Meet Panda Bébête. If you're on Facebook, please stop by and pet him!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Blog? What Blog?
Gee, it's been awhile since i have visited the blogosphere! Let's just say it hasn't worked out like i imagined. Hats off to you people who have the energy to keep up with blogs and Facebook! Speaking of Facebook, i did just go against all of my principles and installed a new Facebook application. Why? So i could adopt a Fluff-friend! What can i say? I have a weakness for pandas. (Petite adopted a little guy named M. le Chat, too!)
Meet Panda Bébête. If you're on Facebook, please stop by and pet him!
Meet Panda Bébête. If you're on Facebook, please stop by and pet him!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
PBS Junkie
My name is Mari, and i am a public-brodcastingaholic.
This evening i was faced with a shocking truth. I am addicted to public broadcasting. The evidence is overwhelming and it hit me like a ton of bricks as I sat on the sofa this evening, having just seen Petite off to a meeting.
Without getting into too many details, let me just say i found myself trying to drag myself from both the current PBS & NPR broadcast programs to watch a taped episode of a PBS show i was trying to finish in time to start a PBS DVD that's due back to the library tomorrow. Don't get me started on the complimentary online features or the programs that have nabbed be at lunch the last couple of days.
Let me tell you the biggest danger of getting hooked on PBS: there are no commercials. I'm talking about fascinating, 1-, 2-, even 3-hour long programs with no potty breaks. Holy mackerel.
This evening i was faced with a shocking truth. I am addicted to public broadcasting. The evidence is overwhelming and it hit me like a ton of bricks as I sat on the sofa this evening, having just seen Petite off to a meeting.
Without getting into too many details, let me just say i found myself trying to drag myself from both the current PBS & NPR broadcast programs to watch a taped episode of a PBS show i was trying to finish in time to start a PBS DVD that's due back to the library tomorrow. Don't get me started on the complimentary online features or the programs that have nabbed be at lunch the last couple of days.
Let me tell you the biggest danger of getting hooked on PBS: there are no commercials. I'm talking about fascinating, 1-, 2-, even 3-hour long programs with no potty breaks. Holy mackerel.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Blogger's Block, part II
Gentle readers,
Apologies that this blog has been dormant for quite some time now. Not only have we been awfully busy (and Mari obsessed with reading the news lately)... but it's too nice outside to be inside blogging!! Petite is finished with school for the semester; perhaps that will lead to some more free time. We'll be out of town next weekend for a friend's wedding, though, so it's probably going to be after that before anything new pops up here.
Happy May!
Apologies that this blog has been dormant for quite some time now. Not only have we been awfully busy (and Mari obsessed with reading the news lately)... but it's too nice outside to be inside blogging!! Petite is finished with school for the semester; perhaps that will lead to some more free time. We'll be out of town next weekend for a friend's wedding, though, so it's probably going to be after that before anything new pops up here.
Happy May!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Birthday yum-yums
Hello and thank you for stopping by! Sorry there's not been much happening at Mari Bébête lately. I was going to say a word or two about Petite's birthday (which happened last week), but it looks like she already covered it pretty well. She didn't say very much about all of the restaurant reverie, though, so let's talk about that...
Petite mentioned Mama's, the Korean place, by name but didn't say much else about it. We got an early start there, kind of a Birthday's Eve celebration. The great thing about the Korean BBQ is that it's fun having the little grill in the table and about 15 sundry sauces, toppings, and condiments. And thanks to my brother who discovered the place (when he was home for the holidays after having spent a couple weeks in South Korea), we know the secret code to get dessert, which is usually only served to actual persons of Korean heritage -- which seems to be about 90% of the clientèle. (But Mari Bébête reveals no such secret codes on the Internet! So don't ask!) For those in-or-near the Bloomington area, Mama's can be found at 10th and the Bypass. Yes, that's the old pet store but we won't belabor that fact...
