And I Quote: June 30, 2007

The truest thing I know about relationships is that sometimes we don't know anything at all. You can't always get the one you want, and sometimes the one you get may not be the right one at all. But if you have hope, the universe has a funny way of showing exactly what you need. The challenge is to let yourself be alone til the right one shows up. But you can't hide either. Heartbreak sucks. But not having heartbreak sucks more. The answers aren't in a lecture or a book. But maybe if you get yourself happy, you'll find the right one. I believe this, because I'm still an optimist. That's the thing about love. If it were that easy, everyone would have it.
(Anne Heche as Marin Frist, "Men in Trees" pilot)

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soaking in NESN

ahhhh... it was good to be back in Boston last night (the Sox, not me) and to watch a game with Remy & Don on NESN.

a few quick observations:

1. Don looked like he was retaining water last night. his face was very puffy.

2. Wakey continues to suffer from lack of run support. good thing he only gave up one run since the Sox scored two.

3. you just can't compare WMP to Coco in CF.

4. that bases loaded situation with Little Manny facing Sammy Sosa about gave me a heart attack before finally managed to strike him out.

5. watching Okajima pitch is awesome.

6. watching Papelbon pitch is even more awesome. i think i might have to start calling him Killer.
7. last night was Roush Fenway Racing night in Boston. Carl Edwards is running in a car with Red Sox logos on it. i think i might have to root for him just a little in Sunday's race.

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is it just me...

...or have i done little but talk about food lately? LOL

i tried a new recipe for lunch today. Honey Lime Chicken. *so* yummy. served it with the recommended Thai noodles, but i think in the summer, it would be nice -- and lighter! -- with some steamed broccoli & a salad.

This is for two servings.

1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and cayenne. Add chicken, a few strips at a time, and shake to coat. In a skillet, brown chicken in butter on all sides.

Combine the lime juice, honey, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl, stirring till blended; pour over chicken. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until juices run clear and sauce is thickened.

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Friday Fill-in: June 20, 2007

1. i haven't done this meme in a long time!
2. Occasionally, this stupid printer will run more than two consecutive invoices without jamming.
3. Unexpected opportunities can be interesting!
4. but the comfort of routine is great, too!
5. Where do you go when you want a really good milkshake?
6. Oh my god, he just hit a grand slam!
7. What are you doing this weekend? Tonight I'm looking forward to finally being able to watch a Sox game again, tomorrow my plans include a whole lot of nothing, and then watching the Sox game and Sunday, I want to get the grocery shopping done before the Sox play! LOL!

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what it's like to be me

craving.
right now.
a cinnamon powdered doughnut.

wonder where *that* came from...?

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Friday's Feast: June 29, 2007

Feast One Hundred & Fifty

Appetizer
How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
usually just my watch & a necklace.

Soup
What is your favorite instrumental song?
one of my favorites is "Sleepwalk," by Santo & Johnny


Salad
Who has a last name that you like?
Nichole has a great last name. nice & German. ;-) not too common. i know it gets mispronounced fairly often, and probably misspelled as well (though i don't know how it could be that difficult!) but i still like it.

Main Course
Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
oh that's easy. any of the Harry Potter movies. all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. and just about any other movie you can think of that you're sure everyone else has seen. =P

Dessert
Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me want to bang the receiver of my phone on my desk like the person on the other end asking me if i'm sure the person they've called for does not live at this number. i live alone, and the apartment is all of four rooms. i think i would notice of someone else lived there!

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there's no place like home

thank. God.

the boys are back in Boston tonight.

if i don't hear some Remy & Don, and approximately three hours of "misplaced Rs," i think i may go insane. it has been twelve days since the Sox last played at Fenway. that's almost two weeks, people! combine that with being on the West Coast for the last week, and i am starting to suffer some serious Sox withdrawal!

i've got one of my Sox tees on for luck, and no plans for the entire weekend. let's play some ball!

and also? i'm not talking about what happened in Seattle. i've got nothing to say about... *that*.
>=[

i did read something this morning, though, that made me all kinds of happy:
The Boston Red Sox own the best record in baseball, are poised for their first AL East title since 1995, and are built to go deep in the playoffs. And that may not be the best news surrounding the team. The Red Sox are also filthy with prospects throughout their farm system, pitchers and position players alike. (you can the rest of the article for a breakdown of just who all these up-and-coming players are, if you're so inclined.)

and Dan? stop drooling. you can't have 'em. they're mine. mine mine mine, all mine!

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And I Quote: June 28, 2007

"The fruit of silence is tranquility."
(Arabic Proverb)

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a case of mistaken identity

so last night, i thought i was removing some chicken from the freezer to thaw for dinner tonight. somehow, i ended up with pork chops. i noticed that this morning. i ended up flying by the seat of my pants for dinner tonight, since i try to have a loose menu planned for each week, and this didn't fit in.

decided on baking the chops with a chipotle barbecue sauce with a little chopped red onion. (omg did that smell good while it cooked!) some sour cream & chive smashed potatoes. and some zucchini sauteed with a little southwest seasoning.

i'm kind of glad for my defrosting error now because my dinner was mm! mm! good!

