So with the craziness of soccer and baseball season upon our household and we are running around like chickens with out heads cut off. One of the things to suffer during the crazy schedule of this season is dinner. Our test run for these next two weeks is the preparation of pre-made meals so the kids can heat something up and eat before they have to be shuttled off to practice or a game. If you have a similar schedule at your house - this will come in handy!
Yesterday I mixed up an enormous amount of beef (about 6lbs worth of beef) with mustard, salt, pepper, eggs, and milk. Than I used an ice cream scoop to get a nice scoop of beef to mold into patties. I made just 71 hamburgers yesterday....71! I broiled 26 of the burgers up and then let them cool. After a sufficient amount of time cooling, the burgers were stuck into buns and zipped into a bag and tossed into the freezer. The remaining 45 burgers were frozen raw and placed 12 to a bag (1 meals worth of burgers for a family of 6...they aren't the world's largest burgers).
I did a similar thing with 24 hot dogs. Those already come pre-cooked, so they just needed to be popped in a bun, zipped up, and but in the freezer. Tonight we had our first everyone grabs what they can meal. The hot dogs actually turned out pretty well. I had to microwave it for about 30 seconds first to get the bun to separate from the hot dog and then I just needed to nuke the hot dog for an additional 30 seconds - and dinner! Ok...so not quite a dinner, but when you add sides like beans and yogurt - it's pretty exceptional. I was starving by the time I got home tonight - I'd bumped into some good friends and we ended up walking all over town and chatting. It was fun, but I was definitely in need of food by the time I got home!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Murderers and then even MORE Murderers
I have been reading the book Mapping the Trail of a Serial Killer: How the World's Most Infamous Murderers were Tracked Down by Brenda Ralph Lewis. I think she's probably British since she uses kilometers and ques and the term nee (which is French).
I am actually really fascinated with this book. I have a problem with reading it before going to bed and then dreaming about some weird crap. I actually find it really interesting that it often takes the police a decade or more to find these guys. It is painful when the killer is interviewed and picked up but they just don't have enough evidence to convict the person.
It is interesting to see the paths that some of these killers had - one guy in South America narrowly escaped being tribally executed to only be convicted for only 15 years (the maximum sentence in the country) and then go on to kill even more people. His total amount of child victims is around 300+! 300 children had to die because of this guy and the lack of a firm judicial system in South America. He was never actually convicted for more than those 15 years; however, there were multiple hits put out on the guy and he never resurfaced. I can't say that I'm all that sad - it's sad when the judicial system fails, but at least this guy is not out there harming any more children. I wonder if his hit death was more painful than the tribal execution he managed to elude because of a missionary convincing the tribe to trust the judicial system. They had him buried up to his neck in the sand and then dumped honey all over him to attract the ants. You can guess the rest of how that would have turned out - very slow and painful. He was known as the Monster of the Andes.
Another serial killer I found interesting was the Stockwell Strangler. I mostly found his case interesting because the one person to survive his attacks was a Mr. Prentice. I found this interesting and I am wondering if it is a coincidence (I doubt it) but Emily Prentice is one of the characters on Criminal Minds - a profiler who catches serial killers.
The name of Cullen has also been tainted by this book. Charles Cullen was a guy who went around injecting patients with either insulin or a cardiac medication that would induce death. I find it appalling that so many of his murders were covered up or brushed over because the hospitals were worried about getting sued. There also wasn't a way for hospitals to check out the work history of employees. This guy moved from job to job and would either be sent away or would leave when suspicions would start to be raised.
This is an interesting read. A very shocking, disturbing, gut wrenching read, but something that I found interesting. I think even more disturbing than the crimes themselves were often the loop holes that let the murderers remain out and killing. Sometimes, the legal systems of countries just scare me!
I am actually really fascinated with this book. I have a problem with reading it before going to bed and then dreaming about some weird crap. I actually find it really interesting that it often takes the police a decade or more to find these guys. It is painful when the killer is interviewed and picked up but they just don't have enough evidence to convict the person.
It is interesting to see the paths that some of these killers had - one guy in South America narrowly escaped being tribally executed to only be convicted for only 15 years (the maximum sentence in the country) and then go on to kill even more people. His total amount of child victims is around 300+! 300 children had to die because of this guy and the lack of a firm judicial system in South America. He was never actually convicted for more than those 15 years; however, there were multiple hits put out on the guy and he never resurfaced. I can't say that I'm all that sad - it's sad when the judicial system fails, but at least this guy is not out there harming any more children. I wonder if his hit death was more painful than the tribal execution he managed to elude because of a missionary convincing the tribe to trust the judicial system. They had him buried up to his neck in the sand and then dumped honey all over him to attract the ants. You can guess the rest of how that would have turned out - very slow and painful. He was known as the Monster of the Andes.
