My Music Monday

Sometimes I don't have My Music Monday posts planned out.

No........honest.

I might think of a song earlier in the week, but if I don't start the post, lord knows where that thought or song choice eventually goes.

Somewhere into the ether.

I just kept thinking this week something would come to me, but it didn't. So this afternoon, I devised my selection process.

Most every Sunday, we go to see my parents. I decided that whatever the last song to hit my iPod on the trip would be the song of choice.  Random?  Sure, but why not?

You're getting Jackson Browne's "For a Dancer", from his 1974 disk, Late for the Sky.

I love the disk, I love the song. It ranks up in the top 5 of all of Browne's songs.  It's a nice tune, with a decent life-philosophy, comparing yourself and all humans as dancers - and no matter how many steps you learn from others, "in the end there is one dance you'll do alone".  You are unique and your own person.

Maybe a bit heavy-handed, but as a teenager, it spoke to me. It still does.

I admire Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, and while they did a cover of this song on their album, Western Wall, I found it a failed attempt.  But somewhere in my mind, I never thought the original studio song could ever be topped.

I don't know Browne's actual vocal category. Most of the time he seems to high for a tenor, but he is a difficult one for me to sing along to. His voice can go too low for my low range, but I can't maintain his upper range.  And yes, I like to sing along when I'm alone, but he ranks up there for hardest for me to do that.

"For a Dancer" is no different, though it's easier than some other stuff on that disk, like "Fountain of Sorrow" being the most difficult.

Here it is.  Like it or not.

Slip Slidin' Away

...and here it is, Saturday evening and I thought I'd have nothing to blog about.

The plan (isn't there always a plan?) was go to the movies, but after a yoga class that turned out to be a crappy barre one, a questionable lunch and snow and freezing rain, we opted to call it a day and go home and snuggle with the animules.

I was thinking that a Shopping with Blobby segment was coming your way today. But the blogging powers-that-be had other plans.

We are about 18 days short of a year since the last (known) car came into our yard.

I say "known" because it's impossible to monitor this 24/7.

Last week, I know there was an accident a few hundred feet further down from the usual crash site(s), but that car hit the cement (say like Granny on the Beverly Hillbillies) wall and broke through the new fence the city had just put up. But they weren't really in danger of coming into the yard.

I didn't even bother to walk down to check on them. The ambulance was pulling up at the same time, so I figured they had it covered.  Even worse - I didn't bother to take a picture. What's become of me???

But like most accidents here, it isn't what you hear, but what you don't. The change of noise in the traffic pattern is what signals that something is wrong. I never even heard the ambulance or fire engines this time. Or saw the lights.

We did walk out this time, but not even to the street level. We stood above in our snow-covered ground cover, looking down upon the two cars.

The one you see in the picture - well I don't know about that whole thing.  It is unclear (ha!)  if the small circle on the windshield was the amount of visibility they had (you'll have to click to enlarge) or if it just iced over after the driver got hauled away (by cop or ambulance).

The other car, not seen in the photo, looked fine from our angle, but we're guessing it was t-boned....the driver was still inside that car....texting.

And while I mentioned the snow and freezing rain and the title of this implies there was slipping and / or sliding, I don't know there was any of that going on. The tracks look dead-on of someone not even attempting to make a turn, and coming over one cement island that had a 5" curb, then across another lane of traffic.

Oddly, the t-bone thing doesn't surprise me at all. I've been waiting for it to happen for years, though I hoped thought there'd be a lot more trauma and wreckage.

Funnily, the biggest concern came from an elderly neighbor who called, a little bent out of shape that all the traffic was being diverted down our street (as they could no longer go down the hill) - even though he was just sitting in his living room watching the cars drive past.

Like I've said previously, I expect nothing to be done about this curve until someone loses their life.  ...and maybe not even then.

Well.....until next time.............    Stay tuned.



Song by: Paul Simon

You are the Best Part of Me

You know, sometimes a doggie (or kitty) is more than just the sum of its parts.

I love looking at, and playing with the pads of a dog or cat - they're quite tough and made to withstand a lot.

Petey's can take a beating, unless he gets rock salt or slush (or both) in them.  Then he can't seem to even stand, let alone walk.

Sophie's never seen anything harsher than an oriental rug. ...but she's a princess.

