Collectables Vox 2009-11-08T04:57:20Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full tag:vox.com,2006:6p00d4143b9d84685e/ Musings, Ramblings, Connections Super Size Me - Not! tag:vox.com,2009-11-06:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddb99670860b 2009-11-06T02:45:16Z 2009-11-08T04:57:20Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

I just saw a film I've heard about for years: Super Size Me. It's about a journalist/film maker who eats nothing but food from MacDonald's for an entire month. If a clerk asks if he wants to "super size" the meal, he says yes.

In the space of 30 days his body goes haywire, both physically and mentally. His liver begins to fail, his cholesterol shoots through the roof, he gains over 20 pounds. He is exhausted all the time. His mood starts to swing and he encounters bouts of depression. He then gets headaches if he doesn't eat more of the fast food.

This guy was extraordinarily healthy. He went and checked in with several physicians and nutritionists. He was normal weight and in extremely good health. His girlfriend was a vegan chef. Their normal diet was healthy to the max.

The change in this man's health amazed, depressed and disturbed me. Basically, he adopted the level of exercise most Americans get, and ate an exclusive diet of fast food. I'd recommend anyone who can see this film. You can get it for free on sites like hulu.com.

Amazing. Disturbing. Essential.

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]]> Sound Effects...No, Seriously tag:vox.com,2009-11-04:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123dde12ac1860d 2009-11-04T01:41:35Z 2009-11-06T02:09:58Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

You ever have one of those days when you feel like doing jack s***? That was me today, listlessly pressing one button after another on my computer and barely getting the energy up to make dinner. I started a Stephen King novel, but decided that blood'n guts was not what my laggard brain required. So, I didn't write anything new, didn't read anything new, didn't do...well, jack.

Maybe I needed the down time. All that recent brain activity has plum tuckered me out. So, there I was sitting downstairs with a rather gory novel and wondering if that was really what I wanted to do in an evening. My husband brought me some treats in the form of chocolate and perhaps that endorphin boost was behind the next inspiration.

I was browsing this-and-that websites today, part of my normal Margy-the-computer-consultant routine, when I came across some sites that contained public domain pictures, videos and audio. In other words, take 'em, they're free! I was particularly enchanted by one site containing thousands of free sounds effects. You know, people walking, crowds in restaurants, chainsaws. Everything a brain dead computer sycophant might desire for a night of playing.

So, I played. And here's what I came up with.

This is a great way to start a day:

Wake Up Call
Wake Up Call

But then, we all can't wake up in a pasture. Usually, I just hear this:

Arlington at Midnight
Arlington at Midnight


Ah yes, city life. And, I've found the perfect sound for all my wedded nights:

I Got Married for This?
I Got Married for This?

What, you think we're sexy at our age. Please. As soon as the hubby starts sawing wood, here's what I feel like saying:

Tell Me It Isn't So!
Tell Me It Isn't So!


Okay, okay. I've pestered you enough with my latest entertainments. But, wait, one last sound. It's my absolute favorite:

Got'cha!
Got'cha!

Tha...tha...tha,that's all, folks!


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]]> To All On This Spooky October Night... tag:vox.com,2009-11-01:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e01240b7266ac860e 2009-11-01T00:58:00Z 2009-11-01T00:58:00Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

Happy Halloween!

20081031_0277
20081031_0277


Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!

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]]> Happy Halloween! tag:vox.com,2009-10-28:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddcab9a1860c 2009-10-28T23:43:39Z 2009-11-01T00:55:33Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

Sad but sweet: I found this on YouTube:

Baby Ghoulie - Halloween Animation
Baby Ghoulie - Halloween Animation



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]]> The Colors of Fall tag:vox.com,2009-10-22:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddb248e9860b 2009-10-22T00:46:12Z 2009-10-23T22:43:11Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full
Mincemeat Fixings
Mincemeat Fixings

New England is a colorful place in the fall, even in the kitchen. I made up a batch of green tomato mincemeat, an absolutely fabulous meat-free mincemeat recipe that's sweet, tart and rich all at the same time. The recipe calls for dried cherries, so there's a wonderful aftertaste of these as well. It's everything you'd expect in a mincemeat and is second-to-none, particularly if you make the pie with a home made crust.

