Saturday, October 31, 2009

TV: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

I'm completely going against every peer of mine by saying that I wasn't that much of a fan of Peanuts television specials. I read the comics and my dad used to give me Peanuts' themed birthday cards, but I really didn't like watching the specials. The Thanksgiving dinner made me cringe, I hated the fake adult voice they used (along with the horrible lack of adult supervision) and I felt so bad for Charlie Brown. I thought Lucy and Peppermint Patty were the meanest, Pig Pen made me itch, and while I actually like Snoopy, why is it that the dog gets all the good stuff?

I can actually hear the tirade, people. I understand these are classics. I understand the Schulz and his cartoon were extremely well liked and popular for years, but I don't like the TV specials. I guess if I'm going to be Peanuts, then I'll stick with the short strip.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Miscellaneous: Specs

I just got new glasses (above). They are much different than my usual selection. They are purple (well, the color says mauve, but that's close enough). Okay, I'm rambling.

My eye doctor has asked me about contact lenses the last few times I've gone. The idea is a good one especially since contacts have come a long way since I last wore them. But, there's an ease to slapping on my glasses first thing in the morning knowing I can see (which is extremely accurate - I can't see clearly at about 4 inches from my face without lenses).

Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I needed my contacts when I wanted to look pretty and find a boyfriend. I'm married now...what's the point?

On the third hand, it would be nice to put on sunglasses whenever I needed them and they help keep my vision from changing (as the contact on the eye is more effective than a lens 3/4 of the way from my eye).

And my insurance covers lens...but do I really want to have to buy lens care?

You just got a taste of things that run through my mind. I apologize.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Men: Empire's List

I have no clue who these people are, but they made a list of 100 sexiest movie stars. Fifty of them I'm not interested in because they're women (I already feel inferior, why rub it in?) However, the other 50 are very interesting. Most interesting is #47 (Love. Him.), #44 (I didn't know about him...nice.), #41 (Hmmm.), #23 (One of my favs.), and #4 (I have to admit he's a cutie, but he's too...everything.)

So instead of just one, here's 50. Enjoy :o)

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Chocolate: World Classics Chocolate Obsession

...Swiss Dark Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs. 69% cacao.

B bought one for us. Read: FOR ME. 'Cuz that's how chocolate rolls around here.

It has a waxy feel on the outside and crisp bite. After getting it in the mouth it has a creamy feel (the Swiss part I'm sure). Then you chow down on the nibs and get the bitter, which only sticks for a short time and back in the throat. It's decent. I like that it isn't dry and bitter which usually makes me long for something to drink.

If I have B go out and get more of this brand for "us" then I'd like to try their Majestic Mint or the Hazelnut Heaven.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Books: The Halloween Tree

In a couple of weeks we'll have all the ghoulies and monsters, ... well, all the commercialized TV & movie related costumed children out banging down our doors for candy. One show that might air on TV is The Halloween Tree, a cartoon version of the book by Ray Bradbury. When I watched it for the second time (the first was a little confusing and scary for me) I realized what a perfect educational cartoon it was for explaining Halloween. If it comes on I'm going to encourage A and M to watch. For the rest of you, I suggest the book.

Friday, October 16, 2009

TV: Big Deal

I don't even want to write the words because the whole world is probably Googling them. Maybe I could use the traffic, but I don't want it if it's going to be because of "The Boy." By now you're probably aware of the whole $$$ debacle.

So I'm sitting at lunch and someone comes in apologizing for being on her cell phone. Apparently her mother was sitting on the edge of her chair because a boy was hovering 8000 ft above earth in a balloon made by his parents. Being the tech saavy [okay, that's how I get my news] person that I am, I immediately got streaming video. At that point the balloon had landed and "The Boy" was no where to be found. Many were worried that "The Boy" had fallen out, but not me. I knew "The Boy" was hiding.

Later, reason appeared. I had to go back to work, but everyone had their opinions and some were thinking about the events. How could "The Boy" be in the basket if the balloon was tipping back and forth? Who actually saw "The Boy" get into the balloon? Oh, but I knew. That kid would show up safe and sound at home, costing $$$. At first I thought it was just the kid, but now charges are being brought up. The latest being that the parents had been planning this for at least two weeks.

Now I really feel for "The Boy." You can't pick your parents.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Miscellaneous: Costumes

We finally went to our friend's Halloween party last year dressed as hippies. They were last minute costumes, but functional. We'd like to go again this year, but haven't a clue what to be. I still have to make costumes for the kiddos!

So I did a little surfing. There was one site with some very cool costumes, not so many ideas though. WTF Costumes has some really crappy, but also some really cool costumes (some not safe for little kiddos). One of the costumes shown on the site is to the right. Too cute!

