Giving Thanks

i like it when my life, my goings on, my surroundings, friends, family, job, are all on an even keel. who doesn't like that? i like when my little blog here is all light and air. when i'm not feeling like the world is sitting on my shoulders and getting larger by the minute. its so easy to immerse myself into the happy while its here and forget about the bigger picture. i'd much rather be in that mellow, all is good space. its easier. today, thanksgiving, i want to remember a bit, not in a melancholy way, but in an accepting sort of way that life isn't always a bed of roses and pansies. i might be more inclined toward teeter-tottering than most, but that's me. and i live with me every day and night.

i have a tendency toward *big* emotions. i love and hurt in big ways. i feel things on a level that i think so many people don't. its not necessarily a good thing. i call it my obsessing or my digressions but what it really is, is me. i do my best to paint over it, to hide it, to keep it to myself. i don't really even journal about it here on my personal journal for fear someone will actually read it. its not something that most people know how to deal with. its not pretty.

in the last year, i got married to a fabulous man. from day one of this relationship i have been me, the real me like i've never been before in any relationship. i was tired of the 'game' that is played at the beginning of most relationships... you know the one... i'll be what i think he wants until he's hooked and then i'll slowly roll out my true self and by then, what's he going to do, he'll already love me... blah blah blah. don't tell me you don't know what i'm talking about. both sides of the relationship do this. but this time i was my self, as true to myself as i could be, and he loved me anyway. that was a first for me. its been amazing. unfortunately for my mister, i've been growing and learning about myself, which i have a tendency toward, but this last year has been leaps and bounds. i've learned things about myself that i thought were only little bits of me, but have turned out to be big parts of me. you don't need details, but for example, i need space. my space, my time, my big empty alone with no one there space and i need more of it than what might be considered normal. we've been working through this, its not easy. anyway, this with a few other things like getting married for the first time and giving up my own home have been tough on me emotionally. i've never really turned to an outside source for solace, comfort, ideas, hand holding. but true to my loner, don't give an inch, don't really let anyone very far "in" personality, i've found the world of blogging.

over the last year, or so, i've found a community of bloggers (i'm sure there are many of these types of communities, i've just found one that fits me) and i read these women's blogs and i feel like i want to know them, in person. its not a real live stalking thing. but it is a strong desire to associate with women who are real and have depth and hurts and lives and who are living, really living. i often don't feel like i'm doing much *living*. these women open their hearts wide open and share and in return receive (at least what i perceive) so much support and prayer and solace in their community, which spans the entire globe i might add.

i can't explain what i'm trying to say.

what i'm trying to say is, today and tomorrow the next day and the next week and year, i am thankful for the inspirational blogging community of women out there who don't even have a clue about how they have uplifted me (and i'm sure many others) and given me hope and sanity and clarity at times when i felt there would be no more of those types of things. thank you for sharing your tribulations and pain and joy and compassion and caring.

thank you.

and a thank you from harley too.

Pinwheels

Several things culminated to bring you this post. A new twist on an oldie but a goodie (its not really all that old but it is that good).

1 - We've been trying to clean out our freezer for reasons I won't go into. Its just something we need to do at this point. I have all sorts and manner of things frozen and stashed away for future use. Often, unfortunately, I forget about those treasures I've spent time and energy storing away and when I find them in the bottom after a year or two, well, all that hard work is for naught and I end up throwing stuff away. Its quite counter productive. This weekend I found 4 quart bags of shredded carrots. Yes, 4 of them. I don't know about you, but shredding carrots isn't on my list of top ten things to do, its just a pain. I'm sure I had grand visions of carrot cakes when I did the shredding, but I ended up throwing them on the compost pile because they were dried out and discolored. Nice huh?! So, I remembered, found, some cookie dough from when I made THESE pinwheels which were from a cook book I bought in March, My Sweet Vegan. The dough was still good. I kept that fact in my brain.

2 - I was at Trader Joes minding my own business when I saw dates. Now I love dates. Dates in any and everything would suit me just fine. Somehow the dates jumped into my shopping basket. The minute I got in my Jeep, I opened them up and had to eat 3. Oh heavens, fresh medjool dates. There's not much like it. When I got home I knew what I had to do with that package of dates, pit them and freeze them or else I'd eat them all. As I was pitting them, I was conjuring in my head how to remember they were in the freezer and what recipe I could use them in. That's when..

