Monday, August 31, 2009

Cake or death?

Hi everyone, we're back. We've finally put down some roots in Omaha, NE. I can't believe how much I rely on the internet, which feels good to be surfing again. The title refers to an Eddie Izzard stand up bit that is only made funnier by being dubbed into lego people. Enjoy:



This video has been playing over and over in m head since we got here. I've been asking Ryan if he wants cake or death for dinner. Having just come off a 4 month cooking hiatus (really not as fun as it sounds), there's something nice about having your own kitchen again. Ryan can attest, I have been very experimental with dinners lately, having just made my own tortillas a few days ago. They were, satisfactory. I liked them a fair amount, but it was hard to get them thin like the pros do. If you've been to cafe rio or something, you see they have those killer tortilla presses, where I was using two cutting boards wrapped in saran wrap. I guess you'll have to ask Ryan if they were really good or not, but I was thrilled with my efforts nonetheless. I went with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to that Julie ad Julia movie (minor disappointment), but since then my curiosity in cooking has been piqued.

What to say about Omaha: I really quite like it. It is quite a pretty place, especially where we live. It's very green and lush, where I had yellow, parched fields in mind. We live about a minute walk from the botanical gardens, about a mile from the zoo and the stadium where the NCAA World Series of Baseball is played, and about 2 miles from the Missouri river. We're right on the border of Nebraska here, and we actually go to Council Bluffs, Iowa, for church. I just keep thinking of the song in the Music Man, "you are in Io-way..."

Ryan and I keep saying that we don't really feel like we've got a good grip on the people of Omaha, because everyone we know is from out of state (mostly Utah). We live in a complex full of med/dental/law students who are married and have on average about 2.8 children. I had thought that most people would be around our age with one, maybe two kids, tops. But we seem to be on the younger end of things, and people are surprised when we say that we only have one. As far as the weather goes, lately its been gorgeous! I know temperature fluctuates, but I hadn't counted on humidity changing so much. We've barely even noticed it really, with the exception of one day.

I'm especially liking where we have moved. There are a ton of moms to hang out with and talk to at anytime of the day. Already there is much talk of recipe sharing and days of bread making. I loved it when my mom or dad would make fresh bread, and I feel like I've got the time to really learn how. Once I've got a good mixer, watch out.

That's all I can think of for now. I'm posting on the family blog about our trip up to Canada if you wish to wander over there. The link is at the bottom. Or to the right, I forget. Sandstrom, out.