Due to the fact I'm suffering through another bout of writer's block, I'm going to post another playlist. Believe me, I know it's probably boring you to tears, but it helps to have something to write about to get you started writing, and this is as good a way as any to start (does that make any sense?)
The writer's block is starting to affect my work work. All yesterday and today (well, actually yesterday morning and this afternoon - my presence was required elsewhere the other times) I've sat and stared at my computer screen, waiting for inspiration to strike. I should be writing things like, "All libraries should have technology plans to clarify how they intend to offer services using their current equipment, and guide decisions to upgrade said equipment and/or offer new services." Instead, all that comes to mind is, "Blah blee bloo blee blah blah bloo blurp." Which is so very not going to look good if I give it to my manager.
Let's go!
(Incidentally, this is the first set of songs I downloaded, back in February or March or something like that. I was new to the whole downloading legal music, and was giddy with excitement that I was able to find what I did.)
The Littlest Birds (Be Good Tanyas) - I probably heard this on the CBC at some point, but the first time I remember hearing it was when my sister played it for my mother and I, and the three of us dancing around the kitchen (maybe I'm the only one who remembers this?) I'd forgotten about it until Phillip played it on Mud Songs Radio, so I checked to see if it was available. Lo and behold, it was!
Sad Eyes (Liam Titcomb) - For a while, this song was in heavy rotation on MuchMoreMusic, and I liked it, but thought that I'd get bored with it if I downloaded it. Lo and behold, I didn't! (And it doesn't hurt that this kid is seriously easy on the eyes, either*.)
* I should warn you - if you click that link, turn your speakers down.
Mr. Brightside (The Killers) - Loved the video, loved this song. Moulin Rouge-ish, with Eric Roberts!
Accidentally in Love (Counting Crows) - Did you see Adam Duritz's 'do at the Oscars? Dude, Sideshow Bob called, and he wants his hair back! (Great song, from Shrek 2, and it should have won.)
Alert Status Red and In A World Called Catastrophe (Matthew Good) - Ironic last name, since I haven't heard anything good about him. But I like these two songs, what can I say?
God is a DJ and Trouble (Pink) - "If God is a DJ, life is a dance floor, and love is a rhythm..." I'm fond of these lyrics, and the message of this song in general, despite the fact it's a blatantly manipulative pop song. And while I'm not "trouble" in the ways Pink is, I'm certainly trouble in other ways (just work my only nerve**, and see what happens - c'mon, I dare you!)
** See, I only have one nerve - it's a birth defect. So you can't get on my nerves, because I only have one, and chances are someone else is already on it, so you will suffer the consequences without the pesky waiting or warnings.
Watch Your Money (The Waking Eyes) - Where did I first hear this song? I don't know, but they rock, and this is a fun song.
Little Drop of Poison (Tom Waits) - Yet another song from Shrek 2. Waits at his menacing, creepy best, set to a tango!
London Rain (Heather Nova) - A good song for a rainy day, when you know you're going home to put on your pj's, make a pot of tea, and settle in for the night.
Booty Call (G. Love) - I caught part of this video on MMM, and thought it was a groovy, funky piece. Happily, the whole song was as good as the clip.
Debonair (The Afghan Whigs) - A song from my halcyon university days. I think they were from Ohio, which was unusual, and probably why I remember them.
Maggie May (Rod Stewart) - Oh, I just like this song! Probably the first pop culture reference to Cougars.
Shake Me (Vocal Mix) (Mint Royale & Various) - It's a fun blend of 50's-ish pop, techno, and dance. It reminds me of the colour pink with white polka dots, if that makes sense***.
*** Oh, it doesn't. Just take my word for it!
And thus ends the drought. We'll see how often I have to revert to using "blah blah blah" in an official document tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Death by fiery hot chicken soup
I know, I know - the title sounds like a headline in some trashy weekly, but it's actually what I had for supper last night.
Chicken soup is one of the easiest things to make. You take your chicken, you take your water, add the rest of the ingredients, simmer, and - voila! Soup! What you add is completely up to you, and is only limited by what you have on hand. Although I would hesitate to advocate the addition of asparagus or Brussel sprouts. I can't see how either of those would be a good thing.
A few months ago, I experimented with different ingredients for a two weekends in a row. Neither was a smashing success, so I hesitate to mention them, except to say that sweet potatoes are a bitch to peel, and by the time they're FINALLY cooked, everything else is soggy. Oh well. Since then, I've been reluctant to try any more variations. That, and it was summer, and thus too hot to make soup.
But yesterday was damp and chilly, perfect weather for a nice hot bowl of soup. Both temperature-wise, and, as it turns out, flavour-wise.
Start with:
Put this all in a pot over medium heat and cook until the chicken is browned. Try not to burn the garlic, okay? Because burned garlic smells awful.
Add:
Throw that into the pot, stir, and let simmer until the potatoes are cooked to your satisfaction, however long that takes.
Let me warn you, though - I love spicy, hot food, but the tears were rolling down my face as I ate this last night (and even today at lunch).
Chicken soup is one of the easiest things to make. You take your chicken, you take your water, add the rest of the ingredients, simmer, and - voila! Soup! What you add is completely up to you, and is only limited by what you have on hand. Although I would hesitate to advocate the addition of asparagus or Brussel sprouts. I can't see how either of those would be a good thing.
A few months ago, I experimented with different ingredients for a two weekends in a row. Neither was a smashing success, so I hesitate to mention them, except to say that sweet potatoes are a bitch to peel, and by the time they're FINALLY cooked, everything else is soggy. Oh well. Since then, I've been reluctant to try any more variations. That, and it was summer, and thus too hot to make soup.
But yesterday was damp and chilly, perfect weather for a nice hot bowl of soup. Both temperature-wise, and, as it turns out, flavour-wise.
