Saturday, January 31, 2009

First run of 2009

After missing out on the last snowfall a couple weeks ago, we made it out today to Ski Butternut, where got a little more comfortable with our skills. Falls were had (unfortunately, Brian had one of those bone shaking ones and got a bit of whiplash), but overall, a successful venture. We decided that we will take a lesson since we're at a bit of a plateau. Luckily, on the chairlift, we met a former employee who highly recommends "Moose" for lessons.





Brian suggested we take a break, and what was just a little down time turned into, uh, we're done for the day. We did get a bit too comfortable in the lodge, eating some not-so-great clam chowder and granola bars. And I did make a rather obvious comment about, if you feel pain, you should probably stop (ie. Brian's whiplash).



We had taken a nice and quiet road up this time, where the division between town lines was clear via how well the road was plowed. It went from pretty well cleaned to feeling like we were entering Narnia. It was quite funny and beautiful.

This was taken on the trip back.


It seems our snowboarding excursions lead us to some sort of fast food joint - this time, it was Wendy's.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Exposed at Exposures

Thursday, January 29th 2009:

Tonight we attended the opening reception for the West Hartford Art League's 15th Annual Open Juried Photography Exhibit called "Exposures", which was juried by none other than Tod Papageorge, Director of Graduate Studies in Photography at Yale University's School of Art. His students have included Philip-Lorca diCorcia and Gregory Crewdson, both of whom have influenced my work, let alone the photos I submitted for this exhibit - "Stacey", "Heather", "Ed" and "Jimmy".

I hadn't even heard if my work had been accepted, so I was quite thrilled to get a message today that I won an award. Apparently there were 352 submissions, and Papageorge chose 56, even less than the director's requested 75 - and two of my photos were accepted! Yay! "Heather" and "Stacey" are currently hanging in the Clubhouse Gallery.



I came in 4th out of 7 award winners. During the award presentation, when asked which photo won, I actually pointed to the wrong one. Doh!! We hadn't gone through the whole exhibit yet, so it didn't occur to me to look for the label under the award-winners. So, I pointed to the one I had already seen - "Heather", the first photo in the exhibit, when "Stacey" which was placed in the back of the room won the award. I didn't realize it until Brian pointed it out, and there was a small window when I could have corrected myself, but I missed it. I felt pretty dumb afterwards.



We had the obligatory wine with cheese and crackers as we admired the art. A couple women mentioned William Eggleston, and Brian was happy that he knew who they were talking about. It was definitely a nice time, talking with other photographers and asking about their work. The woman who won Best in Show had a beautiful image using Ilford SFX film.

We'll have to make an effort to attend more opening receptions...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

"Spaceman" on Fringe =)

We just watched yesterday's episode of Fringe called "No-Brainer", and the show opened with "Spaceman" by The Killers - whoo hoo! Great placement of the song as it worked well with the scene.

Yay Killers!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Ox

Monday, January 26th 2009


Hill Tavern in Boston

Sunday, January 18, 2009

We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial



What's depressing is that we watched the Eagles lose to the Cardinals 25-32 in the NFC Championship Game instead.

U2's performance of "Pride (In the Name of Love)" & "City of Blinding Lights":


Here's Obama's message after the performances:




Here is the text of Obama's speech at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, January 18, as prepared for delivery:

I want to thank all the speakers and performers for reminding us, through song and through words, just what it is that we love about America. And I want to thank all of you for braving the cold and the crowds and traveling in some cases thousands of miles to join us here today. Welcome to Washington, and welcome to this celebration of American renewal.

In the course of our history, only a handful of generations have been asked to confront challenges as serious as the ones we face right now. Our nation is at war. Our economy is in crisis. Millions of Americans are losing their jobs and their homes; they're worried about how they'll afford college for their kids or pay the stack of bills on their kitchen table. And most of all, they are anxious and uncertain about the future - about whether this generation of Americans will be able to pass on what's best about this country to our children and their children.

I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy. It will take more than a month or a year, and it will likely take many. Along the way there will be setbacks and false starts and days that test our fundamental resolve as a nation. But despite all of this - despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead - I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure - that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.

What gives me that hope is what I see when I look out across this mall. For in these monuments are chiseled those unlikely stories that affirm our unyielding faith - a faith that anything is possible in America. Rising before us stands a memorial to a man who led a small band of farmers and shopkeepers in revolution against the army of an Empire, all for the sake of an idea. On the ground below is a tribute to a generation that withstood war and depression - men and women like my grandparents who toiled on bomber assembly lines and marched across Europe to free the world from tyranny's grasp. Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a King, and the glory of a people who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content. And behind me, watching over the union he saved, sits the man who in so many ways made this day possible.

