Steak thru the heart...

I do not own a grill, which is really foolish in California, the one place where you can cook out all year long and have access to really fresh food. But, I am slow to buy anything for cooking. I have to prove to myself that I will actually take the time to use it. Anyway, I was whining to several colleagues about how I wanted to be able to make a great steak at home, when some crazy suggestions were thrown my way.

Now I am no fabulous cook, but even I know that a boiled steak is not on its way to greatness!

I had almost forgotten the suggestions, and the longing for a steak when I received the following email from a colleague that overheard the conversation and is a renowned foody.
Humorous and Yummy Email from D.F:
"I was totally going to mind my own business, but then someone said something about steaming a steak in an oven and I just couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. I was completely apoplectic . . . on the inside. I mean, dude was straight talking crazy. J

So anyways, per the brief conversation that I inserted myself into . . .

"One Way I Cook Steak by David F."

1. The most important thing to do is to get your steak out of the fridge for about an hour before you’re going to cook it. Room temperature meat will cook properly and allow you to avoid the black on the outside, raw on the inside pitfall.

2. Ideally, you will have been able to season the steak with some kosher salt a day or two before. If you do this, put the steak on a wire rack on top of a plate. Then dome some wax paper over the steak so weird bits don’t fall on it. This is definitely NOT a necessary step and it’s one that I rarely ever do. Chickens are a whole other story.

3. Turn your oven on to 350 F.

4. Put a DRY cast iron skillet over medium high heat if the steak is very thick (1.5 inches or greater) and over a bit higher heat of thinner. Wait at least 5 minutes to allow the skillet to really gather heat.

5. Apply any other seasonings you want on the steak (for me, that’s nothing. I add some black pepper near the very end).

6. Plop the steak onto the very hot skillet. And wait. And wait. And wait. Every once in awhile, grab the steak with tongs and see if the pan is naturally releasing the steak. If it isn’t, then it’s not ready to turn. Once the meat releases, check to see if the bottom is crusted like you want it. You want it as brown as can be but you really want to avoid any char.

7. Once the steak is crusted well on one side, flip it over and put the whole pan in the oven.

8. At this point, it’s all about the thickness of the steak and the doneness that you’re after. If you have a thermometer, then that would be a great guide.

9. If you’re feeling decadent, a couple of minutes before you think the steak will be done, pull the skillet out, place it over low heat on the range, add a few knobs of butter and baste the steak in the butter. Make sure the butter never gets too brown or you’ll just taste carbon.

10. Last, you absolutely need to let the steak rest. A good rule of thumb is to let a steak rest for about half the time you spent cooking it. I’m usually very impatient and just wait about 10-12 minutes. The steak will continue to cook as it rests so you may want to pull the steak out of the oven when it’s rare if you want medium rare. I put a plate on the stovetop as I’m cooking so it’s warm and I let the steak rest on that so it doesn’t cool off as it rests.

And that’s how I do it. It’s a technique called pan roasting. Let me know if you try it.

Cheers"

You can dance, you can jive...

Extra shots from the second Dance website shoot I did for a friend. I had fun trying to make the above motion shots, but did way too many of them! I think the sweaty hair shot below is awesome!

Just like baking...

Have you ever heard that when a cook is upset even their specialty foods don't turn out...souffles flop, cakes don't rise and whip cream never peaks?!!

I was NOT feeling this photo outing.

The classmate I made friends with wasn't there, I was irritated about some dating stupidity that I don't even remember now, and I had a few car problems that were bouncing around in my mind.

I think that mood translated into average photos. On the positive side, I love all things subway, and it is hard not to overcome a grumpy mood when you look at the amazing architecture of Union Station!

Night Photography

I am taking a night photography class once a week at the local community college. I thought that I would learn some specific techniques to capture life after dark. I have had two classes so far, the first in the classroom and the second where we met at the Santa Monica Pier.

The teacher has the "just try everything, I don't want to taint your art by telling you how to do anything" philosophy. That doesn't help me. What does help me are the other photographers...90% men. I can get specific setting ideas from them and then experiment.

I still have NO idea what I am doing, but I have learned a few things. I kinda like taking people pictures at night. I have said before that I am not interested in photographing people, but at night, they can't really tell where your tripod is aiming so they ignore you. I also learned that I need a little mini flashlight in my camera bag...it is hard to change the settings when you can't see. That is two things in two classes...not soooo bad!

