A Mighty Wind

So apparently ConEdison is doing some marketing at the Banff Mountain Film Festival (how do I get that job???) because that's where my friend and her husband found out about this cool dealio:

You can now switch your traditional Con Ed power to Con Ed Solutions Wind power.

All you need to do is visit the following link and enter your Con Ed account number. The financial implication for most NYC apartment dwellers is about $10 per month. Your electricity will still be supplied by Con Ed but it will be non-polluting and will generate no greenhouse gases.

Here's the link:

www.newwindenergy.com/switch

Building a Loyal Base

Ok, I'll admit it: I'm a bad blogger. Well, not bad in the sense that my postings aren't interesting (b/c I know all of my loyal readers wait on the edge of their seats for my written words). Bad in the sense that my posts come in spurts.

As a marketer by vocation, I should know better. You know, customer loyalty and all of that. I'd also eventually like to get, you know, ONE comment on my blog (the 1% rule means that I need to get 100 ppl reading before 1 person actually posts).

Now, I will also admit that I haven't actually publicized my blog. I was hoping for the word of mouth thing to catch on...create some FitzThis evangelists. You can't even find it if you Google it.

I'm ready for the big time, but I have to confess to some angst when it comes to either a) writing on a daily basis and/or b) writing about one subject in particular -- 2 of the key ways to actually get some people reading.

But, here's my shot at some really advanced Web 2.0 marketing techniques:

I have come up with a series of series of blogs that I may actually commit myself to*. If you, my loyal readers, would like to VOTE on which series you would like to read about, I will be happy to oblige. They are:

- A post-modern** comparison of teenage angst tv shows through the decades: 90210, Dawson's Creek and Gossip Girl (I like this one, in particular, b/c it justifies me watching re-runs of the former two and current episodes of the latter).

- Real life episodes of "The Office". I would need some reader contributions for this one, people.

- Only in New York. Little daily happenings that remind you that you live in this wonderful, crazy ass city. (Photo submissions encouraged.)

- A hobby a week. In which I try out a new hobby and report back. This one would be a lot of effort, so maybe it'll be a hobby a month. And, no, I will not take on any hobbies having to do with sex, drugs or snakes.

A note to my current readership: FitzThis will continue its free-form, random postings between postings on the above.

Let the votes start pouring in!



* As an added incentive -- to "tell a friend" -- I won't commit to any of the above unless I get at least 20 comments.

** I don't really know what this means, but it sounded smart.

I Heart My Crock Pot

That's right people. Call it what you like. I will defend it to the end.

Ok, maybe that's a bit dramatic.

But, I do love my crock pot.

Many people will tell you that I become infatuated with new things very easily...cute new towns I find, cute old men who I want to be my grandpas, cute little gadgets. I'm big on cuteness. My boyfriend calls it being "focused". I have no shame in it. Not everyone can focus as well as I can.

My crock pot isn't so much cute (though it is a nice red color and has a handy handle) as it is just plain awesome. It is my new focus...just like my Cuisanart was. For about a week. (Note: there are some cool ass videos on YouTube demo-ing what you can do with a Cuisanart).

I fretted for a while about using it. You have to plan in advance. You have to get up earlier in the morning. I was also a little suspicious about leaving an appliance on all day and coming back to a house that wasn't burnt down. And, let's admit, I don't exactly make roasts for Sunday dinner.


But, I took the leap this morning. The recipe: beer braised pork and black bean soup. Daring, you might think. Why yes, thank you. I thought so too. It's not exactly your traditional crock pot recipe.

I dumped all the ingredients in at about 8:45 a.m. (yes, I got to work late). Cumin. Chiles in adobo sauce (I don't know what that means either). Sam Adams lager. Onions. Salt. Water. Beans. That was it. I turned it on and...

presto changeo 10 hours later...scrumptious black bean soup and mouth watering pork.

It's like magic. And I'm fascinated.

Mind you, I know people have been using these for years. But, per the above: I'm like a kid in a candy store when I discover something new. And, just like that kid, I will likely toss away the new toy within a few weeks.

But for now, I am seriously hearting the crock pot.

I would do anything for meatloaf

But I won't do that. No, I won't do that (cue the big hairy singer guy)...

Made a tasty dinner on Sunday, hearkening back to my Midwestern roots. Meatloaf. Yes, we Midwesterners love our Meatloaf -- and the singer too.

This recipe hearkens from Everyday Food. You can go to it directly here.

Thanks, Martha, for the fantastic photo...though I have to admit, this was a rare time when my food actually looked like the photo. Too bad I ate it before I thought to take a pic.

My only addition: maybe some fresh garlic or rosemary to give the meat some extra flavor. Or Worcestershire sauce (that's an old trick from my mom). Oh, and I used ground turkey.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for baking sheet
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon honey mustard
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 pound ground beef chuck
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 1 cup shredded white cheddar (about 4 ounces)
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound white new potatoes, scrubbed and quartered
• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
• 1 head Boston lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. In a small bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons mustard and ketchup.
2. In a medium bowl, combine beef, egg, panko, 1/2 cup cheddar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper. Form into four 2-by-4-inch loaves; place on baking sheet. Brush with mustard mixture; top with remaining 1/2 cup cheddar. On another rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper.
3. Transfer meatloaves to upper rack of oven, and place potatoes on lower rack. Bake until loaves are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, rotating sheets after 10 minutes. Remove loaves from oven; continue to roast potatoes until tender, about 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together remaining tablespoon oil, remaining teaspoon mustard, and vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Add lettuce to bowl, and toss. Serve meatloaves with potatoes and salad.

Dogs vs. Kids

I was going to write about how my new goal in life is to organize a dog cooperative in my neighborhood. The reason being that my dog walker increased his rates by $3/walk this year (that's $720/year), and I think there's a win-win in it for dog owners and dog walkers alike. Plus, it vaguely gets me back to my political roots which I sometimes miss.

But, my dog just threw up...on the carpet.

So, I've decided to write about a topic that I think about often.

Caveat: I don't have any kids. I have 2 dogs...in an 750 sq ft apartment. But, I like kids. I'm just not sure I can have 2 crazy dogs and a kid at the same time. Also, I love my dogs (in case that doesn't come across here).

Just how are dogs and kids alike, you might ask? Well:

1. Dogs and kids throw up at inappropriate moments. (see above)
2. Dogs and kids like to be in your space, especially when you don't want them there.
3. Dogs and kids require your life to be organized around them (though kids definitely more so).
4. Dogs and kids need day care.
5. Dogs and kids require you to be the pack leader, if you want any kind of respect.
6. Dogs and kids frequently choose to not obey you (though at least kids understand English).
7. Dogs and kids are pricey (kids win in this category).
8. Eventually, dogs and kids grow out of all of the above (well, most of it anyway).

More on how the Clinton Hill Dog Cooperative will save the world another day. I have to go clean up dog puke.