2. Those who have been reading for any period of time know how long it’s been since I worked a regular day schedule. I’d just gotten used to getting up at 4 when I agreed to this. BAD idea.

3. I’ve been bringing a lot of pb&j because it’s easy. When I looked at the grape jam today I couldn’t bear it. I brought pb&Nutella instead.

4. I’m posting this from MY PHONE.

5. Hilarious work convos tonight included “man fingers” (on a girl) and lipstick mishaps, Joker-style. Awesome.

The recipe email I got today was for Chicken Souvlaki. I don’t plan my meals a week at a time. It’s not that I’m a picky eater but sometimes you get a taste for something and then whatever you’d already planned doesn’t sound very good. Et cetera. What I do is stock staples regularly: chicken, ground beef, onions, potatoes, cilantro, parsley, lemons. I use coupons and sale papers, and keep an eye out for deals on additional things (crescent rolls in a can, boxed couscous, rice, yadda yadda). What that means is when I get an email like the Chicken Souvlaki one today, I can make a quick (and inexpensive) trip to the grocery to grab what I maybe don’t have on hand and then get cooking.

I first had souvlaki in Greece, on spring break during my semester in Italy. Martha Boomer and I sat in a tiny restaurant in the sun, only a couple of other people in the place, and I ate the most amazing Greek salad and souvlaki EVER. I’ve tried recreating it a dozen times but there must be something in the way they cooked the pork or how long they marinated it or something. While I’ve come CLOSE I’ve never managed to duplicate it.

This recipe was phenomenal. It used mostly things I had on hand – the only thing I was missing was dill so I didn’t bother running to the store. I substituted a pinch of dried cilantro and 1/4 teaspoon of lemon juice. I also used Greek yogurt rather than just plain yogurt. Not perfect tzadziki sauce but pretty darn good. Because we live at high altitude, our cooking time is a little different. I browned the chicken well on both sides, pulled it out of the pan and cut it into much smaller pieces, and then returned it to the pan with the lid on. It turned out perfectly. I also didn’t put olives in the tomato salad as neither Husband nor I are huge olive fans.

The chicken had GREAT flavor and my half-assed tzadziki is a keeper. Because there’s just two of us, we have extra tomato salad and tzadziki so I’ll make more chicken on Friday so Husband can eat the leftovers for dinner.

Speaking of Italy, I spent some time this afternoon framing photos of the area where I spent that semester overseas. I also had some great pics of Rome and Venice that I’m in the process of printing for the dining room.

Tomorrow is another day off so I’m going to pack up some cookies and (hopefully) finish with the pictures. My hard drive cover arrived today, too, so that means Dead Toshiba Surgery!

I say this as I am currently reclined on my sofa, dogosai on my feets, and no power cord in sight! It’s delightful! Liberating, even!

One of the great advancements that’s happened since my last computer purchase is an improvement in the touchpad to eliminate right and left clicks with an actual button. I can do both by tapping the touchpad and it’s GREAT. Don’t get me wrong- it’s definitely taking some getting used to but the new laptop is so far and away better than the old one that it makes me feel like I’ve been driving a Ford Model T for three years and just got a Jag.

The internets are all atwitter about Tiger Woods but it turns out I just don’t care. I’m more worried about when Chuck is going to return to Monday night TV.

Tonight I worked my first training shift and it was pretty great. I’m definitely going to enjoy work this holiday season.

In other internet news: troop levels in the Middle East. Here’s the thing. Back when Hils and Barack were just campaigning for the office of President and we were already embroiled in all this shit, I knew it was a bad idea to start promising troop withdrawal. You know why? Because ANYONE could see that there wasn’t a CHANCE we would be getting out SOON. And by ‘anyone’ I mean ‘people who don’t have access to national security information.’ Why did I say that? 1. Korea 2. Germany 3. Afghanistan

You can’t go into a country, dismantle its government, disrupt its infrastructure (such as it is) and then BAIL OUT. That’s not how it works. That’s pretty much NEVER been how it works. Ergo, there was no chance we’d be getting out early. My major bitch with this, by the way, was that in order to GET a job all the candidates LIED about this fact. They all knew there was no chance of it happening – hell, they all started backpedaling on it DURING the campaign. All I want is for people to be HONEST about it. Be STRAIGHT with people about the realities of the world. Maybe then the country would put on its Big Kid Pants and get a grip.

Oh. P.S. Dick Cheney, you can go straight to hell for saying you had nothing to do with the epic clusterfuck that you ACTUALLY STARTED in Afghanistan as a result of all this Iraq nonsense. Asshole. Hell might actually be too good for you.

And since I went on a political rant, here’s a moment of zen:

Also: Monday Night Football! You can see the WHOLE GAME before you have to go to sleep!

In other political news, I’m not sure what the big stink about Obama bowing to the Emperor of Japan is about. 1. It’s not about subservience, it’s about respect. 2. As an elderly man, he’d be entitled to that respect REGARDLESS of his title. In addition: Nixon bowed to MAO for FUCK’S SAKE and Bush bowed to Hirohito’s coffin. I’m not really sure how showing respect to someone who HASN’T actively tried to destroy the US compares at all negatively. Not only that, we’re still standing. WTF.

