Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Insert clever frog-related title here, because I've got nothin'.
I was finally ready to tackle my vacation today. And this happened. Sometimes, you just have to take the material as it is presented to you.
1. That is a frog. On the window of my shower. Inside.
2. The smaller inset photo is for point of reference: Those tiles above him are about the size of my hand. When his legs weren't scrunched up under his body in fear and an attempt to hide from me (sorry, Kermie, but you weren't exactly in a "hiding" sort of place), he was not much smaller than those tiles.
3. This begs the question: Through what gaping hole in our house did he gain entrance???
4. He showed up in the morning. While I was busy getting ready for work. After my husband was already gone. I was also (ahem) stepping into the shower to shower. Meaning...I wasn't exactly dressed for frog-wrangling.
5. Thank God I saw him before I was dripping wet and covered in something sudsy.
6. Thank God he wasn't some place where I discovered him by stepping on him.
7. Thank God he wasn't a spider.
8. His heart was beating so hard, I thought he was going to die of a little froggy heart attack. So I found myself sweet talking a terrified frog at 6:45am as I approached him with a large old towel to trap and release him.
9. I had no choice but to handle this, despite not factoring time into my morning schedule for frog-catching, because if I had left him there and he jumped on me while I showered, *I* would have had a heart attack, probably would have fallen and put my head through that window, and I would have met my demise by frog in a rather ungraceful and compromising manner.
10. You betcha I stopped to take a photo first.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Flower and Garden Fest 2014: Round Three
Finally! I had so many plans on weekends in March! First there was a Red Sox Spring Training game. Then I was on vacation. Then I was getting caught up on everything from being gone on vacation. Whew. Time for some Festing!
JARDIN DE FIESTAS
Taco al Pastor (corn tortilla filled with achiote marinated pork garnished with grilled diced pineapple, onions, and cilantro).
Not just your run of the mill taco. So flavorful and bright! The tortilla was almost nothing but a vehicle to get the rest of that deliciousness into my mouth. The pork was nicely seasoned, but it was the pineapple and cilantro that took center stage! I mean, just *look* at that fresh color!
Where to go next? Where to go next... I know!
FLORIDA FRESH
Kumquat Pie.
First, I should tell you that I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I ordered this. The only two things I knew about kumquats were they are a citrus fruit and my junior year high school English teacher used to "affectionately" call us her "bright little kumquats." (She, by the way, was my favorite teacher in all of high school. So. Side note aside.) Second, I have to admit that I could not stop taking pictures of this pie. It was so visually appealing. Seriously. Look how pretty!
Look at that meringue! (That isn't even all my photos of this one dish. Not even kidding.) I hadn't even taken a bite yet. And then I did. You guys, I can't even. Look at this!
The filling was creamy, yet had a texture, somehow. And the *flavor*. I had no clue what to expect, but I was figuring orange-ish. It is...like nothing I have ever tasted before. It kind of amazes me that, other than the various types of oranges and the tangerine, which all definitely share a related flavor, every other citrus fruit has its own unique flavor, kumquats included. It is...I still have not successfully found a way to describe it. It's kind of tangy-tart, but there is sweetness there too. It was a party, right there in my mouth.
Even the crust. Look at those gorgeous sugar crystals! Mind blown. (I am still thinking about this pie.)
Well, now. *That" is going to be difficult to top.
FLEUR DE LYS
Gnocchi Parisien a la Provencal (Parisian style dumplings with vegetables and mushrooms). Rose Pamplemousse Cocktail (rose wine mixed with natural grapefruit syrup).
I kind of feel bad for this dish. I mean, the last one set the bar impossibly high. These were good. Lots of flavor. Creamy filling. Lots of roasted veggies: red peppers and zucchini and some else I couldn't quite identify. (I'll be honest, I picked out most of the mushrooms.) And there was a creamy cheese in there too -- goat? farmer's cheese? got me! -- and you can't go wrong with cheese.
The wine cocktail was very refreshing. There was a definite grapefruit-i-ness. Light and crisp and it was a perfect compliment to the more substantial flavors and the creaminess of the gnocchi. Plus? Pamplemousse! That's fun to say!
I think it's time for something meaty...
THE SMOKEHOUSE: BARBECUE AND BREWS
Pulled Pig Slider with Cole Slaw.
Now this is some pig! Crispy edges. Tender and juicy. The tangy crunch of the slaw. The spicy-sweet barbecue sauce. All on a super fresh bun. I have zero complaints about the flavor or quality of this dish. It is exactly what I expected. Except for one thing.
