When thinking about fictional spies and cops, many might name James Bond first. Not me. I love TV spies and agents. They are handsome, brave, romantic, and adventurous. Who are my favorites?
1. Chuck Bartowski from Chuck. Chuck was played by Zachary Levi. This show just ended its 5-year run. A computer geek turned spy who is both sexy and nerdy. The show was so fun--a real mix of action, comedy, and drama.
2. Lee Stetson (Scarecrow) from Scarecrow and Mrs.King. Stetson was played by Bruce Boxleitner. This ran from 1983-87 (yes, it's dating me), and it also had Kate Jackson. The show took place when Russia was the USSR and there were more communist countries. Scarecrow was a great spy and a ladies' man until Jackson's character (Mrs. King) tamed him.
3. Michael Weston from Burn Notice. Weston is played by Jeffrey Donovan. This USA Network show has great action, a real spy hero who still has a heart and a conscience. We even get lessons in how to blow up buildings w/o getting caught! The Miami setting is great too.
4. Agent Fritz Howard from The Closer. He may not get start billing with his TV wife Brenda Lee Johnson Kyra Sedgwick), but Jon Tenney is one handsome and sexy agent. He loves Brenda and tolerates her putting him second to her job. And he loves cats!
5. Derek Morgan from Criminal Minds. Played by Shemar Moore, Morgan is tough yet caring. It's great how protective he is of Garcia. He is an agent I would want on my side.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
I am From...
I am from the marble top dining room table
From I.D. cards and moving vans
I am from multiple homes, an Air Force nomad
I am from the Sweet Gum tree
Whose tall stature shaded me
I am from clarinet and student yearbook
From McCollum and Elam
I am from strict, generous
And social
I am from the golden rule
I am from Bessie and Betty
From stodge and butterscotch pie
From being scalped by an Indian
And serving in World War II
My doggy bank
I am from those moments and more
From I.D. cards and moving vans
I am from multiple homes, an Air Force nomad
I am from the Sweet Gum tree
Whose tall stature shaded me
I am from clarinet and student yearbook
From McCollum and Elam
I am from strict, generous
And social
I am from the golden rule
I am from Bessie and Betty
From stodge and butterscotch pie
From being scalped by an Indian
And serving in World War II
My doggy bank
I am from those moments and more
Monday, January 16, 2012
The new semester is upon us
Where did time go? It seems just last week I was grading portfolios and getting ready for Christmas. Now it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and spring classes start tomorrow.
Break was good, a welcome reprieve from the routine of classes and prepping and grading. I so enjoyed spending extra time with my family, sleeping in occasionally, and catching up on a few shows I DVR'd. I enjoyed a different routine, and I thought about spring classes.
Now the thinking has been turned into action. Finalizing the syllabus, assignments, and activities. Preparing for a new routine. Change is good, which is one reason I enjoy teaching. Twice a year I meet new people and have a new start with classes. I can mix up assignments, swap a textbook that didn't work well, and try a new schedule. This time I have one online class and two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My school day begins at 12:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.
To everyone starting fresh, good luck to you!
Break was good, a welcome reprieve from the routine of classes and prepping and grading. I so enjoyed spending extra time with my family, sleeping in occasionally, and catching up on a few shows I DVR'd. I enjoyed a different routine, and I thought about spring classes.
Now the thinking has been turned into action. Finalizing the syllabus, assignments, and activities. Preparing for a new routine. Change is good, which is one reason I enjoy teaching. Twice a year I meet new people and have a new start with classes. I can mix up assignments, swap a textbook that didn't work well, and try a new schedule. This time I have one online class and two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My school day begins at 12:30 p.m. instead of 9:30 a.m.
To everyone starting fresh, good luck to you!
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Influential Books
Can I choose only one influential book? Of course, there are SO many. I love to read, and read a variety of genres. I will avoid the obvious (The Bible) and choose a collection of books that changed my approach to food, which changed me both inside and out.
