Protecting squee since 2002

Tomatoes

logovo@gmail.com — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:29:21 GMT

We had the first two tomatoes from our garden and they turned out not to be fabulous, but mealy and not that tasty. :(

We went through this last year and I think it's because they usual June gloom extended into July, but now we have plenty of sun and maybe our tomatoes will start tasting as good as past years. This year we didn't plant as many because I'm trying to rotate crops and had less options of were they could go in.

Things I learned this year:

1.- Never plant were the sprinklers are going to hit the tomato plants, not even a little bit. It leads to rot and sad, sad uprooting of once healthy looking plants, who could not handle being attacked by sprinklers every other day.

2.- Don't plant cucumbers right next to tomatoes. Tomatoes require deep, infrequent watering. Cucumbers need frequent, shallow watering. Otherwise you end up with inedible yellow cucumbers, that have to be thrown into the compost. No cucumbers for us this year.

Mission Impossible 3

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:31:56 GMT

Rented the Mission Impossible movie that came out a couple of years ago, right about the time Tom Cruise went from funny-weird to scary-obnoxious. The trailers for Knight & Day kind of reminded me that I used to enjoy Tom Cruise movies, but didn't see MI3 before because it got *meh* reviews and at the time I'd overdosed on those teeth and intense weirdness. I'm happy to say that even with all the nutty stuff, and after giving his movies a pass for a while, seeing MI3 on DVD was perfect.

The first 45 minutes are seriously intense and I was glad I wasn't in a theater - this movie can be exhausting. The script fixed a problem I have with caper movies/tv like Mission Impossible, Leverage, Burn Notice, White Collar, etc. Most times we know the main cast/actors will not be killed off and that things will always work out. I get it's the whole point of these stories, but it can be boring, with no sense of peril as they go about implementing all those intricate cons. Here they made me worry by making sure we knew from the start that things went terribly wrong in the mission, and then jumping back a few days. Of course, if you don't care about Cruise's character it won't work, but the movie made me care, which was kind of surprising.

Quake

logovo@gmail.com — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:58:21 GMT

Trying to find how strong this one was.

Edit: 6 minutes ago, 5.7.

WTF?

logovo@gmail.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 20:41:11 GMT

I thought I finally had read up enough to get the gist of the conversations going on around VVC, but now it's been turned into an argument over... breastfeeding? Really?

Like the baby jesus in the rosca bread

logovo@gmail.com — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 04:21:27 GMT

Got a meat grinder, after becoming a way too informed about the meat industry, unable to order a medium rare burger without some fear. Managed a little cut to a finger, trimming the fat, and spent a bit of an effort learning how to use the new toy, but oh so much worth the effort. Yummy homecooked burgers, I missed you!

I was too enthusiastic about the grinder, ended with too much ground beef, so hey, I'm thinking, meatloaf time, enough for some sandwiches for the coming week. You know what you shouldn't do when wearing a band-aid for a little cut on your finger? Mix meatloaf and completely forget that at some point you were wearing a band-aid, only remembering this little detail after you put it in the oven.

:p

Movies

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:49:46 GMT

I go weeks without going to the theater and then I manage to see a bunch in only a few days.

Winter's Bone.- This is the best thing I've seen in months. I'm trying to remember the last English language movie I saw that walking out of the theater I knew I would not change a thing. Ugh, this year hasn't been that great for movies, specially this summer. Winter's Bone is definitely not summer fare, but it was a reminder of what seeing a good, thrilling story feels like, along with perfect acting and direction.

Toy Story 3.- After so many glowing reviews I was expecting more, but it's still a pretty nice story. I cried a bit at some parts, laughed once in a while and generally was glad I didn't wait to see it on DVD. Also managed to convince Mr. L to see it, who usually is not into animation, and he also enjoyed it.

Splice.- I was prepared by that ALL CAPS review of F THIS MOVIE IN THE A that was linked by my flist, along with positive reviews from film podcasts that I enjoy. For me that was a good way to experience this movie, because there are scenes that otherwise are so weird/uncomfortable/ugh, that I know it would have been too much and I might have felt bad after watching it. As much as I enjoy Natali's movies, and as much as I love Cronenberg*, this movie is fucked up enough that I needed the spoilers and to be in the right mood. I thought it was good, creepy, interesting and well acted, even as I kept wondering how this got wide distribution in the US.

