Forbidden Planet

When I was much younger, I had great interest in the occult and paranormal. When I was 13, for Christmas of 1979, I asked for and got a book called The Compleat Astrologer . I wanted this book because it showed you how to draw up a horoscope as well as providing interpretation guides and planetary tables from 1905 until 1979 - which put it far ahead of any other books on astrology which simply were describptive, but didn't show you how to do it hands on. I have no crystal ball and I have long dismissed divination, however let us see what the new year brings forth. And may it be good for all of us. Images scanned by me but remain the property and copyright of Bantam books.

Some soccer action from Tania this past summer. For some reason they have difficulty painting straight lines in Montreal. This is on Brunswick, just across from the Fairview Shopping Centre. You can see the satellite shot here Some Rose Hip found growing along Lac St. Louis. A morning glory found growing among some purple flowers in Parc Summerlea along Lac St. Louis. Google map here . Some soccer action from Jason this past summer. Jason and a horsehhoe crab when we were in New York in August. Giraffe's have blue tongues as can be seen. This is an edible mushroom. However it has no flavour, so there is little point. A mother duck and her ducklings. Taken in Parc Summerlea along Lac St. Louis. Tania and my goddaughter.

I was tagged by Tin-Tin and I have to tag some people later. The instructions are: 1. Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 keywords given below: family , friend , yourself , love , anything you like . 2. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better. 3. Don’t forget to read the archived post and leave comments. Hmmm ... don't understand the comment part. Am I supposed to leave comments on my posts? I think I will wait for clarification from Tin-Tin . Who to tag? Who to tag? Last time I tagged people it was MOI , KayMac , breal , tin-tin , and Barbara . So this time I will tag: Ingrid , Carra , Tena , Cavalock , and Freckled One . If I didn't tag you and you want to play, please feel free to appropriate this meme. Image nabbed from here .

Last Friday, I went to see a Christmas pageant at my kids' school. It was less a pageant and more the kids singing some Christmas carols. They were divided into grades 1&2, 3&4, and 5&6 with two groups of each. My kids go to a private school and wear a uniform. I hate the uniform. Sofia likes it, so does my dad. They both feel that it gives the kids more order and discipline. Makes them more uniform and less prone class and fashion discrimination. I simply view it as a symbol of conformity and it really makes my skin crawl. Children need to learn tolerance and respect for others not because they all dress the same and behave the same way, but because it is the right thing to do, despite their differences. I like the education they are getting. Tania has remarked that she prefers this school to the public because she gets more work. It also seems to provide adequate challenge for Jason as well. But I still can't stand the uniforms. Anyway, back to the pageant. As I w...

If you have never prepared duck breasts, you will find them extremely firm and plump. They are also quite fatty. I managed to render over 3 cups of duck fat from breasts I prepared Monday night. (And yes, I saved the fat, much to Sofia's dismay, it is sitting in the fridge. I used some tonight when I prepared Turkey a la king - using it to sauté the onions). Unlike my mother, who always prepared the same traditional dishes Christmas Eve, I always try to prepare something new. Sometimes it is successful, others times it is not. I think my worst failure was an almond rice I prepared a few years ago. It called for amaretto extract - it was overwhelming and quite disgusting (sadly, we had guests that year. oops). This year we started with potato, pear and leek soup. Which I thought was very good. My kids disagreed. This was followed with crab cakes. With more disagreement from the kids. The main course was duck breasts in red wine (I used a very nice sweet Peruvian wine, but I think it...

Love this song, but I can't find a version I like. I think it needs to be both joyful and lead by a deep powerful voice. So many versions are just way over produced and so far removed from the simplicity of the message and emotion at the heart of it.

Photo credit: Richard of Forbidden Planet (actually, it is just the flash off falling snowflakes at night).