Baked

Didn't I warn you that school would become a problem with me? If I didn't specifically, I'm letting you all know now. Top that with a new job, insane classwork (and a particular professor), and a few major meltdowns and you basically have my life as of now.

I'm managing, really.

As far as today goes, it's definitely one of my better ones. I ordered a t-shirt from Teefury sometime last week? A little before that? And finally got it in the mail today. I'll post a picture of it down at the bottom, and you'll probably see me scampering around with the thing if you live anywhere near me. (On that last note, I apologize for my behavior. Maturity is my last concern with shit like this.)

AND I MADE BAKED APPLES.

Fall is my favorite season, okay? Halloween is my family's FAVORITE holiday, so I've been trying to get all my costume stuff together. Something which, by the way, I won't be mentioning much on here. Not until after the fact, of course. Hint: It'll be friggin' awesome.

Anyway, back to the apples. Today's a kind of personal holiday and I wanted to do something a little special. I love baked apples and had two tucked in the fridge that I figured I could use. Gouging out the cores wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be, actually. I really planned on walking away with one less digit, but I made it out all right. And, instead of following the directions to a T, I tried doing something a little different, but not much.

Now, I didn't measure anything, so I can't really relay much of what I did. I'll try to next time, if I don't change the recipe another million times. I can say, however, that there was cinnamon, brown sugar, butter, syrup, and boiling water involved. I used a recipe online as a base (This WONDERFUL recipe right here) and basically referenced back for ingredients.

If any of you haven't tried baked apples before, making or eating, I seriously encourage you to do so. Unless you're allergic. Or have some personal fear of the things. No judgement. Really.

Anyway, after about  half an hour in the oven, one disappeared into my stomach and hasn't been seen since. The other is cooling as I type this, and will be popped into the fridge for later consumption. I actually love them cold, too. Not as weird as it sounds (it does sound a little weird, right?), trust me.

I'll probably pick another day to rant about classes and homework and go on about how I'm enjoying my new job and meeting new people. This is just a quick update on what's been going on. If I can, I'm going to try and post something twice a week, maybe more. But that's definitely my minimum. I can't keep disappearing on people - not okay. So, I'll just leave you guys with a few pics and then get back to you later!

Mmmmmm, dem honeys.

HELL YEAH

Now shoo.

Unpacked and...prepared?

We're not in the old county anymore, guys. No, no, no. We have officially migrated into uncharted territory. A place with grid-locks. A place where you can walk to the store. Where the theme park is just down the lane and tickets are affordable. Where closets are used as pantries and brooms are necessary for quieting neighbors.

Yeah. We're in Orlando.

It's been a while since I've even looked at this site. Not because I don't want to (I swear, I really do love being on here), but there's no real good reason for my absence. Lack of proper time management skills? That could be a definite. Or maybe the fact that I was either too busy out with family or friends to sit down and document the shit I was "accomplishing" (eating, playing, people. Can you accomplish people?) . Either way, I'm here now and I definitely plan on finishing this post.

Did I mention that I wrote one ages ago and planned on relating a story about a toilet frog? I'll probably save that one for later, at this point. When I'm run out of ammo and all I can talk about is scary auditorium classrooms (which might be my biggest fear yet) and lack of proper sleep (which will be a constant issue, I'm sure).

Anyway, my new location is obviously a fresh change. The apartment complex I'm living in is great, my roommates are awesome friends, and the area is so much different than what I'm used to. It'll take time, yeah. Especially for someone that resents change to the point where they might actually attack a poor, defenseless inanimate object. Namely a desk or pillow. Issues we're working on? Eeehhhh.

Schedules are being prepared, engagements arranged, and necessities acquired. And just about every member of my family is downloading Skype so they can see me whenever I'm sitting at this thing. Which will be pretty often, as usual. I'm sure that aspect of my life will remain the same. Which I have absolutely no problem with, trust me.

I love you, internet baby. And all the things you give me. *heartfelt sigh*

So, in closing, classes start tomorrow for the Monday-challenged and leave me with a whole day of preparation. Mentally, emotionally, physically. Getting ready for an insanely sized class, learning the route and trying not to have a mental breakdown halfway through, and slipping into a work-out routine that'll result in tremendous satisfaction.

We're thinkin' track here, people. Thinking. But my plans never seem to go quite the way I want them to, so we'll see where I end up on that particular topic. Maybe passed out in the middle of the street. My luck.

I did already slip in the shower. My tub stickies were the only thing that kept me from braining myself on the faucet. If that's not an indicator of my habits, I'm sure I'll have more to supply you with soon enough.

Closing statements were a few lines up, huh? Whatever. Now I'm leaving. Seriously. Just stop reading, close the tab, and do something else with your life. Right now. Grab a book, maybe. Go outside? Sleep? Eat? I always opt for that last one. Guess this whole new "fit" shit is gonna screw with that. Like I care. I'll eat whatever the hell I--

Scrambled screw-ups for breakfast, crepes for lunch, immaturity for dinner.

