On Education

I'm an advocate of education. Although I was a late bloomer and didn't receive my college degree until I was 36, the subject of studying hard and pursuing a higher form of learning is big in our house.

Tonight was curriculum night at my son's school. I live for this shit. Any chance that I can have to peer into his world, meet his teachers, his friends, or just terrorize him a little makes my day. But I love knowing what he is going through so that I can be as supportive as I can. Except math. If he struggles in math I will just break out the plastic and offer up financial support in the form of a tutor. How he came to be so at ease with that subject baffles me to this day. He surely didn't inherit my math skills and for that I hope to someday shake God's hand and thank Him.

But let's talk about his teachers. He has a good crop of them this year. He has the same teacher for both math classes (I swear he's my kid) and of course the same band teacher for Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. That's half his load right there. I can't say enough about his band teacher, or for that matter musics teachers in general. I had a very quirky orchestra/band teacher and our choir director was an amazing educator. They both were. So as a former orchestra/choir/marching band geek I am thrilled to get to know his band teacher and to hear what he has in store for the year. I just wish they did a field show (let it go Desiree...let it go).

As for American History, this guy was pretty typical, although my son did earn participation points for me attending. I'm happy I could help him closer to a high B, but pray he squeaks by in the A range. 

But let's talk about his physics teacher! This was the stand-up comedy of the evening. This dude hails from North Dakota and has the midwestern, Fargo-esque accent to go right along with it! I loved this guy. I took notes during his 10 minutes. Those notes contained quotes like, "make hay when the sun shines!", "flipping awesome", and "gahldang". Yep, yep, yeppers, it put me right back into a good ol' Minnesota-nice kinda way, ya know? Yah sure ya know! You betcha! Or maybe you don't.

But the part that made me sad (yes, here's the lesson), was when I entered the American Literature class and there were only five parents to represent the seventeen students. This young lady (maybe she's 27) is fresh out of graduate school, young, energetic and excited to be there. But there were only five parents in attendance. 

As I type this, the entire Seattle School System is on strike. Thousands of students are at home. Parents are trying to figure out how to balance work and get their kids to a safe place while teachers try to negotiate much deserved pay increases.

The one class that carries the heaviest weight into adult life, literature, and I'm sitting in a classroom that is half empty. I didn't intend to take my post in this direction this evening. However, the more I type, the more angry I am becoming. Angry for that teacher that has the burden to teach our kids how to write college entrance essays. Teach our kids how write a decent argument. Pass along the joy of reading! However, most parents decided to cut-out. Not show up. They need to be reminded of those teachers on strike and of students who sit in over-crowded classes while our kids have the luxury of 1:17 ratio!!!

Show up for your kids. It's the least we can do as parents to show them we care and to show the teachers we give a shit about their job. A job most of us would never do. Could never do.

That is all.

Prairie Dog-It Every Now and Again

I am not a fan of flying. I prefer other modes of travel, like driving, walking or teleportation. Flying is a necessary evil. But the more and more I fly, the more accustom I become to all that comes with it (good and bad). Except turbulence. Turbulence freaks me out. Every time.

My regular airline for the past, ohhh forever has been Delta. But since I have moved to Seattle and am traveling to Baltimore's airport, I have found that direct Delta flights are difficult to come by. In fact, any direct flights from Seattle to Baltimore on any airline is difficult. So I decided to give United a shot. Both ways I have had to change planes in Chicago O'Hare's airport. I must say, I like O'Hare. It has a feel that I just liked. I can't put my finger on it so you will just have to take my word on that. Not at all like the feel that Atlanta's airport has always given me...the desire to shower the "ick" off.

Back to this flight. When I took off in Harrisburg (yeah I flew out of Harrisburg--you need to keep up in my head) it was a clear morning. Quite beautiful actually. But the skies turned cloudy in our approach to Chicago. Now...I prefer window seats. I like to be able to look out the window and see something. It helps prevent me from getting woozy. I've only ever gotten sick once on a plane--but I get woozy---that turbulence thing.

