food isn't done and somebody is waiting? 5 minutes left on the microwave.<br /><br />As my brain was churning the girl from the back of the room reached the microwave, and must have clearly seen that there was food already being cooked within. But, for whatever reason, she opened the door of the microwave. I thought she would put her food in with mine, which would have been cool. I'm down with sharing my microwave. 4 minutes left.<br /><br />She took my lasagna out of the microwave. She set it on top of the microwave. She put in her own food in, and started it cooking. At that point I was not so accepting of this communal microwave business. Still, I figured that if she took my food out then she must have had a good reason. She must have been in a hurry to eat. She must have had a class that starts soon. There must have been some reason she took my food out and replaced it with her own! The microwave dinged. Her food was done.<br /><br />Only it wasn't done! She hurried over and stirred her food, then put it back in for another 3 minutes. I was no longer thinking she had any excuse, I was just wondering how the hell to politely bring to this girl's attention that THERE WAS ALREADY FOOD IN THAT MICROWAVE! The microwave dinged again. There was no movement from the microwave thief. I stood up, marched over, pulled her food out, threw it on top of the microwave, and stuffed my own back in again. I set the timer and withdrew my invitingly warm lasagna a mere 4 minutes later. <br /><br />I swear it was another 10 minutes before microwave thief emerged from the back of the room to claim her lean cuisine, which by then was lukewarm and seasoned with despicableness.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-385134503956517942008-02-06T20:29:00.001-08:002008-02-06T21:55:23.015-08:00Organic Christmas in February!I had two New Year's resolutions this year: eat more vegetables, and go to the gym on a more regular basis. I am slowly starting to find more fun classes to take at the gym, so the only war left to wage was on the vegetable front. Unfortunately, my grocery store of choice (Trader Joe's) is not so great in the produce department. The produce goes bad in less than a week, some of it has been trucked in from Mexico, and they don't always have all the organic options I want. Thus, last week I did some research and signed up for an organic vegetable delivery service called Westside Organics.<br /><br />I was excited even before my first box arrived. I squealed with joy this past Friday when the contents of my bi-weekly box were posted to the website. I clicked in amazement as I changed some items in my box and added a few fruit items to my all-vegetable smorgasbord. And this afternoon, on the day of my first delivery, my jaw dropped in disbelief as, after practically running home from class, my box was nowhere to be found on my porch.<br /><br />Luckily, it hadn't been stolen by my envious neighbors. Upon opening the door, I found that Faye, my wonderful roommate, had moved it inside for me earlier that day. Whew! I dragged my prize into the kitchen, and immediately tore open the lid. There were so many vegetables! I was so excited! I wondered how the hell Zeph and I would consume all of this food in 2 weeks!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarainsanfran/2248201172/" title="Vegetable Delivery! by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/2248201172_e76b6e1864.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Vegetable Delivery!" /></a></center><br />Of course, I then pulled everything out of the box to snap pictures of it all (for you blog-readers), and then I stuffed it all into my fridge. Well, all of it except the potatoes and the onions. Did you know you shouldn't keep potatoes and onions in the fridge? Something about the humidity makes them spoil faster. So those babies got placed in the cupboard.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarainsanfran/2248203656/" title="Vegetable Delivery! by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2204/2248203656_b8bde9c86e.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Vegetable Delivery!" /></a></center><br />My review so far? This place rocks! The produce all looks really good, especially for being grown without pesticides. They also delivered some grocery items for me, including a carton of eggs from a farm in Santa Cruz, and everything perishable was packed with ice packs to keep it fresh on the porch (unnecessary in SF, but it was still a nice gesture). Right now my only problem is that I don't seem to have enough room to store everything! However, that is easily fixed by getting a smaller delivery every week rather than the huge one I am currently getting every-other-week.<br /><br />Alright, alright, you want to talk price, and I understand that. We paid $80 for all the items that came in our box (the base price for the all-veggie box is $50, and I added some extra items). But! Before you fall over, here's what that money got us:<br /><ul>1 small avocado, 1 bunch of green chard, 1 meyer lemon, 2lbs roma tomatoes, 0.5lb of loose leaf spinach, 1 hunk of celery, 1 bunch of basil, 1lb tangelos, 2 apples, 2lb yukon potatoes, 4 onions, 1 head of red cabbage, 1lb baby bok choy, 1 head of lettuce, 4lb red potatoes, 1 bunch of carrots, 1 bunch of broccoli, 1lb of leeks, 1 bunch of green onions, 1 bunch of radishes, and one bunch of kale.</ul><br />See? That's a lot of food! Actually, it's more than I wanted since I thought I had removed 2lbs of the red potatoes when I added the 2lbs of yukon potatoes, but I digress...