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And it is with the advertisement from this week’s TV Guide that I come to terms and face the music of what’s happening to Grey’s Anatomy.
You’re Addison Montgomery, not That Girl.
“COULD change Grey’s Anatomy FOREVER.”
Well, I’ll go ahead and spoil it for ya:
It will change Grey’s Anatomy forever.
And at this point, to be totally honest, I think it might be for the better (To be discussed on Thursday).
I had read somewhere that Kate Walsh has a clause in her contract for the spin-off, tentatively titled Private Practice, that she would be written back into Grey’s Anatomy if the show didn’t go so well. Yeah, I’d like to see them even *try* to fix the damage they’ve done to Addison’s character after this thing (hopefully) flops.
Don’t get me wrong, since she knocked me on my ass at the end of season one with the catty “You must be the woman who’s sleeping with my husband” line which left me counting down the days to season two all summer long, Kate Walsh has developed into one of my favorite actresses and she deserves the recognition she’s getting. However, I don’t want the producers and writers of this show to think that just because Grey’s is one of the highest rated shows on television that they destroy its heart and milk it for all it’s worth, when in reality it’s worth a goldmine as it was. I just wish Kate could get what she’s earned by being the level headed and passionate OB/GYN we all have come to love and forgive, instead of one step away from being a new character on Nip/Tuck.(Don’t get me wrong, I love Nip/Tuck, but those reasons are entirely different and will be discussed in September when the Christian Troy Sized Season 5 begins, or maybe even sooner. Who knows?).
ANYWAY, I’ll post something more episode-specific this Thursday for the two-hour event, The Other Side Of Life. Stay tuned. Thar be rough waters ahead.
For now, anyways.
I was able to fix the pesky comment input box problem pretty easily, so that will close this round of major code messing.
We may be doing some minor tinkering in the meantime, color-wise, so if you see something you like (or something that needs repair), holler!
Was… AWESOME! She’s funny, smart and beautiful and had some interesting people calling in, especially since a lot of people had never even heard of her before.
I had very little trouble waking up at 2:45 this morning (thanks to my Starbucks days), and got cozied on the big comfy couch with some tea and a blanket and laughed my way into this morning’s sunrise.
One thing I am going to miss when I move is AirAmerica. They used to have it in Cincinnati (and Columbus, too) but after the last election AirAmerica got dropped from a lot of cities lineups. Hmm. Interesting. But that’s another blog for another day.
Anyway, if you want some laughs over well-known female impersonator Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity’s hair helmet or Bill O. the Perv-O., tune in. Or, if the morning doesn’t work out check out StepahnieMiller.com. It eases the pain. 
Hope everyone’s weekend was lovely and filled with the most wonderful of adventures. Share them with me, would you?
ANYWAY, this post is to let you know that Sea Babble is currently under construction. We’re working on a new look for our girl and hopefully in a few days she’ll come out better than ever.
In the meantime, get to bed early so you can get up early with me tomorrow to watch Stephanie Miller on MSNBC at 6 AM Eastern Time (which sadly translates to 3 AM Pacific time, but totally worth it!)
Probably one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life was chosing my college major after watching Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. Anthropology has allowed me to explore so many aspects of learning that I love; culture, history, science, literature, oral tradition and music.
The latter three springing mainly from my newest academic love, Folklore. I’ve been lucky enough to have two outstanding Folklore professors at CSUN and am convinced that if/when I do that whole Master’s/Doctorate thing, it will have to be in folklore. Luckily two of the three best schools in the country for Folklore studies are in the Midwest.
ANYWAY, this semester my Folklore seminar has us writing a final paper on urban legends. So, naturally, before the paper we research.
Loads.
And I came across this urban legend which may be my new favorite.
I guess we can call it Eddie Murphy-lore?
Gisela Klein, 48, was waiting for the elevator to take her to the ground floor of Manhattan’s luxurious Ritz Carlton where she was planning to meet her husband for dinner. As she waited, Eddie Murphy and his bodyguards appeared from their rooms and stood next to her.
Klein was so nerve-wracked by New York’s fearsome reputation as a hotbed of crime that she was convinced the Hollywood superstar and his burly security men were muggers.
When one of the security officers told her to “hit the floor” (as in the button), Klein fell to her knees sobbing and begging for them to spare her. The men were slightly confused but then laughed and helped her off the floor.
When Gisela and her husband later checked out after their week-long stay, they found the highhearted comedian had paid their $3,500 hotel bill in full.
Eddie even left a note for her saying, “Madam, our encounter was one of the nicest and funniest moments in my life. If only all women would fall at me [sic] feet like you did.
“But since you didn’t have as much fun as we had, I have paid your hotel bill for you.”
Signed,
Eddie Murphy
________________________
That being said! Tell me your urban legends for my paper!!! Please! Surely there’s some ghost that walks a road near your house. Or a friend of a friend knows a babysitter that got some menacing phone calls… well, you know the rest.
Let’s hear ‘em kids! Or, if you wanna hear some good ones, I’ve got a couple legends and ghost stories that’ll knock your socks off. Surely.
Welcome back!
It’s lovely to see you again and I think tonight we’ve fixed up quite a treat for your visual taste buds to get all whirly over. Or at least I’d like to think so. Once again, we found ourselves Han Solo for dinner, and in an effort to save money, Albertson’s was going to provide us with the cheap tools to create a meal that can only be described as Millennium Falc-Yum.
Aside from the many hair/face/lotiony products that has turned tonight into the ultimate girls night of product testing, and turned my tab at Albertson’s up a few notches, the good people there sold me a wonderful Red Snapper fillet, a box of Near East RoastedChicken and Garlic Rice Pilaf and a good amount of fresh, leafy green spinach.
The rice was the usual “bring the water to a boil and then let the rice-n-spice get it on over low heat for about 20 minutes” ordeal, which I followed to the tee.
I was nervous. We all know my track record with seafood has a visual presentation score of “poor”, and I was aiming to get at least a “recognizable” this time around.
I was careful, patient, and prepared to handle what Snappy Red was snappin’ at me.
