How observant are you?

Do you Bento?

One of my fellow Crackpats (thanks, Maureen!)recently posted about Bento, the absurdly cute lunches that Japanese mothers compete to pack for their offspring. Adults can have Bento, too, but it's the kids that seem to get the masterpieces. These moms get up at the crack of dawn to toil away with vegetable peelers, knives, rice and egg molds, and a dazzling array of other culinary tools and props. I find this fascinating, since despite my love of cooking, I'm doing good most mornings to just get out of the house more or less respectably dressed. I don't have time to fuss with it now, but after my trip to China and the holidays are behind me, then I just may get myself some of those cute tools and a Bento box and give it a try. Here are a few of my favorite Bento examples, and some websites with more info:






Cooking Cute
Just Bento
Adventures in Bento making
My Culinary Journal
JBox

Tis the season

I know I usually keep the political stuff on my other blog, but oh well, it's going (or "go-in" if I want to do a Palin impression, lol) here tonight. Check out all the cool pumpkins at http://yeswecarve.com. Mine got added tonight.



I'm going to have to carve a new one, though, after seeing all the great ones on the website. I've got a big case of pumpkin envy.

McLeod's Daughters

I know, yet again I'm spending too much time on YouTube. As you may know, McLeod's Daughters is one of my favorite tv shows. It's an Aussie import, and is currently airing the final season, Eight, on tv down there. I've watched all six of the seasons that have been released here in the US so far. And, since another fav, Lost, is on hiatus until February of NEXT YEAR (not that I'm bitter or anything), my friend Beth (who has a massive crush on "Nick", the blonde Ryan brother on McLeod's Daughters) and I have turned our weekly Thursday night viewing parties into McLeod Daughters nights. We manage to watch 4-5 episodes each week and are just starting season four. My Aussie friend, Gavin, rolls his eyes and says "You do know, you couldn't go to any farm in this country and really find it run by a group of gorgeous women like that!" To which I reply, yeah, and you couldn't go to any police station or hospital here in the US and find it staffed totally by gorgeous hunky doctors or cops, that's why it's TELEVISION! It's a great show, and available on Amazon or Ebay. And I have to take a moment to say thanks to the Koch president of marketing, who has been so patient every time I've emailed to find out when the next season would be released!





Sadly, Lisa Chapell (second from left), the actress from New Zealand, playing Claire decided to leave midway through the show, to pursue her singing career.

An aging meme

Once again I steal inspiration from the Noble Savage, thanks Amity! Read the parts in bold, and then finish the sentences:

At a certain age women should stop worrying about what everyone else thinks!

At a certain age men should realize that being an adult can be more fun than being a teenager forever

When I was a kid I thought I would get married, have a houseful of kids, be a mirror image of my mom.

Now that I am older I wish I had realized earlier how quickly time goes by.

You know you are too old to indulge your first impulses when shopping when the teenagers at the mall are buying the same things you’re attracted to.

You know you are too young to “act your age” when doing that would bore you silly.

When I was in high school I listened to the music of Blondie, Abba, Fleetwood Mac, Beatles, Stones, Journey….

Nowadays I find I like the music of the Stones, Roy Orbison, KD Lang, KT Tunstall, Katie Melua, Amy Winehouse, Robert Plant/Allison Krause, Big Brovaz, ….

On my last birthday I didn’t do much. I think I probably took the day off and got a pedicure or caught a movie.

On my next birthday I want to either totally ignore it or throw a big bash, I’m turning 50. How did that happen? But, I know ignoring it won’t make it not happen. But throwing your own birthday party seems egotistical. Wanna throw it for me?

The best birthday present I ever got was trips to the Nut Tree in CA.

The first time I felt grown up was learning to cook.

The last time I felt like a kid was last week when I put one of my Hello Kitty bandaids on my cut finger.

When I read lots of historical biographies in grade school it changed my life

Last year was a disjointed blur. I keep thinking it will get better, will it?

Next year I hope to be settled in a place I can think of as “home”.

Read this book!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Is that a great title or what?! I'd never heard of the book, but ran across it when I was hunting for an audio book to listen to on a drive up to PA this weekend. What a lucky find! I love this book, and having only managed to get 2/3 of the way through it on my trip, I had to sit down this evening and listen to the last three hours, so I could see how it ended. You can click on the title to read the Amazon description, but take my word for it, it's charming, funny, heartbreaking, informative, and enthralling. What more could you ask for?

Cute

I know, I am such a baaaad blogger (hangs head in shame)! I am so hit or miss about it. I truly admire bloggers like my friend Jessica, or The Pioneer Woman, who are so consistent about posting. But, then they also have alot more interesting stuff to say! Anyway...