Where was I. Oh yes...looking out the window.

I'm looking out the window at this ocean of clouds, which is nothing that spectacular. Until I saw it. I didn't spot a UFO. Sorry, this is not that kind of post. I do crazy in other ways! Ha!

Anyways! I'm staring out the window at this ocean of clouds and jutting out the top of clouds like...Michael Jordan at a little person convention is the Willis (Sears) Tower in all 1,451 feet of its magnificent, modern marvelness! 

Not pictured are the antennas from the John Hancock Building peaking out of the clouds (out of this shot---they wouldn't show) too! As if it were trying to catch up with its bigger brother to break through the clouds.

There is a point to my story-telling. My point is this. Pop your head out from your laptop, cell phone, busy life every once in a while and look around. As one saying goes, "stop and smell the roses", and yet another says, "if you're so busy working, your entire life will pass you by and then where will you be?" Okay, that second one isn't a real quote. Unless you quote me. I'm sure someone has said something close to that somewhere.

Take a breath. That is all.

Sleep deprived...but present

Greetings and salutations from the left coast. We are officially Seattlites, Rentonians, Washingtonians or Pacific North Westerners – or something. The journey that led me and the family to this point was long, but once the ride started you could almost hear the announcer in the back ground saying, “please stay seated and keep your arms inside until ride comes to a complete stop.” I think we just cleared the first hill. This is going be a long ride. I hope no one barfs.

As I begin to reflect on the past three months, I still cannot believe I am where I am. But I am. So I am taking comfort in just “being”; about as best as I can “be”. I can’t just “be”, you see (is this turning into a Dr. Seuss story); because I am me. Okay, I’ll stop now…brown cow. ALRIGHT!

Right, where was I? Just being in the moment, that is. Last week, I woke up with a doozy of a headache. It’s no mystery for those who are close to me and know me well, that when I go, I go hard. And when I hit a wall, it’s usually with the same fervor.

Side story to the main point: The family is now in the house and we are adjusting (quite well thank you very much). We love the house and I will post more on it later. But let me tell you about our bedroom. It (along with all other windows) has lovely wide blinds covering the windows. Now, the days are longer in the summer. We all learned this in school. But let me tell you how that affects you in Washington; at least, in my bedroom. Come in and put your feet up. You see that sunlight? That…over there? Yeah. It makes an appearance at 5:30 am.

Excuse me? Did she say 5:30 am? And there’s sunlight in Washington?

Yes. I said 5:30…in the morning. I typically refer to any hour before 6:00 am as “o’dark thirty.” And in the first days we stayed in our house, the skies were bright, clear and sunny most days. But every sense of my being was screaming, “for the love it’s o’dark thirty, what the hell is that sunshine doing showing up all unannounced??!”

A side to the side note: If you are positioning yourself to fire off some snarky remark on how I’m complaining about the sunshine and that Washington rains every other minute of the year, and that they “turn out the lights in October. And that it is the #1 Suicide capital of the U.S.” OH. MY. GAWD. Save it.

So I woke up at 5:30 am because I no longer have a ten minute commute and need to get up earlier. I jumped up out of bed, because it was not unlike the bright light Carol Ann was told to go toward. I thought I had over slept. My husband thought I had overslept. Nope. That’s just a sunny morning in June, in Washington.

I popped up and then immediately had to lie back down from the crushing headache. There was that wall I was telling you about; crashed into it with great fervor and abandon. I had my hands pressed onto the top of my head and covering my eyes because it was that painful. It was at this moment I realized, I would have to leave for work a little later and contend with traffic. Fortunately, I didn't have anything I had to be in early for, so there I laid. After about an hour, a large mug of French Roast, and two Excedrin later I was showered, primped and ready to conquer the day, as well as the traffic.

