Over the weekend, my husband went with me to a wedding expo. Granted that we have been married for almost 6 years, I wanted to go for different reasons: SCOUTING.
My husband wanted me to have a display at the expo, but I actually wanted to wait until I had more weddings photographed. With more weddings photographed, that means I will be able to provide more sample albums, AsukaBooks, picture frames and brochure information. So far I'm shooting five weddings this year, I know I will be ready for the expo next year.
While walking into the country club, I saw the first photographer's display. They had beautiful 20x24 prints hanging up in frames and sample albums. The thing I was really looking for was their price list. They didn't have a price list, only business cards.
The second photography display did have price lists and framed photos. I didn't take a brochure because during the county fair last summer, I already picked one up. As my husband and I were walking by the display to another room, we heard the photographer tell a potential client that the huge 20x24 print cost nine dollars to make. I don't know if I would be saying prices to anyone. But he can run his business the way he sees fit.
The third and final photography display was well thought out and put together. The photographer's work was great. They had sample storyboards, albums and a price list. My husband grabbed a price list. I was disappointed that they had little to offer couples. The photographers website was listed, when we got home I went online to look at the site. The site was under construction. If it was my site, I know I would have wanted it finished before the expo. Hopefully the site will be up and running soon.
Walking around at the expo, I kept my left hand in my coat pocket. I was wearing my wedding band and really didn't want people to see it. My husband and I bumped into someone he knew and he said, "Aren't you two already married?" My husband and I really didn't respond. Going by different booths, vendors were asking us what our wedding date was. That is a sign to keep walking.
After seeing what I wanted to see, we left. As my husband and I were walking out, we had our arms wrapped around each other. A man directing traffic said to us, "It looks like you two just got married." We smiled and I turned around and said, "Yeah. About six years ago."
I was disappointed in the lack of photography displays. I wanted to see how other photographers set up their booth. But seeing what they had gives me ideas of what to have on hand next year when I will be at the wedding expo.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Order up
Before heading home from work this evening, I made a call to a restaurant for a to-go order. I ordered nachos WITHOUT black beans and jalapenos The lady who took my order said it would be done in about 10 minutes.
I drove slowly to the restaurant and parked in the spots marked for take-out orders. I went to the bar and told the bartender that I had a pick-up order. About five minutes later, she said my order was almost done. In this span of time, a man to my right was trying to pick up a woman two seats away from him at the bar. She invited him to sit with her. Is this the beginning of a relationship or a one-night stand? Over to my left was two couples, both married. Wife number 1 introduces herself to Husband number 2 and asks what Wife number 2's name is. Husband number 2 is obvious drunk, he says Beyonce. OK. Wife number 2 says to Wife number 1, Rhonda. At this point the bartender brings my nachos. Before leaving the restaurent I saw the order ticket and it clearly stated that I didn't want black beans and jalapenos.
I got home and opened my to-go container, there were black beans and jalapenos all over my nachos. My order ticket clearly stated that I didn't want them. Can't people read? Oh well. Instead of wasting the black beans, they were picked off and saved for the dogs. The jalapenos went straight into the trash. Blitzkreig and Kelly enjoyed their black bean bedtime snack. It was gone within seconds of putting it into their bowls.
I drove slowly to the restaurant and parked in the spots marked for take-out orders. I went to the bar and told the bartender that I had a pick-up order. About five minutes later, she said my order was almost done. In this span of time, a man to my right was trying to pick up a woman two seats away from him at the bar. She invited him to sit with her. Is this the beginning of a relationship or a one-night stand? Over to my left was two couples, both married. Wife number 1 introduces herself to Husband number 2 and asks what Wife number 2's name is. Husband number 2 is obvious drunk, he says Beyonce. OK. Wife number 2 says to Wife number 1, Rhonda. At this point the bartender brings my nachos. Before leaving the restaurent I saw the order ticket and it clearly stated that I didn't want black beans and jalapenos.
I got home and opened my to-go container, there were black beans and jalapenos all over my nachos. My order ticket clearly stated that I didn't want them. Can't people read? Oh well. Instead of wasting the black beans, they were picked off and saved for the dogs. The jalapenos went straight into the trash. Blitzkreig and Kelly enjoyed their black bean bedtime snack. It was gone within seconds of putting it into their bowls.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Too close
While walking into the bank to cash my check, I followed in two guys. The first guy in line was helped immediately, the second guy stood in line for the next available teller. The guy and me were the only ones in line. I stayed behind him a good two or three feet. I hate standing on top of people when there is plenty of room to spread out.
To speed up the process when I actually got to a teller window, I took my check out of the envelope to detach it from the check stub. When I finished, I put my envelope in my back pocket and that is when a line of people were approaching me. To get away from these people I stepped forward. When I did that, the woman who was behind me did as well. The woman behind me was now standing about two inches away from me. The guy who was ahead of me was called down to the next teller, I moved forward toward the end of the velvet rope and awaited the next teller. When moved up so did the woman behind me. I looked out of the corner of my eye and the woman was about two inches away from me.
I wanted to ask her, "Do you need to be standing so close to me?" But I didn't. I have noticed especially at church, I observe people because I arrive early, there will be plenty of open pews and people always sit in the same pew or right behind them. Why do they have to sit so close when there are plenty of seats? Are people that afraid to be by themselves?
To speed up the process when I actually got to a teller window, I took my check out of the envelope to detach it from the check stub. When I finished, I put my envelope in my back pocket and that is when a line of people were approaching me. To get away from these people I stepped forward. When I did that, the woman who was behind me did as well. The woman behind me was now standing about two inches away from me. The guy who was ahead of me was called down to the next teller, I moved forward toward the end of the velvet rope and awaited the next teller. When moved up so did the woman behind me. I looked out of the corner of my eye and the woman was about two inches away from me.
I wanted to ask her, "Do you need to be standing so close to me?" But I didn't. I have noticed especially at church, I observe people because I arrive early, there will be plenty of open pews and people always sit in the same pew or right behind them. Why do they have to sit so close when there are plenty of seats? Are people that afraid to be by themselves?
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Scenes from a basketball game
Last night, my assignment was to photograph a high school basketball game. After parking my car along side of the road, something caught my eye over by the gym. On the side of the gym, I saw two male students. It looked like they were talking, so I gathered up my equipment in my car. I looked back over to the students, one was gone and one was still at the side of the gym. The way he was standing, I knew exactly what he was doing. The student turned around and zipped up his pants. He was urinating on the side of the gym. If he really had to go that much he should have walked about 100 feet to his left. That would have led him to the outer door of the boy's locker room where there are toilets inside. Peeing on the side of a building is very classy.
During the JV game, a player from the visiting team grabbed a defensive rebound. All of his teammates and the opponents turned and ran down towards the other basket. Instead of following them, he shot the ball. This boy made a basket for the home team. The players from the home team sitting on the bench started laughing and thanking him for the basket. Shortly after a timeout was called. Anyone could see how embarrassed this kid was. He was standing on the court with his jersey over his head. I guess it is good that the visiting team was beat by 20 points. If they lost by 2 points, that probably would have made him feel worse.
During the JV game, a player from the visiting team grabbed a defensive rebound. All of his teammates and the opponents turned and ran down towards the other basket. Instead of following them, he shot the ball. This boy made a basket for the home team. The players from the home team sitting on the bench started laughing and thanking him for the basket. Shortly after a timeout was called. Anyone could see how embarrassed this kid was. He was standing on the court with his jersey over his head. I guess it is good that the visiting team was beat by 20 points. If they lost by 2 points, that probably would have made him feel worse.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Weekend Update
Over the weekend, my husband and I went to the movies to see The Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd is about the start of the CIA. Matt Damon played the character Edward Wilson and his wife, Clover, is played by Angelina Jolie.
I thought the movie was OK. It started out as with Damon at Yale, then working for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, marrying Clover, having a son, then back to the present time of the 1960s. Throughout the movie, Damon doesn't age. He glasses switch to different frames a couple of times. But he had no graying hair or wrinkles. During the movie, at one point his son is young at a Christmas party. Next time you see the son, he looks about as old as Damon. I'm glad they addressed each other as father and son, because they could have been brothers.
While Damon is married to Jolie, Damon had an affair with a woman he dated in college. Jolie was sent an envelope of photos of Damon and this woman kissing in a cab and her apartment. Jolie gets mad, yells and throws the photos at Damon. I thought it was funny that she of all people got mad about the affair. I know she was playing a character in a movie, but didn't she break up a marriage?
Some people didn't enjoy the movie. Halfway through the movie, a couple sitting in the row ahead of us got up and walked out of the movie. About ten minutes later, a couple in the row behind us did the same. If they would have waited, they would have found out what the photos, video and recording that Damon's character was trying to figure out throughout the whole movie were. I guess some people aren't that patient.
I thought the movie was OK. It started out as with Damon at Yale, then working for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II, marrying Clover, having a son, then back to the present time of the 1960s. Throughout the movie, Damon doesn't age. He glasses switch to different frames a couple of times. But he had no graying hair or wrinkles. During the movie, at one point his son is young at a Christmas party. Next time you see the son, he looks about as old as Damon. I'm glad they addressed each other as father and son, because they could have been brothers.
