Tuesday, February 28, 2006

The Olympics Are Over—Back to Normal TV

I loved the Olympics. I really really did. But I'm glad they're over. I missed having instant hockey when I got home from work. The NHL is back and the Sharks are on in HD. It's a good line-up for me tonight: The Amazing Race 9 starts up, Gilmore Girls is a new episode, the guys are singing on Idol. An excellent night of just sitting around.

Okay, I'll miss the curling. When are they going to start televising more curling? Oh if I only got TSN or CBC here in Cali. And I'll miss Olympic Ice. Now that was cracklin' good TV.

Chocolate to Sneeze at

In the afternoons I like a square of chocolate to get the juices flowing again. My favorites are the Lindt 70% and the Trader Joe's purple wrapper 73%. So yummy.

I like to share too but this afternoon my two officemates have been in a meeting so I offered some to my next-office-neighbor. He was happy to have some. He bit into it and sneezed. He says he always sneezes once after eating chocolate. Just once, never more. He's even sneezed when eating Oreo's. But somehow drinking hot chocolate doesn't affect him.

I told him he was special. Weird is more like it.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head....

I was watching the local weather while eating breakfast this morning (for once we're having interesting weather) and they were showing a storm cell heading right for the town where I catch the train to work. The weather reporter said, "Look out people in San Leandro. Rain is headed your way in 15 minutes." So I thought, can I make it to the platform before the rain does?

Nope. Just as I was parking my car the big drops starting falling on the windshield. And I mean big ones! I thought I even heard some thunder (highly unheard of in this area). So I had to dodge the raindrops as I walked the couple blocks to the station.

At least it wasn't very windy. Last night I couldn't believe how windy it was. I can hear rain and wind coming down the vent for my stove and it was really howling last night. And it was screaming by my bedroom windows. Rather exciting to try to go to sleep to.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Living Up to Unreal Expectations

I have a problem at work where I just work too hard and too efficiently and do too good a job so people come to expect that I can do a super job in half the time I'd really like to have. For example...

A couple weeks someone came to me and said can you lay out this project, it's only about 20 pages. Oh no problem, I thought. Twenty pages are a piece of cake. What the person didn't make clear to me was that there were two sections of 20 pages, an intro, an intro to each section, and five appendices. And in two of the appendices each page was completely different. So a 20 page job turned into a hundred page job.

But I'm not done...I had to do a version in Spanish too!

And I got everything late.
And they wanted something bolded or italicized in every paragraph which makes it very complex and time-consuming.

I wish I would've had time to do a really good job but the training starts tonight and they had to make up the manual binders today. So the Spanish sections didn't even get proofed.

I hate it when I let an inferior product go out the door.

Jolly Olde England

My friend Elizabeth is getting married back home in England in the fall and I plan to attend. I'm dragging one of my sisters with me too. Not that she's protesting very loudly. She did a semester there when she was in college and has been back once with my dad a few years ago. I'm looking forward to having someone along who's been there before as it will be my first time. I'm reading alot about England to prepare for my trip. I do love to plan so I'm starting to make a list of places of interest I want to see.

I've read numerous books that take place in England from Barbara Cartland romances in my youth to Elizabeth George mysteries to my current favorite, Robin Maxwell's historical fiction. Maxwell writes about Elizabeth I and the Tudor era, discovering holes or undetailed times in history and fills them in with possibilities of relationships, political intrigue and customs of the times. It's very fun. I'm currently reading The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn in which Elizabeth, newly crowned, discovers a diary her mother had written.

My favorite of hers so far has been The Queen's Bastard. It tells the story of Elizabeth and her lover Robin Dudley whose son was hidden from them. The son finds out his heritage at the side of his adopted father's deathbed and eventually contacts Robin and then Elizabeth, becomes a spy for England and is instrumental in the fall of the Spanish Armada.

Other historical fiction about England that I've enjoyed is Edward Rutherfurd's London and Sarum. In each of these books, Rutherfurd follows several fictional families through the ages. The same family names and characteristics show up in each period along with historical figures from that time. Sarum is the ancient name of Salisbury. I'm hoping to go there and see the cathedral and of course stop by Stonehenge.

To prepare for my England trip, I'm also reading A Traveller's History to England by Christopher Daniell. It's a history of England in short interesting pieces that make it easy to read and enjoy.

If you have any suggestions of things I should see, please let me know. I'm especially interested in ancient things, Avebury, for example.

