Tired!!!

I was looking forward to Winter break (the entire University where I work shuts down between Christmas and New Years) so that I could r-e-l-a-x. Ha. I haven't done it yet! I spent yesterday, one of my first full days back at home cleaning out my storeroom and taking down/putting away Christmas tree/etc. Today I spent on my back bedroom, trying to reclaim it as a usable room (vs. junk). I have clothes, jackets, blankets, socks and shoes to go to charity/homeless shelters. I have tons of trash and recycling, but no place to toss it, with everyone else's Christmas trash waiting to be picked up. I also did some major raking/sweeping of acorns in my back yard. The birds are particularly happy, since I also filled their feeders and spread bird and squirrel treats around.

I did make a delish new recipe yesterday, loosely based on something I saw on Everyday Italian: a beef and butternut squash stew. I'm enjoying one of my favorite salads right now (also from Everyday Italian -- I love the food from that show!): arugula, endive, toasted walnuts + chicken. Day three of no/little sugar, after a very sugary Christmas. I'm missing it less today, yay! I'm also determined to spend this evening relaxing. Wish me luck.

Here's to 2007!

Home, safe and sound!

Curled up in bed with my two fuzzies, who are latched one to each leg under a comforter -- don't think they'll be letting me leave the house any time soon (hate to tell them I'm off to get new glasses tomorrow!).

Great Christmas, and looks like everyone else had a great day with family and friends, too. Catching up on my backlogged recordings of Colonial House (love those PBS "reality" shows).

It was great visiting my folks and my brother in from Taiwan. But it's equally great to be in one's own home, particularly in one's own bed! It was also great to see my dear dear friend Kris in Sacramento on the way home, with a stop over at the annual Bath and Body Works sale and Borders for a couple of books and exercise dvd's. I finally met Penny, the mad kitten (who is adorable) and caught up with my other god kids, including the originals, my little loves Tiger and Allie. Yay for Meeps, that he's looking so solid and healthy (and didn't appear to wish to consume any of my appendages). Amazing and wonderful to be overwhelmed with immediate recognition and unconditional love from these animals that I adore so completely. Oh yeah, and Kris too! (That goes without saying, Kris!)

All I've heard this week is the "big storm" hitting on Thursday, so I continued home nervously, but not a drop hit the windshield. Nevertheless, a very long day, and I'm pretty wiped out (i.e., useless, but at least I got my car unloaded).

I'm trying to do a little family research, but can't seem to focus. I'll get my photos up tomorrow.

Happy New Year! Can you believe it's nearly 2008? Eesh.

It's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas

We've had a busy week!

1. Found a kitty tooth sans kitty in the middle of my bed when I came home the other day
2. Only succeeded in nabbing one kitty for the v-e-t appt I made for yesterday morning (Fiona)
3. She wasn't the one less tooth kitty, after all
4. But she is the "allergic to something, who knows what" and chin acne turned into slight infection kitty, which means medications and ointments
5. Molly has been hissing, spitting, yowling and growling at her ever since
6. Molly had her turn this morning, and, yes, my little baby girl is the one missing the tooth
7. She's now on infection watch; apparently, I'm supposed to be able to look into the back of her mouth on a semiregular basis to check for increased redness, inflammation or God knows what kinds of horrifying other things one might see
8. She's not reacting well to her several vaccinations also received -- if she's not perking up by tomorrow, she might get to see the emergency vet (my baby!)
9. I'm baking for work gifties this year, and today turned out brownies with mini peppermint patties, brownies with marshmallows and nuts, those delish magic cookie bars with coconut and butterscotch and chocolate, peanut butter/chocolate bars, and turtle bars.
10. I'm set up to churn out my "famous" cranberry/orange/pecan/chocolate chip cookies, and raspberry/walnut brownies tomorrow. I might also make fudge. What the heck!
11. Bad news is the quality control that's involved.
12. Good news is that I'm totally sick of chocolate (hard to believe!).

Got my grades, passed with a solid B, which is great considering that I missed one entire paper. In fact, I did the dance of joy when I saw that I got 100% on my final!

I stocked up on guilty pleasure reading at the library today. It seems decadent to read fiction, let alone mysteries (vs. something more literary or meaningful). I'm looking forward to enjoying a good read!

Also packing bags of dry goods and clothes for a bin at work for a local charity.

Christmas cards/letters next!

ONE SEMESTER DOWN!!!

And only six more to go!

