Photo Friday - Tiny

Portoverde
Originally uploaded by gfiorillo.

Welcome to another edition of Photo Friday. Here's my interpretation of "tiny".

This was one of the olive trees when I was traveling through the Cinque Terre on my Italy trip this fall.

Crazy Co-Workers

I try not to rant. I really try not to rant about work, but there's an issue that's got me steamed and I can't seem to let go of it.

About a week ago I noticed a co-worker was not on our email distribution staff list. So I asked if there was a reason and turns out she doesn't want to be.

I was bothered on two levels by this. One, that no-one in our office was told this happened, so for the past YEAR everything we've been sending to staff has not reached her. Two, that she was allowed to opt out - talk about nutty.

Now, I could understand if every day there were emails about the crazy drunken night before, or information about whose band is playing that night. But other than the occasional "So and So baked and there's cookies in the kitchen" email, most are pretty relevant and sent because information needs to be disseminated.

Who knows, maybe she's got it right. I think I'm going to unplug my phone - I don't want to receive calls anymore cause they interrupt my thinking. And for that matter, staff meetings have become a real nuisance. In fact, I think I'm gonna lock my door - no-one needs to communicate with me, right?

Sheesh.

What a busy weekend

As we were driving home from Easter dinner with the fam, J and I realized we had quite a nice and interesting weekend.

Friday night we went with my cousin and fiance to a Trenton Titans hockey game. Our seats were right on the glass, got to see 3 fights and Trenton won. I also had some very yummy ice cream.

Saturday an old friend of J's was in town so we decided to head to the city to see Erin. Hanging out at Mehanata - the Bulgarian Bar we got to hear some interesting Klezmer music, and then wondered into Little Italy where we mellowed out at a great lounge with some Chianti.

Easter broght my niece's introduction to peeps. Watching her on a sugar rush was great, as was all the food we had including stuffed artichokes, pasta, Pizzagain, anisette cookies and shrimp cocktail. Yummmm.

Nice.

Gina's additions to her blog...

As you may notice, I've redesigned - again. I was trying to re-design my blog to something very spring-ish, but after a week of trying, I've abandoned and gone with a template. That should be all the changes for the time being.

although, you may notice there is a new link on the side. I've finished our wedding site so feel free to visit.

Happy Easter!

Random Thoughts on Good Friday

Driving to work realizing that half the world is not working today, today being one of the major Christian holidays, got me thinking about random stuff. A few rants that popped through my head.

Tom Delay - has anybody reminded him lately of the separation of Church and State! All I want is someone to tell me how religion can be legislated, cause isn't that part of what got us all here in the first place? Beliefs are just that - beliefs and I wish everyone would get God out of politics.

Easter and Diets - I have to make something for Easter, and traditionally I like to do zeppole, but everyone except Jack's on a diet so I can't decide if I want to enable my parents or give up on tradition.

My office - I'm on a rearranging kick again. Time to clear the brain and get a fresh outlook on my job, therefore time to move furniture. I wonder if anyone would mind if I re-hung the door so it opens the RIGHT way.

Morning e-news - many good articles in grist today, but I Coulda Had a V-12 really got my panties in a bunch. OOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhh what will it take for people to realize that bigger is not always better! And don't even get me started on consumerism and the american culture. I'm cranky enough as it is.

Morning e-new again - This at least balenced my steaming from the previous thought. Go Canada?

Photo Friday

Blue Rocks Fire
Originally uploaded by gfiorillo.

This week's challenge on Photo Friday: Glow. I took this picture this fall on a camping trip out to Blue Rocks in PA. It was a pretty rainy weekend, so we spent a few hours at Cabela's where we bought the cast iron dutch oven and stand. Inside is my the best chili you've ever had.

New Adventures in Culinary Worlds

I cooked my first ham tonight. For someone who loves to cook, this is an accomplishment because I've never been a big fan of ham. But yesterday morning's Good Eats made it look so good that I had to try it. And as Jack arrived home from Toronto yesterday, it would be our first dinner in over a week - and he wanted it.

