Monday, November 10, 2008

Oddities I.

How is something like this possible? I wasn't thinking about such things as an 8 year old. I know I got mad at my parents sometimes when you know, they were being parents. But it never crossed my mind to harm them.

Friday, November 7, 2008

One Giant Leap Forward.. Three Steps Back..

Despite the historic election of President Obama, three states have plunged their homosexual citizens into anger and despair. I am appalled, surprised and utterly disappointed with people in this regard. Apparently there are still too many ignorant folks who hate equality. The attitude is completely anachronistic and very lazy. Let me explain because my awesome husband brought up very good points. This is not going to be a christian bashing post I swear but I am going to point out the more banal aspects that people sugar coat or plain out ignore.

It all boils down to parents who have begun indoctrinating their children in what they want them to believe. And if homosexuality is a sin in their beliefs, they will expect their children to follow in suit. We're talking about families that center their entire lifestyle around their religious text of choice. What blows their minds is when the world around them doesn't align with their belief system. So now they are forced to confront the validity of their beliefs living in a modern world. While a more tolerant and unified existence is better, they'd sacrifice it for their little slice of self righteous opinion and dense pride. They are scared, so damn scared of progression and evolution. A simple history lesson would show you that civilizations are born and then they fall. Societies are born and they adapt to the world in motion as time ticks by. Since when did change become so evil? You'd have to pry the commandents from the cold dead hands of a conservative before they'd accept the world has changed in the last few thousand years. Everything changes in time, period. Even those tried and true tenets heavily religious people stick too. If there weren't a few progressive thinkers out there, we'd still be burning people at the stake and thinking the world was flat.

So I ask in country where there is supposed to be a dividing line between church and state. who has the right to dictate whom you can and cannot marry? Nobody. It is most certainly not in any goverments place to say that you can't marry somebody just because of who you both are! Religious people are entitled to their opinions and I'm not saying they should give a fruit basket to every gay person they meet, but practice a bit more tolerance. You never know, one day you might find yourself fighting for equality and being the wrongfully hated.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Just The Beginning..

Last night, Barack Obama became the first ever african american elected as President of the United States. History has been made and I'm very glad I was apart of that. Even though I began as a Hillary Clinton supporter, I ended up a Barack Obama supporter. And for the first time in these many years, I feel hope. We've got a long road ahead since the last 8 years under Bubba Dubya so I hope the rest of the world rejoices with us and bears with us as we pick up the pieces of our once great nation.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

One More Time..

Today is the day that will either define change for the next 4 years or continue the downward spiral into social and economic collapse. Californians, this is for you.
NO ON PROP 8!


My last hurrah for endorsement.

Barack Obama in '08



Lastly and most importantly, get out and VOTE. Lines may be long but suck it up! As a young woman, it's important for me to vote because my parent's world will be given to me and I'm ready for change. So take a snack, book, blog, text, etc. I don't care what you do, as long as you vote today.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Too Much..

Today Spike was euthanized after a week of suffering from heart failure. Spike was Pap's dog. It was very hard for Mamaw but she couldn't bear to see him suffer anymore. She took him to the Vet to day with the help of a lovely individual who volunteered to come over and lift him into the car for her. In a nutshell, the Vet said sometime last week his heart started to fail. It wasn't disease or anything; his heart simply was worn out and weakening. Poor Spike had trouble moving. Mamaw said he'd collapsed completely on several occasions. He had other symptoms too. The Vet said even if she put him on meds for hsi heart, it wouldn't stop the inevitable. Spike would have just became inert and lost all mobility. He would have had to be hand-fed and placed on disposable pads since he couldn't move to go to the bathroom anymore. I'm glad Mamaw made the decision to prevent him from becoming that much worse. He suffered enough.

Rest in Peace, Spike.
Slime Pap with puppy love.

1996-2008

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Lipstick Wearing Pit Bulls...