Also from GReader:

Raising the age limit on mammograms? As I’ve got a 30% chance of getting it, that decision gets no love from me. In addition, my mom’s life was probably saved by a mammogram in her40s. Lucky for me, I’m sure this decision means my insurance company won’t cover mammograms until I’m 50 – despite the fact that I’ve had one every year since I turned 28. Thanks, male doctors!

Lady Gaga and Beyonce? The world might end.

Today is Cranberry Sauce Adventure day! I’m also cutting out coupons since I’ve got to drive down the mountain tomorrow. I’m amassing a decently sized donation box for the local church, which makes me happy.

Gee.

Thanks?

It’s still a little premature though- I’m not even 40 yet! I wonder whose email spam list I got on?

Dexter was great last night! The Trinity twists just keep coming. Also, WTF with his wife!? That cannot end well.

Californication. OMG. Rick Springfield. I can’t even COUNT the number of times I laughed out loud watching this episode. Not only that, I laughed JUST as hard tonight when Husband watched the recording. That’s a damn funny show. Not sure what the point is supposed to be but it’s damn funny.

Monday:

Castle continues to be an excellent blend of funny, mystery, crime procedural. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is key, and I frequently laugh out loud at some point during the show. Good clean fun. Two words tonight: DeNiro impression.

House was a little convoluted tonight, what with him jerry-rigging his staff. Cameron was always kind of preachy and they decided to re-emphasize that. Yay for appearances of the former team!

Lie to Me- I’ve been watching this hit and miss. Tonight’s ep was good but I don’t feel compelled to record it. It joins Cold Case in my ‘by the wayside’ list.

Tuesday:

NCIS is consistent! I’m always surprised to find out it’s the “number one show” on TV because it seems like I don’t know anyone who watches it. It’s been good and (of late) heavier on the procedural/lighter on the relationships. The Tim-centric ep last week was great. Unfortunately they’re planning an Abby crossover with a Steampunk bar in L.A. the week of Thanksgiving, so I guess I’ll have to watch at least one more NCIS:LA episode.

Sons of Anarchy! Last week, like WHOA. I actually got all teared up at the end of the episode and they SO win the TV prize for best use of a Patty Griffin song (Mary, if you care). That show is my biggest surprise this season, in terms of just HOW GOOD it is.

V. Jury’s still out.

Wednesday:

Mercy, Glee, Criminal Minds. All excellent, all the time. CM was especially creepy last week. *shudder*

Thursday:

Dear Networks,

Could you please not schedule EVERY GOOD SHOW on Thursday? What about Mondays! Or Tuesdays? ANYTHING?

Grey’s Anatomy, having been on my Bubble List since the premiere, took a turn for the good last week. If Izzy got hit by a bus, I wouldn’t be upset. Other than that, it was all good IntenseChristinaDoctorStuff. Moar, pleeze and IT’S ABOUT TIME.

Supernatural. I’m not even sure what TV show could make fun of their fan base this much and get MORE love because of it. So. Funny. The guys imitating Sam and Dean voice was HYSTERICAL. I’m not sure how they kept doing it with a straight face.  It was a nice break-it-up on the intensity front, but also a really nice check-yourself moment for the boys at the end. P.S. I loved the outtakes w/end credits. Go Kripke!

The Mentalist was FANTASTIC. Love the way they finally brought the group together and HOW CUTE IS GRACE. I also love the creepy/demanding side of the normally joking and (carefully) carefree Jane. That duality is what keeps me watching.

FlashForward is interesting but I’m not sure if I miss an episode that I care. For example, missed an ep 2 weeks ago, watched last week, no marked difference in my interest level.

Bones. Okay, it’s NEVER going to happen but I want Booth/Brennan NOW. Booth was so awesome and I loved the return of his old shrink! This is one of those shows that does a great job of making the story equal parts crime procedural and relationships.

Friday:

White Collar has become my new fave crime procedural (behind Castle but tied with The Mentalist). It has the added bonus of holding Husband’s interest, unlike the two aforementioned shows. Great cast chemistry, fun ‘caper’ feel to every episode.

Medium had a seriously weird episode last week and, per usual, the actors who play the kids were incredible. The fact that everyone in the cast is so fantastic is why I keep watching this show.  Incidentally, the guy who plays Joe is SO UNDERRATED. His performances are consistently believable and understated and pretty much prop up the rest of the show. Love him.

Right. So looking at this list, I spend almost as much time watching TV during the week as I do working my bar shifts. Clearly I need to start teaching yoga classes again STAT.

Tomorrow’s agenda also includes making my very first homemade cranberry sauce, which I’m pretty excited about.

Throw the stick!

No. Really. Throw the stick.

We were in Rifle today and instead of reading a book, Piper thought we should play fetch in the pond at the rest stop. She still smells a little fishy.

Watched the first episode of V tonight and I’m not sure what I think. I like the premise but after rewatching the original on SyFy this weekend, I was left a little meh. It was startling to notice that in the first series, all of the biggest/most complex roles were played by women: leader of the aliens, boss of the boss of the alien leader, leader of the resistance, media spokesmouthpiece, biggest collaborator, the young person to get involved with an alien. Clearly they’re changing things up in the new series, I’m just not convinced it’s for the better.