12:25 PM Friend J
my new cell phone is here somewhere
i wish they would bring it to me
12:25 PM Mrs.
hee
i am embarrassed of my phone
12:25 PM Mrs.
i told mr. we need to get new ones
12:25 PM Friend J
i'm ridiculous
lol
i just got mine like a year ago
12:25 PM Mrs.
we have razors
12:25 PM Friend J
but they sent me a discount
12:26 PM Friend J
so i upgraded again
lol omg!
mrs. that is so like 2008
12:26 PM Mrs.
ha hahaha i totally laughed out loud at that
like loudly
12:26 PM Mrs.
yes
they were the free phone in 2007
12:26 PM Friend J
hehe
omg it's even worse!
12:26 PM Mrs.
when we changed our plan
i know
it’s bad
12:26 PM Friend J
i remember i really wanted one
12:26 PM Mrs.
i know
12:26 PM Friend J
and then everyone had problems w/them
12:26 PM Mrs.
we thought we were cool
12:26 PM Friend J
and they weren't open to verizon at first
so then i didn't get them
i got the LG chocolate
twice
12:27 PM Mrs.
i read that you could get an iphone at at&t for $49
12:27 PM Mrs.
i might look into that
12:27 PM Friend J
yeah you can
the older version
not the 4, the 3
12:27 PM Mrs.
eh well
i have a razor
12:27 PM Friend J
but seriously it's a huge step up for you LOL
12:27 PM Mrs.
so it would be an upgrade
hee
March 31, 2011
March 29, 2011
The Little Stranger
Mrs. read Sarah Waters’ The Little Stranger last month (review here) and requested that I read it as well so we could discuss. I’ll make this a quick post since Mrs. already went over the basic plot points and I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises. Like Mrs. I enjoyed the novel. I went in hoping for a good ghost story and wasn’t disappointed. The book is dark and mysterious and keeps you guessing as to what exactly is happening inside Hundreds Hall. Although it was written in 2009 it feels like a book that could have been written fifty years ago. Waters explores the theme of class in a changing world, with the Ayres family struggling to maintain their lifestyle and Dr. Faraday working to better his standing in society. Mrs. raved about the ending, and while I definitely thought it was good, I felt it was more ambiguous that Mrs. did. We have agreed to disagree on this point, but either way the book makes you think, and it got us discussing what it all meant. If nothing else we found a book that we both liked, which means there’s still hope that we might find some common ground on music and movies one day as well. Next Up: Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann
March 27, 2011
March 24, 2011
TV Tidbits
No, not another book review, but instead a few TV notes on this Thursday:
I realize this is yesterday’s news by now, but NBC renewed Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Office for next season, and it seems like Perfect Couples may not be back. I can only assume this blog played a large role in these decisions. If only we can get NBC to move Community ahead 30 minutes in the rotation. On a semi-related note (or distantly related), Hulu.com is having a best in show bracket and the final four has Community (which has trounced the competition so far) squaring off against Chuck, and House (which defeated Mad Men last round) taking on Dexter. On a more depressing note it looks like Mad Men Season 5 might get pushed back until later this fall or even 2012. Nooo!!!! The withdrawal symptoms have already begun.
A few quick comments on tonight’s The Office: Blogs are out?! At least that’s what Ryan said, but hopefully he’s wrong. Either way, I’m usually a couple of years behind the trends, so I’ll be blogging long after it’s gone out of style. And even though I thought it was a good episode overall, what was with the proposal? Michael setting up a ton of candles and the sprinklers going off? Thumbs up. The entire office standing in the kitchen with candles taking turns proposing to Holly? I almost threw up in my mouth. And why would Holly and Michael leave their jobs and home in Pennsylvania to go take care of her parents and not just bring her parents to Pennsylvania? I mean, besides the fact that this was how they are writing Michael Scott off the show?
