I mentioned Ex-Girlfriend pasta previously; here's the recipe.
1 package rotini, ziti or fusili - your choice
1 wedge of brie or 8 oz. mozzarella - your choice
2 cans stewed tomatoes or 3 fresh tomatoes
4 cloves garlic
3 T Olive Oil
2/3 C fresh basil
Combine the olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and basil in a bowl. Let this sit for as long as possible. 30 minutes will suffice, but overnight will make a better flavored dish.
Cook the pasta according to directions. Cut up brie or mozzarella (I prefer the flavor of the brie but shredded mozz. makes it easier) and add to hot pasta. Stir until gooey. Add tomato/garlic/basil mixture. Stir more.
Eat.
I always add a lot of fresh pepper when I serve this. The flavors really grow over a bit of time and this is actually better as leftovers. A quick, easy impressive dish. Serve with bread, wine and salad.
This is the only positive thing to have come out of my relationship with "Wanda". True.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The Rule Of Threes
Everyone knows this rule. Good things happen in threes. Bad things happen in threes. Unusual/unexpected things happen in threes.
For example: 1) Plumbing in bathroom sink backs up. Requires effort, plumber or chemicals. 2) Fuel pump on car goes out. Requires replacement and frustration of no car or crappy replacement car. 3) Broken hand. Makes everything difficult.
Or this example: 1) Get an unexpected raise at work. Makes the days go by easier. 2) Meet a fantastic guy/girl and start a new exciting relationship. Makes everything seem better. 3) Your brother/sister introduces you to a new niece or nephew. Instant heart melting goodness.
I’m in a period here where I’ve had two of the unusual happen and I’m curious to know what the third will be. Here goes:
I recently ran into an ex-girlfriend at a Portland pub. “Laura” and I knew each other for about five years before we started dating. She was a great, fun, spirited woman and we had fun together. It couldn’t last for lots of reasons but certainly not because we didn’t like nor care for each other. In other words, it didn’t end badly. She’s since gotten married and moved away which made running into her in Portland that much more unusual.
Just the other night I got an email from Facebook that I had a friend invitation from “Joy”. Now Joy and I had dated back when we were in our college years. Nineteen years ago. It had been sixteen since we’d seen each other and probably twelve since I’d heard any concrete details about her life. She’s got a full family from what I know but I’m still waiting for the more complete get caught up emails. I hope they happen. She’s another great, fun woman who I think fondly of from time to time.
So. Which of my exes is next to pop out of the woodwork or the interweb tubes and challenge my delicate sensibilities?
Will it be:
“Alex” a college girlfriend?
“Betty” another college girlfriend?
“Donna” THE college girlfriend who shook up my life more than I cared for or was even prepared for?
“Nelly” My post-college LA girlfriend?
“Daria” the most mesmerizing yet perplexing woman I’ve ever known?
“Francine” after we dated she remained a good friend who has since disappeared. Where are you?
“Wanda” the girlfriend who gave me ex-girlfriend pasta?
So, I am left to wonder. Anyone want to make a prediction?
B!
For example: 1) Plumbing in bathroom sink backs up. Requires effort, plumber or chemicals. 2) Fuel pump on car goes out. Requires replacement and frustration of no car or crappy replacement car. 3) Broken hand. Makes everything difficult.
Or this example: 1) Get an unexpected raise at work. Makes the days go by easier. 2) Meet a fantastic guy/girl and start a new exciting relationship. Makes everything seem better. 3) Your brother/sister introduces you to a new niece or nephew. Instant heart melting goodness.
I’m in a period here where I’ve had two of the unusual happen and I’m curious to know what the third will be. Here goes:
I recently ran into an ex-girlfriend at a Portland pub. “Laura” and I knew each other for about five years before we started dating. She was a great, fun, spirited woman and we had fun together. It couldn’t last for lots of reasons but certainly not because we didn’t like nor care for each other. In other words, it didn’t end badly. She’s since gotten married and moved away which made running into her in Portland that much more unusual.
