so this week is too long. three 11-12 hour days in a row so far and counting. almost burned out...
i'm planning on getting a morning's worth of coordination work in tomorrow and then transitioning to vacation mode. i need to pack, relax, and get ready for enlightened travel and new experiences.(and practice a bit of an english accent)
only a short bit longer.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Arcade Fire leaves its mark - Life & Arts
Arcade Fire leaves its mark - Life & Arts
One Very, Very Indie Band
well, I pre-ordered my copy on Amazon this past Sunday (and free S&H with Amazon Prime) so I should get this tomorrow in time for my trip!
Oh - and I checked the forecast for next week: typical england. highs in the 50s with misty rain / clouds; so its time to layer up and bring all of my biking/camping clothes that are so very well suited as they are light and water resistant.
One Very, Very Indie Band
well, I pre-ordered my copy on Amazon this past Sunday (and free S&H with Amazon Prime) so I should get this tomorrow in time for my trip!
Oh - and I checked the forecast for next week: typical england. highs in the 50s with misty rain / clouds; so its time to layer up and bring all of my biking/camping clothes that are so very well suited as they are light and water resistant.
Monday, March 5, 2007
the weekend in pictures; probably the best way to sum up the spring and reasons i love this town.
town lake on my return home.
taken from congress bridge
afternoon kite festival
picnicking families, dogs, & couples
the sky teems with kites.
and as almost every year; it is a perfect day for kit flying
the demolished intel building from last sunday
yes, implosions are fun!
very large professional kites as well.
town lake on my return home.
taken from congress bridge
afternoon kite festival
picnicking families, dogs, & couples
the sky teems with kites.
and as almost every year; it is a perfect day for kit flying
the demolished intel building from last sunday
yes, implosions are fun!
very large professional kites as well.
Friday, March 2, 2007
one week from today i will be UK bound!
so two work deadlines; usual commitment craziness; and the remaining packing and planning. should be quite fun.
canal boat trip is the broad classification of this vacation. i need to finalize a bike rental and figure out what kind of exploratory fun is in store.
so two work deadlines; usual commitment craziness; and the remaining packing and planning. should be quite fun.
canal boat trip is the broad classification of this vacation. i need to finalize a bike rental and figure out what kind of exploratory fun is in store.
pictures from last week
Speech Pictures: note the wonderful sunshine...
regional science fair judging; note the still and title - this project took
first place, all while producing 98.6% ethanol at home.
downtown austin - on an actually sunny thursday.
two greenbelt pics - the first wednesday ride of the year.
creek is only about half full even with recent rains.
creek is only about half full even with recent rains.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
happenings
quick recap:
barack last friday at auditorium shores. ~16,000 people in the misty rain listening to a good boilerplate speach.
am soccer win 3-1; friend's baby's 1st birthday (purchased a card written in spanish and a wiffle ball bat - thought about a cactus, but decided against it. everyone needs a 'my first cactus'.); bus to spurs-sonics game all on saturday
intel implosion at 7am on sunday = the cumulation of the dot-com boom and bust. quite spectacular.
this week is crazy work deadline preparation week. only 8 1/2 more days until i leave for the UK!
barack last friday at auditorium shores. ~16,000 people in the misty rain listening to a good boilerplate speach.
am soccer win 3-1; friend's baby's 1st birthday (purchased a card written in spanish and a wiffle ball bat - thought about a cactus, but decided against it. everyone needs a 'my first cactus'.); bus to spurs-sonics game all on saturday
intel implosion at 7am on sunday = the cumulation of the dot-com boom and bust. quite spectacular.
this week is crazy work deadline preparation week. only 8 1/2 more days until i leave for the UK!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
recovery
oh - and my shoulder didn't really hurt at all after yesterday which is good.
i have some photos of the trail and will post them once they upload.
i have some photos of the trail and will post them once they upload.
post ash wednesday
So spring is finally here - hurrah! Although the color that accompanies it is delayed, the sunshine and warmth will suffice.
