A Vision

Okay, so I don't really have anything going on ... so I'll tell you what's been going on! HAH! I'm twitterpated about spring and it's making me all discombobulated!

I was out shopping for a mother's day gift yesterday, and at Hallmark they have these little pre-made pails of dirt and seeds, you just pour the dirt in, put the seeds down and water. EASY PEASY!!! (does anyone actually KNOW what peasy is? and is it really that easy?)

I purchased one for my mother, and being the greedy little gardner that I am ... got three more for my own abode. I got two lavander pots and a mixed herb pot. WOOT! The two lavander pots will go on the window sills in my living room and the herb pot will be out on the balcony on a table. I still have to get plants for my hanging planters, and moss and dirt as well. I'll be doing that this Tuesday or Wednesday. (can I DO another WOOT here? I don't think I'd get away with it, so I'll refrain and do a ... ) WEET!

I'm really pleased with the progress I've made in hauling stuff out of my apartment. The electronics I've stealthily taken out in the dead of night in boxes and thrown them in the dumpster. I know I know ... NOT very green of me ... but WTH ... the powers that be CHARGE you to bring them the electronics to do something with. That's a crock if you ask me!

In the meantime, I've been OP (which I've learned means On Program) with my diet. Apparently POP means PERFECT on PROGRAM which I have NOT been. That's okay though, I plan on making this a life change, and that just doesn't happen overnight, or in two weeks! I'm not fussed about it.

I did find out that 'Mrs Dash' mixes have NO sodium in them, which is a blessing, because it makes flavoring my food that much easier! YAY for easy peasy things!!! I'll be picking up several of them next time I'm at the grocers.

Okay ... I think that's enough rambling ... let's see if I can find ye a funny ...

~Life Explained~

On the first day, God created the dog and said:
'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.'

The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'

So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'

The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'

And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said:
'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years..'

The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'

And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said:
'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'

But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'

'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you.

There is no need to thank me for this valuable information. I'm doing it as a public service.

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
Anton Chekhov

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Our friends don't always know us as well as they think, particularly when it comes to likes and dislikes. Which popular book, movie, band, food, TV show, etc. would your friends be surprised to hear that you don't like?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Prosopagnosia

PRONUNCIATION:
(pros-uh-pag-NO-see-uh)

MEANING:
noun: Inability to recognize familiar faces.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek prosopon (face, mask), from pros- (near) + opon (face), from ops (eye) + agnosia (ignorance). Ultimately from the Indo-European root gno- (to know) that is also the source of know, recognize, acquaint, ignore, diagnosis, notice, and normal.

USAGE:
"Rob Cross, 25, acquired prosopagnosia four years ago when a virus attacked his brain. For years, he has hidden his condition by avoiding calling his co-workers at a Burnaby manufacturing company by name, or acting slightly aloof. 'Every morning people say, "Hi Rob," and the majority of the time I don't know who it is,' said Mr. Cross."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: Legend of the Seeker, Harper's Island and The Graham Norton Show

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

A Vision

TWO crownèd Kings, and One that stood alone
With no green weight of laurels round his head,
But with sad eyes as one uncomforted,
And wearied with man's never-ceasing moan
For sins no bleating victim can atone,
And sweet long lips with tears and kisses fed.
Girt was he in a garment black and red,
And at his feet I marked a broken stone
Which sent up lilies, dove-like, to his knees.
Now at their sight, my heart being lit with flame
I cried to Beatricé, 'Who are these?'
And she made answer, knowing well each name,
'Æschylos first, the second Sophokles,
And last (wide stream of tears!) Euripides.'

Oscar Wilde

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Arroz Con Pollo

Ingredients:
Chicken

3 Tbsp olive oil
1 broiler-fryer chicken, about 2 1/2-3 pounds, cut into serving pieces, or 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of chicken thighs or breasts, bone-in, with skin on, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup of flour for dredging
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Paprika
Rice

2 tablespoons olive oil (can use up to 1/4 cup)
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups of medium or long-grain white rice
3 cups* chicken stock
1 heaping tablespoon tomato paste or 1 cup of diced fresh or cooked tomatoes, strained
Pinch of oregano
1 teaspoon salt/li>
*Check the instructions on the rice package for the proportions of liquid to rice. They can range from 1:1 to 2:1. If your rice calls for 2 cups of water for every cup of rice, then for this recipe, use 4 cups of stock for 2 cups of rice.

Preparation:
1 Heat 3 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet (a skillet that has a cover) on medium high heat. Put the flour in a wide bowl, mix in a generous sprinkling of salt, pepper, and paprika. Dredge the chicken pieces lightly in the flour mixture and put in the pan to brown. (You can skip the flour dredging part if you want. It just makes a nicer coating for the chicken.) Cook a few minutes on each side, just enough so that the chicken has browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove from pan and set aside.

2 Add the rice to the pan to brown. Add a little more olive oil if necessary. Stir first to coat the rice with the olive oil in the pan. Then don't stir too much or you will prevent it from browning. Let it brown and then stir a little to let more of it brown. Then add the onion and garlic. Cook the onion, garlic and rice mixture, stirring frequently, until the onions have softened, about 4 minutes.


3 Place the chicken pieces, skin-side up, on top of the rice. In a separate bowl, mix together the stock, tomato, salt, and oregano. Pour the stock mixture over the rice and chicken. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Let cook for 20-25 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package, until the rice and chicken are done. Fluff the rice with a fork. If you want you can sprinkle with some peas. Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4-6

Brightest Blessings,
~Surry~