Today's Wednesday Mind Hump:
Name your favorite movie, your favorite character from that movie, and why you like that character so much.
This is a toughie, as I have soooo many favorite movies, and it's tought to pick one favorite character from any of them! I'm going to go with Guido Orefice from Life is Beautiful.
The movie is set in Italy in the 1940s. Guido is an Italian waiter, who happens to be Jewish. He falls in love with a gentile woman, Dora, and works very hard at capturing her attention by making her laugh. She eventually falls in love with him, and they get married and have a son, Joshua.
When Joshua is five, he and Guido are taken to a concentration camp. When Dora finds out what has happened, she demands to be taken to the camp as well, although she is held in the women's section and doesn't have contact with Guido and Joshua.
Guido doesn't want his son to be afraid, so he tells Joshua that what's happening is a game, and that if Joshua plays along and follows the rules, he will win a tank. Even when things are terrible in the camp, he is able to keep Joshua's spirits up by reminding him that they are in the lead and will win the tank when they leave.
I love Guido's character because of his love for life and his incredible ability to maintain a positive outlook even in the worst circumstances a person could find themselves in, for the sake of his family. And of course, at the beginning of the film I see parallels to my own life, because Matt used his own silly sense of humor to grab my attention back when we were kids.
The movie is, at times, side-splittingly hilarious, and at others, gut-wrenchingly sad. I saw it when I was almost at the end of my pregnancy with Jacob, and I remember Matt and I holding on to each other, weeping, as we left the theater. It won the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Actor in 1999.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday Mind Hump
I'm trying out a blog meme to help get me into the habit of posting regularly. I had to do this one because I loved the name ;)
Greetings! Today's hump is about World Vegetarian Day.
Name your favorite and least favorite vegetables.
My Favorites:
1. Brussels sprouts! One of the most reviled veggies, yet undisputably my favorite. This may have something to do with the fact that my dad always said they were "Barbie cabbages". I love them quartered, tossed with olive oil and kosher salt, and roasted in the over... yummmm.
2. Zucchini! Nothing says summer to me as much as this veggie, and I buy loads of it at the farmer's market. (I also love growing it myself!) I like it steamed, grilled, stir-fried, broiled, grated and mixed with egg for "zucchini latkes", and -- yummmm -- baked in zucchini bread! This summer, Jacob was frequently heard complaining, "Why do we have to eat zucchini every night?"
3. Baby bok choy! Sauteed with garlic and sprinkled with just a bit of soy sauce. Mmmm.
Least faves:
1. Raw onion. I can't even swallow it... it triggers my gag reflex the moment it enters my mouth.
2. Celery. I have tried so hard to like celery ever since I found out it's a "negative calorie" food, but I just can't. It's mostly a texture thing.
3. Bell peppers. I love hot peppers, but for some reason I just really don't like bell peppers, of any color. Yuck!
What are your faves (and least faves?)
Wednesday Mind Hump
Name your favorite and least favorite vegetables.
My Favorites:
1. Brussels sprouts! One of the most reviled veggies, yet undisputably my favorite. This may have something to do with the fact that my dad always said they were "Barbie cabbages". I love them quartered, tossed with olive oil and kosher salt, and roasted in the over... yummmm.
2. Zucchini! Nothing says summer to me as much as this veggie, and I buy loads of it at the farmer's market. (I also love growing it myself!) I like it steamed, grilled, stir-fried, broiled, grated and mixed with egg for "zucchini latkes", and -- yummmm -- baked in zucchini bread! This summer, Jacob was frequently heard complaining, "Why do we have to eat zucchini every night?"
3. Baby bok choy! Sauteed with garlic and sprinkled with just a bit of soy sauce. Mmmm.
Least faves:
1. Raw onion. I can't even swallow it... it triggers my gag reflex the moment it enters my mouth.
2. Celery. I have tried so hard to like celery ever since I found out it's a "negative calorie" food, but I just can't. It's mostly a texture thing.
3. Bell peppers. I love hot peppers, but for some reason I just really don't like bell peppers, of any color. Yuck!
What are your faves (and least faves?)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Today's fortune
"You will never find light by analyzing the darkness, and you'll never find your magnificence by analyzing your weaknesses." - Wayne Dyer
My favorite yoga teacher, Pat, always drops a printed "fortune" on our mats during savasana (the final resting pose in our class). Today, mine was the quote above, which was very relevant for me -- and so I thought I'd share it.
