Hurray for Hallmark

We all have our weaknesses.  One of mine reared its lovely head this morning.  As I skimmed the TV listings, I came across this:

Daphne Zuniga stars in "A Family Thanksgiving" (Hallmark at 9) as a single attorney too busy to celebrate the holidays who suddenly wakes up one day as a wife and mother in an alternate universe. 

My heart leapt and a smile stole across my face.  My plans for tonight are set.  This movie looks to have everything:  Daphne Zuniga (Jo from "Melrose Place"!), holidays, family, realizing what's really important in life, alternate lives, and--I'm quite positive--a dashing love interest.  And it co-stars Faye Dunaway.  Really.  I've already alerted the family that I am not to be disturbed from 8:55 pm until 11:00 pm tonight, unless it is to refill my wine glass or bring me tasty hors d'oeuvres.

It also reminds me of another thing I'm thankful for:  The Hallmark Channel, the last refuge for these kinds of movies on television since Lifetime Television for Women abandoned us.  Today's line-up on Lifetime Movie Network is typical (the descriptions are theirs): 

• 4 pm:  "Night of Terror" - Forget about enjoying a relaxing family boat trip: This troubled family must contend with a deadly storm and, to add to their misery, a vicious stalker who's out to get them. 
• 6 pm:  "Mother, May I Sleep with Danger" - A naive college student (Tori Spelling) falls in love with a charming pathological liar, credit card scammer and murderer (Ivan Sergei). When her mother (Lisa Banes) attempts to break off the relationship, the crazed boyfriend abducts her daughter and hides her in his cabin in the woods.
• 8 pm:  "Confined" - Victoria and Michael Peyton move from the big city to the suburbs after Victoria's job loss and possible mental breakdown. When she starts to suspect that her next door neighbor is keeping a young woman locked in his basement, her husband thinks she may be losing touch with reality. But the neighbor's evil starts to become all too real.
• 10 pm:  "Homecoming" - A jilted ex girlfriend has a plan in store for her ex beau who is coming back to their small town with his new love.

Argh.  Seriously?  There are certain times when I must have chick movies:  when I'm sick, the day after major holidays, when I'm home alone, and from Thanksgiving to Christmas (New Year's if it's not pushing my luck).  At these times, I do not want stalkers and murderers, and not just because they don't go with Chardonnay.  If I want the twisted side of life, I'll take "Cold Case Files" and "American Justice" on A&E (I might actually have a crush on Bill Kurtis--so serious, so solemn, so reliable).

So, thank you, Hallmark.  I love your Countdown to Thanksgiving (and the ticker! 18 days until Thanksgiving!), and I will be watching "A Family Thanksgiving" and "An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving" (Hallmark calls it "a holiday story of family and forgiveness").  I look forward with great anticipation to the "Countdown to Christmas" and movies like these:

• "The Town Christmas Forgot" - An urban family that can’t seem to get along gets stranded in a remote, impoverished lumber town two days before Christmas. When they become involved in the town’s home-grown Christmas pageant, they not only help solve the town’s problems but learn to connect with each other just in time for the holidays.
• "The Good Witch's Gift" - Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale always has a few tricks up her sleeve, but is surprised when her handsome sweetheart, Police Chief Jake Russell, proposes. Getting into the spirit of the season, they set their wedding date for Christmas Eve--only six days away! As the two hurry to plan the wedding, trouble clouds their happiness when a mysterious man from Jake's past returns to town. 

Not a brutal crime in sight.  I can feel the holiday spirit already.

NaNo Not

I look forward to November.  I count down the days actually.  All because November is National Novel Writing Month. 

Somehow, and it always seems to happen, November does not behave as it should, and I can't find the time to write.  I have found a way to win two of the last four years, although last year it took 13,000 words in the last weekend to finish, an accomplish I still draw strength from.  It's usually a week or two before I start to think I can't do it, but that moment always comes.  The first win I owe to my sister, another NaNoWriMo-er that year.  She was a huge inspiration--largely in trying to keep up with (beat) her word count.  The second win was fueled by the memory of and determination for the sweet taste of victory again.

After writing zero words on Days 1 or 2 this year, I was still hopeful and optimistic about my chances of success...or near success...or participation even.  This November is a different beast altogether.  I have the exact moment this year when my prospects dimmed:  Wednesday, November 3rd at 1:09pm.  My world has been spinning since then (up is down, left is right, etc.)  I still have a small shred of ambition and a dim glimmer of hope, but I can't start writing until I can see straight, and the outlook for that is not promising.  I know:  poor me.  But it really is a hard, cruel world.

Happy Halloween and Braised Short Ribs

I'm not good at Halloween. I like it, theoretically and in moderation. In contrast, I LOVE Christmas. I know what to do for Christmas--tree, garlands, wreaths, presents, parties, etc. But Halloween? I'm burdened of memories of Halloweens past. There was the year that my mother pinned a few leaves to my multi-colored coat, told me to hold my arms out because I was now a tree, and marched me down main street in the community Halloween parade that way. That was one of the better years. I'm not good at costumes, either. Is it because of nature or nurture? I'm not sure. We are invited to an annual Halloween bash hostessed by friends who love Halloween. I'm always happy when we get the invitation, and then I stress for the next two weeks over what to wear. My ideas this year: Dora the Explorer (where do you find orange shorts in late October on the East Coast?), an American tourist (I hate to disrespect my fellow countrymen/ women), Amy Winehouse (or is it Cher? Snooki?).  Despite my extending worrying, I was still costume-less the afternoon before the party.  I found my inspiration this year in a satin dress I bought on clearance for $5:

I saw it as Audrey Hepburn-ish.  The scarf on my head was practical, too, because we were outside all night and it helped to keep the heat in.  (Apparently, scientists are hard at work debunking the myth that we lose so much heat that way.  Go Science!)

Sunday, of course, was the actual holiday, except where my parents live.  Their township had trick-or-treating on the 30th.  ????  Who does that?  Is this common in small towns?  Any why would you do that?  Is it only Halloween that gets this special rescheduling? Why again?

Anyway, the Steelers were playing at 8:15 so we had that to consider as well.  I needed something for dinner that I could put on early and didn't require much attention, what with all the trips to answer the door, but was hearty enough for a cold, football night.  We decided on Braised Short Ribs with Mashed Potatoes.  I love this recipe.  (I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture of how good it looked.  Sorry.)  You braise the short ribs, carmelize carrots/onions/celery/garlic/thyme, deglaze with broth, and then roast in the oven for 2.5 hours.  The recipe calls for 1.5 hours, but that's not long enough for the meat to get tender enough (this I have learned from experience).  You will have to skim the fat off of the surface before serving.  I have skimped on skimming in the past and sorely regretted it.  The ribs and gravy are fantastic over mashed potatoes.  I started with a salad (green! raw! fresh!) to balance the heavy meatiness and served it with some rolls to sop up the gravy (mmmmm).  We went with a Rhone (sigh):  Domaine Grand Veneur 2007 Clos de Sixte Lirac, a Robert Parker 93.  I did remember to take a picture of the wine (okay, the empty bottle):

So delicious.  It was good with dinner, but just as good on its own.  We bought three bottles but might go back for a case.