There is no 'N' in strumpet, you Diplodocus.

July 03, 2009

Embracing your Heritage

Ken, formerly of It Comes in Pints? fame, just got some bad news about his genealogy. Seems he is a distant cousin of one Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Yeah, that Joe Biden.

I know, I know. But I think he'd be taking this better if he could get into the family business himself. So I thought I'd get him a little something to help......

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!

Posted by: caltechgirl at 04:34 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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1 HAHA! Sorta. My feet actually ARE that big. Mom used to call them gunboats. Thanks for easing my pain, doll.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at July 03, 2009 04:57 PM (8yjMX)

2 Don't forget the big red nose.

Posted by: diamond dave at July 04, 2009 07:32 AM (UKUNx)

3 a cuz of Joe Biden? I change my name and move to a S. Pacific Island and hope no one ever recognized me

Posted by: GUYK at July 05, 2009 01:20 PM (jMQH8)

4 And I hope he's dyeing his hair red, too.

Posted by: Mrs. Who at July 05, 2009 03:50 PM (nPR3h)

5 Ha! That's funny. :-D

Posted by: Joe at July 07, 2009 01:07 PM (pKjWO)

6 Funny. Better you than me.

Posted by: Retired Navy CPO at July 07, 2009 04:07 PM (gJehY)

7 wxlptjscc, that was really uncalled for. I'm already hurting. Please refrain from orujhvnbchti-ing me.

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at July 11, 2009 04:34 PM (8yjMX)

8 increase ldquo black shade female; auto insurance quotes =-OOO; health insurance quotes 758;

Posted by: Macrosoft at July 25, 2009 01:23 PM (VzJhM)

9 There is considerable criticism in the nation concerning the U.S. failure to join the UN, beyond the privilege of hosting it in NY, as selfish and uncooperative. But, as nations identify their own priorities, there seems little reason why America would be, or should be, willing to join or heavily support an organization that still condones, or tolerates, much less, encourages violence against women as one of the conflict issues that is disregarded as human progress or humanitarianism. The 1995 CEDAW conference had great rhetoric, and the UN attempts to do its share, but how far have women really come in obtaining the equality and equal treatment promised by all those nations. The world still abounds with notorious stories of female maltreatment - which, of course, falls upon its female children as the first initial training program. Joining may not be an ideal that America can or should embrace under those circumstances.

Posted by: Pat at July 27, 2009 10:26 AM (Vj7yp)

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May 21, 2009

Spare a kind thought...

...and a prayer if you're so inclined, for friend and fellow blogger Oddybobo who lost her sister today in a motorcycle accident.

Love you, girl. Hang in there.

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March 16, 2009

Happy Birthday!

It's the big 3-0 for my un-related sister ZTZCheese.

Happy Birthday, babe! I hope you have a wonderful day (even though you have to go to work!)

I wish we could go out to celebrate with you, but I know you understand why we can't.

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February 27, 2009

Friday night fights

Well, so it didn't turn out terrible. We were taken seriously by some of the lions referenced below.

We'll see where things go from here.

And seriously, I have the awesomest husband in the universe. I came home to delivery chinese food ordered and an expensive bottle of sparkling pink wine in the fridge.

Egg rolls and pink bubbles really make all the bullshit fade away. Going to spend this weekend chilling and enjoying my time away from stress-world. See you on the flip side. Or at least on Twitter and Facebook.

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February 14, 2009

Valentines Zen

Valentine's Day together #1: bought each other the SAME valentine stuffed animal. Entirely without consultation. Giggles and kisses ensued.

Valentine's Day together #15: walk into Costco, notice motion-detector fixture on good sale, toss it into cart. Look at roses and strawberries on display across from motion detectors and go, "Oh yeah, Valentine's Day."

Somehow, #15 was a hell of a lot better.

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February 10, 2009

Your Moment of Zen

Dark, strangely calming zen.

Metallica, Wherever I May Roam.

Thanks, honey, for leaving the Black Album in the CD player.

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January 21, 2009

Comfort and Canning

While most of the rest of you either watched or avoided the evening festivities surrounding the adulation of The One, I was busy in the kitchen.

Ooey-Gooey Mac N Cheese with bacon for dinner. I needed comfort. That's the very definition of comfort food. Plus, I had to use up the last of the fancy cheeses from our New Year's Eve party, which were remarkably still mold-free. I didn't want to press my luck further. This was real white sauce Mac N Cheese, too. A first for me.

After dinner it was back to the stove. I'm like a kid after Christmas with my new toy. Some of you may recall I got a small-batch canning cookbook for Christmas and I have been waiting for the stars to align to use it ( and by stars I mean time, inclination, and pectin).

