Oh, Hey There!

Why, yes, it has been a while.  I took the month of December off, not intentionally, but still, it was a nice break.  So here's an update on what you've missed from your darling little ol' Eugene:

The holidays went by way too fast and I feel like I barely saw the smatterings of family members who were able to venture back to our beloved Ocean State.  I did manage to find the time to make yet another successful Plum Pudding (a rather disgusting but still entertaining holiday tradition, and perhaps an upcoming addition to the Tasty Tuesday section?).

There are a few reviews we have in the works (bath and beauty products, mostly) and we're also in the process of convincing a couple guest bloggers to share their wisdom and hilarity.  I'm hoping to bring in a crafting expert (you guys would not believe what this girl comes up with, it's unreal), and a social commentator with the wit and humor rivaling the geniuses you see on the celebrity roasts.

My grad school application is coming along nicely, thank you very much.  The personal essay is kind of kicking my butt.  It's hard to condense something into 300 words when there's no limits or specifications, and you just have free range to write whatever your little heart desires.  I have everything else lined up, though, so at least I'm making progress.  My GRE scores have been sent, I've ordered my transcripts, I have my letters of recommendation organized, and the rest of the application is entirely filled out.  It's just a matter of putting the finishing touches on that essay and then, ya know, actually sending the application in.  Fingers crossed by this time next year, I will be a graduate student.



The Patriots are doing ok; not great, but ok.  Really wish their first halves were played a lot better.  My nerves can't take much more of this second half comeback thing.  But they're still winning, so I guess there's not much to complain about.

We got the chance to video chat with my brother on Christmas and it was really good to see him.  Picture, if you will, a Macbook being carried around a house so that each member of the 20-person strong family could say hi.  He looks good, excited about his upcoming trip, and God knows we're excited for him.  Only my brother would travel the Trans-Siberian railroad backwards, starting in China and heading towards Russia...in the winter.  But he's supposed to get a really good view of the Northern Lights, so that should be exciting.  Can't wait to see pictures of that!

My personal life is a lot happier, so that's a nice change.  We all know I usually do not go into much detail on that part of my life, so let's just leave it by saying Eugene is very happy with what the universe has brought her way (you know it's good when the third person narrative is used).

And that, kids, is where we're going to end things today.  I promise to post the Plum Pudding recipe next week (complete with pictures because I know you love the visuals).

Stay tuned!

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Did you actually make New Year's Resolutions this year or did you just continue with your life as usual because everyone knows if you make a resolution, it only lasts about a week?

Tasty Tuesday: Mediterranean Skillet Cod

As we journey further into the autumnal season and the temperatures dip, if only slightly, the temptation to indulge in foods battered, fried, and dripping with calories only increases.  Thankfully, there are a plethora of options available that satisfy every craving and keep the bathroom scale tipping in the right direction.  One such option is the South Beach Diet (and its subsequent improvements: South Beach Super Charged and the NEW South Beach Diet).

Even if you don't follow the dietary schedule to the letter, you can still find healthy, low-calorie recipes.  One of my family's favorites is the Mediterranean Skillet Cod.  It's easy, it's delicious, and there's only 216 calories per serving.  One of my biggest problems with low-calorie meals is that they typically don't feel me up and keep me full throughout the day (or night).  But I can say, without hesitation, this meal satisfies and keeps you full.  Granted, if you don't like fish, this may not be the choice for you, but oh good golly, those flavors are amazing.

All Photos in this entry taken by Diaries of Eugene

And if that isn't enough to sell you on it, it's quick, it's easy, and it's relatively inexpensive (all things considered).  The recipe is broken up, conveniently, into 10 minute increments, with minimal prep time needed in advance.

Mediterranean Skillet Cod

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

1 small onion, thinly sliced*

3 cloves garlic, minced

Freshly ground pepper

1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

2 pequillo peppers (from a jar), thinly sliced**

4 (6 oz) cod fillets

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add zucchini, onion, garlic, and pepper.  Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.

