Holiday weekend, with odds and ends

[chanaleh]

I'm off work today, of course. And no, not for Rosh Chodesh Tammuz. :-D The TigerParents are up for the weekend, and we're going to have a tremontstshul Shabbat picnic dinner at the fireworks tonight. Also, jessruth comes up tomorrow for a quick dress-fitting trip.

On Wednesday, I had my first casualty of working at a school: I got my car window broken! by a stray rock, thrown by a miscreant child (school's out for the year, but they're having Sports Camp this week and next) over the schoolyard wall, and accidentally striking my car (parked as usual on Rte. 9). The camp counselor on duty at the time, who discovered the damage, was SUPER apologetic, and so was the miscreant's father, who called me at my desk Thursday to offer any amends. I told him it wasn't actually a big deal -- insurance will cover it with no deductible or penalty to me -- but that he should feel free to be stern with the kid on my behalf. And it's all fixed now... except that there are still some micro-sparkly bits ground into my car upholstery, to which the glass place said "oh yeah, we always recommend you get it detailed". So, um, maybe that will be an extra expense to take up with the miscreant. Next week.

I haven't heard about this anywhere other than through Goldstar Events, but I am pretty sure it might be of interest to some: Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience at TD Banknorth Garden. July 16-20 only! Based on the award-winning BBC TV series! Audio-animatron-eriffic! Rawr!

hatam_soferet pointed to a really nice essay the other day on anti-procrastination. People struggling with I-can't-do-anything (especially of the depressive variety) should read it. Now. And bookmark it.

We made these for dinner the other night: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos. "Vegetarian burritos are filled with a puree of sweet potatoes, black beans, onions, chiles, garlic, and cilantro. They are rolled up like enchiladas and baked. Serve topped with homemade salsa. From Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites (Clarkson Potter Publishers)." They actually don't taste much like sweet potatoes at all (to me); I think chipotle sauce would be a nice addition to the filling for next time (I also melted a little cheddar on top in the last 5 minutes). And the preparation method was slightly more bother than I normally would take, but I think it will be an interesting "company dinner" variation for future use.

On which note, off to lunch! Happy July 4th!

Comments

[muffyjo]

"Procrastination is very closely linked to low self-esteem and fear of adult responsibility, so making yourself feel like a badly behaved child is stupid. You don't want to underline your failures, you want to forget about them and get on with it."

OMG, this SO speaks to me. Thank you so much for the link!

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

I have three days' worth of company dinners ahead of me--are the sweet potato burritos worth the trouble? :)

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

If you're looking for dairy/veg options, I'd say yes. "Trouble" in this case meant "dirtying the potato masher" :-) as well as "turning on the oven for 30 minutes", when it seemed like you might as well just eat the things immediately after filling them if the filling was still warm enough for your taste. But, it was good, and something different, and putting them in a baking dish makes it feel slightly more formal than my usual assemble-your-own burrito offerings.

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

Oh, I forgot that I don't have a potato masher. I imagine pulsing the food processor could also do the job though, in this case if not for regular potato mashing.

[chanaleh.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, the ACTUAL recipe suggests a food processor for the pureeing. We just don't have one (yet!)... and I might or might not find that *more* trouble to use, if we did. >:-)

[msmidge.livejournal.com]

I see. FWIW, the time I tried to make real mashed potatoes using the food processor, it was awful--they came out gluey. I think a good mixer works though--that's what my grandma uses and her mashed potatoes are heavenly.

[gmpe.livejournal.com]

You can food processor sweet potatoes. Definitely NOT regular potatoes. The starch structure is different so they behave differently.

[sanpaku.livejournal.com]

I was going to read the essay on procrastination, but I think I'll do it later.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

"And it's all fixed now... except that there are still some micro-sparkly bits ground into my car upholstery"

Try using strips of duck tape to pick the glass bits. I found it to be very effective on carpets.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*makes note of Walking With Dinosaurs*

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

On Wednesday, I had my first casualty of working at a school: I got my car window broken!
This really threw me at first - "but it's such a nice neighborhood!" Now it makes sense though. Sorry you got "hit" but glad the kid's father is doing the honorable thing.

[c1.livejournal.com]

+1. Too often these days, you see people being less than honourable.
I'll also echo deguspice's comment re: duct tape.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Your British origins are showing. ;-)

[c1.livejournal.com]

You'd have laughed upon seeing me at the fireworks. Yes, I had the Union Jack socks on.

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Of course! Did anyone notice?

[c1.livejournal.com]

The Grrrl thought it was cute. Does that count?

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I would say so.