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so about last night's Sox game

when Kason Gabbard showed up but his command of the ball did not, a 43 pitch first inning, during which *three* runs were WALKED IN, and then a home run given up to the first batter Kason faced in the second inning, i decided i had had enough. especially when you consider that MLBtv was not functioning last night, and i couldn't even get the radio broadcast for that matter, and i was "watching" the game via GameDay stats in the rather uncomfortable chair at my computer.

apparently the Sox managed to battle back to lose 8-7. i sure hope Matsuzaka manages to finally beat the Mariners today. his first two outings against them were less than successful.

good thing the Orioles got their game on -- or at least showed enough patience to walk in the winning run, however you choose to look at it -- and managed to beat the Yankees.

please *please* let Matsuzaka be the Hundred Million Dollar Pitcher this afternoon...

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rememberies: June 27, 2007

some random memories that have flashed through my mind recently:

...the huge old Congregational Church in Plymouth, CT where the CT Grown Farmers Market used to set up in the parking lot on Thursday afternoons all summer long. i used to go with my Gramp and help him sell his fruits & veggies. i remember the huge stone steps with the cracks in them. the green shutters on the windows. the big old evergreen tree on the green. the very old cemetery behind the fellowship building with its stone wall -- and i say old, i mean 1800s old. and Mrs Allen, who always came to get a pie or zucchini bread, and some string beans and carrots from my Gramp.

...the way the classrooms looked where i went to school from kindergarten through eighth grade. (i went there for nursery school too but that was in a different building.) Immanuel Lutheran School. the walls were painted the exact same colors as Circus Peanuts candy. some classrooms were yellow. some were green. (ok so Circus Peanuts never came in green, but if they did, this is the shade that would have been used.) the only classroom that was different was the eighth grade room -- it was orange.

...the red maple tree in my grandparents' front yard. just behind the blue spruce. and in the center, the birch trees. and the two enormous pines standing in front of the house, like two sentinels on guard. the ash tree in the front, next to the driveway. in the back, there were the two evergreens. and the tamarack tree. and the beech tree.and a couple of maples. and the Red Delicious apple tree. there were more trees besides the ones i've mentioned... and these were all before you even got to the orchard beyond the back yard. is it any wonder i feel "tree starved" down here in Florida?

...Gram had certain decorations that came out every year for each holiday. she had these two yellow ceramic bunnies. both had one ear standing up, and the other folded down, as if it were flopping over. sometimes she would put them on her hutch. sometimes on her sideboard. sometimes on the oval mirror she used under her centerpieces. but those bunnies always spent Easter in the dining room.

...picking peas out of the garden. popping open the pods & shelling them, while sitting on a picnic table bench. eating them raw by the handful.

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yummy

pssst! over here!

i haven't really done much worth mentioning the last week or so but i did...

...make this really yummy pork stir fry with a ginger-honey-soy sauce.


...find these amazing, perfect, plump, sweet, yummy raspberries on sale when i did my grocery shopping. i couldn't resist.


...cool off from the Florida summer heat with these popsicles which are so yummy. (and for those of you counting calories, they only have 60! i believe they may also come in a "no sugar added" variation for those of you who need to keep on eye on that as well.)

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small confession

you all know how much i love the west coast. if you don't, you're either new here, or you don't pay very close attention. ;-)

but i am going to say this: man, do i hate when the Sox play in the Pacific time zone. these 10pm games are *killing* me. it's bad enough to be up til 1am on the weekends, but how the heck can i watch on work nights??

thank God tomorrow is at 4:30 for get-away day, and after an off day, we're back in Boston this weekend.

i love you, West Coast, but give me back my Sox!!!

by the way? we're throwing Kason Gabbard at King Felix tonight. this is either some kind of surrender white-flag-waving effort, or we're hoping for a miracle. all i know is if that poor boy is getting crushed 28-2, i will not be falling asleep to the sounds of baseball tonight. and i won't feel bad to not be staying up for the end of the game either. =P

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the silence speaks volumes

i don't know about other teams, but Sox fans are notoriously superstitious. since i unintentionally stopped blogging about the Sox, good things have happened.

and that's all i have to say about that.

ps. sorry it didn't seem to help you, Wakey. =/

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i wonder why it is...

...that Suri always looks so much cuter when they photograph her with Katie than she does when she's with Tom??

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::imagine Taps playing here::

you'll have to imagine it, because unfortunately i can't *play* it here.
[/snark]

it is with much sadness -- given my love for music -- that i am removing my music player from my blog. the site i was using -- that i *loved* because it allowed me to easily upload and share my personal music collection -- is no longer allowing me to share more than thirty seconds of a song, even though the tracks were all my own! =(

so until i can find a widget that will allow me to share the music i rightfully own... my blog will be silent.