The day of Petite's birthday, Mari came home early to make lasagna for dinner. It wasn't Mama's, but it wasn't bad. We took a bit of a birthday dining Sabbath on Wednesday, best i can remember, then back to the grind...
We tried a new restaurant with Petite's sisters on day four of her birthday celebration. It is called Mandalay and it serves south-eastern Asian cuisine, specializing in Burmese. We had never had that before, and it seems to be a close relative to Thai, as one might expect. It was a pretty good find. It's located on Fourth Street near all of the other quaint, ethnic eateries. Try the hot tea.
Day six of the birthday festivities found us at Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack, a locally-owned BBQ joint (that's southern BBQ, as opposed to the Korean variety mentioned above). SJ's provides about twice the food for half the cash of Smokey Bones -- as a Kansas City native agreed today while we were extolling the virtues of Smokin' Jack's. It's on 17th Street just west of Walnut. Along with your ribs, may we suggest a side of collard greens, some cornbread salad, and a piece of chocolate-pecan pie? Petite would goes for the "sweet tea", but Mari does not. In fact, we didn't try the pecan pie for really sad but very good reasons, but how can you really go wrong when the words "chocolate", "pecan", and "pie" appear in the same name?
For dinner, we met friends at El Norteño, just north of the square on Walnut, in the old Princess Theater. Tried the Horchata. (A rice milk beverage i believe.) Petite agrees, it tastes like Navidad.
Day seven was Easter in Columbus, where the family gathered for a multi-faceted celebration. Petite's step-dad unfortunately had a near-death experience due to an unidentified allergen -- ostensibly coconut, but none was found on the scene... however, thanks to Benedryl crisis was averted. Petite's aunt outdid herself on the cheesecakes. One chocolate, one lemon... both amazing and each a sight to behold.
That's all for now.
Petite mentioned Mama's, the Korean place, by name but didn't say much else about it. We got an early start there, kind of a Birthday's Eve celebration. The great thing about the Korean BBQ is that it's fun having the little grill in the table and about 15 sundry sauces, toppings, and condiments. And thanks to my brother who discovered the place (when he was home for the holidays after having spent a couple weeks in South Korea), we know the secret code to get dessert, which is usually only served to actual persons of Korean heritage -- which seems to be about 90% of the clientèle. (But Mari Bébête reveals no such secret codes on the Internet! So don't ask!) For those in-or-near the Bloomington area, Mama's can be found at 10th and the Bypass. Yes, that's the old pet store but we won't belabor that fact...
The day of Petite's birthday, Mari came home early to make lasagna for dinner. It wasn't Mama's, but it wasn't bad. We took a bit of a birthday dining Sabbath on Wednesday, best i can remember, then back to the grind...
We tried a new restaurant with Petite's sisters on day four of her birthday celebration. It is called Mandalay and it serves south-eastern Asian cuisine, specializing in Burmese. We had never had that before, and it seems to be a close relative to Thai, as one might expect. It was a pretty good find. It's located on Fourth Street near all of the other quaint, ethnic eateries. Try the hot tea.
Day six of the birthday festivities found us at Smokin' Jack's Rib Shack, a locally-owned BBQ joint (that's southern BBQ, as opposed to the Korean variety mentioned above). SJ's provides about twice the food for half the cash of Smokey Bones -- as a Kansas City native agreed today while we were extolling the virtues of Smokin' Jack's. It's on 17th Street just west of Walnut. Along with your ribs, may we suggest a side of collard greens, some cornbread salad, and a piece of chocolate-pecan pie? Petite would goes for the "sweet tea", but Mari does not. In fact, we didn't try the pecan pie for really sad but very good reasons, but how can you really go wrong when the words "chocolate", "pecan", and "pie" appear in the same name?
For dinner, we met friends at El Norteño, just north of the square on Walnut, in the old Princess Theater. Tried the Horchata. (A rice milk beverage i believe.) Petite agrees, it tastes like Navidad.
