Why We Love The Underdog

Over the years, I have found an insane coincidence with a lot of shows I enjoy- most of them feature an underdog.  What is an underdog you ask?  It's a person who has a history of screwing up- but there's always the hope that they will rise from the ashes like a phoenix and finally do something right.  Sometimes an underdog's shortcomings are self-induced- like Hank Moody from Californication.  I've always been a huge fan of David Duchovny and he is the epitome of the underdog in this series.  He loves his wife/mother of his daughter but he's far from happy being domesticated- and just can't get his act together professionally, socially or romantically.  Sexually, he has no problem- those of you have seen the show know that meeting other women has never been an issue for him. Somehow, despite whatever he does, you can't help but feel sorry for him... he loves his family so much but just can't seem to make that transition from single guy on the prowl to happy husband and dad.  Add booze and drugs to the mix and it always leads to his downfall.

We find such characters relatable and even root for them- it always seems they are just about to finally get their act together- then they do something ridiculous at the last minute to completely screw up all the groundwork they have made.  Hmmm, I think I may be a bit guilty of this myself- scary.  And yet we still throw hope onto the underdog show after show- we see in them the struggle inside ourselves, and the struggle for meaning in a life that isn't always fair or easy.  Why do you think LOST was such a huge success?  Yes, it was the first time such a show was introduced to mainstream TV- a show that actually made viewers think (gasp!)- but in reality, who were the characters?  They were all dysfunctional and had screwed up in some major way- and had a chance to start again on the island and leave their past behind.  Or so they thought.  As I already mentioned, the underdog always tries to change for the better- but it seems bad choices & fate make it impossible- it's part of who they are. 

Another one of my faves is the TV show "Breaking Bad".  Bryan Cranston plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series.  With a special needs son and a new baby on the way, he knows he has to make a lot of money FAST- so that his family can support themselves after his demise.  Here's a guy who knows he is dying and he only thinks of the family he will leave behind- which endeared him to us in the very first season.  He turns to a life of crime, producing and selling methamphetamines with a former student of his Jesse Pinkman and as the series progresses and he actually beats the cancer, he finds the easy money too hard to walk away from.  It's a perfect example of someone who does the wrong thing for all the right reasons.  But in the end, his actions have consequences and of course, hurt those close to him.  He has finally discovered something that he excels at & makes amazing money- but at what cost? 

Another show I am obsessed with is Dexter.  Dexter Morgan was orphaned at the age of three after the violent, suspicious murder of his mother and is then adopted by Miami police officer Harry Morgan and his wife.  After discovering that young Dexter has been killing neighborhood pets for several years, Harry tells Dexter that he believes the need to kill "got into" him at too early an age, and that he believes Dexter's need will only grow stronger as he gets older.  To prevent Dexter from killing innocent people, Harry begins teaching Dexter "The Code".   In this code, Dexter's victims must be killers themselves who have killed someone, escaped the justice system by some fluke and will likely do so again if not stopped.  Dexter must also always be sure that his target is guilty, and thus, frequently goes to extreme lengths to get undeniable proof of his victim's guilt.  Most important, Dexter must never get caught.  Like Walter White, Dexter does the wrong thing for the right reasons- trying to save those others that would have been killed had he not intervened. 

The moral of this blog is that we like to watch shows in which we can sympathize with the characters and their screwups.... and know that we are not alone in this crazy world where anything and everything is possible.  I would bet that the writers are Sagittarians, it would certainly explain a lot.   : ]

A Sagittarian's Adventures at the Gym

I don't obsess on my horoscope like some- but the characteristics associated with my sign are dead on.  So much that it's actually pretty scary.  Us Sagittarians have a love of freedom and a disdain for routine- and also tend to be a bit on the irresponsible side... (see, it's not entirely my fault when I screw up!).

 In my opinion, this explains why I never joined a gym until I was 40 years old.  Structured fitness just seemed entirely too organized for me- (structured anything for that matter- again, it's the Sagittarius in me).   I couldn't imagine even stepping foot in a place that people paid to run like hamsters on a wheel.