710 loves that no matter what state of consciousness Petey might be in, chances are the tip of his tale is always facing upward.  It's a constant source of amusement for him. 

If Petey is stretched out on the floor, Sophie will join him almost immediately. 

If Petey is stretched out (or passed out) on the couch, Sophie will join him almost immediately. 

Song by:  Neil Diamond

Chinese Brothers

Is it really cooking if you use a prepared sauce?

I actually think I could make a better tasting sauce for General Tso's chicken.  I just need to figure it out.

But I had the chicken and broccoli, and I really fought the urge to make the pasta dish I like so much.

We also had the Gen. Tso's sauce, but of course, I can't leave well enough alone - can I?

I cooked the chicken in a little bit of sesame oil and garlic instead of olive or vegetable oil. I didn't use a lot because I didn't want to overpower with that flavour and I wasn't quite sure how it would mix

I then sauteed the broccoli (in olive oil), but near the end, I put about a tablespoon of soy sauce (low sodium, of course) in, just to provide more flavour (a definite win!).

After that, I just combined the meat and veggies together and added the bottled sauce.

It all tasted pretty good - but I think I could do better on my own, given the time.

Some chopped scallions and toasted sesame seeds on top

It actually looked more appetizing too. I swear it's the lighting and my photography with iPhone 5.

Still, it's just enough to give me the confidence to make it all from scratch next time.



Song by: R.E.M. 

Thanks

It's hard to tell just by looking at me, but I am totally socially inept.

It's true.  I am.

Ok, going by the title image, maybe it's not so hard to tell.

I know how to say 'please' and 'thank you' - most of the time. But there are those times when life events happen that I just fumble any social graces I may have.

Births, Deaths, Weddings....you name it, I will inevitably forget to do or say the right thing at the right time. Even when I think of what should the right thing, my timing is off, or I think about it too late and not sure if that appropriate time has passed and I just end up looking like a rube.

However, I am trying to change. And instead of talking about doing something, I'm actually trying to do something.

Case in point:  Petey's escape.

Two young boys wanted to help find him and enlisted their father. And they were the ones to actually come to the dog's rescue - and ours. Probably more ours than Petey's.

Of course, I thanked Zach and his boys, but that just didn't seem enough. But what to do for a 3 and 6 year old. You know - from the gay neighbors - that doesn't sound too "Jerry Sandusky"?

My thought was not just to thank them, but to show them that their actions and good deeds have positive consequences.

Cupcakes.

Cupcakes make everything better - and who doesn't like a cupcake? Or several?

No one.  That's who.

Oh - and a bottle of wine for their parents.   ...though I'm giving Jessica and Zach cupcakes for themselves as well - even though Jessica seemingly had nothing to do with the search and rescue mission. And dog treats to Bo, who lent Petey his leash.

I could have bought fancy cupcakes, but Palmer and Taylor are young and don't care for that stuff - I'm assuming. So, I was happy to "make" them from a box.  But in my defense, they had cookies and cream icing.

I trekked over last night in the cold and dark with goodies in hand. The family was very grateful. The boys loved the cupcakes and Bo ate some of his dog treats in between getting me his ball to play with. Poor play-deprived Bo.

You could say I was being altruistic, but.......   I gave them 8 of the 16 cupcakes I made, meaning there were 8 left at home.

Because when I said everyone likes cupcakes, of course I meant 'me'.

So, maybe this is where my social behaviour modification needs to be...well...modified. I suppose I could have given them all to them, but in a previous life I'd never have given any.

Baby steps. I'm still learning.



Song by:  Shelby Lynne

Be Kind to My Mistakes

Yesterday, I posted the results for the 3rd Annual Oscar Guessing Game®.

In that post, I may have been too hasty in tallying the results, though I did say that Mr. Short Attention Span Theater (you know I keep linking to his blog, and it's so inactive. why do I keep doing this?) could audit them.

...and he did!

Even in his selection submission, he inferred that I might even cheat at this contest. Sure, I wrote it off as a "joke", but clearly he is dead serious in his inference.  Hmph!

In a private email yesterday, he called me out for calling him "an asshole" in yesterday's post, which I totally did not.

I might have inferred that he might think himself one for missing a major category altogether (do your Airplane reference now!).  Who knew I'd strike such a nerve? Who knew he had any?

