Monday, April 28, 2008

Monday's Connections Abound

Welcome to today's edition of Connections Abound. The Face-to-Face Lost and Found page is permanently located beneath this current post. Old Connections Abound can be accessed via the date or subject archives listed on the sidebar. Check the submissions page, FAQ, and ways to get involved for additional information. Email me at thetowncriers@gmail.com with any questions/concerns.

Lost and Found is open to anyone in the
infertility, pregnancy loss, adoption, pregnancy-and-parenting after infertility, assisted conception, living child-free after infertility or loss community (as well as anyone I inadvertently missed on that list). Please support the list as well as anyone posting announcements below.

Connections Abound

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
New
  • Meet-the-Clicker: this new feature introduces you to the people who are clicking through your section of the blogroll. Take a moment to head over to their blog and give them some love; especially if they are clicking through your section and even if you belong in another one since they often send in all things they read along the way.
  1. Deb of All Things Deb gave her blog this name because "I didn't want my blog to be focused on just one topic so this fit. I have many obsessions but most of them are ever changing so it works for me."
  2. She clicks through two sections of the blogroll: Single Parent By Choice and Family Building While Single.
  3. Her IF story in 100 words or less: I have PCOS with insulin resistance. We have been TTCing since 09/2003 without any definite positives. SA came back questionable after 16 months of trying. We have hit many road bumps and can't seem to decide where to go from here. Unfortunately, I am not getting any thinner or younger.
  4. The rest of her world in 100 words or less: Work, work, and uh more work. I can't complain though because I work in the real estate industry and am still making money for the time being. Other than work my time is filled with baseball this time of year and making plans for our latest home improvement project. I enjoy cooking and have a decent size collection of cookbooks but rarely use them. A dull life really... but a nice one even still.
  5. Favorite candy and why? Chocolate covered toffee or carmel and anything chocolate mint. I used to say Twizzlers but unfortunately I can no longer eat them, stinkin' allergies. Why? Because I love chewy and sticky candy. It is what candy should be :)
  6. Deb's question back to you (leave her a comment below): What is your favorite cook book? And if you have one a favourite recipe in it, let me know too.
  • Research Opportunity (read: free IVF): IntegraMed sent out a call for a study being done at Fertility Centers of Illinois. There is a list of criteria and more information about the study if you click on the link. I know nothing about it, but it looked good enough to pass along.
  • Interview Opportunity: It's Either Sadness or Euphoria is passing along an interview opportunity for a reporter writing an article about IVF. "A reporter at the paper I work at is beginning a story for our 'science and religion' series about ART. He interviewed me for more than an hour last week (just for background, he can't use me in the story) and I found it to be a very positive experience. He needs to talk to an IVF patient if possible, and even better if there's one from Florida. He'll also be talking to doctors, embryologists, etc. There's more on my blog on this post, toward the bottom, if you want to check it out. He's an excellent reporter and I can vouch for his writing talent and his sensitivity as an interviewer. Also, his all-around decent personness." You can read more by clicking on the link to her blog.
  • Question: Dreams Come True...Sometimes has a question about luteal phases that are consistently between 17--20 days. If you can answer her question, head over to her blog.
  • Question: Fertilized has questions about gestational diabetes.
  • Question: Infertility on the Brain has questions about shared risk programs.
