New Digs

I have a happy new blog home: uncommoncuriosity.com

Y'all are welcome to come by and see what I've done with the place. Hope to see you soon!

Waiter - there's reality in my soup

You may have noticed a few changes with this blog. A friend from Tacoma made me aware of a security leak in the blog today, and I'm going to have to reassess what and how I post from now on. I'm very sorry to have to remove a few things from public view - at the moment I'm not sure when or if they'll come back up.

I'm feeling very sad, and a bit angry, for having to be so protective, but the die is cast. All I can say is that sometimes the bad guys win.

Thank you

Real life has been very hard lately, and I owe what little sanity I have left to a small group of very dear imaginary friends who have patiently listened to me as I try to work through what's left of my psyche and my marriage. And by "Imaginary friends" I mean friends who sit behind computers hundreds and thousands of miles away, listening and understanding and offering bits of advice and lots of sympathy. A few are well-known to this blog and others are brand new...strangers who've stumbled into my mess of a life and have graciously stayed to offer an ear and a shoulder.

For everyone who has listened to me rant, put up with my disorienting ups and downs, offered a shoulder, some sympathy, compassion, or a bit of spare backbone when mine was lacking...thank you, from the bottom of my heart and the top of my head. You have helped me when I thought I was lost and carried me through when I couldn't imagine going any further.

Oh I want to thank you for so many gifts
You gave me love and tenderness
I want to thank you
I want to thank you for your generosity,
The love, and the honesty that you gave to me
I want to thank you, show my gratitude,
My love and my respect for you


I want to thank you

When Kyle Met Roxy #7

On a crowded street in Seattle, two strangers were walking towards each other. As they passed, their eyes met and, amidst the chaos of bodies moving around them, they stood staring at one another.

The child inside the first stranger whispered excitedly,

“Hello friend!”

The child inside the second stranger whispered back,

“Hello old friend. It’s been a long time – you look different.”

The first child laughed, “yes, I suppose so.”

“You have breasts!” the second said in surprise.

“Do you like them? I wasn’t sure…”

“They look awesome on you!”

“It was one of those spur of the moment choices….list of options: check, check…check…check.”

“You checked ‘all of the above’ didn’t you?”

“Heh” The first child grinned sheepishly.

“You never could choose just one thing – you had to have them all.”

“It was a bit impulsive, but you know me.”

“I like it. And, yeah, I do…know you.”

“You look awesome as always,” said the first.

“Thank you,” replied the second with a shy grin.

“Your eyes are the same. I love them, always have.”

“It’s been a long time…I think they’re a little sadder than they were when we last met.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from more of it this time, but they’re still beautiful. They still speak so clearly to me.”

“Thank you, my friend…you are still so very dear to me.”

“I’ve missed you so much.”

“I’ve missed you, too.”

There was a pause as the two basked in their joyful reunion.

“Do you think…this time perhaps…we could try love?” ventured the first child a bit nervously.

“I’d like that.” The second child smiled warmly. “I’d like that a lot.”

The first child beamed with happiness. “Then let’s do it.”

The two children embraced and kissed as the sun set behind the buildings of the city, giggling together in their delight at having found one another again.

And, as their laughter floated off into the breeze, the first stranger said to the second, as he held out a hand, “I don’t think we’ve met. My name’s Kyle.”

Taking his hand and squeezing it warmly, the second stranger replied, “It’s so nice to meet you, Kyle. I’m Roxy…Would you…like to join me for a cup of coffee? I know it’s weird, but I’ve got the strangest feeling we have a lot to talk about.” She looked up into his eyes, trying to remember something just out of reach, like the pang of a dream that had drifted away. There was no way to explain it, but somehow she knew she loved him, this stranger, as clearly as she knew the sky was a darkening blue behind the thick layer of clouds that obscured it.

“It’s not strange,” Kyle replied with a smile. “I’d love a cup of coffee.” And, as she took his arm, he looked again into her eyes and felt his chest swell with excitement, the pressure threatening to burst his heart. He laughed to let it out, and she laughed with him, as she gently pressed her head to his chest and they walked off together towards the warmth of a diner.

(See more of the conversation here.)

In the Kitchen with Roxy - Sexy Mushrooms

For years, my husband and I have been going to a little place in Berkeley called Shattuck Ave. Spats. This is a place with big velvet smoking chairs and stained glass windows where they serve old fashioned businessman's meals - big meat and serious drinks. The reason for our adoration is a little side dish they make with mushrooms and butter. It took us years, but we finally found a good recipe for making them at home - quick and easy and my favorite aphrodesiac (yes, better than chocolate...)

What you need:

A pan - I prefer a sautee or frying pan, but you can do it in a pot, too, if the bottom is wide enough to evenly heat the mushrooms

A gas stove - not electric - don't get me started.

1 stick of butter (You might not choose to use it all, but, then again, you might...)

