Yule 2k11

I'm sure you all remember (because you have nothing more worth remembering, obviously) that I recently helped start a nice little Pagan study group slash baby coven. So far it's been very enjoyable! We had a bit of a kerfuffle at Samhain (I wanted to do a group ritual, they said we weren't ready, etc.), but we got back on track and yesterday we had our very first Yule celebration!

To commemorate the event I made my famous Yule Apple Dumplings. 

This was my first time making any kind of dough, so it was a bit of an experiment. I'm a pretty tough critic when it comes to things I make, but overall I think they came out pretty well!

And don't even get me started on the Yule celebration. It was amazing! We hung out:

Shared gifts:

Had a nice jam session:

And generally made fools of our selves:

So overall it was a very fun night! After awhile we headed outside (despite the cold and the rain), cast a circle, called the quarters (I called fire, of course) and did some chanting and dancing and had a really great time! 

I was cold, wet and exhausted. Definite signs of a good time and a great celebration!

Holiday Cray

I don't even know what's going on around here anymore. The gifts! Gifts everywhere! Christmas! Yule! Attica!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a pretty bitchin' friend. But I've never been a big gift giver, at least not around the holidays. Sure, I'll drop a fiver in the Salvation Army bucket, no problem. And I usually try to find something nice for gamma and my close friends. But, honestly, beyond that y'all are on your own. So imagine my surpreeze when I found myself buying gifts for everyone and the cousin Jimmy this year!

It all started with Chapter One. You all know about my book group, Chapter One, right? I mean you should, I've talked about it enough. Anyway, Every year we do a Book Swap; we all draw names and try to find books for the person belonging to the name we drew. This year, I got Dustin (I'm aware none of you know who that is, just go with me on this). Now, normally, I'd ask my good friend Eli what I should get the big D-Man. But everyone always does that, so Eli always knows who get what and there's never any surprise for him. So, I decided to abandon recklessly and try to find Dustin a gift myself. Luckily, I happen to know he's a big fan of the Conan series. I found out that the guy who wrote the Conan series also wrote this old collection of horror stories, and wham bam thank you ma'am, my gift practically bought itself. I had a non-Chapter One friend order it, and found an old copy of Call of the Wild in case it didn't arrive in time.

Now, to be frank, this would pretty much bring me to my gift quota of the year. But I was possessed! The spirit of the holidays had a firm grip on my nethers and t'wasn't letting go! So, I bought a few old copies of Misery and Gerald's Game (my top two Stephen King books) and gave them to Eli. By this point I was hooked, jonesing for the gift giving high that was so foreign to me.

So I bought gamma a new toaster. I thought it would be hard to top the new deep fryer/Decepticon that I got her last year. But then I laid my eyes on the shiny chrome surface of the toaster I got her and I knew I was set. But just to be safe I got her a scented candle. By this time my gift giving addiction had taken me to new heights; I was so high I was on the moon, man.

Now, I'm sure you all know that I'm in a Pagan study group slash little baby coven. We decided that, for Yule, we would have a Secret Santa. I may or may not have suggested it. I just needed a fix, man, who are you to judge me. But, anyway, my demons got their pound of flesh. I ordered my recipient's present and started a super secret group present that I simply couldn't go into more detail about.

I was beginning to panic at this point? Who else was there? Who else on the face of this Earth could I feasibly give a present to? I mean, I love all of you guys, but most of you live on Mars or in Minnesota or something like that. I can't catapult presents to most of you guys, much as I'd like to try. I was also running out of money. I'd only allowed myself a small budget, because I knew myself well enough to know I'd probably go overboard with this. And then it hit me! Alexis! My dear friend Alexis has had some really frightening health scares lately, and I knew just what to give her to try and lift her spirits. I can't go into details, because she may or may not be reading this, but trust me, chums. This will be the coup de grâce that my addiction needs. And really, it's probably for the best. Last night I woke up in a cold sweat, my bed covered in wrapping paper and tape.

Jon the Baker: This Sh!t is Cray Cray

Aw yeah bitches, line up cuz y'all bout to get serrrrrrrrrrrrrrrvvvved. Actually, since all of the pictures I'm about to show you are about a month old, there's not a lot left to serve to any of you. But w/e let's get this shizow on the rizoad

I recently joined the American Sign Language club, and I was informed we were having a super special awesome bake sale. We were trying to raise money for a trip to Gallaudet University, the Deaf university.

I really wanted to go, so I decided to do my part and provide some baked goods.

First, cupcakes. Urrbody loves cupcakes.

So this hot mess turned into these

sexy ass chocolate cupcakes.

And then they started multiplying.

And multiplying.

And next it was time for some sweet vanilla to balance out the rich chocolate.

Once again, cupcakes started piling up!

And next came the scary part, the icing and sprinkles. I'd never actually made cupcakes before, let alone iced them, so this was uncharted territory. But, luckily, they seemed to turn out alright!

And next came to rapping. Er, I mean wrapping. The rapping took place later in the bathroom mirror.

And ta da! Roughly four hours after starting I had a plethora of cupcakes for all for all paying customers!

Next, I decided to make brownies! But I decided not just any brownies would do, so I added some cinnamon and other secret spices to the batter. I was a little nervous because I knew the cinnamon would dry dat shit out, so I added some extra milk and vegetable oil.

