Monthly Archives: March 2012

“Hey” Hate

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I hate emails that start with “Hey Julie” as a salutation. My disdain is amplified if I don’t know the person sending the email. And I don’t use the word hate lightly. It sets my teeth on edge. I stop reading, sometimes for a while.

I realize emails are odd territory. “Dear” sounds stuffy. “Hello” or “Hi” work some of the time. Using the name alone can be dismissive or curt. But all of these are preferable to “Hey”. Aloud, as a greeting, “hey” works. Especially in certain circumstances. But in writing? Not for this girl.

Does this make me a fuddy duddy? Yes, probably. I’ll own that. But, after all, we were all taught that “hey is for horses”. And the “hey” meme that is going around? Also crazy making. With two exceptions. One is the Ryan Gosling Arts Management Tumblr. It makes me laugh. And then there’s this “Hey Girl”.

Don’t let these examples fool you though. “Hey Girl” emails are not welcome.

Am I alone in the “hey” hate camp?

Cooking for One

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As a single person, I am challenged to cook well for myself. I cook to entertain, and I cook large quantities. But as I am not super fond of left overs, I don’t cook for myself. I suspect that is going to change. At my friend Deb’s suggestion I bought The Pleasures of Cooking for One by Judith Jones. I just got it, and I love it already. Beautiful book, great recipes and all geared towards single servings, or with ideas for making them single by freezing part of it. Blueberry soup. Single Quiche. Chicken Divan.

As I am fighting the battle of the middle aged bulge, I considered going back on Jenny Craig or trying Weight Watchers. But here’s the deal. I don’t want to. Instead, I have committed to eating real food. Watching portions, but eating real food. Food I can pronounce. And this book has real food.  I will report back as I work through it.

Maybe a Julie and Judith riff.

Quality of life. Real food. Beautiful cookbook.

And truffle salt. Yay for truffle salt.