When I leave this earth
There shall be a cloud of smoke
Behind me
If I go to hell
for the sins I've committed
Well
That wouldn't change the place where I'm buried
Dedicated to Ms. Post
Friday, February 12, 2010
Once Upon A Time I Knew A Gentleman...
Once upon a time I was dating someone who was a true gentleman. He would hold my hand down the stairs, he would blow me kisses from the cab after dropping me off at the train station, he would answer my calls. Midwest breeding. Tall. Strong hands. Excellent kisser.
This gentleman was great with my son. Though I am slightly overprotective of him, Adam needs some male influence in his life and also needs someone to throw all 45 pounds of him around at the playground. This gentleman was strong enough to carry him and handle him with care and curiousity.
Once upon a time I bought him a card that said "I thought I knew Happy and then I found you...Cupid is definitely going to get a gift basket this year! Happy Valentine's Day, Baby". Corporate cute, definitely suitable for the industries that we both worked in.
And then shortly before Valentine's Day, this gentleman called me and said he was still in love with a girl from his past. I must follow my heart and run with this, he said to me, through what sounded like a sincere knot in his throat.
Once upon a time I knew a gentleman.
_____________________
I returned the card to Hallmark this morning, 2 days before Valentine's day and for the reason on the receipt I put "break up" and the register lady asked me if I would like her to call this jackass. I said no, he was a good one anyway.
This gentleman was great with my son. Though I am slightly overprotective of him, Adam needs some male influence in his life and also needs someone to throw all 45 pounds of him around at the playground. This gentleman was strong enough to carry him and handle him with care and curiousity.
Once upon a time I bought him a card that said "I thought I knew Happy and then I found you...Cupid is definitely going to get a gift basket this year! Happy Valentine's Day, Baby". Corporate cute, definitely suitable for the industries that we both worked in.
And then shortly before Valentine's Day, this gentleman called me and said he was still in love with a girl from his past. I must follow my heart and run with this, he said to me, through what sounded like a sincere knot in his throat.
Once upon a time I knew a gentleman.
_____________________
I returned the card to Hallmark this morning, 2 days before Valentine's day and for the reason on the receipt I put "break up" and the register lady asked me if I would like her to call this jackass. I said no, he was a good one anyway.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Recipe: Porcini Short Ribs and Basil Infused Mashed Potatoes
Porcini Short Ribs
4 bone in beef short ribs about 2-3 in thick
1 Carrot Chopped in ½ in pieces
1 Bag Porcini Mushrooms, rehydrated and chopped
1 can beef broth / stock
Olive oil
1 cups boiling water
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 long box of white mushrooms, sliced
1 beet, sliced
Salt
Pepper
1) Boil water and add to mushrooms to rehydrate, reserve liquid
2) Salt and Pepper the short ribs liberally
3) In a large dutch oven or soup pot, add some olive oil and brown the ribs on all sides (about 3-5 min per side)
4) Add the garlic and onions, cook til translucent, add some salt and pepper
5) Add the carrots, beets and mushrooms and let cook for 3-4 minutes, add some salt and pepper
6) Add the beef broth and mushroom water and bring to a boil
7) Let boil for 3 minutes then bring back to a simmer and season to taste.
8) Add the ribs back in and simmer on low for about an hour or so. You might need to add some more broth if the sauce gets too thick
9) Once done, remove the ribs again, try and spoon off some of the rendered oil and bring the sauce to a boil and let reduce til a nice consistency.
10) Mix some potato starch and hot water together in a bowl, drizzle into the sauce to make it thick. Bring back up to a simmer.
11) At this point the bones should be falling off the short ribs. Remove all the bones and tear apart the short rib meat until they're bite sized.
11) Add the rib meat back in and serve.
Basil Infused Mashed Potatoes
8 medium sized Red potatoes
2 tbsp butter
Handful of fresh basil leaves, slivered
1/2 cup milk
Salt
Pepper
1) Peel potatoes, cut into cubes, boil for 20 minutes
2) In separate pot, melt butter and throw in basil leaves and let it bubble for about a minute. Don't overcook!
3) Drain potatoes and in the same pot, drizzle the melted basil butter onto boiled potatoes. Add salt and pepper. Add milk.
4) Mash away.
To Serve:
Put a huge dollop of Mash in a plate, ladle on the Porcini Short Ribs, and dig in.
4 bone in beef short ribs about 2-3 in thick
1 Carrot Chopped in ½ in pieces
1 Bag Porcini Mushrooms, rehydrated and chopped
1 can beef broth / stock
Olive oil
1 cups boiling water
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small yellow onion, diced
1 long box of white mushrooms, sliced
1 beet, sliced
Salt
Pepper
1) Boil water and add to mushrooms to rehydrate, reserve liquid
2) Salt and Pepper the short ribs liberally
3) In a large dutch oven or soup pot, add some olive oil and brown the ribs on all sides (about 3-5 min per side)
4) Add the garlic and onions, cook til translucent, add some salt and pepper
5) Add the carrots, beets and mushrooms and let cook for 3-4 minutes, add some salt and pepper
6) Add the beef broth and mushroom water and bring to a boil
7) Let boil for 3 minutes then bring back to a simmer and season to taste.