While Damon is married to Jolie, Damon had an affair with a woman he dated in college. Jolie was sent an envelope of photos of Damon and this woman kissing in a cab and her apartment. Jolie gets mad, yells and throws the photos at Damon. I thought it was funny that she of all people got mad about the affair. I know she was playing a character in a movie, but didn't she break up a marriage?
Some people didn't enjoy the movie. Halfway through the movie, a couple sitting in the row ahead of us got up and walked out of the movie. About ten minutes later, a couple in the row behind us did the same. If they would have waited, they would have found out what the photos, video and recording that Damon's character was trying to figure out throughout the whole movie were. I guess some people aren't that patient.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Books read in 2007
A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Currently Reading: Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Up Next: Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Currently Reading: Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Up Next: Shadow: Five Presidents and the Legacy of Watergate, Bob Woodward
Friday, January 12, 2007
Car wash
I filled up my car with gas after leaving work this morning. I was happy to see that gas was $1.95 a gallon. While inside the gas station, the attendant asked if I wanted to get my car washed today. I said no thank you and walked back out to my car. The skies were very dark and cloudy and there is a chance for more rain during the day. I wonder if she wouldn't have asked me if her boss wasn't standing near her? But I wouldn't have gotten a car wash anyway, tonight the forecast is calling for rain showers then it is turning into a nice snow and rain mixture.
Leaving the gas station it made me remember a time last fall I had my oil changed at a car dealership. When you get an oil change at this dealership, you have the choice of getting a free car wash. I pulled into the garage and gave the guy my keys. He asked if I wanted a free car wash. I said yes. He chuckled at me and told me my car would be done in a half hour. The reason he chuckled at me is because it was raining. Not just sprinkles. It was an all day downpour. He probably thought that was stupid. Who gets their car washed when it is raining out? My reason to get the car wash was because it was free.
Leaving the gas station it made me remember a time last fall I had my oil changed at a car dealership. When you get an oil change at this dealership, you have the choice of getting a free car wash. I pulled into the garage and gave the guy my keys. He asked if I wanted a free car wash. I said yes. He chuckled at me and told me my car would be done in a half hour. The reason he chuckled at me is because it was raining. Not just sprinkles. It was an all day downpour. He probably thought that was stupid. Who gets their car washed when it is raining out? My reason to get the car wash was because it was free.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Random things
While running three miles this afternoon, I developed a sharp stabbing pain in my lower back. If I was actually running outside and not on my treadmill, I know I would have stopped and walked home. That shows how big of a wimp I am. On another note, I'm doing well with my mileage already. Last week I ran 9 miles. Each week I want to try to run 10 miles. To make up for the fact that I ran only 9 miles, I'll run 11 miles this week to put myself at an even 20 miles run for the year on Sunday.
After my run and shower, I went to Maple City Gymnastics in Adrian for the third time in a week and a half to take more photos. I found out that at least the girls, there are three boys who attend the gym, work out three days a week for four hours. Then two days a week for two hours and that is volunteered time. These girls and boys are really dedicated at such a young age (ages 8-13). I have been posting photos over on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery, if you would like to view them.
Lastly, I might be going to Japan this summer for two weeks. It is not set in stone yet. Once I know more, I'll let you know.
After my run and shower, I went to Maple City Gymnastics in Adrian for the third time in a week and a half to take more photos. I found out that at least the girls, there are three boys who attend the gym, work out three days a week for four hours. Then two days a week for two hours and that is volunteered time. These girls and boys are really dedicated at such a young age (ages 8-13). I have been posting photos over on my photo blog, DCO's Photo Gallery, if you would like to view them.
Lastly, I might be going to Japan this summer for two weeks. It is not set in stone yet. Once I know more, I'll let you know.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Books read in 2007
A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Currently Reading: House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Up Next: Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Currently Reading: House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Up Next: Jack: A Life Like No Other, Geoffrey Perret
Monday, January 08, 2007
Weekend Update
My husband Mike and I had a wonderful time Friday evening.
- Before dinner, Mike bought himself a new gray suit at the Men's Warehouse with help from a coupon and a gift certificate. The pants that came with the suit needed to be altered. Usually the pants are left with the tailor to alter at another time, but it was a simple cuff, so the tailor sewed them that evening. While the tailor was altering the cuffs of my husbands pants, we were running late for our dinner reservation. The cuffs took about 10 minutes to sew and we left the store around 6:10 pm.
- Our reservation at Carson's Steakhouse in Sylvania, Ohio was made for 6 pm. We were 15 minutes late. Mike and I shared buttermilk spiced onion rings as an appetizer. It was YUM-O! We both ordered garden salads with our meal. Mike had a Delmonico steak and I had a New York Strip Steak. For dessert we shared a made to order Chocolate souffle. The meal and service was very good. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who loves great food.
- The Phantom of the Opera was great. It was our third time to see the show. About 98% of the people who attended Friday night's show dressed up. A guy a couple of rows ahead of us was wearing his best Budweiser hat. Classy. During Act II when the Phantom and Christine are underground in his layer, the sandman was starting to hit me. At this point I have been awake for 18 hours, that is a long day for me, and it was dark. My eyelids were growing heavy and I could feel my head bobbing. To keep myself awake, I was biting the inside of my mouth. I managed to stay awake for the rest of the show.
The evening was perfect, except for me almost falling asleep. Its nice every once and while to get dressed up, eat a fancy dinner and see a show with your husband on date night.
- Before dinner, Mike bought himself a new gray suit at the Men's Warehouse with help from a coupon and a gift certificate. The pants that came with the suit needed to be altered. Usually the pants are left with the tailor to alter at another time, but it was a simple cuff, so the tailor sewed them that evening. While the tailor was altering the cuffs of my husbands pants, we were running late for our dinner reservation. The cuffs took about 10 minutes to sew and we left the store around 6:10 pm.
- Our reservation at Carson's Steakhouse in Sylvania, Ohio was made for 6 pm. We were 15 minutes late. Mike and I shared buttermilk spiced onion rings as an appetizer. It was YUM-O! We both ordered garden salads with our meal. Mike had a Delmonico steak and I had a New York Strip Steak. For dessert we shared a made to order Chocolate souffle. The meal and service was very good. I recommend this restaurant to everyone who loves great food.
- The Phantom of the Opera was great. It was our third time to see the show. About 98% of the people who attended Friday night's show dressed up. A guy a couple of rows ahead of us was wearing his best Budweiser hat. Classy. During Act II when the Phantom and Christine are underground in his layer, the sandman was starting to hit me. At this point I have been awake for 18 hours, that is a long day for me, and it was dark. My eyelids were growing heavy and I could feel my head bobbing. To keep myself awake, I was biting the inside of my mouth. I managed to stay awake for the rest of the show.
The evening was perfect, except for me almost falling asleep. Its nice every once and while to get dressed up, eat a fancy dinner and see a show with your husband on date night.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Books read in 2007
A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
Currently Reading: All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Up Next: House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
Currently Reading: All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Up Next: House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
The Music of the Night
One of my Christmas presents from my husband Mike was a pair of tickets. The pair of tickets will be used tonight to see The Phantom of the Opera at The Stranahan Theater in Toledo, Ohio.
Mike and I saw The Phantom of the Opera for the first time about three to four years ago at The Stranahan Theater. We both enjoyed the show and wanted to see it again. Last year on Valentine's Day, Mike surprised me with tickets to Phantom at the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit. We stayed overnight at a hotel and had a fabulous dinner at The Rattlesnake.
Before tonight's show, we are going to Carson's Steakhouse in Sylvania, OH. We have gone by this restaurant so many times while down in the Toledo area. I'm excited that we are finally going to eat there. To make sure we are not late for the theater, the reservations were made Thursday evening. The website has the menu online and I already looked at it. I think I will be getting the New York Strip Steak.
Besides, when I don't I get steak at a restaurant?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Make it stop
While at the New Year's Eve party, the TV was on. Some of the guys at the party asked who the person singing on the TV was. It was Fergie. She was on Dick Clark's Rocking Eve or something like that and singing "Fergalicious". I can't get that song out of my head. It has been three days! Please make it stop.
Is adding -licious to the end of words/names a new fad? If that is the case, can I be Delolicious?
Is adding -licious to the end of words/names a new fad? If that is the case, can I be Delolicious?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
I'm a winner
Usually on New Year's Eve, I stay home. Either my husband and I have no where to go or my husband has to work. New Year's Eve 2005, my husband and I stayed home and watched movies. Well, he did. I fell asleep.
New Years Eve 2006, my husband Mike and I attended a party at one of his co-workers house. After eating and a lot of drinking, not by me, I only had three Wild Grape Smirnoff's, a group of us sat down to play Texas Hold 'Em. A few of us sitting at the table didn't know how to play, myself included. We played a practice round, then it was time for the real game.
Sitting at a table of seven, I beat them all. I actually won. The game, which was running long, after an hour and a half was down to two other players and myself. It was about five minutes away from midnight and I said we needed to get this game over with because other people wanted to play. We agreed to go all in and whoever had the best hand won. I don't remember exactly what I had, but I was the winner.