Last night I broke open the book for the first time and made a batch of Blood Orange Red Wine Marmalade. Sadly, because our blood oranges are tiny, it made only a cup and a half. Tonight I broke rule #1 and made a double batch. Which made just over 4 cups. YAY!

Then I decided to try and use up some of the apricots in the freezer that we got from our tree in the spring. Batch #2 was a Winter Pear Apricot Jam. That was tasty cleanup! That recipe made 5 cups after skimming. Not bad.

I was ably assisted by my awesome husband who is quickly learning the difference between tongs and jar lifters, and who has always been a dab ahnd at cutting, measuring, and heavy, hot lifting of pots and plates.

Net: 5.5 jars (+ a bowl in the fridge of leftover) Blood Orange Marmalade (two days), 5 jars Pear/ Apricot Jam, and half a casserole dish of leftover MacCheese.

Yum.

Pictures as soon as I get a chance to download.

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January 11, 2009

Mission Accomplished

Bou and WB have each completed the Walt Disney World Marathon. YAY!

Bou's finish time was 06:05:56, a 13:57 mile average and WB's was 07:00:57, a 16:03 mile average.

I am immensely proud of both of you!

That's a wrap, y'all! Now get some rest! You deserve it!

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January 10, 2009

Think Happy Thoughts....

... And sprinkle a little fairy dust....

Tomorrow, January 11, two amazing people are going to follow through with a resolution they made in August and run a marathon in honor of people who have been touched by cancer.

WB and Bou are running the Walt Disney World marathon on Sunday as part of Team in Training, raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Together they've raised just shy of $5300 for cancer research.

I'll be thinking of you both and watching your split times from here, and wishing you fleet feet and much success!

Please take a minute to click over and wish each of them well! And maybe enough of us do it, then maybe just maybe, they can fly!

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December 30, 2008

Time for Donuts!!

When Tammi was out here interviewing a couple of weeks ago, we decided that since her stay was too short to get together, when (not if!) she got the job we'd have to go out for donuts to celebrate.

Because Tammi loves donuts, see, and the best donut place in the whole world is just down the street (well, in the same town anyway) as her new job.

Looks like I just need to wait for her to get her butt out here.

Congratulations! YAY!

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November 30, 2008

Emerging from Black Friday

So Black Friday has come and gone, and I am nearly done with the Holiday shoppage once again. Other than stocking stuffers and a possible gift or two for the parents or the Hub, the only people I have left to shop for are my 9 year old nephew and my 6 year old niece. Both of whom are super bright and super picky. Any ideas?

I did extremely well, shopping-wise, saving more than I have spent so far by wisely shopping particular sales and comparing the ads on Thursday evening, post-turkey.

By 9 am we had been to 7 stores and it was time to call it a day. Not bad for a morning's work.

Of course, some of the shopping was done earlier, courtesy of Amazon, Woot, and Etsy.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Etsy. Handcrafted, unique, everything you can imagine, and I've had nothing but good experiences with all of the sellers I've dealt with. Many of your favorite bloggers also sell their crafty output at Etsy. Look them up!

What were you up to post-Turkey day?

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November 15, 2008

Happy Birthday!

To my darling sweet wonderful husband!

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November 13, 2008

Happy Birthday Rich!

Happy Birthday, my dear friend. May you have a wonderful year of love and laughter and happiness!

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November 10, 2008

Crazy Happy Birthday!

It just goes to show you never know. I was planning on a really low key birthday full of meetings and rehearsal and maybe squeezing in a trip to the pool this afternoon.

I should have known better. I woke up to an Instalanche here, and when I walked into my class, I found this:

My students conspired against me!

What's more, they got me a card and TWO cakes. And they sang Happy Birthday twice. I was floored. I hope they don't think this is going to raise their grades....

Here's the Chocolate Oreo Cake:

and the Fruit Tart:

What a great birthday morning!

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November 03, 2008

Head in my hands, Heart on my Sleeve

I've been thinking a lot about Prop 8. It's the only ballot measure I haven't yet decided on.

My head tells me to vote yes and tell activist liberal judges to get a fucking clue. That CA's registered Domestic Partnership law provides the same rights to gay couples who register as marriage does to straight couples. That marriage is a construct not of the state, but of the church, and really the RDP law should apply to gays and straights both as a "civil union," a mere contract. That "marriage" is solemnized and consecrated by your belief system, whatever that is, and abides by those rules. God's rules. Or gods' rules. Whatever you believe. Not the state's rules.

I worry about the consequences for churches and ministers who are against marrying gay couples, for whatever reason. Will they be breaking the law if they refuse? Will they lose their 501 status? Will anyone be allowed to believe that homosexuality is wrong or state that belief? It may be bigoted, but in this country, people have a right to believe as they choose. We call it Freedom of Religion.

