Zen and the Curse of Paula Deen

As the long holiday weekend approaches, the overflow of organic produce continues at our house. I'm going to attempt Pioneer Woman's Peach Cobbler with Maple Cream Sauce sometime this weekend. We have more peaches than any two people can handle, both yellow and white. I think the white peaches are sort of watery and tasteless, but I figure they'll be fine all sugared up in a dessert. Tonight I made Chocolate Zucchini Cake. You would never know there was zucchini in it, but I think it helps make the cake delightfully moist (For recipe click here). And yes, as soon as this holiday weekend is over, my husband and I will both be in need of Weight Watchers. I had good intentions with this veggie project, but instead of eating them in their natural healthy form, I keep morphing them into fattening desserts, made with lots of butter. It's like Paula Deen's evil spirit is perched on my shoulder every time I cook.

In other news, I went to my first yoga class in two years on Wednesday. I am not the most coordinated or flexible woman. My physical therapist once asked if I'd ever been in a serious car accident, because my neck and my back are so whacked out. I think this proves how badly I need yoga, but it also means I am embarrassingly awful at all the moves. While everyone else is bending their ankles behind their ears with serene calm looks on their faces, my hips are cracking, and pretty much every muscle is spasming, resulting in full body shakes that make it impossible for me to hold any pose for more than two seconds. Despite this, I enjoy class. The girls I met were very friendly, I think it is so relaxing, and I am determined to improve my skills. I will be a yoga master in no time. Namaste.

Happy 4th of July everyone! My parents and sister in Minnesota are visiting Canada for the holiday weekend (leave it to my family to do everything backwards). Meanwhile, here in the desert we have planned a quiet weekend of movie watching, good food, and much earned rest. We'll be meeting up with some friends on Monday for fireworks and a potluck dinner. I hope you all have a very safe and fun 4th of July weekend.

In closing, I'd like to share a quote/prayer I was forwarded from my dear friend Katie this week. It was exactly what I needed to read at that particular moment. I hope you appreciate it like I did:
"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

My Love, My Dyson...

As I was preparing for my hosting duties for last week's girls night (which was awesome, by the way), I naturally thought to vacuum the house. Our battle scarred Eureka, which had been ailing even before our move from Ohio, finally uttered its last breath. First it made groaning noises, and then it just shut off. It lived only 2 years, unable to survive the onslaught of pet hair and desert sand. We immediately sought a more worthy replacement. My friend Emily (also a multi-dog owner) recommended a Dyson. As much as it hurt the pocket book, after some shopping around to compare, we bit the bullet. The result? I am smitten.

As Emily had warned us, the Dyson lifted "a whole animal" out of our carpet on the first try. The couch and hard floor attachments work fabulously. I will never buy a cheap vacuum again. It actually makes me look forward to vacuuming (I am looking into this, it may be a psychiatric condition). Pet hair, do your worst!

In other news, we attended our first Dodgers game yesterday. The drive was relatively short, but it felt like we had wandered into another dimension. In a little more than an hour we went from 90 degrees/blistering sun/desert sand/sticks to 70 degrees/partly cloudy/everything green and lush/metropolis. The stadium is quite impressive, and coming from a baseball obsessed family that cannot take a vacation without building in a baseball game, I know a thing or two about this subject. The Dodgers did not play well, but we had fun anyway. I ate my first Dodger dog and indulged in some garlic fries (not exactly an item you'd want to consume on a first date, but after almost three years of marriage, hell yes). I hope we will be able to get to a few more games before the season raps up.

Today has been a lazy day. I ordered myself a compost kitchen bin on Amazon, which I have discovered is practically a necessity in order to compost effectively and not have a stinky kitchen. Our fridge is overflowing with organic produce, so I will be making veggie pasta tonight with salad and honeydew melon for sides. Due to a sudden influx of carrots, I will be attempting Paula Deen's carrot cake recipe tomorrow. I've been trying to watch something upbeat on TV all day, but have not had much luck. After watching two consecutive MSNBC documentaries (on the Jonestown massacre and Casey Anthony trial), I am in need of a Will Farrell movie or a stiff drink, perhaps both.

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day weekend! I miss my Dad a lot, and can't wait for him to visit in the fall. I'm looking forward to a productive week of getting registered for school, and hopefully an outlet mall trip. Updates on my baking escapades and shopping sprees to come!

Confronting the Fear

Yesterday we had an awesome day with our friends at Six Flags Magic Mountain. I'd been trying to remember the last time I had been to an amusement park, I think it was about a decade ago at Valleyfair (Shakopee holla!). I enjoy rides a lot, but with them comes automatic anxiety attacks, that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Well, as soon as we came out of the mountains and Santa Clarita came in view, I knew my psyche was in trouble. I've never seen rides as menacing (and architecturally impressive) as those at Six Flags.

