Friday, March 29, 2013

3-29-2013

If you were an animal (and BE SPECIFIC) what animal would you be?

And no, I'm not talking about the animal you look like, but the animal, when you observe yourself and your actions, which you feel most reflect that of the animal.

When thinking about it, especially today, the animal most connected to me is a puppy. A beagle puppy. Thinking about it, my temperament is fairly calm, but I'm a playful person, am versatile in social situations, and love people (and the attention that comes with them). The puppy qualities are that I love to please others, I'm a bit soft, and sometimes I don't realize the actions that I'm doing hurt others because I'm somewhat absorbed in my own world. Not that I'm self-absorbed, just somewhat ignorant/ naive of the world and others.

So think... What animal would you be?
A dog?
A tiger?
Maybe an otter or an alligator.
Not every "good" person needs to be "fluffy," just think about your personality, your general tendencies!

-K

Sunday, March 24, 2013

3-24-2013: Sunday, Sunday, Sunday....

Hey all, I know I missed last week, but now I know I have plenty to rant about/rave about...etc.

For one, I am starting to notice how many attractive older men there are. That, and how the attraction seems to be mutual. Not bad.

But on a sour note... last night I celebrated my friend's twenty first birthday. It was fun, but there was definitely binge drinking involved. I had at least ten drinks, nine of them which I remember, and the other with pictorial evidence. Not quite sure if there were more involved but I would not doubt it if that is the case. My friend also was not in good shape by the end of the night. In the beginning, it was fun, though. I have a talent of receiving free drinks, but it helps when the bar server happens to show interest in you. The moment I knew he was interested? Our eyes met and he wore a coy smile. I ask why he was smiling like that and his response was "You are smiling like this too!" The playful teasing.
There also was a guy who wanted to inhale the scent of my underarms.... odd yet humorous. Unfortunately I was utterly repulsed by how disgusting some people can be, and it seems that if anything furthers from some of the incidents of last night, I will have to involve legal action. Sad but true.

On a positive note, we survived it!
This week will be madness: it's TECH WEEK for my school's production of Lorca's Blood Wedding, because it opens this Friday! Meaning.... my week will be pretty nonstop: Class, work, working out, and tech, then it'll be showtime! And the set looks AWESOME! In addition to that, I will be setting up a meeting to work on setting up a website with an IT man. How fun! It'll be creative and add on experience to my resume! Plus, I can get a recommendation. On top of that, I will be editing/retouching my play, and working on a project due Tuesday for my lighting and sound course.
Challenge accepted.

Remember my rant about being disappointed by others? Well, it seems like that saying "When one door, another opens," is in the works, because at least three more opportunities to be impressed, or at least a temporary escape from reality, have become possible.

But for now, I am craving juice, cold orange juice.

On an endnote, I think I will start applying dietary research to my food blog, so that there will be not only awesome recipes, but those with a specific purpose! NOM.

-K

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

3-13-2013 Normality...for the moment

My, oh, my, how this week has sped by! On top of the time just flying, the workload seems to be growing at an exponential rate; surprisingly, it hasn't come off has daunting yet. This might be due to recovering from my "under-the-weather" spell, which, no matter how long or short, is always exhausting to get out of.

Alright, now down to business, I am trying to find some new recipes to try out while I still have time, which my free time might actually increase in the near future because there may be a shift in jobs soon for me. While I do not advise for people to quit a job just because they don't like it, I also know that if the job is a major reason to why you aren't happy in other aspects of you life: school, relationships, hobbies, then it probably isn't something you should continue, especially when you aren't reaping much benefit from it. This is somewhat my scenario...The good news? If I leave, I technically do have at least one other job opportunity available! Golden rule about leaving a job: ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ONE AVAILABLE BEFORE DOING SO!!! You should never let that to chance that you "might" get a job after leaving your current one.