I was able to duck out of work 'early' (odd that I consider 4:30 early when I start at 6:50 or so, with minimal breaks) and finally got back on the greenbelt. It was nice to get a good ride in again; although unfortunately no water below twin falls - last months rains have drained or run off. The ride was good; the terrain semi-barren; and the weather perfect. I finished after sunset so the last several miles transitioned from low light dusk to pitch blacksingletrack through wooden canopies; always a fun experience.
So early work today and then I get to judge the local AISD / Austin Energy run science fair. I got assigned Environmental & Transportation for the Junior division (7th Grade). So it will be refreshing to get out of the office and interact with the community and be able to contribute. It's much better than being stuck in an office all day plodding along on all my regular jobs.
So i'll head home; transition to my surly 1x1 (bike), and ride over to the parmer events center where i will interact with participant, judges (usually 10yrs older or more than I), and the mass of attendees in general. after that its shopping for a friend's birthday party tonight (i thinki'm going to make bourbon pot pies) and then relaxing.
enjoy the best day of the week,
jeff
I was able to duck out of work 'early' (odd that I consider 4:30 early when I start at 6:50 or so, with minimal breaks) and finally got back on the greenbelt. It was nice to get a good ride in again; although unfortunately no water below twin falls - last months rains have drained or run off. The ride was good; the terrain semi-barren; and the weather perfect. I finished after sunset so the last several miles transitioned from low light dusk to pitch blacksingletrack through wooden canopies; always a fun experience.
So early work today and then I get to judge the local AISD / Austin Energy run science fair. I got assigned Environmental & Transportation for the Junior division (7th Grade). So it will be refreshing to get out of the office and interact with the community and be able to contribute. It's much better than being stuck in an office all day plodding along on all my regular jobs.
So i'll head home; transition to my surly 1x1 (bike), and ride over to the parmer events center where i will interact with participant, judges (usually 10yrs older or more than I), and the mass of attendees in general. after that its shopping for a friend's birthday party tonight (i thinki'm going to make bourbon pot pies) and then relaxing.
enjoy the best day of the week,
jeff
Monday, February 19, 2007
a monday with sunshine
which is very nice. so friday after-work activities went well. there's nothing quite as fun as being free on a bike and being faster from location to location than friends in cars. all in all a relaxing night of food and drink; capped off by a post-midnight ride along the lake on my way home in the nice 30-degree temps. now that i know to bring my lined winter gloves and hat instead of the summer
riding gloves and cap it works much better. there is something freeing and individualistic about riding trails at night through the city.i've done the same thing while camping as well: long solitary hikes early in the morning or late at night when you are isolated, yet still able to observe things from a distance.
other than that soccer was fun; odd to watch rather than play, but only another week or two before i'm back out there. i went to my team's game - it helps to be more a part of the team that way. as i've noted; its easy to move in and out of groups, but hard to become extremely familiar with friends, so this type of thing helps. saturday night was wine and chocolate tasting which moved venues from my place to adam and maggie's. it was a great time with various fruits dipped in chocolate; tasty blue cheese (as well as sheep, gouda, and others); my re-created lamb with chocolate-cayenne sauce; and maggie's espresso brownies (addictive).
sunday
was a day of relaxing outside on the porch while reading and taking in the warmth of a sun on a brisk, somewhat chilly day. the spring is coming and it will be wonderful; but now the middle of the day is ideal with understood threats of cold, freezing nights and frequent reminders of late winter with cloud-hidden moments of wind aided late-winter cold. but while the sun is out - excellent! andborris got to roam as well outside. he spent a good 30 or minutes or so stalking a squirrel. and i'm sure he curses me for the bell on his collar; but as i explained - its for training. if he can become stealthy enough with the bell he can sneak up on anything without one.
and valerie and i celebrated chinese new year yesterday night with a visit to a restaurant that i've been meaning to try for quite a while. it did not disappoint: an authentic menu and clientele along with excellent food: chicken corn and crab soup and salted fish with eggplant pot. there's something guilty about liking fish sauce and the fermented bean aspect of the cuisine.
but now its back to work. quite a productive day so far. these next three weeks prior to my vacation will be quite busy as both my cemetery jobs have upcoming deadlines. good thing i function well underpressure.
i've got our company's service awards tonight (a cocktail hour and presentation honoring the milestone's of employees service). kind of a nice reflective gesture that illustrates the humanity and personal stories of my company. of course my goal is to move on before i hit my 2-year milestone (1st of April); so its a bit of a different view. I was supposed to attend an Engineers Without Borders meeting as well; but it has been pushed back to next week to fit a speakers schedule. Its a new groupi'm trying to become involved with - should be rewarding.
viva monday,
jeff
Friday, February 16, 2007
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
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
Monday, February 12, 2007
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.
