Nothing But Good Times Ahead

You know what makes me happy? The fact that there's going to be a collection of scholarly critiques of the novels of Jennifer Crusie.

Atomic Librarian Issues A Grammar Slapdown

I may have my own grammar and spelling issues (also typing issues), but I do know one thing: a plural and a possessive are not the same thing.

Dear Franklin Covey,

While I appreciate your dated weekly planner for its affordability*, format**, and your acknowledgement that the December birthstone is turquoise***, I must lodge complaint. "To Do's" is grammatically incorrect. You want a plural, but instead you've created an possessive form, and how can "To Do" be a possessive anyway? Why not label the column as "To Do?" And why did no one catch this? Do you need copywriters? Do they not teach grammar in Utah? Sheesh.

Kind regards,

Kerry

*$4.99 at Target
**While I was very tempted by the 2007 Procrastinator's Planner, I bought this one because it has just the right amount of space for notes, no lines, and the weekly format allows for short and long-term planning. As someone with organizational issues, it's really hard for me to find a planner that works with my wacky mind.
***Not zirconia, as lots of reference guides posit.

Cranberry Apricot Sauce

So here's the deal--about 5 years ago, when I was still hosting and cooking Thanksgiving for 10+ people, I came across a really good cranberry sauce recipe on the internet. I had never understood the allure of cranberries, but this is so good. If you make it particularly smooth and jammy, you can use it for peanut butter sandwiches after the holiday. Problem is, I have no clue where I got this recipe from on the internet, and every year I have to remember and rejigger it. So here's this year's variation on Kerry's Cranberry Apricot Sauce:

2 cups fresh cranberries
1/2 cup water
1 cup diced dried apricots
3/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon orange zest
juice of 1 orange

Put all this in a saucepan, and simmer on high medium until the cranberries pop. Keep an eye on it! It will burn! Stir frequently. Feel free to taste and adjust the amount of sugar and apricots. Maybe add some extras--brandy? Chinese 5 spice powder? cinnamon? Anything. When about 3/4 of the berries have popped and it's jammy in texture, either pull out a hand blender and whir it, or transfer to a food processor and chop until smooth.

Should I?

Is there anyhing more me than a silver teapot with feet? With a monogram?

Pottery Barn, babes. How many initials should I use? The big K, or all 3?

Adventures In Impulse Purchases

I had to return a book today. It was some sort of nonsensical chick lit that I bought on impulse and realized on page 2 that I'd never enjoy. When I returned it, the clerk asked me if it was an unwanted gift. I decided to be honest.

"Oh, no. It was an impulse purchase and I was hungover."

No shame in being honest. Especially when it's funny.

And Drinking Was Done

Sullivan's won out on the drinking. I took the Romance Heroine and her boyfriend out, and we had dinner too, because he is helping me with home repairs. Which you can read about here: http://shambleshouse.blogspot.com. We toasted the Marine Corps (RH's dad was a Marine too) and The Don.

In reading news, I have renewed my Lakewood Public Library card and paid off my fines. To celebrate our renewed relationship, I took out a bunch of mysteries. It's not like LPL has the shelf space to spare.

From The Department Of Best Lines And Descriptions

From Robert Traver's Anatomy of A Murder:

Dr, Smith gestured at the three men ahead of us. "Reporters," he said. "Your little murder trial seems at last destined for immortality--for the weekend, that is. It seems that word of a little dog with a flashlight is what did it." The three reporters noisily commandered a cab and whirled away.

"A little dog shall lead them." I murmured. "God bless our free and untrammeled press."

"An amazing trip," the Doctor remarked as we left the airport. "Your scattered towns are nothing but occasional scars set amongst the lakes and woods. I didn't dream of the remoteness and wild beauty of this place. 'See America first' is right."

"Perhaps, Doctor," I said, "perhaps you would join my committee to bomb the new bridge over the Straits of Mackinac? I'm enlisting recruits and the initiation fee is modest--only half a case of 40 per cent stump powder. Can I sign you up? Otherwise I'm afraid that before long the highways will be one continuous neon-lit hot-dog stand, with serpent lines of cars locked exhaust to exhaust like hound dogs following a bitch in heat. I shudder to think of it and have lately been eyeing my escape hatch, Alaska. For years the Straits stood as our English Channel against invasion from the south. And now this goddam bridge, which our gleeful chamber of commerce sturdies have now added to their nightly prayers." (395)

Where're The Marines When You're Looking For Them?

My dad, The Don, served in the Marine Corps in the early 1960's after the whole getting kicked out of Catholic school and slugging a priest scandal. (I did mention that I'm a 2nd generation Bad Catholic, right?) He then used the GI Bill to fund college. It was a transformational experience for him, and my mom tells me that every year on November 10th, the anniversary of the founding of the Marine Corps, he'd go out and have a drink and this was something that we should all do this year in memory of Daddy.

Personally, I was going to start a tradition of spending Father's Day at the track, but this is a good idea too. The only problem is, I don't have a bar. I don't often drink, and as a rule bars freak me out. Too much drinking going on around me makes me afraid for my personal safety. Any suggestions of places to go? I thought maybe Sullivan's up on Madison, since they have cider and that heavenly cheese dip that The Don would have loved. My enjoyment of the cheese dip might be diminished due to the whole heart attack thing. Harry Buffalo has good onion rings.....Anyway--where's a good place on a bus line to go for a cocktail (or cider, since that's the only 2 things I like to drink) and a little dinner next Friday?