Two national titles on the same day!

Saturday, January 30, 2010, the Vukich rink won the US Women's National title and the Beighton rink won the US Junior Men's National title. The Vukich rink is headed to Russia for World playdowns, and has the oldest woman to win a national title Betty Kozai at age 81. The Beighton rink will be headed to Switzerland.

On a not as exciting note, my team had a fun time playing in the Washington State Mixed playdowns, but did not make it to Nationals. Our third game of the day did not matter. Team Guzman and Team Lehto had some fun, only playing to 4 ends. A couple of new rules : only 2 takes outs were allowed, and a mulligan (where the skip flashed his shot) was repeated.

After the 2nd end, we all stacked brooms and had a shot of Sambuca. I (having made it to the 8th day of the South Beach diet - no carbs, no sugar, no alcohol) had to pass. Team Lehto had participated in some serious pre-funking before our game. Darren had a couple of falls, one incredibly spectacular fall, in which he managed to turtle back and not hit his head. Patti from Team Lehto, and Benj our skip also managed to fall.

I'm not so sure it was a good thing going into a competition without eating complex carbs. Having lost five pounds last week and knowing I was on day 8 also made it hard for me to cave. I settled on eating a spoonful of peanut butter during a 5th end break.

Today is day 9. That means only 6 more days before I go into Phase 2. There have been a few accidental cheats along the way. A couple of small carrots from a strained chicken noodle soup. Half a crouton on a salad, where the croutons had to be picked off. I have managed to avoid several temptations.

I avoided Tim Bits that the hubby brought home on day one. I also was very sad not to attend Baconpalooza night last Monday, courtesy of Team Beth C/Enns. I avoided all the baked goods brought into work on top of the company lunch ...pizza.

This 2nd time around, the South Beach diet has been much harder. I've been tired, irritable, and fuzzy headed. Ketosis? Maybe. I'm waiting for the cravings of sugar and starches to stop, which is what Phase 1 is supposed to accomplish. At this time, I would be incredibly happy with an apple and half a piece of whole wheat bread with some peanut butter on it.

Mixed Playdowns this weekend!

This weekend are the Mixed Playdowns at the Seattle Granite Curling Club. My team is playing at 9 am, 2 pm, and 7 pm. I am up at 6:15 am to prep breakfast and to try to wake up. It is too early. Meh.

Last weekend was the Women's Bonspiel at the club. My team, comprising of Lysa Hambley, Em Good, Beth C, Sara Skulec, and myself won the C bracket. We won our first game on Saturday, lost our 2nd game which dropped us to the C bracket, and then won the next 3 games. We played a total of 3 games on Saturday and 2 games on Sunday. Our prize: a champagne goblet with Seattle Granite etched in it and a bottle of wine.

I'm always happy to win, but the only time I've won money is with Jeremy at last year's Novice spiel in Langley. I've won a pin, a bronze medal, drink tickets, and now, a bottle of wine and a champagne goblet. Next year, my plans are to be in the money. :D

I've been terribly cranky and tired since last Saturday. I went on the South Beach diet to lose about 10 lbs before the US Women's Nationals. No simple carbs and refined sugars. Gah. This 2nd time of being on the diet has been much harder than the first time.

Of course, it is also curling season, where all sorts of tasty carbs: breads and desserts are paraded in front of me. Sigh. 5 lbs down. 5 lbs to go before I start phase 2. Here's hoping I can hold to it with three 10 end games coming up today.

My next sport to participate in?

Came across this on my RSS feed. Looks like FUN!!

http://emeraldcitytrapeze.com/

Chocolate for choice, year 3

Thursday was an interesting day.

My friend Maya and I stopped by the Crawfish King and had a spicy Gulf Shrimp dinner before heading to the Chocolate for Choice event held by Naral.

I accidentally bumped my bench back into the table behind me. Because of it, I ended up having a 5 minute conversation with the older couple sitting there. They were very eager to talk about the different restaurants they had eaten at in the Seattle area, and the woman said how she used to volunteer at Naral many years ago.

We met Jonna and Lisa at Safeco Field. Inside we were browsing the silent auctions. I snagged a table for us (there were only 3 tables this year). Jonna bought a round of wine. We filled our plates full of chocolate and I placed a bid on an item in the silent auction, which I eventually won. Two 4 week lessons for learning to row for crew at Lake Union.

I went to buy the next round of wine and ended up being carded. When I brought out my license, the bartender looked at the date, looked at me and exclaimed, "Lookin' goooood!"

On the way home, I was driving behind a bus. The bus stopped less than a mile from my house. Two high school boys dropped off, threw their skateboards on the ground in front of them, then proceeded to pee in some poor homeowner's yard.

An interesting day.

Trip to the dentist.

I went to the dentist's office last week.

I had a fantastic visit. I warned they hygienist that I was tired and that I might fall asleep. However, I was also worried that I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth open.

