Thursday, July 30, 2009
Mad Men Season 1
While Hubby has been gone on a business trip this week I've kept my evenings busy by re-watching season one of Mad Men. I love the costumes and sets, and although I wasn't around in 1960, it does look authentic and the colours jump off the screen -- especially in high def. This show just pulls you into the storylines of the characters and leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for August 16 when the third season is set to begin. Did Betty have the baby? Did Joan get married? Will Roger Sterling be back at Sterling Cooper? Are Betty and Don back together? Is Peggy running the show at Sterling Cooper? Did Pete and Trudy adopt a baby? And, what happened to beatnik Midge?
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Childhood Memories: RIP Les Lye
This evening while checking news on the net I discovered the death of veteran actor Les Lye. While the name may not be familiar to most people, he was a regular on 'You Can't Do That On Television', one of my favorite television shows that I watched was a kid. I lived for Saturday mornings when the show came on...I think it started at 11am on CJOH...I loved that it was all kids -- except for Les Lye. The best part was the slime that fell on the each person when they said 'what?'...gooey green goodness. Great escapism for a pre-teen. I also remember being in awe of my older cousin whose locker in high school was located next to one of the child actors, Kevin, who I thought -- in my ten-year old brain -- was dreamy.
Les Lye was also part of 'Willie & Floyd', another childhood television staple. Only Canadians of a certain age will recall this show (even Hubby doesn't remember it). My older sister won a write-in contest from the show and we excitedly crowded around the television as they read her winning paragraph on why she liked her school teacher. Her prize was a small knitting machine for children. As a seven year-old I was quite impressed. That was the most memorable part of 'Willie & Floyd' for me.
Perhaps this is all part of getting older when those who were on radio and television in your childhood start dying: Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and now Les Lye.
Les Lye was also part of 'Willie & Floyd', another childhood television staple. Only Canadians of a certain age will recall this show (even Hubby doesn't remember it). My older sister won a write-in contest from the show and we excitedly crowded around the television as they read her winning paragraph on why she liked her school teacher. Her prize was a small knitting machine for children. As a seven year-old I was quite impressed. That was the most memorable part of 'Willie & Floyd' for me.
Perhaps this is all part of getting older when those who were on radio and television in your childhood start dying: Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and now Les Lye.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
LL Bean Catalog Bigger Than July Vogue
Yesterday I received both the July 2009 issue of Vogue and the late summer 2009 LL Bean catalog in the mail. Much to my surprise, the LL Bean catalog was heavier and had 25 more pages than Vogue. I realize that the July issue is usually one of the smallest (next to January), but this is tiny. The huge fall issue usually has more pages of ad space before the table of contents than the total amount of pages in this issues, which comes to a grand total of 134. I've been feeling guilty since dropping my subscription last December and so I'm back to supporting this Anna Wintour rag. Here's hoping they've toned down the politics, cut-back on the British writers/editors to add more of an American viewpoint, and kept the sleek design layout.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Strange Days
Yesterday was such a strange day. First, in the morning came the news of Farrah Fawcett's death. After her lengthy battle with cancer it came as no surprise but sad nonetheless. As a child I can remember staying up past my bedtime on Fridays to watch 'Charlie's Angels', and it was a game with my sisters to pretend we were the angels battling criminals. I was always the 'smart' one, Sabrina, and as my older sister became a teenager she tried to emulate Farrah's hairstyle...even though she had dark brown hair. Of course, as a child, I was totally in awe that Farrah Fawcett was married to "The Six Million Dollar Man" in real life. I really thought she had it all in the mid-1970s.
As the day progressed yesterday I was shocked to hear that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital with a cardiac arrest. I was certain that he would receive the top medical help and would recover, but I was wrong. Apparently when the paramedics arrived he had no pulse and was not breathing. Not good. Not good at all. My jaw dropped when I heard the word that he had died. Michael Jackson dead. It can't be real.
Michael Jackson is another part of my childhood. I can remember as a small child watching him with the Jackson 5 perform as guests on the "Sonny & Cher Show", and I remember his first solo single "Ben" being on the radio and loving it, only to hear my parents say it was about a rat...what? I'm still a bit confused about that one.
