I’m driving through Winter Haven the other day with my friend Rommie and Son of Stew when all of a sudden, Rommie says, “GIMMETHECAMERA, GIMMETHECAMERA, GIMMETHECAMERA.”
I frantically fumble around in the center console, come up with the well-worn Canon and turn it on for him to shoot a photo. Of what, I’m not certain. But if Rommie is this excited, it has to be more than worthy. Maybe there’s a plane tumbling to the ground. Or a hostage standoff somewhere. Maybe he saw Elvis. I don’t know.
I ask him what the intended target is. He points to the Burger King next to us at a red light:
Huh? What’s the big deal?
Then he points to the marquee.
Now I understand.
Funny. I always thought breakfast was more meatastic or meatriffic than meatnormous. I would have even predicted meatacular.
Go figure.
Here we go again.
Spirit Airlines is offering $9 fares.
Where’s the catch? The taxes.
Prepare to pay dozens of dollars to Uncle Sam for taxes, airport fees, and other other add-ons. Realistically, expect about a total of $75 once it all adds up.
That tempting $9 fare quickly jumps well above $100 when you look to fly spirit to any of its popular Caribbean destinations.
It’s still a pretty good deal, don’t get me wrong. Just don’t expect a $9 charge on your credit card.
And, remember only a few seats per flight are deeply discounted. That means you’ll probably have to be flexible when booking.
...Safe travels!
First off, let me congratulate the Gators for bringing the NCAA Basketball crown to the state of Florida. They truly personified the word “team†and rightfully earned their place in college basketball history. …
(…whew…that wasn’t easy for a tried & true, Garnet & Gold-blooded Seminole).
Now that that is out of the way, allow me this week’s true confessional: I enjoy my occasional adult beverage. I have always enjoyed a glass (or two) of good red wine every other night or so during the work week. I justify my indulgence with the notion that the tannins in red wine are a great antioxidant, thus providing a real health benefit. During weekends, the alcohol intake tends to step up a little. Man, there’s nothing like tending to some BBQ babybacks on the grill poolside, listening to some really good blues with a nice cold one in your hand (ha! I am actually salivating like Pavlov’s dogs while writing this). And, every now and then, let’s whip up some ‘Ritas…and be sure to float some Grand Marnier on mine, please. Really special occasions might call for the bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue to come out of hiding and be shared with friends or family. And of course, parties with friends sometimes yield more elaborate and potent libations like Mojitos, Zombies or my new personal favorite, the Perfect Manhattan. It’s all good.
Good, yet bad. Bad if you’re trying to drop 10 for the Y Nationals starting May 19 down in Ft. Lauderdale. Our assigned trainer, Erin (from Swann Ave. Lifestyles), has already suggested to me via email that maybe it would be a good idea to quit all alcohol for 6 weeks prior to the big event. Something about alcohol “attacking muscle mass with every drink†and “excess caloriesâ€... it’s sage advice from someone who was a former national fitness competitor herself.
Sooo….I happen to be heading down to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow on business for a couple of days. I have resolved to have my last drink down there for the next six weeks, until I return in mid-May to the Y Nationals at the Hall of Fame pool …coincidentally, it’s the same pool where I won State in the 50-free one memorable May night exactly 30 years ago while swimming for Clearwater High. Only this time, I’m heading to the Mai Kai Lounge for a Zombie after it’s all over.
So today at school, the lunch line featured about the greatest cafeteria fare available – tater tots. I love tater tots. Always have, ever since elementary and middle school when they seemed to be a staple on school “hot lunch.†But in nearly two years I’ve been teaching, I can’t recall a single day in which tots have been offered.
So of course, the week I decide to eat better, the school throws tots into the mix. But I didn’t flinch. No thanks. Same fate for the cherry cobbler. What can be better than cherries and a flaky crust. But, hey, I’m determined to do this well. So I went with the Weight Watchers ravioli and some grapes.
I find myself eating a lot of sugar – fruit, dried fruit like raisins, just breads in general. I find that if I had to keep my eye on fat, calories and sugar, that would leave, well, nothing. So I’m most watchful of calories, then fat, then other factors.
I didn’t do my two-mile walk … the time set aside for that just seems to be gobbled up…so I’ll try again tomorrow. Still, I did sweat it out at football practice, and I did the end-of-practice wind sprints with the girls.
I ended the day with some lowfat frozen yogurt – cherry flavored, of course.
Last weekend I went to Orlando, FL and was very busy during my visit. I had a voice lesson in the morning and met with my composer right after that. I met with him to determine a possible song choice which is orginally a 5 minute song. We needed to cut it down to 2 minutes exactly. We sat down and cut and transitioned the song and I think it is going to work out wonderfully. I love it. It’s a very entertaining and fun song for me. It is also going to be a challenge which means I will be working on it and practicing it a lot. Hooray for the challenge! I am not going to reveal the song title quite yet; I want to be 100% about it first.
