holy facial hair, batman!

Baguer sports his modified Fu Manchu. Happy New Year, everyone!

what train table?

Why play with my trains on the train table I got for Christmas when
I've got the whole kitchen floor?

Ah, vacation

Facts about today:
- At 2:59 pm Heidi, Emma & I still have our pajamas on.
- Cocktails thus far: bloody marys, screwdrivers, and Shirley Temples.
- Baguer is as obsessed with the birds as I am.
- Games thus far: bananagrams and scattergories, the dreaded monopoly
on the horizon (if we can tear Cris away from the PS3 for five seconds).
- Music thus far: lots of Jack Johnson, the Kooks, and Cold War Kids.
- Food thus far: bagels, bialyes, popcorn, keilbasa.
- Best part of today: the laziness
- Worst part of today: Pinky's working :(

wine wars

As expected, Pink kicked everyone's ass at the game my mom brought
with her, Wine Wars.

Christmas in Atl

Jack is LOVIN all his time with his cousins, Cris and Emmie.
Seriously, he is going to be miserable when they have to leave.

Yes that is a full pie from Trivial Pursuit. Yes my mom and I did beat my wife and our friend Jimmy at this game. You might be thinking, why post this? Well it probably won't happen again in a long time.

Pink

feeding frenzy

I might possibly be the biggest dork ever but I don't care. I saw SIXTEEN different birds on my feeder within an hour. So freakin cool. In the picture, clockwise from right: Eastern Bluebird, female Purple Finch (I think, on house feeder), and a Carolina Chickadee. Here's the total breakdown:

Familiar faces - Blue Jay, male and female Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrasher, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, American Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, male House Finch, and the female Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Just here for the winter - Dark-eyed Junco, female Purple Finch, and the White-breasted Nuthatch.

no power

Camping lamps and headlights out!

Seriously?

> Tonight is the first night of vball practice so of course I'm stuck
> in traffic. And as usual I see some pretty interesting things, like
> the silver balls hanging down from the baby blue Hummer below.
> Seriously?
>

Woodfire Grill

Last night our friend Jimmy (the half-Chinese, half-Korean dude with the snowman from the previous post) took Pink and me out to dinner at Woodfire Grill as a belated wedding gift. In short, it was amazing. We expected nothing less and were not disappointed.

We all opted for the 5-course Chef's Tasting Menu and I'll do my best to reconstruct the meal here. But we had a lot of wine and neglected to take pictures or write anything down for fear of looking like losers so I know I am missing critical pieces of each dish.

Amuse-bouche: Roasted(?) pink lady apple with a sliver of marinated celery (this part was sweet and juicy). It was really light and crisp, perfect way to start.

1st course: Tempura fried chanterelle and oyster mushrooms over a chevre sauce. Super rich and delicious. And this was only the beginning.

2nd course: Salmon, seared on one side and raw on the other served over a red salsa and capped with a green olive tapenade (they called it a salsa but we all disagreed, it was a tapenade). This was the most melt-in-your mouth, perfectly cooked piece of salmon I have ever eaten. The salsa was a little too acidic for Pink but Chino and I loved it.

Intermezzo (?): Ever-so-slightly roasted oyster (just enough to open up the shell) served with some kind of light sauce, topped with small bits of sauteed bacon. We all agreed we could eat a hundred of these and nothing else. This was when the meal started to crescendo.

3rd course: Barbecue roasted bob white quail, pork belly, and roasted root vegetables including carrots, turnips, and parsnips (I think). Unanimously this was our favorite course. While Pink and Chino salivated over the pork belly I loved my perfect little bird the best.

Intermezzo (?): A melon-ball sized scoop of apple sorbet which tasted like cool crisp apple cider shaved ice.

4th course: Sous vide antelope served over a cranberry reduction smear and a drizzle of coffee syrup, with farro and shaved Brussels sprouts. The meat was totally tender and cooked just right, but because of the method there's no roasted flavor on the skin, but it was so good anyway. The coffee syrup was the piece that made this dish for me.

5th course: This was the dessert course. Chino and I both were served chocolate-lava crepes with chocolate sauce and a dollop of cacao whipped cream. Pink was served a pink lady apple bread pudding with a meringue cap. All of it was great. Personally, I could have done without a sweet dessert course and had another savory course or cheese course.

In the end, it was a phenomenal meal where every plate came out perfectly cooked. It was so great that we all had the same dishes because we shared our own personal experience with each course. It wouldn't have been as great an experience otherwise so I'm now convinced that if you're going to blow it out, a Chef's tasting menu is the only way to go for the whole table.