I stumbled across the cutest website/shop. It's Wu and Wu, and they sell adorable retro play kits. Why do all of my friends with kids that age have boys at the moment and not girls. I think the little girls I know right now are probably just slightly out of this age range. I love the retro artwork and details in the kits, check them out for that little girl on your gift list. Or think outside the box and buy one for youself, I just might!

Movie time

A meme swiped from the Noble Savage, how many have you seen? (Ones I've seen are bolded):

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03)
3. Titanic (1997)
4. Blue Velvet (1986)
5. Toy Story (1995)
6. Saving Private Ryan (1998 )
7. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
9. Die Hard (1988 )
10. Moulin Rouge (2001)
11. This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
12. The Matrix (1999)
13. GoodFellas (1990)
14. Crumb (1995)
15. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
16. Boogie Nights (1997)
17. Jerry Maguire (1996)
18. Do the Right Thing (1989)
19. Casino Royale (2006)
20. The Lion King (1994)
21. Schindler’s List (1993)
22. Rushmore (1998 )
23. Memento (2001)
24. A Room With a View (1986)
25. Shrek (2001)
26. Hoop Dreams (1994)
27. Aliens (1986)
28. Wings of Desire (1988 )
29. The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
30. When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
31. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
32. Fight Club (1999)
33. The Breakfast Club (1985)
34. Fargo (1996)
35. The Incredibles (2004)
36. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
37. Pretty Woman (1990)
38. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
39. The Sixth Sense (1999)
40. Speed (1994)
41. Dazed and Confused (1993)
42. Clueless (1995)
43. Gladiator (2000)
44. The Player (1992)
45. Rain Man (1988 )
46. Children of Men (2006)
47. Men in Black (1997)
48. Scarface (1983)
49. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
50. The Piano (1993)
51. There Will Be Blood (2007)
52. The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad (1988 )
53. The Truman Show (1998 )
54. Fatal Attraction (1987)
55. Risky Business (1983)
56. The Lives of Others (2006)
57. There’s Something About Mary (1998)
58. Ghostbusters (1984)
59. L.A. Confidential (1997)
60. Scream (1996)
61. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
62. sex, lies and videotape (1989)
63. Big (1988)
64. No Country For Old Men (2007)
65. Dirty Dancing (1987)
66. Natural Born Killers (1994)
67. Donnie Brasco (1997)
68. Witness (1985)
69. All About My Mother (1999)
70. Broadcast News (1987)
71. Unforgiven (1992)
72. Thelma & Louise (1991)
73. Office Space (1999)
74. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
75. Out of Africa (1985)
76. The Departed (2006)
77. Sid and Nancy (1986)
78. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
79. Waiting for Guffman (1996)
80. Michael Clayton (2007)
81. Moonstruck (1987)
82. Lost in Translation (2003)
83. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)
84. Sideways (2004)
85. The 40 Year-Old Virgin (2005)
86. Y Tu Mamá También (2002)
87. Swingers (1996)
88. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)
89. Breaking the Waves (1996)
90. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
91. Back to the Future (1985)
92. Menace II Society (1993)
93. Ed Wood (1994)
94. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
95. In the Mood for Love (2001)
96. Far From Heaven (2002)
97. Glory (1989)
98. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
99. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
100. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)

Shoe love

I have been hunting down this pair of shoes for months! At one point I tracked down one pair in Maryland that was the right size....and the store only had the left shoe. Then I found a shoe made out of the same fabric, but that store only had a RIGHT shoe in 6 1/2! What's with people buying or stealing just one shoe?! But, I got them, and of all places, I found them on facebook, go figure!

Take me to your leader

Can't forget the song that played a big part in my life in some unexpected ways. I actually met my good friends and future Nashville housemates, Lowell and Brian through this song. They lived in the apartment below me in Takoma Park,and one day Lowell had this cranked up on their stereo, thinking I was at work. I was actually taking a nap on my couch, situated just about exactly over their stereo. I called down to find out what the song was because I liked the catchy tune. He was so relieved I wasn't mad about the noise that he lent me the cd, lol.

Hallelujah

I love this song, and have been in a mood to listen to it a lot lately. Here are a few of my fave versions ...

Loving Eddie Izzard

Been watching a lot of Eddie Izzard lately, he makes me laugh no matter how many times I've seen his stuff...

Happy Birthday Mom!

My mom celebrated her 80th birthday today, and we had a special lunch over at friends Rick and Beth's place. Happy Birthday!

Please pray

Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. They lost their youngest daughter, Maria Sue, in a horrible accident Wednesday evening. My heart breaks for what all of them, and especially Maria's brother, must be going through. May they be wrapped in the love of God, family and friends.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

So very true!

Books!

I suppose, reading this blog, you'd be forgiven for thinking I never pick up a book, as I talk so often about other things like movies, dvd's, music, tv, etc. But I LOVE reading, and practically grew up at the library and used book stores. (I am however, completely incapable of returning library books on time, so sadly don't make use of that facility anymore.) Saw this meme on The Noble Savage's blog, so thank's for the idea, Amity!