After singing and composing, I then went to downtown Orlando to on to try on some dresses and swimsuits at Regalia. My Miss Pasco County Director, Michelle Topping, came with me to help me choose which dress and swimsuit looked best. After a long day of playing dress up and trying on a variety of new dresses andswimwear (I felt like Barbie), I found a new swimsuit and evening gown for the Miss Florida competition! I am so excited about both of them. They are going to be a hit! But more importantly, I feel comfortable and confident in them. I am so excited!
After playing dress up, I then rushed back to get ready and freshen up for my performance and meet and greet at the Give Kids The World Village. Give Kids The World Village is a non-profit resort that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Talk about an amazing experience! I was able to sing for the kids and families at Give Kids the World. After I sang my song, I brought all of the kids up on stage with me. We all gathered around the microphone and performed as we sang our ABC’s, BINGO and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Then we all danced to the Hokey Pokey and the Chicken Dance. The kids had a blast and I couldn’t have been happier being there with those children. They are all so positive and just happy to be there. There were times I wanted to cry because the kids are facing these life-threatening illnesses, but I was just so overwhelmed with joy after seeing the smiles on their faces and the fact that they were having so much fun. This was such an honor to be able to sing for them and meet with them. My favorite part though, was the fact that I was able to sing and dance with them! I definitely want to go back to Give Kids The World soon!
Well, that is my update for now. I will keep you informed about things to come. I know I am going to be making some more appearances within the next few weeks; so stay tuned!
So following in my teammates Gina footsteps (Which by the way Gina I don’t talk that much, O.K. maybe I do but thanks for loving me for it 
)
I decided to get up and go to the GYM! O.K. so when I walked into the gym the excitement ended I could not believe how many people were there. First of all it’s the middle of the day what are they all doing there I have no idea. So now I am over the shock I decided to look for a good candidate for me to work out next to candidate 1- a lean lady nice shape (naw not going to work) candidate 2- a man sweating to death (heck no not going to work) candidate 3- a pregnant lady (she is the winner)
Now I know some maybe thinking that is messed up but oh well I am not putting my big ole’ tail next to someone who will outlast me on the machines. With that said the dang prego lady out lasted me on the machine! I think she was thinking I have another being in me and I still did better than this chick ugghhhh!! Until next lady so I hope you don’t have you baby anytime some (so cruel I know but hey this is reality)
Anyway my next step was to go on the treadmill since the gym seemed to clear out I was doing my thing I was a dancing, dancing, dancing machine on the machine I was working it out and then out no where more people!! UGGGHH I know the gym is public place but to keep my interest going I need to listen to music and move my body and get down! So I had to keep my hands in my area. All in all the gym wasn’t so bad but the problem now is I can’t stop sweating I took a shower and everything I am about to open my freezer and stick my head into it!!!
Oh and the other thing I am hating right now is my hair just a brief lesson some black women’s hair is a much different texture then a Caucasian women’s hair. So the nice little curls I had going on are gone! (so much for 45 mins. under the hair dryer) and now my hair is wet and in a ponytail. What is a girl to do! This is probably why I stopped working out (I know I can come up with an excuse, I need to start a website excuses.com). Well, folks it’s been fun until next time oh and by the way day 4 on SB
Allrecipes.com is a great resource. I use it all the time, mostly because the variety of the recipes there is tremendous.
Well, someone else thinks it’s a pretty great resource, too:
Reader’s Digest snaps up Allrecipes
Seattle-based Web site brings $66 million
Seattle’s Allrecipes.com—one of the true survivors of the dot-com bust—was sold Friday for $66 million to Reader’s Digest Association Inc.
It is the first major Internet acquisition for Reader’s Digest, a Pleasantville, N.Y., publishing company that posted $2.4 billion in revenue last year.
“Now we have a significant digital presence in the food affinity to complement our leading position in print,” Eric Schrier, chief executive of Reader’s Digest, said in an interview with Bloomberg News.
Allrecipes.com, formed eight years ago to allow cooks to swap recipes online, will become the central Web presence for Reader’s Digest’s food sites, including those of Taste of Home and Light & Tasty magazines, and help spur advertising sales, the company said. Visitors to Allrecipes.com can browse among 30,000 recipes.
Allrecipes.com Chief Executive Bill Moore, who worked at Starbucks from 1992 to 1995 and is credited with introducing Starbucks’ Frappuccino drink, plans to stay with the new company. He will report to Bonnie Bachar, Reader’s Digest president of U.S. magazines. Allrecipes.com employs about 45 people, all of whom are expected to remain in Seattle, said Esmee Williams, vice president of marketing at Allrecipes. She called Reader’s Digest “a very strong fit for us” and said the publisher of well-known cooking magazines will open up new doors.
Shares of Reader’s Digest fell 7 cents to $14.75 on the New York Stock Exchange. They have declined 3.1 percent this year.
Reader’s Digest added to its food publications with the 2002 purchase of Reiman Publications, which created cooking magazines such as Taste of Home. The company also created the cooking magazine Every Day With Rachael Ray last year, based on the recipes of the television cooking-show host.
