a bit of wind

confidence

2009-04-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

[kon-fi-duh-ns] –noun

belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance: Her confidence to kick-ass would lead her to great and magical places.

Thanks online dictionary.

3 weeks!

2009-04-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

Alright. I'm going to blame this giant blogabsense on my sister. And maybe the fact that I have become obsessed with facebook. I never wanted to. I've fought it successfully for many years...but now it's become one of the five tabs I automatically open in the morning and I just can't stop hitting reload. Anyway, that's where I've been posting some recent happenings but I'm gonna try to get back into this here thingy. SO. Here's a quick recap of some things pre/present/post today:

$$ Carly came to visit and it was awesome! We did so much sisterly hanging out our hands fused together and we had no choice but wear smittens. We went to the new musuem of science, saw the big wheel race, ate really yummy tofu balls, lounged at the park, went shopping, got our nails did, ate seven pounds of ice cream, visited some colleges, tried to dye her hair purple, snuggled up with disturbing movies and assaulted preston. yah for sisters!!

museum of science green roof

$$ Kerstin and I signed up to take the LEED exam! Even though it was effing 400 DOLLARS -- I think it'll be worth it to be super green certified and get to put a fancy title after our names in emails and talk about how to recycle your poop and knit used toilet paper into socks.

$$ I started working more at the other pet store in Potrero Hill which I think is way cuter and is more fun since it's packed all the time. The day goes fast and you barely remember that you cleaned piss off the floor six times. Though I'm still waiting for the hunky single dog owner to come in and need help adjusting a harness or be shown the proper way to wash his dog. wink.

$$ My roommate Sara is going to law school. BOO. Well fine, good for her yada yada but sheesh we were just starting to be BFF and now I'm losing her to the salty swanky New Orleans. At least it's a nice place to visit. BUT preceding that, she's going to be away for the next couple of months and will be subletting out her room to the CUTEST boy from Valencia. He came over to see the place last night and I was won over immediately. He's studying English downtown but "can't take the fire engines anymore even though they are saving people's lives and he should be thankful." He likes to ride his bike and can't wait to practice his English more! (and I'm hoping to get some useful spanish out him)

$$ So I will actually only be staying in this apartment till the end of May -- I'm going to be moving into my friend emily's place for june and july. It's a few hundred a month cheaper and only a 10 min bike ride to work AND it's with emily, duh, so I'm super excited. She's leaving for grad school in massachussets come august, and I'll be traveling with my fam when they come out thisaways so it works out superbly.

$$ And why, you ask, would I be moving into an apartment for only two months? What then? I'm going to travel the world, but of course! No, for realz, I am! Okay so it's not super definite yet -- BUT ALMOST. I've already gotten the yes from some farms in France that I could come and wwoof at and then hopefully after a month of that, I'll backpack around a bunch of western europe!! Not like I've already set aside my ninety-two pairs of undies or anything, but if all goes well I'm really gonna do it. And you should come visit!!

$$ I'm also wanting to apply to grad schools this winter for landscape architecture. so if you'd like to write my personal essay by all means please do and I'll bake you some potato chips.

$$ Preston made me this collage:

$$ Katie B. is coming out in a couple weeks to run Bay to Breakers again!! This year she's going to be a sexy sailor.

$$ I've been shaving!! I know, I can't believe it either but it's actually been super awesome to have smooth legs and armpit hair that doesn't stick out of your t-shirt. It's been over two-years since I've been hairless -- I have no idea why I've waited this long. Being a woman is so friggin cool. In fact, I've started wearing mascara and got some sexy underwear where the elastic wasteband doesn't peak through!

$$ I got my tattoo and it was another amazing three hours of tripping out on my endorphins. Rocio, you did it again.

$$ I've only been crying like every OTHER day. Progress! But hopefully soon my two new super duper femischnistic books with arrive and it'll be easier to be more confident in becoming a real live individual.

phew! enough for now. <3

Pictures!

2009-04-07T22:28:00.000-07:00

Besides possibly having a stye or Preston's poop being a cool halloween orange, there hasn't been too much that stands out as anything particularly blogworthy. There is of course my newly awesome dark red hair or my brand spankin' tattoo, but those will have to wait till proper pictures are taken. But I just finally downloaded photos off my camera and think they'll be pretty good at catching up on the past few weeks of living.

