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la_rainetteWalt Disney Pictures? What is it you have against families?
I mean, come on. When the parents don't die in gruesome circumstances (Froglet: MOMMEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm scared!), they're still conspicuously absent from the screen (Tadpole *sees mummy giraffe and baby giraffe in Lion King*: Where Daddy? Where Daddy?). And then I have to discuss the whole thing with them, and Froglet gets nightmares.
A friend of mine took her sons see Nemo (granted, it's not a Disney movie per se, but it's still produced by Disney). At the very beginning, Nemo's mom is eaten by a barracuda.
4-year-old Jimmy: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MOMMY?
6-year-old-Doug *puts hand on Jimmy's shoulder*: She'd dead. But don't worry, they'll get another one.
My friend was not pleased. No-one likes to be that replaceable.
In other news, I was one of the three people who (stupidly) volunteered to represent our parent-run Playschool to the PCPC annual meeting. PCPC is the association that regroups all co-operative playschools in our area, and it is mildly ironic that I have NO IDEA what PCPC stands for in regard of the events that followed.
Because we were fooled into attending a motivational meeting. An acronymn-filled motivational meeting like I've never seen. See, the annual meeting itself took about 10 minutes, votes included. And then the speaker arrived.
Speaker: Now, note that down, please. P.A.C.E. Pace!
la rainette *is absurdly good student and notes*
Speaker: What does it mean, I ask you?
la rainette *waits*
Speaker: It means: Positive Attitude Changes Everything.
la rainette *blinks*
What, this is what a motivator does? You can actually get paid to say that in public? (Well, truth is they would need to pay me rather a lot to make me say that in public - not that it isn't true, but it's not exactly a ground-breaking revelation, now, is it?)
Speaker: Now, note this down: PRAISE
la rainette *once bitten, twice shy, thus refrains from noting*
Speaker: Personal Recognition Always Increases Self Esteem! *beams*
la rainette *breaks pen*
OK, so I now know about WII-FM (What's In It For Me?) and MMFG-AM (Make Me Feel Good About Myself) and GIGO (Good In, Good Out, not to be confused with Garbage In, Garbage Out, if you please), and DIR (catch people Doing It Right!). And I ask you, WTF? (ah, no, she didn't offer any New Wisdom for this one.)
It eerily reminded me of the time I was working with Husband (he had hired me, that's how we met :D), and our company had just been bought by this huge American business, and they wanted to implement a new system. See, they told us, buffalos are powerful but each herd has only one leader. If the leader dies, the whole herd is disoriented. Now, migrating geese are lead by one goose, but when that goose is tired another one takes its place. So, they said, WE WILL MAKE THE BUFFALOS FLY!
They gave all of us a book called "The Flight of the Buffalo" (the only book I ever ruthlessly disposed of in a garbage bin, I wouldn't have wanted to inflict it upon anyone else), and a tiny stuffed buffalo (very cute), And they beamed, and patted us on the back, and said we would do fine. Still, we wondered what was so wrong with us, that they felt the need to transform us into goose-brained buffalos.
I remember that we played with the stuffed buffalos for one whole morning, throwing them to each other, "whoo, see, my buffalo's flying already!" Ahem. Yes,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
terrylj and darthrami, you are not alone in your quest for distraction in a silly/boring work environment.
ANYWAYS.
We are going away for a 3-day week-end *beams* and I wanted to post the recipe for madeleines before we leave.
This recipe is for approximately 12 madeleines. I always double the quantities, because I have many madeleine eaters in my home :D but you don't have to. The recipe given incopperbadge's comments says 42 madeleines, but tiny ones (which is also why the cooking time in mine is so much longer ;) )
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs (preferably at room temperature)
- 2/3 cup flour (I use pre-sifted, enriched, all-purpose white flour)
- 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 100g butter (that's 2/5th of a 250g pack, or 2/9th of a pound.)
- vanilla extract, or, better still, the grated rind of half a lemon. (I use vanilla extract when I have no lemon in the house, I think lemon madeleines are better, but it's a matter of individual taste, really.)
