I love small spaces, especially when someone uses creativity to make them work. I cannot envision a kitchen smaller than the one I have, but I think it's because I have a stunted vision & can't see it for what it's truly worth. But, alas, it is a rental, so I'll just have to save my big dreaming for when I'm an owner. It's something I've been mulling over lately.

Anyway, ripped from Apt. Therapy, cute lil' kitchens:

This weather has been stupid. A little winter mix & everyone freaks out & gets to have the day off work/school. NOT ME. No, we've got too many men in positions of power who cannot agree on a single inclement weather policy, so I did not benefit. I feel I would've greatly appreciated a day off, too. I would've kept my home uniform on all day. I would've drank Irish Cream coffees & read decorating & cooking blogs. I'd probably nap a bit, cook something in the crock pot. I would've played with SOLO, too. Eh, maybe next time.

What's your Xmas list looking like? Me & ATM, we're gonna be real boring and spring for a new couch. That's our "big" gift this year. I don't even know where to begin looking. IK3A? It's gotta be 1) comfortable 2) stylish 3) not used & 4) not hellof expensive. Taking suggestions from persons of know-how.

Other gifts on my wishlist: 1) a bubble umbrella 2) Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything (Note to Santa: Used is o.k.!)

Vacation idea: Go somewhere where you can see the night sky. Go somewhere so dark that when you look up, it's almost terrifying. Where is the darkest sky in the U.S.? A little camping, a little star gazing.

Oh, man, what a weekend!  Nothing I can disclose here, hee.  GOOD TIMES!

I found a big leaf.  ATM found a bigger one:

Don't forget to feed the birds this time of year.  Especially days like this!

Egyptr, Velvet Kente & Eclipse Glasses Banda played @ Downtown Music on Saturday.

Egyptr:



Velvet Kente:



Eclipse Glasses Banda:



Fans! Me, Sulac & KMHD:

Collin's good lighting:

Collin's kitchen:

Dearest Zach, Lydia & Collin, winding down Sunday night:

I am real close to being ready to buy a house.  

Saturdays are the fucking best.

ECLIPSE GLASSES BANDA @ Downtown Music Hall, Live!

Tonight at that regular show time!

$5

Feeling better!

Yesterday, Judge asked me why do we settle for such shit coffee here at the office. I could only agree. Our current maker makes a weak brew and doesn't keep it very warm. I told him that we probably tolerate it because A) We're the only ones who drink coffee in our office of five. B) Everyone is being all budget-conscious, so I wasn't gonna ask him for a new coffeemaker anytime soon. Well, hating bad coffee trumps budget-crunch time; he gave me authority to find our office a new coffeemaker at his expense. Boom. Immediately, I start internet research & get worried. I've no knowledge or experience with modern coffeemakers. The one I use at home is as old as I am & just as simple. Sometimes we'll use our French press. Or we'll use the on-the-stove percolator. Researching new models got frustrating, so I just gave up. I figured that I could just go to the shops to look at them in person. When I get home from work, I told ATM my mission. Well, he happened to have the latest issue of Consumer Reports and they evaluated coffeemakers! I'm exclaimating because talk about good timing & luck! !!! !! !!!!!!! Anyway, their top rated maker was in a really safe price range ($40) and it was available at a nearby shop.

This morning, I set up our new coffeemaker & brewed some coffee and it was GOOD. I couldn't wait for Judge to get here to show him what I done did. Maybe he sensed my over-excitement because he totally humored me and said he was "proud" of my work & acted all stoked. He reimbursed the cost of the maker +$10 for research, gas, transport & set-up. And now we have really good coffee at work!

Allow me to digress:

Last night, with furrowed brow, I examined my kitchen. I have no real work space, there's no organization & I'm just not pleased with it. I think we're gonna give it a makeover.  It's exciting because we decided last night that we're going to try more foods and I was going to attempt expanding my cooking know-how. I'm gonna follow KMHD's suit and learn to make breads. It's time to try harder recipes & experiment more wildly. ATM suggested that I take a photo of my existing set up, study it & try to organize and remodel & come up with ideas that way. I thought it was a good idea, so here they are. [My kitchen is a little sloppy because I just don't care about it right now.]