I took a million pictures of ghost people and actually thought that was fun. I tried to take pictures of the Ferris Wheel in a cool way, but it didn't really work out. I am supposed to choose my favorite two to bring to the next class...still not sure which I will pick for the second one. This first one is my favorite...the ghosts were shopping for hats...while the other freaks where roaming the rest of the pier! If you have ever been there you will know what I mean...people are interesting!

Bright colors, toys, and happiness...

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." ~Benjamin Franklin

"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."
~James Matthew Barrie

Too cute for words...

I haven't done any babysitting since I was 15...until last Wednesday. This cute face is attached to the sweetest baby ever. We had a great time reading books, making faces (me) and peeing on people's laps (her.) I wasn't even relieved when mommy and daddy got home. It must be love!

A week of photo shoots!

On Saturday, I took photos of my "niece's" graduation so her parents could actually enjoy the event. (Good job Freddy!) I understand that you miss so much of life if you have the camera stuck to your eye...and your baby's graduation should be enjoyed! It was fun, but I am not super good at taking people...and taking photos of people indoors is really not easy for me.

There is an important moment when you are taking graduation pictures, when you have to walk up the aisle in front of everyone. You crouch down ready to get THE shot of the handshake. You hope the graduate thinks to look your way and stay still, and you hope you don't flop over on your side and create a domino effect with all the other photo crouchers. My moment came and I got a robe and a blur of nervous graduate swishing past the principal. So, I blew the big shot, but even more horrid...I was crouched thinking that I had to uncrouch in front of all those people in my 20 inch heels and do it without looking pained or grunting loudly. It was not my finest moment, but I channeled my inner Beyonce' and swooped up and waddled to the back of the hall and let out a huge sigh of relief!

A few days later, I took photos for a friend's website of her dance class. I had been nervous because I didn't want to disappoint her. I don't have professional lighting and I really didn't know exactly how well I would do. (I obviously have confidence problems!) Her class is "Dances of the World" and it included Bollywood, Charleston, Salsa, Belly Dancing, Samba, etc...it was the most fun group fit classes I have ever seen. The energy was great and so much fun. I even quit shooting stills and started filming some of the Bollywood Dancing. Again, I loved it. We spent time before the class taking stills of dance poses with about 6 dancers and later I just walked around the class (and lying on the floor) taking shots. The photos I have included here are random blurry shots and feet...you know I can't resist the weird.

I am sure she will use other shots on her site, but I liked these. Next time, I will definitely have to join the fun!

Winston - Rock On!

"We're doin' business here!"

This insurance commercial is hilarious! I love when the little boy says "Spanish? That's "como estas? its not something you eat!" Again, I am not sure what they are selling, but they are cute!

My Great Great Grandfather - Archie

I am so excited to find this article! My mom found this website that includes info I knew nothing about. It is about my dad's great grandfather's folk art. I had heard that he "whittled" now and again, but that is typically Zimmerman to minimize everything. Well...I am okay with breaking that rule...and I am proud to brag about his art. Very cool Archie!!

clipped from zandkantiques.com The Folk Art of Archie Zimmerman 1861-1961 Pennsylvania folk artist. If you've got your hands busy,you've got your mind going" —Archie Zimmerman (recollected) Folk Art: Pennsylvania 1861 Archibald Buchanan Zimmerman was born August 18, 1861 in Plumville, Pennsylvania. He lived for 100 years. This collection of folk art was rescued in its entirety (minus the later addition of one cock) from near his long time residence of Jasonville, Indiana. Many of these pieces are dated and show a working span from as early as 1922 to as late as 1955. The stunning joy of finding this collection one day, out of the blue in rural Illinois is astounding. Driving home after a long weekend out antiquing, I put my foot on the dash and frustratingly declared that what we needed was to find some "real folk art".

Phrases I am over...already...

"There's an app for that!"

My whole life is a lie!

I just read an article in Real Simple magazine by Jonah Leher called "10 ways to be a better thinker." Number 6 says "Be skeptical of your memories."

Apparently, scientists have proved that human memories are dishonest. "The act of recalling an event (say, your eighth birthday party) changes the structure of that memory in the brain."

So every time you open that "file" and think about how happy you were, how much fun you had, or how cool the gift I brought you was, you alter the memory. You ruin the reality, you change the story and make it false! Isn't that horrible?

And, therefore, since I obsess about every detail, of every moment I have ever lived...I guess I can only assume that my whole life is a lie!

