my curious nature

hiatus

2010-11-22T05:25:00.002-07:00

My Curious Nature is taking a little break! Please click this link to go to A Somewhat Tall Girl to keep up on the latest from me. Thanks!

Another example of Idaho Color

2010-11-18T20:47:00.006-07:00

From KTVB

BOISE -- A woman Boise police say was posing as a doctor, giving other women breast exams, is transgender.

KTVB learned new details Wednesday about the woman accused of practicing medicine without a license.

Boise police arrested Kristina Ross, 37, Tuesday afternoon after two woman said she gave them breast exams at a bar or nightclub under the guise of being a plastic surgeon.

Police first learned of the incidents on November 2nd, when a downtown Boise medical office reported a string of strange phone calls.

After interviewing the two victims, police learned they both met Ross at a bar or nightclub. Ross claimed to be a plastic surgeon named "Dr. Aussieahshowna."

Police say she convinced both women to let her perform a breast exam, claiming it was a medical evaluation.

“One of the women was asked to disrobe and the defendant touched and felt the victim’s breasts at a local bar," said Ada County Prosecuting Attorney Ana Mamani during Ross’ arraignment Wednesday afternoon.

According to documents KTVB obtained from the Idaho Department of Correction, Kristina Ross is transgender.

Ross served a prison sentence back in 2003 stemming from an aggravated battery charge out of Twin Falls County.

The documents from that prison stay, list Ross as an "MTF" or "male to female."

The victims in the most recent incident say they believed Ross to be a doctor because she used medical vocabulary and even gave them a phone number to an actual plastic surgeon's office in order for them to make follow-up appointments.

"This particular defendant be it an alias, posed as a plastic surgeon, was conducting on-site breast examinations, scheduling appointments and diagnosing women, her alleged patients with medical issues," said Mamani.

Police say many victims did follow-up, and that is how police were able to track Ross down, but they are concerned there are even more victims.

Wednesday a judge set Ross’ bond at $100,000. Ross is being charged with two felony counts of practicing medicine without a license. Each count carries a penalty of a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Excuse me, but if someone offered me a breast exam, in a nightclub.... I would think they were a different kind of crazy! I am not mocking the victims, but I wonder why how drunk they had to be to allow a stranger, claiming to be a doctor, examine them... in a bar.

War Dance

2010-11-13T14:54:00.005-07:00

The other night, after a long day at work, we were surfing the couch and the satellite menu. We decided it was time to break open the netflix packages and see what movies were waiting. Scott didn't really remember why he put War Dance in his queue, (it's always full) but it looked interesting.

We got a lot more than just a movie. War Dance is an amazing story of a spirit to survive. It's incredibly sad and hard to watch at times, but it is so worth seeing it through to the end.

See this movie and then donate some money.

Yes times in America are hard, but nothing like what these children have lived through in Northern Uganda.

A Somewhat tall girl at a concert

2010-11-05T17:26:00.007-06:00

Hey Look!

The tall chick on the left... the one that keeps putting her head into this guys shot....

That's ME!

That's me!!!

all around me..

2010-11-03T15:22:00.003-06:00

At sunset the sky seems on fire from the glow of the changing leaves.

Green peeks through the gold.

Color, color, everywhere.

Too bad it can't last longer.

Maru and the big box

2010-10-29T05:31:00.001-06:00

Maru!

Pretty in pUnK, pt 3

2010-10-27T05:21:00.000-06:00

Pretty in punk, part 3

Pretty in Punk, Boise Underground Music Scene

2010-10-25T05:15:00.000-06:00

Part 2!!

Boise Punk Scene

2010-10-23T17:01:00.002-06:00

I couldn't resist this one. Have patience and wade through the bad tape and you will get to a hard hitting Channel 2 news story. Pretty in Punk, the Boise Underground Scene

What a trip down memory lane! Cliff "epoxy head" Green, Nick the Commie, and a bunch of faces I haven't seen for years.

The best part? They all grew up, got regular jobs and are slowing becoming everything they hated as youth. The circle of life continues.....

Creepy Crawlers!

2010-10-17T18:51:00.002-06:00

Little girls had Easy Bake Ovens... Little boys were so much luckier, they had "Creepy Crawler" makers.

My brothers had one. I can still smell the plastic baking...

Good times!

OH MY GOD!!!

2010-10-13T18:10:00.004-06:00

How is this woman still alive?!?!?!?

Be sure to watch her face at around 1:20...I'm not sure if she is going to pee her pants from happiness or barf!

Ok Go! Dogs having fun!

2010-10-06T05:49:00.001-06:00

I don't own any of their music, but enjoy all their videos! I love the dogs in this one. :)

Wild is the Wind

2010-10-03T15:45:00.001-06:00

Sometimes it just doesn't get any better than this....

One of my all time favorites from David Bowie. Enjoy!

Friday Catz

2010-10-01T05:50:00.002-06:00

"Meow, Meow, Meow" So convincing.

Another visit to Saturday Market

2010-09-28T19:11:00.006-06:00

The market season is winding down. Xana and I went on Saturday. I bought produce and Xana bought art.... Lego art, that is.

Love the monkey sitting in the bowl. Too bad I am trying to get rid of stuff in the house... I want that monkey

and a bowl of floating glass orbs!

Xana's way cool Lego bracelet. She wears it well.

I Spy

2010-09-27T05:32:00.001-06:00

What's better than talking cats?

Baked Samosas from Aarti Paarti

2010-09-22T20:16:00.011-06:00

I got brave tonight and made samosas from start to finish. I got the dough recipe from Aarti Paarti's cooking blog. She just won the FoodNetwork's Next Food Star.

I love watching her show. She makes me believe that I too, can cook Indian food, and cook it well.

I made the dough and let it rest for 15 minutes. In the meantime, I boiled potatoes and chopped garlic. I tossed in frozen peas, cranberries and some spices.

I rolled the dough and decided to not worry if they weren't "pretty". I filled them the best I could. I brushed them with ghee.

STOP LAUGHING!!! I have never made these before!!!

As funky as they looked, they tasted wonderful dipped in hot mango chutney and served with curried avocado over brown basmati rice

Hippy Fair

2010-09-18T17:09:00.010-06:00

Hyde Park Street Fair 2010

Every year I say, "I'm not going!". Every year I get on my bike and ride 10 blocks to the big hippy fair!

This year didn't disappoint. I rode over by myself and wandered around for a few hours. Hyde Park Street Fair is prime people watching. Sometimes you go just to watch the crowds.

There's tons of stuff to buy. There are things you never knew you needed.

Hip sashes for belly dancing. I could see myself wearing it as an apron, while I cook. But then I realized the jingling of the coins would drive me nuts!