2. Stir in tomatoes and peppers, simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes longer.

 

3. Nestle fish fillets into the sauce, spooning some of the mixture over the top of the fillets.

4. Cover the pan and continue to simmer until fish is opaque and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm in shallow bowls and spoon generous amounts of the sauce over the fish and vegetables.  

For an added kick of yumminess, you can use some of that leftover asiago cheese you have lying around from the Spinach and Artichoke dip and sprinkle no more than a tablespoon on top of your fish.  That's only an additional 20 calories (10 from fat). 

*If you're like me and you're not a big onion person, you can use half of an onion and chop it really fine.  We just want to incorporate the flavor of the onion to enhance the overall taste.  

**If you don't have or can't find pequillo peppers, you can use roasted peppers.  I enjoy the flavors of oven-roasted red peppers, so that's what I used in this recipe.  No worries, it's South Beach approved.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

216 Calories

5 grams fat

1 gram saturated fat

32 grams protein

8 grams carbohydrate

2 grams fiber

489 mg sodium

Tasty Tuesday: Challah Bread

There's something to be said about Jewish holidays.  Firstly, the tradition behind them usually includes a fantastic story and a beautiful prayer.  Secondly, the food is out of this world!  My love for matzo ball soup and latkes not withstanding, challah bread has to be one of my favorite recipe finds ever.  It looks gorgeous and tastes even better.

Photo courtesy of familyfun.com.  Additional recipe and photos found here

While the bulk of my family isn't Jewish (save for one delightful cousin-in-law), we have been known to incorporate traditional Jewish foods into our semi-secular holiday meals.  One of our family favorites is the baked french toast casserole.  We've found that incorporating challah bread instead of basic white or wheat bread slices just brings the flavors and tastiness to a whole new level.

1 cups water
1/4 cup margarine
3.5 cups bread flour
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tbsp brown sugar
1.5 pkgs dry active yeast
1.5 tsp salt
2 eggs
(additional ingredients: 1/2 egg, beaten, and 1.5 tsp poppy seeds)

1. Combine water and margarine in small saucepan until margarine is melted but not boiling.
2. In a large bowl, mix half of the flour with white sugar, brown sugar, yeast, and salt.  Add margarine mix.  Beat well.  Add eggs, one at a time.
3. Stir in remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Turn out onto lightly floured surface, knead until smooth (roughly 8 minutes).
5. Lightly oil large bowl, place dough in bowl, turn to coat, cover with damp cloth and allow to rise (roughly 1 hour).
6. Divide into 3 equal pieces, roll each piece into long ropes, then braid together.  Place on a greased baking sheet, cover with a damp cloth again, and allow to rise for another 40 minutes.
7.  Brush with egg and sprinkle poppy seeds on top.  Bake 45 minutes at 350F.

For more information about challah bread, check out this children's site or this basic wikipedia entry.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's your favorite holiday food?

Tasty Tuesday: Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip

With the MLB season winding down, NFL season gearing up, there are tailgate and big-screen parties abound.  And in the spirit of contribution and sportsmindedness, the Diaries of Eugene is pleased to bring you a fantastically delicious take on a game-night classic.

Photo found on http://en.petitchef.com/

You can't really have a Monday Night Football fiesta without buffalo wings.  It's just wrong.  But there really are only so many ways you can cook a piece of charred bird meat in hot sauce before it becomes redundant and expected.  Thankfully, one of my mother's friends was kind enough to share this delightful variation.  You have all the wonderful spicy flavors of the buffalo sauce with the creamy cooling power of the bleu cheese dressing (or ranch, depending on your preference), paired with the soft tang of cream cheese, and finally, topped with that ooey-gooey cheese that makes any dip a success.

New England Patriots v. Dallas Cowboys

photo found http://www.collinstours.ca

One of the reasons I'm so excited to share this recipe is because it was shared with me.  The whole point of this blog, and of DOE (Diaries of Eugene) in general was to encourage a sense of community.  "Hey, I liked this, and rather than keep it to myself to enable a sense of ownership and an air of superiority, I'm going to share it with you because I think you'll like it too."

And with that, I give you our latest Tasty Tuesday: Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Dip.

