Thursday, June 26, 2008
Archives & Chocolate Cake
After the recent server switch, I didn't realize that the monthy archive links on the side panel were all dead until today. Sorry about that! The path has now been made clear for perusing.
In related archive news, I completely overhauled my portfolio section thanks to a Flickr widget, and now each section of photos will constantly update with the latest additions per subject. Not only does it save a ton of space on the server, but I don't have to build a new page for every photo, or write the scripting to pull them in. As for the writing portions of my portfolio, sadly, you are left with the same ol', same ol'. I've been doing a lot of editing for other people's writing, but not doing much of my own. Clearly. Or this page would have more than a bunch of bird pictures on it.
The good news is, I've just taken over office operations at the Journal after losing my great assistant and friend, Robin, to manage The Spine Journal in Chicago. Since no one is there many days due to the editor in chief traveling quite a bit, I've just started running things from home on those days. And it rocks. Plus the office is unfortunately getting bumped to a different building, far away from the media people I have come to know and love, so that they can make my gorgeous office with a door to the garden and bathroom into a private snack room for doctors, right after they just spent a bajillion dollars building a new cafeteria.
Ask me how I feel about that. I really think modern work life, while certainly not as dirty and smelly as previous centuries, is inhumane in its own special way.
Anyhoo, in the attempt to avoid working in my newly cubicled area on the 5th floor with nonopening windows and stalls and "break rooms" seething with leftovers, I will be here as much as possible, freeing up some time and energy that I can use to write.
Lastly, a big HELLO! to Adam's friends, whom, I am told, are seeking the Guinness Chocolate Cake recipe. I'm sure he gave you the link, but I thought I'd include a shorter version that I use when I'm in too much of a hurry to make The Real Thing.
Guinness Chocolate Cake: Easy Version
1 box Ghirardelli double chocolate muffins
Guinness extra stout
whatever else the box calls for
This is the complete For Dummies version in that you just substitute the beer for water in the recipe and blend it right up. Usually I do this in a cupcake pan, but it can be baked as a cake as well. It doesn't have as much of that awesome Guinness smell that the other cake does, but it does punch up the richness of the chocolate in the muffin mix.
Good luck, and I will be updating very soon, now that our big news is out!
In related archive news, I completely overhauled my portfolio section thanks to a Flickr widget, and now each section of photos will constantly update with the latest additions per subject. Not only does it save a ton of space on the server, but I don't have to build a new page for every photo, or write the scripting to pull them in. As for the writing portions of my portfolio, sadly, you are left with the same ol', same ol'. I've been doing a lot of editing for other people's writing, but not doing much of my own. Clearly. Or this page would have more than a bunch of bird pictures on it.
The good news is, I've just taken over office operations at the Journal after losing my great assistant and friend, Robin, to manage The Spine Journal in Chicago. Since no one is there many days due to the editor in chief traveling quite a bit, I've just started running things from home on those days. And it rocks. Plus the office is unfortunately getting bumped to a different building, far away from the media people I have come to know and love, so that they can make my gorgeous office with a door to the garden and bathroom into a private snack room for doctors, right after they just spent a bajillion dollars building a new cafeteria.
Ask me how I feel about that. I really think modern work life, while certainly not as dirty and smelly as previous centuries, is inhumane in its own special way.
Anyhoo, in the attempt to avoid working in my newly cubicled area on the 5th floor with nonopening windows and stalls and "break rooms" seething with leftovers, I will be here as much as possible, freeing up some time and energy that I can use to write.
Lastly, a big HELLO! to Adam's friends, whom, I am told, are seeking the Guinness Chocolate Cake recipe. I'm sure he gave you the link, but I thought I'd include a shorter version that I use when I'm in too much of a hurry to make The Real Thing.
Guinness Chocolate Cake: Easy Version
1 box Ghirardelli double chocolate muffins
Guinness extra stout
whatever else the box calls for
This is the complete For Dummies version in that you just substitute the beer for water in the recipe and blend it right up. Usually I do this in a cupcake pan, but it can be baked as a cake as well. It doesn't have as much of that awesome Guinness smell that the other cake does, but it does punch up the richness of the chocolate in the muffin mix.
Good luck, and I will be updating very soon, now that our big news is out!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Wasting Time in Lieu of Christmas Cards
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
CSI: Christmas Morning
I am just now emerging from a week-long haze of Christmas ideas/creation/purchasing/bills, etc., including a long weekend in Orlando with my brother where we hit the Millennia Mall 3 times, Waterford Lakes 2 times, and the new IKEA, which, because it only opened a couple of weeks ago, involves shopping with approximately the entire population of Europe. There should totally be an oasis in every corner, because between the 3 million square feet, cloth fibers, and dry warehouse air, I was in a state of near delerium by the time I hit the bottom floor where you buy everything. Which may be by design, I'm not sure.
