Vantage Point

Saw this movie today... would not say that it was a great movie; it was good, slightly overacted at times and I could see where some would not at all care for it--but I appreciated the concept as well as the major points behind it.

And speaking of the concept of seeing different "vantage points" my gym has a series of 6 TVs that are viewable, and if one choses audible from their piece of cardio equipment. I have only ever tuned in once to a tv when I neglected to charge my iPod... otherwise, I watch and I can get the gist of what is going on... ESPN is good for a headline that covers its talking point... that is 3 stations. Typically, the rest are news or Oprah as that is the time I am there. Today, I was off work so went in the morning.

There are a few times when the shows airing next to each other makde for a surreal experience. This was the case today.

On TV #3, Rachel Ray was on and doing something on adopting and fostering dogs, and it started out with a Michael Vick lead in... ESPN was, at the SAME time, on TV# 5, interviewing Tony Gonzalez who "shocked" the NFL and sports world by going vegan. As if this was not mind boggling enough, the TV betwixt them, Guiding Light.

Talk about your vantage point.

History in the making

I was reminded today, or at this point, yesterday, that the PA primary is coming up. Hillary's campaign sent me an email about a volunteer meeting in the area this weekend. I'd like to go, but I have an insane medical test to comply with and I'm not sure I can go... though I admit it could be exciting to partake (or incredibly mundane).

What is actually exciting is that the PA primary might actually be relevant this time around. Who knew?

On a sinking ship?

People are bailing left and lefter on the Hillary trail in favor of Barack Obama as signified by John Lewis' departure from her campaign to join with Obama. I will continue to assert, and hope that I am wrong given how things are going, that Hillary would be the best candidate at this point for the country. She's simply vicious, devious and smart in the kind of way that is necessary to clean things up. It isn't that I do not adore Barack; I just have some serious doubts that he can deliver and that he truly has that "drive" to unbury us.

And isn't it a sad commentary on the state of affairs when we see someone that really does carry with him the voice of hope and yet, we think he isn't crooked enough to play in our leadership?

Nuclear Outlet after a Toxic Week

Yesterday I embarked on some much needed retail therapy. A friend and I went to the outlets in Limerick, which were, I admit, rather nice... and to my surprise, very close to the nuclear power plant. I held the urge to get out my camera and document the many little idiosyncrasies I noted along my journey yesterday... instead, I opted to get out my debit card and indulge in my love of Adidas. Any time you mix pink, parrots and Adidas, I think I will fall in love all over again, as was evidenced by my spastic running all over the store from shoes to workout clothes.

But the shopping expedition was far, far more than just a new pair of shoes with parrots on them, it was, in fact, cathartic. This past week, by all measures imaginable, has sucked. And, I am ready to move beyond it... even if that means finding a way to survive a Monday morning without coffee. This past week has brought upon the need to visit the vampires of Quest Diagnostics and they like you worn down when they take a quart of your blood... or, simply, I need to have some fasting bloodwork done, and Monday at noon is the earliest I can get in. It isn't the fasting that bothers me (please, like someone with a diagnosed eating disorder needs a reason... kidding, kind of), it is the absence of my morning lifeforce. Fortunately, there is a 7-11 next to the lab where I can get said sustenance upon leaving.

In the meantime, I will just not think about it. There is plenty of caffiene in various incantations that can and will be had today. There is a messy apartment to be cleaned, clothes to be laundered, writing to be done, cooking for the week to commence and at least one cat that would like the proper grooming attention paid to his shiny black fur.

Snowy Saturday Morning

Having spent much of the morning sleeping on and off, I was finally roused from the comfort and warmth of my bed not by a demanding cat, but by me need for coffee. Yesterday's snow remains icily on the ground and I am sipping my brown life from a very large orange-red cup that my dad would argue vehemently is a bowl (in fact, he has made that very argument) while listening to Sheryl Crow's Detours CD and bumming that there are no tickets left for the Kanye tour date except lawn, probably because I slept well past the on sale time. Another time... for now, I must hop in the shower and head off for a session of retail therapy... and after the way my week went, I am in dire need... and I will start by washing off any remenants.

Stay warm, my friends, the spring is coming.

Magic Kibble

The vet called me yesterday with the results of Vinnie-kitty's urine test. He has a nasty case of urine crystal, which makes peeing painful, and makes peeing happen on the floor rather than the litter box. Rather than going the lifetime pill route, I decided to go the way of prescription diet. I tried this before with Bowie, and Vinnie was the only one that would eat the food... so no problem, I assume I will put the magic kibble in the bowl on the floor for Vinnie and the other kibble on the desk for the others. Turns out, this time around, they all love magic kibble... which is not a problem and it costs just as much as the EVO I had planned to switch them over to. I'm just simply amazed that the ones who refused to eat it before suddenly love it.