I love French Roast. I hated it for many years. That’s a friendly reminder that our tastes change as we get older, age, mature. So if there is something you didn't care for in the past, try it again. You might surprise yourself.

With my mug of French Roast, keys, bag, lunch, and sunglasses in hand I was out the door and down the road. The streets were already buzzing so I braced myself for the worst. I zoomed up onto the 405 north ramp and stopped like a good commuter who did not qualify for the carpool lane. As I sat and waited in the queue for my turn I watched car after car pass in the carpool lane containing single occupants. Well. Humph. Maybe I will buy that blow-up doll after all.

I made my way onto the expressway, freeway, high way, interstate. What do they call it here? I don’t know. I trudged along at 35-40 mph for about five miles until I got onto 90-W and my drive continued. The part I love best about my commute, and I am sure I will grow to detest, is my drive over Lake Washington. One of Seattle’s greatest beauties is its greatest weakness. It’s a city locked in by beautiful mountains, the Puget Sound, and lakes that drivers must contend with daily. Because it was a little later in my usual drive time, the sun had the chance to peak over the mountains and reflect on the water, lighting up the houses on the hill facing west on Mercer Island.

I wonder what the people who live in those houses are doing as I drive across that bridge. Are they drinking coffee on their fabulous patios and watching the sunrise? Are they still asleep, because who gets up that early when you live on an island? Are they on “island time”? Or are they up and out the door like the rest of us poor slobs to pay for their little slice of heaven? I clear Mercer Island and then cross over Lake Washington again and see more houses facing west and think the same thing about these people except I add, “I bet their commute is nice.” Then through the tunnel I go! I haven’t commuted through a tunnel since I lived in Pittsburgh.

The final scenes of my drive will leave you sports nuts a little envious. As I exit 90-W, I pass under an overpass and as I clear it, “BOOM!” Safeco Field is in my face. I have expressed my disdain for all major league sports for quite some time. But driving past this behemoth every morning, which sits next to the Century Link stadium has renewed my interest in sports, which means I need to get a game soon

The last journey in my daily commute is where to park. Do I park down the side street by the office for free? The obvious answer to that is yes. But finding a spot is the trick. So on this day, I park at the Safeco field and pay the daily fee of $5.00 which is tolerable if not done every day. It is exactly 1 mile from the parking deck to my desk. I have the option to take a shuttle if the time of day and weather condition is aligned. On this day, I take the shuttle. Remember that headache? But in the afternoon that day, my headache was a memory, the sun was shining, and I just can’t resist the flavor of Seattle’s SoDo neighborhood. And that’s another post.

But staying present was the point of my post. Each day is an adventure. The sun shines on new things I haven’t previously seen. And that is just the adventure I wanted.

The Next Chapter

It's time to sit down and reflect on what has been happening and document it properly. I made the decision to leave my current employer after 11 years. It was a big decision. HUGE. MONUMENTAL. At least for me it was. I clearly dove in head first with this decision. I didn't just leave one company for another down the road.

No ma'am!  No sir! No way, Jose!

Instead, I accepted a position with a company just about as far away from where I live, without leaving the continental U.S.

So here I sit, on a flight headed to the other side of the country. And yes, I am nervous. Tomorrow is my first day. I will be the "new person". I haven't been the "new person" in a long time. I like being that welcoming face for the new person. Yep...tomorrow...the master will once again become the student!

Leading up to this day, my time has been filled with a lot of emotion, planning, goodbyes, and generally shocked looks on people's faces when I told them the news, "I accepted a role with Starbucks and me and the family are moving to Seattle."

I'm not gonna lie...seeing peoples reaction was...interesting. I'd say entertaining, because not everyone took the news well. I'm not going to touch on the "not so great" w. They were few, and justified for some.

