Poor Little Sad Blog

Sorry I have neglected you. I have a valid reason. It’s not a good excuse, but it is true.

See, this spring I got a hair brained idea to purchase a business. A flower shop to be exact.

Why? Well many reasons.

To name a few: I was getting way too much free time, I was enjoying sleeping in, or only setting my alarm to go on 5 am swims, or for fun events. My friends were tired of reading my facebook status updates of my travels to Puerto Rico, volunteer work at various beer, music and film festivals. It was kind of freaking me out how many ‘famous’ people I was meeting this year. It was getting a little frightening. My dog and cat were getting sick of me being around the house so much. Ski season was over. Oh yeah, and I can’t forget, I needed one of those job things, since I was less than enthusiastic about going back into IT I figured I would create my dream job.

So what better way to solve these issues? Buy a business! It will take up all your free time and teach you many lessons in the process. Since I love learning lessons hands on. I had my work cut out for me.

The process of purchasing a business I think is the closest I will ever come to having a baby. Not that I have had a baby to compare this too, but after seeing what many of my friends went through with childbirth, I feel like I can relate.

In the beginning of the process, random people would immediately ask you if you are married and if this was planned (I am NOT kidding). The first to ask me this question was my first bank I went to in order discuss financing, yes, even though this is highly illegal, I was asked “How do you expect to do this without a husband?” Hello 1954, please go away and come back to 2010. Needless to say I did not get my loan from that bank and I am in process of closing my accounts there.

Everywhere I turned it seemed like everyone had unsolicited advice to give. Some good, some not so good, and much from people with no credibility to give advice.

My workout regime along with my diet pretty much went to hell.

I would wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares of “what if I screw this up?”

I dreaded and anticipated the delivery date.

Since the delivery date(June 1) I have not slept or ate much. Again grabbing food and short naps when I can. Not even going to talk about my workout schedule. Or I should say, what workouts? I have participated in one triathlon and the MS150 bike ride this summer, but both of those performances showed my lack of commitment to ‘training’. I do however still plan to go to SF for the Nike half marathon in October. Note the ‘half’. I will not be training for the full marathon.

My social life has suffered horribly. If you want to find me, I’ll be at the shop.

In the end, I will drive a mini-van. Heck, even my ‘mom’ friends, I can only think
of a couple that have mini-van’s. I am not afraid, It will have a lot of flowers on it. It’ll be cool!

Even though this list looks like a whining list. Believe me it is not.

I could not be happier! I am working ridiculous hours, but I am for the first time in my professional career, feel like I have found my ‘fit’. Playing with flowers and making people happy every day. Who wouldn’t love that? Oh yeah, plus I get the bonus of reading all those cards people send with flowers. That alone is a whole other blog.

More to come, I promise.

RUM PUNCH! *POW!*

This past week I returned to Puerto Rico. This trip was the original one planned days before my aunt passed away in March.

Once again I return with a recipe that I am being prodded to share.

RUM PUNCH!

In a pitcher, Mix:
1 Cup Coconut Rum
½ Cup Limon (Lemon flavored rum)
1 Cup Pineapple Juice
½ Cup Orange Juice
Splash of grenadine.

Top the pitcher with ice, mix well, top each drink with FRESHLY grated nutmeg. (don’t use any of the stale powered, pre-grated shit!—YUCK!)

Serve to your friends, smile, and enjoy!!!

*Warning: you may make multiple pitchers of this.

By Popular Demand: RUMCAKE!

(Editor note: I wrote ths blog a couple of months ago after returning from my trip to Culebra. I have withheld posting it until I had photos to match. By a little proding from an old friend across the pond, I am posting this without photos so Val can make some rumcake)

A few years ago, I found a rumcake recipe online that I tried, loved, shared and accepted all rave of all my friends saying it was the best Rumcake they EVER had. This includes my ex semi-expat parents that spend a better part of a decade as Antiguan residents. Let’s just say, my family knows good Rumcake when they have it. And I make a MEAN Rumcake.

The recipe I used and pretty much still follow came from Pioneer Woman. I change some of the technique’s some. But I don’t want to completely plagiarize her recipe.

Recently I traveled to a small island off the coast of Puerto Rico to lay to rest my dear Aunt Judy that passed away rather un-expectantly. Aunt Judy was known for a lot of things, speaking her mind, causing a social ruckus and baking a mean Rumcake. In fact her cakes were famous, if you ate a Rumcake on Culebra, more than likely you were eating my Aunt Judy’s Rumcake. She supplied them to all the restaurants on the island. Her Rumcakes had been written up multiple times in travel magazines.

I regret I never got down to Culebra to visit my Aunt and have her Rumcake. In fact I was supposed to go for my first visit this month. That’s Aunt Judy for you, Leave the party early and forget to say good-bye.

When I arrived in Culbra, after settling down for the evening, my cousin Tracy (who I secretly think is really an older sister since we are so similar in soo many ways) asked me “Want to make one of Mom’s Rumcakes?”

Oh hell yes!!! (I really wanted to spy the recipe)

Imagine my shock when I saw the recipe and discovered it is the same as mine?

