Mike' Make Over Madness!

[Mykelogan]

Hi Jamie!

I am doing pretty well today. I had a caesar salad and deviled eggs for lunch. The eggs were yummy with a kick of cayenne pepper. Work has been busy but scattered today. I think I am scattered because I know i have a huge project I will be coming in to work on over the weekend so I am trying to get little pieces of other things done here and there. Otherwise things are good. Last night before bed I was reading an old People magazine I found in the magazine pile in our office (we save a bin of magazines for creative projects) and found an article that really resonated with me on the topics we WISHers talk about so I think I might write some more in here about it later.

How are you doing? Good I hope!!! If you do get to try to chicken in your crockpot on a weekend be sure to let me know the results! With most of the dishes you can make it a one pot family meal and put it potatoes, carrots, etc. with the chicken. Grated cheese is also yummy over the salsa chicken if you sprinkle it in the pot about 15min before serving. And if you want gravy you can always remove the chicken and veggies to a bowl, then crank the crock to High and toss in a slurry of cornstarch/water or any thickener. As it thickens add everything back to the pot. Have fun with it!

Hope you have a great night!
Mike

 

[DisDon]

Hey Mike, sorry I haven't checked in for a couple of pages Man, I go away for a little while and all heck breaks loose while I'm gone!! Gold, baby, yeah!!!!!! That is stupendous, outrageous, crazy!! Now you're REALLY gaining on me, I better get busy!!
Its funny to me reading all these little recipe things you all are passing back and forth, and I thought I was getting creative with food. My most daring creation lately was Spanish rice, found the simplest recipe i could, bottle of salsa, a little water, and minute rice, done.
I'm proud of you, bro, and you're setting a great example for me. Oprah here we come!!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Mike, sorry I haven't checked in for a couple of pages Man, I go away for a little while and all heck breaks loose while I'm gone!! Gold, baby, yeah!!!!!! That is stupendous, outrageous, crazy!! Now you're REALLY gaining on me, I better get busy!!
Its funny to me reading all these little recipe things you all are passing back and forth, and I thought I was getting creative with food. My most daring creation lately was Spanish rice, found the simplest recipe i could, bottle of salsa, a little water, and minute rice, done.
I'm proud of you, bro, and you're setting a great example for me. Oprah here we come!!

Hey Don,
Thanks for catching up!! That's right you better get busy, we gotta get you into the gold yourself!!! Maybe some silver by Mickey time?? Hmmm?? hehe!!!
Your spanish rice sounds yummy! What I want to try soon is some "Caulifried Rice". You stir fry veggies, add in a scrambled egg and break it up into little pieces, and then you add a couple of cups of raw cauliflower you grate on a cheese grater. Saute for 5-6min and toss in some low salt soy sauce and from pictures I've seen looks and tastes similar to rice. I will definitely report in here how it turns out.
I hope that you have a happy & healthy weekend.

I am making my dinner right now. Roasting a little dish of green pepper chunks, a thickly sliced shallot, four garlic cloves halved and two hot italian sausage links (combined about the size of a bratwurst) in the oven right now. I want to make a garlicy cheese white pizza with mushroom on a low carb tortilla, kind of an italian nacho hehe, to go with it. I have some grapes in the freezer now for my dessert!

Later all!
Mike

 

[kardiebelle]

Hey mike I eat ketsup with mac and cheese also. I don't pour it on to I just dip it in. You should try it one day. Hope you have a great day tomarrow.

smiles kardiebelle

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey mike I eat ketsup with mac and cheese also. I don't pour it on to I just dip it in. You should try it one day. Hope you have a great day tomarrow.

smiles kardiebelle

Hi Kardiebelle,

I used to eat it all the time, well kind of... one of my old fave meals was to make up a box of mac n cheese, add a bit extra milk so it is looser. Mix in some fried up hamburger and onions, then some shredded cheddar. Top with more cheddar and bake. Sooo yummy & greasy & bad fpr you! hehe But I loved when it was piping hot and I squirted on some cold ketchup. hehe.

Tomorrow should be fun for me... up early and down the hall in the office deciding where 500 freshmen will live! hehe

Hope you have a good one too!
Mike

 

[Lesli54]

Looks like you have been doing great! Congrats on making the GOLD!

I must agree with everyone, cooking sure does sound like your calling. I LOVE cookbooks. I have 2 small cupboards full and would add more, but I don't have room, but when the kitchen is remodeled, watch out! It's fun to cook real meals, but I find myself getting busy and falling back into the same ol' same ol' quick fix.

