Somusing

I've been thinking about starting this list for a while. When I was a teenager, I was pretty loyal to a certain kind of music, and I was definitely a little uppity about only liking alternative music, which at the time was called New Wave. Or something. Most of what I listened to seemed electronic at the time. I say "seemed" because I didn't have a very clear idea of what produced various sounds, and I thought I was mostly listening to synthesizers. (I didn't know, okay!). Now I know better, for the most part. But anyway, here are a few songs that I've grown to appreciate as I grew up, mostly in the last few years. (Maybe the years from age 38 to 40 aren't typically considered growing up years, but it would be depressing if I didn't think I was still growing up.) "Rock the Casbah" by the Clash. I've never been a big fan of The Clash, and I especially hated "Should I Stay or Should I Go." (He should go! Clearly!) But this cov...

After I got over the initial shock of Wait! You're Messing with Pride and Prejudice! , I loved this British mini-series . I think Jane Austen would love it, too. Mr. Bennet, whose first name turns out to be Claude, has the funniest and best lines, for the most part, but there's a lot of good stuff here. As I mentioned, though, if you're a Pride and Prejudice fan, you must be prepared for irreverence and chaos with beloved characters, but things turn out all right in the end. It's fun and refreshing to have something new happen in the story.

I've given this recipe to a lot of people, so I decided to do a post about it, so I can just refer to it in the future. Although it occurs to me that I haven't verified that the people to whom I've given the recipe actually like it. But whatever. It works for me, so here it is: 6 cups whole wheat flour (or 5 cups whole wheat flour and 1 cup white flour or any combination you desire) 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 2 1/4 teaspoon yeast (one package, if you're buying those little packages) 2 1/2 cups water (about 110°, like a pretty warm bath) about 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable or olive oil or whatever) 2 to 4 tablespoons honey (I don't like bread overly sweet, so I stick to the lower amount. I think. I don't usually measure) Mix all the dry ingredients in a stand mixer. (I have a Kitchenaid and use the dough hook for this bread, although I usually mix the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon first. Also, I almost never proof my yeast. I've never had it f...

So, I haven't been reading much lately. I'm halfway through a novel called Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin, but it's been so long since I picked it up that there's an impressive layer of dust on the front cover. (And I think I've even dusted it once since I opened it last.) It's an entertaining and hilarious novel reminiscent of A Confederacy of Dunces , except that it's about a silly crown prince in England (and later in America) instead of about a misanthropic fat man in New Orleans. I think I will finish it someday, but for now, my reading habits have taken an unfamiliar (to me) turn. I'm knitting and watching more online TV, although I seem to have finally gotten over the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel obsession. (Thank goodness. But I don't guarantee that it won't return.) And otherwise, I'm reading bits and pieces of many non-fiction books: Confessions of a Public Speaker by Scott Berkun; 10 Habits that Mess Up a Woman...

I almost forgot that I saw this movie , but I did and it was even in a theater. And actually, it was rather funny and not your typical romantic comedy. Sandra Bullock is a fine comedic actor. It's not a great movie, but it's entertaining.

I have fond memories of the soundtrack to Saturday's Warrior and vague memories of my parents taking me to see a live production when I was little. We watched this 1989 production of the play while we were at my parents' house over Thanksgiving. I think I might be permanently scarred. The combination of cheesiness and 1980s fashion was too much for me. There's probably some pretty interesting psychological stuff I could get into (I used to think that looked cool?), but I'd rather not.

Yes Man is good! One of Jim Carrey's more thoughtful movies, funny but with something meaningful to say. I always like Zooey Deschanel, too. This movie is at least loosely based on a non-fiction book by Danny Wallace, which I'd like to read. Wallace sounds like the British version of A.J. Jacobs, doing semi-crazy stuff and then writing books about the experience.