I could be selfish and keep it as my own, but that is not my family’s way. I will continue the family tradition and sell the Rumcakes whenever I can, but I won’t hesitate to share the recipe either.

By the way if you’re too lazy to bake this yourself, I will do it for you and sell it for $25. I am still trying to figure out shipping so unfortunately you need to be local at this time for me to deliver it.

Okay, so enough of the bibble babble, let’s get to the RUMCAKE!

First you will need GOOD rum, I personally like Cruzan Coconut Rum. Aunt Judy Swears you need Bacardi Dark Rum. Who am I to argue with Aunt Judy? Use the Bacardi for this recipe, okay?

As for the cake mix, but a yellow cake mix with pudding in the mix. This saves you from having to add a box of pudding, plus again it is one of the few discrepancies between AJ and I. I am going for her rules, so do it!

RumCake:
1 Box Yellow cake Mix (pudding in the mix)—If you can’t find this kind, buy a box of instant vanilla pudding to add.
4 eggs
½ cup cold water
½ cup canola oil
½ cup rum
1 cup chopped pecans

Glaze:
1 ½ cups REAL butter
¼ cup water
1 ½ cups sugar
¾ cups Rum

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees

Grease a Bundt pan with either flour and butter (if you still do that)—or cheat with cooking spray. I use the non-stick cooking spray.

Place the chopped pecans around the bottom of the greased pan and set aside

In a big mixing bowl (I use my Kitchenaid, AJ used a bowl and a hand mixer—either is fine. Mix all the cake ingredients and mix on low speed until blended, then turn up the speed to medium and mix it all up for 2 minutes.

Pour the batter in the Bundt pan, pop in preheated oven, and cook for 1 hour. Until cake is done.

You all know how to test when a cake is done, right? (Stick a toothpick in it and see if it comes out clean. In this case, use a bamboo skewer. You’ll use that skewer later so don’t trash it.

Are you sipping rum right now? You should be, but slow it down partner, we have some serious cooking yet to do!

After you remove the cake from the oven. Set it on a cooling rack to cook, come back and using a rubber spatula gently release it from the edges of the pan as it cools. When you feel daring, put a plate on top of cake and flip upside down to take it out of the pan and let cool on a plate. Don’t be afraid, but don’t be too daring either.

Now we stab the cake, take that skewer and poke, poke poke the cake all over. This will allow the delicious glaze we are about to make places to go in the cake. Go ahead…keep skewering the cake…

Okay once the cake has been perfectly perforated, place the pan back over the cake and reverse the flip method so it is back in its pan. Skewer the ‘top’ of the cake some more. Set aside.

Now for the fun part…THE GLAZE!

Measure out Rum, place to the side.

In a medium saucepan melt the butter, sugar and water.

Heat over medium heat, constantly stirring. Bring it to a boil. Still stirring constantly, boil for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, remove from heat and add rum.
Watch out when you add the rum and stir, it will cause a commotion in the pan and it may startle you.

Now is the process to slooooowly pour the glaze over our (upside down, still in the pan) cake.

Pour a cup of the glaze into a measuring cup you are able to pour form, easily.

Slooooowly drizzle the glaze over the top, around the sides, towards the center of the cake. You may need to take small breaks to make sure it all absorbs. Pour pour pour. Once all poured, walk away for a little bit (30 minutes to an hour)

Come back, once again, place serving plate on top of cake, and flip it. It should pop out beautifully.

VIOLA!

RUMCAKE! If your not too drunk from sampling the glaze and sipping rum, cut yourself a piece and enjoy. Even if you are drunk, you probably need some food by now. So eat up!

Served with coffee this makes a wonderful breakfast (in my opinion)

Filter?

Yes, I apparently don't have one that functions all the time.

This weekends random statement that had me chuckling, and my friends looking at me with the ever so common confused, entertained look on their face.

"Move Over Peanut Butter, Jelly is Movin' In!!!

This may seem like an appropriate statement for breakfast or even lunch conversation...Maybe notsomuch for shopping at Banana Republic with your girlfriends.

GULP!

Easter Shenanigans

Easter may have been a couple of weeks ago, but the celebration memories will last forever.

What better way to celebrate a story of a deity turning into a zombie than dye Easter Eggs with friends?

I’ll tell you how. Drink Car Bombs*, and ButterBall** shots while dying eggs!!!

*For the younguns that may read this, a Car Bomb is a half pint of Guinness with a shot of Bailey’s dropped in. Some add a tad of Irish whiskey to the shot, I do not. That would be ‘yucky’. Do not try this at home unless you are a trained professional, like I am.

**A ButterBall is another delicious concoction of Baileys and Butterscotch schnapps.
Side note1: 8 am yoga the next day was not as delicious as the shots the night before, I would like to publically apologize to the people next to me that has to smell my stinky, sweaty hungover self. Sorry ‘bout that.

You Know You’re an “Athlete” When:

You get a personalized letter in the mail inviting you to an event, solely on your performance at a previous event. Not a mass mailing, not a mass email but a letter, hand addressed to you with the words, “we would like to personally invite you to participate in our event”.

Whoa! Me? Really?

COOL!

Looks like my Tri season this year just got one more race because who can turn down that invitation?

Leadville, here I come!