After the ball in Times Square dropped, everyone kissed their spouse, got more food and alcohol and then the second game started. The second game had 10 players, I finished fourth. It was fun because my husband knows how to play and I outlasted him in both games.
So much for the girl who really doesn't know how to play Texas Hold 'Em.
New Years Eve 2006, my husband Mike and I attended a party at one of his co-workers house. After eating and a lot of drinking, not by me, I only had three Wild Grape Smirnoff's, a group of us sat down to play Texas Hold 'Em. A few of us sitting at the table didn't know how to play, myself included. We played a practice round, then it was time for the real game.
Sitting at a table of seven, I beat them all. I actually won. The game, which was running long, after an hour and a half was down to two other players and myself. It was about five minutes away from midnight and I said we needed to get this game over with because other people wanted to play. We agreed to go all in and whoever had the best hand won. I don't remember exactly what I had, but I was the winner.
After the ball in Times Square dropped, everyone kissed their spouse, got more food and alcohol and then the second game started. The second game had 10 players, I finished fourth. It was fun because my husband knows how to play and I outlasted him in both games.
So much for the girl who really doesn't know how to play Texas Hold 'Em.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Books read in 2007
A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Currently Reading: Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
Up Next: All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Currently Reading: Hannibal Rising, Thomas Harris
Up Next: All of the President's Men, Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
First Son, Bill Minutaglio
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Because He Could, Dick Morris
Diana in Search of Herself, Sally Bedell Smith
Final count of books read in 2006: 39
Miles Run in 2006
I ran on the treadmill yesterday for my final run of 2006. I blogged last week about being sick. When I posted, I said I didn't have a cough. Now I do. So during my run, my throat and nose were burning. That makes a run so much more fun! Three miles was all I could handle.
Total miles run for the year:
2004: 318.6
2005: 350.8
2006: 470
Total miles run for the year:
2004: 318.6
2005: 350.8
2006: 470
Friday, December 29, 2006
Cold season
I love this time of the year. Most people are getting sick and spreading germs. The squeezing, nose blowing, coughing, and stuffed nose. I have these symptoms, except for coughing.
At work, I refuse to use tissues at my desk. I don't want to be responsible for getting co-workers sick. When the time comes to blow my nose, it is right into the restroom or my darkroom. Basically anywhere with a sink to wash my hands afterwords. At the end of my shift, I pull a huge can of germ killing spray out of my desk and hose down the keyboard and mouse.
During the day, I'm taking medicine like candy. Please, help me breathe through my nose! After taking the medicine, I find myself with my mouth open. Who doesn't like chapped lips? At bedtime, I take my cold medicine that is supposed to help me sleep through the entire night. It works but it takes a while. In the meantime, I prop my pillows and sleep with my head up. That's comfortable.
Well I have to go. I have to take some candy before getting on my treadmill.
At work, I refuse to use tissues at my desk. I don't want to be responsible for getting co-workers sick. When the time comes to blow my nose, it is right into the restroom or my darkroom. Basically anywhere with a sink to wash my hands afterwords. At the end of my shift, I pull a huge can of germ killing spray out of my desk and hose down the keyboard and mouse.
During the day, I'm taking medicine like candy. Please, help me breathe through my nose! After taking the medicine, I find myself with my mouth open. Who doesn't like chapped lips? At bedtime, I take my cold medicine that is supposed to help me sleep through the entire night. It works but it takes a while. In the meantime, I prop my pillows and sleep with my head up. That's comfortable.
Well I have to go. I have to take some candy before getting on my treadmill.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
So its come to this.... New Year's Resolutions 2007
My New Year's resolutions for 2007 are:
1. Run over 500 miles - This year I will have run around 470 miles (I'll have the final count on New Year's Eve). It would be nice to run 4-5 times a week, instead of the 3 times a week that I'm doing now.
2. Cook - Santa put two Rachael Ray cookbooks in my stocking for Christmas, 365: No Repeats and 2, 4, 6, 8 - Great Meals for Couples or Crowds. I plan on using these books to cook and eat more at home. Rachael's recipes are so easy and most of them can be made in 30-minutes.
3. Shoot photos more - Most of the time I use my camera everyday for work. In the new year I would like to make it a habit to go out once a week and shoot for myself. I photograph plenty of sports, but I would like to add to my own personal series that I have started: cemetery statues, ballet and decaying structures.
1. Run over 500 miles - This year I will have run around 470 miles (I'll have the final count on New Year's Eve). It would be nice to run 4-5 times a week, instead of the 3 times a week that I'm doing now.
2. Cook - Santa put two Rachael Ray cookbooks in my stocking for Christmas, 365: No Repeats and 2, 4, 6, 8 - Great Meals for Couples or Crowds. I plan on using these books to cook and eat more at home. Rachael's recipes are so easy and most of them can be made in 30-minutes.
3. Shoot photos more - Most of the time I use my camera everyday for work. In the new year I would like to make it a habit to go out once a week and shoot for myself. I photograph plenty of sports, but I would like to add to my own personal series that I have started: cemetery statues, ballet and decaying structures.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
This is not the way to start the day
While getting dressed this morning for work at 4:28 am, I was already planning and looking forward to my afternoon nap.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Christmas day
This was the last family photo of the day, Mom, her seven children, their spouses and children. Even though some of us have our eyes closed or looking in another direction, this picture is special because all of the siblings are in the photo. Christmas 2005 is the last time we were all together under the same roof.
Back row (left to right): Diane, Mike (my husband), Deloris, Daniel, Dan's son Carter, David and Mom.
Front Row (left to right): Deanna, Denise, Dennis (Debbie's husband), Debbie and their son Jack.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
First Son, Bill Minutaglio
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Because He Could, Dick Morris
Diana in Search of Herself, Sally Bedell Smith
Currently Reading: A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Up Next:
Friday, December 22, 2006
Creepy
While walking to my car this morning, two guys on the sidewalk passed me. I opened my car door, set my camera and backpack on the front seat and shut the door. I look over and the two guys I passed are now standing in front of my car.
Man #1: "Excuse me ma'am. I know this will sound a little weird, but I just got a DUI and I was wondering if you would drive us to my car at Hotel X. I will pay you ten dollars to drive us there."
Me: "No thank you."
Man #1: "Thank you for your time."
I was taught not to let strangers in my car and these two men were that: strangers.
Man #1: "Excuse me ma'am. I know this will sound a little weird, but I just got a DUI and I was wondering if you would drive us to my car at Hotel X. I will pay you ten dollars to drive us there."
Me: "No thank you."
Man #1: "Thank you for your time."
I was taught not to let strangers in my car and these two men were that: strangers.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Getting ready
Thursday my husband and I are hosting a Christmas dinner at our house. That will be Christmas dinner 1, Christmas dinner 2 and 3 will take place on Christmas.
After returning from the grocery store with the supplies that we needed, I started to get to work. First I made a dessert for everyone to have, marble brownies. I got everything mixed, placed in the 8x8 glass dish and put it in the oven for 35 minutes. While that was baking, I mixed up an cheese spread for an appetizer. I got the ingredients from a co-worker this morning. It was really easy to make and it tasted really good. If you make it, Ritz crackers taste great with it.
What we have left to do tomorrow before the family comes over is mix the salad, stick the ham in the oven, make the mashed potatoes, green beans with portobello mushroom saute and fried ravioli before everyone arrives. It won't be hard to do, just still alot to do.
Cheese Spread
(adjust portions if needed)
5 cream cheese blocks
1 package of beef chips (chopped fine)
1 green onion (chopped fine)
3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
Mix together and place in the refrigerator to chill
After returning from the grocery store with the supplies that we needed, I started to get to work. First I made a dessert for everyone to have, marble brownies. I got everything mixed, placed in the 8x8 glass dish and put it in the oven for 35 minutes. While that was baking, I mixed up an cheese spread for an appetizer. I got the ingredients from a co-worker this morning. It was really easy to make and it tasted really good. If you make it, Ritz crackers taste great with it.
What we have left to do tomorrow before the family comes over is mix the salad, stick the ham in the oven, make the mashed potatoes, green beans with portobello mushroom saute and fried ravioli before everyone arrives. It won't be hard to do, just still alot to do.
Cheese Spread
(adjust portions if needed)
5 cream cheese blocks
1 package of beef chips (chopped fine)
1 green onion (chopped fine)
3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
Mix together and place in the refrigerator to chill
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Freedom!
There is nothing like going to a basketball game and seeing a bunch of Braveheart lookalikes. These guys had the face paint, the kilts and the little sashes. Near the end of the first half one of the guys yelled "FREEDOM!" when it was quiet in the gym. That made me laugh.
They get an A for effort. Nice outfits guys.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Its the most wonderful time of the year
Christmas is almost here.
Last night I put all away of my Christmas card crafts. I don't need my rubber stamps, card stock, ink, rulers, paper and utility knife out on my office desk anymore. I'm done making all of my cards for the year 2006. My husband Mike and I have five, let me say that again, five Christmas cards yet to mail. I'm sorry if you haven't received your card yet. We probably lost your address when our hard drive crashed earlier this year. We didn't recover any addresses from the address book.
