Weekend Update

I took KathyL to Cuba 512 last night. She'd never been and she loved it! I'd only had the (amazing) Cubano sandwich there before. Oh, and the boniato frito, which is great with aioli. We had the ceviche appetizer, served with mariquitas, which rocked. It's a huge app that could easily serve 4 people. I had the churrasco for dinner, which knocked it out of the park. It's nice to be able to branch out from the first thing you ordered somewhere and find that the other dishes are just as good. Also nice to have a great experience when bringing someone in for the first time! It's an exceptional place.

We're heading out today to Llano and Burnet with Scott-n-Julie to find some wildflowers. Maybe Llano and Pontotoc, depending on what we see on the way to Llano. Should be a pretty day!

Friday 5: Food Me Once, Food Me Twice

1. What do you like on your frozen yogurt?

baby M&Ms and almond slices

2. How do you feel about hot breakfast cereals?

they are, without exception, gross

3. What did you last put brown sugar in or on?

a stir-fry sauce

4. What’s a food item you willingly overpay for?

great sushi

5. What did you last add vinegar to?

cucumber salad

Good News

Yesterday was Lauren's oncologist visit, to discuss results of her 4th MRI in a year-and-a-half. Her brain mass is still unchanged from the first MRI. Whew! Now she gets to wait 9 months for the next one. She'll probably go to a yearly schedule if that one is the same. Such a relief for all of us.

The docs want to keep checking it, but it's unlikely that it's a malignant tumor.  Because of its location, a biopsy would be risky. Hopefully in the next few years, imaging technology will improve to be able to determine what it is, so she can stop having checkups on it. Just very happy for her to be able to rest easier each time she gets a good report.

My website Facebook page hit 500 likes today!

FINALLY!

I wanted to hit 500 before I close the site in August. Ha! I hovered at 498 for a few months, then got two likes this week. Woohoo!

I'm collecting Never Have I Ever questions for our birthday girls' weekend next month. There are some GREAT ones. Mwaahahahahaaa!! I'm also bringing Cards Against Humanity and a clingwrap gift ball. And a lot of Riesling. Fun fun. Can't wait.


Saturday 9: The Heat of the Moment (1982)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) What's something you did or said "in the heat of the moment?" 

I told a coworker he was "just being... silly!" when I was going to say "just being A JERK!" Gah. I was so irritated. Kyra even brought it up at the last happy hour, a full year after it happened. "That was my favorite part of the argument- Kathy telling him he was being SILLY!" Bwahaha!

2) Asia's founder and bass player, John Wetton, passed away in January. One of his bandmates remembered him as a reliable performer who made everyone around him look better. Do you enjoy being the center of attention? Or would you, like Mr. Wetton, prefer to play a supporting role?
I like playing a supporting role.

3) Asia is a British band who played their first US concert at Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York. The nearest major city -- Ottawa, Canada -- is a 90-minute drive from Pottsdam. When you were last in the car for an hour or more? Where were you going?

Last weekend when we drove from Austin to Boerne/San Antonio.

4) The song refers to disco hot spots, which apparently, by 1982, no one wanted to go to anymore. Let's make that negative into a positive. Describe your perfect night out with friends. Where would you go?

Out to a nice dinner, then hang out and chat at a lounge with a view, like the Hyatt Regency on Ladybird Lake or The Grove in Lakeway.

5) In 1982, the year this song was popular, someone laced bottles of Tylenol with cyanide. That's why we now have tamper-proof caps on many products. Have you used anything in a tamper-proof bottle yet today? 

I opened a bottle of soy sauce that was pretty tamper proof.

6) In 1982, Time Magazine's Person of the Year wasn't a person at all, it was "the computer." What do you use your computer for most often?
Lately, database programming. Typically, shopping and looking up stuff.

7) 1982 also saw the premiere of The Weather Channel. Where do you learn the day's weather forecast? (Watching the local news on TV, checking your phone, looking out the window ...)
Watching the morning news or checking my phone.

8) In 1982, Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie, Conan the Barbarian, was a hit in theaters. When you settle down to watch a movie, is it usually a fantasy, like Conan? Or do you prefer another genre (action, comedy, adventure, romance, drama, classic ...)

