Suzzette Dawes's Blog, page 4

Atlanta and My Least Favorite Airline

I have been traveling lately: second weekend of January, I visited Georgia and saw my brother, his wife, their children and his mother-in-law then the next day I saw my old college friend and her children. That was the best moments of my trip seeing the family and friends. The worst times were the plane trips.

From the onset, the ordeal was jarring. The airline had open seating and I had group B. I could board after the people with strollers, people with wheelchairs, people with young children and after group A. By the time I was on board, I saw empty middle seat after middle seat, the aisle and window seats were taken while walking down the narrow aisle. Past the wing, I finally saw an open aisle seat. I had a similar experience on the way back. That was an experience I don't care to repeat.

If I could rank the airlines, this airline would still be above the airline that charges for carry-on bag!

How do you rank the airlines?

Apple Pie

There is nothing more American than apple pie! So I had to find a recipe for the air fryer. After a search, I found one at https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/air-fried-apple-pies?utm_sourc

Making the filling Cutting the pie crustPie cutter and crimper

Formed apple pie

My apple pie
My main issue was the temperature setting as I had a hard time reading the dial. Otherwise, it was as

New Year's Day Impulse Buy

I like fried foods. I like chicken wings, French fries, sweet potato fries.  Unfortunately, this like for fried foods does not help my goal of losing weight or avoiding heartburn. Recently, I have been seeing commercials for air fryers and how much healthier the food prepared in an air fryer than deep fried foods. On New Year’s Day, I was in Kohl's and starting looking at the appliance section. My eyes caught several air fryers then I saw the Bella Air Fryer.








It seemed simple enough so I bought an air fryer and tried recipes the very next day. I put a couple pieces of seasoned chicken in the air fryer and a couple pieces in the oven. The air fried chicken was so much better and was cooked before the chicken pieces that were placed in the oven.

In the user manual, they had some tips for using the air fryer such as any recipe for deep fryer can be done in an air fryer. I wanted to do sweet potato fries. I bought sweet potatoes, even a device to cut it into fries. Then I made two batches. One batch tossed with 1 tsp garlic salt and two tablespoon oil. The second batch was done following a recipe that I found online but was a bit wary as it included baking soda. I tossed that batch with baking soda, paprika, salt and oil then followed the times suggested in the user manual for sweet potatoes. The first batch was delicious. The second batch looked mushy and muddy so I added it to my compost instead.

I tried zucchini in the air fryer. That manual cutter was way easier to use for the zucchini.  
  












String beans are a breeze in the air fryer so crunchy. I even cooked frozen salmon patties in the air fryer. Salmon with string beans and zucchiniIt was an impulse buy on New Year’s Day but I think I love it.
Have you ever impulse shopped? If yes, tell me your adventure!

Welcome 2020!!!

2020 is here! I gave up on making (and keeping) resolutions years ago. I now make goals not just at the start of the year (that would make it a resolution) but throughout the year.  Some of the goals were long-term and took a couple years while others are short-term. Today, in the spirit of 2020 (or hindsight or Monday morning jockey), I want to reflect on my 2019 goals:Finish the Bachelors in Information Technology - I achieved my goal of obtaining the Bachelors in Information Technology in August 2019, I started my goal of obtaining Computer Science training in January 2016;take a tutorial on android programming - started the tutorial on android programming; travel – St. Augustine in January with the festival of lights, resort life on Jamaica’s North Coast in March and saw some Christmas markets in the Netherlands. #mybesttravelsyet
St. Augustine's Festival of Lights 
exercise more – I exercised about the same, I even joined the gym and went for two months straight. Not a complete fail as I still walk and track my steps with my Google Fit app; and lose some weight – I lost some weight but gained some weight. Host poetry readings – Hosted poetry readings at Savor Cinema from January to September. Most new poetry that wrote coincidentally was in the same time-frame. I barely wrote any poetry from October to December.

I know why I add “exercise more” and “lose weight” to my goals every year because my doctor scares me when I go for my annual checkup. Doctor has warned me to watch the weight gain as I could move to diabetic so they are added to my goals yearly. I have made some strides such as finding out my food intolerances so not a complete fail.
Also, what are my other goals for 2020:Use spreadsheets – I started last September with making a spreadsheet to see how I spend and it was informative. I put due dates in so I can pay my bills on time as late fees eat away the budget. Therefore, for 2020 I am going to keep making spreadsheets to track my budget. Another interesting use for the spreadsheet is to track my time (this should also help with the exercise goal.) coursework – enrolled in another program already so goal is to complete the coursework by June.Create an Android App – sometime this year, I need to create an android app.Poetry readings – in addition to hosting, I hope to attend some poetry readings.Travel – no big plans for 2020 but maybe I can travel to read at some other poetry readings, visit relatives, go to more local events. I went to the Taste of the Track which was nearby and had a marvelous time. I also tried some Paint & Sip workshops and had a blast. Long-term plan for 2021 to save and travel to … my acrylic piece from Broward Art Guild Workshop
Those are my goals so far for 2020, I can add more later or adjust as goals work like that. What are your goals (or if you are still into resolutions, what are your resolutions) for 2020?

