Movie Review: Puss N' Boots

Blurb: Years before meeting Shrek and Donkey, the adorable but tricky Puss in Boots must clear his name from all charges making him a wanted fugitive. While trying to steal magic beans from the infamous criminals Jack and Jill, the hero crosses paths with his female match, Kitty Softpaws, who leads Puss to his old friend, but now enemy, Humpty Dumpty. Memories of friendship and betrayal enlarges Puss' doubt, but he eventually agrees to help the egg get the magic beans. Together, the three plan to steal the beans, get to the Giant's castle, nab the golden goose, and clear Puss' name.

Review: Puss N' Boots is really cute for the pre-teen crowd. I'm usually a huge fan of animated films. I love Shrek, Toy Story...anything by Pixar, Dreamworks, etc. This movie was cute, but it was a little too much fairy tale for me.

I mean you've got, Puss, Jack and Jill (and they are pretty evil too), Humpty Dumpty...Jack from Jack and Jill is also the Jack with the bean stalk, oh and lets not forget the goose and the golden eggs.

The story was cute. Puss and Humpty are orphans and they are on a quest for the magic beans..but Humpty turns bad and Puss gets a bad wrap and now wants to clear his name.

Uh yeah...

I expected a lot more out of this film. Puss was such an awesome character in Shrek, and Antonio Banderas makes him such a super sexy kitty. I liked Selma Hayek's Soft Paw too, but I wanted more.

I don't think the 10 and under crowd will have a problem with it. It is cute. But if you are looking for something that is on the lines of Shrek, well, that's not happening hear. This is actually one of the first animated films that I feel is actually for the kids. Most of them seem so grown up.

So if you've got some rugrats, this is a great movie for them. If you like good animation or just Puss...well its pretty good, just not stellar. It is worth the $1.27 Redbox fee.

Movie Review: Jack And Jill

Adam Sandler does a dual role in Jack and Jill, playing both Jack and Jill Sadelstein. First let me say, Adam Sandler is someone I don't like when it comes to movies. He's like Jim Carrey. There's something totally obnoxious about him. And Adam in drag kinda scared me.

So when the movie really worked in a wacky sort of way, I was very surprised. First, it was more family friendly than most of his movies. Sure, there was a lot of toilet humor, sweat shadows, farting...the usual, but somehow, instead of coming across as icky, it was actually funny. Plus Adam as Jill was actually pretty darn funny. He was helped along by Mrs. Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, who was adorable in this movie.


The really funny part is Al Pachino joins Adam in this film, playing himself, and he falls for Jill. OMGWTFBBQ! While Jill is falling for the Mexican landscaper.

This is definitely a typical Adam Sandler comedy. It is no great acting, but there are some interesting people popping up in it, like Johnny Depp.  Even for a few minutes, Johnny Depp can spice up a lousy film. Some would argue that point, saying this film is utter shite. It might be, but it is light and fluffy shite that the whole family can watch, and its no worse than an hour and a half of The Disney Channel or Nick. So it may not up your intellectual level any, but it may make you laugh and that's probably better anyway.

The Best Cat Song Ever

I was a huge fan of the Mean Kitty Song. That one still gets stuck in my head at regular intervals..Little Kit kitty! Little Kit kitty!

ARGH!

But today I found a new kitty song and it may have just taken The Mean Little Kitty Song out of the top spot!

Go ahead and watch..and laugh..and laugh..

Movie Review: Rango

Blurb: Rango is a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet, while facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt - a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily and whimsical creatures - the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt . . . until, in a blaze of action-packed situations and encounters with outrageous characters, Rango starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be.

Review: Rango is one of those animated films that really are more for adults than kids. Johnny Depp provides the voice for the once a pet, chameleon, who finds himself out in the desert, very much alone and suffering an identity crisis of sorts. Actually the chameleon is a wanna be actor.

He easily poses as a brave gunslinger when he arrives in Dirt.

It is kind of a spaghetti western told from an animals point of view. The subject matter is serious. The town doesn't have water to support its inhabitants and they are also being plagued by a hawk and rattle snake.

If the movie has a message, it is to be yourself. A common enough theme. I found the story line to be funny and the other characters funny. Johnny Depp's Rango was adorable and as quirky as most of the characters he plays usually are. His kinda-sorta-love interest is Beans, voiced by Isla Fisher, a desert iguana, fighting to save the family ranch.

I'm not sure this film would have been worth the full price of a movie admission, but as a redbox rental, it was definitely entertaining enough. I would probably rent it again, as I watched it at  1 a.m. and probably didn't appreciate it as much as I would have if I were completely awake.

When Books And TV Collide

There are so many awesome shows based on books, The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game...uh True Blood.

And then there are shows loosely based on books, like Bones. 

I've read some of several of these series..and I've watched the shows. People...Bones is so much better than Kathy Reichs, drier than the Sarah Desert prose. 

But do any of you remember Past Life? It was a very short lived show on Fox. Like 7 episodes, short lived. I watched a few of them, and after reading a few of M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist series, I understand why. Like Bones, it is loosely based on the books. But unlike Bones, Rose's books are interesting and colorful and full of history.

It isn't that I didn't enjoy the show, because I did, but there was so much going on in the books that they could really have made a great series from them, rather than what they did, which was really ho hum. Rose's books deserved better treatment

What series of books do you wish would make it to the small screen

Movie Review: The Help

I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the book or watch the movie first. I had a free DVD rental from Redbox, so watching the movie won out.

This is a movie that I really think everyone must see, especially people that didn't live through the Civil Rights movements. It paints a sad picture of what America was like in the South at the time and it does it in a way that will entertain you, make you think, and even make you laugh.

The bigotry is there. Can you believe that people wanted separate bathrooms because their "Help" might carry diseases? On a stormy night, Hilly wouldn't let Minny use the restroom in her house! I continually thought, WHAT A FREAKING BITCH! Minny was played by the lovely Octavia Spencer. She was truly the star of the show.

Emma Stone also does a lovely job as Skeeter, the young woman writing the story of "The Help." It is impossible not to love her. She's forward thinking and she cares about these women

Another character you can't help but love is Celia played by Jessica Chastain. She's a little bit of white trash, with a big heart. When you look at her, you see someone that might be Marilyn Monroe. She wants to be high society but she'll never make it, no matter how wealthy her husband is.

All of these people. The good, the bad make up the stories of "The Help." The one character I didn't mention is Aibeleen. Why? Because words can't express what a character she was. Maybe the words she spoke to little Mae Mobley sum up how lovely and loving this woman is.

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

Those are words that every child should be told.

I seldom watch films that are up for Oscars. I hate pretentious films. I like fun. This movie was both fun, heartbreaking and thought provoking. It is a must watch.

This Creeps Me Out

Dick Van Dyke got married on Feb 29 to a make up artist that is only 40. Van Dyke is 86.

Sometimes I have to wonder about men.

A 46 year age difference.

Yikes!

At least she doesn't look like a bimbo and they do have something in common.

I wish them the best, but I still have to say that a 46 year age difference seems really wrong to me.

