Saturday, May 30, 2009

Book & Beverage

Thursday Saturday Tea was a little thing brought to you by BirdBrain(ed) Book Blog and my inspiration was drawn from Jupiter Sinclair. Here is the schpeal:

Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.


Since yesterday was pretty nasty outside, I decided to try out the tea I brought home from France last month. It's a fruit tea blend with fig, black currant, apple, orange, lemon, and hibiscus and it is fabulous. The tea had a full flavor without being too strong, and wasn't like those free teas they give you at hotels that taste more like fruit punch than a natural beverage. Its color was great as well; watching it turn red (like my favorite Hummingbird tea!) as it steeped on my windowsill. I can't believe I got such great tea from a train station in Marseille!

Since obedience school is so expensive, and we have heard endless amounts of positive things about the author, Jake and I picked up Family Friendly Dog Training by Patricia B. McConnell. It's a very interesting and effective read, and Zoey has already started making progress. The book goes beyond just saying "this is how you teach 'sit'," and explains animal behavior. I think it's a lot easier to properly train her if I understand why things need to be taught a certain way. Though we still have to work on "no peeing on Heather's floor," I think this book will definitely help shape her into a more obedient dog.

As for the pairing, I'd say heck yea. It's not easy to be patient with a puppy during training, but a relaxing cup of tea certainly makes it a little better.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

It is physically impossible for me to NOT post about this

I woke up this morning compelled to watch a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As I mentioned in my Thursday Tea a couple weeks ago, I am a hardcore BTVS/Joss fangirl. I went to the NY Comic Con this past year just to watch Joss Whedon talk about Dollhouse (have the 1/1,000,000 chance in meeting him) and to meet Amber Benson. I'm still kind of angry at Joss about the way the Season 8 comics are going, or at least as far as I have gone in them, but overall I think he is brilliant and I cannot get enough of BTVS no matter the form.


Or so I thought. Coincidence kicked in, and all throughout my Twitter feed were mentions of Buffy and a possible relaunch. I really don't know what to make of it.

Buffy" creator Joss Whedon isn't involved and it's not set up at a studio,
but Roy Lee and Doug Davison of Vertigo Entertainment are working with
original movie director Fran Rubel Kuzui and her husband, Kaz Kuzui,
on what is being labeled a remake or relaunch, but not a sequel or prequel.

While Whedon is the person most associated with "Buffy," Kuzui and her Kuzui
Enterprises have held onto the rights since the beginning, when she discovered
the "Buffy" script from then-unknown Whedon. She developed the script while her husband
put together the financing to make the 1992 movie, which was released by Fox.

This whole thing makes just about as much sense as riding a humpback whale through Afghanistan on the 4th of July. I understand remakes are huge these days, but this seems to be far too scatterbrained. The Kuzui's said that they were excited for Buffy to be taken in a new direction which would mean it's not a remake. If it's not a sequel, and not a prequel...but not particularly a remake...what the hell is it? They are taking the reputation of something with an enormous cult following, writing in some "IDK MY BFF JILL?" slapping some Zac Effron haircut on it and calling it Buffy.

The last sentence may seem a bit uncalled for, but considering the cast options for Buffy Summers I think not:
1) Megan Fox- Buffy is not a brunette...not in movie, not in tv, not in comics.
2) Kristen Stewart- I know nothing of her performance in Twilight, but in my mind Bella and Buffy cannot be the same person...it's blasphemy
3) Jessica Stroup- May be the only one I'm mildly okay with. I have never seen her acting, but visually she could pull off some blonde hair and call this her big break
4) Amanda Seyfried- No, no, no, no, no.
5) Teresa Palmer- Why not just get Paris Hilton? They look like freakin' twins


I would LOVE for Joss devotees to see this movie and be comfortable with it, but I doubt it so very much. Mostly because of people like this who post on the comments section, and make me cringe with their idiocy and ignorance of the Whedonverse:

BUFYFAN comments:
May 26, 2009
why are JOSH WHEATON fans so racist against the kuzuis? and closed-minded? these are not the values josh communicated in his shows. give it a chance guys.