 Me- I have always preferred to get my dose of exercise in the great outdoors surrounded by fresh air.  However, astrological sign or not- I have never been a big fan of winter sports.  I am incredibly lazy in the winter- I blame it on the lack of suntan oil during those dark months.   But us Sagittarians are also very adaptable- which forced me to get off the couch and join Planet Fitness.   I strolled in one night after work and went through the rigamarole of filling out the paperwork and giving them my checking acct. info.  Normally, I don't like to have money just taken from my account automatically, it's too much commitment for me- but I didn't have a choice in the matter this time.  The girl signing me up gave me the whole spiel about how it's not like other gyms and anyone and everyone feels comfortable here- a claim I found difficult to believe.  I guess I still thought of gyms as places only musclebound guys and women in tight, perfectly matched workout gear and full makeup hung out.   Turns out I was wrong- at least about this place- looking around there were all shapes and sizes of people and no one even seemed to really pay attention to each other- just their workout at hand.   I know some people think of the gym as a social opportunity but not me.  I just want to be able to focus on myself while I'm there- crank my ipod and get in the zone.  The girl completed my forms and then offered me a compliment "I love your eyebrows, where do you get them done?!"- nice but a bit odd.  It's not every day that you get feedback on your brows.  Since I came right from work and hadn't been prepared to work out, I left and decided to come back the next day for some hardcore cardio.  The next evening, the first person who greeted me was the girl from the night before- and it was obvious she had been discussing me with her coworker.  "Hey Linda- this is the girl I was telling you about- with the great eyebrows she does herself!"  I laughed and said something along the lines of  "Maybe I should have a seminar on it, make a little extra money!" which cracked them both up.  Interesting- maybe this place won't be so bad after all- and if  I have any questions, I can always flash my eyebrows and get immediate assistance.  I get on the treadmill and start doing my thing- with a brand new play list I had made the night before.  I never fully realized how vital a kicka$$ play list is at the gym- without it, you just don't have the same motivation level.  My play list is a random mix of old and new- including J. Lo tunes from her pre-poser days,  Cage the Elephant, Mickey Avalon, Kid Rock, Foo Fighters, OffSpring, Pink, Puddle of Mudd, My Darkest Days and (go figure) old Pat Benatar.  I also find that if I throw it on random shuffle- it also gives me a little extra motivation.  Now, the only thing left to try is the free pizza they provide- every first Friday of the month.  Yes folks, you heard it right- my gym has free pizza one Friday a month.  Insanity.  I guess they figure it's all about moderation - and hell, whoever goes to the gym on a Friday after a long day at work- deserves a big slice.

If We Drink Enough of These, Spring Will Come!

Dirty Girl Scout Cookie (Shot)

 This one is good for those chilly end-of-winter nights!

 1/2 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream

1/2 oz. Kahlua Coffee Liqueur
1/2 oz. Peppermint Schnapps

 Pour ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, and shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned cocktail glass, and enjoy!

Sunset Sangria

A lighter, summery version of the Sangria we know and love!

 1 (750 milliliter) bottle rose wine

1 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup vodka

1/4 cup triple sec

1/2 cup simple syrup

1 peach, sliced

1 lemon, sliced into rounds

1 lime, sliced into rounds

1 (6 ounce) container fresh raspberries

Combine wine, pineapple juice, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup in a large bowl or pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour. Next, stir the oranges, lemons, limes, and raspberries into the chilled sangria at least 30 minutes before serving. The longer the fruit marinates the better! Serve over ice.

 Or.... try Watermelon Sangria!

12 cups cubed watermelon

1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry white wine

1 cup vodka

1/2 cup triple sec

1/2 cup simple syrup

3 cups cubed seeded watermelon

1 medium lime, quartered

1 orange, cut into wedges

1 cup fresh blueberries

 Place 9 cups of watermelon cubes in a blender; blend on high until very smooth. Strain juice through a mesh strainer into a large pitcher.  Pour the wine, vodka, triple sec, and simple syrup into the pitcher- stir to combine. Mix the remaining 3 cups of watermelon cubes, the lime quarters, orange sections and blueberries into the sangria. Chill for 4 hours before serving.