Below is a list of the top 106 books tagged “unread” on LibraryThing. The rules:

bold = what you’ve read,
italics = books you started but couldn’t finish
crossed out = books you hated
* = you’ve read more than once
underline = books you own but haven’t read yourself

1. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
3. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
4. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte*
6. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
7. The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
9. The Odyssey by Homer
10. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
11. Ulysses by James Joyce
12. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
13. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
14. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
15. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens*
16. The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco*
17. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
18. The Iliad by Homer
19. Emma by Jane Austen
20. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
21. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
22. The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
23. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
24. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
25. The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
26. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
27. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
28. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
29. Life of Pi by Yann Martel
30. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
31. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
32. Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco*
33. Dracula by Bram Stoker*
34. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
35. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
36. Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley*
37. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
38. Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi
39. Middlemarch by George Eliot
40. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
41. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
42. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
43. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
44. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
45. Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson
46. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
47. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
48. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
49. Wicked by Gregory Maguire
50. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
51. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde*
52. Dune by Frank Herbert
53. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
54. Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
55. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
56. The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas*
57. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
58. The Inferno by Dante Alighieri
59. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
60. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
61. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
62. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
63. Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
64. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
65. Persuasion by Jane Austen
66. One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
67. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
68. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
69. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
70. The Once and Future King by T.H. White
71. Atonement by Ian McEwan
72. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
73. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson
74. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
75. Dubliners by James Joyce
76. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
77. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
78. Beloved by Toni Morrison
79. Collapse by Jared Diamond
80. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
81. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
82. Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
83. A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
84. Les Misérables by Victor Hugo*
85. Watership Down by Richard Adams
86. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli
87. The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman
88. Beowulf by Anonymous
89. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
90. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
91. The Aeneid by Virgil
92. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
93. Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence
94. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
95. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
96. Possession by A.S. Byatt
97. Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
98. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
99. Gravity’s Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
100. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
101. Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
102. Candide, or Optimism by Voltaire
103. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
104. The Plague by Albert Camus
105. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
106. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

After completing this list, I think it's obvious that I (a) don't read as much as I should, and (b) have issues with Jane Austen.... I love her stories, and enjoy the movie adaptations tremendously, but her writing style puts me to sleep. I know, I know, that's almost enough of an admission to get my femininity license revoked, but it's the sad truth.

My parent's 50th anniversary slideshow

The picture portion of the powerpoint presentation from my parent's 50th anniversary party. I'll add the music if I ever figure out how!

Kindness

I was visiting friends yesterday and was sitting in the kitchen chatting. Josh, 3 yrs old, noticed that I had left my cellphone and bottle of water in the living room. He brought them in to me, so I could have them next to me on the kitchen table. When his mom and I thanked him for being so helpful, he looked at us very seriously, and said, "I'm a kind person." It was said so seriously, thoughtfully, and matter of factly. Little kids are often such good reminders of the basics, of what's really important. They don't see the shades of gray we often seem to have to wade through.

Long, long ago...

Been feeling nostalgic this evening, meandering around youtube. Lots of good music from my past...

I can't count how many times I saw them do this dueling drums bit in concert, and the Breakfast in Hell song...



LOVED Grover, can't believe he never made it big...(and yes, this is who I named my cat after, lol)...


And yes, I have to admit I DID see Stryper in concert back in their heyday, even met them backstage. No group of guys should have hair as good as they did...

I love this book

I was so excited to get a brand new copy of Paul Gallico's "Snow Goose" this week. Most of my copies have been battered old copies, scavenged at used book stores, as it's been out of print more than in. It's one of the first books I truly fell in love with. Short, simple, breathtakingly beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Hallmark Hall of Fame made a wonderful film adaptation years ago, but it's never made it to video/dvd due to years of legal wrangling between Hallmark and the author's family. A big film company was set to start work on a big screen version complete with big name cast last year. Alas, budget and scheduling problems have apparently sunk that project, perhaps permanently. If you've never read it, grab a copy now and read it!

Too many legs!

I know, I know, I fall back on youtube too often. But, I keep finding things there that amuse me or remind of things. Cyndy and I loved the BBC sitcom "Coupling", and this episode storyline about Jeff still makes us LOL...

Movies!

Had a chance over New Year's to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes - foreign films! This first one is a Japanese film called "Hula Girls". It's based on a true story... think the Jamaican bobsled movie, except, instead of Jamaica, substitute Japan, and instead of bobsleds, substitute hula dancing!



Also found a gem of a little Danish film, called "Italian for Beginners". I bought the DVD without any clue about what the movie was about, guessing from the cover art that it might be a slapstick comedy. It's actually a sweet, gentle, poignant little movie, filmed in the Danish Dogma style. I really loved it.