November 22, 2002
Is There a Cure?
Writer's block is a terrible affliction, and I'm suffering terribly. While I can manage some writing, I find that its akin to pulling teeth. Even these simple journal entries are difficult to write. I can usually manage a few paragraphs of questionable quality in each attempt, but its not enough. So now I'm wondering what other people do when they have trouble writing... There have got to be a few tricks or techniques to get me out of this rut. So, what's your cure?
Posted by criminal at 01:08 AM | Comments (2)
November 21, 2002
Praying to the Porcelain Goddess
Bleh. I wish I didn't have such an aversion to puking - it would make things so much easier for me. I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm sick. My stomach felt funny all day, but not enough to make me think I'd be ill. So I carried on with my life as usual, except that I nearly doubled my cardio at the gym. I felt weak but good after an hour on the bike and was voracious when I got home. I think that was the culprit - somehow, I managed to eat more than a head of broccoli in addition to a potato and a pear. I knew I should've stopped, but my body was screaming for food, particularly tasty green things. A couple hours later, I was on the floor in the bathroom, doing just about anything I could to keep from losing my dinner. Everytime my stomach tried to evacuate, I'd force it into submission, which only made it feel worse. Like I said, I hate puking. So I managed to keep most of it down, but now in addition to the queasy stomach, my throat and abdominals ache. I think it'll be a while before I want broccoli or food in general.
Posted by criminal at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)
November 20, 2002
Not So Angelic
I'll say it. The Victoria's Secret fashion show on CBS was disappointing. I enjoyed last year's, so made a point to watch it this year. What a let down. It wasn't nearly as classy as I thought it should be. The girls were beautiful and the lingere was nice, but the production was really lacking. The live choir and Spanish guitarist were great, as was Destiny's Child, but Phil Collins and Marc Anthony were a bit unexpected and unentertaining. They also did a lot of little comedic bits in between runway shots, which was a bit unsettling. Lastly, the angels weren't quite as angelic and some of the flourescent ones were downright scary.
Posted by criminal at 10:30 PM | Comments (0)
Shave and a Haircut
I got my hair cut this afternoon. I still can't tell if I like it yet - there are too many styling products in it. The hairdresser went on and on about how I should use certain kinds of shampoo and showing me how I could give my hair extra oomph when I go out. She couldn't stop talking about giving it more body and volume and proceeded to puff it up into a ratted mess. I just wanted to say "Stop right there. I know my hair is thin and lacks volume, and I'm fine with that. Just cut it. And save your breath because I certainly won't be buying any of these overpriced products to make it look as if I spent tons of money and time trying to cover up the fact that I have less than perfect hair." They don't seem to understand that while I care about how my hair looks, I don't want it too look like anything other than what it is. "See how it makes your forehead look smaller already?" she said, still futzing with my hair. "It was small before," I explained, "it didn't need any help." "Ohh, but see how it looks more heart-shaped now?" she tries again, pointing to how the hair settled after I ran my hand through it. "Its nicely shaped and contoured to your face." I didn't have the heart to tell her that it does that on its own as soon as I step out of the shower and that the whole heart-shaped hairline was a gift from my maternal grandfather, not a result of her style. Needless to say, she won't be cutting my hair again.
Posted by criminal at 04:28 PM | Comments (1)
Shower Struggle
Just a tiny complaint in the roommate department: Sam and I are in a constant struggle for the shower. At least twice a week, he's jumps in just as I'm getting ready to head in. And just as often, he's waiting for me to finish to get in. Its only mildly irritating, since I don't have much of a schedule to throw off. Still, I think Ernie spoiled me by asking if I was set with the bathroom before going in. It wasn't as bad last term when he was awake, showered, and through with his first class before I even thought about rolling out of bed. Now we're on the same schedule and one of us ends up waiting...
Posted by criminal at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
Red Sweater Day
That's right folks, its a red sweater day. For those of you not in the know, it means I'm feeling confident, happy, and maybe even a little frisky. Well, not that frisky... I'm not wearing red underwear today. I did however skip yoga. I feel a little bad, since it would've been my last class for months. But I overdid the chest presses yesterday and can barely move my arms over my head, let alone ask them to support me in yoga. If I went to yoga this afternoon, I probably would've worn my red tank top, so that's at least good. No red shoes though - they're a bit out of season.