Its the positive responses that now carry me to the next chapter in my career (and life)...that and this Boeing 737-900ER I'm comfortably flying in. It has OUTLETS! For my devices!!! This is the newest plane I have ever been on. I've flown a nice number of times, but THIS is the newest plane I have had the pleasure of sinking my behind into to FIVE HOURS!

I digress.

A job is a job is a job. Anyone who has worked for any amount of time will say that. It's the people that make any job a great place to work. But it's not the only thing that matters. If that were the case, I would not have left my last job. I loved the people I worked with. They were top notch folks.

But with anyone's career, there comes a point when you are standing at a fork in the road and you must decide which path to take. For me, "I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." That is a line from my most favorite poem of one of my favorite poets, "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

I'm not blazing new roads for all human kind here...no. I'm blazing my own new trail. But it's the support of my family, friends and co-workers who are helping to make this journey a little less scary. I will hold onto the kinds words, warm hugs, and my Atlanta mug for those times when I am get stuck and think I can't do something. I know I can do this and will be successful at it to boot!

Now, it is time for me to take the left coast by storm and go learn something new! Stay tuned...

The Body Bug - My Personal FitBit Review

I just read a review on the FitBit, which got me thinking, "I should share this article with my friends because I agree!" Then I thought, "Why should I share a review of a product I use, when my friends would probably appreciate a review directly from me?" I started to write a Facebook update, but once it got past 6 lines, I decided it was time really share my thoughts.

Because I never do that.

You may be sitting there thinking, "What the heck is a FitBit, Desiree?" Basically, it's a pedometer...on steroids. It's not just a pedometer. It's a complete "body bug". It can track your steps, calories burned, and food logged. Depending upon the model you buy (I have the FitBit Flex), it also tracks your sleep. You see that? A body bug!

But the part I love the most is that once you buy your FitBit, you can download the app for free and manage all of these statistics in one dashboard.

Eat your heart out Weight Watchers! Okay, I'm not here to slam Weight Watchers. I did WW many years ago and it was a great program. But I don't have the time or desire to sit in a room and tell people what I ate...that's why I have Instagram. The app also has a social aspect. If you have friends who use FitBit you can view their stats and compete with each other. It is recommended that all Americans take a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. Since the nature of my work doesn't include a lot of walking, I am by no means, blowing that goal out of the water, but I have exceeded 10,000 steps several times.

What I can say since using the FitBit is that I have become more aware of my activity, and inactivity. Since using it, I have stopped using the elevator at work (with the exception of 2-3 or times). Since I work on the fourth floor, I get a nice hike in the morning (with my laptop and purse!) up to my desk and home at night. And every chance in between I get up more and move and take the stairs every chance I get.

No, I haven't dropped 20 pounds in 10 days and I'm not even back into my favorite pair of jeans that have been too small for the past 4 years. Not yet. As the saying goes, anything worth having is worth working for.

Blogging...mile high club style

Made you look! HA! I bet you thought I was writing this post naked. Get your head out of the gutter.

I'm currently on a flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles (fully clothed, I might add) and felt this would be a good time to write about "my feelings". Or something like that. Personally, I don't know how people fly from the right coast to the left coast regularly. This is always a brutal flight---and it's not even international. I guess that makes me a light weight.

Firs thing, why am I on a plane? Oh yeah. I'm on my way to the annual Network of Executive Women Leadership Summit. This will be the second time I am attending. I had a great time last year, and am excited about this years summit. Just think, 1000+ women (sprinkle in a few lucky men) gathered discussing how to advance women in the workplace.

Well, it gets me excited. It is a passion that has grown for me in the past couple years. I am fortunate to be attending and look forward to all the learnings.

Who was that speaking, you ask? That was corporate Desiree. And now for the real Desiree.

Woohoo! Los Angeles! Three days! What what!!!!!

More later...I just wanted to blog something from this altitude.

Just saying...

