the failing budget of California

So I hear my coworker over the cubicle wall.

"So what? There's too much government anyways, they should shut it all down."

People are entitled to be Libertarians.

But, um, she works for the government, so does her husband.

So do I, and my husband.

I do not think "Government" means what these people think it means.

an alternate universe

quote

"No one thought Al Gore would be a loveable president, but, after eight years in the White House, he has gotten truly tiresome. The droning voice, the purchase of an eco-friendly robot dog, the campaign for carbon-free diamonds - all these things were hard to take, and he has been way too smug about reversing global warming...."

more optimistic than I thought

*

"...For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself..."

-Barack Obama


*in which amelia learns an important lesson about using cocoa powder with finely detailed stencils on an uneven sticky surface. grrr.

salmon benedict

• focaccia bread
• salmon fillet
• onion
• sugar snap peas
• red bell pepper
• eggs (one per person)
  
• fresh lemon juice
• butter
• olive oil
• avocado
  
• cayenne pepper
• white vinegar
  

1. preheat broiler
2. rinse salmon and pat dry
3. place pat of bitter in cast iron or broiler pan
4. set salmon atop butter skin side down and put another butter pat on top
   
5. drizzle salmon w/ some broth, water or lemon juice
6. broil about six inches from heat for six minutes
7. set aside

1. meanwhile saute onion until translucent in a little olive oil
2. add peppers then peas
3. cook all veggies until just done, crisp veggies are way better than mushy ones
4. set aside

1. cut squares of focaccia (you might have to halve them width-wise) put them on plates and open to make a little stable platform
2. top bread w/ veggies then salmon (I split the one fillet between two servings)

1. make hollandaise sauce- there are many many ways to make it, but a super quick blender recipe is to just blend egg yolk, lemon juice, melted butter and cayenne together.
2. crack eggs into separate small containers
   
3. heat water and some vinegar in a pan until almost boiling
4. swirl it around w/ a spoon until you have a little maelstrom
5. slowly slide egg into the center of the pot
6. cook for 2.5 minutes then remove w/ a slotted spoon back to their containers (remember to rinse in between so you're not getting raw egg all over your cooked egg
7. place egg atop salmon structure
8. drizzle the whole thing with as much hollandaise as you like
9. place avocado slices above sauce and sprinkle w/ a dash of cayenne

1. put assembled plates under the broiler for a minute to warm it up
2. serve and enjoy delicious brunch (goes great w/ poinsettias)

I think I need place settings...

I'm so glad there's a plan.

People die.
I work in an office and my lovely husband works in an office.
Sometimes people our coworkers know die.
(Luckily no one we know has died for a few years. *knock* *knock*)
Whenever a relative of someone in the office passes away, someone else circulates a card among the staff so everyone who wants can express their condolences.

Nice, comforting, awesome.

I have a coworker who is a Jehovah's Witness.
He always writes this in the sympathy cards:*

I do not believe death is a natural thing
and
At a time like this I am comforted by the thoughts that this was never God's plan, and he plans to fix this one day Rev 21:4

I know proselytizing is part of his religion, but really?

I mean, doesn't "there's a time and a place for everything" come from the bible too?

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

I'm not against everything in the bible, or Pete Seeger and the Byrds for that matter.
But using someone's grief to preach your beliefs, rather than sympathize or console, or even worse- to attempt a conversion (look at the consolation of religion everybody! wouldn't you like some?) really strikes the wrong chord with me.

Not to mention just being fucking ridiculous--no birth control and no death? Way to go Earth's limited resources!
Oh wait, that's right; god has magic powers, an indescribable plan and works in mysterious ways.

Great.


*yeah I'm a snoop, but it's admittedly damn hard to think what to say to someone in deep grief and looking at others' notes helps.

brief thought

Fuck your faith-based initiatives, I don't need god to keep from being an ass, and it doesn't seem to be helping you out there much anyways.

I need to try and write more logical thought out responses to this, but damn sometimes I just need to rant.

Just because I don't need god to keep from being an ass doesn't mean I don't enjoy being one time to time.

I am a nit-picky ass

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

So much of a nit-picky ass that this quote makes me fume; way to teach your children accurate cosmology there folks. At least get your metaphors straight.

black-eyed new year

• black-eyed peas
• broth
• butter
• fresh lemon juice
• red pepper flakes
• salt & fresh ground pepper

1. clean & rinse peas
2. put peas in large heavy pot w/ just enough water to cover & a good amount of salt
   
3. cook peas on low until water is absorbed
4. add broth to cover peas and continue cooking on low
5. when peas are cook how you like them stir in lots of butter, as many pepper flakes as you can stand and fresh lemon juice, zest too if you want
6. salt & pepper individual servings to taste
   

this was surprisingly good (I guess w/ butter I should have known) though not much to look at. It would also be delicious w/ the traditional ham hock for hoppin' john or some bacon, I also tried some w/ a little fish sauce stirred in and it was great.

I'd serve it w/ rice and braised winter greens.