3 - I remembered I had some dried figs in the freezer. (are you sensing I have a freezer issue? Don't answer that.) I also always have a plethora of nuts in our freezer. Walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, raw cashews, almonds slivered and sliced. Yep, that's the majority of them. I bake a bit.

4 - Its the holidays and our office has a "Cookie Week". Everyone bakes/brings cookies, we eat said cookies all week long, at the end of said Cookie Week, a secret ballot is held, a winner chosen and prize awarded. I've been wracking my brain to think of something new and tasty for the event. In that light, I've been thinking of that cook book I bought called My Sweet Vegan. I love slipping in those vegan baked treats to those scoffers (and they know who they are). Its great fun to tell someone that Yes, in fact, that delicious baked treat *is* vegan. Anyway, digressing...

5 - Already mixed up and slightly rolled out cookie dough + fresh tasty medjool dates + dried figs = what I hoped would be quite yummy cookies.

So, I concocted this filling for the rolled out pinwheel cookies. I only tasted it a bit and only ate the small deformed end cookie from the roll. I'm trying to stay away from baked treats for now. It was quite good. I think I could have added some powdered sugar or agave syrup to the filling to sweeten it up a bit and that would have made it tastier. Anyway, here's the filling I made.

1 cup medjool dates

1 cup dried figs

1/3 cup apple juice

1 tsp arrow root

a handful of walnuts

All chopped in the food processor then spread on the rolled out cookie dough which was then rolled, sliced and baked.

Notes: I buy my arrowroot in bulk because I only use it rarely. So I buy a few Tablespoons at a time so it doesn't go bad. Does arrowroot go bad?

I have a tendency to buy dried fruit and nuts at Trader Joes. The prices and quality tend to both be good.

The beaver plate, a long story. Me, in another state, group of people, my foot inserted into my own mouth, friends never letting it go (thank goodness for those types of friends.). My motto is that if you can't be Seinfeld funny, be inadvertently, timelessly, hilarious at your own expense.

Now, I love dates probably more than the average bear, but I think that filling could also be used in regular old bread that is rolled, you know, like cinnamon bread??!! Or even in cinnamon rolls or as a topping on sticky buns, instead of the nuts, you know? I could go on, I won't, not on here anyway, I will in my head. (la la la, laalaa llaaa lla mmmm dates) Ok, give me a break here, its Wednesday before a long weekend, I'm a bit on the brain dead/loopy side.

Happiest of Thanksgivings to all!!

I'll catch you on the flip side.

Happy Harley Tuesday

Harley, so rudely interrupted from his nap by me. Eh, what are you going to do when those whiskers call out to you?

Yes, those are his little lips nuzzling the lens of the camera. Little monster. A tad annoyed. Mostly just sleepy though. I mean, come on, he'd only been in that chair for 3 hours.

Short work week. Can't complain too much about that. Thanksgiving is upon us. That's as far forward as I can think at this time. I'll be contributing an apple pie made with Pinata apples. I read an article recently about apples and how they act in pie and crisps. The Pinata, which I've never eaten or cooked with, came out on top. Better even than the trusty Granny Smith we've always relied upon for picture perfect pie. We'll give it a go. I'll also be using a recipe I got from a friend for said pie. I usually fly by the seat of my pants for pies, its just what I do. This year, a new crust and a new filling. It may be a hit, it may be an alternative, it may fall by the wayside. Only time will tell.

I'll also be contributing cranberry relish. Since I found the recipe last year on the Fat Free Vegan Kitchen website, its on my list of very most favs.

We'll be at sister--in-law's for Thanksgiving day. Food and family and rest and relaxation and probably a game or two of ping pong and Apples to Apples or maybe the Wii. They have a lot of games. Friday following, my brother and his wife will be a-visitin'. That will be super fantastic. I'm sure we'll shop, not my fav, but I'll do it just to hang out with them. Hopefully the weather will hold and we'll get to do something outdoorsy and wildish.

That's my story. What's yours?

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Going to gramma's house? Staying home? What are you baking? Cooking? Looking forward to?

Happy Tuesday one and all.

Pumpkin Butter

I annoy myself really, but I'm much about the homemade. In addition to that, I really *heart* kitchen stuff of all kinds and glass jars are included in that category, for me anyway. In my recent blog stalking, I saw some of the cutest jars ever. I needed to find a reason to have them. I went to the website, saw the cost, and couldn't justify it just for me. Sad, but true. We are living in a recession, I have to try to be frugal about these kinds of things. Later, on the same website where I'd first seen the adorable, must-have jars, the jars again made an appearance this time with pumpkin butter in them. I didn't really give the pumpkin butter inside the jar a second glance, well, because its made with yogurt and since I don't do dairy, I moved right along.

