I watched the movie "Jerry Maguire" on TV just to see the line where the girl says "You had me at hello." So many men love that line, and I so don't know understand why that's a great line.

I mean, I guess how to a guy a girl saying that line, would be the equivalent of saying "you don't have to explain yourself, you don't have to say anything, just your mere presence makes me fall back in love with you."

What guy wouldn't love that he doesn't have to talk, he doesn't have to say anything, he doesn't have to have some rehearsed explanation. What guy wouldn't love to just be able to walk about into a relationship and just have a woman unconditionally love him.

It would be kind of like having a dog. No matter how long you've been away, as soon you as you walk through the door the dang dog is wagging its tail and jumping on you because it's so glad to see you.

So does that hello line mean that woman should act like loyal dogs, who are after all, man's best friend?

On Saturday, I wen to see "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", which was so much fun. People in the movie theatre even clapped at the end. The movie had a good story, great special effects and it wasn't boring.

I loved how all the characters were literary figures I'd read as a child. It made me want to go back and reread those stories. I loved Peta Wilson, of La Femme Nikita fame, as Mrs. Jonathan Harker.

She has this one scene where does her vampire thing and the men watching have to act like it's not a freaky thing. Only a group of men would have that reaction. What a laugh and how true to life. With some guys, a girl can pull all kinds of stuff and the guy does not even blink an eye.

I can't believe Sean Connery is like 70 something years old. He still looks very good and fit for someone his aage. They had a pretty boy playing Dorian Gray as well. He was a little too thin for my taste, like say rock star heroin skinny, but he had a beautiful face.

On Friday I went to see Lara Croft, Tomb Raide: The Cradle of Life. I know it's a silly movie, but I love it. I wish I was like Lady Lara Croft. I love shows with cute girls who are tough and do great stunts. Plus Lara Croft's character is so intelligent, and I love the whole historical antiquities thing. The movie had amazing special effects and stunts as well.

I suppose I should go and see the new Charlie's Angels movie, but those girls are so silly. I wish they were all a little more intelligent and not so girlish. I much prefer Lara Croft who's more mature, not so silly and girlish but still beautiful, feminine, intelligent and able to kick any guy's butt.

My writing group met at my new apartment tonight. It was so much fun! I am so paranoid about having come over to see how and where I live, but my writing group liked my new place.

I even cooked three appetizers, but only one went over well. I'd made one of them before, the others were new.

One of of my appetizers turned this icky shade of brown and green which made me feel like Bridget Jones, but oh well. It was a mushroom, stilton, and bleu cheese dip. I'll make the leftovers into an omelette over the weekend.

How fun to have my close writing buddies see my new place, and to be able to be entertain and cook for them! I'br forgottrn how much I like entertaining.

Here's the link for the grenades and mortars in my neighbourhood, Explosives found in Inner Sunset home force evacuation S.F. bomb experts detonate 3 grenades, 2 mortar rounds.

This isn't good. They're going to detonate the hand grenades and whatever else military equipement they found in the home.

I wonder how loud the noise will be and if my electricity will be affected. YIKES!!!

Hearing those choppers overhead is freaking me out!

I suppose I should go downstairs to check it out, but what a bother!

Choppers are flying overhead. I just heard on the radio that hand grenades were found about 7 or so blocks from where I live. The bomb squad is somewhere in the vicinity, and I'm sure this is all messing up the traffic.

When I find a link for the story, I'll post it.

Here's a great article from Scotland on Sunday on the left's disenchantment with Mr. Hitchens, The trial of Christopher Hitchens.

Just added a new site to my list of "Sites to See". It's the site for my favourite left wing commentator Christopher Hitchens.

I'm not even sure if he would be considered left wing by the left, since he did support the US led war on Iraq. He and The Nation had quite a falling out over the Iraq issue.

I love Christopher Hitchens. He is so brilliant and so funny. I don't always agree with everything he says, but he's very thought provoking.

He's like a chubbier and scruffier version of Simon from American Idol. They're both English, scathingly honest and nasty, and I totally adore them both!