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch or bleu cheese dressing
1/2 cup hot sauce or buffalo wing sauce (recommendation: combine 1/4 cup mild and 1/4 cup hot)
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

1. Boil chicken in water, then simmer or grill until cooked through.  Allow to cool completely.
2. Preheat oven to 350F.  Spread cream cheese evenly over the bottom of a 9x9" baking dish.  Spread dressing evenly over cream cheese, then set dish aside.
3. Shred chicken (I just use a standard cheese grater) and mix with hot sauce, then spread evenly over dressing in dish.
4. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the chicken.  Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Serve immediately.  This recipe came with the recommendation of using Tostitos Scoops for the choice of chip, to ensure maximum dippage, but the chip is really up to you.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's your favorite tailgate/sports party snack?

Tasty Tuesday: Vanilla Chai Ice Cream

Who doesn't love ice cream?  Aside from the lactose intolerant and those who live a vegan lifestyle, of course.  One of the best tasting summer treats has always been homemade ice cream.  When I was younger, my mother would make ice cream sandwiches for the 4th of July.  After our bbq and celebrations were over and the sun had set, we would climb on to the roof of my parents' house (with adult supervision, of course), snuggle on a blanket and watch the fireworks across the bay as we happily noshed on those scrumptious frozen treats.

At the time, my mother had every kitchen gadget known to mankind in the early '90s, so naturally, she had an ice cream maker.  Being the poor and underemployed woman I am, I do not have every kitchen gadget known to mankind in the second decade of the new millennium.  And while this method of ice cream making is a little time consuming, I promise you, it's worth it.  And being the creative ingenue that you all love and adore, I included a couple options to alleviate the time-suck (and cost).

Ingredients

1 star of anise

10 whole cloves

10 whole all spice berries

2 cinnamon sticks

10 whole white peppercorns

2 cardamom pods, opened to seeds

1/4 cup black tea (English Breakfast)

1 cup milk

2 cups of heavy cream (divided in half)

3/4 cup sugar

pinch of salt

6 egg yolks

Directions:

1. Combine 1 cup of milk and spices in a heavy saucepan.  Heat until steamy (NOT BOILING) and hot to touch.  Lower heat to warm.  Cover and let set for 1 hour.

2. Reheat mixture until steamy.  Add tea leaves.  Remove from heat, stir in tea and let steep for 10 minutes.  Use fine mesh strainer to remove tea leaves and spices.  Return milk to saucepan.  Add sugar and heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.

3. WHILE THE TEA IS STEEPING: Prepare the remaining cup of cream over an ice bath.  Pour cream into a medium bowl and set in ice water (LOTS OF ICE) over a larger bowl.  Set mesh strainer on top of both bowls, then set aside.

4. Whisk yolks in medium bowl.  Slowly pour heated milk into eggs, whisking constantly so eggs don't cook.  Scrape back into the saucepan.

5. Return saucepan to stove, stirring constantly over medium heat with a wooden spoon, scraping bottom as you stir, until mix coats spoon (without running), approximately 10 minutes.  Remove from heat immediately and pour through mesh strainer over the ice bath.

6. Pour custard through the strainer from Step 2 and stir into the cold cream.

7. Once initially chilled in the ice bath, chill in the refrigerator for several hours.

8. Move the chilled cream from the ice bath to the freezer and allow to set for 20 minutes.  Scrape crystals from sides to center, beat mix thoroughly then return to freezer.  Allow to set for another 45 minutes, then scrape crystals and beat thoroughly.  Repeat over the course of 4 hours.  By the end, you should have scraped approximately 4-6 times.

The fun part of actually creating the ice cream sandwiches.  When I made them, I used basic chocolate chip cookies, but use your imagination.  Go crazy.  Spoon the ice cream onto the bottom of one cookie, spread it evenly across, top with another cookie.  Make sure you use the flat bottoms of the cookies as the actual sandwich part that will touch the ice cream.  It makes assembly without breakage so much easier.  Something that you'd think would be a no-brainer, but believe it or not, I have had to explain that little detail before.  Wrap thoroughly and tightly in plastic wrap, then freeze overnight.  They should be good to go the next day.  

