Busy day today. I made a turkey with stuffing for mawth_treadwell. Even though I don't eat land animals, I don't feel that I should force that choice on him. So even though I didn't make turkey at Thanksgiving, he still wanted one, so I made one today. He says it turned out well. I also made soap from pork fat, creme frsaiche, and drambuie today. Tomorrow I'm going to make a Parmesan cheese. And next weekend is a three day, so I'm going to need to figure out my projects. Also, go over to mawth_treadwell 's LJ to see my new and improved sword. It's a work of art. I've named it Oleander.

This is a couple days old, but I just saw it today. Natalie Portman is going to produce and star in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Here's the CNN link: www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/11/natalie.portman.prejudice.zombies/index.html
I hope it's as good as I think it will be.

Last week I went down to Connecticut to visit the office, upgrade some software, and visit Mom. Bankruptcies were filed, software was updated, and chili was made. I had a great time, as always, with Mom.

The weekend saw a trip down to New Jersey to visit caramsith, who was going to come here to NY, but broke her foot tripping over Ricardo's dog. Edmund and Emmeline were nice enough to put me up for Friday and Saturday night, so I got in some quality time with them. I really do miss my New Jersey family, but I'm glad I live just a few hours away, so I can visit when I want. Stopped at Wegman's before heading home and picked up some Gorgonzola stuffed olives. More on them later.

Tonight I went to fencing practice for the first time in many weeks, and knocked some rust off. I got home and ordered a new blade so I can have a slightly longer blade going into the new year.

When we came home, I made us a couple dirty martini's (my favorite) and put the aforementioned Gorgonzola stuffed olives in them. I'm now nicely toasted, and the olives were a little slice of heaven.

Now it's time for a cuddle, a good book, and blissful slumber.

Thanksgiving is over for this year and once again I made a Baco-Pescatarian* dinner. I inflicted my culinary experiments on lily_penhille , his_eminence and mawth_treadwell who ate everything in front of them.

Amusingly, mawth_treadwell just admitted to me a couple weeks ago that he didn't used to like seafood. Guess he's just never had it well prepared. I'm happy to have made a convert without the stress of knowing that I was working against his tastes.

Here's the menu, recipes provided upon demand.

First Course

Shrimp Cocktail with the best cocktail sauce ever - Heluva Good
Clams Casino (without breadcrumbs)
Tomato & Mozzarella Salad

Second Course

Crispy Salmon with white wine reduction
Curried Fried Potatoes
French Onion Soup

Third Course

Pecan Pie
Homemade Ice Cream
Hot Buttered Rum

So for next year I decided to do something different. The choices were Mexican or Thai. Thai won the votes, so I'll spend the next year practicing that cuisine. If anyone has favorite Thai recipes, I love to see them.




*For anyone not familiar with that particular diet - it's my own invention. I only eat what tastes good to me, which is why I gave up land animals.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY lumineaux

Today I went to the DMV and got a New York drivers license, and registered my car. It's official.

My car looks weird with New York plates.

testing the cut function

( Testing )

My hand is better, though I'm expecting to lose some skin to the blistering. Ice water and aloe work great on burns, although there is still some residual pain. Thankfully there was no fencing practice this week.

Went to fencing practice last night, and had a great time. People punked out early, though, so I only got in about an hour and a half of fencing. It felt good, though. Once I was warmed up I was making shots that I could only make on good days. I think the lingering issues from my fall down the stairs are finally gone, or at least not a big problem anymore. Yay me!

OK, off to make dinner now.

So, it's official, mawth_treadwell and I are now living together. I have moved up to Hudson, New York and we are blissfully ensconced in our apartment.  As a bonus, dershmied and darthmouse live next door.

That puts me in the Barony of Concordia, for those of you in the SCA.

And now, back to my West Wing marathon. I've never seen the whole thing, and mawth_treadwell has it on DVD, so I'm watching it while I make new garb.

Happy Birthday rhiannon14 !!!

So, I'm typing this from work on my new laptop.  The Server is being set up, protocols being established, and quirks figured out. With any luck at all, I'll be working from Hudson NY by the end of the month.

We even set up video chat today. Woo Hoo.

Having problems with the lap top though. The keyboard is a bit smaller, since I got one with a numeric keypad, and so I keep making mistakes that do things like, wipe out everything I was doing. It's just going to take some practice.

A lot of people on my flist already know Liam, but some of you do not. He's an awesome guy, and I hope you'll help him raise money for Special Olympics New York. Thank You!



Buon Giorno, you lucky people!
 
As many of you know, on Dec. 13, I will go swimming in Lake George to raise money for Special Olympics New York.
 
This will be the fifth time I have done it, and combining plunges with benefit walks, I have raised more than $5,000 for Special Olympics.
 
I have been around Special Olympics since high school, and I am really passionate about it.
 
I know times are tough, but I would appreciate any help you can give.
 
The link to donate online is: http://polarplunge.kintera.org/lakegeorge/billtoscano
 
If you want to send a check, please make it out to Special Olympics New York with my name in the memo line and send it to:
 
Bill Toscano
PO Box 176
Salem, NY 12865.
 
 If you have already donated, thank you, thank you, thank you.
 
Also, please feel free to pass this along to friends, family and others.
 
In service,
 
Bill/Liam

Congratulations to Xavier and Damiana on the occasion of their marriage. About damn time, I say. Weddings always make me hopeful, and remind me that the Beatles really were right. All you need is love. 

And now the Announcement: I, Mercedes Vera de Calafia, will be taking Emeline Patterson as my Protege at 100 Minutes War in Rusted Woodlands on November 22nd. That also makes me hopeful, and happy.

I'm sitting here wracked with Guilt over the fact that I am almost a WEEK late in wishing laughingzombie a happy birthday! So, HAPPY FRACKING BIRTHDAY!

Also, Happy late Birthday to my Protoge, donastraya .

Apparently, I'm crap with birthdays.

If you have a birthday, and I missed it, Happy Birthday. If you don't have a birthday, they what the frack are you on the internet for?

I'll miss Duke Morguhn Sheridan more than I can say. I've known him since he joined the SCA (we were all so young back then), and even though I moved away from Aethelmarc back when it was still the Western Region of the East Kingdom, he remained my friend. He was the way I measured my life in the East. I got my AOA at the first Crown Tourney that he won.  I took up fencing after Ned and I saw him fence in New Hampshire. He was the first OGR, the first East Kingdom Marshal of Fence, and my last fight at Glenn Lynn this year.  He kicked my ass.

I wish him peace.