Quote

"It's a good thing to turn your mind upside down now and then, like an hour-glass, to let the particles run the other way."

- The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Morley

Thought

I wonder if I would like my blog more if I actually used it to keep records of my projects/recipes/books/story ideas, etc. Like, helping me keep track and including notes, thoughts, suggestions, data, etc.

Key Lime Pie - Recipe Review

So, I made another pie yesterday, and it was the easiest pie I've ever made. Which was exciting, as I was prepping for an Oscars Party and was running around like a chicken-sans-head and needed something in my life to just be straightforward for once. But that's another topic. On to the the pie!

I stole a recipe from another blog, so I'll just post that link here: http://cravingchronicles.com/2009/07/01/key-lime-pie/ and say, it's pretty fantastic. I mean, I cut some corners and it still turned out well. I'd like to try it the real recipe way sometime, and then try a fancy version as well, but this is great for a quick fix.

Also a note: the pie didn't set up exactly as firmly as I was expecting, but that could have been because I didn't really allow it 3-4 hours to firm up in the fridge.

Also, if you're going to use ReadyWhip, etc, don't put it on the pie. It melts and gets ugly. Let people do that individually.

Personality Report

Passionate

You are in touch with your emotions, and sometimes you react before you think. The good news: you don't tamp down your feelings. The bad news: you sometimes say or do things that you later wish you could take back.

You do not live your life on an even keel; you do not go for long periods without experiencing some mood swings.

Curious

You like to get to the bottom of things. You're not content knowing what someone did; you want to know why they did it.

You don't simply take things as they are and move on; you're not content skimming along on the surface; you don't feel you're wasting time by digging for the meaning of things.

Innovative

You come up with a lot of ideas; if one doesn't work out, there's always another waiting in the wings. You often have interesting solutions to difficult problems. You're practically a one-person brainstorming session.

You are less interested changing the world than in dealing with things as they are. Unlike those who spend all their time trying to solve problems, you prefer to zero in on things that work and stick with them.

Aesthetic

You appreciate art, beauty, and design; you know that they are not superficial but absolutely crucial to living the good life. You have good taste, and you're proud of it. Those with a high score on the "aesthetic" trait are often employed in literary or artistic professions, enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about the arts, reading, and travel.

You don't think it's pretentious to be moved by art and beauty. You're not one of those who believe it doesn't matter what something looks like as long as it does its job.

Intellectual

You are thoughtful, rational, and comfortable in the world of ideas. People find you interesting to talk to. You're the living embodiment of the saying "You learn something new every day." In general, those with a high score on the "intellectual" trait are employed in such fields as teaching and research, and are enthusiastic about reading, foreign films, and classical music.

You do not avoid abstract conversation, experimenting with new ideas, or studying new things. It bores you to stick to the straight and narrow of what you already know.

Introspective

You like your own company; you're a very interesting person. Tracking your own mental processes, knowing what you're thinking and why you do what you do, is important to you. Often, what's going on in your mind is more compelling than what's going on outside. For the most part, those with a high score on the "introspective" trait enjoy reading, taking long walks, learning new things, and other solitary activities.

You are not someone who is constantly looking to be among a group of friends; you never feel bored when you are by yourself.

Creative

You are good at solving problems, coming up with original ideas, and seeing connections between things, connections that most other people miss. People with a high score on the "creative" trait often are employed in such fields as finance and scientific research, and enjoy avant garde and classical music as well as literary fiction and scholarly non-fiction.

You do not shun abstractions and concepts in favor of the concrete and tangible.

Original

You are constantly coming up with new ideas. For you, the world as it exists is just a jumping-off place; what's going on inside your mind is often more interesting than what's going on outside.

You don't feel that the road to success is to be a realist and stick to the program; you never stop yourself from coming up with new ideas or telling the world what you're thinking about.

Warm

You have a genuine interest in other people. You're a natural host, and are always thinking about how you can increase the happiness of those around you. When friends have problems or are in trouble, you're usually the first person they turn to for aid and comfort. Scoring high on the "warm" trait suggests that you are among those who enjoy domestic activities — doing things around the house — and are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don't always say exactly what you're thinking; you don't like the idea of causing anyone pain because of your criticism.

