Stuff other than pirate!fic...

[dwgm]

1) On a rather "omgwtf" note, check out this, dear ones. Link gacked from mimesere. To paraphrase one of her commenters, makes one just want to go back to bed and hide under the covers. And as I said, talk about un-American.

2) Gads, it's Thursday, the last day of March and I have not a) posted anything about Easter, or (more importantly) the Easter Brunch recipes I promised, and b) posted all the recs I had in mind to do on crack_van for PotC. These concerns must be remedied.

Spring Break started on Good Friday. Got my hair cut (and I can't tell you what a relief that was--it was REALLY out of hand), did shopping for the Easter Brunch (only had to go to three fricking stores to get what I needed. Do you have any idea how much I hate shopping?), then sat down to quickly finish the Request Ficlet for celandineb I'd been working on. This took me rather longer than anticipated, and as I was flirting with a cold (possibly psychosomatic, brought on by the enormous number of unhealthy people at work--everything from lingering coughs to pneumonia to a viral malady so contagious it required the victim to be quarantined) I elected to stay home rather than go to Santa Barbara as originally planned. Rested and wrote, and read, which was altogether delightful, instead.

Saturday I put up some decorations and then waited for ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and amy_leone to come get Mom and I so we could go pick up radiumx in L.A. and go to the Body Works 2 exhibit at the California Science Center. They (The Mrows) were running late, but we made it to the museum in time to see the IMAX film, The Human Body, at 7:30, grabbed a bite at the museum's Rose Garden Cafe (the Shrimp Salad was excellent), and then spent about three hours looking at the Body Works 2 exhibits on the first and third floors. It was open from 10 A.M. friday (3/25) straight through to midnight on Easter (3/27), and although we avoided the really horrendous crowds by going late in the evening on Saturday, there was still a line to get in when we left at 12:30 A.M. It was an amazing combination of science and art, and I wasn't much squicked by any of it, in spite of the fact that these are REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. While perusing the displays, we also ran into an old friend and a co-worker who were there, and whom we noticed in spite of the crowds and the REAL HUMAN BODIES, OMG. Got home and to bed at about 2:30 A.M.

Easter went swimmingly, in spite of all the last minute preparation needed for the brunch. Got up and baked Cream Cheese Pastries, made a double batch of dough for Dove Rolls and left it to rise, and fixed the Marinated Leg of Lamb and washed the yams and popped both in the oven before toddling off to church.

We left at 11:25 for the 11:30 Mass, and not only got there on time, but got our preferred seats! The place really filled up, shortly thereafter, and it was finally standing room only. My favorite priest did the service -- he is an intelligent speaker, and can actually sing on key, and DOESN'T LAG, which is always a nice change. The new organ was in evidence, and sounded really wonderful--like a whole orchestra! Amazing! And they actually sang songs I liked, which is a switch--all too often they lean toward these kiddie-pop sounding songs that only detract from the experience for me. Arg. I was always very old school about church music, even as a kid. The new stuff has no hint of the profound about it, for the most part, and frankly that's what it's all about, for me. I find the pop-commercialization of religion appalling. If one's relationship to God can be summarized by a Jesus Fish on your bumper, why bother? But probably that's just me. Don't get me started. Must...resist...rant...on...religion...

Brunch was truly lovely. The menu consisted of Mimosas (thanks to weemonkey6 and one of her current boyfriends who stopped at the store for both champagne and Minute Maid), colored eggs (Grandma did the honors, this year, and they were beautiful), Mixed Fresh Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries) with brown sugar and either sweet or sour cream, sliced watermelon, asparagus, baked yams, the above-mentioned Marinated Leg of Lamb, Dove Rolls, and Cream Cheese Pastries, and lots of See's candy, hand chosen by yours truly. I'll make links of the recipes' names after I post them to prettygoodfood. Good company was also had at Brunch: besides weemonkey6 and her Current Boyfriend, ladymora, dr_mrow, gingersnapps, and shockwavesix also joined us.

