Photoshop Effect Trial

Just for fun, I've been trying out some different comic book effects in Photoshop.  Here's the link to the tutorials, in case you want to try:  20 Insane Comic Book Style Photoshop Effects

I haven't tried them all yet, and I probably never will.  But I did try the first one and dabbled with some others.  Here's a "finished" attempt!  (I could have messed w/the levels some more but whatever!)

It's not as good as the one in the tutorial, but that's cuz I had to take the photo myself using Photobooth and the shitty lighting in my room.  I think it's good enough for practicing purposes, though!  :)

Cottage Pie Recipe

My friend posted this on Facebook so I am copying it here for safe keeping!

I can has Cottage Pie?

YES U CAN HAS!

Ingredients

• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
• 1 lb extra lean ground beef (angus please!).  If you want a veg version go for some veggie crumbles or just leave out the meat
• olive oil
• 1/2-1 can tomato puree or 2 grated fresh tomatoes 
•  a few tbs Sriracha (Rooster) hot sauce (use to your own taste)
• 2 tsp thyme leaves
• 1 tsp oregano or italian seasoning
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• garlic and onion powders
• 1 regular sized bag of frozen mixed veggies OR fresh chopped carrots, peas, green beans, and corn (NO potatoes!).  Don't use canned, they've got a ton of sodium and are soggy
• 1/2-1 cup chicken or vegetable broth or water
• 7 potatoes (or more or less depending on preference), peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/2-1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 knob butter (yes I wanted to say knob)
• splash or two of milk
• ground pepper
• parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Saute onion in olive oil over medium-high heat until tender.  Add garlic and saute a bit longer.  Add ground beef or crumbles and brown evenly, breaking up any clumps with your spatula.  add salt (optional), pepper, garlic and onion powder and stir to distribute evenly.
2. Add vegetables, tomato puree, broth, thyme, oregano, cayenne and sriracha and bring to a simmer.  Cover and cook 15 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.  Consistency should be of a very thick stew, not too much liquid, yet saucy
3. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water with the cubed potatoes to a boil.  Cook for 15 minutes or more, until the cubes are cooked through and easily mashed with a fork.  Drain.  Using a fork or potato masher, combine and mash potatoes, butter, ground pepper, milk, and cheddar cheese.  Your choice whether to have it super smooth, but I prefer it more of a "country" mash.  
4. Preheat oven to 350 Farenheit.  Pour the beef mixture into a large baking dish (this makes a lot FYI, I use a deep ceramic roasting pan) and spread evenly around.  Sprinkle top with parmesan cheese.  Top with mashed potato mixture, spreading*carefully* so entire top is covered.  
5. Bake, uncovered for 30-45 minutes until mashed potato top turns a bit golden.  Serve!

My Latest Obsession

Last weekend, I went to the city to visit Danny, as usual.  We celebrated Valentine's Day early since I had to be back on LI to work and such on Monday.  On my way back, I didn't have time to call the house before getting on the train back to my town.  And since I don't have a car, I have to call my mom to get a ride home from the train station.

As you would expect, I called the house from the train, using my crappy cell phone.  For those who don't know, I currently have a Tracfone.  It's a pay-as-you-go phone service, I prepay for minutes and then use them up, and the cycle continues.  In the past I've attempted to connect to the internet using this phone, only to discover (to my dismay) that I was being charged for the time it takes me to write out the web URL I want to visit using the number pad.  It's safe to say that this phone totally sucks.  What I didn't realize was the full EXTENT of the suckiness.

So I called my house.  Nobody answered.  I called my mom's cell phone, no answer.  Then I tried my dad's cell, and yup you guessed it, no answer.  At this point I was starting to slightly panic, because I was already on the train and was going to have to find SOME way of getting home, hopefully without having to pay $7 to take a taxi.  I kept trying, finally left a voicemail on my mom's phone.

Once I had done all that, I noticed that my phone had used up 10 minutes of air time.  Just for dialing and listening to the ring of a phone that was going unanswered on the other end.  I mean, REALLY?  They charge me for waiting for someone to pick up??  That was the last straw.

I've decided that a new phone is not only a fun thing to get, but it was now a NECESSITY.  I'd been looking at cell phone plans and things before, but now I'm starting to get serious.  Tracfone might be [somewhat] cheap and convenient, but it doesn't really do everything I want my phone to do.  Not to mention that my Tracfone is archaic and has zero features (except Tetris).  What I'd really like is to join the rest of the world and get a SMARTPHONE.

No, I'm not a spokesperson for any cell phone company.  But I must say that I'm smitten by Virgin Mobile's "Beyond Talk" plan.  For $25 a month (taxes and fees included yay!) I could get 300 minutes, and unlimited text, email, data and web.  My little sister has had a smartphone for like a year and I've been desperately jealous of her ability to google things at a whim.  With Virgin Mobile's cell phone plan, I think I could actually be able to do this as well!!  I've pretty much decided that I want to get this phone:

It's called the LG Optimus V Android.  It's $149, available at my local RadioShack and compatible w/that Beyond Talk plan that I want.  The price isn't unreasonable for a smartphone... and I just NEED THIS DAMN THING!  I'm toying with the idea of getting this phone like, as soon as I get my first paycheck from my new job.  (I'm starting part-time with them, so I know my check won't be huge but I'm pretty sure I could swing $150.)  This phone has EVERYTHING that I want.  It's 3G, WIFI-capable, access to the Android Market, has all the silly apps I'd need, it's touch screen...  need I say more?  So yes, I'm kind of obsessed with this phone right now.  I feel like I've been stuck in the stone age with my current cell phone and I want to upgrade!  NOW!  Please?  So hopefully within the next month I'll be getting this new phone.  Hopefully I won't have to change my cell number (I'm worried that the 646 area code will prove to be problematic when trying to transfer, since I now live on Long Island) but at this point... it would be worth it.  I'll post emphatically if/when I get this phone so um... stay tuned?  

OH and in case you were wondering, my mom got my voicemail and was able to pick me up at the train station, so I got home just fine.  :P

Baby Photo

I meant to post this a week or so ago but here is a photo I took w/my sister's iPod Touch of her latest sonogram!  It's a 3D composite of my niece or nephew.  Right now... it kinda looks like an alien.  But I love how the hands are pretty well formed already, and the baby is making this diva-like pose that says, "No photos, please!"

Gonna Be an Auntie

Well I wasn't really supposed to share this information before... but nobody really reads this blog anyway.  Hehehe.  My sister posted it on her Facebook wall, so I guess it's public now.  She's having a baby!

And that means I'm gonna be an aunt!

Melissa got a sonogram today and brought home pictures of her little baby squiggle.  I kinda want to scan it or something cuz it was pretty small and cute.  She said the urologist was having trouble taking a picture cuz the baby kept moving around!  How cool is that?

I really hope the baby is a boy.  Just cause we have SO many females in this family, we need to like, even it out.  Plus my sister and her fiance already decided that if it is a boy, they are going to name him after my late Grandfather and call him Frankie.  That would be really sweet.

I just can't believe it's really happening!  It's so hard to fathom right now!  And most likely Melissa and Ro won't be getting their own place right away, so it means the baby will be RIGHT HERE in the house with the rest of us!  And my Mom has already assigned me to the 11pm-2am babysitting shift, apparently.

If I can manage to get a scan or photo of the sonogram picture, I'll post it.  It's really cute!  I'm so proud of the little squiggle baby!  :D