we had a time

acorn squash with wild rice

2009-11-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

here's a recipe i'm stealing from joy - she made it a few thanksgivings ago. i don't even have an official recipe, but i'm making it for dinner this week.

1. clean the seeds from an acorn squash and bake it.
2. cook up some long grain and wild rice.
3. mix in some cranberries or light raisins and cooked garbanzo beans to the rice.
4. fill the hole of the squash with the mixture.
5. top with a little cheese and bake in the oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese.
6. enjoy.

my chart

2009-11-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

i find this fascinating. for more info on this stuff, go to http://www.cafeastrology.com

Here is the Astro Chart you requested:

Hi there, here is the interpretation of the astrological chart that you asked for. Also attached is a .GIF graphic file which depicts your chart wheel. Thank you for visiting the Astrolabe WEB site at http://alabe.com This report has been created especially for you. It represents your Unique picture at the time you were born and at the place you were born. If you are unsure of the exact time of day of your birth (or the date or the place), the reading will probably not seem as accurate as it could be in certain places, but other parts will seem to be very appropriate. You will notice at certain places in the reading that contradictory information seems to be given. This is to be expected, because the personality of most people is extremely complex. For example, at times we are quite shy and at other times we are very aggressive, and so forth. You will also notice that, at certain points in the reading, certain patterns may be repeated over and over, especially in a longer more detailed report than this one. This is also to be expected. This simply means that your horoscope has an extremely strong focus on this particular pattern and that you should pay extra close attention to what is said about it. Now, on with your Report!

Name: ann
August 20 1974
11:30 AM Time Zone is CDT
Sioux Falls, SD

Rising Sign is in 22 Degrees Libra
Very attractive and popular, your charm helps you to get your own way and prevents others from getting angry with you. "Peace and harmony at all costs" is your battle cry. You always try to ameliorate or to cosmetically hide any physical ugliness or any angry feelings between people. Flashy, but not gaudy, you prefer to dress elegantly. You generally have good taste in music, art and literature. Beware of the tendency to compromise yourself in your attempt to be agreeable at all times. A bit of a social butterfly, at times you can be vain and lazy. For the most part, however, you are gracious and affectionate, and your refined and aristocratic demeanor serves as a role model to others.

Sun is in 27 Degrees Leo.
More than a bit of a showoff, you love to be the center of attention! But others do not usually mind because they tend to enjoy your genuine warmth and affection. Very spirited and willful, proud and self-important at times, you demand your own way. You are quite honest, however, and the respect of others is very important to you. You never compromise yourself and you pursue your goals with persistence and dedication. Your regal presence and demeanor draws you to positions of leadership and authority. But beware of being overly hardheaded, domineering, ostentatious or patronizing or you will lose the goodwill and admiration that you enjoy. Very theatrical, you live life on a grand scale wherever and whenever possible. Your strength and energy vitalizes those who come in contact with you.

Moon is in 07 Degrees Libra.
Affectionate, warm and friendly, life must be a "beautiful" experience for you. Unpleasantness should be avoided at all costs. You tend to overlook other people's faults and you would rather give in than fight. You are uncomfortable with strangers, but at ease and sociable with friends and associates. Indeed, you would rather socialize than work -- you can use your prodigious charm to avoid unpleasant tasks. You need the support and assistance of another in order to get you started on any new project -- you are not a self-starter. Be careful of a tendency to be overly self-indulgent (i.e., lazy). Your refined aesthetic sensibilities attract you to music, dance, art and any other cultured activity.

Mercury is in 00 Degrees Virgo.
Very thorough and efficient, you pay attention to the minor but important details of any project. You are a careful thinker who can learn complicated, intricate techniques. You are attracted to practical, useful skills and are probably good at working with your hands. You are very critical of yourself and others, sometimes too much so, and you get the reputation of being a nag or of being nit-picky. Your first reaction to any situation is to try to organize, classify and analyze everything!

Venus is in 06 Degrees Leo.
You have a striking, regal appearance and demeanor that attracts others to you. Your friendship is highly sought and you tend to take friendships quite seriously -- you remain loyal and true to those to whom you are attached. For you, love is mixed with pride and respect. Relationships are over when you lose respect for your partner. Be careful of a tendency to relate only to those who make you look good -- the powerful, important and influential. This can lead to arrogance and selfishness, and neither of these qualities becomes you.