Can't you just tell that I live in a rental?  I can't do any major modifications, but I think with creativity, this can be a more functional, beautiful kitchen.  I love to cook, it makes me excited to think that I could love it even more.  SUGGESTIONS, PLZ!

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Going to kickboxing for the first time in over a week.  SCARY!  Am coming home to crock pot of vegetable beef soup.  Tomorrow is Friday!  That was fast!

STILL ILL

I'm frustrated because I don't seem to be getting better. I still have hellof congestion, a dry cough, body ache, tiredness & this morning, I woke up with fluid in my left ear. It has since gone away, but wtf was that all about? I try not to overexert myself, so no kickboxing. I go to bed early & enjoy Nyquil dreams until it's time to go to work. We've got perpetual humidifier action with TWO humidifiers. Fluids. Lots of fluids. Breathe Easy tea, orange juice, water, water, water, and an occasional Emergen-C for a boost of energy. I suppose that if I don't see an improvement in the next couple of days, I'll call my doctor. I actually tried calling him three times today, but they put me on hold & then hung up after awhile. I guess it's that time of year, but....! Maybe they, too, want me to wait a couple of days and then call back? I shaketh the fist!

So, the Xmas cards are out. I sent my co-worker's here to the office because I didn't have his home address. I got to see his reaction; he did a piercing scream/laugh when he opened it. Success! As soon as I'm sure that everyone has received theirs, I will post some of the photos from our Xmas card photo shoot that didn't make the grade.

I'm looking forward to our trip to M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I for the holidays. The drive is five hours, but there are momentous bits of the trip that I look forward to every time. I LOVE driving through Lake Providence and Tallulah, LA. We have this (bad) habit of stopping in Vicksburg, MS at a casino to get a cup of coffee & blow through $20 in 3 minutes. I'm feelin' lucky this year. Anyway, ATM's family is really nice & I always have a good time. The big hurrah is that ATM's sister-in-law just had a baby (Cade), so all eyes will be on that tot for the next 10+ years. Also, ATM's mom has the cutest doggie that everyone loves, so that's another diversion off me. For gifts this year, we're opting for perishables. Food, olive oils, coffees, nuts, wines, etc. The stuff that makes life great. I would be so thrilled to get these kinds of gifts!

FYI: We've got a new baker on the scene. KMHD made her first bread the other eve & it is good! I'm hoping she's making them as Xmas gifts. I know mum & dad would love one and it would be a great accompaniment with my banana bread. Yes, this is a big ol hint hint!

So, who's throwing the holiday party this year? Please let it be someone besides me and ATM!

P.S.

Here's a recipe that I just know you'll like. Bonus: It's vegan.

Ingredients:
1/4 c natural (no sugar) peanut butter
2 t soy sauce
1 T light brown sugar
1 T lime juice
1/4 c coconut milk
red pepper flakes or chili sauce or whatever hot condiment you prefer, to taste

Mix everything, adding the coconut milk last & heat it gently over med-low heat in a saucepan until it is blended.

Serve it with noodles topped w/ tofu, shredded carrot & cucumber. It's also a very good dipping sauce.


From a window in Judge's chamber.

Transmissions from the sick bed.

The following was written last Thursday. It's short, but I think it's because the meds kicked in.

Well, I went & got sick. It's all sinus related. A little drip can make you feel like death. I'm waiting for the sleepytime medicine to kick in. In the meantime, ever the faithful blogger I am.

Monday was World AIDS Day. Me & ATM went to the Clinton Library to look at some of THE quilt -- it was really amazing & a sight to behold. No one was there, but probably because it was very cold & windy. How did I feel? How DID I feel? I felt more educated. It became more real to me because I could see the faces of victims. I have to admit, there's a disconnect between me & things like HIV/AIDS. I don't know anyone who has it. It's well removed from my own life. But, understand, it's not lost on me. I know the importance of AIDS education. It's part of the bigger picture. It's not just AIDS prevention, it's sex education. To have control, to not spread disease & to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In a roundabout way, being sexually educated is caring for yourself AND others.

