Playing catch up again

1. Viewed Black Book last evening, a Dutch film which couldn't have stayed in the theaters two months. It is definitely worth the DVD rental though. Highly recommended. Be warned: it is long, subtitled, and adult.

2. We have also recently watched the entirety of the PRIME SUSPECT series, produced for the BBC over 15 years. Helen Mirren's Jane Tennyson is a delight to watch as she matures in her role of police officer and woman.

3. A friend has loaned us the first season of HEROES and we're going to give that a whirl. Might as well, as we haven't added any of the new shows to our watching repertoire and have eliminated several from last year. This year, it's slim pickings at the Sisk television stable: Bones, Boston Legal, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Meerkat Manor, Friday Night Lights, and the occasional Masterpiece Theater. All the better to read?

4. Tried another Bertolli frozen dinner for two, this one the Mediterranean style, Chicken, Rigatoni and Broccoli. It's long on rigatoni and broccoli and rather short on chicken, but the flavor was very nice. Probably won't buy it again. Shrimp Diavolo still calls.

5. And, we have our first Blue Norther, taking our lovely 80 degree days down into the 50s with rain and wind. Guess that means it's time to switch the closets, or at least divest the main one of the tank tops.

Tying up the loose ends

1. My Timex watch, aka my dad, has graduated to a wheelchair and is anxiously trying to get out of it. Guess he'll be walking again soon, which is a very good thing. His mechanic's mind kicked in and he wanted me to get him a pipe, 1/2 inch interior diameter, 18 inches long, so he could extend the brake lever and thereby unlock himself and take off. Go figure, he doesn't know Mother is dead but he's scheming to make a better machine.

2. Duchess the mama cat was trapped on the first night's try. She is awaiting her turn to be spayed. Whew! It took a bit more effort to capture four wiggly and very scared kittens, but they are safely tucked in and awaiting time at the vet also.

3. I put on my 'big girl knickers', screwed my courage to the sticking spot, and decided to activate my iPhone myself. It took about 20 minutes and there were no problems. So far, I'm in the honeymoon phase of it, ever amazed at the hand-held computer that will make phone calls. Now I just have to figure out how to use it.

Added Wednesday, Sept. 12:

4. We tried another Bertolli Skillet Meal--Shrimp, Asparagus and Penne. Lovely sauce, but there was so little asparagus they should have left out that ingredient. We won't be buying it again.

5. Bathroom survey: I've been going the same old places. Finally tried a new one: Blue Goose Mexican Cantina, Plano: 105 because they had a baby-changing area in the handicapped stall.

Catching up

Tried another Bertolli the other day, this time for lunch. Our Wal-Mart has expanded its offerings so I really have a couple more in the freezer, too. This up: Italian Sausage and Rigatoni (with roasted peppers in a spicy tomato sauce). It was good, although not perhaps the best choice for a warm day. But in the winter, with a salad and crusty bread: winner.

Bathrooms:
Souper Salad, Allen: 90. Really it should be a little less. Had to walk past the men's room and while it met the other criteria, it was bit unkempt.
Abuelo's Mexican, Plano: 100. Loses 5 for no seat covers, gets 5 back for baby table. The stainless steel decor was good, but a little polish and care on the doors would go a long way to make a nicer appearance.
Dillard's, second floor, Collin Creek Mall, Plano: 105: had a baby changer. Really nice touch: wall of mirrors and chairs to sit. Not comfy chairs, but chairs and space.

Good Morning America announced this morning that the tunic was the must-have item for summer. Oh, fine. I spend last summer losing 15 pounds and this summer I'm supposed to cover up all my good efforts.

Doesn't it figure?