A couple weekends ago I was lucky enough to borrow a friend's car and made sure to do every possible thing a car owning person could do with. Which, okay, really just meant going to the two best dog parks ever that unfortunately aren't in walking distance. One of these parks was Point Isabel, where my friend John and I wrangled up four awesome dogs, Roxxy, Stella, Buzz and Preston, for an afternoon of runnin poopin hollerin and hootin.

Preston and Stella

Roxxy

Pweston Schmace

Roxxy and Buzz

Stella

This is a view from the park I go to most days at lunch. It's usually really sunny and filled with dogs and people running up and down stairs.

Two weekends ago I started at the pet store and it has been super great! Here's some photos of the one store in soma that I've been working at.

Here's a couple sunsetty pictures of Bernal Hill.

Old school blogging

2009-04-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

I can't listen to music. I don't feel like baking. Or cooking a giant breakfast. I don't want to see any movie that I've already seen and I don't want to see new ones that have anything to do with anyone or thing being even remotely romantically interested in each other. I don't like taking showers or trying on lots of earrings. I don't like buying knick-knacks or fancy fake meat. I don't want to hear poetry or smell seasons. I don't want to go hiking or make elaborate plans to get lost. I hate lying around in bed and I don't like being home alone. I hate that it's beautiful out and I have no one to make spir of the moment plans with. I hate feeling trapped in the city, to only travel as far as my bike with tired legs and wimpy shoes can travel with a dog strapped on my back and tipsy bags dangling.

I never search for a tissue or a napkin. All the stains you see are probably snot or what I've been eating the past couple of weeks. I don't care how much energy these space heaters use or that I have them on every day even if it's warm outside. I don't want to meet anyone. Not anyone that I have to try to make a nice impression, anyway. I don't care how my sheets never get changed even though they're covered in tiny forms of paw print dirt. I don't care that I don't wash off all this cheap produce from south america or that it sits around and births fruit flies.

It's hard to focus on the new. To jazz yourself up for new people or activities or streets you've never walked down or to not lose it when you're out and that song comes on. I've never wanted time or motions to pass more quickly. To be someplace else completely and have no connection to anything familiar. I used to have such a beautiful window view of everything from way up high and now I have a narrow strip of natural light that lets me see a small maroon tree.

It's hard to not be scared of the unknown. It used to excite me -- I wanted to charge it head on. I looked forward to the bruises and battle scars but now it's as is my legs are missing and I have to sit quietly and wait for it to creep up around me and hope that some part of it is good or at least leaves me the rest of my limbs. It's helped to hear that it was the right thing to do. I wish I could wake up to a slap in the face, an ice cold reminder of being strong and believing in wanting to move on and be my own person.

I feel like so much time has gone by already and I'm only now beginning to understand the emotional toll it's taking on my mind and spirit. So I've decided that I can't contain it all, I just possibly can't carry it all myself and while I might feel like a jerk-ass for constantly being debbie downer I need to release and share it and learn how to cope. So what if this new plan involves crying everytime I feel one coming on, or watching a shitload of TV. I can't hide being sad and I shouldn't try to cover it up anymore. Thanks for letting me share.

Mow the lawn!

2009-04-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

Why aren't there commercials like this is in the US?

What a gift!

2009-04-02T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here I am, sitting studiously at work, when I recieve a beautifully wrapped package that for once isn't 4 ton glass samples. Hooray! What can it be? A wonderful book ALL ABOUT HEDGEHOGS, titled The Hedgehog's Dilemma. It is of course from my dear friend Katie B. -- what else would someone like her give as a xmas present? I've only thumbed through it but judging on the looks of the first chapter page and the author's picture this is going to be one amazing read. The first paragraph is enough to make your pants hot with envy:

Is this a ridiculous question? After all, surely everyone knows what a hedgehog is -- there is no mistaking the small, brown, spiny mammal for anything else, unless, maybe you are drunk and get it confused with a porcupine. Which is not a relative, by the way, not at all. Porcupines are rodents, like rats and squirrels; hedgehogs are insectivores, related to moles and shrews.