The rest of the week has been enjoyable, and relaxing. Didn't do much but write and read and rest on Monday. Tuesday, Mom and I watched a really interesting movie on HBO, The Third Miracle starring Ed Harris and Anne Heche (I mention this because it's so unusual for me to give my full attention to anything on TV, these days), then zoomed over and picked up the school newsletter at the printer in Glendale and had dinner at the Tam O'Shanter Inn on Los Feliz. I LOVE that restaurant. The servers were friendly and most attentive, and the food was spectacularly good (Red Snapper with a Lobster & Shrimp Cream Sauce, Mashed Potatoes, steamed asparagus and carrots--which all sound so mundane, but were done perfectly--a Pear & Goronzola Salad to start, and a Chocolate Soufflé to end), and the whole place is designed with a Scottish theme--beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tartans, and pewter. Walt Disney and his cohorts used to go there a lot during the 30's and 40's, for lunch. The restaurant has been bought out by Lawry's, since, but the decor hasn't changed much, though they sell more Prime Rib and creamed spinach than they used to.

Yesterday I met our school librarian at the Indian restaurant in Thousand Oaks, Kohrinoor, and had their buffet, and talked for a couple of hours about what a weird place the world is and we should just go on a cruise and forget about it. Then, a while later, Mom and I went to The Lobster Restaurant at the Santa Monica pier. A gorgeous evening, and the food, again, was wonderful. They serve a sort of garlic and herb and olive oil mixture with crusty french bread to begin with, and you really have to watch it and not eat too much as the main dishes are great--we split a house salad (which has dried cherries and gorgonzola), and then the Filet of Sole with artichokes and capers, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. All perfect. And great, friendly service, too. And an ocean view!

Jeesh. You'd think all I do is eat. I need to stop that.

After dinner, we went to visit Uncle Fran (who will be 97 on April 14) in the nursing home. He seemed pretty good, still very sharp, mentally, and doing lots of reading (Kaye keeps him supplied with large-print books from the Santa Monica Library). The nursing home is a nice one, very homey and clean, but I am somewhat concerned about the lack of staff in evidence during the hour we were there (we got there at 7:00 P.M. and the living room lights were out, and everyone in bed, except for Fran, who was seated in his fancy electric wheelchair in his room). I very much wish the place wasn't so far from us--an hour, through the usual 405 traffic. I would hate to move him away from the Santa Monica friends that are so faithful about visiting him, but if he was in that nice new assisted living place here in Simi, Mom and I could visit easily and often, and really keep an eye on him more. But then, again, he is really closer to some of the people in Santa Monica than he is to us. It's a worrying thing, though.

Well, the above was probably way more information than anyone needed to hear. I'll post the recipes, now, and then it's back to pirate!fic and {{cringe}} RL issues.

Hugs to all!

Comments

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

I was pondering your post while peeling potatoes, it's very conductive to thinking deep thoughts. ;)

I went on a school trip to Body Worlds when it was here in Berlin, about five years ago. The experience left me in two minds. On one hand, it's undeniably fascinating. On the other, I couldn't stop thinking that this were humans once, and were now dead bodies, and they were used for entertainment and to make money. Reminded me of an Auto de fe. Also, I seriously dislike the shifty guy who runs the whole thing. He may have started out as a scientist, but long since switched to entertainment, while still trying to sell it as science. Like "The Da Vinci Code", all sounds very interesting and cool, and the author says it's 100% true, but most of it is either made up or sidetracked so it fits the author's plan.

Uh. Babbling. Shutting up now.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

The experience left me in two minds. On one hand, it's undeniably fascinating. On the other, I couldn't stop thinking that this were humans once, and were now dead bodies, and they were used for entertainment and to make money.

Exactly what I felt. I wasn't at all sure about going to see it, when I first heard about it, but my little one, weemonkey6, and one of her other boyfriends, who is pre-med and taking an anatomy class, came home raving about it and with a fat book with pictures, and it just looked too interesting. Which it was. In a very weird way.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize you were in Berlin, btw. You are German? You don't write with an accent. (Which would seem a laughable statement, except that Brits are often detectable from the "sound" of their writing). I was never in Berlin, but I was in Hamburg for a few days once--rather delightful. I'd love the opportunity to see more of Germany, and the other countries of Europe, too. Someday...

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

I'm Russian, and I've been living in Berlin for about 15 years now. I went to school in San Diego for a year, so I still speak English with a SoCal accent, but my choice of words tends to be heavily influenced by my British friends. Also, my other half is English, and since we speak on the phone every night, I pick up a lot of Really Odd Words. :)

Ever since I moved into the Harry Potter fandom in 2001, I switched to BE spellings and word choice when I write, whether LJ or fiction. I'm fickle. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I switched to BE spellings and word choice when I write

I like their spellings and word choices, too, but I'm not consistent about it, so my PotC writing is sort of a mixture of both BE and American.

