gnocchi by your personal chef, Janny

Last evening I decided to use the recipe I'd found in a magazine called Family Fun (my mom sent it to me--some creative ideas in there, kids!). So what did I make? I made homemade gnocchi from scratch! How strange is that for me?

Let me first say that it was FUN. Secondly I'll out-dork myself and reveal to you that while I was waiting for the water to boil on the stove, I sat down and WORKED ON MY PUZZLE.

Love,
Old Italian grandma

P.S. The gnocchi was really good. Next time I'll try a homemade sauce instead of store-bought, perhaps.

baby neighb

I just got in after a day o' fun with my dear friend A., a girl who just so happens to live two doors away! How convenient to find your neighbor funny, smart, and quite companionable!

Before I got a chance to hang out with A., we exchanged many messages posted to each other's doors. With each note we upped the ante a bit, always saying in one way or another that we should hang out soon. At last we got a chance to have a date, and ever since then we've been going strong. I'm very grateful to have her around!

Though more artistically talented than I, we share a knack for creating little homemade gifts and greetings. Imagine the happy snippets of delight I experience when I find a felt flower accompanied by a little note that says, "Happy spring!" or a little greeting card on my windshield when I walk out to my car to drive around and do errands.

Here are but two photos of greetings A. (or "Baby Neighb," as I and only I am allowed to call her--my rule) has left for me to discover.

For Halloween this year, she made little cupcakes; for Thanksgiving, a hand turkey with google eyes. It's my (well-researched) belief that engaging in little creative activities now and then keeps up your spirits, lets you relax, and causes you to feel more at ease with your life. Listen to me, guys: I have a Master's degree in this.

foodie

Asian Noodle Bowl (complete with chopsticks I usually use to stir tea!)

Garlic Shrimp with linguine

Two hairy guys eat my food and claim to like it.

Brown rice, zucchini + broccoli all spiced up, and herb baked crunchy chicken

Delicious Hummus of my dreams

I started cooking in the last few months. Turns out I'm not all that bad! Also turns out it takes forever to load photos onto blogger. (Anyone know how to speed up that process?)

yelp me, yelp me!

I didn't feel inspired to write a blog post today, but I have written a few things on my homepage here at yelp.com. I know I've put a plug in for it before, but I again encourage you to visit this handy-dandy website. There are more and more people posting reviews about Athens places, and if you're getting set to travel, it's a great resource! Find places to eat based on customer recommendations and
not advertisements. What a novel concept!

Nighty night.

For those of you who've never clicked on the links on the lefthand side of this blog, I encourage you to do so. Friends' blogs are listed there (and even those that aren't updated are pretty good--and often very funny). Additionally, I've listed just a few websites that I visit with frequency.

Among them is yelp.com. Yelp is a website that's apparently very popular in other places around the country, especially in California. You create a profile for yourself, providing as little or as much information as you're willing to submit. After that, you can write reviews for any type of local business you can think of: bars, restaurants, cinemas, banks, gynecologists, you name it. Anyone, yelp members or not, can look on the site to see what regular people--people who haven't been paid to say they feel a certain way about things--really feel about establishments.

I think it's a cool idea despite its not having taken off in Athens.

Here's my Clocked! review. I don't take too much time to write my reviews on yelp, nor do I take too much time to write my blog entries here. In any case, I don't need to give you a disclaimer. I just encourage you to visit the site and check it out.

259 W Washington St
Athens, GA 30601
(706) 548-9175

Clocked

Category: American (New)

8-14-07:
Dear Lord. How many times can a girl swear off Clocked!? I have yet to give it another try since a new guy started managing it a few months ago, but going to this place can take upwards of an hour and a half out of your day.

But let's start with the good. The decor is fabulous--colorful, sparkly walls, gloriously tacky chandeliers, and awesome posters. The food is pretty good (but not amazing, in my opinion and many of my friends'), and the outdoor seating is a plus.

The staff seem overwhelmed when the place is more than half-full. It can take a while to get your glasses of water, even longer to get your order taken, and then comes. the. waiting. for. the. food.

The overpriced diner food. I just don't get what the big deal is.

