Yeah, it’s Monday, and it’s still cold…ok, chilly, and dreary outside. Where are you spring? I told you there were several things I wanted to do this weekend….some I did, others I didn’t get to, and some other things crossed my path that I hadn’t counted on.
I did get to a movie(check )….saw 21 downtown at the Harborview theatres. I give it a solid B-. Kevin Spacey was sleepwalking though a role that in his defense, didn’t call for much more. Still, a pleasant enough flick…but if you really want to see something actually interesting, Netflix the documentary Helvetica. (Check 2-) Fascinating look at one of the most common typefaces seen on signs everywhere, how it came to be, and what it has to do with global design. I love Helvetica, though I didn’t realize it until I saw the film….I wish this blog was in Helvetica type casting its secret spell but….can’t have everything, I guess.
Did observe Earth Hour Saturday night…turned off all the electric except for “essentials”…for me that was the tv and the oven…one does need food and entertainment after all. And basketball was on! I noticed neighbors who were perhaps unaware of earth hour….every light in their house was blazing. It was fun since I’m a candle freak anyway, but kinda hard to cook to candlelight. Is the lamb rare or raw?
Did get to the new Catonsville Gourmet Friday night (check 3-)…the place was seriously packed. We shared a whole rockfish, which was pan-fried, presented whole upright as though swimming, with a cilantro basil sauce that was just fabulous. 
And took home a piece of Smith Island Cake, which I’ve never had before though I’ve read a lot about it. Wow, that it is an unbelieveably good cake, with about a thousand layers, chocolate and peanut butter…again, big enough to share. And I believe I have spoken before of my love of B.Y.O.B….Catonsville Gourmet is that, though some diners did not know that when they arrived…no matter, there is a nice wine store across the street.
And I cleaned out a closet this weekend!! I know, how dull is that? But those of you who understand the dismay and unease that comes from a cluttered closet can apppreciate the feeling of order that comes from a newly organized linen closet. I had no idea how many tablecloths I had (that I never use, sorry to say), and my gift wrapping supplies are now in order. And somewhere along the way I bought birthday blowers and Big Red Dog birthday hats and stuck them in the closet, never too be seen again, until Saturday. Who were they for? I have no idea. I felt like an archeologist, slowly digging into the layers of living habits of a people long forgotten, only the people is me.
P.S. As a nod to Earth hour, I have discovered Blackle, compliments of my daughter. I had NEVER heard of it, and it is simply put, a dark google search page which uses lots less energy because the page is mostly black. How about that??
-Cooking Devil’s Chicken Thighs. This is a recipe I found from Sunday Suppers at Lucques on the 
But here’s something that makes me feel a little better….
Listening to a song right now called My Friend by Richard Dorfmeister vs. Madrid de la Austrias. Yeah, I know. I’ve never heard of them either. But kinda cool though.
We were on our way to talk to Dr. John Sarno of the Rusk Institute at NYU…he’s 84, but an energetic 84…and has written four books and countless articles about the mind-body connection…how our brains can often be the source of much of the pain we feel in our backs, and elsewhere. Chronic back pain, migraines, all caused by something going on in our brains. He was fascinating….that story will be on in May….I think you’ll find it quite interesting.
…as we hadn’t had much breakfast. Obviously my eyes are glued on the menu. Now, if you’ve never straggled into a nice restaurant with a photographer and all his gear in tow, then let me tell you how it is. Perhaps something like coming in with 3 toddlers, or maybe a couple of bikers…..the looks from the maitre’d and hostess…ummm…kind of sideways glances as if to say , “Do we really have to seat these people and what will we do with all their stuff?” Thank goodness for coatrooms, though Mr. Camera, which isn’t small, goes everywhere we do. (Expensive you know…it wouldn’t do to come back and report to the boss….oh, by the way, we lost the camera in New York.)
They do brain games to improve your memory. Andrea wrote and asked if I would like a trial account, in hopes I would do at least what I’m doing right now…blogging about it, and even better, do a television story about the company. Sorry about the story.
Here’s what happens when you either miss the bird, cause your eyes have stayed on the letter in the middle trying to remember it rather than actually clicking on where the bird is, which disappears after about a second and a half.
I hope clowns don’t creep you out…seriously, they do some people. There are those of us who are scared of clowns…not me, of course. This little clown(head) was one of many, on top of a very big cake….again , one of many that come into the WBAL-TV newsroom. If someone wants to publicize something, it seems they automatically think….”Send a cake. Wait a minute, make it a BIG cake.”
I have come to be almost immune to cake publicity…unless it is a very, very good cake. You know, real buttercream, not the fluffy stuff that most cakes sport. But I will give this one points for creative flair on top. Someone could take all the clown heads(creepy) and plastic balloon bunches and make one heck of a kid’s birthday cake. I may go get them right now.
But for every person who doesn’t eat the cake, there are two, no make that three, who will…here’s a happy person in search of a sugar fix right now!! Let them eat cake…..
Here’s what it looks like on. Extremely attractive, oui? I’ll let you know how it works out when actually on a walk….we’ll see.
Muffy, my lovely calico cat, likes her cat food the chunky kind, not ground. I have to vary the flavors…she likes it warmed for 9 seconds in the microwave, then sprinkled with dry cat food over the top. Now some of you will say, “You don’t know she wants her food warmed, that’s just some strange thought in your own head.” Maybe there is bit of projection there, I won’t deny it. But she eats delicately, a nibbler and often…that’s healthy, I think.
Now Baby Girl…there’s a different story. I don’t know if she was starved as a kitten…hope not…but when I put her food down, and it could be anything really, (haven’t found something she doesn’t like), she scarfs it uplike a vaccum cleaner. More like a dog eats. Now you see it , now you don’t. Seriously, when I put down dry cat food, she grabs for the box as I take it away. I don’t think she even chews . That can’t be good for her, but I don’t know how to slow the process.
