BBC, What Has Happened to You??

What is going on with the BBC these days??  A once solidly dependable production company, who at one time produced the most amazing period dramas, is floundering.  It upsets me to report that the BBC's latest releases of movies have been nearly unwatchable.  Is this the same company that gave us in 1995 the amazing Pride and Prejudice (with Jennifer Ehle and my imaginary boyfriend Colin Firth) and the 2004 production of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South with the yummy Richard Armitage?  Even as recently as 2008, the BBC released a brilliant adaptation of Dickens' Little Dorrit with Matthew Macfadyen (drool!). But things have changed with their most recent releases. In the past month, I have attempted to sit through Great Expectations - a horrendous adaptation, Birdsong - boring and poorly acted, and The Mystery of Edwin Drood - tedious!  I will say that the BBC still produces great television shows like Top Gear and The Graham Norton Show, which has less to do with the BBC and more to do with not making changes to solid television programmes.  But I have always looked forward to their amazing period dramas and am severely disappointed by their latest productions.  It appears that I will have to keep checking on what new releases Carnival Films has in store for the future. They are the UK production company who has amazed us all with the mesmerizing Downton Abbey and are definitely doing the quality work that BBC used to be known for.  In 2007, they released an amazing production of Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop with inimitable Derek Jacobi.

BBC, you need to start stepping up your game and get back to delivering quality period dramas or just stop producing them altogether if you can't give us quality. 

Great Gadgets!

Go-Go-Gadget-Go!!  (Anyone remember that?)  Anyway, lately I've purchased a few gadgets that I simply must rave about.  While they haven't changed my life, they have certainly improved it in a myriad of ways.  I've listed these in no particular order.

1.  The Hamilton Beach Personal Blender with Travel Lid:  This fantastic little personal blender has been a wonderful new new addition to my kitchen.  In the past, as I mixed up a protein shake for breakfast, I'd be annoyed at how the blender bottles with the whisk-type ball would never fully mix the protein powder.  I'm not a fan of gritty tasting beverages.  A couple of months ago, while wandering through a local store, I saw this little personal blender on the shelf and thought that seeing as how the price was so reasonable, I'd give it a go.  This little blender is amazing, as long as you don't try to add anything too dense to the mix - like ice cubes.  Probably if you break up the ice into smaller pieces or if you're lucky enough to have a crushed ice dispenser in your fridge, it'll work okay, but otherwise regular-sized ice cubes jam up the blades. If you add softer foods (like bananas, strawberries, peanut butter, etc.), the shake mixes like a charm and makes this blender a must for any kitchen.  It has the added bonus of having a travel lid so you can just mix and go. Awesome. And clean up is a breeze! Word of warning, take the instructions seriously when it says to "pulse" the switch.  If you just hold the switch down for longer than 30 seconds, you'll burn out the motor - the only downside to this gadget.

2.  Presto PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper:  Okay, I admit it - I was a little freaked out when I read about the possible cancer risks with microwave popcorn - a favorite snack.  Now, I know that it's been linked to those who work in the popcorn factories and my risk of exposure is pretty small, but...  So again, I was wondering through a local store and saw this lovely little hot air popper sitting on the shelf.  (Okay, I admit it - I'm an impulse buyer.  Don't judge me.)  But, this air popper is fantastic.  Instead of spending $5 for a box of 3 microwave popcorn bags ($1.66 per bag), I can buy a entire bag of kernels at the incredibly low price of $2.00, which will last through sixteen poppings in the air popper ($0.13 a serving).  It's really a no brainer. It also has a handy dandy measuring cup/butter melter - which I actually have never used, but I'm sure works wonders.  I don't add butter to my popcorn.  While I love buttered popcorn, I don't want to add the extra calories.  On the rare occasion when I'm looking for something different in my popcorn, I use the Kernel Season's Popcorn Seasoning.  The nacho cheddar cheese flavor is delicious - which also works great on veges - and adds all of 2 calories per serving!  I probably work that off just walking to and from the kitchen. 

