We are back from PA! I made Aaron listen to Christmas music the whole way home. I found "Maybe This Christmas?" and "Maybe This Christmas Too?" when I was home. They are both good.

We also listened to the Love Actually soundtrack. You think this isn't a Christmas album? Oh... but it has three additional tracks at the end of the cd... each of which are Christmas songs. And one of them is the goofy "Christmas is All Around Us" song Bill Nighy's character, Billy Mack had to record. We cracked up when we heard that one.

posted on 11/30/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I have been back from California for five days and I am having some serious food cravings. Not just for Jamba Juice and Lola's Mac and Cheese, but for In-n-Out Burger and Baja Fresh.

Both these restaurant make a big deal about the fact that their food is super fresh. In-n-Out Burger doesn't freeze their hamburger and they cut the potatoes for french fries right there. Baja Fresh has no microwaves or can openers. That cracked me up. I wanted to test them. Go up to the counter and cry "My medicine! It's in a can! I need a can opener! Anyone? Can opener? Eh?"

posted on 11/29/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I am click clacking away on my sister's old computer... oh the suffering. I have Jaguar Panther! I meant Panther! sitting at home waiting to be installed on my mac, but I have been too busy. Torture! I have been waiting for this OSX update, so Aaron can log on as a user without me logging out. And that way he won't screw up my settings anymore. Nothing like finding my recipe bookmarks replaced with Harley Davidson ones.

I am a die hard Apple fan, but check out the new Sony Vaio. Very nice. Now if only it ran OSX!

posted on 11/28/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of the day... Oscar is wearing his new Thanksgiving collar.

It has leaves and turkeys on them.

Aaron and Tina say they look more like pheasants and grouse, but I am convinced they are turkeys!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day with their friends and family.

posted on 11/27/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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We are heading home for Thanksgiving.

Time to pack the rabbit and the dog into the car and head out.

The ride will consist of Oscar 50% straining to see out the window 50% snoring. He has a doggy seat belt and everything.

I would like one of these dog carriers themed after Legally Blond... but I think Oscar would resent being carried about in a pink bag.

posted on 11/26/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I finally got all the pictures from my trip to California loaded.

There were 180 of them... I edited them down to 172. That's gonna be one huge Ofoto order.

Whew!

There are pictures from stuff we worked on, places we went and food we ate!

posted on 11/25/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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We are back from Hollywood! The premiere was an absolute success! Our kiosks and photo stations were super popular.

This is a picture of us in front of the conservatory set. We were supposed to wear our "spooky clothes" but all that consisted of was my kitty skull shirt and Aaron's top hat.

We didn't see Eddie at the after party, but we saw Jennifer Tilly, Terrence Stamp and Marsha Thomason. We also saw Bonnie Hunt, George Lopez, Sugar Ray Leonard and Tracy Morgan, who were there to see the movie too.

And we ate a lot.

posted on 11/24/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Haunted Mansion

Tonight is the premiere of Haunted Mansion. After several weeks of working with Disney we are all pretty excited to see the kiosks in action.

Behind the El Capital Theatre, they have reassembled the sets from the actual movie. You can have your pictures taken there at our kiosks and sent to your email.

I wonder if we will see Eddie Murphy?

posted on 11/23/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Lola's Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Another spot Tina has picked out for us is Lola's Restaurant. She said the baked macaroni and cheese is heavenly. Even after all my attempts with the Martha mac and cheese, she said it was better.

I have heard tales of this mac and cheese. I have dreamed of this mac and cheese. I plan on bringing back a core sample to take to the labs and have analyzed!

posted on 11/22/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Sephora

Last week I got a catalogue for Sephora. There are lots of pages with turned down corners.

Now I am going to be very close to one. Must remember Christmas is just around the corner. Gifts for others... not me... gifts for others....

posted on 11/21/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Runyan Canyon

As I mentioned before, Tina has been to LA several times and when there she usually hikes Runyan Canyon. I am excited to go. It is a popular walking spot for pooches.

There is a park in Rochester that has a lot of dog visitors. Before we got Oscar, Aaron and I used to go there and pet all the dogs that passed by. We called it dog whoring.

posted on 11/20/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Jamba Juice

The main attraction for me in LA is the dear sweet sweet Jamba Juice. I haven't had a Jamba since I was in Park City, Utah nearly three years ago. That was when I got Tina addicted to them.

