Dumbledore's Army... Sign me Up

I'm officially hooked on Potter, even more than before.  The odd thing is my interest and level of addiction has followed the same basic trend line as with the movies:  The first 3 years (books & movies) I muddled through, entertaining yes.  But overall I was not blown away.  Plot was still fairly straight forward, a few twists and turns here and there, but again nothing that just knocked me back, the story still felt... for lack of a better word juvenile.   Year 4 Goblet of Fire... things are getting a bit more interesting, a character died?  In a "kids" book/movie?... this is getting a bit dark.  I like it.  Now with Year 6 Order of the Phoenix, I'm full on hooked.  This movie is the one that REALLY got me into and looking forward to the series, my interest was at it's peak.  The book has not disappointed.  My interest has grown exponentially.  As I've mentioned before there are always differences in what is on paper and what is on the silver screen.  This book though...  Wow.  It's like the story has taken a completely different turn. Up until now there's been the expected minor deviations and differences between book and movie, most have been kinda sorta defensable, I mean a movie can't be 4 hours.  However, the amount of detail and subtlety that was not touched on in the 5th movie is stagering and has me pretty well on edge.  I absolutely can not wait to finish.  I am seriously considering putting a hold on all non Harry Potter activities until the series is complete, ok not really, but I was close.

I am looking forward to my Oct/Nov-ish Harry Potter Movie Marathon in which all 6 movies will be watched in a single sitting.  Yes.  I am that much of a nerd, I will do this.  And I will love every second of it.

Random Favorites

Spice: Cumin

Chef: Rick Bayless

Picture of the Week

Pretty amazing views just outside of Twin Falls, ID.  For the longest time I though Idaho, much like New Hampshire and the Dakotas, didn't really exist.  Why you ask, well I'd never just run into someone from these locals and I'd never been there so... fake.  Anywho, these falls were pretty awesome the sounds of the water was pretty soothing which was a very nice end to a pretty hectic week.  Some great local landscapes followed by some local food... Thai... in Idaho... I was skeptical as skeptical can be, but was so very happy to be proved wrong the food was great.  For sure on my keeper list for the next time I'm there.

From FCA Travels

Irrational

I like tomato sauce, LOVE salsa, chili, and it doesn't get much better than Velveeta and Rotel.  Nothing at all odd about any of that, except maybe that Velveeta is cheese that doesn't need to be in the fridge, which is not at all my point... but it is kinda still kinda creepy and not natural at all.  No the point is I hate tomatoes.  Which makes all of the above likes utterly absurd, I realize this and will not try to justify or explain it in any way shape or form because the common sense train left town long ago.  I used to say it was a texture thing and I just didnt' like them in big chunks, they needed to be pureed, ala ketchup, tomato sauce (yes I used to run all jarred sauces through the good ol' Magic Bullet)... however I got brave and started making my chili with stewed tomatoes... shot my logic out of the water cause now I'm eating chunks.  Enter theory #2 - still a texture thing, but it's not the chunks that are the issue it's temperature.  I only like them Hot.  Well my father inlaw's salsa blew that theory up like the Hindenburg because I will literally drink that salsa from a tea cup and it is tomato chunk city.  Essentially, I'm out of ideas - raw sliced or diced tomato hatred is really all I have left to cling to to keep me from thinking I'm totally insane.  I've tried them on sandwiches, tacos, burritos, lots of stuff and still I can detect a raw tomato chunk from 1000 paces.  It's a highly annoying thing to not like too, because it's one of those things it seems like everyone likes, thus making me odd, which as if you haven't noticed, I do not need anything else to but me in the odd category.  Oh well, I'll continue to do battle with the red little fruit and maybe one of these days I'll grow up and be able to eat a BLT, 'cause a sandwich featuring bacon as its primary protein is something I really think I need to be on board with.

Video of the Week

So this is two Lady Gaga related videos in a row... however... this is pretty awesome, too awesome to not put up.  The applause though is pretty weak considering how bad arse this is, especially the blond in the upper right, she could not look more unimpressed if she tried. 

Video of the Week

Food 4 Thought

SkyMall Product of the Week

Yup...you're thinking what I'm thinking: someone got fired and yet... they figured hey, Malaysian children made em' (ah-thank you Zoolander), we might as well sell them in SkyMall!