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder (mixed with the flour)
OK, so I don't clarify the butter: I simply melt it on low heat, and let it cool. Actually, what's important is that the difference in temperature between the butter and the eggs shouldn't be too high, because that would result in Major Egg Drama (the buggers would unexpectedly solidify into little grains, eeeep.)
Beat the eggs and the sugar together, at high speed, for about 4 minutes. The mixture should be all whitish and fluffy. While still whisking the batter (I use my electrical beater at low speed), add the flour, little by little, en pluie as we say: make it "rain" on top of the mixture *g* (I use a tablespoon, that I shake side to side to make the flour drop little by little on top of the batter).
Once the mixture is nice and smooth, add the butter, and turn until the butter is fully incorporated (again, I use the beater at low speed), then add the lemon rind or vanilla extract and turn until batter is perfectly smooth.
Put the batter into the fridge overnight. Now, a few hours will probably be enough, especially if you use vanilla. With lemon rind, the flavour needs a little longer to fully develop.
Butter the pan generously, fill in up to 3/4. And bake at 430 F, for about 12 minutes (until golden). Remove from pan stright away, and let cool on a plate (the right way up, because if they're upside down the top of your madeleines may stick to the plate).
And I suggest you eat them the same day. Actually, it's best to bake them at the last minute (the batter keeps well in the fridge, but baked madeleines are much better when fresh!)
So, yeah, am off for a long week-end *beams*
A few good wishes before I leave:
Gareth: well. No details needed, you know what I wish for you. :D
Rami and Selkie: have a lovely week-end *hugs*! Rami, Big Computer Guy (Husband) says that the battery should have at least partially protected your iBook from the power surge. He says you should definitely have the iBook tested, because simply changing the cord might fix the problem.
Em, lost of good wishes for your first week-end overseas! *hugs*
Sam, :D are you going to try out the madeleine recipe? I translated it JUST FOR YOU when I should actually be packing. Well. No, yes, I know, you're right. I am indeed procrastinating again. Ahem.
Nny, LOTS OF LOVE!! And then some. And even more. *hugs*
Terry :D I'll be thinking of you! I am heading north-east to see the fall colours... AND I have asked Husband for a scanner for my birthday (and hopefully he'll remember. I am going to remind him, subtly, WITH A HAMMER IF NEEDED, until he complies). So! Pictures to follow!
Ellen: wheeeee, Tasha will be in town! also, B'day card flying out today! Froglet made you a cards too but got a little mixed up in the text and wishes you a happy birthelen. *g*
To everyone else: HAVE A LOVELY WEEK-END! Lots of fun, love and ... stuff. especially stuff. You know. Good stuff. *blows kisses* I love you guys.
I mean, come on. When the parents don't die in gruesome circumstances (Froglet: MOMMEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm scared!), they're still conspicuously absent from the screen (Tadpole *sees mummy giraffe and baby giraffe in Lion King*: Where Daddy? Where Daddy?). And then I have to discuss the whole thing with them, and Froglet gets nightmares.
A friend of mine took her sons see Nemo (granted, it's not a Disney movie per se, but it's still produced by Disney). At the very beginning, Nemo's mom is eaten by a barracuda.
4-year-old Jimmy: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MOMMY?
6-year-old-Doug *puts hand on Jimmy's shoulder*: She'd dead. But don't worry, they'll get another one.
My friend was not pleased. No-one likes to be that replaceable.
In other news, I was one of the three people who (stupidly) volunteered to represent our parent-run Playschool to the PCPC annual meeting. PCPC is the association that regroups all co-operative playschools in our area, and it is mildly ironic that I have NO IDEA what PCPC stands for in regard of the events that followed.
Because we were fooled into attending a motivational meeting. An acronymn-filled motivational meeting like I've never seen. See, the annual meeting itself took about 10 minutes, votes included. And then the speaker arrived.