There were beads, and more beads...

I had to walk away, a bead stash can be as addictive and expensive as a yarn stash.

I followed a knome around for a while. He was pretty casual as he strolled through the fair.

There was a real tall man-beast with horns. I love the oblivious the older couple right behind him.

The ladies came out to dance.

Ganesha was peaking out from some well trimmed long gray hair. This guy knows how to keep his locks conditioned.

Psychic Sheila was there!

Tie-Dye is everywhere throughout the fair. This dude had his chihuahua with him.... the dog was wearing tie-dye!

It was a magical afternoon..

High Art

2010-09-16T20:41:00.007-06:00

I'm still enjoying that film grain setting on my little Panasonic F15.

It almost feels like cheating to take such interesting pretty photos with a digital camera.

For years I used an manual Olympus OM10 SLR. You had to work to get photos like these.

I don't miss the mess and waste of developing pictures. It's nice to have instant access to your photos.

Oh my, I used to be such an artistic young thing. Now I love convenience. I've become lazy in the digital age.

The bounty of the garden 2010

2010-09-15T12:20:00.002-06:00

This is pretty much it for the garden this year. I only thing I was successful with, was summer squash. Blah... I am tired of summer squash.

No tomatoes

No zucchini

Little or no eggplant

No lemon cucumbers

No green, red, chili peppers

Lots of buggy kale....Kale sautéed with aphids, anyone?

Just a bunch of green. Lots of huge plants, with no produce.

I have to go find a fruit and veggie stand.

England

2010-09-12T17:15:00.001-06:00

We saw the National live last night. They were incredible! I can't get enough!!!

David Lynch's StarWars

2010-09-08T05:56:00.001-06:00

You can find some fun stuff when searching David Lynch on youtube. Pardon me while I indulge myself in some what ifs.....

David Lynch PSA

2010-09-06T13:46:00.000-06:00

Only David Lynch could see litter like this!

Big Brother is watching you

2010-09-02T19:56:00.000-06:00

Trust me, it's worth the wait!

White and Nerdy!

2010-08-31T17:55:00.005-06:00

Thanks for the find, Alan!!

I love, Love, LOVE the Donny Osmond cameo!!!

Great parady of white rappers, ala Eminen!

Llama on the lam in Idaho!

2010-08-30T05:36:00.005-06:00

Get your kids in the house, and if you meet one... duck if they spit!

LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) - A llama is on the lam again in Idaho. The animal was caught roaming neighborhoods last month in Lewiston.

The llama had been taken to a livestock yard while authorities searched for her owner.

Now, Nez Perce County deputies say the llama is loose once more.

Lt. Bill Madison says the "rather determined creature" scrambled over a 6-foot high stall.

The last time the llama was wandering the area, she was snacking on gardens and shrubbery.

Secret Canyon... rafting 8/21/10

2010-08-27T17:29:00.013-06:00

Ok, I realize there may be about 10 people that read this blog. Thank you 10 people, You Rock!

10 people, I can't tell you the exact location of one of the most beautiful, calm sections of the river we rafted on Saturday. It needs to remain a secret... so it stays unpopulated.

You know by now that rafting is a love/hate thing with me. I hate the idea of being on an inflated craft careening down a current. I love the idea of the scenery, the pace, the companionship and the reward (this time is was cold cervezas and authentic Mexican food).

Last weekend was perfect for floating. It was high 90s and sunny. The stretch that Scott takes me on is exciting (for me) in parts:

and relaxing in others....

We had our usual hard core paddling crew. They work well with me and the Captain.

Just to make you laugh, look how comfortable I look!!! Yaaaaaaaaaaa!!

Scott will jump off almost anything! Crazy Fool!

The beautiful sky at the end of the float.

After we finished and knocked down the raft, the clouds started to roll in. That night (Saturday) we had one of the worst wind storms I can ever remember. There were 70 mile an hour winds, power outages (10 hours) and lots of tree damage.

It was amazing and terrifying.

Thanks for the great photos, Ilse!!!

Oooops!

2010-08-25T05:20:00.003-06:00

More craziness from the Pacific Northwest!

Tyler Patrick Thomas, an Oregon State offensive lineman, has been charged with nude trespassing and dismissed from the Beavers football team. Police say they found Thomas intoxicated and nude within a stranger's home. The Corvallis police had to use stun guns in order to keep Thomas under control. Lieutenant Tim Brewer reported that officers told Thomas to get down on the ground. The intoxicated Thomas lowered himself into a three-point stance and ran straight for the officers. At this point, they used their stun guns in order to protect themselves.

Photo Courtesy of: Seattle Times

This is an unfortunate crime that could have been avoided. It could mean that Thomas might not play football again, unless a team has seen a significant improvement in his behavior. Thomas was arrested on suspicion of criminal trespass, criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He was booked into the Benton County jail, but was later released. Thomas was a red-shirt freshman last season and hadn't seen much time on the field. It's a shame that his potential has gone to waste. According to ESPN, Oregon State coach Mike Riley dismissed Thomas from the team Monday, OSU athletics spokesman Steve Fenk said. Thomas red-shirted during the Beavers' 2009 season.

by Michael Larsen

Member since:
June 4, 2010

Gather.com

Hurt by Johnny Cash

2010-08-22T20:36:00.005-06:00

I'm getting more and more sentimental in my old age.

It's been 11 years this week that my dad died. It seems as each year passes, there are more things to remind me of him.

We were listening to Johnny Cash this weekend. I had forgotten about this incredible video that Johnny made shortly before he died.

They were both handsome young men in their early lives. But towards the end of his life, Johnny reminded me so much of Dad. They resembled one another enough for me to be comforted by this video.

Here's to lives lived!

A good argument for a vasectomy!

2010-08-21T08:41:00.002-06:00

Words fail me!

Goin' to Acapulco

2010-08-17T17:20:00.003-06:00

Seeing Bob Dylan on Sunday has reminded me how much I loved "I'm not there". The movie is a series of vignettes that all revolve around the mythical character of Bob Dylan. It's surreal and disjointed at times, but overall an amazing film. You should see it!

Slow Show

2010-08-14T17:48:00.001-06:00

you can never get enough National....

Idaho midlife crisis!

2010-08-11T17:39:00.002-06:00

On the crest of 50... this is what you do in Idaho when you have that midlife crisis...

Woman busted after crime spree that involved beer, cigars & sunglasses

Credit: Ada County Jail

Sherri Lake, 49, of Boise, is charged with grand theft and leaving the scene of an accident.

by KTVB

KTVB.COM

Posted on August 9, 2010 at 11:22 AM

Updated yesterday at 8:30 AM

BOISE -- A Boise woman is charged with grand theft after police say she went on a mini crime spree Saturday morning.