In keeping with the Top Chef theme, we're going to hit Eli's place, Eno, some time in January. This is actually where Pink and I had our rehearsal dinner (5 years ago) but with a different chef. I don't think we've been there since so it should be great.

Thanksgiving in Atl

The Virgin's Lover

Author: Philippa Gregory
Category: cheats

I read this book while I was in Africa and completely forgot to post it. As with most of her books, I was definitely engaged and loved the storytelling. Every time I read one of her books I learn a ton so it always feels like it's worth my time.

This story focuses on Queen Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry and Anne Boleyn. The feel of the court at this time reminded me most of the first book in the series, The Other Boleyn Girl, which made it completely entertaining.

The Wolfen

Author: Whitley Strieber
Category: cheats

Dougie Fresh told me this was the only book to ever give him nightmares. Written in 1978 and made into a movie, I'd say that it was moderately scary. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised, given how en vogue werewolves and the undead are, if this movie were resurrected by Hollywood. The story itself was pretty good. The only thing I didn't like was that some of the dialogue seemed really disjointed, like I had missed a paragraph or even skipped a page.

super pathetic cheater

I'm not even going to log this as a book I've read this year for a couple of reasons. One, I've read it already. And two, it only took me 2 days so it really hasn't put a dent in my progress of my other books. And three, do I really need to admit with a post title that I've read New Moon, again?

And just like a true glutton for punishment (see here) my three girlfriends and I have secured our New Moon tickets for tomorrow afternoon. At least we're not as pathetic as my sister who is going at midnight tonight. H, I hope you enjoy all the screaming teenagers and don't feel as old as we really are.

i'm a dork II

Hands down, this is the best show on television right now. If you haven't seen it, you must.

I can't remember the last time I watched a tv show and had a smile plastered on my face for all 45 minutes of it. Truly, this show is pure happiness - my best time spent watching tv each week.

And since when did Fox starting kicking NBC's ass in the show department? I think my routine schedule is about 4:1 Fox programming, although the idiotic cancelling of Dollhouse has pissed me off. You're telling me they're going to keep that creep Gordon Ramsey around in TWO shows (at least one being total crap) and send Joss Whedon's genius to the trash can? What the hell, man!

I want to create a tv station that airs all the programming that gets needlessly canned because the average American is too stupid to understand or appreciate. Showcased would be the greatest of all prematurely cancelled shows and the originator of ridiculously fast bantering between characters (later toned down in West Wing), Sports Night. Never has a smarter show been so under appreciated. Never heard of it? Come over and we'll watch the dvds.

Joss Whedon would find refuge for his Firefly and Dollhouse series. I suppose I could be convinced to throw in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to give him a trifecta although I've never seen it and I don't think that show met an early end, but it might appeal to those nerdy tweens (wow, can't believe I just used that word).

Others in the lineup: Arrested Development, Dirty Sexy Money (not a smart show per se, just entertaining and cancelled too soon), Sunset Boulevard or whatever the re-packaged Sports Night on the set of a make believe SNL was called, and My So Called Life for nostalgia (who doesn't love Claire Danes and Jared Leto in their awkward phases?).

Current shows that have the potential to get cancelled just because I like them: Fringe (why did they move this show to Thursday night?), Big Bang Theory (second only to Glee, the other best 30 minutes of my tv routine each week), and FlashForward (viva Charlie and Penny!).

And of course, once Lost gets wrapped up this year it would be the ultimate in too smart television, but surprisingly has been allowed to runs its course. This show is even too convoluted for me and yet I still come back, despite hardly ever getting answers to anything that happens. Surely Matthew Fox can't be that much of a draw? Oh wait, he's not, it's the Josh dude who's so hot.

should he stay or should he go?

This is the question that has been debated between myself and a few colleagues at work who are actual Notre Dame alumni, unlike myself. My status, however, makes me no less disgusted with the defense (or more appropriately, lack of) that the Irish have been showcasing lately.

And now one of the worst scenarios was set in motion yesterday with the Irish loss to the #1 defensive ranked team of Pitt. It would have been easier if they just got their asses kicked a la Navy style, but no, they actually had to play respectable defense in the first half. But true to form, we seemed to have forgotten how to tackle a guy that runs right up the middle in the second half. What's Claussen supposed to do? Admittedly, though, not his best game either with that interception.

So the best scenario might have been a complete waxing by Pitt, which didn't fully happen. This might have promoted the kind of situation where Charlie would be sent packing at season's end. But now, if the Irish win out the rest of the season and it is perceived that this week's debacle was an improvement over last week's, then how can they afford to buy him out? Honestly, how are they going to afford that anyway? Bags, better get ready for some serious alumni contribution solicitations.

