Wasted guy at Coachella 2010 - FRIDAY

shoes are tricky.

the dung run.

A picture says at least a hundred or so words (click on the picture to read the [self-proclaimed] hilarity)... but i will ramble on about the run anyways. We decided to do the 11km run at the campbell valley park. The trail is a pedestrian SLASH equestrian trail. Within the first 2 minutes i was ready to quit. The path consisted of rocky gravel and horse shit every three feet, not to mention the fact the run began on an uphill start (boo). anyhow after getting used to the tripping and jumping over poop and mud puddles it was okay. sean dragged me along as per usual at a decent pace. We decided that Wendy's was defintiely on the menu for dinner...after 45 minutes or so the path ended at the road. WTF we exclaim? The road replied: MUAHAHHA. Sean figures out where we are and directs us west down 216th street. We pass some of the most beautiful houses (and lawns) and Domain de chamberton winerfy (note to self to get butt down there for dinner and wine tasting). anyhow after running for another half an hour along the side of the road (you'd never believe how happy we were to run on pavement again), we make it back to the parking lot where i got to drink my strawberry soy milk. more delicious sounding than tasting, thats for sure. overall, pretty great run and no we didn't go to wendys. the guilt factor was too intense. -over and out.

how to be rich before you're thirty.

also known as: how not to be a poor ass loser in middle age.

i borrowed this clever little book from a friend who, after confirming i was well under thirty, leant it to me. he's more of a book on tape guy anyhow. i'm not sure if he has given up on the whole rich thing or if he is already well on his way and needs the book no longer. either way, i am always grateful to those who share their books with me. i have a book buying phobia. i get paralysis in libraries and book stores. too many choices.

you may not know this, but i am terrible at budgeting. shut up lisa, i know i'm cheap, but that doesn't mean i can budgert worth a damn. i spend carelessly in many areas and am frugal in others. i will hunt for the best deal on toilet paper and then spend 100dollars on dinner and drinks.

nikita [my super underpaid, but very appreciated financial advisor] and i worked up a budget/payment plan last year when i bought my car. i had nightmares for a week at least about not being able to meet my payments. and now i somehow own a condo. it's puketastic.

anyhow i will share here what i have learned in the book so far...

1. get a bank account and stop hiding money under the mattress.
2. be frugal [verbatim- this book loves the word frugal, more than i love the word verbatim)
3. you have to pay yourself becuase nobody else will. this is alluding to setting aside money from every paycheque into your savings or investments.
4. the book hints that i should get a roommate. unfortunately they give no pointers on the roommate hunt or how the hell i'm supposed to go about living my life with a stranger lurking in my second bedroom.
5. that being a millionaire by the time i'm thirty won't be good enough because inflation will cause my hard earned money to be meagre in the distant future. [wow bitter]
6. that no matter how rich or poor you are cookies solve everything. see here for the whole wheat oatmeal chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies recipe i just made. long title, great cookie. http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=258352

i am only half done the book. i just felt i should share what i've ALREADY learned just in case anyone else needs some help with their financial future.

just never know what you're going to get here at TheBlog.

Sir Squash III

so i bet you never knew that i was an ambassador of squash! check it. the last few weeks have been a squashtastic experience. It all started at the iggulden's... insert cameo flashback: nikita and alanna preparing acorn squash using butter and maple syrup. as i have a mad obsession with syrup and am always looking for new things to drench in it- i was instantly hooked.

following this and some advice from my work Phyllis i decided to explore the Spaghetti squash. For those of you who aren't up to speed on squashcabulary, this is a yellow skinned variety that, after it's been roasted, you can pull with a fork into spaghetti like strands. I forked the shit out of it {with katie's help} mixed it with a bolognese sauce [homemade but stolen from carol's house] threw it back into the shells and topped with cheese and parsley and broiled to melty deliciousness.

Why it's amazing: -its so easy it practically makes itself. - it's so vibrant and pretty. -versatile. - crazy low cal with high nutrient content. - winter squash can store for up to a month NBD. [sidenote: winter squash is not named for the season it is grown but becuase it can be stored over the winter]

next adventure was acorn squash.. roasted with butter, syrup, cinnamon, s&p. the texture of this squash kind of offends me. I ate it and pretended to like it but overall it wasn't a winner.

tonight: kabocha squash or courge kabocha if you will. This is a traditional japenese squash which is allegedly similar to pumpkin. I picked this up at superstore with harry. I was intrigued as i've never heard of it before. Did a bit of reasarch today on it and basically it's interchangeable with butternut or pumpkin. Majority of recipes baked it or soup'd it. I've mostly abandoned making soup as i realize i have no soup skills. Cut up the kabocha into 1inch slices and tossed with soy sauce, brown sugar, cayenne, S&P. Baked for 25 min. Tossed the reserved seeds (delightful sidesnack) in butter, s&p. Results: kind of okay.,. lol, it came out a bit dry... i think more sauce is called for and i also think i would half the kabocha next time, then bake it, Then cut it into strips...

I Also have a butternut squash awaiting me. I think i am going to do something dramatic with it.. did u know u can eat squash leaves and squash flowers?

i think i was a squash in another lifetime.