1. The Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
2. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
3. Technical Communication by Mike Markel
4. The Nasty Bits by Anthony Bourdain
5. Twilight- Stephenie Meyer (again)
6. Midnight Sun- Stephenie Meyer (again)
7. Odd Thomas- Dean Koontz
8. Forever Odd- Dean Koontz
10.  Brother Odd- Dean Koontz
11. Watchmen- Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
12. PS I Love You by Cecilia Ahern
13.  Confessions of a Slacker Mom by Muffy Mead-Ferro
14.  New Moon- Stephenie Meyer (again) 
15. Eclipse- Stephenie Meyer (again) 
16. Breaking Dawn- Stephenie Meyer (again) 
17. Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist- Michael J Fox
18.  Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- JK Rowling
19. Speak Up! -Fraleigh and Tuman
20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- JK Rowling
21. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn- Bettie Smith
22. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
23. The Legends and Myths of Hawai'i by His Hawaiian Majesty Kalakaua

I'd really like to see eight vampires a-stamping. Especially if those eight were Edward, Bella, Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, and Emmet! HA!

Oh and I would hope that Matt Ryan would be one of the Atlanta Falcons and that Sidney Crosby one of the Penguins.

Below is a list of 100 things that every omnivore should try at least once. Some of these things are pretty tame, others…well…not so much. l

Here are the instructions if you’d like to participate:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

The Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart

( the rest of the list )

 

Thank you, John Hughes, for your endlessly quotable, highly entertaining films.  You made high school bearable.  You made me want to live in Shermer, Illinois.




'80s teen flick director John Hughes dies in NYC
Aug. 6, 2009, 4:08 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Writer-director John Hughes, Hollywood's youth impresario of the 1980s and '90s who captured and cornered the teen and pre-teen market with such favorites as "Home Alone," "The Breakfast Club" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," died Thursday, a spokeswoman said. He was 59.

Hughes died of a heart attack during a morning walk in Manhattan, Michelle Bega said. He was in New York to visit family.

A native of Lansing, Mich., who later moved to suburban Chicago and set much of his work there, Hughes rose from ad writer to comedy writer to silver screen champ with his affectionate and idealized portraits of teens, whether the romantic and sexual insecurity of "Sixteen Candles," or the J.D. Salinger-esque rebellion against conformity in "The Breakfast Club."

Hughes' ensemble comedies helped make stars out of Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and many other young performers. He also scripted the phenomenally popular "Home Alone," which made little-known Macaulay Culkin a sensation as the 8-year-old accidentally abandoned by his vacationing family, and wrote or directed such hits as "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Pretty in Pink," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck."

Other actors who got early breaks from Hughes included John Cusack ("Sixteen Candles"), Judd Nelson ("The Breakfast Club"), Steve Carrell ("Curly Sue") and Lili Taylor ("She's Having a Baby").

Devin Ratray, best known for playing Buzz McCallister in the "Home Alone" films, said he remained close to Hughes over the years.

"He changed my life forever," Ratray said. "Nineteen years later, people from all over the world contact me telling me how much 'Home Alone' meant to them, their families, and their children."

Actor Matthew Broderick worked with Hughes in 1986 when he played the title character in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

"I am truly shocked and saddened by the news about my old friend John Hughes. He was a wonderful, very talented guy and my heart goes out to his family," Broderick said.

As Hughes advanced into middle age, his commercial touch faded and, in Salinger style, he increasingly withdrew from public life. His last directing credit was in 1991, for "Curly Sue," and he wrote just a handful of scripts over the past decade. He was rarely interviewed or photographed.

meme ganked from belleatrix 

YOU'RE ON MY FRIENDS LIST, I want to know 28 things about you. I don't care if we've never talked, never really clicked, or if we already know everything about each other. I really don't. You are obviously on my flist, so let me know with whom I'm friends!

01. Your Middle Name, or explain your Chosen Name:
02. Mental Age:
03. Single or Taken:
04. Favorite Book:
05. Favorite Song or Album:
06. What do you believe is your calling in life? Your greatest passion?
07. What's your worst recurring nightmare/biggest fear?
08. Faith, has you any? And if so, what, and if not, why not?:
09. Do we know each other outside of LJ? Do we want to?
10. What's your philosophy on life?
11. Is the bottle half-full or half-empty?
12. Would you tell me something painful if it was in my best interest?
13. What is your favorite memory of us?
14. What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
15. Tell me one odd/interesting fact about you:
16. You can have three wishes what are they?
17. What is your favorite food?
18. Which country is your spiritual home?
19. What is your big weakness?
20. Do you think I'm a good person?
21. What was your best/favorite subject at school?
22. Describe your accent:
23. If you could change anything about me, would you?
24. What do you wear to sleep?
25. Gender identity?
26. Affectionate/sexual orientation?
27. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together? (If you have no idea, just say something crazy, it'll entertain me!)
28. Will you repost this so I can fill it out for you?