A Short Sharp Knock

I was lounging in my chaise last night watching Dancing with the Stars or the Olympics or both and I felt a sharp shove and my TV made a cracking sound like someone had knocked into it and it was settling back into its supports. I held my breath for a second anticipating doom and destruction like I do when I feel an earthquake but nothing else came. There was a 2.5 one a bit northeast of me at 11:44pm. That may have been it.

The first time I felt an earthquake was back when I was living with a couple from church and their daughter was over with her dogs. My bed there was pretty high and cushy. All of a sudden it felt like something was pushing up against the side of the bed, like the dogs had somehow gotten into my bedroom and wanted up on the bed. The rolling sensation went on for several seconds. I jumped up and ran to the doorway. Everyone else was huddling in doorways too. We immediately turned on the TV to see the news about it. It felt like a little celebration.

The building I work in is quite old and has seismic retrofitting. I work on the 5th floor and my office is right on the outside wall and I've felt a couple quakes where it feels like the building is swaying back and forth.

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Stupid Presidents' Day

So I was all ready to drop off my library books and pick up some new ones after grocery shopping last night but when I went by the library it was all dark and there were no cars in the lot. I thought it was a bit odd that they would've changed the schedule on me, but then I realized it was Presidents' Day. I had to work but obviously the librarians didn't.

I guess I'll have to go over there tonight.

Tour of California

I just discovered that the Tour of California bike race is going through my town today! Oh if only I would've stuck to my plan to stay home today. I guess I could go to San Jose tomorrow to watch the individual time trial. I can't believe I hadn't heard it was coming to town. I really must read up on my cycling news more often.

Monday, February 20, 2006

Groceries

For a year now I've stuck to a Saturday morning habit of going to the farmers' market, then to Trader Joe's, then to the library. I can't remember the last time I didn't make it to at least two of those stops. And sometimes I'd add in Target or Safeway or Albertsons! Well, this past Saturday I just didn't feel like it. So I didn't go. And I've felt strange ever since then.

I'm just glad I had enough food in the house so I could stretch those extra couple days. I'm heading out to the grocery store and library right now. Dinner should be good!

Friday, February 17, 2006

From My Blog to ABC's Ear?

Turns out ABC did show Grey's Anatomy again last night and my DVR actually recorded it! I didn't watch it yet though. I just had too much Olympics and Survivor to watch instead. I'm sure I'll get to it this weekend.

Yippee!

Best of the Olympics (so far)

Best flag: Estonia (It's so purty.)
Best commercial: Coke Cheer Squad (They crack me up.)
Best commentators: Sale & Pelletier (see my Olympic Ice Break post)
Best uniform: U.S. men's curling (something about those side shoulder seams)
Best hockey uniform: Switzerland (I love the dark red ones.)
Best part of Opening Ceremonies: sparks (skaters with flames coming out of their helmets)
Best medal: bronze (Gold is too flashy; silver too weak.)
Best quoted quotable: "When you're going through hell, keep going." (Mary Carillo quoting Winston Churchill while discussing Evan Lysacek's disastrous short program.)

Thursday, February 16, 2006

The Dangers of Commuting

The key stuck in the lock. Pressure shifted as if my gut sensed it was almost safe. Not much time left. I jimmied the key and I was in.

I rushed to lock the door behind me and shed my backpack and coat. "Hurry," I muttered to my fingers as I fumbled with the buckle. Just ten steps down the hall and five to the right.

"Go before you leave work next time," as relief flowed down.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Olympic Ice Break

If you enjoy figure skating and humor, you should try out Olympic Ice every afternoon on USA (and Universal HD). Hosted by Mary Carillo (of tennis fame) and Scott Hamilton, this look inside and behind the scenes of the sport of figure skating and the Olympic athletes is entertaining and educational. I especially enjoy the segments by Jame Sale and David Pelletier, the Canadian gold medalists from the Salt Lake City games. They show how to do various tricks on the ice and have a lot of fun doing it. And their commentary is touching and insightful.

Seen on the Road

War is Terrorism
With a Bigger Budget

Politicians are Like Diapers
They need to be changed often
and for the same reasons

Monday, February 13, 2006

Standard High Defnition

NBC is simulcasting its regular Olympics broadcasts on the local NBC stations with an HD broadcast. Luckily for us, all the venues have HD capability so everything (well, everything so far that I've seen) has been in HD. And my local cable company added Universal HD at the last second so I'm getting a lot of the hockey in HD too.

