Lovely dreams

Last night (well, technically this morning) I dreamed about sushi. Mmmmm, sushi. Then I dreamed about kissing. Mmmmmmmm, kissing. Next came a weight loss clinic, but the doctor was really gorgeous. It made getting out of bed slightly more difficult than usual.

15 below

Okay, it's actually 5 degrees F. But the wind chill makes it 15 degrees below Farenheit. That's -15 C with a wind chill of 26 C. In other words, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

It's a good thing I just got my new Merrell Primo Chill clogs in the mail today.

Can you see the lovely sheepskin inside them? My toes are toasty warm... and comfy too, because all that cushioning makes me feel like I am walking on pillows. I usually don't wear shoes in the house, but I just put them back on because, well...warm and comfy!!!

Now all I need is some hot brandy and there will be no pain at all.

Well, of course I am.

You Are an Irish Coffee

At your best, you are: wild, spontaneous, and outgoing At your worst, you are: too extreme and reckless You drink coffee when: you want to keep drinking booze Your caffeine addiction level: low

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

I [heart] cookbooks

You know it's a perfect cookbook when you start planning a meal before you even buy it. You know it's even more perfect when you get home and you actually have all the ingredients for a tasty-sounding recipe without having to go to the store. You know it's a perfect cookbook when it only cost you $7.99.

I haven't bought a new cookbook in ages. Today I have two new ones; Canadian Living Everyday Favourites and The Total Wellbeing Diet. Okay, the second one is technically a diet book, but the recipes are fabulous (at least they look that way). Both have recipes that totally fit eating the South Beach way. And they were cheap, cheap, cheap.

I am making chicken breast with roast tomato and mozzarella from Total Wellbeing tonight and as soon as I find some decent salmon, I am making Salmon with Lentil Pilaf from Everyday Favourites. Yay! for new ideas for food.

Well, she asked...

Jenn wanted to know which I preferred: the old P&P or the new. I started to reply in comments, but it became altogether too long to post there. This is not a complete review by all means, but it will suffice.

I have seen three versions of Pride and Prejudice. None are quite the version I see in my head as I read it, but all have things to recommend them. The first version, with Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier (before he was a Sir), holds up very well. Olivier is a very effective Darcy and very pretty in his younger years. Garson seems a bit old by our standards for Elizabeth, but she is a talented actress and carries the character quite well. The filmaker chose a different period for costumes and the like, setting it in frilly Victorian fashion. I prefer the Regency period of the original novel.

The second is the mini-series with Colin Firth (yeowrrrrr) and Jennfier Ehle. Ms. Ehle is by far the best Elizabeth of the bunch. She simply is Lizzie. Mr Firth is quite perfect, too, but I admit to a slight bias in his regard. The rest of the production is good, but I found it dragged quite a bit in the first half.

On to remake #3. I generally liked this version, with some reservations. I found Keira Knightley far too giggly at the beginning, but she settled down nicely and did a fairly good job as Elizabeth Bennet. Matthew Macfadyen, while not as drop-dead gorgeous as either Firth or Olivier, was acceptable as Mr. Darcy. His later scenes where he professed his love for Elizabeth were excellent. Actually, I found both actors really came to life in those scenes and from then on. The cinematography was delicious and the costuming seemed very true-to-life (although I had some issues with the dishabille that some of the ladies allowed themselve in the presence of men).

But by far the best element was the portrayal of the Bennet family. They were alternately appalling beyond belief and tremendously entertaining, both touching and real. Rosamund Pike is the first Jane I have seen that could honestly be considered "the beauty" when compared to Elizabeth. She was quiet, but never dull, and lovely to look at. The younger girls were remarkably silly and Brenda Blethyn turned in another stellar performance as Mrs. Bennet. This is a real family you see up on the screen and one has to acknowledge some terrific acting. There is a moment when Donald Sutherland, as Mr. Bennet, comforts one of his younger daughters. It is as true and touching a moment as you could want, yet it is just a tiny moment in the film with no relation to the main story. Details like this gave the movie life to me.

I would recommend it overall, unless you absolutely despise Keira Knightley, in which case, avoid it like that plague.