Still thinking about the jars though.

So when someone exclaimed the wonder that is Trader Joes (and W-S and etc) pumpkin butter, well, I had to make my own and I had to put it into those cute jars and I had to give them away as Christmas gifts, thereby justifying the purchase of said jars.

I obsess sometimes.

Anyway, I searched the world-wide-web and found quite a few recipes, all similar, none exactly the same. I ended up using a recipe, which I modified, located HERE. There are lots of others but I read the reviews on this one, followed some recommendations that I thought sounded good and jumped right in. I mean, you have to choose something right?

The wonderfully aromatic and tasty results are below. In the cutest jars ever.

And it couldn't have been easier to make. Pour all the ingredients into a crock pot and let it cook away. I just stirred it when I walked by and when it looked thick enough, a couple hours time-ish, I poured it into the cute, cute jars and photographed them. You see, when I'm all done with a project is when I think about getting out the camera. Oh well.

Are you wondering just exactly what to do with that pumpkin butter? Well, I've been doing some reading on that too. Seems its great on toast, pancakes, rolls, bagels with cream cheese, as an ice cream topping, as a milkshake flavoring, on french toast and in a myriad of other applications. I even saw some pie and cheesecake recipes calling for said pumpkin butter. Its carte blanche to sneak in pumpkin pie for breakfast or a snack or both.

I made some labels and will give away my beautiful jars filled with pumpkin deliciousness. I only hope the jars will enjoy a lovely life in someone elses home as maybe a spice jar or a jar for honey butter or jam or a candle or bath salts or well, can you tell I've been thinking for awhile about how exactly I could use and keep these jars for myself.

Fall Color au naturelle and tweaked

Self-Portrait Challenge - Part Deux

On my way home from work, I was inspired and in a fun mood and just had to go with it. My legs look weird.

Self Portrait Challenge

A photo challenge from Shutter Sisters today. I usually shy away from the entire self-portrait thing even though for some unbeknownst to me reason its something photographers do....anyway... I had on my boots for the first time this Fall/Winter season so decided I needed to include myself... and my boots. I *heart* my boots.

To Do List

Do you make lists of things you need to do? Want to do? Need / want to buy? Places you want to go? Things you want to do? Feel free to substitute "need" and "want" as you will. I'm a list maker. Groceries, chores, travel ideas, tasks. It helps me organize myself when I'm overwhelmed, which is more often than I'll admit. Here's my holiday / current list of things to do:

• figure out 8 girly, yet inexpensive gift for my tribe
• make said gifts
• decorate said gifts
• figure out Christmas gifts for my nieces
• call a photographer about a group picture of my real estate partners
• start a new weekly mentoring program for my real estate career
• clean the ____ enter any word here associated with my home
• fold the laundry and put it away
• take the polish off my toes that's been there since, oh, April
• plan something out doors to do with brother for Thanksgiving weekend
• decide if real estate partners should receive Christmas gifts (probably)
• figure out and buy my staff Christmas gifts
• buy some pants that don't "hover over my ankles". That's how Mister describes my capris.
• find a cute brown themed skirt so I can start wearing my brown boots. What the heck did I wear with them last year? For the life of me I can't remember.
• call my mother more often
• call my sister (and her lovely daughter) at all
• use several gift certificates that Mister and I received for our wedding, over a year ago.
• find a new house for Mister and I
• fill out the financing application for said home purchase
• start doing other realtors open houses so I get some experience and customers
• learn how to use PhotoShop Elements
• take more photos, any photos
• become independently wealthy or win the lottery or inherit some very large sum of money
• sell my photographs and/or baked goods and give all the proceeds to charity because I'm already independently wealthy from winning the lottery
• travel, everywhere, Grand Canyon, Bonaire, the Red Sea, Trinidad, Fiji, India, Italy, New Zealand, New York, Glen Canyon, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Alaska, the Arctic Circle, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, well, I could just keep naming far away places for hours, so I won't

The list goes on and on. I may update it as the day progresses.

"F.M.R." EOW4 - Update

So, here I am at the end of week four of the Fantastic Meta.... blah blah blah. I feel good. I have more energy. That energy thing is in part due to a couple things: #1 sleeping in earplugs for two nights in a row, ahhhh lovely uninterupted sleep; #2 full moon, its like a big energy pill for me; and #3 my new 'lifestyle' I'm living. All combining for goodness. This morning as I prayed then stepped on the scale and continued to pray while the digital mechanism figured out my mass.... nice huh.... I anhilated 1.4 pounds this week. Its so great. It feels so good and my jeans feel so great.