One of my co-workers in the building dressed up like Sarah Palin today. We'll call her "Lou". Lou has always had that accent. I think she is from Alaska maybe? When she came in with her documents today, she winked and pointed saying, "Right back 'atcha Joe!" I nearly died. Lou did say her daughter offered to be Bristol and carry around a baby in a slung. Lou sweetly declined.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

In Which We Are Unimpressed Yet Hopeful..

While my sole purpose for the holiday move season was crushed a few months ago when Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was bunted till next summer, I've found a few options to keep things interesting till the end of the year. This is by no means a guide to viewing as my tastes are quirky and uninhibited. I'm going go to also introduce what I'd like to call the SQUEE! Factor rates from 1-5. Factor 1 being midly amusing and Factor 5 being cosmically sublime. Without further ado, here are the lucky flicks I shall give my money to:

10/31/2008 Releases

Zack and Miri Make A Porno
It feels like it has been too long without a raunchy, witty and compelling Kevin Smith movie. I was following the whole movie-making process pretty closely on Kevin's website and listening to his podcast with Scott Mosier, aptly titled Smodcast. That was actually half the fun really. If you like vulgar conversatiion with jewels of knowledge tossed at you here and there, I recommend giving it a listen. I tend to listen to Smodcast when I'm doing the dishes or something trivial that I dislike so I'm at least in a good mood. Back on topic, the movie is a romantic comedy that also makes fun of porn. Mostly how absurd the people look with their exaggerated sexual motions and mannerisms.

SQUEE! Factor: 4

Changeling
Firstly, Clint Eastwood is directing this drama and Angelina Jolie is lead actress. Allow me a moment to swoon and gush unabashedly about Angelina Jolie. She's beautiful, smart, and has saintly qualities. Yeah, I acknowledge she was a wild child actress and did some crapfest flicks. (Every actor has done their share of crap movies.) But she isn't perfect and lived her life the way she wanted it. Anywho, the movie is based on events from an infamous case from 1928 called The Wineville Chicken Murders. It's a drama that not only shows the corruption of the LAPD but a society's view of an independent woman. It seems interesting to me.

SQUEE! Factor: 4

11/21/2008 Releases

Twilight
Based on my latest guilty pleasure of choice and book of the same name. What can I say, vampires and romance make me daydream like a schoolgirl. But I'm not enough a fangirl to condemn the movie though. People still just don't get that movie adaptations of books are never quite accurate.

SQUEE! Factor: 5!!

12/12/2008 Releases

The Day The Earth Stood Still
So another remake of a beloved Sci-Fi classic. I did enjoy the remake of War of the Worlds even if it did have crazy cracker Tom Cruise. It felt darker and more realistic. (Seriously if an intergalactic foe attacked the earth, we'd have no kind of technology to efficiently defend ourselves.) Keanu Reeves is apparently playing Klaatu in this updated version. The trailer intrigued me too so we shall see.

SQUEE! Factor: 3

12/25/2008

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The movie adaptation of the short story I posted about last month is finally seeing the light of day in a wide release. I can't wait to see it.

SQUEE! Factor: 4

Friday, October 10, 2008

Just Say NO...

Usually I keep my political and moral beliefs underwraps because I'm a firm believer of not broadcasting your beliefs to the masses on a large scale. However, it seems like our country is on the verge of something great or something terrible. But we keep having these bumps in the road to human understanding and social transcendence.

I'm not a California a citizen but if I was, I'd vote NO on Prop 8. And if you're a progressive, open minded human being, you would to. The government should not have the right to tell you who you can and cannot marry. Everytime I hear the utter nonsense of "a marriage is between a man and a woman" I want to scream. Should I point out the divorce statistics? I know more heterosexual couples who shouldn't be in a relationship, let alone a marriage. Perhaps it harkens back to antiquated religious beliefs that are all about procreating to raise many loyal children followers. Whatever it was, it's for the wrong reasons. How can it be wrong for 2 people who love each other to marry and/or adopt children? (I personally know quite a few heterosexual men and women who shouldn't have children either.) Why can't same sex couples enjoy a happily ever after like everybody else? They can marry, have children and lead wonderful lives.

