Welcome to summer

Yes, today is Memorial Day and the official start of summer. Here in our neck of the woods, it's been rainy and cloudy. Nevertheless, the lines have formed down the street at Jefferson Barracks and since it's so close to the police station, they're actually out directing traffic.

At my house, I've officially got the bike out for the first time this year. I'm going to use it as transportation tomorrow while the Swedish silver bullet goes in for maintenance. (I'm just hoping it doesn't rain while I'm out!)

I even baked a couple of these cheesecakes. I decorated them with blueberries and strawberries and one tub of Light Cool Whip.

Here are a few items to ponder on this holiday from my meanderings on the web today.

History.com has lots of information on this holiday.

See lots of information on today's holiday at usmemorialday.org

Barefoot in the park? Watch your step (from http://www.nytimes.com/)

It's not holiday related, but happycatholic's always good for an off-the-wall joke (this one with Forrest Gump).

A fun day off

I was busy yesterday working away on lots of different stuff, so now, all I have to do is finish the rest before I go to work today. Whenever I have some time on my hands, I tend to be digging into something (literally or figuratively...it doesn't matter!)

Here are a few of the interesting things I discovered yesterday.

I met this guy, the French Ambassador to the US at a lecture at SLU. As a student of people in general (and an alum), I like to see who shows up at these lectures, and today's collection of attendees was an interesting group.

First, you had the usual SLU professors and administrators from the business school. There were even a couple of profs from other disciplines, such as philosophy, which surprised me. Next, you had the students. I was kind of surprised that there were so many this close after graduation, but perhaps this was part of an intersession course or something, for French or international business. Then you had the Alliance Francaise contingent of people, who like to roll out the red carpet when anyone shows up here from la France. Lastly, you had everyone else--some alums, some business people rolling in laptops and even some World Trade Center folks.

The lecture and Q&A session was heavy on lecture and less on Q&A because of time limits, and the fact the the hors d'oeuvre in the ballroom next door were probably melting. The only thing that really, really irritated me was that all the questions posed were by men. Yep, every single solitary one. In fact, one guy kept jumping from microphone to microphone when his efforts to ask a question were thwarted by the students giving the wireless mike to other guys in the crowd. As usual, all the questions were highbrow. I was rooting for the elderly lady on my side to get her question in, but, alas, we ran out of time.

Needless to say, I got my hors d'oeuvres, ate them, and had a cup of coffee before the Ambassador came over. By a stroke of luck, the only bar table free was the one by the door. I waited my turn as the good Ambassador came in with Dr. Kim, the head of international business (and my old advisor). I introduced myself and had a nice chat. The Ambassador was very charming, and it turns out, in the family business, which I found out when I asked what region his family was from (Normandy). "My family's from there, but I was born in Tunisia." he said. I replied, "Well, what do you know...so you went into the family business, eh?", "Ah, yes, I sure did."

Finally, I even chatted with my old philosophy prof, who mentioned to me that he's now been with the university for 40 years. He threatened to look up my grade in Greek philosophy. Hopefully, he won't. I never really liked that class. It was too Wittgensteinian for me! I also talked to one of the French profs who started the year I graduated. He's still sending people over to France, but now to Poitiers and Angers.

It was fun to escape the nursing scene for a little while and go back to my old international business/French roots. I may have to do it again sometime soon.

Kudos Randy!

Who says nothing good happens in St. Louis? Something did today!

Many congratulations today to Randy Grim of Stray Rescue. Stray Rescue was the winner of a $1 million dollar animal shelter makeover prize from zootoo.com.

I know Randy because he owned a dog grooming shop called the Barking Lot in Lafayette Square here in St. Louis. Hubby and I took our first Sheltie, Jordan to Randy. Even though Jordan hated baths and getting groomed, he loved Randy.

Randy really does know how to talk to dogs. If you'd like to help Randy and Stray Rescue, check out their website here.

How time flies...

One year ago this weekend, I graduated with my latest bachelor's degree from SLU. I can hardly believe the time has flown by so quickly.

