Ravings of a Textual Deviant

So much for feeling energized. Woke up with a sore throat and congestion this morning. That wouldn’t be so annoying if I hadn’t spent a week feeling run down from my flu shot. Yuck.

I’ve been going to the gym regularly and often since the beginning of July. And since then, I’ve been hearing from/reading in various sources that “exercise is supposed to make you feel energized, not exhausted.”

Bullsh*t, I thought. Until yesterday. I finished fifty minutes of cardio work, and stepped off the elliptical machine feeling absolutely great. Well, sweaty and slightly off-balance, but not nauseated, not tired, and not afraid of being defibrilated any time soon. I vaguely remember this feeling–but it’s been a long time since I felt ready to go dancing all night after some form of exercise (ice skating, water polo, marching band, whatever) all afternoon. I could get used to it, though. Might even dig my skates out of the closet and get them sharpened.

Just finished reading Ashok Banker’s new novel, Prince of Ayodhya, and may I say, wow! It’s billed as “Book 1 of the Ramayana,” and I’m already looking for the publication date for Book 2.

I’m not very familiar with the epic Ramayana, but the tone and style of it remind me of Diana Paxson’s Wodan’s Children trilogy. The thing about rewriting a myth or saga is that it isn’t hard to figure out either the plot or the characters’ roles; it’s all about the execution. In this case, it’s excellent. Be warned–there’s enough Indian vocabulary (from multiple languages, unless I miss my guess) to merit a hefy glossary. (I’m of two minds about this in fiction; it annoyed me to no end in Dune, yet I found it didn’t bother me at all in P of A.) Still, I would unhesitatingly recommend it to anyone who likes mythic fiction.

I’m a sucker for spinach and artichoke dip, but darned near every recipe I’ve ever seen is based on mayonnaise and cream cheese. Not exactly good for the arteries. I’m currently working on a healthier version; here’s my latest effort for the snacking public. I apologize for the lack of precision, but hey, it’s a dip, not a space shuttle.

Take about three-quarters to one cup of frozen spinach. Partially thaw under running water, and squeeze out excess liquid. (I do this over the sink in a colander). Next, do the same to a generous handful of frozen artichoke hearts, or just drain a small can of same. Peel a large clove of garlic, and toss the lot into the food processor, pulsing and scraping down the sides as needed until you have a good rough mince. Stir in or add to the processor a generous tablespoon of light mayonnaise and three to four heaping tablespoons of plain, nonfat Greek yogurt. (You could probably substitute very well-drained plain yogurt, but I haven’t tried it and make no guarantees.) Tip out the mixture into a mixing bowl and add a scant handful of shredded, low-fat mozzerella, and more yogurt if the mixture is too thick. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit for 15-30 minutes in the fridge to let the flavors develop. Spread into a shallow dish and bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes, until the edges brown lightly. Serve with crackers or good bread.

Greek yogurt and frozen artichoke hearts can be found at Trader Joe’s.

My neighborhood is full of kids so we have dozens of trick-or-treaters every Halloween–even with the rain this year. I love being the one who hands out the candy–I crank up my Classics from the Crypt CD and watch the chaos from the front porch. Every year, there are a couple of kids who stand out. This year’s best costume was the sumo wrestler, but the most memorable was a tiny kid in a fuzzy green dinosaur suit. Said munchkin, who couldn’t have been more that two, approached the door in care of an older brother, and just stood there, looking at me. Finally, I said “Do you know what to say?” The older brother said “He doesn’t know.” The kid promptly proved him wrong by giving the older brother a look of pure contempt that I’d've been proud of, and said “Tick or tea!” Then the little one looked at me and said it again…and again and again, all the way down my driveway and on to the next house.