Mars is in 15 Degrees Virgo.
Very careful and systematic, you pay great attention to details. You are always seeking perfection and sometimes get bogged down searching for the ultimate when adequacy would have been sufficient. You dislike abstractions, preferring whatever is practical, useful and demonstrable. You have a strong and enduring sense of personal responsibility, and you demand that others be as responsible and upright as you are. Very critical of yourself and others, sometimes you carry this too far and become overly intolerant of others and their right to choose their own lifestyles.

Jupiter is in 14 Degrees Pisces.
You are at your best when you give of yourself and what you have -- try to avoid being a martyr about it, though. You're a true idealist, but you must learn not to be upset when life does not cooperate with the way you think things should be. Very concerned with spiritual truth and growth, when you practice what you preach, you make an excellent role model for others. You are so devoted to altruistic ventures and concerns that you tire easily at times. It then becomes necessary for you to go off by yourself to recharge your batteries.

Saturn is in 14 Degrees Cancer.
The most important issue for you is emotional security. You have a deep and gnawing fear that those on whom you depend for emotional support will prove to be unreliable in the long run. When you are unloved and insecure, you distrust others and tend to feel isolated and lonely. Very cool, detached and objective, you can be counted on -- in situations that are inherently stressful or full of tension -- not to lose your self- control. That is a great and welcome gift at such times.

Uranus is in 24 Degrees Libra.
You, as well as your entire peer group, have a very free, unstable and unconventional approach to relationships and emotional commitments. You will be attracted to experiments in marriage and shared lifestyles. Personal freedom is more important to you than entangling emotional bonds. In the realm of art and aesthetics, you are attracted to the bizarre, shocking and unusual.

Neptune is in 06 Degrees Sagittarius.
You, and your entire generation, are heavily involved in investigating and idealizing foreign and exotic intellectual systems and religious philosophies. The most extreme ideals will be pursued with gusto. You will be at the forefront of humanitarian attempts to improve the lot of those who are in need of assistance. You will be comfortable with the concept of the "global village."

Pluto is in 05 Degrees Libra.
For your entire generation, this is a time of radical changes in society's attitude toward marriage and interpersonal relationships. There is a general fear and awe at the power inherent in making emotional or contractual commitments -- they will not be entered into lightly.

N. Node is in 16 Degrees Sagittarius.
You will probably have many different contacts and acquaintances throughout your life. You're quite gregarious by nature and your natural curiosity about others lets you take the lead in forming new relationships. You'll form close ties with those who have similarly idealistic ideas -- especially those who can stimulate you intellectually in your chosen field of interest. Your enthusiasm for learning new things may also cause you to do quite a bit of traveling. Because you probably will have many wide-ranging interests and concerns, you most likely will have contacts and connections in various parts of the country (or world).

Movie: The Rape of Europa

2009-11-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

I had no idea this was part of the history of European art. I must have missed that section in my Art History class. I recommend this documentary.

The Rape of Europa - About the Film Story

emo

2009-10-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

today is halloween at work, and i decided to dress up. for over a decade, i have been channeling my inner angela chase (from the show my so-called life) so what better way to celebrate today than by wearing a red wig and flannel?

i love angela because she is innocent, emotional (feels things deeply), romantic, creative, and has a hard time being anyone other than herself (though she may not really know who "herself" is). i identify with her in so many ways. so today, i don my red wig and look forward to when my friend sam (dressed as rayanne) can get into shenanigans with me and gina (dressed as ricki).

thai tofu veggie wrap

2009-10-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

so, i am learning that not all my recipes are healthy. this one is ok. definitely something you'd want to eat as your large meal of the day. i just made it and it was very tasty. i can't believe this is my first foray into cooking tofu!

thai tofu veggie wrap - serves 1
(from "ok, so now you're a vegetarian")
4 t. olive oil
1/2 c. diced carrot
1/3 c. diced onion (i omitted this and increased the carrot)
1/2 c. diced snow peas (i used the sugar peas i grew in my garden...the few that grew)
2 1/2 t soy sauce
1/2 c extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 T peanut sauce
2 T chopped peanuts (optional)
2 T chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
1 10- or 11-inch whole wheat tortilla

In medium skillet over medium-low heat, heat 2 t. of the olive oil. Add the vegetables and 1 t of the soy sauce. Saute about 5 minutes (keep them crisp). Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.

