Procrastination Perfected
May 29, 2009
Dried up, brown Christmas tree, still in its stand. On the side of the road. In mid-May.
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Insomnia
May 28, 2009
After finally falling into a light sleep around 1:30 this morning, I awoke less than two hours later from a screaming nightmare. You know the kind, adrenaline-rush, heart-racing, gut-wrenching fright that makes you sit straight up in bed and scare the bejesus out of your beloved.
I blame the rattlesnakes.
Of course, when an ophidiophobiac wakes from the mother of all snake dreams, she's not going back to sleep anytime soon. And beyond that, my mind decided it was the perfect time to solve the problems of the world. Well one problem. Ad nauseum . . . or perhaps that should be ad insomnium. Anyway, no rest for the weary last night.
Which brings us to today. And the necessity to make it through the day with no appreciable sleep.
Damn rattlesnakes.
Quick and Easy Chicken
May 27, 2009
So you've got some frozen chicken breasts hanging out in the freezer, and you need to use them up before the frostbite does.
Well, thaw them out super fast in a sink of cool water. Spray on olive oil and grind some fresh pepper over them. Saute on medium heat till cooked through.
Dig through the freezer again, because frostbite does not care what it eats. Grab those artichoke hearts and asparagus spears. Oh, and pull those mushrooms from the bottom crisper in the fridge. Saute all those yummy veggies in some butter until tender. Maybe throw in some basil or garlic. And salt. Don't forget to add a little salt.
Boil some pasta, whatever is in the pantry. Cavatappi or bowties or shells, whatever.
Toss it all together and serve with fresh parmesan. And a glass of chilled white wine.
Delicious.
Vocabulary Lesson #17: Distant Early Warning
ill
plain
acid
revolving
incomplete
crazy
worry
difference
iceberg
radar
alert
passage
truth
obsolete
absolute
Bonus:
pressure
$6.67
May 26, 2009
Because the superstitious cashier insisted upon adding one cent to the total because she didn't want to "end her shift on such an unlucky number."
Scathing Critique
So much popular music—almost all of it—is specifically designed not to say anything, or mean anything; not to carry any heartfelt message through passionate playing and singing, but simply to be liked.
Perhaps there’s nothing wrong with that, for those who do indeed “like” it, but it’s the fraud that offends me. The pretend “rebels” who dance on the strings of sleazy producers; the shallow divas who simply do what they’re told, sing the notes and words put in front of them, and pretend they mean it.
And it’s not just music, and it’s not just the creators: it’s the audience. Readers of formulaic novels don’t care that those books have been shaped, paragraph by paragraph, to appeal to a particular reader, and thus they—the readers—are nothing more or less than the “lowest common denominator.” People who line up for blockbuster movies merely trust that their shallower desires will be properly catered to—mild titillation and a few fights and car chases. TV viewers don’t care that they are being “marketed to”—pandered to, not forgetting that the definition of “pander” is “pimp”—not only in the commercials, but in the cheap, cynical content.
The Roman satirist Juvenal described the social decline of his people with a memorable phrase, “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt.”
- Neil Peart, Bubba's Book Club, Issue 13
Reverie
May 22, 2009
The dark side of Luna
a ghost of her former self
Her face reflecting the sun
a reminder of her maker
Cloaked in darkness she moves
cold and lonely
Watching the waters from afar
a blue marble on asphalt
(c) 2009 Jennifer J. Knighton
Contribute a Story to the Updated Purple Cow
May 21, 2009
Here's a sample from Bonnie:
www.soallmayeat.org is truly remarkable. Imagine going into a restaurant and seeing no prices on the menu. You might think that the food was really expensive, but that's not the case at the So All May Eat (SAME) Cafe in Denver, CO. The fact is that there are no prices on the menu because everyone pays what they can, many people pay more. There's no cash register, just an envelope that patrons get with their meal. In that envelope goes a few dollars, a fair price for the meal, a hearty donation or nothing at all. The envelope then goes into a simple wooden box. Everyone gets a great home made meal at a price they can afford. If someone can't pay anything at all they are asked to help out in the kitchen, serve some soup or clean up for an hour or so...and they are willing and happy to help out. It's not a free ride or a handout, it's honest work for an terrific hot meal. Founders Brad & Libby Birky not only make a difference by providing a free meal but they have also created thriving community of people who care and are cared for.
