Sushi Time!

I had the day off and a nice break from work gave me time to sit down, put on Buffy and make some sushi. When I eat sushi it's usually a California roll. If I eat the "riskier" rolls I'm usually grabbing a piece off the plate of one of my co-workers, usually at their insistence. So, of course, that's what I made!

A special thank you goes to my coworker Laura, who provided me with a bowl of sticky rice for my sushi-making endeavor! The first time I made sushi I was at Laura's house with most of our coworkers and I started making some after watching her. Since I don't follow any set instructions I linked a recipe for California rolls above.

I didn't include avocado in the sushi I made today as the avocados at the store weren't ripe enough. To help fill out the sushi I put in two strips of cucumber instead of one. If you like a bit of spiciness you can include a line of sriracha sauce by itself, or sriracha mixed with mayo. I've made it both ways and it's delicious! Below are some making-of photos:

I heart my friends.

A conversation with my friend at her birthday celebration:

Her: I'm 26.
Me: Wait, you're 26? What year were you born?
Her: 1985.
Me: You're 25.
Her: No, I'm 26.
Me: You were born in 1985. It's 2010. You're 25.
Her: *thinks* Oh! I'm 25!
Me: You're a quarter of a century year old!
Her: Gee, thanks!
Me: I just gave you an extra year!

The Back-Up Plan

As is usual right before a semester begins I have been reading lots of books and watching lots of movies and television. It's my time to load up on the fun stuff before months of burying my head in schoolbooks.

Last night I watched The Back-Up Plan, expecting your average romantic comedy. Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy rom-com's, especially when an actor or actress I like has a starring role. I enjoy the type of comedy found in these movies. But I don't expect anything different when I pop one into my DVD player.

I was watching this one for that man whose face is, unfortunately, half-covered by J Lo's hand in the above picture, Alex O'Loughlin. As surprised as I was to find Alex O in a romantic comedy, I soon discovered why as the movie progressed. This rom-com is actually different. Instead of hating each other, the two characters show an interest in each other from the start. The problems arise when Stan (Alex O'Loughlin) learns that Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) is pregnant after being inseminated the day they met. What follows is a funny, awkward and heart-filled story.

If you're looking for a light-hearted comedy that is slightly different than the rest, this is a movie for you. But really, whether you're into romantic comedies or not, this one should definitely be on your to-watch list for the reason of Alex O'Loughlin alone. Once again, he was fantastic.

Who's excited to see him in the new Hawaii Five-0 this season? I know I sure am!

Sanctuary (S1)

A few days ago I finished season one of the Syfy show Sanctuary starring Amanda Tapping, Robin Dunne, and Emilie Ullerup. And I have a confession to make: as the credits began to roll after the season finale I had the urge to throw something at my TV. I'm turning into my sci-fi loving friend Sarah. (I guess I shouldn't be too surprised, she is the one who introduced me to the series.) What a cliffhanger!

The first season of Sanctuary was definitely a starter season. It was setting the stage for what could become a wonderful show. Some things weren't quite there and Sarah and I both agreed that if it hadn't premiered on a cable station it might not have made it. (We compared this to Moonlight, which we're also watching right now, a show that had much potential but would probably have fared much better on a cable station that may have given it the time it needed to reach that potential.) But it had plenty of great moments. Some of my favorite episodes include 1x06 "Nubbins," in which the Sanctuary becomes home to cute little creatures that ignite passions and 1x09 "Requiem," which finds Helen and Will trapped in a submarine. Another shining moment in the season (for me, at least) was 1x05 "Kush," an episode that was different from the rest but had a deliciously creepy storyline.

The first season is short, only 13 episodes, but it's a wonderful introduction to the series. This is a series that can satisfy both sci-fi lovers and those who are new to the genre. If you're looking for a fun, action-filled, funny TV show, definitely take a look at Sanctuary.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Lately, I have been reading and watching books, movies and TV shows of the fantasy, supernatural and sci-fi genres. This is partly because my friend and I have been watching the first seasons of Moonlight and Sanctuary. But, like my friend Sarah says, "I'm a normal person. Why would I want to watch shows about normal people?"

Outside of watching Moonlight and Sanctuary I have started rereading the Harry Potter series. I also began the Percy Jackson & The Olympian series.

I read the first book, The Lightning Thief and last night, I watched the movie adaptation of the book. It was interesting to read the book and watch the movie so close together because the differences between the two were made that much more apparent. And differences there were! I have to say that I greatly enjoyed the movie--probably more than the book--because it was, I felt, more exciting. However, if one goes into the film looking for a good representation of the book, they will be disappointed, as it was quite different. It's one of the movies that, when you watch it, you need to separate it from the book. They took the idea and some of the great plot points and changed the story, made it their own.

I have to say that I really enjoyed the cast! Kevin McKidd as Poseidon, Uma Thurman as Medusa, Pierce Brosnan as Chiron. There were some surprises, though. I imagined Percy's mom much differently. I had envisioned someone who looked more like Michelle Pfeiffer or Nicole Kidman. Percy, Annabeth and Luke looked different than expected as well.

Overall, it was a fun book to read though I thought the movie was a little more exciting. I'm looking forward to moving on the series and hoping for more Percy Jackson movies to come.

Hello!

Wow, we're already halfway through August and I haven't posted yet. Life has suddenly become busy! Outside of working forty hours and six days a week I have been:
-- watching Sanctuary and Moonlight with a friend
-- watching Buffy from the beginning on my own
-- reading different books, most notably a fabulous book by the hilarious David Sedaris
-- writing, a lot, and searching different literary magazines for submitting
-- swimming, dancing and doing yoga.

Expect some reviews soon!