I don't know about you, but when I see "slider," I anticipate "three or four bites." That? Was a *sandwich*. That thing was almost as big as my four-and-a-half-inch phone (stop laughing at my phone, I know, it's not a smart phone, but my cell phone bill is also less than $90 a month for *two* phones, so I'm using this until it dies and I am forced to upgrade my plan to include data) and as big as my fist...without the lid!! Great value, but not very helpful for trying multiple dishes in a Fest setting!
Stuffed, but carrying on. I have a plan and I am sticking to it. (I'm such a team player.)
PRIMAVERA KITCHEN
Torta di Ricotta (lemon cheesecake with limoncello-marinated strawberries). Strawberry Rossini (Proescco and marinated strawberries).
The cheesecake was a bit heavier than I was hoping. It was so delicious, though, that I powered on. The lemon was light, the cheesecake was crumbly, there was a nice little graham cracker crust, and those strawberries were to die for. I don't know what it is about spring, but I crave the lemon-and-berry combination. The Rossini was a good choice to sip with my final dish of the day. Lots of bubbles, more strawberries. You'll hear no complaints from me!
Cheers to another successful trip! I'll be back for my final round in early May! (The busy weekends, they just keep happening.)
Sunday, April 13, 2014
All the Green Things
Remember the wee lettuces?
Yeah. Well. Two months later...
...not so wee. More like whoa.
Also, my too small to properly photograph herbs have become:
Ummm... Anyone have suggestions on what to do with all. that. dill?? (There is some parsley and cilantro and a basil somewhere in there, too, deep in the dill forest.)
The parsley has recovered from its terrible woe...
...and after being picked for use and tended and thinned of old sprigs (and yes, well watered, but not *too* much, the poor parched picky souls)...
...is still going strong and sending up new shoots almost a year after being planted! (You ought to see the size of the roots on those things. Almost as big around as my pinky finger!)
The chives went from this...
...to this. They have lost their flipping minds.
In fact, all the little green things seem to love the front side of the house.
So, I'm ready to move on from the Great Basil Depression of 2013 (saddest herbs ever...*twice* last season).
Cross your fingers that 2014 isn't another basil massacre. I hope they thrive as much as their cousins in this new location. Sun-warmed basil...definitely in my Top Five Favorite Scents.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
This Week on My TV: April 12, 2014
Disclaimer: Some shows I watch live and with others, I tend to be fairly behind on my tv watching. Even so, consider the fact that there could be spoilers ahead. All I can do is lead in with the show and episode. You read at your own risk!
**(The Mentalist, S6E15 "White as the Driven Snow") I still don't understand why, if Van Pelt was able to pry a board off the room in which she was being held captive in order to bang the trapdoor open, she didn't just pry more boards off what appeared to be a loosely constructed wall and just escape through the hole she made? -- OMG, Van Pelt! You've been kidnapped and held captive and you trust the first person who drives along on the road?? How are you not suspicious of anyone and everyone, until you know who took you?! -- It's always an "abused childhood" with the bad guys on these shows! -- I really thought Rigsby was going to get killed off. I'm (pun intended) gun shy now, my shows have offed so many characters this season.
**(The Big Bang Theory, S7E19 "The Indecision Amalgamation") Raj: And then after coffee, we went for a walk, and she told me she always thought people from India were exotic and mysterious. So, with my mouth, I said "we're just like anybody else," but with my eyes, I said "straight up, Red, hop on my flying carpet." -- Raj has two ladies! New girl Emily and ex-girlfriend Lucy. Raj: What I am supposed to do? How am I supposed to choose between Emily and Lucy? Howard: Why do you have to choose? Date both of them. Raj: I can't date two women at once. Zero women, that's my sweet spot. -- The theme of indecision is one with which I am very familiar. The one I identified with most: Sheldon's "this or that" dilemma. The one that made me smile: Raj trying to choose between two girls. The one that fell a bit short: Penny trying to figure out whether or not to suck it up and do the bad movie because it would mean a paycheck. -- Funniest moment: Wil Wheaton taking off the orangutan-in-a-bikini mask. I laughed so hard, because I did *not* see that coming!
**(Last Man Standing, S3E18 "Project Mandy") Vanessa: I was really impressed with Mandy's designs. I always knew there was something going on in that pretty little head of hers. Mike: I always pictured a wind-up monkey playing cymbals. -- Vanessa: Listen, honey, we can't let her ruin her credit. We're going to have to cancel the card and pay off all her debt. Mike: Calm down, Bernanke, we're not going to bail her out. She's not too big to fail. -- Mike: Our thirtieth President Calvin Coolidge said there's no dignity quite so impressive as living within your means. Now Coolidge got to the top through hard work, frugality and the suspicious death of Warren G Harding. -- This is the second show where the airhead daughter is going to run her own fashion business out of the basement. Mandy on this one and Haley on "Modern Family."