Well, "BUFYFAN" you may want to learn how to spell the first name of the character you are such a fan of. Next, there are no fans of Josh Wheaton, and I'm almost positive the Kuzuis are not their own race of human. So yeah, get off your iphone and pay attention to English class you dope. It is unbelievable how many people claim to be BTVS fans and have no idea who Joss Whedon even is. It is those people that make me afraid of this movie...the people who will claim to be #1 fans of Buffy and have no idea the Kristy Swanson movie ever existed, nor will they recognize the brilliance of Jane Espenson and Marti Noxon who took part in some of the very best episodes. It's just such a shame to me.


Monday, May 25, 2009

If I'm a mad scientist, I'll need a hunchbacked assistant.

Have I mentioned how much I adore ice cream? More than likely. And if you haven't caught on, I kinda like cooking. Maybe just a little. So, it's no real wonder that I would begin crafting my own icy deliciousness...which is exactly what I have done.

I don't really know what I want to do with cooking as a career. Ideally, I would like to be a mad scientist, experimenting with recipes and then...on the day where I reach success...the sky would become dark, lightening would strike and I would lift my crazy goggles, maniacally shouting, "MAHAHAHAHAH!!" Buuut I kinda doubt that I would be able to reach that state of madness, so I might have to stick with playing around with recipes until I find the perfect ice cream.

Last week I started my experimentation with strawberry. I found an empty notebook (which is automatically dubbed my brainstorm book anytime I find one) and began writing down notes on common chemical reactions in ice creams, and interesting facts. For example, heavy cream smooths out the ice cream, while too much sugar hardens it. Also, adding alcohol to the ice cream prevents the formation of large ice crystals. Intriguing, no? Knowing these little scientific tidbits make it easier to alter aspects of a recipe because you know the purpose of everything you're adding. My first batch of strawberry wasn't disgusting by any means, but it also did not taste like quality ice cream. With some minor alterations, my overhardened, heavy cream with slight strawberry essence ice cream became an explosion of berries with the perfect consistency (which was perfect when eaten on the beach).

(Bob feeding Jake my delicious strawberry ice cream)

My next attempt is going to be chocolate orange cookie dough. I had made chocolate orange biscotti, and I figured why just do chocolate chip cookie dough? Why not add something more to it, and make it a little different and pretty darn original? Uniquity is rare lately, or so it seems, so I feel compelled to brake the proverbial mold and kick yo tastebuds with my spectacular ice cream goodness. Wish me luck :)

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Plants vs Zombies

From the brilliant minds of Peggle and Bejeweled comes an exciting new "fun-dead" adventure with death, carnage, and...photosynthesis?

At its roots (heh) Plants vs Zombies is a downloadable tower defense game. It is literally how it sounds; a battle between plants and zombies. You have several packets of seeds, and are allowed to choose 6 of them to form your army. Only one plant can be selected at a time, and it the increments are all dependent on sunlight. As the sunlight increases, you are able to plant more of your seeds to battle the horde of zombies making their way toward your lovely home."How do I get sunlight in a zombie apocalypse!?" You may be asking in a desperate, shaky voice. Well, sunflowers produce sunlight, so it's a good idea to have quite a few of them planted. Each plant has it's own set of abilities, (whether it be shooting, defense, or explosives) allowing you to strategize your grid. "What do I get when I beat down the undead mofos?" You ask, with a bit more confidence (even though we all know you probably peed your pants). Well, you are lucky enough to not be dead. Oh, and occasionally when you win a level, you are given a new type of seed to choose from at the beginning of your next battle. I guess that's pretty handy.


