It’s Time For A Name Change

Was writing a letter – yes, an old-fashioned stamp and envelope letter – to a friend from what feels like a long time ago and a long way away. Just keeping her updated on the big and little details in life. Blow-by-blow accounts of hilarity, life-changing happenings, hatching plans, mundane affairs, weather updates and such.

So many things have changed in so little time.

When I started the blog just last year, Almost Home seemed such an apt title. Physically, I was indeed home. But in every other way, I was only almost.

But one can’t stay in transition forever. So, for better or for worse, but mostly mostly for the better, I can now safely say that it’s time for a name change.

What Do You Know!

It exists!  It actually exists!

For reasons unknown even to myself, I browsed through the classifieds while I was reading the papers yesterday and came across this:

Ha!

Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This…

There’d be days like this Mama said.

(Mama said, Mama said.)

Mama said there’d be days like this,

There’d be days like this my Mama said.

…

That’s been my theme song for the past weeks.  Not so much the “Mama said” part,  but the “days like this” part.

Work consumes everything – my time, my energy, my mental capacity, my physical strength, my health. Which explains why I’m posting at this time of the day.  I’m sick.  Again.  I’m sick of being sick.  But then again, it gives me some respite from work.

A married colleague remarked about our field of work saying, “A girl has to marry or at least be engaged before entering the field. Otherwise,*bppb*.”

Ok, so she didn’t say *bppb*, but you get the idea.  And she’s right.

Who has the energy to go on a date after a day of work?  Who looks decent enough for even the most casual date after a day of work?  Who has time to even get to meet people?  And 95% of the people in the field are females, so there’s no “meeting” anyone there.

And I really take my hat off to those who have children.  I don’t know how they manage everything.

But, enough blogplaining.

My point really is that I like the song. I don’t even know what the rest of the song is about.  Something about some guy or chapel bells. No matter. Good music, The Shirelles.

Yikes…

Right after my previous entry, my mom comes into my room and says that my cousin – my guy cousin – has set up a spa and perhaps we will patronise in near future?

Ok…

What Makes A Guy…

… want to own a nail salon?

Just back from a once-in-a-blue-moon pedicure.  Nice place, good service, but a little disconcerting to have a guy explaining their services, asking if things are alright, taking payment etc.  Not being sexist or anything like that, but it doesn’t seem that he should have a vested interest in the entire proceedings of a pedicure other than to make a business out of it.

… want to be a gynaecologist?

I have no possible answers for this one.  Mom says it’s just cos it’s good money.

Oh wait… Are we seeing a trend here? Maybe guys will do anything as long as it’s good money.

And I Disagree Again!

And contrary to BGF’s opinion, I think the new iPod is hip! Square is always in!

Brings to mind another favourite from Sesame Street!

I Disagree!

Despite what Yahoo! says, I think Jaime Pressly’s dress is lovely. Old-time glam!

Surveyed their Best Dressed list and realised that there really wasn’t any need to defend my opinion because, apparently, whoever drew up Yahoo!’s best and worst dressed list must be half-blind.

How else did the following all make the best dressed list?!

I’m no fashion expert but the it’s plain to see what’s wrong with the dresses.

No. 1 has an awful shape and poor workmanship

No. 2 looks like a vase/lampshade hybrid

No. 3 a clingy overstretched nightie

No. 4 a half-opened fancy Japanese style package

Is it just me?  Or is Yahoo! seriously off-track?

Bill Granger’s Ricotta and Herbed-stuffed Roast Chicken

Ok, so I made it and it was absolutely delish, just as I thought it would be.

BUT… I have no idea how Bill managed to stuff all 13 ounces of Ricotta into that one chicken. I had 9.5 ounces and managed to decently stuff two chickens, though mom did say that one of the chickens was a tad lacking. But still! 13 ounces in one chicken would be like one part Ricotta to four parts chicken. And even if we weren’t calorie-counting, the chicken would be rather bursting!

Regardless, this recipe is a keeper. Ask for it the next time you come over for dinner.

Yom Teruah

Watching TV early in the morning last Sunday, I came across a food program featuring a chef who grins disconcertingly into the camera every so often.  Well, it did look sincere enough, but still rather “hmm”-y.  Anyway, he was making this roast chicken dish that looked absolutely delish, so I googled him and found the recipe.

…

Bill Granger’s Ricotta and Herbed-stuffed Roast Chicken

Preparation time less than 30 mins

Cooking time 30 mins to 1 hour

Ingredients
1.6kg/3lb 8oz free-range chicken
375g/13oz fresh ricotta
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
2 tbsp chopped fresh chervil
2 tsp grated lemon zest
olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2. To spatchcock the chicken, place the bird, breast-side down, on a board. Using poultry shears or a sharp knife, cut along both sides of the backbone, cutting through the skin and bone. Remove the backbone. Turn the bird over and press firmly on the breast bone to break the bone and flatten the breast. Tuck the wing tips under the breast.
3. Mix together the ricotta, herbs, lemon zest, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. With your fingers, carefully loosen the skin over the breast of the chicken and down to the thigh area. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly under the skin to cover the breast and thigh.
5. Put the chicken in a roasting tin, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Roast for 50 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the thigh with a skewer. Leave to rest for five minutes before carving.

…

So that’s what I’ll be cooking for the Feast of Trumpets.  Think I have enough Ricotta for only two chickens though.

Yes, contrary to what some people think, we do NOT eat trumpets for the Feast of Trumpets.  That name is actually a misnomer.

The Feast of Trumpets, or Yom Teruah, is one of YHVH’s appointed holy days and is marked by the blowing of trumpets (hence the English name) to call the people to awareness of coming judgment and of the need for repentance.  The Hebrew name, Yom Teruah, actually means “Day of Shouting”, a day to make noise unto YHVH, in prayer, in praise, in worship, with voices, with instruments and with a sincere and contrite heart.

Let us make noise!

In Which I Picked Up After Myself

I was taking a nap before going to church in the afternoon.  As usual, dreams came quickly.

…

I was swimming, or rather, fooling around in the water and thinking, “How nice would it be if I could be a synchronised swimmer!”

Then I was in a kayak, in the bay, being interviewed by a newspaper reporter.  Apparently, I’m one of the performers in a water show that’s staged nightly in a fancy theme restaurant. Yes, one is allowed rather big egos in dreams.

Next, I was at the restaurant, showing someone around, viewing the pool side and stuff.  All this time, I was aware that it was almost time to get up and get ready for church.  After some feet-dragging, I finally got ready to go.

I picked up after myself, gathering some plastic wrapping from my sandwich, papers and stuff, putting it all into a plastic bag.  When the place was clean and neat, I was like, “Ok, ready to go!”  Then I woke up.

…

Isn’t that cool? Isn’t the human mind the most amazing thing?  I was able to tell my dreamself that it was time to wrap up the dream and wake up!

I must have been sleeping lightly too because, halfway through my dream, I heard my cell phone ringing, decided that it must be B calling cos he’s done with class and also decided that I didn’t want to answer the phone.

I love dreams!