Middle School: "At least they got out of my way so I'm not late."

"Middle" is often the less popular option. People like to be first (place, born, string, in line, edition, etc.), or last (born = baby of the family, piece, day of school, appointment, etc.). There are good middles (of life, of truffle, grilled cheese sandwich), but all too often there is one middle that is hard to face, and that is middle school. Today, I would like to share with you a bit about my middle school social experience and hope it can uplift others who may feel stuck in the middle.

I moved to Wenatchee, WA, at the end of 6th grade. I found myself being thrown into middle school and becoming a "Foothills Falcon". My previous school had 6th grade as part of the elementary experience, so, I was nervous to change classes ever hour, worried I be late everyday. Nobody ever told me that middle school was looked at by adults as a torturous state of being for transitioning youth from childhood to adolescents. So, I was very optimistic as I started my first day of middle school in the last month of the school year. 

Things seemed to come together. I figured out how to get to all my classes. (Side note: I still have nightmares of this particular middle school's halls as an adult, rushing around not being able to find any of my classes.) My teachers introduced me to everyone on the first days of class. I started riding the bus everyday. I was the first stop and the last stop of each day, so, it was a long 45 minute trip each morning and afternoon. But, things started to get difficult soon after that. 

Winco Bulk Food Price List

I went to Winco in Moscow, Idaho, last week to buy many items from their extensive bulk department. It was 8:30 pm on a Thursday...and not very busy. I love the prices in bulk, especially for baking.The prices seem to be cheaper or equal in most instances I've done a price comparison on items. 

So, I asked an employee, wearing a tag that stated he was the Bulk Foods Manager, if I could get a copy of the list of the items they currently carry with the price. The man surprised me by stating that their pricing was a secret. I pointed at the items behind him and I said, but all the prices are right there. It saves me time. It's all in your store computer. He said it didn't matter. At least I would have to take the time to write them all down....like it was a punishment. I told him I wasn't interested in any formulas or algorithms for how they priced items....just the price next to the food item. Nope... he said they would never do that. I told him that all the items in bulk are generally listed on Winco's website --but not each item was in this particular store....and I just got shut down. This bothered me...so, I proceeded to take pictures of all the items I would ever be interested in on a regular basis. (Not candy, pet food, processed foods, pre-made mixes, granola mixes...since I could make my own if needed. --I don't have a pet either.)  

I put together a list of all the items using their list of items on their website and an Excel Spreadsheet. It wasn't that hard, but a boring task. For my fellow NW Winco go-ers, I want to share my list to avoid loosing out on the best deal. I've stood at Costco in front of the All Purpose Flour...wondering if it was cheaper at Winco. (It turns out there the same....32 cents a pound.) I hope this can aid comparision shopping and knowing what products are available to you in bulk.

My Arty Side

In elementary school, I loved going to art class. I loved it because I liked learning new techniques and making something that was all my own. When I went to middle school, I had to choose what type of "art" I wanted to take a class in, since they wouldn't let a student take more than one art type, so I chose theater. I never got to take another art class again. Sad...sad...sad. But, I majored in theater in college and have gotten pleanty of use out of the creative skills I learned even though I ended up being a paralegal for 5 years and a stay at home mommy now. Luckily, drawing-ish art has still been something I've been able to do in my spare time for fun.

I don't have a budget for art, so, I use old paints and paper I got for Christmas and birthdays when I was in high school still. I don't mind that my art isn't done with perfect technique...because I'm releasing a need to create something by drawing and painting. I recall being 10 years old, at my grandma's house sitting in the dinning room with a pad of paper and a pencil drawing cartoons. For many years prior, I had collected books on how to draw--hording them in my room, and watched TV shows on Saturday morning programing aimed at teaching kids to draw cartoons. I liked drawing silly simple shapes and faces, but struggling to find my own style in my art, rather than mimicing the books, etc. Back to my sotry, I showed my grandma what I was doing and asked if she liked it. She didn't! (What! I thought grandmas had to like stuff their grandkids made as children.) She thought I was wasting my time on cartoons and said I should do real art. She then walked into the kitchen and came back with a bowl of fruit. She said, "Draw this as it is with detail and shading." I felt deflated, but drew the fruit. I showed her and she still wasn't happy with what I'd done. I then decided I didn't really care what my grandma thought of my art...I would rather do something I was interested that seek her art approval. Afterall, I hardly saw her...she couldn't keep track. So, I stopped showing her my art...and that was that. (Sad...sad...sad.)

While I practiced shading later in life, I hated how dirty my fingers got as I rubbed and smeared the pencil lead on the paper. I always went back to my cartoon images. I liked that they weren't over worked, they could be sad or serious, and children responded to them well. I also loved that they didn't have to look real...they were not meant to be parallel representations of life...more imaginary. Looking back, I think I gravitated to cartoons because they also supplied escapism from my reality--bringing me joy when I felt sad..sad...sad.

To share some of my hobby with you, here's some of my art....

The Best Salmon I've Ever Had

I posted about this Salmon back in 2012 but thought it was worth re-posting because it was the best Salmon I've ever had!!! At the time I first made this, I was trying to duplicate a meal I had at Salty's on Alki Point in Seattle. The restaurant has a few recipes online, but not exactly what I had eaten in the restaurant. So, I took elements from 2 or 3 recipes and merged them into what I thought I had ordered. The result was spectacular! Shaun and I happily oohh-ed and blissfully mmmmm-ed after every single bite.

The key to making most perfect restaurant food, other than technique and superior ingredient quality, is FAT. This recipe has lots of fat but its all worth it. So, if you happen upon some fresh (wild-caught) salmon this year, consider giving this recipe a try. It's Salmon baked in the oven--covered in a basil-garlic butter, then served aside are some garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus, covered in a pesto-butter sauce called Pesto Beurre Blanc.

What's Your 2014 New Year Resolution?