"thanksgiving" written by Museumchick on estrip.org

Category: life

11/22/07 04:30 - 28ºF - ID#42240

thanksgiving

I'm thankful for many things, but I wanted to say thank you to all of you on estrip today. I'm really glad that I joined this site a year and a half ago. You've made me think, you've made me laugh, and you've really given me so good advice and helped me through some rough times. Even though I don't know most of you well, I wish I did.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Jess

Permalink: thanksgiving.html
Words: 72
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: tech

11/12/07 03:29 - 53ºF - ID#42097

bad luck

In the course of the past two weeks, I've had some misshaps. My computer has died (all files gone and unrecoverable). I lost my USB drive in the library today with my school files. Some were saved in another place, some not. My attendance files for the TA class are gone, though I saved most of the paper records for it. My TV stopped working. My DVD player no longer works.

I guess I wasn't suited for a world of techology, heh.

Permalink: bad_luck.html
Words: 82
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: dating

11/07/07 10:26 - 36ºF - ID#42024

my phone call from Bill Clinton

I received a message on my answering machine from Bill Clinton the other day, endorsing a candidate for Erie County Executive. Heh. Unfortunately, I forgot all about registering to vote in Albany.

Anyway, I had a great time visiting Aaron this past weekend! I got to meet his sister and her husband. We all went out for coffee, and I thought it went really well. Later, his mom made us Spaghetti and Cheesecake for dinner. I just really enjoyed all the time I got to spend with Aaron. I'll have to post some pictures up soon.

Permalink: my_phone_call_from_Bill_Clinton.html
Words: 96
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: dating

11/02/07 12:58 - 47ºF - ID#41941

heartbreak even

I was thinking about the link that (e:joshua) posted on dating.
With Aaron, I would say that I fit under number 2. I keep my distance at times because I somehow expect him to change. He told me recently that he loved me, but I keep expecting some kind of catch. That always seems to always be the case. I've gotten to the point where I just don't trust well that things could work out with anyone. It's not fair in the slightest, because he's such a terrific person, and so good to me, and I am feeling the same way about him.

Anyway, enough of that. I'm leaving in a few minutes to visit Aaron for the weekend, so that will be nice.

-Jess

Permalink: heartbreak_even.html
Words: 125
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

10/27/07 03:45 - 57ºF - ID#41837

before halloween

I hope that the estrip party will go great! I wish I could be there. Post lots of pictures! *grins*

I'm moving on Monday. There was an unexpected opening in one of the on-campus apartments in Empire Commons. It's closer to everything, and somewhat less expensive than what I'm paying now. I don't have a lease on my current apartment. So i think that should be a good change. My dad offered to come up and help me move.

I don't really have any fun plans for Halloween. To be honest, I don't really know anyone here too well yet. I mean, there's people in my classes that I talk to when I'm around school- but I haven't been out with them outside of school. I'm kind of shy around people I don't know well, so it's hard for me to go up to people sometimes.

I am going to Brockport to see Aaron next Friday. I'm so excited!

Permalink: before_halloween.html
Words: 159
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

10/24/07 10:29 - 49ºF - ID#41776

i write on a rainy october day

I just read on yahoo news that the winds in California aren't supposed to be as severe today, so hopefully the fires won't spread as fast as they were yesterday. I feel so bad for everyone having to deal with this. I hope everything will be okay for anyone here who might be affected by it.

Thanks so much to everyone with the cooking advice! That was awesome and much appreciated. It's funny... I tried to cook chicken-flavored rice a roni the other day and butchered it. It tasted like barbeque-a-roni.

I'm mostly doing pretty good. School is going well and things at my job are fine, though, it's stressful keeping up with everything. I've been battling a bunch of respiratory infections. I think because my immune system is kind of down from being on prednisone. Maybe I should take more Vitamin C or something.

I've been reading a lot of Charles Bukowski lately. It's really easy to get into a Bukowski mindset. I'd like to try reading some of his fiction, too.

I hope all of you will have a great day!
-Jess

Permalink: i_write_on_a_rainy_october_day.html
Words: 184
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: cooking

10/17/07 09:06 - 59ºF - ID#41683

since we've had some food posts lately..

I have a confession: I can't really cook. Or I do cook, but not well, at any rate.

