food and fooding

Aaron has moved to Knoxville. He and his housemate live about 4 minutes from my house. It's very convenient for multiple reasons, especially with a few odd personal things I've been dealing with and a really bad freak out I had the other week. The most selfish thing, however, which may very well be my downfall is that these two men like to eat. They aren't picky much. So I get to experiment. I hate cooking new things for myself because recipes are always for more than one serving, and I don't want to dirty all sorts of dishes just for one meal. This way, I get all sorts of meals from one set of cooking. I've made them chicken soup, chicken pie, pizza, and a few other things. They're *right there*. It's marvelous.... I need to make something for myself tonight, though. I have some soups in the fridge, but I think I'll freeze one up and make myself somehting from the freezer.

Also, I am starting a tastebook. www.tastebook.com . let me know if you want to be added as a friend. Or, you can start your own and add me as yours. My email address is my first initial followed by my last name at gmail's service. You'll get all sorts of good stuff there.

cooking and critters

Last night, after I had cooked dinner and was mixing my flax seeds with some granola that I wanted to add to yogurt for breakfast (I'm trying to get back to good eating habits), I needed a teaspoon. I rummaged around in my drawer some, pulled it out all the way and grabbed the spoon. I noticed little brown specks. "Huh, I must have spilled some spices when the drawer was half open." Closer investigation determined that no, I hadn't spilled anything. I had a critter that made its way into my drawers. I pull out the drawer and the silverware drawer next to it. Sure enough, in the back, little mouse turds. Annoyed would be an understatement. I mean, aren't my cats supposed to eat the mice? What about all the snakes in my yard? Well, I pull the drawers out and put them in the dining room, grimicing at the dishes I needed to to before I could attack them. I pulled everything off the counter on top of the drawers and there were little mouse leftovers there too. Also, they had gotten into the box of stuffing that I had left on the counter, and there were half eaten pieces of stuffing up there. I cleaned up that counter, disinfected it and everything that was on it, and then proceeded to investigate my shelves. The shelves both above and below the drawers and counters were free of any mice droppings, thankfully, which means that they weren't interested in my dishes (should I be insulted?). The mice poo wasn't there the other week when I cleaned up for my parents. Which would make sense, as it's been too cold for the snakes in my yard to intercept them since then. It might also explian why I've been finding my kittens on my counter. So this is new. Are the mice still there? I don't know, I'll be putting out traps for them. Hopefully I don't catch any. I would rather they just leave on their own. But, I can't have them running free in my house. I had prided myself at avoiding all infestations, even after the way Justin had left it last jan/feb/mar. My parents can't know. When I get back from work, I'll be disinfecting the other counters too. Just in case.

your regular feminist rag

So... I am a feminist, no doubt about that. And as I cannot spend my days perusing national and international news to see what is being done with, for, and against the cause of preventing structural violance from being imposed on anyone based on their race, class, or gender, I let other people do it for me. Sure, I could be told that I'm not the most devout, but at the moment I'm a grad student and have limited time. I've been following two main sites:

Feministe

and

feministing

I like both. I really like both. And while they do a good job keeping up with main 3rd wave feminist points and news, they both delve into misogyney and general hate crimes. Smart, active people run both sites, people who are well known for their activism in these causes. But... they both seem to have the same stories.

Which isn't a problem. They do talk about things that are local to me when something big happens, but it got me searching for another site that would be even more relevent to this east tennessee female. Browsing their sidebar lists of links, I found one. TN Guerrilla Women. I was so excited! I clicked on it, expecting to find more about the stuff going on in state government, like abortion limitations. Or about local crazy events, like purity balls. Things that build off of feminist topics of possession of one's body. Instead, the moderators have turned it into a "yay Hillary" site. Not one mention of this week's overturned attempt at limiting abortions. I didn't see a clip of our own state rep talking about how rape today really isn't rape, because the women who get raped today are sluts who are asking for it. No, simply blind Hillary mania and Obama bashing. Limited substence except for clips of debates. The moderators are allowed to have their opinion, they do run the site. But, I'm not obligated to like it. So I'm no longer reading it. I wish I could find another site.

the week...

