Reading:
        PThe Nightingale and the Rose, Oscar Wilde

        Audiobooking:
        The Sorrows of Young Werther, Goethe


        Watching:
        Farscape


        Doing:
        Way behind on all crochet.
        It is NaNoNovember!






        anandadaydream's Profile Page



        blogger profile
        library thing
        last.fm
        facebook







        desert songs
        amaranth and jasmine
        emulsion01
        my lj

        

        Amaranthus, continued (NaNoWriMo 2010)
        untitled (2009)
        untitled (2008)
        Amaranthus (NaNoWriMo 2007)
        untitled (2006)
        Beneath the Dust (2005)
        Mortal Angel (2005)

        quid pro quo
        modernday phoenix
        life of a naturefreak

        xkcd
        yu+me
        lesbian pirates
        questionable content
        the dreamer
        joe the circle

        101 cookbooks
        threadless
        i can haz cheezburger
        blogger

        the hunger site
        care2
        the ONE campaign
        amnesty international

        

        the quote lists:
        2004-2005
        summer 2004
        2003-2004
        (rest to come once I get them online again~)


          the massive archives:
          12/09/2001 - 12/16/2001
          12/16/2001 - 12/23/2001
          12/23/2001 - 12/30/2001
          12/30/2001 - 01/06/2002
          01/06/2002 - 01/13/2002
          01/13/2002 - 01/20/2002
          01/20/2002 - 01/27/2002
          01/27/2002 - 02/03/2002
          02/03/2002 - 02/10/2002
          02/10/2002 - 02/17/2002
          02/17/2002 - 02/24/2002
          02/24/2002 - 03/03/2002
          03/03/2002 - 03/10/2002
          03/10/2002 - 03/17/2002
          03/17/2002 - 03/24/2002
          03/24/2002 - 03/31/2002
          03/31/2002 - 04/07/2002
          04/07/2002 - 04/14/2002
          04/14/2002 - 04/21/2002
          04/21/2002 - 04/28/2002
          04/28/2002 - 05/05/2002
          05/05/2002 - 05/12/2002
          05/12/2002 - 05/19/2002
          05/19/2002 - 05/26/2002
          05/26/2002 - 06/02/2002
          06/02/2002 - 06/09/2002
          06/09/2002 - 06/16/2002
          06/16/2002 - 06/23/2002
          06/23/2002 - 06/30/2002
          06/30/2002 - 07/07/2002
          07/07/2002 - 07/14/2002
          07/14/2002 - 07/21/2002
          07/21/2002 - 07/28/2002
          07/28/2002 - 08/04/2002
          08/04/2002 - 08/11/2002
          08/11/2002 - 08/18/2002
          08/18/2002 - 08/25/2002
          08/25/2002 - 09/01/2002
          09/01/2002 - 09/08/2002
          09/08/2002 - 09/15/2002
          09/15/2002 - 09/22/2002
          09/22/2002 - 09/29/2002
          09/29/2002 - 10/06/2002
          10/06/2002 - 10/13/2002
          10/13/2002 - 10/20/2002
          10/20/2002 - 10/27/2002
          10/27/2002 - 11/03/2002
          11/03/2002 - 11/10/2002
          11/10/2002 - 11/17/2002
          11/17/2002 - 11/24/2002
          11/24/2002 - 12/01/2002
          12/01/2002 - 12/08/2002
          12/08/2002 - 12/15/2002
          12/29/2002 - 01/05/2003
          01/05/2003 - 01/12/2003
          01/12/2003 - 01/19/2003
          01/19/2003 - 01/26/2003
          01/26/2003 - 02/02/2003
          02/02/2003 - 02/09/2003
          02/09/2003 - 02/16/2003
          02/16/2003 - 02/23/2003
          02/23/2003 - 03/02/2003
          03/02/2003 - 03/09/2003
          03/09/2003 - 03/16/2003
          03/16/2003 - 03/23/2003
          03/30/2003 - 04/06/2003
          04/13/2003 - 04/20/2003
          04/20/2003 - 04/27/2003
          04/27/2003 - 05/04/2003
          05/11/2003 - 05/18/2003
          05/18/2003 - 05/25/2003
          05/25/2003 - 06/01/2003
          06/01/2003 - 06/08/2003
          06/08/2003 - 06/15/2003
          06/15/2003 - 06/22/2003
          06/22/2003 - 06/29/2003
