Pandora

I've discovered the most wonderful web site. www.pandora.com

I'm one of those people who finds a band that I really really like and then want more music just like it. Pandora does it for you! You put in an artist you really like (or more specific, a song) and it finds music similar to that and creates a station for you. I have about 10 stations that I've been rotating through for the past week. I now have a list a mile long of new (to me) artists to get music from. And no, they aren't paying me to rant and rave about them!

I've been a blog lurker for the past week or two. Not much to say myself but really enjoying reading all those blogs out there. There are so MANY now. From when I started mine in April, the number of diabetes blogs has increased ten fold. I'm amazed and very happy about the O.C.

My new part time job is wonderful. I help prep for classes and discover how little I actually know about prepping. I am in desperate need of a knife skills class to perfect my onion chopping skills. The chef I worked with the other day saw me hacking at an onion and was aghast. I have perfected my dish washing skills though. :) and the food, oh the food! After everyone in the class leaves at about 9:30 the chef and I sit down and devour (or at least I do) the leftovers. I'm eating food that I'd be paying big bucks for at a restaurant. Some of the chefs come from cooking jobs at some of the biggest restaurants in Chicago. Very nice perks.

I'm headed out to lunch with my boss and two other co-workers in my department today for our holiday present exchange. Greektown. Nothing like a big heavy lunch to make you want to fall asleep for the rest of the afternoon!

Produce

I love vegetables. Green, red, orange, yellow, doesn't matter, I'd probably like to snack on it right now. The problem is that it's hard to get to the store, and when I do the produce section sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. I've also read a lot about organic, locally grown, in season produce and the many benefits in all three of those things. So I've decided to take the plunge: I'm joining a coop.

I pay a set amount a week and they deliver (for only $5!) to my front door a box full of veggies and fruit for the week. All of it is either organic, locally grown, or in season (or all three!). I'm really excited about doing this since not only is it socially responsible, it's also great for my health & diabetes.

I'll keep you posted on all the weird sorts of vegetables that are sure to arrive at my door. I imagine my recipes will have to expand, or I'll end up with some very strange stews... :)