Project Updates:

Since I last checked in:

• I did t-day with my some of my best friends ever.
  
• I ordered wheels for my bike yesterday. The guys at the peddler were extremely helpful.
  
• Afro-asian experiment for potluck: I made dumplings for the first time. Shitake mushrooms for the filling. Marinaded in merlot and vegetable stock for a day. I boiled them until the liquid was reduced to half. Then I drained them (I saved the stock) and ran them through the food processor instead of chopping them. I added some garlic that was sauteed in sesame oil and fresh ginger. I left the filling over night. The next day I assembled and steamed all 50 dumplings. The key is more than one steamer basket or you will be there all night. I also had a dumpling press. I made "gravy" out of the stock. I reduced the stock first then added some teryaki sauce and some red pepper flake/oil. It was super earthy and spicy.
• Work holiday parties: The day job party was lame. Two words, Motivational Speaker. Next year I will be busy). The studio gig had a low key afternoon craft gathering, a much better party.
• Baking: I made chocolate oatmeal cookies. Another food experiment. I didn't have much flour left so I nixed the plan for regular oatmeal cookies and decided to substitute cocoa for flour. I added extra oats to insure that they wouldn't be completely flat.
• I am still hunting for shoes. Boots this time. The return/exchange saga continues.
  

• Make Xmas presents and maybe put up my xmas tree. I also need to get crackin' on the cookie baking.
  
• Shop for a faster camera (mine is not quick enough for models on the runway)
• Finish the bicycle. See if the crankset and handlebar stem from the current bike can be transfered to the mixte.
  
• READ: the reading list keeps getting longer.
• Have my car checked out. The damage from the hit and run appears minimal but I want to be sure.