Thoughts?

The Lost Symbol

Author: Dan Brown

Category: cheats

Cool facts. Lame ending. I'm done with him.

i'm a dork

On Sunday I went with Pink to Afternoon in the Country. It was like Taste of Atlanta except better food, better place, higher social class. I was there under the guise of assisting at Sherlock's table but all I really did was eat, drink, and stalk celebrity chefs.

Kevin from Woodfire Grill and me (it will be a travesty if he doesn't win Top Chef).

Pink even got in on the action with Hector from Pura Vida.

Q19 update and parking deck

With my last post I have surpassed my goal of reading 19 books in 2009. However, not all of them were the intended 19 so I'm not sure there's cause for celebration yet. I've still got 3 books from last Christmas to get through before the end of the year.


Honestly, I know I'll finish the Vonnegut books on schedule but I don't see it happening for The Selfish Gene. Man, this book is going slowly. Right now I feel like I'm reading a basic biology text. I love science. LOVE science. But somehow I just can't get excited about this book. Maybe it will get better. But I've got at least two more books I'd rather read and self-discipline is not my strongest suit as evidenced by the raided bag of Halloween candy at my house.

On the other hand, I'm concurrently reading Welcome to the Monkey House which is mildly entertaining, so I've got that going for me.

On the parking deck: is there much worse than being stuck behind someone who goes the required 7 mph through a parking deck up to the 5th floor? I got through 3 songs (~8 minutes!) and never got out of first gear before getting to a spot.

The Elegance of the Hedgehog

Author: Muriel Barbery
Category: book club

Most of this book was slightly over-intellectual but the underlying story is amazing. Once you brush away all the fancy words, analogies, and references a beautiful and inevitable sadness is delivered perfectly. It could have been written no other way.

Testing mobile blogging

there's no place like home

Rather cliche, but never more true.

Back from my adventure and I've decided I need a day at home to recuperate before heading to work. Here's my agenda for the day:

- wear my pajamas until I have to leave the house

- drink my second cup of tea, and possibly a third (learned behavior from my trip)

- catch up on Gossip Girl, Glee, and Fringe (slightly ambitious, may have to ax Fringe from the plans)

- catch up on 3 weeks of EW (1 down, 2 to go)

- laundry (just a touch of real-world responsibility)

- figure out how to get my cat to stop pissing in my dining room (also slightly ambitious)

- get rice for dinner (the only thing I will leave the house for today) and make black beans

And it's been raining since early morning which makes it even more perfect to be holed up inside. Things couldn't have worked out more brilliantly, well, except for the cat pee.

"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." ~Jane Austen

Kenya: Day 9

This is the view of the sunset over Lake Victoria from my hotel. There are plenty of buildings in front to obscure the view, but with a little zoom they can be avoided. This was one of my first nights here in Kisumu - I haven't been back to the hotel by sunset since.

Yesterday we saw a terrible accident where a motorbike (piki piki) got hit by a car. The entire windshield was smashed and you could even see where the piki piki rider's head went through the windshield into the car. We got there some time after it had happened so we only saw the car, thankfully. Point of fact, I'd say about 85% of the motorcyclists don't wear helmets, even though I think John said it was a law.

The driving here is definitely scary. We've taken as much precaution as possible not to be driving from anywhere far after it gets dark. The roads are littered with bicyclists who transport people from place to place via a cushion over the rear wheel instead of a rack (boda bodas) and the drivers of the cars and matatus (minivan-like buses) don't care much for their safety and barely honk when they pass them. At least once I've seen a guy on a boda boda drive off into the ditch to get out of the way.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Author: Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
Category: purchases

So, this book was pretty fun. Part of me thinks I might have liked it a little more if I hadn't read the original so recently. The second half was better than the first where I feel like he deviated from the original a little more and made it like a new story for me. Perhaps if I was a crazy Jane Austen fan I would have been offended but I think both versions merit some praise.

Kenya: Day 7?

I’m now around my 7th day here is Kisumu. It’s supposed to be the dry season right now but it has rained ridiculously hard for the last four days in a row. While people in Atlanta are dealing with crazy flooding, it is not lost upon me while I’m here in Kenya.

Sunday night we went out to dinner at Mon Ami restaurant in Mega City. Mega City is a giant mall with a super market (Nakamutt) and then across the parking lot is Mon Ami which has a huge covered patio where we were trying to eat.

It started to rain while we were waiting for our bitings (starters for you non-Africans) and all of a sudden it felt like we were caught in a hurricane. The wind was spraying the rain at least 25 feet – there was nowhere safe on the patio. All of us patrons were crammed up against the wall by the pass thru to the kitchen until it let up enough for us to sit back down at our damp tables and chairs.

