Author: laranettle

Black Bean Sauce ?

While watching daytime TV a few months ago, I saw a cooking program that had a recipe for black bean sauce. George, my grandfather used to make black bean sauce from scratch, but I never learned it from him, and he wasn’t the type to have anything in writing.

I followed the directions from the TV a day or so after seeing the program, and made a creditable version. I think it needed a bucketload more salt, but apart from that, it tasted great, and I’d like to make it again. Of course, though I have a rough idea of the ingredients, the method escapes me.

I have tried looking on the internets, but all the recipes I have found include ingredients that make it obvious that the recipe has been dumbed down for a western audience – like substituting sherry for Chinese cooking wine.

Can anyone help?

More Abortion Stuff

I haven’t read Freakonomics, but I have heard quite a bit about it, and am intrigued by the book. So I was interested to see Kris link to the Frekonomics blog today. One post struck me as interesting, but missing something.

This post talks about the rapid decline in Down’s Syndrome births since routine testing became available, but questions the almost universal decision to abort when faced with a positive test result. Many sides of the issue are discussed, but what is not mentioned is the long term care that many such infants will need. For me, the overwhelming deciding factor is not wanting to die and leave a dependant child who has never known a life away from home. I’m not going to live forever, so having a dependant at age 37 that will still need care in their 50’s is not rational.

Luckily, my test results have been analysed in conjunction with my blood test, and the adjusted result is a 1:934 chance of Down’s, and greater than 1:5000 chance of the other syndromes tested for.

And in unrelated news, mum bought me a maternity bra today. An E cup. E for FREAKING ENORMOUS!

Happy Mothers Day!

To mum, if you’re reading this – thanks for everything. I think I’m starting to get a grip on the fantastic job you did, and I’m more impressed than ever. The hardest part of being pregnant has been being so far away from you, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

And my first mothers day brought coffee in bed, a lovely (huge) pink dressing gown which will be my best friend in the coming months, and the best gift ever. Today I was able to brush my teeth for the first time in many weeks without talking to god on the big white telephone. Ahhh. Clean teeth.

Pants update

Just over a week ago, I bought a pair of pants that were a size too large, as a measure against future expansion. For the last week, I’ve been hitching them up frequently, and wondering about the wisdom of buying too large pants.

Today, I went to the GP, then to a large shopping centre. I was out from 10am till nearly 2pm, and I didn’t hitch up the pants once. The rot has set in.

I am the Empress

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents, beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?

Take the Test to Find Out.

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But of course…..

Thanks to The Other Andrew for the link.

I think the decision has been made

Thanks everyone! I think my mind is made up, I just need to decide when. I’ll take another week off and discuss things with the parents (who get back on Monday, yay!), and maybe go back for a few weeks to work out my notice. I’ve had an offer of part time work, which would be a great, low stress way to earn a few extra dollars.

You are right – quality of life HAS to be central to the decision. I am feeling wobbly enough without adding work stress into the mix.

Off to the GP now (for another certificate), then I’m going out to lunch by myself. I think the spewing is over for today. Touch wood.

Situational homosexuality?

From the Greens e-brief this week;

Kerry went to Villawood Detention Centre to visit a young Pakistani man and his same-sex partner, Ali Humayun who has been held for over two years. He is under high-security, but has no criminal history of any kind. Ali is the only openly gay detainee at Villawood (his partner has been released). Whilst persecuted by detainees and guards, Ali fears worse back in Pakistan. Ali has been refused protection on the basis that his sexuality is situational – the result of being detained. Kerry’s visit has brought media attention: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bisexuality-a-result-of-detention-detainee-told/2007/05/08/1178390312281.html, and she will take the case to the Minister for Immigration.

By that logic, I must be situationally heterosexual, because I’ve never been locked up with a hundred lesbians. I’ve been to a few parties though…

Just in case you want a better picture of what life is like if you’re gay in Pakistan, click here.

Unemployment – the pros and cons

Pros

  • I can stop stressing about my impossible work situation
  • we can probably manage on one wage
  • I have supported Mark through uni, so it’s not unfair
  • I could do study, start a business, take more pictures
  • I can spend time taking care of myself and my family
  • I can play in the garden, grow food for us, and get fitter
  • I can relax and enjoy my pregnancy, can concentrate on positive things
  • I can stop stressing about my impossible work situation

Cons

  • poverty, which will mean –
  • – a yarn diet
  • – it will be hard to buy all the stuff we need for Ampersand
  • – it will have to drink water at the pub on sundays
  • – we can’t have cable tv
  • – no new laptop every few years
  • – OMG, what if Apple bring out a new iPod????
  • – no more take away
  • – very rare restaurant meals
  • – can’t buy Crocs in every colour
  • a vague feeling of letting someone down.  Mark will support me whatever I decide, and I expect that most people in my life would too.  But there is also worry that this choice might not be acceptable.  We know that the superwoman myth is just a myth, but there is still enormous pressure on women to be perfect mothers, keep perfect homes, and also be great providers too.  And I just don’t think I can do that.  I think being a mother is going to be a huge job.  Pregnancy has been a fairly large job so far…