Just Bea

Open Letter

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:18:40 -0800

OK, college students of the USA, listen up. Today is the thirteenth of March, and because St. Patrick’s day is on Wednesday you decided to celebrate Irish heritage today. I get it. I do. The Irish are great. They have cute accents, have some of the most beautiful land in the world, and like to drink beer. And for college students across America this means that you honor the Irish by drinking as much as you can without passing out, or do. Whatever. Which for me and the rest of the city, means that you are drunk and on the streets before noon, blessing us with your jubilance.

I am all for having a good time. I like to see people having a good time and enjoying the warmer days. Upon meeting some of you, I myself was on my way to a brewery, where I would be taking a tour and sampling some local hand-crafted brew. However, what I do not condone, is rolling down a busy street in a large group illegally consuming beer in broad, rainy gloom and imposing your fun on me.

I want to at least make my Saturday morning appearance without your antics and shenanigans. I also don’t think my friends want you to stumble over to them and ask if you like the girls that he is with. Do you, sir, like the females that we are packin?

Finally, riding the train is not fun, generally. May you please not increase my discomfort by piling on my car, standing in a group that occupies the entrance and scream across the car to each other? I too, like to converse with my friends and you are making it impossible with your drunken banter. Thank you for understanding and please don’t drive anywhere today.

It's just sad.

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:58:43 -0800

Ah, social networking. It is so ingrained in this generation and, especially with all new technological advancements, it will surely only garner more significance. As with any new adventure, it is always best to greet such things with trepidation and caution. I feel that I am inundated with the world’s most sympathetically challenged, or idiots as I like to call them, fairly regularly and do not need additional encounters with these people when I am checking my news feed, or is it live feed. I forget which one is right!

I recently had to defriend two people on Facebook for postulating their ideals pertaining to the rights of Haitians to survive the earthquake of last week. And I couldn’t decide what was more disturbing, that they were treating the victims with such disregard or that so many people seconded their views. I am embarrassed to know people who could even think, let alone say out loud on the internet, that anyone could deserve what has happened in Haiti.

It makes me wonder if social networking is a way I want to spend my time and energy, sorting through the muck and mire. I like the ease in which I am able to stay informed of friend and family updates, but at what cost? The challenge is that even if I were to break up with Facebook, it wouldn’t break up with me. Several of my friends have posted photos of my on Facebook, so I would still be involved in the relationship. I think going forward, I am going to be more selective toward the people I choose to friend. After all, isn’t that the way we approach relationships in the real world?

Can I get a little mole with that mole?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:23:00 -0800

Scott and I made our very first mole sauce. And I have several thoughts about it.

First, it was hard. The ingredient list is extensive and some of the items are very obscure. For instance, I had to go to three stores to find the correct chiles and one of them one was only half right! Oh and adding cinnamon to regular chocolate does not make Mexican chocolate, by the way.

Second, we did not look up any other recipes to compare ours to. I think that would have helped us get an idea of what we were getting ourselves into and maybe grant us a little leeway with the amount of some of the ingredients, ahem, orange.

Third and finally, it took about 4 and half hours with both of us working at the same time. The prep work alone was an hour. Have you ever thinly sliced a 1/2 cup of almonds? Neither had I. Have you ever stemmed, seeded and sliced five chiles? Neither had Scott. Geesh!

I will say that I enjoy cooking and was very happy to have made this dish. It was interesting, again oranges, and I will be using some of the sauce tonight for enchiladas. My parting advice to you is read recipes all the way through, a couple times, before embarking on a culinary adventure and always question the amount of orange rind being used. Always.

Bon appetite!