Finding Inspiration

It was much harder finding good news that was also inspiring. 
https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1273084539504202https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1272410096238313Two posts was all I could muster. It became increasingly difficult to time to read news as the week progresses. Even more difficult was finding that good inspiration.I will return to writing Monday through Friday but whatever inspiration comes my way is what I will use.

Browsing the Sun

Sun-Sentinel, that is...

Last week, Monday through Friday, I wrote based on newspaper's articles:
Monday - https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1268075663338423Tuesday - https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1268526269960029Wednesday - https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1269245536554769Thursday - https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1269724566506866Friday- https://www.facebook.com/BrowardBard/posts/1270556249757031

This week I will try to find inspiration from the local sections especially feel-good articles.

Norppa Live

Lake Saimaa is home to Pullervo 
Popular with the viewers, thanks toThe hidden camera by the lake.
Milder winters are endangeringThese rare, fresh-water species.Also, those darned, fishing nets
Are the real threats causingPullervo's friends to be tangled up:No way to be free and starve to death.
Only three hundred and sixty remainAnd viewers tune in to seeTheir plights, their fightsAll on hidden TV.
Inspired by http://quickworldnews.com/endangered-finnish-seals-go-online-to-highlight-plight/

I am an April's Fool

I was already in a bad mood and not because I was pranked on April's Fool. I had worked my frustration out in the yard by raking and cleaning up the swale on the side. The final touch was to use the gas blower and clean the sidewalk back up. While blowing out the sidewalk and the engine throbbing loudly in my ear, this other fool in a white SUV was honking for my attention.

I didn't want to stop what I was doing so I kept going. Well, this fool was honking away disturbing the neighbors, following me, honking. Leave me alone, already! I'm not buying what you're selling!
Almost every time I'm outside doing yardwork, some fool wants me to give him the work. I don't know what money I should be paying him with. On one occasion, a guy in a BMW said that to me because I have a house, he lived in an apartment. I had to inform him because I had a house which is why I am poor. There is always something to fix so to save myself from too much debt, I did my yard work. Maybe, that was a foolish answer and I should have said that why he live in an apartment but driving BMW.
Aren't we all just a bunch of fools!

Cringe-worthy Words/Phrases

"Early Release!" Those are two words that makes me cringe. When prisoners are paroled, they use the term "early release!" The bad effects of early release usually makes the news, such as when a recent parolee commits a crime and opponents comes out in droves.
The sign above isn't about early release from prisons but about schools. Why do we use the same phrase to describe schools sending children home earlier to their parents. 
Another word that drives me nutty is that combination word from horrible and terrific. I can't even write it because I don't want to propagate its use. When something is just plain horrible, let's use horrible. Or, if you want to change it up a bit, then use terrible. If it scared you then scary or terrify is good enough. 
What phrases/words makes you cringe? And why?Here's a poem that is included in the Bards of Broward: The Courtyard Chronicles
Lizards lounging on a ledge,Or window-sill but safely inside their spaceship while outside, a planet on the verge.
I looked closer and saw themLizards lounging about some interiorAnd outside the Earth was about to explodeOnly the lizards are safe, only the lizards escaped.
With their gilded, glossy skinAnd dewlaps extended to warnOf humans overrunning on Earth:Animal and plant species on the brink of extinction Foreign species introduction and proliferationHuman nations on the verge of annihilation.
Lizards lounging and looking out the portal:A last look at what was once home.
Copyright 2016 Suzzette Dawes




Bards of Broward: The Courtyard Chronicles is available from Amazon.com
Share your thoughts below!

Making time...

Sometimes we bite off more than we can chew. Yeah, that's what I will attribute my absence on social media. Well, my new goal is to make time: 1 hour on Sunday to read posts and post so here goes:

Join the South Regional Poetry Club for "The Poetry of India"
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
South Regional/BC Library Conference Room
http://ems.browardlibrary.org/MasterC...

Open Mic with South Florida Poetry Journal
Saturday, March 4, 2017
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Main Library Bienes Museum Ceremonial Room
http://ems.browardlibrary.org/MasterC...

Cabaret Poetry Workshop
Hosted by Anastasia Clark
Weston Library
4205 Bonaventure Blvd
Weston, Florida 33332
11am -1 pm on April 8, 2017
https://www.facebook.com/events/38084...

Let's make some time and attend these poetry events!