Oct 30, 2015

Things I Eat: Bitters

I am sooo bitter!

Kidding.

Not really.

My latest discovery in the world of beverages is bitters. What are bitters, Wikipedia?
A bitters is traditionally an alcoholic preparation flavored with botanical matter such that the end result is characterized by a bitter, sour, or bittersweet flavor. Numerous longstanding brands of bitters were originally developed as patent medicines, but are now sold as digestifs and cocktail flavorings.
Right. Well, they are good in cocktails like my all-time-current favorite Old Fashion which is made with Angostura bitters but with which I replaced with Black Walnut Bitters after going to a local bar and drinking something called a ‘81 Amaro (wild turkey 81 proof, amaro averna, orange peel syrup, black walnut bitters).

So I got myself some Fee Brother's bitters - the black walnut because I love walnut and black walnut. It's a Hungarian thing.

Bitters are commonly used for cockatils but nothing prevents me from bring it to work to spice up my coffee. I strongly recommend you give it a try. Just be careful - a lot of bitters contain alcohol and you don't want to be caught drunk at work.


At least this just looks like I'm adding Winchester Sauce to my coffee. . .

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Oct 28, 2015

Mystery Case Files: World UpSideDown!

As anyone who knows me knows - my high holy day is the day after Thanksgiving as that is the historic release date of Mystery Case Files (UPDATE YOUR SITE, GUYS!) and this year the installment will be "Key to Ravenhurst."

Then this happened. . .


That meddling Carlos. . .we're friends, just so you know. Here is the evidence:


I don't know what to do with myself right now. . .

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Oct 26, 2015

In Defense of Spiders

You know why I really hate it when adults smash spiders and kill snakes and freak out around lizards and frogs around children?

Because it teaches children that cute, fuzzy animals are worthwhile and when something is scaly or has more than four legs it is to be feared and when you fear something you should always kill it. Spiders bite you and they are ugly, we say. We don't rejoice at a friendly house-spider who catches other insects that can carry diseases.

We teach them that a daddy long legs in the garage should be met with screams and then immediate fatal action. I remember even having people tell me how fun it is to pull off each of its legs.

We don't teach them to respect bees and avoid them because we share the world with many different types of creatures and people - we show (and tell) children bees can sting and should be destroyed. We don't teach our children sometimes you get stung and it hurts but you won't die. We don't tell them that there are prescriptions of danger, truth and life outside their own world.

We don't teach children the number one sign of a healthy garden is a couple of snakes - we teach them to behead all snakes and fear them. All snakes! Because a couple are poisonous in the world. Which ones? Doesn't matter, all snakes need to die. We don't tell our children snakes like to avoid people and if you see one, it's best to leave it alone or walk away. We certainly don't teach them how to identify poisonous snakes - being armed with education is work, killing everything you fear is easy.

No wonder children run screaming from a bumblebee at a flower. No wonder they can't sleep with a fly at the window. No wonder, as adults, they run over turtles trying to cross the road with their cars.

Think about it. We teach children when something is different then the accepted fuzzy, pretty norm - you should destroy it.

We don't teach children that nature has a place for everything. Every animal, every human. We teach them only cute animals should be allowed to live and should be respected.

We teach them to fear things that are different. We don't take the opportunity to say, "Wow, you saw a lizard? Let's look up lizards and see what kind it was. I wonder if the lizard was scared of you!"

We don't say, "Wow, that spider sure is funny looking. I wonder why it has such long legs, don't you? Let's find out."

We don't say, "That bee did sting you. But, you'll be ok. I think that bee just got so scared when it saw you! Listen, when you see a lot of bees in a hole in the ground or in a hive, you stay away, that's the bee's home and you are big and scary. The bees think you are going to step on them or hurt their babies. Did you know they make honey, too?"

Kids who learn to face fear and uncertainly with education, to face things that are different with curiosity, and who learn they have a tremendous ability to hurt others - I can't say for sure, but, I think that those sound like some pretty awesome kids.