First, we put some butter and garlic down to do their thing and make the bed that Snappy was about to slip into. And as the garlic was just starting to get brown, we took it out and slapped on the fish. And waited. And squirted lemon. And waited. And dashed garlic salt. And then we flip, and repeat. All while remembering to add a wee bit more butter so it wouldn’t stick to the pan. So far, so good. Until… I wanted to take a peek underneath to see what kind of magic was happening. Seeing that I was putting some stress on the structure of my specimen, I laid off for a few and just let the good times roll. Or sear. Or perhaps burn. I was nervous.
When it was good and ready to come off the heat I carefully slid if off to a plate and threw on some more lemon, butter and garlic and let my spinach get its sauté on. It was almost timed perfectly because right as the spinach was nearing the end, the rice looked ready to go and we were ready to serve.
It didn’t fall apart and the taste was delightful. I managed to get a little of each element on the fork a few times and it made for quite an enjoyable engagement of flavor.
I think Red Snapper is my favorite fish. It’s easy with a light taste and melting texture. And it was only $2.00/lb. at Albertsons! If you’re adventurous and like spicy, try it with schezwan sauce. Last time I was at one of my all time favorite restaurants, Gladstone’s, I had Snapper for the first time and it was the most amazing marriage of spicy and delicate that taste buds had ever experienced in the history of fire. Or seafood.
That’s all for now.
Til next time, kiddos, eat your veggies.
This is my favorite photo I took this week:
Taken in traffic on the way home from a fantastic night filled with food, furniture and fun at:
IKEA with Silena and our good friend Shelley (right).
Happy weekend, loves!
Speaking of weekend… Kind of… this SUNDAY NIGHT yours truly plans on hitting the hay mighty early in order to wake up super duper early for personal hero STEPHANIE MILLER ON MSNBC MONDAY MORNING!!!!
That’s right! Monday through Wednesday of this week, the lovely, smart, hilarious, and ever fabulous Stephanie Miller will be filling in three days of the recently vacated Don Imus spot!
That being said, this mainly applies to my East Coast pals who might be up at 6-9 in the morning, or will remember to set their TIVOs. I, however, lacking TIVO technology and an apparent need for sleep… will be waking up at 3 and powering through at least a little bit of Momma on the TV Monday morning. Expect a fully groggy bloggy to follow.
Stephanie is part of the Air America line up (check your local listings) and offers the perfect balance of fact, opinion and humor that makes digesting some of the political goings on of our days so much easier.
I’m glad she’s getting this opportunity and hope that it may lead to bigger and better things for her! Rock on, Stephanie. We’re behind you 110%.
(Big thanks to Unpaid Intern John for the initial heads up on this one.)
The Fugitive is truly one of the greatest movies ever made. It’s presently 12:37 AM and I just finished catching up on my Thursday night television (That got started late because I got sucked into X-Files. One of the episodes guest starring a very swarmy Michael McKean. A pretty sucky episode, too. But I still watched.) and as I turned on the TV, like some sort of weird psychic event, The Great Harrison Ford was being stopped by Tommy Lee Jones right before he dives off the edge of the dam into the waters below. Whammy! I’m hooked! I couldn’t turn it off now, even if I wanted to.
I think Richard Kimble is the fourth greatest Harrison Ford character of all time ever, and Tommy Lee Jones (almost) never lets me down. I saw this movie for the first time with my parents at the drive-in and remember being scared then. I’ve seen at least a dozen times in total and I’m still on pins and needles every time I see it. (I watched it about six months ago and caught Jane Lynch for the first time!)
Action. Suspense. Drama. Heart. Ford. Jones. Moore (who looks like Dana Scully’s long lost sister here). Timeless.
But that’s enough of that. I don’t think a review for a 14 year old movie would be very fun for anyone to read
Okay. The Fugitive is over. There’s more X-Files on TNT. And I’m not tired yet. Lovely.
TV talk in the morning.
Kind of.
According to a few sources, Sara Ramirez (the foxy fox who plays crapped on Callie O’Malley in aforementioned Grey’s Anatomy) will be shedding her scrubs during the summer hiatus to record an album, co-written by Eric Idle.
Hmmm…
Normally I shun such behavior. You’ve got a talent and stick with it. Let the singers be singers and the actors be actors and let’s just carry on. But, I have significantly less of a problem with Ms. Ramirez, being that she came to Seattle Grace from starring in a musical, Spamalot (hence the Idle connection). And may I add, this got her the title of Tony Award Winning Sara Ramirez…
That being said, there is still an air of mystery around Callie’s involvement in the upcoming-sure-as-hell-gonna-happen-even-if-they’re-gonna-run-it-into-the-damn-ground season 4 of Grey’s Anatomy and I am hoping that her singing career doesn’t keep her from seeing patients and being the ballsy yet terribly insecure doctor I adore.
When Ramirez first showed up on the series, the mean and awful things that people were saying about her around the online community made me furious and just that much more happy about her place in the show. I’ve become a fan of the woman she is and the woman she is trying so hard to be. I want Callie to make good, I want her to be happy and I want her character to grow. I hope they make that happen.
That being said, I have pondered the end of the season storyline that I fear will play out if things continue on the path they’re on and from the previews for tonight’s episode, it’s full steam ahead.
Tonight sees another new episode of Grey’s. Desire looks like one of the “funnier” episodes that they usually throw in right before something incredibly dramatic. A kind of “clean the slate/set up” episode for stuff to come. Usually, these are some of my favorites (This season’s Camping episode I mentioned before! Brilliant! I’ll say it again! Brilliant!), but the previews offer a glimpse into what can only be called “thin ice” as far as I am concerned.
Tread lightly, Ms. Rhimes. You’ve got fans in the balance.
Stop what you’re doing and please swallow any liquids you may have in your mouth.
And watch this.
Then get angry like I did, when you realize that “no one suffers more than our president” and Laura do.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around that last one without the profanity.
One of the movies I am most anticipating this summer is the third installment in the Shrek series, Shrek the Third. If you haven’t seen them because you’re just not that into animated movies, I think you need to reconsider your position for this series. In my opinion, Shrek 2 was better than Shrek (The dialogue between Shrek and Donkey about the land of “Far, Far Away” still cracks me up every time I think about it), but they’re both still worth checking out, as will be Shrek the Third. Anyone who was ever a kid who loved to read and loved to hear stories will be instantly drawn to these movies. The writing is brilliant, the jokes are hilarious and the story is sweet and has the strongest sense of heart. Not only does this newest installment see the return of some of my comedy heroes from the earlier films, Mike Myers, John Cleese and Eddie Murphy (and Ms. Julie Andrews!!!!!), but some new voices, too.