So, things have been up and down for the last week or so. I’ve definitely dealt with my share of self drama for the year, and it’s not even Valentine’s Day. In fact, my face is a damn journal of all my worries, and I’ve broken out to the point where I’ve gotten so many zits that I even have one in my EAR that won’t go away. Every now and again I get all hypochondriatic about it and wonder if it’s going to abscess into my skull. I figure that’ll be an interesting skeletal marker as well as a good excuse as to why my school work has stopped.

It hasn’t stopped, though, not at all. I’m working on a paper right now.

Anyway, my parents are coming into town this week. This is the first time my father is visiting me in TN. The occasion? My brother is graduating from shoot-em-up camp at Ft Benning. That’s right, the one time my father is taking time to come see my house is actually just a way point in congratulating his son for being able to follow directions. I’m not bitter, only frustrated. They have also tried to get me to send my cats away for the week, but it’s very simple that I won’t. I will keep the cats out of the bedroom, however, so that they can have a kitten free space. I try hard, I really really do.

So, this weekend will be spent cleaning… my house is a mess, my kitchen smells of fish, my basement insulation needs to be finished, all sorts of stuff. My motivation is that I want to have a dinner party on Saturday night. I feel like making chicken pie. mmmmmm

rate my daemon

please

Roe Day - Blog for Choice

On the 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade, NARAL asks "tell us, and your readers, why it's important to vote pro-choice."

"The right to swing my fist ends where the other person's nose begins." The one thing that I remember from 7th grade constitutional history. This view was expressed by one of America's "founding fathers." It is the basis for my political views.

"A girl scout leaves a place better than when she found it." I was one. And yes, we did always strive to improve our surroundings, our situations, and ourselves. In order to do this, women can not be restricted in choice.

The importance of voting pro-choice is not related to the "for abortion or against abortion" arguement. Not all pro-choicers feel that fetuses (feti?) should be ripped from the mother's womb and tossed into a barrel of burning bras. No, instead, it is, as the position states, a decision of choice. A woman has the option, if she decides it is best for her, to terminate a pregnancy. The interesting part here, is (while this might not stand true for everyone, I am going by common sense, which can be dangerous in itself), an individuals' decision (here with this decision said individual will be female simply by anatomical and biological possibilities) will include more than just herself as in one singular person. It will include considerations abotu her extant relationships, her extant situation, how it will effect her future, and how her current situation will effect a completed pregnancy. It offers a choice, not a forced course of action. This is body politics, attempting to remove the ability to persue a medical procedure. An individual's choice will not effect another's morality. If an woman does not wish to terminate her pregnancy but will instead carry her child to term for any reason, even if she feels it is morally wrong to abort the fetus, that is her choice. Her decision will not in any way affect others, other than through example.

ProLife is not the opposing party to ProChoice. It is instead twisted rhetoric to avoid using "anti choice." After all, wasent being for choices what America was based on? Why would any of these individuals, often chosing this topic because of a religously influence morality, want to be seen as anti-american. Instead, they choose to couch the arguement in terms of Choice and Life. But, to be pro-choice is not to be anti-life. Just as pro-life is not about allowing all to live. It instead revisualizes the mother as simply a "walking womb" where her personal needs are not the priority, including the at risk mother's need to live without (possibly fatal)physical trauma, or even an abused woman's right to live without psychological trauma.

When asked where I stand, I am strongly ProChoice. But, I could not imagine having an abortion. Not to say that I am against the procedure, but I have not been placed in a situation where I must make a decision to remove a fetus or keep a child. I simply can't make that decision yet. But, I want the option there, in case that is in fact the best decision for me. I want the option there because it is, in fact, the best decision for others.

Comparing the procedure to others cheapens it. But to be anti choice can be compared to being anti-prosthesis or even anti implants (medical, not cosmetic). My second quote in the introduction: without this procedure, women are forced by structural violence to be

At the same time, body politics can be compared to piercings and other cosmetic procedures or personal substance use, sexual preference, or even a personal choice to not visit a doctor. It does not effect others. It is an individual's choice. With these decisions, they are still functioning in society. My first quote in the introduction: the government was never intended to restrict the choices of the people. Instead, it provided a structure to facilitate orderly improvement and development of individuals.

Some individuals were escaping other structural violence. Why is the US government attempting to recreate this? Other individuals were willing to risk and postone typical family and social roles to seek their future. Why is the US governement attempting to stifle this?


