179 - Dare

I've dared recently. Dared to step outside my comfort zone. Stepped into something that I've been wanting, but just needed that last little push. I am pretty certain its all gonna be just fine. In fact, I'm pretty certain its all gonna be just great. But, there's the bell curve of getting used to things, new things. I've got to get over that hump and be giddily flying down the other side of the slide.

Have you dared lately?

178 - Taking Flight

I was so happy that I actually caught this bee taking off from the poppy.

174 - 177

My little Harley. I just adore that boy. Some glass bottles in our dining room window.

Seriously! Time. Need more time. Or maybe I just need to manage my time better.Clothes line in the neighbor's yard.

A pink flowering shrub.

Rice with ginger, jalpeno and coconut

Make this recipe! Soon!

4 Tbsp fresh ginger - minced

2 small or 1 large jalapeno - minced (seeds and all)

3 Tbsp olive oil

1 can lite coconut milk

1.5 cups white rice

enough water to add to the coconut milk to make 3 cups.

Heat the 3 cups of liquid (coconut milk and water) until it is not quite boiling. Reduce heat to medium. I did this step at the same time as the next step.

Heat the olive oil in a wide bottomed pot (one that has a lid). Saute (over medium high heat) the ginger and jalapeno for 2 - 3 minutes - until nicely fragrant. Make sure to stir this almost constantly so it doesn't burn. Add the rice and stir until all the rice is coated. Saute for about 5 minutes over medium high heat. Add the coconut milk mixture stir well, put on the lid and reduce the heat to low. Let this simmer until the rice the texture you like. I have no idea how long it took for mine. I do know that I checked the rice a couple times and stirred it (which isn't normal for rice cooking). But, since there was the coconut milk in it, I didn't want it to burn.

When the rice was cooked to my liking, I tasted, added a bit of salt to taste and wow! It was delicious. Oh, it served 5 people.

No no photo.

Friday and nothing important to say

Photo has nothing to do with anything other than I feel like I'm going nowhere fast.

This week has been so full of stuff and I am still way behind on a bunch of stuff. Have a meeting after work, hope it won't take too long, but knowing the participants, it will. Mister made home made pizza dough from the Pioneer Woman's website yesterday. Its in the fridge and we'll have bbq chicken pizza w/cilantro and red onion for dinner tonight. Hoping on Saturday to get in a hike and a birthday party and I need to figure out and prepare some food item to take to that gathering and on Sunday yet another birthday dinner which I am preparing. In addition to that, I have procrastinated some financial stuff that needs, nay must, be brought up to date, laundry, the CSA which involves picking up and then cleaning of all the veggies which takes a couple hours, at least, and general upkeep of the domicile. And maybe a movie? Wish me luck.

So, on Sunday I have this menu planned for my sister-in-law's birthday dinner. Let me know what you think. Some version (who knows yet) of Korean BBQ beef (Galbi) - I'm not doing short ribs, but a roast which I will braise. Rice with jalapeno, ginger and coconut milk. Cabbage salad with red pepper, scallion and toasted almonds with a dressing similar to this. I say similar, because, well, I switch it up all the time. And for dessert, the piece de resistance, Chocolate Cobbler from the Tasty Kitchen website, an offshoot of the Pioneer Woman site. With the steamy hot cobbler, we'll have Coconut Bliss, in the Naked Coconut flavor. I think it will dovetail nicely with the coconut rice from the main meal portion of the evening. We'll have proseco with peach bellini mix or maybe red wine or maybe everyone chooses their own beverage of choice. Hopefully I'll remember to put the coffee on before the cobbler comes out of the oven. Mmmm, delicious! What are your weekend plans?

Just Watched: Whip It

I didn't expect much, if anything, redeeming from this movie. Shock! Mister and I liked this movie, Whip It. It stars Ellen Page of Juno fame. Its the classic story of teenage strife and struggle with finding ones own way. The goal is accomplished in a fun and quite entertaining way. Bliss is an ordinary teen trying to uphold her mother's dreams. While the mother only has Bliss' best interest in her heart, Bliss needs to discover her own path, be able to fall down and pick herself back up again. Whip It is directed by Drew Barrymore, who is obviously having WAY too much fun. Her character is at the same time unbelievable and excruciatingly hilarious. Well, I thought so anyway. This might actually be a movie I need to own.

