Food
Went out with my Mom tonight to the symphony. We went out to dinner with her friends first. Must say I'm thankful my Mom warned me before we went that the prices were a bit high. She failed to mention there were no prices on the menu.

The mind boggles. I barely withheld a face at that. I also resisted shaking the menu to see if the prices would magically appear.

Awesome food though. I had pasta primavera thinking it'd be less harsh on my stomach. Shared a creme brulee with my Mom (again trying to avoid the temptation of chocolate mouse served in a chocolate cup because of said stomach issues). No tummy aches, and came home with Mom's leftovers which I fully plan on stealing.

Music
Awesome concert tonight by the Boise Philharmonic. Super long too OMG. We saw Chee-Yun play her violin through several songs. My god but can that girl play. She played the entire time without sheet music, and she was so fast I swear smoke came out of her fingers. O.O

The last song they did was an interesting one. They had a local judge narrate the piece. Apparently it's an opera without words. When it's performed they will usually publish programs to go with it that the original composer wrote up to explain his whacked out ideas. LOL The director thought it'd be more interesting (and far more cost effective too I'm sure) to just have a narrator read it aloud instead.

It was an autobiographical piece about the composers obsessive stint as a stalker trying to woo an opera singer. It didn't work out so well for him, and he kept at it for three years. Three opium filled years. *snerk* Very interesting music. If only I could remember the name of the piece...

End of the World
Yeah, not so much. But I did have a killer weather/cold induced migraine and felt like I might die. And my feet were pretty close to falling off after wearing high heels.

Does that count?

:D Am off to bed to sleep off my cold and try to get rid of this damn migraine. Hope y'all had a good apocalyptic night!

Current Mood: content

Got three hours of sleep last night before I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. That lasted about 3 or 4 hours before I crashed again. Woke up really groggy. You know, the kind where you walk into walls and it takes you three tries to make coffee because you keep missing steps?

HP FanFic Rec
I've been reading the cutest story. It's slash with a Harry Potter/Voldemort pairing. Not my usual cup of tea, but the author of this one was absolutely brilliant in the touch of humorous schmangst that's spread throughout the entire story. It's not currently finished, but it's regularly updated.

Title: The Black Bunny
Author: Windseeker2305
Summary: Harry's had it with his destined role after the Order does something he can't forgive. Now he's done with both sides of the war and wants to be left alone. But since when have his wishes ever counted for anything?
Pairings: Harry/Voldemort, Draco/Weasley Twins
Warnings: Slash, Mpreg,
Spoilers:

Current Mood: sleepy

I made cookies today. Tried out a new recipe, tweaked it as per usual, and they turned out pretty yummy. Not going to be my all time favorite chocolate chip cookie, but they're surprisingly light, and very soft.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies w/ Applesauce

Ingredients

½ cup unsweetened applesauce
½ cup butter (softened)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats (or old fashioned)
1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
½ cup chopped pecans


Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

2. In a large bowl, cream together the applesauce, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in the quick oats and chocolate chips. Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Use 1/8 cup to measure spoonfuls.

3. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Current Mood: satisfied

Does anyone have strange habits? Those things that you just do almost unconsciously. Like when I come in my front door, I automatically close and lock it (to the frustration of my mother, heaven forbid she comes in the door after me LOL).

I've got one that I don't even realize I'm doing it until I'm half done with it. It started because of an incident when I was 8 years old. I lived in Colorado at the time, and we had an awful flood. It was a flash flood, but the storms just kept coming. We lived at the base of Pikes Peak, so we were right in line for the biggest flooding. So in the middle of the night, Dad told us to grab what we could carry and hauled us out to the truck so we could head to higher ground. We spent a day parked in our car in an old drive-in theater, then a week or so in a hotel while the flood waters receded and damages could be repaired.

Ever since then, I can't help but want to be prepared for emergencies. I'll keep supplies of food hidden in my closet. I always have supplies in my trunk, and even in the back seat of my car. But the other night topped the cake. I had the windows open and smelled the neighbor burning wood in his stove. There was that instant moment where I thought of a fire in the house (despite knowing what the smell was). Within a minute I'd got my toiletries and a few changes of clothes in a bag and was heading for my backup computer data before I even realized what I was doing.

I know. I'm weird sometimes. We've already established this. I'm curious though, what sort of strange habits do you all have? Any weird quirks you've never been able to shake yourself of?

Current Mood: amused

My cat loves to sleep under my computer desk. Right over my computer cords actually. I've had to setup a dog bed under there on top so he'll quit pulling my keyboard and mouse off their shelves.

His favorite hobby is to stretch and reach his big ass claws over to my foot. It's a game I suppose to see if I'm still paying him any attention.

