Atropa Belladonna~ Raven (a.k.a. Nightshade)'s Weblog ~
These are the ARCHIVES of JULY 2006. For more archives, visit the Archives page. For the current Weblog entries, check the Main page.
Atropa Belladonna| Fri, July 28, 2006 (10:45am) I'm doomed. E A Games has announced the next expansion pack for The Sims 2. It will be the long awaited PETS! expansion. Fans have been waiting for this since the original Sims game (which had and 'unleashed' expansion pack featuring pets) was shelved in favor of the much more sophisticated Sims 2. (And yes, I am one of those fans who was waiting.) It's scheduled for release this Fall. I don't spend an inordinate amount of time playing Sims right now, but whenever an expansion is released, I find myself glued to the computer for a day or two... okay, a week or two. Maybe even a couple months for the good expanions. Even though the game hasn't been released yet, I can feel my productivity levels dropping just by thinking about this new expansion. So, I'd better prepare for a few weeks of hermitude. I hope Shades and the kids can survive without me. Hrm... Release date is set for the fall. I wonder if EA did that intentionally? Fall is when the kids go back to school, and a huge part of the Sims fan base is known to be female, many of whom are stay at home Moms. Did they think that a Fall release would increase sales, as women flock to the games stores to pick up their copy and occupy all their newfound 'spare' time? Makes ya wonder... |
| Wed, July 26, 2006 (5:35pm) Now it's time for everybody's favorite show... Cooking with the Con Man! Hi everyone, and welcome to our show. This week on Cooking with the Con Man we'll be making my favorite dish: Garlic Stir Fry! First, we'll start by chopping up some onions. Onion is a great base for any stir fry dish, and one of the most intriguing of the garden vegetables. They come wrapped in layers and layers of onion skin! Don't ask me how they get the wrapping perfectly fitted to each individual onion - maybe they shrink wrap them or something - but it's always an exciting challenge to strip those layers off, one by one. Once the onion has been thoroughly unwrapped, grab a good knife and start chopping. I prefer a nice shiny butter knife, myself... mostly because people start souting at me whenever I pick up the butcher knife (or as I like to call it, "The Sword") and while you might not think such a dull knife can cut onions, you'd be surprised what patience and determination can accomplish! When the onion has been chopped, set it aside and get out the garlic. I like to buy my garlic bulk. The one liter Costco pre-minced garlic tub is an excellent choice. (I like pre-minced, since cutting all that garlic with a butter knife would probably prove frustrating.) The bulk container also has the advantage of a nice easy-to-open lid. A few quick twists, and it's off. The side of the container says half a teaspoon equals one full clove of garlic, but don't be stingy! I like to use at least a cup of garlic whenever the recipe calls for a clove. Hey, why not spice things up a little, and toss in a second cup of garlic while you're at it! You really can't go wrong with this little gem. Now, once the garlic has been added to the pan, you'll need to - oh, DRAT! Mom's coming! Gotta run.  See you next week, on Cooking with the Con Man! |
| Wed, July 26, 2006 (12:45pm) Kilkenny Spray Park Since the Spray Park thing went over so well last week, and because I have a pretty smart brother (who made the suggestion), we went Spray Parking again on the weekend. There's an excellent Spray park just a block or so from TeamDK's house, and arrangements were made to have Sunday Dinner out there, instead of over here. So, Shades took the kids over before I got off work, we erected a sun shelter at the park, set up tables and lawnchairs, put swimsuits and sunscreen on the kids, Mom made salads and other picnic fare, and Hjalti barebecue'd chicken in his back yard (which he later brought over in a wagon), and we all had a very enjoyable Sunday at the park.       
