It's almost May, right?

Today, I was biking home from school. I was kinda cold, so I thought to myself "It was rather silly to just wear close-toed shoes, a sweatshirt, insulated gloves, and a hat, wasn't it? I mean, it's only almost May." Later, I was at tennis (where it was colder and I was wearing less clothing, haha). We were picking up balls and I said "Hey, Morales, if you bend my finger backwards fast enough, I think it'll snap off." She goes "What?" and then she figured it out, pretty funny. Earlier, we were playing reaction volleys and I laid my finger on her neck and she jumped about a foot. "Are you awake yet?" "Definitely."

To Do Someday List

Just like what it sounds. Things I'd like to do someday, not necessarily in order. They're not ordered by importance either.

1. Play bagpipes
2. Go to France
3. Go to Dragon*Con
4. Meet Tamora Pierce
5. Go to Great Britain
6. Live out East, at least for a little while
7. Pass my driver's test
8. Write a novel
9. Make a quilt
10. Finish my Sabriel cross-stitch

Oh Hey Kristina: BEDA 22

 So I was reading Oh Hey Kristina, and this is what she was writing about. I'm thinking I might temporarily move to Washington. Honestly, why do we have to take Longcat's health class when we could be taking a class about Miyazaki. Spirited Away. I love that movie. But that's not what we watched in health; we watched people argue, among other things. Anyways, check Kristina's school out:

"I've received two emails that have made me want to re-enroll in college. Check out these focus groups they're offering Summer quarter this year:

[CHID496A] Pokémon 101
The focus group will be watching Pokémon episodes, doing readings on Pokémon, learning about Japanese popular culture, and encountering questions about animal representation and rights.

[CHID 495] Animation: Miyazaki and the Vitality of Media
M and W are film screenings of Hayao Miyazaki's films and other important anime. Tuesdays and Thursdays we talk about the films in relationship to readings we've finished. Some of the films we will watch: Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away.


DUDE. Why didn't I get to take these classes? It's like they created these classes FOR ME and I won't even be there to enjoy them!!!!

Moral of today's blog post = life is unfair. Also, stay in school."

Trailers:







I like all three of these. Spirited Away is a good adventure story, long but good. Princess Mononoke is more of an environmental film, and the part about the (I think it's called the) Nightwalker is a little confusing. Howl's Moving Castle is set Victorian era and I really liked it, especially the end. There's a novel called HMC, too, by Dianna Wynn Jones.

I'm shocked, slightly.

I think I'm getting over Battlestar Galactica. I guess part of it's because it's now Spring Break and I'm trying to wildly finish a whole load of school stuff, (And because I've gone through all 35 pages of links to Laura Roslin fanfics...) but I'm turning back to the Circle Universe stuff, as per usual. I'd talk more but I've got to finish at least a couple more chapters in my fanfics tonight. Check it out at Clari Hawkins.

Anagrams.

They're pretty fun. Try this one.
Here's some stuff I got for my name.

• A Ultramarine Elk Grill
• A Margarine Tulle Krill
• A Triangular Miller Elk
• A Intramural Leek Grill

I also got things involving lemurs, algae, mint, lurking, earmarks, and tigers.

Potatoe Salad

What You’ll Need: Serves 4

*1 pound (6-7) medium-size white or red-skinned potatoes

*1/3 cup coarsely grated carrot

*2 green onions

*2 tablespoons fresh, chopped dill or parsley

Dressing:

*1/4 cup each: plain yogurt, low-fat mayonnaise

*1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, such as “Grey Poupon”

*2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish

*Freshly ground pepper

*Salt to taste

What You’ll Do:

1. Chop the potatoes into quarters, then cut the quarters into (about) one-inch pieces. Put them into a large saucepan with just enough water to cover the potatoes. Cover and turn the heat on high for a minute, then lower the heat to simmer.

2. Cook for about 20 minutes just until the potatoes are tender when you insert a fork. If you overcook the potatoes, they’ll fall apart, making mashed potato salad. Put a colander in the sink and carefully pour the potatoes into the colander to drain. Stick the colander into the refrigerator to cool down the potatoes.

3. Grate the carrot and chop the green onions into thin circles. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the dressing ingredients. Add the carrot and green onion.

4. When the potatoes are no longer warm, add them to the salad. Stir carefully with a wooden spoon until the dressing is mixed in. Chop the dill or parsley and sprinkle over the salad. Serve; or cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill until mealtime.

Other Ideas: If you don’t care for carrots, chop a stalk of celery instead. If fresh dill or parsley are unavailable, sprinkle the top of the salad with paprika for color.

Banana Muffins

What You'll Need: Makes 12 Muffins

1 cup mashed banana, about 2 ripe bananas

1 large egg

1/4 cup canola oil

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon molasses

2/3 cup reduced fat buttermilk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup rolled oats (thick “old-fashioned” oats)

1 1/2 cup sifted whole wheat pastry flour* or unbleached white flour

What You'll Do:

1. Preheat oven to 375. Place the paper liners into the muffin pan. Try not to use non-stick muffin pans; they cause the muffins to get too brown. If that’s all that you have, it’s OK, the paper liners will help insulate the sides and bottom from burning.

2. In a glass measuring cup, mash the bananas with a fork. In a large mixing bowl, add the egg, oil, sugar, and molasses. Mix well, using a mixer. Mix in the banana and buttermilk.

3. In a small mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. (cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, oats, flour) Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and mix slowly just until blended. Pour into the muffin pan, filling each muffin liner almost to the top.
Tip: If you want to fill the holes easily, without globs of batter everywhere, use a glass measuring cup with a pour spout or use a small soup ladle.

4. Bake 20 minutes until they're lightly browned. Pull out the oven shelf and stick a toothpick into the center of a muffin to see if it comes out clean or without wet dough. Muffins get tough if they’re over cooked, so watch carefully. Remove the pan from the oven and cool on a wire rack or on top of the stove. Let cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pan.

Other Ideas: Add 1/4 cup currents, raisins, or golden raisins.