I've even raped and killed a mountain panda in the hills of Shaanxi.

I haven't really been keeping up with LJ; my free time at work is spent reading about rationality and, uh, fan fic. I'm also re-reading the Harry Potter books to see if my enjoyment is different when I know everything already. The answer seems to be yes, as insignificant details are brought into new light rather than just "JK Rowling isn't that great of a writer." Although I still stand by that sentiment, she's not as totally crappy as I initially thought after the first book.

Anyway, I got stones thrown at my glass house for disclosing this to my other HP-fan-friends, so what the hell. My favorite fan fic besides the aforementioned Methods of Rationality is by FAR The Very Secret Diary, Ginny Weasley's account in diary format of her actions in The Chamber of Secrets, with Tom Riddle replying to her. It's deliciously creepy, with layers of evil seeping through till she figures out what's going on. Being forced to write, in blood, "Her Skeleton Will Lie In The Chamber Forever" must have really done a number on her psychology. It's a seriously effective mindrape, the author has done her job.

edit: Here's the only Twilight fanfic I've read, "what if Bella were a rationalist?"

I do still read other stuff besides fanfic, ahem. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Percy Parker and The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker was a decent trilogy minus one. (Bilogy?) Basically about Victorian ghostbusters who meet the reincarnation of Persephone, and the devil's search for his missing bride. And there's some Jack the Ripper stuff in there too. The first book is more straight up gothic homage, the second, more fantastic, but both are fun. Although they could have used more sexy fun times, but that's just me.

And now, cooking. I made cinnamon ice cream Friday, lemon snow pudding Saturday, and "white trash" strawberry ice cream last night. (The first I didn't add rum to, the last was um, Carnation Instant Breakfast packets, a jar of preserves, half a lemon juiced, and some milk.) But Reg reminds me that last year I was eating lots of cream cheese pie and was um, unhappy with the results, so I'm gonna chill out with the fatty foods for a while. (We did walk about 6 miles Sunday - home to Golden Gardens and back, in a big ol' loop.)

I accidentally made the best tomato sauce in the world last night. I am one of those people who only likes tomatoes in sauces and salsas, but I riffed off this recipe I found on Esquire.com and voila.

My sauce:
* one can chopped tomatoes (the kind w/olive oil and garlic is good)
* one or two cloves garlic (optional, but I love garlic)
* half an onion (Purple is my preferred)
* cooking oil (I got peanut oil, it rules)

Heat up a tablespoon of oil over medium while you dice the onion and garlic. Sautee the onion till it starts to go transluscent, then add the garlic. Open up the can of tomatoes and add it to the pan when the onions are clear. Add a bit of salt. Let the mixture go to a boil at medium for 5 min, then cover and lower heat for simmer. It should only take 5-10 min for the sauce to turn delicious due to caramelization. Serve with pasta.

Posted via LjBeetle

Last week was the start of some really nice weather, and apart from one or two days it's been holding steady and almost obnoxious. I decided that I should walkabout each neighborhood and spend no more than $5 a day till it starts to rain again. Today was Pike Place and the Waterfront. I had an apple and a latte (not at the same time) and sat at Victor Steinbruck park and walked around the Market and made my way to Alaskan Way and the Seattle World Trade Center.

Afterwards I bussed back home and bought some lamb to make soup. It smells really good.

I was convinced last year to get a pair of running shoes half a size too large, that is unless I wear thick wool socks, which I normally don't do in the summer. But I did today, because yesterday I felt off balance all day, culminating in the incident where I ate shit as I got off the 15. Fortunately this stop was right across from a walgreens, so I was able to go in and buy some lovely things to disinfect. I mainly landed on my hands, and primarily my right hand. The palm was slightly blooded, and the pinky and knuckles were abraded rather badly. After ten minutes with peroxide and tissue the dirt was gone, at least, but I had a new friendly bruise on my left knee. Which is great cos I got one on the opposite side of that knee a week ago, and the bruise is still visible. It hurt quite a bit to walk as the patella hit either bruise.

That at least is not as bad today, but my right arm around the shoulder feels like someone tried to rip it out of the socket. Fortunately I already have my computer workstation set up for leftie-mousing, but everything else is killer. Even reading a book using the right hand hurts pretty bad. Also, I barely got five hours of sleep last night. I did pamper myself a bit today, having ice cream at 3 and making my own burger for dinner. (Beecher's Flagship cheese mixes amazingly well with Kraft American, by the way. As do butter-fried shallots, if you swing that way.)

Just so you all know, I made chocolate chip cookies in maybe 20 minutes. And they are definitely the best I've ever made.

Also, Dexter season 1 is the best thing ever, and only partly because it's only 12 episodes.

First, The Professionals. This is about a rich white cattle baron hiring a bunch of kinda-thugs to retrieve his "kidnapped" wife. Claudia Cardinale makes a good movie great, cos she's hot and shit. And Jack Palance is just creepy. As usual.

The next day we watched a bunch of Simpson season 8, and had breakfast at Hale's with Heather and Michael.

And later The Magnificent Seven, which is a remake of the Samurai movie. Agriculture is noble or some such nonsense. Plus, the one girl was not as cute.

I made a giant focaccio loaf during that movie, and then we watched Fox Cartoon Night. The American Dad episode did not suck too badly. It was about the Log Cabin Republicans, and Stan's attempt to be one of them. After Family Guy I re-read all of the Y: The Last Man graphic novels we own and fell asleep.

Making chicken tonight. And probably lentil soup.

I woke up early, anxious about money, and cancelled a pending payment. Finished Another Day in Paradise by Eddie Little then headed to the grocery store. Bought fruits and meats and coffee, came home and made coffee, bacon, and smoothies. (Mix juice, banana, peach and raspberries in the blender.) Shook Reg awake, poured coffee down his throat, and he seemed to perk up a bit.

The Eddie Little book is pretty hardcore. Anyone who liked A Million Little Pieces should check it out. It takes place in the early 70s and is clearly pretty autobiographical. Junkie teenage boy and his girlfriend become thieves and learn to crack safes.

Last night I was starving and I wasn't sure why. I had cheese on toast and then roasted a 4lb free-range chicken with olive oil and lemon juice and lots of various spices. Also, spinach salad. I became so amazingly full.

86% humidity. Fuck this.

I'm almost done with Paradise, an amazingly funny novel about an alcoholic Scotswoman and her alcoholic boyfriend. I wonder how much of it was based on her own life. I actually forgot it was a novel till someone in the book said her name.

The best thing about making bagels Sunday morning is eating one for lunch Monday afternoon.

I am madly in love with Joel's succinct immigration post.

On the way home I stopped at the store and bought foodz. Once home, I cut up a chicken breast, seasoned, oiled, and cooked in the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. In the meantime I ate a spinach salad, made cheese sauce, and steamed broccoli. I am feeling rather satisfied and am about to open up a wine cooler that I had forgotten about, from the ski weekend.

I am about to finish Spook by Mary Roach. She writes better than I do, but still in a very casual, not TOO funny manner. She's basically a skeptic, but the book investigates various claims about the afterlife. Mainly reincarnation and mediums. I just read the part where she tries to tape dead voices of the Donner party.

And tomorrow is Friday.