Author: F C

Weather: 25 degrees going up to 37, snow/sleet hitting the ground not sticking. I didn’t want to go out today for lunch, but Golden Crust has $1 Jamaican beef patties until the end of January, so we didn’t want to miss out.

Cellphones: I pay too much for phone service that I don’t use all of. Even with my mom on as a family plan, I have like a gizillion rollover minutes on Cingular. On the other hand my SMS plan gets occasionally maxed out and the occasional long distance call is killer. My plan is over in April; while the iPhone looks fantastic, I have to think that the Samsung BlackJack, the Cingular 8525 or something Windows Mobile will be more practical.

Incredibly painful 2 days of American Idol. Maybe it was the editing, but it seemed that most of the contestants thought it was a costume contest, not a talent show. The montage of 27 different butcherings of the Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha was crazy.

Been watching more of the cable channel G4 especially because of their tech coverage (miss CNET TechTV), and seeing lots of the old and new video games. Some of the best music actually ended up in video games. I’m re-discovering Japanese singer Utada Hikaru. She has more talent in her pinkie than two cities full of Idol wanabes. She composes, sings, and is awesome on the piano. Why aren’t they signing her up? And yes, she’s a New Yorker and an alumnae of SSW’s school. There’s a touring concert series called “Video Games Live” that performs video game themes. Will have to find them when they get to this neck of the woods.

Kingdom Hearts PS2 finale (song composed by Utada)

Unplugged version

Video Games Live orchestra version

Video Games Live tribute to 8-bit games

Brooklyn Museum: The lines were 1.5 hours to get into the Annie Leibovitz (show your Metrocard for 2 for 1 admission until 1/21). I really liked the photos that had the subjects either in action or in their environment. Did she have a good eye, or did just her notoriety attract the beautiful and the elite? I think she had her own doubts, because she would self-assign projects such as going to Sarajevo in the middle of the Balkan War or shoot landscapes in the American Midwest. She was the most sure of herself when photographing family. Check it out before it closes next week. At least they have an enclosed foyer filled with Rodin castings to wait in.

Franny’s – After enduring the crowds, we went to one of the upstart Brooklyn pizza contenders, Frannie’s. For those that know me, you can figure out the obvious attraction. Features: organic locally sourced ingredients, meats cured and made into sausage on premises, wood-burning brick oven, ultra thin crust. We ordered the Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella with Anchovies and Chilies, and Tomato and Mozzarella with House-Made Sausage pizzas, which are individual dinner-plate sized (about equal to 2-3 regular slices). The desserts were not appealing (everything was too creamy), so we ordered the “Satsumas and Cara Caras with Hot Pepper and Bitetto Olive Salsa”, which our waitress had said that a number of people had ordered instead as a fruit plate. All very good, although you do pay for the organic ingredients – it’s about the same price as Grimaldi’s for a slightly smaller pie and twice as expensive as your neighborhood pizza. For straight-up quality though, I have to give a slight edge to Franny’s over Grimaldi’s. Tje crust is the best part – it has that perfect softness/crispiness that is so hard to achieve. The toppings, while seemingly skimpy, are rich and blend perfectly, and don’t end up all over your lap. Recommended.

In a world record for me, I’ve actually satisfied the first half of my new year’s resolution in only 12 days by joining up with the YMCA with P- today. The local YMCA facility is brand new. The second half is to start swim classes.

In other purchases, bought a fine mesh conical strainer. It will come in handy the next time I’m making a gravy from roast beef. Bailed on buying an OXO water kettle. Tasty treats from Sahadi’s and the store next door, Damascus Bakery. They have really good, not too sweet Halvah, a sesame desert made from a secret receipe.