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| Fri, July 21, 2006 (3:15pm) Peril in Paradise We open the scene to our Hero, The Intrepid Shapiro, herding her minions towards the Gates of Paradise. Previous issues of our Heros' adventure (which we have skimmed over today, to bring you the thrilling conclusion of this tale!) included Kid Attitude's announcement that "The World Is Too Hot And I don't Want To Live Here Anymore", Banshee Babe's shriek of outrage at being forced to wear anything on his lower extremities (diapers are for the weak, and pants are entirely optional!), and Autistic Lad battling the dreaded UnderWear Pair to get his legs in seperate holes instead of the same one. Repeatedly. But finally, these struggles have been surmounted, and a long arduous convoy through construction zones and miles of hot asphalt lies behind us. Ahead, a blast of cool air slips from between automatic doors, and a giant realm of delights awaits, under an archway bearing the bright red letters, "COSTCO" Heaven, thy name is Air Conditioning. Our party hurries inside, and basks in the climate controlled environment. A sigh escapes our Hero's lips, and for a few minutes, all is calm in the universe. Then Kid Attitude uses her Super Spy Sight to zero in on a sample vendor across a crowded aisle, and beseeches the party to move in that direction, post haste. A leisurly hour is spent this fashion, strolling up and down the aisles, nibbling samples from vendor carts here and there, pondering whether to purchase Godiva Belgian Chocolate Icecream Bars or Hagen Daaz Real Vanilla Icecream Bars with Milk Chocolate Coating. Some staples are purchased (Fruit and Veggie bars for the dietary challenged Autistic Lad, and bulk Kleenex as our Heros have not yet recovered from the dreaded attack of the Seasonal Allergy Beast). A quick stop by the photo center to secure prints of the latest Quad War, and the party is off meandering again. This time they pass a vendor offering samples of gourmet waffles, browned to a golden perfection in some expensive but non-the-less desirable toaster oven. Banshee Babe is quite taken with these tasty tidbits of waffle. He devours his sample, and gobbles up the remains of the Intrepid Shapiro's sample as well. Even Kid Attitude is coerced into sharing the last few crumbs of hers with the Babe, lest he use his fearsome vocal weapon on her. But when these samples are done, the wee minion is still not satified. He grumbles, he thrashes, and then, unable to contain his desire for more golden-brown goodness, he screams. All the innocent shoppers in a 10 meter radius wince. The Intrepid Shapiro grits her teeth and begins pushing the cart rapidly towards the exit. But it is too late. Banshee Babe's use of his super power has set off Autistic Lad's secret vulnerability: Sensitivity to Noise. Now Autistic Lad is screaming in pain, desperately covering his ears, while the Intrepid Shapiro weaves skillfully between oncoming carts to hasten to the checkout lane. Success! The heroic adventurers win a coveted spot in a newly opened lane, bypassing rows of disgruntled customers. Quickly, the Intrepid Shapiro extricates Autistic Lad from his seat in the grocery cart, and carries him in her arms while the cashier rapidly processes their order. And, despite the overwhelming noise created by the deranged duet, Shapiro manages to shout an order for fries, gravy, and a hotdog, to the sympathetic lady behind the till. Cards are swiped, buttons are pressed, and the group emerges victorious from the press of bodies around the checkout lanes. They make for the Food Court, where Banshee Lad's sirens might be extinguished by claiming their order of fries, with gravy on the side. Kid Attitude valiantly offers her aid to the cause, gathering a tray, and proudly presenting the receipt for the already-purchased foodstuffs to the cashier in the food court. Soon tasty consumables are being loaded onto the tray, and carried over to the condiments island. Kid Attitude turns her super power (and endless supply of hot air) to good, by rapidly blowing on the fries to cool them down before handing them to Banshee Babe. It looks like our band of adventurers has pulled together in time to fight off further mishaps. But wait! Just as the Intrepid Shapiro finishes dressing the hot dog with a layer of ketchup and mustard, Autistic Lad bolts. The stress of it is all just too much for him, and he dashes madly between foodcourt tables, making a frantic escape towards the giant exit doors. Shapiro leaves Banshee Babe strapped into the cart (where he is now munching contendedly on fries), tosses her hotdog onto the seat next to Kid Attitude, and dashes after Autistic Lad as he vanishes into the departing crowds. Navigating a crowded foodcourt takes all of Shapiro's skill and agility, and she dips once or twice into her superpowers of "Darn Twisty" and "Impervious to the Pain of Tables Impacting My Thigh" before emerging (not unscathed) out the other side. She runs for the door, carefully dodging a Cocto Associate who enthusiastically wishes to check her receipt, and just barely catches Autistic Lad before he tears across the busy parking lot. She holds him tightly to her chest, and carries him back into the building, to the surprise and gradual understanding of the Associate whom she blew past earlier. Returning to the Food Court, our Hero places her minion safely in the