And finally, Mrs. and I don’t always agree on what to watch on television, but most of the time we compromise and watch what she wants. But one of the shows we both enjoy is Chopped on The Food Network. So of course we’ve been watching Chopped All-Stars (where they’ve taken 16 contestants, ranging from old The Next Food Network Star losers, to The Next Iron Chef losers, to Food Network stars, and some of the Chopped judges). The first two episodes of Chopped All-Stars haven’t disappointed. In the second episode four Food Network stars squared off against each other and Mrs. said it was her favorite episode ever. It was pretty amazing to see how much better the professionals were than the average contestant on the show. The judges, who are usually pretty critical (part of what makes the show great) were fighting each other to praise the dishes. The first episode pitting four former The Next Food Network Star contestants featured the funniest moment ever on the show (I guess I’ll throw a spoiler alert out there if you intend to watch). On the show we’ve seen contestants run out of time, either not getting all of their food on the plates, or just flat out forgetting to use a mystery ingredient. But in the appetizer course of the first Chopped All-Stars episode, one of the contestants took it to a new level, leaving out not one, not two, but THREE of the mystery ingredients off the plate. What?! Just throw the crap on the plate, this is a competition. I could make something in 30 minutes that only involved an egg. Hey, at least it was good for a laugh.
I realize this is yesterday’s news by now, but NBC renewed Community, Parks and Recreation, and The Office for next season, and it seems like Perfect Couples may not be back. I can only assume this blog played a large role in these decisions. If only we can get NBC to move Community ahead 30 minutes in the rotation. On a semi-related note (or distantly related), Hulu.com is having a best in show bracket and the final four has Community (which has trounced the competition so far) squaring off against Chuck, and House (which defeated Mad Men last round) taking on Dexter. On a more depressing note it looks like Mad Men Season 5 might get pushed back until later this fall or even 2012. Nooo!!!! The withdrawal symptoms have already begun.
A few quick comments on tonight’s The Office: Blogs are out?! At least that’s what Ryan said, but hopefully he’s wrong. Either way, I’m usually a couple of years behind the trends, so I’ll be blogging long after it’s gone out of style. And even though I thought it was a good episode overall, what was with the proposal? Michael setting up a ton of candles and the sprinklers going off? Thumbs up. The entire office standing in the kitchen with candles taking turns proposing to Holly? I almost threw up in my mouth. And why would Holly and Michael leave their jobs and home in Pennsylvania to go take care of her parents and not just bring her parents to Pennsylvania? I mean, besides the fact that this was how they are writing Michael Scott off the show?
And finally, Mrs. and I don’t always agree on what to watch on television, but most of the time we compromise and watch what she wants. But one of the shows we both enjoy is Chopped on The Food Network. So of course we’ve been watching Chopped All-Stars (where they’ve taken 16 contestants, ranging from old The Next Food Network Star losers, to The Next Iron Chef losers, to Food Network stars, and some of the Chopped judges). The first two episodes of Chopped All-Stars haven’t disappointed. In the second episode four Food Network stars squared off against each other and Mrs. said it was her favorite episode ever. It was pretty amazing to see how much better the professionals were than the average contestant on the show. The judges, who are usually pretty critical (part of what makes the show great) were fighting each other to praise the dishes. The first episode pitting four former The Next Food Network Star contestants featured the funniest moment ever on the show (I guess I’ll throw a spoiler alert out there if you intend to watch). On the show we’ve seen contestants run out of time, either not getting all of their food on the plates, or just flat out forgetting to use a mystery ingredient. But in the appetizer course of the first Chopped All-Stars episode, one of the contestants took it to a new level, leaving out not one, not two, but THREE of the mystery ingredients off the plate. What?! Just throw the crap on the plate, this is a competition. I could make something in 30 minutes that only involved an egg. Hey, at least it was good for a laugh.
March 23, 2011
The Ancestry Search Continues….
So over the past week and a half or so I have been digging through lots of online files and prying into the heads of my relatives. I have discovered a few things:
1. When your peeps don’t speak English, you can find 4 different versions of the same last name (some phonetic, some just different). This makes it really hard to track things down.
2. My grandmother is listed on 4 different documents by 4 different first names ranging from Wladyslawa to Bertha. Neither of these was her actual name.
3. My maternal grandmother’s family has been the easiest to trace so far. They go back the furthest in the US which makes life easier. They also had easy to spell names, also helps. Of course, my Dad said that we have a copy of this family tree already. I am waiting to see it.
4. While I can find all of this info out, I wish I could find more than names and dates. The juicy stuff is not located in census records although I have come a cross some interesting tidbits.
5. I hate that women change their names. It makes it harder to trace their side of the family and frankly kind of annoys me. Maybe I will change my name back in response?
6. Men also seem to have more documents out there in general. Boo!
7. I am hitting roadblocks with things like wedding dates and such. There is not a ton online about this but if you are willing to pay, the local societies will search documents for you. Rip off.
