So...I haven't posted in awhile!
Mostly due to the fact I'd like to include updates, and what's new with Sam and I!
However, there in all honesty has not been much going on.
We've done stuff here and there, but it is incredible how little your life changes when all you do is work! Especially at a job that it is very difficult to see the efforts or results from your work. (my job)
Sam however is loving school, and progressing well in his thesis writing.
Long story short, as much as we appreciate State College and it's opportunities, we're ready to start looking at moving on.
Today we went to an acoustic program shin-dig. Specifically the fall social where there is a huge amount of food, and the newbies in the program get to officially meet everyone else and their significant others. When we went the year before, I was almost starting my new job. Besides that, not much has changed.
Every morning (for the last few months) Sam and I roll sluggishly out of bed and wake up to Shaun T egging us on in our INSANITY workout. That is, unless the snooze button looks just way-too-appealing. We get ready and eat breakfast. Sam eats some type of cereal, (current is Kashi Autumn wheat, a kind of cinnamon shredded wheat) and I eat warm oatmeal and sugar cooled off with frozen blueberries stirred in. We go to work, and come home.
We are currently listening to NPR on the way to and from work.
I cook, we surf the internet watch some TV together, and then go to bed.
I'll try and keep posts about other things we do, but I just feel like it hardly matters since it is not very exciting.
Maybe I'll just go on rambles about my off-the-wall opinions, or start sharing ridiculous work stories. Hopefully they won't find out I have this blog!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Best FHE Ever!
Sam and I just had one of the best FHE's ever! We spent it with our new friends the O'day's. Brooke and I have been team-teaching at the YMCA for some time, and have been meaning to get our better halfs together for some fun. This weekend's painting maxed me out, so a game night was a little over the top. Brooke proposed that we go dancing on Monday for a co-FHE activity.
Sam and I don't really dance. I'm the weirdo in zumba that is turned the wrong direction, and about 3 moves behind everyone else. Sam is talented, but not the dance in public type. But Sam and I need to branch out, and for $2.50 each, a instructed dance night is a pretty good deal.
Sam reluctantly went along, and we showed up to an elementary school gym where we learned how to square dance! Did you know it is the most recognized "American" dance? We had such a good time, and it's all because of the people that were there. We were the youngest couples there by about 45-50 years. Cute old couples, some with name tags, but most with blue name plates with pins from square-dance competitions. Every free moment was taken up by good-natured people asking us if we went to the "big school up the road", and Sam even met an electrical engineer that worked in the ARL (where he does research now) and taught a class that he took last semester.
There was an old-school record player on the stage of the gym, and soft country music was playing just enough that we could make out most the words. A "caller" or announcer was at the front and described each of the moves. If you knew right from left, you could do it! The announcer was great, and all the moves were pretty simple when you were surrounded by smiling, kind, expert dancers! At the end of a dance, all of us joined hands and raised them up while saying "thank you" and bringing them down. Then all of the gentlemen went to the center of the circle, and said "thank you" to each other (for the pleasure of having the women join the dance) Sam even got some tips to correctly twirl me :) All in all it sounds really corny, but it was such a blast!!! We loved it, and everyone there enjoyed the "young'n's".
Afterwards we went to a local frozen yogurt shop and hung out with the O'days. We swapped horror stories from past apartments, discussed what it was like living with dietitians, and found out they have a DACHSHUND! She is a show pedigree long red-hair cutie that they'll be bringing over soon :)
I hope everyone else's FHE was lovely and full of fun!
Sam and I don't really dance. I'm the weirdo in zumba that is turned the wrong direction, and about 3 moves behind everyone else. Sam is talented, but not the dance in public type. But Sam and I need to branch out, and for $2.50 each, a instructed dance night is a pretty good deal.
Sam reluctantly went along, and we showed up to an elementary school gym where we learned how to square dance! Did you know it is the most recognized "American" dance? We had such a good time, and it's all because of the people that were there. We were the youngest couples there by about 45-50 years. Cute old couples, some with name tags, but most with blue name plates with pins from square-dance competitions. Every free moment was taken up by good-natured people asking us if we went to the "big school up the road", and Sam even met an electrical engineer that worked in the ARL (where he does research now) and taught a class that he took last semester.
