3.22.2009

Where is spring?
Looking in ads, both online, print, and television, one would think spring has sprung. Someone better tell this to the weather. The first day of spring greeted us with a little flurry of snowflakes. The last day of winter however, left us with the gift of a beautiful 60 degree day. I think the seasons should be checked out by a psychologist, they're suffering from an identity crisis.

3.19.2009

Spring Break
As I am currently in the midst of the most unproductive spring break ever, I think it is appropriate for me to waste time some more and post.
I love baseball. I can't help it, whether I wanted to or not, I was made to love baseball.
1. I am Dominican. As such, it is impossible for me to attend any family gathering that does not discuss some sort of baseball (either MLB or Dominican league... TIGERES!!) My grandfather played baseball and my dad played baseball (although now he plays softball). I spent Sunday mornings through most of my younger days at his adult baseball league games. I was photographed quite frequently as a toddler in an array of Mets onesises.
2. Baseball seems to have a habit of showcasing Americas most sexiest men. Case in point? David Wright. The finest 3rd basemen to ever walk this earth. ARod is not my cup of tea. Wright manages to include in one sexy package, good ball playing skills, love for charity work, the most amazing smile, and a fine fine ass. Sadly, my broke ass has never been able to purchase close enough tickets to 3rd base to have a good view of him.
3. Baseball is easy enough to get a handle of. Despite all that fantasy baseball nonsense, it is really easy to understand how baseball works. Man throw ball, man hit ball.
As a NY metro area resident, my main allegiance is to the Metropolitans (NL). However, as a Dominican, I cannot abandon my DR loving Bo'Sox (David Ortiz!). Both caps lay claim to my closet.


Here's to hoping the Mets finally pull through to reach post-season.

3.18.2009

Tele-vision
I love tv. I have no problems sitting my ass on the couch for hours at a time watching shows. However, my busy schedule has prevented me from doing so. Now, I watch my favorite tv shows online. During the fall my addictions include Mad Men and Dexter. Both of which I could rave about for hours. Dexter is positively b-a-n-a-n-a-s. I love Dexter, he is the serial killer of my dreams. I cannot wait for next season, a freaking serial killer spawn. How the hell is this child going to turn out. Expect much couch to ass meetings Sundays at 10 in starting in September. Also, Mad Men, I don't think I could say anything that hasn't already been said about this freaking phenomenal show. Jon Hamm is so dreamy.
This half of the tv season, I've been (online) watching Dollhouse and Skins (BBC America). Dollhouse is sort of a new thing for me, I was never a big Joss Whedon person (Buffy, Angel), but the concept of Dollhouse seemed so original I had to watch. Now, I'm hooked. I think the show is great, it moves along at a nice pace and includes both ass-kicking and mystery. That's on at 9 Fridays on Fox. Skins, holy mother of God, hide the children. This show is fanfreakingtastic. Of course it would never EVER be approved to be shown on US television (not counting HBO/Showtime). The drugs, sex, drinking and overall mayhem make it 100 times more scandalous than Gossip Girl. Skins makes Gossip Girl look like a virginal Catholic nun.
Currently on my wait and see list is Kings, which just premiered Sunday night on NBC. Sebastian Stan (Prince Jack) is so sexy, sadly he is currently dating Leighton Meester (Blair from GG). But Christopher Egan is also very sexy and he's Australian. Honestly, I'm a sucker for accents, you could be blind, legless, and suffer from severe earhairs, but as long as you have an English/Irish/Scottish/Aussie accent, heck I am THERE.
So get in your requisite hours of television and get that ass to GROWIN.

3.17.2009

happy st.patrick's day!
For all you Irish, grab your pint of Guiness and do a jig down the streets. Or enjoy the artificial taste of green beer, just make sure you brush your teeth after!

Here's my recipe for (fake) Irish Soda Bread.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease loaf pan (5x9) or 8inch cake pan. Dust with flour.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup raisins
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk

Instructions:
In a large bowl, mix together 2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon.
Stir in seeds and raisins.
With a fork lightly beat the eggs and milk.
Gradually add eggs and milk mixture to dry ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until mixture forms a sticky, thick dough.
Place dough into pan, sprinkle a little flour on the top.
Bake for 1 hour for loaf pan or 50 minutes for round.
Remove from pan to cool.

*Remember mise en place! It makes things so much easier. You can add caraway seeds if that's your thing, 2 tsp with the dry ingredients.

