Because of the beautiful weather outside it was just to hard to not enjoy it for a little bit! (I did have coding and research to work on). Today I planted a couple of herbs (basil, lemon balm, and rosemary) from seeds. I couldn't find plants (or I would have bought some). The veggies in the garden are starting to come up. Unfortunately, a few of the beans got it after the odd frost that occurred about a week ago.
Not much else to report past my tweets on Twitter. Research is kind of consuming my life at the moment. I am hoping to make a lot of progress over the summer. Well, it is the goal anyway :-)
Recent music obsession: "Cobrastyle" by Teddybears and Mad Cobra. (The song was featured in the pilot for the tv show Chuck which I was happy to learn was renewed for a 3rd season).
Well, I better get back to that research I mentioned earlier since it will not be researching itself. (I apologize for that horrible last pun...just pretend like you didn't really read it - OK?)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Garden Fun
"It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Finished helping planting veggies in the "garden". Forgot how much fun it was until I was trying to climb back over the rabbit fence. Oh well, the veggies will be nice to eat this summer: tomatoes, onions, zucchini, lettuce, peas, green beans, and asparagus. Also planted strawberries, potatoes and cantaloupe. Oh and we planted popcorn!
A lot of the plants where started from seed about a month ago. A couple of plants were picked up at the hardware store so we might actually see some output earlier :-) Yes, I know cheating just a tad, but the Michigan growing season is kind of short.
Well, I better get back to work - coding and research kind of work! Thanks for reading :-) Enjoy the nice spring weather.
Finished helping planting veggies in the "garden". Forgot how much fun it was until I was trying to climb back over the rabbit fence. Oh well, the veggies will be nice to eat this summer: tomatoes, onions, zucchini, lettuce, peas, green beans, and asparagus. Also planted strawberries, potatoes and cantaloupe. Oh and we planted popcorn!
A lot of the plants where started from seed about a month ago. A couple of plants were picked up at the hardware store so we might actually see some output earlier :-) Yes, I know cheating just a tad, but the Michigan growing season is kind of short.
Well, I better get back to work - coding and research kind of work! Thanks for reading :-) Enjoy the nice spring weather.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Mrs. Bradley's Mysteries...
I recently stumbled upon an interesting (but very short-lived) series entitled: Mrs. Bradley's Mysteries staring Diana Rigg and Neil Dudgeon. It was run as part of MYSTERY! on PBS when Diana Rigg was host. (I thought Diana Rigg and Neil Dudgeon were both excellent).
Diana Rigg plays the title character Mrs. Bradley and Neil Dudgeon plays her faithful chauffeur George Moody. Set in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Mrs. Bradley defies the "normals" of society at the time. (Throughout the series you learn the titles of the books that the character Mrs. Bradley has written - not the normal reading material of the day). The series is based on the works of author Gladys Mitchell who wrote over 60 books featuring the Mrs. Bradley character.
It is interesting to watch the characters deal with topics that would have been surprising at the time the series was set (and written) but have now become almost common. Mrs. Bradley's "fourth-wall" comments are often times highly amusing and give the views interesting insight to the character of Mrs. Bradley. George Moody was one of the most interesting "side-kicks" in a mysteries series I have seen. Unlike Dr. Watson who was often several steps behind Sherlock Holmes, Moody plays important role in the solving of the mystery and often uproots important clues to the solution. (I personally wish there had been more of these shows made - there are only 5 episodes total). However, this series really should be watched in order - trust me. Otherwise, it will ruin the last episode. Just trust me on this one!
Well, thanks for stopping by and reading! I figured I would actually include a whole post instead of just using Twitter all the time!
Diana Rigg plays the title character Mrs. Bradley and Neil Dudgeon plays her faithful chauffeur George Moody. Set in the late 1920s and early 1930s, Mrs. Bradley defies the "normals" of society at the time. (Throughout the series you learn the titles of the books that the character Mrs. Bradley has written - not the normal reading material of the day). The series is based on the works of author Gladys Mitchell who wrote over 60 books featuring the Mrs. Bradley character.