Day seven was Easter in Columbus, where the family gathered for a multi-faceted celebration. Petite's step-dad unfortunately had a near-death experience due to an unidentified allergen -- ostensibly coconut, but none was found on the scene... however, thanks to Benedryl crisis was averted. Petite's aunt outdid herself on the cheesecakes. One chocolate, one lemon... both amazing and each a sight to behold.
That's all for now.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Blogger's Block
Petite and Mari have had a busy week of classes and work and homework... oh my. Petite is finally putting the finishing touches on a huge group project that she's been working on that is due at midnight. The project has consumed all of her time and energy this week (that the youth group hasn't), and had us both hard at work today to get it all snazzy-looking and functional enough to turn in. It turns out to be around 25 pages of colorful, hyper-linking madness in Microsoft Word, made to approximate a web site.
At least we got outside in the sunshine yesterday when we did some grounds maintenance at church. My Sunday school class and the youth group worked together to spruce up the church property and the old parsonage. The grounds look nicer now, but ol' Mari is pretty sore on account of the usual routine not requiring particular work outside of the thinking, talking, and button-pushing varieties. Grocery shopping is about the height of my normal workout...
Anyway, Mari Bébête seems to be suffering from a case of Blogger's Block lately. A couple of politically-themed essays were composed but didn't make it to "post" status. Nothing much else comes to mind. Maybe i am too old for this stuff. Maybe inspiration will strike soon. Apologies to my loyal readers for the lull.
Enjoy the last week of March!!
At least we got outside in the sunshine yesterday when we did some grounds maintenance at church. My Sunday school class and the youth group worked together to spruce up the church property and the old parsonage. The grounds look nicer now, but ol' Mari is pretty sore on account of the usual routine not requiring particular work outside of the thinking, talking, and button-pushing varieties. Grocery shopping is about the height of my normal workout...
Anyway, Mari Bébête seems to be suffering from a case of Blogger's Block lately. A couple of politically-themed essays were composed but didn't make it to "post" status. Nothing much else comes to mind. Maybe i am too old for this stuff. Maybe inspiration will strike soon. Apologies to my loyal readers for the lull.
Enjoy the last week of March!!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Couch Potato
As Petite Américaine's readers apparently already know (uh, thanks Petite), Mari Bébête has had some time to entertain himself at home recently. Here are some recommended viewing suggestions should anyone else be looking for some worthwhile entertainment.
Oh -- coincidentally, it was Spring Break and Petite was able to partake of the movies as well. So we've got up to four thumbs between us for the ratings. :)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Four thumbs enthusiastically up.
I, personally, would never would have picked this up off of the shelf at the video store, but it was recommended to Petite by colleagues turned out to be fantastic.
Based on a true story as recorded by one of the main character's children, the story takes us back to the 1950s. A housewife supports a family of ten kids and an irresponsible, alcoholic husband with her indefatigable spirit and a knack for writing jingles. Apparently it was common back then for large companies to sponsor contests to promote their products -- contests that involved more cleverness and wit than the "blind luck" of most promotional contests/sweepstakes these days. (A change which some characters in the story lamented as they saw it changing.) Any time the family needed something, this woman would enter a contest to win it. For example, her son wrecked his bike; she entered a contest offering a bike as a prize. It so happened in this case, it came with $5,000 and a washer and drier as well; which was fortunate because when the prize was announced, the family was being evicted from their apartment and were now able to buy a house.
The way she kept the family afloat and looked for the best in things in spite of difficult circumstances and the nonsensical mores of the times was inspiring.
Amazing Grace
Four thumbs way up (and Mari's big toes, too).
Still in theaters, this is the first movie we've gone out to since Casino Royale last November. Well worth the price of admission.
It tells the story of the hard-fought but ultimately peaceful abolition of slavery in England. Inspired by pastor John Newton (writer of the hymn "Amazing Grace") to oppose slavery, William Wilberforce introduced a bill to Parliament every year, and every year it was defeated for nearly a decade. This movie chronicles the political challenges he overcame to finally pass the bill to end the slave trade in England. The quality of both the story and the film-making surpassed our expectations. Albert Finney (of "Daddy Warbucks" fame in "Annie") was great as Newton; most of the rest of the cast was unfamiliar but quite good.
