Online Shopping

I really wish they didn't have online shopping. I've become a danger to myself and all people around me.

For example, today I bought Cook's Illustrated Restaurant Favorites at Home.

Some of the reviews say that the recipes are pretty advanced for those of us that tend to cook meals that come in a box. Oh well. Maybe I can have something other than French Onion Soup night. Perhaps I will have "Restaurant Night" or "4-star meal night" instead. Or maybe I can pay Kristie to come up here and cook something from the book as I'm sure she knows the difference between "chiffonade" and "julienne"

Now...I only wished they sold Garden Guide for Austin and Vicinity online. But alas they don't. Oh well, that just means I have to go to the Natural Gardener sometime and spend some extra money while I'm there...because really...I am totally incapable of walking out of a garden store without having purchased something.

The Library

I finally got a library card here in Austin.

There's no limit to how many books I can have checked out at any time. and there's something stupid like a 20 item limit on CDs.

So I borrowed "The Boleyn Inheritance".

I have three weeks to read it. But I'm not worried. If I went through all 7 Harry Potters in a little over a month, I think I can handle one book.

Now I just gotta get a list of books I want to read.

Also, Dani, you should tell mom that the libraries down here had the ENTIRE Labor Day weekend off. Not just Monday.

DNC at DEN

Do you realize that there is nothing on TV other than the convention(s)? Especially when the nominees are speaking? Well, at least not your basic air-wave TV.

So...this means that we got to watch Obama's speech last night...and it likely means that we get to watch McCain's speech next Thursday.

And.

I gotta say that Obama is quite the orator. He can work the crowd into a frenzy. And he could probably do it by reading the ingredient list of twinkies if he wanted to.

I also thought he did extremely well at throwing jabs at McCain--Obama did it in such a way that it wasn't like he was picking on his opponent--it was more like "awww, don't pick on the big football player, it's not his fault he doesn't know how to read."

Tropic Thunder

We went and saw this last week. I found it absolutely hysterical, and I will see it again (assuming that I'm not spending MY money)...at the very least, I will get it on DVD when it comes out.

Anyhow.

Today Bond said that she had no idea what I was talking about when I said it was a very funny movie.

I inquired whether it was because she doesn't have the humor of a 12-year-old male, or if she hadn't seen it yet.

She said it was more like "I have no idea what you're talking about because I have never seen a preview for this movie, or otherwise heard of this movie."

WHA?! Seriously!?! Not seen a preview?! Not heard of it?!? Balderdash!

Her response: "Well, what do you expect? David keeps me in a box and lets me out to go to work. OH! you need to choose a weekend for us to go out and eat at the place. I'll have to check with David of course as he has a social calendar and I don't. But that's probably because I live in a box, as previously discussed."

Career Fair

Shawn and I will be going to Colorado to help NI recruit at the Career Fair.

Now then, most of you will be like "Silly Tina, you don't work for NI." But in this case, I do. They need 4 people minimum when they go do a career fair, and right now they only have 3 signed up. Besides, all my part would be is looking at what people say their major is in, and what they want to do, and then I tell them which of the ACTUAL NI employees they need to talk to. Also. They will pay for my plane, food, hotel, and car if I agree to help out. (P.S. Look at me all ending my sentences with prepositions. Yes, I know I'm doing it. No, I don't care.)

Of course, I'm looking at this and saying to myself "hmmm, I wonder how many times we can eat at the Med? And will I be sick of it by the time we leave?"

The answer I believe is "Everyday for their half price appetizer Happy Hour" and "no, you can never get sick of fire roasted garlic and perfectly cooked lamb."

So, if anyone wants to come to Boulder and eat at the Med with me let me know and we'll try to make a date of it. (or we can eat at any of the other fine dining choices Boulder offers...I am quite particular to the Buff, the Sink, the Walnut Cafe, Chautauqua and even possibly The Darkhorse and/or Rocky Mountain Joe's. Of course, I think Shawn will say we need to eat at Thunderbird Burgers.)

The Amazing Race: Fantasy Edition

First off, I looked it up "Chyron" is indeed the correct term for the little doohickeys under the people's names. (Okay, so really Chyron is a reference to the bottom third of your television screen, and anything that is shown on screen qualifies--so all those annoying "Watch the Olympics in 10 minutes!" or other such things also count as a Chyron. But my point is the part that says "Nicole and Tara, Best Friends" is a Chyron...unless you're from England, then it's an Aston)

But, secondly, Pam, Baking Goddess Extraordinaire and I are obviously going through Amazing Race withdrawl (good thing it's starting again soon). Us going through withdrawl has manifested itself in us creating our own fantasy edition.

Sigh...yeah, it really needs to air again soon.

Storms

You'd think this would be easier to find than it is....