I'm not sure I know where the obsession will such small adorable balls of cuteness began, but it very well might have started here, where I spotted Pascal:

Where the wild things are

2009-03-31T23:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks, good friend, for the suggestion. I look forward to seeing this too. (also appears to be having some awe+some soundtrackage)

Aspirations

2009-03-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

some day.

wacky wednesdays

2009-03-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

Did you ever notice how everything is extra awesome on Wednesdays? Dollar cone day at maggie m's. 1/2 price rental at lost weekend? Add some nachos and K^2 and you've got yourself a mighty fine night.

skater boys

2009-03-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

As some people may know, I have a terrible, undeniable crush on 17-year old skateboarders. They don't neccesarily need the wild tassled hair in their face, or oversized extremely comfortable shoes, or the smallest ass in the world...all that's really required is the ability to skate at least 15 feet and land scraped up on the pavement with some disfigured part of their body. I can't be positive as to why I still have this mini-obsession -- all I know is that over the past couple of weeks it has rapidly been in decline.

Now that I live in a completely flat neighborhood, I can't seem to take a single walk without some punk skating right up in front of Preston who has by now began foaming at the mouth and removing chunks of sidewalk. I've developed a keen ear to those 65-90 mm wheels approaching, and now instead of putting on my biggest battiest eyes, my muscles stiffen and back hunches and I get real squinty and start to move towards the closest wall. Now that I've developed this reaction even when walking around sans Preston, I have had no interest in these overclothed pubescent trainwrecks. sigh.

I'm an idiot

2009-03-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

So I never really got in to the Ferry Building farmer's market -- mostly because it's super touristy and I've been to much greater ones (eg, Temescal's is way cooler) and didn't think I was missing out on much. But this rad girl told me about these incense from a super awesome company that happens to sell them at the farmer's market, and so with roommate in tow, we made our way over this morning. And for some reason I never seemed to notice the entire rest of the market behind the building. Wha? Well, of course this was the one saturday they decided not to show, but we did manage to find these amazing beer battered asparagus and raviolis instead. The asparagus was obviously not from the market because it was insanely gmo huge but that didn't stop us from eating two orders of them. mmm.

My sister

2009-03-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Probably my most favorite person in the world is my sister. She is just so goddamn cool and sweet and sensitive and creative and inspiring and beautiful. Right now she should be on her way back from Indiana for the [insert official competition name], a prestigious shenanigan that selected the pit of her band to come because they are so friggin awesome. I haven't gotten all the news but did hear that they received two standing ovations at their performance.

Besides being musically hot, she also has the awesome ability of using her guts. Such as when she wanted to cut off all her hair. No hesitation, just the chop. God I wish I could do that. But I just don't think I'd look as sexy as she does:

Best of all, she's going to be visiting me in a few weeks! She's arriving just in time for the easter big wheel race and for free day at the academy of science and for endless snuggling in my bed. Hooray!

Hair

2009-03-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

There is hair all over my entire body. I've been thinking of freshening up the hair most people think of when you mention hair, but oh there's so much other hair that could use some maintenance. And by that I'm of course talking about the hair on my legs and that wedged under my arms. Can you believe that I haven't shaved my armpits since last summer or my legs for the past two years?? I could go either way with my pits -- I don't really care how long they get, but up until recently I've always gotten a little sentimental about my leg hair. It's been with me through so much. Just hanging out, feeling the wind against its face, the changing of the seasons, the smoothness of Preston's tongue. How do you say goodbye to such a dear friend?

So besides the big shaving shilly-shally, I do have plans for a masterful haircolorist straight outta Albuquerque to color my head hair a shade of revenous red. I went to rainbow the other day to check out some possible colors -- here they are, what do you think? Try not to be swayed by who is hotter.

Preston and Roman

2009-03-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Preston took his boyfriend to one of his favorite most romantic places, Fort Funston. Together they held paws, frolicked amongst the crabs and rolled shamelessly through the sand; the waves washing over their bodies as they stared deep into their cute little doggie souls.

Who could have known it would be love at first snaggletooth? That he'd fall so hard and fast and not even look back at that dingo from the park last week? And who knew this adorable ball of fur who does handstands while it pees would have such an awesomely cool mommers? Yah for new friends!

Boo I thought I had taken some snapshots of them on my phone but I can't seem to find them! If you're having trouble envisioning their tenderness feel free to revisit them in this video.

Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese frosting

2009-03-18T22:26:00.000-07:00

Wow, these past few days have been so jam packed there just hasn't been anytime until now to tell you about this super delicious cake I made the other day. I've been crazy busy playing with my new cellphone, drinking german beer out of beastly-sized pitchers and boots, watching bad take offs of sex and the city, cleaning up tennis ball vomit at 4am, going to a rad restaurant opening and feasting on endless shortbread and chocolate pudding and blood orange margaritas, and last but not least, making a pretty darn delicious chocolate cake!

This recipe (and frosting) comes from the Joy of Vegan Baking:

1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/3 cups veg oil (i used 1/3 cup of applesauce instead)
1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
1 cup cold water

Preheat to 350 degrees and lightly oil either a bundt pan, some 9inch form of a pan, or muffin tins.

Combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cocoa in large bowl until thoroughly combined. In separate small bowl, combine vanilla, oil, vinegar and water. Add to dry bowl and mix only until just combined. Pour into your pan and bake for approx. 30 minutes -- if you're making cupcakes it would be closer to 15 minutes. Either way, when you insert a toothpick in the center and it comes out clean then you are ready to go! Make sure to cool it completely before icing it with:

Cream Cheese Brandy frosting:

Combine until creamy:

8 ounces of tofutti cream cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup of confectioner's sugar, sifted
at least 2 teaspoons of brandy (ok maybe at least four)

I made mine in a boring 9"x9" pan, and there was a LOT of frosting. Not complaining, but if you're only going to be covering the top you could get away with making 3/4 of the recipe. Otherwise slobber it on there. A bit of confectionery sugar sprinkled on also looks nice, as does some fresh fruit. I opted to serve it with some raspberry sorbet and preston's favorite mexican sprinkle cookies.

Enjoy!

This is another fun and straight forward recipe so I've included some musica you can bop around to:

rolling stones - she's a rainbow

all girls summer fun band - later operator

headlights - cherry tulips

j church - she's so mean

camera obscura - razzle dazzle rose

not the best decorations but I was tired and wanted to eat it.

Cookbooks!

2009-03-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

One of my thousands of readers left me a message the other day asking about vegan cookbook suggestions and I thought it'd make a delightful blog topic. I can't claim to be an expert but do think I've used enough vegan cookbooks to tell about ones that really shine. (While most if not all these cookbooks could be found on amazon or borders, I'm going to try and include an independent resource for each book, should your local bookstore be out and you need to get your drooling hands on it asap)

One of my first vegan cookbooks, which has since come out with a few more in it's series, and become extremely popular is How it All Vegan. It was a great introduction to common substitutions and how to use them properly and when. It has a lot of veganized basics for those recently turned vegans who miss things like pancakes and chocolate chip cookies, as well as some simple yet tasty dinner ideas for those used to eating veggie burgers and smac and cheese.

I then progressed to a marvelously cool cookbook called Vegan with a Vengeance! Not only does it have super helpful tips (like how to cut up a butternut squash) and sexy recipes, it also has some great links and thoughts behind veganism and more importantly activism. Which is another awesome thing about ALL vegan cookbooks I've ever seen, which are the stories, explanations and fight behind being vegan and why you can feel morally and healthfully good about not consuming animal products. (cue song:) Isa also came out with two other amazingly reviewed books, Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World and Veganomicon. I haven't had the chance to peek into the latter, but you can check out all these books along with awesome recipes from her kickass website. Her cooking shows should also not be missed.

If you want the best book just for baking, you have to try out The Joy of Vegan Baking. I was a little boredified when I first saw it, but after trying the chocolate chip scones, apple pecan muffins, chocolate cake, strudels, oatmeal bars and pies, and I can whole-heartily say that Colleen is right on the money. While a few recipes call for going the extra mile it has always been more than worth it to make these extremely well-developed delectables.

Of course there's also the amazing Lickin' the Beaters I recently got that I've posted two recipes from -- you can find out more about that here. Another book that I was lucky enough to get my hands on for a little while, full of tasty tasty recipes is The Savory Way. I think it's vegetarian but has a lot of vegan or easily transferable recipes.

And then there's also the internet. Two websites I really like are VeganYumYum and a blog all about vegan ice cream recipes. Another trick I like to do when I know a recipe from a book that I can't get a hold of right away is to look up the book on amazon and if it should be so lucky to have the "Look Inside" feature, do a search for the name or page number. It's also a good way to share recipes when you're too lazy to type it all up yourself.

