Week of YOU-Tube... Me-tube? Meep-tube?

As I sit here in a Panera Bread on a Sunday evening, I think of how often I have amazing blog ideas and then I never follow through. Lame. I was introduced to Google Reader last night by some friends and am a little hooked. I want my name on people's lists to always have a new post next to it! I vow. This month. To Post. Twice. A. Week. (punctuation overkill??)

Sooooooo, To begin this, I am hosting a week of You-Tube. My favorite you-tube videos... I shall share with you! If I have a theme day, maybe I will post more that one... who knows! Maybe you will just have to check back often to find out!!


Day #1:

A favorite of mine... so much that I have created a ring tone from it by actually holding my phone up to the computer and recording it. :0) As an Opera person... and a Muppets aficionado - I about peed myself when I discovered this.

So, without further antici........... pation...
(ok, Holly just told me the above doesn't work. For those of you non-Rocky Horror fans, it's anticipation. )

Crispy Cajun Tofu Sticks

Shoooooooowhee!! I am going to have to try this. It looks tasty! I always under-estimate the power of tofu.


Crispy Cajun Tofu Sticks: "My approach to tofu these days is to coat it in some kind of spice mixture before doing anything else. This is a great way to add lots of flavour to the otherwise neutral bean curd. After coating with spices you can fry it, grill it, coat it with sauce . . . whatever suits your fancy. This tofu is dipped in soymilk and coated with bread crumbs (cereal, actually) to provide some crispy crunch. I think these would have been even better with some kind of dipping sauce, so I am open to suggestions.

INGREDIENTS
- 1 pkg extra firm tofu, cut into sticks
- 3/4 cup soymilk
- 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- bread crumbs, or crushed cereal

Spice Mix
- 2 tsp (smoked) paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground thyme
- 1/2 tsp ground bay leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
- cayenne pepper to taste

METHOD
1. Mix together ingredients for spice mixture in a large bowl. Add in tofu sticks and gently toss to coat.
2. Mix together soy milk and vinegar. Dip a tofu stick in mixture, then toss in bread crumbs or crushed cereal to coat. Repeat with remaining sticks.
3. From here you have two options: 1. Fry in 350 degree oil; or 2. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a 450 degree oven for 20-25 mins, turning half way through.

"

Just because....

For Holly,

and

Puppy Love!!


For everyone else,

I got a new job! Actually, it is an old job... but new for this year! More details to follow as soon as I am not exhausted! Now, off to bed!!! 6:30am comes mighty early!

Blog lame-iness...

Sorry for my blog lapse. My back pain combined with this exhausting show has taken soooo much out of me. I am pooped!

(my favorite photo from the Citizen-Times photo shoot!)

The show "opened" last night to a sold out audience of school kids. It was our final dress that they sell tickets to for a seriously reduced price.

It went really well! I am pleased! The performers are hilarious!!! Come see it if you are in town. Don Pasquale. http://www.ashevillelyric.org

I was also in the paper! They quoted me and everything!

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010301240017

Oh... and might I point out... the photographer captured the back of my head AND the very computer I am typing this on! *macbook love*

I... am... famous!!!!!

In the theatre!

We have our final dress tomorrow night. It is in front of an audience. I don't have curtain cues, light cues, or anything else in my book.

In Spartan Cheerleader Fashion*

*ahem...*

Who's that SM that's not prepared?

It's Me! It's Me!!

I say, Who's that SM that's not prepared?

It's Me! It's Me!

Uh-huh, Uh-huh, Uh-huh, Uh-huh, Uh-huh....

No Go's!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

*******

Oh yeah, I went there.

Being Silly!

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

The Back Cracker...

For those of you who know me in person - you have probably heard me grunt and groan when I barely move. My back problems have escalated to the point where my leg felt like it was cursed with the heat of a thousand fires and I couldn't sleep at night.

Randomly, at work, I heard a colleague speak of a chiropractor in Knoxville that she loved. I got his name and I contacted him immediately! I have been going for several weeks now and learned some very scary things about myself. My pain is coming from a bulging disc in my lower back that is pressing/pinching several nerves, including my sciatic nerve running down my left leg. I have had electric stim, traction (that is another post) been twisted into pretzels and cracked, and many many tips from the doctor on how to eat, exercise and sleep.

While the pain is still there, it has moved around a lot! Which is, apparently, a good sign! I am ready for it to be GONE! While, I admit I am more productive in the mornings when I wake up early because I can't sleep - I REALLY miss sleeping through the night!

My day consists of stretching whenever I feel pain, very hot baths and several hours a day on an ice pack. Actually... I am on an ice pack right now! :0) I am doing everything possible to make this better! I have changed my eating habits, I am drinking more water and taking better care of my body. It's like the dude said in the "Wear Sunscreen" song from the 90's, "Take care of your body now. It is the best instrument you will ever have!"

My instrument has gotten a little rusty, but I am well on my way to get it back in good playing shape! :0)

Now that you know more about my back than you should ever know.... good night. AND DRINK WATER!!!