She came up with a great solution. There was a little foam block that she found. We wedged it between my molars to keep my mouth open. I must have been really tired, because I DID fall asleep for about half an hour.

Crazy.

Fruity Moti Bars

I've baked a total of 3 recipes from the Cookie Book I borrowed from the library. The Apricot Chews are my favorite so far.

1/2 cup finely cut dried apricots
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup water
1 cup All purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Confectioner's sugar

Oven 350 degrees (makes 24 bars --how tiny are the bars supposed to be??)

In large saucepan combine apricots, raisins and water. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally until water is absorbed. Cool slightly.

Add remaining ingredients except confectioner's sugar. Blend well. Spread in greased 9 inch square pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. While warm, cut in bars. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.


I also made these the day before.

Split Levels

Chocolate Fillng:
1 cup (6 oz package) semi sweet chocolate pieces
1 (3 oz) package cream cheese
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons sesame seed
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Crumb Crust:
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter softened
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Oven 375 degrees (makes 24 bars)

In saucepan combine chocolate, cream cheese and milk. Melt over low heat stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in remaining filling ingredients. Blend well. Set aside.

In large mixer bowl combine all crust ingredients. Blend well with mixer until particles are fine.

Press half of crumb crust mixture in greased 11x17 pan. Spread with filling. Sprinkle rest of crumbs over filling.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Cool

Cyndy's Side Comments so far:
I don't think this recipe is really for an 11 x 17 pan. I ended up having to make a double batch of crust. Waiting for it to finish baking....

Beagles and beer

Here is Jeremy's cousin Brian's beagle, Jessie.

They were having a little bit of fun with her. Jessie doesn't look like she is enjoying her costume.

1967 Maple Peanut Yummies

Can the 1967 Pillsbury's Bake-Off Cookie Book stand the test of time?

Maple Peanut Yummies

1 3/4 cups Pillsbury's Best All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup crunch peanut butter
1/3 cup maple syrup (note, do NOT use syrup that expired 2 years ago)
1 egg

Oven 350 degrees F.

In a large mixer bowl combine all ingredients. Blend well with mixer.
Shape into balls using a rounded teaspoon for each. Place on ungreased cookie sheets; flatten with a fork, criss-cross fashion.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool. Makes 48 to 54 cookies.

Edited:
12 minutes later. Cookies are a little dry and need a little more sugar or maple syrup.

First big foosball win against the hubby!!

Woot!

I got my first big foosball win against my hubby today. There was NO handicap! Yeah....

On another note, I found a new favorite mashup to walk the dog to by DJ Earworm http://djearworm.com/. United State of Pop 2009 (Blame it on the pop)

Team Hambley photo

Skip : Lysa Hambley
Vice-Skip : Em Good
2nd: Beth Coffin
Lead: Cyndy Eng-Dinsel
5th: Sara Skulec

Twas a weekend of curling!!

Had a fantastic weekend of curling. I am now paying for it by drinking cups of coffee to stay awake.

Saturday Beth, Sara and I drove up to Langley for some practice ice. We stopped off in Bellingham at Davinci's for some tasty philly cheesesteaks Nom Nom Nom. For those of you that are curious, Davinci's is located here:

1480 Electric Ave
Bellingham, WA 9822

I highly recommend the cheesesteak with hot sauce and cherry peppers.

At Langley we talked with Larry, the weekend ice maker and Allison. Allison swung by to open the store for us. I was a little sad. They were out of the gloves that I wanted and the horse hair broom heads.

Sunday Team Hambley, minus the Lysa and Em, played against Team Guzman, the team my husband is playing down with for Washington's Club National berth. It started out fantastic, with us scoring 3 in the first end. The second end was atrocious giving up 6 because I missed putting up a guard. We needed two sweepers to get the rock over the hog line. It was close, but not enough.

We left Gravity at home alone during our scrimmage. When we got home, she was stressed out, like she had a seizure, but we did not see the tell tale signs. Foam from foaming at the mouth. She got a nice walk after I got home.

After the walk, it was back to the club for our Mixed game. We ended up playing the full 8 ends and winning. I was pretty happy with how I played. Its nice curling again, after all that time being sick and time off due to holiday breaks.

Wish List/Want List

Want List
1. Dust Buster (Hand vaccuum)
2. Sweater Drying Rack for drip dry
3. Wireless headset for the iPhone (that doesn't stick into the ear like the ear buds that come with the iPhone eek)
4. Cheap headset to listen to music at work - just busted mine.
5. New pair of curling pants.
7. New pair of sneakers
8. Wine (cellar is empty)

Wish List
1. Trip to Europe/Asia
2. New Laptop
3. New iPhone
4. Digital SLR


Not really in any particular order. Not from any particular person. Just a place holder for myself.

Won our first bottle of wine in women's!

Team Hambley won our first bottle of wine Wednesday night, for the last double of the early draw.

We also beat the team 9-3 in 7 ends.