I like a lot of different genres, but my favorite is probably comedy.

9) Random question: What is something you try to avoid?

infectious diarrhea

Boerne Weekend

Jeff and I spent a fun weekend away in Boerne! We went to Cascade Caverns and hung out on Main Street. We saw a play at the Boerne Community Theater. Love the drive to and from the area as well.

Tracy, the constant world traveler, who I haven't seen in person since the night we met John Taylor a few years ago, has been doing the same weekend trips as I have the past two weekends. She was doing a wine tour along Hwy 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City the day we went week before last, and she and some girlfriends were in Boerne this weekend, too! Too weird! 

Sunday Stealing: The TV Shows Questions

1. Name a TV series in which you have seen every episode at least twice:

This is random, but... George Lopez. I watched it regularly when it was on originally, and I turn it on in the early morning hours on Nickelodeon, when I wake up really early. I've definitely seen every episode at least twice. Still funny!

2. Name a show you can't miss:

This is Us

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show:

James Spader

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show:

Shia LaBeouf

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from:

American Housewife

6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys:

TMZ. And for the record, plenty of other people enjoy it! Just not anyone in my house.

7. Name a TV show which you've been known to sing the theme song:

Family Guy

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch:

The Blacklist

9. Name a TV series you own:

Impractical Jokers

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting chops in television:

Ice-T

11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series?

This is Us, "Jack Pearson's Son." Is one episode any more moving and amazing than another?  This one was particularly moving to me.

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven't gotten around to yet:

Game of Thrones. Waaay too late on this one though!

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad?

Often. I've just stopped watching The Arrangement after giving it three episodes. The dialogue is painful.

14. Name a show that's made you cry multiple times:

This is Us

15. What do you eat when you watch TV?

Pretzels or grapes- something finger-friendly. As a special treat, sometimes we'll actually pop some popcorn.

16. How often do you watch TV?

It's on most of the day, when I'm not working, mostly for background noise and if something temporarily catches my attention. We watch every night.

17. What's the last TV show you watched?

The Chew. I usually try to sit down and watch it at the noon hour.

18. What's your favorite/preferred genre of TV?

reality

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with?

Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show on Saturday mornings. And Happy Days!

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched?

The Arrangement. Three hours of my life I'll never get back.

21. What's the weirdest show you enjoyed?

the first season of Breaking Amish

22. What TV show scared you the most?

Trilogy of Terror- the "Amelia" episode. Yep.

23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched?

I liked The Daily Show, The Soup, and Who's Line is it Anyway best. If I had to choose a sitcom, I would say The Office.

Beware the Ides of March!

Throwback Lyrics of the Day today!

...So take a good look at my face
You'll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer it's easy to trace
the tracks of my tears...

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "Tracks of My Tears"

Such a great song! Is it in your head now? Then my work here is done.

I have two makeup recs today. First, Loreal Brow Stylist Plumper. If you have light colored brows, like me, or sparse areas (I have one of those, too), this brow gel will be your best friend. It goes on lightly and if you don't think it's enough, just go over it again, until you have the result you want. Easy! It builds on itself (which really handles the sparse issue well) and stays on all day.

Next is Loreal Voluminous Butterfly mascara. It goes on very well with one coat, but if you want to really knock it out of the park, put on two coats. It's not clumpy at all and the applicator does a great job of separating lashes and distributing the mascara. It's lengthening and thickening. My only complaint about it is you have to be careful while it's drying or it can speckle your eyelid or underneath your eyes. It doesn't take long to dry, so just be aware of it and definitely make it your last eye makeup step.

In other news, I see We-Vibe is paying out $10,000 claims for a privacy breach. Also noted in the article: ...a software flaw could allow a skilled hacker to potentially take control of the vibrator remotely. 

Wouldn't that be an interesting surprise! Well, how would you even know? You don't have a clue what the other person is doing. Would your partner be able to tell? Hmm.

Of Bachelors and Ocnology Degrees

Taking a break from database programming to hang out on the back porch and blog.  It's a GORGEOUS day in the ATX, y'all. If you're at the office, you should leave now.

In honor of The Bachelor finale last night, Jeff brought me home a red rose. So cute!

