What to Do With All the Leftovers

Okay, Thanksgiving has come and gone. Many of us prepare lots of food for the occasion. Way too much food usually.

So what do you do with all the leftovers? Well, you could just slap ‘em on a plate and reheat them (or just slap ‘em on and eat ‘em).

But, if you’re looking for other options, the LA Times ran this article with a few creative suggestions about what you can do with your leftovers.

Personally, the stuffing-and-turkey sandwich on a crunchy baguette sounds great! (The total turkey and carb experience.) And, IMHO, warmed-up cranberry sauce on ice cream is da bomb.

 

All the Stuff I Forgot . . .

You know, I just posted about things I’m grateful for (stuff that mostly happened this year) and, wouldn’t you know, I thought about it later and realized–damn! @&*#! I left out SO much! (This is why you should never blog after midnight.)

So, to add to the list, I also went to Italy this year. (Finally, my first trip outside the U.S.! Okay, I lied. I’ve been to Canada. Which is different, but it isn’t Europe. So, my first trip outside North America! Yay!) I went to Sicily, Rome, Florence and Venice. Awesome!

Plus, I mentioned my family, but totally forgot to mention the joy of attending my niece’s wedding. Good grief! What an awful aunt I am. (Plus, she recently landed her very first “grown up” job, working for Homeland Security. Awesome.)

Of course, there’s also my nephew, who’s been busy up in New York City, promoting a restaurant and studying acting. He’s going to be a big star someday. Am I proud of my sister’s kids? You bet.

Plus my sister! Only the funniest person I know. She could write a humor column, she’s so funny. (I keep telling her she should write. But she’s too smart to take up an occupation like that. Good call. Keep your sanity.)

Then, there’s my brother! He’s going around the world (well, southeast Asia, anyway) working as a scientific advisor on various infrastructure projects (I hope I have that right). So he’s out there saving the world.

Finally, my husband. I know I mentioned he’s a great guy, but I didn’t say how great. Well, just the greatest guy ever.

Okay. Have I covered the high points, at least? Twenty lashes with a wet noodle, then I’m done.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a pleasant and relaxing holiday. Try not to eat too much.

Image taken from http://www.babble.com

Yummy looking, huh?

While you’re scarfing down the bird, consider everything you should be thankful for.

Including not having a turkey that looks like this.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but a turkey in a bikini just isn’t my thing.

No problem. There’s always the stuffing and cranberry sauce. Point me toward those. I could probably live on stuffing and cranberry sauce for weeks, if not months.

I was going to throw in something about what I’m grateful for, but . . . kind of lost my train of thought. Got distracted by the bikini-shaped tan line on this turkey. But I am plenty grateful. It’s a been a great year.

Among other things, I’ve reissued my novel, IDENTITY CRISIS, in print and as an e-book on Amazon (as well as Smashwords, the Scribd Store and Lulu). IDENTITY CRISIS is a hardboiled mystery, that was originally issued by a small press. Nine months after it first came out, the press went belly up. So . . . this year, I gave the book another chance at life.

Plus I had a short story published in The Back Alley and will have another published in CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: THEY HAD IT COMIN’ (that’s the new title of CHESAPEAKE CRIMES 4) to be released by Wildside Press in March 2010.

What else? Oh, yeah. Last May, I organized a fundraising motorcycle ride called the Freedom Ride for Dystonia. The turnout was low (the weather was terrible! not good for riding at all), but we still made more than $1,300. So that was great for a first time fundraiser, especially with the low turnout and all.

Other things? Well, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of really awesome people–many of them at conferences and through professional networking and even a few through blogging and Twitter. Met a print and promotional model and dystonia advocate at Dystonia Advocacy Day–turned out we’d previously corresponded on Twitter! What a surprise. Yes, I signed up with Twitter in January of this year. And, in less than a year, I’ve met so many different, interesting people.

Even had the opportunity to appear in a feature for Voice of America on digital publishing and e-books, due to “meeting” a journalist through blogging and social media. Not to mention getting to know an ex-DC blogger who’s having an adventure in Chile (and who’s gonna write a truly awesome novel, I just know it). Plus I’m looking forward to reading a new hardboiled detective/sci-fi novel called RED PLANET NOIR by another writer who also hangs out on Twitter. Plus an old friend from one of my writer’s groups is also getting her first novel, THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE, published in February. We’ve reconnected through Facebook and Twitter, too.

