Gendered Presents

Posted on by
Reply

Someone whose journal I read was commenting with frustration upon shopping for a Star Wars birthday card for his daughter.

I genuinely don’t know how much my parents thought about how gendered my presents were as a child.  I expect what they were really thinking was, “What would Noël really like?”

Sometimes that did mean something girly.  For my seventh birthday, I got a doll. I was never a major doll fan, but I did enjoy them.  This doll, however, was made of awesome.  Holly Hobby was incredibly popular at the time, but I got something even better.  My doll, who I did name Holly in memory of the Christmas season, was hand-made.  No-one in the whole world had that doll because it was made specifically for me.  How much did I love that doll?  Well this picture was taken ten minutes ago in my living room.  That’s how much.  I think I also got my Holly Hobby oven (which I adored) that year as well.

But I remember another gift that I loved just as much, and in sober truth spent a lot more time playing with.  I think I was nine or ten when I got it.  But yes, my parents gave their little girl who loved wearing dresses an electronics kit as a present.  I made an AM radio, a battery tester and a bunch of other things with it, and had the best time for hours on that thing.  I also got a microscope one year, and a computer the another.

I never got Star Wars toys.  No, it’s not because my parents wouldn’t get them for me.  I was never an action figure person.  To this day, I don’t understand my husband’s fondness for them, but merely accept that’s what he likes and keep it in my thoughts for gifts.  But I got plenty of books that weren’t necessarily “girly”.  (Other than Nancy Drew.  I loved Nancy Drew, and my collection is a large one).  I did get Star Wars books and loved them.  Loved Leia. Loved, loved, loved that character.

But I’m pointing this out to show that even in the 70s and early 80s, my parents did think more about my tastes than whether or not they were gender-appropriate.

And my friend is right, Hallmark needs to get on the damn BALL!

Sugar Cookie Heresy

Posted on by
2

Okay, sugar cookies.

Now, the real way to make sugar cookies is to make the dough, roll it out and do shaped cutouts, then sprinkle them with colored sugar crystals and bake. That’s sugar cookie purity and makes the very best sugar cookies in the world. I know, because that’s the way my mother taught me.

I mean, frosted sugar cookies? Friends, you’d get diabetes from one bite of the things, you can’t really stack them in a cookie jar without ruining them or getting icky-sticky everywhere. Real sugar cookies have sugar sprinkles. ‘Nuff said.

I’ve been married about 21 years. In all that time, I’ve made sugar cookies at least at Christmas each year. And not once have I ever frosted them. I’ve been pure. I’ve kept the faith.

But like Solomon marrying foreign wives, I’ve been led astray to engage in the making of false cookies. Yeah, I have fallen at the behest of the wiles of my spouse. I have broken with the faith and frosted my sugar cookies.

Another Turkey Post

Posted on by
Reply

I bought another turkey yesterday.  You’d think since we haven’t finished eating the Thanksgiving turkey, that my household would have enough of the oversized bird to be going on with.

And fair enough, we’re unlikely to be eating this bird any time soon. He’s taking up a large portion of my freezer.  But I’m okay with that, as this is the time to buy a turkey.  Friends, if you have the freezer space and tend to be creative with your poultry cooking, now’s the time!  I got mine for about $0.49/lb.  Let’s just say that’s a lot less than I usually pay for meat! I’ve talked about saving money buying whole chickens.  Well, this principle works with turkeys just fine!

I’ll be unlikely to be roast the whole thing this time, unless it turns out I wind up hosting some big do between now and the middle of January where a turkey would be appropriate.  No, what I’ll do in a few weeks is thaw this baby, debone it, and store the meat in the freezer.  Then yes, I’ll make stock.

Then, I’ll use the meat just like I’d use boneless chicken meat — stir frys, a puttanesca-style dish I make, cooked in red wine, you name it.  If I had a meat grinder, why yes, I’d be using turkey to make meals that call for ground beef.  If any of you do this, I’d love to hear how it works out.

If you’re looking to save money and have the freezer space, jump on this one.

Turkey Carcass Soup

Posted on by
Reply

The beginnings of the goodness

I make Turkey Carcass Soup whenever I’ve hosted Thanksgiving dinner.  It’s easy to make, delicious, and is a frugal way to use the entire turkey.

