Since I have been tagged by my friend Phil to answer a few questions, I guess I have to do that. I have never heard of this so called Blog Tagging until Sunshine “tagged” me on her book review blog. And now this! Ya’ll are making me work.
Okay Phil, here it is:
What am I reading at the moment?
Sunshine recommended this book last year; I went out and bought it, last year, and am only now starting to read it. It is called I Didn’t Do it For You: How the World Betrayed a Small African Nation, by Michela Wrong. Michela is an English journalist whose has traveled extensively through Africa, but is drawn into the history and tragedy of the people of Eritrea. She tries to understand the people by delving into their successive colonization by Italy, Russia, US and history of war with Ethiopia and fight for independence. I am not far into it, but know that I must go visit Eritrea some day, if for no other reason than to visit Asmara, the capital city on the top of a mountain.
Last night I read Fray, by Joss Whedon. Most of the comic book/Buffy dorks I love have read this already, and now I know why. The art is amazing, the character Melaka Fray is powerful, genuine and beautiful and young, and the bad guys are really bad. Of course, the Buffy mythology is carried through beautifully, with a delicious twin twist and I couldn’t put it down. I loved it!
What am I listening to at the moment?
Okay, there is what I am listening to, and what I want to be listening to, and unfortunately, they are not the same. I really want to be listening to REM because I am feeling melancholy, sentimental and Michael Stipe will satisfy that need. But I haven’t made the effort to climb upstairs, sort through the CDs and all that. Also, I want to be listening to the new Tori Amos CD I bought, but the only time I listen to music these days is in the car and at the gym and I keep leaving the CD at my house.
So what I am listening to is an old mix that Ethan made for us a few Christmases past. It is a well designed mix, balanced with old and new and annoying and great songs. Dido, White Stripes, some unknown country music, blues, The Streets, great driving music.
And what I really listen to 99% of the time is NPR. It’s like crack. I just can’t stop.
What am I watching at the moment?
Muppets, season 2
Lost, season 3 (just finished).
Scrubs, season 6
Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations
Waiting for Guffman (Dan and I watched this again the other night and it was wonderful!)
Tonight I want to watch, in memory of Heath Ledger, A Knight’s Tale, which is the way that I like to remember him. I love that movie.
I know, something is wrong with me.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
My Second Favorite Drinking Game
There are some times that I acutely feel the absence of my good friends Cavin and Sunshine, and this Monday night will be one of those times. Why? Because it is the State of the Union address by our idiot president, and for at least the past few years, the three of us have gathered annually to drink, laugh, curse and drink some more together during this otherwise boring speech. I will try to partake in the State of the Union Drinking Game for old time's sakes, and because it is the last time we will ever be able to get that drunk listening to Bush. I will miss you guys.
For those who are interested, check out the rules here. It is one of my favorite TV drinking games, second to the Beauty Pageant drinking Game, which Sunshine and I originated way back when we lived together at Elwell, and which has been elaborated upon for years now. (I will have more to write about that later!) Enjoy.
For those who are interested, check out the rules here. It is one of my favorite TV drinking games, second to the Beauty Pageant drinking Game, which Sunshine and I originated way back when we lived together at Elwell, and which has been elaborated upon for years now. (I will have more to write about that later!) Enjoy.
My Coat Pockets
This morning, as I left the house, once again with my coat pockets bulging, I thought, I really need to get a bag, or empty these things every once in awhile. So here is a follow-up entry to the previous coat pocket inventory blog entry. As of 12:53pm, January 25, 2008 I have the following in my pockets:
1. Two used and snot crusted tissues. They are molded and stuck in crumpled form as the snot has glued the tissues together. Why these have not been thrown away, I have no idea.
2. One packet of Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Cough. I got a wicked cold earlier this week and have been carrying my relief everywhere with me.
3. Extra thread. I think this thread is from my coat. I think it is from the button that I lost yesterday.
4. Coat button. This is the button that popped off of my coat yesterday. It will live in this pocket until it is lost, as I will never put aside time to reattach it.