Start with:
- 2-3 tbsp oil - I didn't measure this, so it's really just a guesstimate
- 2 nobs of ginger, peeled and thinly-sliced - take a ginger root, and break off two medium-sized nobs, peel them, and slice them. Don't grate them or chop them finely
- 2 cloves garlic - normally, I only use one, but I upped the number this time
- 1/2 tbsp dried chilies - okay, here's where I went seriously wrong (or right, depending on your taste). That was waaaaaaay more than I actually needed; I think 1 tsp would have been wiser
- 1/2 tsp Chinese Five-Spice - again, I eyeballed this, so it's not exact. Basically, I used the end of the tablespoon, dipped it in the jar, and dumped the little pile on the spoon into the pot. (I'm not sure what five spices make up Chinese Five-Spice, but I'm certain there's cardamom in it. Possibly cinnamon. Maybe anise.)
- 1 chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces
Put this all in a pot over medium heat and cook until the chicken is browned. Try not to burn the garlic, okay? Because burned garlic smells awful.
Add:
- 8 cups water - too much. Use 6 instead (do as I say, not as I do - I make these mistakes so you will learn from them!)
- 3 medium potatoes, cut into cubes - again, learn from my mistakes: I used two medium and one gianormous potato, and it was about half a potato too many.
- 5 carrots, chopped
- 2 stalks celery - you can use more, but I don't really like it, so I don't use that much. It's basically just crunchy water, and you burn more calories eating it than are actually in it. That's just whack, people!
- two leeks, thinly sliced - I used some of the green parts, but not too much.
- 2 cups frozen corn - I like corn. I put it in a lot of things.
Throw that into the pot, stir, and let simmer until the potatoes are cooked to your satisfaction, however long that takes.
Let me warn you, though - I love spicy, hot food, but the tears were rolling down my face as I ate this last night (and even today at lunch).
Sunday, September 25, 2005
Sunday night
Things I have done this weekend:
1. Finished knitting a pair of socks.
If you are looking at them and thinking that the sock on the left is a little brighter than the sock on the right, you are correct. The sock on the right is the one that I knit and frogged at least four times. I don't know if that affected the colour, but I did notice as I knit the second sock that the colour was a little brighter.
If you are looking at them and thinking, "Why hasn't she woven in the ends yet?" - I'll get around to it when I find my darning needles.
I can't give you details about the yarn because I lost the bands somewhere. Sorry.
I also started work on another sock.
This is Fleece Artist Merino - it's their basic sock kit. It's a lovely colour and has a lovely feel, but it's skinny yarn. I have to use 2.75mm needles (translation: tiny), and am using five of them (so, the stitches are divided over four needles, and the fifth is for knitting). I'm not sure they're going to even fit me because I have really wide feet, and this doesn't look like it's going to make it over my heel.
2. Did laundry. At 12:30am.
The laundry room in my building is open 24 hours, and I was sick of tripping over piles of laundry, and I wasn't tired (yet). But it's done - yay!
3. Bought more yarn.
It's all Briggs & Little. The white is sport weight (translation: more skinny yarn) and the red - and it's a rich, wonderful shade of red - is called "Tuffy", and is really good for mittens and socks. Except that wool socks are too warm for me, so it's likely to become mittens, scarves, and hats.
4. Bought a laptop.
I don't have it yet - it should be delievered on Thursday.
1. Finished knitting a pair of socks.
If you are looking at them and thinking that the sock on the left is a little brighter than the sock on the right, you are correct. The sock on the right is the one that I knit and frogged at least four times. I don't know if that affected the colour, but I did notice as I knit the second sock that the colour was a little brighter.
If you are looking at them and thinking, "Why hasn't she woven in the ends yet?" - I'll get around to it when I find my darning needles.
I can't give you details about the yarn because I lost the bands somewhere. Sorry.
I also started work on another sock.
This is Fleece Artist Merino - it's their basic sock kit. It's a lovely colour and has a lovely feel, but it's skinny yarn. I have to use 2.75mm needles (translation: tiny), and am using five of them (so, the stitches are divided over four needles, and the fifth is for knitting). I'm not sure they're going to even fit me because I have really wide feet, and this doesn't look like it's going to make it over my heel.
2. Did laundry. At 12:30am.
The laundry room in my building is open 24 hours, and I was sick of tripping over piles of laundry, and I wasn't tired (yet). But it's done - yay!
3. Bought more yarn.
It's all Briggs & Little. The white is sport weight (translation: more skinny yarn) and the red - and it's a rich, wonderful shade of red - is called "Tuffy", and is really good for mittens and socks. Except that wool socks are too warm for me, so it's likely to become mittens, scarves, and hats.
4. Bought a laptop.
I don't have it yet - it should be delievered on Thursday.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
It's officially Fall
As usual, I went to the market this morning. What makes this mention-worthy is that I remembered to bring my camera with me. Oh, and it was the annual Fall Festival today. If I'd only remembered my cloth bags, I would have been all set. Anyways...
They were pretty good. Wish I knew who they were.
This lovely couple danced to the music, much to everyone's delight.
To quote Big Rude Jake, "the sky was clear and Aqua Velva blue..."
Not everyone has pumpkins yet - it's still a little early for that.
Such lovely plants! I almost want to have a front step to put them on.
More mums.
Ahhhh... Niagara grapes. The scent reminds me of driving past the vineyards on my way to school when I was in university.
This is inside, looking at the pottery display.
Of course, there are more, so you should go look at the whole set.
They were pretty good. Wish I knew who they were.
This lovely couple danced to the music, much to everyone's delight.
To quote Big Rude Jake, "the sky was clear and Aqua Velva blue..."
Not everyone has pumpkins yet - it's still a little early for that.
Such lovely plants! I almost want to have a front step to put them on.
More mums.
Ahhhh... Niagara grapes. The scent reminds me of driving past the vineyards on my way to school when I was in university.
This is inside, looking at the pottery display.