The Cajun fries are good, esp. if you order feta dressing--but let's face it, we're stealing that trick from The Grill, an honest-to-goodness diner around the corner. That one burger with blue cheese on it is quite tasty, but when you're ornery after waiting for 45 minutes it's hard to enjoy.

And yes, this experience has repeated itself many times over. And no, I am far from the only one.

So, sorry, Clocked! Maybe I'll try you again another time. When I have a lot of time. And a lot of faith.

(P.S. As for their delivering--if you're at a nearby bar on Washington St., they'll take your food to you. You'll have to ask them how far they'll walk. That's pretty awesome.)

9-03-07:
I went there again the other night, remembering this here review and thinking to myself, "I should give this place another chance. AGAIN."

First exciting thing I noticed: they'd replaced the glaringly bright fluorescent lights in the funky overhead chandeliers with good old incandescents. I am an environmentalist at heart, but I'm also one for nice lighting and happen to be photophobic when it comes to fluorescents, so those lightbulbs meant I couldn't eat indoors before. Now the glaring white has been replaced by a warmer, softer color that makes the place as welcoming as it was before. Close call, folks, as the best thing going for this place is its atmosphere.

Pretty yummy, overpriced grilled cheese. $3.75 for a medium-sized sandwich that was perfectly grilled--melted cheddar delight. But only a few slices, so the pieces of bread touched themselves if you squeezed the sandwich in the least. Not the best sign of a supa grilled cheese.

The cajun tater tots were yummy but, ya know, tasted like frozen tater tots heated up in the oven instead of in the microwave.

And
the
service
was
realllllllyyy
realllyyy
slow.

Not like the other times I've gone, but it was pretty bad. Guy put his finger in our glasses as a means of carrying them (ew!), said the food would be "just another minute" when it was ten, and we were there for quite a while. Good thing I had nice conversation and a pretty dinnermate to look at.

Clocked, you did it again, you vicious beast.

Jot 'Em Down BBQ

After babysitting teensy baby Adrian (whom I should quit calling "teensy," as he's 15 months old now--but man, he's so damned cute), I drove back to the downtown/Boulevard area to my sweet, sweet home. My beau wanted to treat me to lunch, which was just swell. We drove to Jot 'Em Down BBQ, which meant a drive back to the East Side. But that's okay--we took a different route, traveling along Milledge and listening to each other moan and groan as we endured the 2 minute "traffic jam" that is the ever-congested Five Points intersection.

The restaurant and store was over 85 degrees inside. Apparently their air conditioning went out that morning. It's October 17th today, and a few hours of no air conditioning meant it was summertime hot inside. What's the deal?

I liked the barbecue but didn't love it. Maybe I didn't choose the right sauces, the right combinations. They had a special side today with the unappetizing title of cabbage casserole--to my delight, it was delicious and really flavorful. If you go to Jot 'Em Down and it's being served, I recommend it. Big portions, affordable prices (especially if you get a boy to pay), and a genuinely kitschy environment--cans of soup and meat and loaves of white bread for sale line the shelves, and old-timey signs (ones actually from the past, not ones recently mass-produced) are on the walls. A fun place, and not far from downtown at all, as I had always assumed.

Jot 'Em Down Store & BBQ
150 Whitehall Rd
Athens, GA 30605
(706) 549-2110

4/16/07 - Ryan Seacrest & me, plus 49 other mundane things even I didn't want to know