5. One paper clip
6. Three pens
7. One yellow high-lighter
8. Two of those paper strips that come from the sides of a paycheck that you have to rip off to get the check open.
9. A small change purse. Ian gave me this change purse for my birthday and I love it. It has small pink piggies all over it and they have little voice bubbles saying, “I’ll eat snacks!” Also, there are doughnuts and cookies between the piggies and the words “Cram Cream”. I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but this little change purse is filled with probably $5.00 in pennies. It weighs about 3 pounds!
10. A doctor’s post-it note with my daughter’s eye doctor’s phone number written on it.
11. A My Little Pony sticker. From Bronwen’s ear doctor we went to see yesterday.
12. Burt’s Bees Raspberry lip gloss.
13. Lipstick I never wear but keep anyway.
14. One set of keys
15. On pair of gloves
16. One cell phone
17. One loose powder makeup brush
18. One copy of The Invisible Man, by H.G. Wells. I have never read this book and the beginning is really amazing. Wells does a masterful job setting up suspense and if it wasn’t that I only read this book when I have my coat on, I would have finished this little book days ago. Brilliant.
19. A Xeroxed copy of the privacy medical information from Bronwen’s Ear doctor.
20. Two department transfers. These papers transfer product from the store to the training department. They list sandwiches, fruit and sodas. They are from the class I taught this past week.
I think things are breeding inside my coat pockets. Gross, and intriguing. I wonder what would happen if I put a ham sandwich and a hundred dollar bill in there.
1. Two used and snot crusted tissues. They are molded and stuck in crumpled form as the snot has glued the tissues together. Why these have not been thrown away, I have no idea.
2. One packet of Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Cough. I got a wicked cold earlier this week and have been carrying my relief everywhere with me.
3. Extra thread. I think this thread is from my coat. I think it is from the button that I lost yesterday.
4. Coat button. This is the button that popped off of my coat yesterday. It will live in this pocket until it is lost, as I will never put aside time to reattach it.
5. One paper clip
6. Three pens
7. One yellow high-lighter
8. Two of those paper strips that come from the sides of a paycheck that you have to rip off to get the check open.
9. A small change purse. Ian gave me this change purse for my birthday and I love it. It has small pink piggies all over it and they have little voice bubbles saying, “I’ll eat snacks!” Also, there are doughnuts and cookies between the piggies and the words “Cram Cream”. I have no idea what that is supposed to mean, but this little change purse is filled with probably $5.00 in pennies. It weighs about 3 pounds!
10. A doctor’s post-it note with my daughter’s eye doctor’s phone number written on it.
11. A My Little Pony sticker. From Bronwen’s ear doctor we went to see yesterday.
12. Burt’s Bees Raspberry lip gloss.
13. Lipstick I never wear but keep anyway.
14. One set of keys
15. On pair of gloves
16. One cell phone
17. One loose powder makeup brush
18. One copy of The Invisible Man, by H.G. Wells. I have never read this book and the beginning is really amazing. Wells does a masterful job setting up suspense and if it wasn’t that I only read this book when I have my coat on, I would have finished this little book days ago. Brilliant.
19. A Xeroxed copy of the privacy medical information from Bronwen’s Ear doctor.
20. Two department transfers. These papers transfer product from the store to the training department. They list sandwiches, fruit and sodas. They are from the class I taught this past week.
I think things are breeding inside my coat pockets. Gross, and intriguing. I wonder what would happen if I put a ham sandwich and a hundred dollar bill in there.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Dan and The Cat
The other night I walked into the bedroom to get my slippers and found Dan cuddling with The Cat. The Cat was lying on my pillow with her face nuzzled next to his head. I was a little annoyed thinking about the hair she would leave on my pillow, but Dan looked so snuggly with her there I couldn’t help saying “awwww,” I said and left the room.
I was sitting in my new favorite chair crocheting away and I heard these cute little English giggles coming from the bed. Now, when Dan giggles, and a manly giggle it is, I can’t help but crack up. It is the same as when Bronwen giggles. It is contagious and I absolutely love it.
