Thursday, November 30, 2006
Thirty Days of NaBloPoMo and I still haven't put my button up yet.
Well, here we are. November 30th. THE LAST DAY OF NABLOPOMO. Hey, Fussy. It's been real, and it's been fun, but...shit fire, am I glad it's over! My only regret is that I didn't blog drunk, not even once. I guess there's always next year.
I am now planning on taking a few days off from the blog. I haven't had much time to actually read other people's blogs lately, and I'm dying to find out what's happening with all my favorite bloggers. And also, have I mentioned that I still have nine little Christmas knits to complete? And oh, yeah. There's that little thing I like to put off until December 23rd called Christmas shopping. I should really go ahead and start that.
Is it just me or does time begin accelerating right after Thanksgiving?
I hope everyone has enjoyed my attempts at daily writing. Although now that I'm thinking of it, some drunk writing might have really been nice addition. Anyone up for NaDruBloPoMo next year? Anyone?
I am now planning on taking a few days off from the blog. I haven't had much time to actually read other people's blogs lately, and I'm dying to find out what's happening with all my favorite bloggers. And also, have I mentioned that I still have nine little Christmas knits to complete? And oh, yeah. There's that little thing I like to put off until December 23rd called Christmas shopping. I should really go ahead and start that.
Is it just me or does time begin accelerating right after Thanksgiving?
I hope everyone has enjoyed my attempts at daily writing. Although now that I'm thinking of it, some drunk writing might have really been nice addition. Anyone up for NaDruBloPoMo next year? Anyone?
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
The Weatherman
I have not had a television since 2000. I have really enjoyed the liberation from TV, and I have my computer for watching movies and episodes of Lost. (I can give up the TV, y'all, but I can't give up the Lost). But because I don't have a television, I also don't have the evening news, which means I also don't have the weather on the evening news. Sure, I could just check the weather online, but I faced the fact long ago that I just won't remember to do it. I never think about the weather until I step outside and experience it myself.
In the last six years, my mother has become my own personal weatherman. Tired of seeing me show up in a T-shirt in thirty-degree weather, sheepishly saying, "Who knew the temperature was going to drop?", she has taken it upon herself to call me whenever there is a drastic change in the weather. This being Oklahoma, I get these calls quite frequently.
Last night, she called me to tell me about the winter storm blowing in. And to tell me to wear a coat ("I will, Mom."). And to remind me to put my ice scraper in my car ("It's already there, Mom.") And to tell me that I should unscrew the water hoses from the house ("Um. I'll be sure to have Rick do that, Mom.").
Before hanging up, she said, "I feel like there's something else I should warn you about, but I can't remember it right now."
That's my mom. She probably hoped she'd raise a kid smart enough to own a TV, if for no other reason than to know what tomorrow's weather will be, but she sticks with me anyway. No matter how old I get, she's always looking out for me. Even when I don't want her to. Even when we don't see eye to eye. She's a fantastic mother and my best friend. And I can always count on her getting my back.
In the last six years, my mother has become my own personal weatherman. Tired of seeing me show up in a T-shirt in thirty-degree weather, sheepishly saying, "Who knew the temperature was going to drop?", she has taken it upon herself to call me whenever there is a drastic change in the weather. This being Oklahoma, I get these calls quite frequently.
Last night, she called me to tell me about the winter storm blowing in. And to tell me to wear a coat ("I will, Mom."). And to remind me to put my ice scraper in my car ("It's already there, Mom.") And to tell me that I should unscrew the water hoses from the house ("Um. I'll be sure to have Rick do that, Mom.").
Before hanging up, she said, "I feel like there's something else I should warn you about, but I can't remember it right now."
That's my mom. She probably hoped she'd raise a kid smart enough to own a TV, if for no other reason than to know what tomorrow's weather will be, but she sticks with me anyway. No matter how old I get, she's always looking out for me. Even when I don't want her to. Even when we don't see eye to eye. She's a fantastic mother and my best friend. And I can always count on her getting my back.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The Power of Blog
A day after I posted about my new kitty running away, she came back. And last night, mere minutes after I blogged about my inability to make a bow, I had one. I may have preferred that my husband didn't show me up by tieing the bow himself in about, oh, five seconds. But still...
The blog provides. Perhaps I should complain about how I never win the lottery.
The blog provides. Perhaps I should complain about how I never win the lottery.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Ho ho ho.
I have just spent three hours trying to tie a large bow out of ribbon. The kind you would see on a pew at a wedding or in my case, on my Christmas tree.
Except that in my case, you won't be seeing it on my Christmas tree because I CAN'T DO IT. Three hours and fifteen Internet tutorials later, I am giving up.
Ten years ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me I would be upset at my lack of bow-making skills. In fact, I probably would have added, "Who do I look like? Martha fucking Stewart?"
Today, I have a very different perspective on the art of crafts. I have come to understand that you don't have to disregard the traditionally feminine arts to be a feminist. I now enjoy and take a great interest in a variety of crafty hobbies, from knitting to canning to soap-making. Someday, I would really like to learn to sew, to make quilts, to grow my own vegetables, and to make my own paper, among many other things.
But making bows out of ribbons? I'm leavin' that shit to Martha.
Except that in my case, you won't be seeing it on my Christmas tree because I CAN'T DO IT. Three hours and fifteen Internet tutorials later, I am giving up.
