Nickles

Breaking Bad!

2011-06-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

So wish we had cable so we could enjoy this as it comes. However, new baby in the house + seriously violent cable tv show = terrible parenting aware?

Although, we'd be following in the show's footsteps....new baby + Meth cook papa = REALLY terrible parenting award.

Backyard Chickens and Bees

2011-05-27T12:10:00.000-07:00

I want to go to this this weekend. At the Arboretum in Arcadia. Since I have no plans for this Memorial Day weekend other than making a pretty pretty nursery for impending baby-dom.

Wouldn't it be great to have baby chickens and baby humans running around our backyard at the same time!?

And a dog...

And a cat....

And a skunk, apparently.

Dinner #2 - Brad cooks!

2009-03-21T19:16:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love my husband's spring break. Let me count the ways.....1) He remembered how to cook! 2) He remembered how to clean! 3) He had time to go to the movies. TWICE! In one WEEK! 4) He washed the car! 5) We went out for drinks. With FRIENDS! (oh...and he also managed to make time to go to Amoeba Records and Rockaway Records twice EACH. But record stores, now that's hardwired into his DNA. If he ever gets struck with the Alzheimer's, he'll probably forget my name, but still be able to describe in great detail all the best record stores in a 50 mile radius.)

When he wasn't reliving his 90's nostalgia kick (he got a Tori Amos album for pete's sake!) he was cooking dinner for us! One of Brad's dinners this week was Lentil Minestrone. Oh and how beautiful and delicious it was. He used up some lentils we've had in the back of the cupboard and some collard greens that I bought in a fit of produce delusion. 9 times out of 10 when I buy a vegetable I'm unfamiliar with, it usually ends up in the compost pile after we scrape it's rotting corpse from the bottom of that drawer in the fridge. But I buy anyway. I think to myself: "Collard Greens - I don't know how to cook these, but I'll buy it anyway in hopes that I'll get struck with an amazing recipe for collard green brownies." (Note -- no such recipe struck me this week. I'll keep you posted for the future veggie inspired desserts). Needless to say, I was happy when Brad told me he needed a 'bunch of greens' for the recipe. Another dollar saved from the compost!

It turned out delish. We ate it with some crusty bread and shaved parmesan and I enjoyed a glass of rather cheap white wine (gotta love a student's salary!). We picknicked on the living room floor. The lentil minestrone warmed us. The wine warmed me even more.

I give his minestrone a 4/5. Anytime Brad cooks, though, he's very thorough and meticulous when it comes to following recipe instructions, so his dinners usually come out in top form.

With all the work he was doing around the house, I had extra time to work on my garden! Next spring break I might just have to rent Brad out to the highest bidder. Any takers?

Dinner#1

2009-02-27T16:23:00.001-08:00

For dinner last night I had to use up four potatoes. In my fridge loomed a scary site -- but I managed to find a large hunk of monterey jack cheese, which looked promising. In the door I found a jar of Trader Joe's pesto I forgot I bought (almost as good as finding a $5 in your jeans). Conveniently, there was also the necessary dairy products that are almost required to make baked potatoes really tasty (butter, milk, sour cream? Hells yea.)

My go-to book for awesome recipes is the wonderfully helpful "New Best Recipes" by Cooks Illustrated. In it's pages I discovered Twice Baked Potatoes. I normally don't like baking potatoes in the oven, mainly because I think about dinner right about the time that I'm hungry for dinner....not the best timing, but when have I had great timing? Plus, heating up the entire oven for over an hour just for potatoes seems a little energy wasteful.

There recipes for Twice Baked potatoes has some variations that I'll try another night -- Indian spiced? with pine nuts? (I've even made a variation with crab - so tasty.) But this version was substituting regular cheddar with monty jack and adding pesto! Zing! Dinner is on.

They turned out well, even though the process did take about 1.5 hours total (baking potatoes 1 hr, scooping out inards and mixing with yummies, 20 min, the twice baked part -- another 15 min). I'll definitely make them again - and maybe for company.

