I'm at the library again... this time alone, without any kids in tow.
Well, just one. But this one doesn't get into too much trouble yet. =)
But with or without the wuggy-crowd, I like going to the library for my internet stuff.
The internet is an amazing thing. All you have to do is wonder about something, and google is just a click away, and wikipedia, and link after link after link.
But having the internet only at specific times, I find myself keeping a running list of stuff I need off the internet.
And then, once I'm at the library, it's just as easy to find all that wonderful information... except I'm more focused. I come to the internet knowing exactly what I want out of it, and knowing exactly how precious my time is. I'm more focused, less likely to follow trails of links into abscure topics I don't really need to know about.
And, since I don't have the information flood on tap in the house, I actually have to trek to the library. And going to the library frequently is a very good thing for all of us. Truth of the matter is, I love reading lots of unfamiliar childrens books to the kids. I don't love reading Gertie the Green Cab for the 47th time. Course what the kids really want is another iteration of Gertie, but they're generally satisfied with something completely new to us. The more often we go to the library, the better a mommy I am.
Going to the library is a good thing, and since I can just check out a laptop and sit right there in the children's section while supervising the wuggies, it's the perfect time to do internet stuff.
Living without a pipeline to the internet in our home is a good thing so far, and I think we're going to keep it that way.
Strangely enough, living without a landline telephone has been a good thing too. Up until the move, we've relied mostly on our landline, using our prepaid cell phones very sparingly. But through the move, we've been relying on our cell phones, and you know what? That's been a very good thing.
Lots of times I'll be on the phone, and chaos breaks out. "Should I call back at a better time?" But usually, sadly, the answer is no, there really won't ever be a better time. Either there's chaos, or it's a lovely moment of tranquility in which to catch my breath and play the flute for a few minutes. Talking is good, but there's no good time to do it.
On a landline, that is.
But while the kids are playing on the playground? That's a great time to talk.
So I think we're going to ditch the landline, ditch the internet, and just get a good cell phone plan.
And I find the idea strangely beautiful. Home is home, and outside is outside. Of course the membranes are quite permeable--it is a lovely thing to invite books and friends inside. But there need be no pipes flooding the outside into our home, when we can simply open our door, breathe in the scent of the wildflowers, and go explore the wide world.
3.29.2008
3.25.2008
Greetings from the library
Apologies for the sporadic posting. Be warned, it's likely to continue, while we slowly decide what we want to do about phone and internet services. Through the moving process, we've been relying on our cell phones... and that's just a very nice thing. So we're thinking about getting a better cell plan and ditching the land line. But of course we can't pick an internet plan until we decide for sure.
So I might be restricted to library internet use for a while longer.
Meanwhile, we're settling in to our new place, and liking it very much.
The Bayou is so very beautiful. Before we moved in, I thought of it as just a big muddy ditch that might flood our beautiful house someday. But I get so much pleasure every day out of passing over the lazy river glistening in the sun, watching the leaves float by... and oh, the wildflowers on the banks!
I dyed Easter eggs for the wuggies, but I think I did the wrong carton. Or maybe I turned the burner off too soon. I have no idea how it happened, because I was meticulously careful... but they definitely weren't hard boiled.
Fortunately we discovered this without too much trauma to the carpet.
September was enthralled with the discovery that her beautiful purple egg was actually such a volatile object.
She grinned impishly at me. "I like to throw it."
"But I won't."
"Because I want to give you kisses."
So I might be restricted to library internet use for a while longer.
Meanwhile, we're settling in to our new place, and liking it very much.
The Bayou is so very beautiful. Before we moved in, I thought of it as just a big muddy ditch that might flood our beautiful house someday. But I get so much pleasure every day out of passing over the lazy river glistening in the sun, watching the leaves float by... and oh, the wildflowers on the banks!
I dyed Easter eggs for the wuggies, but I think I did the wrong carton. Or maybe I turned the burner off too soon. I have no idea how it happened, because I was meticulously careful... but they definitely weren't hard boiled.
Fortunately we discovered this without too much trauma to the carpet.
September was enthralled with the discovery that her beautiful purple egg was actually such a volatile object.
She grinned impishly at me. "I like to throw it."
"But I won't."
"Because I want to give you kisses."
3.14.2008
Well, we did it.
We bought the townhouse, airplanes and flood planes and all.
Fooling around with the parameters of the policy, we were able to get flood protection for a much more reasonable premium. And with the lower premium, the flood insurance costs less than the extra property taxes alone on the more expensive, but less wonderful, houses that we might have considered instead. Not to mention that we're paying less for the house itself, and actually getting what we really want. =)
It feels good to have finally come to a decision. No more second-guessing, no more frantic information gathering, just the blissful knowledge that we have our very own home.
It feels good to have made a decision, and I feel good about the decision that we made. When you buy a house, it's about so much more than just a house, it's about the sort of life you want to live as a family. We've done a lot of thinking over the past six months about how to structure our life, I really think that this is the right house to help us live well.
Of course, we could live well in a smaller house, but we would have to work harder at it.
And we could live well in a bigger house... but we'd have to work harder at that, too.
