email

UPDATE: I managed to check my email with no problems on a computer in the office at work today. Or, more accurately, I was finally able to delete all the spam in my inbox. I thought the problem was fixed! But then I checked my email at home, and it is still messed up. Both computers were using Windows and Firefox, so I guess the problem lies within my computer. Damn Dell.

I had a huge waffle craving a few weeks ago, but when I went to the brand new Lowes they were sold out of waffle irons. Three weeks in a row. Reluctant to go to Wally World, today I went to a small-chain local department store. They had more choices than Lowes and the prices were about the same. Oh, and they actually had some on the shelf. So what do you think I just ate for dinner? Well, I had to try it out!! And I had real maple syrup, and fresh strawberries and kiwi. Yummy.

Bein’ Green

“But green’s the color of Spring
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why? Wonder,
I am green and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful!
And I think it’s what I want to be.”
Kermit the Frog (It’s not Easy Bein’ Green, lyrics by Joe Rapposo)

Happy Earth Day! What are you doing to ’save the planet’? Did you know that this year has been named The Year of the Frog by zoologists? Frogs are a barometer of our environment, as they are very sensitive to climate and habitat changes. If drastic measures aren’t taken to preserve their niches, they will follow the dodo and the dinosaurs.

I planted a garden the other day! Um, well, perhaps ‘garden’ is too generous a term. Living in an apartment building, I have zero outdoor space. Instead, I took a windowbox and set it up just inside the windowsill in my kitchen. I’m hoping to grow some herbs, but my garden still looks like a box of dirt. Yes, I am aware that it takes a while for seeds to sprout, but that doesn’t stop me from checking a couple times a day! To start with, I’ve planted flat-leaf parsley, basil, thyme, dill, and rosemary. I wonder if there is enough space in the box to grow some lettuce; I don’t need much.

I suppose I should also note that I have a black thumb. I enjoy having greenery in my apartment, but in general, plants don’t seem to enjoy me. I do have a few plants in my apartment. A friend gave a cactus, as they are low maintenance plants. I still have that original pot, but I believe this is the third cactus (this one’s an aloe) living in it. My other cactus has flowers and has had three bright pink flowers for as long as I’ve had it (a year maybe). Is this normal? Of my other plants, I have some ivy that took over the big pot it lives in, killing off it’s neighbor, and now it is trying to spread out over the whole room. And I have a variegated leafy thing that must simply have a very strong will to live.

Many of my coworkers are planning their summer gardens, which are, in some cases, over 1000 square feet! That seems like a lot of work to this lazy couch potato. But I guess the results are pretty good, and some of the veggies (like beans and peas) are freezable. Many of these same coworkers have animals as well. Ducks and chickens for eggs are the most common, although pigs are becoming popular, and I know of at least one person who plans to raise chickens for meat this summer. Maybe this is all just because I live in hickville, or maybe it is all part of the rising cost of energy and food and the attempt to consume more locally produced goods. You can’t get much more organic, either. My coworkers also spend a considerable amount of time discussing solar panels and wind turbines. This state also has one of the highest percentages of hydroelectric energy, due to our many rivers and streams. Huh. Who’d of ever thought that this state would have forward-thinking trend setters?

Food Glorious Food

~Lionel Bart (from “Oliver”)

Have you seen the new Chocolate Skittles (CS)? Have you tried them? Let’s discuss.

CS are not a smooth, melt in your mouth, chocolate. I suppose M&M’s (or Smarties in Canada… did you know that Smarties are two different candies?) has the corner on that market. CS are chewy; they have the same mouth feel as original skittles - candy coating over chewy center. Tootsie Rolls are the only chewy chocolate that I can think of. Chocolate should be creamy in your mouth, not sticking in your teeth. Strike one for CS.

CS have five flavors, from lightest to darkest in color: vanilla, s’mores, chocolate caramel, chocolate pudding, and brownie batter.  Let’s discuss these individually.

Vanilla: Um, correct me if I’m wrong, but vanilla is not a chocolate flavor. Vanilla is the <i>anti</i>-chocolate! If the creators were looking for a light color, what’s wrong with white chocolate? I like vanilla, but this flavor does not even belong in the bag.

S’mores: To me, s’mores are all about the toasty marshmallow; the chocolate and the graham cracker are bonuses. S’mores cannot possibly be one of the top five chocolate flavors.

Chocolate Caramel: Not a bad flavor concept, but I can’t say I tasted the full name in the skittle. I can’t say I tasted much of anything. Also, if they got caramel in the bag, where is the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor?

Chocolate Pudding: This was probably my favorite flavor. But sadly, that isn’t saying much.

Brownie Batter: In the world of unbaked baked goods, doesn’t Cookie Dough rank higher in popularity?

I just don’t get it. Someone was actually paid to come up with these flavors. Pretty good scam of a job if you ask me. Basically I was disappointed all the way around with this new candy. Original Skittles are among my favorite candies, but not these. Of course, this is not to say I won’t eat them again.