This will be (I'm guessing) the first of many posts dealing with what's been spending time in my disc changer as of late. Yeah, tho' I am the very person that the ipod was designed for, I do not have one as of yet, and I don't see that changing anytime soon as my ass is poor. Especially since I am such a damn luddite that I only just got my ass on-line a year or so ago...meaning, it won't be until 2010 before I catch myself up to the ipod type technology...by then, they will be obsolete, and I'll be able to score myself one for like a 10 spot at my favorite pawnshop...
But, I digress...so I'll get right down to it...
The Best of Syd Barrett >>> I creep ever closer to buying some Floyd on disc. Inspired by PA and our little excursion to the "cabin in the holler"near Bend (see Jan. 30th, Big Birthday Adventure - below) I pulled this little gem out of the vault. "Shine on you crazy diamond". Syd is one of those rough around the edges, genuinely artistic, gentle souls that really inspires. (except for the supposed "acid casualty" part of his story) "Gigalo Aunt" (famously covered by R. Hitchcock and his Soft Boys) and "Bob Dylan Blues (reputed to be one of Syd's earliest compositions...written when he was a lad of 17 or so, after having seen Mr. Dylan perform) are my current faves. I also dig "Octopus", Long Gone" and "Two of a Kind". Oh, and let us not forget "Effervescing Elephant"...that title alone - man! - makes it a classic. All in all, this collection is full of fine, hardly polished gems of psychedellic chewyness. Thanks Syd!
Soft Boys -1976-1981 >>>Saw this one coming, didn't you? That's right, I just had to break this out to hear "Gigalo Aunt" in comparrison/contrast. Robyn is Syd with a tighter grip, more refined vision and an even greater sense of the absurd/surreal. LOVE this compillation, it's endlessly odd and listenable. That guy from Katrina and the Waves (!) -Kimberly Rew - looks like Garth (from Wayne's World) and just shreds on freaky new wave acid guitar. Truly. The Soft Boys reunion tour of a couple years back still ranks as one of my favorite live shows in quite some time. A great band.
Talking Heads - Naked >>>The last true "Heads" album...and a superb one really. After slightly lackluster True Stories (tho' there is the blistering "Television Man"*** on that disc)Naked is a refreshingly danceable, topical (even now) often tropical long player from begining to end. "The Democratic Circus" earns its place on my State of our World 2005 mix as, perhaps, does "Nothing But Flowers". Overall this is an album I had almost forgotten the merits of until I just pulled it off the dusty shelf and popped it in the changer. Man, you can't beat an opener like "Blind" to grab your attention by grabbing your ass...;-)
***SHIT! Damn faulty wiring...i'm refering to "Love for Sale" here. "Television Man" is, of course on "Little Creatures"...please forgive me won't you? (3/3)
Tab Two - (No) Flagman Ahead>>>Mid-nineties Euro-centric acid jazz offering. What I'm calling an "Autobahn for a new generation" from duo Helmutt Hattler ("Helmet the Hatter? Huh?) and Joo Kraus - a couple of techno jazz dudes from Germany. One of 'em (Joo, I believe)plays a pretty mean (tho' decidedly laid back and chill) trumpet. (an instrument I gravitate to due to my brief attempt at trying to become a musician in the 5th - 7th grade...my instument of choice...since "everyone can't play the drums"*) This is pretty tasty chill out tunage. Good for evening background music, or impressing the fraulines at those occassional hip and swanky Euro-trash coctail parties.
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Hot>>>Anybody remember the late 90's swing dance craze? (I wonder what happened to all those Dolls and Cats anyway?) It hit pretty hard in Portland, mainly due to the large under 25 hipster population, and the remodeling ( by the McMenamin Bros.) of the old Crystal Ballroom (a fabulous place to see a show) with its "dancing on air, ball bearing filled, floating dance floor"...really a place worth checking out if you find yourselves in PDX for any amount of time...there are always good bands playing there. These guys were among the better of those retro leaning acts of the time. It's fun to put this stuff on and dance around the room like an idiot with the six year old. "Put a Lid On It" is one cool number, as are many others on this disc. Ms. Whalen has a fine voice (many have said she channels Anita Baker) and she along with Jim Mathus (the other vocalist and guitarist) make some pretty rad puppets which you can see in the CD booklet. Oh, and as I recall these guys smoked live. Lots of fun and dancing and laughter watching all the lesbians swoon at Katherine's feet.
This is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies and the Kinks - V.A. >>>One of my true songwriting heroes given the tribute treatment whilst he still goes on living and contributing to the musical art world he helped define way back in the sixties. This is the Anglophile in me coming out, but I dig the Kinks more than the Who, the Stones and almost all their other English kinsmen of their day. This is a good example of the timelessness and translatability of Mr. Davies tune craftmanship. A nice companion to his own Storyteller album for comparrison and contrast. Quite a good listen on its own really. Stand out cuts: Jonathan Richman "Stop Your Sobbing (nowhere near as good as the Pretenders version from their first album, however), Lambchop "Art Lover" (one of the later day Kinks best songs), and Fastball's mirror image take on "Til' the End of the Day". A nice tributute to a great pop songwriter.
Steve Earle - I Feel Alright>>> The troubadour of our times. (Yeah Steve, I feel alright too...not great, but...) This is a musician I admire deeply for his honesty and his convictions. His politics are as close to my own as any rock-n-roller out there. This isn't his best work, but is still a real fine effort. Pulled it out to listen to "Valentine's Day". (Awww...)
Squeeze - Classics Vol. 25>>> Some well crafted (at times almost too well crafted - if you know what I mean**) 80's English pop songs a'la Paul McCartney or Ray Davies...Hell, Nick Lowe even comes to mind. Difford and Tillbrookcould sure turn a phrase and polish a hook. Some of my favorites are found here..."Take Me I'm Yours", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Cool For Cats". That album and Argy Bargy speak to me of sophmore year high school, hanging out in the late afternoon at RS's house. Listening to tunes, shootin' the shit, plotting our escape from adolescent boredom and the stupidity of our public school reality. Oh, and boy howdy did Paul Carrack ever push all the limits of my patience and squeeze the life out of "Tempted" by singing it at every god-damned opportunity he could find. I've seen him play keyboards in several other peoples touring bands, and he would always pull that one out if given the nod and the spotlight. (probably still doin' that to this day even!) Sheesh, ruined that song for me, I tell you what.
*the words of my old band teacher
**see The bit about Paul Carrack and "Tempted"
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro...
and then shoot themselves? What the fuck, over?!? Okay, I know he lead a dark and - at times - twisted existance, and who knows what inner demons, and physical health issues he was wrestling with, but I must say I was/am shocked at the untimely demise (at age 67) of my favorite old radical curmudgeon, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson. Good ol' Raoul Duke himself, just couldn't hack life on the physical plane anymore I guess. Holy Shit! Unbelievable. I never saw this one coming. I am taking this a bit harder than I would have thought...I guess I looked up to him a more than I realized.
Yeah, yeah, I know...he probably had that sort of rock star mentality," better to burn out..." and all that, but how could he give up at the time when we need his invective filled rants against the powers that be more than ever? I for one am somewhat disappointed.