Then, just unwrap and enjoy.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY: Have you made any of our Tasty Tuesday recipes?  How did they turn out?  Did you make any creative substitutions?  

Always remember you can submit your own recipes and we will post them to share.  The goal of the Diaries of Eugene is one of community involvement.  Pictures of your creations (both culinary and craft) are welcomed and appreciated.  You will be given proper credit, I promise.

***You can substitute the spices and tea with a couple tablespoons of vanilla chai mix (conveniently available at your local grocery store or coffee shop).***

***If you have an ice cream maker, congratulations, you're better than me and you can skip a ton of this recipe.***

Tasty Tuesday: Spinach Pie

If you find yourself in attendance at any of my family parties, I can all but guarantee that this dish will be featured on the menu.  It's been a staple since my mother was my age.  It's a wonderful take on Spinakopita and while I haven't mastered the speed in which my mother completes it, the flavors are all there and OH. MY. GOD.  Your tastebuds die from ecstasy.

This, too, is from the Moosewood cookbook, which if haven't already picked up, you probably should.  Here, this might help.  While it may be known by other names or more official titles, in my family, it's simply known as "Peggy's Spinach Pie."

2 cups feta cheese

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 tsp oregano

5 eggs

1 lb ricotta cheese

2 lbs spinach

2 tbsp flour

1 tsp basil

1 pkg Phyllo dough

1 lb margarine or butter

1. Cook and drain spinach.  Sautee onions in 2 tbsp butter.  Mix spinach, onions, cheeses, eggs, spices.

2. Melt butter and brush bottom of 11 x 18 baking pan.

3. Carefully spread 8 layers of phyllo dough (brushing each layer with margarine/butter).  Spread half of the spinach mixture on top of the phyllo gough.  

4. Add another 8 layers (brushing each layer with butter/margarine), then top with remaining spinach mix.  

5. Top with another 8 layers of phyllo dough (once again, brushing each layer with butter/margarine), making sure the top layer is thoroughly coated as well.

6. Bake at 375F for 45 minutes.

This works GREAT as a make-ahead meal.  You can make it the night before and just bake it right before you need it.  Soooo good.  It's flaky, it's buttery, it's cheesy, and good golly the spinach and onions taste so amazing.  I'm not a big onion fan, but you can't even taste them, all you get is flavor and you can't help but close your eyes and just savor.  It's that good.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What's your favorite make-ahead meal?  OR What's a dish that seems to be served at all of your family events?  

**I keep meaning to get a picture of this delicious display of wonder but it's usually cut into and served by the time I remember.  I promise to upload one as soon as the next family party rolls around.  We have them often, so it shouldn't be long**

Remembering Means Honoring

I typically don't post things like this, but there's just been so much negativity, I can't really keep my mouth shut.

This day, ten years ago, was a very big deal.  There's no sense in ignoring it.  Whining and quibbling about the abundance of coverage marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is more than just a little rude.  Regardless of how you feel about the country's handling of the aftermath, thousands of people died that day.  When you make comments degrading the coverage or blatantly state you're ignoring the day's meaning, you're basically throwing a giant pile of garbage on the memories of those people.  If you're so gung-ho about not participating in any activity to memorialize the 10th anniversary of September 11th, then just go about your business as normal.  There's no need to make any remarks or derragatory comments.  Let those who choose to participate honor the fallen in their own way.  Yes, some will take it to the extreme but so what?  How does that impact you?  Does it impede your life so much that you have to make it your facebook status?  I'm guessing no.

I'm not exactly the hugest supporter of war or any of former President Bush's tactics (weapons of mass destruction, anyone?), but I do support those men and women who choose to serve their country and fight.  Plenty of my friends are members of various military branches and I support the efforts they make to maintain my rights and my freedoms.  I support the fact that they willingly put their lives on the line to make sure the world knows America is a force to be reckoned with.

Those who choose to honor the memories of the soldiers, firemen, police officers, and every day men and women who lost their lives because of what happened that day, let them.  Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, what happened 10 years ago changed our country forever.

Blasts from the Past

Found one of my first blogs and came across these magnificent paragons (hello GRE flash cards):

Keep in mind these were from three years ago when I was working in a restaurant.

