All I've ever wanted is to make a difference in someone's life.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Coconut Shrimp Recipe

This is really great!

Coconut Shrimp with Orange Marmalade

2 cups shredded sweetened coconut
2 cups bread crumbs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 large eggs, beaten
24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Vegetable oil, for frying

Dipping Sauce:
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 to 2 tablespoons dark rum

In a large bowl, combine coconut and bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Place flour, eggs, and bread crumb mixture into 3 separate bowls. Dredge the shrimp in flour and shake off excess. Next, dip the shrimp thoroughly in the egg and rub against the side of the bowl to lightly remove excess. Finally, coat the shrimp thoroughly with the bread crumb mixture. Lay out the shrimp so they do not touch on a parchment-lined baking sheet or platter until ready to fry. In a large Dutch oven, heat several inches of oil to 350 degrees F. Fry the shrimp in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per batch. Be careful not to overcrowd shrimp in the oil while frying. Drain on paper towels.

For the Dipping Sauce: heat the marmalade in a small saucepan over low heat. Thin with rum as desired.

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Last Lecture

(CNN) -- Randy Pausch, the professor whose "last lecture" became a runaway phenomenon on the Internet and was turned into a best-selling book, died Friday of pancreatic cancer, Carnegie Mellon University announced on its Web site.

Pausch, 47, a computer science professor, delivered the lecture, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007, a month after being told he had three to six months to live because his cancer had returned.

The lanky, energetic Pausch talked about goals he had accomplished, like experiencing zero gravity and creating Disney attractions, and those he had not, including becoming a professional football player.

He used rejections he was handed when he applied for jobs at Disney to comment on the importance of persistence.

"The brick walls are there for a reason ... to show us how badly we want something," he said. "Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people."

Thursday, July 24, 2008

On Jury Duty

I've been selected for jury duty.
It's a murder trial.
Can't say anything about it now, but will let you know what's up latah.

Monday, July 14, 2008

Ray's Birthday

Tomorrow is Ray's birthday!
I took him out to a nice dinner on Saturday at the Salt Creek Grill in Dana Point.
Sunday we went on Ray's brother's boat for some ocean fishing.
We both got a few nibbles, but weren't able to pull anything up.
As part of Ray's birthday gifts, I got him a new fishing poll. He was so excited!!
And, we got a tutorial on how to tie knots from the guy at SportMart.
Good times.
I got a little sick on the boat, but was able to keep my lunch down. Whew!
Tomorrow I have a special little surprise for Ray.....

Next Saturday we are hosting an OCPT home game.
It's a standard $20+Rebuy special event structure.
Cards are in the air at 6PM.
Look here for info on the record breaking attendance and prize pool the last time we hosted an event.

I'm in charge of the food again.
This time, I think I will make the meatballs I made last time, a sweet and sour keilbasa dish, maybe a pasta, and perhaps some pizza bagels. Plus the regular stuff like chips and a cheese plate with crackers. If anyone knows of any other quick and easy appetizers, lemme know. I'm alway game to try something new!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Practicum

I have my practicum (mini internship - 16 hours a week for a year) assignment for this fall/spring/summer.
I'll be working at the Intercommunity Counseling Center, in Whittier, doing Psychological testing. I'll basically be doing cognitive testing, which determines IQ, information processing speed, abstract reasoning, etc, maybe some learning disability testing, including ADHD and reading/math problems.

I'll also be doing personality testing with the MMPI, the PAI and the Rorschach.
These tests tell us more about how the individual performs on an intimate level - personality type, tendencies; potentially why people do what they do.

Weeeeeeeeeeeee.....grades

Getting good grades is FUN.
I got an A from Dr. A-(and I didn't even have to wear The Hoochie Shirt)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Well, not sure it's fun. But it's a lot of hard work. And it feels goooood.
Lana - to answer your previous question, yes, I would post if I got a B or C.
If I get anything lower, I'm O-U-T of the program.
Let's just hope I have the strength and will to work my ass off to get more A's.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008