This house is just right. Not just "good enough for now," but really-o, truly-o just right.
At least, for now it is. God willing, it looks as though we'll be running out of bedroom space in a few years. =) But it has a high-pitched roof, and good solid attic ready to be finished into a few more bedrooms. When we outgrow the house, the house can just grow right along with us--but we don't have to worry about that until the time comes.
It's a good feeling.
And in the mean time, baby is turning somersaults, and that's a good feeling, too. =)
Fooling around with the parameters of the policy, we were able to get flood protection for a much more reasonable premium. And with the lower premium, the flood insurance costs less than the extra property taxes alone on the more expensive, but less wonderful, houses that we might have considered instead. Not to mention that we're paying less for the house itself, and actually getting what we really want. =)
It feels good to have finally come to a decision. No more second-guessing, no more frantic information gathering, just the blissful knowledge that we have our very own home.
It feels good to have made a decision, and I feel good about the decision that we made. When you buy a house, it's about so much more than just a house, it's about the sort of life you want to live as a family. We've done a lot of thinking over the past six months about how to structure our life, I really think that this is the right house to help us live well.
Of course, we could live well in a smaller house, but we would have to work harder at it.
And we could live well in a bigger house... but we'd have to work harder at that, too.
This house is just right. Not just "good enough for now," but really-o, truly-o just right.
At least, for now it is. God willing, it looks as though we'll be running out of bedroom space in a few years. =) But it has a high-pitched roof, and good solid attic ready to be finished into a few more bedrooms. When we outgrow the house, the house can just grow right along with us--but we don't have to worry about that until the time comes.
It's a good feeling.
And in the mean time, baby is turning somersaults, and that's a good feeling, too. =)
3.11.2008
I really didn't think this would be so hard.
Emily has tagged me with a most delightfully intriguing meme.
THE RULES:
Look up from the computer, look around the room where you're sitting and pick up the closest book. Open the book, turn to page 123, count down to the fifth sentence on that page, and then post the next three sentences.
And Emily made it quite clear that there was to be no cheating whatsoever-- it had to be the very nearest book.
Well, the nearest book is Richard Scarry's Chipmunk's ABC. It doesn't even have page numbers, but being an alphabet book devoting one page per letter, the page count can't be much above 26. The next closest book is Beethoven's Klavierstucke, but while the fifth measure on page 123 is quite lovely, I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure how to blog it.
The next book my eyes fell upon was the Rand McNally Houston Street Guide. Since the first page is map number 2236, I didn't think I'd find a page 123, but it turns out that there is really a page 123 in the index.
So here we go:
My. Now wasn't that enlightening.
Now, usually with something like this, I'm extremely contrary, and I try to find a way to twist and mangle the rules completely beyond their intention. But in this case, the rules and their original intent are so intriguing that I really want to play along. I need to find a book with an actual sentence on page 123.
Ah. The Estelle Liebling Vocal Course.
60 pgs.
I fear that I'm going to have to admit defeat and just walk over to the book shelf. But then, finally, I spot the Book of Common Prayer laying on the couch.
Ah. Much better. Real, live, sentences... and good ones, too. Even if it really is only 8:44 in the morning.
And now I'm tagging Sarah, and Ashley, and Christa, and Gwen, and Sharon.
I'm sure you'll all have much better luck.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mope in desolation at the thought that all my books with more than 122 pages are tucked away on the shelf gathering dust.
THE RULES:
Look up from the computer, look around the room where you're sitting and pick up the closest book. Open the book, turn to page 123, count down to the fifth sentence on that page, and then post the next three sentences.
And Emily made it quite clear that there was to be no cheating whatsoever-- it had to be the very nearest book.
Well, the nearest book is Richard Scarry's Chipmunk's ABC. It doesn't even have page numbers, but being an alphabet book devoting one page per letter, the page count can't be much above 26. The next closest book is Beethoven's Klavierstucke, but while the fifth measure on page 123 is quite lovely, I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure how to blog it.
The next book my eyes fell upon was the Rand McNally Houston Street Guide. Since the first page is map number 2236, I didn't think I'd find a page 123, but it turns out that there is really a page 123 in the index.
So here we go:
Snail Hollow Dr.
8300 HarC 7064 3542 AS
Snake Cr.
6000 FBnC 77479 4495 E7
6000 FBnC 77479 4496 A7
Snake Canyon Dr.
2900 HarC 77449 3815 E7
My. Now wasn't that enlightening.
Now, usually with something like this, I'm extremely contrary, and I try to find a way to twist and mangle the rules completely beyond their intention. But in this case, the rules and their original intent are so intriguing that I really want to play along. I need to find a book with an actual sentence on page 123.
Ah. The Estelle Liebling Vocal Course.
60 pgs.
I fear that I'm going to have to admit defeat and just walk over to the book shelf. But then, finally, I spot the Book of Common Prayer laying on the couch.
Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ah. Much better. Real, live, sentences... and good ones, too. Even if it really is only 8:44 in the morning.
And now I'm tagging Sarah, and Ashley, and Christa, and Gwen, and Sharon.