There was an old-school record player on the stage of the gym, and soft country music was playing just enough that we could make out most the words. A "caller" or announcer was at the front and described each of the moves. If you knew right from left, you could do it! The announcer was great, and all the moves were pretty simple when you were surrounded by smiling, kind, expert dancers! At the end of a dance, all of us joined hands and raised them up while saying "thank you" and bringing them down. Then all of the gentlemen went to the center of the circle, and said "thank you" to each other (for the pleasure of having the women join the dance) Sam even got some tips to correctly twirl me :) All in all it sounds really corny, but it was such a blast!!! We loved it, and everyone there enjoyed the "young'n's".
Afterwards we went to a local frozen yogurt shop and hung out with the O'days. We swapped horror stories from past apartments, discussed what it was like living with dietitians, and found out they have a DACHSHUND! She is a show pedigree long red-hair cutie that they'll be bringing over soon :)
I hope everyone else's FHE was lovely and full of fun!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
What's up with the Andersons
Christmas was fantastic. It was low-key and included a lot of elevated foot time for me. I also completed the Hunger Games series, drew in a coloring book, and made a sic gingerbread house. Sam completed several books from the Ender's game series, and relaxed.
January has gone very very quickly, we're both very busy. Sam's classes are taking up a lot of time, especially a lab class that eats up a ton of time. He's also is so good at an engineering program, he spends a lot of time answering other people's questions. I'm working full-time, taking one class, and teaching at a local YMCA for a seasonal wellness program. I'm having loads of fun getting back into my nutrition groove. I absolutely LOVE counseling in a group or 1:1 session. I really like seeing the light go on in people's eyes, and think this is what I could do with nutrition. Plus, I'm pretty dang good at it too! People have mistook me for a RD at the YMCA ( and I'm slow to correct them!)
We, mostly me, painted our bedroom this weekend. I absolutely love the light and airy beachy decorating. Not all seashells, but head to this blog to see more of that type of style. We painted our bedroom a soft blue. I realize that I have no patience for borders or details, especially if I'm painting at midnight...
It amazes me how many dark colors there are, I struggled to find the right light shade. I love light colors. I love saturated pops of turquoise in accents, but too much color on walls is just too much! I'm not a huge fan of accent walls or dark colors. But as soon as we get the master bath painted and curtains up, and a couple of other small items it'll be perfect! We have put up the living room curtains (sheers) and it's given a very ethereal look to the light coming into the room.
I love being able to paint! I'm so happy we live where we do, and I get a chance to experiment a bit with decorating before we get a real home. The only hard part is deciding what to do, since I have so many ideas of what I like!
January has gone very very quickly, we're both very busy. Sam's classes are taking up a lot of time, especially a lab class that eats up a ton of time. He's also is so good at an engineering program, he spends a lot of time answering other people's questions. I'm working full-time, taking one class, and teaching at a local YMCA for a seasonal wellness program. I'm having loads of fun getting back into my nutrition groove. I absolutely LOVE counseling in a group or 1:1 session. I really like seeing the light go on in people's eyes, and think this is what I could do with nutrition. Plus, I'm pretty dang good at it too! People have mistook me for a RD at the YMCA ( and I'm slow to correct them!)
We, mostly me, painted our bedroom this weekend. I absolutely love the light and airy beachy decorating. Not all seashells, but head to this blog to see more of that type of style. We painted our bedroom a soft blue. I realize that I have no patience for borders or details, especially if I'm painting at midnight...
It amazes me how many dark colors there are, I struggled to find the right light shade. I love light colors. I love saturated pops of turquoise in accents, but too much color on walls is just too much! I'm not a huge fan of accent walls or dark colors. But as soon as we get the master bath painted and curtains up, and a couple of other small items it'll be perfect! We have put up the living room curtains (sheers) and it's given a very ethereal look to the light coming into the room.
I love being able to paint! I'm so happy we live where we do, and I get a chance to experiment a bit with decorating before we get a real home. The only hard part is deciding what to do, since I have so many ideas of what I like!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Why I'm a Gimp
There have been a few changes around the Anderson household. For one, I am limping around, and Sam is cooking and cleaning.
For anyone that has known me for any time, I don't like to make a big deal about my feet issues. I try to downplay it, or make it a joke. I have been known to make up crazy stories about how I received all the bandages, casts, and scars to see how which ones actually fool people. My favorite one to date is "I dropped a chainsaw on my foot. They surgically had to re-attach each of my toes". I remember I got my high school history teacher to believe that one. She never did ask why I had a chainsaw in the first place though...