David Hewlett has a small role, but since the movie has only 6 or 7 speaking parts, after the 2 main scientists he got most of the dialog. It was weird to realize he was doing bits and pieces that felt so much like Rodney, that I now have the need to go back and rewatch Cube, just to see if he does that most of the time.

Also, can I have all of Adrian Brody's t-shirts? It was distracting to be lusting after his character's wardrobe throughout the whole movie.

*I felt actually kind of ill after watching Dead Ringers. Considering what I read in fic, you would think watching an angsty, twincest filled movie would be just lolzy fun. Sadly, it was not. I just felt bad.

The Passage (audiobook)

logovo@gmail.com — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 15:20:32 GMT

It was weird to have the same voice that I remember reading the Juarez part of Bolaños "2666" showing up in a much less spooky book, "The Passage" by Justin Cronin. It's one of those books that show up on the first table right as you walk into a Borders or Barnes&Noble, where I discovered to my horror that Glenn Beck is also now a novelist.

I downloaded "The Passage" hoping for a sort of "The Stand" redux, done at least as well as that book turned out to be. I loved it as a teenager. Was it 20 years ago already since "The Stand" was published? More? Anyway, I still think of King's novel as the most fun you can have while you read about the end of the world. I'm at almost at a quarter of the way through, and the author seems to have decided that descriptions of the world falling apart have been done enough times. I'm a bit disappointed, but yeah, he handles it pretty well by only giving glimpses, which in a some ways is a lot scarier.

I just realized I haven't downloaded podfic in a while. I have to go and see what's been posted in the last few months. So many things to listen to! Podfics, audiobooks and podcasts (Spill and /Filmcast are my current favorites), but only so much time to listen.

Anthony Bourdain

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 21:11:45 GMT

In my head there is a category for "assholes I enjoy" and Señor Bourdain (alias 'Flaco') has consistently been in the top ten of people I'll read or listen to, even when I occasionally want to throttle him. My husband kind of cringes whenever I bring him up in conversation, which has happened a lot this week, since I bought and quickly read Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook. I'm very interested in food and food writing, while at the same time having suspect tastes in humor, so it's a good fit. Still, impossible to forget for even a minute, I'm enjoying an asshole. Bourdain makes sure of it every few paragraphs.

SPN, fic and whiskey sours

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 04:25:40 GMT

There is another clusterfuck going on in SPN Big Bang that caught my attention because it doesn't just feel like a rerun, but like an episode where you can remember all the dialog, music and guest stars. It involves making the Haiti earthquake a backdrop for a RPS fic. Really, IDK how people decide doing something like that is a good idea. Even if it's only out of self interest, you would think people in general would stay away from combining recent human tragedy with fanfic.

BTW, the SPN big bang started this past week and I was happy to find one story I enjoyed very much, a sweet (but not overly so) romcom, Becoming Who We Are. Usually BBs have tons of stories, but only one or two that grab me, so I felt lucky that during the first week I found one that made me so happy.

Now I need to google a good recipe for whisky sours. I had my second one ever tonight and yes, I must learn how to make these wonderful drinks. Just the right balance of citrus against the usually unpalatable whisky taste. I have yet to develop a taste for straight whisky, maybe because it reminds me of the boozy smell of my dad after a bender. But see, lemons have ~*magical*~ properties that seem to make whisky into something I actually want to drink.

Swan Song, again.

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:35:13 GMT

This morning I finally decided to download from iTunes the SPN season finale. Oh so pretty. I got only 20 minutes into the episode before I had to leave for work, but I know I'm going to enjoy watching and rewatching this particular episode. Really, the last two episodes of the season resparked my enthusiasm for their story, so I'm pretty happy right now. I haven't read as many episode reactions as I usually do, because I want to keep this feeling for a while and I know it's tenuous. So yeah, happy.

Bread

logovo@gmail.com — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:27:57 GMT

Why is San Diego so bad at making bread? We have something like over a million people here, lots of money, lots of people willing to pay for good food, and yet we have the most mediocre bread among the big cities I've visited in the US.

Come on, if Tlaquepaque can figure it out, there has to be a way for more than 2 bakeries in San Diego to make decent bread. I'll settle for mediocre, by Guadalajara standards, bread!

