Wine and Sloth

I think I lost a day. I would have sworn that I blogged about bursitis yesterday! It's been a busy week and everything is a blur.

A Wine Review...sort of
This is an interesting pairing: Wendy's chili and Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Zinfandel 2003. The chili is a little zestier than I make my own and a nice treat on occasion. The wine has spice accents on the finish making for a nice complement to enhance the flavors of both the chili and the wine. Of course, I have no idea what the heck I'm saying, but I think it's a good description. I've sort of been nursing this bottle since Thanksgiving Day, mostly having a little on its own and that was very unexciting. The chili + wine was a nice experiment...satisfying the senses even.

The Kitchen
For someone (that's me) who lives alone (basically), you'd never know it to walk into the kitchen. The counters are full of stuff that should be put away. The problem? I hate to empty the dishwasher!!! So, I'm in this habit of doing it once a week. Consequently, I leave my dirty dishes out until that time arrives. It's only slightly bothersome. I briefly considered using paper plates. Problem there? I'll forget them when I go to the grocery store. It's a good thing I only have 2 wine glasses I like to use. Can you imagine the scene? (Yep! don't want to wash them out after I use 'em.) The real problem here? Sloth? Yes...I apparently have a disinclination to action or labor when it comes to the kitchen. None of the Catholic guilt about it, either.

Gen-Yoo-Wine Bursa-Itis

There are all kinds of really cool websites that explain and illustrate Bursitis. I've even been able to find Bursitis humor. I find no humor in bursitis. I am having a flare up (if bursitis "flares") at the moment. Mine is in my left hip and when it hurts, it travels to the area around my knee and then even below my knee. No, this is not sciatica...it's gen-yoo-wine Bursa-itis. I'm officially diagnosed. I even had a cortisone shot for it earlier this year. Yep, it helped. It gets worse when I become less active, though this flare up is a mystery since I've been more active in the last several days. I guess I just aggravated it. It was quietly minding its own business, when BAM! it struck back when I decided to get off my ass and move around. Damn the bursitis.

Thanksgiving, Movies, and Television

Thanksgiving
...was very nice. I enjoyed spending time with my two loves, Hannah and Curtis, and getting to know Luke more. Our big dysfunctional family made it to my home late in the afternoon for the dessert portion of the day. It was a very calm, enjoyable visit. The only two missing were the recently married soon-to-be Captains Mr. and Mrs. Adams. There were no incidents, no kids arguing, no tempers flaring...at least none of which I am aware. If there were, please don't tell me and just let me operate on the belief that we all behaved ourselves and had a good time.

Movie Review
Watched X-Men III: The Last Stand on DVD. My review: I fell asleep in the middle of it. Either I was really wiped out or it just wasn't engaging enough.

Back to Babel
My reaction was one of sadness. The movie illustrates the sadness and tragedy that result when people fail to communicate with one another--either because they just don't or because they are unable to express themselves in a meaningful way.

The etymology of the name Babel in the Hebrew association means "to confuse or confound." Further, the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis could provide some background of sorts to the theme of this movie. I'm too lazy to summarize it again here and I think the Wikipedia site does a fine job with it.

TV
Is anybody else really tired of implausible plot lines (Prison Break), recycled stories (ER), and predictable dialogue (everything else)? Boston Legal used to be a smart show...what the heck happened? It has just gotten ridiculous. I think the most important message it is sending lately is that "You, too, can engage in sexual harassment and never suffer the consequences...as long as you're a lawyer!" Sometimes I just sit and vegetate simply because I'm too wiped out to do anything else. As a result, I find myself watching stupid TV shows, because nothing intelligent is on.

Curtis and I happened to catch White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye on WGN Saturday afternoon. Curtis commented that the banter between Crosby and Kaye was "really good dialogue." He's right. We weren't being spoon fed--we had to pay attention and think about what was being said. Figurative language was even used and none of it was predictable! (gasp) It's a great movie which, of course, ends with a rendition of the song White Christmas. After investing nearly 2 1/2 hours in watching the movie, the phone rang. I missed the beginning of the song. The song, of course, is the big payoff. I'll have to force myself to watch it again so I can have that moment back.

Tragic News
Pamela and Kid have both filed for divorce. Didn't see that coming. I am nearly as devastated by this break up as I was by the K-Fed/Brittany demise.

