Current Obsession: California Pizza Kitchen

I can confidently say that never before have I found an extremely delicious and satisfying frozen pizza.  There have been okay or good ones along the way, but there has always been something in the taste that would remind me with every bite that they had been frozen and not exactly fresh.  Then, California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas entered my life.  They have several different types, of course, but the only one I've tried (and fallen in love with) is the margherita.

I have determined the key to deliciousness is to follow the directions exactly and bake the pizza directly on the oven rack.  I've attempted to save the small mess a few times by placing a pan on the rack below or foil on the rack below to capture any droppings of cheese, but this prevents the full crispy potential of the pizza.  If the directions are followed, you end up with the crispiest and most fresh tasting frozen pizza out there.  Paired with a fresh veggie side, such as asparagus or sugar snap peas, this can also make for a not-too-unhealthy but quick dinner.

After I realized there is an actual restaurant chain behind the pizzas, I started to think about how much trouble I'd be in if I were to live near one.  (I would compare the danger to that I experienced while living in Philadelphia, where there was a building across the street from Borders--where I worked--that housed a Peace of Pizza in one end of the building and a Hope's Cookies in the other.)  If you go to the restaurant's web site and look at the menu offerings, it'll leave your mouth watering.  

So, next time you're in a pinch for a quick dinner fix or simply want a back-up for the unplanned late night at the office, I highly recommend one of these creations.

It Takes a Village

I am by no means new to the pet parenting world, as I've had at least one cat since I started living on my own.  But, when I recently entered the universe of dog ownership, the parallels between the demands of properly raising a pup and the 24-hour care of a child suddenly made sense.  Whereas with the cats over the years, I could fudge it at times it was necessary, there are many times this is just not possible with a dog.  The beauty of it, though, is that I feel I have just the combination of a village to keep Tucker a happy and healthy puppy. 

One of the first demands that cropped up was the conundrum of a midday break from the crate.  My office is a mere 10 minute drive from home.  The problem, though, is that in my universe, it always seems that those red flag double top priority demands hit the Inbox, just as I am standing up to walk away from my desk.  To avoid this situation, I'm employing the use of an amazing service called Critter Sitters.  This is a business that's been around Wheeling for 16 years, and the ladies come to your home at the appointed time, let your animals do what they must, love on them, talk to them, let them get a drink, and then place them back where they belong for the afternoon.  Tucker has, thankfully, grown to love his crate as well as all walks of life, so this arrangement is working out perfectly.  His needs are tended to, and my workday remains accommodating to all.

I had to take him for his first non-routine vet visit this week.  It turned out he simply was having some allergies flair up, but after the visit (and a day of worrying), I was thinking about how much I love it that the veterinarian has all the answers I do not.  I watched in amazement as he took the less than few minutes to examine the issue, asked for the appropriate medications and tools and set to his work.  This self-assured response was in stark contrast to my 4:00am search on Google and Wikipedia to try to diagnose the issue.  Every time I walk away from K.E.Y. Animal Hospital, I am thankful that there is someone around who loves all animals to the degree that I love my own and also that that person just happens to be certified to handle these types of situations I am not.  I, of course, appreciate him on the routine trips as well, but it's those non-routine moments that really shake things up.

And then there are those moments (yes, even blessed Tucker has them) when some random puppy behavior crops up, and I have absolutely no idea how to change it.  I have stumbled across a plethora of information on dog behavior and training through books (mainly The Art of Raising a Puppy by the Monks of Skeet) and other internet resources (mainly those posted by Cesar Millan).  It astonishes me each time I type a randomly worded question into Google, and a zillion results pop up.  Granted, there are a lot of message boards and other not-so-useful resources, but I think back to pre-internet times and wonder how people did this stuff!    

Without all of these resources, puppy-rearing could be a lot harder and also feel a lot less accessible.  So, now when I hear someone utter the classic line about how it takes a village to raise [fill in the blank with animal, child, etc.], I will be in full agreement and have a much more solid appreciation for what that really means.

Slow Cookin'

Not since my days of working in our New York City office have I been so short on time...for everything.  Every day is a rubix cube of making it all work and fit.  There are the less flexible things (like work) and the more flexible things (like cooking).

