Weather! Drama! Thunder!

Yesterday was the first change in the weather I have seen in the 55 days I have been here. In the afternoon there was talk of rain and wind farther east of the DFW metro area with no prediction of it getting this far.  I could hear thunder far away but nothing that even gave the dogs pause.  At 5:20 I put the dogs outside after their dinner and the air in the backyard was still and all was quiet. Not five minutes later they were scratching at the door to be let in and the wind had picked up dramatically.  Honestly, when I opened the back door it was as if hurricane has instantaneously materialized!  The wind was huge, at least 50 miles an hour gusts, almost bending the wooden fence over, threatening to upend the heavy metal backyard table, skittering the cheap barbecue grill across the concrete.  Just then the thunder and lightning began, very close, rattling the house like crazy.  The dogs cowered.  I laughed.

Finally!  Something other than incessant heat!  In ten minutes the wind died down a bit and clouds rolled in and it began raining.  Not a lot of rain but rain nonetheless.  I stood in the open backdoor, watching it come down and smelling the wonderful sharp smell that summer storms bring.  The rain lasted about five minutes but the thunder continued for about an hour.

At 9:30 pm it was probably about 80 degrees outside, the lowest temperature I have felt in the entire time I have been here. It was lovely.

Today it was probably about 80 at 5:00 this morning (I was taking Jenn to the airport then) and it felt great.  If only it would stay like that for the rest of the day. But, alas, it is not to be.  Right now, at 10:30 am it is about 85 with 80% humidity. It is supposed to be 90 at noon and 107 at 4:00 this afternoon.  Yep, a huge spike in temps as the day progresses.  The same highs are predicted through the weekend.  But hey, at least for one afternoon there was something to be excited about!

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Movie reviews

"Crazy, Stupid, Love."  I think I might have read too much about this movie before seeing it because I sort of expected it to be better.  How, I'm not sure, because it actually is a solid movie.  It's not great but it is good and definitely worth watching, perhaps on your large home television.  The cast is fine and there are enough unconventional moments to make it stand out a bit more than most romantic comedies.  Plus, and this is difficult for a cynic like myself to admit, there are a couple of very sweet and touching scenes, too.  It doesn't milk your emotions too much but you have no problem getting involved with these characters.  The scene when Ryan Gosling takes off his shirt is worth every penny you'll pay, at least if you like hot men with killer abs and low-riding jeans.  And come on, who doesn't like that sort of thing?

"The Help"  When the book was first published I read many reviews and expected a masterpiece.  Again, I was a little disappointed in the book, probably because I had read too much about it.  It's a very good story, well told, but it wasn't the "life-changer" I wanted.  However, the movie is excellent.  The story is told simply, nothing is over-done (except the bitchiness of the white women) and even though there are a couple of strong, important characters, all performances are stellar.  In fact, the characters are almost composite characters, with the exception of the character played by Viola Davis.  She is incredible, with a look that could melt metal.  My one complaint is that they used too much "mood music" and that always bugs me.  There could have been more scenes with zero music; let the story tell itself, don't tell us how to feel by playing some theatrical music.  But I would recommend seeing it.  The historical importance of what was happening in 1963 is important, of course.  The movie almost feels like a throw-back to another time, a "To Kill a Mockingbird" sort of story, told in that simple, old-fashioned way.  I liked it.

Both of these movies star Emma Stone whom I was not familiar with before now.  She is great, not a classic beauty but more the "girl next door" face, reddish hair and freckles.  I will happily see her in another movie, any time.

 Emma Stone above, in case you were wondering.

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Good television

Most cable TV subscriptions include the Current TV channel but most people don't watch it.  But here's a tip:  check it out.  Right now they are broadcasting a very good show called "50 Documentaries to See Before You Die."  It's a 4 part show and parts one and two have come and gone.  I just watched part three and it will be rebroadcast tonight at 9:00.  Part 4 is on tonight as well and will be shown again (as will part 3) tomorrow.

The show presents ten documentaries that the narrator, Morgan Spurlock feels are worth watching. Each doc gets about five minutes of fame, a quick overview, some scenes from the doc and interviews with the producers, directors, stars or commentators about the documentary.  It moves fast and the documentaries it showcases cover a wide range of topics:  murderball, art, hydro-fracking, high-wire walking, economic malfeasance, skateboarding, Muhammad Ali and Madonna, just to name a few.  Check out the list at www.currenttv.com  and click on Shows.

