Update.  Amanda has returned from her Winterim session in Martinique (yes, rough duty).  Her plane actually arrived 10 minutes early (11:33 p.m.), but that was offset a bit by the 30+ minutes wait for luggage (it went to the wrong carousel). 

She is not too eager to go through Customs again -- they confiscated her rum (which her Professor assured her was perfectly legal to bring home) and told her she would now have a criminal record.  From her description of the process, her Customs agent was really nasty.  He "yelled" at her for attempting to sneak the rum in as a minor.  It was declared on her form!  There was no "sneaking" about it. 

Fortunately her seatmate was a criminal prosecutor in the States and promised to do some checking for her.  She was given no paperwork about her "crime" so charges probably won't be filed.  <sigh>  To compound matters, her suitcase was overweight when she left Martinique, so she had to pay 50 euros -- cash (they wouldn't take her Traveler's Cheques).  Once the rum was removed in Atlanta, it was no longer overweight.  Two very inexpensive bottles of rum became two very expensive bottles of rum.

On the drive home from the airport she postulated that the agent was by now probably enjoying the best rum Martinique produces.  ;^)

Oh, well.  She is very tan, very blonde, and very glad to be home.  I suspect she will sleep until the afternoon. 

Thank you to everyone who has been asking about her.  Sorry about the impersonal means of letting you know.

...SNOW!   It is beautiful!

Now to wear the PJs inside out and hope school is cancelled for tomorrow (those without children will not have a clue what that means).  The AP Calc tests are written, but I really don't want to have to go to school because then I would have to administer them...and then I would have to grade them.  And I would really rather stay home with a fire and hot chocolate and a house to decorate.

Snow!  Snow!  Snow!

Happy belated birthday to daprivatechef and happy early birthday to marietta_sca!

So many Scorpios.  We don't get mad, we get even.

Home from Pennsic.

Uneventful drive (no vehicle issues this year!), although the rains were a bit daunting (several storms -- all of which were east of Slippery Rock). Amanda was such a trooper, following my Vanagon in the aged Dodge Ram pick-up. I could not have done it without her, although I think back to our first Pennsic, four years ago. All four of us managed the week in one vehicle. Ah, the stuff we have accumulated for our comfort in the intervening years...

Vehicles have been unpacked. Tents dried and stowed. Tarps dried and folded. Friday evening and Saturday were glorious -- clear skies, low temps AND low humidity -- which allowed everything to dry quickly.

Many loads of laundry have been done, and all linen has dried on the line (love the smell of sun-dried laundry). Feet have been returned to their customary pre-Pennsic shade.

Despite the rains and heat, Pennsic was wonderful. I was able to work with some excellent people, spend time with friends, wander the merchants and make a few purchases, and, in general, have an excellent two weeks. Attended a vigil, spent an evening sipping single malts, learned to wear a sari (the perfect Pennsic heat garb, until the rains come), watched a bridge being taken for a walk,...


The host of volunteers that make Pennsic happen deserve much more recognition than they normally receive, so if you are a Pennsic volunteer: THANK YOU! We appreciate everything you do for us!

Not sure where I originally came across this, but I just found it again in my "quotes" folder. Seems appropriate. If anyone knows its origin I will be happy to provide proper attribution.


Accept differences.
Be kind.
Count your blessings.
Dream.
Express thanks.
Forgive.
Give freely.
Harm no one.
Imagine more.
Jettison anger.
Keep confidences.
Love truly.
Master something.
Nurture hope.
Open your mind.
Pack lightly.
Quell rumours.
Reciprocate.
Seek wisdom.
Touch hearts.
Understand.
Value truth.
Win graciously.
Xeriscape.
Yearn for peace.
Zealously support a worthy cause.

From a friend...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkNXwF-73NA

Ah, watch, listen, and enjoy. He has others as well. Apparently he is just as amazing in person (recently in Colorado).

Spent a relaxing day in New Jersey at the thawing of the mud (Mudthaw). Whiled away the day chatting with friends, admiring some beautiful handwork on the A&S display, perusing the vendors (one purchase only -- the Tudor Tailor), chatting more, and waiting for court.

Kael got his Manche/Maunch! Unfortunately it was not a surprise for him, but I hope the very strong welcome he received from the Order was enough to make up for that. His scroll is beautiful -- made by Mistress Sarra the Lymner with wording most eloquent and formal.

Upon arriving home I found a post that Lady Susanna Lockheart had won the pent at Northern Lights! More excellent news from our Shire!

Our artisans are a force to be reckoned with...

