SUGAR

I have the best husband ever.

Today, I made homemade Oreos and they are a success. They're actually a little sweet for me even though I left out some of the sugar, but I bet they'll be great with milk. (The hubs is at Meijer right now buying milk). It was definitely a hassle making those thing, though. The recipe said to mix the dough in a food processor or a stand mixer. Having no stand mixer, I opted for the food processor. But when I put the butter in with all the powdery ingredients, the thing made a huge mess and cocoa powder and flour were flying through the air. So I abandoned the food processor method and chose to use my hands to mix the dough. I figured my hands would work because I used the same method when making a similar dough for my yufkas before. It was touch and go, though, for a while... I wasn't sure if the dough was ever going to come together. But it did and it worked! Yay! And then the filling didn't seem like it would turn out right, but it did.

Now to watch Grey's Anatomy.

Answer This!

Nidhal and I went to a national park in Canada earlier this month. It was an hour drive from the border, and it was definitely worth the drive. It's the southern-most point in mainland Canada, there are trails, trees, marshes, and it's on Lake Erie. The day was beautiful... blue skies, warm sun, cool breeze, leaves beginning to change, waves crashing... it was great. We plan to go back sometime.

I'm listening to the same concert band song as the last time I posted. What a coincidence.

A couple days ago, I made a lemon cake thing, and it was a success! Next on the list is homemade oreos.

It's 6:30pm and the sun has already set behind the trees. It's really nuts. I can't believe that in a couple weeks the sun will be setting before 5:30.

Yesterday, we went with a couple friends to a screening of the movie Answer This! which was filmed in Ann Arbor and features the University of Michigan. It was a good movie and a great experience. Normally, I don't like the enthusiastic crowds in a movie theater, but it worked in this case. The producer and writer/directer are Michael and Christopher Farah, and there was a Q&A with them and with Chris Parnell (from SNL) after the movie. I didn't realize until just now that Chris Parnell plays a roll on Suburgatory, a new show on ABC that I've been enjoying. AND Professor Ralph Williams played a role in the movie. I had him for half a semester during my freshman year and he certainly is quite memorable. All in all, last night was definitely a fun and unique experience. I would recommend the movie to Michigan fans, people familiar with Ann Arbor/SE Michigan area, or just anyone (because it wasn't a bad movie, but it's hard not to be biased when it takes place at the best university ever). The DVD is supposed to be available on their website in January, and we plan to buy it. I also want the shirt with Ralph Williams on the front, but that's not entirely relevant.

‎"Without exhaustive debate, even heated debate, of ideas and programs, free government would weaken and wither. But if we allow ourselves to be persuaded that every individual or party that takes issue with our own convictions is necessarily wicked or treasonous then, indeed, we are approaching the end of freedom's road." - Dwight D. Eisenhower.

October

Christmas shopping: you have to start early to get the good deals.

The title is also the title of a concert band song by Eric Whitacre... one of my favorites.

I managed to get through September without turning on the heat or the AC. We woke up this morning to a 62-degree house, but we made it. Since it's going to warm up in a couple days, we're going to hold out on the heat a little longer. And the sun today will stream in our huge energy-inefficient windows and warm up the house considerably.

We went to an Apple Orchard this past week and the week before (I'm not sure why I capitalized apple orchard, unless I'm thinking in German), and we bought some delicious apple cider and apple doughnuts. This is the first apple orchard that I went to in Ann Arbor, possibly ever. (My freshman year at UM was my first time, not today). There were a dozen doughnuts when we bought them, but now we're down to seven.

2012 is a very depressing movie.

It's great to see UM football doing well so far this season. It's been so long. Go BLUE! (Nidhal said MSU was going to play Eyebuck today, and I had to stop for a minute to figure out that he meant OSU, the buckeyes... he's cute when he mixes up compound words).