Another serial killer I found interesting was the Stockwell Strangler. I mostly found his case interesting because the one person to survive his attacks was a Mr. Prentice. I found this interesting and I am wondering if it is a coincidence (I doubt it) but Emily Prentice is one of the characters on Criminal Minds - a profiler who catches serial killers.
The name of Cullen has also been tainted by this book. Charles Cullen was a guy who went around injecting patients with either insulin or a cardiac medication that would induce death. I find it appalling that so many of his murders were covered up or brushed over because the hospitals were worried about getting sued. There also wasn't a way for hospitals to check out the work history of employees. This guy moved from job to job and would either be sent away or would leave when suspicions would start to be raised.
This is an interesting read. A very shocking, disturbing, gut wrenching read, but something that I found interesting. I think even more disturbing than the crimes themselves were often the loop holes that let the murderers remain out and killing. Sometimes, the legal systems of countries just scare me!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Way Back
Yesterday, I did the family shopping, ironing, and I made dinner. This time I made pork chops with chutney and mashed potatoes and green beans. It was delicious. I also managed to stop by the Redbox and pick up some movies. I got Never Say Never for my siblings and ended up being witness to a majority of it as I ironed and made dinner. After dinner I was able to escape and watch the movie I had selected for myself: The Way Back. I had seen the advertisements all over in France earlier this year - and I just wanted to see it as the title in French is something more like: The Trails of Liberty. So I finally saw the movie that had been plastered on the side of my 262A bus and on the post just outside my school.
The premise of the story is based on the Gulag system in Communist USSR. Jim Sturgess's character, Janusz, is a Polish man (part of the military) that is imprisoned after the USSR invades Poland during World War II. He is tortured but refuses to admit to being a spy and taking part in sabotage plots. When he does not comply, they torture his wife into confessing to his "crimes" of sabotage and spying. This lands him in a Gulag in Siberia. It doesn't take long for him to realize that he must attempt to escape: if he dies trying, then at least he will die a free man. Several people from the camp join him in the escape and the begin their journey South towards Mongolia. They lose and gain people along their journey - and find that they most continue on when they discover that Mongolia has fallen into the hands of Communism. Janusz is compelled to continue on because he wants to get home to his wife - he must get back to her because he knows how difficult it will be for her to forgive herself after she was tortured into confessing to crimes that he had not committed.
Since I had only really seen the posters in French, I had no idea what the movie would even be about - I was pleasantly surprised to find that it covered the topic of Gulags. I was in a Russian history class a while back and I was extremely shocked to learn about the things the Soviet Union did to it's own people. I love Jim Sturgess (it's his 33rd Birthday tomorrow - I can't believe he's 33!) and Colin Farrell - so this movie was great. And people who know me automatically know that I think the two are extremely sexy; however, it was hard to think people with rotting teeth, severe sunburn, dehydration, and all over ickiness as gorgeous. I do have to say that the character that Jim Sturgess played, was just incredibly powerful. He was so inspiring and driven by what he wanted that he led a group of people some 4,000 miles - through Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet and across the Himalayas into India. Ed Harris was brilliant and just amazing. He's still very cowboy and was the only person (not already Eastern European) who didn't have to fake an Eastern European accent. The girl who played Briony, Saoirse Ronan, is a nice addition of femininity to the all male cast. She adds a softness and an all around gentleness to the group. Colin Farrell was good at being a jerk and criminal - it was interesting to have his opinion of communism thrown into the mix. The other guys who are on the journey also do an amazing job. They were all so good in their roles that I didn't mind watching the lengthy movie and the documentary of "The Journey of the Journey" after a long and exhausting day. It was a very moving story about determination, kindness, and forgiveness. I was very beautifully done and the scenery was amazing. I have to say - the ending was a little tacky. The feet walking across Soviet history was appalling. Almost like someone didn't really know how to show that passing of time so they just slapped that together and said - ok, it's done. Still - a great movie worth a watch or two or more :D
The premise of the story is based on the Gulag system in Communist USSR. Jim Sturgess's character, Janusz, is a Polish man (part of the military) that is imprisoned after the USSR invades Poland during World War II. He is tortured but refuses to admit to being a spy and taking part in sabotage plots. When he does not comply, they torture his wife into confessing to his "crimes" of sabotage and spying. This lands him in a Gulag in Siberia. It doesn't take long for him to realize that he must attempt to escape: if he dies trying, then at least he will die a free man. Several people from the camp join him in the escape and the begin their journey South towards Mongolia. They lose and gain people along their journey - and find that they most continue on when they discover that Mongolia has fallen into the hands of Communism. Janusz is compelled to continue on because he wants to get home to his wife - he must get back to her because he knows how difficult it will be for her to forgive herself after she was tortured into confessing to crimes that he had not committed.
