Valentine's Day 2011

Source:foodnetwork.com

Greggy and I don't typically go overboard with Valentine's Day shtuff. We really don't believe in the commercialism of it all.

We think every day should be Valentine's day. And every day should be Christmas. Same goes for New Year. And maybe every day should be summer and we should have four day weekends and really I need to be able to eat what I want and not gain any weight and I feel I shouldn't have to exercise at all but I have to.

I digress!

Back to the topic on hand, every day is Valentine's day for me and Greggy. We love each other so much in a very easy, natural, "don't-have-to-pretend-we-like-being-with-each-other-cause-we-really-do-without-faking-it-and-don't-have-to-change-who-we-are-to-get-along-and-we-respect-and-trust-each-other-wholeheartedly" kinda way.

Yes, this is a throw up in your mouth moment.

Anyway, for V-day, we had a random, totally unplanned, no reservations on Valentine's day dinner at Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill on Front St. Then we went to see Gipsy Kings at Sony Centre because Greggy loves them.

The best thing about V-day night (other than us spending time together) was the Tuna Lettuce Wraps at O&B. Imagine how your taste buds will love you for eating citrus soy dipped Ahi tuna with avocado, crispy taro, miso dressing and pickled ginger, nestled inside a perfect boston bib lettuce leaf.

source:oliverbonacini.com

Then feel and dream the taste of their velvety smooth Signature Thai Red Curry with Shrimp and Chicken breast entree, served with Basmati rice and crispy stir-fried Asian vegetables.

No dessert, my skinny jeans were getting too tight, but I had two Margarita on the rocks served in a glass with salted rim.

At the end of the Gipsy Kings concert, we went outside and saw about 6 or 7 white Mercedes and Lexus SUVs. (By the way, the band name is spelled "Gipsy" with an "i" instead of "Gypsy" and it's not a typo you crazy editorial type people and journalism graduates)

For a split second I thought it was for us! But it wasn't! And that was ok!

In conclusion, every day should be Valentine's day and go get some O&B Tuna Wraps.

Hell Week

This is what my week was like:

Source:rcspiritualdirection.com

When I feel better, I will write about surviving on take-out all week, centering yourself when you want to kill everyone, Retro Burger's Feta Poutine and being recognized as a Blogger chick by totally random strangers.

Snowmageddon 2011 Toronto Mass Hysteria

I found it very amusing that people (including my husband) were having massive panic attacks about today's snow storm. For days now, that's all I heard everywhere - at work, at my chiropractor's, during my dad's birthday lunch on Sunday, in the elevator - like, literally everywhere, every day since last Sunday.

Source:weblogs.baltimoresun.com

I think it's great... all the snow, I mean.

That's only because I worked from home today. And because I'm not in charge of shoveling. And because it looks very pretty outside right at this very moment.

And now... for the saddest news ever... I have never... not even once... made a snow angel... or snow man... in my entire life. Sigh.

Outside my front door

Amateur Movie Reviews - 6 - The Rite, Inception

I watched Inception twice: once in the theatre when it was just released and last night at home with Greggy. I still don't see what the big deal is other than the really cool effects, skinny Heath Hedger look-a-like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Eames. I really liked Eames.

Source:allansgraphics.com

The Rite was alright (are you throwing up in your mouth?) and Anthony Hopkins is creepy in the film.

And so are demons. Demons are very creepy and scary, but thank God (yes, pun intended) that I believe there is a higher being that ultimately looks out for the good of all mankind and the universe, including, but not limited to, parallel universes... plus I'm a good person overall, so... I feel somewhat... safe (*gulp*).

I closed my eyes the whole time so I only saw 5% of it. Plus it was set in Rome, and I'm still angry about that whole Roman trip cancellation thing.

Source:deskofbrian.com

Cyberpunk

I have a feeling I am not 100% human.

