Overdoing it on SciFi

I think I may be overdoing it on the sci-fi lately. It seems every where I look, I see Star Trek influences. (Darn you Gene Roddenberry, darn you!)

When watching the Next Food Network Star, all I could focus on was how much contestant Liza Garza's hairdo was bugging me, because she looked like a Vulcan and/or a Romulan. ESPECIALLY when she had a headband on, or had some hair tucked behind her ears.

Don't believe me?

Here's her p.r. shot from the show:

Here's a link to various female Vulcan hairstyles.

Then there are the communication devices. All those little earpieces/cellular hands-free devices that make people look like they are communicating with the Enterprise, begging to be beamed up. We're becoming more and more Borg-like. Put down the electronic equipment and step away from the devices.

Finally, there's this apparatus (shown below) that was quickly assembled--and then removed--from the local construction site across the way. Forgive me, but does it remind anyone else of the early mobile transporter devices from Star Trek: Enterprise? (Or am I the only one who actually tried to watch the first few seasons of that show?)

Look closely -- You've got the "laser beam," the "force field," and the ubiquitous redshirts.

See!?
I don't care if it's a surveying device. I swear the aliens are here!

Hi. I'm Auntie Nettie, and I need a sci-fi intervention. But frak it, just not until after the Series 4 Doctor Who finale on Friday. (That David Tennant is yummy!)

Thanks.

Live Long and Prosper.

Let the Countdown begin

The trailer for the next Harry Potter movie is now out. Only 114 days until it's in theaters near you.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I think this will be a family bonding experience at Thanksgiving. What say you Pop? Is it a date?

Coincidence? I think not ...

When I clicked on the link to Unshelved this morning, I thought I was going to catch up on the activities in the Mallville Public Library, Dewey's exploits, and maybe read about Comic Con. Imagine my surprise to see a Book Club strip all about the book I finished Sunday early a.m.,
Andrew Davidson's The Gargoyle.

Weird, right?

Not as weird as the book, but weird none-the-less.

Coincidence? You decide.

Cylons = Toasters

Dear Santa,

I know that I live in a tiny apartment that has no room for extraneous appliances. I know I already have a small toaster oven, which is more practical for my needs, in that it does more than just make toast. I know that $65 is FRAKKING ridunkulous for a single use item. BUT I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY want this toaster for Christmas.

Hugs and kisses,

Auntie Nettie

P.S. I guess I'm not the only fan-girl. I saw lots of BS fans screaming over it on the G4 coverage of Comic-Con. Sigh. It's probably gone already, and it's totally impractical.

Santa, Can I just have Apollo then? Is that too much to ask? Pretty, pretty, please.

Fish out of Water -- the Response

From Jane:


I would be happy to take Mr. Fishy Friend to England with me. I hope he won't feel like a fish out of water. We'll be going to watery places in England---Brighton and Keswick---and then our hotel in London is right near the Tower, also close to the Thames.



Auntie Nettie is totally jealous of a stuffed fish!

Fish out of Water

Dear Diggity's Mom,

I would like to respectfully request that you please take my Fishy Friend here on your trip across the pond. Take lots of pictures.

Please let me know if I need to get his papers in order.

Cheerio,
Auntie Nettie


With props to Kendra for the pattern.

Anne-girl, you're looking good for your age

It can be surprising to no one that I'm a voracious reader. As a kid, I was notorious for preferring to read rather than play outside, clean, practice the piano (sometimes I did both), or watch t.v. In school I won those awards for reading the most books, and was one of those kids who was so far ahead of my reading level that I had to have "special classes." Yes, I was one of those kids. I remember skipping over the books recommended for my age group and reading Greek, Roman, and Norse myths. I know I skipped many of the "classics" of girlhood, like the Narnia books, the L'Engle books, and thankfully ALL of the Sweet Valley High crap, before I jumped into Sci-Fi/fantasy with Pern and Valdemar.*

One of the series that I very glad I didn't miss was the L.M. Montgomery classics, especially the Anne books ("Ann with an E," thank you very much). Part of the appeal had to be the release of the K. Sullivan television adaptations with Megan Follows and Jonathan Crombie (who will always be Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe to me.) The rest of the appeal is that they were good books. A whole shelf in my personal library is now dedicated to just my L.M. Montgomery collection.

