T-Dog -- Live from the Land of Laptops and Lattes

Breakfast on the Go

2012-01-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

I have a problem and its name is Pinterest. I find the more I Pin, the more I want to Pin which leaves me little time to actually make the stuff I've been Pinning. But I digress.

Last week an old friend pinned this great blog posting about make-and-freeze breakfast sandwiches and it reminded me that:

I skipped breakfast and was hungry
Breakfast is important
I continue to be very interested in make-and-freeze meals

I resolved to start with some breakfast recipes and am happy to report success.

My first attempt was to mimic Trader Joe's frozen steel cut oatmeal. My good friend, Steph, has an amazing recipe for steel cut oats (aka Irish Oatmeal) where the oats come out the perfect texture . . . creamy with a little whole grain bite. Here's my take on her recipe which makes a generous serving:

1/4 C Steel Cut Oats

2 C Water (you can sub in milk or buttermilk for some of the liquid for a different taste/texture)

Dash Salt

Heat saucepan over medium high heat. Throw in oats. Toast them, stirring constantly/frequently, until they become fragrant. Meanwhile bring your water to a boil (don't get me started on how much I love my electric kettle for this task). Once your oats smell like little toasty bits of heaven and before they turn into brown bits of petrified grain smelling more like burned popcorn than one would like, pour in your boiling water. Word to the wise, pour in a slow, steady stream while stirring because your oats are desperate to turn your stove top literally into a hot mess. Stir. Stir. Stir. Bring everything to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the grains popping up in the simmer start looking like those drunk bees, slow and sloppy. Serve and enjoy. OR FREEZE.

Yes, I said freeze. I found another great fix-and-freeze blog posting. Simply Alicia also admired the expensive Trader Joe's Oatmeal and came up with a way to save. I used my recipe and her freezing tips. Despite the fact that getting the plastic wrap to work (and not get stuck in my oatmeal) was, let us say, a challenge, I'm going to try this again. Next time I will likely try waxed paper. Each muffin tin held about 1/4C prepared oatmeal so this morning I put a couple disks in my tupperware along with a handful of dried fruit and microwaved it. I started with one minute, stirred and added some water, then nuked it in one minute increments until perfect. And it WAS perfect. All in all, a good experiment.

Later this week I will recap pancakes and let you know if they are worth the freeze.

Thanks HG! - or PB makes everything better

2011-07-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

Just had to share the genius that is Oatmeal with Peanut Butter and Strawberries. YUM! Great idea HungryGirl!

Rush "Fatboy" Limbaugh

2011-02-22T12:01:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong Rush, I'm glad you lost weight and stopped taking pills. I pretty much support everyone getting healthy . . .even if they are total d-bags who need to shut up. But Rush needs to stop bagging on Michelle Obama. Really? Has he SEEN the kids in our elementary schools? Does he understand that Type 2 Diabetes used to be an ADULT disease? As a not-so-fit person himself, does he ever think that maybe he should try eating a vegetable now and again . . . and no, French Fries DO NOT count. While I don't side with Bill Maher on EVERY issue . . . I think he has this one right:

Feb. 4, 2011 Clip - New Rule: Cake Boss

New Favorite Site

2011-01-25T12:59:00.000-08:00

Don't get me wrong, the GFY girls still have my heart and soul. But, when I waste 10 minutes of my day reading status messages from my FB friends and think "really? that's what you want to share with the world?" . . . I KNEW there had to be someone who shared my deep desire to out them. Welcome to Lamebook.

Costume Changes

2011-01-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

When did it become fashionable to change clothes several times during an awards show? I can't keep track of all of the outfits! It used to be that I would enjoy seeing articles on GoFugYourself about a single outfit. (How can one resist a phrase like "Patterned McCuteMullet"?) Now I spend at least double the time and find myself wondering "when did she have time to freshen her tan?".

It seems like an awful lot of work to find multiple outfits for a big event. It also seems like I missed an opportunity to wear 3 dresses instead of 1 to my wedding.

