Day Three Hundred and Five - XBox Kinect

Dear all,

It's the year of the Rabbit and what better way to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year than to engage the new 'Kinect' Box for the Xbox and dance the night away in front of the TV.

This thing is AWESOME! Darren and Vince had spent the afternoon in Barrie on business but had popped into Costco on the way home to pick up a few bits and pieces *yay*. I was unaware of the new toy until much later in the evening during the reveal by Darren, it was an XBox Kinect! http://www.xbox.com:80/en-US/

Once the wiring had been assembled and box location decided ( on top of the TV), we were ready for the off! I was still unsure as what this would mean [and the effect it would have one our lives] but I soon found out...

Darren had a DVD of games included with the purchase so we set to work getting ready and it was hilarious!

Using a web cam-style box that enables users to control their avatar using gestures and spoken commands ( not emotions.. that's in development) the Kinect renders the classic 'joystick' or game controller redundant and opens the door to the new era of entertainment which is unimaginable in it's potential (see Tron).

Darren and I started out playing an interactive game where two players guide a raft down some sensational rapids and [you've guess it] we were driving the thing! It was hilarious!

I was awful ( because I insisted on dancing throughout which completely thwarted Darren's attempts to direct the raft through the various obstacles) although my fitness levels were a bonus - it is quite the work out!

You lean, jump and flap around like a crazy person in order to complete the game. It's hard.. but easy to get the hand of and [like all of these things] highly addictive. I can see a point, in the not so distant future, where people rarely need to leave the house.. why would you??? Everything you need is on the computer. It's the disconcerting truth about modern day technology.

I then took to the raft with Vince who was also very good, the added bonus being Vince's height ( he could reach the golden 'A's in the sky - triple points! )

Here we are getting our movements 'screened' by the Kinect Box.

More dancing from me ( it was cool music!)

And more action from the front. This thing if blooming funny!

It also took 'web cam' style pictures from the computer which I will have to access and post on the blog. Apparently I fell asleep not too long after this and slept through two hours of the boys jumping up and down like yoyo's [nb I was asleep on the couch].

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone!!

Day Three Hundred and Four - Rescued From The Ditch

Dear all,

It's been [another] harsh week. That blooming storm has blown up from the states and it's a nightmare. Despite days of warning, for some reason I thought that it would be *fine* as we had already been through one monster storm this winter 'so everything else would seem okay'. Gaaaaa.

In reality, I got stuck twice this morning. Once, leaving home 'in the driveway' which left me having to wait for the next nice person to come along and give me a shove. And secondly, on leaving the inn after work; it was so white that I drove straight into a drift at the side of the road *double-gaaaaa*.

Luckily, wonderful Paul was able to pull me out as he was ploughing the driveway during my exit from the road and latched on immediately to save me. Unfortunately, my *ABS* warning light is now flashing at me which [sadly]means another trip to the mechanic. ooooo winter.

Here is a brief video of the rescue. I had to be very involved.. so it is quiet short.

And in other news:

1. The calm after the storm from our condo

Day Three Hundred and Three - Lamb Shank at Tholos

Dear all,

It's an exciting evening! We are heading to Blue Mountain after Darren had a strong craving for Tholos Dip Platter ( it's the best in the business).

Anna and Dale came along too and we all met up early evening for a fabulous Greek feast at our favorite spot up at the village. The weekends are currently a restricted zone due to the population increase of about 20 billion people so mid week it is and it was wonderful!

Tholos is nestled in the heart of the village and boasts a large menu of both Greek and Mediterranean food http://www.tholos.ca

It has a great lay out and staff and if you are lucky, you will be entertained by classic 'plate smashers' that dance around into the night after an oozo or two.

I always get so full from the appetizers that I have no room for the entree but Darren persuaded me to go for the coveted Lamb Shank insisting that it would be high on the blog-worthy list (and he could have a bite or three).

Poor little lamb.. I know... It's rough. But it sure is tasty! Here is a picture of my entree and it was good!

I am looking a little strange here ( only first glass of wine, I promise) but it's a good picture of the shank. Darren helped me out with a large portion of it as I had already eaten my body weight in Humus and spicy feta but I manage to squeeze the rest down. It was delicious. Darren had the Beef Souvalaki ( amazing!) ad did Dale and Anna had the Mousaka. It was all just wonderful.

I love Tholos!

And in other news:

1. It's Ground Hog Day!

Wiarton, just 30 minutes from Owen Sound has been home to the original Canadian groundhog prognosticator since 1956 when local resident Mac McKenzie threw a party called Groundhog Day. The town is now on its third groundhog, after the unfortunate deaths of Willie in 1999 and Wee Willie in 2006. He is famous for being able to predict the weather and his powers are attributed to his position on the 45th parallel exactly half way between the Equator and the North Pole. Some say he is 90% accurate in predicting the arrival of spring. Others {scientists and meteorologists} say it's more like 23 %...but what better excuse to have a party!

Other famous ground hogs include:

1. Punxsutawney Phil ( Big love for the PA crew!)

2. Balzac Billy

3. Buckeye Chuck

4. General Beauregard Lee

5. Octorara Orphie

6. Shubenacadie Sam

7. Staten Island Chuck

Day Three Hundred and Two - Tandoori Chicken

Dear all,

Darren and I have had a large container of Ted Reader's (http://www.tedreader.com) Tandoori rub in the cupboards for ages so thought it high time to get involved and cook up some Tandoori chicken.

