Useless musings

• I have an irrational fear of not playing the lottery and my numbers hitting. I don’t play all the time, and when I do, I play one set of numbers and a quick pick. This is why you should just do quick picks… if I ever saw my numbers hit and I didn’t play, I would likely cause myself substantial bodily harm.

• Work is going pretty well so far. It’s weird to go from an office and managing analysts to a cube and basically being on the bottom of the totem pole. We have an intern coming soon though, so my status will change and I’ll move up a notch. Score.

• Being that I’m at a new job, I didn’t think it would be smart to start out coming in “late.” There are no set in stone hours or anything, but I figure I should be here around 8:30, which means I can’t work out at 6:45am. So, I started the 6:00am CrossFit class yesterday morning. Getting up before 6:00 is brutal, but I rationalize it by telling myself that getting up any time before 10:00 is hard for me, and I feel the same when I first wake up at 5:15 as I do at 6:00 and 6:30 and 7:00. I just don’t like to get up in the mornings… period. I could sleep for 12 hours every day, I think. I like to attribute it to being in touch with my ancestors… like the ones from thousands of years ago that slept that much, if not more. I was so meant to be a cavewoman.

• Speaking of sleep, Mother Nature, I'd sure appreciate it if you'd stop the middle of the night thunderstorms.  I almost drop kicked my sweet golden retriever at 2:00 am because of her thunderphobia.  I don't want to be a dog abuser, but I need my sleep.  Thank you to my husband who took her to the living room and slept on the couch, so I could sleep in peace (I hadn't slept well the last few nights and went to bed before 9:00... I couldn't take another night like that).

• Matt and I are going to see Ryan Bingham in concert tonight.  I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited.  If y'all don't know who he is, check him out.  Except don't, because he's getting too famous.  We saw him at Smith's Olde Bar a few years ago with maybe 100 people there, and then we weren't able to get tickets to his last two Atlanta shows because they sold out so quickly.  I guess an Oscar changes things (he did the music in the movie Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges).  Hope anyone reading, hi Jenn, has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!!

CSA

I have been wanting to be part of a CSA for the last few years, but with Matt working out of town, it really didn't make sense for us.  Now that he's back, I knew this would be the year.  We bought a full share from Serenbe Farms, and so far, we're I'm loving it (I don't think Matt could give two hoots).  We are on week three of thirty, and the bounty so far has been full of greens, onions, turnips, radishes, various herbs and this week, carrots!  I knew we wouldn't get through all of the greens, so I blanched several servings of kale, spinach and collards to freeze for later.  Even though we're eating out on Friday night and will be at a wedding on Saturday night, I'm pretty sure we'll get through all of this week's share before I pick up next week's.

Last night, I made mustard dill salmon (fresh dill this week... yummmmmmy) and sauteed bok choi and spinach.  It makes for a great, healthy weeknight meal because it's so quick and easy (well under 30 minutes from start to finish).

Mustard Dill Salmon
-2 fillets salmon (adjust serving size accordingly), about 1" thick, skin on
-Dijon mustard
-fresh dill
-EVOO

Rinse and pat salmon dry.  Grease baking pan/dish with EVOO (or whatever you want) and place salmon skin side down on dish.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Squirt or spoon Dijon directly on salmon and "brush" with the back of a spoon to evenly coat.  Tear dill with hands and apply liberally to top of salmon.  Broil about 4" from burner for 8-10 minutes or until done.

Sauteed Greens
-greens of choice (again, amount depends on # of servings)
-minced garlic (again, to your taste/# of servings)
-EVOO
-red pepper flakes

Wash and dry greens thoroughly.  Rough chop if larger greens like bok choi, collards, etc.  Bring saute pan with about 1 tbsp EVOO to heat over a medium burner.  Add garlic and saute for about 30 seconds to release flavor (be careful not to burn).  Add greens and "toss" until they begin to wilt.  Add red pepper flakes (1/8-1/4 tsp for 2 servings is enough for most palates) and salt to taste.

So easy and yummy, especially with fresh, local, organic produce.  On tonight's menu is a roasted chicken (will probably make an herb and garlic rub and roast it with some onions from the CSA), sauteed dill carrots and mashed turnips.  I didn't even know I liked turnips, but mashed turnips are an amazing replacement for mashed potatoes.  I've got some gorgeous Swiss chard I plan to use in some omelets or sauteed with eggs and bacon this weekend (I really like sauteed greens with eggs for breakfast) and some Chinese cabbage and sugar snap peas that I will make on Sunday with some sort of TBD Asian inspired dish.

