A Divine Image

I have recently returned to using Facebook. I started up an account a million years ago, and then never used it. It seems as though my whole family migrated from Myspace to Facebook though. So I got my old account lined up ... added some data ... and POOF ... I'm FB'in like a crazy person.

Since then, I started using an application called My Fairy Garden. Essentially you peek through the Magic Mushroom patch to find gold pieces or diamonds or whatever, then you can grow new plants and shit in your cyber fairy garden. It's fun ... creepily addictive too. (I've known for ages I have an addictive personality though, thus the midnight lushy rants and the lack of hard core drug use.) Anyway, I've gotten so addicted to "Magic Mushrooms" (the game, not the drugs) that I actually PURCHASED 100 gold pieces for 5 dollars. (apparently the funds go to save the rain forests, so I inadvertently gave to charity, GO FOREST!!!) I purchased the 100 gold pieces yesterday, I'm down to 30 today. I'm a sucker, I just KNOW I'm going to go buy more!!!

In other news, yesterday I found out that one of my collegues, who happens to have a smitch less seniority than I do, got laid off. We had heard the rumblings of people being furloughed in another department. I think the company decided to let go of 133 people, then they decided to abolish some other jobs here in the department that I work in so that there wasn't a bunch of bumping (job displacement based on seniority, if you need further explanation on that let me know ... I'll go through it) going on. I'm FOOKIN' EXTREMELY LUCKY had they chose 1 or 2 more people, I'd be OUT OF HERE!!! Laid off ... kaput ... scrounging for work at well hell, wherever. Right now, I'm holding on with bated breath and crossed fingers that I can make it to my protection date which is May 17th. That way if I AM furloughed, I still get paid. I love the unions!!!

Cross ya fingers for me!

ஜ~§Quote of the Day§~ஜ

I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Would you rather get up early or stay up late? Does your schedule fit your preference?

I have my ideal schedule. I'm NOT a morning person, I just can't seem to get my brain to function well at all before noon. If I worked a 9-5 job, I would certainly have to tell everyone in morning meetings that I would mull things over and get back to them with my brilliant ideas, as they usually come to me about midnight or later. Luckily, I work 3pm - 11pm which is an ideal shift for me. Too bad there aren't any managerial shifts like that here.

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Canard

PRONUNCIATION:
(kuh-NAHRD)

MEANING:
noun:
1. A deliberately misleading story; hoax.
2. An airplane with small forward wings mounted in front of the main wings; also such a wing.

ETYMOLOGY:
From French, literally a duck. The term is said to have come from the French expression vendre un canard à moitié (to half-sell a duck, or to take in or swindle).

USAGE:
"Lyndon Johnson's half-truths about the Gulf of Tonkin, supported by subservient media, embroiled the United States in a nasty war that took the lives of millions of souls. Ultimately, the Vietnam War's distortions and canards prevented him from running for a second term."

ஜ~§What I'm Reading§~ஜ

Nora Roberts: Jewels of the Sun

ஜ~§What I'm Watching§~ஜ

Tonight is: Ghost Whisperer, Terminator: TSCC, Flashpoint, Dollhouse, BSG and Numb3rs. (I think I have them all straight. I'm pretty sure that I didn't set the DVR to record Dollhouse, so I hope their will be a second airing of it)

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

A Divine Image

Cruelty has a human heart,
And Jealousy a human face;
Terror the human form divine,
And Secresy the human dress.

The human dress is forged iron,
The human form a fiery forge,
The human face a furnace sealed,
The human heart its hungry gorge.

William Blake

ஜ~§Recipe of the Day§~ஜ

Shrimp and Fingerlings in Tomato Broth

(from Epicurious)

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onions
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon paprika
1 14.5-ounce can diced fireroasted tomatoes in juice
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 cup dry white wine
1 8-ounce bottle clam juice
3 cups water
8 ounces fingerling potatoes or baby Yukon Gold potatoes, cut crosswise into 1/4-inchthick rounds
1 pound peeled deveined uncooked medium American shrimp

Preparation:
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until very tender and beginning to brown, stirring often, about 18 minutes. Add garlic and paprika; stir 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with juice and cook until very thick, stirring frequently, about 30 minutes. Stir in rosemary and crushed red pepper. Add wine and cook until liquid evaporates completely, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Stir in clam juice, then 3 cups water. DO AHEAD: Broth can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and chill.

Bring broth to boil. Add potatoes; simmer until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add shrimp; simmer until just cooked through, about 5 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.

Brightest Blessings,
~Surry~