<br /><br />Of course, I had to make something delicious with this fresh produce for dinner. What's a girl to do with 1 avocado, a bunch of basil, and 2lbs of tomatoes? Make a tomato salad! <br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarainsanfran/2247411067/" title="Tomato Salad by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2247411067_d4d34f2a4f.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Tomato Salad" /></a></center><br />It was delicious, considering that tomatoes aren't in season. Just cut up some tomatoes and avocado, add finely chopped basil, drizzle with olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste. Yum!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-10021343071661535202008-01-16T10:26:00.000-08:002008-01-22T20:53:41.786-08:00Recipe: Breakfast BurritoAlthough I try and plan a week's worth of meals ahead of time, things don't always work out that way. Last week was one of those times, and I had nothing to make for dinner on Thursday. Rather than order out, I scrounged around and found the ingredients to throw together a pretty good breakfast burrito. Here's what ya do:<br /><br />It's always a good idea to get all the ingredients out first. For my burrito, I decided to use eggs, hash browns, cheese, sour cream, and salsa, all wrapped in a flour tortilla. If you want to add meat, it's a good idea to cook it before you add it to the egg mixture.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2196110373/" title="Breakfast Burrito Ingredients by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2196110373_ccafa92848_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Breakfast Burrito Ingredients" /></a></center><br />The first step is to brown the hash browns. You could do this in a pan, but I found it really easy to brown them in the toaster oven. These are frozen hash brown patties that Zeph picked out at TJ's one day, so they were just hanging around in the freezer.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2196109073/" title="Heating the Hash Browns by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2073/2196109073_c579d3cce0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Heating the Hash Browns" /></a></center><br />While the hash browns are crisping, you can prepare your eggs. I used 6 eggs to make 3 burritos, which comes out to 2 eggs per burrito. This was a good amount, and made burritos that were easily wrapped. To make the eggs fluffier, add a little water or milk. I just found out last night that Jacques Pepin recommends adding sour cream, so I might try that in the future.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2196107885/" title="Scrambled Eggs by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2196107885_c5e62b0d56_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Scrambled Eggs" /></a></center><br />Cook the eggs until slightly runny. You want to turn off the pan before the eggs are completely cooked, and then let them finish cooking using the residual heat in the pan. If you wait until the eggs looked perfectly cooked to turn them off, then they will end up overcooked. This is bad. Once the eggs are cooked, add the hash browns (I mashed mine with a spoon as I mixed them in) and some grated cheese. There should be enough heat left in the eggs and hash browns to thoroughly melt the cheese.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2196106665/" title="Burrito Mixture by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/2196106665_dc9acaff0a_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Burrito Mixture" /></a></center><br />To assemble the burrito, spoon some of the egg mixture onto a tortilla and add whatever toppings you desire. I used sour cream and salsa, and I would have added some avocado if I had had any.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2196894040/" title="Finished Burrito by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2196894040_5235595bf5.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Finished Burrito" /></a></center><br />Fold, and eat! I love cooking on nights like this because half of the fun is poking around in the cupboard and finding out what the hell will go good together. Don't be afraid to try new combinations!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-48286275637576800562008-01-09T11:09:00.000-08:002008-01-16T10:57:29.059-08:00Recipe: Portobello and Goat Cheese SandwichesAfter the carnage of Monday night's dinner, it was time to tone it down a bit with an easy vegetarian meal. Here are the steps to making wonderful portobello mushroom and goat cheese sandwiches.<br /><br />Grill some portobello mushrooms until grill marks appear. Don't wait for them to be super black, because you need them to stay on the grill a little longer after the initial grilling period.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2180265673/" title="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2404/2180265673_7c18a9d6a7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches" /></a></center><br />Yes, that is a George Foreman grill. It is one of the best pieces of kitchen equipment I own. One day I hope to own the model with adjustable feet so that it can be a slanted grill or a flat grill. There's not much fat to be drained off in the mushrooms, so all that happens is some water loss.<br /><br />After the mushrooms are mostly grilled, place some goat cheese on top and let the cheese melt. I prefer putting the cheese on the side with the gills because it sits in the natural concave shell of the mushroom.