Posted by criminal at 01:39 PM | Comments (0)
Simple Things
I'm generally a simple person, and simple things make me happy. Its all those complex things that get me down. Right now, I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy. I've been listening to holiday music for most of the evening and I just got a good back massage (that I've been in need of for the last 3 weeks). I should be happy until tomorrow when my back reminds me that I did a bunch of lat pull-downs and is forced to do yoga. That's alright though because its feeling good for the first time in ages and so am I.
Posted by criminal at 12:49 AM | Comments (0)
November 18, 2002
I'm a Cankle Woman
Hooray. John Madden just used my favorite Madden-ism. Cankles. If I haven't already explained it to you, cankles is the term he uses to describe the area between the calf and ankle. It also happens to be the place I look on a man to determine his ruggedness. It a man's got gangly cankles, he's not the one for me. I find that Madden brings up cankles most during St. Louis Rams games, probably because he swears Zgonina has the largest cankles in the NFL. This of course means close-ups of legs, which makes me a happy girl. Hooray for cankles.
Posted by criminal at 11:44 PM | Comments (0)
Blogger Code
So now instead of just having a geek code, I now have a blogger code and it looks a little something like this:
B5 d t+ k s u- f i- o+ x e+ l+ c-
Posted by criminal at 11:01 AM | Comments (1)
November 17, 2002
Chocolatey Goodness
On the up side, I did make a great cake for Nick. I made the Best Chocolate Cake from my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and topped it with a bit of Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. The frosting has a great consistency (I'd like to think its because I was smart enough to make it in a food processor) after several adjustments. I can tell you that the cake is also good because Sam and I ate the top I cut off to make it sit on the tray. It just makes me happy when things I make turn out well.
Posted by criminal at 07:10 PM | Comments (0)
Postponed
Yesterday was Nick's birthday. His mother asked me to make sure he had some sort of cake and aknowledgement of the day since she wouldn't be able to make it down. So Eric and I decided to have dinner, cake, and maybe a movie on Saturday night. By Friday night, we postponed it until Sunday night. Then this afternoon, Eric decided we should postpone it again. So it should be tomorrow night. Now, I'm not pushy enough to impose on the boys (Eric, Nick, and Sam) and tell them when, where, and what we're doing. Maybe I should be because I just wasted two weekend nights. Granted, I intentionally didn't make any dates, but I would've made other plans. Instead, I'm sitting at home, bored as all get out. At least the Pats will be on soon.
Posted by criminal at 07:05 PM | Comments (0)
November 16, 2002
Nor'Easter
A Nor'Easter is moving in, which makes me a happy girl. Its currently snowing, but the weather reports say that won't last long. Sadly, its barely enough to frost a few windshields. As it warms up, it'll all turn to rain and freezing rain, which makes me an unhappy girl. Guess a little snow is better than none.
Posted by criminal at 02:27 PM | Comments (0)
Muddy Water
When I woke up this morning, the water was brown. It happens around here from time to time, but its still gross. I'd like a nice hot shower, but I'm not that brave.
Posted by criminal at 02:04 PM | Comments (0)
Chamber of Secrets
I caught Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with a bunch of people last night. It was a lot better than I expected, mostly because they didn't have to spend the first half of the movie setting up the characters. There were actually some great scenes that scared the bejesus out of everyone in the theatre. One old guy let out a yell that scared the whole place.
Posted by criminal at 02:00 PM | Comments (0)
November 14, 2002
Crash! Bang! Boom!
I got rear-ended on my way home from the grocery store today. I was trying to make a left hand turn off of Park Av onto Elm Street. The funny thing is that I consciously used my turn-signal early so that the guy behind me wouldn't be stuck behind me while I waited to turn in heavy traffic. I was stopped at the red light and moved forward a short distance into the intersection after it changed. I stopped there, intending to wait for a break in the oncoming traffic. The kid behind me had a different idea though - he decided to try to go through me. Apparently, he saw me move forward and stepped on the gas, ignoring my turn signal and brake lights. I wasn't expecting it at all and was mad as hell when it happened. We pulled into a parking lot adjacent the intersection and inspected the damage. Other than a few scratches on our bumpers and dents in our liscence plates, the cars appeared fine. On further inspection, I noticed that my rear bumper had been slightly dislodged. Its still attached and undented, but lets just say that it would now fail that famous ball bearing test. Because of the minimal damage, we opted not to call the police or seek damages. I'm not that upset about the car (I care about it, but its not screwed up or anything) but I'm pissed that the guy could be so careless. Makes me want to give up driving sometimes.
