docoflove1974

My mom bought the latest tome from Jamie Oliver (Cook with Jamie)...at which point my dad asked why, when she has a small library of cookbooks. So she gave it to me...why not? I mean, I truly applaud Jamie's efforts to get people off crappy junk and back to the stuff that works best. I also laud him with praise for trying to make people's lives better with cooking instruction. But the book is a bit think, and not one I need. I wish I had said 'no thanks' and then she would have sold it. As for the Gordon...I tend to emulate him most every day, in one form or another. Is that a good thing?

Ever my protector, I thank you for mildly crushing my fancies now before I vacate in search of manly-smelling men with funny-shaped balloons.

Or do what others have done...copy it from an existing source (and cite the source)! (Note, Caesar, that most of my 'poetry' is not very good, doesn't rhyme well, and definitely is out of meter.) So, my current entry...it's the response to a happening in Ovid. Who am I?: Iris came a'callin' a'knockin' on Dad's door splendid in her colors, messenger at her core. A note she brings from Juno Visions we are to send, Poor Alcyone, she will know of her Ceyx and his end. I take the shape of him All pale and broken down As she wept, on a whim Off I skip out of town!

Hmmm...I'll have to think about this one...and I'm kinda busy right now. I'll come back tonight and work on it, or perhaps tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, if someone else has one they're dying to get off their chests, so be it!

LOL I forgot about Frasier...how could I? And, yes, I love that NYC episode...one of the classics. In no particular order, my favorite AbFab episodes include: --French chateau --Eddie has an ingrown toenail and *must* go to the hospital...Patsy goes in because she's in need of plastic surgery before her photo shoot with Hello! (or some such mag) --Patsy has to go on morning TV (and oh hell yes Dawn French nails the morning TV host role) for a fashion bit --Saffie has a DNA show...or does she? --Eddie turns 40 (50-therapy anyone?) And a whole host of others...hmmmm...what's on tv now...

Quite honestly, there were two spot-on sitcoms of the 90s which turned the excesses and pretentiousness of the 80s on their ears. One was Seinfeld, the other was Absolutely Fabulous. And I love them both. Admittedly, I love AbFab, and will continue to watch it on BBC America or Comedy Central whenever it's on. There are various stand-out episodes which seems to rise above the other exemplary episodes of the series. But the one which seems to come on right before my family gets together is when Eddie and Pats go off to France to 'get away from everything'...of course, neither one really looks at a map, neither one speaks French, and Saffie (and Bubble, natch) have to come in and save the day. Perhaps the most hilarious part is when [ur]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r_JnGUexsw]Eddie and Pats go wine tasting at the chateau[/url]. Not only is the scene typical of Edina Monsoon and Patricia Stone, it's just damned funny. My family and I have a history with wine, a good one. Mom comes from a long line of bartenders; Dad sold wine (and eventually spirits) for a couple of major distributors. I've imbibed from the fruit of the vine since a babe. Every time we get together the wine flows. Ok, this time the episode didn't air before Thanksgiving, and I had to look it up on YouTube. On the other hand, my friend and I are about to go wine tasting here in town at an enoteca (I love how people must say a fancy foreign word for a basic concept...it's a wine bar, folks!). Thank God light rail takes me there, and it's a 2 block walk from my house...I have a feeling we're going to be reinacting this scene, albeit with much less expensive wine.

Fine, just ruin it for me. Can't a girl dream? *sniffle*

I'm totally guessing...but perhaps Pluto/Hades?

I've used the hardbound encyclopedia before...very good as a base resource. Glad to see that it's out now in paperback! Thanks for the update, Ursus!

Here in Japantown, there is a cute mix of cuisine. Of course, the predominant theme is Japanese food--some of the best you'll get anywhere, both on the sushi side and the traditional dishes. There's a couple of Chinese places (naturally), some Mexican places (consider San Jos

Really? The French? *starts booking a trip to Nice...*

There's too many Wal-Mart jokes there to even begin... On the other hand, the perfect time to go into my favorite French supermart (that would be Targ

I thought you were the Legate who until recently said "Ni!"? Are you not the Legate who now says "icky-icky-icky-icky-baclang-zupoing! (raaaaaarrr)"?