What the fuck is going on in this crazy ass world of ours? I blame this ( in an indirect way) on Shrub and his evil henchmen...I mean seriously bad ju-ju is at work in this damn country of ours when we've got an " idiot son of an asshole" - ol' Cleatus R. Dumbass (the most priveliged god damned blue-blood/redneck mother in history) re-elected President, and one of the most talented, sarchastic, funny as hell social critics we have - the good Doctor of Gonzo Journalism himself- suddenly decides it is time to snuff the mortal coil. As insane as he tended to be, he was always - to me, at least - a loud voice of paranoid truth and oddly twisted reason. What the fuck is going on around here anyway? Mark my words, this doesn't bode well for the rest of us progressive thinking folks around these parts...this could prove to be a seriosly bad omen my friends... we have turned the corner, and stuff is about to get weirder and darker than we have yet seen...
I am truly, truly mourning the loss of one of America's great straight shooters, both on the target range and with the truths that flowed from his mind to the page. If nothing else, Senor Thompson was a poster boy for living life the way you want, and fuck all those who see it differently.
You will be missed my commrade, enjoy your time with the great white buffalo, roaming the astral plane. We will struggle on without you, missing all those whacked out musings of yours that used to help get us through. Freak Power must survive, or we are even more seriously fucked than we previously were. And that, my friends, is pretty fucked.
21 February 2005: Larry Lefner, a local sculptor to the Aspen community, will be carving an effigy of the late Hunter S. Thompson's face into a tree in Woody Creek, Colorado, as a shrine to fans and friends alike. No date set for commencement. (this from wikipedia.org)
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (1937 - Feb. 20, 2005...RIP)
Here's a link to the official Rolling Stone tribute...
Yeah, yeah, I know...he probably had that sort of rock star mentality," better to burn out..." and all that, but how could he give up at the time when we need his invective filled rants against the powers that be more than ever? I for one am somewhat disappointed.
What the fuck is going on in this crazy ass world of ours? I blame this ( in an indirect way) on Shrub and his evil henchmen...I mean seriously bad ju-ju is at work in this damn country of ours when we've got an " idiot son of an asshole" - ol' Cleatus R. Dumbass (the most priveliged god damned blue-blood/redneck mother in history) re-elected President, and one of the most talented, sarchastic, funny as hell social critics we have - the good Doctor of Gonzo Journalism himself- suddenly decides it is time to snuff the mortal coil. As insane as he tended to be, he was always - to me, at least - a loud voice of paranoid truth and oddly twisted reason. What the fuck is going on around here anyway? Mark my words, this doesn't bode well for the rest of us progressive thinking folks around these parts...this could prove to be a seriosly bad omen my friends... we have turned the corner, and stuff is about to get weirder and darker than we have yet seen...
I am truly, truly mourning the loss of one of America's great straight shooters, both on the target range and with the truths that flowed from his mind to the page. If nothing else, Senor Thompson was a poster boy for living life the way you want, and fuck all those who see it differently.
You will be missed my commrade, enjoy your time with the great white buffalo, roaming the astral plane. We will struggle on without you, missing all those whacked out musings of yours that used to help get us through. Freak Power must survive, or we are even more seriously fucked than we previously were. And that, my friends, is pretty fucked.
21 February 2005: Larry Lefner, a local sculptor to the Aspen community, will be carving an effigy of the late Hunter S. Thompson's face into a tree in Woody Creek, Colorado, as a shrine to fans and friends alike. No date set for commencement. (this from wikipedia.org)
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." - Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (1937 - Feb. 20, 2005...RIP)
Here's a link to the official Rolling Stone tribute...
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Hey! Where the hell did THAT come from???
Okay so I don't really understand what happened, but the internet gods (notice the small "g") were smiling on me because I just went to edit the earlier post, and found two old posts which I thought were lost in the ether. Wow! Cool for me (and for you). Scroll down a bit and you'll find them...one is a wierdly written recipe, and the other a discription of our trip to the mountains a few weeks back. Ciao for now!
Dean Vs. Perle...
Saw Howard Dean debate Richard Perle at the Tom Mcall Forrum in downtown Portland the night before last. A fairly interesting discussion about "National defense post 9/11". Though I don't generally agree with Mr. Pearl, he came across as the more thoughtful "intellectual" of the two. Mr. Dean seems to think he is still stumping for the presidential campaign, and what's more, he doesn't seem to have a sense of volume control (always loud..."Mr. Dean, no need to yell, those are microphones on your pulpit!"). The major moment of excitement came when some "activist" protested Mr. Perle (in the first five minutes of his opening statement) by rushing the stage, yelling "F'ing liar, liar, liar don't believe a word he says the F'ing liar..." and so on whilst simultaneously hurling his shoes at the lectern (and missing his target with both shots). He was subsequently brought to the ground by several audience members and escorted to the street sans shoes and dignity. At this point he uttered what -to me - was the funniest line of the evening "Get your hands off me you big brute!" (to which -in my mind - I added "you smell like fish").
* A pat on the back to anyone who can come up with the reference just alluded to.
Nasty mental shit going on 'round these parts as of late. My stomach feels as if somebody hauled off and socked it to me (and in a sense, someone did). I must be more determined than ever to continue on down the path of evolution and self actualization. My only hope is that I can truly make some positive steps in the right direction, and keep on keepin' on without getting caught in the bog of self conciousness and pity. Not my favorite of field positions, but I am not yet ready to punt.
* A pat on the back to anyone who can come up with the reference just alluded to.
Nasty mental shit going on 'round these parts as of late. My stomach feels as if somebody hauled off and socked it to me (and in a sense, someone did). I must be more determined than ever to continue on down the path of evolution and self actualization. My only hope is that I can truly make some positive steps in the right direction, and keep on keepin' on without getting caught in the bog of self conciousness and pity. Not my favorite of field positions, but I am not yet ready to punt.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
A Quickie Recipe, as requested...
Okay, here goes with a recipe or two…as was the original intent of this here little weblog…but all things evolve into something else, despite what the fundamentalist try and tell you.
Carrot Ginger Soup with Coconut
Olive Oil (for sweating veggies)
Onions (1lg. or 3sm.)
Garlic (a whole head or more!)
Celery ( a couple two or three ribs,even if the wife hates the stuff, she’ll never know, and it adds an indispensable flavor)
Ginger (a fist sized “hand” grated, or chopped exceedingly fine…don’t want to be picking ginger hairs from between your teeth in front of everyone)
Carrots (lots - ~ 3#!)
1/3 Chicken Stock (canned is okay, but not the best)
2/3 H2O (otherwise known as “pipe stock”) –>>>>(enough total liquid to cover veggies plus ¼)
1 can Coconut Milk (we use the reduced fat variety)
Orange/Tangerine Juice
Lemon Juice
Salt n’ Pepper (SP) --- these last five To Taste (TT)
Cumin
Coriander
- Add oil to cover bottom of heavy stock pot (10 Qt.) and heat.
- Rough chop the carrots, celery, and onions (this is your Mire Poix ), add to olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and sweat (med. heat) until onions are translucent and other veg. are starting to be tender. Don’t forget to stir on occasion.
- Add garlic and ginger, stir to cook about 2 min.