The X2 was our first coaster of the day. I'd like to tell you about it, but my eyes were closed the whole time. My companions said it was probably the best one of the day. I'll take their word for it. The lines were long in between rides, but we enjoyed the people watching. Our favorites included a woman with a collarbone piercing (ow?!), and a man with a red star tattoo over his eye (possibly a Kiss aficionado). My mental nemesis for the day was a coaster called Tatsu. I have had recurring nightmares where I am falling since childhood, and this ride brought those dreams to life. The whole ride you are on your stomach, like your back is attached to the coaster's track. So basically when you drop, it is like you are going headfirst into the ground. Sort of makes you feel all warm and cuddly inside. NOT.

The downside of the day was waiting in line for the Superman ride. You wait in this white cave (Krpyton, I was told) with hundreds of other Californians wreaking strongly of sweat and other bodily odors, while 30 degree air is blown out of giant ceiling fans. After a half hour in captivity with no movement, we took a group vote and bailed out of the cave. A little kid asked me as we walked past, "was it that scary?!?" I had to smile. We finished the day out with one of the old wooden coasters, which was great fun with no line. It seemed like a classic finish to a really great summer day.

Going Green!

Today is such a beautiful day. The temperatures have been so moderate since we arrived a few months ago (sadly it won't stay that way). The sun is shining, there's a pleasant breeze, and my neighbor's rose bushes are in full bloom. We started off the day picking up our first basket from Abundant Harvest Organics. There was so much produce, it was overwhelming! It will be a challenge for me to utilize all this great food and make sure it doesn't go to waste. At lunch my husband and I ate fresh salads, he ate his first ever pluot, and I indulged in some Rainier cherries. I swear, even the lettuce tasted better than store bought. And for those of you who haven't had Rainier cherries, they are the upper class of cherry society...you will not be disappointed.

We also got our compost bin all set up. I hope we get the right mix going, so it breaks down correctly. This is a very new concept to us, but it seems like a good thing. Anything that reduces our trash waste has to be a positive change. The dogs got their vaccinations this morning. I was worried they would act a little under the weather as a result, but they are so energetic today! Tess & Buster were riveted by the composting project. They will be even more excited to find out a play date is scheduled for this afternoon with their best friends Moose and Dixie, while we humans enjoy a barbecue with friends.

Tomorrow we're taking our second crack at hiking in the Angeles Forest. I found out the specifics of what's closed and what's open, and found out about a great visitor's center where they can help us decide on a specific trail. So hopefully in my next entry I'll have some great pictures! Hope you're enjoying beautiful summer weather wherever this day finds you.

Building the Beast

Yesterday my husband and I made a big purchase - a gas grill. Since we've moved to a place where it seldom rains and remains above freezing the vast majority of the year (you should try it, Minnesota), I think we'll get a ton of use out of it. Our charcoal grill makes flavorful meat, but it is a pain to maintain, and I'm not sure I could work it on my own. The gas grill seems a lot more wife-friendly. Putting it together yesterday was a major operation, but my husband did a fabulous job. I took some before and after pictures. We made some delicious brats, and are looking forward to chicken kabobs tomorrow for Memorial Day dinner.

I recently found out about a organization called Abundant Organics. They operate here in CA as a co-op of organic farmers. For around $20, you can get a box full of organic locally grown produce weekly. There are tons of pickup locations, ours is only a few miles from our house. The contents vary by week. We recently signed up and will get our first box next weekend. I think it is going to be great for us, we don't always eat enough fruits and vegetables. This is fresh, healthy produce, and we're going to be trying some things we've never tried before. I'm trying to learn to be a better cook, and expanding my expertise to such items as kale, bok choy, and radishes (foreign words to me), is going to be a fun experience. I can't wait to experiment with some new marinades and grill those veggies up on the Weber.

Speaking of food, there is a show on TLC called Extreme Couponing. It's on right now as I write this entry. I try to be a smart shopper, cut coupons, and plan the best I can. It's been difficult with the move, I have to be more efficient now that it is further to travel to the grocery store. I alternately feel envious and sad for the women on the show who spend most of their days planning grocery trips. Groceries are so expensive, and the fact that these women end up paying nothing for their loads is amazing. However, there is a cost on your personal time too, and I just can't see that it would be worth the savings to put so much of your life into the weekly Walmart ads.

In other news, we attempted to take our first hiking trip into the Angeles National Forest today. Though their website says the trails are now open after an extended closure for restoration following a devastating fire in 2009, sadly the trailhead roads were still blocked to automobiles today. Even though we didn't get to hike today, it was great to explore the area a bit, it is a truly beautiful forest. I've always had a weakness for mountainous landscapes (see 8th grade science project on Mount Everest). Even with the effects of the fire still visible (and smell of smoke lingering in the air), we glimpsed Mother Nature trying to make a comeback, with wildflowers and new trees popping up amidst the charred remains of the blaze. I can't wait to get back out once they open up the trails, and explore some of the other areas in Angeles as well.

