tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60046822012-02-16T14:27:13.730-05:00Musings. Stuff.Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.comBlogger3161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-47786225571630200362009-08-20T14:06:00.004-04:002009-08-20T15:22:02.823-04:00

via boingboingMonkeys and Japanese horror movies: two great tastes that...um...Actually, you know what tastes really good together? Red wine and pasta. Back in April, over on Serious Eats, Gina DePalma posted a recipe for Spaghetti All’Ubriaco. It's spaghetti, cooked in equal amounts of red wine and water, finished in the pan with garlic, red pepper flakes and even more red wine. I was

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-74304402868331442262009-08-16T14:51:00.009-04:002009-08-16T16:10:49.153-04:00

My summer vacation is rapidly approaching its end. A large part of the vacation did not actually feel like summer because of the constant presence of overcast skies, 70 degree temperatures and the ever present threat of violent thunderstorms. However, New England weather is notoriously changeable. This week, the last week or so of my vacation, we're averaging 90 temperatures. Look! The

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-3479245397234840192009-07-23T23:00:00.000-04:002009-07-24T02:00:13.241-04:00

Gah. Look. Look at the humanity. Pressed up all at me. Fetch me hand sanitizer and a fifth of Jack Daniels. Stat.This is the last swell of the convention floor, right before the siren call of evening panels and the bar.Oh God, they're going to follow us to the bar... Yep. Despite our best efforts, we've landed in bar that seems to have denizens that are a cross between those that Patrick

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-53984684633842972712009-07-22T12:42:00.004-04:002009-07-22T13:12:45.962-04:00

Good morning, internets. We have arrived in San Diego. When I woke up this morning, it was to the clanging of the umpteenth train to roll through the vicinity since we got into our room last night at 8:30pm. I think when Steven Tyler and company came up with the idea for "Train Kept A Rollin'" it wasn't about all night sex with a beautiful woman. I think they were trying to get some sleep in

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-87568555670673326562009-07-09T13:55:00.003-04:002009-07-09T14:04:58.628-04:00

Mr. Scoop and I have been searching for a worthy successor to the trainwreck of reality tv that was WB Superstar. Behold:Dance Your Ass OffFrom their site:Twelve finalists, nearly 3,000 lbs, one goal -- to go from an eating machine to a dancing machine...Each contestant is paired with a professional dance partner who will train him or her for weekly stage performances -- ranging from Hip Hop, to

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-31296810600291841722009-07-07T09:58:00.003-04:002009-07-09T13:55:41.489-04:00

No. It's not a LOLcat. It's better. It's an actual cheeseburger.This burger is about the cheese. I wanted to take advantage of a particularly yummy Gorgonzola Dolce in my fridge before it turned into a science experiment. Well, more of one anyway. The nice thing about using turkey is that it frees you up from the constraints of burger purism. Beef based burgers have a lot of baggage. Use

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-74796900799166452662009-07-04T22:08:00.002-04:002009-07-04T22:35:42.638-04:00

Annual Open Container Violation Night Independence Day has come and gone. We stood on the corner of our street and Other More Major Thoroughway with uniformed guys that might have been cops, but probably were firemen from the station across the street. We watched the finale of the town's fireworks display. It was pretty cool. The uniforms ignored my Dunkin' Donuts travel mug of Sauvignon

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-13665715521303511702009-02-19T17:36:00.008-05:002009-02-19T18:18:41.602-05:00

"Look, you were a drunken accident. Frankly, I didn't want to keep you but she insisted", ranted Mr. Scoop. By she, he meant me. "It's not my fault that you didn't know he'd need to be fed and cared for when you brought him into the world. Besides, look at him. Sitting there all helpless and alone. You were so excited when he first got here. You were all like, 'Look at my goo! Behold my

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-63050890780554718632009-02-16T18:21:00.004-05:002009-02-16T18:34:59.357-05:00

via this recordingI should be working out. I'm not. I'm sitting here at 6:23 in the evening, wearing pajamas because I never bothered to get dressed today. Yesterday, I drank two bottles of pinot noir while catching up on Tivo'd episodes of Battlestar Galactica. Today, I sat on the couch catching up on episodes of Iron Chef America while eating a metric ton of Chinese take-out. Somehow, I

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-80279725968633732092009-01-31T18:57:00.005-05:002009-01-31T19:56:32.992-05:00

Practically luminous, it arced high into the sky, glistening yellow, sparkling in the mid-morning sunlight of Saturday. The object stood out brightly from the blue sky it hurtled through, as well as from the other icicles and snow that competed to refract the sunlight.It exploded against the side of the hulking form of the navy Nissan Xterra that was crunching its way over the ice that continued

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-3672421173219124782008-12-08T22:09:00.003-05:002008-12-08T22:28:19.406-05:00

I've never really understood the appeal of Levi's 501s. Button flies just are stiff. They dig into places that I'd rather be otherwise unmolested by metal. And apparently they now act as a catalyst to commit home invasion and pick up homeless dudes...with whom you then have sex while committing the home invasion. None of this changes the fact that 501s have never fit me through the

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-51901194955330648242008-12-04T21:16:00.004-05:002008-12-04T21:59:58.490-05:00

"Poot", Mr. Scoop called out as he entered from the garage. "How do you get blood out of your shirt?""My shirt in particular", I asked. "Or just a shirt?""My shirt", he said, looking down forlornly. He gestured helplessly. "I blame midgets. Invisible, exploding midgets. It's the only explanation."I inspected the dark crusty remains that splotched the front of his button-down work shirt. "

