Sunday, November 26, 2017

Witnessing Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday.

And this past holiday weekend has been one of my favorites. I haven't gotten all the Christmas stuff out yet, but Christmas is always intruding on Thanksgiving's territory, so I don't really feel bad about Thanksgiving intruding on Christmas's.

On Tuesday this week, I stopped at 7-Eleven to get some turkey-flavored and pumpkin pie-flavored potato chips (see below). As I was stopped at the stoplight, I noticed some men on the sidewalk yelling at each other. I wasn't sure what to do. So as I pulled into the 7-Eleven parking lot across the street, I called non-emergency dispatch, because by then it had started to get physical. But while I was talking to the dispatcher, the fight seemed to break up. At least I tried. The dispatcher asked for a description and asked if they were white, Hispanic, or black. I said, "I can't tell." Which was a dumb thing to say; I should have said; "They're not black, but I can't tell whether they're white or Hispanic." Oh well.

On Wednesday morning, I drove past the Bountiful golf course yet again, and finally saw wild turkeys. I was really cutting it close to see them before Thanksgiving, but thankfully they cooperated. And then I saw them again the day after Thanksgiving.
 On Wednesday evening, I helped prepare pie fillings for Thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving morning, the weather was perfect for a run. I went on the Wild Rose Trail, where I saw my previous bishop and his family, and some of its surrounding trails.
 But then I decided to go on a little side trail that I have seen but never been on, not knowing where it would go.
Not sure how I got it so sideways.




 As I made it to the bottom, I found myself in City Creek Canyon, where I'd never been before. I thought I'd explore that trail a bit before turning around. Eventually I made it back to the trail where I'd come down. I started back up, and some hikers on the side said to me, "You can do it!" But I couldn't do it, at least not running. I had already run eight miles, and it was a steep hill. So instead I walked up; it was about a mile, and even just walking, it was difficult. I should have taken more water with me, but I didn't think my whole CamelBak was necessary in November. Once I got back to the top of the hill, I started running again, but after less than two miles, I had to walk the rest of the way home. In total, I went twelve miles, but I walked two of those miles. I was totally exhausted when I got home and worried I'd be useless the rest of the holiday, but after resting in the hot tub, I felt much better.

I spent the rest of the day trying to prepare foods. It was a homegrown holiday: I made cherry and cherry meringue pies using frozen cherries from my sister's tree, and mincemeat pie using apples from our own tree, and we had grape juice we bottled from our own vines.
Not a pretty picture, but we had cherry, mincemeat, and cherry meringue pies.
 I tried to make butternut squash, but it didn't have time to cook before my grandparents arrived with the turkeys. The turkeys hadn't cooked at my grandparents' house, so we had to put them back in the oven. Even after they were "cooked," I worried we might get food poisoning from the meat and the stuffing, because my grandparents' definition of "thoroughly cooked" is not my definition.

My grandma forgot the cranberry sauce, but luckily we had some cranberries in the freezer, so I whipped up some sauce. I had never made cranberry sauce before, but I was pleased with how quick, easy, and tasty it was. But I don't think most people had any because of all the weird food timing.
We had lots of family over. It was super hot, since it was a record-high Thanksgiving, and the oven had been on all day, due to rolls, squash, and turkey.

The next day, Black Friday, I decided to run up Mueller Park, which I have never done in November before. It has been several months since I've been in Mueller Park (I prefer North Canyon because it's closer, prettier, less busy, and more challenging), so I was surprised to see they had dissembled all the "tepees" and made them into a barrier.
 I was also completely charmed to see a few trees decorated for Christmas, even though it's technically litter.


Then on Friday evening, I accompanied my sister and my niece to Vivint Smart Home Arena for Katy Perry's Witness Tour! I'm totally a basic white girl, since I like pumpkin spice everything, kitties, and girly pop music.

