Keep Safe! Keep Dry! This Year has truly gone awry!

Normally, I enjoy writing poetry but lately the words come in spurts even shorter than on Twitter. A couple vignettes for today:

Like 2020 (in hindsight, if you prefer) what can I say

Things haven’t gone my way or most people’s way

It’s more the year that have gone astray!

 

 

The headline screams:

“Tropical Storm Eta soaks an already wet South Florida!”

I worry and eat a tub of ice-cream.

Let me know which you like better!

Creating a webpage for my business

     I have some time before finishing my Masters in Technology Management but I wanted to get started on my company as I have had inquiries on building websites. In fact, I have been helping people with their Wix website.  My goal after completing my studies is to help small businesses with their IT needs including building their website.  In college, I became knowledgeable on coding using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript yet I found myself using the online resources a lot.  I also used Adobe Dreamweaver in college but I don't have that software.  Also, I have used Content Management System such as WordPress in my studies and even added a WordPress page to be used as a blog on BardsOfBroward.com.  Since last year, I became familiar with another CMS -- Wix since some clients liked the templates.

    Yet for my new website, I didn't want to use a CMS so I dusted off my notes and perused online for the effects that I wanted. First, I coded with HTML5 and CSS then verified with the W3C Markup Validation Service. I uploaded it but it lacked pizazz and a contact form.  PHP was not my friend in school and it made me wish that I used a CMS for the contact form. I also added some JavaScript for some animation effects. I realized that with all the things that I learnt, without practice, it fades and I really had to research, think about the logic and why does the code do this!

Here are some of the resources that I used:

• https://www.w3schools.com/
• https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript
• https://validator.w3.org/
• https://developers.google.com/recaptcha/docs/display
• https://www.positronx.io/how-to-integrate-google-recaptcha-in-php-contact-form/
• notes, code snippets from my Broward College classes, such as CTS 1851, CTS 1806, CTS 2852 and CTS 2857 (2016-2017)

Preview my website in video below or go to https://cloudyskytoday.com/ and share your opinion with me.

National Poetry Month 2020

Another April means National Poetry Month. In years past, I have done challenges, such as PoMoSco, where I wrote a poem a day.  In fact, most Aprils since 2014, I had challenged myself to do a poem a day using prompts from the newspaper, dictionary and the Bible.

Yet it's the fifth day of April and I am now thinking about the prompts. Four days have passed and I haven't devised a prompt or wrote any poetry.  I'll be searching the internet for ideas.

In the meantime, here's one of my poems:

Mac /n Cheese

In addition to several home projects that I am working on, I have to get inventive with menus.
I have used zucchini in the past to make lasagna but now I will try it for mac 'n cheese. I researched on the internet and found a recipe for cheese sauce and another that used zucchinis but since I don't have all the ingredients of any, I try to make my own.

Here are my ingredients:
2 zucchinis
Salt
¼ cup butter
¼ cup flour
2 cups milk
Pepper
Garlic
garlic powder
Cheese about 12 slices

Parmesan cheese

First, I spiralize 2 zucchinis.
Next, I salt them while I make the cheese sauce (salt to remove excess water from the zucchinis).

In a saucepan, I melt the butter.  Then I add the flour, pepper and some salt and mix until smooth.

Next I add the milk slowly while mixing. Then I add my cheese and stir until melted.
Next I rinse the spiralized zucchini and place in my casserole dish.

Then I add the cheese mixture.
Then I add some more pepper.
Next I add some crushed garlic and some garlic powder
Then I add more slices of cheese on top and some Parmesan cheese.

Next I bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

It was still a bit watery so I guess I could have used less milk.  By the way, here are my other substitutions:

Also I ordered all-purpose flour but it was substituted for Spelt flour due to the shortage.
I had coconut beverage already so used instead of milk.

What modifications to recipes have you tried?

Time for projects -- the one with the solar

My driveway is dark at night although I put lights around the house. I decided to add some solar lights at the end of the driveway. Next I went to ebay and bought 30/60/90W LED Solar Street Light Radar PIR Motion Sensor Wall Timing Lamp+Remote

I received the items and proceeded to put together when I noticed that I needed to attach them to something.
to affix them. What to do?

I strolled through Lowes looking for something to affix the solar lights. I saw some wooden fence posts but was too heavy. Next I saw some SteelTek but too expensive. Then I saw some Shelf track and an idea popped into my head. I bought 4.