Twice baked potatoes might make a fine meal for some vegetarians I know, but I like some green with my meal. I've had a mini-obsession with Brussel Sprouts ever since Figueroa Produce has started selling them for so cheap and fresh. Brad cooks them much better than me, but he had just given his first lecture at USC, so I thought I'd give him the night off. The problem with that is my penchant for not reading recipes all the way through. . . which lead me to conveniently skip the part that told me to 'trim the bottom of the sprouts'. Whoops. This apparently helps them cook more evenly and absorb more flavor. NOTED. These turned out tough and not as flavor as when Brad cooks.

All in all a good, tasty, veggie laden meal that filled us up. 3.5/5.

C3PO USB

2009-02-04T13:07:00.001-08:00

So, I'm nonchalantly doing my thing on the internet and reading someone's blog ( I don't know who's.... I just click around ), when she mentioned buying curtains from Urban Outfitters. I thought - well, I don't NEED curtains, I stopped shopping at Urban Outfitters YEARS ago, but HELL! why not.

And that's when I saw these ! C3PO USB drives! I wish it was Christmas again so I could buy one for my brother and for my hubby.

Shucks.

A Cat Haiku

2009-01-27T17:55:00.000-08:00

Linus Henry, cat
Likes my jalapeno plant
More than my warm lap

An Equation

2009-01-27T17:47:00.000-08:00

New Car + Pajamas + Morning Off = Happy Brad

....A New Car!!!!

2009-01-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

Oh Boy. Oh Boy. Oh Boy! We bought ourselves a new (to us) car!! A 2008 Pontiac Vibe, which is identical to the Toyota Matrix, only thousands cheaper. Hazah!

In attempting to be smart consumers, after looking at The car once, we went across the street to a different dealership looking for a better deal. The salesman tried everything, from getting us to lease, buy a brand new car, and even took us around the lot 3 times in hope of 'hooking' us. After we explained the deal on The car, the mileage, the price, and the financing, he whispered to us "Go buy that car." I'll post pictures of our actual car when I can, but for now, this is from Pontiac's website.

We're so excited! Not that we don't LOVE the Corsica, but this new one is going to be the car in which we bring our babies home from the hospital!

Brad graciously let me drive it home from the dealership. Somebody sure did raise him right.

Cool white t-shirt

2009-01-16T16:55:00.001-08:00

There are few things I like more than coming into my slightly cool home after a warm walk on the sun-baked streets of my LA neighborhood and slipping into a plain white T-shirt. Ahhhhh.

Organic White House

2009-01-12T16:22:00.000-08:00

Check out this website that encourages the new First Family to plant a garden on the White House Lawn. eattheview.org

My Diner

2009-01-10T19:05:00.001-08:00

I'm not sold on Los Angeles. The winter's not winter - I'm from the East Coast (capitalized, thank-you-very-much), really the Mid-Atlantic, that nether world of Maryland where no one will claim us. When I lived in the South, everyone assumed I was a Yank. When visiting New England, people claimed I had a Southern accent. You just can't win when you're from the great small state of MD! But we DO have seasons. Seasons that I can get down with. Just when you're really done sweltering from the terrible humidity, fall breaks the heat and releases you from the stress of having to take at least 2 showers a day, because you immediately start sweating after the first one. And then winter comes, and you curse it because blah, blah, blah there's ice and it's cold and my lips are chapped and my hands turn to to the coarseness of a paper grocery bag...but at least it's different and you have lots of excuses to spend the day wrapped in a blanket drinking hot things in mugs and praying that it snows so you'll have a good excuse to be late for work, but of course it never does because you're in the Mid-Atlantic which is halfway between Antartica and Florida (approximately) and it only really gets that cold and precipitous roughly 3 times a winter, if you're lucky. But it's a change, is the point I'm trying to make. A change that kills ants and other squirmy things so they don't climb into your kitchen and try to attack your freezer on a balmy January day. Which is what they do when you live close to Mexico.
Which really is where I live these days, and will for the next few years, thanks to hubby's job/perpetual schooling, so I'd better learn to like it and get over the whole seasonal thing (I do prefer deciduous trees....but that'l be another post.)
One thing that is helping me get over my aversion to this coast is the local coffee shop Brad and I have discovered. The Coffee Table in Eagle Rock is blissful. Free refills, helpful staff, good diner food, it's what I crave. We are always glad to find a coffee shop that is successful and not struggling (we seem to always work at the flailing ones) and we seem to end up at the Coffee Table at least once a week, which consumes the meager 'going out' part of our budget, but it's well worth it. It's always nice to have that one place you can count on.
Like last night, we got a little adventurous and tried out a Chinese place. If I knew a good Chinese swear word, I would insert it hear, but I don't, so please just use your imagination. Our food was expensive and made us feel overstuffed after three bites. And if there's anything I hate it's not getting your money's worth. If there's anything I hate even MORE is not getting your money's worth and feeling like crap after.
I always feel like I get my money's worth of The Coffee Table and rarely feel like crap, so I'm going to go with that. LA's got my Luke's, my Caffe Pronto. Life out here just might be bearable.