Good luck figuring out where those freshman are going to live. DD18 got her room today. She is so ready.

Have a great day tomorrow and keep up the good work!

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Lesli!

I do indeed love to cook! I would love to be able to cook somewhere with an ever changing menu, like a bistro/cafe that plans its menu around a few constant favorites but then varies everything else based on what's freshest and chef's whims! hehe But I do agree with you in that sometimes I am just not in the mood for elaborate cooking.

Glad to hear your DD got her room assignment. Over the weekend I have to fit 530 students into 428 spaces! haha! Can we say "forced triples"?? Sadly I can

Hope you have a great night!
Mike

 

[Lesli54]

Wow! Forced Triples must be tough. How the heck do the kids move around? I know that most dorm rooms are not too big. Fortunately DD18 got her room, but I know that I hear of a lot of kids who go on waiting lists for a room and don't have it until a week or so before they go. My question is: who can there not be enough space for the kids to sleep if there is enough space to accept them to a program? Is part of it done on purpose because a certain number will drop out quickly. It has always been a question where the logistics escapes me due to lack of knowledge.

Anyway, have fun finding those rooms. Such a great example of how math really is used in the adult world. The pie is bigger than the pie shell, but we can still force it all in and make it fit.

Have a great day!

 

[toystoryduo]

I used to eat it all the time, well kind of... one of my old fave meals was to make up a box of mac n cheese, add a bit extra milk so it is looser. Mix in some fried up hamburger and onions, then some shredded cheddar. Top with more cheddar and bake.

Hey Mike!

I only have a couple of minutes because we have a busy day ahead of us, but I have a quick question about this recipe. Have you ever sustituted tuna for ground beef? What temp. did you bake it at and for how long? Thanks Chef Mikey!

Hope the freshman placement thing is going well for you.

Have a healthy and happy weekend!

 

[Cruise04]

Way to go on the new clippie Mike - looks good on you!!!!!

I have caught up and you have some awesome ideas of kicking up some tastes for foods - good job!!!

Good luck in getting those rooms done Mike. We are down to a month now before move-in day here (well just under) and I'm NOT looking forward to it. I like being able to drive around on campus with few students here - playing dodge-the-student isn't my favorite game!!!!

And Lesli - here they actually do overbook freshman in and some end up staying at the Student Center for the first month. They do always anticipate drop outs after the first month and then they fit those Student Center kids into rooms. But the ones that get the Student Center are the ones that were accepted and didn't get their room info in on time - they snooze, they loose (but the still get to snooze comfortably ).

Keep up the good work and...
Keep on
Chris

 

[Storygirl]

Morning Mike! I hope today goes well for you.

I wanted to say - I just noticed what you added to your signature....yes!!! I think you should make your AKL trip a 3/4 land cruise trip. You deserve it!

We stayed at the AKL for our first night last November and wow wow wow...loved it. You definitely deserve that kind of wonderful vacation, including the cruise.

 

[Mykelogan]

Hey Mike!

I only have a couple of minutes because we have a busy day ahead of us, but I have a quick question about this recipe. Have you ever sustituted tuna for ground beef? What temp. did you bake it at and for how long? Thanks Chef Mikey!

Hope the freshman placement thing is going well for you.

Have a healthy and happy weekend!

Hi Tracy!

I have not subbed tuna (because I don't like warm tuna, weird I know!) but I am sure it would work. I cook it at 350 til the cheese on top is nice and melty, around 15-20min. Cooks fast because the warm mac'ncheese gets the mixture melting already. Sometimes when I want that extra brown crispy cheese top I leave it in longer or turn the broiler on for like a minute.

Hope you have a great day! mIne started late! hehe

Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Lesli!!

Happy saturday!!

Wow! Forced Triples must be tough. How the heck do the kids move around? I know that most dorm rooms are not too big. Fortunately DD18 got her room, but I know that I hear of a lot of kids who go on waiting lists for a room and don't have it until a week or so before they go. My question is: who can there not be enough space for the kids to sleep if there is enough space to accept them to a program? Is part of it done on purpose because a certain number will drop out quickly. It has always been a question where the logistics escapes me due to lack of knowledge.

Anyway, have fun finding those rooms. Such a great example of how math really is used in the adult world. The pie is bigger than the pie shell, but we can still force it all in and make it fit.

Have a great day!

We are lucky in that our double rooms, especially my building, are quite spacious. Three are tight but very liveable and much better than no room for most of the students.

