coconut taffy's New Writeups

Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (aka Warm Chocolate Brownie Mix) (recipe)

2012-08-10T08:19:51Z

For those of you that have been on a cruise recently, may have found the overabundance of food aboard the ship to be overwhelming. Coming straight off one of those behemoth smorgasbords of the sea, I have to admit that I did amazingly well with my calorie intake. I somehow managed to maintain myself and stay clear of the all-you-can-eat burgers, double-fisted fry portions, midnight pizza runs, noodle-saucy Korean BBQ bowls, belly buster breakfasts, and swirly-warms of cool and refreshing soft-serve ice cream. I did, however, cave when it came to a dessert that I affectionately renamed "Warm Chocolate Brownie Mix;" basically a thin crusted fudge-like brownie creation with a…

How is it that Mexicans know neither Chili con Carne nor Toilet Paper? (thing)

2011-10-29T22:28:00Z

There was a point in my life that I ran the sales and marketing department for a manufacturing company located in Tijuana. Although we had an issue with toilet plumbing (once getting a $2000 sewer bill), we never had issues finding toilet paper. But, like many of you, I believed that the people of Mexico ate foods that we, in the United States, consider âMexican" (although chili con carne never crossed my mind). You have no idea how depressing it was to go into a Mexican restaurant only to find that "chips and salsa" wasn't on the menu; nor were there cheesy, messy "chicken nachos" I was so looking forward to. I found, however, many great eats in Mexico that were far better than any Americanized Mexican food could ever hope to be.

One of my favorite lunch spots was a little street diner (a…

Steve Jobs (person)

2011-10-06T19:24:51Z

Steve Jobs' illness and passing.

Steve announced his illness in mid-2004, a form of pancreatic cancer called islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. He underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy later that year that appeared to remove the tumor. He did not undergo or receive chemotherapy or radiation treatment for the disease.

In 2008 questions arose about Steve's health due to his appearance, with Apple chalking it up to a common bug. However, on January 5, 2009 Apple stated that Steve had been suffering from a "hormone imbalance" for several months. On January 14, 2009, an internal memo written by Jobs stated that his health related issues were much more complex than he had originally thought, and in April 2009 Jobs underwent a liver transplant at the Methodist University Hospital Transplant Institute in Memphis, Tennessee. His prognosis was excellent.

On January 17, 2011 Steve took a leave of absence from Apple to "focus on his health." He resigned as Apple's CEO on…

Old Spice (thing)

2011-09-22T15:59:15Z

Growing up, my dad wore Old Spice. Often too thick, the scent could be overwhelming to the senses, almost to the point of tasting it when first applied. I remember him bending down to kiss my cheek as he'd leave for work, whispering an "I love you" as he went on his way; his movement leaving an Old Spice cloud throughout my room, burning my half-opened eyes. Although I gave him gifts of popular, not inexpensive scents, Old Spice was his preferred eau de toilette. No matter where it was placed (hidden?) on his dresser, he'd always grab the off-white, ship logo'd bottle with the plastic insert top as his first choice. It wasn't my favorite cologne on him, to say the least. Yet, when he passed, it was the one thing that reminded me of him the most; still does.

Today, as I rummage through his belongings, I can still smell his Old Spice lingering amongst the fading photos and lasting memories, and I am grateful for its potency.

streetlight (thing)

2011-01-02T05:57:38Z

At 42, I am still afraid of the dark.
At least when I'm out at night,
on a run,
or a walk/run (as it really is).

I made a habit out of running full blast....
from one streetlight....
to another....
(catching my breath at each)
in hopes of making it into the brightness....
before being caught by some bad guy....
in the in-between.

I look at streetlights much like I look at
life rings,
(usually printed with the universal Red Cross symbol),
hanging around pool landscapes.

There to save me,
in the event my own efforts
fail.

September 14, 2010 (idea)

2010-09-14T00:37:41Z

Sometimes I wonder if you think that it's me sending messages into the universe hoping to reach you. You, who are approximately 6,400,000 steps away from me. You, where the buildings are tall and the streets are noisy. You, with a life quite different than mine yet somehow similar.

No. ~~I wouldn't.~~ I couldn't go back now. I promised myself that I'd never do that again. It took me a long time to figure out that I was in love with you and even longer to figure out how that happened in the first place. I have concluded it was your words, which so easily rolled off your fingertips, turning me to Jell-O with simple keystrokes. I never even met you, yet I gave myself completely and freely.

I wasn't prepared. I often wonder if breaking my heart was easy or if it was difficult, like hitting yourself in the thumb with a hammer. I bet you didn't even think twice about it. You are the master of game playing and, to you, I was just the latest version.…