This next two weeks will be the accellerated portion of the lifestyle. Its a change up and that will be a good thing. Although, I really just want to eat toast with pumpkin butter on it this morning. And Thanksgiving is soon upon us. All I can think about is recipes and savory foods. The lifestyle is pretty simple and not at all strenuous, but HELLO!! *carbs* a girls best friend.

Anyway. Have super fantastic metabolic weekends all. I will be dreaming of a beach and tropical sun and if the weather holds, maybe a neighborhood walk-a-bout looking for some photographic opportunities. What are your plans for the weekend?

Ciao!

Questions on Crafty Gifts You are Creating

I'd like to know if and what you are doing for Christmas this year. Holiday plans, meal plans, gift plans, family plans, personal plans.

Are you going somewhere great?

Are you staying home to save money or for any other reason?

Are you creating gifts this year?

I need some ideas for little incidental gifts. Last year I made the bath salts which I thought was super-fantastic. But, I can't do that again this year. I need some inspiration.

What are you making?

What blogs / websites do you visit for inspiration?

What cute, inexpensive, crafty, cute item would you love to receive?

What do you think about those layered jar gifts? You know, the cookies or brownies or soup ingredients, layered in a jar w/instructions for cooking/baking. Are they obnoxious and silly or cute and fun?

Bring it on. I can *handle* it.

Pumpkin Bars

Oh my! Yum and double Yum. This recipe is from my friend Maja. Our friendship basically consists of sharing recipes and computer help. She's rather wonderful, but one of those people you know and adore, but because of social circumstances, you'll never be buddies. Do you have those friends?

It might just be me.

A month or so ago, Mister and I had a game night to attend. Fun. A group of gal pals, their mens, a potluck feast, and the game of choice of the host couple. My parents used to (I think they still do now that I think about it) go to a 'card party'. Same scenario except they always play Pinochle (pee-nuck-el). That cracks me up - the whole sound it out thing because, well, even though this is a word and a card game I've known about and played since I was young, I don't think I've ever written the word Pinochle much less sounded it out in writing. Its pretty funny... to me that is... moving on...

I had planned to take York Brownies (I'll maybe tell you about these super yummy treats some other day) so looked in my trusty recipe card holder and before I came across the brownie recipe, I saw a recipe for pumpkin bars. Oh Yeah! I remember those. I loved those. And they'd be rather seasonal, so I made them. They were a hit, I think anyway since I made a 9x13 pan and we came home with 4 little squares. I thought they were good, not great. I had frosted them too thickly and they didn't taste like I remembered. I do have an active imagination so I figured I just didn't remember them correctly. Then a couple days later, I was searching for a different recipe and came across the real recipe for pumpkin bars. The one from the aforementioned Maja. I made these for when my parents visited and super yum. Make them soon and frost them with whatever you like. Cream cheese frosting would be to die for, but, we don't do cream cheese and I wanted the frosting to be lighter. So I went for plain old (but super yummy) vanilla frosting.

Ahem... make these!!

Before I get to the actual recipe, I should let you know that over the last couple months, our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - basically a food coop) has been giving us squash and pumpkins. Lots of them. As an aside, in the last year or two, I learned that when you buy premade 'pumpkin' pie in a lot of stores, what you are actually getting is squash pie. No one really knows the difference. Weird huh??!?! Anyway, Mister's not a fan of squash so its hard to use them up. I looked at our stash and realized I had a pie pumpkin, a buttercup squash and a butternut squash, all needing to be eaten before they rotted. So I halved them, scraped out the seeds, placed them cut side down on a baking sheet with a quarter inch of water and baked them at 400 until they were easily pierced with a knife. I then let them cool a bit and scraped out the cooked squash placing it in a food processor as I went. The squash were pretty solid, so I had to add some water as I went to thin out the squash. I ended up with a nice big bowl of pureed orange loveliness. I mixed them all together just to have the mixture be balanced, then portioned out 2 cups into several ziplock bags to store in the freezer. Its perfect for use as pie or custard or cake or bread or mixed in with chai or if you are a milkshake person, it would be great in a milkshake with some spices or soup. Its unending what you can make of this stuff.