Hmmm. I am sure there is a really nifty way to post this, but for now I am doing a cut and paste. This is from a meme Briony did (originally from KandyElizabet).


3/5/07 11:09 pm (UTC)
Track This
1. You're a teacher! And I think that's cool.

2. Find a different way to approach your husband regarding the subject we discussed at Birka.

3. Rose. No idea why.

4. Other than you being a fellow UU...umm...You are one of those people with a real deep-down "good-person" vibe.

5. Well, obviously your van breaking down and you spending an extra night the first time you stayed here. It's a good memory!

6. A cat, because I know you like them and you are very calm.

7. What sort of issues/problems did you have with your kids when they became teenagers?


Thanks, Briony!

In case you are clouded over this evening, check out

http://moon.google.com/

Zoom in all the way...

I remember talking with someone at Cooking Thyng about my hummus recipe. Since I did not write it down, I can't remember who it was. So, hopefully that person will see this and know it is for them...

This is my version of a recipe I first saw in a Moosewood / Molly Katzen cookbook.

In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine:

2 cans (15-ounces each) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon each:
ground coriander
ground cumin
ground ginger
mustard powder/flour
turmeric
3/4 cup orange juice (fresh with pulpy bits is best)
1/3 cup tahini
2 - 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 cloves garlic, pressed (or 4 cloves if roasted)
1 teaspoon soy sauce
dash (or two) hot pepper sauce

Process until smooth, scraping down several times.
Refrigerate. Serve with veggies and/or crackers.
Also works as a sandwich spread on whole wheat pita or wraps.

Happy New Year!

After enjoying everything and anything between Thanksgiving and the new year, I have reached day three of a new "way of eating" and I have not strangled anyone, yet.

I am trying to figure out how to clear the house of the two kinds of doughnuts, multiple boxes of cookies and sweets, five half-gallon cartons of ice cream, and a collection of white-flour bread products that would put a small bakery to shame -- without eating it of course.

Unfortunately my husband is seriously carb-addicted. Hmmmm. Perhaps I can box it all up, sans ice cream (that would get messy), and put it in his office. Out of my sight, out of my mind...

Funny how the Harry Potter Meme worked out -- I thought herbology would be one of my better courses. Oh, well. Barkeep at the Leaky Cauldron works for me!

12 December 2006.
Mid-Atlantic, Northern Hemisphere.

Dandelion in bloom.
Forsythia in bloom.

No snow.
No frost.

aaargh!


Oh, I have a photo now -- thank you Muriel!

Ah, a glorious morning. Cold, windy (sorry Marietta!), but crystal clear.

The claims adjustor was here yesterday looking at the Vanagon. Unlike the declaration of the first body shop, he believes it is NOT totalled -- yeah! Additionally, he gave me the name of a shop that specialises in VWs.

It is a very good day.

Spent yesterday afternoon in the company of some wonderful people at Bakail's Yule. Talking, planning, eating birthday cake -- thank you Muriel, and Briony -- Happy Birthday Marietta and Ceinwen, and generally having a really nice time.

Leaving the city was a challenge, but as the I-95 on-ramp came into view (a route we know well from visits to I-Street JoMar) my vanagon got egged. Discretion, and common sense, dictated we simply drive away, although I realise I uttered a phrase I really should not have give the fact that I had three young ladies in the car with me. I resigned myself to a car wash Sunday morning, hoping the egg would not do too much damange overnight.

Dropped Amanda off at work this morning, then headed to the service station for a fill-up and car wash. Fuel in good shape, I pulled away fromt the pump island only to hear a terrible noise. I had hit the bumper pole at the end of the island. The slider and the right rear quarter panel are mangled. I dared not go through the car wash in case the equipment ripped any less-than-secure pieces from the vehicle.

I wanted a paint job, but this was not the way I had planned to go about it.

I generally consider Monday to be the start of the new week, so I am counting on the next being better than the last.

Off to try to get the first floor in shape for the Games Gathering this afternoon. The house is a disaster as I clean and decorate. It usually looks pretty nice when it is all finished, but reaching that point entails an impressive amount of disruption. Food for Games will likely be a bit more basic than usual.


Looking forward to a new week...

Ocean:
A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man
- who has no gills.

~ Ambrose Bierce

Ah, I adore Ambrose Bierce. Seems somehow right about now...

Bill and I saw Cirque du Soleil's Delirium last night in Philadelphia. In a word -- amazing! The music, especially the percussion, was wonderful, covering a broad range of influences. But the strength and flexibility of the performers was beyond belief. Every show they create goes beyond the last, and this one was no exception.

Makes me feel like a slug.