One for My Dearest O

Happy Furlough Friday/Black Friday!

How are you enjoying your State Employee Unpaid Furlough Friday/Black Friday? I'm using my Furlough Friday* to extend my holiday weekend into 5 straight days full of reading, napping, eating, drinking coffee, and other lazy and relaxing activities**.

One thing I enjoy on my days off is listen to the radio. I'm very excited about a double-header program that'll be on Science Friday from 2:00-3:00 this afternoon: The Cheese Chronicles and They Might Be Giants: Here Comes Science. Who'd want to miss out on that? Set your alarm--you wouldn't want to be late!

*No, I am NOT shopping today. I'm not a shopping-at-four-in-the-morning kinda gal. I didn't even get up until 8:00, having stayed up until late last night reading.

**When we found out we'd be taking 16 unpaid days over two years, I vowed I would spend my furlough days doing as I wanted, NOT anything productive; I've done a darn good job keeping my promise to myself thus far!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here's hoping you have much to be thankful for and have more with each passing year.

What Else Smells Good?

Beef stock simmering on the stovetop. Roasted the beef bones & veggies (onion, carrot, celery, garlic) in the oven this morning; then moved them to the stockpot, where I added water, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns. The whole mess'll simmer away until I'm satisfied with the results. Should make for some yummy gravy to serve with over our mashed potatoes tomorrow (with enough leftover for onion soup later on, I hope).

What Smells So Darn Good?

Pecan tarts baking in the oven, that's what. They smell so good, they're distracting me from my nap.

I made these individual serving size tarts based on a recipe for pecan pie made without corn syrup. I'll let you know how they turn out.

'Tis The Season

for dead animals. I'm sure that you already knew it's deer hunting season in Wisconsin.

Sometimes I think I'm the only person in Wisconsin who doesn't hunt. Hunting news is all over the papers and on the radio. At work, water cooler talk is all about deer hunting--who shot what, who knows where someone else shot what, who's not shooting anything, etc. As I sat here on the sofa staring out the window while pondering the day's tasks, my neighbor drove his red pickup covered in snow up to his house, pausing just long enough before he sped away for a young hunting gear-laden family member to leap into the truck. (Where's it snowing? It's rainy here in Madison, and not all that cold.) A gray pickup just pulled into another neighbor's driveway. My neighbor met the driver, who was carrying just a deer head, in the driveway and escorted him into the garage. (This is not an uncommon sight; my neighbor is a taxidermist.)

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against hunting or killing animals you're going to eat. (That's not entirely true, but I'll save that for another day.) Also, I do love venison, when I'm lucky enough to get some. But I don't get the appeal of sitting around for hours, days on end, usually in the cold, hoping for a chanceto kill one of these beasts.

I don't think I'll ever feel part of this particular bit of local culture.

High Profile People Say Stupid Things

Did former Attorney (not military) General Mike Mukasey really make the following comment on Washington Times radio?

Q: Congressman Jim Moran of Virginia says anybody that questions KSM coming to New York City for a civilian trial -- that they're un-American. What is your reaction to that?

Mukasey: I think he's lost touch with reality. He ought to get professional help, perhaps from Maj. Nidal.

If so, is this supposed to be a joke? Maybe I'm losing my sense of humor.

Yeah, I know, I'm a heritage turkey-eating liberal. But still...

News Flash

My Dearest O made vegetable bean pasta soup. From scratch! And it was good!

Stuffing!

A stuffing (dressing) taste test. Someone had to do it.

What Is This World Coming To? : Make a Wish Update

OMG! I just found out the plastic wishbones are made in USA?

What Is This World Coming To? (New Series): Make a Wish

Just in time for Turkey Day: Plastic wishbones.

They're Back!

Perhaps you've read My Dearest O's account of Emian's bakery closing. To our surprise and delight, the establishment reopened this morning as El Bolillo bakery and deli. Of course, we had to stop for coffee and baked goods after our weekly trip downtown. We were pleased to find many of the old familiar faces behind the counter & in the bakery, making and serving goodies from the same Emian's recipes. Hurray!

As an added bonus, the new owner stopped to chat with us for a few minutes, and insisted we take home some complimentary bolillo, rolls similar to the brotchen we used to nosh on in Berlin.

If you're in the neighborhood, stop by El Bolillo for a scone, a sandwich, or even a birthday cake. You won't be sorry.

Yes, We have No Bananas

I always start my day with a breakfast of a banana and a cup of coffee. Every weekday. But this morning? We have no bananas! (To be exact, we have bananas, but they are nowhere near ripe. I have never seen such green bananas.)

So, I'm eating a peach turnover instead. What? It has fruit in it!

I sure hope this doesn't throw my whole day off.

Stay tuned for more excitement...

What's Your Poison?

Beer Style = Personality? Surely this isn't scientific, but it's kinda fun to read.

My Dearest O and I always drink "craft" beers. And you?

Oh, by the way, I TOTALLY freak out over things like missed deadlines.