I read on their webpage that they have a new minature size. How charming, but not for me. I need the biggest size I can get. I need to fill up on Jamba's, because who knows when the next time I'll be near one?

posted on 11/19/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Hollywood and Highland

Before we did the Haunted Mansion kiosks we did four kiosks for Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland.

While here, I am hoping to get a peek at the theatre. Tina has been out here for meetings and said it's pretty impressive.

posted on 11/18/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Hollywood

I, my dear readers, will be gone for the next week. I am going to Los Angeles on sorta work/pleasure. My group at work created kiosks for the Haunted Mansion movie and we are going out for the kickoff.

But never fear. I have written posts of things I will be doing in LA and my sister will publish them for me when I am gone. I'll be back next monday!

posted on 11/17/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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A local radio station BBF 93.3 is now playing 24/7 Christmas music! Between the blustery, snowy weather and this, I am being forced into a premature holiday spirit.

I like to put one holiday to bed before I concentrate on the next. Thanksgiving is still nearly two weeks away and I am ready to put up my Christmas tree.

posted on 11/16/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Tina's birthday is tomorrow, so to celebrate we went on a mini-trip. We headed up to Canada, stopping at the butterfly concervatory on our way to Niagara on the Lake. On the way home we stopped at Rainforest Cafe in Niagara Falls for dinner. Pictures here.

posted on 11/15/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Abby asked if I had seen the Advair ads with the pug that escapes his owner's apartment and runs around town. Oh yes! I have to stop everything and watch it when it comes on.

And after looking at the website, I feel better about making Oscar wear outfits!

posted on 11/14/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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"Winds blow out power to 2,500. Winter’s bluster is striking Rochester this morning with gale force winds causing tree limbs to snap and power lines to break."

Wind related things seen on the drive in to work
broken off tree limbs = 4
telephone trucks zipping off to downed lines = 3
people chasing various items = 3
traffic lights scarily swaying and bouncing = ALL of them
pair of small child's angel wings stuck to a fire hydrant = 1

You know it's a windy day when you step out your front door and think "Da na da na da na nahhh. Da na da na da na nahhhhh" (wicked witch music from the tornado scene in Wizard of Oz)

posted on 11/13/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I am not sure if I ever posted before about the Japanese bunny Oolong who had a talent for balancing things on his head. Recently, after a full, happy life, Oolong has passed on.

There is a new bunny to pick up where he left off, Yuebing the Bunny. I think we can expect great things from him.

I tried to get Ernie to balance stuff on his head, but he just wasn't into it. He especially wasn't happy about the little stuffed pug. Heh heh.

posted on 11/12/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I just had to repost this amazing apple crock pot recipe Kat left in my last comments...

4 lg Granny Smiths : 1/2 C Apple Juice or Cider : 8 TBS Brown Sugar : 12 Red Hots : 4 TBS Margarine or Butter : 1/4 tsp ground Cinnamon : 8 Caramels : Core apples. Put in crock pot; pour juice over apples. Fill center of each apple with 2 TBS brown sugar, 3 red hots, 1 TBS butter and 2 caramels. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and cook on low 4-6 hours til tender. Serve with whipped cream.

Crock pots! I love the idea of crock pots! Throw a bunch of ingredients into a pot in the morning, and come home from work to a hot yummy dinner. For some reason I had never thought about desserts before. Check out these mouthwatering crock pot desserts like bananas foster, fudgey brownies and bread pudding. Remember how last summer I was grilling everything in sight? This winter, everything is going in the crock pot!

I wish they had cooler looking crock pots. There are three standard designs, stainless steel, white and white with brightly colored vegetables merrily dancing around the outside. The only variants I have found are the Target Michael Graves and a bright red Nesco. Although I love the Michael Graves designs, it seems anything I have bought of his with moving parts have gone kapooey. Do they make Hello Kitty crock pots?

posted on 11/11/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I've already started thinking about an Oscar Thanksgiving card. The first two pictures above were this year's Halloween card. Oscar was not happy about wearing his pumpkin hat. He looks about as happy as this pug at the Dog Halloween Parade in NYC.

