So I have so much crap that I have planned to put up and post on the blog, but I have been super distracted since the move and settling in. Things are finally calming down and I will get to all that other stuff later, but I just wanted to share my awesome weekend so far.
I spent the day boating today and it was glorious. This is a major reason I missed home. It was an awesome day and I had so much fun. I haven't gone out on a boat in the summer and just ran it across the lake I don't even know how long. Then there is the glen were the water is super clear and everyone comes to park their boats, swim, drink, and just have a fun time. Seriously missed this.
My view from my tanning spot on the boat
FRECKLES!!!
Had dinner on the river on the way home at a restaurant that has boat parking for all the people boating on the river :)
I came home to more awesomeness when I opened a package to find my new Dr Who shirt I ordered had arrived. Just in time for tonight's season 6 part 2 episode too!
I have just returned from my last day at Comic Con and I must say it was fun as hell. A full post with everything B and I have been up to this weekend will be over on B & B when we have the time to get it posted. Seriously the best way to end my time here in California.
I know it seems odd, but I wrote about Anthony Bourdain for my Pop lit final essay. I am just going to share it with you all. I'll be back around some time after wed. Hope everyone is doing well.
Anthony Bourdain doesn't give a shit
The show that I want to write about is Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations. I have been watching travel channel for years and his food show is my favorite. He is the new journalist of the food world. Often crass and always unapologetic his show is very opinion based and he is admittedly self-absorbed. The funniest thing is that even with is attitude he gets to the heart of the different cultures and he connects more with the people than any other show. He shows the good and the bad. He presents the truth and connects with the people while traveling and experiencing food and culture all over the world.
He does his traveling food show from a new journalism perspective. His show is based on his opinions and his experience and is extremely subjective. He seems to be the Hunter S Thompson of the food world. In fact he does emulate him in some ways. He even did a spoof off Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as an intro to his Las Vegas Episode.
Much of his ex druggie, alcoholic, stoner personality comes through in all of his shows. Tony is blatant in how he feels about anything in his shows. Hate it or love it he expresses it in Anthony Bourdain flair. One of my favorite quotes from him was during his Vienna episode where he said "this tastes like ass, but in a good way." He is cynical and very critical of everything, but is not afraid to admit when he is wrong and change his opinion. He does things how he wants them and portrays his show the way he wants to.
He is aware of his popularity and uses it to his advantage when it comes to being vulgar and obscene and that plays into identity. He is aware of his identity and uses that by exaggerating it to gain popularity and get what he wants in life. There is no question that the Tony that we see on TV is his true character. He is self-aware and pokes fun of himself on his own show. He knows he is the epitome of an asshole New Yorker and he uses it to his advantage and without bending his standards. Tony isn’t afraid to get completely wasted or trash talk something he hates. He plays into the need for spectacle culture that our population feeds off of, but he also relates to those that want something different. For those of us that follow him because he is different love that he gives honest opinions. Some think that may be an elitist opinion, but the un-sugarcoated view is just what people need in the postmodern world. Knowing the bad with the good is the best part.
He doesn’t try to play up the cultures and the foods. He gets down to the heart of things. He displays things as they are wither it’s a good thing or not and he is honest; it is not romanticized. He expresses his opinion of each place and the food he eats in any way he wants. There are places that he talks about hating and says that he will not visit then when someone offers him enough money to get him there he admits it unashamedly and delves into it even with his prejudices. If something is better than he expects he admits it if things are horrible he talks about that too.
The best example of Tony's unromantic approach was in Haiti. The place was destroyed and desolate and fighting against disease and it all was shown including the art, the local restaurant establishments, and the relief camps. Everything was shown and even though there were starving sick and beaten down people of the country you also got to see the hope in the desolate landscape. The people carried on because what is there else to do. He doesn’t try to make it fancy and find a spot that tourists can visit and get great food. He experienced everything and admitted he didn’t know how people could live like that, but respects the culture for what they endure.
This postmodern food writer is so widely recognized that he has reached cult status. People want to see the truth unveiled and raw. He provides this in abundance and does it all his way. He travels the world with his chip on his shoulder eating good food and getting drunk and gets paid to do it. The thing that makes him so postmodern is that he could not give a shit either way. He is just doing what he loves his way and making no apologies about it.
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to show off the books that you have gotten through out the week be they from someone, a swap, you buy them yourself, or the library. This brings books to light that some people may not normally check out.
This week I didn't get very much, but what I did get I am super excited about!!
Today I'm giving tell you how to make wings in the oven
They are super simple to make and I could seriously eat them every day.
What you will need:
Wings
Seasoning (your prefrence)
Wing Sauce
Directions:
Pre heat the oven to 450 degrees
Place the cut wings in a gallon size bag *I use about 2 lbs of wings each time I cook them, but you can put in more or less and it will not make a difference*
Add desired seasoning just enough to lightly coat the wings *Emeril's original essence is the spice I use*
Place wings on a baking sheet *spray it lightly with pam or you can use parchment paper*
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown *check a wing for done-ness on the inside as well*
Remove from pan and place in a plastic container with a lid and add a hearty amount of wing sauce
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to show off the books that you have gotten through out the week be they from someone, a swap, you buy them yourself, or the library. This brings books to light that some people may not normally check out.
