It's Been One Week..

It's been one week since I stopped doing the news.

I'm feeling a little lost.

It's silly in a way.

So what have I been up to?

I gardened last Sunday. I cleaned up some of the house on Monday and had a Memorial Day hot dog dinner with Matt. I watched I Capture The Castle and New Waterford Girl.

Tuesday I finally saw Labyrinth for the first time since it was available on Netflix streaming.

Wednesday I had just one violin student and then I went to watch Matt play floor hockey. We went out with the team after to Applebee's for dinner and some drinks. It was the first time in awhile that I recall having a drink in the middle of the week with dinner, or before 10pm.

Thursday I attended the dress rehearsal for the Infinity group, Collective Groove, that I would be performing with on Friday. After dinner, Matt and I went to see Bridesmaids. I cried on the way home because the movie reminded me of how much I miss one of my friends who moved away.

Friday we ate dinner quick before attending the Infinity Performing & Visual Arts Showcase at the Reg Lenna Civic Center. I had my worst case of nerves in years complete with icy hands and dry throat. We dropped into Forte after for a glass of wine and slice of grand marnier cheesecake before going home.

Saturday we had a funeral in the morning for the father of our friends. He was a good man. After a quick trip to Wegmans, I took my mother in law to a bridal shower for her granddaughter/my niece. Matt had a hockey team party that night, so I sat down in the recliner and read all of The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield.

Today I chatted online with my friend, Candy, who has had a marvelous weekend, before getting ready and meeting my friend, Heather, at Wegmans for coffee and grocery shopping.

There was a lot that went on this week. I did some things I might not have if I knew later on at night I would have to do the news. I felt like I should be a lot more simply because I didn't have that one thing hanging over my head.

I feel like I failed in a way.

Heather said she got some advice not that long ago that makes sense. That she just needs to be rather than worrying about setting goals. I think I just need to be for awhile. I need to figure this out. It's been a long time since I've had this kind of additional time back. It seems so very over dramatic to be going on like this, but the truth is that I just don't feel like myself. I've even had a hard time remembering what I used to do with myself in the days before I did the news. I also know I'm a much different person from then.

Matt says I don't deal well with change. I know I don't. I just don't like to hear it out loud because I tend to advocate pretty loudly if I see something that should be changed for others. Admittedly, even when it's a good change, it's still hard. The good thing is that I still make myself do it. I couldn't grow otherwise.

2010 Summer Run Down Thus Far...

I'm going to say summer started at the end of April because we've had some seriously nice weather these past few months. So what have we been up to? Ready, steady, GO!

- A Dos De Mayo Party at Shannon Mac's house kicked off the season. There was delicious food made by one of the chefs from Hutch's Restaurant in Buffalo, a DJ, and a slip'n slide on a hill.

- "This Week In Metal" was revived on WRFA-LP (podcasts available). Leonard Barren and Julia Tesla can be heard weekly giving you random cool facts with a metal theme.

- I played in the Spring concert for the Jamestown Community orchestra. We rocked out to Chuck Mangione's "The Children of Sanchez."

- The foundation on the south side of our house was replaced so that we no longer feared the back-end of house falling over because of crumbling blocks.

- Memorial Day weekend my parents visited, installed a motion detector light on the back of our house and went on the Chautauqua Art Trail. We all watched the Memorial Day parade down Lakeview Avenue and later hung out at a friend's house on Chautauqua Lake.

- We attended the Yassou! Greek Festival with friends and some of us attempted to drink the Southern Tier Brewing Opa! kegs dry.

- We celebrated the marriage of NickDean and Lori in Bemus Point. It was a super hot and muggy day that was met with lots of chair rocking on the front porch of the Hotel Lenhart.

- A orange tiger-striped cat we named McKinley came to live at our house. Matt wrote the whole story here.

- We revisited our high school years by attending Forte's Surprise Prom Party - Enchanted Shipwreck Under The Sea.

- More hanging out on Chautauqua Lake for Fourth of July.

- Spent as much time as possible hanging out with Shannon who was in town from Pontiac, Illinois. Plenty of beer was consumed.

- In theory, I began teaching violin lessons at the Infinity Performing Arts Center. Of the two students I have, one had car trouble and the other forgot to show up. We'll see how the second week goes!

- We joined some cousins in Rochester to head off to the wineries for much merriment. Crowning touch on that visit, besides all the excellent food consumed, was clogging a Wegmans' aisle while looking at beer.

And that's just through this past weekend! Stay tuned...

Stay by Allie Larkin

Some time ago I noticed there was this lady named Allie who was commenting on my blog. I initially confused her for my other friend, Ali, until I clicked on the link for her blog.

That's where I learned about Stay. Who wouldn't be suckered in by a romantic comedy that involves a puppeh? And bonus?? It's set mostly in Rochester!



