A fishy quandry

I love to cook - and I have quite a few signature dishes. I receive rave reviews any time I fix ribs, meatballs, pizza, boxed cereal...no one pours milk like I do!

I cannot cook fish. It is a tragedy really. I do have one good recipe for salmon but that's pretty much it. And I've tried everything. Tonight I had two fabulous pieces of Mahi Mahi tuna. It is fatty and meaty which means its pretty tolerent of fools like myself so if I overcook it, the fish does retain some moisture.

So I gave it a good rinse and dunked it in milk to let it soak. (gets rid of the 'fishy' taste / smell) Any fish that has been wrapped in plastic more than a day gets that fishy smell and its just nasty. I then pulled out my jelly roll pan and greased it up.

Lying out the fish, I lightly coated it in butter then Old Bay seasoning, Louisiana Spice (its a brand) garlic and a dash of salt and pepper. I then sliced an onion very thin and laid that on top along with some thin sweet pepper strips. It looked very pretty - I was quite pleased with myself. (did you notice I forgot the lemon?)

Popped it in the oven and baked it for about 15 minutes - it was smelling good.....and it had little flavor at all. I could taste the garlic and a hint of the butter but that was it. I have no clue what went wrong, am I supposed to coat the fish in seasoning?

Yes ma'am, I'd like some fish with my seasoning...

What gives???

Signed,

Disaster in the Kitchen

I've lost my brain...

if found, please return to J.C. Wilder as she is looking for it...when she remembers its missing that is.

Took Mom to the doctor this morning. I mentioned that she was ill a few weeks ago on my blog. She was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and stenosis of one of her heart valves. This doesn't have much to do with my brain which is MIA, but it is a follow up to an early post so there you go.

I took her to the two doctors, heart and lung guys, then shot off on a trip to NY. Somehow, in the furor of packing, flying, coming home etc, I seem to have completely forgotten exactly what the lung doctor told us to do. What I remembered was to pick up an oxygen sensor for Mom to wear overnight to test her oxygen levels while she slept. So yesterday I picked up the machine and all was well.

CHECK!

This morning I take her to the doctor and I handed in the machine. They downloaded the information to check her stats and voila...she never turned it on. Yep, she put on the machine, slept with it all night and failed to turn it on.

Yes, at least I come by my craziness honestly.

So the nurses and Mom and I laughed about it. I had explained to Mom how to put it on and she missed the part about the little button on the top.

Then, the next nurse comes in to ask about the breathing test.

What breathing test?
The one that was scheduled for Monday at the hospital down the street from you.
Blink.
I wasn't aware of a breathing test...

Yes, I forgot to take Mom for a breathing test appointment. So she forgets to turn on the machine...I forget to take her for another test.

Sometimes it doesn't pay to get out of bed.

Gorging Myself...

Today I am gorging myself on Project Runway (www.bravotv.com) I just love that show. In high school I created most of my clothing because we were financially challenged - not to mention that it was a great way to express myself creatively.

Keeping in mind that it's been about 24 years since I've created a garment, Project Runway has inspired me to pick up my scissors again. A few months ago I picked up some fabulous fabrics with the Romantic Times conference in mind. So here it is, eight weeks until RT and I've yet to even pick up the bag of fabric. So here is my challenge, I bought materials to create a duster, and two shirts. If I can create one new look for RT, I consider myself a winner.

Think I can do it? :)

Home Again

I returned home late Thursday and I'm glad to be here. What is it about stretching out in your own bed? It's the closest thing one will come to finding perfection in life that's for sure.

NY was great fun and I can't wait to return. I injured my knee walking to the theatre to see RENT but it was worth it. Seeing that performance was worth both pain and blood...except I didn't bleed. But if I had, it still would've been worth it.

At the end of the performance the staff of the Nederland theatre directed me to walk down some back steps and voila - ended up backstage. LOL! I was able to meet a few principals of the show and thank them for their most excellent job they did. It was brilliant.

But now I'm back in Ohio...no theatre here. (sigh)

The Apple is FROZEN!

I'm not sure I've ever been as cold in my life as I've been here in NY. All this cement makes everything feel 10x colder than it really is I guess.

On Sunday I went to check out the show Young Frankenstein and it was fabulous. Roger Bart (The psycho pharmacist from Desperate Housewives) played the lead and he was brilliant. Megan Mullaly (Will & Grace) was the fiancee and she was hilarious. Originally I had seats in the back of the orchestra section and when I got there, they moved me up to the 3rd row on the aisle. It was an amazing seat. I was so close that when they danced, I could feel every footfall. Since I love the movie, the musical was brilliant.

Last night we went out to Perdilla - this is the restaurant owned by Harold Diedrich, the first winner of Top Chef. I cannot tell you how good this meal was. It ranks up there in the top five for me. If you're in New York - GO! Just make sure you call ahead and get a reservation. After dinner I was privledged to meet the Chef and chat with him a few minutes. I was just in awe - cooking is such an art and while I love it, I could never be a cook of even half his calibre.

