Operation: Be a Grownup, Morning Edition.

I have a problem with mornings.

I set my alarm clock, and then I hit snooze until the exact moment that i need to get up, so that i have to run into the shower, get dressed, and then run out the door, so that I can be to work on time.

It doesn't really foster much, you know, waking up, which I usually do while I'm listening to Morning Edition in the car on the way to work.

So in the spirit of Being More Adult, I've decided that September is Mornings like a grownup.

This morning, I woke up with enough time to hang out with Earl so he could have his cone off a little, and then shower (and blow dry my hair!) get dressed, pack my lunch, and then be on my way.

It was quite excellent. tomorrow, I'm going to make myself a cup of tea in the morning, and possibly eat some breakfast.

(today's coffee and breakfast of granola bar was had at the office, at my desk. Rome wasn't built in a day, people)

TEN THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY RIGHT NOW

(yelling it in all caps make me happier)

1 YA books, specifically those of John Green and Maureen Johnson

2 Chili Cornbread Pie

3 Earl The Cat being okay (after a scare and a trip to the vet's office, where he still is)

4 Twitter (shut up. it's awesome)

5 Work is going.... alarmingly well.

6 Having time to blowdry my hair this morning

7 One more workday until the WEEKEND OF ORGANIZATION
I am going to go top to bottom in my apartment and do a purging/cleaning of awesome.

8 Menu Planning for... certian events in the future, which I cannot disclose at this time.

9 The Plays of one Christopher Durang. (especially Medea)

10 Nervous Excitement and brainstorming for NaNoWriMo

what are your ten?

Do you want to waste copius amounts of time on the internet?

I sure do!

Other than the main time sucks: Facebook, twitter, google reader.. there are several sites that make my day go faster:

www.cakewrecks.com

http://textsfromlastnight.com

http://www.mylifeisaverage.com

www.fmylife.com

.... speaking as the woman who spent the entire day giggling at her desk innapropriately.

Best News I've Heard Today

Daria's coming out on DVD!

http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Daria-DVDs-Planned/12236

Fruit Salsa

My Mom's Fruit Salsa recipe is one of my favorite recipes ever. It reminds me of summer, and has a fresh, clean taste. And paired with homemade cinnamon chips, it's heavenly. You can put lots of different things in it, from peaches, to raspberries, to mango, and it tastes pretty awesome. But my favorite kind is the original.


Ingredients
Pint of strawberries
two cups worth of diced fresh pineapple
small bunch of cilantro
tablespoon of cider vinegar
Half a diced red onion

Method:
hull strawberries and dice finely. dice pineapple finely. dice red onion finely. Mix together in bowl. chiffonade the cilantro, and mix into salsa. put in cider vinegar. Cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge. Let sit in the fridge for about an hour (the longer it sits, the more the flavors will marry together and get delicious)

Cinnamon chips

two packs of small flour tortillas
half a stick of butter
Cinnamon sugar (I always have it around, and never really measure- it's one part cinnamon to one part sugar)

Hardware: Baking tray, pastry brush, knife

preheat oven to 425. melt butter in a bowl. lay tortilla down, brush with butter, and then sprinkle with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar. once you've stacked ten of these, take a knife and cut into four, cross wise, so you end up with chips. spread evenly on baking tray, and bake until lightly browned. repeat until all tortillas are baked.

I may be biased, but the best way to enjoy fruit salsa is with a glass of Kate and Potter's Sangria, which I did on memorial day.

for funsies

Yanked from Katie

Today...

Outside my window... Trees and a quickly storm darkening sky. Hoping that thunderstorms aren't coming.

I am thinking... about the things I'm going to cook when I'm in Chincoteague. So far: peanut chicken with noodles, appetizery things, cold press coffee, lots of chips and guac, ribs, blue cheese puffs.

I am thankful for... a sister who makes me laugh on the phone when she's raging at traffic; a cat that is not being bitey at this moment; the advil starting to kick in to wallop my headache.

From the kitchen... Trader Joe's Frozen croissants that proofed overnight, that I will be putting some tuna into. (delicious)

I am wearing... sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

I am creating... the plans for an album for Penelope (better late than never, right?!).

I am going... to have a productive evening of cleaning and dancing around my apartment to music. Which reminds me, I have to make an "upbeat" music playlist on itunes.

I'm reading... blogs, mostly, but also Cook's Illustrated, and HP six to prepare for the movie.

I am hoping... it does not rain too long tonight; we've had an insane amount of rain here lately.

I am hearing... the cat play with his new toy, and an old episode of the West Wing playing in the background.

Around the house... Need to throw some laundry into the machine, so I have things to wear to work tomorrow, the rest of my laundry to sort, some dishes do do, make my bed, and general straightening up.

One of my favorite things... taking a nap on sunday afternoon, after I've had an awesome lunch at the mexican place down the road. Definitely adding that place to the Take People Who Visit Here List.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Wednesday off, working friday, making rub, drinks in the city, wearing new clothes, bringing my lunch every day this week (I will do it!) working on my 27 in the 27th list.

A picture to share...

Say hello to the bitey cat. he does not enjoy having his picture taken.

Amusing

I just saw online a person who mixed up serial killer for cereal killer.

What, do you think he's going to murder that box of fruity pebbles, so you don't get any?

hee.