Source:darkart.cz

Retro Burger... Deep Fried Mars Bar...So Good

retroburger.ca

It's Sunday, -18 degrees and sunny. Because our family is a bit... odd... this was how we spent our day:

- 8:30 AM - Workout (Greggy goes to Xtreme Fitness, I work out in our home gym)

- 11:30 AM - Dentist (Yes, our Dentist takes us in on Sundays)

- 12:30 PM - Urban Sun (Vitamin D for long cold Canadian winters)

- 1:00 PM - Retro Burger (Kennedy Rd. & Eglinton)

I've been wanting to try Retro Burger ever since I saw the Toronto Star article about this humble joint. What I didn't remember (seriously!) is that the article was about Retro Burger selling Deep Fried Mars Bars.

I swear we went for the burgers and not the evil Deep Fried Mars Bar! I got a bacon cheeseburger with a side of onion rings (both decent), and Greggy got the Philly Cheesesteak with a side of Greek salad, to offset the guilt.

I liked Greggy's Philly Cheesesteak better than my bacon cheeseburger, and I vowed that next time I will get the Cheesesteak... I kept thinking "I should have ordered the Cheesesteak! I should have ordered the Cheesesteak damnit!!!!"

Source:pinoyfoodcritic.com

Then innocently, almost shyly, Greggy said: "Look honey, they sell Deep Fried Mars Bars..."

I was super excited because I have never had a Deep Fried Mars Bar before! I used to think that that was just a British or Scottish thing and that it would be gross and yucky and so bad for you and why would anyone want it???!?

Source:fresnobeehive.com

But we bought one, and shared it, and it was deeeliciousss and very very bad, like... Catholic sinner guilt bad.

We enjoyed every sinful bite.

Our Dentist would not have approved of it.

Source:boingboing.net

Is It Me?

Or are teenagers annoying and self-centered?

Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints!!!!

Source:thenextweb.com

M & M Meat Shops Saved My Life

Die-hard vegetarians and pescetarians - don't let the "meat" part of M & M Meat Shops fool you.

In my attempts at simplifying my life and outsourcing most of my domestic responsibilities, I've looked for solutions that will help me with my daily dinner dilemmas (aka DDD). Do you remember the crazy amount of money that I spend every month on food alone?

Anyway, I tested some of M & M's products last weekend and was pleased with the results. Typically I always have to put my own stamp on premade food, but was pleasantly surprised when all I had to do with M & M's Chicken N' Dumplings was add freshly squeezed lemon after it came out of the oven.

Also tried their Supreme Homestyle Meatloaf and Grilled Vegetables, both were a hit with Greggy and T!!!

The best part about M & M products?

- They are super easy to prepare. How hard is it to preheat the oven and stick the product in there per the number of minutes outlined on the user-friendly instructions label?

- Ingredients are all natural. Like, if I cannot pronounce the ingredient listed on the box, I will not buy the product.

- A generous dinner for four days and three people cost me just $87 all in. We spend more than that in one restaurant dinner for two people!

- I can call-ahead (my preferred store is the one near my Shiatsu therapist) and order over the phone. When I get there, my order is already packaged and all I have to do is pay for it and put the bags in my car.

I can go on and on about the benefits of M & M... and no I don't work for them and I don't own a franchise.

But what I really value most above all? Getting a few hours of my time back and not being stressed out about dinner.

This is my love letter to M & M.

Tonight: Flattened Chicken, Gourmet Stuffed Potatoes, Spinach & Feta Supreme Side. And Jeff Lewis' Flipping Out.

Source:dipity.com

Excuses, Excuses

Source:destructoid.com

Here are the Top Four reasons why I have been slacking on my blog entries:

1) I went back to work after being on vacation for three weeks

2) It's snowing outside

Source:atheana.smugmug.com

 
3) I have been obsessing over all-beef hotdogs and southern fried chicken

Source:foodnetwork.com

4) I have been waking up at 5:00 AM every other morning so I can run for 30 minutes with two pound arm weights on, do 20 minutes worth of stretches, followed by 8 minutes of Obusforme bliss.

I think these are very good excuses.

Gabriel Allon (Daniel Silva)

I'm dying for a new espionage movie and Jason Bourne-esque obsession.

