Babbling and Whatnot

[lls_mutant]

Utterly cranky today. Granted, we FINALLY finished painting the nursery, which is a huge priority, and I got my presentation sent to my old boss, and he was thrilled. But I'm still cranky. Computer issues, not feeling great, feeling the size of a house, hubby headed out to Indiana for a week.... All those little things.

We saw Jarhead this weekend. I'm going to write a proper review for Mutants, but can I just say go see this one? It was extremely well done, and not at all gory. A very, very different sort of war movie.



There was a question on the Wolfstar thread over at FAP- would you rather be in a relationship like R/S or R/T? Now, I'm cranky right now anyway, which makes me rather irritable and bitter, but as much as I'm utterly an R/S shipper, I was surprised to see how many people said R/S.

I mean, okay. I'm not a Remus/Tonks shipper. We all know this. But I have to admit... Remus and Tonks are both ALIVE. Does this not count for anything? Sure, I think that right now their relationship is immature and there are issues. But with both of them being alive, those issues can change. They can be worked out, potentially.

I might be cynical because my mother is a widow, and she's remarried. I mean, it SUCKS when one half of a couple dies. I'd be the first to confirm that. But she healed, and she's found love again and she's happy, and believe me, it's much, much better to see her happy with a new man rather than mourning over my father all her life. And I realize that's my experience. But yeah- having both halves of the couple alive does really go a long ways for me.

Not that I'm saying that R/S is pure evil and anyone who would want to be in it is warped. I just think that they blew it the first time around, and even in OotP I wouldn't define their relationship as healthy (I called it twisted on the thread, but that was probably too strong a word because I was really grumpy at that point.). It just surprises me, y'know?

Of course, it shouldn't. After reading a round of R/S PWP, believe me, I want to be a gay guy too. Seriously. Don't you?



Incidentally, while I disagree with ignipes that everyone loves banana bread (I don't), I do agree that more people should post tasty recipes in their LJ. I must start doing this more. And so in that vein:



Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon-Brown Sugar Marinade

Ingredients:

1/2 cup bourbon (although I tend to use Jack Daniels)
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup lemon juice
1.5 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 cup water
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 1-lb pork tenderloins

In a glass dish, combine all ingredients except the pork, stirring until the brown sugar is dissolved. Add pork, turn to coat, and marinate in the fridge, turning occasionally for 8-12 hours.

Preheat the oven to 450.

Coat a cookie sheet well with foil. (Trust me on this.) Spray with cooking spray. Plop pork on coated cookie sheet. Roast for 30 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 160 degrees, basting with the marinade periodically. Discard any unused marinade. Carve and serve. Leftovers make exceptional sandwiches.

Very easy, very healthy, and very tasty.


A question and a comment about recipes, though.

Comment: if anyone subscribes to Cooking Light, the Chicago Deep Dish pizza in this month's issue is VERY tasty, as are the twice-baked potatoes with blue cheese and bacon.

Question: With Thanksgiving coming, does anyone have interest in a brined turkey recipe? I have one that's absolutely killer, bit it's long and would be a pain to type, so I won't bother unless someone is interested. But if someone is, then it's worth my while.

Have a good night!

Comments

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Well, I agree that I'd rather have a real relationship than an imaginary one, but my favorite option (Howard/Lissa) wasn't on the list ;) And given that H/L is far healthier than either R/S OR R/T... (And neither of us is a werewolf!) Our relationship would make a pretty boring read, I admit, but it's better than pretty much any of the Potter couples! Besides, I don't think I could ever write the smut for that. And who would want to read it?

It's funny that you don't think that R/S would have been such a messed up relationship. I don't know that I'd call it dysfunctional, but I do think if it existed it would be pretty messed up. Not because they were bad for each other, but I think when they were young they were clueless on the whole communication thing. But it's funny, because the basic premise behind Accidentally In Love is to explore how two characters that I still maintain could have been in love (at this point, I'll definitely concede that JKR never intended it as canon) could come to the ending that they did. REAL cheerful story, I know, but still. It's an interesting exercise that one day I'll finish. :P

The interesting thing about the Secret Keeper fiasco is this: I think Sirius thought that if Remus found out, he felt that he could make it up to him. Isn't it better to suspect and be paranoid and protect James- who is, after all, one of Remus's dearest friends as well- and then be wrong about your suspicions than it is to not make any effort to protect James? One of the things that sticks out to me is Sirius, bold, brash Sirius, NEVER confronts Remus, as far as we can tell. Why didn't he? Sirius isn't the type to hide something like that... unless he wasn't sure. I don't think he was completely convinced that Remus was the spy, and the Secret Keeper Switch was the way to find out without Remus knowing. And if it turned out that Sirius was wrong, if he was lucky, Remus would never know and if he wasn't, he could make it up to him.

Okay. I'm so babbling at this point. I think it's time for bed.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

Sirius isn't the type to hide something like that... unless he wasn't sure. I don't think he was completely convinced that Remus was the spy, and the Secret Keeper Switch was the way to find out without Remus knowing.

Oh yeah -- I think the pool of possible suspects must have included the entire Order, or close to it. Otherwise it makes no sense that Peter would have slipped under everybody's radar. If you HAVE only two reasonable suspects, you're going to give at least a passing thought to each of them, even if you think one of them is a bit of an idiot.

OTOH, if all they knew was that there was a spy within the Order, but something made Sirius -- and Sirius alone -- suspect that this person had to be someone very close to the Potters, but this something fell short of absolute proof ... well, it's pretty easy to see how the whole situation might have been set up.

[lls-mutant.livejournal.com]

Thus the reason the St. Remus characterization drives me insane (in het, slash, or gen). WHY did Sirius suspect Remus, and was so convinced of Peter's loyalty? I don't think it was all Sirius- I think that Remus had to be doing something that made Sirius suspect him.

MWPP was Sirius's family. James might have been the most important person in the universe to Sirius, but I still firmly believe that Remus and Peter meant just as much on a certain level. It must have absolutely broken Sirius's heart to have to suspect anyone in that tight-knit little group, and I don't think he would have done it unless he absolutely had to. As you point out, he didn't suspect Peter and he should have... unless, of course, he had other people to suspect and eliminate as well.

I realize that it probably comes down to "Remus was a werewolf and Voldemort was offering rights to werewolves" and "Remus was working for DD and doing things that he couldn't tell people", but I also like the idea that Peter was doing some manipulating too. But again, if Peter didn't have anything to work with, it never would have been an effective strategy.

Rambling more :) But I love Sirius, and I often feel like he gets the shaft when it comes to the Secret Keeper fiasco.

[gunderpants.livejournal.com]

I like Sirius more and more these days: he's so high-minded and open and decent. Whereas Lupin is a seedy fucker.

Saint Remus makes me want to stab shit.