Shock to the System

2011-01-05T11:15:00.000-08:00

We're back from Maui after a two week vacation. I'm physically and emotionally shocked. I suppose going from 80-something to 50-something and having the work equivalent happen simultaneously will do that. Over the next couple of days I have some work to do getting my delayed resolutions together. All in all I'm looking for a year with relaxation, happiness and prosperity . . . with lots more of what I just got done doing. :)

2010-12-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite "Christmas" songs of all time:

Hope you all have a healthy and happy holiday season!

Bummed or Rain, Rain Go Away

2010-12-21T10:40:00.000-08:00

Last night was a lunar eclipse ON the winter solstice. You know who should have had prime viewing? Los Angeles. You know who got to see rain and clouds and morons trying to drive instead? Los Angeles. I'm not one to complain about the wet weather. It is soothing and when last minute shopping, it comes in handy for clearing out open air malls (see moron driving comment above). But to have missed a big ole red moon on the winter solstice seems wrong to me. I mean, I should have been having midnight margaritas and singing "you put the lime in the coconut". Alas . . . beautiful pictures here.

My New Favorite Thing

2010-12-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Yummie Tummie Panties

Ugly? Yes. But they are soooo comfortable and the muffin top has been managed. The briefs and thongs don't creep, pinch, or have visible pantie lines. The industrial strength elastic tames the muffin top. And they are easy to wash.

http://www.yummietummie.com/slimming-underwear.html

Plus, any brand that says "Yummie" is a friend of mine.

A Pay It Forward Moment

2010-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

I saw this story on the Front Page of Yahoo! today. It's truly amazing what good people can do when given the smallest opportunity.

Welcome to LA - earthquake version

2010-07-07T17:02:00.000-07:00

Unlike my former employer's office building, the MySpace office is not on casters. That 5.7 (from over a hundred miles away) felt like it:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqscanv/FaultMaps/116-33.html

Seriously? Snow in July?

2010-07-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie, when we got to our campsite and there was snow on the ground my first thought was "WTF?" and my second was "I KNEW I should have brought my beanie!" Little did I know that Uncle Gary and Aunt Devonne would have every possible amenity one can have for "real" camping (no running water, sleeping in tents, closest major road is named "Dinkey Creek", campsite not visible from the dirt road). All in all it was a wonderful trip with one of the best campfires in history.

So today I was fully expecting it to be a more difficult day after being so far out of cellphone service for the weekend. Little did I know that work wouldn't be the challenge . . . that it's actually the crazy weather following me around. Weird LA moment: check out today's weather forecast:

Who said climate change wasn't fun?

Grease is the Word

2010-06-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of people who love the movie Grease here in LA. I spent last night with a bunch of them at the Hollywood Bowl, singing along with my favorite tunes and my brother, Stuart. No pictures yet but SUCH a good time. The Hollywood Bowl is an outstanding venue that allows guests to bring picnics and beer! Imagine that! No Coors Light for us! Any of us. I mean . . . Summer Lovin is never going to be the same for me now that I've sung it with a thousand of my best friends.

Nothing says "I'm so excited we won" like . . . .

2010-06-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

Burning a car and walking around on a freeway.

Go Lakers?

A little something that made me giggle

2010-05-25T11:09:00.001-07:00

2010-01-24T23:00:00.001-08:00

Retribution by Jilliane Hoffman

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I will admit to being hooked on approximately 75 pages of this book. However, it took reading about 300 pages to get there . . . 300 pages of overly graphic crime scenes (rape, sadistic torture, murder). The worst part is that you could tell Hoffman was as sick of writing the story as I was of reading it by the end; the last 10 pages were a glossed over mess.

View all my reviews >>

Racist Camera?

2010-01-22T19:56:00.001-08:00

Love this story on the front page of Yahoo! and especially love that it was found by searching blogs! http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100122/wl_time/08599195464300

Matt Nathanson talks about his junk

2010-01-08T14:20:00.001-08:00

VH1 TV Shows | Music Videos | Celebrity Photos | News & Gossip

Quote of the Day: Courtesy of Evelyn (RE: The Twilight Saga)

2010-01-04T20:57:00.000-08:00

Me: this is AWESOME http://theoatmeal.com/story/twilight
SleepyEve: hehehe. . . and now i never need to read it

If you all get the chance, check out how well theoatmeal.com has captured my obsession with Twilight. I especially love the description of "Pants".