While I was trying to sleep, or tossing and turning was more like it, Mike was buying wrapping presents. At this point in time there are five presents wrapped under the tree. What is with five in this post? I think I might gather the presents for my mom, sisters, nephews, in-laws and wrap them before my photo assignment tonight.
The Christmas dinner that my husband and I are hosting is a couple of days away. My sister who lives in Toledo told me she won't be able to make it now. Her boss changed her schedule and now she has to work until close. My brother who lives in Kentucky will be missing as well. But missing two out of six siblings isn't bad. I hope we can all see each other on Christmas day. Besides a couple of missing siblings, my husband and I are slowly getting the supplies we need for the dinner. Mike bought the ham and plenty of green beans last night. The day before the dinner I plan on making brownies for dessert and the day of I will be making a big supply of Fried Ravioli for an appetizer.
Besides worrying about dinner, I have yet to finish my Christmas shopping. I get paid this week, but I have to save money for bills, i.e. car payment, student loan, second of third oral surgery bill, mortgage payment and car insurance. I'm thankful that Mike said I didn't have to get him too much this year. I still feel bad but he will still get three nice gifts, that I will buy probably Saturday morning.
It sucks that life (bills) gets in the way of my Christmas plans.
Last night I put all away of my Christmas card crafts. I don't need my rubber stamps, card stock, ink, rulers, paper and utility knife out on my office desk anymore. I'm done making all of my cards for the year 2006. My husband Mike and I have five, let me say that again, five Christmas cards yet to mail. I'm sorry if you haven't received your card yet. We probably lost your address when our hard drive crashed earlier this year. We didn't recover any addresses from the address book.
While I was trying to sleep, or tossing and turning was more like it, Mike was buying wrapping presents. At this point in time there are five presents wrapped under the tree. What is with five in this post? I think I might gather the presents for my mom, sisters, nephews, in-laws and wrap them before my photo assignment tonight.
The Christmas dinner that my husband and I are hosting is a couple of days away. My sister who lives in Toledo told me she won't be able to make it now. Her boss changed her schedule and now she has to work until close. My brother who lives in Kentucky will be missing as well. But missing two out of six siblings isn't bad. I hope we can all see each other on Christmas day. Besides a couple of missing siblings, my husband and I are slowly getting the supplies we need for the dinner. Mike bought the ham and plenty of green beans last night. The day before the dinner I plan on making brownies for dessert and the day of I will be making a big supply of Fried Ravioli for an appetizer.
Besides worrying about dinner, I have yet to finish my Christmas shopping. I get paid this week, but I have to save money for bills, i.e. car payment, student loan, second of third oral surgery bill, mortgage payment and car insurance. I'm thankful that Mike said I didn't have to get him too much this year. I still feel bad but he will still get three nice gifts, that I will buy probably Saturday morning.
It sucks that life (bills) gets in the way of my Christmas plans.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Winter?
It is December 16 and officially winter hasn't began yet. But right now in Adrian, MI it is sunny and 42 degrees. The high for later today should reach 49 degrees.
Sunday the forecast says it should be 55 degrees. Weather like this makes me like winter even more.
Sunday the forecast says it should be 55 degrees. Weather like this makes me like winter even more.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Finally a topic
At the newspaper I work at the last week of February, we print five special sections called FOCUS. We focus on different county topics like Citizen of the year, arts and education, business, medical, technology and the special photographers section.
The photographers section started two years ago. We were asked by our former editor to divide the county between the four photographers. Each photographer received a couple of cities, villages, and townships and it was our job to focus on them. We each went to our cities and took photos of we thought was for lack of a better terms, neat or cool. After we finished taking all of the pictures, they were edited and laid out in the section. Along with our photos, important people from each of these cities, villages and townships wrote about why they like their city and so on. The section was a success, according to our old editor. People really liked the photos of their towns.
Last year, we, the photographers were asked to do the photo section again but it had to be a different topic then the year before. One photographer choose music, another photographed children and my topic was decaying structures and objects around the Adrian area. I photographed cars a junk yard, abandoned apartments, old office buildings, factories, an old hotel, a school not in use and a train engine waiting to be scrapped. I loved every minute of this assignment. I would actually look forward to going out to shoot with my camera. It took me over a month to get everything that I needed, but it was worth it. When the section was published, I personally thought it was better then our first year. The subject matter was of our own choosing and that made it special to each of us.
This year has been a bit different. We were told that we are putting together another photographers section. The details were the same as last year, shoot whatever you want, but the subject matter had to be different. That was difficult, because everything that I love (i.e. cemetery statues, ballet, decaying), I have already shot for the paper. That frustrated me. I was thinking about what to shoot for two weeks. After talking with my husband, I thought I decided on buildings. While downloading photos after a game last week, I was telling my photographer co-worker my idea. When I told him, he started bringing up better topics then mine. When I left work that evening, my original idea was gone and I had a new one: a day in the life of whatever job I want to photograph. Later that evening I received an email from my co-worker, he suggested a new topic: the church I attend.
The next day at work, I was reading stories by the sports department on my computer. I ended up reading a brief about a local gymnastics club in town that competed in an invitational recently. While reading the brief I knew that this gymnastics club was my new topic. I was so excited. I was excited because I knew that most of my worries were over. I could stop thinking about it and finally start shooting. When I was leaving work later that morning I received a cell phone call from my co-worker. I asked him what he thought of my new topic: gymnastics. He liked it. He said that the owners of the gymnastics club would be willing to let me follow them around and photograph practice.
Before driving to a volleyball game yesterday, I stopped at the gym to talk to the owners. I walked in, introduced myself and told him what I wanted to do. He was very nice and said I could come back in January when the winter schedule starts and take photos. Also, he already gave me directions to one of their invitationals just over the border in Ohio for the last weekend of January.
I can't wait to get working on this assignment.
The photographers section started two years ago. We were asked by our former editor to divide the county between the four photographers. Each photographer received a couple of cities, villages, and townships and it was our job to focus on them. We each went to our cities and took photos of we thought was for lack of a better terms, neat or cool. After we finished taking all of the pictures, they were edited and laid out in the section. Along with our photos, important people from each of these cities, villages and townships wrote about why they like their city and so on. The section was a success, according to our old editor. People really liked the photos of their towns.
Last year, we, the photographers were asked to do the photo section again but it had to be a different topic then the year before. One photographer choose music, another photographed children and my topic was decaying structures and objects around the Adrian area. I photographed cars a junk yard, abandoned apartments, old office buildings, factories, an old hotel, a school not in use and a train engine waiting to be scrapped. I loved every minute of this assignment. I would actually look forward to going out to shoot with my camera. It took me over a month to get everything that I needed, but it was worth it. When the section was published, I personally thought it was better then our first year. The subject matter was of our own choosing and that made it special to each of us.
This year has been a bit different. We were told that we are putting together another photographers section. The details were the same as last year, shoot whatever you want, but the subject matter had to be different. That was difficult, because everything that I love (i.e. cemetery statues, ballet, decaying), I have already shot for the paper. That frustrated me. I was thinking about what to shoot for two weeks. After talking with my husband, I thought I decided on buildings. While downloading photos after a game last week, I was telling my photographer co-worker my idea. When I told him, he started bringing up better topics then mine. When I left work that evening, my original idea was gone and I had a new one: a day in the life of whatever job I want to photograph. Later that evening I received an email from my co-worker, he suggested a new topic: the church I attend.
The next day at work, I was reading stories by the sports department on my computer. I ended up reading a brief about a local gymnastics club in town that competed in an invitational recently. While reading the brief I knew that this gymnastics club was my new topic. I was so excited. I was excited because I knew that most of my worries were over. I could stop thinking about it and finally start shooting. When I was leaving work later that morning I received a cell phone call from my co-worker. I asked him what he thought of my new topic: gymnastics. He liked it. He said that the owners of the gymnastics club would be willing to let me follow them around and photograph practice.
Before driving to a volleyball game yesterday, I stopped at the gym to talk to the owners. I walked in, introduced myself and told him what I wanted to do. He was very nice and said I could come back in January when the winter schedule starts and take photos. Also, he already gave me directions to one of their invitationals just over the border in Ohio for the last weekend of January.
I can't wait to get working on this assignment.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Green bean choices
My husband and I are hosting Christmas with my family December 21. We are going to have ham for the main course. As for a side dish we both agreed, to skip the green bean casserole. We both love green bean casserole, but are kind of sick of it right now after eating it three days in a row due to Thanksgiving. We wanted to try something else instead.
I found a bunch of recipes on Food Network. My husband and I have narrowed the field down to two: Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute and French Cut Green Beans with Almonds and Fried Onions. Both recipes come from the awesome Rachael Ray and her show 30 Minute Meals.
Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
1 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut in half
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped
2 portobello mushroom caps, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry sherry
Simmer green beans in salted boiling water 5 minutes. Drain green beans and return skillet to moderate heat. Add oil and butter to the pan. Add onions and saute 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Saute mushrooms 3 to 5 minutes with onions, add green beans back to the pan. Heat green beans through and add sherry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer green beans and mushrooms to a serving plate.
French Cut Green Beans with Almonds and Fried Onions
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
1 pound fresh green beans or frozen French-cut green beans
Salt 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup slivered almonds (2-ounce package)
1/2 lemon, juiced
Ground black pepper
1 can fried onions
Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a high-sided saute pan. If using fresh beans, cut them lengthwise while you wait for the water to boil.
