Pick Yourself Up

I took today's title from  Diana Krall cover, "Pick Yourself Up".  It's basically about being a master of your own emotions, being in control of your own destiny, and not taking shit off of anyone.  I really like it.  "Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again."

Thankfully, though, I can save all my work on my computer, so I don't have to start all over again on my composition!  Now, THAT sucks.  

[note to knitters:  imagine knitting the body, sleeves, and half of the yoke on a cashmere sweater, and then 'Fluffy' decides it's his chew toy in the middle of the night.  That's what it's like to lose a composition due to 'technical difficulties'.  Not that that's happened to me before...]  

I have most of the first movement finished, with only a little space of a few pages in the middle that are incomplete.  The beginning was the most laborious thing to write out, but everything after that has really gone smoothly.  I hope Lauren can convince this chick to play timpani, especially since I already wrote in a part!  I mean, it just needed it.  The parts are pretty crazy, and writing for drum set is a challenge all its own!  At least this is a learning experience...

It's really making me reconsider my grad school plans.  I love the Denver area, and it could be rather "affordable" to move out there, granted I get a good job!  I very well may go into music, or writing, of all things.  I did place second in a short story competition... he he... there's a story there....

Oh hell, I'll be a bitch and allude to it here... They say that living well is the best revenge, don't they?  I couldn't agree more.  First, I submit a story for the writing competition on a whim and place higher than the person whose purpose in life was to write short stories, then I get to go to Drums Along the Rockies when the only person on the entire planet who would give his eye-teeth to be there is stuck in another country.  ::sigh::  I suppose life is like that sometimes.  He he.  I win.

I get to indulge in some "Instant Pleasure" tonight -- no, not that kind (call me... ;-o )... I'm having a very nice dinner!  Oh, of course I came up with the recipe... "Girl, you ain't heard?"

According to a previous co-worker of mine, it's "white people chicken".  I prefer to call it Chicken Imperial.  Heard of it?  Yeah, thats right... I made it up.  I'll bet you didn't know that, now did ya?

Here's what I do --

• Get some chicken breasts.  He he, breasts.  Make sure they're not frozen solid.  He he, cold breasts.  Heh.  ::sigh::
• Wrap them up in plastic wrap and find a sturdy surface.  That's right, put your breasts on something hard.  (I swear, I didn't plan this -- it's total stream-of-consciousness)
• Beat violently.  Definitely want to beat your breasts with something hard, as well.  But not so hard and heavy that you can't easily handle it (ok, now I'm planning this...)
• Pound out into little "chicken crepes", and set aside.
• In a pan -- spinach, cheese (feta, parmesan, gruyere, whatever ya like), herbs (once again, whatever.  Basil, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme... wait a minute...), olive oil, pepper.  Make it happen.
• Bring this crap to a nice melty yum-ness, and set aside briefly.
• In a casserole dish, lay out your breasts.  He he.  Never gets old.
• Spoon some yum-ness on top of the breasts and fold over to make little yummy breast pockets.  Secure with toothpicks.

I'm going to take a break here to emphasize something -- DO NOT FORGET WHERE YOU PUT YOUR TOOTHPICKS.  You will need to remove them ALL before you start eating.  Imagine getting a splinter in the fleshy part under your tongue... you don't want that.

• Ok... so if you have yum-ness left over, spoon some on top.  Also, sprinkle lots more cheese on top.  It just makes it better.
• Add a little butter, water, and/or broth to the dish -- just enough to barely cover the bottom of the dish.  Maybe a quarter inch deep.  Not soup, but not a coating either.  
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake (at 350 degrees, I guess) for a while.  15, 20 minutes maybe.  Not really sure... just make sure you don't die from pink breasts.  He he.

That's about it -- Oh, and don't forget to remove ALL the toothpicks!!!  Seriously...

If you want a quick, equally delicious side to go with it, cut up some zucchini, squash, roma tomatoes, avocado, garlic, and perhaps an onion.  Sear in a pan with some olive oil and fresh herbs and spices.  Soooo good....  

Oh, and if you want a great, easy appetizer, get a bowl of olive oil.  Pepper to the extreme.  Add Italian spices.  Mix well.  (It's best if this can sit for a while... the longer, the better.  The flavors get all interspersed... sooooo good.)  Break off chunks of Italian/French bread and dip.  Enjoy.

And of course....

Serve with wine.  Lots of wine.  Makes everything better!  Have I ever told you how much I enjoy my wine?  Really, I do.....