If you haven't already jumped on the CSA bandwagon, I highly recommend.  It's important to me to eat locally and organic whenever possible, and at $27 per week, I think this is a great deal.  I do have to supplement some things here and there (right now, fruit), but I don't think I have bought any vegetables at the store over the last three weeks.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't go to Publix, Whole Foods or Trader Joe's and get the same amount of organic produce, let alone local, for that price.  I also love that it's making me try things I might not otherwise and think out of the box with my menus.

It was nice while it lasted

Today was my last Friday of (f)unemployment.  I bid thee fare well.  It was nice to know you these past three and a half months, but it is time for me to return to the working world.  I start my new job next week, and I'm moderately excited.  If I can be 100% honest, which I can, I would love to not have to work.  It's not the work that I don't like... I do like to work.  I just like to do it on my own terms.  Who doesn't, right?  But, yay for a paycheck and something a little different!

When did that happen?

That being the month of May.  Seriously, how is it already May 9?  I don't understand.  I have been unemployed for over one quarter of a year.  Slackerfest.  And, I would swear last month was February, yet we're already through March and April and onto May, just in case you needed a tutorial on the order of the months.

We've had a fairly eventful couple of weeks.  Two weekends ago, we made our way down to Jacksonville, because Matt was playing in a golf tournament for work.  Of course, this means we got to spend some time with my family, as well.  On Friday evening, James had a baseball game, so I was thrilled to be able to see him play.  He is so cute and told me he was going to hit a home run for me.  No homers, but two RBI's and a single isn't too bad.  Their opponent was really good and a lot bigger than them (the age for his division is 4-7... there is a HUGE difference between 4 and 7 year-olds).  But, this means he got a lot of action out in left field, and he enjoyed that.

On Saturday, we made our way down to Vilano Beach.  I realized that I am no longer a Florida girl through and through, because I was so excited to get on the beach.  While I've always enjoyed and appreciated the beach, growing up in Florida, it was old hat.  We went to the beach all the time.  I definitely have a finer appreciation of it now.  Vilano is awesome, because you can drive out on the beach and bring your dogs.  I don't think Max and Maddie knew what was going on, but they loved it.

On our way to the beach!

James on his boogie board.  Next up, surfing.

B Bear... little stinker.

Max was passed out.  Tired puppy!

Sweet boys.

He was thrilled with his seaweed.

On our way home... the back seat of an F-150 isn't big enough for two dogs and some luggage.  :)

It was a great weekend, and I almost forgot to mention that my mom and I got up bright and early to watch the royal wedding.  We are both saps and loved it.  I thought the message provided by the Archbishop of Canterbury was lovely, and Kate looked stunning.  I thought her dress and styling were perfectly princesslike.  I love that she and Prince William are trying to live a "normal" newlywed life and turned down the opportunity to have a maid, butler and cook.  Also, how awesome was it when they drove out of the palace in his dad's car?  So great.  It seems that they understand the pressures they will face and are doing their best to make life as "normal" as possible, you know, for a future King and Queen.

Last week, we decided to throw a very last minute Kentucky Derby Party.  I love any excuse to entertain and Matt loves an excuse to flex his BBQ muscles.  The man knows his way around a smoker, and his pulled pork was excellent, as always.  For deciding to have the party Wednesday night, it was quite a success.  The menu included pulled pork, our honey mustard BBQ sauce, the most delicious and unhealthy BBQ beans ever, mac and cheese, and cilantro-lime cole slaw.  And, of course, mint juleps!  I didn't take many pictures, and the one thing I wanted to capture was the bar setup for the mint juleps, but to no avail.  So, instead, I leave you with more gratuitous pictures of the dogs and a few people too.  Oh, we also drew horses out of a cup and Matt M. won $70.  And, he cursed the horse when he drew it.  Ye of little faith.

The ladies in our hats.

The loves of my life.

One too many mint juleps.

Oh, the amusement we get out of these dogs.

So, that's about it.  I think I will be back to work soon, but still not ready to share anything until it's a done deal.  I'm actually a little nervous right now so hoping to hear something soon.  I turned down another job offer, and that was scary!!!  But, I just don't think it was the right thing.  If I hadn't had any other options, I would have taken it, but in the long run, it would have just been a paycheck.  Which sounds really nice right now, but this other opportunity is better for the future (I think).  We shall see.  :)