Five Snippets of Life Lately

I made some progress pinning pieces of my quilt last night.

I rediscovered spaetzle and sausage together for a fantastic dinner (grease and carbs, what could go wrong?).

I tried the new birthday cake Oreos.  Pretty good.  Just pretty good.

I started watching GCB on abc.go.com.  Funny, but we'll see how it goes.  I love David James Elliott, though his character is just so odd that I can't stop watching.  He'll always be "Harm" to me...

And I have been using my camera a lot lately, mostly for work.  I haven't had an particularly interesting photos lately, just pictures of equipment, but the act of taking pictures and getting out to see things through that lens has been fun.

Time Change Woes

My quiet weekend at home turned into a bit more than I bargained for.  On Saturday, The Man and I ran errands for much of the morning.  We filled up both cars with gas (ouch), and we did our grocery shopping for two weeks.  I found a great deal on hamburger, so we asked my parents if they'd make homemade burgers for us if we took the meat to them.  They agreed.  We hung out there for a while and watched a comedy show on Netflix.  We should have gotten to bed earlier, but the time change really didn't sink in early enough this time.  We were up too late and then got up late on Sunday.  Sleeping in was nice, but it made going to sleep that much more difficult Sunday night.

My sister and brother-in-law came over around noon and spent the day with us.  The guys played video games, and my sister and I ran errands all over town.  It was a very errand-y weekend.

I've put my determined-to-finish-this-quilt face on this week.  I won't finish it this week, but the determined face is on.  Must make progress.  I need to push through this most difficult part to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

I got a new cookbook this weekend with a ton of great slow cooker / crock pot recipes in it.  Even though we're moving out of winter and into spring, I still want to use the crock pot.  I have no qualms about eating soup mid-summer.  Mostly I just like getting home and not having to cook anything since it is already ready to eat.  The Man is even willing to try some of the recipes from this new book, so that is encouraging.

Early to bed for me tonight.  The spring time change always tosses me for a loop.  I'm in favor of just doing without this whole time change mess.  Ridiculous.

A Date to the Pops

The Man and I went out on a date.  A real date.  Like, dinner and a live performance kind of date.  Yeah.  Somewhere there are pigs flying.

The Man has been friends with the Severin Sisters since they were in grade school together (one of their husbands was also one of his groomsmen at our wedding, and they were two of our three musicians).  They contacted us Saturday afternoon to tell us they were performing at the Elsinore Theater in Salem that night as featured guests with the Salem Pops Orchestra.  If we wanted tickets, they'd leave two for us.  Hmm, free tickets to live music and an excuse to see friends?  We're in!

In the late afternoon, we changed into our non-jeans, which was a huge change for me and relatively uncommon for The Man.  Being Oregonians, "semi-formal" often translates to "clean, dark jeans."  We opted for no jeans on this adventure.  An excuse to dress up.  A chance to wash all of the jeans at once.

We left for Albany where we had (yet another) fantastic dinner at PizzAmore.  It's pretty much a guarantee that if we're going on a date, that's where we're going.  Completely stuffed, we hopped up to Salem where were circled most of downtown before finding a place to park.  We got the tickets at will call without incident, then we found seats very near our friends' parents in the fifth row.  That's right, we were so close that the speakers projected out over us.  Best seats possible.  I can't stand blaring loud music, and the orchestra wasn't even using microphones, so it was wonderful.

The sisters were the middle act, and they were awesome.  I was so happy to be able to see them perform again, especially with the backing of a full orchestra.  Fantastic!  The other featured artist was a vocalist that I won't name because I have a hard time finding nice things to say about her performance.  She had a sparkly dress.  The instrumental parts of the songs were very good...

(That's not very fair of me, is it?  I have to admit she had good tonality.  She just wasn't my type.  I think there's a fine line to walk when singing nightclub-style jazz, a fine line between classy sultry and ...not classy.  She wasn't distasteful, but a longer hemline would have done wonders for me.  If you're going to sing music from that era, have the right costuming and look, not some sequined minidress off the rack.  I expected more.)

