My friend Trevor at Who’s Your Nanny? is a great cook and just started posting his recipe of the week.  I’ve been toying with the same idea, but decided it would be easier to just link to him.  Also, I’m a super picky eater, so anything I post will have half of the ingredients taken out. 

Anyway, this week Trevor is serving up Seared Yellowfin Tuna with Pomegranate Salsa.  For more of Trevor’s recipes, check out his cookbook, 50 Ways to Impress Your Girlfriend’s Parents (When Nothing Else Works).

Via TMZ:

TMZ has learned that Duane “Dog” Chapman will be back in business and back on the air on A&E. Woof!

A network official confirms to TMZ that the show is going back into production, but they’ve not yet set a premiere date. As of now, they’re gearing up — big time — in Hawaii and production will begin ASAP. Makeup artists and camera crews have been hired, and houses and cars have been rented, all for the return of the show.

A&E had suspended production on “Dog the Bounty Hunter” indefinitely after a recording surfaced featuring Chapman making racial slurs. Chapman immediately began a tour of forgiveness, working with CORE and other groups to promote racial equality. We’re told network execs were “very pleased” with Dog’s attempt to make amends and his reaching out to members of the African American community.

A&E isn’t just making this decision out of the goodness of their hearts either. The show was insanely popular for the network, here and internationally — airing in over 20 countries.

Gratuitous picture of LOTUS and Dog at the CORE Dinner:

Please click on the CPAC 2008 ad at HumanEvents.com.  Look at the other ads we’re up against!

(btw, I assume the competing ad is part of an ad service (i.e. Google ads) and something they don’t control.  Please don’t blame this wonderful publication.)

Today’s lazy Sunday was brought to you by three NFL games, a Godfather II and Sopranos marathon on A&E and pre-Cyber Monday deals.  The (financial) downside of the seductive holiday deals is that people often overspend on gifts for themselves.  I’m certainly guilty.  I often justify over-shopping by telling myself that I’ll buy two of something in case there’s someone I’m forgetting.  Right… 

Anyway, here are a few of the online stores that are taking my money this Christmas:

Target – Free shipping on a lot of items, but like Amazon.com and Overstock.com, one order may come in several shipments, so be sure the delivery date for all of them is before December 25.

Perpetual Kid — Love this site!  It’s great for stocking stuffers.  I guarantee you’ll have a unique gift.  After all, who else sells tattoos for the elderly and edible candy cane-flavored shot glasses?

Overstock.com — Ok, I was disappointed with several of my purchases, so use Overstock with caution.  A lot of my friends are big fans though, so I thought I’d include it in this list anyway.    All you ever hear on the-website-that-must-not-be-named is “Free shipping on returns.”  I tried to return something today and they actually do charge you for shipping if they deem your reason for returning the item as unworthy.  By the way, the reason I’m returning said item is because the photo was misleading, i.e. item was labeled as a non-stick pan and photographed from the top. It’s actually a non-stick bowl.  So, Website-That-Must-Not-Be-Named, feel the wrath of my strikethrough!

Old Navy — Bigger selection, less tweeners than the brick and morter shows.  I love their flat $5 shipping.

Macy’s — My coworkers can attest to the fact that I have a Macys.com addiction as they’ve signed for many packages.  They often have a bigger selection of brands than the Macy’s that’s less than one mile from house.  In fact, returns are so easy that I usually return by mail instead of going to the brick and morter store.  I’m all about minimizing human interaction.

Amazon — No explanation needed.  We both know you’re going to give them more money.

Uncommon Goods — This site is one of my worst “one for me, one for you” indulgences.  See Illusion Wine Glasses.  Another favorite is the Global Warming Mug — I love giving this to my Exxon Mobil fat cat friends.

[Welcome Coulter fans!  Please check out the rest of my blog here.] 

I have a handful of friends that have tried to encourage me to write a book.  I jokingly say that “I’m not into politics,” and brush their comments aside.  However, I’ve always been interested in writing a novel… until I read Jen Lancaster’s books.  Her two books, Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass are the books I wish I had written.  Buy them now.  Her books aren’t the typical “Chick Lit” formula that clutters the paperback section at Target (i.e. girl dates a-hole, ignores guy friend, gets dumped by a-hole, realizes guy friend is the one she’s always loved).  Speaking of Target, Jen Lancaster refers to Target, Ikea and Trader Joe’s as “the trinity.”  Love her — I’m going to coin a new term — “Jenius.”

In a recent blog post, Jen highlights a recent piece of “hate mail” she received:

Dear Jennifer,

I enjoyed your first “literary effort” a great deal although the astericks [sic - I think she means quotation marks][and possibly a different spelling] got a bit annoying, I do realize that’s part of your [sic] ”schtick.”  Naturally, I purchased your follow up and quite frankly was instantly turned off by the Fox “News” and Sean Hannity (”Sean Insanity” as I refer to him) references.  The final nail in the coffin though, was the part where you are on the bus and pull the Ann Coulter (”Man Coulter” imho) out of your tote bag.  My limit with you particular sensibilities was reached and I didn’t even bother to use the drop box at the library (as a donation.)  It went right into the garbage compacter (sic) (to make certain it was good and truly crushed and destroyed.)

I feel bad for you.  You seemed like someone cool to hang out with, fun to read, etc…

Mare

Jen writes:

Mare says she feels sorry for me. 

Which… really?

Because I feel sorry for you, Mare.  I’m sorry you feel that opposing (albeit unknown) viewpoints are such an anathema.  I’m sorry your mind is so closed that you can’t get past the specifics of a small fraction of the TV I watch and the books that I read.  And I’m sorry you had to burn the time and gray matter this morning to let me know exactly how offensive my (unspoken) views are.

Again, you’ll be missed. 

Not.

P.S.  You realize now I’m obligated to take the two dollars I earned from your purchase to buy Ann’s newest, right?

Jenius.

A friend of mine has a great discount travel site that’s worth checking out.  My favorite section is the “Last Minute Deals” — deals so good that you don’t have time to talk yourself out of taking the vacation time.  Mr. Moody of TravelwithMoody.com is a wonderful Christian conservative with a heart of gold.  Be sure to bookmark this site and book your flight, hotel or vacation package with him!