Oh, and the soundtrack, not bad. Possiblye even pretty good. I have a tendency to get caught up in the characters and plot and the music has a tendency to get lost on me. There is a band in the movie, so some of the music is stuck with me. In a good way.

173 - Self Portrait

I really despise self-portraits. I guess I should clarify that statement. Self-portraits of myself. I really, really dig other people's. They nearly always seem so beautiful or edgy or full of life, mystery and intrigue to me. I presume that a lot of people don't really care for photos of themselves, it just seems a normal thing. But, that's because I'm in my own head and come from where I come from. So, its probable that its not a normal thing to be abhorent of one's own visage. Too strong of words? Maybe, but its where I am right now. I have read over and over through out my photographic blog stalking that self portraits really serve a purpose. Perspective, vision, reality check, seeing for the seeing and not just for what we think we see. Hmmm, did that even make sense? If you really have any interest in it, well, that's what Google or Clusty or Bing or Yahoo or a ton of other search engines are for.

Digressing.... So, I made a deal with myself at the beginning of this 365 project, that the first Tuesday of each month would be self-portrait day. I'm at photo number 173, which means I've passed a few monthly first Tuesdays and I have posted but one self portrait. I do take them, on occasion. Its just I detest them so so so much that they never get posted. So, here you go. One that I took that I don't mind. One that I feel doesn't share too much about me really. One that you can possibly look at and move along with your inetting. One that won't stick with you, in your nightmares. That may just be me though. I think its the sunglasses. I like being able to hide behind a prop and to make the edges dark and blur it all a bit. Its all I can muster. At least I mustered. That's a start, right?!

172 - Bench, in blue

In light of trying to stay caught up (we'll see how long this lasts) here is the photo for the first day of Summer. I went for a short walk, camera in hand. I decided I should try to walk a different direction than my routine. I ended up at a lightrail stop and lo and behold, a train was coming. I sat down on this bench for no more than 45 seconds. Just long enough to set the camera down next to me, try to position it in an interesting (hopefully) direction and click the shutter. I then got up, stepped on to the train and took one of the bench I had just been sitting on. There you go. The first day of Summer.

167 - 171 - I'm backlogged

Yes, I'm a bit behind. Seems to be the story of my life lately. No real or good reason for it. Its just that way with me some times. When I bought and moved into my house, something like 12 years ago, there was this amazing and beautiful rose bush. I've written about it before Here, HEre, HERe and HERE. It produces dinner plate sized (well, almost, depending on what country you eat dinner in I suppose), deep red, truly rosey aromatic roses. Ah, I love this bush. A year, or so-ish ago, when Mister and I decided to try to sell that house, I was very unhappy about having to let the rose go to someone who would, most likely, not appreciate the rose like I did. Ok, well, let's just say, I am sure the next owner would not have the same love affair with that rose that I did. So, my wonderful Mister, went over and dug up the rose bush in hopes of transplanting it where we live. He put it in a large pot and then took many, many cuttings trying to start a new bush. Pretty much all the cuttings died, but the original bush, which I thought for sure would croak, has survived thus far. These are the beginnings of the new blooms. I am very happy about it.

My mother in law lives next door. She's fantastic. She collects rocks and I love that because I do too. She has these rocks on her deck and calls it her meditation spot.

Poppies. I just can't get enough of them. Beautiful, orange, dainty, abundant.

This is Dharma. I'm sure I've talked about her before. She is my mother in law's cat. She is anti-social and will talk smack to you the entire time you are petting her. When she lets you pet her that is. Her deck is the center of all cat-dom on our block. Cats congregate there. Dharma seems to enjoy them all. Except for Harley. She can not stand Harley at all. Not one little bit. Harley is a lover and it seems a tormentor. He just wants to get close to her. He follows her around all the while she is hissing and giving him the "what for". (That's a saying, right?) We very much enjoy watching their dance play out. As Mister and I walked home from the grocery yesterday, we passed a tree with this ladder hanging from it. I stopped, knealed down, clicked the shutter on the camera and when I looked at the screen, I smiled. Mister said, "You're happy with that one, aren't you?" Yes, I am. I love when the first time you click the shutter something appears that is very close to what your mind's eye had envisioned.