Wipe the skillet clean w/ paper towel and return it to the heat. Add the remaining 2 t. olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the tofu and remaining 1 1/2 t. soy sauce. Cook tofu until heated evenly through, about 5 minutes. Turn to cook all sides evenly.

Add the vegetables to the skillet and mix. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and gently fold in the peanut sauce, peanuts, and cilantro. Spread the mixture on the tortilla and fold into a wrap.

America's Safest Cities

2009-10-27T13:45:00.000-07:00

If only the average January temp wasn't 6 degrees....

America's Safest Cities - Yahoo! Real Estate

other peoples' thoughts.......

2009-10-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

......on art.

The music that really turns me on is either running toward God or away from God. Both recognize the pivot, that God is at the center of the jaunt. ~Bono

The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection. ~Michelangelo

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~Scott Adams

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. ~Pablo Picasso

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

All art requires courage. ~Anne Tucker

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for. ~Georgia O'Keeffe

An artist never really finishes his work; he merely abandons it. ~Paul Valéry

Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable. ~George Bernard Shaw

Penne w/ Asparagus Pesto

2009-10-18T18:35:00.001-07:00

I got a food processor for my birthday and haven't used it a lot so I decided to pick a recipe from one of my cookbooks that I'd be able to use my processor to make. I think this turned out quite well. After calculating the nutrition and seeing how much the recipe actually makes, I recommend having this with chicken (or fake chicken, if you are me) and spreading it out into at least 6 servings instead of 4. Also, it's really garlicky, so if you don't like garlic, you probably would benefit from using only 1 clove. Enjoy!

(*note: takes about 30 minutes to prepare; taken from "The Big Book of Vegetarian").

1 lb penne or other tubular pasta
1 lb fresh asparagus, trimmed, stalks cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, tips reserved
1/4 c. pine nuts, toasted (toast 2-3 minutes in small pan, medium heat, stirring often)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 c. chopped fresh basil
1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil
2 1/2 t. salt, plus more to taste
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese
fresh ground pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta, stirring to prevent sticking. Cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Reserve 1/3 c. of the pasta cooking water and drain the pasta in a colander. Return to the pot.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Place the asparagus stalks in the basket and steam, covered, for 4 minutes. Add the reserved asparagus tips, cover, and steam until just tender, about 1 minute. Transfer the asparagus to ice water to stop the cooking. Drain the asparagus well in a colander and pat dry.

In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, garlic, and basil and process until finely chopped. Add the asparagus, olive oil, and 2 1/2 t. salt and pulse until the asparagus is coarsely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the parmesan and reserved cooking water. Add the pasta, tossing to coat, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Need a Realtor?

2009-10-13T21:18:00.000-07:00

If you or someone you know is looking for a realtor in Portland, Bonnie is your best choice (in my humble opinion). Check out "my fans" and "more testimonials" to see what my friends Brad, Moira, and I, along with some other clients, have to say.

BONNIE ROSEMAN with RE/MAX equity group, inc.:

speed dating

2009-10-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

My old office mate and I giggled about this for an entire afternoon.

New Moon trailer

2009-10-11T15:25:00.001-07:00

*note: if you haven't read New Moon and plan to read it, I suggest you not watch this clip. It may have spoilers.

everyones-favorite-drink-named-after-a-cause-of-death

2009-10-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

As soon as I knew what it meanth, I thought this was an extra weird name for a drink. But this website is just the right level of weird...don't get lost for too long.

everyones-favorite-drink-named-after-a-cause-of-death.jpg (JPEG Image, 502x600 pixels) - Scaled (96%)

12 new recipes

2009-10-04T20:53:00.000-07:00

So, it looks like there are 13 weeks left in the year (yikes!). I was looking at my vegetarian cookbooks yesterday and realized I haven't tried any recipes in them for a while. So I am committing to make 1 new recipe each week for the rest of the year from those cookbooks, starting today (though today's recipe comes from the internet, but next week i'll start with the cookbooks). I'll blog them and let you know what I think.

This week's recipe is in honor of fall and the cool weather. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, when eaten in the right context.

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Soup
4 T. unsalted butter
4 c. pumpkin pie filling
2 c. sweet potatoes (pureed)
1 c. peanut butter
6 c. vegetable broth
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper

Melt butter over medium heat. Add pumpkin, potatoes, and peanut butter and mix together. Add broth, salt, and pepper, and stir until smooth. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer 20 minutes. Serves 8 (1 cup servings).

