Thursday, March 27, 2008

Za Red Lion, Ya?



Last night, Dirts and I went to the Red Lion to celebrate Lebo's 30th birthday. It was a blast. I drank one very large and very tall Diet Coke (I know it's totally boring but I'm on a freaking diet remember?) and had two halves of some delicious cupcakes. I watched people eat sausage out of a glass that looked to be filled with beer and upon closer inspection realized it was actually gravy. It was strangely repulsive and curiously enticing all at the same time.

Dirts and I agreed that when my diet is less full throttle, and I am totally ravishingly hungry, we are going to go to the Red Lion and gorge on beer and sausage.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Autism: The Musical



I saw this documentary this evening on HBO called Autism: The Musical.

Wow. It was amazing.

This woman, whose son, adopted from Russia, has a severe case of autism. She spent about six months spearheading this project that takes autistic kids all over the spectrum and put them in a musical where they act, dance, and sing. The documentary follows five families and their autistic kids throughout the whole process. They share their heartache, their happiness, and huge victories with every small advancement they make with their kids.

The moment that just killed me was when the mother took her son to a speech therapist. The boy was almost totally nonverbal and unable to communicate properly and prone to outbursts and tantrums. The speech therapist placed a keyboard in front of him and told him to tell his mother something that he wanted to say. He typed out, "Mom. I want to put you on the spot." Oh. My. Goodness. Kleenex out, tears rolling. "I want you to be a better listener."

Holy Shnikes. Can you believe it? The kid was totally cognitive just unable to verbalize!!!

Mr. Donaghy and I talked for a moment about how scary the whole thing was but the film was so hopeful and sweet and sad.

Two thumbs up.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Home Improvement



These are the stairs that we had built. The refrigerator and oven used to stand right at the foot of the new set of stairs. A wall and a concrete retaining wall had to be busted up in order to make way for these new stairs. Also, we found out that the whole of the upstairs (me and Mr. Donaghy's room) had no real support. So, thanks to Boris, we now have an enormous steel beam running down the center of the kitchen ceiling to hold us up.



This is the new view coming down the steps. Before, it was a dim and dark hallway that seemed to just end abruptly. Now, it allows for so much more light!!!



This monstrosity is the state of our living room as it has become the catch all for everything that was once in the kitchen. At least 100 trips up and down stairs culminated in this sorry state of affairs. We don't bother watching television anymore. The energy from all this clutter is far too kinetic to really have a proper lie down and veg session.



Ah! Finally, I see some drywall. Things look as though they are really coming together.



This part of the kitchen is the new dining area. Before, it was a set of stairs and a tiny eating nook where nobody had any wiggle room.

I Shudder at Shutter

I would never tell someone to not go see a movie. A person can spend their hard earned dollar any way they choose. However, I saw Shutter with Mr. Donaghy last night and, oh, was it ever one big turkey of a film.

I think the guy behind us summed it up best when he kept murmuring, "Horrible. That was just so horrible."

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The weather has been just beautiful here. Yesterday, the temperature was 81 degrees in the house yet it was comfortable with all the windows open. The sun has been shining and providing some much needed photosynthesis action for all of my lovely little plants.



Shellman, the cat, the surly one, the smartest of them all reigns supreme over all.

Here are the latest garden photos...hope you likey





Tuesday, March 18, 2008

I Think I'm Turning Japanese...



I've made a big decision.

I am going to attempt to make a Japanese Tea Garden right off the den and the side yard leading to the kitchen garden. I won't even have to change any of the current plantings if I do it right. Except, of course, one rose and two society garlic. The prospect of pulling this off properly is quite thrilling and I am getting tingly just thinking about it. The hard part is saving the money to do it.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Saturday in the Garden

I woke up at 8:30am this morning and greedily consumed the coffee that Mr. Donaghy had prepared for me. I noticed that the air was a bit more chilly than it has been and when I looked up, I could see gray clouds moving in our direction. Within five minutes, the sun poked through and for most of the morning, although there was still a chill in the air, the threat of rain did not loom so near.

So I wandered out to the front garden and proceeded to water the lawn for, o, I'd say 45 minutes. Seeing as how I haven't watered in a while, I figured the plants could use a little H20. I looked at the roses and felt that a Spring weeding and fertilizing was in due order.

There I was, wide brimmed hat and all, sweatin' away, hacking at the earth, and on all fours ripping long weeds out of the thorns of my roses. I applied organic rose food. Synthetic rose food. Bone meal. Blood meal. I was about to bust out the shredded coconut shells for mulching when I decided that I should water well first.