I'm starting to get really really spoiled. HD is starting to become my standard viewing level. So when I watch something that's not in HD, it just looks weird. I used to get excited when I got to see a hockey game in HD (the puck! I can see the puck!) but now it's old hat. I'm sure gonna miss the Olympics.

Grey's What?

Last night I was tooling along, reading my book and watching the Olympics. Content that my trusty DVR would be recording Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy for me to watch later at my leisure. Little did I know that some gremlin or two had taken up residence in my Set Recordings and munched the Grey's Anatomy setting. So it didn't record! And it was a continued episode too!

Come on, ABC. Is it too much to ask for a repeat again this week?

Stupid DVR.

Creep Me Out!

Okay, show of hands, people. Who else is creeped out by those animated Charles Schwab commercials? Every time one comes on I have to change the channel or fast forward. I don't know what ad agency came up with them but they suck.

Four Days 'til Spring

Only five days until pitchers and catchers report to Oakland A's spring training. I'm so excited. I wish I were headed to Phoenix again this year but, alas, I am not. Last year one of my sisters and I met our folks down there and spent a few days following the A's around the Valley of the Sun. We all had a load of fun.

I think the A's will be good this year. I hope Crosby and Harden can stay healthy. It will be interesting to see how Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley fit into the team. And I'm so glad they gave Ellis a two-year contract. He is my favorite.

Friday, February 10, 2006

Main Dish

Here's a great dish for those chilly late winter days. I've been eating this for two weeks. I love it!

Sausage and Lentil Stew
(adapted from Trader Joe’s black lentils package recipe)

1 ½ c. black lentils, rinsed & drained

½ t. olive oil
½ lb. sausage (I used Jimmy Dean reduced fat)
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
4–5 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 c. chicken stock
1 ½ c. water
2. c. frozen sweet corn
16 oz. can diced tomatoes
½ t. salt
black pepper

Rinse the lentils and cull them for stones and other debris. Set aside to drain.

Heat olive oil in heavy 4-quart pot that has a tight-fitting lid. Remove sausage from any casing and lightly brown, breaking it into small pieces. Add celery, onion and garlic. Sauté until soft.

Add stock and water, scraping up any fond left on the bottom of the pot from the sausage. Add lentils, corn, tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste and stir. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer still covered for 1 ½ hours, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and simmer an additional ½ hour.

Makes enough for lunch all week. I like mine with brown rice or toasted whole wheat pita.

Fish Around Sally (Fish Sally Fish)

Oh, Sally. My favorite. You just punched your ticket out the next time your tribe loses the immunity challenge. Why, oh why did you lose that fishing spear? You could've gone so far. I even like your high socks/bikini combo.

Shane is crazy and an idiot. I wish he would've quit. That tribe is well on its way to utter ruin. As Jeff said, "aboslutely inept." The only good thing about it is that I won't have to stare at Cirie's cleavage much longer. Aras is nice to look at but he's almost as wacko as Courtney.

I don't get the four tribes for one episode then two in the next. Why even have the four tribes if you're only going to leave them there for a couple days? I would've like to have seen the older women go down to a couple people. Maybe just one. That would've been cool.

Clean Up in Apt. 3

Back in December I was getting tired of having a dirty apartment. I just don’t like to clean. Most of the time it doesn’t bother me to live in a mess of my own making but I was hosting a holiday party so my place needed to be clean.

Enter my cleaning lady. I found her on craigslist and thought I’d try her out and get a clean house for my party and maybe beyond. The first time was great: she steam-cleaned the carpets and even cleaned the oven! But she’d somehow muted my TV in a way I couldn’t figure out how to un-mute it. I had to turn everything off.

On the next cleaning day I left her a note explaining how to use the remotes. When I got home the TV was muted in the same way. Worse she’d emptied the dishwasher and in the process completely rearranged my kitchen cupboards! I was stunned and very angry. What right did she have to move all my stuff around? So what if not all the spices were together, or the glasses, or the tea bags. I like to have things nearby where I use them and she wasn’t the one to tell me otherwise.

So...I called her and under the guise of trying to figure out how she was muting my TV in such an odd way, I mentioned that she didn’t need to put my dishes away, that I had particular places where they go. She said that I probably wasn’t happy with her rearranging things. I said not really and I reiterated that in the future she didn’t need to put the dishes away.

