Merry Christmas!

Don't Forget Them

Time for a reality check. Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) just published their 10th annual Top 10 Most Underreported Humanitarian Stories report for 2007.

1. Somalia
2. Zimbabwe
3. Tuberculosis
4. Malnutrition
5. Sri Lanka
   
6. Democratic Republic of Congo
7. Colombia
8. Myanmar
9. Central African Republic
10. Chechnya

Check them out, then consider giving, praying, telling others, or otherwise come up with something we can do so that these stories don't remain standing items on this list.

Shot Through the Heart

OMG, she got me tix to the Bon Jovi concert. This 30-something is getting giggly teenager flashbacks. O-M-G.

AT, you rock. And Jon, Richie, David, Tico - see you in April...(as my inner Squeaks goes, "wheeee!!!").

I Smell Like Cookies...and Kalbi

I played Betty Crocker and Ming Tsai yesterday. Started by bustling around my kitchen and baking "goodwill" cookies for the neighbors; then ended the day with a mallet in my hand, tenderizing short ribs for Friday's youth ministry BBQ at church. I need a shower.

Orange Butter Cookies (courtesy of Betty)
2/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
Grated peel of 1 large orange
1/2 cup OJ
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350. Mix everything. Drop tablespoons of dough on ungreased cookie sheet, 2" apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire rack. Easy and MMMM, good.

A Second Chance

We picked up a Christmas tree from the guys at Delancey Street the other day. It cost us a few times more than what we would've paid at Home Depot, but we didn't mind since it's for a good cause. When I first entered the lot, though, I headed straight to the cheapest options -- the lopsided or otherwise unhealthy ones in the back for $19.95. I could say I was drawn to them thinking, "hey, these trees deserve a second chance, too, right?", but really,...I'm cheap. After some browsing and pawing at branches to check for needle retention, I fell for a fragrant and symmetrical (full-priced) pine that finally came home with us. Isn't she beautiful?

I Like The Cowardly Lion Best

So who caught the 3-part miniseries of Tin Man on Sci Fi this week? (ooh, I did!) And I wasn't disappointed. So I sacrificed three nights when I could've been doing other things -- like, surfing other channels -- but it was worth it, especially considering I was snuggling with my favorite person for most of it.

A very cool adaptation of the old classic with a gothic twist to the wicked witch, which I appreciated. (Where can I get one of those latex high-collared cloaks??) Okay, so they copied the Minas Tirith-like fortress and the magical door to the Mines of Moria, but I was still impressed.

Favorite quote: "One wrong move and I'll take you on a walk you won't come back from."- Tin Man to Toto
Favorite character: RAW, the cowardly lion. (Loved his matted zip-up fur costume and dreads. Grrrarr.)

To top it off, Sci Fi is partnering with my favorite non-profit, Habitat for Humanity, on the Brick By Brick project. Tin Man rocks.