For Supergirl!

If you happen to be dressed up as Supergirl for Halloween you might enjoy a visit to this website www.bloodlinesofsalem.org and if you're not dressed up and you have a strange fascination with the Salem Witch Trials, you might like to visit as well.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Yay for Pumpkins and Candy Corns and Little Girls dressed up as Fairies!!!

And One More Thing...

Can I just say I LOVE the Turner Classic Movie Channel. Nothing like a good old Black and White film with no commericals to keep you company while your flatmate is off gallavanting in Disneyland with out you.

Tonight's selection: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (the original, not the Brangelina version).

Sigh.

Suspicion

My darling little sister is always posting movie reviews. Tonight it's my turn. Last night I had planned on doing my homework, but much to my chagrin I left my textbook at work on my desk so I couldn't follow my original plan. So instead I opted for a semi-lazy evening. After vacuuming and trying to hunt down the bad smell in the house (I think something must have either crawled in the crawl space or the roof and given it's life--it's definitely a dead smell. Ugh!) I made myself comfortable on the couch with my latest crochet project and the cat sleeping (warmly) on my lap; I turned on a movie I DVR'd on a whim-Suspicion (a Hitchcock classic, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, best classified as a psychological thriller.) If your looking for a GOOD movie, I recommend this one.

Enjoy.

A Night at the Opera

Every so often my flatmate decides we need a little bit of cultural enlightment, last year it was the ballet, this year the Opera. She decided we would go see a production of Madame Butterfly. We got all gussied up (as gussied as we get in our world) and headed out for a night on the town.

We arrived a little early at the theatre and got invited to attend a pre-opera lecture where a very well educated lady explained some of the thematic elements of the music and a little of what we would be seeing as the opera progressed. This would prove incredibily worthwhile later on as the entire opera was in Italian!

The music was gorgeous, the scenery was amazing--a single japanese house set on a hillside complete with long grasses that stuck out everywhere--it's kind of hard to explain in words. The kimonos Madame Butterfly wore were fabulous...

The singing in Italian with the subtitles, not so much. It was kind of like watching dubbed Godzilla movie where they take 10 minutes to say a 5 word sentence. I had a hard time keeping up--thankfully I had read the synopsis in the program and had listened to the lecture so I wasn't completely lost.

And did I mention the music...? It was gorgeous (sans the singing). I may have to invest in a instrumental version on Madame Butterfly. But wouldn't recommend listening to it in a warm, dark location...talk about a nap trap! It's rather like watching a yoga video or listening to a Beethoven cd...very relaxing...you're getting very sleepy...

For the record--I DID not fall asleep in the theatre! I reserve all pre-bedtime napping for the recliner when I watch movies at home.

And I can't forget to mention--it's always a very interesting experience to attend the Theatre with what can only be referred to as "seasoned theatre goers". If you've ever been to the theatre you know exactly who I'm talking about...fossilized women in low cut sequin gowns, bearded men in tuxedos, etc., etc., etc. If you love people watching you should go to the theatre some time, just remember as my favorite little sister has so aptly said regarding public commentary, "we should be quiet."

I Can Drive BIG Things

Yesterday I had the opportunity to drive one of the Fleet vehicles to deliver a scanner. I had hoped for a minivan with fold down seats—something not too big—imagine my surprise when I was issued the Ford Club Wagon 350 which boasts seating for 12 with cargo space to boot. I was less than thrilled to think of driving this monster out of the parking lot let alone all the way to O-town. I'm a big sissy when it comes to driving anything bigger than my car…on occasion I drive Marge's Escape without incident, but I'm accustom to my little tiny car. So the thought of sailing this beast was almost too much for me.

I had to be to O-town bright and early (8:30am—it was even my choice!) So I got to take the van home overnight. I was scared to drive this bus alone, so Marge offered to follow me all the way home so I would get there in one piece without killing myself or anyone else. After a 5 minute backing job into our driveway the van sat overnight waiting for my upcoming adventure.

Then next morning the van and I travelled to O-town, finished our work and then back to the Fleet garage without incident. I'm always surprised by the hyper-vigilance that goes into driving a vehicle that doesn't belong to me. I was able to maintain proper following distance, stopping time, and even kept my hands at 10 and 2!

And I have to admit I was a little sad not to be driving "My Van" to work this morning…not that I'm going to go out and buy a Club Wagon anytime soon. I'm not quite ready for that step.

My Week in Review

Today is Paddington Bear's 50th Birthday and Thanksgiving in Canada (or Canadia, as I like to call it).

Yesterday our toilet tank decided to give us a shower. The Toilet Strikes Again FYI -- make sure all hoses are attached in the toilet tank before attempting a "test flush"

Saturday (the day before yesterday) we had company all day long...it was a little like Grand Central Station there for awhile. We had a visit from Pila and Sam, Toby's newlywed Aunt & Uncle, and finally Mr. and Mrs. Evans. We had planned to see Jekyll and Hyde but settled for The Messengers because the prior was sold out. Chili was made and eaten, creepy movie was watched--"watched" is a very loose term...watching a scary movie at our house is kind of like watching Mystery Science Theater 2000--there's always a runnining commentary. After the movie, Stories were told and more laughing was done...ask Mr. Evans about the "one-eyed" cat.

Friday -- a night out. My Flat mate and I went to a dinner sponsered by her boss. There was a delicious chocolate mousse cake. So delicious in fact the chocolate content caused a major-minor migraine the next Morning.

Thursday -- Pretty much a blur as are the previous days of the week...

Picture Tag!

Here are the rules: All you have to do is go to your 6th picture album folder, pick the 6th picture and post it. After that, tag 5 friends...

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My 6th picture album folder includes only 5 pictures from a visit to Joanie's Restaurant. Various photos of my nephews eating ice cream. Since there are only 5 pictures, I don't have to play along.

If you're one of my 5 friends and you want to play along. Feel free.

Paris,

like every pretty woman,

is subject to inexplicable whims of romance,

beauty,

and ugliness.

~Honoré de Balzac

I'm Still Standing

Last week my beloved housemate fell victim to a nasty little bug, she was quite literally down and out for the better part of three days. Everyday I would come home from work and find her passed out on the couch in a NyQuil induced slumber, even with the excitement of the new nieces being born she was unreachable. She has since recovered, but all week I have been fighting the minor symptoms of what may in fact be the same bug. I felt fine just long enough to pay a visit to the Brother and baby Matilda only to come home and shortly thereafter have my nose start running like an Olympic athlete. I was sure that by yesterday I too would be confined to my comfy bed, but not so. I am still going, thanks to the beloved jar of DayQuil that has accompanied me to my desk each day. If only I had a "sick" excuse to get out of my homework!