For the Love of Paper

Here's another "interesting" tidbit about me, I LOVE paper, especially cards and stationary. My collection keeps on growing and when I think that I should stop adding to my collection, I'll come across something that will catch my eye (the picture above does not do justice to my collection). Very, very rarely will I ever pay more than three dollars for a set of cards or stationary. Much of what makes up my collection comes from the thrift store or the clearance aisle.

I have more paper product than I can actually use in my lifetime, but I love paper. I love the feel of the different papers' weights, the designs on the paper, and the colors. I'm still a big advocate of hand written letters (although I admit that I am guilty of sending out more emails than "snail mail"), and I'm trying to send out more letters through the post office. How could you not love receiving a hand written letter?

Fonts, Fonts, Fonts

If you haven’t realized it by now, I have a lot of lame hobbies and I can easily get fixated on certain things. So, lately I’ve been searching for free fonts on the internet and adding fonts to my computer. There are MANY fonts on the internet that are free, and may be used for personal or even commercial purposes (of course, not all of the fonts are free). Anyhow, I’ve found several “typewriter” fonts and I’m so in love with these fonts. When I get into a creative mood (meaning that I’m going to start writing or adding to my “great” novel), I use a “typewriter” font to further boost my creative juices. It’s so cool to type on a laptop, but have the font look as if I’m using an old typewriter.

A New Year's Resolution

I recently saw my family and was reminded of how much time had flown by. In my mind, my younger brothers remain ten years old or younger. Although I cherish my memories of my younger brothers as being under the age of eleven, my daily interactions with my younger brothers forced me to recognize the fact that they are now hormonal teens and a bratty tween. This is not to say that I don’t ever want them to grow up, only that I’ve missed out on watching them growing up.

All of this reverie points out a personal flaw – which I fully recognize and have been trying to correct – which is that I live too much for the future and not enough in the present. I like to plan and have certain ideas of how certain aspects of my life ought to turn out, and once a particular goal is reached I continue to plan for the next future outcome. Of course, in the midst of planning, I often forget about my current surroundings and the people in my life. So when I finally stop planning and just live for the moment, it is only then do I realize how much time has passed me by and lament for not living in the moment. So, this year, as a new year's resolution, I want to live more in the present (good or bad).

Butternut Squash and Sage Soup

On a cold wintery day, in addition to cozying up to a book, I also love a good bowl of soup. Several years ago when I was still residing in Sacramento, a friend planted the idea that I could actually make my own soup at home. At that point in my life, I wasn’t aware that making my own soup was an alternative to soup from a can. Since that moment, I've experimented with different soup recipes (although not as often as I experiement with dessert recipes) and have found several that are to my liking, including a recipe for butternut squash and sage soup (I came across the recipe in Oprah's magazine).

The butternut squash and sage soup has a golden color and is so creamy. I can't believe that the recipe is so simple, yet so delicious. I know this is obvious, but once I've made this soup, or any homemade soup, it's hard to go back to canned soup. Anyhow, the following is the recipe for butternut squash and sage soup. If you don't have an immersion blender, as the recipe suggests, you can puree the soup in a blender or food processor in small batches. If you puree the soup while it is hot, make sure there is some kind of air hole, or else puree the soup when it's cold. I also skip the fried sage leaves, which are to be used as garnishment. The soup is superb, even without the garnishment. Happy soup making!

INGREDIENTS

2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
2 butternut squashes, peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage, plus 8 to 18 leaves for garnish
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Vegetable oil, for frying

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, 8 to 10 minutes. Add squash; cook 5 more minutes. Add chopped sage and broth; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until squash is very tender, about 30 minutes. With an immersion blender, puree soup until smooth (or puree in small batches in a food processor fitted with knife blade). Season to taste with salt and pepper.

In a small pan, heat 1/2 inch vegetable oil until hot. Drop sage leaves in about 3 at a time and fry until just crisp; remove to a paper-towel-lined plate. Serve soup hot, garnished with 2 or 3 sage leaves per bowl.

Serves 4-6.

Public Libraries Rock

I love public libraries. A friend once told me that whenever she had a hankering to go shopping and frivolously spend money, she would just go to the library. By the time she leaves the library, she no longer wants to spend any of her money and she gets to take home all the books she wants, without paying a cent. I’ve since taken her advice to heart and have been finding myself at the library more often than in previous years.

The other great thing about public libraries is that it saves me from having to purchase books (which can be an expensive habit). I do have my little own library and I do buy books, but the books I purchase often are used from the internet or thrift stores, plus I would not be offended if someone gave me a used book as a gift. Only on a few occasion have I purchased a book from a bookstore at its full price. Anyhow, I also find that once I’ve finished reading the book, it just stays on my shelf. That’s another reason why libraries are so great – I can return the borrowed book (save my shelf space) and check out another.

Books of 2007

I love reading (although my siblings will claim that my love for reading stem from the possibility of using it as a means to escape chores). The winter makes it so ideal to cozy up with a nice book beside a warm heater (sorry, but I don’t have a fireplace). Since finishing all of my graduate schooling, I’ve had A LOT more time to read for pleasure and have been devouring books like crazy. Sometimes I’ll get into a certain mood (e.g. classics only, or nonfiction, or fiction) and sometimes I’ll just pick up a book based on a friend’s recommendation. About a month ago I started making a list of all the books I’ve read so far this year. Of course, the length of the list depends on my memory (and my memory is somewhat bad), but I’m only keeping track so that I may meet my goal of reading at least twelve books per year. It’s also cool to find lists of “must read” books and check to see if I’ve read any of the listed books.