April 16, 2007 - Monday

9:59 PM - Ryan Seacrest & me, plus 49 other mundane things even I didn't want to know Current mood: happy 1. Introduce yourself. Bonjour, tout le monde. Je m'appelle Super Jan!!! 2. It's Thursday at noon, where are you usually? Hanging out with a teensy baby. I have a regular babysitting gig and am usually with Adrian on Thursdays at noon. This coming Thursday I'll be ON THE WAY TO FLORIDA with Liz, though!!! 3. What kind of laundry detergent do you use? Purex!! 4. What brand of shampoo is in your shower right now? Garnier Fructis 5. Did you ever get into a bar and drink before you were 21? tee hee hee 6. What countries have you been to? Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Switzerland, England, Italy, Germany, and MORE TO COME!! 7. Do you watch MTV anymore? Nope. Have flipped to it once in a while during trips to my parents' house, but I can't even force myself to be interested for more than a couple seconds. Maybe I'm catching the wrong shows, but I doubt it. I think it's just all bad. 8. What do you think about Oprah? I think she's magically transformed by makeup and hair stylists. 9. What color are your bedsheets? Right now, my full-sized, extra long bed features off-white T-shirt sheets. 10. You need a new pair of jeans..what store do you go first? The Gap has been the only place of late that carries jeans that accurately fit these gams o' mine. 11. Did you ever watch The O.C.? I think I've seen snippets of 3 episodes in all. 12. What kind of car do you drive? A gold *FOR SALE* 1996 Nissan Maxima *THAT'S FOR SALE*!! (Inquire for details.) Ha. Soon I shall reclaim my car of yore, a 2003 Acura RSX descended straight from heaven. 13. Honestly, is that car insured? The phrasing of that question grosses me out, as it reminds me of an obnoxious girl I went to elementary school with. Yes, my current car is insured, and my future one will be, too. You get arrested instantaneously without insurance, fools. 14. Do you like sushi? Dear lord, yes. 15. Have you ever been to Tiffany & Co. or Saks 5th Ave? Both, my dearest ones. But I've not purchased even the minutest object from either place. 16. Did your parents spoil you growing up? Yes, most notably in the never-have-to-do-chores realm. 17. Do you like roller coasters? Yes, but in recent years they've made my head hurt more than they used to. This is tragic. I like the old-fashioned wooden ones, and Kennywood coasters can't be beat! 18. What magazine(s) do you buy regularly or subscribed to? I subscribe to Paste and love it. I have a mysterious free subscription to _Rolling Stone_ but never read it--just pass it off to Jim, especially when the covers are as enticing as they are this week (Rosario Dawson & Rose McGowan naked but for ammo covering their hoo-has). 19. Do you remember the WB show "Popular"? I sure do. I don't think I watched it, though. 20. When you go out do you prefer to go to a dance club or to a bar? A bar, by far. But I do like that Flicker Theatre and Dance Club. 21. What do you think about gay marriage? Legalize it. 22. Who do you think will be the next president? ? 23. Are you registered to vote? Of course. And I get teary-eyed almost every time I go despite my overwhelming lack of political-ness. 24. Do you own an iPod? Yes, ol' Baby Blue. (Thanks, Perry!) 25. Is your bathroom filled with beauty stuff? Not really. 26. What kind of cologne/perfume do you wear? Moonlight Path. Janet's signature scent, goin' strong since 2000. 27. Do you like Carrie Underwood? I'm not sure who that is. 28. Been to "The Vegas"? I've been to Las Vegas, it's true. Ole Hoecker lives there and gave me the tour of a lifetime over two years ago now. 29. How far away do you live from your parents? 8.5 hours away driving. Or a little less than three days if you want to count down the time 'til Liz & I see them next!!! 30. Are you happy with your job? With my multiple part time jobs? Why, yes! 31. What do you do there? Hang out with kids, read books, play outside, do ropes course activities, climb trees, edit papers, read some more, use the computer a lot, and confuse you by writing a brief job description of four distinct jobs in one sentence. 32. What did you get in the mail today? Today = Addieville check from Michael, a water bill, and KAT DODD'S WEDDING INVITATION! Yesterday = some prescription drugs (yessss), a grrreeeat package/letter from Sarah Beth, and a bill. 33. How do you like your steak cooked? Medium. And preferably in Buenos Aires. 34. What about Britney Spears? I don't have her cooked at all. 35. What do you usually order at Taco Bell? 3 soft tacos, meat & cheese only. But I think I go once every six months or so now. Once Nancy and I went and got the nastiest crispy mcsofttaconastiness treat special on earth. IT WAS SO GROSS. I think we may have vowed never to speak of it again. If that was the case, pretend you never read this. 36. Have you ever sat all the way through Gone With the Wind? Yes, in 8th grade we all watched it at Haynes Bridge. I've never read it, as Kimi has. ;) 37. Have you ever been to Mt. Rushmore? Nope. 38. Is it just me, or was The Marine(w/John Cena) a really horrible movie? Who made this up? 39. Are surveys like the cocaine of myspace? You're stretching here, buddy. 40. Where is your favorite place ? Anywhere underneath starry starry skies. That's just one option, but I don't want to list. I'm bored. 41. What is your favorite candle scent? Something very weak. Not flowery. That overpowering stuff drives a gal crazy. 42. Do you believe places can really be haunted? Not in a scary way. 44. Have you ever been to NYC or LA? I've spent years in NYC and a couple weeks' time in L.A. I prefer NYC but dig L.A. 45. How many states have you been to where all you saw was the airport? 0 46. Do you think 50 questions is enough? When the questions are in this vein, zero would have been enough. Why am I doing this? I am going to read my book in a minute. That's my reward. 47. Are you currently planning a trip? Yes. Two. Janny is thrilled. 48. Is Ryan Seacrest gay? THIS should answer your question: 49. Do you take anti-depressants? Sleeping pills? One of my daily Migraine meds fits the bill. You see, I take an anti-depressant that has one amazing side effect: sleepiness that will help me sleep through the night without waking up multiple times! This medication is a known drug therapy for us Migraine sufferers--did you know lots of anti-depressants are used to treat Migraines and not just depression? It's true. yip dee dooooo. 50. Have you ever googled your name and found out somebody famous or semi famous has your same name? There is some Scottish nurse with my name. Gross. I'm clearly the best. Currently reading : Paula By Isabel Allende Release date: By 24 April, 1996 5 Comments - 4 Kudos