Green Tomato Mincemeat

Ingredients 

  • 3 lbs green tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 1 1/2 lbs tart apples, coarsely chopped, with skin
  • 3 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 10 oz currants
  • 6 oz dried tart cherries
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup chopped, crystallized ginger
  • 2 oranges, cut into slices, seeded
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp ground mace
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 juniper berries, cracked (optional)

Directions 
  1. Place the tomatoes in a large stockpot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and blanch for 4 - 5 minutes. Drain.
  2. Add all the remaining ingredients. Mix well and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. Let the mincemeat cool. Remove the orange slices and cinnamon sticks and transfer to a covered container. Store in refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for several months.
  4. Recipe from "Great Good Food: Luscious Lower-Fat Cooking," by Julee Rosso

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]]> The Colors of Fall tag:vox.com,2009-10-22:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e01240b6d93d6860e 2009-10-22T00:45:54Z 2009-10-22T15:43:23Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full
Mincemeat Fixings
Mincemeat Fixings

New England is a colorful place in the fall, even in the kitchen. I made up a batch of green tomato mincemeat, an absolutely fabulous meat-free mincemeat recipe that's sweet, tart and rich all at the same time. The recipe calls for dried cherries, so there's a wonderful aftertaste of these as well. It's everything you'd expect in a mincemeat and is second-to-none, particularly if you make the pie with a home made crust.

Green Tomato Mincemeat

Ingredients 

  • 3 lbs green tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 1 1/2 lbs tart apples, coarsely chopped, with skin
  • 3 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 10 oz currants
  • 6 oz dried tart cherries
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup chopped, crystallized ginger
  • 2 oranges, cut into slices, seeded
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp ground mace
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 juniper berries, cracked (optional)

Directions 
  1. Place the tomatoes in a large stockpot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and blanch for 4 - 5 minutes. Drain.
  2. Add all the remaining ingredients. Mix well and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  3. Let the mincemeat cool. Remove the orange slices and cinnamon sticks and transfer to a covered container. Store in refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze for several months.
  4. Recipe from "Great Good Food: Luscious Lower-Fat Cooking," by Julee Rosso

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]]> My Inspiration For The Day tag:vox.com,2009-10-22:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddb246fc860b 2009-10-22T00:17:03Z 2009-10-22T04:19:06Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." Amelia Earhart.


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]]> Larry Goes To The Market tag:vox.com,2009-10-20:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddb1a7fd860b 2009-10-20T18:46:47Z 2009-10-20T18:46:47Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full
Drunkest Guy Ever: Silent Film (Larry goes to the market)
Drunkest Guy Ever: Silent Film (Larry goes to the market)

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]]> There Are Some Things Men DO Remember tag:vox.com,2009-10-20:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddd9e343860d 2009-10-20T03:34:52Z 2009-10-21T14:36:24Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband is not in bed. Concerned, she puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee in front of him. He appears to be in very deep thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of his coffee. 

"What's the matter, dear?" she whispers as she steps into the room. "Why are you down here at this time of night?" 
 
The husband looks up from his coffee. "Do you remember 20 years ago when we were dating, and you were only 16?" he asks solemnly.
 
"Yes, I do "she replies, touched to tears that her husband is so caring and sensitive.
 
The husband pauses. The words were not coming easily. "Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car?" 
 
"Yes, I remember…" said the wife, lowering herself into the chair beside him.
 
The husband continued: "Do you remember when he shoved the shotgun in my face and said, 'Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years?' "
 
"I remember that too," she replied softly. 
 
He wipes another tear from his cheek and says…
 
 
…"I would have gotten out today.”

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]]> The Long, Long Days of Fiction tag:vox.com,2009-10-20:asset-6a00d4143b9d84685e0123ddd9e261860d 2009-10-20T03:23:30Z 2009-10-22T15:42:29Z Margy http://margy423.vox.com/?_c=feed-atom-full

I've been pushing my brain over to the fiction side. It's taken a long time to assemble some plot threads, but I finally made the breakthrough and hope the rest goes more quickly. I re-wrote the ending of one chapter and tomorrow plan to revise the chapter after that. I should then be able to go on to new material, now that some of the twists in the plot have been improved.

I ended up solving a major problem by revising a character slightly, turning her from a paralegal into a fund-raiser for a local non-profit organization. I needed the skill set for plot continuity. I have to tell you, it was quite an ego trip to turn my character's life around at whim. As I was taking a shower tonight I had a mental image of my character flying out of a law office and landing ass-first in the development department of a charity. There - done!

I only wish real life were this malleable. This career doesn't work? Poof! Here's another one.

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