Triumphant Return

Fret not, my 1-4 loyal blog readers, I haven't abandoned Caitlin in Carolina. I've actually been working for the last week or so, and gainful employment is not conducive to frequent blog posts apparently. Unfortunately, the job was only temporary and is just about over, save for a day or two of work in the future. Fortunately, it was the most frustratingly boring job I have ever had so I don't mind not having to do it anymore. Unfortunately, it was also the highest paying job I've ever had. See how my feelings yo-yo back and forth?

After not writing for well over a week, I find myself forgetting about things that happened that I ordinarily would have mentioned. I plan to write about things, think "Meh", and file them away under "Things to Forget." Basically, I'm bad at blogging. I also hate the word "blog" and the verb "blogging."

Aside from working on a mind numbing database, I went on a picnic with Steven a little over a week ago. I like the olden timey romanticism of picnics but I'm always slightly uneasy when actually doing it. Probably much like riding a penny farthing. You know, or not. This picnic has been in the works since September due to Groupon rescheduling issues followed by winter followed by our own scheduling issues, so it was exciting to finally be able to go.







I suppose the only other note worthy occurrence has been our acquisition of a washer and dryer. However, no one wants to really hear about that, so I leave you with these pictures of Josie wearing some magnets as a necklace.

Unpopular Opinions

Folks, today I am going to be blogging about toilet paper. Please feel free to leave at any point, because I am about to voice my controversial opinion about the over/under debate that rages on. If you had told me as a child that I would one day have a strong opinion about the orientation of a toilet paper roll, well, I'd believe you because I was kind of a dorky kid. Logic would dictate that this is an utterly inconsequential issue, but nearly everyone has an opinion. Some (i.e. me and nearly everyone else I know) verge on maniacal in ours.

I am a strong proponent of the under orientation. I know that I'm in the minority, but I don't care. I'm right, here is why:

Issue #1: Premature tearing
This is arguably the biggest reason why over makes no sense to me. Toilet paper, by nature, is incredibly flimsy. Even if you spring for a cushy brand of 2 ply, that paper needs to be ultra soft in order to flush. Whenever I have used an over oriented roll, I have taken the first sheet and pulled gently to get the 2 or 3 more squares that I require. Every single time, the first square -maybe the first 2 squares if I'm lucky- have torn off due to these flimsy sheets not being able to pull the whole roll around. Every time! This never happens when the roll is under.

Issue #1a: Ease of tearing
The under orientation allows you to quickly and easily tug the roll up and to the side, tearing the paper with the under roll providing counterbalance. Basic momentum, people.

Issue #2: Placement of the new start of the roll
When toilet paper is in the over orientation, it takes nearly half the roll before the new starting point dangles over. This is where all toiler paper diagrams (including the one above) are inaccurate and is something that is never considered when the over people are arguing their point. When the roll is new, the starting point is always at the very top of the roll, unless you make a concerted effort to turn the roll. The vast majority of people can't be bothered to turn toilet paper tearing into the 2 hand job required for letting the paper dangle. This positioning makes no sense and only serves to exacerbate the issue of premature tearing. The paper naturally wants to fall away from the roll in the under orientation. It's gravity!


Unless you are in a hotel where the first sheet folded into a triangle serves as proof that the bathroom has been cleaned, is there even a point to having the roll start in front? Unless you are making those daily triangles, it certainly doesn't look as nice. It just makes it easier for small pets to bat at and ultimately unravel the roll.

Refutations for arguments made by over people:

Statement: "If the paper is printed, it looks better when hung over the top"
Response: You are really buying printed toilet paper? Really? What print do you feel so strongly about that you want to rub it against your nether regions?

Statement: "The paper may touch the wall"
Response: Unless you leave an absurd amount hanging, no it won't. Also, this is your home we are talking about. How filthy are your walls that toilet paper brushing against them is cause for concern?

Statement: "You have to reach so much further to get the paper when it's under"
Response: Bitch are you crazy? Unless your over oriented roll is nearly gone (see above) it's a matter of reaching up or down. Try not to strain yourself.

Statement: "When the roll is under, I pull too hard and unravel a ridiculous amount of toilet paper"
Response: Try to not pull the door off its hinges on the way out, Flex.

I think that is probably enough hot debating for now. Especially when I'm writing this post alone and only working myself into a lather (though I know when Taylor reads this, she will be furious). I am fortunate that Steven truly doesn't care either way, and we don't have a contentious domestic partnership where each one constantly tries to undermine the other by switching the roll. What I'm basically getting at is this: don't come to my house and try to re-orient my roll. And don't expect me to not judge you if you are an over person. The end.

