“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.”

Today I watched the Lifetime biopic on Coco Chanel. I have always had an enormous amount of respect for Chanel. She changed the fundamental concept of fashion, she encouraged woman to dress for comfort and for themselves, she sat at the head of a fashion empire, and she had incredible vision and gumption. While I found the biopic interesting and well made (not your typical Lifetime movie), I was upset by how much the movie focused on her love affair with "Boy" Capel. Yes, the story goes that he was the great love of her life and that his death was the most upsetting event of her life. However, this was not a woman to be ruled by anyone, particularly not a man. She lived by her own terms and encouraged other woman to do the same. It seems to me sometimes that movies have trouble representing a female character without needing a love story to dominate her life. I think her true love was her work and she was not only good, but successful at it. Isn't that enough?

I has a bunny

On Thursday, Jay and I adopted a bunny from the Virginia Beach SPCA. His name was Harry Potter. We call him Harry. He is not only the cutest thing on 4 legs, but also very sweet. He's 6 years old, so he's a full grown adult. Jay and I are learning a lot about bunnies - what their habits, their diets, their likes and dislikes.

Moments after we brought him home, he sat beneath the leaves of our peace lily and would not budge. He still likes to sit there and nap.

President-Elect Obama appoints advisers

Since our nation made history a little over a week ago, electing Senator Barack Obama the first African American President in US history, I have been diligently watching as he and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden appoint their staff.

My favorite appointment so far: "Klain was also chief of staff to Vice President Al Gore, but he's no stranger to Vice President-elect Joe Biden, having served as chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee when Biden was the committee chairman.

Klain also served as general counsel of Gore's 2000 Florida recount effort and was portrayed by actor Kevin Spacey in an HBO movie about the event."

I spent all of Recount rooting for his character and am so pleased that he has a position at the head of Biden's staff.

Pie Crust Fiasco of '08

So a couple days ago it was 1am and I couldn't sleep (I blame the nap I took in the afternoon). Around midnight I had the brilliant (?) idea to make key lime pie (complete with homemade pie crust as I don't have a pre-made graham cracker crust available). Whodathunk that midnight isn't the best time to learn how to make pie crust? (see attached picture of a rather pathetic looking crust) See as how I've never baked a pie crust before, I'm going to buy frozen pie crust and work my way up from there.