Trust Your Gut

Neighbor Update: The worst one moved out Saturday. Hurrah! We dedicated our bi-weekly trip to the Texas Roadhouse to the moved out neighbor. The other ones are moving out at the end of the month.

Here's the crazy thing. We thought they were hoodlums, but we kind of thought we were exaggerating. Turns out, not so much.

Jason noticed a letter in the mail pile downstairs from the public defender so he looked up the neighbor in the court system. Domestic assault. Nice.

There was a no contact order, but it was lifted and I'm sure his little girlfriend went in and said it was no big deal, etc. She's this tiny thing and I'm sure he could really smack her around if he wanted. I've heard them arguing in the stairwell and I know there was some sort of drama, but I didn't know it was that bad.

So, yeah. If he hadn't moved out, Jason would have discussed this whole "assault" thing with the landlady and I think we would have been rid of them (or at least him) anyway.

Plants

Update on our in-home gardening:

Tomato plants

The taller one is a Patio tomato plant we bought at Home Depot, so it was already a pretty established little plant. The two smaller ones are those Roma seedlings I started earlier this Spring. I know I need to thin them out, but I feel guilty killing 5 of the plants to save one to flourish. But if I don't, they'll all die. Maybe I'll see if anyone at work wants a small tomato plant.

Cinnamon Basil

The AeroGrow


The dill is threatening to take over the kitchen. This picture was taken after I pruned it.

We have also started some cilantro, oregano and lavender seeds, which sort of poked their heads out and then went back under the soil. Jason tented them with plastic wrap yesterday to create a greenhouse, so we're hoping they sprout again.

I made a yummy tomato sauce for chicken and pasta on Sunday night where I used all 3 basils that we currently have growing in our house. It turned out great. I can't wait to actually have fresh tomatoes to use in the tomato sauce.

Happy Memorial Day!

First of all, I want to say hi to my Papa who was in WWII and carried on the fine family tradition of serving in the U.S. military and making it through.* I looked for a nice card and/or e-card to send him, but couldn't really find anything fitting for a veteran who was still actually alive. I know it's "Memorial" day, but can't we remember the service of the veterans who are still with us? I just want him to know that I love him and am proud of his service.

I also want to give a shout out to my cousin Greg and his wife Rosie who served in Iraq. It worked out pretty well for them because where else would a guy from Tennessee meet a girl from Minnesota? Love you guys.

We celebrated the beautiful Memorial Day here in Rhode Island with a quick road trip to Conanicut Island. Bit of trivia: Dan in Real Life with Steve Carrell was filmed there. We watched that movie several weeks ago and wondered where it was filmed because it looked kind of like the Cape, but not quite. Turns out, it was right here in Rhode Island, across the water from Newport.

We had lunch with some friends and then headed out. Jason, Marissa and I drove down and spent some time walking along the ocean cliffs in the state parks.

It was a bit windy.


I love this picture.

We drove to the other end of the island and wound up driving through some pretty houses and a wooded area. These two deer were just standing among the trees, watching us drive by.
Hope you all had a great day!

* Great-great grandpa Sam was in the Civil War and ended his years in the 1930's, giving cave tours in South Dakota. Great-grandpa Keith was in WWI, was gassed in the trenches at one point and lived to an active old age. He died shortly before I was born.

Hold the Phone

Ok, no one freak out quite yet, but it appears that one, if not both, of our neighbors is moving out. Could we really be that lucky?

This is actually perfect timing. Last night I told Jason it was time we gave the landlady an ultimatum: they go, or we go. As much as the idea of moving fills me with dread, I just can't handle it anymore.

After being woken up twice this week at 2 AM by someone dropping, I don't know, a bowling ball, right over my head, we came home last night to no parking spaces. Jason went upstairs and asked them to move one of their cars. He came back down and we waited.

And waited.

Finally after several minutes Jason went upstairs again while I waited in the car. He told me later that their conversation went something like this:

Rude Neighbor Guy: Yeah, I know, we're trying to find him.

Jason: Well, there are 4 cars down there so someone needs to move one of them.

Trying to find him? What, is the apartment so vast that they can't quite locate one person to move one car in the span of several minutes?

That's about the time I started honking loudly and repeatedly. The guy with the HUGE pick up truck that he always parks diagonally finally came downstairs, swearing and huffing and puffing, according to Jason. He got in his truck, pulled out violently and pealed out, narrowly missing hitting me. What exactly was he so ticked about? Two of those spaces are ours.

When we were grabbing our stuff out of the car I was seething and I may have uttered a swear word or two myself.

Well, we woke up this morning to a U-haul van in the driveway and they've been taking loads somewhere all day. Fingers crossed!

