wow, it felt SO good to do some gaming again!! I think it's been several months (possibly even over a year) since I've participated in any gaming whatsoever. This passed Sunday, we had some friends over and did some gaming. Well, we didn't actually game or anything ;) but we did get a chance to make characters for a Lord of the Rings campaign that Deathstroke will be running. I'm really looking forward to it! It'll be a different system than I've played before but I can wrap my head around pretty much anything ;)
I've also been playing around with my own Forgotten Realms campaign and I'm hoping to run that after the LOTR campaign is finished. I still have some storyline to iron out and I have to get all the characters on paper, but I'm pretty sure I've got the bare bones of the deal figured out. I REALLY can't wait to start that campaign ;) I was also introduced to Role Playing Online by some of the guys that were over on Sunday. I'm not the greatest for being able to post everyday, but I think the prospect of doing some more gaming might spur me into action!
I'm hoping that I can take what free time I have to incorporate a good amount of gaming. I really missed it and I think it gave me the mental break that I really needed. I'm looking forward to the relaxation and fun again :)
Monday, May 07, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
Busy Year?
Wow...it has actually been a year since my last post. I can't believe it. I didn't think I was that lazy :D Yes, it must be because I'm lazy. I'm sure in a year I could've found a few minutes to post something :D
Anyway, there's not much to update on. The wedding date has changed to Aug 30, 2008, so we have lots of time to plan etc. It was easy to move all of the vendors over to that date, so there's no problems there. I had a phone interview today for a job at a company called Sandvine. They're actually just around the corner from where I work now. The nice thing is that I may get over $10000/year more than what I earn now and I'll get to do more programming and work with Linux (All HUGE bonuses). I really like my job here at Equitrac, but I want more money. So, I'm going to go get it ;)
That's about it for updates. Nothing sticks out in my mind that I have seen or heard that I should post on here. Now that I've finally been able to convert my account (part of the reason why I hadn't posted - a small part, but a part just the same), I'll be able to access my account with more ease and post with more ease. Actually, I have a few blogs but I don't think anybody really reads them. I just like them so that I can write stuff down :) I was really hoping to use more of the collage feature that is on LJ. It's pretty cool - I'd like to see if I can create something like that ;)
Anyway, I have a few meetings today and stuff to do (a little more busy than usual). I'll post again soon ;)
Anyway, there's not much to update on. The wedding date has changed to Aug 30, 2008, so we have lots of time to plan etc. It was easy to move all of the vendors over to that date, so there's no problems there. I had a phone interview today for a job at a company called Sandvine. They're actually just around the corner from where I work now. The nice thing is that I may get over $10000/year more than what I earn now and I'll get to do more programming and work with Linux (All HUGE bonuses). I really like my job here at Equitrac, but I want more money. So, I'm going to go get it ;)
That's about it for updates. Nothing sticks out in my mind that I have seen or heard that I should post on here. Now that I've finally been able to convert my account (part of the reason why I hadn't posted - a small part, but a part just the same), I'll be able to access my account with more ease and post with more ease. Actually, I have a few blogs but I don't think anybody really reads them. I just like them so that I can write stuff down :) I was really hoping to use more of the collage feature that is on LJ. It's pretty cool - I'd like to see if I can create something like that ;)
Anyway, I have a few meetings today and stuff to do (a little more busy than usual). I'll post again soon ;)
Monday, March 13, 2006
In the movies
Deathstroke and I recently saw the movie "16 Blocks". Now, there are movies that you go out and see becuase they're action movies and you really wanted to go see an action movie and it was what you were looking for. There are movies that you walk away from and say "yeah, that was a good movie". There are only a few that you walk away from thinking "now that was a great movie". There are very few movies that are just great for every reason. Cinematography, character devlopment, plot, etc. "16 Blocks" was one of those GREAT movies. Bruce Willis did a VERY good job in this movie. Mos Def was also very good. He was funny without being rediculous. You get very attached to the characters in this movie. The story was just fantastic and the ending was not quite what I had expected. Some of the shots in the movie were amazing. The kind of shot where you think something is going to happen and the shot makes it look like either what you though was going to happen happened, or the complete opposite! It was really cool.