I could go on and on about all the interesting people I’ve Facebooked and tweeted with, but that could get tedious fast (if it hasn’t already). Just know it’s truly a pleasure to be in touch with so many awesome people. And to have a wonderful family and a great husband, who’s been so supportive during all the good times and tough ones. A guy who’s helped keep my spirits up, despite all the challenges thrown my way.

Okay, big finish. Hmm. What to say? How to finish?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!! (Big enough finish? Maybe I should’ve saved the bikini turkey for last.)

 

I’ve Seen the Future, and It’s Dressed in Spandex and Fishnet

Among the things I particularly enjoy about Lee Goldberg’s blog are his occasional video snippets of old (and, often, kitschy) shows from the past–frequently, overlooked chestnuts such as UFO (which they’re apparently turning into a feature film).

So check this out:

Don’t you love the way everyone in the future is so skinny and gorgeous. They all wear Spandex, too (note to self: invest in Spandex), as well as fishnet garments. And, of course, the women wear metallic miniskirts (when they’re not encased in Spandex pants) and some even have purple wigs.

Oh, wait. This is supposed to be a depiction of 1980 (note to self: scratch Spandex investments).

I just love predictions. Especially in TV shows from the 60s and 70s.

 

 

In Office Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

For your viewing pleasure, this awesome trailer for Office Space–recut as if the movie were a slasher/thriller. Enjoy!

Look out for that red stapler! (There’s a reason it’s red . . .)

(And thanks Melissa Corley, for posting this on Facebook.)

 

I Miss Patrick McGoohan

Patrick McGoohan was an awesome actor. From what I understand, he was as individual and uncompromising as the character he played in The Prisoner.

He had a distinctive way of delivering his lines–kind of quirky, but not overly cute. In fact, anything but cute.

I’ve seen only the first third of the remake of The Prisoner, and hope to see the rest soon. (So, if you leave a comment, please don’t give anything away!)

And, even though I haven’t watched it all yet, I still prefer this . . .

to this . . .

for reasons best explained by watching this.

 

10 Geeky Laws That Should Exist (But Don’t)

A recent Wired article provided a list of 10 “geeky” laws that should exist, but haven’t become as well-known and widely accepted as, say, Murphy’s Law (which everyone knows) or Godwin’s Law (which I’d never heard of until now).

As geeky laws go, these are pretty cool. Number 2 (Lucas’s Law about movie sequels) definitely resonates with me. And Number 9 (Comic Book Guy’s Law about arguing movie minutiae) is one that applies way too often–especially on email lists. But I especially love Nos. 7 and 8.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out the comments.

 

Looks Like a Job for Deadheads

How often do you get to see a job listing like this–to be archivist for the Grateful Dead collection? (via Reader’s Advisor Online) Well, the University Library at the University of California, Santa Cruz is offering the position.

According to the notice, “The Archivist will be part of a dynamic, collegial, and highly motivated department dedicated to building, preserving, promoting, and providing maximum access both physically and virtually to one of the Library’s most exciting and unique collections, The Grateful Dead Archive (GDA).

“The Grateful Dead Archive documents the band’s creative activity and influence in contemporary music history from 1965 to 1995, including the phenomena of the Deadheads, the band’s extensive network of devoted fans, and the band’s highly unusual and successful musical business ventures. The Archive contains original documents, clippings, artifacts, photography, posters, audio and video recordings, publications about the Dead and its individual members, its tours and performances, recordings and productions, and business. Correspondence and art contributed over the years by Deadheads are part of the Archive.”

And check the salary! Ranging from $52,860-$68,892 (commensurate with qualifications and experience).

The position is available on March 1, 2010. So, pack up your microvans and head toward UC Santa Cruz. Sounds well worth a long, strange trip to check this one out.

 

The Amazing ‘Family on Bikes’ Story

I wanted to end the week on an up note, so I figured I’d post a link to this BBC blog post about a family that decided to pull up stakes and just hit the road on bikes together. And I’m not talking about merely going for a nice Sunday ride or even a long weekend outing. I’m talking about a family (with small kids!) crossing a whole friggin’ continent on bikes.

On its blog, the BBC published an article written by Nancy Sathe-Vogel (the mother in this biking family), as well as a link to the family’s Web site.

And you can find them on Twitter, too.

It’s an amazing story with great photos. Check it out! Maybe it’ll inspire you to take an unusual journey.

 

Veteran’s Day Post

I don’t know about you, but I think this is a touching commemoration (poignant and sobering, really) of the events that led to this holiday from The Heavy Metal Librarian.