A Death ~ Scene

First off ... I'm going to let you all know that I'm a HUMONGOUS procrastinator. I make a lot of plans ~ things that I want to get done in a single weekend or in one day ~ they never pan out. Usually I'll get at least ONE thing on my list completed. That said, I finally got my bookshelves moved. My back is killing me and has been for several days now. For those of you that are eagerly anticipating the "My, I'm Well Read" series on the books I've read ... (I'm still fiddling with titles for that weekly piece, any suggestions?) It will in fact be coming soon. I've nearly got my thousand some odd books catalogued. Needless to say ... I'm not a HUGE fan of typing right now! (hehe)

My lil' truck has been acting up for about a week now. I've had trouble getting it started. I called my dad and asked him if he would pick up a car battery for me while he was on one of his many many many many trips to the auto parts store, he told me to bring the truck over (last week mind you!) and he'd check it out. He cleaned the battery posts and sent me on my way. Three days later, it wasn't starting again, I took it over to his place. He re-cleaned the posts checked the charge on the battery and sent me on my way.

Last night, the truck BARELY started and I got home. This morning my dad picked me up a new battery and put it in my car. The thing starts like it's brand new. My father conceded that he should have just picked up a new battery to begin with, and that I'm an AWESOME mechanic!!! HAH!!!

Lot's of good TV has been happening, but I missed 'Defying Gravity'. Did anyone see it? What did you think about it? I've heard mixed reviews.

That's all folks sorry I don't have a funny! My back hurts dangit!!!

ஜ~§Quote Of The Day§~ஜ

Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.
Albert Einstein

ஜ~§The Question Of The Day§~ஜ

Have you ever found yourself enjoying something you had previously scorned as a cliché? What was it?

ஜ~§The Word Of The Day§~ஜ

Mata Hari

PRONUNCIATION:
(MA-tuh HAR-ee, MAT-uh HAR-ee)

MEANING:
noun: A seductive woman who works as a spy.

ETYMOLOGY:
After exotic dancer Mata Hari, a stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876-1917). She was a Dutch woman, who took a Malay name, allegedly spied for the Germans, and was executed by the French. Her stage name Mata Hari means sun, literally "eye of the day", from Malay mata (eye) + hari (day, dawn).

USAGE:
"Roxana Saberi, in the space of a few months, has gone from freelance journalist arrested for carrying an illicit bottle of wine, to American Mata Hari spying against Iran for the CIA and now a free woman allowed to return home."

ஜ~§Poem Of The Day§~ஜ

A Death - Scene

"O day! he cannot die
When thou so fair art shining!
O Sun, in such a glorious sky,
So tranquilly declining;

He cannot leave thee now,
While fresh west winds are blowing,
And all around his youthful brow
Thy cheerful light is glowing!

Edward, awake, awake -
The golden evening gleams
Warm and bright on Arden's lake -
Arouse thee from thy dreams!

Beside thee, on my knee,
My dearest friend! I pray
That thou, to cross the eternal sea,
Wouldst yet one hour delay:

I hear its billows roar -
I see them foaming high;
But no glimpse of a further shore
Has blest my straining eye.

Believe not what they urge
Of Eden isles beyond;
Turn back, from that tempestuous surge,
To thy own native land.

It is not death, but pain
That struggles in thy breast -
Nay, rally, Edward, rouse again;
I cannot let thee rest!"

One long look, that sore reproved me
For the woe I could not bear -
One mute look of suffering moved me
To repent my useless prayer:

And, with sudden check, the heaving
Of distraction passed away;
Not a sign of further grieving
Stirred my soul that awful day.

Paled, at length, the sweet sun setting;
Sunk to peace the twilight breeze:
Summer dews fell softly, wetting
Glen, and glade, and silent trees.

Then his eyes began to weary,
Weighed beneath a mortal sleep;
And their orbs grew strangely dreary,
Clouded, even as they would weep.

But they wept not, but they changed not,
Never moved, and never closed;
Troubled still, and still they ranged not -
Wandered not, nor yet reposed!

So I knew that he was dying -
Stooped, and raised his languid head;
Felt no breath, and heard no sighing,
So I knew that he was dead.

Emily Jane Brontë

ஜ~§Recipe Of The Day§~ஜ

Mini Mushroom Sausage Quiches

Ingredients:
8 ounces turkey breakfast sausage , removed from casing and crumbled into small pieces
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces mushrooms , sliced
1/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
5 eggs
3 egg whites
1 cup 1% milk

Preparation:
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 325°F. Coat a nonstick muffin tin generously with cooking spray (see Tip).

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool. Add oil to the pan. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer mushrooms to the bowl with the sausage. Let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in scallions, cheese and pepper.

Whisk eggs, egg whites and milk in a medium bowl. Divide the egg mixture evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the sausage mixture into each cup.

Bake until the tops are just beginning to brown, 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Place a rack on top of the pan, flip it over and turn the quiches out onto the rack. Turn upright and let cool completely.

Individually wrap in plastic and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, remove plastic, wrap in a paper towel and microwave on High for 30 to 60 seconds.

A good-quality nonstick muffin tin works best for this recipe. If you don't have one, line a regular muffin tin with foil baking cups.

Enjoy

Brightest Blessings,
~Surry~