Diversity was an old, old wooden ship from the Civil War.

[stoney321]

Recs/Pimps
Reading

• This terrific story about The Mayor by bookishwench Hasn't gotten nearly enough attention, given all the proclaimed Mayor fans out there. Very nice and slightly poignant.
• This great fic (not crack, although she claims it is) by tkp Post NFA with a slightly AU twist = The mindwipe still holds on Connor. Awesome, and there's more to it here.
• A FANTASTIC Pam story for The Office fandom by sophia_helix. It's not canon now that we've seen the season opener, but it's wonderfully written and funny and sad, too.
• The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman, aka PC on the Apple/PC commercials. Funny parody of a Farmer's almanac.
• -I still have fics to read by Chrisleeoctaves and Kita. I need more TIME...

Miscellaneous

• My new shoes from Brooks: Universal platform (I pronate on one leg, suponate on the other), Adrenaline GTS Six. DO not buy crappy footwear, people. Says the girl with horrid knees/feet/arthritis.
• My second pair of new shoes from Sacony (I almost gave up on them. ALMOST.) Hurricane Grid. Thick thick thick heel padding and motion control. For people who roll their ankles a lot. *raises hand*
• My pedometer from Sharper Image: steps today: 15,748 Translation: 12.1 miles. The FM radio blows, however.
• My fan-freaking-tastic chile rellenos stuffed with shrimp and tilapia - recipe to follow under a cut.
• Steel cut Irish oats with raisins, pecans, and a touch of cinnamon for breakfast. My tummy is pleased.

Anti-Recs:

• FM radio. All of it. Every last channel, except for WRR here in Dallas, because it's the best classical station ever.
• NPR for long walks. Not. Motivational. At all.
• Book Six in the Outlander series. I'm sticking it out because I have completion issues, but JESUS, Gabaldon! Get over yourself and quit writing soft-core porn. People in their 50s who run a farm in the 18th Century are most likely too tired to bone all the damn time. They need to SLEEP.
• My husband telling me that the above mentioned chile rellenos are "fantastic!" but somehow not good enough to serve company. And when I ask him "the hell??" his reply is that I can't take criticism. I'm still trying to understand how "this is FANTASTIC! But not for people outside our home" is criticism. Help?

Recipe!

6 large poblano peppers (Hatch, if you can get 'em.)
1 pound shrimp, shelled, raw
2 fillets Tilapia (or other mild-flavored white fish. Could sub. with scallops or crab meat)
1/2 C low-fat sour cream
1/2 C combo cheddar/jack cheeses
1 can Rotel tomatoes or Del Monte Mexican Style toms (dude, save time and use a can.)
1 red pepper, to be roasted with poblanos
Juice of 1/2 lime
Cumin/Chile powder

Rice and beans for side dish? Or salad? You pick. Preheat oven to 375.

Roast the peppers on the grill or stove-top until blackened all over. Slip off burnt skin under running water, cut off tops and core the seeds, set aside. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. In large mixing bowl add shrimp, cover with tomatoes and lime. Dice red pepper and add, along with sour cream, cheese, and a tsp. of cumin and chile powder (more to suit your tastes).

Stuff the peppers, set on their sides on baking sheet, and top with a little extra cheese, if desired. Roast for 25 minutes - check the shrimp for pink color. That's when they're done. Serves 6 (or three really REALLY hungry people.)

I'm going to experiment with a dash of tequilla before baking - see if that jazzes up the taste a bit. Mmmmmmmm. Confidential to anelith: thanks for the Vindaloo recipe!! I'm going to try that later this week, and I'll pass on the paneer recipe when I can track it down.

Comments

[xochitl42.livejournal.com]

Shrimp in Spanish = camarón.

I'd go for rice and beans as a side. Yum! I'd certainly love o come over for this dish.

Hey...maybe he wants to save up on the dish. Like, he doesn't want to share it, 'cause he wants it all for himself. Maybe?

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

THAT'S RIGHT. Man, I'm so out of touch - I used to be fairly bilingual... *makes adjustments*

And I don't think so. He's weird about some of his old friends. Like, I think he wants me to cook Beef Wellington for his friends. AT A BBQ type setting. Dude, no. That's a bit too fancy for folks in shorts with beer, you know?

[julia-here.livejournal.com]

Not Caza by a ong shot, but love me some camarones.