Since I had only really seen the posters in French, I had no idea what the movie would even be about - I was pleasantly surprised to find that it covered the topic of Gulags. I was in a Russian history class a while back and I was extremely shocked to learn about the things the Soviet Union did to it's own people. I love Jim Sturgess (it's his 33rd Birthday tomorrow - I can't believe he's 33!) and Colin Farrell - so this movie was great. And people who know me automatically know that I think the two are extremely sexy; however, it was hard to think people with rotting teeth, severe sunburn, dehydration, and all over ickiness as gorgeous. I do have to say that the character that Jim Sturgess played, was just incredibly powerful. He was so inspiring and driven by what he wanted that he led a group of people some 4,000 miles - through Siberia, Mongolia, Tibet and across the Himalayas into India. Ed Harris was brilliant and just amazing. He's still very cowboy and was the only person (not already Eastern European) who didn't have to fake an Eastern European accent. The girl who played Briony, Saoirse Ronan, is a nice addition of femininity to the all male cast. She adds a softness and an all around gentleness to the group. Colin Farrell was good at being a jerk and criminal - it was interesting to have his opinion of communism thrown into the mix. The other guys who are on the journey also do an amazing job. They were all so good in their roles that I didn't mind watching the lengthy movie and the documentary of "The Journey of the Journey" after a long and exhausting day. It was a very moving story about determination, kindness, and forgiveness. I was very beautifully done and the scenery was amazing. I have to say - the ending was a little tacky. The feet walking across Soviet history was appalling. Almost like someone didn't really know how to show that passing of time so they just slapped that together and said - ok, it's done. Still - a great movie worth a watch or two or more :D
Friday, May 13, 2011
Rock and Roll
Yesterday, the blog site was down - so no writing. I probably could have waited a little longer, but drinking my sleepy time tea before attempting to write was probably not the best of ideas. Tonight - Friday the 13th, it is probably better to stay in and watch movies and read about serial killers...rather than meeting them out and about. It is kind of weird the FX has had 27 Dresses and Made of Honor on in a row and it is Friday the 13th. When I was in Scotland, almost every month had a Friday the 13ths and when I was sick in Scotland...I watched the same two movies over and over! Freaky Friday!
To catch up with last night...
Well, my mom and my "future mother-in-law" got together and were tittering with laughter about arranging a bride price. Oi! They are so weird, but I probably shouldn't joke too much about it since who knows - I don't want to jinx myself and be married to a missionary in Siberia!
My health has now gotten me a 4 day weekend. I asked the other day if there was something to do differently while watering to possibly save my poor hand from cramping up into a claw & my boss freaked out and sent me home halfway through the day with orders to be assessed by a doctor and my ability to continue working. So I get to be re-assessed on Monday.
My career is still a mine field of blah.
To jump to the celebrity news - Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey had twins. Monroe and Moroccan - apparently the call them Roc and Roe...to sound like Rock and Roll. It is kind of disgusting. If their names weren't enough to call social services on them, apparently someone else did before they even got out of the hospital. People just like to stir up drama so there is something to report. If I were a tabloid writer - I'd do it almost all the time. It would be perfect for getting some drama to go along with the story of the birth of a celebrity baby.
To catch up with last night...
Well, my mom and my "future mother-in-law" got together and were tittering with laughter about arranging a bride price. Oi! They are so weird, but I probably shouldn't joke too much about it since who knows - I don't want to jinx myself and be married to a missionary in Siberia!
My health has now gotten me a 4 day weekend. I asked the other day if there was something to do differently while watering to possibly save my poor hand from cramping up into a claw & my boss freaked out and sent me home halfway through the day with orders to be assessed by a doctor and my ability to continue working. So I get to be re-assessed on Monday.
My career is still a mine field of blah.
To jump to the celebrity news - Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey had twins. Monroe and Moroccan - apparently the call them Roc and Roe...to sound like Rock and Roll. It is kind of disgusting. If their names weren't enough to call social services on them, apparently someone else did before they even got out of the hospital. People just like to stir up drama so there is something to report. If I were a tabloid writer - I'd do it almost all the time. It would be perfect for getting some drama to go along with the story of the birth of a celebrity baby.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Chocolate Candies
Yummy - I wish that I could just suck all the sour sugariness from all SourPatch Kids. They are so addictingly good. I am such a candy junkie, between my chocolate and other candy addictions - no wonder I have a weight issue. I am actually reading through a book on nutrition and it is extremely interesting. I may have to switch out my chocolat addiction for dark chocolate. You can eat dark chocolate (70% or more) and it will help you lower and help keep blood pressure under control, keep inflammation low, and lowers heart attack and stroke risks. That is great news - and I totally love dark chocolate. It is weird that dark chocolate in America tastes like crap but it's so delicious in Europe that it's all I would want to eat while there.
