Ginger's follies, foibles and fixations.
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| You Listen to Me, Mr. Kick-Ass Ginger's follies, foibles and fixations. |
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Saturday, February 08, 2003 Of course it's taken me way too long to see this. Somehow I knew I would love it, but I never saw it in the theater and then I put off renting it. I do this sort of thing fairly frequently, I think for a couple of reasons. First, if my expectations get too high, I don't want to be disappointed. I had heard so many great things about this film that if it was less than great I'd be bummed. On the other hand, if I loved it (which I sorta figured I would), I knew I could only see the movie the first time once. And seeing a great film (or play or reading a book) for the first time is such a great experience that sometimes I want to put it off as long as possible. Because after the first time you don't figure it will ever be that wonderful ever again. I know it's silly, but that's the way my brain works sometimes. Great film. If you haven't seen it, don't be silly like me -- rent it NOW! posted by Ginger | 11:45 PM Lest you think that watching a writer work would be boring, Roger Avary's WriterCAM reveals the shocking truth! posted by Ginger | 1:13 AM Friday, February 07, 2003 Four out of Five Ain't Bad Today I set foot in four out of the five boroughs: Brooklyn, Manhattan, The Bronx and Queens in that order (then back to Brooklyn). I even thought about a quick hop over on the SI Ferry to hit the fifth, but it was late and it just wasn't that important. Sixteen months in the Big City, and I finally made it to The Bronx. I kept wanting to ask where "Jenny from the Block" was, but I figured I'd get shot. Ha ha, no. Anyway, my boss and I went up there in the middle of some really serious snow to see the results of an all-day workshop this other theatre group does with middle-school kids. They go in and do theater exercises/training all day. Then after lunch they perform a play based on a classical story incorporating some of the workshop kids as bit players along with a handful of professonal actors who have all the good parts. It was kinda interesting, but I kept getting the feeling like these adults came in and plugged the kids into their agenda, instead of asking the kids what they wanted to do. Now, I wasn't at the workshop and I for damn sure don't know what to do with middle-school kids (or any kids, come to think of it), but I just got the feeling that nobody was particularly excited about what was going on. Mrs. Boss and I spent the whole train-ride back discussing what we'd do differently -- so it was valuable in a what-not-to-do sort of way. One thing I have to say was that the school (what I saw of it anyway) was awesome -- one of those newer buildings that is designed for, like, human beings to occupy. High ceilings, great auditorium, full of light and space. It was the nicest school building I've ever seen. So that must mean all this talk of our public schools crumbling is hogwash, right? Yeah right - this one was probably built to replace some lead-painted prewar monstrosity. In any case, I'm glad to tell you that at least one public school in The Bronx is pretty sweet. After all that I met up with Melanie and we went to Queens to my other favorite restaurant, the Jackson Diner. Not only is this the greatest name for an Indian restaurant, it is arguably the best Indian food to be had in New York City -- and some of the least expensive. Full and sleepy, I almost passed out on the G train home. posted by Ginger | 11:31 PM Die for Oil, Sucker -- Jello Biafra, 1991 This is a neat idea that has made the e-mail rounds and in the process has included some inaccurate or incomplete information, so I've tried to correct that here. For more information, click: Rice for Peace Snopes article about same Original message This amazing idea from the Boulder Mennonite Church: There is a grassroots campaign underway to protest war in Iraq in a simple, but potentially powerful way. Place 1/2 cup uncooked rice in a small plastic bag. Squeeze out excess air and seal the bag. Wrap it in piece of paper on which you have written the following: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them." Romans 12:20. Please send this rice to the people of Iraq; do not attack them. [Note: It is also important that people LABEL the outside of the package with "Rice For Peace - No War On Iraq" (or any other concise message which identifies the contents and purpose of the package). ] Place the paper and bag of rice in a [strong, padded envelope or box] and address them to: President George Bush White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.NW Washington, DC 20500 Attach appropriate postage. Drop this in the mail. It is important to act NOW so that President Bush gets the letter, ASAP. [Note: Go here for ways to ensure that your rice gets to the White House and doesn't end up spread all over the post office -- that's not effective protest, it's just annoying] In order for this protest to be effective, there must be hundreds or thousands of such rice deliveries to the White House. We can do this if you each forward this message to your friends and family. There is a positive history of this protest! Uh, not exactly... However, this doesn't mean that the protest isn't a valid one. I have no illusions about changing anyone's mind about this. Indeed it's a bit of a leap of faith to think that such a "statement" will be granted any attention at all in Washington. It's a little like sending a dollar to the last person on the list, figuring that there's some chance you'll get your dollar back. But considering that few of us feel any real connection to the political process these days, and there's essentially no representation of a moderate (or even reasonable) point of view in the popular media, and when I am actually losing sleep because I'm plagued by the likelihood of going to war -- again -- in a matter of days... it just seems like the least I, or any of us, can do. The very least, perhaps, but it is something. I'm sending my rice today. posted by Ginger | 9:43 AM A Delicious Heapin' Helpin' of The Friday Five! 1. What did you have for breakfast this morning? If you didn't have breakfast, why not? If I have time, I have this breakfast -- or something close to it -- every day: Instant Oatmeal, 2 links of chicken-apple sausage (hormone-free), and my kick-ass smoothie. Kick-Ass Smoothie: 3/4 cup mixed organic frozen berries (blackberries, raspberries, blueberries) 1 banana (organic) 1/4 cup organic lowfat plain yogurt some walnuts (around 1/8 cup, raw, unsalted, organic) Enough lowfat plain soymilk to fill the hand-blender container (about 1/2-3/4 cup) Blend and enjoy! 