The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good:

• Tomatillo sauce. Made fresh from scratch. Okay, I used canned chiles, but everything else was fresh, fresh, fresh. I used two pints of tomatillos, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 cans of chopped green chiles, about a cup of cilantro, a medium onion, salt and a little bit of sugar. Husk and de-stem the tomatillos and simmer them in chicken or veggie broth for about 8 minutes. Put the garlic, chiles, cilantro, onion and spices in a food processor and blend. Add the tomatillos and most of the broth and blend. I like mine a bit chunky. Your mileage may vary. Last night, we had our sauce on grilled chicken. It is also phenomenal on eggs and of course, with tortilla chips. Mmmmmm.
  
  
• Flashforward and Fringe. The first is off to a good start. Hopefully they can keep it moving forward. Heh. The second has definitely found its footing in the tradition of X-Files. Plus Joshua Jackson. Yum.
  
  
• The biopsy on my thyroid came back negative, so no cancer. We just need to monitor the nodes every 6 months or so.
  
  The Bad:
  
  
• I am fatter than I have ever been. I realize that weighing 164 lbs isn't fat for some people, but I feel sluggish and bloated. Plus, my clothes are way too tight. Grant and I are dieting again, but I am not really happy about that either. I really don't want to just practice body-acceptance. I want to be a size I am happy with. But I keep reminding myself that I am over 50, and it's okay to be a bit...softer around the edges.
  
  
• Work is crazy. I still love my job, but this fall has been more stressful and hectic and just soul-consuming than normal. I hope it will calm down in the next few weeks.
  
  
• The weather. It is too freakin' cold too early!! I am not ready for winter, so just back the hell off.
  
  The Ugly:
  
  
• Rush Limbaugh. Need I say more?
  

Sunday morning blogging

A bit of a lazy Sunday planned today. I was rousted out of bed by a husband who apparently couldn't feed two hungry boys by himself. Okay, actually, he knew I had planned on feeding everyone a giant Chelsea bun that we bought at the Farmer's Market yesterday, so he really did need me. Presently, we are happily sated with said Chelsea bun, scrambled eggs and real bacon (not my usual chicken bacon) and coffee. The boys are downstairs watching classic cartoons and we are watching the end of the Open Championship.

The visit has been great so far: we went to see the Blue Jays vs the Red Sox on Friday night. Sadly, there was a threat of rain, so the roof was closed. The Jays lost, which made half our party sad and the other half happy. Before the game, we went to the top of the CN tower where I actually managed to stand for a brief moment on the glass floor looking down the 446.5 metres to the ground(1,464.9 ft for you Americans!) before my irrational fear got the better of me. The boys had no such fear.

Yesterday we spent the day in downtown Brampton; first the Farmer's Market, then a tour of the new theatre and Grant's offices. Finally, we watched the Classic Car parade: nearly 50 cars ranging from the 20's to the 80's. We all picked out our favourite car. I liked the 50s red and white Corvette convertible.

Today is just a lazy day. The boys are looking forward to playing with the Wii and my sister and I are looking forward to digesting the ridiculous amount of food we have consumed. Off to the boat tomorrow. Let's hope the weather stays nice!

Girl's gotta have a goal

Today, I spied one of our Grade 7 girls wearing a tee shirt:

Forget Princess
I Wanna be a Vampire

Um, yeah. We totally know who to blame for that one. But it got me thinking. I pretty much missed the whole wanting to be a princess thing. Maybe it's a generational thing, because there was no Disney Princess juggernaut when I was a girl, but I wanted to be Jo March or Anne Shirley or Mary Lennox. Princesses held little interest for me. And when I was 12, the only vampire around was Barnabus from Dark Shadows. I certainly knew plenty of girls who thought he was teh sexy, but the one time I saw the show itself, it featured a young groom calling his recently deceased bride from the grave with noticeably poor results. I was traumatized. So, it wasn't until I was 40 that I really got hooked on something that featured vampires. (Yes, I read Interview with a Vampire and several of the sequels, but hooked? No.) That something, of course, was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

But, honestly, I never wanted to be a vampire. Slay them? Sure. Have an angsty relationship with them? Guilty as charged. Make a house fall down while shagging them?? Oh, baby. But I never wanted to be one.

And if I did want to be one, I certainly wouldn't want to be one that sparkles. Just sayin'.

So, a question to my 3 readers. Would you or have you ever thought you would want to be a vampire? Why or why not?

