mittenmusings

Return of Guest Blogger, G

I know that humans think that when you spell things, we critters can't understand.

Oh, how wrong you are.

My Lisa has been happily, no...giddily been telling me since Saturday that I am going for a B....A.....T.....H and C....L.....I.....P on Tuesday. She says I am a Nasty boy, because I have dried tuna crusting up my ears. Picky human. Now, I cannot spell, but I know that spelling usually means a very good thing, like W...A...L....K...I....E or a very bad thing, like V....E....T.

I know I am going to ride in the Car. I am so excited! My Lisa knows to leave the windows rolled down just enough, so I can stick my head out. Oh the smells! Oh the wind! Oh the tasty bugs in my teeth! Mmmm. She even knows to take an extra spin around My Neighborhood, nice and slowly, so I can greet my adoring public.

OK, I have to go now. It is Tuna and Tater Time! Bye Internet People!

Love and Tuner Kisses,
Gus

Date night!

Last night, my husband and I went out to a movie. Since the last movie we went to see was my husband's choice, I got to pick this time.

We went to see Hero, and it was magnificent. Here is an excellent review of the movie. Yes, I know it's been available on DVD for awhile, but it is the sort of movie that needs to be seen on the big screen. The colors and patterns of the cinematography are mesmerizing. The plot and themes are thought provoking. Lotsa swordfighting. It's all really, really good.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is a word that your family uses that would not be considered common?

Hmmmm. We have a made-up word that encompasses all "ailments" that seem to have no cause: pseudo-butt-a-losis. We're geeks! Geeks, I say!

Soup
What theme of calendar do you have on your wall this year?

In the home office, we have a "Scenes of Kansas" calendar, since my husband is from Kansas. In the kitchen, we have one of those picture of the month calendars made by my stepdaughter MB and her sweetie. Twelve months of the girls- we thought it was a great gift.

Salad
Name 3 people you speak with on a daily basis.

Husband, Mom (well, every other day), neighbor H. Oh, and Gus...even though he's not a people.

Main Course
If you could put a new tattoo on someone you know - who would it be, what would the tattoo be of, and where would you put it on them?

ME!!! I would finally get the tattoo that I have been designing but am too chickenshit to actually go get. It's tough to describe the design, but it has a lizard as part of it. I would put it on my lower back, because, well... I think lower back tattoos are rather sexy.

Dessert
What is the last beverage you drank out of a glass bottle?

Mmmm. Beeer. Pete's Rally Cap Ale.

Redecorating

I have replaced my Sideblog module with an Aortal Pick of the Week. Go on, it's right over there...don't be shy! I plan to highlight a site each week that is an unmarked rest stop on the information superhighway.

Well, pahtooey- and an ole'!!

I have frittered away the day, and now have no time for picture taking. Ah well, I think the great state of Michigan will still be there in all its glory at a later date.

Good news, however: sweet potato burritos are on this evening's menu. Of course, we are spicing them up with some fiery jalapenos from the garden. I also ease up on the kidney beans, only using one 14 oz can. If I have some on hand, I'll also throw in some chopped and sauteed red bell pepper for color and crunch. This recipe is easily multiplied or reduced, and the burritos freeze like a dream. This meal is in heavy rotation at our casa.

In honor of the lovely weese, and this post in particular, we will be having "Lisa's World Famous Blue Margaritas" with this meal. Recipe is as follows:

1 oz Blue Curacao (Orange Liqueur)
1 oz Rose's Lime
1.5 oz Tequila
Combine above ingredients. Shake well with ice. Serve over ice cubes, or shaved ice, as preferred. Garnish with lime or orange slice, as desired.

Aaaah...and the most important bit: enjoy with someone whose company you cherish.

On the agenda

Today is another gorgeous day here in the Mitten. After all the requisite errands today (tuna and tater run, groceries, Target), I think I will go out and take some pictures of the lay of the land out here. Michigan is pretty! Really!

Weather, good; breathing, better

A recurring theme of this blog is bitching about Michigan weather. However, I have recently come to the conclusion that when the weather here is bad, it's really, really bad. However, when it is good, it is fabulous!!!

Case in point: we went on a loooooong bike ride yesterday, about 30 miles. The weather was darned near perfect: 73 degrees, warm sun, clear sky, gentle breeze, and just about zero humidity. It makes riding so much easier when the conditions are so lovely.