Tired. Happy. I get to have a life until the last week of January. Going to bed. Peace out.

Great treat for calorie watchers

I adapted this from the South Beach Diet a few years back, and am resurrecting as I clean up my diet as the holidays hit (I want to lose, not gain, this Christmas):

• Lowfat or part skim ricotta cheese (whichever you prefer)
• Slice up strawberries or whole raspberries (don't sugar them!)
• Sweetener as desired (this is fine w/o sweetener, but a little sugar, honey or artificial sweetener is good)
• Fresh zest of lemon, orange or lime (up to you)
• Vanilla (real vanilla, the good stuff)
  

Fluff up ricotta (amount is up to you, but 1/2 to 3/4 cup is good) with a splash of vanilla, citrus zest and sweetener of choice. Top w/fruit. You can sprinkle mini chocolate chips on top if you need a chocolate fix.

Enjoy!

New boyfriend and school update

I set up my new TV all by myself (including the Tech God Rich consults last week) yesterday and today. Whew! I wasn't sure it was going to be worth the money, but I have to say, it really is an incredible difference from my old TV. Particularly considering how I'm having such problems with my eyesight (

My inaugural movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. Tim Burton and Christmas -- always a good combo in my book.

Obviously a TV isn't really a new boyfriend, but all my married girlfriends are telling me I'm sure to line up dates with this baby.

On another front, this semester will be over in just 36 hours!!! I'm happy and relieved that my last paper was marked down just one point. I'd have to work hard to NOT pass based on the final; instead, I'll get my notes and book prepared (it's open book) and outline the cases that I knew I''ll have to write essays on.

Then 5 or 6 weeks off (I think it's just 5). YAY!!!

Next semester = 2 seven week classes, which is more intense, but also so much easier, since it's over before you blink. First class = more OB diagnosis and change, the second = finance. Exciting, huh?

That said, I'd best get to studying for tomorrow's final!

A Tale of Two Dressers

Before and after of a "fun" Thanksgiving week

finally ... PIX

Up to no good







Now, they're going for it





Later, must sleep off energy spike....

TWO classes LEFT

Big sigh....

I finished and submitted my LAST paper about an hour ago. YAY. It will be at least six weeks before I have to write another stinkin' paper using APA format. Class tomorrow, final exam the next week, and WOO HOO, done with the first class!

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror today and scared myself. First thing I'm doing when school's over is going to treat myself to a real live spa day complete with massage and new 'do. I look like h - e - double toothpicks.

I was watching the travel channel while avoiding my paper yesterday and was mesmerized by a show about Hawaiian beaches. I've never felt a huge desire to go to Hawaii, but the beaches sucked me in. I'm going to spend a little time tonight looking for travel deals. The idea of a week on a beach being served drinks, interspersed with jungle and lava hikes, is pretty darn appealing about now. It's that or a week in Phillie in archives doing family research, which just doesn't have quite the same appeal in January. OR staying at home and relaxing -- that sounds pretty darn good, too! Complete with spa days and dinners out. Hmmm.

For my one or two faithful readers (ha ha), my absolute fave food on the planet is Vietnamese, and my fave dish is Shaken or Shaking Beef. Seared cubes of lean steak over marinated thin sliced onion, over bunches of fresh watercress. Yum. My beloved Vietnamese restaurant closed a year + ago (probably a good thing -- I stopped going after watching cockroaches on the floor while picking up my to go order), so I've continued my quest for the perfect Shaking Beef. Tamarine in Palo Alto excels in all it offers, but it's not like one can afford to go there on a regular basis. (Though I did go on Friday with a friend and enjoyed crab and garlic with glass noodles + a most incredibly delish scallops and tri-squash curry.) SO, cutting to the chase, I made the first Shaking Beef recipe that I found online yesterday. And guess what? It's incredibly easy! No rice noodles to deal with! It wasn't the most delish I've ever had, so I'm not posting it quite yet, but stay tuned -- once I've found the right combo, I'll share! Tonight, I made my favorite Italian (Giadi di Laurentiis idea) side dish: edamame with garlic, lemon zest and olive oil. Man, that's good living. Along with a nice bowl of pasta. After living on convenience food this semester -- and hating it -- I'm so ready to cook again. And my poor body is screaming for good, fresh, yummy, healthy food. So says my very red and very swollen and achy joints, hands and feet.

Online Christmas shopping tonight! Happy December to all and to all a good night!