Thursday 13

(Sorry Sebastian, she knows it’s crab season, and she’s hungry!)*

Since I’m trying my darnedest to post every day in November, what better way than a meme or two? You had my ‘Wordless Wednesday’ yesterday. Today will be a Thursday 13. I don’t think I’ve done one of these in a long time. Way back when, I used to find a theme and stick to it…like, my 13 favorite albums, or 13 songs I hate, or whatever. Not sure if I can do that now, not sure I have the focus. So this will be a fairly random Thursday 13, which feels quite a bit like a Friday Randomness, right?

1. Thanks to Cherry, I have a new book to keep me interested. It’s not the book she suggested, but it’s one that came up on Amazon as one that people buy along with ‘Girl in Translation’, which is her current read. It reminded me a bit of ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society‘, but only because it takes place in Guernsey during WWII. I expected to find that a stupid read, based on its unfortunate title, but it was really quite wonderful. By the way, I also put Cherry’s book, ‘Girl in Translation’ on my list at the library, but it hasn’t come yet.
2. We had a lovely Diwali celebration. I cooked a nice feast of vegetarian dishes, and Ted lit candles, and Maya placed them throughout the house, to bless our house for the upcoming year. It was lovely.
3. Tonight, Ted and I are going to see his favorite rock band, RUSH. Ted really loves going to see bands in concert, and RUSH is his favorite band. I like RUSH, and I like going to concerts, just not as much as he does. Once I get there, though, I have a great time. I’m looking forward to it, though I expect to be tired tomorrow.
4. Maya’s been driving for about 2 weeks now. She told a neighbor yesterday that she had been driving for a month. She was surprised when I told her it was only 2 weeks…she’s improved so much and is feeling so much more comfortable. I still find myself still trying to put my feet on the brakes sometimes, but I guess that’s to be expected. She’s doing well.
5. Maya and I went shopping on Sunday…lunch and boots. Funny how nice that can be, right? I love having a daughter, someone who enjoys spending time with me, looking for a cute pair of boots, and laughing at how silly people can be, leaving their stupid stroller out in the middle of the restaurant for everyone to trip over, with no possible clue that perhaps they should fold it up or at least put it to the side. We both got nice boots.
6. I have next week off from work. It’s crazy busy at work, year-end is a very busy time for my company. And yet, there is no good time to take time off, and they have ridiculous limits on how much time we are allowed to accrue without losing it, so there it is. I’m taking time off. Working from home, it’s a habit, and a tempting one, to check my email every day and make sure everyone is OK and see if they need anything. Part of me wants to NOT do this. Part of me wants to do this. We’ll see what happens.
7. We were watching Charlie Rose on PBS while I’m typing this, and they were talking about the film adaptation of ‘Life of Pi’.  I read the book back in 2007 or maybe earlier.  I don’t remember everything about the story, just that there’s a boy stuck on a boat with a tiger, for many many days and weeks, and survived to tell the tale.  I kind of wish the movie hadn’t been made in 3D.  I’m so over 3D.  (Actually, I was never into it.)
8. I’ll admit it.  I read and enjoyed the NY Times scathing review of Guy’s American Kitchen Bar.  They trashed it.  I have nothing against Guy, really, though we watched some episodes of his Food Network show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”, which is a common eatery show for people with ADD.  I have nothing against shows about diners.  I enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich as much as the next person.  But the cuts on his show are so quick, the recipes so useless, the bites he takes so huge, it’s tiring to watch.  But the review is hilarious.  I wonder if it’s true that there’s no such thing as bad press?  Because wow, they HATED the restaurant.
9. Now we hear that Matthew McConaughey has starved himself for his role in The Dallas Buyer’s Club, and Anne Hathaway for her upcoming role in Les Miz.  I know that these characters should look frail and sick as hell.  At the same time, I find Jennifer Lawrence’s refusal to put her body through that crap refreshing.  When a healthy person (already Hollywood thin, so on the low side of a healthy weight to begin with) loses that much weight, they are risking their health.  Their organs have problems functioning.  Their bones lose mass.  They risk heart attack.  It’s no joke.  I think it’s ridiculous that people do it for a role, no matter how amazing that role is.  Yes, the character should look sick.  Let’s stick to make up and CGI, ok people?  There’s no reason that someone should sacrifice their health for a job.  Take the art and glamor out of it, and think of it like it is…it’s a job.
10. Speaking of jobs, my job rocks.  You know why?  Because I work from home, that’s why.  Yesterday for lunch, Ted (also presently working from home) and I walked over to the Wednesday farmers’ market across the street and got lunch from some vendors, which we sat and enjoyed in the beautiful California afternoon sunshine.  It’s supposed to rain for the next few days, so it was really nice.  Also, the other day when I was waiting for three people to get back to me with their edits on something, I took a nap.  Love working from home.
11. CollegeHumor’s Favorite Funny Videos

    You’ve probably seen this already, but it’s still funny. Legalize marriage equality for all, or the gay guys will marry the crap out of your girlfriends.  Hey, I married Ted partly because he likes to dance, and was willing to go shopping for clothes with me.  And he was into hair, before he lost his.  The perfect boyfriend/husband, no?

12. Did anyone notice that extra week between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year?  Wait, that’s not right.  What I meant to say was,  Did anyone notice how Thanksgiving is super early this year, giving us more time between it and Christmas?  Do you care?  Does this make any difference in your life?  Not mine.  There are things to do between now and Christmas.  So what?  Not a fan of holiday stress.  I much prefer holiday relaxation.
13. Ack!  It’s the official beginning of the Dungeness crab season!  I pink puffy heart crab, and when I say crab, I don’t mean those tiny blue crabs from Maryland, or the HUGE long legged ones from Alaska.  I mean Dungeness crab.  I have fond memories of driving into the city as a teenager, and finding a place to sit on the docks to eat a cold cracked crab at Fishermans’ Wharf.  With some San Francisco sourdough and something to drink (as a teen probably a 7-up), it was a perfect meal.  Now I prefer to eat it warm at home.  I love it just steamed, with some dill garlic butter from dipping, but it’s also amazing ala Thanh Long, the best crab restaurant in San Francisco.  Gah.  Love crab.  And earlier in the season is definitely better, so hopefully we’ll get some soon.

*picture found on the unofficial Thursday 13 site, here.