REALLY REALLY WRONG

I Can't Get Him Off Of My Mind

I have Davy Jones on the brain.

This is a bad thing.

A celebrity's death should not bug me in quite the way that Davy's had.

Sure, he was my first crush in the late 70s when I was all of 5 years old.

Sure I saw him and the other Monkees in concert about 4 times and him solo once.

It isn't as if he's family.

But yet, his music has been in my life for about 32 years.

Sleepy Jean...just can't cheer up anymore..

I Have An Addiction.

Is there a 12 step program for Book-a-holics?

I can't get enough books.

Sure that's an admirable addiction, but it is getting out of hand. The books are piling up. The librarians know me by name and tease me when I return and take out books!

I find books at the lending library at the YMCA!

I buy books.

It is a sickness, I tell you.

It wouldn't be so bad if I could read quickly, but these days I seem to drag through books, because there is just so much I have to do from the time I wake up til I fall into bed...or into a chair...

~sigh~

Who else shares my book addiction?

Farewell, Davy Jones

Words cannot begin to express my saddness.

I was at work when I found out that Davy Jones, the cute little British boy of The Monkees, had passed away of a heart attack.

This is nothing that I was expecting.

Davy was 66 and we thought in good health.

Apparently not.

Sneaky clogged arteries.

The world lost a great entertainer today.

Tis a shame he won't get the send off Whitney or Michael did, but his music had quite an impact.

Love you Davy...


I send Davy off with his solo song...that I adored.



I'll Love You Forever.....Davy....

I Want Mika!!

It feels like forever since The Boy Who Knew Too Much was released. I am going through some serious Mika withdrawal.

I have all but given up on pop music. Most of my favorite artists are disappointing me. I need a guaranteed good album, and Mika is one of the only artists I still like that can do that.

I have heard that there might be a new album coming, but so far, I have seen nothing.

I want new music and I want it now.

Actually at this point I might even be happy with something new by Sliimy, the Mika wannabe.

I'm A Library Junkie

There is one thing I can say about rising gas prices, it keeps me out of Barnes and Noble. (My dad's poor health does that too).

So in order to get my book fix, I've become a good friend of my local library.

It's pretty small, but there's a decent enough selection, plus I can get in on the ebook library lending program. Plus I don't have to leave my own town!

So I save money on books and I save money on gas.

Not a bad thing.

Plus our library is really quite cute.

What things have you done to conserve money while still getting your reading fix on?

The Worst Valentine's Day News Ever

Matt Bomer is gay.

Damn and blast.

This is so wrong.

My heart is shattered.

However, he is a damn fine actor.

But seriously...he was one of my favorite tv boyfriends. Now I have to find another one to replace him.

Thoughts About Amazon Reviews

I hate posting reviews to Amazon. That's why I have blogs. That's why I have an account with goodreads. Amazon is so full of drama. Right of the bat you can tell that most people posting reviews there aren't doing it for the love of the product, be it a CD, book, movie...etc. They are doing it for attention.

Reviews aren't meant to be directed at other reviews.

I hate when I see the first line as, I don't know what all the other 5 star reviewers saw in this...etc.

Uh. No. That isn't how a review should be done.

That's called picking fights with other users on the site, and that's a crappy thing to do.

Amazon is not a social network, it is a store. Reviews are supposed to help people decide what to buy, not start fights.

Get This Song Out Of My Head

Today's earworm brought to you by some reminiscence of the US version of Life On Mars



This song is so catchy it is just wrong!

Stuffed Pepper Casserole

I was hunting down a recipes again. I love stuffed peppers but when I get home from work I don't have the time, or the stamina to make them. I have a bad case of the lazies.

Kraft's website has an awesome and totally delish recipe for Stuffed Pepper Casserole that you have to try!!

What You Need
1lb. lean ground beef
2 green peppers, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cooked long-grain white rice
1jar (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Italian* Five Cheese with a TOUCH OF PHILADELPHIA, divided
Make It

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

BROWN meat with peppers and garlic in large skillet; drain. Stir in rice, spaghetti sauce and 3/4 cup cheese.

SPOON into 2-qt. casserole; top with remaining cheese.

BAKE 25 min. or until heated through.

I did this a little differently. I used mozzarella in with the meat and colby jack on top, because we always use colby on our stuffed peppers. Instead of minced garlic, I bought Ragu's Tomato, Onion, Garlic spaghetti sauce and it worked wonderful.

This was super easy to make and it was loved by my whole family, which is a hard thing to do.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

The publishing industry is getting lazy. All they seem to want are series novels. Now I'm not knocking series, but it does seem to make authors a little lazy.

Let's face it when you right 10 + stories about the same characters things are going to suffer at some point. Have you heard anyone rave about the new Stephanie Plum, Temperance Brennan or Hannah Swenson novel?

Probably not.

Why?

All these books are well past their saturation points. Joanne Fluke's Swenson mysteries are
around book 14. Evanovich has hit book 18, and I've lost count one Kathy Reich's Brennan books. (BTW I'd rather watch Bones, the show is more entertaining)

You just can't keep things interesting that long. At some point the characters start becoming like family members that are just too darn predictable. That's not to say we don't love them, but we know them too well.

If you look at the reviews for the newer books, you'll see more and more 1 and 2 star ratings when the first books in the series at more 5 stars.

Its sad, but I think writing long term series novels sap the creativity of the authors. They really only know one set of characters and when they stay in their comfort zone for many many years, well the stories suffer.

Do any of you know any long running series that have stayed excellent?

Leave Paula Deen Alone!

I'm so sick of everyone picking on Paula Deen.

I saw a headline the other day that said, Paula Deen photographed eating a cheeseburger.

Yes, she has diabetes.

So does my mom. My mom also has heart disease.

She's still here.

Granted Paula's recipes are not health conscious. They aren't supposed to be. Down home cooking is never healthy. And Paula isn't telling you to eat her cooking every day of your life.

Even a diabetic can splurge every now and then.

I am so sick of everyone butting into our lives.  If I want to eat a meal full of butter, fat and calories, that's my business. And it's Paula's too.

Leave her alone!

Her health is not our business.

'Burgh Band Hits #1! Sort Of.

A little while ago, Pittsburgh's pop-punk darlings Punchline embarked on a quest to have the #1 album on iTunes with their new EP, So Nice to Meet You. Bassist Chris Fafalios threatened to quit if they didn't succeed, but I think most Punchline fans knew he wouldn't. We chose to indulge him anyway while naysayers sat back, called him a douche, and said the band only wanted money and the whole thing was a publicity stunt. I can see how it looked that way on the outside, but anyone who's ever been to a Punchline show knows the opposite.

The boys succeeded--almost. They hit I #7 overall and did take #1 in rock. Pretty impressive. All because their fans pushed to make it happen. People were banding together, buying copies for people who couldn't afford it, etc. It was pretty cool to watch it unfold on Facebook and Twitter, and it was great to see the band so happy about something they admitted they didn't think would happen.

And the songs are good--really good. Delicious and sweet pop rock, all about love. "Universe" and "Everything I Wanted" are the immediate standouts, with Punchline's distinguished sound, great lyrics, and infectious hooks. Check it out for yourself. And no pressure to get them high on the charts this time.

