Happy Father's Day!

Though my mother says that EVERYday is Father's Day.

Kitlers

Have you ever wondered, if only there was a website that documented cats that have the misfortune to look like Hitler? I haven't, but a friend lead me to this site dedicated to "Kitlers."

Again, I have to ask "WHY?"

www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com

Website Shout Out

I saw a blurg about The Laundress website in my new favorite magazine, Domino and went to check it out. I enjoyed their tips and feel more interested in laundry than I have in years, or ever really. They believe the dry cleaners is evil and in seperating everything. Their ideas on laundry sorting (not even mixing dark pinks with light pinks) is too strict, I mean I do have a day job. They also sell different detergents for darks, lights, and whites which seems over the top to me. I'm going to try out their fabric freshener and the crease release.
Here are some tips from their website: www.thelaundress.com

Always separate laundry by color. For best results use The Laundress White Detergent for all whites, The Laundress Darks Detergent for darks and denim, and The Laundress Signature Detergent for lights and colors. Items should be laundered separately by color category for best results and color longevity.

Intense cleaning involves three elements: water temperature (hot), detergent amount (more than recommended) and agitation (movement in machine). Fabric (such as cotton) generally has a certain shrinkage capacity so washing your favorite white t-shirt once in hot water will shrink the same amount as it would over multiple washings in warm.

Washing delicates by hand is the best. After hand washing with The Laundress Delicate Wash, delicates should be line dried or laid flat to dry. If machine washing, always protect items by placing them in a mesh bag using a delicate wash cycle. *Swimwear, lacey items, and under wire bras should always be hand washed for best care and longevity.

Why?

Knitting Lingerie-
"McGowan-Michael's 30-plus designs, stunningly photographed by Thayer Allyson Gowdy, range from the truly functional-knitted bras, slips, corsets, camisoles, and stockings-to the purely fun. The brassiere inspires a curvature-enhancing twinset. The baby doll negligee is the basis for a lacy little gown and a matching thong set that's both luxurious and (slightly) notorious. And a ribbed, laced-front sweater is an updated-and much more comfortable!-take on the classic corset. "

What the ?

Summer Shoes

Metallic shoes are in this summer and I'm determined to have a pair; should I go with the dressier heels or the more casual bronze wedges? (Or as the BR website describes them, "Amazingly sweet slide.")

A new reason to go to the eye doctor

Yes, these are BURBERRY eye glasses, which means I really need to go to the eye doctor and get a pair. Apparently improvement in my eyesight wasn't enough of a reaso to make an appointment.

Pirates 3

I've seen Pirates of the Carribean, At World's End twice now and I enjoyed the second screening even more than the first. Certainly not due to the difference in company in the screenings, but I was able to just enjoy the action and word play rather than pay attention to the plot. But be sure to stay through the credits, you'll be rewarded!

Favorite New Magazine

My favorite new magazine, domino is a Martha Stewart type magazie pertaining mostly to the subjects of entertaining and decorating, but with a trendier, more realistic approach to creating a home. The magazine also has stickers come with the issue in order to better tab each page for later reference. For $10 a year, I now have a subscription and can't wait until my next issue.

Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends

I love Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, a cartoon on Cartoon Network. I think it's sweet, funny, smart, and the art direction is creative and beautiful. The premise is that Foster's is a an orphange of sorts for imaginary friends who have been placed there by their creators who have grown up. At Foster's, the friends have a chance to be adopted by other, apparently less imaginative, children. The cast of characters include a tall, red creature named Wilt who loves basketball and whose sneakers squeak as though they walk on a basketball court, Mr Herriman a Harvey type bunny who runs the place, and Eduardo, a cowardly Wild Things type monster. Bit of Trivia- the fictional town where Foster's resides was founded by Elwood P Dowd, the main character of Harvey.

Happy Easter

5 Minutes to Kill (Yourself)

Getting stabbed in the men's room by a clown or being attacked by ferret for trying to go to the boss' office may not be real work place dangers, but I can relate to the desire to do do anything to get out of the next meeting. Getting out your workplace stress is made easier thanks to this twisted game at Adult Swim.com.

http://www.adultswim.com/games/fiveMinutes/index.html

You have 5 minutes to die, be it while eating urinal cakes, putting metal in the microwave, or insulting co-workers; we've all got to go sometime, might as well go to one less meeting.