3.  The Step F1004 Step Workout System:  You may be thinking: "Why, Sandi, how very 1990s of you?"  And you'd be partially correct.  Yes, step aerobics is a throw back to the early '90s but it is seriously one of the hardest workouts that I've ever endured. I loathe going to the gym and needed a home workout that I could do during inclement/cold weather and would commit to.  A friend suggested step aerobics and I thought I'd give it a go. Before purchasing this step, I noticed that other reviewers complained about the length of this step, which is a valid point.  This is a pretty small step (about 2/3rds the size of ones found in the gym) so it would definitely be a better fit for a shorter person (like myself), although even I find it even a little too short and wish it were slightly longer.  Even though it's made purely from plastic, this little stepper is a trouper. It's sturdy and easy to store away. The dvd that comes with it (Cathe Friedrich's Basic Step + Body Fusion DVD) is a little difficult at first - especially for someone new to step aerobics but after going through it about 2 or 3 times, the routine becomes easy to follow and gives a good workout. It makes for a nice change from power walking and bike riding. Plus it's fantastic for rainy, cold, or snowy days when it's just too awful to workout outside.

4.  Step Reebok The Video: I like to break up my workout routines occasionally so I don't get bored and on the advice of a friend who raved about this workout, I purchased this dvd.  (By the way, I think this friend is ever so slightly a masochist/sadist because this is a seriously brutal workout.)  This workout is the first step aerobics video ever - developed in 1992 by the step guru, Gin Miller! I first checked it out on YouTube and believed that it would be a good, but relatively easy workout. Boy was I wrong about that! This is one tough workout. The nice thing about this video is that you don't have to be a dancer to do the steps. Very basic steps with lots of coordinating arm movements, which were a little difficult at first to get down pat. But as with most workouts after a few viewings, I can follow the instructions with ease.  Gin's cuing is spot on and the 'live' drumming is awesome.  What's really fun about this video is how retro it is - with the music and fashion. I mean who is wearing Reebok hi-tops with slouch socks anymore??  The set and lights make me think of my time spent in clubs back in the late 80s/early 90s.  It's a nice throw back to my youth. Seriously though, this is a great workout. Although I first tried it with the platform on the lowest setting and found the workout too easy. But by raising the platform up, I got a disgustingly, sweat-filled, heart pounding workout. (Is that TMI?)  The other thing that I like about Gin Miller's workout is that it's very militaristic. I hate the overly perky exercise gurus (like Cathe Friedrich).  I'm annoyed that I have to workout and I would prefer someone not being irritatingly cheerful about it.  Gin's style is perfect for me.  Mostly it's her saying "Do it again" or "Again."  I don't want to hear, "are we having fun?"  I say "no" when I hear one of those perky exercise queens say that.

[Follow up on 4/26/12:  I have discovered some interesting facts about step aerobics.  The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness published a study that found step aerobics significantly raised the HDL-cholesterol levels (the 'good' cholesterol) of the participants in the study.  Soooo, if I'm ever teased about doing step aerobics, I'll show them my awesome cholesterol levels and say "In your face."]

These are just a few of my most recent acquisitions that I wanted to rave about.  All excellent products that were well worth the money I plunked down.

I Want to Go to "The Night Circus" - Please!!!

Have you ever read a book where you just wanted to crawl into the story and be a part of it??  I have - lots of times.  Here is yet another.  It's been awhile since I posted a book review - mostly due to the mediocre books I've read lately. But that changed with Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus. There are very few books which live up to the hype that surrounds them - as notably the Hunger Games trilogy and the Harry Potter series do, therefore I am happy to report that The Night Circus is one of such books.

