Has it really been almost a month since I wrote anything? Well, OK, let's be honest. . .not since I wrote anything, there's always the novel (that's right, I'm the queen of the tools, I've got a novel in the works), but it has been a very long time since I shared something new with the world wide web. Of course, no one reads this except me. I know, because I haven't told anyone about it. Somehow, it's easier to be honest that way, like a diary.
It has been a busy month, though. Somehow, the PTB decided that it would be best for us to work from MLK day until Easter without a single day off. So, February has been an entire month of five day weeks. In my profession, that's not a good thing; tempers flare, wits end, and composure frays with no day of rest to recover.
To top it off, in my infinate wisdom (insert sarcastic comment here), I scheduled a show for last night preceeded by a week of dance practice. Needless to say, I will rethink my plans next year, if there is a next year for me. It turns out that, being the age and gender I am, I am not immune to teenage drama reguarless of what high school reunion number is coming up. How is it possible that a show comprised entirely of teenage boys can be so rift with catty drama, you ask? Honestly, I have no idea, but I have to think that there might be two people better suited to lead this band of rabble than two women who seem to be young enough for the girls to draw them into this petty crap. My cohort in this adventure, is even closer to her high school days than I. And still, considering what we had to work with, I believe that our age was benefit in putting together a fairly brilliant show; boys in daisy dukes, spandy pants in vibrant colors, and onstage mosh pit. You should have been there.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thank You, Ms. Armstrong
So, I stopped by the public library(1) the other day and picked up a few books, hoping to kick my teenage science fiction problem with some new and interesting adult science fiction or fantasy. It took me the best part of an hour to find the three books I ended up with – as it turns out, our library is poorly stocked – and I only ended up with one new author, the other two being Koontz books that I had yet to read.
As I’m sure many of us do, I went home, saw to the animals (I have quite a few), went through the mail, turned off my phone (much to my husband’s dismay) and sat down with the first Koontz book, ready to be coerced into skipping dinner. After the third chapter, I stopped reading. I’m not going to tell you what book it was, because it was actually a good book. True to the Koontz style, it was graphic and well-written and everything I’ve come to expect from a Dean Koontz novel. It seems that I just don’t have the stomach for it anymore; especially when the book starts from the perspective of the psychopathic killer and I know it’s going to be downhill from there.
So, to coin a beloved phrase, “there I was” deflated and worried that my addiction to teenage science fiction had totally ruined me for the world of literature that I had loved. I would have to hand in my David Eddings, apologize profusely to my college Science Fiction professor, and slink off to the anonymous literature section often stereotyped for those in my profession. My love affair with literature was over. I was smitten with the sappy teenage love story centered around magic and mysticism and, since I am neither magic, nor teenaged, I was destined to continually be disappointed in my own life by comparison.
The second Koontz book went straight to the return pile – no sense in beating a dead horse. The third book, something completely new, sat waiting, but it was a day before I even dare approach. The main character was in her early forties, popular, self assured and sexy. In fact, they were all adults, people who knew who what they were about. The story was intriguing, harsh, real, alluring, and, in stark contrast to my choices of late, X-rated. OK, let’s not get our panties in a bunch, the X-rating was not the best part; it was only a small part of what made this a really fantastic book. It was so much more real than anything I’d been reading lately, that it reminds me of the advantages of reading stories for adults over stories written for children. Whereas, at the end of my stint enraptured by the Twilight series, I was left with a warm heart and a soft sight, No Humans Involved has me so amped that I’m here, having to get my thoughts down on paper at two thirty in the morning.
Thank you, Ms. Armstrong, for restoring my faith in stories. . .
1Being in the profession that I am, it occurs to me that many of the individuals with which blogging is popular might not be familiar with the concept of a “public library.” If you find yourself in this category, allow me to elaborate. A “public library” is a place in your community where books are available for people to read and share - that's right, they aren't only in schools. You can go there and sample the selection of books without actually having to buy any. Save your money and don't forget to thank your librarian!