And some think McCain is too old...

In what is being dubbed as one of the most historic of US election (and with very good reason) year, Cuba is not to be undone. Fidel stepped down this week as El Comandante at the age of 81, leaving his brother Raul, a spry 76, in power.

Bueno suerte, Raul.

Buen retiro, Fidel.

Starting somewhere

The day has been marked with a variety of successes... a pee sample for the vet, lentil curry, successful experimentation in making a spinach riccota flatbread, vitamin E oil for a kitty with dry paws and one human with cracked cuticles, getting close to caught up with email, a little work (not nearly as much as what is needed, though), and my first successful attempt at sitting down to work through some of the ideas I've had for writing lately. I also managed to research options for escaping to a warm beach somewhere--if only for a day. My second choice would be a suite somewhere with a private hot tub, a masseuse and Sangria... hey, I gotta start somewhere. And, after reading an article in a new magazine "Clean Eating" - a philosophy by which I've come to subscribe cutting out even my frozen dinners - there is an article about hormone balances in women and how the problem I'm experiencing is probably because I haven't had a kid... this on the cusp of seeing the specialist. It reminded me of the Sex and the City episode where after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Samatha was told that women who do not have children are at higher risk... after reading the article, I wanted to use the same choice words she chose.

So, if my logic is serving me well tonight, a screwed up menstral cycle, sudden unexplainable weight gain, loss of hair, chronic stress and fatigue and muscle pain could be blamed on my not giving my parents grandchildren before I hit my 30s... and yet, I hear those are the same side effects experienced by those I know who have children... so how is that?

Pet Expo

Yesterday, I went out to the Valley Forge Convention Center to experience my first ever "Pet Expo." A few people from work were going and had told me about it. It was an interesting event, and one I'm not sure I would repeat -- unless I had a dog. It was very dog-focused, not that there were not things for spoiled kitties (and birds), and indeed I came home with a whole bag full of kitty kibbles to try. Much to my very delight, I also got a few samples of EVO, which I have wanted to try, but after several very costly experiments and Calvin going on hunger strike, I didn't want to buy it only to have it go uneaten. Well, it does seem to be a hit and is by far the best food for kitties on the market... so we'll see.

The Pet Expo also had on display two very adorable tiger cubs as part of a campaign against exotic pets. The dude taking care of the cubs looked like he had just rolled off a night with the Angels, but with a tiger cub sucking his fingers. The cubs were rescues and still being bottle fed. It's amazing that even at 100s of times bigger than their domesticated sisters; they are still very much kittenish and playful--and sleepy! After finishing their bottles, they crawled into the carrier that was in the cage, curled up and went to nap. The Angels dude fielded ridiculously stupid questions from ridiculously stupid people... as one does when trying to educate a population that doesn't think for itself.

And as I left, dodging the perilous meanderings of people with large dogs and people with tiny dogs I noticed that upstairs in the convention center was an Irish and Celtic music festival... and I stood in pause for a moment thinking how strange it was to have just passed a trailer with the world's deadliest snakes to a man dressed in something that reminded me of a Leprechaun.

Is it that time already....

By the abundance of hearts and varying shades of pinks and reds, I would swear it is National Heart Disease Awareness Month... oh, right, it is, but one may forget that also given the abundances of chocolate and other confections--it's V-Day as well. Some stores, like Target, seem to be holding to the one holiday at a time philosophy, while others are cramming Easter eggs (which is early this year) on top of boxes of Russell Stover’s hearts. Of course, come September, I'm sure the one holiday at a time thing will no longer apply.

But I digress.

Valentine's Day is upon us this week, and if one peruses the candy aisles this time of year, one can certainly pick up a lot of interesting conversation on which to write... and that brings me to my traditional moment of Valentine's Day Resolutions.

What, oh what, will I do to make improvements to the world this year. It truly is a daunting notion, but we do what we can...

1. When eavesdropping on juicy conversations, whether it be in the holiday aisle of Target or a richly decorated Indian restaurant, I will refrain from making comments aloud. I will also refrain from making notations in my journal immediately. I will also do my very bestest to refrain from audible laughter. All are viewed as socially rude and inappropriate.

2. I will apply the same concept noted in number (1) above to boring, pointless and/or irrelevant conversations I overhear. Conversations overtly stupid in nature that do not fall into one of the above listed categories remain exempt as I have my limits and causing an aneurysm is one of them.