- Add stock and H2O, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until carrots are fall apart tender.
- Puree with hand blender (I prefer this to the regular blender both for ease, and because it leaves some texture to the final soup), and add in the final ingredients to taste. Return to the burner and simmer some more to meld the flavors together. Keep tasting and adjusting the flavors as you wish.
I served this with Olive Oil toasted French Bread rounds for dunking.
Crème’ Fraiche and cilantro leaves would have been nice additions as well.
A great winter warm up after sledding, a walk in the woods, or covertly hauling rocks from the riverside in the nearby national forrest for a garden path (don't ask, it's a long story).
Enjoy. More soon!
Carrot Ginger Soup with Coconut
Olive Oil (for sweating veggies)
Onions (1lg. or 3sm.)
Garlic (a whole head or more!)
Celery ( a couple two or three ribs,even if the wife hates the stuff, she’ll never know, and it adds an indispensable flavor)
Ginger (a fist sized “hand” grated, or chopped exceedingly fine…don’t want to be picking ginger hairs from between your teeth in front of everyone)
Carrots (lots - ~ 3#!)
1/3 Chicken Stock (canned is okay, but not the best)
2/3 H2O (otherwise known as “pipe stock”) –>>>>(enough total liquid to cover veggies plus ¼)
1 can Coconut Milk (we use the reduced fat variety)
Orange/Tangerine Juice
Lemon Juice
Salt n’ Pepper (SP) --- these last five To Taste (TT)
Cumin
Coriander
- Add oil to cover bottom of heavy stock pot (10 Qt.) and heat.
- Rough chop the carrots, celery, and onions (this is your Mire Poix ), add to olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and sweat (med. heat) until onions are translucent and other veg. are starting to be tender. Don’t forget to stir on occasion.
- Add garlic and ginger, stir to cook about 2 min.
- Add stock and H2O, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until carrots are fall apart tender.
- Puree with hand blender (I prefer this to the regular blender both for ease, and because it leaves some texture to the final soup), and add in the final ingredients to taste. Return to the burner and simmer some more to meld the flavors together. Keep tasting and adjusting the flavors as you wish.
I served this with Olive Oil toasted French Bread rounds for dunking.
Crème’ Fraiche and cilantro leaves would have been nice additions as well.
A great winter warm up after sledding, a walk in the woods, or covertly hauling rocks from the riverside in the nearby national forrest for a garden path (don't ask, it's a long story).
Enjoy. More soon!
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Am I the only one who remembers...
that Napoleon Dynamite is Declan Patrick McMannus, er, Elvis Costello circa 1986 as so billed in the liner notes of "Blood and Chocolate". Not one of his best albums, or really one of my favorites, but a respectable E.C. later 80's showing. Maybe his best before the muddled 90's began. I saw Elvis at SPAC in Saratoga, NY during this period, and recall a fun summer night of music under the stars.
Sunday, January 30, 2005
The six year old's Big Birthday Adventure...
Yes, our trip to the foothills around Bend (Tumalo Falls to be exact) was quite fun. Not a lot of snow which was disappointing at first, but we had nice clear sunny days and cloudless star filled nights. The cabin was situated down in a little "holler" by a bend in Tumalo Creek. From this base camp we made short excursions to the ice skating rink (outdoor, uncovered), to lunch at the Alpenglow Café' (very good, down home chow, everything, including ice cream and various breads house made - we will go back again.), and to the snow park up the road which had just enough hard packed icy snow to make sledding both fun and quite challenging. I think the adults ended up having more fun than the kids.
Sledding is the one main thing I miss about being somewhere with lots of snow in the winter. Plus, it was nice to be sledding on a very sunny , no wind day, as we ended up shedding many layers of outerwear after a few times climbing up the rather large hill. All the huffing and puffing was worth it when you went shooting down the mountain with the wind in your hair and laughter in your ear. The look on HB's face on the way down was pure joy mixed with fear, but the giggles just would not stop. I think my friend Ms. B. was able to take some good footage of us with the video camera, but I have not had a chance to watch it yet to find out.
Had much fun cooking and eating, of course. First night we had a fine three bean veggie chili that kicked ass even though I forgot to add the fresh cilantro to it just prior to serving. Chili is a memory filled tradition in my family. It was the usual choice to warm us and our friends up after a long day of winter fun - usually XC skiing - when I was growing up. As is tradition, I served it up with some "Jiffy" corn bread. (sorry, but you can't beat the Jiffy...its the LARD...no, really!)
For breakfast, our guests served up some righteous whole grain french toast and real maple syrup and thick cut organic bacon. (there's nothing better than that salty, smokey taste of bacon mingled with the sweetness of maple syrup...mmm-mmm). Perfect fuel for a day of ice sledding! Truly a thrill a minute. That night we all relaxed around the wood fire, bellies full of campanelli with spinach-feta chicken sausage and vegetable melange and fine red wine, but not before leading the kids in a dance around the communal table to songs from Pink Floyd's early masterpiece "Piper at the Gates of Dawn". "Bike", one of Syd Barrett's best and most fun songs, and "Gnome" are perfect tunes to get kids enthused and dancing...quite wimsical, as Syd tended to be. Good Times.
Sledding is the one main thing I miss about being somewhere with lots of snow in the winter. Plus, it was nice to be sledding on a very sunny , no wind day, as we ended up shedding many layers of outerwear after a few times climbing up the rather large hill. All the huffing and puffing was worth it when you went shooting down the mountain with the wind in your hair and laughter in your ear. The look on HB's face on the way down was pure joy mixed with fear, but the giggles just would not stop. I think my friend Ms. B. was able to take some good footage of us with the video camera, but I have not had a chance to watch it yet to find out.
Had much fun cooking and eating, of course. First night we had a fine three bean veggie chili that kicked ass even though I forgot to add the fresh cilantro to it just prior to serving. Chili is a memory filled tradition in my family. It was the usual choice to warm us and our friends up after a long day of winter fun - usually XC skiing - when I was growing up. As is tradition, I served it up with some "Jiffy" corn bread. (sorry, but you can't beat the Jiffy...its the LARD...no, really!)
For breakfast, our guests served up some righteous whole grain french toast and real maple syrup and thick cut organic bacon. (there's nothing better than that salty, smokey taste of bacon mingled with the sweetness of maple syrup...mmm-mmm). Perfect fuel for a day of ice sledding! Truly a thrill a minute. That night we all relaxed around the wood fire, bellies full of campanelli with spinach-feta chicken sausage and vegetable melange and fine red wine, but not before leading the kids in a dance around the communal table to songs from Pink Floyd's early masterpiece "Piper at the Gates of Dawn". "Bike", one of Syd Barrett's best and most fun songs, and "Gnome" are perfect tunes to get kids enthused and dancing...quite wimsical, as Syd tended to be. Good Times.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Speaking of Music (and Movies)...