"16 Blocks" is a movie that I would go to see in the theatres again. If you haven't seen "16 Blocks" I highly recommend that you go and see it. I think it was just an out and out fantastic movie and I'm so buying it when it comes out on dvd.
"16 Blocks" is a movie that I would go to see in the theatres again. If you haven't seen "16 Blocks" I highly recommend that you go and see it. I think it was just an out and out fantastic movie and I'm so buying it when it comes out on dvd.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Keeping up-to-date
Ok, I've probably missed a lot of things since I posted last but I don't think I'm going to be able to cover everything, so I'm just going to start from scratch ;)
Now, I'm not much of a Family Guy fan but a friend of mine suggested that I take a look at this one Stewie clip. I kind of like Stewie and his sense of humour. I figured I'd give it a try and see what she was talking about. She said the clip was hillarious. Well, I took a look at it and I had a good chuckle :) Here's the link for the clip: http://media.putfile.com/Family-Guy---Stewie-vs-Eminem-and-50-cen64
I would probably rip apart lyrics like that if I bothered to listen to 50 cent :). I don't mind some of Eminem though. I haven't seen that movie 8 mile but I think I would like to rent it sometime.
Anyway, that's about the only tidbit of entertainment that has crossed my laptop in the last few days. Hope you enjoy the clip ;)
Now, I'm not much of a Family Guy fan but a friend of mine suggested that I take a look at this one Stewie clip. I kind of like Stewie and his sense of humour. I figured I'd give it a try and see what she was talking about. She said the clip was hillarious. Well, I took a look at it and I had a good chuckle :) Here's the link for the clip: http://media.putfile.com/Family-Guy---Stewie-vs-Eminem-and-50-cen64
I would probably rip apart lyrics like that if I bothered to listen to 50 cent :). I don't mind some of Eminem though. I haven't seen that movie 8 mile but I think I would like to rent it sometime.
Anyway, that's about the only tidbit of entertainment that has crossed my laptop in the last few days. Hope you enjoy the clip ;)
Monday, December 12, 2005
Christmas Baking
I recently went over to my mom's place (twice) to do some Christmas baking. The first time was for her baking (mostley) and the second time was for my baking. We have a recipe in our family that's very picky. It seems that the ability to make these cookies skips a generation. My grandma made butter cookies every year for the longest time and then she decided that she was getting too old to do any of the baking. My mom tried the recipe a few times and she couldn't get it right. She couldn't figure out what she was doing wrong because she was following the recipe exactly as it was laid out. Then it was my turn to try. I made them last year and the year before and they turned out well. I seem to get better at it every year :). So, with that being said, that's why my mom wanted me to come over for some baking - so I could do the butter cookies.
Not only did I do the butter cookies, but I did everything else that mom wanted baked! Actually, it was kind of funny. I did all the baking and mom helped a little bit and drank a little bit more :). We wound up getting everything done, so it worked out well.
The second time that I went over to do some baking was for stuff that I was going to bring to each family get-together this year. I decided that I was going to make 2 cakes for 2 of the get-togethers and some tarts and cookies for the other get-together. Kevin found this recipe for "Cinnamon Snails". Really good recipe, very tasty, but the work involved in getting these things shaped like snails! Oh my gosh. It took my mom and I more than 3 hours to do one recipe of these cookies! In the end, we just gave up and made the rest of the recipe into flat cookies instead of snails :).
I think it would be really nice to have the time to devot to baking and cooking and actually putting a really nice presentation together about it. If I had that kind of time, I would certainly put more effort into my meals and baking. Since I don't have that kind of time, I'm glad that I only have to put the effort in about once a year. It's nice to do it every once in a while, but it would get really frustrating after a while when you notice that you just don't have the time.
Here are the recipes that I did for my own baking this year:
Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake
Prep: 20 min
Ready In: 50 min
Serves: 14
Ingredients
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (14 fl oz/398 mL) pumpkin puree, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (250g) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1-1/4 cups icing sugar, divided
1 tub (1 L) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1/2 cup caramel topping
1/2 cup toasted pecans
Directions
1 PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Beat cake mix, 1 cup of the pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. of the pumpkin pie spice in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Pour evenly into prepared pans.
2 BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add 1 cup of the icing sugar, remaining pumpkin and remaining 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Stir in whipped topping.
