Off to Bed...

Feeling a bit under the weather, hope to be back to regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

Good Night!

Bully Pulpit

The headline of the Baltimore Sun today states, and I quote "The Ravens say they don't believe in hazing."  Seriously?  Isn't it a bit sad that an organization like the NFL that employs hundreds of grown men has to come out to state something that shouldn't have to be said?  Shouldn't hazing and bullying not be the norm? The case of Richie Incognito (which totally sounds like a superhero but is so not) in Florida is truly disgusting.  Who knows if it was a hate crime or hazing, but in either case he should be dismissed immediately from the NFL and not be allowed to return.  And if it is a hate crime, he should be prosecuted to the full extent of the hate crime law.

The case, however does show that anyone can be bullied and hazed, even if you are a grown man in an industry praised for toughness.  While this experience does smudge a black mark on the league, it gives them a chance to reform.  They can use it as a learning tool, to get into schools and show kids who are bullied  that it can happen to anyone, and that they're not alone.  And by prosecuting the case, they can show bullies that their behavior will not be tolerated even in an industry where hitting on a daily basis is just part of a day's work.

As I said, it's ridiculous that the Ravens have had to state the obvious, but I also applaud them for taking the situation head on.  While we've had our issues on and off the field, it's never been said the team has anything but respect for each other.  Job well done guys! Maybe you can stand as role models for players who think they're above their teammates.

On A Roll

I'm beginning to think that I should do all of my menu planning on Pinterest.  After last night's yummy dessert, I gave 2 more recipes a shot and went 2 for 2 in the delicious department.  The first, as much as I hate to admit it, was a Pioneer Woman recipe.  No offense to Ree Drummond and her little self-made empire, but she and her brood drive me up a wall.  Listening to her life on the ranch stories while she's holed up in her ginormous house, makes my skin crawl.  But that's all beside the point.  What I wanted to say is that I attempted her Sesame Noodles, and realized she could actually cook.  Those darn things were delicious!  With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, I had exactly what I was craving. Unfortunately I was so excited to scarf them down, I forgot to take a picture, so you'll just have to rely on Ree's.  Oh and if you're planning to give these a shot too, take the advice of a friend of mine.  She told me to definitely not forgot the green onions and boy was she right.  They're delicious in the sauce!

As a side dish to accompany my pork chops and Sesame Noodles, I wanted something different than the usual green beans or corn.  And for some reason, I always equate bananas with Asian food so I tried these sweet bananas with honey and cinnamon.  They were good, just not nearly as pretty as the ones in the picture below (once again, I was hungry and the iPhone was just too far away...)  Even though they were a bit mushy, they were sweet and banana-y and delicious.  They may not have been the perfect accompaniment for pork and noodles, but they certainly hit the spot! 

Autumn Deliciousness

A few years ago I discovered Almost Better Than Anything Cake and fell in love.  The recipe can be found on the box of (I think...) Pillsbury Chocolate Cake mix.  I wasn't sure of it at first.  Poking holes in a perfectly good cake and ruining it with super sweet condensed milk? It just seemed unnatural.   But then I tasted it and I swear I could hear angels sing.  They'd chosen the perfect name for this dream of a dessert.

Now with Pinterest, I see nothing but knockoffs of this perfect dessert.  There are mint variations, and banana pudding variations.  And for fall there just so happens to be a Pumpkin variation.  So, of course, I had to give it a shot.  I must admit, I wasn't feeling optimistic when it smelled funny baking and still looked uncooked when I took it from the oven.  But after some serious doctoring with the condensed milk and caramel and Cool Whip, and the best part: toffee, it all seemed to work out wonderfully.

I must admit, the chocolate is and will always be my favorite - there's just nothing better than a cold fudgey cake oozing caramel and toffee. However, the pumpkin for the fall is a pretty darn delicious alternative; same consistency, just a bit more cinnamon-y.  My guinea pigs weren't too sure about it though, so it seems I have quite a few left-overs - I really don't think I mind...

Snow Heads Acquired: Mission Accomplished

Aren't they cute? : )

Now if only the Ravens had actually won (as well as the other 332 teams I'd played in the football pool), the weekend would have been downright perfect...

Falling Behind

Tonight is that dreaded night where everyone in America (except Arizona for some reason...) turns their clock back an hour.  In theory this falling back, is much easier than springing forward since we gain a whole hour of sleep, but in reality it's just not.  This evening it was already dark as night at 6:30.  Isn't that enough?  Why do we now need to make it dark as night at 5:30?  Not sure about you but my brain tells me to go to bed when it starts getting dark, and it doesn't shut up even though it's darker earlier.

Only 7 months 'til Summer sunlight late into the evening is back again...

Friday Five

1. I have to admit, even though I feel entirely at home in London, this little list spoke volumes.  The truth is that it's just a little different than being in a US city and when I say different I mean good different.  Numbers 1 and 15 were especially true for me.  While the recording of the nice woman incessantly repeating "Please mind the gap between the train and the platform" is quintessential London, it may seem redundant to us infrequent passengers.  But I have to say I'm glad she continues to say it,  because some of those darn gaps look like they could swallow you whole into the train tracks never to be heard from again...

2. My other favorite article of the week.  Mostly because it perfectly illustrates the reasons why I needed to lug so many carry-ons back from the UK AND because I was just in #19.

3. PicMonkey.com: Yes I want to eventually get Photoshop.  Yes, I'm only using this site because I'm cheap.  Yes, I'm annoyed that there are several other super things this cool site can do that I can't access without paying.  But, it also allows me to do some super cool things to pictures with a few clicks of a mouse without having to learn everything about a new program.  I have to admit, I'm not saying that mine are this good, but some of the edits I've seen others pull off are even better than some I've seen in Photoshop.  I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop that will no longer allow this awesome product to be free.  

4. Travel Planning: I realize I just got back but the bestie and I have been planning to take a trip to celebrate our 30ths (just one year late) for a while now and this evening was the first brainstorm session.  In 3 hours, the destination changed from driving to one country to never leaving ours.  But we seem to finally have a plan that we both like so here comes the fun part: Discovering all the fun things to see and do!

5. Snowhead Day:  Tomorrow is snowhead day.  Each year, a favorite country store of mine has a Christmas open house and releases all the new snowheads and snowmen for the new season.  Each year I find at least one new little guy I've never seen.  Here's hoping tomorrow doesn't blow my streak.  And for those of you who have no idea what a snowhead is, I ask that you see Exhibit A below: 

Each ornament on this little tree is a snowhead.  Don't judge.  I don't know why I think they're so cute, I just do.