Yes, I know!! Not great photos. I've told you, the lighting in my house isn't great for photos. And I didn't think about posting until I was nearly done with the process. It would have been much better with photos before and during. Oh well, maybe next time.

Pumpkin Bars

2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp nutmeg ½ tsp salt 1/2 tsp cloves 1/2 tsp ginger ¼ tsp ground black pepper 1 cup oil 4 eggs 2 cups pumpkin puree (16 oz) Mix all together. Pour into prepared jelly roll pan (15x10) Bake at 350 for 25 – 30 minutes. Until it pulls away from the sides a bit and a toothpick comes out clean. Frost with: 1/2 cup Earth Balance margarine (or ½ margarine ½ cream cheese), 1 tsp vanilla, 2.5 cups powdered sugar, 1 Tbsp milk of choice. Whip w/mixer until light and fluffy.

"F.M.R." EOW3 - Update

So this is the end of week three/beginning of week 4 of the "FMR". I gained a pound this week. I'm trying really hard not to beat myself up over this because, I actually feel great and have good energy. It is a major bummer though. I'm going to have to make some adjustments this week, which bums me out a bit too because now that I gained a bit, I want to follow the book exactly. There's lots of room for judgement but the book gives some specifics too. Anyway, today is supposed to be a baseline day, tomorrow a carb down. But, we are having a group of people over, including my brother and his wife (yeah!) so are having tamales. Yum, home made tamales. So, today I'll do a carb down, tomorrow a carb up, then Sunday a carb down again and get back on track Monday. I hope this works.

(Dom - email me an let me know if you think that's the right thing. Or if I should just suck it up and do exactly what the book says.)

Oh! The book is called "Crack the Fat Loss Code". Unfortunately, not for vegetarians.

So, that's my update. Wish me luck this week.

Treasures

I don't know about you, but I take quite a few photos. 99.99% of them end up on my computer and/or on a disk somewhere, not really ever thought of again until I'm looking for something that corresponds with a post.

The other time that odd or forgotten photos turn up is when I'm looking for something new to set as my desktop. I found this photo just recently, in the little thumbnail its really not that great. Just another photo idea that didn't really live up to what was in my minds eye. For some reason, I thought I'd give this little gem a chance and set it as my desktop - I mean how often do I actually see the desktop anyway, so no big deal if it wasn't that great anyway - but, when I saw it large, it struck me as lovely and serene and exactly perfect.

Enjoy, I am.

Fish Tacos

I love fish tacos. Love love love them. Its usually what I order when we go Mexican. I recently made this non-taco version. Ok, Mister had his in taco version, I just had mine as a salad. Whatever you choose, BonAppetit!

Sauce:

Juice of one lemon

~ 1/2 cup mayo (you could easily substitute or use a combination of sour cream annd/or yogurt here too)

salt

pepper

cayenne pepper

paprika onion powder

garlic powder

hot sauce of your choice - I use either Tapatio or Tabasco

a pinch (or two) of sweetener of choice (sugar, agave, etc)

All the spices are to your own personal taste. Mister and I like things spicy so I use quite a bit. Up to you. Also, this made enough sauce / dressing for 1/4 head green cabbage, ~1/4 head purple cabbage, one bunch brocolini and one red pepper. So adjust if you think you need more.

Whisk it all together and let it sit while you make the rest.

Shred green cabbage, purple cabbage, sweet pepper of your choice (I use red or yellow mostly for the color balance) and brocoli or brocolini that has been chopped into pretty small pieces. Toss it all together and let it sit.

In a zip lock, place 1/4 to 1/3 cup corn flour (not corn meal), salt & pepper.

I then take whatever white fish is on sale or in the freezer and chop it into 1 inch(ish) pieces. Toss it in the bag, zip it closed and toss to coat. Dump the fish out into a colander and get rid of the excess corn flour. You'll want this very, very lightly coated.

Flash fry the fish in a single layer in a hot skillet over med-high heat. It should only take a minute or so on each side to cook it through completely. Remove the fish to a paper towel lined plate and fry any remaining fish.

Take about half the sauce mixture and pour it over the salad fixin's and toss really well. The salad should be lightly coated and smell divine.

So now you either make tacos or a salad. A nice big pile of the salad on your plate, top with fish and drizzle more of the sauce over that. Yum!

Here's Harley, patiently waiting for his portion.

Here's Harley wondering what I'm doing laying on the floor in the kitchen calling his name so he'll look my way for just a moment. He's irritated, I've messed with his mind meld wavelength he uses to make us see he wants, nay, NEEDS food.