In his private reply to me, he didn't even infer I was an asshole. He called me one outright. How rude!

I mean, look at him here* - wringing his hands with glee (or hoping he'd be on it!) so he can call me out on any error - large or small.

But err I did.  And it will cost me - probably in more ways than one.

The first price is humiliation.

In my rush to go to bed, after an intermittently long award show, or the prolonged pizza "gag", or the knowledge that I might have to hear Matthew McConaughey actually speak, I overlooked Mr. Mike's selection for Best Supporting Actress.

Yes, he picked the same one I did, which moves my blue marking to a pink one - which gives him the overall win. By one.

But, you only need to win by one.

I'm not sure I'd call it a 'definitive win' (though he didn't either - at least out loud), but it is a win nonetheless.  For him. Mike. The winner.

Perhaps Mike was right that my losing screw-up would be with Best Adapted Screenplay. But maybe, just maybe, if he did remember to pick a Best Animated Feature, he would have picked incorrectly keeping the contest in a 'tie' status.  We'll never know.    .....we'll never know.....

So the victory is his.   (clap clap clap)

The second price - at least in his mind - is commerce. Goods and services. Or as he likes to call it: a fruit basket. In the middle of winter. During a huge drought in California, which is driving up citrus costs - because g-d forbid, he doesn't want bananas. (oh, feel free to make any phallic joke you'd like at his expense. No......go on......I'll wait.)

Need I remind you him that our tie last year resulted in a wager of going dutch on drinks that he squelched on?  But by allllllll means, ask me for compensation for contest to which we never agreed there would be such.

Naturally he wants it overnighted. Instant gratification takes too long.

How high maintenance. Oh well, he's Peter's problem now!

Mike. to me, is like the gays to George Will: sore winners.

Like the fruit he might get, this is sour and my bookkeeping probably soured our friendship. Spoiled, like the bananas he detests so much.

Now for the record, I have love and admiration for a few in my life: 710, Brian Wilson, Mike, my mother - in that order, I might add. Now with his distrust, that list might be knocked down to three {sigh}

Hopefully we can get past this rift - though it might take some counseling. He's a fickle one, so you just never know.

Mike and Blobby:  in happier times.  With sodium lighting. **

P.S.  So Mike, best three out of five?  Anxiously waiting your reply.  {call me}



*I totally stole the title image from his own blog. I'm sure I'll get called out on that too. (though last year he turned me into Björk, but to be fair, I turned him into Cher / Don Ameche.)
** He conveniently did not address his aging secrets brought up in yesterday's entry.



Song by: Kate Bush

Nobody Wins

You know how yesterday I said I needed time to craft a potentially witty post?

I'm thinking - but only thinking - it was time well spent on holding off that extra day.

At the last minute, Mike came through - kind of. And only Mike. Again, we scared everyone else off. At least we're consistent.

I mean, he did submit his selections for the 3rd Annual Oscar Guessing Game®, but not in blog form - which turns out not to be a bad thing.  ...more on that in a bit.

Perhaps blogging is a dying art. I mean, if Mike is (unofficially) abandoning it, should we all be sitting up and taking note?

Perhaps we should - but do I want him really being a tastemaker for any of my life decisions? I'll have to marinate on this for a while and make my choices without giving him any credit - no matter on which side I come down.

Mike missed the Oscar telecast due to travel. He "claims" to this being the first one he's missed in history.

Since this was the 86th ceremony, I will go on record as saying that he looks damned good for his age. Maybe it's a Benjamin Button thing he's got going on.

Even if he just meant to say he hasn't missed a televised one, the first being in 1953, we really need to find out what kind of moisturizer he's using (Creme du Ponce de Leon, perhaps?). Though to be fair, the restaurant at which we met was dimly lit. Possibly on purpose.  But I saw no gauze or vaseline. Who knows what tricks are used for his purported  "youth".

Mike says he was leaving it up to me to be "honest" on who wins. I think I should be horribly horribly offended that he even felt the need to bring this up in the first place. He can audit - and might want to - if he feels the need.  ....more on that in a bit.

Results are below - recap is even farther down, but make the effort, you'll be glad you did.