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.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Donation helps women's school get off ground - State & Local
Donation helps women's school get off ground - State & Local
This is where Val is trying to get a teaching position at next year. It sounds like a high reward concept that can have a profound impact.
This is where Val is trying to get a teaching position at next year. It sounds like a high reward concept that can have a profound impact.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
doctor, medic, nurse
another day passes, as the hourglass turns...
so today i got to visit the orthopedic doctor to check on last saturday's injury. ends up i actually broke (fractured, i mean what is the medical term?) my scapula in the oddest place. its at the interior portion that looks like a peninsula. but that's pretty insignificant. short story - the pain has been minimal until we tried to figure out what was wrong and twisted my arm in various directions as if to see if i posses some sort of windmill powers. good news is that it will heal on its own and i have no need for any surgery, brace, or other awkwardness. and it only takes 4-6 weeks to heal. the bad news is that i'm not supposed to 'aggravate it', which is kind of vague. so i ask the nice doctor: bike riding? answer: two weeks - i think one should be fine as long as i stay on the road and smooth trails. next: how about soccer - can i play that, its not much of a contact sport? answer: incredulous look followed by, isn't that how you got hurt? three to four weeks. so looks like i'll be inactive until after my UK trip.
other than that life progresses. i have rediscovered the clarity and focusness of organizing things about the house and other things i've been meaning to do. now all i have to do is follow up and get myself a new job; the current one bores me something fierce, and i fear i am loosing my motivation and edge.
tonight should be fun as james and i are to venture out to opal divines (a local pub) and finally participate in one of their scotch tastings. should be a good prelude into tomorrow, an all day meeting for one of my projects; which will consist of 6 hours of presentations to government folks. the job is phase 2 of the Dallas Veterans Cemetery.
wish me luck!
jeff
so today i got to visit the orthopedic doctor to check on last saturday's injury. ends up i actually broke (fractured, i mean what is the medical term?) my scapula in the oddest place. its at the interior portion that looks like a peninsula. but that's pretty insignificant. short story - the pain has been minimal until we tried to figure out what was wrong and twisted my arm in various directions as if to see if i posses some sort of windmill powers. good news is that it will heal on its own and i have no need for any surgery, brace, or other awkwardness. and it only takes 4-6 weeks to heal. the bad news is that i'm not supposed to 'aggravate it', which is kind of vague. so i ask the nice doctor: bike riding? answer: two weeks - i think one should be fine as long as i stay on the road and smooth trails. next: how about soccer - can i play that, its not much of a contact sport? answer: incredulous look followed by, isn't that how you got hurt? three to four weeks. so looks like i'll be inactive until after my UK trip.
other than that life progresses. i have rediscovered the clarity and focusness of organizing things about the house and other things i've been meaning to do. now all i have to do is follow up and get myself a new job; the current one bores me something fierce, and i fear i am loosing my motivation and edge.
tonight should be fun as james and i are to venture out to opal divines (a local pub) and finally participate in one of their scotch tastings. should be a good prelude into tomorrow, an all day meeting for one of my projects; which will consist of 6 hours of presentations to government folks. the job is phase 2 of the Dallas Veterans Cemetery.
wish me luck!
jeff
Monday, February 5, 2007
post super monday
well, another week begins. and with the letdown that is a super bowl loss. yesterday was a beautiful day - 70 degrees and sunny; which was much better than saturday.
