Tonight was my annual Oscar Awards party. I decorated the table with two old movie projectors, popcorn containers, film cans and candy boxes. There was food like 21 Gram Cracker Cheesecake Bites, Cold Mountain Dew and House of Sand Dessert and Fog (Tina's specialty). Pictures here.

Joel won the contest for most categories right and took home a copy of "Movie Menu's: Recipes for Perfect Meals with Your Favorite Films". We all agreed the best Oscars moment was Jack Black and Will Ferrell's Boring Song. And Oscar was still convinced the entire party was for him.

posted on 2/29/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Our Sit & Knit group has been meeting for one year now. Sarah thought that was cause for celebration and we had an anniversary party at her house today.

We knitted and watched "Mr. Lucky" (Cary Grant knits in this movie!) while the guys went downstairs and played video games. Then we ate big plates of spaghetti.

Yay for us! Here's to another year of successful knitting!

posted on 2/28/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I was at Wegmans with Aaron and Tina when I spied a box of Strawberry Banana Cheerios. I love the other Berry Burst Cheerios so I was excited.

Both Tina and Aaron just sniffed and said that they had seen them before. Then. why. hadn't. someone. told. me. Yummy new cereal hits the shelves and they are holding out on me.

I got a box and it is very tasty.

posted on 2/27/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Death of a Strawberry

posted on 2/26/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Aaron had some chocolate left so he made me a few more chocolate covered strawberries. I decorated them this time. A little more abstract.

He also made some peanut bark once we ran out of strawberries. The house is full of chocolate. I will be very pleasant for the next few days.

posted on 2/25/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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As you can see from the Winterlude pictures, no one had any major accidents on the ice. Sore calves was about all I had the next morning.

I have, however, determined that figure skates are not made for 5 plus hours of skating. I noticed several people on the canal wearing these CCM recreational skates. They look comfy! One lady mentioned that hers felt like sneakers. Both Tina and I are hoping to find them on sale at the end of the season.

posted on 2/24/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I just posted the pictures from our trip to Ottawa.

See me skate and eat and skate and eat. And pose with large mascots.

Some pictures came out grainy... I didn't have my camera set properly for all that blinding snow and ice. Hindsight.

We really did have a great time though. Winterlude has become one of my favorite trips.

posted on 2/23/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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We are back from Winterlude and I am stuffed. We ate at a pub, an italian restaurant, oh and the wonderful breakfasts at the B&B's. But most of our eating this weekend occured in front of BeaverTail stands. They are strategically placed along the canal, so that you can skate for fifteen minutes, stop and eat a Beaver Tail... skate another fifteen minutes, eat another Beaver Tail.

I stuck with the classic sugar and cinnamon... only once trying the maple syrup version. I really wanted to try the savoury ones like cheese and garlic... but the sweet ones are so good!

posted on 2/22/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Since I am planning on flying down the canal at breakneck speeds I thought better have some Keihl's All Sport Non Freeze Moisturizer.

Hah! OK, I am so not going to be skating at breakneck speeds, but isn't it nice to have activity specific products?

posted on 2/21/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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We are off to Ottawa this afternoon to enjoy the last weekend of Winterlude. I have been several times but not the past two years. Here are some pictures from the last time we went. Everything takes place along the frozen Rideau Canal. The ice skating is great.... no going around and around a rink... this is zooming down long stretches of straight ice. And there is the Beaver Tail stand, hot chocolate, ice sculptures... etc. One evening we want to catch the fire and drum show with techno dj's.

I also imagine a large part of the weekend will be spent watching Tina skating as quickly as she can away from the people in the Ice Hog costumes.

posted on 2/20/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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This Valentine's Day all my friends got jars of Ljc's Cranberry Body Scrub. To see how I made it check out the project page.

They should all have smooth elbows and feet now... if someone hasn't mistaken the jars for strawberry jam that is.

posted on 2/19/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Someone asked what I got for V-day... I was quite spoiled. I got Clean Fun Perfume and a secret message heart necklace from Red Envelope. But the best gift was handmade chocolate covered strawberries. Both Aaron and Chuck got together to make these. They were so gewwwd. I especially loved the ones that were wearing little tuxes. I have been rationing them.

posted on 2/18/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Just so folks don't think my Valentine's Gift to Aaron was completely selfish, I did also get him a Dyna Flex Gyro Ball. He wasn't into it at first... he couldn't get it going.

I kept taking it from him while saying "No no no... watch me!" After three minutes of my manic whirling he would look completely disgusted. Once he figured out how to get it running though, he couldn't put it down. Carpal tunnel begone!

posted on 2/17/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Always on the lookout for something new and different, I found cooking classes to give Aaron for Valentine's Day. I signed him (and me... and Chuck and Tina) up for a Cheese Class at Tops Cooking School and a Meat Grilling Class at Wegmans Cooking School. We get to watch instructors, do some hands on work and then eat the results. Then Aaron will have some new dishes to add to his repertoire. Was this self serving? Perhaps.

posted on 2/16/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Yesterday Aaron and I drove to Woolrich, PA to meet my family at the Woolrich Outlet store. I got a wool jacket and a stuffed sheep. I was also fascinated with the wool braided rug display they had. My grandmother makes hooked wool rugs... but those look time consuming. I think braided rugs are more up my alley.

