so very much busyness about.

an extremely busy week of pretty much everything: work, organizational meetings, and of course fun time.

tuesday was the fun activity that always accompanies a home owners association meeting. and since i am on the board; even more fun. there is something intrinsically interesting about being a part of a group or committee and balancing the differences in commitment, outlook, and personality. And this is especially true with groups that I am able to join and contribute to without defining myself through them. it seems to happen quite a lot; almost as if I am able to transcend identification and freely associate with a broader base. but unfortunately it comes with the price of not really being able to find those with the same number and breadth of interests. but i'll think on that and discuss later - its more of a philosophical discourse.

the evil hallmark holiday designed to depress single folks and create tension through blitz marketing has come and gone. the day itself really does nothing for me. roses are perhaps my least favorite of flower; i dislike sweets; i abhor pre-written sappy cards; and i pity the service industry that has to put up with the chaos that accompanies the validation of love through the spending of money and doing of activities that are mandated just because it has been declared 'the day' rather than a natural freeforming expression of self. but that's just the my standard rant. this wednesday was extremely busy: extra-long work day; afternoon talk with a staffing service in order to get a handle on how i can transition careers; and then an evening of errand running before relaxing. so up at 6 - finally home at 7 - good times. my present to val was a battery for her car (how romantic is that?) because hers kept dying and having to be jumped. i installed it yesterday and i must complain about how cramped newer small cars are and how odd the design is: who bolts the battery holder to the bottom?

but, i digress. the fun part was cooking - and it was quite tasty. i ended up with an australian theme after shopping. store purchases were small portions of random things with a rough outline: several large shrimp, two small pieces of sea bass, two large scallops two nuggets of lamb, a carrot, a pear, and a bottle of voinger. oh - and earlier in the day i picked up some bitter baking chocolate. i turned that into three courses: first was the shrimp (garlic, shallot, & butter sauteed) on a bed of pasta cooked in tea flavored water. the second: seared scallop with cilantro-lime pesto and seared lamb with thyme-chili-chocolate sauce both on a small cracker. the third: steamed sea bass in the same vanilla jasmine tea on a tower of poached carrots and pear slices with a tea-miso-honey reduced glaze. and a loaf of great homemade bread: there's a recipe i found that's extremely easy and produces great crusty bread; i'll post it when i get a chance.

so cooking went smoothly and was quite fun - i do love to come up with things on the fly. the only thing required is a decent pantry and some imagination.

yesterday was battery instillation (fun), science fair judging class (i was a judge last year for the district and am doing it again this year; nothing new really), and a bike shop with a art showing followed by a night on the east side. thursday nights out are the best way to lead into a busy friday; almost like a mini break and weekend before the actual weekend cycle.

it is freezing here: nothing quite as fun as hitting a taco stand last night at 9:30 for dinner and eating outdoors next to a propane heated table before heading on. and i was able to visit the purple peacock last night for the first time. its a small bar far out on the east side that has a distinct early stanley kubrick feel to it. quite excellent - if only i were one to take pictures at night; but i can't be that person. my photo hobby is daylight and usually outdoors. ah, well.

i've just got to finish up one drainage report and then head home to ready my faithful bike and head out to get some afternoon mexican food and a margarita before hopping around town. should be a fun afternoon/evening with a 30-odd degree ride home late tonight.

ttfn,

jeff

spring is trying... so hard

so another weekend gone: nothing of consequence. I was able to attend a speaker from ausitn energy on friday at UT. it was fairly good - the topic was environmental impact; global warming; and the programs that green building (specifically green power and energy savings) provide. Nothing too complex, more of a cursory overview of the topic.

And the rest of the weekend was relaxing; which was quite nice. Watching soccer on saturday morning followed by a road trip to lockard (a town about 40 miles southeast of austin). after watching a bbq documentary last week myself and some friends had a hankering for some real bbq; and there are 3-4 pinnacles of texas bbq in lockard. smitty's, which i visited for the first time, is a historic building with open pits; high ceilings; and permeating wood smoke. for me - it reminds me of the cooking i love: simple ingredients, lots of time, and great food. smitty's reminds me of an old-world bakery almost - where you are in the midst of the process instead of either being shown the brushed up version as a marketing ploy or being served such food in a sterile environment. so i visited two bbq establishments and had some of the best sausage and brisket one can imagine. on the way home i was able to stop at a small bakery in kyle (south of austin) and get three small (4-inch or so) pies. 'twas not a half-bad day.

and yesterday - relaxing and priming my bathroom for its upcoming paint job. the project that never ends shall soon be complete. and then i get to contemplate the joy that it would be to take up my carpet and think about stripping and sealing the concrete floor; or perhaps putting down some tile. i am drawn to saltillo - a beautiful rough mexican tile that can be found quite cheap in the valley. right now it sounds like an ambitious spring project.

so this is shaping up to be a very busy week - lots of work during the day; HOA meeting tomorrow; company meeting wednesday with valentine's that night; and who knows for the end of the week?

i need to find some time to go outside and wander. and once i do there will be photos; because so far it is only nice when i am inside - and overcast drizzle conditions dominate my out-of-work time.