My review:
This is a rich and sweet soup. My stock pot (or whatever it is called) is little, so I could only fit in 4 c. of broth (which is fine, because had I put in 6 c. I'd have been stuck with half a carton of broth - for some reason Fred Meyer only has veggie broth in large quantities, no cans). So, anyway, it may not be as rich and thick if you use the full amount of broth. This soup is pretty sweet and I would recommend it as a side dish or appetizer along with savory foods. It would make a great side for thanksgiving dinner, in place of yams with marshmallows. It's not the healthiest, so if you serve it as a side you also will be sure to eat less.

Enjoy!

How To Care For Introverts

2009-09-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

How To Care For Introverts | The Best Article Every day

IBBB is back tomorrow!

2009-09-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

Like Jesus Returning to the Earth to See if There Will Be 6 More Weeks of Winter…I’m Back. I’m Offically Bringing Blogging Back. I Finally Understand the Name of My Blog. | ImBringingBloggingBack

h2o

2009-09-16T14:48:00.001-07:00

about a month ago, i got a pamphlet in the mail for our local community centers and for some reason, i read it instead of tossing it directly into the recycling. i was looking for art or cooking classes, but instead what jumped out at me was the pool schedule. as i read the water aerobics summaries, i thought back to 2001 when i would get up at 5:45 am in the cold of winter (and by "cold" i mean ARCTIC TUNDRA 30 BELOW ZERO IN SD weather) to go to the Y to swim laps with tammy and lara. oh, did i mention i did this when i was an RD and was usually up until midnight each night, if not later? that said, i didn't dwell on the pain of going...instead, i remembered how much we enjoyed those morning swims. and how much i love swimming in general.

after some inquiries with friends and coworkers to find someone to go with (i won't try something new on my own...that's crazy talk!), i went last week with a coworker. WE LOVE IT. it is so great - very low key, but a great workout - and the ladies who lead it and attend are great. and i'm doing something in the community. and it means i leave work on time!

now excuse my, i must practice my moves before i head to water aerobics tonight. :)

high fidelity

2009-09-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

if you know me well, you know that i love the movie high fidelity (mainly for the jack black - john cusack interactions). one of the continual conversations is to name your "top 5 ______". ever since i've seen that movie, i've kept a running tally of top 5 lists, but usually i can't fill the whole top 5. it's a commitment to say things are your "top 5 favorite ever" (which is how i read the "top 5 lists").

that said, i have completed one of my lists! here it is:
------------
TOP 5 ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

Counting Crows: August and Everything After
I met this album in college, thanks to my brother. Mr. Jones is the main hit on this album, and I love it every time, but it's not my favorite song on the album. I prefer the more melancholy anthems Anna Begins and Raining in Baltimore. I also love Sullivan Street and Rain King (the latter becoming much more beloved for me after seeing Adam Duritz play a long version on the piano when I saw them in concert at The Gorge).

Lisa Loeb: Tails
I WANT TO BE LISA LOEB. Seriously. I dressed as her for a Rock Star party once (the one where Scott dressed as Britney, Brad dressed as Madonna, Jillian, Kimmy, and Crystal dressed as Wilson Phillips, and Philip demonstrated his Britney dance skillz). So, Lisa Loeb is, to me, an amazing singer. I fell in love with her when Stay was on the RB soundtrack (see top 5 #3 below). I belt that song out whenever I hear it. But she's no one-hit wonder. Songs I listen to over and over: When All the Stars Were Falling, Sandalwood, and Alone. This album came to me when I was studying art, and I loved that I knew what she meant when she said "...and we think about The Garden of Delights..." Also, did I mention, I WANT TO BE LISA LOEB.

Reality Bites Soundtrack
In 1994, I was itching to experience more of the world than Sioux Falls, South Dakota allowed. I watched The Real World and watched MTV. I loved seeing stories of people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and values than me. I dyed my hair with Rit dye. I got funky Malcom X glasses. I had a kick-ass Green Day t-shirt that I thought was totally rebellious to wear on my conservative Christian campus. I realize now: I was a budding hipster in an age when I didn't even know what a hipster was. When the movie Reality Bites came out, a few friends and I fell in love with the story line and the characters. But my favorite thing in the movie (besides the character Troy Dire and the witty dialogue): Jeanine Garafolo's bedroom decor and wardrobe. The soundtrack, to me, is a musical representation of her fabulous style. And BTW, if I ever find a Charlie's Angels lunchbox, I will carry it like a purse in an attempt to channel Vicky Minor. Favorite songs on the album: My Sharona (especially now that it makes me think of dancing HARD with Danyelle at USF dances) and Tempted (which makes me think of Amy Heck doing "The Sprinkler" dance).