Yesterday
Four thumbs up.
A beautiful independent movie, in Zulu with English subtitles.
This is the story of a woman "Yesterday" living in a small village in South Africa with her daughter "Beauty", while her husband works far from home, under ground, in the mines of Johannesburg. The story begins with Yesterday's efforts to simply see a doctor in a clinic several hours' walk from home; after weeks of trying to get in -- and being turned away because the line was too long -- she is diagnosed with HIV.
In order not to reveal any "spoilers", we'll not say much more except that Yesterday's quiet determination and dedication to her daughter's future makes the story heartwarming despite the tragedy that surrounds her.
Casino Royale
Three thumbs up (of four)
The 21st James Bond adventure is now out on DVD. It is grittier (à la "From Russia with Love") and may be the most realistic that the series has been. On first watching, it is very suspenseful. Being based (fairly closely, they claim) on the first Bond novel by Ian Fleming, it shows 007 earning his "00" and gives some insight into what makes the character the way he is.
One Night with the King -- Two thumbs up (of four)
Based on the Biblical story of Esther, this movie either involved quite a bit of research into the historical story that's not in the Bible, or took some liberties. (We're guessing the latter.) Brings life to some subtler elements of the story, perhaps, but doesn't do the story justice.
If anyone would like to borrow any of these, especially if you can't find them at the library or the video store, we have the DVDs available for loan. Except "Amazing Grace" which is still in theaters, but give us about four months. ;)
Oh -- coincidentally, it was Spring Break and Petite was able to partake of the movies as well. So we've got up to four thumbs between us for the ratings. :)
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Four thumbs enthusiastically up.I, personally, would never would have picked this up off of the shelf at the video store, but it was recommended to Petite by colleagues turned out to be fantastic.
Based on a true story as recorded by one of the main character's children, the story takes us back to the 1950s. A housewife supports a family of ten kids and an irresponsible, alcoholic husband with her indefatigable spirit and a knack for writing jingles. Apparently it was common back then for large companies to sponsor contests to promote their products -- contests that involved more cleverness and wit than the "blind luck" of most promotional contests/sweepstakes these days. (A change which some characters in the story lamented as they saw it changing.) Any time the family needed something, this woman would enter a contest to win it. For example, her son wrecked his bike; she entered a contest offering a bike as a prize. It so happened in this case, it came with $5,000 and a washer and drier as well; which was fortunate because when the prize was announced, the family was being evicted from their apartment and were now able to buy a house.
The way she kept the family afloat and looked for the best in things in spite of difficult circumstances and the nonsensical mores of the times was inspiring.
Amazing Grace
Four thumbs way up (and Mari's big toes, too).Still in theaters, this is the first movie we've gone out to since Casino Royale last November. Well worth the price of admission.
It tells the story of the hard-fought but ultimately peaceful abolition of slavery in England. Inspired by pastor John Newton (writer of the hymn "Amazing Grace") to oppose slavery, William Wilberforce introduced a bill to Parliament every year, and every year it was defeated for nearly a decade. This movie chronicles the political challenges he overcame to finally pass the bill to end the slave trade in England. The quality of both the story and the film-making surpassed our expectations. Albert Finney (of "Daddy Warbucks" fame in "Annie") was great as Newton; most of the rest of the cast was unfamiliar but quite good.
Yesterday
Four thumbs up.A beautiful independent movie, in Zulu with English subtitles.
This is the story of a woman "Yesterday" living in a small village in South Africa with her daughter "Beauty", while her husband works far from home, under ground, in the mines of Johannesburg. The story begins with Yesterday's efforts to simply see a doctor in a clinic several hours' walk from home; after weeks of trying to get in -- and being turned away because the line was too long -- she is diagnosed with HIV.
In order not to reveal any "spoilers", we'll not say much more except that Yesterday's quiet determination and dedication to her daughter's future makes the story heartwarming despite the tragedy that surrounds her.