Speaking of Music (and Movies)…
Well, I “might as well” get it all out in the open now, before I deceive any of y’all…in case you haven’t already guessed, I used to be a Deadhead. Now – mind you – I wasn’t ever your garden variety died in the wool Dead Head stereotype that pops into your minds eye (even mine) whenever the phrase is uttered. (None of them really are that single faceted really, once you get to talkin’ with ‘em.) Yeah, I saw a whole bunch of shows back in the eighties and early nineties, but at the same time I had my left foot in other various scenes as well…I was busy checking out all kinds of live music as a matter of fact, everything from the Clash to Camper Van Beethoven to Husker Du. Talking Heads to Santana to Nuns and Posers (um, I mean Guns and Roses). Cowboy Junkies to James Taylor to Joan Armatrading.
Okay, you get the idea. As my old friend Johnny G. used to say to me when he would get exasperated by my eclectic and ever expanding musical world…”you’ve GOT no musical taste man, ‘cuz you like everything!” (which isn’t quite true really) He meant it as an insult, but to me, that open mindedness has become a point of pride. Sit me down with anybody and the two subjects that we would find to talk for hours about would be music and – of course- food.
So, before I get too far OFFTRACK, I want to tell everyone that if you are at all interested in the music of the late sixties (most specifically the San Francisco scene, and such like) you should rush out and rent yourself the DVD of “Festival Express.” In a word, this was a fantastic rock and roll doc. So cool to see all that old footage of The Dead, The Band, Flying Burrito Bros. (sadly without Graham Parsons at this point), Janis Joplin (she may not always be my cup o’tea, but to see her belt out the tunes live is to understand why so many do hold her in such high esteem…she truly felt the music and in turn made her audience feel it just as intensely…even years later on my TV screen…still gives me the shivers), and a truly ragged out and disheveled looking Sha Na Na(!!!), unearthed after thirty years (many tragic deaths, and frivolous lawsuits later).
I cannot tell you how good I thought this film was. It was neat for me to finally get a chance to glimpse what it was like on that legendary train ride across Canada with all those crazy musicians as history was being made, and good times were being had by all. This is the train trip written about in the Dead’s song “Might As Well”, and I think it may also be the subject of The Band’s “The Shape I’m In” if I am interpreting the lyrics correctly. By the looks of it in the film, everyone on that train was in SOME KIND of shape at all times.
Man! I only wish it was longer, with more interviews from the participants and audience members. There is a nice amount of bonus material (a whole extra disc in fact) – both performances and interview segments – but when the filmmakers themselves tell you in the “making of” interviews that there are still thirty odd hours of footage lurking about, if you’re at all like me, you want to see it. Where is it Goddamn it!?!
This is one movie that I will definitely purchase for the vault some day…it really is that good.
Well, I “might as well” get it all out in the open now, before I deceive any of y’all…in case you haven’t already guessed, I used to be a Deadhead. Now – mind you – I wasn’t ever your garden variety died in the wool Dead Head stereotype that pops into your minds eye (even mine) whenever the phrase is uttered. (None of them really are that single faceted really, once you get to talkin’ with ‘em.) Yeah, I saw a whole bunch of shows back in the eighties and early nineties, but at the same time I had my left foot in other various scenes as well…I was busy checking out all kinds of live music as a matter of fact, everything from the Clash to Camper Van Beethoven to Husker Du. Talking Heads to Santana to Nuns and Posers (um, I mean Guns and Roses). Cowboy Junkies to James Taylor to Joan Armatrading.
Okay, you get the idea. As my old friend Johnny G. used to say to me when he would get exasperated by my eclectic and ever expanding musical world…”you’ve GOT no musical taste man, ‘cuz you like everything!” (which isn’t quite true really) He meant it as an insult, but to me, that open mindedness has become a point of pride. Sit me down with anybody and the two subjects that we would find to talk for hours about would be music and – of course- food.
So, before I get too far OFFTRACK, I want to tell everyone that if you are at all interested in the music of the late sixties (most specifically the San Francisco scene, and such like) you should rush out and rent yourself the DVD of “Festival Express.” In a word, this was a fantastic rock and roll doc. So cool to see all that old footage of The Dead, The Band, Flying Burrito Bros. (sadly without Graham Parsons at this point), Janis Joplin (she may not always be my cup o’tea, but to see her belt out the tunes live is to understand why so many do hold her in such high esteem…she truly felt the music and in turn made her audience feel it just as intensely…even years later on my TV screen…still gives me the shivers), and a truly ragged out and disheveled looking Sha Na Na(!!!), unearthed after thirty years (many tragic deaths, and frivolous lawsuits later).
I cannot tell you how good I thought this film was. It was neat for me to finally get a chance to glimpse what it was like on that legendary train ride across Canada with all those crazy musicians as history was being made, and good times were being had by all. This is the train trip written about in the Dead’s song “Might As Well”, and I think it may also be the subject of The Band’s “The Shape I’m In” if I am interpreting the lyrics correctly. By the looks of it in the film, everyone on that train was in SOME KIND of shape at all times.
Man! I only wish it was longer, with more interviews from the participants and audience members. There is a nice amount of bonus material (a whole extra disc in fact) – both performances and interview segments – but when the filmmakers themselves tell you in the “making of” interviews that there are still thirty odd hours of footage lurking about, if you’re at all like me, you want to see it. Where is it Goddamn it!?!
This is one movie that I will definitely purchase for the vault some day…it really is that good.
Thinking about the next generation...
Okay, anybody out there? Not yet, eh? Well all right, that’s okay ‘cuz that’ll give me that much more of a chance to get things ‘round here spit shined and polished up real good before the peeps start flocking over here in droves to see what the “F” is goin’ on round these parts.
What’s been goin’ on round these parts you ask? Well lemme tell ya’…
First off, it is unbelievable to me that it has been six whole years since my little girl – Miss H. – came to join us all on this big ol’ crazy spinning orb in the universe we so lovingly refer to as Earth (still our only home…). But ‘tis true enough, and she couldn’t be any more important to my life. I’m sure most parents say this at one point or another, but becoming the caregiver to a little child changes the focus and scope of ones life and views like nothing else. I’ll never forget that day back in ’99, exhausted from having been up all night trying – in vain, I’m sure*– to assist the lovely Ms. K with the grueling delivery, cradling Miss H’s preciousness close to my heart, tears of joy glistening on my face.
Since that moment was etched in my mind, my time here on this planet has been quantitatively different in an infinite amount of ways both grand and subtle. Mostly for the better though there has been much negativity mixed in as well, let me assure you. And although it seems like yesterday that I first held that amazing little being in my arms, wondering to myself what exactly I had gotten myself into this time, I am blown away daily with all that has changed. For instance, how can I even begin to describe the emotion that washed over me last night when Miss H. announced at bed time that tonight she would be reading us a story, and then listening to her do it - struggling to sound out the words along the way, but doing it none the less. Truly amazing.
I cannot wait to see what lies around the next bend in the trail. I find nothing more fascinating than watching as my little girl develops – absorbs the wonders of the world around her – and becomes the person she was meant to be. I am so thankful that I am able to experience this gift of having even a small hand in shaping a child into a being of the future. My only worry is what will that future be like (given the direction our current society seems to be headed) and how can I help to make some changes for the common good during my time here, so that she will not have to struggle so much (as I have), when I am gone…
Possibly this is an unanswerable question, but you know me, I just have to ask.
*(Is there anytime that a man feels more useless or redundant, than in the delivery room, trying to figure out what to do while his lover writhes and suffers and sweats and makes the most astounding noises whilst laboring to get that damn baby out once and for all?)
