The Looky-Loos

The Moon

Saturday, January 10, 2009

 



I'm actually getting my blog in early. I'm heading out to Denver tomorrow for my second week of Total Safety Culture training. It's actually a pretty fun training class. Working for the Railroad has afforded me the opportunity to work with a very interesting and eclectic group of people. Most railroaders are pretty fun-loving people. Some are harsh and grumpy, some are kind and generous. (I tend to fall somewhere in the middle of that) In anycase, I'm looking forward to chatting with people and having a good time. One of these days I'm going to try to coherantly formulate a synopsis of what Total Safety Culture is all about. It's a pretty interesting process. But for now ... on with the show!



ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ


Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages.
Terry Pratchett

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ


Jam a bunch of people together in a tight space like a bus or the subway and something crazy is bound to happen. What's the most memorable thing you've seen on mass transit?

I was usually the one screwing things up on mass transit. However, I did get my foot broken once. I was headed down to the subway platform and as I stepped down someone coming down the stairs around me stepped right on my foot. At the time, it was a bit painful but I didn't think much of it. About 10 minutes later my foot looked like a very large potato. Swollen and painful, I had to call an ambulance to come pick me up from my subway stop and take me to emergency, where I found out that my foot had been fractured. Several hours and a half-cast later, I'm hoofing it two blocks to my apt, from yet another subway trip, on crutches. Good TIMES!!!


ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ


Avenaceous

PRONUNCIATION:
(av-uh-NAY-shuhs)

MEANING:
adjective: Relating to or like oats.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin avena (oats).

USAGE:
"See birds that know our avenaceous store,
Stoop to our hand, and then repleted soar."


ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ


I'm still reading Janet Evanovich, Plum Spooky in addition to the History of Western Philosophy. The latter I'm reading in shorter increments, usually a chapter or two at a time. I still need to head to the bookstore for the other list of books I posted several blogs ago, but to refresh they were: 5000 Year Leap, Liberal Fascism, The Real Benjamin Franklin, The Real Thomas Jefferson, and The Real George Washington. I'll be reading those once I pick them up and after I get back from Denver.

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ


Tonight is: Legend of the Seeker. Pretty good little sci-fi flick about a 'chosen' one who is destined to defeat the horrible and evil ruler.

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ


The Moon

The full-orbed moon with unchanged ray
Mounts up the eastern sky,
Not doomed to these short nights for aye,
But shining steadily.

She does not wane, but my fortune,
Which her rays do not bless,
My wayward path declineth soon,
But she shines not the less.

And if she faintly glimmers here,
And paled is her light,
Yet alway in her proper sphere
She's mistress of the night.

Henry David Thoreau


ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ






Spicy Shrimp and Chorizo Kebabs

Ingredients:
2 large garlic cloves, thickly sliced
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons caraway seeds
2 tablespoons pure chile powder, such as ancho
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds large shrimp, shelled and deveined
8 small chorizo, sliced 1/2 inch thick

Preparation:
On a cutting board, using the flat side of a chef's knife, mash the garlic and salt to a coarse paste. Add the caraway seeds and finely chop them. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the chile powder and olive oil. Add the shrimp and toss to coat.

Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the chorizo and cook over high heat for 5 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Let cool slightly.

Tuck a chorizo slice in the crook of a shrimp and thread onto a skewer; the shrimp should be attached at both ends. Push it to the end of the skewer and repeat with 2 more shrimp and chorizo slices. Using more skewers, repeat with the remaining shrimp and chorizo.

Grill the kebabs over a hot fire, turning once or twice, until charred and the shrimp are cooked through, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately.


Brightest Blessings,
~S~


9 Things people say ...:

Irish Gumbo said...

Railroad, hmmm? I guess you are making 'tracks' for Denver! Ha!

And you get me all worked up with those shrimp 'n chorizo things, and then LEAVE!? You may be the devil herself...but very, very tasty ;)

Enjoy your trip!

SweetPeaSurry said...

I'm not leaving, I have my recipe database, and everything I need to post the other items. (Including my ever expanding excel spreadsheet on television shows)

There will still be more to come.

Next week, my own personally written poetry.

KMcJoseph said...

We may be free in our dreams, but we are still slaves to the toilet.

Anonymous said...

The railroaders here have excellent insurance. I hope you enjoy Denver! Hard to do when working I know, but still-buy a little token of your visit and blog us a picture!
Have fun!

SweetPeaSurry said...

I'd love to blog you a picture, unfortunately ... I don't have a camera!!! Can you even believe that?

SUSAN SONNEN said...

I started traveling via Amtrak in 2007 and have been utterly fascinated by the railroad ever since! I was hoping to apply here in Chicago, but alas, no openings. At least not prior to Christmas. :(

Have a safe trip!

♥ Braja said...

Hope you have a great, free weekend SweetPea :)

pam said...

I think trains are so romantic. The sound of a train whistle just gets to me!

SweetPeaSurry said...

Susan, I'm less on the moving people side and more on the moving 'stuff' side. I haven't traveled by train since I was a very young girl. However, I'm certainly happy that you're pleased with the service.

Braja, thank you darlin!

Pam, I drive by a train on my way to work every day (I work at headquarters not physically on the trains), and I salute it every day. Whenever I hear a train whistle (which is often around these parts), I thank the powers that be that I have a job and that I enjoy it.

I should really do a blog about that!