Consider this a gift. Print this and highlight all of the ones you are going to make.

We are all v. busy & recipes of simple meals that are delicious are GOLD.

If you are considering telling someone off in front of a group of people, here are two things to consider:

1.  Make sure that you are right.

2.  Make sure that what you are saying isn't lost on the person you are yelling at.

This guy threw a total fit in kickboxing class tonight.  What a spectacle!  We were all lined up in a row, practicing our upper-cuts.  Master Lee approached the guy, who we will call Big Baby, or BB for short, next to me & tried to correct his form.  BB resisted & mouthed off.  After Master Lee kinda gave up on him & moved on to the next person, BB made whiny noises and stomped off to his seat.  

Can I give you a little background on this guy?  He is awful in this class.  I feel he hardly tries more than half the time & is whining about it the entire time.  I've dreaded his presence since I've met him, he's a real downer.  Too, he's just a goober.  The second day he showed for class, he did not have his "uniform" on.  Why?  Because he was having it altered.  Really.  

Anyway, there are rules in a dojo.  Even if you aren't 100% down or agreeable with Master Lee, you've got to respect him & his school; if not for him, then the others in class, who, by the way, are paying a lot of money, AHEM.  Anyway, leaving the mat w/o permission is totally disrespectful & rude.  Master Lee asked, "What is this?  What is wrong?"  ZOMG, BB just started yelling about how Master Lee didn't respect martial arts & that he probably didn't even know Tae Kwon Do (HE DOES).  He was all, "YOU'RE FROM KOREA!," as if that meant something.  He just went on & on about the lack of respect for martial arts & really just came off lookin' like an asshole.  This went on for like five minutes.  Master Lee kept saying, "Let's talk later, call me in the morning," but guy just wouldn't settle.  Even the senior student chimed in & was like, "Hey man, we're paying for class, if you'll just wait until later..."  He still wouldn't compromise, so finally Master Lee said, "Whatever" and we continued class while BB sat there fuming.  I mean, what was he going to do, right?  

I think BB has some wild, romantic view of what Asia & Asians are like.  I think he really thinks we -- ALL Asians -- revere martial arts as the Way.  I mean, because Master Lee is from Korea he should respect martial arts?  I wonder what else he believes.  I may be reading too much into it, but he just didn't sound like he knew what he was talking about.  Too, I don't think Master Lee really understood his complaints.  He probably just thought BB was a rude, disrespectful weenie.  He really came off looking like a real jerk.  If you want to yell at somebody, totally reconsider, because you will not look as cool as you think.  You will not get the slow-clap of approval from your classmates.  BELIEVE.

We continued our class & you could tell everyone had a little resolve in them to show this buster that our class is badass.  We worked hard & did well.  At the end of our class, BB totally apologized, but it is TOO LATE.  I already think he's a jerk-wad & I hope he finds another class.  This one is too hard for him!  Also, unbelievably, we are the same rank, so I will probably have to stand in line next to him always.  Please, NO!  GAG!

T-Day went by without a hitch.  Well, why wouldn't it, right?  I guess since I am the self-appointed CEO of my family's Thanksgiving, then I take it upon myself to be the official spaz.  It's a total waste of energy.  Remind me in a year's time to take a chill pill.  I need to quit selling myself short, I can totally cook up a feast!  And I actually enjoy it.  I won't let the holidays get me in a fit.

We had our Thxgiving meal @ KMHD & Zach's home.  The menu was traditional & straightforward.  Zach & KMHD built (I said BUILT) a lovely dinner table & decorated it, too.  Our guests of honor were Mayumi & Zach's mum.  Nothing went wrong, everything was tasty.  I didn't forget to hook up Gen. Chang with turkey under the table!

As is our tradition, we had supper @ Waffl3 Hous3.  The one on McCain Blvd. was so understaffed & miserable that we went to the one in Sherwood.  It's a tradition I can live with.  