Puppy Cuteness

2008-10-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

Broadcasting Live with Ustream.TV

If I can't have a puppy, this is the next best thing. As my husband says "Oh! For Cute!" Seriously -- puppy TV?! This is genius.

New favorite blog

2008-10-22T10:38:00.001-07:00

The Writer's Almanac

Visiting and reading this blog always makes me a little happier each day. If you try it and like it, then definitely get his book "Good Poems". It'll make your brain feel good.

Frugal Cartoons

2008-10-20T10:43:00.001-07:00

Ouch. I think this guy cut through all the BS and media hype surrounding this plumber sitch and hit a nerve. I mean, who likes taxes? But, as Randy Newman sings, 'This is my country, these are my people.' So we should take care of America and we should take care of AMERICANS. Maybe I'm only a bleeding heart liberal because I live teetering above the poverty level, and understand that government is sometimes necessary to HELP people. That's what I want from my government! And that's what I expect out of our leader.

Now, I understand this country is in the fiscal shitter, but I know that the government needed to step in with taxpayer money to dig these douchebag bankers out of the potty or else soon we'd be renting out our concrete patio as an 'outdoor sleeping oasis' just to make ends meet. We, as Americans need to start living within our means! I for one didn't step up to buy a house I couldn't afford. I don't have thousands of dollars in credit card debt (only school debt, tee hee). I cut coupons, take public transport to work, don't buy plastic water bottles, and buying a drink at a bar nearly sends me into a writhing, foaming-at-the-mouth seizure like state. What I'm saying is, my husband and I basically live within our modest income and we try really hard to be frugal. But I do work, I try to give a little back to my community, I save what I can and I pay my taxes!

Oh, Colin Powell...you fickle, but well-spoken man!

2008-10-19T19:13:00.000-07:00

My dad showed this to me this morning. I don't think anyone has laid out such a logical explanation for why McCain should not be president. This speech is so fantastically lucid. It cuts through all the crap that the political pundits spin day in and day out. I'm so glad MSNBC gave C. Powell airtime.

GOBAMA!

OK, L.A., you win!

2008-10-12T17:13:00.001-07:00

I am about to eat my words. Last week I complained about the weather here in the city of angels, but this weekend has totally won me over. It's been BEAUTIFUL in Los Angeles this weekend. Crisp, breezy, clear. Very fall-like for a 'right coaster' like me. Now if I could only get the leaves here to change color and for the cast of 'Friday Night Lights' to live in my neighborhood.....

Also, Brad and I got together with some of my college friends for an un-Homecoming and 5 year reunion for those Furman '03 grads that live in L.A. We headed to Venice to this GREAT barbeque place called Baby Blues. The food was A-mazing. Brad and I sat at the bar while we waited for the friends I hadn't seen in 5 years. They serve PBR in cans, which is just how we like 'em. I got the sweet tea just to make sure it was authentic (it was). The woman who was plating meals at the grill showed us the greatest hospitality by treating us to several little nibbits of food. The mac'n'cheese? Out of this world buttery and downright terrible for you. But that's what you want in southern mac'n'cheese. Am I wrong? A sweet potato mash that will make you slap your momma. Oh, and she grilled us some shrimp that could kick your ass and take your lunch money. The ensuing meal was equally as good.

