...and I'm back...

Nearing the end of a 50+ hour work week and my computer's back. (Sighing appreciably.)

This week I've had a smattering of evening dawdle-hours, without Google Reader and grad school internet research available. As a result, I have the most wonderful culinary surprise to share. Will be back with photos this weekend. (Clue: Pumpkin-spice Latte!)

Until then, did you listen to this NPR breakthrough? The private prison industry wrote and bought SB 1070. I continually want to barf. Vote Terry Goddard!

when it rains...

{off to reformat my computer! tra la la! SOb.}

celebrating FIRST DAY of jacket weather!

applesauce on the small gas burner

Ingredients: 8 small farmers' market apples (peeled & chopped), juice of 2 lemons, 1 spoonful maple syrup, pinch of all spice & ground cloves, spoonful of cinnamon.


Methods: Simmer & stir on low heat (I alternated with lid on and lid off, stirring constantly) for 30-40 minutes until broken down. Could whir in a blender for smoother consistency, but yesterday the chunks were fun.

Warm applesauce, straight out of the pan. (And I thought I hated applesauce? This was like another food group!)

Gabby Giffords v. Jesse Kelly v. Steve Stoltz

Spent last night in a heckling crowd gathered at the Student Union Ballroom on U of A campus. Three Congressional candidates debated at 7pm, but crowds started to gather at 4pm with signs, paint, white balloons and glib phrases like, "GO GABBY GO!" and "NO GABBY NO!" and "GO JESSE GO!" and "NO JESSE NO!"

At 6pm the floodgates opened and angry republicans, spitting democrats and humored libertarians (and everything in between) filed into cushioned seats. At 7pm a one-hour debate commenced, interspersed with conservative zealots shouting "LIAAAAR!" (Princess Bride, style) during Giffords' (D.) arguments and contagious laughter during Stoltz's long pauses and inaccurate references to the Constitution. Jesse Kelly got some big whoops when he said he wanted to do-away with "all public education" and make it illegal for rape-victims to have abortions.


At the very end of the evening, Jesse Kelly (R.) told the crowd during his closing statements that he was just a "regular guy" and "nothing special" -- he said he was going to restore honor and loyalty the state of Arizona. (I'm not quite sure what that means.) The guy behind me must have known though, because he started screaming, guttural-style, into the back of my head: "YEAAAH! YEAAAH! YEAAAH!"

You can read Jesse's commanding, 12-sentence biography here.


After all the shouting matches and verbal audience attacks I really got to wondering when citizen-respect for Congressmen and women started to erode. And all too soon after 1070, I feel totally embarrassed to be from Arizona.

P.S. If Giffords loses, I'm hibernating until I turn 27.

before the storm

quarter notes

happy meals

After watching this hamburger not-rot for six months, I started thinking about meals, breaking bread with people I care about and the fortune of satiation, food access and wellness.

tucson get-movin'

first race!

Monsanto hopes to "regain" farmers' trust

Monsanto Income Drops by Nearly Half for Year

P.S. Here's a visual.

trying to make a dent in the garden sage-explosion:

parm & ricotta gnocchi

cherishing the good moments:

feeling well, eating well, with dear friends.

As the clouds clustered

I whittled away the afternoon with my new library book.

64 years later: A "deep regret" and "stated apology"

U.S. Apologizes for Syphilis Tests in Guatemala

Okra Conclusion!

AH-HA!

To combat okra slime, cut into chunks, dredge in egg wash, coat with corn meal, sea salt, pepper and spices and chuck in a medium-heat oven (375ish) until crunchy -- about a half hour.