Thwarted by DSL & Dominos

I had high aspirations for my evening. I was going to watch the next movie on my list of AFI's most inspiring movies for my other blog (http://mnmword.blogspot.com), but was sidelined by DSL internet. My husband is on the computer gaming, and apparently our internet couldn't handle World of Warcraft + Netflix online streaming. So, Searching For Bobby Fischer will have to wait another day. I was also going to work out on the exercise bike while I watched, but ate a few too many pieces of Domino's pizza for dinner, and am feeling like my tummy needs a siesta at this point.

I had a little bit of an emotional day, so I stared at my beloved DVD collection and tried to discern which film could lift my spirits and help me relax. I selected the classic musical West Side Story. It isn't exactly happy all the way through, but it is one of my favorite all time movies. The music, the dancing...I'm trying to think of what else, but I think those two things are so great, that who cares what else goes on in the movie. The plot is well done too, an interesting take on Romeo and Juliet. But really, it's the music and the dancing. And the men! They dance amazingly well, in a time when it was actually cool and masculine for a man to dance well.

When I was little I always empathized with Anybodys (yes, that is a character name), a tomboy who chases the Jets gang around throughout the film, and wants to become one of them. I was busy chasing around my older brother and the neighbor boys at the time, wanting to be included, so I suppose it was a natural correlation for me to make. If I were to act in the play I still think I'd want to play Anybodys, I think I lack the melodrama it would take to play the female lead, Maria (Natalie Wood). Anyway, if you've never seen West Side Story, you should check it out...it's one of those movies that anybodys have to see at least once (did you catch that? haha, what a witty pun).

Since we've made our move to California, my health has been a little variable. I get migraine headaches, and they've been hitting me hard since we got here. That, and my stress/anxiety level have been higher than normal, natural enough with a major life change. I am starting to realize that I need to take it easier on myself and my body, and acknowledge that not everything is in my control. It's something I'm still working at, us Type A personalities don't relax without a fight.

But, I'm taking a step towards zen tonight with a classic musical, a cuddly Labrador retriever, and a comfy couch.

Arrival in the Desert

I'm about a month and a half into my desert adventure in the great state of California. It has been a crazy, terrifying, and fun few weeks. I survived driving my beloved Escape and two giant dogs from Dayton, Ohio to southeastern California by myself. For someone who does not like to drive, even to the mall, this was a major feat for my nerves. My husband and I spent 10 days in a temporary house on the base, where we had our first encounter with a bobcat. I had no idea what a bobcat looked like, but they resemble obese house cats with over-sized limbs. Where we are now living, bobcats are less of a threat, but there are black widow spiders, a few other thousand varieties of spiders, snakes (haven't seen one yet, but I look suspiciously at every bush I pass), and ants to keep us feeling warm and cuddly at night.

Our house is beautiful. The owners, also an military couple, have obviously taken great care of the place. Our large backyard is entirely dirt, which is both a blessing and a curse. The plus side is that our dogs can't do any major damage to landscaping, because there is none. Tess, our golden and resident archaelogist, can dig up as many ancient tennis balls and tin cans as her canine heart desires.

The curse is that when those notorious Mojave winds kick up, the dust blows. Everywhere. I feel like I sweep the patio daily, and I don't even want to think about the dirt accumulating in the windows. I learned what a swamp cooler is, and helped my husband install it, by that I mean, I dropped my end of it and almost busted it in half before he could hook it up. Thankfully it is working, and survived the unfortunate incident yesterday where I overflowed the tank.

Our town is small and there are many signs of economic suffering here. The job market here is non-existent, and housing foreclosures are numerous. Despite that, there is something strangely comforting about this little hamlet. The landscape while stark is so beautiful, and I am certainly going to enjoy the warm dry weather. There is a McDonald's, Taco Bell, Subway, and Domino's, so we have the heart attack portion of our nutritional intakes covered. It's 20 minutes to the Walmart/movie theater, and about 40 minutes to the mall. This has been a challenge for me when it comes to planning meals, I'm used to having a Meijer within two miles that I can run out to whenever I forget something. I'm a city girl, so the isolating nature of a rural town is a challenge, but one I'm ready for.

The amount of friends we've made so far has easily outweighed the loneliness. Everyone has been so welcoming, and there have been no shortage of social events. People drive over an hour sometimes in order to gather with other Air Force couples. The bond here at the squadron level is something we did not experience in Ohio, and it is a welcome change. There are several other wives in my age group, and it is nice to be able to do some girly things, and escape the hoorah-ing military men now and then :)

We're looking forward to a long Memorial day weekend coming up. I just found out there is a Six Flags about an hour away, and am now determined to make that happen soon. There's also possible hiking, minor league baseball, and a showing of The Hangover 2 on the agenda.

Well, that's about it for now - it was a lengthy intro, I apologize. Anyway, I hope you will join me on this blog for all the new and riveting happenings in the "High Desert."

Happy early Memorial Day - thank you to all who have served.