	SUPER JAN!!	And I love you, boy who gets home from work at 4 AM and looks at my quiz answers before crawling into bed. Tee hee. I like your Damnit-influenced spelling of my name as well. Inventive, he is. Posted by SUPER JAN!! on April 17, 2007 - Tuesday at 9:36 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Hey Lindo look out ur Windo!!	These surveys are pretty random huh....but they are fun when im bored and both my babies are asleep!!!! ---Linda Posted by Hey Lindo look out ur Windo!! on April 17, 2007 - Tuesday at 6:02 PM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Barbara	I have to ask, regarding question #13, who is the girl you are referring to? Honestly, you can tell me. Thanks for a good read, m'dear! :-) Oh, and did I tell you that I went to the *same* HS as Seacrest. Yeah, and my husband was even friendly with him. But you, you've photographic proof of your connection. My, I'm jealous! Posted by Barbara on May 30, 2007 - Wednesday at 5:03 PM [Remove] [Reply to this]

Casey Beth

You and your responses are hilarious and make sleeplessness bearable. Posted by Casey Beth on July 16, 2007 - Monday at 7:52 AM

4/4/07 - chef jannypoo!

April 4, 2007 - Wednesday

10:52 PM - chef jannypoo! I just had my first bowl of my first-ever meal cooked entirely by me, courtesy of a recipe found online! Of course I've had hundreds of quick meals at home, but I've never followed a recipe step by step (ooh baby) until the bitter end--and this one didn't call for any mixes or pre-made packets of things, either! (Here I'm referring to other "recipes" I've claimed to follow in the past. While yummy, my vegetarian taco dinner does involve using a packaged kit you merely add to.) So I made potato soup tonight. I peeled potatoes for the first time in my existence! I then diced them! Same with a single carrot! And those are just two of the SIX TO EIGHT ingredients! Thanks to Mr. CrackyCrockPot, the Soup DeeeLuxe was done 3 1/2 hours later. Added lots of cheese to mix in, and ate away. Yum. I am a chef. Yip dee do. I have a vat left if anyone wants a sample. Currently listening : Neon Bible By Arcade Fire Release date: By 06 March, 2007 3 Comments - 4 Kudos

	Christa	gonna get to you girl. really want you in my world. Posted by Christa on April 5, 2007 - Thursday at 11:32 AM [Remove] [Reply to this]

	K	this is something to be very proud of indeed! i recently made lasagna (ok, like 4 months ago) and it was the last thing i actually made (eggs and salad dont count) cause i am too lazy to clean up. Posted by K on April 5, 2007 - Thursday at 4:37 PM [Remove] [Reply to this]

amysalley

holy crap christa quoted NKOTB. and, yay janet! this reminds me of the time on the "snow day" when i created lentil soup and anna and i watched many many hours of six feet under while eating it. hot damn. Posted by amysalley on April 6, 2007 - Friday at 11:09 AM