Boise Police were called to a restaurant on the 1700 block of Cole Road around 9:30 a.m. after witnesses say a woman ordered a meal and then left without paying for it. The woman was later identified as 49-year-old Sherri L. Lake.

Witnesses were able to provide police with a good description of the woman's vehicle.

A short time later police were called to a convenience store on the 2700 block of S. Orchard Street. Employees said a woman entered the store, got some beer and cigars and left without paying for the items.

Police received a third call. This time there was a report of a woman stealing sunglasses from a convenience store on the 10,000 block of W. State Street.

Police say all three crimes took place in less than one hour.

A short time later, police received a call about a hit and run collision involving the suspect's vehicle on Poplar Street. An officer spotted Lake driving on Ballantyne Lane in Eagle.

Police say they found beer, cigars and sunglasses in Lake's vehicle. She was arrested and booked into the Ada County Jail.

She is also charged with leaving the scene of an accident. The investigation continues and more charges may be forthcoming.

What they are really yeowling about.

2010-08-10T19:27:00.001-06:00

Ok, not as funny as the first talking cat video, but still pretty cute!

Cat Mystic ..not so good

2010-08-07T22:54:00.002-06:00

Yup, another good one!

Mouse! Mouse!!

Treat.... treat...

My cats talk too!

2010-08-05T21:19:00.002-06:00

This one worked for me! It made me laugh ... out loud. Good thing I was alone.

Enjoy!

Phantom of the Paradise

2010-08-03T19:25:00.003-06:00

I haven't visited "bad cinema" lately. You can't go to bad cinema without reviewing a great movie like Phantom of the Paradise!

I remember seeing this in 1974 at the Plaza Twin Theatre.

I admit it, I loved Paul Williams' music. He wrote some of the greatest soft rock hits of the 70s.

Songs like "Evergreen", "Rainy Days and Mondays", "We've Only Just Begun" ,"Rainbow Connection", (one of my favorite songs) and..... the "Theme to the Love Boat". OMG!
Sure, he was a wee fella, with an odd singing voice, but I had all his records.

My brother, who hated me and Paul Williams, managed to destroy all my records by scratching them with a pin. Ah, siblings.... they are so great to grow up with, too bad about those scars!

I never replaced my records after they were ruined. The 80s, new wave, punk rock and bands like U2 came along. There was too much new music to listen to, to go back.

Brian DePalma directed this film. Rocky Horror hadn't yet been made. I might be walking a thin line here with RHPS fans, but Beef closely resembles Dr. Frank N. Furter!

This role was an attempt to make Paul Williams a sex symbol. He had the hair, the glasses, the velvet clothes, but not the height.

Here's Swan at his sexiest best....

He's close to 70 now. He's still writing, producing and does speaking engagements. And like the rest of us, he has gotten older...

Thanks for the Rainbow Connection, Paul. :)

Imaad Wasif!!

2010-07-31T08:26:00.006-06:00

Last night we saw the New Pornographers. Imaad Wasif opened up for them. He and his band were amazing! They are passionate and theatrical! What a nice surprise to be so entertained by an opening band!
Rock on!

Cat Man Do

2010-07-29T05:30:00.001-06:00

I love the "Simon's Cat" series, enjoy!

I'll have what she's having!

2010-07-26T20:00:00.005-06:00

Day 4 of a rotten headache. Minutes after taking it, I too, could look like a Stepford Wife.

Secret Ingredient: Caffeine!

Bring it on!

Teenagers from Outer Space!

2010-07-23T05:15:00.000-06:00

Of course they are 10,000 times more terrifying than your maddest nightmares.....

they're TEENAGERS!

Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood

2010-07-21T20:04:00.005-06:00

This one goes out to Scott. I really wanted to post "Some Velvet Morning" but the bastards at youtube have disabled it! grrrr! Click the link to see it.

For now, enjoy this "happening" version of Jackson.

Got to love those boots!

Idaho's shoe tree burns

2010-07-19T05:30:00.002-06:00

.....Big Shoe Tree, you will be missed. :(

BOISE, Idaho — U.S. Forest Service officials in northern Idaho say the rubber-soled decorations that made the "shoe tree" a beloved Priest River landmark also helped fuel its demise.

Tourists and locals since the 1940s have dressed the tree with hundreds of pairs of shoes, nailing sneakers to its trunk and hanging work boots from its branches.

Firefighters found the tree engulfed in flames late Thursday, and the blaze was difficult to extinguish because the sizable cedar was covered in melted shoe rubber.

Officials have long discouraged people from adding shoes to the tree, which has become an eccentric roadside attraction featured on various travel websites.

Skyplay!

2010-07-16T05:30:00.003-06:00

This is fun!

Being an admirer of clouds, I was thrilled to see this post on Drawn! the illustration and cartoon blog.

To see Horst J Bernhart's flickr stream, click on SKYplay and enjoy!

(view it as a slideshow)

In Idaho, not only do we get mad, we get even!

2010-07-14T17:32:00.003-06:00

Every state has their share of nuts, but here in Idaho, we have the special nuts. No one knows why Joy Cassidy is so mad at the Library, but judging by her mug shot, she's steaming! When she was arrested, she had a concealed weapon in her car.....Librarians ~Take cover!

Be afraid, be very afraid!

Idaho cops catch up with alleged condiment vandal

(AP) – 1 day ago

BOISE, Idaho — Police have arrested a 74-year-old woman who is accused of repeatedly dumping maple syrup, corn syrup, ketchup and mayonnaise into a library book drop in Idaho's capital city. Authorities had previously issued a pair of warrants for Joy Cassidy's arrest earlier this month after she failed to appear in court.

But she turned herself in at the Ada County jail on Monday. Cassidy was originally arrested on June 13.

That's after police say she poured mayonnaise in the library's book drop box that day — and was a person of interest in at least 10 other condiment-related incidents at the Ada Community Library in Boise since May 2009.

In addition to malicious injury to property, Cassidy has also been charged with carrying a concealed weapon without a license.

dusk 7/10/10

2010-07-11T15:29:00.008-06:00

My mother had a way with the written word. I remember when I was a kid she was always writing poems and short descriptive paragraphs. After she died I was lucky enough to stumble upon one of the few journals she had. It contained some of her writings.

Last night, around 9:30, I wandered outside to see what my cats were up to. I'd had a migraine tormenting me for a few hours and it was finally starting to ease. I sank into the cushioned patio chair and laid my head back... and saw the most amazing colorful clouds.

I went inside and got my camera, hoping to capture the moment. I settled back into my chair and enjoyed watching the clouds change.