However, in the last year or so I've been dealing with increasingly severe pain in my feet. I wasn't satisfied with the podiatrists in Utah. But I found a fantastic podiatrist here in State College. She's short, has dark curly hair and is very frank and doesn't beat around the bush. Instead of asking me to describe the surgeries I had, she took one look at my scars and x-rays and started explaining the surgeries I had to me.
More or less my feet are in ok shape. The pain is my feet kinda-sorta-collapsing again. However it is in the beginning stages, and how long will it take - who knows? So a couple of prescriptions to take care of the inflammation and I'm pretty ok. However, the podiatrist wants a second look at my left foot. She pokes and prods, while I yelp when she pokes at a part of my joint. One CAT scan later, one of the first staples I received is now working it's way into the joint and causing me pain. Time to take them out. They've done their duty about 13 years ago, no reason for them still to be in there now.
Last Wednesday I went in to have the two staples in my left foot taken out. Minor procedure, no big. Sam was excellent, he helped me stay calm while being prepped. Although he has a lot to learn on the "distract me" task. The only time he was quiet and didn't talk to me or make me laugh was when I told him to do so.
I've always gotten extremely anxious in the prep for surgery. Partly from scary hospital experiences when I was little, and partly from being alone most of the time while I was being prepped. Almost all of the surgeries I had in California, no matter how minor I would shake so badly out of nervousness and anxiety that the poor nurses thought I was cold and would pile 4 or 5 heated blankets on me. It was really nice Sam had a chance to be there for me this time around.
Surgery went well, and Sam got a huge kick out of my post-anesthetic state. I remember generally what I was thinking, but apparently don't have much of a filter. Most of the other surgeries I was majorly groggy and sleepy all day long. For this one, I had a much easier time waking up, but apparently tried to convince the nurse I wasn't a drug addict. I also was mad at Sam because he said I had "Snookie-toes" because my food was still stained orange from the Iodine used in surgery. Ask Sam about it, and he'll tell you all the crazy stuff I did and said. Oy boy. Never going to live this one down.
Wednesday went well, but Thursday through Saturday were awful. I was able to keep down food Wednesday, but Thursday I started throwing up everything, including water. It got so bad that after a day of not keeping anything down Sam started to feed me tablespoons of gatorade every few hours to try to get me to keep something down. So lame. It's also very uncomfortable and difficult to keep your foot constantly elevated. People think "Oh you sit and have your foot on a stool" Nope. Elevated above your heart means on the floor with your leg up on the couch, straight up in the air, and sleeping with a foot of blankets. Let me tell you, not comfortable!
Sam was a perfectly wonderful caregiver. He was doting, filling ice packs, buying foodstuffs, and even bringing me a poinsettia to brighten my day. None of the flowers at the store were up to his par. He's been picking up and cleaning around the house, and doing the cooking. Cooking actual meals for both of us is quite new to him, he is frustrated by the "non-optimized" and "multi-tasking" nature of cooking. However, since standing for even minutes causes me pain, he will work away and I sit nearby to give input. So far he has made a fabulous spinach cream pasta, baked ziti, and glazed carrots.
However, he now understands the frustration of keeping a kitchen clean! He is seriously irate if he has to dirty one dish, and exclaims this loudly. He explained over tonight's dinner how cyclical and never-ending cooking and dishes were. He went on to explain how it was hard work, and took so much time! I just laughed and told him I was so happy that now he knew how I felt every day.
But all is well now. I'm hobbling around, and going to work. Sam has finished his classes and finals, and is lounging around getting me excited for the holidays.
And in conclusion, yes I did get to keep my staples :) They totally freaked Sam out, I don't think he realized how big they were, or the fact they had deep barbs! But it's the only thing I have to show for all my troubles! My current collection is currently 4 staples, one 2 inch screw, and (somewhere back home) four 4 inch needles with green plastic ends. Still to be fished out are 4 staples, and another 2 inch screw, all now in my right foot. Those won't be coming out for some time hopefully.
Surgery totally sucks. I do not recommend it. So here's to my 10th surgery - my present for Christmas 2011.