I still don't understand how people can be so blind and cruel.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The Healthy Ghetto Gourmet I.

Andy and I have been trying a plethora of healthy and cheap recipes. Well I suppose 'cheap' is relative if you don't have a well stocked spice rack but I digress. Everything we've tried is tasty so I'll offer the latest dish. Sorry, I've got no awesome pictures. But believe me, it looks amazing when it is done. It was borrowed from Cheap Healthy Good.

Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Makes 6 servings

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon curry powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 small red or green bell peppers, chopped
3 cups cubed eggplant, with peel
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1 1/4 pounds small red potatoes, halved
1/2 cup fat-free half and half (or skim milk)
1 cup frozen or fresh peas
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 pinch Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 Tb. oil; add onions, garlic, curry and cumin. Saute until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl.

2) Heat remaining oil in skillet; add peppers, eggplant, tomatoes and 1/2 cup water. Saute until soft, about 20 minutes. It's a good idea to let a lot of the extra moisture evaporate. Stir in onions. Place in a shallow 8-by-8- inch baking dish.

3) In a saucepan, boil potatoes until done. Drain and smash. Stir in half and half, peas, salt and pepper. Spread over vegetables and top with Parmesan.

4) Bake 15 minutes. Brown in broiler. Serve.

You won't need to fix any sides because this meal is quite filling. We did make a couple of adjustments though. Instead of half and half or skim milk, we just used regular old 1% milk. And we had a small jar of mushrooms leftover from the homemade birthday pizzas for my brother so we threw those in too. Somehow this dish also made more then what an 8 x 8 dish could hold. Perhaps it is because the produce wasn't as small? Nonetheless, it has made enough where I could take some to work and Andy could have a serving for lunch today. And if my memory serves, there will still be at least one plate's worth left after that. I do believe the entire dish cost $15-16 to make.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Trains & Shadows

Nightmares always have a way of occurring for me. I'm not entirely sure what brings them on because movies and books tend not to do it. Sometimes I think they are the spawn of my stressed and fractured mind. Sometimes I believe they are something else entirely but I'm not going to get into that because I know what's good for me. This is not the place to start my diatribes on prophecy, premonition, and precognition. Perhaps my mind is always lost somewhere beyond the grasp of human science and modern human monotheism. And I think I prefer it that way.

xXx

I was waiting at a train station. It wasn’t just any ordinary station; it seemed like it had once been ultra modern but fell into utter disrepair. The walls were dingy white and everything appeared like it had once been stainless steel. I was surrounded by people who were waiting and everybody looked like refugees, carrying what they could with them. They all seemed agitated by the fact that dusk was beginning to settle and I myself felt my own anxiety rising at this prospect. As dreams tend to do though, I suddenly was on the train. I was at my compartment but to my horror, I found that top of the compartments were clear plexi-glass windows and I could clearly see the darkening skies. Unable to still my nervousness, I shut the door and walked aimlessly from car to car till I stumbled into this luxurious car. It was very posh and antiquated as a woman sat behind an ornate oak desk, drinking brandy. She had cherry red hair and was dressed like she fell out of the 1940s albeit in absurd Technicolor. She offered me a glass of liquor and politely turned her down as I noticed that there were many different kinds of bottles of liquor lining the tables and shelves of the room. All in glass bottles of many different shapes, sizes, and colors. For all I knew, none of it could have actually been fine liquor. That was what I assumed. For the first time in this dream, I suddenly wondered where we were going and lack of a destination bothered me. My searching eyes found an older man sitting in one of the elegant chairs and he was very sober in comparison to his lady friend. He just sat somberly in his chair and so I moved up to him. I asked him when we would arrive, as if I already knew the destination. (In reality, I didn’t know but perhaps my phantom self did know.) He looked at me and stood up, gently taking me by the arm and moving us farther away from Cherry. He told me quietly that we’d never arrive at our destination. Instantly alarmed, I demanded to know why and he said it was because we did not have enough fuel to get that far. The horrible realization settled in that they had intended to make a stand here with the train once it came to a halt and die in this train when their supplies ran out because they couldn’t live in a world where the darkness meant death or worse. At that moment, the man must have realized that night had fallen and we could hear something above us on the top of the train car. I finally noticed that there were no windows in this car whatsoever and the door was actually reinforced steel which led me to wonder if that is what was also behind the opulent paneling of the car. I grabbed his arm, feeling the fear course through my body as I too stared up at the ceiling. Cherry began to utter some drunken nonsense loudly and he curtly scolded her into silence as we waited for the noise to stop. I knew I would not stay here and I closed my eyes.