By the way, although the release did coincide with singer Steve Soboslai's appearance on the show "Mobbed," I'd hardly call his valiant and successful attempt to woo a lady by singing "I Want You to Want Me" a publicity stunt. I call that smart marketing and an adorable tie-in of sorts to the show. The cover is even featured on the EP, and Punchline's one of those bands that can really rock a solid cover.

Must See TV: The Finder

Fox has a new and awesome detective show going on. I try not to fall for shows on this network because they like to cancel them without giving them much of a shot, but this one is one I simply can't resist.

Geoff Stults as Walter Sherman is fabulous and he is so cute. His character reminds me a bit of Shawn Spencer from Psych but he's smarter and not as obnoxious. But the character I really love is Michael Clarke Duncan as Leo Knox.

Here's the show's summary via its official Fox website:
From the creator of the hit series BONES comes THE FINDER, a quirky, one-hour procedural centering on a different kind of detective: a remarkable man with the extraordinary ability to help people find the unfindable.
Iraq war veteran WALTER SHERMAN (Geoff Stults) gained a reputation in his army days as being the go-to guy for tracking down insurgents and deserters and finding improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Unfortunately one IED found Walter before he could find it, resulting in severe brain damage with a lasting and unexpected effect. Walter transformed from someone skilled at the standard recovery of people and things to someone much more extraordinary: a Finder.

If you are a fan of Bones you definitely want to check out the episode called Bullets, because Sweets is abused rather amusingly in that show. I really hope this show sticks around, it has a lot of potential, and I love that it isn't the typical cop/detective/lawyer show.

Falling Out Of Love With You

Oh Duran Duran, how I used to love thee.

Age has not been very kind to some of you and your music has lost its luster.

There are a lot of artists I love, but I don't usually find myself losing affection for them, however Duran Duran are different.

They have put out shitty album after shitty album since the early 90s, with one or two gems in between. Ok, one gem. If you listen to any Duran Duran album recorded after The Wedding Album, let it be Astronaut. That album won't disappoint you, especially if you love the sound of their earlier material such as Rio and Seven and the Ragged Tiger.

I found myself listening to the band again today and found myself loving the stuff pre-1992. Any time any of the newer material came on I wanted to change my playlist.

I don't think I've ever felt this way about a band. I get so disappointed by their music these days. I doubt I'll buy their next album without hearing the whole thing first.

Things I Suck At

I believe in being honest with myself and to do that I have to come to terms with my shortcomings, and boy do I have a lot of them.

Here are a few of the things I suck at.

1. Organization: I try and I try but chaos is all I'm good at.

2. Housecleaning: Somehow I think that goes hand in hand with organization.

3. Laundry: I procrastinate here. I hate laundry. It is a lonely chore. Before my grandmother passed away, I almost enjoyed it because we had time to catch up on things while we used her old ringer washer, but now..it is a lonely thankless chore and I hate doing it and probably suck at it too...cos I don't believe in ironing!

4. Multi-tasking: OK just can't do it...I try and try but I never succeed.

What are some of the things you suck at?

Arrrrr! Pirates Everywhere

SOPA/PIPA has me thinking.

All the big wig industries want to limit our freedoms because of piracy. Piracy is bad. I understand that.

If you are a recording artist/author/actress...you want people to pay for your product.

Makes sense

However it would be nice if the publishers/record companies/movie studios would stop gouging consumers for that product.

Oddly, I think that music piracy has helped the recording industry in knowing what is fair in pricing. (At least with digital media). A full album is seldom more than $9.99, which is actually what albums cost on vinyl many many moons ago. There are also many deals on new releases where you can get the album much cheaper than that. Physical CDs are priced too high...but I guess that explains why most people don't buy them anymore. Why buy a CD when you can get the download. Who needs the cases and liner notes? (I do..but I'm in a minority here)

The cost of movies etc...is just ridiculous all the way around. That's all I can say on that front. Tis a shame the films coming out these days are mostly crap..it is no wonder people don't want to pay for them, but hey at when you buy a DVD it is cheaper than taking your girlfriend/boyfriend/child to the theater.

With books however, digital copies are priced almost as high as the book. It really is amazing there isn't more piracy there. I guess it is because reading isn't as cool. But I have to gripe that a trade paperback copy of The Woman in Black was priced at $10.99 and the ebook $9.99.

WTF!

Oh and a further gripe...if I buy a print copy of a book, I can share that with a friend or as many friends as I'd like..that's not the case with ebooks.

It really is no wonder piracy abounds in the entertainment world.

Rant ended..I'll step off my soap box for awhile

Madonna VS Elton

Elton and his hubby David are seething because Madonna won the Golden Globe for Masterpiece from the film, W.E. Elton's song was Hello Hello with Lady Gaga. The scary thing about Hello Hello, is that Gaga sounds oddly like Stevie Nicks.

Here are both songs, I have to say both are great songs:


Hello Hello


Masterpiece


To be honest, I think Madonna's song is superior and feels right for the award. It really is one of Madge's better offerings in years.

What do you think?

Too Many Novellas Out There

I love a good book. I also love to discover new authors. Thanks to book blogging I've found quite a few great new writers in many genres that I absolutely adore.

What I can't stand about self publishing is that so many of the stories out there are novellas. W

Hmmm

I wonder how much that stupid Nanowrimo has to do with it? The word count of Nano is less than most Harlequin romances, m'kay and they are usually only about 180 pages.

Alot of the novellas out there have to be the results of Nanowrimo.

I despise Nanowrimo.

Ebooks are entirely too expensive when it comes to novellas.

$3.99 for 100 pages?

I don't fucking hardly think so.

Now I know many writers get on the discount train for Amazon and Barnes and Noble...so that the books cost is taken down to about a buck, but still, it leaves me feeling I didn't get my moneys worth.

How apt are you to buy a novella in print form or ebook form?

Something To Ponder

Each week as I enter payroll taxes at work, I marvel at our stupidity. You know that Payroll Tax issue between the democrats and the republicans?

Well here's the thing...that bit of savings that doesn't really amount to much in your paychecks is a decrease in the employees contribution to Social Security.

Social Security is something that's failing because the gov't keeps dipping their greedy hands into it.

Yet we want to decrease our contribution to it...so we can have more money here and now.

That's nice in theory but when you think hard about it, it is pretty stupid.

Now I'm not one to side with Republicans on anything.

I can't fathom a good thing about any of them, especially the ones running for President, but what I do know is that sometimes I find that most of the country is uninformed about all the goings on in Congress.

We're scared of what may happen to Social Security and Medicare down the road, but we want the tax savings that may kill Social Security.

Doesn't make much sense.

Seriously....I think everyone in Washington should be fired.

Beyonce and Baby Blue Ivy

Am I the only one that wants to scream that Blue Ivy (can you say stupid name) is just a freaking baby like all the other babies in the world.

I mean this kid is just another soon to be pampered and obnoxious child, like Suri, or any child spawned by Brangelina etc or rather bought by Brangelina.