Understanding

You are willing to take the time to find out what's going on with other people, especially if they're in distress. You're a good listener, you don't criticize, and you offer unbiased, respectful, honest advice when it's requested. With a high score on the "understanding" trait, it is likely that you are enthusiastic about charitable work, helping others, and making the world a better place.

You don't feel the need to impose your standards on others or say things that, even though true, cause pain.

Quote

love is a temporary madness; it erupts and then subsides. when it subsides, you have to make a decision. you have to work out whether your roots have grown so intertwined that it is inconceivable that you should ever part...we had roots that grew toward each other underground, and when all the blossoms had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree, not two. - louis de bernieres

Cola Turka

The red and white can opened with a crisp snap, and the traditional sweet, almost salty smell of a dark cola came wafting out. In essence, this cola follows in the steps of a basic Coke; there's not much to differentiate it from our common colas here in the States. Intense amounts of bubbles mask the flavor at first, but as they settle down, there's a hint of that slight oak flavor with a subtle hint of saltiness contrasting against the chemical sweetness of cola.

At its heart, I feel like this cola Turka is one of those Walmart remakes of the Thumbelina movie. It's a remake that's very precisely copied after the original; it just happens that the original wasn't that great to begin with.

Flavor: 3 out of 5
Originality: 1 out of 5
Can Design: 2 out of 5

Lyttle Lytton Contest

I love this contest. I think it's genius. I want to do it. That's really all this post is about. That, and just having a place to keep my favorite entries that I've read safe somewhere where I can read them again and again, and someday perhaps write stories based off them. Viva la inspiracion!

Dr. Metzger turned to greet his new patient, blithely unaware he would seen become a member of a secret brotherhood as old as urology itself. 

- Alec Kyras

Man oh man, you're gonna like this book; boy howdy. 

- Duncan Stevens

The pain wouldn't stop, and Vern still had three cats left. 

- Andrew Davis

Maria's flossing was now complete. 

- Chris Piuma

Leon fell out of the goat.

- Rob Tobias

In anticipation, John licked his own lips. 

- Andrew Lloyd

In 3010, the potatoes triumphed. 

- Nat Gertler

Splashy the whale smiled secretively, flapping his flappers and swimming. 

- Jackie J.

This is a mystery about a murder I committed. 

- Lachlan Redfern

Zandor stood in the doorway, raking the onlooking crowd with the hot coals of his eyes. 

- Mark Caudil

Once upon a time, there was a talking lamp whose lightbulb fell out and hit a person and the person got shocked and destroyed everything.

- Megan Groppe

"You are in pain; both physical and emotional," my heart informed me. 

- Daniel Blackmore

"OMH" texted Sue-Anne to her compatriot Ellen, "MY OWN PARENTS R DED!" It looked like the Mystery Girls had a new mystery!

- G. Paal

Tuesday. Africa. Lion o'clock.

- Jamie Harding

The battlefield stank thick with writhing "progressives."

- Neil Martin

Pika...chu, thought Pikachu.

- anonymous

Zamboni doubled - nay, TRIPLED over in happiness-demolishing agonies.

- Leon Arnott

Deep space. The silence of the void. Shh.

- Anthony Hope

As the subtle smell of baking monkeys filtered through the classroom, I wondered where the science experiment had gone wrong. 

- anonymous

Under Bob's fez was another.

- Jeff Marr

PEWPEW - Lasers! - PEWPEWPEW!

- David Poore

The thing is, you can never really tell if a person is looking out from behind their own eyes, or if the eyes are being piloted by tiny mice in swivel-chairs.

- Noah Smith

"Crime," declared the police captain, "is everywhere, crime, crime!" 

- Carl Muckenhoup

For hobos, spring was the season of love.

- Rob Lenzi

The king of ketchups was being dethroned, and I wanted an explanation.

- Dan Schmidt, quoting Leigh Belanger in Cook's Illustrated

This is the cipher key for all that follows: |||||| || |!

- P. Scott Hamilton