Would some hot shot movie studio exec please contact Daniel Silva already?

The Allon Dossier

Prince of Fire

Full Name: 

Gabriel Allon

Height: 

Medium

Weight: 

Medium

Eyes: 

Green

Hair: 

Black with gray temples

Place of Birth: 

Jezreel Valley, Israel

Date of Birth: 

Unknown

Higher Education: 

Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem

Known Residences: 

Cornwall, Venice, Jerusalem

Current Residence: 

Thought to be living in Italy under Vatican protection

Employer: 

Office of Intelligence and Special Tasks, Israel

Status: 

Semi-retired

Area of Expertise: 

Intelligence collection, special investigations, kidnap and capture, interrogation, assassination

First Known Op:

Wrath of God, 1972-1975; personally liquidated six terrorists responsible for Munich Olympics massacre

Weapon of Choice:

Beretta

Known Aliases:

Mario Delvecchio, Alessio Vianelli, Heinrich Kiever, Johannes Klemp, Natan Golani, Ehud Landau, Gideon Argov

Cover:

Art Restorer

Area of Expertise:

Italian Old Master

Favorite Painters:

Titian, Bellini, Caravaggio

Favorite Opera:

La Bohème

Languages:

English, Hebrew, German, Italian, French

Last Known Op:

The Kharkov Affair, Moscow

Known Associates:

Ari Shamron, former chief of Israeli intelligence
Uzi Navot, chief of Israeli Special Ops
Eli Lavon, Office surveillance specialist
Chiara Zolli, Office field operative (also known as Chiara Allon)
Mikhail Abramov, Office assassin and field operative
Yossi Gavish, Office analyst and field operative
Dina Sarid, Office terrorism analyst and field operative
Yaakov Rossman, Shin Bet officer on loan to the Office
Rimona Stern, AMAN analyst on loan to the Office
Julian Isherwood, London art dealer
Francesco Tiepolo, prominent Venetian restorer
Adrian Carter, deputy director for operations, CIA
Sarah Bancroft, Counterterrorism Center operative, CIA
Graham Seymour, deputy director, MI5
Monsignor Luigi Donati, papal private secretary
Pietro Lucchesi, His Holiness Pope Paul VII

Family:

Parents deceased; first wife seriously wounded in 1991 bombing in Vienna; only son killed in same attack; rumored to have recently wed Office field operative Chiara Zolli.

Amateur Movie Reviews - 5 - Black Swan

Source:wallpapersmovie.com

Go see it now. Seriously.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

There is a saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but really I'm just being lazy.

So here is a montage of our Cuban Christmas:

Fam-O-Lee

Playa Pesquero

T & E

Langosta!

An Attempt at Perspective

Everyone knows we were ready for a Roman Holiday, but sadly Heathrow was not ready for us.

Source:bbc.co.uk

However, I also believe that things happen for a reason (today is cliche day!). Get this:

When we were in Cuba, there were several British tourists that we spoke to about the Heathrow airport shutdown. All of them had horror stories about the craziness they encountered on December 19 when we were supposed to fly from Toronto to London to catch our connecting flight to Rome.

Some were trapped on the runway inside a British Airways plane for 14 hours! Others had to wait for 4-5 days before they can get a flight out of Heathrow. Another person told me she had to drive from Heathrow to Gatwick, then stay for 2 days in a dingy motel before she was able to fly out.

The Brits we talked to in Cuba were generally enraged and embarrassed of their country. One couple even said that England is now a third world country (too funny, we know it's not but they were really passionate when they said it).

Lesson learned for us? Don't fly through London during winter.

Source:digitalgroup.info

When we returned home on December 26, my parents told us about the Swiss and Chilean Embassy bombings in Rome on December 23.

Both embassies were less than 30 minutes from our Piazza Di San Cosimato apartment rental.

Souce:myfitv.com

Are you familiar with the term "Causal Determinism"?

Determinism (specifically causal determinism) is the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state (of an object or event) is, to some large degree, determined by prior states.

Something to ponder, n'est pas?