Posted by criminal at 11:50 PM | Comments (2)
November 13, 2002
Dad's Doing Well
My father was released from the hospital this morning. His MRI indicated that he had a small blockage in a section of the brain that is not as crucial. It is part of the reason why he had so little damage and makes him a very lucky man. He's fine now other than being incredibly tired. Apparently, between the checkups on him and his neighbor, he didn't get much sleep in the two days he was at the hospital. I think it'll probably be a few days until he's back to his old self, but I'm just happy he's able to be his old self.
Posted by criminal at 11:21 PM | Comments (1)
My Name Is Calypso
A long time ago
I watched him struggle with the sea
I knew that he was drowning
And I brought him into me
Now today
Come morning light
He sails away
After one last night
I let him go.
- Suzanne Vega, Calypso
Posted by criminal at 10:10 PM | Comments (0)
The Final Countdown
In just one short month, my gigantic boobs will be gone. I'm trading them in for a relatively normal pair of breasts. Its hard to believe that they're only going to be around for another 30 days. I'm sure there will be times when I'll miss them, but I don't think I'll mourn their passing. After all, I'll be left with something much happier and healthier. The countdown begins!
Posted by criminal at 05:59 PM | Comments (1)
November 12, 2002
Stroke of Luck
I got a phone call while I was out last night. When I came home and redialed the number (which I realized was from back home) I got the Emergency Room at McLaren Regional Medical Center. Now, the last time I got one of those calls was when my father had his heart attack. Luckily I was home for the Fourth of July and was able to rush up to the hospital the moment I heard. This time there was no message.
I called both of my father's phones and go no answer. Then I got a hold of my mother: she was fine but hadn't heard anything. Next I tried calling the Emergency Room several times but their phone system wasn't working properly. I was so frustrated with the error message that I started kicking things in my room. Finally I gave up and called Brenda's cell phone. She was able to tell me that Pa was in the emergency room because he'd had a stroke. It was minor, but they hadn't finished the tests, so she couldn't tell me much of anything. I told her to call me as soon as there was any news or change, no matter what time of day. I then started sobbing, but pulled it together long enough to let my mother know what the situation was and to tell Liz that I wouldn't make it to Pat's birthday drink at the B. I then proceeded to finish the drink I had made and run to the porch crying like a baby.
Within moments I got a call from Sue who filled me in on all of the details: he was still in emergency, she brought him in because he was complaining of tingling and numbness on one side, including his face, they did a CAT scan and found a small blockage on one side, they had him on all kinds of drugs to thin his blood and control his blood pressure which was sky high (240/105), the stroke didn't leave any lasting effects, and that she was worried that he would push her away again like he did after his heart attack. I amaze myself when I'm able to pull myself together from such depths to be strong in a conversation.
From that point, I worried and cried some more, then drank some more. We had planned on drinking too much with Pat, so I just kept with the plan even though it was just me and Sam and my phone watching Monday Night Football. Brenda called me again later to give me the room number. Liz came by to comfort me and did a great job of cheering me up, but it only lasted while she was around. Our drunken stamping party was good for my soul, but I still wanted to grieve. So I did.
I was so upset that I was steps away from going into Sam's room and crawling into his bed and strong arms. He reminds me so much of my father that despite our issues it was incredibly appealing. They're two of the only people that can calm me down with just a smile or kind hand. Instead, I passed out and slept for 10 hours.
I called my dad as soon as I got up and it did wonders to just talk with him. He said he felt fine but sounded less than fine. That, however, can be attributed to the fact that the corner of his mouth and cheek were still a bit numb. So there were some lasting effects, but that seemed to be the extent of it. He was waiting to have an MRI and seemed to think that he'd be out on Wednesday. I'll call again tomorrow to see if anything has changed and just to help break the monotony of the hospital room. I'm doing much better, but my biggest problem is now the guilt I feel for being here instead of there. Its been a fear of mine since I left for school, but its never really been an issue. Luck didn't let the stroke wait until I came home in a few weeks, so now I have some heavy thinking to do.
Posted by criminal at 11:48 PM | Comments (2)
What is a Friend?