I hope this was at least a teensy step in the right direction on your vegan cookbook hunt (should you be on one). Please share any other suggestions/recommendations you may have, and if you hear/see/smell a recipe you're curious about but are too lazy, scared or carnivorous to try it, let me know and I'd be happy to try and blog about it! <3

My buddy and me

2009-03-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure preston was humming this song all day, so it's only appropriate that you listen to it while you read this post:

After the quick walk to the bank and library in which preston oh so amazingly avoided putting half a chicken skeleton in his mouth (unlike yesterday), I stuck him in my bag and off we rode, all the way to duboce park! And what a park it is! I've really only stuck around there a few times and didn't realize what great energy it has. Preston made so many friends and ran and ran and peed and ran and just when I thought my life as a sunny dog owner couldn't get any grander, preston spotted a skateboarder and ran across the entire park, through the street RIGHT in front of a car and landed his teeth into the poor boy's ankle. Bolting after him and narrowly escaping a car myself, I managed to swallow my heart back into my chest and get him to come over from the kid who was actually apologizing to me for skateboarding near the dog park. whaaaa? I could have given that scout a medal but instead awarded him with my twitching eye and mumble of a thanks. christ.

so off we went to visit one of preston's favorite human friends, emily, where who could have guessed he'd meet his BFFAE!! Joanna brought over her dog Roman and it was instant love. I've never seen preston hump, roll, knaw on legs, chomp on necks, snuggle, and have downright hearts in his eyes like this. After the lot of us sat around staring for two hours I decided to film it so preston could add it to his hidden tape collection. Ok actually now that I just watched it I think it's a little too soft c for those unexperienced viewers. Here's the cuter one of them playing.

Finally it was time for everyone at emily's to go work at the same restaurant and I had the bright idea of going food shopping. Just a few things I thought. Some sugar and maybe a mushroom. But after stepping into rainbow, my favorite place that I haven't been to in months and swore off because it's too expensive for my new rice and beans budget, my eyes glazed over and I quickly filled my basket with FORTY DOLLARS worth of food. christ.

I trot outside, confident that I can shove preston on my back and balance two enormously heavy bags on my handle bars while riding the nine blocks home. I only made it the homeless guy laughing at me in the parking lot before I decided to get off and just walk. Do you know how hard it is to walk a bike, a dog, have a giant 25 lb bag on your back, balance another grocery bag with your other hand, and then pick up poop without stepping or rolling your bananas in it? Or to tackle your dog and cover his eyes whilst manuevering a bike and bags as a skateboarder dashes by inches away? christ.

orange alley

2009-03-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Last night I stopped by this little garage space that has random things from time to time and saw some bands/musicians that were pretty rad. Here's a few videos -- the first is some gals singing opera [they were H-O-T] and the second is a semi-local band called crash plastic. I liked them too.

Hardy muffins

2009-03-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Welp, the mood struck me again, and with two sad sorry bananas sitting around birthing fruit flies, I poured through cook books to see what I could make with what I had. Ok that's not totally true. Mostly I just wanted to use my new cookbook again and had to really fudge it with only two bananas.

Here's the recipe for banana chocolate chip muffins, followed by another not-really-related-to-baking-playlist (I was kinda tired so it's a little mellow of a mix):

3 cups whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp each of: cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom
3/4 cups choc chips
1 cup maple syrup (instead I used 1/2 cup sucanat and 3/4 cup brown sugar)
3 super ripe bananas (i used two)
1/2 cup applesauce (i used 1 cup since i only had 2 bananas)
approx. 1/4 cup water (i prob used at least a cup, partly due to using sugar as the maple syrup substitute)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and choc chips in large bowl.
3. Mix syrup (or sugar), mashed bananas, applesauce and water in medium bowl.
4. Add wet to dry and add more applesauce/water as needed to make a batter that's thicker than pancake but a little thinner than cookie batter. (I had a kettle of water nearby that I kept gradually adding from -- you get the idea of what the consistency is supposed to be pretty quickly)
5. put into greased muffin tins and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Hall & Oates - I can't go for that