And I bet you'd love KPLU-FM, which is NPR- blues and jazz with Morning Edition and ATC. I'm motivated by KUOW, with is NPR but that's because music gives me sensory overload unless I can sit still and listen well; words I can float over. Funny how different people are about these things (although I admit to being very weird, and thereby annoying friends with "talk radio").

Icon is the lilies I was talking about earlier. They should be six feet tall, but I planted them the week after the fourth of July, and then the temps got up to triple digits for a week, and then it got cool, so they stayed hunkered down to the ground for protection, I think.

Julia, also thanks for the pimp of the mayor story; quite perfect and must rec!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I love NPR when I'm home. When I'm at mile 10 and feeling like curling up in the shrubbery, I need some Stevie Wonder or Earth, Wind, and Fire to pep my pootie.

Oooh, look at those Star-gazers!! I grow those, but for us, they bloom in May, typically around Mother's Day. Those may be my most favorite lily of them all. And the SCENT! Mmmmm. SIX FEET?!? Christ. They only grow to 4 feet, here, but spread nicely, so I'll take it. *envies*

Oh, crap! you've had a Five Things, too, right? *adds that to list of the catching up variety*

[entrenous88.livejournal.com]

Ha! Does Mr. Stoney have something against CHEESE? *eyes him suspiciously*

You know, I gave up on my New Balance shoes recently. I mean, OW! The hell was that about, I still don't know. I think I just got a lemon pair, the way you can sometimes buy a crappy car from what's supposed to be a good make.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

NO! He loves cheese! This is company we haven't seen in years (and kind of an unspoken rival, methinks. They grew up together and I think they have pissing contests of "who's done better." Bah, I say.) See comment above where he thinks Beef Wellington would be a good choice. (Hahaha. NO.)

New Balance are usually rock solid for me, but I've bought that lemon pair, yep. (You know, they'll take them back and replace them if there's a defect! I've held shoe companies accountable. *g*)

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Um! Recipe sounds great!

Husbands are an odd lot, aren't they? I'd chalk it up to a testosterone-charged brain misfire.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

HE IS A WEIRDO. And he could NOT understand why I boggled. "It's fantastic?" Yes. "You loved it?" Really, really good sweetie. "But you don't think I can serve it to people outisde of this house?" Absolutely not. It needs work. *KILLS*

[menomegirl.livejournal.com]

Book six is out? *squeels*

Fucking love that series. Mmmm. In fact, the Outlander books inspired the handfasting ceremony of my RPS character, complete with a circle of stones and everything.

*bounces*

Gonna be getting #6 soon, yes indeedy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

It IS out - in paperback, but I gotta say I'm having a hard time sticking with it. And I think I'm one of the few that liked Book 5! I'm holding fast, and hoping it picks up steam soon. (I'm on page 139 and it feels like she's STILL setting it up, sheesh!)

And I really REALLY love this series, too. It's my guilty pleasure. :D

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the husband's criticism. WTF?

You like the Brooks shoes? I've never tried them, but I love Saucony's Hurricane Grid. I also like New Balance, but they stopped making the style I used to wear and I can't remember the model that replaced it. I'm currently running in Asics Gel Kayanos. I love them and I'm really due for a new pair, especially since I've started running again (once a week mixed with my other stuff is not too harsh for me). I just went to the Asics site and they've got this new Gel-Kinsei that looks awesome, but at $165 I don't think so. I can get a really good shoe for a little less than that, thanks. I don't mind spending good money for shoes, but I also like to weigh my options.

People in their 50s who run a farm in the 18th Century are most likely too tired to bone all the damn time. They need to SLEEP.
Dude, I'm 31 and I work at a desk and I need to sleep. *g*

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'd used Sacony RELIGIOUSLY in the past, but their new low-end Jazz series blows chunks. SO I was so happy to get the Hurricane. I have a heavy heel, so YAYNESS! If Asics makes a motion control shoe, I'm there. I'm so sold on the stiffness... These Brooks are KICK ASS. My knees are very happy in them. The Brooks ran me about 85 bones, and the Hurricane was 115, but the shoe store gave me a 10% discount for doing the 3 Day, SWEET! And yeah - I spend money for good footwear, but I don't foolishly buy shoes. *pointed look at Adiddas and Nike for making crappy and expensive shoes!*

And hahahaha! I swear, there have been 5 bouts of fornication between this couple, and I'm only on page 139 of 979!! long-winded much? *sleeps with YOU, omg*

[southernbangel.livejournal.com]

This is random as all hell buuuuuuut. I had a dream about you last night. *waggles eyebrows*

Actually, it was you and Mr. Stoney (my mind's version of Mr. Stoney, anyway) and the three of us were at a bar. You sat in Mr. Stoney's lap because you didn't like chairs and I danced and sang on top of the bar. Of course, being me and my weird brain, I wasn't doing any sexy dances. No, I sang and acted out "I'm a Little Teapot" repeatedly while you and Mr. Stoney cheered me on.