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2180266193/" title="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2028/2180266193_717b28daa0_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches" /></a></center><br />While the cheese is melting, get out whatever kind of bread you want the sandwich to be on. Sometimes I use whole-wheat buns, but I happened to have some focaccia in the house, so I used that. If using a flat bread, cut the bread in half length-wise.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2180267077/" title="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2265/2180267077_f325a21d6d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches" /></a></center><br />After you have sliced the bread, spread on whatever condiments you wish. I spread half of my bread with pesto and the other half with a little bit of mayonnaise.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2180268367/" title="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2180268367_b408084127_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches" /></a></center><br />Once the cheese is melted, assemble the sandwich, and eat! Extra produce can be added, if it is desired. I added some slices of tomato to my sandwich for extra moistness. Mmmmmmmmmmm<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2181057886/" title="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2317/2181057886_8ca31fc9d3.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Portobello and Goat Cheese Sandwiches" /></a></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-84223258675381105042008-01-08T10:44:00.000-08:002008-01-08T10:46:22.565-08:00YouTube Debut!I posted my first video to YouTube yesterday. It's a short clip of me deboning the chicken that Zeph took with his canon digital camera. Check it out...<br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wt85e0Zffis&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wt85e0Zffis&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-54907747811928226782008-01-08T10:09:00.000-08:002008-01-08T10:43:06.088-08:00Recipe: Stuffed ChickenLast Friday when San Francisco was experiencing a huge storm and Father Privett closed campus, I sat on my couch and watched hours of cooking shows on PBS. The segment that intrigued me most was Jacques Pepin deboning a raw chicken and then stuffing it. "I can do that!" I thought to myself. So I set out to do it.<br /><br />You start with a whole chicken, and make a slice down its back. Cut into the front of the breast to remove the wishbone, and then start peeling the meat down the front of the carcass. You can use a knife here and there, but mostly the meat will just come away by pulling with brute force.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176811369/" title="Peeling Away the Breast Meat by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/2176811369_431f41155c_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Peeling Away the Breast Meat" /></a></center><br />After you have the front and back of the main carcass removed, you need to take the bones out of the wings and legs. To do this, work the meat away from the bone using a knife and your hands, slowly turning the legs and wings inside out in the process.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176807433/" title="Cutting Down the Leg Bone by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/2176807433_7eedce8b9f_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Cutting Down the Leg Bone" /></a></center><br />After enough slicing the leg bones will be free. Look at how the joints still work!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2177599276/" title="Deboned Leg Joint by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2268/2177599276_3d92d46eca_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Deboned Leg Joint" /></a></center><br />Eventually, after all the work, the chicken will be free of bones. It still looks like a chicken, just a very flat chicken.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176803867/" title="Flattened Chicken by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/2176803867_efc4083243_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Flattened Chicken" /></a></center><br />Now that the chicken is deboned, you can start stuffing the bird. My stuffing consisted of one package of chopped frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed dry), one carton of mushrooms (tops only, chopped fine), two cloves of garlic and one onion (both of which were also chopped fine), and some goat cheese. Fill all of the empty cavities in the legs and wings with spinachy goodness.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2177593834/" title="Stuffing the Chicken by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2056/2177593834_cc21e824f7_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Stuffing the Chicken" /></a></center><br />Reform the chicken into a chicken shape, taking care to wrap all of the stuffing so it doesn't spill out.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176801181/" title="Reformed Chicken by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2176801181_31649acbe8_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Reformed Chicken" /></a></center><br />Then tie the chicken with kitchen twine or some other kind of oven-safe thread material (white embroidery thread worked well for me).<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176800721/" title="Secured Chicken by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2044/2176800721_b009ef4c5b_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="Secured Chicken" /></a></center><br />Pop it in a pan and roast it in a 350 degree oven until cooked through. Mine took about an hour and a half.