KMHD:

Zach's mum, Zach & ATM:

ATM & Gen. Chang:

Mayumi:

Zach:

That evening, we put up the Xmas tree.  All ornaments are from my late paternal Grandmother.  They are older than I am, so they've lost their luster & are probably chock full of lead, but are valuable to me.  Aside from the lights, there is nothing new on that tree, it's all vintage.

I am so addicted to Irish Cream coffees.  My homemade ones are KILLER & I find myself drinking them all hours of the day/night.  It has become my official drank of winter 08.  Here's my recipe: one shot of Irish cream, freshly brewed good coffee, two dollops of homemade whipped topping & a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Do not mix it, drink it through the cream.  Go to town!  Do a dance!  Wash some dishes!  We actually need to lay off 'em, they are screwing with our sleep habits.

On Black Friday a.k.a. Buy Nothing Day, we carefully navigated back roads & avoided main driving arteries to get to the tobacco shop & Sam's Oriental Market.  I always want to observe BND, but I'm never prepared enough or have the discipline to do it.  I'll forget to buy something that I'll need that day/evening.  I mean, I don't go to any stores in hopes to shop for some bargain Xmas deals, but I will go to the grocer's to buy a forgotten ingredient, or the liquor store, or the gas station.  I will try harder next year.  On Thankgiving night, we actually saw people camping out in front of B3stBuy.  In tents, wtf.  We considered stopping by & watching them for awhile.

Our post-Thxgiving Bring Your Leftovers potluck was a success.  We had too much food, not enough appetite.  Although I had a lovely time, I think it'll be awhile before we have company again.  We've had several communions in such a short amount of time.

Yesterday, Eclipse Glasses Banda were photographed for a Dem-o-zette article about them & the AR Flag & Banner building.  I tagged along, so I could look at the legendary Dreamland Ballroom upstairs.  I walked around in awe, you can envision how awesome shows were in the heyday. It needs a lot of work.  Hopefully the coverage will bring in the money. Little Rock needs it.  ELLA FITZGERALD & BB KING WUZ HERE.

Arriving, outside of AR Flag & Banner:

Entrance, on the third floor:

From the stage:

Group shot I:

Group shot II:

Group shot III:

After lunch with the guys, me & ATM drove to Hot Springs to check out the flea market.  I also do a little retail Xmas shopping.  I bought things like nice olive oil, real maple syrup, & olives.  You know, things we want for Xmas.  I'm all about getting/giving perishables for gifts.  Our house is small, we don't need more stuff.  The rest of the gifts will be baked goods (I've got banana bread duty, KMHD will attempt sourdough bread) & Heifer Int'l givings.  We didn't leave town before stopping by Rolando's for supper.  That stuff is God food.

Today, it is cold, grey & rainy.  I wanted to go to JT Designs for the last time, but they were closed.  I don't know if they were closed closed or just not open today, but I bet I could've found some vintage kitchen gadgets with a severely reduced price tag.  I'll just have to keep my eye on it, maybe try this coming Saturday.  I'm about to look up chicken pot pie recipes for this evening.  Perfect for this kind of weather and a good way to wrap up this Thxgiving holiday.

O.K., I have chilled the fuck out since I last posted.  Things are getting done, the grocery store was prepared for the masses, so it wasn't so bad,  and food is getting prepared in a timely manner.  We're even gonna make some time to step out and get some dinner.  I'm starting to wonder if I was just in a bad mood & using holiday madness to justify it.  Sounds like it!  

So far I've made cupcakes (w/ homemade cream cheese icing!) for Mayumi's birthday, which is Friday.  I've also made dressing x 2, rosemary mashed potatoes, butternut squash & pumpkin cheesecake x 2.  I've got to roast the turkey, do the peas + pearl onions, & yeast rolls.  The cranberry sauce will be as easy as opening a tin can!  People, I did it with nary a bead of sweat.  aiPod cooking soundtrack consists of:  Free Blood, Buzzcocks, the Four Tops, the Skatalites, A Tribe Called Quest, Unwound & Wilson Pickett.

