[  Mood: Sleepy ]
[  Currently: Listening to CBC Radio One ]
Jenny McCarthy is a comedienne and a former Playmate. She has chronicled her pregnancy experiences in the book Belly Laughs.

And let me tell you, it is funny and informative.

In typical, crass Jenny humour she talks about parts of pregnancy that many, more serious, books miss or gloss over. Most memorable of these is the revelation that most women poop on the delivery table. Jenny freaks out at this information and begins to make plans to ensure it doesn’t happen to her. But by the time that delivery comes, she falls into the category of "I don’t give a damn what else is ejected by me, get this baby out."

I laughed and laughed and laughed at this book. Then I read sections out to the Husband Unit, who laughed and laughed and laughed.

In addition, her take on things like kicking was actually a wake up call for me. I have been whining about the recreation of the 1999 Rockets Christmas show that is happening in my belly nightly. I am talking 2:30 am here people. But Jenny points out that as long as the baby is kicking, it is okay. Talk about changing perspective. So now, I enjoy the Broadway spectacular, cause I know the baby’s alive and kicking as it were.

A fun book. Read it if you or you SO are expecting. Read it even if you are not.

[  Mood: Evil ]
[  Currently: Watching Coronation Street ]
I have waxed poetic on this site before about Days of Our Lives being genre fiction. And so has Joe. And some of you have hurled at the thought, but I have further justification.

They are bringing John Black back from the dead.

Why is this significant?

Well they just killed him.

Normally in the soap world, people are killed off and then we wait a while before they are brought back. This gives the actor some time to try other projects before coming back. Like Patch. He was gone for a decade or so. Did some other TV, did some other soaps and some forgettable movies.

But not John. He’s barely gone a month and he’s coming back.

Now you might think that I would be happy with these turn of events, but no, I’m not. Drake Hogestyn (the actor who plays John) is not a master thespian. He and his on screen love Marlena (played by Deidre Hall) are such melodramatic over actors. In addition, the botox and plastic surgery have rendered their faces immovable. Watching the two of them on screen is like watching a pair of Japanese androids do Romeo and Juliet.

As much as I love the Days, this is not a good thing.

[  Mood: Happy ]
My godchild, Norah a.k.a. Mittens, is featured prominently in this CBC contest by her father, my former cadet and unofficial adopted son, Chris.

The prizes for the CBC contest are very exciting. First prize is a trip for four to a dinner, and then the following day being flown to two different NHL hockey games and watching a third one on a home theatre system that you can take home. The second prize is way more exciting to me, a front loading washer and dryer. WHOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!

How sad is it that I want the washer and dryer over the NHL games? Should I turn in my Canadian citizenship?

Watch and vote for her or the other choices. You will have to register to vote.

This fascinating science history tidbit is courtesy of Wired.

Wonder if the proposed Vulcan surface would have looked anything like this?

Surface of Vulcan from “Amok Time”

Jan. 2, 1860: was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Mood: Sick ]
[  Currently: Eating Breakfast ]
Last night, I put up a quick review where I referenced Rex Murphy.

Now admittedly he looks like Gollumn

But don’t let that fool you. This guy has a vocabulary your grade 8 English teacher would swoon over. Polysyllabic doesn’t come close.

And as I thought of him, I thought of Tim Gunn.

My buddy Tim, as I think of him, is the mentor on Bravo’s Project Runway. He routinely uses words like verklempt.

So I thought that a conversation between the two of them would be a wonderful verbal tennis match. Although Rex would not be able to talk about style at all, and I don’t think that Tim would know anything about Canadian Politics.

Of course, you may (or may not) ask who would I rather hang out with. Easy, Tim Gunn. He could be my birthing coach any day.

[  Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Getting ready for bed. ]
The Sunday Philosophy Club is by the famed author Alexander Mccall Smith, who has also written the Number One Ladies Detective Agency mysteries.

This book, part of a new series, is about Isabel Dalhousie, a rich editor of a philosophy journal. She and I have sooooo much in common. While at the theatre, she witness a young man fall to his death. Isabel becomes obsessed with finding out why this happened.

The book was recommended by the CBC, specifically Rex Murphy, a fairly loquacious host on the mother corps. And as promised it does have lots of literary references, but I found it slow moving and dull at times.

Meh.

[  Mood: Happy ]
Happy New Year from Ottawa

Perhaps PKD, Michael Moorcock, and DC Comics were all right…

…at the very least in some alternate universe.

When Science Reality Meets Science Fiction was originally published on The Geek Curmudgeon

[  Mood: Hypnotized ]
[  Currently: Watching Australia’s Next Top Model ]
I finished the latest Dresden Files book, Death Masks and I have to say, Jim Butcher is fast becoming a recommended author for me.

This installment sees Harry hired to recover the Shroud of Turin, which has been stolen. In addition, he has to contend with a challenge to a duel by a noble of the Red Court. Add to that the fact that Susan is back in town and you have a heady mix of adventure and humour.

Butcher is not shy about developing characters. Too many mystery authors have their main characters hover in neutral, never growing in response to their dilemmas. In this book we see Harry and Susan struggling to come to terms with their relationship now that she has been bitten by, but not yet become a vampire.

Harry is also once again working with Michael and negotiating a very careful relationship with Michael’s wife, Charity. Also appearing in this book is Michael’s daughter, Molly, who appears to be rebelling. I look forward to seeing more of her.

Overall, a fun read. Go get this.

[  Mood: Silly ]
[  Currently: Watching Days of Our Lives – WHAT?!? ]
I am not much of a sports fan. You may remember me jumping on the Senators bandwagon about cup time, but that is mandatory in Ottawa.

But I do have one weakness, College Football. Specifically Texas Christian University Horned Frogs.

Why you ask, when I am nowhere near Texas? Well, the concept of a Christian University have a team named after an animal that could be mistaken for a horny toad is hilarious to me.

After I first found the team, I followed them and fell in love. So every year at this time, I try and track down when they are playing in the bowl schedule so I can watch and cheer.

They played yesterday in the Texas Bowl. And, as mentioned in the title, they won! Unfortunately, it was not broadcast on a channel I get. So no TCU for me. Sigh.

But I am still happy.