The easiest (?) way to do this is:

Blobby selection wins
Mike selection wins
We both made the correct selection
Neither of us made the correct selection

Best picture

"12 Years a Slave" 

"American Hustle" 

"Captain Phillips"

"Dallas Buyers Club"

"Gravity" 

"Her" 

"Nebraska" 

"Philomena"

"The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Director

Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity"

Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"

Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"

David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Martin Scorsese, "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Lead actor

Christian Bale, "American Hustle"

Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"

Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"

Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"

Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Lead actress

Amy Adams, "American Hustle"

Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"

Judi Dench, "Philomena"

Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"

Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"

Supporting actor

Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”

Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”

Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”

Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Supporting actress

Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”

Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”

June Squibb, “Nebraska”

Animated feature film

“The Croods”

“Despicable Me 2”

“Ernest & Celestine”

“Frozen” *

“The Wind Rises”

Cinematography

“The Grandmaster,” Philippe Le Sourd

“Gravity,” Emmanuel Lubezki

“Inside Llewyn Davis,” Bruno Delbonnel

“Nebraska,” Phedon Papamichael

“Prisoners,” Roger A. Deakins

Costume design

“American Hustle,” Michael Wilkinson

“The Grandmaster,” William Chang Suk Ping

“The Great Gatsby,” Catherine Martin

“The Invisible Woman,” Michael O’Connor

“12 Years a Slave,” Patricia Norris

Documentary feature

“The Act of Killing”

“Cutie and the Boxer”

“Dirty Wars”

“The Square” 

“20 Feet from Stardom”

Documentary short subject

“CaveDigger”

“Facing Fear”

“Karama Has No Walls”

“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life”

“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall”

Film editing

“American Hustle,” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten

“Captain Phillips,” Christopher Rouse

“Dallas Buyers Club,” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa

“Gravity,” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger

“12 Years a Slave,” Joe Walker

Foreign language film 

“The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Belgium

“The Great Beauty,” Italy

“The Hunt,” Denmark

“The Missing Picture,” Cambodia

“Omar,” Palestine

Makeup and hairstyling

“Dallas Buyers Club,” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews

“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” Stephen Prouty

“The Lone Ranger,” Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

Original score

“The Book Thief,” John Williams

“Gravity,” Steven Price

“Her,” William Butler and Owen Pallett

“Philomena,” Alexandre Desplat

“Saving Mr. Banks,” Thomas Newman

Original song

“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”

“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”

“Let It Go” from “Frozen”

“The Moon Song” from “Her”

“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”

Production design

“American Hustle,” Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler

“Gravity,” Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard

“The Great Gatsby,” Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn

“Her,” Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena

“12 Years a Slave,” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker

Animated short film

“Feral”

“Get a Horse!”

“Mr. Hublot”

“Possessions”

“Room on the Broom”

Live action short film

“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)”

“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)”

“Helium”

“Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)”

“The Voorman Problem”

Sound editing

“All Is Lost,” Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns

“Captain Phillips,” Oliver Tarney

“Gravity,” Glenn Freemantle

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Brent Burge

“Lone Survivor,” Wylie Stateman

Sound mixing

“Captain Phillips,” Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro

“Gravity,” Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson

“Inside Llewyn Davis,” Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

“Lone Survivor,” Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Visual effects

“Gravity,” Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds

“Iron Man 3,” Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick

“The Lone Ranger,” Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier

“Star Trek Into Darkness,” Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton

Adapted screenplay

“Before Midnight,” written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

“Captain Phillips,” screenplay by Billy Ray

“Philomena,” screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope

“12 Years a Slave,” screenplay by John Ridley

“The Wolf of Wall Street,” screenplay by Terence Winter

Original screenplay

“American Hustle,” written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell

“Blue Jasmine,” written by Woody Allen

“Dallas Buyers Club,” written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack

“Her,” written by Spike Jonze

“Nebraska,” written by Bob Nelson

Forget 12 Years a Slave.  Try 3 Times a Tie.  Seriously. 

4 for him.  4 for me.  4 for neither of us. 12 for both of us. 

But if you look up closely under 'Animated Feature Film' category you will find an asterisk. Almost a starfish...as in E Plurabis Anus.  

As in, Mike's going to feel like an asshole. 

