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United States, North Carolina, Carrboro, English, Paul, Male, 56-60, All Music, All Food.

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Sunday, March 09, 2003

When I visited Rayne the other day, her weatherpixie was gone and only an American flag was hanging in the air, like a mothership. Today, in Carrboro's springlike weather, my weatherpixie wore a black T-shirt that said "Veni, Vidi, Vici." I like the instant weather report, but could probably do without the little fairy making symbolic political statements or verbal ones that I have difficulty pronouncing. 7:56:19 PM    comment []

When John Paul II passed away, in the not too distant future, St. Peter personally escorted him to his heavenly home - an efficiency dwelling on the lower floor of a building that resembled assisted-living quarters. As he settled in, PJPII looked out the window and noticed a large castle on the hill, from which joyful music could be heard even at a distance. "Who lives in the castle?" he asks St. Peter. "Oh, that's Duke Ellington's castle." replies the Saint. "What? I was the Pope. I helped liberate East Europe from Communism. Why do I get an efficiency apartment?" "Popes, Schmopes," says St. Peter. "We got Popes up the ying-yang - we don't get many keyboard players." 7:04:17 PM    comment []

If antebellum homes like those in Nacogdoches or Beaufort are your cup of tea, you might want to drop by Mark Hoback's Fried Green al-Qaedas for a pictorial view of Occoquan, VA. While visiting the real Occoquan, don't miss your chance to read this week's Salon Blogger digest at Virtual Occoquan which, like heaven itself, has many castles. 6:50:57 PM    comment []

It's 72 degrees outside in Carrboro, the "Paris of the Piedmont." The picture is the "pie", just before topping it with the puff pastry crust. The directions from Saveur tell me it will be golden brown in about 40 minutes. If it isn't, I'll broil it and brown it that way. BTW, we saw a goldfinch at the feeder this afternoon - Spring is on the way! 4:43:36 PM    comment []

View from the top. This is just before the flour was added to the Beef & Guinness Pie. It's in the oven at 250 F (IOW, "idling") until Liz comes over this afternoon. I used something labeled "beef chuck brisket", whatever the hell that is. Before cubing, it resembled brisket - a thin layer of fat on one side, long grain, no marbling. Remember pet peeves? How about creative labeling at the meat counter? It's enough to make you a Vegan...Holy Fornicatin' Moses, what am I saying? This field guide identified brisket is a good stew meat and that's what you want for an entree like this. BTW, both Liz and I were puzzled that the beef was not browned in this recipe. Since the recipe calls for 3-4 hours in the oven, we deferred to Saveur. When we devour the pie, there might be an update. 8:55:17 AM    comment []

When will somebody ever make a plastic lid for tomato paste cans? You know, like the ones they have in the pet food section for cat food cans. The tomato paste in "toothpaste tubes" is a great idea, but overpriced. The economic case, for suppliers, is not good. A household would only need one. The economic case for tomato paste kingpins (couldn't think of a neutral word, but the idea of a fat executive, behind a huge mahogany desk, barking tomato paste buy and sell orders into 9 phones is funny) is even worse - less tomato paste will be discarded. Most recipes (like Beef & Guinness Pie, for example) call for only a couple of tablespoonsful, then it may be weeks before you need tomato paste again. A little sandwich baggie over the top is a cheap stopgap measure. Sealed in a bag that costs more than the paste is not. A little plastic lid is all that is needed. 7:28:22 AM    comment []