Is she serious?

Paul McCartney’s ex-wife is donating $1 million worth of soy hamburgers, soy hot dogs and soy chicken cutlets to one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Bronx.

She tells the New York Post that she wants to make sure children in the neighborhood “have as many nutritional advantages as anyone else.

Then how about donating fruits and vegetables instead?  Veggie “hamburgers,” “hot dogs” and “chicken cutlets” have minimal nutritional value, perhaps an iota more than those made with animal products and by-products, simply because they are made with soy.  But only an iota.  Processed food in any form contains little nutritional value, making her attempt to spread the “good vegan word” among the “poor” is just plain stupid, not to mention insulting to all parties.  I’m not saying kids should never eat processed foods, I’m just saying she’s an idiot if she thinks providing them with soy versions of crap means they’ll be well-nourished in any way.  Kids need access to fresh, whole foods, not unhealthy processed foods wearing a disguise.

Heather Mills and her publicist should try to find another way to improve her low popularity rating with the public. 

Still here, folks. 

I am swamped at work, but in a good way.  This year is going to be fabulous.  And I really needed to have the school year start out on a great note, because I’m still having a hard time with Linus being gone.  We’re giving the other kitties all the attention and love we possibly can, because we know they’re grieving too.  Ariel is super clingy, and Emmett is Mr. Mopey Pants.  The Smoosh, though she’s not missing Linus like the other two, seems to be softening up a little, now that her arch nemesis (for no reason) is gone.  :(

Thank god for the Project Rungay Boys.  I’ve been watching Project Runway, but no time to blog about it.  So I’ll just link to their fabulous updates:

Christian Siriano’s Collection for Fashion Week.

The Project Runway Bryant Park Collections.  All six remaining designers showed, and there’s no hint of who the decoys might be, although I have my suspicions based on the collections.  I’ve been wrong a lot this season, though.  I’m hoping for a Kenley-Korto-Leanne finale.  Click through if you don’t mind seeing the collections ahead of time.  And Tim Gunn as the finale judge!  Thank you J-Lo’s “injury!”

Top Design ("We can’t live with your design???” What happened to “See you later, decorator?!?” If you’re going to do cheesy elimination catchphrases, Bravo, go all the way and stick with the cheesiest!) and Dr. Who (the first Tennant season) have been my distractions while grading papers, and Twilight, the first book in the Stephanie Meyer vampire series, has been my bedtime reading lately.  The buzz about the book was so huge, especially among my students last year, I thought I’d give it a go. Plus I love vampire stories.  It’s a quick read, and it’s entertaining enough, but it’s not living up to the hype, I think.  One thing’s for sure - any girl who ever felt like an oddball growing up will love this series.  Oddball girl gets hot guy.  Ok, so he’s a bloodsucking vampire, but still.  I imagine the books and movies will develop a large cult following of girls with hair constantly in their faces.

In other news, I am ridiculously happy for George Takei and Brad, who got married this weekend, and walked down the aisle to “One” from A Chorus Line.  I’m anxious to return to NYC to see Spring Awakening again, as I fear it has taken over a part of my soul.  And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to see Daniel Radcliffe in Equus, so that will probably be on our agenda for the next trip.  Wednesday night we’re going to see Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, and then we’ve got a Jason Mraz and a Hanson concert to look forward to in October. 

I’m supposed to run my first 5K in December with a running club my school sponsors, but I haven’t had the time (nor the energy) to train after school.  I’ve got to make the time, because I promised these kids I would do it, and it’s important to me to keep the promises I make to my students.  I’m just so tired at the end of the day!  *whines* It helps a bit that I’m now 21 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of the summer, but I could stand to lose a bit more.  I’m sure the running would help with that.  Still, I feel so much better than I did at the end of the school year. 

All right. I’m off to make dinner and spend time with the person and the animals I love.  Drop me a comment and let me know what’s new with you!  :)

I need to blog about something to take my mind off Linus.

Yesterday, in an effort to keep busy, I decided to make cupcakes.  I decided on a vegan cake recipe from Whole Foods online and a frosting recipe from The Post Punk Kitchen.  I tweaked the cake recipe by adding some almond extract and didn’t exactly measure the almond or vanilla in the frosting recipe, so I’m sure I added more than I should have.  \

The combination of this cake and this frosting was perfect.  The cake isn’t exceptionally sweet, in fact, it doesn’t even contain any granulated sugar.  The sweetness comes from 1/2 cup of maple syrup instead.  The recipe could actually masquerade as a muffin recipe with the addition of some nuts to the batter.  The frosting, on the other hand, is very sweet.  I made a full batch, but a half batch would have been sufficient for a dozen cupcakes.  The almond in the frosting recipe is a winner - it’s the most delicious frosting I’ve ever made. 

Even if you’re not vegan, I promise you will love these cupcakes. 

I just want to thank everyone who sent us emails or messages about Linus.  You have no idea how much they helped, truly.  It’s going to get harder before it gets better.  When I got up today, I looked to the doorway, thinking I would see him sitting daintily with his two little white paws touching.  He didn’t pad behind me when I went to make the breakfast plates and he didn’t push his head into my hand when I was scooping out the food.  He’s not going to be there to play his favorite hiding game when I’m putting fresh sheets on the bed, and he won’t be curled up on my pillow when I go to bed at night.  It’s all so weird.  I feel like he’s supposed to be here still, but he’s not.  I think I hear him mewing and I have to remind myself that it’s probably Emmett instead.  Y’know, some people have animals who live in their house with them, and some people have four-legged family members.  Those of us in the latter group know how much it hurts when these family members leave us.  It’s really indescribable.  Time will heal this wound, I know, but for know, know how much I appreciate all the kind words you all have sent.  They mean the world.

This morning, Linus was unable to move his back legs.  On the day his brother and littermate Milo passed away six years ago, he had the exact same symptoms - a result of a severe and debilitating case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  As soon as Tony brought Linus to me to see what was wrong, I knew how this was going to end.  We rushed him to the emergency vet, and the vet confirmed my worst fears.  Linus would not recover.  I was holding him when he passed away. 

Linus was a sweet and gentle cat right until the end.  He loved to be held like an infant and would put his paw on your chin.  He loved to sleep in pools of sunlight and he never complained when he had to have his nails trimmed.  He was the best cat. 

My heart is broken.  Peehinus, I will miss you.