As for how it happens... well the biggest factor is the general increase across the country the past 5 years in 18year olds and 18 year olds interested in college. When I first got here we would open in the fall with empty beds. The second biggest factor is the desire to make money for the college by the "higher ups". Studies have shown that if a student is accepted to a college, sadly they will stay at that college even if their personal needs are not 100% met. This means that if more students are accepted and squeezed in, yes there will be increased attrition (students leaving) but there will a large percentage who do stay. A few years ago, the College prez and admissions wanted a way to make our college more attractive to potential students so they instituted a "Housing Guarantee for your first year if you deposit by X date withe college" plan. It helped at first and filled the halls. Then as housing became a more attractive option due to a lot of changes we made, the numbers grew. For the past two years we have been doing about 25 "forced triples" in another building and usually by the end of the first month we have regular spaces for the students as other students have left. Last year, it took until the Spring semester to break down the triples as we had less attrition (which is a great thing really but not in this situation sadly!) This year 120 more students than we can fit deposited on time. And sadly the decision was never up to us about accepting these students for housing or not, we're basically told, "Make it work!" So you would not believe the headaches and drama. Sadly it means we have in the past few years had to cap the number of students who can return to the halls each year meaning really good students are forced to find apartments or commute from home because we have to have space for the new students. Again goes back to the theory that once the college has them they have their money for 4 years regardless of what happens. Sadly this is a very common attitude at most schools that no people would even publicly admit I am sure! hehe And that is not to say I think all colleges are heartless places, I just think sometimes they are forced to make decisions that are not the most community focused. Also, I know for us at least, our housing and board costs just barely cover our operating budget, so if we were to just house the 828 we can fit, and then the usual numbers withdraw the first semester, we would end up in a bad way financially.

So where does that leave us this year? With 86 forced triples and right now, about 400 students on the waiting list for housing. Right now sadly, none of the waitlist students will most likely get housing this entire year. I am not sure if we will be able to ever break down all of these triples even. So we will see what exciting adventures happen!!! Is it any wonder I was pricing Disney Cruises/Vacations for February last night??? hahaha!!!

Hope you are having a less stressful day than I am!!! hehe! I am about to call 8 students and tell them they have to pick new rooms because we need their old rooms for triples. Wish me luck!!

Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Way to go on the new clippie Mike - looks good on you!!!!!

I have caught up and you have some awesome ideas of kicking up some tastes for foods - good job!!!

Good luck in getting those rooms done Mike. We are down to a month now before move-in day here (well just under) and I'm NOT looking forward to it. I like being able to drive around on campus with few students here - playing dodge-the-student isn't my favorite game!!!!

And Lesli - here they actually do overbook freshman in and some end up staying at the Student Center for the first month. They do always anticipate drop outs after the first month and then they fit those Student Center kids into rooms. But the ones that get the Student Center are the ones that were accepted and didn't get their room info in on time - they snooze, they loose (but the still get to snooze comfortably ).

Keep up the good work and...
Keep on
Chris

Hi Chris,

Thanks! I like the new clippie too but now the silver ones look even more apprealing! hehehe!
Luckily we were able to avoiding using "non-housing" buildings and off campus sites here this year. I can't wait for the new hall to open here in two years. Of course by then I will not be a hall director here any more and will most likely be somewhere else!! Working at a Disney Call Center maybe?? I would love it!!! haha!! And of course anyone who mentioned the Dis would get the best arrangements! lol Ok, I am not really doing that but I would really love to help people plan Dis trips full time! hehe

Have a great day and don't run over any summer students!!!
Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

Morning Mike! I hope today goes well for you.

I wanted to say - I just noticed what you added to your signature....yes!!! I think you should make your AKL trip a 3/4 land cruise trip. You deserve it!

We stayed at the AKL for our first night last November and wow wow wow...loved it. You definitely deserve that kind of wonderful vacation, including the cruise.

Hey Jenn,

So you noticed that? hehe I was wondering if anyone would! hehe Yes I was playing around on Disney.com last night as usual and started reading about the cruises. I am soo doing that! hehe! I would actually have the money to take one in February but that would be spending any money I was also tucking away to be my cushion if I leave here in May/June and get a new job, so I think I will probably plan a late 2006 or early 2007 trip. Besides, I want to truly be celebrating the new me when I go, so I'd like to let there be some more time before I go. I will admit I bought the Passporter Cruise book on Amazon last night to help me prepare! I think the thing that hooked was when I was running the numbers on the disneycruise site and it askes you to choose the Disney resort you will stay in, AKL was first on the list!! That sold me on the idea!! Plus I figure if I wait another year or so, I can save more and add a day or two more at Disney to the beginning or end of the trip! hehe

Hope that you have an excellent day!! I gotta get some work done! lol

I will check in on journals later peeps!!!
Mike

 

[Mykelogan]

If my head was not shaved I would be pulling my hair out right now... can you tell I am having a fun day??? heheh!!!

