However, when I did get going, I got 9 papers graded and about 50 pages read. Not too bad.
But here is the real accomplishment of today:
I found the perfect Starbucks mug, and I successfully drank Dunkin Donuts coffee while I graded student papers in Starbucks.
It was... blissful.
The next step in the Dunkin' & Deceivin' plan is to gather up all my chutzba and ask the Dunkin Donuts people to put the Dunkin Donuts coffee directly in the Starbucks mug.
I mean, it's the way Al Gore would want it done.
And, furthermore, my Dad thinks that they will do it, and I'll actually only get charged the refill price.
Result = My three Dunkin Donuts gift cards will last forever.
I guess that title could be misleading, but just hear me out.
I'm very excited about the recent release of the documentary Religulous. I'm Netflixing it as we speak.
So yesterday morning I woke up with the notion of a blogpost of my "religion", "faith", what-have-you as told through music videos.
These songs may in fact be as close as I'll ever get to pinning it down anyway.
Sit back and enjoy these lovely songs. And with them, my understandings of the world. At the moment.
Careful there.
Okay, let's start at the very beginning. In high school it's not surprising that this first song was constantly stuck in my head.
Losing my Religion by R.E.M. (Please enjoy the dancing that starts happening around 2:40.)
Well, at least it's not surprising from where I'm standing now.
Now that I've had a lot of time to think about things and talk to people I trust and some that I don't, I'm more along the lines of these songs.
Love Love Love by The Mountain Goats (I'd like to apologize in advance for this girl's wack video of the rain from her window. The only other videos were of live concerts and very... pubby.)
The Origin of Love from the soundtrack of Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Also... where can I find lipstick like that?
The Minnow and the Trout by A Fine Frenzy
I saw Alison Sudol here, in Maine, for free. I would have paid quite a lot. She's magical. I tried to find a live clip that was not operated by a cameraperson with a crucial tremor, but I failed. Look them up yourself; I just can't post them in good conscience.
Let It Be by The Beatles
Paul's beard, though? Totally ill-advised. I'm embarrassed for him.
That should be enough to get you started.
I've now gotten myself completely distracted with music videos on YouTube, so you all will just have to entertain yourselves.
Update: I just can't let sleeping dogs lie, so here are some more songs that I would feel remiss leaving out.
Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
Please forgive the jaundice-y tinge. This video is significantly older than I am. And... he's got a friend in Jesus.
About a week ago, I was wasting time in the office by complaining about my blog. The blog wasn't the problem really, it was the clear lack of comments that I felt I was due.
I came up with nothing that needs repeating, but I did stumble upon No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog. And as I was nosing around the reviews, I caught one of the 100 ideas. One of Margaret Mason's tips for interesting blogging is to conduct unnecessary experiments and then (duh) blog them.
And this is where I will tell you about my current experiment.
BUT I will first tell you that I completely planned this experiment before I ever thought about blogging it.
AND it's not at all unnecessary, but I guess you'll find that out momentarily.
My plan is so far unnamed, but I have some possibilities:
Here's the dilemma. I have about $72 worth of giftcards for Dunkin' Donuts. Dunkin' Donuts makes spectacular coffee.
Okay... I see the problem; so far there isn't one.
Starbucks has a wonderful cafe ambiance. Dunkin' Donuts does not.
Ambiance?
Good, free coffee?
Why can't I have both?
Here's my plan to get both. I'm going to buy a Starbucks mug. I'm hoping for this one: I need the mug to be very overtly Starbucks.
Once I buy the mug, I will then buy the oh-so-tasty Dunkin' Donuts coffee and classily pour it into the Starbucks mug. Then, I'll drive to Starbucks - mug in hand - and sit, happily sipping, and grade student papers.
See?
Foolproof.
If I'm ever approached, I'll blame the economy and they'll just have to assume that I brewed my Starbucks coffee at home.
However, there is a hitch in this plan. When I went to Starbucks tonight, they didn't have any of the super-Starbucks mugs. Hm. I'll find one though, don't you worry.
And... to keep Ms. Mason happy, I'll update you as the project progresses.
Since I moved to Maine in the summer of 2007, I've encountered more car difficulties than I ever did in Virginia.
Luckily, AAA has come to my aid every single time.
When I was trapped in a friend's car in Boston, the friend became hysterical and I called AAA. After they left us, the car stalled again, she became completely inconsolable, and I called AAA back.
And they saved us. Again. That driver said I was his first southerner.
A couple of months later when I was in Sanford, Maine (halfway between my starting point and destination) with an overheating car, I called AAA.
A very nice volunteer fireman and part-time tow truck driver drove me and my dead car as far as Portland.
When I accidentally locked my keys in my car, I... oh, I guess I called my roommmate. :)
Anyway, AAA saved me again today.
As it turns out, I must have left the lights on in my car when I came back from the gym on Saturday. I don't even remember turning them on, but they must have been on all afternoon, evening, and into the morning.