“Heeheeeheee,” Dan giggled again.
“What is going on in there?” I giggled myself
“Heehee..it’s…Heehee…The…arghhaaa…Cat!”
“What is she doing?” I asked getting up to see what was happening.
“She is nibbling my ear!”
As I rounded the corner I saw Dan with a huge grin on his face, The Cat still curled against the side of his head. I could see her little head bobbing as she nibbled away.
“Awww,” I said again, “I remember her doing that when I was in Mexico. She is so cute!”
She is so cute. For all those Cat lovers out there, The Cat is doing really well. She is adjusting to life with a toddler and three other kitties. She has made a nest for herself in our dirty laundry basket. She eats with the other cats, sometimes, and I find her sitting around the house. Booboo Kitty beats up on her, but she puts up a pretty good fight. So, The Cat lovers out there, no worries, and I will post some pictures soon.
I was sitting in my new favorite chair crocheting away and I heard these cute little English giggles coming from the bed. Now, when Dan giggles, and a manly giggle it is, I can’t help but crack up. It is the same as when Bronwen giggles. It is contagious and I absolutely love it.
“Heeheeeheee,” Dan giggled again.
“What is going on in there?” I giggled myself
“Heehee..it’s…Heehee…The…arghhaaa…Cat!”
“What is she doing?” I asked getting up to see what was happening.
“She is nibbling my ear!”
As I rounded the corner I saw Dan with a huge grin on his face, The Cat still curled against the side of his head. I could see her little head bobbing as she nibbled away.
“Awww,” I said again, “I remember her doing that when I was in Mexico. She is so cute!”
She is so cute. For all those Cat lovers out there, The Cat is doing really well. She is adjusting to life with a toddler and three other kitties. She has made a nest for herself in our dirty laundry basket. She eats with the other cats, sometimes, and I find her sitting around the house. Booboo Kitty beats up on her, but she puts up a pretty good fight. So, The Cat lovers out there, no worries, and I will post some pictures soon.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Happy Anniversary to Us
It was exactly four years ago today, on a Thursday evening (Café Europa night), that Dan and I first kissed. We were sitting on Cavin and Ann’s back porch, overlooking the vast and leveled parking lots, when Dan leaned over and kissed me. Or Maybe I kissed him. I don’t actually remember much of that moment. But I do remember that it was wonderful and I think I was pretty much smitten with him at that very moment. I never would have imagined that four years later, we would be married with kids and a house. Yikes!
Tonight Chris is babysitting and we are going to hit the town! We are going to eat a nice meal, drink some wine and beer and maybe shoot some pool. We’re not as young as we used to be four years ago, but I am sure we will have a good time.
Dan, thanks for putting up with my kind of crazy for the last four years. I love you!
Tonight Chris is babysitting and we are going to hit the town! We are going to eat a nice meal, drink some wine and beer and maybe shoot some pool. We’re not as young as we used to be four years ago, but I am sure we will have a good time.
Dan, thanks for putting up with my kind of crazy for the last four years. I love you!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Speaking of Food
A friend sent me this link and I nearly cried with laughter at my desk. You have to click on the recipe cards and read the descriptions. Very Funny.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Cooking to Stay Warm
For our New Year’s Eve celebration, I made a smoked salmon and goat cheese tart. It was absolutely delicious, although it was a bit salty. I think that might have been because I made the crust with salted butter instead of unsalted, but it was still delicious. I reheated some last night again, as a snack, and was happily surprised to find it was even better a few days later.
I have been cooking a lot, like I do when the winter is upon us. It was 19 degrees this morning when we left the house, and when it is cold outside, I have to stay in the kitchen, with the crock pot out and food cooking away.
After Christmas, I had to use up the Turkey and I made a delicious turkey curry. It was spicy and coconut milky; yum. For New Year’s lunch, I made a huge pork roast cooked in hard cider, with garlic and onions. It was sweet and tender and fell apart when you cut into it. Yesterday I ate leftover pork shredded in a burrito with cheese and sirracha sauce. I still have some much pork left, I really don’t know what to do with it and I don’t want it to go bad. Can you freeze cooked shredded pork?