What’s been goin’ on round these parts you ask? Well lemme tell ya’…
First off, it is unbelievable to me that it has been six whole years since my little girl – Miss H. – came to join us all on this big ol’ crazy spinning orb in the universe we so lovingly refer to as Earth (still our only home…). But ‘tis true enough, and she couldn’t be any more important to my life. I’m sure most parents say this at one point or another, but becoming the caregiver to a little child changes the focus and scope of ones life and views like nothing else. I’ll never forget that day back in ’99, exhausted from having been up all night trying – in vain, I’m sure*– to assist the lovely Ms. K with the grueling delivery, cradling Miss H’s preciousness close to my heart, tears of joy glistening on my face.
Since that moment was etched in my mind, my time here on this planet has been quantitatively different in an infinite amount of ways both grand and subtle. Mostly for the better though there has been much negativity mixed in as well, let me assure you. And although it seems like yesterday that I first held that amazing little being in my arms, wondering to myself what exactly I had gotten myself into this time, I am blown away daily with all that has changed. For instance, how can I even begin to describe the emotion that washed over me last night when Miss H. announced at bed time that tonight she would be reading us a story, and then listening to her do it - struggling to sound out the words along the way, but doing it none the less. Truly amazing.
I cannot wait to see what lies around the next bend in the trail. I find nothing more fascinating than watching as my little girl develops – absorbs the wonders of the world around her – and becomes the person she was meant to be. I am so thankful that I am able to experience this gift of having even a small hand in shaping a child into a being of the future. My only worry is what will that future be like (given the direction our current society seems to be headed) and how can I help to make some changes for the common good during my time here, so that she will not have to struggle so much (as I have), when I am gone…
Possibly this is an unanswerable question, but you know me, I just have to ask.
*(Is there anytime that a man feels more useless or redundant, than in the delivery room, trying to figure out what to do while his lover writhes and suffers and sweats and makes the most astounding noises whilst laboring to get that damn baby out once and for all?)
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Holy Shit! It's been a month and a half.
Okay, I realize it has been a long time with no action. Partially that is because I am often lazy, partly due to alot going on around here what with the holidays and all, and mostly it is because I had two long and involved postings get eaten by the damn ether monsters after I completed them and saved them as drafts. Damn it, I was mad at the system. Curse you Blogger!
But now, I am getting over it, and am ready to start anew. Turn over a new leaf for the new year as it were. Wipe the slate clean...back to the ol' drawing board...yadda, yadda.
I'm not really sure yet what I am really setting out to do with this thing anymore. At first it was going to be a food thing, but then I was all caught up in the poitics of the moment. Now all that has come to pass (not that all of it is not still very much on my mind) and we have been living with the fact of large scale natural disaster on the other side of the world.
My mind wanders constantly from subject to subject. (Perhaps this is the problem with me and life?) I become interested in many different things all at once. I guess you could say my tastes are eclectic and ever changing (yeah, no kidding asshole, whose aren't!?). So I guess what I am getting at is this: I'm not sure I want to limit the scope of this forum to just one or two narrow subjects. While I admire many of the fine blogs that I peruse so often for their focus and attention to detail, that is not what is going to be happening here. So be forewarned. Don't say I didn't tell you this before you got all involved and captivated by my oh so facinating life and my witty banter about the amazing things I observe going on every day in the world around us.
Turn back now, friend if you feel the mystery of it all is just not for you...I (for one) won't hold it against you. Just don't tag along only to complain bitterly about it later. "Oh - sniff - I didn't think it was going to be like this...so disorganized and diverse and ever changing...I don't like unpredictability...Wah wah wah." I hate that shit.
As for the rest of you (i think I may - in fact - have one loyal reader at this point, but there is no telling if they were lost too in the inactive time) strap yourselves in and prepare for a some what wild ride. Okay, maybe not exactly wild really ( I am almost forty and married with a kid) but it could concievably be an interesting ride at the very least. So whataya say? Wanna give it a try? C'mon...do ya'? Every body's doing it. (well at least I think that one guy I alluded to earlier is, maybe.)
Okay, here we go!
But now, I am getting over it, and am ready to start anew. Turn over a new leaf for the new year as it were. Wipe the slate clean...back to the ol' drawing board...yadda, yadda.
I'm not really sure yet what I am really setting out to do with this thing anymore. At first it was going to be a food thing, but then I was all caught up in the poitics of the moment. Now all that has come to pass (not that all of it is not still very much on my mind) and we have been living with the fact of large scale natural disaster on the other side of the world.
My mind wanders constantly from subject to subject. (Perhaps this is the problem with me and life?) I become interested in many different things all at once. I guess you could say my tastes are eclectic and ever changing (yeah, no kidding asshole, whose aren't!?). So I guess what I am getting at is this: I'm not sure I want to limit the scope of this forum to just one or two narrow subjects. While I admire many of the fine blogs that I peruse so often for their focus and attention to detail, that is not what is going to be happening here. So be forewarned. Don't say I didn't tell you this before you got all involved and captivated by my oh so facinating life and my witty banter about the amazing things I observe going on every day in the world around us.
Turn back now, friend if you feel the mystery of it all is just not for you...I (for one) won't hold it against you. Just don't tag along only to complain bitterly about it later. "Oh - sniff - I didn't think it was going to be like this...so disorganized and diverse and ever changing...I don't like unpredictability...Wah wah wah." I hate that shit.
As for the rest of you (i think I may - in fact - have one loyal reader at this point, but there is no telling if they were lost too in the inactive time) strap yourselves in and prepare for a some what wild ride. Okay, maybe not exactly wild really ( I am almost forty and married with a kid) but it could concievably be an interesting ride at the very least. So whataya say? Wanna give it a try? C'mon...do ya'? Every body's doing it. (well at least I think that one guy I alluded to earlier is, maybe.)
Okay, here we go!
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Finally some recipes...
Tonights dinner was a pasta variation which we eat fairly often...we call it Greek Pasta. You'll see why as I describe the recipe. Basically it's a saute' of fresh veggies in olive oil (of course) with some nice kalamatta olives and feta cheese tossed in. Tonight I used fusilli pasta (those corkscrew shaped ones) and the veggies were onions, garlic (I cook almost nothing without onions and garlic - save pastry items- and lots of both), broccoli (another house favorite ingredient), crimini mushrooms, eggplant, and -despite the season- a few plum tomatoes (which were suprisingly nice and ripe, and not too expensive). Instead of the Kalamatta olives, I used the rest of some leftover olive and red pepper tapanade I had taking up room in the ol' fridge. On reflection, I would say that the halved Kalamattas I usually use are much better flavor and texture wise.
