Monthly Archives: January 2007

Flotsam / Jetsam

Talk to me


I know a few things about the people who stumble onto this site. I know, for one thing, that you’re an elite crew.* I know that most of you are from the United States. And that every now and then someone from Spain or Australia or the Philippines or the UK drops by. I know that some of you come here looking for sweet potato recipes or for Rockford or for Rockford’s sisters or for book reports. I even know some of you in real life.

But I’d like to know more about you.

Who are you? What brought you here? What was the best book you read in 2006?** The best movie?** Do you have a blog? Where is it? Do you like ice cream? (I do.)

It’s National Delurking Week***. Give me a little shout out, will ya?

*that’s just a nice way of saying I don’t get much traffic
**stolen directly and without shame from Sweetney.com
***a thing I saw at Paper Napkin

Eating

A whole lotta food

When Rockford and I were newlyweds, my dinnertime culinary repertoire consisted of the following:

  • Many thrilling varieties of Chicken Voila
  • Grilled chicken (George Foreman style)
  • An exciting array of Rice-a-Roni rices
  • Macaroni and cheese sometimes with frozen broccoli

I’m sure it was a shocking blow to Rockford. His mother is a terrific cook, and he grew up eating a fresh, home-cooked meal almost every night. He really shouldn’t have been too surprised, though, considering the first meal I made for him. It was a chicken and broccoli disaster. He and my brother did their best to pretend it was edible, but I knew better. Because I have tastebuds, too.

I think my cooking skills have improved. At the very least, I no longer rely exclusively on boxed or frozen goods when it’s time for dinner. I like to cook. And I generally have plenty of time to cook, too. But it’s nice sometimes just to pull something out of the freezer and, Voila!, it’s dinner.

A few months before Poppy was born, I decided to try a once-a-month-cooking plan. The idea, as the name suggests, is that you cook once and then have meals in your freezer for quick, easy and delicious dinners all month long.

So I bought tons of ground beef and chicken and seasonings and onions (oh, so many onions), and I followed one of the plans outlined in a popular book that shall remain nameless. And I did fill the freezer with homemade meals, but it would be a stretch to call them “delicious.” Most of them were, at least, edible. But it put me off the OAMC movement.

It was nice to have ready-to-go food in the freezer, though.

This is all to say that I’ve tried it again. Sort of. I don’t have the freezer space now that I had then, so I couldn’t do the OAMC thing, gross recipes or not. But then I found the “Once-a-Week Cooking Plan” cookbook. Rockford took Poppy out for a few hours this morning, and now, in the freezer, we have:

  • 1 Cheesehead Chipotle Frittata
  • 4 Chicken Papaya Quesadillas
  • 2 pieces of Macadamia-Crusted Chicken
  • 1 Mexican Chicken Lasagna
  • and the makings for 1 Pesto Pepper Chicken Pizza

The only trouble I had with this more manageable plan was the “quick cooling.” I was able to use the sink (filled with ice water) to quick-cool some of the meals, but the frittata wouldn’t fit in the sink. Good thing Rockford was back by then. It never would have occurred to me to cool the dishes in the bathtub.

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Uncategorized

Music for my brother

I made a New Year CD for my li’l brother because he listens to entirely too much Brad Paisley and I try to broaden his horizons. I make CDs for my dad sometimes, too, because he loves Rod Stewart far too much, but Dad always hates every last song on every last CD I send him.

When I asked Justin what he thought about the New Year CD, he said it was “weird.” Oh well.

Beanbag Chair Yo La Tengo
… I’m losing every race I run, I’m making misery out of fun.
This is a nice, bouncy song, music-wise. The lyrics are a little down. But it makes me want to boogie anyway.

Beer & Kisses Amy Rigby
… We lived on beer and kisses, all hopped up on love and foam.
Love, love lost, beer, work, prayer. All it’s missing is a dog and a pickup truck, and it would’ve been a CMA shoo-in. I was sure Justin would like it.

We Both Go Down Together The Decemberists
… And while the seagulls are crying, we fall, but our souls are flying.
I like the doomed romance in this song, and I like the way he says “luh-ove.”

Castanets Alejandro Escovedo
… She said she was mine, she told me twice. I like her better when she walks away.
This one is nice and sassy and rockin’, all at the same time.

Quattro (World Drifts In) Calexico
… You have to hit the ground running.
I saw Calexico for the first (and second and maybe third) time when they opened for Wilco a few years ago. Their mariachi-infused rock blew me away the first time, and I was more impressed with subsequent shows. “Quattro” has a slow, sultry burn.

Think I’m In Love Beck
… I think I’m in love but it makes me kind of nervous to say so.
My brother went through a pretty wrenching breakup relatively recently, and it left him a bit skittish where relationships are concerned. Should lightning strike again for my brother (and I’m certain it will), I’m pretty sure he’ll be kind of nervous to say so.

Southern Gul Erykah Badu
… I’m from the South. I’m a Southern Gul.
I am from the South, but I’ve never felt all that Southern. “Southern Gul” makes me wish that wasn’t so. Erykah Badu’s voice is a like a warm hug from an old friend.

We Used to Be Friends The Dandy Warhols
… Come on now, sugar. Bring it on, bring it on, yeah.
I first heard this on “Veronica Mars.” It’s a catchy little ditty. And it always reminds me that I should remember to watch “Veronica Mars” because it’s a great show. Also, there’s a lot of clapping in the song, which makes it the perfect lead-in to …

Clap Your Hands They Might Be Giants
… Clap your hands … stomp your feet … jump in the air!
This is on one of Poppy’s CDs, They Might Be Giants’ “No.” It’s a fun song for dancing.

Sunday Sunny Mill Valley Groove Day Frank Black
… And when it’s over and the clover has left the mountainside, you’ll be king of what you survived.
A nice, laid-back song. It makes me happy and hopeful.

The Pills Stopped Working Hem
… I spent my whole life looking for land but settled on the breakers.
Have I mentioned that I love Hem? Well I do. This song has a decidedly country-and-western sound to it.

Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! Sufjan Stevens
… Rivers run, interstate, Michigan.
I like Sufjan Stevens more each time one of his songs pops up on the iPod.

Porchlight Neko Case and Her Boyfriends
… I’m sorry to tread on your patience, my dear
Rockford fell for Neko Case first. I followed not too long after. Mesmerizing voice. To be honest, I’m not that familiar with this particular song. I chose it randomly. And then I found that it’s pretty and it’s moving.

Ocean Breathes Salty Sun Kil Moon
… And maybe we’ll get lucky and we’ll both grow old.
I loved this song when Modest Mouse did it. I think this stripped down version even more.

The Greatest Cat Power
… Once I wanted to be the greatest. No wind or waterfall could stop me. And then came the rush of the flood.
You know who else I love? Cat Power.

John Saw that Number Neko Case
… So he flew from the pit with the moon round his waist
Rockford and my oldest nephew loves this song. They also love “Star Wars” and Legos. It’s a great song regardless. The imagery is spectacular.

. . . . . the end . . . . .