**(The Middle, S5E18 "The Smell") Random Girl in Dorm: You know, I once broke up my boyfriend with a sculpture. Axl: So, did he understand it? Girl: Well I threw it at him, so I'm pretty sure he got the message. -- ::snort:: Mike getting roped into coaching a high school girls soccer team. I can't think of *anything* Mike could possibly like less than a gaggle of high school girls. -- I can't be bummed about Axl and Cassidy breaking up because Sue and Darrin!
**(About a Boy, S1E5 "About a Plumber") A thousand and one ways to freak out Will: "when you marry my mom," "we're not done playing dad-minton." -- I think Will is supposed to be the least likable sort of character but I like him better than Fiona and Marcus combined.
**(Blue Bloods, S4E18 "Righting Wrongs") That guy at Erin's speed dating experience who turned out to be a defense attorney? Totally expected them to end on a date, especially because they had such terrible chemistry. -- Why is that every time a police character is told they are not to discuss a special assignment they've been given, their partners get their knickers in a twist? -- Of course Jamie solved the cold case Frank gave him. He'll be a detective sooner rather than later.
**(Mike and Molly, S4E16 "The Dice Lady Cometh") Predictability: Molly, who had never gambled before, went on a streak of beginner's luck...followed by a losing streak, and lost all her money. And then she met a mean old woman on the slot machines who won the jackpot on the machine Molly just left. -- Ewww. Joyce was wrapped up in a hotel comforter. ::gag:: Few things ick me out as much as "top side" of hotel comforters. -- Speaking of gagging. I would not be partaking in "all you can eat crab legs" at a casino in Indiana.
**(Revolution, S2E18 "Austin City Limits") What on earth is going on with Priscilla? Is she really Priscilla or is she just nanotech now? -- General Blanchard: We have a lot of work to do. I guess I should put on some pants. -- Monroe: She's from the Willoughby camp! You didn't recognize her? Miles: I wasn't looking at her face! -- Ok then. The nanotech are "borrowing" Priscilla's body. How very Fringe of them. -- Holy crap. *Another* character on a show I watch killed off. No more Jason. (Unless the nanotech can save him? I still don't understand the limits of their powers.)
**(The Good Wife, S5E16 "The Last Call ") Why do people always say things like "but I just saw him yesterday" when they learn someone has died? As if *that* could make it otherwise?! -- Alicia should not be behind the wheel of a car. Also, Alicia does a really good sad face, not so much with the crying though. And how, after all the crying, does Alicia still have any eye makeup left? -- I can't handle David Lee showing real emotions instead of douchebaggery. -- This episode captured really believable aftermath for everyone affected by Will's death. It was such a haunting, aching, bewildered, shocking, empty-feeling hour of television
**(The Mentalist, S6E16 "Violets") Jane's FBI boss has a very good sense of humor about Jane's shenanigans. -- Lisbon doesn't clean up half bad. -- Jane's most intricate and improbable schemes are always my favorite. A marching band?? Hahaha! -- Hmmm. Was that a twinge of jealousy for Patrick when Lisbon left on her pancake date?
**(Dallas, S3E4 "Lifting the Veil") Bed-headed, morning-breath John Ross? Eh, pass. -- I cannot get used to Rebecca being called Pamela. -- Every time Sue Ellen was in the same room with Emma, you couldn't melt butter in Sue Ellen's mouth. -- No one does weddings like South Fork does weddings. -- Sue Ellen is going to hit John Ross where it hurts for his affair with Emma: She's got something up her sleeve that will mess up his plans to drill on South Fork. I guess she learned something from all the times she turned her head on his daddy, after all!
**(Grey's Anatomy, S10E17 "Do You Know?") I like the way they are preparing for Cristina's exit. Seeing her play out two "what if" scenarios in her mind, how her life might play out if she moves forward with a life with Owen, or if she left things the way they are. It's something we should all ask ourselves throughout our lives, to ask the toughest questions: Do you know who you are? Do you understand what has happened to you? Do you want to live this way? It was a fresh take on how to tell the show's story and it provoked a lot of thought.
**(Dallas, S3E5 "D.T.R.") How many times can John Ross say fracking? And will I ever not laugh when he does? -- John Ross's secretary was pretty nervy, laying a hand on his arm right in front of Pamela. -- Harris being nice Ann is unsettling. -- Sue Ellen's statement to Bobby about how John Ross is like-father-like-son: "He's creating war within the family when we should be working together. There's nothing innocent about him." -- Bobby: A bug in the bourbon cork. I think even JR would see the humor in that. Sue Ellen: The family that blackmails together, stays together. -- I did *not* see Sue Ellen's nomination of Bobby coming at all! Well played!