It isn't as if this is the child of Prince William and Duchess Catherine who would at least grow up to be king or queen of England. Some wouldn't agree that that child would be special either, you know if Duchess Catherine were indeed pregnant...(is she? isn't she...is it twins...yada yada)

I'm just so sick of the media going on and on about this child, like it was royalty or Jesus Christ returning.

Uh no...you are just the child of some talented people. (And that is debatable too).

Take Me To The Movies

The next few weeks are filled with movies that I desperately want to see. Some of them cheesy...some not so cheesy.

I'm dying to see Joyful Noise with Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah. Those two alone could make the crappiest movie enjoyable, plus they will be singing...so it can't be all bad, right?


Next up is One For The Money. This one I'm 100% sure is going to be godawful, but I've been a fan of the Stephanie Plum novels forever and a day. I love them, even though they aren't nearly as good as they once were.  I want to see this one because sometimes watching a trainwreck can be really fun.

I mean, can you imagine  Katherine Heigl eating Krimpets? I think not? Stephanie Plum was a real woman...oh and Morelli was erm...Italian..and Jason O'Mara, while super hot...is not. I'm also having a hard time wrapping my mind around Debbie Reynolds as Grandma Mazur.

Lastly, I really really really must see The Woman In Black, I also really must read the book.

I think I'll buy a print copy so I can drool on the cover for awhile.

Dear God, Daniel Radcliffe is hot.

Weekend Tunes

I discovered Schuyler Fisk this weekend and one of the songs I've totally fallen in love with is called Paperweight, which she recorded with Josh Radin. It appears on the soundtrack for Dear John and The Last Kiss.

Have a listen to a live version and fall in love with



Oh and lastly...Mika can sing anything...and he can sing it in French...

The Hardest Part Of The Christmas Season

I don't know about you, but I hate taking down the Christmas decorations. I can fully understand the people that leave their lights etc up all year long. There's something terribly depressing about it.

I started the process of dismantling one of the 3 trees we have up in our house, and it is a slow process. I love my Christmas trees. In fact, the tree is the thing I love the most about the holiday...ok aside from the cookies. I hate putting them away.

When the tree goes up there is a sense of anticipation....When it comes down it feels so sad...There's a whole bleak year ahead of us until next Christmas.

I'm not a fan of the hustle and bustle of the holiday, but I love the lights and the decorations. I always have. When it goes away...it makes me just a little bit sad. Maybe that's why the months of Jan-March are so miserable...its dark and dreary and cold and yucky and there are no pretty lights to brighten up the winter months.

Something I Don't Understand

Why do I always forget to load my gift cards when I'm making purchases at Barnes and Noble?

I don't do this for Amazon.

In fact, most of the time I have my gift cards preloaded to my account.

Sadly that's not the case with B & N.

I have a $25.00 gift card that I got for Christmas and it is sitting downstairs. I bought 2 ebooks for my Nook tonight and do you think I was intelligent enough to load that card to my account.

Hell no!

So I paid $6.00 for something I didn't have to.

Pardon me while I put my head on the desk.

I'm so stupid!

Please tell me that I'm not the only one that has ever done this.

A Childhood Favorite

I got an email from TCM annnouncing that Angela Landsbury was the featured actress of the month and it listed Bedknobs and Boomsticks as one of her films.

Believe it or not, I've never seen that film, but it did get me looking on Amazon for movies that I watched as a kid.

Some of my childhood favorites were Yellow Submarine and Willy Wonka (Even though the Oompah Loompahs scared the crap out of me). But the other film I absolutely loved as a kid was Pete's Dragon.

When I was little, I must have watched this film dozens of times, and that was before VHS and DVD.

I had a Little Golden Book copy of the story that I read all the time.


Like the Pixar films of today, the story is a bit depressing at times. But how can you not love Elliot the dragon?

I think I'm going to have to buy a copy of this one so I can revisit it now and again.

What movies did you love to watch as a kid?

Best Beatle Cover Ever!

I've found that Elvis Costello is one of the few artists that can cover a song by The Beatles and do it admirably. The first cover I heard was You've Got To Hide Your Love Away.

More recently he covered Penny Lane at the White House when Paul McCartney was honored.

Have a listen.



Bloody brilliant, isn't it?

2011 in Review

This was a very busy year for news both entertainment wise and "real world" wise.

~ Republicans still don't have a clue who may get the nomination. (Its hard to pick a wingnut when there are so many of them around)

~ Many many weddings this year...some high profile (Prince William and Duchess Catherine) Kim and Kris (which ended 72 days later)...some low profile...Big Ben.

~ Many celebrity deaths: Liz Taylor, Harry Morgan (M*A*S*H), Bill Keane (Family Circus), Andy Rooney, Elisabeth Sladen and Steve Jobs to name but a few.

~ Some great albums released this year...Miranda Lambert had 2...Erasure, Lady Gaga.

~ Some very interesting new television: Once Upon A Time, The Unforgettable, 2 Broke Girls, Grimm to name a few.

Share some of your favorite highlights or lowlights of 2011.

Merry Christmas!

A little interesting tidbit I learned about the English custom of plum pudding. The recipe has its roots in Catholicism.

Here's a bit of what I learned about the Puddin' via Wikipedia.

Basics

Many households have their own recipe for Christmas pudding, some handed down through families for generations. Essentially the recipe brings together what traditionally were expensive or luxurious ingredients - notably the sweet spices that are so important in developing its distinctive rich aroma, and usually made with suet. It is very dark in appearance - effectively black - as a result of the dark sugars and black treacle in most recipes, and its long cooking time. The mixture can be moistened with the juice of citrus fruits, brandy and other alcohol (some recipes call for dark beers such as mild, stout or porter).

Christmas puddings are often dried out on hooks for weeks  prior to serving in order to enhance the flavor. This pudding has been prepared with a traditional cloth rather than a basin.

Prior to the 19th century, the English Christmas pudding was boiled in a pudding cloth, and often represented as round. The new Victorian era fashion involved putting the batter into a basin and then steaming it, followed by unwrapping the pudding, placing it on a platter, and decorating its top with a sprig of holly.
Initial cooking usually involves steaming for many hours (the period can be shortened without loss of quality by using a pressure cooker). To serve, the pudding is reheated by steaming once more, and dressed with warm brandy which is set alight. It can be eaten with hard sauce, brandy butter, rum butter, cream, lemon cream, custard, or sweetened béchamel, and is sometimes sprinkled with caster sugar.