Of course, there are more, so you should go look at the whole set.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Does this sound familiar?
Have you ever had one of those days? By which I mean one of those days where you get home from work and read and putter around for a while before deciding to go out and run some errands? Like, returning books to the library and paying some fines (shut up! Librarians have to pay fines too! Especially if they don't work at the library in question!) and returning some videos to Blockbuster? And all afternoon you've had a low-level headache that blossoms into sinus-throbbing pain as your leaving your apartment? So when you leave the library to start heading back, you look up and see the gathering storm clouds, which explain the headache?
Then, you stop at Shopper's Drug Mart to get shampoo and hair product so you don't have any more lame excuses to skip blowdrying your hair and putting it in a ponytail in the morning, then go to Subway to get something to eat because you were too lazy to take anything out of the freezer or stop at the grocery store after work? (But, you couldn't have stopped at the grocery store after work anyways because you had to go to the garage next door to your office to get the rear passenger-side tire patched, because it's been going flat for like a week and a half, and your office partner keeps asking you every morning if you finally got it fixed, because you sort of asked him to do that to make you feel guilty about not doing it sooner.)
Is any of this ringing a bell yet? No? Okay...
So, after leaving Subway you notice it's starting to rain lightly, and you still have a ten minute walk home, and your library books are in a cloth bag and might get damp if it starts to rain any heavier? And, of course, then it does? Then it starts to rain even more, and then there's lightening and thunder, and you start to dash, but the bag of books, hair product, and Subway meal is kind of heavy and it slows you down? Finally, you make it back to your apartment and start cursing whoever the hell it was that said people who wear glasses are lucky because when it rains, you see stars (because what actually happens is that you can't see a bloody thing and end up walking into doors. So in a way, you actually do see stars, but not in the way they meant.)
And so, after the mad dash in the rain (and cursing the jackass who once told you that kissing in the rain was the most romantic thing ever because you're single and don't want to be thinking about that right now - PMS and all that rot) you change into your pj's to eat and settle in watch the season premier of "Lost", which, of course, is going to keep you awake all night waiting for creepy visions of a dripping wet child to appear next to your bed whispering warnings?
Then you flip over to CNN and see that there's another f***ing hurricane heading towards the Gulf of Mexico and it makes Katrina look like the Tooth Fairy, and you start freaking out all over again? And you think that maybe the American public should use this as an opportunity for Mother Nature to have a say in Bush's presidency thus far - strap him to a post on the south side of Galveston and if he survives, then he can go back to being the President for the remainder of his term? And if not - well, Karma's a bitch, to be sure.
Then you look down and see you got something orange on your shirt, and think, "When the hell did that happen?"
Or is that just me?
Then, you stop at Shopper's Drug Mart to get shampoo and hair product so you don't have any more lame excuses to skip blowdrying your hair and putting it in a ponytail in the morning, then go to Subway to get something to eat because you were too lazy to take anything out of the freezer or stop at the grocery store after work? (But, you couldn't have stopped at the grocery store after work anyways because you had to go to the garage next door to your office to get the rear passenger-side tire patched, because it's been going flat for like a week and a half, and your office partner keeps asking you every morning if you finally got it fixed, because you sort of asked him to do that to make you feel guilty about not doing it sooner.)
Is any of this ringing a bell yet? No? Okay...
So, after leaving Subway you notice it's starting to rain lightly, and you still have a ten minute walk home, and your library books are in a cloth bag and might get damp if it starts to rain any heavier? And, of course, then it does? Then it starts to rain even more, and then there's lightening and thunder, and you start to dash, but the bag of books, hair product, and Subway meal is kind of heavy and it slows you down? Finally, you make it back to your apartment and start cursing whoever the hell it was that said people who wear glasses are lucky because when it rains, you see stars (because what actually happens is that you can't see a bloody thing and end up walking into doors. So in a way, you actually do see stars, but not in the way they meant.)
And so, after the mad dash in the rain (and cursing the jackass who once told you that kissing in the rain was the most romantic thing ever because you're single and don't want to be thinking about that right now - PMS and all that rot) you change into your pj's to eat and settle in watch the season premier of "Lost", which, of course, is going to keep you awake all night waiting for creepy visions of a dripping wet child to appear next to your bed whispering warnings?
Then you flip over to CNN and see that there's another f***ing hurricane heading towards the Gulf of Mexico and it makes Katrina look like the Tooth Fairy, and you start freaking out all over again? And you think that maybe the American public should use this as an opportunity for Mother Nature to have a say in Bush's presidency thus far - strap him to a post on the south side of Galveston and if he survives, then he can go back to being the President for the remainder of his term? And if not - well, Karma's a bitch, to be sure.
Then you look down and see you got something orange on your shirt, and think, "When the hell did that happen?"
Or is that just me?
Monday, September 19, 2005
Short and sweetish
Ten minutes - here we go...
I made a mini apple crisp tonight in a foil pan leftover from when I made peach crisps. However, when I went to take it out of the oven, I dropped it all over the floor. This makes me very sad, as I was looking forward to apple crisp tonight.
This week is Cinefest week - Sudbury's film festival. Other than the Corpse Bride, there's not much I'm interested in. (BTW, I'm not fond of their web site - the navigation is irritating, and the colour scheme is an odd combination of purply-blue and dark green.) There are a whole bunch of James Dean movies playing, but they're on in the middle of the afternoon, and there's no way I can get out to see any of those. Poo.
There are three new reviews posted - well, one post is for two books by the same author. I read/heard them back in March, so the reviews are pretty short since I can only remember my impressions of what I thought when I read them. And when I give something a bad review, it doesn't mean that you won't like it - it's just what I felt when reading them.
Oh - one more thing about the review page. I will post a list of what I've read so far hopefully soon. I started trying to review them in order, but that didn't work, so I'm just reviewing them at random now - hey, as long as I review them, I'm not going to complain! So you should be able to see a list of at least January and February's books by the weekend.