I just made this dish today from Epicurious, and it was very easy and very tasty. I think it would be worth about 4-5 points per serving for Weight Watchers. I never follow recipes exactly, and use less oil and butter than what the recipe calls for. I also used skimmed milk instead of cream, and it still tasted fine. I had it plain, but would probably serve it over pasta when I make it again. I also added red pepper flakes for an added kick.

Epicurious has the best recipes, and they're very simple. Just type in the ingredient you want to use, and then choose a recipe. Peruse the reader reviews and comments as well, for added tips on how to cook the dish.

BRAISED CHICKEN BREASTS ON CREAMY LEEKS
We adapted this dish from a recipe in La Cuisine Spontanée by Swiss chef Frédy Girardet. Braising the chicken breasts over the leeks keeps them satisfyingly moist and tender. Crusty bread is a good accompaniment.
Active time: 25 min Start to finish: 35 min

2 lb medium leeks (white and pale green parts only)
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/2 lb total)
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup heavy cream

Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.

Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.

Add wine to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes. Add leeks and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, then simmer over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth. Top leeks with chicken breasts and juices from plate, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until leeks are tender and chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes .

Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add cream to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve chicken on top of leeks. Makes 4 servings.

Gourmet, February 2001

I got in touch with the ex-husband after my grandmother died, and he was very sympathetic and sweet. He's a nice guy, and it's too bad we just couldn't live together very peacefully.

Anyway, he told me he was researching his family tree and found out that his mother's side of the family first emigrated to California in 1850. His mom's ancestor was the captain of a ship that sailed from Liverpool to San Francisco, and then stayed for the gold rush.

His mom's ancestor sailing captain was one of the founders of the town of Redwood City, which is on the peninsula south of the city of San Francisco. What a trip!

I typed up the "Spooning with My Mother" story from my notes. I was so excited to finish writing it, but as I was typing it up I realized that it needs a ton of work.

I'm good with the plot thing, because at least I have a beginning, a middle and an end. But the story reads like it's too choppy and very disjointed. My character keeps going to back to a memory she had in the past, and I'm not liking the transitions from present to past and back.

I started to get confused reading it, which is bad. If the author is confused, what about the reader?

I need some way to let the reader know the story is now taking place in present time as opposed to the past, and visa versa.

I'm taking a writing class in a couple of weeks which focuses on how to structure your stories better, which should help my short story because it definitely needs it.

No wonder I can't lose weight. Since I got back from vacation, I've spent about $200 on food. The money is leaving my checking account and sitting on my fat tummy forever. I hate that.

I hate this expression but it's so true; "a second on your lips becomes a lifetime on your hips."

I started a new excel spreadsheet to track my calories today. I'll start modestly and eat 1,400 calories per day.

There are daily Weight Watcher's meetings at several different times at a nearby shopping mall. My friends who are doing the program like it because 1) you can add more points if you exercise and 2) you can bank points for special occassions.

I'm going to see how I do with my calories this week, and if I can't hack it I'll go to a Weight Watcher's meeting.

I found a copy of The Economist at the gym, and read it on my train ride home. It's a good magazine, and easy to read. They had some really good information on what's happening in the world from a financial perspective, and I was surprised how fascinating it all was.

I think you can really learn alot about what drives people, companies, organizations and even countries when you study their finances. How neo-marxist of me huh?

I'm trying to decide if I need to subscribe to this mag. I registered at their site, and I'll get a newsletter via email once a week from them on their current articles. If I find myself reading The Economist online constantly, I'll get a subscription.

On Saturday, another friend called and we went to the Aloha festival at the Presidio. It's a two-day festival dedicated to everything Hawaiian.

We stood in line for half an hour to get shaved ice and malasadas. Malasadas are portuguese donuts rolled in sugar. They are so yummy. At highschool football games on Kauai, along with the usual sporting event food the vendors sold bags of malasadas and boiled peanuts.

The sun even came out and it was warm and muggy, just like in Hawaii. We even got to see some hula. There was a maori dance troupe with poi balls, and for sentimental reasons I bought a pair. I remember learning to do a hula with poi balls when I was a little girl.