Take a Little Fun Break
Try a silly copter game. Courtesy of Sharon Adams. (Sharon is my mom's bud from high school who coincidentally married an Adams, too.)

My Mom is Not the Pope

Disclaimer: There is nothing wrong about going to Mass on Thanksgiving. I should be a better person and go partake in thanks and praise for all of my blessings.

I told the kids tonight that we were all going to early Mass in the morning. I wish you could have seen the looks on their faces. God help me, but I was just joking...only to get the reaction that I did. Luke (Hannah's boyfriend) proceeded to tell me that Thanksgiving is not a Holy Day of obligation. It then occurred to me that I thought Thanksgiving was a Holy Day for many years of my life. I'm pretty sure I was in my late teens before I realized it wasn't. The reason I thought it was is that mom made us go to Mass every Thanksgiving. Luke pointed out (and Curtis agreed) that mom doesn't make the Church rules and alerted me to the fact that she is not the Pope. (She does however hold a very prestigious place in this family and in my heart.)

Hannah suggested that if mom were the Pope, it would turn the Church upside down. For starters...female priest. Secondly, well...it's a good thing that she is not the pope.

Love you, mom!!!

G-bil Asks

G-bil asks if I'm reviewing the movie or the friend. The movie, silly. I went with my good friend, Shalane, who occasionally comments on my posts. Shalane and I know each other from our master's program. When I talk about me and one other classmate graduating with a 4.0 GPA, Shalane is the "one other classmate." Okay, so you got the friend review, anyway. Sort of?

Reminder/refresher: G-bil = Geeky brother-in-law (he's married to my older sister, Amy). You should visit his website to see what he looks like. The "sketch" of him honestly looks exactly like him.

The movie Shalane and I saw is Babel. Take some time on the website and you'll get a really good feel for what the movie is like. This is your assignment. I'll tell you my reaction later. I've been analyzing it since Friday night and I'm worn out. Just don't have another ounce of strength to dive into Betsy Pickling the movie. (No fair commenting, yet, Shalane!)

I got to Kroger tonight and did my Turkey Day shopping. It wasn't nearly the madhouse I feared it would be...I didn't even have to wait to check out. I saved $21.95 in coupons! Go me! The biggest annoyance was this man who kept showing up in "my" aisles and standing in front of me while I was trying to find "my" item on the shelf. (Yes, he was shopping, too, and no, he was not following me nor was he trying to pick up a hot gray haired chick in the supermarket.)

Have You Missed Me?

It's not that I don't have anything to talk about. I have plenty of musings, burning questions, and things to share. I just can't make a decision about what to write.

My "new version of Blogger is ready." I just got used to this one! And sometimes I get really tired of change. This is one change I don't have to make and on which a paycheck does not depend, so I'm going to rebel for a while.

Some honey leaked in one of my kitchen cabinets, so I was forced to clean it out (after a very long period of procrastination--it's a miracle no ants showed up). I was amazed to see how old most of the seasonings were in there. I even had some bay leaves that although they did not have an expiration date on them, I'm pretty sure I've had since about 1988. It was then, while living in Colorado, that I remember using them last (in soup). Or maybe around 1991 when I lived on the other side of town? Who knows? Maybe the shadow knows. I'd pose the rhetorical question about why we hang on to stuff (or forget we have it) for so long, but I don't care why! It just happens.

I still haven't been to the grocery store to shop for Thanksgiving. Generally, I like to get this shopping trip out of the way the weekend prior. I got sidetracked with naps and such. "And such" included quality time with Curtis and with mom, church, and dinner & a movie with a friend (review later). You can see how a girl might have been wiped out.

Dry Spell?

I'm told that when I exercise my wit, my blog entries are much more interesting to read. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough to find humor in the events of the last few days. Events = things going on at work or at home. No special condiment musings...no political commentary (except to say that I'll be glad when all the election hoopla is over)...no unwelcome phone calls...

Although...the Orkin folks called the house at 7:30am this morning. When my phone rings that early, I automatically think there's a family emergency. What business on this planet thinks it's okay to start calling someone's home before 8am in the morning? (Orkin Pest Control is the correct answer.) Yes, it's time for my annual inspection, but sheesh! Have some consideration for the fact that some people aren't quite done with the 2nd cup of coffee, yet. (Yes, Kenny, maybe I should have already been at work.)