Ten years ago, I would have laughed if someone had told me I would be upset at my lack of bow-making skills. In fact, I probably would have added, "Who do I look like? Martha fucking Stewart?"
Today, I have a very different perspective on the art of crafts. I have come to understand that you don't have to disregard the traditionally feminine arts to be a feminist. I now enjoy and take a great interest in a variety of crafty hobbies, from knitting to canning to soap-making. Someday, I would really like to learn to sew, to make quilts, to grow my own vegetables, and to make my own paper, among many other things.
But making bows out of ribbons? I'm leavin' that shit to Martha.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Perfect Timing
I did not take a self-portrait today, but I did take several other pictures. Here's my favorite.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
A post a day makes my hair turn gray.
NaBloPoMo is almost over, and because I'm a glutton for punishment, I would now like to take a moment to reflect on what I have learned over the last month.
1) Writing a post a day is hard. Really hard.
2) Writing a good post is even harder. One of the reasons I signed up for this project was because I thought it would be a good impetus to think more about my writing, to say more with what I write. Instead, the exact opposite occurred. Faced with the same deadline every day, I have had less time to focus on the writing. I have just had to get it out there.
3) I don't like just getting it out there. I know there's a danger in editing yourself to death, but I happen to like my writing better with a little editing. As I re-read some of my posts from this month, I find myself thinking, "Oh, I meant to talk about such-and-such in that post." Maybe I would have remembered those points if I'd had time to edit.
4) Writing every day is not fun for me. I've never fancied myself a writer. I don't really even enjoy writing. So why do I have a blog? I think I've just now realized that though I don't enjoy writing, I do like to share stories. And since I'm not a particularly outgoing person, writing is a means of doing that. But presenting a story a day--me no like.
5) As I now spend quite a bit of my evening on the computer ("Oh, crap! I forgot I haven't blogged yet today!"), I find myself missing the things I usually do with that time: knitting, watching movies, reading, cooking. All right, all right, so I don't really spend time cooking. But I have really missed watching Rick cook my dinner every night.
6) Now that I think about it, maybe I can blame NaBloPoMo for the fact that my Christmas knitting is coming along so slowly. That's right. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am sick and tired of stockinette stitches.
7) Having two cats is completely different than having one cat. And while this may have nothing to do with NaBloPoMo, this last bit of knowledge, when repeated to myself as a mantra, has helped me retain my sanity more than any of NaBloPoMo's lessons combined.
Twenty-five posts down and five to go!
1) Writing a post a day is hard. Really hard.
2) Writing a good post is even harder. One of the reasons I signed up for this project was because I thought it would be a good impetus to think more about my writing, to say more with what I write. Instead, the exact opposite occurred. Faced with the same deadline every day, I have had less time to focus on the writing. I have just had to get it out there.
3) I don't like just getting it out there. I know there's a danger in editing yourself to death, but I happen to like my writing better with a little editing. As I re-read some of my posts from this month, I find myself thinking, "Oh, I meant to talk about such-and-such in that post." Maybe I would have remembered those points if I'd had time to edit.
4) Writing every day is not fun for me. I've never fancied myself a writer. I don't really even enjoy writing. So why do I have a blog? I think I've just now realized that though I don't enjoy writing, I do like to share stories. And since I'm not a particularly outgoing person, writing is a means of doing that. But presenting a story a day--me no like.
5) As I now spend quite a bit of my evening on the computer ("Oh, crap! I forgot I haven't blogged yet today!"), I find myself missing the things I usually do with that time: knitting, watching movies, reading, cooking. All right, all right, so I don't really spend time cooking. But I have really missed watching Rick cook my dinner every night.
6) Now that I think about it, maybe I can blame NaBloPoMo for the fact that my Christmas knitting is coming along so slowly. That's right. It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am sick and tired of stockinette stitches.
7) Having two cats is completely different than having one cat. And while this may have nothing to do with NaBloPoMo, this last bit of knowledge, when repeated to myself as a mantra, has helped me retain my sanity more than any of NaBloPoMo's lessons combined.
Twenty-five posts down and five to go!
Friday, November 24, 2006
It's probably a good thing I have to work today.
Rick, brave soul that he is, was the one to venture forth into the land of Crazy Shoppers today. I am happy to report that his adventure went much better than mine last year. Of course, his trajectory did not take him near Circuit City, which as far as I am concerned, is the true root of all evil.
Instead, Rick went to Academy to pick up a gift that we saw in yesterday's newspaper flyers. He reports that the gift we sought was not at all the hot item being purchased at Academy. The draw for the bulk of the customers appears to have been gun sheds. Storage closets for guns. Apparently, the price was very good and many people were buying three or four gun sheds.
Am I the only one a little frightened by this? Where have these people been keeping all these guns while waiting for the price for gun sheds to drop? I just hope the Academy shoppers didn't have to wait in line at Circuit City this morning is all I'm saying.
Instead, Rick went to Academy to pick up a gift that we saw in yesterday's newspaper flyers. He reports that the gift we sought was not at all the hot item being purchased at Academy. The draw for the bulk of the customers appears to have been gun sheds. Storage closets for guns. Apparently, the price was very good and many people were buying three or four gun sheds.
Am I the only one a little frightened by this? Where have these people been keeping all these guns while waiting for the price for gun sheds to drop? I just hope the Academy shoppers didn't have to wait in line at Circuit City this morning is all I'm saying.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
How quickly we turn.