For anyone that has known me for any time, I don't like to make a big deal about my feet issues. I try to downplay it, or make it a joke. I have been known to make up crazy stories about how I received all the bandages, casts, and scars to see how which ones actually fool people. My favorite one to date is "I dropped a chainsaw on my foot. They surgically had to re-attach each of my toes". I remember I got my high school history teacher to believe that one. She never did ask why I had a chainsaw in the first place though...
However, in the last year or so I've been dealing with increasingly severe pain in my feet. I wasn't satisfied with the podiatrists in Utah. But I found a fantastic podiatrist here in State College. She's short, has dark curly hair and is very frank and doesn't beat around the bush. Instead of asking me to describe the surgeries I had, she took one look at my scars and x-rays and started explaining the surgeries I had to me.
More or less my feet are in ok shape. The pain is my feet kinda-sorta-collapsing again. However it is in the beginning stages, and how long will it take - who knows? So a couple of prescriptions to take care of the inflammation and I'm pretty ok. However, the podiatrist wants a second look at my left foot. She pokes and prods, while I yelp when she pokes at a part of my joint. One CAT scan later, one of the first staples I received is now working it's way into the joint and causing me pain. Time to take them out. They've done their duty about 13 years ago, no reason for them still to be in there now.
Last Wednesday I went in to have the two staples in my left foot taken out. Minor procedure, no big. Sam was excellent, he helped me stay calm while being prepped. Although he has a lot to learn on the "distract me" task. The only time he was quiet and didn't talk to me or make me laugh was when I told him to do so.
I've always gotten extremely anxious in the prep for surgery. Partly from scary hospital experiences when I was little, and partly from being alone most of the time while I was being prepped. Almost all of the surgeries I had in California, no matter how minor I would shake so badly out of nervousness and anxiety that the poor nurses thought I was cold and would pile 4 or 5 heated blankets on me. It was really nice Sam had a chance to be there for me this time around.
Surgery went well, and Sam got a huge kick out of my post-anesthetic state. I remember generally what I was thinking, but apparently don't have much of a filter. Most of the other surgeries I was majorly groggy and sleepy all day long. For this one, I had a much easier time waking up, but apparently tried to convince the nurse I wasn't a drug addict. I also was mad at Sam because he said I had "Snookie-toes" because my food was still stained orange from the Iodine used in surgery. Ask Sam about it, and he'll tell you all the crazy stuff I did and said. Oy boy. Never going to live this one down.
Wednesday went well, but Thursday through Saturday were awful. I was able to keep down food Wednesday, but Thursday I started throwing up everything, including water. It got so bad that after a day of not keeping anything down Sam started to feed me tablespoons of gatorade every few hours to try to get me to keep something down. So lame. It's also very uncomfortable and difficult to keep your foot constantly elevated. People think "Oh you sit and have your foot on a stool" Nope. Elevated above your heart means on the floor with your leg up on the couch, straight up in the air, and sleeping with a foot of blankets. Let me tell you, not comfortable!
Sam was a perfectly wonderful caregiver. He was doting, filling ice packs, buying foodstuffs, and even bringing me a poinsettia to brighten my day. None of the flowers at the store were up to his par. He's been picking up and cleaning around the house, and doing the cooking. Cooking actual meals for both of us is quite new to him, he is frustrated by the "non-optimized" and "multi-tasking" nature of cooking. However, since standing for even minutes causes me pain, he will work away and I sit nearby to give input. So far he has made a fabulous spinach cream pasta, baked ziti, and glazed carrots.
However, he now understands the frustration of keeping a kitchen clean! He is seriously irate if he has to dirty one dish, and exclaims this loudly. He explained over tonight's dinner how cyclical and never-ending cooking and dishes were. He went on to explain how it was hard work, and took so much time! I just laughed and told him I was so happy that now he knew how I felt every day.
But all is well now. I'm hobbling around, and going to work. Sam has finished his classes and finals, and is lounging around getting me excited for the holidays.
And in conclusion, yes I did get to keep my staples :) They totally freaked Sam out, I don't think he realized how big they were, or the fact they had deep barbs! But it's the only thing I have to show for all my troubles! My current collection is currently 4 staples, one 2 inch screw, and (somewhere back home) four 4 inch needles with green plastic ends. Still to be fished out are 4 staples, and another 2 inch screw, all now in my right foot. Those won't be coming out for some time hopefully.
