| My PayPal balance is growing |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|01:38 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  profiting | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Feast of Fools - FOF #885 - Chock Full of Nuts - 11.21.08 | ] |
I'm mercifully unhungover, despite my Amarula-and-Valium adventure last night. Yay!
Sold the Monsterbait: Underpants on eBay last night. Sad to see it go, but money is money, and right now, if I do get $150 from my mom's side of the family and $100 Amazon gift certificate from my dad (which is my usual holiday loot) I can get an Eee 1000HA outright! Also put the spare bottle of Chanukkiyah on eBay and added Te Po to my sales post, if any of you are interested.
I need to go to the post office to mail the Underpants, but I'm waiting on Maintenance to come fix my heater so I can't leave yet :( |
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| Let's Talk Turkey ... |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|11:57 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | recipes | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  lethargic | ] |
I dunno if you've ever brined your turkey before, but if you've not tried it that way it's worth the effort, believe me. It seems like a lot of work, but if you do it the night before Thanksgiving when you get up at whatever ungodly hour you have to get up to stick that bird in the oven, it's pretty much ready to stick in the oven and forget while you go back to bed and sleep for another hour. Also I've found when I brined my turkey, the meat is well seasoned and juicy all the way through.
Plus this recipe is Alton Brown's, and well, he's a food god. If I lived near Georgia, I'd stalk the man. But he really does know his food and this is a great recipe. Of course if you're a weirdo and allergic to sage you have to adjust it but still, it's good.
( Good Eats Roast Turkey )
Now the other big thing with turkey nowadays is deep frying. I would never try this because I am clumsy and can see myself tripping and frying a limb. Still it looks damn good and if you go to Alton's site here, you can download a PDF file on how to easily build a derrick so you can deep fry your turkey and not set your house on fire or burn any body parts. The episode of Good Eats this is from will also be on at 8:30 pm EST tonight and at 3:30 am EST tomorrow morning early. That's why I'm posting these recipes today, to give you the chance to buy the stuff you need before next Thursday.
( Deep-Fried Turkey )
Now for those of y'all with a grill, here's something so you can play with fire ... because it isn't Thanksgiving without second degree burns.
( Honey Brined Smoked Turkey )
Don't feel like doing all the fancy brining? Here's something a bit more traditional.
( Turkey and Stuffing )
Have lots of leftovers and are sick of turkey sandwiches?
( Turkey Re-Hash )
Now if you're like me, and there's only two people in your family, you really don't need to be cooking 14 pounds of turkey. So here's some ideas using turkey cutlets.
( Turkey Cutlets with Cranberry Orange Stuffing and Pan Gravy )
( Turkey Cutlets with Mushroom and Water Chestnut Stuffing and Pan Gravy )
Oh! I about forgot! Here's the gravy that goes with that first Turkey recipe up above.
( Best Gravy Ever )
There ya go! I'd post recipe for ham but I'm seriously allergic to pork so I have no idea what would be good or not. Oh, and all of these recipes, except for the two turkey cutlet ones, are Alton Brown approved. |
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| I went into the BIG Blue Box and enjoyed myself. |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|05:39 pm] |
The Big Blue Box is the new IKEA superstore that opened late last year in Coventry City Centre. I hadn't been before today to this or any IKEA store so it was a new experience for me.
Admittedly it was quite quiet as we arrived just around 12:30 on Friday and some times the crowds are horrendous according to her and other reports I had heard.
Naomi had a few specific things she needed to buy and we just wandered and went ooohh and ahhhh. She predicted I wouldn't be able to resist and would buy something before the day was out. indeed IKEA got me in the Market Hall.
I ended up buying a new wok, a lightweight laundry hamper, a candle holder and pack of 24 scented night lights and still had change from £15.00. Well impressed.
Looks like they have a range of bookshelves that would suit the house both in replacing those ready to collapse from age/too many books as well as some for the loft area that would allow the freeing up of space. Nice thing is the prices are comparable to what Crys and I originally paid quite a few years back so still affordable even in my new circumstances.