Casino Royale
Three thumbs up (of four)
The 21st James Bond adventure is now out on DVD. It is grittier (à la "From Russia with Love") and may be the most realistic that the series has been. On first watching, it is very suspenseful. Being based (fairly closely, they claim) on the first Bond novel by Ian Fleming, it shows 007 earning his "00" and gives some insight into what makes the character the way he is.
One Night with the King -- Two thumbs up (of four)
Based on the Biblical story of Esther, this movie either involved quite a bit of research into the historical story that's not in the Bible, or took some liberties. (We're guessing the latter.) Brings life to some subtler elements of the story, perhaps, but doesn't do the story justice.
If anyone would like to borrow any of these, especially if you can't find them at the library or the video store, we have the DVDs available for loan. Except "Amazing Grace" which is still in theaters, but give us about four months. ;)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Very sweet man
So i was in a planning meeting today for a publication i edit, and a guest adviser from a local organization was talking about an award show that they put on annually, in which they give a really nice hand-crafted limestone trophy to each of the winners. Someone asked where they get the trophies made; he said they get them from (so-and-so), "who is just such a sweet man". He said some more about the craftsmanship of the trophies, the reasonable price, and kept coming back to "a sweet man -- very sweet man". Out of the blue, he perked up and added:
"Very sweet Christian. I mean, it's like God blesses you every time you talk to him. And I can use that."
This was a professional meeting that is generally pretty secular. In this case, (besides me, a bit of a Methodi-Baptist) there was someone i think is Unitarian; the other two -- whose spiritual beliefs i don't know -- are more strongly associated with their activity in the homosexual community than any religious involvement that i'm aware of; although i'd only just met one, who was the speaker. And whatever his personal beliefs, he was obviously very impressed by the person that he went out of his way to call a "very sweet Christian." Everyone in the room sensed the genuine appreciation that he felt for the trophy vendor.
I felt a little blessed myself to observe this. But i am also saddened by a couple of things here. For one, i'm saddened because from many other things i observe, it's got to be fairly difficult for the homosexual community to have a positive impression of Christians these days. i'm also saddened by the fact that i doubt that people i serve in my job go around telling people that i'm a very sweet Christian. My "workmanship" is sometimes good, sometimes lacking. My prices are sometimes good, sometimes just what my predecessor set or the computer comes up with. And i'm not effusive about my faith at work. Bottom line: my witness is not anything like this "very sweet" gentleman.
But i'm happy that this gentleman is such a good example. I hope i can come to be more like him. If there were more Christians like him, perhaps there would be... more Christians, as a result of the positive "buzz".
"Very sweet Christian. I mean, it's like God blesses you every time you talk to him. And I can use that."
This was a professional meeting that is generally pretty secular. In this case, (besides me, a bit of a Methodi-Baptist) there was someone i think is Unitarian; the other two -- whose spiritual beliefs i don't know -- are more strongly associated with their activity in the homosexual community than any religious involvement that i'm aware of; although i'd only just met one, who was the speaker. And whatever his personal beliefs, he was obviously very impressed by the person that he went out of his way to call a "very sweet Christian." Everyone in the room sensed the genuine appreciation that he felt for the trophy vendor.
I felt a little blessed myself to observe this. But i am also saddened by a couple of things here. For one, i'm saddened because from many other things i observe, it's got to be fairly difficult for the homosexual community to have a positive impression of Christians these days. i'm also saddened by the fact that i doubt that people i serve in my job go around telling people that i'm a very sweet Christian. My "workmanship" is sometimes good, sometimes lacking. My prices are sometimes good, sometimes just what my predecessor set or the computer comes up with. And i'm not effusive about my faith at work. Bottom line: my witness is not anything like this "very sweet" gentleman.
But i'm happy that this gentleman is such a good example. I hope i can come to be more like him. If there were more Christians like him, perhaps there would be... more Christians, as a result of the positive "buzz".
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