Surviving Dinner

The bird was beautiful. The farm produces a turkey that's practically 25 pounds of breast meat alone. Every year when I stuff one, it amazes me that there's almost no body cavity. I end up stuffing what I can into the main section, between the drumsticks, and in the neck. As unglorious as it sounds, the bird often looks like it's oozing bread dressing.

I wonder how these birds survive, since there's apparently no room for innards. Gives new meaning to wearing one's heart on one's sleeve. Or in this case, a wing. How do they move, being so top heavy? Are they fitted with little skateboards to get around on? Maybe a jet pack?

Ah well......no matter. It was delicious.

We've hosted Thanksgiving dinner for 8 years now, and look forward to it every year. It's so lovely spending the day with family and friends. It's been an extremely successful endeavor for the better part of a decade now. I should have known our luck would eventually run out.

This article from Slate would've been useful before serving the food.

I am thankful the dinner remained on the table and made it's way to our tummies, instead of decorating the walls or guests.

I am thankful there's an acre of land between our house and the neighbors; putting them out of earshot.

I am thankful no one had a heart attack or stroke.

I am thankful for wine and pie. And wine.

I am thankful there's always next year.

Happy Thanksgiving !!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I'll resume normal posting tomorrow :)

i has leaves

The yard is filled. Filled to the brim with leaves. Every nook and cranny. This is one of the many items on my To Do List that didn't get done, having worked all weekend at my real job. With the economy being what it is, real work takes priority. At least the wind is slowly whipping them into the woods.

Got a few things percolating and should be posting soon: Rembrandt Whitening Kit, Guerlain Tajine, and Silvertown - An East End Family Memoir.

Don't Fight The Duck Fart

PROBLEM: Sandy thinks her system sends a report to AppSupportGeek's system. Sandy also needs to add a column to this report for 'number of duck farts per region'. So Sandy sends a request to the MajorManager to see if this is okay with his team.


MajorManager: “Can you jump on this problem and get a response back to Sandy?”

AppSupportGeek: “Sandy is mistaken. We don't receive this report. But it does sound like a report that the Department Of Avian Gas receives. Maybe it's theirs.”

MajorManager: “So..... are we okay with this?”

AppSupportGeek: “It's not our report. *sigh* Alright, I'll contact AvianGas, verify it's their report, and introduce the two parties so they can sort it out.”

....five minutes later

AvianGas: “Yes! This is a report we receive daily.”

AppSupportGeek: “Great. Can you get with Sandy? She needs to add a column to your report.”

....ten minutes later

MajorManager: “Do you have an update yet? Have we decided if we want the new column for duck farts?”

AppSupportGeek: “Dude, the report isn't ours. I told AvianGas to call Sandy and sort it out.”

MajorManager: “Yeah well, Sandy's boss called and he said it is our report. I need to know this is being handled.”

AppSupportGeek: “Fine. I'll call Sandy and have her talk to her boss. Or I'll talk to her boss. AvianGas should've been in touch with her by now.”

....fifteen minutes later

Sandy: “No, I haven't heard from AvianGas yet. Are you sure it's not your report? My boss swears it is.”

AppSupportGeek: “Well, you know, I've only been working on this system for 10 years now, wrote every interface for incoming reports, and I can honestly say I've never seen this one. There's also the much ignored fact that AvianGas said this report belongs to them. But then again, what the hell do I know? I'm just the geek.”

Sandy: “But MajorManager said you'd help meeeee.”

AppSupportGeek: “Good God, woman. Just tell your boss it's AvianGas' report! I have proof!”

Sandy: “Ooooh.... I don't know what I should do. Do you think you might need the extra column for 'number of duck farts per region'?”

AppSupportGeek: “Sure! Why not? I think it's a lovely idea. Glad you had the foresight to include our team in these discussions. I'll send your boss a nice email detailing how incredibly helpful you've been.”

Shifting Focus

Sorry for lack of posting, things have been busy and work has invaded my private life again. We've also had a series of small disasters which make me believe *Hestia enjoys having everything in the house break in immediate succession.

That, along with the economy being in shambles, this blog may gravitate more towards other things, with less focus on cosmetics. The beauty stuff will still be there, you just might need to tolerate some work related ranting, book reviews, and other anecdotes.

I promise I'll try to keep it interesting :)



*Hestia - Greek goddess of hearth and home

Stuff & Things

TotalBeauty has a new Beauty Myth quiz posted.

Sasa has a new eyeshadow set from Kose Visee that looks really cool.

Vicki's Secret is having a great sale on jammies.

TopShop USA (yay!) Kate Moss Christmas Collection is out now.

And words fail me here......this is simply bizarre.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Life On Mars: Take 4

I've written about the new, American version of Life On Mars here, here and here. I have to admit, it's improving. Besides, I'm reliving my childhood with all that early 70's music. Dug out all the old T-Rex that I hadn't listened to in years. Forgot how great they were.....and it still holds up today. Good stuff in both the original and new versions.

In last Thursday's episode, Sam Tyler meets his mother in 1973. The story is very similar to the original British episode. There were small changes, but nothing that really impacted the story. The oddest thing was that they renamed his mother. In the original, she was Ruth Tyler. In the new one she's Rose Tyler. I sort of cringed, suspecting a Doctor Who connection. A bit of googling found that it was, actually.

Overall, I'm giving it a B+.

The ABC website for Life On Mars can be found here. The original BBC production can be found here.

Route 22 in Allentown

This post is dedicated to the asshat on a motorcycle that nearly became a squishy, red bit of protein on my rear quarter panel.

Mr. Impatient on his crotch-rocket couldn't wait for me to pass the car next to me. Tailgated as I made the pass, then slid in between the rear of my car and the front of the other car. Once I passed the other car, I attempted to pull back into the right lane and couldn't. Dickweed was already there, causing me to swerve back into the left lane again. He must've made this smooth move at the exact same time I went to pass. Never mind that I had my signal on and was already doing 65 in a 55 - it's not as if I was Granny putt-putting my way along the highway.

Dude, at least take it down a notch and pass on the shoulder like the Jersey kids do.