Including: Justin Timberlake (LOVE the reference to him in Shrek 2), ERIC IDLE, Amy Sedaris and, and, and, and…. F.H. John Krasinski playing Sir Lancelot.
(Breathing, breathing, breathing.)
This summer, I’m prepared to fall head over heels in love with an animated character.
This playful and sweet photo is officially one of my favorites ever. To read the article, go here and click on the photo to make it gigantic. I know I did.
This photo was probably taken shortly after our third honeymoon. We went to Scotland and rode horses through the countryside on our way to Loch Ness. Every few minutes he would pose like that and do a hilarious William Wallace impression and then we’d both have giggle fits for like 20 minutes. It was awesome.
With the start of my summer a mere month away, it is safe to say that this is going to be the best summer ever. We’re talking Wetter, Hotter, Americanner and filled to the brim with action, airports and… archaeology?!
You read right, friends. On June 15th at 12:30 AM, Your Humble Narrator is leaving on a jet plane to La Blanca, a Mid-Preclassic site in Guatemala to do research with one of her favorite archaeology professors, Dr. Michael Love. It’s going to be an incredible experience and I can’t wait to be able to share it with all of you.
I’ll be sure pass more details as I get them, but for now this is what I’ve got, and I wanted to let you all know.
Also, please check out my brother Iain, now blogging on WordPress. It’s not much now, but he’s one of the funniest people I know and the blog is sure to be brilliant.
And! And! And! Awesome.
Look at that hair. Feathered and lethal. You just don’t see it nowadays.
Sweet!
My goodness! Apologies for my lack of any sort of attention to this blog these past few days, but my home time has been minimal. And I’ve missed you all.
Friday saw the Anthropology Adventure of 2007 (Thus far… more on this as I am given liberty to discuss… but there’s something brewing offshore… down Central America way…), which consisted of myself, Lupe and Erica Jean packing up the Highlander and heading East to Fantastic (no… um…) Wonderful (err… no… Ah!) Dirty Las Vegas, Nevada. I’ve never been a fan of Las Vegas. Kind of a suck hole for all the stuff I think is wrong/immoral/unfun. Though it has its highlights, it’s just not my kind of town (Yeah, yeah, yeah. Go ahead, call me a prude).
ANYWAY, after a “brief” shopping stop at Primm (Old Navy AND Gap Outlets? Dirt cheap yet totally rocking clothes? Chelsea’s in trouble), we were on our way into Vegas. Our hotel was out near Nellis AFB and though it stunk having to drive into the strip, it was redeemed by the massive amount of fighters that would be flying overhead. So totally kick ass awesome.
We got to grab dinner with my cousin Greg and his lovely fiancee Stacy at Bahama Breeze, which was lovely and then it was off to the strip for fun, fun, fun. I played slot machines and didn’t win a cent. On the other hand, Lupe played slots and won 77 bucks! Go figure!
We walked around, went to a club called “Roadhouse” but decided that we had better get back to the hotel in order to be up for our Archaeology trip in the morning.
Well, we were supposed to go with the kids from UNLV’s Anthro Student Association, but due to some unfortunate lack of communication, we never got to meet up with them and instead hiked around Red Rock by ourselves. We got to see some pictographs which was totally awesome, and I got sunburned. Which hurts. And is not totally awesome.
After a short stop at Whole Foods to grab snacks, we headed off to home and made it back in plenty of time for me to see Adam and meet his girlfriend who is in town from Iowa, Leah.
Yesterday was a day of work, school and nursery and I grabbed dinner with my good friend Amanda who is in town from school in Boston for a wedding. We ate at The Farm. The food was good, but that was the most expensive salad I’ve ever eaten. Unless I win the lottery, I’m not going back there ever again. Or at least not going back and ordering a salad with chicken which bumps up the already expensive price by $6.50. No, thank you.
And last night my brother Iain and I watched Brick. It stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the forever young boy from 3rd Rock from the Sun and 10 Things I Hate About You) as a very smart, very daring, old soul who is hot on the case as to why his ex-girlfriend was mysteriously murdered two days after making contact with him since their break up three months prior. Well, what I thought was just going to be a rip on film noir, was written by someone who actually truly understands the genre. The dialogue was perfect and almost awkward being that their high school students, but think along the lines of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet and having to get used to the Elizabethan English in Miami, Florida. After a while you stop trying to understand every metaphor and just look for the general plot line. They slow it down and back off on the lexicon when it’s something really important you need to understand. I like film noir, especially the dialogue, but I was thrown when it was coming from the mouths of 17 year olds who act 30 something. If you can get past that, it’s a pretty good flick, slightly disturbing but mostly entertaining and spiced with a few good laughs and fun cinematography. It’s a rental. Check it out.
And big thanks to Iain for making me watch it.
FINALLY, to round up the headlines, you need to go look at this. This chick digs these scars. Especially when you caused them yourself making your creepy grin ten times more creepy. Can’t wait.
Being the show that pulled me back into the habit of being addicted to TV shows, Grey’s Anatomy has long been near and dear to my heart. Since McDreamy first comically McBonked Meredith on their first McDate, I’ve found the show a refresher in the often daytime soapy genre of prime-time drama. The dialogue was perfectly constructed, the laughs were original and witty and the characters, though terribly flawed, all had something you could relate to and appreciate (Though my ‘relate to Meredith and Derek’ moment didn’t come until this season, more on that later). Numerous episodes would have me crying with joy or empathetic sorrow, but always in the end it could, to me at least, be described as the ultimate ‘feel-good’ show. And really, for medical drama, shouldn’t the point be to feel good?
That being said, I am sad to report that this show has taken a nosedive in my book since the last five minutes of the incredibly long season two finale. Everything about this season has been off (except the excellent camping episode. I’d buy just that on DVD), and I don’t appreciate good characters that we have watched develop and grow being traded up for cheap drama by lazy writers.
