The friendlist meme, because I like it

If you have 1-5 people on your friends list, say something about the 3rd person.
If you have 6-20 people on your friends list, say something about the 11th person.
If you have 21-75 people in your friends list, say something about the 21st person.
If you have 75+ people on your friends list, say something about the 50th person.

I think the original version was say something *nice* about the nth person.

Discounting communities, it appears daq42 is number 50. This guy is a sweetie, though he'd threaten to pummel me for saying so. He takes care of his partner-in-life-love-and-crime, blackradish. He's always willing to tell a story and he's keen to offer me advice or tips or look around for discounts on Apple and Macs. He's worked to the bone, which worries me, but I'm confident he'll pull through. He's well read and will avidly discuss politics or alternative energy sources and listening to him rant is fun. He can always make me laugh and is genuinely concerned about his friends. He makes faces as silly as mine when he's tipsy and he's fun to be around. I wish I could visit their home, but he's a smoker with 500 cats (okay, not that many). Regardless, he'll (without complaint!) let me stand in the doorway and torment a cat with the laser pointer.

(no subject)

Update... since I improved so dramatically (still have aches and pains, but only have chest pain if I breathe SUPER deep and now it's a dull ache, not sharp), the doctor thinks it's most definitely flu.

The initial rib pain could've been inflammation from my asthma since I did spend a week in a household full of MCS and allergy triggers (cats, fabric softener, dish soap, etc) and was complicated by the flu.

He said since my fever didn't start til tuesday, which is when the pain really intensified, he felt that I was close enough to the mark to give me Tamiflu, even though it was a little past the recommended start time. Also, I was not contagious before Monday. My fever hit later on Tuesday and one is generally only contagious for one day prior to the fever hitting.

He said it was most likely I caught it in a situation with children. I don't place blame. I called him because I was worried about ez_mo and her family. He said she should be okay and it was more likely some of the children managed to carry it and give it to me. he said incubation can be one day to a little over two weeks, though the CDC says 1-4 days. In that case.... Thanksgiving: family dinner with teenagers present and people who work in offices present (with lots of coworkers out with flu). Friday: shopping in chinatown and the north philly Russian area. Saturday: travelling and shopping in the DC area. Sunday: shopping and party. in other words, I caught it somewhere, but I was NOT contagious Sunday, so I did not put the kids and my friends at risk. If I saw anyone on Monday--I'm so so sorry.

In addition, my mother-in-law supervises visiting nurses. She has a few nurses and co-workers out with the flu (despite the shot). She worked Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

In short. it's the flu. I'm hyper from the steroids and will be so for a few days. He actually told me that if I hadn't already started them, to not take them, but I have, so I have to finish them. I'm nauseous from the meds and will send boy out for gari soon. And I want to save the world and clean the house because of this manic drug-induced state. I've been ordered to rest and not leave the house. I could still be contagious (3-7 days after onset, even on antivirals).

the only downside to all of this? now that i no longer have excruciating chest pain, i can feel the fibro pain again. ;)

not-so-lazy lentil soup

krasota: how about enchiladas?
explodingcat: i'm HUNGRY. i want dinner *now*.
krasota: it's a little late for that.

almost lazy-ass lentil soup:

a teaspoon or so of olive oil
a bit of crushed red pepper
half an onion, chopped
two baby carrots, sliced into rounds
half a long stalk of celery, diced
1 tomato (i used a vine-on, so small to medium)
a couple forkfuls of minced garlic
a splash or two of white wine (1/4 to 1/2 cup)
a few pieces or so of roasted red pepper in oil
1 can Amy's lentil soup

assorted dried herbs: oregano, rubbed sage, tarragon, savory
salt, freshly ground pepper, worcestershire (i use angostura--soy-free, vegetarian)

heat oil in pan, add crushed red pepper, onion, carrots, celery... i added as i/boy chopped (i do onions, he usually does everything else, but i handled the tomato today as he was eating his chicken patty). as the onions softened and blended with everything, I think I added some oregano, i tossed it more, then added the wine--a couple healthy splashes/pours. as the wine was reducing a bit, i chopped up and added the red pepper--less than a whole italian capiscum, around half, probably. stirred a bit longer and started adding the herbs--i rubbed a pinch or three of each over the pot. I think more oregano, too.

when the mixture resembled a yummy veggie relish in consistency (not too watery), i added the can of soup. stirred it. added salt to taste, then a couple squirts (maybe half a teaspoon or more) of the worcestershire sauce.

YUM! would be quite good with bread, but i'm wheat-free today (i don't extend that to vinegar, which is in the angostura). it took less than 15 minutes, because i kept tossing the veggies over higher heat, rather then letting them simmer. and i let the celery stay mildly crunchy, which is how i like it (i like it cooked down in soup, too, but boy was hungry).

to serve more people, add a can of soup beans (beans, barley, lentils in the brand i buy) and some more herbs. i haven't tried this, but i would if i needed to. ;)

Rainbow Afghans!

jkatj has more of those nifty rainbow afghans up for auction.

(okay, technically her wife put them up for auction, but jkatj made them with her little webbed fingers and toes.

Anyhow, if you're looking for that special gift, whether it be for someone who just loves rainbows or who loves a little warm gay pride (or someone who embraces the power of and!), check her stuff out!