Source:pretty-on-the-inside.tumblr.com

What a Difference a Day Makes

So... we were super prepared and very much looking forward to our Roman Holiday... for months now, right? I seem to recall geekily triangulating the grocery stores around the amazing apartment we were supposed to stay in...

But then Mother Nature decided she did not want us in Europe this time around, so she sent an angry snow storm towards UK and its environs and shut down Heathrow.

Source:ctv.ca

I got the cancellation notice from British Airways last night. I was heartbroken, furious, disappointed, and... did I say heartbroken already? I called itravel2000.com to see what our options are (there were none that worked for us), so feeling defeated (and annoyed) I finally decided to opt for the full refund.

Source:wannasmile.wordpress.com

Note to the rude and bitchy itravel2000.com Sales Rep who wasn't helpful at all: I'm sorry that you had to stay an extra 10 minutes past your skeleton shift to talk to me. Your manager and the Executives of itravel2000.com should expect a nice long letter from me next week.

Anyway, I just couldn't accept that our travel plans were 86d. I just couldn't. I'm not one to just give up. I spent the whole night looking for an alternative arrangement. I'm obsessive about this. I would have been more enraged if I just stayed put this week. I would have obsessed and obsessed over it and likely I would have driven Greggy and T and my parents bananas. B-A-N-A-N-A-S.


So for the same price as my airfare refund, I found a good deal to go on nice warm holiday on the beach from December 21 to December 26. Over the last few weeks I have been buying specific items for a European winter holiday, some of which I won't be able to use on this trip on account of the warm vs. cold destination and all. Oh well.

Source:hirsutehistory.com

I called itravel2000.com on Sunday morning to book it. Yes, this sounds a bit masochistic, but really since I booked my original flight with them and since I'm expecting the refund from them, it was going to be easier for me to track the credits / debits to / from my Visa. 

And you know what? I had a pleasant experience with a gentleman of a Sales Rep; his management should expect a letter from me too.

Very Excited!

How can I possibly focus when I am super excited about my 3 week vacation starting next week! And Rome, oh Rome...  so looking forward to meeting you.

Source:tostayornottostay.blogspot.com

Amateur Movie Reviews - 4 - Hereafter

T randomly asked me to go to the movies this past Sunday - totally unplanned, so I had to make adjustments to my somewhat-already-planned-ish alone time avec moi.

The only movie I was even remotely interested in watching was Hereafter.

Source:beyondhollywood.com

*SPOILER ALERT*

Here is the movie in a nutshell:

- Really awesome Tsunami opening scene.

- Devastatingly sad Marcus (twin brother to Jason, who died instantly after being struck by a car in the middle of London while running away from bullies on his way home from the "chemist" (pharmacist) after picking up his heroin-addicted uber alcoholic mom's prescription to block opiates and other nasty stuff from further entering into her bloodstream)

- Marie LeLay, the pretty, gap-toothed, hard news Host slash she was sleeping with the TV Producer and experienced "in between state of consciousness and nothingness" after being crushed by the Tsunami mentioned above, while buying gifts for her TV Producer lover's kids because he was too sleepy and hungry to do it. TV Producer was also apparently lazy as hell when he asked her to get the hotel to settle the bill and send some breakfast into their room WHILE SHE WAS ON HER WAY TO BUY GIFTS FOR HIS KIDS. I think the Tsunami was his setup, perhaps a way of getting rid of her without having to have that "we need to talk" talk.

- Blue-eyed Asian chick who replaced Marie LeLay as TV Host because Marie was going bananas and obsessing about her Flatliners-esque experience. And... you will be shocked by this... surprisingly, lazy questionable TV Producer was also sleeping with her!

- Psychic George, played by Matt Damon, who communicates with dead people, after he takes living people's hands to "make a connection". He can't have a normal life, let alone a relationship, especially when TMI reality check sets in three minutes after holding their hands.

