Stuff other than pirate!fic...
1) On a rather "omgwtf" note, check out this, dear ones. Link gacked from mimesere. To paraphrase one of her commenters, makes one just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. And as I said, talk about un-American.
2) Gads, it's Thursday, the last day of March and I have not a) posted anything about Easter, or (more importantly) the Easter Brunch recipes I promised, and b) posted all the recs I had in mind to do on crack_van for PotC. These concerns must be remedied.
Spring Break started on Good Friday. Got my hair cut (and I can't tell you what a relief that was--it was REALLY out of hand), did shopping for the Easter Brunch (only had to go to three fricking stores to get what I needed. Do you have any idea how much I hate shopping?), then sat down to quickly finish the Request Ficlet for celandineb I'd been working on. This took me rather longer than anticipated, and as I was flirting with a cold (possibly psychosomatic, brought on by the enormous number of unhealthy people at work--everything from lingering coughs to pneumonia to a viral malady so contagious it required the victim to be quarantined) I elected to stay home rather than go to Santa Barbara as originally planned. Rested and wrote, and read, which was altogether delightful, instead.
Saturday I put up some decorations and then waited for ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and amy_leone to come get Mom and I so we could go pick up radiumx in L.A. and go to the Body Works 2 exhibit at the California Science Center. They (The Mrows) were running late, but we made it to the museum in time to see the IMAX film, The Human Body, at 7:30, grabbed a bite at the museum's Rose Garden Cafe (the Shrimp Salad was excellent), and then spent about three hours looking at the Body Works 2 exhibits on the first and third floors. It was open from 10 A.M. friday (3/25) straight through to midnight on Easter (3/27), and although we avoided the really horrendous crowds by going late in the evening on Saturday, there was still a line to get in when we left at 12:30 A.M. It was an amazing combination of science and art, and I wasn't much squicked by any of it, in spite of the fact that these are REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. While perusing the displays, we also ran into an old friend and a co-worker who were there, and whom we noticed in spite of the crowds and the REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. Got home and to bed at about 2:30 A.M.
Easter went swimmingly, in spite of all the last minute preparation needed for the brunch. Got up and baked Cream Cheese Pastries, made a double batch of dough for Dove Rolls and left it to rise, and fixed the Marinated Leg of Lamb and washed the yams and popped both in the oven before toddling off to church.
We left at 11:25 for the 11:30 Mass, and not only got there on time, but got our preferred seats! The place really filled up, shortly thereafter, and it was finally standing room only. My favorite priest did the service -- he is an intelligent speaker, and can actually sing on key, and DOESN'T LAG, which is always a nice change. The new organ was in evidence, and sounded really wonderful--like a whole orchestra! Amazing! And they actually sang songs I liked, which is a switch--all too often they lean toward these kiddie-pop sounding songs that only detract from the experience for me. Arg. I was always very old school about church music, even as a kid. The new stuff has no hint of the profound about it, for the most part, and frankly that's what it's all about, for me. I find the pop-commercialization of religion appalling. If one's relationship to God can be summarized by a Jesus Fish on your bumper, why bother? But probably that's just me. Don't get me started. Must...resist...rant...on...religion...
Brunch was truly lovely. The menu consisted of Mimosas (thanks to weemonkey6 and one of her current boyfriends who stopped at the store for both champagne and Minute Maid), colored eggs (Grandma did the honors, this year, and they were beautiful), Mixed Fresh Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries) with brown sugar and either sweet or sour cream, sliced watermelon, asparagus, baked yams, the above-mentioned Marinated Leg of Lamb, Dove Rolls, and Cream Cheese Pastries, and lots of See's candy, hand chosen by yours truly. I'll make links of the recipes' names after I post them to prettygoodfood. Good company was also had at Brunch: besides weemonkey6 and her Current Boyfriend, ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and shockwavesix also joined us.