3.16.2009

Ice Cream
Yes, I am lactose intolerant. It is a burden I must bear. Despite the havoc that ice cream makes on my stomach, I cannot go long without a taste of some sort of frozen dairy substance. Ice cream is my drug and Torico's is my drug dealer. Who knew that so many flavors could be packed into one delicious space? Baskin Robbins has nothing on these (homemade!) flavors. Do you like avocados? Why then try an avocado ice cream. There are so many chocolate flavors, tropical fruit flavors, even frozen yogurt flavors (about 20). Thank god it's not right next to the store, or else I would no longer fit through doorways.
Despite my love for ice cream and Torico's, my frozen dairy repertoire is pretty small. I intend to become one with gelato this summer. Grom and Il Laboratorio del Gelato seem to be the best places to get gelato. Both in NYC, the hike there will give me excuse to indulge in scoops upon scoops of gelato. Pistachio please.
And now I'd like to thank Lactaid for making all of this possible.

3.15.2009

It seems that pie plays an important role in my life.
I love pie, although I shamefully cannot say that I have tasted many pies. My pie of choice? Blueberry. Although I blame that obsession on my aunt, whose family owns a blueberry farm in Maine. Cream pies are a beast that have yet to be conquered. I think I tried Key Lime pie once many years ago in the Florida Keys (Big Pine Key... WHOOP!), but the taste has escaped my food memories. So this summer join me as I attempt to become master of all things pie. It will be a tasty journey.

3.14.2009

Course List
In the imaginary world of a perfect Rutgers, every semester would offer a buttload of courses to choose from. But seeing as we are living in cash-strapped Rutgers world, this is not possible. Many courses are just offered once a year, requiring that time turner from HP and some Tinkerbell dust to assemble a schedule that will both fulfill grad/major requirements and not have you on campus everyday. Perhaps Rutgers should refocus some of its athletics money (specifically football, and the salary of the athletic dept. head which is currently over $1 million) and put some of it towards academics. You know Rutgers is a university, not a football training camp.

3.13.2009

I used to be quite the concert goer.
My first concert was Backstreet Boys in 8th grade. I waited in line for 3 hours at a Radio Shack to get tickets. By the time I got to the register the only tickets left for me and my friend were on opposite ends of the arena. We bought them anyway. I got to watch five little specks dance their way across a stage that looked like it was five miles away.
My musical tastes have matured (only slightly) since then. My first adult concert was in high school. Summer of 2003? I went to see Jet at Irving Plaza. Oh what an awakening that was. Standing room only, beer flowing freely, and the strong smell of mary j. in the air. Despite the pain in my feet the next day, the smell of smoke in my hair, it was quite an experience. My favorite concert has to be seeing Kings of Leon Feb. 2005 Roseland Ballroom, standing room, crushed up against the barrier. The music, the atmosphere, the people, were all perfect. Some how those things have yet to combine themselves again. The concert experience culminated in meeting KOL the next day when I went to Fuse with T. and E. Skinny, unwashed men have never looked so good.

3.12.2009

Spring Break
As I enter the final spring break of my college career, I have only one regret, I never partook of the stereotypical spring break debauchery. Now, Cancun, Girls Gone Wild crazy need not apply. But I have only seen the walls and roof of my own home during spring break. No spontaneous trips to the shore (despite the temperature), or trips to a tropical locale. Just plain 'ole JC for me. Let's see if maybe I can squeeze in a little at home crazyness this spring break.


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3.07.2009

Work creates quite the dilemma for me.
Everyone loves money. It allows you to buy nice clothes, go out to nice restaurants, hang out with friends at the movies or NYC. However, an overactive job prevents many of these things from occurring. Example, my job at [redacted]. I love clothes, so much that I figured, heck, working around clothes can't be half bad. Wrong, wrong, wrong. If I could travel back in time I would slap myself upside the head. I have become an expert folder of jeans, t-shirts, and leggings. Why? Because seeing as the economy is sort of in the toilet now, there are very few people looking to purchase $400 dresses and $200 jeans. So the store remains empty on a pretty consistent basis. Despite this fact, my manager thinks it's a good idea to schedule me to work every non-school moment of my life. Weekends are booked from morning till night, and on days when I don't have class, I work all late afternoon-evening.
Now my dilemma, I want to quit, no, NEED to quit. School is the #1 man in my life right now. I am a slave to school (the papers, the exams, my THESIS). Work is the lover that just won't quit. How do I break it off easily? I've been given a strict deadline that looms in the near future, and I'm peeing in my pants just thinking about it. In my dreams, I would just mail a letter that says "I quit this bitch" and never show up again. However, social obligations (and legal ones, in the form of my employment contract) insist that I give a two week notice before receiving my final notice. Shoot.

3.01.2009

Suggestions
I need suggestions of cat names. The new kitty has now gone over three months without a name. We've tossed around Lola, Bertha, Edna, and countless others. She's already responding to the name kitty, so there may be problems if a new name is not given soon. Help!