Mojito

 Who doesn't love a low calorie, ultra refreshing minty lime drink that quenches your thirst?!

For EACH drink place into a cocktail shaker:

1 sprig of fresh mint leaves from your garden or local market, removed from their stems (don't use dried, but frozen fresh is okay)

1/2 a fresh lime squeezed
1 tablespoon or more of table sugar (start with one and increase to taste as needed later, don't skip the sugar, it's important to the taste. You can substitute Splenda, but Equal and Sweet & Low don't give it the same sweet taste you are looking for).

 Crush these 3 ingredients in the bottom of the shaker using a wooden muddler or whatever works for you.  This step is very important- it releases the mint essence from the leaves into the sugar and lime juice!

 Pour 1 or 2 shots (per drink) of white rum (or citrus rum!) over ice.  Cover shaker and shake vigorously and dramatically in front of your guests

Do not strain the mixture from the shaker, allow the crushed mint leaves to go into the serving glass as well, that's part of the look and taste!

 Fill the glass with sparking water, seltzer, or club soda and stir with a long spoon

 Garnish with a fresh mint leave floating on top and serve with a tall drinking straw

BEST Bloody Mary - from our friends at Food.com

A little "hair of the dog" when you partied too hard the night before- liquid breakfast!

3 cups tomato juice

3 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1 ½ tablespoons worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¾ teaspoon tabasco sauce

¾ teaspoon celery salt

½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

¹⁄₃ cup pickle juice

1 ounce vodka, per drink

cucumber, celery or whatever garnish you are feeling/have in your fridge

In a blender combine the tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, pickle juice, and hot sauce and process until smooth. Transfer to a nonreactive container and add celery salt and black pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice.

Add 1 ounce of vodka to each glass, then fill the glass with the bloody mary mix. Stir well, and garnish each glass with your favorite veggie, pickle, cucumber or celery.

Skinny Pineapple Martinis

Hey, it's not good to be vitamin C deficient!

 The average Piña Colada has 644 calories (that doesn’t include any fruit garnish or the whipped cream).  The average Pineapple Martini only contains 146 calories.  And the Pineapple Martini doesn’t have any fat calories at all…the Piña Colada can’t say that even if it doesn’t have the whipped topping!!!

 2 Ounces Pineapple Rum

2 Ounces Pineapple Juice (fresh or canned)
Pineapple Wedge (optional)

 In a shaker filled with ice add pineapple rum and juice.

Cover and shake vigorously.
Strain into martini glass.
Garnish with a pineapple wedge and serve.

Stay tuned- my next venture will be homemade pineapple infused vodka!!!!

Roasting Chestnuts- Fuggedaboutit

I am obsessed with cooking & travel shows that showcase the local delicacies.  I admit it, I need serious help- and I don't know if even Dr Drew can save me.  Some women have crushes on Brad Pitt or Matt Damon- me, I would sell my stuff and run off with Anthony Bourdain without a second thought.  I grew up with a father who loved to cook and did most of it- not the typical Italian household.  My Mom likes to say that he knew he didn't marry "Betty Crocker" and since he actually enjoyed cooking - she just let him take over!  Don't get me wrong- my mom has her 3 things she makes- and makes really well (love you Mom!)- she just doesn't get the same joy out of her culinary creations that we inherited from our Dad.  I was always fascinated when he lingerered over the stove- drinking wine while stirring pigskin into his homemade sauce, cooking up dandelion greens and  roasting bones in the oven for a stew.  I have fond memories of filling jar after jar of cherry peppers stuffed with proscuitto and cheese with my brother and him up at the lake-I think it was "one for me, one for the jar" most of the afternoon.  As I got older, I would invite him over for dinner at whatever circus-like apartment I was living in at the moment.   As I served my latest creation, I always watched his face carefully to see what he really thought of my efforts.  My dad was a lot of things- a good liar he was not.  I was always fascinated by his wine-soaked stories of making homemade bread in Italy, the chestnuts they roasted, ripe figs they picked right off their trees.  He taught me how to appreciate the most basic ingredients and create something almost magical with them.  These days, my taste varies from Italian to Mexican and even Asian- if my Dad could only see me now!