The reunion was fun and just the right size - only four of us showed up! But it was great to see people again and remind myself that I have a lot to do to use my education to it's fullest potential (damn overachievers!). Hope everyone at real Furman Homecoming had as much fun as we did here in L.A.!

Jumping the Shark

2008-10-07T17:57:00.000-07:00

Uhhhggg! I've had it. I have to break up with them. All of them. Those crappy things I've been devoted to that just aren't producing.

I'll start with the one that bugs me the most: Blender Magazine. This magazine disappoints SO much that I actually groaned when I opened the mail box today. And you know why I groaned BEFORE I open the mag? Cause they put Miss I-don't-own-a-pair-of-pants Katy Perry on the cover. E-gads fellas. I know you're owned by Maxim and have a line item in that contract to put hotties on the cover, but Pink doesn't wear pants, rocks harder than Katy Perry and has a new album out. Plus, she's way quirkier and I'm almost SURE she's kissed a girl, she just doesn't have to sing about it. The other reasons I'm done (READ: FINISHED!) with Blender is that they have lost most of their quirkiness that makes them so damn likable. Where are the brilliantly silly captions? Where are the random song lyrics scrolling the bottom of each page? What about the latest celebrity arrests? But honestly, it's the captions I miss the most. Wherever the old caption guy went -- get him back! He was genius! That's about 85% of the reason I renewed my subscription. When you get him back, I might think about reading you again.

Heroes. I'm done. Can't watch. They have absolutely jumped the shark. I understand that it's hard work making good TV. But come one! You can do so much with super heroes! I got miffed last season when you just kept introducing new characters just to have them killed off by Sylar. Whatever happened to the girl from New Orleans? Was that a lame attempt to get a more diverse viewing audience? Heroes -- you make me sad. And I just can't have that kind of negativity in my life right now. I'm sorry, but it's over.

Fall Heat. Gross. So sue me-- I'm not in love with SoCal weather. I'm from the east coast and really enjoy Fall. I would go so far as to say it's 1 of my top 4 favorite seasons. Colors. Swetta Weatha. Chilly mornings and football games! It's going to be 96 in LA tomorrow! Jeesh! Shame on you L.A. for making me sweat when I'd rather not.

Ham Butter

2008-10-05T18:19:00.001-07:00

So while researching a recipe for biscuits to make with dinner I stumbled upon this:

Biscuits with Ham Butter

"'Whether as a finger food or brunch dish, these are a great way to use leftover ham,' advises Andrea *&#^@ of Unionville, Tennessee."

Can anyone please think of a good joke about ham butter?

Plant Thieves

2008-10-04T15:45:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to take my CBEST test and as I was leaving my house I noticed that someone had swiped one of my potted plants right out of it's pot! It wasn't my favorite plant, but COME ON!

Maybe one of the regular 'Can Collectors' took it. Those are the peeps in my neighborhood who come by EVERY morning with their shopping carts looking through our recycling bins trawling for cans and plastic bottles. And as annoying it is to have a shopping cart rumbling along the concrete sidewalk right outside your bedroom window at 6:30 in the morning, I am all for those can-trepeneurs. At least the stuff gets recycled! Brad and I took our recyclabes in the other day and got $5 back. Hootenanny! That's like 2 apples at Whole Foods or 5 double cheeseburgers at McDonalds!

I vote for Cute!

2008-10-02T16:10:00.001-07:00

See why I want Tina Fey to be my friend?