In past lives, I probably would have opted for tossing raman noodles in the microwave and eating a peanut butter sandwich for good protein measure at a time like this.  However, I successfully pulled off cooking with my eyes closed...aka while sleeping...and I think I'm on to something to avoid the horrors of eating out too much and raman as well.

In order to prepare a healthy meal for at least 2-3 nights this week, I decided to break out the good old slow cooker/crockpot.  While this option proved invaluable for my schedule, it's also endorsed as a great "green" option, as it uses less energy than firing up your stove, and it also affords almost as many choices as other regular recipes.  As time grew tighter and tighter during the course of the day yesterday, the meal plan fluctuated.  I landed on pepper steak (a fabulous recipe find from a couple of years ago on http://www.allrecipes.com/ because I could make enough time to brown the meet necessary, and the slow cooker could do the rest of the work...as I slept!  The only quirk about this route is that it is a bit odd waking in the night to the aroma of a home-cooked meal. 

In the end, I have to endorse this as a great option for those days, weeks or months that more time consuming cooking just isn't possible.

The Power of Observation

Sometimes, when things get really busy, it can be tough to slow down the pace a bit and just observe.  The funny thing, though, is that it's when we slow down and observe that we have the chance to really take notice of how things work around us.  I've been blown away sometimes by realizations that slap me in the face about the most mundane things, and how they work.  For me, there's some fundamental sense of satisfaction that comes from doing this. 

I have found recently that my natural tendency to wonder about things has proven an asset, and this paired with a little time set aside for observation, makes for wonderful moments of innovation.  In my day job as a legal marketing specialist, I often have to find ways to tout the firm's "innovative" approach to law.  I think that this concept has sunk in by osmosis into the Clark Kent parts of my days because I now seem to come up with unique approaches to problem solving by simply thinking about how things work and how to leverage how they work. 

My best current example of this includes the transformation of closet space.  My house does not have a ton of closet space besides the one large one in the bedroom.  So, I constantly find myself working to reorganize my clothes and odds and ends in that space.  I realized a few days ago that the shelves in my bathroom closet, which is a solid couple of feet wide, were all able to be removed.  So, with one trip to Lowe's, I was able to pick up a closet bar to fit, remove the shelves, have the bar installed and introduce a whole new space for clothes storage.  These types of ideas feel great because they're simply about maximizing the potential of what you already have.

No matter how busy things get, it's always good to slow down and honor you own personal powers of observation.

Who Thought of That?

I was doing a fairly simple (and indulgent) thing today when it occurred to me that someone somewhere had done some major thinking in order for me to be having that simple (and indulgent) moment. 

My niece is officially of the age to be a girl scout.  Out of great loyalty to her cause, I bought a few boxes of girl scout cookies from her this year.  I am currently working on the Tagalongs, taking a couple as an afternoon treat each day at work.  Today, I decided to have a little coffee with them, and as I strolled back the quiet hallway to my desk, it occurred to me that my favorite chocolate combination is probably that with peanut butter.  And then it occurred to me that chocolate and peanut butter don't simply exist naturally.  Someone, somewhere, at some point in time (thank goodness!) thought of the brilliant combination.

Naturally, I traveled the interwebs to figure out the history.  First, I found out that the Reese's brand of peanut butter filled chocolate has only been around since 1927.  Shocking!  I can't find a lot of information on other brands of cups that may have existed prior, so I'm assuming this was the first creation.  Then, out of further curiosity, I searched and came to find that the modern day version of peanut butter was only founded a few centuries earlier.

Peanut butter is a staple food in my world.  So, this simple passing moment of wonder led me to realize that even the simplest of things required innovative thought by someone, somewhere.  It's pretty amazing to think of all the thoughts humanity has produced over time.  Granted, some of those thoughts have been below par on the morality scale, but the pairing of peanut butter and chocolate, in my book, rates up there pretty high.      

A Wicklow Retreat

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I thought I'd provide another brief tale from my adventures in Ireland. 