I've decided to go with the chick lit books next. I just need to dig them out and put the links up.
Knitting news! I finished a sock! It sucks because I messed up the top! Oh well! The second sock is almost complete, and there will be pictures once that's done. There was a very cool sock pattern in the most recent Knitty - it's a complicated pattern, but I have some Lorna's Laces yarn which I got in February, and it would be perfect for this.
Ten minutes are almost up!
I'm thinking I might post another playlist I made early on - does this interest anyone or am I boring you with them?
Time's up!
I made a mini apple crisp tonight in a foil pan leftover from when I made peach crisps. However, when I went to take it out of the oven, I dropped it all over the floor. This makes me very sad, as I was looking forward to apple crisp tonight.
This week is Cinefest week - Sudbury's film festival. Other than the Corpse Bride, there's not much I'm interested in. (BTW, I'm not fond of their web site - the navigation is irritating, and the colour scheme is an odd combination of purply-blue and dark green.) There are a whole bunch of James Dean movies playing, but they're on in the middle of the afternoon, and there's no way I can get out to see any of those. Poo.
There are three new reviews posted - well, one post is for two books by the same author. I read/heard them back in March, so the reviews are pretty short since I can only remember my impressions of what I thought when I read them. And when I give something a bad review, it doesn't mean that you won't like it - it's just what I felt when reading them.
Oh - one more thing about the review page. I will post a list of what I've read so far hopefully soon. I started trying to review them in order, but that didn't work, so I'm just reviewing them at random now - hey, as long as I review them, I'm not going to complain! So you should be able to see a list of at least January and February's books by the weekend.
I've decided to go with the chick lit books next. I just need to dig them out and put the links up.
Knitting news! I finished a sock! It sucks because I messed up the top! Oh well! The second sock is almost complete, and there will be pictures once that's done. There was a very cool sock pattern in the most recent Knitty - it's a complicated pattern, but I have some Lorna's Laces yarn which I got in February, and it would be perfect for this.
Ten minutes are almost up!
I'm thinking I might post another playlist I made early on - does this interest anyone or am I boring you with them?
Time's up!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
People sometimes puzzle me
Out of professional interest, I've joined a listserv which deals with issues I deal with on a daily basis. Mostly, it's full of information I can't use or is of no interest, but occasionally there are gems. However, it is a high-traffic listserv and I don't get a chance to read every piece of email every day, so I'm still getting caught up.
Back in July, a discussion about aid for the Third World (in response to the Live 8 concert) was started. The person who started the discussion mentioned wealthier African nations, like South Africa and Rhodesia, were also receiving aid, while countries like Zimbabwe, which is a war-torn place, didn't receive as much attention.
Wait, back up a sec.
I had to double-check this, but I already knew I was right. Rhodesia is Zimbabwe. It has been since 1980.
Maybe the person was speaking in a historical context. They weren't - the person used the present tense in all cases. Maybe they were confused. Nope - the person made a very clear distinction between two places which are actually the same place. It bugged me to end when I read this, to such an extent that I had to share with my office partner*. He looked puzzled, and said pretty much the same thing - they were the same place.
What irritated me the most? There were several responses to the initial message, asking for statistics** and debating the finer points of foreign aid. But not one person called the original poster on the mistake.
Gah!
* Oh yeah - I haven't mentioned this have I? I share my office with one of the new hires now. It's working out quite well - we get along famously.
** Including one request for current stats on Zimbabwe and Rhodesia.
Back in July, a discussion about aid for the Third World (in response to the Live 8 concert) was started. The person who started the discussion mentioned wealthier African nations, like South Africa and Rhodesia, were also receiving aid, while countries like Zimbabwe, which is a war-torn place, didn't receive as much attention.
Wait, back up a sec.
I had to double-check this, but I already knew I was right. Rhodesia is Zimbabwe. It has been since 1980.
Maybe the person was speaking in a historical context. They weren't - the person used the present tense in all cases. Maybe they were confused. Nope - the person made a very clear distinction between two places which are actually the same place. It bugged me to end when I read this, to such an extent that I had to share with my office partner*. He looked puzzled, and said pretty much the same thing - they were the same place.
What irritated me the most? There were several responses to the initial message, asking for statistics** and debating the finer points of foreign aid. But not one person called the original poster on the mistake.
Gah!
* Oh yeah - I haven't mentioned this have I? I share my office with one of the new hires now. It's working out quite well - we get along famously.
** Including one request for current stats on Zimbabwe and Rhodesia.
Just your typical Saturday
Starts with: going to the market, going for groceries, going to Canadian Tire to see if I can score any more clay pots and potting soil, going home.
At home: clean kitchen, clean bathroom, clean laundry, clean room, clean self.
This afternoon: Karen comes over and we spend the afternoon watching Vin Diesel movies (Fast and the Furious, xXx, and The Chronicles of Riddick) and doing crafts (me=knitting; Karen=beadwork). It is officially dubbed "VD Day".
Tonight: after the movies, Karen and I go our separate ways to get dolled up. We meet back up, and head out to Zig's* to meet Kris and several other friends. We dance, we boogie, we shake our grove thangs. Last call is announced**, and we head out for greasy burgers. I drop Karen off, come home, and write this. Now, I go to bed.
*Because I'm too tired and having trouble typing, I'm not going to try and look up the entry about the last time I went to Zig's, which for everyone just joining this blog in progress, is Sudbury's one and only gay bar.
**How sad a comment on our society is this? At 2AM, when the other bars in the downtown area are clearing out, Zig's locks its doors, and no one is allowed in or out. It's to protect the patrons from being attacked or harassed. It makes me want to put a curse on the three drunk guys at the fast food place who were harassing the counter girls and everyone else.
At home: clean kitchen, clean bathroom, clean laundry, clean room, clean self.