We were in Russia for a few days, too--St. Petersberg. Quite amazing. And we lived in San Diego when I was first married. But I was born in North Hollywood (about 30 miles from here), and grew up in this area. I love to travel, though, and one of the most fantastic things about being involved in the PotC fandom has been "meeting" folks from all over the world through Live Journal, and Black Pearl Sails. It's a wonderful thing to realize there are others like me out there.

[cjk1701.livejournal.com]

I was talking about StP with toorain when he came back from his one-week trip to Russia. It's such a European city, both in architecture and spirit. I'm from Moscow, which is openly barbaric and very much Russian in a way that StP is too refined for. I loved what I saw of then-Leningrad, but it was like going to a different country.

I agree, the international aspect of fandom is one thing that draws me to it again and again. There is some common idea that connects us (handsome repressed men in tight breeches and sexy but ridiculous wigs, for example), but apart from that we're all so very different that it's an entire education talking to other fans and getting to know what their worlds look like. I've met some wonderful friends that way. In fact, most of my really close friendships either started or continued online.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a nice Easter indeed, and with lots of good food :-)

I've only seen pictures from that kind of exhibition, and was rather squicked by the whole idea, even though they say the persons in question have donated their bodies, but I imagine it's interesting, in a creepy way. There's an artist over here who uses parts of animals that she has killed herself in her art, and that really freaks me out too, it doesn't feel right to make use of dead people or animals in such a way.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

it's interesting, in a creepy way

It wasn't as creepy as I thought it would be, but still...it's kind of weird to think about, even now. But, as you say, these people donated their bodies. I think the work by that artist you mentioned would make me even more uncomfortable.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's disturbing, and she's been much criticised, but still persists in doing it... *shudders*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There is some common idea that connects us (handsome repressed men in tight breeches and sexy but ridiculous wigs, for example)...

LOL!

but apart from that we're all so very different that it's an entire education talking to other fans and getting to know what their worlds look like.

It is, indeed. I find it particularly amazing (and humbling) that so many non-native English speakers write as well or better than I. A great many Americans see themselves and our country as the epitome of civilization, and it just is not true. I fear for the future of my country if its citizens don't start looking on themselves as members of the world community, rather than just as Americans.

But then, I'm one of those "crazy Californians", so what're you gonna do?

[berne.livejournal.com]

I was always very old school about church music, even as a kid. The new stuff has no hint of the profound about it, for the most part, and frankly that's what it's all about, for me. I find the pop-commercialization of religion appalling.

For A-Level Music, I'm studying Bach chorales and 'profound' is what you'd call it. I love them and what you typed struck me as what I haven't been able to put into words.

Also, on a completely different topic, is there a format for posting drabbles over at BPS? I've written one (my first ever one! *bounce*) for the most recent picture challenge and have been wondering about how to go about it. What do you do?

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

ewww that sounds really gross. The Body exhibit I think I could handle, although the last time we were at the Museum of Man in San Diego I got a little woozy when looking at the mummies.

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you had a very nice Easter and all that food....yum! We had Ethiopian for the first time last week in NYC, that was really good.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Re: music -- I was in choir for six years in Jr. High and High School, and was fortunate enough to have directors that liked to focus on really wonderful classical pieces. Yes, some of Bach's pieces are absolute genius--prayer in its purest form, as far as I'm concerned.

Re: posting - In the subject line you could put "Picture Challenge Drabble: [insert title here]" and then it would be easily identifiable.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I've never had Ethiopian food--what's it like?

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

It's not as gross as mummies, actually, as these are really well-preserved and just look like plastic, really. Also, the poses, and various displays are done in a very artistic way. Which in itself, is weird. 0.o

[cymbeline.livejournal.com]

Spicy! Also lots of use of lime flavoring. Its food you eat with your hands with the help of injera, a spongy flat bread.

[berne.livejournal.com]

Right. Thank you, love. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Loved those pics of Will/Gibbs/Jack/Ana that you found, btw. Wish Ana's face had been visible in one of them. Great screencaps.

[berne.livejournal.com]

Weren't they great? Everyone's so perfectly in-character in them.