Thanksgiving Scorecard
Thanksgiving 2005 proved that I am officially out of practice in the kitchen. We all cooked something, and after the smoke cleared, I was responsible for the following atrocities:

Black Beans............Scorched. In a crock-pot.
Oatmeal Cookies........Carmelized/Scorched.
Oatmeal Cookies 2......not enough oatmeal, then Scorched
Squash Casserole.......Oversalted, undercheesed.
Maple Rice Pudding.....Eggs not beaten enough.

At least the pies and pralines turned out ok, and my roommates were responsible for the turkey and other sides. It's very simply a case of being out of touch, thinking "I really should do X, but I don't know why," not doing X, and smoking up the kitchen.

Then again, I haven't had to buy food for nearly a week. So, it's remedial cooking for me, starting with a chicken leg...

posted at: 07:07 | path: | permanent link to this entry

What Was Lost, Has Been Found.
     Sometime in 1995, before they were recycled due to inactivity of their owners, I logged, formatted, and printed off a copy of LambdaMOO's Little MOO Book of Poetry and The Book of Poetry, Verse, and Short Stories, the latter of which only seemed to gather poetry. I promptly lost that copy, and kicked myself regularly until a few weeks ago, when I found that copy in a binder, in a box. So, I'm typing up the content again, soon to be placed online, at least on the Stories page here, and hopefully back in LambdaMOO.

posted at: 06:13 | path: | permanent link to this entry

The Great Trip approaches.
     A few weeks ago, I realized I had a ton of vacation days left...14, to be exact. This results directly from July's pneumonia, and four(4) weeks on the road for business trips, a higher than normal total for my position. None of this really transfers to next year, so I've lined up a three-and-a-half week vacation. I've never taken this much time off at once, and I don't fly. What ever should I do?
     I've always wanted to visit the West Coast, and now's my chance. And visit all spots in between, on the southern route. I've really wanted to see the Keys, too. And Vegas. And that barbecue joint in KC that's been closed the four times I've been through. And maybe watch a football game outdoors, where football should be played.
     I'm not sure where I'll travel, but if I go anywhere at all, I'll log it here.

posted at: 05:14 | path: | permanent link to this entry

Signs of change.
    I have lost my damn mind. After several years (ten, really) of sitting on the fence, I finally bought...wait for it...dining room chairs. From Ikea. That I would (a) buy permanent furniture that isn't a bookshelf, and (b) willingly travel to a portable plane of retail hell known as 'mixed-use development' to buy said furniture, should be a sign of terminal illness on my part. If I don't look out, I'll end up with a sectional, or some other gaudy upholstrosity, before expiring from The Consumption, Leprosy, or whatever other incurable disease claims me.
    What passes for winter has arrived here: one good freeze, followed by 40's and rain. I've brought the 'keeper' plants inside, and have frozen two gallon-bags full of leaves from the basil plants I've left outside. I'll run the 'bathroom greenhouse' until the last freeze of Spring, and hopefully I'll call it right next year.
    Falcons have been faltering this year, making enough mistakes to allow the likes of Seattle, New England, Green Bay and Tampa Bay to sneak off with wins. We really let all four of those slip away, I thought. That aside, it's been a really fun season to watch.
    Osteria 832 serves up great food...it's also a stylish place that isn't so full of itself to do sweet tea right. Prosciutto and Arugula pizza looks damn good, I'll try that next time I'm in. (that's right, cold lettuce on a hot pizza. Add some red pepper flakes, and you're golden.)

posted at: 05:04 | path: | permanent link to this entry