**(Wonderland, S1E12 "To Catch a Thief") I cannot believe I am so sad that Anastasia is dead, but it's so difficult to watch the Knave be brokenhearted, now that he has his heart back. -- Bad CGI Alert: The vines that grab the guards in the Queen of Hearts' hedge maze. -- Wait. So if Amara claims to have a few tricks up her sleeve that she didn't share with Jafar when he asked her how she was freed from the staff, why did she wait til now to free herself?! -- Now Cyrus is dead too?? -- Bad CGI Alert: That final scene, when Amara and Jafar are collaborating on the spell and his eyes turn milky white.
**(Scandal, S3E16 "The Fluffer") I am trying to imagine someone actually saying "The President is definitely a baguette." -- It's about time Liv finally laid it on the table with Fitz, asking him which role she is there to perform for him, which service she will be billing him for today. He accuses her of being petty and jealous? If there is anyone who can take Fitz down a notch, it has to be Olivia...if she can hold her ground and not get caught up in a house in Vermont and promises a man can't keep. -- Jake: I miss you... Olivia: Said the spider to the fly? -- Conflicted: Am I furious with Jake about James or do I feel sorry for him because of his feelings for Olivia? -- Rowan: I'm a patient man, but a vengeful one, and I have a very long memory. -- Does Leo have the hots for Abby? -- Abby: You don't get to run. You're a gladiator. Gladiators don't run, they fight. They slay dragons, they wipe off the blood and stitch up their wounds and live to fight another day. You don't get to run. -- Could Olivia have picked a more inopportune time to shut down B613? ::slaps forehead::
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Currently: April 10, 2014
This week at the Broken Road house...
Dropping... some happy in the mail for some people I care about.
Making... my husband's favorite soup, at his request. Well, technically, his second favorite. His clam chowder recipe is his favorite, but this is his favorite that I make.
Wearing... purple for the midweek Lent service.
Kissing... cooler weather goodbye. Upper 80s and humidity coming this weekend, and likely here for the duration of the 8-month Florida summer. Fire up the a/c!
Keeping... my plans for another round of Flower and Garden Fest, even though I have a crap ton of things I "should" be doing instead. I have limited weekend available for enjoying it and the "shoulds" can be worked in to other time slots.
"Currently" is a weekly link-up, hosted by Ot & Et.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Monday, April 7, 2014
Beauty is...
Sometimes it is easy to see beauty. A brightly colored bloom. The sparkle of a bride. A freshly arrived newborn baby. A dazzling sunset. We know where to look for this sort of universally acknowledged beauty. That doesn't make them any less beautiful, but they are expected.
Other times, I need to look a little more carefully. I need to train my eyes not to move so quickly. I need to pause and observe and marinate. The world holds beauty that, while less obvious, is no less stunning.
A stark winter day: Its crisp lines and shades of black and white. Its state of suspended animation, as if the whole earth is holding its breath in anticipation of a spring that will burst forth. It speaks of that moment when what's coming is known and desired, but cannot be rushed. The vibrant flower will come, we know this, but at the expense of that breathless waiting. There is beauty in savoring that delicious sense of expectancy.
Commitment: Brides glow, but even more breathtaking is watching the vows spoken, promising to be husband and wife, unfolding into days and years and a lifelong commitment. Two people weathering life, side by side, good days and difficult, holds an even more timeless beauty in its many details as the wedding day when those promises were shiny and new. Life has shown me, again and again, that it is far from easy to maintain, much less grow, deep commitment. When the fragility and vulnerability of marriage has been exposed, as I have watched marriages unravel and struggled to make sense of it from outside its circle, the beauty of a lasting commitment has started to feel like a rare and priceless work of art.
Old hands: I have marveled over newborns. They are miraculous, these wee humans. The birth of a new family is precious. It is easy to overlook the other end of the timeline, to dismiss the years of winding back down, no longer new. But I remember, with startling clarity, my Gram's hands. They were simultaneously rough from hard work and soft as butter. They were wrinkled and the knuckles were gnarled. Their beauty showed careworn, loving and raising and growing up two generations of offspring. They were not new and unblemished by time, but had a beauty created over the span of an entire life.
Storm clouds: Sunsets, and to some degree, sunrises receive an awful lot of attention. The sun paints the sky with layers of color, gentle to start the day, blazing at its finish. When clouds build, it's so easy to miss the sunlight, to wish and watch for its return, lamenting the diffused grey as dismal. If I change my perspective, though, there is beauty in the dimension of the storms as they roll in. The clouds billow and darken. Like the sun, their rains are necessary to sustain life. Their silvers and charcoals and purples and blues are a different sort of beauty, but no less so than their pastel and fiery cousins.