Random iPod; random thoughts

When I first got an iPod (okay, technically, it was Grant's iPod, but humour me, will you?), I often found myself thinking "What a great song!" when a new song clicked over on shuffle play. Yeah, I know, getting excited about a song that I put on myself is pretty lame, but there it is. The novelty still hasn't entirely worn off, although I rarely think that particular thought anymore. Still, I usually have some sort of an internal commentary while I listen.

Wanna listen in?

• Do any of you remember Moonlighting? Okay, remember that scene where (oh shoot! what's his name?) sings a song to Miss diPesto while standing outside her window? Yeah, that song.
  
  
• Tori Amos and I both have a killer rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart". I gotta find me a karaoke bar someday soon.
  
  
• "I Will Remember You". I really need to rewatch season 2 of Buffy again.
  
  
• I just salsaed my way across the kitchen to make a cup of tea. Because Carlos Santana rocks!
  
  
• If you are truly depressed, listening to any cut from Sinatra's Only The Lonely, is the sure road to suicide. Just sayin'.
  
  
• Boys, there is no way I am going surfing anytime soon. In the USA or anywhere else. Have you watched the weather news lately??
  
  
• There a couple of Diana Krall I really like. Her version of "Squeeze Me"? Not so much.
  
  
• When you hear the name Jennifer Warnes, you probably have a flashback to any number of movie duets, especially Dirty Dancing. But if you want to really find out what a great singer she is, I recommend you pick up Famous Blue Raincoat. The best of Leonard Cohen sung in luscious style. Right now I get to hear "The Song of Bernadette". Lucky me.
  
  
• This list would not be complete without some Kate Bush. I haven't had too much time to really listen to Aerial, her latest album. The album is in two parts; right now I am listening to "Prologue" from A Sky of Honey, which is the second of the two discs. Beautiful.
  
  
• Wow, this next one is really loud. I think it must be from Grant's music. Oops, nope! It's Jann Arden. I downloaded "Calling God" after hearing her sing it in concert. If you ever have a chance to see her in concert, grab it. She is a fabulous singer, but her patter between songs is hilarious!

Okay, ten songs is enough for tonight. I am sorry none of my new songs made the shuffle, but thanks to all of you for your suggestions, they were great! Perhaps that list will be a post for another day. :-)

My plan for tonight

Grant has a late meeting and then will probably go out for his usual "night with the boys". So! I have a night pretty much to myself.

My plan so far:

Take a bath because right now I am FREEZING!!
Snuggle up in my bathrobe.
Watch the newest version of Pride and Prejudice while eating a light supper.
Wish I was drinking wine.
Wish I was watching Colin Firth.
Wish I was drinking wine with Colin Firth.
Go to bed.

I believe my plan is totally workable. Yes.

Finally, some real snow

No, we are not monsters. Yes, she loves being out in the snow. And rain. And wind. Her ancestors came from Shetland, after all.

Too darn long for comments...

Jenn- Yay! for CD making!

Angela- I already have Indians, Nomads and Saints, along with 4 other Indigo Girls CDs! :-) If they are in TO anytime in the future, we gotta hook up!

Amanda- which song(s) off Lost in Space are your favourites?

Vicki- Careless Love doesn't appear to be on iTunes, but I got "Muddy Water" on my list. It is some good old time jazz singin'.

I have taken everyone else's suggestions (including the WD ones) and added them to the list. Woot! for new music.

I am also getting Lyle Lovett's new CD and Paul Simon's. I gotta have Lyle's cuz when we get married I have to have all his music, and I just happen to like Paul Simon. I know, I am a baby boomer...so sue me!

I also added some Tori, Lucinda Williams, Mark Knopfler and Emmy Lou Harris and Sarah Slean (the last was recommended by iTunes). Oh, and "Mad World".

I have a few more pennies to spend, so keep the suggestions coming. Specific songs are appreciated.

Now that iTunes has redeemed those gift certificates...

I need some good suggestions for downloads.

I am thinking some Neko Case, maybe some Michelle Branch or some new Tori Amos. You know---girls. Singing and playing and emoting some good emotions. These are just some general guidelines. Here is your opportunity to turn me on to some music I simply gotta have! What artist? What songs?

*taps fingers impatiently*

I'm waiting.