the list - new addition

i have a list
well many list
this list is inspired by the idea originated on seinfeld
a list of people you would can cheat with
not just people...famous people
people beyond your reach
why have such a list?
hmmm
perhaps to dream, to control the uncontrollable, or perhaps just to dream
mine is more a "fuck ya" to the str world we live in
so here it is
it hasnt changed much
more are added
i dont think i have ever taken anyone off...yet
1. nick lachey
all who know me, know this well
2. tom cruise
from the moment i saw him in risky business in those "tighty whities" i knew
3. seann william scott
cute and furry
4. scott speedman
fell in love with felicity and with him
5. sidney crosby
hockey player = yummy
6. matt damon
short and cute
7. giovanni rabisi
not sure why...he doesn't fit my usual profile
8. jake gyllenhaal
brokeback love
9. eric lindros
more hockey cuteness
10. evan marriott
reality tv stud 1
11. kevin peak
reality tv stud 2
12. hugh jackman
austrialia hunk (most recent addition)
13. ricky martin
the only 'out' gay man on my list

14. channing tatum
lastest addition - may 2012

my oscar picks 2012...

overall didnt fall in love with much this year
of the over 100 film i viewed only a handful stayed with me
one above all the rest...the tree of life
'the best dinosaur pic since jurassic park'

Best picture
What they are saying...the artist
What rich is saying...the tree of life

Best actress
What they are saying...viola davis/the help
What rich is saying...viola davis/the help

Best actor
What they area saying...jean dujardin/the artist
What rich is saying...brad pitt/moneyball

Best supporting actress
What they are saying...octavia spencer/the help
What rich is saying....melissa mccarthy/bridesmaids

Best supporting actor
What they are saying...christopher plummer/beginners
What rich is saying... christopher plummer/beginners

Best director
What they are saying...the artist
What rich is saying...the tree of life

Best original screenplay
What they are saying...midnight in paris
What rich is saying...midnight in paris

Best adapted screenplay
What they are saying...the descendants
What rich is saying...moneyball

broadway musicals...69!...and counting!!

caroline, or change
strong canadian production


i know
i know
so stereotypical
but i do love them
i really dont know how it started
i guess you could say it is in my blood
i have been to broadway
i have seen them in my home town
local and professional productions
i love them all
here is a working list of the ones i have seen
in no particular order
but i do love that the anne is #1

1.anne of green gables
a great CANADIAN musical

2. a chours line
love the movie 1st, then saw the live show

3. cats
great source

4. lion king
love the puppets

5. les miserable
have seen it 5 times

6. blood brothers
corney and teary

7. phantom of the opera
seen it 4 times

8. little shop of horrors
love the 3 girls

9. guys and dolls
was nicey nicey jihnson in my high school production

10. west side story
was doc in my high school production

11. the dessert song
an oldie but a goodie

12. the color purple
on broadway

13. the drowsy chaperone
on broadway...a canadian

14. wicked
x 5

15. wizard of oz
x 2

16. the 25th annual spelling bee
so fun...saw it 1st on broadway

17. ragtime
love the henry ford song and transitiion

18. you're a good man charlie brown
happiness

19. cabraet
dark

20. chicago
when you're good to mama

21. mamma mia!
ABBA!

22. the jersey boys
the four leads made the show for me

23. titanic
must get on that ship...broadway

24. jackal and hyde
broadway

25. throughly modern millie
on my birthday...broadway...perfect!

26. the producers
broadway

27. jesus christ superstar
awesome community theatre production in the 80's

28. hair
love the plot twist

29. avenue Q
porn and puppets

30. urinetown
little sally

31. sound of music
the remount toronto production was great-with the reality show lead up

32. sunday in the park with george
love the painting...love the musical...my fav sondheim

33. hairspray
edna

34. sweeny todd
meatpies

35. the pajama game
one of my favs

36. rent
525600

37. into the woods
can stage

38. spamalot
three times

39. kiss me kate
classic

40. kiss of the spider women
saw the pre bway run @ can stage

41. the music man
we got trouble

42. beauty and the beast
belle is my fav princess

43. the fantsticks
i was young...maybe 12...perhaps this was my 1st stage musical

44. grease
love stockard channing in the movie, staged manged my high school production

45. spring awakening
brilliant!

46. billy elliot
the kiss

47. next to normal
intense

48. the light in the piazza
proof a good book, great actors and love can carry a show

49. assassins
great point of view

50. legally blond the musical
oh my god!

51. south pacific
you've got to be taught!

52. annie
tomorrow

53. anything goes

54. bat boy

55. fiddler on the roof
wexford school of the arts

56. crazy for you
toronto = barbara hamilton
la cage aux folles

57. my fair lady
looking forward tot he shaw 2011 production

58. peter pan
cathy rigby

59. rocky horror show
can stage - adam brazier

60. pricilla queen of the desert
toronto pre broadway test - ping pong balls!