Why is this necessary?

For all those Easter fanatics who have ever thought, "If only I could make my own Peeps," you're in luck. Thanks to the good people at Williams Sonama, a make your own marshmallow kit is available for $24.50. The kit includes marshmallow mix, duck and bunny molds, pastry bags for piping the prepared marshmallow into molds, as well as the purple, pink and yellow sanding sugars and black eyes you’ll need for decorating your creations. The kit does not come with an explanation as to why anyone would even try to make their own marshmallow ducks when you can get them for for a dollar at the store.

Premonition of a Bad Movie

Premonition isn't the worst movie I've seen this year (Epic Movie, anyone?) but it was the worst movie that had the most potential. It had a good cast and an interesting premise, but just didn't make any sense, and didn't seem to care that it didn't make any sense. The score was obnoxious, with tense music playing even while Sandra's character was doing the most mundane tasks, like laundry. The movie couldn't decide if the fate of her family could be changed by her unusual predicament or not. And the ending had no payoff. If you go and see this movie, at least go to a theater with comfy seats so you use the movie as an opportunity to take a nap or snuggle with your date.

Ahoy Matey!

I received a Puzz3D puzzle of the Black Pearl as a belated Christmas present. Though I more than meet the 12 plus age requirement, the 564 piece puzzle is pretty daunting. I predict a 95% chance that I will get bored halfway through, quit, and for six month find puzzle pieces in odd places. 5% chance I will succeed and take it to work as the crowning jewel of my Pirate shrine.

A Tale of 2 Fortunes

Today I received a fortune cookie that had not one fortune inside, but two! A double yoker of the fortune cookie world. The fortunes themselves aren't that exciting, but I still think this is a lucky omen.

Fortunes:

Smile often, and see what happens [in bed].

People appreciate your leadership qualities [in bed].

Belgian Beer Festival 2007

I went to a beer festival at a local pub this weekend. I would have to say the term "festival" was used loosely, as a festival to me implies a lagre gathtering of people in a celebratory frame of mind. The only difference between a festival and and the last time I was at this pub was a banner annoucing that yes, this is a festival. I did enjoy a nice Belgian Beer, Gulden Draaft (my second beer EVER). Do people in Belgium have American Beer Festivals? Just wondering.

Thought For the Day

Bob Porter: Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately.
Peter Gibbons: I wouldn't say I've been *missing* it, Bob.

Horoscope 2/12/07 - Too Good Not to Post!

Erotic Immersion:
Your preference for passion with an experienced lover is no secret. Work and commitments may cease to be important as you lose yourself in the ecstasy of a special person's company.

Note to Self: The Simpsons are on at 11 Now!

Now that the Simpsons are on at 11 instead of 11:30, I get an extra half hour of sleep during the week. Do you think this will translate to my waking up and getting to work a half hour earlier? Wouldn't count on it.

Mr.Burns: Quick Smithers. Bring the mind eraser device!
Smithers:You mean the revolver, sir?
Mr.Burns: Precisely.

Bugger! I Hate Fire Drills!

The fire alarm went off in my apartment building this evening. It has to be the loudest, most obnoxious sound in the world. And it's even more frustrating because you know it only went off because some stupid college kid burned some popcorn (or it was a prank). Let me tell you, fire alarms and bubble baths do not go well together.

London on my mind

I've been in the mood for London lately. I haven't traveled much out of the U.S. (London and Paris only), but I hope I get to go back to London again (soonish). When I was there last, I stayed at the Hilton in Trafalgar Square (pictured). It was one of best hotels I've ever stayed in; a great location, great food, and a fun, modern style. I would love to stay there again, take the tube to Big Ben, and have a tea party. No need to do the London Eye, too high for me.

Someday.

Welcome to Home Bistro

A couple of months ago, I received a catalogue from Home Bistro, a food delivery service. I went to the website, picked out a few meals, and a week later I received a shipment of 3 frozen meals. The food comes in a dry ice shipping container and just needs to be placed in boiling water to heat. I loved the convenience of having quality meals at my disposal that I didn't have to grocery shop for and only spent 10 mintues preparing. The consistency of the meals was fine, which was a concern that the food wouldn't heat up well, but I was still disappointed. The food just didn't taste as good as I hoped. I received another cataloge today, and here I am, wanting to give it another try. Whoever photographs this food needs a raise.

