From our Food Goddess, TaMara:
My day started out with a bang. A 16 year old girl, rushing to get her brother and herself to their morning finals, hit my car at a stop sign. Physically everyone was fine, my car has some minor damage, but she was an emotional mess. Thank goodness I had a bag of homemade cookies and a box of tissues in the car. Really, when everyone is physically unharmed, a hug and a chocolate chip cookie can go a long way to fixing everything. My boss (super hero today) got her brother to his final, the police officer gave her a note for her test (along with a ticket, poor thing) and an hour later we were all on our way. In the meantime, she and I got to talk and hopefully I calmed her down enough to take her ‘easy’ chem final (in my life there was never an easy chemistry anything). So that was my day, how was yours?
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In honor of holiday and accident stress, we’re going with a crockpot/slowcooker menu tonight. And if you ever wonder why I use the term slowcooker, it is because crockpot is actually a trademarked name and they frown on people using without permission. Ask me how I now this. The cornbread is adapted from an Alton Brown recipe. I prefer to cook mine in a cast iron skillet, but if you don’t have one, a glass baking dish will be fine. I left the salad fixings up to you, but Salsa Ranch Dressing is one of my favorite ways to top off a salad, so I ‘suggested’ that.
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On the board tonight:
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1. Creamy Mexican Bean & Chicken Soup
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2. Creamed Corn Cornbread
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3. Tossed Salad w/Salsa Ranch Dressing
Recipes and shopping list at the link.
Svensker
That all sounds REALLY good. Yum. But what’s for dessert? Cookies?
So glad everyone’s OK re car smash. Yikes.
Redshift
I spun around on a highway ramp and ended up facing backward on the median, but I am unharmed and my car apparently suffered no damage. Ms. Redshift had a scary time coming down a hill approaching a T intersection when the car unexpectedly wouldn’t stop, but also got through without harm (she’s suffering worse from spending three hours in the car and missing an orthopedist appointment.)
I ate a nice salad for dinner because the office is full of chocolate and snacks, and I have no willpower. (They’re not even homemade! Sigh.)
lamh32
I’m off to bed (I’m an early riser for work), but before I do, a little ode to the superficial.
Look at this Kardashian family Christmas card, and tell me it doesn’t look like a promo for a new “Addams Family” movie or TV show.
Kardashian Family Christmas Photo 2010
“They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re altogether kooky, The Addams Family…da-duh, duh, duh…”
Redshift
@lamh32: I have a hard time believing that effect isn’t deliberate, with the pinstripe suit on the kid and all. They certainly are altogether ooky, in any case.
lamh32
Read the following article from TPM and try and tell me that you don’t want to just McCain across his rotten face. Dude is like 1,000,000 years old and still acting like a rotten brat!
After Spending Bill Implodes, Reid Schedules Vote on DADT Repeal
Ughhh, McCain is just a colossal waste of space. Oh and rikyrah and all check out your newly elected Sen from IL cackling with McShame!
This is great news though. As I understand it, this now means the repeal is no longer in Reid’s or Obama’s hands now. It’s up to Senators. If there was a time to call your Senators office (and others), then now is THAT time.
Comrade Mary
Scary, yet heart-warming, Tamara. I bet she felt especially good after one of your cookies.
I went out on my bike with studded tires for the first time today, and while I was impressed with the purchase I got on ice and slush, it was like riding uphill everywhere. Luckily I have a Craigslist bike with city slicks I can use on dry days.
lamh32
@Redshift:
I truly honestly think that they just aren’t smart enough to realize how “Addams Family”-esque it really is. They just wanted to be all glamorous and what not.
Plus doesn’t Bruce Jenner just look hella-out of place in this pick, heck can you even really pick him out?
And it looks like they may have used more tanning lotions/self-tanners than Boehner.
Punchy
Where’s ED “co” Kain been lately? Did he check out and leave the key, or is this more a voluntary sabbatical?
TaMara (BHF)
@Comrade Mary: You inspire me. I’ve been wimping out on 40 degree days because of wind and we have NO snow at all. If I wasn’t going to the Nutcracker tomorrow night, I for sure would get a ride in. Ha, ha.
Re: the accident. It’s amazing how quickly you can go from totally stunned and ready to be pissed off to compassionate and nurturing when the driver gets out and she obviously young and scared. There was just no way to do anything but hug her.
Steeplejack
We got a good two inches of powder here in NoVa this afternoon. All the traffic churned it up into something resembling paste or pie crust, and it is really slippery out there. It’s still only 22°, but it’s supposed to get to 36° tomorrow, which will make it even messier as it all melts.
