Good Morning Wolverines! (And Spartans. And those of you resting in neutral territory.))

Please allow UofM's World Class Marching Band to set the mood for today's post! Click here: HAIL TO THE VICTORS! 

It's game day at The Big House!  UofM (undefeated) vs. MSU (undefeated).  I didn't get tickets to the game (although there was one reallym really expensive offer on the table,) because quite frankly, I fear that if Michigan loses, it will incite a crazed, testosterone-fueled riot on the streets of Ann Arbor... and if Michigan wins.... it will incite a crazed, testosterone-fueled riot on the streets of Ann Arbor.  (And remember, both men AND women produce testosterone, so this has the potential to become Wolverine Armageddon.)  We especially don't want a repeat of Michigan State's 1999 Basketball riot following a Final Four loss to Duke, which resulted in the conviction of 50 Michigan State students, most of whom were later expelled!  Zoinks!  So keep your chickens in the coop, Wolverines and Spartans!  And let's have a good clean game that will likely go down in Michigan Rivalry history!  Good luck to both teams!

Here are some of my readers showing their Michigan Pride!!  Cindy Irani (UofM Alum) and her hubby, red t-shirt wearing Cyrus, at The Big House.  (This photo was from the Northern Illinois Univ game, which is Cyrus's alma mater.  According to Cindy, Michigan won. Nice!!)  Also pictured is Cindy's sweet cousin Selena (Kalamazoo College Alum...WHOOP WHOOP!), and their friend Spencer, up front.  I call Spencer "Reverend King" because not only did he do a beautiful job officiating Cindy & Cyrus' wedding, but he gives off serene, wise, pastor-like vibes.  I'd take advice from the guy... and I barely know him. See, watch:
"Spencer, what stocks to do you think look promising in this volatile market?" (I don't know if Spencer knows anything about this stuff.)  Spencer's Picture responds, "Nania, I'd invest 10K in Kellogg's Corn Flakes.  They are making a comeback.")  And.... Done!

My next photo is of my dear friend Stefanie Spiegel and her husband Steven in the Galapagos Islands.  Because Stefanie doesn't do anything half-ass, she not only submitted a picture to The Nan Stop wearing a great Michigan hat, but in one photo, her husband Steven is actually trying to put the hat on a gigantic radioactive mutant turtle!!  That's Michigan pride if I've ever seen it!!

Look at the fire in this turtle's eyes!  I'm gonna call Steven right now to make sure he didn't lose a hand in this bold act of bravery! 

Next, is Dana Holcman... yes, she's gaining celeb status here at The Nan Stop.  (I mean, less famous than Tinger, but more famous than Gordon LaChance.) And yes, she is another Michigan Alum and huge football fan!  Here she is with Charlie Brown.  Warning: This photo may contain images of passion and romance that are not appropriate for children:

And finally, chiming in at 6'2'' inches tall and a super-high level of adorableness, my lifelong best friend and fiance, Aaron!!  Whoo!!

Oh my gosh. My computer just said I don't have the appropriate license to upload the picture I took of Aaron via Skype.  Damn technology!!  (Although Skype itself is pretty awesome.)  I will attend to this problem asap!!

And here is my own contribution:
First, my spirited new license plate!  Beep Beep!

And me in one of my Michigan Tees. Yes, I realize that "Michigan" is displayed in reverse.  But no, I did not figure this out myself.... I sent this photo to some friends, and Cindy replied, "Hahaha - awww, I love how your photo is a mirror-image - it makes it look like you're technologically-challenged, which is endearing but also completely erroneous." 
Heheh.  Oh well. 


GOOOOO BLUE!!!! 


-NL

Tinger's Corner: Meet Bookworm... and Grand Prize Revealed!

And.... hello!  Tinger here, with the latest installment of "Tinger's Corner: Perspective from Down Below by a Finger-Length Toe."

You may already know today's featured guest.... but if not, I'd like to introduce you to Bookworm.  

He is the keeper of the Letter Tile Library in a highly recommended iPhone App, also named Bookworm!  It's basically a word game that combines the general ideas behind Tetris and Boggle... and results in hours of fun!   All you have to do is find words within a screen full of letter tiles.  Touch the words, and the letters clear away.... giving you points based on word-length and letter difficulty... and allowing new letters to drop onto the screen.  If you identify an amazing word, you'll get special bonus tiles... (see the green, yellow, and blue-gem tiles below).  These tiles increase the point value of any word you make with them.  (The last time I got the coveted blue-gem tile was for the word Pedagogical.  It was riveting!!)  And every once in a while, Bookworm will give you the definition for a word that you've made.... so you can beef up your vocab while you play!  

