Filterless

What's in a name?

A professor, for whom I have done some work at the beginning of each semester, gave me a present today as a thank you.  It's a little ivy plant in a yellow ceramic pot who's new home is on the raised section of my desk.  I think it will do well there.  It is right across from a philodendron that is thriving under a florescent light that's on 24/7.

Now I need a name for it.

Tradition at work calls for naming the plant after the person who owns it.  For example, the philodendron is named ConnieMaryReneeSue.  Obviously, it's traveled some around the building over the past 5 years.  This is the first office where it has thrived.  We're thinking of adding a trellis and training it to up one wall and over a doorway.

I think having two Filterlesses won't work because I talk to plants and it would feel too much like talking to myself in the third person.

Options I am considering:

Bob

Dewey: A former manager who died in the building years ago.  I have his picture up by the desk though his "In Memoriam" plaque has long since been moved. 

Pete: As in "For the love of Pete on a freakin' pogo stick"

Billy: It's a cute little thing.

Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm how large?!

I don't actually see myself as large but in about a month's time I managed to put on 5 pounds which somehow equated to 2.5 inches around my waist.  I can see how it happened. Dinner's at work for the past two weeks were slices of hard salami on Club crackers.  That and going through a box of ice cream sandwiches (hey, they were low fat ones) and 2 tins of Extreme Dill Pickle Pringles a week haven't done anything to help.  When you add the fact that the only exercise I've been getting is power washing, stucco painting and hanging shutters, bad things were bound to happen.

So this week I'm back on vegetarian 4 days a week and starting to try some of the 10 minute exercise programs on ExerciseTV OnDemand. That Bootylicious Butt program is a killer.  I did it on Saturday and my inner thighs still hurt.  This week's dinner is brown rice and veggies.  It's quick and easy with the bonus of being healthy.

Brown Rice and Veggies

Minute Brown Rice Ready to Serve single serving microwave bowls

1 tablespoon canola oil
3/4 bag Broccoli slaw mix
2 medium zucchini
1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 teaspoon Thai chili sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Sake
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon powered garlic
1/2 teaspoon powered ginger

Feel free to use fresh ginger and garlic.  I was just feeling lazy.

Mix soy sauce, sake, Worcestershire and ginger in a cup. Stir well.

Wash, half and slice zucchini.  Wash slaw mix.  Heat canola oil over medium heat. Add zucchini, slaw mix, garlic, and chili sauce. Saute until everything softens. Add the water chestnuts. Pour sauce mixture over veggies and allow to reduce.

Divide veggies and sauce into 4 microwaveable containers. Refrigerate or freeze.

To serve, heat (thawed) veggies for 45 seconds in the microwave. Then heat rice according to package directions. Add the rice to the veggies and stir.

Presto! Quick and healthy meal.

I meant to add sugar snap peas but forgot to pick some up at the store.  You could do almost any vegetable mix you wanted though.

22 June 2010 edit to add: I forgot to include the water chestnuts to the recipe when I originally posted. They're included now.