8) Add the ribs back in and simmer on low for about an hour or so. You might need to add some more broth if the sauce gets too thick
9) Once done, remove the ribs again, try and spoon off some of the rendered oil and bring the sauce to a boil and let reduce til a nice consistency.
10) Mix some potato starch and hot water together in a bowl, drizzle into the sauce to make it thick. Bring back up to a simmer.
11) At this point the bones should be falling off the short ribs. Remove all the bones and tear apart the short rib meat until they're bite sized.
11) Add the rib meat back in and serve.
Basil Infused Mashed Potatoes
8 medium sized Red potatoes
2 tbsp butter
Handful of fresh basil leaves, slivered
1/2 cup milk
Salt
Pepper
1) Peel potatoes, cut into cubes, boil for 20 minutes
2) In separate pot, melt butter and throw in basil leaves and let it bubble for about a minute. Don't overcook!
3) Drain potatoes and in the same pot, drizzle the melted basil butter onto boiled potatoes. Add salt and pepper. Add milk.
4) Mash away.
To Serve:
Put a huge dollop of Mash in a plate, ladle on the Porcini Short Ribs, and dig in.
The "I-can't-relax-must-do-something" disease, coming to a Mommy near you.
Apparently this disease plagues the best-of-intentions Mommy, who wants to do everything and anything to spare some time for herself. We set out to relax, and instead get a full day's worth of running around.
As an example, here was my Saturday. My intention was to have a full day with Adam, as I've been running around for the past two months with last minute birthday party invitations, brunches, shopping, holiday schtuff, etc. etc.
Instead of playing some games with Adam, I...
1) trekked with him to the Verizon store to exchange my set top box in the snow!(so that he could watch Spongebob on demand)
2) Went to Dunkin Donuts (to avert impending disaster after I declined his invitation to go to Chuck E Cheese)
3) Went grocery shopping (to feed his hungry soul and tummy)
4) Cooked said groceries into a delicious Porcini Spare Rib Stew and Basil infused Mashed Potatoes (to feed my hungry tummy and soul too)
5) Spent an hour hooking up the Verizon box (of course, things don't activate as planned)
6) Sat down to watch Spongebob for 1 hour before it was bedtime.
Here's what I should have been doing all Saturday:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Relaxing.
Inspiration for this post came from Raine, another "must do everything" mommy. Read her blog at http://trueconfessionsofasinglemother.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-now.html
As an example, here was my Saturday. My intention was to have a full day with Adam, as I've been running around for the past two months with last minute birthday party invitations, brunches, shopping, holiday schtuff, etc. etc.
Instead of playing some games with Adam, I...
1) trekked with him to the Verizon store to exchange my set top box in the snow!(so that he could watch Spongebob on demand)
2) Went to Dunkin Donuts (to avert impending disaster after I declined his invitation to go to Chuck E Cheese)
3) Went grocery shopping (to feed his hungry soul and tummy)
4) Cooked said groceries into a delicious Porcini Spare Rib Stew and Basil infused Mashed Potatoes (to feed my hungry tummy and soul too)
5) Spent an hour hooking up the Verizon box (of course, things don't activate as planned)
6) Sat down to watch Spongebob for 1 hour before it was bedtime.
Here's what I should have been doing all Saturday:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Relaxing.
Inspiration for this post came from Raine, another "must do everything" mommy. Read her blog at http://trueconfessionsofasinglemother.blogspot.com/2010/02/what-now.html
WIRED Throwing Biometric Super Bowl Party
WIRED Throwing Biometric Super Bowl Party
Awesome post from Roger Dooley of the Neuroscience Marketing Blog on Wired's attempt at understanding your biometric response to each Superbowl Ad.
I didn't need a scan to know that the KGB commercial got my heart rate up. Even Momma Dukes sitting next to me was laughing by the end of that Sumo commercial! What is KGB anyway?
Watch the commercial here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2LH1yEbAQ
Awesome post from Roger Dooley of the Neuroscience Marketing Blog on Wired's attempt at understanding your biometric response to each Superbowl Ad.
I didn't need a scan to know that the KGB commercial got my heart rate up. Even Momma Dukes sitting next to me was laughing by the end of that Sumo commercial! What is KGB anyway?
Watch the commercial here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2LH1yEbAQ
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Social Media Technographics
After tons of user interviews, self-reports, panels, and analytics, Forrester has segmented its Social Media Webosphere into 6 main categories.
Creators – You represent the pinnacle of the social media experience. You are on online consumer who regularly publish blogs or articles online, maintains a web page, uploads video, and engages in microblogging (Twitter and such). You and your peers are the most active participants and posters of content on the web.
Critics – You typically react to content posted online that you did not create. You post comments on blogs and forums, post ratings and reviews, or edit wikis. One in four American adults is an online critic.
Collectors – You are an elite content consumer of social media sites. You may not actively participate in forums, but will monitor and follow conversations throughout a variety of sites using tools that aggregate them for you. You thrive on information and use such tools as RSS to aggregate important content, tag pages or photos for organization and ease of finding, use social bookmarking such as Del.ic.io.us, and participate in low intensity social activities, such as voting on Digg or Reddit.