From the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary:
Main Entry: friend
Pronunciation: 'frend
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English frend, from Old English frEond; akin to Old High German friunt friend, Old English frEon to love, frEo free
Date: before 12th century
1 a : one attached to another by affection or esteem b : ACQUAINTANCE
2 a : one that is not hostile b : one that is of the same nation, party, or group
3 : one that favors or promotes something (as a charity)
4 : a favored companion
I seem to have lost Sam's esteem sometime earlier in the year. He didn't tell me until just recently, but he holds me responsible for our relationship and the effects that it had on his life. Nevermind the effects on my life, because he swears I knew that it was a mistake. And knowing this but going through with it anyway disqualifies me as a friend. He seems to have absolved himself of all responsibility because he was on the rebound. And what's so wrong with having a rebound girlfriend, you ask? Nothing, unless of course you want to get back together with your ex-girlfriend. So now Sam has finally realized that he lost Caitlin, but doesn't want to accept that its his fault. The simple solution? Blame the live-in-lover and constant companion. If I'd been a true friend, "we" wouldn't have happened and he'd still be blissfully in love with Caitlin. All of their problems and conflicts and mismatches would have disappeared. And they would have lived happily ever after in the land of make believe.
Despite all the guilt he's trying to dump on me, I'm aware that I couldn't have been a better friend given the circumstances. This isn't to say that we made the right choice, but that it wasn't because I failed as a friend. Even so, I'm left feeling hollow and used. Realizing that Sam doesn't care for me as a friend is so much worse than realizing that he didn't love me. I think he'd be sick of hearing me say it by now, but I'll never stop: I'll take a good friend over a miserable lover any day. I'm just sad to see that he doesn't value a friend as highly.
Posted by criminal at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
The End
I've had it with Tech News. I poured too much of my life into that paper to watch it be abused. I've been going to meetings as a favor to Joe, my successor, in an effort to keep them more lively and interesting. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do my job - when confronted with a room full of men who either think of it as a joke, see it as a source of personal power, or treat it like an old whore, I get sick to my stomach. I can't muster more than a fake smile in their presence. When they spend more time thinking of ways to spend Tech News' money on themselves than coming up with story ideas, I want to beat them like red-headed step-children. Tonight, I couldn't even make small talk because I just wanted to leave. The staff doesn't see the importance of inter-campus communications and has lost its respect for the paper. Until they learn to respect it again, they'll continue to fail. I can't force them to learn it, so I'm done.
Posted by criminal at 09:51 PM | Comments (2)
Down
Yes, I'm feeling down. I know it shows in my posts and I don't mind that it does. Its not something that I intend to hide. There's not a lot more to say about it other than I'm aware of my mood and I'm trying to keep it from spiraling further down.
Posted by criminal at 09:33 PM | Comments (0)
Death of DSL
The DSL in the apartment has been spotty all weekend. I couldn't stay connected for any feasible duration of time. Then it finally went down for the count yesterday afternoon. I felt so disconnected. It didn't come back up until around noon today. In the meantime, I realized how much of my recent life has come to depend on the Internet. Which just means that it lacks substance and real people. I think that needs to change.
Posted by criminal at 09:28 PM | Comments (0)
November 09, 2002
Quiz Yourself
So I'm a sucker for some fads. After nailing the important questions and failing the trivial questions on Sam's test, I decided to make a new one of my own. You can find it in my Instant Messenger profile if you think you're smart enough to take it.
Posted by criminal at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)
Penitence
I got stood up this morning. The guy got back to me a few hours later with a reasonable excuse (his internet connection was down and he couldn't get to the email I sent with directions and information) and said he still wants to get together. He also wants to make it up to me. So now the only question is how should he make it up to me? *evil grin*
Posted by criminal at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)
A Million Miles From 8 Mile
I caught 8 Mile, the new Eminem movie, with Eric, Nick, and Jared last night. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality - I was expecting a movie that would glamorise Detroit and the urban music scene. Instead, I got the real dirt on life at the edge of the city and an amazing performance from Eminem. His face was just so expressive - it really made me feel for the character. It was good and chock full of little things that reminded me of home.
Posted by criminal at 05:05 PM | Comments (0)
November 08, 2002
Finding a New Blanket
If anything
it should have been
a better thing
From underneath you
staring at the ceiling
There’s another world
of chocolate bars and baseball cards
That hides inside of all
this tension that I’m feeling
But It’s all inside of you
-Counting Crows, Carriage
Posted by criminal at 04:25 AM | Comments (0)
And It Begins
There is really only one song that will reduce me to tears whenever I hear it: Anna Begins by Counting Crows. For some reason, it has been forever associated with the death of my grandfather. In the chilly moments after I heard the news that February morning, it was the only thing that came to my mind. No how or why, or wishing for more time, just a few lines of the song over and over again:
And I'm not ready for this sort of thing
But I'm not gonna break
And I'm not going to worry about it anymore
I'm not gonna bend. And I'm not gonna break and
I'm not gonna worry about it anymore
Tonight, different lines are wrapping themselves around my soul:
I am not worried - I am not overly concerned
with the status of my emotions
"oh", She says, "you're changing."