Love and such,

Eugene

Detox or Faux-tox?

There's been so much talk about "detox diets" that one can't help but be slightly curious.  Beyonce Knowles lost 20 pounds on the Master Cleanse detox diet for her role in "Dreamgirls," the sisters Duff (Hilary and Hailey) swear by it.  But the idea of willingly ingesting nothing but lemon juice and water flavored with cayenne pepper for a week just doesn't seem that appealing...or healthy.  People talk about the incredible results you get from this wonder diet.  Well, you're starving yourself for a week, if not longer, so I would be floored if you didn't lose any weight at all.  What they don't talk about is how this is NOT, I repeat NOT, a diet.  It is a detox.  So when you come off the detox and start eating food again, you gain at least half of the weight back.  And if you're a binge-eating defeatist, chances are you'll gain all of it back and be right back where you started from.

Having vented to my mother about my dissatisfaction with my weight and appearance, and then, mistakingly, bringing up the aforementioned detox wonder diet, she hopped into fretting mother mode and made me swear never to try it because it was ridiculously unhealthy.  I had to laugh and walk away because, as I'm sure you are already aware, you can't really talk with moms when they're in "the zone."  A few minutes later she apologized for getting so "uppity" as she called it, and then told me about this new juice detox diet.  It's the same basic concept as the Master Cleanse except for one key factor: you're not starving yourself to see the results of a clean system.  You're getting the vitamins, proteins, and nutrients your body needs to not only survive, but more importantly, what your body needs to thrive.  It's called the Martha's Vineyard Detox Diet, and it promises 21 pounds in 21 days.  Well, we'll see, I guess.

My mother and I are going to be starting it soon, and while, yes I'm not the typical person who goes on these sorts of diet (I'm 24, five foot nothing, and only about 7-10 pounds over what I would like to be), and while I get a lot of grief from people (my mother, my boyfriend, my friends who weigh a bit more than  I do) when I say that I need to lose weight, it's something that I'm not happy with.  And since I'm not about to go under the knife for some lipo anytime soon, this seems to be the happy alternative.  I'm not looking for a quick fix.  I want to be healthy and eat what I should be eating.  Now, that being said, I do go to the gym 5-6 days a week.  I do at least 30 minutes on the treadmill, reaching about 2-4 miles each time, burning anywhere from 200-500 calories.  I do a series of ab workouts every other day.  I don't eat fast food, I love vegetables, and we only eat organic foods.  So my frustration comes from the fact that no matter what I do, I can't seem to lose these 10 pounds and it's driving me insane.  I've had issues with eating disorders before and I'm trying to get over that.  I'm hoping that if I document this diet, unsightly pictures and all, that the proof will be in the pudding and I can really see the progress I'm making.

So, with all that said, let's start preparing and see what this baby can do!

MONDAY, JULY 21, 2008

Growing Up Doesn't Have to Mean Growing Apart

It's been over two years since we've been in college, and almost a year since my last visit to said college, and suffice it to say that a lot has happened in the time between then and now.  There have been births, deaths, weddings, road trips, drunken stupors, job changes, relocations, and just about everything else.  And while some may say that I've been avoiding the 'real world,' I'd like to think that I've just been following my own path to happiness.  I've been criticized by just about everyone for not facing reality and trying to maintain some air of irresponsibility.  But, while they've been criticizing, I've been building my life.  I've found the one person I want to be with for the rest of my life, I've been making new friends that I can rely on and depend on, and I've finally found a job that makes me happy (both professionally and personally).  So when the time came to celebrate this new chapter in my life, I thought those who have encouraged me for the past six years would be the first ones to congratulate me.  I was wrong.  The very same people who chastised me for not "acting my age" were the ones who isolated themselves because they didn't approve of my new friends.  While you were off getting drunk, yet again, and delaying the inevitable first 'real' job, I was making a life for myself.  I have a real life and you don't.  For the first time in our friendship, I was seriously disappointed in you.  And for the first time in our friendship, I've reached a point of maturity you have yet to discover.  I'm trying not to hold it against you, I'm trying not to revert to "how dare you" and "i can't talk to you" and I'm trying to rise above.  But you did not make it easy.

