So lately my favorite author has been Jodi Picoult. She is amazing. I’ve only read two of her books so far, but I’ve bought ever other one. I’ve read My Sister’s Keeper, which is really popular, and The Pact. Both were amazing, but sad. I cried when I read both. My Sister’s Keeper was about a girl whose sister was diagnosed with cancer, and she wants to have a lawsuit against her parents so she can decide on her own whether or not she wants to give her sister her organs, blood, etc. Picoult discusses the medical aspects so well. She must have done so much research on order to write this book, while still developing each character so well. The Pact is about a boyfriend and girlfriend who want to commit suicide, but only the girl does, and the boy is charged with her murder. I can’t wait to read her newest one, Nineteen Minutes. You should all read one or her novels!!
Second Life Creator
So I was on my netvibes site today and one of the top stories on my news was how the second life creator, Cory Ondrejka, quit his job. Ondrejka helped write the computer code the for the virtual world. Second Life, as we all know, is a 3D Internet destination where users create, buy and sell fantastic islands inhabited by virtual characters, or avatars. He said he wanted to pursue new professional challenges and that he had strategic differences. The site also said that second life has been criticized for technical problems – graphics that load painfully slowly on older computers, and bizarre glitches where avatars appear unintentionally naked. The site has struggled with hackers and hecklers, who have defaced other users’ content or interrupted virtual conferences. I didn’t know anything like that went on in second life. I know my roomate had to have a second life for one of her classes, but I don’t know if she had any problems like that. So maybe a new owner will take Ondrejka’s place and improve some of the problems second life has faced.
Re: My Letter to Santa
So in a previous blog I wrote to Santa about how I wanted a puppy for Christmas. Well…I actually got one! His name is Diesel and he’s a pitbull. I know that sounds scary, but he is the sweetest puppy ever! He loves the cuddle! He already weighs over 20 lbs. and he’s only 15 weeks old! I love him so much! Here is a picture of him:
Christmas cookies!
So one of my favorite things ever is Christmas cookies! So I thought I would share with you guys one of my favorite recipes for sugar cookies. I love these so much! They are so good! Hope you enjoy!
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
Beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, mix until just combined. Add flour and baking powder in intervals. Dough will seem as if doesn’t have enough moisture but continue to mix with mixer until combined (it will come together when chilled). Divide the dough into four equal parts, shape into four disks, wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate about an hour or until firm. Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease baking sheets or line with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper, about 1/4 inch thick for crispier cookies and 1/3 inch thick for softer cookies. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and place on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 7-8 minutes or until edges just start to turn a golden color. For softer cookies, do not allow the cookies to take on color. Remove from oven, let cool for one minute and then transfer to wire rack. Allow cookie sheet to cool thoroughly before placing uncooked dough on it. Decorate cookies with Royal Icing or Buttercream Frosting and sprinkles.
Have Fun!!!
Cover It In Chocolate And A Miracle Or Two
I love this time of year. The crispness of the air, the gentle drift of snowflakes, the sampler chocolate boxes that proliferate as though fluorescent lighting is some kind of aphrodisiac and wrapping paper a handy love nest. I was at CVS the other night with my roommate and I just happened to notice, while wandering aimlessly down the goody aisle (that’s the one with candy, not condoms), that Russell Stover holiday chocolate assortments were on sale. So I bought two. They were only $7.99, together! I’ve had a craptastic last few weeks! Shut up. Anyway, I always get really excited about these boxes because it’s like, “Wow, all that variety! I’ll never have to eat the same type of chocolate more than twice if I don’t want to! This is the epitome of American life right here.” And then I actually open the box. Man, who comes up with these recipes? Obviously someone who maybe lost his tongue in a tragic shaving accident or an anorexic who has forgotten that some people actually want to enjoy the taste of food. There are always the weirdest flavors in there: maple nut cream (great, if you’re, like, Abe Lincoln, and trying to recapture the experience of living in a log cabin and eating wood shaving porridge), fruit and nut caramel (this tasted like cinnamon, which is neither a fruit or nut, so whatevs, Russell Stover), and Roman nougat (which was some sort of pink concoction that had broken out of the chocolate shell and attempted to conquer the other compartments). It’s always tempting to use that diagram they include in the top of the box, the one that doesn’t really have a clear up or down until you start comparing the shapes in the picture to the shapes of the actual confections. “That blobby one shaped like Italy…that’s the cherry foie gras truffle, and I think the sort of roundish one, the one shaped like Aunt Rhonda’s creepy cheek mole, that’s…what? Vanilla butter cream? I might actually want to eat that.” But it turns out to be the coconut bacon, which gets a 9 for a superior visual imitation but loses points for flavor. After trying to decode the drawing, which practically requires some sort of secondary degree, I just abandon it all together and take my chances. Besides, the risk adds a little spice, a dash of adventure, a chance to vomit that’s otherwise missing from my life. Jim Gaffigan has a great bit about it: “And then there are the boxes filled with the gamble chocolates. Have you ever actually eaten those with any bit of confidence? ‘Hm, this could either be really good or totally nasty, and I’m just pig enough to find out…Ugh! Toothpaste! Oh, well, I’ll just have to eat another nine to get rid of the taste.'” That’s pretty much how I feel about them after the eleventh or twelfth one in a row. These boxes are worse than Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans. Except for the second box I bought, which is a mix of truffles, and I’m pretty sure that they are going to be awesome.
Is it over yet? December 10, 2007
Only two more weeks! So I am loaded with work from every different course but I’m still counting the days til I can come home for good and just Christmas shop and decorate. I am drained from this semester and I need that nice long month break. I plan on just working, saving money, hanging out with my friends, and going snowboarding. It’s going to be great.. But like I said, I am so drained and I don’t know what else to write. So goodbye! haha
Donna
Farewell Chris March!0( December 7, 2007
Sadly as week four of Project Runway continued costume designer Chris March was OUT! The challenge was to recreate and modernize a past trend (all were pretty hideous including the baggy sweater, fringe, and neon at the top of my list!) in groups of three. As always the drama peeked when Victoria assumed the role as team leader in spirit, while Rick, the actual team leader was floundering. It came down to Ricky and Chris having the lowest scores, and I’m sad to say Chris’s camel gown and brocade shoulder padded jacket didn’t cut it for the judges. I and my roommates were so pissed to seem whiny and crying Ricky’s poorly constructed garments be considered better than Chris’s. Its all about drama and ratings, according to my roommates and me. Next week though some situation rears its head and leaves some designers in tears. AH! I hope nothing horrible happens. Until next week…
Maybe The Diigo Ate Your Baby
Okay, I posted a link to my social bookmarking site in the blogroll. I’m not sure if that’s where it’s supposed to go, but it seems more convenient than doing it in a post, so…yeah. Back to sleep.
Bitter Sweet December 6, 2007
So it’s coming to the end of the semester… At this point I always think it is a bitter sweet time. Not that I’m too upset that the classes are over, but upset that there is so much work to be done. It’s great though that it is coming to an end and its Christmas time; i love Christmas time!! But I feel like I can’t enjoy the season yet because I have loads of papers, lesson plans, charts, and finals to take and do. Not so fun. I wish I could just be done with all this work and be able to go out shopping for gifts and decorate the house with my family. Only 19 days left til Christmas and 14 days left of school… It’s crunch time people!
Donna
Three Non Blondes and One Blonde 