A few years ago, I became bogged down in the everyday routine of work and household. With teenage boys (one in college) and all that comes with, I had lost interest in cooking. It had become dull and stressful. I then signed up for a personal chef service, someone who came up with exciting meals (based on our likes and dislikes), bought the food, prepared it in our home, cleaned up (yes, cleaned up) and put the meals either in the freezer or fridge. She prepared enough for 10 meals in one day. I came home to the smells of beef stew, turkey saltimbocca, and individual pizza turnovers.
We did this for over a year, then she started to change. She rented out a commercial kitchen, so she no longer cooked in my home. She delivered the food, but it just wasn't the same. But the biggest change was the summer I did not teach. With extra time on my hands (no papers to grade!), what could I do? I started watching shows on Food Network, especially Rachael Ray and Giada de Laurentiis. They used fresh ingredients, made homemade sauces, they made me hungry and made me want to cook! I picked up a cookbook from each of them. I found a way to spend some of my "free" time and be productive. I found my passion for cooking again. Cooking real food with fresh ingredients.
With this new found passion, we "fired" the personal chef. My husband became by sous chef. We shopped at farmer's markets more. We felt healthier. We did not need packaged, processed food (like rice mixes and such). The meals were often made within 30-45 minutes (or used the Dutch over or slow cooker). Cooking well was not that difficult.
Thanks to Rachael and Giada for all they have inspired me to do! I know own most of Rachael's cookbooks and two of Giada's, plus two from the Barefoot Contessa. These are my favorite cookbooks, but I do have a collection of others, used less frequently. I just got Rachael's new Look and Cook book and tried the Chicken Cutlets with Orange and Arugula (but I used lettuce instead of arugula). What flavor the chicken had!!
A few years ago, I became bogged down in the everyday routine of work and household. With teenage boys (one in college) and all that comes with, I had lost interest in cooking. It had become dull and stressful. I then signed up for a personal chef service, someone who came up with exciting meals (based on our likes and dislikes), bought the food, prepared it in our home, cleaned up (yes, cleaned up) and put the meals either in the freezer or fridge. She prepared enough for 10 meals in one day. I came home to the smells of beef stew, turkey saltimbocca, and individual pizza turnovers.
We did this for over a year, then she started to change. She rented out a commercial kitchen, so she no longer cooked in my home. She delivered the food, but it just wasn't the same. But the biggest change was the summer I did not teach. With extra time on my hands (no papers to grade!), what could I do? I started watching shows on Food Network, especially Rachael Ray and Giada de Laurentiis. They used fresh ingredients, made homemade sauces, they made me hungry and made me want to cook! I picked up a cookbook from each of them. I found a way to spend some of my "free" time and be productive. I found my passion for cooking again. Cooking real food with fresh ingredients.
With this new found passion, we "fired" the personal chef. My husband became by sous chef. We shopped at farmer's markets more. We felt healthier. We did not need packaged, processed food (like rice mixes and such). The meals were often made within 30-45 minutes (or used the Dutch over or slow cooker). Cooking well was not that difficult.
Thanks to Rachael and Giada for all they have inspired me to do! I know own most of Rachael's cookbooks and two of Giada's, plus two from the Barefoot Contessa. These are my favorite cookbooks, but I do have a collection of others, used less frequently. I just got Rachael's new Look and Cook book and tried the Chicken Cutlets with Orange and Arugula (but I used lettuce instead of arugula). What flavor the chicken had!!
Where can I find some motivation?
This semester seems never-ending at times. The weather has been a roller coaster of fabulous to miserable. I have a terrible case of spring fever! Yesterday I just wanted to soak up the sun and blow off all my responsibilities (needless to say, I did not). Now I have heard we are in for stormy weather. Yuck!!
My "to do" list is long, and my motivation is short. How can I get it back? I do what absolutely needs to be done, but other tasks get pushed to the next day's list and the next day's list....and when Friday rolls around, I feel free...until I remember the laundry and dishes and grading don't stop on the weekend.
If anyone finds my motivation, send it my way.
My "to do" list is long, and my motivation is short. How can I get it back? I do what absolutely needs to be done, but other tasks get pushed to the next day's list and the next day's list....and when Friday rolls around, I feel free...until I remember the laundry and dishes and grading don't stop on the weekend.
