The Fallout of Amazon

Like so few things in life, this gives me an absolute giddy-as-a-schoolgirl-feeling....

Fallout 3 has a release date of October 28th and I've preordered my collector's edition copy :) Sadly, it's not in the original turn based, overhead view style, but I still think it's exciting. Even more exciting would have been if they would have released this as a MMORPG. At that point, I would have screeched and passed out with a grin on my face. That's ok though, you can't always get what you want (but you can try sometimes). Along with the game, I'm getting a bobble head Pip Boy, a metal lunch box and a book - woot !

I also added The Host to my Amazon order. I had a brief internal struggle with ordering this, but whatever, I went ahead and did it. I also have Dark Lover (thanks Mels) and Hairstyles of the Damned on the way. And for audio enjoyment, Brazilian Groove. Putumayo World Music has some great CD's. I learned of them from driving around with our real estate agent of all people. We found Brazilian Lounge at Powell's yesterday, but realized that Brazilian Groove was the one I really liked, so I had to remedy that. We also got French Café which is nice too.

It's a lovely, lazy Sunday. I plan to try a new recipe for meatloaf tonight - so I'll report back with pictures and commentary. I also got fingerling potatoes from Trader Joe's that I can't wait to try.

Enjoy !

Running Like Hell

I've officially committed myself to participating in the Run Like Hell 5k Race in Portland on Oct. 19th. The good thing is, this will force me to do some training, buy some new running shoes (which I've been putting off for a few months) and get some resemblance of exercise in my life. Woot ! I don't foresee dressing up, but I might surprise you.

I went back to Taglio Salon last night and saw Terra. She's awesome and does a great job with hair. After an ever-so-slight nudge, I ended up minus 5 inches. It's a bit of a shock to reach back and have no hair ! So now, it's just below my shoulders. I've been itching to do something but I haven't really known what so this is a great remedy. I'll get it dyed this weekend too and then I'll really feel sassy !

Roderic is particularly spry this morning as he gets word that his beloved Uerige Altbier is being imported to the US after nearly 11 years of absence from his life. We'll be on a mission this weekend as we check out a couple of secret Portland locations to see if we can find its existence. Let's hope the US rep is correct !

Fred is the first puppy I had the pleasure of having in my life. My mom and dad brought him home one day when I was 21 years old and I still remember how amazingly cute he was ! Puppies are cute. Dachshund puppies are cute. Fred's an old man now and his age is starting to show. They feel senility is to blame as well as an infection in his gums. I'll have to get a picture or two scanned in to post, because he really is a cutie.

Fred, feel better soon. Cloe sends a hug too =^..^=

Rose Mouth

Crazy cosmic forces caused me to happen upon Gianluca Mattia and his amazing new wave version of the pin up girl. Amazing, bizarre and beautiful things abound ! Go look for yourself :)

It seems to have been an intense last week or two. It's been work, play, sleep, work, play, sleep.....in that order, everyday without fail. More work than play, sadly - but sometimes life is like that. I've been inspired on several occasions with ideas and mental scripts of things I've wanted to get up here but for one reason or another, (see second sentence of this paragraph) it hasn't happened. As luck would have it, I can't for the life of me gather those thoughts together right now. I often wish work was different or perhaps I wished that I worked differently - I get there and that's all I do (with the very occasional peak at email) is work. I find myself intense (there's that word again) on the day and focused on the task at hand. I would rather push myself than fudge around and have to stay late or work harder to make up for the distractions. I find this job to be different and more intense than any other I've ever done. Don't get me wrong - I love what I do, but I sometimes daydream about that patch of moss on the other side of the fence.

I'm going to the coast this weekend and hope to get some beautiful shots to share. I plan to make a concerted effort at creative photographic evidence for all to enjoy.

One other item from the edge - Read Your Mail ! Not one but TWO pieces of mail attempted to pull the wool over my eyes yesterday. In desperate times come desperate measures, so just read your mail. Not email, snail mail. It's evil - keep it in line.

It's FRIDAY !

>: l

I am not amused.

Monday mornings have to be the most awful thing. Ever.

I was telling Susan awhile back how sad I have felt because since my Mormor passed away, I hadn't felt any presence of her. No dreams, no feelings of her being near to say goodbye....just, nothing. I have a strong memory of my other grandmother making a presence in my room shortly after she passed away. I had her bedroom furniture and one piece was a large mirror over a desk of sorts. I turned to look and she was there. Her reflection staring back at me. It wasn't scary, but lovely and reassuring.

I awoke this morning from having a dream that my Mormor wanted to give me a pair of earrings. They were small, polished round stones in the shapes of perfect little orbs -- pink and a dark green kind of swirled together. That's odd. I was crying when she gave them to me because they meant so much to me.

I don't know what this all means. I do know that I'm extremely tired and wish I didn't have to go to work. I know that when I get there, I will immerse myself in it and it will be ok, but geez, Mondays are no fun.

Now this is fun:

A potpourri of sorts...