Then when someone comes into their world who is different - maybe it's not that hard for these kids to shrug and accept. And then they grow up. And then there might just be less hate and more understanding in the world. Maybe.

Being a parent is hard.

Look, kid, you don't have to fall in love with spiders, you just have to give them their space.


Oct 23, 2015

Writing, Writing - Brutal Fighting

I’ve been writing and re-writing up a storm lately – which is good, because if I’m going to have to sit and drink and watch football, I can amuse myself with writing.

Some of the major problems are that I have huge chunks of “missing reality time” because I am so mentally focused in another world. Ok, that’s really the major problem. While I get such joy and fulfillment out of investing myself in these characters and stories, it is brutal work. I don't leave my place for days, it feels. Nothing gets done. But it seems to be over in a snap. 

And now that I spend all this time spinning my creative wheels, I wish I could get some honest feedback on my little series – how does one go about doing that? Most people I know are far too busy to read things. . mm. .that they don’t actually want to read. And getting honest feedback is also hard. An actual critique not based on, "Well, I don't actually like stories about ____" or "It's so great with the good stuff."

Oh, and I have no idea where or how to get something like this published. That’d be cool those. Real goal there. Finish and get UNNAMED series published. Gotta get the ideas flowing!



I also wish I could surround myself with other creative people - other writers. People to talk shop with. Sometimes it's hard because really all I want to do is avoid people. I was part of a fantastic writing group and we were all supportive and all had different styles and I just felt so alive talking and working with them. 


Then it broke apart because we secretly hated each other and had no ambition. 

Oh well. Back to corporate America to get the monies.


Oct 21, 2015

Movember on my Mind

I know it's still October but that doesn't mean I'm not getting ready for Movember!
The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising $650 million and funding over 1,000 programs focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.
Are you Mo-ing this year? You should. I even got my event kit in the mall!


And I set up my box with MINIMAL cussing. Actually, opening all the Movember stuff wasn't that hard. And I can't open ANYTHING. I don't know if I'm weak or incompetent - probably both.


Movember is broken into four specific and important areas:

  • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34 in the US
  • Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the US.
  • Poor mental health since around 1 in 4 adults in the US will experience a mental health problem in a given year.
  • Physical inactivity since around half (53.8%) of American men meet the federal guidelines for physical activity.

You can start donating to me and/or my team by going to my page (thusly, donating to me) Maddie's Movember Page!

Do it.


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Oct 19, 2015

Facebook Status Update: Terror

What are you doing to me Facebook?! How is this a good idea?

I mea. ..other than for poking fun at my emotionally compromised wannabe photag friends?



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Oct 14, 2015

Maddy Replies to Fear Quote

Someone posted this on Facebook the other day


And I wanted to reply:

Probably make really bad and destructive decisions that result in hurting myself and others. About a week after not being afraid, I'm sure I would be dead and probably someone else, too.


But, I didn't. Because it was part of a sales pitch or something. 


Oct 12, 2015

Avatars R Us

I got some questions about how I make the avatar I use on this blog. Mostly from people who I turned into avatars. 

I use a site called Avachara which lets you create free avatars. I do advise you to check out the boy AND girl tabs for features. Items are broken into two sections based on gender - but you can mix and match by clicking on the Boy or Girl tab.


Not your style? There are aplenty of others ones! Take, for example, this Great Gatsby one where you can choose a gender.


You get a couple more options for saving stuff. Pretty awesome. 


I'm an awesome hotel guest!


Or you can just spend all night making yourself into a superhero with the Create Your Own Superhero maker from Marvel. It was a little harder for me to save it - I think it actually downloaded some other software. Just letting you all know. 


Even with some weird stuff being downloaded on my computer - I still make a good superhero. 


And, yes, you can make an Avatar avatar with the Doll Divine creator.


Here is me as. .a person lacking sleeping and playing around -



So - enjoy!



