Monday, March 22, 2010
Big Love, Season 3: Disc 1
Got another DVD watched this past weekend. It's been so long since I saw the last season of Big Love that I really didn't remember what was going on and I'm fairly sure I missed one or two episodes at the end. Regardless, I started up with this DVD and I have missed the show - I'm looking forward to seeing more without a doubt.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Crockpot Pulled Pork and Crab Cakes
This weekend, I tried out two new recipes which are worth noting and will definitely count as food blog entries once I get around to writing about them and putting them up on Brooklyn Forager.
The first was Ina Garten's crabcakes with remoulade. I was nervous about these since the first few turned out crumbly and not quite browned enough. My husband thanked me for the early errors since he got to try them out and once I got in my groove, the recipe got the Austin seal of approval.
The second was pulled pork sandwiches. I have actually debated using this one in the challenge because the whole recipe called for making biscuits from scratch. I was traveling with my food and didn't want to cram too much into the morning before I headed to the party I was cooking for and also wasn't sure how the biscuits would keep. The pork itself turned out very well and was such an easy crockpot recipe that I will be making it again. I figured that's enough to count it as a new recipe even without the biscuits!
The first was Ina Garten's crabcakes with remoulade. I was nervous about these since the first few turned out crumbly and not quite browned enough. My husband thanked me for the early errors since he got to try them out and once I got in my groove, the recipe got the Austin seal of approval.
The second was pulled pork sandwiches. I have actually debated using this one in the challenge because the whole recipe called for making biscuits from scratch. I was traveling with my food and didn't want to cram too much into the morning before I headed to the party I was cooking for and also wasn't sure how the biscuits would keep. The pork itself turned out very well and was such an easy crockpot recipe that I will be making it again. I figured that's enough to count it as a new recipe even without the biscuits!
Multiple Blessings by Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson
I admit it. I have an ongoing interest in the Gosselin family. Not really the tabloid craziness of late or even Kate on Dancing with the Stars. But I absolutely loved the show and loved the children and even found myself on Team Kate in the early days of the tabloid craziness.
All of this led me to read Multiple Blessings which is Kate's story about pre- and post-sextuplet (but pre-regular show) life in the Gosselin household. I was interested to hear more about their lives at that time. I think the book is frank, if somewhat self-serving in its justifications of her control freak/aggressive mama bear behavior. The book also focuses heavily on Kate's relationship with God and her faith which can be off-putting, but also explains a lot about her own thought process and how she gets through each day.
I wouldn't tell anyone to go out and get this book, even if you have (or had) Gosselin fever, but I got it for free, so it wasn't a total waste of time. There isn't much here that wasn't in the recap episodes or the original documentary piece, so if you've seen it all, you've already read this book.
All of this led me to read Multiple Blessings which is Kate's story about pre- and post-sextuplet (but pre-regular show) life in the Gosselin household. I was interested to hear more about their lives at that time. I think the book is frank, if somewhat self-serving in its justifications of her control freak/aggressive mama bear behavior. The book also focuses heavily on Kate's relationship with God and her faith which can be off-putting, but also explains a lot about her own thought process and how she gets through each day.
I wouldn't tell anyone to go out and get this book, even if you have (or had) Gosselin fever, but I got it for free, so it wasn't a total waste of time. There isn't much here that wasn't in the recap episodes or the original documentary piece, so if you've seen it all, you've already read this book.
Friday, March 19, 2010
47. Read 202 new books.
Each one has the crucial mix of love, despair, suspense and small town dramatics. But rather than be trite or (too) formulaic, I find them all, including Mercy, to be engaging reads that are thought provoking but light and ultimately enjoyable, even if I get too emotionally involved. Some are better than others and I'd say this one comes in about the middle of the pack.
I also read The Family Tree by Carol Cadwalader (for some reason I couldn't add a link). This takes the family drama and flips it on its ear, looking at nature v. nurture, genetics v. experience. The author uses some interesting elements to make this novel fresh as it is part personal account, part dissertation looking at words and concepts. I don't think Cadwalader really followed completely through since the narration has the voice of a stunted 10 year old throughout each section, regardless of the fact that the now-grown woman is reflecting on her own childhood and that of her grandmother. At the end, it was a good quick read, not great by any stretch of the imagination.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
26. Do Yoga At Least Once Per Week.
I found my cardio yoga class - Core Yoga at Yoga People in Brooklyn. It's offered by my favorite teacher twice a week so I have two options to take the class. I am trying to go to the Gentle Restorative Yoga class weekly as well since it is so relaxing and generally needed after I spend the week working on my fitness. Now that I've been a few times, I may try and do it on my own at home which leaves more room on the old yoga card for this Core Yoga class. It is definitely a workout and really helps me focus on strengthening everything.
Monday, March 8, 2010
20. Dine al fresco 101 times.
My friends, the season is upon us! Spring is just starting to peep out and so eating outside may begin. I met a couple of friends for lunch today and we, each with our little brown bags, sat on a bench in Manhattan and ate lunch in the sun. It was so nice! I look forward to this particular item on the list most of all. Hopefully there will be much more outdoor eating in my future.
Friday, March 5, 2010
47 & 48. Read 202 books/1 non-fiction per month
So I'm back on track with my non-fiction reading. In this case, Sickened is a memoir about a girl who lived for over twenty years being poisoned and manipulated by her mother, only discovering the truth when she started to pick up the pieces of her life on her own. She was taking an abnormal psychology class and heard about Munchausen by Proxy (MBP) and had an awakening.
Julie Gregory tells her frightening and fascinating tale through her memories and if it's possible to believe, the MBP experience is only one of the horrors she experiences. She also remembers the charming moments of her childhood, those that may still seem frightening to the outsider but those that warmed her and shaped her. There were good days too.
I was looking to learn more substantive information about MBP when I read this, since it has come up in a few different articles and things that I've read recently. This isn't a reference book, but it is a really well written memoir that gives some insight into the experience of a child affected by MBP. I definitely want to keep learning about this amazing disorder and am very glad that Julie Gregory put together such an interesting perspective on her life.
Julie Gregory tells her frightening and fascinating tale through her memories and if it's possible to believe, the MBP experience is only one of the horrors she experiences. She also remembers the charming moments of her childhood, those that may still seem frightening to the outsider but those that warmed her and shaped her. There were good days too.
I was looking to learn more substantive information about MBP when I read this, since it has come up in a few different articles and things that I've read recently. This isn't a reference book, but it is a really well written memoir that gives some insight into the experience of a child affected by MBP. I definitely want to keep learning about this amazing disorder and am very glad that Julie Gregory put together such an interesting perspective on her life.
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