One Italian tradition that my brother and I enjoy year-round is our love of chestnuts.  We like to roast them over an open flame and come up with every excuse in the book to have a bonfire.  If it's been snowing, he even has been known to snowblow a path to his outdoor "kitchen" and shovel out some standing room for his guests! 

For those of you who have always been curious about chestnuts, cooking them is actually very easy.

First, you must score your chestnuts to allow steam to escape.  Basically, take a sharp knife and cut an "X" on the flat side of your chestnut. 

Then, place them in a pan that has had holes drilled through it so the heat can penetrate and cook evenly (we made ours on our own, but I am sure you can buy them premade- God bless the internet!)

Get your fire raging....

Or you can use a brick oven like my bro's (he made his himself!).   You can also do this stovetop with the same pan, just keep them moving and hang out stoveside so they don't burn!

Now, have some rum punch while you wait....

And enjoy some good company while they cook!  Keep stirring them- you don't want them to burn!





Planning Your Wake Before You Die

So those of you who know my Mom know that she has a funny yet morbid streak to her (hmmm, I wonder where I get mine...).  As odd as it sounds, she likes to joke about her wake and who will attend and when she meets a friend of mine who she really clicks with, she likes to throw them off guard.  My friend Jessica found this out last summer.  There we were, soaking up the rays at the beach and my mom started up the wake talk, "So Jess, you'll come to my wake, right?"  Good ole Jess didn't even bat an eye, "of COURSE Donna, and I'll even bring my husband!".  My Mom rubbed her hands together in glee "oh good, 2 more definites!"  She has her music planned out and everything- and swears she will haunt me if I don't subject everyone to several hours of Elvis's Greatest Hits and her favorite foods.  And did I mention that she expects all our pets there too?! She even has a few people on her list that I am supposed to refuse entry to- but we won't go there today.  We laugh about it but hey, it's like your last party- why shouldn't you have what you want?!  One day my Mom decided that she really only needed one night vs the standard 2 nites of mourning most deceased receive.  It was at this point that I figured "what the hell, I'm jumping on this band wagon too".  So I made it known that I expect 2 full nights of mourning- hell, maybe even 3- I want all my out of state friends and family to have a chance to get together and reminisce on the good times we had.  My Mom quickly nodded her head in agreement,"Whatever you want honey- I think you deserve a few nights and if I'm still here, we will get Holo Holo charters in Kauai to take everyone out to spread your ashes on each of those 3 days".   Like Mother, like daughter.   Love you Mom!

10 of My Favorite & FREE Android Apps

A lot of these apps are also free if you have an iphone- or so I have been told.

10. Shazam
If you hear a song and don't know what it is (or for the life of you, can't remember who sings it)—Shazam to the rescue! This is an app I keep easily accessible on my main screen.  Hit the Shazam button, hold it as close as you can to the speakers or even your TV.  Within a few seconds, the app will tell you the title, artist, and sometimes even find the album art, too.   It keeps in it what it calls a "tagged file" so when you are ready to download from Itunes, it's right at your fingertips.

9. Angry Birds Rio
What's better than a game you can play anywhere you have to wait for something?!
 In Angry Birds Rio, the original Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to Rio de Janeiro, where they eventually escape their captors and set out to to save their friends, Blu and Jewel – two rare macaws and the stars of the hit motion picture, Rio. Angry Birds Rio combines the fun of the original game with twists based on the film.

8. Brightest Flashlight
Another one that's a must for your main screen.  This app even sounds serious as it fires up- and I have used it several times in the woods, in complete darkness while hunting for logs for our bonfires.  There are also apps for colored flashlights which I admit I also installed, but this is the one I find I use the most.