The silver lining is that I got released from the Big Box Bookstore early tonight because of slow business, so I am home at least an hour and a half early. Yee-haw! I’m decompressing with a beer and have the 49ers-Chargers game on the box, with two episodes of Burn Notice (guilty pleasure) going to the DVR. Plus I have a good novel at hand, Rennie Airth’s River of Darkness. Serial killer on the loose in 1921 England, with Inspector John Madden on the case. Everyone is toting emotional baggage from the Great War. Very well written.
jeffreyw
Hugs ‘n kisses are fine and all…I’ll take fresh bread anytime.
Comrade Mary
@TaMara (BHF): Maybe not that inspiring, because if there’s one thing that makes me wimp out from everything but short runs to the grocery store, it’s wind. Cold and slush are nothing compared to a north gale. ::shudder::
I’m glad you hugged her :-)
John - A Motley Moose
I hate to sound all elitist and purist, but if you don’t have one you aren’t a real cook.
/only partly snark
Redshift
@lamh32: Oh, I definitely agree they aren’t clever enough to have come up with that, but I think it’s possible that someone involved with the shoot did. If that is the case, it would be amusing to know whether or not that person ever mentioned it to them.
Martin
@lamh32: Needs moar photoshop. They’re stuck in uncanny valley and need to cross all the way over to Cowboy Bebop.
General Stuck
Been over run with mice this winter, don’t know how many I’ve sent to mouse hell with traps, but plenty. I may do like Charles Martin Smith and start boiling the little fuckers in lab beakers for sandwees.
Glinda
I love that story. Unlike many of my fellow NYCers, TaMara didn’t go ballistic on the poor girl. She showed her the necessary lesson that we’re all in this life together.
A terrific heartwarming story for the holiday season. The only way it would have been nicer is if the cop decided to forgo the ticket.
Martin
@lamh32: DADT might pass, but it looks much more likely we’re going to see a govt shutdown. The GOP went from being annoying pricks to being suicide bombers with this move.
Comrade Mary
@Martin: I don’t see bloody chunks of the GOP all over the place (yeah, I saw Santa get blown up real good tonight on Bones), so maybe not suicide bombers. They’re making choices that will fuck over a lot of people, but they’re not going to feel any pain at all.
General Stuck
@Martin:
They really think they are ten foot tall and ballotproof. I thought they would at least wait til after Christmas to cock the hammer with brinkmanship on the budget and appropriations. This is nothing short of a legislative insurrection, or congressional coup, of sorts. They just don’t care what they break anymore, and they barely cared before.
Southern Beale
Yum especially the Creamed Corn Cornbread. I will have to try that, the mister will be in heaven.
I made a super yummy Cajun red beans & rice yesterday (we ate out tonight because we had to hit Target).
martha
@Steeplejack: ohh another author I might like. I’ve read almost everything by Charles Todd–I’m guessing I should pick this one up too?
Chicago Todd
I just witnessed a car wreck — it was Matt Bai’s latest NY Times article, and it wasn’t pretty. M&M’s tossed down with a receese peaunut butter mini and all is better. Off topic but it did say open thread.
Mnemosyne
I came home and our annual Christmas gift from Archbishop Desmond Tutu was here, so that was nice.
Well, okay, technically it’s not our gift — it’s for the Episcopalian bishop who used to live in our apartment, but we’ve given up on trying to communicate to them that the man doesn’t live here anymore. There’s only so many times you can bring the man’s gifts to his church before you get fed up and start keeping them.
burnspbesq
I hate to pollute this thread with Julian Assange-related stuff, but this goes to bigger issues and it’s totally awesome, so here it is. Look or not, depending on your mood.
http://kateharding.info/2010/12/16/some-shit-im-sick-of-hearing-regarding-rape-and-assange/
And then I saw this in her response to one of her commenters:
I think I’m in love.
Steeplejack
@martha:
I have read most of the Charles Todd novels, and I think you would like this one. It’s actually a little better, I think. There are two more: The Blood-Dimmed Tide and The Dead of Night. The last one takes place during World War II, so there is quite a time span across the three novels. Based on being halfway through the first one, I am looking forward to reading them all.
Along this same line, have you read Jacqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs novels? Those are pretty good too.
Buck
Nerve:
We are the biggest fools.
jeffreyw
I’ve seen ham sammiches smarter than Cantor.
robertdsc-PowerBook
If Obama chose to do the Don Altobello revenge thing to Senate Republicans, I would not mind. Their legislative terrorism has gone on for far too long.
fasteddie9318
@Buck: Only a Republican could fix it so he gets one out of every three weeks off and somehow spin that as though it weren’t a total fucking insult to every working person in the country. These are the same people who can insist that asking them to work within 3 fucking weeks of Christmas is an insult to every Christian, living and dead, as well as pure blasphemy and Harry Reid might as well just go back in time and kick Baby Jesus square in the nuts, then tell working people who have no choice but to work THROUGH the fucking holidays that they’re somehow on the side of the little guy. I don’t think there’s a word that’s been invented to describe these pathetic fuckwits.
fasteddie9318
@robertdsc-PowerBook: Poisoned cannoli? Too good for them. You still get to enjoy the cannoli before you die.
robertdsc-PowerBook
@fasteddie9318:
I’m stupid. I meant the Joey Zazza helicopter treatment.