And yet, as I stand here tonight, what gives me the greatest hope of all is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the spaces in between. It is you - Americans of every race and region and station who came here because you believe in what this country can be and because you want to help us get there. It is the same thing that gave me hope from the day we began this campaign for the presidency nearly two years ago; a belief that if we could just recognize ourselves in one another and bring everyone together - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; Latino, Asian, and Native American; black and white, gay and straight, disabled and not - then not only would we restore hope and opportunity in places that yearned for both, but maybe, just maybe, we might perfect our union in the process.This is what I believed, but you made this belief real. You proved once more that people who love this country can change it. And as I prepare to assume the presidency, yours are the voices I will take with me every day I walk into that Oval Office - the voices of men and women who have different stories but hold common hopes; who ask only for what was promised us as Americans - that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did.

It is this thread that binds us together in common effort; that runs through every memorial on this mall; that connects us to all those who struggled and sacrificed and stood here before.

It is how this nation has overcome the greatest differences and the longest odds - because there is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.

That is the belief with which we began this campaign, and that is how we will overcome what ails us now. There is no doubt that our road will be long. That our climb will be steep. But never forget that the true character of our nation is revealed not during times of comfort and ease, but by the right we do when the moment is hard. I ask you to help me reveal that character once more, and together, we can carry forward as one nation, and one people, the legacy of our forefathers that we celebrate today.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Obama's Inauguration made with Lego bricks!

Wow, that's pretty cool!


Photo: Legoland

Link to full story

Monday, January 12, 2009

Not so vertically challenged anymore...

Ha ha! I just got my boots in the mail today. Yes, a quite random purchase, but for one being of a shorter stature and always ending up behind some behemoth during concerts or general admission events, I decided to give myself a little boost:

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Yay! Awards season! And the winners are...

Sunday, January 11th, 2009:

66th Golden Globe Awards: Guessed correctly (B / R / N (neither) )

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA (B / R)
- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA (R)
- KATE WINSLET – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA (R)
- MICKEY ROURKE – THE WRESTLER
BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL (B)
- VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
BEST ACTRESS MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL (N)
- SALLY HAWKINS – HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
BEST ACTOR MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY/MUSICAL (N)
- COLIN FARRELL – IN BRUGES
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM (B / R)
- WALL-E
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (R)
- WALTZ WITH BASHIR (ISRAEL)
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE (B / R)
- DANNY BOYLE – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - MOTION PICTURE (N)
- KATE WINSLET – THE READER
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - MOTION PICTURE (B / R)
- HEATH LEDGER – THE DARK KNIGHT
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE (B / R)
- SIMON BEAUFOY – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE (B)
- A. R. RAHMAN – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE (N)
- “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLER --Bruce Springsteen
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA (B / R)
- MAD MEN (AMC)
BEST ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA (N)
- ANNA PAQUIN – TRUE BLOOD
BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA (N)
- GABRIEL BYRNE – IN TREATMENT
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL (B / R)
- 30 ROCK (NBC)
BEST ACTRESS TELEVISION – COMEDY OR MUSICAL (B / R)
- TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
BEST ACTOR TELEVISION - COMEDY OR MUSICAL (B / R)
- ALEC BALDWIN – 30 ROCK
BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV (N)
- JOHN ADAMS (HBO)
BEST ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION (N)
- LAURA LINNEY – JOHN ADAMS
BEST ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION (R)
- PAUL GIAMATTI – JOHN ADAMS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION (B)
- LAURA DERN – RECOUNT
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION (N)
- TOM WILKINSON – JOHN ADAMS

B - 12 R - 13

Now, on to the Oscars...

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Invitation to Obama's Inauguration!

I just received this in the mail!



Of course, it's just a commemorative item. But for a brief few minutes there, I was SO excited. Not sure what I'll be doing as the thought of being in DC that day sounds both amazing yet chaotic (and cold).

What will you be doing that day?

Thursday, January 08, 2009

Awfully funny review of the Nu Wave Oven

Thursday, January 8th 2009:

This is just one of those random posts that may show up more often here at the burb, but Brian mentioned seeing a commercial for one of these Nu Wave ovens (since for some reason the tv at his work has switched from CNN to daytime soaps/programming), and he was actually intrigued, until he read some reviews online...

