Warriors

I watched The Warriors last night and, today, came across this set of photos taken in the NY subway in the 1980s.  I like it when life works in sync. 

Terry is as tough as Marlon Brando.

I'm stuck at home tonight with red wine, cherry chocolates and YouTube.  Every time I watch this video I find myself wishing my hair would flip like Kirsty's.  As for the song, it's wonderful and always makes me smile.

(Also check out this video, featuring Lemmy on guitar!)

Mt Nelson, Sunday.

My young friend Mary took this awesome photo of me with my Olympus Trip 35 last weekend.  I love it that I can step out my front door and be in dense bushland within 5 minutes.

Harlem River Blues.

My favourite, Justin Townes Earle, is releasing a new record next month.  Do yourself a favour and download the single, Harlem River Blues, for free here from Bloodshot Records.

 

I've inherited Jess and Sean's beloved 60s sofa.  Bella approves!

Dean Swanton Etc.

Dean Swanton - Blackpool, 2008.

 My friend Dean is an animator/illustrator/photographer.  I'm a huge fan.  Check him out at http://deanswanton.blogspot.com.

OMG, I'm going to blog you!

Last night, Lisa, Debby and I frocked up and went to the Casino.  The plan was to float about looking enigmatic and find men to buy us drinks but, tragically, everyone there was too busy gambling or drinking or fighting out the front to notice three girls in evening gowns and furs.  

A bit dejected, we explored - watching the card players and the roulette wheel, wandering down deserted hallways and into the band room.  We found the plexiglass elevator and rode up and down a couple of times.  There was a group of people at the bar laughing at us, and they called us over.

"Hey!" the woman said, "I love your outfits!  You girls are all so cute!  I love how you're all dressed so differently, like you've each got your own style!  I love how individual you look!  Are you fashion students?"

No, we explained.  We're all a bit sad and heartbroken and decided to dress up and come out here to find men to buy us drinks, but they're all too busy gambling to notice us.

"OMG, I have to take your picture - I'm totally going to blog you!  It's so cute that you're all heartbroken!"

So dutifully we posed, while her husband and friends watched from the sidelines.  She took a great fancy to Lisa, and got her to stand by herself for one shot.

Her husband said, "You girls want to come with us?  I'll buy you drinks, come on!"

So we did.  Mission accomplished.

Oh, and the strangers who took our picture and bought us drinks?  Tim "Rosso" Ross, his wife Michelle, and several members of Grinspoon. (gee, they've aged...)  I can't wait to see if Lisa in her emerald-green dress shows up on the blog..

Mess-making.

I've got a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, and a cheesy, crunchy, creamy, garlicky pasta-bake in the oven.

Today I picked up a sad, wilted bunch of rainbow chard and a cauliflower with a rotten brown spot out of the take-home-or-throw-away box at work.  I roasted the cauliflower with some garlic (also from the box!), and sauteed finely chopped chard with bacon and butter.  I cooked some spiral pasta and made a balsamella (bechamel) sauce.  I put it all together in a baking dish with stacks of grated parmigiano cheese and crunchy panko breadcrumbs on top.  Now it's in the oven emitting rays of deliciousness throughout my apartment.

Making balsamella is easy-peasy.  I do it the way my mum showed me when I was little - melt 60g butter, add 60g plain flour, stir and cook until the flour doesn't taste "floury" anymore, sploosh in milk until it's the consistency you want it, and keep whisking all the while to ensure your sauce isn't lumpy.  My mother uses an actual whisk but I use a fork.  It's a bit lumpy, but I don't mind.  I stirred in some salt, some black pepper, and some nutmeg too.

I'd have taken pictures to show you, but the batteries in my camera are dead.  Next time!

Vita

I bought this tea for the excellent packaging design, but I'll keep buying it for the yummy tea inside!

K1000.

Some more pictures, taken with my K1000, from walking along the foreshore a few weeks ago.