Yeah. It was. . . interesting.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

You DID?!? NICE. *beams* Lee, you crop up in my thoughts all the time - why can't you live CLOSER?? We could totally do teas and fun shopping lunches and watch football and I'd hook you up with the wealthy professional guys Mr. S works with!

And I would SO cheer you on singing me that! Ahahahahahaha!! *points to icon* That's Mr. S. *beams* He's a hunk.

[brandil.livejournal.com]

I'm reading the Gabaldon stuff and am on Book 3. So far the second is my favorite. I read really horrible reviews for all the books past 4 at Amazon ...

The recipe sounds really yummy. WTF is wrong with Mr. Stoney does he want you to serve a four course meal or something?

I meant to read that Mayor fic but forgot to save it off the newsletter, thank you! The TKP fics are really great - I didn't fall head over heels with Kita's and I just can't read B/A it makes me sick to my stomach - but I have heard great things about Chrislee's.

Um yeah, that's it.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I actually liked 4, and 3 turned out to be my favorite over all. *cough* Ships, wot? But 5 was fine, she just goes on and on and on and... It's like those 100+ chapter fanfics. They're SO IN LOVE with every word, they won't let anything be cut. Gabaldon is reaching Anne Riceian proportions in the "no-editing" game. YOW. But I do love the cahracters...

I do not KNOW what is wrong with him! And seriously: is SO GROOD. you should make and tell me how it turned out! (And I'll re-post when I know how the tequila makes it MORE AWESOME. How could it not?)

I loved those stories by TKP - I owe her fb for the second part. Her writing fits my brain. Same with Kita - I've just not gotten to it. And I'll say this re: Chrislee: she writes TIGHT. It's dark as hell, usually, but it's TIGHT. Whyfore you get sick to yore stummach?

[lettered.livejournal.com]

Hey, thanks.

Oh, and dude, those fics by Kita and Chris. So. freakin. good.

You walk so damn much.

I hate the radio, too.

Mmm, food! Except I don't like shrimp. I love poblanos, though. I want a vindaloo recipe! I got Indian spices for my birthday, and so far I made one great chicken thing and one really bad chicken thing. Oy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I DO walk so damn much! And I've got more to go! *is on a training schedule* It's for a fundraiser - Susan G. Komen.

RADIO BLOWS. No shrimp? You could make the same recipe with chicken, or with other seafoods you prefer, like scallops and or crab meat. Mmmmm, rellenos! If you'll give me a bit, I'll forward the Chicken Vindaloo recipe to you - it looks GOOOOOOD. I think I may love Indian food most of all, but it's a close tie with Japanese. *oh so fresh!*

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Oh, and forgot to say...

I gave up on Gabaldon after Book 4. And damn, that first one was SO good. I still get goosebumbs when I think about that scene where she saw the smallpox vaccination scar. But IMO once she took 'em to America? So over! Good to know that I don't need to give Book 6 a chance.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I'm sticking around in hopes it'll improve, but I freely admit that I'm one of the only people around here that loved them going to America. (I want to know what the hell her dead husband knew!! He TRAINED Briana. Hmmmmm.)

That scene with the vaccination scar was SO FREAKING GOOD. Same here with the goosebumps.

[beadattitude.livejournal.com]

People in their 50s who run a farm in the 18th Century are most likely too tired to bone all the damn time. They need to SLEEP. ::snorts:: Amen to that, sister. I kind of gave up on her a couple of books ago.

And I don't care what Mr. S. says; those shrimpies sound fantastic.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Dude, they tasted SO GOOD. I highly recommend my own dish. Heeee!

And I'm trying to stick it out, because I have completion issues, but JEEEEEEEEZ. *skims like a summbitch*

[elcazavampiros.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm a little late in the game to answer the question posed to me.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the Chile Relleno. I think it came from my mom forcing me to stay in my room until I had eaten it all. I don't think I've had them since I was a kid.

