Anyone who reads my blog is probably aware that I have an unholy obsession with preserving foods, and that in 17 days I will undergo a life-changing operation, a double-mastectomy with reconstruction done on my healthy breasts. I’ve always cooked, and frankly eaten (hello, new 20-lb gut), to deal with stress, but lately, perhaps because I’m [...]... Read More
The idea of magic, of alchemy, of starting with one substance and transforming it into a completely different substance has fascinated me since I was a little girl, and I couldn’t help but think of that as my husband and I used a mysterious solution to transform brisket into corned beef a few weeks ago. Corned [...]... Read More
Last weekend, we decided to make pâté with a friend of ours, figuring that he wouldn’t be scooged out by the procedure, since he’s french and would therefore understand the desired result, even if we failed to achieve it. Our idea had been to make the pâté — what our cookbook charmingly calls “The Cinderella Meat [...]... Read More
Some couples “practice” for children by getting a dog; my husband and I are evidently “practicing” with charcuterie (tr. “cooked flesh”), the art of making sausage, bacon, terrines, and cured meats. Like preparing for a child, charcuterie requires: a manual — an authoritative cookbook instead of a parenting tome items that the uninitiated would never have lying [...]... Read More
I am in love with a cocktail. My husband and I have recently gotten inventive with our mixology, whipping up a tasty Orgeat syrup from scratch and daring to mix various liquors from our cabinet with mixed results. Equal parts of brandy, gin, and Frangelico do not a delicious concotion make. But on Saturday night, a [...]... Read More
Just wanted to alert you to crack web designer Daniel Quinn's excellent analysis of a recent House episode, using the Chaotic-Lawful Good-Evil alignments from Dungeons & Dragons. In other news, I'm abandoning the massive LARP calendar, not because it's unhelpful, but because updating it sucks up too much time for someone like me, who has about eight bajillion gigs/side projects. Instead, when I have a moment to breathe, you can expect to see an index of gamer jargon, and a list of some LARP resources coming at you after the holidays are over. And be warned: NaNoWriMo is over, so I should be starting to blog again soon. Happy web surfing.... Read More
Just a little note to say: I know I'm viciously late on my most recent flash, but it's for a good reason. I took last week off to start planning my novel for National Novel Writing Month, which began on Sunday along with the month of November. I'll catch up with the aforementioned Superlative exercise as soon as I've written my 50,000 words.... Read More
Stephanie Meyer needs an editor. I contend that a writer gets one free "career" use of the term "smoldering eyes," but Meyer uses the verb at least five times, just in Twilight
When I decided to write a piece about my decision to have a preventative mastectomy I never imagined it would generate so much response. Over the last few days, I've received dozens of emails from readers in similar situations, notes of support from other women who've undergone the procedure, and tips about what to have on hand after surgery -- a stack of videos, projects, and most importantly, button down pajamas. Friends, relatives, and associates came out of the woodwork to share personal stories about their own, or their families' struggle with cancer. I feel really well-supported -- thanks to everyone for all their notes, comments, and other messages.... Read More
"The Nicest Kid in the Universe," is a parable about Franky Gorky, the titular child, for although he is the "nicest" kid, "he wasn't the smartest kid." Because Gorky isn't smart, he doesn't realize that the moon waxes and wanes on its own; he believes that his wishes are responsible for this, a fact which leads him to run across the street on Christmas morning as his grandmother is parking across the street, and get "rubbed out" by a drunk driver. The story ends with the introduction of a first person narrator and a moral, as if it has been told to frighten a child into good behavior.... Read More
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