I love cooking!

I never would've thought I'd like cooking. From a young age I was set upon not cleaning because women were expected to clean, and anyway, how nice it would be for the roles to reverse and have a man cook for me! I survived in college by eating peanut butter sandwiches, garlic toast, ramen, microwave popcorn, and instant mashed potatoes when I decided to stay in. Somehow I had enough money to eat out and get drunk (someone said that was a talent drunks had, to always have enough money to drink).

But now, at my old age of well...not yet over 30, but no longer 25...I am learning to cook. Sauteed potoatoes, lightly breaded diced chicken in olive oil, REAL mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, fruit salads, turkey burgers...after a trying day at work there's some magic in cooking.

Yeah, that sounds weird, but there's something comforting in watching a turkey burger brown up as it's cooked, watching chicken broth soak into rice. And if you clean up while your food has just begun to cook, you won't have to worry about anything burning or a mess for after you've cleaned your plate and just want to sit back and enjoy the digestion from the fruits of your labor after a long hard day at an NPO. Not that I think every job is cake, but work at an NPO and you'd know that you're supposed to be able to do everything because you're constantly understaffed. You sort of become a jack-of-all trades.

But not only is cooking relaxing for me, its healthy. I know that unless I'm buying organic I'm still getting additives and all that junk, but the food is actually fresh. Because I try to cook something nearly every night, my body nearly rejects fast food. I can't eat it without getting a massive headache that stays with me for the day, like a caffeine headache, only a grease headache or something, I don't know. Anyway, cooking doesn't need to be something that's done by the June Cleaver's of the world. It can be done by anyone, and with the help of Rachel Ray, you don't even need that much time!

Ayatollah strikes again

Ever since the whole "irresponsible" debacle went down when the Russian terror learned I wasn't about to cowed into admitting I was wrong when he was clearly on the losing side, Ayatollah has been a complete ass. To me, just the sight of him is like nails on a chalkboard for the eyes. I cringe. So, since the big confrontation, I stay out of his way.

Then comes tonight. I'm earning back the money my parents spent on my gymnastics education by giving private lessons ($50 for one hour, thank you), when the tyrant causes a big ruckus with the parent. Apparently, he wanted to do this particular little girl's private lesson, so they shouldn't have to run to me. Because he pitches such a fit (a womanly fit too, but to call him a woman is just an insult to all females except maybe Britney Spears) the women decides to do thirty minutes with me (Still I'm making $30 for those 30 minutes) so the big crybaby tyrant can do his own thirty minutes with the child (much to her dismay because he's a jerk and the child doesn't like him).

Sorry, I just needed to rant. And yes I know it is $20, but on Friday at Hacienda, that could've bought me two liters of much needed Margarita.

Hopes and Dreams

You know, I had all kinds of grand dreams as a kid. I planned on being an astronaut who cured cancer in between moonwalks, wrote books, and occasionally sat as a Supreme Court judge. That didn't happen, probably won't happen, but I'm still going to hope for one or two of those things to happen at some point.

Instead, I'm a salaried employee at non-profit. Translation: I'm overworked, under paid, and we're way under staffed. In addition, I work as a gymnastics instructor (See Dad, that extra monthly billed wasn't all for nothing).

Despite the hours and pay, my jobs are terrific for me. I tend to have a bleeding heart for innocence and feel that children and animals deserve the best from parents and owners. But that's where the bleeding stops.

The only bad things about these jobs is the lack of men. While finishing a second college degree, I was a full-time student, worked at a bank, and taught gymnastics. There wa barely time to drink, let alone get drunk enough to think I was in love. I figured that once I was mature (am I?) that stuff would happen.

Wrong. Out of my two jobs, the only male I'm in contact with is 40-something Russian tyrant whose name is shockingly similar to Ayatollah. That has to be more than a mere coincidence.

So this is my life now. Work, more work, and when I do get a chance to get home, I cuddle up with my Brittany Spaniel named Mac - the most perfect little angel ever!