As far as the results went, Nick and Vanessa will never make it to the altar. I think at this point that he is probably as sick of her constant "relationship talks" as we are. They spent more of their time together on the show discussing the status of their relationship than they did actually getting to know each other. You're supposed to have those deep talks once in a blue moon, not every single time you cross paths. And they don't usually even start until you've been dating a while. So annoying. That girl is needy, man. Contrast her to Raven, who is superfun and attentive and kept her insecurities to herself. You can't create chemistry where there isn't any though. Understandable. Raven will meet someone on Bachelor in Paradise, I'm sure. She's adorable.

For Kathy's birthday, her mom bought her a wine tour through a car service that takes you to any wineries you choose. We spent Sunday afternoon in the Johnson City/Fredericksburg area, hanging out at Becker Vineyards, Torre de Pietra Vineyards and Pedernales Cellars.

Becker was my favorite of the three, with its fabulous wines and large, Napa winery feel. It was packed to the gills with people, but we didn't have much trouble cozying in at the bar to do our tasting. Definitely take the tour there, because you'll see their beautiful wine cellar, where they host private events. There is one of those long wooden tables down there with twenty or so chairs. Very nice. The wines were all delicious. My favorite was probably the Clementine, a white port style wine, but all the wines I tasted were honestly outstanding.

Next was Torre de Pietra. The grounds are really pretty there and the server for our tasting was very nice. We enjoyed talking with her. The wines weren't our favorite. There was something about them that had an artificial taste to me. Also, they tasted almost watery, without any sort of body to them. I don't know. Just very different from anything I've had before.

Last was Pedernales. They have a splendid view of the hills out the front porch. Their wines were very good. They do tastings from a specific list, so you purchase one of two lists of wines. At the other two wineries, we picked our own wines. I liked all the Pedernales wines I tried, not quite as much as my Becker wines, but I chose sweeter wines at Becker, so that was likely the difference. Kathy joined the Wine Club, so we'll be going back for quarterly tastings.

At every winery, Kathy asked about the history of the winery and whether or not the vintner went to wine school. She mentioned that there is a renowned winemaking certification program at UC Davis. I noticed at the Pedernales winery on the brochure it said that the owner went to UC Davis.

Me: Look! The owner went has a degree in oncology from UC Davis. That's a coincidence.
Kathy: Oncology? Hmm. Maybe oenology?
Me: Nope. Oncology. See?
Kathy(reading): Oenology.
Me (rechecking): Oh.  No, it's OCNOlogy.
Kathy (laughing): That's an E! Oenology is the winemaking program I've been talking about!
Me: That's an E??

We were giggling up a storm over that whole exchange. Maybe it's time for reading glasses. Or maybe I just had too much wine tasting at that point. Hey, Dr. Becker from Becker Vineyards is an endocrinologist, so it seems a reasonable idea that an oncologist could set up shop down the road. Or an oenologist.

Well, it's nice to learn new words anyway.

Quest for Non-Tangy Ranch Dressing

I had quite a time several years ago looking for the recipe for Monterey House brown sugar candy (the little brown sugar candy in a tiny wax paper bag at the bottom of the chip basket) that I eventually decided might be Penuche Fudge. Everyone and their brother said something like, "OOOH. I love that stuff. Here's the recipe," followed by a recipe for standard, everyday pralines, which they happened to sell at the front register. I still haven't made the recipe I found, because I can't bear the thought that my months of searching were for naught.

Also, I may get diabetes just looking at it. Mmm. So good.

(UPDATE 11DEC2020: Soon, you may be able to buy the original Monterey House candy here!)

Well, now I've been searching for a recipe for what a lot of us call "restaurant Ranch dressing." I've come to find, however, that much like the infamous Pralines de Casa de Monterey, most people seem to want something completely different than I'm looking for. They mostly want a thinner Ranch dressing than the bottled stuff. I want a less tangy version. I like the creamy, yes thinner, but most importantly NON-TANGY taste at most restaurants.

The answer is almost always "make Hidden Valley Ranch dressing from the packet at home, rather than buying the bottle!" Uh... no. It has the same tangy flavor as the bottle. Tastes better than the bottle, of course, but it ain't what the restaurants are serving. My favorite recommendation is "make Hidden Valley Ranch at home and be sure to use buttermilk." Buttermilk=tangy.