8. Census records aren’t released for 72 years so the latest one available is 1930. Boo!
9. My great-grandmother had 11 children. Born at home. No drugs. No way, Jose.
1. When your peeps don’t speak English, you can find 4 different versions of the same last name (some phonetic, some just different). This makes it really hard to track things down.
2. My grandmother is listed on 4 different documents by 4 different first names ranging from Wladyslawa to Bertha. Neither of these was her actual name.
3. My maternal grandmother’s family has been the easiest to trace so far. They go back the furthest in the US which makes life easier. They also had easy to spell names, also helps. Of course, my Dad said that we have a copy of this family tree already. I am waiting to see it.
4. While I can find all of this info out, I wish I could find more than names and dates. The juicy stuff is not located in census records although I have come a cross some interesting tidbits.
5. I hate that women change their names. It makes it harder to trace their side of the family and frankly kind of annoys me. Maybe I will change my name back in response?
6. Men also seem to have more documents out there in general. Boo!
7. I am hitting roadblocks with things like wedding dates and such. There is not a ton online about this but if you are willing to pay, the local societies will search documents for you. Rip off.
8. Census records aren’t released for 72 years so the latest one available is 1930. Boo!
9. My great-grandmother had 11 children. Born at home. No drugs. No way, Jose.
March 22, 2011
Read This!: The Ivy Tree
By Mary Stewart
Yes, I know… another book review… I had a backlog because I was putting them off and since I made a commitment to you, my viewing public, to report on all the books I read, I have to do these.
This is my last one for the week. Ha!
The Ivy Tree is a story of greed and deceit. Mary Grey, fresh from Canada, is spotted by one Connor Winslow, the great nephew of a local English landowner. Because of their close physical resemblance, Connor thinks that Mary is his cousin Annabel (the landowner’s granddaughter) who disappeared eight years before. Soon, Connor and his half-sister manipulate Mary into pretending that she is this long lost cousin so that she can hand over to them any money or property that the close to death grandfather leaves his granddaughter in his will. There is more than meets the eye as expected and soon things become precarious for those who rebel against what Connor wants.
I have to say this book managed to surprise me with some of its twists (which is a good thing). I had actually thought it was a haunted house book when I started reading it. It was not. I honestly don’t have too much to say about it besides the fact I thought it was interesting but not the best book I ever read. The End.
Yes, I know… another book review… I had a backlog because I was putting them off and since I made a commitment to you, my viewing public, to report on all the books I read, I have to do these.
This is my last one for the week. Ha!
The Ivy Tree is a story of greed and deceit. Mary Grey, fresh from Canada, is spotted by one Connor Winslow, the great nephew of a local English landowner. Because of their close physical resemblance, Connor thinks that Mary is his cousin Annabel (the landowner’s granddaughter) who disappeared eight years before. Soon, Connor and his half-sister manipulate Mary into pretending that she is this long lost cousin so that she can hand over to them any money or property that the close to death grandfather leaves his granddaughter in his will. There is more than meets the eye as expected and soon things become precarious for those who rebel against what Connor wants.
I have to say this book managed to surprise me with some of its twists (which is a good thing). I had actually thought it was a haunted house book when I started reading it. It was not. I honestly don’t have too much to say about it besides the fact I thought it was interesting but not the best book I ever read. The End.
March 19, 2011
Dress Revision
I recently bought a pink and white dress that I thought could be nice for summer and what not. I had ordered it in a petite and even though the online reviews said it was Little House on the Prairie-ish, I thought it was nice and had been eyeing it for awhile so they didn't persuade me not to order. When I got it, I was not pleased but I thought, as it was completely cotton, if I wash and dry it, it will shrink up and fit. Um yeah. Didn't happen. So because I had already spent a decent amount of money on the thing and there was no way to return it, I said to myself, "I can't make it worse" and decided to cut three inches off the botton and hem it. I also did away with the weirdo bow around the waist. Having any kind of extra material at one's waist is never good, so alas it had to go. (I actually just took it out of the weird gathered belt thing and wrapped it around my waist.) Here are the before and afters:
I honestly don't know what the designer was thinking. Short people cannot pull off this length of dress and this was a petite size so by definition should have been adjusted. See the stump legs. Ick.
I think the changes make the dress look younger and less mom-ish. If my sewing skills were better, I would change the top into a tank or something but I am not even going to try that. Disaster would ensure I am sure.