3. And while I will refrain from snarky, sarcastic and utterly inappropriate comments on the spot, I will take the time to parlay them into beautiful stories of love and butterflies... ok, who am I kidding, I don't write love and butterflies... I will, however, use them to entertain others at more appropriately disguised times.

4. The above implies that I will be writing again. So, I guess, number (4) hereby states explicitly that I will be writing again. Not only fiction, but in the last year I have been interested in writing a cookbook. I will attempt to do both. It will either be a glorious mess or I will have kicked Rachel Ray's ass with a bottle of EVOO.

5. I've got nothing else, but obsessive compulsive behavior requires a list of 5.

Happy Valentine's and remember, chocolate, while yummy is not recommended in large quantities by the American Heart Association.

Edit: After I posted this, I realized that this marks the 10th anniversary of V-day resolutions... have a gin and tonic on me!

Tee Shirts

Walking through Target tonight, admittedly worn by a long day of walking through stores with rude people, I looked over the tee shirts available to the left and at the leggings to the right and wondered... can I just get a shirt that says: I lived this the first time it was in fashion, can I get a pass?

It's Snowing!!

A little while ago, I looked out the window to see that it was snowing here in the Phila area... I'm sure creating a widespread panic and causing some to seek immediate shelter. Meanwhile, a certain sleek black cat looks quite put off that I made him come inside rather than leave the patio door open for him to come in and out at his convenience. Yes, I am that unreasonable and the glowering from the cat condo only serves to remind me.

Last evening, I hit the market and gym before coming home to a whirlwind of frenzied cleaning... I woke yesterday and looked aorund my place before leaving for work thinking, egawds, this place is a mess, I can't live here!! So, rather than pack all me belongings and find a new residence, I decided it would be far more reasonable to simply clean the one I have. So, after a few hours, my laundry was laundered, my floors cleaned, my dishes washed and put away, the trash out.... well, you get the idea. All to make way for the weekend! Of course, there are still a few things I will have to do... dishes are an always and with kitties, vaccuuming is a must almost daily, but it is certainly nice to have the day without that hanging over me.

I learned yesterday of what I hope to be a really cool Middle Eastern and Asain market not too terribly far from here that also entertains a nearby Indian restuarant. If all is as described, I will be one happy camper. I've been plotting out my lunch plans for today since I heard. Along the way, I will stop at Kohl's in the hopes that I will find a new pair of Khaki pants to replace the ones I have. This has been a month long quest... afterall, properly fitting and flattering pants are the holy grail of female shoppers. In some instances, we don't even look for a sale.... it is THAT serious a business.

There will be no premature sheetcake.

When my co-worker said this today, I nearly peed myself.

For those that know what I do (inasmuch as anyone can--myself included), I have been working on accreditation--indeed, I was hired to do that very thing a few years ago. This last week, official word was recieved that said accreditation had been granted. Jubulent I was, and am, over the ordeal... for many reasons.

As I was sharing the good news in the office, someone said something about a sheetcake... there was much laughter. I was quite confused; until it was explained to me today.

It seems I work for a large corporation. I also work in a large office with several hundred employees. When there are celebrations, it is common practice to get sheetcakes... of which, I had forgotten, but was immediately taken to scenes from Elaine on Seinfeld and Milton from Office Space. And there is much talk about the office if there will be a sheetcake. I find myself amused.

And so you ask, "premature sheetcake?" Well, that is exactly as it seems--very much like a premature "Mission Accomplished" on an aircraft carrier.

Detours...

... or how much Sheryl Crow's latest CD is "dylanesque."

It isn't the first time, and I'm sure it will not be the last time, that obvious influences of the master find their way into Crow's work. It certainly isn't a criticism as the songs are obviously all hers, and far more blatantly political than Dylan ever has been (though I know those that would argue that point--vehemently).

I pre-ordered, so I also got a bonus track... decent for a remake. And, in Crow's style, true to the intent of the song... if we forget her *detour* long ago of remaking "Sweet Child O' Mine" a song with a sound that is obviously meant for a drugged out, guitar heavy band on the verge of imploding.

Cashing in... almost

Yep, the big day is over... I had the Giants, I had a 3 point spread. This combined with a victorious Giant win over the Patriots by 3 points means I should be entitled to a payout of approximately $4 by dad... and somehow, he informs me today through some kind of feigned illness that he is calling it even! By tomorrow, I'm sure I will probably be owing him some random amount of money because I won. In the meantime, he's faking being sick... like I don't know that those three beers in the last 5 minutes of the game is not the reason he's feeling a tad under the weather today? Still, I should have bet elsewhere, I'd have cleaned up. Bookies ought be happy today.

