One hundred and five

Today I'm wishing my Great Aunt Grace a happy 105th birthday. Aunt Grace went into the nursing home shortly after her birthday last year and now she may or may not know us at times but she is still a much treasured and much loved family member. Happy birthday, Aunt Grace!

Chicken and Sugar Snap Pea Curry

I'm a big fan of curry so tonight I tried a recipe from this week's food section in the newspaper. Turned out well so I thought I'd share.

Chicken and Sugar Snap Pea Curry

SAUCE
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cup onion, diced
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon jalapeno pepper, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (14-ounce) can light coconut milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

CHICKEN
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 cups fresh sugar snap peas

For sauce: In medium saucepan over medium-low heat, warm canola oil. Add onion, curry powder, chili powder, jalapeno pepper and ginger. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent (about 4 minutes). Add drained tomatoes, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Increase heat to medium high and bring mixture to a boil; lower heat to simmer and cook until sauce has thickened (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.

For chicken: Add canola oil to a wok or stir-fry pan and place over high heat. When oil is hot, add chicken slices and coriander, stirring constantly. Cook chicken until almost done (about 5 to 7 minutes) and add sugar snap peas. Continue to cook, stirring, 3 minutes.

Combine chicken and curry sauce mixture; simmer 3 to 5 minutes to blend flavors. Serve over rice.

Munch

Joe and I went to the Art Institute this afternoon to see the Edvard Munch exhibit. I think I had just expected to see lots of oil paintings and was surprised by how many lithographs and woodcuts he did. My friend Laura just went a couple days ago and said it was different than she expected. I think it was different than I expected, too, but I'm not really sure what I mean by that. Some of the work seemed very "Scream-like" and some seemed so vastly different. There were also lots of redheads featured in his work...maybe I'm the only one who noticed that? Anyway, like Laura, it wasn't my favorite exhibit but it was a good way to spend a cold, wet Sunday afternoon.

Saturday Stuff

Joe and I have been debating something very serious since before we got married - XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii? He wanted the 360 and I said if we got a Wii I'd use it, too. This discussion has just been ongoing. But last night we decided to go for the Wii. We got it hooked up pretty late so have been playing this morning. The dogs think we are crazy.

Also I am so excited that The Tigers are in the Elite 8. Up until now, I haven't seen any of their games on tv (just online) because they never show MU games here. Our local station keeps electing to play a different game at the same time...that's something I just always took for granted before. But today, I finally get to see the game on tv. I don't even care that my bracket is a mess. Go Tigers!!

Ball

Just got home from the ball...only had two pictures taken with my camera but had some taken from a professional photographer that we will get next week. Nice evening. Good to get my stilettos out of the house. I'm sure they appreciated the outing.

Instant

Today I tried Starbucks Via, their new instant coffee. I had a free sample packet since we're one of the their test cities. Let me just say, I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. But definitely not brewed coffee...although I suspect if you're in the market for instant coffee, it's probably one of the better choices. Just not for me.

So big!

Adyson is getting so big! Here is a picture of her on St. Patrick's Day.

Wine, Cheese and Stench

I never thought cheese would make me want to vomit. Tonight I went out with Alison to celebrate her birthday. We got a cheese flight and all I can say is that I didn't care for most of what was entitled, "6 Cheeses You Can't Live Without." Hmm...but one in particular was so rancid we had to cover it with a dish and eventually ask for it to be removed. So my love for cheese does, indeed, know bounds...seems I learn something new about myself all the time. Other than that, it was a lovely evening. Happy Birthday, Alison!

Hello, Nice Weather!

It was about 70 degrees here late this afternoon...I know, I know, upper 70s in Missouri. (I'm sticking my tongue out at you - you know who you are.) I am so ready for spring and so are Crumley and Iris; we had a big walk tonight! But this morning, on my way to work, it was only about 50 degrees and I saw convertibles with the tops down and multiple gals wearing skirts with flip flops. Yup, the Chicagoans are jonesing for some Springtime weather. I really can't blame them. If I get a pedicure soon enough, I'll probably be wearing my flip flops, too. Until then, not wearing a winter coat is treat enough for me.

P.S. Just saw Obama's final four picks for the NCAA...and we picked exactly the same. Not that it's really outrageous or anything...3 out of my 4 picks are #1 seeds just like him. Hope I have a chance this year considering I have hardly kept up with basketball this season.

