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Peanuts, Mothra and a Muffin Buffalo!

Two things I love were discovered last night!

First on Fabulon, I saw a video of the Japanese pop duo from the 60’s, The Peanuts.

I’ve never seen them except for their even more fabulous appearances in the Mothra movies, where they played a pair of singing fairies!

Pretty groovy.

Then while watching last week’s episode of “Pushing Daisies” one of my current favorite shows to watch which is sadly being cancelled, I was thrilled to see Beth Grant (who I have loved in many small roles over the years, most notably as Kitty Farmer in Donnie Darko) featured as a rival baker who specialized in muffins.  It wasn’t until she referred to herself as the Muffin Buffalo that I realized that she’d played this character before… but not on “Pushing Daisies,” but on the late, great “Wonderfalls!” What a terrific bit of crossover magic!

Bryan Fuller, originator of both series, has already featured Diana Scarwid in both shows, and I have now learned that he is hoping that “Wonderfalls” lead, Jaye (played by Caroline Dhavernas) might drop by “Pushing Daisies!”  Here is a clip of Beth Grant playing Muffin Buffalo’s Mary Ann Marie Beetle from “Wonderfalls”:

And finally, just because, a brief clip of Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene performing an impromptu duet of They Might be Giants’ “Birdhouse in Your Soul” from “Pushing Daisies.”

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Gratitude

I usually don’t go for these holiday inspired blog posts… oh, it’s thanksgiving, what am I thankful for, but this morning, I guess I’m in a reflective mood.  I don’t often stop and think about what I am truly thankful for in my life and that’s probably not a good thing.  It’s so easy to take the blessings in one’s life for granted, and today, I’m going to take a step back and acknowledge the things I am most thankful for.

When you’re healthy, it’s so easy to take your health for granted.  I have been fortunate enough to be pretty healthy my entire life.  Sure, as a fortysomething-year-old man I should lose a few pounds, eat better, be more active, etc.  But I did quit smoking this year (last January) and I feel really thankful about that!

Friends and Family are such a blessing.  My family is happy and healthy.  Everyone is doing well.  I am especially thankful that my parents, both in their mid-eighties, are doing so well.  And as a gay man, friends are so important, and I’ve got great friends from so many different areas of my life.

Six months ago, my friends and family would be shocked to hear me give thanks to my job… but it’s true.  Of course, in this economic climate I’m thankful to have a job at all, but never in my wildest dreams since becoming a librarian did I think I would ever have this big a job.  And for the first time since I started this job, things are really looking up.  A new leader has really rejuventated by interest in my career, and although things are still pretty difficult in many ways, I’m so hopeful for the future.

Having been a homeowner for a couple of years now, I have to say I am grateful that we’ve got such a comfortable home and great condo-mates.  As Scot often reminds me, we could definitely spend a little more time focused on our home, and that’s something I think I’d like to try and do in the coming year.

In that home I have to give thanks to our kitties, Gertrudis and Parker.  The joy these cats bring me is sometimes astounding.  Gertrudis has been with me for over 14 years, and she is truly part of my family.  And I’m so thankful that we were able to provide a home for Parker and that he seems to have alleviated some of Gertrudis’ anxiety about being the only cat in the house (when she remembers to stop fighting with him.)

Finally, and most importantly, I am so thankful for my husband, Scot.  First that here in Massachusetts I can actually have a husband, and secondly, but more importantly, that he’s someone as kind, understanding, complex, and beautiful as Scot.  I don’t tell him this nearly enough, but it comes from my heart… I love you, Scottie, and I am so grateful that you are a part of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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Coolest Library?

McKim Building, Boston Public Library

I meant to post this a couple of weeks ago and never got around to it.  The Boston Public Library, where we work, has been voted one of MSN City Guides’ Top 10 Coolest Public Libraries.   Of course, they’re really only talking about the McKim Building, which faces Copley Square and is pretty amazing from an art and architecture point-of-view.  What I’ll really be jazzed about is the day the BPL is chosen for the top 10 coolest public libraries because of the services it provides.  Still, the very fact that there is a Top 10 Coolest Public Libraries list is pretty cool.

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The long-delayed first cupcake-rating post

Well, after a big opener over a month ago, I’m finally getting around to posting my first cupcake ratings.  I haven’t been able to get out and try as many cupcakes as I’d hoped (although I just finished a delicious Entenmann’s Hallowe’en cupcake) but I’ve got three rated, and that’s enough to kick things off.  I’m going to list them in the order I rated them.

The Blue Frog Bakery – Rating:  47

I have enjoyed delicious pastries at the Blue Frog in the past, and honestly, I didn’t even know they made cupcakes.  I often park next to the bakery when I have to run into the post office, so one morning, after doing just that, I happened to notice that they had some adorable cupcakes in their rack.  Knowing I was going to be rating the Commonwealth’s cupcakes, I decided to start with a local bakery.  The cupcakes were vanilla cake, with white frosting, drizzled with chocolate and with a chocolate shard stuck into the frosting.  The big disappointment in this particular cupcake was the cake.  It was fairly dry with little flavor at all.  It was as if they were counting on the frosting alone to carry the cupcake, which for me just doesn’t work at all.  The frosting had an interesting flavor, and it was nicely proportional to the cake, but it wasn’t very sweet.  All-in-all a disappointing kick-off experience.  I will continue to enjoy the Blue Frog’s other pastries, and may even try another cupcake at some point, especially if they make different kinds, but the standard vanilla was definitely  lacking.

Kickass Cupcakes – Rating:  57

Much has been said about Kickass Cupcakes in Davis Square, Somerville, and I was eagerly looking forward to trying them out.  I was also armed with the comments that accompanied my first cupcake post however, that reported that Kickass’ cupcakes were unreliable… sometimes good, sometimes not so good.  I bought an assortment of Kickass Cupcakes, but I didn’t get to the “special” cupcake until it was stale, so I’m not going to count it.  The cupcake I rated was vanillla cake with white frosting sprinkled with pink candy crystals.  I have to say, I was pretty disappointed with the standard Kickass Cupcake.  The cake was marginally better than the Blue Frog cupcake, as was the flavor and proportion of the frosting, however, the Blue Frog cupcake’s frosting was much sweeter (in a positive way).  However, there was nothing original about the flavor of the standard cupcake, but I did give it some points for the pink, candy sprinkles, which were fun.  There are a host of cupcake flavors listed on the website, so I do plan on trying out some of the other varieties.

Party Favors CupcakesParty Favors – Rating:  94

I didn’t want to start with the Party Favors cupcake, because I know how much I love them.  Well, I’m happy to say that when faced with my rating system, the Party Favor cupcake still scored strongly.  I rated a simple vanilla cupacake with white frosting and a small flower.  This is definitely going to be the cupcake to beat, and it is deeeelicious.  I ate the chocolate cupcake with white frosting as well, and was amazed how delicious that one was as well.  I believe what makes the Party Favors cupcake such a winner is the incredible moistness and delicious flavor of the cake, things that many cupcake makers tend to ignore.  Additionally, the sweetness of the frosting is just perfect… that sweet, sugary frosting that I just love.  The cupcake with the small flower lends the ease of eating a very high rating, although the more elaborate cupacakes, while potentially earning points for beauty, would be another matter in this category.  Party Favors score a perfect rating in the overall attractiveness category; all their cupcakes are just beautiful.  Finally, the Party Favors cupcake scores top points in the discretionary for the surprising cream filling within.  Again, this is the cupcake to beat in Massachusetts.