There are so many ways to view the world. So many details to miss if I focus only on the obvious beauties. Beauty is more than surface value. Beauty can be found in more subtle variations. It may require effort or a change in attitude. It will not demand attention. It doesn't need to seen. It will not wait patiently until it is noticed. Beauty is a fleeting gift given a thousand times a day, but the only way to possess it is to choose to seek it out, to be still and show it profound appreciation to allow it to astound and amaze.
For the days I want to write but need that extra push, and, just as much, for the days when the prompt inspires me, all on its own, whether I need extra motivation or not.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Sunny Side Up
I'm a morning person. I may wake up slowly, blinking the haze of sleep from my brain, but I seldom wake unhappy. I ease into the day, a fresh page with a flashing cursor, curious what it will hold. Endless possibility. Perhaps something momentous, but more likely, something small. It's the small that I secretly love anyway, if you want to know the truth.
Maybe I will leave a message on social media that will brighten a day, uplift a spirit, coax a smile. Maybe I will listen quietly to a friend who simply needs to be heard. Maybe I will elicit the magical sound of my husband's true laugh, not his half chuckle but the real deal. Maybe a plant will bud or a new recipe delight or a favorite song play during a commute.
This flawed world contains its share of storm clouds and it would be easy to sink into shadow. I've chosen that path on occasion. I found it makes life hollow. And so I've made a point to seek out joy, those little gifts embedded into each day. The ones that make me exclaim over the miracle of simplicity, raise my eyebrows in serendipitous discovery, and dance a merry little jig through the living room. Living life sunny side up suits me.
For the days I want to write but need that extra push, and, just as much, for the days when the prompt inspires me, all on its own, whether I need extra motivation or not.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
This Week on My TV: April 5, 2014
Disclaimer: Some shows I watch live and with others, I tend to be fairly behind on my tv watching. Even so, consider the fact that there could be spoilers ahead. All I can do is lead in with the show and episode. You read at your own risk!
**(Once Upon a Time, S3E13 "Witch Hunt") Red Riding Hood sighting! -- Regina sure wears some cleavage-y dresses. -- Hook [to Charming about the very pregnant Snow White]: Almost harvest time but you can't remember the planting. That's bad luck, mate. -- Emma doesn't find it unsettling that her mother, who, thanks to the curse, is roughly the same age she is, is very pregnant? Or not even a mention of her impending sibling? -- It's impossible not to feel bad for Regina about how distraught she is that Henry doesn't remember her. -- Instead of having their memories vaporized, now when the Storybrooke residents try to cross the town line, they get snatched by flying monkeys and turned into them?! -- Zelena (the Wicked Witch) is (or is posing as) a midwife and ingratiating herself to Mary Margaret. Which begs the question: what is her sinister plan for that child? -- Holy crap! Zelena is Regina's older half-sister and they share Cora as a mother?! *And* they both were mentored by Rumplestiltskin?!? I did not see either of those twists coming. -- Rumple is alive, kinda crazy, and imprisoned by Zelena in Storybrooke?
**(Once Upon a Time, S3E14 "The Tower") The way Charming and Emma were dancing and gazing at one another in Charming's dream was borderline creepy. It wasn't very father-daughter-like is what I'm saying. -- If there's one lesson I would only need to learn once, if I were a fairy tale character, it would be NEVER EVER take something to eat or drink from someone you don't know! -- Hahahaha! Zelena lives in a farmhouse. Wicked witch, farmhouse...Dorothy's house killing a wicked witch in Oz. That's some amusing stuff. -- Eh, the Rapunzel weave-in was only so-so. -- So, did Zelena turn Rumple loose or did he escape her captivity?
**(Scandal, S3E14 "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") I cannot believe Jake killed James. I can't believe James is dead. -- The flashback scenes telling the story of James and Cyrus were moving and heartbreaking. -- Hey! Ever since Mellie started getting a little romance, she stopped using Easter colors as neutrals and has started wearing lots of deep jewel tones! She is pretty sexy when she is campaigning for things she believes in rather than being a manipulative shrew. -- What on earth are Liv's mother and Adnan Selif planning?? Adnan is the bank and Marie is the facilitator. They're interviewing bad guys. But what is the *plan*? -- This may be one of the most beautiful, heartfelt statements. And I can't believe who said it! ... Abby: David, look at me. Look at me. Something's wrong. Something bad has happened to you. Something terrible. You don't hide that from me and you don't lie about it to me. You give it to me. You let me share it. I love you. You are my heart. What happens to you, happens to me. -- What, *what* was that scene between Huck and Quinn?? I expected her to spit in his face but that frantic making out? WHAT?! -- David: So exposing Jake, that's a death wish. But taking down the entire organization, that's something within my reach? Me, David Rosen and my army of one? Olivia: Army of two. -- Cyrus falling apart at the press conference saying they had apprehended James' suspected killer was so painful to watch. -- Jake, sitting by James, promising him his loved ones were safe, apologizing that he couldn't be killed quickly, assuring him he wouldn't die alone, I wept, openly and shamelessly. Oh, my heart.