And then last night I made chili and it turned out really well. I have to make my chili un-spicy so the children can eat it, which, truthfully, is mildly depressing, as I love HOT chili. But I can still spice up my own bowl.
I think meatloaf, shrimp curry, maybe a baked chicken are on the way; anything warm to keep us going during the long winter nights.
I have been cooking a lot, like I do when the winter is upon us. It was 19 degrees this morning when we left the house, and when it is cold outside, I have to stay in the kitchen, with the crock pot out and food cooking away.
After Christmas, I had to use up the Turkey and I made a delicious turkey curry. It was spicy and coconut milky; yum. For New Year’s lunch, I made a huge pork roast cooked in hard cider, with garlic and onions. It was sweet and tender and fell apart when you cut into it. Yesterday I ate leftover pork shredded in a burrito with cheese and sirracha sauce. I still have some much pork left, I really don’t know what to do with it and I don’t want it to go bad. Can you freeze cooked shredded pork?
And then last night I made chili and it turned out really well. I have to make my chili un-spicy so the children can eat it, which, truthfully, is mildly depressing, as I love HOT chili. But I can still spice up my own bowl.
I think meatloaf, shrimp curry, maybe a baked chicken are on the way; anything warm to keep us going during the long winter nights.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
New Years Resolutions Stink
I think new years resolutions are stupid. We spend all year, or more likely, all of our lives, eating too much, not exercising, being mean to our siblings, not reading enough, spending too much money, smoking, drinking, having casual sex, whatever, and then suddenly, and usually very passionately, we proclaim that we will make that life change, and oh yeah, I’ll start in the morning. We then wake up with a hangover, having broken 10-15 of our resolutions already and try to start anew.
Most people don’t change their lives that way. For most people change comes with effort, consistency and some sort of dire proclamation like, “You’ll die if you don’t lose weight,” or “You’ll die if you keep smoking.” In general, we just carry on, year after year, eating too much, smoking too much, not exercising enough, and feeling bad about having broken yet another year’s resolutions.
I think it is important to strive to be better. I think we should make goals, to try to better, to work harder to be healthier, happier, more productive humans. I guess, with the start of a new year, and the artificial cleaning of the slate, it is natural that this would be a good time to make a change. But these resolutions are not the way to do it, at least not for me. I just feel bad when I don’t succeed or when I don’t achieve immediate results.
Instead of New Years resolutions, how about life resolutions? If I could be the person I want to be, I would resolve to:
1. Find a job that I love and makes my life better.
2. Lose 30 pounds and get in shape.
3. Go to bed early and wake up early everyday.
4. Read 3 books a week.
5. Be more socially responsible.
6. Recycle.
7. Spend more time with Bronwen and Dan
8. Travel the world.
9. Keep in touch with my friends, more often than monthly.
10. Start a band and play weekly.
Most people don’t change their lives that way. For most people change comes with effort, consistency and some sort of dire proclamation like, “You’ll die if you don’t lose weight,” or “You’ll die if you keep smoking.” In general, we just carry on, year after year, eating too much, smoking too much, not exercising enough, and feeling bad about having broken yet another year’s resolutions.
I think it is important to strive to be better. I think we should make goals, to try to better, to work harder to be healthier, happier, more productive humans. I guess, with the start of a new year, and the artificial cleaning of the slate, it is natural that this would be a good time to make a change. But these resolutions are not the way to do it, at least not for me. I just feel bad when I don’t succeed or when I don’t achieve immediate results.
Instead of New Years resolutions, how about life resolutions? If I could be the person I want to be, I would resolve to:
1. Find a job that I love and makes my life better.
2. Lose 30 pounds and get in shape.
3. Go to bed early and wake up early everyday.
4. Read 3 books a week.
5. Be more socially responsible.
6. Recycle.
7. Spend more time with Bronwen and Dan
8. Travel the world.
9. Keep in touch with my friends, more often than monthly.
10. Start a band and play weekly.
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