Holy Bovine!

Every so often, I check the blog logs... ever since I posted about the Bill Maher episode with the infamous line "Did cows stop fucking?" I have had more hits from search terms about cows fucking than I cared to continue counting. I guess Maher was right when he was talking about South Carolina and bestiality being a big issue in the south and rural areas.

Who knew?

Some Stupid Stuff

It is amazing that in a time of high stakes elections jam packed with stupid crap that I can even begin to find other things that I find more deliberately stupid that the last debates, but that is the world in which we live.

As I sit here I would have swore that there was a commerical for an upcoming airing of "Dirty Dancing" as I heard Patrick Swayze's song featured in that movie from the TV... but no, it is a commerical for the Westminster Kennel Show coming up.

Then, there was the trip to Genuardi's. I've gone there yesterday and today and both days while looking for something very specific in the frozen food aisles, I noticed, while in the frozen vegetable section that they have a section called "natural foods." Which of course, made my head spin. I was buying frozen veggies, under the frozen veggie sign and wondering if vegetables are not a natural food, what the hell is? As it turns out, it is the less processed, highly overpriced frzoen foods that have some organic ingredients. Yep, my head is still spinning.

Finally, there is the spell check feature on Blogger that has not been working and is causing my high anxiety... as I know my typing is sometimes a little too fast for my capacity to rely on my own ability to spell. And for those of you using FireFox with the built in spell check who are going to get on my case over using Explorer--save it. I'm a Microsoft slut... I can't help it.

Domesticating

Yesterday was a productive day, even if I didn't get any writing in. I've decided, again, that I am not properly set up to do any real writing. I'm not there, yet, but I do feel like I am much closer. I rearranged everything but the kitchen and I feel -- sore! Moving my entertainment center, even 5-6 inches is a phenomenal task involving taking much out of it and then using my whole body to scoot it over. Overall, it is nicer. The big chair is by the patio door in preparation for spring time sun and breeze.... whenever THAT happens.

Otherwise, a trip to the gym, grocery shopping and the prep for making soups for a work bday party this coming week... it was a great Saturday!

Today is boding well, with a call into dad already to remind him of the bet he keeps changing on me. I've made the base for one of the soups and two others are done and ready for Thursday. I've also experiemented with a chocolate muffin... which has turned out so incredibly well that I am going to share the recipe. Happy Weekending!!

Chocolate Cranberry Muffins

2 2/3 cups Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 cup plus 1 heaping teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup egg substitite (or 3 large eggs, which will change the analysis below)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce (with cinnamon, or add 1 tsp cinnamon)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup plain unsweetened low fat Silk (can sub 1/2 cup regular milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup low fat sour cream (can sub 1/2 cup canola oil)
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 packets Equal (can sub 1/4 cup sugar or splenda)
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix all liquid ingredients well, and add in dry ingredients slowly, adding in cranberries last, until all just moistened. Do not overmix.

Fill muffins tins 3/4 full. Note, this works best in lined muffin tins, but you can use baking spray, just be careful in removing from the pan. This makes 12 jumbo muffins or 24 regular sized. The nutritional analysis is for the jumbo muffins (as that is what I made).

Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into a muffin center. Let stand for 5 minutes before moving to a rack to cool.


Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 214.8
Total Fat 2.3 g
Saturated Fat 1.1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.6 g
Cholesterol 3.9 mg
Sodium 293.7 mg
Potassium 111.6 mg
Total Carbohydrate 46.3 g
Dietary Fiber 5.1 g
Sugars 23.8 g
Protein 6.3 g

All Bet's In?

Dad's already trying to scam me on the SuperBowl bet--trying to up his point spread and increase his bet in such a way that if he loses he pays the bet amount, but if I lose, I pay double. Somehow this doesn't seem right.

Furthermore, he seems a little "put off" that I keep discussing this bet and previously, his Christmas decoration conundrum, in this blog and has threatened to start his own blog. Oh, if you know my dad, you know the hysterics this sends me into just thinking about it. And wouldn't that be something.

Nonetheless, it's been a while since I've blogged again, and I've been busy with work again; just trying to keep above water. I did manage to get back to the gym this week, and not have my head implode from the stupidity of the world. Now, the biggest dilemma before me this weekend... is my crush on Bill Maher worth paying $20 a month for HBO now that my promotion special has ended?