I am hibernating right now, and hope to emerge in the not-too-distant future. we'll see.

But I needed to share two recent discoveries that made me smile:

http://mormonsexposed.com/

http://poopsenders.com/order/

that is all.

I was hoping that you had passed, and that things were getting better and smoother. But no, you decided to get creative on me. Food Poisoning? Damn you, Indian food.

There is a little TINY kitten (maybe 4 to 6 weeks old?) that has somehow gotten into our building, and is currently playing hide-and-go-seek with the residents. When no one is around, it cries for its mama, but then hides in the many nooks and crannies of this old house when we go looking for it.

I put out a little food and water near where I saw it this morning - I think it is hiding in this big stack of old doors our landlord has downstairs, but I don't want to move them for fear of crushing the tiny thing.

Poor little guy. I don't know what I'll do if I catch it though.....

MICHAEL HIGHTOWER CALLAWAY, 64, died June 20, 2008 surrounded by his loving family, after a battle with cancer.

Michael was born in Houston. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, received his J.D. from Tulane Law School, and his MBA from the Wharton School. He was the Chief Legal Administrator for Baker & McKenzie Law Firm in Washington, DC. After retirement, he returned to Houston, where he was very active in Palmer Church, and was known for his wonderful parties, gourmet cooking, and a warm and giving spirit.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol, and his brother, Tim. He is survived by his beloved partner, Dennis F. Kutach, his mother Agnes, his daughter Nina and husband Mickey Lambert, his son Andrew and wife Carter, his stepdaughter Jillian Kutach, his brother Bob and wife Puddy, his brother-in-law Charles Kutach, two grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held Sunday, June 29, 2:30 pm, at Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church, 6221 South Main. Michael requested that friends wear bright and happy colors.

Friends wishing to make contributions in Michael's memory may send them to Trees For Houston, www.treesforhouston.org.

I don't have a lot of words right now.

Our photographer rushed us some pictures of my dad from the wedding. (so that we could have them for the funeral) ( He's so beautiful. )

So, as requested, here are more thoughts on pickletinis.

First: a recipe.

The Rick's Picks these are made with have lots of nice cumin and lime. So these were a little smoky, a little tart, definitely salty, and definitely potent.

And as for criticism that they taste like a glass of brine, well no more so than any dirty vodka martini. And also, in case it wasn't already clear, I love salt.

But don't take my word for it -- 100 "media professionals" couldn't stop talking about them. And Rick himself was definitely pickled.

Now go read my post on Bleecker Street

Poll #1101635 Should I throw a work holiday party for myself
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Should I throw an office holiday party for myself

My office holiday party should include:

Poll #1091005 The Stuffing Poll
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Wild Rice Stuffing is

The Perfect Thanksgiving Stuffing Includes:

Other Than Pie, Stuffing is the Most Important Part of a Thanksgiving Table

I Would Eat One of Rachael Ray's Stuffin' Muffins

Does anyone know a cognitive behavioral therapist in the city? or know about how I might find one?.

Taking the slow route up windy roads through small towns and falling leaves. People take their time here - to drive, to turn, to talk, to converse.  Coming to a museum built in an old textile factory, where there is wit and beauty and things to think about for a long time, and things to laugh about in the moment and not think about for very long.  Another nice drive, a stop at Friendlys (!), followed by more driving and a good dinner with chances for mickey to sneak peeks at the Red Sox game. (everyone here is a sox fan.) Sleeping in each others arms while wrapped in very soft blankets. 

This morning a simple breakfast followed by a drive through the most beautiful country that makes you wish for a horse and buggy clip clopping along. Then an fantastic hike, straight down a mountain. At the bottom, an amazing and loud waterfall and soft moss, and slick leaves.  Hiking straight back up the mountain, scurrying up rocks and over logs, feeling championlike, singing as you go.  The drive back, such outrageous beauty that stopping is necessary in spite of being late, a successful appointment, eating dinner that is so flavorful and deeply satisfying as the next table talks about music and bands and the Northampton Scene. And then, there are hot tubs. Steaming and sighing, with a huge harvest moon, and stars. 

And now, more sleep, and then tomorrow cheese. There will be cheese and many goats. 

amazing.

 I have been up all night working on my chapter. 

I wasn't anywhere near done, but I'd made good progress. 

At about 6:30, things started acting weird. Yahoo Music Engine would suddenly stop playing songs. The word document would sometimes not display things in italics. I saved the document, tried restarting word, tried seeing what else was running in the background, no luck.

Finally I hard booted. 

The chapter is gone. I don't mean I can't open it, I mean in my folder where all of my Fodor's files are stored, there is no chapter 12. Nada. I've tried searching for temp files - they're either garbage or won't open. 

I want to cry. Actually, I am crying.  

pulling 2 all nighters in a row was easier in college. 

1. type
2. open pill bottles
3. carve a chicken
3a. eat takeout that requires a knife and fork
4. seal ziplock
5. hook/unhook own bra.  (okay, maybe not your bra, but have you seen the number of hooks on my bra?)
6. type
7. carry heavy things
8. ride a bike (don't worry, haven't actually tried to do this.
9. lift weights (this either)
10. put toothpaste on toothbrush/floss

i'm okay just frustrated.....it will be better soon. supposedly like bad sunvurn it will start to peel .  thx for all nice words and love.