3 tablespoons (or more) peanut oil (preferably unrefined), divided
5 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
2 cups orange juice
1 1/4 pounds onions, sliced
1/2 cup sliced almonds
6 large garlic cloves, sliced
4 teaspoons cumin seeds
4 teaspoons coriander seeds
4 ounces dried pasilla chiles,* stemmed, seeded, torn into 1-inch pieces, rinsed
1 ounces dried negro chiles,* stemmed, seeded, torn into 1-inch pieces, rinsed
1/4 cup raisins
4 3x1/2-inch strips orange peel (orange part only)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 3.1-ounce disk Mexican chocolate,** chopped
Chopped fresh cilantro
Warm flour tortillas

* Available at many supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Latin markets.
** Dark, sweet, grainy-textured chocolate disks flavored with cinnamon; available at Latin markets and from mexgrocer.com.

PREPARATION

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add chicken to pot; sauté until lightly browned, adding more oil by tablespoonfuls as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to large bowl.
Return chicken and any juices to pot. broth and orange juice; bring just to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until chicken is tender and just cooked through, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté until golden brown, about 18 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add almonds, garlic, cumin, and coriander. Sauté until nuts and garlic begin to color, about 2 minutes. Add chiles and stir until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes.
Using tongs, transfer chicken to large bowl. Pour chicken cooking liquid to saucepan with onion mixture (reserve pot). Add raisins, orange peel, and oregano. Cover and simmer until chiles are very soft, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Let stand until chocolate melts and sauce mixture cools slightly, about 15 minutes.
Working in small batches, transfer sauce mixture to blender and puree until smooth; return to reserved pot. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Coarsely shred chicken and return to sauce; stir to coat. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled. Rewarm over low heat before serving.
Transfer chicken mole to bowl. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve with warm tortillas.Courtesy of Bon Appetit Magazinehttp://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2009/05/chicken_mole

other blog

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:12:23 -0800

http://rebekahjo.wordpress.com/

America's Most Wanted

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 07:49:33 -0800

I’ve learned tips from my grandmother on how to simplify your life and everyday activities. And by doing so, one will become more efficient. One way to do this is by giving exact change whenever you are able. You will have fewer coins in your wallet and honestly, it is satisfying.

Recently, I was at a grocery store picking up a key missing item, cilantro, for my stepfather’s famous guacamole. Wait, let me preface this story by saying I had minutes earlier had a delicious margarita and was perhaps a little loopier than normal. I strolled into the almost dead supermarket and picked up the cilantro, double checked that it wasn’t flat leafed parsley and walked to the cashier. I was proud of myself for remembering such an important detail. She smiled and told me how much she loved anything with cilantro and I enthusiastically agreed.

Thirty nice cents, she informed me was my grand total. Perfect, I have change! I knew I would be making Memaw proud. I pulled out a shiny quarter and dime and handed it to the woman. She took the coins, looked down at them for a moment and said, um, you don’t have four cents? I thought well, she must not have a penny to give me my change. I didn’t, but I smiled broadly and said don’t worry about it you can keep the change!

I took my cilantro while the young lady was still staring at the quarter and dime I had given her. I strutted, yes strutted, out of the store and climbed into the car with Scott and his mother. It was then I realized, I was an idiot. Instantly I felt like a thief. I set the tainted cilantro down on the seat, buried my head in my hands and told my companions what I had done. I couldn’t go back in I was too embarrassed. After all, I had been so confidant with telling her she could keep the change.

Of course I defended myself by saying that the girl never said, you gave my only thirty five cents and I had just consumed a margarita. I worried for about five seconds that I would never be able to show my face in that particular store again. I still flush a little when thinking about it. This is why they tell you never to drink and shop. Usually it is because you buy things you don’t actually want, not short change the poor girl working at the supermarket the day after Thanksgiving. Oh well, at least it makes a good story and we got some damn good guacamole out of it.

Treats on a Plane

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:46:39 -0800

I don’t blame you for having kids. I think kids are great. I someday hope to have a couple of the little buggers. However, what I do blame you for is you and your spouse bringing four kids under the age of five on an airplane and falling asleep while they kick my chair for two and a half hours. Oh and then dirty themselves. I do not understand why it took you almost twenty minutes to notice. I noticed. I noticed immediately.

