Last year, there was some crazy talk about a “War on Easter.” As an atheist agnostic apathetic agnostic in need of a couple of Easter cards, I can’t say I would have minded a skirmish as I scanned the selection of cards at the grocery store. I just wanted something cute and upbeat and not too “Christ…
For one week out of every year, the two cherry trees in front of my house make me the happiest person on Earth. That week is now. Also, the instructor of my photography class earlier this year said cameras automatically focus on what is closest. My camera missed that memo. Could someone please explain why…
You know what? I really don’t have time to blog. This is annoying, because I enjoy blogging so much more than many other activities (for example, work). I’ve been obsessed with the ice cream thing. I made five versions of vanilla ice cream last weekend in the continuing quest for my perfect ice cream mix….
On the surface, it may seem counter-intuitive for a perfectionist’s office to look like a cyclone hit it. But those of you who have the perfectionism affliction, or love someone who does, see the truth. Am I comfortable with this picture? No. Do I enjoy working in this environment? No. While a normal person might…
From Ice Cream Sixth Edition by Robert T. Marshall, H. Douglas Goff, and Richard W. Hartel: “Ice cream is a complex food colloid embodied in a product the consumer associates with pure enjoyment. It is paradoxical that what can seem so simple is indeed so complex.” And that about sums up Ice Cream 101, y’all. In…
Every day for the past few weeks, I have walked by this advertisement. Part of a set of ads with “humor” customized for DC, they miss the mark for me in that they resonate just enough to remind me how annoying DC can be (it’s an election year, so I’m extra cranky) but not so…
How about this weather? Spring flowers are popping out all over our neighborhood. Our neighbor’s quince started blooming in January. I’m taking a five-week photography class and I decided to use the quince blooms for last week’s homework assignment on “equivalent exposures” (basically taking the same shot, but messing with the depth of field). So…
Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post and shared tips. Ice Cream 101 at Penn State was great, but overwhelming. The “it’s 5am and I’m still awake and my alarm is set for 6:05” insomnia Friday night into Saturday morning didn’t help. I haven’t had a chance to catch up on sleep so…
The Event: Iron Chef Potluck (ingredient: “spirits”) The Recipe: Guinness Cupcakes with Irish Whiskey Ganache Filling and Baileys Buttercream The Verdict: while I announced the following on Twitter pre-baking… “Baking cupcakes filled w/whiskey ganache & topped w/Baileys buttercream. In other words, cupcakes I’m 98% sure I won’t eat. #5YearOldPalate” …I ended up eating…uh, several. Cake:…
Getting sick over New Year’s is apparently now a tradition. I’ve had a cold (and colds make me act like a man…poor little bunny!) since Tuesday. So I’ve been drinking orange juice and catching up on “How I Met Your Mother” on streaming video even more quickly than my retired mother (not that it’s a…