The last time I made red beans and rice didn't End Well. I had the heat too high on my cast-iron dutch oven, and it basically burned the flavor right out of it.
Last night was much better. The best change I made was to ensure that the heat was at a minimum as it simmered on my stovetop (cast-iron dutch oven: the original slow cooker). I also added a few chopped up bacon strips to give it a bit more flavor.
It turned out quite well, but there are a few other things I'd do differently. First, I'm out of stock, so I used all water for the liquid. I bet it would be amazing with the stock. Second, I would probably be better off adding a smoky ham hock rather than bacon--it has more flavor.
Still, last night's meal was far, far better than my last attempt, which would have been good if not for the heat being too high. It's not often that I royally screw something up, even the first time I make it. So I'm glad that it turned out much better last night.
Tonight for dinner: Pizza with a white-sauce base. I'll also add some peppers, jalapenos, artichokes, and whatever else seems to be lurking about my refrigerator. Oh, and I have to prep the turkey for Thursday. I have a turkey breast that I'll be dry-brining, so I have to get it ready tonight so it can sit a while. I'll also have some pies to make and ingredients to prep (tomorrow evening), so actual Thanksgiving day should be pretty simple.
Man, I love Thanksgiving.
So I just got my packet from the state Bar in the mail. I'm happy to get it, in part because now I can actually have my bar number, which lets me access my account and do all sorts of things through the website (like change my home address, for example).
But there are some really amusing things, too. For example, the coverletter that came with my packet begins as follows:
Dear Mackenzie:
Congratulations on your admission to the Wyoming State Bar. Your years of sacrifice and hard work have paid off! Now that you are a member of the Wyoming State Bar, there are several things that you should know:
License Fees
Our fiscal year runs from October 1st [etc., etc.]
Perhaps it's just me, but it's funny to me that the letter basically starts out with "Congratulations!" and moves quickly on to "Here's how much you owe; pay us within a month!" Regrettably, my employer kicks in with paying my bar dues only next year. It's a bit of a bummer, considering that the holiday season is nipping at our heels like a pack of ravenous dogs.
But I may be a bit different because I consider employers paying things like bar fees to be one of those above and beyond things. In other words, I don't expect them to pay for bar fees, ever. It's just a nice thing when they do. That's opposed to things like insurance, which I absolutely expect my employer to provide, or to pay me more to procure.
Anyway, so the exciting adventure that is the practice of law begins. I have my attorney number, and the ability to practice. In a lot of ways, this is what I've striven for since I was a kid. Granted, I didn't know it, and I can well remember MackenzieMom being a bit frustrated at times that my grade didn't match my potential, but it's nice to have a bit of a safety net. I feel confident that I can provide for myself given all sorts of negative circumstances. It's not foolproof, but it's more certainty than most people have.
Maybe my perception is flavored by having finished, today, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle. I read it this weekend for the book club meeting tomorrow. I may blog about it--I actually have a lot of thoughts about the book (I actually took notes!). It was interesting. I probably wouldn't have read it except that it was a book club selection, but I'm glad I did. I recommend that you do, too, if you haven't already. Let me be the first to say that I don't buy Sinclair's position, but it is still relevant today. Anybody who has read Fast Food Nation can attest to that.
That's all the substance I have for now, but one last technical note. I still haven't gotten comments running, and really haven't had leisure to try. But I'll be giving it a go soon, so hopefully they'll be working by Thanksgiving. In the meantime, I can add comments myself, so feel free to send me an email. I know it's a pain in the ass, so I'm unlikely to get any comers, but I wanted to make it an option anyway.
Light posting this week, since my mother is in town. I end up hanging out with her more than blogging or anything, naturally.
But I couldn't let yesterday pass unremarked. I was sworn in and officially became a lawyer. It's the last step of a process that I began about four years ago, and it feels pretty good.
I have to say, both my professors and the members of the bar do a pretty good job of treating us as lawyers from day 1. There's a lot of talk about "our" profession, and that sort of thing. But there's always a bit of a distance, a gap that was there as a student. Really, maybe it was just me knowing that I wasn't quite part of the club, but it certainly seemed real.
Now, there will still a difference between myself and other practitioners, but it will be based on experience, not the sort of official sanction on ability that a license brings. I'm a brand new member of the club, but I'm still a member of the club.
In a way, yesterday was the true commencement. Law school is behind me, and its successes and failures are less important now. The important thing is that I work hard in my new career, that I prove myself capable again. It's time to start over again with my learning (then I'll do it again, and again, for the rest of my career).
It feels good to say, "I'm a lawyer," but it's only the beginning.