I'm sure you'll all have much better luck.
And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go mope in desolation at the thought that all my books with more than 122 pages are tucked away on the shelf gathering dust.
3.09.2008
Crash Landing
When we first fell in love with the neighborhood, with its gracefully arching trees and smiling children, we wondered if the planes might cause some problems. Its close proximity to the airport would be wonderfully convenient for travel, and the wuggies love seeing planes, but would it be too noisy inside?
But that turned out to be more a perk than a problem, since the airport had recently soundproofed all the houses in the immediate vicinity of their newest runway. The high quality windows and doors leave the townhouses undisturbed by noise of planes, traffic, or neighbors, and energy-efficient too. A block or two further away, and the noise of the planes might have driven us mad, but here it was no problem.
Everything was just perfect. The neighborhood was simultaneously tranquil and full of life, and it was in just the right spot, halfway between Andy's job and the cultural and educational opportunities of downtown Houston.
And the unit itself was spacious, and full of wonderful nooks and crannies. It was just the right size for us right now, and with a large, well-supported attic, it offered the potential to expand with our growing family.
Everything was looking wonderful.
But then the insurance agent called us back with those numbers.
To hear Isaiah explain it, a broken-down plane crashed on top of the townhouse, which is very dangerous, not least because it brings up the possibility that other planes might land on our car as we drive down the freeway.
Actually, it was a flood plane, not an airplane, and the house is on the plane, not the other way around. But I guess you really could say that the flood plane made a crash landing onto that house.
Up until this summer, there was no problem getting flood insurance in the neighborhood. But ever since Katrina demonstrated the inadequacies of our flood risk assessments, FEMA has been slowly making its way through the nation, updating the flood maps.
And according to the new maps, our dream house is now located in a flood plane, and the insurance is astronomically expensive.
Insurance, taxes, HOA fees, and basic maintanance--the carrying costs that you never, ever stop carrying--would come up just $100 shy of typical rent in the area.
We love the place so much... but the numbers just don't add up to good stewardship.
It might still work if we can protect ourselves financially while insuring it for its appraised value only, rather than for the full cost of rebuilding. (Rebuilding a destroyed townhouse is much, much more expensive than walking away and buying a new home.) We're meeting with a real estate attorney tomorrow to discuss the extend our HOA obligations in the event of a catastrophic flood--but mostly because we want to understand the dynamics of townhouse ownership better as we look for other properties, not because we have any real hope that this particular home will turn out to be a sensible investment.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, we looked at a pretty much identical townhouse in a different area for comparison purposes, to see how much the flood zones impacted how far your money would go. Same floor plan, same general price range, good condition, comparable community amenities, and in a quite respectable part of town.
But we both came away with the impression that we would absolutely hate living in that neighborhood. Oh, there was nothing objectionable about it. Everything was clean and well-maintained... and utterly soul-less. It's hard to put your finger on it, but there it is, and it matters. Every time we drove into that wonderful little neighborhood in the flood zone, I couldn't help but smile. It's a happy place.
This other neighborhood isn't. Not in particular, anyway. It's not that it's a sad place, or an angry place, or even an apathetic place, more that it isn't any place at all.
So we'll keep looking.
But that turned out to be more a perk than a problem, since the airport had recently soundproofed all the houses in the immediate vicinity of their newest runway. The high quality windows and doors leave the townhouses undisturbed by noise of planes, traffic, or neighbors, and energy-efficient too. A block or two further away, and the noise of the planes might have driven us mad, but here it was no problem.
Everything was just perfect. The neighborhood was simultaneously tranquil and full of life, and it was in just the right spot, halfway between Andy's job and the cultural and educational opportunities of downtown Houston.
And the unit itself was spacious, and full of wonderful nooks and crannies. It was just the right size for us right now, and with a large, well-supported attic, it offered the potential to expand with our growing family.
Everything was looking wonderful.
But then the insurance agent called us back with those numbers.
To hear Isaiah explain it, a broken-down plane crashed on top of the townhouse, which is very dangerous, not least because it brings up the possibility that other planes might land on our car as we drive down the freeway.
Actually, it was a flood plane, not an airplane, and the house is on the plane, not the other way around. But I guess you really could say that the flood plane made a crash landing onto that house.
Up until this summer, there was no problem getting flood insurance in the neighborhood. But ever since Katrina demonstrated the inadequacies of our flood risk assessments, FEMA has been slowly making its way through the nation, updating the flood maps.
And according to the new maps, our dream house is now located in a flood plane, and the insurance is astronomically expensive.
Insurance, taxes, HOA fees, and basic maintanance--the carrying costs that you never, ever stop carrying--would come up just $100 shy of typical rent in the area.
We love the place so much... but the numbers just don't add up to good stewardship.