Just the other night I got an email from Facebook that I had a friend invitation from “Joy”. Now Joy and I had dated back when we were in our college years. Nineteen years ago. It had been sixteen since we’d seen each other and probably twelve since I’d heard any concrete details about her life. She’s got a full family from what I know but I’m still waiting for the more complete get caught up emails. I hope they happen. She’s another great, fun woman who I think fondly of from time to time.
So. Which of my exes is next to pop out of the woodwork or the interweb tubes and challenge my delicate sensibilities?
Will it be:
“Alex” a college girlfriend?
“Betty” another college girlfriend?
“Donna” THE college girlfriend who shook up my life more than I cared for or was even prepared for?
“Nelly” My post-college LA girlfriend?
“Daria” the most mesmerizing yet perplexing woman I’ve ever known?
“Francine” after we dated she remained a good friend who has since disappeared. Where are you?
“Wanda” the girlfriend who gave me ex-girlfriend pasta?
So, I am left to wonder. Anyone want to make a prediction?
B!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The Ex-X
OK. So I said this wasn’t going to be all about weight loss on the blog. But you’ll have to indulge me. Things to say. Things to document.
About four years ago I had to make the decision to increase my t-shirt purchases from XL to XXL. I’ve always liked things to be a bit roomy on me. Not sure why. Just like the freedom of movement. Never had a super chiseled upper body anyway, not trying to kid anyone. But to keep things within my comfort level I had to go bigger.
But I have hereby broken up with the XXL. She’s now my Ex-X.
I actually think she’s happy about it. Sure she’d like to be with me forever, but nobody wins in a one-sided relationship. She was keeping me from spending time with the other clothes. I’d allowed her to control too much and this break-up is a good thing. It really is.
So, I’ve gone back to just the XL. I’m a good long ways away from the L, no doubt there. But I’m comfy in an XL again. She doesn’t put too much pressure on me. Lets me move about as I wish. Gives me my space. Plus we have so many more choices now. Nike really never catered to the Ex-X and Adidas is worse. And I’m still not comfortable putting on the Timbers most recent jersey – very form fitting, that one. But more choices are there.
So raise a glass of crisp, clean, cool water to the Ex-X. May she never see the inside of my closet again.
P.S. Anyone need some XXL t-shirts? Lightly used, well cared for.
B!
About four years ago I had to make the decision to increase my t-shirt purchases from XL to XXL. I’ve always liked things to be a bit roomy on me. Not sure why. Just like the freedom of movement. Never had a super chiseled upper body anyway, not trying to kid anyone. But to keep things within my comfort level I had to go bigger.
But I have hereby broken up with the XXL. She’s now my Ex-X.
I actually think she’s happy about it. Sure she’d like to be with me forever, but nobody wins in a one-sided relationship. She was keeping me from spending time with the other clothes. I’d allowed her to control too much and this break-up is a good thing. It really is.
So, I’ve gone back to just the XL. I’m a good long ways away from the L, no doubt there. But I’m comfy in an XL again. She doesn’t put too much pressure on me. Lets me move about as I wish. Gives me my space. Plus we have so many more choices now. Nike really never catered to the Ex-X and Adidas is worse. And I’m still not comfortable putting on the Timbers most recent jersey – very form fitting, that one. But more choices are there.
So raise a glass of crisp, clean, cool water to the Ex-X. May she never see the inside of my closet again.
P.S. Anyone need some XXL t-shirts? Lightly used, well cared for.
B!
Saturday, January 5, 2008
We're Back On Speaking Terms
My scale and I have been having a bit of a cold war. It seems she wanted to use the holidays to attempt to freeze me out. Make me feel unaccomplished.
But I showed her.
220 pounds this morning.
My metabolism is turbocharged right now. Righteous.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Darkness Falls Across The Land
It's really dark out in the morning.
Weirdly dark. Eerily dark. Thickly dark.
The type of dark that makes it feel colder than it really is. Damper than it really is. Evil is going too far, but it is foreboding in a way.