March 18, 2011
Read This!: Remarkable Creatures
By Tracy Chevalier
Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of my favorite books and, as a result, even though her later books haven’t been as good in my opinion, I always read a new Tracy Chevalier when it comes out. I have been waiting for the paperback version of this book for awhile and finally saw it so I bought it.
I like Tracy Chevalier’s books because for the most part they take something that is real like a painting or a tapestry and weave a story around it. Here, the story centers on Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, two real life fossil hunting women who lived in the early 1800s in Lyme Regis, England. They comb the beaches for fossils eventually finding some large specimens (aka dinosaurs) that challenge the scientific and religious teachings of the day. Through all of this Mary and Elizabeth develop a strong friendship important to both.
I doubted that I would like this book. I mean two spinsters searching the beach for fossils. Eh. Not really engrossing literature. I confess I did feel a bit bored with some of the extra long passages on science but they were few and far between and I do wish they had pictures of the dinosaurs which were talked about. (I ended up looking them up on Wikipedia.) Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. There is a lot of story in there and it was definitely a worthwhile read. I am sure Chevalier took some literary license when describing the events of these ladies’ lives but, eh, that is why it's called fiction.
Blog Note: We're sorry if you are bored with all the book reviews. Our next post will not be one. Hooray!
Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of my favorite books and, as a result, even though her later books haven’t been as good in my opinion, I always read a new Tracy Chevalier when it comes out. I have been waiting for the paperback version of this book for awhile and finally saw it so I bought it.
I like Tracy Chevalier’s books because for the most part they take something that is real like a painting or a tapestry and weave a story around it. Here, the story centers on Mary Anning and Elizabeth Philpot, two real life fossil hunting women who lived in the early 1800s in Lyme Regis, England. They comb the beaches for fossils eventually finding some large specimens (aka dinosaurs) that challenge the scientific and religious teachings of the day. Through all of this Mary and Elizabeth develop a strong friendship important to both.
I doubted that I would like this book. I mean two spinsters searching the beach for fossils. Eh. Not really engrossing literature. I confess I did feel a bit bored with some of the extra long passages on science but they were few and far between and I do wish they had pictures of the dinosaurs which were talked about. (I ended up looking them up on Wikipedia.) Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. There is a lot of story in there and it was definitely a worthwhile read. I am sure Chevalier took some literary license when describing the events of these ladies’ lives but, eh, that is why it's called fiction.
Blog Note: We're sorry if you are bored with all the book reviews. Our next post will not be one. Hooray!
March 16, 2011
Read This!: Lady Audley's Secret
By Mary Elizabeth Braddon
Lady Audley’s Secret is a Victorian novel which centers around the mysterious disappearance of George Talboys.
After spending years in Australia, George returns to England with a fortune made only to find out his much beloved wife is dead. His friend, Robert Audley, takes charge of him in the year succeeding his wife’s death until he (George) mysteriously disappears. Audley soon suspects foul play and begins his investigation. What happens next? You will have to read to find out.
Overall I thought the story was good. I thought it hysterical that while I love a good mystery, I had no idea this book was one until I started reading it. It was like ESP for my preferred genre or something. I found this book at times to be annoying in the same way that I been annoyed by other Victorian writers: the constant allusions which need to be explained in footnotes (I don’t do footnotes because I just don’t care that much) and the long melodramatic thoughts that carry on for pages (ugg who cares? Stop whining). I have these issues with Wilkie Collins books which I am a fan of and they were heavy in Middlemarch which I hated. I am beginning to think these are Victorian characteristics and makes me consider reading some Charles Dickens to back up my hypothesis, except I do not care for Dickens. AT ALL. I haven’t read any of his major works in years without loss of sleep (although I must confess I did read a book of four of his Christmas short stories the year before last) .
My final though on this book is that George expects (before finding she is dead) that his wife will be waiting with a warm welcome. Um, he left her destitute for years with a baby to raise without a word. If I were Mrs. Talboys and I were alive, I would have slammed the door in his face and told him he could stick it. Idiot.
Lady Audley’s Secret is a Victorian novel which centers around the mysterious disappearance of George Talboys.
After spending years in Australia, George returns to England with a fortune made only to find out his much beloved wife is dead. His friend, Robert Audley, takes charge of him in the year succeeding his wife’s death until he (George) mysteriously disappears. Audley soon suspects foul play and begins his investigation. What happens next? You will have to read to find out.