          06/29/2003 - 07/06/2003
          07/06/2003 - 07/13/2003
          07/13/2003 - 07/20/2003
          07/20/2003 - 07/27/2003
          07/27/2003 - 08/03/2003
          08/03/2003 - 08/10/2003
          08/10/2003 - 08/17/2003
          08/17/2003 - 08/24/2003
          08/24/2003 - 08/31/2003
          08/31/2003 - 09/07/2003
          09/07/2003 - 09/14/2003
          09/14/2003 - 09/21/2003
          09/21/2003 - 09/28/2003
          09/28/2003 - 10/05/2003
          10/05/2003 - 10/12/2003
          10/12/2003 - 10/19/2003
          10/19/2003 - 10/26/2003
          10/26/2003 - 11/02/2003
          11/02/2003 - 11/09/2003
          11/16/2003 - 11/23/2003
          11/23/2003 - 11/30/2003
          12/14/2003 - 12/21/2003
          12/21/2003 - 12/28/2003
          12/28/2003 - 01/04/2004
          01/04/2004 - 01/11/2004
          01/11/2004 - 01/18/2004
          01/18/2004 - 01/25/2004
          01/25/2004 - 02/01/2004
          02/01/2004 - 02/08/2004
          02/15/2004 - 02/22/2004
          02/22/2004 - 02/29/2004
          02/29/2004 - 03/07/2004
          03/07/2004 - 03/14/2004
          03/14/2004 - 03/21/2004
          03/21/2004 - 03/28/2004
          04/11/2004 - 04/18/2004
          05/16/2004 - 05/23/2004
          05/23/2004 - 05/30/2004
          05/30/2004 - 06/06/2004
          06/13/2004 - 06/20/2004
          06/27/2004 - 07/04/2004
          07/04/2004 - 07/11/2004
          07/11/2004 - 07/18/2004
          07/18/2004 - 07/25/2004
          07/25/2004 - 08/01/2004
          08/01/2004 - 08/08/2004
          08/08/2004 - 08/15/2004
          08/15/2004 - 08/22/2004
          08/22/2004 - 08/29/2004
          08/29/2004 - 09/05/2004
          09/05/2004 - 09/12/2004
          09/12/2004 - 09/19/2004
          09/19/2004 - 09/26/2004
          09/26/2004 - 10/03/2004
          10/03/2004 - 10/10/2004
          10/10/2004 - 10/17/2004
          10/17/2004 - 10/24/2004
          10/24/2004 - 10/31/2004
          10/31/2004 - 11/07/2004
          11/07/2004 - 11/14/2004
          11/14/2004 - 11/21/2004
          11/21/2004 - 11/28/2004
          11/28/2004 - 12/05/2004
          12/05/2004 - 12/12/2004
          12/12/2004 - 12/19/2004
          12/19/2004 - 12/26/2004
          12/26/2004 - 01/02/2005
          01/02/2005 - 01/09/2005
          01/09/2005 - 01/16/2005
          01/16/2005 - 01/23/2005
          01/23/2005 - 01/30/2005
          01/30/2005 - 02/06/2005
          02/06/2005 - 02/13/2005
          02/13/2005 - 02/20/2005
          02/20/2005 - 02/27/2005
          02/27/2005 - 03/06/2005
          03/06/2005 - 03/13/2005
          03/13/2005 - 03/20/2005
          03/20/2005 - 03/27/2005
          03/27/2005 - 04/03/2005
          04/03/2005 - 04/10/2005
          04/10/2005 - 04/17/2005
          04/17/2005 - 04/24/2005
          04/24/2005 - 05/01/2005
          05/01/2005 - 05/08/2005
          05/08/2005 - 05/15/2005
          05/15/2005 - 05/22/2005
          05/22/2005 - 05/29/2005
          06/05/2005 - 06/12/2005
          06/26/2005 - 07/03/2005
          07/24/2005 - 07/31/2005
          07/31/2005 - 08/07/2005
          08/07/2005 - 08/14/2005
          08/14/2005 - 08/21/2005
          08/21/2005 - 08/28/2005
          08/28/2005 - 09/04/2005
          09/04/2005 - 09/11/2005
          09/11/2005 - 09/18/2005
          10/09/2005 - 10/16/2005
          10/30/2005 - 11/06/2005
          11/13/2005 - 11/20/2005
          11/20/2005 - 11/27/2005
          12/04/2005 - 12/11/2005
          12/11/2005 - 12/18/2005
          12/18/2005 - 12/25/2005
          01/29/2006 - 02/05/2006
          02/05/2006 - 02/12/2006
          02/19/2006 - 02/26/2006
          02/26/2006 - 03/05/2006
          03/05/2006 - 03/12/2006
          03/12/2006 - 03/19/2006
          06/18/2006 - 06/25/2006
          06/25/2006 - 07/02/2006