So, I should mention that my roommate has returned to the United States from her trip to Guatemala, AND brought back awesome goodies! I should say that the gifts were not only thoughtful, but something I know I will cherish.
For example: Look at what we have here!
Is that not gorgeous? It is an apron which, if you are familiar with my other blog, you know I would use! Also, there is a beautiful beaded cuff bracelet in this image, also from Guatemala, and a gift from my roommate's mother, who I adore. It adds the perfect amount of color to most of my outfits, which typically consist of blue, black, and gray. I know, I sound so cheery in my daily attire (though I wear these colors not thinking about it, it's the type of clothes I will wear, because I dress down for my classes since I typically am dancing and sweaty, and I don't want to ruin nice clothes).

Speaking of my roommate, she encountered such a funny thing, one of her friends posted about a piece she had written in high school. Some guy on Facebook began to criticize her work in a non-constructive manner, about her usage of the words, grammar, the author herself, and was being all-around pretentious about it...the funny thing is that while he was criticizing her and making claims of how he was a nationally published poet or writer of some sort, he made so many spelling and grammatical errors that it he couldn't be taken seriously, no matter what. I think she posted it to Reddit, but once I find it, I will share it, because it was just too funny.

While on the topic of words, I am still working on writing my play, and I was stuck for a while, but I think I just had a brain blast, and have been typing away, like now! I also am picking up reading more often and reducing my usage of watching TV programs online (the major source of where I watch my TV), so that I can stimulate my brain more so than I have been for a while, which I think will help me in my writing endeavors. I would consider that a win/win situation, personally. I currently am reading the fifth installment of the Artemis Fowl series, because I am a little bit of a fantasy/science fiction nerd. The nice thing is that I have the six books of the series, but I couldn't find the fifth anywhere at the store I was at where I purchase the second, third, fourth, and sixth installments until I found one at my local bookstore. While there, I splurged a little by purchasing three more books: Inkheart, Inkspell, and Managing Your Mind (a self-help book). The third is something I hope to use to improve my focus and drive, while being able to manage other stressors in my life. I am crossing my fingers, hoping that it will work out!

Of the topic of today, I'll try to make it short and sweet so that you all can return to your everyday lives: I attended all my classes and loved every one (I left each one smiling if that says anything more), had Krishna lunch, received a postcard invitation to the first Holi Colours Festival in Alachua, which I am considering partaking in now, and I had a delicious dinner with my mother at The Warehouse, which we split ahi tuna, she had a dish with Mahi Mahi, I ate half of my snow crab macaroni and cheese with flank steak, and we split a dessert of apricot beignets. YUM! The tuna was served with a heart of palm slaw and avocado aioli, and I would say this was my favorite of the dishes for the night because the flavors played with my taste buds and they loved every second of it!

As for now, it is time to return to my feverish writing, and do some late-night de-stress work out!
Any questions or topics that any readers would like me to talk about, do not hesitate to comment or message me! While I enjoy talking about myself, I would love to read what people have to say, about anything, and talk about it.

-K


Sunday, March 10, 2013

3-10-2013... What just happened?

Spring break came and went. There isn't too much to say about it, I worked about forty hours and house-sat, waking up every day at 6:30, except on Saturday and Sunday, which I was up by 8. I luckily had some time to cram in my cooking, around work and playing chauffeur to my teenage "charge." I didn't have much time to spend with friends until last night.
Saturday, I will have to admit, was somewhat of a letdown. Someone threw me off-guard and disappointed me at the same time. The fact that it was a surprise made the day turn gray, and admittedly, there were some actions made that I kind of regret, but I can't take it back now, just have to move on.
The most irritating thing about mood change for the worse is when trying to do activities that normally would bring joy, and they don't, but rather give the opposite effect since there is the realization that this just isn't doing what you need it to do. For example, watching stand-up specials. Before the mood change, I was on the floor rolling with laughter; After, I couldn't crack a smile.

Today made for an improvement, there was some moping around and lethargy for a few hours, and then the kitchen called out to me, and I answered, making a beautiful tart and eating some tasty food aside from that.