I love it once mid-November rolls around. People actually start caring about each other and acting upon it. Ok, it should happen all year long, of course, but some is better than none, I guess. _______________________________________________________________ The other day a local news channel did a story about how food and money donations at the local food banks was horrifically low, so low that Thanksgiving turkeys were either in short supply or non-existent; at one major food bank in Oakland they were handing out Thanksgiving chickens. To put it mildly, it didn't sound right. Now, I personally am not much for the Mission band of Indians; they have a chokehold on the Indian casinos in this state, and have a reputation of touting all the wonders they do with the hard-earned cash of gamblers. Someone I know has said on numerous occasions that they exploit gamblers, and don't give nearly enough of a percentage back to the state, or to the other tribes; indeed, there are various rumors that they don't give up their fair share of earnings to the other various tribes in the state, in accordance with the pact that they negotiated with the state. My cynical mind goes into overdrive with them. But I have to give them and Costco credit on this one. They saw the newspiece on the food banks, and made a massive donation. 200 turkeys, plus money for another 200 more, to that one Oakland food bank, plus other food banks are receiving donations, too, thanks to the attention paid to their shortage. The best comment came from someone in the video picking up his turkey meal...he was close to tears, enormously grateful for the generosity of others. His family would have a reltaively normal Thanksgiving, despite his being out of work. 'Tis the season of giving. __________________________________________________________________ I got paid today (it's the last working day of the month), and did my usual 1 Dec. donations. I have a list of them, including the local food banks. It's a tradition, where I save up after summer expenditures and start my donation season early. Oh, it's never much...a few bucks here and there. I don't have many on my list, but I know that so many of these non-profits need help, and in particular in a year like this. A student yesterday commented at how many calls and notices she's received from charities--quite a few, more than usual, she says. Her main comment was along the lines of, "why can't these people leave me alone? Don't they know that in this economy no one has money to spare???" I just let that one go. ____________________________________________________________________ Among the things this year that I'm thankful for (or, what I'm continually thankful for): I'm alive, with all parts in working order, living in a society which allows me the freedom to do and say as I pretty much please; My family and friends are not only alive and well, but all with jobs and all with finances in order; My colleagues at work who not only find it their duty to inform us of what's going on with budget issues, but give us options and multiple scenarios whenever possible (even if the bleeping legislature doesn't). It seems that everyone is working triple-overtime to make sure that as few people as possible are to be affected by the mandatory budget cuts, as ordered by the state; My students, who continuously give me the energy and the ganas* to want to work; and The ability to continue my adventures, and the avenues to continue my lifelong learning journey. Whether or not you celebrate a "Thanksgiving" holiday, I wish you the best for the future, and hope for nothing but good fortune for you. *ganas doesn't have a great translation--in Spanish, it more or less means 'gumption', but it's more than that. It's that every fiber of your being wants (or doesn't) something.

Heh I have enough to do with student poetry projects...I still have to create a webpage for that one. (God bless GoogleDocs!)

Yep yep! (Hey, I'm actually getting the hang of this poetry thing...well, maybe not lol)

Yep...hmmmmmm...let me think of another. Capricious and mischievous, up in the sky I spy two people oblivious to the feelings they hide. Dip an arrow in love, Then let it fly through the air, and let Mum do the rest With her usual style anf flair!

Both right! (As a narcissus is sprouting on my kitchen windowsill!)

Aphrodite! (I finally got one!) Here's my entry: Oooh! Who do I see? The fairest lad of all, to me There is not a prettier face Closer to the pond, to embrace That fairest visage looking back at me!

Archeologists have found a second chariot, about 100 years older. Courtesy of SF Gate

You mean to tell me that the library didn't recognize the Greatness that is our Caldrail???? Sheesh, I thought your popularity was known throughout the world!?

LOL Nice one, Neph! And if I had gone up to him to pet the cat, would it have earned me points?

I gotta say, the Salvation Army bell-ringers don't bother me...perhaps because I tend to walk fast and with purpose when entering a store (it tends to ward off ne'er-do-wells). The rest of the year there's a couple at the nearby Safeway grocery store...they just stand there, asking for spare change. If you don't give them any and actually look at them, they shoot you an evil look.

God bless the Onion! BTW, I throw my hard-earned money either in the Money Hole or down my toilet. It is my right as an American to make my choice. And I exercise it daily. (Ok, that's as long as I could play that one straight...now I'm laughing too hard!)

Nah, it's all good. The only thing we need is rain, which (hopefully) will come soon. But, hey, if you want to put some snow in the Sierras, be my guest!