A friendly game of Uno followed Thanksgiving dinner.
Step-dad: I love you.
Mom: Draw four.
Step-dad: I hate you.
Ah, family!
Step-dad: I love you.
Mom: Draw four.
Step-dad: I hate you.
Ah, family!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Cranberry Goodness
I love Thanksgiving. The planning and preparation. Cooking the night before. Getting up early and spending the entire day at my mom's. Everyone else arrives and leaves when they will, but I get there first and am the last to leave. It's always a great day.
Tonight I'll be making cranberry chutney, from a recipe handed down to me by my grandmother (the cute lady who knits baby blankets and makes a wicked peach cobbler)--so you know it's good! If you need a last minute recipe for a cranberry dish, try this one out. Over the years, I've had many requests for the recipe. And it's easy! You know if the Prairie Knitter (she who has never NOT burned rice and who finds peeling oranges quite taxing) can make it, anybody can.
Cranberry Ginger Chutney:
1 12-oz package fresh cranberries
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup orange juice
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 apple, chopped
1 tablespoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1 to 2 cups chopped pecans
Bring cranberries, sugar, and orange juice to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in celery, apple, orange rind, and ginger. Fold in pecans until blended, then place in bowl and cover. Refrigerate overnight or at least eight hours. Makes six cups.
Happy Thanksgiving! (Though I guess I'll be seeing you tomorrow--they may have let me off work for a day, but the NaBloPoMo--not so much).
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
My brain hurts.
I am really enjoying Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. The book starts out with the Big Bang and appears to be working it's way down (or up) the timeline. It's so much more than a science-oriented history book, though. It's presented more in the manner of, "How do these scientists figure this stuff out?" He not only presents the science that has been discovered over the centuries, but also how that science was done. It's all quite fascinating and presented in a manner that is easy to understand.
Or at least, most of it is easy to understand. As Bryson presents right at the beginning of the book, we can never truly understand some things. It will give you a headache to really contemplate the size of the universe, say, or the age of the Earth, or the distance between galaxies. We just can't grasp things of this scale.
We also can't comprehend the micro end of the scale. The tininess of the particles in everything. Bryson does try to help us, though. One of my favorite analogies that he presents is when he is trying to describe Avagadro's number. As you may remember from Chemistry (I certainly didn't), Avagadro's number is the number of molecules in approximately 2 grams of hydrogen gas. You'd imagine this to be a big number, right? After all, molecules are really tiny. But would you expect it to be roughly the number of popcorn kernels it would take to cover the United States to a depth of nine miles?
I love this book. But I think I need some Tylenol.
Or at least, most of it is easy to understand. As Bryson presents right at the beginning of the book, we can never truly understand some things. It will give you a headache to really contemplate the size of the universe, say, or the age of the Earth, or the distance between galaxies. We just can't grasp things of this scale.
We also can't comprehend the micro end of the scale. The tininess of the particles in everything. Bryson does try to help us, though. One of my favorite analogies that he presents is when he is trying to describe Avagadro's number. As you may remember from Chemistry (I certainly didn't), Avagadro's number is the number of molecules in approximately 2 grams of hydrogen gas. You'd imagine this to be a big number, right? After all, molecules are really tiny. But would you expect it to be roughly the number of popcorn kernels it would take to cover the United States to a depth of nine miles?
I love this book. But I think I need some Tylenol.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Fess Up Time
I did not see Happy Feet over the weekend. It just didn't happen. Which is probably a blessing in disguise, as it is possible that going to that movie this weekend could have made yet another case against having children.
(Can y'all see my list now? Reasons Not to Have Children #27: Happy Feet, November 2006.)
I was quite pouty about missing my Harry Potter trailer, so I am happy to announce to anyone who is interested that it is up and ready to be viewed. And because I didn't give Happy Feet any money, I'll direct you to the trailer on their site.
And yes, I've watched it about twenty times already. My excitement over seeing Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange is bordering on psychosis.
(Can y'all see my list now? Reasons Not to Have Children #27: Happy Feet, November 2006.)
I was quite pouty about missing my Harry Potter trailer, so I am happy to announce to anyone who is interested that it is up and ready to be viewed. And because I didn't give Happy Feet any money, I'll direct you to the trailer on their site.
And yes, I've watched it about twenty times already. My excitement over seeing Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange is bordering on psychosis.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Self-Portrait Sunday: Get a Haircut
I like to wear my hair really short. Shorter than most men, actually. I've been wearing my hair at various short lengths since I was fifteen years old and have found that I like the ultra-short best. Because, you know, it's fun to be called "Sir" by my blind elderly patients.I know it's time to get a haircut when my hair starts to touch my ears. I can't stand the feel of it! When my hair is in that in-between stage--too long to do anything with it but not yet time for a haircut--I often just get out whatever barrettes I can find and clip it down to my head. My hairdresser knows I'm in dire need for a haircut when I call her and say, "Well, Rebecca, I had to bring out the barrettes today."
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Motivation
This is my Grandma at Christmas Eve last year, modeling the OU scarf and hat I knit for her. She's a knitter from way back, and currently mostly enjoys knitting baby blankets. Sometimes she knits a baby blanket even when she doesn't know anyone who is pregnant, because she knows that eventually someone will be. Isn't she cute?I'm currently trying to motivate myself to finish this year's Christmas knits. I am knitting very small gifties from leftover yarns, and I thought they would not be very time consuming. But just as I finish one of the little buggers, I remember someone that I'd forgotten, and of course they need a little knitted gift, too. Couple this with the fact that each item is basically the same pattern, and I must admit that this year's batch of gifts have become a bit tedious.