I'd like to start off by saying that I thought today was Wednesday. Because of this, I pulled myself out of bed around seven, dressed - to better appease the general public - and made my face look not-so-hideous. While fighting a losing battle with my hair, my mother popped her head into the bathroom and stared at me for a minute.

Mom: What are you doing?

Me: I have a chiropractor appointment today, remember?

Mom: OH! Right, right. Sorry. 'Forgot. Then she leaves for maybe a minute before sticking her head right back near my own. Alex, it's Tuesday.

Me: By that point my neck had craned around, eyes snapping at my mother like she might've slept in a little too late. Foggy head, you know. I hoped. No it's not, it's Wednesday.

Mom: It's. Tuesday. If it were Wednesday I'd be a little more excited for the end of the week.

I take this time to check my phone, see the error, and try to think HOW THE HELL I'D SCREWED UP. Oh right, because I'd checked the date before going to bed the night before to reassure myself of the Summer Solstice. This I did at 2:00 am the next morning. Now, while a new day doesn't start in my world until there's some form of daylight, things just don't work that way. This left me with a shitload of free time and nothing to do.

I started taking pictures of my dog and lying around. (She's adorable when she looks dejected, so I tend to take advantage of her depression. Probably bad, but if you saw her? You'd root me the hell on). Then I posted a thing or two on twitter, greeting the world with my slight miscalculation. And then I mused over the lunch I was having at home with my mom that afternoon.

And what I could make for us.

I'd learned the day before that we had frozen strawberries in the fridge, which I expertly (if not a little panic...ly) transformed into a strawberry glaze. It went smoothly enough to leave out quite a bit, except for the few minutes I decided to take a bathroom break. For those who know me, I'm notorious for forgetting that I have to pee. I'll feel the oncoming spasms in my abdomen, shrug them off, feel a little pain later, shrug that off, and then eventually - usually around four hours later - remember that I have to go and scurry off before I ruin my perfectly nice chair. So, when I actually remember to go I. Go.

This left the glaze sitting all alone on the stove for about two minutes. By the time I came back it was bubbling vehemently and smelled awful. Burning, sticky, red awful. But it came out just as it should and was drizzled prettily over the Strawberry and Nutella Stuffed Crepes I made with the leftover, boiled down strawberries and what little whipped cream I could find in the fridge (thankfully not expired). My mom loved it, I ate three myself, and I excused my previous mistake. Waking up so early gave me the time to create something damn delicious. I let the powers of time and space have their moment.

The rest of the day consisted of cleaning, doodling, and otherwise trying to make myself feel moderately useful until trekking off with two close friends of mine. We hit a local Chinese buffet (I ate maybe four plates worth of food and was starving twenty minutes after driving back home) and did all the usual things: talk too inappropriately a little too loudly; act a little too inappropriately a little too often; feast like the queens we are.

Overall, today sort of went the way I'd prefer the rest of my life to go, if at all possible. A little challenging, some slight disappointment, great success, friendly company, and fun. Loads of it.

Of course, my little crepe obsession is spilling over into promised occasions and meals. Which I'm okay with. I love a good lab rat.

P.S. The recipe I used for the glaze can be found right here. I really can't do this shit on my own. Props where they're deserved: Homemade Strawberry Glaze

Crepe Flipper of the Gods

Does anyone besides myself earn an immense amount of satisfaction by simply flipping something you're cooking in a pan? Is that not one of the joys in life that should be experienced and screamed about on rooftops? If not, I guess I went through today a little strangely and I'm seriously not all that surprised.

Crepes. They're delicious and everyone knows it and I myself had a hankering for them after I reached that part in my current book.So, I looked up the easiest friggin' recipe I could find on my phone's Recipe app and cooked away. I used all the milk we had left, most of the eggs, and made a mess.

But I flipped three crepes.


It was like some serene, out-of-body experience. I'm a little ashamed that that's the highlight of my day, but I'm still too high in cloud 9 to care much. After flipping the first one I immediately called my mother, assuming she was still on break. She wasn't, I felt a little stupid, but told her anyway.

Me: I'm sorry! I just had to tell you...I made crepes. And flipped one.

Mom: Okay.

Me: I flipped! A! Crepe! It didn't splatter on the floor or stove or make a mess! I flipped it like a badass!

Mom: *laughs* Oh, okay. You're crazy. Congratulations. Definitely not as amused as I'd hoped for.

Me: At this point I know she's barely taking me seriously and I'm itching to get back to my new-found talent. I'm gonna go make some more now, and make them later for dinner. Because I can.

And I proceeded to call, text, and tweet about this singular event in my life that seemed like some weird turning point for me. I've always been too terrified to do anything remotely fancy while cooking. I'm more of a "stick to what the recipe says and don't get a swelled head" kind of gal. Hell, that goes for most things I do. Not adventurous, per se. Just ordinary.