I get it, really I do. You have the same rights that I do to travel freely about the country this merry holiday season. But I do not think that you have the right to fall asleep, both of you, for the entire flight. It seems tough not to notice your sons playing tug of war. From two separate rows. Also, hard to believe that you can’t hear them yelling to each other about the “snow” (which is actually clouds, which is kind of cute but whatever).

That’s all and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Color Coordinating

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:52:00 -0700

I love shopping. When browsing racks for fun or for a specific event, I often wonder what would Carrie do? As in Bradshaw. Or Patricia Field via Carrie Bradshaw. Sadly my wardrobe does not reflect these intentions. Black and blah seems to sneak into my clothing even when I make specific attempts to step outside my box.

This predilection for non glamour could be attributed to habits or perhaps cost of clothing. In my experience, the bright, fun, exciting clothes that reek of cocktail parties and nefarious fun tend to be out of my price range. The past two fashion seasons designers have boasted more wallet friendly collections. One designer claimed a buyer could wear their label starting at just five hundred dollars. *Cough*.

I’m not going to lie. I would pay five hundred dollars for a designer piece that I loved. I would do it and not think twice about it. Alas, I do not have that luxury. Pun intended.

So here it is designers, we know you like to be exclusive. We know you don’t want everybody being able to afford your lifestyle as that would diminish the appeal. But don’t patronize us by saying you are making affordable looks. We all want to be able to look great, have style, and not wear flammable clothing. Think about those of us who purchase Vogue for the ads, not the articles the next time you are creating your affordable collection.

Where's the Beef?

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:45:47 -0700

I recently googled “how many lobbyists for each member of congress”. The answer I got was a bit stunning: 6. This rumor has been circulating late night comedy news and talk shows but I was sure it was an exaggeration. It wasn’t. Also surprising, that the entire page of search results announcing this depravity was from bloggers and watch groups. Not a single mainstream news source thought it necessary to inform the public that the reason it is not getting universal health care is because the insurance and health care companies are *donating* millions of dollars to the public officials elected to create said health care. I ask you friends, WHAT THE FUCK? Pardon my language, but is no one else completely dumbfounded and outraged?

What does the health care industry have to do in order for people to understand it could use a competitive product? We already know insurance companies have an egregious habit of turning down coverage for pre-existing conditions such as pregnancy, and oh, being the victim of domestic violence.

Wake up people, this is no joke. Democrat, Republican, Atheist, or whatever, health care is something that every person, every citizen is entitled to. No matter what.

Are you done yet?

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:11:29 -0700

The news is depressing. We all know this. The most difficult thing for me to swallow is that some people are not able to discern fact from fiction. Everyone in this country is entitled to their own opinions and judgements. What some radicals fail to realize while voicing said opinions and judgments, is that every citizen is allowed to have their own views. I know, I’m making your head spin.

The recent town hall forums are a great example of people screaming, ahem, speaking to hear themselves speak. After these rambunctious spectacles, arguments are made that the public is unaware and unclear regarding the President’s plan. That makes sense if all one hears at the forum designed to inform the public are insults and slander hurling across the aisle.

I recently had an experience during a discussion for my online university. Some classmates were attempting to discredit President Obama based on his registered status as a Muslim. How can we trust his appointees, they challenged? It is my own fault for involving myself in discussions that I know are futile. I try to be open minded and attentive when people are sharing with me, however I can only tolerate so much frantic fodder. This discussion was particularly difficult because the parties were spouting information that was incorrect and actually dangerous.

One of the most important functions of argumentation is have clear, well thought out, and factually correct points. How can we have worth while debates if the conversation is centered around fiction?