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-35966420889542477402008-09-18T21:20:00.003-04:002008-09-18T22:34:37.798-04:00

It was a summer's New England day like any other. A violent thunderstorm with possible flooding was an ever present possibility; the humidity and heat were oppressive. The interior of my car offered no respite. The air conditioning had stopped working about five years ago. To make matters worse, I'd needed to drive with the heat on "high" year round lest the engine over heat. My windows were

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-73427720759193518732008-07-24T09:45:00.009-04:002008-07-24T10:36:13.145-04:00

At 2:55pm, Mr. Scoop and I made our way to the shuttle stop to await the bus to the convention center. We briefly considered walking the whole mile to go pick up our badges and check out the Preview Night exhibitions, but then we realized that there would be sunlight and and energy expenditure to contend with. A small queue of 20 or so had already begun to form at the shuttle stop as we

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-88110300533502452212008-07-23T17:08:00.005-04:002008-07-23T17:33:31.263-04:00

There are terrifying things to be found at Comic Con. For example, you might encounter a costumed individual that appears to be wearing the best Jabba the Hutt outfit ever but, upon closer approach, turns out to be Fat Black Wonder Woman.You need a strong stomach to get through the week. And that stomach needs food.However, even more terrifying than Fat Black Wonder Woman is the prospect of

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-30894048637235034102008-07-23T10:47:00.003-04:002008-07-23T17:30:48.961-04:00

It is morning in San Diego.We arrived at about 8:30pm Pacific Daylight Time yesterday. This means that in real time it was 11:30pm. All I had eaten since about 2 o'clock that afternoon was a handful of cheddar Combos and enough Diet Coke to wire an elephant. By the time we landed, if the line didn't move at a rate that I would deem quick enough, I'm fairly certain that I would be able to shift

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-28234309874907017582008-07-15T21:00:00.002-04:002008-07-15T21:18:52.274-04:00

What is sloth?Sloth is having been on vacation for about three and a half weeks and realizing that, because Mr. Scoop has purchased an Asus Eee laptop computer - a machine so wee that the length of the keyboard is barely that of my hand, I have spent more of that time sitting around in my pajamas on the couch with the television on for background noise surfing teh intertrons than I have in any

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-2183513605388610342008-07-03T12:10:00.003-04:002008-07-03T13:12:39.338-04:00

...because it is chicken.I don't know if you've noticed, but it's pretty damn hot out.A lot of people try to solve the dilemma of feeding themselves in the summertime, while at the same time not heating up the kitchen, by grilling outdoors. Unfortunately, as nifty as the condo is, we don't have room for a grill on the little balcony off the kitchen. Sure, we could put one in the garage and

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-15183444845221324102008-06-28T12:23:00.004-04:002008-06-28T14:50:30.370-04:00

When I logged in today, I discovered that this would be my 300th post since I began the blog, rather idly, in 2003. So, I'm borrowing this idea from Violet's blog:Last year at this time, I was taking a class on "Improving Writing Instruction Using Stuff You Should Have Already Learned In Grad School (Desperate for Professional Development Points edition)". I also discovered that you can wreck a

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-86700866238643774712008-06-14T16:35:00.004-04:002008-06-14T19:21:43.026-04:00

"We're going to go to prison. And I haven't even done anything yet", sighed Mr. Scoop.It was still fairly early on a warm (pre)summer evening. Mr. Scoop and I were hanging out with his buddy, Radio Guy. Radio Guy still works in radio. Mr. Scoop has moved on to security software. While security software doesn't necessarily allow for the opportunity to hangout backstage at concerts with a VIP

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-73523465499836345042008-05-21T20:16:00.003-04:002008-05-21T20:18:13.864-04:00

I think it must be the English teacher in me that finds this amusing:I'll be back to posting actual content on a more regular basis real soon. I promise.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-45047945877050708222008-04-19T16:06:00.003-04:002008-04-19T16:49:03.642-04:00

This image is more blurry than I would like it to be. I'd blame the camera phone, but I'd had a lot of sake to drink by the time I took this.For me, the first carafe of large, cold sake always goes down like water to a dying man in the desert. It is sweet. It brings life. It fixes all that has gone wrong before it. In the space of about 20 minutes.I had pain that needed killing. For the

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-79720976076474342692008-03-24T21:27:00.008-04:002008-03-24T22:30:20.363-04:00

I celebrated Easter by making rabbit:It's a Gordon Ramsay recipe, Rabbit Fricassée with Tagliatelle.I decided to serve the rabbit with items that it might have eaten out of the garden:Asparagus with Oyster Mushrooms and ShallotsRoasted Beet SaladandSpicy Carrot SaladI'm not sure if actually eating bunny on Easter is traditional, but it just seemed right somehow. Plus, Mr. Scoop had requested

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-60310993837093860232008-03-10T21:33:00.003-04:002008-03-10T22:21:08.870-04:00

"That thing with the four circles? Yeah. Don't touch that." Mr. Scoop gestured to the crude black and white wire frame map that, currently, existed only in his pickled by Jack Daniels mind. "It's a stove top. Fire brings pain." He nodded to himself as he said this."Are you channeling slam poetry?" I asked, perplexed. Eyes wide shut and flailing incoherently, this is the god of our New

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-35280047747550862592008-03-02T18:43:00.005-05:002008-03-03T13:34:53.107-05:00