For Colorado:
2-yr storm: 0.71" in 1 hour, or 0.83" in 2 hours, or 0.91" in 3 hours, or 1.05" in 6 hours, or 1.58" in 24 hours
5-yr storm: 1.38" in 6 hours or 1.99" in 24 hours
10-yr storm: 1.59" in 6 hours or 2.27" in 24 hours
25-yr storm: 1.90" in 6 hours or 2.65" in 24 hours
50-yr storm: 2.19" in 6 hours or 2.95" in 24 hours
100-yr storm: 1.86" in 1 hour, or 2.39" in 6 hours, or 3.35" in 24 hours

For East half of Texas:
2-yr storm: 1.72" in 1 hour, or 2.16" in 2 hours, or 2.32" in 3 hours, or 2.67" in 6 hours, or 3.44" in 24 hours
5-yr storm: 3.56" in 6 hours or 4.99" in 24 hours
10-yr storm: 4.21" in 6 hours or 6.10" in 24 hours
25-yr storm: 5.14" in 6 hours, or 7.64" in 24 hours
50-yr storm: 5.94" in 6 hours or 8.87" in 24 hours
100-yr storm: 4.37" in 1 hour, or 6.85" in 6 hours, or 10.20" in 24 hours

You'll notice that a Colorado 100-year storm is roughly equivalent to a Texas 2-year storm. This explains why when I moved down here, it would rain and I thought I should buy a boat or something because we were all going to float away.

New Theory

I have a new theory.

The reason why gas prices have been going down recently is because of the olympics. That's right. The olympics. Because the Chinese aren't allowed to drive their cars in Beijing, and because all the factories had to shut down.

Yep. That's the reason why gas has gone down. I just know it.

The Daring Bakers

After Kristie joined the group and blogged about it, I've been debating on if it's something I want to do. The pro would be that I would obviously bake more things. The con would be that it may be time intensive (read Kristie's blog about the shelling of the filberts).

I guess I could always sign up and then figure out if the recipe is something I could do or if it's so over my head I'd end up doing a post in the following manner:

I tried this recipe from the Daring Bakers. I killed it. I killed-ed it good. (or conversely similar to how Jon would do a picture hanging project at his house. see here)

So, I'm open to recommendations (and just so you're aware now, Jon, I'm not sending the finished product to Colorado for you to eat)... On the plus side, for those of you who are either my coworkers or my husband's coworkers, there is a very good chance that you'll end up tasting the final product since I'm sure we won't be able to eat it all ourselves anyhow.

Texas Northern Lights

Dental Plan...Lisa needs braces.

Today the City Manager came and spoke to us about the budget for next fiscal year...and how it's pretty bad. Like the City is roughly $20 million short in their budget.

Anyhow, they obviously have to cut funds from somewhere and the number one rule is "don't lay off people." Therefore, they cut some of our benefits--so instead of getting our normal "3.5% keep up with inflation" raise, it will be a "2.5% almost keep up with inflation" raise. Plus they're upping the premiums for health insurance. And getting rid of the Premium Dental plan (they will maintain the basic dental plan)

And what do you think caused the most gruff? The fact that they're getting rid of our Premium Dental Plan.

Apparently they're getting rid of our dental plan and Lisa needs braces.

Family

My mom called yesterday to tell me that my second cousin once removed (or whatever it is when it's your parents' cousin's kid) was helping his dad move hay bales (I assume the larger variety) when one slipped and fell on him, pinning him between the bale and the fence. In any case, it broke his back and so, as of right now, he's paralyzed from the waist down. Though I guess he's got a tingling feeling in his legs so there's some hope that it may not have severed his spinal cord.

Last Comic Standing

Did anyone else notice how short this season was? They did like 3 "let's find the top 24 comics" then they cut it down to 12 in one episode. We had 2 episodes in which they got rid of 2 comics each, and one where they got rid of 3 to get us to the top five. Then they did one show where all 5 performed, turned it over to America and then announced the winner. So what is that? like 9 episodes?

Yeah, seems a little short to me...

The Summer Olympics

I usually don't get excited about the Olympics, and this year is no different...I just remember 2 years ago during the winter Olympics how we got sucked into the biathlon. There's just something about watching people move around in slow languid circles...

It's probably a good thing that I've never watched Nascar...

I'm a Stalker

I'm not really, I swear.

But I was just thinking how weird it is that I read all these peoples' blogs when I don't know them, at all. (to be fair, 11 of the blogs listed are by people I know personally)

Okay, some of them, like Dooce and Amalah and the Daily Coyote are actually meant for the unwashed masses, so to speak.

But some of the others are more for their family and friends, and so I sometimes feel weird about reading the blogs...more like I'm a voyeur or a stalker of some sort. Of course, I always post on these blogs because I'd feel stranger if I didn't at least let them know I'm reading their blogs...but the question becomes, do they think it's weird that I post on their blogs when I've never met them?

Breakfast Potatoes

Ingredients:
A couple of diced Potatoes (I have been using 2-3 Red La Soda)
Salt and pepper and other spices to taste
diced onion (optional, though recommended)
minced spicy pepper (such as jalapeno or serrano) (absolutely optional)
oil
minced garlic

Directions:
heat oil in skillet. cook garlic and onions and spicy pepper for a minute or two. Add diced potato. add spices as you see fit. Cook until done stirring occasionally. Serve with a runny egg on top (optional).