Happy Hour at Chez Animal Hair Can I get you a drink?

This is what happens when you have one of those really high beds and you fall out of it in the middle of the night and crack your head on the bedside table.

Maker’s Mark may have been involved…

I’m just sayin’…

Posted under Random Thoughts

On another unrelated note (well, sort of unrelated) they have a kid on today who is a “singer” and is supposedly the number one artist on MySpace, the number one artist played on the radio, etc, etc. But I’ve never heard of him. And guess what? He sucks. He sings totally off key. Then after he performed “No Woman No Cry” he was talking to Matt and he told Matt that he writes 100% of his own songs. Riiiight. YOU wrote that. Um, dude, it was written in 1974 approximately eight years before you were born! What is the world coming to?

Posted under Random Thoughts

Will someone please tell me why I torture myself each day? Every morning I wake up and automatically turn on the Today show and every day it makes me so mad I want to smash my tevee.

There are some good things about the show. None of which I care to go into right now because I want to complain about something that cheeses me EVERY single time I watch it.

Their sound editors should lose their jobs. There, I said it. I say it every morning out loud, the dogs know it. But I want everyone to know it including the people at the Today show.

Maybe it’s not the sound editor, maybe it’s the director…but whomever has the job of regulating the sound…that guy or gal, he/she should at the very least lose his/her job. I have wished much worse than that on some mornings.

Here’s what I’m talking about. For example this morning: They came back from commercial and they are showing a clip from “The Bourne Ultimatum”. It’s just the clip, with the sound from the film. Then we start to hear Anne Curry, Al Roker and Natalie Morales talking about the film and (I think) the fact that one of the actors is going to be on the show soon. But they are the same volume as the film clip. LOUD. So I can’t understand anything that is being said on in the film OR in the studio. It’s all a loud mess. This happens several times per episode. Several.

Is it really that hard to just turn down the sound on the clip so that we can hear the announcers? Or is what the announcers saying so unimportant you don’t want us to hear them? If that’s the case, then why are they even talking?

The announcers (Matt, Meredith, Anne, Al, etc) also talk over their interviews. They’ll be interviewing someone and when the person is talking they’ll start talking over them and interrupting. I don’t mean when they’re trying to cut them off at the end of a segment. I mean like this: The other day Natalie was interviewing someone and she asked a question that was like, “What do you think about…?” the person began to answer and then Natalie pipes in again with “…because I always thought…” While the person is talking!! How rude. Isn’t one of the cardinal rules of interviewing to NOT talk over your subject? If it’s not it sure should be.

It’s like you are intently paying attention to something on TV and the person next to you is talking really loud in your ear. It’s more than annoying. I end up yelling “shut up!” at the TV every morning. Today I decided to say something about it. I hope the people at the Today show are listening. If this irritates you too, comment here or write about it yourself. Maybe someone will get the message.

Posted under Random Thoughts

Mexican Lasagna

Mexican Lasagna

I created this dish when I had an open jar of Mole and I didn’t want it to go bad so I tried to get creative. I did this when hubby was out of town so that if it failed it was only me who didn’t eat that night. It turned out pretty good. But when I made it a second time, I changed up a few things. This is the end result.

2 links of chorizo sausage (see note*), optional
8 ounces tomato sauce
½ teaspoon coriander, ground
1 ½ teaspoons chipotle powder **
1 teaspoon chili powder
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons Dona Maria Mole Paste
½ cup or more of water
6-7 6″ flour tortillas (corn could probably be used)
8 ounces black refried beans (fat free) I buy a 14 ounce can, but I didn’t use the whole thing
½ cup (maybe more) frozen corn (you don’t even have to thaw it)
4 ounce jar roasted red peppers
2 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix
1 cup chopped cilantro, optional
sour cream for garnish

Put the tomato sauce in a small saucepan. Add the coriander, chipotle powder, chili powder, and ground cinnamon. Bring to just boil, then reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes. This is just to get the flavors all mingled. The first time I made this, I did not cook this sauce I just added the seasonings and it was fine, so if you want to skip that step you can. But I think this gives a better flavor.

While that’s simmering, slice up the chorizo and put it in a pan. Cook it until it gets a little brown on the edges. If you wanted to make this vegetarian, leave it out. There are so many flavors you won’t really know the difference. When the chorizo is done remove it to a paper towel to drain.

Mix the Mole past with water until it becomes the same consistency as the tomato sauce.