Rolling Stones - let it loose

Smokey Robinson - going to a go-go

Joanna Newsom - inflammatory writ

Billy Bragg & Wilco - blood of the lamb

Okay, I made a ton of substitutions and also made muffins instead of the bread that the recipe was originally made for. SO based on that, I actually think they turned out pretty good. I freaked out right before I was done because before adding the last 1/4 cup of brown sugar I thought it was too bland and then after dumping the sugar in thought it was way too sweet. So I added a dash more flour and a few pinches of salt. Not sure if it was necessary because some of the sweetness seemed to be baked away -- but the hint of banana and choc chips were really nice. Otherwise, these muffins are pretty hardy due to the whole wheat flour, so I think if you're looking for something a little lighter I might go with reg flour. It might also be nice to add a dash of vanilla into the wet mixture. I also would have preferred to use maple syrup but I didn't want to use the last of mine up what with french toast weekend coming up and all. Whatever you do, be sure to let me know how they turn out!!

Oh, so another thing is that this made a good amount of batter. I only have one 8-slotted muffin tin, so I decided to make the rest into a tiny loaf (roughly 3" x 7"). That ended up baking for about 10 minutes longer. Here's some pictures of the final yummers:

my favorite part about this cookbook: watch the top right corner of the book -- they almost kiss.

hooray!

2009-03-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

I got some very cool news today -- the pet store called and offered me the job! eep I'm excited. They said they were glad to have me join their family and then I got all warm inside and we hugged over the phone. I start in a couple saturdays from now at the soma store! They're going to teach me all about how to keep your aminals super healthy and I'll get to carry big fish carcasses around and give out free dog treats to all who enter the store! and besides getting an amazing employee discount, I get to bring preston to work with me! yah for weekend jobs.

in )) = (( out

2009-03-11T14:18:00.000-07:00

Many things look the same on the way out as they did when you first ate them. I'm constantly reminded of this blissful phenomenon by picking up poop with my hand multiple times a day. Everyone already knows about corn, but did you know about tin foil, panty hose and chunks of mud? yesh!

tsk tsk

2009-03-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is a funny and oddly empowering site. Thanks Kerstin. <3

Crunchy Vegan Cookies!

2009-03-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

One of the big ideas I had for this site was the posting of delicious amazing vegan recipes!! Along with the recipe and tantalizing photos, I thought it would be fun to have a mini soundtrack to listen to should you too choose to make such a delicious thing. So tonight is my first try -- and the first try for these super yummy Crunchy Cookies from a rad new cookbook I got:

2/3 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup coconut
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. mix flour, sugar, coconut, pecans, baking powder and salt in medium size bowl
3. mix applesauce and vanilla in tiny bowl and then mix into dry ingredients to form a nice dough. give it a second -- don't go running off for the soy milk
4. add chocolate chips!!
5. put dough balls onto greased cookie sheet (hint: i lazied out and used pam and i think it made the bottoms crunchy in a weird way. i might opt for smothering it in soy butter) and press down flat.
6. back 10-15 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

My batch made about 20 small cookies.

I'd say these came out pretty well. In fact, besides the crunchy bottom I think they were super tasty (if they do come out with a super crisp bottom I'd recommend eating them upside down). Roommate Sara gave agreed that they could have been more crunchy throughout but overall said they were chewy and scrumptious. Although maybe next time I might double the recipe -- it's nice to have cookies all your house for the rest of the week. I'm thinking these will be gone manana.

and here's those jams to accompany your skilled bakemanship. (still trying to figure out how to get them all into one file so you don't have to keep hitting play)

gathering of ingredients, the painful reach for the mixing bowls (fruit bats - magic hour)

measuring, pouring, your eyes wide with anticipation (chairlift - bruises)

chop those nuts (gorillaz - DARE)

into the oven (hem - all that I'm good for)

waiting, peaking, poking (chad vangaalen - willow tree)

best new cookbook

ingredients

before

rabid

cookie freak out!

tada!!

Hall of Fame

2009-03-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Mostly this is just a test to try and find a way to embed mp3's right into a blog post (any other suggestions welcome) and it seems to be working. I stumbled through my itunes back to this instant classic...an evening of impromptu music making at its finest. You can hear Katie tap dancing, me on the harmonica and asshole shitface steve f'ing up the beat with his ridiculously sloppy clapping.

Some time ago

2009-03-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

There's many-a-things one recalls when they let their mind wander back to their early teens...braces, hair in new places, hoping your new boobs will gain you all that attention your glasses have scared off...and then there were all those priceless weekends at dad's. After watching 4 hours of Law & Order (back when it still had the genious of Steven Hill), and hitting up the local computer shows, my dad would suggest a nice sunday drive -- one that mysteriously always ended up at some traveling car show.