Can you believe that Anne of Green Gables was written 100 years ago? There are huge celebrations this year on Prince Edward Island. I am totally annoyed at myself that I didn't make it there in time for the festivities. One day I will cross the visit to PEI off my "bucket list" and I can say that I visited the home of that Anne-girl.

Nova Scotia, watch out.

* One notable teenlit exception that I'm glad I didn't skip were some of the books by E.E.White, aka Ellen Emerson White, particularly the books about Meg, the daughter of the first female President. I was FRAKKING ecstatic when the long overdue sequel, Long May She Reign, was released last year. Not only was it worth the decades!-long wait, I was delighted that the writing style and 600+ pages more than satisfies my now-adult tastes. Plus, Ms. White is a Battlestar Galactica fan. How totally excellent! (Am I gushing too much like a fangirl or what!?)

The Trek - Guest Dog Blog, Pt. 2

Diggity Dog here again -- guest dogger extraordinaire.

As you might recall, I had a conversion whilst I was in Utah. As a Missionary Mutt, I felt that I needed to partake in some historical experiences to get a feel for my new religion. Luckily, Auntie Nettie's parental units were participating in a reenactment of a pioneer trek with some of the area "utes" and agreed to take me along. Rather than be part of the covered wagon reenacttreks, they participated in a handcart reenactment, with costumes to boot. (Here's more information about the handcart pioneers.)

The Trek!

As you can see, there was lots of Dutch oven cooking to be had on this trip. I don't think the ancestors had generators and plastic gas containers in the back of their carts however. (Please note: NO hotdogs were served, out of consideration for my feelings!)

This is a puny play on a historically-correct handcart company AND a play on the name of the location from which some of these reenactors are based in the here-and-now. Again, I don't think the ancestors had nifty Orange-Glo water jugs, but we didn't care. It's MUGGY in New England.

Here we are all nicely queued up to go.

Note the fine four-star accommodations for this journey.

(*Mom, hint! I need a vacation from my vacation!)

Another view of the undisturbed wilderness.

Here are some intrepid female reenactors.

(Love the fashions. Where have I seen them recently?)

I can't remember if this is first thing in the morning or at the end of the day. All I remember is that I had a Devil of a Time with my blisters and sore muscles. There's a WHOLE new meaning for "my dogs are barking."

Here are the "utes." Don't they look "pupped?" Doggone tired?

You can't tell here, but we're all howling with delight.

Some of these reenactors are hardcore. I was a little scared of this guy, fearing he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, but he's now this dog's best friend ('cause he scratched me behind the ears and got out all the burrs from my coat, WOOF!).

Sadly, this marks the end of this trip with Auntie Nettie and her family. I'm back to Jane's Garden on Flax Hill, prepping for a trip to Maine to see Krippy and the brood, or off to Jolly O'England. We have yet to decide on the itinerary. *Though I'd REALLY like to go here; it's named after me, after all, and sounds "purrfect" after this trek.

Come and check me out at my home blog, Travels with Diggity Dog, to see where I end up next.

BYE!

What NOT to do at lunch

If you are already feeling a bit under the weather, feeling old and VERY grey, and have years of body dysmorphia under your belt, I do NOT recommend eating lunch in the cafeteria that serves the participants in the summer dance programs (tweens to high school students) hosted by the City's professional ballet troupes.

Take my word for it.

Speaking of Sleep ...

4 a.m. is NOT a good time to finally try and settle down and go to sleep, especially on a Sunday night/early Monday morning.

3 hours of sleep is a nap, not the recommended daily dosage for a "grown-up."

How come I can sleep fine until 10 a.m./11 a.m./noon or 1 p.m., but can't go to bed and sleep at a reasonable hour?

I have a feeling the Dt. Coke machine and I will be getting better acquainted today.


stupid stupid stupid stupid insomnia

Writer's Block Today

I got nothing exciting for the blog today.

Zip. Zero. Zilch.

No energy. No motivation. No pithy words. NADA!

(which makes this something, but still NOTHING)


It took everything I had just to do my regularly scheduled written work today -- well, that and getting up, and THAT was an epic struggle that I barely won.

Is it time to go home and just pull the covers back over my head again? I just want to sleep.

Mistress of the Oblivious

Usually my friends call me Mistress of the Obvious, well, because, I like to point out stuff that is, obvious, ya know?