Overall I thought the story was good. I thought it hysterical that while I love a good mystery, I had no idea this book was one until I started reading it. It was like ESP for my preferred genre or something. I found this book at times to be annoying in the same way that I been annoyed by other Victorian writers: the constant allusions which need to be explained in footnotes (I don’t do footnotes because I just don’t care that much) and the long melodramatic thoughts that carry on for pages (ugg who cares? Stop whining). I have these issues with Wilkie Collins books which I am a fan of and they were heavy in Middlemarch which I hated. I am beginning to think these are Victorian characteristics and makes me consider reading some Charles Dickens to back up my hypothesis, except I do not care for Dickens. AT ALL. I haven’t read any of his major works in years without loss of sleep (although I must confess I did read a book of four of his Christmas short stories the year before last) .
My final though on this book is that George expects (before finding she is dead) that his wife will be waiting with a warm welcome. Um, he left her destitute for years with a baby to raise without a word. If I were Mrs. Talboys and I were alive, I would have slammed the door in his face and told him he could stick it. Idiot.
March 15, 2011
Angel Time
Anne Rice’s Angel Time is the first book in The Songs of the Seraphim series. Her latest series revolves around angels instead of vampires, but I’d advise Anne to stick to the blood suckers. After finishing Angel Time, I can’t say I’m eager to get to the second installment. The novel follows Toby O’Dare (aka Lucky the Fox), a twenty-something assassin who may or may not be working for the government, as he prepares for what will be his last kill. At the scene of the assassination he encounters Malchiah, an angel who offers Toby a chance for redemption. Malchiah transports our contract killer to 13th-century England where he is tasked with saving Meir and Fluria, a Jewish couple falsely accused of murdering their daughter by the local population looking to make a martyr of the young girl and villainize the Jewish population. Toby races from the small English town to France and back in the disguise of a Dominican friar in an effort to finish his assignment.
As much as it pains me to say as an Anne Rice fan, Angel Time was a waste of time to read. It’s a shadow of Rice’s earlier works and felt like a book written in a hurry. The novel was preachy to a fault, with a thin story and underdeveloped characters. We do get some back story on Toby’s childhood and what eventually led him to become an assassin, but even that seemed unbelievable. And don’t get me started on Toby spending ten years as a professional murderer, who says he kills without conscience, and then one day an angel shows up, and bam!, he suddenly realizes his need for redemption. Ridiculous. What I think is meant to be a serious novel with deep themes ends up being almost comical. Nothing to see here, move along.
Next Up: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (per Mrs.’ request – and to get her to shut up about it)
As much as it pains me to say as an Anne Rice fan, Angel Time was a waste of time to read. It’s a shadow of Rice’s earlier works and felt like a book written in a hurry. The novel was preachy to a fault, with a thin story and underdeveloped characters. We do get some back story on Toby’s childhood and what eventually led him to become an assassin, but even that seemed unbelievable. And don’t get me started on Toby spending ten years as a professional murderer, who says he kills without conscience, and then one day an angel shows up, and bam!, he suddenly realizes his need for redemption. Ridiculous. What I think is meant to be a serious novel with deep themes ends up being almost comical. Nothing to see here, move along.
Next Up: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (per Mrs.’ request – and to get her to shut up about it)
March 14, 2011
About Right
Saturday, I bought a shirt from Banana Republic and paid full (over)price. But, I liked it and decided to treat myself.
Saturday, I checked my e-mail and saw I had a 20% coupon code for BR. I re-ordered the same shirt with a discount and free shipping. I never do things like this.
Saturday, I lost my receipt for the shirt bought in store. I never lose receipts and may have thrown a tantrum over this.
Saturday, I realized that it could be a big effort to try to return original shirt with no receipt and between paying for parking and making an effort, may not be worth it. I made the decision to return the newly ordered shirt when it arrives and not get the discount.
Today, I log on and see a 30% off coupon for BR in my inbox. Figures.
Saturday, I checked my e-mail and saw I had a 20% coupon code for BR. I re-ordered the same shirt with a discount and free shipping. I never do things like this.
Saturday, I lost my receipt for the shirt bought in store. I never lose receipts and may have thrown a tantrum over this.
Saturday, I realized that it could be a big effort to try to return original shirt with no receipt and between paying for parking and making an effort, may not be worth it. I made the decision to return the newly ordered shirt when it arrives and not get the discount.
