Dining locally

Tim and I went out to dinner this evening at Hill Top House. He had the rack of lamb (which was delicious) and I had the halibut and prawns (yummy high in potassium). The onion rings were irresistible. Also as is custom we rated the bathroom on a scale of 1 to 10. One is "Next available bush" and ten is "Full modern amenities with concierge/attendant". Ranked a good solid 7.

David has a blog

I found his url on Uncle Spuds blog and went there and looked at pictures. I almost did not recognize him and had to stare at that picture for quite a while before it jelled in my mind that yep David had filled out a bit. He reminds me of his uncle Pat a little bit.

To be fair, David, would have a hard time recognizing me. I think the last time we met face to face was about 15 years, several dozen pounds and a few boxes of Clairol #5 Auburn.

My kitchen, really

Got the digital camera today and decided to take brilliant picture of my kitchen as it usually exists in day to day operation. There is barely room to swing a cat but you can step on them easily as they become more and more insistent feed ME NEOW!

It's soooooo pretty

I was googling various places about the globe and found a place that had me momentarily enchanted. Guess the name of this place. Do refrain from using the Flag data base for oh all of 60 seconds. Gimme a wild guess before you go trudging off. Oh yes describe the government.

The Stand, Steven King

The Stand was on SciFi channel this weekend, all umpty chapters of it one right after another. Phew! The book has always rated high on my list of favorites, even the re-written edition. I watched the original mini-series on television in 1994 and enjoyed it very much.

However this time was a little different. Unfortunately I didn't begin at the beginning. I started watching about the time Harold and Franny were getting ready to go on the road, Stu had broken out of the germ hospital and folks who had survived were on their way to either Nebraska or Las Vegas.

I thought this version felt choppy and I swear there was a scene that I never saw before. Stu is working like crazy to take out someones appendix and has to be told to stop because the patient was dead. Also every time I blinked there was a shot of Steven King either very much in the foreground or the background. Generally speaking writers should not act and actors should not write...it's just safer that way.

Just for giggles and laughs I went to a "The Stand" site and clicked on "Goofs" which turn out to be continuity problems for the most part, someones leg is in one position in one shot and different in another.

For what it is worth, I thought Jamie Sheridan (Randall Flagg) made a terrific Son of Satan and I often wonder why it is that I am drawn to Randall Flagg's or Darth Vader's? Ewwwwwwwwww

What is your favorite book that has successfully translated into film?

Not too terribly traditional Thanksgiving

When Thanksgiving comes on the 22nd, it feels weird, granted I have more time between now and Christmas to blame the cats for not decorating but...

I had indulged in one of those pre-cooked frozen turkeys a few weeks ago and the tryptophan had not quite worn off so I thought to prepare something a little different.

I made the pumpkin pies and cranberry orange jello. I also went shopping and picked up two juicy grade A steaks, a bag of miniature yams, sour cream, and makings for cauliflower and broccoli salad. Also grabbed a loaf of French bread to make garlic bread. I baked the yams and some new potatoes tossed together in a pan with olive oil and garlic. Heaven!

The steaks went into a screaming hot skillet. Husbands went in four minutes before mine, his must be done, mine can be medium. Seared them off, popped them in the oven to finish. Rang the dinner bell and it was fairly decent eats.

The weather here was clear sunny day, cold and crisp. People who live on the coast are not used to a lot of sunshine, we tend to get blinded on the road from all the sunshine flickering through the trees, it can be deadly. So no shopping until it clouds up...just the way we like it.

Happy Thanksgiving. Hope you are comfortably ensconced where ever you are.

Get Yer Chinese name!

http://www.mandarintools.com/cgi-bin/chinname.pl

This site will allow you to input your first, last name, DOB, characteristics and will give you a name in Mandarin Chinese. My Chinese name is An Rui Yan. Blogger would not load the characters however.

Musing about names leads me to reminisce about various names I have encountered over the years while working in the medical records department. For instance, when I worked in my home town hospital, a set of twins were born 1n 1982; their names were Chastity Bell and Trinity Sue (born in 1982). How rhyming!

While working in a very very rural hospital in Alaska, my favorite first name of all was Ryan Bryan Corey Craig. I don't remember the middle name.

And last but not least my favorite name here at my current facility is Dolly Dimple Icenogle. I just love it.

PS: The most common first name in the world is Mohamed.
The most common last name in the world is Wong.

Kinda makes you wonder how many Mohamed Wong's there are.

Natures' moment

When I am in the "west wing" of the MR department, my desk faces a large window, outside are very over grown rhodies. Amongst the rhodies a covy of quail were playing around. Am torn between admiration for the very pretty birds and the fact that I know they taste delicious. That would be carnivore coming to the fore.

Honest I heard it from his own lips.

I was listening to NPR radio this morning and they were playing part of a conference where the present President of Pakistan said in description regarding the current unrest.. "..We are caught between a rock and a hard surface..."

I wonder if anyone will make comment on this slip of the lips.

dirty dishes and King Henry VIII

Friday, chores await. Must wash dishes...erk. Made pancakes this morning, cup of Constant Comment tea and gulped down medications. I am re-reading for the umpteenth time "Blaze Wyndham" by Bertrice Small. Blaze Morgan is the oldest of 8 sisters and one youngest brother. A neighbor (12 miles away) Earl of Wyndham is a widower and has heard of the Morgan family's amazing fertility and health. He comes for a visit with an offer of marriage as he must have an heir. (1500 something England y'know). Marriage is agreed upon, Blaze is a little upset that she will meet her groom on the day of the wedding but a family with EIGHT daughters cannot be too choosy. Blaze and Edmund wed and he agrees to court her before consumation so that they my become better acquainted. Things go smoothly, the consumate and eventually a daughter is born (Nyssa Catherine Wyndham). Two years of bliss pass. Blaze becomes pregnant again and they are happy. Nephew Anthony visits (who has a secret tendre for Blaze) and he and Edmund go hunting. Edmund is killed in a freak accident. Blaze has hysterics and loses her baby and blames it all on Anthony. A few months later her young sister Bliss, talks Blaze into return to court with them. She reluctantly goes with them. King Henry the VIII notices her and makes her his "Quiet Mistress" She does not want to do so but no one in 16th century England refused the King anything because it would be treason....

Well those dishes are waiting.....

'splain this

111 111 111 x 1 111 111 111= 1,234,567,899,876,543.21

Besides being a rather large number....what it is exactly?

last "half"

I still like flags, lets give this one a try....

Chairman of the Council of Regency,
Acting Minister of Interior

This man acts in the interest of the above Kingdom's flag. Name that flag!

Pop quiz

Time to modify the Guessing Game a bit.

It is the only metal, except for mercury, caesium, and rubidium, which can be liquid near room temperatures; this makes possible its use in high-temperature thermometers. It has one of the longest liquid ranges of any metal and has a low vapour pressure even at high temperatures. What is the symbol?