Even if you’re not necessarily into poultry soups, I can’t encourage you enough to make stock from your leftover turkey carcass.   Turkey stock is incredibly rich and can be a great addition to many dishes improved by a bit of stock.  Rice cooked in stock is delicious, using a bit in sautéing many vegetables will definitely kick it up a notch.  And, of course, if you’re fond of soups, it’s deliciously rich.

One of the mistakes a lot of people make when they make a stock from a carcass is to heat the water before they put in the bones, or to heat the water too quickly.  You don’t want to do that, as you won’t get as much gelatin from the bones that way.  A fantastic way to avoid that is to put the cold bones in cold water in a crock pot, then turn it on low and forget about it until the delicious smell draws you to the kitchen.

Obviously, I’m not using that method today.  Many moons ago, my mother gave me a pasta pot. You know the kind with the colander-like insert?  It fits a turkey after you’ve taken off the meat that’ll be good for sandwiches or stir fries, and it makes getting the bones out of the hot stock much easier.  But I’ve got my burner on a fairly low temp to heat the water slowly.

Yes, I’ll be making soup for dinner tonight.  A lighter meal after the excesses of Thanksgiving is always a good choice.  Tonight, it’s going to be basic. Carrots, celery, mushrooms, some onion and garlic with a bit of rosemary. Not sure what I’ll put in for a starch, but pasta, rice or potatoes can all be good in this sort of soup.  I think that’s what I like most about doing this.  It’s intuitive.  Sure, sure you can find actual recipes for Turkey Carcass Soup online, but a lot of the fun for me is in rooting through the fridge and pondering what might be good this time.

However this will make much more stock than my family could possibly want for soup.  Sure, many soups freeze well, but I’ll probably use part of the stock to make soup for the family tonight, then freeze the rest for other uses.  Possibly turkey and dumplins will be in our near future.

If you like to cook and have never tried to make a carcass soup, today’s the perfect day.  If you do try it, let me know how it turned out!

Food Banks Shelves are Empty

Posted on by
Reply

Times are rough.  I don’t think this is a secret to anyone.  So, what do people do in tough times?  Try to survive, sure.  And yes, one should.  However, if you’re in any sort of position at all to do something positive, and try to make a good difference in the world, that’s what people should do, right?

If you have your charity thing, awesome.  Keep doing it and thanks for contributing to something positive in this world.

If you don’t and are moved to do some good, I’d like to suggest donating to food banks.  It’s my household’s thing as it’s our preference to do good at the local level as we often see need right in front of us.  It doesn’t take much time, since most of us grocery shop on a regular basis and filling a few bags to drop off at the food bank is ridiculously simple. If all you can spare the price of a boxed meal or a can of soup a week, it’s still something, and can be a big help.

I’m making this specific plea now not only because we’re coming up on the holidays as a traditional time for charitable giving, but because when we dropped off some groceries this morning, my husband commented that he saw some bare shelves this time around. I live in a small community, but last year alone our food bank provided a week’s worth of food for over 1100 households.  That’s like over 45,000 meals for the year, friends.  Between a bad local flood and the economy, the pantry seems to be having a hard time keeping up this year.

So, what’s good to give to a food pantry?

Think non-perishable and think simple.  Not everyone in need has access to full working kitchen facilities.  They may not have the crock pot and the Kitchen-Aid you rely on to prepare delicious, inexpensive meals.

  • Boxed meals are good, especially when you don’t have to add an extra ingredient to make a meal.  Betty Crocker has a complete meals version of their “Helper” product line.  A few boxes of that can be useful.  There’s a company that has a line of beans and rice type dishes that I’ve tried when camping.  They’re tasty.
  • Hearty canned soups are also an excellent choice, especially when the can has a pull top rather than needs a a can opener.
  • Canned fruits and vegetables aren’t as awesome as fresh, sure.  But they’re shelf-stable and getting a variety that’s not just starch is a welcome change in a tedious diet.
  • Peanut butter is also a good shelf-stable standby.
  • Canned meats can also be a good choice.  Since a lot of protein isn’t shelf-stable, this is a big issue for food banks.
  • Powered or canned milk is also popular.  Many powered milk products can be mixed up a serving at a time, so you don’t have to sweat whether or not you have good refrigeration available.
The thing is, a lot of what I’m talking about is food that is covered by food stamps.  Food pantries also often carry toiletries, diapers, and feminine hygiene products.  Donations of this sort are also welcome.
But don’t neglect giving money.  Many food pantries have deals with local merchants and can get food much more cheaply than you or I could buy it in the store.  Ask your local pantry.  If that’s so, go for the money option.  It’s really easy and will do a great deal of good.