3 REMOVE cake layers from pans; cut each layer horizontally in half with a serrated knife. Stack the layers on a serving plate, spreading the cream cheese mixture between the layers. Do not frost the top layer. Sprinkle lightly with remaining 1/4 cup icing sugar. Store in refrigerator.
Healthy Living
This is an indulgent dessert for special occasions. Watch serving size.
Special Extra
Drizzle with 1/2 cup caramel topping and 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans.
Nutritional Info
Serving Size = 1/14 recipe
Calories 456
Total fat 24.5 g
Saturated fat 8.9 g
Cholesterol 71 mg
Sodium 388 mg
Carbohydrate 54.9 g
Dietary fibre 1.7 g
Protein 6.6 g
Vitamin A 67 %RDI
Vitamin C 2 %RDI
Calcium 9 %RDI
Iron 9 %RDI
Almond Crescents (Cookie Mix)
Yields: 60 servings
"A melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookie that's coated with powdered sugar and is made with a cookie mix. Check it out!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 (1 pound 1.5 ounce) pouch
Betty Crocker® sugar cookie
mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine,
melted
1 egg
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup ground blanched
almonds
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup powdered sugar
Blue edible glitter, if desired
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, cornstarch, ground almonds and almond extract until soft dough forms.
2. For each cookie; shape rounded teaspoon dough into 2 1/2-inch strip. Taper ends and form crescent shape on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar. Sprinkle with edible glitter.
Maple Syrup Tarts
Yields: 12 servings
"Walnuts, maple syrup, brown sugar, an egg, and a smidgen of lemon juice and butter are stirred together and spooned into twelve prepared tart shells. Bake and serve topped with dollops of whipped cream."
INGREDIENTS:
12 (3 inch) unbaked tart shells
1 egg
1 cup real maple syrup
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Beat the egg gently with a fork, and then mix with maple syrup, melted butter, brown sugar, lemon juice, and nuts. Fill tarts 2/3 full.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Cinnamon Snails
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 40 Minutes
Yields: 48 servings
"This recipe is a family tradition for holidays or just for fun! These cinnamon snails taste delicious and are fun to make!!"
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter or margarine,
softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg white, beaten
3 tablespoons mini chocolate
chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, baking powder, egg, and vanilla. Stir in flour by hand using a wooden spoon, as the dough will be stiff.
3. Roll out tablespoon sized pieces of dough into 6 inch long ropes. Curl up one end slightly to make the head, then curl the rest of the rope towards the head in a spiral shape to make the snail shell. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Brush cookies with egg white. Mix together the remaining cinnamon and superfine sugar in a small cup. Sprinkle this over the snails. Use chocolate chips to make eyes on the heads.
4. Bake cookies for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
Not only did I do the butter cookies, but I did everything else that mom wanted baked! Actually, it was kind of funny. I did all the baking and mom helped a little bit and drank a little bit more :). We wound up getting everything done, so it worked out well.
The second time that I went over to do some baking was for stuff that I was going to bring to each family get-together this year. I decided that I was going to make 2 cakes for 2 of the get-togethers and some tarts and cookies for the other get-together. Kevin found this recipe for "Cinnamon Snails". Really good recipe, very tasty, but the work involved in getting these things shaped like snails! Oh my gosh. It took my mom and I more than 3 hours to do one recipe of these cookies! In the end, we just gave up and made the rest of the recipe into flat cookies instead of snails :).
I think it would be really nice to have the time to devot to baking and cooking and actually putting a really nice presentation together about it. If I had that kind of time, I would certainly put more effort into my meals and baking. Since I don't have that kind of time, I'm glad that I only have to put the effort in about once a year. It's nice to do it every once in a while, but it would get really frustrating after a while when you notice that you just don't have the time.
Here are the recipes that I did for my own baking this year:
Luscious Four-Layer Pumpkin Cake
Prep: 20 min
Ready In: 50 min
Serves: 14
Ingredients
1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix
1 can (14 fl oz/398 mL) pumpkin puree, divided
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1-1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, divided
1 pkg. (250g) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1-1/4 cups icing sugar, divided
1 tub (1 L) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1/2 cup caramel topping
1/2 cup toasted pecans
Directions
1 PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (9-inch) round cake pans. Beat cake mix, 1 cup of the pumpkin, milk, oil, eggs and 1 tsp. of the pumpkin pie spice in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Pour evenly into prepared pans.