Not every level is the same, though. Popcap did a good job of mixing it up with occasional bowling levels, or more fast-paced ones requiring you to plant whatever they give you as the horde limps across your front lawn. With all the intensity of Left 4 Dead and other serious zombie games, it is nice to find a game makes them a little more cute. At least you'll be saying "awww" when they come to eat your face.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

I can barely bust a move because my body is broken

SO I felt like making a new banner for the blog, and with all the zombie hub-bub, I figured I would zombify myself as a reintroduction to my old BFF Paint Shop Pro 7. Please let me know what you think, and if you prefer the old banner. Thaaanks :)


Sunday, May 17, 2009

6 Videos You Must See (IMO)

So I have run into the problem where I make Youtube video references and no one has any idea what I'm talking about. There are lists of "Top 100 Youtube videos" everywhere...but I'm not that demanding. Here are a few that I think everyone should see at some point. Of course, I'll probably post more as I see fit...but I figure this is a good start :)

Kittens, Inspired by Kittens
I have been known to reference this video a couple times a week. I find it absolutely hilarious.


Chimpanzee Riding on a Segway
Simple as that.


Obama's Do What?
I laughed SO hard at this.

Apparently they meant pounding fists.

Ninja Cat
This video is awesome. I never tried this with my cat, but I know he probably would have just gotten mad and rushed me haha.


Drinking Out of Cups
This one will probably be hit or miss for most people. I didn't think it started to get funny until he starts saying "drinking out of cups."

That one's story is that "A couple friends got together and all decided to drop some acid and next thing you know one went into a closet and started talking to himself and they recorded it. Then they decided to animate it with a gecko." Makes a little more sense now...

Kitty Cat Dance
I honestly wake up some days singing this song (and caused the same problem for my dear mother). Though at times annoying, I mostly find it incredibly entertaining.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Thursday Tea with Bassa & Marco

Okay, okay, so I'm almost two days late on this...but I was talking to my dad today, and he randomly asked, "Hey, have you done Thursday Tea yet?" I figured no one would really notice that I missed it, but the fact that someone specifically asked about it made me feel special :)

Thursday Tea was a little thing brought to you by BirdBrain(ed) Book Blog and my inspiration was drawn from Jupiter Sinclair. Here is the schpeal:

Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

I have been a big fan of Caranda Bassa Blood Orange tea (goodness that was a mouthfull) for awhile. Aside from the pretty canister (mine doesn't look like the pic, it has cherry blossoms...which doesn't make much sense to me), the insides are super delicious! In addition to blood orange, honey bush rooibos, rose hips, safflowers, lemon grass, apple pieces, and cinnamon contribute to the delectable, deep red brew. Plus, it's chalk full of vitamins and antioxidants! I'd say although it's tasty, it doesn't quite pair with this week's book. To me, Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White feels like more of a cheap black coffee than a light herbal tea.

I picked up this book last summer at the Barnes & Noble in Arlington, VA when I was waiting for my shift to start at The Liberty Tavern. One of my best friends from culinary school had been talking to me about Marco Pierre White for quite awhile, so I decided to pick it up. I will admit, that I have been known to start books and take years before finishing them. Usually I get completely consumed by them, but once something takes my attention from it I kind of space and never go back. Although it's been awhile since I cracked open this oyster, I know I will finish it within the year. It is a biography that is not only easy to read, but is relatable. I may not have had to struggle through the things he did, but it is less of "oh pity me" and more of "I'm br00tal and this is why." Not only is the author an incredibly inspirational chef, the way he writes is so reminiscent of the friend who suggested it to me that it's almost eerie.



I am still interested to find out if others are participating in this meme, so don't be shy! If you post a Thursday Tea, please leave me your url I would love to read it...if you don't blog just comment and let me know what you're reading & drinking :)

Thursday, May 14, 2009

RE: The Nerd vs. Geek Debate (and Why We Don't Need to Have It)

It blows my mind what I can find on the internet. Voices I have never heard, with opinions so similar to mine. The more I get into my own blog, the more I find people that make me use my brain meat and get me thinking about where I stand on different topics. Checking my Twitter feed today, I somehow found my way to the blog Hipster, Please! and within it was an incredibly long sermon about the Geek vs. Nerd debacle.

The author said:
"Geeks, we are told, are cool techies with eccentric passions, while nerds are awkward basement dwellers defined by their social failings."