Ponderings and Posings

• Why is it so easy to read 30 blogs every day and so hard to write just one?
  
• Remember when Heroes used to be good?
  
• I am listening to Fields of Gold by Sting (shut up! I like Sting). Why is it so much sexier when someone kisses "her mouth" instead of "her lips"?
  
• Maybe if I refilled the bird feeder, the pretty birds would come back. Unfortunately, that currently entails navigating the sea of dog poop that is currently my backyard.
  
• You really didn't need that last bit of information, did you?
  
• I didn't give up anything for Lent. I never give up anything for Lent. Do you?
  
• I thought the Academy Awards rocked this year. I especially liked the groups of five previous winners doing the acting nominations. I thought it gave real power to the idea that it was an honour just to be nominated. Seemed to me that most of the actors really appreciated the acknowledgment. Since when did giving people compliments become boring?
  
• This is very nearly a BoQ, isn't it? Don't you miss BOQs? How do you write bOq?
  
• I had iTunes Genius make me some playlists from my music. It pretty much scored a home run.
  
• Are you looking forward to baseball season? Do you ever look forward to a sporting season?
  
• I have fingerling potatoes to roast for supper tonight. You envy me, don't you?
  
• What state would you most like to visit?
  
• After I wrote the last item, the Genius playlist just moved to New York State of Mind. It really is a Genius, isn't it?
  
• Have you watched Life on Mars? You really should. Trust me.
  
• Which reminds me: I am actually feeling somewhat nostalgic for the 70s. I blame Milk, The Pursuit of Happyness and the aforementions LOM. What decade do you feel nostalgia for?
  
• I think this one is done for now. Thanks for playing
  

25 things about me

I have been tagged at least three times for this. Finally, I am getting around to doing it.

1. My paternal grandparents lived in Southern California, so during a large part of my childhood, my family managed to take us to Disneyland once a year. I have probably been there at least ten times. Although I loved many of the rides, my favourite was always Peter Pan. I still get a tingle when I hear Peter say "Here we goooooo!!"

2. When I was very small, I used to listen to my parent's recording of "HMS Pinafore" endlessly. The vinyl discs were stored in a cardboard case, with a photograph of the D'oyly Carte production. When D'oyly Carte came to San Francisco with their production, my parents took me to see it. The curtain rose, and the set was the exact same as the album cover!! I was amazed and delighted, as only a 7 year old can be.

3. I hate peas. I often pick them out of my food.

4. I have been fired three times.

5. I have always alphabetized my music collection. I have never alphabetized my book collection.

6. Speaking of books, I own over a hundred Star Trek novels.

7. For my university graduation present, my parents gave me $1000, which I spent on a week-long trip to New York City. The first two nights I spent at a hotel on Times Square, then I crashed (illegally) at a dorm room at Columbia with a girl I met my second night in town.

8. I drink my coffee black, but I like a bit of sweetener in my tea.

9. I have seen Barry Manilow in concert 4 times, Bette Midler 3 times, the Indigo Girls 3 times, and Barbra Streisand once. No, I am not a gay man.

10. My parents always wanted me to get straight A's in high school. I did not comply. However, when I returned to school at 44 years of age, I got my first (and only) straight A report card.

11. My sun sign is Virgo. My rising sign is Aries. My moon is also in Aries and Mercury is in Virgo. This means I am outgoing, impulsive, and critical. Who says astrology is a load of hooey???

12. The first album I owned was "Magical Mystery Tour" which I bought at the Bell Market grocery store.

13. Nearly every pair of shoes I own is black. Same goes for my dress pants.

14. I went to camp for two weeks each summer for 3 years. My best activities were archery and riflery.

15. Mickey was my favourite Monkee. I really didn't have a favourite Beatle until I was in my twenties and saw A Hard Days Night. Then I fell in love with John.

16. I am happy eating the same thing for breakfast and the same thing for lunch every single day.

17. I have lived in Canada for 9 years. I can't vote here, because I am not a citizen, but I have voted in every U.S. federal election since I was 18 years old.

18. My first car was an orange Honda CVCC. It was the size of a postage stamp. Seriously.

19. In 2001, I moved into a new home. That was the first time in my life I had ever painted a wall.

20. I love to cook. I rarely use recipes any more. And when I do use them, I rarely do everything the way the author does.

21. I can't tell you what my favourite movie or book is; there are just too many to choose from. However, my favourite musical is Sunday in the Park with George.