We had lunch there of Swedish meatballs and chips. Yummy. |
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| why why why |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|05:59 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  ditzy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Coast to Coast AM | ] |
I crawled off to bed around 1 am with 40mg of Valium and a few drinks under my belt and I woke up before 5 am WHAT THE FUCK.
Put my Monsterbait: Underpants up on eBay. Wondering if I should put the Chanukkiyah spare bottle up there as well.
Thankfully nothing from the BPTP update is tempting me. I am still wibbling over Candy Phoenix, though.
I have butterscotch/vanilla shots I got at Spec's... maybe I should have one... I'm in no mood to be clearheaded.
But I'm doing not so bad. Maintenance is supposed to come today to fix my lack of hot water in the kitchen (totally his fault), broken heater, and stiff backdoor lock (get your mind out of the gutter). My wrenched knee still hurts but it's not swollen or anything. I am looking grotesquely forward to getting an Eee. Falernum is tasty and makes me want to mix Tiki drinks. Cream of coconut, falernum, and a little spiced rum, what could go wrong?
Not having a blender, cream of coconut, or rum puts a cramp in that.
God, this entry makes me sound like a lush. |
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| dark moon chapter #3 question #1 |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|12:16 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
1. If I am aware of the Goddess herstory, do I think that women were innocent victims of the patriarchy's brutal aggression? Do I think that women must rise in anger to protest this injustice and to reclaim what was forcibly taken away from them? Do I perpetuate a tension between a victim and oppressor in my attitudes toward protecting myself against the potential threat of those who are more powerful?
First of all, I hate the term "herstory", along with the other linguistic abominations like "womyn". The word "history" comes from the ancient Greek "historia", meaning "a learning or knowing by inquiry" (source: wikipedia), what idiot could think that it contains the male possessive pronoun "his"? must be some braindead blonde bimbo! (just kidding ;) Reminds me on the joke: "Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mank ind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words- "mank" and "ind". What do these words mean ? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind." (Jack Handey)
Anyway, the words mean just what we want them to mean. I think if anyone is bothered by the patriarchal artefacts in the language, the easiest and the most appealing solution is to decide that "man" (and all the derivatives) is a neutral term which applies to both genders unless explicitly specified otherwise (which is the way it was originally intended). (I'm guilty, too, of using the expression s/he as a shorthand for "he or she", which should be absolutely unnecessary)
Back to the question. It sounds overdramatic and annoying, with all the emotion-inducing keywords like brutal aggression, victims/oppressors, anger and injustice, which try to present the human existence as the battle of sexes. I hate the concept of collective responsibility and taking sides in the conflict on the basis of random biological features which I had not chosen myself. I admire strong, motivated and successful people no matter who they are, and having a vagina doesn't make a person better or righter. (Personally, I prefer the ones with the penis, because, apart of the inspiration, they can be also made into the lust objects)
Well, of course feminism has its merits. There's no more female oppression in the Western world - is there really anything that a woman can't achieve? (at least if she's ready to devote herself to her career; if she prefers to pay most of the attention to the family, it's her own problem, and stop blaming the society for that, there are still biological differences between the genders, and many females are simply not suited to the same jobs as males; demanding the preferential treatment for women in all and any situations on the basis of past injuistices is pushing the pendulum to another direction.) And we owe all this progress to the feminist organizations fighting for the women's rights. (But then, it could've happened all by itself, as part of some natural cycle which the author of the book is so enamored with).
