In search of something to keep my mind busy, to accomodate my husband’s precription to “stop worrying” (Yeah, don’t think about pink elephants while you’re at it), I blog hopped from Kenny’s to Keith’s, and found the entry below. ‘Twas fun.

The list below details 100 things you shoud eat before you die. The directions are to do te following:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

Ok,so here’s the list:

1. Venison - Mmmmm…Bambi!
2. Nettle tea - Haven’t had this, but I would try it.
3. Huevos rancheros - As long as we’re not talking the version with Chorizo, I’m in.
4. Steak tartare - Hrm. Not sure. I’ve tried carpaccio, which I like, but I’m not sure about texture on this one.
5. Crocodile - Well, I’ve had alligator. I suppose croc wouldn’t be that different.
6. Black pudding - I would like to try it, just to see. I’m slightly squicked out, but I’d still give it a try.
7. Cheese fondue - MMMMMmmmm. Melty cheese. Happiness.
8. Carp - I hate fish. But it was present in the lake we fished when I was a kid. Ick.
9. Borscht - I had a very good borscht in a restaurant in old Montreal - VERY VERY yummy.
10. Baba ghanoush - Another dish I loved at Tamam when it was open downtown. Very much love it.
11. Calamari - I like good calamari, but it’s not something I generally want. Hubs orders it a lot.
12. Pho - I’ve had it at a noodle fusion place that used to be in Rockbrook village. It was ok.
13. PB&J sandwich - I had one just last night!
14. Aloo gobi - I tried this when one of my coworkers brought it to a food day. Eh.
15. Hot dog from a street cart - I’ve had a few. I have actually had one in Times Square, in NY. Again, Meh.
16. Epoisses - Stinky cheese, huh? Probably not.
17. Black truffle - I’ve had truffle oil, but not truffles specifically. So I won’t claim this one. I’d try it though.
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes - HAH! Boones Farm is made from things other than grapes! LOL. We do have a couple of bottles of other types of wine, given to Hubs by a good friend/former coworker.
19. Steamed pork buns - If we tried this, I don’t remember. But I ould try it.
20. Pistachio ice cream - Mmmmm.
21. Heirloom tomatoes - Actually grew them this summer. I’m not that impressed.
22. Fresh wild berries - Grew up picking mulberries and strawberries at my grandparents’ farm.
23. Foie gras - I have had this locally, at one of the nicer restaurants at the casinos. It was good.
24. Rice and beans - Very good when it’s made right. Hubs does a good job.
25. Brawn, or head cheese - Uh. Probably not.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - Hah. No.
27. Dulce de leche - Yeah. Food of the gods. Yummy.
28. Oysters - Hrm. I’ve had fried oysters. Couldn’t do them raw.
29. Baklava - Not so much about the nuts.
30. Bagna cauda - Anchovie garlic dip…I am inclined to say no, but hubs could probably talk me into at least tasting it.
31. Wasabi peas - I used to have a major addiction to these, but have been over it for awhile. We’ve got a can open in the cabinet.
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl - Of course I’ve had clam chowder, but not in a sourdough bowl.
33. Salted lassi - I’ve had mango lassis, but not a salted lassi. I’d try it.
34. Sauerkraut - Mmmm. Love it.
35. Root beer float - Ooooh. That sounds good. And we have diet root beer and ice cream. Rock.
36. Cognac with a fat cigar - UM, no, but I have sat with others having cognac and cigars.
37. Clotted cream tea - I’d try it.
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - UGH. Yuck
39. Gumbo - Yes, and my hubby’s is the best!
40. Oxtail - Um. Haven’t had it, but would.
41. Curried goat - I’m not sure. This may be what hubs ordered at a carribean restaurant locally. If so, I’d have to change this to bold, because I did try it.
42. Whole insects - Not sure I could get it down.
43. Phaal - Nope. Not gonna try it. Too hot.
44. Goat’s milk - No. Goat’s cheese, I’ve had, but not straight up milk.