Tonight Grey’s Anatomy makes its long, albeit not so awaited, return to the Thursday night schedule with an episode titled Time After Time, and I am nervous as to what character devastating plot line they’ll conjure up next, especially since the preview hints at the fact that we *finally* get to find out what happened to that baby Izzie had eleven or so years ago. Good time to bring that up. BRAAP! Being that we’re only two weeks away from the dreaded test run of the Addison spin-off, I’ve been working on a longer blog about the show, and I’ll post it as soon as I’ve seen tonight’s episode with those notes included.
Stay tuned and stay close. We may need the defibrillator on this one.
Post-Ep Follow-Up:
Maybe it’s because I went into this episode expecting the absolute worst. Maybe it’s because my standards were lowered at the end of such a long day, but I truly feel that tonight was a return to the Grey’s Anatomy that I remember from not that long ago.
I won’t get into specifics here, because I’m incredibly tired, but a few quick points:
1. Izzie and George. Great dialogue. INCREDIBLE acting. And Izzie Stevens will continue to be the deepest heart and the sweetest soul of that show (Though I am one of the only fans of the show that didn’t really care for her and Denny). Izzie’s daughter storyline is handled much better than I thought it would be and though teeters on being pathetic, it remains on the fair side of the line.
2. That being said, I really hope the universe balances itself out as far as Callie O’Malley is concerned. I’m tired of seeing her get dragged through the mud and George and Izzie’s little episode a few weeks ago was just the icing on the cake for me. I was furious after that. Partially because they ruined the one ‘just friends’ male-female relationship on the show, but also because with that they’ve ruined Callie as a character. She doesn’t know now, but when she finds out, well, it’s gonna be hard to watch. Previous to this, I attributed Callie’s angst over George and Izzie to her low self-esteem and George’s inability to recognize that and empathize with her situation. But now she’s justified in her emotions and it hurts. Bad. We need to fix this, somehow, and soon. And I’m not talking about making her an heiress (Worst. Storyline. Ever.)
3. I know that Addison is on her way out of Seattle Grace (a fact I’d rather not discuss yet), but her absence on the show recently is painfully noticeable. They’re writing her out by giving her five minutes of screen time an episode and from being a character who used to give SO much to the show and was a sort of anchor for everyone, to someone who can barely be called a supporting character is awkward and cheap. I miss her already. Sweet, sweet Kate Walsh earned my respect in season two and I’m sad to see her get fed to the wolves of spin-offs.
4. As much as I hate Mark Sloane (McSteamy) I must admit that I love to hate him. Tonight, though he can be called nothing less than an ass, he added the much needed comic relief. His awkward yet hilarious role of dating mentor to The Chief is something I’m going to love looking forward to, though I doubt he’s around for much longer, either.
That being said, it’s an episode worth checking out. Not quite all the way there yet, but we’re getting better. Hopefully this is an out-patient treatment.
More later. It’s nearing 1 AM and I’m spent.
Yep. That’s our Iain.
For the penny pincher, bringing your own lunch to work and/or school is crucial. Buying daily lunches can add up to pretty nasty amounts and at the end of the week I’d rather have the money in the bank than in the pocket of the Cal State Northridge Dining Services Tycoons.
However, packing your own lunch is no simple feat. Often times when you do pack your own lunch, it doesn’t look half as good as what some of your friends are buying and you’re tempted to save your sack lunch for another day and splurge on some Chinese or Mexican food. Resist this urge!!!
Sea Foods is taking it upon itself to pack a lunch that I couldn’t possibly find on campus that is filling, nutritious and six different kinds of yum.
The staple to any lunch from home is a good sandwich. Lucky for me, our fridge happens to be stocked with excellent sandwich materials.
That being said, we’ve just enjoyed a turkey sandwich on flatbread with ‘cado, ranch dressing, mozzarella cheese, pepperoccini and basil. Delicious. The basil was a nice touch that I hadn’t tried before but will be trying again. I’ll likely be making this again for my work lunch tomorrow, so I’ll be sure to snap some photos then.
And of course, side dishes. Though they may not be as glamourous as the sandwich, a banana always hits the spot, and a string cheese. String cheese has always had a special place in my heart and will always be one of my favorite quick snacks. In case you were curious, I recommend Frigo’s Cheese Heads for your string cheese dining adventures. Divine. (Also, Frigo’s regular mozzarella cheese is spectacular. This company can really get their cheese right.)
Photos coming soon.
But in the meantime… enjoy your lunches!
My cousin in Australia, Laurie, has launched her glass company, BeachGecko Glass on the internet. Check it out! There are some truly beautiful pieces!
Look at what Future Husband John Krasinski has been up to!!!!
Besides locking lips with Mandy Moore… (And really, for a minute here I just want to say that I’d love to be her. She’s drop dead gorgeous, gets to record/write with Rachael Yamagata *and* gets to make out with John Krasinski. I’d make out with John Krasinski. For hours. And you wouldn’t even have to pay me millions of dollars. Ya hear that, Warner Bros.??? I’d do it for free. F-R-E-E.)…He’s making movies galore! Leatherheads, Shrek the Third and License to Wed. And I am so proud of my darling.
I’ve gotta learn photoshop.
Though this one is my favorite.
How! Adorable! Oh, John. Is this the garden we’re getting married in? Are you just checking it out? Because I approve.
I’ll take care of him. And grill him salmon. I’ll even practice and try really hard to keep it in once piece. And sneak surprise presents in his suitcase when he travels. And we can go on drives to random roadside attractions and listen to good music and then at the end of the day tell eachother stories by the fireplace. It would really be the best thing ever. I promise. Someone give him my number.
(Limited-Time Offer: July 4, 2007… I know everyone (including me) wants to see Transformers… BUT! If someone goes and sees License to Wed with me, I’ll go see Transformers the very next day! AND I’ll buy your ticket and snacks. How about THEM apples.)
On the same day that Bush claims he is ‘horrified’ by the terrible, senseless and shocking shootings at Virginia Tech, he pulls more of the same old weasley shit in effort to ensure that we send more students, men, women, young and old, to die. And for what? I seem to lose track, seeing as our day-to-day justification changes.
Mr. Bush says Congress owes America’s fighting men and women no less.
And what do you owe them, Mr. Bush?
‘Horrified.’ That’s a really great word.