A rousing round of "Let's Drink The Hangover Away". Yes. This has made my day more bearable. I am full of sake and raw fish products. I now hate being awake marginally less.I drank so much last night that I forgot finishing whole bottles of Chardonnay and accused them of hiding themselves from me out of fear while I opened bottles of Sauvignon Blanc in retalliation. I was lots of FunTM for a

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-65082474600299031612008-02-23T18:05:00.004-05:002008-02-23T18:52:20.516-05:00

Mr. Scoop does a killer John Belushi as Joe Cocker impression. I may have mentioned this before. "Why is this relevant?", you might be asking. Well, we just got done listening to a podcast made by, I'm sure, a very well meaning individual who wants entirely too badly to be as funny as Mr. Scoop. Like, called him and asked him to listen to it and everything. It wasn't. It wasn't even close.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-29151452322821082282008-02-06T18:24:00.000-05:002008-02-06T18:38:59.841-05:00

So, were you also totally sucked in by the premiere of Lost last Thursday? I was. I continue to be. Which Lost Character Are You?Created by BuddyTVvia Redneck Scottsdale PrincessI'm not sure I agree with the outcome, but, on the other hand, I suppose it's not outside the realm of possibility to be the character who hears voices that isn't Hurley. I'm just not laid back enough to be Hurley.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-57412667320376869492008-02-02T12:00:00.001-05:002008-02-02T20:21:10.262-05:00

Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow and thus determined we will have six more weeks of winter. I say, we should have shot him yesterday. You can't see your shadow if you're dead.-------------------------------------------------------In other news, I'm still sick. "You've been sick?" I hear you asking (well, the 3 of you that still come by on a semi-regular basis anyway).Yes. The illness

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-77733295231062978232008-01-29T16:49:00.000-05:002008-01-29T17:33:25.169-05:00

Amelia laid in bed. Her nose scraped clean and raw by repeated attacks of Kleenex, she huddled under the blankets on her bed. At six she didn't understand why the normal method of breathing wouldn't just sort itself out and come back to her. When she opened her mouth to get air, she could hear the rattle and gurgle of fluids in her chest. The sound of liquid bubbling around where it oughtn't

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-23905299234694370282008-01-13T13:56:00.000-05:002008-01-13T14:22:49.537-05:00

Well, apparently we're poised to be hit with a new major snowstorm. This, despite a week of almost spring-like weather that managed to finally melt the enormous mounds of snow left over from the last one. Weather.com currently is telling me that I can expect my area to get 1 to 3 inches of snow tonight and another 6 to 10 inches tomorrow. 8 to 12 inches may fall in the town where I work - who

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-81804237016933592922008-01-09T18:45:00.000-05:002008-01-09T19:21:31.759-05:00

Happy New Year! I apologize for having been away for so long. I blame Rock Band for everything. As you can see from the picture on the left, my little avatar is living the rock dream. She's got funky hair and more ink than the Oxford English Dictionary (are you down with OED?). Evil Scoop has toured the world twice and taken the planet by storm as break-out vocal act. She's even climbed

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-4764663941553825782007-12-30T20:53:00.000-05:002007-12-30T21:58:20.779-05:00

Mr. Scoop today purchased a big metal suitcase. It did not contain drugs. Instead, it contained five DVDs of The Blade Runner Ultimate Collection. Ridley Scott's take on Phillip K. Dick's future is both depressing and yet compelling; Shinjuku trying to burn through Los Angeles. I've always been fascinated by the world they created for the movie and we watched the restored director's cut this

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-45034314705384988982007-12-13T20:35:00.000-05:002007-12-13T20:50:18.932-05:00

So, this is what today's big snow storm looked like in my area about two and half hours after it started snowing today. I'd like to point out that there was no snow on the ground (for the most part) this morning. Snow has been falling at a rate of between 1 and 2 inches per hour. At 6:30 there was about 8 inches on the ground. I think that's more snow than fell all of last winter.Here's

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-25199373523698383032007-11-18T18:34:00.000-05:002007-11-18T19:21:03.263-05:00

"What's the spork for", asked Mr. Scoop as we left the house today."Well, we have so many from all the take out we get. And, it's not like they're useful for eating", I replied. "But, you just never know. We could always find ourselves in a spork related emergency. Haven't you ever seen an innocently parked bicycle outside of a mall and realized that its spokes are just crying out to be

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-66946676535976828142007-11-17T13:35:00.000-05:002007-11-18T08:26:38.154-05:00

I really do enjoy a weekend morning in which I'm not too damaged to actually make brunch. Yes, brunch - because after a long night of kicking ass and taking names I'm certainly not getting up in time to make breakfast the next day...although I'll still want breakfast type food.This recipe is the bastard love child of a strata recipe (think savory French toast type thing) from a Better Homes and

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-27422058096929894122007-11-10T13:19:00.000-05:002007-11-10T13:26:24.365-05:00

This would be the new French commercial for Orangina:via Daily MotionI have no words...I think I might like to surrender my passport now...

