Alexandra’s blog

Yes, more dog photos.  The only surprising thing about Bridge having this look on her face is that Izzy was not at that exact moment hanging from her neck like a toothy barnacle.  Although if you separate them for more than about an hour they start looking around for each other longingly.

So our pup ended up with the name Izzy.  And when she's not trying to chew Bridget's face off this is where you can find her.

So uh, I got a puppy.  We're going to wait to decide on a name until we know her a little better, but here she is

Oh you heard me.  Video at National Geographic.  Now I love octopus and hate spiders and these are like some freaky crossbreeding of the two so I am deeply conflicted as to how to feel about this.  Something about the way they move definitely makes me lean over towards being completely creeped out.  And yet, Giant Sea Spiders.  You couldn't really ask for a cooler name.
 
Maybe I'll just try and about them like jellyfish which are both terrifying and cool.  That and be glad I'm really far from the ocean right now.

I know reading other people's AIM conversations can be annoying, but I did try to fix most of the typos.  This is why I love Rachel.

"Alex: the world has gone mad
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/20514132.html

Rachel: heh.  have you seen the latest covers thing on smart bitches?
Rachel: wait...what?

Alex: right?

Rachel: scarlett johanssen is doing in album in the first place?

Alex: I mean, I have faith in bowie and all..

Rachel: this is just weird.
Rachel: that man's made some bad decisions before though

Alex: an album of Tom Waits covers no less

Rachel: ....
Rachel: wait.
Rachel: no.

Alex: yeah

Rachel: no.
Rachel: I refuse to believe

Alex: ok, but she's going to sell precisely because people will buy it just to prove to their friends that it really exists

Rachel: that's true.  and she'll probably show off her hefty bobs in the album work.

Alex: heh, hefty bobs is my new band name

Rachel: there is no other way to describe those suckers.  I'm sorry.

Alex: that's it, just pretend your typo doesn't exist

Rachel: damn it.  didn't even realize that!
Rachel: ARG!"

That's how many books I finished last year.  I did not keep my resolution of reading any classics so I'm turning that over to this year.  Along with posting more and not just ignoring my things here.

This years favorites for fiction and non-fiction are

Mmm.  Christmas baking season begins.  First up, spritz cookies.  I probably posted this last year but I am too full of fresh cookies to go check.  I also lose this recipe every single year and have to look it up again so this may be slightly different.

Spritz Cookies
Cookie press
1 cup butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon almond or vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
optional-
food coloring
sprinkles

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar.  Add egg yolks, flavored extract and food coloring.  Mix until blended then add flour.  They should combine into one big lump around the beater when they're ready.  Mush inside cookie press and press out onto cookies sheets, top with sprinkles if you want them.  Bake for 7 minutes.  Let cool a little before trying to eat, they're crumbly so you're pretty much guaranteed to have a few broken ones to taste test.  Makes about 40.

To any of my loved ones who doesn't receive a Christmas present from me this year, I am truly sorry.  But the money is not going to be there because I have now discovered Hershey's makes kisses that are white chocolate with candy cane bits in them.  If you come by my house and smell a pleasant minty-freshness, you'll know why.

Show us a book that scared you as a child.

So apparently now they think Dr. Crippen didn't kill his wife.  Is it strange that this is the most interesting news story I've seen this week?