When I opened them, I was in a modest little house in what seemed like the southwest because I could see sunlight out of a window above a rocky, reddish landscape. There were people around me that I recognized yet there were others I didn’t know. But the placement of the sun in the sky told me that nightfall was coming. I moved curiously through the crowded rooms and a lot of people talked about the night. It seemed everybody was scared of it for different reasons. Somebody said a monster followed them, another said they heard ghostly voices and screams. It was confusing. From the other end of the house, I heard a woman bellow that a window was still open and I instantly peeked through a curtain as the sun finally fell behind the horizon. I bolted toward the woman’s shrill voice and found a bedroom window was indeed open. (Apparently whatever the night did bring, it could not waltz into a place when all entrances were barred.) I yanked and yanked on the window to get it to close because I only had seconds. But I couldn’t get it and an apparition swirled before my eyes of a dire wolf hovering outside the window. Its eyes held a faint green glow and instead of fright, an unspeakable amount of anger welled up inside as we glared at each other. It lunged for me and I met it head on as I tried to grab its head. I miscalculated and its jaws snapped around my arm as I yelped in pain. At some point I guess the woman left the room because a coppery skinned man came running into the room and grimaced as he told me that I wasn’t strong enough yet. He literally drew the apparition wolf away from me and flung it outside of the window like it had been a puff of wind. I swiftly closed and locked the window. I gingerly looked down my arm expecting a scene of much gore to go with my pain. To my shock, the skin wasn’t even punctured and there was no real pain after all. I looked at the mysterious man after my revelation. He simply smiled and left me there alone. Feeling braver, I gazed out of the window and saw the ghostly wolf floating outside the window. I let my eyes burn deep into its own, hoping it would know that I wasn’t afraid anymore. I drew the curtain without another thought of the wolf and laid down on the bed in the room. I closed my eyes.

And the final time I opened my eyes, I was opening the door to this secluded home in the woods where there was so much green and so many trees. Inside was my family who were excited and happy to see me. Andy was with them too. All of their worry erupted into smiles and hugs. After I shut the door, I noticed the sun had began its descent but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t afraid of the dark anymore and it had been a long journey.
xXx

Now how’s that for an odd dream? Maybe it wasn’t a stereotypical nightmare but I didn’t rest an ounce last night. I generally don’t like discussing my vivid dreams because they are always on the surreal. The really bad ones I try to forget.
*Photo courtesy of D.Hanton 2008 (Me!)

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Forlorn Maiden

(Picture taken @ Mt. Olivet Cemetary by D. Hanton)

I am reminded of Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee" when I look at this picture. I've been soaking up the creativity lately and it's fantastic. Now if I can keep that pesky muse around a bit longer, I can transcribe the dream I had the other night into a short story/dark fairy tale.


Saturday, September 13, 2008

Entropy

(Picture taken @ Mt. Olivet Cemetary, D. Hanton)

"A kindest heart which always made me ashamed of my own.
She walks alone but not without her name.

Eva flies away
, dreams the world far away.
In this cruel children's game
, there's no friend to call her name.