Dear Kenny,
I don't really know how to tell you this, but our socks don't match. I think I realized it when I quoted Forrest Gump in a clown suit and I saw you bite off the elephant in the corner. I'm sure you're masochistic enough to understand the middle east is planning revenge on you. I'm returning your Hannah Montana underwear to you, but I'll keep your left ear as a memory. You should also know that I will not tell the authorities that you stole the whale from the backyard and I’m off to lead a new life as a lemon.

With tears of sadness,
Juli
xxx


( How you do it! )

I missed the first 20 minutes of the broadcast last night because Joey was vomitting all over himself and while I was not actively participating in the cleanup of Joey, I was washing sheets to go on his bed and trying to not throw up myself.

When I did get to tune in, Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel Craig (who is so going on my list) were giving out the makeup and costuming awards.  I loved the set behind them-- the backstage theater dressing area thing. 

I just sat for an hour researching and writing my review of the Oscars and then the laptop, which was not plugged in, died.  All LJ autosaved was the above. So now, you get the review in bullets.

• New order of awards distributed, following the movie making process: cool 
• Montage of movie genres set to cool music: awesome
• Previous winners praise nominees: very nice.  Cuba Gooding should have played it straight.
• Song nominee medley: suckage
• In Memoriam song: good, but get the camera off Queen Latifah and let me cry over the dead
• Multiple screens for memoriam segment: seizure inducing
• Gowns: mostly bleh.  I liked Diane Lane's and Anne Hathaway's.
• Why was Miley Cyrus there? 
• Loved the musical numbers
• Why Sir Ben Kingsley but not Sir Anthony Hopkins? 
• I continue to LOVE Kate Winslet
• Ben Stiller's Joaquin Phoenix impersonation was cheap, mean-spirited and misplaced.

Everyone knew Heath was going to win and for the most part, his family's acceptance speech was eloquent, touching and nice.  My only gripe is with his sister.  Girlfriend, when you're on the Oscars accepting an award, you don't hike up your boobs or fidget with your gown.  Stand there and look classy.

I just came back to the computer after gathering in a large classroom to watch the inauguration together with  students, teachers and administrators.  We had some disappointing technical glitches but I was moved by the rapt attention paid to the projection on the wall.  Some, like me, had quiet tears rolling down their faces.  Others watched with this intent and focus. 

I feel a weight lifted.  It's 45 minutes into the Obama presidency and I feel lighter though nothing has yet been done. 

The speech was wonderful.  It was direct and pointed at the times, inspirational and, I think , that like most of Obama's big speeches, it gave hope and also indicated that we, as Americans, have a responsibility to ourselves to make things better than they've been.

I wish I had a glass of wine to toast to the new era of American greatness.

Mysterious Poe 'toaster' returns to writer's grave

The Associated Press

8:33 AM EST, January 19, 2009

BALTIMORE - To mark the 200th anniversary of writer Edgar Allan Poe's birth, a mysterious visitor again placed three red roses and a half-filled bottle of cognac at Poe's grave in Baltimore before quietly slipping away.

The curator of the Poe House and Museum, Jeff Jerome, said about 50 people waited outside the cemetery of Westminster Presbyterian Church, hoping to catch a glimpse Monday of the elusive man known as the "Poe toaster." The man returns each year in the early morning darkness on Poe's birthday.

Jerome says the visitor did not leave any note, not even to comment on the milestone anniversary. He adds the crowd was smaller than he expected and was better behaved than the rowdy groups that have attended the vigil in recent years.

Happy 200th Birthday, Mr. Poe.

  

I'd seen them on Food Network's Unwrapped, but never in a store until yesterday. 



Yes, that says, "Crunches like an apple.  Tastes like a grape."

Some marketing genius thought that perhaps people who like to eat apples would like them to taste like something else.  Something that isn't an apple.  Like grapes.  Only not real grapes, like grape candy or grape jello.  Artificial grapes.  Let's take real apples and chemically treat them to taste like fake grapes!!! 

And they did.

And I bought some. 

Four grapples (that's pronounced GRAY-puhls) come packaged in a plastic isolation unit.  Honestly, I wouldn't pick these apples up if they were loose in a bin.  They're kinda small and dull. 

Joey wanted an apple this morning and I gave him a grapple.  After I took a bite.  It smelled more grapey than it tasted and overall, my assessment is this: they're weird.

And expensive.  It was $4.99 for four small apples.

I have some gaming books I'm looking to get rid of to clear out the shelves a little.  These are all from my gaming days in college so they're like eight years old but in excellent condition.  If you want them, I'll take shipping cost + $1.

Clanbook Ravnos: Sourcebook for Vampire the Masquerade. 1997.

Shadowrun Second Edition. 1992

Vampire: The Dark Ages hardcover.  1996.