There will be a change of tone in the next few posts soon, don't you worry. Also, a little bit less of a mopey rant, and maybe more philosophical contemplations!
-K

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

EEK, it's Wednesday! (2-27-2013)

Hello, all!
So, I kind of need to make this post a bit brisk, because 1) spring break is next week, MEANING that it's midterm time! and 2) because with the newly found energy from stress, I really need to go to the gym and exhaust some of it.
The good news for me is that I will be done with exams tomorrow, as well as my courses until after break. That good news for my readers is that when I stress, I cook, and after break, I also will have a little bit more time to get creative with my food blog, to which I already have ideas of some things I would like to accomplish! I have recently been donated a gallon bag of kumquats  with the request "find something to do with them." Challenge ACCEPTED! And I will have guinea pigs with input, thank goodness!
Also, in recent news, one of my coworkers has just turned twenty one! It's time to take them out and get them really smashed. I don't mind helping with that, and I don't encourage drinking often, but being twenty one doesn't get old until you're twenty two, and so you've got to use its perks while you have them available. Another coworker has announced her pregnancy, so I should be making her a cake, it seems, in celebration.
Anyways, so a quick anecdote of my day: I was walking home from the bus stop and there was a boy, who was maybe ten at the oldest, riding his bike on the sidewalk ahead of me. He kept looking back at me, as if he were expecting me to do something. I continued walking forward. Occasionally, he would stop, and slowly walk his bike around in a circle, and when I was close enough, he would continue biking away from me. Finally, he turned around, and was passed each other, and I continued on my way home. At the corner of the street that I turn on to get home, I heard the sound of an acorn popping, so I turned around, and it was the little boy; he had been following me up to my corner until I turned, and then he went back home. I smiled because some part of me recognized this game; the game that you play with yourself, and others, but not to the knowledge of the said other people. It was one of the more pleasant events of my week, I should say! And it also gives me joy to see a chile outdoors, not cooped up inside playing video games or absorbed by their television.
Now, I must return to my studies! And then run the stress off. Come Friday, I might do a little stress unloading, beware!

-K
***IF anybody has any questions, or topics of which they would like me to post about, feel free to comment!

Sunday, February 24, 2013

2-24-2013.-It's a weekend!

Sunday, the "Day of Rest," as they say. I find it somewhat of an irony considering this is the day I cram in an schoolwork I have not completed for the following couple of days, and it has always been this way. Today, it consists of editing a midterm paper for my modern dance course, writing review of a show and the lighting/sound/other technical aspects of it, fine-tuning movements for a dance piece, exchanging papers, writing up a study guide of some sort for another class, other doodads for food with my loving mother, and of course, work. 

This weekend, I would say, went off pretty well. My roommate's (Dana*) sister and her guy-best friend came into town for her younger sister's Quinceanera, which is a hispanic girl's "Sweet 15." Lots of food, formal dress, and fun! Unable to go, I sent my best wishes. Other roommate's (Ashley*) friend from out of town also came in, and she was sweet. One of my favorite things about when Dana's sister is in town is the energy she brings with her; yesterday morning we did yoga, freestyle, HOLLA! It was a lot of fun, and it kind of balanced my day in a healthier way, but it was also nice to have someone to talk to in the morning, since Ashley was out at her boyfriend's, and Dana was holed up in her room with her guy friend, who is also her ex-beau, so they're pretty close. 

Dana's sister, Chelsea*, goes to another school that's a few hours away, but is a lot like her sister in the aspect of how much potential she has. She is artistic, brilliant, and she has an idea of what her goals are for the future. She is a Speech Pathology major, so language is a big key to her life, but she also is very into the healthy lifestyle (thus the morning yoga), but also in her eating habits, and general exercise. As part of her summer, she traveled across the country, participating in World Wide Opportunity on Organic Farms (WWOOF), which you can volunteer to work on organic farms in exchange for room and board for a period of time. It's a great experience if you are looking to improve your education on what it takes to put out that good food that is unaltered by chemicals or hormones in bulk. Plus, there are different size farms which you could work on, which I also find depends on the person and their interests. Anyways, back to the topic of Chelsea, we talked about general life things: food, issues, guys, our weight, what most girls talk about. It is refreshing to have some people to talk to that you don't normally see.

