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Archive for October, 2008

Da Count – costco runs

31 Oct

I do a Costco run every month or so usually with the lovely Joy. It used to be once every two weeks but I have learned to exercise restraint. LOL. I mostly go because “Mum supplies” are a little more affordable than buying at regular retail. (Did I tell you that I really like deals?) But I also like going just because it’s plain fun.

Sure. part of the fun is buying stuff in bulk. (Come on… everyone can use 5000 paper plates, right?) Though this aspect can freak out the uninitiated. “Goodness… there is so much!” When the lovely Cosima visited this May the (shock and) wonderment on her face when she accompanied us on a run was quite a source of entertainment. She even blogged a bit about her experience.

Though really the “tasting stations” are the real allure for me… especially when shopping with a friend. Yesterday for instance they featured, mozerella on slices of tomato, shrimp with batter, biscotti with cuppacino among many others. I’ve even commented once that doing a Costco run is like going on a fun cheap date. ( Told you I was frugal, didn’t I? )

BTW… that is a picture of my load yesterday.

Anyway, my count this week are the monthly Costco runs… sure it helps get us supplied but more so for the snacks and fun it provides me monthly.

EDIT: Even though I will be holding up at home with comfort food and watching movies… HAPPY HALLOWEEN! And here is a little something to get you in the mood.

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Posted in Da Count

it’s going to be wet…

30 Oct

… over the next few days so there is going to be a lot of laundry that absolutely MUST be done today. So it’s batten down the hatches time around the homestead.

PLANS FOR TOMORROW?

Whip up a big mess of comfort food and hold up with some movies. I really don’t do holidays anymore. (What? Lecram, you are not doing Halloween?) I sort of stopped a few years ago. (How weird… especially for a “theatre guy”.) I don’t even really do my own birthday for that matter.

Some of my friends chide me because I don’t. It’s not because I have become some sort of a sad sack but a lot of it just feels… well, superficial and manufactured. At least to me it seems like it has come to that over the past few years.

OK… let me qualify that. Sure, I will be the first one to admit there is always a certain amount of “stage management” involved with any kind of festivity…. like decorations, food, presents, etc. What I’m getting at is the difference between “having to” and “wanting to”. I guess over the past few years I have stopped because the “obligation to” has trumped the genuine “desire to”. It almost feels as if when a holiday is around the bend people rush around getting this and that just so when the day finally arrives they can appear to be celebrating. Somehow I don’t think that any celebration should be a societal obligation. “Hey, look at me… I’m celebrating! In fact, I’m celebrating more that you are… booyah!”

Perhaps, the other possible reason may be that over the years I have been the “in-charge” guy and always had to pull things together for something or another. All of this could simply be a reaction against that. Also, I happen to believe that if one is not feeling it the worst thing that one could do is force it. Heck, even when I used to celebrate (the few of them that I actually have)… I pretty much orchestrated every one of my own birthdays. Anyway, birthdays are not big in my family… there have even been times when I’ve missed my own by a couple of weeks.

Besides, I find more value in sharing real time with some friends over a meal and a drink. As such, I really don’t have to wait for any “special” holiday to “make it happen” simply because everyday presents the possibility of a celebration.

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Posted in bits and pieces, perceptions

operation clean-up

29 Oct

No, it’s not some kind of FBI sting operation. It’s the annual city program to pick up garbage… we’re talking HUGE loads of trash here! So, once a year residents pile their stuff on the street which could include all manner things, tree clippings, cat piss stained couches, broken toilets, etc. One year I even spotted a broken jacuzzi in a pile.

Contrary to what you may be thinking… the picture to the right is not a half-nikked Darth Vader but my friend, Bruce who over the last couple of days has been over to help me accumulate my trash. Mostly tree trimmings and grapevines… though there was a roll of old insulation that made up the decently large pile in front of my house. (You really want a respectable showing where the size of piles are concerned.)

On my morning bike rides over the last couple of days I have come across other piles in front of houses. There were at least 3 refrigerators, 8 couches (with matching love-seats) and about 2 dozen broken toilets I came across. This leads me to believe that my neighborhood has a higher quotient of kamode killers than anywhere else in the city.

Yep, that be my pile they are scooping.

Ahh… the clanky sounds of the mondo garbarge trucks in the morning always signals that Fall has truely arrived in the Big NO.

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Posted in life in da Big NO

now that we are in the 21st century…

28 Oct

… how do you see it being defined as? I only ask because I was thinking about the last century… at least the 4 decades I lived through. Each one seemed to have it’s own feel and definition. It may be in mindset, trends, etc.

For instance, the space race dominated the collective consciousness in the first half of the 60′s. So this influenced design, clothing trends and popular entertainment. (But Lecram, that existed in the 50′s as well.) True but the difference in the early 60′s was the shift from fear (of invading aliens) to hope and ambition (The Jetsons, Star Trek, etc). No doubt the second half of that decade was tumultuous but I can also argue that the ideals of hope actually grew from conventional thought and influenced the idealism of the basic “peace and love” ideas of the counter-culture. This in turn also influenced design, clothing trends and popular entertainment. As such, the word that would define that decade would be “hope”.