I found this recipe online but realized immediately that we didn't have any yogurt in the fridge so went rogue and used a jar of Tzatziki instead ( sorry mutti).

http://www.secretsofhealthyeating.com/tandoori-chicken.html

I mixed up all the garlic and tandoori mix with the *yogurt* and popped in the chicken. I then left it to marinade for a couple of hours while I cooked up my {famous?} Brussel sprout curry {that changes every time I make it}.

I then transferred the tandoori into a baking dish and popped it in the oven.

The brussel sprouts were hot to trot and within about 40 minutes the curry was bubbling at high speed so we thought that was a good sign that it was cooked. It even looked like curry! Hurray!

It was actually quite delicious ( although we did end up eating at around 10:30 at night due to being fairly labour intensive) and Darren even said it had 'good heat'. It's a winner! Thank you Ted for yet another fabulous recipe ( that rub is awesome!)

And in other news:

1. I also put together a crop of 'Sunny Morning Muffins' from Mary Lou's muffin book. They are quite delcious and packed with flavor; containing pineapple, carrot, vanilla and I threw in some dates for good measure.

Here is the 'liquid' contents of the recipe: 2 eggs, can of pineapple (crushed) or I just used a slice of fresh. 1 cup grated carrot, 1/2 cup oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract. It looks disturbingly like vomit but smells amazing!

I added the liquid goo into a well formed in the 'dry' ingredients; 2 cups flours, 2/3 cups sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda and salt. I mixed everything together until it formed a gooey paste.

And here are the finished articles! They smell amazing and the pineapple really works, which was unexpected. Another muffin triumph!

Day Three Hundred and One - Fancy Napkins

Dear all,

Today, I have enrolled on a slightly different challenge in pursuit of my domestic goddess training. After many years of part time waitressing in my teens, I have a good grasp of a the basic techniques required to fold napkins but had never moved on to 'the next level'.

I started with the [advanced] peacock. My sister and I mastered the basic peacock after a weekend at G-Ma's when we were around the ages of 6 and 8. This version is quite significantly more intricate and the gorgeous Cornelia was able to give me some helpful hints in arriving at the finished article with finesse!

I folded the napkin in half, then folded one quarter back on itself and did the same on the opposite half. I then used a 'Concettina' style of folding to make a 'fan' shape with the napkin.

Once in the fan shape, I folded out the corners of each point on each adjacent side (I hope this all makes sense..) and then opened the fan out so it sat down like a beautiful, lilac coloured peacock.

Here is the finished article! It is quiet time consuming but some might say 'meditative'.

Napkin number two: The swan.

You start by folding the napkin in half on it's apex to form a large triangle. The fold the two sides in to make a square, as per below.

You then fold the bottom corner of the square up and over, to make a small lip with the napkin.

You then take the napkin and curl it around so the two sides join and fold the ends into each other so it is able to stand up straight. The fold down the two 'wings'.

And hey presto, a swan! Not quiet glamorous to make the oscars, but fortunately Natalie Portman is holding court for our feathered friends. And I have earned a billion Domestic Goddess points.

And in other news:

1. My new experiment, murals *in acrylic*. My sister had bagged these two for her kitchen.. but hopefully there will be many more on the way!

Day Three Hundred - Unusual Wings at Beaver and Bulldog

Dear all,

It's day Three Hundred! After a brilliant game of Volley Ball ( I am getting much better. I can now hit the ball with notable vigour and don't stand around looking like a complete lemon. Darren has been key in this process being nothing less than amazingly encouraging )

We had a quick stop off at home to change clothes grab some Gateraid (see Appendix A) and then sped through the night towards the pub. I wanted to do something fairly monumental with Day 300 but my deep love for the B and B alongside the fact that it was a Monday and everything is closed ( Cabin Bistro; Azzurra; other new places etc etc) made me think this was the right decision for my 300th task. http://www.beaverandbulldogcollingwood.com/

We sat down with our cold pint of Boddingtons ready to order and realized that half the volley ball team were also in the bar!

[note to all: Here I am modeling the robe 'whilst drinking Boddingtons' in Darren's 'Man Chair' to try and convey a sense of drama].

We quickly ordered our wings but instead of our regular 'Three Pepper', we heard, with despair, that they had 'run out' of our favorite sauce. Boooo. But used the opportunity to try out something unusual so went for:

1. One pound of Jerk Wings

2. One pound of Cajun Wings

3. One pound of Suicide Wings [not for the faint hearted]

Quite a lot of food, some might say. But I was starving, as was D and we did have the entire Volley Ball team to help us out if necessary. It was a wonderful evening and the wings were great. The jerk was a tad salty but had good flavor. The Suicide was hot ( which I love) but also lacked a 'little' in flavor and the cajun were delicious {my fave}. I love wings at the beaver and bulldog!!!!

Content, full and tired, we drove back to the condo full of the joys of winter and robes and the fact that life is beautiful.

Appendix A: Darren had a craving for Gateraid, so I ran riot in Metro and bought up every flavor on offer. Lemon and Lime is the current favorite with Strawberry and Kiwi coming in a close second.

And in other news:

1. Here is Darren at work on his latest gaming passion, 'Fable'. I am also logged in on his XBox [under the pseudonym 'snowsledqueen74' with login code 'pinchy'.

I rather worry about looking rather bad compared to Darren's unmatchable talent with playing computer games, but I will give it a try.