help in the kitchen!

I CANNOT cook! Um...let me re-phrase this. I CANNOT FOLLOW A RECIPE. UUGGHHHH Every Freaking time I try to follow a new recipe, I botch it so bad that either it is barely edible or not at all. Tonight, it was the later. WTF??

I'm in my kitchen, delighted to try something new, happy to cook instead of go out or grab something to go. I had some Wynton Marsalis Jazz playing and I felt relaxed....up until I realized the sauce I was making for the pasta was pretty gross and I threw it out!!!! And because I never keep food stocked, I ended up just tossing a little olive oil on the pasta and put some parmesean cheese on it. That was what I ate for dinner. And then a bowl of frosted mini-wheats.

I was so discouraged. I don't know what went wrong, so please don't ask. 6 out of 7 days, i either eat out or get something to go. If I eat at home, it is usually a sandwich or cereal or mac n cheese. I used to cook more, but I don't really enjoy cooking in my kitchen. I do know how to cook some other things more involved, but i just don't. I just want to know why I can't freaking follow a recipe. And a friend of mine keeps giving me recipe books as gifts....I am gonna have to tell her to stop. They are of no use to me. I may as well just make the shit up as I go along.

I want to win the lotter for the sole purpose of being able to hire a LIVE-IN-CHEF

UURRRRRR

“Live this day as if it will be your last. Remember that you will only find ''tomorrow'' on the calendars of fools. Forget yesterday's defeats and ignore the problems of tomorrow. This is it. Doomsday. All you have. Make it the best day of your year. The saddest words you can ever utter are, ''If I had my life to live over again. ''Take the baton, now. Run with it! This is your day! Beginning today, treat everyone you meet, friend or foe, loved one or stranger, as if they were going to be dead at midnight. Extend to each person, no matter how trivial the contact, all the care and kindness and understanding and love that you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.”
-Og Mandino

the body

Isn't it amazing what our body does for us? I mean, really! Just ponder for a second that while you sit and read this post, your eyes are moving across the computer screen...there are muscles in your eyes that are working to make the movement happen. And as you read, information is interpreted and sent to different areas of your brain for processing or what not...

And all the while, blood continues to circulate throughout your body...your heart pumps the oxygenated blood out to your extremeities and various organs...your dinner is being processed and broken down by your digestive system and your kidneys are hopefully working so that you can hit the toilet later on...

THE BODY IS FREAKING AMAZING!!! And that stuff is all just automatic. it happens. from birth. it just happens. And the other thing that amazes me is MEDICINE....how a pill can be taken to pinpoint one particular ailment and it works. It's all a trip to me. Really.

And then i think about the people for who some of these things aren't automatic. I'm just amazed that it is for most of us.

Have you thanked your body lately? Go ahead, Give your BODY a hug! Isn't it deserving??

A favorite post

ThinkerGirl

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Streetlights

After my 17 plus mile run today, I stood on a corner waiting to cross the street. In front of me there was a woman in an SUV with her window rolled down. Attractive, short blond hair. We made eye contact. Her light turned and she was moving and ready to turn. She looked back my way twice and grinned....

On my way to dinner tonite, I was at a stoplight. There was a man holding a sign that said, "Homeless. Please help."
He was thin, maybe 40 yrs old, looking worn, tired.

I gave him a 5 dollar bill. His words to me were, "God Bless You."
I said the same thing back to him. I guess I felt fortunate to be able to go eat and wanted him to be able to get something too maybe....

Tuesday Commentary

I woke up earlier than usual. I was alert, eager, and excited for the day.

Sometime about 10am, I lost that feeling....sigh...

The man who died in Sunday's Chicago Marathon was a police officer who had a heart condition, the autopsy showed. Did not die of heat problems. This is what I read in the paper today.

I got angry today and then I got angry AND frustrated at myself for feeling angry. BECAUSE, too often, i allow myself to get angry at the same shit....uugghh. Bang my head against the wall!!! I need to meditate. Seriously.

Went to the gym after work and as I was about to leave the dressing room to go out and run on the THRILLMILL when I noticed about 4 women sitting or standing and watching ELLEN on the TV in the lounge. I stopped to see what was the big deal: KATE WALSH was on. You better believe I grabbed a seat and watched the show....ahhh....the day got better. :)

Two good looking flicks are coming out this friday: We own the Night and Michael Clayton.....will be a good weekend at the SHOW!

I wonder what the world would be like today if Martin Luther King Jr. was alive today and sending his messages. We don't have anyone like that anymore. What figure out there is inspiring? Motivating? Uplifting? I cannot think of anyone. Maybe it's up to us...each of us in our own individual ways.....

I went to a coffee shop i don't normally go to and got a small coffee to go. As I was about to add cream, i noticed it was way too full and I needed to dump some out. The only place I could see was the trash can, but i didn't want to put the hot liquid in there. So, I noticed some water cups right there that I could use. By the time I had "fixed" my cup of coffee, the barista had come over and I said, "oh, the cup was too full, so i put the extra in this cup instead of the garbage." She smiled. "oh, that's nice. that was very kind of you."
That made me smile. And I went on my way.

Sometimes, people REALLY need to think before they speak. Seriously.

enough said.

More Commentary

I am of the belief that people come into your life and there are lessons exchanged. I also believe the people who occupy a lot of your time, energy, etc...(positively or negatively) are those where the lessons are the biggest. But, sometimes....it is just plain TOUGH to GET THE FREAKING LESSON....

I drink gatorade and powerade after long runs and i do like gatorade better. it doesn't seem as sweet. But, the flavor i like best is called "Citrus Orange (or orange citrus)" and it is not available at too many places AND if it is, it is usually in the 32 oz. bottle, which i prefer not to buy. What is a thirsty girl to do??

A couple of friends surprised me the other night with a homemade dinner, 'happy birthday' streamers and signs and a homemade birthday cake with candles. IT WAS SOOOO COOL! I cannot even remember the last time I made a wish and blew out candles. It was pretty neat.

I'm itching to go roll some dice and trying to figure out where and how to make it happen. Where is my magic carpet when I need it?

i LOVE going into running stores. I slowly walk around and check out all the stuff: apparel, shoes, magazines, race postings/entries. It's truly my candy store. Just recently I bought a new pair of UNDER ARMOUR shorts.

I do not like the GEICO caveman commercials...they gross me out! And i don't think they are funny. Please tell me I am not alone....

Got word from my brother. His letters are wonderfully simple, tender. In my last letter to him, i told him i was waiting to hear on the promotion at work...
"I'm praying for your promotion at work...keep up your great work at your job. if no one pats you on the back for appreciation - God sees you."
He is my only connection to family. His letters are comforting.

I'm 3 for 3 on some baseball bets! AND I CANNOT BELIEVE Cleveland Browns are 16 points underdogs vs. New England on Sunday. Browns will cover. You heard it hear.

Happy Friday!

I read this somewhere a long time ago and have always remembered it:

Rather than measure our days by the usual standards of productivity, perhaps we can ask these questions: how have i loved today? what are the qualities of the gifts i have given? have i laughed?