Surgery totally sucks. I do not recommend it. So here's to my 10th surgery - my present for Christmas 2011.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Radiation and the Preposterous Pomegranate
Doesn't this just make you drool?
Sam and I had good days. I finally broke the news to my supervisor that I was taking spring classes, and Sam had success with his measurements in the water tunnel. Sam and I had an agreement if I wasn't going to tell work about wanting to take classes before Thanksgiving then he could get an x-box. That wasn't happening, so I told him if he threatened with a $300 purchase, I deserve some pretzel m&m's for avoiding that bullet! So as we sprinted across the street in the rain to get small treats from a grocery store. However, while meandering in the store looking for a different item, I saw a huge bin full of red plump pomegranates. I was done for. Not a summer-sized joke of the fruit. Full, softball sized gorgeous shiny hard skinned pomegranates. I traded my pretzel M&M's for a pomegranate. If you don't know - I love pomegranates.
For one of my birthdays my parents even bought me a pomegranate bush. It is still there, in the left hand side yard getting the water from the blue-green swamp cooler drain hose. I don't remember getting significant harvests from it, but I remember scooping out the pine needles that accumulated around the base, seeing the gorgeous hibiscus-like blooms, and getting so excited for the small pre-pomegranate beginnings. I eat my pomegranates somewhat particularly. Sam thinks I'm weird, but I eat the entire arils. Sam eats them by sucking the juice out and spitting out the actual seed. He gets bored after a couple, makes a face and is done. But I could eat these for days...Plus ever since I got a CAT scan a couple of days ago, I'm convinced my cancer risk has gone up and I'll die in a few weeks without loads of fresh fruits, veggies and abundant antioxidants. X-rays have always kinda freaked me out. I've had probably hundreds, but seriously does the technician have to leave the room? Seriously? I'm the one on the table bud! Thanks a ton...While I was little I would get nervous. I still get a little nervous. Especially with the "warning radiation" flashing light. Goodness, like I already don't know I'm going to get cancer...
Back to the issue at hand. I immediately came home, pulled out a cutting board and cut into the firm rosy exterior to reveal....black and brown rotting avrils. Half the entire hemisphere was rotten! No indications of abuse on the outside. Still desperate for my pomegranate, I ran back in the now heavier rain, to talk to customer service. GIANT is a great store, and immediately apologized and said they'd give me my twice my money back and a two free pomegranates. So they went to the bin to check if there were any more bad ones....and they were all bad. They said nothing like this had every happened. My poor taste-buds. I could not satisfy my hankering! They were so good about it, and gave me a $10 gift certificate for my trouble, but I am yet without a delicious pomegranate.
Maybe I'll have a blueberry/banana/milk/honey smoothie to cheer myself up, and make sure I don't sprout an extra limb from my radiation overdose. :(
Sam and I had good days. I finally broke the news to my supervisor that I was taking spring classes, and Sam had success with his measurements in the water tunnel. Sam and I had an agreement if I wasn't going to tell work about wanting to take classes before Thanksgiving then he could get an x-box. That wasn't happening, so I told him if he threatened with a $300 purchase, I deserve some pretzel m&m's for avoiding that bullet! So as we sprinted across the street in the rain to get small treats from a grocery store. However, while meandering in the store looking for a different item, I saw a huge bin full of red plump pomegranates. I was done for. Not a summer-sized joke of the fruit. Full, softball sized gorgeous shiny hard skinned pomegranates. I traded my pretzel M&M's for a pomegranate. If you don't know - I love pomegranates.
For one of my birthdays my parents even bought me a pomegranate bush. It is still there, in the left hand side yard getting the water from the blue-green swamp cooler drain hose. I don't remember getting significant harvests from it, but I remember scooping out the pine needles that accumulated around the base, seeing the gorgeous hibiscus-like blooms, and getting so excited for the small pre-pomegranate beginnings. I eat my pomegranates somewhat particularly. Sam thinks I'm weird, but I eat the entire arils. Sam eats them by sucking the juice out and spitting out the actual seed. He gets bored after a couple, makes a face and is done. But I could eat these for days...Plus ever since I got a CAT scan a couple of days ago, I'm convinced my cancer risk has gone up and I'll die in a few weeks without loads of fresh fruits, veggies and abundant antioxidants. X-rays have always kinda freaked me out. I've had probably hundreds, but seriously does the technician have to leave the room? Seriously? I'm the one on the table bud! Thanks a ton...While I was little I would get nervous. I still get a little nervous. Especially with the "warning radiation" flashing light. Goodness, like I already don't know I'm going to get cancer...
