Detroit Diva

Some things I'm loving right now:

Book:  Curse of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz.  The second in the Spellman Family series.  Start with the first - they're fun.

Music:  Sia's Some People Have Real Problems.  Beck was heavily involved in this album.  She reminds me somewhat of Tori Amos.

TV:  Shows are finally coming back with new episodes now  and I'm looking forward to Big Bang Theory on Monday.

Blog:  Petite Anglaise - a British woman living in Paris.

Food: Everybody's Nuts Pistachios.  I'm addicted to these things.

Mark, from Coffee Break French, left a comment after I wrote the previous post.  He said: "Glad you're enjoying Coffee Break French! Hope our accents aren't too difficult to understand, but please know that I don't speak French with a Scottish accent!!"  My apologies to Mark - He doesn't speak French with a Scottish accent. He sounds exactly like a Frenchman when he speaks French.   What I meant was that, in addition to  learning French, I would have the bonus of speaking my native English with a Scottish accent.   It was a very lame attempt at humor and I'll try to make myself clearer in the future.  In the meantime, I think you should all listen to Mark on Coffee Break French and join me in Paris next year.

This time next year I will be taking my 15 year old niece to Paris (Note to self: do not make off the cuff remarks like “When you’re 16 I’ll take you to Paris” to 6 year olds who love Madeline books.  6 year olds, like elephants, never forget and they turn 16 much sooner than you expect).  So, in preparation, I’ve started brushing up on my French (it’s been a loooooooong time since those years of learning the language in high school). I’ve been downloading podcasts of French lessons from itunes and have been having some fun listening to them.  My favorite is Coffee Break French with Mark and Anna. What’s great is that Mark and Anna are Scottish with pretty thick accents.  I’m thinking that after a year of listening to them, not only will I know French, but I’ll be speaking with a Scottish accent as well. Bonus!

In other news, an AP investigation has found that there are traces of prescription drugs in the drinking water of 24 major metropolitan areas (including Detroit).  I knew there was an explanation as to why 59 million people voted for Bush in the last election. 

The Vatican released a list of new sins today.  They are:
1. "Bioethical" violations such as birth control
2. "Morally dubious'' experiments such as stem cell research
3. Drug abuse
4. Polluting the environment
5. Contributing to widening divide between rich and poor
6. Excessive wealth
7. Creating poverty

Yeah, ok, whatever. My question is where is the sin regarding stupid politicians.   Seriously, whether it's the embarrassment known as the Mayor of Detroit  or the one known as the Governor of New York.  C'mon guys - sex scandals? Can you be any more cliched? Sad, just sad.