Random Acts of Pieness

Today is national pie day. I guess I celebrated early this year since a friend made a delicious apple pie for me last week (but we were both unaware of this holy day). Let's celebrate the flaky wonderfulness that is pie.

Squirrel Fishing?

Excerpt from Wikipedia.org:

Squirrel fishing is the sporting practice of "catching" squirrels and attempting to lift them into the air using a peanut tied to a string or fishing line, and optionally some kind of fishing pole.

In most cases, squirrels playfully tug and grapple with the nuts, while the human participant skillfully angles with his or her quarry. A delicate approach is required in squirrel fishing. Anyone can pull a nut from the hands of a squirrel, but the adept "squirrel fisher" must tune his craft, maintaining balance between himself and the squirrel, and eventually rewarding the squirrel for his valiant competition by ceding the nut. Ideally, great care is taken not to overfeed squirrels, not to hit them with nuts, and not to treat them roughly. There has been some debate over where squirrel fishing originated. The practice was popularized either by Nikolas Gloy and Yasuhiro Endo, at the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, or by the Berkeley Squirrel Fisher's Club (BSF), an official student group at the University of California at Berkeley. BSF has been featured in several local periodicals.
While nuts were originally used as bait, some squirrel fishers now choose to use prunes or apple slices as bait, by running fishing line or string through the fruit. This creates a tougher challenge for the squirrel, as it must chew its way through the fruit to free it from the line.

I work with someone who keeps suggesting that we do this; I wasn't aware that there was an offical term for tormenting squirrels.

A Class for Mochi

DIM SUM $85
Saturday, March 24 2:00-5:00 p.m.
In this class, chef May Parich will acquaint students with the traditions, techniques, varied doughs and flavors of these small, mouth-watering dishes which are consumed as snacks throughout China. Discover why the term Dim Sum translates to “heart’s delight” and how to incorporate dim sum into a unique brunch or hors d’oeuvre menu. Steamed Pork Buns;Sew Mai Dumplings; Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls; Scallion Ginger Potstickers; Steamed Seafood Packets; Tamarind Glazed Spareribs; Custard Tartlets; Assorted Dipping Sauces.

Martha, Martha, Martha

6 Things Martha Stewart wants me to do every day:
1. Make the Bed (usually do)
2. Mange clutter (sometimes)
3. Sort the Mail (I don't even pick up my mail every day)
4. Clean As You Cook (but what would I do on the weekends?)
5. Wipe Up Spills While They're Fresh
6. Sweep the Kithen Floor (really? every day?)

I would include the weekly, monthly, and seasonal lists of my suggested cleaning schedule, but there's no way I'm typing all and I got to get busy sweeping the kitchen floor!

Something I've Always Wanted To Do

I have wanted to take this class for years, but have never managed to sign up.

Basic Cooking Class:
This series focuses on essential cooking techniques for beginners. Students learn how to
select, handle and prepare ingredients to make successful, inspired meals at home for family and friends. Basic knife skills and tool orientation is included in the program. The dishes we prepare include California Chopped Salad; Mexican Vegetable Soup with Lime, Cilantro and Avocado; Thai Vegetable Soup; Caesar Salad; Halibut Tostadas with Black Beans and Mango Salsa; Maryland Crab Cakes with Caper Dill Dipping Sauce; Sea Bass in Parchment with Provençal Vegetables; Roasted Tri Tip with Tuscan Spice Rub; Roasted Lemon Rosemary Chicken with Roasted Green Beans; Vietnamese Chicken Salad; Linguine with Walnuts, Gruyere and Caramelized Onions; Chocolate Decadence Cake; Fresh Fruit Crisp; Fresh Ginger Cake.

Someday.

Burberry is Beautiful

I love Burberry. Something about the beautiful (and trademarked) Burberry check just strikes me as being stylish and pleasing. Did you know Burberry designed the first trenchcoat? It was developed with the British military in mind but would become popular with civilians. I would like to have one myself someday. Burberry items I currently own:
Handbag
Classic scarf
Pink Scarf
Sunglasses

My Arms Are Sore!

But I can't stop beating on these bunnies!

