My apologies for the lack of amusing blog postings as of late.
I have been waylaid by an errant cold virus and laid low.
Stopped in my tracks in fact.
I find myself wandering through grocery stores in a daze, light headed and faint feeling. Sitting at my desk at work, bleary eyed and rocking back and forth, kleenex held tight to my nose.
With luck, I shall recover sufficiently to carry on my blogging, but for now...I am held captive by microscopic germs.
ick.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Friday, February 18, 2005
Hot button topic ahead, approach with caution.
The Hutterites.
An interesting religious group that has taken up residence in the prairie provinces of good ol' Canada since approximately the 1900's.
They fled Eastern Europe due to the persecution of their religious beliefs.
Jacob Hutter, their leader, was himself burned at the stake in 1536, and they were driven from country to country trying to escape this brutal discrimination.
On the grounds that Jesus (one of their historical religious figures) commanded the love of one's enemies, they are also a pacifistic group, who refuse to participate in war as waged by state or country.
In Canada, they live quietly and participate very little, if at all, in politics.
Where is this little lesson in a small religious group going?
Well, let me tell you.
Recently, the Hutterite community has sent a letter to our Prime Minister, Paul Martin.
This is highly unusual on it's own merits, given the communities reticence to engage in any political activity.
What's even more unusual is the contents of aforementioned letter.
The Hutterites have banned together and garnered all their moral righteousness to proclaim that any allowance of same-sex marriages will bring down their god's wrath on Canada to destroy us as 'he' once did to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now doesn't that just smack of hypocrisy.
To come to a country that safeguards their ability to live as they choose, only to call down another group which in no way directly affects them, is not only ludicrous, but an insult to the very things that Canada claims to stand for, and more, that they also claim to hold dear!
As a free thinking Canadian, this really pisses me off.
I'm all for free speech, but isn't sending out a letter that claims that same-sex marriage is going to see all of Canada burn in hell just another form of hate?
And why rally now??!
Why go to government with your complaints now?
Because it's important to take a stand against people who love each other?
Why not take a stand against homelessness in this country, or the state of our health care system or even the drugs that rip families apart and kill every single day?
And SURELY their god must be enraged about the hundreds of thousands of children dying of starvation in this world.
I mean, should that not evoke a certain response?
Doesn't THAT deserve a letter to government, or a flood to mark 'his' rage against this obvious injustice?
And what's this? No plagues of locusts to mark 'his' wrath at Bush's re-election?
But total annihilation of a country in old school retribution 'a la revelations' because some people want to enjoy their lives together as sanctioned by their government, is okay?
That god has a very odd sense of priority.
And 'his' people are themselves condoning persecution and hate against a group of people they find fault in.
How quickly they have forgotten.
An interesting religious group that has taken up residence in the prairie provinces of good ol' Canada since approximately the 1900's.
They fled Eastern Europe due to the persecution of their religious beliefs.
Jacob Hutter, their leader, was himself burned at the stake in 1536, and they were driven from country to country trying to escape this brutal discrimination.
On the grounds that Jesus (one of their historical religious figures) commanded the love of one's enemies, they are also a pacifistic group, who refuse to participate in war as waged by state or country.
In Canada, they live quietly and participate very little, if at all, in politics.
Where is this little lesson in a small religious group going?
Well, let me tell you.
Recently, the Hutterite community has sent a letter to our Prime Minister, Paul Martin.
This is highly unusual on it's own merits, given the communities reticence to engage in any political activity.
What's even more unusual is the contents of aforementioned letter.
The Hutterites have banned together and garnered all their moral righteousness to proclaim that any allowance of same-sex marriages will bring down their god's wrath on Canada to destroy us as 'he' once did to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Now doesn't that just smack of hypocrisy.
To come to a country that safeguards their ability to live as they choose, only to call down another group which in no way directly affects them, is not only ludicrous, but an insult to the very things that Canada claims to stand for, and more, that they also claim to hold dear!
As a free thinking Canadian, this really pisses me off.
I'm all for free speech, but isn't sending out a letter that claims that same-sex marriage is going to see all of Canada burn in hell just another form of hate?
And why rally now??!
Why go to government with your complaints now?
Because it's important to take a stand against people who love each other?