Irish Parade

I had high hopes of getting downtown yesterday to watch the river turn green. But I was far too exhausted yesterday morning...in fact, most of my weekend has been spent sleeping in late and napping. But in the St. Pat's spirit, Joe and I went to the Southside Irish Parade this afternoon which is pretty close to home. I had expected bag pipes and some Irish Dancing (I mean, Michael Flatley grew up just blocks from where we live.) but I had NO IDEA exactly how many bag pipers and dancers I would see. I truly lost count of all the troupes. It was unbelievable. And I was in the majority today...redheads were EVERWHERE. Today was a prime people-watching experience. I loved it! Oh, and Joe asked me if I felt like I was in the movie The Departed. Um, yes. Yes, I did. (And I saw Mr. Food which made my day! Although I don't think anyone else was as excited as me.)

Home Sweet Home

I'm home! Got home around 9:30 tonight and am exhausted. I think I worked 12 to 14-hour days every day this week and there was definitely a day in there where I went to bed and realized I'd never even been outside or left the hotel (which, I might add, used to house the Emmy's). Last night was my one and only adventure. Taina's mom picked me up and we hit the town; Nita was great! She took me to Hollywood Blvd (to see the sights and look at the Walk of Fame), Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, etc. Yay!!

Unfortunately, my trip was absent from any major movie star sightings...I did wash my hands at LAX this afternoon at the sink next to her. I would have been none-the-wiser but a bunch of teenager girls in the bathroom recognized her from Transformers and started squealing and asking for autographs. She was so nice to them and spent a good deal of time taking pictures and signing autographs (outside the bathroom!). That's all I've got...

Next to this street sign but not in the picture is Taina's favorite coffee shop. I had to stop in and have her favorite drink! It was cool to just walk around Hollywood and take in all the people!

Outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I got to see all the handprints and footprints of stars in cement.

Me at the entrance to Grauman's. Kodak Theatre - home of the Oscars!! I have seen this building on tv MANY times during all the red carpets I've watched.

Me and Nita (Taina's mom). If the Hollywood sign was lit up at night, you would be able to see it directly behind us.

Looks just like Oak Street (with palm trees) but I still had to see the original high-end fashion mecca for myself. And it's the home to one of my all-time-favorite shopping scenes from any movie - Pretty Woman!



Not that I had time to go inside (I wish I did!) but this was a really cool statue outside the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Disney Concert Hall - so cool!

LA

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for LA (that's Los Angeles, not Louisiana). But don't expect to see me on an episode of The Hills anytime soon. I will likely be working from sun up to sun down every day and then crashing. As Monica put it, "it's kind of cruel to send Amy to LA, only for her to work the entire time." But I will deal. I am getting excited about some gorgeous weather for five days. I'll be back late on Friday night. I think I already miss Joe and Crumley (okay, and Iris, too). And I haven't even thought about packing...

Good news

My mom got the a-okay from the doctor today so she is back at work! But still awhile before she can be around Adyson. In a few weeks, when her thyroid is depleted, she'll go back and get her medicine.

Just another manic Monday...

Everyone knows my favorite thing to do on Mondays is to watch The Bachelor. But tonight was so stressful. I seriously feel stressed out now...I made the mistake of reading a spoiler online last night. And then I re-read it again in today's newspaper. I was pretty sure it was right on - and it was.

Yes, Jason proposed to Melissa and then changed his mind and then asked the girl he rejected, six weeks later, if they could try again. I am flabbergasted. It's not that I think Molly is a bad choice or a bad fit for Jason, I just can't believe he chose to end things with Melissa on national television or propose to her in the first place. If he was so conflicted (as he kept claiming) then why even propose? My husband was rooting for Melissa all along (as was I) so he refused to watch ATFR after he knew what was going to happen. And really, it was like watching a train wreck. I know, I know, every season I say I can't watch again and then I do. But I thought Jason was different.

Last season he was my absolute favorite and I was crushed when he didn't get picked. I was so thrilled for him to be "the bachelor" this season and have loved him...until now. I just have zero respect.

So I'm dying to know what my bachelor-watching friends think...did you watch? What do you think? (Rachel, Taina and I were definitely texting last night!)