Many of these I have already seen:  "Little Dieter Needs to Fly" and "Rollerball" and "One Day in September"  and many others. The ones I have seen were excellent and if the rest on his list come close to that quality, then they are all winners.  You will find something in his list that you have missed and will want to see.  No one can watch "Man on Wire", for example, and not be happy they saw it.  Even if some of the subjects are not of interest to you, this show at least introduces you to some that you will no doubt put on your Netflix list. 

Two thumbs up for television this time.

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Another week gone!

Gosh, it's been a while since I wrote, and for no reason. Nothing has changed, the weather is still hot, and I still hate it.  But enough of that.

I had a little catering event this week, delivering food Jenn mostly made and I finished at the event.  It was in Dallas at a cool and funky gay bar and it went well.  As hot as it was outside at least it was nice and cool inside and everyone was happy and liked the food.  Next Saturday I have a dinner party that I am doing all by myself for 16 people at a private home in Dallas.  It seems that many people who have lots of money just hire private chefs so they can entertain their friends without having to get their hands dirty.  Yes, that sounds like I am being judgemental, and I am not, but the concept of hiring someone to cook food for a few friends just cracks me up.  Not that I am complaining, the money should be decent and it might actually be fun.  And if it isn't, who cares?

Jenn is out of town for a few days at the end of this coming week (thus my private chef gig) and when she returns I intend to leave this state. Blow this pop stand. Bust out of Dodge.  Unless something materializes vis a vis a job in California I will head to Oregon for a couple of weeks and check out the job scene there.  But that's is at least ten days away and much could happen between now and then.  No worries, you will be the first to know!

I made a pan of carnitas this weekend, the simplest recipe ever and cheap and really good.  Great for tacos or burritos or just to eat with your fingers.  You can find it here, and I thank Ben and Stacey for introducing it to me.  Try it.  You'll like it.  http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/view?recipeID=216  Honestly, it sounds too simple to be true.  My only suggestion is that when you take the foil off and cook it at higher heat, if the liquid doesn't evaporate after 20 minutes, just siphon it off.

Alrighty then, over and out for now. 

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Ah, California!

I was out of blog contact for a couple of days, basking in the cool air of California, specifically Daly City and SF.  I flew home to help out my 91 year old mother for a few days, see some friends and take a break from the oppressive heat here in Texas.  It reinforced my need to get back to the coast.

The forecast for this part of Texas hi another ten days (at least) of triple digit temperatures.  Sad.  Very sad. I am aiming to leave Texas by the end of August, destination unknown.  My unemployment benefits are about finished and it is therefore very important to find a job as soon as I can.  That's my goal but since the other 2 million out of work in California have the same goal, I am not anticipating it will be easy.  But I am hopeful. 

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Responding to this blog

Several people have asked how to respond to this blog directly and I must admit it isn't an easy process.  The easiest way is to have a gmail account, which is free, of course.  Then you can just click on the comment link at the bottom of the post, sign on to your gmail account and post a comment that way.  You still have to click a couple of times on various things but the comment will get posted.

If you don't have a gmail account you then have to do some other things to log in and I don't know what they are so I am no help there.  Sorry.

Alternatively, you can email me directly at either jagjulie2010@gmail.com  or jagjulie2@yahoo.com  

But please, DO NOT feel you have to respond.  Ever.  I am just grateful that three or four people actually read this, I do not expect people to respond.  In the end, I write it for myself anyway, and if someone reads it along the way and enjoys it, all the better.  And if you don't enjoy it, don't read it!  Simple!

OK, that's all. 

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Sunday wine, bbq and getting fat

We found good Texas BBQ yesterday, just a mile from the winery we visited to pick up Jenn's selection of Wine Club wines.  We also got a free glass of vino at the winery and it was nice to sit and chat over a glass of wine without any other distractions like dogs, jigsaw puzzles, CSY re-runs or phones.  Not bad wine, either, especially considering it comes from Texas grapes.

The BBQ joint was Roscoe's in Burleson and it was quite delicious.  Ribs and brisket, damn good cole slaw, pinto beans and sweet potato fries.  Great sauce, tangy, not thick and not sweet.  If the place was closer, I would be getting take-out at least once a week.  It's about a thirty minute drive away, far enough to be a nuisance but close enough to satisfy the craving now and then.