Catching Up

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:16:00 -0700

Catching up with old friends is fun, especially when you have had a year filled with moves, engagements, breakups, etc. I recently reconnected with a woman I met a few years ago who, while we have never been close, conversation was never lacking. This past year she has changed jobs, gotten divorced, and gone on her first date. Ever. I was shocked. She explained that besides her ex-husband high school dating was her only experience.
I found myself wondering how many relationships and dates does one have to go through before finding the right person. And even when you think you have found the person whose smile gives you heart palpitations for life, how can we ever really be sure? I have several friends who found the perfect partners, exchanged vows at a beautiful wedding, and then split, labeling the ex a great learning experience. Later they go on to meet wonderful people that they want to spend life with.
I asked one of my second time engaged friends about the upcoming wedding, to which she informed me it would be a really small affair with only family. The first wedding with souffle, which turned into a disastrous marriage, merited a big to do, but the “one” gets merely a pat on the back and a hot dog. Do we need a trial marriage in order to make sure we are getting the right model? These days you can test drive anything from a car to a dog. But does that mean we want to invest the time and effort it takes on a trial? A trial in court can determine a person’s guilt or innocence. This isn’t to say that I disapprove of divorce. In truth, we deserve to be happy and love the person that we are with. Some of the best couples I know are on the second or third marriage.
As a recently engaged gal, these questions naturally come up but I only let them fester for a moment. The truth is we never really know the people we get in bed with. We have to be able to trust our judgements and ourselves.

Oh no he didn't

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:49:03 -0700

There are certain people, events, and experiences we will never forget, no matter how hard we try. I remember a child from my kindergarten class who died of a brain aneurism. I remember this time I accidently put my shoes on the wrong feet and someone in my freshman math class pointed it out to me and the entire class.
We remember things that shape us and make us unique. I have tried to and successfully pushed out of my mind ex-boyfriends with whom I have less than fond memories, embarrassing moments, and terrible movies.
However, sometimes these unwelcome ghosts find their way back into life. Recently an ex-boyfriend attempted to “reconnect” with me via a popular social networking site, most unwanted obviously. It can make one feel rather helpless in regards to protecting one’s privacy.
This makes me beg the question, again, what are we giving up when we utilize modern technology? We used to be able to change our number and be done with worn out relationships. Now we have to change our number, set up privacy settings, and encrypt our vanity URLs so that only people close to us can decipher our user names. Even then, our systems can be breeched and we are left vulnerable. But maybe this viral availability and communication will allow us to move on faster. Because we will always exist in a network or online community, we will be forced to face those unpleasant mistakes we wish we could forget.
In any case, for every bad apple we eat on a social networking site, it is made up for with good people who genuinely care about the botched bowl of salsa you just threw out or that you got 100% right on the “how well you know eighties movies quiz”.

Condo or not

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:49:00 -0700

My fiance and I recently moved back to Chicago in hopes to do what every good American hopes to do: buy a condo. Neither one of us are currently working so we were eager hit the ground running and see as many units (that’s what they call them when you own!) as possible, with the expectation to find something quickly. Within the first two days of us being on the hunt we checked out nine different condos with no leads. Friends of ours who bought recently assured us that they only saw about 14 places before choosing theirs. With this piece of information we were confident that the next time we would see our real estate agent, she would have gold for us. And she did. Walking into a place that makes you never want to visit, look at, think about other available condos is the feeling you should have when about to make an offer. Unfortunately, as we found out later, this property already had an offer that was about the be accepted. We waited and waited for five long days to learn the fate of our beloved home. Yesterday we found out that we lost.
Since we saw the Queen Elizabeth of units, everything we have seen subsequently are what my fiance calls the “D students”. Are we being to picky, are we grieving, or are the soaring numbers of buyers snatching up all the gold? Either way, this experience is harder than we thought and requires a lot of work and patience. They say you aren’t supposed to fall in love until you close, but how often is that the case for anything? I hope we can fall in love again and not get our hearts broken. But if not, at least we have a futon in my sister’s one bedroom apartment to call our own. That’s the same right?

Citizens in Black

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:07:41 -0700

One would expect in a downtrodden time for the atmosphere around us to be bleak, dark, drab. But if you look around, all of the young people are shrouded in neon. It seems color is the new black. I’m not sure that the polarization of dress-wear between the youths and those of us trying to buy a house, keep jobs, and manage bank accounts will solve our economy. But it is encouraging to see a bright reminder of times when we took ourselves less seriously. Perhaps that is where a lot of our angst stems from. We are all about work and stability, less about fun and frivolity. I say we lose the somber attire and go for something that makes us feel fun and free. However, black is quite slimming so maybe just a hot pink accessory.