It was his solo album "Off the Wall" that really made an impression upon me. I was just beginning to listen to the radio intently as most pre-teens did back in the late 1970s, when music videos first came out. Michael Jackson's videos for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and especially "Rock With You" really were my favorites. Most videos at that time showed a band playing and were boring, but Michael Jackson's videos popped. I can remember when his videos were on television I could not take my eyes off of them, and they even provoked me to dance along at home.
Then came "Thriller". While I never purchased, or received, "Off the Wall" (although I can still picture the album cover from staring at it in the newspaper advertisements all those years ago), "Thriller" was purchased. I was in highschool and I can remember being in a shopping mall and hearing the whole album being played in a department store. It was everywhere. Everyone had it. It seemed like every song became a hit and it saturated the radio. Then the videos came out.
I can remember when the "Thriller" video was released and it was major news and buzz. There was a long version of it that was like a movie short, but then most video shows would only play the short version. Squeamish as I was back then (and still am) the "Thriller" video scared me. Honestly, it really freaked me out. "Bille Jean" was not scary and I liked the beat, and so I preferred that video.
I can remember a friend loving Michael Jackson during that period -- she had his posters up in her locker and she had a crush on him. While I liked his music, I just didn't find him sexy. He had changed. He no longer looked like the Michael Jackson from "Off the Wall". He seemed more feminine and delicate.
As the 1980s progressed my taste in music changed and I started listening to 'alternative' and 'college radio' music like R.E.M. and I turned my back slightly to Michael Jackson. Although, I loved the song "Man in the Mirror" during my university days and can remember dancing to it in my dorm room and at clubs. In fact, it was that song that was in my head yesterday evening as I tuned in the the cable news channels to get the latest on his death.
It's been almost thirty years since "Off the Wall" was released. In those years Michael Jackson morphed into a strange -- almost creepy -- looking person who displayed odd behavior. What happened to him? For me, when I think of Michael Jackson, I will always picture the beautiful young black man dancing in the "Rock With You" video and pictured on the cover of "Off the Wall". That was Michael Jackson at his finest.
As the day progressed yesterday I was shocked to hear that Michael Jackson had been rushed to the hospital with a cardiac arrest. I was certain that he would receive the top medical help and would recover, but I was wrong. Apparently when the paramedics arrived he had no pulse and was not breathing. Not good. Not good at all. My jaw dropped when I heard the word that he had died. Michael Jackson dead. It can't be real.
Michael Jackson is another part of my childhood. I can remember as a small child watching him with the Jackson 5 perform as guests on the "Sonny & Cher Show", and I remember his first solo single "Ben" being on the radio and loving it, only to hear my parents say it was about a rat...what? I'm still a bit confused about that one.
It was his solo album "Off the Wall" that really made an impression upon me. I was just beginning to listen to the radio intently as most pre-teens did back in the late 1970s, when music videos first came out. Michael Jackson's videos for "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and especially "Rock With You" really were my favorites. Most videos at that time showed a band playing and were boring, but Michael Jackson's videos popped. I can remember when his videos were on television I could not take my eyes off of them, and they even provoked me to dance along at home.
Then came "Thriller". While I never purchased, or received, "Off the Wall" (although I can still picture the album cover from staring at it in the newspaper advertisements all those years ago), "Thriller" was purchased. I was in highschool and I can remember being in a shopping mall and hearing the whole album being played in a department store. It was everywhere. Everyone had it. It seemed like every song became a hit and it saturated the radio. Then the videos came out.
I can remember when the "Thriller" video was released and it was major news and buzz. There was a long version of it that was like a movie short, but then most video shows would only play the short version. Squeamish as I was back then (and still am) the "Thriller" video scared me. Honestly, it really freaked me out. "Bille Jean" was not scary and I liked the beat, and so I preferred that video.
I can remember a friend loving Michael Jackson during that period -- she had his posters up in her locker and she had a crush on him. While I liked his music, I just didn't find him sexy. He had changed. He no longer looked like the Michael Jackson from "Off the Wall". He seemed more feminine and delicate.
As the 1980s progressed my taste in music changed and I started listening to 'alternative' and 'college radio' music like R.E.M. and I turned my back slightly to Michael Jackson. Although, I loved the song "Man in the Mirror" during my university days and can remember dancing to it in my dorm room and at clubs. In fact, it was that song that was in my head yesterday evening as I tuned in the the cable news channels to get the latest on his death.