Back to the issue at hand. I immediately came home, pulled out a cutting board and cut into the firm rosy exterior to reveal....black and brown rotting avrils. Half the entire hemisphere was rotten! No indications of abuse on the outside. Still desperate for my pomegranate, I ran back in the now heavier rain, to talk to customer service. GIANT is a great store, and immediately apologized and said they'd give me my twice my money back and a two free pomegranates. So they went to the bin to check if there were any more bad ones....and they were all bad. They said nothing like this had every happened. My poor taste-buds. I could not satisfy my hankering! They were so good about it, and gave me a $10 gift certificate for my trouble, but I am yet without a delicious pomegranate.
Maybe I'll have a blueberry/banana/milk/honey smoothie to cheer myself up, and make sure I don't sprout an extra limb from my radiation overdose. :(
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Foster the People and Blueberry Muffins
Brave traffic - it takes for..e....v......e......r to go a mere 1.5 miles.
We arrive home. I go up to our apartment, and Sam checks the mail. If Sam doesn't have a pressing school matter he usually turns on some music. Right now we are thoroughly enjoying Foster the People and the new Justice album. Especially Foster the People. To me they sound like a version of Owl City, except there is a whole band and the songs sound different form each other. Very catchy too.
Sam and I mill around, perusing online sites and blogs until I decide I have to start dinner or dishes. Preferably dinner. I hate dishes. We eat, and usually lounge on our ridiculously comfy couches to talk and/or watch TV or some netflix streaming.
If I'm still in the mood to exert some extra energy in the kitchen, I'll make our current food fix-blueberry muffins with streusel topping. By food fix I mean that thing that your mind dwells while in a state of hunger, as well as after you've eaten and are full. We have a pretty relaxing life right now. It feels nice.
Recent Developments
We've made some fantastic friends in our ward - the WINDERS! They are so awesome. Sam gets along great with him, and I love her. We all coerced Sam into playing (and enjoying) a card game! (believe it or not, he had fun :) We hung out with them in DC for a day and had a great time. Whitney has dark hair and looks shy until you start talking to her. She is absolutely hilarious! She went to hair school in Utah, and is currently working at a medical office here. She's got killer style and I'm hoping this will rub off on me. Her husband Aaron is a neuro-engineering grad student. He's in a math class with Sam. He can relate enough to the engineering that they have plenty to talk about, but does enough different things that he and Sam can share different aspects of what they like and what they do. Sam really misses Jeremy still, and all the car-talk, but is happy to finally have a man-friend.
Life is good. It has it's ups and downs, but for right now it's ok.
PSU craziness
I wanted things to calm down a little bit to comment on the PSU recent events. In a matter of days, this entire community has been devastated. I mean that in every sense of the word. Here PSU is a way of life, a family, it is a name, a university that people feel they represent, respect and rear their children to attend. On work Monday when all this started to unfold a co-worker broke down and cried right in the office. She said she felt personally violated. Every since she could remember she's been Penn State. She went to a game earlier in the year that got snowed on, and said "So what - I'll just wear a trash bag I'm not there for the location, I'm there for the view!" Although Liberal Arts is not associated with the football or athletic program at all, the dean herself spent hours writing personal notes to donors pleading with them not to pull funding. She asked them to remember who was benefiting from their funding-the students, and what good is coming out of the research and education they were contributing to.
As far as the "riot" there were hundreds of peaceful protests in the form of a candlelight vigil, but less than 30 people decided to do something stupid (most likely while intoxicated) and all pictures of the crowd were people that were watching. The news people in the area were have said to egged them on.
This last week there were news crews everywhere, and people quick to judge thousands of people over the actions of literally a handful of people. A call came into our office from another university. This was just a business call about some financial information. The first words from the other line were "I hear you have a lot of sex addicts out there". It's all anyone can every talk about. It's very upsetting, and very sad. It's sad what happened, it's sad who was involved, and it's sad how high up this went. It's also sad that the employees who could have stopped it were too afraid for their jobs to speak up for those who couldn't speak for themselves. It's sad. This event has a lot of time until it fully unfolds, but we all know it's pretty bad.