I am finally getting a handle on my exercise induced asthma, as well. I am very fortunate that my primary care physician has been supportive of my not wanting to use meds to help with my asthma. I have eschewed the idea of an inhaler, trying instead to modify my exercise routine. When I feel an attack coming on, usually when I am working a little too hard (according to the ol' heart monitor), I take things back a notch or two, till the feeling subsides and my breathing relaxes. I guess I'm never gonna be a sprinter! Ah well. I also am going to be swimming over the winter, so I am hoping this technique will serve me well in the pool.

Guilty pleasures...

Scissor Sisters

Think Elton John (skinny Elton, not plump Elton) quadrupled. Fun, fun, fun.
C'mon, I can't listen to dour and bleak stuff all the time!!!

Link to nonchattery Bjork performance

I was just surfing around and found this entry on ultrasparky.

I too was annoyed by all the inane chatter over Bjork's performance at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. This blog entry has a link not only to a nonchattery copy of the performance, but to a sneak peek/ listen to Bjork's new album.

The Ohio State Fair

As photoblogged by Bryan Adams's mom (and resident guest blogger) Patty.
Click here for some fabulous fair fun!!!

New Chat Doodad

Over there on the right, I have added a Chatango button. I just saw this in action on Anne's site, fishbucket, and thought I'd give it a whirl.

Feel free to say hello, or leave a message if I am not online. Just don't be an asshat. That's all I ask.

Now playing in the CD player: (EDIT 8/18: now with Amazon linkylove)
"Whisper Not," by Keith Jarrett
"Give Up," by the Postal Service
"Charango," by Morcheeba

And I only cut myself once

As I've mentioned before, my husband has become a vegetarian. Tonight for dinner, I made a recipe from the Vegetarian Times Cookbook that is very similar to this Rasta Pasta recipe.

Of course, I made a few substitutions:

*Used lite canned coconut milk, instead of the full fat version (saved 70 cal a serving, and tastes the same)

*My recipe called for 2Tbs of butter in the sauce, and ANOTHER 2Tbs of butter to saute the veggies. Goodness! I left the butter in the sauce to fortify it, but cheated and "sauteed" the veggies in leftover vegetable broth.

*Instead of angel hair, which I think is a royal pain in the ass to work with, I used whole wheat linguine. Same cals as semolina, but loads more fiber. Fiber good.

All in all, I'd rate dinner a success: maybe an 8 on a scale of 1-10.

Now playing: WEMU, local NPR station; currently the Cuban Fantasy Show with Marc Taras...Ay yi yi!!!

As long as Mom didn't do a keg stand...

My cute little mom (and yes, she is both cute and little at 4'11'') and my very entertaining stepdad live in Orlando Florida. Yes, that Orlando, Florida...the one that Hurricane Charley rode roughshod over.

They live in a mobile home (aka a trailer), so I was pretty worried about them. I was paying close attention to the news via the internet, and knew that the city of Orlando issued an evacuation order to all people in mobile homes. My mom and stepdad are very sensible former New Englanders, so I knew that they wouldn't do something stupid like stay in their home. I knew they would get the hell outta there as soon as humanly possible, which is exactly what they did.

I finally spoke to my little mom yesterday. They stayed a friend's place, where there was, and I quote: "a nice cold keg in the kitchen and plenty of wine." I guess they weathered the storm in a rather pickled state. Those crazy kids!

Power came back on Saturday. Frankly, I was surprised that it was back that soon. They had phone service on Sunday. Their home, since it is very new, fared very well. They will have to replace a few screens and gutters. The yard is a total mess, and one tree got uprooted. Other than that, everything is fine with them. Their neighbors all around them, however, were not so lucky. There are lots of folks in their park that can't go back to their homes because there is so much damage! I cannot even imagine such devistation, and they didn't even get the worst of the storm.

Tales from the Hunt

At the end of last week, I had three, yes three job interviews:

1. HR Generalist at a great firm in downtown Detroit, the best of the three opportunities
2. HR techie position, with an emphasis on technical writing
3. HR Generalist in a medical setting

Thank goodness I have a couple of new suits!

Of the three, the first one is the one that I am really, really hoping I get at least a second interview with. The co. is progressive and creative. Their HR department is greatly respected, and not just pushed aside to plan the company picnic. I was extremely impressed with the woman with whom I interviewed. She was the type of person I want to be in a few years: on the right track with her career, truly enjoying her job, and deeply involved in the HR profession.

Second job isn't really the sort of gig I am looking for. It's less hands-on with people than I would like. However, the company is small, progressive, and growing. I feel like I did really well in the interview, so...who knows?

