| (no subject) |
[Dec. 25th, 2009|12:52 am] |
i've never made thumbprint cookies before, and i never eat them either, since i don't like berry jam. but the theory seemed like such a good one...
inspired by ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) sparkymonster's post, i decided to try making coraline-friendly thumbprint cookies.
( win! ) |
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| The plan survived first contact |
[Dec. 24th, 2009|02:58 pm] |
We have smelts instead of anchovies. We have white rice instead of wild. The buckwheat flour has some baking powder and salt in it. Other than that, it's all good.
I knew it intellectually, but it was still interesting to see up close and personal - one can get an itty-bitty jar of decent caviar for the same price one can get a whole suckling pig and three pheasants. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 23rd, 2009|09:39 pm] |
I love my family. My dad just told my mom the plan for tomorrow morning via interpretive dance. Posted via LiveJournal.app. |
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| Christmas dinner |
[Dec. 23rd, 2009|02:32 pm] |
Last year, Eletarius and Cat gave me The Nero Wolfe Cookbook for Christmas, and so this year's Christmas dinner will be cooked from recipes in that book.
There's an obvious menu: in Poison a la Carte, Fritz serves up a dinner for the Ten for Aristology's celebration of Brillat-Savarin's birthday. That menu is as follows:
blinis with sour cream
green turtle soup
flounder poached in white wine
mussel with mushroom sauce
roast pheasant
suckling pig
chestnut croquettes
salad with devil's rain dressing
cheese
There's several problems with this menu. First, I think that some of my guests would squig at eating turtle, even if I could find turtle meat. Second, "cheese" is actually a blended cheese pot construction that I should've started last week sometime if I wanted to serve it Friday. Third, Meredith wants cassoulet, and so Meredith gets cassoulet. Fourth, we have some vegetarians, and so need to beef up that part of the menu. :) And last, given that there are two big ticket items that I have never prepared before, trying a finicky fish dish is akin to wearing metal armor on a mountaintop during a lightning storm screaming out "All gods are bastards!". That sort of trouble I do not need on Christmas Day.
So I'm going to substitute an onion soup for green turtle, cassoulet and anchovies fritters for the flounder, and if I can find fresh figs, figs and cream for dessert. In addition, I'm going to add in a cucumber mousse, and artichokes drigante. And Marian is going to make bread.
If I'm feeling ambitious, I might also assay some walnut pudding. We'll see. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 23rd, 2009|11:19 am] |
"what's that?"
"my hair."
"no, what's THAT?"
"it's my hair. it's blue."
"fix that!"
no, kid, i don't think so...
(my 3-year-old nephew is ADORABLE.) |
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| there's a new computer in my future |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|10:32 am] |
I've been dithering about getting a new computer for a while now - the old G5 is getting to the point where it doesn't run new software (amazing the number of Mac programs with the label "require Intel processor" there are).
About a week ago, I started noticing pretty waves of purple bands, a computer generated aurora borealis, streaming across a variety of applications. It took me a bit unaware at first, since I thought it was just the precursor of things to come with the new Cataclysm release for World of Warcraft, but no, it happens on you-tube videos as well. That, plus the internal hard drive often grinds away before finding data, and the DVD drive has been a bit flaky for a while now, which means it is probably time to get a new computer.
I'm leaning towards the 27" display iMac. I guess the quad core Mac Pro, for $500 more (because I already have an adequate screen) is also in the running. I think the 8-core Mac Pro, at $1200 more, is not.
It's primarily a gaming platform, with some occasional programming projects. Anyone have something cogent to say about what I should get? (I don't know diddly about Windows, and don't propose to start at this late date, but feel free to proslytize for them if you like.) |
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| [curr ev] Iran Update |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|02:02 am] |
(Thank you NYT and BBC)
1) Montazeri has died.
2) In Qom.
3) And the seventh day after his death, the traditional day for a funeral correction: the second of a series of three mandatory traditional Shi'ite post-burial mourning rites falls on Ashura. (12/27 this year)
I... I just... Whoa. Whoa.
....I see no way in which this isn't like dropping a match in a gallon of gasoline... in a fireworks factory. |
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| [pshrinkery, MA] LMHC Regs Change FYI |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|12:32 am] |
Via MaMHCA, and right off The (Massachusetts) Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals web site, for anyone else in MA pursuing the LMHC:As of January 1, 2010 all licensure applications must include two professional references on forms furnished by the Board for such purpose. All applications will be updated to include the required form and instructions in the coming months. As a professor of mine once observed, "It's not like they're ever going to make it any easier to get."