22. I find it nearly impossible to fall asleep in a seated position. Or when the television is on.

23. On February 17th, I will celebrate my 9th wedding anniversary. On March 24th, I will have been married to my current husband longer than I was married to my first husband.

24. I can usually identify, by name, an episode of ST:TOS within 1 minute of viewing.

25. Since my birth, the number of animals I have lived with is 11 cats, 8 dogs, two budgies, one hamster, one parrot and one rat.

Hello again!

I am home, albeit briefly. We have laundry to do, email to catch up on and errands to run. Oh, and golf. We have golf, too. Then we will sneak out of town on Thursday morning back to the boat.

I have a entry to write about my wonderful holiday, but more importantly, I must now go pay iTunes so I can watch Dr. Horrible. Yes, I must pay. Didn't Joss realize I was going on holiday???

In which I am a gigantic geek...with vodka!

It is quite possible that I am the only person on the planet who finds herself thinking as she drives away from the comic store, "I have 2 Buffy comics and 3 Serenity comics, a house completely to myself for the night, and a whole bottle of vodka. Could life get any better?"

Then again, perhaps not.

Why Lost rocks my world

I decided to post this before watching the season finale of the Best. Lost. Season. Ever. ---just in case it disappoints me.

I own a fair number of DVDs. Many of my DVDs have special commentaries on them, which I understand are full of interesting facts, insights and wacky humour. Most of the time. I never listen to the commentaries. Why? Because when I pull a DVD out of the case, it's because I want to watch the damn movie or show or whatever! And if the producers of said DVD have decided that the commentary is soooooo important that it requires reducing the volume level of the actual production to a point where I can only see actors' mouths moving, I get really annoyed.

That is why Pop-up Lost is quite possibly the best commentary ever created. Lots of fun facts, references to past events, hilarious asides and absolutely no interference with listening to Kate and Jack whine. And every word spoken by Sayid is there in all its dulcet-toney glory. If they release the entire series on DVD, I will buy it, but only if they give us the Pop-up option.

Not so much with the times

So, I finally signed up for Facebook. It seemed like everyone in my family here in Canadia was on it and every time I turned around they would ask if I was on Facebook. So now I am. Barely. I haven't done anything except download a single game application. I haven't posted any photos or added any interesting tidbits about my life. Most days I forget to even check it out. Which is strange, because I still do the internets on a daily basis. I just forget.

Like I forgot about TWOP. I used to check out the snarky reviews every single day. But then the strike came along and I got out of the habit. I am trying to get back in it, but I am currently living in fear that I will get spoiled for Battlestar Galactica. We still haven't managed to crack open the Season 3 DVDs, although I have hope for today. And tomorrow. Anyway, I love TWOP and I need to remember to check it out, especially to read the Survivor recaps.

Yeah, it's hard to remember all the stuff that's out there when it's sunny and warm outside and there's hockey playoffs on the TV.

Yet another snow day

I feel like I hit the lottery! It feels very odd to be home right now- it is not currently snowing and the roads I can see out my window look quite accessible. But there is a system on its way into town and my school district decided that discretion was the better part of valour. Still, looking outside, I keep feeling like it all was a mistake and I am going to get a call any minute saying "Where the heck are you??"

Until that time (hee), I am considering how to spend my day. Grant asked me to pull out our tax information, which is tremendously boring, but since he had to go to work today, it seems an advisable chore to keep my marriage a happy one. I also need to do some research on how to do my US tax return. I am thinking about trying to file on my own instead of using an accountant, but we will see. Paperwork is not my passion.

I think today would be a good day to make some more bath salts. I was not terribly happy with the batch of lavender I kept for myself the last time; I hope the lavender salts I sent out were a bit more scented. I need to look over my supplies and possibly make some new orders. Grant wants to make some shower gel using the essential oils, so I may need some more. We are still tweaking our recipes to try and improve our product.

I really should take advantage of the break in the weather and go to the gym. I worked out yesterday and was totally proud of myself for doing my upper body stuff on my own. My current workout plan is to meet with my trainer once a week, work out at least one other time on my own and take my Pilates class on Saturday morning. The check in with my trainer each week helps motivate me to go on my own. I really need that incentive, because left to myself, I would never work out. My attitude towards exercise is not one of love. Not too long ago, after listening to me moan and groan my way through an exercise, my trainer commented "There must be something you actually enjoy about your workout." I thought about it and replied, "Not really." She was astonished and a little sad, I think. But the truth is, I do enjoy some of the exercises, particularly the ones where I feel buff and strong (yes, biceps curls, I'm looking at you!), but there will never be a time I like any of the abs exercises!!

