I’d eat this.

Every single day, if possible.

There’s something about this photograph that almost brings me to tears, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Maybe it’s just the emotional impact of the day.

The love of my life had surgery this morning, and is sleeping off the anesthesia and pain about six feet away. Machines attached to her and her bed click and whirr and tick, making sure that she doesn’t get blood clots and does get pain medication. I hate their necessity with a passion, but appreciate their intent. If they were animals, I’d feed them some treats to show my gratitude.

The surgery started a little later than planned, and took thirty minutes longer than we’d originally been told it would take (though it lasted just as long as they thought it would). I did okay until the last fifteen minutes, which I spent watching the timer count down, willing it to keep decreasing. It did, and I spoke with the surgeon, and didn’t lose my composure even once. I’m forever grateful to her for taking such good care of my sweetheart.

I think that’s enough for now. This best-of-all-worlds will continue for a while, now that I know that Donnell is going to be fine. Thanks to all of you who sent good thoughts our way. I’m forever grateful to you, as well.

So, I decided earlier that I’d create something today. Anything.

Here is the result. You can click around a little bit, but the interesting stuff is found at the Play in Browser link.

Taken from Andrew Sullivan, with thanks to John Scalzi.

• Store-bought imported orecchiette topped with
• A sauce made from finely-chopped and browned Fra Mani Italian sausage, chopped canned San Marzano tomatoes, and a yellow onion, chopped and lightly caramelized with a pinch of sugar and a tiny sprinkle of baking soda
• As a side, a bunch of roughly-chopped Swiss chard wilted in a few finely-chopped slices of bacon fried with a pinch of red pepper flakes and a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving

I’m fairly happy with my tomato sauces these days. I meant to harvest some of our basil and add it, but I forgot and believe now that it would have detracted from the subtle flavors of the sausage.

President Obama is, unsurprisingly, running for reelection in 2012. I find myself in a position I didn’t expect to find myself ever again: Hoping for a viable third-party candidate.

The right is increasingly ludicrous (I have to wonder if Trump is trying to sabotage the party–he has Beck and O’Reilly nervous), and Obama, despite doing a handful of good things, has been a huge disappointment.

I’m developing a mancrush on J. Kenji Lopez-Alt at Serious Eats, and this article on jazzing up ramen has a lot to do with it.

If I had run across this review before seeing the movie Paul, I would have run out and watched the movie immediately upon finishing said review.

As it turns out, I had seen the film (on Friday, with our friends Drew and Ellie), and loved it. I think you might love it, too.

So, another year has come and (almost) gone. It wasn’t a bad year at all. In fact, it may have been the best year yet. I spent time with family, though not enough. I bettered myself, though not enough. I laughed and cried and cooked and ate and watched movies and told stories with friends and kissed my wife, though not enough of any of those things.

Here’s my big resolution for 2011: Do more.

Seth Godin would say that I need to ship. That’s what I’ll try to accomplish. Shipping.

Some recent words from Ricky Gervais that I really enjoyed and appreciate: Why I’m an Atheist, and a followup.

Happy New Year to you, no matter who you are or what you do or do not believe.