Dear Matt: You had me at hello when you were Jason Bourne, really. When I obsess about me being Jason Bourne, I always picture you. But, dude, did you really have to take this part?  I know it's hard to say no to Clint Eastwood, but...seriously... there were way too many "George eating by himself in his tiny San Francisco kitchen" scenes. You're lonely. I get it. I totally clued in after the first kitchen scene. I liked it better when you were a lethal assassin.

- Dude from Jerry McGuire, Psychic George's chubby brother, constantly peer-pressured George to monetize his Dion Warwick abilities. I will always remember him as Bob Sugar.

- And finally, Bryce Dallas Howard (daughter of Ron Howard - gosh... I just found this out like two seconds ago (thanks IMDB!)), playing creepy, needy, close-talker girl Melanie.

And - OMG - I just totally clued in that she played the crazy redhead vampire chick in that horrible movie Eclipse!

In conclusion, Gran Torino is way better - go see that one instead.

Trastevere Supermercati (Planning, Obsessing)

Source:ketchupandsoup.blogspot.com

I'm obsessed with food.

Not in an eating disorder kind of way (although I did have a bout of that in the early 2000s).

Rather, I'm obsessed with food because I grew up being obsessed with food. When we celebrate with friends and family, or just need some quality time to catch up on things, or if we want to go out to an event or even to watch movies, etc etc, all plans revolve around food and answers to these questions:

- What are we going to eat

- When are we going to eat

- Where are we going to eat

Among other things, I show love and affection and caring and all that other great mushy, wifey, mommy kinda shtuff through food. 

My biggest panic attack is at the end of my very busy work day when I have not planned for dinner in advance. I keep our neighborhood restaurants in business as every week I cycle through the same places for take-out at least 4 times a week:

- Memories of Japan

- Congee Star

- Arkadia House

- Fiesta Filipino (Levi's Catering)

- And thanks to thefoodpursuit.com I totally just remembered Niji Restaurant

I spend about $350 a week on groceries, plus another $150 or so on take-out a week! For a family of 3, that is a lot!

But I justify this by telling myself that I work really hard so I can have the extra luxuries in life like good food and traveling twice a year. I probably spend majority of my disposable income on food and travel. And maybe the occasional shopping spree at Winners (the Leaside location is my favourite store in the whole wide world).

We own an affordable house, don't really go crazy on cars, T gets her stipend and vocal lessons, and my cat Mitzy Pepper Pie gets groomed every quarter.

I think part of my food obsession now is knowing that back in the day when I was a single mom at 19 years old, I didn't have enough money left over from my measly $22,000 per year salary in 1994 to feed myself. Rent got paid first, then T's baby food and formula, then her subsidized daycare, then T's other necessities, then well... nothing left for me.

But I digress, because this post is about how I have triangulated the grocery stores near the apartment that we will be staying at when we go to Rome in December! The area is called Trastevere and it is supposed to be a mecca for foodies.

Point A is our Apartment in Trastevere.

Point B is where Standa Supermercati is located. Standa is a large modern supermarket underneath the Oviesse department store on Viale Trastevere.

Points C and D show where Todis and Panella are. Todis is a German supermarket chain and Panella is a place where we can get baked goodies and one of the only places to buy Italian Pancetta prepared like bacon we know back here in good ol' North America.

Source:tripadvisor

Point E shows where di Per di is, vaguely described in guide books as a "modern supermarket".

To top this off our Apartment (Point A) is right across Piazza di San Cosimato (San Cosimato square) where there is a daily open air Farmer's Market offering all sorts of Italian produce, fresh seafood, fruits, meats, cheese. In short, everything that makes the food obsessed alter ego inside of me very very happy! Yippee! Fa la la la la, la la la la..........

Source:lonelyplanet.com/travelblogs

Amateur Movie Reviews - 3 - The Town

For our 4th Wedding Anniversary, Greggy and I went back to El Pulgarcito to have chicarron and queso pupusas, taco el pollo, and enchilladas con pollo y queso.

Source:newyork.seriouseats.com

Also, we watched The Town. Go see it. Kinda reminds me of Heat.

It won't change your life or anything, but you will be entertained (and Boston's Charlestown is reminiscent of Flemingdon Park).