I will persevere, though, because there are two fun parts to knitting Christmas presents. The first is seeing the recipient open your gift, particularly if they really appreciate it. That appreciation level usually quadruples if you've knitted for a fellow knitter, as most people can't comprehend why you spent sixty hours knitting a scarf when you could have just purchased one (and for cheaper, too!).
The second fun part about Christmas knitting is that once I'm done, I will pick something that is all for me. And it won't be from leftover yarn!
Friday, November 17, 2006
If only I were this dedicated to dieting.
Rick and I rarely go to the movies. We used to quite frequently, but as we get older, we become less and less tolerant of other people in the movie theater. The way I see it, I just paid eight or nine dollars to see a movie (for which I had to walk uphill in the snow--whoops! Wrong old fogey story. How the memory goes!)--I might as well be able to see the movie in peace. Without someone tapping their foot on the back of my chair. And definitely without someone nearby talking all through the movie. And if I see you talking on your cell phone, someone had better hold me back or I will rip it from your hands and throw it against the wall while laughing maniacally. Because, yes, this last bit here...this is a personal dream of mine.
It's probably a good thing that we usually decide to stay in and watch whatever Netflix recently sent us. So why am I going to go to the movies this weekend, one of the busiest weekends of the year for movies? And why would I go to an animated movie with many children in the audience, practically guaranteeing much talking out of turn, seat-kicking, and probably a couple of CRYING BABIES?
Because the teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be shown in front of Happy Feet, that's why. And I want to see that 54 seconds on the big screen at least once before resigning to watching downloaded versions on my little laptop for eight months.
We'd better get there early and get a seat on the back row.
It's probably a good thing that we usually decide to stay in and watch whatever Netflix recently sent us. So why am I going to go to the movies this weekend, one of the busiest weekends of the year for movies? And why would I go to an animated movie with many children in the audience, practically guaranteeing much talking out of turn, seat-kicking, and probably a couple of CRYING BABIES?
Because the teaser trailer for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will be shown in front of Happy Feet, that's why. And I want to see that 54 seconds on the big screen at least once before resigning to watching downloaded versions on my little laptop for eight months.
We'd better get there early and get a seat on the back row.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
NaBloPoMo is affecting my marriage.
So just now I invited Rick to sit by me and read what I'd written so far for tonight's post, knowing full well that he'd see my blank screen of doom. We sat for a moment. I began writing and after a few moments, Rick asked me what groceries we need for tomorrow.
I stopped typing and stared at him. "Are you kidding me? I finally got a little inspiration to write and you're interrupting me about groceries?"
Because, you know sweetie, I'm doing such important work here.
(And just so's you know, if you aren't still mad at me and you're reading this tomorrow...chocolate. I need lots and lots of chocolate.)
I stopped typing and stared at him. "Are you kidding me? I finally got a little inspiration to write and you're interrupting me about groceries?"
Because, you know sweetie, I'm doing such important work here.
(And just so's you know, if you aren't still mad at me and you're reading this tomorrow...chocolate. I need lots and lots of chocolate.)
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
How Many "To Knit" Lists Can A Girl Have?
I am a chronic list-maker. Give me a few minutes of down time, and I'll think up something to make a list of. Sometimes it's a grocery list. Sometimes it's a "to do" list. Sometimes it's a list of Things To Do For Our Ten Year Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony That Is So Not Likely To Happen Because It Would Cost More Money Than I Care to Spend. Y'all know.
I hope.
So in the spirit of outing oneself publicly, and at the risk of turning this month into NaLisPoMo, here is the embarrassing list of lists that I have created over the past year and a half. At least, the ones that were apparently worth saving in my Documents folder. Ahem.
Books To Read
Future Knits (doesn't this sound like a legitimate pattern book theme?)
Improvements to Make to the House
Questions to Ask Home Health Agencies
Ideas for Hand-Made Christmas Gifts
Knitting Plans 2006
Soap-Making Scents to Try
How to Organize the Dining Room
How to Organize the Living Room
How to Organize the Kitchen and Breakfast Nook
How to Organize the Utility Room
How to Organize the Hall Closet
(Okay, I need to take a break and ask a question here. How many of y'all are thinking that maybe if I'd spent half as much time cleaning my house as I did on these lists, I'd already be a bit more organized? Yeah. Me too.)
Things To Do Before I Die
Behr Paint Colors That I Like (you know, in case thinking about life and death gets too heavy)
Places I Want To Go in OKC
Workout Schedule: August 22 to September 30, 2005
Upcoming Church Schedule
Knitting Plans
Christmas List
My Christmas List (I can think about giving to OTHER PEOPLE for only so long)
Recipes To Try
Goals for the House 2007
Preliminary Plans for the Yard
Modified Knitting Plans 2006
OU Requirements: RN to BSN
Things I Could Spend Money on Right Now
and my personal favorite, which shows that I am always willing to share my talent of list-making with my loved ones:
Things for Rick To Do
I hope.