The Middle-Eastern world is the whole different matter, because it's dominated by the two most violent and obnoxious patriarchal religions - Islam and Judaism. I've mentioned previously that I couldn't care less what people believe as long as it satisfies their needs, but here's where I have to draw the line. These religions may be all fun and cool as a pop-culture fad, an exotic underground hobby, or even a form of minority protest - when the "oppressive" bits are not taken seriously and mitigated by the influence of the surrounding culture - but they're absolutely unbearable when in power. (Maybe it happens with every interesting idea when it gets the power) I don't know if anything at all can be salvaged there, a bunch of nukes seems to be really the best solution ;)
Back to the question (for some reason I'm unable to stay on topic). I'd be happy and content to be a fanatical fighter for a right cause - if I'll ever find a worthy one - feminism is just not it. I'm all for revenge on specific individuals who had committed specific crimes, e.g. fathers who rape their kids, or government members who adopt the anti-female laws. But I refuse to be a part of a generic female/male antagonism and to consider somebody an oppressor for the reason that they "potentially" can commit a crime, or their ancestors might have done it in the past. If I really want to be bigoted, I'll find some more fun and exciting palyground for that. |
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| Me and Alicebot reconciled? |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|07:59 am] |
I do have a lot to write about the past week and the cremation service held yesterday but that will come a little later.
I said to Rich a couple of days ago that continuing to post news items that Crys would have been excited about was a positive thing to do. So when I spotted this news article this morning, I considered it one .
Mile-thick glaciers found on Mars.
Oh and the title of this entry relates to this April 2002 post and exchange between me and ![[info]](http://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) marvo.
I have also tried to add marvo thee magnificent to my interests. I am not sure how many people have to add an interest before it becomes searchable. |
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| MOSTLY a nice afternoon/evening |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|08:40 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  high | ] |
So, got to hang with doombuggie this afternoon. Had an awesome time! We had a yummy meal at Jason's, some iced coffee at Epoch, hit Home Depot so he could get a watering can, went to Spec's (a big liquor/fancy foods store) for some goodies, HEB for some normal groceries, Walgreens for my Valium, and Earthbound for some crabs.
Wonderfully fun time, except in HEB, I saw my ex-husband... we walked right by him in the soda aisle. No words were exchanged, but I could tell he recognized me. Oh god oh god I am so glad I was not alone, or dressed schlumpily (I was rockin' a HolyClothing minidress and black leggings, which is my new favorite look). But oh god oh god oh god. I hadn't seen him since the divorce. I had thought that I would never see him again.
Well, after that we went to Walgreens and I downed two Valium right off. And when we were at Earthbound doombuggie got me a crab to cheer me up. The crab in question is now named Dib.
The Valium is kicking in nicely, I feel comfortably blurred around the edges. If I still feel upset I have Amarula to mix with hot chocolate, or Keke Beach Key Lime Cream to mix with milk. I also have lots of good chocolate. |
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| Ohhh, hell. |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|09:22 pm] |
I know I'm spamming, but I have to write this down before it disappears again. I think I have a theory as to what happened to FF7's world in Kingdom Hearts.
So, when Cloud gives Sephiroth the Black Materia in the Crater? That right there is when their world went to The Darkness. Rather than summon Meteor, Sephiroth summoned the Heartless and Cloud was right in the middle of it with his mind shattered: hence the wing, the meeting up with Hades, and the constant 'guilt guilt angst angst' mode he's in. (More so than he usually is, I mean.)
The problem with this, of course, is that Aeris was already an ex-Aeris by then, so here's where my theory skews a little AU: at the Temple of the Ancients, when Cloud freaks out and hands over the Black Materia and then attacks Aeris? I think Sephiroth was already half-gone to the Heartless by then, because basically Cloud keeps Aeris from running off on her own by injuring her too badly to travel. Guilt guilt, angst angst.
This is a fine note to be going to bed on. *headdesk* |
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| Hooray for days off. |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|08:52 pm] |
I'm not sure I approve of this blitzball business. I signed up for a menu combat RPG, not a sports sim. Besides, it took me something like six tries to do the Jecht Shot. Six times watching that damn ball smack into Cheetor Tidus's stupid face. I'm pretty sure I'm going to fail hard at this.