This afternoon: Karen comes over and we spend the afternoon watching Vin Diesel movies (Fast and the Furious, xXx, and The Chronicles of Riddick) and doing crafts (me=knitting; Karen=beadwork). It is officially dubbed "VD Day".
Tonight: after the movies, Karen and I go our separate ways to get dolled up. We meet back up, and head out to Zig's* to meet Kris and several other friends. We dance, we boogie, we shake our grove thangs. Last call is announced**, and we head out for greasy burgers. I drop Karen off, come home, and write this. Now, I go to bed.
*Because I'm too tired and having trouble typing, I'm not going to try and look up the entry about the last time I went to Zig's, which for everyone just joining this blog in progress, is Sudbury's one and only gay bar.
**How sad a comment on our society is this? At 2AM, when the other bars in the downtown area are clearing out, Zig's locks its doors, and no one is allowed in or out. It's to protect the patrons from being attacked or harassed. It makes me want to put a curse on the three drunk guys at the fast food place who were harassing the counter girls and everyone else.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Book Club Verdict: The Jane Austen Book Club
Rather than repeat my whole rant about this book over here, I direct you to my review over on the site where I should be keeping track of what I've read. Alas, I'm lazy when it comes to writing the reviews, so I've only got about a third of them up so far.
Go read it - I'm at my vile-spewing best tonight!
Go read it - I'm at my vile-spewing best tonight!
Good news!
My Flickr account has finally been upgraded to Pro!
Because PayPal has issues with me (and I with it), I had to mail the parent company a money order, which I did weeks ago. I finally recieved notice that the upgrade has taken place! Yay! This means as many photo sets as I want!
(For everyone who was expecting a different piece of good news, the answer is that I haven't heard either way yet.)
Because PayPal has issues with me (and I with it), I had to mail the parent company a money order, which I did weeks ago. I finally recieved notice that the upgrade has taken place! Yay! This means as many photo sets as I want!
(For everyone who was expecting a different piece of good news, the answer is that I haven't heard either way yet.)
Monday, September 12, 2005
In a surprise move...
...I think I'm just going to read my book tonight. I had to return the other two that were sitting on the sidebar for the longest time to the library. It's not that I'm not enjoying Blink (because I am), but rather that I haven't actually made a conscious decision to turn off the television and the computer and just read.
Part of it is reader's block, and not the kind you get when you've read something so fantastically good you can't bear to have the images and ideas bouncing around in your head replaced by something possibly less worthy. No, this is the kind where you're in the middle of one book, and you're liking it and it's making you think, but what you really want to be doing is reading something else.
I have two stacks of books that I'm looking at with longing right now. The first is a pile of chick lit novels I picked up on my travels this summer when I thought I was going to run out of reading materials in the wilds of Dryden and Timmins. The second is my stack of Poppy Z. Brite novels, especially the ones set in and around New Orleans, even thought I just read them back in March (some for the second time in months). I just want to revisit the character and the places, some of which are under many feet of water now.
Anyways, I'll probably finish it up tonight, but it's slow going as I'm trying to make notes as I go along.
Part of it is reader's block, and not the kind you get when you've read something so fantastically good you can't bear to have the images and ideas bouncing around in your head replaced by something possibly less worthy. No, this is the kind where you're in the middle of one book, and you're liking it and it's making you think, but what you really want to be doing is reading something else.
I have two stacks of books that I'm looking at with longing right now. The first is a pile of chick lit novels I picked up on my travels this summer when I thought I was going to run out of reading materials in the wilds of Dryden and Timmins. The second is my stack of Poppy Z. Brite novels, especially the ones set in and around New Orleans, even thought I just read them back in March (some for the second time in months). I just want to revisit the character and the places, some of which are under many feet of water now.
Anyways, I'll probably finish it up tonight, but it's slow going as I'm trying to make notes as I go along.
The life of a cat
Look at this picture:
Does this not exhaust you? Do you not sense a feeling of fatigue and weariness wash over you? Do you ever stop to think about the effort involved in being that relaxed and limp? The thought and care that went into finding the exact right posture to collapse into?
What he probably thought just prior to this picture:
"Boy oh boy, am I ever tired! I've been up for a whole hour, and I've eaten and played with my fleecy toy. I could really use a nap! Wait - what's this? One of my people has decided to nap without me! This won't do! I must involve myself somehow! I'll just . . . . make the leap up onto this couch, aaaaaaaaannnnnnddddd make my way over to this nice cozy spot on her stomach. *flop* Whew! That was tough! Now to sssssttttttrrrreeeeettttccchhhh out, and - go limp!"
There is absolutely nothing more tiring that watching a cat sleep. I'm feeling . . . . strangely tired now...
Does this not exhaust you? Do you not sense a feeling of fatigue and weariness wash over you? Do you ever stop to think about the effort involved in being that relaxed and limp? The thought and care that went into finding the exact right posture to collapse into?
What he probably thought just prior to this picture:
"Boy oh boy, am I ever tired! I've been up for a whole hour, and I've eaten and played with my fleecy toy. I could really use a nap! Wait - what's this? One of my people has decided to nap without me! This won't do! I must involve myself somehow! I'll just . . . . make the leap up onto this couch, aaaaaaaaannnnnnddddd make my way over to this nice cozy spot on her stomach. *flop* Whew! That was tough! Now to sssssttttttrrrreeeeettttccchhhh out, and - go limp!"
There is absolutely nothing more tiring that watching a cat sleep. I'm feeling . . . . strangely tired now...
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Adventures in cookery
"Cookery" has to be the dumbest subject heading ever. Go check your library's catalogue - that's the heading they use for cookbooks and cooking-related materials. I have no clue why, and it makes no sense.
Anyways.
Tonight I made macaroni and cheese. Normally, I rock this dish. I can make this dish with my eyes closed, one arm tied behind my back, and hopping on one foot. But tonight? Bah!