So in the spirit of outing oneself publicly, and at the risk of turning this month into NaLisPoMo, here is the embarrassing list of lists that I have created over the past year and a half. At least, the ones that were apparently worth saving in my Documents folder. Ahem.
Books To Read
Future Knits (doesn't this sound like a legitimate pattern book theme?)
Improvements to Make to the House
Questions to Ask Home Health Agencies
Ideas for Hand-Made Christmas Gifts
Knitting Plans 2006
Soap-Making Scents to Try
How to Organize the Dining Room
How to Organize the Living Room
How to Organize the Kitchen and Breakfast Nook
How to Organize the Utility Room
How to Organize the Hall Closet
(Okay, I need to take a break and ask a question here. How many of y'all are thinking that maybe if I'd spent half as much time cleaning my house as I did on these lists, I'd already be a bit more organized? Yeah. Me too.)
Things To Do Before I Die
Behr Paint Colors That I Like (you know, in case thinking about life and death gets too heavy)
Places I Want To Go in OKC
Workout Schedule: August 22 to September 30, 2005
Upcoming Church Schedule
Knitting Plans
Christmas List
My Christmas List (I can think about giving to OTHER PEOPLE for only so long)
Recipes To Try
Goals for the House 2007
Preliminary Plans for the Yard
Modified Knitting Plans 2006
OU Requirements: RN to BSN
Things I Could Spend Money on Right Now
and my personal favorite, which shows that I am always willing to share my talent of list-making with my loved ones:
Things for Rick To Do
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese...
My winnings from Fannie Pie's blog contest came in yesterday!
Three skeins of Noro Kujaku! First Suduko, now Kujaku. I'm quite international lately. :) I'm not sure what this Noro is destined to become, but for right now, it's sure pretty to look at.
Sue also included a lot of little prizes, including two pewter Harry Potter bookmarks (which will come in very handy for my re-reads before Book 7) and another bookmark which my husband promptly claimed for his own.
Librarians rock! Especially when they have to practically give away the answer to their own blog contest (in bold letters, no less), but still send the fibery prize anyway! Thanks, Fannie Pie!
Three skeins of Noro Kujaku! First Suduko, now Kujaku. I'm quite international lately. :) I'm not sure what this Noro is destined to become, but for right now, it's sure pretty to look at.Sue also included a lot of little prizes, including two pewter Harry Potter bookmarks (which will come in very handy for my re-reads before Book 7) and another bookmark which my husband promptly claimed for his own.
Librarians rock! Especially when they have to practically give away the answer to their own blog contest (in bold letters, no less), but still send the fibery prize anyway! Thanks, Fannie Pie!Monday, November 13, 2006
The World's Greatest Sandwich
Yesterday, Rick and I made the fried egg sandwich from the movie Spanglish. Adam Sandler plays a chef in the movie, and in one scene, he whips up a sandwich--a sandwich that has come to be known as The World's Greatest Sandwich. Spanglish is not a "food movie" (for those, I recommend Like Water for Chocolate, Eat Drink Man Woman, and Chocolat), but this scene left my mouth watering.
If you rent the movie, there is a great little DVD extra that takes you through the making of the sandwich. For months, I've been planning (and forgetting) to re-rent the movie just for that sandwich recipe. Then yesterday, it hit me. Duh! We have the internet! Someone has surely copied down the recipe and posted it somewhere.
I found the recipe here. We substituted veggie bacon for the real stuff, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly.
It was fantastic. Thank you, internet!
If you rent the movie, there is a great little DVD extra that takes you through the making of the sandwich. For months, I've been planning (and forgetting) to re-rent the movie just for that sandwich recipe. Then yesterday, it hit me. Duh! We have the internet! Someone has surely copied down the recipe and posted it somewhere.
I found the recipe here. We substituted veggie bacon for the real stuff, but otherwise followed the recipe exactly.
It was fantastic. Thank you, internet!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Self-Portrait Sunday: broken
When I was eight, my right pinky finger was broken in a tragic karate-chop accident at my elementary school. Standing in line for P.E., my friend and I were taking turns karate-chopping each other. The part where maybe I wasn't thinking too clearly was that I was allowing myself to be karate chopped by a boy who took karate lessons (boy, did my mom let me have it for that). After a few hits, SNAP! My pinky finger was hanging limply to the side.
Apparently, I didn't think too clearly as a child, period. Right after that happened, as my eyes filled with tears and the pain sunk in, my friend said, "Don't tell anyone! We'll be in trouble for playing in line!" And so I didn't tell anyone. I was so afraid of getting in trouble that I held the pain for the last two hours of school and all the way home on the bus.
When I got home, I was glad to see that my dad was there. I immediately broke into tears and explained what had happened. He, of course, was torn between finding the kid who had hurt me and taking me to the ER. Luckily, the ER won out. Unfortunately, however, the doctor who placed the cast did not set the bone correctly, and as you can see, I have had a deformed pinky ever since.
I can't bend it or straighten it all the way, but it is fun for grossing out squeamish people.
Apparently, I didn't think too clearly as a child, period. Right after that happened, as my eyes filled with tears and the pain sunk in, my friend said, "Don't tell anyone! We'll be in trouble for playing in line!" And so I didn't tell anyone. I was so afraid of getting in trouble that I held the pain for the last two hours of school and all the way home on the bus.