166 - Little Boxes (an homage)

I live in such a tiny space. My daily routine keeps me on roughly the same little rabbit trail each and every day. I'm constantly on the look out for new and different things to photograph whilst on my habi-trail. I tell myself, "blink" or "take a deep breathe" hoping to open my eyes or relax one click just enough to see something new, something I've missed the entire time. Oh, yes, I am convinced those things are there. Its just my brain sees what it sees and misses the rest. The above was me wandering to a different part of the office deck and looking in a new direction. I was happy with what I saw.

And, the homage, well, they look like little boxes to me and if you've seen Weeds, the HBO show, you'll know what that means. If you haven't, well, Google Little Boxes. Its a song. It will get into your head. It won't be leaving soon.

Ciao!

165 - Rescue

I'm not a Rose Festival participant. Its just not my thing. But, just after the Waterfront Village closed down, I was walking during my lunch time, looking for photos. I headed toward the river. As I crossed the street, these people, who rescue exotic animals from people who can no longer take care of them (why would you think you can own and take care of a 600lb wild cat? Anyway...) they were loading up a couple big cats, an 11 month old lion and this beautiful fella. And, that's the entire story.

Ok, now there's more. As I attempted to find the web link to the company which rescues these animals from neglect and people who just can't take care of them in their homes any longer, I ran across some negative press. Now I realize there's usually more than one side to a story, and I'm so opposed to animals of any kind being in cages or pens, but I also know that once these majestice creatures are stripped from their native homes, that the likelihood of them being returned to, let's just say Africa, is a pipe dream at best. I don't feel they should be taken from the wild for our personal enjoyment, but I also don't know that returning them to a situation and a life that they've never known (animals being taken from the wild at very young ages) that its likely they would not survive. Not only would they likely not konw how to feed themselves, but the other native animals who live there would probably take them just for being intruders.

Yes, I get that so many creatures would have died off this planet if we as humans hadn't taken them from the wild and made them multiply. And, yes I totally understand the need to have show and tell type atmospheres so we ignorant humans will at least be told we should be better stewards of this planet. So, you don't have to go there with me.

OY! I didn't mean for this to turn out like it did. I just feel that if we as a race do remove animals from the wild, then we should have places, whether its a zoo or private rescue shelter, to harbor the animals that aren't wanted any longer.

Egads! Let's move on now.

164 - Live

I really like this photo, or, rather the way the two photos turned out. Its one of those situations where I didn't have a photo that struck me as THE photo of the day which is what normally happens to me. I'll be taking photos during the day and I usually know when I've taken the ONE. So, this day, that didn't happen. I had a few, non-descript pics, none of which made me all that happy. I started playing around with the Live photo, which is a tattoo on a friend's leg and the next thing I knew I was overlaying the rose and bing, bang, boom, the above rose from the pile of what I thought was nothing.

Take from that, what you will. Or just leave it laying here. Up to you.

163 - Unaware

First, you should know, I am diligently working on pulling myself out of my photographic box. The one that contains macro flower photos and buildings. My world seems very small to me most of the time. This photo, while I thought was beautiful and relevant, made me uncomfortable to post. But, I did it anyway. I need to start stretching my photography muscles somehow, some way and now is as good a time as any.

In that light, I was sitting next to my beautiful friend Hannah last weekend at a birthday party. She is completely unaware of how beautiful she is. She's fun and spunky and witty and intelligent and well read and insightful and current and a mom, friend, wife, daughter, sister and does all this with a smile and a chocolate chip cookie for all who wander by. I had been noticing her necklace all evening and I just happened to pick up a camera, pointed it in the direction of the necklace and snapped the picture. After I took it I realized it could be construed as a photo of her cleavage/bosom, chest/enter any word you like to use here, but for me, its really about the colors and textures and Hannah's inherent blindside to her own allure. The funny/interesting part of this is when I showed Hannah the picture, she immediately loved it and (I think) was embarrased about loving it. I think its what we (well, a portion of us) do as women. We don't see in ourselves that which is lovely. I know this because I feel this way about myself. And here's where my own demons pop up, I fear that if I actually do think I'm anything other than super-regular and non-rememberable (nice word huh?) that I will be summarily put right back in my place because, well, I'm not someone who gets stares on the street or a second look. Ok, I've digressed right down the rabbit hole. Here's to me! Doing something dangerous (in the way of photography). Dangerous, for me at least.