Why are some of the tiles on fire, you ask?  Those are the much feared Danger Tiles.  If you allow them to get all the way to the bottom of the screen without putting them into a word.... they will set the whole letter-library on fire!!  And your game will be over!  

My only gripe about this game is that it doesn't accept some words that are CLEARLY words.  Such as:

1. Dork  (If there's no such thing as a dork, then why did I suffer so much through high school?)

2. Skeeze ("Did you see that guy staring at your butt?  What a skeeze.")

3. And finally... Jewy ("Nania's friends Stefanie Spiegel and Lauren Silver love tchotchkes, dreidels, and bagels with lots of smear. They are so Jewy.)   My apologies if this offends any of our Jewish Readers, but I'm fairly certain Stef and Lauren would be proud to be included in this sentence.

Although these egregious oversights are quite bothersome, Bookworm makes it up to us by accepting the following words:

1. Fug ("Look at what that girl is wearing.  It's totally fug.")

2. And... Nan ("I love being a staff writer at The Nan Stop.")

So if you play Bookworm, or decide to purchase it... please feel free to share your successes with us!  Snap a picture of an amazing word you've highlighted right before submitting it... or of a high score.... and we will post it in an upcoming installment of Tinger's Corner!  

I'd like to conclude this entry by revealing the prize that Dana Holcman received for winning our first Tinger's Corner contest! In addition to her personalized post, she also received an autographed photo of me, entitled, "Oops, I Did It Again!"  As you can see, I also included my one-of-a-kind blue "T" hat.  Here is a photo of the prize clipped to Dana's refrigerator....(next to her UofM football tickets!)

That's all for today!  Enjoy your Thursdays, and thanks for reading!  - Tinger

Thank You Workshoppers, And Bosley!

Good Morning, Readers! Last night, I had my novel excerpt workshopped! I would give you all the gritty details, but along with having over 23 pages of feedback to sort through from my fellow workshoppers, I also have to prepare a presentation for my Asian Lit Seminar....(and I barely understand the two articles I'm supposed to be presenting, so it's going to be a total Gong Show.)

I'll tell you really quickly, though, that after writing the first three chapters of my novel, I suddenly felt stuck. Like something was weighing it down, making it difficult to write, and I couldn't figure out what it was. Enter, UofM workshoppers. Honestly... some of the best and smartest readers I've ever had look at my writing. (And I'm not just saying that to be kind, because none of them even know I write a blog.) So, I was thinking that my novel project was dead in the water.... but it has been resurrected!! I got a lot of positive feedback, but TONS of suggestions for how to improve it.... yes, there were uncomfortable moments, as there inevitably are when you're critiquing another's work... but everyone was tactful, thoughtful, and most of all, helpful. So this writer is off to write!

I'll leave you with a message from one of our sponsors.... Bosley Hair Restoration. Enjoy your Tuesdays! -NL

What's Cookin', Acceptable Lookin?

Here are two of my favorite things to eat these days.  Super Easy and on the healthier side.  (No, I'm not traditionally a health nut... I tend to go through phases.  So right now, I'm in a phase.)

Breakfast:  Greek Yogurt Parfait
I'm a big fan of greek yogurt, because it's creamy and delicious, and pairs well with so many different fruits.  Also, despite the fact that its texture is very rich.... it is completely non-fat, low in calories, and loaded with protein.  (Some brands pack in 22 grams of protein per serving!!)  Here are the most basic ingredients I suggest for this parfait:

1. Non-fat, plain Greek Yogurt.  My recommended brands are Chobani & Fage.  (Fage has a little more bitterness to it... so if you're new to Greek Yogurt, I would start with Chobani.)  Brands to avoid: Dannon & Yoplait.  They are cheap unpleasant knock-offs of more reputable, higher-quality brands.  Dannon especially has a subtle grainy texture that really put a bee in my bonnet.

2. Fresh Fruit.  (Many brands -- including Chobani -- manufacture single serving yogurts with the fruit pre-mixed.  I find the fresh fruit option much more delicious).  Below, you see a bowl full of strawberries... as an ode to the end of strawberry season!  Goodbye until next summer, Strawberries that I love!  Other delicious suggestions: Cantaloupe, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi.... or all of these fruits combined!  Fruit to avoid in this receipe: bananas. The sweeter the fruit, the better the outcome. 