Synopsis:  Two illusionists (Celia and Marco) are chosen at a young age to be bound to one another in a contest that will span their lives until one wins. They have been given no rules, other than that they must perform in some way. They have no idea how one wins, or what one must do to win. Their sponsors in the contest create a circus to be utilized as the arena for the contestants. One travels with the circus (Celia), the other does not (Marco). Their story is interspersed with the perspectives of several other characters affiliated with or within the circus, all of whom enrich the plot and provide a deeper look at the workings of the circus and those it touches. The drama is heightened when a deep and magical love between these two 'combatants' is realized.

Review:  This debut novel by Erin Morgenstern is beautifully written and (even more importantly) beautifully edited, something that many books these days lack, but this novel might not be everyone's cup of tea.  Morgenstern creates a magical world in which the setting takes center stage. This circus is one that has never been seen, heard, or read about before. The imagery of the circus and the magic is enthralling, vivid, and unique, and, at many points, the setting is the focus in a scene. If you fall under its spell, you will wish to keep reading in order experience the world of the Night Circus a little longer and to unravel the mysteries of the people who are involved with it. It's been a while since an imaginative setting filled me with such a sense of wonder. There are novels that are character driven and, as such, need incredibly well-developed characters in order to succeed. Conversely, there are engrossing novels that are setting-driven where the focus isn't on a character's growth. So while Night Circus's cast might be perceived as 'flat characters' in that they don't get too much in-depth development, they are certainly not dull characters, but a colorful component that adds to the intrigue of the magical circus and the mystery that unfolds which is part dream and part nightmare. But for some readers, the magic will not be enough and instead they will find it excessive and probably self-indulgent. For others (like me), it was a breath-taking journey and a world I wished I could experience for real. If there's even a bit of a dreamer or a lover of fantastical settings in you, definitely give this book a try.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A Guide to Theatre/Theater Etiquette

I love going to the theatre and the theater.  What's the difference?  Theatre means live performances: operas, plays, musicals, ballet, etc.  Theater is film. But over the years, the exhilarating experience of sitting down in a darkened theatre or theater has soured due to other audience members attending these performances. People who are unaware (apparently) that there is basic etiquette that everyone should adhere to and, when that behavior is ignored, makes the experience less than stellar for the people who are sitting near them.

Last night, I went to see Verdi's beautifully tragic opera, La Traviata (as part of the Met in HD series) at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA and was reminded of why I have started limiting my time at the theatre.  I happened to be sitting in front of some Troglodyte who decided about halfway through the performance to ask his companion rather loudly every ten minutes:  "Is it over?" "Can we go now?" "She's dead, does this mean we can leave?" [she actually hadn't died yet], etc.  All annoyingly distracting!  I finally had to turn around to tell him to shut up - although I did say it a little nicer than that.  A bit.  I remember years ago attending a Broadway production which printed up a list of theatre etiquette and handed it out to the audience. <insert applause here>  Perhaps it's time to update that list and hand to every person entering a theatre or even a theater. 

Here is a list of theatre/theater etiquette that everyone should adhere to:

1. Dress appropriately.  Yes, the days are long gone when people wear tuxedos, suits, gowns, etc. to a theatrical performance, but does that mean you need to wear shorts, t-shirts and sneakers?  Perhaps something in between might be the way to go.  Dress as you would when first meeting the parents of your future in-laws.  Oh, and deodorant is a must.  And go easy on the cologne or perfume as some people are allergic.


2. Don't arrive late. Come on, people!  Find out the time of your performance well in advance and plan your arrival time accordingly.  Better to arrive early and kill some time in the lobby rather than arriving late. 


3. Turn off all electronic devices.  And keep them off!  Tweeting, texting, and emailing during a performance is distracting and annoying to everyone. And no, you cannot take photographs. Just stop!


4. Keep your opinions to yourself.  If you find yourself bored or horrified by the actions on the stage or screen, keep it to yourself.  The rest of the audience does not need to know your opinion of the performance, especially if they themselves are enjoying the action on the stage/screen. Try to remember that you are not in your living room.  If attending a musical or opera, please do not sing along.  (This rule can be ignored ONLY if you are at an interactive performance in which the actors are encouraging your participation.)