Add salt and green beans to boiling water and cook until just tender. Drain beans and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the butter. When butter is melted, add the almonds and cook until golden brown.
Return the green beans to the pan, along with the juice of 1/2 a lemon, add salt and pepper, to taste. When warmed through, top with fried onions.
I found a bunch of recipes on Food Network. My husband and I have narrowed the field down to two: Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute and French Cut Green Beans with Almonds and Fried Onions. Both recipes come from the awesome Rachael Ray and her show 30 Minute Meals.
Green Beans and Portobello Mushroom Saute
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
1 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed and cut in half
Coarse salt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped
2 portobello mushroom caps, halved and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry sherry
Simmer green beans in salted boiling water 5 minutes. Drain green beans and return skillet to moderate heat. Add oil and butter to the pan. Add onions and saute 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Saute mushrooms 3 to 5 minutes with onions, add green beans back to the pan. Heat green beans through and add sherry. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer green beans and mushrooms to a serving plate.
French Cut Green Beans with Almonds and Fried Onions
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
1 pound fresh green beans or frozen French-cut green beans
Salt 1 to 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup slivered almonds (2-ounce package)
1/2 lemon, juiced
Ground black pepper
1 can fried onions
Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a high-sided saute pan. If using fresh beans, cut them lengthwise while you wait for the water to boil.
Add salt and green beans to boiling water and cook until just tender. Drain beans and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the butter. When butter is melted, add the almonds and cook until golden brown.
Return the green beans to the pan, along with the juice of 1/2 a lemon, add salt and pepper, to taste. When warmed through, top with fried onions.
Before the big dinner, we'll make samples of both to see which one we like better. Right now, they both sound good enough to eat.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Why?
While getting ready for work Monday morning, I was in the bathroom listening to the radio. A song that was playing made me think, "Why?"
The song that was featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, "She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze has been covered by Lumidee.
The song that was featured in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, "She's Like the Wind" by Patrick Swayze has been covered by Lumidee.
Miles run in 2006
With the 2 miles that I ran yesterday, that brings my 2006 total to 450 miles. I was going to run 5 miles on Sunday, but it just didn't work out. I knew that I could and should run Monday before going to a Christmas party with my husband and eating a lot fatty foods*.
Total miles run up to December 12:
2004: 294.6
2005: 330.8
2006: 450
*At the party, I ate a couple of finger sandwiches, plenty of nacho dip, assorted nuts and cookies. I really need to run again, soon.
Total miles run up to December 12:
2004: 294.6
2005: 330.8
2006: 450
*At the party, I ate a couple of finger sandwiches, plenty of nacho dip, assorted nuts and cookies. I really need to run again, soon.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
First Son, Bill Minutaglio
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Because He Could, Dick Morris
Up Next: A Man of Faith, David Aikman
Sunday, December 10, 2006
The hair scrunchy
"No woman who works at W Magazine and lives on Perry Street would be caught dead at a hip downtown restaurant wearing a scrunchy!"
-Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
While sitting in a high school gym Friday night waiting for the varsity boys basketball game to start, a large family sat in the bleachers next to me. They sat down and looked across the gym and saw people that they knew, got up and walked over to the other bleachers. As they were walking away from me, I noticed that the mom was wearing a scrunchy. When I saw that scrunchy all I could think about was the Sex and the City episode where Carrie criticizes Berger for having his leading lady in his book "Hurricane Pandora," running around New York wearing a hair scrunchy.
Sure the lady was far from New York, W Magazine, Perry Street and a hip downtown restaurant, but it was funny to see someone wearing a scrunchy out in public. I didn't think they were made anymore.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
First Son, Bill Minutaglio
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Up Next: Diana in Search of Herself, Sally Bedell Smith
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Christmas Cards
This afternoon I started making my own Christmas cards. I know I could spend about $10 and buy a box of pre-made cards that are fabulous. But I don't want to. About 5 years ago, I had an assignment for the newspaper to photograph a class of "Learn to make your own Christmas cards." I photographed the entire how to class and saw how easy it was to make them. I was so excited! I went to the store and looked at stamps. I didn't realize how expense the stamps were. The cheapest ones were around $10. That meant I could only buy so many. If you buy stamps, then you need ink. I bought seven different colors of ink. Now I needed cardstock, then envelopes and you get the idea. All I have to say of those first year cards: Terrible. I only gave them to my family. They thought they were cute.
After 5 years of stamping my own Christmas cards, I think I have gotten better. I'm sure I pale in comparison with other people who stamp their own cards and who can actually spend more time on them. It usually takes me about a week or so to make all of them and mail. I hope to mail mine out next week. Or when I actually go buy more stamps at the post office.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Overheard at a game
Last night I covered a season opening boys basketball game. The varsity game was running behind schedule due to the fact that the freshman and the JV games ran long. I dislike triple headers!
When I walked into the gym, I was standing behind a teenage girl who looked about 15 years old holding a baby talking on her cell phone. I passed her and found a seat by the reporter who was there to cover the varsity game. During the rest of the JV game and warm ups for varsity, she was passing around her baby to friends and kept walking back in and out of the gym showing off her kid.
She was walking in front of my seat in the bleachers with a friend when she said this, "I'll tell you what, this Fucker is heavy."
That is a nice thing to say about your baby.
When I walked into the gym, I was standing behind a teenage girl who looked about 15 years old holding a baby talking on her cell phone. I passed her and found a seat by the reporter who was there to cover the varsity game. During the rest of the JV game and warm ups for varsity, she was passing around her baby to friends and kept walking back in and out of the gym showing off her kid.
She was walking in front of my seat in the bleachers with a friend when she said this, "I'll tell you what, this Fucker is heavy."
That is a nice thing to say about your baby.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Overnight calls
My dog Blitzkrieg has been on medication for his ear problems for 5 days now. Since he has been on the medication he has been drinking more water. More water = more potty breaks.When I get ready for bed in the evening, the dogs are let outside to do their business. After 5 or 10 minutes I let them back in the house. I have been doing that same routine every night for 3 years.
This week and the past week has been different. Blitzkrieg has been barking at various times during the night; midnight, 2 am and 3 am. Sometime last week, he barked at midnight and 3 am. Last night, actually this morning, he was barking at 2 am. I got up to let Kelly and him out. They went outside and did what they needed to do and played in the fresh snow in the backyard, we got about an inch of snow. They were chasing each other around the yard, but I needed them back in the house so I could go back to bed. Once I was back in bed, I couldn't get to sleep. I kept tossing and turning and checking the clock. I couldn't sleep and I didn't want to lay in bed anymore, I decided to get up just before 4 am and get ready for work.
Hopefully with Blitzkrieg's medication cut in half, I hope his overnight barking will stop. I don't know how many more nights I can go with only 4 or 5 hours of sleep.
*To make up for the fact that I got 5 hours of sleep last night, I took a wonderful two hour nap this afternoon.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Weekend Update
This past weekend was filled with activity:Friday night my husband and I stayed at home and put up and decorated our Christmas tree. Actually he did most of the work. I was too busy taking pictures then helping. I put some ornaments on the tree.
Saturday morning I traveled to Ann Arbor to meet my photo friend Stacy. We decided to photograph at cemetery. While there, we photographed a mausoleum, Christmas ornaments in a tree, statues, headstones and a burial plot. I was all about the burial plot then Stacy suddenly says that she is done and sits back in her Jeep. I finish taking photos and then she said a guy was in the sitting in the truck that dug the burial plot. I looked over at him and he was looking at us. We left the scene in a hurry. After the cemetery we went to a park and shot photos of a wood fence and cabin-like building. After that we ended our day with some good photos and agreed to try to meet again before she moves.
Saturday night after church, my husband and I went to the Toledo Zoo to see the Lights before Christmas. It was 10 years ago that my husband took me to the zoo on our second date to see the lights. We try to go see the lights every year. Besides seeing the beautiful lights, it was very cold. I'm glad I took my scarf with me. I used it to cover my face from the brisk wind. After seeing the lights we had dinner at Olive Garden. YUM-O!
Sunday morning I got up early to start the housework. I cleaned the kitchen, the bathrooms, swept the carpet and started the laundry. I wanted to get most of that done before heading up to DeWitt to photograph a friend's son 1st birthday party. The party was fun. Andrew received a ton of gifts and I took a bunch of very cute photos. I know my friend Kathy will love them when she sees them. The day ended with the birthday boy getting birthday cake and frosting all over his face, hands and high chair.It was a busy weekend. Now I'm in the middle of processing my photos from my Ann Arbor trip with Stacy and Andrew's birthday party. All I need now is to find time to finish making my Christmas cards.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Silly girls
My photo assignment for today was to take head shots of a local school's winter varsity sports teams. The portrait photographer that was shooting the individual and team shots set his backdrop and lighting equipment up in the school's auditorium. When he photographed the team photo, he took the players down to the gym. My job started when the players finished their individual photo with the portrait photographer, the next stop is over to me. I have them write their names on a piece of paper, two players stand side-by-side and I take the head shot for the newspaper. Exciting huh?