Relaxation...I give up!

I am constantly trying new ways to rid myself of stress. It is not that I have a particularly stressful job or life, I just tend to keep a lot inside and eventually it does get to me. I tend to display the heightened stress by either being quiet, nervous, weepy, or snippy...and I am not a big fan of any of those traits.

So, tonight I was supposed to start a mat Pilate's class at a new studio. I was excited to have found a nice studio very near my house. The plan was to kill my core, limp home, hit the shower and then drop into bed. I don't usually associate pain with relaxation, nor I am a huge fan of exercise, but I was very ready for the quiet of a yoga/Pilate's studio; no loud music, annoying gossipy women, nor machines and people grunting. I thought and still do that yoga and Pilate's are a much needed addition to the cardio/weights drudgery I am currently doing.

Okay, so anyhoo...I found out that the class had been cancelled. My immediate reaction was to find solace in Ben & Jerry...but I decided, instead, to get my relaxation through a pedicure. The place I go near my house is not a peaceful softly lit spa, but both my feet and my mind needed the overhaul. It started out rather peaceful...

...until some crazy lady started yelling at the young woman painting her toes because she had not been told of the extra $3 charge for the flower. Since the young lady didn't actually speak much English she yelled at the room in general. And kept yelling, even when the owner tried to calm her. It was hard to get my chill on while the high-maintenance nightmare lady screamed. (I really wanted to hand her the $3 and tell her to shut up...but I was trying to be zen!)

Then I started to remember the last time I tried to get a decent foot massage...

Over Spring Break, my friend J. and I decided that these new spas we had seen popping up in the valley that tout 1hour long foot massages with reflexology would be just the thing we needed. They promised ultimate relaxation. We scheduled our appointment for 7:30 p.m. We walked into a very dark room, with huge lazy-boy like lounge chairs scattered around, soft new age music playing, and a little waterfall trickling in the back. Once my eyes adjusted I could see that there were a few customers in the chairs and they seemed to be asleep with people working on their feet. Exactly what I was looking for.

I no longer trust my eyes.

I sat in my assigned lazy-boy with J. next to me. I was given a bucket of warm water to soak my feet in ...which felt nice. I sighed...not knowing that would be the last moment of pleasure. A woman, looking a little too overjoyed, came bounding up to my chair. She made the chair lay back and kind of tucked me in with a few warm towels...also nice. She then began the longest hour of my life as she proceeded to poke holes through my skull with her evil pointy fingers. Apparently, my cringing face and gasps of terror were no real indicator of anything other than, "please do that again!" Actually, I think my reaction encouraged her to be even more creative. Did you know that you you can almost pry a skull cap off if you work really hard at one spot at the base of the skull midway between the spine and the ear? She wanted mine off of my head badly! I nearly hit her, but I kept remembering that the room was full of other people, sharing the quiet darkness with me...and they were not so wimpy. So, I kept lying there motionless. (except for the cringing face)

My torturer continued down my body...I will not bore you with the details, but it was all equally horrible...until the lower back. Now, I have had a major surgery, I have had Novocaine wear off mid-root canal, and I have fallen (okay, jumped) out of a hayloft onto the ground 30 ft below...but I have NEVER had such excruciating pain as that inflicted by this wretched, jolly woman! As J. later said, she seemed to be pressing the marrow out of my bones! I screamed into the pillow and was about to turn and punch her, when it was all over.

She gleefully handed me a cup of water, I looked at J. with a raised eyebrow. We hurriedly checked out and limped out the door. When we got outside, neither knowing of the other liked it or hated it, I said "did you hear me scream?" We both busted out laughing.

We hurried to J.'s car, turned on the seat warmers to relax our screaming muscles and began to compare stories. Apparently, we had suffered the same fate. We sat in the car for over an hour reliving, and howling with laughter. We also watched the other poor schmos coming out...gingerly...and laughed until we cried. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time and maybe that was the best medicine of all.

In the end, I have given up looking for relaxation. I am just going to have to learn to take deep breathes and get over it!

Totally Freaky Dream!

So this morning I could not wake up...even with my cat/alarm clock, Willie, meowing in my face and headbutting me. I was in the midst of a freaky dream.

It started out sweet with and introduction by a friend to a new guy. This handsome stranger and I started walking the streets of the city in a new area, one I was not familiar with. It seemed more "old world," with booths of every kind: sellers of handmade jewelry, fresh produce, and stalls filled with cloth. I remarked that it reminded me of a Turkish Bazaar.

