Summer is in the air...

Summertime is coming soon... Cubs tickets went on sale yesterday and I managed to get tickets to four games. There is nothing better than warm weather, baseball and beer- well, warm weather and beer anyway... the baseball is just an added bonus. Well, here is to summertime! Cheers!

A new temptation

Something dangerous has installed itself on my path to work... a Duncan Donuts... It is so bad. I stop every other day to get a cup of their crack coffee and a double chocolate donut. I have never been a fan of Duncan Donuts until it planted a new location halfway between my apartment and my office. Seriously, there is crack in their coffee, that is the only way I can explain my new addiction. Last night I even dreamed about it... A sign of a serious problem.

Fun Names

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet and current street name)
Snoopy Plymouth

2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on mother's side first name, favorite candy)
Enid Milkyway

3. YOUR "FLY GIRL/GUY" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
P-Car

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite animal, name of high school)
Cat Cecilia

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Aynsley Knoxville

6. YOUR OPPOSITE SEX NAME: (name of dad/mom, cell phone Company you use)
Jim Mobile

7. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name)
Carklemag

8. PORN STAR NAME: (middle name, street you grew up on)
Aynsley Huntcliff

Talib Kweli

I recently heard the music of Talib Kweli and it is freakin' awesome... you should check it out...

Talib Kweli


you should visit this website and listen (watch the video) of "get by"... Does the singer at the beginning sound familiar? Well it is Nina Simone (who is also an all-time fav)... so enjoy...

Let's talk about freedom and then couscous

Since when is it to pour out your old coffee in a planter on the publc sidewalk? I did just that and some ass said, "you couldn't have poured it anywhere else, like not on a plant." I simply relied, "well, maybe it needed a pick-me-up"... I am seriuosly going to lose it soon... everyone I encounter is in a bad mood.

In the meantime, you must try this recipe... (Yep, I am totally stress eating today, oh and I picked up some beer. I know it is only 3:25, but I have had a bad week).... Okay, now here's a great recipe...


Couscous with Corn and Black Beans

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley (I prefer ciltanro)
1 can (15-ounce) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 package (10-ounce) frozen corn, thawed and drained
3 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt (I use a little more)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan, and stir in couscous. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork

Combine couscous, parsley, beans, and corn in a large bowl; toss. Combine orange juice and the next 6 ingredients (orange juice, through pepper); stir. Add to couscous mixture; toss well.

It tastes best when it has time to chill for about an hour.

How I spent my Valentine's Day...

Work 8:30 - 2:00
Class 2:00 - 9:00**

**Not everyone who has a Valentine gets to actually appreciate the holiday for what it is supposed to be... time spent with your honey... Instead, I spent the past 3.5 hours working on a group project (which we all know I despise) with a bunch of snots.

Can you tell I have had a rough couple of days?

A little love from me...

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

A moment to vent...

I know I was attempting to get away from my gripping and more into recipes, but this is something that I must get off of my chest. It may surprise most of you that I rarely do nice things for people just for the hell of it, unless we are real friends or friends of friends. Work people fall into the category of "not-going-to-go-out-of-my-way".

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself feeling generous and I decided go out of my way to help give someone in my office an office baby shower. So far, I have been the only one to plan anything related to it. So today I sent around an email to the office inviting them to the event and the griping began almost immediately. First, the location was all wrong and several people said "I have problems with that" or "who gave you permission to use that location?". Then, the boss wanted to make sure that everyone knew that it was not required and that work comes first... so I had to send around a bitchy email around to everyone letting them know this. You would think that either children or stupid people work in my office. I will be perfectly honest... most of the people I work with are not the sharpest tools in the shed and are destined for a life of mediocrity. The thing that gets me is that this is not even my office/department. My desk is just located within this office.

G-damn! You try to do something nice for someone and everyone has got something to bitch about, or they question everything with their condescending (and quite obnoxious) attitudes... It is just typical of these people up here. It takes a day like this to realize that sometimes I really miss the South.

Best new website

I am going to stray from cooking topics for a moment to share my new favorite celebrity gossip website...

http://www.perezhilton.com/

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do...