Since he put me in charge of being "honest", Magic Mike had a snafu  - he neglected to vote on best Animated Feature Film. This is something I didn't catch in his submission (was it my job to proof his work?) until they called the winner and I went to check his answer.  Or non-answer, as the case may be. 

I wonder how many questions he left blank on the SAT. 

Now let it be known that I did provide him the template for voting you see above. He did not use it.

Let it be known he submitted via a comment (that I cannot edit) on my blog - you can look yourself. I did. Several times to make sure.  So if he had blogged it and forgot to include, he could have easily edited his own blog to make me (look like) the loser - which I am not. 

But I'm not the winner either. 

And silly silly Mike thought I would lose on Best Adapted Screenplay and the joke is, he might have been correct.  ...though he's probably not laughing right about now.

Now, I've been pondering this for a few hours at this point and it's become clear I didn't take Psych 101 for nothing.  I've come up with four possible solutions to his voting exclusion:

1. Like John Ravolta, he simply cannot remember the simplest of things. Like names on a cue card. In front of his face. That he had read at rehearsal.  Multiple times. 
2. Like Taye Diggs, Mike has an aversion to Adela Dazeem Idina Menzel and the way she sings like she has a swimmer's nose plug firmly in place and he wanted to forget all things Frozen. This is somewhat understandable. 
3. He has some Failure to Thrive complex.
4. (and the most likely)  If Mike were to win, the contest could, in effect, be over - and he cannot bare the thought of losing me and wants to continue this little dance year after year. 

I really have no other explanation. Though I'm sure he'll have a ton...................of excuses.

I guess when you're all looks, like Mike is, also having brains would be too much to ask or hope for.

Well here's looking forward to 2015, should he dare.

Song by: Radney Foster

My Music Monday

Results on the 3rd Annual Oscar Guessing Game®  will have to wait until tomorrow.  Since I'm drafting the My Monday Music post on Sunday - and who knows if I can even stay up, let alone tally the results from the Academy Awards, it just will take an extra 24 hours.

...and of course, crafting a potentially witty post-Oscar post could take a little time. You don't want to rush these things.

Keeping with a movie-theme-like entry, I'll pull a song from a film, that was not nominated  - at least I don't think - for anything.

'The Madison' from Hairspray - the original 1988 film, not that horrid remake with John Ravolta.

While Corny Collins says that the dance started in Baltimore, wikipedia will tell you it started in Columbus, OH, but became popular in Baltimore.

Since Hairspray was set in 1963, the timing might be off, as wiki will tell you it was 1960 when it appeared on the show that would be what Corny modeled himself after.  Details Schmetails.

Still it's a great movie and a great scene. The music is so-so secondary, perhaps tertiary - but it's My Music Monday, not yours, so, I call the shots. Sometime I like a fun choreographed scene.

And "Link" might have been the alleged heart-throb of the flick, but I'll take "Fender" (the guy in the blue suit right behind Amber von Tussle) any day.

Some Journey

Petey had a big day out - unfortunately.

While I was at yoga, 710 let him out to do #1 and / or #2, which he did. Then in a two minute time frame of not being supervised, broke through the Invisible Fence and disappeared.

710 realized early on that Mr. Pete had make a prison break.

Still, 50 ft to the right of us is a major road and past that a ravine - 75 feet straight down in some places.

Petey loves walks in the ravine, but 710 had no idea if he went right or left when he exited the yard. And even if he went into the ravine - if he went right or left there.

Poor 710 was calling me, but I didn't have my phone handy, as I was in class. He left me a text too, so as soon as class ended and I saw it, I beat it out of there - not even putting on my sweat shirt, pants or coat.

710 enlisted a few neighbors in the search. When I got home, after quickly putting on clothes, I sent an email to the entire 'hood asking for assistance. A few really sprang into action - which was nice.

While 710 was still in the ravine, I went walking through the 'hood and actually out of it, into another very busy intersection.

I was three streets over when 710 called to say Petey had been found. A neighbor had read my email and his sons, ages 3 and 6, said "we have to go look for Petey!"

That trio came across a jogger who found Petey in the ravine, seemingly coming back home.

We say 'seemingly' because there is no way of knowing. Petey is smart and knows where we live - kind of - but he's a hound and he travels by his nose, which is why he went through the fence in the first place. And his nose is bigger and stronger than his brain.

For those 90 minutes, I was a wreck.

