Shakaround Shakcago

My third official vacation this year.  It was kind of a mistake, but when you have to throw in your vacation requests in November, you're kind of taking a gamble, hoping that something will be going on/you come up with some plans, 10 months into the future.  The plan wasn't to be enrolled in school right now during the summer months (I would therefore have a bit more time to truly relax during this week) but switching universities changed all that crap.  Still have a lot of projects/tests to take over these next several days of PTO, but I figure I can still get something done in the meantime.

This past weekend Jon Scott and I went to Detroit for a rally where he won a super cute lipstick red 1965(?) Vespa SS 180.  My hatred for the color red has been relinquished.  We decided to ride it back home, as I had to be in Grafton so I could leave for Chicago the next day.  He still had to get himself to Pittsburgh, however.  Well, we made it. We stopped at a cupcake joint in Birmingham and were out by 2:30 or so. Arrived in Grafton at my folks' house by 9.  My parents had dinner ready when we arrived and Jon decided he wasn't gonna mess with trying to get home in the dark, as the tail lights were out and it was still going to be another 4 hours back to Pgh.  He made it home without fault the next day.  I, on the other hand, have an ass that's bruised in at least a dozen different places.


Now I'm in Chicago.  Jay and I spent the day drinking coffee, watching the balloon ladies and chicharrones  men sell their wares on the beach shore, and riding bikes around Andersonville.  Up next is pizza.  PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA.  No matter how many times I come here, it never gets old.  


The agenda consists of Chicago for a few more days, a wedding in Pgh, then a weekend camping with some girlfriends.  


Relatedly, Jay did a quick tarot reading for me today at Kopi Cafe and mentioned something about me cramming too much stuff into my life.  

Patients are more than just a source of aggravation

I cannot explain how darned excited I get when someone has good taste in television programs.  I'm talking specifically about patients at work.  I've not had proper cable for over a year.  So when I see the Food Network on in someone's room, the only decent thing to do is to quit working, sit down, and watch with them.  Hell with that weeping wound dressing change or incessant IV pump beeping.  Only kidding, of course.  But when my patient and I began to talk about baking, she told me she'd share with me one of her best recipes.  It's for strawberry nut bread, and she had this particular recipe published in a magazine back in the 70s.  She said that she makes it every year, but her health has really dwindled recently, and this is the first year she hasn't made it. 

I tried it last night for Daniel's birthday.  And.  Totally a recipe worth the ink on paper.




FC's Strawberry Nut Bread


2 c sugar
3 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
2-3 t cinnamon, depending on personal preference

4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 c canola oil
2 c fresh strawberries, cut into quarters or eighths
1/2 c walnuts or pecans




Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 2 loaf pans.


Sieve the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Create a well in the middle.
Add eggs and oil, stir until just combined.
Add strawberries then nuts, stir after each addition.

Divide batter between loaf pans.  Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out (mostly) clean.


FC said to let it cool completely before cutting.  It's pretty crumbly.  She also said that it is absolutely divine with strawberry or plain cream cheese.  I had picked some up yesterday morning before Daniel came over, but we never touched it.  This quickbread does not need it.

Enjoy!!!!