61. parade
toronto production/jan 2011

62. evita
the more you listen the better it gets

63. rock of Ages
monday eve broadway slim pickins

64. book of Mormon
outragious!

65. follies
ma bernadette peters at the stage door...enough said

66. ride the cyclone
canadian

67. the addams family

68. memphis

69. caroline, or change

2011 xmas card collection - reuse

starting thinking of my 2011 xmas cards last xmas
decided i would keep all the cards and repurpose them into this years cards
in the end there are over 10 different designs
i have posted some here to share and inspire you perhaps to get crafty
i also promised myself i wouldn't buy anything new, but use up my hoard
so here are a few...you may be even lucky enough to receive one

Rich's Oscar Picks 2011

i pick from the heart...not my head

that said i had high hopes for 'the social network' after being blown away by the trailer
those hopes faded fast upon viewing the film
i enjoyed the film, dont get me wrong
i loved the take/commentary on something so current
but i guess it left me feeling a bit used
again my heart was 'sore' so no good
i am still getting over JT's performance
and trying to separate him from the character

that said here are my picks vs. 'their' picks

Best actress
What they are saying...portman
What rich is saying....jennifer lawrence

Best actor
What they area saying...colin
What rich is saying...colin

Best supporting actress
What they are saying...melissa leo
What rich is saying....melissa leo

Best supporting actor
What they are saying...christian bale
What Rich is saying...christian bale

Best director
What they are saying... the kings speech/the social network
What rich is saying...the social network

Best original screenplay
What they are saying...kings speech
What rich is saying...inception

Best adapted screenplay
What they are saying...the social network
What rich is saying...the social network

YUMMY 1800's cookie

Recipes from Black Creek Pioneer Village
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies -soft

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
4 tsp. soda
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. cloves
¼ tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
5-6 cups flour
1 cup sour milk

1. Cream shortening
2. Add molasses
3. Sift two cups of flour with other dry ingredients and add alternately to first mixture with the sour milk
4. Add enough more flour to make a soft dough
5. Roll and cut in fancy shapes
6. Sprinkle sugar on top and bake 5 – 8 minutes in a quick oven ( 375-400F)

Richs’ notes
• I replaced the shortening with butter
• To sour milk add a few drops of vinegar
• I didn’t ‘roll out and cut into fancy shapes’...I drop the dough onto the cookie sheet
• I also didn’t sprinkle with sugar

coconut cream cheesecake

so i went out own my own and made a recipe
its below and it was yummy
if i do say so myself
toot toot

coconut cream cheesecake

1 store bought graham cracker crust
(i might make my own next time - the filling amount would need to be adjusted)

1 cream cheese brick (8ozs)
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14ozs)
1/2 can of coconut milk (4ozs)
1/2 cup of sweetened coconut shredded
3 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla

cream cream cheese and egg yolks
add vanilla
add remaining ingredients
pour into crust
bakes at 350F for 30 - 40 minutes
check centre with toothpick, when it comes out clean
let cool at room temp.
refrigerate

dill pickles

made my 1st attempt at dills in the fall
overall not bad...but i like a more 'briney' liquid
so next time a few changes
the recipe i found in canadian living cookbook
it was easy and simple
clean and pure
good quality food made simple is my fav

4lbs of small cucs (5-8cm)
6 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
1/4 cup salt
2 cloves of garlic and 2 large springs of dill for each jar

a. wash cucs well
b. bring water, salt and vinegar to boil
c. in hot/clean and sterilized jars* add 2 cloves of garlic and sprays of dill and pickels
d. fill jars with boiling liquid, leaving 3mm space at top
Optional...boil jars in water bath for 15 mins...i did this step...it will soften the pickles a little
e. seal with hot/clean and sterilized lids
f. leave to rest on counter over nite, checking for seal 'suck' in the morn...refrigerate any unsealed jars
g. allow to 'pickle' for 4-6 weeks
*i used 12 x 500 ml jars and two 1 lt jars...the little jars are good for gifts...but i like the larger jars for capacity

sterilizing jars 101(canadian living)
+wash jar in hot and soapy water
+place jars on baking sheet, with all tools in 225F over for 15 mins
+place lids and screw tops in boiling water for 5 mins
+optional...boil jars in water bath for 15 mins

food glorious food

an ode to my favs...not that i have met a food i dont like

1. dim sum
2. swiss chalet
3. sushi
4. french fries
5. bacon
6. ice cream
7. butter tarts
8. olive garden bread sticks
9. clam chowder
10. fresh bread with butter

mint jelly/sauce

i wanted to do something with all the mint i have growing in my herb garden
i grew up with a combo of mint jelly and mint sauce served with lamb
i didnt find a recipe online so i made this 'hybrid' one up
i didnt want it to be too solid, nor too runny, so i played with the amount of pectin
i also wanted the combo of sweet(sugar/mint jelly) and sour (vinegar/mint sauce) to be right
it looks good in the jar...i have yet to try it

