Thursday, March 31, 2005

It's Raining, It's Pouring

So there goes my idea of doing any gardening today. I should of did it this morning while the sun was still shining. Instead I was doing email and practicing radio spots.

Radio spots? Yes. BellaOnline has a radio system for visitors to listen to. All chick music. Well we are adding radio spots from editors. Boy is it hard work. I don't know how people on the radio do it. I must have recorded 50 times before I had two acceptable ones. Even now, I don't know how acceptable they will be. Have to wait to hear from the big radio kahuna. Think positive thoughts.

Well, with my out door activities thorted that leaves inside duties, I'm off to do some laundry.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

Spring Blues

Today I got into the dirt. The ground was still wet and mushy in spots but I just couldn't help myself. I dug out the hand rake and weeder and worked on cleaning out the front garden. Weeds begone! Ground be cultivated!

Peaking through the moist soil? Tulips! Yes folks. My tulips are coming and my daffodils are fast on their trail. This is my favourite time of year. Well, not true, it's so damn muddy I have to bathe the dog everytime she comes in from taking a leak but the new life thing is kind of cool. Makes me happy.

Hopefully this year I won't have any torn ligaments or broken back to interfere with my gardening. My back still isn't 100 percent and I was sure feeling it after only a little bit of work but it felt good. Tomorrow, I'm going to attack the circular garden in back.

There was one casualty over winter. My ceramic toad from the dollar store disintergrated. I don't mean it's a little weather worn either. I happened to spot it today. It's a bunch of bits. Sad really. I had quite an affection for it. I'm hoping they'll have more.

On a sadder note, I think Rosie is mad at me. I mentioned her blog in an article and when I went back today I see she removed her contact and comments options. Bad me. I feel bad and sad. I only mentioned it out of admiration...

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Real Curves

I watched Real Women Have Curves last night. Going to write a review for L&L of it. So appropriate. But basicially it's the story of Ana, a latina teenager, during the summer of her 18th year. She's voluptuous and strong willed but is being held back by her family, especially her mother who constantly berates her because of physical appearance. Good movie. The best scene in the movie is when the women in the factory that Ana works in, strip to their underwear to expose their secrets.

I'm so screwed up with days today. I keep thinking it's a day later than it is. Feeling really tired these days, sleeping a lot more during the day than I should. I think I had a three hour nap. Oy! Still feel like I could go to bed early.

I didn't finish Can You Keep a Secret but I'm definitely sure it will be tonight and then I'll have to write a review up for that one. I started a crochet project a few weeks ago but it hasn't been moving along very quickly because of all the reading I have to get done and all the computer time needed. It's a shrug type thing for Jeff. He reads before bed and the room is very cold and he always has an extra blanket or towel over his shoulders. I'm trying to make it less girly but I don't know. I'll keep you informed. :)

Well, I'm off to read...

Friday, March 25, 2005

Sunshiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinne....

Beautiful sunny day today. It's been a pretty casual day. Jeff is home for Easter break. We each did our own thing this morning. He played with the radio and I continued reading Can You Keep a Secret (reviewing for LinearReflections). It was hard to put it down when Jeff talked about going for a drive and walk but I did.

We took a toodle around the countryside. Everything looks dead but it was still a nice nature drive. Saw lots of cows, horses, atv drivers. The best part was when we stopped at Maple Dale Cheese. We'd never been. Busssyyy. Inside they had a whole bunch of samples set up. Pimento and olive chedder, garlic chedder, smoked chedder, dill and garlic chedder. We tried them all and all were amazingly good. Since we are on a budget we only bought the garlic chedder. They also had scoop icecream. Jeff chose orange-pineapple and I chose Maple-walnut. Mmmmgood. We parked along the river and walked down to and back from the bay. I'm tired. My legs still hurt from my 2.5 hr jaunt with Pat the other day. Should sleep good tonight. Leftovers for supper.

Aren't you glad you stopped by? I'm off to work on the Book-in-a-week site for a bit.

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Reality TV Shows

There are so many reality TV shows. Every week a new one is introduced. You'd think since we are so damn interested in reality shows we'd just shut off the TV and interact with the body next to us.