          07/02/2006 - 07/09/2006
          07/09/2006 - 07/16/2006
          07/16/2006 - 07/23/2006
          07/23/2006 - 07/30/2006
          07/30/2006 - 08/06/2006
          08/06/2006 - 08/13/2006
          08/27/2006 - 09/03/2006
          09/03/2006 - 09/10/2006
          09/10/2006 - 09/17/2006
          09/17/2006 - 09/24/2006
          09/24/2006 - 10/01/2006
          10/08/2006 - 10/15/2006
          10/15/2006 - 10/22/2006
          10/29/2006 - 11/05/2006
          11/05/2006 - 11/12/2006
          11/12/2006 - 11/19/2006
          11/19/2006 - 11/26/2006
          03/25/2007 - 04/01/2007
          04/01/2007 - 04/08/2007
          04/08/2007 - 04/15/2007
          04/15/2007 - 04/22/2007
          04/22/2007 - 04/29/2007
          04/29/2007 - 05/06/2007
          05/06/2007 - 05/13/2007
          05/20/2007 - 05/27/2007
          07/15/2007 - 07/22/2007
          09/02/2007 - 09/09/2007
          09/09/2007 - 09/16/2007
          09/23/2007 - 09/30/2007
          09/30/2007 - 10/07/2007
          10/07/2007 - 10/14/2007
          10/14/2007 - 10/21/2007
          10/21/2007 - 10/28/2007
          10/28/2007 - 11/04/2007
          11/04/2007 - 11/11/2007
          11/11/2007 - 11/18/2007
          11/18/2007 - 11/25/2007
          11/25/2007 - 12/02/2007
          12/02/2007 - 12/09/2007
          01/06/2008 - 01/13/2008
          01/20/2008 - 01/27/2008
          02/03/2008 - 02/10/2008
          02/10/2008 - 02/17/2008
          02/24/2008 - 03/02/2008
          03/02/2008 - 03/09/2008
          03/09/2008 - 03/16/2008
          03/16/2008 - 03/23/2008
          03/30/2008 - 04/06/2008
          04/13/2008 - 04/20/2008
          10/19/2008 - 10/26/2008
          10/26/2008 - 11/02/2008
          11/02/2008 - 11/09/2008
          11/09/2008 - 11/16/2008
          11/16/2008 - 11/23/2008
          11/30/2008 - 12/07/2008
          12/07/2008 - 12/14/2008
          12/28/2008 - 01/04/2009
          01/04/2009 - 01/11/2009
          01/11/2009 - 01/18/2009
          01/18/2009 - 01/25/2009
          01/25/2009 - 02/01/2009
          02/01/2009 - 02/08/2009
          02/08/2009 - 02/15/2009
          02/15/2009 - 02/22/2009
          02/22/2009 - 03/01/2009
          03/01/2009 - 03/08/2009
          03/08/2009 - 03/15/2009
          03/15/2009 - 03/22/2009
          04/12/2009 - 04/19/2009
          04/19/2009 - 04/26/2009
          04/26/2009 - 05/03/2009
          05/03/2009 - 05/10/2009
          05/10/2009 - 05/17/2009
          05/17/2009 - 05/24/2009
          06/07/2009 - 06/14/2009
          06/14/2009 - 06/21/2009
          06/21/2009 - 06/28/2009
          08/02/2009 - 08/09/2009
          08/23/2009 - 08/30/2009
          09/06/2009 - 09/13/2009
          09/13/2009 - 09/20/2009
          09/27/2009 - 10/04/2009
          10/11/2009 - 10/18/2009
          11/01/2009 - 11/08/2009
          11/08/2009 - 11/15/2009
          11/15/2009 - 11/22/2009
          11/22/2009 - 11/29/2009
          11/29/2009 - 12/06/2009
          12/06/2009 - 12/13/2009
          01/10/2010 - 01/17/2010
          02/07/2010 - 02/14/2010
          02/21/2010 - 02/28/2010
          02/28/2010 - 03/07/2010
          03/07/2010 - 03/14/2010
          03/14/2010 - 03/21/2010
          03/21/2010 - 03/28/2010
          04/04/2010 - 04/11/2010
          04/11/2010 - 04/18/2010
          04/18/2010 - 04/25/2010
          04/25/2010 - 05/02/2010
          05/02/2010 - 05/09/2010
          05/09/2010 - 05/16/2010
          05/16/2010 - 05/23/2010
          05/23/2010 - 05/30/2010
          07/04/2010 - 07/11/2010
          07/11/2010 - 07/18/2010
          08/08/2010 - 08/15/2010
          11/07/2010 - 11/14/2010
          11/14/2010 - 11/21/2010
          11/21/2010 - 11/28/2010
          11/28/2010 - 12/05/2010
          01/09/2011 - 01/16/2011
          01/30/2011 - 02/06/2011

