My best friend

Ok, so as many of you know.. I love food.

I love cooking, I love watching cooking shows, and I love reading cookbooks. Being married to someone who loves food has just made my obsession even worse. I pore over cookbooks looking for something new to try. I'm obsessed with trying new recipes.. but I do make and re-make some of Graham's favorites, like shepard's pie, taco soup, roasted pork tenderloin, etc..

Anyways, let me get straight to the point..

I have found a new best friend. It's called The New Best Recipe cookbook.

The authors in this book detail how they made the "best recipe" ever.. It may not be interesting to those of you that don't enjoy cooking or food science, but it helps if your recipes fail in the kitchen.

The best part is that every single recipe I've made from this book is seriously delicious. Our favorites are: beef stew, stuffed bell peppers, warm spinach salad w/ bacon dressing, cinnamon rolls, apple pie, focaccia bread, lemon cheesecake, strawberry shortcakes.. among others.

If you are looking for a new cookbook for your repertoire, consider this cookbook. You will not be disappointed.

Lately...

My sister Julie came out from Utah to visit me and Graham. We really didn't do much, but we had a good time.

Our activities included:
--Picking our own strawberries at Sauvie Island and then making strawberry short cakes.
--Shopping in downtown Portland and visiting the famous huge Powell's Books.
--Watching several episodes of "Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods".
--Eating lunch at Round Table Pizza.
--Visiting Graham's brother and wife, and playing with their dog.
--Cooking, cooking, and more cooking.

Anyways, I'm getting really excited about my job interview on Thursday and have been very excited about the potential new job and move. Graham and I are very excited about the possibilities in our future.

Job Interview

So.. I randomly applied for a job as a dietitian the Seattle area, only a ferry ride away from downtown Seattle.

I really didn't think anything would happen, since the job description says it requires 3 years of experience and perhaps a background in diabetes education.. neither of which do I have.

I mainly applied because it said there was a $5000 dollar sign-on bonus with a 2-year agreement. Hello! We could definitely use that cash!

So anyways, I got an email today saying they'd like to interview me next week. Yahoo!!! Isn't that exciting?!

Currently unemployed

Ok, so I've never been in this position before.. where I officially have nothing to do and nothing that I "should" be working on.. And I'm BORED already.

--How do you spend the hours of your day?

I've been applying for jobs, but have only heard back from ones that require more than one year experience. Apparently, having a master's degree only counts for ONE-YEAR of experience for jobs. I was starting to get really ticked off because this practically puts me at the same level as a recent internship graduate with no higher degree and no experience. Ok, so getting a master's isn't exactly experience, but it means a couple of things.. 1) I'm smart (no conceit there), 2) I'm dedicated, 3) I have plenty of self-directed work experience, and 4) I have student loans I need to pay off.

Really, I think a higher degree should count as 2 years experience.. otherwise, how am I supposed to get a job without experience? And, does the compensation match the "level" of experience? Anyways, I'm not snobbish about having a master's.. I just want a good job and to really get a good monetary return on my investment. ARGH.

So yeah, I don't have much to do during the day, besides applying and looking for jobs.. I've already done all of the filing in the house.. I worked out for 2 hours today, and I tanned. I also made cookies for a church activity.

--Question: Do any of you recommend a certain workout video? I think I need to vary my routine.

All right.. that's it. There is NOTHING good on TV and Graham is playing basketball. Boo.

Do I look like a pioneer?

Ok, I don't know how many of you have experienced one of these activities, or even heard of one..

Graham and I were asked to be a "ma and pa" on our stake's annual TREK.

This means, we both have to wear pioneer clothes and haul a wagon and possibly some oxen (?) in the mountainous terrain around Portland with a "family" of 13-17 year olds.

A man who's in our ward, who's also in the stake presidency, recommended us for the job. Apparently, we impressed him and he really likes us. But really--Graham has pioneer potential, but what about me?

1) I've never squatted to go to the bathroom in my whole life. I'm not about to start.
2) I like air conditioning.
3) I hate dresses, and I totally hate bonnets.
4) I appreciate a real stove and a refrigerator.
5) I love my bed, down comforter, and down pillows.

My mom is making me a pioneer outfit. She's made me one before--I had a speaking/singing role as Mary in the play about Tom Sawyer in 6th grade. I wish I had a picture of me in this outfit to show you all, but I don't.. So yeah, it's a good thing my mom can sew or I'd be wearing just a smelly old dress from Goodwill. Graham has to wear suspenders. Ha ha.

Needless to say, this will be interesting..