Michael and I bought an organic butternut squash. Normally, I couldn’t care less about organic but sometimes it makes a difference. For example, regular squash (not locally grown; not organic), never do this:

That’s Michael’s hand after slicing up butternut squash. It’s dyed orange.

Roast Butternut Squash Pasta

Time: 30-60 minutes, including prep
Ease: Moderate (easy if you don’t chop up your own squash)
Cost: Cheap ($5 for four servings)

Recipe (from Michael):

This is very slightly modified from a post by a user on the Post Punk Kitchen website, that doesn’t seem to be there anymore.

1 lb pasta (we like whole wheat penne)
1 large butternut squash
2 or 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 1/2 tbsp pine nuts
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
salt and black pepper

Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes and toss with oil, pine nuts, garlic, sage, and red pepper flakes. Roast in a roasting pan or foil-lined glass pan at 400°F for 30-40 minutes. Just before the squash is done roasting, cook the pasta. Mix the pasta and squash mixture, then apply salt and pepper liberally.

We use whole wheat pasta and we buy the squash and prepare it ourselves (probably takes 10-15 minutes). I don’t see a problem using squash pre-diced (often available in the produce aisle) or frozen — but it will cost more money that way.

Details: I put a green salad with this for dinner because a meal without green veggies doesn’t sit well with me. The pasta is great left over as it reheats extraordinarily well.

Fast forward many guitar-free years and Michael buys me an electric guitar. At this point, I can’t play a damn thing because it’s been so long. And I have to learn how to use a pick and I have to change the whole way I’d approached the puzzle of the guitar.

I think the hardest thing for me, in terms of being motivated to write, was this idea that I didn’t see too many women with electric guitars doing things I found sonically interesting. Please feel free to enlighten me, I’m sure I’ve missed loads of ladies. I liked the riot-grrl punk stuff, I liked Liz Phair, I liked the folk-y women like Ani DiFranco. But while I had the sense that those women were making compelling music, it wasn’t anything I particularly wanted to play.

So, when I heard St. Vincent (Annie Clark) a couple months ago on Sirius, I was pumped. A woman who can sing and play guitar was making music I found sonically and thematically interesting.

So I dragged Michael to see her locally, mostly to evaluate her talents in a live setting. I was not expecting very much. And, she can actually sing and play guitar quite well.

Combine that experience with my relatively recent discoveries of My Bloody Valentine and Failure (I know, I’m so far behind the the times that it’s ridiculous), and I’m eyeing my electric guitar anew. Most likely, nothing will come of it. But it’s nice to see a puzzle differently.

Oh, and I can recommend St. Vincent albums freely, as there’s no RIAA related junk associated. I’m very much enjoying both Strange Mercy and Actor.

 I always assumed vegetarians got their protein at the same store where they got their self-congratulatory, moralistic, righteousness.

I love you assholes. But you’re still just making emotional appeals for a lifestyle that has never actually happened naturally at any point in human history.

Yeah. You know more watching nancy grace than 12 people like you know after listening to testimony from experts and viewing whatever physical evidence there was.

You’re all so stupid that I actively avoid committing crimes since I never want to be judged by your ridiculous and, quite frankly, retarded standards.

May those jurors be saved public ignominy for doing what was legally just.

Lately, the weather has been kind of scary in Missouri, and I’ve seen a lot of things I’ve never seen before. Wall clouds, rotating clouds, a whole rotating storm system. After the storms have leveled Joplin, everyone here is pretty scared. Yesterday, they let us off work early because of the storms. I have never seen that before.

Well, it’s not all bad. I asked Michael about donating money to Joplin through the Red Cross and he says they say they have enough money for Joplin. Planned Parenthood is opening their clinic tomorrow to anyone who needs to see a doctor — no money needed. They’re taking donations to help provide that service (donations which will only go to prescriptions and medical consultations — no abortions). I hear through my cubicle walls that people are organizing clothing and food drives. It’s kind of heartening to see people joining together.

And I’ve seen some great things in Missouri. Michael took me on my first trip to Branson, located in the beautiful Ozarks. I’ll have to update this entry with pictures once my camera is nearby, but we’ve seen some neat stuff lately.

• 2 five-lined skinks, both males, both with bright red-orange heads because it’s mating season.
• Indian paintbrush and other pretty wildflowers in the Ozarks
• A copper still at Copper Run Distillery. They were processing a mostly corn mash for their moonshine when we visited. It smelled awesome. and the Moonshine tasted great (as did the Rum).
• Swedish Rhythm Group Jeerk. They were good. Too good for Branson.
• A presidential suite. Kind of a shame it was in Branson.
• Sugar free gummy bears. Not low-carb, not really on my diet, but tasty and with a good texture.

I’m sure there’s other things, but you know. I’m not thinking so good right now.

EDIT (27 May 2011):
Michael has informed me he was wrong about the Red Cross. I did see a lot of talk about an overwhelming amount of donated goods, because those goods have to be housed (space is at a premium) and organized (so are people). Everyone will still take your money. Here’s some links, if you’re interested in giving:

Red Cross Donation

Planned Parenthood Donation (their health center at 710 Illinois Avenue in Joplin is open and free, no appointments necessary)

Humane Society Donation (fur the shorteez)

And if you can give blood, that’s always a good thing. Plus they give you pretzels.