3z

2008-10-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Three Names you go by:
1. Mrs. Sroka (not yet really…..)
2. Bee
3. Bibbs

Three Things That Scare You:
1. Falling on my face and breaking my teeth
2. Someone I love dying unexpectedly
3. Being bored for the rest of my life

Three of Your Everyday Essentials:
1. Stretching
2. Cold drinking water and my Sigg
3. Laughing

Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. My wedding ring
2. Pants! Pants! Pants!
3. Inevitably, something from The Gap

Three of Your Favorite Songs Right Now:
1. Conor Oberst – Either ‘Sausalito’ or ‘Danny Callahan’
2. Rhianna – ‘Disturbia’
3. Miley Cyrus – ‘Breakout’ (I’m embracing my inner 12 year old)

Three Things You Want in a Relationship (other than Real Love):
1. Humour (with a ‘u’)
2. Empathy
3. Uplifting-ness

Three Truths:
1. I don’t like purists
2. The more I learn, the more I don’t know
3. I am responsible for my own happiness

Three PHYSICAL Things about the Opposite Sex that Appeal to You:
1. Smile
2. Kind eyes
3. GREAT calves. Mmmmm.

Three of Your Favorite Hobbies:
1. Home Ec (I’m not kidding)
2. Being silly
3. Walking

Three Things You want to do really badly right now:
1. Work on television. Not on, but behind. You know what I mean.
2. Get a dog!
3. Leave my ‘job’ and Find my place.

Three Places You Want to go:
1. Home
2. Jerusalem
3. Brazil

Three Things You Want to Do Before You Die:
1. Grow my own food
2. Have children with Brad
3. Vote for a Presidential candidate that wins

Three Ways that you are stereotypically a Girl/Guy:
1. I have a lot of shoes
2. I like my husband to take out the trash
3. I cry at ‘The Notebook’ (damn you, Nicholas Sparks!)

Three Famous People You’d Like to Be Friends With:
1. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Tina Fey
3. Will Smith

New Apartment

2008-08-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

It's official: stairs are out. first floors are in. What Brad and I spent nearly 3 sweaty days moving out of our third floor attic, we moved in to our new apartment in 1.5 hours. Our new apartment is nice. We're even getting to paint our walls. We've choosen mostly food colors. Applesauce for the living room, asparagus for the bath! I'll post pics when it's finished!

I LIKE TV.

2007-12-01T00:39:00.000-08:00

Do you know that almost NO NBC shows are in the top ratings on Nielson? Is that complete crap? What is this country watching!??

I'll tell you: DANCING WITH THE STARS. And America is not satisfied with just one night of this stuff, Dancing with the Stars: Tuesday is like number 5!

America - you are being had! Start watching GOOD programming. I will admit that I, too have succumbed to the every-so-often 3 hour "Law and Order" marathon; I have sat through 2 whole minutes of "The Singing Bee"; and I will watch a whole hour of "Desperate Housewives of Orange County". But between all of these sad moments in my life - I watch GOOD tv.

Here's my enjoyment factor list for what I'm watching now:

1. 30 Rock
2. Weeds
3. Heroes
4. SNL

The studios need to pay their writers so SNL can come back. (My heart hurt because I missed out on seeing Michael Cera host SNL at Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater a few weeks ago.) But I am getting a kick out of seeing Amy Poehler and Will Arnett's goofy smiles on the Gap windows on 5th ave on my way to work.

I'm only watching Heroes at this point because I'm committed and need to see how/if they can wrap it all up.

30 Rock is genius and I wish Tina Fey would hire me as her assistant. ("This Earth is ruined. We need a new one!" -- love that) PS - Alec Baldwin just makes me giggle.

And i'll refer you to my latest entry on the secret reason I watch Weeds.

Weeds

2007-11-30T20:38:00.000-08:00

I kind of have a girl crush on Mary Louise Parker. Almost like last night's 30 Rock "Judah's gay for Jaime", except I don't want to date MLP, just maybe take her bowling. . . . or we could make fried green tomatoes and then have a flour fight. Wait, maybe I am gay for Mary Louise! (I'm sure my husband wouldn't mind.)

In any case, Weeds is incredible and I'm hooked yet very sad I can't afford Showtime and will have to wait for it on Netflix. Unless -- my sister's crafty boyfriend can find a way to "get" it for me. He he he.