So I got the special joining needle and a set of folding cones that roll your wool into perfect strips for braiding. I think I am going to start off with a cotton or jersey rug first... don't want to ruin a bunch of wool right off the bat. My grandmother recommened searching second hand stores for wool coats to cut into strips.

I found a fractal pattern called braided rug that has wonderful colors for a rug. Also check out these funky shaped rugs. (major tripping hazards)

posted on 2/15/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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posted on 2/14/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I love it when internet culture seeps into other media. Have you ever seen the Moon Song at rathergood.com? The little marmosets with buggy eyes and bad teeth singing "I love the moon!" Quiznos used them for their latest commercial. You can view it on their website.

This is kinda like when MTV (or is it VH1?) started using the rockin' kittens for their promos.

posted on 2/13/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Oscar likes to make himself comfortable.

Yep, that's him, a lethargic lump perched on Aaron's shoulder.

I don't think Aaron had much choice.

Better than a buckwheat pillow.

posted on 2/12/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I was browsing the Nike website trying to find red sneakers with a little heart on the heel that I had seen at the mall. But what caught my attention was Nike ID. It stands for Nike Individually Designed.

You can step through and choose what color you want each part of the sneaker to be and then you order it. You can even put your name on the heel (note the LJC). Cool! As for the style of the sneaker... I swear my mom had a pair of sneakers like these in the seventies, only they were neon yellow with teal blue accents.

posted on 2/11/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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A couple of people have sent me links to the pug banks. They are adorable. Actually, Aaron got one from Joel and Lara at the holidays.

We had a scary incident the other evening when we were trying to figure out how one would get the money out of the bank. We were turning the pug bank over and over and Oscar was watching intently. Then Aaron pulled on it's head and it popped off. Oscar nearly passed out. I had to cover his eyes 'til Aaron got the head back on. So if we start saving our quarters in this particular bank, we will have to empty it when Oscar isn't around.

posted on 2/10/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Hard pressed for a Valentines Day gift idea? Can't decide between a nice card or roses? Get the gift that gives both! Speaking roses are roses with your own personal message embossed right on the petals. "A rose written with any other name would read as sweet."

I know someone that would love the Harley Davidson one.

posted on 2/09/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Sting was wearing a kilt at the Grammys and good for him, I say, good for him. He looked good!

I think more guys should wear kilts. Sting should look into getting a Utilikilt. They are like the Carhartt of kilts. "A multi-functional kilt designed for working men." Lots of pockets!

posted on 2/08/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I have listened to Sarah Brightman for several years. I really became a fan after watching the Las Vegas, Bellagio water fountains dance to her "Time to Say Goodbye".

She was in Rochester this evening and Aaron got us tickets. The tour is called Harem. There were flowing costumes, moving stage parts and a troupe of bellydancers... (Tina and I took bellydancing classes a couple of years ago, so that was esp. cool to see). Her voice can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. If she comes to your town... I highly recommend going... it's a great show.

posted on 2/07/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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What is this? A collection of a child's toys put out for display? No. These are all Oscar's toys that now need mending. Whenever I see that he has a bit of stuffing stuck to his face, I confiscate the injured toy and put it in a basket.

After several months the basket is quite full and I have promised him that I will now fix them. So I have gotten out my needle and extra strong thread under his watchful eye. It will be quite the reunion when I am done.

posted on 2/06/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Just a note on the pizza post... I don't have a problem with folks that are on low carb diets... if that's what works for you, that's what works for you. I saw a post that said "And today, LJC railed against low-carb pizza dough." Huh-Uhh... note that I said a low carb dough "might be ok"... (tasting I mean). It was the pizza toppings in a bucket mascarading as a full fledged pizza that cut me to the quick. Just wanted to point that out.

posted on 2/05/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Move over Friendster, check out Oscar's Dogster Page!

It took me awhile to type up his info and quite an amount of time was spent pouring over his many folders of pictures, but he is up there!

Anyone got a pooch that wants to be his friend?

posted on 2/05/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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Because of the number of people on low carb diets, some pizza makers are trying to make low carb pizza. One way is a pizza dough made of soy. That might be ok.

Another is to offer a "pizza in a bucket", which is all the pizza toppings in a crock or can. People! Stop the madness! I can understand the desire to loose weight... but for the luva.... don't mess with PIZZA! Pizza! Is nothing sacred?!

posted on 2/04/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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I must say I love the heart candy stamps the post office put out for Valentines Day (and just in time for save the date cards), but it is very frustrating when your Pollen Design snail stamp holder only holds rolls of stamps.

posted on 2/03/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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How to tell you are becoming a grown up: You buy your first house.

How to tell you are fully ensconced in home ownership and adulthood: You refinance at 5.75% and mumble things like "escrow" under your breath.

How to tell you still have your priorities straight: Upon learning from your closing lawyer that the market that closed recently, a block from your newly refinanced house is going to be a bakery soon... you squeal exceptionally loudly with joy.

posted on 2/02/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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A full weekend.... Friday night: shopping at Parkleigh, dinner at Hogan's Hideaway. Saturday: manicure at Waterlily, lunch at Simply Crepes, saw "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in evening. Sunday: snowboarding at Bristol Mountain, then chili making and Super Bowl watching at Chuck and Tina's. Whew!

posted on 2/01/2004 :: link :: (0) comments

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