Here Comes the Bride

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:47:28 -0700

When someone gets engaged, friends and family are quick to offer advice and suggestions on how you and your spouse to be could do this and do that, etc. As a recently engaged gal I have been lucky enough to receive some of this wisdom. I got everything from the best recipes to keep a happy husband to exclamations from my grandmother that she can finally stop worrying that I will be alone. I am 24 years old. One nugget I did not expect or ever think of was that your spouse has to be the most important relationship in your life. This was most surprising. I was confused and concerned about that amount of weight given to one relationship. How could I give myself so completely to one person? It is frightening to make yourself that vulnerable. It took a while for this to sink and the more I thought about it the more it made sense. The person you marry, the person you are vowing to spend the rest of your life with, the person you will wake up next to everyday has to be the single most important person. Coming from a girl who has always depended on her family to be the backbone and center of the relationship world, I wondered if I was going to be able to transition. I began thinking of my fiance and the life we currently have together. Things such as there is no place I would rather be, ever, than with him ran through my head. Also that I would do anything to spend five minutes with him was something else I thought of. Maybe there was hope for me after all. I do tend to leap with my eyes closed and I was getting worried that I wouldn’t be able to have the right mentality to give this marriage all it deserves. However, I know that I am marrying the absolute best man I have ever met and he would be the only person I trust to hold on to this hot mess. So cheers, and here is to change and happiness. Oh yeah, and gifts. Thanks in advance.

Hold the mayo...

Mon, 25 May 2009 08:57:55 -0700

One of the events I look forward the most when I go home to Texas is devouring a Whataburger. They are delicious, remind me of home, and did I mention delicious? I was recently in Texas to celebrate Mother’s Day with my family and drove through a Whataburger. I was sitting next to the window waiting for them to custom make my cheeseburger when I noticed a confusing sign. “One Nation Under God” posters gleaned from every side of the building. Whoa. I had to remind myself that I am (a) in Texas and (b) patronizing a family restaurant in Texas. It was a bit blindsiding though, I have to admit. I was raised by three Methodist ministers so I have nothing against Religion, except, when it starts leaking into the political system and now my #1 with cheese. It is unfortunate enough that the division of church and state has crumbled but now the division of church and dining out has been breached as well. Obviously, companies are entitled to do business in any way that they choose, however, I am not interested in having the Lord look down on me when I am breaking bun.

Robotssssss

Sun, 03 May 2009 12:47:23 -0700

With every forward movement it seems that something always is left behind. With sensations such as Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter a fundamental connection with people is lost in translation. Though these mediums make it very simple to communicate with friends and family the intention behind making and continuing relationships is moot. It feels like a mass email blast. People can make blanket statements about their life, what they are doing, and who they have been hanging out with. I miss the days where we had to pick up the phone and call someone, hear their voice, and have a conversation. Or even further back, when you had to sit dow to write a letter that was specific to the person you were writing. My relationships are important to me and I feel that these mass media sites cheapens them. But I must confess I do use them. What does that make me? A hypocrite? Or am I just having to succumb to my generations technological advancements? Whatever it is, it makes me wonder if with all these social networking sites, what is society missing out on? Streets are filled with people have their iPod speakers in their ears, electing to avoid actual contact with real human beings in favor of sitting in front of a computer screen. Maybe that is why I have chosen a profession where I see and talk to people all day long. I thrive on making those contacts and making people laugh and smile. Oh well, I am sure someone will soon make all the social networking sites have live video chat. Then I will have to worry about whether or not I turned my camera off and people are getting too much access to my life!