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-91091901365877037282007-11-01T17:56:00.000-04:002007-11-01T18:32:54.966-04:00

I was having one of those mornings where I find myself standing bleary eyed in front of a Dunkin Donuts staring at the wad of cash I'd pulled from my pocket and wondering just where did all those single bills come from?. I was fairly certain I hadn't been trolling strip clubs in my sleep again. That damn sleep stripping. But then I remembered that Mr. Scoop and I had been out the night before.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-73384906758757124952007-10-20T09:08:00.000-04:002007-10-20T10:12:11.708-04:00

New England's weather is a fickle bitch.If you live here, I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. If you don't live here, well...then I'm very sorry.We are deep in the throes of autumn. Look! Pretty leaves! I said look, dammit.When I woke up on Monday, it was 39 bone chilling degrees. Yesterday, it was tropically damp and warm with intermittent thunderstorms. I think it was 78

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-13498655990352712002007-10-18T12:52:00.000-04:002007-10-18T13:45:06.278-04:00

The sound of breaking glass, accompanied by the crash of suddenly upturned furniture, shouts of anger and threats of violent bodily harm. Scenes from my last family reunion? No. This was a random fight that broke out at O'Brien's Pub in Allston last night during the "Punk Rock Comedy Show". It was a thing of beauty. While Brendon Walsh was trying to explain to the crowd about glory holes at

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-86738872426769580482007-10-09T21:41:00.001-04:002007-10-09T22:30:13.634-04:00

Today was really one of the first real "fall" days in New England. It stayed a crisp 62 or so all day, despite sunny conditions.I have this rule that I won't wear socks until the first snow. Hell, I won't even bother with a jacket before then either (a sweater is ok, if you don't mind wearing the t-shirt that says "Colossal Pussy" over it). But, I will break down and make comfort food if

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-55285561376426948282007-10-04T19:02:00.000-04:002007-10-04T19:51:59.661-04:00

My camera phone really didn't do the picture justice, but I snapped that...augmented...caution sign in front of the school's auditorium yesterday. Yes. It does show a little stick figure guy kicking another little stick figure guy until he was good and down. Like Leonidas, kicking a Persian messenger down a well...which is why it probably says "This Is Sparta!!!" underneath it all. I'm not

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-1497663214363678262007-09-28T21:52:00.000-04:002007-09-28T23:21:52.832-04:00

I got that mug there near the end of my first year of teaching. It belonged to the Assistant Director of the private Special Ed school in which I'd managed to get my foot in the door as an English teacher. First job - Yay, right? All the kids there were certifiable crazies. In fact, the day I was interviewed, a 12 year old boy burst into my interview room screaming that he was Satan and that

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-60043654360456092462007-09-24T18:34:00.000-04:002007-09-24T19:23:53.979-04:00

We came upstairs and smelled burning plastic...coming from my computer. Mr. Scoop had the foresight to not pour beer on the tower, but turn it off instead. No need to commit alcohol abuse and electrocute himself at the same time. That's not the kind of multitasking we like to engage in around here. No, rather, that requires a beer hat, Depends and a working remote control. While I await the

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-47031296196219104222007-08-07T18:38:00.000-04:002007-08-07T19:17:40.317-04:00

"Motherfucker", screeched Mr. Scoop as he bolted upright in bed, trying to free himself from the tangle of sheets. Spiders. He'd been dreaming about the spiders again. Despite the rabbit pulse throbbing away in his ears and every fiber of his being screaming at him to purify the room with fire, he woke up enough to realize that setting the bed aflame with his Zippo would have been A Bad Idea.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-9041050051125497712007-08-05T20:28:00.000-04:002007-08-05T21:56:31.290-04:00

"It's good to be a gansta", opined Mr. Scoop. We had just arrived at our favorite sushi place after taking in the Simpsons movie. We arrived white, which made Mr. Scoop's comment a bit silly. There have been no documented white gansta's since Eminem. The entire Mafia notwithstanding. Besides, there has been a certain amount of pop culture that points to the idea that "it's hard out here for

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-39881139742027849742007-07-31T21:55:00.000-04:002007-07-31T22:40:43.695-04:00

...but it won't leave you suddenly hungry an hour later.So, now that we're back home, I think it's only proper that we continue to make the new camera pay for itself by taking cool pictures. For example, here's tonight's dinner:It's based on Tony Bourdain's recipe for "Mignons de porc l'ail" from his Les Halles cookbook, although I'm fairly certain he didn't serve his pork tenderloin with

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-88490168585080686432007-07-28T10:41:00.000-04:002007-07-28T11:07:47.389-04:00

San Diego is not a cheap place to vacation, at least not in the area central to the Convention Center. Our coffee and danish (you know, the continental breakfast that most hotels usually give the guests for free?) was eight dollars this morning. We tried to go to a place that offered a sweet deal of a large beer and a small sake for $5.50 at dinner time last night and it was going to be an hour

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-62742498042369110982007-07-27T11:31:00.000-04:002007-07-27T12:00:25.213-04:00

Yesterday was a long day. The convention has attracted even more people to it than in previous years. They didn't let us plebes in (even the pre-registered ones) until exactly at 10. So we waited in a line that wrapped all the way around the convention center. I watched as some model from Texas in front of me frantically called her handler on the inside so she could jump the line with her

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-76067402070348062952007-07-26T21:43:00.000-04:002007-07-26T21:51:49.465-04:00

It's like the Unknown Comic and Reed Richards had a freaky love child:Does Sue Storm know? The sign on the back, in case you can't see the writing (although you can click to enlarge the pic), says "Kick Me".Ok. We're off to drink beer and generally embarrass ourselves in front of strangers. Must be a day. More tomorrow, depending on how crippled I am.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-7829798686248695662007-07-26T10:42:00.001-04:002007-07-26T10:58:06.721-04:00

It is 20 minutes to eight o'clock, Pacific Daylight Time. I've been awake since 5, since my body thought that was eight o'clock. My hotel room as a lovely view of a construction site and the train tracks. The trains have been running nonstop for much of the night and the morning. Fortunately, I had ear plugs and was mostly not bothered. Mr. Scoop was not quite as fortunate and has begun the