 

The Fiawol Creed

Posted on by
Reply

We believe in one Asimov
Father of the Three Laws.
maker of the Galactic Encyclopedia and the positronic brain,
Of all that is Foundation.

We believe in one Heinlein,
Creator of the lantern-jawed, jingoistic know-it-all,
Eternally spinning yarns,
Wisdom from wisdom, rebellion from rebellion,
True old goat from true old goat,
Self-made, not begotten, in on being with the Old Ones,
through him all things are grokked,
For us and our many dollars
He sat down at his typewriter,

By the power of being flat broke,
He was delivered of “Life-Line” and became a Writer

For publicity’s sake he was crucified under Mrs. Grundy,
He prospered, grew rich and was famous
in the third week, he wrote again,
In fulfillment of his contract,
He ascended into stardom,
And is seated at his word-processor,
He will write again to poke fun at all Sacred Cows
And his royalties will have no end.

We believe in one Clark,
The giver of HAL,
From whom proceeds IBM and Kubrick,
With Asimov and Heinlein he is worshipped and glorified,
He has spoken through the monolith.

We believe in one slavering, insane fandom,
We acknowledge one Convention for new fanzines to form,
We look for the regeneration of the new Doctor
and to boldly go where no man has gone before.

© 1993, Noël Lynne Figart

Wii Aren’t Good Enough

Posted on by
1

Spent another hour on the Wii Fit this morning.

I feel almost apologetic for doing it because I see so much negative press from a lot of exercise experts talking about how it doesn’t replace the gym.  That’s the phrase that’s used.  “It doesn’t replace the gym.”  It almost makes me feel bad about myself, because I do get sweaty and out of breath doing an hour on the Wii Fit.  I do V-sits, pushups, sun salutations, running in place, step aerobics, planks, many strength exercises that have an added component of pushing one to balance that  I haven’t worked toward since my ballet classes, squats, and a hula hoop exercise that would be about like doing a minute and a half of really fast hip rolls in belly dance (if you’ve never tried it, it requires a certain amount of core strength as well as coordination.  You’ll sweat).

Then I get pissed for feeling apologetic.  I’ve seen measurable improvement in balance.  I can run in place for ten minutes where it hurt to do it for three before.  I’ve lost five pounds.  I haven’t had a nap except for recreational purposes since I bought the thing.  I sleep like a rock at night.  I feel like I’m being told that if the Wii Fit is a workout for me, then I must just be lame.

But…

I am seeing almost exactly the same results in my regular daily life that I’d see from swimming and lifting weights.  I’m seeing the same mood elevation and mental clarity that I do from any other reasonably well-planned exercise program I’ve ever tried.  Now, since I bought the Wii Fit (Oct 6), I’ve been using it an hour a day or more.  My piggie turned gold yesterday, so I’ve logged over 40 hours using this thing, and it’s not 40 hours playing the balance games. Your mind would turn to Swiss cheese!

With that in mind, why, why, why do fitness professionals trash it so?

Could it be that you’re less inclined to hire a personal trainer?  Could it be that we’re using it as a substitute for the gym and they’re worried about revenue loss?

Gee, I wonder.

Food as Love

Posted on by
Reply

I saw an interesting comment on a journal I read. The original post was about food as love – not filling the kid up with sweets and treats, but making sure that healthy lunches got packed for her daughter to take to school. Obviously as a bentoist,1 myself, I’m interested in healthy, tasty food for my family, too. So I agreed with the idea of nurturing family with healthy meals.

Oinknigiri

But a comment got to me. The commenter was discussing the awesome mothering of a friend who also seemed to be a bentoist, and that it was proof that this person was a much better parent than the commenter would be. I felt kind of uncomfortable with that. I’m not entirely comfortable with the making good meals thing equaling a “good” wife and mother. My interest in food and cooking is at least on some level a hobby brought on by being the child of an excellent cook.2 Yes, my mother was a good mother, but to make the food, especially making elaborate meals, a proxy for good parenting is missing the point.