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2177590966/" title="Finished Roast by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2283/2177590966_d119c7dc41_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Finished Roast" /></a></center><br />Slice<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176793211/" title="Inside the Roast by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2176793211_74950d95b4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Inside the Roast" /></a></center><br />Eat!<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2176790929/" title="Ready to Eat! by sarainsanfran, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2286/2176790929_277ea3a638.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Ready to Eat!" /></a></center><br />See <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/sets/72157603662450436/">my flickr page</a> for more photos, as well as for how to make the gravy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-72513234104363821342007-12-19T11:36:00.001-08:002007-12-19T13:28:51.696-08:00Christmas Tree Shopping, Sans Car<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2118400260/in/set-72157603480138584/"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2358/2118400260_893ac124b3.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a>After deciding to buy a giant Christmas tree this year, then walking to the location where we wanted to buy the tree only to find an <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2117599489/">empty lot</a>, and then taking the bus to a lot quite far from the house, we finally found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2118379068/in/set-72157603480138584/"><i>the</i> tree</a>.<br /><br />Of course, the tree was at least 20 blocks from our apartment, it was rather heavy, and all we brought with us to help move the tree was a laundry cart. And, as fate would have it, once the stand was nailed into the bottom of the tree it would no longer fit in the laundry cart standing upright.<br /><br />So how do you walk a Christmas tree home in San Francisco? Lay it <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2118384646/in/set-72157603480138584/">across the shopping cart</a>, and have one person push while two people <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2118392256/in/set-72157603480138584/">guide the front</a> of the tree. Rotate spots every so often so nobody gets too tired, and be sure to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14564261@N07/2118396742/in/set-72157603480138584/">take lots of pictures</a> along the way.<br /><br />Even though it was the most trying, this is probably the most fun I have had getting a Christmas tree in years.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-43890227278451738272007-12-07T18:43:00.000-08:002007-12-08T10:14:53.454-08:00More Reasons to Love EtsyMy friend Christina turned me on to Etsy last year, and this year when I started my Christmas shopping I started surfing Etsy again. I forgot how awesome this website is! The items are homemade (most of them), they are sold directly by the people who make them (most of the time), and they are funky and fantastic (all of the time!). But, this year, I found a few more reasons to love Etsy.<br /><br />1. Toy recalls got your Christmas panties in a bunch? Etsy has great gifts for children that are lead-free. Check out this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8294480">adorable doll</a>, this awesome <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8324597">logging truck</a>, or this great <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8330287">robot craft kit</a>. (Is a robot craft kit gender neutral? That's what I was going for. Personally, I really want that logging truck!)<br /><br />2. If your family is anything like mine, the post-present-opening paper carnage takes over the living room. Not only is wrapping paper expensive, it's not exactly the best solution for the environment. But the funnies from the Sunday paper (my stand-by solution to a lack of wrapping paper) don't exactly put me in the holiday spirit. So this year I am wrapping all my gifts in cloth gift bags. The <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5127842">OleBagLady</a> has a bunch of great cloth gift bags on Etsy, and plenty of bags with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8322695">Christmas prints</a>. Save these bags and reuse them year, after year, after year.<br /><br />3. Everybody loves unique gifts, and on Etsy you are sure to find something unique. But what if you don't find something your gift-receiver will absolutely love? Send somebody on Etsy a message and ask him/her to make something for you. This isn't The Gap, people! You <i>can</i> go straight to the top and make special requests. OleBagLady and I (Tami is her name) tossed around ideas and she is making me gift bags in a custom size for the gifts I am making in my pottery class.<br /><br />Ok, enough procrastination. Time to go finish out this semester, so it can finally be Christmas!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-4882384200725281432007-12-02T20:45:00.000-08:002007-12-02T20:50:57.723-08:00Retro Sara in San FranSara in San Fran started as an email newsletter that I sent to my family friends my Freshman year of college. It was published quasi-weekly, and it had a list of sections that appeared in each issue. One of the sections was "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." Here's one edition of that section.