It's been almost thirty years since "Off the Wall" was released. In those years Michael Jackson morphed into a strange -- almost creepy -- looking person who displayed odd behavior. What happened to him? For me, when I think of Michael Jackson, I will always picture the beautiful young black man dancing in the "Rock With You" video and pictured on the cover of "Off the Wall". That was Michael Jackson at his finest.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Missing Texas Half Price Books
Last Sunday Hubby and I checked out a local used bookstore. We both love wandering around the aisles of shelves crammed with old books looking for hidden treasures. In particular, I enjoy looking for out of print books and get a thrill when I find one. It actually makes me want to jump up and down shouting, but then I realize that it's subjective and only myself cherishes my "new" book.
While this particular local used bookstore was good, there was something missing. Maybe it was that the aisles were too narrow and made me claustrophobic, or perhaps it was a particular smell that permeated the shop -- Hubby and I decided that it was the smell of garlic due to the adjacent restaurant. What this used bookstore clearly wasn't was Half Price Books.
The Half Price Books store that we used to frequent in Texas was big, not massive, but it had wide aisles that two people could be looking on either side of the shelf with no major space issues. There was a bench by the 'latest' books and magazines racks that could help you peruse and make decisions while sitting. The sections were clearly marked and organized. I could spend a couple of hours at Half Price Books, especially considering the amount of time it took me to go through all the discount racks outside the store.
Now there is a Half Price Books location about a 15 minute drive from where we live, But it is less than half the size of the one in Texas. The first time we went there I thought "is this it?". I went to the back of the store to see if there was a section we missed but there wasn't anything else. It was a huge disappointment. Hopefully they will expand over time. Until then, we'll have to search for other used bookstores.
While this particular local used bookstore was good, there was something missing. Maybe it was that the aisles were too narrow and made me claustrophobic, or perhaps it was a particular smell that permeated the shop -- Hubby and I decided that it was the smell of garlic due to the adjacent restaurant. What this used bookstore clearly wasn't was Half Price Books.
The Half Price Books store that we used to frequent in Texas was big, not massive, but it had wide aisles that two people could be looking on either side of the shelf with no major space issues. There was a bench by the 'latest' books and magazines racks that could help you peruse and make decisions while sitting. The sections were clearly marked and organized. I could spend a couple of hours at Half Price Books, especially considering the amount of time it took me to go through all the discount racks outside the store.
Now there is a Half Price Books location about a 15 minute drive from where we live, But it is less than half the size of the one in Texas. The first time we went there I thought "is this it?". I went to the back of the store to see if there was a section we missed but there wasn't anything else. It was a huge disappointment. Hopefully they will expand over time. Until then, we'll have to search for other used bookstores.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Why All the Palin Hatred?
Just don't understand all the hatred for Sarah Palin that still exists. Why should anyone care about her anymore since she is no longer running for VP? Let it go. David Letterman was rude, but hey, he's getting old and trying to remain relevant with all the young talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien.
Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.
Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.
I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.
Still, why do people feel threatened by her? Perhaps some can't handle a woman in a position of power who still remains feminine instead of embracing the shellacked helmet hair and ill-fitting suits of other female politicians. Maybe it's her conservative views that insight others.
Regardless of her politics, when the media makes personal attacks against a female politician it sends the wrong message to young women. It may make them think that it's okay to make scathing remarks about the way a woman looks if you don't like and/or agree with them. So, instead of debating her beliefs you belittle her attire and appearance. It may make young women decide to second-guess, or even forego a career in politics.
I think there is a deeper reason for the hatred and it is a fear and loathing of women. Let's respect women in power and give them the same courtesy as their male counterparts.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Baking
I've been thinking about baking banana bread since watching this season's premiere of 'Weeds' on Showcase the other night. Just not sure if I have all the ingredients, so it may become a banana cake.
Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.
Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.
I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.
Not sure why I've got desserts on the mind, but I do. It's this damn sweet tooth I am afflicked with, and it's caused nothing but cavities and unwanted inches on my hips. At least I finally kicked the soft drink habit two years ago.
Last Friday I made butterscotch pie. Really I did. I even made the pie crust from scratch. Shocking. Unfortunately for the pie, I learned that one should make the crust hours before in order that it chills in the fridge long enough to roll out into a thin crust. The filling was divine...hmmm...it was very good. Since I didn't have a double-boiler I improvised by cooking the butterscotch cream filling in a pot place ontop of a frying pan filled with water. It was a bit messy, but it did the trick.
