Seen on a bus advertisement: "A dry crack is a happy crack."

And we know it's true, because Mr. Happy Crack himself endorses it.

Recipe for Butternut Squash Soup
Just invented this weekend past to break in my new stockpot. I made it up as I went along, so I'm guessing at some of the quantities.

1 medium butternut squash
1 onion, chopped
10 pieces of bacon
wings, back, gizzards of 1 chicken
4 sections of fresh garlic
3 cups of rum
water
2 cups soy milk
2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 TBL cilantro
1 TBL oragano
2 tsp sage
1/4 cup salt
2 TBL pepper

Toss the garlic, onion and 1 cup of rum into a large pot and simmer over low heat. Chop up and add the bacon. Continue simmering. Cube, peel and remove the seeds from the squash. Add squash and all other ingredients (including enough water to cover squash cubes) except chicken, milk and remaining rum to the pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 2 hours. Transfer squash mixture into a large mixing bowl (or a food processor, if you have one). Place chicken, milk, rum and enough water to cover chicken into the pot. Bring to a boil. Meanwhile, puree the squash mixture using processor, hand mixer, potato masher, or whatever means you have available. When done, transfer squash mixture back into pot. Stir to combine with chicken and broth. Reduce heat and simmer for another 30 minutes to an hour. Serves 6 or so.

This is possibly the Cutest Thing Ever.

Inspired by the Dread Pirate Adam's appearance at my wedding reception, I've decided to be a Space Pirate for halloween.

It should look something like a cross between this and that.

I'm also trying to talk Bob into being my Giant Mutant Space Parrot, kind of like the Cat on Red Dwarf. We'll see how that goes.

I love the West Wing, but the Author's Message Monologues are getting to be a little too obvious even for me. . .and I usually agree with them.

Aaron Sorkin is obviously reacting to the last presidential election. I wonder if he's going to go so far as to have Bartlett lose. Bets?

So, I went to the Gyn the other day and, along with the "wear cotton panties, don't take baths, blah, blah, blah" speech, she said it was healthier to not wear underwear, or any pant-like items, to sleep in at night.

Aroo?

This is a new one on me and, even though my gyn is a woman, I'm a bit suspicious. How long before "doctors" decide it is healthier for women to go around topless?

I wonder if I could introduce a concern about the health risks of wearing neon spandex, hmmm. . .

Random Hygiene Obsession #67

I am not, in general, a hygiene freak. Really. Ask anyone who's ever roomed with me. I'm not a skanky grrrl, but I've been known to skip a day, shower-wise. . .only floss sporadically. . .don't always rush to wash my hands after petting Mr. Arthur.

So, I'm not obsessed with cleanliness but, for some reason, don't know why, I really like to keep my ears clean. The glee brought on by opening a fresh box of Q-Tips is, well, rather unwarranted, really.

While we were snorkling in Barbados (notice the subtlety with which she works that factoid in), Bob got some water stuck in his ear. Since it hadn't managed to work its way out by the time we got home, he bought one of those ear cleaning kits and, I'm obsessed with it. I can't wait to use it. It's really weird.

But I bet its more fun than he's letting on.

she doesn't write for 3 months, comes back, and this is all she has to say for herself? sheesh