BRMC concert pics

So Mr CC and I went to a Black Rebel Motorcycle Club concert last Sunday. I had plans to post this big long post detailing the general fuckawesomeness of the concert, but alas this week kicked me in the nads and I didn't get around to it. So instead here's some of the photos we both took set to "Beat the Devil's Tattoo" from their new album of the same name. The wide angle shots and shots of Leah Shapiro, their drummer, are MrCC's. The close ups of Robert Levon Been and Peter Hayes are mine.

Enjoy!

Oh Etsy....

Tonight's edition of Confessions of a Cullenary Curser is brought to you by "what the fuck were they thinking?"

First up. More shit in a bottle.  This time it's sand. Fucking expensive sand.

This is apparently sand from La Push beach.  Five and a half dollars worth apparently.  Who fucking spends five dollars plus shipping for an ounce of fucking sand that could be from some kid's sand box.  Oh, right, I forgot, it was collected during the new moon of August 2009, so that makes it special.  It comes with a certificate of authenticity. Jeebus, a certificate of authenticity? Why didn't the poster say so?  That makes it all better.  On that note, why don't I get the 2 ounce bottle for seven bucks?  I mean it's authentic so....

I think I could make a killing if I just dump the contents of my suitcase on the beach and fill it with sand.  I'll never work again.  It'll be like winning the lottery.

Next up. Fun with felting.  Brace yourselves -these never end well.

*sighs* Oh hell, where to start with this one.

Right we'll start with the nipples.  Jesus those things are big.  Is it just me or are they a)unevenly spaced and b)angled oddly?  Is it just me? 

The lips.  Was this the person that did the makeup on Twilight and did overkill on the lips?  I think it is.  Thank goodness he/she found employment again.

Next up, his eyes.  I get that New Moon Edward is all thirsty.  I also know that Edward said that Bella was his own personal brand of heroin.  That does not mean you get to make Edward look like a sleep deprived heroin drag queen that's in withdrawal.

The hair. Were they going for this?

Wrong vampire.

Now I'm not one for scented shit. Creams, lotions, smelly candles, aromatherapy crap and the like.  So maybe it's just me, but why the fuck would anyone buy scented shit over the internet.  You can't smell it!  I hate to be Captain Obvious here - but there's a chance that one person's freesia and lilac smells like your crazy and moldy Aunt Mildred.

Until the iPad comes with a scratch and sniff app you have to trust the seller that this cream smells like Alice.  Apparently Alice smells like "sweet fruits, juicy citrus, and delicate florals". "It's a beautiful, bright, happy fragrance!" Goodie - does that mean I'll be beautiful, bright and happy too? Does it?? DOES IT!!?!?!?

I always find one thing I want though.  Tonight I found some cute mittens.  Apparently they're the ones Bella wears in Twilight.  I want to get the pattern for some of these.

They're really pretty and cute!

Apple Almond Muffins

I love baking. Truthfully though, I don't do a lot of it. Mainly cause I'd be massive if I did.

Instead I make muffins, which for the most part, are reasonably healthy. Today twatwaffles we're going to make Apple Almond Muffins.

So, to start things off, preheat oven to 375F

Combine in a med bowl:

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour

1/4c brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

Now just blend that together. Notice the complete lack of brown sugar? I didn't. S'okay though, it made it in eventually.

Peel 1-2 medium apples (granny smith works best) and coarsely grate so that you have 1 to 1 1/2c of apple.

Edward helping out with the peeling.

Once again, the grating eluded him.

Guess where my apples were from. Somewhere near FOORRRRRRRRKKKKKKKS! maybe

Melt 1/4 butter in microwave. Add to butter 1/2c of milk and 1/2c of water and one egg. Beat untill combined.

Now this next part is important. We're going to combine the flour and egg/butter/milk mixture but we're going to do it gently. If you beat it like you're making whip cream you'll end up with chewy tough muffins. You basically want all the flour to be moistened. Don't worry if the batter isn't perfectly smooth - as long as the chunks aren't flour.

There. That only took 12 folds with my spatula, then again I've got mad spatula folding skillz. You can see the odd lump in there too.

Now toss in the apple and fold a few more times till it's combined.

Toss a 1/3c into each muffin cup. I prefer using baking cups, but you could spray it with cooking oil, or if you're really daring and have no cellulite, grease the tins with a bit of butter.