to start: afternoon friday happy hour was quite fun with new stranger friends. started with afternoon scotch at opal divines and continued to $3 geniuses at mother egans. essentially an irish bar afternoon. nice late bike ride in the cold home and then a brief nap before awakening at 6:30 to make my way north for an 8 am soccer match. it went ok; should have had at least one goal - more likely two. there's really no reason not to score when you get the ball 8 yards out. but the game was quite competitive; i ended up spraining my shoulder on a challenge right near the half (and drew a penalty) which caused me to sit out the rest of the match and quite a bit of pain throughout the day. the match went back and forth with us loosing 3-2 in the end. the rest of saturday was fairly uneventful - grimacing when moving; taking ibuprofen; fun with icy-hot; and later making of appetizers for sunday.
and besides the game yesterday it was a fun time - got to grill; get a brief ride on some new trails in; eat way too much good food; and enjoy the company of friends. and because of how the game turned out it was nice to watch it with people who are not die-hard fans of either team. had chicago won i would have likely lamented the fact that i was not among the high energy and cheering that comes with such a group; but it turned out well i suppose.
should have taken pictures; others did - so perhaps one day they'll make their way back and be posted.
to start: afternoon friday happy hour was quite fun with new stranger friends. started with afternoon scotch at opal divines and continued to $3 geniuses at mother egans. essentially an irish bar afternoon. nice late bike ride in the cold home and then a brief nap before awakening at 6:30 to make my way north for an 8 am soccer match. it went ok; should have had at least one goal - more likely two. there's really no reason not to score when you get the ball 8 yards out. but the game was quite competitive; i ended up spraining my shoulder on a challenge right near the half (and drew a penalty) which caused me to sit out the rest of the match and quite a bit of pain throughout the day. the match went back and forth with us loosing 3-2 in the end. the rest of saturday was fairly uneventful - grimacing when moving; taking ibuprofen; fun with icy-hot; and later making of appetizers for sunday.
and besides the game yesterday it was a fun time - got to grill; get a brief ride on some new trails in; eat way too much good food; and enjoy the company of friends. and because of how the game turned out it was nice to watch it with people who are not die-hard fans of either team. had chicago won i would have likely lamented the fact that i was not among the high energy and cheering that comes with such a group; but it turned out well i suppose.
should have taken pictures; others did - so perhaps one day they'll make their way back and be posted.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Oh, and see the following (sent today in preparation for this sunday); roundly hailed as one of my best invitations ever!
So the party this weekend will be at Rob & Summer's; they're up for the hosting, not so much for hosting all the food because they have to spend money on feeding and clothing some sort of small creature that has taken them as hosts.
So I'm figuring on showing up early early afternoon to set up food and start getting in football mood. My evite isn't accessible here at work currently so this here e-mail should start some planning. Still RSVP there though (James - can you add all these addresses to the invitation?).
How about we break up party responsibilities?
Jeff & Val = 5 to 10 lbs of italian beef sandwiches with appropriate rolls; some good hot dogs & buns; cheese stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon.
James, you want to get a bunch of interesting toppings for a hot dog bar? and how about italian sausages… I hear you're in good with those mandola brothers. any kind of hook-up there?
Cate = a mixed drink of superbowl quality & one of your amazing dips. coordinate with Val, Lori, & MGT on ingredients needed. I want to see creativity and a chicago tie-in. (blue crac should be incorporated of course).
Damon & MGT = avocado based food; Brats - your heritage mandates it. just bring a dozen or two with some onions and green peppers and we can start the beer marinating process early.
Ben = cocktail weenies & pigs in a blanket. this is a MUST for all superbowl parties so you best be showing up. the weenies are easy and for the blankets all you need is some pillsbury dough boy wrapping that come in the frozen tubes.
And all except cate (& the mixed drink committee) should bring their midwestern beer of choice. just think of the good times spent in both Indy and Chicago and it should come fairly easy.
and if rob is in the mood I'd be up for making some pizza as well. we all know of rob's legendary dough making skills; so if he is interested we can add pizza ingredients and sauce to the list of items to bring.
Just remember - it may sound like a lot of meat and food; but this is a midwestern themed
So the party this weekend will be at Rob & Summer's; they're up for the hosting, not so much for hosting all the food because they have to spend money on feeding and clothing some sort of small creature that has taken them as hosts.