Third job...oh my goodness! Where do I start? No chance for advancement, hours of eye-glazing data entry, "employee relations" aka babying highly compensated MD's.... Gee, thanks, but no thanks.

One impressive trend, however, was the use of behavioral interviewing techniques by all of the interviewers. If past performance is even remotely an indicator of future performance, asking for specific examples from one's past is the way to go. I have been on both side of the desk for the behavioral interviewing process, so I am confident in my skills. I tried to be detailed yet succinct; professional yet accessible.

Let's keep the ol' fingers and Gus Paws crossed!

Now playing: Radio Paradise, Streaming Audio

SuperGeek, SuperGeek! She's supergeeky....rowl...**

Even though I really don't get a lot of comment spam, I've been getting a smidge more lately. I just installed the fabulous MT Blacklist, with the requisite newest spam blacklist.

I feel darned proud that I got it to work in, oh....10 minutes. Thanks, Jay for a great tool!

**Many, many apologies to the late, great Rick James, who is now rolling in his funky fresh grave.

Two job interviews!

...are scheduled for tomorrow.

One is for a Benefits Specialist position, much like I had been doing earlier this year. The other is for a more techie-like position that has HR elements in it, with an software company. One is in Detroit, the other in a rather tony 'burb.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. Gus Dog needs me to bring home the bacon, er, tuna!

Blog, now with more caffeine!

I am currently at my local Panera Bread, enjoying their free Wi-Fi access.

Oh. It's. Good.

I am really a regular coffee kinda gal: no whipped cream, syrup, cocoa, cinnamon, double double half caff soy whip nonsense for me. I guess that I am a purist like that; a dark roasted (not burnt, as they do at everyone's Favorite Coffee Monopolist) brew with a smidge of cream/ half n half/ soy creamer is just fine with me. For goodness' sakes, though, keep the vile white powder away! Bleah! If you can make a good cuppa coffee without all the bells and whistles, I am a happy customer.

So I am sippin' and bloggin' and people watchin' up a storm. My current favorite subject is a little boy, probably about two years old. He is wearing some kicky new bright red sneakers. He keeps taking a bite of banana, then sliding out of the booth to watch people bus their trays into the trash. Then, he comes back for a little more banana and milk. He is just adorable.

Kiddies like him almost make me want one. Almost.

Now playing: Radio Paradise, Streaming Audio

Mittenhome Projects 101

It seems like just yesterday we were embarking on The Great Hardwood Floor Project. We are not hardcore DIY'ers like the lovely weese and her missus. Oh no....we get the help of bonded and insured professionals to do the bigger projects. Painting is fairly easy. I have an eye and a knack for yardwork and landscaping. Stuff where we need really expensive, specialized tools? Um, no....that's where I draw the line.

We learned our lesson during the Great Fence Project of 2002. Scars, people.

My husband and I have difficulty coming to a mutually agreeable consensus on what is acceptable decor. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that we are stubborn individuals with differing tastes! Certainly not! I will concede that I am fairly picky. But hubby can be downright persnickety sometimes. Ye Olde Gigantic Warehouses in town have been the scenes of lots of exchanges such as these:

Lisa: So, you think XYZ is a good idea?
Hubster: Oh yes, don't you?
Lisa: Well...(voice trailing off, accompanied by much frowning)
Hubster: So, Lis, what's your idea? (said with arms folded and an inquisitive eyebrow curl)
Lisa: I think ABC might be better (strolling over to a display and putting on my best Vanna moves).
Hubster: (shaking head) You know, that's pretty much the opposite of what I was thinking..
Lisa: (walking over and giving hubby a big hug and sloppy kiss) Well sure, dear...but you'll come to see it my way eventually...
Hubster: (gently pulling Lisa outta the store) I can see this decision will take awhile....let's go home and take a "nap."
Lisa: (giggling)

It really doesn't matter what home improvement dealie is on the table. There are many trips to the store, lotsa sketching, measuring, and budgeting. And, let's not forget the discussing....oh...the discussing!

In the end, this is what works for us. It is our little dance that we do to come to a mutually satisfying conclusion. In the end, we are both usually pretty happy with what is being done to our home. The latest project is The Great Tile Project, taking place in our kitchen. Measuring Guy came yesterday, so it's almost a go! As some point in the near future, we'll be getting terra cotta tile installed in the kitchen. It has a little bit of texture to it; it's moderately bumpy, I guess. I wasn't really sold on the whole tile idea, but I have come around, pretty much. I am just hoping the floor won't be too cold during our interminable Michigan winters.

