Even Longer

It's been a long time since i've posted here.. but I haven't forgotten. I will press on! ;) Or at least, i'll try again. Grad school classes are starting again, but i'm thinking this place needs a good makeover.

Poem and Resolution

Hello all.. yeah, all five of you! :p It's been a while I know. Sometimes one gets tired of blogging to virtually no one and life is ever distracting. But as I just posted in my Aikido blog - you have to keep trying. If you stop trying, then you have failed. But so long as you continue trying, you will never fail.

For instance, I write in this blog and try to make myself update it regularly. But sometimes I just don't do it.. I forget, or I can't think of anything to write. Now - if I decide to just stop writing because of that... then i've failed. But if I shrug off my little failings and come back to write another day - then it's a success. You have to just keep trying. Each time you falter, just try again.

I'm resolute to continue writing these blogs, so we'll see how long I can keep "trying."

Now, a newer poem.




Careless




Trash flicked on the ground

Such a wasteful little gesture

Discarding burning life to sodden ground

Yet the ember burns much quicker

Flaring to defy its death

Burning bright till water prevails



Such a wasteful gesture

Trash flicking trash to ground

As we struggle for some meaning

Still the worthless do surround

The Empty Blogs

Ah, sometimes it feels as if i'm talking to myself. Two blogs, both mostly devoid of followers - specially my aiki blog. But that's alright. It's not even about having others to read your jibberish, as much as i've found that posting these things is more helpful for me. Sometimes it's simply nice to be able to write out the things in your mind - organize them.

And hey, if someone reads it then all the better! I certainly can't be the only one that feels this way - as i'm subscribed to a lot of fairly empty blogs. ^.^

Cara Hides

Cara is our black cat, our skittish cat. Our "go away and leave me be" cat. Most of the time she loves nothing more than for us to just stay very far away from her. It upsets us, but we haven't been able to coax her out much. She has gotten better in hte past year, coming out rarely and letting us pet her for a minute before running back under the bed.

The thing that gets me is..she absolutely loves us in the bathroom. Anytime we go in there, she's fine. She'll follow you, rub against you, etc... she becomes very affectionate. But outside of there, she acts terrified of you.

Lights go up pre Belt Test

Thanksgiving is over and our christmas lights are going up. We've got a tree up and it is lighted, I can't say the same for the rest of our decorations. We've been too tired for that. I had a belt test last night and passed, entering into the realms of Shodan. I've posted more on that on my other blog so I won't talk about it here. :-p

Anywho, lights are up (sortof), and we're all gearing up towards Christmas. I have to say that i'm a bit of a scrooge when it comes to christmas music. When did Christmas become a month-long holiday I wonder? More importantly to me - when did it become MORE than a month-long holiday? Two days before Thanksgiving, I heard christmas music on the radio. I was annoyed... I turned it off. Christmas decorations and sales were going up before thanksgiving even got here... enough is enough. This is just getting ridiculous. I threatened to my wife that I was going to get together a group of people to all call in radio stations and request christmas songs.... in february. I may be a scrooge, but if i'm annoyed then I can't be the only one.

Coconut Tofu Keema

Coconut Tofu Keema

I made this last night, and it was delicious! A wonderfully delicious curry. There are some good suggestions on the recipe page; the most important one (I think) being to cut the tomato sauce from 6 cups to 3 cups. (one large can). Very easy and delicious recipe.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes

Cook Time: 45 Minutes Ready In: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Servings: 10 (these serving sizes always trip me out. I don't know who could get 10 servings out of this, not if it's all your eating anyway. And it does make a complete dinner. We got 5 servings from it.)

"Peas, carrots, and tofu are simmered together in coconut milk with spices, creating a warm, savory Indian favorite, easy to make and exciting to eat. Serve over hot rice, with yogurt on the side, which may be added to taste to cut the heat and add sweetness."

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, pressed

1 medium onions, minced

1 (14 ounce) package extra firm tofu, diced

1 (16 ounce) can coconut milk

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon curry powder 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon red pepper paste

6 cups tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups frozen peas, thawed

1 1/2 cups chopped carrot



Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, onion, and tofu; cover, and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in coconut milk, cumin, curry powder, ginger, salt, and red pepper paste; bring to a simmer. Stir in tomato sauce, peas, and carrots; simmer, covered, about 30 minutes.