As I was driving to work this morning, around 7:15 am, I noticed the darkness. This was mostly by contrast. As I was dropping onto Highway 26 (Sunset Freeway) I entered the vista tunnel. Normally the tunnel is dimly lit. It has banks and banks of lights but usually only one in five is illuminated. Today it was charged up like a dance floor. On its roof. Two out of every three lamps inside it were lit and lit brightly. It was noticeable. It made me feel like I was in a science fiction movie, lunging out of a spaceship's launch bay.
It also made the rest of the darkness that much deeper. I found myself struggling to see the painted lines on the highway. The fog line (although there was no fog) was obscured. It was like the pavement had crept up over the white lines and covered them like a thick, coarse, gravel blanket.
When I arrived to work and settled in I overheard my colleagues talking about the exact same thing. That made me pause. If I notice this, and my colleagues notice this then there's something about in the Portland metro area, isn't there?
I'm not even sure if this is a rant about the infrastructure or a rant about how much the morning is showing its dark. Regardless, it is there. The absence of light. I would like it to change.
Weirdly dark. Eerily dark. Thickly dark.
The type of dark that makes it feel colder than it really is. Damper than it really is. Evil is going too far, but it is foreboding in a way.
As I was driving to work this morning, around 7:15 am, I noticed the darkness. This was mostly by contrast. As I was dropping onto Highway 26 (Sunset Freeway) I entered the vista tunnel. Normally the tunnel is dimly lit. It has banks and banks of lights but usually only one in five is illuminated. Today it was charged up like a dance floor. On its roof. Two out of every three lamps inside it were lit and lit brightly. It was noticeable. It made me feel like I was in a science fiction movie, lunging out of a spaceship's launch bay.
It also made the rest of the darkness that much deeper. I found myself struggling to see the painted lines on the highway. The fog line (although there was no fog) was obscured. It was like the pavement had crept up over the white lines and covered them like a thick, coarse, gravel blanket.
When I arrived to work and settled in I overheard my colleagues talking about the exact same thing. That made me pause. If I notice this, and my colleagues notice this then there's something about in the Portland metro area, isn't there?
I'm not even sure if this is a rant about the infrastructure or a rant about how much the morning is showing its dark. Regardless, it is there. The absence of light. I would like it to change.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Vacation, All I Ever Wanted...
I’m starting to make tentative plans for a late winter/early spring vacation. For someone who doesn’t travel much this is a pretty bold step. It’s not that I dislike being in new places. I actually enjoy it. It’s the actual travel that I dislike.
1) Flying. Not a big fan. Had a rough encounter in college and it gave me some serious insecurity. However, it’s one of those things where I just tell myself I’m happy that the pilot is in charge and not me since he has a bit more training than I do.
2) Airports. Between delays, lines, waiting, rushing and other people's kids they drive me nuts.
3) Planning. I can’t keep straight what attraction is where, the days of the week, the time change, etc. I am the last person who should be in charge of a group itinerary.
4) Spending money on services like airfare, hotel, cabs, etc. It always feels like throwing money away and while I’m not the most frugal guy on the planet I like tangible rewards. I can spend $700 on a flat panel TV but get me to spend $180/night on a hotel room and I want to take their TV with me.
My good friend Kip is getting hitched on April 5, so I’ll probably schedule something mid-March so I can be present for the build-up.
I’m not a sun-worshipper so I don’t need exotic locations or equatorial latitude or even bodies of clear water. I’m not opposed to cold temperatures so just about every area of the planet is in play.
I have a valid passport from my trip to England/Scotland in 2006 so I could get international if that’s what floats my boat (or lifts my aeroplane).
So, with all that I’d love suggestions for a good vacation for Bruce. I’m looking for something fun that could keep me occupied for a whole week. I’ll likely be traveling solo so that’s another consideration.
So, what say you dear readers?
B!
1) Flying. Not a big fan. Had a rough encounter in college and it gave me some serious insecurity. However, it’s one of those things where I just tell myself I’m happy that the pilot is in charge and not me since he has a bit more training than I do.
2) Airports. Between delays, lines, waiting, rushing and other people's kids they drive me nuts.