Tonight I'm off to see RENT, my all time fave musical...well, okay...one of them. I adore so many of them - but with Rent I know all of the lines, lyrics etc. Yes, it's just that good.

J.C. Wilder Takes a Bite out of the Big Apple

Yes, I'm in NY and just thrilled to be here. I love this city and everytime I come here I have to ask myself, why did I wait so long? Its only a 90 ride on a plane and voila - I land in the concrete jungle.

So what am I doing here?

Theatre tickets of course.

Well, there is this little matter of a conference but I won't let that interfere with my gorging on musicals. :)

I have my camera at the ready and I'll record my trip so stay tuned, you never know what can happen when JC Wilder is on the loose!

In The Gloaming anthology

Boo YAH!

In The Gloaming, the paperback, is now available at Amazon.com.

It is a sexy paranormal anthology with a Celtic twist.

Well, my story is a futuristic and it really isn't Celtic, but you know me, I'm not very good at following directions. :)

I hope you enjoy it!

It lives....

...but it's retarded!

So I reinstalled my operating system...all my programs...only to realize instead of erasing the drive, Windows installed over the old operating system.

I really hate technology.

On my other laptop all I have to do is stick in the CD, select the option to reinstall and that's it. Obviously the newer, stealthier laptop doesn't have that much sense. Seeing that I am headed to New York on the ninth, I'm going to turn my precious hardware over to a friend who will kick it back into shape.

Thank god for geeks.

One of those days...

Yes, it's Saturday and one of those days. It started out easily enough. Got up at 6am (sickning isn't it?) and put out the dogs. Went back upstairs and weighed myself...then decided to go back to bed.

Yes, I gained a few.

Back into bed I went for a snooze...a two hour snooze. Why is it when I stay up late, I still get up at 6am? That is SO wrong!

Anyway, when I got up for the second time (at least I avoided the scales as I was pretty sure sleeping for a few hours wasn't going to remove the poundage I'd added) and went to turn on my computer...it locked up.

Actually this has been going on for a while. I'm one of those old school geeks who likes to reinstall their operating system 12 or 18 months. I have a tendency to install and uninstall all sorts of things and I don't care what anyone says, programs never completely uninstall themselves. They leave bits and pieces of themselves all over your drive like little piles of dog poo just waiting to be stepped in.

Unfortunately, the drive on that particular laptop hasn't been reistalled since I bought it almost two and half years ago. Needless to say, it was much overdo.

So here I sit, sneaking peeks at my beloved computer as Windows is being reinstalled. I have an automatic defibrilator just in case it can't be revived.

Wish me luck. :)

Ye-OWCH!

So I was blow drying my hair and somehow managed to get a few strands sucked into the intake.

It really hurt.

Just thought I would share.

Heath Ledger

CNN is reporting that actor Heath Ledger was found dead in New York City. I enjoyed his work and the entertainment world and his family have suffered a great loss. So young, what a loss.

Manly Monday

I've long been an admirer of Johnny Depp. His work, his attitude, all of it. He is a man who doesn't compromise his art and as a fellow artist, I take my tiara off to him. Love this photo - it shows the lines around his eyes. :)

Fun and Games

Every week I hit the pool at the Rec Center. Now my routine is kinda dull. Get up at 7am, pull on a bathing suit, sweats (which are now falling off - YEA!) and some shoes. Feed the dogs, shove them outside for a potty break, grab a protein shake and head for the door. The pool opens at 8am and I like to be there on time.

Now, my hair is getting long and one thing I hate is wet hair sticking to my neck. I love to swim, yes I get my hair wet, but if I know I'm not going to go under, I pull my hair up into a ponytail then add a hair band - keeps the bangs under control.

Today I was in the pool and chatting with two of the ladies when I felt my hair band slip. I reached up to straighten it and it literally rolled off my head and into the water. I barely blinked and it was GONE!

Now, let me explain. I was in something they call The River. The river is literally a cement chute in a kidney shape. It is filled with water and there is a current, hence the name.

So when the headband hit the water, the current took it and that was that. Within a minute, the entire pool was looking for my white headband against a pale blue painted pool.

Hilarious!

Think about this image - I swim with roughly 15 older people who are trying to rehabilite limbs, stay in shape etc. All these lovely gray hairs walking up and down the pool with their eyes glued to the bottom of the pool sorta like lemmings. :)

Anyhoo - I finally found it in the center of the River in something they call the Vortex. It is a round pool and the water goes really fast and if you get knocked off your feet, you're done. Its hard to get your feet back under you again.

So there I was, in the vortex, trying to get my headband with my bare toes. Then, once I did get it, to somehow transfer that to my hands as the water works to drown me.