It may just be me, but pugs seem to be popping up everywhere. Check out this pug and his mastiff friends on Dog of the Day. Sweet Tea just got a pug named Ike and Pink Lagoon even has a website Life of a Pug for her Mylo. Pug invasion! Well... it may take them awhile, as they have to stop for plenty of snacks and naps, but they will be taking over eventually!

posted on 11/10/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Remember those apple baking dishes I posted about last month? Aaron surprised me by leaving a set on my car seat while I was at Sit and Knit.

We made ours with 20oz apples, brown sugar, nuts and raisins. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Yum. I might add a pad of butter next time... because we all know, butter makes it better.

posted on 11/09/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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While I was poking around the USPS website, I noticed that this years holiday stamps are out.

They are very colorful and lively.

I think they will look great on Christmas cards.

Time to stock up.

posted on 11/08/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Last month I saw an article about a Dr. Seuss stamp being released by the US Post Office. I keep checking the post office website, but they have nothing about it.

Isn't that odd? I would like that stamp... I mean not that I am a stamp collector or anything... because I'm not!... ummm...I just think it's uhhh... you know a cool stamp. Yeah.

posted on 11/07/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Hershey is having a sweepstakes that if you unwrap a specially wrapped chocolate bar you can win 5,000 Hershey bars INSIDE of a chocolate brown mini! Those minis are so cute. If there was no such thing as a VW bug, I would have a mini.

And chocolate brown! My mom used to dress me in brown when I was a kid and I hated it, but now I love brown. Especially chocolate brown. My living room is brown.

Could you imagine if the interior of the mini was pink? Pink and brown! *sigh*

I was thinking... shouldn't the chocolate bars inside of the mini be "Hershey Miniatures"? Minis in a mini? Bah-hah.

posted on 11/06/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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This week is the local High Falls Film Festival. This evening we went to see Anything But Love. The cowriter/lead actress, Isabel Rose, said that they were rejected from Toronto Film Festival twice. I thought it was great. Eartha Kitt and Andrew McCarthy were in it. Aaron couldn't remember who Andrew McCarthy was. I said "Remember him in Pretty in Pink?....Less Than Zero?" Aaron - "No... no." "Weekend at Bernies?" "Ahhhh yes!"

At the end while the credits were running, I noticed Isabel Rose crouching on the floor writing something down for an older man. I stopped to tell her that I thought the movie was better than most of the stuff I saw in Toronto. She stood up, looked at me expectantly... I opened my mouth and started to say "Ahhhh" when suddenly at the front someone called.. "and now a word from Isabel!" She looked frantic, said "I gotta go" and dashed away with me standing there going "Ahhhh". Oh well.

The film is opening in Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Philadelphia and San Diego... if you are there... try to see it!

posted on 11/05/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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The highlight of the halloween party was supposed to be s'mores making, but it was so warm out, you couldn't huddle over the firepit for too long.

I had gotten these nifty marshmallow forks at Target just for the occasion. Note the special features such as "angled tines" and "standard graham cracker spacing". And to imagine all those years I was just using a whittled stick!

At any rate we will still get use out of the marshmallow forks this winter in the fireplace. I especially want to try some of the s'more ideas from the Smith and Hawken website... instead of plain chocolate try a peanut butter cup or peppermint patty. Add a slice of grilled banana, some coconut or grape jelly. Or when it's all toasted, smoosh the s'more onto a bowl of ice cream. *drool*

posted on 11/04/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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Here are some pictures from my Halloween party. Oscar even had a guest drop by.

posted on 11/03/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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What was I for Halloween? Here's some hints.. I wore my hair back in a tight ponytail, lots of eyeshadow, big hoop earrings, a matching jogging suit and a padded butt. Yep, I was J Lo and Aaron was Ben. Together we were "Bennifer". Problem was, while I hauled a large rear around all night, victim to pinches and pats, he basically wore what he does everyday. Just a little extra facial hair than normal.

Boy was I glad to take that butt off at the end of the night!

posted on 11/02/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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I had a Halloween party last night and I wanted the food to be nice and spookily gross. I didn't have a lot of prep time, since there were 220 trick or treaters swinging by beforehand.

So I made a head wound salsa tray, puking pumpkin guacamole and severed hand punch. Gag! More pictures on the project page.

posted on 11/01/2003 :: link :: (0) comments

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