The latest graduation on Saturday at SLU was the first one on campus in 60 years. I also noticed that the School of Nursing got its own precommencement location (not with the rest of the Doisy College of Health Sciences) this year at the College Church. Makes you wonder if we (nursing students) were too rowdy last year...;->

Nevertheless, it's fun to see what's going on at your local college or university. Here are a few interesting tidbits about colleges, universities and their inhabitants I've uncovered thanks to my e-mail and checking the calendar.

Many brick and mortar (traditional) colleges and universities need to shake up their business models according to this article by a former FCC chairman. (from the Chronicle of Higher Education)

When college students aren't busy with homework, social life or text messaging someone, apparently some are trying to bring virtual life into reality according to this article in New York magazine.

And if that's not exciting enough, occasionally those university people find diplomats to come and visit campus and chitchat. Since I'm actually off that day, as a Cook alum, I'll just have to go over and see if the rusty French degree still works.

A quick batch of pot luck cakes

Here's the scenario:

I get home from the grocery store, put everything away, and at 1800, Hubby tells me he needs something for the pot luck dinner at work. Another important thing...make sure it doesn't have to be refrigerated, since that will probably be full of other important stuff.

Hmm...I ask him about what to bring, and thankfully, this site does not assign dishes by last name or anything, so I head to the cookbook and cabinet to see what happens. Since I had all the ingredients on hand, I decided to make an upside down cake.

The recipe below for yellow cake comes from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, 2000. I use this cookbook frequently because it has a nice form factor (is small and fits on the shelf I want it on in the kitchen) and it has a lot of fairly basic recipes you can build on easily.

Note: there is a pineapple upside down recipe in this book on page 137, but I use the Yellow Cake one instead for a couple of reasons--it makes two cakes from one batch.

Yellow cake pineapple upside down

Cake:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter or margarine
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel (optional)

Note: this cake above will produce enough batter for two cakes (9 inch round cake pans)

Topping

NOTE: items below are per cake--double ingredients below (by type) if making two upside down cakes!

pineapple upside down
1 can pineapple slices
8-10 maraschino cherries (I use 8 --one whole one in the center of each pineapple ring)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup brown sugar

or variation--
apricot upside down
2-15 oz. cans apricot halves
1/2 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease 2-9 inch round pans with shortening or cooking spray (i.e. Pam).
Place pineapples and cherries in bottom of pan.
Add chopped nuts atop the cherries and pineapples to cover.
Add brown sugar to cover. Pat down if needed.
Set aside.

Combine flour, salt and baking powder in separate bowl.
In large mixing bowl, beat butter or margarine on high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined. Add lemon peel here (optional).
Add eggs one at a time, beating for one minute each.
Add dry mixture and milk, on low speed, slowly until just combined.

Pour batter carefully to cover fruit in each pan. You should have enough batter to cover two cakes.

Bake at 375 degrees F, or until golden and tested with wooden toothpick (comes out clean when poked near center of cake).

Loosen cake around edges of pan and let sit on cooling rack for five minutes. Invert cake onto heat-safe plate and cooling rack and let sit another five minutes. Cake should come out of pan easily.

NOTE: some pineapple or topping may stick to pan. Remove pineapple and/or topping promptly and place back on cake very carefully!

Serve warm or when cooled. Makes approximately 8 servings per cake.

Our results: one pineapple and one apricot upside down cake.

A trip to the hospital...maybe not

Note: this is a public service announcement and should not be construed as personal medical advice. Please see your favorite primary care provider or specialist if you need further information on this topic.

As a nurse, I get to go to the hospital everyday, but lately, with my sister's recent trip and a few friends also making impromptu hospital visits, it seems I'm appearing there more than I'd like on my days off.

Today, I found this article noted below which may keep some asthma sufferers (including me) out of the hospital, if you use one of those CFC-free inhalers. I've been using one for a while, but this article points out a few of the key differences between the new ones (CFC free) and the old ones (with CFCs).

Rough Transition to a New Inhaler (from http://www.nytimes.com/)

If you want to learn more about asthma and common medications, check out the following links:

Asthma medication information from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/asthmaallergymedications.stm

Asthma information from the American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22582

WebMD inhaler information
http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/asthma-inhalers

Mayo Clinic information on asthma inhalers
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/asthma-inhalers/HQ01081