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-84179896240714738032007-07-24T22:21:00.000-04:002007-07-24T22:46:37.330-04:00

"Inhale my vengeance!" Mr. Scoop shrieked as he sat at his computer.Lo, there was much farting.Farts don't go well with Malbec. Neither does atomized Febreze, no matter how tightly I clamp my hand over the top of the wine glass as Mr. Scoop darts around the room with an aerosol can like an apologetic, but spastic monkey.Ok. Maybe not so apologetic:"I will never apologize for my vengeance! Yea,

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-8668491820919731932007-07-11T21:15:00.000-04:002007-07-11T22:22:12.721-04:00

...and because I can finally get photos off my phone again (such as they are).I went ahead and made the veal heart. I decided to try the grilling route (well, actually, I used my broiler - which Alton Brown says is an upside down grill). I came to this decision after Googling "veal heart recipes" and coming across Chris Cosentino's Web site Offal Good. On that site he has a recipe for Grilled

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-79963048901659776422007-07-04T21:23:00.000-04:002007-07-04T22:53:23.585-04:00

Happy Independence Day!I'm still free. This, despite engaging in flagrant open container violations while standing across the street from the local fire station. Our new place is located in just the perfect place to not quite see the fireworks displays from either our town or the next one over without going east or west two blocks in either direction. The street corner across from the fire

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-46468216102335529442007-06-30T19:33:00.000-04:002007-06-30T20:17:29.309-04:00

I'd like to report a rape.On Thursday, June 28, 2007, I walked into a fairly upscale steakhouse/ "New American Cuisine" joint and ordered a thin crusted, mushroom and caramelized onion pizza as an appetizer to split with Mr. Scoop while we waited for our entrees. A delicious looking piece of crispy flatbread, studded with a variety of wild mushrooms and draped in candy-like onions, arrived

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-4833733332629283572007-06-22T16:25:00.000-04:002007-06-22T16:34:23.705-04:00

Personally, I think he's better off without her.Seriously, that's $65 that could have gone for more beer. And then you wouldn't have to settle for Miller Genuine Draft.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-19411873933089794602007-06-16T16:11:00.000-04:002007-06-16T16:51:17.805-04:00

To The Driver of The Wood Paneled Minivan That Nearly Broadsided Me At 6:13AM:I know you may not believe it, but other cars are occasionally on the road at this hour of the morning. Some of us need our first caffeine fix; others of us haven't been to bed. I'm guessing you were in that second category. You staggered, disheveled, antsy and reeking of Bacardi 151, out of your girlfriend's

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-44540640079131465572007-06-02T23:58:00.000-04:002007-06-03T01:05:01.675-04:00

Dear Dude Who Found My Website By Googling "lost bet" + "her pants down":Well, I hope you don't feel too stupid.I'm sure the story about my aunt was interesting. But, it's hardly worth trying to find your way to Northeast Assfuck from Billerica, Massachusetts to see if you can claim your stake in my family's next Christmas party. My aunt really isn't that easy. And gas is too expensive to

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-64969540461562114492007-05-15T21:29:00.000-04:002007-05-15T22:09:14.574-04:00

When I was 10 and my sister was 6, I caught her in the act of using the microwave to nuke a tiny, brown ant.I freaked out on her. I couldn't even begin to fathom why you would do something like that. Ants are supposed to be squished. What would drive someone to go all Bergen-Belsen on one? And why not just incinerate it with the proper application of sunlight through a magnifying glass like

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-22966558484314788782007-04-14T15:26:00.000-04:002007-04-14T15:31:37.531-04:00

Putting beer in the humidifier while you sleep does not "help keep last night's buzz going". It just fucks up the humdifier.You're welcome.Also - I need pants. And aspirin.Thank you.

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-78249046452494570572007-04-05T19:44:00.000-04:002007-04-05T21:25:40.301-04:00

Mr. Scoop has finally broken our balcony's cherry. Yesterday evening I came home to find him standing in the middle of the living room flailing his arms like some kind of epileptic. I was informed it wasn't epilepsy but "windmilling". You see, Mr. Scoop had purchased Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 and he was living the virtual rock star dream. Sort of. He was disappointed to learn that one

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-17948718273184643352007-04-02T19:26:00.000-04:002007-04-02T19:40:40.816-04:00

As if there's any doubt that I'd end up being the bat shit crazy character with super powers...although, I secretly wanted to be Jayne. Your results:You are River (Stowaway)Even though you may have some personality problems, (most likely due to being too smart and/or from experiments done on you), you are extremely talented and loved. 80%Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 70%Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 70%

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-40738075116039470952007-03-31T21:34:00.000-04:002007-03-31T22:17:17.041-04:00

Is it a bad thing that the local sushi joint Mr. Scoop and I frequent have started to address me by my first name while serving me (yes, I think they got it off they credit card.)?It is excellent food and service. The first name thing is just creepy. And it's mine. Not Mr. Scoop's. They know him, but not his name. Just mine. It's weird and creepy. That's all.--------------------------------------

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-36569862948126332102007-03-22T22:25:00.000-04:002007-03-22T23:35:22.218-04:00

Apparently, I scream like a girl with the proper motivation.A couple weeks ago, on the Monday after the switch to Daylight Savings, I stumbled downstairs to get ready to leave for school. I shuffled about on the cold tile floor, barefoot, trying to slap together a bagel sandwich and collect whatever assorted leftovers I could out of the fridge that I could reasonably call breakfast at 5:50 (that

