Turn Away and Close Your Eyes

My husband asks me if I plan on watching the new movie,  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was one of my great reads (Great Reads) and I really enjoyed the trilogy. I hesitate on watching movies based on great books. A great read is great because of what and how the author wrote their book. It's how the author wrote their story that forms the images in my mind of what I am reading.

But I will not watch this movie. Not because it's poorly made. Not at all. Movie reviewers and critics have given it glowing praise. No, I don't plan to watch it because it has some extreme acts of violence. Not the fighting,  bloody shootings or explosions of stuff. I can handle all that. Please.. I watch that all the time on Burn Notice. No, I mean the despicable repugnant act of violence that is rape. The rape scene in the book is a central and essential part of the storyline of the main character. Thus making it an essential scene of the movie.

But it's just one scene. Just turn away and close your eyes. Yes this one scene cannot be unforgettable in one's mind. You see, reading is very different than seeing.

"...reading about the awfulness perpetrated on her (the main character) in a book and watching it transpire on screen are entirely different experiences. Films - especially ones that depict acts of violence- have the power to burnish images into our subconscious forever. Books undeniably create powerful visions in our imagination, but there's a more visceral jab to the senses when packages visuals come at us on screen." Quoted from a Commentary by Randy Myers in the Contra Costa Times

Yes, I was taught early on that just as you don't put 'everything' in your mouth; you don't let your eyes see 'everything' either. 'Everything' has it's consequences.. positive or negative in nature. So I recommend to choose wisely. 

On the other hand, I loved Stephenie Meyers, The Twilight Saga books and the film versions were just as amazing. I saw the first three films by myself. (My husband is not a fan of vampires.) Breaking Dawn Part 1 was very true to the book. Thank you my dear 'hao peng-yo" for coming to see the fourth installment with me. Let's make a date to see the last one! Can't wait until this November for Part 2 to come out!

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Okay... you get the picture. I love food! Especially sweet things.. like pastries!
This little gem of a store just opened in my town!

The first time I had a bundt cake from this store was when my sister brought some over to share. They were little pieces of heaven! So delish and so many flavors to choose from!

I brought two home: red velvet and marble. These are bundtettes.. just the right size for two to share. Or just eat it all yourself. That's okay too! I think my favorite is the pecan-praline.

Red Velvet Bundtette

Marble Bundtette

Full Cake on display

They were so good that I wanted to share them with my friends. I knew I could not get one for everyone so I bought a dozen bundtinis (snack size) to share with the staff at school/church. They were a big hit!

Yes, it's missing one .. I had to save one for myself you know! Wouldn't you?

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

It's That Time

This year it'll be 17 years that we'll be in our house. Due to all our wear and tear, it's time for some replacements for various items in our house. All this was done this past month.

First is our garbage can. I've had this Rubbermaid beauty for over 10+ years. It did it's job very well.
But after seeing one of these shiny gems at a friend's house? Wow... I want one of those! It's a SimpleHuman garbage can.

Not only does it close silently, holds a ton more than my old one and is fingerprint-proof, it has a section for recycling (on the right). Now if it had a section for compost, it would be THE perfect can!

The second thing to replace was plumbing related. We found out one of our bathroom sinks was leaking. The pipes were cracking. We replaced the pipes in all of the sinks in the house and found out that we had actually had five leaks!

Our plumber friend replaced the greenish thin cheap piping with shiny strong LEED certified ones.

We also replaced the plastic values with metal ones that turn off with just a quarter turn. Now I know how to turn the water off! I'm learning new things everyday!

Our third piece was our garage door. The garage door cable became off-line so it needed immediate attention. It was loud and scary when I tried to close it. Thankfully our garage door man came right over to fix it.

Notice the slant?

Now to the Piece De-reisistance! My kitchen sink faucet was also leaking so we replaced it with this Price Pfister Elevate. This fancy faucet can go up a few more inches when needed. And I so need it for washing my pots. Plus as an added bonus, we had a water filter installed so we can have running filtered water instead of filling my Brita filter every day.

Old faucet with attached Brita filter

New faucet with soap dispenser and filtered water spigot

New faucet with additional 3 inch extended height!

Next is to get the tile recaulked to get rid of the ugly black stains on the grout!

Now I would love a bay window in the kitchen but we'll need to change the counter tops, sink and cabinets. Something I would love and desire of course.. but one thing at a time.

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Happy New Year... Chinese Style

Yes, we are serious in celebrating the new year!?!

This lunar year will be the Year of the Dragon.. January 23, 2012.

The gang got together post New Years' to catch up with one another and of course, eat up a storm.
All 27 of us (minus Lisa down south and Doris who was ill) got comfortable in my house for a shin-dig extravaganza! We had all the adults in the family room and the kids in the garage this time. Some are high schoolers now who came with their instruments in tow and had a mini-jam session in the loft!

One neat super fun thing we learned was from Stu. He showed us a new iphone app that he got called 'Action Movie'. It's soo funny! Check out our homemade action movies! The first two are starring Kyle and JD.