-from Seth Godin, Rules & Entry Here
Linguistic Candy
effete (adj) - lacking in wholesome vigor; degenerate; decadent
ascetic (n) - a person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons; one who abstains from the normal pleasures of life or denies himself or herself material satisfaction
austere (adj) - severe in manner or appearance; uncompromising; strict; forbidding; without excess, luxury, or ease
The Land of the Living
Well, I survived the ravages of that awful illness. Maybe a cold or the flu, who knows. I went through a box and a half of Tylenol cold, two bags of Ricola, half a bottle of Chloraseptic, and about three boxes of tissues (and counting).
And Handsome put up with a whole lot of whining, complaining, and general self-pity.
For me, the biggest problem with illness is feeling powerless, dependent, and defenseless. And I have absolutely no experiences to support those feelings. My kind and generous husband is powerful enough, strong enough, to defend and protect me.
He can take care of our little universe when I can't. I don't carry our world on my shoulders. And it's probably a little arrogant to think that even the least bit possible.
Note to self: Trust your husband. AND stop whining and apologizing for things beyond your control. It's annoying when you do that.
*GAK*
May 14, 2009
Sucked some sort of fly (fungus gnat maybe?) up my nose during a sneezing/coughing fit. Yet one more reason being sick totally and completely sucks.
Happiness Is
May 13, 2009
Mesquite-grilled lobster tails with tarragon-lime butter. On a school night. Absolutely best lobster ever. You should try it. Srsly!
What happiness is NOT? Sinus drainage and sore throat. And tossing and turning through the night because of the aforementioned sinus drainage and sore throat.
Other happiness news? Hot coffee in the morning has never tasted so good.
Included
May 12, 2009
Mother's Day was busy for us, with two large family gatherings. At the earlier event, with Handsome's family, my sister-in-law made me a corsage, too. In fact, every woman at the table (young and old, mother or not) wore flowers. It was one of the kindest gestures I've ever experienced.
I don't quite know how to express how I felt that afternoon. Grateful, loved, humbled, and something else I can't describe.
The women in my life, the mothers and sisters and friends, are amazing blessings to me. They are each generous, wise, and kind, every single one. And I am blessed to be counted in their number, and blessed that I can share in a little mothering joy.
Thanks Deanna. Love you.
Getting Hit By a Mac Truck
May 6, 2009
So we're doing the P90X, Handsome and me. We're halfway through week 5, and so far so good. But today was a totally new weight program, with about a billion push ups. Which sucked. Mostly because I suck at push ups. But the weight bearing exercises were great!*
But you know, all those push ups and weights have wiped me out. It's odd to feel so energized and yet so drained at the same time. Bizarre.
*It still surprises me how much I enjoy working with weights.
Threat to Security
May 5, 2009
The following individuals and/or groups are considered threats to homeland security:
alternative media: A term used to describe various information sources that provide a forum for interpretations of events and issues that differ radically frmedia products and outlets.
patriot movement: A term used by rightwing extremists to link their beliefs to those commonly associated with the American Revolution. The patriot movement primarily comprises violent antigovernment groups such as militias and sovereign citizens. (also: Christian patriots, patriot group, Constitutionalists, Constitutionist)
rightwing extremism: A movement of rightwing groups or individuals who can be broadly divided into those who are primarily hate-oriented, and those who are mainly antigovernment and reject federal authority in favor of state or local authority. This term also may refer to rightwing extremist movements that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration. (also known as far right, extreme right)
tax resistance movement: Groups or individuals who vehemently believe taxes violate their constitutional rights. Among their beliefs are that wages are not income, that paying income taxes is voluntary, and that the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allowed Congress to levy taxes on income, was not properly ratified. (also: tax protest movement, tax freedom movement, antitax movement)
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