Photo posted with Hannah's permission.

Just Watched: Up in the Air

This was a fantastic movie! I'm not necessarily a George Clooney fan (you may now send your angry email to: lucy@...) but he was great in this movie. I believed his character the entire time. And who is this Vera Farmiga? I saw her in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and didn't much pay attention to her. She is amazing and beautiful and I think has a real talent.

When I asked someone recently if they had seen this movie (and they had) their reaction was "... well, the player finally got played..." I wasn't quite taken aback, but I did pause to reflect on how she had come up with that because, that wasn't what I took away from the Up in the Air. What I had focused on was that this man who had his life tied up in a pretty blue ribbon (blue because he's a boy - if you were wondering), this man who knew exactly what he wanted from his life both short and long-term had been shown something outside his comfort zone and decided he liked what he saw. Yes, there's the whole twist on the plot that makes him stop dead in his tracks when he takes the plunge and acts on his newly found desires. But that's just not where my focus was. I was somehow focused on how life can throw you a curve ball and its not necessarily a bad thing. We live, we learn. Hopefully.

After my conversation with this friend and my subsequent reflections (see above) I realized that I was happy she had seen a different side than I had to the same film. Or maybe just focused on one of the other topics weaving its way through the lives of these fictional people. I was happy because it reaffirms for my heart and mind that it really is ok for us each to have differing agendas. Different opinions. To see things from various angles. To each glean something very personal and divergent from the same ball of wax. It speaks to each of us having our own truths, and that they all can be correct. Its not a one size fits all world. We each can have our own view and thoughts and desires and goals and directions and dreams and truths.

So, there you go.

TGIF! Ciao!

Dear Lucy,

the first thing you need to know is, "you've come a long way, baby". (is that a cigarette slogan? anyway...) my first reaction is to warn you of the pitfalls which are coming your way. to give you a heads-up that heartbreak and confusion will be an integral part of your life for the next 10 years. to caution you about all that was difficult or devastating. to give you a virtual slap on the forehead for all the ridiculous, self-deprecating, unhealthy thoughts you harbor. to tell you to drop everything in your life, right now, and grab hold of that dream you had and follow it across the universe if that's where it leads. go! be different! be happy! choose yourself and let go of what you think others need from you. after some reflection, i realize that it doesn't really matter where you are in the world or what dream you think you are following, you are who you are, inside. i think that no matter what situation you put yourself into, you have some growing up to do and no one can do that for you. its a task for you and you alone.

i now just want to give you some comfort that all the disappointment and self-loathing you will go through in your 20's (and yes, it will not be 100% a fun time of your life) will only prepare you for your 30's, which will turn out great. don't beat yourself up so much, if you can help it. you're still learning the ropes. you are learning all the smack-you-in-the-face lessons you will need to learn in order to be a good friend, a better daughter, a more healthy family member and yes, you actually will meet a wonderful man who loves you unconditionally. you will find a group of amazing women who will cry with you, laugh with you and support your every endeavor. believe it or not, a day will come when you won't care so much about what others think. you'll trust yourself more. you will begin to listen to your intuition and good things will flow from that. snuggle up that mr. one. he'll get you through it all and will break your heart like its never been broken before when he goes to that great catnip patch in the sky. eat organically when possible, it makes a difference, you'll learn more about that later. i know you will never believe me, but no@! you aren't fat. that said, please don't get complacent or lazy about it. please keep working out regularly, you'll regret it if you don't. ok, enough of the advice you won't heed anyway. remember, i am here, waiting and cheering for you. just keep putting one foot in front of the other, you will make it. i promise. all my love and support, lucy ps - go get 'em!

