I am more than a little peeved to find that since they closed the Waldenbooks at our local mall, there is not a single bookstore for miles ’round. None at all. Not even a simple paperback shop where I can get something light and frothy. It’s a given that the book industry is not what it once was, but there are dozens of schools in the area… where do the kiddies go to find books for their English classes (or “Language Arts” as they like to call them around here)? That Waldenbooks was the nearest place to find required readings. I should know; I had to go there often enough when I was in middle and high school. That little shop was there forever. The selection was small, but you were always bound to find something interesting.

Instead, I had to drag myself to white bread Pembroke Pines, a good 20-30 minute drive, to pick up a copy of Blameless (I needs it!). The thing is, it would have been a 20-30 minute drive in any direction… there are plenty of Borders, B&Ns and indie bookshops in Miami, they are just nowhere near my area. Does no one read around here? I am sure I cannot be the only one? Even if it’s just a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, there must be a place where local students can go to get a book (and don’t say Amazon, the people in my area aren’t the most web savvy)? Surely, I am not the only one who finds this absolutely ridiculous?

Some new possibilities on the horizon, so I’m starting to feel a little less morose. The doldrums are passing. After the initial panic at the sight of the syllabi for my classes, I’ve started to settle and arrange my activities accordingly. Oh boy, I feel so responsible. I even ordered a proper day planner.

Am experiencing the pre-semester slump… those days when I really wish I were done with school and/or had never gone back to school to begin with, and could just find a well-paying job with decent hours . Have I mentioned that I am so over school? I am. I have been since I was completing my last program. It’s the reason I scoff when people ask why I don’t just go for my PhD. I just think, Why? Why would I want to torture myself with another useless degree? Because happy-go-lucky though I may seem, I realize that I will probably be over-qualified/over-educated and under-paid for many years to come. If you are considering graduate school as a way of improving your career potential… don’t. At least, don’t unless you really love it and are willing to pay the price of loans (unless you luck out and get a free or mostly free ride… I did the first two times. It’s the third that’s killing me), and the prospect of job hunting in a non-existent market.

Don’t get me wrong; I loved the process of getting my MA in English… I just wish there were jobs to warrant the time I’ve spent in school. I have no idealistic ideas about saving the world through reading by getting my MLIS. I am doing this purely because I had no other prospects and libraries will not hire you as a librarian unless you have an ALA-approved library degree. I wish it weren’t so, but if I want to remain in an academic environment and not teach, library school it is. 4 more classes to go. 2 semesters (counting the one that I am currently dreading). I like my classes. I like my classmates. I just wish I didn’t have so many doubts regarding the future and the possibility that I may one day have to change careers again… or fall back on my English degree and go into education. Anyone looking for a part-time editor/writer/researcher?

Performed my civic duty today and served my time… jury duty time that is. I am always selected to serve on these things; the first time, it was kind of exciting, now that I have other obligations, etc… not so much. The Judge was quite nice though and she was a female judge, which is always a positive thing in such a male-dominated arena. Oh well… got to finish Changeless while I waited outside the courtroom and had a very well-made latte for my mid-morning snack; however, I have yet to have a cup of tea and it’s already 6pm–it’s an outrage! Tea forthwith!

On another note–

My BookDrum profile on Robin McKinley’s Beauty was published Sunday evening and I’m a bit fluttery about it. It’s one of my favorites but after spending far too much time reading/writing about/and analyzing it for my thesis, I still feel I can’t quite do it justice. So here is a screengrab of my 15 minutes (for posterity)

I was at a loss as to which picture to send when they emailed me for an image, so my night at the opera one had to do.

Monthly Round-up for July 2010

Read
Paris 1934 by Paul A. Myers (REVIEW)
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (REVIEW)
Mistress Pat L.M. Montgomery (REVIEW)
Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (Read the first few chapters via NetGalley and can’t wait to get the published copy when it’s released. Made me shiver in a wonderfully creeped out way.)
Soulless by Gail Carriger (REVIEW)

Currently Reading
Changeless by Gail Carriger
Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson (slowly but surely…)
Daily Life in Victorian England by Sally Mitchell

Books I couldn’t finish
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. Dickens and I don’t get along. I will give Bleak House a try one day, but till then…

The Monthly Round-up is a regular feature on things she read wherein I list the books I read each month.

I don’t usually write makeup or product reviews, but as someone who looks up reviews before making purchases, I thought I might as well contribute one.

I’ve been using LORAC’s ProtecTint for the last couple of years because I like a bit of color to even out my skin, but don’t like using foundation unless I’m going out and want to be fully made-up. However, I am an underpaid grad student with an unfortunate case of bills, so pricey makeup is not on the list of things I can properly afford at the moment. My LORAC supply is woefully depleted and I don’t want to purchase another tube at the moment, so after reading a few reviews, I thought I’d give Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer a shot. Like the LORAC, it has 30 SPF, which is something I really desire in a moisturizer given the scorching South Florida sun.