On the subject of the weekend, it consisted mostly of work and going out for a minimal amount of time afterwards. Friday: after work, I went to this pub that I really don't like going to as a "hey ladies, let's go out!" kind of place, because it's somewhat of a sports bar, which on a night where there isn't a big game, is kind of pointless to go to unless it's wing night. It also didn't help that I wasn't getting myself intoxicated, in order to appreciate the place more, but at least I was able to offer my services as the DD! And, I know it sounds kind of bad, but sometimes I find some of my friends to be a disappointment, because of the lack of effort they put into getting maybe slightly out of their comfort zones in order to have a good time. For example, in order for them to go out to a club, they claimed that they needed to drink first. Last time I checked, that's a guy's excuse. Last night's course went its way because one of the girl's brothers couldn't get into the establishment because it was at capacity.... but that's what happens when it's a friday night and you're in midtown! If you want to dance and be in a loud place, that's where you want to go, not to the pub where a bartender can't even let a song play out for ten seconds before changing it, and again... and again... and again... I hate to say it, but there is definitely a category of friends that is labeled "Lame on a Friday night." During the day time, and most other nights, they're fantastic, because those are typically the times when being low-key is considerably acceptable. I just feel that these ladies are holding themselves back most of the time, though, when it comes down to releasing some tension and being someone you're not, if only for a few hours.
Saturday was interesting, because it kind of started at 3:30 in the morning, when I received a call. It's typically the same person, and I usually end up answering. I wouldn't necessarily say it's a "booty call" either, because we don't always get to the point. I actually have no idea what to call it. There's intimacy, there's the talking about our lives, watching movies, making plans to eat food together, goals, fears... that's kind of a relationship, right? Well, I can't classify it as that considering that I don't know what goes on when I'm not around. I'm not saying that I want to know every little detail, but more or less, I'm saying that if I don't know that this is monogamous, I won't choose to close myself off from other opportunities of hanging out and getting to know others. That's just my take. But if the guy happens to put it out there that he's interested, and wants to keep it between us, well, I may consider it.
Continuing on about Saturday, it was relatively uneventful, though I made a fantastic bleu cheese, portobello mushroom, and white cheddar burger sandwich with those new sriracha Lay's chips. YUM! The next time I make the sandwich, I must take a picture and post it....maybe I should have one today!
Went to work, well fed, met the two new people we hired, and I started to train the new girl. She's not bad, it was the first day, so there was a lot to cover. We did get distracted, though, especially when some coworkers dropped by right before we closed and chatted. And the guy, though nice, was trying to do other people's jobs, to the point that he wasn't getting his job done. We'll have to fix that today. After work, came home to lovely-dressed roommates and discussed what they wanted to do. I told them that I didn't have a huge desire to drink, and needed to get ready, so they should go ahead. I let them go on their way so I could clean up and meet them at what we like to call, "Piano Bar." By "we," I mean everybody else, I call it "Rockey's" because its full name is "Rockey's Dueling Piano Bar." I came in late, but not smelling of work, and on a normal Saturday night, cover is $5, because it is an entertainment place. I lucked out, and walked in free of charge, wearing jeans and a long sleeve crop-top, and barely any make-up. Not bad, especially since one of my friends is a bartender and always treats me. There is something about me and bars that prevents me from not having at least one drink, I think its my luck in not having to pay for it. Who refuses free, not to mention good, beverages?

After that, a friend of mine needed to talk, and I thought it was just a ploy to get some affection, but it turned out that he did need to talk. Some intense stuff right there: family drama. Most of us have been there in some form or another, where it gets really tough, and you have to expel that stress to someone outside of that circle. 