confines of the grocery cart, and thanks Kid Attitude for her help minding Banshee Babe during the harrowing escapade. She goes to search for her keys (which fell from her pocket during the unexpected flight through the food court), and to her relief, finds them under a nearby table. A table which is occupied by several men in suits, who look at her askance as she retreives the keys from near their feet... but she sheilds herself with the power of Gothic Indifference and returns, relieved, to her table. Our Hero's relief is short-lived. It takes only a moment to realize that something is wrong. Very wrong. Although the kids are now eating calmly, and the traffic of the world proceeds smoothly around this small island of contented munching, something is amiss. It dawns on our hero slowly, and with the realization of what is wrong, comes a sense of unmistakable dread.... The hotdog is missing. And Kid Attitude is sitting approximately a foot over from where she had been, earlier. Denial on her lips, our Hero never the less lifts Kid Attitude up carefully from her seat. Sure enough, a shplorking sound is heard, and confirms the terrible fact before Shapiro even lays eyes on the mess: Kid Attitude sat on the hotdog. Our darling minion is now a Mustard-butt Monster. Steeling herself to face the slimy truth, the Intrepid Shapiro hauls out a package of wetwipes and initiates damage control measures. Alas, the damage can only be dealt with in part. The package of wetwipes has been sorely diminished during an earlier incident with Autistic Lad, and the paper-thin Costco Napkins do no more than spread the mess around while leaving little papery bits all over the seat of Kid Attitude's pants. It's no use. Gathering her horde of minions to her, the Intrepid Shapiro prepares to leave the air conditioned realm of Paradise, and return to the gritty reality of sun and sweat. With a backward glance at what-could-have-been, the troop heads home again. There are other villians to be defeated, and other pitfalls to be overcome. Plus, there is laundry to be run. Paradise was fun for a while, but it must wait for another day before it can be truly appreciated by our adventurous quartet. Tune in for future issues of The Intrepid Shapiro, where she will no doubt be called upon to do battle with dreaded Mustard Stains, armed only with a bottle of Stain-Guard and elbow grease! Adventure awaits! |
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| Fri, July 21, 2006 (10:05am) Because I am a lemming...
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| Tues, July 18, 2006 (2:50pm) I have sullied my soul. After years of swearing I wouldn't do it... I got an eBay account. And I bought something with it. Not in an auction, mind you - it was an eBay store with the buy-it-now option. I don't do eBay auctions. At least, not yet. Who knows what depths I may sink to now that I am on this slippery slope? So what drew me into the darkness? It wasn't the discovery of fabulous pirate boots which Starlin' had tempted me with earlier. It wasn't Lego (my Lego Purchasing Agent handles such things for me, so I won't have to dirty my hands with those auctions). It wasn't pretty dragons or antique furniture or collectible toys. No - it was cloth. I found black-on-black skull brocade, gold on black celtic crosses, and silver on black damasked skull & crossbones. And many, many more pretties which I didn't buy. I've already spent all my earnings from cloak sales at Quad... I think I'd better wait before descending deeper into this particular pitfall. (sigh) |
| Mon, July 17, 2006 (5:50pm) Beaumont WaterSpray Park I've got to do this more often. Today we packed up the kids and took 'em down to a water play park, down in Beaumont (I figured it's close as most Sprayparks in Edmonton, so what the hey.) The kids had a blast. Connor and his therapist explored the concept of 'cause and effect' as she showed him how to press his hand in the activation spot to see water spray. Jase avoided the water mostly, but splashed in the little pools. Kalen was absolutely everywhere, and posed for a quick photo of a mermaid down by the pond. I took 3 very exhausted and damp kids home, afterwards. Oh, and one damp and exhausted Mom, too. |
| Mon, July 10, 2006 (11:55am) Mmmm, yeah. Pirates was good. We had 15 people show up in costume, plus a few others who happened to catch the same showing (intentionally or coincidentally) in mundane garb. T'was an excellent movie. Click the image above for a larger version, or click here to see: Pirate Booty and a fabulous Pixie shot. |
| Wed, July 5, 2006 (10:10am) PIRATES Update Not enough people can swing their schedules to go tonight, so we're sticking with the original plan for a 7(-ish) showing on Friday, still at City Center. Please confirm at your earliest convenience, so we can get Lazarus to pick up tickets for us. |
| Tues, July 4, 2006 (1:00pm) PIRATES! Apparently Pirates of the Carribean is premiering one minute after midnight, Thursday. That means Wednesday night in my world. That's tomorrow! Does anyone want to scramble our movie plans and go in costume tomorrow, at City Center Theater? It's short notice, but I'd really love to see it sooner rather than later. Besides, wandering around downtown at midnight dressed as pirates is fun. Anyone up for it??? Email or phone, since this will require co-ordination if we're gonna make last minute changes. |