2. What's your favorite cereal? Raisin-Spice or Apple-Spice instant oatmeal. I don't really eat cold cereal much any more. 3. How often do you eat out? Do you want that to change? A lot - almost daily. That should change for the sake of my finances, but I am not counting on it. I'm in the take-out capital of the world, and it's hard to resist. 4. What do you plan on having for dinner tonight? Got a recipe for that? For about a week now I've been planning on making Potato-Leek soup. I have a recipe and all the ingredients, I just haven't been home early enough to tackle cooking recently. If the soup thing doesn't work out I'll probably have the leftover sweet & sour tofu and brown rice that I made last night. 5. What's your favorite restaurant? Why? In NYC my favorite so far is The Chip Shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Not so much for the food -- it's delicious but not exactly healthy -- but more for the atmosphere and reasonable prices. I just enjoy going there (and the food is, don't get me wrong, delicious), especially for brunch with Nell! Mmmm...full English breakfast! I don't know if I can call it a favorite since I haven't eaten there in a while, but Uncle Lao's (also in Park Slope) is dirt-cheap and the food is excellent and healthy. Chinese food is ubiquitous here, but with what most places serve, you might as well go to McDonald'sTM. Not so with Uncle Lao's. Unfortunately I don't go there much because with it's close proximity to The Chip Shop, The Chip Shop usually wins. Plus, I'm not the hugest fan of Chinese food. posted by Ginger | 8:27 AM Thursday, February 06, 2003 Hula for Love Leave it to Noo Yawkas to help alleviate the pain and suffering of another Valentines Day. posted by Ginger | 6:20 PM From The Simpsons (and Entertainment Weekly) Of course you'll have a bad impression of New York if you only focus on the pimps and the C.H.U.D.s. - Marge Simpson (tip 'o the mouse to PW) The C.H.U.D.s must be cold tonight, as we're back into winter weather after a brief 'warm snap.' I'm at work so not exactly gushing with creative things to say at the moment. Had some tuna for lunch. Thinking about a Starbucks break (yes, Seattleites, I know SBX is the evil empire, but there aren't coffee bars on every corner here. The only place you can get SBX-like beverages is at the SBX nearest you--which is likely to be less than ten feet away if you're in Manhattan). Mom's safely back at home after some scary weather in Iowa, my sister may have already found a job without hardly trying, Nell is back from Ireland, and Cudgel is somewhere in Florida. But never fear... Wil is watching our cats. posted by Ginger | 3:36 PM Sunday, February 02, 2003 I Don't Know What to Say about the Space Shuttle As Mike and Patrick put it better than I ever could, let us leave it at that. Moving On... I'm remiss in adding my recommended web-visits to this site. Until I get off (or on, I guess) my lazy butt and update my template here, do bookmark this guy, and while you're at it, throw him a buck or two. Don't tell me you don't appreciate finely-crafted bookcases. Tech Support Interlude
Speaking of spin-off blogs, I'm thinking of doing a knitting blog, sorta like this one or this one, but I might just do a non-bloggy knitting page. I mainly want to post the pictures of stuff I've done, even though I've been in something of a post-Xmas knitting slump lately. I still have Christmas gifts to catch up on (which are rapidly becoming seasonally-inappropriate birthday gifts). I did do this hat last month for Cudgel because he lost his during one of NYC's nastier cold snaps. Anyway, it looks like I'll soon be getting Photoshop 7, and though I don't know how to use it, it might encourage me to try some more ambitious designs. Then again, maybe not. Clearly, I'm not a designer -- I am a text goddess. Sunday Update The shows went well, with good crowds. My Mom and sister were both at the first show. They enjoyed it, then Mom went off down the long long long road back to Nebraska. I don't love the idea of her cruise-controlling it down America's second-longest Interstate for 2 or 3 days all by herself, so everyone send safe wishes her way. We had a fine few days while Mom was here, despite some temperature issues in my apartment. Wednesday night the heat went off, and it didn't go back on until Friday morning. Thursday night I had Words with the building manager (the building is too small for a super) who is fond of responding to any repair issue with "they're waiting on a part for that." This is how we went without a working clothes dryer for the better part of two years, so I was reluctant to take that for an answer. Thankfully, they managed to get the heat back on Friday morning (after Mom and I wore several layers of clothing to bed), but by midafternoon the radiator was barely lukewarm. We left to meet Melanie for a mid-day lunch/dinner of yummy Thai in Carroll Gardens, then on the spur of the moment we all decided to go to Chicago, which I didn't expect to love, but did. Catherine Zeta-Jones and John C. Reilly were amazing. Renee Zellweger and Richard Gere were fine enough to not be annoying, but John & Catherine were the real stars, in my opinion. Back at the apartment late Friday night, I discovered that the heat was indeed back on - with a vengeance. It was stiflingly hot and just kept getting hotter, even with the windows wide open. We couldn't wait to get out of my place Saturday morning, then when we returned that night, it was - I swear - ninety degrees in my apartment. I checked - 90! To get to sleep I had to open all windows and turn two fans on full-blast. By this morning it had cooled down to a tolerable level and now it's fine, so I guess someone must have complained. Sheesh. So Melanie now lives here! She's got a fine sublet in Astoria (where all the actors live) and a nice roommate. Too bad she can't stay there longer, but it seems an entirely pleasant way to get settled into Big City livin. All for now... posted by Ginger | 9:16 PM |
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