iPhone Software Updates Phone - Rant

New thing today, updated the software on my iPhone. Pain in the ass and annoying. I hate doing these. I know it's not a huge deal compared to what it does, but for some reason I really really hate all these stupid software updates. It reminds me of a PC where you're constantly updating because of security bugs or whatnot. There have been a lot more iPhone updates over the past years, so it has been slowly slowly getting more and more obnoxious. It's updating as we speak.

Also annoying stuff happens when you update, like when my friend lost all her photos and she's a photo person. She had to do a ton of work to restore and find backups of her photos. Also another friend lost their history on Candy Crush levels and had to restart from level 28 when they were up to level 99 or something, so that's a pain. I also hate how it rearranges your views and uninstalls or reinstalls apps that you did or didn't want. It also rearranges them after the updates so it's a pain in the ass to find some things sometimes. I do some cleanup when the updates happen and it's so Fing annoying.

I'm not super techy with Macs either. I'm actually more comfortable on a PC because I work on them all day. Instead when there are issues with Macs, I can't troubleshoot and problem solve as usual, because I don't get the logic half the time. I have to go to the husband and it just gets aggrevating! I do not want to learn a new system when trying to fix it?

OMFG it reinstalled programs I've deleted. WTF? Does anyone know how to get it to stop doing that and being retarded? Now I have to look this S up and ugh…. Oh I also love how it says it takes 15 minutes when actually it doesn't. It took twice as long this time.

Anyway this post is about how much I hate stupid iPhone updates. I should do more rant posts. Express myself instead of posting about the positive or showing my happy side all the time, lol. Going to troubleshoot permanently deleting apps I don't want. yeay. ARGHHHH!

*OK figured out the permanently deleting apps… it was easy, but still annoying.

No Car Wash

New thing today, didn't get a car wash. I really need/want one as we have a guest coming and I wanted to spruce up the car (and house). Unfortunately no dice. The places close at 5:30, and I was asked to leave. Boooooo! There were no car washes open later nearby. I'm way too tired to try to get a wash tonight somewhere far, or to do it yourself. Oh well. First time denied.

Chili Spaghetti, an Evite and Cracked Pots

New thing of the day (3) - had spaghetti noodles with chili, sent out our first Evite, and made a New Year's Resolution.

First off, the New Year's resolution. I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions because I think you should make resolutions all year, not just New Year's, but I suppose a New Year is a good place to start. Anyway - in reflecting, I realize I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I often do NOT try or do things, for fear of failure. This seems weird, but it's true. I don't like to try new recipes until I've seen someone do it and feel I could do it deliciously. I'm very hard on myself in general things and don't want to try if I don't think I can do it awesomely. I resist things, because I'm afraid of not being amazing at them.

Anyway - so I sorta made a resolution, to be imperfect. My goal in 2011, which won't be difficult, is to fail over and over again. To be imperfect. To embrace the flaws and in a spiritual sense, give up perfection. I think my husband told me of some architect or artist, who purposefully creates flaws in their work, because they believe only God is perfect and to create flaws to honor that. I sorta like the fable of the cracked pot - get it? :) At the bottom of the blog is one version of the story. Anyway, I just think I really need to try harder to be imperfect. To fail, to try, to go, to fail and maybe get it right once in awhile. Don't know. I'll let you know how this imperfection style goes.

Ok so next new thing - had some leftover chili. An Italian coworker gave me some pasta noodles from his house and as he said "he was sick of pasta". So decided to combine the two into chili spaghetti. It's not such a stretch since chili is somewhat tomato based. Turned out DELISH! Yum Yum :) The spaghetti was the perfect texture al dente too - so I just heat the chili and added the cold spaghetti. Yum! :) 

Another new thing, decided to finally host a house party. First one. ACK! We've delayed having one because I didn't feel the house was ready, but also, because I'm shy about hosting one. Truthfully it's a little terrifying. I have very high expectations of what a great party should be, and I want my house and party to be great. Unfortunately we don't have a great house, we have a good one, and I'm hoping we all have enough room and people have fun. Truthfully most house parties we've gone to - it wasn't the house that made it awesome, but the people. So I'm hoping that's what works at our place. Plus the food, music, guests, etc. I don't know. I'm very nervous, but I hope we do OK. We scheduled it later in the month since we'll be busy with travels, family and school. Oddly enough, I dreaded scheduling or setting a date for a party, but once I did, I was looking forward to hosting and getting ready for it. I hope it's big enough or nice enough for people. I'm not really sure if it is, but we'll take the chance. If it bombs, well, here's to imperfection!

Anyway - here's that story :) Cheers :) And Happy New Year!

The Cracked Pot -- a Chinese Fable

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One pot had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream:
"I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?

"That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Moral: We're a bunch of cracked pots. Each of us has our own unique flaws. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them.

2 eggs shy of an Oatmeal Cake

New thing of the day, forgetting the eggs in my oatmeal cake.

With Christmas around the corner, I was determined to make something yummy for the hubby. I have a signature delicious oatmeal cake recipe that I'm rather good at. Trouble is, ever since we moved into our new place in April I haven't been cooking very well in our kitchen. Per past post, I believe this is due to our gas oven, and me being far more familiar with electric. I haven't made anything good in our kitchen since we moved in. Everything mostly tastes "eh" rather than "yum". That's unusual since it's usually 50/50 "eh" and "yum", rather than 100% "eh" which it's felt like lately. 

Anyway I was determined! I even bought a new baking pan in hopes that would help. So as usual I prepped all the ingredients, mixed and baked. As I was mixing the cake I thought the texture was a bit different but didn't think anything of it. Then in the oven it went. Since my last oatmeal cake turned out dry and overcooked, I reset my timer to 10 minutes less, and also put a pan of water in the oven with the cake for moisture. I watched our oven temperature as well to make sure it cooked evenly. 

After about 20 minutes I started the topping and made a perfect peanut butter and walnut topping to the cake. So good! Then I took out the cake and tested with a knife - went straight through so we were good. Then spread the topping on perfectly even, and put it under the broiler for 5 more minutes. 

As I'm cleaning up, I see 2 eggs sitting there. DAMMIT!!!!! I forgot the eggs. No wonder the cake texture was different and it wasn't binding properly. No wonder it didn't really rise or have the same texture when I put the knife through. OMG!

So after all that perfection, it's missing something pretty vital. It's not like I forgot to sprinkle the cinnamon or anything. UGH! So we let the cake cool, and after we try it. It's rather mushy, but at least it's moist :) The texture is all off. But husband likes the flavor and he was very sweet and supportive and still likes it.

ARGH!!!! My coworker says I need to "cleanse" the kitchen by burning some sage throughout and releasing the bad mojo. I think I still need to get the oven checked out by a company because the temperature thing was acting up. I am so mad at myself for forgetting the eggs! Boooo me! Ugh. No salvaging it, but at least, the husband still likes it and I made it for him. In place of eggs, love and a few pitiful drops of tears, into the cake it goes.