Today AAA broke all the records though. I called and within 15 minutes, there was a tow truck driver, older than God, jumping my car. And do you want to know was my rescuer had to say to me at 3pm today?
Well, I'm going to tell you anyway.
Him: "Is the battery really dead, dear?"
Me: "It is. I left my lights on all night."
Him: "Were you out par-tay-ing last night?" (You can almost hear the smile and wink in that phrase, can't you?)
And you know what I wanted to say in response?
"No! I baked a caked and used fondant for the first time. The fondant was really hard to work with and it didn't even taste that great. I threw a party anyway, but only one person came. And we ended up watching tv and fixing my computer because it had a virus that wouldn't let me search on Google. And I do a lot of cooking and baking these days, so Google is like my lifeline. Would you like some cake balls?"
Luckily, I didn't say that. I somehow pulled off a calm, "No, I was here."
Ugh. I don't know about Big E and the roommate, but I am feeling a bit of a cake hangover today.
Allow me to explain why.
Last night I threw a haphazard yet killer party for my roommate and Big E. Big E fixed my computer (and earned my undying devotion) while we watched a Peanuts Valentine's special and the 2nd installment of the Grey's Anatomy/ Private Practice crossover.
Here's the part that you might care about.
We also cut the cake.
Oh... what cake? I'm sorry. This one.
As it turns out, the roommate, Big E, and I were no match for the overwhelming sugar-ness of all that red fondant. Not one of us finished a whole piece.
But didn't she cut up well?
And I managed to take a picture of a white chocolate cake truffle in slightly better lighting. Notice how the truffle is enjoying some modern art.
Such a sassy truffle.
All present for last night's celebration of Saint Valentine agreed that the cake was cute and a good effort; however, we also agreed that actually eating the cake was a bit of a struggle. Too much sweet.
I woke up this morning feeling sluggish and well...heavier than I did yesterday.
So, what can one do when suffering from a cake hangover?
Well... two things.
1. Hair of the Dog - I dumped the cake leftovers last night, but there are still quite a few cake truffles (or balls, as I lovingly refer to them) and I think I've had three so far today. Can't promise I won't have more.
(I feel like I'm blogging on borrowed time, but I'm going to keep doing it as long as my ailing computer allows.)
Today I scrambled to get my work done in the office so I could leave campus promptly at 1pm. That done, I told myself that I would start slow with the baking. Take it in shifts. I'd do part mid-afternoon. Another step Friday night and then I'd do the rest on Saturday before people show up.
Sure. Good plans.
And then I just did everything.
I've been baking and chilling and icing and dipping and decorating and rolling and crying (not really, but almost) since 3 o'clock today. And I have to say, I'm tired. My back is sore and my arms feel jelly-ish.
But! I don't think I completely failed.
My goal was to recreate Bakerella's Valentine's Box of Cake. If you check out Bakerella's site, which I highly recommend, you'll notice that her box of cake is... well... perfect.
Mine is not.
But without further ado, here you go. Judge for yourselves.
I'm fairly pleased with my fondant first run. The top and bottom are not bad, but the side pieces got pretty dry and corn starched by the time I got to them. I should have scrapped those pieces and used new, but live and learn! I might go back to the cake and redo that part tomorrow, but I couldn't face any more fiddling tonight. The arms, remember.
The cake balls (also Bakerella's recipe - you can find them linked on the same page) are so cute and quite delicious, but, alas, I failed a little bit making them too.
I read Bakerella's suggestion to add a little bit of icing at a time to avoid putting too much. And I took that in. And then I put too much icing in the cake right off the bat. So, they are stinkin' moist and heavily cream cheesed, but still tasty. Next time I'll be more careful.
Honestly, how can you stay mad at anything that looks like this?
Okay, so maybe the lighting in that picture fails too. I promise the cake balls are ridiculously tasty.
Retroactive New Year's Resolution: Take one picture for the blog of a home-baked good in proper lighting.
Well, now you know what the red fondant was commissioned for. And now you know the highlight of my Valentine's weekend. So, if you are around, I'll see you tomorrow night, 8ish.
If you're not around, then feel free to be jealous all day.
I'm not sure the viruses are completely gone, but it seems that my struggles are now only limited to Google searches.
Interesting.
But something I can avoid.
With practice.
Anyway, I feel like today is somewhat of a wash. Literally, it's been raining off and on today which means that there is a bit of melting happening, but there is also a fair amount of freezing going on.
Walking on our driveway is... treacherous. So I've reinstated the YakTraks as my constant companions.
Today is also washy because tomorrow I am going to convert my kitchen to a Valentine's Bakerarium.
You'll just have to wait and see what comes of all that red fondant on Saturday, but the excitement has rendered me quite useless when it comes to responding to student papers or reading for next week.
If I'm going this crazy over a self-imposed baking schedule, I wonder how boggled I'll be when I get my first Daring Bakers challenge.
