Chickpeas Gone Wild

Normally, I make small packages/baggies of my favorite hiking snacks, but it is a little thrilling to find something that is already a single serving and doesn't need refrigeration.

I found these little beauties in World Market.  They are going to be best for day hiking or maybe weekend backpacking where you don't have to worry about pack weight or the extra space these will take up.

Looks like they are available nationwide or get them online here.

Hummus is a great tasting, protein rich snack.  Just bring along some tortillas or crackers (careful not to crush them into teeny tiny crumbs).

For longer trips, there are a few options for hummus loving folks.  My first ever backpack trip was a short overnight with some amazing ladies.  One of them brought a bag of hummus dry mix.  I'm not sure what brand she had, but it was similar to the one made by Fantastic Foods.  There are others though, so choose your favorite.  I have not personally seen it in stores near me, but everything under the sun can be purchased online.  The directions may call for added oil when mixing, but I'm positive we didn't have any oil on the trip and it turned out just fine.  Just add water.

For one or two people a bag of mix could last for several days of snacks depending on how much or little you mix at a time.

You can also dehydrate your own.  I would recommend making it yourself and not buying.  You would not want much if any oil in your dehydrated hummus.

Working with what you've got.

So, I've just been invited to backpack a few passages of the Arizona Trail in the spring.  Nothing is set in stone yet, but I think we can make it happen.

A little background:  I have been in a rather tenuous work situation for almost a year.  I am technically employed but not working full time or even close to full time.  I have been job hunting without success for a while.  I have also been sitting on my butt and inserting copious amounts of food into my face.  So I have been taking steps to A) stop wallowing in my own self pity and B) get out of the house.  I am going to work with the cards I've been dealt until something better presents itself.

Those cards are basically saying that nothing is going to change anytime soon.  Soooooo, I am going to get back into hiking shape (for me that is rounded but perfectly capable).  My 33 year old legs are a bit weak after months of being sedentary.  That was made only too clear on my recent snowshoe trip.

I look happy (and I am) but I am worn flat out.

I hiked 30 miles of the AZT last May.  I learned a lot from that experience.
First:  I am not going to complete a passage in one day if it is over 12 or 13 miles.  That's just my limit.  I am a firm believer that hiking should be fun and I just don't have fun when I am struggling.  Normally, I can hike more miles than that in one day, but carrying a pack on a multi-day trip is something I like to take my time on.
Second:  Wear amazing shoes/boots.  Last year I wore the boots I had.  They were old and the fit was less than perfect.  My feet bore some very impressive blisters as did the feet of my dear friend.  Our planned 60 mile backpack turned into a 30 mile backpack and two days of sightseeing at the Grand Canyon because, and I think you'll back me up on this, it ain't fun to limp for 30 miles on torn up feet.  I believe in happy, blister free feet.

So since then I have found the most comfortable hiking shoe ever made by the hand of a man.  Last Oct I hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim over four days and had ZERO hot spots and almost no soreness...in my feet that is.  I'm not paid to recommend them, I just love them.  So check them out here or don't.  Yep they are astronomically expensive, but I have managed to get them for 40% off at a local shop.  Probably because the color is odd and must have been discontinued since I can only seem to find it on clearance.

Disclaimer:  No one shoe will be right for everyone.  I just know these are right for me.

So I am committed now to my daily walks with PS, getting out on the weekends to hike those mountains, and yoga in my living room.  I have about 3 months before hitting the AZT again.  Peace out.  Time for stretching.

Outgoing VM messages...Why bother.

When my work cell starts ringing, I go through several stages of emotion.  Panic, annoyance, anger, and eventually the devastation of defeat.  It is probably something I can't just ignore.

Today, I decided to ignore that bad boy.  Not 5 seconds later it rang again.  This time the caller left a garbled message in my vm which clearly states my name and company.  And then called again. And again.  No less than five times until I decided to answer.

"This is P****. . .Hello"  Hang up.

It rang again.  "Hello, this is P****."
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"Who is this?"
"This is P****. Who is this?"
"Uh, I must have the wrong #."
"Yeah, a lot 'o times."

It cracks me up that people will leave a message for a stranger.  I could say my name is Princess Prissy Pants and no one would bat an eye.  I once got a message from someone talking about needing to hear back because they had to get people off the plane!  Yeah, ok.  I'll get right on that.

Lightening fast change of subject:  I have been obsessed with spring rolls lately.  I'm not a recipe person so here's the best I can do.

Buy veggies, spring roll wrappers, and dipping sauce. 
Saute veggies with whatever spices or sauces you prefer.  (Or leave 'em raw.)
Roll 'em up.
Dip 'em in sauce.
Insert in mouth. ( I think you can take it from here, right?)

Yum.  I added some tempeh to the last few batches.  So if you ever find yourself wondering why that idiot didn't listen to the name stated in your outgoing vm message, make some spring rolls.  Veggies make things better. :)

The Mayo Conflict

There's cake, there's family, there's tofurkey!  What could go wrong?

The answer?  Not much really.  Christmas and New Year's went off pretty well.  There was a minor episode where I was told I could just pick the meat out of the soup, but that is relatively minor.  The family did crash a hotel lobby, but we made it out unscathed. There were some things that I would love to share that are just outrageously funny.  I was, however, expressly forbidden to blog about them.  If you see me personally, ask.

There wasn't even a cooking disaster, y'all!
I made this cake and it was flipping delicious.

Don't be disappointed folks.  I have a little gem to share about the drive home from Arkansas with Mom and Dad.

This is the beauty of my family in its full glory.

While I ranted about politics from the back seat, Dad tore open a fast-food packet of mayo and squeezed its entire contents into his mouth.
Mom:  What did you just do?
Dad:  What?  There's nothing wrong with it...
Mom:  Well, there's nothing right about it!

