Entries from August 2007 ↓

Last night I attended the Vikings vs. Rams game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. It was my first football game (ever) and my second excursion to the Metrodome.

Normally, I wouldn’t attend this kind of event. My coworker, Jane, gave me her family’s two season tickets for the game. I didn’t have any other plans, so I decided to take the opportunity (and dragged my brother-in-law, Bryan, along to the game).

I sort of understand football now. I told Bryan, “This Thanksgiving? I’m going to be all about watching the game.”

In other news, yesterday was Karyn’s 31st birthday. She and Barry (his 33rd yesterday) are celebrating tonight with a kegger. Should be good times!

But right now I’m accompanying Rebecca and Whitney to the humane society. I’m going along in order to pet kitties—Rebecca will be doing the adopting.

This morning I stopped at West Photo to pick up the photos of Areca and Karl taken with Areca’s Bronica—they’re so lovely (both the photos and Areca and Karl)!

The photos I’ve taken with the Bronica have really astounded me—probably because I’m used to blurry medium-format cameras like the Holga and Diana. It’s such a great camera; I would love to have my own. Someday!

I have many, many, many more photos of Areca and Karl’s wedding day. I will be posting them online before September, I promise!

But, man, the time really has been flying.

Today I visited Dr. Molletti. She had been out due to having a baby, and she wanted to see how my gum graft was healing. Everyone tells me it’s beautiful. That’s good.

She also gave me a brief time line if I were to get dental implants to replace two of my baby teeth (the adult teeth are/were missing). The two teeth in question are on the edge of my smile—they would get pulled, then I would wait a few weeks to allow healing. Then she would install the implants (titanium screws, I think she said) into those spaces and we would wait half a year for those to heal. (During this time, I can either live with gaps or get falsies to maintain a normal-looking smile—but I wouldn’t be able to wear them when eating, so it’d be kind of like having a retainer again.) Then I would go back in and she would install permanent false teeth/crowns. Then I would be sufficiently normal mouth-wise and hopefully she won’t think of further surgeries for me to have.

Whether or not she recommends me having the implants done soonish or laterish depends on the panoramic x-ray she took of my teeth today. She wants to see how deep the roots of the teeth are now—if they are deep enough, then we can wait. So she’s giving me a call a little later.

On another note, in order to take the x-ray, the hygienist asked me to remove my 10 earrings. None of them have been removed since I received them. They’re between 3 to 6 years old. I was mad. I am better now, but what a pain. I decided to reinstall only 7 of the earrings… and on my way home I have to stop by the Ink Lab and ask them to help reinstall three of my beads.

Update: Implants will be laterish…

At the beginning of summer, I began a photo diary of my attempt to eat more fresh foods. I was feeling sick of Lean Cuisines, basically.

I’ve been slacking lately due to my trip to Canada and Washington and my recent move, but now: back on track! This week, I prepared this recipe (with alterations) from Lunds and Byerly’s Real Food magazine:

Orzo Salad with Currants, Olives, and Pine Nuts

• 1 1/2 cups orzo pasta
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley sprigs
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 2/3 cup currants [I replaced with craisins.]
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced [Yuck—I replaced with grape tomatoes.]
• 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts

Cook orzo according to package directions. Drain, then rinse with cold water and drain again. Transfer to a large bowl.

To make dressing, add garlic and salt to the bowl of a food processor and process until garlic is minced and a paste forms. Add parsley and process well. Add lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, curry powder, cumin and pepper; process for 30 seconds. Pour oil in a slow steady stream through food chute with processor running.

Drizzle dressing over pasta. Add onion, currants [craisins], olives [grape tomatoes], and pine nuts; toss well. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

I’m posting the recipe because I’ve been posting the ingredients of each salad I photograph. This will be an easier reference.

Plastic Chord played a pretty rockin’ show at the Uptown Bar tonight. I expect you to be at the next Minneapolis show on August 25th (at Club Underground aka the Spring Street Tavern aka best Bloody Mary in Mpls). It’s a Saturday so you have no reason to not attend.

Also, I’m all moved in to my new place but it’s sort of uneven. My desk is wobbling as I type. Anyone have a few extra napkins I can shove under one of the legs?

Also, also: volunteer for events at the Bell Museum. There are some pretty rockin’ sci-fi movies scheduled for this month and I’d rather watch you scoop popcorn for me than have to scoop popcorn myself. Though I’m so excited that I’d probably march back there with you and help you make popcorn. What can I say? I enjoy making popcorn and I enjoy the Bell Museum. Anyway, check out the website for the upcoming events that YOU! can help make awesome: bellmuseum.org.

Love,
Amy aka Pork-CHOP