::weeps bread bereft tears::

SPN: Swan Song

logovo@gmail.com — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:43:13 GMT

Im at the airport, having barely slept, thinking about last night's Supernatural. The moment that got me? One so predictable, but it still made gasp and choke up a bit. After the long set up for the car it was pretty clear that it would be the Impala that in some way would save the day. All those details about what makes the car them, their home, so much what I've read before time and again (oh, the perils of being a fic reader- most everything has been done before), but never acknowleged so directly and beautifully in canon. That instant, that shot of Sam's eye, the recognition of who he was - God, I'm going to be replaying that instant for along time. That moment was so perfect and satisfying that it made the finale for me.

Supernatural, tonight.

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:22:42 GMT

I have a 4 am wakeup tomorrow, but I don' t think I can even consider not watching the SPN finale live. I've been wavering this year and wasn't excited when I heard a 6th season was going to happen, but right this moment I'm feeling very attached. I expect to be somewhat disappointed, because usually in these kind of episodes the setup is better than the outcome. I just want to care about these characters and right now I do, quite a lot.

Iron Man 2

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:22:47 GMT

Went by myself to see Iron Man 2, not in the mood to coordinate with other people, and just let the movie be it's own thing to me. I used to do this all the time and I kind of miss it. Although, this time, it had a layer of -um- really being on my own. It's the reading of this fic that did it, Concession. I was in the middle of reading that great story, a mystery surrounding the disappearance of Pepper and Tony, that the lights went down and I started watching the movie. It's fun to be able to enjoy a strong and disturbing story like Concession, have great fun with the movie, and then finish reading a story that really punches at stuff that I dislike in some fic, and does it so well. But yeah, I had this feeling last night of really having enjoyed something on several different levels, while at the same time knowing it would be impossible to share it with anyone.

Um, no.

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:15:19 GMT

"In my world, at events in which I participate, going to someone's room is almost always an acknowledgment that sex is on the agenda."

Your world is weird and scary to me. I've gone to room parties to see videos (oh my eyes, shall I ever recover from seeing Dante's Cove?), be introduced to S1 Chuck by Stuart (him and cons are forever linked in my mind), talk about Harry Potter with LJ friends or have a beer with fellow fangirls while discussing our favorite fic. If someone wanted more than that they would have to be VERY EXPLICIT. "You can come over to my room to copy the latest Being Human episodes! :D" =/= SEX. Or naked people.

Mole!

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:35:01 GMT

Eeeeeeeee!!! A friend just dropped off a part of her batch of homemade mole paste, using these chiles that are unavailable in the US!!! Joy, joy, joy!

I can't remember the name of the chiles now, they're even hard to find in Mexico, but right now I don't care, I have MOLE!

TV, TV, TV on DVD

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 11 May 2010 14:23:45 GMT

Breaking Bad.- 2 episodes in to season one. So not a fannish show. No one is exceptionally clever, pretty or even that likeable, but I've enjoyed it so far. I know a bit of the character arch for the next 3 seasons and it's fun to see where it all starts. The pilot has a lot of problems, too much typical TV writing, but episode 2 made me remember why I liked Vince Gilligan so much during his The X-Files days. It's a lot smarter and funnier (in a kind of sick/dark way) than the pilot.

Damages S2 is still sitting there unwatched, partly because Mr. L kind of hated the first season. He rather rewatch The Wire from the start. It would be something to watch S1 again and not feel so confused in the first episodes by the huge cast.

EMF podcast

logovo@gmail.com — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:25:17 GMT

Las week I downloaded a bunch of EMF Podcast episodes and enjoyed them very much. I'd been wondering why I wasn't finding geeky women producing podcasts I liked, but kimberlyfdr kindly pointed out the Hahn sisters, who seem to have been around for a while. Yay! I enjoy their sisterly banter and I'm subbed, I hope for the duration of SPN.

In conclusion...

logovo@gmail.com — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:17:49 GMT

So, after reading the SPN Unfunny Business thing from Saturday, I find that it confirms the sad, sad fact that orgies are a lot more fun to read about than to face in RL. Specially if you're walking into your hotel room and find people having sex. On your bed. While on the other bed two guys roleplay Sam/Dean, complete with oral sex and cringiness up to 11.

Oh, that would have me running to the hills and wishing for mental bleach.

