I will never be a domestic goddess. I'm too much of a slob. I truly admire the tidy homes and spotless bathrooms of my friends, but I'm just not willing to put that much daily effort into things. Sure, I'll go on a blitz before a party, but the rest of the time you'd do well to keep your shoes on in my house. This week's Cotillion title is taken from a Nigella Lawson cookbook, and the Debs are going to address some of the major and minor messes in the world.

Please take your feet off the coffee table.

Attila Girl is cluttering her home with books on how to clear away clutter. Perhaps if she spent less time watching Disney movies, and more time tidying up... Oh well, who am I to talk? I will do laundry, but won't put it away. I will do dishes, but abhor washing cutlery. I never sweep (that's the number one reason I have a husband - he takes care of all that). Atilla - enjoy your mess.

I might be a gawdawful housekeeper, but I'm a hell of a cook (so long as Mr. Right is on standby to do the dishes).

Chili Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3/4 granulated sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips in a double boiler and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a cookie sheet.
In a large bowl, cream together butter & sugar. Slightly beat egg and add to butter mixture, along with vanilla. Stir in melted chocolate.
Combine flour, salt, cinnammon, cayenne and baking powder in a seperate bowl. Slowly add to butter mixture, mixing well with each addition.
Stir in remaining chocolate chips.
Bake 8-10 minutes, taking care not to burn (chocolate scorches easily).

I can just imagine ZendoDeb's house. While I know she would never be so careless as to leave her guns lying about, I'm sure there's a stack of magazines and books about ammo and shooting that's at least as tall as me. Check out her Wisconson conceled carry news.

Beth at MY Vast Right Wing Conspiracy talks about bigger messes in the world: The Middle East Conflict. New and unimproved under Hamas.

Obviously (as if it weren’t already obvious), the Paleostinians have no interest in any kind of “peace,” except for the peace they imagine they’d have once they push Israel into the sea. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have elected a terrorist group to run their wholly UNDESERVED territory.

Cassandra at Villainous Company brings us a long post about the price of security (and some excellent book recommendations). May America never again have to face the kind of mess she faced on September 11th, 2001.

My current stack of unread books includes Warrior Marks by Alice Walker; Lost by Gregory Maguire; and Geisha, A Life by Mineko Iwasaki. I just finished Shopgirl by Steve Martin last night, and Rescuing Canada's Right by Adam Daifallah and Tasha Kheiriddin.

I love to curl up on the sofa - preferably without the dog - and sip a drink while I read on a rainy afternoon. This drink reminds me of ZendoDeb.

1 1/2 oz Absolut® Kurant vodka
1/2 oz triple sec
1 splash cranberry juice

Add vodka, triple sec and cranberry juice to a mixing glass, and mix well. Pour into a cocktail glass, and serve.

Rightwingsparkle brings us a heartbreaking story of a very short life. When an expecting mother is told that her baby is a mess, and that she cannot possibly live, then the only thing she has is hope.

Would have it been easier to abort Rosa? Perhaps for the doctors and hospital. A hidden grisly procedure and then everyone goes home. But life sometimes gives us harder, but infinitely better choices.

The American Princess writes about the chaotic way the left behaves in America. Their hate mail to her is messy for sure. She gives us a grammar lesson worthy of Eats, Shoots & Leaves.

Split infinitives anyone? And what, pray tell, is contradictory? American Princess? Conservative thought and fashion sense? Or the fact that I am female and not a crazed feminist? Or because I use the SHIFT key? Of course, that was two complete sentences. This guy might have given his predicate to the poor or had it appropriated by the Patriarchy:

You would think that Alabama Improper would be a mess for having recently given up smoking, but somehow she's holding it together. She brings us a roundup of headlines from all over, even the Vatican.

Sisu brings us round to one of my all-time favorite subjects: money. Unfortunately, she writes about the messes money can get us into. No, not credit card debt. Bigger. Governmental corruption and special interest groups.

Speaking of corrupt governments, Florida Cracker brings us my other favorite subject: chocolate. She has a quiz for you.

Cross-posted to the Cotillion.