Flying

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:17:14 -0700

I have always known that I am passionate about passion. I am passionate about being inspired and love hearing people’s stories on how they got where they are now because of a sort of fate or destiny. And probably a lot of really hard work. I recently went to the tasting room of one of the men who inspired the movie Bottle Shock. My group was lucky enough to be the first to arrive for the tasting (not shocking) and Gustavo was there, schlepping wine about. He stood at the end of the bar listening to the woman giving us the taste tour of GustavoThrace wine and smiling proudly. We all started chatting and he was kind enough to share his story with us. I learned that making wine was not even on his top three list for how he wanted to spend his life. How amazing it must be to stumble upon something that could incite such visceral passion. Listening to how he went from a boy dreaming of playing baseball for a living to being the master of some of the most delicious wine I have ever tasted evoked something in me that I honestly feel quite often. Envy. I spend the majority of my day dreaming time trying on different life styles to find the one that is going to thrust me into my own life of unending professional passion. I have put on many different outfits and tried many facades. Maybe it is my age, at best, or my drive, at worst, that is prohibiting me from realizing my own dream. I have yet to feel the deep rooted desire that makes every other decision I make fall into line and progress me towards the destiny of my passion. For right now I am OK with being passionate about passion. That is a start. But pretty soon I am going to grow wary of my constant, frenetic thirst to complete myself. Luckily I have plenty of GustovatoThrace wine to help the process go more smoothly.

Testing , testing....

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:12:32 -0800

How many of us have taken tests to help us understand more about ourselves and reveal our true personalities? The thing about these tests is that they do not take into account changes I am trying to make. And apparently failing miserably at. I took a test today that told me I was a helper. Old news. I like to put the benefit of others before the needs of my own. Still. Dammit. Maybe this is why I do not feel like I have gotten around to accomplishing all my lofty goals and dreams. My colleagues were also surprised by their results. Maybe because they can reveal our true nature and that takes away from the facade we try to put out in the world. The thing is, while I really enjoy helping others and helping you actualize yourself, I need someone to help actualize me. Every time I think I have finally figured out what I need to have some direction in life the inevitable fork in the road emerges and I am once again having to decide where to go and what to do. If I was better at figuring out what was best for me and the best route to help me achieve those little golden nuggets that make us feel so good I would feel better about being a helper. Perhaps what I need to do now is put myself in your shoes and have a come to Jesus talk with myself. But then that seems like a waste of time when my friend is having boy troubles. The beat goes on.

Well there you go then...

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:41:33 -0800

Doubt is most unbecoming. And it seems to always come at the most inconvenient times. For instance, for most getting a promotion would be the cause of celebration and jubilance. For me my new status has made me doubt myself and that is a feeling I have not entertained in a very long time. This has made me wonder where does doubt come from? Generally it comes from one’s disbelief in one’s ability to perform the task at hand. I do not think that is the case here. I definitely believe that I can do most any task that I am proffered. Unless of course this task involves singing and dancing for people to cause pleasure not pain. In this case I think that my doubt is finally coming from clarity. I do not doubt my capability, I doubt my desire. This realization is actually quite welcome. I think I am finally getting direction! And while I am really excited that I am finally figuring out what I want to do with my life in the future that does not help me figure out what I want to do with my present. And I do not mean the gift of my new-found wisdom.

When life hands you a lemon....

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:32:06 -0800

Does watching Sex and the City compulsively and hoping that it will help me reach my creative and fashion goals by proximity make me pathetic? Probably. But I think many people think that it is possible to absorb other’s successes simply by being around it or them, fiction or not. Why is it so hard to accept how wonderful life is when compared to the glamour of non-reality? Perhaps because even though my fictional friends have more serious and complex problems theirs can be wrapped up nicely in a half hour little bow. What if all we that was causing us pain or strife could solved by strapping on a pair of Manolos and looking pensively to camera left? Sub the Manolos for Chuck Taylors and pensive look for a scowl at grumpy customers and you think I could be almost perfect. I suppose life is not meant to be black and white or sparkle and glitter but what’s wrong with wishing? I suppose until I figure out how strut into silver screen reality I will have to settle for real life. At least I can take comfort in the fact that while I may not have a fresh start every week I get to write my own exit lines. Whatever they might be.