So as to not end on a sad and depressing note, I'll share with the world this amazing blueberry muffin recipe. I've tried quite a few blueberry recipes out there because they're Sam's favorite. A lot of the trials included fresh lemon juice and zest, fresh blueberries, butter, and careful mixing. I've tried Martha Stewart's, Pendulum Court recipes, and even Alton Brown's. I decided to try this new recipe as a treat for Sam to come home to after his San Diego trip. That way if they were really bad, he wouldn't mind because he wouldn't have eaten all night and would be touched that I tried. I thought I over-mixed the first batch and so started on a second. But they both turned out, and we went through all of them in 2 days. A dozen muffins! These are the most moist, best streusel, most delicious muffins, and by far the easiest, and cheapest.
This recipe was given by a co-worker, a friendly blonde budget-wiz woman named Brandy. If I had to eat one item every day for the rest of my life it would be these. I changed the recipe a little, and these work best with muffin liners, but oh boy I have sensual dreams about these muffins.
Makes 6 large, 8-9 smaller muffins
Timeline: Turn oven on, make streusel, put muffin liners in pan, mix dry, mix wet, mix dry and wet, top with streusel, cook & drool, EAT!
Make the streusel topping:
1/4 cup white sugar
1/6 cup AP Flour (guestimate - I halved the original recipe and it's not crucial)
1 Tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Mash up the butter into the sugar and flour with a fork. Make sure there are no visible bits of butter left. This will take several minutes.
Mix dry ingredients:
1.5 cups AP flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
Mix wet ingredients:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
After you run a whisk through the dry ingredients, and whisk the wet ingredients, combine the two. Stop a few strokes before it looks done. This means there will be floury parts, and wet-ish parts.
Pour 1 cup frozen blueberries in (I got these wild blueberries in a big bag at Wal-Mart) and only mix 2-3 strokes. Any more and you will have purple tough muffins!
Divide the batter evenly into 6-8 muffin tins and pour the streusel on. Don't be shy, it's great stuff and Sam licks his off the plate...
Put in oven at 350 for 25-35. Check earlier than this because I'm pretty sure my oven goes hot. To tell when muffins are done tap the top gently. If you feel it's wet and/or collapses a little at your touch they're not done. Once you feel that they hold their shape after you touch them you're good! These go well with hot chocolate, but who am I kidding - what doesn't!
Caution: don't tell your significant other the moment they're out of the oven. Sam has been too eager and burned his tongue. Then tried to take another bite and burned his tongue again. Then he gets angry because he not only has a burnt tongue but he can't even eat his muffin to make himself feel better.
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| Be careful, these quickly turn into... |
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| These! As a student of nutrition it is my obligation to tell you these are not calorie free. |
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| Sam did this shot for the camera. But he does it every single time. No joke. |
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| BTW it snowed. This was the view from our bedroom window |
Friday, November 11, 2011
Test Burning Party
Once a semester one of Sam's teachers holds a midterm test burning party. This faculty member is renowned for having difficult tests. When older graduate students heard Sam and his friends were studying for this particular test - they just laughed. When Sam and his friends asked for tips, or what to expect... - they just laughed.
The day of the test started with the TA (nicknamed Pie - seriously) wheeling in the teacher on a hand cart. The professor was in a straight jacket with a hannibal mask on. He sadistically quoted "Hello Clarise..." had the TA hand out and administer the test while he was wheeled out laughing.
From what Sam has told me he is an excellent teacher, and from what I've gathered from my conversations with him is that he is a really good teacher with a lot of perspective of bridging the gap between school and an actual profession. He tries to steer the students away from having easy solutions handed to them, because in a real profession you have to account for many different things at once. The problem itself isn't difficult but all of the small things you have to account for can be. He doesn't like using the textbook because each problem is labeled in a format: 5.3. This lets the student know that the answer is in chapter five section three without him having to guess what principle he has to apply - the student is told. He wants to prepare his students, and it sounds like he's doing a great job.
Because the midterm is so notorious and awful, after it is graded the professor holds a party where he gives all of the students and their +1's dinner and a bonfire fueled by their tests. Sam and I had a blast! A lot of the acoustic guys are really fun, and their +1's totally understood how sometimes the acoustics can become a little...much.