Patent Leather Pump

Bring dimension to sexy dresses or power suiting with the latest glossy platform pump. The patent leather conveys a fashion-forward feel that instantly achieves high-glamour.
Patent leather upper.
Leather lining.
Crosshatch, buffed outsole finish.
3 ¼" patent leather covered heel.

I do not need these...I do not need these...I do not need these...

Excerpt from Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life

I’m not sure if it’s legal to post an excerpt from a book on my blog, but I’ll risk it. One of my favorite books is Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. In the below, she offers life as a Preset Menu; No Substitutions Please. She offers a reminder that no one has everything. Which menu would you choose?

Menu A
• Charming
• Good at Ping-Pong
• Bad Speller
• A lot of moles
• Content with career
• Optimistic
• Car breaks down a lot


Menu B
• Fabulous Piano Player
• Quite unattractive
• Rich
• Well-behaved children
• Allergic to chocolate
• Grating Laugh
• Nice Garden

Menu C
• Friends who adore you
• Chronic insomnia
• Look great in skimpy underwear
• Color-blind
• Bilingual
• Motivated
• Bad Kisser
• Will live a long life

My choice? B looks pretty good, but being quite unattractive and having a grating laugh is a daunting combo, even if you are rich. C look good to, who doesn’t want to look good in skimpy underwear, but what’s the point if you’re a bad kisser? I would choose A, I can deal with moles and my car breaking down, plus I already am a bad spleller.

Today I bought the Raving Rabbid game (no, that's not a typo) and it is so much fun! It's a nice alternative to Zelda: The Twilight Princess. Zelda is a quest/adventure game that I feel I need to devote a couple of hours to each time I play, with the Rabbids, it's a nice challenging diversion that I can play for a few minutes and quit. The game has a loose plot of a duck like character being imprisoned by Rabbids who give him challenges to compete in each day. As he passes the challenges, he receives more rewards and releases more of his friends from Rabbid prison. The games are inventive and fun and only take about 2 minutes to pass or fail. The challenges require different levels of Wii skill so I think even a seasoned Wii player would feel tested. Rabbids takes great advantage of the Wii remote and nunchucks, as most games require using them both. One game that I had difficulty passing required me to repeatedly shake the nunchuck (which is held in the left hand) to get the appropriate water pressure to drown the Rabbids in carrot juice (I know that sounds weird, but it’s fun) but my left arm would get so tired I would poop out before the minute twenty goal, so I switched arms and passed much easily using the nunchuck in my right hand. I wonder if I’ll have new muscle tone in my arms when I’m done with this game! My favorite game is Disco Rabbids where I get to knock out bunnies in time to popular songs.

Chuckle for Today

Homer: Marge? Since I'm not talking to Lisa, would you please ask her to pass me the syrup?
Marge: Dear, please pass your father the syrup, Lisa.
Lisa: Bart, tell Dad I will only pass the syrup if it won't be used on any meat product.
Bart: You dunkin' your sausages in that syrup homeboy?
Homer: Marge, tell Bart I just want to drink a nice glass of syrup like I do every morning.
Marge: Tell him yourself, you're ignoring Lisa, not Bart.
Homer: Bart, thank your mother for pointing that out.
Marge: Homer, you're not not-talking to me and secondly I heard what you said.
Homer: Lisa, tell your mother to get off my case.
Bart: Uhhh, dad, Lisa's the one you're not talking to.
Homer: Bart, go to your room.

Ugly Betty; Wow!

After my whining last week about Ugly Betty's stalling tactics, this week's episode was a jaw dropper! Who would have thought that the lovely Sofia would be exploiting Daniel (and the viewers) for her debut issue of NYW? Not I, I'm still stunned. This episode focused less on Betty and her family (we didn't even see her nephew Justin), and may prove that Ugly Betty would survive without Betty. Although the audience always knew that Betty's time at NYW would have to be short lived, I never suspected this outcome. Even Wilhelmina, the loveable Cruella De Vile villainess couldn't get through this episode with her heart intact. The ending with Amanda and Sofia meeting up in the elevator was perfect. Can't wait for next week. I may actually be more excited about this show than Grey's now. Is Mark the new McDreamy? No, but Betty could kick Meredith's boney anything.