While the portrait photographer took the cheer team down to the gym to take their team photo, I stayed behind in the auditorium to read a book. I was sitting in the front row of the auditorium reading my book when I thought I was all alone. Out of nowhere I hear a teenage girl say, "I'm watching you, " and make some oohing sounds at me. After she did that her and her little friend thought it was so funny and started laughing. She continued to say that she was watching me and made some noises. Finally I said, "You're hilarious," and kept on reading my book. I never turned around to see if the girls were still standing there or not. I just figured ignore them and they will go away.
While the portrait photographer took the cheer team down to the gym to take their team photo, I stayed behind in the auditorium to read a book. I was sitting in the front row of the auditorium reading my book when I thought I was all alone. Out of nowhere I hear a teenage girl say, "I'm watching you, " and make some oohing sounds at me. After she did that her and her little friend thought it was so funny and started laughing. She continued to say that she was watching me and made some noises. Finally I said, "You're hilarious," and kept on reading my book. I never turned around to see if the girls were still standing there or not. I just figured ignore them and they will go away.
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
First Son, Bill Minutaglio
Currently Reading: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Up Next: Because He Could, Dick Morris
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Blitzkrieg and dinner
Tuesday evening, my husband and I loaded our two German Shepherd, Blitzkrieg and Kelly up in his car to go to the vet. Blitzkrieg needed to go to the vet because of problems with his ears. The vet told my husband that Blitz broke some blood vessels and developed a blood blister in his ear due to all of the scratching. Blitz was given medicine and ear drops. Since being on his medication he hasn't scratched his ears and they are not as red as they were before.
After the vet, my husband and I got dressed up for an awards dinner at a local college. We got to the venue and my husband found his name tag and seating assignment. I didn't have a name tag. We found our table and my husband started to mingle.
He mentioned to me that there was cheese being served as an appetizer. I'm a cheese lover, so I darted over to the table. I saw some people standing near the table, I thought they were just talking. I grabbed a plate then looked over at the huge line waiting for appetizers. I took myself and my plate to the back of the line. My husband joined me in the line and we finally got to the cheese. I was very hungry, I ate my 12 or so cubes of cheese quickly. It was around this time, everyone was told to have a seat because the ceremony was about to being. At our table was Adrian mayor, his wife, two other commissioners and their guests.
Placed at every one's seat was a salad. After the invocation, we passed around the dressing and ate. I was the first one to finish the salad. While everyone was eating salad, each table was being let go one at a time. The college served some sort of veggie mix, mashed potatoes and gravy, beef and chicken. While in line, I wanted two servings of beef. I asked my husband if I should take two or not. He said I could. I had the tongs in my hand and layed them down instead. I didn't want to look like a hog. Instead of the second slice of beef, I took a piece of chicken. The veggie mix was OK, the mashed potatoes were good, the beef was very yummy and I didn't finish my chicken. I'm not a chicken fan.
After dinner, we all had a piece of apple pie at our tables. I'm not a fan of apple pie so I really didn't want it. But it was on the table, so I tried it. I took one bite and that was enough. My husband just shook his head at me and said that I could eat the caramel that was on top of the apple pie. I did just that. I eat the caramel and the crust. The rest of my pie was left on my plate.
When everyone was done eating, it was time for the award portion of the night. It started a little before 8 pm, and by 8:30 pm I couldn't stop yawning. I felt bad because I was there to listen to this people say what a great person this guy is, but it was near my bed time and all I thought about was going to sleep. There was five speakers before the man who won the award finally came up to except and speak. When the award winner said he didn't know what to say and that he didn't have much to say that made me feel better. But with all of the talking the event didn't get over until 9:30 pm. BOO! I didn't get asleep until 10:30 pm. That is disappointing to someone who gets up at 4 am everyday.
After the vet, my husband and I got dressed up for an awards dinner at a local college. We got to the venue and my husband found his name tag and seating assignment. I didn't have a name tag. We found our table and my husband started to mingle.
He mentioned to me that there was cheese being served as an appetizer. I'm a cheese lover, so I darted over to the table. I saw some people standing near the table, I thought they were just talking. I grabbed a plate then looked over at the huge line waiting for appetizers. I took myself and my plate to the back of the line. My husband joined me in the line and we finally got to the cheese. I was very hungry, I ate my 12 or so cubes of cheese quickly. It was around this time, everyone was told to have a seat because the ceremony was about to being. At our table was Adrian mayor, his wife, two other commissioners and their guests.
Placed at every one's seat was a salad. After the invocation, we passed around the dressing and ate. I was the first one to finish the salad. While everyone was eating salad, each table was being let go one at a time. The college served some sort of veggie mix, mashed potatoes and gravy, beef and chicken. While in line, I wanted two servings of beef. I asked my husband if I should take two or not. He said I could. I had the tongs in my hand and layed them down instead. I didn't want to look like a hog. Instead of the second slice of beef, I took a piece of chicken. The veggie mix was OK, the mashed potatoes were good, the beef was very yummy and I didn't finish my chicken. I'm not a chicken fan.
After dinner, we all had a piece of apple pie at our tables. I'm not a fan of apple pie so I really didn't want it. But it was on the table, so I tried it. I took one bite and that was enough. My husband just shook his head at me and said that I could eat the caramel that was on top of the apple pie. I did just that. I eat the caramel and the crust. The rest of my pie was left on my plate.
When everyone was done eating, it was time for the award portion of the night. It started a little before 8 pm, and by 8:30 pm I couldn't stop yawning. I felt bad because I was there to listen to this people say what a great person this guy is, but it was near my bed time and all I thought about was going to sleep. There was five speakers before the man who won the award finally came up to except and speak. When the award winner said he didn't know what to say and that he didn't have much to say that made me feel better. But with all of the talking the event didn't get over until 9:30 pm. BOO! I didn't get asleep until 10:30 pm. That is disappointing to someone who gets up at 4 am everyday.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Blitzkrieg
This morning I called the vet to make an appointment for my dog, Blitzkrieg.For a while now, he has been using his foot to scratch both of his ears. Lately, they both have been very red and irritated. Last night while eating dinner, I noticed Blitz's right ear. Inside of his ear is a huge growth or bump. My husband said he didn't notice that when he cleaned Blitz's ears a couple of days ago. Blitz usually gets his ears cleaned by my husband once or twice a week. After he cleans them, Blitz doesn't scratch them so much.
So later this afternoon Blitz will be going to his appointment at the vet's office. We hope that it is something that medicine can take care of.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Miles Run in 2006
Sunday evening I ran 5 miles on my treadmill. I ran 5 miles to make up for the fact that I only ran twice last week. Chalk that up to being lazy and eating three Thanksgiving dinners. I was planning to run again today but I was busy editing photos and burning Cd's for my business. I plan on running Tuesday before going to an awards dinner with my City Commissioner husband.
Total miles run up to November 27:
2004: 274.6
2005: 318.8
2006: 435
Total miles run up to November 27:
2004: 274.6
2005: 318.8
2006: 435
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
Currently Reading: First Son, Bill Minutaglio
Up Next: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
Currently Reading: First Son, Bill Minutaglio
Up Next: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving
This year, Thanksgiving keeps going and going.
On Thanksgiving, my side to the family came over to my house. We had so many appetizers and desserts! My sister Denise brought a vegetable tray and cupcakes. My sister Deanna brought spinach dip and bread. Mike and I had cheese and crackers and I made Fried Ravioli. YUM-O! After getting stuffed on the appetizers, it was time for dinner. We had salad, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, beets, steamed vegetables and biscuits.
Once dinner was through, Mike, my sisters Debbie, Diane, Deanna and me washed and dried dishes. After completing the dishes, we all gathered in the living room to watch TV. I got out the Uno cards and we played a quick game. Dinner settled in our stomachs. It was time for dessert. We had cake, pumpkin pie and jello. It was a very filling day. After the family left, Mike and I skipped dinner and just had a snack.
Today was Thanksgiving Number 2 at Mike's parents house. And finally on Saturday, Thanksgiving will come to an end at Mike's uncles house. After tomorrow, I know I won't be eating turkey for a long time.
Fried Ravioli
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Italian Street Food
Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping
Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining ravioli.
When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.
Sprinkle the fried ravioli with Parmesan and serve with a bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
On Thanksgiving, my side to the family came over to my house. We had so many appetizers and desserts! My sister Denise brought a vegetable tray and cupcakes. My sister Deanna brought spinach dip and bread. Mike and I had cheese and crackers and I made Fried Ravioli. YUM-O! After getting stuffed on the appetizers, it was time for dinner. We had salad, turkey, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, beets, steamed vegetables and biscuits.
Once dinner was through, Mike, my sisters Debbie, Diane, Deanna and me washed and dried dishes. After completing the dishes, we all gathered in the living room to watch TV. I got out the Uno cards and we played a quick game. Dinner settled in our stomachs. It was time for dessert. We had cake, pumpkin pie and jello. It was a very filling day. After the family left, Mike and I skipped dinner and just had a snack.
Today was Thanksgiving Number 2 at Mike's parents house. And finally on Saturday, Thanksgiving will come to an end at Mike's uncles house. After tomorrow, I know I won't be eating turkey for a long time.