I have a concept for a new reality TV show. Picture this: A school in a crummy neighbourhood, 10 of the countries brightest teachers and 10 classrooms full of the worst students known to man. Every week the teachers get a new room and a new set of kids. The last teacher standing gets the dough or no taxes taken off their income for the rest of their career they spend teaching. As you probably figured out, I don't think teachers should have to pay taxes. It has nothing to do with the fact my husband's a teacher either.

Teachers don't get paid enough. They should be in the same bracket as docters. You only see a doctor for a few minutes once or twice a year. A teacher has time invested in kids; sometimes more than the parents. Not to mention the lack of hazard pay. How many kids walk into a clinic and start shooting patients and doctors? Teachers need to be nurtured more.

Wonder if Fox would be interested in my concept?

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

I Think I Love You...Not

American Idol fever anyone? I'm starting to get tired. It was fun the first two years but now ... now it's just annoying marketing. Does anyone else think Constantine looks like Gary Sinise? Simon has become his own bad cliche. Well, I'm off to finish watching American Idol. :)

Monday, March 21, 2005

Clockwork Orange

Since childhood I've wanted to watch Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange. I had the opportunity this weekend to see it. Now I'm wondering why I wanted to see it so bad. Talk about a cheesy use of rubber sticks and rubber noses. It took me a half hour to figure out that Malcolm McDowell was the creepy British actor I've seen in so many other movies. As for the so called violence it was banned for, I guess I've been desensitived from all the action movies I've seen. This so called cult classic that Kubrick withdrew all copies until his death was boring, absurd and rediculous. I had to force myself to watch not because it was graphic but because I kept falling asleep.

For those who don't know the storyline: Alex played byMalcolm McDowell is caught by the police because his gang buddies are tired of him being their cranky abusive leader. He's sent to jail for murder. His sentence is reduced significantly when he agrees to undergo a special therapy to remove violent urges. When ever he sees or thinks of violence or sees boobs he feels like he's going to vomit.

I definitely wouldn't watch it again. I'm still in shock it was considered a masterpiece in its time. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Jack Nicholson, now that's a masterpiece.

***
Topic Links
*A Clockwork Orange
*One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Friday, March 18, 2005

I'm here but I'm not

Finally finished the L&L newsletter; posted and sent emails. Feels good to have it done. Just have to go through and remove all the spammers who signed up since last week.

I started a new book, Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. It always takes me about 10 pages to get into the jive of a new book. It's come highly recommended by my friend Wolf in Ottawa and my friend Fionna from The Fat Girls Club.

Now that the newsletter is done. I can put my feet up and relax. Maybe do a little crochet, watch a movie, and eat some Hagaan daz coffee icecream. Who am I kidding. I'll probably eat the whole thing. Anyway, gotta go. I'm on salad detail for supper.

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Topic Links
*Can You Keep a Secret

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Not a Happy Camper

Stayed up late reading How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life by Kirstie Alley. Loved it, especially the last chapter about pooping. Just had to finish it last night. I had been good at going to bed before midnight prior to this. Blame Kirstie for lack of sleep. Will start to write review for L&L about it tomorrow.

We took a day trip to Peterborough today. Nice sunny day, no sun glasses. We both have headaches now. I've come to the unpleasant realization of just how big I am. We stopped at Smitty's for supper. I almost got stuck getting into the booth. I couldn't believe how snug the fit was. I've never had this problem. I looked over at skinny husband who had about half a foot between him and table. Hate skinny husband. Ok, don't really hate skinny husband but will have to feed skinny husband more food. Or worse still...the awful d-word.

Just got caught up on email. Have come to the conclusion, I hate people. Ok, don't hate all people. There are some really nice people out there and there are some really stupid ones. I just wish the stupid ones bugged me less.

After reading this post I've also come to the conclusion that I've let Alley's book affect my writing. Except I don't talk obsessively about sex. Yikes! I've turned into a clone of Alley. I wish. She's pretty hot, despite what she calls a fat ass. Whatever.

Off to veg in front of T.V. after taking tylenol. Note to self: buy sunglasses for road trips on sunny days.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Saving Milly

I'm not so good at this blog thing. I always forget. When I remember I'm usually doing something else, then I forget again. Bad me. :) Not today...good me!

Watched an excellent movie today, Saving Milly, starring Madeleine Stowe and Bruce Greenwood. It's based on a true story about a couple afflicted with Parkinson's. The whole last half of the movie I was crying. This is a new movie, 2005 release. I think it is probably Stowe's finest performance, especially the last half when the signs begin to take over her body.

