February Radio Playlists 2014





The name of the show: Blackbeard's Delight
Your host: Prof. Kitty
The station: WVEW 107.7 Brattleboro, VT


February 6, 2014: 80s Nite!!
  • I'll Wait: Van Halen
  • Destination Unknown: Missing Persons
  • Union of the Snake: Duran Duran
  • Oh Sherrie: Steve Perry
  • The Perfect Kiss: New Order
  • Stray Cat Strut: Stray Cats
  • The Sun Always Shines on TV: a-ha
  • Gold: Spandua Ballet
  • Livin' on a Prayer: Bon Jovi
  • You Spin Me Round (Like a Record): Dead or Alive
  • Life in One Day: Howard Jones
  • Material Girl: Madonna
  • I Would Die 4 U: Prince

February 13, 2014: "Words of Love"
  •  Sentimental Love: Elevator Drops
  • My Little Red Book: Love
  • Love is the Drug: Roxy Music
  • Love Cats: The Cure
  • You Are What You Love: Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins
  • Let Your Love Grow Tall: Passion Pit
  • Love Will Tear Us Apart: Joy Division
  • Hearts on Fire: Cut Copy
  • Whole Lotta Love: Led Zeppelin
  • Heart of Glass: Blondie
  • Hearts & Bones: Paul Simon
  • Are You Ready to Be Heart Broken?: Lloyd Cole
  • True Love Travels on a Gravel Road: The Afghan Whigs
  • Words of Love: Mamas & the Papas

February 20, 2014: "Disco Revolution"
  •  Do It Rock Steady: Spyce
  • Knock on Wood: Amii Stweart
  • Good Times: Chic
  • I Love the Night Life: Alicia Bridges
  • Voulez-Vous: Abba
  • Hot Stuff: Donna Summer
  • Open Sesame: Kool & the Gang
  • Love Train: O'Jays
  • Come On Let's Do It (Let's Rock): T.J. Johnson
  • You're My First, My Last, My Everything: Barry White
  • You Should Be Dancing: The BeeGees
  • Inch by Inch: Persia

February 27, 2014 "OLD Old School"
  • Old Devil Moon: Hal McCusick
  • O.G.D. (aka Road Song): Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
  • Yard Dog Mazurka: American Jazz Orchestra "The Music of Jimmie Lunceford"
  • So Near & Yet So Far: Bobby Short
  • I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket: Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
  • Straighten Up & Fly Right: Nat "King" Cole Trio
  • The Comeback: Joe Williams & Count Basie
  • I Ain't Got Nobody: Butch Thompson
  • Poor Butterfly: Terry Gibbs Buddy Defranco Herb Ellis Sextet
  • Embraceable You: Dizzy Gillespie
  • Rumpus in Richmond: Duke Ellington
  • Phantomesque: Coleman Hawkins
  • Sister Sadie: Horace Silver

Sichuan Chili Oil

Here's a Bon Appetit recipe I made: Sichuan Chili Oil. It is deeelicious. I always ask for chili oil when I'm out for dim sum. This tastes a little different, but lovely to have at my disposal.



I got this little box of Sichuan Peppercorns last winter on my trip to Santa Fe. It's the one exotic thing I could think of to seek at Whole Foods. They had it. It's been a little banged around in the cupboard over the months.



The recipe calls for a ton of Sichuan peppercorns and even more hot pepper flakes. Since I only had a tiny bag of the peppercorns (which are apparently not pepper/capsicum at all, it's a misnomer), I guessed the ratio of pepper flakes... a few scoops from the bulk bin.



The other part of the recipe is an infused oil, simmered for hours with spices, ginger, and garlic.



The two dry ingredients mixed together, ready for a hot oil bath. There's also some salt and soy sauce involved at this point.



The infused oil is added. Mine didn't foam up, which the recipe suggested was a good sign. Bah!



Leftover spices.



The chili oil is good! I store the oil in a dedicated mason jar in the fridge, and I love mixing it with some Shoyu for dipping or drizzling. It does have a very distinctive flavor, so I use it only in items I really want to taste like Sichuan peppercorns. These include ramen and Trader Joe's Gyoza.


Pork Gyoza Potstickers from Trader Joe's. Only 6 minutes from frozen to plate!
Homemade condiments are exciting, don't you think? Do you like chili oil? It's one of those things I never imagined could be made at home. Like shoes.

Cold-weather running: New equipment!

Last month I did one of my Sunday long runs on a treadmill, and it was long. Really long. It took me over 100 minutes. I know this because the treadmill shut down after 99 minutes (I don't think it can handle the extra digit), and I still wasn't done yet. (I ran 10 miles total.)

Treadmill access is wonderful when there is no other option, as was the case that day. But since that experience I am VERY motivated to do Sunday runs outside whenever I can. To help make this more likely, I bought a pair of Yaktrax to go right over my shoes and help me get traction despite snow and ice.

So the next Sunday rolls around, and it's gorgeous--sunny, crisp, and 13 degrees. It's the perfect day to try a winter long run outside.



Here are my winter "extras." Neck gaiter (white thing), face mask (black thing), running gloves (blue thing), floppy hat (purple thing) and Yaktrax. Yeah, this picture is kind of upside down.



The Yaktrax Pro model has a "performance strap" that goes over the foot and keeps the thing on for sure. It's a pretty tight fit anyway, but the hook-and-loop strap means no worries about throwing a shoe, so to speak.


The coils on the bottom are neat. They have enough give and flex so they squish down with each step. I could barely feel them. The diamond design seems perfect for maximum traction at just the right points, and I did feel quite confident on snow and ice (as their web site promises). I ran 9 miles total without a hitch.


The conditions that day seemed perfect for an inaugural run. The sidewalk was about 80% snow and ice, so lots of chances to seek the best traction. I'm not sure how well the Yaktrax generally work on plain pavement (it is not recommended in the box insert). If it were closer to 40% ice patches, I would probably forgo the Yaktrax.


While I'm on the topic, here are a few other things I've picked up while researching winter running:
  • Helpful tip for layering: Think of 60˚F as the baseline for one layer. For every 20˚ below that, add a layer. Today at 13˚ I wore 3 layers on top--wicking thermal long underwear, a technical T, and a jacket. On the bottom I wore running capris, super-warm socks pulled up to meet the capris, and full-length running pants over both (2 layers).
  • I like to wear a neck gaiter, such as Turtle Fur (made in Vermont!). It's less fiddly than a scarf and can be pulled up over mouth & nose if needed.
  • I wear a face mask below 20˚... otherwise I seem to get asthma. I also wear a floppy knit hat that pulls right down over my ears and hair. The result--only my eyes and the bridge of my nose are showing during a super-cold run.
Do you have special cold weather rituals or gear? If you live in warm weather, please enjoy it extra for me today!