REM: August and Everything After
I don't have words. This is classic music, to me. I love Man on the Moon, the hit, but my favorite song is Night Swimming. There is something about that piano that draws me in every time - maybe it's just my love for ballads, or maybe it reminds me of all the boys I crushed on who played piano. All I know: I love the song enough that it was my ringtone from 2003-2005 until I broke my phone. I also have a new found love for "Find the River". There's something peaceful to me about that song. Sidenote: REM was the band that helped me discover that I giggle whenever songsters drop the F-bomb. Michael Stipe, I *heart* you ALMOST as much as I *heart* Adam Duritz. ALMOST.

dcTalk: Jesus Freak
Ok, you can mock me for including a dcTalk album here, but this album came out when I was in college, a time when I listened primarily to Christian music with the exception of the above albums, Smashing Pumpkins, The Cranberries, and a few others here-and-there. Jesus Freak was cutting edge in the Christian music world...it paved the way for that music genre to be much more hip and less sappy and terrible sounding. It had an edge. They were influenced by Nirvana on this album (just check out Toby Mac's cardigan in the pics). Jesus Freak, of course, was a hit that I loved (college friends will probably remember dancing HARD with me when we could get Jon Michaels the deejay to play it). But my favorite song on this album has always been Colored People, from the first several notes to the very end. This album represents the days I was "livin' in the hood" (to quote my good friend Tammy) yet still loving Jesus. And I still have my Freak shirt that we made for their Jesus Freak tour concert.
------------
So the funny thing about these albums: I came across all of them when I was in college. I'm sure loving these albums has to do with me "becoming myself" in that phase of life. I am sure I love these albums because the songs bring me back to being carefree, playing with great friends, and living life creatively. Whatever the reason, I "love you so bad", Top 5 Albums of All Time! :)

Funniest clip of The Office ever

2009-09-06T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is my all-time favorite clip of the office. Watch for the part where I believe Phyllis is laughing but tries to cover it with a cough and for Creed's "afraid for my life" face - which I like to rewind and watch over and over.

The Office - Stress Relief - Video - NBC.com

Raw Mulberry Jam Cookies

2009-09-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

if you have a food dehydrator, I highly recommend making these. my friend hillary introduced them to me and I made a batch this week. they are tasty, but not too tasty - just one is exactly enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Raw Mulberry Jam Cookies

The world is ending Part #478903

2009-09-01T16:17:00.000-07:00

(i just stole the title of this blog from what my friend said to describe the link below.....it was too good to not use as a title :) ).

Dr. Frank's What's-it: just a question to anyone who has read this book is it in old english or mordern understandable english? if so i want it but it sounds like it's just the original version with a different cover

Vancouver apartment fire

2009-08-09T22:08:00.000-07:00

There was a huge fire in my old apartment complex that makes me really glad I no longer live there. It was a good place, good management, but some of the tenants were a little questionable. Glad I got out when I did! I'm sad to hear how many people don't have renters insurance...get a policy if you don't have one: it's not very expensive!

Vancouver apartment fire out, aftermath | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | Local & Regional

Seriously?

2009-07-21T22:05:00.000-07:00

If we are seriously talking about the clothing of our president instead of real news? We need to stop acting like our president is George Clooney. Who cares what he wears; what matters is how he leads our country.

The Buzz Log - Obama on Mom Jeans: "They're Comfortable" - Yahoo! Buzz

Buffy vs Edward (Twilight Remixed)

2009-07-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

This is funny. I just started watching Buffy for the first time and like it much more than the Twilight books / movies.

Buffy vs Edward (Twilight Remixed)

(team Jacob!)

heal the world

2009-07-07T23:10:00.000-07:00

mock me if you want, but these were 2 of my favorite MJ songs of all time. i don't necessarily think they're his best, but i love them.

MJ Memorial: We are the World + Heal the World

and for the record, if i was on the stage, i'd be the white kid with no rhythm and oblivious to my lack of rhythm.

Waffles

2009-07-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

YouTube - nkotbdotcom's Channel