A letter to the past

I got the idea for writing this letter to my 20-something year old self HERE. I routinely read several blogs, one of which is Chookooloonks by Karen Walrond. A beautiful woman I 'found' on the internet through one or another blog and the ever present linking in and out that I am prone to. Even though I've never met Karen (if I may be so personal here) I feel like we would be friends in another life or time. Ok, so, honestly, I think she's probably too intelligent, pretty, creative, worldly, thoughtful, etc to ever be entertained by the likes of me, but that's my issue. Ok, so, now that I've said that, I guess I feel like my circle of friends are all that and a bag of chips too, so, maybe, just maybe we would actually be friends. I've digressed a bit. When I read Karen's post about writing a letter to her 20-something year old self, my interest was immediately piqued. What I would say to my self back then if I could. "Don't do those stupid things you are about to do. Don't be such a pushover. Don't let them get inside your head like you have always done. Don't let your feelings win out over your head each.and.every.time." The diatribe goes on and on like that. My first inclinations were warnings and beratings and it made perfect sense. Then I read Karen's letter. I have to pause here (you can't actually see that I've paused for several minutes before writing more here, but, I did...ahem). Her letter caused me to pause. To rethink. To contemplate. To reassess. To realize. To be softer on my younger self. In that light, I do plan to write a letter to my 20-something year old self. But it won't be a knee jerk reaction to my former life. It will be a more thoughtful and hopefully insightful look back. Check back, I'll most likely post that letter when it is completed. What would you write to your 20-something self? Your 10-year old self? Your 57-year old self? Interesting, huh?!

162 - Extravaganza

I've so many friends turning 40 over the last couple years and many more coming up in the following few years. For my core group of gal pals, we have made a concerted effort to really celebrate the big "40". Each of the birthday gals have chosen a theme or a site and we've made the birthday celebrations BIG. Well, bigger than any normal birthday gathering.

You may remember that two (WOW!) years ago for my 40th birthday, we had a luau, complete with tiki torches, beach towels, seashells, kahlua pork and all the trimmings and 100 degrees(ish) at our house. One of the other gals had a sultan's party, complete with belly dancers.

Last week, one of our lovely ladies had THE birthday. Her sister decided to throw her a "5 year old's" birthday party. Balloons, pinata, 6 foot deli sandwiches, clown, band, brightly colored decorations and the above - cupcakes. We ladies got together and made over 160 cupcakes then frosted and decorated them all. You would think that is a lot of cakes to frost - and it is - but when you have your favorite women around you and you have a cocktail, it was a delight.

Oh, and they were so tasty!!

161 - Ripple Effect

We have had so much rain! I know, I know, you're just as tired of talking about it, thinking about it, walking, driving and living in it as I am. I figured, when life gives you rain, make something pretty of it. Plus! I have seen some really beautiful shots of rain and puddles and ripples in both of those lately, I thought I'd give it a go and see how I could make it turn out. Not terrible, if I do say so myself.

160 - Routine

I am a bit behind on my posting. Funny how I can be so regimented about posting for such a long period of time and then one day one thing will change - and it doesn't have to be anything significant, just a change of any sort - and the next thing you know, I'm thinking about posting, but, not making the effort to sit down and actually do it. I don't think its a bad thing, it may mean I'm spending less time sitting behind the computer, it may just mean I'm doing other things on the computer during the time I would normally spend blogging.

Anyway, I'm working on getting caught up. Not just with the blog, but with all the other things in my life that have sort of been set on a shelf. Not intentionally, but put aside nonetheless.

Wish me luck on all this and have a super Tuesday.

Just Watched: The Messenger

I am sure there are a whole boat load of lessons to be learned from this film. At the moment, I am stumped as to what they may be. It was a good film, but not one of those films you watch to brighten your day or make you laugh. It was heavy and serious and a bit dark with some little bits of lighter stuff thrown in, I think just to keep you watching. Was Woody Harrelson amazing in his role - yes, yes I thought he was. He didn't get an Oscar nomination for being bad in the role. Would I see this film again, probably not. Am I glad I spent the time watching it, I think yes. Would I recommend it to you, maybe, but more I'd just give you the above information and say you should decide for yourself.