Even though my parents were visiting me at the time, I refused to put down the book until I devoured it all in one day. I laughed as I recited passages to my mom about the trials and tribulations Van goes through as she welcomes her new dog, Joe, into her home. It's an entertaining read that has some real poignant moments.

Please check out Stay when it comes out June 10th!

The Census: Getting Our Slice of the Federal Pie

I had the pleasure of writing the feature article for the latest issue of the Chautauqua Region Word. The downloadable PDF is here.

I've been living in Census Central, it seems, for the past few months. Promotional materials have filled the trunk of one of our cars, thwarting me whenever I made my weekly trip to Wegmans and forgot, once again, that I was competing for space with posters, water bottles, and other knick-knacks. Unexpected meetings have been added to my work agenda so I could listen to and share ideas for how to get the word out about the Census.

The guy leading the cause for our area has been Matt, so I really and truly couldn't get away from it. I watched him and other people on the committee turn an awareness campaign into something that resembled what I had seen him do on the political side of his job. It was heavy on grassroots and so far seems to have had some good results based on the Census Participation Map that shows Jamestown at 73% for Mail Participation rate.

To get the full story, pick up a paper copy of the Word or click over here.

Life With A Bubble Boy

Matt and I had been dating a few years before his allergies started showing up and wrecking havoc with his life and somewhat with mine. It's to the point where we joke that we should just get him a bubble and be done with it all.

His sensitivity to corn, and thus corn-derived products, has changed up our grocery shopping habits once again, but I think this one could be beneficial to us both.

I knew that a lot of products had corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup in them, but I guess I didn't realize to what extent. Something as simple as ketchup has both ingredients. Even "healthy" cereals like Bran Flakes have HFCS!

Fortunately, with the natural food movement and desire by some of the population to get away from the easy sugar of HFCS, there are now more products that are sweetened "naturally" either using cane sugar, honey, or fruit-based sweeteners. Naturally, they tend to cost more.

Either way, if it switching to these products helps keep the hives away for Matt and we see benefits in terms of our waistlines, I'll be happy.

All In A Sunday Trip to the Store

Even when I'm pressed for time and on a schedule, I still like to take time when I go to Wegmans to see what's new. It's the obsession with the place. Today brought a wealth of new things. Here is what I saw and heard:

- The first thing I noticed when I walked in the Lakewood store today was what I heard. Was a band playing? Where was that louder, rock-sounding music coming from? I asked store employee and friend, Jason Jordan, what was up and he said he had been at the flagship Pittsford store recently. They apparently had different music playing around the store, so he decided to replicate the idea to create more of a public market feel. Frank Sinatra was playing in the Deli/pizza area, Bon Jovi/Dire Straits/Meatloaf in the food demonstration area, and Kee Kee Dee/Elton John over in frozen foods. Jason said it all has to be ironed out some since some people are using iPods until they can either hook computers into the wifi or something.

- You can rent out part of the Market Cafe seating area for things like birthday parties. There were Wegmans balloons bouncing merrily above seats and a private coffee station.

- The beverage coolers have been removed from the cashier lines and replaced with bins of stuff you just might want, or not. My friend, Erik, noted that he probably wouldn't be buying Barbasol shaving cream on impulse anytime soon.

- The Lakewood Wegmans doesn't have, and probably won't have, the frog cupcakes that Jenny adores but apparently we'll have an Easter Chick version of them later this month.

- Increased/improved signage in the cosmetics section.

- Wegmans bread packaging has changed in graphic design.

As said, all in a Sunday's trip!

Old Man Winter Returns!

Yes. Your eyes do not deceive you. That is a large display of Southern Tier Old Man Winter at the Lakewood Wegmans. And yes, a couple of those will be coming home with me.

Morning After

What do you get after a night of indulgence? Why Wegmans coffee and a breakfast sandwich of course! We needed some protein before we head over to Jade and Dave's apartment to help them move into their new house in Jamestown.

Friends on the Fourth

Friends and a sun set. We had moved so our backs were to the Lake so as to avoid the smoke from the fire pit. Later, most of us turned to watch the fireworks while Ali and Shannon roasted strawberry marshmallows (that's all they had left at Wegmans) for s'mores.

Guest Spot

The next issue of the recently relaunched/revitalized Chautauqua Region Word comes out this week. I've been asked to provide the guest editorial for this issue. Those who know me best know that I generally avoid the truly controversial, so the editorial was more some observations I've made during the ten years I've lived here in Chautauqua County.

Pick up The Word at your favorite "third place" or read it online when it goes live sometime around Thursday this week. I welcome any thoughts you may have on it here. Full text of the guest editorial will be posted here after the paper has gone to print.