Fried Ravioli
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Italian Street Food
Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping
Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining ravioli.
When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.
Sprinkle the fried ravioli with Parmesan and serve with a bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
How annoying
This morning while editing senior pictures I took Wednesday afternoon, I heard a car horn honking on the street in front of my house. It stopped after a couple of honks. About five minutes later there was more honking. Obviously the person that they wanted still hasn't come out of their house/apartment.
Fast forward to an hour later, the people were still sitting in their car on the street honking their horn.
After 5 or 10 minutes, wouldn't you get out of the car to see what the hold up is?
Fast forward to an hour later, the people were still sitting in their car on the street honking their horn.
After 5 or 10 minutes, wouldn't you get out of the car to see what the hold up is?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Kramer....... why?
This morning I heard about Michael Richards using racial slurs at The Laugh Factory in West Hollywood Friday night. Later this morning I watched the video on the internet. I couldn't believe that the man who was once the lovable Kramer kept going on and on.Monday night he apologized on David Letterman while his buddy Jerry Seinfeld was a guest.
On a side note: Today Seinfeld Season 7 is released on DVD.
Photo Credit: Associated Press
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
Currently Reading: No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
Up Next: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
Currently Reading: No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
Up Next: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
Monday, November 20, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
Currently Reading: The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
Up Next: No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
On Hold: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
I have The Kite Runner on hold. The library computer says it is in the building, but no one could find it. When it turns up, they will call me.
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
The Day Diana Died, Christopher Andersen
Currently Reading: The Perfect Wife, Ann Gerhardt
Up Next: No Lifeguard on Duty, Janice Dickinson
On Hold: The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
I have The Kite Runner on hold. The library computer says it is in the building, but no one could find it. When it turns up, they will call me.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Sad day for Michigan football
Bo Schembechler, Univeristy of Michigan's legendary football coach died at the age of 77 Friday after collapsing during the taping of a TV show.Bo died on the eve of the biggest game in Big Ten history, 2 Michigan vs 1 Ohio State will be played Saturday, November 18, 2006 at the Horseshoe in Columbus, Ohio.
Photo Credit: Associated Press
I've been tagged
I have been tagged by Krista.
Five things I want to do, someday, in no order of importance.
Here goes:
1. Visit Italy. During my senior year of college, I had the chance to go to Italy but passed. The Art Department was taking a two week trip to Italy to study and sightsee. I could have taken out another student loan to pay for the trip, but I didn't feel like jacking up my loans even more. I hope to get there with my husband for our 10 year wedding anniversary (which is 5 years away).
2. Run a half marathon. Detroit recently had its annual half marathon/marathon. Some of my co-workers asked why I didn't run it. Next year, I would love to actually train for the half marathon and run it in October.
3. Have my own gallery show. My senior year in college I shared the gallery with three other people for our BA show. Many people told me I could have filled the gallery with a beautiful show. Now I know they were correct. Since then I have participated in some local shows with only a couple of pieces in each. Hopefully, I'll get asked to hang an entire show someday.
4. Go to a football game at The Big House in Ann Arbor. I have been a University of Michigan football fan for as long as I can remember. I have driven by Michigan's stadium plenty of times, but have never actually been there. It would be an awesome to sit in the stands and hear in person "The Victors". Go Blue!
5. White House Photographer. Photographing the President of the United States at events wouldn't be too shabby. Traveling all over the world, flying on Air Force One. Awesome.
Five things I want to do, someday, in no order of importance.
Here goes:
1. Visit Italy. During my senior year of college, I had the chance to go to Italy but passed. The Art Department was taking a two week trip to Italy to study and sightsee. I could have taken out another student loan to pay for the trip, but I didn't feel like jacking up my loans even more. I hope to get there with my husband for our 10 year wedding anniversary (which is 5 years away).
2. Run a half marathon. Detroit recently had its annual half marathon/marathon. Some of my co-workers asked why I didn't run it. Next year, I would love to actually train for the half marathon and run it in October.
3. Have my own gallery show. My senior year in college I shared the gallery with three other people for our BA show. Many people told me I could have filled the gallery with a beautiful show. Now I know they were correct. Since then I have participated in some local shows with only a couple of pieces in each. Hopefully, I'll get asked to hang an entire show someday.
4. Go to a football game at The Big House in Ann Arbor. I have been a University of Michigan football fan for as long as I can remember. I have driven by Michigan's stadium plenty of times, but have never actually been there. It would be an awesome to sit in the stands and hear in person "The Victors". Go Blue!
5. White House Photographer. Photographing the President of the United States at events wouldn't be too shabby. Traveling all over the world, flying on Air Force One. Awesome.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
Currently Reading:
Up Next:
I will be going to the library Friday morning. I hope to come home with some books to read.
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
Currently Reading:
Up Next:
I will be going to the library Friday morning. I hope to come home with some books to read.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Is it that time already?
It's only November 14, 2006 and my husband and I have been invited to a New Year's Eve Party. We've been told to bring an appetizer. I was thinking Fried Ravioli or Mac and Cheese Skewers. YUM-O!
Fried Ravioli
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Italian Street Food
Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping
Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining ravioli.
When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.
Sprinkle the fried ravioli with Parmesan and serve with a bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Mac and Cheese Skewers
Recipe courtesy Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh
Show: Party Line with the Hearty Boys
Episode: Grown-Up's Halloween
Salt, for pasta water
1/3 pound rigatoni (about 40 pieces)
4 ounces easy melting American Cheese (recommended: Velveeta)
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan 2
tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 eggs, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water, for egg wash
2 cups vegetable oil 20 cherry tomatoes, halved
Special equipment: frilly toothpicks
Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and salt the water liberally. Add the rigatoni and cook 9 to 11 minutes, until al dente. Drain, rinse well under cold water and set aside.
Cut the block of cheese into 1/2-inch slices and cut each slice into 4 equal pieces lengthwise. Cut each piece in half. You should have 40 pieces. Slide 1 piece of the cheese into each rigatoni (the size should be near perfect.)
Pour the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and parsley into a small bowl and mix well. Working in small batches, put the stuffed rigatoni into the egg wash first, then roll in the bread crumb mixture. Place in a sealable container (they can be stacked on top of each other). Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
Pour the vegetable oil into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat for 5 minutes. Test by dropping a cube of bread into the oil; if it turns golden within 1 minute the oil is ready.
Working in batches of 6 to 8 and using a slotted spoon, carefully drop the rigatoni into the oil.
Fry for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the bread crumbs are a golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all of the rigatoni have been fried. Keep warm in the preheated oven.
To serve, skewer 1 piece of the mac and cheese and a cherry tomato half with a frilly toothpick. Serve while still warm.
Fried Ravioli
Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Italian Street Food
Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping
Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining ravioli.
When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.
Sprinkle the fried ravioli with Parmesan and serve with a bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.
Mac and Cheese Skewers
Recipe courtesy Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh
Show: Party Line with the Hearty Boys
Episode: Grown-Up's Halloween
Salt, for pasta water
1/3 pound rigatoni (about 40 pieces)
4 ounces easy melting American Cheese (recommended: Velveeta)
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan 2
tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 eggs, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water, for egg wash
2 cups vegetable oil 20 cherry tomatoes, halved
Special equipment: frilly toothpicks
Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and salt the water liberally. Add the rigatoni and cook 9 to 11 minutes, until al dente. Drain, rinse well under cold water and set aside.
Cut the block of cheese into 1/2-inch slices and cut each slice into 4 equal pieces lengthwise. Cut each piece in half. You should have 40 pieces. Slide 1 piece of the cheese into each rigatoni (the size should be near perfect.)
Pour the bread crumbs, Parmesan, and parsley into a small bowl and mix well. Working in small batches, put the stuffed rigatoni into the egg wash first, then roll in the bread crumb mixture. Place in a sealable container (they can be stacked on top of each other). Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
Pour the vegetable oil into a medium saucepan and place over medium heat for 5 minutes. Test by dropping a cube of bread into the oil; if it turns golden within 1 minute the oil is ready.
Working in batches of 6 to 8 and using a slotted spoon, carefully drop the rigatoni into the oil.
Fry for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, until the bread crumbs are a golden brown. Remove to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all of the rigatoni have been fried. Keep warm in the preheated oven.
To serve, skewer 1 piece of the mac and cheese and a cherry tomato half with a frilly toothpick. Serve while still warm.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Double vision
I had my yearly eye exam today.
I was hoping to come home with my new contacts. My eye doctor wanted me to get contacts that I throw away every two months. They sounded nice. She then told me the price. Umm Pass. Too expensive.
I was asked to get an eye exam with a new machine. I declined. It was an extra $29. I kept telling the doctor, "Whatever is cheaper." I'll always say that because I don't have vision insurance. GRRRRR!!!!
At the end of the exam, I was told by the certified optical dispenser to have a seat while she got my contacts. She came back with one, the right contact. Usually they have my contacts on hand. She told me that I could take the right one now or wait to pick them up. I decided to pick them up when they come in sometime next week. BOO!
Standing at the counter, the office assistant worked on my bill. She said, "that will be $201.40." I swear it didn't cost that much last year. Disappointed, I handed over my debit card and said goodbye to my money.