Oh, one more little bit. I heard an interview with Woody Harrelson some time ago and one interesting thing that stuck with me was that the director wanted as much realism as possible when it came to the 'messages' being delivered. So the story goes that the two actors who were doing the messages delivering in the film, were not necessarily told how the message recipients were going to react to said message. That is one of the reasons I felt I needed to see this movie.

There you go. Let me know what you think or thought if you've already seen this.

159 - Morning Coffee

I normally don't take photos early in the morning. (Unless you count sunrise shots.) Its just that my routine is pretty set and timed and full. I am a procrastinator by nature and that includes getting out of bed. I have my alarm set so that if I get up right when it goes off (or, well, within a minute or two so I have time to rub the sleep out of my eyes, snuggle the kitty and the husband for a second or two) then I have time for a shower. If I have showered the night before (and not sweated myself into a mess in the night - sorry - probably TMI - but, I am 42 and my hormones can get whacky and make me sweat like a lumberjack... anyway) if I have showered the night before, then I have time to hit the snooze once, then get up... morning ablutions, get my egg whites cooked up and into a container to take to work, lunch stuffs pulled from the fridge, feed Harley, stand in spare room for unreasonable amounts of time trying to get dressed, snuggle Harley, pack up all my stuffs, kiss Mister good bye, walk out the door for work - this all takes about 1/2 an hour. Wow, I'm bored already with this story.........fast forward, my routine at work is similarly structured, equip on, lights, coffee, eat breakfast, drink coffee. Ah, finally, I get to my point, Coffee. Its the staple of my morning. Even though I am working, its relaxing and reassuring and warm and comforting. Its like a warm blanket and a snuggly chair. I relish that each morning. I have to be at work, so, I may as well incorporate some little bits and pieces to soothe my sanity.

Do you have things you do or segments in your daily routine incorporating soft bits just for your soul?

158 - Heart of stone

This little three rock cairn sits in our yard on a ledge built by Mister. Its a couple rocks picked up from the beach and a stone I painted when I made my affirmation stones last summer. I stacked them, oh so long ago and keep trying to take pics of them. The pics just don't turn out like I want them to. So, I picked them up and walked around the yard until I found a place that looked interesting (to me) and took a few shots. From varying angles, the side, the top, etc. When I downloaded the pics for processing, this one just stuck out to me. The more I looked at it, the more it looked like a heart to me. So, there you go, the story of the three rock cairn. Simple, but true.

157 - Remember when...

A cool car in our neighborhood. I try to take my camera with me most places and especially when Mister and I walk to the grocery. There's usually something interesting along the way.

155 - lovecup; 156 - Harley

a very cute shop in our neighborhood. i've never been inside. i really want to though. but, (there's always a but with me isn't there...) i don't do icecream, i really don't do coffee from coffee shops - less expensive just to make coffee at home and i live so close to here that if i'm hungry, i can just go home and eat. *sigh* am i the most boring person ever?! i like to think i'm just frugal, but, frugal can be so danged boring...

my little harley. followed me around the yard on saturday in the sun as i look for photo opportunities. he won out in the end.

154 - Hopscotch and Recipe - Baked Beans

CROCKPOT BAKED BEANS

Ingredients

• ½ cup ketchup1 Tbsp mustard
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• ¼ cup dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup molasses
• ¼ lb bacon
• ½ onion – chopped
• ½ lb lean ground beef
• 4 - 5 (15 oz) cans beans of any variety (kidney, butter, black, garbanzo, pinto, etc)

Directions: In a small bowl, mix first 6 ingredients together, set aside. Chop bacon into ½ inch, or smaller, pieces then brown in a stainless steel skillet until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, remove bacon to the crockpot. Discard the bacon grease. Using the same skillet and without cleaning it, add the onion and sautee until golden, making sure to stir often scraping the bottom of the skillet. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and crumbly. With slotted spoon, remove onion and beef to crockpot. Drain half the cans of beans, keep the canning juices for the other half. Pour all beans into the crockpot then add the sauce and stir well. Cook in crockpot for minimum of three hours, stirring occassionally. I like to make these the day before I need them, then put them back into the crock pot and warm up for an hour (or more) before serving.

