The Best VDay Ever

I'm proud to report that I had a really wonderful Vday this year. I'm even prouder to report that this is not solely due to efforts on the part of boy.

Percocet in tow (yes, I'm still on that over a week later), I joined some friends in helping out at a local school. They're getting some floors redone over the February break and needed two classrooms worth of furniture cleared. The task went quickly, aided by the musical genius of one Ms Spears. With floors cleared and time to kill before the lovely gents who are to do the actual work on the floors arrived, we hung out. We discussed things like former teachers, grade school traumas and lack of funds. There was also a bit of horse play and sword fighting to take advantage of the clear floor, but the children don't need to know about that.

The next portion of the day was to be spent celebrating womanhood, bringing awareness to oppression of past and present, taking back Valentine's Day and making it VDay. We moved on to a public room, rented with only a small donation to read from Eve Ensler's best known creation. We didn't limit ourselves to any one year's play. There was no producer to pick and choose for us. The world was our proverbial oyster. We discussed Alanis Morissett's Reclaiming Cunt... And then we talked for an hour. Actually, really, talked. We shared stories that aren't often told. Letting go of what's considered right or brunch talk. We were as too people are too rarely these days, completely honest. Then two readings. And then another hour of talking. Instead of reading crafted words and other people's stories, we told our own. It was refreshing, it was cleansing, it was empowering. Although we didn't put on a performance of the Monologues or even really read them as was originally intended, without purpose or intent, we captured the spirit of the Monologues.

When I got to my apartment, I was instructed not to look in the kitchen, my surprise wasn't ready yet. So I retreated to my room to continue my reading from the T. (A book by a woman very different than Eve and of a different perspective than the previous part of my day seemed to capture) The surprise ended up being half a dozen roses accompanied by cheese fondue and bread with crusts easily removed. Because I could eat it and it was low key. It was perfect.

I was reassured that in years past, my distaste for flowery, showy Valentine's celebrations was not purely the bitter, jealous heart of the chronically single. Not that I think the day should go entirely ignored. I guess I think it's the daily little things or random, surprise, big shows of affection that mean more. I'd be pretty sad if my one hope for romance each year was marked (and marketed) by red hearts and paper cupids adorned, well, everywhere. Even when in the coupled off side of this holiday (and we all know there's sides), I didn't want giant stuffed animals or hearts filled with chocolate or enough flowers to confuse my apartment with a greenhouse. I was reassured because, at least on this front, I'm probably not a hypocrite.

And yes, a piece of me did miss sitting in a dive bar, drinking probably a little too much and dedicating Fat Bottom Girl to a fellow patron with one of my best.

oops.

Jeez-a-loo it's been a while.

Since my last post:

• My cousin got married in NC
• That was pretty awesome, despite typical family crap.
• Matt said it was like a sitcom. It really was.
• It's 2009. I'm hoping for a good year for everyone. A lot of my friends could use it.
• I've been doing a lot of yoga lately. I had a class card to use up before it expires on Feb 12 and didn't want it to go to waste. There's only 1 class left.
• I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow.
• It's really effing cold.
• I'm still cooking, but somehow not taking pictures. I think this is in part because I'm unsure where the cord has gone to upload pictures to my computer.
• Matt downloaded Sim City 2000.

I may write more about those things later. But mostly, I wanted to share this:

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1877187,00.html

It's an article about the "25 Things" meme that's been going around on Facebook. The author of this article is enraged by the amount of her time, and general work time, wasted on the writing and reading of this meme. Not only that, but she's upset she's been tagged so often by people who she does not care to know 25 things about. She doesn't feel they're interesting, insightful or funny. Apparently, she doesn't like her friends. She then goes on to post 25 of the 25 Random Things others have sent to her.

She's truly a vissionary.

New Endeavors

You see, I'm very smart. Lately, I've had little to no free time in my life. For that matter, I haven't had enough time to do the things on my list. As such, things like "fold laundry" or "read*" have fallen by the wayside. And it is at this time, when I have no time, that i have decided to become a Tastefully Simple consultant.

I've sent a few emails to my friends and family - mostly just an invitation to an open house to display the products and introduce the company and an (soon to arrive) email about holiday shopping and entertaining. (I swear after this you will receive no more emails unless you profess your love of the products to me and request further emails. Thank you, dear ones, for putting up with me in the interim!)

So far, those that have tried the food have loved it. I'm so excited, but not too surprised about this. It really is delicious food. The other main talking point (but after yummy food, you shouldn't need much else) is the food is all wonderfully easy to prepare. No more than two ingredients are ever required and not very much time at all. Viola! Delicious meal and you look like a master chef.

I'm hoping both the food and I continue to be well received. And I hope this new venture goes well. It's a little scary, but I'm excited.



*Whilst "reading" may seem like a luxury item, I've tried to be more diligent about attending and productively participating in the book club my friend puts together. Since the December picks were influenced by yours truly, I figure I should do my very best to read them and attend. And yes, picks and them. There are two books. I think she's punishing me for daring to suggest books. Good thing I apparently love Capote.