Truth be told, it's 12 hours later almost and I'm still a wreck.

Petey was home for about 15-20 minutes before I made my way back. He came trotting over to see me, fairly excited...which is when I took that picture.  No shame. No guilt.  No sorrow.  ...at least I don't think.

He was looking for some kind of attention, so maybe he was looking for forgiveness.

Since he got home, he hasn't left either 710's or my side. And he's just exhausted.

He might have had a big adventure, but I think maybe he may have been a little scared to be on his own like that. I know I was scared for him.

So now we have a keen eye on him anytime he has to go out, though right now, we actually have to wake him up to even think about going outside.



Song by: Suzanne Vega

the Lion's Share

While it's not quite possible to know yet, but I'm assuming March is coming in like a lion.  ...which means, if the rest of the phrase is true, it will go out like a lamb.

Of course, March 31st could be worse weather than March 1st, so who is to say which animal enters and which one leaves - at least until April 1st.

But since we are still getting measurable snow and single digit temps - too cold to even walk the dog more than a few hundred feet, I'm pre-calling this "lion".

Since it has been back to über cold, there has been a lot of couch snuggling going on. Rick Santorum, or was it Dr. Peter Venkman?, who talked about human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together...mass hysteria..... I'd go with Venkman, but I wouldn't rule out the other guy.

We actually do have nice couches and chairs - honest. But with Petey taking them over, we cover them with micro-fiber throws.

Here is Sophie curling up right next to him. Who cares how cold it is outside - this warms my heart. 

One of the best pictures in Petey Porn yet. This does have Santorum written all over it.  Cat and dog butts touching.

Sophie was great. Petey went to sleep, but he kicks in his sleep - and kicked her, but to her credit, she didn't move.  Now that is love. 

He might be handsome, but he ain't always pretty. 

What? I like the snow. 

Song by: 10,000 Maniacs

Totally Baked

It's not revolutionary. It's just chicken.

I love how Ina Garten will say at least once per season that she has to mix up Jeffrey's every Friday night roast chicken with something new.

I'm not sure in seven years she has actually made her husband roast chicken. It's always something new.

So I had two boneless, skinless chicken breasts and trying to figure out anything different to do with them - that didn't require me going to the store and buying a panoply of new spices or ingredients. It's cold here - I don't want to go out if I don't have to. I had to make due with what what is Blobby Hubbard's cupboard.

Like I said - this is nothing radical, but a little change-up.

The prep is actually quite easy and you can complete your clean-up of most everything before the chicken finishes baking.

2 chicken breasts
1/4 cup of bread crumbs (mine were plain)
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 t of garlic powder / salt
1/4 t of onion powder
black pepper - a few grinds (I didn't measure - sue me!)
2 cloves of crushed garlic
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/2 t of butter

Pre-heat oven to 425.

In one bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper.

I did take a picture of this, but somehow it did not come out.  My career as a food photog is in jeopardy.

In a small pan, heat the olive oil and crushed garlic. Give it a few minutes for the garlic to infuse into the oil.  Turn off heat.

Pat dry chicken breasts - I did not season them because of the Parm cheese being saltier and the garlic oil and garlic / onion salt mixture.

Dip chicken breasts into the garlic oil. (My oil was still piping hot and started to cook the chicken immediately - not a bad thing, but not needed.)

Then transfer breasts into the bread crumb / cheese mixture and coat.  (forgot to take a picture.)

Place chicken into shallow pan (again, no pic). Then, I cut up a pat of butter and placed it around both of the chicken breasts and place pan into 425 degree oven. Cook for 30-35 minutes.

The chicken was super moist and flavourful, but nothing overpowering.  It was easy to prepare (except for a dog who kept getting in the way) and easy clean-up.  I'd definitely do again.



Song by:  Mark Cohen

To Let You Win

I suppose I should post this now to give anyone who wants to participate the time to play.

It's the 3rd Annual Oscar Guessing Game®.

It was Mike who challenged me three years ago into competing in an on-line Academy Award contest, with both of us inexplicably tying for two years in a row!!! (recaps here and here.) I'd say "unheard of", but there are certain odds, I suppose that made it so.

I was also hoping with this years Oscars I could tempt Mike back into blogging for at least two entries - a pre and post Oscar entry. But since Anne Hathaway is not nominated, his dander just isn't up enough to stomp his feet and rant / rave.