5.13.2010
 
I don't remember who it was that posted the link to this recipe on Facebook, but, holy crap, their thumbs-up for it was an understatement:

White Chocolate Chip Cookie. As the page itself says, this makes the perfect chewy little chip cookie. It's an IDEAL setting for white chocolate, which is making me very, very happy.

Also - Tom apparently doesn't like white chocolate in his cookies. Fantastic! These will last more than the afternoon! (Even though half the batch - which was like 4 dozen total for me - is being donated to the Kosciuszko Club's bake sale to benefit Relay for Life. Paper Factory crew LOVES making food.)

Labels:


5.12.2010
 
P.S. Tom DID notice the eggplant...though I suspect he didn't at first. He was finishing up the last of the casserole last night, and picked out a bit of eggplant. He glared at me. "Stop. Just... stop." sigh. I tried. And he still ate some, even if it made him cranky, and he picked them out last night.

Also - I have my Zune. I am seriously loving it. The size is not so bad as I'd feared. I'm getting the hang of the touch-screen, though it's taking a bit. It does not appear that I can snag files off my computer from the Zune without plugging it in (though I can send them from my comp to the Zune), but we'll see if I can't set it up to sync on its own and maybe do it that way. (I have waaaaayyyy too much of everything to let anything sync automatically. ever.) I'm a little annoyed that I can't play/pause without looking at the screen, and that the screen brightness is only "low - med - high" (the iPod had a full range of 0-100). Also... is there no sleep timer?! I counted on that every night with my nano...

Though, as Tom has pointed out, the screen issue I ran into with the nano might have been the result of me rolling over onto it in my sleep. I *tried* not to do that, but if I got tangled in the headphone wires, I'd sometimes pull the iPod over into the rolling-onto-zone. That happened briefly last night with the Zune, and Tom suggested what I'd already been considering:

Use the nano to fall asleep to. (The screen is already iffy. I don't need the screen to play/pause, or even navigate to some degree. Also: it HAS a sleep-timer. ...and, I feel awful neglecting something that I used to share basically every waking moment with. ^^; )