The picture is not that great but this was taken from the car as we were stuck in traffic to get out of the parking lot and onto Nairobi Road, which was a complete river. The car in the picture has stalled in the middle of the road creating all sorts of problems in addition to the massive amounts of water flowing. You can see how high the water is on the wheel of the bicycle on the left of the shot.

The craziest part of the night, though, happened when the lot adjacent to the patio flooded and two monitor lizards came flying across the road to go swimming. John actually thought they were trying to get away from the water but got kind of stuck in the wading pool. And then there were at least 2 cars that tried to drive through 3+ feet of water and got stuck. Every time someone attempted to make it through, all 10 people in the restaurant got up and ran over to the side of the patio to watch the debacle.

Kenya: Day 2

Here's the picture I tried to post the other day of the Kisumu airport.

Kenya: Days 1 & 2

I can't promise how long I'll be able to keep up posting...I've only got internet access while I'm at the field station, which I suppose shouldn't really be a surprise. But hey, at least I've got a cell phone...

So after two longs flights we arrived safely in Nairobi on Wednesday evening. After skipping through customs (special passports at least get you to the front of the line) and turning in our H1N1 health forms to an empty and dark desk under the Ministry of Health sign, we got in a cab to head to the hotel.

Those of you who went on the Italy trip, and I guess anyone who's been to Rome, will understand me when I say that driving in Nairobi (at night) is like like driving in Roma (at rush hour), and having to dodge bicyclists as well as motorcylists. Holy crap. Bags, that close call in Roma that you got on video was like the Easter Parade compared to the navigating the Death Race last night. People ride their BIKES on the highway. And it appears that you can pass anyone anytime you want - even when there's oncoming traffic as long as you can squeeze between the two vehicles.

I tried to post a picture of the airport in Kisumu where we arrived at this morning but my computer is having some trouble with that. It reminded me of landing in Belize when I was in high school. There was no baggage claim, just you getting your bag that the plane guys (I really don't have a name for them) tossed to the ground from the cart they brought it in across the fifty yards of asphalt between you and the runway. Brilliant. But I'm thankful that we got here safely and with all of ours bags - that was certainly an unexpected bonus.

The Help

Author: Kathryn Stockett

Category: book club

For a little while now the book club had been tossing around the idea of reading some southern lit but no one had really offered up any suggestions. Shelley read about The Help somewhere and we all agreed that would work.

This story was really well told, with each chapter from a different character's perspective a la Poisonwood Bible. It takes place in the early 60's in Mississippi and focuses on the black women who care for the white babies in the midst of the racial turmoil. It was enlightening and sad to know that such a time and such behavior is not a myth.

My only complaint is that the end seemed a little rushed and almost a little too happy ending-ish but other than that I really enjoyed it and think it will make for a good discussion for book club.

The Penultimate Truth

Author: Philip K. Dick

Category: Cheats

I know, two cheats in a row. Doug-e-fresh passed this on to me a while ago and it's been sitting in my pile for months. Since I already started on the path of cheating why stop now? If you're not cheatin you're not tryin, right Bags?

But on to the book.

Dad, please, don't do this to me again. Books that use made-up words and define them at some later date in the story (if at all) infuriate me. It was almost like Neuromancer all over again. Ok, not THAT bad, but not good.

Once I understood the vocab list, or didn't care anymore, the story got interesting. But I felt like his humor was a weak attempt to emulate my favorite, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Anyway, it's done. Sorry I didn't like it as much as you, Daddy.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Author: Stieg Larsson

Category: Cheats

So, yeah, I got a little of course with this one. When I was at the bookstore buying Wuthering Heights for my sister I just couldn't leave without buying myself a book. I figured the odds were pretty good that I was going to meet my goal this year so I gave in. I'm lucky I made it out of there with just one...

As soon as the two stories meshed into one this became a good book. I'm sure all the separate background was necessary but still kind of annoying. But I did totally enjoy it after it finally came together and loved the two main characters. I don't normally do mystery/detective novels but this was sufficiently entertaining that it worked for me - so much so that I'll probably read the sequel.

The Road

Author: Cormac McCarthy

Category: Purchases

You might think I've disappeared. Well, sort of. It's been a rough last 4 weeks being on vacation 97% of the time. So I'm a little behind on posting my reads, but believe me, there have been plenty.

I started reading Cormac McCarthy several years ago when I picked up Child of God. I then became mildly obsessed with him and read four other books which led me to All The Pretty Horses. But after that one I lost interest and haven't picked him up until now.