**(Scandal, S3E15 "Mama Said Knock You Out") Hmmmm. Why is Quinn hiding the Huck kiss from Charlie? -- Is there *anyone* in the First Family that *isn't* dysfunctional? -- I wonder if it's even more weird to be making out with other actors once you're noticeably pregnant? (Referring to Kerry Washington and her real life, not on the show pregnancy.) -- That's quite a steamy affair Mellie is having. It's certainly thawing her out anyway. -- The First Daughter's bedroom is decorated kind of childish, no? -- Were Charlie and Quinn having a lovers' spat during a torture inquisition?! They are, perhaps, the strangest couple ever. -- Why is there more Quinn and Huck making out? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! -- Fitz, *you* are a total hypocrite, being pissed at Mellie for having an affair. -- OMG, Adnan and Marie are really plotting an assassination of Fitz? And Jake has surveillance on the whole thing?? -- I'd love to know a) what Fitz and Mellie said to Jerry and Karen to sort things out and b) what Rowan's motivation is for telling Liv that every government agency funds B613.
**(Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, S1E11 "Heart of the Matter") The story of how Anastasia became The Red Queen is informative, but I am very confused about Cora. Where does this fall in the Once Upon a Time storyline? Clearly after she abandoned Zelena, since that was before she became royal, but where, in relation to Regina? How old was Regina when Cora was the Queen of Hearts and traveling to Wonderland from Fairy Tale? -- Field trip to...Storybrooke? -- OMG. Is Anastasia really dead?! And if so, my shows need to STOP KILLING OFF CHARACTERS. This has been a brutal television season for so many of my shows.
**(How I Met Your Mother, S9E23 "Last Forever") I have to say, not a fan of 2016 Lily hair with the bangs. Total fan that she and Marshall ended up having three kids though! -- Awesome: Judge Fudge promoted to Fudge Supreme. Disappointing: Barney and Robin's divorce. Shocking: How long it took Ted and The Mother to actually *get* married. -- Marshall: Ted, ask me if the Abominable Snowman called. Ted: Has the Abominable Snowman called? Marshall: Not yeti. -- Kinda cool that Barney ended up having a baby, a *girl*, and finally fell totally in love. -- Ted asking The Mother to marry him again. On *Thursday*. After seven years and two kids. My heart. They make me swoon. Even with as little as we've seen them, they are one of my favorite tv couples ever. Hi, my name is Dawn and I am a hopeless romantic. -- Lily: To Ted Evelyn Mosby, a man with more emotional endurance than anyone I know. It was a long, difficult road. Thank *God* we finally got here. --Ted: Aunt Lily wasn't wrong. It was, at times, a long, difficult road. But I'm glad it was long and difficult, because if I hadn't gone through hell to get there, the lesson might not have been as clear. You see, kids, right from the moment I met your mom, I knew: I have to love this woman as much as I can, for as long as I can, and I can never stop loving her, not even for a second. I carried that lesson with me through every stupid fight we ever had, every 5am Christmas morning, every sleepy Sunday afternoon, through every speed bump, every pang of jealousy or boredom or uncertainty that came our way, I carried that lesson with me. And I carried it with me when she got sick. Even then, in what can only be called the worst of times, all I could do was thank God. Thank every god there is or ever was or will be and the whole universe and anyone else I could possibly thank, that I saw that beautiful girl on that train platform and that I had the guts to stand up, walk over to her, tap her on the shoulder, open my mouth and speak. -- The "TM" conversation about the yellow umbrella was pure awesomeness. It was creative and witty and they delivered their lines to perfection. -- Tracy! Her name is Tracy McConnell! (Finally. Thank God. I would have lost my mind.) -- So he ends up with Robin anyway? And I guess I'm ok-ish with that (the blue French horn was a nice, if predictable, touch) but I am heartbroken that they killed The Mother. I haven't been this sad about a show ending since Friends a decade ago.
**(The Blacklist, S1E18 "Milton Bobbit") OMG, The Undertaker and his removable nose are way creepy. I was unprepared for that. -- So it was Red who hired the "apple man." Interesting. I wouldn't have thought that. -- Red: You rascal. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find a Bosnian in San Salvador! Professor: Wish it was harder. -- How is it good security to answer the hotel room door without checking who was on the other side, Liz? What if it had been Tom instead of Red?? -- Red and Dembe watching tv and laughing. This show has so much brilliant comic relief. And what was Red's obsession with the yogurt-covered pretzels? -- The jig is up, Tom Keen. What is that key? What is the mission? Who is it for? And what does it have to with Berlin?!