I spend a lot of time focused on what's wrong with me, what I don't have, what I can't do. I'm working on it, but it's easy to slip back into old, negative thought patterns. Sometimes little reminders like this one can be helpful!
My favorite yoga teacher, Pat, always drops a printed "fortune" on our mats during savasana (the final resting pose in our class). Today, mine was the quote above, which was very relevant for me -- and so I thought I'd share it.
I spend a lot of time focused on what's wrong with me, what I don't have, what I can't do. I'm working on it, but it's easy to slip back into old, negative thought patterns. Sometimes little reminders like this one can be helpful!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
My poor, neglected blog
It's been four months since I posted here! That's terrible!
I'm going to try to do better. It was a long, difficult summer. Things are improving.
My next-door neighbors, the ones who cut down my favorite tree AND brought all sorts of vermin into my life, have decided to move to Florida and put their house up for rent. At the beginning of this summer, *we* had planned on being the ones to move, but our plans fell by the wayside as we contemplated spending loads of money on other things. Now that we've decided not to go that route, we're re-contemplating a move.
Yes, we still own a car. But, we've been doing a lot more walking and using public transit, and it's really not so bad. In fact, I kind of prefer it. For instance, yesterday I was driving across the SAME intersection where my accident happened in March, and the SAME thing happened -- only instead of getting slammed into, I just got the horn-and-finger for *daring* to let pedestrians cross before completing my right-hand turn. (I guess I didn't get the memo that it is now okay to run down pedestrians!) I am so sick of drivers and their egos. It's much nicer to let someone else do the driving or let my feet take me places.
I can't even remember what else I had written about here before my long absence. Anyhow, I'm really going to try to keep up with this blog, I promise!
;)
I'm going to try to do better. It was a long, difficult summer. Things are improving.
My next-door neighbors, the ones who cut down my favorite tree AND brought all sorts of vermin into my life, have decided to move to Florida and put their house up for rent. At the beginning of this summer, *we* had planned on being the ones to move, but our plans fell by the wayside as we contemplated spending loads of money on other things. Now that we've decided not to go that route, we're re-contemplating a move.
Yes, we still own a car. But, we've been doing a lot more walking and using public transit, and it's really not so bad. In fact, I kind of prefer it. For instance, yesterday I was driving across the SAME intersection where my accident happened in March, and the SAME thing happened -- only instead of getting slammed into, I just got the horn-and-finger for *daring* to let pedestrians cross before completing my right-hand turn. (I guess I didn't get the memo that it is now okay to run down pedestrians!) I am so sick of drivers and their egos. It's much nicer to let someone else do the driving or let my feet take me places.
I can't even remember what else I had written about here before my long absence. Anyhow, I'm really going to try to keep up with this blog, I promise!
;)
Friday, May 23, 2008
Contemplating the car-free lifestyle
When I was a teenager, I dreamed of the day I would get my driver's license. Driving meant freedom, the ability to go where you wanted when you wanted, without asking anyone for permission. I've owned a car since the day I graduated high school, and I've never even considered the possibility of not owning one... until now.
I don't have to tell you about gas prices. But with the cost of driving increasing daily, our family is forced to take a good hard look at whether or not driving is actually necessary. After all, we live in a big city. There's a bus that stops at the end of our street; there are at least six more buses that run within three to four blocks of our house. A mile away is the mass transit hub of our part of the city, with buses and trains coming and going every minute of every day. In addition to public transit, there are taxi companies and the up-and-coming Philly Car Share. We also own bicycles. And within walking distance, we have a supermarket, a CVS, several restaurants, bars, stores, banks, hair salons... So honestly, having a car is really more of a luxury than a necessity for our family.
And what an expensive luxury it is -- for us, the monthly cost of driving, including car payment, car insurance, and gas (I've conservatively estimated six fill-ups per month at the going rate), is about $740 per month. That doesn't count parking, or routine maintenance like oil changes, car washes, etc, or big expenses like the new battery we needed two weeks ago, or traffic tickets from someone in my household's tendency to run red lights (ahem). So it's really over $800, on average, per month. (And we just have one small, fuel-efficient car.) In comparison, an unlimited pass for our mass transit system costs $78 per person, per month. (Single-ride tokens are only $1.45.)
