Month: December 2004

100,000+ is a great number of people to have perished.

But why does it become more significant when it is an acute loss (say one caused by earthquake/tsunami) rather than chronic (Aids, famine, War, Poverty)?

I guess I’m just a heartless bastard that I really don’t find this catastrophe that significant in perspective.

This isn’t an argument against humanitarianism — rather a “christmas” argument. Why only now at this point are we concerned about being decent. Why don’t we all decide to be decent to others on this earth all the time? Eh?

Ahhhh, If only

I have a thing for custards.

Egg-protein suspended dairy products just thrill me. Whether the creamyness of a cheesecake, the velvet of a Creme Brulee, or the richness of egg nog, I’m in heaven.

So to that extent, I share my personal favourite recipe for egg nog. This is made in two parts which are combined just before serving. I like to make the custard part at least the day before.

My recipe includes alcohol. Removal of the alcohol, while keeping a ‘working’ recipe, is personally and wholeheartedly discouraged.

Craig’s Egg Nog:

6 Eggs (use the finest/freshest possible)
1 cup Rum (to taste – if you want a molasses-flavour, use dark rum. At least use a spiced rum such as ‘Sailor Jerry’s,” “VooDoo,” or “Captain Morgan.”)
1 cup Bourbon (Any old kind will do. Old Crow will do quite nicely)
1 pint heavy cream
1 pint whole milk (Do not substitute 2 pints ½&½ for this and the above cream. ½&½ is actually ‘¼&¾’.)
1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, scored
1 clove, whole
Fresh Nutmeg

1. Separate the Eggs. Keep the covered whites in the refridgerator.
2. Add the Vanilla, Clove, Milk, and Cream to a heavy saucepan and heat gently on low.
3. Whisk egg yolks and sugar until a creamy yellow smooth textured liquid.
4. Slowly bring the milk to almost boiling. Remove from heat and slowly mix into the egg/sugar mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Note: pouring through a seive will get that pesky clove and vanilla bean.
5. Stir mixture in medium heat until it thickens to a creamy consitency.
6. Strain and allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
7. When cool, add the Rum and Brandy, cover and refridgerate.(do it right, at least overnight)

When ready to serve:

1. Beat eggwhites almost to stiff peaks
2. Fold eggwhites into mixure and transfer to a punchbowl.
3. Liberaly grate fresh nutmeg on the top of the punchbowl, and to every cup served.

Makes ~6 cups

Morning everyone. Monday Morning Grump here.

Eric at work brought in home made baklava (and deliciously made to boot). Grumpyness mostly removed.

Still need to make Christmas cookies. I think I’ll make some tonight while cleaning up for my mum who comes on Thursday. Also need to get candy. Need to have candy and cookies throughout the house for Christmas.

Oh and I need to get wool – I’m going to knit my mum a scarf for Christmas. Big bulky yarn + garter stitch = a scarf that even a Craig could make. I’ll ask to do the casting on, off and fringe if she feels up to it.

Great weekend of parties.

Oh – who saw our animation on SNL this weekend?

— Nail. Head.

Interesting.

THREE (nick)NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Cute
2. Puffin
3. Monkey

THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. The Wild Hooligan
2. Melintur
3. Elenadan

THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. I can adapt/assimilate knowledge easily
2. I am sturdy
3. Sense of Humor

THREE THINGS YOU DISLIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. I am a pushover
2. I overanalyze
3. I have rarely felt comforatble with being alive

THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Russian
2. Polish/German
3. Danish

THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Other people
2. Mortality
3. Impossibility of true objectivity

THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Fun
2. Coffee
3. Social Interaction

THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. Chipped chrome nail polish
2. Stripey stocking-cap
3. Cloth belt

THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE BANDS OR ARTISTS (at the moment and always):
1. J. R. R. Tolkien
2. J. S. Bach
3. Edward Gorey

THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. Sleigh Ride
2. Santa’s Secret
3. What are you Doing New Year’s Eve?

THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. To play with other musicians
2. To go to Amsterdam and then to Eastern Europe
3. To host a dinner party

THREE IRONIES THAT YOU DWELL ON:
1. The human need to control others to change one’s perception of reality
2. Man’s return to holding true in the face of the fallacy of ends justifying means
3. Man’s ignoring testable and predictory reality in favour of feelings and ad-hoc reasoning

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. There is a certain wide angle to the hips
2. Natural Chest
3. Butts, man. Butts.

THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE SAME SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. “goofy-yet-striking” facial features: Strong|button nose, pronounced cheekbones|chin, large eyes, DSL lips, etc.
2. Strong hands
3. Hipbones / that groinal “v.”

THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN’T DO:
1. Contain my pansexuality
2. Feel comfortable around straight(read homophobic/macho/unfeeling) men
3. Entertain concrete aesthetics

THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBIES:
1. Cooking
2. Gaming
3. Entertaining/Socializing

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Do something widely irresponsible without any resulitng negative consequences
2. Bake Christmas cookies
3. Relax in front of fire with a board game, heather, friends, winter-style ale, and a fine grade of drinking T.

THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING:
1. High School Teacher
2. Caretaker|Hostellier|Host
3. Craftsman

THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO:
1. Amsterdam | Europe
2. South Pacific
3. Brazil

THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Be a grandfather
2. Produce a ‘piece of work’ I can be self-satisfied with.
3. Hike and camp a long-ish mountain trail (John Muir specifically, Roman road in Britain, or other international one will suffice)

Teeny Scratches did not affect the playing.

Stayed up far too late watching some of the nifty documentaries on the bonus discs, am now very tired.

I still have specific issues/problems with the film (on par with my minor dissapointment with TTT), but I’m not complaining (too much) anymore. Too happy about the good parts.

I’m happy and at peace with the completion of the Movie phenomena, and can re-claim the literary/philosophical facets.

Still really tired, though.

It is now in my hot little hands. In looking at the discs, disc 2 has some faint scratches on it. It had better not skip tonight or I will be cross.
CROSS I TELL YOU.

I’m contemplating taking it back for an exchange…But I don’t want to go back to Target, I want to go home and watch!

GRRR.

They are really faint… Perhaps they won’t matter.

Return of the King EE comes out today.

I just want to go pick it up and go home.

Yay.

Gruss Vom Krampus was an overwhelming success — I was very happy to have a lovely turnout. Great to see you , and . Great fun was had by all.

The next day we went to our friend’s party in North Portland and had another blast, much fun was had, etc.

Sunday was re-coup and resting.

Not looking forward too much to the cleaning and reorganizing the house.

And a-yup, it has been a Monday!