Set up the work space so you have everything: 9×9″ lasagna pan, tortillas (each one cut in half), corn, peppers, tomato sauce, mole, beans, and cheese. I set it up in the order they go in so that I don’t miss anything.

Spray the pan with cooking spray and begin layering:

Tomato sauce (just a little at first)
Mole sauce
Tortillas – put them with the cut edges touching the sides so that it goes all the way to the edge of the pan.

Beans
Chorizo
Corn
Peppers
Cheese
…and repeat being sure to end with tortillas, sauce and cheese.

I sprinkled some cilantro over the top.

Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 30 minutes just to warm everything up and melt the cheese.

Serve with sour cream and more cilantro as garnish. I also served this with guacamole and tortilla chips.

* I used cooked chorizo because it’s the only kind I could find, but uncooked would be better. Cooked it turns out like summer sausages; uncooked it would look more like hamburger. The choice is yours.

**could use cayenne If you can’t find this, but I use this stuff a lot so I think it’s worth getting. This is the kind I have and it’s great. Though I only have the Chipotle, not the whole set:

[click here]

Click for extreme close up. Note this is what it looks like before it goes into the oven

Posted under Chicken, Cooking, Random Thoughts, Vegetarian

Idiocracy
Starring: Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph
Directed By: Mike Judge

We finally got around to watching this movie last night. Oh my. OK so I knew it was a Mike Judge movie and being someone who has seen Office Space more times than I can count (it’s on every weekend) I was looking forward to this.

The premise is this: Smart people actually think about having kids and don’t do so until they are prepared (sometimes meaning they don’t have kids at all) while stupid people procreate like bunnies. So in the future the earth will be very crowded and everyone will be basically mentally retarded.

In an Army experiment two people (Luke Wilson and Maya Rudolph), who are of average intelligence, are put on ice and supposed to be thawed in a year, but the facility gets torn down and so they are not awakened until 500 years later.

There is so much in this film that is offensive. Maybe it’s because I used to work for an agency that helps people with mental disabilities, but I don’t think it’s just that. I did notice that there weren’t very many “white” people in “the future”. They were all either Latino, black or Native American looking. Maybe he was trying to say that the races would all be mooshed together, or maybe he wasn’t even thinking. But I couldn’t help notice. It was like he was saying the smart race (white) will be non-existent. I’ve never been really PC but this was kind of annoying even to me.

OK social conscientiousness and political correctness aside…there were some parts that I thought were hilarious once I lightened up. I liked how Luke Wilson’s character got out of going into jail by just telling the guard that he was in the wrong line, that he was supposed to be in the line for getting out of jail. He gets a slap in the face, called an asshole and told to get in the right line.

Dax Shepard was very funny as Wilson’s lawyer and buddy. Maya Rudolph is funny as usual and Luke Wilson is very charming.

I don’t know, I don’t see it becoming part of my life nearly as much as Office Space has. But it was entertaining as long as you are OK with some offensive stuff. Maybe I’ll see it one more time to make sure, but I sincerely doubt I will be watching it every weekend.

I’d give it 3 of 5 stars.

Posted under Comedy, Movie Reviews

We went out to lunch this afternoon with my Dad and Jackie and they were telling us about a DVD they got that had a short on it that was one in a series of shorts from the 40s that were called Pete Smith Specialties. I didn’t think I had heard of these, but once they described them more I’m pretty sure I’ve seen one or two. Probably on old DVDs.

So my dad was saying that he would love to have them all on DVD, I thought that must be available. So I looked online and nothing! It appears that they only put one or two on a DVD for another film, never did they create a DVD with all of them on it. Which bums me out. So if any of you know anything about a collection like that, let me know.

UPDATE: I just found a listing for this on Turner Classic Movie’s Website. They have a thing where you can vote if you would like it released on DVD. So far there are only 18 votes including mine. So please go to: [here] and vote for getting it on DVD!!!

Thanks!

I found one of them on YouTube:

Posted under Random Thoughts, tv/movies

As you know I am looking for a job. I’m pretty worried about losing my house so I’m pretty much applying for everything.

I just wanted to point out the scammers that I have come across.

I have twice now applied for jobs only to find out that they are scams and I wanted to let others know what I’ve found.

One of these was on Career Builder and the other was on Craigslist.