So, your challenge today (should you decide to accept it) is to share your thoughts on how you see the next decade of this century play out. Have some fun with it and project how it will influence design, clothing trends and popular entertainment.

EDIT: And to all my Indian friends Happy Diwali (or Deepavali) for the annual festival of lights.

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Posted in perceptions

I zonked out at 9 ish last night…

26 Oct

… and awoke at 3 AM. Figured there was nothing else to do but write a post. It also afforded me the opportunity to catch up chatting with some friends across the pond. (NOTE TO SELF: Factor in a nap this afternoon.)

I MISSED OUT ON EVENTS THIS WEEKEND…

… that I was hoping to make. There was the Wicked Burlesque, Rogue Fundraiser and the Fresno Filmmakers Forum… but I’m glad I stayed home. Yes, Mum was the determining factor. But my presence at home I think has partially brought her out of her latest fog. So, it’s all good.

SO, I CAUGHT UP…

… on some new network programs online. Watched “CRUSOE” and frankly… I don’t think it will make it. Too bad because the production values are good and the concept pretty fun… especially the “rustic island McGuyver-ness” qualities of the protagonist . The writing however is clunky at best. I think the problem lies in the fact that it wants to be everything to everyone. Part “Pirates of the Caribbean”, part “McGuyver” part “Masterpiece Theater” with a dash of “buddy movie” in the mix. Mind you this is not impossible to achieve… but sadly fails in this case. And it doesn’t help that there is no chemistry between the title character and Friday for the “buddy” aspect to crackle like it should.

I excused the use of the flashbacks in the pilot ( I don’t expect everyone read the book like I did when I was growing up) but even in the second episode the protagonist just seems a little too angsty about missing his faraway wife, life, etc. This is especially irritating considering that he has been on the island and established for quite a while. Afterall, the treehouse and other found object gizmos he has constructed are cool… and were obviously NOT created over a weekend. (Check out the video above.) One would assume he would have come to terms with his sense of longing and learned to cope with this by now instead we are continually bombarded with these wistful, soft focused slices of memory. So the flashbacks are purely exposition but does little to move the storyline forward… which makes it all seem like gratuitous filler. So, for whatever it’s worth… that’s my take on it.

COULD BE A ROLLING POST…

… today… we’ll see how it pans out.

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Posted in bits and pieces

I grew up with a fair dose of…

25 Oct

… euro-pop back in Malaysia. Actually, we got a fair amount of exposure of music worldwide. Here is something from 1967 ( when I was 8 ) that had my head bobbing from side to side for at least 2 weeks.

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Posted in video

Da Count – reusable containers

23 Oct

I have never been one to cook in small portions. This is only odd because I’m an only child. I suspect this quirk is imprinted in my DNA from my parents whose families were large by today’s average standards. Even when I was a starving student I would whip up a curry or stew or whatever that could easily feed 10. It was never an issue because I love leftovers… besides curries and stews are almost always better the next day.

The problem, of course is that simply keeping the pot in the refrigerator has it’s disadvantages including the loss of fluid, freezer burn, etc. I tried Tupperware but that involves storing bigger portions… besides the back and forth of thawing and refreezing makes the food mushy.

Of late I have taken to recycling and using microwavable containers such as these in the pictures. I usually buy them to have a stash of “easy food” for those “I don’t feel like cooking today” days.

The containers from these two products have become my supreme choices for a couple of reasons. First because I am primary caretaker for my mother and cooking everyday may not be a viable option.

(SHORT MUM UPDATE: For instance, today she asked me to “take her back home” and when I explained that she was already home she looked around befuddled. After a while she seemed to accept that she was confused. An hour later she asked again… I’ve spent the better half of the day trying to assure her that she has been living here for the last 15 years.)

Besides, these containers are durable, are designed for easy reheating… and above all, they come in perfect (handy) portions for individual meals.

This can enhance the pleasure and experience if you are one of those (like myself) who enjoys “meal roulette”… and any pick is going to present a home cooked winner! For instance, today I cooked a family favorite… a sort of a spicy “miso” and filled 3 containers ready for freezing. Other containers in the freezer includes a pork and vege soup, a “sour” chicken curry and a rice noodle soup. WOOT! I’m so looking forward to playing “meal roulette” tomorrow!

Anyway, want the recipe for the Miso?

SPICY MISO ALA LECRAM’s FAMILY

Ingredients:

(for the soup base)
2 tablespoons dried shrimp (pounded or chopped in a blender)

1/2 a red onion (sliced thin)

1 teaspoon (ground chilli paste) or 1 jalapeno (sliced thin)

2 tablespoons cooking oil

3 and a half bowls of water

Thin soy sauce (or sea salt) to taste

(for the stuff in the soup)
1 brick towfu (or tofu) diced into 1 inch pieces (firm or soft… I prefer soft)

1/2 pound fresh medium shrimp (shelled and de-veined)

Method:

Make sure oil is hot in a pot. Add and brown onions and dried shrimp. Add chilli and stir. Add water and bring to a boil. Add shrimp, tofu and soy to taste. Once boiling resumes take off heat and serve over rice in a soup bowl.

