Archive | September, 2008

Whoopie!

7 Sep

When I was looking to buy a condo, one of my priorities was that it have an actual kitchen, with counter space and room to cook (yes, I really shot for the moon on that one). And believe it or not, in the past two weeks I’ve actually made great use of my kitchen. Last week, I made a baked French toast that was really tasty and totally easy to make. That was a good warm-up. Yesterday, I made whoopie pies completely from scratch — that means no cake mix, no pre-made icing, no easy way out. I mixed the flour and the eggs and the cocoa powder and all the other ingredients all on my own, and made a nice mess in my kitchen. The pies were a challenge at times — my mixer got a good workout — but the end result was worth it. Suffice it to say, they went over really well with my friends. The recipe came from a recent issue of Hannaford supermarkets’ Fresh magazine. If you’re so inclined, I highly recommend making — and eating — them.

No-Spin Zone

4 Sep

I love it when people don’t realize that the camera may be off, but the microphones are still on. Here are Republican consultant Mike Murphy and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan on MSNBC talking about what an awful choice Sarah Palin is for John McCain’s running mate.

Meltzer Just Blows It Completely

2 Sep

I’ve written in the past about why it is that I like Brad Meltzer, and since he’s got a new book out now, I thought I’d give him a quick plug here. I always knew the guy had a real sense of humility, but now I know he’s also got a nice self-depreciating wit — as evidenced by the following video. It’s a compilation of little leaguers and senior citizens reciting some of the barbs that have been thrown at Brad. It’s pretty funny. I got an advance copy of Brad’s new book a few weeks ago and I’m just under halfway done at this point, so I’ll hold off on giving any form of review for now. Instead, I’ll say grab a copy for yourself and let me know what you think. The book is called The Book of Lies, it’s about what the Cain and Abel story and the creation of Superman might possibly have in common, and it’s available at bookstores everywhere. Heck, the book even has a soundtrack. (Really.) Brad will be at Brookline Booksmith on Monday, September 22 at 7 p.m. I’ll see you there. For now, enjoy this video.

Back to the Peach Pit

2 Sep

It’s finally here … September 2, a.k.a. 9/02, the day of the new 90210‘s premiere. I’ve got a lot of love for the original series — I watch the reruns every weekend, I own the first three seasons on DVD (because when the cast went to college, the show started its long descent), and I like to drive by the Walsh house whenever I go out to L.A. So suffice it to say, I’m quite excited to see the new series tonight.

That said, my expectations are low. What I’m hoping for is that the old-timers, like Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty and Joe E. Tata, are so popular that fans are more fond of them than the new kids, so the show becomes more like 90210 Classic, and soon all the old cast comes back — even those who’ve stated they have no interest in returning. Will that happen? Probably not. But I’m eager to see Kelly and Brenda, as well as the new Peach Pit (it’s now a coffee shop, apparently, but Nat is still there. And by the third episode, one of the main characters will be working there too), and to watch Jackie Taylor fall off the wagon again. I hope we’ll learn the answers to important questions like what’s up with Steve and Andrea, is Val still a bad girl, did Brandon track down and marry Emily Valentine, and are Jim and Cindy still living in Hong Kong?

I’m rooting for this new 90210, and hoping it will be good — not just so-bad-it’s-good good. The show airs tonight from 8–10 on The CW (yes, it’s a two-hour premiere episode). My DVR is set just in case, but you know I’ll be watching in real time. Woo hoo!

Give Me Some Leather

1 Sep

If the traditional third anniversary gift is leather, then what do you give someone for his third blogiversary?

I’ll let you worry about that.

Me, I’m going to give myself a big ole pat on the back. After all, when I posted my very first post way back on Sept. 1, 2005, I never once thought I’d have the discipline to keep this going a year — much less three.

I didn’t even know what I was going to write about. In that first post, I wrote: “Could be long, rambling entries like this one. Could be reviews of movies or TV shows, comments on albums I buy, rants about things and people I don’t like. Could be short, one-line entries, or they could just be a photo. Maybe I’ll need a gift idea and I’ll put that out to y’all for some suggestions. I don’t know.” I’d say I was pretty dead on about that mix, and the unpredictability of what topics I’d cover in the 990 some-odd posts I’ve written.

And so, here we are. I thank you for reading.

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