That's when I was reminded of my mother's writing. When I was in Jr. High, I had an assignment to write something. I can't remember what class it was for, or what I turned in. I do remember her sitting with me and writing the line "Evening, the technicolor time of day...." which was the beginning of a narrative about her garden and how much she loved the colors in the evening. It was around this time in my life that I began keeping a journal (and still do). She gave me an appreciation for words through her writing and by nurturing the reader in me.

Now about that term "technicolor"...

Times change and now technicolor is no longer used. It was a special process to create saturated color in films. Some movies made between 1922 and 1952 were filmed in technicolor (roughly around 400). I saw a lot of older films in the theatre, because my mother loved going to the movies. She would pack us kids up in the car and we would head off to the Vista Theatre for Friday night double features. They showed a lot of older films, "Presented in Technicolor". We loved them! I can still remember seeing a reissue of Gone with the Wind, in a theatre in the 60s. It looked incredible!

Wisegeek says:

"The Technicolor® company is still in the film processing business, but the actual Technicolor process is rarely used in mainstream movies. Many companies have stopped production on the necessary dyes, and modern color film processing techniques have rendered the Technicolor® process largely obsolete. A few major Hollywood releases have been processed in the original Technicolor® process, such as the 1940s-based movies The Aviator and Pearl Harbor, but the original Technicolor® process is generally used as a novel effect, not a regular method of color film processing."

Techincolor gave The Wizard of Oz that special look.... surreal (and a little creepy)!

Disclaimer: I realize the Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all times, but I found it terrifying as a kid. It still gives me the creeps to this day.

DIY!

2010-07-08T05:00:00.002-06:00

This week's episode of this OLD house, Scott installs an attic fan!!

Our house is hot in the summer. It was finally time to try and find a way to make it cooler. The solution, a solar attic fan.

I don't mind heights, when I take an elevator to get there. Going up a ladder is another thing! I still have vivid memories of my dad's big slide off the roof when I was a kid. It wasn't a pretty fall.

Scott didn't need me on the roof, but did need my help. I went willingly up the ladder to help him, but I stayed right at roof level like a big chicken!

I knew I could get myself up on the roof, but getting down was another thing.

The first step of the installation process was to go into the attic and mark the spot where the fan would be.

Our house is close to 100 years old. Originally it had a coal furnace. Every time we do anything that involves the attic, we come out covered in soot. Scott was off to find his mark. My wise advice, "Stay on those rafters!"

Attic adventures are never very much fun and nothing like in the movies. There is no treasure up there, just heat, dirt and coal dust.

Scott got up on the roof, I clung to the ladder and we went through the instructions to install it. There were a couple of hiccups, but it went in easily. He's my hero!

Here's hoping that we have a cooler house this summer.... if summer ever comes.

Welcome home attic fan!

The allure of gardening escapes me

2010-07-04T07:30:00.002-06:00

Gardening, it's for other people... not me.

I started my day pulling the ever present, ever growing, invasive grass that finds it's way into my vegetable garden.

Quite frankly, I hate it. I don't find any pleasure rolling my sleeves up, digging into the dirt and all that nonsense. My mother loved to garden. She had a "green thumb". She could spend hours planting, tilling, weeding, feeding and tending.

I would rather not.

It's the 4th of July, have a happy, safe holiday. I am off to pull more weeds.... :(

Roadside attraction ~ Paul Bunyan and Babe, the blue ox

2010-07-01T05:37:00.001-06:00

One of the things I remember most about going to the Redwoods as a kid, was the giant Paul Bunyan statue. Much to my delight, it is still there at Trees of Mystery, outside Klamath, CA.

Looking at them as an adult, they are kind of creepy and weird. I am glad they are still there for future generations of little kids to see.

Running up that hill

2010-06-26T14:36:00.024-06:00

There's no one like Kate Bush.
I was a fan from the first listening of her debut album, A Kick Inside.
She deserves a lot of credit for creating careers of many women artists of the 80s, 90s and beyond. Especially women like Tori Amos.

Listen to Kate, a true, original talent. My suggestions are The Hounds of Love and The Dreaming. Scott and I have had a running debate for the last twenty years as to which is the best. They are both amazing, lush, thoughtful records.

Enjoy!

blowing in the wind

2010-06-24T06:00:00.009-06:00

My buddy Mike* is guest photographer today!

He tours the state on his motorcycle, seeing sites that few of us see.

I love this photo. There is something about it that really makes me happy.
I think it's the clouds, they are magic!

*name changed to protect the innocent.... hee hee

Dylan does Boise!

2010-06-22T05:37:00.001-06:00

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Bob is coming to town!! August 15th.

In Heaven, everything is fine

2010-06-19T16:42:00.009-06:00

This afternoon we headed down to the basement to go through stuff that needs to be sold, donated or trashed. Like most people, we have a stash of junk and old useless technology that we need to get rid of. Between yellowed smelly books and dated clothes, we could create a bad library and clothe everyone in it.

In the technology department we have an old dinosaur computer. There's a series of VHS, Beta, VHS-DVD players. We have a vintage ( from the 80s) Cannon video camera. It was actually one of the smaller cameras to come out at the time. Most other video cameras from the 80s, you had to park on your shoulder. This one was "hand held". I also found a big box of beta video cassettes. Before you laugh and say "Nobody had Beta!", we did and it was a beta hifi.

In that box of tapes was a VHS copy of Eraserhead.

Eraserhead was unlike most any film I had ever seen at the time. I remember how disturbing it was the first time I watched it. It was filled with dark, confusing images and throbbing, pulsing sound.

David Lynch has made some amazingly good and bad films. We watched The Elephant Man a few months ago. It is still one of the most beautiful films I have seen in the last 20 years. Eraserhead is one of David Lynch's better films. Blue Velvet is still my all time favorite. Dennis Hopper created one of the best villains on screen, ever.

However, the collection of short films he released a few years ago, was one of the most frustrating things I have tried to watch. As always, with most of his films you have to suspend disbelief and dive right in.

One of my favorite parts from Eraserhead is when Henry encounters the Lady in the Radiator. She sings him a sweet, simple song about heaven.

Ok Go and Goose

2010-06-16T16:06:00.002-06:00

Ok Go!
I can't resist posting this. I loved the treadmill video, so I had high expectations for this one. The funniest part of the whole thing is.... watch for the goose! The goose is the 5th member of the band.
Enjoy :)

Me and Mr. Jones, we got a thing going on...

2010-06-13T15:05:00.004-06:00

My sweet one eyed boy, Puddy. He still has a kitten in him, but these days, he and his siblings all like to sleep the day away. They don't look it, but in cat years, they are all senior citizens.

Spot loves the cool bricks in the shade.

Leon, free falling on the cool grass.

Mr. Jones, after yet another nap...

