Delivering Bad News

Delivering bad news stinks especially if the bad new pertains to yourself.

I heard through the grapevine that the folks at Lee Hecht Harrison were under the assumption that I had landed the job at CIGNA. They had even told my friends as much. The assumption was made based on the extended nature of my "finalist" status.

So, I went over to West Hartford to check in with Dick and let him know the true status. Bringing up the non-job wasn't something I relish doing but Dick is a good guy and I thought that I owe him an in person update.

Dick wasn't in. He took the day off. So, I had driven to West Hartford for nothing.

I killed some time talking to some friendly staff people but the outcome was that I still had to return to talk with Dick.

Dragging up my experiences at CIGNA at some future date was not thrilling me as I left the building.

Then, while reaching out with my keys to open my car door (really just pointing and clicking) a bird flew by and crapped on my hand.

I started to laugh. After all, I thought that having to return to LHH to talk to Dick was pretty crappy. This was true shit. Suddenly talking to Dick wasn't all that bad and the old axiom had just been proven; it can always be worse.

For those keeping score, I do have a short term job currently contacting my references. I also have a job posted with a friend at the Aetna (among other job postings). So I am still out looking.

I'll let you know when I am again adding to the economy.

No Sour Grapes For My Pizza

Food can be a bit odd lately here on the hill. All sorts of new foods have crept onto our menus. I learned how to make Tzatziki Sauce, cook with fish sauce, and have used an entire bottle of Mirin (sweet rice wine).

The impact, however, has been genuinely positive.

Pat sends mid day e-mails asking what is on the menu. She sends notes thanking me for the lunch salad.

Stu asks eagerly what is for dinner. He schedules around it and has put off going out until after dinner.

I enjoy the challenges of new meals and assembling a menu.

Grapes on a pizza was a bit of a challenge. At least on my part. It was a tough concept to get my head around. However, the use of Mango and dried cranberries in rice salad were both successful (they were two different salads). So mixing sweet and savory can be more overt than I am used too.

We all liked the look of the pizza but approached it hesitantly. Chicken Shawarma was less of a tough sell than Chicken, Red Grape and Pesto Pizza.

Still, the dish was another hit. I will make it again but next time I will dig out the old Pizza stone to crisp the crust.

Grapes on a pizza. Who knew.

In Search Of the Elusive Udon

Ok, I am trying to cook all sorts of new dishes. Tonight's meal was Cold Sesame Noodles with Chicken and Cucumbers; something new from Cooking Light magazine. Not a difficult dish but one that requires new Asian flavors.

Shopping for this dish required quite a search in the Asian food section for Udon Noodles. This is tough to do when you have no idea what an Udon is or how they are squeezed into a noodle. After some delay in the Asian aisle I was able to locate a vacuum sealed container of 7.22 oz of semi-cooked Udon noodles. Since I needed only 8 oz I declared success and moved on.

That was Friday.

Monday evening it was time to cook the Cold Sesame Noodles. Having already made Pat's lunch dish (Bulgur Mint and Parsley Salad) it was time to move on to the main dish. Calling up the new item on the PC (I set the PC on the counter and read the recipe).

Imagine my surprise when I read that the dish calls for dried Udon noodles. I evaluated the situation and determined that the semi-cooked noodles were a single portion and not enough for three.

So, Pat and I headed back to Shaw's to find Dried Udon noodles.

There are no dried Udon noodles at Shaw's. We bought something that we might want to substitute. I suggested we try a local, nearby specialty store.

So we headed off to the Asian Market near our old house.

It turns out that "Asian" means Indian/Pakistani. Udon noodles are Japanese. We were out of luck. I hesitate to mention this but there were employment advertisements for package stores and a 7-11 by the door. They are not helping the stereotypes.

Pat was ready to give up but I drove off to find the elusive Udon.

Pat was amazed when we went to A. Dong's Oriental Market. There was the elusive Udon in 3 lb and 1 lb packages. Not bad. We chose the 1 lb package for $2.09. Remember, we only need 8 oz.

The meal took less than 30 minutes to prepare. As a bonus it also required Chili-Garlic Sauce which we already had on hand. Chili-Garlic Sauce is one of those specialty items I buy that Pat thinks that we will never use up. Ha Ha, it's half gone already.

Anyway, Pat does not like Udon noodles it turns out. They are too thick and a bit chewy, according to her. Stu and I really liked the Udon, however.

And, half the noodles are still uncooked. I must not waste them, Pat wouldn't like that. Maybe Curried Noodle Salad with Lamb,