I think it's time to change my name. Just call me, Mistress of the Oblivious.

I was doing my errands at lunch yesterday, staying within a four block radius of work while I ran to the library, drug store, the produce cart, and the post office. I was in a rush, doing my thing, not really paying attention. (Also, as a "working" New Yorker, I have to keep up the mystique to all the tourists and day trippers, by wearing my sunglasses, ipod, and running about busily while not making eye contact.)

Well, there's a huge movie Loew's movie complex one block up from work, on Broadway, that had a bunch of activity in front of it; canopied tents were going up, hustle and bustle was occurring, much busy-ness. All I could think of was was that it was SO annoying when the public utilities had to shut down half the street and sidewalks at lunch hour to do repairs. I went out of my way AROUND the block to avoid the mess.

Imagine my surprise when I was watching the 10 p.m. local news and the reports were coming in, from the Upper West Side, for WORLD PREMIERE of the new Batman movie at the IMAX theater! Live from the Black Carpet.

YUP!

DUH!

I could have walked by the prep for a movie premiere and seen the BatMobile and BatCycle from the movie. Sorry bro! Here's some photos thanks to the BBC of what I could have seen (photo 6 and 7 are the vehicles).

Here's the NY1 Story.

Maybe I should learn to be more curious while doing errands at lunch?

Barking Mad -- Guest Dog Blog, Pt. 1

Diggity Dog here again -- guest dogger extraordinaire -- reporting in on my trip with Auntie Nettie's parental units to New England.

These people have dog napped me and taken me allll kinds of weird places. I think they are barking mad folks.

Connecticut

For the Fourth of July, they took me to this thing called the "Boom Box Parade." This CT town started this parade about 20 years ago and it's evolved into an annual thing. Because there was no marching band at the local high school (and still isn't), the parade uses boom boxes (whatever THOSE are ... I'm too young to know) tuned to a local radio station playing Sousa marches. All kinds of people and things march in this parade.

Hello from Quaint New England Main Street.

Here's the mascot from the local AAA team.

Drew calls this the "big chicken."

Wow. That's an OLD CAR!

This "fish" has been in the parade for as long as there has been a parade. Every year, it's a protest fish. This year, it's about a local dump issue.

This town is known for its fascination with froggies.

Cape Cod

I was then transported to an undisclosed location on the Cape. It's a bucolic place, though you can't tell from these shots. (I have a no bare-dog-at-the-beach clause in my contract.)

Here I am lazing around.

Here I am Ruffing it on the roof.

The parental units are selling the hideaway, and put me to work doing some renovation and some cleaning. (I didn't realize it was a working vacation!)

For sale. For info ... Sorry. I don't have any.

Beaches? What beaches? I didn't go to any Cape Cod beaches.

I went TREKKING ... handcart trekking.

Pt. 2

coming soon.

Yummy Treats aka Tribute to T***

Is your office fortunate enough to have a resident baker? You know, the person who brings in treats on an almost daily basis? The person whose baking is really the only reason you get up to go to work on Monday? The wonderful person who makes all the office birthday cakes ... from scratch?

In my department at the Big J, this person is T***. We love her. People don't want to leave the School because of her. Not only is she an accomplished baker, but she's also a crafter and a "rockin'" shakuhachi flute player. She created this applique memento for my parents' 40th wedding anniversary.

We jokingly call T*** the "nice" Martha Stewart.* When Ms. Stewart had occasion to be at the Big J for her companion's receipt of an honorary degree, we made sure that our two Marthas had a photo op.



Mom, don't faint now, but T*** even got me to eat zucchini -- that much loathed vegetable -- by sneaking it into a killer chocolate cake. It's oooohhh so good. (When your garden makes too much zucchini Janey, I have an idea for you!)

T***’s Chocolate Cake
Aka Chocolate Zucchini Cake
From The New Good Cake Book by Diana Dalsass

9 Tbs butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted, cooled
2 tsp vanilla
2 tsp grated orange rind
½ cup milk
½ cup shredded zucchini
21/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease and flour a 9 or 10 inch tube pan.

Cream butter and sugar.
Beat in eggs, chocolate, vanilla, orange rind, and milk.
Stir in zucchini.
Whisk together dry ingredients.
Stir into zucchini mixture.
Turn batter into pan.
Bake about 1 hour.
Cook in pan on rack 15-20 minutes.
Finish cooling cake on rack.