History

The plum pudding's association with Christmas goes back to medieval England with the Roman Catholic Church's decree that the "pudding should be made on the 25th Sunday after Trinity, that it be prepared with 13 ingredients to represent Christ and the 12 apostles, and that every family member stir it in turn from east to west to honor the Magi and their supposed journey in that direction".^[1] Recipes for plum puddings appear mainly, if not entirely, in the 17th century and later. Their possible ancestors include savory puddings such as those in Harleian MS 279, crustades,^[4] malaches whyte,^[5] creme boiled (a kind of stirred custard), and sippets. Various ingredients and methods of these older recipes appear in early plum puddings.
Features of these recipes were combined or refined in ways that could have yielded plum pudding recipes. For example, combining the stirred custard with sippets makes it into a fool, a contemporary of early plum puddings, which is very similar to a pudding. Some early custard tarts, such as the crustade lumbard in Harleian MS 279, are only unlike plum puddings in that they are held together by a pastry crust and not by crumbs or meal. Malaches whyte, another kind of pastry, has a filling of eggs, bread crumbs, and butter, but no plums. So a fully developed plum pudding recipe could be derived from the above list of possible ancestors by some recombination. This is not to say that there were no other ancestors, only that there need not have been any.
Although it took its final form in Victorian England, the pudding's origins can be traced back to the 1420s, to two sources. It emerged not as a confection or a dessert at all, but as a way of preserving meat at the end of the season. Because of shortages of fodder, all surpluses livestock were slaughtered in the autumn. The meat was then kept in a pastry case along with dried fruits acting as a preservative. The resultant large "mince pies" could then be used to feed hosts of people, particularly at the festive season. The chief ancestor of the modern pudding, however, was the pottage, a meat and vegetable concoction originating in Roman times. This was prepared in a large cauldron, the ingredients being slow cooked, with dried fruits, sugar and spices added. In the 15th century, Plum pottage was a sloppy mix of meat, vegetables and fruit served at the beginning of a meal.^[6]
In 1714, King George I (sometimes known as the Pudding King) requested that plum pudding be served as part of his royal feast in his first Christmas in England. A recipe for "plum porridge" appeared in Christmas Entertainments in 1740.^[1] As techniques for meat preserving improved in the 18th century, the savory element of both the mince pie and the plum pottage diminished as the sweet content increased. The mince pie kept its name, though the pottage was increasingly referred to as plum pudding. Although the latter was always a celebratory dish it was originally eaten at the Harvest Festival, not Christmas. It was not until the 1830s that the cannon-ball of flour, fruits, suet, sugar and spices, all topped with holly, made a definite appearance, becoming more and more associated with Christmas. In 1747, London food writer Hannah Glasse had given a recipe for Christmas plum porridge, but it appears that East Sussex cook Eliza Acton was the first to refer to it as "Christmas Pudding" in her cookbook.^[7]

I Found A Funny @ Groupon

Take a look at this guide to Body Language from the Groupon website.

I love how snarky this is..

To communicate, humans use body language 95% of the time and slogans they learned from pizza commercials for the other 5%. Communicate clearly using this guide to the language of the human body:




• Holding Hands: Couples are often seen holding hands during the beginning stages of a relationship because they're trying to memorize each other’s fingerprints—a critical part of the test to get a marriage license. For non-couples, holding hands is a way to gauge each other's hand sweat; whoever is sweating less is not as alive as the other person and should be rushed to the nearest adrenaline-producing skate park.



• Crossing Your Arms: Crossing your arms holds your organs in, letting people know that you love yourself for what’s on the inside, not just for your good outer looks.



• Hugging: People used to wrap their arms around each other so that they could punch each other in the back more easily without their sympathetic-looking faces getting in the way. Today, hugging is taboo, because it just looks too disgusting to see two grown adults embrace each other.



• Shaking Your Head: Shaking your head slowly lets people know that something is "a crying shame," and shaking your head vigorously means that you just had such a sick thought that you're trying to shake your brain out of your skull

Mmmm Nutella

I love making cookies...and a few weeks ago I found a basic cookie dough recipe that can used in making 3 different cookies...

Allow me to share them with you. They appeared in last week's Relish magazine..

Here's the basic dough

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour


1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla



Instructions

Sift flour, baking powder and salt onto wax paper.

Combine butter, sugar and brown sugar and beat with a mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture and beat until evenly blended. Dough can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days. Makes about 4 cups dough.


And now for the Nutella Sandwich Cookies

For rolled cookies, always start with cold dough,


Ingredients



2 cups Basic Cookie Dough

1/4 cup Nutella

1/2 cup powdered sugar



Instructions



Preheat oven to 350F. Line cookie sheets with parchment.

Divide 2 cups of Basic Cookie Dough into 4 pieces. Wrap 3 pieces individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Roll remaining piece on a sheet of lightly floured wax paper to about 3/8-inch thickness. Cut into 9 (2-inch rounds); arrange 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining dough.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until tops look done. Let cool on cookie sheet 3 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire rack; let cool completely.

Spread Nutella on half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Dust with powdered sugar.

Jen Aniston The Hottest Woman?

Sure Jen, is cute, but the hottest woman? C'mon! Ever? And for all time?

I'm totally baffled by this?

I mean she is up against people like Liz Taylor and Marilyn.

She doesn't even have good boobs!

Who votes for these things?

I guess beauty and sexy are in the eye of the beholder.

Still, if I were voting I'd go for someone like Halle Berry first...but of all time? Really, how can you vote on that?

My Family's Christmas Song

Trying to get in the holiday mood. What better song than Merry Christmas From The Family by Jill Sobule. Her cover is awesome!

Frustrations, They Are All I've Got

I had to attend a Safe Child workshop yesterday so I can continue to be a lector in my church. It is the biggest crock of BS I've ever been put through.

I have to have a background check to get up and read in church?

Seriously?

I realize that we all need to be aware that things can happen...I can even stomach the workshop, but to have to have clearance to read, be a Eucharistic minister, or...get this..and usher, I'm sorry, that is just bullshit.

And the workshop is painful to deal with. You have to watch 2 videos where victims speak of their experiences and so do the predators.

OMG!!!

I left that workshop with a heavy heart.

See, we had a pastor be accused of some wrongdoing, (not that any of us were told what the allegations were), and seeing the stats that say less than 5% of the accusers are lying hit home.

Why?

Because I didn't want to believe this pastor could have done something like this. He was good to our family. I have always considered him a friend.

This meeting really hit me hard. In fact, it won't leave my head.

All that aside, I am left to wonder if members of other religions have to jump through this many hoops just to volunteer at mass?

Technology Hates Me

The perfect computer would have about 12 USB ports.

With all the gadgets that need plugged in, either for charging or for data transfer you would think that desktops and laptops would have more slots for USBs, but no.

I have an external hard drive, my keyboard and mouse, my printer and at any given time, an ipod, a zen, or a nook connected for some reason or another. I hate when more than one gadget needs charging at the same time.

The thought of buying additional ports, that get plugged into one of the existing ports makes me want to scream almost as much as buying ink for my printer.

Why is it so hard to create a device that has enough slots for all of the damn gadgets that they encourage us to buy?

The Wench Makes Cookies

Hannukah Apricot Cookies

Recipe taken from A Quilter's Christmas Cookbook

2 2/3 c of flour
1 c (2 sticks) butter
8 oz package of softened cream cheese
4 oz apricot preserves

1 Cut butter into flour. Stir in softened cream cheese
2. On floured board, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a 2-3" diameter glass
Arrange on ungreased cookie sheet. Dab the center of each cookie with preserves
3. Bake @ 350 for 12 minutes.

As Mr. Food used to say...Oooo it's so good!

