Blatherings of an Extroverted Bookworm

Last week my older brother who is planning on attending Union County Community College for their nursing program and needs to take Remedial Algebra asked if we had any Algebra books on hand so he can reacquaint himself before the semester starts (husband of mine having a bachelor's and a master's in mathematics, it made sense to ask us) and we didn't. The other night my husband picked up a pile of books left out for recycling night down the street to see if there was anything worth grabbing: lo, there was an Introduction to Algebra college textbook.

Today I had an appointment with the reproductive endocrinologist and urgh, it just kind of sucked today since I'm still not 100% better from being sick this past week (more like 95%) and I slept for SHIT last night...and a bus, a train, and another bus ride when we're talking freezing rain isn't a laugh riot. On the way back I really wished I didn't have to go into work this afternoon: lo, my boss called me and said they'd be doing an early closing because of the weather, so see you on Monday.

After calling fings to let him know I'd be going home and not to work, he told me that he checked the tracking # for the dvd shipment we were expecting (the 3 seasons of "Deadwood", yaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!) and that the UPS guys were lying fuckers again who claimed to have attempted a delivery yesterday when they goddamned well didn't cause I was HOME all day and there was no note left behind, either. I grabbed lunch and then high-tailed it back home: lo, the UPS truck was parked across the street from our building and I was able to go over to the UPS dudes and say "Gimmee", and thankfully they had our movies :). And I was able to sign for 3 packages for our neighbours downstairs, at least one package was on its 3rd attempt and would otherwise had been sent back to Secaucus where it would have started it's march back to the sender.

Wishing all a Happy & Healthy 2007!! {HUGS}

Merry Christmas!!! Hope everyone is having a good one :).

I have NO patience for books that have terms like "torch of love" and "womanly portal". NONE.

I haven't made this, but it sure sounds dandy :).

*Crust*
10 whole graham crackers, crumbled
1/2 cup each: sugar & macadamia nuts
2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 (1/2 stick) cup of unslated butter, melted

*Filling*
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup constarch
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups cold water
4 large egg yolks
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
1/2 cup lemon juice

*Meringue*
4 large egg whites
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup of sugar

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 
Crust: In food processor, process all ingredients, except butter until nuts are ground.  Add butter; process until crumb mixture is evenly moistened.  Press onto bottom and up sides of 9 inch pie plate.  Bake 12 minutes until lightly browned and set.  Cool completely on rack.  Reduce oven to 350 degrees F.

2) Filling: In medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt; gradually stir in water until cornstarch is dissolved.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens.  Boil 1 minute, stirring.  In small bowl, stir yolks to combine.  Gradually stir 1/4 cup hot cornstarch mixture  into yolks.  Stir yolk mixture back into saucepan.  Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture comes to a boil, boil 1 minute.  Remove from heat; stir in butter, lemon zest and lemon juice until blended; pour into prepared crust.

3) Meringue: In medium bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.  At high speed, gradually beat in sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff yet billowy peaks form when beaters are lifted but nmeringue is not dry.  With metal spatula, spread meringue to edges of pastry to cover hot filling completely; swirl decoratively.  Bake 14 minutes opr until meringue is lightly browned.  Cool pie completely on wire rack before cutting.  Cut with knife dipped in hot water.

Makes 8 servings, 479 calories per serving, 5 g protein, 71 g carbohydrate, 21 g fat, 2 g fiber, 134 mg cholesterol, 213 mg sodium

BLEAH!!!!!!!!

Our apartment is so very, very messy.

Doctors give me agita.

I suspect it will be months before I can expect to be able to conceive, if I'm lucky. My suspicions could be wrong, but I don't think so. We'll see. This sucks. Have to work on losing a fair amount of weight, have to focus on that and accomplishing other things right now, rather than on wanting to be pregnant OMGWTFBBQRIGHTNOW. It will be ok, in the end, I know that.

I have bronchitis. But at least I have drugs and 2 kinds of inhalers after my body tried to hack up a lung for 2 1/2 weeks. Inhalers & drugs have helped a whole hell of a lot.

Better go work on the kitchen and dinner.

More details to follow, promise.

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Happy Birthday screamingdolai

I'd like to send out holiday cards, so if you'd like one, please provide me with your name and address. Comments will, of course, be screened :).

Today, fings and I have been married for 6 months. Holy cow!

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Today, I have an appointment with my gynecologist @ 2:30pm EST. Thank goodness, cause I've been a wreck the past couple of weeks. I could be wrong, but I feel utterly convinced that I have PCOS. Or if not PCOS, some other metabolic condition that renders my mentrual cycle insane. I'm terribly concerned about both baby-making and my long term general health. Fuck. I've been driving my husband crazy with my concerns and with all the research I've been doing online and with a book I got off of Amazon. I've been driving *me* crazy, too. I'm going to have to demand all sorts of tests and I'm both looking forward to them so we can get some answers, and dreading the possible emotional rollercoaster. Wish me luck!

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I love my family, but I feel like I need a small vacation from them.

Dear Madonna:

You are a racist, baby stealing wretch, and shame on the Malawians who are helping you. If you really wanted to help that kid, you'd hand him over to his dad with a fricking check for a few grand so he could raise him himself. Then pick a kid who is actually an orphan. Even better, don't take any, you've already got 2. Be a humanitarian, great; donate money, fund orphanages, make sure there is better food and water for some of those kids, whatever. But you have to exchange help for someone else's child?

Eff You,
Yolen

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On a related note.

Mets swept the Dodgers, Yankees were demolished by the Tigers (so says msnbc.com). I am right well pleased with this, indeed I am :).