When I got home, I was glad to see that my dad was there. I immediately broke into tears and explained what had happened. He, of course, was torn between finding the kid who had hurt me and taking me to the ER. Luckily, the ER won out. Unfortunately, however, the doctor who placed the cast did not set the bone correctly, and as you can see, I have had a deformed pinky ever since.
I can't bend it or straighten it all the way, but it is fun for grossing out squeamish people.Saturday, November 11, 2006
I find that lists work well when you are feeling uninspired.
First day off in twelve days and what did I do:
--spent my first two waking hours in bed with a book
--contemplated cleaning house and doing laundry (but never did start)
--drank me some Tazo
--bought Los Tacos burritos and took them to mom's
--read all the gossip in the last four weeks of People magazine
--general hanging out with the fam
--worked my first Sudoku puzzle
--finished one of my Christmas knits
--started my period
That last one really sucked.
--spent my first two waking hours in bed with a book
--contemplated cleaning house and doing laundry (but never did start)
--drank me some Tazo
--bought Los Tacos burritos and took them to mom's
--read all the gossip in the last four weeks of People magazine
--general hanging out with the fam
--worked my first Sudoku puzzle
--finished one of my Christmas knits
--started my period
That last one really sucked.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Now, where did I last see her?
A couple days ago, I lost my wallet. I spent a frantic thirty minutes searching the house and the car for it before I absolutely had to leave for work. During the car ride, I frantically called Rick and relayed the message that "Oh my God, I left my wallet at the grocery store last night and right now as we speak our money and our identies are being stolen!!!!!"
Rick immediately called the bank to have my debit card deactivated, and I immediately found my wallet. In my car. While driving.
When I drove to the bank to re-activate my card, the customer service representative began laughing. Apparently, the employee who deactivates the card must leave a note describing why the card needed deactivating. The note attached to my account read, "Husband called to deactivate card on account of lost wife."
Whoops!
Rick immediately called the bank to have my debit card deactivated, and I immediately found my wallet. In my car. While driving.
When I drove to the bank to re-activate my card, the customer service representative began laughing. Apparently, the employee who deactivates the card must leave a note describing why the card needed deactivating. The note attached to my account read, "Husband called to deactivate card on account of lost wife."
Whoops!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Now if I could only knit on the job.
I just realized I never gave much of an update on how my new job as a home health nurse has been going. That's primarily because I made a conscious decision not to. If I learned one thing in nursing school, it's that HIPAA equals LAWSUIT. But I just wanted to let you know how things stand. So here it is. In list form.
1. I love working during the day and sleeping at night. I think it's been hard on Rick, who prefers, if given the chance, to spread himself out over an entire queen size bed. But I've been sleeping like a baby.
2. It's been a really strange adjustment to a totally different style of nursing. It's probably going to sound arrogant, but I'm used to being "the best" at my job. I'm used to being the one that co-workers go to for help, not the other way around. It's not bad, just different, and I think it's good for me to break free of my comfort zone.
3. Better pay means more yarn in my future. When Christmas is behind me. I mean, when I get my mojo again.
4. My fear about walking into a patient's house to be greeted by ten thousand cockroaches...has mercifully not happened....yet.
5. One of my favorite patients has Alzheimer's. I see her every day and she recognizes me, but doesn't know my name or that I'm a nurse. Every day when she sees me, she says in her thick southern accent, "I just LOVE your hair." Brightens my day each time.
1. I love working during the day and sleeping at night. I think it's been hard on Rick, who prefers, if given the chance, to spread himself out over an entire queen size bed. But I've been sleeping like a baby.
2. It's been a really strange adjustment to a totally different style of nursing. It's probably going to sound arrogant, but I'm used to being "the best" at my job. I'm used to being the one that co-workers go to for help, not the other way around. It's not bad, just different, and I think it's good for me to break free of my comfort zone.
3. Better pay means more yarn in my future. When Christmas is behind me. I mean, when I get my mojo again.
4. My fear about walking into a patient's house to be greeted by ten thousand cockroaches...has mercifully not happened....yet.
5. One of my favorite patients has Alzheimer's. I see her every day and she recognizes me, but doesn't know my name or that I'm a nurse. Every day when she sees me, she says in her thick southern accent, "I just LOVE your hair." Brightens my day each time.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A Harlot-inspired Election?
One of the outcomes of yesterday's election was a repeal of the ban on selling liquor on an election day. Oklahoma has some of the craziest liquor laws, and I'm glad to see this one go. I'd also like our grocery stores to be able to carry wine. Because I am prone to paranoia and conspiracy theories, I blame the oil and gas companies for that law: "They'll have to buy more gas if they have to drive to both the grocery store AND the liquor store!" The Yarn Harlot had an unfortunate run-in with the election day law back in July. I was so excited about our election yesterday that I sent her an email this morning:
Stephanie,
Thank you so much for coming to Oklahoma on your book tour last July. The Okie knitters had a blast listening to you speak and getting our books signed. Our only regret was that you had the misfortune of being in town on election day, and had to resort to drinking Budweiser due to our crazy liquor law that bans the sell of liquor on the day of an election.
I just wanted to let you know that after yesterday’s statewide election, the ban on selling liquor on election day has been repealed. The people of Oklahoma have spoken and we want to drink it up before/while/after we vote! So the next time you’re planning a trip to our state, you won’t need to plan around elections to get a decent drink.
I like to think that one of our legislators is a closet knitter who read about your predicament on your blog and decided then and there that (by God!) something needed to be done!