The orchestra was pretty good.  They had a few incidents with timing issues and duets being less than sharp.  I'm hyper-critical since I was in instrumental groups for so many years, so it's hard for me to just sit there and enjoy without nitpicking.  With the right song line-up, I'd definitely go see them play again.

We had a great visit with our friends once they finished their set and were able to come down and talk.  Kind of nice being "with the band," or whatever it is that we were.  We talked with them until way too late, and then we had an hour drive home.  Exhausted.  And very happy we were able to go on a real date.  For once.

CatchCon: Questions, Answers, Info

I'll admit, sometimes it is about the answers.  This blog has been all about life's big questions for years, but sometimes I just want answers.  When it comes to CatchCon 2012 (and beyond) and my favorite captains and crew from Deadliest Catch, I would definitely like some answers.

At this time, no date has been set for CatchCon 2012.  For the uninformed, CatchCon is a sort of convention for Deadliest Catch fans.  It has previously been in Seattle, Washington, generally in the spring after the end of Opilio (snow) crab season.  I haven't attended a "con" for anything, but I was considering trying to get tickets last year.  This year, The Man has business trips in Seattle almost monthly, so there's a very good chance I could go up with him again.  Also, CatchCon tickets were free in years past on a first-come-first-served basis.  Discovery hasn't released any information, so I don't know if there will even be another CatchCon.

That said, it doesn't stop me from thinking of all of the questions I could ask during the Q&A session with the captains and crew.  If you have questions that you would like asked at the next CatchCon, comment below.  I'll moderate them into my own questions giving you credit where it's due.  Hopefully someone that attends will ask your question!

If you know that a specific captain or crew member has answered one of these questions in the past, please comment with a link to a video, transcript, or tweet so that we can all share in the truth.  (Basically, links or it didn't happen.)

And if you are a captain or crew member, HI! Please answer these questions for me/us.  You can tweet answers to @jaggy732 from your official account so that we know you are who you say you are.

Lastly, one request: I may not make it to CatchCon this year or ever.  To those that do have the privilege of attending and asking questions, please don't ask these men personal questions.  Nobody needs to know who wears boxers or briefs, who was addicted to what, or anything about these guys' kids (and so on).  The show may have made them celebrities, but the lives we see on TV are their real lives that they have to continue living in.  If they volunteer that information, fine, but there's no need to be intimate.

Now on to the questions, or, in the words of Capt. Sig, "Shut up and fish!"
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What would you have for your last meal before your execution?


What is your favorite curse word?

I think this may have been answered by a few of the captains on The Captains Tour, but I can't find any links.  Help?  (Also, if someone could just watch all seven seasons of Deadliest Catch and do a swearing tally, we might be able to answer it for ourselves.  It might go something like, "horns, 374; radio static, 198; door banging, 4,529.")


What is your favorite word?


What is your least favorite word?


What (other than women) turns you on?



What turns you off?


What sound or noise do you love?


What sound or noise do you hate?


If Heaven exists, what would you like God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?


We learned in an episode of After the Catch that Capt. Phil had beautiful handwriting.  How would you rate your own handwriting?



What is the worst or most interesting rumor you've heard about yourself?


How often do you do laundry when you're on the boat?  And do you sort your colors?


If you could build your ultimate hamburger/cheeseburger from the bun up, what would you put on it?


What is your middle name?


Deadliest Catch fans know that the #1 thing to avoid in the Bering Sea is the sea itself.  Assuming you are in warmer water that isn't going all "washing machine," are you a good swimmer?
We know that Capt. Sig is not a swimmer from After the Catch: Low Tide.  Edgar remarked that Sig has a pool at home and doesn't even know how to use it.  The jury is still out about Edgar.



As a child, what was your favorite cartoon or comic series/strip?


Forget favorites, what makes the list of food you just won't eat?



Do you play any musical instruments?
We know Capt. Andy plays the guitar from The Captain's Tour.


What are some of the nicknames you've been given through your life?
Capt. Phil referred to his sons, Josh and Jake, as "Ding" and "Dong" several times.
Capt. Bill Wichrowski goes as "Wild Bill."