There may be some movie reviews in our mutual future. (Yours and mine, dear reader.) I have movie coupons. (Free pass and a few buy 1 get 1's.) Is there anything you'd like me to see and report on? I was thinking Running With Scissors (preferably pronounced Skizzers) and then maybe The Departed as recommended by my dear sister-in-law Kristi. (I'm sure seconded by dear brother Andrew...her lovely husband.) I'm open for more suggestions.

I did try a new wine this week: Gewürtzraminer. I bought it quite some time ago. It was very nice, but I'm certain I didn't have the proper food with which to pair it. The suggestion was ham or mild cheese. It could have made the experience much different. As I learn more and more about wine, I know that a good pairing makes the experience of drinking wine amazing! I hearken to a Pinot Noir and some tilapia with gorgonzola. I cannot adequately describe the taste and the feeling on my tongue. Although a proper pairing was missing from my Gewürtzraminer experience, it still was as a nice (white) wine. I'm not advanced enough, yet, to properly describe it, except to say that it had a good flavor with a hint of spice and a sweet finish. I'm trying! (Random thought....How strange does this sound? White wine was used at my First Communion. Bet we'll never see that again.)

You may be left wondering...How much wine has Christine had this evening?

P.S...Brittany seemed so happy with Kevin! I'm so shocked at the news of the impending divorce.

Laugh Like This Baby

Every now and then we just need to laugh...like this baby!

Free Hugs

Maybe hugs could bring about world peace.

See the Free Hugs Campaign video. If this doesn't make you feel really good, then you need a hug!

Two Naked People

Should I be ashamed that when I see headlines like Two naked people show up at Waffle House, I immediately hope that my college freshman son wasn't involved?

Really didn't need or want to know that Doogie Howser is gay.

Did you know about Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas? You can keep any diamonds you find!

I didn't know what I was getting myself into I when agreed to see Borat (free passes are responsible). It's one of those movies that makes you feel bad about yourself in the morning.

Prince with a Las Vegas run? Hmmm.

"Botched" Joke

John Kerry said...
"You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq." (To a group of California students this week.)

I have one comment...
"Botched joke" my ass.

Okay, so maybe not just one comment...
I saw the clip. If it was a botched joke, then how was it supposed to go? It didn't sound to me like he stumbled on his words or got tongue-tied. Not a blunder. Not a joke. Not even a "botched" joke. Having active duty family members and having had other family members who have served our country, I am offended by his remark. You just don't say things like that!!!

I will concede that I didn't see the rest of the speech. In this case, I don't care what else he had to say.

What just happened here?
Kerry wasn't on my agenda. Some of you have been no doubt wondering how long I could keep my mouth shut about things like this. Not long on this topic! Of course, our military folks were quick to respond.

Get your red hot bumper sticker...

Happy November!

When I got home tonight, I was startled to see that I didn't "arm" my security system before I left for work this morning. (Arming my security system consists of putting the metal pole in the sliding glass door.) Just goes to show that if you deviate from a routine, you forget important stuff. I really slipped, but am fortunate that nobody evil discovered it and invaded my home. Does that mean the real security system is the dogs? Something to ponder...they (and by "they" I mean only Allie...Champ couldn't care less) are a little conflicted with what merits attention and what is not worth a barking, growling rampage. For example, a strange noise in the middle of the night means nothing. Someone walking (sans pet) in the street is worth 10 minutes of craziness, as is the Domino's Pizza delivery doorbell on TV. Okay, I'll buy into the doorbell...it does sound exactly like ours.

I got a solicitation call from someone at ADT Security Systems a few weeks ago. When I asked him how he could call me if I was on the Do Not Call list, he quickly told me my phone number is a matter of public record and hung up. Well, I guess he had his say on the whole Do Not Call issue, didn't he? Lucky for me, there's a nice little feature at DoNotCall.gov that allows you to file a complaint and report violators. Now, who had a say? Huh? That's right. I did! Take that Mr. ADT Public Record Hanger Upper.

Hannah put the crazy idea in my head that the ADT guy was stalking me. It never crossed my mind, but gee...now I have something to think about! Thanks, Hannah!