So, to get started, put the pasta water on to boil, and don't forget to salt it generously (salty like the sea, mench!) Next prep up the veggies...I like my onions "French cut" or Jullienne (long thin strips from root end to top end ) as it is easiest, and also the onions don't get lost in the dish. I also like to cut my garlic cloves in thin slices (as they did in the prison scene in Good Fellas, but with my chef's knife rather than a razor blade) again, I like the slices for ease, and for that rustic look and feel of the final product. Broccoli, I cut into small flourettes, and I peel the stems and slice them into 1/4 inch half moons on the bias. (hey, they add some crunch- almost like a water chestnut texture if not cooked too long- and besides, we pay enough for them that I can't see tossing them in the compost). The eggplant I dice into 1/2 inch cubes, salt lberally, and allow to drain for a while in a collander (they say this eliminates the bitter taste of eggplant, but I honestly can't say as I've ever noticed the difference really, I just do it out of habit at this point I think). The crimini I lightly rinse (horror of horrors!) and thick slice for added textural pleasure. Lastly, the plum tomatoes get cored, halved, seeded (save those) and jullienned, I rough chop the seeds and tomato innards and set them aside for later.
Everything is set for assembly...this is known in French as Mis en Place or "everything in its place". Now we cook. By this time the pasta water should be boiling, so turn it down to a simmer until the time is right. Fire up the burner under the pot for sauteeing the veggies! Add a liberal amount of olive oil once the pot has heated up a bit, then add the eggplant cubes, stir and saute' until cooked through and even try to brown them a bit on the outside. Remove from the pan and set these aside to add to the pasta later. In the same pan, add more olive oil (remember its's good for you!) and then in go the onions. Season with salt and pepper, the salt will draw the flavor of the vegetable out...let them cook to translucent, stirring often. Next add the mushrooms and garlic, season again, stir until mushrooms are cooked and liquid has evaporated (mostly). Next add the broccoli and the tomato seeds and innards (not the jullianne flesh though). Continue to stir and cook over medium high heat.
At this point, crank up the pasta water again, and when it boils toss in the fusilli. Meanwhile, when the broccoli is dark green yet still al dente' (meaning somewhat still crunchy...you do not want mushy broccoli!) cut the heat under the veggie pan. Crumble up the feta cheese. When the pasta is cooked (again, to al dente'- the pasta should still have some "bite" to it...not be mushy and limp...this is very important!). Drain the pasta.
At last, time to assemble the final dish...mix the hot pasta with the sautee'd vegetables, add even more olive oil, the olives (or tapenade), the feta, the eggplant and the tomato jullienne. Wow! Looks and smells delicious, eh? Scoop into large bowls and serve with crusty bread (and more olive oil!). I find that either red or white wines go well with this dish, but tonight we had a nice Oregon Reisling (dry, and crisp - Alsacian style), and it was quite complimentary. I also set out a bowl of parmesan cheese (shredded, not grated) and some red pepper flakes for additions to taste. Fresh cracked black pepper may be desired at this point as well.
Enjoy!
So, to get started, put the pasta water on to boil, and don't forget to salt it generously (salty like the sea, mench!) Next prep up the veggies...I like my onions "French cut" or Jullienne (long thin strips from root end to top end ) as it is easiest, and also the onions don't get lost in the dish. I also like to cut my garlic cloves in thin slices (as they did in the prison scene in Good Fellas, but with my chef's knife rather than a razor blade) again, I like the slices for ease, and for that rustic look and feel of the final product. Broccoli, I cut into small flourettes, and I peel the stems and slice them into 1/4 inch half moons on the bias. (hey, they add some crunch- almost like a water chestnut texture if not cooked too long- and besides, we pay enough for them that I can't see tossing them in the compost). The eggplant I dice into 1/2 inch cubes, salt lberally, and allow to drain for a while in a collander (they say this eliminates the bitter taste of eggplant, but I honestly can't say as I've ever noticed the difference really, I just do it out of habit at this point I think). The crimini I lightly rinse (horror of horrors!) and thick slice for added textural pleasure. Lastly, the plum tomatoes get cored, halved, seeded (save those) and jullienned, I rough chop the seeds and tomato innards and set them aside for later.
Everything is set for assembly...this is known in French as Mis en Place or "everything in its place". Now we cook. By this time the pasta water should be boiling, so turn it down to a simmer until the time is right. Fire up the burner under the pot for sauteeing the veggies! Add a liberal amount of olive oil once the pot has heated up a bit, then add the eggplant cubes, stir and saute' until cooked through and even try to brown them a bit on the outside. Remove from the pan and set these aside to add to the pasta later. In the same pan, add more olive oil (remember its's good for you!) and then in go the onions. Season with salt and pepper, the salt will draw the flavor of the vegetable out...let them cook to translucent, stirring often. Next add the mushrooms and garlic, season again, stir until mushrooms are cooked and liquid has evaporated (mostly). Next add the broccoli and the tomato seeds and innards (not the jullianne flesh though). Continue to stir and cook over medium high heat.
At this point, crank up the pasta water again, and when it boils toss in the fusilli. Meanwhile, when the broccoli is dark green yet still al dente' (meaning somewhat still crunchy...you do not want mushy broccoli!) cut the heat under the veggie pan. Crumble up the feta cheese. When the pasta is cooked (again, to al dente'- the pasta should still have some "bite" to it...not be mushy and limp...this is very important!). Drain the pasta.
At last, time to assemble the final dish...mix the hot pasta with the sautee'd vegetables, add even more olive oil, the olives (or tapenade), the feta, the eggplant and the tomato jullienne. Wow! Looks and smells delicious, eh? Scoop into large bowls and serve with crusty bread (and more olive oil!). I find that either red or white wines go well with this dish, but tonight we had a nice Oregon Reisling (dry, and crisp - Alsacian style), and it was quite complimentary. I also set out a bowl of parmesan cheese (shredded, not grated) and some red pepper flakes for additions to taste. Fresh cracked black pepper may be desired at this point as well.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Once again (unfortunately) it is world AIDS day...
December 1st is World AIDS Day. It is an annual opportunity to reflect on the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, and to recommit ourselves to the fight against the disease. This year there is a special focus on Women and Girls, who are especially vulnerable. Today, women represent almost half of the 38 million people who are living with HIV/AIDS . And girls in their teens and early twenties represent more than 60% of new infections among young people.
-The Global Fund to Stop AIDS (stopping AIDS before it stops the world)
http://www.vh1.com/partners/global_fund/
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is spreading at a terrifying rate. Every day, another 13,000 people become newly infected with the virus--several people each minute. The United Nations estimates that nearly 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Its consequences are devastating to communities: rampant poverty tramples entire regions as the virus spreads, creating widespread hunger, health crises, and economic collapse.
-The Mercy Corps
http://www.mercycorps.org/items/2216
AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!
I am so pissed right now. Partly because 20 odd years later the HIV/AIDS epidemic is only getting to be more of a horrific problem, and partly because my last three attempts to write something about it were lost in the ether when my Compy 148 froze up and this damned BLOGGER site (which I fully realize I - a true neophyte - have in no way figured out yet) lost all my ramblings.
Suffice to say that I had much on my mind after coming across the above and other e-mail messages in my box this morning.
For instance, what exactly is wrong with those in charge (yes, I refer here mainly to our government leaders) that we - the self styled "leaders of the free world"- could allow (actually more like help to perpetuate) this awful deadly serious global health crisis? Are they really serious with all this "abstinence education" crap they are trying to cram down the throat of the worlds population while simultaneously dismantling any real truly progressive and actually useful sex/health education in our school systems? Who the hell do these people think they are? We are in need of honest, straight forward discourse, debate, research, funding, and truthfulness worldwide on this public health issue and NOW for crying out loud! (What the hell is going on around here?) My God, they are taking us back to the puritanical bad old days of our miserable, repressed fore fathers, and half of us (or so the numbers tell us) are helping to row the boat!