The rest of the week has been enjoyable, and relaxing. Didn't do much but write and read and rest on Monday. Tuesday, Mom and I watched a really interesting movie on HBO, The Third Miracle starring Ed Harris and Anne Heche (I mention this because it's so unusual for me to give my full attention to anything on TV, these days), then zoomed over and picked up the school newsletter at the printer in Glendale and had dinner at the Tam O'Shanter Inn on Los Feliz. I LOVE that restaurant. The servers were friendly and most attentive, and the food was spectacularly good (Red Snapper with a Lobster & Shrimp Cream Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, steamed asparagus and carrots--which all sound so mundane, but were done perfectly--a Pear & Goronzola Salad to start, and a Chocolate Soufflé to end), and the whole place is designed with a Scottish theme--beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tartans, and pewter. Walt Disney and his cohorts used to go there a lot during the 30's and 40's, for lunch. The restaurant has been bought out by Lawry's, since, but the decor hasn't changed much, though they sell more Prime Rib and creamed spinach than they used to.
Yesterday I met our school librarian at the Indian restaurant in Thousand Oaks, Kohrinoor, and had their buffet, and talked for a couple of hours about what a weird place the world is and we should just go on a cruise and forget about it. Then, a while later, Mom and I went to The Lobster Restaurant at the Santa Monica pier. A gorgeous evening, and the food, again, was wonderful. They serve a sort of garlic and herb and olive oil mixture with crusty french bread to begin with, and you really have to watch it and not eat too much as the main dishes are great--we split a house salad (which has dried cherries and gorgonzola), and then the Filet of Sole with artichokes and capers, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. All perfect. And great, friendly service, too. And an ocean view!
Jeesh. You'd think all I do is eat. I need to stop that.
After dinner, we went to visit Uncle Fran (who will be 97 on April 14) in the nursing home. He seemed pretty good, still very sharp, mentally, and doing lots of reading (Kaye keeps him supplied with large-print books from the Santa Monica Library). The nursing home is a nice one, very homey and clean, but I am somewhat concerned about the lack of staff in evidence during the hour we were there (we got there at 7:00 P.M. and the living room lights were out, and everyone in bed, except for Fran, who was seated in his fancy electric wheelchair in his room). I very much wish the place wasn't so far from us--an hour, through the usual 405 traffic. I would hate to move him away from the Santa Monica friends that are so faithful about visiting him, but if he was in that nice new assisted living place here in Simi, Mom and I could visit easily and often, and really keep an eye on him more. But then, again, he is really closer to some of the people in Santa Monica than he is to us. It's a worrying thing, though.
Well, the above was probably way more information than anyone needed to hear. I'll post the recipes, now, and then it's back to pirate!fic and {{cringe}} RL issues.
Hugs to all!
2) Gads, it's Thursday, the last day of March and I have not a) posted anything about Easter, or (more importantly) the Easter Brunch recipes I promised, and b) posted all the recs I had in mind to do on crack_van for PotC. These concerns must be remedied.
Spring Break started on Good Friday. Got my hair cut (and I can't tell you what a relief that was--it was REALLY out of hand), did shopping for the Easter Brunch (only had to go to three fricking stores to get what I needed. Do you have any idea how much I hate shopping?), then sat down to quickly finish the Request Ficlet for celandineb I'd been working on. This took me rather longer than anticipated, and as I was flirting with a cold (possibly psychosomatic, brought on by the enormous number of unhealthy people at work--everything from lingering coughs to pneumonia to a viral malady so contagious it required the victim to be quarantined) I elected to stay home rather than go to Santa Barbara as originally planned. Rested and wrote, and read, which was altogether delightful, instead.
Saturday I put up some decorations and then waited for ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and amy_leone to come get Mom and I so we could go pick up radiumx in L.A. and go to the Body Works 2 exhibit at the California Science Center. They (The Mrows) were running late, but we made it to the museum in time to see the IMAX film, The Human Body, at 7:30, grabbed a bite at the museum's Rose Garden Cafe (the Shrimp Salad was excellent), and then spent about three hours looking at the Body Works 2 exhibits on the first and third floors. It was open from 10 A.M. friday (3/25) straight through to midnight on Easter (3/27), and although we avoided the really horrendous crowds by going late in the evening on Saturday, there was still a line to get in when we left at 12:30 A.M. It was an amazing combination of science and art, and I wasn't much squicked by any of it, in spite of the fact that these are REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. While perusing the displays, we also ran into an old friend and a co-worker who were there, and whom we noticed in spite of the crowds and the REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. Got home and to bed at about 2:30 A.M.
Easter went swimmingly, in spite of all the last minute preparation needed for the brunch. Got up and baked Cream Cheese Pastries, made a double batch of dough for Dove Rolls and left it to rise, and fixed the Marinated Leg of Lamb and washed the yams and popped both in the oven before toddling off to church.
