Sports Fans

So, I have been informed recently that to be a sports fan you must choose one team to follow. You must be loyal to that team regardless of the coach, players, etc. My question is this... why? Players and coaches change every year! You are never really rooting for the same team. Are fans not simply rooting for the name or logo? (Unless that changes too, of course) I realize that I am in the wrong in my thinking, as my questions to certain BYU fans have caused quite a defensive uproar. Not being able to explain this phenomena, these certain fans have indicated that it is "bandwagoning" to look at all teams and choose the best one of each season. They have also been unable to explain this strange mindless following. Some blame it on attendance of a school, or family members being employed by schools. Others come up with strange stories of childhood pencils. It all seems a little strange to me! (hehe)

Trajen

Trajen LOVES books. He will always bring over a book, hand it to me and jump on my lap. A little while ago Trajen had been to look at Brandon's books. He came back, handed me a book and jumped on my lap. I looked down and saw that it was Lord of the Rings. I had to "read" it to him three times before he was satisfied!

Recipe Recommendation

Butternut Squash Tortellini with Brown Butter Sauce Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
See this recipe on air Tuesday Aug. 05 at 4:30 PM ET/PT.

Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Giada's New York Twist






Squash Tortellini:
1 butternut squash, approximately 2 pounds, cubed (about 3 cups)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons
1 1/2 teaspoon herbs de Provence
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
2 large shallots, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
4 small amaretti cookies, crushed (about 1/3 cup)
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 package small wonton wrappers
Brown Butter Sauce:
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
2 tablespoons torn fresh sage leaves
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries, or chopped dried cherries, or mixture of both
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese


To make the tortellini, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a foil-lined baking sheet toss together the butternut squash, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, herbs de Provence, salt, and pepper. Bake in the oven until soft and golden, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a small saute pan over medium heat. Cook the shallots and garlic until lightly golden, about 3 minutes.
In a food processor, combine the butternut squash mixture, the shallot mixture, and the ricotta cheese and pulse a few times to blend. Add the crushed amaretti cookies, the nutmeg, and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pulse until smooth. The tortellini filling can be made one day ahead.

To make the tortellini, lay out 6 wonton skins, keeping the remaining skins inside the package or under a very lightly dampened paper towel. Place 1 tablespoon of squash mixture in the middle of each skin. Dip a pastry brush in a little water and wet the edges of the skin. Gently fold the square wrapper into a triangle, making sure the edges are securely closed and there are no air pockets inside. Dampen the two bottom corners of the longest side of the triangle and gently bring them together, pressing lightly to secure. Place the formed tortellini on a baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Before laying out another 6 wonton sheets, be careful to dry the work surface. This will help keep tortellini from sticking to the baking sheet. Continue until all the butternut squash mixture is used. There should be approximately 36 tortellini. (The tortellini can be formed, frozen on the baking sheet, transferred to a tightly sealed plastic bag or container and stored for up to six months. To cook, simply toss the frozen ravioli into the salted boiling water and cook for 4 minutes.)

To make the sauce and serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat.

Add the sage, walnuts and cranberries and let cook until the butter starts to brown, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and season with salt, and pepper.

Stir to combine. Then, gently place the tortellini in the boiling water and gently stir. When they begin to float they are done, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, gently spoon the tortellini onto a serving platter, Top with the brown butter sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.

TAGGED - ABC Tag

A-Attached or Single? Attatched
B- Best Friend: Brandon
C- Cake or Pie: Pie
D- Day: Saturday/Sunday
E- Essential Item: Clothing
F- Favorite Color: Purple
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: Worms
H-Home town: West Valley City, UT
I- Indulgences: Spinach Florentine bagel from Einsteins (mmmm)
J- January or July: July
K- Kids: Trajen
L- Life is incomplete without: family and friends
M- Marriage Date: May 15
N- Number of Siblings: 4 – 1 sister, 3 brothers
O- Oranges or Apples: Fuji Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: Spiders – talk about creepy
Q- Quote: If you love someone, let them go. If they return they are yours forever. If not, hunt them down!
R- Reason to Smile: Giggling Babies
S- Season: Fall
T- Tag Three: ha ha ha
U- Unknown Fact About Me: I love listening to horrible singers... I find it fascinating to pick out their vocal flaws.
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Animals are good
W- Worst Habit: I am never on time. I blame Brandon entirely for that.
X- Rays or Ultrasounds: both
Y- Your favorite food: dairy
Z- Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Heroism or Homocide

Sometimes it is hard to tell the intent of others. Take for example my experience on Wednesday. Brandon was getting an MRI at the New Cottonwood Hospital. We woke up early that day, so we just left Trajen in his PJ's hoping he would fall asleep in the car. Once we arrived, and it was determined that Trajen was up for awhile, I decided to change him into his clothes, and get him out of his newly soiled diaper. Not being familiar with the hospital, I found the closest bathroom. It was one of those one person bathrooms, not gender specific. Sadly, there was not a changing station in this restroom, so I had to change him on the floor. I laid Trajen atop his clothes so he wouldn't get dirty from the floor, and began my task. Trajen normally LOVES his diaper being changed, and is a perfect angel (sarcasm). He decided that this time he would be even more angelic than normal. His screams of torture were sadly unheard, as no one came to his rescue. I had his diaper and shirt on when a sensation of toe nail ripping from the flesh temporarily left me in agony. My big toe nail had been caught on the grate of the floor drain.

Distracted, I let go of Trajen just long enough for him to bound across the room, shove hand to elbow into the toilet water, and splash as much water as possible. Luckily, I was able to come to from the shock of blood pooling into my flip flop before the water left the toilet. I rushed him over the sink and scrubbed him up to his arm pits. Being a big fan of water, he decided he would splash the water about, soaking his nice clean shirt. I quickly finished dressing Trajen, then wrapped my toe in a wet wipe and found my way back to the waiting room. Brandon was still there waiting to get his MRI. I limped in scowling, handed over the soaked baby, then informed Brandon as the father of the child - he could have him.

Obviously Trajen was trying to make my life miserable in his attempt to kill me. However, if you think about it.. if he realized that my toe had been stuck in the grate of the drain.. perhaps he was trying to be heroic by lubricating my toe with the toilet water in an attempt to free it from the grips of the latching demon.

More Mind Games

In my keyboard class several years ago my teacher got a little off subject, and we had a class discussion about visualization. Apparently some people see things in color. I'm not talking about The Wizard of Oz. I'm talking about days of the week, numbers, months being associated with a color. I realized that I don't think in color. I think in shapes. All of my days of the week are rectangular, but they are all different sizes. Monday is tall and wide. Tuesday is tall and very skinny. Wednesday is short and wide. Thursday is medium wide and tall. Friday is almost a square it's so short, and Saturday is so large the edges are nonexistent. Sunday is still a rectangle.. but it curves around to Monday.

Numbers aren't quite as exciting. 1-10 is a vertical line w/one at the bottom and 10 at the top. 11-20 veer off to the left in an upward curve, then it is diagonal switchbacks moving to the left every 10 numbers to 100. I could go on, but I fear confusing people.

I am sure there is a method to my madness. If you figure it out, please let me know!