It might still work if we can protect ourselves financially while insuring it for its appraised value only, rather than for the full cost of rebuilding. (Rebuilding a destroyed townhouse is much, much more expensive than walking away and buying a new home.) We're meeting with a real estate attorney tomorrow to discuss the extend our HOA obligations in the event of a catastrophic flood--but mostly because we want to understand the dynamics of townhouse ownership better as we look for other properties, not because we have any real hope that this particular home will turn out to be a sensible investment.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, we looked at a pretty much identical townhouse in a different area for comparison purposes, to see how much the flood zones impacted how far your money would go. Same floor plan, same general price range, good condition, comparable community amenities, and in a quite respectable part of town.
But we both came away with the impression that we would absolutely hate living in that neighborhood. Oh, there was nothing objectionable about it. Everything was clean and well-maintained... and utterly soul-less. It's hard to put your finger on it, but there it is, and it matters. Every time we drove into that wonderful little neighborhood in the flood zone, I couldn't help but smile. It's a happy place.
This other neighborhood isn't. Not in particular, anyway. It's not that it's a sad place, or an angry place, or even an apathetic place, more that it isn't any place at all.
So we'll keep looking.
2.28.2008
A $270 mistake for the better.
I called the survey company this morning. They hadn't cancelled my order for the elevation certificate after all. Which would actually have been a rather disturbing error, since they assured me that it was cancelled, and the charges to my credit card reversed...
but as it is, that little mistake just means that the results won't be delayed by a day after all.
Whew.
but as it is, that little mistake just means that the results won't be delayed by a day after all.
Whew.
Tuck me in.
"Owie. Owie. Owie."
Concerned, I pad out to see what could be troubling Isaiah so at 3:30 in the morning, but he doesn't appear to be in agony.
Instead, I find him sprawled on his belly in the doorway of his bedroom, chin resting on his hands, feet kicking in the air. The classic image of mid-afternoon boredom, not night-time distress.
"Tuck me in."
I look for his blanket, tossed off rather forcefully to all appearances, while Isaiah makes his way over to his bed.
"I need a book."
I hand him The Three Little Pigs.
"No, not that one. I need Mike Mulligan."
He holds the big red book up high while I arrange his blankets around him.
Instantly, he curls up, arms around his book, and is asleep before I am done kissing him.
Concerned, I pad out to see what could be troubling Isaiah so at 3:30 in the morning, but he doesn't appear to be in agony.
Instead, I find him sprawled on his belly in the doorway of his bedroom, chin resting on his hands, feet kicking in the air. The classic image of mid-afternoon boredom, not night-time distress.
"Tuck me in."
I look for his blanket, tossed off rather forcefully to all appearances, while Isaiah makes his way over to his bed.
"I need a book."
I hand him The Three Little Pigs.
"No, not that one. I need Mike Mulligan."
He holds the big red book up high while I arrange his blankets around him.
Instantly, he curls up, arms around his book, and is asleep before I am done kissing him.
2.27.2008
5:07 PM
5:07.
That is when I got the email from the property manager, saying that they didn't have the elevation certificates after all.
5:07.
Which wouldn't be nearly so bad, except that I'd just cancelled my order with the survey company.
And they are closed now.
5:07.
That is when I got the email from the property manager, saying that they didn't have the elevation certificates after all.
5:07.
Which wouldn't be nearly so bad, except that I'd just cancelled my order with the survey company.
And they are closed now.
5:07.
One must never underestimate the importance of being bored.
Ah, the sweet sound of happy children.
I'd been feeling guilty for being such a homebody, not taking my children out of the house enough. But this week, that hasn't been a problem.
We've been running around non-stop, and it was all stuff they enjoy, too. I mean, going to the bank may be a boring errand for me, but the local WaMu branch has a terrific play area, so that's actually a special treat for the wuggies. And real estate contracts may be dull, but the Re/Max office is a new place they've never been before. And it was all interspersed with fun stuff particularly for the kids, like the McDonalds play place and the zoo.
But slowly, over the course of the week, well... let's just say that strangers have stopped remarking over the good behavior of my children.
This morning was rocky, and this latest bit of misbehavior resulted in a safety hazard which I'm not quite sure how to resolve in the short term. So into their bedroom they went, and there they will stay until lunch, and our afternoon of errands. And oh, there's quite an afternoon of errands ahead. Without the luxury of time, I'm running around collecting documents, rather than waiting for people to send them to me at their leisure. So we'll be taking a grand tour of the greater Houston area this afternoon.
Anyway the kids are in their bedroom, and happier than they've been in several days.
I wish I could just stay home and read to the kids and catch up on chores today.
But I think it's going to be okay, because the wuggies have had their dose of boredom, and that makes all the difference.
I'd been feeling guilty for being such a homebody, not taking my children out of the house enough. But this week, that hasn't been a problem.
We've been running around non-stop, and it was all stuff they enjoy, too. I mean, going to the bank may be a boring errand for me, but the local WaMu branch has a terrific play area, so that's actually a special treat for the wuggies. And real estate contracts may be dull, but the Re/Max office is a new place they've never been before. And it was all interspersed with fun stuff particularly for the kids, like the McDonalds play place and the zoo.
But slowly, over the course of the week, well... let's just say that strangers have stopped remarking over the good behavior of my children.