I was watching one of my staple programs, "Project Runway". I love this show. Not so much for the fashion or the contestants. But because of Tim Gunn's vocabulary and how he uses it to describe fashion and odd scenarios is perfect. He is not only an impeccably dressed man, but chooses words as carefully as he chooses his clothing. One of my particular favorites is "Sturm und Drang".

More recently, he added to the list of Gunnisms. "Janky".

The exchange between me and my husband went like this:

Husband: Is that a word?

Me: I believe it is.

Silence...

H: The urban dictionary has a great definition of "janky".

M: Do tell.

He proceeds to read the following definitions and examples.

janky

(adjective) inferior quality; held in low social regard; old and delapidated; refers almost exclusively to inanimate material objects, not to people

(adjective) used to describe a person, place or thing which is questionable, fucked up, wrong, strange, broken down, undesirable, and/or just some thing you can't think of another word for. The origin of this work is explained somewhat in the conversation example. Friends and I were sitting around drinking coffee one morning, and I was bitching about my empty cup when my friend blamed the lack of coffee on the "janky ass coffee maker." I have since heard the word in the movie Friday. 

Other forms: janked, janked up, janked out,

We tried to pick up on these girls waiting for the bus, but I was driving my sister's janky 1989 geo metro so we just got clowned instead.

Michelle: yo, when's that coffee going to be ready? 

Crystal: I don't know. This janky ass coffee maker takes forever. 

And people say reality television isn't valuable. Thank you Tim Gunn. The next time I drive my janky 2000 Accord with it's janked up doors from inconsiderate jag-offs not paying attention when they open their own doors, I'll think of you and smile.

You can just smell the cool nights and burning leaves...

I think I'll try my hand at some baking this fall...

Pumpkin Bread with Pumpkin Butter Cream

 Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

2 large eggs

3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar (You can substituted light brown sugar)

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (optional)

1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest (optional)

1/2 cup canola oil

1 1/4 cups canned pure pumpkin puree

1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans or walnuts, optional (I didn’t add the nuts to the batter, but sprinkled them on top of the frosted loaf instead)

Position your oven rack in the middle of the oven, and preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 x 5″ loaf pan; set aside.

Directions:

Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, and allspice in a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined; set aside.

In another bowl, or bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs on medium-high speed for two minutes or until lightened in color. Add the brown sugar, mixing for about 2 minutes, then the granulated sugar, mixing for about 1 minute. Add the orange and lemon zests, if using, and beat for another minute. Scrape down the bowl as needed.

Drizzle in the canola oil with beater on medium-low. Reduce speed to low and add the pumpkin puree. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the dry ingredients in two additions and blend for 10-15 seconds just until incorporated. Fold in the pecans using a rubber spatula.

Spoon the batter into your prepared loaf pan and bake for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool loaf in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.

If you’re going to frost the loaf, you can make the frosting while the loaf is cooling…

PUMPKIN BUTTER CREAM FROSTING

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened

2 Tablespoons canned pure pumpkin puree

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups powdered sugar

2 teaspoons half & half or milk

1/4 to 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional, for sprinkling on top

Cream the butter, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and vanilla, blending well. Add powdered sugar a cup at a time, blending well after each addition. Add half & half or milk and blend well. NOTE: This makes a very thick butter cream frosting. If you want a thinner, creamier frosting, add more half & half or milk until you get the desired consistency.

After frosting the cooled pumpkin loaf, sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts if desired.

If I Were a Fashion Blogger

I'm like a lot of women. I love clothes! But let me be very clear...I'm not a fan of shopping. Trudging through the mall, or combing through racks and racks at places like Marshall's makes my skin crawl. More power to those of you who love to spend hours shopping and find great deals and cute outfits---I'm jealous. I have more misses than hits. But when I hit on something, I get very excited!