Nice to meet you

ABCs

Stolen, with love, from Lindsay

A. Age: 24

B. Bed size: Full. Steven had a queen size bed, but my mattress is more comfortable. And I have a cuter bed frame, which counts.

C. Chore you dislike: While I don't particularly like chores, we tend to take care of them right away so they never wind up being too much work. I don't love doing the dishes, but Steven washes them after dinner, which I am appreciative of. We should probably start using our dishwasher. I don't particularly love vacuuming either.

D. Dogs: I've had one great dog, and one nightmarish dog which equals out to indifference. I like them fine, but cats are so much less work and are usually just as fun.

E. Essential start to your day: Water. A big sip as soon as I wake up.

F. Favorite color: A very specific shade of pale turquoise. I'm also really drawn to purple and brown. Yes, brown.

G. Gold or silver: I don't have much of a preference, and it really depends on the piece of jewelry. I just don't like bright yellow gold.

H. Height: 5’4

I. Instruments you play(ed): Nothing, ever. My brother was the family musician and the rest of us never really tried.

J. Job title: Teacher, unemployed.

K. Kids: None. That would mean getting rid of the second bedroom/library/office/puzzle assembling room, which quite frankly, I am not prepared to do.

L. Live: Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Home of Krispy Kreme, Hanes, RJ Reynolds, BB&T and Wachovia. But let's focus on Krispy Kreme.

M. Mom’s name: Marilyn

N. Nicknames: I'm pretty much a first name only kind of person.

O. Overnight hospital stays: None, thankfully

P. Pet peeves: When anyone ends a sentence with "at," as in "Where did you get that at?" or "Where are you at?" Also, "supposably" "fustrating" and "exspecially"

Q. Quote from a movie: My favorite quotes tend to be the ones that feel like a punch to the stomach with how beautiful or true they are. My most repeated quotes tend to be silly and/or inane things that tickled my fancy when viewing the movie.

R. Righty or lefty: Righty.

S. Siblings: Two older brothers. One younger sister.

T. Time you wake up: One of the benefits of being jobless is waking up whenever! Though I almost always wake up when Steven gets up for work. Unless it's the weekend and then we both sleep in until one of us feels guilty for not having fed Josie yet (it's always me)

U. Underwear: Yes.

V. Vegetables you don’t like: Onions. A thousand times onions. Especially chunks of chewy onions. That is pretty much the only vegetable that I don't enjoy. And yet, onion rings are perfectly acceptable.

W. What makes you run late: Nothing. I am perpetually 5 minutes early.

X. X-rays you’ve had: I'm pretty sure I've only had dental x-rays. Oh! And when I went to the hospital Christmas Day 2004 with chest pains.

Y. Yummy food you make: Hopefully Steven would agree that all the food I make is yummy. I just asked Steven and he said his favorite was probably peppers stuffed with quinoa, corn, and feta cheese. I have to agree. I ate the rest of the filling the next day for lunch and it was still amazing cold.

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup quinoa, rinsed well several times
3 T olive oil
1 bunch scallions, including 2 inches of the greens, thinly sliced into rounds
1 jalapeno, finely diced, seeded (seeding and cleaning it makes it infinitely less spicy)
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 cups, more or less, fresh or frozen corn kernels (from 3 ears of corn)
½ pound spinach leaves
½ cup chopped cilantro
¼ lb feta cheese
4 bell peppers

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add ½ teaspoon salt, then quinoa. Give it a stir, cover, and simmer over low until the grains are tender, about 15 minutes. Warm half of the oil in a wide skillet. Add the scallions and chiles, cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes, then add the garlic, cumin, corn and spinach, along with 2 tablespoons of water. When the spinach is wilted, add the cilantro, quinoa, and feta. Toss everything together, taste for salt, and season with pepper. Slice the peppers in half lengthwise without removing the tops or stems, then cut out the membranes and seeds. Simmer them in salted water until tender to the touch of a knife but not overly soft, 4 to 5 minutes, and remove. Fill them with the quinoa and set them in a large baking dish. Preheat the oven to 400. Drizzle the rest of the oil over the peppers and bake the peppers until heated through, 20 to 30 minutes, then switch the heat to broil and brown the tops. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.


Z. Zoo animal favorites: Otters, owls, anything soft looking