This morning was rocky, and this latest bit of misbehavior resulted in a safety hazard which I'm not quite sure how to resolve in the short term. So into their bedroom they went, and there they will stay until lunch, and our afternoon of errands. And oh, there's quite an afternoon of errands ahead. Without the luxury of time, I'm running around collecting documents, rather than waiting for people to send them to me at their leisure. So we'll be taking a grand tour of the greater Houston area this afternoon.
Anyway the kids are in their bedroom, and happier than they've been in several days.
I wish I could just stay home and read to the kids and catch up on chores today.
But I think it's going to be okay, because the wuggies have had their dose of boredom, and that makes all the difference.
Works for Me Wednesday: Pretty Nails
A few months ago, a vendor at the mall did a little demonstration, buffing one of my nails to a glorious sheen. Seriously, it was amazing. It looked like I was wearing clear nail polish, except very, very nice clear nail polish, only better. It brought a natural rosy glow to my nail, too, and the vendor said that all the extra blood circulation would promote nail growth. I'm not sure about that, but it sounds plausible.So I was definitely sold on the idea of nail buffing. Unfortunately for the vendor, I was not sold on the idea of paying $50 for a nail buffer. Not even if it came with fancy Dead Sea skin care products. And no, not even if they knocked the price down to $25.
I had absolutely no idea whether it was any better than the cheap buffers at the drug store.
Well, now that I've tried a few of the drug store variety, I can tell you that if you're wanting to invest in your nails, if the mall vendor will give you one for $25, it's definitely not a rip-off. Their nail buffer really is considerably nicer than the ones you can get at the drugstore, in addition to being nicer than a salon manicure.
But as for me? I'm using the two-sided Sally Hansen nail buffer that I picked up at Family Dollar for a buck.
The shine doesn't last as long as the shine on my mall nail did, but then again, the process with the Sally Hansen buffer is much, much quicker, so it really sort of evens out.
And whatever buffer you use (as long as you don't use one of the four-sided ones with built in emery boards to scratch your nails as you try to buff) the results are splendidly mom-friendly.
No chipping polish, no noxious chemicals, nothing for the kids to knock over and destroy the carpet with... just pretty nails.
Works for Me.
2.24.2008
Ten Days
An agreement has been reached, our offer accepted. The contract has been signed by all parties.
Now we have 10 days to figure out if we really want to go through with this.
10 days to track down the condo association and make sure they're fiscally responsible. They certainly appear to be doing an amazing job of maintaining a tidy row of townhouses and a lovely pool for quite a reasonable monthly fee. On the other hand, I'm having a horrific time tracking down anyone who can provide me with documentation.
10 days to get the house inspected, make sure there are no red flags there.
10 days to talk with the someone from the sheriff's office, make sure that the neighborhood really is as safe as all the nice neighbors say it is.
10 days, for that matter, to decide whether or not we're really confident that out of all the neighborhoods in the greater Houston area, this is the one we want to commit to.
I think it is, though--provided we get the right set of answers over the next 10 days.
It's going to be a busy week...
Now we have 10 days to figure out if we really want to go through with this.
10 days to track down the condo association and make sure they're fiscally responsible. They certainly appear to be doing an amazing job of maintaining a tidy row of townhouses and a lovely pool for quite a reasonable monthly fee. On the other hand, I'm having a horrific time tracking down anyone who can provide me with documentation.
10 days to get the house inspected, make sure there are no red flags there.
10 days to talk with the someone from the sheriff's office, make sure that the neighborhood really is as safe as all the nice neighbors say it is.
10 days, for that matter, to decide whether or not we're really confident that out of all the neighborhoods in the greater Houston area, this is the one we want to commit to.
I think it is, though--provided we get the right set of answers over the next 10 days.
It's going to be a busy week...
2.20.2008
In the dead of night, she cries for the morning sky.
We leave on the light, but that is a pale substitute for the sun.
She screams and she cries and pounds the walls, but to no avail. Her struggles and her strivings can never speed the morning.
Oh, my child, the morning will come soon enough. But it will be as darkness to you unless you learn to rest in the night.
We leave on the light, but that is a pale substitute for the sun.
She screams and she cries and pounds the walls, but to no avail. Her struggles and her strivings can never speed the morning.
Oh, my child, the morning will come soon enough. But it will be as darkness to you unless you learn to rest in the night.
2.14.2008
Souffle
I probably would have been much to intimidated to attempt a souffle, except for a recipe that I found in a baby food cookbook, of all places. Souffles were not exactly what came to mind when I thought of easy, toddler-friendly meals, but that's what the book said. I tried it, and sure enough, it's become a favorite in our house.
The recipe was a pretty standard cheese souffle--make a white sauce, add cheese, add egg yolks, thicken, fold together with beaten egg whites. However, the mom-friendly version calls for baking it in an ungreased dish. It makes things a bit messy when you're serving it up, but it rises just fine, and you don't have to deal with the hassle of coating the dish, which I've never succeeded in doing properly, anyway. One little missed spot, and the souffle doesn't rise.