Today I said "screw caution" because Julie Powell could manage and maybe I could too, with less satisfying results. And I freakin' OWNED that crepe. And two more after that! After which I posted a picture of my success under the recipe I used and got a compliment or two on my work.


Tonight I'm adding Nutella and hoping I don't botch a perfectly good thing in the world. But I want to try more. So. Much. More.


Shit. It's better than sitting around waiting for these type of mundane skills to fall into my lap. Two months from now I'll be cooking for three other people (and any other person that happens to stroll into the apartment at just such a time ) simply because I know how. Accomplishment? I think so.


*Cue Xbox achievement award sounds in background*

Father's Day Tampons

I kind of ditched the scene for a while for some legitimately important things: checking out my new college, setting things up appropriately at said college, family obligations, and reading. That last one is probably the least important, but sometimes the most satisfying considering my current book is pushing me toward a rabid cooking frenzy I'd either enjoy or despise.

I'll find out Wednesday. I'm going to try and make Cucumber soup, Fruit Salad, Buttermilk Scones, and Orange Honey Butter. I seriously have no idea if I can afford the ingredients for all of that nonsense, but I'm going to friggin' try, you hear me?

In other news.

Does anyone else in the world seriously spend a good fifteen minutes talking about either defecating or menstrual cycles with their family? On FATHER'S DAY? I mean, not that it bothered me any. I thought it was pretty hilarious when my older male cousin plugged his ears when the application and following discomfort of tampons was the topic of discussion between his girlfriend and myself. Or am I just sick? Anyway, it was either that or trying to figure out the best way to clean your oh-so-natural, and periodically clogged, pipes. We opted for both, because the conversation was actually some weird kind of lesson in life. I always love a good lesson. Bring on the worldly knowledge of bodily functions! (this is not a cry for help, I swear.)

Then I had the pleasure of listening to that exact same cousin curse my mother for adjusting his broken toe so it wouldn't heal like a crooked digit. And then he milked that for maybe twenty minutes until we had cake and brownies. Sweets soothe the soul. Or toes. Whichever.

But I'm going to sign off because I need to make a list for all that food stuffs and then I'll relay the entire, sure-to-be-agonizing cooking experience right here for all to read. Think you can handle it? There's a very real possibility it'll turn into some food rant and self-loathing. 'Can't wait!

Scatterbrained, ladies and gents.

I can currently be found lazing around my computer, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and drinking tea to try and clear up my damn throat. I do not want to get sick for my cousin's graduation party this weekend, because that would friggin' suck. And I do not want to end up dying at the bowling alley later with said cousin because whatever this sickness thing is decided to rear its ugly head at a very inopportune time.

Anyway, besides all that, I'm gonna go rummaging through the house in a few days to get some stuff for my apartment. I already made a list of things I either need or just want, and have checked off a bunch of items that I KNOW are hiding around somewhere. Searching the house means my parents and family feel less inclined to buy me so much stuff and they can save money for legitimately important necessities like bills and milk and processed foods. (not like anyone really needs bills, they just kind of buzz around like wasps and sting you a bunch of times before you throw greenbacks at them and they go away).

I actually have to run down the road to watch Star Wars in a bit with a few friends because we're awesome and enjoy doing things like that. Plus they're the only reason I've watched as much as I have (and part of the reason why I've grown to love it so much, even if I do look things up ahead of time on Wiki because I hate suspense and they yell at me).

Just wanted to check in, because I did say I was going to be active on this thing. Oh! Sketched a few things the other day, too. And I'm eye-deep in Julie & Julia because I am determined to finish this book once and for all. Even if it makes me want to run to the store and buy some shit to make an awesome meal. Which I might do if my job picks back up.

And I'm outta here before the rain starts again. Stay dry, sweet-tarts.

Oh, hi!

I've actually had this blog made up for a while now and I really did intend on using it. I've tried doing more social networking things on different websites, and none of them have really seemed to work out. I lose motivation, I don't think anyone besides myself really cares, and then they just kind of . . . deteriorate into nothing. Not that they were much to begin with.

However - and I've said this many times before, too - I'm going to try and start something again. And I could either use this site as some kind of motivation for anything, just to document things that I think are funny, or some kind of insight into whatever my life is right now.


Or, like I intend on doing, I could just do whatever the heck I wanted. Which could possibly be all three of those things and a bunch more. My schedule is insanely open right now so I do have time do get active in things I enjoy. I won't even mention what - you'll just have to find out. That's kind of exciting, right? I mean, we don't know each other. There's some learning to do. For both of us, really.


So, here's my not-so-fresh start: Hello! I'm Alex and you've stumbled upon my fun little project. I hope you enjoy something, even if it's just whatever font or background I'm using. I'll try not to scare you off or bore you to clicking the heck out of here. With that, I'll see you later and have fun on the internet!