Monthly Archives: May 2009
Breakfast for the Birds
J and I were surprised to find some feathered friends from the city on our deck this morning eating breakfast.
Best of Luck to Susan Boyle!
Susan Boyle will be singing in the finals tonight!
My heart goes out to her and I wish her the best!
Click on the photo to watch Susan in last week’s semi-finals.
My Week End Review
This week started off nice with the 3 day weekend. Being off Monday for Memorial Day was great even though it rained here. Memorial Day is our first holiday at work since New Years, so I always look forward to it.
On Sunday, I finished up grocery shopping, going to two places to do it just to be able to use up my coupons. I saved $22 though so it was worth it. Saving money and clipping coupons is not an easy thing to do.
On Sunday, I also started a final edit of a short story collection I’m working on. So far, it’s going well and I hope to finish the edit this week. Also on Sunday, I worked quite a bit on the book blog writing posts and reviews for June. We’ve moved the blog by the way. It’s now at www.llbookreview.com. Check it out and let me know what you think.
J and I went to see Star Trek on Monday. Not being a Trekky, I thought it was a great film overall. Great special effects and I’m glad to have seen it on the big screen!
Tuesday and Wednesday night we watched So You Think You Can Dance, our favorite reality show! We love it more than Idol. It was fun to see them in my old stomping grounds in Memphis on Tuesday night.
Friday night, thanks to Netflix, we watched the next five shows of HBO’s True Blood Season 1. This is an amazing show mixed with love, lust, sex, drugs, backwoods Louisiana accents, and vampires. I love it!
It rained almost every day this week, and being only a four day work week, work itself was quite stressful. But there was a just a bit of peace and happy yesterday when my lilies started blooming on the back porch. I awoke today to two blooms. A friend at work gave me the lily for my birthday last month. I snapped this photo of it this morning just after the rain.
And that’s my week end review.
I’m a 65% Polyester Pullover in a World of 100% Cotton Ugly Polos
So J and I attempted to go shopping for clothes yesterday. We started off at Kohl’s. J found a shirt he liked. I found a button down shirt and tee combo on the Clearance rack that I liked. J also bought a pair of sandals, and tried to buy a pair of Sketchers for me but I wouldn’t let him. I told him I needed shirts and jeans more. I saw two or three other things I “sorta” liked but still decided to wait on buying anything else there.
So, we left and went to Dillard’s at the mall down the street. What a waste of time! First, there was at least six feet of space between each rack of clothes. It was obvious they had not bought as much this season, and what they had bought was UGLY. It was a sea of solid colored cheap polos, striped ugly polos, palm tree print golfer shirts, and overpriced thin silky button downs that gay men haven’t worn since the 90s. Oh, and let’s not forget those thin dark colored tees with shiny eagles, skulls, guitars, and filigree all over them. Even the jeans had weird bedazzled filigree on the butt. What straight man wears this??? What gay man wears this???
J and I were so disappointed in all the crap clothes, so we left there and went to Macy’s at a different mall. It didn’t get much better there. Despite the glorious fact that an associate did greet us in every department we walked through to get to the men’s department….mattresses, furniture, kitchen goods, bedding, and finally in the men’s section. Sadly, it was even worse than Dillard’s. Count 8 feet between the racks where they had spaced everything out to try to make the store look full. However, the very back of the department was even closed off with curtains where they had just shut down part of the department and closed it off to save space. One side of the department was, once again, ugly polos. The other half all looked “hip hop” and even that stuff looked like someone was trying to dress up and be the Joker. It was all neon green and pink and black. And UGLY!
J and I shook our heads in disgust. Sure, it’s the economy. It’s bad buying decisions on the company’s part too. Even if the economy was booming, I wouldn’t wear this sh*t though! So, after that we went to another Kohl’s and guess what? I found another shirt and tee combo (different than the first) on the Clearance rack that I liked. J bought another shirt, and that was it. I tried looking at jeans but I’m so sick of jeans that look all faded with those white stripes down the front, ones that look already worn. But we’ll save jeans for another post!