Serves 16+.

* MY opinions about Ms. Stewart are too well known to be re-voiced in cyberland. Needless to say, I did NOT get in a photo op with her.

Auntie Nettie's Merchandise

Lest anyone think that Auntie Nettie hasn't been working on her crafting, think again. I've been "hooking" away, and too busy posting about other things, like say ... cute kids, books, and travel.

Thanks to my crazy friend Kari, I have so much to work with. Remember the state of my table? I've been using my free days this summer to work my way through all of this yarn, plus the stuff I got on other small buying trips (HEY JENN!) to create 40 projects ... and counting.

Before:

After:

I've been keeping a list, though I haven't been so good about taking photos of some of the final projects. A lot of these projects have already been gifted. I was hoping that I'd have more "action/testimonial" photos to include -- but alas!

Here we are -- the first group in reverse order -- photos when we have them:

#47: Stuffed Bunny with halter dress (not available) #46: Stuffed Monkey with halter dress (Sorry, she's not for sale. I can't give her up! Well, I did -- for a good cause, Elle!) #45:Pink Fuzzy Hat with Pink Flower (not available) #44: Pinks/Purples Flower Scarf - Black (not available)

#43: Red/Pink Flower Scarf - Black (not available)#41-42: White Mohair Scarf and White/Beige Mohair Hat (#41 is not available, donation) (as of 10/2011, #42 is no longer available)

#40: Blue Hat with White Flower#37-39: Rainbow Flower Scarves - White (#37 is not available; as of 12/10, #38-39 also not available) #36: Purple/Pink Flower Scarf - White (see above)

#35: Purples Flower Scarf - White (see above)

#34: Red/Black Ribbon Scarf (not available)

#33: White Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available)

#32: Copper Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available)

#31: Aqua Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available - gifted)

#30: Toddler Mary Jane Booties - Grey (no photo)

#29: Aqua Kerchief (no photo, not available - gifted)

#25-28: Legwarmers (not available - gifted)

#24: Yellow/White Variegated Crib Cover (no photo, not available - gifted)

#23: Light Blue Lacey Crib Cover (no photo, as of 03/10, not available)

#22: Sal's Afghan for Barbara (Dude, I need photos)

#21: Pink Hoodie Afghan (gifted to Elle, shown here with Amber) #20: Camel Mohair Plush Scarf (as of 10/2011, no longer available)

#19: Wacky Blankie (as of 02/09 donated to Project Night Night)

#18: Yellow Baby Blankie (no photo, as of 02/09, not available)

#17: Chenille Half Moon Scarf - Purple (no photo, but like #16, not available)

#16: Chenille Half Moon Scarf - Red (not available - gifted)

#15: Chenille Half Moon Scarf - Red/Black (not available)
#14: Purple Confetti Boucle Scarf (not available, donation)

#10 & 13: Russet Ruffle Scarf (not available, prizes)
#12: Autumn Harvest Ribbon Scarf (not available)

#11: Sal's Afghan for Kate (seriously, I need photos!)
#9: Aqua Skinny Scarf (no photo, keeping for me)

#8: Purple Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available - gifted)

#7: Rose Pink Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available - gifted)

#6: Red/Blank Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available - gifted)

#5: Copper Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available - gifted)

#4: White Twinkle Baby Afghan (no photo, as of 12/09, not available)

#3: Grey Skinny Scarf (no photo, not available)

#2: Yellow Crib Cover (as of 06/09, not available)

#1: Grey/Black Ribbon Scarf (as of 12/10 not available, gifted)

Whew! No wonder my hands hurt!

Except where noted, everything is available for sale. Prices and dimensions upon request.

I can take more photos if you need more details too!

Ruffing It -- Guest Blog

Diggity Dog here again -- guest dogger extraordinaire -- reporting in on my trip with Auntie Nettie's parental units. Once they dropped her off in Las Vegas, we went on to California. It's a "ruff" life, being a travelling dog.

Mojave, CA

When life hands you lemons ... pose with them!

I miss Jane's Garden!

Party animal!
After a night on the town, a dog's got to relax!

Why doesn't my backyard have one of these?
Next stop ... Cape Cod!

Stay tuned!