<br /><br />The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly <br />The Good: The best thing about the school cafeteria on weekend mornings is that you are almost expected to arrive in your pajamas. I can get up, put a sweatshirt on over my jammy top, go get some pancakes, walk back to my room, and still have plenty of time to watch cartoons in my pajamas. I don’t think that sleep attire is accepted in any restaurants other than the ones on campus. <br /><br />The Bad: Struggling to turn the knob on your heater so the heater will turn on, finally getting the heater turned on all the way, and then not being able to turn it off. Second to this is having an idea on how to fix the heater, but not having the tools with which to do it. Why doesn't anybody bring a large wrench with them to school?<br /><br />The Ugly: The fact that the garbage in the hallway (less than 10 feet away from the door of my room) perpetually smells. However, it never smells of the same thing, as the mixture of food and trash in it changes from day to day. Today it smells like old cat food. Not dry cat food, wet cat food. I actually sprayed some Glade air freshener in the hallway. Now it smells like a mixture of fresh apple scent and wet cat food.<br /><br />**I should mention that shortly after this issue got sent out, I received a toolkit in the mail from my Nonna, which of course contained a wrench.**Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-62472855088448422662007-11-29T13:50:00.001-08:002007-11-29T13:53:01.948-08:00Word Verification is EvilWhy is it that I fail miserably whenever I have to type in the letters in those annoying word verification images? Is it just me? Does anybody else have this problem?<br /><br />What makes it worse is that when I mess it up, blogger obviously throws me an easier set of letters. It's treating me like the slow kid in class, and I hate being treated like the slow kid.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-87778609026123670662007-11-27T17:52:00.000-08:002007-11-27T18:12:07.465-08:00Trader Joe's Finds of the WeekThe beer edition!<br /><br />Zeph and I like to try new beers from TJs every so often (okay, usually once a week). We each get a six pack so that we can try two different types of beer (plus, if one of us hates it, the other will probably drink it). This week we went all out and got three six packs because neither of us wanted to waste a beer-of-the-week pick on the pumpkin ale, but we were both dying to try it. Here are my reviews of this week's brews.<br /><br />Pumpkin Ale by Kennebunkport Brewing Company: Does it taste like pumpkin? Yes. Does it taste like beer? Yes. Is that weird? Strangely, it works. This beer is fairly sweet, and not too hoppy nor too malty. An all-around weird and tasty beer.<br /><br />Henninger Premium Frankfurt Beer: An ok beer. It tastes (and looks) like a Heineken, so don't expect much more than you would get from your average supermarket beer.<br /><br />Black Toad Distinctive Dark Ale: I love this beer! After having this and the TJs special ale, I have decided that dark beer full of toasted malt flavor is definitely my thing. I wish I could come up with a convincing, logical argument to accompany such a spectacular ale, but I can't. All I can do is continue to sit here drinking it (yes, I am drinking beer and blogging simultaneously) and insist that you go out and pick up a six pack.<br /><br />P.S. In case anybody was wondering, TJs isn't paying me to write any of these crazy posts, though I am thinking of asking for a small sum.<br /><br />P.P.S.S. Yes, I am drinking at 6pm. Yes, I am a busy college student, and I will be doing homework later. No, the two are not incompatible.<br /><br />P.P.P.S.S.S. If you (the reader) happen to be a professor of mine, I promise I am not about to do any homework for your class.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-77629933526269847662007-11-21T19:24:00.000-08:002007-11-21T19:30:58.657-08:00New OLPC BlogI have a lot to say about OLPC, and the musings on the project and my experiences with my XO laptop don't really jive with this blog. People searching for OLPC info should be able to find it without sifting through posts such as the best items to buy at Trader Joe's, and people who only care about my random posts on gender, gaming, and USF shouldn't be bombarded with posts about OLPC.<br /><br />The solution? A new blog! Do I have time to maintain two blogs? No. Which is why the OLPC blog (<a href="http://olpcsf.blogspot.com">olpcsf.blogspot.com</a>) is co-authored. Currently, I am the only one who has posted, but I am confident that the other two authors will pipe up once they get their hot little hands on their laptops.<br /><br />If you or anybody you know is interested in being added as an author, please let me know. I hope it will become a hotspot for a variety of experiences and opinions, as well as a way to meet in physical space (laptops in tow, of course!).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-76719580500144174542007-11-21T14:45:00.000-08:002007-11-21T15:28:16.775-08:00Cream of Mushroom SoupThe turkey pot pie recipe I just posted calls for a can of cream of mushroom soup, which is probably one of the most basic ingredients in a pantry. So, on my latest trip to Trader Joe's, I decided to pick up a couple of cans in addition to the one I needed for my pot pie, only to find that TJs doesn't carry cream of mushroom soup. In fact, they don't carry cream of anything soup! No cream of broccoli, no cream of chicken, no cream of asparagus. As I stood in the soup aisle pouting, creating a traffic jam in the early morning rush of TJs human traffic, Zeph asked, "Why can't we just make our own?" And dangit, he was right!