*Note: This is not a particularly attractive pic of Mary Louise Parker. I mean, nobodies knees should be showcased like that! Knees just AREN'T that attractive. But all the red carpet pics of her are just too much. i much prefer the Nancy Botwin pot dealing version of MLP than the red carpet hoighty toighty version.

Nothing to do today but take quizzes online

2007-07-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

I got 65%! This quarter quiz is harder than it seems.
My favorite was the one that queries wether the quarter is from N or S Dakota. ?!?!?! Everyone knows South Dakota is way better.

GAUCHO

2007-05-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

For my 26th birthday, I had the nerve to ask my vegetarian husband to take me out to a nice steak dinner. Being the incredibly wonderful man that he is, he conceded, and made reservations at Gaucho, in our own Montclair.

Before I asked him to devote a night to watching me indulge in carnivorous behavior, I had made sure that there would at least be something for him to eat. And how he was pleasantly suprised! He had a sweet corn empanada with goat chesse, and the lobster and shrimp cevishes. Being non-Argentinians, we had to ask what most of the menu items were, but our waitress was very patient in explaining the dishes to us. I had the filet, with sweet potatoes! The filet was good, but I read somewhere that the grass fed beef is tougher than corn fed beef. It wasn't as good as the last steak I had, but I only get steak maybe twice a year, so maybe I had only dreamed how good the last one was.

Dinner was nicely paced, and the ambiance was relaxed but still fun. Dessert was EXCELLENT - we had the paqueques, a crepe filled with milky caramel with homemade whip cream! OH! They also offered me a piece of cheesecake for my birthday, and I'm not one to descriminate against cake. I'd give it an 7.75/10, plus .75 for the free cake - make it 8.5/10. (Free cake goes a long way in my book!)

European Vacation

2007-05-06T13:47:00.000-07:00

There are many stories to tell from my 2 week European Vacation with my sister, Libby. However, I will let the pictures tell the story until I have the time a patience to either 1) label all of the pictures correctly and/or 2) write some of the aforementioned stories on this blog. And in the mean time, the 2 people that read my blog can ask me questions regarding my trip.

Pictures of Europe HERE.

2007-05-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

What would Brad and I do on our first day back together after my 2 week departure to Europe? Go to a great jazz club in the city to listen to his classmate, Mark Lamanno play piano for a great singer - phoot, I can't remember or find her name anywhere. A delightfully un-pretentious jazz singer. Gasp! you say....Do they exist? Yes, and as soon as I find her name, I will post it for the joy of everyone reading. She has a nice light voice and doesn't try to outdo the other musicians. It was very enjoyable, mostly because of the company (Darren, Libby, Brad, Matt, Ozzy, and Mark), but also because of the 2 drink minimum!

But, harumph, it's back to the grindstone today. I cannot really complain, because my poor husband has papers upon papers due for his classes, which can be slightly more taxing than being a temp.

I will soon be posting my pictures from Europe...so check back!

I Think I Love My Husband

2007-03-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Commentary on I Think I Love My Wife

This weekend my husband and I did something that we don't normally do. We went out. And not to the grocery store - we went OUT. To the MOVIES. (gasp.)

As Brad is a fan and student of African American culture, and because Chris Rock is so damn funny, we went to see "I Think I Love My Wife." After we snuck in ShopRite bought snacks (Twizzlers were on sale!) and bought our tickets (for roughly the same amount as my husband and I have both spent on haircuts in the last three years), we sat down to enjoy the commercials, I mean, movie.

Fast forward two hours and Brad and I our doing our delicate dance of post-movie opinion exchange. "What did you think about the movie?" my cinephile husband asked me. My stomach always churns when he asks me this question - we don't often agree. (Let's just say "Chronicles of Narnia" did not win him over.) Having watched a lot of movies in my day, but never really having studied film... or writing... or directing... or photography, the only thing I know about movies is how I feel when the credits start to roll. Did the film seem to drag? Did it make me laugh? Could I relate to any of the characters, or situations? Did I feel like they completed the point of the movie, or left it hanging? Would I watch it again? How was the acting? Usually I know that I've like the move if, when the credits do roll, I wish they hadn't - because I was just that into it.