Yes, I am feeling inspired but not by your price!	Hey, what are you?	I could use you -	I like your price!

I laid them on the floor in the room and worked out how it would be attached. I would have to fasten these in the ground. I had a bag of cement mix and a shovel. I didn't like that the posts were white as they didn't look good next to the solar.

I went to Home Depot and bought black spray paint. I put the poles on a black garbage bag outside and sprayed. Next day, I flipped over the poles and sprayed the other side.

Plus, I have to keep my mind off certain events of 2020.  This project is to be continued as I still have to get the poles in the ground and the solar lights attached.  I do have a bag of cement mix so I will let you know in another post if it worked.  TO BE CONTINUED...

The Ottomans of the Renaissance Festival

It was Pirate's weekend at the Renaissance Festival. It was a cool and windy day. Some people were dressed for the occasion and some wore sweaters.  We walked from the edge of the 20th century back to the 16th century where the entrance of the village was located. We browsed the vendors until we came upon a new show: Blades of the Ottomans. Not far from the Crown Stage where Broon captivated an audience that extended into the lane.

This is my 3rd visit this year and still finding new things to do! 

Have you ever been to the Florida Renaissance Festival? If yes and visited multiple times in a season, did you find a new act? 

Renaissance for modern times

On the 9th day of February in the year 2020, we used our 2020 or hindsight vision and traveled back to the Renaissance Festival in Quiet Waters Park. We parked at the edge of the 18th century and we walked back to the 16th century for the entrance.
We then saw some acts which made our day:

From left to right: Moonie, Kamizake Fireflies, Judas & Magnolia
Kelly Irish Dancers, Masala Gypsy Dancers, Blackenshear
Bard & Minstrel, Joust, The Parade

Quiet Waters Park has a lot of activities but this is my favorite at this time of year.  Do you have a favorite activity at a park near you?

Reflections on Strasbourg

I had framed my travel pictures and reminisce about my time in Strasbourg. 

Strasbourg:
Countries collided now act in concert
To limit CO2 emissions
To increase energy efficiency
To protect their citizens in the digital age
This is the seat of the European Parliament
Where the culture blends German and French influences
In Strasbourg.

The Treats of St. Augustine

January was full of adventure as I traveled to Atlanta and also to St. Augustine.  St. Augustine had some interesting sights and some culinary treats.  I had some macarons and dragonfruit popsicle while exploring the historic downtown but here is the highlight reel of my trip:

The sign didn't lie: whether it was a fish dinner, broccoli bites or a hot dog. The taste was delivered.
	In January, St Augustine has a festival of lights. I personally believe that it is an excuse to have the lights up until January 31st. Why take them down after Three Kings day? Let's party until the end of January. Let's party with the St. Augustine Film Festival!
Did I mention that the DeLeon Grille in The Ponce of St. Augustine was like a pearl? Yes, I did in my last post because it is that good. I usually hear that hotel restaurants are okay because there are convenient but for this hotel restaurant, I left downtown to come back here to eat.
	Colonial Quarters - Strange music venue but a whole lot of fun,  like a backyard BBQ with a band. St. Augustine Film Festival had their centerpiece party here and it was so fun!

In your recent travels, what treats did you discover?

The Ponce of St. Augustine

In January, St Augustine has a festival of lights. I personally believe that it is an excuse to have the lights up until January 31st. Why take them down after Three Kings day? Let's party until the end of January. However, St Augustine has other events like the St Augustine Film Festival (SAFF).  We stayed at the Ponce which inspired me to write a poem:




Have you ever been inspired by your travels?

Atlanta and My Least Favorite Airline

I have been traveling lately: second weekend of January, I visited Georgia and saw my brother, his wife, their children and his mother-in-law then the next day I saw my old college friend and her children. That was the best moments of my trip seeing the family and friends. The worst times were the plane trips.

From the onset, the ordeal was jarring. The airline had open seating and I had group B. I could board after the people with strollers, people with wheelchairs, people with young children and after group A. By the time I was on board, I saw empty middle seat after middle seat, the aisle and window seats were taken while walking down the narrow aisle. Past the wing, I finally saw an open aisle seat. I had a similar experience on the way back. That was an experience I don't care to repeat.

If I could rank the airlines, this airline would still be above the airline that charges for carry-on bag!

How do you rank the airlines?