Gosh, I'm tired.  Too beat to go looking for folks to hang out with, so I'm glad that I got some sit down time with ATM & Jonathan & Collin last night.  We looked at olde photos of ourselves, it was kinda silly.  Collin has this one photo of me where I look utterly confused, I love it.  

Time for rest.

O.K., here's a tall order: I require an 11-foot radius of open, clear space around me at all times today. I have a lot to do & would like A) to not be here @ work and B) to be left to my own devices.

Gosh, I was in a good mood when I woke up this morning, but having encountered human beings put me in a most pissy demeanor. Boo! Hiss! Stand back, stand back!

A part of me just wants me & ATM to hop in the car and drive a couple of hours in any direction and spend Thxgiving there.

Having put everything off last minute, I've got to clean an entire house AND start making food this eve. I haven't even gone to the grocer's, wtf!

Right now, I'm at work, feeling a bit helpless. I've got my "to-do" lists ready to go! Instead, I'm dealing with an old man who can't figure out how to turn on his computer monitor. He mocked me when I cool-breezed it into his office and pushed the freaking power button. Yr welcome, dude! Also, our paper shredder doesn't work, I'm supposed to fix it. Really? I don't know.

Grrrrr

Big week! I've got lots of cleaning, maintaining , cooking & the regular normal stuff to do. I'm looking forward to eating and laughing and getting autumny drunk with friends. I need ya'll to wish away the expected rain on Friday evening!

Sunday Productive Sunday

Another grey day!

I woke up this morning & made a huge pot of coffee and listened to 80s music -- like Kate Bush & Pussy Galore kind of 80s.  It didn't take me long to get "up & at 'em", I was really determined to get some things done today.

We are going to an Indian food potluck this evening @ WWT.  I decided to make kheer, the only thing I know how to make successfully.  I usually just do the almonds & raisins, but I went all out and added ground pistachios, too.  I tripled my recipe, which can be a harrowing experience, you just don't know if a doubled or tripled recipe will turn out well until the very end.  Thankfully, it turned out heavenly!

On Friday evening, I got to meet fellow blogger Alannah (accompanied by D) for dinner @ Layla's.  I've gotta testify, I love her, she's really rad!  Meeting her made me appreciate her blog even more in that what you read is what you get, she doesn't have a freaky-deaky online persona.  It's so refreshing!  Anyway, after dinner, we went to Creegen's to get post-dinner drinks.  Creegen's boasts like 24 different Irish coffees, they're so good! Recommended, especially for the upcoming winter season.  We talked and talked and talked, never a lull in the conversation.  I can't wait until we meet again, hopefully on her turf.


 Saturday, we got up & did our Xmas card photo shoot.  As KMHD says, ATM really "nailed his character".  I don't want to spoil the photos until we mail them out, so I'll just give you a taste.  Here we are, post-photo shoot @ Vino's.

After taking the photos, I was pretty much useless.  I didn't leave the house the rest of the day.  Naps ensued.  And lots of television.  It was too cold!  I just wanted to be inside, wrapped in blankets.  

Aside from some cleaning & cooking (I made sweet potato fries for the first time today, YUM!), today has been pretty lax.  I'm trying to get ahead on my household chores.  Mayumi will be our overnight guest on Thxgiving, so it's gotta be a deep cleaning.  You know how it is with parentals.

This is really amazing, my favorite tree in downtown just all of a sudden dropped all of it's leaves overnight. One moment, it's a brilliant yellow leafed tree and then this:

I went to look at the leaf blanket and learned that this tree is a gingko, one of my favorites! This photo does no justice in showing that the leaf blanket is a couple of inches thick.

Natural color.

I am wearing the shoes that I ordered online yesterday after work!  That's fast, good customer service!  

I've got to get amped for kickboxing, so how about some CRASS?

$$$$$

We ate @ Layla's last night and it was perfect, as usual. I've never had a better baba ghanoush or falafel. Anyway, business was slow, we were the only other table. I am entering a plea for you to dine there & our other favorite restaurants as often as you can! Yes, especially now! I know that we're amidst uncertain economic times, but our losses will be much more after the fact. Too, YUM, falafel!