Eva sails away
, dreams the world far away
The Good in her will be my sunflower field."
-T. Holopainen, Nightwish, "Eva"


Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Meme Goodness

I don't like to clutter my blogs with memes but this one was just too fun to pass up. I borrowed it from the ever insightful, wise, and awesome K over at KFarmer. No, I've never personally conversed with her but I'm so lamely shy anyway, I just heap much deserved praise on her short stories. The meme works like this:

Answer these questions using a song title from a single artist…

My Artist: Nightwish

1. Are you a male or female?
The Siren

2. Describe yourself:
Dark Chest of Wonders

3. How do you feel about yourself?
Dead To The World


4. Describe where you currently are:
Meadows of Heaven

5. If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
Sahara


6. Your best friend is:
Wishmaster


7. Your favorite color is:
White Night Fantasy

8. You know that:
Cadence of Her Last Breath

9. What’s the weather like?
Sleeping Sun

10. If your life was a television show, what would it be called?
Seven Days To The Wolves

11. What is life to you?
Everdream

12. What is the best advice you have to give?
Live To Tell The Tale

13. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
Amaranth

Thursday, September 4, 2008

For Whom The Bell Tolls

I read something extraordinary today. And though I find F. Scott Fitzgerald to be a little too preachy and self righteous when it comes to the themes of his books, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a glorious yet tragic tale. It presents life as we know it but aging in reverse and the ripple effect that has on the world around Benjamin. It showcases perfectly the difficulties one has at the beginning and end of life. It seems that neither one is really different; and it’s the adventures you have in between that make you feel like you’re apart of the cosmic scheme of life. It is the only time where you seem to be in step with everybody else, no matter how monotonous or incredible the path is.

As the tale is spun, you’re lead through all of Benjamin’s triumphs and failures. Somehow he managed to not think himself above everybody else with his peculiar condition, rather it made him uncomfortable to get younger while everybody around him got older. For example, he was truly distressed when he noticed his wife was nearly forty and he a man no older then twenty. His curious condition not only effected him physically but it also shaped him psychologically to have the temperament of a flirtatious young man despite the fact he was nearing forty years old, for example. Naturally he fell out of love with his wife and grew tired of the complacent life people of her age liked to enjoy when you’re at the cusp of your autumn years.

It also gave the reader a bird's eye view of just how cruel the ones who are supposed to love you can be.  Be it out of fear, spite, or complete ignorance, it was still unacceptable in my eyes.  It wasn't Benjamin's decision to be born a decrepit man of seventy and march backwards in time.  Yet his father, son, and wife eventually would accuse him of intentionally existing that way just because he wanted to be different or stubborn.  Someone would say he lead a grand existence when he finally hit the young, virile period of his life for instance, as he enlisted into the army and participated in the Spanish American War.  However with each passing year, he'd lose as much as he had gained.  As an "older" man, he was a business genius who become very wealthy and quickly made the family business a success.  All he accomplished when he was the wizened young man of forty of fifty waned as he morphed into an ancient youngster and drifted to the shadows of his mind till the very end.

All very strange and curious indeed.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Fantastic Voyage

I had a fantastic weekend leading up to Labor Day. Andy and I went to Philadelphia courtesy of my discount skillz at the Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown. I've been counting down to this weekend because I was in such a need of a refresh after July. I left work early Friday morning, stressing out immensely because I hadn't even packed yet and we were on a slightly tight schedule to see a concert that very evening in the city. After my initial spazzfest of tossing crap into the bag, we finally departed. Of course, traffic got sluggish near the Delaware border. My goal was for us to arrive at the hotel around for so we'd have enough time to grab proper dinner before heading to see Nightwish at our favorite Philly venue The Trocadero Theater.

The venue was SWAMPED with people too! The line was relatively long by the time we got there and we still had an hour before the doors opened. It was insane. The funny thing is we managed to sit near the SAME married couple we met at their previous show at The Troc last October. (And that lady can still screech like a banshee, wow.) The show this year was a supreme improvement. (Not that last year's was awful but, their new vocalist was still a bit insecure about filling such big shoes of the former diva from the pit of Hades that used to sing for the band. And the Opening band left something to be desired.) Sonata Arctica opened for them and immediately they set the mood for an awesome night.