But we're always changing
It does not bother me to say this isn't love
Because if you don't want to talk about it then it isn't love
and I guess I'm going to have to live with that
but, I'm sure there's something in a shade of gray
or something in between
and I can always change my name if that's what you mean
Posted by criminal at 04:02 AM | Comments (0)
My Fuzzy Blanket
Amazing how an old album can feel so comfortable. Since I heard Rain King on Scrubs earlier, I've been spinning August and Everything After. I'm not sure why, but its been one of my favorite albums ever. Its like crawling under an old fuzzy blanket - it may not be the latest and greatest, but its comfortable in a way something new will never be. The Counting Crows did something right with this one. I keep finding a new level of meaning everytime I listen.
Posted by criminal at 03:55 AM | Comments (0)
November 07, 2002
Friends Without Friends
I feel like such a loser. Liz and I came home from Borders in time to watch Friends. I opted to watch it at home with Dan, Amanda, and Sam, knowing that it would be on the tv there already. As I was checking my email and catching up with a few instant messages before the show came on, I put on a quick mp3. A couple seconds later, Sam comes over and says "We're watching Friends. Mind if I close your door?" And before I can tell him that I was planning on joining them, the door is shut and I'm sitting by myself. In my mind, the emphasis was on we're, even if he really meant nothing by it. I may not sit around all of the time drinking, smoking, and playing video games with them, but I do like to spend time with my roommates, and I feel like I was shut out. I probably should have just come back out and sat in the living room, but I was hurt. So now I'm sitting by myself watching Friends without any friends, and it sucks.
Posted by criminal at 08:46 PM | Comments (2)
Borders Books
Made a trip to Borders with Liz today. Neither of us bought anything (except dinner) but had a good time browsing. The main purpose of the trip was for me to look at books and start adding to my Amazon Wish List. Its seems so hard to find good books at Amazon, unless of course you already know what you're looking for. The recommendations and best sellers lists only go so far - after a while you're just seeing the same things over and over again. But walking around the store in person, you can actually make a connection with the paper and words. I don't know why, but I just prefer to persuse the stacks physically.
Posted by criminal at 08:22 PM | Comments (0)
November 06, 2002
Grrrr
My surgery date was pushed back a week from 12-5 to 12-12 and my pre-op appointement pushed back nearly two weeks from 11-27 to 12-9. I'm trying not to be upset, but its hard to rearrange plans like that. Slamming doors and throwing my shoes when I found out seemed to help a bit. I suppose it would be worse if I had an actual job that required me to take time off, but still, two weeks makes a big difference at WPI.
Posted by criminal at 03:51 PM | Comments (1)
More Comments
I hate to be like Alan and fish for comments, but I really would like to see a few more. Its the easiest way to tell who really reads this thing. Its also a teeny tiny ego boost, which is always nice.
Posted by criminal at 10:30 AM | Comments (4)
More Love
I'm so close to you baby
But I'm so far away
There's a silence between us
And there's so much to say
You're my strength, you're my weakness
You're my faith, you're my doubt
We gotta meet in the middle
To work this thing out...
-Dixie Chicks
Posted by criminal at 01:47 AM | Comments (0)
November 05, 2002
The Drawer
The Real LizESC: so you know what this means, right?
The Real LizESC: Drunken flirting
parzlee: ?
The Real LizESC: that's all that you can do
The Real LizESC: ;-)
parzlee: lol
The Real LizESC: with random people
The Real LizESC: take many phone numbers-- call NONE of them
The Real LizESC: ;-)
The Real LizESC: ask me sometime about the coaster drawer ;-)
(Liz is always good for a fresh perspective)
Posted by criminal at 09:43 PM | Comments (0)
Shop 'til You Drop
I went to Target with Liz this evening and had a lot of fun. The shopping itself wasn't that great, it was just nice to get out and touch things with a friend. Contrasted with my dismal grocery trip with Sam, it was the Super Bowl of little shopping trips. I took him tonight because I wanted to get it out of the way, but even so, I didn't think it would be as perfunctory as it was. He tried to make small talk in the car, but I didn't really feel like participating in what seemed like a charade. Why bother pretending I care? (And I know, I could just keep all of this to myself, but like I said, it makes this journal more interesting and accurate. )
Posted by criminal at 09:40 PM | Comments (0)
Death Throes
Tech News really is in the middle of a painful struggle. A painful struggle to stay alive. Membership is way down, editors are lackadasial, and there aren't even enough elligible staff members to fill the positions for next year. Its quite sad to watch, especially since it was once the most important thing in my life. I don't think its over for Tech News, because all it take is a few dedicated people, but its not looking good either. They need an infusion of new members and ideas and in a bad way.