Vampire the Dark Ages Storyteller Screen + Character Creation Sheet Pad ( a few sheets removed but still many left) 

Book of Storyteller Secrets for Vampire: The Dark Ages. 1996.  Reinforced cover.

Magic The Gathering Official Encyclopedia and Card Guide. 1996

Magic The Gathering Official Encyclopedia and Card Guide Volume 2. 1997

Advanced D&D 2nd Edition Arms & Equipment Guide. 1991.

NU peeps, I've had these around and just got around to scanning them.  I don't know why I have so few pictures from this game.  Must have something to do with having to use actual film.  

Non-NU peeps, these are from the Live Action Roleplaying group I was a part of at Northwestern.  We played Vampire: The Masquerade and dressed up for it. 

( Click for pictures )

Sorry I didn't comment in your journals for the past few days.  I did read all of the entries.  It was A LOT.  Every time I'm away from my computer, you guys get all chatty.  It's great.

So Thanksgiving was weird without the boys but Wayne and I had a nice time chilling with my family.  Dinner was kind of a bust-- the turkey was incredibly overdone.  C'est la vie.

Yesterday we went shopping.  We got bunk beds at Ikea for Joey and Nathan.  I'll take pictures when they see it.  Christmas outfits for the kids.  Some toys.  Clothes for me.  Wooo hoo.

Today we're going to get our tree and get set up for my crop at the house tomorrow.

Johhny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Time Burton's Alice in Wonderland.



From the UK's Daily Mail: 

Alice In Wonderland started filming in Cornwall earlier this autumn, with a relative unknown taking the lead role as fantasiser Alice.

Mia Wasikowska, 18, from Canberra, Australia, will be playing Alice, alongside Anne Hathaway as the White Queen.

Burton has also cast his real-life partner Helena Bonham Carter as the moody Red Queen.

The director frequently works with Bonham Carter in his movies, having cast her in Charlie And The Chocolate Factory (which also starred Depp), Big Fish and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street (again with Depp).

Matt Lucas, of Little Britain fame, has been cast as Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

The Queen star Michael Sheen (Tony Blair) will play the Cheshire Cat, while Back To The Future star Crispin Glover (George McFly) will play the Knave of Hearts.

 I've kept it a big secret for so long but I'm feeling inspired by my friend's recent post about her stint as a stripper.

( Huge pictures behind the cut )

Why aren't there post offices with a drive thru? 

It so rocks that in Jersey gas is $1.89 a gallon.

I have three movies recorded on my DVR that I haven't had time to watch yet.

Can someone please invent laundry that puts itself away?

I need to strip all the kids beds and change all the linens tomorrow.

I need to clean the inside of the fridge and I just sooooo hate doing it.

Cheese is good.

Can I put my Christmas decorations up?

WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names)
Julia Ramon

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother's dad, father's dad )
Andrew Manuel

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 2 letters of your last name, first 4 letters of your first name)
Rujuli

DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color, fav animal)
Violet Shubunkin

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you live)
I don't have a middle name!  My maiden name is my middle name.  Suppose I could go with Ann, the second half of my first name.  
Ann Reading

SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd fav color, fav alcoholic drink, add "THE" to the beginning)
The Black Margarita? 

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Jung? That's stupid.

GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie):
Coffee Pudding

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pet's name, current street name)
Lucy Sweetwater

PORN NAME: (1st pet, street you grew up on)
Puffy Lentz

Do you have old electronics cluttering up your garage or closets?   Costco is running a recycling project where they will give you the trade-in value of your old PCs, laptops, monitors, MP3 players, game systems, camcorders  and digital cameras.

Go see, it's a great idea.

Comment and I'll give you a letter. Then you have to list ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter. Afterward, post this in your journal and give out some letters of your own.

glass_lion   gave me the letter M.

( Man, that was tough! )
OK, your turn. Need a letter?

GO CATS!!!!!

OH.
MY.
GOODNESS.

I got a Bissell ProHeat 2x Turbo 



This thing ROCKS! After a year and a half in this house, the cheap-o carpets were really showing their wear. My boys are not neat, by any stretch of the imagination, and have thrown up on, wet, spilled, soiled and muddied up the rugs. I spot cleaned when accidents happened but it was just getting to the point where I had to take more drastic measures.

So I did a little research as and ended up buying the Bissell ProHeat 2X Turbo at Costco the other day. Today, I finally got a chance to use it in the boys' bedrooms. You know, the spot behind his bed where Joey would toss all of his still partially full sippy cups of milk, leaving a sticky, stinky mess.

I used the spot cleaner treatment first and then did one pass over the entire rug on the regular setting and then three passes with clear water only to get up all of the soap. The rugs look new. Every single stain came up, including the big spot of red Kool Aid that had soaked in, and all I had to do was walk the machine over it a few times.

That's not to say that it was quick... it took me about 2.5 hours to do two smallish rooms because you have to go slow but I put on my MP3 player and it was no problem at all. This machine is AWESOME.