(He read them to me as I was making some yummy soup for dinner, and these are two of the more memorable ones. The second one, being read out loud, made me laugh so hard, I was practically on the floor by the stove.)
----

SCAM!!!!!!!!

1/5/2009 - diamond lowe of Illinois, USA writes:

This is the first and last thing that i will buy from an infomercial. They have ruined it for all other companys with me. The first time I tried to use it I cooked a 5lb pork roast following the cookbook directions it took more than 4 hrs and was not done i threw it away. Today 1/5/09 I put a 4lb unthawed chicken breast in the nu wave oven at 2:30 p.m. I told my husband to take it out at 4:00 p.m. because i had to go to work. I got home from work to find that the chicken breast was still cooking and was not done. It is now 11:00 p.m. and it just got done, it's dry and all the skin has stuck to the rack. This is unbelievable not to mention i'm still hungry. The economy is too fxxxed up for companies to be selling stuff that don't work. I see all the other reviews and i don't have time to call customer service, it's just gonna go in the basement with the rest of the junk. So to all those BEWARE. My only regret is that i didn't read the reviews before i purchased mine, you still have a chance to save $150.00 ( don't believe what they tell you, you don't get anything free your paying for it with $28.00 shipping and handling for each free item they offer you.

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BE AWARE!!!!Don't buy

12/28/2008 - Ann of Ga, USA writes:

I bought my nuwave oven Dec 3th and received it right before x-mas the infomercial states that it can cook small turky in 3 hrs. Wrong it cooked it over 5 hour still not cook so I have to put back into my regular oven in just 1hrs later my turky well done cooked. right after x-mas I called to return for my refund and I have to wait 1hr on the phone. When I finally got thru I spoke with a very hateful customer service that I want to send it back for refund they saying that my $14.95 for trail out + $65 shipping that they shipped to me was not refund and I had to spen $30 to sent it back that totally $110 out of my pocket for nothing. so please do not buy this oven. This thing don't work I hate it and my $110 gone for nothing. So for anyone out there who is thinking about getting this great oven think twice it is a piece of JUNK!

Sunday, January 04, 2009

The elements of gambling in 7 minutes

Saturday, January 3rd, 2009:

We took a trip out to the eastern part of CT to visit the Pequot museum as well as Foxwoods and MGM Grand, where Sarah experienced everything there is to gambling for the first time in a casino, being at the young ripe age of 21.

Cliff donated a five dollar bill for this experience, as we were all disappointed that the slot machines no longer accepted coins nor one dollar bills nor gave the winnings out in loud coin clanking noises. Brian chose a nice simple $1 machine where on first spin, Sarah won $15 - whoo hoo!

deciphering the winnings (notice the 3 winning bars)


deciding what to do - keep playing or cash out?


play another round or two


cash out still on top


decide to play again...


until there are no more credits left


and ta-dah...all the elements of gambling in 7 minutes.

Saturday, January 03, 2009

When you visit us, you'll visit the Elbow Room...

Saturday, January 2nd 2009:
We brought our guests of the first weekend in 2009, Sarah, Cliff and Elisa, to the Elbow Room.



Their menu and dishes always deliver, and Cliff easily polished off a 20oz porterhouse steak, which was what he was craving all day. We even contemplated going to Fleming's (that place certainly has hefty prices) as well as a couple of other places on our night tour of our area, but as fate would have it, we ended up at our go-to restaurant.

Later we went for Plan B...the burger joint, followed by a late night showing of Wall-e.

Sooo good.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year!

A nice and relaxing New Year's Eve, quite quiet from last year's firecracking-loud time in the Philippines...

yummy eatery of hors d'oeuvres

talking to Elmer & Hoong-San who are more than 9,500 miles away in Singapore at a bus stop

"entertained" by Ryan Seacrest and guests, and the Clintons lowering the ball



"3...2...1......Happy New Year!"

showing off our polka dots

some silliness...



after several performances by Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, Pussycat Dolls, et al...it's around 1:20am, waiting to resume our 5th showing of Elf

(yup, just had to make sure the folks see the movie in its entirety, and since we found out the DVD player and projector weren't jiving well, we resorted to the 24hr marathon on USA...well, they were troopers and ended up snoozing a bit until 1:30am to continue where we left off at 11:30pm)