Nu Shooz

I have two pairs of shoes that do this:

Permission to buy nu shooz, Sarge?

It's just a matter of me sitting down & Zappoing. New kicks! Jam on it!

I'm still getting used to Daylight Saving Time -- every evening at dusk, I get those awful feelings of _____? I mean, I get over it, but I need sunshine! Getting home from work at dark is bogus. Every year and I will never get used to it.

Rachel Maddow is on vacation or something, she hasn't been hosting her show and she has Allison Stewart covering for her and it just isn't the same. So, I turn off the t.v. & listen to music. But, I'm tired of my jams, so I turn off the music & try to read. I want to finish the Watchmen comic (I refuse to say 'graphic novel', man!), but as soon as I get cozy and set up, well, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Anyway, I heard that the Watchmen is being made into a movie & I'm not trying to sound like a bitchy comic book purist, but I'm having a difficult time envisioning this being translated to the silver screen.

I have a black thumb of death for all plants. I've killed cacti & succulents! I've managed to keep two ferns and some plant that ATM got from his grandfather's funeral alive. I've moved them indoors and have been watering them & moving them into sunlight, but what else? What else do I need to do? Massage them? Read them short stories? Call them once a day from the office? I hope they live. That will be quite the accomplishment for me.

Me & KMHD, we love our Muy Thai kickboxing class. Despite my moaning & groaning about my aches & pains, I really do love it. It's a challenge. I do have one genuine complaint, though. The fellas, they can be annoying. I can deal with their locker room chatter, but when they are talking to me as if they're trying to holla, it's just plain annoying. I guess this is to be expected in an enviroment that has only 2 females in it, but we've made it clear that we are there to learn & work out. This is what happens when you step out into the "real world", out of your safe inner circle, I guess.  The other day, I was trying to make small talk, so I ask one of the instructors (I know, it's an instructor! Way to be professional, dirtbag!) what he is doing for Thxgiving. "Eating with you." But, he said it with sex-eyes. Gag. I just kinda, I don't know, did nothing, but made a yuck face.  This is how it's like.  We can't even have a normal discussion with these dudes.  And they don't get that we hate this.  Don't worry (I'm looking at ATM), it is under control.  And if I ever felt weird weird, I'd totally do a jab-jab-uppercut-hook kick to some dude's face, without hesitation.  In the meantime, me & KMHD stick together!

Gimmicky blog!

Check out FEAR ANTS schwag!

We got a little antsy on Sunday, so we took a drive into deep East Little Rock.
Windmill blade plant in LR Port:

Piles of crushed metal. Piles kill!:

LR National Cemetary:



So, KMHD has taken up drawing! I'm pleased to post them here for you:

I hope to post more here soon & often.

L O N G D A Y I I

It gets dark so early now!  This photo was taken in the car yesterday evening.  I was passenger.  It looks like a portrait painting at times:


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We woke up at a reasonable hour despite staying up so late last night. We decided to go Heifer International's ranch in Perryville, Arkansas -- an hour's drive west of here. When we arrived, the retired elderly docents gave a brief oral bio and then made us watch a video. When it was over, we got a tour of the lay of the land by minivan. We didn't get to see too many animals up close, it was bitter cold & most animals were inaccessible anyway. We had a great time & would like to return when the weather is nicer.

I startled this llama with flash. It actually glared at me & gave me stink eye, never getting too close again.

These adorable turkeys followed close. They make a pleasant clucking noise. I hope they aren't for Thxgiving!

This one got very close.

Water buffalo! What girth! I bet I could punch him in the side & he wouldn't even be bothered.

Leaving:

When we got home, we called Collin and inquired about his supper plans.  It was decided that we'd go to Damgoode -- we met at his home, visited & then had pizza on the outdoor patio.  It was heated with outdoor lamps.  Zach H. met us, too.  We got to see TC!  It's been too long.  He seems to be doing well.

With Collin:

My tiredness is catching up with me now.  Me & ATM have been making our house a home listening to records and arranging things.  We like it here.