I was always educated that the opposite was true. To me, nerds were the cool guys that happened to dig Star Wars, build their own PCs and play video games, whereas geeks lived in mommie's basement with highwater pants and Star Trek figurines. But as I have grown more into my nerd-dom and searched the interwebs for others like me (and realized that there was no need to look far) I realized that the terms are merely synonyms. To me, anybody can be a nerd/geek...they just have to be passionate about something.

Let's put it this way... Has someone ever asked you about something you are well educated about? In your response, did you find yourself growing so excited about your answer that you sidetracked into far more information than the person could ever understand? Did you talk so fast maybe you oversalivated or drooled a little? Okay, the last part may not be a deciding factor, but it could be a dead giveaway. You don't have to play D&D (though if you do I am infinitely jealous, because I have been wanting to learn for YEARS) or build computers or have LAN parties or even play video games to be a "nerd." The whole point of being one is just being who you are and not being ashamed of your passions.

So embrace yourself, and let people see that inner spaz you know just wants to jump out and scream "All Geminis to the Raspberry hats!" because if I have learned anything from being a nerd, it's that I am so far from being alone.

" Because, on some level, everyone is a nerd. Such is the power of our kind; such is the delightful flavor of our culture." -Hipster, Please!



Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Future of Albion

Frickin' right! Just hours after posting about my frustration with finding video games that speak to me, I read about a potential Fable III spoiler on Kotaku discussing how the DLC for Fable II could possibly be the premise of the next Fable game. Fable III news on the way and Bioshock II just around the corner? I honestly don't know if my life could handle it. This article was perfect timing, since I was feeling quite distraught about gaming and needed a bit of a pick-me-up. It made me think that it might be time for me to return to Fable: The Lost Chapters since I have barely played it and started it long before Bioshock even existed to me.


SPOILER ALERT!!11!1!!!

"See the Future Fable II DLC"


"Costumes of the Fable II DLC"
I have always loved the costumes and look of characters in Fable II. I feel that the customization of characters is better in this than any other game I have played, so I was very excited to see these released.

Teenage Wasteland.

Apparently I have a problem with games that actually take some time and develop a story. Which I think is pretty unfortunate, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't get over it. A few months ago I bought Oblivion because I had heard that it was so addicting it would take over my life. The first night, I played for about six hours and loved it...to an extent. I only played about two more until I just decided it took too long for me to travel/explore, and I was so frustrated with my lack of fighting experience that I just stopped playing. Yes, you can fast travel...but only to places you've already explored; yes, the opponents skill is based on your characters level, but when you have seven people after you it just sucks.

I tend to wonder if my dilemma is moreso based on the fact that I am still a pretty inexperienced gamer because I am having the same problem with Fallout 3. The vault was fun, and I was starting to think I'd really enjoy the game, but once I escaped it was like I was right back in Oblivion...wandering around without any idea what was happening. I have seen people play enough to know that you can get into Washington, DC, rather than just waiting it out in the Wasteland. I think it would be a lot more fun for me once I get there and see my least favorite place on Earth destroyed by the apocalypse. Buuuut I know that I have to go through the motions and follow the story until I get to that point in the game. As much as it kills me.

What I really want is to find a game that moved me like Fable II. That was my problem for a good three months, and then I started Bioshock. I want to play games that give me that same feeling of frustration matched with equal parts pride and enjoyment. I just think I might have to go through a lot of video games before I find that feeling again.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Freeganism: More than a trip to the dumpster

Mwaha stolen wifi at last! This past weekend I moved into a new apartment with my three best friends and my puppy. Can life get better? I submit that it cannot! Anyways, the internet folk can't come install our stuff until THURSDAY. Which, if I hadn't gone into stealth mode to jack our neighbors internets, would mean that I would have TWO Thursday Tea posts in a row. Obscene, really. Last night I learned about something I had no idea even existed. An anti-consumerist lifestyle called Freeganism.