The first thing I did wrong was not use Balderson's old cheddar. I got the cheese at the A&P, whereas I normally get it at the Independent (think Zehrs or the Superstore, but in Northern Ontario). Oh, they had Balderson's, but it was white cheddar, and they had something called "Old Nippy's" which sounded interesting. Turns out, it's crap. CRAP, I tell you! It practically melted in my hands while grating it, and then it didn't melt when I put it in the white sauce. The mozzarella melted okay, though.
I don't usually do this, but I put the whole thing in the oven with breadcrumbs and cheese sprinkled on top, and it ended up being super craptacular! Gah. It's sitting in my stomach like a big, bad cheesy lump.
A few weeks back, I experimented with a recipe I found on The Amateur Gourmet's blog. It was this recipe, rigatoni and cherry tomato sauce. Normally, I don't like cherry tomatoes, but I thought, "what the hell, I'll give it a try." This is the before shot:
And this is the after shot:
I added fresh basil from my "garden" (remember the Herb Tarleks?). And it was amazing. You should go check out the recipe!
Other adventures in cookery (Jen, why do they call it that?) lately have involved my ice cream maker. A few weeks back, I made ginger ice cream - it was very good, and you definitely knew the ginger was there, but it didn't have the heat or the bite of the original. Today, I attempted mint chocolate, and the results, while not as good as the ginger ice cream, are still good.
It called for real mint leaves, so while there's a green colour, it's not very strong. But it's minty! And in the freezer solidifying for now.
Anyways.
Tonight I made macaroni and cheese. Normally, I rock this dish. I can make this dish with my eyes closed, one arm tied behind my back, and hopping on one foot. But tonight? Bah!
The first thing I did wrong was not use Balderson's old cheddar. I got the cheese at the A&P, whereas I normally get it at the Independent (think Zehrs or the Superstore, but in Northern Ontario). Oh, they had Balderson's, but it was white cheddar, and they had something called "Old Nippy's" which sounded interesting. Turns out, it's crap. CRAP, I tell you! It practically melted in my hands while grating it, and then it didn't melt when I put it in the white sauce. The mozzarella melted okay, though.
I don't usually do this, but I put the whole thing in the oven with breadcrumbs and cheese sprinkled on top, and it ended up being super craptacular! Gah. It's sitting in my stomach like a big, bad cheesy lump.
A few weeks back, I experimented with a recipe I found on The Amateur Gourmet's blog. It was this recipe, rigatoni and cherry tomato sauce. Normally, I don't like cherry tomatoes, but I thought, "what the hell, I'll give it a try." This is the before shot:
And this is the after shot:
I added fresh basil from my "garden" (remember the Herb Tarleks?). And it was amazing. You should go check out the recipe!
Other adventures in cookery (Jen, why do they call it that?) lately have involved my ice cream maker. A few weeks back, I made ginger ice cream - it was very good, and you definitely knew the ginger was there, but it didn't have the heat or the bite of the original. Today, I attempted mint chocolate, and the results, while not as good as the ginger ice cream, are still good.
It called for real mint leaves, so while there's a green colour, it's not very strong. But it's minty! And in the freezer solidifying for now.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Yet another playlist
This time on my playlist: Old Canadian bands doing old stuff! New Canadian bands doing new stuff! And Old Canadian bands doing new stuff! No new Canadian bands doing old stuff, but I do have a new guy doing old stuff! Watch me get my train off the track as I take you from Coldplay to Radiohead to Oasis and why I'm scared of the Gallagher brothers! Plus - Antipodeans!
Ann (The Novaks) - Hey, it was a free download, and they're from Newfoundland! How could you go wrong? And it's so right - it evokes memories of crowded pubs in Halifax, where everyone has a drink and is grooving on the same wavelength.
Tiny Dancer (Live) (Ben Folds) - Not to disparage the original, but I think I like this version better. It sounds like an awkward love song, a tribute to the unattainable girl the sweet but geeky guy will never get. And I still want to sing, "Hold me closer, Tony Danza!" - damn you, Phoebe!
U R the One (Ashley MacIssac) - In a million years, I never would have guessed this was MacIssac. For one, there's no fiddling, and it's grungy. It's very un-Cape Bretonish, but very Halifaxy (I know that doesn't make sense - Cape Breton music is very traditional, while the Halifax "grunge" scene was very popular during the early 90's.)
Step Back / I Come With Water (Bumblebeez 81) - After last time, I did a little research about this band. Turns out they're Australian, and it's a brother and sister team. The more I listen to these songs, the more they remind me of what Beck might sound like if he used a toy guitar.
Everything (Sleaner-Kinney) - I like this one. I can't explain why, except that it sounds like it would be used in a movie during the scene where the protagonist is being chased by bad guys, or is trying to diffuse a bomb, or has just been dumped by his girlfriend, goes to a club, and tries to drink her off his mind.
Walkie Talkie Man (Steriogram) - AMG calls them "New Zealand's smartass retort to Sum 41" (who I loathe). It's twitchy and spazzy, and the video features knitting!
Ain't No Mystery (Smash Mouth) - Smash Mouth are like the cotton candy of the music world - they're fluffy and insubstantial, and have no nutritional value whatsoever. But they're sweet, and they stick in your brain. Like cotton candy, they're also a guilty pleasure.
Content Was Always My Favourite Colour (Most Serene Republic) - Very cool and atmospheric.
Mass Romantic (New Pornographers) - When I was checking out "Twin Cinemas" last time, I browsed through their catalogue, and came across this song, which I've heard a million times on the CBC, but never knew who it was. I listened to it about 15 times in a row today - it's that good.
When the Night Feels my Song (Bedouin Soundclash) - My sister told me about this band, and you might think they would sound like a Northern African techo group. They're actually a three-piece ska/reggae group from Kingston, Ontario, and they're pretty catchy. Lovely harmonies, and very simple music.