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-75279059774455732572007-03-10T18:42:00.000-05:002007-03-10T20:08:02.786-05:00

I am posting under the influence of a sake called Rihaku, which apparently translates to "Wandering Poet".It's named after a poet, Rihaku, who "would drink an entire bottle of sake and then proceed to write dozens of poems" (from the promo material). It's good stuff. Very light and mellow and, while it did not necessarily inspire me to write any poetry, it did inspire me to cook quite well

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-34021056931522980822007-03-06T21:26:00.000-05:002007-03-06T21:57:45.559-05:00

......we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was that we did wrong..."I like to touch my glands!" This was the exclamation one of my seniors greeted me with today.He went on like this, as he rubbed the sides of his neck furiously: "I do! I like to play with them when I have a cold. They're bumpy! Of course, I don't have a cold right now but,

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-41900510171879892502007-03-02T22:18:00.000-05:002007-03-02T22:39:11.924-05:00

Sure, I avoid "Boo-Boo-Kitty-I-Have-Nothing-To-Say-So-Here's-Some-Quiz-Results" posts as often as I can, but, really, how do I not share the results of this:You'll die from a Drug or Alcohol accident.Let's face it - when you get drunk/high you lose all control and do stupid stuff. Unfortunately in your case those propaganda anti-escapism commercials prove true.'How will you die?' at

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-81006509050559875992007-02-21T15:16:00.000-05:002007-02-21T16:44:24.934-05:00

I didn't wake up this morning planning to be drunk by 2pm.Of course, I'm on vacation from school. That does give me entirely too much free time to play with. And when the cleaning crew showed up around 12:30, I decided that it might be awkward to sit around and watch them do what I should be able to realistically do on my own. Sloth like tendencies aside.So, I wandered down the street to my

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-22915052052263853772007-02-10T13:54:00.000-05:002007-02-09T13:03:46.277-05:00

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The NortheastJudging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.The MidlandThe Inland NorthPhiladelphiaBostonThe SouthThe WestNorth CentralWhat American

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-27099556335043887112007-02-07T20:21:00.000-05:002007-02-07T21:37:51.827-05:00

Have you ever had one of those moments where you wondered, "Gee, I really wish I knew what my sweetie wants for Valentine's Day? If only could surprise her and show her how much I care!" Or even, "Shit. It's Valentine's Day. I need to do something or tonight will be another threesome with my secret, special girlfriends, Vaseline and Kleenex."I'll let you in on a secret:Whatever you decide to do,

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-30176356520898486832007-02-06T19:06:00.000-05:002007-02-06T19:57:11.974-05:00

Can I ask you a question?Do you like bacon? Crisp, salty. Just a little sweet. A little smokey. A trace amount of the pork fat that's been rendered from it still clinging to the meat like nature's own most perfect sauce?How about mozzarella sticks? Crunchy on the outside. Warm and melting on the inside. Marinara sauce for dipping that is somehow savory and yet sweet with bright punches of basil,

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-36308902526015560422007-02-04T20:15:00.000-05:002007-02-04T20:42:21.393-05:00

I have developed a sudden, intense dislike for Peyton Manning.I'll be honest with you. I'm not particularly interested in football. I played Little League in middle school and lettered in field hockey and track in high school. Football wasn't on my radar - although I was the one who taught my sister to throw a football. No one else in the family could be bothered to show her.I'm not entirely

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-75910811963022499272007-02-03T20:47:00.000-05:002007-02-03T21:26:57.943-05:00

So, tonight I'm drinking a wine called The Stump Jump. It comes in red or white flavors. I'm drinking the red.The red is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Mourvèdre is not the name of some hitherto unknown French Morlock. It's a grape varietal that grows well in hot climates and, left to its own devices, will produce an "okay" wine that is high in alcohol and tannin. Kind of like if I

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-28754130270575001942007-01-30T21:17:00.000-05:002007-01-30T22:01:48.332-05:00

My sophomores are officially sick of this year's reading list. "Whiners or hippies! All of 'em", snarled one young objecter this morning. He was decked out in his best affectation of post-emo youth. Oh, so hipper-than-thou. When did they abandon emo, I wondered. Am I that behind or did I just stop caring?We're in the process of beginning a journey into the wild and wacky world of

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-29609655508065255002007-01-27T18:22:00.000-05:002007-01-27T19:02:09.204-05:00

Mr. Scoop has declared that he wants "a Transformer".Specifically, he would like a piece of heavy electrical equipment that has jumper-like cables that he can attach to our frozen pipes to create an electrical current and, thusly, unthaw them using 320 amps. When it's done, it will turn itself into a semi-trailer truck. And defeat the Decepticons.They're everywhere. Stupid Decepticons. Freezing

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-72822181808189489412007-01-17T21:07:00.001-05:002007-01-17T21:40:42.487-05:00

You know how, with couples, if one person wants to diet success is best achieved if both parties actually diet together? Regardless of whether or not both of them need to be actually dieting? And let's just admit something upfront - you know that at this point you both need to be on the damn diet. Just own it.Well, in my household (good lord, I actually can say I have a household at this point)

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-81121443075520506662007-01-14T19:22:00.000-05:002007-01-14T19:48:12.400-05:00

Sometimes, back-door entry only leads to cries of "pain" and, sometimes, "rape".Other times, it lets me post to goddamn Blogger. That'd be tonight.I'm not sure if Blogger is having issues tonight or if the weakass hardware from Linksys is gumming up the works, but it took about 30 minutes to get to this posting screen from the wireless connection.Here's the thing - the Linksys wireless N router

