Much Too Cold

     I just checked the weather report, and it is currently 28 degrees F.   For California, this is very cold indeed.  We may even get snow tomorrow, which is a pretty rare occurance for this time of the year.
    
     I'm sure that where some of you viewers live, it is much colder, so here's hoping that you're all keeping warm and dry.
    
     I'm doing my level best to keep warm, with three blankets, a hot-water bottle, a cat (cats make excellent foot-warmers), and a cup of hot chocolate spiced with cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dash of cayenne pepper.  It sounds a bit odd perhaps, but it's effective, and is actually quite delicious.
    

French Onion Soup

     Today, I decided to make classic French onion soup.  This soup, which dates back to Ancient times, is simple, delicious, and remarkably inexpensive.
    
     I do not recommend eating French onion soup from a can, or carton; salt is the prominent flavour.  From scratch, it has the true taste of France.  It takes a little while, but it's definitely worth it.
    
     As I savoured its rich flavours, I pictured myself in a quaint Provincal dining room, warm from the fire in the hearth, with bay windows over-looking a small vinyard and fields of lavender.

     Here's the recipe I used.

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 4 large red onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 4 (more or less) cups beef broth
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• sliced French bread
• 1/2 cup shredded or grated Swiss cheese

     In a soup pot, slowly melt butter and add onions.  Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for about 30 minutes, or until the onions are soft, and lightly browned.

     Stir in sugar and balsamic vinegar.  Cook for about 5 minutes, then add the broth.  Raise the heat, and bring to a boil.  Add red wine, salt and pepper, and lower the heat.  Simmer for 15-30 minutes.

     Cut the bread in slices, about 2" thick.  Drizzle with olive oil, and spread with a little butter.  Sprinkle lightly with garlic.  Put them under the broiler until golden-brown.

      Ladle the soup into ramekins, or oven-safe bowls, and place them on a baking sheet.  Float a slice of toasted bread in each one, and top with cheese.  Place them under the broiler until the cheese is melted.  Serve immediately.

    

Asian Dramas

     Lately, I've been on and Asian drama kick.  In this instance, Youtube has been very obliging.  I've watched several Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese dramas this week.  It's been very time-consuming, but since I have an exorbitant amount of time on my hands, that's not really an issue for me.
    
     One of my favourites so far, has been Love You Ten Thousand Years starring Vic Chou.  It was sweet, poignant, and slightly sad, but ended nicely.
    
     I'm currently watching another Vic Chou drama called Sweet Relationship, based on a Japanese manga I once read called Oiishi Kankei.  It's extremely long, and tends to make a person want expensive food, but it's a very nice, well-acted story.
    
    Patty Hou, who plays the leading actress, is good at playing a big-eyed innocent type, and Vic Chou and his eyebrows are good at being angsty (google him; you'll see what I mean).
 
    I'm not sure how long this phase is going to last, but since there are still several on my "to watch" list, I'm guessing it'll be a while.  In the meantime, I'm learning new languages~
    

A New Adventure

     Today, I got the next book in The Scarlet Pimpernel series, The Way of the Scarlet Pimpernel.  My mum and I are looking forward to more daring escapades with our favourite hero.
   
     Louise de Croissy's royalist husband has been killed--her child is ill--they must get out of Paris--can they escape???  Louise's friend Josette thinks they can, with a little help from that ever-elusive hero, The Scarlet Pimpernel.  Can he once again foil his fiendish foe Chauvelin and save everyones' lives, in his own uniquely awesome way?  Who knows?  I do!  Thanks to Wikipedia, and my own unconquerable curiosity, I'm already familiar with the entire plot.  Huzzah~

    

Writing with My Cat

     Here's a picture of me doing some late-night writing, with my cat... Misa. 
     I hesitate, because his name changes with my mood.  Sometimes he's Kyo, sometimes Bijou, it all depends.  But for now, we'll just call him Misa.  Isn't he adorable?

 

   
     In case any of my dear viewers are wondering why I never show my face on my blog, it's because I want to maintain a certain level of anonymity.  By doing so, I leave my viewers (except for the few of you who know who I am) free to imagine me as they please.  How do you picture me...?

College Dance Production

     I went to a dance production at the local college tonight.  I always find student performances interesting.  Naturally, some of the dancers are at a higher level than others, and I like to pick out the ones that have the most body strength, the most graceful lines, etc.

 

     One of the dances was a pas de trois, an excerpt from Swan Lake.  The dancers weren't exactly Baryshnikov, Pavlovna, and Spesivtseva, but I thought they did very well.  One of the young ladies in particular danced it beautifully.

 

     It's amusing to me; I'm not easily affected, but when I watch classical ballet, there's generally at least one part of the dance that gives me chills.  The same thing happens when I watch an opera.  I suppose I'm just a sucker for the arts.

Three Wandering Men

     Here's a poem I wrote one day at about 2:00 in the morning.  It seems to be symbolic of some of the various struggles encountered throughout the journey of Life, and the hope of rising above them.
     I've always enjoyed writing in the middle of the night; I get to wake up the next day and see what on earth I wrote the night before, and see if it makes any sense.  Like these blog posts, for instance.

 

Three wandering men on the path of life

Look forth with earnest eyes.

Footsteps sure walk toward the light

Wherein lies Life's greatest prize.

The first man stumbles off the path

And in the dust he lays.

No longer does he trust the light,

So in the dust he stays.

A wayside flower with sweet breath

Whispers the promise of an easier prize

And thus the wandering man remains,

No longer lifting up his eyes.

The second man with determined heart

Walks boldly toward the light.

The burning flame that guides his way

With constancy burns bright.

A stone fells the noble man,

Extinguishing his flame.

His eyes once sure no longer see,

The darkness blights;

His aspect forever remains the same.

The third man, an eager youth

Continues toward the promised goal.

A lovely vision steals his heart,

Then leaves it as she continues on.

Thus, the young man's hope is gone,

The ray of light no longer shines  

To cheat the darkness in his soul.

Three wandering men in darkness lost

Lay where they fell, caring not the cost.

And yet, in their weary hearts a spark remains,

And that with earnest fervor longs to burst forth bright

And lead the blighted wandering men

Forevermore into the Light.