I must say, for a first try, it was pretty darn good. I did have a few issues, mostly the fact that it took a little bit quicker than expected so my spinach and red pepper gratin wasn't ready on time.

So yea me - I can cross another recipe off my list!

by they way - happy spring! Time to update the ol' site. Hope you like it!

Photo Friday

Fiorillo Bed
Originally uploaded by gfiorillo.

So, I came across this funky website, where each week a challenge is posted for everyone to post a photo meeting the challenge. I've decided to play along. This week's challenge was faces - what do you think of my interpretation?

The interview, the right way

On my mind... : 5 Questions...

So it seems, I first did it wrong. Ok, here are my new five question answers:

1. We've known each other forever. In what way do you think you've changed the most since your childhood?
In good ways, I think I've become less emotional and much calmer. Hopefully I've gotten smarter than I was in 5th grade, although sometimes I wonder. And I don't read as much, which I do sometimes miss

2. In what way have you remained the same?
I still think I'm a bit quirky and "artsy" as my family calls it. I still value friends and family and I still love Eric Clapton.

3. You mentioned moving away to Maine/Vermont/etc. If you were to make such a move and could take only ONE thing with you that you currently own, what would it be?
One thing, wow. Would have to be the laptop, since it's got all my pictures on it, plus my music so it would be two things for the price of one.

4. How did you choose your cats names?
Moe came named, she was abandoned and we took her in and she was Moe. For the new one, we wanted a M name, and he looked like the little boy from "where the wild things are" so Max he became. The freaky thing - we realized together they are Max - n - Moe, and cara's name is Maksimow (it makes sense if you say it aloud). She thinks we did it on purpose.

5. I know that you're active in and concerned about a number of social causes. If you had $1 million to split among charities, where would it go?
30,000 to Slow Food USA, 40,000 to Environmental org - probably the National Resources Defense Council, and National Wildlife Federation, 20,000 to the Susan B. Komen Foundation and 10,000 to the arts - but mostly small local arts organizations.

Ok, those are my answers, anyone else want to try an interview?

As requested by a friend

Ok, she was looking for responses, so here goes!

What has been the best band/live act you have ever seen in concert and why?
My first instinct is to say Eric Clapton cause I looooove him. But after thinking about it, I think the Paula Cole concert was pretty awesome because I really was impressed with the musicianship. And the last minute sting concert thank to someone last year was a blast too!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A cabin on a lake (or any type of water) in either Nova Scotia, Maine or possibly Vermont - but definitly New England. Somewhere where the snow sits all winter, and the fireplace is crackling and in the summer it gets no hotter than 90 degrees in their heatwaves. The only drawback, besides being hours away from the family, is the growing season - I would soooo miss Jersey Tomatoes.

I know you love to cook. What is your favorite meal to prepare, and what is your favorite meal to eat?
Wow, food is the toughest topic. I don't have A favorite meal, but A few things that I fall back on when I can't find a new recipe to try come to mind. I love making chili and beef stew for winter comfort food, my roast chicken with allspice and cumin rocks, and I do a pasta with onions, parsley and parmesean that's quick and different. As for "fancy" dinners - I like cooking Italian, cause I know it well, and I've recently been foraying into a more french flair. As for eating, well it all depends on my mood, but the one thing I NEVER get tired of is Ethiopian, mostly because I can't cook it, and its sooooooo yummy. Give me some Mesir Wat and Minchtebesh anyday!

If you had a million dollars total to spend on 3 items, what would you buy (and it can’t be paying off student loans!)? A house, a truck for jack, and a wheel and kiln (I know, that's for but the wheel and kiln work together)

What is your favorite time of day?
Dinnertime is nice, cause me and my sweetie get to see each other now. I don't really have a favorite time of day.

Bonus Question: Who is your favorite niece? I only have one, but she is the cutest (and getting to be the bossiest) thing in the world. She's walking now too, so watch out!

Wow, what will they think of next?

Ok, I'm all for saving the environment. And I've been know to buy some pretty out there scientific data that reinforces my stance. But I think this has gone over the edge of crazy.