Almost An Arizona Sunset

Tonight there was a beautiful sunset. Here are the pictures from our backyard.

Iron Chef and Wikipedia

When did Wikipedia start being a valid resource?!

I was watching Iron Chef tonight and started wondering (why I'd never thought of this before, I don't know) when do the Iron Chefs tell their sous chefs what to do? I mean, there's no discussion-- it's just cut shots and everyone's doing something without directions. So... I poked around and found this information on Wikipedia.

A theme ingredient (referred to as the "secret ingredient") is revealed, and the cooking begins. On occasion, the theme ingredient is actually a 'theme meal;' for example, eggs, bacon, potatoes, etc. are revealed and thus the "secret ingredient" is breakfast. Unlike Iron Chef, where chefs had roughly 5 minutes to discuss their strategy before the battle begins, the revelation of the theme ingredient occurs 45 minutes before the start of the battle. However, this segment is not shown on television, and it is a common assumption that the battle starts immediately after the secret ingredient is revealed.

...

Several of the secrets to how the show is taped were revealed in an episode of Unwrapped entitled "Food Network Unwrapped 2." It was stated that the chefs find out what the secret ingredient is about 15 minutes before the battle begins because the opening sequence is recorded many times. It is only the final taping of this sequence where the words "Allez cuisine!" are said and the battle begins. Moreover, at the end of the one-hour battle, the chefs must still prepare 4 plates of each of their 5 dishes for the judges and the Chairman. This is done during a 45-minute period after the battle ends and before tasting begins. They consider this to be part of the competition, and it is timed, but it is not recorded or shown to the viewers. The plates which the audience sees prepared during the one-hour battle are the plates used to obtain close-up footage of the dish for use in the final episode. Usually, on taping days, two different battles will be taped, one beginning at about 10 a.m. and the second at about 4 p.m. A Food Network crew has about 90 minutes between each show to clean the set and prepare for the second show.

Chefs provide the producers with shopping lists for each of the possible secret ingredients. Consequently, they can surmise what the secret ingredient will be just before it is officially revealed, based on which of their items were purchased.




...hmmm... very interesting!

Skippyjon Jones- Lost in Space

My favorite children's book is Skippyjon Jones. It's about a siames cat who thinks he's a chihuahua. It's mostly a story about imagination. I've loved reading it to my students at all grade levels (even the 8th graders that it was funny).

There's a sequel called Skippyjon Jones: Lost in Space and one of my students got it for me at the book fair. I can't wait to read it with the students.

Gecko Feet

No snow yet, but it was a bit icy yesterday morning. The snow tires worked great. We'll see if they do equally well in the snow... it feels like driving with little sticky gecko feet on your tires-- they really hold the road. We'll see...

Animal Shelter Votes

This came from a co-worker, but is a great opportunity to support local pets...

Hi! I'm writing to tell you about The All-Star Animal Rescue Site $100,000 Shelter+ Challenge - together with Petfinder, starting September 20, 2010. The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder.com member rescue organizations to help animals. The grand prize is a $10,000 grant, and there are many other prizes! Visit www.theanimalrescuesite.com to vote every day and learn more. You don't have to register, and voting is free. Support your favorite shelter and vote today! Thank you!


Go to the right side and click on the tab that says "Shelter Challenge."

Scared Scriptless Preview Night

Last night John and I went to see Scared Scriptless. They asked John to come see them in action (although we'd seen them once before--my very first weekend in Alaska), and they provided us the tickets to do so. This was their HA HA Halloween Part 2 act. It was very funny. First, they all dressed up in costumes... including 2 teletubbys (of which I refused to believe one was named Dipsy--John was right), the Artist (formerly known as Prince), a ref, a general... you get the idea. There were a couple games I hadn't seen previously that were all really fun.

1. Bobbing for Oxygen-- they come up with a scenario (in this case the security line at an airport) and 2 people interact while the 3rd person bobs for an apple. In theory, the apple bobber isn't supposed to come up for air until they have an apple... There would have been dead bodies. (And these were seriously committed--head under water--bobbers... it was particularly funny because it was a clear plastic container--so you could see them.) Once they had retrieved an apple, then they joined the other 2 and 1 of then headed down to bob for apples... so, the original bobber continued the scene dripping wet. Very funny.

2. Objection-- one random person steps forward and begins talking about a pre-chosen subject (in this case political ads)... whenever anyone wants to jump in, they yell "objection" and then give an objection. There are 3 audience judges... if they give mostly thumbs up (good objection), then the objector jumps in and begins their soliloquy on the subject, while the original speaker sits down. If they give mostly thumbs down (lame objection), then the objector steps back and the original speaker continues. For example, someone began "Christine O'Donnell of Delaware literally got on TV..." and someone else objected with, "Objection-- How do you figuratively go on TV?" It's very fast and very funny.