(you can read his witty entries at his site - as there aren't a ton of them - entries that is, let alone witty ones.)

As it is, it looks just due to a timing issue and Mike will not be participating this year.   (sad face.) Perhaps he'll prove me wrong.

So, just like from ages 13-50, I might just be playing with myself.  {sigh}

We (710 and I - not Mike and myself)  saw about half the 'best pic' selections - though we didn't make our goal of 12 movies last year. Hell, Her was out of the theaters, lickedy-split (sp?)

As for the nominees are a few sure winners out there, but most of mine are like throwing a dart at board while blindfolded.   ....and without the prospect of beating the pants off of Mike (hehehehe), where's the fun?

That's where you come in.  Engage me. Entertain me.  You've all been invited other years, and I know Mike looks scary, but he's really harmless. You can play along.

My choices are below in red. No doubt I'll leave some comments below as to my rationale.

Best picture

"12 Years a Slave" 

"American Hustle" 

"Captain Phillips"

"Dallas Buyers Club"

"Gravity"

"Her" 

"Nebraska" 

"Philomena"

"The Wolf of Wall Street" 

Because Hollywood has 'black guilt' and will vote that way. Not enough so that it nominated the Butler for anything, but...     I liked Gravity, but when it came down to it, the woman was tethered to the man for life support, and the man even came back from the dead to help save her.  

Hollywood's message?? : Women are nothing without men.   True that!!!!  :)

Director

Alfonso Cuarón, "Gravity"

Steve McQueen, "12 Years a Slave"

Alexander Payne, "Nebraska"

David O. Russell, "American Hustle"

Martin Scorsese, "The Wolf of Wall Street"

Despite my message above: Cuarón did amazing things with direction, most detail, and CGI stuff. I still love his take on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.  It's rare for a director to win without taking best film, but it happened last year, so......

Lead actor

Christian Bale, "American Hustle"

Bruce Dern, "Nebraska"

Chiwetel Ejiofor, "12 Years a Slave"

Matthew McConaughey, "Dallas Buyers Club"

Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Wolf of Wall Street"

The man gives me the creeps but he's won everything else, so.....

Lead actress

Amy Adams, "American Hustle"

Cate Blanchett, "Blue Jasmine"

Judi Dench, "Philomena"

Meryl Streep, "August: Osage County"

Sandra Bullock, "Gravity"

All wrapped up, though I loved Dench's performance. I always do. 

Supporting actor

Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”

Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”

Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”

Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street”

Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”

Because Jordan Catalano deserves something other than that shitty 30 Seconds from Mars group. 

Supporting actress

Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”

Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”

Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”

Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”

June Squibb, “Nebraska”

Because Jennifer Lawrence won last year. 

Animated feature film

“The Croods”

“Despicable Me 2”

“Ernest & Celestine”

“Frozen”

“The Wind Rises”

Didn't see a one of them. Haven't even heard of three of them. But since CB goes on and on about some shitty songs on Frozen, and it is Disney.........

Cinematography

“The Grandmaster,” Philippe Le Sourd

“Gravity,” Emmanuel Lubezki

“Inside Llewyn Davis,” Bruno Delbonnel

“Nebraska,” Phedon Papamichael

“Prisoners,” Roger A. Deakins

Costume design

“American Hustle,” Michael Wilkinson

“The Grandmaster,” William Chang Suk Ping

“The Great Gatsby,” Catherine Martin

“The Invisible Woman,” Michael O’Connor

“12 Years a Slave,” Patricia Norris

Because Christian Bale was hot in his own certain way.  : )   ...and space suits and t-shirts/underwear are not technically "costumes". 

Documentary feature

“The Act of Killing”

“Cutie and the Boxer”

“Dirty Wars”

“The Square” 

“20 Feet from Stardom”

100% guessing. But Hollywood loves stardom, so.....

Documentary short subject

“CaveDigger”

“Facing Fear”

“Karama Has No Walls”

“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life”

“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall”

Um.  Ummmmm.   

