Introvert's Bill of Rights

As an introvert I find this amazing. I claim my rights.

THE SVP OFFICIAL INTROVERT'S

BILL OF RIGHTS

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1. Introverts have the right to claim a sacred space of their own for recharging, rebalancing or simply enjoying a single, solitary activity.

2. Introverts have the right to leave social events "early" as needed.

3. Introverts have the right to explore and choose the marketing and promotional activities that feel best suited to their unique style and preferences.

4. Introverts have the right to abstain from any marketing (or life) activities that result in boils, a resting heart rate > 120, and/or loss of any bodily function.

5. Introverts have the right to marry other introverts and bear children.

My Great Grandmother's Throw in Anything Banana Muffins

I recently tasted my Aunt's version of my Great Grandmother Jesse's banana muffins. It was a revolution. Never had I tasted such a delicate, moist and flavorful muffin. (I'm not exaggerating.) I promptly got the recipe and the next day made my own version. I substituted for the sugar and switched out flours. I also changed up the extra fruit and added nuts. They lost sweetness and a bit of moistness, but still are wonderful. Here's my new and healthier version:

GG Jesse's Banana Muffins

4 TBSP soft butter or Earth Balance
2 c flour (I used WW pastry)
1/2 c jaggery (can use sugar or try other sweeteners)
2 mashed ripe bananas
1 egg
6 TBSP buttermilk (what's the vegan replacement?)
1 t vanilla
1/2 t salt
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 c oats
1/2 peach
1/4 c blueberries
1/4 c slivered almonds, toasted

- Using an old wooden spoon (makes it taste better) mash up the butter and sugar.
- Sift together the dry ingredients.
- Add in the egg and vanilla.
- Alternate between adding the flour, mixing lightly and the buttermilk until incorporated (should do in three turns)
- Fold in the oats, fruit and nuts.
- Spoon into 12 muffin cups
- Bake at 350 for 12 or so minutes.

Grilled Veggies

Last night I grilled for the first time. I'm bro-in-law took care of the delicious mint-lamb burgers while I handled the veggies. We also grilled lovely corn on the cob. Here are the super easy recipes:
(Both compliments of Gardeners' Community Cookbook, with my changes of course)

Corn without the husks:
4 ears of corn, remove husks and silks
butter (I used a compound basil butter I kept in the fridge)
s & p
garlic powder
tinfoil

- Break the corn in half. Place 2 longwise inside a piece of tinfoil. (wastes less foil)
- Break up about 1 TBSP of butter for each packet and place around corn.
- Sprinkle on s & p and garlic powder.
- Roll up tight. Place on grill over med-hot coals and turn frequently. Should take about 12-15 minutes.

Grilled Veggies

marinade:
1 1-inch piece of fresh ginger (I keep mine in freezer.) peeled and minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/2 cup bragg's aminos or soy sauce
2 TBSP sesame oil

- Mix all together in big ziploc.

veggies:
1 medium eggplant, peeled and sliced in 1/4" rounds (could go up to 1/2")
2 medium zuchinni, sliced longwise 1/4"
2 bell peppers, sliced in big pieces

- Place all in ziploc and shake to coat.
- Place on grill one at a time and turn once grill marks are on.
- The eggplant will cook the quickest.
- Don't fret about the charring on the peppers as it easily comes off at the table.

And tonight I'll be chopping up the leftovers and making couscous. Yum!

I Like This!

Of all the food philosophies I've heard this one makes the absolute most sense.

Still here!

This is a really interesting post about vitamin d and mental health. It is not totally out of the blue. Look at SAD or seasonal affective disorder. I experienced this significantly when living in Olympia, WA. I finally realized that I had to move back to sunnier climates or I would continue to be miserable.
Enjoy.

Five on Friday

I know it's Sunday, but I've noticed other blogs that post five good things for the week on Fridays. I like that idea quite a lot.

1. Saw Star Trek last night. It is amazing and no I'm not a Star Trek fan, well I guess I am now. The best character is the Scottish actor who plays Scotty. Simon Pegg from Shaun of the Dead.

2. My niece turned two. Watching that child grow is one of the highlights of my life.

3. I went to BookPeople and managed to walk away with only a book for my niece. Her first cookbook. Next weekend we're going to make the pizza recipe. That brings me to #4:

4. Baking scones with my niece. Two year olds can help in the kitchen. Scones were perfect because the little hands can squish the butter into the flour, stir int he milk and even brush the milk onto the scones. She did some rolling with her kid-size rolling pin and sprinkled on cinnamon and sugar. They were the most delicious scones I've ever made.

5. And finally I'm reading a great book about zen. It's called Hardcore Zen, written by Brad Warner, an ex-punk rocker turned monk. If you grew up in the 70'8 and/or 80's it's the perfect book to being learning about zen buddhism. Easy to read with great music references.

Whew, that was easy. And, this practice may very well help me pay better attention to little joyful things in my life.

Thirteen Reasons Why

I finished Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher a few days ago. I haven't written yet about it because I can't figure out how I feel. Here's the synopsis from amazon:
When Clay Jenson plays the casette tapes he received in a mysterious package, he's surprised to hear the voice of dead classmate Hannah Baker. He's one of 13 people who receive Hannah's story, which details the circumstances that led to her suicide. Clay spends the rest of the day and long into the night listening to Hannah's voice and going to the locations she wants him to visit. The text alternates, sometimes quickly, between Hannah's voice (italicized) and Clay's thoughts as he listens to her words, which illuminate betrayals and secrets that demonstrate the consequences of even small actions. Hannah, herself, is not free from guilt, her own inaction having played a part in an accidental auto death and a rape. The message about how we treat one another, although sometimes heavy, makes for compelling reading. Give this to fans of Gail Giles psychological thrillers.

Well written: yes
Creative: yes
She is clearly a very depressed girl with few coping skills or anyone she trusts to really listen. Number 13 on the list should be shot. If he existed in real life and the tapes became public I would hope that he would lose his job and any credibility. To me, this book belongs up there with Speak (one of the most important young adult books of the last 10 years). This book should be taught in schools if only as a way to begin real discussion. If you are a suicide survivor it will probably be painful to read. Read it anyway.

I would like to interview the author. I want to know why he wrote this book.

Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble

It's thundering! Oh! There it goes again. How I wish these days stuck around more.

70 and ECT therapy finally needs trials

This is insane. 70 years? How is it possible that such an invasive and serious "treatment" was administered for 70 years with no clinical trials?

The Joy of Smoothies and Where Have I been?

Smoothies are one of my favorite pick me ups. People out there love to extol the benefits of greasy food after an evening of drinks, but seriously smoothies are way better. When you pee while you drink you are actually losing more nutrients than you normally do because alcohol flushes you out. Losing all those nutrients like potassium makes headaches and nausea among other ickiness. A nice fruit and protein powder smoothie gives it all back to your system quickly and yummily.

And where have I been?
I have been:
having successful surgery
applying to two great grad schools for mfa in children's writing programs
giving into temptation way too much at work
spending as much time as possible with my niece

Where have you been lately?