<br /><br />So I whipped out my smart phone, hopped on my mobile internet, and Googled "how to make cream of mushroom soup," all the while still blocking traffic in the soup aisle at TJs. Usually I would scoff at using a cell phone in such an earthy place, but this was a mushroom emergency. I found <a href="http://www.cheapcooking.com/Recipes/homemade-cream-of-soup.htm">this website</a>, grabbed some ingredients, and merrily finished shopping.<br /><br />On Monday, I again checked the website to see what the recipe called for, and then pretty much did whatever I wanted using the general guidelines offered. It worked perfectly, and shopping at chain grocery stores was once again avoided! And now, without further ado, my final recipe:<br /><br />Cream of Mushroom Soup<br />What you need:<br />1/2 cup of mushrooms (volume when chopped)<br />2 cloves garlic (optional)<br />2 Tbsp butter<br />1 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock<br />1 1/2 cup milk<br />1 Tbsp to 1/4 cup flour (depending on desired thickness)<br />Spices<br /><br />What you do:<br />Mince the mushrooms and garlic. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a sauce pan. Add the mushrooms and garlic, and saute until brown and aromatic. Mix in the desired amount of flour (1 Tbsp will make a thinner sauce, and 1/4 cup will make a sauce the thickness of condensed soup). After the flour and the butter are completely mixed, add the stock and milk. Turn the heat up to medium-high, and bring the soup to a boil, stirring consistently. As the soup is heating, add in spices to taste. I used salt, pepper, and the Scarborough Fair quartet. <br /><br />Once the mixture has simmered for a few minutes, the flour will have done all the thickening it is going to do. If you want a thicker soup, it is possible to add more flour at this point. Be sure to add it slowly and whisk in thoroughly to avoid lumps. If the soup is too thick, more stock and milk can be added (in equal parts). Eat this soup as a meal (it was really tasty), or add it to any recipe that calls for it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-75263231953939250942007-11-21T14:25:00.000-08:002007-11-21T14:34:45.162-08:00What to Do With All of That TurkeyThanksgiving is tomorrow, which means that starting Friday the world will be plagued with two things: the obscene uber-commercialization of Christmas, and too much leftover turkey. I can't do much about the former, but I have a tasty solution for the latter.<br /><br />Turkey Pot Pie<br />What you need:<br />1 bag of frozen vegetables<br />About 2 cups of cooked turkey meat<br />1 can of cream of mushroom soup<br />1 sheet of puff pastry<br />herbs, spices, etc. to taste<br /><br />What you do:<br />Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix the soup, the veggies, and the turkey together in a big bowl. Season according to your personal tastes. I added some pepper, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme (I season everything according to Simon and Garfunkel). Pour the mixture into a square 8x8 baking dish, and place 1 sheet of puff pastry on top. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the pastry if golden brown on top. Let cool for a few minutes, then EAT!<br /><br />This makes a pie with a fairly thick filling. Add some chicken stock to the mixture if you want it a little more creamy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-81078324972140151082007-11-18T17:02:00.000-08:002007-11-21T14:16:59.416-08:00Trader Joe's Finds of the Week (Carb Edition)I missed last week's entry (damn you, senior thesis!), so I threw in an extra one for this week.<br /><br />One: Van's all natural gourmet multi-grain waffles. I'm usually leery of foods that are dairy free, but these waffles are amazing. Not only do they taste good, but they're actually good for you! They have 5 grams of protein, 5 grams of protein, 100 grams of delicious. Plus, two waffles are only 190 calories, which is few enough for everybody's battle of the bulge this holiday season. I like to cook mine in the toaster oven, cover them in peanut butter, and devour.<br /><br />Two: TJ's brand Puff Pastry. It's frozen, it comes in 8"x8" sheets, and it bakes up crispy, flaky, and oh so delicious. Use in place of pie crust for a pot pie (more on that later), or top with your favorite cheese for a wonderful appetizer. I recommend stocking up on these, as they seem to disappear from the freezer case at lightning speed these days.<br /><br />Three: Challah rolls. Challah bread is good to begin with, but put it in nice little individual servings and it's even better. They don't go stale as fast as other dinner roll. They also don't mold as fast as everything else we keep atop our microwave. This makes them cost effective, since we aren't throwing them out uneaten, as well as yummy. And if there is one thing I like more than yummy, it is cheap and yummy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-61751117347939267802007-11-15T17:49:00.000-08:002007-11-15T18:32:17.435-08:00I gave one, I'm getting one<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://laptopgiving.org/en/index.php"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDH6cvix4ybRls2p1fxE3XGnwjYHCEvqDxlEz-_shYuQiYGUw5utOcXXV1t4bqQBlFzBrqNdP3HHU3X7ahCOtTbdWnVym68ZmpbIkRn8677Z6oupRqc3GH5SGwfPxAXRohZktCbg/s200/logo_v2.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133249755119912962" /></a> The One Laptop Per Child (OPLC) initiative opened up sales of its laptops to North America on Monday in the form of it's "Give One, Get One" program. Until November 26, if you donate $400 to OLPC they will send one laptop to a child in a developing country and one laptop to you. After waiting (impatiently) since then for payday to come, I finally made my donation early this morning, and my laptop will soon be on its way. I am so excited!