Playing with Myself

(an oldie but goodie)

RESCUE HELP NEEDED ASAP:

Please help!!!! After two long years of being on a waiting list for an agility dog, we have been notified by the breeder that, at long last, our number has come up and ...WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY!!!

We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn't be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children into rescue this weekend!

They are described as:

One male - His name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn't bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained & gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon.

One female - Her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy & can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls & little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training-shouldn't take long at all.

We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what's right for them; that is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy.

I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here!!! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy.

January suckage: Return of the Mother(tm), craziness at work, utter exhaustion, realizing the extent of numerous bad decisions made pre-Lithium including several financial fuck-ups

First week of February suckage: Craziness at work cont., performance review today, exiling kirbyfest from my house forever by taking in a stray cat, utter fucking exhaustion, realizing that the repercussions of numerous bad decisions made pre-Lithium including several financial fuck-ups are going to affect our ability to do ANYTHING this year including Mediawest and me going to DC with Mr G in the spring when he goes for a conference even if ND is paying for the hotel

I really do think it would be best if I just hibernated until sometime around July. Except for the whole needing a paycheck thing.

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 50 cookies

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup rolled oats (do not use quick-cooking oats)
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons solid vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 cup mashed banana (about 2 ripe bananas)
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Position rack in the center of the oven; preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick spray. Mix flour, oats, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.

With an electric mixer on medium, cream the shortening and both sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the banana, then the egg white and vanilla. Turn off the mixer, remove the beaters, and stir in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon, just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by flat tablespoons onto the baking sheet, spacing mounds about 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then cool completely on a rack. Cool the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking additional batches. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

Serving size: 2 cookies. POINTS value per serving: 3

Big, Soft, Almost Fat-Free Chocolate Cookies
Makes about 24 cookies

1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
4 large egg whites, at room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Position rack in the center of the oven; preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the chocolate in a small bowl and microwave on High 15 seconds, stir, then continue microwaving in 10 second increments until halfway melted. Remove from the microwave and continue stirring until completely melted.

With an electric mixer on high, beat the egg whites in a large bowl until foamy, about 30 seconds. Beat in both sugars until creamy, about 1 minute. Beat in the melted chocolate. Remove the beaters and stir in the flour, whole-wheat flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt all at once with a wooden spoon, just until moistened.

Drop by rounded tablespoonsful onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake until puffed, cracked, and dry, about 15 minutes. Cool cookies on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then cool completely on a rack. Cool the baking sheet for 5 minutes before baking additional batches. Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

Serving size: 1 cookie. POINTS value per serving: 2

Snurched from saskia139:

1. Describe your favorite pen.

I'm between pen loves at the moment. My broad Uni-ball Vision Elite has leaked on my clothes once too often.

2. Now describe your favorite mug.

This one

3. Name one to three books you are currently reading.

Chaikin's A Man on the Moon (makes me wish, once again, that I had From the Earth to the Moon on DVD), Potsticker Chronicles by Stuart Chang Berman, The Medusa Project by Cindy Dees.

4. Is there something you liked as a child -- a tv show, for example, or a food -- that really embarrasses you now? What is it?

Er... there is probably something, but I'm obviously blocking it very well.

5. Is there something you liked as a child that you still enjoy?

Writing in a journal.

6. Name a fictional character (tv, book, or movie) with whom you have strongly identified, and tell why.

Yup, I'm a Scooby-Doo Velma. Likes puzzles, bossy (more like stubborness, as I have aged), a lousy haircut and no fashion sense.

7. What do you like to do on a rainy day?

Sleep in a big warm blanket.

8. What do you like to do on a sunny day?

Clean the house and then read.

9. What do you like to do when it snows?

Cook.

10. Is there a writer (or other kind of artist) of whose work you often say, "I wish I'd created that?"

Many. The short list includes several fan fiction authors, Sydney Anglo, Ann Larimer, Pablo de Sarasate, and Kandinsky.

11. What kind of pet do you have, and what is its name?

Emily (Cocker Spaniel), Zoe (Border Collie), Natalie (Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix), Jack (Cocker Spaniel), Alex (Tabby cat)

12. Do you like Valentine's Day?

I like it very much as a concept, but we don't celebrate it.

13. Do you like Mother's Day?

No.

14. Sex: a good thing, a bad thing, or just way too complicated for you to say?

A good thing, but one which causes more tension than it should.

15. What are you looking for that you haven't found yet?

The momentum to carry through writing a novel.

Spiced Chicken Cacciatore
Was | 10 POINTS
Now | 8 POINTS
Servings | 4
Preparation Time | 25 min
Cooking Time | 25 min
Level of Difficulty | Easy

"Simmered in a rich tomato sauce with peppers, mushrooms and whole-wheat pasta, this dish truly satisfies. A touch of curry powder gives it just the right kick."

Ingredients

8 oz uncooked whole-wheat spaghetti
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup onion(s), chopped
2 medium garlic clove(s), minced
1 medium green pepper(s), diced
1 cup mushroom(s), sliced
1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), cut into 2-inch pieces
2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned diced tomatoes
1/4 cup parsley, fresh, chopped

Instructions

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain, run under warm water and cover with foil to keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large saucepan or stock pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, green pepper and mushrooms. Sauté until vegetables are tender and mushrooms release juice, about 4 minutes. Add chicken and sauté until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add basil, curry powder, salt and black pepper; stir to coat.

Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, partially cover and simmer 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in parsley.

Transfer spaghetti to four shallow bowls and spoon chicken mixture over top. Yields about 1 cup of chicken mixture and 1 cup of spaghetti per serving.

Many things feel muted. That may be because I am shuffling my stressors, rather like pieces on a gameboard. I can't deal with this right now... let's just move it over here, out of the way.

I feel deflated. Who let all the air out?

From saskia139

Ten things you like that your friends might not know you like:

Jack Benny radio shows
cross stitching
tulips
biscuits and gravy
bowling
German nutcrackers
Muddy Waters
dancing
Lego minifigs
movie scores