Nattering

[hrj]

I'd been planning to camp for Mists Coronet this weekend, but I've rethought the matter. When I started plotting out planning a menu, shopping, packing, and whatnot, I got to feeling overwhelmed (and even had a brief moment of irrational depression). And then I got to thinking that I still have to prepare my classes for Collegium the weekend after. So I'm currently thinking about possibly day-tripping, but all in all I'd rather save my energy for Collegium. And I still want to do another car-camping trip before the holiday season sets in -- Halloween weekend looks like a possibility, but I have to come up with a destination.

The official invitation arrived for the Big B's semi-formal dinner Thing in mid-November. I've set myself a goal of finding a date for it, but the prospect is a bit daunting. I mean: are free food, drinks, and dancing sufficiently enticing to balance having to socialize with a large mass of unknown co-workers? For an adventurous spirit, perhaps, but it seems a lot to ask. I sometimes think that while the whole Blind Date Project has been ok in terms of proving I can work outside my comfort zone, it hasn't really changed the overall paradigm. I still have no idea where one manages to find Eligible Parties. And I still haven't worked out the social economics of how one discovers a Romantic Attraction without having spent a year or so getting to know each other in depth.

I'm settling in more to the shifted workout schedule but one, perhaps predictable, change has popped up: I'm ravenously hungry for breakfast. Rather than juice and coffee sufficing to hold me over until lunch, I've been craving something more substantial. This will be a challenge to manage without involving baked goods. I actually went so far as to get oatmeal at the cafeteria one morning. If I'm going to do that, I need to work out something I can take from home (but that doesn't involve any prep time in the morning).

On my lunchtime bike ride today the wind seemed to have shifted back to cold-and-damp, so maybe our October fire season is on its way out. That would be nice. Now, onward to filling out my mail-in ballot so I can ignore politics. (Well, except for stressing out about the chances of Proposition 8 passing.)

Comments

[kareina.livejournal.com]

I've always been a "must eat the second I wake up in the morning" sort of person, and for me the perfect breakfast is cold museli. There are tons of pre-mixed options available, or you can buy grains, dried fruit, and nuts/seeds lose and mix them yourself meaning that you can find the one which suits your needs in terms of balance of carbohydrates/protein/etc. When I have to be some place *really* early, I pack 1 cup of the dry cereal the night before and put 1 cup of the fruit juice/herbal tea blend that is my prefered liquid cereal topping (straight fruit juice is too sweet, and this blend is more affordable than milk, which I used to use, and lasts longer, which means less frequent trips to the store) into a water bottle so that they are ready to go in the morning. Nice, easy, quick, yummy, filling, healthy. What more could you ask for breakfast?

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I would never subject a date I didn't know well, to a work function. In fact, usually what I would do is invite a friend (male or female) to come along. Anne and I often went as each other's "dates" to work functions.

B'fast Ideas

[shalmestere.livejournal.com]

It sounds as if you're trying to avoid simple carbohydrates (e.g. baked goods); here are some ideas that have been working for me:

(1)"Tartlets"--your favorite quiche filling baked (sans crust) in muffin tins. I like Quiche Lorraine cooked this way, but meatless fillings like Le Mesnagier's "spinach" tart also work well. Good hot or cold, and are easy to eat on the run;

(2) Smoothies made with fruit, soy milk, tofu (or equal parts tofu and Greek yogurt), and a bit of sweetening;

(3) Sliced smoked or roasted meat (smoked turkey breast is nice for breakfast: it tastes good cold, and can even be eaten out of hand at the bus stop :-D).

[ichseke.livejournal.com]

What shalmestere said, plus that hardboiled eggs are highly transportable; and you can cook several at a time, then keep them in the fridge and grab as needed. If you're feeling really frisky, a dab of chutney or a squeeze pack of mustard from the cafeteria.

[mariedeblois.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty fond of my "yogurt and granola" plan for breakfast. I get the yogurt with active cultures and without HFCS and other crap.

I find myself in much the same place regarding the romantic paradigm.

[dame-cordelia.livejournal.com]

My trainer is of the opinion that yoghurt, cottage cheese, and oatmeal are good snacks. Separately, not combined. I eat a lot of fresh fruit these days.

[ppfuf.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear you won't be at Coronet, but hopefully we'll see you next time.
goatface was singing the praises of packaged oatmeal for breakfast a few weeks ago. You might ask her about good kinds.