Many freegans get free food by pulling it out of the trash, a practice
commonly nicknamed
dumpster diving in North America and skipping or
bin diving in the UK, as well as bin raiding. Freegans find food in the garbage of
restaurants,
grocery stores, and other food related industries, which they claim allows
them to avoid spending money on products that exploit the world's resources,
contribute
to
urban sprawl, treat workers unfairly, or disregard animal rights. By foraging, they
believe
they are keeping perfectly edible food from adding to landfill clutter and that can
feed people and
animals who might otherwise go hungry.[2]

Our roomate agreed to take us on a tour of the regularly hit places where you can get good quality food and beverages that have been thrown out due to nearing expiration dates or lack of sales. Bakeries, for example, bake fresh product every day so their dumpsters are potentially heaping with bread from the same day that's rarely even stale. We made away with three flour bags full of breads, scones, brioche, and dinner rolls most of which we were able to freeze for later or leave out to use for bread pudding.

(Our refrigerator after our first nights' run)
Other places like distribution centers are pretty much the jackpot. Products a day or two (and sometimes even weeks) from their expiration date can be found. In most cases, this is because there would not be enough time for them to ship the product for sales by the expiration date, and it's more expensive to hold a product that will never sell than it is to throw it out. Some grocery stores do the same thing, but the quantities are less, and they don't always leave out their dumpsters.

Don't get me wrong, dumpster diving is not the only way freegans get their food:

Instead of buying industrially grown foods, wild foragers[7] find and harvest food and medicinal plants growing in their own communities. Some freegans participate in "guerrilla" or "community" gardens, with the stated aim of rebuilding community and reclaiming the capacity to grow one's own food. In order to fertilize those guerrilla gardens, food obtained from dumpster diving[8] is sometimes also reused. In many urban guerrilla gardens, vermiculture is used instead of ordinary composting techniques in order to keep the required infrastructure/room small.[9][10] Guerrilla gardeners claim to seek an alternative to dependence and participation in what they perceive as an exploitative and ecologically destructive system of global, industrialized corporate food production .

In addition, a lot of freegans are also vegans, avoiding the consumption of products like meat, milk, eggs, gelatin
that come from animals, and wearing things like wool and down. There are a lot of ways to find out more info about this "underground community" including a show called Bin Appetit and a number of websites contributing an extreme amount of information for freegans and people who would just like to know more. Just keep in mind, the concept of this is not to just get as much cool free shit as you can, it is a lifestyle. Now, me? I'm just in dumpster diving for the free shit.



Thursday, May 7, 2009

Thursday Tea

It's Thursday again already? I admit I am quite excited about the prospect of tea today since it's rainy and cold and pretty much the epitome of "gross" outside.

Thursday Tea was a little thing brought to you by BirdBrain(ed) Book Blog and my inspiration was drawn from Jupiter Sinclair. Here is the schpeal:

Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

The book I am going to talk about today is one that many people have been giddy about for probably quite some time. That book is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Let's start out with my personal history with vampire lore. There are so many varieties, and I am the kind of gal that finds one thing and pretty much sticks with it. My personal basis for vampires comes from the brilliant mind of Joss Whedon, and more importantly Buffy the Vampire Slayer. One could argue that I am obsessed with the show, while I would simply state that it is just something that has stuck with me and has helped me through my life. Just because I can quote just about every line from the series is NOT a sign of life devotion...heh. Nor is my tattoo of the & stake Faith draws on the window in Bad Girls. Nope, I am just a big fan. However, I am open minded enough to have no problem watching or reading about other kinds of vampires and mythologies about them, but apparently it's only to an extent.



I was very excited about Twilight because my best friend has read the entire series and loved it. I had high expectations that this story was going to add to the devotion that Buffy already instilled in me. I haven't gotten all that far into the story, but you don't have to read very far before you encounter the manipulative jerkface attitude of Edward Cullen. It could be because of my experience with manipulative douchebags that makes me loathe him so, but no matter what the reason...I just hate the guy. And Bella? GTF over it, and run away. Far away. Well, I guess that wouldn't work because he'd probably just lurk and stalk you. Nevermind that part then. I simply cannot handle the whining and brooding of those two. I mean, c'mon, Angel and Buffy are just about THE most dramatic couple in all of fiction, and Edward and Bella make those two look like Mike and Carol Brady.