What sorts of first aid training do you go through as a captain or crew member on a crab boat?  Is it voluntary or required?  How big is the first aid kit on the boat, and does it contain a greater number of any specific item or anything specific to life on the boat that doesn't apply to life on land?
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A side note: I am not affiliated with any of the boats, crews, or Discovery Channel.  I'm just a fan with questions to which I'd love answers.  If you, too, have questions, ask below!

Pentastic

I'll admit that I'm a huge pen snob (among other things).  I like nice pens.  I can't stand the idea of writing with a cheap ballpoint stick pen, and my hand cramps at the thought of slick or shiny pens.  I have several very nice pens, two of them being fountain pens--the dip in ink kind--and a couple nicer pens that I really enjoy using.

One of my most favorite pens, a Retro 51 Cherry Blossom/Washington Monument pen, recently ran out of ink.  The place where I used to purchase ink refills no longer carries that brand.  Sad day!  I wasn't up to buying bulk quantities online, nor did I really want to pay $5 shipping for a $5 item.  The nearest place to get Retro 51 cartridges is over a hundred miles away.  I popped the spent cartridge out and went to the nearest office supply store, stood in the pen refill section for ten minutes comparing what I had with potential replacements, and struggled to find something, anything, that might work.  Parker Quink came to the rescue for me.  I once again have a fantastic and very comfortable pen with really good dark black ink in it.

I also loaded up my Parker Sonnet fountain pen recently and started using it at work.  I can't wait to write things down now.  I have more little notes and thoughts stuck all over my monitor, my bulletin board, my calendar... it's insanity trying to sort through the lists.  While some people use their fancy phones to make their shopping lists, I'm scrambling around trying to remember where I left my favorite pens.

When I can't have my special pens, I generally opt for rollerball pens.  Uniball 207 RT Signo pens are a great cheaper option.  The ink never fails me.  It doesn't smear like many of the other rollerballs, and it's easier to use than a standard ballpoint pen for me.  The cushy grip helps with my tendency to want to squeeze the ink/lead right out of my writing instrument (bad habit formed very young).  And the Signo ink helps prevent check fraud, so that's a bonus.  This is an unpaid testimony for the Signo pen, by the way, since I really do love them.

My most special pen is the one my father made for me.  He turns pens, so I have a matching fountain pen and letter opener set in a stunning emerald green with gold accents.  It can take ink cartridges or use a converter.  Master craftsmanship and attention to detail on that pen, lemme tell ya.

It just feels nice to have a great pen, and I'm glad my Retro 51 pen is back with me.  Loving the Quink, too!

Milestones and Reunions

The Man has returned from Seattle for the second week in a row.  He went north last week for four days and this week for five days, so I'm almost used to being a single lady again.  I looked forward to his return from this second trip for several weeks, dreading the idea of sleeping alone just one more night.

Though I am incredibly independent, I just like having him here when I'm sleeping.  Except when he flails and hits my face with his elbow.  I don't really like that.

We've had a long week apart.  I was using his car the last couple weeks while my car sat with a funky tire.  I finally took my poor car to the shop on Friday and got four new tires and new CV boots put on, so now my car runs sooooooo much better.  My wallet is also a lot lighter, but I know these things need to be done.  Ouch and oh well.

As nice and fancy as The Man's car is compared to mine (same make and model, just sixteen years newer), I still love the feel and sound of my car over his.  All of his electronics are whirring and chirping and smooth.  My older car makes vroom noises and clicks and does what you tell it without having to think about what you want it to do.  The just don't make 'em like they used to...

The Man's mom came down last night for a date with me since I was home alone for so long.  We went out to dinner and then played games for a long time.  I had a very nice time talking and sharing.

Also on Friday, since I took the day off, I set out to accomplish some serious progress on my quilt.  I have reduced 2500 pieces down to about 250.  All of my triangle strips are sewn.  I am very, very, very happy to be done sewing triangles to other triangles.  I have about 650 seams left to put in before the top is completely finished, so there's lots of work to be done still.  Hitting this milestone was a huge step.  I'm taking at least a day off from working now.