And another thing - why don't these people need to breathe!?
Gah. I'm going back to Okami. Things make much more sense when you can just pee on the demons and have done with it. |
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| Pepper fanmix! |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|02:18 pm] |
I was bored so I dicked around in photoshop and did up a fanmix for Pepper.
( Track pictures under here ) |
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| an idea |
[Nov. 21st, 2008|12:16 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
I've just invented a new method of epilation! which is burning the hair off with the candle flame. Don't know yet if it's more effective than shaving, in the long range (can't stand creams), but certainly more satisfying! Although there's always a temptation to overdo it... but I'm being good, heh. |
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| this is so not good, you can't even *see* good from here |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|11:40 am] |
So my Crazy Aunt Helen had emergency surgery this morning to repair a hole in her stomach caused by flu-inspired excessive and violent coughing. She's 94yo, if I'm remembering correctly. Normally, she's the healthiest of my immediate family; she walks everywhere in all but the most severe weather and just generally has enough energy to run me and LSO into the ground 3 times over. However, she's been dealing with the flu for almost a month now, and this last week she's been struggling with some nasty side effects from the meds her doctor prescribed for her, so she's pretty much wiped out.
Any good vibes, healing thoughts, and/or prayers you can spare are welcome and also probably needed.
I'll be over in the corner, fretting. |
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[Nov. 20th, 2008|09:08 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  happy | ] |
In reference to this comment...
No, you know what, the comment speaks for itself. So does the icon I'm using.
I'm kinda scared. So many good things. |
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| At least I'm not pregnant |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|08:40 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  anxious | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | Still torturing myself with New Moon | ] |
Yep, took a peace-of-mind piss test to make sure W. hadn't knocked me up, got a nice soothing negative.
More inspection bullshit today. A bit of googling found me a local advocacy group. This may prove necessary.
I want this calendar for 20089 very badly. We'll see how my finances stand at the end of the month. They have a nifty LED menorah too. |
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| *updates nano journal madly* |
[Nov. 20th, 2008|11:08 pm] |
I... have not been keeping up with my wordcount. At present I'm at 21k and I suspect this is going to morph from a nano to... an ongoing project mishmashed of third person scenes and autobiographical ramblings that doesn't really have much of a point.
Considering I already have the death scene(s) up (which are a bit squicky btw), which I was going to stick near the end of the nano. |
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| Yeah, I post a lot when I'm in a Mood. Deal. |
[Nov. 19th, 2008|11:57 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  blank | ] |
The thing about listening to any of the Twilight books in audio...
Every time someone says "Bella", I follow it up with "...Lugosi's dead".
Bug or feature?
I'm debating getting a rename token for i_am_an_hero. When I apped him, I didn't think he'd be more than a fringe cracky character, but now he's my fave of all the ones I play and he's made so much progress that having a mean 4chan joke about suicide for a username seems inappropriate. I dunno.
Ah well. Time for Coast to Coast and, I think, bed. |
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| The Founding Fathers are regretting that 'freedom of speech' business right about now. |
[Nov. 19th, 2008|09:57 pm] |
I seem to be growing an unhealthy love for crack RPF. I wonder if they make a pill for that.
Title: Aliens In the Desert
Fandom: Transformers (Movie) / RPF
Rating: G
Word Count: 569
Summary: Barack Obama has to adapt to strangeness pretty quickly in his chosen profession; then again, maybe these guys aren't so strange. Er, 'giant alien robots' notwithstanding.
( President-elect Barack Obama squinted over the tarmac... )
...Yes, I know I should be working on kinkfest. My brain, she does not always stay on the rails. |
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| Displacement |
[Nov. 19th, 2008|08:56 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  emo | ] |
Made a promise to doombuggie that I wouldn't self-injure through to the end of the year.
So I'm listening to the audiobook of New Moon instead. |
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lazy
embarrassed
recumbent
worried
artistic