Rachael Ray is one of those celebrities that inspires either deep adoration or deep hate.
After reading her magazine, blogger Bruce Cole would like to put her on a rotisserie and slowly roast her:
Rach, I bought your new mag, Everyday with Rachael Ray this weekend. I needed something to read apres-snowboarding, while sucking down some advils, wine and recouping by the fire.
Now I have to admit, I’m not quite up on your lingo. Just what is EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, in your recipe for Hot Dog Pizza-Dillas (pg 50)?
Ohmigod, I think I get it!
Maybe.
EVOO stands for Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and one turn of the pan is pouring the oil all the while turning the pan one time until it coats the cooking surface?
Rachael, Rachael, Rachael…I’m not gonna give you grief for sauteeing hot dogs, but don’t you know that cooking with a delicate and aromatic oil essentially destroys all the properties that make it extra virgin in the first place? Lemme explain. Those flowery, peppery, grassy qualities that makes EVOO so distinctive instantly go up in smoke when you subject the oil to heat. Try this one time, heat a couple tablespoons of your EVOO in a pan, and then carefully drain some into a soup spoon. Blow on it until it cools. Now taste it. Compare it to a taste of EVOO just out of the bottle. Ugh, huh? A perfectly good waste of a perfectly good oil isn’t it? Best to keep some organic canola oil in your cupboard for all those browning/sauteeing tasks and to reserve the EVOO for drizzling. Geez, how many time have I used EVOO in this paragraph? I’m starting to sound just like you…
I don’t really mean to get on your case by the way. As far as I’m concerned, anyone who can convince the average American to give up their fast food ways and turn to the kitchen to prepare their food gets props in my book.
On second thought.
While you are converting fast food diners to fast food cooks, 30 Minute Meals and all, maybe you could guide them down a slightly different path?
See, I was happily thumbing through the latest issue until I got to page 33, which is just before you turn the page to see Sheryl Crow in really tight jeans and a milk moustache. Anyways, page 33 is the Hormel Fully Cooked Bacon ad. Right, fully cooked, as in pre-cooked so you don’t have to. Yes, I know part of your spiehl is ripping open packages of processed foods which serve as a shortcut to getting the meal in under the 30 minute mark. Now besides the fact that one of the best things about frying bacon is that it fills your entire house with the enticing smell of smoked pork fat (what do you like to say - “your nose will know”?), so why the heck would you ever buy it precooked, is that Hormel bacon comes from a place that I’m sure you’d never write about in your magazine. Not to get all high and mighty here, but you know, don’t you, that factory farmed pork (Hormel, Smithfield, Tyson, etc.) comes from pigs that are essentially raised in conditions that we would never subject our best friends, the dogs and cats of the world to? Maybe that’s why the Humane Society, which is what we usually associate the safety of housepets with, has started a campaign to end animal cruelty on factory farms (You can read about it here). I only bring this up this because you mention your dog “Isaboo” on page 32, which is right across the page from the bacon ad, and I’m guessing that having a pet in the house means you are an animal lover, pigs being animals too, and rather intelligent ones at that.
There I go again, ruining a nice little rant with the ugly spectre of factory farming.
Sorry.
Yes, I know from first hand experience that the magazine biz is especially tough when it comes to ad revenue. And I’m sure your advertising department let out a big whoop! when they scored all those Hormel full page ads. And I’m sure, you being Editor in Chief and all, let out a big Yum-o as well! See, I’m catching on with the lingo…And yours isn’t the only magazine to take ads from the processed food industry. But Rachel, Rachael, Rachael…oh no…now I’m to page 85 and here you are sauteeing hot dogs in EVOO, again! With Jeff Daniels no less (Chili’n’ Dawg Nachos)! What is the world coming to?
PREVIOUS MOMENTS OF RACHAEL
My favorite food story so far this week comes from the Devil Rays:
BALTIMORE - Beanie Maddon packed a lunch for her son for his first day on the job.
She walked down to the corner of the visitor’s dugout at Oriole Park and peered in looking for her son, holding a bag that contained a hoagie with ham, salami, cheese, onions and hot peppers.
Joe Maddon then caught the eye of his 73-year-old mother, who had made the 2 1/2 -hour drive south from their hometown of Hazleton, Pa., to see her son’s first day as Rays manager. His sister, Carmine Parlatore, was also along for support.
The rule, Maddon jokes, is that any visitors from Hazleton - population: 25,000 - must bring a hoagie from the Third Base Luncheonette in Hazleton, where Beanie still works as a waitress, or a steak and cheese sub from Bellhop’s, or some cold pizza from Senape’s.
“Especially if I’m leaving them tickets,” Maddon said.
This is an interesting twist.
In a time when gigantic, mega air carriers like United, Delta, and Northwest are slashing everything on-board, no-frills airline JetBlue is actually adding some frills to its cabin service.
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