I love the Animaniacs.

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I just ate about 7 pounds of meat
-theantix

Regarding therapy, my wife's first appointment is tomorrow, hopefully she and her therapist work out so my wife can work through the stress about her mother's cancer.  I've got Ana's diary that chronologically links to your story ready to send to my wife so she can read it when it's time.  Between therapy and reading your story I hope she'll be prepared when her mother's time comes.

Just remember that you and your story are helping people you've never met stay strong during similar circumstances.  It's certainly been instrumental in helping me help my wife.

(Well, truthfully because of my body's zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drinking wasn't going to happen anyway, but the other version makes a better story and the real point is, I went through it and my lungs still work today.)

And, one of the benefits of being married is having someone else to order the pizza for you.

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"Late to the party" is the new "ahead of the curve" -- CRwM

The 10 ton triangular weight moment.  The safe falling from the invisible skyline moment.

Wham!

Yep.  Best tonight to not answer the phone, and keep a low profile. The fucking air is thick with falling safes and meteors....best to keep your head low and spend a beer or two in turtle mode.

There's time for hard hats and baseball bats later.  For now, relax.
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"You bring the weasel, I'll bring the whiskey." - kellnerin

General rules are: All skirts no lower then [sic] two inches below the knee (unless it's for Church) --Travis Frey

"we had a little over an hour to see the entire zoo. we scanned the map, and decided on what is most urgent: wombats." misslake

Also, can't you order pizza online where you are? Sure you have to settle for Big Chain pizza rather than the little corner pizza shop that does it just right, but at least you only have to give the delivery guy some cash and send him on his way.

I know it doesn't make a huge difference, but still sorry I haven't been around much lately. Hugs.

Also, while I support the pasta/pizza and Animaniacs options, cooking is great therapy. It's creative - both in the artistic and the getting-something-from-raw-materials senses - it's absorbing and therefore distracting, it's a result you can share with the most important of those loved ones, and best of all, it's a method of response that may be effective at processing, or may be effective only at distracting - but it is effective and it is active instead of passive. And on those days when it just sucks to even think about the effort of preparing a meal, it's handy to have some good, simple, basic comfort foods.

This one's a closely guarded secret. Don't show it to anybody else, okay? Fifteen minutes, good flavors, dead simple - even my mother can make it.

Stolen Bites (originally a form of beef stroganoff, five or six revisions ago)

1 pound ground beef (hey, I'm from Minnesota, lay off) (can substitute cubed steak or shredded beef; no, R343L, no tofu)
1 package egg noodles
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
12 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 c milk
1/4 pound medium cheddar, shredded
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
basil
salt
black pepper
sage
oregano
thyme
tarragon

This is classic Minnesota comfort food; a casserole of the worst "who needs a working circulatory system" sort. I learned the original variant during the days of my youth when "what's for dinner" was the question asked after the package of ground beef was already thawing in the microwave. Tastiest on cold winter days - whether because it's snowing outside or because there's a giant hole in your chest and even bright sunshine and the smiles and hugs of loved ones can't make it warm.

Start a pot of water to boil for the noodles. I like to add balsamic vinegar or red wine to the water; it gives just a hint of flavor to the noodles. Salted water works well, too, alternately or in addition.

Saute onion and garlic in large frying pan over medium heat until golden. Add beef, brown thoroughly. (For steak etc., cook to about medium.) Add mushrooms, cook another two minutes or so until mushrooms are soft and juicy. Add cream of mushroom soup, lower heat to medium-low, stir occasionally until hot. Add milk and cheese, continue to heat until cheese is melted.

Add seasonings to taste; the above seasonings are a good mix. If you really want the classic "the horror, the horror" flavor, just use ranch dressing.

Drain and lightly rinse noodles, mix sauce into noodles, serve. Do not under any circumstances serve this with sides of any kind beyond perhaps crusty bread. Goes well with a late-week MGD or Budweiser, never wine or fruit juice.

Enjoy! ;)

:(

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