Remember a few days ago when I posted that email from "Bridesdecide"? the bridal voting bloc that allows brides to wear their veils as they pull the lever for president?  (jk)

on that website you can read presidential candidate's real wedding stories. Yes, because that should be a factor in whom you are voting for.

Check out Dennis Kucinich's engagement and wedding story.  I'm pretty scared of someone who makes huge personal decisions in a drastic manner becoming president. Then again, anyone who can pull off a wedding in two days perhaps deserves to be president.

a post in menu form:

A Delicious Way to Die

bacon-wrapped bacon
high hope hogs bacon wrapped around high hope hogs pork belly
served with frisee salad and lemon-caper vinaigrette

deep fried mac n' cheese
made with cheddar, gruyere, and st. george cheese, and flying pigs farm bacon
served with iceberg lettuce wedge and blue cheese dressing

patty melt, schnack style
a ground beef & pork patty with american cheese and schack sauce on rye bread
served with homemade quarter- and half-sour pickles

lemon granita

death by chocolate, 2007-style
dark chocolate mousse, chocolate cremeux, chocolate macaroon, and chocolate glaze

(This post inspired by this paula deen recipe.  Of course that made me think of other delicious things that would kill you. I hope you are both groaning and yet secretly hoping that I will in fact attempt such a dinner.)

(edited to add: too much bacon? I resisted things like foie gras, because well, gross. Perhaps sub one of the bacon dishes with some duck confit, or a really rich egg dish?)

OMG
I just got offered a pair of these for review. If there was any way I could actually review them on my site, I would so request a pair.

Date:	2007-05-08 12:53
Subject:	Non Stop Wombling Summer Party!
Security:	Public
Mood:	bouncy
Music:	the sweet sounds of E! television news. It's background noise, people.

I am so excited for this summer - being outside all the time, flirting with my friends and really enjoying it in a way I didn't last summer.

I'm out of town for the next two weekends, but I think we should make BIG! PLANS! for after that.

What are you all doing Memorial Day Weekend? Can we have a double whammy of Coney Island and Metropolitan Barbeque? I think Ryan Pryor will be in town too.

And the weekend after that is a reprise of Lusty Loftness that I don't know that many details about.

But more importantly the weekend after is Mickey's bday. Who will be in town that weekend? I know a few folks are out of town. I have an idea I wanted to run by folks. (shh..)

Anyway, lets make BIG! PLANS! who's with me?

For you boys out there, shorts advice so you too can come to Coney Island appropriately dressed:  http://nymag.com/fashion/features/31255/

It's a little comical actually - who knew that men should ALWAYS go sockless when wearing denim cutoffs?  And don't forget to check out the ridiculousness that are the t-shirts on the second page. While they offer relatively reasonible alternatives to designer shorts (spend $40 at banana republic rather than $400 on the designer version), they then tell you that you should be paying $45-$175 on a t-shirt. My favorite is the last one, because while the line is named "YOKO DEVEREAUX", the designer's name is Andy Salzer. I guess generic white boy doesn't sell as well as appropriation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/02/arts/02spare.html

‘ROTI AND HOMENTASCHN’ Cultural and culinary mash-ups will reach new heights tomorrow night, when several organizations organize a Purim carnival with a West Indian theme. “Roti and Homentaschn,” a celebration of this Jewish holiday that begins at sundown tomorrow, will feature the usual puppets and costumed revelry, noisemakers and desserts like a triangular cookie. But this party will depart from tradition, with calaloo, fish stew and ginger beer, as well as the marching band the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, playing klezmer and calypso music; members of Romashka, a “nu-Gypsy” group; and D.J. Rekha, the founder of the Basement Bhangra parties. The event is a joint effort by the theater company Great Small Works, which contributed life-size puppets; Domestic Workers United, whose members donated the West Indian food; the Workmen’s Circle, a Yiddish cultural group; and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, an organization dedicated to promoting equality in New York. The celebration focuses on what its organizers see as a lesser-known side of the holiday: its politics. Dara Silverman, the executive director of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, said that Purim is often “smoothed out as ‘the Jewish Halloween.’ ” But the story behind it is more complex. Esther, as told in the book named for her, pretends not to be Jewish when she marries the king of Persia. But when the Jews are threatened by Haman, an evil adviser to the king, she owns up to her heritage — at great risk to herself — to save them. “Purim is about how the actions of one person saved an entire population of people,” said one of the party’s organizers, Rachel Mattson, of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice. “It’s a story of social change.” The hosts hope to draw attention to the plight of domestic workers and immigrants in a playful way, with giant baby puppets and a space decorated to look like a bassinet, as well as short plays and participants dressed like, as Ms. Mattson put it, “bicycle-riding Yiddishists that try to get the wheels of justice to move faster.” The results, the organizers hope, will increase awareness and spur guests, Jews and non-Jews alike, to get politically involved. But they also hope people just have fun. “You’re mandated on Purim to get so drunk that you can’t tell the difference between good and evil,” Ms. Mattson said. “We take that mandate seriously.” (Roti and Homentaschn: The Palace Workers Revolt! A Purim Carnival Spectacular, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Workmen’s Circle, 45 East 33rd Street, Manhattan, 212-647-8966, Ext. 10, or info@jfrej.org to R.S.V.P.; $12. Costumes are suggested, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds or flash.) MELENA RYZIK

You are the best best.