And you know, I just am so tired of all the in-your-faceness of the Prop 8 fight. I just want to vote no to say HA! Keep your "whether you like it or not" and all your Gay PDA on TV (for the record, all PDA on TV makes me sick, we've just seen a lot of it with this Prop 8 thing). It makes me want to be perverse and give all the Prop 8 opponents the finger.

But my heart tells me differently.

As I've mentioned many times on this blog, one of my dearest friends is gay, and he married his partner about 5 years ago in one of the most beautiful, heartfelt weddings I have ever seen. I was proud to be a "bridesmaid" and stand up for them, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I remember feeling so clearly the love between them, and seeing how precious they were to each other. I could never take away from them the things that DH and I have, the comfort of knowing we are each other's first and last resort, that we make each other's life and death decisions, that we share the rights and responsibilities of our life together for better and for worse.

I received this today, via email. I hope my friend won't mind me sharing it with you in part, and with the names redacted, of course.

Hi Everyone,

As you know, we're barely a day away from the most historic election of our time. But as you are also probably well aware, there's a lot more at stake than the Presidency.

Here in California, one of the most important -- and one of the closest -- issues you can vote on is Prop 8.

Prop 8 seeks to eliminate fundamental rights for one group of people. If passed, Prop 8 would take away something very close to Nick and me: our marriage. I trust you agree that eliminating fundamental rights -- from anyone -- is unfair and wrong.

...

If you want to help but don't have much time, here's something simple you can do:

The simplest thing you can do is to call everyone you know when you have a few free minutes on Tuesday and bug them to go vote if they haven't. Even if they say in advance that they'll vote, call them on Election Day to make sure they've voted. Even if it looks like the Presidential contest is over nationally by 5 or 6 pm our time, it's still critical that everyone goes to the polls to vote NO on 8. And even if it's raining, and even if the lines are long ... that shouldn't matter.

Finally, please modify and pass along this e-mail to everyone you know in California.

(And, no, you don't need to call N or me on Election Day -- we have both already voted by absentee ballot.)

Thanks so much for all your support!

Love,
A (& N)

I just can't tell them no. As much as I think this whole issue is screwed up and proceeding ass-backwards and I want to vote yes to make a political point, I don't think I can look my friend in the eye and tell him I voted to take away the marriage that means so much to him in favor of a lousy, meaningless contract. Unless you give me one of those lousy, meaningless contracts, too.

So this girl's in an unfamiliar quandry: head or heart? I can't tell which makes more sense.

Posted by: caltechgirl at 02:23 PM | Comments (7) | Add Comment
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1 I think it comes down to this: if you believe that your gay friend's marriage should be treated the same as your own (and marriage, not some partnership that is treated as something that has rights but still not a marriage), then you should vote no. I really feel, and these are my opinions, that a vote yes is equivalent to someone coming to my wedding but doing something to make my interracial marriage invalid. There was a point in California law where interracial marriages were actually illegal -- Armenians couldn't even buy homes in some places. I know you don't like judicial activism, but some activism is necessary to help society progress. Without it we wouldn't have had the civil rights movement for sure. I think this is actually the right way to go about bringing gay rights on a national level. I don't think its right to do something on a national level until at least a quarter of the states have really taken a good hard look at the issue. California should be at the forefront of this because of our unique diverse population. You express annoyance for the No on Prop 8 people but aren't you just annoyed with the Yes on Prop 8 people? The blatant exploitation of children is just damned noxious to me. To quote my boss -- "it is what it is." It's the "elimination of rights for same sex couples." It's not about telling churches what to do - Catholic churches can refuse to marry some people if they are not really practicing Catholics...same with Jewish temples. It's a scare tactic used by people who only want traditional marriage. There are going to be some idiots who may try sh*t but then it'll go to the courts and we'll take care of that as it comes. I hope you vote No and I hope I helped a little.

Posted by: SBC at November 03, 2008 03:16 PM (JLqd9)

2 It's tough - more than tough. It feels unfair. And frankly - we believe in fairness whether it be in the retrospect of skin color, sexual persuasion, socio economic class, or whatever... Laws should be "fair". But I *do* have issues with the the word "marriage" within a social or church philosophy being dictated by law. I DON'T believe that I am any less married in God's eyes because I was married by a judge in a chapel and NOT in the Catholic Church (or any other). I do believe that people in a committed relationship should be recognized (if they so choose) - the same as me - as "married". With all of the benefits and detriments (hello - painful, complicated dissolution of said relationship) and legal ramifications (as in decisions concerning medical care or disbursement of estates) as *I* am. I have trouble with labeling the whole deal "marriage" - because that indicates a relationship recognized by the church and GOD. "Civil Union" works for me - Meaning equal rights under the law for committed couples regardless of hetero sexual palimony or same sex union - and a few of the gay people who are in my life (see Wald Law Blog) - they are trying to find a balance too. It's tough. Something will make it right - I am just not yet sure that a definition of "marraige" is it... WE shall see...