Then, we went home. So, I did end up with two tees and two button down shirts for less than $27.00 dollars. Oh, and we earned $30.00 in Kohl’s cash which we can go back and spend after the 26th. I’m getting some jeans, damn it, if it kills me!
My Week End Review
J came back into town on Sunday. He had been gone last weekend for a wedding. I spent most of Sunday catching up on house chores like laundry, vacuuming, and dishes. Since all of our TV shows ended the week before, there wasn’t much to look forward to this week besides American Idol.
Speaking of Idol, we watched the final face off between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert on Tuesday. Adam was good that night. Kris was okay. Although I still liked Kris better, I thought Adam was going to win.
After AI, we watch the new show, Glee. Did you watch it? Hilarious! And so true to high school life with the jocks, nerds, and cheerleaders all clashing. And it ended with a musical number! Can’t be that. But overall, loved this show and looking forward to watching it this fall.
Of course, Wednesday night, we had to watch the Idol finale. Cyndi Lauper, Lionel Richies, Santana, Steve Martin, Black Eyed Peas, Kiss, and even Queen! Wow! Wow! Wow! It was a great show and the final two contestants definitely shined, and I STILL thought Adam had it. Boy, was I shocked with Ryan called out Kris’s name. Thanks to that, I also win 30 bucks at work! Ha! Ha! Four of us drew two names each when they got down to 8 and each put in 10 bucks. Whoever had the winner gets the money. And I had Kris! I liked Kris because he is shy and was the underdog, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to his album.
Thursday night, at long last, it was time for Nigile, Cat, and Mary on So You Think You Can Dance. Two whole hours and I watched and loved every minute of it. Lots of promise this year, and it was nice to see some a few people from previous seasons return to audition again. I’m even more excited about next week because the commercial showed they held auditions in Memphis. Pronounced Mayumpfis by the locals!
Friday was a great day because not only because it was the end of the work week, but because it was the eve of my three day weekend. Whoot! Whoot! Friday night we watched the first two episodes of True Blood: Season 1 which had arrived this week thanks to Netflix. Have you seen True Blood? It’s an HBO show and the first season just came out on DVD. I’d never heard of it till a few months ago, and I may just have to add HBO to my channels for this show. Loved it!!!! Move over Twilight is all I have to say. True Blood is about Sookie Stackhouse, a telepathic waitress in a backwoods Louisiana bar. Her best friend is a sassy black chick. Her brother is a horny toad who spends at least ten minutes of every episode scantily clad and having sex. Oh, and vampires have just “come out of the coffin” when something called True Blood is discovered. It’s a synthetic bottled blood available right in you 7-11 which can sustain them, so now they want equal rights. A mysterious vampire named Bill Compton wanders into the bar one night and Sookie becomes intriqued. Let the lazy southern drawl and humor begin! Can’t wait to watch the rest of the season. True Blood is also based on books, which I might just have to read after seeing this show. It’s a great series which I hope they continue, but I’m afraid it might be hanging onto Twilight’s coat tails, not by choice, even though this show is TOTALLY different (and much better).
So now I have a three day weekend ahead of me. J and I might go see Star Trek this weekend. Other than that, I’m taking it easy.
And that’s my week end review!
American Idol 2009 Recap
Wow! What a show! Cyndi Lauper, Rod Stewart, Kiss, Queen…could it get any bigger? I even loved seeing Steve Martin on banjo. And I still thought Adam Lambert had it wrapped up and would be tonight’s winner.
I never watch Idol during the audition phase. In fact, I usually wait until we get to about the top 24. This year, we were down to the top 12 and I still had no idea who had star quality. I think when Adam did Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire, I had him and Alison plugged to be the Top 2, with Kris Allen probably bowing out in 4th place, and Danny being in 3rd. But I love the unexpected.
