New idea: the Cancer Alum shirt

...I'd do it.

Shredded and weary.

I've had a dog and a cat both spayed last week, which makes me feel as if I'm on some sort of gynecological rampage.

The cat has tried my normally-ample patience. I tried to clip her nails, but she misunderstood my intentions and literally shredded me. And by literally shredding me, I mean that I was wearing vinyl gloves that hung from my wrists in ribbons, save the index finger, which was full of blood (again, literally). I'm an OCD handwasher, so my hands weren't pretty to begin with. But a couple of days slathered with Neosporin put things right again, or at least brought things back to the status quo.

Then she developed a hernia along the spay scar which will have me worried until it's repaired. She can't be persuaded to take her medication. She's subject to violent fits of trying to nurse on my forearm that leave me with welts and rashes. Between the Neosporin and the hydrocortisone, I should be basted to perfection.

Chloe the standard poodle watches PBS kids, but only Clifford, Curious George and Martha Speaks. If they sign off, she barks mindlessly until I think I'm going to go out of my mind. She quiets down when I get her out of the crate, but then a Benny Hill chase ensues in which she tries to gobble knicknacks, trash, cats, or whatever comes first. We had one night after the spay in which she didn't move for 6 hours, but now she's back to her huge, wild, horsey self. She's very obedient when she has her harness on and we're out together, but I can't do that 24/7. I try to remember, she's just a puppy. She's just a puppy. She's just a puppy. But when your puppy is the size of a young Shetland pony, things become slightly more difficult.

I'm very tired.

Baaaah Decadron baaah. *grumble*

So the pregnancy temporarily fixed my adrenal problem but after the girls were born and buried the levels started creeping up again. Now I'm back on the thrice-bedamned Decadron. I'm beginning to think that I have some sort of cosmic tie to this medication and will be on it for one reason or another as long as I live.

I was just looking at some photos from yesterday and already my face is taking on that pasty, puffy look I hate.

:(

Repost: Cranberry Chutney Recipe

Originally Posted Nov. 3, 2007

Recipe: Homemade Cranberry Chutney ( and it smells just like the Yankee Candle)

I was messing around with some stuff today and I happened to notice a bag of cranberries boughten-and-forgotten at the bottom of the fridge. So then I had to invent a recipe to use them.

This recipe uses alcohol, which is good for two reasons: it lowers the boiling point of the mixture and cooks faster, and also you have to sample the alcohol first to make sure it's safe.

Cranberry Chutney
1 1/2 cups raspberry liquor (keep it under 35-proof so it doesn't catch fire)
2 handfuls washed, whole fresh cranberries (sophisticated measurement, isn't it?)
4 or 5 pieces candied ginger
3 whole green cardamom pods OR about 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
3 whole cloves OR about 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Dash cinnamon

In a nonstick saucepan, pour in the liquor and add the cranberries and ginger. Cook over medium heat till just starting to boil (the cranberries will burst open, then get soft), then reduce the heat to low and add the spices. Cover, stirring periodically, and let it stew at a really low temp for an hour or so. Your house will smell just like Yankee Candle's Cranberry Chutney candle, which is a pleasant side effect.

When the cranberries and ginger have softened, remove from heat and let it cool to lukewarm. If you added whole cloves and cardamom, now's the time to pick that stuff out so no one bites down on a nasty surprise. Let it cool a little more (it'll congeal a little bit), then transfer to a food processor and blend it down to the consistency you want. If you want it as a little accent-pile by a piece of chicken or something, process till it's in small chunks. If you want it as a dipping sauce, say for samosas or meat, go ahead and puree it till it's like thick A-1.

Once I did that, I returned it to the saucepan and cooked it just a little longer so that a little more fluid was released.

Good stuff. I used it as a dip for green-tea buckwheat noodles, but it'd go wherever you use cranberry sauce.

I vote for free Starbucks!

Just a reminder, Starbucks locations are giving out free coffee to voters today. Worth your while!