Anyway, if I am going, it should be soon. Then I think I will come home and watch The Devil Wears Prada. And see if Project Runway episode 10 is up on YouTube.

What's Up Doc?

I've been sick since Tuesday afternoon. I am still sick. Predictably, my husband suggested last night that I should go see the doctor. My response, also predictable, was "Why?" All he will tell me is that I have a bad cold and need rest and liquids, two things I have already providing my poor diseased body. If I had a sore throat, I might see him to ensure it isn't strep, but I really don't have much of a sore throat. I don't have a fever, so it certainly isn't an infection. So, why should I go sit in a doctor's office and waste everyone's time?

This happens to me a lot. My colds tend to run about 5-7 days on average, starting with the scratchy throat, then the aches and pains,then the clogged sinuses, then the hacking cough, then the really disgusting day when everything is flowing out of various orifices. then I get better. Sometimes I luck out and the cold only sticks around for 2-3 days, but when I get really sick, the 5 day cycle is pretty much the course. But I think that our society believes that we should be able to shake an illness almost immediately. After all, we have all this medicine, why should anyone be sick for days? Too bad the common cold sneers at most attempts to medicate. The simple truth is, we don't allow ourselves the time we need to get truly better. There is too much pressure in this world for us to get up and go, to shake it off, to tough it out. Seriously, this is not a healthy thing.

I won't be going to the doctor. I will go into work today, but only for a few hours, to finalize some important reports that are on a deadline. Then back to bed and liquids and too much television.

And you wonder why I obsess about my weight?

I know. It's my own fault for watching these stupid "reality" tv shows. I should be reading "War and Peace" or organizing my bookshelves or writing the Next Great Canadian novel. I could even work on a fabulous lesson plan for my students. But no. I allow myself to be sucked in the world of Tyra Banks--where, despite all of her "championing" of real girls with real bodies--an absolutely stunning woman is made to question her own worth because she is not model-sized or plus-sized. She is normal-sized.

Check out her photos.

Sarah has no place in the fashion industry because----GASP!-she has a real body. A real body that is still probably at least 20 pounds less than an average woman. Now, she gets to leave the show with her self-image completely destroyed. Fuck you, Tyra Banks.




Yeah, I'll keep watching. Addictions aren't that easy to break. But I promise lots of self-loathing. In solidarity with Sarah.

The brighter side of life

Well, yeah. Sorry about the bitch-fest of yesterday. Ms. Grumpy Cranky Pants has left the building after I pointed out to her that she was not suffering from morning sickness or dealing with excrutiating physical therapy or suffering from caffeine deprivation. Her car didn't freeze either.

So, we are steadfastly looking at the sunny side of life today. Let's just pretend we didn't have one of "those" days at the middle school we work at and think of the happy stuff.

I worked out today. Only the second time since I re-injured my back (and that is a story for another day...stoopid back) and we are being very careful. But I felt like it was a real workout. I wonder what the Bionic Woman does when her back goes out on her. I mean, her back is bionic, so it must tweak from time to time.

So the writers in Hollywood are on strike. This sucks on several different levels, mostly because two of my favourite, incredibly talented writers that have many great stories to tell are unable to sell their scripts and make obscene amounts of money. But...we are looking at the silver lining in this dark cloud and I realized that no new television means a wonderful opportunity. Now, most of you, much like my personal trainer, might think that I am anticipating some "special time" with the man I love. You would be mistaken. What I realized was that we now have a chance to catch up on all the shows we never got around to watching by renting them ad infinitum on DVD. Oh yes, Friday Night Lights, I'm looking at you!

Finally, I got the new Coldwater Creek catalogue and there are so many pretty things to put on my Christmas list. Plus I am bidding on a fabulous new dress on eBay that would set me back $240 dollars if I bought it at Nordstrom. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Last night

I met a princess. Her Imperial Highness, Thi Nga, a princess of the Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam. It's funny, I suppose I should have realized that at one point or another, Vietnam was something other than a French colony and a Communist nation, but I never thought about a deposed Imperial family.