Fingers also crossed that this doesn't just mean they're going to be replaced by some of their punk friends.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday I got my birthday present from Jason. You might say, wasn't your birthday 7 months ago? Why yes, it was. The thing is, I told Jason not to get me anything last year since we got married just 10 days later and all of our spare funds and attention and everything were focused on that, which is what I wanted. He still managed to pull together some of my friends for a fun dinner at the Border Cafe on my birthday. Very sweet.

About a week ago he announced to me that my birthday present was on the way. What? He said it was actually something he was thinking about getting me and then it took a little while and that's why it's really late. Whatever the reason, birthday present! Yay!

Yesterday he got it in the mail, brought it home, and wrapped* it. When I opened it, I could see why it took so long.

It's a photo book called The First Two Years full of pictures of me and Jason (and Tiny) while we were dating. It's an actual, bound, hardcover book. The front has a picture from our engagement photos and the rest is full of pictures from the places we went and the things we did. I was kind of blown away and almost started crying.

My friend Natacha told me I'm never allowed to say Jason is not romantic again. I think she might be right.


* Angie, Chrissy, Deborah and anyone else at my 30th birthday party, he can learn!

Dill Veggie Dip

As I mentioned on my other blog, yesterday was not a stellar eating day. Or maybe it was, depending on if eating lots of yummy, fatty foods is a good eating day in your book. I guess it could go either way.

We were busy all day and I didn't cook some big production of a dinner. However, I did make a dill dip that turned out pretty well. The dip was inspired by the AeroGrow, which is completely out of control. I need to take another picture so you all can see. We've already enjoyed some GIANT basil leaves with tomatoes and mozzarella, and the dill is crowding out everyone else, so I figured for the good of the rest of the herbs I should cut it back a bit.

The dip was also inspired by late nights in my old Chicago apartment right next to the El*, eating carrots and Marzetti's dill veggie dip with my roommates. The Marzetti's dip is amazing and also really bad for you.

I did a little online research to find a healthy dill dip recipe and just made up my own in the end because I didn't have light mayonnaise or fat free cream cheese on hand, but I did have plain yogurt.

Dill Dip
2/3 C. fat free plain yogurt (I'm partial to Trader Joe's or Stonyfield Farm)
1/2 t. lemon juice
A big pile of chopped fresh dill (I'm going to say 1/4-1/3 C.)
1 minced garlic clove or 1 t. garlic powder

When I made the dip, I just sort of tossed things in, so my measurements are rough, but I think they're pretty close. I haven't figured out the calories on this yet, but since 1 cup of yogurt is only 110 calories, I think it won't be much more than 75 or so.


* Seriously, right next to. Our apartment shook. Occasionally when the train slowed down before heading into the Addison station we waved at the people in the cars.

Meme-a Reme-a Ding Dong

I have 2 memes I've been meaning to do. Here's one from Beckie:

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Topaz Elantra

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Cookies 'n Creme Molasses (that just sounds like a super ice cream flavor)

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) K McG (in da house)

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Kelly Green Fish (Maybe that should be Kelly Greenfish. And no, the color isn't just because I'm narcissistic)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) - Eileen* Boynton Beach

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Mcgke

7. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The" + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Crimson Mocha

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) George Thomas

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names ) Lynn Isham

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Peress Poughkeepsie

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Autumn Dahlia (awesome)

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you're wearing right now + "ie" or "y") Appley Sweatery

14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Pumpkin Muffin Maple

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: ("The" + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + "Tour") The Swim Lightning Tour

So I'm not really going to tag anyone because I am so bad at doing these things myself. But if you want to do it on your blog, feel free.

*Yeah, family, I know I spelled it wrong. I'm trying to keep a little bit of anonymity.

I Am A Card Shark

I played poker last night with Jason and 2 of his friends from his lab and I totally dominated!

Have you ever noticed how with some people when they win it's all about skill, but if you win it was just "lucky cards" or lucky something? Yeah, Jason can be one of those people and it's very unattractive. Granted, I had good cards. Anyone who wins poker has to get good cards to some extent. But I also played well. Jason just really hates to lose.

At one point my chip pile was pretty big so I was matching one guy's big bet for big bet in the hope that I would get a flush. Then he went all in and I called it. The last card that flipped over was my flush and he was SO mad. Jason asked me why I kept betting when I didn't really have much. Well, A) I had a big pile of chips and even if the guy had won with his all in, I would have still been fine, and B) it's fun!

Apparently, "it's fun!" is not a legitimate reason to place bets in the very serious world of geneticist poker. Well, sorrrrrry.

I still won.

Saturday Night Dinner

Tonight I just made pork chops and baked onion rings. But last night I made relatively healthy moussaka and it turned out really well. Jason wanted to eat half the pan all by himself.