Pinterest helps curb the urge to go out and spend money on clothes I don't need. But I do make an effort to pin outfits and ideas of things that "if" I had the money and "if" closet space wasn't an issue, I would buy them. In recent months I have made a point to fill in the gaps in my wardrobe, mostly where work clothing is concerned. I have found several websites that offer advice to clueless individuals like myself. Wardrobe Oxygen is a great site because the author is a real woman with real curves! Wendy's Lookbook is a great fantasy site! I can't afford anything she's posts but I love her clothes and the layout of her site. She is also the creator of 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 Minutes. This video changed my life (so as a fan, I owe it to Wendy to promote her blog). I'm totally serious. I am awful at accessorizing my clothes, I own very little jewelry and what I do own is very simple. When I learned a few tricks on scarf tying I was hooked. Now I own a a half dozen scarves that I like to wear and they always liven up a dull outfit. However, summer is on it's way and a scarf has no business around my neck in the Atlanta summer heat. I need to step up my game and invest in some "statement pieces".

But my favorite go-to fashion site is Outfit Posts. The author of this site takes inspiration from a picture found on fashion sites and recreates the look for less and links to several sites like Target, Gap, H&M for different price points on the same items. Isn't that what most of us try to do anyways? I love her One Suitcase series. She takes 14-15 pieces that can all be packed into one suitcase and turns those items in 30+ outfits.

So to pay homage to my favorite fashion site that has inspired me to up my game, I am posting the following finds.

I was inspired by a blazer I saw at Nordstrom. But decided I didn't want to spend quite that much, even though this was an investment piece. I take pretty good care of all my clothes, so this white blazer that I found at Kohl's will do just fine. The tiered mesh top can be worn with or without the jacket. I already own the jeans (Lucky) and the shoes (Me Too).

There was no inspiration for this dress. I am always on the prowl for a cute dress. I think this dress was just lovely and perfect for when I attend professional functions. However, I didn't buy it. It wasn't an issue of money, because as you can see, it's a bargain. I tried to stick to my initial plan, which was on buying new tops. So I ask my readers, what do you think? Should I go back and buy it? Or did I make the right decision in not purchasing?

I'm not a foodie...I just play one on the Internet

I don't even play one on the Internet. I just like food a lot. Therefore, I think it's time to to talk about this favorite subject. But before we get too deep into this post, let me be clear. I don't consider myself a "foodie". Well, I do. But not in the way people use the term "foodie". There are several definitions of "foodie" in the Interweb. Some definitions are simple and straight to the point. Then there are the humorous definitions. Whenever I think "foodie", I think of definition #2 on that last link.

If I were to visualize the spectrum of people on the "foodie" scale, it would look something like this:

Level 1 - "Eat to Survive": People who eat to satisfy simple human needs. Note - I didn't say eat to "live" cause this ain't living people, it's existing. It's consuming vast amounts of inexpensive, processed and fast foods. For some, their means only allow this. Although I feel that people can eat fresh food that is good for them while on a budget, this post is not about that.

Level 11 - "Foodie": People who regularly execute recipes from Bon Appetite that contain 87 ingredients that can only be purchased at Whole Foods. Ingredients that will be used once. So unless you are going to make this recipe to serve 25 people, or will make it 20 times in the next month, those ingredients will never be used again. It's ok to venture into the extreme "foodie" realm from time to time and it's ok to have the super-sized value meal from your favorite fast food joint. But if your kitchen looks like a Sur la Table catalog and all you do is buy from farmers markets and turn your nose up and some good old comfort food, then you unfortunately, are a d-bag. Don't be a d-bag. We can't be friends.

I think of myself in the 7-9 range. There are processed foods in my pantry. Gasp. But my go-to foods spoil quickly so running to the grocery store for fresh foods twice a week is the norm.

This brings me to my most recent cooking baking cooking a sweet dish adventure. I don't consider myself a baker -- I'd make a good contestant on Top Chef, since the bulk of contestants can't bake. ANYWAYS. It's not really that big of an adventure. I just followed a recipe. But I can follow a recipe like a CHAMP!