Anyhow, the following is a list of the books I remember reading this year:

1. Pride and Prejudice—Jane Austin
2. Out in the Garden—Dean Riddle
3. My Garden—Jamaica Kincaid
4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows—J.K. Rowling
5. The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse—Louise Erdrich
6. Fall on Your Knees—Ann Marie MacDonald
7. Finding Midas—Russell Cleveland
8. The Money Book for the YF&B—Suze Orman
9. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom—Suze Orman
10. For One More Day—Mitch Albom
11. The Five People You Meet in Heaven—Mitch Albom
12. Otherwise Normal People—Aurelia C. Scott
13. The Eyre Affair—Jasper Fforde

14. The Flanders Panel—Arturo Perez-Reverte

15. Diary of a Wimpy Kid—Greg Heffley

16. Midwives—Chris Bohjalian

Bus Schedules Don't Mean a Thing in a Winter Storm

The New England states are just being burdened with several huge snow storms (and parts of the Midwest have been without power, due to a huge snow storm). Yet, Minnesota has already experienced several storms (though not as harsh as the two previous regions) and the storms have caused havoc on many bus riders (i.e. me). I am serious when I say that bus schedules don't mean a thing in a winter storm. For example, one evening after work, I waited for thirty minutes in the cold for my bus (I was lucky since others were already there for at least an hour and a half, and were still waiting). When I finally saw my bus, it just passed me by-it was already full and the driver refused to allow any more passengers on. I thought it was best to call someone to come and just get me. An hour later, due to REALLY bad traffic, I finally got home (my home is only a fifteen minute drive from my work).

Anyhow, Minnesota hasn't experienced any more snow storms, but it has been very, very COLD. I believe it is currently zero degrees in my part of the State. I heard on the radio today that the cold keeps out the "rift raft" from Minnesota. Whether this is true or not, I am wishing that I am a "rift raft."

Cake Snob

I admit that I am a cake snob. In labeling myself as a snob, I don’t mean that the cake must come from a “brand name” bakery or be made of the most expensive ingredients available. I only mean that I have a particular idea of what a cake must taste like.

I am like most Americans and expect my cake to be slightly moist (Europeans expect their cakes to be a bit dry), but not cake-mix moist (most boxed cake mixes contain pudding that makes the cake super moist). I also like the cake to be made from scratch. This, I believe makes all the difference because boxed cake mixes, unlike those made from scratch, contain too many preservatives and “stuff” that affect the flavor of the cake. Not surprising, my snobbery have lead me to bake and find the perfect recipe for whatever cake I may be in the mood for. I think I’ve found the perfect recipe for chocolate cake and I’ve been working on a carrot cake recipe. [Personally, I think the carrot cake has been maligned and there’s some awful standard recipe that gets passed among most bakeries—who therein bake and sell something that is supposed to be carrot cake to its customers.]

Anyhow, I won’t further bemoan about the inferiority of boxed cake mixes. I am a cake snob, but that doesn’t mean that I won’t eat cake made from a box (although my preference is for a cake made from scratch).

NaNoWriMo

I recently saw a news headline stating that the creativity of Americans may be diminishing (probably due to too much television). This prompted me to help spread the word about NaNoWriMo (visit the website at http://www.nanowrimo.org/).

I came across NaNoWriMo almost a year ago, via an internet article. Although I should’ve written about NaNoWriMo at an earlier point, it’s never too late to spread the word about it. NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and November is the designated month. The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to have participants (there’s no official membership process, although one could sign up to be part of a collective) to begin writing November 1, with the goal of writing a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30. Regardless of these very flexible guidelines, NaNoWriMo is intended for all participants to write, emphasizing quantity and not quality. The ultimate goal is for participants to just write (and I think, to be creative).

Last year, when I participated, I came up with a lot of ideas and I actually wrote several pages. Not surprising, I turned my “novel” into a “play,” which I have not yet finished. However, going through the process (i.e. taking time out of each day to concentrate and write my “novel”) has taught me that the writing process is hard, and I have also gained a lot of insight about myself and my writing style. Anyhow, I will participate in NaNoWriMo this year, even if it’s already November 8. I already know that I may not write a 175-page novel, but I’m willing to try my best, and to stretch my creativity limbs. The worst thing I can get out of this experience, again, is that I learn more about myself.

Winter is Coming

It has finally gotten cold in my part of the world (especially since it’s already November). Every year I tell myself that I can withstand the cold, and it’s especially easy to forgive the cold during the spring and summer seasons (really, the cold just doesn’t seem that bad). However, my misgiving about the cold disappears when the frigid air actually envelopes me and enters into my lungs. I then curse to myself (unfortunately too loudly) and wonder why I’m still in Minnesota.

Since this is the first year that I’m trying to establish my cottage garden, I actually care as to how the weather will affect my plants. In previous years, I’ve only grown a vegetable garden and didn’t really care about the state of my garden (once the tomatoes and herbs have been picked, I’d just wait until spring to clear my garden and replant). Now, I’m worrying whether my plants will survive the winter and all things related to my plants’ survival (e.g. has the ground frozen, do I have enough leaves to provide a cover for my plants, should I bring my containerized plants into the garage now, do I even have enough room in my junky garage for my container plants, etc). At some point, I eventually have to rein in my worries, and have faith that I know enough to get by and that Mother Nature (in her own way) will take care of my garden.