Why not take a stand against homelessness in this country, or the state of our health care system or even the drugs that rip families apart and kill every single day?
And SURELY their god must be enraged about the hundreds of thousands of children dying of starvation in this world.
I mean, should that not evoke a certain response?
Doesn't THAT deserve a letter to government, or a flood to mark 'his' rage against this obvious injustice?
And what's this? No plagues of locusts to mark 'his' wrath at Bush's re-election?
But total annihilation of a country in old school retribution 'a la revelations' because some people want to enjoy their lives together as sanctioned by their government, is okay?
That god has a very odd sense of priority.
And 'his' people are themselves condoning persecution and hate against a group of people they find fault in.
How quickly they have forgotten.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
The Fasting is OFF
As I suspected, I made it to dinner then I broke down.
But oddly enough, I didn't eat everything in my fridge as I feared, instead, I had a sensible meal of a tender, moist chicken breast, some lightly steamed broccoli and a yam (slightly undercooked, but with enough butter, salt and pepper anything tastes good!)
And of course, being clever, I made enough for two so I would have a delicious and nutritious lunch and not have to spend oodles on fast food joints that flourish here like cockroaches at a cheap... no, I already used that analogy. hmmmm
Like bedbugs in Manitoba government housing project.
There, not only is that a good visual analogy, it's also relevant to Canadian news. (sad but true.)
Bedbugs.
I thought they were only stuff of childhood legend. I suppose they must truly exist.
The thought is cool and gross all at the same time.
I mean, I know about the miniscule bugs that live in your eyelashes and chew on the flaking detritus of your flesh, and the mites that inhabit your clothing, and I can live with that without to much angst.
But real live bedbugs?
~shiver~
But oddly enough, I didn't eat everything in my fridge as I feared, instead, I had a sensible meal of a tender, moist chicken breast, some lightly steamed broccoli and a yam (slightly undercooked, but with enough butter, salt and pepper anything tastes good!)
And of course, being clever, I made enough for two so I would have a delicious and nutritious lunch and not have to spend oodles on fast food joints that flourish here like cockroaches at a cheap... no, I already used that analogy. hmmmm
Like bedbugs in Manitoba government housing project.
There, not only is that a good visual analogy, it's also relevant to Canadian news. (sad but true.)
Bedbugs.
I thought they were only stuff of childhood legend. I suppose they must truly exist.
The thought is cool and gross all at the same time.
I mean, I know about the miniscule bugs that live in your eyelashes and chew on the flaking detritus of your flesh, and the mites that inhabit your clothing, and I can live with that without to much angst.
But real live bedbugs?
~shiver~
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Fasting
Well, I'm attempting a fast today...I did some research and I figure a 24 hour fast won't kill me, and in fact, may do me some good.
I'm not doing very well. I've eaten a Sun Rype fruit bar and drank a cup of chicken broth.
And in my infinite wisdom, I have been researching menus for fancy-schmancy restaurants here in Vancouver, BC.
Check out the dinner menu at 'West' http://www.westrestaurant.com/westrestaurant/menus/Default.asp?id=3
...then listen for me drooling like Homer in the background...guuuggghhhhhhhh.
Why do I torture myself so?
I'm thinking that I won't make it much past dinner.
I'm not doing very well. I've eaten a Sun Rype fruit bar and drank a cup of chicken broth.
And in my infinite wisdom, I have been researching menus for fancy-schmancy restaurants here in Vancouver, BC.
Check out the dinner menu at 'West' http://www.westrestaurant.com/westrestaurant/menus/Default.asp?id=3
...then listen for me drooling like Homer in the background...guuuggghhhhhhhh.
Why do I torture myself so?
I'm thinking that I won't make it much past dinner.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Movie recommendation
If you haven't seen it yet, run don't walk, to your nearest video store and purchase don't rent:
This movie will take a cricket bat to all your old misconceptions about horror/spoof/zombie movies and knock them around until they are lying cold and lifeless on the ground.
"SHAUN OF THE DEAD"
This movie will take a cricket bat to all your old misconceptions about horror/spoof/zombie movies and knock them around until they are lying cold and lifeless on the ground.
A great movie.
Really.