Katie
Stephanie,
Thank you so much for coming to Oklahoma on your book tour last July. The Okie knitters had a blast listening to you speak and getting our books signed. Our only regret was that you had the misfortune of being in town on election day, and had to resort to drinking Budweiser due to our crazy liquor law that bans the sell of liquor on the day of an election.
I just wanted to let you know that after yesterday’s statewide election, the ban on selling liquor on election day has been repealed. The people of Oklahoma have spoken and we want to drink it up before/while/after we vote! So the next time you’re planning a trip to our state, you won’t need to plan around elections to get a decent drink.
I like to think that one of our legislators is a closet knitter who read about your predicament on your blog and decided then and there that (by God!) something needed to be done!
Katie
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Hi again!
Two posts on one day? Am I an overachiever or what?
Actually, just a short thankful post tonight. I've had a good day today.
1. I voted. Voting always makes me feel good. I'm the dork you see that wears her "I Voted" sticker all day long.
2. One of my reserved books came in to the library today. A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. I've already laughed my way through the introduction.
3. Look who came home!
Actually, just a short thankful post tonight. I've had a good day today.
1. I voted. Voting always makes me feel good. I'm the dork you see that wears her "I Voted" sticker all day long.
2. One of my reserved books came in to the library today. A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. I've already laughed my way through the introduction.
3. Look who came home!
Loki is now properly documented in case of future prison breaks.
4. I'm currently enjoying a long evening of election coverage, which just happens to be one of my favorite spectator sports, right along with tornado-watching. And the news (I say the news like it's The News) is calling the race for governor in Oklahoma--Brad Henry wins! This excites me to no end considering his opponent once called global warming the greatest hoax ever played on the American people. Go Oklahoma!
Brace yourself, Loki. It's going to be a long night. 
Goober.
A snippet of the conversation at our home this morning:
"Gubanatorial. It sounds so silly."
"What's sillier is that it's not gubanatorial. It's gubernatorial."
"Are you serious? Or are you just trying to make me sound silly when I say GOOBER-natorial today?"
"Gubanatorial. It sounds so silly."
"What's sillier is that it's not gubanatorial. It's gubernatorial."
"Are you serious? Or are you just trying to make me sound silly when I say GOOBER-natorial today?"
Monday, November 06, 2006
Loki
About a week and a half ago, Rick and I took in a new kitty cat. She is a stray that we had been feeding off and on for a couple of months. When she came to us looking skinnier than ever and was then attacked by one of the neighborhood bully cats, I scooped her up and brought her inside.
She looks a lot like my Shiva, with gray hair where Shiva has black, and a little spotty nose. At first, Shiva and the new gray kitty did not get along at all. The last week and a half have been full of hissing, growling, side-swiping and chasing. The two had just started to get along well, until my terrible mistake today.
She looks a lot like my Shiva, with gray hair where Shiva has black, and a little spotty nose. At first, Shiva and the new gray kitty did not get along at all. The last week and a half have been full of hissing, growling, side-swiping and chasing. The two had just started to get along well, until my terrible mistake today.
Apparently, when I left the house this morning, I locked the door behind me but did not shut the door all the way. I came home to a wide open door. Thank God, Shiva was still inside, sleeping on the couch. Little Loki (who we'd finally named two days ago) was gone.
I haven't seen her at all tonight and feel just terrible. I had not purchased a collar and nametag for her yet, because we weren't sure if we would be keeping her. We were waiting to see if she and Shiva could live together relatively peacefully.
Two lessons learned today: Always (always!) make sure the door is closed. And if I ever bring in another pet, get a collar and nametag on them immediately.
I hope Loki will come back when she gets hungry enough, just as she has for the past couple months. In the meantime, I am certainly thankful my Shiva is still with me. It's amazing how she has worked her way into my heart over the last eight months. I've been hugging and squeezing poor little Shiva to death tonight.
Sorry for the depressing post. I didn't really feel like posting at all, but Rick suggested that I go ahead and write it all out. He was right (as usual). Here are a few pictures I managed to snap of her a couple days ago.
Thanks for listening. I'll let you know if she comes back.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Self-Portrait Sunday: red
Self-Portrait Sundays have suddenly taken on whole new meaning to me...they take up four posts out of thirty for NaBloPoMo!
There's not a whole lot of my "self" in this picture, but since I worked all weekend, this is all I got. I like the picture, and you do get to see that I bite my nails.
Speaking of nail-biting, I remember that on one of the Lord of the Rings movies, on the commentary maybe (Ding Ding Ding!!! Clue #314 that you are reading the blog of a DORK!), someone says that Elijah Wood is very brave for allowing a close-up of his nail-bitten hands. Brave? That's brave? Silly me, I thought things like fighting in a war, standing up for what you believe in, and crossing past a killer cricket to get to the toilet were brave.
Maybe I should have titled this photo "Bravery".
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Cannot. Turn off. The Randomizer.
The NaBloPoMo Randomizer is killing me. I should be writing this morning, not reading. But it's so fun to see what other folks are up to this month. This contraption, my friends, is like a big, sweet clove cigarette being offered to me after one too many drinks. Too tempting to pass by.
Kudos to the few knitblogs I have found on the Randomizer. These gals really rock. When they decided to write daily posts for a month, they didn't just freak out on October 31st and wonder what they were going to blog about. They have knitting projects out the wazzoo and are updating daily. Hardcore knitbloggers they are!
