Day... Oh no!

I was awfully good about doing the 25 days of random, wasn't I? I mean, I did all 25... not necessarily in a timely fashion, but it was FAR more timely than the way I usually blog. I decided to engage in the 25 days of random in order to give myself a boost, as it were-- force myself to write a little and actually get this blog back on its feet. And it worked... sort of. I mean, I DID write (hurrah!), but I am having no easier time thinking of topics to write about than I was BEFORE the 25 days of random. For now, today, I'll write about a fun week that is coming up... after that, I'll try to think of some actual topics to address. Deal?

My friends, there are so many wonderful things about college- and certainly I'll talk about some of the others later- but what I choose to address right now is Spring Break. Ah, please don't doubt my dedication to academics, but do appreciate all that spring break is: It is a chance to spend time doing Precisely What One Wants for a week in the middle of an otherwise busy semester. If you plan it quite carefully, there is no need to do school work at all! Instead, you can hang out with your family, friends, or get some peaceful one-on-one time, knowing that there are no meetings to go to, no papers to turn in, and no classes to attend. It is what we call Bliss, friends: sheer bliss.

My first year, Polka Dot and I went on a roadtrip through Arizona, spending time in Phoenix, Tombstone (heh), the Grand Canyon, and of course on our friend's ranch. It was delightful. My sophomore and junior years I returned to my family's home to spend time with them, PNW friends, and "my" kids. This year, I'm going no where. Why, you may ask? Because I LIVE in an area where people go on holiday! It would be silly not to take advantage of it, don't you think?

So for the first part of spring break, my friends and I are going to explore Disneyland, the Getty, Santa Monica, Old Town Pasadena, the beach, Hollywood, and the Venice Boardwalk. There will be so many adventures in places that are so close but that we rarely have time to appreciate.

And THEN? Well, THEN (the second weekend of Spring Break), we are heading down to San Diego for a weekend long bachelorette party for my dear friend Aslan, who is marrying her wonderful fiance, Hanz, in July. (There's something to be said for being the first of your friends to marry-- we are SUPER into the idea of a weekend-long bachelorette party.) The weekend will feature feminist drinks (strong, sweet, and pretty), beach time, a hot tub, and delicious Mexican food-- not to mention some of the most delightful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing!

Yes, it will be an excellent spring break indeed.

Day 25

Day 25: Whatever Tickles Your Fancy

What tickles my fancy at present is giving you all a recommendation! A fellow student at Scripps makes the most beautiful jewellery-- I recently discovered it, and I am QUITE infatuated. She sells them online through Etsy, and can be found here. I highly recommend you go check it out! There are some beautiful birdnest necklaces (my favourite!):



and some really fun necklaces that include a message in a bottle (you write the message-- what a great gift):



and many other options including necklaces and earrings from sea glass, shells, beads, and so on. Go investigate!

Day 24

Day 24: Your Greatest Fear

I'm going to skip all of the Deep and Meaningful Greatest Fears, and go straight to the most "real" fear.

I am Terrified of Heights. Fear courses through my body when I'm standing more than about 6 feet above the ground, doesn't matter if it's on a balcony, by a window (love the Eiffel Tower-- didn't love being at the very top!), in a small plane (big planes are fine), anything like that. My limbs feel rubbery, my knees start to quiver, and I am what is colloquially referred to as a "hot mess."

It's so bad that when I watched Up in the cinema (in 3D!), my palms sweated through the entire movie, and I tried to slide further back in my chair during the scene on top of the blimp. Oy.

Day 23

Day 23: A YouTube video

Here are several that I think are hilARious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVqhc-8mypQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTxW3GWZ5hI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FU5KmnvRKIw

Day 22

Day 22: A Website

What ABOUT a website? One that I use all the time? (That would be Facebook, Gmail, and Blogspot.) One that makes me roll my eyes, but I read sometimes anyway? (Fmylife, Mylifeisaverage, Texts from Last Night.) A website I wish existed? (A visual google, where you could take a picture of something, and it would search for it-- like a reverse image search.) A cool new website that you probably have never heard about before? (No idea-- I'm always the last to know.)

So there you go. Pretty much regardless of what that prompt meant, I have answered it. Ta da!

[Belated] Happy Birthday, Neptune!

Though I spoke to Neptune on his birthday, and did in fact communicate my birthday wishes to him, I neglected to write a birthday post on his Very Exact Birthday, which was yesterday.

Goodness gracious, World-- Neptune is 7 years old, and I can hardly believe it. It was lovely talking to him on the phone yesterday, but I quite wish I had been there to sing happy birthday and celebrate this brand new age. Seven. That's getting up there in years.

Neptune keeps me constantly laughing, he is a peculiar, delightful child who aspires to catch 17" rainbow trout, dances like a maniac (seriously-- this is the funniest thing one could ever see), enjoys making cookies, swims in such a way that it looks like he is drowning, wears elaborate and fantastic costumes, has been known to wear goggles while he plays pool, and knows more about snakes and sharks than I will ever hope to know.

Happy [belated] birthday, Neptune-- I'm wishing you a wonderful year full many adventures and lots of laughs!

Day 21

Day 21: A Recipe

I'm giving you two recipes, because I have two that I think are positively delicious. Here they are...

Lentil Soup

In a large pot sauté 3 – 5 minutes:
¼ cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 carrot chopped
1-2 stalks of celery, chopped

Add and sauté 1 minute more:
½ tsp each dried thyme and marjoram leaves

Add:
3 cups vegetable broth
1 cup dry lentils, washed
Salt and pepper, to taste
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (or a tablespoon or so of dried parsley)
1 lb canned tomatoes

Cook in covered pot until lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.

I love this with freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, and French bread and a salad on the side. And wine.


Best Chocolate Cake Ever Eaten by People:

3 oz unsweetened chocolate
3 teaspoons baking soda
½ cup butter or margarine
½ teaspoon salt
2 ¼ cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
2 cups sifted flour
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water

Melt chocolate, set aside. Grease and flour two 9-inch pans, set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixer bowl cream butter or margarine until smooth. Add brown sugar and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With mixer on low speed, beat in vanilla and melted chocolate, then baking soda and salt. Add flour alternately with sour cream, beating on low speed until smooth. Pour in boiling water, stir with a spoon until blended. Pour into prepared pans. Bake 35 minutes or until done. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Turn out on wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with icing made of butter, cream cheese, milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add sprinkles (of course).