5. If you must leave, leave quietly.  If you find yourself bored or horrified by the actions on the stage or screen or you have an emergency and you feel the urge to leave, then please leave with as little distraction as possible to avoid annoying the rest of the audience. 


6. No snogging, please!  I know that you are 'in love' but the moment the lights go down is not a signal for you to start making out with your significant other.  Even with the low lights, people can see you and not only is it distracting, but disgusting.  Get a hotel room or stay home if you're feeling amorous. 


7. No snacking.  I recognize that movie theaters live and die by the concessions, so the snacking rule changes depending on the performance - live vs. film. We all get peckish occasionally, but opening noisy candy packages and sucking on those sour balls are another distraction during a live performance.  Finish up your snack during intermissions. When watching a film, please limit the noise by opening up any candy packages ahead of time.


8. Bring cough drops and tissues, if ill.  We all get colds and coughs from time to time when we have theatre tickets, so please remember to bring cough drops and tissues with you.  If your coughing gets out of control, then leave the theatre/theater until the worse of the coughing passes.  Try to avoid 'trumpeting' when using your tissues or wait until times of applause in which to blow your nose.


9. If you fall asleep, don't snore.  Have a pact with your companions that if you happen to fall asleep and your snoring begins rippling through the auditorium, that they should wake you.


10. No misbehaving children allowed.  I love the idea of encouraging children to enjoy live theatre from a young age, with these caveats about bringing children to adult theatre: prepare them beforehand by telling them about theater manners. Explain that they should be quiet, sit still, and not disturb others around them. If it is a serious play, tell them to listen carefully and not laugh at the sad parts or other inappropriate times [something that some adults need to learn too].  They need to keep any negative comments to themselves, until they get in the car or home and have them use the restroom before the performance begins. If your child disturbs the audience, take them to the lobby and watch it on the television screen. (Children's theatre is a completely different animal which encourages interaction during the play. Definitely take your children to see children's theatre.)  [I once had to sit through a very expensive Broadway show in which a 5 year old whined and kicked the back of my seat the entire 2+ hours and no amount of dirty looks from me helped. I came close to bitch slapping the parent.]

I really don't think I'm asking for much.  There's a subtle difference between an audience reacting to and participating in a show - cheers, hisses, gasps, all that, which is great - and forgetting they are not at home in front of the TV. (Though frankly people who talk through TV watching make me pretty stabby too. We're all watching the same thing! We KNOW what the character just said!)  Everyone should be able to control their actions for the 2 to 3 hours that you will spend in the theatre/theater.  Following these simple rules makes a night out enjoyable for all!

Nearly $4 for a Gallon of Gas??

I know I'm not the only person feeling the pinch at the gas pumps these days.  But today as I was plunking down $55 to fill up my Jeep, I wondered what others countries are paying in comparison.  Well, in most cases, I'm glad I live in the US, where it's only $4 a gallon.  Here are the highs and lows:

Turkey comes in at the highest rate - a mere $10.00 per gallon.  Ouch!!  For that same fill up I just completed, I would have paid $140 in Istanbul.  Sheesh!  I think a camel would make a better choice there.  Of course, if you want to get your gas cheaply, you could move to Iran, where the gas prices are the lowest at $0.12 a gallon.  What?!?  That's even more ridiculous.  My little Jeep would have been filled for about the price of a pack of gum ($1.70).  I actually expected that Saudi Arabia would be the lowest, but it is not surprising that it's a Middle Eastern country.  Here's the full list of gas prices worldwide.  Truly fascinating.

So I suppose I can be happy that I'm only paying $4 a gallon or I could move to Iran.  Anyone know where I can buy a hijab?  Hmmmm... Maybe not!