Some pretty nasty weather came through today. I got sent home early when lightening began to strike. It was a really beautiful storm. It was really nice though to get to come home early- my poor hand is in agony and my thumb has a nickle sized blister. I'm probably going to have to wait a week to be able to hold a pen and write a letter to my friend. Well - I am off to bed
Some pretty nasty weather came through today. I got sent home early when lightening began to strike. It was a really beautiful storm. It was really nice though to get to come home early- my poor hand is in agony and my thumb has a nickle sized blister. I'm probably going to have to wait a week to be able to hold a pen and write a letter to my friend. Well - I am off to bed
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Cycle test
Today my little brother and I did something a little radical for us - we rode out bikes down to the library. The library part isn't the radical...it's the bike portion. It was interesting teaching him how to signal the directions you were taking while at intersections. I don't think he picked up much...mostly because he really doesn't care as long as he doesn't get hit. Simply strapping on a backpack and heading out to run errands is economical and healthy! Plus, it was a way to keep someone who is grounded active and not bored to death...trying to break the rules.
It was a fun thing to do on the first 80 degree day of the year. It certainly helped save gas and that is always important when the price is hanging around $4 a gallon. So if you are sick of gas prices - hop on a bike for your next round of errands. Its really nice when there is a beautiful sunset and some wonderful weather out to enjoy!
It was a fun thing to do on the first 80 degree day of the year. It certainly helped save gas and that is always important when the price is hanging around $4 a gallon. So if you are sick of gas prices - hop on a bike for your next round of errands. Its really nice when there is a beautiful sunset and some wonderful weather out to enjoy!
Monday, May 9, 2011
I'd rather be in Austenland
There has been a recent debate over romance and chivalry between me and a friend. I can tell you that I actually am creeped out by romance. I once had a guy attempt to serenade me and I was just uncomfortable...and I had a creepy French guy try being uber romantic to me and I considered what would happen if I asked the cops we passed to help me. To me, romance is the guy who doesn't treat you like the rest of the world does. I have had to deal with a lot of crap from men in some of the jobs I have had - breast staring, butt smacking, proposals, requests to spank someone with a stir stick, and numerous other creepy things. We don't want a guy who is going to treat us like crap when we get home. We want one that is going to make us feel special and treat us more kindly than the rest of the jerks we have to deal with. To be honest - if I had to deal with the same kind of guy that I had to deal with on a daily basis, I'd much prefer watching Mr. Darcy or Colonel Brandon or ... you name it.
That brings me to the book that I read. I listened to Austenland by Shannon Hale. The story follows a 30 something year old woman, Jane, who is single and looking for a Mr. Darcy. She feels the pathetic-ness of her life sink in as she sinks more and more into the dream of a Darcy. A rich great aunt finds her stash of Austen based movies and decides to help her out of her rut. She leaves Jane a trip to Austenland in her will - hoping it will cure her of her delusions (well that is what Jane assumes this trip is for). Jane goes to Auestenland for a full three weeks of sauntering around in all the glory of Austen's Britain. She discovers that the snoody who typically afford this type of trip are all into the characters that they portray. She has a little trouble letting go and slipping into character - she sees hope for a cure in the arms of a tall drink of water gardener. He attempts to break things off and she begins to through herself more into character as a chance to get over her obsession - treating the whole experience as some sort of therapy. She still has some hard times excepting the surreal nature of the experience - breaking character occasionally, she tries to break through to Mr. Nobly (the Mr. Darcy of Austenland). There are twists and turns and juicy drama that happens. Then - Jane meets the perfect man on the plane home! It is such a good book and so fits for any Austen fan.
That brings me to the book that I read. I listened to Austenland by Shannon Hale. The story follows a 30 something year old woman, Jane, who is single and looking for a Mr. Darcy. She feels the pathetic-ness of her life sink in as she sinks more and more into the dream of a Darcy. A rich great aunt finds her stash of Austen based movies and decides to help her out of her rut. She leaves Jane a trip to Austenland in her will - hoping it will cure her of her delusions (well that is what Jane assumes this trip is for). Jane goes to Auestenland for a full three weeks of sauntering around in all the glory of Austen's Britain. She discovers that the snoody who typically afford this type of trip are all into the characters that they portray. She has a little trouble letting go and slipping into character - she sees hope for a cure in the arms of a tall drink of water gardener. He attempts to break things off and she begins to through herself more into character as a chance to get over her obsession - treating the whole experience as some sort of therapy. She still has some hard times excepting the surreal nature of the experience - breaking character occasionally, she tries to break through to Mr. Nobly (the Mr. Darcy of Austenland). There are twists and turns and juicy drama that happens. Then - Jane meets the perfect man on the plane home! It is such a good book and so fits for any Austen fan.
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