----

I apologize if my commentary is not ground shaking. But, at least, it raised my voice, bolstering those with better narrative skills than myself.

Consumer Whore-mas Gift List

everyone is doing it. even adults my age. i figured i should get in on it. now here's the clincher: my birthday is around christmas. so i get twice as much. yay!

Fuzzy Slippers
Cat food (Purina One Kitten Blend)
HPV Vaccine
Hair Cut with Rena
red cordaroy pants
green/loden cordaroy blazer
brown cordaroy blazer
dk brown canvas blazer
button down shirts (not teal)
bright green sweater
donations to the Send Elizabeth to San Jose fund
membership to the SAA, SHA, SIA, and SEAC

A rundown

It's been a busy while. I'm posting a blog that i wrote in my word processor a while ago, so if you scroll down, you'll see it dated to its creation. I have quite a few fronts to report on, though, so feel free to read on.

Cats

Boy

School

Friends

Thanksgiving

Cats -
Orion and Neci are both getting along very well. They are still vessels of boundless kittanic energy, so they keep me going and on the ball. Orion loves spicy tomato sauces as well as beans and pasta. She doesn't like, however, any meat that I cook. She just got her rabies shot, so my little bitty itty kitten has two big shiny radies tags. The blingbling of the feline world? The vet is actually surprised at how small Orion is, so we're waiting as long as possible to spay her. Probibly some point in January. As she's an inside cat, if we don't get her before she gets fertile, it'll be a bit annoying on our part, but it won't hurt her. I would rather she be large enough that she goes through her surgery safely.

Neci was spayed before I was even allowed to take her home. Granted she was with a recue group, so not actually belonging to anyone, I'm sure that the sentaments if she didn't pull through ok would be different. Neci likes to drink water... out of my glass. It doesn't matter how much is in her water bowl and whether it was just washed or not. She goes for my water glass. I wouldn't mind so much if she was also not so facinated witht he bathroom. She likes to walk the rim of my tub whether or not i'm in it. She also likes to watch the toilet, and once surprised a male in the bathroom by popping up between his legs and watching the happenings.

They have also learned that if my phone alarm goes off, I don't wake up right away. That gives them time to knock it off the table and under the bed, where I won't hear it go off again. This means that I'll stay in bed, where they are also snuggled under the covers (except for the one to knock the phone off, who i saw go right back under the covers when I did wake up once)sucking off my body heat. Neci alone, however, has learned that if she doesn't want music, she just needs to jump on my clock radio. In fact, I'm totally messing with her by playing music from my computer. She came over and started walking on the clock radio, knowing that if she does it enough, she'll turn it off.

School

I hate school. I want to be done. And the catch 22 is that it won't be done until i put in sufficient effort. I want real life again. I don't mind school, but I would love to do the part time thing. Not to put the cart before the horse or jinx me in any sort, the park will be opening my old position back up. If I get it, then I can totally and entirely do my real life job, which frustrated me to no end, but at the same time fulfilled me. I just hope that everyone will be able to put up with the exhaustion and intensity that this job gave me. I do so hope that it all works out. Losing that job, even though it was from funding problems, was a huge ego drain, and I feel so incomplete without it.

Yes, I'm one of those people who define themselves by their job. If I didn't want a job so intent and crazed, would I be killing myself at school for it? All you old schoolers know that the one thing I prided myself on was what I got paid for.

Boy

Wow - well, he's definitly proven interesting and good. Those two adjectives are horribly insufficient, but they'll provide a base. Well, he did halloween with me and with some of my friends. We started at Sr. Taco. While there, we invited his brother, his brother's wife, and another friend of theirs. So there were many people enjoying themselves. After Halloween dinner, we had planned on going out, but for some reason, perhaps because it was Wednesday, we ended up going to my place to drink vodka and play with kittens. The weekend after halloween was SEAC, and well, after past experiances with official stuff and bringing a sigoth, I was a little hesitant, but he wanted to come to the friday night dance. I figured that I had built up just enough of a reputation for myself between my past job and my time put into the department that I could introduce an "outsider" to the conference. Besides, it was local so everyone from Ktown brought their spouse(-to-be). Plus, it was not the first time for my circle to meet him. We had had a pot luck a few weeks earlier, and everyone had only positive things to say about him.