I'm a firm believer in muffins having a fancy pants top and you'll notice I haven't used almonds yet. So combine 1/4c brown sugar and 1/2c silvered almonds and sprinkle on top of muffins.

Bake those suckers 20-25 minutes (you may find longer cooking times with the more apple you use).

Yummmmmm....

Now I'm doing the old toothpick test because I forgot to set the timer. If it comes out with a few dry crumbs it's ready.

Ta Da!

Oh and if you used baking cups wait 30 minutes until they cool, otherwise the paper will stick to the muffin.

So who's going to do the dishes now?

Next up...Thai carrot soup.

I know it's a bit early...

...but I've got my luggage to Forks! ready to go.  I know I'm really excited, but Mr. CC and I need new luggage so I got this.

 See if you can spot the hidden flask compartment.

It comes with five bottles, four glasses and four shot glasses.  Just need to do a little packing with my friend Jose, Jack, the Capt'n, etc.


Okay, I didn't actually buy it, mainly because of its 300 dollar pricetag! Well, that and Mr.CC would be royally pissed if I bought it. But yeah, someone on etsy is awesome. 

Debate this whores.

So here's my issue.  I'm not sure I want to go and see "Remember Me"


*ducks from onslaught of movie theatre popcorn*


Yeah, I know. What's wrong with me? How can I not want to see the Precious?


Truthfully, I've been debating this for awhile.  I've flip flopped about seeing this more than a fish out of water. I will, I won't, I will, I won't.  For sure I'm going. Fuck it I'm not.  


Note: Debate's over. I may or may not rent it.  I've thought a bit more about why I don't feel like seeing it this instant so I've added my comments in italics in the post.


Here's why I don't want to go:

• I kinda feel like rebelling.  Yup, I'm pondering not seeing the movie just 'cause everyone else is.  Yup I can be a contrary whore bag. 
• I know the ending. Normally this doesn't bother me, and it's not the actual ending that will bother me.  I've heard it compared to a sucker punch, and it's been awhile since I've been on the receiving end of one of those. I'm not into cheap shots to the gut, 'nads, or heart strings for that matter.
• I hate this "live for the moment" guilt inducing type stuff.  Look, I get it - life is short and can change in an instant.  I've got personal experience with unfortunate random life-changing crap that the universe can dump on you - I don't need a movie to remind me that I need to treasure every moment and that I'm so lucky to have family and I certainly don't need reminders of 9/11 to do it.  Maybe it's because I had an experience that turned my world upside (at the ripe old age of 8) that I don't appreciate someone pulling that string.  I think I probably object just as much to that as much as the 9/11 stuff.  I realize that my experience with the shitty aspects of life pales in comparison to those experiences of 9/11 and by no means am I comparing my life those that experienced that awful day.  I'm probably going to get flamed for saying this: I think my big objection with using 9/11 is that by using 9/11 seems like the quick and dirty way of making people feel this way.  Are people going to walk out of the theatre and REALLY change.  Not likely.  So then why use it?  So why not just have a bridge collaspe with Rob's character on it.  Still awful, still tragic, same effect.   

• I'm not into movies that are likely to make me cry.  Life is exhausting as is, crying about a fictional character only makes it more so.
• This movie screams "Rent me!" and booze it up whilst doing so.

Here's why I might go:

• I'm hearing rumblings that certain scenes are worth seeing on the big screen.
• Apparently Rob's acting is better in this one. Thank fuck.
• Okay, watching some smexier scenes with Rob in it are rather appealing.
• Pierce.
• I feel like if I don't go - I won't be able to participate in the debate.

Alright whores, there's already been some attempt on twitter to get me to go (even an offer of a refund if I didn't like it).  So let's have it.  Is it worth me going to see it?  Should I bother? Debate in the comments whores.

Forgive me RPattz for I have sinned.

Yeah, so this blog got named "Confessions of a Cullenary Curser" and I have yet to confess a damn thing.
 

So here it is:

I can't watch interviews with Rob.  At all.  Not even for one second.  In fact I avoid them.

It wasn't always like this.  By the time I saw Twilight it had been out for months - let's just say I was able to go and pre-order the DVD a few weeks later.  So I missed all the media pimping out of the movie.  Instead, I devoured every interview I could find of him on youtube. Multiple times.  Rob on Ellen, Rob with Kristen and Stephenie Meyer, Rob with that Paramore chick and the Garden burger discussion. Hell, even Rob on Tyra and that interview where he talked about his favourite cereal.  I couldn't get enough of him (not surprisingly).