I had the kids dress up as the princess and the pea one year when the youngest couldn't walk. I've seen two other girls a few years apart dress up as Miss Clavel and Madeline. A Google search yielded a baby lobster costume...the cute part was that he was in a bucket. Kids have all the great costumes. Got any ideas for us

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Chocolate: Rachel Dunn Chocolates

I may be giving a lot away by posting this, but I absolutely have to post about the chocolate, caramel, and almond covered apples from Rachel Dunn Chocolates. The apples are to die for and if you go to their site you can see why. [As of this posting the site is under construction.]

The company used to be Grand Avenue Chocolates [Here's an article explaining the change.] and I would be one of those in the long lines to pick out apples as gifts. I wasn't alone. Oprah features the apples in one of her favorite things episodes. I'm almost salivating at getting one this year. It's been a couple of years since the article so I hope that things are still booming as they were two years ago. The windows are ominously dark when I drive by.

Here's pictures...

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Books: Avatar

We've been a little crazy here. Well, more crazy than usual. I finally got to sit and read a book (Salvation in Death) but since I've written about the In Death series before, I didn't really have anything for this post. Then A & M sat in front of the TV for a couple of hours and sounds of Avatar: The Last Airbender made their way to the back of the house. I love Avatar: TLA. The show reminded me that after we bought the entire season on DVD, (Yes, we did =) ) B also bought a short four book set called The Lost Scrolls.

I was excited about them for two reasons: One, A's costume this year is Katara. Getting good pictures of her costume was a must. Two, there is some information in there that I'm always forgetting like where airbenders learned to air bend or what are all the earth kingdom cities.
But I was somewhat disappointed because the books only focus on the first season. There's no Toph or Azula. I also thought there would have even more historical information, but instead there are just summaries of some of the episodes.

So if these books, one for each of the four nations (air, earth, water, and fire), are only for the first season, does that mean we'll have to shell out more $$$ to read the other seasons? And if so, do I really want to buy them? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

TV: More New Stuff

The big week came and all the awesome TV shows tried to live up to their awesome status. So what did you think?

It's so sweet of you to let me go first! Another episode of The Biggest Loser has come and gone. What a tearjerker! I swear it isn't about losing weight anymore. It's about turning me into a sobbing puddle of goo. At least it happened at the end after that crazy Tracey woman drove the others to distraction. Boy, is she nuts! Where was karma at her weigh in?

Another episode of Supernatural down. Should have known THAT was coming. I've been waiting for the brother vs brother showdown since the whole demon blood thing started. Now we have Lucifer/Sam against Sword of Michael/Dean. Yeah...

Caught Eastwick. So...I don't know. I'm not with it by any means. It starts very much like the movie only faster. I'm not sure how they're going to carry it into a series with stuff happening so fast. But there is a little bit about Van Horne having been in the town before. That puts something in that was lacking in the movie. Still...I don't know.

Warehouse 13 ended with a bang! I don't like that the bad guy got away nor do I like that some of the warehouse stuff is probably very damaged, but I think Neilsen is alive. The Phoenix medallion sort of disappeared in all the ruckus. I bet he had it in his pocket. The bad thing is the reprecussions of using it. Who's going to die? Oh, and HOLY COW what the heck did they do to Leena? I really liked her and now we won't get to learn more about what she can do. I have to say I still love Lattimer and Claudia. Their personalities make the show.

Heroes was starting to wear on me last season. I was almost afraid to watch. It has been interesting so far. I hate Gretchen, and I can't make out this circus guy or the whole compass thing. So it's a wait and see. What's going to happen to Petrelli when Sylar breaks through? And I really liked Matt, but he was always a hothead. Is he absorbing Sylar or what? (And, yes, I do know Gretchen is in with the circus people.)

Still loving my Fringe and Lie to Me :o)

My takes on Bones, Medium, Numb3rs, CSI and Dollhouse next time. Right now I'm headed off to look up NCIS - I never watch it, but the new one has LL Cool J...hmmm.

Eggs

Lots of eggy things happening. I finished the latest round of Hatchlings in first place for my area. YEA! I can't handle that kind of stress right now though. So no going this round. I don't think I'll be up for devoting that kind of time until next spring or summer.

I have another friend with a baby girl on the way. That's a happy egg ;) I'll be using my former egg hunting time to crochet. I can't give it away more than that because she might be reading.


B bought some sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit things at the store the other day. They are supposed to be healthy because they are made with low fat sausage and egg white. What kills me (somewhat literally) is the sodium content - yikes! Now that's if I can get past eating eggs at all. Yes, I tried one. No, I didn't puke. Can we get another yea? I still can only eat one a week.