5 Things You Must Do On Thanksgiving

1. Watch at least 5 minutes of the Macy's Parade.
2. Consume large quanities of food, preferrably stuffing and mash potatoes...a little bit of turkey or tofurky works too.
3. Nap.
4. Pretend to care or go totally nuts over whatever football game is on...usually when you are sitting down to eat.
5. Give thanks!

What things are on your must do list for Turkey Day?

Never Fail Nut Roll

This basic, easy recipe for nut rolls came from Arlene Williams, who does a fabulous cooking show on Cornerstone Television. I don't make my own nut filling though, I use the Bakers filling that you can get at any store.

Ingredients
5 Tablespoon Sugar
2 beaten eggs
3 Tablespoon butter
1 cup sour cream
1/8 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 large cake yeast crumbled
3 cups of flour

In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring sour cream to a boil. Remove from heat. Add 3 tablespoons butter, 5 tablespoons, sugar and salt and stir until well blended. Cool to lukewarm.

Add 2 eggs, crumbled yeast and stir until yeast is dissolved. Using a spoon, mix in flour until a dough forms.

Turn out onto a floured board. Knead lightly a few minutes to form a smooth ball. Cover and let rest 5 minutes.

Divide dough into 3 equal portions. Roll dough ball out on floured surface 1/4 inch thick. Spread with filling , roll up jelly roll fashion. Pinch seam to secure and tuck ends in. Place on a well greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Repeat with rest of dough. Let rise 1 1/2 hours, covered with clean cloth, in a warm draft free place.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake uncovered 35 minutes.

Sexy Songs

I'm a bit of an oddball when it comes to music, so when it comes to "sexy" songs I'm sure my list would have a good many of you shaking your head, or at least wondering "who the hell are these people."

What brought on this topic?

I pulled out some of my Elvis Costello CDs recently and the song "Inch By Inch" was on one of them. That is one of the many Elvis Costello songs that always leaves me feeling a bit hot and bothered. It is more than just the lyrics...its the music...and Elvis' unique voice.

Another song that always gets me is Man Out Of Time



Another odd song that really gets me going is Paul McCartney's Hi Hi Hi



So what are some of the songs that you consider sexy?

Rushing Things

I love Christmas, but isn't it a bit ridiculous hearing holiday songs and seeing Christmas commercials way before Thanksgiving?

Couldn't we get through one holiday first?

It is really making me bitter towards Christmas.

I don't have much in the way of money this year for presents, and this early push to spend more is really irksome.

Please tell me I'm not the only one annoyed by all of this?

A Wenches Rant About The Penn State Abuse Scandal

Dear PSU students,

How can you possibly be sad about the firing of JoPa? Yes, he was a fabulous coach, but the man hid the fact that Sandusky was abusing children from the authorities. HE DID NOTHING!! That is wrong. That is what cost him his job.

What annoys me is that other asshat that saw it happen, that only went to him with the allegation, when he WITNESSED the abuse! The fact that that little asshat is only on administrative leave sickens me.

Actually the whole thing sickens me. Why is football placed higher than the lives and well-being of children?

I guess it is the whole issue that sports come before education. Is it any wonder that we are failing as a nation?

PSU students....you can love your former coach, but please think of kids that were harmed because that beloved man, did nothing to stop the harm...

Sincerely,

A rattled wench

Music Review: Jann Arden - Uncover Me

Jann Arden is one of Canada's finest singer/songwriter, which makes us wonder why she's going down the "covers album" road again. They answer is probably because, she can sing anything well, and let's face it...even though covers albums are a bit stale, we all love a good cover.

Jann delivers. One of the things that makes Uncover Me 2 different, is that Jann doesn't go for standards. She goes for hits from across the ages, Que Sara Sara from the 50s, Only The Lonely from the 80s  and Dreams from the 70s.

Jann doesn't seek to change the songs with her recordings, but she does bring her special sound to each song. Mr. McLennen, is a song by the country band SheDaisy. Their as yet unreleased album, A Story To Tell, was produced by Arden. When you listen to Jann sing the song, you can here the country vibe ringing through.

Jann gives a go at "You Don't Own Me." She brings a soulfulness to the song, rather than going the girl power route. Its a different twist, but by the end of the song there is some of the traditional "You Don't Own Me," angst shining through.

Surprisingly her cover of Fleetwood Mac's classic, Dreams is the strongest cover on the album. Arden seems to be channeling Stevie Nicks, because there are times when she almost sounds like her.

Jann has delivered a strong set of songs here. If you loved Uncover Me, you'll want to add this one to your collection. If you love great cover songs...you'll probably want to grab this too. Definitely one of the year's better listens

TV Review: Once Upon A Time

ONCE UPON A TIME - From the inventive minds of "Lost" executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis comes a bold new imagining of the world, where fairy tales and the modern-day are about to collide. "Once Upon a Time" stars Ginnifer Goodwin ("Big Love") as Snow White/Sister Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison ("House MD") as Emma Swan, Robert Carlyle ("The Full Monty," "Trainspotting," "SGU Stargate Universe") as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham, Jared Gilmore ("Mad Men") as Henry, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/John Doe and Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket/Archie. "Once Upon a Time" was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, who are also executive producers, along with Steve Pearlman (ABC's "V"). The pilot is directed and executive-produced by Mark Mylod ("Entourage"). "Once Upon a Time" is from ABC Studios. (ABC/JACK ROWAND) GINNIFER GOODWIN, JOSH DALLAS

If there is one crazy show to watch this season, Once Upon A Time is it. I can't pinpoint what it is about this that really pulls you in to watch more and more, but there is something there. I hope it succeeds, because it is so unusual, almost as unusual as Lost, who the executive producers also created.

The cast is stunning with Jennifer Morrison, who most of us know from House, as Snow White/Sister Mary Margaret. With short hair as Mary Margaret, she's really unrecognizable.

I really am interested in seeing how long they can keep this show going. What is the public's interest in fairy tales that try to become part of reality?

Well, it is a Sunday show, so the public doesn't have to be too interested to keep it going, and I would love to see it last more than 6 episodes. The scenery is fantastic, as are the costumes when the show goes into "fairytale land."

If you haven't given this show a shot, I suggest that you do, it is probably one of the most original things on right now.

Album Review: The Bangles - Sweetheart Of The Sun

The Bangles are making a return to the music scene. Their last album Doll Revolution was released in 2003. It has been a long eight years, but once you listen to Sweetheart Of The Sun you’ll know the girls are back and true to their form, albeit less popalicious than they were in the 80s.

What the girls bring to the table is that fantastic girl group 60s sound. This album has a heavy psychedelic sound, very reminiscent of their third album Everything only with songs that are more mature. The vocals are still shared between the three ladies, Michael Steel left the band in 2005, leaving Susannah Hoffs and Vicki and Debbi Peterson to soldier on.