Micheal J. Fox came on at the end to talk a bit about Parkinson's and how it is within our ability to find a cure but it just ain't happening.

Topic Links:
*The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (tons of info, make a donation)
*Bruce Greenwood
*Saving Milly

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

It's a Sun Shining Day...Brrr

The rain has stopped. The sun is out. It's frigging cold. It's sharp. It's cold outside, cold inside. It's just damn cold (I know, in a couple months I'll be complaining that it's damn hot!).

I caught Robin Williams on Regis and Kelly this morning. He was awesome. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. I think he has ADD or Turets or something the way he is able to switch from one thought to another so quickly. It's hard to keep up. He accidentally said "S*&t". At first I thought I misheard but then he chuckled and asked if the bleeper was quick enough to pick it up. I screamed at the t.v. "No. it wasn't." I heard Robin Williams say "S%*t". I laughed my a*& off. Gee, I hope that isn't going to be the highlight of my day.

Another guest was Nigella Lawson. She is such a goddess. I loved the way she towered Regis and is meater than Kellster. She was promoting her latest cookbook. I love the huge square pan she was using. I've got to get me one of those. She's so captivatingly beautiful. I just can't say it enough.

I think I'll write a rant today for L&L. I don't know what about. Probably about "the fat joke". I'm starting to notice them and become annoyed by them lately. Dennis Miller made a comment the other night and I couldn't get into the rest of his commentary. The fat joke is going the way of the blonde joke. Enough already.

When is a joke just being rude? Think about it. Get back to me.

Monday, March 07, 2005

I Am Really Ready For Spring But...

Rain, rain, go away. Take the snow with it. Crappy day. Frustrated. PMSing. Got a bill today that I didn't need. I hate bills. Especially unexpected ones.

Never got to see Thunderheart yesterday. I was all set up for it and some other 1930s gangster movie came on. Now I like a good old movie but I didn't want a good old movie. I wanted Val Kilmer and his Thunderheart. I ended up watching the Contender with Joan Allen, Jeff Bridges, Gary Oldman, Sam Elliot and Christian Slater. Really good movie actually. Joan Allen plays a senator and Jeff Bridges is the President. He needs a new Vice President and chooses Allen. Others are not happy with this and devise a plan to embarrass her out of office. The acting was brilliant. One of Gary Oldman's best roles I'd say. But still ...

It's time for more chocolate.

***
Topic Links
*The Contender

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Real Gorgeous

I'm in the process of reading Real Gorgeous: The truth about body & beauty, by Kaz Cooke.

Cooke is an Autralian author and cartoonist. While her dialogue about everything from fashion to body hair is on the serious side, her cartoons and doodles are a riot. My husband just shakes his head at me when he walks by and I'm howling with laughter. He's learned not to ask. Mostly because he never gets what I'm laughing about. It's sad, I know. I'll write a review for the Large & Lovely site at BellaOnline when I'm done.

Today there's a blizzard outside. The satellite for the t.v. has failed yet I have no problems once so ever with the computer. Ah technology. There's a movie on later I want to watch, Thunderheart starring Val Kilmer. I remember the first time I saw it in the theatre. It was a shoddy place uptown with tiny theatres with peeling paint and mouldy carpets. During the intro when the native man is running in the desert and a shot rings out shooting him in the back the film literally melted from the centre out. It was freaky. They managed to mend it and there were no further problems. I remember it being a good movie. Time will tell.

Don't you hate it when movies you loved when you were younger seem like crap when you watch them years later? I realized this when I watched Mad Max with Mel Gibson a couple years ago. I was a younging and fell head over heals for Mel when I saw it the first time. It's crap. And what's with the voice over? But hey, Mel is in it, he's hot and he's Australian so I'll watch it again (yes I bought it).

Anyway, that's my rant for today. If you're reading this I only have one thing to say: What are you doing here? Go have some chocolate or something.

***
Topic Links:
*Real Gorgeous by Kaz Cooke
*Kaz Cooke's Official Website
*Thunderheart with Val Kilmer
*Mad Max with Mel Gibson

Saturday, March 05, 2005

I'm here and I don't know why

I've made a blog. Here it is. Well, I guess I didn't make it, blogger made it.

I had a blog once before but didn't much care for it. Now they are all the rage so I thought I'd try again. Silly me.

Big Girl Blue is born. Look out world!