Oh, and Thin Mints blended with ice cream?  Best. Milkshake. Ever.

Review: Being Elmo

My usual Wednesday night movie night with a friend was incredibly special last night.  We watched "Being Elmo, A Puppeteer's Journey" on Netflix.  The show is a biography about the man that voices the Sesame Street character Elmo.  His life is fascinating, and his story was really fun to see evolve.  My face actually hurt at the end from smiling so much throughout the 80-odd minutes.  I've always love the idea of puppets, and to watch a man create different characters was absolutely stunning.  He makes his characters come alive.  The suspension of reality is complete even though he doesn't do any form of ventriloquism.

Also, who doesn't love Elmo?

If you want a very happy evening, snuggle in with this movie.  You can't possibly regret it.

So Much for Relaxing

When my husband is out of town, I try to stay as busy as possible so that the time passes quickly.  He was gone last week on a business trip, and I managed to not get too scared at night while home alone.  I'm great during the day, but nights aren't so fun.

He arrived home late Friday night, so we tried to spend lots of time together over the weekend.  We had a visit from my parents, and then we went to his mom's college graduation party on Sunday.  When we weren't cleaning or visiting, we were watching movies and catching up on little projects.

I took last night away from my blog in order to do some serious cooking.  In one evening I managed to throw together homemade chicken pot pies and a crock pot of jambalaya for tonight.  I sort of invented the pot pies as I went, so I don't have a recipe for those.  The pie crusts were from the store.  I only used carrots, celery, onion, a little bit of corn, and chicken in mine since that's what I wanted.  The "soup" part is just cornstarch-thickened chicken stock.  Spices included pepper, garlic salt, and parsley.

For the jambalaya, I used a recipe that a friend gave me.  I put chicken, andouille sausage, celery, bell pepper, tomato sauce, chicken broth, parsley, thyme, cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and onion in a crock pot, then shoved that in the bottom of my fridge.  When I got up this morning, I grabbed it out, stuck it in the crock pot heater thingy, and went to work.  When I got home, I added the shrimp and made rice to go with the jambalaya.  Easy peasy!

In other news, I got a new keyboard and mouse for my laptop.  As much as I've tried using the touchpad on Lappy, I just can't take it for extended gaming sessions of The Sims.  You did read that correctly, I play The Sims.  I installed the game plus all of its expansion packs recently, so now I have something to do in addition to quilting, movies, the piano, and all of my other fun things to do.  The computer runs so fast, and the game is a breeze to play compared to how it was on the first computer I played those games.

That about sums up the last five days.  I'm exhausted.  My Kindle is calling...

If Ever There Was a Reason to Move

I can't make this stuff up, folks.  *sigh

*shakes head

Our apartment management has struck again.

Every year around this time, the managers and maintenance men tour every apartment in our complex.  I think they are just making sure that nobody is hoarding or attempting to burn the place down, though they claim they look at the water heater, the dryer vents, and behind the refrigerators for dust bunnies or whatever it is they hope to find.  The inspection usually results in absolutely nothing happening, so it's not a big deal for me to allow perfect strangers into my home--while I'm not even there--to look around.  Security?  What's that?

As you know, our apartment has had maintenance men in it in the past.  Their "handywork" has been exhibited to me in appalling ways, so I generally try not to contact them if at all possible.  After contacting them three different times about our front door not latching properly, we gave up and just did without one of the two locks for six months.  The door has miraculously started working better lately, which is good, but we don't know why it works.  I won't even get into the other horrors I've seen them create in our few square feet of home.

We don't have a choice about whether or not to allow these "handy" men into our apartment for the annual inspection.  This Tuesday while we were both at work, the group let themselves into our apartment and had a nice long look around.  They investigated the closet with the water heater, moved everything around in our kitchen (without replacing anything, not even the fridge to its proper position), moved the dryer around, and managed to track lint from one corner of our apartment to the other.  I took pictures.  Seriously, I'm not sure where they even found that much lint, but it was everywhere.  I found lint in the bathroom, in the dining room, out by the couch... no attempt was made to clean up after themselves.  Sorta pissed me off.