TAKE YOUR BLINDERS OFF FOLKS! We are headed down the wrong damn path, and if you think it is the promised land that lies awaitin' around the next bend, let me not be the last to tell you that you are most definitely sorely mistaken. (WRONG DIRECTION!)
UGH! I wish y'all could read what I had to say earlier in the day, 'cuz it was a whole lot more rational, thought out and coherent than this mess, but I'm just too full of irritating bile at this point to simmer down and make sense again for awhile.
Well...All of us with level heads and brains which still work (that means we actually think about things once and a while rather than just going through the motions all day and then spacing out in front of the tube with our mind numbing substance of choice at our side, repeating this cycle endlessly) had better keep the pressure on those who are in control of everything to keep this and other vitally important issues (like say, the environmental degradation of our planet) in the forefront of the collective mind (as we have observed, not all of us have fully evolved beyond the reptilian brain yet, so we need constant, vigilant reminders).
Really. Next time I promise some recipes and more pleasant anecdotes. For sure. Ciao!
(SIGH)
-The Global Fund to Stop AIDS (stopping AIDS before it stops the world)
http://www.vh1.com/partners/global_fund/
The HIV/AIDS epidemic is spreading at a terrifying rate. Every day, another 13,000 people become newly infected with the virus--several people each minute. The United Nations estimates that nearly 40 million people around the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Its consequences are devastating to communities: rampant poverty tramples entire regions as the virus spreads, creating widespread hunger, health crises, and economic collapse.
-The Mercy Corps
http://www.mercycorps.org/items/2216
AAAUUUUGGGHHH!!!
I am so pissed right now. Partly because 20 odd years later the HIV/AIDS epidemic is only getting to be more of a horrific problem, and partly because my last three attempts to write something about it were lost in the ether when my Compy 148 froze up and this damned BLOGGER site (which I fully realize I - a true neophyte - have in no way figured out yet) lost all my ramblings.
Suffice to say that I had much on my mind after coming across the above and other e-mail messages in my box this morning.
For instance, what exactly is wrong with those in charge (yes, I refer here mainly to our government leaders) that we - the self styled "leaders of the free world"- could allow (actually more like help to perpetuate) this awful deadly serious global health crisis? Are they really serious with all this "abstinence education" crap they are trying to cram down the throat of the worlds population while simultaneously dismantling any real truly progressive and actually useful sex/health education in our school systems? Who the hell do these people think they are? We are in need of honest, straight forward discourse, debate, research, funding, and truthfulness worldwide on this public health issue and NOW for crying out loud! (What the hell is going on around here?) My God, they are taking us back to the puritanical bad old days of our miserable, repressed fore fathers, and half of us (or so the numbers tell us) are helping to row the boat!
TAKE YOUR BLINDERS OFF FOLKS! We are headed down the wrong damn path, and if you think it is the promised land that lies awaitin' around the next bend, let me not be the last to tell you that you are most definitely sorely mistaken. (WRONG DIRECTION!)
UGH! I wish y'all could read what I had to say earlier in the day, 'cuz it was a whole lot more rational, thought out and coherent than this mess, but I'm just too full of irritating bile at this point to simmer down and make sense again for awhile.
Well...All of us with level heads and brains which still work (that means we actually think about things once and a while rather than just going through the motions all day and then spacing out in front of the tube with our mind numbing substance of choice at our side, repeating this cycle endlessly) had better keep the pressure on those who are in control of everything to keep this and other vitally important issues (like say, the environmental degradation of our planet) in the forefront of the collective mind (as we have observed, not all of us have fully evolved beyond the reptilian brain yet, so we need constant, vigilant reminders).
Really. Next time I promise some recipes and more pleasant anecdotes. For sure. Ciao!
(SIGH)
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Yes, I'm still here...Let's go!
Okay, so I have been slacking as of late with the ol' postings. Could be laziness, could be lack'o insight, could be too much goin' on in the ol' brainpan to sort through and make sense of...Who the hell knows?
First off, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving groaning board of a meal with some great friends up in the big city (that's Portland, OR - for those of you who are unfamiliar with my whereabouts yet. From now on said city will be known as PDX in these here rants...kayo?). We (that is the family and I ) had a lot of fun cooking, conversing, playing with the new pooch, drinking wine (and later hot buttered rum!) and of course stuffing ourselves to an almost comatose state. What a blast.
The Hosts - Ms. E and Mr. S - provided the big bird (nicely brined, and incredibly flavorful), a cornbread stuffing, Mashed potatoes (mmm, garlicky!) and various snackies. The other honored guests - Ms. L, Mr. D and the other Miss H - brought the perennial favorite Green Bean Casserole (but notably better for the use of fresh beans and a truly homemade creamy sauce!) and Ms. L made her first ever pie!!! (a very respectable, delicious traditional pumpkin one at that. In fact, it was so good that at first I thought Ms. E -a professional pastry chef - had concocted it! Good show!) My offerings this year were some homemade southern style cheese crackers (a new recipe I tried for the first time...Very good, though I think I may have over done it with the cayenne pepper a bit - suprisingly, OUR Miss H. Loved them, and she usually turns her nose up at anything spicy!) I guess with enough butter and cheese, even spicy is good to a five year old. My other dish was one I had been perfecting at work for the past month or so...Roasted Butternut Squash with Caramelized Onions, Candied Pecans and Bleu Cheese...all baked together into a delicious sweet, salty, richly decadent casserole of autumn flavors. Yum! (if I do say so myself) Ms. K, as is to be expected, provided some equally delectable wines to augment the selection offered by our gracious hosts. All in all a very satisfying and quite memorable meal.
Due to our having to work the next day at the famous traditional Oregon Thanksgiving Winery Open House Tasting Event, (way too early in the morning, if you ask me!) we had to depart before the big Boys Vs. Girls Cranium contest. (Bummer, I have been waiting a long time for my chance to have a go at that wacky game...Alas there is always next time.) Well, I'd best be going...Ciao for Now.
First off, I had the distinct pleasure of sharing a wonderful Thanksgiving groaning board of a meal with some great friends up in the big city (that's Portland, OR - for those of you who are unfamiliar with my whereabouts yet. From now on said city will be known as PDX in these here rants...kayo?). We (that is the family and I ) had a lot of fun cooking, conversing, playing with the new pooch, drinking wine (and later hot buttered rum!) and of course stuffing ourselves to an almost comatose state. What a blast.