Well, I’m sure you can guess what’s coming next. Yup, two weeks later, she put my dishes away again but this time they were dirty! Granted, I am a rinser, but how she put away an entire dishwasher full of dirty dishes without once noticing is beyond me.

The next day I advised her I was discontinuing her services. I guess I’ll have to clean my place myself.

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Hand Cramps

I don’t have a computer at home. You may wonder why I would ever choose to blog when I can only post at work. Well, I have a notebook and a pen and severe hand cramps. I haven’t written this much since I kept a journal my junior year abroad. Hopefully I’ll build up some stamina soon.

Olympic DeVeR Fever

This will be my first Olympics with a DVR. And with the NBC family of networks providing unprecedented coverage, my disk is going to fill up quickly, especially once the men’s ice hockey tournament starts up on the 15th. USA, MSNCB and CNBC are going to carry every game, mostly while I’m at work. I may not be getting much sleep the next couple weeks. Maybe I should pump up the airbed and just sleep in the living room.

Freeze Face

I felt pain in my cheeks and I realized I had been smiling so long my face was frozen. It really hurt. What was I smiling so much about?

Dancing with the Stars

Seriously.

It’s so funny. I love it. So the hosts are a bit over the top, who cares? I’d call it my guilty pleasure but somehow, I feel no guilt.

Blackbird Sisters

I'm really enjoying the Blackbird Sisters mystery series by Nancy Martin. There are three sisters though only one, Nora, tells the stories. The latest comes out in a month and I can't wait.

The books are:
How to Murder a Millionaire
Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds
Some Like it Lethal
Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die
Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too
(out March 7)

Check them out!

Project Runway

Boy, did Daniel look purty last night! Too bad he made the worst garment and was wearing the next to worst. He may have been pretty but he certainly wasn't happy. What was he thinking with that dress? It certainly wasn't his usual vision and quality.

I'm glad that Chloe won. For her first time making men's wear, she did an awesome job.

Who was that guest judge? Did they even introduce him?

Gauchos Forever

What is with the return of the gauchos? Now I love boots and I don't mind if you want to show them off, but geez...gauchos? I thought those went out when I was twelve.

Please, don't wear them. You look ridiculous.

Record High

And I was surprised it was over 70º? We hit 74º! A record high. No wonder I was so hot yesterday.

Yeah, you guessed it...shorts day today. And no sleeves. In February. Crazy.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Safari to Nowhere

I normally use Safari as my browser but in reading some of the Blogger Help articles I realized that Safari really needs to get its act together. I had to start using Firefox to get the full complement of features on Blogger. I really like Safari normally but nothing beats being able to click the link button and get some code.

Alone at Last

I share an office with two really cool people but sometimes it's nice to just be by myself. All three of us have people coming by in an almost constant stream of interruption. So when the other two decided to take off early today I was happy to see them go. Now I can get some work done!

My Favorite Martin

Congrats to my fave Paul Martin on being named to the "taxi squad" as a reserve for the men's Olympic ice hockey team heading to Turin in a few days. He celebrated with a goal and two assists against the Lightning last night. Woo hoo!

Shoulda Worn Shorts

Seriously, I should've believed the weatherman this morning. I just couldn't believe it would actually hit 70º today. We walked the 15 minutes down to Chipotle for lunch and then walked through the park on the way back. It was packed with people sunning themselves. Next time we'll be getting it to go.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Auxiliary Library Day

I'm off to the library for my auxiliary library day. I go every Saturday (errand day) but when there are books to be picked up off the hold shelf, I can hear them calling my name. And the library's open 'til 8 on Tuesdays so I don't have to rush.

I have three books sitting on my library shelf at home that I haven't read yet cuz I didn't have the books right before them in the series. And I can't read them out of order!

Here's what's waiting at the library:
Storm Constantine, The Crown of Silence (the Magravandias chronicles)
Nancy Martin, Some Like it Lethal (Blackbird Sisters series)
Mercedes Lackey, Music to My Sorrow (the Bard series)
Emily Giffin, Something Borrowed
(I haven't read her yet. I'll let you know what I think.)

I finished Laura Childs' Chamomile Mourning on the way in this morning to work so I'm left with the Olympics preview issue of SI. Gotta read up on those short-track speed skaters. Opening ceremonies only three days away!

Welcome to Breeze By!

Hi and welcome to Breeze By, my first attempt at blogging. I'm looking forward to sharing the things that interest me. Thanks for breezing by.
bj