Nellcote
@fasteddie9318:
On the other hand, the less time the goopers are in session, the less harm they can do.
Ash Can
@lamh32: What worries me is that if these asses switched their votes on this, what’s to keep the Republicans who have expressed support for repealing DADT from reneging on that too? I won’t believe a word Brown, Murkowski, or any of them say about DADT until the vote is taken and counted.
@Buck: I wish he’d schedule even more time off for the House than that. The less time they spend at work, the less damage they can do.
ETA: And Nellcote beat me to point number two. Great minds, etc.
Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther
What’s that you say?
This is an Open Thread and I should take the opportunity to once again flog the wares of my fellow Balloon Juicers and Ta-Nehisi Coatesians?
Okee dokee then!
HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE
Don’t forget!
Are you a maker, creative type, knitter, photographer, painter, have an etsy shop, whatever? Have something you’d like to sell during this crazy holiday season? Come on over to my place, leave the details in the comments, and maybe your stuff will find itself in the hands of those you know and love online http://emilylhauserinmyhead.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/holiday-marketplace/
And if you have nothing to sell, come on by to do some some shopping!
Joseph Nobles
The tax cut compromise just passed the House with no amendments. It’s heading for Obama’s desk.
The biggest takeaways: It was a tie the last I saw for Dems and Republicans voting for the bill. Far more Democrats than Republicans voted against it. However, a majority of both parties voted for the bill.
And the Tea Party fractured. Only 36 Republicans voted against this bill, and there are supposed to be 52 Tea Partyers.
The vote breakdown is going to be hella interesting.
Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther
Oh, if only all stupid sixteen year old mistakes were met with that kind of compassion and good humor! The world itself would be a better place.
Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther
@jeffreyw: Ah, but the question is, would Cantor eat a ham sammich?
asiangrrlMN
Nicely down, TaMara. Glad no one was hurt.
@Steeplejack: Hi, you. I hope everything doesn’t get messed up because of the snow. I know how that goes.
@jeffreyw: You are making a grown woman lick her monitor screen. How can you live with yourself?
@Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: ABL is prodding me by telling me that you already sent her something. Thanks for making me look bad! And, how can I top head lice? (Get it? Top? Oh, never mind).
jeffreyw
@Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: If you told him it was the wing meat he would.
Steeplejack
@asiangrrlMN:
Hey. Just checking in before going (back) to bed. No taste for the Intertubes tonight, so it seemed like a good time to dive into the flannel sheets and watch TV until I nod off.
It’s freakin’ 19° here. We’re not supposed to get weather like that–at least not for a week straight. Brr! I’m getting colder just thinking about it. Back to bed. Mañana.
asiangrrlMN
@Steeplejack: 19? That’s warm! Sleep well under the flannels. Talk to you on the flip side.
Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther
@asiangrrlMN: Sorry! I try to post every day, and sometimes, one has to work with whatever one has! (And yes I saw what you did there, but I was looking away and scratching my head).
@jeffreyw: Ah, that’s good! Plus which, I’m sure there’s a “when pigs fly” joke that could be made once you’ve told him that.
asiangrrlMN
@Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: Ouch. My scalp tingles in sympathy. And, I’m waiting for the keys to the blog. She says as long as I stay out of her likker cabinet, I’m allowed in.
Comrade Mary
@asiangrrlMN: Sleeping naked under flannels keeps you even warmer. Just keep a warm robe handy for those chilly mornings.
asiangrrlMN
@Comrade Mary: I always sleep naked. It’s way more comfortable.
ETA: I do wear fleece socks, though. That’s the only exception.
Yutsano
@Martin:
Get yer mitts off my anime there dude. Faye Valentine would eat any of the Kardashians for breakfast. Plus Spike and Jett could out-cool them all just by showing up. And don’t get me started on the dog, man.
Uriel
@Ash Can:
Wouldn’t bet on that.
Cleaning a mess up takes time, effort and intent. It’s work.
Trashing the place? All that requires is hurling more shit around than the other guy can clean in the same amount of time. Less time you leave the other guy to run after you putting thing back in order, the better off you are.