...but, I should give some positives on the Zune. Because I really do like it - the things mentioned are the oooonly downsides. (Well, that, and I suspect the headphones they sent are crap.) I can set my own picture as the lock-screen image, yaaaaay. It's pretty. It's REALLY pretty - the interface, the screen (I don't think I've ever seen a black like this on a screen... even *I'm* drooling over the OLED!), pretty much everything. Flipping through albums is a nightmare for me, because, as Tom put it, "Things are designed to work with the PERFECT music collection." I don't have album art for everything! Good lord. I'm lucky if 3/4 of my music has the basic tags filled out correctly. But, you can flip through your stuff via artist, album, playlist, genre, the usual mix. AND! You can shuffle a playlist on the fly! And if you don't like it (it shows in tiny-print what the next three tracks will be), you can unshuffle, and then RESHUFFLE!!! There was NO reason for my old nano to not have had that ability, and it always irked me.

Interface is insanely intuitive. I'd read somewhere how to "go back" in a menu, so I was ready for the brief moment of confusion when I tried to do it - but once I saw it (at the top of the screen, there's a zoomed-in cropped chunk of your previous menu's name - tap on that), I reeeeaally liked it. I can get from one thing to another really fast, and it all just feels really fluid. The visual style of the thing is just really, really nice, it's very sleek and modern and simple but stylish.

...which is WEIRD. The Apple interface feels old and chunky next to the Microsoft one. Who'd-a-thunk.

Labels: , , ,


5.09.2010
 
I found daikon at my Tops. I was pretty psyched. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's such a large silly component of various anime, that I've always been intrigued. Also, it just looks slightly insane. It is HUGE, and it is white.

And is a radish. (Which is what it tastes like when raw.)

So, in light of this, I decided to make a mess of Japanese-ish food for dinner today:

- Heidi's Sushi Bowl. I used white rice, but it actually has enough flavor that it would make brown rice taste pretty good. The rice-fixin's were DELICIOUS in my book, and while I doubt I toasted my nori correctly, I'd thrown in a blend of nori, sesame seeds, and some other stuff that I picked up at the store awhile ago, so I think it balanced out. Great summer-food.

- Edamame Salad. This was also really light, and I forgot how yummy edamame is. (And it's such a pretty shade of insanely bright green!)

- Japanese Zucchini and Onions. A good generic heavy-soy stir fry thing. Really yummy.

- Cooked daikon, and Red and White Salad (aka daikon slaw), which I found by scrolling aways down here. The boiled daikon.. is really not very appealing. It's way better raw. The slaw is pretty yummy, not really anything too unusual, but a delicious little condiment.

- A large bottle of fairly cheap sake (because O'Malia's has been out of our favorite little bottle for a few weeks now).


Tom enjoyed the sake.

And the soy-soaked onions.

While I continued happily eating away at my mini-feast, he cooked himself a couple of hotdogs. siiiiiiiigh.

lmao. It was a little ridiculous, that I managed to not make a SINGLE dish that he liked. Even the rice! Apparently he's not big on citrus flavored foods, despite the fact that he munches on raw lemons. He was sure to tell me that, though he didn't LIKE any of it, he still really appreciated all the effort I went to etc.

He has now heated a smaller bottle filled with sake, and gone upstairs. I am left with enough food to basically feed myself for an entire week. Which is not totally a bad thing, I was low on lunch-food anyway. Still... I've got to find a way to combat his insanely strong dislikes. hmmmmm.


...though, this does come on the heels of an AWESOME victory yesterday. I cooked this:
Baked Ratatouille-Sausage Penne. Which sounds way more complicated than it is - it's a pasta bake with sausage and stuff. BUT. It contained one entire eggplant. I was a bit nervous about that. The sauce obviously coated everything (once I added a small can of tomato paste and 473902 spices - the recipe doesn't really make much sauce as-is, and Tom needs flavorful sauce), but...

When he came downstairs to eat some, I was almost beaten.
"So before I eat it all, what's in this?"
Brief panic, and feigned casualness: "Eh, basically what it looks like. Pasta, and sausage..."
He asked no more. He ate. A lot. He never asked! Never complained! I'm so psyched. That is an INSANELY healthy casserole, and so long as he never learns there was that much eggplant in it, I can make it again. XD (Also - he didn't say anything about the whole wheat pasta. I may be winning him over on that one.)

Labels: , ,