Glad to read how the con people handled the whole thing, way back in 2008 and again this past weekend, banning those who created a bad environment for other congoers.

BTW, I was at Wincon '07 in L.A. and thought it was great fun and I was glad I was there and got to share much SPN squee.

Huitlacoche!

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:50:01 GMT

I may LOL forever.

For years, scientists have assumed that huitlacoche (WEET-LA-KO-CHEE) — a gnarly, gray-black corn fungus long-savored in Mexico — had nutritional values similar to those of the corn on which it grew. But test results just published in the journal Food Chemistry reveal that an infection that U.S. farmers and crop scientists have spent millions trying to eradicate, is packed with unique proteins, minerals and other nutritional goodies.

And here's a bonus: agro-economists have found it can sell for more than the corn it ruins.- The Associated Press

The reason I looked this up is that someone at the office came up to me to ask about this mysterious and scary looking Mexican food. Apparently it's the hot "new" thing. Heh.

The Losers?

logovo@gmail.com — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 02:05:33 GMT

I really wish The Losers didn't look like such a bad movie. I could use some Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Holmes, Watson, candle-beck

logovo@gmail.com — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:40:01 GMT

I see that a favorite SPN writer is also writing in the Sherlock Holmes fandom. Would it be safe to assume she is busy taking readers hearts and breaking them into tiny, bittypieces in that fandom as well?

Podcasts

logovo@gmail.com — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:13:37 GMT

I've been trying out and listening to a few new podcasts. I actually listen to podcasts and audiofic a lot more than music, which -um- yeah, means that I have a lot of music sitting around that I don't let myself enjoy more than a bit because I'm always GIVE ME NEW CONTENT!

I've already said how much I enjoy Radiolab, which has exceptional production values and some episodes that are the best things I've downloaded, but the show has very few episodes per season. So, while it's amazingly good, it's mix of popular science, culture and philosophy (with a light sense of humor) is on short supply.

I enjoy a lot of film related podcasts, with my favorites right now being /Filmcast and the movie review episodes of Spill. There are others like BBC Radio 5 film Reviews and KCRW's Film Reviews.

Another podcast I've liked is the newish, The Nerdist, which just had a fabulously funny live episode #10. The host had as guests a couple of the Mythbusters people, a show that I haven't even seen and have no interest in seeing, but still the podcast had me laughing at work.

Harry Shearer's Le Show is also quite good, even is sometimes I want to punch Shearer in the nose, but I think that's just me.

What all these podcasts (and quite a few more I've tried out) have in common is that they have no women in them. Not a single one. I was excited to find and download the Bust magazine podcast, but the quality of the audio was so bad I had to stop after only a minute. Who knows if the content was any good. Still, I'm always looking and I'm hoping that I'll later find some that I can enjoy.

flop

logovo@gmail.com — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:40:40 GMT

Last day of Tax Season! YAY! I expect to be enjoying some beers with the office in a couple of hours, along with the meatball sandwiches our boss makes for us each year. There are a bunch of traditions we follow here, and him cooking for us is one that's decades old at this firm.

Anyway, I get my husband back (who works at his own little practice doing taxes) as well as my regular life. Phew!

Fannish content: Oh SPN, I've loved some episodes this year, but it's impossible to avoid seeing your gigantic FAIL warts. I continue to enjoy what I can tough.

SPN Vid Rec! I Know Someone (Waits for Me) by lolachrome. Beautiful, perfect song and I keep coming back to watch this again and again. *clutches to bosom*

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

logovo@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:23:41 GMT

We saw "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" last night. I was pleasantly surprised. I ended up liking it a lot more than the book. They changed or took out a lot of details that were awkward (sometimes MaryStu-ish), which ended up making the main character more likable, and kept whole all of the details that I remember about the other main character, Lisbeth Salander.

Both main actors were terrific and the movie looks great. I'm glad I got to see it before it's remade into a US movie by David Fincher, who sorry to say with probably ruin it, no matter how much I liked "Fight Club". "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was his last one and I was not impressed.

If you read The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" you know it has some pretty violent stuff and that the book is actually called "Män som hatar kvinnor" which means "Men Who Hate Women". Yeah, the title fits. While they changed the title to something more palatable for the English market, I read they kept the original title in Spain. I do wonder how it was publish in other Spanish speaking countries.