Was playing with Kayla yesterday when something snapped in my lower back. Muscle for sure, but I’ve been out of commission ever since. It hurts less today than it did yesterday, but it’s still not good.
And of course it happens on a weekend when I have many things planned. Oh well. At least the painkillers are working, and I’m taking it easy to rest up.
Today I would have been on a plane to France.
Things don’t always go smooth.
But the up side is this: not going to France means I get to go to the wedding this weekend, and I get to host my friend Sabine who is coming in from Toronto for that event. I also was able to put some money into the guest room, which needed to be done. Because I won’t be away, I’ll also get to see Chris and Suzy. There are definite benefits to not going this time.
Though I won’t deny, today feels a bit of a bummer.
Had the gang over last night for our Serenity game. It was nice to see the crew, and Jenn has joined us. So that brings the crew to six - out of the original players there’s only me and Jay left, but the crew right now is a really good mix of personalities.
As I was in the mood to cook, I thought I’d cook supper for the crew. It’s nice also not to have to cook in the middle of the week, when you’re working. And since I’m off for the summer… so I pulled out the ol’ slow cooker and made chipotle chicken tacos. It’s a really easy, really healthy recipe.
Basically, you take a couple pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (they shred better than breasts, so the dark meat is important here) and throw in about half a cup of salsa, a couple of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, 4 cloves of garlic, and a tablespoon of chili powder. I modified the recipe though, to make it super chipotle: I used chipotle salsa, and chipotle chili powder. I also added the juice of a lime, and threw in the two halves of the lime for good measure, to help with breaking down the meat proteins. The cooking liquid was pretty spicy as a result, but as you remove the meat to shred it, the meat was pleasantly infused without the spiciness being overwhelming. I made some guacamole on the side, and tomatillo and chipotle salsas for toppings, along with fat-free sour cream. Some iceberg lettuce and and tomato and tex-mex cheese along with soft taco shells and we had a feast!!!!
Which brings me to my love of chipotle. It’s really delicious and smoky - and it adds so much to a mexican dish. But… I was leery of using it in such large quantities in this dish. Usually I try and keep it more subtle. However, I found that having to remove the meat to shred it meant all the difference. An important culinary lesson learned!
I also made a carrot cake for dessert, it was deliciously moist. I’d been in the mood for a carrot cake lately. You know how sometimes you just get in the mood for a carrot cake? Yeah, I’m there. The key turned out to be pineapple. :) It keeps the carrot cake moist! Who knew. OK, probably millions of 1950s housewives, but that’s not the point. It was exactly the finishing touch to the meal that I’d been wanting.
In short - good company, a fun gaming session, and a delicious and well-received meal.
Well, I’m finally able to share the big news of the past couple months. My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their second child. So I’m going to be an auntie again!
You can imagine, I’m already thinking of how I can spoil the baby. And trying to remember how I made the quilt I made last time, so I can reproduce it. And looking up knitting projects. And thinking of fun stuffed toys and baby books and you know, general auntie spoilage.
My parents are thrilled to be grandparents again, and my niece is over the moon that she’s going to be a big sister. I don’t think she realizes quite what that means yet. 
Here’s wishing them a healthy second pregnancy!
Well, it’s been a lot of work (and there is still much more to be done) but my apartment is getting into a shape I am quite pleased with. My great room area is quite comfortable, and I’ve been working on my home office/guest room for the past week. When I moved, it felt like a storage room in there. Now, it feels like a comfortable space, one I would be pleased to offer to a guest.
I still have some cleaning to do in there, and organizing my office stuff to figure out how that’s going to all fit into the space, you know? It’s not easy to get everything organized, and to prune work stuff. I never know what I’m going to need. I got rid of stuff a couple years ago and then had to teach the course for the 2nd time only in 7 years and had to rebuild it all from scratch.
But this place is really coming together. It feels very homey in here. I can’t wait to get my bedroom finished now, and get rid of the rest of my boxes. I don’t have storage in this building, so everything has to stay in this space. That’ll teach you to purge as much as possible, let me tell you.
It’s July, therefore it’s time for me to get a cold. And sometimes, bronchitis! And once or twice, pneumonia! Yaaaayyyy. Anyway, this one doesn’t seem to be so bad. It tuckers me out pretty fast, but if I’m not doing a lot of physically active stuff I’m ok. So I’ve been getting my creativity on.
It’s funny. I forget, when I don’t draw, how much I miss it. And painting is the same. I’m good at it. I know, sometimes I substitute other creative pursuits - but give me a pencil and a piece of paper and a wacky idea. It’s my first love, what can I say.
