Day 356: Pico de Gallo and Shrimp Tacos & An Unexpected Rendezvous at The Driving Range

Sunday, September 7

A nice morning to sleep in.  I got up around 10:15 and immediately got to work.  I sorted laundry and put in a load.  I stripped my bed and put the sheets in the warm water pile.  I cleaned the toilets.  I cleaned the bathroom sinks.  Then I was hungry.  And, for whatever reason, I was in the mood to cook.

It was late enough for brunch.  So, I whipped up one brown, organic free range egg.  I added two good pinches of shredded mozzarella cheese and scrambled over medium heat.  I then heated up a slice of gluten-free corn bread from the Whole Foods bakery.  I sauteed an Italian pork sausage, and I sauteed broccolini with olive oil and garlic.  I purposed undercooked the broccolini.  It was pretty good.  I didn’t have polenta, so the scrambled egg and cornbread went perfectly with the sausage and broccolini.

I enjoyed this with a cup of Yogi Goji Berry tea, a Tibetan treat.  I also had a small glass of organic orange juice.  I was content.  But, I still wanted to cook or prep.  I had music going (Lisa Loeb, Abra Moore, Shannen Worrel), the sun was coming in from the window, I had some great stuff in my fridge, I couldn’t stop.

So, I made a killer organic Pico de Gallo. I used a large, green heirloom tomato, red onion, two small cloves of garlic, a half a lime (for the juice), fresh cilantro, a small yellow sweet pepper, fresh jalapino, I cooked up a half a cob of sweet white corn, and then I used a secret ingredient I won’t share.  I mixed all of this stuff up and made a gorgeous, bejeweled Pico de Gallo.

I decided I would have to make fish or shrimp tacos for dinner.  So, I cleaned up the kitchen, put the PIco in the fridge and ran the dishwasher.  I wiped down all of the counters and the sink, using an environmentally friendly cleaner.

I poured a glass of water and went into the living room to do some work.  I got on my computer and worked on a promotional piece in Illustrator while watching the Seahawks game.  My cat, India, curled up on my leather sofa and, so cute, I had to take her photo:

Just then, Capri jumped up on my red Ikea sofa right next to me and posed for the camera, which was hilarious:

God forbid I give one cat more attention than the other!  I worked for a couple of hours on my project.  I wanted to get it off of my plate soon so that it could go off to the printer a.s.a.p.  I have a lot of projects in my queue and they all seem to be due within the month.

I then worked on collecting my archived blog entries for the skeleton of my next book.  I have a lot of work to do with my writing, so I gave up spending a beautiful day outside for getting this critical stuff done, or as much of it as possible.  I am about half way done collecting the entries.

The Seahawks lost the game.  The score was 34-10.  Both of my Washington teams lost this week – the Redskins and the Seahawks.  My boys better get their acts together.  I don’t want a crummy, lackluster season.

I finished my laundry and then went upstairs to get dressed.  I wanted to do some kind of activity outside this evening.  I had hoped to corral my friends for an afternoon game of tennis, but to no avail.  So, I decided to go to the driving range.  I had a nice run, working on my drills from my last lesson, last summer.  I hit every club well.  There were two large wooded buckets about 75-100 yards out, one with a McCain cardboard cutout, the other with a Obama cardboard cutout.  Each had a sign, place your vote.  I hit two in the Obama bucket.  I tried to send a few over to the McCain one, too, but I didn’t get any in. 

I met a nice, really cute guy named Jeremy at the range.  We played a few games.  And I won!  And he didn’t let me win.  It was a fair and true win.  And, he watched me hit my 3-wood about 200-250 yards, five times in a row.  I got a margarita out of it.  Which shocked me.  He’s from the east coast, which didn’t shock me.  The men out here simply do not ask women out.  It’s very bizarre.  It was refreshing to spend time with a guy who knows how to court a woman.  He asked me for my number.  I am not counting on ever hearing from Jeremy again.  And I’m okay with that.  I was happy to just have a really fun afternoon.

After, I went to Safeway to pick up some groceries for the week, including white corn tortillas for my shrimp tacos.  When I got home, I went to work.  I sauteed shrimp in olive oil, garlic, jalapino-lime smoked salt, white pepper and fresh lime juice.  I heated up three taco sheets on the oven rack.  I cooked up rice and pinot beans, and then sliced a radish, a jalapino and I chopped the ends of green onions.  I put a small scoop of the rice and beans on each tortilla.  I then put three large gulf shrimp, with the garlic-lime sauce on the rice and beans.  Then, I topped with Mexican finely shredded cheese.  I put a nice spoonful of my homemade Pico de Gallo on top of that, followed by shredded white cabage and cilantro.  Here’s the final plating:

 

I was happy.  I had a margarita earlier that wet my palate for my sauteed shrimp tacos with my killer Pico de Gallo.  Life was good.

After I ate, I cleaned up the kitchen and then went upstairs to make my bed with fabric-softner fresh sheets.  I had bought a new tea at Safeway – Good Earth brand Organic Sweet & Spicy Herbal tea.  It’s caffeine free and a natural source of antioxidants.  It was super delicious.  It’s a Rooibos base with no added sugars.  It’s full bodied and smooth.  And it came with a little fortune tag, like Yogi brand.  This one was a quote.  It read:  ”The first duty of love is to listen.” ~ Paul Tillich, 1886-1965.

 

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Day 314: IPNC Recovery, Grocery Shopping & Good Gluten Free Eats

Sunday, July 27

I woke up at 8:15 a.m. with a heinous headache.  I had a blast last night but imbibed a little too much bubbly.  I threw my stuff together, dressed and headed back home.  On my way, I dropped off my IPNC pass for another co-worker to use it for Sunday events.