The professor himself is a very fun person. He had a sweater and a music collection right out of the 70's- but the preppy non-hipppy 70's. He also had an eclectic mix of artifacts in his home. The only overlying theme that I could think of was non-American items. From everything from a huge German soup tureen, japanese theatre masks to a Moroccan lantern (which was gorgeous - I totally want one!) and a brass Indian tea dispenser made into a lamp! He became especially excited when I understood what Italian and French hot chocolate was.
The actual burning of the exams took place after a short speech of "you are no longer amateur acousticians!" and each student ripped his individual test up. All of the pieces were put in a small stout barbeque. Phrases like "Curse you delta E!" and "Take that Tailor Series!" were heard. He then doused the mixture in a high proof solution and set fire. He was a little too cavalier with the alcohol the deck itself caught on fire for a few seconds-he didn't seem phased at all. Although I did notice that his wife brought out a fire extinguisher. After the burning he and the students chanted five rules that he drills into the students and cheers and pictures followed. It seemed like many got a real sense of closure. I'm wondering if this could be a regular therapeutic way to conclude an exam.
Sam and I are headed to DC tomorrow for a temple trip. We just happen to be going with some great people we met in the branch and staying a little longer to shop and eat, and avoid some of the State College madness.
My comments on all of the PSU scandal will be forthcoming. Please keep in mind that this small community has literally been destroyed. I've seen adults break down in public and cry. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering, and will suffer because of the acts of a few. Awareness for the victims is paramount and the entire city has sold out of blue ribbon. The blue ribbon is a symbol of awareness of child abuse as well as PSU's colors. We mourn with the rest of the country, and are outraged.
The day of the test started with the TA (nicknamed Pie - seriously) wheeling in the teacher on a hand cart. The professor was in a straight jacket with a hannibal mask on. He sadistically quoted "Hello Clarise..." had the TA hand out and administer the test while he was wheeled out laughing.
From what Sam has told me he is an excellent teacher, and from what I've gathered from my conversations with him is that he is a really good teacher with a lot of perspective of bridging the gap between school and an actual profession. He tries to steer the students away from having easy solutions handed to them, because in a real profession you have to account for many different things at once. The problem itself isn't difficult but all of the small things you have to account for can be. He doesn't like using the textbook because each problem is labeled in a format: 5.3. This lets the student know that the answer is in chapter five section three without him having to guess what principle he has to apply - the student is told. He wants to prepare his students, and it sounds like he's doing a great job.
Because the midterm is so notorious and awful, after it is graded the professor holds a party where he gives all of the students and their +1's dinner and a bonfire fueled by their tests. Sam and I had a blast! A lot of the acoustic guys are really fun, and their +1's totally understood how sometimes the acoustics can become a little...much.
The professor himself is a very fun person. He had a sweater and a music collection right out of the 70's- but the preppy non-hipppy 70's. He also had an eclectic mix of artifacts in his home. The only overlying theme that I could think of was non-American items. From everything from a huge German soup tureen, japanese theatre masks to a Moroccan lantern (which was gorgeous - I totally want one!) and a brass Indian tea dispenser made into a lamp! He became especially excited when I understood what Italian and French hot chocolate was.
The actual burning of the exams took place after a short speech of "you are no longer amateur acousticians!" and each student ripped his individual test up. All of the pieces were put in a small stout barbeque. Phrases like "Curse you delta E!" and "Take that Tailor Series!" were heard. He then doused the mixture in a high proof solution and set fire. He was a little too cavalier with the alcohol the deck itself caught on fire for a few seconds-he didn't seem phased at all. Although I did notice that his wife brought out a fire extinguisher. After the burning he and the students chanted five rules that he drills into the students and cheers and pictures followed. It seemed like many got a real sense of closure. I'm wondering if this could be a regular therapeutic way to conclude an exam.
Sam and I are headed to DC tomorrow for a temple trip. We just happen to be going with some great people we met in the branch and staying a little longer to shop and eat, and avoid some of the State College madness.
My comments on all of the PSU scandal will be forthcoming. Please keep in mind that this small community has literally been destroyed. I've seen adults break down in public and cry. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering, and will suffer because of the acts of a few. Awareness for the victims is paramount and the entire city has sold out of blue ribbon. The blue ribbon is a symbol of awareness of child abuse as well as PSU's colors. We mourn with the rest of the country, and are outraged.
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