So, for the first time in my adult life, I'm really considering the possibility of not owning a car. I know it will make some things more of a hassle, and I won't be able to just hop in the car and go somewhere at a moment's notice. But at the same time, maybe it will force me to make a concious effort to be more organized, to make do with what I have, and to appreciate my surroundings.
If you'll permit me, I also have an Eckhart Tolle-influenced observation to share. As I drive around the city, I notice how much of the act of driving has to do with the ego. I'm not talking about luxury cars, premium gas, or even my big pet peeve, gas-guzzling SUVs, but things I'm guilty of, like impatience, speeding, not letting someone cut in front, road rage, talking on the cell phone while driving, etc. Sitting in traffic stresses us out. Everybody's in a Big Hurry, and everybody wants to be First. I know that the guy who rear-ended me in March was driving with his ego -- he was in a Big Hurry and couldn't wait ten seconds so I could let the pedestrians cross; instead he tried to to go around me, wound up underestimating how much space he needed, and crashed into my car. Maybe if everyone slowed down and took a walk, or took the bus, every once in a while, instead of being in such a Big Hurry, we could become less impatient, less competitive, more aware of the world around us... Okay, maybe I'm dreaming, but at least it might reduce some of our stress and make us happier people overall.
Or maybe it's just me. But having an extra $800 in the bank every month sounds really good right about now...
I don't have to tell you about gas prices. But with the cost of driving increasing daily, our family is forced to take a good hard look at whether or not driving is actually necessary. After all, we live in a big city. There's a bus that stops at the end of our street; there are at least six more buses that run within three to four blocks of our house. A mile away is the mass transit hub of our part of the city, with buses and trains coming and going every minute of every day. In addition to public transit, there are taxi companies and the up-and-coming Philly Car Share. We also own bicycles. And within walking distance, we have a supermarket, a CVS, several restaurants, bars, stores, banks, hair salons... So honestly, having a car is really more of a luxury than a necessity for our family.
And what an expensive luxury it is -- for us, the monthly cost of driving, including car payment, car insurance, and gas (I've conservatively estimated six fill-ups per month at the going rate), is about $740 per month. That doesn't count parking, or routine maintenance like oil changes, car washes, etc, or big expenses like the new battery we needed two weeks ago, or traffic tickets from someone in my household's tendency to run red lights (ahem). So it's really over $800, on average, per month. (And we just have one small, fuel-efficient car.) In comparison, an unlimited pass for our mass transit system costs $78 per person, per month. (Single-ride tokens are only $1.45.)
So, for the first time in my adult life, I'm really considering the possibility of not owning a car. I know it will make some things more of a hassle, and I won't be able to just hop in the car and go somewhere at a moment's notice. But at the same time, maybe it will force me to make a concious effort to be more organized, to make do with what I have, and to appreciate my surroundings.
If you'll permit me, I also have an Eckhart Tolle-influenced observation to share. As I drive around the city, I notice how much of the act of driving has to do with the ego. I'm not talking about luxury cars, premium gas, or even my big pet peeve, gas-guzzling SUVs, but things I'm guilty of, like impatience, speeding, not letting someone cut in front, road rage, talking on the cell phone while driving, etc. Sitting in traffic stresses us out. Everybody's in a Big Hurry, and everybody wants to be First. I know that the guy who rear-ended me in March was driving with his ego -- he was in a Big Hurry and couldn't wait ten seconds so I could let the pedestrians cross; instead he tried to to go around me, wound up underestimating how much space he needed, and crashed into my car. Maybe if everyone slowed down and took a walk, or took the bus, every once in a while, instead of being in such a Big Hurry, we could become less impatient, less competitive, more aware of the world around us... Okay, maybe I'm dreaming, but at least it might reduce some of our stress and make us happier people overall.
Or maybe it's just me. But having an extra $800 in the bank every month sounds really good right about now...