One of my favorite ranch dressings is Double Dave's ranch. I asked them for the recipe years ago and they claimed at the time that it was just Hidden Valley made at the store. Now they package it under their own label, so I don't think that is the case anymore, if it ever was. Unfortunately, their packages are about an eighth of a cup, so it's a no-go to buy a buttload of those.

Another suggestion online is that most restaurants use Sysco Ranch Dressing, so we should purchase Sysco Ranch Dressing at a restaurant supply store. I've heard of restaurant supply stores, but I have no idea where one is. And do they just let any regular person peruse their wares, or is this like the designer showrooms where you have to have a license of some sort to buy? Maybe you could just don a chef's hat? Either way, I don't want to purchase six gallons of Sysco Ranch, to find out that it is the same old tangy crap as every other bottled ranch at the grocery store. Also, six gallons of ranch dressing would outlast a lifetime.

Look up "non-tangy ranch dressing" and you get all sorts of recipes with honey and sweeteners added to counter the tangy taste. Oy vey. A thousand times no.

I may just try to make a straight up homemade version, where I avoid adding anything tangy.


Sunday Stealing: The Questions of Age

1. By a certain age, women should 

stop wearing their hair parted in the middle.

2. By a certain age, men should 

let their hair go gray. 

Not sure why it's all hair tips today, but you're welcome.

3. When I was young I thought by now I would 

I don't know that I thought this far ahead when I was young. I probably would have assumed that by now I would be where I am. I feel like I'm exactly where I ought to be.

4. Now that I am older I wish

my family lived nearby.

5. You know that you are too old to do an activity when 

everyone who is doing it is at least a decade younger than you.

6. You know you are too young to do an activity when

everyone who is doing it is at least a decade older than you.

7. When I was in high school I listened to the music of 

Prince, Duran Duran, Madonna, Wham, The Go-Go's

8. When I was in college (or the next four years after high school) I listened to the music of 

INXS, George Michael, Depeche Mode, Huey Lewis and the News, The Bangles

9. These days, at my age I find myself listening music of

Maroon 5, Train, Bruno Mars, Adele, Sia, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga

10. For my last birthday I 

don't remember what I did. And not because we partied too hard.

11. On my next birthday I want to 

take a trip with my gal pals. Oh, we ARE doing it! For ALL our birthdays!

12. The best birthday present I ever got was 

ack I don't know.

13. The first time I felt that I was an adult was when 

I drove by myself for the first time, after I got my license.

14. The last time I felt like I was still a kid was when 

my colleagues and I opened Christmas crackers at the investigators' meeting "afterparty" in London. We were all tired and giddy from finishing up the long meeting that afternoon, and we were throwing those paper tape things around at each other and blowing little whistles and stuff. Very fun.

15. I would sum up 2016 by saying

it could have been worse.

16. I hope I will sum up 2017 by saying in December

what a relief it was when Donald Trump resigned. Whew!

17. So far in terms of age, I feel my first big milestone was

graduating high school.

18. As I look forward to the rest of my life’s journey, I feel my biggest milestone of my life will be

seeing Lauren living the life she wants to live, doing what she wants to do.

19. By the time I was the age I am now I am surprised that I haven’t yet

thrown my back out. KNOCK ON WOOD.

20. By the time I am 65, I hope that I have

enough money to retire and do whatever we want to do.

Portugal

I wrote a haiku about Kleenex vs. a handkerchief, but it was pretty gross, so I'm not going to post it.

You're welcome.

I am feeling okay now, still pretty stopped up in my sinuses, but functioning. Went to happy hour at Chuy's with the work Biostats chicks yesterday. Always a grand time with them! Hmm- actually I'm the only one still a Biostats chick. Well, what's important is that I got a New Mexican martini. Huzzah!

Finally met Mel's BFF, Cory, at this meetup! The two of them have a lot of great stories, one of which was when they were in Madrid for work and met some guys from Portugal who made fun of their American accents.