The date was going well. He was interesting and seemingly interested. We walked, laughed, tried weird food, kissed and held hands.

Then, suddenly we were separated. I hadn't noticed a crowd before, but I was thronged and couldn't find him anywhere. That panic took over, like when our moms went to the next aisle in the grocery store and we were too busy staring at the toys to notice. I was scared and searched everywhere. It seemed darker and much more foreign now. I felt the strong need to get back to where we had started in hopes that he was waiting there. Finally, I found the spot...

He was not there. As I walked through the more familiar part of the city to places I knew...I "discovered" that it was 20 years later. I had only been gone a few hours and I had lost 20 years of my life! In a flood of realization that could only come in dreams, I knew that my townhouse, my job, and my kitties would all be gone. I was terrified to look for my friends because I didn't know what they thought happened to me. I had only one real strong need and that was to find the stranger I had been with to see why he had done this to me. Did he get separated from me or did he ditch me in the other world? And can I go back to the way it was?

I spent the rest of the dream trying to remember what he had told me about his life for clues as to where I might find him. And then...

...I got a paw in my eye...a definite message to get the heck out of bed!

Mondays are often yucky!

First day back from Spring Break...first day awake at 5:30 a.m., first day I want to sleep under my desk...

I am trying to get excited about the Captain being saved by Navy Seals, (yay!) or at least the new first dog Bo, but all I can think is sleep, bed, nigh nigh, and mommy I want a glass of water!

BTW - dumpsters are one of my favorite things to take photos of...so finding a pretty purple one was very exciting!

Profound jewelry

The necklace I have on today is a little silver heart that says:

"Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."

When I first got the necklace, I could do nothing, but cry. I am sure you have been there in your life. But with time, good friends, many tears, a few margaritas, and prayer...I really can "smile that it happened!"

I am so grateful to God for that.

One Hit Wonders of the 80's

There are many bloggers debating whether-or-not "Come on Eileen" actually should have been the #1 OHW of the 80's as VH1 proclaimed...and why we all copied the denim overalls look!

That, however, was not the question running through my mind as I watched the show (and cleaned house). All I could think was "were there any real men in the 80's?" How did any of our egos thrive during a decade of men that were much prettier than we were?

Think about it, we drooled over:

Michael Damien, soap opera pretty
Adam Ant, desperate, but not serious
Boy George, but, okay, that just isn't fair...he was trying to "cross" the line
That Dude from Aha...he was seriously cute, but waaayyy prettier than I have ever been
Frankie Goes to Hollywood, pulled a fast naughty lyric on us all
Gary Newman...yikes..maybe not pretty, but not even a little macho ie:I could whoop him in arm-wrestling
Dead or Alive (sorta the same as Boy George, again not fair example)
Kajagoogoo not so "shy, shy" about his pretty boy looks!
Duran Duran better eyeliner and clothes
And wasn't that when MICHAEL JACKSON was singing "Bad" and trying to look like a gang member? This is toughness?

OH!! At least we had Bon Jovi, even if his hair was better than ours, he was definitely a New Jersey kind of masculine, while still being pretty!

I am certain there are others, but when when I watched what we used to swoon over, I was horrified.

As for the debate raging within the Blogosphere...I would have voted for "I'll stop the World and Melt with You" by Modern English.

There is nothing like having experienced the 80's!!

Just a hello from the ladies of Venice Beach...

Cute guys, coffee, and Murphy's Law

Yesterday, I looked as good as I can...I may even be so bold as to say, "I looked kinda cute."

Today, not so much.

I am clean, I even smell good, but my hair is in a messy ponytail and I am in the rattiest sweatshirt I own (my favorite, but not because it looks good). I am only working a few hours today while the students are away for spring break...so "who cares...be comfortable" I thought this morning.

Then it happened, it always happens and every woman who reads this will already know what I am going to say...I met a really hot guy. (Sorry if you thought I was going to say "I saw my ex-boyfriend in the grocery store" same principle so you are still right!) Crap...I have to go to the grocery on the way home, too! grrrr...

Even those of us who are confident, self-actualized, modern women still get self-conscious and, in my case, ditzy when sideswiped by feelings of heinousness while trying to seem alluring to the cute guy bantering with you.

I acted like a 15 year old girl being told she was pretty for the first time. I couldn't look the poor man in the eye, I slopped my Splenda, and I even stammered. Besides ditzy, I know I came across as uninterested and standoffish, as well, because that is the only defense mechanism I seem to have mastered in all these years...sadly...maybe I should take a martial art instead?!