If anyone finds my motivation, send it my way.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Catching up on TV shows
Busy is usually the word that describes me. Busy with work--class prep and grading, busy with house work, cooking, and errands. Busy going places with my husband (he does lots of running races and triathlons). When I have time to kick back and unwind, I either read or watch TV shows. The best way I enjoy TV is either shows I've DVR'd or watching DVDs/Netflix.
Last fall, I watched all 5 seasons of How I Met Your Mother on DVD (my son owns them all). It was fun to watch the shows in order, seeing the characters and plots develop over time. Season 4 to me was a little of a let down. Maybe it was due to the TV writer's strike, but fewer episodes were made, and some of the episodes were disappointing, less interesting.
We have Scrubs on DVD, all except the last, revamped season. It's a great DVD show to watch too. And it's consistently funny. I have watched most the 8 seasons I own.
Last week I started watching the '90s show 3rd Rock From the Sun (streaming on Netflix). It is a show I did not watch much when it was on TV, but I am really finding it funny. The commentary on our lives still rings true. I am still watching season 1, getting to view only an episode or two at a time. Since it was on for 5 seasons (more than 100 episodes), I will be watching for a while.
Any shows you like watching on DVD or Netlflix? Why? Which shows hold their humor over time? Which ones seem less funny now than when they first aired?
Last fall, I watched all 5 seasons of How I Met Your Mother on DVD (my son owns them all). It was fun to watch the shows in order, seeing the characters and plots develop over time. Season 4 to me was a little of a let down. Maybe it was due to the TV writer's strike, but fewer episodes were made, and some of the episodes were disappointing, less interesting.
We have Scrubs on DVD, all except the last, revamped season. It's a great DVD show to watch too. And it's consistently funny. I have watched most the 8 seasons I own.
Last week I started watching the '90s show 3rd Rock From the Sun (streaming on Netflix). It is a show I did not watch much when it was on TV, but I am really finding it funny. The commentary on our lives still rings true. I am still watching season 1, getting to view only an episode or two at a time. Since it was on for 5 seasons (more than 100 episodes), I will be watching for a while.
Any shows you like watching on DVD or Netlflix? Why? Which shows hold their humor over time? Which ones seem less funny now than when they first aired?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Have you seen "Paul"?
During spring break, we wanted to see a movie at the theater. We don't often go to the theater due to the ticket prices and having to agree on a movie and time to see it. Our younger son Eric first wanted to see Hall Pass, but my husband really wanted to see Paul. After reading the positive review on Paul in the Post-Dispatch, we headed to the Cine 15 in O'Fallon on Friday, the day it came out.
The tickets were $8.00 each. We get Netflix for a whole month for a little more than that. However, some movies are better in the theater, the big screen, the sound, the big bucket of popcorn ($8.00 also). We got there early (the second group to arrive) and passed the time till the previews and commercials started by playing games and checking out Facebook on our phones.
The movie was very funny, fairly fast-paced, and well written. We caught a number of references and spoofs of other movies such as Back to the Future and Close Encounters. If you do not care for cussing, you may want to avoid the movie; there is plenty of that language. The acting was good, the characters interesting and sometimes unpredictable. Paul is the alien and what a character!!
I am not a huge sci-fi fan, but I like a well done movie. If you want to laugh out loud and get your money's worth, go see Paul.
The tickets were $8.00 each. We get Netflix for a whole month for a little more than that. However, some movies are better in the theater, the big screen, the sound, the big bucket of popcorn ($8.00 also). We got there early (the second group to arrive) and passed the time till the previews and commercials started by playing games and checking out Facebook on our phones.
The movie was very funny, fairly fast-paced, and well written. We caught a number of references and spoofs of other movies such as Back to the Future and Close Encounters. If you do not care for cussing, you may want to avoid the movie; there is plenty of that language. The acting was good, the characters interesting and sometimes unpredictable. Paul is the alien and what a character!!
I am not a huge sci-fi fan, but I like a well done movie. If you want to laugh out loud and get your money's worth, go see Paul.
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