No photo as of yet. Its really not that easy to make baked beans look pretty on file. At least, not for me.

Just Watched: The Time Traveler's Wife

I read this book, The Time Traveler's Wife and posted about it here. I liked it at the time and knew I'd need to see the movie when it came out. I guess that's been a little while now, but, given Mister and my rate of movie watching, we're doing really well having seen it at all.

I was very prepared to not be impressed. My experience has been that I should either read a book or see a movie, but rarely do they go together. In fact, seeing a film before reading the same book is usually better for me. The movie usually has a nice outline with some details thrown in and then the book will answer most of my other questions. But, reading first spells trouble for me in the form of "Oy! I wish I hadn't ruined the book experience by watching this."

So, we Netflixed it and Mister and I watched this film together. I totally thought he'd be bored to tears and was going to be surprised if he made it through the entire film. It seems, on the surface, what could be (oh maybe halfway) termed a chickflick. And you should know by now that that term embodies more for me than it does for most and Mister's patience for those types of movies is about 13.4 on a scale of 100.

To start with, the actors chosen to play the parts.... heavens.... these are pretty and talented people. (I really want to write - whoa Nelly!, but I'll refrain.) Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana make you believe they are the characters they portray. I won't go into all the details .... man has time travel disorder, meets girl, pair struggle with living such a strange life.... its on the film jacket and in my book post.

You know I read the book, and I knew what was coming next throughout the entire film and darned if I didn't sob like a baby for the last half hour of this movie. At one point, I think Mister even said something to the effect of, "Wow, this is a real tear jerker."

I am happy to report, its a good movie.

Watch this with your significant other. It may remind you, as it did me, that each and every day with our loved ones is a gift and should be treasured and lived to its fullest.

Now, go have a great weekend.

Ciao bellas!!

153 - Peony

I sometimes feel like life is just cruising right on past me. Like I'm one of those standing still people in a film where the film makers have the background whir along with passing people and things and even day/night time whilst the main character just exists watching it all, not quite knowing how to engage. I really hope that made some sort of sense. I know I'm a 'settled' type of person, I don't necessarily long for adventure every day. But, once in awhile, I feel like life is .... somehow - no idea how - .... passing me by because maybe I'm not doing enough, going enough places, meeting enough people, giving enough back, enjoying enough things and food and drink and sights and sounds and, well, the list could go on and on. Truly, its probably just my current mood. But, its still in me to have these thoughts, even if its only once in awhile. You know?

My current desktop

I just love this photo. Its like the Flying Nun's hat. Well, sort of. I never really watched the Flying Nun, but, I know the reference.

Anyway, that's my current desktop. What's yours?

Epiphanie Bags - Camera Bags that is...

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152 - Urban

Random thoughts I've had in my head lately:

Just exactly how long should a mosquito bite itch?

Have no idea where or with whom, but listened to a conversation in which the gist was, why leave a jerk of a partner when you know that jerk's quirks and foibles for some other jerk and have to learn how to live and deal with the new person's quirks and foibles. I don't think I was really much paying attention to the conversation or I was just going with the flow, but upon reflection, why would you want a jerk for a partner? Yes, we all have our idiosyncrasies and very personal ways of doing most things, and we all can bug the crap out of someone else in one way or another but, I would so prefer to live alone and be happy than live with someone and be miserable or even live with someone with the prospect of never finding someone who matched me better.

Baked beans definitely need bacon to be really good. Been meaning to post my baked bean recipe, maybe do that soon. Maybe should take a photo to go with said post. Will make baked beans and do that soon.

Really? June 2 and rain and wind forecast for the next who knows how long? I'm not a huge "summer" and sunshine and poolside relaxing person, but I am ready to see blue skies.