Today, I log on and see a 30% off coupon for BR in my inbox. Figures.
March 10, 2011
Who Do I Think I Am?
I am a huge fan of the NBC show Who Do You Think You Are? I have always been interested in the idea of tracing family history and genealogy and had spent some time in high school going through census records, talking to my grandparents and what not. I eventually gave up because it was a long and arduous task and, frankly, I have a limited attention span.
My interest has been rekindled in part by this fab show and in part because, while Mr. seems to see no value in family trees outside of seeing how long everyone lived and how many Bridgets and Patricks are in his line, he has a long and interesting family tree already mapped out thanks to his grandma and aunt. I am jealous of his tree and want a similar one. The most I can go back is my great-grandparents and even that is debatable. But, today, they have this fabulous thing called the internet which I am hoping will allow me to do some genealogy searching from the comfort of my desk at work (hee) and my house.
What do I know so far?
All of my grandparents were born in America. My great-grandparents I know at least some were born in Europe. I have a lot of their names and have been picking my aunt's brains.
So I don’t have a ton to go on, but let’s see where the census records and other documents found online take me.
And I am off!
My interest has been rekindled in part by this fab show and in part because, while Mr. seems to see no value in family trees outside of seeing how long everyone lived and how many Bridgets and Patricks are in his line, he has a long and interesting family tree already mapped out thanks to his grandma and aunt. I am jealous of his tree and want a similar one. The most I can go back is my great-grandparents and even that is debatable. But, today, they have this fabulous thing called the internet which I am hoping will allow me to do some genealogy searching from the comfort of my desk at work (hee) and my house.
What do I know so far?
All of my grandparents were born in America. My great-grandparents I know at least some were born in Europe. I have a lot of their names and have been picking my aunt's brains.
So I don’t have a ton to go on, but let’s see where the census records and other documents found online take me.
And I am off!
March 9, 2011
Here and There
-Lent starts today. We are giving up mid-week desserts (my decision, Mr. just nodded when I told him). I considered giving up one of my daily teas but tea equals nectar of the gods for me and caffeine keeps me going so alas that is not going to happen. I also considered going to pilates more than once a week but I hate working out in all its forms so I don't think I would have the discipline. It takes a lot for me to go once a week now.
-Also regarding Lent, I just read in an article that the US group of bishops or some such say that fasting (which Catholics are supposed to be doing today) is one big meal the whole day or two small meals that won't equal one meal each. When did this happen? 17 years of Catholic school if you count college told me it was no eating between meals aka no snacking. Hmmm....
-One more Lenten note, with our giving up non-weekend desserts for Lent, that means no buying from the cupcake man who comes weekly to my work for the next six weeks. His profits will be going way down.
-I paid our cell phone bill yesterday. I used one minute of service last month.
-Paczkis do not last until the second day. Definitely taking note of this.
-One of my co-workers gave me 5 big cookies this week for helping her out on a project. Party all the time! Mr. and I highly enjoyed them and it counterbalanced me having to log in and do work on Sunday, which I did with some complaint. Ha!
-Part of the reason I am posting this is because the picture of the paczkis when I log into our blog has been turning my stomach since yesterday due to a massive nausea inducing headache (thanks big rain storm) that is slow to move on out. Blech to the sight of food and I don't want to cringe every time I view this page.
-Also regarding Lent, I just read in an article that the US group of bishops or some such say that fasting (which Catholics are supposed to be doing today) is one big meal the whole day or two small meals that won't equal one meal each. When did this happen? 17 years of Catholic school if you count college told me it was no eating between meals aka no snacking. Hmmm....
-One more Lenten note, with our giving up non-weekend desserts for Lent, that means no buying from the cupcake man who comes weekly to my work for the next six weeks. His profits will be going way down.
-I paid our cell phone bill yesterday. I used one minute of service last month.
-Paczkis do not last until the second day. Definitely taking note of this.
-One of my co-workers gave me 5 big cookies this week for helping her out on a project. Party all the time! Mr. and I highly enjoyed them and it counterbalanced me having to log in and do work on Sunday, which I did with some complaint. Ha!
-Part of the reason I am posting this is because the picture of the paczkis when I log into our blog has been turning my stomach since yesterday due to a massive nausea inducing headache (thanks big rain storm) that is slow to move on out. Blech to the sight of food and I don't want to cringe every time I view this page.
March 6, 2011
Punchkeys!
