September 25, 2010

Mooncakes

We discovered a bakery nearby that makes the most delicious mooncakes! They have a fresh taro version that is amazing, along with the usual red bean and lotus. For a long time, we would buy imported boxes containing pastries pumped with preservatives, individually sealed in plastic. These always brought nostalgic satisfaction, since my parents served pretty much the same thing when I was young. But mooncakes still warm from the oven, direct from the baker, are simply far superior!

September 20, 2010

Ghostly Greyhounds

Yesterday we attended a picnic sponsored by Greyhound Friends of NJ. I can't think of any other dog breed where 50+ of them can all gather so peacefully within a few yards of space. There was minimal barking, a little whining and soft "roo" every now and then, lots of polite sniffing, and hardly any territory squabbles. All the dogs just sat or stood around panting. It was seriously awesome seeing so many beautiful animals clustered together, and seriously spooky how quiet and calm they all were.

One person there put it best: "It's like a bunch of cute aliens came down to earth, and are just milling about."

Sometimes Mona is so chill, we wonder if it's normal. But then we see a whole pack of greys and feel relieved - they're all like that!

September 17, 2010

Gathering the Pieces

For NYC Comic Con this year, I'm planning to take the plunge and attend in costume. It's my first attempt at this kind of thing. I'm not investing too much effort (or money!) into this endeavor, having selected a pretty obscure and practical character. I figure after seven years of attending conventions, it would be fun to dress up at least once.

I've been collecting materials for a few months now. Halloween is just around the corner, so hopefully the rest of the components I need will be readily available!

September 9, 2010

BPAL Verdict

After much delighted sniffing, I've decided that BPAL is my thing after all. I love the variety and while not every scent agrees with me, there's still something wonderfully real about each one. The chemistry in the oils yields something totally different from conventional perfumes from cosmetic companies. There's a warm organic quality about them that invokes emotional response.

While I'll never amass the hundreds that others have collected, I think I'll start picking up interesting scents in the secondary market.

September 5, 2010

Fantasy Is Not Dead!

Although I've only posted a small number of book reviews, I'm a voracious reader, especially of fantasy. There's a lot of crap in that genre, but I'm happy to report that this year I've read at least two thoroughly satisfying series.

Mistborn has been around for a while, but I only just finished the trilogy (yes, an actual trilogy; the third book does conclude the story!) and the best feature of the books is the unique and inventive magic system. Sanderson really fleshes out the world's arcane rules and mechanics, which totally appeals to the gamer in me. Lots of action, plot twists, and interesting characters with great relationships.

The second series I'm really digging isn't done yet. First book is The Warded Man and its sequel, The Desert Spear, just came out this year. Again, I'm attracted to the well designed magic system, and the way its rules govern the world. Plus, the main characters are badass and their adventures much fun to follow.


These two authors have built wonderful standalone universes that are consistent, filled with creative creatures and personalities, and best of all, they both write well. In a sea of tropes and bad fiction, it's nice to find books I'll definitely read again and again.