These people may not fit your mould of what my friend should be like, but I enjoy their company.  They make me laugh, they include me in their jokes, and I can call on them in almost the same way that I used to be able to call on you.  This is my life and I like it.  Just because you don't get it, doesn't mean it isn't right for me.  And how dare you make me think otherwise.

The Bucket List

I'm sure that everyone at some point or another has made a list of things they want to do in their life.  Backpack through Europe, learn another language, go skydiving, etc.  I made my first list when I was 15, then another one at 18, right before I left for college.  The lists were usually made in journals, or in notebooks that should have been dedicated solely towards literature class notes.  In the midst of some spring cleaning, I came across these lists, sadly noting that I had not accomplished as much of them as I would have hoped.  So, as my therapist says, making yourself accountable for your actions requires a little help sometimes.  And with that in mind, I feel that if I put my goals out into the world, I'm somewhat forced to take some action, otherwise, I'll be all talk, which is something I fear I'm becoming.  That said....here we go.

1. Learn to play the guitar

2. Learn Italian

3. Learn Spanish

4. Go skydiving

5. Act in a full-length play

6. Learn to drive a standard

7. Read at least two books a month

8. Volunteer at an animal shelter

9. Learn to play the piano

10. Learn to play the violin

11. Get married in my backyard

12. Go to pastry school

13. Go to culinary school

14. Travel through Europe

15. Travel through Asia

16. Travel through Australia

17. Travel through South America

18. Travel through Canada

19. Drive cross country

20. Watch AFI's Top 100 Films

21. Start my own business

22. Sing Karaoke

22. Watch the entire series of Sex & the City

23. Live on my own

24. Run a marathon

25. Throw a New Years Eve party

The rest to be determined at a later time...

TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2008

You'll Sit There and You'll Like It

Is it me, or have people just started to suck a lot lately?  Maybe I'm just upset because, as previously blogged, my post-collegiate life isn't everything I hoped it would be.  Or maybe I'm projecting my fear of reaching the mid-20s onto unsuspecting people who have no connection to my life whatsoever.  Or maybe I'm just bitter because they get to enjoy fine, quality seafood and I get to stand around for ten hours, covered in ketchup and clam juice, sweating like Rosie O'Donnell when she wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes she's just a big, scary lesbian with little to no fame at all.  Whatever the reason, I've noticed an influx of baby-boomers and the slightly younger yuppie generation who really just, honest to blog, suck at life.

When you go out to eat, you're basically saying to the world, "I don't feel like cooking tonight.  I want to treat myself to a nice meal and just enjoy my evening."  Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that imply you should be in a good mood?  Shouldn't you be projecting an air of happiness out into the world?  I don't expect rainbows to miraculously start shining out of your ass, but I would think, at the very least, a smile would be visible.  So why is it that every other person or couple who comes into the restaurant I work in seem to have the worst case of hemorrhoids ever.  They walk in like their anus is bleeding and I have the magic cream and some latex gloves.  Oh here, let me rub that on there for you.  How's that feel?  Better?  Oh nay nay, my little maggots, that is NOT my job.

I have the lucky task of showing these muff-chomping ingrates to their table, and then, the real fun begins.  It starts out like any normal relationship--with a pleasant greeting, a smile, and usually, a slight tilt of the head.  "Hi, how are you?"  If they respond and then ask how I am, it's usually a good sign.  Of course, working in the heart of a tourist town, getting any sort of acknowledgement of my humanity is slim, at best.  People are too wrapped up in their own pathetic, dreary lives to even realize that when you go out to eat, you're actually going to someone else's office.  Once we've established how many are in their party, and they've debated a good twenty minutes on whether or not they want to eat outside, and then another ten to thirteen minutes on sitting in the sun versus sitting in the shade, I offer them the actual table they're going to be sitting at.

