Dog Love

I don't know how Elias got them to pose for this, but I was so happy to receive this image in a pix message on my cell phone today. I'm away from home for work for a couple of days, so I'm missing out on tons of Pac'a/Omar* bonding.

Free To Good Home

We liberated this puppy from a bad scene. As you can see, he plays well with others.




He's all hair and weighs about 10 pounds. He'd be perfect for someone who's ready for something a step up from a cat.

Recommendations

I want to share... .

- We've been in Iraq for 4 years now. Maybe this Onion article will help ease the pain.

- J.T. and her man gave me the tastiest candy I've tried in a long time. It's salty caramel covered in dark chocolate. I want more. So should you.

- Anna Eng reminded me that there's a really easy-to-bake recipe out there that everyone should try. Back in November, the NY Times published a recipe for No-Knead bread. It is the easiest bread I've ever made, and it's quite tasty. I've read a ton of accounts of food bloggers/readers who have enjoyed it too.

Most bakers recommend using a Le Creuset cast iron and enamel pot that costs more than $150. Yikes. I recently bought a knock-off version at Target for $40, but I made 6 visits before finding it in stock. It's really popular, and I'm so glad to have it for all sorts of uses. Check out the Not Martha post (and comments) about the pot. Before I bought mine, I used a casserole dish that worked just fine.

Aging And Other Updates

I had a birthday the other day. Luckily I can get plumper, wrinklier, and grayer all I want, as I have Elias. I never have to rely on my looks again. It's true -- I'm feeling a little sorry for myself. For my troubles, I got presents and calls from people who love me. Thanks.

In other news, I'm psyched to see more trouble for Bush and Co.

Also, I'm totally curious about the new Buffy comic book. Has anyone read it yet?

Special Feeling

Didn't you feel good when you learned that I. Scooter Libby was convicted this morning?

I (me, not Scooter) did. It gave me a little boost and put a little je ne sais quoi in my step today, as I trudged through my case work and considered the struggle I'm in on behalf of organized labor. It's easy when you always work on the powerless side of the power equation (like I always do and will, o.k.?) to feel like my work is futile or a drop in the bucket. So "keeping hope alive" has a special meaning to me, and I take it when and where I can get it. I'm not saying the Libby conviction is going to change the world, but it helps.