Urgh, Pt. 4!!!

2010-06-11T11:30:00.005-06:00

X! John Doe is one of the best singers I can think of. These are the early days of his career.
Seek out Twin Brother (with Grant Lee Phillips) and see what I mean.

Urgh! A Music War, Part 3

2010-06-10T11:15:00.002-06:00

Magazine was one of Scott's favorites! Howard Devoto!

More Urgh! A Music War!!

2010-06-09T11:23:00.015-06:00

Of course there's more of Urgh, A Music War that must be seen!

Get your flower pot hats out of storage! We are Devo! D E V O!!

I will always have a soft spot for XTC. Andy Partridge is a pop meister.

Stan Ridgeway!! Wall of Voodoo made some of the best stilted new wave music, ever!

Urgh! A Music War!!!

2010-06-08T15:12:00.001-06:00

It's Time for a treat!!

I was sitting at my desk thinking about Pere Ubu. What? that doesn't happen to you? It's break time, you can either surf the net or go to Youtube and find cool stuff. Today I got a craving for some great vintage video from "Urgh! A Music War".

Scott saw some of this concert series. He was so lucky! Lee adapted a pretty good Pere Ubu singing style for a while. Here you go boys, this is for you! Enjoy :)

This is the classic Cramps video. Lux Interior died last year. He was 62. He died of aortic dissection. This is Lux giving his all. It's a fun video, but a little racy. And by some miracle, he never loses his pants!

Anarchy in the UK

2010-06-05T06:07:00.013-06:00

I couldn't resist... In my day, John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) was quite the hell raiser! Here he is selling butter... Butter!

We all have to grow up one day. :)

Bewitched, bothered and bewildered...

2010-06-04T05:00:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, while at work I heard Ella crooning from my internet radio. What a voice! She's always been one of my favorite singers. I happened to catch her version of Bewitched, bothered and bewildered written by Rogers and Hart.
I have heard this song many times before, but never listened closely to the lyrics. Yesterday, I did.... and Oh My, is it a racy song! I found this clip of Ella singing it on the Nat King Cole show. The song she sings on his show is definitely G rated compared to the lyrics below.
Enjoy!

R rated version: suggestive lyrics ahead!

After one whole quart of brandy
Like a daisy I’m awake. With no Bromo Seltzer handy, I don’t even shake.

Men are not a new sensation,
I’ve done pretty well I think,
But this half pint imitation
Put me on the blink.

I'm wild again, beguiled again
A whimpering, simpering child again
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

Couldn't sleep, wouldn't sleep
When love came and told me, where I shouldn't sleep.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

I lost my heart, but what of it, he is cold I agree
He might laugh, but I love it, although the laugh's on me.

I'll sing to him, bring spring to him
And long, for the day when I'll cling to him.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

He’s a fool and don’t I know it,
But a fool can have his charms,
I’m in love and don’t I know it,
Like a babe in arms.

Love’s the same old sad sensation,
Lately I’ve not slept a wink,
Since this half pint imitation,
Put me on the blink.

I’ve sinned a lot, I mean a lot,
But I’m like sweet seventeen a lot,
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

I’ll sing to him, each spring to him,
And worship the trousers that cling to him.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

When he talks, he is seeking,
Words to get,.off his chest.
Horizontally speaking He’s at his very best.

Vexed again, perplexed again,
Thank god I can be oversexed again.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I.

Wise at last, my eyes at last,
Are cutting you down to your size at last,
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - no more.

Burned a lot but learned a lot,
And now you are broke so you earned a lot,
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - no more.

Couldn’t eat, was dyspeptic,
Life was so hard to bear,
Now my heart’s antiseptic,
Since you moved out of there.

Romance finis.
Your chance finis. Those ants that invaded my pants finis.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - no more.

This kind of stuff makes me Crazy!!!

2010-06-03T05:00:00.003-06:00

What kind of dumb#&$ thought of this....

For $1.82 you can buy enough spice for one dinner, and you get to throw away packaging to boot!

It's products like this that make people believe that cooking is a chore, or just to difficult to figure out on their own.

It's really insulting when I think about it.

I love to cook and am not shy when telling others. Between being called "Suzy Homemaker or Martha Stewart", I am used to people not understanding why I want to cook. Some see it as a waste of time... I see it as art!

I want to cook because I love food! I am intrigued by food. I am fascinated by flavor! There are so many things I have yet to taste, I don't want to miss anything!

My suggestion? Skip buying the spice pack. Go out and buy a basic cookbook. Get into the kitchen, and start cooking. Once you see how easy it is, you won't want to stop...

Foothills delight!

2010-06-01T21:11:00.004-06:00

One good thing about a wet spring in the high desert is.....Green!

Everything is green. It may only last a few weeks,

but right now, it's green!

We've had beautiful skies every night.

There are lots of wildflowers blooming.

This tiny flower is no bigger than 1/2 inch.

This is my own private Idaho!

Things are changing...

2010-05-27T11:40:00.005-06:00

Willie Nelson cut his hair!

He is playing Boise this summer, and he cuts his hair!!!
What's the world coming to?!?

Long hair is a lot to take care of... I can imagine he feels quite free right now.

I will miss his long hair...

And no, I'm not that weird... a google search on "Willie Nelson haircut" produced about 100,000 items.

People, this is news!

Leon and his list of demands

2010-05-26T05:28:00.007-06:00

Unsettled by the snow, rain and life in general.... I am approached by Leon.

Every step he takes is accompanied by a sharp "me-owww!"

He knows what he wants, but can never walk right to me.

He's very much like that hilarious, weird character Chris Kattan used to play on Saturday Night Live.... "Mango"

"come closer, go away!!"

He gets far enough away from me, and then decides he wants attention.

Leave me alone! Don't go! Don't touch me! Pet me!! Stay!!!

We both win.

Pizza! Success!!

2010-05-20T19:31:00.006-06:00

Homemade pizza started calling to me around 3:00 pm.

I came home and started the pizza dough. It seems I haven't made a decent pizza from scratch for the last few years.

Just the other day, Debby at Feast for the Eyes, made an incredible potato pizza. It gave me encouragement to try again.

I let the dough raise while I was out working in the garden. Go Dough!!

Punching it down! Nope, not mad at anyone, really!

Pesto from the jar made the sauce. I have 9 basil plants potted and ready to produce so I can make my own pesto!

Spinach, onions, red and orange peppers, fresh mozzarella, mushrooms and a healthy dose of red pepper flakes, and I am ready to bake!

25 minutes later at 450 ~ it was actually very good!

I may have broken the pizza curse. Yay!!!!

Served with a big salad.... almost the perfect meal!