  • Question: I'm a Smart One has a question about using Saizen for egg quality/quantity. Head over if you can answer it.
Old
  • Team On the Road continues to truck along. There are now three teams walking in honour of Lennox and Zoe: Stirrup Queens, My Perky Ovaries, and In Search of Biscuit 2.0. I cannot thank enough those who have donated or posted the code for Team On the Road. We've currently raised $3398! If you would like to help with our March of Dimes fundraising, read this post and join along. There are at least five things you could do!
  • If you notice another loading slow down or receive error messages for Stirrup Queens or Lost and Found, please let me know. Now I'm nervous every time I add anything to the side bar!
NEW BLOGS (started in March or April 2008)
  • None Today.
BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES (celebrate your birthday or blogoversary with the community. Send me date at any point and I'll post them on the correct day)
  • JuliaS celebrated her wedding anniversary last Friday. It's not too late to click over and see her wedding photo!
  • Saturday was Perpetually-Waiting's anniversary. Again, it's not too late to go give them a little love.
LOSS REMEMBRANCES (send in the dates of loss anniversaries and I will post them on the correct day)
  • It was the one-month loss date for the Doodles on Friday. Please go give Busted a hug.
  • Brooke was remembering Caden yesterday on the two-month anniversary.
  • Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Wizard of Ovulation's unfulfilled due date. Please go give her support.
LOSS ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • Aurelia Ann (name of the blog--not Aurelia from No Matter How Small) is experiencing her fourth pregnancy loss right now. Please go over and give her a hug.
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORT AND CELEBRATIONS (scary scans, anxious waits, OHSS, and a host of other reasons why these bloggers could use some additional support right now. Also, celebratory retrievals, transfers, and other good news)
  • After having her heart jerked around, Teamwinks had her transfer cancelled today. She is moving on to a donor egg cycle.
  • Two up the hoohaa and at least two on ice--Chicklet got some good news this weekend. Go wish her luck in the wait.
  • Someone PLEASE Knock Me Up had 5 eggs at retrieval. She hasn't posted her fert report yet. Please send her good thoughts.
  • The Baby Chase is in a difficult spot right now emotionally and could use some extra support after this last failed IVF cycle.
  • Tash not only had a hellacious family get-together but also received the autopsy report for Maddy. Please go give her support.
  • Baby Steps is in the two week wait. Go give her good thoughts.
  • Go give Celeste good thoughts for her move!
  • JP's cycle was cancelled. Go give her some support and good thoughts for the next cycle.
  • Just What I Always Wanted's grandmother is very ill and she had gone to be with her. Please give the family good thoughts.
  • Life in the Catpad had some scary bleeding over the weekend. She is having a repeat beta and ultrasound today. Please keep her in your thoughts.
  • The Life and Times of Kimbo Sue is moving on to IUI #3 after getting her period early. Please go give her support.
  • Brown Eyed Girl's husband is having surgery tomorrow. Please go give them good thoughts.
BEDREST BABES: on bedrest following infertility or loss and needing support. Drop in on them and keep them company.
  • Elizabeth from The I Word is in the hospital and on bedrest with mild preeclampsia. Go over and keep her company.
  • Leah at Tales from My Dusty Ovaries is officially on bedrest.
  • Tracy is back on bedrest after the tear in her placenta became bigger. Please go over and give her support.
  • Schatzi is on "increased rest" and will most likely be on bedrest for a large portion of her pregnancy.
  • When All Else Fails... is on bedrest due to a shortened cervix.
  • Geohde is on increased rest too as she keeps in the twins to 32 weeks.
PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
BIRTH AND ADOPTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Read and Support

