If you don’t already know, I’ve made seasonal lists explaining what my favorite things are. I have one for last Fall, Winter, and Spring. They may be a little out-dated now, but still worth a looksy.
1. Reality Cooking Shows. I usually have no interest in watching people slave over a hot kitchen. Especially when their delicious food isn’t available for me to stuff in my mouth. BUT, I’ve really been into Hell’s Kitchen, Food Network Star, and…um…Top Chef…Canada. They’re all great for different reasons. Hell’s Kitchen is awesome because it’s basically Gordon Ramsay telling the competitors to “piss off”. Food Network Star is good because it’s kind of like Top Chef, where they have creative food challenges, but the competitors are fighting for their own show on Food Network. Which is a crazy big prize. So not only do they have to be good at cookin, but they have to be good lookin too. Just kidding. They have to act natural in front of the camera. But being good looking should also be part of the criteria.
Chef Ramsay doing what he does best.
2. New email accounts. No, I’m not going to share my password with you, but I am going to use this as an explanation of why I’ve been so distant. Around the time that I wrote my 200th post, I changed my email server from AOL to Gmail. YES, I still had AOL after all this time. I swear I was one of the only ones. Why change a good thing? Well, AOL became slow and annoying. I honestly never want to hear “You’ve Got Mail!” ever again. Unfortunately, when I changed my email, I think I messed up my WP subscriptions. I haven’t been getting any emails when someone writes a new post, so I’m sorry if I haven’t been to your blog in a bit–I’m taking a mini vacation.
3. Mini Vacations! It’s been a long time since I’ve been on vaycay. And by long, I mean it’s been about a year. So it’s actually been a normal amount of time. BUT I’ve been planning a fun getaway with my fam. Nothing too crazy or abnormal. I’m keeping it a secret though until I get back because I want it to be a surprise when I write all about it.
4. Roald Dahl’s Collected Short Stories. You guys know how I feel about short stories. Roald Dahl was a master of them. I’m eating up this book–every single story is good. I don’t know how he did it. Some of Roald Dahl’s most popular stories are, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Those are all great stories. But the tales in his book make my stomach turn at the end of each one. He had a very dark sense of humor, so naturally I have a huge crush on him. Yes, he’s dead.
5. Super Paper Mario. Some of you may be familiar with the game Super Mario. Other, more experienced gamers may have heard of Paper Mario (N64), but only the coolest gamers (me) have played Super Paper Mario. This is a game for the Wii system. It’s pretty fun because you can change the graphics to go back and forth between 2D and 3D. I would recommend it if you like Mario games. The only downfall is the storyline which is so annoying. There’s so much explanation after you finish each section of the game. Ughh.
Cool graphics, right?
6. Not Watching The Tour de France.
Lily In Canada 
Having worked so long in restaurants, I can barely watch a cooking show. Too edited to have any relation to reality.
Though my girl does enjoy watching me get riled up as I watch them…
Really? I would think that you would like watching shows like that. And I guess I’m just a sucker because I thought they were totally real and unedited! Well, I guess the timing has to be edited!
Haha I bet it would be funny to watch you get riled!
I like your list. Too bad about your e-mail but mini vaycays are always good. Can’t wait to see what you have planned with your family. And one of my many many favorite movies of all time is Willie Wonka (the first one)! So I’ll have to check out his book of short stories. Thanks for the reading reco (recommendation — I’m trying to talk Lily)! LOL 😀
Thanks Linds. Have I ever told you that you remind me of Bonnie Hunt–looks and humor wise. It’s a compliment, trust moi. His stories aren’t as happy as Willie Wonka, but they are just as creative! I’m glad you’re learning Lily speak! Bravs! (Bravo)
Really? What a nice compliment Lily. I’ve always loved Bonnie Hunt and I just got some glasses like she always wears! Plus I think she’s hilarious! Hey thanks for making my day Lils 😀
I love being called Lils! Any time Linds!
Top list there, Lily.
About the short stories, your post mentioning that Stephen King one called Quitters. Inc inspired me to re-read Night Shift recently. Annoyingly, it wasn’t as good as I remembered. In fact, almost none of them were. However, I did find a new favourite in the collection, the one called The Last Rung on the Ladder, which is simple but very good.
Good on you for joining us cool kids at Gmail. I actually had the same problem with blog subscriptions when I changed my email address – even though I updated my email address in the dashboard, I had to go and re-subscribe to all the blogs again.
Which is stupid.
Actually, I’m wondering if this is why your blog alert emails now come through from ‘WordPress’ rather than ‘Lily in Canada’.
I think that’s because she deleted the text off of the title of her blog rather than hide it.
I don’t know if I’ve read Night Shift! I’ll have to check it out! I’ll also add Last Rung on the Ladder to my list too. I hate when things aren’t as good on the second read. Maybe that’s why I never re-read things! Haha
I know, can you believe I didn’t have Gmail? Aol is so old school. Like, 90’s old school. Maybe I will re-subscribe. That sucks, but sounds good to me. I think Pete’s right about my not hiding it. Maybe I should play around with it.
Ramsay’s schtick is getting old… fast!
But we love him anyway! I’d NEVER work for the Hell’s Kitchen Chef Ramsay, but he sure is entertaining to watch….
Yeah, you’re totally right. He can’t possibly be angry all the time. But he is pretty great!
I’m with you on 6. I have a pool on how ling it takes for the winner to be arrested for doping. Can’t see the point in watching cheats race when the real sport is trying not to be caught.
I know right? I can’t really respect any of them. They all seem annoying. I just can’t get into watching it. The only redeeming feature is looking at the French countryside!
Gordon Ramsey scares me. Cooking is already stressful without him screaming at you. I’m gonna try those short stories per your recommendation. Looking forward to our vaycay.
Haha he is frightening. But I like tough people because when the competitor’s do well, and he congratulates them, it’s super worth it. Like Jillian Michaels or Tabitha Coffey from that hair salon show. I just like the toughies! I can’t wait for the vaycay!
Roald Dahl’s DEAD?! Wow, way to put a dampener on my day! I used to read all of his stuff with I was younger too, I remember the James and the Giant Peach film, so epic.
I know! I was surprised too! The James and the Giant Peach film was so weird! But it was good. You should read these stories, you would like them!
Surely mini vacations aren’t just for summer???
You’re right! Mini vaycays are allowed all year long. Once a week if you like!
Here’s what I don’t get–if you are chosen to be on Hell’s Kitchen, don’t you watch the old episodes? Don’t you understand you have to have a rockin’ best dish if you don’t want Gordon to spit it out? Wouldn’t you perfect cooking risotto and scallops? I want him to call me ‘Darling’ not ‘Stupid Cow’. They all act as if they’ve never seen the show!! BE PREPARED!!!
Although, truth be told, the stupid ones make the best watching.
PS I’m behind on Master Chef–is the blind chef still there??
I agree with you about the contestants being ill prepared. I always think that whenever I watch a reality show–have these people not seen the show before? Weird.
I haven’t watched Master Chef, but maybe I should? A blind chef sounds like a good watch!