Hoarse and tired, we managed to make it back to the hotel in one piece. On Saturday, we slept in and hauled ourselves out of bed to hit The Philadelphia Museum of Art. I was amazed by all the wonderful exihibits they had and on such a scale. In my opinion, it puts the Smithsonian brands to shame when it comes to the content and display. I believe Andy really enjoyed seeing their wing of European Art from 1100 - 1500. It was a bit macabre with so many religious portraits bearing Christ's crucifixtion but I suppose a devout Catholic would have been right at home. Though there was this one pair of portraits that struck our fancy more then the others. This was a pair of paintings. On the right, painting lovingly and with excruciating emotion was Jesus Christ hanging upon his wooden cross. Instead of the usual complacent, creepy android expression most artists give him, he bore a sorrowful and pained countenance. His eyes were clenched shut, his head bowed slightly as the life ebbed from his limbs. The portrait on the left, bore Mary and Joseph. Mary wasn't reflected as some immaculate, all knowing mother of inhuman serenity like she is depicted in a lot of imagery. Rather she was prostrate with grief on one knee with her pale robes billowing around her as she clasped her hands in desperate prayer. The expression on her olive face was one of helplessness and an agony of a mother watching her son die. Trying to cradle and console her from behind, was Joseph. His face was turned toward his struggling wife but you could see that he was weary himself.

I was awed by all the Monet paintings and incredible asian art galleries myself. I highly recommend it to anybody whom will be in the area or is planning to visit. After the afternoon there, my super husband took us to see Spamalot at the Academy of Music. This was our first time at a Broadway styled musical/play with professional thespians. It was the North American Tour and coincedentally it was closing in Philly this past weekend so I'm glad Andy is so brilliant. And the show was as funny and as fantastic as the reviews suggest. It takes the funniest bits of the film then its stirred up with some absurd songs and equally absurd humor.

Finally on Sunday, we attended the Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ. Eh, that was one of the more blah aquariums I've ever been too. Even the one in Tampa, FL was superior. (I will always heart the National Aquarium in Baltimore above all else though.) While Adventure did have hippos, most of the exihibits felt like filler. There was no spirit of conservation. It seemed to be all about making you spend lots of money at the gift shop and their huge cafeteria. Oh and did I mention this fairly new and nice aquarium is in the ghetto? Seriously, you drive a couple of blocks and suddenly you are surrounded by boarded up, spray painted projects and vacant lots. And why is there always a liqour store on the corner in ghettos??

All in all, it was great. I definitely would like to go back to Philly though in the future. Maybe next time we could actually visit Dan and his adorable family. And hey, I finished the rest of Eclipse on the road trip and sleepless nights in the hotel room. So this weekend was full of win.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Birthday

It's not a happy birthday today for someone I loved. It's just another cold reminder that he's gone. My grandfather would have been 75 years old. Part me wishes he would still be here for some more birthdays yet I don't think I could bear to see him suffer anymore. The emptiness and guilt do not go away so easily, you know?

Happy Birthday, Pap.
Sept. 1, 1933 - Aug. 4, 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Laundry List

I had a revelation yesterday. I was never the sort of person who felt a need for a dayplanner or organizer however now it seems like a moral imperative. It's not that I have a hectic social schedule, well sometimes I do but the point is I plan a lot of projects and get scatter-brained in the process. I end up with a list of things that either never get done or fail to get done in a timely manner. So...

BEHOLD! The mighty list of project-mania and to do's!