13 comments:

kate said...

Ooh! My favorite cookbook? That's a hard one! I have so many!

For emotional reasons, the cookbook my mother made for me and gave to me as one of my wedding presents is absolutely one of my favorites. Recipes for all of the foods I ate while growing up, plus a bunch of my grandmother's recipes are all neatly typed out and bound in one place now.

As far as cookbooks that one can purchase, I love Moosewood Restaurant Cooks At Home. Even if one is not a vegetarian, the recipes are delicious, easy and fast. And by nature of being vegetarian, most are relatively healthy, while still being very, very tasty.

However, as far as cooking techniques and food science (which is another favorite category for me), I love Shirley Corriher's CookWise. It's informative and entertaining, scientific without being dry, and just an all around fun read. There are just enough recipes to tie everything together and keep you interested. A must have for anyone with a cookbook collection.

I could go on and on, but I'll have to leave it at that, lest I bore you all with continued adventures through my cookbook shelf!

Lollipop Goldstein said...

I am a huge fan of Cooks Illustrated--mostly because they give you the "why" behind things so you know how you can or cannot tweak the recipe. If I had to nominate one, it would be Baking. But seriously, the pasta one is worth its weight in gold.

And Alton. Anything Alton Brown.

And I could never part with my Joy of Cooking.

Jendeis said...

Favorite cookbook or one I use the most? The one I use the most is Ruth Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cooking. My favorite is Julia Child's The Way to Cook because everything I've ever made in it has turned out like the pictures. I'll also ditto Mel on Joy of Cooking.

JuliaS said...

I honestly collect cookbooks - and rarely use them. I just peruse them like some people window shop. If it is beautiful and has pictures - I gotta have it. My most used (which would be favorite I suppose in that sense) and literally falling apart is The Pillsbury Cookbook c. 1989. Most used/fave recipe - the pancake recipe on page 68. Though, I've used it so much that I have it memorized and tweaked it a bit so that it is more of a guideline than verbatim undertaking anymore!

My dh is completely stumped as to why I need a 6ft shelf for cookbooks . .. (especially when 75% haven't ever been used.) :0) What can I say - he's a man. He doesn't understand the shoes thing either.

Tash said...

I've never had anything turn out badly from Silver Palate -- it's my go to for guests, special occasions, etc.

I'm a complete shill for the magazine Fine Cooking which I think is just the best out there, period. Check it out.

(And I don't want to nitpick my Clicker, but it wasn't the autopsy report -- one of the docs has just changed his mind now. It was a follow up call. But thanks for that plug too, always nice to have a new set of eyeballs on that information.)

HereWeGoAJen said...

Hi Deb! My favorite cookbook is the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. I've got one and I plan to someday inhert my mother's and my grandmother's versions. (My grandmother's version contains a lot of recipes that used lard and also a recipe for turtle soup.)

I also really like the illustrated William-Sonoma cookbooks. But I couldn't pick a favorite one of those, I have too many!

Bea said...

Deb! This won't help you, because as far as I know the book's not in print anymore. I bought it at one of those remaindered book sales. All I can think is that the publisher got carried away with the print run in his/her enthusiam for the cooking, because I swear the remaindering is no reflection on the quality.

It's Mediterranean Cooking J&J Clarke and Farrow. Very glossy and pretty, great, delicious recipes - they even taught me how to roast squid! - and a handy size for the kitchen to boot. It's the only cookbook I bothered to ship internationally when we moved. Not bad for AUD$5 (US$3.50 or something like that).

Bea

rella12 said...

My favorite cookbook is Lidia's Family Table by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich you know, the lady on pbs?

(although I also really like the Moosewood Restaurant one that someone else mentioned).

My favorite recipe from Lidia is Ziti w/ Sausage, onions and fennel.

Go out, buy a hat, and hold onto it...

battynurse said...

I tend to not use cook books very often either but I do have a favorite although it's for sentimental reasons. I forget what it's called but it was something to do with the Great Depression. It was published in the late 70's or early 80's by some people in Northern Idaho. It has a picture of my great grandmother in it whom I adored.

Shinejil said...

Anything Moosewood rules. The recipes are straightforward, but with clever twists and--get this--they can even do healthy, interesting deserts!

I love a cookbook called Please to the Table, as it covers the former Soviet Union and has lots of excellent recipes. The best ones are from Georgia and Armenia. Caucasian (as in the mountains) food rules!

Deb said...

Cool, I will be checking out the suggestions to add to my collection. I have a bunch and um... don't use them that often but there is something soothing about knowing that a recipe can be had at any moment.

My favorite tends to be the Better Homes and Garden checkerboard cookbook. I have two versions... my grandma's and one that I got as a wedding gift. I tend to use my grandma's more often though. :)

Deb said...

Cool, I will be checking out the suggestions to add to my collection. I have a bunch and um... don't use them that often but there is something soothing about knowing that a recipe can be had at any moment.

My favorite tends to be the Better Homes and Garden checkerboard cookbook. I have two versions... my grandma's and one that I got as a wedding gift. I tend to use my grandma's more often though. :)

Anonymous said...

first, a shout out and high five to Deb!!! Thank you for being the clicker for the single ladies. Much love from us!

Cookbook: The Best Recipe by the editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine is honestly my go-to for everything I bake. They have an amazing meatloaf recipe that easily converts to ground turkey.