So I'm figuring on showing up early early afternoon to set up food and start getting in football mood. My evite isn't accessible here at work currently so this here e-mail should start some planning. Still RSVP there though (James - can you add all these addresses to the invitation?).
How about we break up party responsibilities?
Jeff & Val = 5 to 10 lbs of italian beef sandwiches with appropriate rolls; some good hot dogs & buns; cheese stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon.
James, you want to get a bunch of interesting toppings for a hot dog bar? and how about italian sausages… I hear you're in good with those mandola brothers. any kind of hook-up there?
Cate = a mixed drink of superbowl quality & one of your amazing dips. coordinate with Val, Lori, & MGT on ingredients needed. I want to see creativity and a chicago tie-in. (blue crac should be incorporated of course).
Damon & MGT = avocado based food; Brats - your heritage mandates it. just bring a dozen or two with some onions and green peppers and we can start the beer marinating process early.
Ben = cocktail weenies & pigs in a blanket. this is a MUST for all superbowl parties so you best be showing up. the weenies are easy and for the blankets all you need is some pillsbury dough boy wrapping that come in the frozen tubes.
And all except cate (& the mixed drink committee) should bring their midwestern beer of choice. just think of the good times spent in both Indy and Chicago and it should come fairly easy.
and if rob is in the mood I'd be up for making some pizza as well. we all know of rob's legendary dough making skills; so if he is interested we can add pizza ingredients and sauce to the list of items to bring.
Just remember - it may sound like a lot of meat and food; but this is a midwestern themed
ah, so the weekend planning begins. there's nothing quite like the seamlessness of staying on top of work tasks and contributing useful input while managing one's own life and planning for things while at work. there is just something about accomplishment and organization that's satisfying.
so first of all: last night was a HOA board meeting - nothing like the optimism of a condo board before the annual meeting. so that was much fun for about 90 minutes before i got to head over to the planning meeting for my march england trip. it was quite fun and i was able to subtly get my point across and convince the group of my desired route through conversation and no overt disagreement or prodding. quick summary: there are 8 of us renting a canal boat from outside of manchester, UK for a week. we can traverse any direction we choose, provided we return the boat in a week's time. there about five primary routes of travel available from our starting point and i am for seeing as much of the country as possible. the group essentially narrowed the choices down to 2 prior to yesterday: a westerly journey towards wales or a northern bearing towards chester. You can take a look here if you like. there is obviously some quiet concern in the group of so many people being in such close proximity for a whole week on such a cozy vessel. that initially led people to choose the shorter chester trip which would require 3 hours a day of canal travel while the llangollen route would require 6 and, of course, cover much a greater distance. while traveling i usually default to covering as much area as possible as to take in the most culture and sights. there are of course exceptions for great locations and taking the time to relax and acclimate to the schedule and mannerisms of the locals. but regardless - in this case i was more worried about how to spend the non-traveling time. there is only so much to see in small towns located off the beaten path and i imagine after a while they tend to be fairly uniform. for the shorter trip we would get to spend almost two full days in chester and liverpool - but i espouse that the reason for taking a canal trip is to become one with the boat and traverse as much culture and distance as possible.
but this is a conversation that will continue on until our trip in mid-march, so i digress.
only 4 more days until the superbowl! and i am slowly becoming fairly excited. i do not really recall the last rooting championship game i was able to 'participate' in because, while sports have been a fair constant in my life, the teams with which i associate, identify, and somewhat follow have not fared well for two decades. so this leaves me with faint memories of childhood happiness and gatherings - which i will now attempt to recreate for my friends this weekend.
good times, eh?
oh, and for Aqua Teen Hunger Force - nice!
