Wordle

This is fun. I know there are other tools that are similar, but Wordle.net lets you generate pretty tag clouds from text or a URL.

Open Letter to Rock Climbing Wall

Dear Rock Climbing Wall,

I plan on visiting you today. It's been a couple weeks, and my muscles seem to have returned to the right places, with no lasting pain, so I think it's about time. I appreciate that you made me more aware that there are indeed muscles in my shoulders and around my ribcage region. I also appreciate you being sturdy and whatnot, and not shaking with some type of twisted rock-wall laughter when I slipped, in my non-climbing shoes, and had to fall off the wall.

All of this being said, Rock Climbing Wall, I ask for a similar or better experience today. Because I even cut my super-length fingernails, just for you.

With respect,
Robyn

EDIT

p.s. I am sorry I did not actually visit today. My partner-in-climb was injured. Maybe tomorrow!

Lentil Soup

I make lentil soup as a meal fairly frequently, but it's usually missing something that makes it taste really good, you know? That something extra that makes it so you don't need to add an extra pound of salt to make it taste good.

Tonight, however, was a different story. Tonight's lentil soup was tasty. Also, I properly diced an onion for the first time in my life. *pat on back*

Ingredients!

-olive oil, to cover bottom of pan (and then some)
-2 to 3 cloves of crushed garlic
-half a white cooking onion, diced
-chopped carrots, about a double-handful's worth*
-two stalks celery, chopped*
-two tomatoes, chopped into large chunks, most seeds removed
-3 tins of lentils
-water or soup stock
-salt (herbed, if possible) and pepper to taste
-coriander and paprika to taste

* usually I use enough combined carrots and celery so it fully covers the bottom of the pan/pot

Utensils!

-knives, to chop things
-wooden spoon, to stir things
-largish round pot/saucepan, within which to cook things

Recipe!

1. Sautée garlic and onions in the olive oil until almost brown, at about level 8 heat (given 10 is max heat). Stir often.
2. Add chopped carrots and celery. Cook until almost fully cooked (i.e. you can break a carrot piece in half with the wooden spoon).
3. Add tomatoes to the pot. Cook for a couple minutes, until they start looking softish.
4. Pour in the tins of lentils (including liquid) and stir immediately.
5. Add water or stock, in an amount that suits your taste. Less gives you more of a stew. If you use water, crumble two bouillon cubes in as well.
6.Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Allow the whole thing to come to a rolling boil at level 8 heat. Once it starts boiling, turn down the heat and let simmer for at least 10 minutes or so.
8. Add paprika and coriander and allow to simmer a bit more.

Ta dah! Serve on its own, or with toast, or with noodles or rice!