Said princess now resides in Miami Beach, New York and Paris. She visited our city for the world premiere of a musical theme written by our symphony maestro and dedicated to her foundation for refugees. My husband and I met her prior to the performance; she was very gracious, but honestly, what does one say to a member of an Imperial family, deposed or not?

More importantly, my new dress was fabulous.

As for the all important results of the Volcano Lava Death Watch, I have disappointing news. Oh yes, people died, but not a single death by lava flow. Sure, there was death by quicksand and death by impalement, and by the end of the movie, our intrepid band of now-reformed prisoners were forced to abandon poor Spencer Tracy when he was stranded on the other side of a collapsed bridge. But good old Frank, despite having redeemed himself and gotten Father Spencer to marry him and Blind Island Girl, chose to put the refugees on a boat and return to the collapsed bridge. Was his motive to attempt to rescue the old guy? Nope. Apparently he just decided to come and hang out until the island exploded in a fiery ball. I guess that one night in the cave with Blind Island Girl was not all that.

Hollywood Cheese

Saturday mornings is obscure Hollywood movie time at my house. Grant always manages to find some Western I have never heard of to watch. I enjoy making snide remarks about everything from the costumes, makeup and "special" effects. Today, we aren't watching a Western. Instead, I am being treated to the classic Island Volcano Erupting plotline. The only question is: will the boozy priest who has lost his faith (Spencer Tracy) or the street-wise guy on his way to prison who fell for the blind island girl (Frank Sinatra) be the one to die horribly in the lava flow?

Stay tuned.

Why I am a bit annoyed with The Sopranos

Spoilery. Kinda.



I am annoyed with The Sopranos series finale. Not because I think that David Chase is trying to mess with our expectations, or because it is unsatisfying or any of the various opinions making the rounds. No, I am specifically annoyed because last night, as we were watching the final moments, our DVR stopped, it's recording at the end. Yes, mere moments before the ending of the series, during a scene that had us nervous as cats. After my shrieks of dismay had subsided, I set it up to tape again at 12:30 and went to bed. Where I couldn't sleep because I kept wondering "Who will die? All of them? Tony? Meadow? What horrible fate awaits the Soprano clan as they munch their onion rings?". No, seriously, my thoughts kept me awake for a ridiculously long time. So, this morning, as I ate my breakfast, I sped through the re-taped episode to the end and got to just before where the tape had cut off previously.

10 seconds later, the episode ended. Just ended. Maybe it's brilliant. Maybe it's crap. But damn...I lost sleep over that?

Hee

Callie just called me CostelloAllison in her blog. As opposed to all the other Allisons out there. Which is hilarious because I recently decided, ala America's Next Top Model, that my "model name" should be Costello.

An Accidental Haven

As part our fall cleanup, Grant and I ended up rearranging our bedroom. I had been vaguely wanting to do something with that room for quite a while, but as we were limited in how we could arrange our furniture, I didn't pursue it. But the acquisition of a new television and stand for our living room necessitated that we move our pine armoire...somewhere.

For an armoire, it's not all that large, but getting it downstairs to the basement proved impossible. My stepson happily volunteered to take it to his room over at his mother's, but I found myself oddly reluctant to let this piece of furniture go. We lugged it upstairs and put it in the spare bedroom. And I pondered.

I finally suggested to Grant that if we tried by putting the head of the bed across the corner, we might make enough room for the armoire. So we did.

Here is the result.





I find this arrangement deeply satisfying. I enjoy spending time in my bedroom now (aside from the usual time I spend sleeping and in other activities). In fact, I like it so much that I have convinced Grant that we need a new television for the bedroom. I envision much DVD watching while snuggled in my quilt.

My friends, The Bears, may also notice another addition to my bedroom.

The large Bear in the middle is B.B. Bear, the smaller one is Troy Bear and the third one is simply Monkey. (Monkey came with Grant, but when I asked what his name was, Grant couldn't actually remember. So we asked the monkey. He thought we were pretty dumb.) I am sorry to say that in the past, they spent nearly all their time on the bottom of the comforter rack that stands in the corner. But now they have a new home and lots of DVDs to watch while Grant and I are at work!

Even Lucy seems to like it better now. She keeps sneaking upstairs to take naps.

Now if the aliens would only burst into song...

I finally got around to spending the Amazon gift certificate that my sister sent me for my birthday. My presents arrived today: Battlestar Galactica 2.5 and the Wicked original cast album.

My inner sci-fi and Broadway geeks are very happy.