What's the best way I can learn to make real (simple( meals? Do you know of any good books/websites to help me get started?

I should mention my apartment has a stove and microwave, but no oven.

theecarey writes at 11:07:16 10/17/07 - Comment #26520: I think Rachel only makes stuff look easy.

I hear ya! I guess to get better at cooking it takes practice. I'd like to be able to learn to make a few things really well. OK, so you have a microwave and a stove top. Do you have a toaster oven? while not able to accommodate much, there are some things that you can make in one when you need an oven of some sort. (like cookies!)

I am usually looking for simple-easy myself, as I:

1. have a small kitchen with little room for appliances, prepping, storing, etc
2. often cook only for myself. Bowl of cereal usually works but sometimes want something more substantial. Raman noodles dont count.
3. hate following long drawn out recipes that require skill, aptitude in following directions and using correct measurements and ingredients.
4. like to create and come up with super yummy stuff, but not at the expense of spending hours, or tons of money to make a dish.

The following site (and others like it) is great for those days you have a bunch of random stuff in your fridge/cupboards but dont know what to make out of any of it. You plug in your ingredients and it generates a recipe for you based on those items. You'll see that it asks for an email address. You do not need to enter one. The recipe will come up in another window.
:::link:::

This is an 'easy recipe' site.
:::link:::

There are a lot of books available as well. I have quite a few that cater to 'simple and easy' while still be interesting and varied.

good luck :)

tinypliny writes at 10:57:39 10/17/07 - Comment #26519: I beg to differ from this popular praise for cookbooks and whatnots. I think the best way to learn cooking is by cooking.

Start with very basic recipés that you find on the web. If, for instance, you wanted to make a slightly Indian styled onion soup, check out my recipé on (e:Joshua)'s blog. Then, you just jump in and make it.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So drink the soup. Now is the time to criticise the soup. Was it tasty? If the answer is yes, then congratulations!! You are a cook already! If not, don't agonize! Experiment. Add some more salt, or decrease/increase/modulate the oil, or modulate the spice level.

Practice makes perfect. Everytime you cook, you are going to learn something new, so I recommend that, instead of buying those glossy cookbooks, you crack the ladles and the pots and open up your laptop and march to your kitchen.

And don't forget to dance while you are making stuff, happiness always seeps into your dish and makes it tastier!! Don't rush your cooking, make sure that you have a nice chunk of time free, before you start! :) Remember that cooking is just that. Cooking.

Good Luck!

james writes at 07:42:51 10/17/07 - Comment #26500: no, no, no. They don't sweat by her, they swear at her.

museumchick writes at 07:41:20 10/17/07 - Comment #26499: (e:james)- thanks, I definitely will have to check Bitman's book out.

(e:libertad)- I've never really watched Rachel Ray, but I know a lot of people who swear by her.

libertad writes at 05:38:59 10/17/07 - Comment #26491: I heard Rachel Ray is good.

james writes at 01:37:57 10/17/07 - Comment #26455: Mark Bitman's How To Cook Everything is a great book for beginners. It is full of recipes of everyday things, delicious things, things you probably grew up eating. There are a few exotic recipes, a few guides to planning a party, a guide to equipment. It is a great book. I wish that was my first cook book instead of the crazy macrobiotic books I had.

Permalink: since_we_ve_had_some_food_posts_lately_.html
Words: 56
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: photos

10/16/07 12:50 - 61ºF - ID#41673

over goldengrove unleaving...

I'm really enjoying the beautiful weather lately. It's great going outside in the sunshine and walking through the leaves.

Fall always reminds me of this poem, for some reason:

"Spring and Fall to a young child" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

M�RGAR�T, �re you gr�eving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Le�ves, l�ke the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
�h! �s the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you w�ll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
S�rrow's spr�ngs �re the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It �s the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.

Permalink: over_goldengrove_unleaving_.html
Words: 161
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

10/11/07 05:15 - 58ºF - ID#41604

dylan concert

I had a great time at the concert with Aaron. I liked Amos Lee, and Dylan was good (though his voice was in bad shape). The best act of the three was definitely Elvis Costello. He sounded incredible, and was great at interacting with the audience. I loved his versions of Red Shoes, Veronica, Oliver's Army, and I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down.

Here is a picture of Elvis playing (though it's hard to see him):