Then comes the first fight in our relationship.  It's awkward and weird, and you're not really sure how far to push the boundaries.  You try to keep it civil and polite because you're really not trying to be mean, you're just trying to explain that you're doing all you can and you really do care about them and their well-being.  But do they acknowledge that?  Of course not.  Apparently, the whole world revolves around them and their crunchy hair (hi, yeah, the 80s are gone and they were ridiculous while they were here, that's why Vh1 made a nine hour special dedicated solely to mocking the stupidity of their fashion trends and hairstyles).  The table I bring them to isn't the one they picked out during their three second stroll to the hostess podium.  Explaining why I don't have that particular table available when it's empty and all set up is a tricky thing.  Basically, when I'm telling you it's not available, it means I just sat three tables in that server's section and I'm trying to give them a break.  Hey genius, there's a reason I didn't put you at that table in the first place.  Think about it.  I know it hurts and you can't really juggle walking AND thinking at the same time, god forbid we throw in a little gum chewing and a hair flip.  Sit in the stupid chair, take the damn menu, and leave me alone.

Once they've finally settled in and I've explained, slowly and using small words, that the specials are on their table and the wine list is in the back of their menus, my job should be done.  I should just head back to my podium, mark down which table they finally ended up at, and then wait for the next group of teet-suckling jerkoffs to show up.  But no.  Oh no.  After waiting all of about twenty-seven seconds, they decide it's too cold to sit outside, they'd like to move inside, but not near the windows because it will be too sunny, and not near the door because it will be too breezy.  But not around the corner away from the breeze and the door because there's no view.  Ok.  Look around, dillweed.  Although we make incredible use of the space by cramming in as many tables as we can, it's not a very large restaurant.  You tell me, given your criteria, where you think you should sit, because no matter where I put you, you're going to point out at least four other tables that you think would be better, and then we're just going to have to repeat the first fight all over again.  And then, for the nine millionth time, I'm going to have to explain to the intellectually incapable that they can't give me their drink orders because I'm not their server.  I'm the hostess.  I'm the chick who tries to tell you where to sit.  Your server is the one wearing all black and carrying a tray of waters towards your table.  Talk to them about getting a Box O' Wine on over to your table right quick.  

I roll my eyes as I walk away, apologizing to the waitstaff for giving you to them, and mutter something about you probably being from Connecticut.

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2008

Don't fill up on idealism, kids, leave room for dessert.

From the very beginning of our academic career, we're given necessary goals to achieve.  In the younger grades, we learn to color in the lines, then to read and write.  As we progress through middle school, our main goal is to get to high school with as little embarrassment as humanly possible.  Then, we struggle through the next four years just to graduate and make it to college.  We're told that without a college degree, the likelihood of succeeding in today's world is minimal at best.  The four years of college (give or take a few semesters) prepare us for.....what exactly?  A return to the thankless minimum wage jobs we held in summers between school?

My college years were spent pursuing a degree, I was told, would help me "change the world."  I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't my generation the one who's going to solve all the problems the baby boomers created and GenX ignored?  But how, may I ask, are we to do that if we're not getting hired?  After the joy of graduation and a completed education had subsided, the harsh reality set in.  Hundreds of resumes were sent out, each receiving the same response, "We appreciate your interest in our company, however at this time, you do not possess the necessary experience to fill [insert desired position here]."  Ok, let me ask the obvious.  How can I gain the necessary experience if no one will hire me?  

The post-collegiate idealism has all but faded into oblivion and we succumb to the nauseating realization that we must return to the retail and food service businesses we thought we triumphantly left behind.  We smile grimly and say, "Hi, how're you doing today," knowing full well the answer we receive will be nothing more than a "Fine," without even the courtesy of making eye contact.  But what's the alternative?  Sitting in an over-air conditioned office, wearing less than comfortable 'business casual' attire, referring fellow employees to the latest memo on inter-office fraternization?  Clearly, the fervent encouragement of our responsibilities as 'young adults' was misleading.  We admit defeat, hang our heads in shame, and file in line at the copier, debating whether or not onyx is the appropriate shade of black for our resume.  

"Thanks for coming.  Have a great day."

Finding the Funny in the Unfunny

Sometimes, you just have to laugh. Life, in all its ups and downs (the latter featuring more prominently as of late), is so outrageously unfair that it borders on the ridiculous, so you just can't help but laugh. Maybe this laugh is immediately followed by a cry, but still, you're laughing, and that's a good thing.

