dirty laundry...

moved because for a moment i had a slight slip in judgement and seemingly forgot that even though i am hurt and training is not going as i had planned, i am still a representative of some pretty amazing people and i really do have the utmost respect for them...so its on the personal blog now and i do apologize if i offended anyone with my potty mouth... :)

poor little raven

i know this is not a football blog (and i stand the chance to make even more enemies), but i just got the best damn picture in an email and i had to post it - notice the vehicle driving away in the background...NICE!!! :)

GO STEELERS!

learning Italian

okay. as we all know (if you know me and since you are reading my blog, there stands a pretty decent chance you do - or would like to - know me that is), i am a mover and a shaker. what does that mean katie b? you may ask. let's ponder the meaning of this with the following definitions to guide:

Mover - Mov"er\, n.
1. A person or thing that moves, stirs, or changes place.
2. A person or thing that imparts motion, or causes change of place; a motor.
3. One who, or that which, excites, instigates, or causes movement, change, etc.; as, movers of sedition.

shaker - shak·er\, n.
1. One that shakes: a shaker of long-held beliefs and traditions.
2. One that impels, encourages, or supervises action.

—Idiom
movers and shakers, powerful and influential people

so what does this mean? it means i like change. I CRAVE CHANGE. i like to be the catalyst that creates that change whether it be in myself or the ones around me. i went to a college that i had no friends attending. i moved to CA two days after graduation on a self determined whim. all in response to this NEED for change. BIG change. all on my own, balls out, fight or flight moves. something i've noticed is that it tends to come and go in waves not to over extend one and two year cycles, me and change that is. i have never had a consistent relationship that lasted more than two years. i always break it off (without consciously realizing it) just before or right around the 24th month. case in point - Wadsworth and BOD, both what one might consider "serious" relationships - although knowing what i know now they would both have to be classified as jokes - were both ended by yours truly just before il contrassegno biennale. another instance, slightly different to illustrate the point - i've gone from a bouncy blonde, to a racy red, to a bright brunette and every color in between. i have lived in Rancho Santa Margarita, San Marcos, Encinitas, La Jolla, Mission Valley, Pt. Loma, Normal Heights and Ocean Beach since i've lived in this crazy state. i have now been at my current job for two and a half years, which is a true record...most jobs last less than a year. i have had 6 jobs in the almost four years I've been in SoCal and now i am just itching to get out and do something different. i don't know if its boredom, if i get antsy, or i just like the newness of different situations, surroundings and challenges. i do know that i hate stagnation and being stagnant is one of my greatest fears of failure.

SO WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?! it means i am going to learn Italian. and the BIGNORMOUS plans i have cooking in this little head of mine? they are going to follow suit with that lovely language. Vineman 70.3 2009, IMCozumel 2009, Italy 2010-2012 (with a pit stop in New Zealand for the IM one of my best friends is planning on doing)...?

so this is all just a seedling of a plan right now. its still in the beginning stages. i have so much to find out - what does getting a job in Italy entail? how/where would i live? what would i do? what am i qualified to do? do i have contacts who have contacts in Italy? what part of Italy should i have a main stay in? i've never even been out of the USA, Italy for Christ's sake?! am i crazy? what am i thinking?!

i am thinking this - i want to live. i want to experience all i can in this little life of mine. i have no real obligations in this juncture in my life save for my bills. so i sell everything i own, including Sammy, pay off most of my debt and have two years in Italy to laugh, love and live. fanciful? yes, maybe so. i am half Italian by sperm donation, so is it not my birth right to learn my blood heritage? Iris and momma have already concluded that a lengthy visit to the country would do them both a bit of good and i'm a resourceful type of girl, pretty brave, self reliant and damned determined. so just do it, no? then come back and see what life has in store next...hmmm.

so i thought i'd write it here, for all to see - that way i've said it outloud and the real research can begin because now i will have all of you to answer to if the seedling never comes to fruition :) back up move...Colorado, Santa Barbara, Texas (finally)...?

Chef Kate's Corner: NYD

first off, there are many "traditional" items recognized all over the world for "what to eat for a happy and healthy new year". in my family the traditional fare usually constists of black eyed peas, bacon/ham/pork, and fish. you are supposed to eat nothing that moves "backwards" like chicken. so i took my traditions and turned them into something i could share with MPC...yum, yum, yum :)

New Year's Day Breakfast:

Harry & David's dark chocolate peppermint coffee with eggnog

gluten free pancackes with walnuts (MPC's also had shaved dark chocolote pieces in them)

topped with fresh blueberries

and an eggnog mascarpone sauce

scrambled eggwhites

and bacon
sorry this was taken with my camera phone -
my batteries died on the good one
:(

New Year's Day Dinner:

appetizer:

procutto wrapped shrimp topped with aged, white cheddar

Novella Muscat Canelli

main course:

wild caught salmon sauteed in a zesty spice mixture and olive oil

dirty rice with corn, tomatoes, bell peppers and black eyed peas

and sauteed asparagus with salted pork to flavor