He's really quite patient.

Notes:

1 - NO! we didn't give Harley fish tacos. He doesn't even like human food. Its the coolest thing. We could leave a fish and some cheese and a hamburger or whatever on the floor, and if its human food, he won't touch it. BEST cat ever.

2 - Please ignore the crap on the floor in the pictures. Clearly I need to sweep. 3 - Please ignore the cat food laying covering the floor by Harley's food bowls. CLEARLY I need to pay more attention to the floor.

AND WE DID!

Wow, what an emotional night. President-elect Barack Obama is an amazing speaker. Just his voice alone resonates strength and integrity. I've been more wrapped up in this election than any other in my lifetime as I know is the case with so many millions of Americans. Its the first election that I made a point to watch the debates rather than watching because all the channels on teevee were overtaken by it; the first election we made an election contribution, small though it may have been; the first election I've had anxiety about (well, I guess the last one was pretty stressful too now that I let myself remember), the first election I've been in any way interested in the polls, the first election I specifically waited for and watched the concession speech, and what a gracious speech that was. Mr. McCain is an amazing American. I'm very thankful he didn't win the election for so many reasons not the least of which wears a skirt and hangs on the very right hand fringes of the GOP, anyway I digress. The first election I waited for and watched the acceptance speech, the first election I had tears rolling down my face as I watched and listened to a President-elect speak.

I think I may begin to understand how the masses felt when the listened to the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. speak his messages of hope.

I have never been so moved by anything political.

For the first time in a long time, I am proud to be an American.

YES WE CAN!

GET OUT THE VOTE

Its so awesome that in this state, Oregon, we vote by mail. Let me tell you, its super fantastic. This whole election year has been a headache and an incredible journey. I have my opinions and whichever way it turns out (mine I hope) I think this country has learned a thing or two about involvement and how important each and every vote is. How we each need to make a choice, whatever that choice may be and voice it behind the white curtain. Or, in my case, in the comfort of my own home with my articles and NPR podcasts and voters pamphlet right in front of me wherein I can take 2 or 3 days to ponder whatever I need to ponder.

I can see where going to the polls could be an invigorating experience, but that was never my experience. Its always November, which means in my part of the country its dark and dreary and usually raining during the times (Tuesdays!!) when I had the chance to vote. Nothing could have kept me from the polls this year, but not having to stand in line in the dark and the rain tonight to vote, doesn't hurt my feelings.

So, Rock It my friends. Vote Vote Vote. Well, just vote once, its the law.

Until tomorrow...

Just Watched: Stranger than Fiction

Stranger Than Fiction: I'm not necessarily a Will Ferrell fan. He's probably a good actor, he's just not on my list of funny people. Just not "my" personal brand of always funny - sometimes funny, but not always. Anyway, Mister thought this was supposed to be a comedy and needed to check it out. Sometimes you have to let the husband pick the films, so we rented it.

It was a very good movie.

Will Ferrell was amazing. Its not his typical role and he played it perfectly. I have a new found liking for him. In fact, last night we watched a few clips of the Saturday Night Live Presidential Bash '08 in which Will Ferrell has his popular role as G.W. Bush. Now, I've seen him be GW many times and not really thought much about it, but now, well now, the very clips I've ho-hummed through, were quite funny. Who knew a straight man role would make me see the funny in a comedian? Strang huh?!

AND!! All the other cast are super-amazing too. I adore Emma Thompson and think Queen Latifah is fabulous. I'm going to have to watch more movies with Maggie Gyllenhaal, she's so cute and perky. And, I guess at this point I should give a shout out for Dustin Hoffman.

So, go watch, enjoy.

Morning - Third of November

Not the best of photos, but I'm posting anyway. Sometimes, that's just what happens, not great photos. Its just a matter of keep taking them. Don't give up. One in the next 1,000 might be super fantastic.

Happy November all.

My goal when I started this little morning project was to take a photo of the Morrison Bridge from my vantage point at approximately 7:00AM on the third of each month for one year. Well, its been quite dark in the morning here and the photos have become more and more difficult to take without the aid of a tripod, which I'm too lazy and scatter-brained to remember to bring in the morning. The park is so lovely this time of year, so here are some afternoon photos, yellows oranges reds greens greys -

Happy Fall days to you.

Happy Birthday Moses

A short little trip down memory lane. I wish I had more pics scanned, but here's what you get.

Thanks for being my best friend and my all time favorite brother.

You are awesome!

Come visit me!!!