I watered and watered and watered. I soaked my David Austin babies at least twice and checked for aphids. Aha! None! Know why? 'Cuz they are pretty healthy plants and aren't I doing such a good job? I may even spray insecticide/fungicide--hey wait a minute! My hat was blown off my head! The wind was picking up something fierce and Mr. Donaghy, who was outside painting and cutting the baseboards (those damn baseboards!), yelled for me to help him bring them into the house because it was raining. Since I had the hose in my hand, I did not even notice that it was raining!

And then it stopped.

And then it started.

And then it stopped again.

And now it's starting again.

I will keep you posted.

Just Kidding.

Friday, March 14, 2008

If I ever have a son, I wanna name him Cormac.




I know that I am late to the game, but I recently saw No Country for Old Men.

One word can describe the experience...EXCELLENT.

I love anything written my Cormac McCarthy. He's so...so, so, I mean he's such a...such a...dude. He's a dude's dude.

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The baseboards arrived today. They were supposed to be here on Wednesday. Alas.

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This evening, Mr. Donaghy had a meeting with a Hollywood man about a job as a producer or something like that. (I don't really know the ins and outs of the BIZ and I am certainly not fluent in the language.) Anyways, Mr. Donaghy had a very good feeling about the man; felt he was really down to earth and all. They talked for a few hours over a few beers and when Mr. Donaghy came home, he was still in a fairly jovial and somewhat celebratory mood which was nice to see altho I wondered why.

When I mentioned that I was about to retire to a soaking tub, Mr. Donaghy sheepishly asked me if I would accompany him to the market to purchase some more celebratory spirits. I saw the hopeful glint in his eye and I submitted happily.

At the store, he did not reach for his usual cheapy beer. Instead, he reached for Blue Moon. Eyebrows raised, he knowingly informed me that, "This beer is goooood. I just had the first time tonight." I giggled to myself knowing Mr. Donaghy does not often veer from his "usual".

I tried the beer once we got to the house. And, yes, indeed, Mr. Donaghy, that beer IS really good.

P.S. I figured out why Mr. Donaghy was in such a good mood. 1. The Meeting went well. 2. Stupid me, I forgot that this is the Friday before the greatest Irish Day of all Irish history!!! I think he just wanted to get started early being that all that Irish blood is coursing through his veins. Erin go deo, Mr. Donaghy. Erin go deo.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Some Favorites

One of the best moments ever in television history...I think...











careful!!! this might be offensive to some of you















Oh Yeah!!

Basebaording

This morning Mr. Donaghy called Home Depot to verify the arrival of our baseboards. I splurged and ordered a "delivery" so that the baseboards would not have to be cut so that when we install them they will be seamless. Funny how something so small can make such a difference. I was eager to have them arrive today, but, alas, they will arrive tomorrow instead.

Rafael's crew came and fixed the floor but it took them another week to come back and grout. Mr. Donaghy is incensed but I just shrug it off. Is it possible that the kitchen might be done within the month? After the baseboards, there is only backsplash and door and window framing that must be done. I do not dare think it may be done.

Also, the den is coming along quite nicely. The only thing left is baseboards and trim to be painted.

O, and did I also mention one other important tidbit? Whilst I was away, Mr. Donaghy received his GREEN CARD!!! O Happy Day! He is now an official landed immigrant, legal as an eagle, and can assume a comfortable residency as an alien with all the perks de la Americana such as income taxes, medical insurance, war, and an oppressive economy staving off the threat of a recession. Mr. Donaghy, why did you leave sweet ol' Canada? Nonetheless, he is happy as a clam and I am happier for it.

The garden is spectacular. I find myself wandering through it at least three times a day just looking at everything and being so pleasantly surprised when I see that something new has sprouted or bloomed. The jasmine have bloomed in abundance and the heady fragrance saturates the air all around the house. My favorite thing so far is that I only have to leave one window open and the whole house fills with that sweet romantic smell. The roses are red from sprouting new growth and the wisteria have burst with furry heads of blooms just waiting to hang from those twisty branches. In the shade garden, the calla lilies' foliage is lending quite a tropical feel with those huge plumes of green leaves and the hummingbirds drink water from the trumpets of those grand creamy white flowers.

I have two azaleas my uncle gave me and I think I am going to plant them in urns and site them on either side of the entrance to the garden.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Southeast Asia '08