And I don't LIKE movies like that. I usually shun them AND pooh pooh the people who watch them.
Maybe I like it so much because it's British.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art."
I love food. Good food. And as such I written a manifesto of sorts:
My plea to chefs everywhere…
Let your appetizers be appetizing! Don’t toss chicken wings in Tabasco at me, instead, serve me thinly sliced beef carpaccio with a touch of mustard honey dressing or even better, crispy skinned confit de canard. Oooh!
And please, present only the highest quality fresh ingredients, the tenderest of baby vegetables barely cooked through so they retain the ‘firm to the tooth’ texture. Or the newest of new potatoes roasted till tender with a dash of olive oil and rosemary.
Give me the best cuts of meat, cooked rare, seared so all the juices stay inside until my knife cuts through to reveal the rosy pink interior and allows the flavours to run out and add itself to the tastes of the other delicacies on my plate.
Or fish, pan seared...the skin crispy and the flesh flaky and light, with a light sauce to enhance the subtle flavours.
And be sure not to douse the dish in sauces…a delicate drizzle of a classic port and wine sauce or a gentle suggestion of a heavier sauce is enough to do any well cooked meal justice.
As for salads, well, the days of iceberg lettuce should be long gone from your kitchens, and spare me the well drained, droopy greens of any other kind.
A salad should be a joy not only to eat, but to see. A combination of textures, colors and tastes that are united under a dressing that takes all of the ingredients and sets it to singing can be a feast all by itself.
Pecans and old blue cheese and new beet leaves…or put together some delicately sliced apple with endive and hazelnuts with a mustard wine dressing, it’s not hard to do.
Add to that a careful presentation of colors and placement and you’ll win me over heart and soul.
After a dinner like that, who needs dessert!?!
Ah food.
quote provided by La Rochefoucauld
My plea to chefs everywhere…
Let your appetizers be appetizing! Don’t toss chicken wings in Tabasco at me, instead, serve me thinly sliced beef carpaccio with a touch of mustard honey dressing or even better, crispy skinned confit de canard. Oooh!
And please, present only the highest quality fresh ingredients, the tenderest of baby vegetables barely cooked through so they retain the ‘firm to the tooth’ texture. Or the newest of new potatoes roasted till tender with a dash of olive oil and rosemary.
Give me the best cuts of meat, cooked rare, seared so all the juices stay inside until my knife cuts through to reveal the rosy pink interior and allows the flavours to run out and add itself to the tastes of the other delicacies on my plate.
Or fish, pan seared...the skin crispy and the flesh flaky and light, with a light sauce to enhance the subtle flavours.
And be sure not to douse the dish in sauces…a delicate drizzle of a classic port and wine sauce or a gentle suggestion of a heavier sauce is enough to do any well cooked meal justice.
As for salads, well, the days of iceberg lettuce should be long gone from your kitchens, and spare me the well drained, droopy greens of any other kind.
A salad should be a joy not only to eat, but to see. A combination of textures, colors and tastes that are united under a dressing that takes all of the ingredients and sets it to singing can be a feast all by itself.
Pecans and old blue cheese and new beet leaves…or put together some delicately sliced apple with endive and hazelnuts with a mustard wine dressing, it’s not hard to do.
Add to that a careful presentation of colors and placement and you’ll win me over heart and soul.
After a dinner like that, who needs dessert!?!
Ah food.
quote provided by La Rochefoucauld
Monday, February 07, 2005
I have to share this...
As I just don't seem to have anything interesting to add to my site at the moment, I am forced to lean on others so that my impoverished little site will not become boring.
I hope I don't get into trouble for putting this link in my blog, but it's made me laugh on several occasions, and I feel that it should be enjoyed by many more people.
http://ihatemyflatmate.blogspot.com/
It's succinct and mean.
And terribly funny.
And myself having had 3 roommates at one time I can completely relate.
Although, frankly, none of them were this bad.
I hope I don't get into trouble for putting this link in my blog, but it's made me laugh on several occasions, and I feel that it should be enjoyed by many more people.
http://ihatemyflatmate.blogspot.com/
It's succinct and mean.
And terribly funny.
And myself having had 3 roommates at one time I can completely relate.
Although, frankly, none of them were this bad.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
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