Happy Thanksgiving

Last year I prepared a Thanksgiving meal for the first time. For the turkey, I turned to Alton Brown's recipe. Last year I brined the turkey for about 8 hours (since it was just an 11 lb turkey), but I noticed it still wasn't as soft as I would have liked it. This year, I brined it for 15 hours and it was a lot softer. Maybe next year, I should let it brine for 20 hours?

I also made a ham -- fortunately it was already pre-cooked. So, 15 minutes in the oven to heat was all it took. Sides included: Green beans with shallots, brussel sprouts with pancella, mashed potatoes with crispy shallots, candied cranberry sauce, apple and sausage stuffing, Thai coconut pumpkin soup, and for desert, a pre-cooked Ralph's pumpkin pie. We drank it all down with a 2005 Villa Mt. Eden Pinot Noir.

There was only 3 of us, so lot's of leftovers. I am very thankful for my family, job, friends and my health. Although, it was a great Thanksgiving, it was also a sad one. I learned today that my cousin died. She was not yet 40 and leaves behind several kids and a husband. Though, we haven't talked in years, I will miss her. Rest in peace, Kao.

Star Trek

Bought the dvd this weekend and have watched it three times already. I loved the original Star Trek (Shatner and Nimoy) but this new one was exhilerating. I am eager to find out who would play Khan as "The Wrath of Khan" was one of my favorite. Who can possibly replace Ricardo Montalban?? I've read that worthy successors could be Javier Bardem, Kirk Acevedo, Nestor Carbonell, Antonio Banderas...

I wish it would be played by an unknown.

House

I love this house on the corner of Islay and Santa Barbara. It's been in construction for almost a year.

Keb Mo

I keep missing Keb Mo when he comes to SB, this time I am committed. He will be playing at the Lobrero Theatre in January

Here's a listen: Dangerous Mood

Yikes... one of the deterrants is the daunting ticket price!! Need to start my Christmas wish list.

Pics again!!

Several months ago, while attempting to rid my simple Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01 of sand, I inadvertently took apart the camera and it stopped working. Go figure?

For months now, I have not been able to capture any of Tianna's soccer games, her recitals or any memorable events. My blog has been pictureless for months. With her last game this Saturday and recital on Sunday, I decided to purchase a new camera (under $300 preferably).

Best Buy had a great deal for a FUJIFILM - FinePix 10.0-Megapixel Digital Camera for only $249 . However, I ended buy a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 at Costco (since I was so fond of my old Panasonic Lumix). It came with a 2mb memory card and camera case. Coolness, my old memory card also works with this new camera. I am not an experienced photographer, so I didn't need all the bells and whistle. I needed something that will point and shoot and had good optical zoom.

Testing it out tonight, here are two of my favorite places to eat downtown:

Saigon Noodle House:


Arigato Sushi:


and my toothless baby outside The Arlington Theatre (on our way to see Christmas Carol):

Paranormal Activity

When I first heard of Paranormal Activity (Dennis Miller morning talk show), I was eager to watch it. But after reading reviews for the movie, I was a bit hesitant. Sure, some people thought it was scary, but others also said the movie was just scenes of a couple sleeping. The hype continued and my curiousity won out; I dragged Kevin to see it tonight.

In my opinion, it wasn't scary but rather creepy. What it did well was build terror through tension instead of blood and gore. I was reading about original and alternative endings, but I think I prefer this ending (as I hate walking away from a movie having to postulate what occurred).

The movie did a great job of preying on my own fears. When I was seven or eight years old, I saw an apparition. This apparition stood at the foot of my bed and wept. Another time, the apparition laid down beside me and sobbed. It only occurred for 2-3 nights and then it never materialized again.

Tid bits...

Plastic Surgeon weds potential wife, then performs eight surgeries to make her his ideal wife.

I read this and thought it was troubling. Must be nice to have a plastic surgeon as your husband but I'd feel insecure all the time.

I grew up with tetracycline stained teeth and hardly smiled in my school pictures. When I laughed, I'd cover my mouth. It wasn't until I got older that I was able to whiten my teeth. However, I still don't smile as much as I would like to because I think my teeth are too big, my forehead too high, my hair too thin, my nose too flat... the list goes on.

On another note. Feel like talking to complete strangers from anywhere in the world at any time of the day, anonymously and w/o paying membership fees?Omegle is for you.