Three Things

Three things I saw tonight that made me smile:

1. Two 20somethings playing rock-paper-scissors at Wegmans to see who got to choose which DVD they were going to rent

2. A glorious sunset of pinks and purples stacked on each other until they bled in a fantastic mess across the sky














3. This video that Buffalo Pundit posted:

A Sort of Beer Heaven

For the past couple weeks, Wegmans has been tantalizing us with an open area back near the beer coolers that was to become the new International/Microbrew Beer section of the store. This weekend, it was unveiled.

I was the lone girl in a meandering group of guys who wandered down the short aisles, mouths agape at the selection. While it's not a big section, there are some good picks. I immediately snagged a 4-pack of Dogfish Head Brewery's 90 Minute IPA. I also saw a sixer of Sackets Harbor Brewing Co.'s 1812 Amber Ale that I'll have to pick up sometime. Naturally, there was an abundant selection of Southern Tier Brewing Company beers including the limited edition 4-22 Earth Day Ale. FYI, Hop Sun is now available!

The new beer area seems popular since some brands looked a little depleted. Note: you cannot mix six packs up. Your best bet is to get a friend who wants to try something different from you and split the cost that way.

Savory Success

This is the final result of the beef stew I made today. I used a Wegmans recipe that was featured in the latest issue of Menu magazine, and also the featured dish in stores this week. Unfortunately, the website seems to be down so I can't give you the link (UPDATE: recipe here). The modifications I made were to follow the slow-cooker version of the recipe, and I eliminated the use of rosemary and mushrooms since I don't like either.

To supplement the stew, I picked up a loaf of roasted garlic bread from Tops (shhhh). It was a dense bread that had a crispy crust and soft center. Very tasty. Now we have plenty of leftovers to carry us through the week until Thursday, when I make my slow-cooker chili recipe. And no, I don't know who this girl is who apparently CAN cook when she feels like it.

Stewing

My first attempt at making stew. I'm using a Wegmans recipe.

Tell Me More..

Erin tagged me on this one.

What were you like when you were five? Quiet with a streak of absurdity.

What are you wearing now? Gray jeans, white dress shirt under a cream sweater, black boots

What story/book/novel have you read over and over again in your life? A Semester In The Life of a Garbage Bag by Gordon Korman

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? Sleeping With Schubert by Bonnie Marson

Do you nap a lot? No, but I have been more lately.

Who was the last person you hugged? Matt

What’s your current fandom/obsession/addiction? Morrissey/The Smiths

What was the last thing you ate today? A piece of homemade pumpkin bread

What was the last thing you said aloud? Something went wrong with the direct deposits for everyone on the floor but me.. not sure why.

What websites do you always visit when you go online? Gmail, Facebook, Google Reader

What was the last thing you bought? Groceries at Wegmans

What are you listening to right now? Beth Orton's "Sweetest Decline"

If you could have any super power, what would it be? I used to think flying, but with my luck I'd be shot down. Now I think invisibility would be handy.

What is your favorite weather, and why? Sunny, about 64 degrees with a light breeze

What time do you usually get up? 7:27 a.m.

What is your most challenging goal right now? Staying positive and focused on what I need to do as I continue to live in uncertain times.

Say something to the person who tagged you: Erin, we've never met but you've always sounded like you'd be a fun person to get hot chocolate with!

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? A semi-wooded lot on the shore, but not right on the shore of Lake Ontario near Rochester.

Favorite vacation spot? Canada. It's a foreign country I can drive to and either go to the big city, hit up the rural wonders, or even visit family.

What is your favorite children’s book? Outside Over There by Maurice Sendak

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: chocolate

If you could meet anyone famous - dead or alive - who would it be? Edith Wharton

What was your first job? Babysitting for under the table. Ride Operator at Seabreeze Amusement Park for taxable income

What’s the last movie you saw? Catch and Release

What was the last restaurant you ate at? Pizza, Wings, & Things in Fredonia.

TAGGED: Not tagging today. Go ahead if you like. It's something to do while it's snowing outside.

THE RULES:
Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people will be tagged.

Flutie Flakes at Wegmans

Look what Wegmans has for sale! I feel like I stepped back into the 1990s when I saw these.

Know Who's Visiting Wegmans Tomorrow?

I, ah, have to run to Wegmans tomorrow to pick up some items. They're dropping prices on hundreds of items you know.

It has nothing to do with the fact that Danny Wegman is supposed to be doing his annual store tour sometime around the noon hour.

(tries to look innocent) (fails)

Here's my story from last year about meeting Mr. Wegman.

If you ever hear that Danny Wegman is touring your local Wegmans grocery store, I recommend shopping that day. Everything will be in stock, gorgeously displayed, and store employees will be even more helpful than usual. Not that they aren't usually.

When Family Members Find Out You Blog

Earlier this week, I got to mix a work trip with spending time with family I don't often see. It was a serendipitous kind of thing where our office was only able to afford sending me to the statewide conference for the program I work because I could stay overnight with family.

