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And Then There Was Two...

Now, I never really expected to be writing a blog (truth be told, I kind of made fun of some people that did) and I never really expected anyone to read it (I still don't). That being said, I definitely never expected to be writing two blogs. Today, however, when I happened to be spending time with a very good friend of mine and we happened to be cooking, the subject of blogs came up. And now, I am writing two blogs. Check out Burnt Water, it should prove to be fun. Hopefully my roommate will agree...

Can I Have the Definition Please?

Hope

Pronunciation: \ˈhōp\
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hopian; akin to Middle High German hoffen to hope
Date: before 12th century

1. To cherish a desire with anticipation
2. archaic: trust


You can't help but feel it. Anyone who has ever wanted anything ever knows what it feels like to hope. It can tie your stomach in knots, make you giddy, give you something to wake up the next day for. There's another word, though, that is closely tied to hope: disappointment. It's the risk you take when you open yourself up and dare to hope. However, the question is, how disappointed are you going to be?

My boyfriend is in the Army and currently deployed in Africa; he has been for four months now. His deployment was supposed to last until about September, but due to some paperwork mishaps there was (is?) a potential for him to come home within the next few weeks. Now, when I heard about this I tried not to get too excited. Things like this happen with the military all the time. Plus, I knew it would be for the best if he stayed down there the entire time; he'd be able to pay off his truck and save up money for school. But a tiny, selfish part of me desperately hoped that he would be coming back soon. Looks like disappointment is knocking, though because today I got an email from him saying he was told to cancel his flight back and wait a few days.

Now, disappointment and I are by no means strangers. That doesn't mean it hurts any less, though. The only thing we can do is deal with it, really. But how? Some get angry and blame someone (the system, God, etc.), some get depressed and mope about, and others handle it with grace. I hope (for lack of a better word) that I'll be graceful in this. In life you have to roll with the punches, keep swimming, what have you. If you stop hoping, you stop having things to look forward to. Like I said before, hope gives tomorrow a bright and shiny coat of paint. It makes things worth it.

Tomorrow is a new day, let's see what it brings. "In a moment there is time/ For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse..." And there are a lot of moments in a day.

I Take My Waking Slow

There is something beautifully simple and satisfying about waking up to the smell of banana bread fresh out of the oven. Lately life has been a bit stressful for me, so it was a wonderful surprise to wake up from a good night's rest to find a clean kitchen and banana bread, courtesy of my roommate. Now, I love my roommates, but sometimes they can be a bit absent-minded when it comes to cleaning and such, so I end up doing it. But maybe this is a sign; maybe they're finally learning.

The bread is great, by the way, so here's the recipe for any that care to try their hands at baking:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 medium bananas (the best ones are those full of black spots or almost completely black)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
1 cup nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly butter or spray the bottem and sides of a 9 inch loaf pan.

Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute, or until the sugar is completely mixed into the butter. Add the eggs and mix for 1 minute, or until the batter is smooth. Add the (mashed) bananas and mix for 1 minute, or until no large chunks remain. The batter will be lumpy, but the pieces of banana should all be 1/2 inch or smaller.

Add the baking soda and salt and mix on low speed until combined. Add the flour and mix, scraping the bowl occasionally, until all the flour is incorporated. Don't work the batter too much, or else the bread will be too dense.

Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 350 F and bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf come out clean.

Remove from oven, wait until cool (or mostly cool if you're impatient like me), and eat!


Now, we all know bananas are tasty things good for eating (unless, of course, you don't like them), but they are also used for other things. In times as early as the 13th century banana fibers were being used in Japan to make clothing and that continues on into modern times all over; the fibers are also used in some areas to make paper. Seeing as how bananas are grown in over 100 different countries, they are also essential to trade. Plus, they're good for you. So eat up and savor every bite.

Can We Start Again?

Wow, it's been a long time; a -very- long time... Hope everyone has been doing well. I know I have (for the most part). Just been doing everyday life things like trying to adjust to this whole "being an adult" thing. To be honest, I think the title of adult is overrated. I'm an adult, my friends (some of whom are in their thirties) are adults, and we run around every Friday night pretending we're in the Star Wars universe. Sure, people can argue that gamers are escapists and all that jazz, but I don't care. I'm enjoying life.

Anyway, I am sad to inform all of you (the very few that read this) that this blog will be changing a little bit. This is going to change to one of those more "life blogs", where I just tell you guys about what's going on with my life and all that. Granted, there will still the added article, recipe, odd fact, but that's what life is, right? A random hodge-podge with everything held together using gum and paper clips.

So, here we go; blog attempt, part two. Enjoy!