So I'm on one of my "I-need-to-find-new-recipes-that-are-healthy-and-wholesome-or-I-will-go-crazy" jags. It's no secret that I troll Pinterest for inspiration. A beautifully composed picture of dish as basic as baked lemon chicken will reel me in every time. This Blueberry Baked Oatmeal is no exception. I love oatmeal and have been trying to find different ways to enjoy that don't include dumping it from a paper pouch or packaging five different ingredients to shlep to the office for my morning brekky. "Make it Sunday Monday night and have breakfast all through the week." Right on...I'm all over that. And this was the result.

Isn't that gorgeous?

Excuse me while I go fan myself. It's that good--not too sweet, not too thick or too thin---it was just right...commented Goldie Locks. I had my official taste-tester sample the end product and I received an approving nod. There are no fancy ingredients -- no steel cut oats or locally-sourced, organic blueberries picked-by-former-convicted-felons-trying-to-get-a-second-chance-at-a-better life (they were frozen--the blueberries--not the felons). In fact, the syrup I used has a lot of sugar in it. Gasp! Ok, I went overboard. I really should have used a reduced sugar syrup.

I'm no "foodie". I get really excited over good food. That makes me a food enthusiast.

It's all Robert Downey Jr.'s Fault

I can't eat scallops. Bummer, right? "They're soooooooo good," people say. They are on nearly every episode of Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen. I agree. They are soooooooo good. But I can't eat them. I have an allergy to scallops. I don't have an allergy to any other shellfish. I can gobble down shrimp, crab legs, and thankfully lobster. You're probably thinking, "How is it possible that you can't eat scallops but you can eat all those other seafood yummies?" Dunno. I don't have the letters "MD" behind my name, and to be honest I have never been officially tested. Let me explain.

The first time I ever tried scallops was at a PF Chang's in I think, 2000. Lemon scallops. They were good too. That night I fell violently ill. You know, the works. I don't need to go into detail because I think there is already enough content on the Internet about puke and poop to last mankind through the next ice age. I do recall looking at myself in the mirror the next day and seeing a lot of broken blood vessels around my eyes. The scallops were very eager to exit my body and did so in a very forceful manner.

Fast forward four years. Different state (Massachusetts). Different restaurant chain (Legal Seafood). I tried a seafood casserole that contained scallops. That night, I awoke sicker than I had ever been in my entire life, shivering, covered in hives, and itching all over. Since then I have not touched scallops.

Fast forward to a couple days ago. I headed down to this local restaurant known for good shawarma. I've eaten there a couple times so this time, I decided to go bold with a couple new condiments. I opted for some baba ganoush and a mystery red sauce...ingredients tbd. It was tasty! I ate about half of the wrap along with some pita bread and hummus. Upon returning to work, I started sneezing...and sneezing...and OMG Desiree, why are you sneezing so much?!?! Then the runny nose, as if a waterline had been opened. It took me a while to realize I may have had a reaction to something I had eaten. I took an allergy pill and the symptoms cleared up, mostly.

But the next morning when I got out of the shower I was covered, head to toe in HIVES!!!! Fortunately, this time there was no nausea. I am being treated for my reaction and I may consider seeing an allergist once and for all.

Wait - what do scallops and shawarma have in common, you ask? Nothing. Except that there is something about scallops and something contained within the shawarma that my bodies says, "Oh hell no Desiree!" I lay blame on Robert Downey Jr. If it weren't for this scene, I still wouldn't know what shawarma is. Thanks a lot IRONMAN!

Just ask the Internet...it knows EVERYTHING!

Tonight I decided to sit down once and for all and figure out how to insert pretty social media buttons onto my blog. You know what I'm talking about if you troll blogs like I do. If you don't know what I'm talking about, let me educate you. I'm referring to the Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ buttons you can see on my blog off to the right. If you click them, they will take you to all my social sites. Yep---putting myself out there. Not scary at all.