Anyway, reusable containers such as these are my count this week because they make my life easier.

To find out what Da Count is all about… click the flashing sign above.

MORE OPTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND

There is the Fresno Filmmakers Forum Conference as well as this…

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Posted in , Da Count

now that’s out of the way…

23 Oct

… and this gives me the space where I can get onto more accomplishments for this new day. BTW… yesterday was one long clean-up… but it was good. Especially because there were project bounces to other areas (in the house) and lots of fun breaks that made the whole day… well, sort of fun.

Plus, I finally fixed the “relaxor full body massage pad” that I picked up some months ago at a block sale for a whopping five bucks. Yup, dug deep into my “handyman” capabilities and did a wiring job to make it work. Yes it is installed on my office chair (which received a major cleaning) and I’m receiving a full body massage as I write this and may never leave my office ever again! LOL! This is so going to help with attitude adjustments.

Sure, there are other projects that await my attention around the homestead and they will be addressed as the weeks roll along.

I AM STILL AMAZED…

… that I have friends who do not pay attention to the news in the present political cycle. Not that I am advocating becoming a political junkie as I am wont to do… but I do think a little attention needs to be paid… at least to make a somewhat informed choice. I have also observed that these “low information voters” are also the same ones who tend to vote the “favorites” in the election like in a horse race. “Uh… I don’t know what he stands for but he looks like a winner… and I’m all about winning.” Sure, we all want to be on the winning side but I’m not entirely sure if the decision for the direction of the country you are a citizen of should be based on the standards of picking a sports team.

A WHOLE LOT IS HAPPENING…

… this weekend in the Big NO…. here are some choices. There will be more posted tomorrow. Click for a bigger more readable version.

UPDATE: Just noticed that my artist friend Aileen has started blogging again. GO CHECK HER OUT.

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Posted in bits and pieces

don’t have much today…

22 Oct

… but I may later. So, come on back y’all!

EDIT: CLEANING UP THE ADD WAY

i caught a wild clean-up hair today. One of those that starts at one place then diverts 2 others then back again in random order. I rather like this method… it works for me, OK? I actually get quite a lot accomplished when I’m in this mode. This is a short break to let ya know what I’m up to… not like you are charting every move I make.

Anyway, there could be a better and more substantial post later in the PM.

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Posted in just life

OK… I’m done!

20 Oct

No more “outside” work other than and until my own (money gigs) are complete. I have put them aside for far too long and far too often of late to assist too many in picking up the slack. All this while risking losing potential contracts in the process.

Today I forced myself to get on to one and it took me two to three hours before any forward motion was achieved. The distractions over the last few weeks had put me off focus and it was a bitch trying to pull it all back in.

So, I am going crawl into my creative cocoon and am not emerging until my projects are all cooked to my satisfaction. Until these are accomplished I will not be in a happy state. And not being in a happy state is not where I want to be.

EDIT: 7 AM

See, this “not happy” state also brings me bad dreams. Like the one that woke me at 4 this morning. One of those “things are not right” dreams.

OK… more specifically one of those “things are not right as you stroll her backyard and every time she comes out she is someone else… sure, this has happened before but when she leaves to get the lemonade and returns via a wooden trap-door under the patio furniture it just doesn’t bode well… then a black hummer pulls up and an overly friendly couple emerges with guns and ask if they can sit by the lake at the edge of the yard… a lake you have never noticed before along with a recently abandoned African village… and as the couple sit in their leather lawn chairs wild dogs begin to circle in a menacing way and you know things are not right when the couple cheerfully starts shooting at them and the dogs don’t die and just stare… giving you pause to wonder which of the two are more evil the dogs or the couple…. until two friends who seem to know the dogs beckon you to steal the hummer and escape from the shooting couple who are getting more hellish with every shot… but when you do steal it… it changes into a Volkswagen just as you approach a muddy path in a jungle setting and come across the burial ground of a 13th century Chinese princess and her entourage whose graves are being robbed by the poor and hungry… and as they open her grave her pristine corpse looks the spitting image of the female friend you escaped with… suddenly a growl comes from the grave behind you and your male friend screams and you tell your female friend to run and you try to but your male friend is holding your leg and you resolve to pull him along knowing full well that the zombie Chinese eunuch has got your friend who has got you but something inside tells you that if you just don’t look back things will be OK and you wonder where all the poor and hungry have disappeared to…. but now you are crawling on the ground with your friend’s arms tight around your neck as the zombie thrusts his claws into your friend’s back and pulls out his kidneys… OK this really doesn’t bode well but as long as you don’t look back it may be fine and you will not be eaten because looking back will make it real and then you cross the white line on the jungle path and it is the safe zone you are not sure how you know that but it is… because the zombie has fallen back too busy devouring your friend and you see your female friend who you told to run earlier waiting under a tree for you and you are glad she is safe but as you get nearer you are suddenly not quite sure if this is really your friend or the dead 13th century Chinese zombie princess” kinda dream. You know the one, right?

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