3) Planning. I can’t keep straight what attraction is where, the days of the week, the time change, etc. I am the last person who should be in charge of a group itinerary.
4) Spending money on services like airfare, hotel, cabs, etc. It always feels like throwing money away and while I’m not the most frugal guy on the planet I like tangible rewards. I can spend $700 on a flat panel TV but get me to spend $180/night on a hotel room and I want to take their TV with me.
My good friend Kip is getting hitched on April 5, so I’ll probably schedule something mid-March so I can be present for the build-up.
I’m not a sun-worshipper so I don’t need exotic locations or equatorial latitude or even bodies of clear water. I’m not opposed to cold temperatures so just about every area of the planet is in play.
I have a valid passport from my trip to England/Scotland in 2006 so I could get international if that’s what floats my boat (or lifts my aeroplane).
So, with all that I’d love suggestions for a good vacation for Bruce. I’m looking for something fun that could keep me occupied for a whole week. I’ll likely be traveling solo so that’s another consideration.
So, what say you dear readers?
B!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Making it Great in 2008
I’ve never really been one for New Year’s Resolutions. I find that to be rather limiting. So I’m not going to make any New Year’s Resolutions, just reiterate the positive efforts of the last six months.
1) Lose weight. You already know that I’m off to a good start. I’m down to 223 and should be close to or under 220 when I visit the doctor for my annual on January 11. For those keeping score at home that will leave only 10 pounds to reach my goal of 210 by March 31. I’m not ready to move the goalposts yet, but I have to say that I am very satisfied with my progress and can probably surpass my initial goal.
2) Make every day a vacation day. I had my last vacation in August. It was very relaxing and reset my mood. At that time I committed to making every day a vacation day. I vowed not to let idiot drivers ruin my drive home. No yelling. No cursing. No impatience. I vowed never to be in a hurry. The positive impact on my work day has resulted in me not sweating the little stuff, let alone the big stuff. I have been able to detach my emotional well being from my job (mostly). My actual job performance has increased as a result. Wow. Care less. Produce more. Who knew?
3) Eliminating the word “No” from my vocabulary. I used to pride myself on being a guy who said “why not” instead of “why”. Somewhere along the way I got sidetracked and declining everything from a party invitation to a cup of coffee became commonplace. Making this small adjustment has brought a much better balance to my social life. I feel more connected to friends and family. Good stuff.
My three words: weight vacation no
In addition I expect that these ongoing changes will result in me taking a few more risks and reaping the rewards that risk taking generates.
Wish me luck. If you have some goals or even actual resolutions, please feel free to share.
New Year’s Haiku
It’s a brand new year
Full of opportunity
Make the most of it
B!
1) Lose weight. You already know that I’m off to a good start. I’m down to 223 and should be close to or under 220 when I visit the doctor for my annual on January 11. For those keeping score at home that will leave only 10 pounds to reach my goal of 210 by March 31. I’m not ready to move the goalposts yet, but I have to say that I am very satisfied with my progress and can probably surpass my initial goal.
2) Make every day a vacation day. I had my last vacation in August. It was very relaxing and reset my mood. At that time I committed to making every day a vacation day. I vowed not to let idiot drivers ruin my drive home. No yelling. No cursing. No impatience. I vowed never to be in a hurry. The positive impact on my work day has resulted in me not sweating the little stuff, let alone the big stuff. I have been able to detach my emotional well being from my job (mostly). My actual job performance has increased as a result. Wow. Care less. Produce more. Who knew?
3) Eliminating the word “No” from my vocabulary. I used to pride myself on being a guy who said “why not” instead of “why”. Somewhere along the way I got sidetracked and declining everything from a party invitation to a cup of coffee became commonplace. Making this small adjustment has brought a much better balance to my social life. I feel more connected to friends and family. Good stuff.
My three words: weight vacation no
In addition I expect that these ongoing changes will result in me taking a few more risks and reaping the rewards that risk taking generates.
Wish me luck. If you have some goals or even actual resolutions, please feel free to share.
New Year’s Haiku
It’s a brand new year
Full of opportunity
Make the most of it
B!
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