As I’m sure many of us do, I went home, saw to the animals (I have quite a few), went through the mail, turned off my phone (much to my husband’s dismay) and sat down with the first Koontz book, ready to be coerced into skipping dinner. After the third chapter, I stopped reading. I’m not going to tell you what book it was, because it was actually a good book. True to the Koontz style, it was graphic and well-written and everything I’ve come to expect from a Dean Koontz novel. It seems that I just don’t have the stomach for it anymore; especially when the book starts from the perspective of the psychopathic killer and I know it’s going to be downhill from there.
So, to coin a beloved phrase, “there I was” deflated and worried that my addiction to teenage science fiction had totally ruined me for the world of literature that I had loved. I would have to hand in my David Eddings, apologize profusely to my college Science Fiction professor, and slink off to the anonymous literature section often stereotyped for those in my profession. My love affair with literature was over. I was smitten with the sappy teenage love story centered around magic and mysticism and, since I am neither magic, nor teenaged, I was destined to continually be disappointed in my own life by comparison.
The second Koontz book went straight to the return pile – no sense in beating a dead horse. The third book, something completely new, sat waiting, but it was a day before I even dare approach. The main character was in her early forties, popular, self assured and sexy. In fact, they were all adults, people who knew who what they were about. The story was intriguing, harsh, real, alluring, and, in stark contrast to my choices of late, X-rated. OK, let’s not get our panties in a bunch, the X-rating was not the best part; it was only a small part of what made this a really fantastic book. It was so much more real than anything I’d been reading lately, that it reminds me of the advantages of reading stories for adults over stories written for children. Whereas, at the end of my stint enraptured by the Twilight series, I was left with a warm heart and a soft sight, No Humans Involved has me so amped that I’m here, having to get my thoughts down on paper at two thirty in the morning.
Thank you, Ms. Armstrong, for restoring my faith in stories. . .
1Being in the profession that I am, it occurs to me that many of the individuals with which blogging is popular might not be familiar with the concept of a “public library.” If you find yourself in this category, allow me to elaborate. A “public library” is a place in your community where books are available for people to read and share - that's right, they aren't only in schools. You can go there and sample the selection of books without actually having to buy any. Save your money and don't forget to thank your librarian!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Lovely "German" Roulade
OK, "German" is in quotes because, although I am of German heritage, I am American and, as my actually German friend likes to remind me, Americans put their own spin on everything. I've been trying a lot of new German recipes lately and this one went so well, I thought I'd share it. No infringement here, because I can never follow a recipe exactly. . .
You'll need:
1 large steak cut as thin as possible
German Mustard (the more horseradish, the better)
Dill Pickle Slices
Bacon (maple flavor makes this very nice as well)
Tooth Picks
Oil
Water
Lipton's Beef and Onion Soup Mix
2 Tablespoons Flour
Steps:
1: Cut the steak into strips that are about 3 inches thick.
2: Slather mustard on one side of each strip.
3: Place one pickle slice and one strip of bacon on each piece of steak.
4: Roll each piece length-wise and secure with a toothpick.
5: Brown each piece lightly in oil in a deep skillet.
6: Cover the meat with water and mix in the soup mix.
7: Simmer for 1 hour, covered.
8: Mix flour with a small amount of water to make watery paste.
9: Remove meat from skillet.
10: Add paste to skillet and mix until gravy thickens.
This roulade was lovely with mashed potatoes and peas. Enjoy!
You'll need:
1 large steak cut as thin as possible
German Mustard (the more horseradish, the better)
Dill Pickle Slices
Bacon (maple flavor makes this very nice as well)
Tooth Picks
Oil
Water
Lipton's Beef and Onion Soup Mix
2 Tablespoons Flour
Steps:
1: Cut the steak into strips that are about 3 inches thick.
2: Slather mustard on one side of each strip.
3: Place one pickle slice and one strip of bacon on each piece of steak.
4: Roll each piece length-wise and secure with a toothpick.
5: Brown each piece lightly in oil in a deep skillet.
6: Cover the meat with water and mix in the soup mix.
7: Simmer for 1 hour, covered.
8: Mix flour with a small amount of water to make watery paste.
9: Remove meat from skillet.
10: Add paste to skillet and mix until gravy thickens.
This roulade was lovely with mashed potatoes and peas. Enjoy!
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