I could barely get out of bed this morning. Sometimes the stress is crushing. I was so tired that I decided to sleep in a but and just work from home. My employer, a large financial services firm, generally prefers that I work from home. Leadership has made the decision to have less offices and set us up so we can work virtually whenever and wherever. Some may see this as a great flexibility, others can see that this means that work never really ends. It's a mixed blessing. I can easily start my day with a conference call at 7:30 AM and finish it sending emails at 10:00 PM. Today I never left my apartment, which concerns me. I took a few breaks throughout the day, but I'm pretty sure that working home is not the best situation for me. I feel more focused when I'm at the office even with the bad lighting and open cubes. Even when I eat healthy, I tend to eat more at home. Today, I needed popcorn.
Lunch at home was canned lentil soup and a salad, which is pretty much what I buy when I'm at the office. In the middle of the day I took a break and made popcorn. Popcorn is my favorite snack, salty and crunchy. I prefer to make it myself, in a pot with oil topped with butter and salt. It's comfort food. There were times when I used to eat popcorn for dinner. Today I did heat up yesterday's second "French Fish In A Packet" for dinner. I ate it in front of the television, watching some bad sitcoms. So bad I won't even write the titles. Now it's late, but I could easily make another batch of popcorn.
Perhaps I should find some music that motivates me while working. I do a lot of writing for my job, but it's not as fun as this writing I send a lot of emails and edit proposals. Today I had to spend a lot of time with a database and a spreadsheet. My least favorite project. When I work at home, I listen mostly to NPR. Today NPR's '"Sound Check"' was reviewing the top hits from 2012. One of them was the Fun song "We Are Young". The song is nothing special, a solid pop tune with a slow intro building to big chorus with a full band. It's an anthem for young people at bars.
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
When I hear this song, all I can think is that it's not written for me. I want to get caught up and sing along, but I can't. I don't mind not being young, my life is better and generally I'm happier in my forties. What I miss is wanting to set the world on fire. The feeling that anything is possible, that I can conquer the world. Part of me remains a wannabe rebel or at least an entrepreneur, but it's not how I live my life these days. Why not? I do want to set the world on fire, sometimes. When did it get so complicated? I can't answer these questions. This is why I reach for the popcorn and bad TV.
Kyra's tips for perfect stove top popcorn
Use a large pot
Cover the bottom with cooking oil, should be coated but not too deep
Cover the bottom with popcorn kernels, one full layer but again not too deep
Heat on high
Listen closely, as soon as popping slows turn off the heat then wait for popping to stop
Put popcorn in large bowl
Melt butter in pot that you just cooked the popcorn in
Cover popcorn with melted butter and salt, mix it a bit so most of the popcorn is covered
Enjoy!
I like Paul Newman's popcorn kernels and sometimes buy organic popcorn. The cheaper stuff doesn't pop as well and you end up with more unpopped kernels. As for the process, some people heat the oil first then add the popcorn, I don't think it really matters that much so just throw it all in there. Finally, the amount of butter depends on the amount of popcorn and your taste for butter. I can't give guidance here. I use the perfect amount for myself. Of course this recipe is full of fat, the oil and the butter. At least it's not full of chemicals like microwave popcorn, which tastes awful. Even when I abandon cooking full meals, I always make my own popcorn.
Lunch at home was canned lentil soup and a salad, which is pretty much what I buy when I'm at the office. In the middle of the day I took a break and made popcorn. Popcorn is my favorite snack, salty and crunchy. I prefer to make it myself, in a pot with oil topped with butter and salt. It's comfort food. There were times when I used to eat popcorn for dinner. Today I did heat up yesterday's second "French Fish In A Packet" for dinner. I ate it in front of the television, watching some bad sitcoms. So bad I won't even write the titles. Now it's late, but I could easily make another batch of popcorn.
Perhaps I should find some music that motivates me while working. I do a lot of writing for my job, but it's not as fun as this writing I send a lot of emails and edit proposals. Today I had to spend a lot of time with a database and a spreadsheet. My least favorite project. When I work at home, I listen mostly to NPR. Today NPR's '"Sound Check"' was reviewing the top hits from 2012. One of them was the Fun song "We Are Young". The song is nothing special, a solid pop tune with a slow intro building to big chorus with a full band. It's an anthem for young people at bars.
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
When I hear this song, all I can think is that it's not written for me. I want to get caught up and sing along, but I can't. I don't mind not being young, my life is better and generally I'm happier in my forties. What I miss is wanting to set the world on fire. The feeling that anything is possible, that I can conquer the world. Part of me remains a wannabe rebel or at least an entrepreneur, but it's not how I live my life these days. Why not? I do want to set the world on fire, sometimes. When did it get so complicated? I can't answer these questions. This is why I reach for the popcorn and bad TV.
Kyra's tips for perfect stove top popcorn
Use a large pot
Cover the bottom with cooking oil, should be coated but not too deep
Cover the bottom with popcorn kernels, one full layer but again not too deep
Heat on high
Listen closely, as soon as popping slows turn off the heat then wait for popping to stop
Put popcorn in large bowl
Melt butter in pot that you just cooked the popcorn in
Cover popcorn with melted butter and salt, mix it a bit so most of the popcorn is covered
Enjoy!
I like Paul Newman's popcorn kernels and sometimes buy organic popcorn. The cheaper stuff doesn't pop as well and you end up with more unpopped kernels. As for the process, some people heat the oil first then add the popcorn, I don't think it really matters that much so just throw it all in there. Finally, the amount of butter depends on the amount of popcorn and your taste for butter. I can't give guidance here. I use the perfect amount for myself. Of course this recipe is full of fat, the oil and the butter. At least it's not full of chemicals like microwave popcorn, which tastes awful. Even when I abandon cooking full meals, I always make my own popcorn.
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