Programming on A&E

2010-01-03T13:00:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure the programmers need some professional help. Hoarders? Intervention? Paranormal State? Okay, yes, I love all of those shows. I know I need help. The difference is . . . I don't go out looking for crazy people.

P.S. I know bed bugs are sick. Do we really need to see them every 5 minutes Mr. Hoarders Producer?

Lifetime Original Movies

2009-12-28T16:14:00.000-08:00

I know I should be offended by the crazy stereotypes in all of these "holiday" movies but I can't help it . . . I love them. Currently on TV is a story about a hardened career woman named Holly (played by Candace Cameron???) who hates Christmas and whose father is Tom Arnold. Maybe she doesn't hate Christmas as much as she's so into being a professional that she can't get into the spirit. She wears pearls and lots of lip gloss and tells people that she's businessy. The one from last night was about some girl named Joy who made a Christmas wish to go back in time. It's crap. I know it's crap and yet I'm unable to tear myself away.

Next up: finding that Lifetime Movie that ended LeAnn Rimes marriage. *sigh*

Hallelujah Chorus

2009-12-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late getting into the holiday spirit this year. However, thanks to Nana (and my dear friend Handel), I am finally ready to go. Enjoy!

The Sun Comes Out At Qwest Field

2009-12-08T20:17:00.001-08:00

The Sun Comes Out At Qwest Field
Originally uploaded by t4tdog

If you look closely, you can see the weird Canadian dude who wouldn't leave us alone sitting just below Scott.

p.s. Just for reference, the Seahawks fans are kind of jerky. One tried grabbing Scott's hat and four others harassed me while I was buying beer. (Four dudes against a solo girl is not what I would call nice.)

2009-12-08T19:52:00.001-08:00

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
You know how Empire Strikes Back is the richest and best developed of the Star Wars movies? Same goes for this volume of the Harry Potter series. Amazing, heroic, sad and everything an adventure series should be . . . .

View all my reviews >>

2009-11-30T10:30:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
When I started the Harry Potter series, I thought they were going to be a pleasant diversion . . . a little escape from everyday life. Little did I know I was about to become obsessed with a teenage wizard and his adventures. This fifth book in the series literally sucked me in with drama and adventure. Harry is growing up and has hit moody adolescence with gusto. And, somehow mirroring his inner turmoil, trouble finds him in the form of a toad like teacher. While not my favorite of the series, I enjoyed every page of this book . . . including the heartbreaking ending.

View all my reviews >>

Thankful in Idaho

2009-11-25T11:46:00.000-08:00

Visiting my parents is always an adventure in relaxation. The journey starts with short plane ride; Horizon Air offers a flight every day. This journey isn't without it's ups and downs . . . on the plus side, you get a complimentary microbrew or glass of wine (last night it was a lovely sauvignon blanc); on the minus side, the propeller plane they fly is just a tad bit bumpy (I almost tossed my cookies). But a mere 2 hours after leaving home, we arrived to a steamy 27 degrees in Boise, ID.

In honor of our relaxing Thanksgiving holiday, I would like to share this awesome video that can be seen during any Boise State University game. Enjoy!

P.S. A word to the wise, if you can avoid sitting behind a kid with an EXTREMELY poopy diaper, do so. It does not make queasiness any better. I'm just saying.

2009-11-20T14:24:00.001-08:00

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
My favorite of the Harry Potter series to date.

updated review.
Now that I've started on book #5 of the series, I feel like I need to elaborate on my earlier statement. While I thorougly enjoyed the first 3 books in the series, this installment made me a Harry Potter junky. He is definitely growing up fast! This book goes from entertaining, to moderately creepy to just plain thrilling in a matter of pages. Add to that the rich characters and intense images and I'm a goner. I may even finally watch the movies.