Thursday, my cousin sent me an e-mail saying that my family was going to have a "punchkey" party on Sunday. I knew what she was talking about and we had a good laugh because neither of us knew how to spell it. Then, I got home Thursday night and Mr. says to me "Hey, did you know it is garble garble bad pronunciation Day!".Me: "What? You mean punchkeys???"
Mr: "Punchkeys? I would never pronounced it like that. Oh you crazy Polish"
Me: "Why how do they spell it?"
Mr: "P-A-C-Z-K-I"
Me: "Wow. Never would have guessed that."
Are you confused yet?
Let me clarify.
I am talking about paczkis, Polish doughnuts, made before Lent, traditionally on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday but also on Mardi Gras depending on your locale.
My grandma always made these and so I thought I would give it a try this weekend.
I don't like jelly or fruit filling in doughnuts so I put a nice glaze on them along with some that just had powdered sugar.
They came out quite well although I will say I do not care for things that involve yeast because I feel like it never blooms right when I do it. I also don't like waiting around and more waiting around. Blech. So I will not be making these everyday. But they are a nice treat to ring in the Lenten season. Mr. and I are giving up mid-week desserts because we have been out of control lately and need to take a step back for the sake of our (OK my) waistlines. So this is our last major sugar fest (mid-week at least) until April. We got about two dozen so let's see how many we can get down prior to Wednesday. We've eaten four in the past few hours.
March 5, 2011
Empire Falls
Richard Russo’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel Empire Falls is set in the dying town of Empire Falls, Maine, a blue-collar town once dominated by the Whiting family and their textile factory. The main character is Miles Roby, who runs the local Empire Grill and, like many of town’s residents, finds himself stuck in the small town where he grew up. The story takes place in both the present and flashbacks to Miles’ childhood and his return to Empire Falls from college to be with his dying mother. Miles is struggling with his pending divorce, trying to provide for his teenage daughter Christina (with the unfortunate nickname “Tick”), and dealing with Francine Whiting, the wealthy widow of the family that still owns most of the town, including the Empire Grill. There are too many plot lines to summarize them all, but Russo successfully weaves all of the stories together.
Of all the books I’ve reviewed on this blog, Empire Falls has been my favorite. It was definitely worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. One of the many things I loved about this book is Russo’s style, which made it easy to zoom through an almost 500 page novel. He creates a memorable cast characters, and does a great job of developing even the minor ones. I could relate to the characters and even though they all have their flaws, each is also sympathetic. It’s the kind of book that I think would be interesting to dissect in a class or book club. The novel is filled with symbolism, with the deteriorating town mirroring the lives of many of the residents. Miles’ soon to be ex-wife Janine thinks the grass will be greener after her divorce, just like many of the characters think that getting out of Empire Falls would improve their lives. But even worse are those holding on to the irrational hope that the town will magically recover from the closing of the factories, mirroring those resigned to remain stuck in the abusive relationships we see in various forms. But even if you miss all of this symbolism, it's still a interesting story.
If I had any criticism (and I hate to even call it that) it would be that the book’s climactic event, about 100 pages from the end, seemed a little forced. It was almost as if Russo felt something needed to happen. However, it did fit into the story and was definitely foreshadowed, so perhaps it was just the particular act that served as the climax that was difficult for me. It didn’t change the fact that the novel was well worth recommending as an intelligent, sometimes sad, often humorous observation of life in a small town.
Another great thing about Empire Falls is that it served as my introduction to Richard Russo. One of my favorite things is discovering an author I like and knowing that I now have a list of books to look forward to. From my Michael Crichton addiction in high school, to devouring everything by Kurt Vonnegut in college and my early 20’s, to Anne Rice’s vampires, and more recently Cormac McCarthy’s difficult but rewarding novels, I’ve always loved having authors I could count on. So the good news is that Russo has six other novels I can now add to my reading list. And that includes Nobody’s Fool, which I purchased recently as part of a book buying spree to use up gift cards before the local Borders closed.