Posted by: Richmonds at November 03, 2008 06:22 PM (RCeqK)

3 Don't go to the dark side! This is not about what feels good, it's about what is best for the future of our nation. Vote Yes on 8!

Posted by: Pasadena Closet Conservative at November 03, 2008 10:11 PM (Q3iRb)

4 Vote no! Vote no! Parenthetically, you should see the emails that flew back and forth on this between my dad and my sister...

Posted by: ZTZCheese at November 03, 2008 10:15 PM (Iw+8+)

5 CTG, you know the right thing to do. If the proposition were about activist judges defining marriage, it would be the "Judges Don't Define Marriage" Proposition. But that's not what it's about. It's about defining marriage. Restricting it, by law. Is this the right way of doing it? A vote against 8 doesn't mean you favor activist judiciary, or even marriage for LGBT -- it can also mean you simply feel that the proposition as written is too flawed to vote for. It hurts too many people. I myself voted against a proposition in the previous election that ostensibly stood for things I believed in, but it would not have accomplished those things, not in the right way. You know what's right. Good luck tomorrow.

Posted by: Joe at November 03, 2008 10:25 PM (JLqd9)

6 Definitely a rock and a hard place. I too have a dear friend who is a lesbian. And was there when she stepped out of that closet. We had a dear friend commit suicide because we *believe* he was hiding his homosexuality. These are people we love, and would never choose to hamper or harm them. It is a struggle on so many levels.

Posted by: Stacy at November 04, 2008 12:15 PM (92p8H)

7 I weighed it out between my flesh and my spirit. I chose to vote by my spirit because in the end, it is what matters most to me. As long as YOU can live with your choice, that is all that matters.

Posted by: Lauren at November 04, 2008 09:13 PM (Pt1kf)

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October 17, 2008

More unsolicited endorsement

The laptop arrived TODAY. Ordered yesterday morning. Huzzah for Newegg and UPS, although, seriously, the driver could have hidden the package a bit better, but no harm no foul.

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October 08, 2008

Overheard in my house last night during the debate (R-rated language)

DH:
Obama is a tool.
He's really a dick.
He should go swallow a dick. Wait, he is a dick.
Go swallow yourself, Barry.

Me:
Hysterical laughter, choking, and tears running down my face

DH:
(with one finger raised, as a finger puppet; in a cartoon voice) I'm a tool.

Me:
Hysterical laughter, choking, and tears running down my face. Pain in my guts from the laughing.

Obama (on TV):
blah, blah, vote for me (pauses)

DH:
(same finger puppet and voice) Because I'm a tool!

Me:
Hysterical laughter, choking, and tears running down my face, hiccupping, now running for the bathroom...

Perhaps you either have to know my usually mild-mannered unflappable husband to get it. Or maybe you had to be there. Either way, I am still giggling 12+ hours later.

I love you, hon!

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October 03, 2008

Happy Birthday, ~~Lemonheads~~Nick and Nora!

It's been an amazing first year for you. I can't believe you're already starting trip #2 around the sun; so big and so independent and such funny little people. Your Mum and Dad are so proud of you and love more than you can ever imagine.

And seriously? Your Mom has such great taste in music.....

Hope you enjoyed your presents and those awesome super cupcakes!

Love,
Auntie CTG

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August 13, 2008

Show some blog love, won't you?

I know if there was any other way, Jay and Deb wouldn't be asking for help, but they need a significant amount of cash to help keep the lights on after August 22. If you can help out, even by tossing them a couple of dollars, it will be more than appreciated.

They're more than my blogparents, they're friends, and they've had a rough year financially trying to raise three kids. After some really rough patches, expensive car problems, sick kids, and ambulance trips, they are about to get back to being financially stable, except for this one large debt the state allowed them to run up. Jay explains what happened, here.

If you would like to pick up some lovely crocheted items, rather than making a simple donation, you can visit Deb's etsy store. Also, if you're looking for a domain name for a software project, Jay has one for sale. See here.

I'd be so happy if I clicked over there tomorrow and saw that the bills were taken care of. I know you all are so generous and wonderful. It would be awesome to see the B-sphere support people who really need the help rather than funding another Andrew Sullivan vacation!

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August 04, 2008

It must be Birthday Day in FL!

Happy Birthday to two of my favorite ladies!

Mrs. Who made each of them the perfect birthday card, I canna compete. See here and here.

But I did get y'all some balloons.....

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