It was actually a lot funner than I thought it would be, and it was even cleaner than I expected. I was nervous, because her Witness album is a little boring and inappropriate, but she cleaned it up a little, and she sang a lot of her older songs as well (and not every song from Witness). It was a fun way to spend Thanksgiving weekend, and she made a few references to the timing of the concert. At the beginning, she asked, "Are you stuffed? Are you in a food coma from Thanksgiving?" She invited a ten-year-old girl to the stage and asked her if she ate all her Thanksgiving dinner; the girl confessed that she only ate the marshmallowy part of her sweet potatoes. Later she invited a dad to the stage for a competition involving giant basketballs and a giant hoop. After he won against her for the state of Utah, she ripped open his shirt.

I'm sure there are dozens, even hundreds, of people who are just as talented as Katy Perry is, but she has that charisma that makes her a star. And probably a lot of luck. I didn't think she was as good a singer live--but truth be told, it was a little hard to hear her singing over the sound system.

I rarely see movies, but my family took me to two this weekend: Wonder, which was pretty good, and Coco, which was the best movie I've seen in a while. (Olaf's Frozen Adventure was forgettable.)

I also ran up North Canyon again, and I saw more runners there than I have ever seen before. Is my secret being discovered?!


Even though I did all that running, I've still gained some weight this week. But if this heat wave keeps up, it might be easy to work it off again.

***
Now that Thanksgiving has ended, so has pumpkinundation roundup. Last year I extended it through Christmas, but I found that there wasn't a lot of pumpkin stuff left at Christmas. While it was fun to document all the peppermint, gingerbread, eggnog, sugar cookie, and other Christmas goodies I had,  I had better not. I've found that I have been buying and eating pumpkin things I didn't really want that much just so I could document it. For my own health, I need to stop. Sometimes I have trouble sleeping, but a few months ago, I noticed I was sleeping fine. Then pumpkin season started again, and so did the sleep problems. I think it's all the sugar. I will still eat way too much sugar, but I will have less of a reason to do so.

 Ittella Pumpkin Spice Panettone is a brioche with candied pumpkin bits in it. It was better than I expected for a loaf with a long shelf life. I'm not sure what to make of the candied pumpkin, though. 6/10.

 Meadow Gold Pumpkin Spice Egg Nog was the first pumpkin eggnog I knew of. I don't think they've changed their packaging since 2007. Eggnog is great, and so is pumpkin eggnog. 10/10.

 A few weeks ago, Kneaders had samples of their Kneaders pumpkin bread, but right as I was about to grab some, they took the tray away and threw the bread away! But then they had some again this week. It's hard to go wrong with pumpkin bread. 9/10.

 I prefer homemade apple pie to Kneaders apple pie. 7/10.

 I went to 7-Eleven to get 7-Select Turkey & Gravy Flavored Kettle Cooked Chips. It does actually taste like turkey and gravy, but it also tastes like sour cream and onion. I like them. 8/10.

 They also had 7-Select Pumpkin Pie Flavored Kettle Cooked Chips. These had a sweet coating, and they were also good. 8/10.

 I wanted a pumpkin smoothie from Keva Juice, but they were all out of milk. What?! So I went and got Cold Stone Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream, but apparently the picture didn't take. It was OK, but it really tasted more like cheesecake and not much (if anything) like pumpkin. 6/10. Since I was cheated out of a smoothie, I got a Bahama Buck's Pumpkin Smoothie. It basically just tasted like shaved ice mixed with milk and stuff. I didn't detect any real pumpkin, which seems like an easy thing to put in a smoothie. 6/10.

 I had a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Apple Pie Apple, which is a caramel apple with a white confection and spices on it. It's good. 8/10.

This unappetizing picture shows three other pies we had for Thanksgiving: apple pie, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. All of it was homemade, and the pumpkin used fresh pumpkin. But the pumpkin wasn't as good as I had hoped/expected. 10/10, 8/10, 10/10.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Giving thanks

At the beginning of this post, I still have three items left on my Thanksgiving bucket list: have Thanksgiving dinner (will be accomplished this week), see wild turkeys (yes, I have gone past the Bountiful golf course), and give thanks.