And ta da! Don't mind the bunt edges, for some reason our oven always burns the edges in with this kind of thing.

  

So next I just had to trim the edges, wait for everything to cool, ice the whole mess, cut it into individual servings and wrap it up! 

All in all this whole endeavor took about six hours. I was pretty dazed after I was done, but I was pretty proud!

And the next day I headed to school at an ungodly hour and helped set everything up. I was quite impressed with what we managed to pump out.

And look at the faces of these satisfied customers!

That last lady didn't actually know I was about to take her picture.

But anyway! I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving, chums! Merry Turkey Day to all and to all a great feast!

Fear

Good news: The social work program is coming to OU-C!

Bad news: The program isn't open to everyone. It isn't even first come first serve, you have to apply to get in. Only thirty people will be accepted into the program, and according to my advisor this makes it extremely competitive.

This is absolutely terrifying.

In Ohio, you can't practice social work without a social work license. You can't get a social work license without a bachelor's degree in social work. You can't get a bachelor's degree in social work from OU-C unless you're accepted into this allegedly extremely competitive program.


I don't know, maybe this wouldn't have been such a shock if I had known from the beginning that the program would be competitive. But when I started taking classes here three years ago, there wasn't any social work bachelor's degree, competitive or otherwise. After three years of waiting and hoping it's finally here but I still might not get into it.


If I don't get in this first time I'll have to wait two years to apply again. My adviser, Saint Barbra Mahaffey, told me all of this he other day. I sat there in her uncomfortable chair after a half an hour of waiting, and I just felt the air go out of my proverbial balloon. I've tried so hard the entire time I've been here. But all I can think of is that damn Intro to Social Work class, which I now have to re-take if I want into the program. I knew that syllabus like the back of my hand, I knocked every project out of the park, and that bitch of a professor still gave me a D. Maybe if I'd just shut up and let her go unchallenged when she said a woman shouldn't have the right to get an abortion without the father's consent, maybe then I would have passed. And all I can think of is my first Math 102 class. I'd worked through the summer quarter that year, so I'd been going sixteen months in a row. I know I didn't give my best effort in that class, and what if it comes back to haunt me?


I don't mean to be melodramatic, but if after three years I don't get what I've been working so hard for it'll crush me. I just can't deal with this so close to finals.

Shave-o-ramA Update

I've been asked if I have cancer twice (both times by women).

I've been asked if I was protesting something.

I've been told I look good.

I've been told I look silly.

It's been a really interesting week, y'all. But I'll keep my stubbly head held high and keep you updated!

Commitments Shmommitments

I have this problem. I can't commit to a lot of things. I try, really I do. I try taking up hobbies or joining new groups and the like, but somehow it always seems to backfire. Like NaNoWriMo. I'm trying to get into it, to force myself to commit. I think I'm supposed to have written about 5,000 words by now? I think I've written like 300. 

And No Shave November, I tried my darnedest to commit to that. I thought it would be easy, I only have to not shave for thirty or so days. How hard can that be?

Oh. 

Kate, you're a terrible influence.

Samhain '11

I'm a very social creature. I have no problem with some alone time, but personally I prefer being around other people. Maybe it's herd mentality, I don't know. All I know is for as long as I can remember groups have been my bread and butter.

So when it comes to my religion, naturally I want to practice with others. And I've tried. Several times. I can remember at least three attempts, each ending in spectacular failures and a hurt heart from yours truly. So when, a few weeks ago, an old friend of mine and I began discussing the possibility of starting a Pagan-ish study group, I was cautiously optimistic. We've met twice, so far, and it's pretty great. There are five of us, and we seem to have connected wonderfully. And then comes Samhain.

We planned to meet on Samhain and have our first group ritual. I was flipping my proverbial shit with excitement. But then I found out via Facebook that no, we haven't known each other long enough, we're not ready, etc. I understand the arguments logically, but all I could think is "another group bites the dust." I'm a fire spirit. I need to go and dive in headfirst and see what happens. If I had my way we'd probably be an established coven by now. And, logically, we're not ready for that. So, yes, I understand that it's best we wait. The group is still solid. We're meeting soon to establish some group belief systems or some such. But golly gee I wanted to celebrate Samhain with some other people tonight.

But, being the plucky protagonist I am, I wouldn't let my melancholy get me down! I made myself a list of things to do and by golly I did 'em! I made myself a costume:

Inspired by everyone's favorite side-character from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Derpy Hooves.

Bitchin', I know.

Then I set about making myself a meal a Samhain feast! Since (for some reason or another) apples and potatoes are both symbols of Halloween, I thought it only natural to make a Baked Apple and Potato... Loaf? I don't know exactly what it's called... But anyway, here are some pictures!

First things first, the potatoes go into a pan with some onions and some olive oil.

Then come the apples.

And this... mixture. It's made of corn starch, apple juice, beef broth and allspice. Don't ask why.

After the potatoes and onions bake for about half an hour, in go the apples and everything else!

And ta-da! A surprisingly delicious feast in about an hour! It got gamma's seal of approval.

And mine!

(Those are our chewing faces, btw. We're not having seizures.)

So it's been a pretty busy day for us here on the ranch. And once I publish this I'm going to have a nice meal (saving a place for the departed, of course) and have a nice solitary ritual. It'll be swell, I'm sure.

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween/Samhain/whatever this night means to you. Merry Samhain to all, and to all a good fright!