On the flip side, is part of being a good parent making sure one’s child eats well and gets the appropriate nutrition to grow well? Sure. But that’s only part of the picture and making sure a kid eats well has zero to do with whether or not she gets cute piggie rice balls and carrot slices cut into flowers. Once you’ve gotten to that point, I think we’re dealing with a hobby the parent likes. I mean, sure, a hobby that benefits one’s family is nice and all, but I feel like I’d be just as good a mother if I supervised my child packing a sandwich, fruit and some veggies. In fact, in some ways, I’d be better. I’d be teaching my child to be self-sufficient.3 Self-sufficiency is certainly more important in the long run. We’re training people to be adults, after all. It’s the job of being a parent.

________________________

1 I’m running with the term favored by Maki at Just Bento in her article “What do you call a bento creator?”

2 I’m sure the fact my brother and I are both foodies and cook well is because of our mother.

3 Though, for the record, my son is perfectly capable of cooking a healthy meal and will do so with no grumbling on request.

Are Wii Living in the Real World?

Posted on by
Reply

Okay, so I’ve been doing the Wii about an hour a day for the last month. As I was doing that, I wondered what that would mean in terms of real world activity. I mean, I know jogging in place really isn’t running, bodyweight exercises do strength build, but not like free weights, and what have you.

I had a busy day yesterday. Got up early to pick up my daughter, did a lot of shopping in preparation for a local Halloween event, and then attended an event where I was out in the cold, on my feet and walking for a great deal of it, then culminating in a dance. When I go to a dance, I don’t go to sit. I go to dance. And after years of dance training as a youngster, I don’t do the White Boy Shuffle, either. I dance.

Was I tired at the end of it? Well, yeah, it was late and I’d been going all day. I was glad to go to bed at bedtime.

What I wasn’t was dead exhausted and hurting. I was just tired and happy after a fun day. I have no more than the usual arthritis aches and pains that accompany damp cold that hovers around the freezing point. But there’s no cure for arthritis, so I discount that. My range of motion is still good, and that’s what really counts. I feel properly rested and up for my day.

So yeah, I’d say that the Wii Fit workout has some Real World value.

Are Wii Really Ever Going to Get Fit?

Posted on by
Reply

So, in the continuing saga of using the Wii Fit Plus for exercise. I’ve been doing this for close to a month now and am I getting bored?

Not really, no.

I had promised myself that on days where I was teaching all day, I’d work out on the Wii Fit for half an hour, and on days I have off, I’d work out a whole hour.

That’s not quite the way it worked out.

The Wii Fit is actually addictive

I use the Wii Fit for a minimum of an hour most days. I plugged the data into an Excel spreadsheet1 and found out that I was averaging 70.2 minutes a day in using the game. Yes, it is possible to spend 70 minutes in balance games that don’t get the heart rate up or challenge the muscles at all, that’s not really what I’m doing. What I do is get up in the morning and program it to do a half an hour workout involving strength and stretching. Then during the day when I get brainfried and need to get away from my computer for a bit2 I’ll do a run around WuHu Island, or do some of the more aerobic games for fifteen or twenty minutes a couple of times.

It’s a nice way to take a little break and get some activity in.

Sure, sure, the cool kids have physical activities they like to do, or have physically demanding jobs. I’m a writer and a teacher. 90% of my time I sit on my ass, okay? And I’m sorry, but unless it involves sun, warm weather and water I’ve little interest in that healthy, outdoor lifestyle that’s so popular here in rural New England. WuHu lsland lets me forget winter for a little bit, see blue water and go for a run. So there.

The real question is what kind of results am I getting?

Well, as you can see from the graph, my weight is all over the place. I’m not really sweating it at the moment <hur hur>, as that’s not entirely what I’m working out for. I’m working out more for energy levels, physical strength and general quality of life.

That, friends, I’m getting. I am sleeping hard, just as I always do when I get enough physical activity. I wake up alert and ready to go, and I’m not tired during the day. My range of motion is excellent, and my balance is quite good.

So, am I getting decent results on the Wii Fit?

Yeah, I think so.

_____________________________________________________________________________

1 Stop looking at me like that. I’m a computer applications instructor. Setting up problems in various applications is part of my job if I want to be able to show students how to use this stuff.

2 Or cold,. I keep the house cool and use exercise as a way to warm up.