2 BAKE 28 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centres comes out clean. Cool completely on wire racks. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add 1 cup of the icing sugar, remaining pumpkin and remaining 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Stir in whipped topping.
3 REMOVE cake layers from pans; cut each layer horizontally in half with a serrated knife. Stack the layers on a serving plate, spreading the cream cheese mixture between the layers. Do not frost the top layer. Sprinkle lightly with remaining 1/4 cup icing sugar. Store in refrigerator.
Healthy Living
This is an indulgent dessert for special occasions. Watch serving size.
Special Extra
Drizzle with 1/2 cup caramel topping and 1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans.
Nutritional Info
Serving Size = 1/14 recipe
Calories 456
Total fat 24.5 g
Saturated fat 8.9 g
Cholesterol 71 mg
Sodium 388 mg
Carbohydrate 54.9 g
Dietary fibre 1.7 g
Protein 6.6 g
Vitamin A 67 %RDI
Vitamin C 2 %RDI
Calcium 9 %RDI
Iron 9 %RDI
Almond Crescents (Cookie Mix)
Yields: 60 servings
"A melt-in-your-mouth buttery cookie that's coated with powdered sugar and is made with a cookie mix. Check it out!"
INGREDIENTS:
1 (1 pound 1.5 ounce) pouch
Betty Crocker® sugar cookie
mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine,
melted
1 egg
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup ground blanched
almonds
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup powdered sugar
Blue edible glitter, if desired
DIRECTIONS:
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, egg, cornstarch, ground almonds and almond extract until soft dough forms.
2. For each cookie; shape rounded teaspoon dough into 2 1/2-inch strip. Taper ends and form crescent shape on ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar. Sprinkle with edible glitter.
Maple Syrup Tarts
Yields: 12 servings
"Walnuts, maple syrup, brown sugar, an egg, and a smidgen of lemon juice and butter are stirred together and spooned into twelve prepared tart shells. Bake and serve topped with dollops of whipped cream."
INGREDIENTS:
12 (3 inch) unbaked tart shells
1 egg
1 cup real maple syrup
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Beat the egg gently with a fork, and then mix with maple syrup, melted butter, brown sugar, lemon juice, and nuts. Fill tarts 2/3 full.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
Cinnamon Snails
Prep Time: 30 Minutes
Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 40 Minutes
Yields: 48 servings
"This recipe is a family tradition for holidays or just for fun! These cinnamon snails taste delicious and are fun to make!!"
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter or margarine,
softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon superfine sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg white, beaten
3 tablespoons mini chocolate
chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter or margarine and brown sugar until smooth. Mix in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, baking powder, egg, and vanilla. Stir in flour by hand using a wooden spoon, as the dough will be stiff.
3. Roll out tablespoon sized pieces of dough into 6 inch long ropes. Curl up one end slightly to make the head, then curl the rest of the rope towards the head in a spiral shape to make the snail shell. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Brush cookies with egg white. Mix together the remaining cinnamon and superfine sugar in a small cup. Sprinkle this over the snails. Use chocolate chips to make eyes on the heads.
4. Bake cookies for 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the bottoms are lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Roll with the numbers
About mid-September I booked a Pampered Chef party right from a party that a friend of mine held. I really enjoyed it and I thought it would be a really good idea to hold one and invite all my friends and family (that were in the area anyway). So, I started inviting people that day and by about mid October I had invited over 50 people. Out of those over 50 people, over 30 gave me a confirmation that they would be there. A few others gave me a tentative confirmation but I was starting to prepare to have 30 people in Deathstroke's and my apartment. Now, the party is scheduled for this coming Saturday at 1pm. Here's where I get astounded by the numbers... By the beginning of this week, over 25 of the people who told me that they were attending my party cancelled and said that they couldn't make it. So, here I am with an apartment that was cleaned and organized to house about 30 people, and recipes and ingredients chosen to feed more than 30 people, and I now have only 4 people coming to my party... Just in case anyone wants to know, this is a very good way of making me extremely disappointed.