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-49864645512739517482007-01-11T21:30:00.000-05:002007-01-11T21:57:24.685-05:00

Mr. Scoop was impatient. He went ahead and rented not one, but two Mexicans and put them to work cleaning our new abode. By rented, I mean threatened them with deportation and a broken whiskey bottle smile. Despite the loveliness of the new digs, you'd be surprised about the number of decrepit tenements and homeless shelters in the near vicinity. Mr. Scoop cuts an imposing figure, which made it

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-49395644591145989352007-01-05T22:09:00.000-05:002007-01-05T22:31:58.643-05:00

I have purchased a ten gallon capacity paper shredder.It is, as the kids say, diesel.It eats paper, staples, paper clips and DVDs with nary a hiccup. It actually requires lubricant to function properly. Wanna have a shredding party with me? And...can you bring the booze? The mortgage for the new condo appears to be eating into our slush fund.I've been fielding a bunch of emails about the condo/

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-90873668611567850982006-12-14T20:30:00.000-05:002006-12-14T22:03:31.562-05:00

Hey, folks - Mr. Scoop and I closed on the new condo! It has a little balcony off the the back of the kitchen. Mr. Scoop even managed to check it for pee-worthiness before we got the condo agreement that explicitly forbids "noxious" behavior. I'm excited for the balcony because I know that some night I'm going to feel the need to try out the acoustics of the alley it overlooks with my best

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-16960600125206457422006-12-06T20:37:00.000-05:002006-12-06T22:43:02.120-05:00

This week one of my soon to graduate seniors has been obsessed with bringing a tub of Icy Hot to his classes. He doles it out like some kind of study-manna before each of his classes to any kid who wants it. Relaxing, he says. Stinky, I say. Several of these menthol annointed rejects students turned up in my classroom yesterday. It was like the entire Noxema empire had thrown itself in a bag and

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-44072209950409546152006-12-04T23:35:00.000-05:002006-12-04T23:40:35.320-05:00

Your 'Do You Want the Terrorists to Win' Score: 91% You are a terrorist-loving, Bush-bashing, "blame America first"-crowd traitor. You are in league with evil-doers who hate our freedoms. By all counts you are a liberal, and as such cleary desire the terrorists to succeed and impose their harsh theocratic restrictions on us all. You are fit to be hung for treason! Luckily George Bush is tapping

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-66175032172051613172006-11-19T17:58:00.000-05:002007-11-18T18:29:53.784-05:00

"I'm beginning", said Mr. Scoop. "To get The Fear."This was followed by promises to stop drinking before having to leave thecountry. Normally, I might have punched him in the arm and told him tostop hacking Dr. Gonzo, but I understood under the circumstances.We were, in fact, at the mall.Now you have to realize, that left to our own devices, Mr. Scoop and Iemerge from the house only under certain

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-64525823493133641872006-11-14T21:07:00.000-05:002006-11-14T21:13:49.239-05:00

Those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, along with those of you who got the "newsletter" Mr. Scoop composed on his last whiskey bender (or as we like to call it "Friday"), are now aware that we are deep in the throes of home purchase frenzy. It involves a lot of people in suits. Mostly lawyers. And, frankly, Mr. Scoop and I aren't sure what to do when we're on the business end of a

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-35933838127236938122006-11-08T16:27:00.000-05:002006-11-08T16:35:41.890-05:00

adopt your own virtual pet!Until I can have a yard, and therefore, a dog - I can content myself with my virtual Mysterypuppy! Isn't he cute? You must tell me he's cute, or I will Find You.Mysterypuppy is waiting to go on a big adventure...as soon as he can figure out how to get past the electronic fence...

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-73138318408365232192006-11-05T21:52:00.000-05:002006-11-05T22:47:34.774-05:00

Mr. Scoop is a little punchy today.I've dragged him, on foot, to condominium open houses all day. He had gotten very angry when his next door neighbor announced that she'd counted no fewer than 14 separate mice in her apartment in the last week. He got all Caddyshack at the idea and started buying traps and bombs to eliminate any unwanted rodents from the premises.I, personally, wondered what

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-50157000952456641452006-10-25T19:58:00.000-04:002006-10-25T20:42:06.774-04:00

Last year:"Why are we reading a story with talking animals?" The boy wasn't actively trying to be a smart ass, but he was clearly hoping that by at least attempting a dialogue with me before we started the newly assigned Animal Farm he could forestall the inevitable portion of the class where I make them read most of the chapter out loud because I know that they won't do the reading at home."

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-20973601677180195382006-10-19T20:53:00.000-04:002006-10-20T20:30:11.663-04:00

"I wanna be a shitfaced superhero!" Mr Scoop exclaimed when he got home.There was momentary excitement in Gotham. - I figured that this was it: We were finally going to see what happened when Batman got his drunk on. His well, well deserved drunk.However, it turned out that instead, Mr. Scoop was determined to down the better part of a 30 pack of Coors Light and see if he couldn't find the cheat

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-49768132102138747822006-10-18T20:13:00.000-04:002006-10-18T20:38:40.688-04:00

Every time I take a picture of something I cook, I remember that I really should buy a digital camera instead of relying on the camera installed in my phone.One of the ways I've discovered to make the diet more manageable is by relying on a short slew of recipes that go together fast and that can be easily morphed into different recipes by swapping out one ingredient for another. This recipe for

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-35708152696065416302006-10-17T19:24:00.000-04:002006-10-17T19:57:05.930-04:00

