nina turns 40

culinary goddess

I had so much fun at the grocery store yesterday buying summery things like plums and a big bag of fresh basil. I also bought the ingredients for manicotti--fresh ricotta=yum. As I was assembling it tonight, with the kidlet's help, of course, I realized tht I didn't have any tomato sauce to pour over it all while it baked. No canned tomatoes, nuthin', just ketchup. So instead I sauteed some onions and garlic and added the rest of the bag of spinach and arugula salad that had been sitting around in the fridge. Once it got all wilty, I dumped that over the manicotti and then shredded a ton of mozarella cheese over that and baked it. Most delicious. A lovely summer version. Can't wait to make fresh pesto. I just hope my blender is up to it.

Well she was an American girl, raised on promises

That has to be one of my favorite opening lines of any song, ever. Good ol' Tom Petty. He's one of those artists like The Cars or the early Police, that when I hear them I am instantly transported back to high school, and that feeling of possibility that the world held then.

For the first time in far too long, my Saturday evening plans do not include DVDs or laundry. They include much more fun things like cocktails and conversation. Unfortunately, my day time plans still include unpacking and rearranging and cleaning up the new pad, which, except for the fact that there aren't a bunch of empty beer cans all over the place, looks too much like a bunch of frat boys live here. Today is also the day that the kidlet's preschool has their little "graduation" ceremony. I'm going to miss that place, and all the wonderful kids and parents, far more than I can say.

i love a man in uniform

Since it seems to be the source of a certain amount of geek bragging rights (and we all know I'm a wannabe), I'd just like to say that I got gmail! (Thanks for the invite Cowtown Pattie). Drop me a line why doncha? ninaturns40 at gmail dot com

More importantly, however, I'd like to send you to visit Da Skinny Black Man. For anyone who says that my blog is too girly, or only for women or any of that crap (and yes, people say these horrible horrible things to me), I'll have you know that not only do boys read me, but they leave nice comments for me, and they trackback to me and they write me emails. So there. Mikey is funny and warm and geeky and in love, what's not to like about him? Interesting that a peacenik like me seems to click with the military boys. I have my theories about this, which I won't bore you with here, but I will add that now I have that Gang of Four song in my head (shoot, shoot).

how did i get here?

Well, the shit has really hit the fan at eVil corporation. Yet another reorganization is taking place in our region and the heads are rolling. My department is largely unaffected, that is, unless they decide to dismantle the whole thing and move it all to Portland. Don't think that will happen, but you never know. Ahh, the joys of corporate America.

summer dreams

I've been dreaming of road trips and sex lately. No big need for interpretation there. File under "Things I'm Feeling Deprived Of"

This just in from the resourcefulness department: I love making coffe in my little red Italian stove-top number, but I don't have any of those tiny cappuccino spoons. Digging around my silverware drawer I discovered I did still have some of the kidlet's old baby spoons. And while the plastic covering doesn't do much for the elegance of the situation, they are the perfect size and they don't cause me to splash espresso all over the damn place when I stir in the sugar.

It's feast or famine around nt40 these days...

Have you discovered these yet? They are extremely yummy, especially the blackberry and grapefruit flavors. And while they're by no means good for you, they're at least a lesser evil, and they go fantastically well with vodka.

checka checka!

Got some new blogs for y'all to check out and enjoy. Bluepoppy was kind enough to stop by here and comment, which is how I discovered her. She is one of those bloggers that makes me consider just tossing in the hat because her writing is so good and fresh. I love her design as well. I'm not sure how I discovered Penelope Illustration, but it's most serendipitous (I just had to toss that word in there). Her journal is filled with the most wonderful line drawings. She has this adorable quirky style that is thankfully not overly cute, and which makes her blog feel very welcoming. You get the sense that you know her that much better for having seen her drawings, and I'm tempted to call her up and ask her to make a comic book version of my life. Again, I sometimes rue the fact that my blog list is so unbalanced towards the girlies, but that's just the way I find 'em, folks. It's not intentional.

happy father's day

I remember when my hand was too little to hold his, so I just grabbed a finger. I remember sitting on his lap after he got home from work. I remember how he let me "style" his hair while he relaxed on the couch. I remember he always told me that the shy boys were the good ones. He helped me build and launch a model rocket (yes, I'm a geek), supported my losing soccer team (never won even once), hugged me when I broke up with my first boyfriend in highschool, and took me to Chile when I turned 30. I don't think anybody believes in me more. I love you, Dad!

misc.

A coupla things:

The wonderful blog Go Fish is now Pesky Apostrophe and I have every intention of changing it on my blogroll soon. Mac, the author of said blog, is one of those bloggers who posts several times a day, every day, and never bores you. She blogs about politics, pop culture, and her own life in a way that always makes you laugh. She is delightful, and I hope you read her regularly.

We all know that I love purple flowers--lilacs, irises, violets, they all make me happy. Right now in my otherwise disastrously messy apartment there are four of the most gorgeous deep purple gladiolas that you could ever hope to see: big tall stems, gobs of blooms, and that color!