benjerin.com Blog

Benjy: Now that Benjy is finished fencing-in the backyard, he has officially started looking for a job.  This ain’t easy, especially in Athens, so please keep him in your thoughts and send him happy job-hunting vibes!

Erin: It is crazy-busy time at work again.  We have an audit coming up in December, so I’ll be slightly stressed for the next month.

Obi and Keena: The puppies are soooo happy to be able to run around their very own big backyard!  We could watch them chase each other and play for hours.  Now all they do inside is sleep. Also, they’ve graduated to being able to keep their bedding in their kennel with them during they day.  They used to tear the stuff to pieces!  Good Puppies!

Benjerin: We’ve learned to make sushi!  Now that Benjy has found some sushi that he really likes, we crave the stuff at least once a week.  We think it’d be cheaper to start making our own sometimes.  The really tricky part is the rice.  I got a rice-cooker from a co-worker, and another co-worker showed me the special ingredients and techniques for sushi rice.  Now we just gotta find a good place to buy sushi-quality fish. Mmmm…anyone wanna come over for sushi?!

After a year of owning our fancy-shmancy camera.  We FINALLY dug up the Operating Instructions and….WOW! This camera is so much cooler now that we actually understand all the settings…doh!  We’re very excited about this and are looking forward to better picture-taking experiences.

P.S. Has anyone noticed how hyphen-happy I’ve been in this post?!

tired…grumpy…aggitated…hurt…frustrated…nervous…happy…disappointed…worried…excited…relieved…hungry…akward…full…content…confused…discouraged…irritated…uncomfortable…anxious…eager…satisfied…relaxed…hungry again

What a great resource for international travelers and curious folks alike:

Wikipedia’s Big List of Faux Pas

I personally can’t attest to the accuracy of the list, but it is interesting nonetheless.  I definitely spent some time studying the Japanese list, considering I work for a Japanese company.  Note to self: no audible farts and remember to wear a bra at all times…good to know.

Finally!  We’ve got the October photos posted.

Most of the pictures titled “John and Nan Visit” were taken by my Poppa.

Another recipe we have added to our crockpot collection.

Benjy isn’t wild about this one because of all the tomatoes, but I love it!

CROCKPOT PORK TACO STEW

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 lb boneless pork, cut up into cubes
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cans (14.5 oz each) diced tomatoes
• 1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
• 1/2 cup beef broth
• 1 can (12 oz) corn
• 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans

1. Heat oil in skillet.  Brown pork, onion and garlic.
2. Transfer to crockpot and add remaining ingredients.
3. Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
4. Serve with cornbread. Garnish with sour cream.
5. Mmmmm….

We’re trying to build our crockpot recipe collection.

WE LOVE CROCKPOT RIBS!

• 1 rack of spare ribs
• KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
• Allegro marinade
• Worcestershire sauce
• Honey

1. Place rack of ribs on baking sheet (no sauce yet!). Brown in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Turn and brown on other side for 10 – 15 minutes.
2. In saucepan, use BBQ sauce as the base and add marinade, worcestershire and honey as desired. Heat on stove to blend ingredients.
3. Cut ribs into crockpot size pieces. Put ribs in the crockpot.  Cover with sauce.  Cook on low for 8 hours. 
4. Sing benjerin’s praises as you enjoy ribs so tender they fall off the bone.
5. Start to wonder why anyone would tend to a smoker for 8+ hours when they could just plug in a crockpot…

My company has joined the United Way of Northeast Georgia.

For those of you who don’t know what United Way does:

United Way is an organization that uses collaborative efforts to raise money and resources for local organizations that tackle issues such as nurturing children and youth, individual and family health, self-sufficiency, basic needs and support for the elderly.

The United Way of Northeast Georgia supports 8 counties: Clarke, Barrow, Jackson, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Madison, Franklin and Stephens

The United Way of Northeast Georgia services over 30 local agencies, including the East Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Athens Area Child Abuse Prevention Council, Boys & Girls Clubs, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, the Sexual Assault Center of Northeast Georgia and Project Safe.

My company will match every dollar that I raise for the United Way of Northeast Georgia.  If you are interested in helping me contribute (and to have my company match your dollar) please contact me for further information.

For more information on the United Way of Northeast Georgia go to www.unitedwaynega.org.

Or to find a United Way in your area go to www.unitedway.org.

Talk to your employer about starting a United Way campaign at your company!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

at the beginning of this year i began taking dance classes at a local dance studio.  unfortunately, the classes became to costly and i had to stop in september.  this past thursday, the studio put on a cabaret-style show at a bar in downtown athens.  i love to see dance performances, so i just had to go.  i convinced benjy and a friend to join me.

i was very excited and we got there just in time to get second row seating.  the show started with african drummers and dancers, then we saw some belly dancers, and a few dances to moulin rouge music.  we were enjoying the show at first, but the crowd quickly got out of control.  the mc invited people to come sit on the floor in front of our chairs. what an insanely stupid idea!  so now there were tons of people squished onto the dance floor…and just in time for a break-dancing routine. doh!  oh, but she was thoughtful enough to tell the floor audience that they were risking kicks to the head just before the routine started. stupid.  if i had been a dancer in the show, i know that i would have been very aggravated at the tiny amount of space that was left on the dance floor.

the show went downhill very very fast.  the dancers and the routines were great! …but the show organizers and the crowd ruined it.  they chose a poor venue and had a most unorganized approach.  they started taking insanely long breaks between each dance number…and it was getting more and more crowed.  people were spilling drinks on us while they were drunkenly making out. one fella was smoking despite the athens ban on smoking in public buildings.  benjy shouted “no smoking” and the gentleman responded, “suck my a$$”….lovely.  people were standing on the pool tables….how rude!  ack! ….too…many…drunk people.  i got so unbelievably irritated.  i was cursing at least 75% of the people around me, sometimes to myself, other times out loud.  i was very disturbed…by the stupid and oblivious people around me…and by my reactions.  i should have left the show early…

in general, i’ve found it very difficult to enjoy “going out” anymore.  why would i want to go to a dirty bar, with loud music, and put up with a bunch of drunk people that i don’t even know?!  i used to think i was a “people person” but lately…i don’t know.  i still believe (hope) that people are generally good…i think…but i’ve started to feel like people have become so completely careless towards strangers.  i guess its human nature to always put your wants and desires first, but to have absolute disregard for anyone around you?!  i’m definitely starting to think twice about my actions towards others.

so, since our thursday night outing was too much for me to handle, i’ve decided to spend the weekend as a hermit.  i should just remove myself from the public for a few days.  besides, i’ve got a ton of stuff to do around the house. 

Post edited on 11/09/2006:

from NPR’s morning edition

“If you’ve got some excuse for not voting this week, don’t tell it in front of Anna Urban. She is 95 and has been voting since the 1930s. And she didn’t want to miss her chance to vote in Reading , Penn. So when she didn’t have a ride to the polls, she dialed 911. Think of it as a civic emergency. Dispatchers forwarded her call to county election officials. And one of them drove by to pick her up.”

well, i finally found my camera cord and uploaded two months worth of photos.  i have posted all of our september photos.  a couple more days and then i should have the october photos up too.