2010

I don't have enough energy to recap an entire decade, or even a year, actually (despite just waking up from a 3-hour nap). We're going over to our friends' house tonight to ring in the New Year - it's gotten to be a bit of a tradition (although last year we were in Cali) and I'm very big on tradition. I'm just happy that we're spending the New Year together.

All I will say about the next year is that all of our dreams - TD's and mine - will come true.

2010 is our year.

Bon MLA...

I'm saying Happy Holidays to everyone, but I'm especially saying GOOD LUCK to all the MLA-ers out there who will be interviewing, etc. I've sent the ninjas on your behalf already, they're camping by the Liberty Bell, but you won't see them because they're too quick!

Went to see Avatar the other night and actually loved it despite the crazy Dances With Wolves meets Matrix meets Return of the Jedi meets Lord of the Rings meets Aliens plot and racial politics. For a really interesting (and typically well-written) reading of the movie's (potential) racism, see SEK's post and his declaration that the Jake Sully avatar is actually "Braveheart Smurf"...

Brilliant...

Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Almonds

This is for Sisyphus - I can rattle this off from memory because it's the easiest frickin' recipe EVER! And it's insanely quick...I got a bunch of cheap pint jars at a crafts store (99 cents each), threw 2 cups of these almonds in and tied a ribbon around it - Insta-gift!

Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Almonds

Ingredients:
4 cups raw, un-messed with almonds
1 egg white
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 250 degrees; line a jellyroll pan or big cookie sheet with parchment paper (you could also grease the pan lightly - but parchment paper rocks and it's worth getting a roll, I think).

2) Lightly beat the egg white; add the vanilla and beat until frothy, but not stiff (you can do this with a fork in 30 seconds).

3) Add all the almonds and mix them in the egg white until they're coated (1 egg white does actually coat 4 cups of almonds!)

4) Mix sugar, cinnamon, and salt together; add them to the coated almonds and mix until they're coated.

5) Spread the almonds evenly in the pan.

6) Cook for 1 hour, stirring a bit at 20 minute intervals (just to make sure they bake evenly and they don't all stick together).

7) Let them cool completely and store in an air-tight container!

Yummers!

Random Bits of End-of-the-semester Fluff

Things Done in the Past Week:

1) Article revised and resubmitted
2) short-term grant application written for major archive
3) 5 letters of rec written
4) 4 batches of cinnamon-sugar roasted almonds made
5) 7 jars of hot fudge sauce made
6) 16 mini pound cakes baked (8 at a time)
7) Much edible holiday cheer spread around the department

Things To Do By Next Wednesday and Beyond:

1) Grade 27 undergrad revisions
2) "Look over" and assign grades to 12 grad essays
3) Put together syllabi for next semester (previous syllabi just need tweaking)
4) Read and comment on Ph.D. dissertation by late January
5) Sleep

"Touch Wood" Nota Bene:

TD had his visit/interview with Think-Tank on Monday and it went very well - he was exhausted by the end of the day, but he felt positive. They said they will have a decision by early January (the holidays delay official things a bit).

BUT I'M NOT COUNTING OUR CHICKENS YET!!!!!