1 cup pyrex glass measuring cup loosely filled with picked/washed mint leaves
1 cup white vinegar
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
30g (half a 57g bag) pectin powder

1. wash and pick mint
2. add mint & vinegar to food processor and 'whiz' till chopped
3. pour into pot, add water, sugar and bring to a boil
4. boil for 5 minutes, stirring
5. turn off and let steep for 10 minutes
6. prepare sealer jars/lids
+place clean jars in 350F oven for 10 minutes
+place lids in pot/water and bring to a boil for 10 minutes
7. after 10 minutes add pectin to mint mixture and bring mint back to boil for 1 minute, stirring
8. pour mint jelly into sterilized jars with pyrex glass measuring cup
9. place lids on top and tighten
10. place jars in boiling water and seal for 10 minutes
11. remove jar and let cool for 24hrs without disturbing

makes 8 x 125ml jars

fav films of all times

i thought i had this post and i would add to it
but i dont
now i do
recently having attended some TIFF screening at the 2010 extravaganza
i was moved to make it happen...and i came across 'best in show' the other nite on tv and wanted to add it
i love film
always have
i had a teacher in high school who had a film class and he really opened my eyes to film as art
i feel i connect to film on many fronts
first as a story form
second as a art form
and thirdly as entertainment
so my favs include...in no particular order...

-best in show

-brokeback mountain

-hanging garden

-

this is a post in progress
i will add i as i remember/find

the social network

just finished reading kristen chenoweth's bio/auto
and in related news...lovin her ex's (aaron sorkin) new movie trailer
http://www.thesocialnetwork-movie.com/
check it out...a good trailer is a art form...and this one grabs me

joan rivers : a piece of work

oh my god
i love joan rivers
couldnt tell you when it started...just always have
and her new doc FINALLY was released in the t-dot
i was at the first screening...
needless to say i laughed, i cried and i ate soem milk duds
go see it
it is awesome and astounding!

The Parting Glass by Liam Clanc

Of all the money e'er I had,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all

Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should go and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.

If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.

songs that pause me

1. everybody hurts -rem
2. hallelujah - kd lang
3. someone to watch over me
4. both sides now - jodi mitchell
5. stuck in the moment -U2
6. wont back down -tom petty
7. smile -charlie chaplain
8. true colours- cyndi lauper
9. clair du lune - debussey
10. not ready to make nice -dixie chicks
11. somewhere over the rainbow -judy garland

82nd oscar picks...

rich’s oscar picks..not predictions...ps-i vote with my heart!

best picture=
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
rich note: i could live The Hurt Locker

best director=
Kathryn Bigelow/The Hurt Locker
rich note: viewed all five of these films

lead actor=
Jeff Bridges/Crazy Heart
rich note; i havent seen the colin firth performance

supporting actor=
Christoph Walltz
rich note: the only other performance i have seen in this cat. is Matt’s

lead actress=
Gabourey Sidbe/Precious
rich note: i would always support giving Meryl an oscar...and as julia child...SHUT UP!

supporting actress=
Mo’Nique/Precious
rich note: Mo’Nique’s performance scared the shit out of me

animated film=
The Princess and the Frog (loved the musical of it and the hand drawn animation)
rich note: didnt see Fantastic Mr Fox (have read the book) or The Secret of Kells

adapted screenplay=
Precious

original screenplay=
Inglourious Basterds

rich’s wishes= to see more docs...that the only foreign laug. film i saw wins ‘The Milk of Sorrow’(Peru

doggie cookies

so i attempted dog cookies for the 1st time
a BIG yellow lab owns my house and it was her 5th bday
not sure why i havent done this before
i did some research online and then kinda came up with a combo recipe
she loved them...needless to say...after all she is a lab

MOMO's bday cookies

1 apple
2 tbsp of peanut butter
1 cup oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
water to bind

in food processor chop apple
add peanut butter, flour and oat
mix to combine
add water as needed
wrap batter in plastic wrap and put in freezer for 20 mins
heat oven to 400ºF
line baking sheet with parchment paper
slice dough into 1/4' slices and place on paper
bake for 20 mins...turn oven off and leave in oven for another 20 mins
store in an air tight container

facebook

i think i figured it out
it is facebook that keeps me from loving you blog
it is its fault you have been neglected
i am sorry
i will try to change this
please understand

avatar

not sure how much i like you avatar
i did get lost in you
i did laugh at your cliches
i did love the bioluminescence
i loved it when the audience clapped at your end
time will tell
and giovanni ribisi returns to the BIG screen
hmmm

our mother...

earth things that absorb me...
happy earth day 2010
1. sunsets
2. windy days
3. late night thunder storms
4. the northern lights
5. stars
6. snow
7. water
8. beaches
9. seasonal change where i live
10. trees