Monday, May 12, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Ancient Mom
Jacob recently acquired a box of White Cheddar Cheez-Its which advertises the new Indiana Jones film, as well as having a special mail-in offer for the Raiders of the Lost Ark DVD.
Jacob: Have you seen this movie, Mom?
Me: The new one? It's not out yet.
Jacob: I know that, Mom, I meant the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Me: Yeah, I saw all of the Indiana Jones movies when I was a kid.
Jacob: Wow. How many were there?
Me: Three of them.
Jacob: Did you see them in the theater or on DVD?
Me (amused): In the theater. They didn't have DVDs then.
Jacob (alarmed): They didn't have DVDs?!
Me (feeling very old): Nope.
Jacob: Wow...
Jacob: Have you seen this movie, Mom?
Me: The new one? It's not out yet.
Jacob: I know that, Mom, I meant the Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Me: Yeah, I saw all of the Indiana Jones movies when I was a kid.
Jacob: Wow. How many were there?
Me: Three of them.
Jacob: Did you see them in the theater or on DVD?
Me (amused): In the theater. They didn't have DVDs then.
Jacob (alarmed): They didn't have DVDs?!
Me (feeling very old): Nope.
Jacob: Wow...
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Headhouse Market, and other news
Today was the grand re-opening of my favorite Farmers' Market, at Headhouse Square in Philly. I've really missed having fresh, local produce, and being able to meet and talk with the people who grow the foods I eat. Supermarket shopping is so cold and impersonal!
Because it's so early in the season, there wasn't a whole lot of produce to choose from, but Jacob and I did buy two lovely, purply-green bunches of asparagus. We sampled cheeses and baked goods, and I had a hard time restraining myself from buying a gorgeous strawberry plant for $22! We did buy a hunk of Alpine cheese, a chocolate chip cookie and some pains au chocolat (which I've come to realize that, while yummy, are just not the same in the US... sigh.)
In other produce-related news, I've decided not to do a vegetable garden this year (boo - I know) because I want to concentrate on getting the house ready to sell. One of my criteria for a new home, of course, is that it have a space for me to garden. And I'm hoping for a composter for mothers' day!
You know you're a theater geek when you go to see two musicals in one day. Yesterday Jacob and I saw Seussical at my friend Tatlyn's school. It was a terrific production, and the show itself was much better than I'd hoped. I teared up at the end when all the Whos yelled "we are here! we are here!" (Alright... I had to choke back sobs... but I wish to assert my time-of-the-month privileges!) I also went to see Hairspray at the Academy of Music. I went to see the movie version twice last summer and absolutely loved it. The play was just as fabulous. Now I can't stop singing "Good Morning Baltimore!"
And speaking of choking back sobs, I couldn't stop crying yesterday when I heard about the murder of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski during a robbery yesterday, less than four miles from my home. He was only 39 years old and had a wife and three children. Sometimes I really despise this city...
Because it's so early in the season, there wasn't a whole lot of produce to choose from, but Jacob and I did buy two lovely, purply-green bunches of asparagus. We sampled cheeses and baked goods, and I had a hard time restraining myself from buying a gorgeous strawberry plant for $22! We did buy a hunk of Alpine cheese, a chocolate chip cookie and some pains au chocolat (which I've come to realize that, while yummy, are just not the same in the US... sigh.)
In other produce-related news, I've decided not to do a vegetable garden this year (boo - I know) because I want to concentrate on getting the house ready to sell. One of my criteria for a new home, of course, is that it have a space for me to garden. And I'm hoping for a composter for mothers' day!
You know you're a theater geek when you go to see two musicals in one day. Yesterday Jacob and I saw Seussical at my friend Tatlyn's school. It was a terrific production, and the show itself was much better than I'd hoped. I teared up at the end when all the Whos yelled "we are here! we are here!" (Alright... I had to choke back sobs... but I wish to assert my time-of-the-month privileges!) I also went to see Hairspray at the Academy of Music. I went to see the movie version twice last summer and absolutely loved it. The play was just as fabulous. Now I can't stop singing "Good Morning Baltimore!"
And speaking of choking back sobs, I couldn't stop crying yesterday when I heard about the murder of Philadelphia Police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski during a robbery yesterday, less than four miles from my home. He was only 39 years old and had a wife and three children. Sometimes I really despise this city...
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