I Slept With Bonhomme at the CBC (Broken Social Scene) - Broken Social Scene are one of those groups who are made up of members of other groups, who, in their own groups, sound very different from the meta-group. Atmospheric - I'd like to listen to this song while looking for familiar shapes in the clouds. (FYI - Bonhomme is the official mascot of the Carnival de Quebec, or the Quebec Winter Carnival.)
Melt Into the Walls / Into Your Hideout (Pilate) - See, here's where the train gets derailed. Pilate remind me of Coldplay, who remind me of Radiohead. But why is everyone so obsessed with Radiohead and Coldplay, anyways? I didn't think much of them when I first heard them, and aside from a few songs, I couldn't care less about them. But musicsnobs critics go into paroxysms of ecstasy whenever there is news of either band - I don't get it. You'd think they were the next coming of the Beatles, but I think Oasis already beat them to that title, and if you think I'm going to take the banner and tiara away from the Gallagher brothers, you are sadly mistaken. They scare the crap out of me - I'm pretty sure they'd put aside their differences for the moment and beat me up, even if I asked nicely.
Anyways, I like these songs. There's an emo quality to them that makes me want to dress in black and be moody.
Kiss Me You Fool (The Northern Pikes) - Okay, everyone who remembers these guys, raise your hand! Not so many of us, eh? Surely, you remember "Girl With a Problem" and that song with the fun video, "She Ain't Pretty, She Just Looks That Way"? C'mon! I can't be the only one! Oh well... Another song I would expect to hear in the background of a movie, right when the girl gets her guy, standing on the porch, with the barn and the horses in the background.
You May Be Right / All The Things I Wasn't (The Grapes of Wrath) - Surely, you remember this band. They were around in the early 90's - stop making me feel old! Basically, these songs are a blast from the past for me.
Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone (Glass Tiger) - Ah, sweet childhood memories. How often did you crank up the radio when this came on? How often do you crank up the radio and smile nostalgically when this comes on nowadays? Thin Red Line was the first cassette I ever bought, and it was my favourite for the longest time.
Ann (The Novaks) - Hey, it was a free download, and they're from Newfoundland! How could you go wrong? And it's so right - it evokes memories of crowded pubs in Halifax, where everyone has a drink and is grooving on the same wavelength.
Tiny Dancer (Live) (Ben Folds) - Not to disparage the original, but I think I like this version better. It sounds like an awkward love song, a tribute to the unattainable girl the sweet but geeky guy will never get. And I still want to sing, "Hold me closer, Tony Danza!" - damn you, Phoebe!
U R the One (Ashley MacIssac) - In a million years, I never would have guessed this was MacIssac. For one, there's no fiddling, and it's grungy. It's very un-Cape Bretonish, but very Halifaxy (I know that doesn't make sense - Cape Breton music is very traditional, while the Halifax "grunge" scene was very popular during the early 90's.)
Step Back / I Come With Water (Bumblebeez 81) - After last time, I did a little research about this band. Turns out they're Australian, and it's a brother and sister team. The more I listen to these songs, the more they remind me of what Beck might sound like if he used a toy guitar.
Everything (Sleaner-Kinney) - I like this one. I can't explain why, except that it sounds like it would be used in a movie during the scene where the protagonist is being chased by bad guys, or is trying to diffuse a bomb, or has just been dumped by his girlfriend, goes to a club, and tries to drink her off his mind.
Walkie Talkie Man (Steriogram) - AMG calls them "New Zealand's smartass retort to Sum 41" (who I loathe). It's twitchy and spazzy, and the video features knitting!
Ain't No Mystery (Smash Mouth) - Smash Mouth are like the cotton candy of the music world - they're fluffy and insubstantial, and have no nutritional value whatsoever. But they're sweet, and they stick in your brain. Like cotton candy, they're also a guilty pleasure.
Content Was Always My Favourite Colour (Most Serene Republic) - Very cool and atmospheric.
Mass Romantic (New Pornographers) - When I was checking out "Twin Cinemas" last time, I browsed through their catalogue, and came across this song, which I've heard a million times on the CBC, but never knew who it was. I listened to it about 15 times in a row today - it's that good.
When the Night Feels my Song (Bedouin Soundclash) - My sister told me about this band, and you might think they would sound like a Northern African techo group. They're actually a three-piece ska/reggae group from Kingston, Ontario, and they're pretty catchy. Lovely harmonies, and very simple music.
I Slept With Bonhomme at the CBC (Broken Social Scene) - Broken Social Scene are one of those groups who are made up of members of other groups, who, in their own groups, sound very different from the meta-group. Atmospheric - I'd like to listen to this song while looking for familiar shapes in the clouds. (FYI - Bonhomme is the official mascot of the Carnival de Quebec, or the Quebec Winter Carnival.)
Melt Into the Walls / Into Your Hideout (Pilate) - See, here's where the train gets derailed. Pilate remind me of Coldplay, who remind me of Radiohead. But why is everyone so obsessed with Radiohead and Coldplay, anyways? I didn't think much of them when I first heard them, and aside from a few songs, I couldn't care less about them. But music
Anyways, I like these songs. There's an emo quality to them that makes me want to dress in black and be moody.
Kiss Me You Fool (The Northern Pikes) - Okay, everyone who remembers these guys, raise your hand! Not so many of us, eh? Surely, you remember "Girl With a Problem" and that song with the fun video, "She Ain't Pretty, She Just Looks That Way"? C'mon! I can't be the only one! Oh well... Another song I would expect to hear in the background of a movie, right when the girl gets her guy, standing on the porch, with the barn and the horses in the background.
You May Be Right / All The Things I Wasn't (The Grapes of Wrath) - Surely, you remember this band. They were around in the early 90's - stop making me feel old! Basically, these songs are a blast from the past for me.
Don't Forget Me When I'm Gone (Glass Tiger) - Ah, sweet childhood memories. How often did you crank up the radio when this came on? How often do you crank up the radio and smile nostalgically when this comes on nowadays? Thin Red Line was the first cassette I ever bought, and it was my favourite for the longest time.