I don't know what happened between Twilight and New Moon.

When the pimping out of New Moon happened, I was busy being all virginal.  Just I played 'just the tip' with trailers and stills. For some reason though, I avoided the cast interviews. I don't know why - but it made sense at the time.  I guess I decided that that was part of wearing the New Moon chastity belt.

And now?  I can't watch them at all.  There's all this press going on for Remember Me and I'm totally not avoiding trailers and still for that one.  Yet I can't watch any of it! I tried to watch Jimmy Fallon and stopped after like 30 seconds.

See? He's having a good time.  It looks like it's a fun interview. Why can't I watch it? (via ROBsessed)

So is it because I'm worried about being all second-hand embarrassed for him?  I mean it is a possibility.  This guy just said he was allergic to vagina.  Then there's this story he told on 'The Hour'.  Apparently it's his best story ever.

 Thanks for coming out Rob. Mr CC looked at me after watching that video and said,
"You find that nutter attractive?" True story.

Am I worried that he's going to get embarrassed about something? Say something that will get the collective Fandom panties in a knot? I really don't know.  Am I the only one like this?  Seriously, is it just me?  Does anyone know what to do about this aversion?

 No, this isn't an option.  Don't even think of it.

Remember Me?

Gotcha didn't I? You thought that was going to be about the movie didn't ya! HA! Sucker

"Good one CC."
"Thanks Rob."

It was a more of a "Hey um, I totally haven't posted in awhile. Remember me?"

So why haven't I posted?

• I'm generally lazy sometimes.

• I went to a work conference. Some drunk tweeting resulted.
  

• Two weekends ago I developed a death virus that morphed my sinuses into torture devices. Then I started coughing so much I started to sound like a barking seal. It's been awesome.
  

Yeah, I'm whiny when I'm sick. You got a problem with that?

• I may or may not be writing a one shot. It's the first bit of creative writing for me since probably high school, if not earlier, so it's taking me a loooooooonnnnnggggg ass time to write. So I've been distracted with that.

• I was planning on putting up an awesome recipe for black bean burgers as my next post. Mini-E was totally set to help me make them too. But then I had a total cooking fail. You see, I hadn't made the recipe for ages, and I only quickly glanced at the recipe. I obviously didn't look close enough because I changed 1 cup of cooked rice to 1 cup uncooked rice. Of course, if I'd realized this BEFORE tossing the rice in, it would have been fine. Tragically I did not. Instead I cursed and made Mr. CC go out and get me more beans. The recipe gave me a few more than the usual 5 burgers. I ended up making 20. By the end I was tired, hungry, covered in salsa and I didn't give a flying fuck about posting. I now have a freezer full of black bean burgers. Anywho, here's the recipe! Enjoy and for the love of all things holy don't add too much rice in.
  

Cullenary Curser's Black Bean Burgers

1 Can Black Beans, drained and rinsed.
1 small onion, finely diced
1c of cooked rice
2 cloves garlic, minced*
1 tsp chili powder, ground cumin*
Tabasco sauce to taste.*
1 egg
1/4c plain bread crumbs
1/4 salsa (the hotter the better in my opinion)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Mash beans with potato masher. Add rice and continue to mash until combined.

Add onion, garlic, spices, bread crumbs, egg, and salsa. If you just made the rice and it's still hot, add everything but the egg and stir. Wait 10 minutes until mixture has cooled, then add the egg. Trust me, otherwise you'll end up with scrambled eggs in with your black bean burger mixture.

Form into 5-6 burgers and place on wax paper on plate. Place in freezer for 10 minutes.

While burgers are in freezer, warm up an oven proof frying pan with 1-2 tbsp of cooking oil. Add burgers once the oil is hot, flipping once after 5 minutes. Don't flip them more than once, they hold together well, but will fall apart with excessive flipping. Fry 5 minutes longer (they should be nice and brown on both sides), then place in oven for 10 minutes.

Things I've topped these with: avocado, roasted red peppers, onion sprouts, romaine lettuce, sour creme, salsa, cheddar cheese, roasted jalapenos, etc. You get the idea. Enjoy.

*These are just guidelines. What I've posted makes a mild burger. Want some more oompf - add 2 more cloves of garlic, double the chili powder, add some chili flakes, and lots of Tabasco sauce and use hot salsa.

I promise my next post will be more exciting. I'll be presenting my results from my hangover prevention research.