Oct 9, 2015

Things I Eat: Green Salad

But Amanda, I hate salad. Salad is bad. Eww. Salad.

Salad is @#$%ing awesome. Not the crappy house salad stuff you get at a fast food place - I mean, a REAL salad. So full of texture, flavor and super easy. Let's get our salad on!

What You Need
1 green anjou pear (any pear will do)
1/2 spinach greens
1/2 kale (I like it a little choppy for the feathery texture)
1 parsnip
Salt
Olive oil (a good quality)

What You Do
LIVE LIFE!

You know, make half and half mix of the spinach and kale. Then you take the parsnip and with your favorite veggie peeler, make it into thin ribbons. Cut up your pear into bite sized pieces and throw that in there. Drizzle the olive oil over it and a touch of salt - then toss that bowl of goodness like #yolo!

Trust me, this is a good time. Super quick, super easy and very delicious. It's not that bad for you either.


Trust me, once you start really playing around with greens and other veggies (even meats) and flavors and spices in a salad, you will be hooked. Sure, maybe not all the time. . but. . .at least some of the time.


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Oct 7, 2015

Normal Dot Problems

Why do we do this? Who does this? Who thinks this is a good idea? WHO?! WHO ARE YOU?!


I feel like I have done a great service to the world when I save this to my Normal.dot


Continue with your regular scheduled life! I have fixed the problem.


Oct 5, 2015

Maddy Replies to Harold Whitman Quote

Another Facebook post everyone seems to like


If everyone followed this quote, almost no one would want to do all the stuff that, as Mike Rowe says, makes civilized living possible.

Let's focus on what the world needs. Because we are here to take care of each other and we are here to be adults. Be an adult, look around, do what the world needs and find something you enjoy in that. Life and the world isn't about you, what you want, what makes you happy all the time.

Truth!


Oct 2, 2015

Things I Eat: Chicken Soup

Just when you thought you couldn't be having a more super-awesome life - you get thrush. You wanna WebMD that? Here you go - Side Effects of Life: Thrush.

Gross? Well, life is gross. Get over it.

But, food be thine medicine and when you have a gut infection, it's a good idea to do three things:

  • Take medication - I have a standing script for fluconazole and nystatin
  • Rest - Duck you. 
  • Eat well -.. .ok.

With a candida infection, you need to cut out a lot of sugar - which includes SUGAR and things like corn, potatoes, rice. I like to make myself a big ol' pot of chicken soup.

What You Need

  • Chicken: I got chicken breasts, you want to make sure you have the bone in. I have used thighs, drumsticks, whole chickens and boneless. You want bone-in something. 
  • Onions: They cure everything. 
  • Carrots: No, I didn't have any. They are also a little sugar. So, all's good. You can add them.
  • Parsnips: Delicious white carrots. 
  • Italian parsley: There is more than one type of parsley - I like Italian instead of curly. 
  • Celery: I had some from the farm share program thing I do. 
What You Do
Get a big pot. Chop up the onions, carrots, parsnips, celery and throw them into the pot. Throw in the parsley but make sure you remove any metal bits or twist ties. You can tie a bunch together with twine made for that purpose. I just let it go in there all free and natural. Then put the chicken in there. Then cover everything with water. Then boil it for at least an hour. Or longer.

It's tough to mess this up. Things will eventually start just falling apart. I like to bring out the chicken and (after it cools a little) remove the bones and then put it back. You can keep cooling until the chicken has started to shred or you can keep larger pieces. If the chicken is NOT cooked, keep cooking. 

It makes a lot of soup. A lot. Freeze some. Or eat it all. I'm not going to tell you how to live.

When I was feeling better, I also toasted up some Brown Rice Tortillas from Trader Joe's with a layer of Earth Balance Soy Free Buttery Spread with a healthy layer of onion powder, touch of garlic powder and sprinkle of salt. 

I hate soup, but, this is good for my tummy and actually delicious. I even took time off from writing to enjoy - as you can tell by the computer under my dish. 


Enjoy!