I don't even follow news tickers anymore but noticed 'special alert' crawls about boston happingings yesterday and ignored them as usual. today i get to read the orgin and cause of such excitement.
to sum up: apparantly boston folks are quite terrified of moonanites.
so first of all: last night was a HOA board meeting - nothing like the optimism of a condo board before the annual meeting. so that was much fun for about 90 minutes before i got to head over to the planning meeting for my march england trip. it was quite fun and i was able to subtly get my point across and convince the group of my desired route through conversation and no overt disagreement or prodding. quick summary: there are 8 of us renting a canal boat from outside of manchester, UK for a week. we can traverse any direction we choose, provided we return the boat in a week's time. there about five primary routes of travel available from our starting point and i am for seeing as much of the country as possible. the group essentially narrowed the choices down to 2 prior to yesterday: a westerly journey towards wales or a northern bearing towards chester. You can take a look here if you like. there is obviously some quiet concern in the group of so many people being in such close proximity for a whole week on such a cozy vessel. that initially led people to choose the shorter chester trip which would require 3 hours a day of canal travel while the llangollen route would require 6 and, of course, cover much a greater distance. while traveling i usually default to covering as much area as possible as to take in the most culture and sights. there are of course exceptions for great locations and taking the time to relax and acclimate to the schedule and mannerisms of the locals. but regardless - in this case i was more worried about how to spend the non-traveling time. there is only so much to see in small towns located off the beaten path and i imagine after a while they tend to be fairly uniform. for the shorter trip we would get to spend almost two full days in chester and liverpool - but i espouse that the reason for taking a canal trip is to become one with the boat and traverse as much culture and distance as possible.
but this is a conversation that will continue on until our trip in mid-march, so i digress.
only 4 more days until the superbowl! and i am slowly becoming fairly excited. i do not really recall the last rooting championship game i was able to 'participate' in because, while sports have been a fair constant in my life, the teams with which i associate, identify, and somewhat follow have not fared well for two decades. so this leaves me with faint memories of childhood happiness and gatherings - which i will now attempt to recreate for my friends this weekend.
good times, eh?
oh, and for Aqua Teen Hunger Force - nice!
I don't even follow news tickers anymore but noticed 'special alert' crawls about boston happingings yesterday and ignored them as usual. today i get to read the orgin and cause of such excitement.
to sum up: apparantly boston folks are quite terrified of moonanites.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
opera and bread
a summary from yesterday: much work, then relaxing.
got to see the new Phillip Glass opera Waiting for the Barbarians last night. it was - eh, ok. the sets were great and the music was typical of Glass. but the characters and the singing - not impressive at all.
but on the plus side - i made my first loaf of bread ever and how exciting is that! i found a recipe several months ago that requires no mixing or kneading and decided that sounded like a good opportunity to start trying to use the cheapest ingredients ever to make good food. i'm moving more towards using everyday fresh cheap ingredients in cooking rather than expensive high dollar items. its a fun transition that should take a while. [one more reason why i need a big plot of land for a garden]. but the bread turned out excellent - a great crust with a firm moist inside. the key is that it takes 12-24 hours for the dough to rise; which is not all that difficult. time is free as they say.
so that was tuesday.
got to see the new Phillip Glass opera Waiting for the Barbarians last night. it was - eh, ok. the sets were great and the music was typical of Glass. but the characters and the singing - not impressive at all.
but on the plus side - i made my first loaf of bread ever and how exciting is that! i found a recipe several months ago that requires no mixing or kneading and decided that sounded like a good opportunity to start trying to use the cheapest ingredients ever to make good food. i'm moving more towards using everyday fresh cheap ingredients in cooking rather than expensive high dollar items. its a fun transition that should take a while. [one more reason why i need a big plot of land for a garden]. but the bread turned out excellent - a great crust with a firm moist inside. the key is that it takes 12-24 hours for the dough to rise; which is not all that difficult. time is free as they say.
so that was tuesday.
Monday, January 29, 2007
montag
so the new week of cold. all the promised rain that was due this weekend failed to materialize; which was kind of nice - there's nothing quite like a clear, blue-skied, very brisk day. so not too much excitement - a fun friday afternoon and boring friday night. leaving work and noon and getting to grill, bike, and shop when one is normally at work is always pleasurable. night was early teacher happy hour at one of valerie's friend's houses. sometimes those are some of the most tiresome events - a small group of teachers talking / complaining about their work and certain teachers and students whom I often hear of in their stories, but have no idea who they are. i'm thinking i'll be skipping these more in the future and attempt to create my own happy hours.
other than that, a full day of relaxing yesterday; and now a new week of beginning yet again.
other than that, a full day of relaxing yesterday; and now a new week of beginning yet again.
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