Third floor, housewares. Fourth floor, getting taken down by old ladies
I got on the elevator this afternoon with an elderly woman. She couldn't get the doors to close properly - it's an ongoing thing. You need to hold the button for the floor until the doors close. Everyone in the building knows this. I explained this to her as the doors partially closed and opened a third time.
"My! They should get this looked at!" Indeed, they should. And have. And it still doesn't work.
We exited on the same floor. Or, should I say, I started to exit, being the closest to the door. However, my new elevator friend almost ran into me in her haste to exit. Being the nice person that I am, I stepped back and let her pass. She looked up, and feigned surprise. "Oh, thank you!" Oh, she saw me alright, and was going to get out of that elevator first if she had to trample my bleeding, crumpled body to do so.
I so want to be that woman when I'm in my 70's.
"My! They should get this looked at!" Indeed, they should. And have. And it still doesn't work.
We exited on the same floor. Or, should I say, I started to exit, being the closest to the door. However, my new elevator friend almost ran into me in her haste to exit. Being the nice person that I am, I stepped back and let her pass. She looked up, and feigned surprise. "Oh, thank you!" Oh, she saw me alright, and was going to get out of that elevator first if she had to trample my bleeding, crumpled body to do so.
I so want to be that woman when I'm in my 70's.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Oh, hey there...
Firstly, how cool is it that Mark Mothersbaugh did the soundtrack for The Sims 2? (And why am I geeking out about it? Mothersbaugh is responsible for the music in most of Wes Anderson's movies, and is also the dude behind Devo.) Secondly, how cool is it that you can find the soundtracks on iTunes? Seriously!
And finally, sorry I haven't updated sooner. I tried to on the weekend, but the computer ate my post. I'll try to be more witty and wordy later, when this headache stops threatening to eat my brains. Ta!
And finally, sorry I haven't updated sooner. I tried to on the weekend, but the computer ate my post. I'll try to be more witty and wordy later, when this headache stops threatening to eat my brains. Ta!
Thursday, September 01, 2005
In other news... me!
I just finished making four mini-peach crisps. They will go in the freezer, and will be suitable for consuming during the long winter months, when fresh peaches are but a fond memory.
The new apartment layout is working out well. It pleases me muchly. Typing at the keyboard is slightly awkward, but I'm getting used to it.
I bought the new Trews CD tonight, called Den of Thieves. My reaction was "meh" except for "So She's Leaving" and "Montebello Park". The latter because it's a total shout-out to St. Catharines (my birthplace). (Montebello Park is a big park in the downtown area. There are band shells and gazebos and gorgeous gardens. It's a great place for having picnics or concerts, or just letting the kids (or the kid in you) run around.
(My reaction may have been lukewarm at best, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to like it. I disliked Want One on the first few hearings, especially "14th Street", but now I've come to embrace it's wildly exuberant over-the-topness.)
Tomorrow night, after work, I'm heading home. I was going go Saturday morning, but if I leave too early on Saturday morning, I'm tired when I get home. And then I need naps, and I miss out on fun morning activities, like sitting around the breakfast table arguing with my sisters about where we're going to go shopping, and who's driving.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
The new apartment layout is working out well. It pleases me muchly. Typing at the keyboard is slightly awkward, but I'm getting used to it.
I bought the new Trews CD tonight, called Den of Thieves. My reaction was "meh" except for "So She's Leaving" and "Montebello Park". The latter because it's a total shout-out to St. Catharines (my birthplace). (Montebello Park is a big park in the downtown area. There are band shells and gazebos and gorgeous gardens. It's a great place for having picnics or concerts, or just letting the kids (or the kid in you) run around.
(My reaction may have been lukewarm at best, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to like it. I disliked Want One on the first few hearings, especially "14th Street", but now I've come to embrace it's wildly exuberant over-the-topness.)
Tomorrow night, after work, I'm heading home. I was going go Saturday morning, but if I leave too early on Saturday morning, I'm tired when I get home. And then I need naps, and I miss out on fun morning activities, like sitting around the breakfast table arguing with my sisters about where we're going to go shopping, and who's driving.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Blog Relief Day
I spent much of Tuesday evening watching Katrina coverage on CNN and CTV Newsworld, and would have spent Wednesday evening doing the same thing if I hadn't gone to the movies (which is probably a good thing). I've anxiously watched for updates on various blogs, and have followed the updates on the Times-Picayune and WWLT blogs with growing horror and sorrow. I've heard and seen comparisons to 9/11 and the Asian tsunami, and while I have issues with both, I understand that at the root of these comparisons, it's the scale of loss and destruction which prompts them.
But I want to do something besides sitting here and whimpering and moaning and wringing my hands about this.
This afternoon on Joey deVilla's blog, he posted about the Katrina Blog Relief Day being organized by other bloggers, to encourage our readers to donate to charities who are helping out in the relief efforts. I've signed up my little soapbox to participate in this exercise (you can see a list of who's participating here), and will be supporting the American Red Cross (the Canadian Red Cross isn't an option, but you could donate to them as well).
Notes:
Instapundit has a round-up post. Truth Laid Bear is responsible for the signup.
Technocrati tags for flood aid and Hurricane Katrina
But I want to do something besides sitting here and whimpering and moaning and wringing my hands about this.
This afternoon on Joey deVilla's blog, he posted about the Katrina Blog Relief Day being organized by other bloggers, to encourage our readers to donate to charities who are helping out in the relief efforts. I've signed up my little soapbox to participate in this exercise (you can see a list of who's participating here), and will be supporting the American Red Cross (the Canadian Red Cross isn't an option, but you could donate to them as well).
Notes:
Instapundit has a round-up post. Truth Laid Bear is responsible for the signup.
Technocrati tags for flood aid and Hurricane Katrina
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