It was so hilarious that we could not stop laughing! Since it was recorded on the iPhone we had to all gather around the phone to watch the video. Now that's what I call having a BLAST!

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

Better Than a Fancy Restaurant

My brother-in-law outdid himself. To celebrate his lovely wife's birthday, he decided to cook up a storm for her and her family. My brother-in-law, Kenny, enjoys cooking. And I have to say he does an amazing job of it whenever he cooks. He takes recipes and tweaks them to his liking. I say that is a huge talent.

Kenny and his lovely birthday wife, Matthea

Sliced Mozzarella and Tomatoes

Fried calamari

Linguine with Shrimp, Clams and Mussels

Garlic stir fried Asparagus

Grilled rib-eye steak

Garlic bread

Happy Birthday Matthea!

Personally, I do not like to cook. Okay.. that's being kind. I actually hate to cook. It's a huge chore for me. I never know what to make and when I make it I don't like to eat it. I don't know the difference between basil and thyme or any of the other spices. I try following recipes but it never ends up tasting as good as the picture looks. Know what I mean? But I do cook for the sake of my family. We have to eat and I want to be a good mother and wife!

But I love to eat. I would eat your leftovers over my food any day. As long as I didn't cook it, I'll eat it.

My dream is to have a personal chef! I don't want nor need a housekeeper, gardener, shopper, babysitter... but a personal chef would be fabulous! Nutritious meals that taste delicious would be a dream come true... and a personal trainer... no, that'll be too painful. Just the personal chef will do!

But in the meantime, if you have any yummy easy recipes, drop me a line! I'd try anything! 

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

To Ski Or Not To Ski

We usually go to Mt Rose (the closest ski resort to our hotel) to ski. I really like their children's ski program: Rosebuds. They take the kids, suit them up (lessons include rentals) and take them out. I have been pleased with the instructors the girls have had. Hannah, especially has had a hard time doing unfamiliar things. It's that anxiety of hers. Skiing is one of them. Offering her a prize at the end of the lesson worked.

All the girls took lessons. Emily took private lessons with her cousin, Jordan while Hannah took private lessons with her cousin, Lauren (Jordan's sister).

Personally, I don't ski. I tried for the very first time two years ago and after the first 15 minutes into the lesson, I fell, something popped in my knee and I went down. My instructor asked me to get up. I couldn't. For the life of me, I really could not and was in total pain! So they called the first aid ski patrol and I got to ride down the hill on a sled/gurney with a snowmobile pulling me.  Very embarrassing for me since I do not like the attention. It's that introvert in me. Now, my knee hasn't been the same since. I think I tore something.. probably my ACL someone said and now it feels loosey-goosey. Skiing will not be on my 'things-to-do before I die' list. At least I tried.

This photo was taken by the Mt. Rose photographer and posted on their website. It was captioned "Lotsa Laughs".

Hannah's diligent skiing.

Santa was going up on the magic carpet behind Marissa, Jordan & Emily.

Emily watching Marissa come down the hill.

Marissa did an incredible job skiing for the very first time. She's a natural!

My brother-in-law, Ken, his wife (my sister) and their sons, Z and J.

Ken, Jordan, Emily and Matthew on the lift.

Hannah finished skiing after her lesson. She came out to play with her cousin, Timothy, in the snow.

Daniel didn't ski; instead he played his DS and chess in the lodge.

Emily showing her uncle and cousins her new birdie apps on my ipad. She was educating them about the birds in our backyard.

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 .Random winner will receive a BIG prize!

Biggest Little City in the World Revisited

During the winter break, we headed up for a snow vacation with some of my extended family: my sister, sister-in-law, my two cousins and their families.

We usually stay at the Grand Sierra Resort. They always have a great promotional deal before Christmas. Either a two night stay free.. no minimal stay requirements; or stay one night for $39 and get two nights free. We usually stay for three nights and pay less than $70 for the whole stay.

A pleasant surprise was meeting one of Hannah's classmate at the hotel. They were staying there also. We actually unexpectedly 'bumped' into a total of four families that were vacationing there.

Katelyn and Hannah stayed at the arcade until closing.

This December was the first for us that there wasn't snow. None whatsoever.  Zipo... Nada... No snow on the roads. It was such a smooth drive up that our cars didn't even get dirty.

This is what it looked like last year same time, same place.

December 2010

This is what it looked like this year, same time, same place.

December 2011

 Actually the resorts had man-made snow. We headed to Boreal to a snow park to play in for the afternoon.

My sister and me

Emily sledding...

Marissa sledding...

Hannah trying to make a snow angel.. the snow was too hard.

Marissa collecting pine cones.

Timothy did not like his gloves and played without them the whole time. Brave boy!

Zachy on a snow top.

My 'big man' Daniel with a very large snowball.

Joshua sans his snow gear heading to the lodge for lunch.

Timothy practicing his driving skills in the arcade at the lodge.

ONGOING CONTEST... remember I will enter your name with each comment you post on anything I've written through February 9 . Random winner will receive a prize!

To Be Continued...