Writing Goofy Shit

Bits and pieces from the Mountains of Madness

Something Wicked This Way Comes

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There’s nuthin’ much better than a fall evening here on the hill. The noises of the day – motors of various types, crummy music from overdriven stereos in passing cars, people chattering – fade as folks head for home to prepare for night. Through the open windows, a gentle breeze blows, slightly billowing the sheer drapes.

Darkness falls. Crickets begin their regular performance. At the back of the house, he branches of the ancient oak tree creak a little, disturbed by the wind. So peaceful…. so rustic…. so downright soothing.

And then, a stirring. Not something that can be heard initially, but something that can be felt. When I sense it, the hair stands up on the back of my neck, and my heart turns to ice water and runs down into my guts. No. Please. Not again. Leave me alone. I’ve done nothing to deserve this. Why me? Read the rest of this entry »

Dumbed-Down Cooking: Idiots In The Kitchen?

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It’s no secret that we all generally have less time than ever to prepare a full-blown meal in our home kitchens. I can look through some of my older cookbooks and read recipes that are as detailed as any technical manual. The newer the cookbook, the shorter the recipes it contains.

The advent of the microwave, and the introduction of good-quality nuke-able meals that don’t taste like the box they’re packed in, have both played a significant role in the decline of the classic cookbook. Couple that with homes comprised of single-parent families, or households where both parents work, and it becomes a bit easier to understand why fewer people are adept at making even something as basic as biscuits from scratch. Read the rest of this entry »