1. Order the Sushi Erasers for the Shadowbox. Also, compile other materials for optimum craftiness.

2. Start and complete Sushi Shadowbox.

3. Take negative of Andy's film to get Jellyfish picture printed as an 8x10. Or bigger if possible.

4. Have Jellyfish picture matted and framed. This must be completed by the end of September.

5. Hang the asian plates in the dining room.

6. Finish the Geisha cross-stitch.

7. Buy tickets (?*) to see Windsor For The Derby at the Black Cat in DC for Sept. 7th. I haven't seen Dan and Anna in forever anyway. Not to mention I've never met their uber cute little girl, Ruthie. We had planned on seeing the family this weekend in Philadelphia but unfortunately they are touring. Silly me, I had forgotten they were going to be in Europe for a leg of their tour. You'd think I'd keep better tabs on my relatives.The show was cancelled. I'm gonna email Dan to see if everything is okay..

8. Choose appropriate concert attire for Friday night. (Woohoo Nightwish!) And er, pack what is needed for the weekend in Philly on Thursday evening.

9. Erm, figure out where and when we're going to do stuff in Philly this weekend.

?* We still haven't decided if that is what we're doing yet. I want to but the show is on a Sunday night and Any will most likely have class the next day. I don't work till the afternoon that day so it didn't matter to me.

In closing, I'll leave you with a video of one of WFTD's songs from their album We Fight Til Death called "Empathy For People Unknown".

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Willkommen!



Since I am entertaining Daishi today, here's a quickie. I am completely in love with broadway musicals at the moment. This is from the revival of Cabaret in 1998 with the superbly talented Alan Cumming doing the honors as the Emcee/Master of Ceremonies. I plan on picking up this recording with my next spot of splurge monies.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

How I Love Thee

Netflix has easily become one of Andy and I's best monthly expenditures. It's much more cost and time efficient for the both of us versus an investment into digital cable. I know for a fact that my parents' digital cable package runs $77 a month and that is without premium movie channels. My parents spend a considerable amount of their free time in front of the old boob tube, not always watching something they like but essentially using it is a time suck because they are otherwise bored. I think that mostly applies to my mother though. But I digress! Andy and I don't watch TV for the sake of it and mutually believe that most programs on today aren't very good. (Did I mention that we really dislike reality shows?) The TV shows we do like are on DVD though so then we can watch them at our leisure.

I've set up my queue to alternate between movies and a TV show. In fact, I just mailed back Disc 1 of the 2005 refresh of Doctor Who Season 1. (Which by the way is fantastic. I've seen it before but Andy hasn't so I wanted to share it with him.) I get so excited when I look in the mail; it's like I'm bloody 5 years old! I'm pretty content with Netflix so my husband rules for coming with the idea to do it. I still buy DVDs but it is only of stuff I absolutely want to keep and/or can afford. For instance, I indulged my inner 80's child and purchased Wargames a few weeks ago. That same week, a limited release to the theaters had finally come out in DVD and I've been absolutely desperate for it. I admit I am unabashedly in love with James McAvoy and adore Christina Ricci so Penelope had to be mine. And Netflix tells me Bruce Almighty is shipping today! Andy hasn't seen that either and that is one of few Jim Carrey flicks that I thoroughly enjoy.

Either way, date night with my dear hubby tomorrow will not be boring since we have plenty of variety and choices. "Date Night" begins when I get off work tomorrow and we head to Macaroni Grill for dinner. Then we go home to curl up in front of a movie. While it may not seem like much, any quality time I get to spend with Andy has been keeping my mood light and warm since the rush of banality that has occurred over the last several weeks. Maybe next time we should have a Date Night with video gaming madness!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Crafty Deeds #1

My latest crafty scheme is to construct a shadowbox for the kitchen. I've decided on an asian theme; specifically japanese or chinese. My main inspiration came from the accidental discovery of these japanese erasers. Namely it was the sushi set that caught my eye proper. It was so disgustingly cute and the size is perfect for my 5 x 7 shadowbox. The background of the shadowbox is black too but I was thinking of adding some fabric elements. For some bit of extra flare, I'm searching through doll miniatures for things like flowers, fans, etc.

Andy has reservations about my project but he just doesn't have my vision of it! It will be glorious!