What low blood sugar from too many weeks of dieting can do to dinner conversation...:We had just sat down to our quiet, calorie minded diet dinner. Win Amp chugged away in the background. Mr. Scoop looked up at the song that was currently playing. "What's that?", he asked. "Harry Chapin. The song is Mr. Tanner. It's a song that tells the story of a guy who owned a laundry. He was a really good

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-14120714070628599922006-10-09T09:44:00.000-04:002006-10-09T09:57:44.494-04:00

...to make a silent film about your bad tour experience.I guess the Dresden Dolls' tour with PANIC! at the Disco wasn't everything they could have hoped for.Thus was born the concept for ``Backstabber: Dresden Dolls versus PANIC! at the Disco," which was posted Thursday night at www.youtube.com. Its premise is simple: The bands try to kill each other. Palmer and Viglione stuff PANIC! singer

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-8698574134111765202006-10-05T20:09:00.000-04:002006-10-05T21:36:57.077-04:00

"Oh, Fruit Fly", I implored the late bloomer who clung to my wine glass this evening. "I suspect you've lived through many incarnations. I think, deep down, you know this will end poorly."Mr. Scoop is out being fete-ed (?) by his about to be former co-workers because they like him even though he's leaving them for greener horizons closer to home. Yes, greener. Mr. Scoop can now buy and sell

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-52215033728050488872006-10-02T16:11:00.001-04:002006-10-02T16:33:30.929-04:00

I found this courtesy of Mike Daisey's site:You can find a link that blows up the picture here, but I think this quote kind of sums up the tone of the whole article:"You wouldn't believe how many guys enjoy looking at naked women who've been bitten by sharks", says Dingo Bill, a perpetually drunk and sunburned Sharkee's regular who keeps one eye on me and one on the quadriplegic dancer who crawls

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-13760095403433021022006-09-30T21:08:00.000-04:002006-09-17T22:36:14.891-04:00

"My X-Box 360 loves your tits. That is the only explanation I have forwhy you're kicking my ass right now", Mr. Scoop exclaimed as he threwhis controller to the floor. "I need a cigarette."We are in the process of finishing the front nine holes of the Pebble Beach section of Tiger WoodsPGA Tour '06 for X-Box 360.I kicked his ass by getting two eagles on the front nine. He eventually eagled

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-2589823143888266452006-09-28T16:21:00.000-04:002006-09-28T17:05:23.835-04:00

So, despite my best efforts to be healthy I continue to be plagued by the plague this cold. Yesterday, I tried to take my daily walk to show my body who was boss and was rewarded for my efforts by not having the strength to make dinner by the time I got home. Today, it has taken enough of a toll on me that I decided to take a sick day after I had already gone into work. I was kind of hoping that

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-50412070689902695492006-09-23T18:59:00.000-04:002006-09-23T20:34:27.790-04:00

Hey.It's that time of the year, folks.Cold season.If you are a regular reader of the site, you'll remember that I was fighting a similar viral battle about this time last year.So, I've been combatting the general symptoms this weekend the best way I know how: with copious amounts of alcohol. Because alcohol is a disinfectant.And I apologize for my absence this week. I've been getting a lot of

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-85228805128411713022006-09-14T19:51:00.000-04:002006-10-19T21:54:34.668-04:00

I gave myself a whanging chemical burn on my hands this evening cutting up what seemed to be a fairly innocuous couple of Anaheim chile peppers. They're supposed to be some of the milder chiles and I don't tend to wear gloves unless I'm working with habaneros.The Anaheim is the long green one that's sort of in the middle in the picture.It's not the first time I've abused my hands by misjudging

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-12414930762220113672006-09-12T17:22:00.000-04:002006-09-12T20:22:51.348-04:00

I know that Mario Batali is down with that which Italians call the love of quinto quarto. Organ meat. The meat that is often considered undesirable. He really enjoys it - as he puts it on his website for his restarant Babbo, it's "the love for all of the unmentionable parts...each bite is a religious experience..."This love for getting into the unmentionable parts of undesired meat is the only

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-31146591241379502512006-09-10T15:03:00.000-04:002006-09-10T15:29:42.681-04:00

"You can tell the real coffee drinkers", the Botoxed, anorexic bimbo standing in back of me at Dunkin' Donuts gushed breathlessly to her equally gaunt and pitiful looking soccer mommy friend. "They only order hot coffee."I had just ordered my 3rd iced hazelnut coffee of the weekend. I was also picking up a bag of ground hazelnut coffee so I could save money by making it at home. It would also

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-49102758638911422332006-09-08T17:11:00.000-04:002006-09-08T17:55:24.564-04:00

So, in addition to the whole diet thing and the not drinking during the work week thing, I've also pretty significantly cut back on the amount of caffeine I've been consuming over the course of the week.I know. I can hear you now, "But, Scoop! It's like we hardly know you anymore."To which I say, don't worry kids. I'll be getting started on getting shitfaced in about an hour. It is Friday,

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6004682.post-38002674236315491002006-09-08T07:04:00.000-04:002006-09-08T07:05:36.990-04:00

No one has been banned!I'd like to apologize to those folks who've sent me e-mails sayingthey're having difficulty posting comments on the blog now that I'veswitched over to Beta. I'm trying to figure out what the problem is. Forwhat it's worth, I'm having difficulty posting comments on "normal"blogspot blogs using my old Blogger ID and my shiny new Google accountattached to Beta too. Even more

Amandaramahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14537987722184978282noreply@blogger.com3