Lost is Coming Back in January

All my favorite sci-fi-ish favorite shows are returning in January, Lost and Battlestar Galactica, along with other favorite like 24 and Big Love.  I might have to assign only multiple choice assignments in class to keep up with all the TV viewing.  Here's the Lost promo:  

Good Speech and Good Song

No matter what you think about politics, you have to admit this is a good speech and a good song.  Very inspiring... 

Making T-shirts and a Mascot

This week was a fun and nostalgic one.  Here are my photos of making T-shirts and a mascot for the NKOTB concert.  

10 Days til the NKOTB concert...

Spumoni Cupcakes

I haven't posted many of my baking escapades lately since I haven't had too many this summer.  I have experimented with a few different pistachio cake and cupcake recipes leading up to a cupcake exchange I'm going to tomorrow.  (I was trying to find an alternative to the scary, full-of-mixes Watergate cake that requires a box of yellow cake mix, pistachio pudding mix, and 7-up.  I'm a fan of "from scratch.")  I found many recipes that required one of the three mixes.  I used pudding mix in my spumoni creation, which require chocolate chips.  I replaces the chips with a cherry chocolate bar and created a cherry frosting.  I should probably use cherry extract next time for the frosting, but all in all they taste good.  Jeff gave them a thumbs up.  Check out the photos:  

Food Porn

I really want to go to this restaurant when we visit Vegas, called Bouchon.  These are the profiteroles.  Yum!  I wonder if I can get the recipe... 

Pictures from my Trip to Portland

Cute YouTube Video Called "Western Spaghetti"

Fourth of July Celebration

If you're looking for a kid-friendly event for the morning of July 4th, check out my mom's and sister's blogs for info on my mom's annual Fourth of July Parade.  Kids decorate their bikes, tricycles, etc. and ride the loop around the block, followed by treats.  

I'm SO glad it wasn't the Sawyer ending...

Funny Lost Spoof

My NKOTB Experience

When I first heard that the New Kids on the Block were considering making a comeback, I thought it would be fun and humorous to get into the hysteria, the way one gets into the theme at a themed party.  I signed up on the NKOTB website to get updates on the comeback without realizing that this made me a fan club member.  One of my fan club perks was sent to me a week and a half ago by email; it was an invite to RSVP for the New Kid's final dress rehearsal at The House of Blues in Hollywood.  The rules to the invitation were quite strict: no cameras, cell phones, recording devices will be allowed, you will RSVP on a first come first serve basis, and you will not be allowed a "plus one" with this invite -- ONLY YOU.  My friend Allyson got the email before me and called me four times on my drive home from work to sign up quick so we might go together.  

It was a while before Allyson and I heard anything from NKOTB, and we almost forgot about it.  On Tuesday morning, we got an email with our confirmation for that night's show.  At first we had wanted to go to see the kind of crowd that might show up -- all thirty something women who otherwise love cupcakes and SATC or a younger pop-oriented crowd?  As the day went on we got a little giddier, planning our outfits and bragging to our colleagues and students.  Allyson and I had been in New York when NKOTB were on the Today Show  to announce their comeback, but we were toting around fifty 14-year-olds and couldn't make it to the taping.  This House of Blues show was our retribution.  

Driving up La Cienaga to Sunset on Tuesday night, Allyson and I rocked out to the NKOTB greatest hits, along with the new single, "Summertime."  (It reminded me that I'm not that into this type of pop music anymore, but I'd make exceptions for my first teenage obsessive crushes.)  When we got to the House of Blues, we got to line up in a fan club line and got a black wrist band (pictured above) that let us into the pit right in front of the stage.  Inside, there were already a row of 30-somethings surrounding the entire stage, but we stood in back of them in the "second row."  We spent an hour waiting while reminiscing with our line friends and drinking cosmos.  

Finally, the announcer came out and that's when the screaming started.  At first Allyson and I looked at each other and started laughing.  Then, we joined in.  We completely reverted to our 11-year-old selves.  The guys came on stage after a video that no one could hear over the screaming.  They sang three mixes of old and new songs with mixtures of old and new dance moves.  When the came out on the satellite part of the stage we were feet from them.  We put our hands up and they touched us, making us scream even more.  We didn't get as crazy as the girl who threw her bra onstage or the girl who passed Donnie the note (that he read) telling him that her husband allowed Donnie to be her "freebie."  The show lasted only twenty minutes, but it was worth all the hilarity and excitement.  

After the show, we reviewed it with our line buddies, signed a release to be interviewed for the official video archive, and headed home.  I can't believe I saw NKOTB the same month the Sex and the City movie is coming out.  By the way, I didn't take off my entrance bracelets until Friday.  

Sex and the City, The Movie: Coming May 30th

I can't wait to see this movie!  The trailers look awesome.  

Fun Quizzes

You Are a Smart American

You know a lot about US history, and you're opinions are probably well informed. Congratulations on bucking stereotypes. Now go show some foreigners how smart Americans can be.

Are You a Dumb American?

You Are Austin

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. You're totally weird and very proud of it. Artistic and freaky, you still seem to fit in... in your own strange way. Famous Austin residents: Lance Armstrong, Sandra Bullock, Andy Roddick

What American City Are You? 

My sister's blog had a link to a quiz site, and I started taking a bunch of them (even though I'm supposed to be making new seating charts for my students).  Above were a few of my results.  

I'm Jonesin' for Battlestar Galactica...

This has to be my new favorite show (or maybe it ties with Lost), and I'm "patiently" waiting for Season 3 to come in the mail.  Season 4 starts in less than 2 weeks, and I need to catch up.  Become a Battlestar fanatic yourself.  Here's a little taste... 

Here's another funny video titled, "Idiot Author's Writing Tips" from Funny or Die: 

I really want to show it to my language arts class.  

Funny or Die Video

This video is super funny.  I also think the ending song should be the new "birthday song."  Rip-did-er-rip-dip it's your birthday... 

LOST coming back Thursday, January 31

A funny, quirky little Lost recap in 8 minutes and 15 seconds is on the ABC.com website.  They really do recap most of it.  I can't wait for the season premiere when we find out who leaves the island and who does not.  Whose boat is it?  Is Ben right?  I really hope we don't lose my favorite character, the island.  

Teenage Mutant Ninja Teachers

I know it's been a long time since Halloween, but I just got some copies of these TMNT costumes Allyson and I spent so long creating.  The four of us won the student vote for best teacher costume (after a little campaigning).  There were some teacher bunny rabbits, but slow and steady wins the race.