5 things I learned while cooking in 2010

5.  A properly reduced cream sauce is lovely.  An over-reduced cream sauce is greasy.
4.  If you over-garlic (what? over-garlic? is that even possible?) a little brown sugar tones it right down.
3.  Cooking rice in chicken stock is tasty.  Cooking rice in coconut milk is also tasty.  Cooking rice in coconut milk and chicken stock is super tasty. 
2.  Poaching an egg is harder than it looks.
1.  Nothing can compensate for a dull knife.

The Corporate ABCs: J is for Job

they juggle, they joust -

jackals in jackets want your job

my trip to holland

A co-worker recently sent me an article by Emily Perl Kinglsey entitled Welcome to Holland.  It was written with the experience of raising a child with a disability in mind, but I found the analogy she used applicable to our current situation - not being able to have a child - as well.   

You can find a copy of the article here.  It is quite short, and markedly poignant, no matter which way you happen to exist outside of the norm.

The view from my desk is daunting today

Before was bad enough:

 

After is absolutely atrocious:

When the lawyers clean off their desks, mine gets a bit buried.

sailing, sailing [MI trip 2010]

 

 I have never been sailing before this summer. 

 We went out for an afternoon with my Uncle and sailed Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

You can see the Charlevoix bridge behind Mr. Clean.  It opens every half-hour to let high-masted ships through the canal from Lake Michigan to Lake Charlevoix.  Here's another view.

 Mr. Clean is more of a motorboat kind of guy, but he liked sailing as well. 

The company, of course, was also a highlight. 

The wind, the calm water, the gentle rocking, and the sun in the sail made
for a perfectly relaxing afternoon

Lovely. 

The Corporate ABCs: I is for Internet

Involvement in important issues

is initiated instantly over the Internet