The other thing I want to warn against is that if you post your resume on Career Builder you will be inundated with Spam. I put up my resume using my pristine gmail account and within hours it started, I am getting about 10 spam emails per day. So use only a throwaway email address when applying there. Damn that makes me mad. I was so careful not to use that email address online or anywhere that spammers can find me and now it’s ruined.
Ass hats.

OK so this is what the ad looks like:

We are looking for a person who is qualified in the following:
- Previous Experience in Data Entry
- Type 25-30 WPM
- Detail oriented/ multi-task
- Organizational & file management skill
- Has Home Office (This is a Telecommute Position)
Send resume to: (email address removed, I’ll tell you if you comment here)
ATTN: Stuart

The email I got in return says that the company is Wan2B Data Entry (real nice name, what are you eleven?) and that I can make up to $400 a week? Say it ain’t so?! $400 a week?!! That’s crazy money!! (I need to make double that in order to keep my house). Not only does the pay suck, but also it’s going to cost me $15.95 to get the “training materials”. Stuart kindly provided me with a PayPal link so I could just send the money right away. The company doesn’t even have a website.

Then once I am done “training” all I do is post this very same ad on other job sites….trying to scam others. There is no end product, its sole purpose is to pull others into the ring. Just crazy.

The other one I got was at least a real company, but the idea is the same. You pay $15 for the training materials that then show you how to can post ads on other job sites and lure others into the scheme. Here’s that site: http://www.bianaryproduction.com

Here’s the site where I found the info about what they really are.

http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/255/RipOff0255416.htm

Can’t someone just hire me for a real job? Not that I really want one, mind you. As I mentioned I love being a Lady of Leisure. But it’s getting really scary money-wise. I’m down to trying to invent things for meals based on what we have in the house. So soon we’ll be eating mustard and jelly sandwiches. Actually that might be OK now that I think about it.

I just don’t want to lose the house. The mortgage will be going up in September and it will become more than Greg makes so it’s not even funny. Just scary. Damn why did my previous job have to suck so badly? I was really enjoying it there until the new guy took over and made all those changes. Ugh.

I have an interview with another placement agency tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Posted under Random Thoughts

Hey! I just found this out! I may have stumbled upon my new job!!!

Posted under Random Thoughts

You only know who I am talking about if you also read Crazy Aunt Purl’s Blog, but I’ve been either near tears or sobbing uncontrolably since I read this last night. Every once in awhile the song she mentions pops into my head and I start weeping again.
I just started reading some of the almost 1400 (!!) comments and my chest actually hurts.

I hope Misha has met him over the Rainbow Bridge. Read if you want to cry…hard…hell read it even if you don’t. It’s funny and touching and beautiful.

[Roy]

Laurie, if you happen to read this, my heart is breaking for you and Roy. While I’ve never met either of you, I’ve been reading about you for a couple of years now and I feel like I know you. Roy was lucky to have such a great friend.

Posted under Random Thoughts

I made this for lunch today. It was kind of a whim. I wanted to make that Avocado salad again but my last avocado was moldy. I still felt I should have a salad, so I used almost the same dressing, but added noodles to it. It was really quite yummy, that dressing can pretty much go with anything. This time I used honey instead of sugar.

Ingredients
1 package Ramen Noodles
¼ cup sliced almonds
1 ½ cups lettuce or spring green mixture

Dressing
1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce (eyeball it, I really don’t know how much I used)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice (could use lime too)
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil

*note I am guessing on all these amounts, I just threw stuff together and am now trying to guess how much I used. It ended up equaling about ¼ cup of dressing. Perhaps a little less.

Begin by toasting the almonds. Throw them into a dry pan and shake the pan moving the nuts around until they’re toasty but not burned on all sides. Remove them from the pan and put on a paper towel to cool. You can do this while the noodles are cooking if you’re confident you can pay attention and won’t burn them.

Cook the noodles in a couple of cups of water. I used about half of the seasoning packet in the water (it was Chicken mushroom flavor, any would do except for the creamy ones).

While they are cooking put the lettuce in a big bowl. I used the European blend from Dole. The prepackaged ones.

Once the noodles are cooked drain them and run under cold water until they are chilled. Put the noodles on top of the lettuce and the dressing over that. Then sprinkle the almonds on top.

*Note 2: the noodles could probably be split between two salads but I like noodles better than lettuce so I used it all for myself. Hee.

Click on the bottom photo for an extreme close up.

Posted under Cooking, Vegetarian