Next Up: Angel Time by Anne Rice
Of all the books I’ve reviewed on this blog, Empire Falls has been my favorite. It was definitely worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. One of the many things I loved about this book is Russo’s style, which made it easy to zoom through an almost 500 page novel. He creates a memorable cast characters, and does a great job of developing even the minor ones. I could relate to the characters and even though they all have their flaws, each is also sympathetic. It’s the kind of book that I think would be interesting to dissect in a class or book club. The novel is filled with symbolism, with the deteriorating town mirroring the lives of many of the residents. Miles’ soon to be ex-wife Janine thinks the grass will be greener after her divorce, just like many of the characters think that getting out of Empire Falls would improve their lives. But even worse are those holding on to the irrational hope that the town will magically recover from the closing of the factories, mirroring those resigned to remain stuck in the abusive relationships we see in various forms. But even if you miss all of this symbolism, it's still a interesting story.
If I had any criticism (and I hate to even call it that) it would be that the book’s climactic event, about 100 pages from the end, seemed a little forced. It was almost as if Russo felt something needed to happen. However, it did fit into the story and was definitely foreshadowed, so perhaps it was just the particular act that served as the climax that was difficult for me. It didn’t change the fact that the novel was well worth recommending as an intelligent, sometimes sad, often humorous observation of life in a small town.
Another great thing about Empire Falls is that it served as my introduction to Richard Russo. One of my favorite things is discovering an author I like and knowing that I now have a list of books to look forward to. From my Michael Crichton addiction in high school, to devouring everything by Kurt Vonnegut in college and my early 20’s, to Anne Rice’s vampires, and more recently Cormac McCarthy’s difficult but rewarding novels, I’ve always loved having authors I could count on. So the good news is that Russo has six other novels I can now add to my reading list. And that includes Nobody’s Fool, which I purchased recently as part of a book buying spree to use up gift cards before the local Borders closed.
Next Up: Angel Time by Anne Rice
March 1, 2011
Read This!: The Little Stranger
By Sarah Waters
This is another of the books I got at the Borders spree a few weeks ago. I pulled it off the shelf because it seemed interesting but when I took a closer look (after I already threw it in my buy pile), I saw some comments on it like "Guaranteed to give you sleepless nights!". Um. I hate scary (my Dad at one point in my childhood forbid me to go to slumber parties if I came back from another one after a night of scary stories/ movies afraid to go to bed) so I debated putting it back and but in the end decided to give it a go anyways.
I am glad I did.
The Little Stranger is told from the perspective of Dr. Faraday who came from humble beginnings and worked his way up to being a doctor. One day in post WWII England he is called to Hundreds Hall to attend the housemaid who is ill.
Hundreds is the family home of the Ayres who are part of the landed gentry even though their house is decaying around them and they have no money to speak of.
The Ayres, mother, daughter, and son, live a lonely existence out at Hundreds and soon after the initial visit, the Doctor becomes a regular visitor to the house.
Strange things start to happen around the house. Is it insanity, hysteria, a ghost? Everything culminates into one ending I didn't guess.
I have to say this book definitely gave me the creeps especially one part where there is some scratching on wood paneling. Ick. Just that sound.
I also have to say that this book had one of the best ending lines in any of the books I have read for a long time. I actually exclaimed "Wow!"
I have told Mr. to read this so we can discuss it because now, looking back, I am seeing all of the clues and I want to have someone to rehash it with.
This is another of the books I got at the Borders spree a few weeks ago. I pulled it off the shelf because it seemed interesting but when I took a closer look (after I already threw it in my buy pile), I saw some comments on it like "Guaranteed to give you sleepless nights!". Um. I hate scary (my Dad at one point in my childhood forbid me to go to slumber parties if I came back from another one after a night of scary stories/ movies afraid to go to bed) so I debated putting it back and but in the end decided to give it a go anyways.
I am glad I did.
The Little Stranger is told from the perspective of Dr. Faraday who came from humble beginnings and worked his way up to being a doctor. One day in post WWII England he is called to Hundreds Hall to attend the housemaid who is ill.
Hundreds is the family home of the Ayres who are part of the landed gentry even though their house is decaying around them and they have no money to speak of.
The Ayres, mother, daughter, and son, live a lonely existence out at Hundreds and soon after the initial visit, the Doctor becomes a regular visitor to the house.
Strange things start to happen around the house. Is it insanity, hysteria, a ghost? Everything culminates into one ending I didn't guess.
I have to say this book definitely gave me the creeps especially one part where there is some scratching on wood paneling. Ick. Just that sound.
I also have to say that this book had one of the best ending lines in any of the books I have read for a long time. I actually exclaimed "Wow!"
I have told Mr. to read this so we can discuss it because now, looking back, I am seeing all of the clues and I want to have someone to rehash it with.
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