With this particular movie - Bradley really enjoyed it. I cannot say for certain if this was because it the two lead actresses, Kerri Washington and Gina Torres, (the beautiful actress who played Zoe in "Serenity") were extraordinarily talented or extraordinarily beautiful. His critique: He told me that every person knows a woman like Nikki, a manipulative, seductive woman. And, being the good, kind husband that he is, also noted that he finds those women completely annoying. He also thought that Chris Rock really presented the "every man" very realistically. So, he really enjoyed the movie.

I had two main complaints: length and the portrayal of women. The movie dragged, so much so, that I think I looked at my cell phone during the movie to check the time. They could have done a lot more editing and still gotten the fantasy of Nikki to the same level. I didn't appreciate that the only ways Rock portrays women is either 1) an irresponsible, manipulative sexpot, or 2) an uptight, righteous, controlling wife. I'm not saying here that many other popular movies regard women in any higher fashion; I suppose if you're going to see a Chris Rock movie, you have to expect Chris Rock humor, so I'll give it leeway on that. I guess as a women, i just felt ashamed that this is how so many people see us - as manipulative creatures. When, really, we just have to deal with such idiotic, power hungry, ego-centric men, sometimes we have to be manipulative and bitchy to stand up for ourselves.

However, I will say, that the ending was good, Richard realized that the reality of fantasy is not always as good or as satisfying as the fantasy, itself. PLUS, I guess Rock is a fan of good TV, because he had the sense to cast two actors from the best crime show ever, HBO's The Wire: Michael K. Williams, as Nikki's crazed boyfriend, (his scene lasts around 15 seconds, maybe, and it was incredible) and Wendall Pierce, as Nikki's successful fiance.

All in all it was money well spent (my husband was paying..tee hee). I'd give the movie a B. While the actors won't win any awards, it was entertaining, mostly true to life, and funny. It IS an interesting look at fidelity and commitment. Rent "Head of State" if you want to see a movie with more laughs per minute than "Wife" with less marital conflict, but the same crazy Rock humor. Only go to see this with your unfaithful partner if you have a good sense of humor.

Taxes...Harumph

2007-03-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

My husband and I just filed our taxes for 2006. Nothing makes me more nervous and anxious than doing my taxes. A feeling surely not fully born out of rational thought, but it makes me ill, nonetheless.

During the process, I got angry, shoved files and boxes around noisily ( in an attempt to show my frustration, but I think I just annoyed our neighbor downstairs), and, yes, fought with my husband. Definitely not my proudest moment (sorry, honey). But, in the end, finally resigned myself to the terrifying fact that, I did, in fact owe the government. Grrrr.

Did you know that our national debt is now 9.350 TRILLION dollars! That's an increase of 7% from last year. The chart for that much money wouldn't even fit on this poster. Shazam. I know Clinton may have screwed his intern, but at least she didn't charge him 9 Billion dollars for the privilege.

Check out the poster above. It's very information, a little scary, but most of all, intriguing - I've always wondered the age old question "Where's the Beef?" Well, here's the beef, and how it's all allocated.

Things from this poster that I have to question:

1. What is the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and why is it getting 3B (increase of 71%) of our money? It's under Department of State.

2. Renewable Energy got cut 2%. WTF? When is W going to come to his senses?

3.Safe and Drug Free Schools got cut a whopping 62%! Curious. Maybe Laura needed a new injection of botox?

4. Almost all Operations and Maintenance funds for or military is down. Maybe that's a part of the problem why all these soldier are coming home wounded. Their equipment is falling apart.

(For two other voices on the war, check out NPR's piece on Blackwater the corporate mercenary army that's rubbing elbows with almost every major Republican politician, and National Geographic's article on wounded soldiers, showing how good army doctors and nurses are able to care for the hundreds of wounded soldiers they see)

I'm sure there are 100,000 ways to look at this poster. Those are just some of my thoughts. Wouldn't it be cool if we could pick where we wanted our taxes to go? I wonder how that would pan out........