My experience is that being there, even by phone, is a help. Also, consider a two-part memorial, something silly and fun (like a cookiegram) and something lasting (plant a tree in her name, etc). That way, you satisify both the short-term and long-term. When someone in my family died a few years ago, I did that, the goofy part was fingerpainting, the more somber and lasting part was a playground eqipment donation in her name.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ebarker at 6:36 PM on April 27, 2005

Tea or water.

To each gallon of either, I add:

The juice of one lime
The juice of one lemon
The juice of one orange
(grapefruit is nice if you like it in place of lime or lemon)

I then cut up and place in the pitcher with ice:
Another lime
Another lemon
Another orange

If it's summer and I have it growing, some fresh mint.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ebarker at 9:56 AM on February 9, 2005

These have been tried and true for two years of Christmas baking now. Last year I increased the recipe and added an additional cookie layer with chocolate (melted chocolate over an already baked cookie). This year, in the interest of time, I drizzled chocolate over some of them.

Granted, it's not quite 100% what it sounds you're looking for (though I don't see a reason why you can't add cocoa to the dough if you want), but these have been a big hit. The site in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ebarker at 4:08 AM on December 17, 2004

Six Feet Under on HBO is one of my favorite shows, ever. I don't watch much TV, and kept HBO just for SFU. Hey, any show that premieres with singing mortuary products can't be all bad.

But (to me, ignorant in these matters) they seem to have a plethora of producers. I counted 11 the other night. Producers, Supervising Producers, Executive Producers, Co-Executive Producers.

Anybody have any light to shed on this? They seem to have a lot more... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by ebarker at 9:20 PM on August 27, 2004

I've been scared to see Saving Private Ryan. I own the CD, and have yet to break the shrinkwrap on it. One day, though, when I'm in the right mood.

And someone else mentioned Apollo 13, and the scene that brings me to tears is the takeoff, oddly enough. The way the background music is scored, the soaring camera angles, fill me with an overwhelming sense of joy.

But I'm a space geek, anyway.
posted to Ask Metafilter by ebarker at 9:37 AM on August 10, 2004