Christmas in May

2010-05-19T05:45:00.003-06:00

I hit the local yarn store on Saturday. I still had a christmas gift certificate (thanks to my sweet mother in law!) to enjoy. I was in the store for an hour... and still have $ left. Yay!!!!

I ended up getting too much. But how could I resist!!

BTW, none of this will be crocheted!

what the.....??

2010-05-17T17:25:00.003-06:00

Oh yeah, that crochet thing... I am still trying with little or no success. I understand the turning chain, but what the heck are these big holes doing there?!??

I'm not giving up....yet. Ask me next week ~

If it looks like a duck, it may be a goose...

2010-05-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

We went to see "Rain" last night. Rain is that famous Beatle's tribute that tours the country non-stop. The cast was entertaining, but not as much as the audience. The auditorium was packed with 2000 baby boomers all singing, dancing and believing they were seeing the Beatles! It was a great people watching experience.

My favorite Beatle's tribute is the Rutles. Neil Innes and Eric Idle got together in the 70s, with the blessing of the Beatles and made this funny faux documentary.
Enjoy the Rutles!

c vs r, part 2

2010-05-07T12:09:00.004-06:00

I wonder how long this experiment will last? I just spent my lunch hour struggling with a crochet hook and yarn.

I figured out the slip stitch and moved onto the single crochet. Today my first attempt looked like something you'd find in the cat box.

As you can see, my attempts were not successful. The hook is ackward and I can't seem to hang onto it properly. The yarn sticks in the oddest spots. I will change to a smoother yarn.

40 minutes of slip stitch, single crochet and half double crochet gave me a slight headache.

I know this isn't brain surgery, but I am frustrated!

crochet vs Robin

2010-05-07T06:31:00.001-06:00

May is the month! Either I figure out how to crochet, or I leave it alone!

Mom taught me how to knit. Dad tried to teach me how to crochet. It didn't work. I was never able to take instruction from my father. He and I spoke different languages.

I'm not a natural knitter but I understand how knitting works. With crochet, I am only capable of doing one stitch. If I crochet, it becomes a square washcloth, no matter what I am trying to make.
Why do I want to learn? Granny squares! I am fixated on that wonderful 70s granny square vest my mother made when I was in high school. I don't want to make a vest to wear, ala Laurie Partridge, but a granny square purse would be fun!

I am determined to learn!

Sunday I had a 50% off coupon for Joann Fabrics. I hit the store early enough to avoid the Sunday crowd of rabid crafters, quilters, and beaders. I spent an hour looking in the book section. There are so many crochet books!
I found a wonderful book by Rowan called Crochet Workshop.

It's filled with helpful photos and text. I am going to try.... one more time.

I got out my recycled cotton (redheart), one of my many crochet hooks, put the book in my lap and off I went...
making another washcloth!
I got stuck on the first stitch (slip stitch). Thank goodness for youtube, after viewing how it was done, I could understand the instructions.

And the book, they make it look sooooo easy! yeah, right.....

Werner Herzog reads Curious George

2010-05-04T19:58:00.003-06:00

Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but I couldn't resist! Cynical-C , one of my favorite blogs, posted a few youtube videos of (supposed) Werner Herzog reading children's books. This is great! Listen and imagine the master reading a child's classic.

Betty Crocker's Party Book!

2010-05-03T05:19:00.006-06:00

Betty was a hero for my mom in the 60s.

No one really knew that Betty was fictional, but it didn't matter, she had good ideas! She helped Mom be a good homemaker.

This book is from a series of small cookbooks from the late 50s. There are lots of tidbits to entice a woman into hosting dinner parties.

What a good baby, he plays quietly while Mommy plans her party.

I can't remember the last time I celebrated Lincoln's or Washington's birthday with a party!

Cherry pie for all!

A lovely spread for your "Hawaiian" theme party.

May Day Party!!

Look how pleased her husband is to see her walk through the door with a plate of steaming, delicious food.

Oh my. Let's dig in!! Mmmmmmm, hot dog/pineapple kabobs!

These books really are quite delightful. They offer a snapshot of America that seems to be long gone, except for certain places in Utah.

Meat, Man and Fire!

2010-04-27T19:20:00.013-06:00

A few years ago, when I was between jobs, I was enlisted by my friend Holly to go with her to Saturday morning yard sales. In the 70s and 80s I did the whole yard sale/thrift shop thing. Most of my 20 something wardrobe was from the Salvation Army.

I was hesitant to start attending sales again in the 90s. But being unemployed and watching Holly's enthusiasm for estate/yard sales, I was easily pulled back into the thrill of the hunt.

Holly would start checking the ads online on Friday nights. By Saturday morning she had a list 10 address' long to check out. Holly was serious about yard sales. Her Saturdays usually started at 6:00 am. I found myself going along as a willing participant. I didn't know at the time I would develop an affection for cookbooks and old perfume.

This weekend I was organizing my cookbooks. I stumbled across one of my favorite "man" cookbooks.... "The Hungry Man's Outdoor Grill Cookbook"!

The cover is illustrated in the great old 50s/60s style of Playboy Magazine's "Annie Fanny".

There are lots of curvy girls throughout the book. The recipes on the other hand are... heart stopping!

BACON!!!!

There's a pep talk in the forward of the book that says "Outdoor cooking is a man's art..." (like I don't know how to cook over fire!?)

They allow a woman to be photographed near the grill. She isn't dressed for grilling, like the man is, but she is helping.

I love this grilling version of Durga, the hindu goddess. Apparently it takes a lot of hands to grill meat.

LIVER!!!!

The back cover. "All's well that ends well with a belly full of meat!"

Instant gratification...in a weekend.

2010-04-26T20:36:00.000-06:00

Kumihimo finished. It makes the pendant shine!

Zen and the Art of Kumihimo

2010-04-25T07:50:00.003-06:00

The kumi loom called my name. I have a silver pendant that needed a special cord. After planting the tree (see asomewhattallgirl), we sat on the porch and enjoyed the evening sun. It was a perfect time to begin my project.

So many colors and types of thread to choose from...

I decided on a hand dyed cotton from Fuzz (local thread/spinning/yarn store). I am going to work the cord right onto the pendant.

The start...

Morning Maru!!!

2010-04-22T06:04:00.000-06:00

I admit it! Maru Rocks! And he makes me laugh... enjoy!

Dinner!

2010-04-19T17:17:00.004-06:00

Sunday dinner:

Wild rice smothered in avocados in curry sauce, topped with toasted coconut and cashews. Also on the plate, sweet potato/green pea samosas with spicy mango chutney and tzatziki sauce.

The cashew cardamom cookies were good too!

Oprah has "Aha" moments, I have "OH NO!" moments

2010-04-15T18:00:00.008-06:00

The scene of the crime.