(It wasn't officially on my bucket list, but yesterday I took a short road trip to Plymouth, Utah. The story goes that the early settlers were walking down their main street, saw a limestone rock, and said "That looks like Plymouth Rock!" (Even though Plymouth Rock is granite. Maybe I got the story wrong?) Then they decided to name their town Plymouth. I thought it would be fun to go there during Thanksgiving time, but there really wasn't much there. My friend Shane and I also went to Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville on this venture.
)

I thought I would use this post as a means to knock out one of the items left on the bucket list--expressing gratitude for the blessings I have in my life.

I am thankful for the job I have had for almost four years now. My contract is up the end of the year and cannot be renewed. I don't know where I will be come January. I don't think I'll ever get another job as good as this one. While I'm sad to have to leave, I will take wonderful things with me. I have learned so much about the history of my home state, and it occurred to me today that I might very well know more about the first Mormon mission to Gibraltar than anyone else in the world. I have more experience with editing, writing, and research in a professional environment. I have my name on the cover of one book, will have it on the cover of another, and have it in the front matter of several others

I know everyone is thankful for their family, but when I watch court shows or read articles about crime, I'm glad I have sane parents who didn't raise lazy people, jerks, or criminals. (At least I think I'm not a jerk or lazy.)

Similarly, I'm thankful that I live comfortably in a respectable neighborhood. I have never wanted for food, clothes, shelter, or technology. I really am privileged.

I'm thankful that I have a cat, even if he is still skittish around us.

I am thankful for the internet. Seriously, how did you guys get anything done before the internet? We first got the internet when I was eight or nine, so I don't remember a lot in the pre-internet days. As I have been involved in doing research and writing, I don't feel like it's that big an accomplishment because the web makes it so easy. I admire the major books written in, say, the 1970s.

I'm thankful that ten (!) years ago, an overweight, socially awkward teenage boy packed up to go to Washington for two years. That changed the trajectory of my life in so many ways. I'm still socially awkward, but I can't bear to think of where I'd be now without that experience. I'd probably weigh three hundred pounds and spend my free time binging on obscure TV shows and cartoons.

I'm thankful that I discovered the hobby of trail running, which is both healthy and enjoyable. I can't remember the last time I've looked forward to an activity so much. At the risk of offending people, it's a much better hobby than video games, TV, drinking, or Facebook.

I'm thankful that I have lived a life free of addictions. I have never had coffee, tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs.

I'm thankful that I have vast quantities of music at my fingertips, through radio, streaming services, and things I buy myself. I'm thankful that I can collect songs for every holiday that put me in a seasonal mood and transport me in time. I'm thankful for lyrics that make me smile, like "It's not that I don't care about world peace, but I don't see how I can fix it in a swimsuit on a stage," or "Honesty and purity, beauty and sincerity--Doesn't that sound corny? Wish that I were corny!"

I'm thankful for the people I have met through the years who have befriended me. I have a hard time forming relationships, so thanks.


I've got plenty to be thankful for.


***

The penultimate week of pumpkinundation roundup.


 I was disappointed that Corner Bakery no longer had a sandwich with turkey and stuffing, but I got a Corner Bakery Pumpkin Muffin. Basic but tasty. 9/10.

 I had a Bahama Buck's Pumpkin Spice Shaved Ice with condensed milk, but it was good enough that it didn't need the milk. I don't know how to describe what it tasted like. I don't even know if I remember what it tasted like. But I really liked it, and it's refreshing to have a pumpkin item that isn't baked. I'm not sure how I feel about the decorative reindeer, though--it's too early, but it's less wasteful than those paper umbrellas they usually have. 8/10.

 I had a Starbucks Holiday Turkey and Stuffing Panini, which isn't the greatest sandwich, but I appreciate the gesture. It's still a decent lunch. 7/10.