So I sat down in front of my handy-dandy MacBook Pro and opened up Google and just asked the Internet some questions. Like "how to add a social media toolbar to blogger". Holy cow jackpot! Did you know the Internet has 717,000 answers for that question?!? The first result was a YouTube tutorial. I have found some great tutorials on YouTube for various projects I have worked on. Video tutorials typically yield a pre-pubescent british boy as the instructor. No really. Try searching "how to use chroma-key in Final Cut" and you will likely learn some tricks from Nigel...a 13 year old from the suburbs of London. If some kid with a MacBook who can't drive can figure this stuff out, surely I can! After all, I grew my very own human. I bet you can't do that, Nigel!

I decided to skip the video tutorial. I needed to find code that I could plagiarize, uh rip off, uh rip and reapply. Yes. And I found it here. The author of this article laid out the instructions in a very easy to understand manner. So easy in fact that I got it to work on the first try! If you find yourself wanting to add some really cool buttons to your website or blog, there are oodles of different styles. All you have to do is ask the Internet!

I'm very excited about this little design improvement I made. I look forward to many, many more as I learn more tricks. I hope you continue to read my posts so you can come along with me on this fun little journey.

Still the same stinging sarcasm and loud opinions--but without the stupid name

Well it was time. http://thisismyelbow.tumblr.com/ needed to die. If you go to the site, it's still there...until I decide what to do with it. But, I will no longer be posting to "thisismyelbow" (gag).

I think part of the reason I didn't post as often was because of the stupid name I gave it in the hopes of being unique. If there is one thing I know about myself is I am unique enough all on my own. And tumblr sucks for blogging. So I moved back to Blogger. At first, I tried to get "justdesiree" as the blogger domain. But it was taken. And then I tried desireefrey.blogger.com. Slap me shocked, it was available! You didn't stop over here to read about how I promise to write more on this new shiny blog page of mine. You want content...good content.

Let's get this party started with a complaint about Pinterest! (Yes, I got rid of the stupid blog name, but not the opinions!) My complaint isn't abut Pinterest the company. My complaint is about pinners. I know, my complaints are futile. "Pinterest is a runaway hit!" you say. "How could you say anything bad about Pinterest when you are always pinning stuff, Desiree?" you say. Stay with me.

Exhibit 1: Isn't this one of the prettiest pins you've ever seen? Don't be fooled!

I saw this pin today and repinned it. You can see it on my Deliciousness board. I try to check 98% of the pins I pin to see their source. This was no exception. Like many, I troll Pinterest in search of inspiration, especially in the kitchen. Who doesn't want 24 Awesome Muffin Tin Recipes? My muffin tin is dying for a good workout! I went to see all the great recipes that I would now have stored on my handy-dandy food board and this is where it took me (it's not questionable--go ahead and click it).

WTH?

Where's my neat list of 24 muffin recipes? Are you telling me I have to click through this website to get to the original website? Ok. FINE. I'll do that. I'll just go and click my "pin it" button and surely, the title photo of the pin will appear so that I can pin directly to this webpage....WHERE'S THE "24 AWESOME MUFFIN TIN RECIPES" photo? I have to choose one of the 24 muffin recipe photos? But won't that just link to one of the recipes? Ugh! So confused. Pinterest shouldn't be confusing. It's just links people!

Do you think I'm getting a little too worked up? Perhaps. But what is the point of pinning a great picture, linked to a site with great content, if I have to click through a 3rd party? That just irritates me and doesn't make me want to follow the original author. I'm sure the original author is a lovely person, talented and all that but using a service like "Daily Pins" that doesn't properly link to original content, nor providing a better source to this pin are just a couple ways people are going to ruin the beauty of Pinterest.

Like the tagline on my Pinterest profile says, "Just like the moments in life, it's not about the quantity of pins, but the quality. Make each count."

And for goodness sake, pin responsibly.