Career Change: The Test Results

When last we left the career change postings, I had just taken the Massachusetts Tests for Education Licensures (MTELs).  Now it's time to post the test results.  First off, let me explain briefly how the test results are given.  In order to pass the MTELs, the test taker needs to score a 240 or above on a scale of 100 to 300.  There are two possible results:  (i) "Met the Qualifying Score (which means that you've scored a 240 or better; they don't actually give you the score); or (ii) "Did Not Meeting the Qualifying Score - ###" (in which they actually give you your test score 100-239).  I can't imagine scoring a 239.  That would be the worse.

I was notified of the test score for the Literacy and Communications Test on March 21, 2012 and received a "Met the Qualifying Score."  So, yes - I passed!!  It seems from the additional information provided, I scored quite well. Out of the 10 multiple choice sections, I answered 6 of the sections with "most or all items correct" and "thoroughly" answered the two writing compositions.  I was ecstatic with these results, but I will admit with all humility that I wasn't too surprised that I passed.

On April 7, 2012, I received the score for the English subject test and, much to my surprise, I passed!  Again, I don't know what the actual score was but a received another "Met the Qualifying Score."  From the information provided, I answered "many of the items correctly" on the multiple choice section and only gave the two writing compositions "limited" answers.  Whoops.  Oh well, even if I scored a 240, all that matters is that I passed.  I will say that I was unbelievably gobsmacked that I did pass. I thought for sure that I had failed the test and even kept all my study materials out in case I needed to retake the test.  I can now put them away.  That's the good news.

The bad news:  I've been asked by Teach for America to take one more MTEL in May.  I was given a couple of choices (Spec. Ed., ESL or History) and I choose to sign up to take English as a Second Language, which if I pass will definitely be a positive career tool.  The annoying part is that I now have to spend the next month attempting to study something on my own that I've never studied at all.  I will say this makes me even more nervous.  Unlike the English test where I at least had 4 years of studying literature to get me through, I have zero knowledge of teaching ESL.  <shrugs>  I'll just have to do the best I can and hope for the best.

Otherwise, the only other tasks being completed are a few interviews at various schools and an FBI background check (I was going to put an inappropriate comment here, but I'd be afraid that someone wouldn't take it as a joke so I'll resist). 

Cravings - Give In or Ignore?

I am being plagued with a crazy, unrelenting craving!  I wake up thinking about it, go to sleep thinking about it.  It pops into my head on a near constant basis during the day.  It's even crept into my dreams recently.  A constant craving can be a source of unending misery. What is this craving?

CUPCAKES!!!!  

Yes, I know, it's insane, but I can't stop thinking about all those wonderfully delicious, sinfully fattening little pieces of heaven!  Am I exaggerating a bit?  Maybe, maybe not.  I dreamt the other night that a bus-sized cupcake chased me down the street. 

I began my cupcake craze around the same time that all the cupcake bakeries started opening up a dozen years ago or so.  In NYC, I probably visited every cupcake establishment that cropped up:  Cupcake Cafe, Magnolia Bakery, Crumbs, Billy's Bakery, Buttercup Bake Shop,  Eleni's, my all-time favorite Empire (f/k/a Lulu's) ... and the list goes on and on.  I've even had the cupcakes that Starbucks features occasionally.  Yum!!  It's a sickness I know. Here in Newburyport, there're a limited number of bakeries selling cupcakes - Eat Cake!  and Sweet Flour Bakery - and while both are good, the cupcakes are really, really fancy.  Sometimes I just want a simple vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting and I can't seem to find one in Newburyport.  

Now I have an additional problem which is that a month ago I went back to eating healthy in an attempt to lose the 35 pounds I've gained over the past year.  Ergo all bakery visits are out and where the cravings come into play.  And even though there is a low fat cupcake that I've made, they are not quite up to snuff with my elitist cupcake tastes.  But what happens if I give into the craving?  My fear is that even one cupcake indulgence ends up being slippery slope into overindulging - a problem that I have.  So what's the answer here? How do I handle the cravings?  Anyone have some solid advice on handling cravings? Because clearly ignoring them isn't doing the trick.  Although being chased by a bus-sized cupcake is really, really funny.

Don't these look lovely??  <sigh>