The Doc's New Toys

As you know the Doc and I have been having fun with home remodeling. Part of the living room project was to install a chair rail. In order to do that ourselves we needed two things:
(1) A nail gun & (2) A miter saw


We are now the proud owners of both. Since we don't have a space for a workable workshop in our small row house - the Doc has turned our kitchen into a makeshift workshop. It's cute - he measures, runs into the kitchen cuts the piece and then nails it to the wall. The room is really coming together. The new window treatment is installed, a vertical blind with two ivory sheer panels and a mocha sheer scarf to hang across the top (pictures to come). We should be finished within the next couple of days. On another exciting note we also get our new couch and love seat this week.

Iron Chef Showdown:

When he was a young boy living in the small village of Plaistow, he was never really good at sports; in fact, most would say he threw like a girl. He decided to take up cooking. He perfected his skills cooking GOLABKI (gaw-WUMP-kee), PIEROGI (pyeh-RAW-ghee) and other fine polish dishes like JAJECZNICA (yah-yech-NEE-tsah) learning along side his mentor and guide Maria Stackimoto. As he grew older under the tutelage of Maria Stackimoto, he would watch and learn, perfecting his techniques while never leaving her side. In 1997 Chef Stackimoto felt he was ready to branch out on his own. He packed his bags saying goodbye to the small village he had called home. He headed to the city, the very intimidating Bostonushima. There he felt he couldn’t think clear, during the weeks he couldn’t come up with new dishes. He decided he would have to go back to his mentor on the weekends; it was the only way he would get inspiration.

After four years in Bostonushima where his cooking skills were sadly influenced by double fried food and globs of ketchup he realized he wouldn’t be able to become the master chef he always dreamed unless he moved back to the tiny village from which he came. Chef Stackimoto now resides exactly 1.34 miles from his mentor along with his wife and baby boy Bradysan. His current influences, along with Maria Stackimoto, are the effeminate chef Alton Brown and blood curdling Rachael Ray.

Look for his appearance on Iron Chef in the coming weeks where he will battle the plucky Chef Wicksanaka.

P. Sophie's Review: The Goblet of Fire:

Don't worry NO SPOILERS HERE! Went to see the new Harry Potter Flick last night w/ the Princess Bride and Man in Black. Here is my review and experience in a nutshell.

This movie is by far darker than the previous three with creepy with images of skulls and dark graveyards. I would say not suited for young children. I enjoyed it for what it was worth. The movie obviously takes liberties in the plot due to the fact that 734 pages are expected to be squeezed into a 2-1/2 hour movie. If you're expecting the book then you will be greatly disappointed. The movie focuses strictly on the tournament and the rise of Lord Voldemort. Scenes left out that were not disappointing, the Dursley's and the house elves. Something about a house elf showing up would take away from the dark and creepiness of the movie, although it's not nearly as bad as Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I.

It was interesting watching in a packed theater (which I try not to do very often). Thankfully the Man in Black is resourceful and with quick goat thinking he was able to get us four seats in a row. Had we shown up any later we would’ve had to split up for sure. The kid sitting behind me kicked the back of my seat a lot because he just HAD to make out with his girlfriend. I don’t know about you but there is something about Harry Potter that just get’s me in the mood, if you know what I mean. It didn’t ruin my movie going experience for the most part because they were relatively quite and had it not been for the kicking I probably wouldn’t have even noticed the steamy love scene going on behind me.

To sum things up – I liked it. If you’re a fan as I am and have read all the books and rushed out to see all the movies I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, although I thought for sure I.A. would like Napoleon Dynamite. Yes, I feel confident enough to recommend it (just remember it’s not the book).

The BIG 30

A happy belated birthday shout out to Dr. Benny! He turned the BIG 30 yesterday! I am such a dumbass - I can't believe I forgot...this is the big one too!!! YOU'RE OLD! (wink) If you see this man on the street make sure to ask him if he needs any assistance - things are just a little bit tougher when you're old like he is. Happy Birthday from the Doc and the Princess!

Step 4: Stain

Last night we began staining our woodwork. We are using American Walnut made by Minwax it's a water-based stain, which means: (a) no getting high from the smell, (b) very fast drying so when the cats jump up on the window with out you knowing they don't leave stain covered paw prints on the floor when they jump down and (c) for the klutz who spills stuff everywhere - easy clean up! Well so far so good - we should be finished by the end of the day today. This has definitely been a learn as you go kinda experience by the time we get to the bedroom we'll be pros!

Hey It's like they say, right?

To follow in I.A.'s posting footsteps I too am going to write about a commercial. Today I am going to feature the Las Vegas commercials. The commercial opens up with a women who looks as if she is upacking from a trip she took.

Enter husband/boyfriend (it isn't made clear but I put my money on husband) who says "Hey honey did you girls have a good time in Vegas?"

The women, with a look of guilt, says "Oh....yeah....Oh look Versace", picking up some pants, "and Tiffany", pointing to her earrings, flustered and with the look of I hope he's buying this lousy story.

Then the guy says something like "oh you girls and your shopping" and walks out of the room. The last scene shows the women looking extremely guilty and almost relieved - he won't find out I cheated because he thinks I was shopping.

Cue the text: "Our fabulous shopping can be your alibi"

Great so the moral of the story is: It's ok to cheat on your significant other while in Las Vegas because hey - "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas".

Mellow Yellow:

Here is the next phase in our "project". We finished with the top section of the wall in Quiet Veranda. The Doc is a painting stud. I helped too but if you asked the Doc I think he would say different - something like "help? Yeah right - more like knocking things over, dripping paint on the floor and getting in my way is more like it"...oh the joys of marriage! (wink) Our next phase will be to stain the floor board and get ready to install the chair rail. All kinds of good fun!

Weather: Philly Style

It's November. Normal November weather for a New Englander such as myself is cold - not in Philly, no here it was 75 all weekend, sun shining and now a thunder storm. Weird.

Round One:

So last night we finished the first coat of the red. It looks great - we are really happy so far. We have one more coat of red to paint before we take the tape down and begin the Quiet Veranda on the top. Until the next phase...

No turning back now:

We have begun the process of redecorating our house. We are starting with our living room. The entire place was painted white so last night we bought the paint and started taping the walls. Tonight we started with the tinted primer which was recommended by the nice guy at Home Depot because we are using Regal Red (red is the most difficult color to paint apparently) which can show through on a white surface. The top will be Quiet Veranda all colors made by Behr Paints.
So we have the before picture: That is the wall to our half bath. next picture is the taping process. That's the Doc working hard separating the wall with tape (eventually a chair rail will be installed). The next process was to begin using the primer (which is scary because it makes the walls look magenta). Painting is hard work. Too bad Evan Farmer and Andrew Dan-Jumbo aren't here to make it more interesting. So it is now 10:00 pm and we finished with the primer and I think it's going to look great. Hey if Adam Carolla from the Man Show can get his own home improvement show on TLC - I think the doc and I should too! Look even Trot our cat wanted to get in on the action! Until the next phase in our redecorating project...