At work, four of us drew two names each when we got to the top 8 and put 10 bucks each in the pot to go to whoever had the winner. I had Kris and Lil, so I immediately kept my eyes on them. I liked the shy Kris and he reminded me a bit of John Mayer. I’d buy his album, but I just didn’t think he had enough star quality and personality to make it to the top 2. Boy, was I wrong! And even last week, I still expected Adam to take it hands down.
Last night, Kris had a bad night but definitely made up for it tonight despite the votes already having been cast. I got really tired of Adam’s Axel Rose impressions with the long notes and screeching, even though he definitely has a voice.
Like many, I just figured it’d be a given that he’d take the title tonight since he’s been at center stage for so long. Despite never casting one vote myself, good job America for giving it to the underdog! And for giving me 30 bucks!
And I’m looking forward to Kris’s album, despite that retched song Kara wrote.
Is it really hand scooped?
Yesterday, I was going through the drive through at Hardee’s (Carl’s Jr for some of you folks out there), and I noticed a big sign announcing they are now offering “hand scooped” shakes. 
Is it really hand scooped? What’s the benefit of that?
First, have you seen the people working at some of the Hardee’s around here? The last thing I want is them scooping up my ice cream with their hands. And some hands are bigger than others, so whose to say you are going to get the same amount of ice cream everytime?
It’s like Zestfully Clean! What does that mean? You’re not really clean till your zestfully clean! What about Dial Clean? My clothes are Tide Clean! Or ALL clean?
Hand Scooped Shakes! Who cares? Why not ice cream machine/blender shakes – served by puberty-laced teens making minimum wage! I guess that’s too many words for the sign. You do have to admit it’s got some zest to it though. Maybe Hardee’s and Zest Soap should partner….Ice Cream Machine/Blender Shakes – Served By Zestfully Clean Teens (making minimum wage).
I like that.
The Curious Case of Brad Pitt & Mediocre Film Making
I attempted to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button late Friday night, but was so bored I had to turn it off and finish it the next day. The premise of a man born old and growing younger begs for the attention of a director like Tim Burton. I was begging for more of a touch of supernatural and whimsy, but all I got from director David Fincher was a long drawn out hospice story spent waiting for not just one, but two people to die.
Brad Pitt got to use his Interview with a Vampire accent again since the story took place in New Orleans. The current setting of the story takes place at the onset of Hurricane Katrina although it really serves no purpose besides glorifying the setting itself…present day and past. The lush streets and plantations of the Big Easy definitely give the movie a very visual appeal and made for a nice place and time. Pitt himself is a bit one dimensional and deals more with the conflict of his heart rather than the main conflict of the strange phenomena that is happening to him. His “reverse” life becomes a thousand pretty metaphors for life itself causing every scene to almost be over romanticized. He lives in a home where old people are cared for, so death is constantly coming to visit. He’s only seven years old but looks like he’s eighty, just like the people around him.
The heart of the story lies with his on and off relationship with Cate Blanchett’s character and how they eventually “meet in the middle” as she matures and he de-matures. Like real life, so much time is spent getting to this point, and then the rest goes by too quickly. We never get a glimpse of Benjamin at school or on a playground with his un-peers. In the beginning, he goes from being a newborn to suddenly being a little feeble old man. And again at the end, he’s a teen then suddenly a ten year old, then an infant again, but by then the movie is so rich in sadness from the actions of Daisey (Blancett) that you don’t even care.
The magic behind all this is somehow related to a clock that a man made to run backwards and bring everyone’s sons home from war rather than them dying, but this clock story is never tied to Benjamin’s story so you are left to think that somehow that clock was causing all of this to happen to him. The movie is too predictable right from the start , never exceeding expectations, when the only “life lessons” we see Benjamin learning is love and loss. If only I could go back in time and have back my two and half hours spent watching this movie! I don’t regret seeing it; it’s a good movie spent watching it by yourself to contemplate your own life. But like life, sometimes doesn’t leave much for hope in the end.