Apple Pie

There is nothing more American than apple pie! So I had to find a recipe for the air fryer. After a search, I found one at https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/air-fried-apple-pies?utm_sourc

Making the filling

Cutting the pie crust

Pie cutter and crimper

Formed apple pie

My apple pie

My main issue was the temperature setting as I had a hard time reading the dial. Otherwise, it was as apple pie!

New Year's Day Impulse Buy

I like fried foods. I like chicken wings, French fries, sweet potato fries.  Unfortunately, this like for fried foods does not help my goal of losing weight or avoiding heartburn. Recently, I have been seeing commercials for air fryers and how much healthier the food prepared in an air fryer than deep fried foods. On New Year’s Day, I was in Kohl's and starting looking at the appliance section. My eyes caught several air fryers then I saw the Bella Air Fryer.

It seemed simple enough so I bought an air fryer and tried recipes the very next day. I put a couple pieces of seasoned chicken in the air fryer and a couple pieces in the oven. The air fried chicken was so much better and was cooked before the chicken pieces that were placed in the oven.

In the user manual, they had some tips for using the air fryer such as any recipe for deep fryer can be done in an air fryer. I wanted to do sweet potato fries. I bought sweet potatoes, even a device to cut it into fries. Then I made two batches. One batch tossed with 1 tsp garlic salt and two tablespoon oil. The second batch was done following a recipe that I found online but was a bit wary as it included baking soda. I tossed that batch with baking soda, paprika, salt and oil then followed the times suggested in the user manual for sweet potatoes. The first batch was delicious. The second batch looked mushy and muddy so I added it to my compost instead.

I tried zucchini in the air fryer. That manual cutter was way easier to use for the zucchini. 

 

  

String beans are a breeze in the air fryer so crunchy. I even cooked frozen salmon patties in the air fryer.

Salmon with string beans and zucchini

It was an impulse buy on New Year’s Day but I think I love it.

Have you ever impulse shopped? If yes, tell me your adventure!

Welcome 2020!!!

2020 is here! I gave up on making (and keeping) resolutions years ago. I now make goals not just at the start of the year (that would make it a resolution) but throughout the year.  Some of the goals were long-term and took a couple years while others are short-term. Today, in the spirit of 2020 (or hindsight or Monday morning jockey), I want to reflect on my 2019 goals:

• Finish the Bachelors in Information Technology - I achieved my goal of obtaining the Bachelors in Information Technology in August 2019, I started my goal of obtaining Computer Science training in January 2016;
• take a tutorial on android programming - started the tutorial on android programming;
• travel – St. Augustine in January with the festival of lights, resort life on Jamaica’s North Coast in March and saw some Christmas markets in the Netherlands. #mybesttravelsyet

St. Augustine's Festival of Lights

 

• exercise more – I exercised about the same, I even joined the gym and went for two months straight. Not a complete fail as I still walk and track my steps with my Google Fit app; and
• lose some weight – I lost some weight but gained some weight.
• Host poetry readings – Hosted poetry readings at Savor Cinema from January to September. Most new poetry that wrote coincidentally was in the same time-frame. I barely wrote any poetry from October to December.

I know why I add “exercise more” and “lose weight” to my goals every year because my doctor scares me when I go for my annual checkup. Doctor has warned me to watch the weight gain as I could move to diabetic so they are added to my goals yearly. I have made some strides such as finding out my food intolerances so not a complete fail.

Also, what are my other goals for 2020:

Use spreadsheets – I started last September with making a spreadsheet to see how I spend and it was informative. I put due dates in so I can pay my bills on time as late fees eat away the budget. Therefore, for 2020 I am going to keep making spreadsheets to track my budget. Another interesting use for the spreadsheet is to track my time (this should also help with the exercise goal.)

coursework – enrolled in another program already so goal is to complete the coursework by June.

Create an Android App – sometime this year, I need to create an android app.

Poetry readings – in addition to hosting, I hope to attend some poetry readings.

Travel – no big plans for 2020 but maybe I can travel to read at some other poetry readings, visit relatives, go to more local events. I went to the Taste of the Track which was nearby and had a marvelous time. I also tried some Paint & Sip workshops and had a blast. Long-term plan for 2021 to save and travel to …

my acrylic piece from Broward Art Guild Workshop

Those are my goals so far for 2020, I can add more later or adjust as goals work like that. What are your goals (or if you are still into resolutions, what are your resolutions) for 2020?