They did leave a nice note, though, indicating they'd be returning later this week to fix what they deemed a necessary repair.  Nevermind that the water heater is older than we are, the fridge runs louder than a coffee percolator, and the bathroom faucet knob barely turns.  Ignore that our front door has massive gaps all around it.  Forget the mold I'm fighting in the window sills.  Oh no, they insisted that the one thing that must be repaired was a bathroom cabinet door that hung slightly crooked.

*blink, blink, blink

*shakes head

Thursday.  I return home from work to find the bathroom rug covered in wood shavings.  My beautiful microfiber memory foam rug.  There was mud smeared on the vinyl floor around the rug, grimy fingerprints all over the cabinet doors, and a cabinet door that hung slightly straighter than before.

I slowly opened the cabinet door to inspect the work.

I suspect they used school glue, wood blocks, and all thumbs to complete the repair.

Where once we had an intact cabinet, they hacked--and I mean literally hacked--out a section of the cabinet frame, glued on some hunks of wood, and attached the hinge to exactly the same place it used to be.  The wood hunks are neither the correct size or color, nor are they even a similar wood.  I think one hunk is pine and the other an oak.  The cabinets are probably particle board.  Rather than hacking the living daylight out of the cabinets to replace damaged wood, wouldn't it have just been easier to move the hinge?

I'm not so mad about the shoddy work as I am the condition in which our apartment was left when these strange men worked in our home.  Who tracks lint throughout an apartment without making any attempt to clean up?  Who does any sort of home repair and leaves the resulting mess for tenants?  Just appalling.  Absolutely wrong.

But what can I do?

Argh.

Feedering

I don't get the opportunity to cook for lots of people very often.  That's a good thing, I suppose, since it's a lot of work to feed people.  I usually only cook for The Man and myself, and every once in a while I will cook for another person or maybe two other people.  Cooking for six is pretty easy, and I have the pots and pans for that amount of food.

This week at work, we had a taco feed for faculty and staff in order to raise money for the local food bank.  I volunteered to make the flour tortillas and the chicken.  We also had ground beef, lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream, refried beans, cilantro, and olives that a couple of other people made or brought.  The sign-up sheet included about twenty names, and we hoped each person would kick in at least $5 for their meal, so we aimed for $100 in profit.  That's a pretty good fundraiser, right?  It's something.

I spent Tuesday night rolling tortillas until my back just couldn't take it anymore.  I think I ended up with about fifty tortillas.  They each have to be rolled with a rolling pin and then cooked in a very hot cast iron pan very quickly.  I was done start-to-finish in under two hours.

On Wednesday, I got up a little early and threw twelve chicken breasts into my crock pot with some water.  The chicken cooked on low all day until I got home from work.  I took the meat out and shredded it a little, cleaned the crock pot, and returned the meat to the pot.  I dumped two packets of taco seasoning, nothing special, on the meat.  It sat in the fridge over night, and I just grabbed the crock of meat and my tortillas out for my trip to work this morning.  The chicken sat on low all morning and was perfectly hot at lunch.  The tortillas were easy enough to throw on a plate and warm up.

Within an hour, every last tortilla was gone.  People were stuffed.  Money was raised.  And my culinary skills were appreciated very much.  The greatest compliment to my cooking is a clean plate and satisfied people, so I believe we were successful on both fronts.  I have a little bit of chicken left over, which is good, but even non-chicken eaters were enjoying my efforts there.  I enjoy feeding people perhaps as much as I like eating my own cooking.

I'm always scared someone is going to nominate me for one of those "Worst Cook in America" shows after they eat what I make, but so far I don't have any worrying to do.  The Man certainly enjoys my efforts in the kitchen, and I don't have any trouble eating my cooking, but it feels nice to hear good things from other people.

No chance of me opening a restaurant, though.  Not going to happen.  I don't like cooking that much.