Food thoughts

I've been meaning to write about my recent interest in eating and being more healthy. Sources of inspiration include being exhausted in and after Japan, feeling older more generally, reading about a favorite fashion blogger's take on food (somewhere buried in there), watching "Food, Inc.," having a vegetable garden, wanting to cure my eczema, and needing to be productive. With a recent purchase of a blender, which was meant for summer smoothies to beat the heat, I've been making "Green Monsters." I make one serving, and split it with Mordecai (he gets the Burger King cup today). I'm not sure if I really feel more energized, but I appreciate that it just tastes like banana but supposedly gives me all this vitamin A, E, and whatever chia seeds (!!) offer.

"Food, Inc." was not as scary as I thought it would be, possibly because I tend to be antagonistic, or guarded, with message-infused documentaries. I didn't think this one was obnoxious, and found myself being able to comfortably be impressed by Monsanto's insanity, to crave McDonald's afterwards, and to love Stonyfield yogurt more than ever. (That scene where Stonyfield gets the organic farmer to meet Wal-Mart higher ups...I love it so much.) It's disturbing to see oversized chickens and cows unable to walk, but it was also horrifying to see the throat-slitting of even the lucky chickens who, as Mordecai's mom once put it while we were waiting for our chicken to be wrapped up at Whole Foods, had stories read to them at night. On Sunday, I also saw "The September Issue," which was fun to watch, and it made me think about documentaries. Two documentaries I would watch (or would be happy to participate in) are humanities grad school (get on it, Pannapacker!) and the nail industry (nail polish, gel, acrylic, etc.). The only documentary I could make is one about Mitsu Scheckter, which would be funny if I really could document her many antics and adventures on video. For a special DVD release, I'd make furry Mitsu cell phone straps and key chains, and bonus features would include a full catalog and explanation of her nicknames (Darkest Muzzle, Mi-chan, Minmi, Redheaded Stepdaughter, Car Fox...), video footage of her at daycare, and a rendering of what her puppies would look like if Sinbad were the father. The credits would roll as I play her favorite song on the piano and she sings along, which she still does, maybe with even more confidence and fervor than before (her muzzle was so dark!).

Day 28 – Your favorite movie.

Jose to tora to sakana tachi

Puppy Frosting

That's a lot of cupcakes. I made red velvet cupcakes but with Emily's cream cheese frosting: 

1/2 pound (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1 sticks unsalted butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a mixer until fluffy then add confectioners’ sugar and vanilla and mix well. Then, try not to eat it all.

As usual, Emily's cupcakes are better. At least my frosting is sufficiently good.

Tomorrow is TRON LEGACY in 3D for IMAX. And laundry. And the usual puppy antics. 

Film Location

They seem to be filming "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in Logan Square. My mom told me that they had been filming at the Uptown National Bank, and when we saw "No Parking -- Filming" signs up in our neighborhood, I thought it might be the same movie. Mordecai got confirmation from a police officer patrolling Schubert and Francisco, a block away from our apartment. I guess if you put one of these old school vehicle in front of a nice greystone, you get a 1930's scene going on. They should've picked my parents' house! Then again, Francisco has a lot more greystones than Richmond or Whipple.

Security wasn't that tight, I guess because there weren't a lot of people around; it was also pretty chilly today. I think we could've scooted up a little closer to the crew and scene, and actually have seen Mr. Depp's head or something. A giant black Yukon pulled up in the middle of the street while we were lurking, and based on sudden girly screams and camera flashes, I'm guessing he showed his face or something. The Yukon drove right past us, heading towards the boulevard--we were so close to him, if even separated by tinted windows!

Then the old school cars lined up and left. We saw one of them creating traffic on the boulevard, from what seemed like frequent stalling. Mordecai asked the other day, "Where do you think Johnny Depp is staying?" His mother guessed the Drake, his father the Raddison O'Hare, and my guess is the Trump Tower. Or whatever the most European hotel we have in the city--I hear he likes France.