On one of the weekends during our stay in Dublin, I suggested we sign up for a hike in the Wicklow Mountains with an outfitter known as Dirty Boot Treks.  I'm fairly sure this company no longer exists, but the three of us who participated in the hike--myself and my two undergrad chums, Ellen and Mikey--couldn't say anything but good after the experience.

The adventure included a 14-16 mile hike through the Wicklow Mountains, and more particularly adjacent to lands owned by the Guinness family.  We met our guide at a random Dublin address and were whisked away by Land Rover to the remote hiking location.  I believe we had arrived home from our prior night's adventures somewhere around 2 or 3 in the morning, so the meeting time of 7am was a bit painful at first (and lacked enthusiasm to say the least).  But, our determination prevailed, and we were so pleased with the outcome.

Two Londoners joined us for the hike, and their company was a true pleasure.  We were all amateurs, enjoying the scenery and guide's tales as well.  It was on this hike that the guide pointed out that St. Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland, which made the hike, for some of us non-snake-loving-folks, that much more enjoyable.  There were patterns of brown where the beautiful purple heather had previously in bloom along the hillsides and amazing shades of green all around us.  (Based on the brown, it would be awe-inspiring to see the hillsides with the heather in bloom). 

When we reached the summit of our hike, which was about the midpoint, we were treated to a delicious lunch of hot creamy mushroom soup and brie sandwiches (we laughed later that this was one of the most gourmet meals experienced in our time there).  After eating, we were able to roam the mountaintop a bit, and this was when I realized I could view the Irish Sea in the distance.  This marked and still remains one of the most beautiful sites I've ever experienced.  There's something about being surrounded by mountain terrain and yet at rim of the sea.

The Irish countryside remains one of my favorite images to hearken back in my mind.  It was a day of great beauty and joy.  And I tip my non-snake-loving hat to St. Patrick for allowing me the extra pleasure of a hike without any fears of crossing paths with a slithery snake.        

Sounds of Life

Having a new puppy in my home affords me the pleasure of communing with nature at daybreak every morning.  I love this aspect of puppy rearing.  Tucker the Goldendoodle is a bedtime champion, sleeping through the night without a peep, so this makes for a much more happy meet and greet with the morning. 

My favorite moment of the day is stepping out into the morning's dawn and hearing the sweet songs of the birds.  I've noticed much more tunes being sung just over the last week or so.  Their notes are so full of optimism and excitement at the new day's start that I can't help but play along.  I may still be rubbing the sleep from my mind's eye, but their songs definitely enrich this process. 

Just as winter's calm silence can be fulfilling experience to take in, so too can spring's sounds rejuvenate.  Tonight, as we set out for our after work walk, the kids were playing, the dogs were barking and the light of day was presenting us with it's extra stretch of grandeur (insert a hesitant thanks to daylight savings here).  All of the sounds of spring exude life.  I think we've reached the spring awakening! 

On Being Trained by a Dog

"This is perhaps why animals (particularly our dogs) are so important to us and why we benefit from their companionship:  they root us in life."  

Staying in the present can be such a challenging thing.  It's always so easy to think of tomorrow, anticipating needs and wants.  It's also fairly easy to look back and dwell on decisions and actions from the past.  But, staying in the present is something that requires a lot of self-discipline and awareness.  Placed in this context, acquiring my new puppy, Tucker, has been much more a case of him training me than me training him. 

The quote above is taken from The Art of Raising a Puppy, a book written by The Monks of Skete.  I read this book in preparation for bringing Tucker home, and there were so many insights into the nature of dogs and the co-mingling of the human and canine spirits.  The quote above, though, struck me as particularly profound because I've struggled with staying in the present for as long as I can remember.  I lean much more to the side of preparing in advance for everything, even those things not very likely to pop up.  In the end, I usually have everything from Plan A to Plan E covered, including all associated variables.  But, after reading the above quote, I decided that I would immerse myself in this facet about which the monks write because losing the present to the future, in the end, is no fun.