Speaker: Now, note that down, please. P.A.C.E. Pace!
la rainette *is absurdly good student and notes*
Speaker: What does it mean, I ask you?
la rainette *waits*
Speaker: It means: Positive Attitude Changes Everything.
la rainette *blinks*
What, this is what a motivator does? You can actually get paid to say that in public? (Well, truth is they would need to pay me rather a lot to make me say that in public - not that it isn't true, but it's not exactly a ground-breaking revelation, now, is it?)
Speaker: Now, note this down: PRAISE
la rainette *once bitten, twice shy, thus refrains from noting*
Speaker: Personal Recognition Always Increases Self Esteem! *beams*
la rainette *breaks pen*
OK, so I now know about WII-FM (What's In It For Me?) and MMFG-AM (Make Me Feel Good About Myself) and GIGO (Good In, Good Out, not to be confused with Garbage In, Garbage Out, if you please), and DIR (catch people Doing It Right!). And I ask you, WTF? (ah, no, she didn't offer any New Wisdom for this one.)
It eerily reminded me of the time I was working with Husband (he had hired me, that's how we met :D), and our company had just been bought by this huge American business, and they wanted to implement a new system. See, they told us, buffalos are powerful but each herd has only one leader. If the leader dies, the whole herd is disoriented. Now, migrating geese are lead by one goose, but when that goose is tired another one takes its place. So, they said, WE WILL MAKE THE BUFFALOS FLY!
They gave all of us a book called "The Flight of the Buffalo" (the only book I ever ruthlessly disposed of in a garbage bin, I wouldn't have wanted to inflict it upon anyone else), and a tiny stuffed buffalo (very cute), And they beamed, and patted us on the back, and said we would do fine. Still, we wondered what was so wrong with us, that they felt the need to transform us into goose-brained buffalos.
I remember that we played with the stuffed buffalos for one whole morning, throwing them to each other, "whoo, see, my buffalo's flying already!" Ahem. Yes,
terrylj and darthrami, you are not alone in your quest for distraction in a silly/boring work environment. ANYWAYS.
We are going away for a 3-day week-end *beams* and I wanted to post the recipe for madeleines before we leave.
This recipe is for approximately 12 madeleines. I always double the quantities, because I have many madeleine eaters in my home :D but you don't have to. The recipe given in
copperbadge's comments says 42 madeleines, but tiny ones (which is also why the cooking time in mine is so much longer ;) ) Ingredients:
- 2 eggs (preferably at room temperature)
- 2/3 cup flour (I use pre-sifted, enriched, all-purpose white flour)
- 2/3 cup white granulated sugar
- 100g butter (that's 2/5th of a 250g pack, or 2/9th of a pound.)
- vanilla extract, or, better still, the grated rind of half a lemon. (I use vanilla extract when I have no lemon in the house, I think lemon madeleines are better, but it's a matter of individual taste, really.)
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder (mixed with the flour)
OK, so I don't clarify the butter: I simply melt it on low heat, and let it cool. Actually, what's important is that the difference in temperature between the butter and the eggs shouldn't be too high, because that would result in Major Egg Drama (the buggers would unexpectedly solidify into little grains, eeeep.)
Beat the eggs and the sugar together, at high speed, for about 4 minutes. The mixture should be all whitish and fluffy. While still whisking the batter (I use my electrical beater at low speed), add the flour, little by little, en pluie as we say: make it "rain" on top of the mixture *g* (I use a tablespoon, that I shake side to side to make the flour drop little by little on top of the batter).
Once the mixture is nice and smooth, add the butter, and turn until the butter is fully incorporated (again, I use the beater at low speed), then add the lemon rind or vanilla extract and turn until batter is perfectly smooth.
Put the batter into the fridge overnight. Now, a few hours will probably be enough, especially if you use vanilla. With lemon rind, the flavour needs a little longer to fully develop.
Butter the pan generously, fill in up to 3/4. And bake at 430 F, for about 12 minutes (until golden). Remove from pan stright away, and let cool on a plate (the right way up, because if they're upside down the top of your madeleines may stick to the plate).