Mel: Where are you guys from?
Guys: Portugal.
Cory: Where?
Guys: Portugal.
Mel and Cory: *giggle*
Guys: eh-Spain (gesturing with their hands up)...  Port-you-gahl... (gesturing with their hands to the indicate the left side)...  eh-Spain...  Port-you-gahl...
Mel: OH! PORCH-UH-GUHL!
Guys (sighing): Yes. PORCH-UH-GUUUHL.

Americans.

Ha!

Saturday 9: Magic (1980)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This 1980 video depicts Olivia Newton-John as a performer in small club. For the past few years, she's been performing regularly at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. Have you ever been to Las Vegas?

I've been twice- once with a large group of girlfriends for a concert at the MGM, and once with Teresa and her friend

2) Many tourists who want to get away from the glitz of Vegas travel less than 20 miles to visit Red Rock Canyon. This national park is known for its hiking trails, which provide a view of the desert flora and red rock peaks. Tell us about a time you were impressed by natural beauty.

I'll go local here. There's a hell of a view of the Hill Country on a random curve on Hwy 165 going south to Blanco. HELL of a view, more than 180 degrees, straight into the valley.

3) One of the best-reviewed restaurants in Las Vegas is Andiamo Italian Steak House. When you order a steak, how do you request it be cooked: rare, medium rare, medium, medium well or well done?

medium rare, baby

4) Olivia Newton-John's father was an officer in MI5, the UK's secret service. Sam's most recent encounter with the law didn't have much drama or intrigue: she asked a cop for directions to the highway. Tell us about the last time you spoke to an officer of the law.

Last encounter with a police officer in uniform was my warning for speeding in Galveston near Pirate's Beach, years ago.

5) ONJ was awarded the OBE -- Order of the British Empire -- by Queen Elizabeth in honor of her contributions to the arts. Here's your opportunity to boast. What is something you've done lately that you received praise for?

User acceptance test case writing and testing. It's a curse.

6) A breast cancer survivor, Olivia helped found a cancer center in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia. When you think of Australia, what comes to mind?

photos of several of my friends who have climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge

7) "Magic" was one of the top-selling records of 1980. Also that year, Post-It notes debuted. Do you enjoy shopping for office supplies, or do you consider it a chore?

LOVE office supplies

8) In 1980, the NASA space probe returned the first photos of Saturn back to earth. Do you believe intelligent life forms from other planets are trying to learn more about us?

maybe

9) Random question: Are you more confident in your looks or your intelligence?

intelligence

Sick Ramblings

Well, not mentally unstable ramblings... just ramblings of the common cold.

This is the longest cold ever. Day 9 and counting. The first several days, I thought I only had a "touch of something." But no. I'm feeling a bit better today than yesterday, but that's not saying a lot.

I'm heading into Stage 2 of the head congestion journey. Stage 1 is the nose-running-like-a-faucet stage. Stage 2 is the Congestion stage, where all that watery stuff firms up and takes up residence in every open space in your head. One good thing about stage 2 is that the coughing should be improving very soon. One can only hope.

Stage 3? That's the Oh-Thank-God Stage, when one day, long after you've forgotten you were sick, your ear pops and you realize you haven't been able to hear properly for the past several weeks because of all the snot stuck in your head.

From my favorite sick day entertainment website- xkcd

I'm totally psyched that Erika Jayne is going to be on DWTS this season! I may actually watch the show regularly, for the first time ever. Erika Girardi is my favorite of all the real housewives at the moment. I was a bit skeptical of her when she first joined RHOBH and it took me a few episodes to "get to know her" on the show, but I've really liked her ever since. I read that she will be full-on Erika Jayne (her performance persona) for DWTS, which should be really fun to watch. She should be in the running to win it all.

Jeez. Kleenex should really be at least twice as thick as they make it. Does anyone use it single thickness? Maybe to wipe a smudge of makeup or something. Certainly not for blowing your nose. Gah.

I managed not to watch the Trump speech last night. We watched DVR'd stuff instead. I got a complaining text from my aunt about the speech pre-empting This is Us. I know! What the heck. Last week's episode with William's trip and death was amazing. I also really loved the moment from the previous episode when Kevin left his play's opening night to take care of Randall. I get teary just thinking about it.

I notice Timothy Busfield, who was also on Thirtysomething with Ken Olin, directed an episode. Too cool!