New Addition

I've now got links to different bands/artists I like. This is in no way a comprehensive list, but I figure it's a good start. There's also bands that I like that are no longer together, which makes it difficult. I'll keep adding as I think of more, of course I'm drawing a total blank while I'm doing this. They're also not in any particular order, except for the top three.

Have Flugelhorn, Will Travel

We went to the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival last night, our first time since we've been here. The festival is in downtown Urbana, and it features food and music. There may have been other vendors as well, we didn't see the entire festival. And the sweet corn looked pretty darn tasty!

We went to see the Tons of Fun Band. We had never heard of them before, but Larry kept telling us how good they were. They definitely lived up to their name. They play a lot of funk and R&B, and they even have a real live horn section. It was really fun watching them, and watching the crowd. When they introduced the band at the end, they mentioned that their trumpet player was leaving and moving to Bermuda. Turns out it was Sam Hankins, the much loved jazz band director at Edison Middle School. The jazz band has won many awards during his tenure, and even won a competition at a high school level. He's also played with the Glen Miller Band, the Ojays, and Aretha Franklin, among others. His departure will create a huge musical hole in this community. I feel lucky to have witnessed one of his last local performances.

Tonight it's back to the Sweetcorn Fest to see The Living Blue, a local alternative rock group. That should be pretty fun, and I'm definitely going to have some of that sweet corn!

I'm so full.....

I woke up really hungry this morning, and decided to head over to Wienerschnitzel. They have signs in their windows advertising they now serve breakfast, so I figured that today would be a good time to try it out. As I drove by, though, it was dark inside and their open light wasn't on, so I kept going. There was one car in the parking lot, but I didn't know if it belonged to an employee or was left there. So instead of having a junky breakfast I had my usual half bagel. Then I thought I'd treat myself to a junky lunch. What I really wanted was a burrito supreme. About a thousand years ago I worked at the Target snack counter. One of the things we served was a burrito supreme, which consisted of a deep fried burrito on top of a bed of lettuce with chili and cheese poured over the top. Definitely not healthy, but good junk. I'm guessing Target no longer serves that, so instead I decided to wander over to the Aroma Cafe. I don't know why I don't go there more often, I work downtown so I have no excuse. Today's special was a supreme quesadilla, with cheese, onions, avocado, tomatoes, black beans, and corn. Quite tasty!! Since it was a nice day, I decided to sit on the back patio and enjoy the sun. I couldn't take too long, as we're short staffed (a bunch of my co-workers are at a conference), so I thought I'd get back and tell everyone who called that no one they were looking for was there. So now I'm back at my desk, digesting. And nobody anyone is looking for is here.

Albacore Tuna Stir Fry

Here's another one of our favorite recipes:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups assorted fresh vegetables, such as pea pods, bean sprouts, and baby corn
1 (7-ounce) pouch Albacore Tuna
3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon sugar
hot cooked rice

In wok or large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; sauté onion and garlic until onion is soft. Add vegetables; cook about 3 to 4 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add tuna, soy sauce, lemon juice, water and sugar. Cook 1 more minute; serve over rice.

I could probably eat this every day. I got the original recipe from Starkist, and made a few modifications. The original recipe calls for frozen vegetables, but I found that too mushy. You can use whatever veggies you want. I've also made it with imitation crab meat instead of tuna, which was really good. Another time I had to substitute regular tuna, which was only okay. And this recipe is very quick. I usually start the rice when I'm prepping the veggies, and the timing works out perfectly.

Enjoy!

I Want A Meerkat

And not just one, because they are social creatures and can't survive on their own. I want a whole family. I've already got it figured out. Since we've already redone the guest bedroom, we'll have to use the office. We'll just take everything out and fill it instead with sand so they can make their burrows. And maybe install some heat lamps, since they are desert creatures. An added benefit-they eat things such as giant centipedes and scorpions, so we would never have to worry about being overrun by those insects.

Or maybe I should just stick to watching Meerkat Manor on Animal Planet. That way sand won't get all over the house.

Champaign's Finest

So I'm driving down State St. today, which is a one way street. There's a car a little ways ahead of me that's in the right lane, and it stops, puts on its turn signal, and promptly turns left. Now, this is a signature move by a Champaign driver. The difference today though is that this Einstein was in front of a cop. So what does the cop do? Turns right..........

And we wonder why the drivers around here seem insane!