Letting go of toxic people

Have you ever had a friend that you knew would turn on you someday?  I did.

For me that day was today.

I will admit to a rush of anger, pain, and even anxiety.  The anxiety lingers.  However, I know intellectually that I will be better off without poison in my life.

Lets make a couple of lists.

True friends:
1.  Give without expecting anything in return.
2.  Want to hear about you more than they want to talk about themselves.
3.  Don't declare the friendship to be over because of a disagreement.
4.  Tell the truth.

False friends:
1.  Give with the purpose of holding it over your head and playing the guilt card.
2.  Will monopolize every encounter with their own drama and turn everything you say into something to do with themselves.
3.  Run away and blame you for everything when you dare to challenge them.
4.  Lie.  About little things.  

I will be on the lookout for these signs and I encourage you to do the same. None of us needs that crap.  Keep those people at arms length...or more if you can.  Don't feel guilty.
Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me even when I'm a furious, raging B.  I hope I support you in the way you have supported me.  Thank you for the support even when it is not returned.

The Death of a Toenail

I ended my most recent post with a reference to my toenail and I would like for you all to join me in grieving the loss of the beloved 2nd toe toenail on my left foot.

For those who care and those who will continue reading despite their indifference, this is how it happened:  It was the day after Thanksgiving around 5am.  The pooch needed to go outside and, like a dutiful doggie mommy, I got up to let her out.  My sister and her dog were spending the night in the other upstairs bedroom  so I didn't turn on the stairwell light for fear of waking her and the dog.  I made it down the stairs without incident.  I then shuffled slowly through the living room, dodging the Christmas tree, a coffee table and two recliners. Whew!  We made it to the back door!  Out goes the pooch.  And I flipped the switch on the porch light.  That was mistake #1.  While she was doing her business, I decided to take care of some business of my own.  What?  I just woke up!

Mistake # 2, (don't worry, I'll come back to mistake #1) I turned on the light in the restroom.  Bad idea.  I realized my mistake immediately upon exiting the brilliantly lit restroom.  Dang, now I can't see a thing in the dark house. Ok, don't panic.  I have time to let my eyes adjust before running the gauntlet again, the dog is still sniffing around the back yard.  Unfortunately, I had already made mistake #1.  I stood with my nose practically pressed to the glass in the door with the porch light glaring above.   The dog concluded her business and I let her in and turned off the light.  We were plunged into darkness the likes of which mankind has never experienced.  Dang!  I can't see anything...again!  I am too tired for this!  I just want to go back to bed!!!!!  Forget letting my eyes adjust, we can handle this.  I just walked through there not five minutes ago, how bad could it be?

I inched along past the recliner bottle neck, the dog toy strewn rug, coffee table, Chirstmas tree.  We're almost home!  Thwack.  Stifled screeching, searing pain, something feels very wrong. Doubled over in pain made it a short reach to touch the toes.  Still pitch dark.  Hmmm, they feel wet...could be blood...nah can't be.  Hobble up the stairs.  Decide to check the toes because seriously something feels really wrong. TOENAIL NOT ATTACHED!!!

Now, weeks later, the toenail long gone, I lament it's loss.  I miss you, toenail.  Your fellow fussily painted toenails miss you too.  Painting the skin just isn't the same.  :(

A Very Buzzard Thanksgiving.

So, it has been a long time since my last post, but things have not been terribly exciting for me . . . until now.  Oh yes, the gathering of family.  I have migrated to TX from CO, which is quite the culture shock.  How was I to know that there is only 1 tub of vegan butter in this town and that it wasn't at the grocery store we went to?

So I ventured out on Thanksgiving Day, before the parade was over, on a quest for the mystical and elusive Earth Balance buttery spread.  I located it in the nearest big box store and was anointed with the foul breath of the self check out attendant when I asked for help.  For the record, I'm not stupid.  I just don't shop in that store and I was not sure which payment selection to make when using a gift card.  The attendant helped me and was actually very nice, but let me take this opportunity to say that oral hygiene is very important.  Aaaaanyway, I made it out alive with the butter.

Well, cooking began around noon.  Middle Sister and I were rocking around the kitchen making two versions of carrot souffle, turkey balls/tofurkey, and roasted veggies.  And then it began.  My sister was doing the responsible thing and washing the blender.  This is not just any blender, oh no.  I has three tiers of blades.  Angry, vengeful blades of DEATH!  She attempted to clean the blades of death and paid the price.  And thus we had the first incident.  Incident two, followed closely.  My sister was preparing to make turkey balls.  What are turkey balls?  Well, I'll tell you.  Basically they are stuffing, cranberries and ground turkey mixed together.  She cut into the first package of ground turkey and heard pshhh.  Not a good sign.  "This doesn't smell right.  Here, smell this."  Now I haven't eaten meat since Thanksgiving 2 years ago so I had some doubts about my ability to judge whether or not it is spoiled, but I gave it a go.  Gack!  "It smells like eggs."  Time to bring Dad in to consult.  Dad says, "Open another one."  Ok.  Pshhhh. Sulfur smelling turkey tube numero dos. Well, I didn't think many would be satisfied with only tofurky at this little soiree so off she went to the above mentioned big box store to find more meat.

Meanwhile, Dad chucks the spoiled meat over the back fence.   Yeah, we are country people and that's what we do.  The cooking continued with new, non-egg-smelling turkey.  And then . . . I saw them.  THERE ARE BUZZARDS IN THE BACK YARD!  That's right, birds of prey preying on rancid ground turkey.  We've had some pretty interesting happenings during the holidays, but never buzzards.  Leave it to my family.

Everything else went pretty smoothly...except the ripping off of a perfectly good toenail, but I'll leave that for another time.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!