The weather in Portland has been beautiful. Sunny, warm days which cool off into lovely, crisp evenings. The perfect weather for driving, relaxing and exploring - which is exactly what we have done. Our big adventure this weekend consisted of cheese, the ocean and comics. First stop was Tillamook where we purchased cheddar cheese curds which is a taste sensation everyone should experience. Sadly, you can only purchase the curds *at* the factory, but it's worth the drive !

We had fun in Astoria and found an amazing comic book store which was oddly enough called, Amazing Stories Comics & Games. Awesome store - elegantly put together and a great selection of books, figures and games. They have a location in Vancouver also, but it does not compare !

We had a truly yummy lunch at T. Paul's Urban Cafe. Quesadillas, sandwiches, chips, salsa and ambiance without being pretentious. I recently read on Wiki that The Goonies and Overboard were filled in Astoria -- how can you go wrong with that ?

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In The Kitchen

Back by popular demand is my version of the crustless quiche. I used to make this every weekend when I was faithfully low carbing. It's easy, tasty and the leftovers make an easy-to-go breakfast. While the measurements are all in my head and I typically make it with my eyes closed, here's the gist:

6-8 eggs
1/2 cup milk or cream
1/2 cup of mayo
fresh chopped spinach
salt/pepper
cayenne pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Whisk it up, pour into a greased pie dish and bake for about 30-40 minutes at 350.

You can add in chopped bacon, ham, sausage, tomato, sauteed onion or mushrooms -- whatever you have around the kitchen that sounds good. I like to be creative and let the quiche take me where it wants to go.

Any blog post would not be complete without paying homage to Pioneer Woman. I utilized her Pot Roast recipe and it's in the oven now.

The cast of characters to the left, pre-preparation. That's Happy German Beer Guy in the blue. It's not a meal without his presence.

I added red wine to the beef broth while deglazing the pan. Also, added but not pictured is the garlic !

There is the end result before retiring to the oven. Now that says lovin' all over it.

Enjoy your Sunday and remember -- True Blood tonight !

So this vampire walks into a bar...

I'm a little late with the post, but True Blood made its television debut last Sunday. On a whim, I had picked up Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris sometime last year and really enjoyed it. It was quirky and fun, but it had a bit of an edge. I love picking up an unknown book and being pleasantly surprised. So soon after immersing myself in the Southern Vampire world, I learned that they would be making a TV series and have been anticipating it for the last 6 months.

The show is fun (like the books) but as with most books put into film, I was irritated with some of the casting and dazzled to see the world of Bon Temps in true colour. To me, Bill was the biggest glitch. While I think he smolders quite well, he was far from the gentleman I remember introduced in DUD. I think his look is a relatively good fit but his personality is a bit more edgy than it should be. Sam is portrayed as much younger than I ever imagined. At times, Sam has reminded me of Holling Vincoeur from Northern Exposure. Obviously, not exclusively, but there are similaries as far as personality and demeanor.

Tara is too ghettotastic.

Sookie is too A cup.

Picking aside, I think it's fun and will continue watching for now. While Eric hasn't been introduced yet, that's really what we're all waiting for, right ?

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I've been feeling "off" lately and I can't put my finger on it. I don't feel bad per se, but I feel achy and restless at times. It could be that I'm fighting something off but I haven't really had any other symptoms.

Wait.







Here's a random vision for you. As I go through life, I am plagued by lines from Rocky Horror. Mostly the audience participation lines. As I typed the ending to the previous sentence, "What about the nasty little symptom ?" screamed out in my brain. This happens often - not the symptoms, but the act of random Rocky Horror lines. Oi.

Now I really feel off.

and life returns to the ebb and flow we knew...

So after the climatic moments we expected, we're back. I have refrained from posting about my Twilight finalization because I can't seem to find the words that will work with what I'm thinking.

The series was an emotional drain, but in a good way for the most part. I loved the characters. I loved the emotions the words brought forward in my being. I love the giddy-i-can't-wait-to read-again feeling I got while dancing through these books.

As a forgotten lover or your lost favorite pair of socks, I feel lonely.

Upon finishing, I found Breaking Dawn to be exciting and action packed. As I came down off my high, I felt jilted and awe struck at so many of the happenings (or lack thereof).

The pregnancy.
The transformation.
The "war".
The new characters.
The lack of Edward.
The name.
The lack of Alice.

The lack of magic.

This book appears to have been written in haste. The ending being brought to a quick and sloppy climax, only to come crashing down like a deck of ill placed cards.

Why have you forsaken me ?

I am not regretful to have read Breaking Dawn, don't get me wrong. I couldn't/wouldn't NOT have read it. But somehow, I feel sad. And as much as I thought I'd want to run back and begin Twilight all over again, I feel that throbbing pain one gets when they drive by an old lover's home or when you instinctively order what you always drank as a couple. I guess I just need time to heal and move on before I go down that path again.

"Hello Bill, it's been quite some time. How are you ? You look well...."

Other than the mundane broken heart, it's Friday ! This girl is ever-so-happy to be graced with another Friday and another disk of Lost to take her mind off the fresh mental paper cuts.

It's over...

I'm done.

I finished BD last night.

Full review to follow...soon. Roderic is flying through Eclipse and as soon as he's finished, I'll spill.

I promise.

Now go have a good Tuesday. *grumblegrumble*