Translating for a Toddler

While walking towards our local grocery store, my daughter says:

"Mommy. Obama. Up."

Translation:

"Mommy, I see the Canadian flag on the roof of the grocery store."

Hot Men: David Bowie (1980’s – 2000, Labyrinth)

My very favourite, number one hot man is none other than legendary rocker, David Bowie. Though an iconic character chameleon, he manages to exude an irresistible magnetism whether he’s in platforms and full make up or in a perfectly tailored suit. My favourite Bowie period however, is between the 80’s until around 2000. My first encounter with David Bowie was not through his uber-successful music career but through the Jim Henson movie “Labyrinth.” As a teenager, I was enraptured with the tall mystical character he played, Jareth the Goblin king. With long wild hair, flowing cape, tights, boots and make up, I was soon fantasizing that I was the heroine Sarah, and accepting his invitation to be loved and ruled by him forever! Soon afterward, I tried to find out everything I could about Bowie and became a fan. Time has passed too quickly and suddenly it's twenty years later and this movie is now considered a “cult classic.” And since the movie is twenty years older, so is he. Mind you, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed now. The jowls are dropping and the overindulgence of the 70’s and 80’s are showing, but he continues to make me catch my breath with his startling eyes, lean figure, and throaty voice. I’m so glad my husband is so understanding.

It's not over, the music of the night...

There are times when a good thing should be left alone. Andrew Lloyd Weber apparently, cannot do that. He has decided to make a sequel to his incredibly successful The Phantom of the Opera, calling it “Love Never Dies”. Based on the novel by Frederick Forsyth, The Phantom of Manhattan has been described by reviewers as a complete disaster. In the preface, it has the audacity to question Gaston Leroux’s (the author of the original story) “version” of the story in regards to various character’s ages, motives, and intents. The Phantom of Manhattan has Erik (the Phantom) as 27 (Leroux has him at 50) and the murders Erik commits as accidents. For goodness sakes! It’s a friggin’ story made up in Leroux’s head!
This is what else is planned for the sequel:
From Access Hollywood: The follow-up to “Phantom,” which debuted in 1986 with Michael Crawford in the lead role, will take place a decade after the original, with the story set on Brooklyn’s Coney Island.
And the Phantom, who disappears at the end of the original musical, will reunite with lost love Christine.

…and what? Get married? Have kids? Stooooooopid!

Scenario:
Christine: Erik? Erik? Is that you?
Erik: Christine! It's been ages!
Christine: I almost didn't recognize you.
Erik: Oh, I had some surgery done. How's Raoul?
Christine: Oh, him. We broke up ages ago. (Flutters eyelashes flirtatiously)
Cue the orchestra, Phantom and Christine break into glorious song.


It’s obvious that they decided that they haven’t made enough money from the original musical and merchandise. Weber, you idiot. Leave well enough alone...that's all I ask of you!

Ode to food

I think it is fitting to begin my first blog post on one of my greatest passions: food. A few friends consider me a gourmet, most others, including myself, a foodie. Whatever the term may be, I know that since I was little, the domestic domain was one of my favourite imaginary pastimes. Shelling maple seeds as though they were peas and then frying their fresh green seeds in the sun til they were brown. Using my plastic bowling set as chicken drumsticks and a big black coconut, roasting them over a pretend fire fashioned from an archaic exercise contraption that I imagined to be a spit. Everything around me a potential food toy. From my lego bricks (little pieces of stir fry), to ping pong balls (eggs), to the foliage in the garden (salad), the world was my all-u-can-eat buffet. Imagine my joy when I received a working miniature kitchen that had running water through its faucets and light up stove elements, my penquin shaped refrigerator, and my Fischer Price hot plate!
Now on the wrong side of 30, I own 2 toy kitchens and a beautiful assortment of miniature food items, thanks to Japanese collectable toy makers. My daughter has just turned 2 and has received a lovely kitchen playset with bubbling and sizzling sounds. And so, I have come full circle. I now sit and enjoy watching her make megoblock cake and teddy bear stir fry. Isn’t life grand?