when channel surfing = life evaluation

Channel 11 is showing Empire Records, a snapshot of what I thought was cool in 1995 (and what I was actually watching in 1995). Miniskirts and combat boots; the soundtrack (which I still love); boys with overstyled/I just got up in the morning hair, tattoos and plaid shirts. 1995 was not my best year. I focussed on things like Miniskirts and combat boots; boys with overstyled/I just got up in the morning hair, tattoos and plaid shirts and two dollar drinks.

And then channel 82 is showing Gladiator, the movie I should have been watching in 1995. I might have been inspired to do my Latin homework; not start researching papers the day before they were due; write more than one draft of a paper; find a focus beyond the social. Maybe I would have gotten into a better grad school, decided to do a PhD and had a completely different life.

But then I might not have this:

or my Vancouver friends, my Ottawa/PHI friends and my Toronto friends and I think, well, perhaps things worked out exactly as they were meant to.

Lessons of the day

It was a harsh and rainy day outside. So I stayed inside and learned a few things.

1. Roasted fennel is delicious. I abhor anise as a flavour. I cannot stomach black licorice, Anisette, or Sambuca. However, take a bulb of fennel, cut it into quarters and stick it in a hot oven for an hour and it is delicious. Isn't chemistry amazing?

2. If you don't mash chick peas before putting them in the oven you get crunchy hummus balls.

3. One can accomplish more in 45 minutes alone in the house than one can in 4 hours on a normal day. I have known this for a while but it always amazes me.

4. There are few things in life better than starting a new book by a favourite author.

5. I care a lot less about curling than other people seem to.

6. Even if you are not the person who attended "Max and Ruby" live on stage, you will still be singing the theme song for the rest of the day.

7. There is no end to laundry.

happy belated birthday to me

children's fairy tale pet peeves ...

So I am watching Beauty and the Beast for the gazillionth time and Charlotte just pointed out something very insightful. "Look Mummy, There's Gaston and his boyfriend LaFou."

Love it.

This also reminds me of some things that have been bothering me lately:

1. Had the good fairies waited until AFTER Aurora's 16th birthday to take her back to the castle, the whole pricking her finger, prince kissing thing could have been avoided.

2. Where is Snow White's father? There's a step-mother but no mention of the father. Trust me.

3. What kind of king doesn't realize that he doesn't have a "Marquis of Carrabas" in his kingdom. Especially one that lives less than a day's carriage ride away. (thank you repeated readings of Puss in Boots)

4. Where are Max and Ruby's parents? (OK, not a fairy tale but we see a lot of them)

5. You'd think that after their dance and walk in the garden, Cinderella might have bothered to tell the Prince her NAME.

too cynical?

eta: 6. When Chip turns into a human at the end why isn't there a huge scar on his head where the chip in his cup was?