I usually stop at this lawyer's bookcase to take off my watch and rings.

Wednesday morning, 6:50 am... I have 10 minutes to get to work. I reach for my beloved ruby and diamond ring. Somehow it slips from my hand and .... in .... slow .... motion .... I watch it drop to the floor.

It hits the hardwood, bounces, and head directly towards

the belly of the beast!!!

This is the beast, our old coal furnace in basement, converted to gas. (terribly inefficient!)

I admit, at this point.... I may have used some language that is only for grownups. I hear my ring hit the floor and bounce.... bounce.... bounce down into the grate and towards the stomach of the furnace.

I run screaming down to the basement!

Poor Scott, he had just woken up, was asking "what's Wrong?!?!?!". I get downstairs and look at the situation. I open the furnace and look inside. There is no ring to be seen anywhere. I can only guess where the ring is in the furnace duct.

The recovery mission.... Two days later, after purchasing a long handled duster (something I willingly admit, I never do....dust), getting the mirror and the flashlight, there I was, on the floor, long legs akimbo.... struggling to fish my ring out of the duct ...without sending it into the furnace.

20 minutes and 10 attempts later, I finally retrieve my ring! The last thing I wanted to do was disassemble an antique duct! And at last, I didn't have to! Yay for me!!

My beautiful ring and dirty hands. I think I will leave the ring on my finger for awhile!

Thursday cuteness

2010-04-14T23:45:00.000-06:00

I agree....Dogs don't need to wear clothes!

My neighbor dresses her little chihuahua everyday.

This is Diva in her orange hoody.

She's an excitable girl. When she rips around the yard, her back feet don't touch the ground.

Right after she put the needle in my arm,

2010-04-11T10:51:00.006-06:00

she announced she'd just graduated Nursing School!

Puddy has an opinion about that!

"Don't mess with the woman who feeds me!"

AND I MEAN IT!!!!

2010-04-08T14:32:00.002-06:00

.... reminds me, I need to pull the cruiser out of the shed!!

tune in tomorrow, part 3.... the 70s

2010-04-04T13:58:00.003-06:00

This is so nostalgic! I forgot how much I loved "Ryan's Hope" Just watching the intro, I was able to name most of the characters! This clip contains too many nighttime soaps that I never watched, but it's worth watching until the end to see the original "Young and Restless" opening.

tune in tomorrow, part 2 ... the 60s!

2010-04-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

Dark Shadows, Peyton Place, The Doctors, Love of Life, Love is a many splendored thing, Morning Star! So many long gone serials. I remember watching quite a few of these show. There was no reality TV in the 60s, only the fake reality of soap operas.

Tune in Tomorrow, brought to you by....

2010-04-02T05:00:00.001-06:00

I can't believe I remembered the original theme to As the World Turns! How old am I????? (I'm sure they were still using it in the 60s....tune in tomorrow to find out!)

The Edge of Night

2010-04-01T07:26:00.001-06:00

Old soap operas... there are so many from my past. Here's one you might remember.

R.I.P Robert Culp

2010-03-27T20:56:00.002-06:00

I was saddened to hear that Robert Culp passed away. After watching the epic Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice, We reminisced about the Robert Culp we knew as kids from the 60s .... I Spy with Bill Cosby

Indulge your 60s kid and check out this great website The Illustrated Guide to I Spy with Robert Culp and Bill Cosby.

It's everything you remember and more!

Momentarily closed due to illness!

2010-03-25T17:19:00.002-06:00

A somewhat tall girl (My Curious Nature) got real sick on Tuesday. Today she managed to remain upright and awake for more than two hours!

Hopefully she will be back to being semi-sparky this weekend.

Thanks for your patience! Check back soon....

Lime Curd!

2010-03-20T16:44:00.015-06:00

Don't be distracted by the awful name. Curd is not a pretty word. It doesn't sound soft like pudding or flan. But one taste of my lime curd, and you will be making that "Oh Man, that's good" face and you will feel a little weak in the knees.

I have already posted about making sour cream cake with lime curd and blackberries. Yes, I made the cake again today, but this post is about the curd, the wonderful lime curd!

Several years ago I followed a wonderful blog from a young cook in Seattle. Her site was "never bashful with butter". Last year she got sick and her husband had to shut down her site. She was never able to return to blogging. Being a regular reader, I almost felt like I lost a new friend. This recipe is from her blog. Sorry I can't link to it, it has disappeared into cyberspace.

I make curd the easy, foolproof way.

Cream the butter and sugar together.

Beat the eggs in one by one.

Add the lime juice.

The result is a mixer filled with clumpy butter and eggs.
Don't panic! It's not pretty at this point.

Pour into a double boiler (or make due with two pans like I do...)

and then be prepared to stir for the next 15 - 20 minutes. Alchemy happens at about 15 minutes and 150 degrees. The butter melts, the sugar liquifies, the eggs cook without scrambling, and it tastes heavenly.

The awkward frosting technic comes from my first attempt to use a pastry bag. It was harder than I thought. Go figure!

The sloppy job did not affect the taste. The lime curd is a success!

1 cup sugar

6 eggs

1 cup lime juice

1/2 cup butter

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice

2010-03-18T11:15:00.011-06:00

Consider the Possibilities:

Must I?

Here's what you need to consider....

* Bob and Carol are eternal hipsters. They attend a weekend encounter retreat, and their eyes are opened to all they are missing in life. They want to "feel" everything.

* Ted and Alice are conventional.

* Alice is uptight about everything, especially sex. (Stinkylulu wrote a nice review of her performance in this film here)

* Ted is the hairiest man alive (see top photo)

* Bob wears love beads, even when he is getting busy with the ladies.

* Look out for that insight! It will get you every time.

* Carol has an affair with a tennis pro who drives a maserati.

* Bob has an affair with a 21 year old blond with a masters degree from Stanford. That's one smart girl!

* Bob and Ted both wear tighty whities and seem mighty proud of them. (nice surgery scar, Bob)

* Alice and Carol both wear super cute pink bras and panties under their glittery mini dresses. Carol's mink stole makes a sexy addition to the Bob, Carol and Alice's romp. (Ted is in the bathroom freshening his breath) This all happens in Las Vegas, when they go to see Tony Bennett perform.

Lucky them, they get to see a cool concert and have an orgy! ~photo montage from rageroo

There are too many words to describe this film. I could go on for hours. When reading reviews on the internet, I was surprised at how many good reviews there were.

Perhaps I saw a different film, but I would definitely classify this as bad cinema!

Old Man Tub gets a face lift!