This past week I got a couple things.
For Review:
The awesome Gina Gordon asked me to review her new book that is releasing in April!
I have already read this and she did not dissapoint. I will be posting the review the week before her release as well as doing a guest post on my other blog.
I don't talk about my son much, because this is an open forum, but this just had to be shared.
Last night my son, my roomie, and I went to the circus. We had a blast. It was my little mans first circus and he was bouncing and dancing for almost the whole 3 hours. It was great.
Now on to my reason for the title "Never thought I would be proud of that"
During the show there was a balancing act/ contortionist woman and of course she was wearing the standard skin tight outfit. During the performance my little 4 year old boy blurts out "look mommy you can see her butt!" I had to point out to him that yes you can see her butt, but you don't shout it out to everyone.
Then later during the intermission there was a massive line for the bathroom and of course he has to go right that moment. So we walk to the line and hes doing the potty dance holding himself and I know were gonna have an accident if we wait in this line. I go up to the counter and ask if there is anywhere else we can go to the bathroom even if its just outside. She points us to behind the bathrooms and my little guy proceeds to drop trou and piss on the back of a port a potty (very successfully I might add.)
Who knew that a mother could be so proud or her son checking out a girls butt and pissing outside. He is such a little man :)
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to show off the books that you have gotten through out the week be they from someone, a swap, you buy them yourself, or the library. This brings books to light that some people may not normally check out.
This past weekend has been very rough. It had some very good parts and bad parts.
I think I am just way too stressed these days.
Anyway enough of that
this is what I got this past week In My Mailbox
From PBS:
Flirt by Laurell K Hamilton (I already read this on kindle I'm just collecting the series)
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren to show off the books that you have gotten through out the week be they from someone, a swap, you buy them yourself, or the library. This brings books to light that some people may not normally check out.
I am giving away my copy of Bliss by Opal Carew that I received for judging.
I have wanted to do this for a while and just haven't gotten around to it. I have several hundred books on my shelf and most of them are waiting to be read so I want someone else to get a chance to get their hands on a new almost new book.
Ok is that cover steamy or what???
Blurb from the authors website:
Kara is a sex columnist who thinks desire is purely physical and steers clear of any romantic notions about love. J.M. is a Tantra master who believes sex is a spiritual union that brings lovers together body and soul. They can’t deny their irresistible physical attraction—but Kara knows they can never have a future outside the bedroom. After all, Kara thinks Tantra is silly and the whole elitist idea of sacred sex really bugs her. But after a few heated nights of hands-on practice with her own personal Tantra instructor, she experiences a soul-shattering bliss more intense than anything she’s ever felt. And she starts to wonder if there might be something to Tantra after all…or could it be that J.M. has simply stolen her heart?
My review:
So let me start of by saying I loved this book, but there were parts that irritated me throughout.
One of my previous professions before I joined the military was a self employed massage therapist. I know a lot about holistic healing and also learned some about tantra...I'm not an expert mind you, but as far as relating the chakras to different parts of the body and things like that I get whats going on with the energy flow.
*If this confuses you or your absolutely not down with opening your mind to alternative methods there is a chance that you may not like this book, because its pretty deeply immersed in it though the sex is a pretty wide range*
Either Opal did a kick ass job on her research or shes into holistic healing, but regardless I loved the plot in this book. Its different and I like that. Kara is absolutely not into the whole love thing. She doesn't believe in it at all. She ends up forced by her editor to attend a conference for her sex column to write an article on an tantra master. That tantra master happens to be JM a man that she had a hot and steamy one night stand with after her flight to the conference got delayed.
JM tries to introduce Kara slowly into the practice of tantra. Along the way they delve into exploring Kara's fantasies. There is sex with a stranger, 3 ways, light BDSM, and a mini orgy with her and 4 males. I started to feel bad for JM near the end, because Kara struggled so hard to keep from feeling for him, but in the end it came out well.
My little hang ups in this book in no way ruined it for me, but it wouldn't be a proper review without stating them. First was during orgasm the author writes that Kara "wails" almost every single time...Now personally when I think of wailing I think dying cat not smashing sex, but that's just personal preference. Second was that there was a sex scene that seemed like it was copied word for word from the previous sex scene. I know its basically all the same and there are going to be signature moves for the characters, but I would prefer not to read the same sex twice in a row.
Beyond those things it was a great book and I enjoyed it.
Kinda makes me think of this song
*My reviews are personal opinion only. Any books that have been given to me were strictly for review and were in no way influenced by monetary gain*
For those of you that want to enter to win the book just leave a comment and a if I don't already have a way to contact you I need that as well.
This giveaway is only for 18 and up and will be open until March 4th
I am offering my first giveaway up internationally