The Hosts - Ms. E and Mr. S - provided the big bird (nicely brined, and incredibly flavorful), a cornbread stuffing, Mashed potatoes (mmm, garlicky!) and various snackies. The other honored guests - Ms. L, Mr. D and the other Miss H - brought the perennial favorite Green Bean Casserole (but notably better for the use of fresh beans and a truly homemade creamy sauce!) and Ms. L made her first ever pie!!! (a very respectable, delicious traditional pumpkin one at that. In fact, it was so good that at first I thought Ms. E -a professional pastry chef - had concocted it! Good show!) My offerings this year were some homemade southern style cheese crackers (a new recipe I tried for the first time...Very good, though I think I may have over done it with the cayenne pepper a bit - suprisingly, OUR Miss H. Loved them, and she usually turns her nose up at anything spicy!) I guess with enough butter and cheese, even spicy is good to a five year old. My other dish was one I had been perfecting at work for the past month or so...Roasted Butternut Squash with Caramelized Onions, Candied Pecans and Bleu Cheese...all baked together into a delicious sweet, salty, richly decadent casserole of autumn flavors. Yum! (if I do say so myself) Ms. K, as is to be expected, provided some equally delectable wines to augment the selection offered by our gracious hosts. All in all a very satisfying and quite memorable meal.
Due to our having to work the next day at the famous traditional Oregon Thanksgiving Winery Open House Tasting Event, (way too early in the morning, if you ask me!) we had to depart before the big Boys Vs. Girls Cranium contest. (Bummer, I have been waiting a long time for my chance to have a go at that wacky game...Alas there is always next time.) Well, I'd best be going...Ciao for Now.
Friday, November 12, 2004
Okay, tryin' to get over it...
Hey yo! So I am still sitting here licking my many wounds...what else is there to do? I came up with a few things that seem to help. First off this video is pretty good, and helps ease the pain a bit through its truthful humor. http://filmstripinternational.com/
Them there is http://www.moveon.org/investigatethevote/ where you can go if you would like to tell congress that you would like more answers about what really went on in the election voting process. Who knows, this may help us get some real information, and bring some closure.
Then, of course there is always cooking. I myself (along with my lovely wife and daughter and a couple of friends) recently had the good fortune to stumble upon a huge stash of natures most wonderful abundance whilst walking in the woods just outside Mollala OR this past week. Yes, we found so many Chanterelle mushrooms, that we couldn't carry them all! I love it! There is nothing more satisfying to me than a nice quiet walk in the misty cool forest at this time of year (my favorite season by far). The bonus of finding all those delicious fungi is just fantastic. I can't get enough of that woodsy, faintly apricot smell fresh chanterelles have. And then there is that fresh peppery taste which adds so much to any dish they are added to.
My favorite combination has got to be fresh pan seared King Salmon, Chanterelles sautee'd with onions, garlic and the last of this seasons sweet corn, (maybe some nice vine ripened sweet 100 tomatoes tossed in at the last minute) over a bed of tiny french green lentils cooked down with some smoked bacon (or pancetta) and a touch of sherry vinegar. Yum.
This time however, I made a large pot of Cream of Chanterelle soup (just substituted for the standard crimini mushrooms I usually use) and cooked the rest down with some garlic for freezing, so we can add them at will to our cooking throughout the long wet winter to come. Very satisfying.
I will try and post the recipe and some others when I next get the chance. Until then, Peace.
Them there is http://www.moveon.org/investigatethevote/ where you can go if you would like to tell congress that you would like more answers about what really went on in the election voting process. Who knows, this may help us get some real information, and bring some closure.
Then, of course there is always cooking. I myself (along with my lovely wife and daughter and a couple of friends) recently had the good fortune to stumble upon a huge stash of natures most wonderful abundance whilst walking in the woods just outside Mollala OR this past week. Yes, we found so many Chanterelle mushrooms, that we couldn't carry them all! I love it! There is nothing more satisfying to me than a nice quiet walk in the misty cool forest at this time of year (my favorite season by far). The bonus of finding all those delicious fungi is just fantastic. I can't get enough of that woodsy, faintly apricot smell fresh chanterelles have. And then there is that fresh peppery taste which adds so much to any dish they are added to.
My favorite combination has got to be fresh pan seared King Salmon, Chanterelles sautee'd with onions, garlic and the last of this seasons sweet corn, (maybe some nice vine ripened sweet 100 tomatoes tossed in at the last minute) over a bed of tiny french green lentils cooked down with some smoked bacon (or pancetta) and a touch of sherry vinegar. Yum.
This time however, I made a large pot of Cream of Chanterelle soup (just substituted for the standard crimini mushrooms I usually use) and cooked the rest down with some garlic for freezing, so we can add them at will to our cooking throughout the long wet winter to come. Very satisfying.
I will try and post the recipe and some others when I next get the chance. Until then, Peace.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Still worth a read, tho' it is too late now...
This is a nice ranting ramble from one of my all time favorite writers...Dr. Gonzo himself...it is still worth reading, even tho' it is seemingly too late to make any difference in the election'n outcome... http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/_/id/6562575?pageid=rs.Politics&pageregion=single6
And what is up with all the voting discrepensies anyway? Why did John Kerry conceed so quickly when - to my understanding - there are still many more votes to be counted in Ohio, and many other states? What is going on around here? http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=389&row=0
And what is up with all the voting discrepensies anyway? Why did John Kerry conceed so quickly when - to my understanding - there are still many more votes to be counted in Ohio, and many other states? What is going on around here? http://gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=389&row=0
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
I found at least one reason to be glad for four more years...
Okay, this is a positive to add to the pile of negative I seem to be attracting around me these days. It in no way balances out the whole Bush being re-elected thing, (or should that be "re-appointed"), but at least we can look forward to four more years of hilarious new episodes of my favorite flash animation show... http://www.ebolaworld.com They are all fairly good, esp. the weekly updates, but my personal fave is, of course, "The George Bush Show"...scary funny social satire...so good it could almost be true. (sadly, it probably is.)
On a more serious note, here is a reminder of all those brave American souls who have lost their lives for the boondogle known as the Iraq war, and of the man who is largely (though not solely) to blame for the whole mess... http://www.michaelmoore.com
Strap yourself in for another wild ride...(four more years of ChimpCo...)
Hey! Welcome to Land of Soup...There is no rhyme nor any reason to this thing as of yet, but I felt like starting something of my own to let anyone know what is up in my secret little world.
Right now I am wallowing in the mire that is the result of our recent (unbelievable) national election. As you may have guessed, I am not behind the man (or is it a monkey) who won. In fact, I am getting more and more depressed by the second as I think about how these people have hijacked our country right before our eyes and with the rabid approval of just over half of our voting citezens. Geez...those of you who didn't vote are just as bad if not worse than those who voted for him...eqally complicit in my book through your appathy. Shame on you for helping these lying evil bastards walk all over the rest of us like they have been and will be doing for four more freaking years. Ugh. I feel so dirty. I need to take another shower to try and wash off the stink of it all, tho' I know it won't help one bit.
Right now I am wallowing in the mire that is the result of our recent (unbelievable) national election. As you may have guessed, I am not behind the man (or is it a monkey) who won. In fact, I am getting more and more depressed by the second as I think about how these people have hijacked our country right before our eyes and with the rabid approval of just over half of our voting citezens. Geez...those of you who didn't vote are just as bad if not worse than those who voted for him...eqally complicit in my book through your appathy. Shame on you for helping these lying evil bastards walk all over the rest of us like they have been and will be doing for four more freaking years. Ugh. I feel so dirty. I need to take another shower to try and wash off the stink of it all, tho' I know it won't help one bit.
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