Fortunately, I've been able to invite a few other people and I think there will be about 7 people at the party. I'm still going to have to get in touch with the consultant who's doing the party just to make any changes to the menu that are needed and get more ingredients if need be. As I'm writing this, I'm wondering if I'd forgotten to invite anyone... Garnigal, I did give you an invite, did I not? If not, are you and D doing anything this Saturday? ;)
What astounds me is the number of people who will commit to something and then just back out at the last minute. Call me old fashioned, but when I commit to something, there's very little that would make me cancel that appointment. Being sick, family emergency...it would have to be pretty important for me to cancel. If I forget about it (which is very rare), you can bet that I'll be doing my best to make it there if I can once I've remembered. People do forget sometimes - totally understandable, but 25 out of 30 people? That's getting to the point of rediculousness. I guess that kind of response is just not something that I'm used to seeing, nor should it be something that anyone gets used to seeing.
At least it's still going on and I have a few people attending. We'll have fun I'm sure :)
Fortunately, I've been able to invite a few other people and I think there will be about 7 people at the party. I'm still going to have to get in touch with the consultant who's doing the party just to make any changes to the menu that are needed and get more ingredients if need be. As I'm writing this, I'm wondering if I'd forgotten to invite anyone... Garnigal, I did give you an invite, did I not? If not, are you and D doing anything this Saturday? ;)
What astounds me is the number of people who will commit to something and then just back out at the last minute. Call me old fashioned, but when I commit to something, there's very little that would make me cancel that appointment. Being sick, family emergency...it would have to be pretty important for me to cancel. If I forget about it (which is very rare), you can bet that I'll be doing my best to make it there if I can once I've remembered. People do forget sometimes - totally understandable, but 25 out of 30 people? That's getting to the point of rediculousness. I guess that kind of response is just not something that I'm used to seeing, nor should it be something that anyone gets used to seeing.
At least it's still going on and I have a few people attending. We'll have fun I'm sure :)
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Oscar Updates!!
Well, here are some more recent pictures of Oscar. We took him to the vet for his tests and he doesn't have feline leukemia (HORAY!!). In fact, the vet said that he's in very good health!. He's also gone in for his little snip snip and he's so much calmer than he was before :D He still keeps us busy and we still have tonnes of scars because he's just decided that he feels like biting or scratching, but he's still my little man so I'm happy :)
He likes to snuggle and get petted in the morning after Kevin has left for work. In fact, he waits until I move and then tries to give me kisses or get me to pet him so that I can wake up and feed him. It's really cute, but it really cuts into my sleep (not that I mind at all ;) ).
I've recently disovered that cats can make the most horrible sound I've ever heard. Oscar was playing by one of the doors and I went to close it when I heard this blood-curdling scream! I had no idea that that kind of sound could come out of a cat. It scared the crap out of me and I thought I'd really hurt him. Turns out that he was still well enough to try and scratch me :) I've also found out that Oscar really doesn't like getting his claws clipped. He makes the worst meowing sounds. The last time we clipped his claws, our other two cats were right there standing at attention because of the sounds he was making. Whether it was to tell him to shut up because we weren't hurting him or to stick up for him and get us to stop what we were doing, I have no idea.
So now, our family is fully integrated and is working very well :)
He likes to snuggle and get petted in the morning after Kevin has left for work. In fact, he waits until I move and then tries to give me kisses or get me to pet him so that I can wake up and feed him. It's really cute, but it really cuts into my sleep (not that I mind at all ;) ).
I've recently disovered that cats can make the most horrible sound I've ever heard. Oscar was playing by one of the doors and I went to close it when I heard this blood-curdling scream! I had no idea that that kind of sound could come out of a cat. It scared the crap out of me and I thought I'd really hurt him. Turns out that he was still well enough to try and scratch me :) I've also found out that Oscar really doesn't like getting his claws clipped. He makes the worst meowing sounds. The last time we clipped his claws, our other two cats were right there standing at attention because of the sounds he was making. Whether it was to tell him to shut up because we weren't hurting him or to stick up for him and get us to stop what we were doing, I have no idea.
So now, our family is fully integrated and is working very well :)
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