There is a reason this is a big deal. First a bit about my cat.

Current Mood: amused

I woke up with this thought actually. One of my weird dreams you know, but it inevitably lead to a rabid plot bunny.

All the people that work for the PtB, such as the Whistler the Balance demon, are just that: demons (or as in the case with Slayers, humans hyped up with demonic powers).

Food for thought no? What type of higher power uses demons as messengers? Not one of the light side me thinks. I'd wager the only reason they're even around is to keep control over the denizens in their small world of influence.

Which of course lead to idly pondering how that would tie in to Supernatural. The Winchesters fight things that go bump in the night, battling the demons they come across (among other things).

Now that the Hellmouth has been effectively shut down and no longer of influence, you'd think they'd send another demonic "Champion" to take care of things for them.

Who might that be? It can't be the Winchesters, well at least as far as Dean's concerned as he doesn't fit the bill. He's not demonic or hyped up on demon juice.

Sam is though.

So, got that outta my system. Not gonna think about it more, I don't want another rabid plot bunny. But it's still an interesting thought.

Current Mood: contemplative

I've been postponing making my Mom's birthday cake for weeks now because of one or both of us being sick every weekend. Finally, tonight I got up the gumption to make it. I actually served it with Easter dinner, but my Mom loved it. Super, super yummy! Thought I'd share the recipe:
Peach Cake Recipe - Allrecipes.com

BTW, I finally finished my antibiotics. They were okay, but turned me into a bit of a zombie. That's far better than any other reaction I've had, so it was something I could live with. I took the last one this morning and am very thankful! I've been pretty useless for the past week. I've not done much besides sleep and read. Tomorrow I get to catch up on gardening and house work. Yay!

The last time I took prescription medication was a couple few years ago when I had a UTI and was given a sulfa-based antiobiotic. Major adverse reactions. The medication they gave me to combat the pain I was also allergic to as it turns out.

Have not taken any prescribed medications since then. Have also had 3 infections since then and have treated it with cranberry juice and vitamin c. I'm absolutely terrified of taking meds again for fear of having another serious reaction to something.

Mom's been Googling it though and found that leaving a UTI untreated multiple times can lead to kidney damage. Unsuprisingly I was dragged to the doctor.

I didn't start any fights with the medical personal. I did however scowl fiercely the entire time.

No reactions to the new antibiotics yet, other than being ridiculously tired. It's making me feel really slow too. Like my brain is working at half speed.

LOL - Got my mom freaked out though. She's going to check on me in the morning to ensure I'm not having serious adverse reactions to the meds.

Cross your fingers for me!

P.S.
On a side note, I'm in love with their height scale. According to their ruler I've grown an entire inch for the first time in 25 years. Yay!

Current Mood: scared

Last year our winter season lasted so long that the spring flowers struggled to come up in early June, but by that point it was too late. None of our flowers bloomed last year. I'm afraid the ones that needed to come to seed won't come back up. My Black Knight delphiniums for one. I've had them come back every year for the past... 10 years or so. It may be a first if they don't do it again this year.

Current Mood: hopeful

Only managed to do an hour of that very thing in the last 2 weeks. My mom and I both have been lax on yard maintenance in general since last fall. One or both of us were sick all the time. Never much energy.

She's till on serious recovery from her bronchitis (zilch for extra energy right now). I don't have much either, and just about everything makes me dizzy. I'm trying though.

I do miss gardening. It always used to be such a peaceful respite for me.

Yesterday I cleaned off my porch and the pots (we've got two on every step leading up to the front door). Today I'm trying for one of the flower gardens.

Hopefully this weekend I can do the back deck. We're going to have to repaint everything this year, from the porch and deck, doors, and trim. Fun!

Okay, off to plug in the music on my Blackberry and set to work. I give me 30 minutes before I whimp out. We shall see!

Current Mood: determined

I've been playing on Kaboodle making styleboards (polyvores) when I'm bored. Sometimes for a contest (such as the one below), other times just because I'm trying out a look (I'm a visual person by nature, so it helps).

Here's my latest board that's exploring retro style in a Sunday brunch setting:

Current Mood: creative

We've got Spring cleanup in the city right now. The city trash has given us two weeks to get the extra stuff out there. I would have started last week, but my mother and I were both sick.

So. I was all set to go out today. I got my gardening gloves on. I packed my gardening tool bag. I was determined to at least clean one flower bed.

Put one foot out the door into the cold and minutes away from snowing weather and turned right back around.

...

Might have been a good thing in the end. I was feeling rather dizzy all day. I ended up spending my time reorganizing my bookmarks.