I am beginning to understand why a lot of Texans are fat.  It is partly because of the overwhelming number of fast food places and partly because there isn't really anything to do exercise-wise unless you join a gym.  Sure, you can get up at 6:30 in the morning and go for a nice walk or a jog, but after that it's too hot to be outside.  And yes, you can go to some air conditioned mall and walk around but that's not really exercise, that is window-shopping.  Especially out here in the suburbs, even if you wanted to walk around an interesting neighborhood, you can't because there aren't any.  If you were downtown Dallas or Ft. Worth, perhaps, but not here.  So you just sit around a lot and read or watch TV or sleep.  And thus, you get fat.  Plus, by the time evening comes along you are rather bored so you get a beer or two or make a tasty margarita, and we all know how that alcohol packs the calories.

The above is nothing but a justification for my porkiness, and I totally admit that.  Hey, we all need to justify something, to have some sort of explanation of our flabbiness or whatever our faults are and that is my explanation of one of my many faults.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Movie review: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"

I read nothing about this movie before seeing it but I did see a couple of trailers for it and was therefore intrigued. Yesterday we went to a matinee and saw it, which by itself is shocking since anyone who knows me knows I hate going to the movies on the weekend and I never go see a movie just after it has been released.  I don't like crowds and I dislike noisy crowds even more.  But we went.

First the crowd:  the theater was very crowded, to the extent that there was a family of three small (under 7) children sitting on the floor in front of us, which would never happen in litigation-conscious California.  (We were sitting in the first row behind the walkway, which is how they could be on the floor.)  They were, at least, quiet,  unlike the kid a couple rows behind us, probably about 5 years old, who had a running commentary all through the movie, never once shushed by his parents.  "Why is that monkey crying?  What is he eating? Oh, look at the horses! Is that medicine?  Who is playing the piano?"  On and on.  It could have been much worse, but it reaffirmed my dislike of weekend matinees, crowds and, often, children.

Now the movie:  there are no spoilers here, but don't read this unless you want my honest opinion, which might color the experience for you.  The movie is OK.  The plot is one dimensional and you can pretty much figure it out in the first ten minutes of the film.  The apes are all computer generated, they are very well done and they are really the stars of the show.  James Franco, as the scientist working on a new treatment for Alzheimer's disease, is fine but anyone with a human face could have played his role since he is just a tool to get the movie moving along. There is a bad guy with a bad, evil face and a lazy guy with a fat, lazy face and a cute woman with a cute face.  Again, any faces would have been fine, the humans are really just token characters in this movie. Things move slowly and predictably until the last 25 minutes and then the pace picks up nicely and creates some dramatic tension for the viewer (in other words, wakes us up) and while the final scene is totally ambiguous, at least the ending isn't a long, drawn-out schmaltzy affair. 

Bottom line, for a $5.00 ticket (yes, much cheaper than in California) it was an occasionally amusing and sometimes entertaining 105 minutes.  In my grading system, I give it a C.  Totally average but acceptable.

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Indoors

Watching stupid movies, playing word games on the computer, reading, doing crossword puzzles, cleaning, eating, playing with the dogs, doing laundry, Scrabble, chatting, napping, drinking.  These are some of our daily indoor activities.  And then sometimes we do catering things as well.  The gig this weekend went well, the clients were happy with the food and it all went smoothly. I liked helping Jenn, we work well together as long as we are clear who is in charge (Jenn) and who takes direction (me).  

Nothing else.  In case you hadn't heard, if Lucille Ball was alive, today she would have been 100 years old.  You probably don't care.  I don't either.


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Cooking and sweating

 A short post for now, more later.  Spent the last few days hanging out with my brother John, saw a couple of movies, a museum, ate good food, drank good wine and I let him win at Scrabble.  It's been nice to have him here.  Spent four hours this morning working with Jenn in the kitchen, cooking for a luncheon she is catering today and I am off in a couple of minutes to meet her at the site to help set up.  Food, food, glorious food.  Great brisket, which we enjoyed in some Texas breakfast tacos, some tasty mini-cheesecakes which we nibbled for dessert last night.  Lots of other things that we were not allowed to touch.

Another hot day, I think this is Day 36 of triple digits in a row.  Last night as the sun set it was 101 in Grand Prairie.  This morning at 6:30 a.m. it was already close to 90 degrees.  Supposed to be 111 degrees in a couple of hours, same tomorrow.

Having John here has sort of validated my comments about the heat.  It's one thing to read this blog and read other articles about this Texas heat wave.  It's another thing to live in it, as John has for the past four days.  Just walking across the parking lot from the car to the grocery store is, as he put it, wearying.  Exhausting as well.  Annoying as hell. 

OK, got my chef's shirt on (literally) and off to help cater.  Back to you later.