Two hundred one dollars for an eye exam and contacts. I'm sure glad that I didn't get that fancy eye exam and the expensive disposable contacts. If I did, my bill would have been $90-100 more and my debit card would have been declined.
I was hoping to come home with my new contacts. My eye doctor wanted me to get contacts that I throw away every two months. They sounded nice. She then told me the price. Umm Pass. Too expensive.
I was asked to get an eye exam with a new machine. I declined. It was an extra $29. I kept telling the doctor, "Whatever is cheaper." I'll always say that because I don't have vision insurance. GRRRRR!!!!
At the end of the exam, I was told by the certified optical dispenser to have a seat while she got my contacts. She came back with one, the right contact. Usually they have my contacts on hand. She told me that I could take the right one now or wait to pick them up. I decided to pick them up when they come in sometime next week. BOO!
Standing at the counter, the office assistant worked on my bill. She said, "that will be $201.40." I swear it didn't cost that much last year. Disappointed, I handed over my debit card and said goodbye to my money.
Two hundred one dollars for an eye exam and contacts. I'm sure glad that I didn't get that fancy eye exam and the expensive disposable contacts. If I did, my bill would have been $90-100 more and my debit card would have been declined.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Currently Reading: Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
Up Next:
On Hold: Elizabeth, Sarah Bradford
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Currently Reading: Miss America, 1945: Bess Myerson and the Year that Changed Our Lives, Susan Dworkin
Up Next:
On Hold: Elizabeth, Sarah Bradford
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Election Day
I have never been so glad for it to be Election Day.This is the day that the ads on the TV and radio will stop. I'm very happy, because I'm sick of seeing them. This is the day that the ads will stop appearing in my mailbox. The ads were sent to me in my married name, my husband's name, my maiden name, our family name and RESIDENT. At our house we averaged 4 or 5 pamphlets/flyers a week. Sending me those pamphlets won't sway my vote. I already knew who I was voting for. Basically, politicians, you're throwing your money away. I only looked at the pictures and then threw them in the trash or the shredder.
This morning while putting out going mail in the mailbox, a political pamphlet was sitting on the end of my front porch. I thought that was a dumb place to leave it. It was raining and it was getting soaked on the top step of my porch. Wouldn't it have been better to leave it in the door? Oh well, it went right into the trash.
Tomorrow is a new day. A day without political ads on my TV, in my mailbox or on my porch. I'm Deloris and I approve this message.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Souper Run 10K
Sunday, I was one of 400 runners to participate in the 6th Annual Souper Run held in Adrian, MI. The Souper Run raises money for The Daily Bread, Lenawee County's Soup Kitchen. As I did last year, I decided to run the 10K again this year.
It was a cool morning, but not too cold. I ran in shorts, one heat gear long sleeve shirt, another long sleeve running shirt, a hat and sunglasses. The first mile went well. During the second mile, I developed stomach cramps. I really wanted to stop and walk, but I didn't. I slowed up my pace until the stomach cramps went away. By that time, most of the 10K runners were too far ahead of me to catch them, except for one guy.
Around 4 miles, I was really getting warm. I rolled up the sleeves to my both of my long sleeve shirts. That helped cool down my arms. It felt like they were on fire. At this point I knew that the hardest part of the run was still to come. But before heading down into Island Park, around 4.5 miles a worker was on the side of the road. I was running by her and said encouraging things to help me keep going. At that point in time, I really don't listen to what people are saying, I just want to finish the race so I can walk. But she said, "good job you're almost done. When you finish you can get some hot soup!" When she said that I just wanted to puke. I didn't want any hot soup because it sounded nasty at the time.
I made my turn to head down to Island Park. Running downhill was alright. I finally get downhill and I see a water stand. Usually I never drink water while I'm running, but I held out my hand for a glass. I bent the cup and took a drink. I think most of it ended up on me, but it was good. The guy who was in front of me, stopped to drink his water. When he did that, I thought I had a chance to catch him. I was about 30 yards away from him running through Island Park. But he got away from me on the hill. By the time I had to run back up the huge hill at Island Park, I had nothing left. I ran up the hill, but it felt like I was walking. When I reached the top of the hill, my legs were so tired. But I kept going. Finally, I made my last turn to the finish. Most of the time, I sprint to the finish. I couldn't even do that. I was very tired. I finished my 10K in 1:13.15.
I didn't run as fast as last year's 10K, but my goal was just to finish. But finishing is my goal for every race that I run. After running a disappointing time I was happy when I received a medal, I was third in my age group, 25-29.
It was a cool morning, but not too cold. I ran in shorts, one heat gear long sleeve shirt, another long sleeve running shirt, a hat and sunglasses. The first mile went well. During the second mile, I developed stomach cramps. I really wanted to stop and walk, but I didn't. I slowed up my pace until the stomach cramps went away. By that time, most of the 10K runners were too far ahead of me to catch them, except for one guy.
Around 4 miles, I was really getting warm. I rolled up the sleeves to my both of my long sleeve shirts. That helped cool down my arms. It felt like they were on fire. At this point I knew that the hardest part of the run was still to come. But before heading down into Island Park, around 4.5 miles a worker was on the side of the road. I was running by her and said encouraging things to help me keep going. At that point in time, I really don't listen to what people are saying, I just want to finish the race so I can walk. But she said, "good job you're almost done. When you finish you can get some hot soup!" When she said that I just wanted to puke. I didn't want any hot soup because it sounded nasty at the time.
I made my turn to head down to Island Park. Running downhill was alright. I finally get downhill and I see a water stand. Usually I never drink water while I'm running, but I held out my hand for a glass. I bent the cup and took a drink. I think most of it ended up on me, but it was good. The guy who was in front of me, stopped to drink his water. When he did that, I thought I had a chance to catch him. I was about 30 yards away from him running through Island Park. But he got away from me on the hill. By the time I had to run back up the huge hill at Island Park, I had nothing left. I ran up the hill, but it felt like I was walking. When I reached the top of the hill, my legs were so tired. But I kept going. Finally, I made my last turn to the finish. Most of the time, I sprint to the finish. I couldn't even do that. I was very tired. I finished my 10K in 1:13.15.
I didn't run as fast as last year's 10K, but my goal was just to finish. But finishing is my goal for every race that I run. After running a disappointing time I was happy when I received a medal, I was third in my age group, 25-29.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Books read in 2006
The Constant Gardener, John Le Carre
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Currently Reading: Elizabeth, Sarah Bradford
Up Next: Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
The American Way of Death Revisited, Jessica Mitford
Shopgirl, Steve Martin
The City of Falling Angels, John Berendt
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, John Berendt
Portrait of Myself, Margaret Bourke-White
The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe, Donald H. Wolfe
Marilyn: The Last Take, Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barham
The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe, Sarah Churchwell
Cary Grant: The Lonely Heart, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley
Shutterbabe, Deborah Copaken Kogan
The Hidden Hitler, Lothar Machtan
Auschwitz: A New History, Laurence Rees
Jack The Ripper: The Complete Casebook, Donald Rumbelow
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
Turning the Tables: Restaurants from the Inside Out, Steven A. Shaw
Lincoln's Melancholy, Joshua Wolf Shenk
The Dark Side of Camelot, Seymour M. Hersh
Sinatra: The Life, Anthony Summers and Robbyn Swan
The Third Reich in Power, Richard J. Evans
Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, J. Randy Taraborrelli
Bowerman and the Men of Oregon, Kenny Moore
Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and Six Intimate Friends, Judy Balaban Quine
Grace and Power, Sally Bedell Smith
Grace, Robert Lacey
There She is, Miss America, edited by Elwood Watson and Darcy Martin
Sex Wars, Marge Piercy
My Dark Places, James Ellroy
Hitler: Memoirs of a Confidant, edited by Henry Ashby Turner, Jr.
L.A. Confidential, James Ellroy
Currently Reading: Elizabeth, Sarah Bradford
Up Next: Straight Up and Dirty, Stephanie Klein
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
It's 3 am......
Daylight Savings Time ended October 29, 2006. When it ended my body alarm clock didn't turn itself an hour back.When my husband came home from work around 6 am Sunday morning. I was awake. On weekends, I usually get up at or around 7 am. I really wanted to try to go back to sleep, but that wasn't happening. I couldn't lay in bed anymore. I went downstairs, let the dogs out, skimmed the newspaper and started housework. Sunday afternoons, I try to take a nap during the NASCAR race or football game. But I had no luck. I was so busy attending to my dirty pants and folding the three loads of laundry. Later I ran six miles on the treadmill, finished watching the race, took a shower and decided to go to bed at 8 pm.
Monday morning I woke up and looked at my alarm clock. It read 3 am. I was awake an hour before my alarm is supposed to go off. I tried to go back to sleep, but I kept looking at the clock every 15 minutes. Finally at 3:45 am, I couldn't stand it anymore. I got up, got ready and went to work at 4:20 am.
Tuesday and Wednesday morning were a repeat of Monday morning. I woke up at 3 am three days in a row! How depressing.
Will Thursday and Friday morning be the same? I hope not, but it is 7:27 pm and I'm getting tired. Will I make it through my TV show that is a hour long at 8 pm?
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