So far, this has been such an enriching experience.  House training and all of the other tedious tasks of welcoming a new furry friend take on a totally new meaning when it's about the challenge of staying in the present.  You don't want to slip from the present only to find that your new friend has had an accident on the floor.  You don't want to slip from the present as those soulful eyes trace your movements, just waiting for that moment when you'll acknowledge him.  You don't want to stare off into space as your new companion discovers the leaves dancing across the grass as the wind is whipping.  In the first instance, it's simply bad for you both, but in the latter two instances, the bonding is unlike anything I've ever experienced before. 

I have found the old cliche to be true.  Dogs really are man's best friend because they can single-handedly rescue you from your self-obsessions and remind you how much amazing growth and beauty are around us all of the time, waiting to be observed.  With each new day, Tucker demonstrates new growth and understanding of the world around him.  Watching this is humbling because it's a reminder that all of those skills and processes we have in our own lives require a very elaborate balance and hundreds, if not thousands, of natural processes.  The monks were right:  they root us in life.

       

The Network of Networks

I've tried to remain as loyal to traditional ways as possible most of my life.  I feel a sense of nostalgia when it comes to pretty much anything and everything traditional.  While I get excited about electronics and technology, I try to resist serial buyage that only serves the consumerist concept of duplication behind it.  The current world seems to have the motto of "if you have it, spend it."  I come more from a background of "if you have it, save it."  This same hesitation has always existed for me when it comes to the various social networks and internet media in general.  A Tribute to Life would've never existed for this very reason had a friend in Philly never convinced me it was a super fun outlet for writing and creative thinking.  I believe it was the same friend who convinced me that a Facebook profile would be super fun.

For years, I've seen my blog and Facebook profile as sufficient internet mingling.  There have been so many other creations and social media pressures, including MySpace, Twitter, FourSquare, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.  But, in my mind, I've never fully understood why one would need to mingle in so many different places.  It's not dissimilar from my phone situation.  When I decided years ago to have a cell phone, I never could convince myself that a land line was necessary.  What's the necessity there?  One or the other would surely suffice.  Similarly, the multiple social networking concepts all seemed like overkill to me.  And then I recently was forced to duplicate social media efforts.  Yes, forced, and it was most ironic looking back on it.

I was at work and tasked with doing some research on executives at a handful of companies.  There's an upcoming event, sponsored by Ernst & Young, and we were working to nominate entrepreneurs for the annual "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards.  As I searched all of the subscription databases for details on these individuals, I found few details.  However, when I moved to the general Google search, the first result for almost every one was his or her LinkedIn profile.  The catch?  In order to view their profiles and garner details for my partners, I had to subscribe and launch a profile.  So, I had to sacrifice my personal vendetta against social networking duplication in the name of work.  Since then, I've dabbled a bit on LinkedIn, but I must say that nothing feels like a greater waste of time than the idea of re-collecting all of my Facebook friends on a separate network, slightly diversified in its presentation, and keeping them up to date on a slightly different set of information about myself.

I guess this trajectory is the same across all industries, so I shouldn't be surprised.  Everybody must diversify a little bit to differentiate themselves from others and perpetuate the industry.  In the case of these social networks, though, it just seems like an awful lot of talking about oneself.  It's just getting harder and harder to remember where I should be posting what.  After all, it would be awful to get it mixed up and post what I'm doing at work on Facebook, what hobby I'm currently following on LinkedIn and something tedious or uninteresting on Pinterest. 

Natural Goodness

Beginning the day with sunshine, and I don't exactly mean Roger Hargreaves' Little Miss Sunshine title character, makes for an incredibly productive start.  I am not one to shun the rain or storms or snow, but the beginning of a new day with sunshine helps me climb that pre-breakfast and pre-caffeine period with confidence.  I don't even need it beyond, say, 9am.

Waking up to the sun's warm rays, dancing on the walls in my house,  and the trees, grass and hills outside, fills me with the desire to hop out of bed and feel the feeling that is being alive.  The mundane chores of morning take on a new meaning, one of well being and fulfillment.  Rather than a focus on work, it brings a focus on accomplishment.    

Waking up to a bright sunrise, like waking up to enthusiastic puppy kisses, is a reminder that life is really good.  Today started with sunshine.