Gus the Wonderdog is lobbying for heated tile, where they run warming coils under the tiling. Hmmm....I doubt it's too late to call the project expediter....

(cackling and rubbing my hands in glee)

Now playing: Linus & Lucy: The Music Of Vince Guaraldi, by George Winston

Guest blogger, G.

Hi everyone!

My Lisa has told me that there are people out in the Internet who are interested in how I am doing. Let me tell ya, I have not been feeling very well. I threw up a lot on my people's carpets. They did not yell at me, but I felt bad, and hid under the bed. My people took me to some special doctors, and they poked me and prodded me in some baaaaaaad places. But I showed them! I made a fountain come out of my dog butt! Yes I did! It got all over the doctor's white coat and everything.

See, I may look cute, but...anyway...

So NOW, I am feeling so much better. My Lisa has been feeding me yummy cat food. She calls it "tuner," because she is from some Massa Chewsitts place. She made me potatoes, too, which I am eating, but I like the cat food better. My Lisa says that I have bad Tuner Breath, and Tuner Farts, whatever those things are.

My Alpha Male is away on a trip tonight, so I am glad I am feeling more like myself. My Lisa needs the company and protection. For my brave duty, I am going to get to sleep on The Bed tonight. I am so excited!

Well, it is time for me to take my pills, so I guess I better go.

Much lovies and Tuner kisses,

------Gus the Wonderdog

Posted a few more SF pics

...over at Flickr, including this one:

Linky Love

Is it wrong that I find this webpage absolutely hilarious? Funny, when I forwarded it to my occasionally-better-half, he was not amused. Damned Kansans can't take a ribbing.
******
My favorite local brewpub's August Beer Tasting is featuring Pale Ales. I can think of no better brew to say "Farewell summer" with. When I am trying a new brewery for the first time, I always gravitate toward the humble pale ale. It is a really easy beer to make, so I know if it if darned awful, other beers by that brewery will just be a waste of my delicate palate.
******
What did I cook for dinner last night? I'm sure you're dying to know...
Carrot and Tofu Scramble, Brown rice, Seasonal fruit salad (aka the fruit we have in the fridge). Since my husband has become a vegetarian, I have found this cookbook extremely helpful. I have been having a good time cooking my way through it. We usually pick out 2-3 new recipes a week. Mostly, they have all been winners.
******
Will someone out in the blogosphere please go help out the lovely Jo of Counting Sheep. She's got a heapin' helpin' of questions. And I am cluefree about, oh, all of them.

Now playing: "Soft Spot," by Clem Snide

Wherein I stop obsessing about the Dog...

I guess I have been a bit Gus-focussed as of late. There have, however, been other things going on in my life! Really!

Friday night, we went to see Prince in Detroit. It was the best show I have seen in a long time...easily in my top five. He is truly a musical genius. I was on my feet dancing for the entire 2 hour, 15 minute set. I was hot. I was sweaty. I got an ass cramp. It is official: I am middle-aged.

I was also probably the only person in the entire place with Birkenstocks on. I didn't get the memo. Apparently you were supposed to be totally pimped out for the Prince concert, not wearing capri pants, Birks, and a purple shirt (it's Prince! I had to wear purple!).

OK, I never promised to be a fashionista.

Saturday my husband and I lazed around. I just spent five minutes thinking about what I did on Saturday, and couldn't remember a thing. Oh, I did kick my husband's ass at Othello in the evening. Finally, all those nights getting stoned and playing board games in college are FINALLY paying off.

On Sunday morning, we went on a nice long bike ride. Since I had been traipsing all around Michigan with the dog for most of the week, I hadn't had time for much riding. It was a nearly perfect morning to ride. The air was dry, the sun was warm, and the wind was still. It was just beautiful, and really lifted my spirits. Then we did the usual grocery shopping/ Target extravaganza.

Plus, I went on three job interviews last week. Whew! All three went OK, some more OK than others. I haven't been called back for seconds for any of them yet, but none of them seemed to be in any hurry to make any decisions. (sigh) Patience is not my strength.

Now playing: NewPowerRadio

Poochie update

Well, after a few days of responding to his new diet and meds, Gus has resumed not being able to keep anything down.
Looks like there will be a few frantic phone calls to, and a visit to here in our near future.
Sigh.
UPDATE: Someone is gonna go get a steroid in his furry butt. No food, either, till tomorrow. Poor poochie. :(

Now playing: SomaFM, Station: Groove Salad