Edit: I’ve yet to take Sea Babble too seriously yet. And for that I’ve been struggling as to if I should take down this post or not. I want it to be known that I am not in any way trying to politicize what happened today. This post isn’t about the shooting and quite frankly, I’m beside myself feeling dejected, scared and confused over this horrible and senseless act. My heart goes out to everyone who is hurting, and tonight, I think we’re all hurting at least a little bit.
That being said, I find it extremely crucial that these kinds of points be made that show the hypocrisy and mindless thinking that is going on at the top of our society. People need to become more aware of the bigger picture of what’s going on here and abroad. Informed decision making starts with becoming informed and I hope we all take it upon ourselves to do so.
Again, I’m sorry if this comes off as politicizing something as heartbreaking as the events of the day, it wasn’t meant to do so.
As always, thanks for reading and much much love.
I feel that it is due time I publicly thank Flanagan and the good people over at my absolute favorite place in the whole wide world, Largo. For just about 3 years now Largo has satisfied my hunger for only the best in both entertainment and Baked Honey Chicken.
One of the saddest things about moving is leaving behind this gem that my friend Eric and I have often referred to as the best thing to do on ANY night in Los Angeles. If you haven’t been, I’m sorry. You may think this is an exaggeration, but if you’re a fan of music, musicians and good people (and I know you are), Largo is the only place for you to call home.
Anyway, I went to the website today and checked out a schedule that would make any music lover weep with joy. May is filled to the brim with everything I could want to see in my last month of being so close to such a charming little spot. Glen Phillips, Watkins Family Hour (With Special Guests [Potentially Brion, Apple & Co.]), B.J. Novak, and (!) though I am not really a fan, Neil Young. Neil Young is my mom’s favorite musician of all time in the history of ever and I have long been waiting for someone to pop up on the Largo schedule that would be worthwhile for me to bring mom along to and introduce her to the place I disappear to once a month or so. Thanks, Largo. You’ve made my day.
When I called to make my reservations, the machine let me know of quite a few little details that aren’t on the website of shows in the near future that are slated to feature people like “Wee Fiona,” “Wee Jon Brion” and “The Great Dave Palmer”. I’m still grinning ear to ear.
What’s a girl to do?!
I’m just as shocked as you are to see such a new feature get so much attention in its first week of existence, but I’m not complaining, especially because this installment is especially special. For you see, Sea Foods has ventured East. The Far East, to be exact, and I took a chance cooking dinner for me and my sister, Emily (an incredibly finicky eater, especially when I make it. I personally think she’s just being difficult). No bother, the family wasn’t home last night and we weren’t quite Han Solo for dinner, but it was up to me to restore order in the galaxy, the kitchen and our tummies.
And I think I did a pretty good job.
I headed down to Albertson’s where the good people there sold me chicken breasts, veggies, ingredients for egg flower soup and Dryer’s newest ice cream flavor, Hollywood Cheesecake (cheesecake ice cream, with strawberry and graham cracker swirl. Um. Yum. Buy it).
Upon returning home I got to work in the kitchen. I felt really Iron Cheffy, except I wasn’t nearly as confident with what I was doing, especially since Emily is my biggest critic with anything coming out of the kitchen.
Well, hardy har har, Miss Emily! You ate all your food!!
I was able to some how pull off a delicious egg flower soup:
And I really think you should make some. It’s worth the stress and trouble just to put in the egg at the end and watch it “flower.” Totally kick ass.
And then the stir fry. I made up some garlic, soy sauce, peanutty sauce to stir fry my chicken in and then when that was good and cooked, I took out the chicken but left in the sauce and added a heaping tablespoon of minced garlic to accompany the veggies. Broccoli, snow peas, water chestnuts (yum), green peppers, cabbage and carrots. Delish. When the veggies were saturated enough with sauce, the chicken went back in for a few more minutes until it was all nice and hot.
Though the soup was filling, I was in love with this dish. The veggies were saucey, but not too soggy and the garlic went well with everything. It didn’t need any soy sauce at the end, which was a good sign and anything Asian tastes good all mixed up with some good rice.
So there you have it. Not sure when our next installment will be, but here’s hoping it’s worth blogging about
Til next time, eat up, Kiddos.
It’s old news that I have been making efforts to stick to my guns on this whole “saving money” business.
Sticking to them so much that this week when Glen Phillips played at Largo, I had to say Lar-no and stay home to conserve cash (only to later learn that Glen had Garrison Starr there with him and I missed what can probably be called a once-in-a-loooong time opportunity). I was pretty bummed that I missed that, but knowing that the end of my week would bring partial redemption, I carried on.
And that partial redemption ended up redeeming itself in full as I got to see Garrison last night at The Mint.
I was accompanied by my very dear Anthro buddies Tracy, Erica and Brianna, all of which had never heard of Garrison before last night. I am thankful that they were willing to come along with me, risking losing cash and a Friday night if they weren’t keen on what Garrison was dishing out, though I doubted this would be the case. Before we went to the show we stopped at the ever wonderful Farmers Market, located next to the beautiful and pricey… beautifully pricey… Grove. I ate at Tusquellas Fish and Oyster Bar, and although my shrimp quesadilla took impossibly long to make, when it came out I took it with a smile and sat down to enjoy after the other girls had nearly licked their plates due to waiting so long. The quesadilla was delicious and came with a salsa verde that had whole pieces of ‘cado in it, something I had never tried before but will be trying again, and again, and again.
After our filling meals we headed over to The Mint in plenty of time to catch Garrison and some of the openers, also making sure that Brianna and Erica got in as they didn’t have tickets in advance.
We got in, beverages were purchased, and we watched the end of Shannon Moore’s set. I found it was odd because this was her record release party and there were signs all over promoting her as “being heard on Felicity.” I was pretty sure that the show went off the air ages ago, but I wasn’t sure if I should respect her perseverance in making sure her album gets out years after being discovered, or kind of odd and funny that something like that was her claim to fame. Ah, Hollywood.
Garrison was slated to go on at 10 and by 10 Shannon was just finishing up, and we still had Abra Moore (no relation, I think…) to sit through. She was interesting, but I had a hard time really hearing her as people were talking impossibly loud and we were positioned far too close to a speaker.