1 shallot, finely chopped (I use about 2 T, but you can use as much or as little as you'd like. You can also use garlic or onion, but I like shallot for the delicate flavor)

1 container of mushrooms (sliced are easiest, but, if you can find the little button mushrooms, those are great whole)

Dry cooking sherry (between 1/4 cup and 1 cup)

Hunk of sourdough bread

Salt - kosher (optional)

Cream - between 1 T and 1/4 cup (optional)

Chopped fresh thyme - about 2 T, maybe more if you love thyme (optional)

Place at least 1/2 a stick of butter in the pan. Melt it over medium heat. Yes, it's a lot. Just stop now and walk away if you're worried about it. I'm sure you can find some wheatgrass to snack on.

When the butter is melted, add the chopped shallots:

Sautee the shallots until the whole house smells good (a little longer if you have a small apartment), then add the mushrooms:
(Make sure that the ones you have are pre-cleaned or clean them yourself)



The mushrooms will immediately soak up all the butter and the pan will look very dry.
Do not panic - this is supposed to happen:



Continue to stir the mushrooms over medium heat until they start to soften and get juicy:



At this point I usually add extra butter - 1 or 2 T - because I like it.



The mushrooms and butter will start to get very excited. Now's the hard part - stop stirring. That's it - let them brown without molesting them (you may stir a little if you must, but you really want them to just chill out in the nice shallot-butter hot tub you've got going for them)
Open a window or turn on the hood now because otherwise you'll set off the fire alarms.



Eventually (sooner if the heat is higher, later if not) the mushrooms will be brown with bits of dark brown butter around the edges of the pan:



When they look brown enough to be yummy to you, pick up the sherry:



Start with a splash of sherry - about 1/4 cup. The sherry adds flavor and cuts the heavy butter taste, so use more if you'd like a cleaner taste, less if you want a butterier sauce. Be careful - sherry hitting a hot pan tends to spit:



Turn up the heat and let it bubble for a bit:



Taste it by dipping sourdough bread in. If it tastes too much like butter, add more sherry. If it tastes too much like sherry, let it simmer some more or add more butter. If you used unsalted butter, add salt. If you'd like to add some cream, add a little at a time until it looks and tastes good. If you'd like to add thyme, add it now:

Whoo hoo! You're done. Eat it immediately because it doesn't taste as good when it's cold.
This is good straight up, with bread, and I've been told it's also good on steak.

I prefer it on my husband's fingers.

On the Town with Mr. Jones

(Continued from Violet Wand)

When Kyle came to visit a few weeks ago, we had 3 wonderful days together, which meant that, after attacking one another thoroughly on Friday, we were able to take it a little slower on Saturday. Yes, there was still lots of sexy goodness, but there was also time to snuggle together on the couch and talk. The pleasure of stroking his hair and feeling his body pressed against mine while we chatted about the little details of our lives is a rare luxury, and we basked in the glow of just being.

And then, of course, we got back to making the sign of the double-humped aardvark.

Thoroughly exhausted and hungry, we agreed it was time to go eat. Kyle’s a big fan of Indian food, so my husband and I took him to Amber India in San Jose. The food was exquisite, the service was wonderful, and our server even “Sir”ed Kyle, which put a grin on his face you could see for miles.

(This is Papdi Chat, one of my favorite dishes.)

After dinner, we went to a little karaoke bar called 7 Bamboo. When we got there, it was nearly empty, but it filled up once Kyle started singing. Kyle has an amazing voice and a damn sexy presence on stage – he lit up the place with “Rock and Roll,” “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” and “Crazy On You.”



There is nothing quite so romantic as being serenaded...

My husband wasn't feeling well, so he headed home, and Kyle and I walked around downtown, enjoying the cool stillness of the night and the occasional reveler from the two Anime conventions in town. We found ourselves alone in a beautiful square and I had a chance to take a couple of pictures:




We had a few moments to ourselves in the park and took one of my favorite pictures of us together. More and more I wish I could share my face, and my secrets, with the world, but, for now, you’ll have to take my word for the way my eyes sparkled with happiness.

Earning Points in the Bonus Round

My family is an amalgam of disparate elements. On one side - blonde, blue-eyed and fond of rocks and cold weather. On the other, darker side - brown eyes, an easy tan, an impossible-to-pronounce family name and lactose intolerance. Because it's only on one side, my issues with milk tend to come and go, resulting in a situation in which I'm lulled into a false sense of security and then, bam!, at the worst possible moment, when I'm feeling stressed and low, suddenly all the dairy I've consumed in blissful ignorance gangs up on my insides, triggering World War XII. (III - XI were also fought in my belly, fyi.)

Last night I was on the phone with Kyle, clearly under the weather, and he asked what was up.

"I feel pretty awful...but at least I'm losing weight," I said in an attempt at humor.

"Oh no! Don't lose your curves, baby! I love your curves."

And, suddenly, in the midst of my empty-bellied misery, a light shone down on me. Yes, it's probably superficial and foolish. Yes, I should be above worrying about how I look to the people I love. But, right then, at my nadir of ickiness, Kyle knee-jerk response surprised me and made me feel

(cue angelic choir)

beautiful.

Take note, boys and girls. In the great game-show of life, sometimes it's the unguarded, real words blurted out in the bonus round that win the day. The beautiful moments when everything is picture-perfect can be wonderful, but I save a special place in my heart for the ugly, untidy moments when we let down our walls and our real selves connect.

Plus, he thinks I'm beautiful just the way I am. And that is one of the best jackpots of all.