(Edited: Feeling much better now, it is 8:40pm and I am home! hehe! Going to make dinner soon, parmesean crusted chicken, grilled mushrooms and mayhaps some low carb whole wheat pasta. We'll see!!)

 

[Mykelogan]

Finishing up a lunch break as Day Two of housing placement continues!!! Just thought it would be a good time to post some thoughts and reflections...

* I have been a WISH member for 5 weeks as of this weekend! What a short time to have passed when I feel soooo different and have made so many friends. Glad that you are all with me on this journey!!

* It has been over a month since I had a Coke or any soda... another wow! And can you believe what I found in my kitchen last night when looking for a brown bag? A bag I had forgotten I had shoved in a lower cabinet after a grocery trip containing 3 2L of Coke and a 2L of Root Beer!!! Wow, I have lived with Soda amongst me all this time and I forgot it was there. That would NEVER have happened before!! Where is it now? In my office for anyone to take & drink! hehe!

* I mentioned the article I read in People magazine a couple days ago. It really helped me put my progress and goals in perspective because sometimes it does get rough when I feel like I have lost so much but made not so much progress as I have so far to go. The article is about a man who weighed 763lbs and lost 503lbs!! As soon as I finished reading it I said to myself, if he could lose a whole me at close to my highest weight, then I can do this no problem!! I will never again look at a post by someone who's starting weight is where I would like to at least get to and feel like it is insurmountable for me to do it!!! Hope that makes sense!!

* Cooking lessons this week... if you use salad dressing as a "wet" coating for moistening your chicken for "breading" (I put that in quotes because I would not use actually crumbs/flour but parmesean & seasonings for my dry coating! hehe), be sure to use it sparingly, aka a thin coat. A thicker one will lead to what I had last night. Chicken with a small spot of parmesean coating on top and surrounded by a well cooked puddle of dressing/chicken juice/parm! hehe! It was all tasty and I added a little lemon juice to cooling baking dish to make the stuff that slid off a sauce of sorts, but next time I will know better! hehe!

* Placing people in rooms I know are their last choice is not fun!!!

Have a happy & healthy day all! I have overrun my break! hehe!

Mike

 

[Cruise04]

I like your outlook Mike!!!! Way to go!!!

And here's another hint for the chicken - use cooking spray on the chicken before coating it with your spices/breadcrumbs and it makes for yummy chicken too!!!! I love coated seasoned chicken. It sounds like maybe you made yours on the grill - did you? Haven't tried that yet.

Hope your day gets better (which I'm sure it will after you go home)!!!!

Keep on
Chris

 

[Lesli54]

Wow, it doesn't seem like 5 weeks have flown by. Isn't it great to know that you can make such great strides in such a short amount of time? Your thoughts about the People magazine article is very understandable. Sometimes when I am wondering if I will ever get to where I am going, I remind myself that there are others on this board that have thought the same thing and have further to go than I and yet they continue on every day, which makes me realize that I can do the same as well. After all, in reality we all have the same goal no matter the amount we want to lose and that is to become healthier so that we can lead a more full life and enjoy every minute of it. But you know it is so much more fun to lose with great support.

Have fun coming up with new concoctions this week. I think I am going to actually drag out some of those cookbooks. Hope the rest of your day is good.

 

[Mykelogan]

I like your outlook Mike!!!! Way to go!!!

And here's another hint for the chicken - use cooking spray on the chicken before coating it with your spices/breadcrumbs and it makes for yummy chicken too!!!! I love coated seasoned chicken. It sounds like maybe you made yours on the grill - did you? Haven't tried that yet.

Hope your day gets better (which I'm sure it will after you go home)!!!!

Keep on
Chris

Hi Chris!! Thanks!!
Thanks for the chicken tip! I actually baked my chicken. Have never tried breaded chicken on a grill before though I have heard the george foreman does a great job with it. Probably because there is no grate for the breading to fall through if it gets loose, as opposed to a charcoal/gas grill.

Hope you have a great night! I am still here, trudging away!!! May leave now and then come in super early tomorrow! we'll see! hehe!

Mike