March 3, 2006

Cherry ice cream smile

My iPod is featuring Duran Duran at the moment. I wonder what made them go 2x on the name? Isn't just one Duran enough?

I feel like writing. Conversely, I have nothing to write about. Well, not "nothing", since there's always something - the level of readability and interest varies, though. So! A recipe to get things started:

American Chop Suey (aka "Goulash" in some circles)

A lot of families have their own Goulash recipe. Mine is of the tradition of Cole Farms Restaurant in Maine - a dish going by the name of "American Chop Suey" in those climes.

1 16 oz box macaroni noodles
1.5 lbs lean hamburger meat
2 tbsp Worcestershire
1 can diced tomatoes
1 jar tomato sauce of choice
2 tbsp italian spices (oregano, basil, rosemary, etc.)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Boil noodles according to instructions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute bell pepper, onion, and garlic in the olive oil. Once vegetables are crisp-tender, transfer to a bowl and set aside. Using the same skillet, brown the hamburger meat, seasoned with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire. Drain and return to skillet, add sauteed vegetables. Add diced tomatoes (do not drain), tomato sauce, and italian spices - stir to combine. Set heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

When the noodles are cooked, pour tomato sauce/meat/vegetable combination over noodles and stir well to combine. Serve with fresh grated cheese, crusty bread, and a salad.

Heh. I'm now listening to Jimmy Buffet - "Let's Get Drunk and Screw". Which is an excellent pastime, if I do say so myself.

Here's a ponderance. There seems to be an invisible line that exists, before which a person will not hold the door for you, and after which they will hold the door for you. I experience this multiple times a day, following people or being followed into AcronymCo. It has been my observation that this "line" for women is at a greater distance from the door than the "line" for men. A woman will hold the door for you if you're 20 feet away; a man's line is about three feet from the threshold. Also, if a woman makes eye contact with the person following behind her, it completely negates the line - she then feels obligated to hold the door, no matter how far away the person is. However, a man can make eye contact and then allow the door to shut pretty much in the person's face, with no feeling of guilt. I am aware that this is somewhat of a generalization - yet rather accurate, in my estimation.

I have no opinion about this phenomena one way or another - it's just an observance.

"Baby let's cruise... awaaaay from heeeere." The real version. It's a good thing that the people at work are used to seeing me chair-dance.

Breaking headlines from the Sun Journal (one of my hometown newspapers in Maine):

"Wine lovers can now take home unfinished bottles from restaurants." Now that's my kind of town!

"Former Kittery official sentenced in brothel case." They still call them "brothels"?

From the Press Herald:

"TODAY'S QUESTION: Should Maine revise its bear-hunting regulations?" There's bears in them thar hills!

"Defendant says he meant to kill himself - Man testifies he planned to commit suicide in front of girlfriend but shot her accidentally." Uhhh, woops.

"Soda banned in SAD 9." Yeah, that'll last.

I want to research my ancestry and family tree, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee to Ancestry.com. Does anybody out there know of a reliable *free* service that I can utilize? Or is the monthly fee really worth it? Is anybody else out there researching their family tree that has favorite websites or methods to share?

And now, some random pictures.