So, quick summary of the weekend: Krishna Lunch round two, work, DD, Late-night call, Yoga, Bleu cheese Burger, work, Piano Bar, getting at "holla'd at" by about twenty guys on my two bloc trek to my car, friend unloading, visit from la madre. Let's call her George.  Oh, and I should probably mention that in the span of less than twenty four hours, three cute guys kissed me, from two of them, it was unexpected. And I didn't even have to put on the red lipstick ;)

My questions: how does mascara, wearing jeans, basic walking shoes, and a simple, non-plunging/see-through top equal to getting more attention than those foxy ladies wearing their body-tight dresses with heels, and looking all dolled up, especially on a Saturday night

So, there is my recap of the weekend, and my general thoughts on people and things. Hopefully, I will return, let's say Wednesday?

-K

*Names have been changed for privacy matters.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

2-20-2013

While today may not be food, there still is much to be put out there. Hey, it's been a while since I had posted anything, so there's definitely a long list of updates. So, I decided to create a new blog for stuff not entirely food-related, but still just as much a pert of my life. Quick bits about my life: I'm a college student about to graduate, living with two other girls, both who are pretty strong in life. One of my roommates fought for her transfer acceptance into now OUR current university, and the other just earned herself a hefty scholarship, as well as an internship in the fabulous NYC! She's an Advertising major with a knack for fashion and marketing, and she's definitely an entrepreneur of sorts: she and her twin have made a business of tie-dye, she translates documents as part of her mom's business, and she does clothing projects on the side. It's kind of difficult to outshine these two in their efforts, so I do it in my personality, being the "Mama Bear," as we have established. Trust me, I found out through experience how protective I am over my friends, and how intimidating I can be for the size I am. It must be that true Southern Blood, and by Southern, I don't mean Duck Dynasty

Anyways, let's get me focused! So far this week, I have been working hard on a midterm performance piece for my Modern Dance course, using choreographers as inspirations for a short dance piece. One lady who I immediately had in mind to use is that amazing Ruth St. Denis. She was inspired by the "oriental culture," as my book described, using India and images she saw in Egypt and China for her dances. I personally loved her because her husband, Ted Shawn, was about twelve years her junior. Talk about a cougar! And while we are on the topic of dance, I had the pleasure of seeing a performance by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre! It was fantastic!

On the topic of food, my roommate has brought home a half-gallon of fresh, local, non-homogenized milk. Gotta say, it is quite the treat, especially since our house typically consumes a lot of almond milk (which we do love, don't get me wrong.... but it's like eating chicken and fish every day, but once a month, you splurge a little on a nice juicy ribeye steak... Sorry, fellow vegetarians!) I also have been restocked on my favorable siggi's skyr, and some luscious looking vegetables. Last night, I indulged on some of Leonardo's Pizza By the Slice before the show, since I've been craving pizza all day, and I do not regret it! Portobello mushroom and ricotta on a slice is heaven to me! The special was a jalapeno chicken bacon and pineapple pizza... I couldn't help myself! OM NOM NOM.

Today, the food focus is a new experience that I had: Krishna lunch. Never had it before in the four years I have attended my school, so, it was somewhat of a milestone! Apparently wednesdays are the more popular days, because it's "spaghetti wednesday." To be honest, I would say that the star of this plate was the salad with its salad dressing. I think I will make a post for my attempt at the dressing, which was delectable. The good news:I already know a few of the ingredients.

If you are not familiar with Krishna food, it is vegetarian, and can also be vegan-friendly on request. The sauce had tofu, spices, and other veggies. The dessert had a porridge-y texture, and a soft sweetness, possibly honey? I will have to research it, of course. And the beverage was a lemonade with a touch of peach. All this for five dollars and it was an "All You Can Eat," deal. I would agree that it is a good deal, and I would recommend it to anybody who is on a budget, and is looking to not eat fried food for lunch (sans the tortilla chips in the picture). The next time I go, I should have a different special, and take a picture with a review!

As for now, I shall recollect and make new discoveries! Maybe my next post will have nothing to do with food, who knows. 

-Katzyah