Then my friend and I ate a plate of hawaiian food, like I didn't eat enough hawaiian style pork when I was home. Afterwards, my friend left to meet her boyfriend and I went to the gym to workout and lift weights.

My friend, whom I spent the day with, told me she was doing Weight Watchers. She's lost 10 pounds so far with little effort. She said she liked the feeling of having to be accountable to someone for her weight.

I'm wondering if I too need to go to Weight Watchers to lose these last 10-15 pounds that I've been struggling with all my life. I like the weight I'm at now because it's comfortable for me to maintain, but I know I'm not at my goal weight of 135 pounds.

It would so great to achieve my goal weight, but I'm totally worried about trying to maintain that weight. 145-150 pounds has been such an easy weight to maintain for me, but I am still so fat. I have clothes in my closet that still don't fit, and I still have a poochy tummy.

I'm thinking I could at least try Weight Watchers for a month just to see if I like it, and if it makes a difference. I was able to lose 30 pounds on my own, but maybe now I need a little extra push to get to my goal.

A friend came over for dinner on Friday, and I had my first dinner at my new place where I actually cooked.

I made an italian rissoto with chicken, leeks, mushrooms (white, crimini, portobello and and porcini) and spinach. It was a bit salty because I used this refrigerated chicken stock, which I've never used before. My friend seemed to like it though, and I topped the dish with grated romano cheese.

I watched the rissoto being made one of my favourite TV cooking shows, Lydia's Kitchen. She is a great italian cook and her dishes are always so easy.

It was fun to cook and make food for my friend. For an appetizer, I heated up some brie to eat with slices of my favorite italian bread - pugliese.

I bought an expensive chocolate sauce to pour over vanilla ice cream for dessert, but we were so full from dinner and the bottle of chardonnay we drank that we skipped it.

Other catholic literature I found in my grandmother's house, and kept as family relics.

A booklet for the "Perpetual Novena in honor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal". I remember having to go to novena every Wednesday.

A book - "My Communion: Devotions Before and After Communion", copyright 1935, 1942

A book - "The Saint Joseph Daily Missal", copyright 1961.This book is cool because it had the mass in Latin and in English. What an antique! And the pictures look so familiar to me.

A book - "My Sunday Missal Explained by Father Stedman", with a mass calendar from 1953 - 1959.

A book - another old prayer book in Latin and English, on the page for the "Prayers in great sorrow" my grandmother wrote "He is not happy with me.

A booklet - "The Way of the Cross by Saint Alphonsus Liquori". I remember this book being used for Stations of the Cross, which my family attended every Friday during the Lenten season.

I found a bible in my grandmother's dresser, which I think was hers. It's very, very old with brown pages and a bit termite eaten. The edition is the "The Holy Bible: Red Letter Edition". There isnt' a publication date, so I have no idea how old it is.

I found the following passage highlighted.

Isaiah 65: 21-23
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.

I wonder if this was a favourite passage of hers.

On my bloggie stats, someone typed into Google "elfgirl in the city" to find my bloggie. Who is looking for my bloggie?

I saw three movies while on vacation.

Plane movies

Agent Cody Banks - a kid's movie, predictable and boring, but I suppose good for the young ones. The CIA is recruiting children in this one, watch out!

Down with Love - Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellwegger in the early 60's. Love the clothes, the story was tired and boring, the woman who played 7 of 9 in Voyager is in it, Ewan as a swinging early 60's bachelor (probably modelled a little on a young Hugh Hefner) is worth the price of the video rental because he does a great southern accent.

Theatre Movie

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
This movie is so worth seeing just to see close ups of Johnny Depp's face, but then again I'd see any movie starring Johnny Depp. Depp is just so darn good looking, and he's aging very, very well!

My star trek crazy cousin and I agreed that Orlando Bloom (the beautiful elf boy from LOTR) looked so much cuter as a blondie, so we weren't quite as enamored of him this time around. Geoffrey Rush was his excellent acting self.

Pirates was a great movie and lots of fun. Not sure why the critics panned it because everyone in the theatre in Lihue loved it, and clapped at the end. The special effect are great as well.

Didn't everyone grow up wanting to be a pirate, reading about pirates, or playing a game of pirates as a kid?