Good Times at Momo’s
Had dinner with an good girl friend/ex-coworker last night. Although our usual hang out is a nearby Mexican restaurant called Chihuahua’s, she called me up and asked if I liked Greek. Now, there’s lots of perverted ways I could answer that question, but when it came to Greek food, I’d never tried it. 
“Do you like Feta Cheese and Pita?” she asked.
“Is that all they serve?”
“Do you like Olives?”
“Not really.”
“They have belly dancers.”
“Let’s go!”
Willing to try anything once, I was pretty sure they had something on the menu besides cheese, bread, and martini accents. So we went. I was immediately impressed with the atmosphere alone. Any place I can walk into and say, “Wow! If I owned a restaurant, or coffee shop, or bookstore, this would be it!” then I know I’m in for a good time. I liked the clubbish atmosphere and patio. We were seated in the front window at a table with bench style seating by a cute and kind little waiter who we later found out is named Phillipe.
You can’t go to a Greek restaurant without ordering Humus. We also had Tzatziki which is a cucumber and yogurt mix, and we had Taramosalata which is an orange colored salmon spread. You could get three spreads for the price of two! I ordered Sangria to drink and my friend had a blue drink called a Pythagoras which is a mix of Absolut Citron, Blue Curacao, and lemonade. The drinks and all three spreads were delicious!
Check out the menu online here!
And the drink menu here!
I had the shrimp pasta as my entree, and wasn’t impressed. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best. I actually felt I could have made better at home. The shrimp was perfect, but the noodles were thick and plain. There wasn’t a lot of seasoning, and the tomato sauce was blah. But the sangria made it okay.
She had a traditional lamb gyro, which was not like a sandwich at all but more like a salad. I sampled the lamb. First time I ever had lamb, by the way, and it was yummy! I’ll definitely be ordering this next time.
Good conversation abounded as we caught up on each other’s lives. A gentle rainstorm swept up as the sky turned dark outside (the quiet kind you always see in movies), and drove the patio diners inside just in time for the music to be turned up and a belly dancer came out with bells and all and put on a show right there in the middle of the place. I attempted (poorly) to take photos with my cell phone (I’m so technically challenged, as you know.) but ended up with some haunting snapshots that look like Jennifer Love-Hewitt’s been ghost whispering. She was very nice though, all smiles, and even coaxed a little girl up from the table next to us and gave her a dancing lesson.
The crowd picked up and after we’d finished eating and each ordered another Pythagoras, the manager came over and asked for a favor. He had a bachelorette party of ten that had a reservation but the tables were taken up when everyone came inside. He asked, very politely, if we would move to a pub table over in the corner. Because it’s bench style, where we were sitting could easily sit ten with another table pushed up. An offer of him buying us drinks is all it took because he was so kind, so we moved to a pub table by the door on the other side of the restaurant. A hot firey baklava with walnuts, strawberries, oranges, and apples soon arrived – lit on fire right at the table by Phillipe himself. I told ya he was cute.
The music got cranked up again for some more belly dancing. That round of free drinks we were promised also finally came too.
The crowd thinned out. Oh, and that bachelorette party? Clad in long denim skirts, strange headband bows, long hair and no make-up, finally left and must have been pentecostal or something. When the table next to us opened up, we asked if we could move over one just to get away from the door. The manager came over and thanks us again for being good patrons and helping him out and offered us coffee which arrived in a nice glass Irish-style mug with cream and sugar. Soon, the restaurant was empty except for some patrons at the bar and we finally left just after 11pm.
A polite staff (but be patient), great atmosphere, fun entertainment, cool music, great food, and of course, great conversation with an awesome friend…I’m really glad we decided to go there. Overall it was a great – and inexpensive – night! If you are ever here in St. Louis, check out Momo’s near the Loop!