View all my reviews >>

2009-11-19T16:26:00.000-08:00

Cat & Mouse by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was my first venture into Fiction via Audio book. As always, James Patterson was entertaining and engaging . . . it didn't lose it's appeal over this medium. What I DID lose from it was some of the nuances I get from the written word. For instance, spelling turns out to be important and when someone tells me a word, I don't readily visualize the spelling of that word. Further, listening to "romantic" scenes with the narrator's innonation kind of grossed me out (much like hearing a friend describe in detail might be a bit of an over-share). Overall, this was entertaining and a good break for my commute. James Patterson is a master of spinning tales with unexpected twists and turns. This book was no exception.

View all my reviews >>

Going Rogue?

2009-11-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

I'll admit that I have a sick fascination with all things Sarah Palin. I just adore watching her talk like a high school drop out. I mean, if I were blindfolded (or if I didn't see her from the neck down) I would swear that she was giving interviews outside of a DQ while periodically taking bites from a corndog and sipping from a PBR. Or, perhaps, she reminds me of other butter queens . . . like my favorite, Caitlin Upton:

My question is this . . . is talking shit really "being a Maverick" or "going Rogue"? I mean, I get that she needs to blame looking like an idiot during the campaign on someone else. In some ways, I understand how being yelled at by campaign advisers would make someone hesitant to break rules. But COME ON! It was her decision to do what she was told. It was her decision to give non answers. Playing the blame game will do only one thing to address the "you-are-stupid" rumors . . . make you look unaccountable AND stupid. Sarah, say what you like about your kid's baby daddy's aspiring career in porn, at least he is honest about what he wants.

For all those shit talkers out there . . . enjoy the following comparison videos:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Pathetically Awaiting a Teen Movie

2009-11-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

Watching Jimmy Fallon who says there is a stripper-like moment where Taylor takes off his shirt. I'm pretty dang excited.

Watch the Trailer on Yahoo! Movies

Missing my Vacation and my Car

2009-11-04T17:30:00.001-08:00

view from St. Clement
Originally uploaded by t4tdog

Was it really just a month ago that we were in Wine Heaven? I can't wait for my car to get done being worked on so I can venture up to St. Helena again. Oh! And so I don't have to drive a crappy Dodge Caliber

A Year Ago Yesterday

2009-11-03T12:44:00.000-08:00

It seems like yesterday that I sat in front of CNN watching the exit polls come in. I'm pretty dang excited to see that day (and the months leading up to it) from another point of view.

Howling Time

2009-10-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty dang excited about this movie. I keep playing this spot for the adorable howling scene at the end.

Happy Anniversary

2009-10-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been a year. So much has happened . . . it's true that the first year of marriage (no matter how long you've been together) is challenging. To celebrate making it through, Scooter and I went to the wine country. For your viewing pleasure, here are my favorite photos:

Scott looking out over Castello di Amorosa:

The pair of us hanging out on top of the castle:

Looking out over the valley . . . you can see our car in the parking lot!

A huge thank you to our friends and family for your unconditional love and support. We could not have celebrated this milestone without you!

When I'm Dieting . . .

2009-01-08T16:56:00.000-08:00

I get really grumpy. But, this kind of takes the cake!
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/biggest-loser-star-busted-for-throwing-flour-in-ten...

Why I Hate Wedding Planning

2008-02-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

by Tessa Robinson

Two Words: Capital Club

Today I called to try to set up an appointment to visit so my mom and sister (both much more adept at picking out colors and centerpieces and shit) could see the place. Of course the coordinator wasn't able to accomodate. And, for kicks, she sent me the 2008 pricing. Now kids, I'm locked into this place . . . signed a contract and everything. And, when I suggested we finalize the menu at contract signing she balked. Apparently that was so she could raise the prices by $5 per person. I let her know that I will not be paying more and that I will be looking for another venue if she doesn't honor the prices that accompanied my contract. I'll find out on Wednesday if she and the club decide to grow some integrity.

Overall, though, much easier to stress about the stupid wedding than to continue feeling like the Angel of Death. So, thank you Capital Club, for giving me a destination (target) for my displaced anger.