I think Mr. Stoney may have been saying that he liked it, but he wasn't sure it was to everybody's liking. Perhaps he thinks that your company may not like chile relleno as a general rule and was just trying to spare your feelings in case that was the case.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I think Mr. Stoney is being an asshole, and hoestly, I'm looking at you askance for not liking chile rellenos, and you are now dead to me. Hahahahaha! KIDDING, CAZA.

Seriously? I wouldn't have taken you for an anti-chili relleno eater! *notes*

[thepiratequeen.livejournal.com]

Damn my shrimp allergy! Other then the fact that it could kill me ,that recipe sounds good.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

OH NOES!! Shrimp allergy? That may be the saddest thing I've ever HEARD. (Substitute with chicken? Or beef?)

[rainkatt.livejournal.com]

Wow, that recipe looks good... I'll have to try it, now that I seem to be cooking once in a while. I love tilapia, but scallops... oh, so tempting!

I'm actually on Ms. Gabaldon's side with the sex thing. All that hard work keeps the blood flowing, you know? So unless either of them have health issues (I'm not that far yet), I can see them going at it frequently--unless something's happened to the attraction. Not that she has to tell us every time (that's one of my pet peeves about some fanfic...). And, er, I'm in my late fifties...

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Heh - I'm in my thirties, and I'm worn out thinking of how often they couple. I mean, seriously. It's every time they're together, he's got a stiffy and her nipples are blooming like mushrooms (an actual line, OMG.)

And I thought the recipe was great! V v simple and easy, another of my faves. The most time consuming part is blackening/charring the peppers, but I do that so often, I don't notice any longer.

[marenfic.livejournal.com]

That sophia_helix fic is excellent. She did such good work with Pam/Roy.

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

Isn't it great? There are SO MANY good fics in that fandom! I recced one a bit back with Meredith and Creed that was CRAZY AWESOME. And under 500 words, SCORE.

And I have a fic outlined with Dwight that I want to have the energy to write, but OMG, I have four unfinished fics on my desktop. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?? *protects Mr. Maren from Lee, omg*

[anelith.livejournal.com]

I've bookmarked that Mayor story to read later -- thank you! I already read, loved, and fedback (is that the correct past tense?) to most of your other recs. Aren't TKP, Kita, and Chrislee's stories fabulous?

There was an article about John Hodgman in the Globe just this Sunday! Did you know that he used to wear his hair long when he was in high school, and sometimes wore it up in a bun? And he and his wife have been together since he was 17?

I need a new pair of walking shoes/sneakers. My old ones slip up and down on my heels and my toes hurt fairly often after walking a fair bit in them. This is bad, right?

And I was just thinking on the long drive to my doctor's office today how much I love listening to NPR, for all the lovely accents, but I definitely understand not wanting to have it for exercising. On the other hand, I heard that the Scissor Sisters were coming out with a new album...

I will print out this recipe, even though I'm bound to screw it up somehow should I be so bold as to try it, because it looks incredibly yummy. And do send me that saag paneer recipe!

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

I did NOT know that about John's hair or his wife! hee hee!! This book is really funny. It's what I would call a "bathroom book" because I'm disgusting, but I mean that you can pick it up and read anywhere and be entertained. his whole take on actuaries is funny, mosstly because Mr. S is enthralled with actuaries. :D

YES YOU NEED NEW SHOES. If you can hang on until your trip here, I can promise you a great store with reasonable prices for GOOD shoes that are appropriate for you feet? Otherwise, get some GOOD SHOES froma store that actually LOOKS at your feet. OOOOOH! I have one of the songs from the Scissor Sister's new album!! It's SO GOOD.

And while I love NPR, it's more soothing than cheerleadery, you know? I can't FIND the recipe!! I think I have it bookmarked online...

[domenowtrent.livejournal.com]

My steps for Friday were 28,410. How many miles is that? :O

[stoney321.livejournal.com]

HOLY SHIT, really??? My total steps for 12.1 miles was almost 16,000. (I do have a long stride, though.)

GOOD. LORD. Are you in training? Or is this just running around on campus and the like?

[hellziggy.livejournal.com]

The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman, aka PC on the Apple/PC commercials. Funny parody of a Farmer's almanac.

I've got my ticket to go see Hodgman, Neal Pollack, and Jonathan Coulton on Oct. 6th!!!! (Jonathan Coulton is the guy who did the First Of May song on the smut mix CD I sent ya.)

You're not really near Austin, are you? That's the only stop in TX that they've got planned:
http://www.bookpeople.com/coe_example.html?EventID=3483