I've found myself wallowing in the negative lately and am scrambling to push my way back into the positive. I've had some serious battles in the past to find my happiness and I won't go back without a fight. One of the biggest lessons I had to learn was to be aware of when I felt myself slipping into what my parents have affectionately called the "dark place." The past week has definitely been a challenge, but I'm proud to say I'm finding the humor in my humorless circumstances. Of course I haven't heard about that full-time job that I applied to three months ago, because naturally, the person in charge of hiring someone has gone on vacation the day before I submitted my resume. Yup, that would happen.

Rather than retreating into a darkened room with chocolate and tequila, I'm going for walks on the beach with my cousin and her four month old puppy (legit, one of the most adorable digging puppies I've seen in FOREVER). Instead of removing myself from society and ignoring my friends when they ask me to join them for a weekend fiesta, I put on my cutest sombrero and shout, "Ole!" I can joke about how I've needed a planner now more than I did when I actually had a job (it's the truth, you should see my months-at-a-glance, nutso).

Instead of dwelling on the unnerving ratio of resumes-submitted to response calls-received, I laugh hysterically with my Nana after she asks if I can take her to the "Calrus and the Warpenter" as opposed to the "Walrus and the Carpenter." I jokingly give my Popi a high five when he tells me he didn't fall today. You just have to laugh because, quite frankly, the alternative just isn't all that appealing.

What Dreams May Come

I don't think I've slept the entire night through without the aid of alcohol or Tylenol PM since I was about 16 or so. And with the advent of "Simply Sleep," Tylenol PM's counterpart but without the pain reliever acetaminophen (and subsequent potentially fatal liver damage), a complete night's rest seems actually within my grasp. However, as anyone who relies on sleep aids, even infrequently, will tell you, they come with some pretty bizarre dreams.

Most recently, there's been dreams of pregnancy (thank god it's just a dream), death, constantly being late, and of course, the occasional boring dream of just being at work doing my job. Naturally, my curiosity spiked when the first two topics seemed to be repeated more frequently than any other. There was a span of about a week where every night I dreamt I was pregnant or giving birth. The dream dictionaries I consulted all stated it meant my subconscious was fighting to bring something to the surface, an idea was bubbling and would soon come to fruition. In my eternal optimism, I thought that it meant that my subconscious had known all along what my heart so desperately wanted for my career, but alas, two months later, not a single pregnancy dream nor any clue as to employment ambition.

The second, and most obviously more disturbing topic, came with rather specific details that are a bit hard to erase from my memory. While others are desperately trying to hold onto every image, color, and memory from a dream as they slowly come into the waking world, I wish I could forget. In the most recent unconscious hallucination, I had just learned of a family member's death while staying at their house while other relatives were away on vacation. It fell upon me to tell those relatives that their child had died. The image of my aunt walking in the door with a smile on her face contrasting that of her falling to the floor and shaking after my delivering the news have yet to fade. Again, I consulted the dream dictionary, praying to whichever deity was en vogue at the moment, that I wasn't somehow becoming clairvoyant. According to this particular entry, when you dream about someone close to you dying, it means they possess something you envy, whether a job, a character trait, or whatever. They have something in their lives that you want in your own. Needless to say, reading the end of that passage left me thinking, "huh, how 'bout that."

How people come to the conclusions that one dream means something completely different than what you actually dreamt about is beyond any comprehension. For example, dreaming about spiders doing any number of specific actions means you're either going to be rewarded in some way, you feel like an outsider, or you're fighting with your mother. Somehow, it always comes back to your mother.

So what conclusion can we come to, given the two most prevalent dream ideologies in my current world? I'm jealous of my cousin and I'm about to figure out why. Or our relationship means nothing, she's dead to me, and I want a baby. Given my adamant feelings about the human gestation period, and physically pushing a life form from my loins, I'm going with option A.

But my cousin is pretty awesome, so it's kind of hard not want to be something like her.

I know, wicked sappy way to end it, right? It's my blog, deal with it.