It’s easy, quick- and if you’re john McCain a fucking laff riot to boot!
burnspbesq
@Yutsano:
Kardashians, blecch. I got three women for ya right here. Smart, talented, superbly educated … and they will break your ankles. And not at all hard to look at.
http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=3746894
Uriel
@Yutsano:
PREACH IT!
And Ed would- well, Ed would probably wander around playing internet chess with Robert, not actually doing all that much for most of the episode- which would wind up being not only the reason everything works out in the end, but would actually result in OJ to retried and convicted, for no clear reason what-so-ever. Which would make her cooler than everyone else combined.
Which reminds me- Kenau Reeves? As fucking Spike? What the hell have we come to?
Yutsano
@Uriel:
Who conceived of this fucking atrocity, so I can target them for elimination? I can think of a thousand fucking actors who could do Spike justice, but not fucking Keanu. Never mind the fact he’s too old. Or too Caucasian. Chinese mafia, HHEEELLLOOOO!!
Linkmeister
@jeffreyw: I call. Banana Bread.
BruinKid
Oh. My. God.
Who saw the Daily Show tonight? Jon was ON FIRE blasting the Senate Republicans for blocking the health care bill for 9/11 first responders! He had an entire segment with four actual 9/11 first responders who are now all sick, asking them how they felt about the Senate obstructionism.
Oh. My. God.
Just. Fucking. Amazing.
Uriel
@Yutsano: Thing is, this will now be the second of my favorite”alt media” type characters who embodied the concept of ultimate cool, that some numb nut in Hollywood ruined for the mass media consuming public by saying, “hey, know who would be perfect for that? Kenau Reeves!”
I still feel physical pain over that ‘Constantine’ abortion. It’s the only thing I can imagine that comes close to making less sense than Kenau being allowed anywhere near Bebop.
Uriel
@BruinKid: Good! Now maybe the mainstream media will pick on the fucking story and-
Oh, who am I kidding? The only thing any of the news channels will be talking about is how dashing and uniquely American John McCain was giggling into his fist about defending the fucking military in a time of war.
Yutsano
@Uriel: I saw Constantine at a friend’s house who had an awesome surround sound system at the time, and the movie itself wasn’t terrible to me. But I didn’t even have to be a fan of the graphic novel to know Keanu didn’t belong in that role. Sigh. My kingdom for a cast of unknowns. Or Travis Willingham. He’d make a pretty righteous Spike, and he has both the look and the body style to boot.
Uriel
@Yutsano: Wasn’t familiar with him, so I resorted to google image search, and while I can see your point, from the results I got, I’ve got to say-
Miroku, all the way.
(That said, I’m sure that if Inuyasha ever makes it to the big screen, the role of Miroku will be played by none other than- you guessed it- Kenau Reeves. Thus completing the triumvirate of my despair.)
Yutsano
@Uriel: The other reason why Travis is a better fit: he’s already well familiar with anime and the various stylings and speech patterns and such. But that helps when you’re one of the badasses on Full Metal Alchemist.
PS: Inu Yasha would probably be too obscure for American audiences to totally grok. We have a whacked out idea of what Japan is anyway.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Hi. You still around? First of all, Keanu is part-Asian. But, you are correct that he is ill-suited to be Spike. Secondly, Constantine is not a horrible movie if you pretend it’s not based on the comic at all. Third, how the hell are you?
@Linkmeister: Yum. :Want. Now.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Spike has a certain gravitas and baddassery that Keanu couldn’t find with a GPS and a troop of Boy Scouts leading the way. But I’m sure some idiot in Hollywood will think this is teh awesome, so we might be stuck.
I’m sweet. Might make waves at work because management blatantly violated the union contract tonight and I’m gonna squak about it.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Oooooh, you’re sexy when you get all bad-assed. I do not disagree with your assessment of the fitness (or lack thereof) of Keanu as Spike.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: It pretty much pissed me off because we had the potential for what was essentially forced overtime. The cool thing is my manager fought against it. She lost, but at least she acknowledged it wasn’t right.
Keanu will always be this in my brain. It may have something to do with the fact that he has the acting range of wet fettuccine, but yeah, Spike he definitely ain’t.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Glad your boss is on you side.
Keanu: Pretty much. He’s purty, but not much of an actor.
Yutsano
@asiangrrlMN: Otherwise not much in the way of drama. People keep asking me how I’m adjusting to the “new” shift. I try to contain the maniacal laughter.
asiangrrlMN
@Yutsano: Heh. I can just imagine clutching them to your bosom and murmuring, “Oh, I love it, baby” would not be an appropriate response.
R-Jud
@asiangrrlMN: A screenwriting professor of mine once said, “All of his screen credits should just read ‘Keanu Reeves, as himself'”.
joe from Lowell
You’re a good egg, Anne Laurie.