7. Wheres My Droid - If you're anything like me, you've "lost" your phone so many times only to find it tucked away in a jacket pocket or some other obvious—or not so obvious—location.  This app makes your phone ring at maximum volume or vibrate when the phone receives a text message containing a specified phrase, such as "Where's my Droid?".  The app can also tell you the phone's location but your GPS must be enabled.

6. Mobile Q (for Netflix)
This app is great for those of us who have dvd delivery only from Netflix (no streaming).  Since I don't have streaming as part of my Netflix package, their regular Android app won't allow me access.  Apparently, they don't have a way to not allow streaming access on your Android, so their standard app is not so user friendly for those of us who just want to add a movie to our dvd or blu ray que.  Are you ever out and about and someone tells you that you MUST see a certain movie?  If you're anything like me, you'll forget all about it by the time you get home.  Now with Mobile Q, you can search for a movie, add to your que and it's linked to the Netflix site instantaneously for updating. 

5. Skype Mobile
I have to admit, I just downloaded this one and have yet to use it.  But hey, if I can skype with my sister on my phone- this is going to be in my top 5 soon.  Anyone who has used this already, I would love some feedback.

4. Out of Milk
I'm definitely an old-school list maker when it comes to my grocery list but I thought I'd try this one.  This app allows you to scan products directly into your Shopping Lists or Pantry Lists using a Barcode Scanner which is pretty cool.  It also features a To-Do List that lets you add and keep track of any other items on a daily list.  Say you have a shopping list for a specific recipe that you want to share with a friend- you can email or text message the list right to them!  For those married folk out there, you can even email the To-Do list to your spouse! 

3. Google Sky Map
This app uses your phone's orientation tools to give you an accurate representation of the stars and planets on your screen. Point your phone at the sky, and it will outline the constellations that are visible.  It's a great way to find out if that light in the sky is a UFO or not.

2. Pandora
Pandora Radio is free personalized radio that only plays music you’ll love. Just start with the name of one of your favorite artists or songs and Pandora will create a custom "station" that plays similar music.  If you're somewhere that you need some tunes and don't have your ipod sound system with you, this saves the day!

1. Surfline
Ok, ok, maybe a lot less people will use this app than the others listed but I can't wait for my next trip to Hawaii to use this one.  You can get the surf report, tide info and even the weather forecast for various beaches on here, which is great when you're an avid boogie boarder like myself.  This is a must-have for every beach lover out there.

Saving the World- One Pet's Life at A Time

When my longtime feline friend Wonka died of renal failure, my vet broke the news to me that diet had played a huge part in his disease.  For 19 yrs, I thought keeping him well fed was enough- but apparently the pet food companies have been lying to us for years about what exactly is in their products- and animals are getting sick and dying.  Familiar supermarket brands and even a lot of pet store brands are full of so many preservatives, additives, gluten and meal- not real meat.  If the first ingredient in your pet food is meal- that is very very bad.

This is worth the read if you love your pets like I do....

http://www.naturalnews.com/012647.html

Halo dry cat food (also available for dogs!)

Since my cats have been eating Halo (well, mainly Penelope-at one years old, Halo is all Gino has ever had- thank christ), no one has thrown up and they actually enjoy the taste of this more natural dry food.

Halo's Sensitive Cat Formula of Spot's Stew is an all natural dry cat food that does not have any rendered ("recycled") meat or meat meals, which are legally unfit for human consumption.  It contains USA-grown vegetables and fruits, natural preservatives, and vitamins and minerals. Halo Spot's Stew contains no corn or wheat, which makes it an ideal pet food for cats with food allergies like my girl Penelope (explains her throwing up in the past!).  Spot's Stew includes probiotics, also known as live bacteria to help restore bacterial balance in the intestines. It also includes prebiotics which are special forms of fiber that stimulate growth and function of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

If you sign up for their email newsletter, you can even score coupons and free cans of wet food for joining their site!

http://www.halopets.com/

For the love of God, buy yourself a little less wine like I do and spend the extra money on your furry friends.  They deserve it.


In Memory Of Wonka