This album is like a trip back to the “Summer of Love,” especially on songs like “Mesmerized.” The guitars are jangling and trippy. The girls harmonize perfectly, which contributes to that old school girl group feel. The album’s opener “Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun)” sounds like it should have been a hit in the mid 60s.
The 60s vibe is there through all the tracks on Sweetheart of the Sun. That might be the one thing that keeps the album from being fantastic. Sure these are some great retro pop songs, but when you think of The Bangles, you think of fun pop music like “Walk Like An Egyptian” or stellar love songs like “Manic Monday” and “Eternal Flame.” There’s nothing of that caliber on Sweetheart, but there are a few songs that make a valiant effort. “Open My Eyes,” is a super fun rocker, which will remind some fans of “In My Room,” from Everything. It was penned by rocker Todd Rundgren. It has the same psychedelic harmonies and trippy guitar.


“Through Your Eyes,” is a George Harrison-esque ballad. It’s Susannah’s shining moment. She’s always done superb ballads, and this one is no different. Debbi handles vocals on “Circles In The Sky.” Her vocals are deep and mellow.


This album marks the band’s 30th anniversary and it is clear that they still have it. Though the kitschy pop songs that scored them many hits in the 80s is definitely not present on Sweetheart Of The Sun, the finely polished pop gems found here will definitely please old and new fans.

Acoustic Goodness

Sunday Girl was my favorite song from Erasure's last CD.  I love all the bleeps and bloops but I was totally surprised at how great it sounds acoustic...

Watch and listen

Musical Mondays: Ashton Sheperd - Where Country Grows

Ashton Sheperd's latest offering Where Country Grows is a "real" country album. Country has been flooded with more pop sounding music lately and Ms. Sheperd doesn't really play that way.

Her songs have that ole "My dog died, my car broke down, and my guy is cheatin' on me." She also sings it with a twang.

The lead single is "Look It Up" a cover, originally done by Jasmine Rae.  Ashton gives some hell to a cheater. The follow up single is the title track. It's a bit slower, but it is a true country anthem, that is great for blasting on sunny days.

Where Country Grows is infused with some humor too. "More Cows Then People," is one of those songs. It has a great fiddle and an infectious melody. How can lyrics like

"Ain't no noise, no red lights

Ain't no buildings messin' up my moonlight
Ain't no doubt, why I live out where there's more cows than people"

not bring a smile to your face?

The token sappy ballad is "I'm Just A Woman." It isn't the best ballad, and it is a trifle depressing, but it does show that Ashton can sing a sad sad song with the best of them. It also makes listeners glad for songs like "Beer On A Boat," which leave you smiling.

Ashton's music is all about fun. This album is 10 songs of good country. It is definitely worth a listen or two.

Awesome Steak In A Crock Recipe

This recipe came from the Fix It And Forget It Entertaining Cookbook.

It is super easy.

I placed 4 frozen steaks in the crock.

Seasoned with salt and pepper

Then put 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of ketchup over it.

Put the crock on high for 3 hours and then low for another 3 hours.

The result was an incredible bbq steak that you didn't even have to cut!

Mmmmm good. I want to try the sauce with country style ribs next

Movie Review: Inkheart

I bought Inkheart at Five Below several weeks back, because I love Brendan Fraser and I've wanted to see this movie since it came out in 2009.

I had heard bad things about it but I was prepared to enjoy the eye candy and nothing else.

After watching, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised in the film, and I really want to read the trilogy. I've heard the film doesn't do the book justice, but if you've not read Inkheart, then give the movie a go. It really is a nice fantasy piece revolving around a family of book lovers.

Brendan Fraser was a great Mort, who could read characters out of books...we later learn his daughter, Meggie shares the ability...they both are "Silvertongues."

Helen Mirren as Elinor is another fabulous character. She's an obsessive old bookworm.

My favorite character is Dustfinger (Paul Bettany), a character from Inkheart that Mort had read out of the book, who was trying to get back into the book.

I really loved the concept and the filmography was stunning especially towards the end when the darker characters from the book appear. The Shadow is really amazing looking. I also loved how Meg read out Toto from The Wizard Of Oz.

If you haven't read the book and you are looking for a good family film. It deserves far more credit than it received. Oh and Brendan and Paul are really easy on the eyes!

Films On Friday

There's so much buzz going around the new version of Footloose. I can't really understand why. I really think that it show a great lack of creativity in Hollywood.

There are way too many remakes going on both on the big screen and the small screen.

It is really pathetic.

Then there's the possiblity of a Dirty Dancing remake? That somehow seems sacriligious.

Why do people want to mess with things that are so well loved.

Granted, some remakes are good. Father of the Bride was done really well, so was Parent Trap (though not as good as the original)...and I'll even give props to Ocean's Eleven..but the for the most part...remakes are annoying. (Even more so in TV)

What are some of your likes and dislikes about remakes in films? Are there any you'd like to see remade?

Must See TV For The Fall

The new season has started and there are so many new shows to watch, but which ones are worth your time?

Here are a few that this wench is getting really excited about.

Two Broke Girls airs CBS Mondays @ 8:30


From the official site:

2 BROKE GIRLS is a comedy about two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner who strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business - if only they can raise the cash. Sassy, streetwise Max Black works two jobs just to get by, one of which is waiting tables during the night shift at the retro-hip Williamsburg Diner. Sophisticated Caroline Channing is an uptown trust fund princess who's having a run of bad luck that forces her to reluctantly give waitressing a shot. At first, Max sees Caroline as yet another in a long line of inept servers she must cover for, but she's surprised to find that Caroline has as much substance as she does style. When Caroline discovers Max's knack for baking amazing cupcakes, she sees a lucrative future for them, but first they need to raise the start-up money. While they save their tips, they'll stay at the restaurant, working with Oleg, an overly flirtatious Russian cook; Earl, a 75-year-old kool-kat cashier; and Han Lee, the new, eager-to-please owner of the diner. Working together, these two broke girls living in one expensive city might just find the perfect recipe for their big break. 


Why you should watch?  

Max is so snarky you have to love her. Caroline is not the typical dumb blonde. Believe it or not she breaks out of that mold and is smart. These two girls make for an awesome show and when you add the creepy yet funny Oleg in the show is really great. I hope this one lasts...It is perfect between the two hits How I Met You Mother and Two and a Half Men. (BTW...Ashton sucks!)

Suburgatory airs Wednesdays @ 8:30 on ABC

From the official site:

Single father George Altman is doing his best to raise his sixteen-year-old daughter Tessa in the big city. When he discovers a box of condoms in her bedroom, though, he decides the time has come to move her to a more wholesome and nurturing environment: the suburbs.

But behind the beautiful homes and perfect lawns lurk the Franken-moms, spray tans, nose jobs, and Red Bull-guzzling teens who have nothing in common with Tessa. It’s a whole new world, one that makes George wonder if they haven’t jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

With the help of suburbanites like old college friend Noah, flirty Alpha mom Dallas and awkward classmate Lisa, George and Tessa slowly learn to navigate the pitfalls of suburban life. With time, they might even find that it isn’t so bad. Once you get past the plastic smell.


Why you should watch:

It is a smart funny family comedy that isn't Disney sweet. It also keeps the sexual innuendo to a minimum, which is pretty hard to do on sitcoms these days. It is a perfect fit for most of ABC's family shows on Wednesday nights. It is a bit more grown up then The Middle but not as cutting edge as Modern Family, but still pretty damn fun to watch.

