ithildin: (Vintage - Green Sleeve)
ithildin ([personal profile] ithildin) wrote2007-12-26 09:34 pm
Entry tags:

Of DVD Atrophy and Pumpkin Soup

I've read that DVDs have a limited shelf life, and I guess it's true. I decided, out of nowhere, to watch 'Little Women' tonight (the 1994 version) (and I cried and cried when Beth died. Just like I always have.) and the end of the movie is unwatchable. It was one of the first DVDs I ever owned. It's so old, there's this whole beginning advert on this wondrous new technology called 'DVD'! There's no menu, no chapter selection, nothing. I wonder how many of my oldest DVDs are disintegrating? [sighs]

Pumpkin soup. That's what we has for Xmas dinner. In the end, I wasn't up to cooking, or eating, a big dinner, so I chucked it all into the freeze. Made a pot of Pumpkin Soup, and with [livejournal.com profile] ninjababe's help, managed to finish the truffle tart I'd started on Sunday. Lord! You know what the inside of real chocolate truffle is like? That's what the filling of this tart is like. One piece has done me for chocolate for the rest of the year. I guess most of it will end up going to Nin's work, because I really don't want it to go to waste. But there's no way we'll ever eat it all. That's the problem with making desserts with just the two of us. But, dang, it's good! You even line the crust with melted chocolate before you put in the filling.

Keep your fingers crossed, I think I'm feeling a bit better tonight. The cough seems to have leveled off. Hopefully, I can make it to work tomorrow. I want a do over of the holiday! Thankfully, I have vacation starting on the 5th!

Now, here's to hoping I can sleep tonight. [makes sign to ward off evil eye and cough]

[identity profile] strangevisitor7.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
Glad to hear your feeling better. Hope you can get some rest :)

I haven't had any permanent problems with my older DVDs. But every once and awhile the cheap player I bought for the kids doesn't read some of them but my new player does just fine. I attributed it to the player not the DVD but now i wonder...I must check that out.
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
I hope so! I can actually take a full deep breath tonight without sounding like Darth Vader, so that's a good sign.

My DVD player is brand new, so I'm assuming it's the DVD.

[identity profile] attinoo.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 12:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I had flu last Christmas, so probably this year I'll be sick for easter or some other important vacation.anyhow i'm glad you're feeling better!
there's still new year's eve to party:-)
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Now Nin's coming down with it. Figures :)

[identity profile] blade-and-roses.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmm, haven't had any problems myself with older DVDs, but then, I have one of those players that can read just about anything (including a DVD that was used as a teething toy by a pet). Still, I'll have to run a check of them. Good excuse to spend a weekend viewing my faves.

I hope you're feeling better today. Being sick at the holidays just sucks, doesn't it? You deserve a do-over.

And, uh, by any chance, can you pass along the recipe for that tart? I'm drooling at the thought of all that chocolate . . .
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
DVD media can atrophy, especially some of the first ones produced, which this one is.

I actually found the recipe online years aho, and it's still there: http://starchefs.com/chocolate_lovers/2001/html/march/recipe_03.shtml

Note, I totally ignored the pastry baking instructions since I didn't have a tart pan, and Nin got 3/4s dark chocolate, and 1/4 dark milk chocolate, and, in the end, I think I would have preferred to not have the topping and just have dusted it with cocoa and icing sugar, but that's just me :) and yes, I did brush the pastry with melted chocolate first.

[identity profile] dejla.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Ooh. Did not know that about DVDs.

Hoping you feel better soon, I remain, yours...

Deborah
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you :)

[identity profile] pat-t.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
That's upsetting about the dvds. I knew VHS tapes could disintegrate, but I thought dvds were more stable.

Glad you're feeling better. And vacation is good.
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
They are more stable than VHS, but some of the oldest DVDs can have problems.

Thanks :)

[identity profile] trystan830.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
i've also heard that about video tapes. *eep*

but my oldest DVDs are.... hm. Smallville S4? that i got last fall? i think....
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[identity profile] ithildyn.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
:) My oldest are about ten years old I'd say.

[identity profile] trystan830.livejournal.com 2007-12-27 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
well that's cool. :D

[identity profile] layla-aaron.livejournal.com 2007-12-28 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
I hope you get to feeling better. *hugs*

That is interesting on the DVDs. I'd never heard that but can see how the earliest ones would be more vulnerable. Thanks for the heads-up on that.