This recipe comes from a reliable source and is the best cocoa I’ve ever tried (or, really close). I can’t divulge the source or they could get upset, but here’s the recipe. I haven’t actually even tried making this yet:
4 tbs cocoa
1 oz milk chocolate
1 oz dark chocolate
pinch salt
tsp vanilla
scant 1/2 cup sugar
3 cups milk
1 cup cream
Scald milk, pour over dry ingredients, strain.
I came upstairs to find 3 signs, penned hurriedly in marker, upon Ellen’s door:
“Notice: if at any point in time you are in my room, and attempt a comeback by interrupting me whenever I try talking, you will be forcibly removed.
“And, you will not be allowed in for the rest of the day (unless absolutely necessary).”
“The latter also applies to any situation in which the former may occur.”
My 12 year old lawyer.
Kim’s reaction? “Stop using so much tape!”
*facepalm*
Traveling in today’s world is fraught with peril. Ok, not so much peril, but boredom, layover, delays, and very, very occasionally, peril. My personal travels have never been perilous, but they have been often frustrating. And, what’s better to offset a frustrating experience than technology (keep that snickering to yourself, please. I will hold onto my dreams.)
Today’s blog entry is brought to you by my attempt to travel from Northern VA on a Monday AM to my home in NJ, and arrive by 2:30 at the latest to be able to drive to a 3:00 appointment nearby. Here was the proposed itinerary:
1: Out the door at 7:30 AM to the Metro station, 10 minutes away.
2: Amtrak out of Union Station, Washington DC at 9:25 AM, giving me a solid hour to make what should be a 40 minute Metro trip.
3: Amtrak into Newark, NJ at 12:30 PM
4: Bus out of Newark, NJ at 1 PM.
5: Home around 1:30 PM, in plenty of time.
Of course, what can go wrong does, and although step 1 went fine, step 2 became (da da DAAA!)–perilous. “Smoke” in one of the stations down the line caused the Metro line to slow down, use just one track for a specific tunnel, and ultimately get me into Union Station about 15 minutes after my 9:25 train departed. Failures here on multiple levels:
-That the Metro was so badly delayed that it cost me an hour: FAIL.
-That the conductor didn’t suggest at an earlier station to change trains to avoid that knot when there WAS a junction we passed through to change to: FAIL.
-That the conductor felt it necessary to explain we were stuck and would be moving shortly several times BETWEEN stops, when no one could have gotten on or off between stops (and hence, everyone had heard him, several times): Annoying FAIL
-That the DC Metro builders did not have the forethought to provide the type of express tracks that can allow trains to bypass stations, forcing all traffic to run on one track and bringing the entire system to a halt: EPIC FAIL.
While on the Metro, it became obvious that I would miss my train. At that point, I pulled out the iPhone and made a bee-line for Amtrak.com to determine whether my train was delayed (meaning i might make it anyway) or otherwise book another train. AT&T. Underground. Nope.
FAIL. FAIL. FAIL.
However, the young woman in front of me on her Verizon Blackberry was clearly getting and sending emails. She was communicating with the world. From two feet away.
Knowing better than to wait for AT&T to work for me at all, I connected my iPhone to my Mifi, a wireless access point with, and this is worth noting, cellular service via VERIZON. After about 10 minutes of frustrating, but progressing surfing, I had determined that:
A: my train was going to be perfectly on time–and thus I would miss it. (FAIL, but a WIN to find out from the Metro car)
B: the next train would be at 10:25 AM and get me in at 1:30 PM (WIN.)
C: the bus would be at 2:00 PM and get my home by 2:25 PM. Narrowly getting me to my 3:00 appointment . (BIG WIN).
And now, the biggest WIN of the day (so far): With a few swift clicks, my ticket was purchased from my seat on the Metro for the 10:25 train, assuring me I would be in NJ well before my Appointment. Confirmation emailed to me.
After arriving (late, as promised) at Union Station, quickly to the kiosk to print out boarding passes. A swipe of my credit card and all of the trips I’d bought on that card came up.
Print today’s 10:25 boarding pass? Yes, thank you.
Cancel the 9:25 and get a refund on that ticket while I’m there? Don’t mind if I do.
Amtrak “Quick-Trip” kiosks? Full of WIN.
