Apologizing in Advance

Dearest Readers,

I am writing to apologize in advance. I will not be posting much, if at all, this semester. Don't look to hear from me again until December 14, which is the last day of Fall 2007, according to the registrar. My schedule is a bit, well, nutty. I'm trying to finish up a Ph.D. before my boyfriend decides he's tired of waiting around on me to get all "self fulfilled" as we say so often. :) I tell you, if I didn't care so darn much about teaching, and research, and helping people become critical media consumers, and if I didn't feel so compelled to help college students the same way so many wonderful college professors helped me through the years, and if there weren't so many young, brilliant men and women out there who need to be exposed to more feminist literature because they seriously believe that we aren't ready for a woman president because "women are just too emotional and we'd be seen as weak in the eyes of the world," then I'd probably have never made it here in the first place, and probably wouldn't have the mind to blog about random things like gourmet foodtv recipes either, and would probably instead be blogging about how bad it sucks to be barefoot, pregnant, living in a field in Alabama, so we probably are better off not speculating. Anyway. In the grand scheme of things, I'd take Dave over a degree any day, but I think having both is a completely realistic possibility. So. That being said. In order to accomplish these goals, my priority this semester is with the 12 hours of graduate classes I'm taking (all of which are fascinating, which is good, since all I'll be doing is reading and writing for them), and running the Grad Student Association. Oh, and probably being the primary investigator on a grant. And presenting at conferences. And being in weddings. And trying not to completely alienate my friends, most of whom are nowhere near the commonwealth (meaning I get to travel a lot!). And going to the Iron Bowl. And continuing to not say "no" to projects that just happen my way. You know. Living the life of the mind while totally losing mine.

So, to tide you over, I will leave you with one final recipe that will carry you through the dark days when you think "man I wish LBD had a new post up on the blog." It is my go-to recipe when I am having a really, really, REALLY bad day.

Chocolate Martini
1 1/2 shots Godiva chocolate liqueur
1 1/2 shots Creme de Cacao
1/2 shot vodka
2 1/2 shots half & half

Rim a chilled martini glass with sugar (dip the rim in a shallow saucer with vodka, then roll in a saucer filled with sugar). In a martini shaker, combine all ingredients with ice. Shake well. Strain into sugar rimmed martini glasses. Drink/savor. Best not to drink these if you have anything to do the next day that requires you to get out of bed by, like, noon.

Really, there isn't much a chocolate martini can't fix, in my book. And you can't screw it up. But don't go trying to use skim milk (or 1% or 2%, or heavy cream) - you must use all the ingredients, exactly, no substitutions.

So, dear readers, until December, farewell! Keep checking LBDelicious.com for me to actually set up a for-real website, in my free time of course.