Joiners – You primarily participate in or maintain a profile on a social networking site. You may just join to see other profiles, but rarely, if ever, participate. Most of your activity on social network sites is prompted by your peers after long periods of inactivity.
Spectators – This group consumes what the other produce. This includes blogs, online videos, podcasts, forums, and reviews. Almost half of online Americans comprise this group.
Inactives – These are non-participants. As of 2007, 41% of Americans are non-participants.
Which group best describes YOU?
Creators – You represent the pinnacle of the social media experience. You are on online consumer who regularly publish blogs or articles online, maintains a web page, uploads video, and engages in microblogging (Twitter and such). You and your peers are the most active participants and posters of content on the web.
Critics – You typically react to content posted online that you did not create. You post comments on blogs and forums, post ratings and reviews, or edit wikis. One in four American adults is an online critic.
Collectors – You are an elite content consumer of social media sites. You may not actively participate in forums, but will monitor and follow conversations throughout a variety of sites using tools that aggregate them for you. You thrive on information and use such tools as RSS to aggregate important content, tag pages or photos for organization and ease of finding, use social bookmarking such as Del.ic.io.us, and participate in low intensity social activities, such as voting on Digg or Reddit.
Joiners – You primarily participate in or maintain a profile on a social networking site. You may just join to see other profiles, but rarely, if ever, participate. Most of your activity on social network sites is prompted by your peers after long periods of inactivity.
Spectators – This group consumes what the other produce. This includes blogs, online videos, podcasts, forums, and reviews. Almost half of online Americans comprise this group.
Inactives – These are non-participants. As of 2007, 41% of Americans are non-participants.
Which group best describes YOU?
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Hereditary High Cholesterol - My Cheat Sheet
I started this cheat sheet after realizing how little I knew about LDL and its cause and effect on the body, and what types of natural methods a person could use to combat a hereditary condition.
3 types of drugs with goal to decrease LDL (bad cholesterol)
Statins
This drug works in the liver to prevent the formation of cholesterol. Side effects usually are mild and go away as your body adjusts.
Statins available include:
Lipitor/Atorvastatin
Lescol/Fluvastatin
Mevacor/Lovastatin
Pravachol/Pravastatin
Crestor/Rosuvastatin
Zocor/Simvastatin
Selective Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors
New class of medication works by preventing the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines.
Available medication: first of its class, ezetimibe: Zetia, was approved by FDA in 2002 for “treatment of high cholesterol an dcertain inherited lipid abnormalities”
Resins (Bile Acid Sequestrant or Acid-Binding drug)
This medicine works in the intestines by promoting increased disposal of cholesterol. Your body uses cholesterol to make bile. This medicine binds to bile so it can’t be used in digestion. Your liver responds by making more bile. The more bile it makes the more cholesterol it uses. This means there is less cholesterol circulating through your bloodstream.
Resins currently available:
Questran, Prevalite, Locholest
Cholestyramine
Colestid
Colestipol
WelChol
Colesevlam HCL
Natural Foods that will help lower your cholesterol:
I read that these five are recommended by the American Heart Association to lower your LDL
1. Eat two delicious servings of fish per week. The best are the ones that have high Omega-3 content, such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, trout, herring. Baked and Grilled are the best! The greek know how to make a mean baked and grilled fish, so look for greek restaurants near you and try them out!
2. They say that skim milk and skim products are the best for you. Except for the occasional mozzarella bomb here and there, which are necessary evils to combat hunger and cravings, try to stick to non-fat or low-fat dairy products.
3. Try to avoid foods that say they are made from “Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil”
a. This list is a “safe bet” list of types of foods that usually do not contain the PHVO.
i. All fruits and vegetables
ii. Dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt)
iii. Meat, poultry, fish
iv. Sugar, flour
v. Spices, condiments, pickles, salad dressings and mayonnaise
vi. Jams and jellies
vii. Beans, grains, nuts and seeds
viii. Plain popcorn (not microwave)
ix. Pretzels, rice crackers
x. Candies and chocolate (except cocoa mixes)
xi. Cooking oils
xii. Most soups and instant soups (except noodle soup cups)
xiii. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, juices
xiv. Frozen fruits & vegetables
xv. Canned fruits & vegetables
4. Eggs are great for you! But try to go for a 2:1 ratio of whites:yolks when you do have them.
5. Oatmeal, Fiber, and Whole Wheat are easy and natural LDL-lowering foods. Mmm, love me some sautéed broccoli with garlic at night, or a big bad bowl of blueberry oatmeal in the morning.
6. The American Heart Association has made it easy to spot “heart healthy foods”. I got this from their website:
“The American Heart Association established its -->Food Certification Program --> to provide consumers a quick, easy way to identify heart-healthy foods that can be part of a healthful eating plan. Products certified by the American Heart Association contain the heart-check mark and state that the product "Meets American Heart Association criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2." While shopping, look for foods with the heart-check mark symbol on their label. These foods are approved to be part of a healthy diet. “
dedicated to JSS
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