It is interesting to watch the characters deal with topics that would have been surprising at the time the series was set (and written) but have now become almost common. Mrs. Bradley's "fourth-wall" comments are often times highly amusing and give the views interesting insight to the character of Mrs. Bradley. George Moody was one of the most interesting "side-kicks" in a mysteries series I have seen. Unlike Dr. Watson who was often several steps behind Sherlock Holmes, Moody plays important role in the solving of the mystery and often uproots important clues to the solution. (I personally wish there had been more of these shows made - there are only 5 episodes total). However, this series really should be watched in order - trust me. Otherwise, it will ruin the last episode. Just trust me on this one!
Well, thanks for stopping by and reading! I figured I would actually include a whole post instead of just using Twitter all the time!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Warm Weather, Movies, Chuck, and other Random Musings
"I'm looking for a submarine. It's big and black, and the driver is a very good friend of mine." - Zukovsky (The World Is Not Enough)
If you hadn't noticed, I have started twittering. Yep, figured everyone else was and it is easier than updating the blog. However, still planning to keep the blog around - because there are times were one wants to write more than 140 characters. (I will have to admit it is kind of fun to try to write a message for twitter that is exactly 140 characters...). So you can now follow me on twitter or read my twitters on my blog. Moving on...
Enjoyed watching the season finale of Chuck last night. Very interesting episode! I so hope it gets renewed! (If you haven't been watching the show, then I highly recommend it).
Since I really don't have much to talk about I will tell you about movies I am currently enjoying. My life has been wrapped up in my research and teaching recently. So actually having a "real life" hasn't been happening much :-) Work-life balance is not something that really exists in graduate school.
If you hadn't noticed, I have started twittering. Yep, figured everyone else was and it is easier than updating the blog. However, still planning to keep the blog around - because there are times were one wants to write more than 140 characters. (I will have to admit it is kind of fun to try to write a message for twitter that is exactly 140 characters...). So you can now follow me on twitter or read my twitters on my blog. Moving on...
Michigan has had some (surprising) warm weather recently (in the low 80s). I am a huge fan of sandals and had great fun in getting them out of my closet. Unfortunately, the warm weather did not last and it is back in the upper 50s. It looks like the weather will get a little warmer as the week goes on - we might get into the low 60s. Don't worry, Michigan has been getting lots of nice rain - regardless of temperature. On Sunday we got quiet a downpour in the late afternoon. Otherwise, it was been on/off drizzle. That way we know spring is here! :-)
Enjoyed watching the season finale of Chuck last night. Very interesting episode! I so hope it gets renewed! (If you haven't been watching the show, then I highly recommend it).
Since I really don't have much to talk about I will tell you about movies I am currently enjoying. My life has been wrapped up in my research and teaching recently. So actually having a "real life" hasn't been happening much :-) Work-life balance is not something that really exists in graduate school.
Movies I have been watching for the past few months:
- James Bond (OK, not a specific one...more like slowly trying to watch all of them).
- Caprice: Doris Day has an interest role in this film. It does have a bit of 60's spy movie spoof. A one point Doris Day has on this wonderful fuzzy pink hat while running through an apartment complex with Richard Harris's character. Wonderful little comedy.
- Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd: Wonderful little film with Angela Lansbury as Miss Marple. I did figure out the mystery before it was announced in the film - but only really close to the end of the film. Some of the dialog is extremely amusing.
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999 version): The film is excellent, music is excellent, the whole thing was excellent. It is a must see if you haven't. (I won't even admit how many times I have seen this film so far...)
- Married Life: This film reminds me of several Hitchcock films. I thought it was an interesting and amusing film. (The music was also excellent!)
- The In-Laws (2003 version): Watched this movie again after not seeing it for a while. This movie is an excellent comedy! So many funny parts, excellent dialog, and plot.
Well, thanks for reading. Hopefully, since things have slightly calmed down (i.e., spring semester is officially over) I will have more time for blogs. Or at least tweets on Twitter :-)
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