2010-03-17T15:22:00.009-06:00

I am lucky to have great plumbers! Mike and Dave from MaGee's Plumbing were here today. They replaced my old, tired faucet with a new identical replacement. Since Old Man Tub is really old, he got a new replacement shower ring also.

Dave, taking off the ancient hardware, and some of the wall.

Business man Dave takes a call while Mike takes out the old fixture.

Changing out the old, worn

with the new sexy.....grrrrr!

Mike, the "faucet whisperer" at work.

The new ring is bigger. Where's the putty and paint. Time to patch!

I am just happy that the drip-drip-drip is gone.

Spring!!

2010-03-14T08:17:00.005-06:00

It's here! The first day of spring is next week, but you can see it all around. Yesterday we had snow and tomorrow it will be in the 60s! I love this time of year.

The trees are budding.

Crocus bulbs are popping up.

Things are stirring all around.

Saturday night entertainment:

We watched 2012 last night. I've always enjoyed John Cusack, but not this time. What a rotten movie this was! In fact, I think the house still smells a little bit from the bad cinema! If you are interested in watching it, be ready to suspend belief and have a few laughs.... (it's not a comedy)

Naan and Falafel ~ Am I Crazy?

2010-03-11T20:08:00.016-07:00

The last time I made falafel from scratch it was a bad experience. It crumbled, dissolved and made a huge mess.

Today I found a great recipe for naan and somehow, ended up making both naan and falafel.

It was a good idea!

The naan recipe came from Monsoon Spice. The recipe is simple, healthy and very easy to make, once you figure out you need to cook with fire.

Make the dough and let it rise for an hour or so. My house is old and cold, so I preheated the oven to 200 degrees. I turned it off when it came to temperature, and put the naan (in a oiled bowl) into the oven to rise.

I rolled out the dough into naan shaped flat loaves. Then I heated my old gas grill and got to cooking!

The bread cooked so fast, it caught me off guard! Next time I will use two spatulas, and have a spray bottle to mist the dough.

Being prepared is not one of my strong suits. I never should have dropped out of the Brownies as a little girl!

Because of the hot spots on my grill, I ended up with a couple of burnt spots.

....Next time I will add garlic to the naan dough for extra flavor.

I also found a great recipe for falafel on Monsoon Spice. I was hesitant to try again, but what the heck, I was already making naan!

I was so happy when the chickpea patties held together, cooked up beautifully and tasted amazing!

But the mess.... there was still a huge mess to clean up!

Yummy falafel (with a lemon-mint yogurt sauce on the side) and handmade naan!

I'm going to call this one.... a success!

Cupcakes!

2010-03-07T16:06:00.006-07:00

March at my house is birthday season. Between family and friends there are four birthdays to bake for.

Might as well start with lemon cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting...

The magic begins.

My beautiful, new, nonstick muffin pan.

Secret ingredients for the frosting. Add a few cups of powdered sugar and you have a mini masterpiece!

Frosted cupcakes!!!

Yay for birthdays!

Update on Old Man Tub...

2010-02-28T09:45:00.003-07:00

The plumbers have found the replacement parts. It will take a few weeks to get them in. Until then, I live with the drip-drip-drip. The good news is, we don't have to replace the tub!

Ladies and Gentleman, Bill Callahan

2010-02-17T18:10:00.002-07:00

I've been listening to a lot of Bill Callahan and Smog lately. I think you should too... enjoy!

Old Man Tub

2010-02-05T05:36:00.006-07:00

Update on the bathtub. Everything I tried to do to fix the leak, didn't work. I was sold the wrong part, replacement handles that didn't fit, and a interim handle that broke. Gee, it's been fun!

Thank goodness I have good plumbers. Mike and Dave came by on tuesday and did a temporary fix. Since the claw foot tub is around 80 years old, they are going to search for replacement parts for me on the internet.

Thanks Internets!

10 years ago, I would be up a creek with no paddle. At least now, I have a chance to try and have this one fixed.

Yes, this is what our tub looks like. We have the old fashioned (wider) ring around the top.

How quaint!

Oh Yeah!?!?!

2010-01-30T13:18:00.003-07:00

Easy. He says it's easy. DON"T BELIEVE HIM!!!

I have spent the last three days trying to fix a leaky bathtub fixture and trust me IT'S NOT EASY!!

At this point, I don't know whether to laugh or cry, or drink another martini!

Good luck with all your easy home repairs!

A toast to Triumph, the comic insult dog

2010-01-22T16:13:00.004-07:00

This one goes out to Scott.

Triumph, the comic insult dog isn't going to leave NBC with Conan because of some silly contract thing. It's a shame that NBC owns him now!
Something tells me he won't be appearing along side Jay Leno.... I don't know if Jay's audience could take it.

Indulge yourself, and get set to laugh!

Pot Stickers!!

2010-01-19T05:56:00.021-07:00

*Every time it's the same. It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting on the couch watching Everyday Food on PBS. One of their ultra calm T.V. chefs is cooking something amazing. This time she looks me right in the eye and says confidently "It's So simple to make your own pot stickers!"

She coos and turns to her immaculately prepared ingredients... starts her magic and I am hooked. I watch with interest as it all comes together flawlessly and I believe I can do it just the same way!!!!

(my last attempt at pot stickers ended in pot stickers permanently stuck to a pot. They tasted ok, but looked awful. I had to get a new pot)
Last night, I got a touch of the crazies and decided to make pot stickers.

I assembled the necessary ingredients. A few things changed from the original recipe.

I added the filling, wet two sides, and sealed the dough.

I ended up with a lot more that I expected!

Following the recipe, I put the pot stickers into an oiled, smokin' hot pan. The first batch immediately turned black. After a minute I was suppose to flip them and add a 1/2 cup of water. This (in my case) was a bad idea. As soon as I added the water, the kitchen was filled with a huge puff of steam and smoke. I threw the backdoor open, (inviting a parade of cats to come in and out for a few minutes) grabbed a flour sack towel and tried to fan the cloud outside.
I flashed back to my youth. My mother used to do what we called the "towel dance" several times a week while cooking/burning dinner. Here I was following in her footsteps.

Scott yelled from the living room "Is that smoke?!"
"YES!" I yelled back "but nothing's on fire....yet."

After I fanned most of the smoke out of the house, I set out to cook the second batch. This time, I turned the heat down a bit, skipped the steam/smoke step, and pan fried them to a nice (dry) golden brown.

Whew!

Was it a success? Overall, yes, but I can tell, I need a lot more practice! They tasted great dipped in ponzu with some stir fried veggies on the side.
We'll see if I can do it better next time (hopefully without any burnt casualties or smoke).

*I am easily persuaded by most TV chefs that I can cook amazing things. Rick Bayless, Bobby Flay, and Nigella Lawson have all convinced me to try something challenging.