The Mint is usually a really cool place to catch a show, but last night it was just awful. No one was listening to the music, everyone was talking as loud as they could trying to compete with the music, and the sound was doing some funky stuff with feedback. I was hoping these kinks would be fixed before Garrison took the stage, and as it turns out they were. Also, they usually let you sit on the floor in front of the tables, but they weren’t last night so you either had to stand in the mob next to the bar in the back or snag a table and oblige their two drink minimum. About halfway through Abra, we opted for the latter. To top all of this off I got beer spilled on me by an drunk older man who was a little bit too apologetic and just made me uncomfortable. No bother though, I wanted no more of this and no more Moores, bring on the Garrison.
She went on at about 11 and opened with a new song that is just gorgeous. I didn’t catch the name of it, but it had that sad sweetness that Garrison captures so well. She looked absolutely beautiful and refreshed and ready to sweat it up rockin’ out on stage, which she definitely did. It was her and a band (Neilson Hubbard and “Jesus” (real name Kurt?), the guys who (I think) recorded the Fan’s Greatest Hits Volume 1 with her) and they completely rocked. I wish the tables weren’t there and there was actually room to get up and dance a little, but I danced pretty well from my seat if I do say so myself.
She played almost everything I wanted to hear with perfection and added some new twists to familiar songs that I absolutely adored.
“Superhero” especially rocked the shit and it was impossibly hard not to sing along and dance around like a crazy person during this incredibly well driven and well constructed masterpiece of a rock song.
And I’ve come to love the song “Pretending.” It’s painful, sadly easy for me to relate to, and gets better every time I hear it.
She played “Unchangeable,” a song from her yet-to-be-released album that is currently on rotation over at her myspace page(Check out “Gardenia.” You won’t be sorry).
Her encore consisted of a cover “Time After Time” (which was missing the Gabriel Mann piano and Adrianne back up vocals but was still gorgeous), and she wasn’t sure what to do for the last one, so those in the know were shouting out requests. I threw in “Wonderful Thing,” she looked at me, smiled and said “YES!” until someone said “Inside Out” which made everyone cheer and it ended up being the closer. Totally stellar and incredible.
As always, her banter was top drawer. Hilarious, charming and often obscure, Garrison knows how to please an audience with her musical gift and her sharp sense of humor and wit making an hour set simply not long enough.
For fans who want to know, she made the same mention of said yet-to-be-released album, that it is currently without label or release date. Sad, I know. If I were a rich girl…
I’ve heard her make this same sarcastic comment before about “wanting to keep her career a secret,” and it makes me laugh but also upset. Garrison has got more guts, talent, and spunk than almost all the stuff that is making millions of dollars by the minute. She’s passionate and writes some of the best rock songs that I can think of coming from, not only a female rocker, but ANY rocker in the past long while. It terribly tragic how artists like this get buried and left by the wayside, and I think once you hear Garrison, you’ll understand. She’s a wonderful thing. Tell all your friends.
Well, kids, it’s been two whole weeks and I think I’m finally ready to get back down to the regularly scheduled program.
If you missed it, which you very well may have, I was in Ohio for a little over a week and a half, getting a feel for the place I may very soon be calling “home.” It was an excellent trip and a lot has since come into perspective.
And upon my return I have been making a lot of efforts to regulate the blogspace, but it’s been difficult. School is back in full swing and your favorite full-time student will soon be working 40 hours a week at the Nursery. Seven days a week of either work or school or both will get a little bit rougher, but I need the money and I need to move. Let’s make it happen.
I digress.
I present to you your Welcome Back Kotter Edition of Phriday Foto.
Tracy, Erica Jean and Brianna, my darling Anthro Amigos that accompanied me tonight on my visit to The Mint to see the wonderful Garrison Starr (more on this later).
We’re gonna make this better. Promise.
Black holes are something that have always frightened me. I can’t get my brain completely around the concept of what would happen if we entered into a black hole and I’m not sure I want it to. However, science is cool, therefore, this is pretty freakin’ cool.
Here you have it, folks. The star of the show. The post you (I) have all been waiting for…
The Smokey Robinson Microwave Dinner Food Review!!!
As many of you are aware, a few months ago I was browsing the frozen dinner section of my local Albertson’s when I noticed a friendly smile peeking out from behind the fogged over glass. Could it be? I knew it must be. I’d recognize that face lift anywhere. It was in fact Smokey Robinson. Smokey and I have no recent history, but one of the first songs I really liked when I was little was “You Really Got a Hold On Me.” Fond, fond, fond memories of that song. Smokey’s face is like the familiar ice cream man from your childhood, a representation of simpler, easier times. And though he’s gone through a hell of a lot to keep that face as close to the way it was, it still holds a special place in my heart, as scary as it may be.
The choice was clear. I had to try
Smokey Robinson’s Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
It was a lunchtime treat today that I split with my brother and fearless taster, Iain.
I followed the microwave directions to the tee. Even the “for better results” clause which often gets ignored when zapping your dinner with microwaves.
(I don’t know how the hell we let this happen, but there is a photo of the actual cooked dish missing. I’ve failed you, but we shall press on anyway. We do have this:
)
When it was removed from the oven it did have a distinct “gumbo” aroma that got me excited for what I was about to enjoy.
Sadly, upon actually examining the dish one could not help but notice the chicken was a rare find and the saussage was practically missing. Now I guess I’ve never had good, traditional, “down home” gumbo, but it seems to me that there should be some sort of vegetable substance to the mixture. All we got was okra. There was rice-a-plenty and sauce that it could have benefited from not being so thin and watery, but no heart. The portion size seemed decent, no where near filling enough, but I guess it was okay for being a bowl mostly filled with rice and watered down gumbo sauces. So far Smokey was striking out on appearance.
But taste… well, it was okay. Not too bad. Not too great, but definitely not too bad. The chicken that was there wasn’t too microwave tasting and the saussage still had a little bite to it which was nice. I wish there were more veggies or goodies to be found in the gumbo, but it was pretty Plain Jane. It was fairly spicy for being “mild” and at times I was unsure if I was able to taste it to its full potential or if I was just tasting spicy.
Nearing the end of this small meal I got an idea to take out a piece of sourdough bread and pile a little of the rice sauce mixture on top and take it around town.
