I Am a Marinating Fool

I've got three different meats marinating in the fridge right now. Salmon in tequila-lime, pork chops in mesquite, and chicken in garlic-tomato-basil. I also was suckered in and bought one of those cheapish Reynolds air-sucker-outers. I have a friend who has the big, ornate atomic sucker outer that requires special plastic, etc., but I don't require that big of a deal. I thought that $10 was a pretty fair price to pay for seeing if it'd work. I smacked the chicken around a little with the meat-hammer, as I am fond of calling it. The other meat seemed okay without it.

It's about time to start cooking, so I'll holla back when I'm done. Later, tater!

Edit: 6:26 p.m. I have George-Foreman grilled myself into a frenzy. Verdict: The mesquite on the pork chops is just pretty much added salt and smoke flavor. Won't do that again. The garlic-tomato-basil is pretty garlicky, so it's not my favorite. It's still pretty good. I didn't try any of the salmon. I'm going to surprise myself with that tomorrow at school. All of these marinades started out in powder form. I chose them because all the pre-made ones have high fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient?!? This has driven me to the conclusion that I need to buy some spices at the local gourmet shop and make my own marinade. This will be a project for next week, since my meat situation for the week is settled!


A REALLY GOOD WAY TO WASTE VALUABLE TIME Okay, I'm not sure how I navigated to this page, but this listing of the top 100 of the past 50 years by Billboard Magazine is mesmerizing. Stevie B. really is a good singer. I hadn't thought of him in years. Also, John Lennon's "Starting Over" is pure genius. I remember hating it every time it came on the radio, but then again, I was around 11 at the time. Look through the list in descending order. I started at #1 and actually enjoyed the latter ones more than the top ones. There are some CrAzY ones in the list, but my sister and I took a walk down memory lane with it. Some of the ones that don't have a YouTube link actually are on YouTube, if you're interested.


Going to go finish my day. I've got to go work out. Mrs. C. has furnished a gym at her house that is open 24/7, so it's convenient for me . . . and cheaper than my current one.


May you all have an excellent week.

Shalom!

Edit: 9:43 p.m. It seems as if it's about 1 a.m. I still haven't done my lesson plans. I have been foraging like a bear going into hibernation. I've tried tea, water, and chocolate and "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." (Apologies to Bono and the boys. Incidentally, why does he wear windshield-style sunglasses? I don't understand this.) Ugh, I hate it when I'm in this mood/mode. I'm gonna wash some delicates and see if that helps.

'Night again.

General Foolishness

Hey, what's rockin' out there? I'm at my parents' house enjoying doing nothing. Let the record show that finally I've had a vacation day. I slept the latest I've slept: 9:12 a.m. Isn't that amazing?!?

I tuned on my player to listen to some music and it chose to play "Walking in Memphis" by Marc Cohn. (I think he's married to Elizabeth Vargas from ABC news and he was shot in a drive-by.) What a great song! Some country group tried to do this, but boo on that. It was kind of like some group trying to sing Michael Buble's "Home." Ruination! Leave it alone, I say. This holds about 94.8% of the time. Regardless, is there a more evocative song than "Walking in Memphis"? Can't you see where he's going and even who he's talking to? I really dig this, thus it's placement on my player-thingie.

Okay, Obama is on my nerves again. Why did he even say that thing about ". . . And did I mention he's black?" I don't want to not like Obama. But this kind of stuff is annoying at best and off-putting at worst. I understand that the best defense is a good offense, but come on. I am NOT not voting for Obama because he's black. I'm not voting for him for a multitude of reasons. I don't agree with most anything he's for. I am not for nationalized health care. I'm not for raising taxes on the "rich." I'm not for getting out of Iraq. And here's the bad thing. I'm not for Obama, but I'm not FOR McCain either. I just have more in common with McCain's way of thinking. What we really need is a good independent in there who would keep government's intrusion in private lives to a MINIMUM. Boo on that. I really have NO decision whatsoever to make in the election. Actually, I was more excited about the democrat race than I am about the general election.

How about the alleged showing out of Keith Olbermann pitching a fit for the "Meet the Press" moderator's chair? Now, let me say for truth purposes, and this isn't any secret, that when Keith Olbermann suggests that I zig, I would proceed by zagging 99.4% of the time. What is a grown man doing that sort of thing for? Anyway, he's just the same thing, only on the opposite side, as his arch-nemesis Bill O'Reilly. I can't watch either one of them. They are so ALWAYS right on everything, it's sickening. Now, do I think I'm on the wrong side of things? Obviously not, but I can have a discussion with people who have a differing opinion (often Snoopy), agree to disagree, and not think she's a total idiot for not sharing my opinion. How about we act like grown-ups for a while? I was just looking it up, and it seems that Olbermann didn't pitch a hissy over this. See here. I'd like to send out a big "my b" as my students tell me when they're wrong.

Saturday Morning

Hi, kids. It's Saturday morning. I'm well-rested. I also decided that I needed to add to the music of my Wal*Marting purchase last night. I just downloaded "Jersey Boys." I'm waiting for the touring company to come near here. 2009? I don't know. I've never been to New York City (actually, I'm a little scared of the idea and the prices up there). I really like The Four Seasons.

Yesterday my purchase included my FAVORITE EVER, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band with their offering "It's Not Big It's Large." I love his dabbling somewhere in the realm of Texas-swing, jazzy jazz, and bluesiness. He never fails to enthrall me with his inventiveness. He's a truly under-appreciated genius. I also bought "Rumours" by Fleetwood Mac. I know, how could I not have that? I don't know. Anything from 1976 forward is music I've paid a modicum of attention to, so how did I miss this? Pure genius. I know, everybody already knows this. I just listened to the entire album last night for the first time. The third one I bought last night was "Pure Bill Monroe." I LOVE most bluegrass music. Mrs. C. and I mostly go to bluegrass concerts. It's got all the basics on it: "Blue Moon of Kentucky," "Orange Blossom Special," "and my favorite, "Uncle Pen."

I think I'm going to watch High School Musical 2 from the DVR tonight. It's really gloomy here today, although I'm NOT complaining about that. It's SO nice NOT to be slapped in the face by the 100+ degree swelter. But, after a gloomy day, I think HSM2 is just what the doctor ordered. Maybe I'll watch The Godfather instead. We'll see.

Since The Child is not here this weekend, Grandmamma and Bubba aren't visiting. Supermom is back in her bedroom enjoying her former life of sleeping as late as she wants on Satuday. She's actually always been a pretty good late-sleeper. Not that I'm a slouch at that, but if I go to bed before 1 a.m., I'm gonna be up by 9 at the latest. I guess I'm showing my age.

I guess I'll go run a few errands and maybe go to the gym. I'm going to try the elliptical machine. I don't like the idea. The way the machine goes is very uncomfortable to me. I think I need a circular machine. Regardless, I'll let y'all know how the ellipting goes.