And I suggest you eat them the same day. Actually, it's best to bake them at the last minute (the batter keeps well in the fridge, but baked madeleines are much better when fresh!)
So, yeah, am off for a long week-end *beams*
A few good wishes before I leave:
Gareth: well. No details needed, you know what I wish for you. :D
Rami and Selkie: have a lovely week-end *hugs*! Rami, Big Computer Guy (Husband) says that the battery should have at least partially protected your iBook from the power surge. He says you should definitely have the iBook tested, because simply changing the cord might fix the problem.
Em, lost of good wishes for your first week-end overseas! *hugs*
Sam, :D are you going to try out the madeleine recipe? I translated it JUST FOR YOU when I should actually be packing. Well. No, yes, I know, you're right. I am indeed procrastinating again. Ahem.
Nny, LOTS OF LOVE!! And then some. And even more. *hugs*
Terry :D I'll be thinking of you! I am heading north-east to see the fall colours... AND I have asked Husband for a scanner for my birthday (and hopefully he'll remember. I am going to remind him, subtly, WITH A HAMMER IF NEEDED, until he complies). So! Pictures to follow!
Ellen: wheeeee, Tasha will be in town! also, B'day card flying out today! Froglet made you a cards too but got a little mixed up in the text and wishes you a happy birthelen. *g*
To everyone else: HAVE A LOVELY WEEK-END! Lots of fun, love and ... stuff. especially stuff. You know. Good stuff. *blows kisses* I love you guys.
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 05:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 05:39 pm (UTC)Also, I will try the madeleines
the next time my medication wears offthe next time I have the illusion of domesticity.Also, boo for Disney's total failure to portray any meaningful family interaction whatsoever. In those rare instances where a child does have two parents, they are inevitably united in completely failing to understand the child, and in trying their best to repress/oppress/depress the child, who then must find a mentor elsewhere and spend the movie evading/avoiding/lying to his parents. (/uncalled-for rant)
Also, self-esteem is gained through actually ACHIEVING something. But buffalos will fly before most educators realize that.
Anyway, have fun!
no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 07:32 pm (UTC)*Second that!*
I will try these, for they have the requisite number of ingredients (less than 8) and I have everything on hand. BUT --
Can I use a muffin tin to bake these in? And about how much batter per cookie -- 1/8, 1/4 cup? Because I am still in the position of using a TALL GLASS as a rolling pin, so madeleine pan? NotSoMuch, no.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:00 am (UTC)I'd say a quarter cup (but check your oven often).
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 06:49 pm (UTC)So... on the madeleines thing... what do I do with my bag of milk? *holds it up with a puzzled look on his face*
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 06:53 pm (UTC)And give Froglet a cuddle from "Her" Sam :D
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 03:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 04:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 10:36 pm (UTC)They tasted sort of like very sweet muffins, very soft and spongy. Extremely yummy!
no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 07:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:45 pm (UTC)Surely you can give me a use for it other than as a heavy thing I held in my hand for the entirety of your long weekend.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:13 am (UTC)I did this all the time, this summer. I blamed my not being in the usual routine. But now I am back in the routine, and I keep addressing innuendos to people who go "duh?" because they have no idea what I'm talking about. It's annoying.
Well. At least I keep my own appoitments right - a definite improvement over the summer month. Sorry. and thanks for telling me who the braves are
Oh, and that milk bag is for us, incidentally. We're out of milk and I haven't had the time to go grocery shopping today, what with the girls' crazy social life.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-08 10:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-10 05:13 am (UTC)Seriously, if they weren't cartoons, the ratings would be SO high.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-12 11:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 12:36 am (UTC)Who does have normal, nice parents in a Disney movie? Can you think of anyone?
no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 01:04 am (UTC)I told Froglet paediatrician we wanted to rent Snowhite, and she said: "are you nuts! This movie is TERRIFYING" (and actually it is)
no subject
Date: 2004-10-13 01:24 am (UTC)