And let me tell you, THAT is how you eat Smokey’s gumbo. I wish I knew that from the beginning because I feel that the whole thing would have been much better on a good piece of sourdough than by itself.
All in all, not terrible, but not great. It was no mealtime miracle, but far from being a total bomb. If you’re in the mood for gumbo, don’t buy this product. You can make better gumbo, I knows it. If you’re in the mood for a cheap novelty food and conversation starter to put on top of a good piece of sourdough, Smokey is your man and he won’t do you wrong.
Til next time, kiddo.
As promised, this week is going to be a triforce of our newest feature, Sea Foods.
Last night was Sea Foods foray into seafood. Dover Sole fillets to be exact, and boy, were they good. They didn’t necessarily look so pretty when plated, but the taste is what matters and the taste is what sold it.
It was just going to be me and Dad for dinner, but my dear friend Silena was Han Solo for dinner so I made room for one more and she came over and kept me cooking company, which is the very best kind.
That was pretty good, too.
This was my fist time cooking a fish that was this thin and delicate, and I did not fare well in keeping it in once piece. Slightly embarrassing, but like I said, it tasted fantastic.
The first step was to cook the rice pilaf which was going to take the longest. I don’t know if you’ve ever had rice pilaf, but it’s one of my favorite rice dishes ever and pairs beautifully with seafood. Check it out.
While the rice was cooking I sliced up some fresh garlic, picked a lemon off the tree and got my supplies ready to conquer the fish.
When the time came to cook up my fillets, I melted the butter in the pan and then threw on the garlic, sure to take it out before it burned (though I could eat burned garlic any day of the week, a lot of people don’t like it). Then I put on the fillet and squirted it with a bit of lemon.
Here’s where I faced my greatest challenge, flipping the fish without getting it to fall apart. I had more failure than success. When it was done being mutilated and cooked, I put the garlic back in and gave it another minute or two of cook time before plating with the pilaf, that was delicious and fluffy and the broccoli, that were Steamfresh perfection. One more hearty lemon squeeze and a dash of paprika and the sucker was ready for consumption.
Like I said, a plated disaster, but the fish melted in your mouth and the garlic and lemon was perfectly balanced with the paprika, none more overpowering than the other.
I was impressed with my creation and wish you could have tried some.
Tonight we will finally reach the pinnacle of our Sea Foods feature: Smokey Robinson’s mealtime creations.
Stay tuned. It’s gonna be a bloodbath.
Caught this on NPR on my way into (the worst day ever at) The ScienCenter this morning.
It’s a story they re-aired today from when Sony first released the Walkman 26 years ago. Interesting and worth the listen.
Because my baby told me to:
We all eat. And I am sure we all eat some super yummy things from time to time and these things are worth sharing.
Yesterday I was putting things away in the freezer and came across an old friend, my Smokey Robinson microwave dinner I bought months ago but neglected to eat. The decision was made at that moment that this was going to be my Monday evening dinner. And also the inaugural post for my newest feature, SEA FOODS. I start this new feature with slight hesitation. In slightly over two months I will no longer be eating free-o-charge at the Graham Eatery, but will have to apply my skills to create my own dishes. Nightly. Cooking for one sucks, but it could be interesting.
Anyway.
I digress.
I’ve been thinking about Smokey in my tummy all day and while I did develop a gnarly pizza craving about mid-afternoon, I was sticking to the plan. Pizza would be around forever, and who knows how long Smokey’s mealtime magic would last. So, on the way home from school, I swung by the market and picked up my absolute favorite bottle of red wine and marched in the kitchen, determined to zap a feast that will be the welcome post for a most excellent new feature. However, little did I know that Grahamama had the kitchen all prepared for THE ONLY meal that could possibly be better than Smokey as an inaugural post: MYOP.
What is MYOP, you ask?
When I was in elementary school my mom picked me up one day and I asked what we were having dinner, to which she replied “MYOP.” (It was a change of pace from her normal quip of “Food”)
“What’s MYOP?” I eagerly asked.
“You’ll see.” She replied.
Later that night I learned that MYOP stood for Make Your Own Pizza. My mother turns the kitchen into her very own pizzeria with toppings galore, homemade dough, sauce and cheese. It was, and still is, one of the coolest meal ideas ever. You can shape the dough however you want (Mickey Mouse is popular) and top it how you want (spellings of names are always loved)When I am settled, we’ll have a MYOP party. You’ll see. Loads of fun. I promise.
Tonight, was MYOP.
And boy, did I ever MMOP.
First thing’s first. You gotta get the sauce on your dough.
Then, you’ve gotta put your toppings on. I am a big fan of cheese on top. It just works out nicely. I was feeling basic and veggie tonight, so we’ve got bell pepper, onions and freshly sliced garlic.
Then, of course, The Cheese with some garlic salt on top for kick.
Put it in the oven for some pizza magic.
;
And WHAMMY! You just MYOP’d.
For the record, I had three slices and all were outstanding and filling. Whew.
I would say that tomorrow was going to be the night for Smokey, but our menu is already planned. No one is going to be home, so I am Han Solo for dinner. Mom bought me a nice Dover Sole filet, so I’ll do that up with some lemon garlic pepper goodness (Bloggings included) and then Wednesday I shall dine with Smokey and blog of its greatness. Promise.
Til next time, eat up, Kiddo.
In honor of the Fox News Store (you know, like The Disney Store but for Republican nut jobs.) I saw in Houston tonight, I present to you the most shocking/awesome/shocking thing I ever seen.
Geraldo Rivera, you’re my hero????
(Travel update: There really was a Fox News Store in the George Bush International Airport. I really did get a picture. And last night, when I got in and I was walking down the stairs to baggage claim and at the bottom of the stairs, did I see my mother? My brother? Steve Martin? No, but! I did see my very dear friend and fellow science center scientist, Robin!!!!!! Very small world. Very small world indeed. Then… when Iain and mom and I were waiting for my baggage we watched as the carousel ANNIHILATED not one, but TWO suitcases. One of the rolly ones with the pop up handle (the handle got stuck somewhere and COMPLETELY ripped clean of the suitcase, taking half the fabric with it) and a giant box that was taped shut and looked like it had lost half of it’s belongings on the rough ride down the slide. Iain called it “The Harrison Ford Luggage Carousel.”) Also, I’ve returned home to a computer that isn’t making sound. Any takers on helping to fix this little problemo?)