So, the Metro (and AT&T, of course) had let me down, but Amtrak has lived up to their embracing of technology. iPhone-friendly website + truly rapid check in and check out, mostly on-time departures, and I’m wending my way up north, blogging this on the Mifi.
Which, by the way, is plugged into the dual power outlets at every seat on every Amtrak train.
Full. Of. WIN.
This year’s installment of the annual Meyerson pumpkin extravaganza yielded some interesting results. We had planned on 2 pumpkins–I was going to just help the girls do theirs–but decided to add a third with me taking over the one Ellen was going to do. Good thing, too, as it took more than 5 hours…*rolls eyes*
To be honest, though, I think Katie’s pumpkin came out best of the three, but you can be the judge.
Ellen’s was the simplest, and only took a short time, but came out pretty cool. You have to know the video game Portal and the geeky comic it’s based on from Penny Arcade, but anyone who does will instantly recognize it.
Katie also chose a video game theme, the Big Daddy from one of her favorite games ever, Bioshock. She did an amazing job on this one, and did everything herself. All I did was tape the pattern down and cut the top open.
I’m not sure people will recognize my entry, but I’ll leave you with a clue…
Here’s a slightly darker picture of mine. I couldn’t decide which one I liked better.
Overheard today from Ellen:
“I’m not predisposed to self-motivation.”
and when talking about Lady Gaga’s “Meat dress”:
“Afterwards, we could have Rack of Gaga.”
Ew.
Today’s my Katie-bug’s 10th birthday! When she awoke, the balloon fairy had ravaged her room yet again, but sadly it will be for the last time. Just as candy doesn’t taste as good when you’re 10, so does the balloon fairy cease to come to spread inflated-rubber joy.
Right now, Katie, Kim and Ellen are trekking off to get the birthday present that means most to her…Gerbils. Yes, we acquiesced to her continued badgering for a pet and in the last week she’s obtained a new tree frog (Lyra!) and now a pair of gerbils. She is bouncing off the walls in anticipation. Picture of the little guys to come soon.
We flew down to North Carolina (via Norfolk, VA) for a vacation with both “families” for the first time. So Ellen, Katie and I are in the airport, and the topic of a Simpson’s episode came up. In this episode, Homer is waiting to buy a gun (long story) and everything he sees looks like targets, including some little ducklings walking across the street in a neat row. Ellen said “I’d shoot the ducklings first!” with such vehemence that I had to ask why she would shoot the little ducks. She replies “Because they grow up and become geese!”
Katie and I just started laughing, and then Ellen did too realizing what she said (although Katie didn’t miss an opportunity to say “Uh, Ellen, they GOSLINGS grow up to become GEESE. Duh.”
Could be worse. I could write like Alan Paton. Or Sue Grafton. *shudder*
At the request of Nathalie, I am posting a very simple recipe for what to do with nice, fresh strawberries this summer:
1 angel food cake (bake it if you want — I just bought one. Much easier).
2 lbs strawberries
2-3 tbs sugar, depending on how sweet you like it.
2 tsp lemon juice
Wash strawberries. Cut ends off, and quarter or cut up smaller if you like. Put into large bowl and cover with sugar and lemon juice, stir well. Cover and let stand in fridge for 2-3 hours, stirring every so often. This lets the syrup form (it’s called “Masceration“).
For the whipped cream:
2 cups heavy cream
4-5 tbs powdered sugar
2 tsb vanilla
Mix all ingredients in bowl and using either standup mixer or hand mixer beat on high until stiff peaks form in the cream (figure about 3-4 minutes).
When the berries have formed juice and you’re ready to eat, cut slices of cake, ladle over some strawberries and syrup and put a nice big blob of whipped cream on the side. If you want to get fancy, lightly toast the slices of cake in a toaster oven.
After watching the last episode of season 4 of Doctor Who, I was reminded how much I liked this show and decided it would be a good show for Ellen. We watched the first episode of season 1 (“Rose”) today at lunch and she loved it. It’s so up her alley–clever, sci-fi’y, and funny. I got a big thumbs up when it was done. Maybe we’ll watch another episode later.
When the episode started, it was a little creepy and she didn’t know what to expect, so all of a sudden I feel a hand reach out looking for mine. Too cute.
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