 3. Some people add nuts to amp up the protein, fiber, and flavor... but my next suggestion it for those of you who find Greek Yogurt to be a bit too bitter for your taste.  Pure Clover Honey.... just add a little teaspoon, mix it in, and ta-da.... you've successfully neutralized that "bite" of Greek yogurt that you don't particularly care for!

Just putting these items together is easy!  Simply put the yogurt in a bowl, then line the strawberries up for slaughter....

[Slaughter portion has been censored for our younger readers.]
Then, add them to the yogurt, and top with honey!

Voila!  And you can't make excuses for skipping a healthy part of your breakfast when it's this easy!

Lunch: Cobb Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
The dressing is the real star of this recipe.  You're all probably familiar with our friend, The Cobb Salad: Romaine lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, turkey bacon or regular bacon, avocado, tomato, onion, and whatever else you like!  Throw it in a bowl and, to quote Emeril Lagasse...Bam!

So let's get to the Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing (from Epicurious.com):
A lot of people eat salads in an effort to be healthy.  But what can make the whole thing a wash?  Really fattening, unhealthy dressing.  If you actually read the label on some of these creamy additives... you'll find hydrogenated oils, loads of preservatives, the ever ubiquitous Xanthum Gum.  They also add artificial coloring!  What color are they adding?  Beige?  So here is a really easy dressing recipe from the people at Epicurious that very easy and quite delicious!

Combine in a bowl:
1/2 cup nonfat Greek Yogurt (really, this stuff is magical.)
1/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1/4 cup organic reduced-fat mayo (the non-organic kind has the same scary stuff we're trying to avoid.)
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese.... (or however much you want, really.)
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar (I recommend upping this amount to 4 for extra flavor.)
1/8 teaspoon salt
And then salt and pepper to taste
You can also add minced onions, chives, or anything else that suits your fancy!   And see, no added color and it's still a very nice-looking dressing.  Put a few spoonfuls of this on your Cobb Salad and enjoy!

Oh, while we're discussing food.... people have been asking about Gordon LaChance.  Where's he been?  Darn good question!  And here's my answer:

Two words: New Girlfriend.  SIGH.  After one successful posting and a very well-run Tinger's Corner Contest, the guy swings by Borders and meets this broad.  I haven't met her yet....he's supposed to bring her over this weekend.... so I'll reserve my judgments. But basically, Gordon has been neglecting his responsibilities at The Nan Stop, or proposing that I post his poorly-written love poems to Ms. Food Face. So basically, the guy is on voluntary leave until our next staff meeting.  

It ain't easy being a Managing Editor of this blog, I tell ya. 

-NL

Fall Into October With Dana!

Ladies and Gentle-readers, It is my pleasure to introduce you to the WINNER of our very first Tinger's Corner Contest!!  Dana Holcman!!  Dana... this is your post!

Here are two photos of Dana with her big brother, Brad.  One, from childhood, and the other, from when they are all grown!! 

 

As you can see, they are loving and loyally devoted siblings and have been all their lives.  

Also, they are Michigan graduates and remain big fans!  Go Blue!!

Dana and I met and became good friends during our days at Walled Lake Western High School, where we both actively participated in Student Council.  Dana was also a member of Ski Club and was on the Tennis Team.  Here, I shall recall a conversation I once had with Dana about playing Tennis:

Nania: Hey, Dana.  You're good at tennis, right?

Dana: Well, I mean. I'm okay.

Nania: Cool.  I really want to learn tennis.  Will you play with me some time?

Dana: No.

Nania: What? 

Dana:  No.  

Nania: Oh.  Why not?

Dana: Because I like to actually play.  When you play with someone who doesn't know what they are doing, you don't actually get to play.  It's boring. 

Nania: Oh. Well, I thought you just said you're only "okay" at tennis.

Dana: I was just being modest.

Nania: Oh.  Okay.  See you in Calculus.

Dana: Cool. See ya. 