45. Malt whiskey from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - Nope. It’d be wasted on me.
46. Fugu - Not sure if I would try this if I had the opportunity. I guess I’d let hubs try it first. If he said it wasn’t too fishy, and he didn’t die, I’d try it.
47. Chicken tikka masala - I order this frequently at the Indian restauant.
48. Eel - I’ve had it in sushi.
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - Oh baby. One of the keys to my heart is a hot, fresh, Krispy Kreme glazed doughnut.
50. Sea urchin - Um…probably not.
51. Prickly pear - Yes, I’ve had this made into candy.
52. Umeboshi - a small pickled plum, basically. I might try it
53. Abalone - I would try it.
54. Paneer - A south-Asian cheese. Unless it smells awful, I’d try it.
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal - Mmm. Love it. But I can’t eat a whole one anymore. Too much food, and dude, the calories and fat?
56. Spaetzle - I don’t think I’ve ever actually HAD spaetzle, but I want to have it someday.
57. Dirty gin martini - Um. Probably not. Not a big fan of gin, or martinis.
58. Beer above 8% ABV - I really don’t care for beer.
59. Poutine - Fries, cheese curds and brown gravy. Oh yeah, Babe. One of my favorite comfort foods.
60. Carob chips - I guess if I was allergic to chocolate, it would work, but…no.
61. S’mores - We set the kids up to make these on a regular basis. I prefer just a nice toasted marshmallow.
62. Sweetbreads - Not sure I could do this, texturally.
63. Kaolin - A stomach-soothing type of clay. Uh. I guess if it was an emergency…
64. Currywurst - Sounds like something my hubby would love.
65. Durian - NEVER AGAIN
66. Frogs’ legs - Didn’t care for them. They were like fishy wings.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - yes, yes, no, and yes. Fried dough, baby. Can’t go wrong there.
68. Haggis - I’d give it a try, but only if I get to try it in a natural setting!
69. Fried plantain - Eh…they’re ok. Sweet fried plantains are better.
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - Uh. Gonna pass.
71. Gazpacho - Haven’t had it, but would try it.
72. Caviar and blini - I’ve never had caviar with blini, but have had caviar othe ways. I’d try it in a heartbeat!
73. Louche absinthe - I’d try it, once I’m past the pregnancy and nursing stage!
74. Gjetost, or brunost - Again, if it’s not too smelly, I’d try it.
75. Roadkill - Uh. No. Gonna have t pass again.
76. Baijiu - A chinese liquor. Again, once I’m past the baby thing, maybe.
77. Hostess Fruit Pie - Mmm. Almost bought the kids some just this week!
78. Snail - Mmmmm…lovely when done right.
79. Lapsang souchong - Tea, I’d try it.
80. Bellini - Mmmm…mom made these last year on Christmas morning. YUM. I could drink about 20 of ‘em.
81. Tom yum - YES! YES! YES!
82. Eggs Benedict - OH YEAH, Babe.
83. Pocky - I think we’ve tried nearly every flavor they make.
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. - Would LOVE to.
85. Kobe beef - Again, would LOVE to.
86. Hare - Not yet, but would.
87. Goulash - Have had the traditional, and what my mom made. Eh.
88. Flowers - I would try them.
89. Horse - No, but I’ve fed it to tigers…
90. Criollo chocolate - might be wasted on me since I’m not a huge chocolate fan, but I’d try it.
91. Spam - Oh yeah. And hubby’s spamshi is bar none!
92. Soft shell crab - Would try it in a heartbeat.
93. Rose harissa - Probably not, not big on hot sauce.
94. Catfish - Again, hate fish, but have had it.
95. Mole poblano - Haven’t actually tried it.
96. Bagel and lox - Ok, as much as I “hate fish”, I love bagels and lox.
97. Lobster Thermidor - Um, yeah. I would if we ever go to one of the coasts where they can make lobster without ruining it.
98. Polenta - Mmmmm. Yum. Try frying it. Even better!
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee - Have had it. Meh.
100. Snake - Um. I’m not sure on this one. Might…might not.