Keep Your Day Job Psycho

2008-02-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Anyone else watch "The Hills"? If so, I hope you will be as horrified as I was:

Heidi . . . you can't sing, you can't dance, you can't act. The only thing you can do is stir up drama with your good buddy, Spencer. Please don't hurt my ears or eyes like this again.

It's "Ours", Part Two

2008-02-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

Remember a while back I was bitching about the latest automotive addition to the Robinson-Solley household? Well, I caved again. "We" are now the proud owners of a 1981 Porsche 928.

I have to say, I'm a little more than stoked to be driving around in the same car Tom Cruise used to "pick up" Rebecca DeMornay in Risky Business.

I may name the car Lana.

Internet Bubble

2007-12-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

I love when coincidence strikes. I was just talking with my almost-former-co-workers yesterday about the big internet bubble burst of 2000-2001. My almost-former-manager sent this out today:

Enjoy!

Why I Rule

2007-10-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

Not to toot my own horn or anything . . . .

Friday vs. Shampoo

2007-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

I am in a really good mood today. Some folks have hypothesized that my mood is solely dependant upon the day of the week. I, personally, think it's my shampoo.

Kuz recently suggested that I try a shampoo that was sulfite (I think) free . . . said that it was really good for sensitive skin. I started looking around and found that Burt's Bees has just such a thing in their repertoire. I was really convinced to try when I saw their new volumizing product, "Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo" on Drugstore.com.

I'm a big fan of the Pomegranate in general. Ever since Oprah and Rachel Ray hosted their Holiday Party, I look for Pomegranate Martinis on menus and am never disappointed. Those magical little tart seeds are fantastic (except for accident prone people wearing white)!

Likewise, I was not at all disappointed in this shampoo. While being sulfite free means that it won't lather up into a big George-Washington-like foam mass, it definitely cleans very well, it is lasting and lasting and lasting. (Scott and I usually go through a bottle of shampoo in a month . . . this bottle seems to be lasting for twice as long.) And, can I tell you how good my hair smells? I basically just sit here sniffing it all day.

So, if you get a chance, try this shampoo . . . or at least come smell my hair. :)

Tuesday Nights Rule!

2007-09-17T14:22:00.001-07:00

I'm addicted to The Biggest Loser.

There's something about hearing Jerry say "Age is only a number" that gets me enthused. Of course, I would probably be more successful in my weight loss adventure if I would stop eating Pizza My Heart while being enthused. . . .

It really is the little things that get me through Mondays.

Guilty Pleasures of the Day

2007-09-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

I will admit it. I love Shakira. And donuts. Equally. One is hip shaking goodness and the other causes hip (and stomach) jiggles. Today is my lucky day because I've had both of my guilty pleasures . . . and it's only 10AM! Let me describe.

On my drive in this morning, Live 105 was going off on Berkley hippies. I'll admit I enjoyed the cracks on "hippy law" but was getting a little tired of the anti-Bay Area rants. So, I changed channels to my second favorite morning show (Sara and No Name). Imagine my surprise and pleasure when I tuned into just in time to hear them have an impromptu dance party featuring this song:

I only THOUGHT my day couldn't get any better. But then, I ran into my co-worker, Buffy, who was carrying a box of Stan's Donuts . All I can say is Yum. I don't know that I will ever be able to eat Krispy Kreme again. I ate an old fashioned chocolate chip donut and it was out of this world! YUM! 100% worth having to wear a wedding muumuu .

Coffee, Nectar of the Gods

2007-08-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

I want to meet the guy who invented coffee and give him a big, wet kiss.

I have been very grumpy this morning. It was a general grumpiness caused by:

morning
dealing with stupid people who miss deadlines and insist on having zero repercussions
not being able to be productive

Unfortunately, my mood didn't improve with my first two cups of coffee . . . despite the fact that Scott made it for me!

After dropping 3 F-Bombs in a row (and the subsequent look of "I'm going avoid her at all costs" by my coworker, Brian), I decided it would be a career-limiting decision to stay at my desk. I walked across the street and got a large cup of Major Dickason's Blend.

I feel 100% better, thank you. And, am once again a little cup of joy.

Cheers!