Anyway, tonight I tried out a different recipe. It calls for using hot milk in the white sauce. I'd always heard that was a big no-no, but it worked like a dream. Silky smooth without the faintest trace of a lump. But it was very, very thick. So thick I don't think you could honestly call it a sauce. So instead of thickening it with the egg yolks, this recipe said to allow the "sauce" to cool before adding the yolks. So since they didn't get cooked at this stage, the yolks actually thinned the mixture, rather than thickening it, and the resulting texture was approximately the same as with a more standard recipe.
Thus the mixture is much sturdier as it cooks, and you can actually bake it in a normally greased dish.
It was a gorgeous souffle, slow to deflate, easily slice-able, and silky-textured.
Best of all, it was all very straightforward and simple to make, with little room for disaster.
And that's always a good thing.
=)
The recipe was a pretty standard cheese souffle--make a white sauce, add cheese, add egg yolks, thicken, fold together with beaten egg whites. However, the mom-friendly version calls for baking it in an ungreased dish. It makes things a bit messy when you're serving it up, but it rises just fine, and you don't have to deal with the hassle of coating the dish, which I've never succeeded in doing properly, anyway. One little missed spot, and the souffle doesn't rise.
Anyway, tonight I tried out a different recipe. It calls for using hot milk in the white sauce. I'd always heard that was a big no-no, but it worked like a dream. Silky smooth without the faintest trace of a lump. But it was very, very thick. So thick I don't think you could honestly call it a sauce. So instead of thickening it with the egg yolks, this recipe said to allow the "sauce" to cool before adding the yolks. So since they didn't get cooked at this stage, the yolks actually thinned the mixture, rather than thickening it, and the resulting texture was approximately the same as with a more standard recipe.
Thus the mixture is much sturdier as it cooks, and you can actually bake it in a normally greased dish.
It was a gorgeous souffle, slow to deflate, easily slice-able, and silky-textured.
Best of all, it was all very straightforward and simple to make, with little room for disaster.
And that's always a good thing.
=)
2.11.2008
Most eloquent political post of the year
http://beingsarahmarie.blogspot.com/2008/02/dear-huck-love-sarah.html
Go read it. Even if you hate politics.
=)
Go read it. Even if you hate politics.
=)
2.10.2008
Good Weekend
Andrew's school held a classical education conference this weekend, and a couple of students volunteered to watch the kids, so I got to go on Saturday.
It felt so very, very good to spend the day with grown-ups.
Andrew gave his talk on the relationship between pure and applied mathematics, which went quite well.
There was much singing of hymns and folk songs, and it was astonishingly tuneful. Thinking and singing both! Ah, such food for the soul!
The main speaker, Dr. Markos, is a Lewis scholar, and had lots of good stuff to say about the role of literature, and the Tao, the Chronicles of Narnia, the myth of the Enlightenment, etc. etc. etc. We stayed afterwards for a long time talking with him, and in addition to being quite brilliant, he's a splendidly nice fellow. He teaches at HBU, which is only the other side of Houston, so I have high hopes that we'll be able to hear him again sometime.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Markos happened to mention Cici's as a great place to feed a family on the cheap, and so when we got home, we loaded the kids up and took them out for pizza.
The food was exactly what you'd expect from a $5 all-you-can-eat buffet, but the manager was extremely friendly and personable, and did everything he could to make us feel welcome.
It's a strange thing, but having a really friendly pizza place makes life so much sweeter. Moreso than you'd think. It's one of those little things that turns out to be a big thing, even if the food isn't all that great.
Yup. It's been a good weekend.
It felt so very, very good to spend the day with grown-ups.
Andrew gave his talk on the relationship between pure and applied mathematics, which went quite well.
There was much singing of hymns and folk songs, and it was astonishingly tuneful. Thinking and singing both! Ah, such food for the soul!
The main speaker, Dr. Markos, is a Lewis scholar, and had lots of good stuff to say about the role of literature, and the Tao, the Chronicles of Narnia, the myth of the Enlightenment, etc. etc. etc. We stayed afterwards for a long time talking with him, and in addition to being quite brilliant, he's a splendidly nice fellow. He teaches at HBU, which is only the other side of Houston, so I have high hopes that we'll be able to hear him again sometime.
Over the course of our conversation, Dr. Markos happened to mention Cici's as a great place to feed a family on the cheap, and so when we got home, we loaded the kids up and took them out for pizza.
The food was exactly what you'd expect from a $5 all-you-can-eat buffet, but the manager was extremely friendly and personable, and did everything he could to make us feel welcome.
It's a strange thing, but having a really friendly pizza place makes life so much sweeter. Moreso than you'd think. It's one of those little things that turns out to be a big thing, even if the food isn't all that great.
Yup. It's been a good weekend.
1.30.2008
Don't get to close to your computer screens...
In fact, maybe you shouldn't be reading this at all.
You do NOT want to get whatever it is that we have.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going curl back up into a ball and moan some more.
You do NOT want to get whatever it is that we have.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going curl back up into a ball and moan some more.