Horoscope 1/11/07

I know, I know, it's lame to post my horoscope twice in one week, when posting my horoscope in the first place was just a sign of pure laziness. But my earlier horoscope was about work and could be interpreted as having been accurate, so I'm posting today's- because today's is much more interesting!

The clues to a puzzle will finally fall into place. The passionate sentiments of a friend could convert you to a new way of thinking about the way the world works. The logic this person uses will be flawless and will expand your mind.

Let the mind expanding begin!

Horoscope for 1/9/07

A career opportunity of great magnitude will be tantalizingly close. Your ability to make it all tangible, though, is in question. Avoid making any long-term decisions unless absolutely necessary.


Let's see what happens....

Ugly Betty; Worst Episode Ever?

I am very disappointed in this week's episode of Ugly Betty. After such a strong debut, I expected more of the same after holiday hiatus- but no. Instead viewers got treated to an episode within an episode that was put together like a clip show, only with new clips. The backstory told would have made a strong episode on its own if it had shown as episode 4, instead of episode 11. The episode didn't move the story at all, but merely delayed Betty's departure from Mode to her new job at NYW. Let's hope Grey's fairs better when it returns next week.

Yo Ho Yo Ho, It's a Pirate's Life for Mii!

I recently went to a Nintendo party where those of us fortunate enough to possess a Wii (or be possessed by them) got together to play some friendly games of tennis, bowling, and golf. I discovered at this party that people were creating Mii's who didn't just look like themselves, but celebrities as well. There were Mii's of the devil, Charlie Brown, Ugly Betty, and Paris Hilton. I was amazed that this idea hadn't occurred to me before! I now have several more Mii's and my favorite is Captain Jack Sparrow- and now when I defeat people at bowling I can say "You'll always remember this day as the day you almost beat Captain Jack Sparrow!" Check out this link for more Mii ideas: http://www.kottke.org/06/12/celebrity-mii-contest-results

My Famous Jessica Albaladas (Serves 4)

Perhaps I can't claim a recipe that I took out of an issue of Self as my own, so I'll give credit where credit is due: Jessica Alba can make a mean dish of enchiladas. Since my issue of Self from July 2005 goes missing for large spans of time, I'm putting my favorite recipe ever here for posterity:
Ingredients:
4 cups chicken stock
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jalapeno pepper
1 clove garlic
1 jar (12 oz) salsa
1 cup shredded lowfat cheddar
1/2 cup shredded monterey jack
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 can sliced black olives
1 can (16 oz) traidtional enchilada sauce
1 can (16 oz) green chile enchilada sauce
Mexican hot sauce
Cayenne pepper
8 corn torillas at least 6 inches across

Now these are the ingredients recommended by Miss Alba, but I am pretty free with my amounts and prefer flour tortillas over corn.

Preheat oven to 425. In a medium pot, combine stock, chicken, jalapeno, and garlic. Boil 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Strain chicken, run cold water over it and shred into a bowl. Mix in salsa and set aside. In a seperate bowl, combine cheddar, 1/4 cup monterey jack, cilantro, and olives; set aside. In a large pot over medium heat, combine enchilada sauces and add Mexican hot sauce and cayenne to taste. Stir until simmering. Set aside. Coat an 11 x 13 casserole dish with nonstick spray. Microwave tortillas for 20 seconds. Place small handfuls of cheese mixture and chicken in center of each tortilla, roll up and place in pan, seam side down. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixures. Ladle on sauce, then add remaining 1/4 cup Monterey Jack. Bak 20 minutes. I recommend adding a little sour cream when serving.

Can you call HR about a dream?

I dreamt last night that a less than popular co-worker is a serial killer, and that I was his next victim. When I told/warned my friends about my dream, I was not comforted that they didn't think I'd be next- I'd probably be two or three down on the list.

Zelda; 8:56 hours

I have spent 9 hours playing Zelda this week and I wonder if I would be nearly as far as I am without the guidebook for help. I'm wondering if I'm losing some enjoyment in the game by relying on the guidebook so much; but on the other hand, I would miss so much that I would never notice without the book- so maybe I'd breakeven. For example, I could never find those golden bugs, let alone know I was supposed to be collecting golden bugs without the guidebook. I think for this week, I'm going to ease up on the book; let's see how long that lasts.

Resolution for 2007:

Is to have no resolutions! I'm happy with the way I am and don't need to change a thing.