Obstacles

So I recently discovered a source for a small amount of motivation and was hoping to turn it into a great rolling boulder of productivity but today I have hit an obstacle. As I was standing up to leave for work I leaned forward and picked up a bag (not a heavy bag). While stepping forward and straightening up something in the very middle of my back popped. Pop! Actually it was kind of between a pop and a ping. So much pain! Luckily Neil was still home. He helped me to the floor, got me some pain killers, gave me the phone so I could call work and eventually helped me to the bed.

Gradually the pain has become manageable. I've discovered if I breathe out when I move then it doesn't hurt as much.

It's so frustrating though, to have hit a obstacle. Why does this happen to a procrastinator? Doesn't the universe know it's hard enough to muster up a smidgen of momentum when productivity is at a low?

I'm still hopeful for tomorrow. If I can move I am going to get the first three things done on my to-do-list for sure. If it's harder to move I'll consider accomplishing one thing a success. Tonight I keep breathing and try to move as little as possible.

For Todd

Peanut butter noodles

This recipe was taught to me by Neil when we were still at university. It was the favorite of me and my roommate, and is the simplest meal I've ever made.

Ingredients:

• noodles (we usually use egg noodles or spaghetti)
• bell peppers/capsicums, sliced
  
• onion (spring onions are best or use slices of red onion or shallot)
• chicken, cubed (optional)
• cashews or other nut, chopped coarsely (optional)
  

for the sauce:

• peanut butter (use cruchy for added texture)
  
• rice or white wine vinegar
• sesame oil
• honey
• soy sauce

Method:
This is the tricky part to describe. Cook the noodles as per the instructions on the packet and stir fry the bell peppers, onions, nuts and chicken as you like. For the peanut sauce mix about a table spoon of peanut butter, honey and vinegar with 1 to 2 teaspoons sesame oil and soy sauce. The sauce is not an exact science and should be tasted to determine if more of any ingredient is needed. Add the sauce, noodles and stir fry together then eat. It's even better cold after a night or day of marinating together. To be fancy save some slices of spring onion for sprinkling on top as a garnish before serving.

Enjoy!

Turkey casserole (also known as hot dish)

This is my favorite way to use up turkey leftovers (and that includes turkey sandwiches). It's a hot dish (this is what we call casseroles in North Dakota and Minnesota) that my Mom has always made. Last year was the first year Neil and I cooked a turkey and I asked my mom for this recipe... I'm pretty sure this hot dish was the whole reason I wanted to cook a turkey in the first place. Thanks Mom.

Turkey (or chicken or ham) and macaroni casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (about 5 ounces)

• 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

• 1 1/2 cups cut up cooked turkey (can substitute eaqual amount of ham or turkey if desired)

• 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems & pieces, drained (or I use a a couple handfuls of fresh cut into slices)

• 1/4 cup chopped pimento (optional, and I've never eaten it with pimento)

• 1 can (10 1/2 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup (My mom usually substitutes mushroom soup)

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 tsp salt (My mom and I usually omit this because canned soup has enough salt in our opinions)

• 1/2 tsp curry powder

Instructions:
Heat oven to 350 F/175 C. Mix all the ingredients in an ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hour.

All the ingredients are usually in my cupboard (except the turkey) but last year I didn't have curry powder so I substituted a sachet of curry seasoning from a packet of ramen noodles which worked perfectly. One other tip is that I usually halve the recipe because Neil isn't fond of pasta or casseroles, which works just fine but takes nearly just as long to cook (about 45 to 50 minutes).

Enjoy!

unfair pricing

I could make this a long drawn out story because I've been following my current hair stylist from salon to salon over the last two years, but the gist of it is that when I found him I stepped into the salon asking about prices and he handed me the brochure. In one of my more outgoing moments I asked him if there was a different price for really short women's hair because it specified after a certain length women would be charged more. He looked at me to gauge how I would react then said, "I don't want to offend you, but your style would actually be considered a men's style." I wasn't offended, especially since a men's style was at least £15 cheaper than a woman's style. That was the start of our hair relationship. He's been great: good conversation, good styling, good price. Today's appointment has upset the goodness of the relationship. When I arrived the receptionist told me Andy (this is my stylist) wasn't in today because he may have broken his pinky finger. Poor Andy! Another stylist was available and since I hadn't washed my hair and was heading straight to work after I kept the appointment. She was nice and cut my hair without problem but when it came to paying she became a problem. She said that basically Andy shouldn't be charging me for only a men's style (£18) but rather a women's style (£32). And that she's been told by her boss (the salon owner), who is going to have a word with Andy about it when he comes back, that she has to charge me £32 and Andy will be doing the same from now on. I explained to her that I think it is unfair I have to pay nearly twice as much simply because I am a woman. She said she understood my perspective but that she has to charge all of her customers the same and so does Andy. I was getting special treatment which she couldn't let go on.

I feel frustrated and angry and ready to take on the establishment about this. It's not right. Andy books me in for a men's style so I know it doesn't take any longer in time and that my hair is actually less complicated than some of the men's styles I have seen. It really angers me enough that I want to never return to that salon, but I don't think that's fair to Andy. He's hinted that he might be leaving that salon for another and today I am really hopeful he's telling the truth so that I can go back to my fairly and reasonably priced hair cuts. What should I do in the meantime though?

Overrated virtue

The other day I happened upon a blog that covered an interview with a writer. One of the questions intrigued me: "What do you consider the most overrated virtue?" Her answer was "neatness" which I can agree with. But it made my wonder how I would answer that question. The more and more I think about it the more and more I consider both sides of the rating issue. From my perspective neatness is very overrated (the dishes will be cleaned even if I leave them looking very dirty by the sink until I have time and enough desire), except when Neil is cooking and I wish he could just sweep up the flour he spills on the floor instead of overlooking them. He's not a slob, but he's not always the cleanest either. But neither am I.

So then I wondered how I would define virtue. I ran (by means of mouse and fingers) straight to Wikipedia, which defines it as "moral excellence." Now that's an intimidating definition. What a scary thought to be "good by definition." I can admire virtue, but I can't relate. So I guess I'm not going to answer the question because I think virtue itself is overrated, and that rating is extremely situational. But still it's good to consider virtues, because it's reminded me that I would like my admiration to be situational and not judgemental.

That's enough philosophy for today though.

Today's little bit of joy

If I hadn't stopped to take these pictures I would have been completely on time for work, but these two shots make being two minutes late for work very worth it. First of all I would like to show you my favorite path to walk.


I know it doesn't seem like much... and I guess it's not. But this is why I love it:

Every autumn, without fail, walking to work puts a smile on my face -- a very big smile. The child in me loves playing in leaves. And this path (which is next to the regular path and really only leads to the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre or the playground beyond) fills with huge leaves from the lovely old trees between it and the real pavement/sidewalk. Apparently the council only likes to rake the leaves once a year so for a couple of weeks I wade through huge leaves unless the weather is too soggy. This morning was probably the last of 2008 that I will be able to happily walk through the leaves. Gosh it's fun and a great way to get to work.

Words I miss using

1. duplex
2. pants*
3. route**
4. roof**
5. candy
6. yeah
7. mall*
8. tv
9. got
10. call

*2 and 7 are used here but they mean something else so I miss using them like I first learned to.
** 3 and 4 are words that they use here but I've stopped using them because people here point and laugh at the way I say them.