 So I went to Starbucks and ordered a Pumpkin Spice Creme Frappuccino ("creme" being their non-coffee drinks). Well, I didn't hear them call my name, even though I'd been there a while. They had some drinks on the counter that weren't being picked up, but I could tell they were warm, and I thought Frappuccinos were cold. So I stood waiting there forever. But then finally he read off the names again, and mine was one of those hot ones. I figured I had been mistaken about them being cold, since I've never had a Frappuccino before. #MormonProbs. But I think they gave me an ordinary Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Creme, because I did verify later that Frappuccinos are cold, so they just got my order wrong. #BaristaProbs. It's basically just warm milk with flavoring. It's OK. 7/10. I ordered a Frappuccino because it was one of the last warm-ish days.

 But then the next day was cold, and I had the opposite happen to me. I ordered a Kneaders Pumpkin Spice Steamer, because I was cold from my walk over. Just an ordinary steamer. But then they brought me an iced one! The server offered to heat it up for me, but I figured I'd try it this way. I think I actually liked it better cold! 7/10. I also had Kneaders Pumpkin Cheesecake, but apparently the picture didn't take. Not as good as Cheesecake Factory. 7/10.

 I bought this World Market Pumpkin Spice Cocoa Mix on Halloween but haven't had it till now. It was actually pretty good, and had real cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in the ingredients. 8/10.

 I bought a Barbecue Turkey Slim Jim so I could have turkey in Plymouth. It's OK, but I'm glad they're branching out into turkey, since it's more sustainable than beef. 6/10.

 Arctic Circle Pumpkin Pie Shakes have been around longer than the pumpkin spice craze. I had to get one before the season ended. 9/10.

I put this Blackberry Patch Pumpkin Spice Syrup on a pumpkin pancake with pumpkin spice-flavored morsels. I didn't notice the syrup on the pancake (I don't want to use much since the bottle is tiny), but I tasted some plain. Pumpkin is the second ingredient, and it really tastes like it. Somehow it's less sweet than regular syrup, even though it's really just sugar and water (and pumpkin). 8/10.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Fangirls and boys

This week has got me thinking about the idea of fanhood, of producing content that people enjoy, look forward to, and even miss.

Taylor Swift put out a new album, and I was wondering: What would it be like to be a superstar, where people not only like what you do, but look forward eagerly to your new releases? And if your release is postponed or your concert is cancelled, they are disappointed and perhaps even angry. It must be really weird to know that people like what you do.

On a much smaller scale, apparently I have a fandom from my writings. My last blog post generated a lot of positive feedback. I'm not really sure why--I didn't find it a particularly noteworthy post, and quite honestly, I think it was popular because the Facebook thumbnail was a picture of me, and people feel a need to press "like" when people post pictures of themselves. I have received compliments and positive feedback for my blog since at least 2012 (I can't remember any from 2011, but maybe I had some then as well). My pumpkinundation roundup in particular seems to be a popular feature. Recently, I even had someone who isn't my Facebook friend ask me about my pumpkin stuff on my blog, and I doubt she's even read it, which means someone has been telling her about it. (I don't send friend requests because I don't want anyone to feel obligated to be my friend if they don't want to--and I get exhausted having too many friends.) It is strange to me that so many people have liked my blog, since I don't think it's very remarkable, and my life really isn't that interesting. Yet a certain Luke keeps calling me "the most interesting man in the ward."

I also had a review for Peppermint Twinkies go live this week, and if I do say so myself, it's one of the best reviews I've written. I even got a positive comment from a stranger. See, I feel like I'm not as funny or clever as most of the other reviewers, so every time a review goes up, I feel pretty self conscious about it. I'm glad this week's turned out well.

This week at work, I stood three-hole-punching a book manuscript for which I have done a substantial amount of research, writing, and editing. We printed it out to go to reviewers. As I was doing so, I was thinking, "Is this real life!?" This book may reach more people than my humble little blog, but I doubt it will generate much interest among the common folk.