Anyhoo...when cute guy left I just wanted to chase him down and yell "you should have seen me yesterday!!! I was cute AND I was calm!!!!!!"

In the end, I have at least learned that the best way to meet Mr. Right in LA is to look and feel revolting. He won't want anything to do with you, but at least you know he exists!

Godzilla vs Willoughby

I sniff you...

I fight you...

I fang you!

I am a multimillionaire...

Well...I was for about two weeks. One of my colleagues bought me a lotto ticket for my birthday. Since I am not a lotto player it was novel and fun to see everytime I opened my wallet.

I do not ever expect to be "Orpah rich", but it was actually fun to think about...and I started asking people what they would do if they got ridiculous money. Everyone said "I would buy my parents a home" or "I would donate to...". Those are really great uses of money, but I was more interested in what people would do, what I would do, with money to spend frivilously on oneself...after all the nobel giving.

This is what I came up with:

• I would hire a cook and a trainer, and a financial planner
• I would buy a house with some land and an amazing guest house...I always thought for my mom if she wanted to live with me. (or I could buy her her own house...)
• I would make a ridiculous room for my cats...I know...
• Once I got an incredible figure thanks to the cook and the trainer, I would buy new clothes
• I would travel: back to Italy, hike Machu Picchu, Spain, New Zealand, Africa, a Bible School
• I would have a room for printing and editing my photos

Okay, so that was about it. Isn't that pathetic. I couldn't think of anything "fancy" I would really want to own, like what car I would get. I think I mostly liked the idea of having no bills, no stress, and access to first class airfare! Just like everyone else, I spent most of my time deciding how best to give money to others, and then whether-or-not I would buy my house in Southern California.

What I really liked knowing is that, even with all the money my mind could conjure up, there is nothing specific that I need or that I can't actually get for myself. So, today after meeting (church), I stopped by the 7-11 and scanned my birthday lotto ticket...which blinked boldly

"You are not a winner!"

I may still have to cook my own meals, machine, but I beg to differ!

Too Many photos of Downtown LA/Olvera Street

Pure joy...bad dancing...

I showed this video to my students as a way to illustrate the difference in the "new" iteration of the Web, Web 2.0. I wanted them to see how they are not only able to get information, but also able to participate in the information posted. How they could, in fact, post something to youtube and start a worldwide phenomenon...or how they could get famous and spread joy through really bad dancing in really cool places!

The guy in this video quit his computer gaming design job to travel the world. He started ablog journal and started dancing in front of momuments as a way to show his travel to his friends. For a more detailed account you can find his blog at: www.wherethehellismatt.com

As an illustration of the Web 2.0 information exchange my class discussed the fact that once Matt's youtube video went "viral" it was noticed by a Stride Gum, who then asked Matt if they could sponsor his next trip. He began to include others in the dancing and letting people know on his blog where he would be and inviting them to come dance with him.

So while this was a great lesson, I really just wanted to watch the video again and again. It makes me smile and laugh, get goose bumps, and brings me joy...I hope you like it, too.

Smart Alec Waiter...

I went to lunch with some colleagues yesterday and the waiter zinged M with:

"Well you're gonna have to build a bridge and get over it!"

I knew then that I loved him!

Balboa Park in the Pink

New favorite commercial...for what product?

Have you seen this Windows commercial with the world's cutest little girl? Or maybe, like me, you didn't really know whose commercial it was because you were busy thinking it was so sweet.

A little girl introduces herself to us (the camera) as Kylie. She stands in front of the family PC and shows us her camera. She shoes us how easy it is to download a photo of her fish Dorothy, edit the photo, and send it to her family all the while making fishy faces. She ends by telling us "I'm a PC and I'm 4 1/2."

She is adorable. When I finally concentrated enough on the actual content, it became clear that Windows wanted me to know that if a 4 1/2 year old can do it, then so can I. Oh, okay, we are not just marketing cuteness...the only glitch for me was that for the first 20 times I saw the commercial, all I thought was I want one...a little girl like that!

Santa Monica Sunset

I thought for my first post I would just put up something pretty. I took this photo just the other day after work right in front of Shutters hotel. I was trying out my new polarizing lens. It made the shot a little too dark, but I like the colors in the sky. Perhaps Santa Monica is better looking without so much light anyway!