Poco-Cocoa

Things & Stuff

  • So, really, no more monkeys jumping on the bed.

    I guess that’s what I get for making fun of Justin’s broken thumb. I went to the orthopedist today, and after poking and prodding my wrist, he found a tender spot and decided I needed x-rays. He thinks that I might have fractured some obscure little bone in my wrist, and decided that I needed a splint for about three weeks. I thought, “Oh, a splint, that’s not so bad, Justin had one and he could take it off every now and then.” Then the nurse said, “Lay down on the table.” I knew it was going to be bad after that.

    He wrapped it all up and put some goopy stuff on it and rattled off the “rules of cast-wearing”…do not get it wet, do not stick objects in it to try to scratch anything, do not hit things or other people with it.

    I thought about appealing to his emotions, trying to explain that I’m claustrophobic and that I would possibly go crazy and rip it off at some point, that it really didn’t hurt that bad anyway and that I promise to keep it very still…but by then it was done and my fate was sealed.

    I don’t even know how I hurt it. My friends and I have three theories:

    • I slowly weakened it during yoga classes, while contorting myself into positions I probably shouldn’t have been in.
    • I injured it when I fell down during our camping trip (it did hurt then).
    • I injured it when I fell down the escalator at J. C. Penney during a recent trip to the mall. Nobody saw it, but it did hurt.

    At any rate, I’m tired from pecking at the keyboard and worried that I won’t be able to work tomorrow (how am I supposed to wash dishes or empty the huge coffee pot or slice cantaloupe or even wash my hands??!?), so I think I’ll take my little Robo-cop arm to bed.

    May 2, 2005
    Random Thoughts
  • The other side of Austin

    Yes, Austin is the live music capital of the world. Yes, it’s full of parks and trails for hiking and biking. Yes, it’s urban and cool and full of well-to-do professionals. But…it’s also full of hippies!

    This weekend we went to Eeyore’s Birthday Party at Pease Park, just a couple of blocks from our home. The party started 42 years ago, and every April, Austin’s finest gather together for food and drink (all to help fund nonprofit organizations), live music, costume contests, drum circles, maypole dancing, hula hooping, and people watching.

    The air is full of rhythmic beats from the drum circle, where anyone with a percussion instrument is invited to join in while others dance and sway to the beat. It was a little weird to me at first, with the smell of illegal substances in the air and abundance of broom skirts, peasant blouses, and bare feet. It didn’t take long for me to love it, though…I could feel the beat of the drums roll up from the ground and resonate in my head.

    Chad and Andy decided to wear costumes to the party. We thought they looked adorable. Andy entered the costume contest, but the winners turned out to be scantily clad ladies in medieval garb and men with homemade robot suits.

    People watching was definitely the coolest part, though. Lindsay and I had a blast pointing out costumes (intentional or not) and oddities among the laid-back, left-leaning Austinites who strolled by.

    There were plenty of food booths, selling everything from bruschetta and veggie burgers to aguas frescas and beer. Justin and I shared a perfectly sour pickle and a chocolate ice cream cone before deciding to head home for the day.

    So happy birthday, Eeyore, wherever you may be!

    May 2, 2005
    Austin
  • These, my friends, are loquats.

    They’re small, they’re fragrant, and they’re all over our neighborhood. It’s actually a fruit that originated in China, and is usually grown in Asia and in the Mediterranean. But for some odd reason, loquat trees are growing all over Austin.

    They’re a lot of work for a tiny reward…you have to peel the skin off and take out the huge seeds to get to the flesh, which is tart-sweet, soft, and juicy. Loquats are often used for jams or jellies, but they’re also great when they’re plucked off a neighbor’s tree (especially if the neighbor doesn’t know you’re plucking). Really, though, most of the loquats are becoming over-ripe, and nobody’s eating them! I’ve been tempted to knock on the homeowners’ doors and ask if they’d mind if I brought over a stepladder and a few baskets to harvest their beautiful fruits. I keep chickening out.

    May 1, 2005
    Austin, Edibles
  • It’s a girl!

    Congratulations to Rene and Rochelle Carlin, proud parents of new foodie-to-be, Penelope Lucia Carlin. She was born on April 25 and is currently being spoiled by her one and only aunt, Leti.

    I got to hold Penelope for a bit on Friday afternoon, and she was definitely cuddly and cute, with super-long fingers and toes (and tons of hair!). She opened her eyes for a few minutes, and gave me that newborn stare…I always feel like when a newborn looks into your eyes (even if they can’t focus yet), they seem to be so wise, as if they’ve seen and experienced all of the world, and are taking a breath before this new life.

    Anyway. Just wanted to share the news and the cute baby photo with everyone, and to say congratulations to the whole Carlin family!

    April 30, 2005
    Random Thoughts
  • Spotted bananas = Yummy treats!

    I personally prefer to eat bananas that are not spotted at all, with just a hint of green at the stem. So once they become spotty, it’s either throw them out, or find a use for them.

    Sometimes we’ll just peel the bananas, toss them in a freezer bag, and pop them in the freezer for use in smoothies. Justin’s favorite is frozen mixed fruit, frozen banana, vanilla yogurt, and orange juice. My favorite is chocolate soymilk, frozen banana, and a dollop of peanut butter. Mmmmmm…

    But today, I used up our old bananas for one of Justin’s favorites: Banana-Nut Bread. There are so many recipes out there for this bread, but I’ve been making this recipe for as long as I’ve been baking. I think I originally liked it because it doesn’t call for oil and it incorporates whole wheat flour. A little healthier, but still very yummy.

    Banana-Nut Bread

    • 2 eggs
    • 1/3 cup applesauce
    • 2/3 cup sugar
    • 1 cup whole wheat flour
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
    • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    Beat eggs, applesauce, and sugar with mixer at medium speed until pale yellow. Add dry ingredients alternately with bananas to mixture. Mix at medium speed until well blended. Pour into greased or sprayed loaf pan. Bake 45 to 60 minutes, until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Let cool in pan 10 minutes before turning out on a rack to cool completely.

    Makes 1 loaf.

    Source: I have no idea.

    April 28, 2005
    Recipes
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