So we go to the dance and have a good time. One of my friends is in the middle of an intoxicated conversation with a rather renowned SE Archie, and as we were driving her home, we had to stay with her. He insisted that the conversation continue at the hotel bar when the dance venue kicked us out (midnight).

The following evening is the department party. I was definatly wanting to bring him to this as it's very informal anyways so it's a good venue to debut new members of the anthropology auxilary. We all dressed up, picked up two other friends along the way, and had a blast that evening. He even met and sweet talked the prof who had been giving me relationship advice before. The interesting thing is that, if I haven't mentioned it before, this guy went to highschool with two of my best friends (one in the department), and he graduated with my girlfriend's sister. At this party, we found that half of the significant others in the department (ok, a bit of an overexaggeration) went to highschool with them. This is a little podunk town abotu 1.5 hours from knoxville. Apparently they train them to put up with UT Anthopologists.

Friends

I love my friends, I really do. I do with all my heart, and I would and do do most anything for them, if I can. They've been having it rough, both the ones down here and apparently a few of the old schoolers. Guys, you'll all get it done. Remember what I always said in college: enough hard work will get you your way.

Thanksgiving.

I'm hosting Thanksgiving! So come here! I'm doing an Orphan Thanksgiving for anyone who doesn't have the time to head home. As far as I know, I'm doing meat, stuffing,sweet taters,a vegetable dish, and probibly I'll make an apple cobbler just because. I currently have 4 definate guests, and two who will be showing up later (one being the boy who had originally planned on being here the whole time, but was slammed with a family obligation just this week, so I'll deal.) I do hope that it goes well. I think we'll be so totally fooded out, that we'll be sooooo happy.


See - I update - occasionally

update on the kittehs

my kittens are sick.... sorta.
Orion has had a continual sneeze. The vet attributes it to allergies and my house, I'll admit, is def on the upperside of the dust containment median threshold. No worries though, right? Especially as the grandfather dumped off a ton of shtuff the other week. Well, right after he did that, Neci started to sneeze and her eyes (more specifically her third eyelids) looked irritated. We had a vet appointment for boostershots the next day, so I told the vet and she said it's probibly just irritated. Ok, so I have two cats, one sneezing, the other w pink eyelids, but it's normal. right??

I may or may not have mentioned in previous posts that I have never before had me a fuzzy pet. They've always been fish, fireflys, critterpillers, cicadas, or other bugs that I managed to sneak in and not let my parents find. Something fuzzy that actually gets sick, goodness, who knew? So Neci's eyes don't get better and hte weekend comes. I debate going back to the vet, but on Monday I get home and Neci, who had been all lovey and snuggly on sunday and monday morning (translate that to "sluggish") is on my bed with her eyes gunked shut. So I use a wet towel to ungunk them and immediately call the vet. Appointment for the next day and we go. Poor Neci was lost without Orion, but we made due. Vet looks at Neci's eyes and says

"It's Chlamydia"

yes, my cat has the clap. The two viruses, human and cat, however, are different. So all jokes said, done, and repeated till old, my cat is not a tramp. So now we have oral amoxicillian and two sets of eye drops. Its a good thing that he's always been rather calm. She's also learned that Mama doesn't let go till all the pink stuff goes down her fuckin' throat. Even if it takes 6 tries, so she just sits still and takes it now. A cat who follows directions? Who knew??

Two curries down and good! One up in the air and planning!

I made a typical vegetable curry the other day, adapted from a recipe in a cookbook of mine. It was utterly delicious. I had hoped to add eggplant to it, but I baked the eggplant for a little too long, so I said “hell with it all” and tossed some cooked rice in the bottom of a casserole dish, next layer was the eggplant scooped from the shells and mashed, and the the curry. I ate that all week.

The next attempt was a pumpkin apple sweet potato lentil curry ( http://www.ivu.org/recipes/holiday/pumpkin-curry-j.html ) (link is to recipe). That too turned out very well, and this time I was not the only one to eat it.

This friday I’m having a pot luck and I’ll be trying East African Eggplant Curry ( http://www.aubergines.org/recipes.php?eggplant=2341 ). Wish me luck!!

See more progress on: Learn how to make curry