**(The Middle, S5E17 "The Walk") Frankie: What kind of name is Beyonce? Is it French? I wonder if her parents just made it up. -- For all the things high school me had in common with Sue, having *five* prom dates? Not one of them. I'm lucky I had *one*. -- That was a pretty cool book project Axl helped Brick set up. And even funnier that he accidentally filmed himself instead of the books. -- Frankie: It wouldn't be prom unless some poor Heck went with Weird Ashley. -- Wow. Axl actually stood up to Darrin in defense of Sue. I love that he shows he cares in real ways, just when no one is looking. -- DARRIN AND SUE!! Ohhhh!! So sweet how he found her at prom and told her her he didn't care about prom but he cared about her and couldn't stop thinking about her and THAT KISS!! So so happy! Like clap-my-hands-and-squeal-and-blink-back-tears happy.
**(Modern Family, S5E18 "Las Vegas") Very laugh-worthy, between Jay continuing to find out that there was always one floor better than the one he was staying on, how awkward all of Phil's magic props appeared to the butler, and Gloria and "Rebarka," I was definitely amused.
**(Grey's Anatomy, S10E16 "We Gotta Get Out of This Place") I didn't give a rat's hiney about Mer's project or Der's sensors or Alex and Jo and their stupid form declaring their love for HR. I didn't care about the cases of the week or Chief Weber's birthday woes. But the scenes between Catherine, Jackson and April were very moving (I loved the way April cared that their spontaneous wedding hurt Catherine's feelings and that she made Jackson apologize to his mother). I laughed at Weber walking away down the hall with the bucket of guts that it turned out his patient with the absorbed twin didn't want to keep after all, because it was still gross, no matter how rare it was. And I am baffled by the current incarnation of Cristina and Owen. Watching her try to force him into the dating world is just bizarre.
**(Mom, S1E21 "Broken Dreams and Blocked Arteries") They actually managed to find a cute dress for Violet to wear while tremendously pregnant. She looked pretty and prom-like, despite her enormous belly. -- I have to admit, the chemistry on this show is pretty great, considering it's just the first season. Their lines and delivery make me laugh multiple times per episode. I can think of some shows that haven't figured how to do that three seasons in (ahem, 2 Broke Girls). -- Watching the previews for the season finale, I swear Violet better not change her mind and keep the baby. I have liked her decision to use adoption and if they bait and switch, I will be disappointed.
**(Revolution, S2E17 "Why We Fight") I am equally appalled by how stupid the core group can be (seriously, Gene, banging into stuff when you're supposed to be hiding from the Patriots?) and how funny their insults are (calling Gene "AARP," referring to Monroe's "discount empire," and telling Monroe and Miles they fight like sorority girls). I suppose they are off to Austin now. But how will Aaron and Priscilla know where to find them when they show up and everyone is gone?
**(Reign, S1E16 "Monsters") OMG there was a giant *human* fang left in Olivia's back from The Darkness. Yikes. -- They certainly didn't get very far into that giant cake in which the servant girls were searching for the lone bean that will make one lucky girl "queen for the day." -- So is Henry suffering from mental illness or a brain tumor or what? Did he seriously tell Mary to get it on with the "Queen of the Bean?!" -- Bash [to Francis]: Listen to you. You have Mary and the crown and all of France puckering its lips to your ass, and still you're threatened by a bastard in exile. -- Despite the creative liberties the writers take with this show, knowing the Francis does not die, historically, by drowning takes away some of the intensity of him falling through the ice. -- Nostradamus has a sad history, losing his wife and small children all to the Plague. -- Let me see if I can get this right: Lola ends up engaged to Lord Julian, who was supposed to marry Greer until he caught her kissing Leith. Greer ends up engaged to Lord Castlebury, the spice trader, after all, to preserve her honor. Henry, who has clearly gone off his nut (and is walking around barefoot??), forces Bash to marry Lady Kenna, whom Bash, self-proclaimed, "doesn't much like" and stay in French court to watch Mary be in love with Francis. Yes, Lola, this was indeed a very strange day.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Currently: April 3, 2014
This week at the Broken Road house...
Reading... The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. A Lenten daily devotional. Magazines. Blogs. Twitter. Facebook. I like to read.
Feeling... a vacation hangover. Boy howdy, am I. Getting back into the swing of the daily routine is exhausting (but worth it). There is laundry to catch up on, banking chores to handle, housework calling for my attention, work responsibilities to check on. I don't even know where to start!
Racing... through the airport to make a connection. And missing it by three minutes. No joke.