Aveeno’s tinted moisturizer comes in two shades: Fair to Light, and Medium. I purchased the Fair to Light and found that it was a bit heavier in color than I had expected, though it did blend nicely and evened out my skin tone fairly well. The main drawback, it’s not as moist as my LORAC, so my skin felt a bit drier than I like… I will try layering it over my regular moisturizer next time. My next challenge… how would it fare in the summer heat?

After a few hours, I was surprised to find that it was holding up rather well and did not have that oily, slick feel that sometimes happens as a result of the combined effects of heat and humidity. It still felt nice and smooth.

Overall, it’s been a good first experience. It’s scented, but while I normally don’t like fragrance in my facial products, it’s not a bothersome scent. It’ll do for a quick fix until I can buy my LORAC.

My mom was about to throw away nearly an entire loaf of Italian bread, which I thought was quite a shame… so I decided to make a batch of croutons instead . I looked up a basic how-to and added some of my favorite flavors to the mix. They turned out great! And made the house smell deliciously of pizza when they were in the oven.

Gricel’s Garlic Parmesan Croutons

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Ingredients

• 4 slices stale, Italian style bread
• ¼ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp oregano
• 1-2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp olive oil (or any other light oil)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°F.

1. Slice the bread into even-sized cubes.
2. In a large bowl, mix the oil, spices, and parmesan cheese.
3. Toss the bread to coat with the oil mixture. Try to coat all the pieces.
4. On an ungreased baking pan or sheet, spread the bread pieces in a single layer (don’t crowd the pieces).
5. Bake at 325°F for 10-15 minutes (depending on how toasty you like your croutons), turning the pieces about halfway through the baking time.

I also made more Dulce de Coco because it was such a hit with the family .

I really do. Thanks to my grandpa and his friend, we have a lovely bunch of green coconuts to enjoy. So while the coconut water flows, we have an abundance of fresh coconut meat… I already made a batch of macaroons, but I wanted to try something different with some of the grated coconut. I thought there must be some way to make something similar to rice pudding but with coconut, but my searches turned up very few recipes that made use of fresh coconut rather than dried. Then, a stroke of genius… I decided to search in Spanish. After all, the best coconut deserts I’ve had are all Hispanic. Voila! I found the just what I was looking for on a forum for a Dominican recipe site: Dulce de Coco. A tasty treat, similar to rice pudding, but featuring delectable coconut goodness.

I adapted the recipe to suit my needs and it turned out wonderfully sweet and full of coconut flavor. A great treat if you have some fresh coconut.

Dulce de Coco

Adapted by Gricel from La Cocina de la Tía Clara, Cocina Dominicana

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Ingredients

• 3 cups of 2% milk
• 1 – 1 ½ cups fresh, grated coconut (I’m sure unsweetened baking coconut also works)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• ¼ cup raisins (optional)

Preparation

Mix the milk, coconut, sugar, cinnamon stick, and raisins (optional) in a medium pan, on low heat.

Stir occasionally to keep the coconut from sticking to the bottom and burning.

Allow to boil until the mixture thickens, the consistency should be similar to rice pudding.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. It will thicken further as it cools.

Note on the cooking time: I set it on medium-low heat for a little over an hour and a half. The original recipe said it would take 25 minutes, but I halved the recipe and it still took more than twice as long before it reached the desired consistency.

I find myself having to teach my mom how to do the Mashed Potato… you’d think it would be the other way around, but my mom has no dance skills. The woman can craft away, but she lacks coordination. It’s kind of fun though. She needs a dance to show her camp kids and this was the easiest thing I could think of (other than the Twist, but that’s for the second act). I came up with a mix of footwork and arm work to make it look like a cross between the Dee Dee Sharp video below and the Just Dance challenge.

Last night, I watched PBS’s “A Breakfast Special” and it got me thinking about the most memorable breakfasts I’ve had. I LOVE breakfast, but I don’t really have a proper, full breakfast very often. My breakfasts typically involve a small bowl of almond milk and cereal with a side of jammy toast. Usually, full breakfasts are tied to special occasions in my home—birthdays and holidays, but especially my mom’s special Christmas breakfast with the works. Sometimes I’ll bake something up for breakfast and serve it with coffee. For the most part, I stick to the same tried and true breakfast/brunch places. These include South Miami’s Sunset Tavern & Deli Lane, where they have some of the best grits I’ve ever had and the ever delectable “Challah Egg Melt”. It’s a understated, relaxing place to have a fresh-air brunch on a Sunday. John Martin’s is another favorite, lots of fond birthday and lazy Sunday memories there. They make a great full Irish breakfast, and a mean Eggs Benedict and French toast croissant.

Then there’s the Indigo at the Riverside Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, where the brunch menu always changes and they bring your latte with a swizzle stick.

I also have some great memories of croissants at the Vie de France Bakery on Main Street in Miami Lakes, short stacks at the IHOP by the airport, and pancakes at the now dearly departed Joffrey’s. Most of these memories are associated with good company as much as great food… I think a great breakfast companion can make an Egg McMuffin seem like the most memorable breakfast. The last “best” breakfast I had was a short stack and eggs at the Original Pancake House in Doral on a lazy Saturday after an unsuccessful antiquing trip to the flea market. Delicious.