Another Best Picture Nominee

I rarely see many of the Oscar-nominated pictures before the Academy Awards, but this year I have managed to see six of the nine.  I'm sure I won't see War Horse, and I probably won't see Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, but, at some point I want to see the weirdness that is Tree of Life.

So, a rainy Saturday proved a great time for another flick at the Laemmle.  I assured H that I thought that Hugo would be better than The Artist, and it certainly was. I had not read the book, and now I may just have to check it out.  For a children's book/film, it seemed to me to cross all generations as just a good story.  In fact, the theater had a pretty good crowd, and I don't think I saw a single child in the whole place.  Scorsese certainly knows how to make a film.

Ben Stein and His Money

For the past six years, the Malott Public Affairs Program at Scripps College has brought a conservative speaker to campus to bring an opportunity for meaningful dialogue in the area of public policy.  Last night's speaker, Ben Stein, was to speak on "Dark Days in America: How to Get to Daybreak."

Here is the basic outline of how Ben Stein said, last night, we get there. We will have smart people, like Steve Jobs, and people like you who are teachers, policemen and military personnel, doing small heroic things turn this country around. (I paraphrase, but don't simplfy.)

Huh?  That's it?  This, after telling us that we have the worst educated society in recent memory (he told many funny anecdotes about people he has spoken with who can't even name five rivers in America, or even people who can't subtract three-digit numbers).  He offered not one suggestion about how to fix education, but did manage to say that money won't do it.  Our schools, apparently don't really need the air conditioning, he said (when moments later he thanked the people backstage for turning on the AC because he was getting warm, and that AC is a better invention than the internet).

Stein is a funny speaker, but in terms of depth of content, I found him utterly lacking.

Winter Concert

As far back as I can remember, or at least since 1995 when I started teaching strings in the Claremont USD, we have never had an elementary string orchestra with this many students - 65!  We had our first concert of the year last night, and along with the orchestra, we had about 80 beginning students.  For as many kids as we had running around like penguins (black and white attire), we had no behavior problems, AND the kids sounded great!  Now the bar is set for an even better May concert.

The Artist

Tuesday night at the Laemmle featured the Oscar-nominated The Artist.  Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 97%, and we agreed that it was a cute film.  But best picture? I think not.  I loved the dog.  I wish there had been more dancing.  The interior scene in the Bradbury Building was fun.  However, the middle slogged along and could have been about 20-30 minutes shorter.

If you haven't seen it yet, I would recommend a wait for the DVD.

Greek Tempeh Pita

Total deliciousness.  I had leftover pita bread and wanted to know if there was a recipe somewhere for tempeh and pita, and, of course, there was.  You can buy tempeh in the soy products section of the store.  I didn't find any tzatziki sauce at the grocery store, but Trader Joe's had a greek salad dressing with feta which worked very well.  I know I can actually make tzatziki sauce, but I was short on time.

When the garden tomatoes are ripe, I will make this again.  Here is the recipe. This one is a keeper.

Free Fro-Yo

While driving up Indian Hill just now, I saw an extraordinarily long line near the Laemmle.  As I approached, I noticed that the line was snaking into Yogurtland, and I knew that there must be some sort of deal going on, so when I got home, I looked online and found this LA Times notice. Free frozen yogurt plus toppings from 4-7 today.  Too bad I don't have time to stand in line right now for it.

Busy Weekend

It's been a busy weekend with little time to blog, so here is a brief rundown.

Saturday was given to a music teacher's workshop in Redlands for much of the day, followed by a 60th birthday party for a long-time friend for most of the evening.  A little Costco shopping in the middle rounded out the full day.

This morning at CUCC we voted overwhelmingly to call our new associate minister, Eileen Gebbie who will start "very soon."  The sanctuary was filled this morning to hear Eileen preach and to have the vote.

The service was filled with all kinds of music today (see my post in my music blog) from a multigenerational rendition of the 150th Psalm, to the newly formed youth choir, to the adult choir and the gospel piano playing during communion (and vote-counting).

Now for the Super Bowl and getting ready to start another week.

Friday Night Fun

Isn't this how everyone wants to spend the beginning of their weekend?  Changing a car battery in the Costco parking lot - so much fun.

At least
1) we didn't have any place we had to go tonight
2) Costco carries batteries
3) I have a husband who is capable of coming to my rescue

Chickpea Burgers

Tonight's dinner - Chickpea Burgers.  This recipe calls for a tahini sauce, but we used some plum chutney instead which worked very well, I think.  Also from our garden - butter lettuce.  Tomatoes are not in season in our garden, so those were from Sprouts.

If you like falafel, I would recommend this recipe for you.

3rd Annual Copper Chef

When I was growing up, I knew about only two kinds of tomatoes.  One kind came from the store,  the other from the garden.  Last night at the HMC dining hall, four dorms (of 8) participated in the second round of the 3rd annual Copper Chef Competition where the secret ingredient was tomatoes.

Last year in the second round, the secret ingredient was pomegranates and you can see a video of the event here.

Here are the four appetizer entries.

 Here are the students hard at work.

 Here is the table with a variety of ingredients in the center from which to choose.

 The judges must not only rank the food on various qualities, but they must be able to add up their scores.  Good thing everyone has a smart phone with calculator these days.

Here are the main course entries.

 The winner of this round was South Dorm.  Here are the five judges and all the students who participated.  I'll have to say that this was nothing like what would have happened when I was in college during the Stone Age!