My Thursday.

I just walked down to Cowboy Cookies to get Jessi a Maverick (or two). Except Cowboy Cookies moved down the street next to the gallery. "Oh dear. The gallery. I suppose I better check on that 600 dollar photograph that I have been lusting over for 2 years. Yup, still there." And then the gallery curator came over and asked if I needed help. "Oh no- I'm just a big fan of this photo. Catherine Archuleta is amazing." So we start talking and she introduces me to Dotty Hawthorne- a fantastic watercolor painter who owns part of the gallery and, of course, is on display. Very nice lady, beautiful paintings. She was painting all day in the Eucalyptus grove. So turns out that the curator also is a career counselor and she wants to help me find a job.

Oh and I also met the guy who puts on the football office pool, so I entered.

Crazy world we live in. It's amazing the people you meet when you smile.

This makes me remember the good ol' depressing days in Dr. Preston's class. I haven't seen it yet, and I honestly don't know if I will. There's only so much I can do for the environment and when I can't do more I start reevaluating my life. And there's only so much reevaluating you can do before you start doubting everything.

Guess what this picture is.....

We're gonna ignore the fact that I took this photo on my phone and that the light was really bad and that I, frankly, suck at taking pictures. We're just gonna call this photo "art".

We're also gonna call it the recipe of the day!!

Cashew Butternut Squash Raviolis

What you need:
...Pre-made Butternut Squash Raviolis (maybe I'll make them from scratch one day- but not today)
...Butter
...Olive Oil
...Parmesan cheese (or Gruyere- that would've been good but Jessi and I ate all of my Apple Smoked Gruyere the last time she was in town.)
...Cashews
...Nutmeg

What you do:
Make the ravs. Remove from water- stick a bit of butter in with them and let it melt. Add some olive oil cause it's delicious and better for you than more butter. Add cheese and just a shake of nutmeg (it's a very strong spice- careful). Toast some crushed cashews and pour on top. Nom nom it up.

Quick recap

My apologies for the neglect, things have been crazy. Drea came to visit!

(This photo was not taken this week- it was taken long ago. Back when my hair was au natural.)

My beau went skydiving.

(Better pictures to come from my disposable camera.)

I had my interview on Friday.

And now what I feel I really need is a good session at Red Hot Pottery where I paint a "Our First Christmas Tree" ornament. Because it's not our first Christmas together, nor our first Christmas married, but it is our first Christmas living together and sharing a tree. Thus: Our First Christmas Tree.

Things I love about San Luis Obispo

...you can hear jazz music from the Italian restaurant on the corner as you walk down the street.
...there's a candy shop that plays Willy Wonka on loop all day, every day.
...there's a medley of college students, oldtimers, middle agers, and toddlers sharing space during Farmer's Market.
...it has amazing shopping, movie theaters, and restaurants.
...Avila Valley Barn. They sell honey sticks.
...at least one of the local beaches will have nice weather at any given time.
...it's a town that encourages personal growth and education.
...it is involved in the green revolution.
...there's cows, horses, sheep, and pigs.
...the hills are green in March.
...Perfumo Canyon.
...good hiking.
...downtown at Christmas time.
...there's only one major freeway.
...the air always seems clean.
...you will probably run into someone you know while walking downtown.
...the people are pretty.
...you're a short drive away from art galleries on the Embarcadero.
...everyone is always glowing.
...the clock tower chimes Frank Sinatra

The Tummy Beast

BY ROALD DAHL

One afternoon I said to mummy,

“Who is this person in my tummy?

“Who must be small and very thin

“Or how could he have gotten in?”

My mother said from where she sat,

“It isn’t nice to talk like that.”

“It’s true!” I cried. “I swear it, mummy!

“There is a person in my tummy!

“He talks to me at night in bed,

“He’s always asking to be fed,

“Throughout the day, he screams at me,

“Demanding sugar buns for tea.

“He tells me it is not a sin

“To go and raid the biscuit tin.

“I know quite well it’s awfully wrong

“To guzzle food the whole day long,

“But really I can’t help it, mummy,

“Not with this person in my tummy.”

“You horrid child!” my mother cried.

“Admit it right away, you’ve lied!”

“You’re simply trying to produce

“A silly asinine excuse!

“You are the greedy guzzling brat!

“And that is why you’re always fat!”

I tried once more, “Believe me, mummy,

“There is a person in my tummy.”

“I’ve had enough!” my mother said,

“You’d better go at once to bed!”

Just then, a nicely timed event

Delivered me from punishment.

Deep in my tummy something stirred,

And then an awful noise was heard,

A snorting grumbling grunting sound

That made my tummy jump around.

My darling mother nearly died,

“My goodness, what was that?” she cried.

At once the tummy voice came through,

It shouted, “Hey there! Listen you!

“I’m getting hungry! I want eats!

“I want lots of chocs and sweets!

“Get me half a pound of nuts!

“Look snappy or I’ll twist your guts!”

“That’s him!” I cried. “He’s in my tummy!

“So now do you believe me, mummy?”

But mummy answered nothing more,

For she had fainted on the floor.

“The Tummy Beast” from Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl, published by Jonathan Cape Ltd & Penguin Books Ltd (UK) and Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc (USA) © 1983.

Source: Dirty Beasts (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001)

My space, your space.

Today's Non-Etsy Find(s) of the Day:



That's the interview outfit I bought today! My interview is on Friday (yes, I'm terrified) and I have to look great. In a "I'm super professional and mature, but also inexperienced enough to take this entry-level job and to use the word 'super'" type of way. Hopefully I succeed.

Sidenote:
I am eating fat-free, lactose-free chocolate pudding. Despite being deprived of everything delicious, it is still quite tasty. Probably because it is guilt-free, as well.

Today I also adopted a corner of my residence. I got so used to not sharing space with someone, I forgot what it was like. A one room apartment for two 22 year-old's with A LOT of stuff (apparently) is just not enough room. So I took advice from Francis Mayes, "The trick to overcoming buyer's remorse is to have a plan. Pick one room and make it yours. Go slowly through the house. Be polite, introduce yourself, so it can introduce itself to you." Ok, it doesn't totally apply but I tried to live up to the quote's expectations. I picked a corner (cause my apartment is too small to pick a whole room) and made it my own. It needs some work but here it is thus far...


I moved my computer from the living room and the evil Wal-Mart desk that cuts into my arms and put it in the bedroom. I'm planning on burning that desk in an epic bonfire. Now I can listen to music and play on the computer without hearing video game sound effects, "TOUCHDOWN!!!", or other manly noises (aka farting, burping, cussing, or snoring) from my manly boyfriend (whom I happen to love more than anything in the world). One day we'll have two bedrooms and he can have his mancave rather than adopting the whole living room. BUT! It's ok- cause like he says, I have a womancave now. I am woman- hear me roar.

roar.