I indulged my Star Trek sweet tooth this evening, and tried to find episodes of The Next Generation. That entire series has gone missing on US video outlets, although earlier and subsequent versions of the Star Trek saga are there for the taking.

Well, I finally found what I was looking for, but not without some effort. For whatever reason, I can watch video streams of the series - all seven seasons - from either China or Korea. The shows are subtitled rather than dubbed, fortunately. I caught up with Captain Picard and his crew for one episode and intend to check in with more of the same.

It's a pretty bizarre feed, in that it stops, then starts, then stops, then starts. That signal must be traveling quite a long way to get to my computer here in Boston! After a while the signal sorts itself out and there's less interruption.

The commercials are a hoot. At one point an exultant Chinese (Korean?) couple are dancing around a beach singing the praises of some type of fruit juice. I have no idea what's going on there, but an ad is an ad wherever you go, I guess.

So, I got an hour of Star Trek, surrounded by Asian calligraphy and tacky commercials. There was even a little cartoon guy in the lower right hand side of the screen, drinking his juice. But, hey - I got to see Romulans, Klingons, Federation guys and the Starship Enterprise in its 1980s recreation. I'll drink to that!

Star Trek

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Okay, I should be grateful. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has far more generous benefits than most states for those seeking aid from the outrageous expense of health insurance.

Turns out my household is eligible for assistance, based on our income and employment status. This is a mixed blessing, but what the hell.

I think, though, that the Commonwealth could be a bit smarter about it. For example, we're reimbursed after we pay the entire cost of insurance per month. That's over $1,000.00 per month for us. Now you guys from outside the US, pick up those jaws. Okay. It's a royal pain, but what the hell.

On top of this, a copy of the front and back of a canceled check is required for proof of payment of that outrageous premium. Problem is, my bank no longer provides a copy of the front and back of a canceled check. They haven't done that in years. Most banks here don't, and haven't in years. So, I have to contact the bank, every month, to get a photocopy of the front and back. The originals are destroyed. But, what the hell.

Then, hubby dear barges in on my work day, insists I do all of this right at this very moment, even though I have deadlines and haven't heard peep one about any of this beforehand.

This is where I reach for a bottle of wine. This is where "what the hell" reaches its limits. Thank goodness I have a backup in a long-stemmed glass, or someone would be flying out of a window right now.

I'm sure I'll be fine by tomorrow. Or maybe just later today, after glass two.

Aaargh.

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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

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

Arlington at Midnight

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

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!

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

Got'cha!

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Happy Halloween!

20081031_0277

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Sad but sweet: I found this on YouTube:

Baby Ghoulie - Halloween Animation

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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 

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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 

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"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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Drunkest Guy Ever: Silent Film (Larry goes to the market)

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