Posted by criminal at 09:25 PM | Comments (0)
November 03, 2002
The End of the Third Age
I did it. After putting off the final chapters for several weeks, I finished the Lord of the Rings. I just didn't want to see the story end. In a way, it never really does. Its just a single tale pulled from a litany of the Third Age of Middle Earth, just as The Hobbit was. Now, I'm impatiently waiting for the December 18 debut of The Two Towers movie.
Posted by criminal at 11:06 PM | Comments (1)
Feeling Patriotic
I loved watching the Pats roll over the Buffalo Bills today. In outscoring the Bills 38-7, I think they finally proved once and for all that Tom Brady was the right man for the team. For those stubborn fools that still think getting rid of Bledsoe was a mistake, I have just one thing to say: 
Not only did the Patriots save face today, they looked damned good doing it. At least the offensive line did, and honestly, that's my biggest concern. Have I mentioned how incredibly incredible Matt Light is? There's just something about a big, talented midwestern boy that makes me happy and a little patriotic (so to speak).
Posted by criminal at 06:24 PM | Comments (0)
November 02, 2002
Day of the Dead
I'm going to a party at the Big Red House tonight, celebrating the Day of the Dead. Well, its really a postponed Halloween party, but Jami, Troy, and Derek salvaged it with the new theme. Most of the guests will be older than me, but I'm not worried about that. I've been promised that Derek's hunky brothers will be there and waiting for me, so that's more than enough reason to go. You'll have to wait to hear about my costume - I don't want to spoil the surprise.
Posted by criminal at 03:28 PM | Comments (0)
The New Home of the NBA
I may not follow the NBA as religiously as I once did, but I love the new commercials on ESPN. There's just something silly about a bunch of professional atheletes sharing a suburban home, doing chores together, and having late night confessionals. Silly in a good way, of course. You can't help but laugh at a line like "Why do men have nipples?"
Posted by criminal at 03:25 PM | Comments (0)
Go Blue
I'm watching the Michigan - Michigan State game on ESPN2. Unfortunately, we don't get sound for that particular channel, so I'm stuck with pictures of the Big House and band. Not to mention the lack of commentary that can make games so much easier to watch. Its enough for the Wolverines to win though.
UPDATE: What a blowout. Even I didn't expect the Spartans to roll over and take it the way they did. Wow. But what a boost for UM fans, huh? That should make us all feel a little better about the last few weekends.
Posted by criminal at 12:30 PM | Comments (1)
November 01, 2002
Goodness Update
I outdid myself. That apple cranberry pie just gets better everytime I make it. I should actually write down a recipe to follow, but that'd take the fun out of it. It has several nice layers of apples and cranberries, a good texture thanks to the generous amount of flour I included, and a sweet but tart flavor. The end result is similar to a strawberry-rhubarb pie, but more firm. I'm considering cooking the cranberries in a little sugar, apple cider, and brandy next time to sweeten them up and reduce the total baking time. Its so simple and yet so good.
Posted by criminal at 03:47 PM | Comments (0)
Apple Cranberry Goodness
That's it. I'm finally going to sit down and make my pie. Or stand up, depending on how you look at it. I've been meaning to make this apple cranberry pie for a week now and I finally got my act together and got the remaining ingredients. I might even make apple butter if I'm feeling overly ambitious. And just so that its out there, I have absolutely nothing against apple pies. I love them. But there's nothing wrong with a little variety. Just think of all the different kinds of plain apple pies there are... It can only get better with a few cranberries.
Posted by criminal at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
Sneezy
I've been sneezing up a storm for the last few days. For a person who rarely sneezes, this is very traumatic. I keep worrying that I've come down with a mysterious allergy: something like flannel, body wash, fall, or Sam. All I know is that it sucks. It might not be so bad if I had a cute little sneeze, like some women do, but no. When I sneeze, there's nothing cute about it.
Posted by criminal at 11:18 AM | Comments (1)