1.28.2008
Mr. Rogers For President,. Part VII: The Emperor has No Gold
It was so weird. While all the other candidates spouted out the answers that Republicans wanted to hear, Ron Paul was talking sense--at least on that one issue. More than that, he was the only one who was concerned not only with how he wanted the world to be, but with being scrupulously lawful in the way we go about making the world a better place. His words displayed a quality so strikingly unexpected in a politician... integrity.
So I thought it was worth listening what he had to say about economics.
Now I have to start out by saying that I disagree with Dr. Paul about the gold standard. The constitution does not say that only gold or silver can be legal tender, it merely says that individual states are not allowed to issue any other type of money. Since no such restrictions were placed on Congressional authority to regulate currency, it seems pretty clear to me that Congress is allowed to issue fiat money. It also seems clear to me that it's a good idea for them to do so. Mild inflation is fairly innocuous, and it prevents the economic disasters that come from even the tiniest bit of deflation, so I think a little bit of inflation is a wonderfully reasonable way for the federal government to fund itself.
Problem is, that's not what's happening.
I'd always wondered how we could possibly have such a huge national debt when the government could just print out money out of nothing.
It turns out there's a very simple answer.
The government doesn't print out money.
Congress has transfered its Constitutional powers over money supply to a privately owned bank, the Federal Reserve.
The government then borrows funds from the Fed... at interest. The income tax is barely sufficient to pay the yearly interest on the national debt, let alone any expenditures, and viola, the whole nation is laboring under a negative-amortization loan.
This is silly.
Moreover, it's unethical.
I think that inflation is a perfectly legitimate way to fund the federal government. It is not a legitimate way to fund private stockholders. The Bible has an awful lot to say about what God thinks of nations that allow the rich to steal from the poor, and it isn't pretty.
This system is also just about the most dangerous national security threat that I can think of.
When our money supply--and thus our ability to arm and support our military--is completely at the mercy of unsupervised private financial interests, this is an enormously frightening situation.
But in any case, the current system is stupid and immoral...
And nobody else is talking about it.
So I thought it was worth listening what he had to say about economics.
Now I have to start out by saying that I disagree with Dr. Paul about the gold standard. The constitution does not say that only gold or silver can be legal tender, it merely says that individual states are not allowed to issue any other type of money. Since no such restrictions were placed on Congressional authority to regulate currency, it seems pretty clear to me that Congress is allowed to issue fiat money. It also seems clear to me that it's a good idea for them to do so. Mild inflation is fairly innocuous, and it prevents the economic disasters that come from even the tiniest bit of deflation, so I think a little bit of inflation is a wonderfully reasonable way for the federal government to fund itself.
Problem is, that's not what's happening.
I'd always wondered how we could possibly have such a huge national debt when the government could just print out money out of nothing.
It turns out there's a very simple answer.
The government doesn't print out money.
Congress has transfered its Constitutional powers over money supply to a privately owned bank, the Federal Reserve.
The government then borrows funds from the Fed... at interest. The income tax is barely sufficient to pay the yearly interest on the national debt, let alone any expenditures, and viola, the whole nation is laboring under a negative-amortization loan.
This is silly.
Moreover, it's unethical.
I think that inflation is a perfectly legitimate way to fund the federal government. It is not a legitimate way to fund private stockholders. The Bible has an awful lot to say about what God thinks of nations that allow the rich to steal from the poor, and it isn't pretty.
This system is also just about the most dangerous national security threat that I can think of.
When our money supply--and thus our ability to arm and support our military--is completely at the mercy of unsupervised private financial interests, this is an enormously frightening situation.
But in any case, the current system is stupid and immoral...
And nobody else is talking about it.
1.25.2008
Mr. Rogers for President. Part VI: Authority
So I was pretty much convinced that the medical marijuana debate was much more than just a smokescreen, that there really were lives at stake.
Is it really conscionable to sacrifice these human beings at the altar of "sending the right message?"
Particularly considering that we don't have any problem at all allowing doctors to prescribe morphine and cocaine. It's not legal to take the drugs as a hobby, but after surgery, they give you the stuff so that you can get high instead of being in pain. Usually, I get by with ibuprophen--I think the only time when I actually took the powerful meds was after hemorrhaging when I gave birth to the twins. I'll take an awful lot of pain before I choose to ingest something that will mess with my head.
But whereas getting high is a legitimate method of pain relief for wisdom tooth patients, doctors cannot prescribe non-psychoactive doses of marijuana to prevent AIDS and cancer patients from dying of malnutrition?
There is something very wrong about this picture.
Still, I was pretty sure that states like California were out of line in passing laws that defied the authority of the federal government.
But then I listened to what Ron Paul had to say about it. And Ron Paul said that as a physician he does believe that marijuana can be medically useful in certain situations... but that it's really rather beside the point. The Constitution is very clear that such matters should be left up to the states. California should be able to allow it, Utah and Texas should be able to prohibit it, and as long as nothing crosses a state border, it just isn't any of the federal government's business at all.
I did a double take. That's definitely not the way things work in this country.