So yes, I’m sick, and I’m pretty much apartment-bound until I get a bit better, save short errands. But it’s OK, I’m having a lot of fun.
Why on earth would 24 hour guaranteed shipping anywhere in Canada apply to New Brunswick? It’s not like we’re part of Canada.
Oh wait.
It’s OK though, I have a back up plan. I’m going to ship the cunning hats I have made directly to San Diego. And you know what? They’re going to get there in the same amount of time as they would have gotten to their destination in Canada. Ridiculous? More than a little. And that’s how it goes, apparently, to live in NB.
It’s my own fault. I thought I had an extra week before ComiCon. I should have checked on the departure dates of my friend earlier. Nevertheless, I hate being made to feel like a second class citizen in my country.
It’s summer and I have time. Not a lot of free cash, but time. So I’m cooking. Trying out new recipes, seeing what I like etc.
Yesterday I made a really delicious curry from scratch - I’ve never made a curry without using paste and coconut milk, like the thai method. This called for a different method. It was aloo gobi, that is to say, curried caulilower and potato. Soooooooo tasty. I’ve wanted to make this for years, but could never find garam masala. It might seem odd that such a common ingredient has been a rarity in a city the size of the one in which I live, but you know, Maritime palettes often prefer the bland. It was fun to have to cook off the spices a bit in order to bring out their depth before adding the main ingredients of the dish. I have all kinds left over, and am eager to eat it all. YUM. Delicious and easy, a vegetarian dish I will certainly be returning to.
Tonight, I used up some haddock I’ve had in the freezer. Now, if I can return again to the Maritime palette - my Mom made haddock pretty much my entire childhood by breading it and frying it. Not exactly low-fat. But it’s such a nice fish, a real light taste if you prepare it without making it oily. I just pan-fried it in a bit of olive oil, and served it over a bed of wilted spinach and tomato with garlic. Delish! The side dish really balanced the fish.
I’m looking forward to doing some more experimenting with different tastes and flavours over the summer. I’m going to try roasting a pork tenderloin with fennel and garlic next, and I’m looking forward to trying a mediterranean chicken dish later this month. I’m trying to balance my diet. Protein and veg, not a lot of carbs… and I loves my my carbs, so it’s not exactly the easiest thing for me. Still, though, moderation! And homemade is the key. I did see Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes books at Wal-Mart today, though… if I hadn’t just spent nearly $70 at Michael’s for my latest craft project I’d consider it… but more on that later.
Today I figured out how badly I had overspent. It wasn’t as bad as I had initially thought. Manageable, certainly, and if I’m frugal for the next while I shall be able to purchase the Hemnes Armoire of my Dreams from IKEA before overlong. That would be nice, because it will finish off my bedroom. And I would very much like to finish off my bedroom. 
Also, I just realized - I totally stole a laundry basket from my folks place. Woops.
Went out drinking with the girls last night at the Brig. It was an awesome time. And I’m pleased to report that I have not been ill ever since, unlike last time. Ha ha!
Actually, yesterday was a really good day all round. I had a nice coffee at Mom and Dad’s and hung out with Miss Kayla (she enjoys having me fall to the floor and play dead - I will not be doing that here, on account of hardwood floors). The folks at my property management company finally fixed my mailbox (it’s only been since frickin’ MARCH) and it turns out there was money hiding in there. :\ I am most unimpressed that my mail was inaccessible and that my bills etc were being strewn across the floor in an unsecured entry because I was told there was no key. I mean, come on. Identity theft, privacy concerns - this is just unacceptable.
Also in the pile of mail I didn’t get till yesterday? An invitation to Kristi and Anthony’s wedding. Well, at least it didn’t pass before I got the invite, but how annoying. I had just figured I didn’t get one on account of I was meant to be in France that week, I didn’t realize it was stuck in my inaccessible mailbox. 
Anyway, that seems to be fixed up, and Warren from downstairs and I switched mailbox keys so I actually have a mailbox that matches my doorbell now. Phew!
I also met my new neighbour. She’s really nice - just moved over from Nfld. Had she known I was home last weekend apparently I would have been invited to her party and no excuse - very newf hospitality! :) She has a washer/dryer hookup in her apartment. I am most envious. I really miss laundry on site. On the other hand, I have no idea where I would put it. :\
I also had lunch at Sahara with an old friend from high school. That food is really good - lots of garlic, awesome. And the company was good too!
Today I have a lot on my plate doing cleaning around the apartment. I want to finish getting the spare room ready for Miss Kayla’s visit tomorrow, in case she needs a nap. I have cleaning up to do in the rest of the apartment too. It should be spick and span in here by the time I’m done!