View Next Blog! View Next Blog! View Next Blog!
Kudos to the few knitblogs I have found on the Randomizer. These gals really rock. When they decided to write daily posts for a month, they didn't just freak out on October 31st and wonder what they were going to blog about. They have knitting projects out the wazzoo and are updating daily. Hardcore knitbloggers they are!
View Next Blog! View Next Blog! View Next Blog!
Friday, November 03, 2006
Cafe Pasqual's
On this week's program of The Splendid Table, Lynn Rosetto Kasper interviewed the owner of Cafe Pasqual's, a restaurant in Santa Fe where I had the pleasure of dining in October of 2005. Rick had gone to Santa Fe with a group of friends in 2004 to help persuade swing voters in New Mexico to vote for John Kerry. I'm not sure how many folks they affected (the state still went red in the end), but they did eat at this amazing restaurant, Cafe Pasqual's. Rick loved it enough that he wanted to take me back.
So last year, we went on a road trip to eat at Cafe Pasqual's. Oh sure, we pretended that we were vacationing in the Santa Fe mountains and that we were going to New Mexico for the Taos Wool Festival. And while we did do those things, we really went for the food.
Oh my god, the food. We both ordered (and I quote from the menu here) Organic Tofu Mole Enchiladas with Calabacitas, Cilantro Rice, and Grilled Banana. (Tha'ts mole as in moe-lay, not the garden pests that would probably be organic but not very tasty. I'm sure y'all knew that already but if you are reading this before your morning coffee, you might do a double take). I had never had mole sauce before but was instantly enlightened about why people love it. I was practically rendered speechless by the flavors of this food. When I did speak, it was to say, "Oh my god. Oh my god." It was a little like that scene in When Harry Met Sally (y'all know the one), except I wasn't faking. And while I was a good girl and did not light up a cigarette afterward, I did call my mother to let her know I'd just had the best meal of my life.
So last year, we went on a road trip to eat at Cafe Pasqual's. Oh sure, we pretended that we were vacationing in the Santa Fe mountains and that we were going to New Mexico for the Taos Wool Festival. And while we did do those things, we really went for the food.
Oh my god, the food. We both ordered (and I quote from the menu here) Organic Tofu Mole Enchiladas with Calabacitas, Cilantro Rice, and Grilled Banana. (Tha'ts mole as in moe-lay, not the garden pests that would probably be organic but not very tasty. I'm sure y'all knew that already but if you are reading this before your morning coffee, you might do a double take). I had never had mole sauce before but was instantly enlightened about why people love it. I was practically rendered speechless by the flavors of this food. When I did speak, it was to say, "Oh my god. Oh my god." It was a little like that scene in When Harry Met Sally (y'all know the one), except I wasn't faking. And while I was a good girl and did not light up a cigarette afterward, I did call my mother to let her know I'd just had the best meal of my life.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Enabler! Enabler!
A couple days ago the Nanda called me up and explained why she had not been blogging. "I have a secret and it involves you and every time I start to blog I want to blog about the secret." Then she refused to tell me what the secret was. Nanda is nothing if not mysterious. Exotic yet ordinary, indeed.
I discovered her secret yesterday, however, when the mailman delivered this wonderful gift:
Thank you thank you thank you! This isn't just any gift. This is the gift that will help me get through a month of daily blog postings. I have already flipped through the book and dog-eared several pages. Maggie's book has ideas for quick and easy (down and dirty?) posts, but also suggests ways of finding inspiration. This is a good thing for me, because A) I often become so distracted by the mundane parts of life (like the never-freakin'-ending piles and piles and PILES of laundry) that my imagination takes the back seat, and also B) Was that the buzzer on the dryer? What was I talking about?
The Nanda is such a supportive friend that she also emailed me a list of ideas, things she'd like to hear me talk about. What a gal. Nanda, do you think you'd mind continuing that service after NaBloPoMo ends? :)
Tonight I'm going to hunker down with my new book and my highlighter, along with some leftover Halloween candy and a cup of Tazo. Right after I watch last night's episode of Lost, of course.
I discovered her secret yesterday, however, when the mailman delivered this wonderful gift:
Thank you thank you thank you! This isn't just any gift. This is the gift that will help me get through a month of daily blog postings. I have already flipped through the book and dog-eared several pages. Maggie's book has ideas for quick and easy (down and dirty?) posts, but also suggests ways of finding inspiration. This is a good thing for me, because A) I often become so distracted by the mundane parts of life (like the never-freakin'-ending piles and piles and PILES of laundry) that my imagination takes the back seat, and also B) Was that the buzzer on the dryer? What was I talking about?The Nanda is such a supportive friend that she also emailed me a list of ideas, things she'd like to hear me talk about. What a gal. Nanda, do you think you'd mind continuing that service after NaBloPoMo ends? :)
Tonight I'm going to hunker down with my new book and my highlighter, along with some leftover Halloween candy and a cup of Tazo. Right after I watch last night's episode of Lost, of course.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
All I could say was, "Wow."
Last year, my favorite trick-or-treater was a kid who dressed up as a slice of pizza. This year, I hardly remember the costumes. My memory was obliviated when I opened the door to a grown man wearing a dress. Slung over the dress were a pair of pierced plastic breasts. I would give him an award for Tackiest Costume but I don't really know what his costume was.
