BTT: Paper Or Plastic

BTT question of the week:

- Do you read e-Books?
- [I]f so, how? On your computer, or a PDA?
- Or are you a paper purist? Why?

I'm not shy about taking sides or agruing a point, but I never considered that there might be folks out there that felt specifically about how they read their books! As for me, my brushes with e-texts have been for university classes. Interlinear translations on the Harvard Chaucer site were essential for my Chaucer class. And how can you not think Project Gutenberg is totally fabulous?

Here's the thing: I've never read a book on a computer or other electronic device. Does this make a paper purist? I don't think so, but there is something to be said for the physical experience of turning pages. Sometimes, when a book is a little slow, actual physical progress may be the only thing that keeps me going. I've only recently tried alternatives to reading, like audiobooks. I think since I haven't really been hooked, there must be something pretty essential for me in having the book front and center.

I Could Be Knitting Right Now

...or, at least that is what I tell myself to tear away from the computer.

Need a laugh? Try this on for size.

Head Over 100% Merino Short Row Heels

Have you been here yet? Oh. Holy. Mecca. SOCKS!! (well, socks-yet-to-be)

On my short list for future orders:

1. Smooshy by Dream in Color. If you can make up your mind about which color to try first, you're a stronger man than I.

2. Fixation. That pretty accurately describes my desire to find a yarn I can knit with and wear in the summer. And slouch socks are so 1985, so I'm hoping that little bit of elastic mitigates the cottony-ness.

3. LL Flames. But really, so many colors, so little time.

4. Toasty Toes. Indeed.

5. Potluck by Cherry Tree Hill. Take a risk.

Tequila Is Optional

Margarita Pie, or Lime Pie, or Whatever-Citrus-You-Want Pie

To give due credit, this is basically a recipe we've been using at work for sampling, but I haven't found an external link for it.

1 Graham Cracker Crust
2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1 1/3 cup lime juice or margarita mix
6 egg yolks
1/3 to 2/3 cup sugar (optional with juice)
Sauza?

This one is easy. First, your flavoring. I think pretty much any flavor of margarita mix will work (and we even use our pina colada at work), so if you use this and it's already sweetened, don't add any sugar. If you want to use fresh-squeezed, the sky's the limit. Grapefruit, meyer lemon, blood orange, tangerine, lime. Let your palette be your guide. The same holds true of the sugar you add. In our case, we don't add any, and we used all lime juice because my husband has an affinity for the extremely (and sometimes absurdly) sour.

Optional step: if you're adding sugar, dissolve it in the juice first.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine yolks and condensed milk, mix, then add juice or margarita. Mix well. Pour into baked pie shell. Place pie on a baking sheet and then in the oven. Begin checking for doneness after 10 minutes. To do this, jiggle the pie. If it really wobbles, no dice, come back in 7 minutes. Once the pie starts to set up, there will be a lot less wobble. Check frequently, as over cooking tends to curdle. (This is basically a quick-cooking custard.) You can turn down the heat if the middle seems not to be setting up - maybe 325 degrees. Once you think it's done, place the pie on a cooling rack for an hour. Transfer to the 'fridge for at least two and up to eight hours before serving.

Watch out, those are some serious calories you're contemplating.

BTT: Oui, Un Petit Peu

It's time again for BTT.

Do you have any foreign language books and if so can you (still) read them?

Why yes, yes I do. Acutally what I have are a couple textbooks and reference books from my 2nd year university French courses, two children's picture dictionaries in French (okay, they really belong to the kid, but who do you think reads them to him?), a section of the Aeneid by Virgil in Latin, and a Latin textbook I bought to teach myself.

As for what I can read, I could certainly muddle through the basic meanings of anything French, and joy of joys, the internet would certainly be able to help out with a quick look-up. The only Latin (and Greek) I've studies was a quick 2-credit etymology course my last quarter at UW, so I won't be doing a lot of reading there any time soon.

I have to say, I'm finding this Thursday book meme quite fun. Writing about reading and books seems to be getting my interest flowing again. I've begun reading Without Reservations here and there and just talking about foreign (to me) languages gets me thinking about taking more courses at the local college. I think my primary connection to books that aren't about knitting or sci-fi is through school, which of course I adore. Actually, I've been eyeballing a Dreamweaver course offered this fall, and what is HTML but another language. So, yay for BTT and thanks, Deb.

That Is Just Wrong

See what I mean?

I don't think that referring to one of Bjork's outfit choices as a bad example is anything but self-evident. But when someone does something that wrong to decent yarn and a perfectly valid fiber art technique, it's hard for me not to feel like spitting and swearing. Definite candidate for a MOKS award. But let's be really clear - I can't stand Bjork on sheer principle.

Nothing to See Here

Or, better yet, let's talk about my kid. The little guy has been a bit of a pill lately, due to the fact that his body is sending him two molars that don't normally arrive until four years from now. So he ain't my favorite person all the time. But then he goes and does something really fabulous like standing up for himself at the playground without retaliating or being malicious, and I get all fuzzy with pride. It makes me think that even if you have huge mommy-guilt and wonder if you'r the worst person in the universe you might not be totally guaranteed to eff-up your kid's psyche.

There's a thing I've been trying to figure out - where did he get that bruise from? I'm there nearly 110% of the time, and I can't recall where he would've gotten a little goose egg in the middle of his forehead. I was the one who gave him his first owie (totally stupid accident not worth recounting), and I was there with him and very sad for him when he got his first shiner. Suddenly, it seemed, yesterday there was a little blue spot in the smack center of his little noggin. Now, the little risk-taker hasn't leapt off anything absurd. Lately. So, I missed something.

News in knitting: the kilt hose are finished. Both. I'm not ready to talk over the details, but they've been given to mine hubster, and he's very excited about the whole plan (involves a Utilikilt). And best of all, he never suspected that those "sleeves" actually turned out to be socks. Pictures forthcoming on model. (THEY FIT!!!)

That's all for now. Go about your business.