Fall Fever

I'm glad my arms are somewhat long, because I have just been patting myself on the back all day.
You see, my "Aubrey Improvement Plan" is going swimmingly well, so well, in fact, that Dr. Phil and Oprah both should send me on their shows to talk about my success. My friends, I'm making progress. (And am grading myself accordingly on said progress below.)

Much is written about Spring Fever, but I pose that it's not a single-season event, since I'm smack-dab in the midst of "Fall Fever." Not the birds & the bees type, where the warm temps cause hormones to start a-churnin' again, but more of the Spring Organization variety, only with an Autumn twist to it. It's the New Years Resolution-esque goal setting that I've come to expect every time I begin to feel a cool breeze descend upon the stagnant late-summer heat, when fireplaces emit a woodsy aroma of the Fall, making me want to stock up on button-downs and new jeans and all things Octoberish. Perhaps a remnant of "Back to School" days long gone, but getting everything in tip-top shape is high on my Type-A personality things-to-do list. And this year, it's all about me.

I recently got a subscription to Netflix, not because I wanted it, but because it fit well in my Aubrey Improvement Plan, Rule 1: Watch More Movies. With one exception, I know nobody who sees fewer movies than yours truly, and the ones that I do see win an uncanny amount of Razzy Awards. Oscar Nominee? Didn't see it. Box Office Hit? Nix that one too. It really is a travesty, because I do like movies, I just seem to have an aversion to GOING to them or RENTING them. (Or RETURNING them on time.) Thus Netflix. While I'm not doing so well in speed-viewing (have had my original three movies for just over 3 weeks now), at least I'm not paying late fees. I'm giving myself another month (after all, Sex & the City is off until January, thus 'bye bye' to HBO) and will then re-evaluate my success in movie watching.

Grade Thus Far: B-

Which brings us to Aubrey Improvement Plan, Rule 2: Read More Books. I'm an avid reader, and always have been, so it's not the sheer numbers that I wanted to improve upon here, but the quality. Yes, I love myself some Jane Green, some Marion Keyes, some "Shopaholic Takes Manhattan"-esque little ditties that are easily devoured on a 2-hour flight. Not so cost-effective, when calculating that I'm spending nearly $6/hour to amuse myself in flight, but harmless, light reading nonetheless. A few hours of giggles and empathy for the man-crazed, journalistic bumbling heroines is worth the $12 price tag, I do propose. Still, when trying to pursue a somewhat-serious writing career, complete with forthcoming book(s) that are still recorded only in various journals as well as the intricacies of my cerebrum, it never hurts to challenge yourself with some reading outside of your familiar genre. Thus "The Da Vinci Code" and "The Secret Life of Bees", hands down two of the best books I have read in years. I recommend them as highly as I can. Go forth and obtain these both.

Grade Thus Far: A-

The Aubrey Improvement Plan is a three-pronged approach, initially targeting three key areas in which I definitely am striving to better myself. As such, the last (and somewhat most desperate) rule is the following: Aubrey Improvement Plan, Rule 3: Begin to Cook. A former subscriber of Cooking Light and the current owner of something like 20 cookbooks, you'd think that this fete-aficionado would not only know HOW to cook, but do it voraciously. Au contraire. My tragic flaw in this area is my lack of patience (which will likely be addressed in Phase 2 of the Aubrey Improvement Plan, Forthcoming) and I can't justify spending hours on end to cook for me and me alone. That said, I do love to entertain, and thus my proficiency in the arena of appetizers and desserts. It's the main dishes that take too long and thus are passed over without a second thought. Well, I have made major inroads in this area, especially yesterday. Yes, Neophyte Chef Aubrey has earned herself a new Moniker: Aubrey, Iron Chef of Sushi.

Grade Thus Far: A

Not too bad of a mid-plan GPA, I do believe. Now come over and eat some sushi - I have 7 full rolls left.

Comments

[Paris]

Look at you and your improvment and look at your sushi!! My god it's fabulous. I myself love to cook and bake whether it's for little ol me or 12 people. You should just look for easier main dish meals to make, about 20-30 minutes. You should look into the show "30 Minute Meals" on the Food Network, she cooks amazing, like 3 dishes, in just under 30 minutes. Her name is Rachel Ray and she has a few cook books.

[Tom Bridge]

Rachel Ray and Bobby Flay are the Mary and Joseph of the Food Network. Both are to be revered and worshipped whenever possible. Love their shows.