Dana, you may not recall this conversation, but it is quite possibly one of my favorite high school interactions, and I laugh quite a bit whenever I think back on it. My readers who don't know Dana may be thinking, "Oh.  This Dana girl is kind of mean!"  You couldn't be more wrong!  She is actually exceedingly nice, good-humored, universally well-liked by everyone who meets her... just straight-forward.  This is one of my favorite things about Dana... she is refreshingly honest, goes directly from point A to point B, and you always know where you stand with her.  I mean, if Dana hadn't just come out and said, "I don't play tennis with beginners," she and I would likely have gone through a series of awkward phone conversations and hallway interactions where I persistently asked her about playing tennis together and she persistently changed the subject.  

And if we ever did end up playing, Dana would have likely stood there patiently as I ran to and fro without being able to return a single serve, dodged tennis balls, and then tired-out after 20 minutes.

Instead, we were able to devote that time to doing things we both enjoyed.  Like eating delicious food, doing stuff for student council, and calling each other names. 

Nania Lee-Head Pee-Head, is one of my favorites. 

Dana currently lives in Chicago, IL, and works at a.... job.  I would tell you what she does, but despite the fact that she dedicated a good amount of time explaining it to me in clearly and with visual aids (I'm not kidding), I'm still not exactly sure what it is.  It's very fancy, businessy, and I guarantee she is excellent at it.  She also enjoys playing on an intramural kickball team called, "Kicki-Longstocking."  Her former team name was "Greenorrhea." Hahhah. Personally, I like the former better.

Here are some more pics of Dana:

Having a Good Ski.

Enjoying Las Vegas with Toni Braxton.

Getting Called Out for a Knock-Off Purchase.

And of course, here with Doogie Howser.

Now, I would like to introduce everybody's favorite Maltese Poodle Mix.... ROOKIE!!  Whoo!!! This is Dana's dog.  I would go on and on about how adorable and hilarious he is, but I shall let the photos speak for themselves. 

DOGGIE SPECS: ARF!

Full Name: Rookie Holcman

Date of Birth: December 12, 2004

Age: 5, soon to be 6. 

Place of Birth: Long Beach, CA.  As you can see, he has Long Beach in his blood -- as he is very chill and summer-loving. 

Oh, Rookie is also cleans up nicely.  (Notice the round-headed grooming that Dana has selected for him.) When he is not out enjoying the cool breeze of an afternoon car ride, he is quite chic and sophisticated:

Rookie's Hobbies: Eating Dingo Rawhides, playing fetch, hanging out with his doggie friends, and also playing with his favorite Monkey, Meshugeneh. (Sound that out.  Ma-shoog-in-uh!  Ha.) In the photo below, Dana seems to be under the impression that Rookie is "playing" with his friends.  Clearly, she walked in on some sort of Doggie Council Meeting and they are just trying to play it off.

I can basically guarantee you that the little dog up front is sitting on a note pad of some kind. 

Finally, here is Rookie's Senior Picture.  Senior from what?  I'm not sure:

Hail to the Victors, Rookie!!

I shall end this post with some very pressing interview questions that I posed to Dana via email.  That way, she will get to end this entry in her own words!  

(So as for me, I'd just like to once again thank Dana and all of the kind participants for entering this first Tinger's Corner Contest!  There will certainly be more contests to come!  Happy Friday!)

1. Dana, what is your favorite Television Show? This is tough. I love TV. When I was younger, Saved By The Bell. College years-Dawsons Creek. Now-Modern Family, How I Met Your Mother, Friday Night Lights, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, So You Think You Can Dance.

2. What is the most delicious meal you've eaten recently?: Actually last week when my Dad was here. We went to Mercadito-wonderful tacos and guacamole. Then the next night had an amazing 9 course dinner at Sunda. We particularly enjoyed their crispy cauliflower side dish and crispy brussel sprout salad. 

3: Would you rather have a bellybutton that dispenses ketchup or a nostril that could sharpen pencils? Easy-bellybutton dispensing ketchup. Who uses pencils these days? Plus, I have chicken scratch handwriting so they'd be of no use to me. :)

4. Since this is a writerly blog, please tell me....what is/are your favorite book/books? The Bible. Just Kidding! Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, Eloise by Kay Thompson & Angelina Ballerina by Katharine Holabird, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and right now I'm reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein which I'm loving so far.

5.  When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? I believe it was a bus driver - no joke.

6. Finally, anything else that you would like the Nan Stoppers to know about you? I feel blessed to have such great friends and family in my life and can't wait to be an aunt in January. Oh! And, my birthday is April 27- gifts are welcome.

-NL