As I wandered through the Nouveau Scary Large Candy World of Lights Scents Music Christmasland, two memories from holidays past occurred to me:
1. "That's not from Santa!" - My parents were very religious when I was little, so we did not believe in Santa. Sure, they told me about Santa, and I knew all the stories and carols and whatnot, but I knew who my presents came from. My grandparents compromised by making some tags from "Grandma and Grandpa," some from "Baby Jesus," and some from "Santa and Rudolph."
I remember one Christmas very clearly where all the grandchildren sat near the tree, tearing through the gifts, where my older cousin said to me, "Look what Santa gave me!" I, being all of probably 5 or 6, pulled the name tag off her gift, held it next to mine, and busted out with the handwriting comparison. "Aimee, THAT's not from Santa. It's Grandma. Her handwriting is exactly the same! Look at the t's! Look at the a's! It's the same pen!!!" If I'd had a chemistry set, God only knows what I would have done to prove it.
I finally realized this weekend, regardless of what I'd been told, I was clearly too much of a nerd to believe there was a Santa, even then. Honestly, I thought Grandma was just being ironic, and cleverly so. It never occurred to me they were trying to fool anyone. Because, by George, the handwriting was the SAME. *puts on black shades*
2. Child of the 80s Flashback - Who else played with Strawberry Shortcake dolls? They all had cute little girl outfits and pets and were scented. My favorite one was Lime Chiffon because she smelled the best, like vanilla and citrus. I'm not really sure how we all looked, snorting our dolls and whatnot, but I loved that smell. (I'm sure they'll eventually reveal they are lead-based.)
While shopping for stocking stuffers this weekend, I went into Yankee Candle and was smelling down the wall of votives when my eyes went wide and I grabbed my brother's arm. "OHMYGOD!!! Smell this! This is so familiar!! WHAT. IS. IT?!....... IT'S LIME CHIFFON DOLL!"
He, of course, backed away from the lunacy and took my word for it (they didn't sell scented Legos, I guess), while I purchased a Vanilla Lime votive immediately so that I can continue my doll-sniffing in an adult fashion--by making my whole apartment smell like one.
= 
As I wandered through the Nouveau Scary Large Candy World of Lights Scents Music Christmasland, two memories from holidays past occurred to me:
1. "That's not from Santa!" - My parents were very religious when I was little, so we did not believe in Santa. Sure, they told me about Santa, and I knew all the stories and carols and whatnot, but I knew who my presents came from. My grandparents compromised by making some tags from "Grandma and Grandpa," some from "Baby Jesus," and some from "Santa and Rudolph."
I remember one Christmas very clearly where all the grandchildren sat near the tree, tearing through the gifts, where my older cousin said to me, "Look what Santa gave me!" I, being all of probably 5 or 6, pulled the name tag off her gift, held it next to mine, and busted out with the handwriting comparison. "Aimee, THAT's not from Santa. It's Grandma. Her handwriting is exactly the same! Look at the t's! Look at the a's! It's the same pen!!!" If I'd had a chemistry set, God only knows what I would have done to prove it.
I finally realized this weekend, regardless of what I'd been told, I was clearly too much of a nerd to believe there was a Santa, even then. Honestly, I thought Grandma was just being ironic, and cleverly so. It never occurred to me they were trying to fool anyone. Because, by George, the handwriting was the SAME. *puts on black shades*
2. Child of the 80s Flashback - Who else played with Strawberry Shortcake dolls? They all had cute little girl outfits and pets and were scented. My favorite one was Lime Chiffon because she smelled the best, like vanilla and citrus. I'm not really sure how we all looked, snorting our dolls and whatnot, but I loved that smell. (I'm sure they'll eventually reveal they are lead-based.)
While shopping for stocking stuffers this weekend, I went into Yankee Candle and was smelling down the wall of votives when my eyes went wide and I grabbed my brother's arm. "OHMYGOD!!! Smell this! This is so familiar!! WHAT. IS. IT?!....... IT'S LIME CHIFFON DOLL!"
He, of course, backed away from the lunacy and took my word for it (they didn't sell scented Legos, I guess), while I purchased a Vanilla Lime votive immediately so that I can continue my doll-sniffing in an adult fashion--by making my whole apartment smell like one.
= Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Visual DNA
