The Doctored Gin Martini

A drink a day will make you live longer.
No a drink a day will not make you live longer. 

While we continue to debate the efficacy of a drink a day to lengthen life, I propose a truce in the info-war. And in the peace that follows, I suggest you try a delicious gin martini made from "doctored up" gin. I found this idea first in a ladies magazine -- I wish I could find the reference now -- of a somewhat Indian, saffron-gin infusion. Last weekend I picked up a cheap bottle of gin and thought, "hey this is the day". But then of course, I couldn't find the recipe anywhere. So I did a google-search and found a bunch of suggestions to purchase, but only one solid reference to making this at home but through a two-week steep of spices. The original recipe was a stove-top affair. So I remembered what I could, used the details from the online directions...and viola: Doctored Gin. The greatest benefit here is that all the spices are known to have healthful effects. So drink up,  and possibly live longer. Or drink up and enjoy what time you got. 

 

Doctored Gin

1 bottle of good gin (Bombay is the preference)
1 pinch saffron
1 cinnamon stick
1 whole clove
1 cardamon pod
1/4 c white sugar

Combine all ingredients into a saucepan, heating gently and stirring to match. Do not boil. Simply heat until the sugar is incorporated. Allow to cool to room temperature.  Strain back into the original bottle or into a decanter.

Serve as a martini, on the rocks or shaken and served up. Or you can try with tonic.

Trope's Empire

I've really been digging reading the analytic breakdowns of tv tropes located here. Firstly, I love that there's a name for...like every trope! What's it called when there's always a happy ending on a show? Old relative dies and leaves the main character money? And it's all cross-referenced. So for example, if you look up Joanie Loves Chachi, you'll come to Happy Days spin-offs and the original series, which will then lead you to Jumping the Shark which will then give you a really in-depth listing of ways to Jump the Shark (whether it be by cast change, character or plot development, gimmick, or behind the scenes developments which can be seen on-screen), and finally numerous examples in everything from tv/film and fan fiction, to comic books and gaming.

DANGER WILL ROBINSON: you will waste your life, happily, at this site.

"Crap!" Stage

Crap. I'm at that stage of this podcast writing, and I just can't do it. I can't finish it. I have 3 episodes un-named...why did I start so large? Why do I always start so big? It's ridiculous. It would be different if I built it up to this size.

I've got 3 episodes unnamed, without a theme. I've got 6 episodes still to write. I feel out of ideas right now. I need someone else to write one of them, it's not my voice. I need a major rewrite on all of the ones that are actually done. I'm an idiot. God.

Why do I always do this to myself? People coming over: why don't I make 3 entrees? Friend stopping by: I'll bake a cake? Need to develop a short podcast format: why don't I go for a 10 episode varied-format structure, and hey let's make sure they're completely scripted and have an over-arching storyline/theme. Jesus.

I could kick myself for being such an idiot.

Know thyself

"The greatest gift is self-awareness. That's when you realize the beauty of life. If you're not self-aware, then you're lost." - Pharrell Williams, Esquire Magazine, February 2017.


"I'm revamping here." - Eustace Allen, after reading the above.