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Friday Blog Roundup

If I didn't make you wet enough from all my talk of chocolate and sex, I would like to present the new cookie I invented this week (many thanks to Josh for trying prototypes and no hard feelings over the version that you spit out into the trashcan).

It's called the Tom Waits. It is a shortbread-based cookie drizzled with caramel and chocolate. Yes, I'm going to make a batch for the TOOTPU (The Order of the Plastic Uterus) cookie exchange--the DC girls all get together at Leah's house in the winter to do a cookie exchange--but that's not why I spent all week inventing a new cookie. The name and the reason and the person they are dedicated to will all be clear next week. I do love having a delicious secret, though I'll also post the recipe and how to assemble the cookie pre-Thanksgiving so you can make it for your dinner if you wish. They are so good and there is a person who is literally going to piss in her pants (so she should bring an extra pair over to the computer when she reads this next week) when she reads the explanation.

Did I mention that I love having a secret? I love having one so much that I'm liable to ruin it simply by mentioning over and over again that I have a secret. Okay, you have to humour me and guess. Your clues are Tom Waits and the recipient is a woman.

IComLeavWe begins today. As in today today, right now, exactly this moment. Start the monthly commenting extravaganza. The list closes tonight if you still wish to participate.

Exactly one week until 97.1 FM switches over to 24-hours-a-day of Christmas music! What? I'm Jewish? I should get my own music? I have my own music. I just like yours too.

And now, the blogs.

Crazy Lady Ramblings gave sound advice this week on giving a pregnancy announcement to an IFer. Being on the receiving end of 16 pregnancy announcements has given her time to do some excellent research in the best way to give news--and I think this advice holds true for any person announcing their good news to anyone. It's about mindfulness for where the receiver may be emotionally--in other words, it could be raining hard adjacent to your little patch of sunshine.

Do Without Doing had an infertile prayer on her blog; a mix of thankfulness and request. There will be much you will relate to inside of her prayer, but the thought I found bravest is this: "I am more comfortable thinking about the cycle not working. I am familiar with those feelings. The depression which comes with the red tide every month, the emptiness you feel in your body every cycle. I had gotten to the point where I knew I was not pregnant, no matter what had happened that month. Help me believe that this is possible. Help me believe that miracles can happen to me." Isn't that so gorgeously honest? Please read the whole prayer.

Life and Love in the Petri Dish gave an entirely different way to view IVF. Jumping off of a recent newspaper article, she explored the concept of control. As she wrote: "IVF controls much of what is usually a mysterious process. All of this micro manipulation and monitoring make it tempting to start to think that if I just take this action or avoid that action, somehow I can influence the outcome." And it's sobering to think about how much is still out of control regardless of the amount of medical intervention. An important post to read.

Baby Quest had a post about the feelings one gets (specifically her but you will definitely relate) in the wait. The post began: "I woke up this morning with a very strong feeling that this IVF did not work. That the embies are gone. That they've been gone for awhile." This post was about acknowledging a feeling so she could let it go; but as you read, you wish so deeply for her intuition to be wrong.

The roundup to the Roundup: Tom Waits cookies (recipe will be posted pre-Thanksgiving), IComLeavWe begins today, Christmas music coming soon, and lots of good blogs to read. Catch you back here Saturday night for the Show and Tell.

Posted by Lollipop Goldstein at 11:15 AM Labels: Friday Blog Roundup Lori said...

I gotta get me some of those cookies.

Do they come wrapped in fresh underpants?

Ummmm....guessing Chocolate Jesus?

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:26:00 AM N said...

Those cookies look absolutely delicious. (And easy for when you're feeling especially lazy like I am right now. Just buy some walkers. Heh.)

I don't know about the secret, but I love having them, too.

I am, however, excited about 97.1 and Christmas music! Thank you for letting me know; my wife may never forgive you...

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:27:00 AM battynurse said...

Oh my those cookies look wonderful. I want some.

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:32:00 AM alicia said...

oh my freakin goodness do those cookies look freakin fantastic! I will be back for sure for that reciepe!!!

here from ICLW!

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:37:00 AM WaterBishop said...

Salivating over here.

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:38:00 AM Io said...

Somehow as I was scrolling down I decided that N had written the cookies were for streetwalkers.
I almost went out to start hooking because those cookies make me want to cry they look so good.

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:41:00 AM nh said...

Yum for the cookies - they look fab!

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:49:00 AM Leslee said...

You caused instant drool.
 Mermaid said...

Oh my, those cookies look wonderful. I'm drooling.

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:59:00 AM Jendeis said...

