The Becki/Julie/Julia Project

So, last week I had a mini Julie/Julia Project. Lest you think I have jumped on another movie bandwagon- please allow me to explain my brief history with this work of pop culture.

Back in 2005 when it first came out I read the original book Julie & Julia- a memoir about a girl on the brink of 30 (hello!) who is frustrated with her life and career (again!) and decides to spend 1 year cooking her way through the Julia Child cookbook- Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I loved it. And became sort of fascinated with Julia Child- even though I have always loved her- I enjoyed watching her show on PBS when I was a kid- and a favorite JC moment of mine is when Oprah did a show on nutrition and "peaked into the refrigerators of famous people." Julia was one of them- and she only had like pickles and condiments and beer. I loved it!! I knew she was a cool woman- even in my (what i can remember was) my early teen years.

About a year ago (or a little more) when I still didn't know when the movie was coming out, etc, I bought Julia Child's memoir: My Life in France. I finally read it this summer and was enamored. What a fascinating woman!! She didn't even start cooking until she was 37!!! (There is hope for me!)

So, in September, I finally saw the movie, and received the famous cookbook as a birthday gift. I have done nothing with it since then.

Some friends of mine and I had the idea (well, it wasn't my idea- i'm was going along with it) to have a monthly dinner club- where we take turns cooking/hosting. So, I signed up for January and said we'd make it "Julia Themed."

So I took on one of the more famous recipes "Boeuf Bourguignon." It was a challenge. I read and studied the recipe- wanting to follow Julia's directions- but realizing that this book was designed for a cook more advanced than I. But with the help of some food savvy friends- I did it!!! I made the stew, with a side of boiled potatoes and a side of peas (what Julia suggests as sides) and I made a homemade key lime pie for dessert (not a Julia suggestion, but I'm just back from Florida...).

It was more or less a success!!! All my dinner guests came in pearls (or brought extra to share- this has meaning if you've read the book/seen the movie), and we ate our stew and veggies avec baguette et vin. We did our best Julia Child impressions, and we watched the movie to close our evening. It was a great time!

I hope to keep trying recipes- I had a few milestones in this cooking- I bought a few things I never had before (including Red Meat!) and some new cookware. I really enjoyed this challenging cooking project. I realized in this experience that I don't know a lot about cooking- and I'm certain to not blame my mom for not teaching me- but I never really paid attention to what goes into cooking. I've been out of college for 8 years- it's time I improve my skills!!!!

The key lime pie (crust hand made as well!)

Tasty dinner by candlelight, a good time had by all! (i hope!)

Winter Vacay

A few weeks ago (sorry- delayed!) I went on a little winter vacation. My friend Lindsey had gone to college in Florida and was going down between Christmas and New Years to visit/vacation with friends and invited me to go along. I had vacation that I need to use or lose- so I was happy to join in!!

We left at 7 am the morning after Christmas (which was a little rough) and headed south. In southern South Carolina we hit a pothole and got a flat- which moved our ETA from 7:00pm to an actual arrival time of 11:45pm. (we sat for an hour waiting for AAA, and then drove 50mph the rest of the way...)

But it was still a good trip- we spent some time in Jacksonville, visited St. Augustine where Lindsey went to school (in a resort hotel basically), went to Bradenton (which was finally warm) and swam with Manatees!! By far my highlight!!!

I have been into Manatees since I was 11. My mom and step dad went to the Keys for their honeymoon and sent me a postcard from there with Manatees, and brought me back a manatee tshirt. I didn't even know about them before and have loved them ever since!!

On wednesday of our vacay we went to an aquarium in Sarasota, and there were 2 manatees in a tank there. I was soooo excited to see them and took a bunch of pics. While we were there the one girl we were with said "you know- you can swim with them in the wild." Well, i was sold!

We got up Thursday morning at 4 something to leave before 5 b/c we had a 2+ hour drive to be at Chrystal River at 7 (the town where the manatees are). It was not warm or sunny that day- we SQUEEZED in wetsuits and were on the water by 8am. I was a little nervous to snorkel in cold water for 3 hours- b/c i don't like dirty river water or snorkeling or being cold- but it was awesome!!!! I recommend that anyone who loves manatees should do this- they were so sweet and gentle and let you pet them.

Well, that is the story- see some photos below!!!! (ps- the drive back was much more efficient!)

me with the manatee in the aquarium- the highlight of my life until the next day...

This is a baby manatee swimming up to see me and let me pet him (that's really me)

Lindsey's friend Nat getting up close and personal with a manatee (i was this close to one too- but no one was there to photograph it)

My hand petting this very friendly manatee- she let me pet her for several minutes.

we were nose to nose!

  

Lindsey and me in the cold water!!

Obligations

I haven't written here in quite awhile. Just haven't felt inspired I guess. It's not that writing a few thoughts down is that hard- but it is hard to come up with what to write about- especially when I find that a lot of my blogging friends are posting photos of their babies. And I don't have babies.

But today I have been thinking about obligations. Not those put on by someone else, but the kind of obligations that we create for ourselves. It's ridiculous. I think some of it is the bit of obsessive compulsiveness that I have- I create obligations for myself that are truly unnecessary. Like what? you might ask. Well, I seem to have created this personality where I can't do something part way (well, that's not true- I can totally dust part way. and I really only exercise part way). But things that I'm supposed to be enjoying.

For example- yesterday I spent some time watching a tv show on dvd that I borrowed from a friend. You see- I started watching this year during the fourth season- and I can't stand that there are all those episodes out there that I haven't seen. So I'm watching them. And while I am enjoying them, it's taking a lot of time- and I feel like now that I've started I HAVE to finish.

I feel that way with other tv shows too. Even if a series dwindles to the point that I'm not really enjoying it- I can't quit. I have to see it through to the end. And I have a hard time watching anything on tv when I'm not caught up on my dvr. DVR is NOT supposed to be an obligation- but I seem to have turned it in to one.

All this occurred to me this afternoon as I was trying to decide what to do. I got home from church at 10:30, and spent the next few hours putting my Christmas decorations away (which creates what I consider to be one of the most depressing days of the year). When I finished it was late afternoon, I was tired, my laundry was done, and my dvr was empty (except of course, for the things I'm saving- like Neil Diamond or the Sing Off). So, I thought I'd get to work on my magazines.

I currently subscribe to 2 magazines. I used to get three, but finally cut one out. I can NEVER stay caught up on them. Right now I have Oct-Jan of 2 magazines (which = 8) sitting here in a stack waiting for me to read them. And I CANNOT get rid of them without reading them. Too wasteful. So, I have again turned what is supposed to be a fun leisurely activity into what almost seems to be a chore- finishing these things. (Ideally before the February ones arrive next week).

Does anyone else have this problem? Are there things that you intend to be recreational but turn in to what feel like obligations? Or is it just me?? Just wondering.... back to my reading!