My tea this week is a lot more delicious than the juicy drama of Twilight. When I stayed at the Loews Ventana Resort in Tucson, AZ in 2007, they had this stuff called Arbuckles' Hummingbird Tea (iced) brewed in a container in the lobby. I spent a lot of time walking back and forth, taking a free glass of the tea. Before we left, my mother purchased a large package of it, and I have been addicted to it ever since. I usually drink it warm, but it is also amazing cold. It's magenta color and delicious fruity aroma are not the only appealing things about this tea, as it contains herbs like hibiscus, stevia, rosehips, and St. John's Wart to naturally calm your body and mind. Plus, it's super yummy! I checkd the website, and even though they no longer sell the Hummingbird specifically, I did find their Herbal Burst that just adds echinacea to the mix (which is never a bad thing!).

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

HTC G1 vs HTC Magic

It's been a bit of time since I posted about something that wasn't either travel or food related, so I think I might have to give into my nerdy side just a little. I was getting dressed this morning, and overheard Jake watching a review of the HTC Magic. I sighed, pretending to be annoyed, until I realized that I actually wanted to know more about the product myself. I would like to think that I wouldn't drop another $200 on a phone to replace my still very solid HTC G1, but who knows? I was already very quick to abandon my LG Chocolate 3 with Verizon at the first thought of having a smartphone of my own. So, although I really hope not to become a smartphone groupy...we shall see.

Now, I obviously have not had a chance to look at the HTC Magic myself, seeing as I am a mere pheasant in the wonderful world of technological poultry. However, I do own a G1 so it's pretty easy for me to tell you what the Magic has that G1 does not. Let's start of with the basics. HTC's G1 is an Android based phone (I admit I was hesitant at first because I have an enormous fear of robots...just the name "android" gives me the queezies) with a qwerty keyboard, extensive app store, three home screens, web browsing capabilities, music player, a camera, aaand well..a ton more. Let's just say that the Magic has these very same features...just a bit more advanced.


Rather than having the keyboard slide out, the keyboard on the Magic is touch screen. This makes me a bit hesitant, for I have yet to find a touch screen keyboard that accomodates my ginormously oversized sausage fingers. The G1 is actually the only mobile qwerty device I have used that gives me zero difficulty whatsoever. The only real advantage to the removal of the sliding keyboard is that it makes the phone significantly thinner. The camera is also upgraded to a 3.2 megapixel video camera. That's right, boys and girls, HTC is on the bandwagon of video recording! It has always confused me that while I have been sending video messages for YEARS with my dinky old LG phones, iPhone and G1 users have been complaining about no development on the topic. The technology is obviously there, I guess maybe it just wasn't as much a priority to them?


Another difference in the two, along with the removal of the keyboard, is the removal of the matte finish on the back of the phone. I have never really had an issue with the matte finish on the G1 (unlike my hatred for the texture of the Nintendo DSi). It doesn't really matter to me either way, because all I really care about it protecting the screen from scratches. The most important difference to me so far is the battery life. The G1 is pretty much a battery whore. I love it to pieces, but I cannot deny it's vice. I have heard rumors that the Magic is supposed to conserve more battery than it's predecessor, but have not seen/heard confirmation on the topic. Overall, I am really impressed with the possibility of this new Android phone. If it manages to get released in the US, I would definitely have to play with it for awhile before making a decision. Though I will say if Google happens to bribe G1 users by offering a trade-in discount (doubtful.) I wouldn't hate it XD

The six mile stroll

Day two started a lot earlier than we had intended. I had set my alarm for 8am, and was surprised when I woke up at 7am on my own. We got up and were ready to start making breakfast (it was a french toast and bacon kinda morning) when we realized that everyone was already up. It was around 9:45am when we headed out on our traditional "let's get lost in the woods" exploration. There is a path that we usually take, but I'm whiny and said that we should take the rail road tracks because the path would be pure mud.


