On May 15, 2009, my daughter graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University.

( Of course we have pictures! )

For those of you who like Dead End ficlets, there's ONE claim left in my ancient 28 Dead Ends meme: On Vacation. Go for it!

The Transformers Anonymous Writing Feedback meme!

Because I always need feedback, and once in a while I do post memes.

Last night, I watched some of the classic Sunbow GI Joe episodes for the first time. "Arise, Serpentor, Arise!" and the following episode. I tried watching the movie, but the YouTube versions were over-compressed and too poor a quality to enjoy.

( Cut for Cobra Commander ranting )

As mentioned previously, I've been re-watching Season 3 of the G1 Transformers cartoon lately. It's better than I remembered, and sadly under-appreciated by most.

( discussion )

Last night I watched a bunch of G1 season 3 episodes for the first time in quite a while, all the way through "Ghost in the Machine", and realized something.

( My attitudes toward the episodes and the characters have changed... )

I'm finally getting off my lazy butt and posting some photos I took of autumn in rural Tennessee, and friendly dogs out for a walk with us, taken during our Thanksgiving up there.

( Here be pictures! )

The BBC allegedly believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books here. Bold those books you've read in their entirety. Italicize the ones you started but didn't finish.

( books )

I tried making cheese bread this weekend. Technically, it came out well; tastewise, we all agreed that (cheddar) cheese bread didn't do anything for us. I think I'll scratch that one off the list of "breads to make in the future".

That's the way of cooking experiments: sometimes you add a great new recipe to your repertoire, and sometimes you have to scratch it off the list of "Things I will make again". It's also necessary to have victims an understanding audience that is willing to taste-test new things that might not work out. ;-)

Here's two recipes that have proved out. One is the bread I described making last week, and the other is a clam chowder recipe that has become a family favorite.

( Recipes! )

Yesterday, I made honey-oatmeal bread for the first time. It's the first loaf of bread that I've made that actually rose to full size and looked like a proper loaf of bread.

The honey added a nice sweetness to it that made it especially tasty. Ravyn, I used some of that Swamp Honey (I have a jar, too). I swear that's some of the tastiest honey I've ever had--I think there's something in the mix that tastes like citrus flower honey.

The fruitcakes I made two weeks ago are still curing in the fridge, of course. I soak them with rum.

I realise I'm a tad late putting this up, but better late than never. Also, it's incomplete; I'll be adding to it as I think of stuff. I always remember things when I'm miles away from any chance to write it down.

For the benefit of friends and relatives who wonder what to get me, here's some ideas:

( Hidden to avoid spamming my f-list )

Last night, conversation in chat touched on Transformer zombies and the wonderful "City of Fear" arc in the old Marvel Transformer comics.

( Cut for comics discussion )