Television

On a side note, my Mom and I have taken a break from watching our regular TV shows. On Netflix we've made our way through Miss Marple, are working on Murder She Wrote now, and will be trading off with Touch of Frost soon.

Love murder mystery shows. :D We've got plans to start on Poirot after we're done with Touch of Frost.

Current Mood: cold

I'm such a wuss when it comes to new fandoms. My first instinct is to look for a crossover with my current fandom of choice.

That's exactly how I found this one. It's a little awkard at times, but I adore their Sherlock. Socially stunted, blunt, and yet still loveable.

Harry Potter of Baker Street by Dayja

Summary: Sherlock Holmes discovers family he never knew he had, and John Watson finds a child living in the cupboard. Crossover between BBC Sherlock and Harry Potter.

Excerpt from Chapter 8: (Sherlock's brother has attempted to introduce Harry to appropriate wizarding families)

"Well," she finished with after all that, "I can see you are Lily's nephew, same eyes, though you didn't get her red hair…well, but here I go on and on, and I'm sure the children are bored to tears. Why don't we let them get to know each other and we can…"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Sherlock interrupted, "While social interaction is important for childhood development, forcing Sherrinford to interact with…"

"What Sherlock means," John interrupted quickly, "Is that perhaps six children at once is a bit much for Harry at the moment."

"We'll keep the petrified one and the mute one. Please remove the older screechy ones." And Sherlock smiled politely, while the other adults stared at him.

Current Mood: amused

Gadgety meme snagged from cordykitten

( Who comments the most on this journal? )

Current Mood: curious

Mini rant ahead. I'm a bit frustrated right now.

Got a virus on my system. I'm pretty sure I cleared it off, but I don't have sound on my system any longer. Video is fine if it's done through Shockwave, otherwise it doesn't work either.

I've gone to an unbelievable amount of trouble to reconfigure my system trying to find the source of the error, to no avail.

For now, I've moved my speakers to my mothers computer so we can watch our TV from that one. Her computer is quite a bit slower than mine though, so I'm hoping it can keep up.

Gah!

Okay, better now. :D

How's everyone else's weeks going?

Current Mood: annoyed

Snagged from dusty273

Instructions: Run a Google image search to your answer to each of the following questions, and post the result.

Note: You must choose an image from the first page of results. This is important.

1. Age on your next birthday:


( Click to see the rest... )

Current Mood: content

I haven't talked fandom in quite awhile. So, I'm giving it a go. Yet another random post.

( TELEVISION )

Current Mood: cheerful

Nothing serious to update, so it's just a bit of what I've been up to this week.

Speaking of being sick, I've been holding off editing more chapters of my Nano HP Lucius/Harry story because of said illness. Oddly, I've got a strong reaction from readers over this story, even with just one chapter. People keep pinging me with requests to do more, and I've just not felt up to it at all. I'm finally getting over whatever it was that was bothering me though, so hopefully I can pump out another chapter soon.

That's it for now! I'm off to get some work done. Try to stay warm. Hope everyone's week has been going well so far. :)

Tags: health, journal!misc, whining

Current Mood: cold

I ended up cooking Christmas dinner again this year. We decided to forgo the traditional recipes and do something different. I cooked a roast pork loin, scalloped carrots, spinach salad, fresh french bread (which I actually made myself!!!), and then some chocolate cake.

The Errors
* The dressing recipe was bad. The ingredients would have made one yummy vinaigrette, but unfortunately it only made savory caramel.
* The french bread recipe lied when they said how much time it needed to rise. I didn't look closely enough at the beginning when planning my schedule. It turned out really good (if a bit misshapen).
* The pork roast recipe also lied about how much time it needed to cook. I cooked mine for twice what the recipe called for, but in the end it was super yummy.

Chocolate Overload
It was the chocolate cake that was so delicious. It's really super rich though. It's called Decadent Chocolate Fudge Cake. You cook up a box of devil's food cake. Then you make ganache (melted chocolate, cream, and butter). Chop up the devil's food cake into cubes, then use a mixer to mix it with the ganache. Then ya' freeze it for a bit and frost it with a bit of leftover ganache.

I've got a major chocolate hangover today (which is partially due to some major vertigo, but we're ignoring that). LOL

Speaking of chocolate, this was one of my gifts this year. Cracked me up!


...and now for something completely different!
Sometime later today I'll finally get a chance to start hooking up my new Wii. My friend is so excited for me to get it going so we can network on our games together. LOL We're so easily amused.

On the plus side, my sister was also enthused to find out we had one now so she's been making plans with my mother on what new games and gadgets we can get for it.

Off to forage for lunch, and then lazing around and thinking about potential gamage. Lord, but I do love Holidays. :D

Current Mood: relaxed