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OMG this is so cool.

and it almost entirely accurate! the only parts i don't think fit me are "like to be part of something big" and "falling in a love a thousand times a day." oh and the part about holidays (in this case, meaning vacations) being luxurious & indulgent? that applies, but you have to know that what i consider to be luxurious & indulgent is probably much more low-key & and unpretentious than what many people think. ;-)

play along! and if you post yours on your blog, let me know!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

the mood portion of my personality is Dreamer:
Always drifting off, their imagination takes control. They have big ideas, and a cool calm manner.
You're a bit of a romantic and like to get back to the basics. The expanse of the wilderness is inspiring and you like landscapes that make you feel calm. When it comes to art, you have a traditional and anthropological eye. You appreciate the history of a piece, the stories that it holds - you are a touch sentimental! As for music, it's the soundtrack to your world. An open road, your favorite tracks - cliches are there to be enjoyed! Your choice of treat shows that you love being a little bit naughty. Being good all the time is a bore. You've got a good sense of fun and maybe an infectious giggle.

the fun portion of my personality is Escape Artist:
They are forever slipping off, getting away from the rat race, and recharging those batteries. Independent, and thoughtful - they know themselves well.
You love to be far from your everyday life. You love the sun, and like to live life at a slower pace than most - you know how to take things nice and easy! For kicks you like to indulge in your great passions. You are happy to live life's highs and lows; you are fiercely loyal and passionate. You like to be part of something big. When it comes to holidays, you reckon they should always be indulgent - a very special treat and a chance to recharge your batteries in luxurious surroundings as well as spending quality time with family and friends. What grosses you out? Good manners are essential. Prodding, poking and picking get your "Yuk" factor ticking.

the habits potions of my personality is New Wave Puritan:
They are strict, organised, and ever so neat - they practice the art of self-discipline. They like things done simply but with an eye for detail.
Even if you have a healthy approach to life, you still have your little vices that keep you going. It is all part of the routine, you're a creature of habit. Clean and pure - your choice of drink shows that on the whole you care about your health and make sure you're putting the right stuff in. As for the home, you have a very cool and contemporary taste. You have a simple approach to style, but you like things to have their place.

the love portion of my personality is Love Bug:
They are the type to fall in a love a thousand times a day. Their feelings snowball quickly, and they are full of passion.
You're a real romantic and a bit of a dreamer. OK, life may not be a movie, but what's wrong with thinking it is? When you think of freedom, you think of love. The comfort of being loved makes you feel free with your thoughts and words - you're a love bug.

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love potion number nine

so when Nichole & Daniel were in Florida for their WDW vacation back in May, they had the pleasant experience of being introduced to love bugs. Nichole kept cracking me up, because she was completely repulsed by the fact that mating bugs would land on her, essentially using her as their mattress.

today, i read something that, to me, makes love bugs so much less icky.

apparently when a mosquito bites us, it's for a very specific purpose. see... they don't feed on blood. they actually rely primarily on plant sugars for their energy. when they -- and it's only the females, in case you didn't know -- decide to nibble on us, it's because they use our blood as their fertility drug. it fuels their reproduction.

they say you learn something new every day. this is something i could have lived with remaining ignorant. i think it disturbs me more to be a bug aphrodisiac than a mattress...

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being wrong is not always a bad thing

i had this bad feeling all day yesterday. i kept feeling as though the Sox were not going to play well against the Braves last night. i am thrilled to report that my bad feeling was wrong. Joshy & the Sox shut out the Braves 4-0. and so Mr Joshua Beckett joins the ten-win club for 2007.

some thoughts generated by the game:

1. Schilling was sent back to Boston for an MRI. it might be breaking all kinds of codes of conduct for me to say this but... i'm actually a little excited at the prospect of maybe seeing a little Jon Lester, and what he's got to offer for 2007, without losing Julian in the rotation. should the Ace need some time on the DL, that is.

2. i am imploring... begging... *pleading*. all you baseball announcers: please please *please* stop talking about any possibility of Mike Lowell leaving Boston. not for next season, because i have to believe Theo will set up a new contract with our third baseman. and *not* this year by the trade deadline. heaven forbid. are you *trying* to kill me?!

3. one of the Braves announcers summed up Boston's acquisition of Julio Freaking Lugo: dreadful.

4. they showed a toddler on camera last night. he was crying. but what they said when they commented, resonated with me: "You're at the ball park. How can you not be happy??" yeah... i wish i were at a ball park, watching the Red Sox...

5. the lack of prime baseball photos online has been disappointing lately. which is why a) i haven't had many photos to accompany my Sox posts recently, 2) i haven't had enough fodder to support what was my weekly For Love of the Game posts, and d) there was not one single solitary shot of an awesome play yesterday, but you can watch some video Coco's catch at least, if you missed it. no more Glass Center Fielder. Nichole was right. she totally called it. *fiberglass*, baby.

i'm ready for some Yoyo Tavarez tonight. deemed my new cult hero since we've had Trot taken away from us. =( i hope the Rockies keep doing to New York what they did to us in Boston last week. i'm all for seeing that gap grow again.

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And I Quote: June 19, 2007

"The real test of friendship is: Can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?"
(Eugene Kennedy)

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