It just baffles me that people care about my weekly experiences with trail running,
This week's adventures took me on trails above Bountiful that were too steep, rocky, slippery, and exposed to be good for running.
 cat ownership,
This is his favorite spot. I love him, even if he likes my mom more than he likes me.
and holiday geeking out.

(For those who were curious, my Thanksgiving bucket list still has the following tasks I have to accomplish: have Thanksgiving dinner, see wild turkeys, go over a river, donate to a food bank, and give thanks/express gratitude. It isn't officially on my bucket list, but I also think it would be fun to visit Plymouth, Utah. While I'm 29, I want to go to all 29 counties, so that would cross Box Elder off my list.)

But if I'm truthful, I do find myself enjoying reading others' blogs. I'm one of the few consistent bloggers anymore (as far as ordinary people are concerned). And with some people, I'm disappointed when they don't post. But there are others whose posts I don't read, because I think, "Your blog is not interesting, and it's a chore to get through."

***
Pumpkinundation roundup, week 9!

 This very container of Apple Pie Tic Tac is what got me the reviewing gig last year. I still have the container left over--since these are sugared mints, I can only eat them at Thanksgiving. 7/10.

 This is a "mini" Iceberg pumpkin shake. It's enormous. It wasn't mixed super well, but it was super tasty! 8/10.

 They sell these Nature's Path Granny's Apple Pie Toaster Pastries all year, even though they're inferior to the pumpkin ones, which are only seasonal. The apple part tastes kind of fake. But I like them better than Caramel Apple Pop Tarts. 7/10.

 The Kneaders Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Petite Cake didn't impress me last year, because it was a step down from the cake slices they used to do. But now that I'm used to the idea, I can appreciate the divine dessert it is. 9/10.

 Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory makes an apple pie apple, which has a white confection with apple pie spices over the caramel coating. For the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Pecan Pie Apple, I think they just put pecans in the apple pie apple. It's not bad as an apple, but it doesn't make me think of pecan pie. I've never known pecan pie with spices. 8/10.

 Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake isn't as good as its plain pumpkin counterpart, but you still can't go wrong with them. 9/10.

 In years past, I didn't really care for Nestle Toll House Pumpkin Spice Morsels. I don't know why I bought them, because I don't know what I'll use them for. But I've had so many inferior pumpkin products that these don't seem as bad anymore. 6/10.

 Pizza Pie Cafe's Pumpkin Dessert Pizza of the Month is tasty, but it's not very pumpkiny. I mostly get cinnamon and butter. 7/10.

 Apple Pie Larabars are sold year round, and they're pretty good; I like that they're literally just fruit and nuts. 8/10.

 Franz Pumpkin Spice English Muffins use pumpkin puree, but mostly I can just taste clove. I ate these with different kinds of veggie burgers and pumpkin butter (not at the same time).

 I rarely use lip gloss, and when I do, it's usually Burt's Bees. But I had to try Pumpkin Pie ChapStick. It reminds me of the coating of Pumpkin Pie Kit Kats. 7/10.

 I had this homemade pecan pie. My favorite. 10/10.

 I also had a homemade apple pie: 7/10 (overcooked) and chocolate pecan pie: 9/10 (excessively sweet and decadent with the chocolate).

 I had to use some leftover rice, so I used McCormick Pumpkin Pie Spice in fast nut veggie burgers. I have made these veggie burgers several times before, but this time I made some changes. It was way too liquidy, I think because the onion I used was too big, so there was too much water. Instead of chili powder, I used pumpkin spice; instead of almonds, I used pumpkin seeds and pecans; instead of ketchup, I used peanut butter. It wasn't as flavorful as the regular version, but it was edible. 7/10.

Even though I don't use much lip gloss I also got EOS Natural Pumpkin Spice Lip Care, which seems to be marketed to women. It seems to be a higher quality than Chap Stick. 7/10.