Using... fresh parsley from my planter by the handfuls and still there is more and more and more. Note to self: Parsley *really* likes the light on the front side of the house far more than the backside.
Smelling... the very last of the orange blossoms for this year. I am sad when they start to fade, but so grateful I have them to enjoy for even a short time.
"Currently" is a weekly link-up, hosted by Ot & Et.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Snapshot from Along the Broken Road: March 2014
A photo of me:
1) Candle scents* this month:
Peppermint Swirls. Christmas Cookie. North Pole. ... It's just impossible to burn candles when the entire world smells like orange blossoms!
2) What I am reading this month (you can find me on Goodreads!):
A Tale of Two Cities (Charles Dickens) - Another book on my "was forced to read it in school and, therefore, hated it, attempting to re-read it as an adult of my own free will, to see if my feelings change" list. Let me just say, it would never have taken me this long to finish, if Mr Dickens weren't so unnecessarily blather-y. On and on and on, with far too much description--not to mention the time he spends repeating himself, often word for word, in consecutive sentences--that did nothing to move the story along. Which is a shame, because the story, itself, is actually quite good. When I wasn't reading four solid pages of landscape description, the plot and the characters kept me very engaged. If I could rate just that, on its own, it would be a definite "4 stars" but the rest weighed it down to a three.
The Kommandant's Girl (Pam Jenoff) - I can't speak for the historical accuracy of this book, but I really enjoyed this story. It was engaging and moved right along the entire time. I found most of the characters likable or sympathetic, even some that surprised me. The was a part toward the end that even made me tear, which almost never happens to me! I also liked that it made me think a lot about what I would do if faced with such difficult choices.
The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag (Alan Bradley) - Just getting started with this one. "A Tale of Two Cities" really ate up a bunch of my reading time this month.
3) Movies I saw:
The Monuments Men - I wasn't sure what to expect, but I really enjoyed this one. Good drama, some intense moments, plenty of humor. I'm glad we went to see this one.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty - I almost didn't watch this (it was the in-flight film from my flight back to Florida), but about five minutes or so in, something caught my eye and I plugged my earbuds into the jack. And I was hooked. Excellent message and lots of laughs.
4) Calendar image for the month:
5) New recipes tried this month:
Meatball Tortellini Soup. Creamy Honey Mustard. Lasagna Pinwheels.
6) Restaurants where I ate:
Olive Garden. Miller's Ale House. The Rooftop Lounge (Laguna Beach, CA). Uva Bar (Downtown Disney at Disneyland). Haven Gastropub (Orange, CA, for brunch).
7) Five things I am loving this month:
1. Epcot Flower and Garden Fest Outdoor Kitchens. I am so thrilled they brought this back for a second year. I hope it becomes a permanent fixture.
2. Orange blossoms. I live for this time every year!
3. Relishing the last few opportunities to wear a sweater because it's cool outside, not because the office air conditioning is set to "meat locker."
4. While I was on vacation, I attended a Lutheran church service that was *actually* traditional. As someone who was raised very traditionally, this fed my soul in a way I cannot properly express.
5. Big, soft, extra thirsty new towels. It's the little luxuries in life that make it rich. So glad I splurged on the better quality towels!
8) Three goals I had this month and three goals for next month:
1. Next bathroom decision: I need some sort of fabric to cover the cornice over the small window. (Found, applied, and put up!)
2. Fifteen magazines out last month? How about sixteen in March! (Nine. I'm a little disappointed in myself. But I *was* gone for six days to end the month...)
3. I need to weed some clothes out of my closet. There are some I haven't worn since we moved into the house and others that simply need to be retired and replaced. My wardrobe may require a little updating soon. (Not only did I cull the closet contents, but I also found some new tops on crazy good sale, *two* new dresses--what?!--and two pairs of flats, all for just over $100 total. I'm such an overachiever.)
1. Find a slab of granite for the bathroom vanity counter.
2. I'd like to find a little new-to-me music for my iPod. It's been far too long since I've added anything new to the shuffle rotation.
3. I'm going to be modest on magazines this month and shoot for twelve, because I will be traveling again in April, and clearly that poses an issue. Heh, Issue. I am so punny.
9) The best part of this month and the worst part of this month:
The best: A much needed vacation. Finally getting to meet G. Our awesome new shower was finally ready to use.
The worst: Missing my connection on my return flight by three minutes after sprinting through the airport. (Although they put me on another flight and I only had to wait about two hours.)
10) A photo I took this month:
Some photos just begged to be played with a little more when you edit them. Like this one of Tower of Terror at California Adventure. I cannot even tell you how much fun I had making this one!
*All scents are Yankee Candle, unless otherwise noted.
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