My bags are (not) packed and I’m (not) ready to go, but I just wanted to take a quick minute to announce my much delayed return to Southern California this evening.
This has been an absolutely awesome trip and has really given me more reasons to stay than I can think of to leave (one being that I gotta finish up that whole school thing. [Don't worry, I miss you all, too]). I’m harvesting a plan right now that might make a lot of things work for the better and would put me Midwested by Mid-June. More details on this later.
This feels right. And as nervous and scared it all makes me, I know that this is going to be better for everything. Right? Right.
Oh, Midwest, you’ve stolen my heart yet again.
(Unrelated note: Aunt Lynn, Brian, Bradley, Grandma and I ate at Hong Kong Buffet (Reason 28392 I’m moving) for lunch today and there was just the most incredible display of Engrish everywhere you looked. It made me smile and laugh, and for the most part I kept it to myself, but it was difficult. Oh, was it difficult.)
I wanna post a link to some pretty cruddy, yet still cool, photos of F.H. John Krasinski (here and here) on the set of The Cloon’s new project Leatherheads, a romantic comedy starring The Cloon, John, and Renee Zellweger set around a football team in the 20’s. The pictures aren’t anything spectacular, but the costume is cool.
Speaking of Krasinski…
I really enjoyed Jarhead, and for reasons beyond the obvious arsenal of Future Husbands. It’s the story of a platoon of Marines being called to “action” during Desert Storm and finds itself being a sobering look at war and politics laced with some bitter comedy, I enjoyed it and was pretty entertained throughout. I suggest you see it.
Anyway, I had read somewhere that John had a small role in Jarhead but couldn’t remember who he was for the life of me. I’m sure I would remember if he were one of the main guys in the platoon, and I was fairly sure he wasn’t. (By the way, if you go on YouTube and type in John Krasinski and Jarhead, you get some silly home video style footage of him and some of the other “extra” marines on the set killing time in between takes. It’s entertaining once you’ve seen the movie)
A few weeks ago I caught it on HBO and was tuned in to find Krasinski, which I did. Later to research and find that he actually wrote some of the dialogue himself. All the more reason for you to check it out!!!
I am so proud.
A) It’s snowing! Well, I call it snow. Everyone else in the Midwest would probably call it “flurries” but it’s kind of sticking! I think! I took more pictures of the less than one inch of snow than I have taken in my entire trip so far. I’m acting 5 years old and I am okay with that. Hopefully by next winter this whole “weather” thing is old news to me, otherwise I will probably have a lot less friends.
B) I would upload some of these snow pictures… if I weren’t using my Grandma’s computer. Which is brand spankin’ new. It’s very nice. Pretty. Filled with goodies. One of those data port thingers on the front that has a slot for 8 million different memory cards and the 2 USB cables. But running on dial-up. It just seems like such a terrible waste. And it has reminded me how I would imagine dial-up as a punishment for shoplifting in some countries. It’s also forced me to sign onto AOL which I do maybe, maybe, MAYBE once a year. My inbox has 389 e-mails in it. One day, when I’m bored, I may go through these. Maybe I’m sitting on a mountain of unopened e-mails that say I’ve won a bazillion dollars. Or maybe I’m missing out on some good perscription drug deals. The world may never know.
C) My cell phone charger was left in Cincinnati at Aunt Mary’s. So I’ve got dial up and no cell phone. Tonight it looks like we’re gonna party like its 1999. Yay?
D) Apparently I now “knit.” My grandma is teaching me and I am not really learning. It’s not as easy as it seems and I keep making these giant knots that make my grandma say “You know, Chhhhhhhhelsea… you keep making the same mistake.” (Note: I do not see this “mistake.”) My first scarf is going to be this pretty green color that is colored like good veggies, but smells much nicer.
Anyway, maybe my Christmas 2032 you will all have a scarf or mittens. Put in color requests now. First come, first serve!!!!
I think that’s all for now.
New Office tomorrow night!!! I hope Roy keeps his dirty hands off my man. But if he does handle my man, I hope Jim knows I’ll go out and stock up on frozen peas, vanilla ice cream and rent us the entire first season of Good Times or somesing.
Also, according to Aunt Lynn, cousins and Grandma, I need to start working on editing my vocabulary.
(Silena- You’ve earned a few points here. My Aunt called me out on saying “market,” like you always do. She says I have to start saying “store.” See, you’re already better adjusted than I am!)
Happy Pesach to all my Jews out there. I hope you have fun *not* eating bread for the next week and sitting through the longest dinners ever tonight. I don’t mind passover. I think it’s an important holiday and I respect it. But the dinner is way too long for such little payoff. I should sneak a giant french bread under the table. When I have my own family and if we do a dinner on passover, I’m making buffalo wings.
Tonight is the final game in the March Madness (bleeding into April) tournament. I don’t follow college basketball and the only reason I very loosely follow professional basketball is because my dad is always watching it. But what I know about college basketball does not go beyond knowing the names of schools and the ranking number that is next to them on the brackets. But my cousin Brandon has done a great job of setting up the past few years of March Madness family pools. So anyway, I am tied for first and it all comes down to tonight in the The Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Florida Gators showdown. Ohio State is my pick and Justin has Florida. If I win I walk away with 32 bucks. I’d love to have that 32 bucks. I will have that 32 bucks. It’s time for Ohio to right the wrong from the Fiesta Bowl (Mitzvah!) and take it to the streets.
So, put on your very best Buckeye costume and cheer for Ohio State for me. Check your local listings. And have a matzo ball while you’re at it.
Eaaat somethin’!
I am 3-ish hours returned from an absolutely lovely day/night in the greater Louisville area and had a truly fantastic time filled with good foods, good laughs and the best peoples. I’m still not ready to eat anything. Cheeseburgers, french fries, sushi, sushi, sushi, eel (!), and banana flavored pancakes. All super good. Thanks to John, the greatest host ever and to Bob, Courtney and Oliver. You were all some of the best company a girl could ask for.
I have to go to a pre-passover dinner tonight at Aunt Mary’s friend Helen’s house. Can’t. Yet. Think. About. Food.