Those look SO DANG GOOD. Will be taking them all with me at TOOTPU gathering. Other TOOTPU girls will just have to wait until you make your Mashloch Manot caramels again. Wait, no, I want those too. Heh heh heh.

Friday, November 21, 2008 12:33:00 PM 
I have no idea what your secret is, but gosh those cookies look amazing! I can't wait for the recipe.

Friday, November 21, 2008 12:53:00 PM Fertilized said...

I guess those cookies are the Waiting for Thanksgiving Turkey .. (you know all turkeys are named Tom right?) .. the woman being Jen because she is patiently waiting the arrival of her baby ..

by the way .. YUUUUUUUUUM looking, I'm drooling over here

Friday, November 21, 2008 1:30:00 PM Malky B. said...

Cookies look yummy! So jealous of all the gals in DC who get to sample. Your my #1 for ICLW.

Friday, November 21, 2008 1:53:00 PM 
Those look awesome. Seriously going to have to get a fix now.

Friday, November 21, 2008 2:33:00 PM Heather said...

OMG!!! Those cookies look amazing!

Friday, November 21, 2008 2:40:00 PM KandiB said...

Shortbread, chocolate, AND caramel? Holy crap...bring on that recipe. In the meantime, maybe I'll buy a bag of cookies from the grocery and dip them in my ice cream toppings. Not the same, I'm guessing, but will do in a pinch.

Friday, November 21, 2008 2:53:00 PM K @ ourboxofrain said...

Those cookies look AMAZING. I've been baking a lot lately and can't wait to try those. Mmmmm...

Friday, November 21, 2008 3:07:00 PM 
Send me cookies immediately. That will be all.

Friday, November 21, 2008 4:48:00 PM Erin said...

Just wanted to say that I've been reading and rereading your blog for a while now and love your round ups. Thanks for posting them and sharing the rest of blog world with me.

I also love your cookie idea!

Friday, November 21, 2008 5:30:00 PM Cara said...

Oh Mel - now I'm competely undone, sex - chocolate, and caramel. You really are cruel!

Friday, November 21, 2008 5:43:00 PM 'Murgdan' said...

I'm on a carb high just from looking at them! So that Hershey bar was totally your fault!! ;-)

...can't wait for the recipe.

Friday, November 21, 2008 8:08:00 PM 
OMG those cookies look so DELICIOUS!!!!

Friday, November 21, 2008 8:28:00 PM Stacie said...

Wow. My mouth is watering...they look delicious! I am looking forward to hearing what the backstory is!

Friday, November 21, 2008 9:25:00 PM Brenda said...

the up close picture of the cookie was too much for me. I licked the screen (blush)

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:20:00 PM Vee said...

OMG my mouth is watering.... They look scrumptious. yummooo!

Friday, November 21, 2008 11:45:00 PM BethH6703 said...

First, I laughed out loud at Brenda licking the screen!

My guess for the cookie naming rights.... Nancy. Her husband's name is Tom, and he's waiting for the arrival of Karl. Tom Waits!

And, if Christmas music is your thing, 100.3 in the D (WNIC) started round the clock Christmas on NOVEMBER 1st! (I think it's a little much, but it seems to work for them, as they've been doing it for at least 5 years now.)

Saturday, November 22, 2008 9:11:00 AM MrsSpock said...

Holy crap. Them cookies are mighty fine lookin'. I have no clue about the clue though.

I'm a pagan, but I like Christmas music and decorations too. Yule is cool.

Saturday, November 22, 2008 9:20:00 AM Dreams Come True said...

Mmmmmmmmmm... those look sooooo delicious! My blood sugar jumped up just looking at them!

Saturday, November 22, 2008 10:47:00 AM kate said...

your cookies look yummy! thanks for the IComLeavWe, i love it!

Saturday, November 22, 2008 11:23:00 AM 
Umm...I have no idea what the secret is, but those cookies look A-MAZING! I am looking forward the the recipe!

Saturday, November 22, 2008 6:43:00 PM sara said...

Those cookies have me drooling! It's interesting what you linked to on the blog roundup about someone feeling more comfortable with cycles not working. I think I've gotten used to things not working as well. Now that our daughter is finally here and doing fine and I'm getting better as well- I almost don't know how to feel. I'm not used to feeling normal, for things to go well, for things not to fail. I feel uncomfortable in my "new skin." The new area of my life that is happier than I've ever been before - it's almost a scary feeling. How weird am I, LOL!

Sunday, November 23, 2008 4:41:00 AM 
Oh my goodness, the cookies look sooo delicious, can't wait till next week to learn more about the delicious secret :-))

Sunday, November 23, 2008 8:46:00 AM 
Those cookies look amazing!


Sunday, November 23, 2008 2:31:00 PM 
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