Fabio-lous

Let's have a Top Chef moment, shall we? 

It's been a good season, although the product placement challenges are way out of hand. Was Quaker Oats really hoping to attract a whole new demographic by forcing a bunch of chefs to try to make something edible out of oatmeal and meat? You can see the contempt on all of the contestants' faces every time Padma announces the latest corporate sponsor. 

But anyway, onto more recent events. I was devastated to lose Jamie last week. I was really pulling for her to win the whole thing. Yes, she could be a bitch, but she could also cook, which is more than I can say for Miss "I just kinda gave up" Leah, who is only still there because the producers are hoping she'll hop in bed with someone...anyone.

I like Hosea, but he keeps screwing up. Ditto for Carla, plus I can't tell if she's the right amount of wacko or too much. I can't stand Stefan. I'm sure he cooks good food, but his pomposity is grating. 

Which leaves me rooting for Fabio tonight. I've found him (and his complete frustration with the competition: "Thatsa not cooking, thatsa rushing.") endearing for weeks, but I'm not sure if he's strong enough to win it. Still, I'm hoping he'll surprise me...or, at the very least, not get eliminated tonight. Go Fabio!

Working it Out

My sweet little Aidan stuck this note to my computer today. 

List of Jobs:

T.G.I. Friday's

I'm guessing that, in his mind, the only thing better than me working at Friday's would be if he could work there. 

As my dismal job search leads me to applying for positions that I was probably more qualified for at age 18, this note is a nice reminder that a job is a job and it makes no difference to any of the important people in my life. Granted, some pay a hell of lot better than others, but I've probably spent far too long identifying too much of myself through my career (a career that I haven't even liked much for years). 

So yes, while I would prefer to be offered a well-paying position in which I could use my journalism degree in some capacity, I'm getting over this idea that it really matters what I do. It doesn't have to be forever, it just has to get us through for now. It might even be fun to have a zero responsibility job again. For a little while. Just until I write that best-selling novel... 

The New Leaf I Am Peeking Under

I have returned from Las Vegas. It was an interesting trip. I watched one of my BFFs jump out of a plane from 3 miles in the air. I went to a gun range and shot a glock (and was unexpectedly shaken up by the experience). I saw first-hand that Liberace was a megalomaniac. And I learned that going to Las Vegas with people who don't want to spend a lot of time eating, drinking or gambling is kind of dumb...on everyone's part. 

So here I am, home again, with an intensified focus on the lose weight/spend less challenge. Obviously my trip to Las Vegas ran counter to both of those goals (although I won $346 on a Monopoly machine!!!), but I am ready to get back on the horse. I am proud to report that today I both exceeded my grocery bill goal (as in, I was under $75) and I launched a weeklong calorie counting experiment. 

It's pretty much what it sounds like: I'll be counting the calories I eat and trying to stay under a certain number. (I know you're thinking that this is something most normal people do but, like exercise, it's new to me.)  I suppose that makes it a diet, but since I don't really do diets, I prefer to think of it as an experiment. We'll see if I can make my goal for 7 days straight and then I'll think about whether I want to continue it. 

As day one draws to a close, I can report that I successfully met my goal and that I already don't like it. However, I'm accepting the unfortunate fact that it is highly unlikely that I will ever follow an exercise routine intense enough to let me eat whatever I want without continuing to gain weight, so I have to reign in the calories. Bummer. 

In anticipation of starting this experiment, I had my first anxiety dream about it last night. I was at a movie theater, holding the popcorn in my hands, ready to put the butter on it, and I thought, "But wait! I'm watching my calories!" And then I slathered the butter on and ate it anyway. 

Sign of things to come? Stay tuned. 

Happy Trails

Waking up before it's light outside so I can finish packing a suitcase and head for the airport makes me feel like a grown up. More accurately, it brings back memories of sitting on my mom's bed on many a dark morning as she prepared to go on another business trip. 

But it's a good memory...even though I didn't go with her on those trips, there was something special about those mornings. Maybe it was just the break in the routine, or the fact that I often got to go stay with one of my friends while she was gone, but there is something so cozy and comforting about that memory. 