So I pulled my copy of the Constitution down from the shelf. I spent a good bit of time poring over it, searching for something that would give the federal government authority over drug laws, but it just wasn't there. The federal government has authority over currency, interstate and international commerce, military forces, post offices and roads, patents and copyrights. But the Constitution doesn't say a single thing about drug law, and the 10th amendment makes it clear that the federal government is not allowed to do anything not mentioned in the Constitution.
And then I looked at the Supreme Court majority and dissenting opinions in the 2001 case in which they decided, 6 to 3, that federal law trumped state law when it came to drugs.
O'Connor, Renquist, and Thomas dissented, saying that since backyard cannabis cultivation for personal medicinal use was neither interstate nor commercial, it could not possibly fall under the interstate commerce clause. He also gave an inspiring and eloquent argument for the importance of the federalist system, where the states serve as laboratories of justice. It's a good read.
But the majority opinion, written by Justice Stevens, states that the authority to regulate interstate commerce extends to purely non-commercial activities which have an impact on interstate markets. Stevens cited a case in which the Court decided that the federal government had the authority to regulate wheat grown for personal consumption. Apparently "regulating commerce between the several states" means that you can place controls on production in order to manipulate prices. So the government wanted to raise the price of wheat, and imposed production caps on the farmers. One farmer, concerned about the shortages that would likely arise, planted some extra for his own family's consumption, in addition to the crops for sale. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government did indeed have jurisdiction over the non-commercial wheat crops, because they would have an impact (however trivial) on the interstate wheat market.
In other words, the authority to regulate interstate commerce brings with it the power to regulate any activities which might enable you to refrain from participation in interstate commerce.
And it is through this precedent that the Court ruled that federal drug laws trump state drug laws. Since there is a large and lucrative interstate marijuana market, and marijuana cultivation for private use would have an impact on that market, the commerce clause applies in this situation.
In other words, the Suprem Court decided that patients cannot be allowed to grow marijuana because that could impinge on profits in the illegal drug trade.
No, I'm not joking. Read it for yourself.
Is it really conscionable to sacrifice these human beings at the altar of "sending the right message?"
Particularly considering that we don't have any problem at all allowing doctors to prescribe morphine and cocaine. It's not legal to take the drugs as a hobby, but after surgery, they give you the stuff so that you can get high instead of being in pain. Usually, I get by with ibuprophen--I think the only time when I actually took the powerful meds was after hemorrhaging when I gave birth to the twins. I'll take an awful lot of pain before I choose to ingest something that will mess with my head.
But whereas getting high is a legitimate method of pain relief for wisdom tooth patients, doctors cannot prescribe non-psychoactive doses of marijuana to prevent AIDS and cancer patients from dying of malnutrition?
There is something very wrong about this picture.
Still, I was pretty sure that states like California were out of line in passing laws that defied the authority of the federal government.
But then I listened to what Ron Paul had to say about it. And Ron Paul said that as a physician he does believe that marijuana can be medically useful in certain situations... but that it's really rather beside the point. The Constitution is very clear that such matters should be left up to the states. California should be able to allow it, Utah and Texas should be able to prohibit it, and as long as nothing crosses a state border, it just isn't any of the federal government's business at all.
I did a double take. That's definitely not the way things work in this country.
So I pulled my copy of the Constitution down from the shelf. I spent a good bit of time poring over it, searching for something that would give the federal government authority over drug laws, but it just wasn't there. The federal government has authority over currency, interstate and international commerce, military forces, post offices and roads, patents and copyrights. But the Constitution doesn't say a single thing about drug law, and the 10th amendment makes it clear that the federal government is not allowed to do anything not mentioned in the Constitution.
And then I looked at the Supreme Court majority and dissenting opinions in the 2001 case in which they decided, 6 to 3, that federal law trumped state law when it came to drugs.
O'Connor, Renquist, and Thomas dissented, saying that since backyard cannabis cultivation for personal medicinal use was neither interstate nor commercial, it could not possibly fall under the interstate commerce clause. He also gave an inspiring and eloquent argument for the importance of the federalist system, where the states serve as laboratories of justice. It's a good read.
But the majority opinion, written by Justice Stevens, states that the authority to regulate interstate commerce extends to purely non-commercial activities which have an impact on interstate markets. Stevens cited a case in which the Court decided that the federal government had the authority to regulate wheat grown for personal consumption. Apparently "regulating commerce between the several states" means that you can place controls on production in order to manipulate prices. So the government wanted to raise the price of wheat, and imposed production caps on the farmers. One farmer, concerned about the shortages that would likely arise, planted some extra for his own family's consumption, in addition to the crops for sale. The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government did indeed have jurisdiction over the non-commercial wheat crops, because they would have an impact (however trivial) on the interstate wheat market.
In other words, the authority to regulate interstate commerce brings with it the power to regulate any activities which might enable you to refrain from participation in interstate commerce.
And it is through this precedent that the Court ruled that federal drug laws trump state drug laws. Since there is a large and lucrative interstate marijuana market, and marijuana cultivation for private use would have an impact on that market, the commerce clause applies in this situation.
In other words, the Suprem Court decided that patients cannot be allowed to grow marijuana because that could impinge on profits in the illegal drug trade.
No, I'm not joking. Read it for yourself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