Okay okay, maybe looking back there was a chance I did enjoy it a little bit...after all, I did get to meet biker billy and see some miniature soap box races. But the one thing that really got me wild was my very own sky blue t-shirt of my dog maggie. At the far end of Horseshoe Lake, past the designer hogs and chili dogs was a giant airstream where you could flip through pages of minny mouse or surfing cats and then with a sparkle in your eye, watch as the heavily tattooed bearded giant of a man carefully pealed your picture and steamed it onto your shirt with a giant waffle iron. Voila! Now everyone can tell that you are the proud owner of an Old English Sheep Dog and properly understand why you're always talking about it bumping into walls.

I had thought back to this fond memory of that pit-stained shirt I had once owned when I was brainstorming t-shirt ideas for my sister this past xmas. This is what I had come up with and hopefully someday soon I'll actually silk screen it for her and the legacy of proud dog ownership can live on.

the next

2009-03-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Someday when I have some money again I'm going to get my next tattoo. I've been thinking about it for awhile and recently contacted the amazing Rocio to see what she thought and get my ideas down on paper. After throwing a bunch of print outs, words and twirling finger motions, she sent me this as a first draft. Pretty close I'd say! Not too hot on the leaf, but I suggested perhaps a few smaller leaves with a bit of a stem. What do you think?

Not sure when it's going to happen for sure but I think I might get it done in a few steps since she thinks it will take about 3 hours. So maybe just the outline first till I can save up for the rest!

A weekend

2009-03-08T20:07:00.000-07:00

A snoring dog on your lap can only mean one thing -- it was a great weekend. Boo for the lost hour, but hi-fives for fort funston, maggie m's and a boogalicious breakfast!!

Do I have anything interesting to talk about? Of course not. Instead here are some pictures I took on a walk around my new neighborhood Saturday morning. The rain was at last drying up and you could finally venture out undie-free in that favorite skirt without feeling the draft.

A view of Bernal Hill

A disgustingly awesome storefront carpet.

yes.

How I got my period on Bernal Heights

2009-03-07T00:33:00.000-08:00

One day soon I'll charge my camera so I can take more pictures. One of those pictures will for sure be of the most beautifully charming view from atop the hill that stands between me and maggie mudds. I've taken preston up there a few times this week. It's a slow, silent slope of a walk and when we finally do reach the top and our eyes huff and puff just over the edge and we wind a bit further up over tripping rocks, we become surrounded with an entire festival of lights that is right at our fingertips and we can do nothing but stare and breathe and remember how tiny we are.

It's been a bit scary this past week. Being alone and indecisive and responsible and worried. Constantly showering and cleaning thrown up tennis balls and burning broccoli. Getting stuck under the bed while something humps your leg. Trying to get a deal on fenders. The sad farewell to organic foods, to eating out, bars and movies, clothes and too many earrings. Looking for part time jobs. Going on a kick-ass pet store interview. Burning string beans. Wondering what the hell I'm going to do with all this free time.

So many things beating and bumping through my mind and chest - over and under whelming and ultimately leaving me back to where I was when I woke up in the morning. But there, up on top of bernal hill, it didn't matter that I had just gotten my period. Up there you're only watching. You've left that other whiny damsel way down over there. When you're up on bernal hill you're too numb to think. and that's the way I like it.

Like I said, I'll post a picture as soon as I take one. But for now here is one of preston being adorable (photo by donald).

the best is yet to come

2009-03-07T00:17:00.000-08:00

The start of something fresh. I suppose a lot of things have been fresh as of late...but what has brought upon the urge to finally start this blog I've been contemplating for almost 2 years? was it the sun that's at last bleating through? the fact that my sister received the Last Sixteen Year Old to Get a Cellphone Award today? that someone told me my dog looked like a sheep? or perhaps it's that I can't stop narrating every single move I make and am tired of being the only one who knows the number of clean underwear left in my drawer or about what kind of wet grass I just wiped my hand in.

Nevertheless, here it is! I won't promise that it's going to be interesting or inspiring or even get updated on a regular basis...but I hope that in the very least it can serve to keep some very far and near beauties in touch with a tiny glimpse of the most boring parts of my life. Enjoy!