I am having a mild freakout, because I called the doc for the results of my first trimester screen, which I was told the nurse would call and give me results on, and they wouldn’t give me the results. So, I have myself convinced this is because it was bad. So I am having a slight panic attack.

In other news, somebody posted this to our faith group on yahoo. Funny.

I just got a craving for jalapenos. Not one to deny Widget whatever she or he demands, I got up and made a plate of nachos with a bunch of jalapenos.

People, I *NEVER* eat jalapenos. Medium salsa is too spicy for me.

I just ate a buttload of jalapenos. And yeah, my mouth is on fire.

This is crazy
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My husband is making chili for a chili competition at work tomorrow. This is a long standing tradition in our house. We both love making chili, and we both love competing. I’ve never won, but I have placed in the competition at my former employer. My problem is I’m always playing with my chili for competitions, when the one that always wins is more like my normal chili.

Anyway - hubs is making a eight-pepper chili. It has chili patines, poblanos, serranos, jalapenos, cayennne, anaheim, ancho, and the grand daddy of peppers, habaneros. Sorry to say, I won’t be tasting it. I just tasted it. OMFG. It is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO hot. But it does have good flavor for the 1.8 milliseconds before your pain receptors freak out.

I’ve already advised him that the hot chili never wins the competition, but I think he’s bent on making his little Indian buddies weep. Heheheheh.

So, of course we watched the debate. I don’t feel more strongly about either one after having watched it, though.

At many points throughout the debate, I felt like I was watching a Biden/McCain debate rather than a Biden/Palin debate. I feel like I didn’t get enough of either candidate’s real feelings - a real sense of what they were about.

I think Biden, in the end, was more carismatic, but I’m not choosing my next president/VP on charisma. I think some of the little gaffes Palin made were embarassing, but not show-stoppers. SO…I don’t know.

I’m really glad she did a better job than I thought she would. I wish that either one of them had said something to totally swing me one way or the other, but I just don’t feel it.

I guess I’m really happy the election is not tomorrow, because I have NO IDEA who I would vote for.

I’ve written in the past about Steve Fossett, and how sad I was when his plane disappeared. I know it sounds strange that an average housewife from Nebraska would give a crap, but I’ve always felt somewhat invested in Steve exploits since I was a young mother in college. One of my favorite instructors, who taught my telecom classes, was one of Steve’s meterologists for his balloon flights, and each time Steve geared up for another attempt, my instructor would put us all on alert that it would affect our class schedule, including possibly having class from his home, where all of the weather monitoring instruments were, so he would be in contact with Steve at all times. It was always really exciting.

When Steve disappeared, I remember thinking two things - one that he would probably have loved to go out doing something he loved, and two - how awful for his wife to not know what happened. As the days and weeks wore on after his disappearance, I waited, holding on to hope he’d walk out of the woods somewhere, and everybody would be amazed with his survival story, and he’d once again be lauded for his adventurous nature.

As time went on, obviously that hope faded, and when the had him declared dead in February, I was sad - as if I actually knew the man.

I think what it is is that he’s one of our modern day adventurers…one of those men that is just a little larger than life. Did he save anybody’s life? Not that I know of. Did he discover anything life-altering? Not that I know of. But certainly, he had a zest for life and a hunger for challenging what can be done that I think is so intriguing.

But today it looks like the mystery is more or less solved. His plane went down in a horrible crash. His story is done.

I guess I’m just glad his wife will finally have some closure.

R.I.P, Steve.

Second Eldest’s teacher “reviewed” the grades, and realized it was a daily grade that was past the end of the hexter that made her grade change from a 1 to a 2. She adjusted it, and Second Eldest is now back to straight A’s.

Yeah, I rock. (And somehow I think my face is probably plastered on a dartboard in the teacher’s lounge. Oh well.)

I’ve spent a lot of time today on sites for menu-planning, and the startling majority of them are written by Christian/Mormon women. What the heck? There’s actually weekly meme for people on each monday to post their weekly menu plan. I’ve gone into about 100 of them, and I would say 90 at least were very religious.

I’m not complaining at all - I just find it really interesting. Like - the only women who are trying to budget and plan and be frugal are Christian women.

And I know that’s not ALL - because obviously, one of my very good friends is a planner, and is working at budgeting - and she’s the best witch I know.

Maybe the pagan homemakers just don’t join memes? I don’t know.

I’ve been sitting here, working on a monthly meal plan (I decided if they can do it, I can), and watching some Lifetime movie about a teenage mom. I had gotten up to make a sandwhich for lunch. When I grabbed the handle to open the fridge door, I noticed it was gross - crusty with whatever nastiness the kids had on their hands the last few times they’ve opened it. So - I cleaned that. Then I realized the little receptacle under the water dispenser was gross - and full of water since the kids don’t pay attention to what they’re doing. It was literally BROWN. (EWW.) SO - I stopped and cleaned that out and bleached everything thoroughly. At which time…I didn’t want a sandwhich anymore. I saw a couple of cheese dogs in the fridge, so I nuked those, and went back to finish watching the movie. Shortly into my first hot dog, a commercial came on.

For catheters.

And the woman on the commercial was talking about how she had to reuse catheters and she had to sterilize her catheters each time, andyet she was still getting urinary tract infections. And the commercial was for some new insurance plan to get people new catheters for each use. But…it still just grossed me out.

SO there went lunch.

*sigh*