Unforgettable airs on CBS Tuesday @ 10:00

From the official site :

UNFORGETTABLE stars Poppy Montgomery as Carrie Wells, an enigmatic former police detective with a rare condition that makes her memory so flawless that every place, every conversation, every moment of joy and every heartbreak is forever embedded in her mind. It's not just that she doesn't forget anything - she can't; except for one thing: the details that would help solve her sister's long-ago murder. Carrie has tried to put her past behind her, but she's unexpectedly reunited with her ex-boyfriend and partner, NYPD Detective Al Burns (Dylan Walsh), when she consults on a homicide case. His squad includes Det. Mike Costello (Michael Gaston), Al's right-hand man; Detective Roe Saunders (Kevin Rankin), the junior member of the team; and Detective Nina Inara (Daya Vaidya), a sassy, street-smart cop. Being back on the job after a break feels surprisingly right for Carrie. Despite her conflicted feelings for Al, she decides to permanently join his unit as a detective solving homicides - most notably, the unsolved murder of her sister. All she needs to do is remember. Ed Redlich, John Bellucci, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are executive producers for Sony Television Studios in association with CBS Television Studios.

Why you should watch:

This isn't your typical cop/detective drama. Poppy Montgomery rocks as Carrie Wells. It is really hard to pinpoint why this show is so awesome, but it is. Of course anything is better than more rehashed Law and Order.



  

Musical Mondays: Erasure - Tomorrow's World

There are very few constants in this world. Good Erasure CDs were one of them, until now.

I'm not sure when things started to change for this band, but Erasure were one of those artists that put out quality music even when they were recording potboilers (ie: Erasure)

Maybe it is because 2007's Light At The End Of The World was so good, a return to form, that Tomorrow's World feels like a bit of a let down. I'm not saying that the album is bad, Erasure is really not capable of putting out an album that is unlistenable, but they have put out an album that is totally uninspired.
Every Erasure album has one song that is super catchy and fun. The Erasure ear worm is something that fans look forward to...nay yearn for witch each new CD. The closest we come to that is "Then I Go Twisting."

It is hard to pinpoint what is lacking in this album. Andy is in fine voice, as always. Vince delivers fun bleeps, bloops and other assorted fun sounds that make you want to get up and move. It all feels a bit forced though.

What is notably absent in Tomorrow's World is fun.  Erasure have recorded breakup songs before, but this CD feels SERIOUS, and Erasure isn't a band that does serious.

The album's lead single "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" sounds like a throw back from their self titled CD from 1995. "You've Got To Save Me Right Now," is Erasure doing something close to Motown. It proves that Andy Bell can sing anything that he puts his mind to, but the song just doesn't feel like Erasure. Maybe this is something he couldn't fit on his last solo album?

This album feels totally off. The only song close to feeling like the happy bouncy Erasure that we know and love is the album's opener, "Be With You." If only the rest of the album could have been as fun as that one.

Get back in the studio guys, we know you can do better than this, a whole lot better.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Restaurant Review: Old Mexico Belle Vernon

Foodie Beware!

Old Mexico in Belle Vernon was definitely not ready to open for business. Their staff is incompetent; slow service and not enough staff for a Sunday afternoon.

Word to owners. Belle Vernon is actually a high traffic area on weekends. Expect business!

When I arrived to pick up my fajitas for two at 4:30, the place was about 80 % full, but you couldn't find a member of the wait staff anywhere.

While I was waiting I noticed the following:

1. One large table hadn't received silverware.
2. Several parties left because they weren't going to wait for inept staff.
3. One waitress was handling way too many duties and was frazzled beyond belief

I waited an additional 20 minutes for my fajitas and when I opened the boxes, there were no wraps! What's the point of fajitas when you have no tortillas to put the meat in. I also ordered a combo of steak and chicken and I only got steak.

It is a good thing that the steak was good.

The food was OK, but after having eaten at La Fiesta in Charleroi for many years, this was sub par.

Oh and the restaurant placed coupons in the clipper magazine that they wouldn't honor for takeout, even after I waited over 40 minutes for my food, and there was nothing on the coupon indicating that the coupons were for dine in only.

I've heard good things about the location in Washington PA, but this no location isn't ready for the business it can expect. There are no Mexican or Tex-Mex places in the Mon Valley. If they want to build a customer base, they better learn how to serve the customers there.

It will be a long time before I try Old Mexico again.

Restaurant Review: Little Bamboo

It has been years since I've eaten at Little Bamboo in Belle Vernon, PA. The reasons have never been about the quality of the food served there. Every town in the mon valley has a Chinese restaurant and driving there for lunch on Saturday just doesn't usually work for me. Plus most of the smaller, less fancy places offer dinner specials, Little Bamboo does not.

Little Bamboo is an Asian restaurant specializing in Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Sushi lovers will be happy, because they won't have to travel out of the Valley to get their not-cooked fish fix.

There's a lot to be said about Little Bamboo.

1. The service is always good, even when the place is busy.

2. Of all the restaurants that are sit down/not buffet style, Little Bamboo has the best quality food. It is hands down one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Valley.

3. The steamed dumplings are a must order no matter when you eat there. OMG they are so good!!

4. The chef really knows how to chop veggies. You will never find huge pieces of peppers etc at Bamboo. The veggies are always nicely chopped, except in dishes that demand bigger pieces, such as pepper steak.

5. When they say a dish is spicy, believe them. The Kung Pao chicken at Bamboo is one of the spiciests I've had in ages. This is another must order if you like some heat in your meal.

6. The tea is absolutely fab!

Films On Friday

The weekend is upon us and TV is a vast wasteland now. So what's a wench to do, except try to find some good movies to watch.

I'm thinking of going for a little bit of fluff.

Here are two titles that I bought on the cheap in the past few months that I never did get around to watching.



I know neither of these films are super great. In fact, I've heard Inkheart really stunk, but Brendan Fraser is such lovely eyecandy that I may be able to overlook the badness of it. As for 27 Dresses, I've not heard anything about it, and I got it for my birthday, because I thought the plot looked cute and well, it was a $5.00 gift from my college age nephew.

So which one should I try? Or what should I rent?

There's no Doctor Who for a long while now, and I need to have some weekend TV viewing that doesn't involve the Disney Channel.

Help a wench out!

RIP Steve Jobs

It is really hard to fathom that one man has changed much of the way the world communicates and is entertained the way Apple founder Steve Jobs has.

Take a look at all the innovative (and expensive) technology that Apple has rolled out since the company started in the late 70s. Macintosh....to iMac...to iPod...to iPhone ....to iPad.

How many of us have one or more of these devices?

I know I have many pods, though I was slow to convert and I still hate iTunes, but you really can't say anything against the quality of something made by Apple. (You can gripe about the price though)

I find it really amazing that the world has really shown such emotion in regards to this man's passing. He wasn't really a celebrity...he was an innovator and a businessman.

One can only wonder, if Apple will come up with such awesome gadgets now that he's gone.

RIP Steve!

Bloo and Ms Blackie my two iPod shuffles weep for you.