I had planned on making blueberry cobbler this week, but the banana bread/cake thing has taken over my thoughts, and I've got lots of bananas.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Life After People
Last month I was having diffulty falling to sleep and counting sheep just was not working. I quietly turned on the television so as to not wake up Hubby but there wasn't much on in the wee hours. All I can say is thank God for Comcast On Demand.
As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.
Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.
I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.
As I was perusing through the titles of TV shows I came across one called "Life After People" and was intrigued. What a bizarre name for a program...of course, I chose it.
Lying in bed I was riveted as the program explained what would happen to the world after people disappeared. It does not explain why the entire earth's population has vanished, but just the effects of a world devoid of humans. The computer generated special effects are amazing as it shows the deterioration of skyscrapers, bridges, and some of the world's greatest cities. As one can assume, all man-made objects require regular maintenance or else they will eventually decay and return back to the basic elements.
I have been hooked on this History channel show since discovering it that one night thanks to On Demand. The strange part is that as riveting as it may be, it actually helps me fall asleep at night. Perhaps because it worked that first evening, or maybe it's the narrator's voice, I don't know why but it works for me.
Friday, May 29, 2009
'Jon & Kate' Sickness
What is the national obsession with the TLC show 'Jon & Kate Plus Eight'? I just do not understand the fascination with watching a couple that have a set of twins and then were crazy and had sextuplets through invitro fertilization. Why would anyone watch this show?
Okay, I admit that I caught an episode while on the treadmill at the gym because there wasn't much else on at 11am. It was amusing to watch her shop for groceries and made me feel glad that my grocery bill would never amount to as much as hers did. But I had to turn the channel when she interacted with her husband at a toy store when shopping for birthday/Christmas gifts. She spoke to him like he was one of her children. It was embarrassing and I felt uncomfortable for him and I had to change the channel. If I spoke that way to Hubby our marriage would be over and vice versa. Perhaps couples should watch this to see how NOT to treat your spouse. Honestly, is anyone really surprised that this marriage is on the rocks?
After watching this trainwreck of a marriage does anyone in the United States still want to tune in to watch more episodes? I only feel pity for their poor offspring who will have this unfortunate chapter of their lives captured on film forever. Jon & Kate need an intervention immediately to save their children from years of therapy later on. Let's do them all a favour and not watch this horrendous show.
Okay, I admit that I caught an episode while on the treadmill at the gym because there wasn't much else on at 11am. It was amusing to watch her shop for groceries and made me feel glad that my grocery bill would never amount to as much as hers did. But I had to turn the channel when she interacted with her husband at a toy store when shopping for birthday/Christmas gifts. She spoke to him like he was one of her children. It was embarrassing and I felt uncomfortable for him and I had to change the channel. If I spoke that way to Hubby our marriage would be over and vice versa. Perhaps couples should watch this to see how NOT to treat your spouse. Honestly, is anyone really surprised that this marriage is on the rocks?
After watching this trainwreck of a marriage does anyone in the United States still want to tune in to watch more episodes? I only feel pity for their poor offspring who will have this unfortunate chapter of their lives captured on film forever. Jon & Kate need an intervention immediately to save their children from years of therapy later on. Let's do them all a favour and not watch this horrendous show.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Packing
I've really got to start packing. At this point our bed is covered with clothes, but I still haven't dug out the suitcase. Instead, I've been busy buying music from iTunes and watching a documentary on PBS, 'We Shall Remain', about the 1838 relocation of Cherokees from Southeastern US to Oklahoma territory. Must start packing.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Trip
I'm starting to get excited about the upcoming trip home later this week. Unfortunately, I'm not as enthused about packing; in fact I hate packing. Packing makes me irritated, and so I tend to procrastinate and that makes it even worse.
Can't wait to see my friend Amanda. We're going for dinner on Thursday evening and it will involve lots of alcohol, news and gossip. The sad thing is the forecast calls for cold, rainy weather that day/evening. What to pack?
Can't wait to see my friend Amanda. We're going for dinner on Thursday evening and it will involve lots of alcohol, news and gossip. The sad thing is the forecast calls for cold, rainy weather that day/evening. What to pack?
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