The Archives

Things Worth Remembering

The three habits that lead to success are: Patience, Application, and Vision.

Take care: The person who will tell others' faults to you - will tell yours to others.

It is always better to be underestimated.

There are three things that are better than riches: Health, Freedom, and Honor.

Think swiftly, speak softly, act wisely.

"The world is neither Scottish, English, nor Irish, neither French, Dutch, nor Chinese, but human, and each nation is only the partial development of a universal humanity." - James Grant on founding the National Association for the Vindication of Scottish Rights, 1862

All from: The Book of Celtic Wisdom

Palpatine is a politician.

Anakin: “Not another lecture, Master. At leaset not on the economics of politics….”
Anakin: “…and besides, you’re generalizing. The Chancellor doesn’t appear to be corrupt.”
Obi-wan: “Palpatine is a politician. I have observed that he is very clever at following the passions and prejudices of the Senators.”
Anakin: “I think he’s a good man. My…”

Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

The MSNBC talking heads have taken over my coffee shop. Damn Caucus.

Well, short help is better than no help at all.

“Well, short help is better than no help at all.” – Han Solo, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi

 

Stretch has kindly offered to help me this afternoon. By taking over a part of my lap.

The odds of successfully surviving an attack on an Imperial Star Destroyer are approximately...

“But Sir. The odds of successfully surviving an attack on an Imperial Star Destroyer are approximately…” – C-3PO, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back

Padawan Learner earned a 94% on the verbal Italian mid-term. *OMK’s breathing resumes*
Written Italian mid-term is Tuesday, Energy mid-term is Thursday.  *once again, OMK involuntarily ceases to breathe*

Hi chuba da naga? (What do you want?)

Watto: “Hi chuba da naga?” (What do you want?)
Qui-Gon: “I need parts for a J-type 327 Nubian.”
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace

If you’re studying pre-historic migration or creative writing, there are two things for the taking on the Watto’s Junk Shop page that you might be interested in.

Gluten-Free Gungon Goodies

(aka – Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Brownies adopted from LaPaz’s Simple gluten-free brownie recipe)

In mixer combine:
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 T vanilla
Mix until smooth and creamy

In separate bowl combine:
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/4 t salt

Add dry ingredients gradually to egg mixture.
Mix well at medium speed (start slowly and work up to faster).

Melt 1 cup Earth Balance margarine and drizzle into batter as mixer is running.
Mix well.

Pour into greased brownie pan ( I used 9 X 13)  and bake at 350 until inserted knife comes clean. Approximately 35 minutes.

LaPaz suggests letting them cool before enjoying, but that’s just not how we work around here. I suggest eating them nearly the minute they come out of the oven.

No co-ordinates?

Jocasta Nu: “No co-ordinates? It sounds like the kind of directions you’d get from a street tout… some old miner or Furbog trader.”
Obi-Wan: “All three actually.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones

In the mood to be my confidant? No? Too bad, you’ve already been sucked in just by reading this.

Frankly, I realized last night that I am experiencing a crisis of purpose. I tried to explain it to Dad Windu but he just didn’t get what I was saying. He just wanted to fix it. That whole Mars vs. Venus thing.

In a nutshell, I just don’t know what to do with myself – in any area – right now: homeschooling/unschooling planning/activities, personal activities & hobbies, and some greater “meaning” (whatever that means). I feel somewhat like someone hit me on the head and dropped me in the middle of Prague – a nice place and all I’m sure – but I don’t know which way to turn, which road to follow, where to begin.

It’s not depression, because I’m not sad or withdrawn or anything like that; it’s just a lack of direction I think. The things I used to do  – dutch, knitting, etc – aren’t what they used to be. Are they things I did out of habit? It’s like the interest stayed in GR. Make any sense? What’s your armchair therapist take on the situation? Have any idea about which road to take? Been here yourself?

Soft Jedi Ginger Cookies

Many thanks to Red Leader (aka ScoutMom) for this recipe.

3/4 C. margarine, softened
1 C. white sugar

1/4 C. molasses
1 1/2 t. baking soda (put in 1/4 C. measure, add water to fill)

2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. ground ginger
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. ground nutmeg (freshly ground is best)
1/4 t. ground cloves
1/4 t. salt

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and the sugar until fluffy. Stir in molasses and water/baking soda mixture, mixing at low speed until just combined. Sift or whisk together flour, salt and spices. Add gradually to the sugar/margarine mixture until combined.

Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.

Shape dough into walnut-sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Return dough to refrigerator between batches. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Cool. Eat. Not necessarily in that order.

Notes: Red Leader rolls her dough balls in additional sugar and flattens them with a fork, baking them on an ungreased cookie sheet. We prefer them unsugared. And I have a thing for parchment paper, an obsession really.