We left at 11:25 for the 11:30 Mass, and not only got there on time, but got our preferred seats! The place really filled up, shortly thereafter, and it was finally standing room only. My favorite priest did the service -- he is an intelligent speaker, and can actually sing on key, and DOESN'T LAG, which is always a nice change. The new organ was in evidence, and sounded really wonderful--like a whole orchestra! Amazing! And they actually sang songs I liked, which is a switch--all too often they lean toward these kiddie-pop sounding songs that only detract from the experience for me. Arg. I was always very old school about church music, even as a kid. The new stuff has no hint of the profound about it, for the most part, and frankly that's what it's all about, for me. I find the pop-commercialization of religion appalling. If one's relationship to God can be summarized by a Jesus Fish on your bumper, why bother? But probably that's just me. Don't get me started. Must...resist...rant...on...religion...
Brunch was truly lovely. The menu consisted of Mimosas (thanks to weemonkey6 and one of her current boyfriends who stopped at the store for both champagne and Minute Maid), colored eggs (Grandma did the honors, this year, and they were beautiful), Mixed Fresh Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries) with brown sugar and either sweet or sour cream, sliced watermelon, asparagus, baked yams, the above-mentioned Marinated Leg of Lamb, Dove Rolls, and Cream Cheese Pastries, and lots of See's candy, hand chosen by yours truly. I'll make links of the recipes' names after I post them to prettygoodfood. Good company was also had at Brunch: besides weemonkey6 and her Current Boyfriend, ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and shockwavesix also joined us.
The rest of the week has been enjoyable, and relaxing. Didn't do much but write and read and rest on Monday. Tuesday, Mom and I watched a really interesting movie on HBO, The Third Miracle starring Ed Harris and Anne Heche (I mention this because it's so unusual for me to give my full attention to anything on TV, these days), then zoomed over and picked up the school newsletter at the printer in Glendale and had dinner at the Tam O'Shanter Inn on Los Feliz. I LOVE that restaurant. The servers were friendly and most attentive, and the food was spectacularly good (Red Snapper with a Lobster & Shrimp Cream Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, steamed asparagus and carrots--which all sound so mundane, but were done perfectly--a Pear & Goronzola Salad to start, and a Chocolate Soufflé to end), and the whole place is designed with a Scottish theme--beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tartans, and pewter. Walt Disney and his cohorts used to go there a lot during the 30's and 40's, for lunch. The restaurant has been bought out by Lawry's, since, but the decor hasn't changed much, though they sell more Prime Rib and creamed spinach than they used to.
Yesterday I met our school librarian at the Indian restaurant in Thousand Oaks, Kohrinoor, and had their buffet, and talked for a couple of hours about what a weird place the world is and we should just go on a cruise and forget about it. Then, a while later, Mom and I went to The Lobster Restaurant at the Santa Monica pier. A gorgeous evening, and the food, again, was wonderful. They serve a sort of garlic and herb and olive oil mixture with crusty french bread to begin with, and you really have to watch it and not eat too much as the main dishes are great--we split a house salad (which has dried cherries and gorgonzola), and then the Filet of Sole with artichokes and capers, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. All perfect. And great, friendly service, too. And an ocean view!
Jeesh. You'd think all I do is eat. I need to stop that.
After dinner, we went to visit Uncle Fran (who will be 97 on April 14) in the nursing home. He seemed pretty good, still very sharp, mentally, and doing lots of reading (Kaye keeps him supplied with large-print books from the Santa Monica Library). The nursing home is a nice one, very homey and clean, but I am somewhat concerned about the lack of staff in evidence during the hour we were there (we got there at 7:00 P.M. and the living room lights were out, and everyone in bed, except for Fran, who was seated in his fancy electric wheelchair in his room). I very much wish the place wasn't so far from us--an hour, through the usual 405 traffic. I would hate to move him away from the Santa Monica friends that are so faithful about visiting him, but if he was in that nice new assisted living place here in Simi, Mom and I could visit easily and often, and really keep an eye on him more. But then, again, he is really closer to some of the people in Santa Monica than he is to us. It's a worrying thing, though.
Well, the above was probably way more information than anyone needed to hear. I'll post the recipes, now, and then it's back to pirate!fic and {{cringe}} RL issues.
Hugs to all!