I'm so excited that John was chosen. I think it will be lots of fun to see him up there... and I think he'll really enjoy it :)

Studded Tires

We got our studded tires today. We've gone back and forth-- studless winter tires (the Blizzak) or the studded tires... and everyone has different advice... "you definitely need studs" or "All Season tires are fine" or "Blizzaks will do just as well". Finally, the consensus was that the Zonys needed studs. Then, back and forth between vendors... finally the closest store decided to price match the place a bit further away.

So, we got them. They're weird. Tires with thick, but not super thick, tread and these little metal bolts. They make a sound like you're driving on gravel all the time. They're legal from Sept 15th until May 1st, which gives you an idea of how long winter lasts-- BOO. At any rate, apparently tire stores get swamped after the first major snow-- so, it's a game to get them as late as possible, but before the first real snow. (You don't want them very early, because they reduce your gas mileage a fair bit.)

The main reason we had to get special tires is that Anchorage doesn't salt its roads... this is apparently for many reasons-- it's too cold to be effective, it's environmentally unsound, it lures moose to the roads, and it's expensive. Consequently, we're all studded up ;)

ADN Moose Sightings

John's picture made it into the ADN online gallery :)

Alaska Supreme Court-- Hello Justice Winfree

Apparently Justice Winfree, one of the Alaska Supreme Court Justices, has a Google query that alerts him whenever anything about the Court is posted online... this means, he's seen my blog!! How crazy, huh? So, I'm sure he'll come across this too ;) Justice Winfree is so joyful and has a great sense of humor. His wife also seems very warm. We're looking forward to visiting them in November when we're up in Fairbanks for the UAF hockey game.

Battle of the Books

I got wrangled into doing Battle of the Books for 3rd and 4th graders at our school. The students are responsible for reading at least 12 of 15 books. Of course, I haven't yet read any of them, but I started today with "Who is Walt Disney?" I'll let you know if these new books in the intermediate grade realm are any good ;)

Balto and the Great Race By Elizabeth Cody Kimmel
Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat By Lynne Jonell
Henry Huggins By Beverly Cleary
Honus and Me By Dan Gutman
Little Wolf's Book of Badness By Ian Whybrow
Magic Pretzel By Daniel Pinkwater
Marco? Polo By Jon Scieszka
Marvin Redpost: Kidnapped at Birth? By Louis Sachar
Maze of Bones By Rick Riordan
Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little By Peggy Gifford
Shipwreck on the Pirate Islands By Geronimo Stilton
Sticky Burr: Adventures in Burrwood Forest By John Lechner
Uncle Pirate By Douglas Rees
Who Was Walt Disney? By Whitney Stewart
Word Eater By Mary Amato

Loss

The sixteen year old daughter of John's justice passed away suddenly this past Saturday. The magnitude of this loss for their family is almost incomprehensible. Our thoughts are with them.

Beauty and the Beast :)

I was eying the Beauty and the Beast DVD/Blue-Ray disc. I decided to skip it... not really something I "needed"... but then I came home tonight and John got it for me. It was there on my chair!! Woo hoo :) What a lovely surprise!! We're watching it and singing along.

Church Bulletin Funnies

These were sent to me today... they're just silly, but sometimes real life (of course someone might have made this up, but let's pretend no) is at least as funny as fiction...

Church Bulletins! These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
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The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.'
The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
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Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale.
It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.
Bring your husbands.
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Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.
Smile at someone who is hard to love.
Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you..
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For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
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Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
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At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?'
Come early and listen to our choir practice
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Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
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Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
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The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.
They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
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This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
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Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM.
Please use the back door.
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The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM.
The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
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Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church Please use large double door at the side entrance.
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The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours

Settlers of Catan

My news isn't quite is big as John's, BUT... tonight we played Settlers of Catan with Steve and Tammy... and I WON!!! I've never won this game!!! HOORAY!!! I like winning!!

Scared Scriptless Cast Member Bunking Down with Us

Well, more accurately, the Scared Scriptless Cast Member is now half of us... but John is bunking down at our house ;) That's right... John is the newest member of Scared Scriptless!! That's our local improv group that you might remember me talking about in my post from the summer.

On Thursday John saw a sign for Scared Scriptless' open audition. He attended the first audition on Saturday. They called late last night while we were at the movie (we saw RED--very funny)... John wouldn't leave to take the call because he figured it was bad news (or maybe he just didn't want to miss the movie). I, of course, couldn't think straight until I knew the outcome. They'd left a message and invited him to a call back today. He went to the call back... John found out tonight that he's been invited to be a 3 month cast member... after that time, they'll reevaluate. SOOO exciting!

We're going to watch this weekend's show and he'll start practice on Sunday. Hooray! Congratulations, John!!