We Must

And What A Difference A Day Makes

For the last week our weather has been like a September yo-yo. The beginning of the month was above-average hot, which moderated over the weekend.  On Saturday it was nice enough to turn off the air conditioner and open the windows. Each day this week the temperatures inched up a couple of degrees, and yesterday the weather was humid and oppressive. Normally when it's that sultry we'd turn the air conditioner back on, but the forecast said a front was coming through, bringing a big change.

They were right.  Compare these numbers to those from just 24 hours ago:

How Humid Is It?

Check out our "Feels Like" temperatures (a combinations of heat and humidity) for the next few hours!  No wonder the house feels a little uncomfortable.

msn.com

Five years ago today: What A Tangled Web We Weave

The Final Countdown

This weekend a group I belong to is hosting a two-day workshop. I am the chair of the organization committee.

The committee's been working up to this since January, when we found a location and a speaker. Then there was a long lull with sporadic flurries of activity and little else to do except for monthly updates to the group (and I almost forgot about the project). However, over the past month the requirements have gradually ramped up. Starting last week a steady stream of emails between different parts of the committee began coming in. Sometimes they're just informing me of what's going on. Sometimes I need to do something with the information.

As a result of all the information I keep remembering things I have to do at odd times and places.  I've started keeping a note pad in the bathroom and carrying others in my purse and car to jot down reminders. This week every minute of every day is accounted for, and I've been multitasking wherever possible. (Except at work, where all I have to do is interact with customers.).  The mall has been beginning-of-fall slow.

Of course the normal household activities still need to be done. Or not. I'm managing to get meals on the table, but for the past week I've had trouble keeping on top of the housework.  Right now the kitchen island is covered with an even layer of papers, interspersed with a few taller stacks for emphasis. It will all be there until I carry it out to my car and take it to the workshop venue.

The good news is that the whole thing will be over on Saturday night. Then I can pass the binder on to next year's chair and take a break for a while. However, next year I'll be the 'chairman emeritus', answering questions and providing support as a consultant.  But I'm pretty sure that part of the job will be less intense.

Five years ago today: Oh Nine, Oh Nine, Oh Nine

Sprouting Beans

Bean-sprouts / Wikipedia

The other day I was rummaging through the depths of my pantry and came across a dusty package of mung beans shoved way in the back.  I bought and used them a couple of years ago when I went through a 'make my own bean sprouts' phase.  Frankly, I don't know why I stopped. The process isn't hard, and the sprouts are much better than what you can buy at the grocery store.

This morning I started another batch.  I use the method described at How to Grow Sprouts:

• Rinse beans and soak overnight (I use a gallon-sized wide mouth glass jar).

• The next morning, cover the top with cheesecloth and secure it with a rubber band.

• Drain the water off. The cheesecloth will keep the beans from falling out.

• Rinse the beans with fresh water, and drain that off, too. The beans should be just slightly damp.

• Set the jar in a warm place. (I lay it on its side on top of the refrigerator so the beans can spread out in a thin layer).

• Continue the rinsing process in the morning and again in the evening until the sprouts are 2"-3" long (which will take somewhere between three and five days, depending on the room temperature).

Soon the half cup of beans that was left in my bag will turn into a pound of sprouts.  Next time someone in the family goes to the ethnic food market I think we'll get a new bag and continue the process.

Five years ago today: A Pint Of Ice Cream Can Speak Gallons About Your Character

Despicable!

The community radio station I listen to is having a pledge drive.  This afternoon I volunteered to answer phones.  I had a good time talking with my fellow volunteers and most of the people who called in.

However, there was one call that really infuriated me.  When I asked if I could take the pledge information the man on the other end of the line said, "I won't give any money to the station until they stop playing hip-hop and rap music."  Then he hung up.

This station is run by volunteer DJs; they choose their own music so each show is different.  If that intolerant person doesn't want to hear a particular type of music he just don't have to tune it at that time.

Five years ago today: What Are The Chances?

Hush-Hush

There have been a couple of times recently I've had a second job to do at the mall after I clocked out from my job at the Customer Service desk.  On those days I stopped in the mall bathroom to change out of my work clothes, then put my things in the car and came back in to shop 'secretly' in a store.

It's been a little over a month since I signed up with a secret shopper company.  Since then I've evaluated several places.  I'm learning that the vast majority of mystery shopping is done for chain businesses and restaurants.  By contracting with a mystery shopping company the Corporate office can keep tabs on how their branches are doing.  So I report on things like an associate's greeting, the sales team's knowledge, how long I had to wait to be served, and the availability of merchandise.

When I'm on a secret shopping adventure I always feel like I'm acting out a role, but somehow it seems even more clandestine to check up on a store that's not too far from where I do my regular work.  So far everything at the mall's been commendable (which makes me happy; I take a lot of pride in my workplace).

Bumpy Bar

Have you ever seen a bumpy bar of soap?  It was a new concept to me.

top view

from the side

I couldn't figure out why the bar looked the way it did, so I asked around and got a couple of different answers.  The first was it was designed to help keep the bar dry in a soap dish (set bumps-down so the air could circulate better). A second response said that the bar was to be held in your hand with the bumps out so they could give you a mini-massage. 

Which idea do you think is correct?  Or do you have another explanation?

Five years ago today: Go Cards!

Easy "Roasted" Garlic

Hubby Tony and Son Donald decided to clean out the produce drawer and make a Tuscan grilled vegetable salad for dinner. I suggested they add some white beans and turn it into a main dish. They agreed. Mid-afternoon they were busy preparing the eggplant, zucchini, peppers, tomatoes, and onions to go on the grill. I offered to make the vinaigrette that they would toss everything in.

All the dressing ingredients went into the blender and got pureed. That sounded easy enough.  However, when I took a closer look at the recipe I saw that it called for six roasted garlic cloves.  I was NOT going to preheat the oven for that small amount! 

I figured there had to be a way to replicate the texture of roasted garlic without heating the whole kitchen up. A Google search proved me correct. I put the unpeeled cloves in a microwave-safe bowl, added a splash of water, then covered the bowl with a lid and cooked it in the microwave.  Ninety seconds later my garlic was perfectly soft, squishy, and ready to squeeze into the blender.

Multinational Life

Taking the best of many....

Five years ago today: Stick To It