Moussaka
1 Eggplant, 1-1 1/4 pound
1 lb Ground Turkey
24 oz No Salt Added Tomato Sauce
1 C. Onion, chopped
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1/2 C. Red Wine or Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 C. Flour
1 C. Skim Milk
2 T. Parmesan Cheese
1/2 C. Feta Cheese, crumbled
2 t. Cinnamon
8 Kalamata Olives , chopped

Slice eggplant very thinly.
Brown ground turkey with onion and garlic. Add tomato sauce and red wine. Let simmer for 15 minutes. Add chopped olives.
Layer eggplant then meat mixture in 13 x 9 pan, ending with meat mixture. You will probably have 2 layers of each.
Add milk to a saucepan on medium heat. Slowly stir in flour a little at a time until sauce thickens. Add feta cheese, parmesan cheese and cinnamon. Stir until well blended.
Pour white sauce over the meat and eggplant.
Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove foil and cook for 30 more minutes.

Number of Servings: 8, 204 calories, 7.6 grams fat, 280.6 mg sodium

I Miss Girls!

I was just whining about this to my sister-in-law, so I figured why not magnify the whining?

So I love Jason and all, but I miss my girl friends. I feel like most people who I've managed to keep a connection with in Boston since I moved to Providence are gradually moving away. Even those who aren't, it's not like we see each other every Sunday at church anymore and connect at there or at home (Hi Angie and Chrissy! I miss you guys). I live an hour away now and am just not included on those emails and phone calls to get together on the spur of the moment. It's a huge effort to figure out schedules and meet up, and while definitely worth it, the friendships just don't seem as organic anymore. It's become this one or two hour catch me up with your life, ok, bye bye, rather than easily flowing in and out of each others days and weeks.

There are a few women in my new ward who I wouldn't mind getting to know better, but they have kids. One in particular who seems really cool has 3 kids. Not that I don't like kids and I have no problem hanging out with the kids, but the kid/no-kid schedule doesn't really mesh that well. I can't make the playgroups because I'm at work, and they're busy in the evenings with dinnertime and sleep schedules.

And now, 3 of our Providence friends are moving away this summer. How do you meet friends as a grown-up whose not in school and works in a small office?

Anyway, just feeling a little lonely in Rhode Island.

Confession

Sometimes I think about starting another blog in which I post all the profane and dirty comments and observations that Evil Kelly keeps running through my mind. I usually keep her pretty reined in.

RI Bar

2 steps down to this whole RI Bar process.
1) Take and pass MPRE. Check.
2) Turn in Bar application. Check (yesterday).

The only thing left is to take and pass the Bar exam. Yeah. If any of you remember the last time I took the Bar, you know you'll be hearing ALL about this during June and July.

So Rhode Island is already on my crap list for a couple of reasons. 1) They're the smallest state in the country and they're making me take the entire Bar even though I've already done this before and passed. Passed well enough to waive into DC even. And even though their laws are really, really similar to the laws of Massachusetts because in a lot of ways they're like Massachusetts Junior. 2) They made me retake the MPRE because I hadn't taken it within the 2 years of taking the Bar, which was just adding salt to the wound. I'm not positive, but I think Rhode Island may be the only state with this stipulation.

You would think this would have prepared me for the ridiculousness that is the application for the RI Bar, but I was still shocked. Here's all the information I've been gathering for the last few weeks:

• Every place I've lived since I turned 21.
• Every place I've worked for more than 6 months since I turned 21, plus an employment verification form from each of these employers.
• 27 references. TWENTY-SEVEN. That's 5 people generally, none of whom are related to me, have employed me, or went to law school with me. 2 people to fill out affidavits of my good moral character (Thanks, Jenn and Dave!). And since I've been a practicing attorney for a few years, as an added bonus, 3 attorneys and 2 clients, plus 5 upstanding people in each of the jurisdictions in which I've practiced law (which is 3 jurisdictions).
• A handwriting sample certified by my law school. Which makes me wonder what the people do who are trying to get admitted when they've been out of law school for 20 years. Thankfully I work down the street from my law school 2 days a week and the lady in the dean's office was VERY familiar with the RI Bar process.
• A copy of my law school application.
• A certified copy of my law school transcript.
• A copy of my credit report.
• A list of all of my debts and credit cards (even if they have no balance).
• Criminal background checks from every state I've lived in since I turned 21, which for me is 6 states. Thankfully two of them will only give that information to government agencies (Thanks, Arizona and Vermont!), so I only had to get 4 of those.
• Certificates of Good Standing from the two jurisdictions where I'm admitted to practice law.

All of that, plus all of my general information about everything about me ever except my blood type. And then I paid them $450.00 (which I'm being reimbursed for by the firm thankfully).

There's another attorney at my firm who took both the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bars and he assured me that the hardest part of the RI Bar is the application. So I still have the Multistate to stress about, but I think I'll be ok with the state part of the exam.