Yes, Kelly, let's take the railroad tracks. It started off as a great idea. My sister, brother in law, and their dog all walked along together, while Jake and I competed to see who could walk on the rails furthest. The strangest of the three groups was my parents, who decided to lag behind and yank glass conductors off the old power lines. The tracks intersected with a path that, of course, we had to take. I was under the impression that this road just finished the loop we were walking...and I was quite wrong. This road did not end. Ever. It took a few detours, but nothing substantial until we FINALLY found out that it met the path we usually walked. The END of the path. Essentially, we had walked four miles out of the way to travel the same path I had intended to avoid. My brilliance astounds me.

(Bruce the Vintage Bear)

We finally returned to Somerset cabin around 1:45pm. We had estimated that we had gone about six miles, though I think maybe we underestimated. After a quick nap we headed to the Indian Trading Post at KampKamp for some quick souveniers (and to show Jake where Bruce the Vintage Bear came from) before dinner at Flatlander's. We had been eating there since just about our first year up to Moosehead. I got the full rack of ribs while everyone but Jake indulged in the chicken tenders basket. The odd man out, however, investigated the Broasted Chicken. WTF is Broasted Chicken? Well...

“Broasting” – a revolutionary method of
preparing chicken, meats, and fish by
combining pressure cooking and deep
frying concepts...


I have never seen so much food in my life. On full bellies, we headed back to Wilson's. As Jake and I were driving, I noticed something enormous moving beside us...Just then a bull moose stands up! We immediately pulled over, and my sister pulled beside us. "DID YOU SEE THE MOOSE!?" I asked, and they hadn't! With that, we turned our cars around and watched as the massive creature crossed the road in front of us. He was much bigger than the one that Jake and I had seen the day before. Sucked for my parents, though, cuz they were ahead of us and hadn't seen it.

Monday, May 4, 2009

One trip, two trip


It's like I have not been able to stay put for two weeks. After being home from France for two days, I was on the road again on my way to Greenville, ME for a long weekend at Mooshead Lake with my family. My parents, a couple of the most generous people I have met, paid for the entire weekend. In return, Jake and I volunteered to make dinners and breakfasts while up there. The trip up was long, but familiar to me. This was Jake's first Moosehead experience, so I spent most of the ride up narrating the little things that entertained me in my youth.

After the routine stops in Augusta and Newport, we made it to Greenville. We stocked up on groceries and headed to Somerset cabin at Wilson's. Once we got there, Jake and I decided to walk the across the dam and skip rocks on the little beach nearby. I failed miserably, but it was still fun to try and see who could get the most (it was Jake with 10 btw). We realized we had forgotten to bring toothbrushes, so we drove back into to Indian Hill Store. Sounds like an everyday ordinary trip right? Well it would have been, had we not seen a young moose on our way back. Moosehead/moose...sounds normal? Except that my family and I had been going to Moosehead for YEARS and NEVER saw a moose. It was huge, and we decided to brag about it upon returning to camp.

Dinner was a hit. I prepared a Cesar salad while Jake grilled steak that had been marinating while we were gone. The recipe for this delicious marinade is as follows:

Beane's Steak
1 can Pepsi
1 cup Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce
1 cup Italian salad dressing
Strip steak

It is heavenly. We followed it up with s'mores in the wood stove on sticks that Jake and I had spent the afternoon whittling with my Ka-Bar. Mine was more like a spear than a marshmallow stick, but it got the job done.

After dinner was all taken care of, we broke out our pennies and started a solid game of Tripoley. Like Moosehead, Tripoley has been in my family since I was in about first grade. Instead of poker chips, we play with pennies. I have always wanted to bring it into the game night atmosphere, and it looks like I might finally have my way...seeing as after the game Jake immediately stated, "We are getting this game for the new apartment." To which I stated "Yes, please :)" I have this great plan, though, that instead of using money or chips, we each have a separate candy as our currency. That way, in the end, you have a smorgasbord of sugary goodness :D

Does anyone else have camping traditions that they do with their families?