Film editing

“American Hustle,” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten

“Captain Phillips,” Christopher Rouse

“Dallas Buyers Club,” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa

“Gravity,” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger

“12 Years a Slave,” Joe Walker

Foreign language film 

“The Broken Circle Breakdown,” Belgium

“The Great Beauty,” Italy

“The Hunt,” Denmark

“The Missing Picture,” Cambodia

“Omar,” Palestine

I'd rather it be Omar, but it won't be. 

Makeup and hairstyling

“Dallas Buyers Club,” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews

“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa,” Stephen Prouty

“The Lone Ranger,” Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny

It's never going to a Jackass movie, or the biggest box-office bomb of 2013. 

Original score

“The Book Thief,” John Williams

“Gravity,” Steven Price

“Her,” William Butler and Owen Pallett

“Philomena,” Alexandre Desplat

“Saving Mr. Banks,” Thomas Newman

As much as I'd like Butler and Pallett to win, no one saw the movie.  It's going to Price because, other than voices it was the only sound in the movie - since you know, it's space.  But Price did a good job at making the music sound like there were sounds in space. You had to pull back to think that the music indicated (impeding) action. 

Original song

“Alone Yet Not Alone” from “Alone Yet Not Alone”

“Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”

“Let It Go” from “Frozen”

“The Moon Song” from “Her”

“Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”

Love "Happy" and if I were voting because I'm trying to win an imaginary competition, I'd select it, but it's U2 and their seemingly do-gooder persona along with a movie about a legend who died a few months ago.  Sorry Pharrell. 

Production design

“American Hustle,” Production Design: Judy Becker; Set Decoration: Heather Loeffler

“Gravity,” Production Design: Andy Nicholson; Set Decoration: Rosie Goodwin and Joanne Woollard

“The Great Gatsby,” Production Design: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Beverley Dunn

“Her,” Production Design: K.K. Barrett; Set Decoration: Gene Serdena

“12 Years a Slave,” Production Design: Adam Stockhausen; Set Decoration: Alice Baker

It was over the top - and Jay Z produced it and apparently you can't do anything without Jay Z being in-fucking-volved. 

Animated short film

“Feral”

“Get a Horse!”

“Mr. Hublot”

“Possessions”

“Room on the Broom”

Um. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm. 

Live action short film

“Aquel No Era Yo (That Wasn’t Me)”

“Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just before Losing Everything)”

“Helium”

“Pitääkö Mun Kaikki Hoitaa? (Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?)”

“The Voorman Problem”

Just because I want to hear a presenter, someone like Cameron Diaz,  fuck up this pronunciation .

Sound editing

“All Is Lost,” Steve Boeddeker and Richard Hymns

“Captain Phillips,” Oliver Tarney

“Gravity,” Glenn Freemantle

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Brent Burge

“Lone Survivor,” Wylie Stateman

I don't know why - I'm just guessing. All the movie had was sound - almost no dialogue. 

Sound mixing

“Captain Phillips,” Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith and Chris Munro

“Gravity,” Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick and Tony Johnson

“Inside Llewyn Davis,” Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

“Lone Survivor,” Andy Koyama, Beau Borders and David Brownlow

Visual effects

“Gravity,” Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton and Eric Reynolds

“Iron Man 3,” Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash and Dan Sudick

“The Lone Ranger,” Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams and John Frazier

“Star Trek Into Darkness,” Roger Guyett, Patrick Tubach, Ben Grossmann and Burt Dalton

Because it's a space movie without being a sci-fi space movie. Yes, the distance between space stations is unrealistic, but it's about the visuals of the space debris hitting the International Space Station. Period. 

Adapted screenplay

“Before Midnight,” written by Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke

“Captain Phillips,” screenplay by Billy Ray

“Philomena,” screenplay by Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope

“12 Years a Slave,” screenplay by John Ridley

“The Wolf of Wall Street,” screenplay by Terence Winter

Because I saw it?  

Original screenplay

“American Hustle,” written by Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell

“Blue Jasmine,” written by Woody Allen

“Dallas Buyers Club,” written by Craig Borten & Melisa Wallack

“Her,” written by Spike Jonze

“Nebraska,” written by Bob Nelson

That's it. That's all I got. Good luck to all - if you wish to participate. No prizes other than bragging rights. Sorry.

BTW - I totally stole the title image from Mr. Mike, that he totally doctored last year!  I was actually going to make a new one but ran out of time - and possibly interest.



Song by: a-ha