Why does the theory of giving up coffee sound like the right thing to do for my health, but the actual giving it up doesn't make me happy? Its not even the caffeine headache thing, I don't really get that when I miss a couple days of coffee, its just what I do in the morning. I get to work, the place is dark, I turn on my computer and my lights and go make a pot of coffee. I warm my cup while the coffee brews and then I sit, go over my email and sip on warm, earthy goodness. I like tea, but, seriously, it doesn't compare. This is the description of the coffee I drink - Equal Exchange which I buy at New Seasons, but I've also seen it other places too:

Organic French Roast Roast

• Aroma: smoky, vanilla, almond butter
• Flavor: balanced, sweet, dark chocolate, smoky, caramelized sugar
• Mouthfeel: weighty and thick
• Acidity: delicate
• Aftertaste: prolonged, bittersweet chocolate

Tell me that doesn't sound like a bit of heaven in the morning!

On the verge of actually talking to a professional about getting a new camera. I am scared for some reason. Why? Don't ask me. Ok, I'll just answer anyway. I think I've gotten into a groove with my point and shoot. I feel like if my photos are sub-par, well, its because I don't have a real camera. If I actually have a 'real camera', then I'd be accountable. It doesn't have to make sense, it just is.

This is my current desire, the Canon 7D. *sigh*

I've decided that I need to be more kind to the world and its inhabitants. There is (what I assume is) a homeless man (let's call him Bob for the sake of brevity) who sits (and panhandles - but unobtrusively) very near my office. I've given him change before and thought I felt pretty good about that. Yesterday, I went out to get the photo you see at the top of this post and the parking lot attendant from my garage (let's call him Chichi - well, because I think that's his name) rode his bike up to Bob, they have a brief exchange and the next thing I know, Chichi dashes off down the street toward Subway. As I finished my walk around a few blocks and headed back toward my office, Chichi had returned to Bob with a sandwich. My heart was moved by this act of kindness. I mean, my little bit of change or a buck or whatever I've given Bob was well intentioned, but, what Chichi did was way more amazing and kind. It took not just money, but forethought and action and follow through. Chichi's act, to me, was far more real. All in all, its just that I feel I need to be more kind each and every day and to try more to get out of my head and my little bubble of a world and see things.... SEE things. I'm not exactly sure how to explain it, but I know what I feel.

So, there you go. There's more, but my brain is always churning away on stuff. I guess that's a good thing, means more posts in the future.

Ciao!

Just Watched: An Education

Wow! This was a fantastic film. The story of a young (age 16) girl who is seduced away from all she has known in regards to formal education (i.e. school) and higher learning. She's had Oxford in sight. She's planned and worked and written and studied and fought with her parents for the right to be educated. Suddenly she gets a very different sort of education -- one of the world and how alluring being a free spirited adult without cares or much in the way of worries can be. The actress who plays the part of Jenny, Carey Mulligan, was spot on. When you first encounter her, she's a school girl with school girls thoughts and looks. Her character, over time, becomes more sophisticated in looks but retains her intuition and smarts, even though she doesn't necessarily listen to them all the time. The man and his friends who lure her away from all that she has ever wanted, are quite talented at the art of misdirection. She's an intelligent girl, hence Oxford in her sights, but the attraction of fun and games is one by which even the smartest among us can be distracted. You completely believe her (well, I did) at the beginning in the middle and at the end of the story. I think the "grass is always greener" theory has been around as long as it has been, well, because choosing a path and staying true to it, can get tedious. Yes, we may have the end goal in mind, but when the journey takes so very long or is arduous in any way, I think its 'normal' to see others on their paths and wonder why they look like they are having so much more fun than we are. Its hard to remember that they may be looking back at us with the exact same thoughts. Anyway, very good film.

Just Watched: Hoodwinked

It seems Mister and I are in movie mode. Normally I'd not be in a 'movie' place during Spring and Summer, but, our weather has been.... moody lately. I just want to stay indoors and curl up with fluffy nonsense on my teevee, lulling my brain into a mushy heaven. My brother suggested this film, right after we had watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox. My personal opinion, it isn't anywhere near in the same league. It could be because we just had watched an amazing, Oscar nominated movie of amazing caliber. Yes, an interesting take on the story of Red Riding Hood, yes made us laugh in a few spots, but I don't think I'll be watching the sequel. Just not my thing.