Monday, I went from listening to doom and gloom about how Wall Street could end up affecting everything in our program to my cousin, Karen, joking about how dinner's discussion would be about how Aunt Stella survived the Depression and how we, too, could survive whatever was around the corner. When my aunt asked her to find a bigger pot for the corn on the cob, she brought up a white pot that had been used for canning,

"Well, maybe we should just keep this up here because canning will be useful when we all have to start growing our little gardens in order to have food to eat," she suggested.

It was just the kind of cynical humor I needed.

Discussions switched to technology and how blogging has become more the norm within the industry, whichever one you want to talk about, than ever. I mentioned that I even have my Twitter updates appear on the sidebar of my blog. Karen looked a little surprised, "You blog?"

"Yes. I have for, let me think, over seven years now," I answered.

I could see and hear the wheels turning in Karen's head. How did the fact that I've had a blog manage to escape her purview? And why hadn't I shared this fact before?

I knew this would happen one day. The day you find out all your wibblings about life, sex, and your deep love for Morrissey, Wegmans, and chick lit have been found by your family. This happened to my dad a few years ago. I think he had a quick look around and hasn't come back for fear I might make his head explode.

Sharing the link to my blog with Karen is a bit different though. She's always been the cool cousin out in Albany who was able to build a successful career in radio news. I shadowed her in 1999 for a couple days when Governor Pataki was inaugurated for his second term. The short time I spent with her solidified my interest in radio news and we also got to talk about relationships, movies, music, books, and other assorted bits. That, and she knew all the words to Bran Van 3000's "Drinking In L.A." I told you she's cool. You can guess that I'm a bit shy about sharing something I've sometimes cavalierly kept up for years, but I do try to share when asked, so this is the welcome post for Karen. Enjoy!

'Rog' Fest 2008

This past week was a doozy for my friends. Clair and Melissa's mom, Susan, died last Monday. This meant Matt lost his former mother-in-law. Some of you know that Matt was married once before to our friend, Melissa. The divorce was amicable and we're all good friends. Life is short, you know?

After the funeral on Friday, all the friends gathered at Melissa's house for some food and beverages. At some point, Jade proclaimed that we should make pierogis. The idea caught on with Melissa, and since I offered my expertise, it was decided that we would meet up at my house on Saturday afternoon for a pierogi party. I honestly didn't think it would happen since this was one of those late-night crazy drunk ideas. But..

At 3pm, I met Jade at Wegmans to commence with ingredient purchasing. The inclusion of Gatorade should give you a hint of how some of the group felt. Back at my house, I made a pitcher of sangria and started making the dough while we waited for Melissa and Clair to arrive.

At some point, I assessed the amount of farmer cheese filling that was left and how many pierogis we had already made and exclaimed,

"Oh god. Oh God!"

"What? What's wrong?" Jade asked.

"Nothing, really. I just realized we're following my Babcia's recipe for all of this. The recipe is for when we make pierogis for the entire family for Christmas Eve, so we make three kinds. At the end, we have about 300 pierogi. That means we might end up with 100 cheese pierogi all on their own, not including the other kinds we planned to make today," I explained, rubbing my head and getting flour all over myself.

Jade reflected, "Oh. Well, I guess we better call a few people to see who we can get over here to help us eat tonight!"

Melissa and Clair arrived soon after that to help with making the potato, cheese, and onion filled pierogi. They decided we should make this an annual tradition, calling it 'Rog Fest - the festival where everyone is Polish. And several hours later, we finally had used up all the dough and filling. Matt graciously fried up enough for dinner and the rest were parceled out on plates to take home. We figured we easily made over 100 pierogis.

It was a really fun time. Of course, it's easier to get a lot done when you have help! My mom was over-joyed when I told her of the festivities and could not wait to call my grandma to inform her that pierogi-making will live on in our family through me.

Summer in the City

It may hit 90-degrees this Friday, although mid-80s is a better bet right now. Here's my list of things I like about warmer (or hotter) weather:

1. It's finally not too cold for ice cream/gelato/sorbet (she says as she eats another spoonful of pink grapefruit sorbet)
2. Air that's heavily scented with flowers, charcoal grills, and fresh cut grass
3. Wearing sandals with everything and not wearing nylons
4. Cucumber water on especially hot, sticky days
5. Getting dinner from the Mediterranean Bar at Wegmans (dolmas, hummus, baba ghanough)
6. Mojitos on the floating bar by the Village Casino or wine on the front porch of the Lenhart Hotel in Bemus Point
   
7. Lots of awesomely bad pop tunes that were written with summer in mind
8. Smokers and non-smokers hanging out in front of Forte
9. Father's Day at my aunt & uncle's campsite in Holland (bucket margaritas, swimming in a pool that overlooks a forested valley, and jello salad)
10. Any party that involves jello/marshmallow salad
    

What do you like best about summer? Leave your list in comments.