Mental Health Break: Puppies

I forget exactly who sent me this website. (it might have been Matt) I forget exactly what day it was on. (somewhere in the middle there. Wednesday? Thursday?) I just know it's been a long few weeks and it probably won't let up until at least the new year. And this website has been wonderful in helping me get through it:

Puppies.

enjoy.

A Tale of Two 'Hoods

I'm always amazed when I'm reminded of how much certain neighborhoods (okay, i guess they're their own town, but they're part of the very immediate Boston Metro Area) are not looked upon kindly by their neighbors. Namely, Alston and Roxbury. I know definitively of two schools that go to great lengths to ensure that they have only Boston, not Roxbury addresses. Same goes for Alston.

But it seems that Brookline has taken this a step further. This isn't an academic institution not wanting to be associated with a slightly notorious area, it's a neighboring town. So far, I've found that only pretty predominant roads go from Alston to Brookline and vice versa. What happens on the smaller roads? Either there's a barrier at the town line so cars can't pass, or the road stops and becomes a dead end just before the line.

Now, I've never hidden the fact that Alston isn't my favorite place. (also not my most disliked. besides, it has some pretty awesome people) But I think that barriers and prematurely stopped streets is a little drastic. Oh Brookline.

Civic Duty

tee hee. duty.



PS -


Thanks for sending this to me, Julie! ;-)

Roasted Chicken

Apparently, when I decide to roast something for dinner, I decide to roast everything. (almost)

I had never roasted a chicken before, but suddenly had a hankering to do so. I had never even really been in charge of the turkey, no matter how much I do for Thanksgiving. For a first attempt, I'd say I did pretty damn well.

With all the apples sitting in my kitchen, taunting me, daring me to try to use them all before they went bad, I knew that at least one had to be used as a part of this recipe. I did some research on the interwebs, and it didn't seem like it would be all that hard. I was expecting to stuff the chicken more like a turkey, but wasn't very disappointed when I discovered that that wasn't the norm. Following a few guidelines, but sort of just feeling my way - this is what I did.


What you'll need:
2 carrots, unpeeled and sliced about 1/4" thick
2 stalks of celery, sliced the same
1 medium onion, diced
1 apple, quartered only (do not peel or core)
5-8 cloves garlic
fresh rosemary sprigs
fresh thyme
1 whole chicken, giblets and all
butter/margarine
1 cup white wine (plus however much you would like to drink)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a rack 1/3 of the way up in the oven so that the chicken will sit in the middle.

Line the bottom of a roasting pan or casserole dish with the carrots, celery and onion. Place a few sprigs of thyme and rosemary on top in center, where you will place the chicken.

Clean the chicken - remove any remaining feathers, remove the giblets and place in the bed of vegetables. Also remove the pieces of fat attaching the skin near the cavity. You can chose to wash and pat dry the chicken. I did not as I didn't want to spread salmonella to my sink and kitchen and figured that roasting the chicken would kill the germs anyway.

Once the cavity of the chicken is empty, sprinkle with salt and pepper, insert garlic, a few sprigs of rosemary and thyme, as well as the apple. The entire apple may not fit. I had to cut mine into 1/8ths to fit more than a quarter. Massage the butter or margarine into the skin all over. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the chicken on top of the bed of vegetables, herbs and giblets.

Place in the oven to roast for 45-60 minutes. I did not have a meat thermometer, so let my chicken stay in a little longer than it probably should have. I'd rather have my chicken be a little dry than under cooked. Ideally, though, you want the meat to be about 160 degrees in the thickest part of the breast.

Once the chicken is done, remove the pan from the oven and the chicken from the pan. Remove the apples, garlic, etc from the cavity. Cover with aluminum foil and let sit while you prepare the phenomenal au jus.

Scrape all the vegetables and giblets from the pan into a bowl, allowing any juices to remain. Pour the glass of wine into the bowl with the vegetables so it can collect any remaining flavor or juices. Then pour the wine, straining out the vegetables into a sauce pan along with the juices from the roasting pan. Be sure to smush the vegetables a bit as you're straining them so you get as much flavor out of them as possible. Turn on the burner to a medium low heat to allow the alcohol to begin to burn off. At this point, check the chicken to see if any juice has accumulated on the plate or in the cavity. If so, add this to the pan now and continue cooking for just a few minutes longer.

Now the sauce and chicken are both ready to serve!



Our meal was accompanied by an attempt at roast vegetables. I say attempt because unfortunately, the rack to roast the chicken on was low and therefore close to the bottom rack in the oven. The vegetables seemed to steam more than roast, but it all worked out.

This one's easy!
Slice and dice your favorite assortment of vegetables and arrange in one layer on a baking sheet.


Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and other spices of choice and place in the oven. After 15 minutes turn over, brush, sprinkle and return to the oven for another 10-15 minutes. Once the vegetables have reached the desired doneness, enjoy!


Eat me, I'm done!!



(also accompanied by mashed potatoes, as you can see)