<br /><br />This is one purchase that I thought about extensively before moving forward and it, and the indecision had nothing to do with the price. I considered the selfishness of keeping a laptop for myself instead of donating two laptops. I also took into account how much $200 could help a child if given in monetary form instead of laptop form (a common critique of the OLPC project).<br /><br />Obviously, I ultimately decided that keeping a laptop for myself is not a bad thing to do. OLPC needs users in the United States to promote its program, both by producing positive media about the program and by contributing to the creation of programs for its new operating system. I may not know how to code in Python, but I can be a decent blogger when I don't have a thesis deadline looming overhead, and thus I think I can contribute to the popularity of this program.<br /><br />The problem of children being given free laptops instead of free food and water is still a concern of mine. However, I think that education is key to producing adequate food and securing adequate sources of water. And as education is the goal of this program I think it can only help with the more immediate needs of individuals, even if it does take some time.<br /><br />What was the deciding event in this struggle of conscience? I was reading the <a href="http://laptopgiving.org/en/what-children-are-saying.php">reviews</a> of the laptop written by children who use it, and one of the children wrote, "The things we didn't know, we go check on the laptop." That's when it hit me. These kids don't have access to google. They don't have access to wikipedia. They don't have access to all of the internet knowledge tools that I take for granted every day. <br /><br />So, rather than throw some money at the issue and feel that I've done my part, I chose to become an active part in the project. I want to work with the recipient children to create programs they need, not programs US corporations want to push on them. I don't just want to give them access to websites, I want to be active in making that web experience more educational. Yes I am getting a laptop, but I am also getting a mission, and that is to actively help make OLPC the successful program I know it can be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-31187095930831666752007-11-14T12:32:00.000-08:002007-11-21T14:23:06.214-08:00World Diabetes Day<center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidt7iLvzjN-1Ua8yD5Xrks-8GE-gkEvRLIvfd0gs8MgxFH-de6keqjeGvBhCwwjF-UlhUiUhwh_FsAdQFWNoO2Jh8Xx6r18Qfd1KPsLSfqOBLcS43ZbeuyJlCY0MZwDpTjuLj5og/s200/wdd07.gif"></center><br />Why am I talking about <a href="http://www.worlddiabetesday.org/">World Diabetes Day</a>? I have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_1">type 1 diabetes</a>, and I was diagnosed when I was 19. I have been <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin_pump">pumping</a> for a little over a year now, and the pump is probably the best thing that ever happened to me.<br /><br />How does diabetes affect my life? I check my glucose levels 5+ times a day, I change my pump <a href="http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/pumps/images/inset5.jpg">infusion sets</a> and the insulin in the pump when I'm supposed to (every 3 days), and I try as hard as I can to keep up with a <a href="http://www.fiftysomethingwomen.com/wp-content/uploads/Broccoli02.jpg">healthy</a> diet and exercise plan. I visit my doctor 4 times a year, I know all the ins and outs of the medical billing and insurance systems, and I know never to trust a pharmacy to get your prescriptions refilled on time. <a href="http://loldiabetes.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/my-pump-makes-me-look-like-a-cross-dresser/">Wearing a dress</a> takes an extra 15 minutes of planning so I can <a href="http://sixuntilme.com/blog2/2007/09/pump_grump.html">find a place</a> to put my pump, I carry skittles with me wherever I go, and I check to make sure I grabbed my test strips more than I check to make sure I have my keys. I can administer insulin shots in a moving car, I can check my blood glucose without a table to rest anything on, and I can tell you the carbohydrate content of almost any food just by looking at it. I also get instant membership to a great online community, <a href="http://tudiabetes.com/">TuDiabetes</a>. <br /><br />What does WDD mean to me? It's a way to bring attention to the fact that diabetes still has no cure. There have been major medical advances when it comes to diabetes management, and I am lucky that I never had to use some of the more archaic forms of treatment. But the <a href="http://www.diabeticsupplies.com/ds/images/en_US/items/cozmo_pump_grey.jpg">pump</a> is not a pancreas. <a href="http://www.lillydiabetes.com/images/bar_coded_vials.jpg">Insulin</a> is not a cure. <a href="https://productimages.hmeproviders.com/1396.jpg">Test strips</a> will not revive my insulin-producing beta cells. <br /><br />What do I want you, as the reader, to do? Learn the <a href="http://health.yahoo.com/diabetes-resources/differences-between-type-1-and-type-2-diabetes/healthwise--uq1217abc.html">difference</a> between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, support <a href="http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103932">stem cell research</a>, and, if you can, make a contribution to the <a href="http://www.jdrf.org">Junior Diabetes Research Fund</a> (they focus on type 1 research).