Source:csmonitor.com

Vatican City in December (Planning, Scheduling)

Today I contacted the Vatican for 3 main reasons:

1) I want to see the excavations below St. Peter's Basilica (also known as the Vatican Scavi or Vatican Necropolis).

Source:fitforholiness.com

Instructions from the Vatican website:

Reservations

Reservations are only accepted in writing (by e-mail: scavi@fsp.va, by fax: (39-06) 6987-3017, or directly in the Excavations Office.)

With your request to visit the excavations, please provide the following information:

• The exact number of visitors
• Their names (in case of groups, the composition and provenance of the group is also needed [e.g. university, parish, etc.])
• Language desired for the visit
• The dates available during which the Office can arrange the visit (The precise time of the visit will be determined by the Excavations Office).
• Contact information (an e-mail address, fax number, or full postal address) so that the Excavations Office may advise you about your visit.

When a visit is possible, the Office will send a proposed date and time. If the proposed date and time are acceptable, the visitors must so inform the Excavations Office, which will then definitively confirm the visit.

When a visit is not possible:

Given the limited number of group possible, not all requests can be answered positively.

• On occasion, due to the vast number of requests received and the time needed to process them, it may not be possible for the Office to even respond to an application prior to one’s arrival in Rome. In such cases, the Excavation Office regrets that a visit will not be possible.

Office hours

The Excavations Office is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Sundays and holidays.

• Orario Ufficio: dalle ore 9.00 alle 17.00: tutti i giorni escluso DOMENICA e FESTIVI vaticani
• Excavations Office Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Closed Sunday and Holidays
• Bureau des fouilles: 9.00 - 17.00 (Ouverte tous les jours sauf le dimanche et les jours ferés)
• Geöffnet: Werktags von 9.00 Uhr bis 17.00 Uhr: Geschlossen: Sonntags und an Feiertagen
• Abierta desde las 9:00 a las 17:00: Cerrado los domingos y festivos

Usually the last tour each day begins at 3:30 pm

Tickets and Reaching the Excavations Office

The visitor must always confirm his reservation in the way and during the time period given by the Excavations Office in positive responses to requests.

Visitors ought to be at the Excavations Office [without large bags and backpacks] at least five minutes prior to the beginning of their tour.

The Excavations Office may be reached through the Holy Office Gate to the Vatican (through the colonnade to the left, on Via Paolo VI). The Swiss Guard will direct the visitors to the Office.

The visit to the necropolis ends back at the Excavations Office.

On occasion, the basilica and the excavations may be closed for unforeseen reasons. In such cases, the Scavi Office will attempt to reschedule those groups affected by the closing. When this is not possible, any reservation deposit will be refunded.

Excavations Office
Fabbrica di San Pietro
00120 Vatican City  

Tel. +39 06 6988.5318
Fax +39 06 6987.3017 - 6988.5518

E-Mail: scavi@fsp.va

 2) I also want to spend Christmas day or Christmas Eve at St. Peter's. I believe this is the epitome of Christmas. We are a spiritual family and we love Christmas, what better way to experience it?

Source:monachos.net

This time, the Vatican instructed us to complete a form and fax it to them.

Prefecture of the Papal Household

00120 Vatican City State

Fax +39 06 0698 85863

3) I've been doing a lot of research on the Vatican Museum, and most have recommended to get a guided tour. We're not really the guided tour types, but I think this one may be worth it.

Viator.com looks pretty good, I will book a couple of weeks before we leave Toronto. Thousands of positive reviews about this particular tour. Very exciting!

Source:bernini

I didn't like the book very much, I liked the movie even less, but the Angels & Demons tour looks pretty interesting... and we might just try it on December 26, since most of Romes sites, shops, etc, will be closed on that day. 

I wish I could get paid to do this stuff full-time.

I wish parenting was simple

I wish children stayed young forever, like my nieces.

And I wish children didn't want to grow up so fast, or become angry and inconsiderate, or self-destructive.

And I wish that I didn't care when my kid says hurtful things to me.