Which is all to say that I don't mind early flights. It feels right to get up early and get on the plane before I'm fully awake. If I could be transported from my bed to the plane while I was sleeping, so I would simply awake when the captain announced our descent...well, I'd pay extra for that. 

And so I am off to the ding-ding-ding of slot machines that no longer spit out actual money, so they have to recreate that sound electronically. (I suppose it would be creepy if the casino wasn't filled with constant noise.) I am off to get a little sunshine and have a lot of fun. See you next week!

Insight and Understanding

There have been times on this autism journey with Owen that I have wondered if we might not all have been better off had he never been diagnosed. He is generally so high functioning that his autistic traits usually appear more as quirks than anything and sometimes I wonder if this label that's he's been saddled with will do more harm than good. 

But then I read John Elder Robison's* blog today about the value of neuro-psychological testing and it reminded me that I am grateful to have a better understanding of my son -- and that he will grow up with a better understanding of himself -- and that it's not the label I hate, it's just the lack of understanding and support that goes with it. 

Obviously, that's changing and I hope that it will continue to change as Owen gets older. And I hope he can find inspiration in people like Mr. Robison so he can go forward knowing that being different can be amazing. 

*If you haven't yet read his book, "Look Me In the Eye: My Life with Asperger's," run out and buy it now. It not only provides insight into Asperger's, but it's just a really good story on its own. The guy toured with KISS!

One More Round

I mentioned in a previous post that I'm going on a weekend getaway with two of my BFFs, one of whom is moving to India. I'm leaving in 3 days and while I'm sure I'd be excited no matter where we were going, I am especially excited because we're headed to my own personal happiest place on earth...

Yes, dear readers, I'm going back to Las Vegas!

Now, I have to admit that I was reticent to announce this trip because, well, I've been to Las Vegas three times already in the last year, which I think is a little excessive (fun, but excessive). However, I decided that if I started trying to sneak off to Vegas in secret, that would really make me an addict, so I'm coming clean. 

Plus, it wasn't actually my decision to go to Vegas this time, so I feel somewhat absolved. Is it my fault that Vegas is responding to our economic crisis by offering ridiculously cheap deals? No, it's simply the universe telling me to go to there. And far be it from me to argue with the universe. 

Will the universe also deliver a jackpot on the Monopoly and/or The Price is Right slot machines? Well, I certainly hope so. Either way, I get to play. 

You'd think I might be less excited about this trip given that I was just there 10 weeks ago. You'd be wrong. If possible, I might be even more excited, as I really didn't think I'd get back to Vegas this year. (Vegas works in mysterious ways.) 

I am hoping that my excitement will distract me from the heartbrokenness I feel about my friend moving so very far away. I think it will at least allow me to delay the feeling for another few days...yes, Vegas should be pretty good for that. 

What a Rat Can Teach You

We let our boys choose one souvenir each while in Disney. Lucky for us, they weren't that into the gift shops, but when we did finally enter one in search of goodies, this is what Aidan picked:

It's so perfectly him (and so practical!). I'm sure we could get a copy at our local bookstore, but now every time we cook something from this book, he'll be reminded of our trip. 

Aside from being adorable, the book actually has some nice recipes that you won't mind making with your kids. (And c'mon, Thomas Keller wrote the introduction.) We had Remy's Macaroni and Cheese on Thursday night and it was easy and pretty good. (I recommend using half American and half cheddar cheese). Then yesterday we attempted Colette's Crepes. 

The recipe was straightforward. I measured everything and then let the kids dump it all in the blender. All was well until I went to lift the blender pitcher off its base, at which point the bottom stayed attached to the blade, leaving me holding nothing more than a glass tube as crepe batter tidal waved across my countertop, floor and me. (I assume the blender comes apart this way for easier cleaning, but after several similar incidents, usually involving margaritas, I have decided it's time for a new blender.)

So after quickly remaking the batter, it was time to make crepes. And they worked! We filled the first batch with strawberry preserves and cream cheese, as suggested by the cookbook. Then the next batch was chocolate chips and bananas. I made myself a peanut butter, banana and chocolate chip crepe. Delicious. 

So crepes are officially the new favorite in our house. Easy and yummy. Plus, they make you feel a little fancy when you eat them.