I wonder if they have delimited "professional references" usefully. Yep. "Remainder of form to be completed by Approved Supervisor". This is what the form asks the reference, after getting the reference's name and license info:Length of time the reference has known the applicant: From____ To_____
Extent of knowledge of applicant's professional and ethical behavior:
[]Thorough []Moderate []Limited
Based on my experience, to the best of my knowledge, the applicant is an individual of good moral character: []yes []no.
(if no, please explain on a separate sheet)
Quality and extent of endorsement: []Without reservation []With reservation []No recommendation []I am cos
(If "with reservation" or "no recommendation", please explain on a separate sheet.)
Signature_________________ Date_______________ I am grimly amused to see the point of the exercise is to handle the "good moral character" clause of the M.G.L. establishing the Board's authorization to issue licenses. I am dying to know the story behind them suddenly (it being 20 years later) needing to have a formal way of establishing that. Looks like someone got sued. |
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| [MA, transit] Let me tell you about my commute today |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|11:42 pm] |
Incorporating new mail into inbox/mbta...
2173+U 12/21 06:23 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line experiencing 10-
2174 U 12/21 07:02 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line experiencing 10-
2175 U 12/21 10:11 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line experiencing 10-
2176 U 12/21 10:45 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line experiencing 10-
2177 U 12/21 10:47 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line experiencing 10-
2178 U 12/21 12:00 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line service is on or
2179 U 12/21 17:10 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Attention Red Line custo
2180 U 12/21 18:20 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line service is on or
2181 U 12/21 18:29 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Attention Red Line Custom
2182 U 12/21 18:39 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Attention Red Line Custom
2183 U 12/21 19:17 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line service is exper
2184 U 12/21 19:40 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Attention Red Line Custom
2185 U 12/21 20:39 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Attention Red Line Custom
2186 U 12/21 20:56 "T-Alerts Notific Red Line Alert<<Red Line service is on or
For the record, my morning commute is typically 10am-11am or so, and I leave the office around 7pm or so. It's like it can tell. |
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| amusing |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|11:25 pm] |
I just became amused by the thought that my two favorite Christmas songs are:
The Fairytale of New York - Pogues
Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Just thought I would share my amusement.
Also it was a less than wise idea to start making bread at 10:45 at night. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|02:46 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  busy | ] |
The house is clean, the laundry done, the luggage almost packed, the dog is at the kennel (and thrilled about it, the carry on bags are happily packed with diapers and other baby related products.
My last gift from Nathan arrived today and turned out to be a 14lb kettle bell! Oh it is so wonderful!
I can't wait to try it out tonight. Another one of my 101 to cross off! master list
I also got a new battery for my lap top. Now it is actually holding a charge again!
The seed and plant catalogs are arriving in full force now. I love to look at them. I also hope to try a CSA this year as well. I like the idea of being able to try new things I may not have considered otherwise. |
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| Dies natalis solis invicti! |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|12:47 pm] |
Well, I'm far behind on updating about anything, but as it's the astronomical new year... now, I guess it's a good time to write at least a little.
I kept meaning to mention that I got a new job, but not actually getting around to it, so here you are: I am just starting my fourth week at Sonicbids, a web-based company to get bands booked with gigs. So far so good - and since my time here's already been 1/14th the duration of each of the last two places, in my book we're doing well.
I didn't wake up for the sunrise this morning, as I have done some years, because I'm apparently no longer willing to put sleep as my lowest priority, even if it's well removed from the highest. The sun seems to have come up, anyway, so I guess we're safe for another year. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|09:07 am] |
in search of: ride to and from airport. happy to exchange some combination of barter, baked goods, and undying gratitude.
i need a ride to logan around 5:30pm tomorrow (7:30 flight).
eric and i need a ride home around 10pm sunday the 27th (getting in a 9:30, need to pick up luggage).
anyone? :) |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 20th, 2009|02:33 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | busy | ] |
I was watching New Scandinavian cooking with Tina Norström and I realized she is the blond version of svava. I love that.
Lily had her second walk through the snow and today was better because she wasn't getting husky and Ponder kisses or "help". Olaf is so helpful! At least he thinks he is.
Our neighbor made a path to our wood pile with his snow blower. He just wanted to make sure we could get to it. I thought was very thoughtful of him.
Another blog I found when I should have doing something more productive. Little House in the Suburbs.
My dad wrote to say that the ice may be thick enough for fishing next weekend. Nathan is thrilled.
Well I guess I will get back to cleaning and finish laundry so I can begin packing. Including my new to me sweater from Svava! rabbity soft! |
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