<br /><br />There is no cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Yet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-89053431260518515732007-11-06T17:20:00.000-08:002007-11-06T17:46:19.024-08:00Trader Joe's Finds of the WeekSo the whole "Open Source Wednesday" thing obviously did not become a serial event. So let me close the book on that by saying, "Open source is good. Use it!"<br /><br />Now that that is behind us, I would like to turn my attention to something I enjoy just as much as software: food. For those who don't know, Zeph and I do all of our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's. Why? The food is cheap, it's healthy (well, most of it), and it tastes good. It's also good for my relationship because Zeph and I don't have to argue over whether to get organic or non-organic (I prefer the former, he the latter) since TJs usually only has organic options. I'm sure Zeph could write a whole blog on why he doesn't support organic, so it's something I won't get into at the moment.<br /><br />Another thing I like about TJs is that the products change every week. Right now they have really good canned pumpkin (organic, of course), pumpkin bread mix, and other fun foods to help commemorate the start of fall (I know fall started for the rest of the country a month ago, but SF just finished our 'Indian Summer').<br /><br />Every Monday I go into work and tell my co-worker Anne the great things I picked up over the weekend, and she tells me the latest thing she tried. So, as my blog slowly takes over my life, I in turn thought to myself, "I should blog about that!" This is my long-winded introduction to the fact that I now hope to share my latest TJs treasures with the blogosphere.<br /><br />This week's gems:<br />Brussel Sprouts<br /> I know that brussel sprouts have a rep as one of the worst vegetables on Earth, but believe me, they're good! The best way to eat them is to toss them in some olive oil, add salt and pepper, and roast them in the oven for a half hour or so. Come to think of it, almost anything is good tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven. <br /><br />-and-<br /><br />Trader Joe's 2006 Vintage Ale<br /> I don't know how something made in 2006 can be called vintage, but this beer is so good I'm not going to argue the semantics. It's a dark beer, and it comes in a pint-sized bottle. I don't usually like dark beers, but this one is amazing! Watch out for the kick - it's 9% alc/vol.<br /><br />That's it for this week! If you want more info on TJs products, check out the <a href="http://www.traderjoesfan.com/">Trader Joe's Fansite</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-53571780633123368192007-11-04T17:24:00.000-08:002007-11-21T14:22:53.835-08:00Good Sunday Mornings Consist of....Salmon sandwiches with mixed green salad, served with a bottle of champagne.<br /><br />What fabulous restaurant serves such great food? My kitchen!<br /><br />Here's how we made them...<br /><br />Sandwiches:<br />-salmon fillets<br />-pesto<br />-mayonnaise<br />-tomato<br />-mixed greens<br />-capers<br />-ciabatta<br /><br />To make the pesto mayonnaise, mix the pesto and the mayonnaise. I can't tell you how many parts mayo to how many parts pesto because Zeph did the mixing. It's all a matter of personal taste anyway. Next, grill the salmon (Zeph used the Foreman grill for this), heat the bread, and top with pesto mayo, tomato, capers and greens. Use the rest of the bag o' greens for a side salad, and top with your favorite dressing (TJ's lite parmesan ranch) and good croutons (TJ's garlic cheese croutons).<br /><br />We served the fabulous meal with a bottle of champagne (why is it always reserved for special occasions?), and promptly followed it with a nap. It may not be good as the 100+ massages <a href="http://janinerants.blogspot.com/2007/10/massage-envy.html">my mom has had</a> during the last three weeks in SE Asia, but it was pretty darn good.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-84463257386314079232007-11-02T19:09:00.000-07:002007-11-21T14:18:13.017-08:00Why Gender Segregation of Games is BadToday, <a href="http://www.faught.org/blog/">indil</a> left a comment on my <a href="http://sarainsanfran.blogspot.com/2007/10/boys-vs-girls.html">post</a> about Playhut's new virtual worlds. He writes:<br /><br /><i>Do girls play games as much as boys? Why not? Is it because girls don't like to play video games? Or is it because girls don't like to play the video games that boys like to play and boys like to play the majority of games out there right now? It's old news that boys and girls like different types of games. Tailoring a game for a specific sex to maximize the possible enjoyment of the experience is smart, not ignorant...</i><br /><br />I started to comment back, but soon realized that I had a lot to write about the subject. It soon hit me why - I already did write a lot about the subject! The literature on girls' games is what inspired me to study female gamers for my senior thesis, and my literature review discusses the topic extensively. I am not a master of brevity, so rather than attempt to reproduce the major points found in my literature review I have uploaded it <a href=" https://usffiles.usfca.edu/Student/sjbassett/www/Bassett_LiteratureReview.pdf">here</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37482747.post-49950221617232284412007-10-30T20:08:00.000-07:002007-11-21T14:18:28.672-08:00Earthquake!The room just shook, and one might speculate that I would used to this by now. But still, every time it happens I wonder if the shaking is going to stop or if my house is going to fall down around my ears. My heart is still pounding.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2