It really wasn't pretty.

I love the Gray Hairs, they keep me in line.

Foto Friday!

It is freezing cold and temps will be down in the single digits this weekend. I want spring and my garden back, NOW! :)

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen of my most favorite things in the world! 1. My family - yeah, they can be a pain but if I didn't have them, who would I complain about?2. Traveling - I love seeing new places, eating different food and just soaking up the atmosphere.3. New Orleans - my favorite city!4. Sweat Pants - it doesn't get any better than fleece.5. DVDs - I love nothing better than to get lost in a movie / show on a gray afternoon.6. Music - can't live without it.7. My dogs - all three of them.8. The pool - I do love to swim!9. Lindt chocolates - this seems to come up on my 13 lists quite a bit!10. Jewelry - I love to make it, wear it - roll in it...11. My car - I do love my car and even though I don't travel nearly as much as I used to, I enjoy just driving to the store!12. My garden - I practically live outside in the summer. It's just heaven.13. My computer of course!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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It's About The Journey

www.theshrinkingwoman.com

Bumps in the road

One of my favorite movie lines is from The Big Chill.


"Nobody ever said life was supposed to be fun, at least they never said it to me." Richard from The Big Chill.

Mom has been ill since just after Thanksgiving and the ups and down have been waaayyyy big. She had an allergic reaction to some medication and its been getting worse since then. Her breathing has become more labored and she gets out of breath walking from the living room to the kitchen which is about 15 steps.

Last week she had her chest xrayed and the results aren't good. She could have emphysema or a host of other issues. The interesting thing here is that my mother never smoked, not even a single drag. If it does turn out that this is what she has, then Mom is a victim of second hand smoke.

My grandfather was a heavy smoker and he did smoke around her. He also took her to smoky bars when my grandmother was working. Yes, he was a sorry bastard and he died of emphysema and alcoholism.

My father was a smoker though he smoked pipes most of his life. After he became ill with multiple sclerosis he switched to cigarettes for the last fifteen years of his life. Consequently, I was subjected to second-hand smoke. I smoked for a short while then gave it up. It's just plain smelly. :)

Mom said that when she was in the car with her father she sat in back and all his smoke would hit her in the face. He did this even knowing that as a child, she already had a lung issue called Beck's Disease. BD is rare now and it is called Sarcoidosis - it alone can cause shortness of breath when she has a flare up.

So for those of you who smoke around your kids or others who don't smoke, what are you thinking? Do you want your loved ones to pay the price for your smoking sixty some years later, too?

I'm not one to preach, but I can't help being pissed off that a man who was a lousy father (for many more reasons than the smoking) and a rotten human being is still wrecking havoc with the last remaining members of his family.

Mom goes in Tuesday for a CAT scan. The doctors want to diagnose what is actually going on with her and get her started on some kind of treatment. Please keep her in your thoughts, she's all I have left.

Foto Friday

So instead of posting a photo - I thought I'd post a video instead. Enjoy!

13 Must Haves for 2008

Thirteen Must Haves for 2008 1. Housekeeper - I can't stress how much time she saves me not to mention the fact that I love coming home to a clean house! 2. Manicure / pedicure - Somehow I never seem to fit these into my schedule! 3. New Music - Might I recommend Maroon 5's It won't be soon before long - Gossip or Dax Riggs? 4. Time Off - I never seem to have enough time to relax. Just ask yourself, what are you doing working so hard that you can rarely, if ever, kick back and enjoy it? 5. Fun Books - Jack Cafferty's It's Getting Ugly Out Here is good for starters 6. Recycle Bins - If we don't take care of Mother Nature then we have no right to think she'll take care of us. 7. Sumptuous Bath Towels - I'm SO in love with the massive Egyptian cotton bath sheets. I wrap one around me and it feels like heaven. 8. Lindt Truffles - My favorite chocolate in the world. 9. Off Button for the television. We've become a nation of people who watch others live their lives. So get off the couch and out into the sunshine! 10. Body Butter - from origins.com - I highly recommend the Orange Ginger...it's HEAVEN. 11. Something to love - it could be a pet, a stuffed animal, a pillow - it doesn't matter. The only criteria is that every time you look at it you smile. 12. Soft Clothes - I'm talking about something sinful to kick back in at home. No, not your husband's boxers - maybe a stretch velvet jumpsuit? Cashmere? Something fabulously expensive that you wouldn't buy for yourself - but you deserve it! 13. A wish - Everyone needs to have a wish. I don't mean you should wish for a new car - pick something that no one else knows - a secret wish - and you never know...this year it just might come true!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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It's a new year...

And this means the slate is clean! It is a fresh start.

For writers, it doesn't matter how many rejections you received in 07 - its a new start as of today. So put all of the negativity behind you and move forward. Who knows what 2008 has in store!