 

As soon as I got home, I dropped my bags on the floor in my living room, tossed my pillow on the sofa and fell asleep until noon.  The three extra hours of sleep saved my life.

 

I abruptly got up and made a list of things I needed to do.  I headed over to Walgreens to pick

up ant traps.  There was a trail from the dining room window heading to the cat food dishes on the kichen floor.

Then I stopped by Safeway and Whole Foods for specific groceries, which included gazpacho, gluten-free corn bread, heirloom tomatoes, lump crab meat, lettuce, strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, and these amazing new gluten-free, organic crackers by Mary’s Gone Crackers in Black Pepper (made with brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds).  I also picked up smoked halibut spread by Gerard & Dominique Seafoods based in Woodinville, WA.

 

When I got home, I opened up the halibut spread and gluten-free black pepper crackers, which was delicious!  I watched the movie Ten Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger on one of the regular networks.  Meantime, I worked on my novel revision.

 

Later, for dinner I had gazpacho with lump crabmeat, topped with roasted corn salsa and fresh cilantro served with organic tortilla chips.  For dessert had a Klondike Slim-A-Bear vanilla bar in a bowl with fresh organic strawberries, and two small Glutino Dream Bites chocolate cookies with fudge middles, followed by a soothing cup of hot Yogi Tea in Indian Spice with local honey.  I relaxed and continued working on my revision notes for my book.

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Day 259: Farewell My Mandolin, More Books on Writing, Fine Brew Pub Cuisine & A Thankful Haiku

Sunday, June 1

Well, June opened with a cool, crappy weather day.  I got up with some really good intentions for how I should spend my day.  I thought about going to either a yoga or a pilates class at Yoga Pearl, followed by a sauna and steam at Löyly.  Then, I was going to meet a Craig’s List buyer to sell my bluegrass mandolin.  Then, I thought I’d go to the Writer’s Dojo.  But, my day unfolded a little different.

I met the Craig’s List buyer at Powell’s downtown and we made the exchange.  He was very nice and we chatted for a bit about the instrument.  He wore an Oriole’s jacket and I told him I was born in the same hospital as Cal Ripken, Jr.  That was a good sign!  He’s from Bethesda, Maryland – not far from where I grew up.  I told him that I tend to get attached to things and that I was a little sad to sell the mandolin, but, I was happy it was going to someone who was going to play it.  It’s a pretty instrument and should be played.  It was just sitting in the corner of my aparment, silenced.  He was sweet – he said he’d email me to let me know how the mandolin’s doing.  Then, a nice quick cup of coffee at Peet’s to chat about mandolin classes and music books.  The money I made from the sell, which was a bit less than what I paid for it, will go into my savings account.

I then went back to Powell’s to peruse the writer’s section.  I finally picked up a copy of Elizabeth Lyon’s book Nonfiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write.  I have heard much praise about Anne Lamott’s book on writing, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life.  I also picked up a used copy of The Art of Nonfiction by Ayn Rand.  And finally, I got a copy of Barbara Kingsolver’s book of essays, Small Wonder.  I really dislike writing short fiction and so I want to develop my essay writing skills.

As I was walking down 11th Street in the Pearl, not sure where my footsteps should take me, I approached the new Deschutes Brewery Pub and noticed my co-worker and her husband.  They waved and I smiled.  It was a pleasant surprise!  I went inside to say hello.  They kindly asked me to join them.  It was really wonderful. 

The design was very spacious, open with great seating areas.  There’s a large, round table on top of a barrel with cool barstools around it.  There were a few wooded arches between seating areas with really cool carvings.  It was very rustic and yet very beautiful.

Deschutes did not have their low gluten beer available anymore – to my dismay.  So, I ordered a glass of Oregon Viognier.  I was handed a gluten-free menu, which was nice.  I ordered the sausage, duck prosciutto and salami appetizer with pickled veggies and a side of french fries – that were cooked in a fryer that does not fry breaded foods.  So, it was all safe and very good late lunch.  Probably the best pub food I’ve ever had, next to Old Dominion Brewery in Ashland, Virginia.

My friends ordered a beer sampler and really liked the brews they tried.  They each ordered a different brew with their food.  After we settled the tab, I went to the front concierge and asked if I could fill out a comment card to request they keep the low gluten brew (it’s like 90% gluten free) on the menu, and even pleaded they create a 100% gluten free beer to have available.  They sold out of their brew in two weeks – I would say that indicates there’s a market for it!

After, I drove back home and headed to Whole Foods at Bridgeport Village.  My mom had sent me a nice gift card.  I picked up my cosmetic night cream, daily moisturizer and toner, since I was running low.  I found gluten-free mini blueberry muffins by Kinnikinnick.  I also found cinnamon raisin bagels by Enjoy Life, which I’ve picked up there before.  Amy’s Kitchen has a new product, too, the gluten-free Tamale Verde in two versions – black bean and cheese.  I was so excited!  Amy’s also now makes a gluten free personal pizza, which was very exciting, as well.  I also picked up Yogi tea in Cammomile and Stomach Ease.

I had the Tamale Verde in black bean for dinner.  It was fantastic!  I made a cup of Yogi Cammomile tea and kicked back  while I flipped through my new books.

My sister informed me she was sending me a check for my L.J.S.W. Fund -which made me laugh, but I honestly appreciated.  I worked on a customized haiku for her, which I am going to put into a design and then frame it for her. 

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