As one of my friend's remarked, The Road was his most universally accessible book. It frightened me and broke my heart. His sparse language was a reflection of the world he so successfully portrayed. And I believed it - I truly believed this world he described could exist in our future. Like I said, scary. Very well done. Recommended. Sad.

Being Self Sufficient

Yesterday morning I pick 6 tomatoes and made a batch of fig jam. Then the chickens produce 4 eggs. Since Sunday the chickens have produce almost 2 dozen, amazing little creatures. All of which came off of our property. It occur to me that is pretty cool.

W

Wuthering Heights

Author: Emily Bronte
Category: library

Wow. These are some mean and crazy people in here. Who behaves like that? Did people really act like such animals back in 19th century England? Heathcliff is the true original bastard, for sure.

I enjoyed this classic quite a bit. I don't know what's gotten me into all these old school novels but it's definitely been worth my time. The only thing I didn't have patience for were the rants by Joseph in his crazy dialect. I just couldn't take the time to try to translate that mess of letters and apostrophes into something coherent.

Mmmm...black beans

The Reach of a Chef

Author: Michael Ruhlman
Category: stacks

My boss is an entomologist whose hobby is being a foodie and cooking a killer paella. He's actually very good friends with the owner of the store Pink works for and teaches an occasional cooking class or two. I think we probably talk more about food and wine than we do about real work-related material. I'm reminded of this when I think of an email exchange we had:

Gena writes: Can you approve the attached purchase request, please? PS - Warner is wondering how to keep the bottom of the paella from burning and if it's supposed to be crispy or not. Thanks.

Boss replies: Important things first, the crust is called the "socratto"...

He enthusiastically lent me the above book maybe 2 years ago and I've finally just gotten around to reading it. He was right - it was great! The author starts by going back to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America) to see how things have changed since he's been there, which by itself is an interesting commentary on the attitude/role of the student in general these days. Then he moves to the meat of his book, how the image of the chef has changed and how "branding" plays a major role now in measuring success.

I loved it because I knew about several of the chefs he highlighted and enjoyed learning about those I hadn't heard of before. I loved knowing I had at eaten at some of the restaurants he mentions (okay, really only three) and picking up where I'd love to go for our next over-the-top meal ($500 sushi, anyone?). It would be completely entertaining for any foodie.

He talks about food television and how that has played a major role in the chef coming out of the kitchen, so to speak, and capturing the attention of millions of people at a time - something never imagined for a chef. If you're into food and restaurants (or maybe even marketing), then I'm sure you'll find this sufficiently entertaining.

Hot, Flat, & Crowded

Author: Thomas Friedman
Category: Christmas

I finished this book over a week ago but I guess I've been trying to collect my thoughts about it.

I started out my undergrad career focusing on a degree in Environmental Science (during a college interview, the wise dean at Florida Institute of Tech convinced me that there are only so many jobs at Sea World and that I should pass on marine biology as a major, thus landing me at Albright College instead). Because at the time I loved learning about science and didn't want to waste my time on religion (that hasn't changed) or history (that has changed) all my electives were science courses whether they related to my degree or not. In the end, I came home with two degrees: one in Environmental Science and one in Biology.

Most of my working career has revolved around straight biology and it's only been recently that I've recognized my passion probably lies elsewhere within science. The environment is important to me. The concept of social responsibility is important to me. People who take the environment for granted and don't do what they can to cut their consumption are like people who don't vaccinate their kids - they illustrate no concept of the greater good. Sure, it's hard work, but isn't almost everything worthwhile hard work? More on this at a later date...

There are lots of good points to this book. It was a little too long, though, and for a lot of it I felt like I was being reprimanded, that he was standing there shaking his finger at me. But maybe that's the point. I'm convinced that we need to cut our consumption of oil and that ethanol is not the answer, mostly because it takes up the space we should be using to grow better food for our country. That's a whole other topic that has been at the forefront of my mind lately. We eat so much processed shit in this country and high fructose corn syrup is in everything. It should be no secret why Americans are fat and why they're getting fatter and dying of preventable diseases. But I digress.

If nothing else, maybe Friedman's scare tactics will work on some people. His bit about the auto industry is great, how he emphasizes that we have so many smart and talented people in our midst - we just need to let them into the game. Let the innovators play!

Definitely recommended if you can get over reading his tag line in every other paragraph.

Pink's Road Race

Pink ran the infamous Peachtree Road Race this year, all for the tee. Check out his results. Nice job, dude.

It's unfortunate, however, that he hasn't really been able to walk the last two days, though.

[Edit: Road Race results page isn't working anymore. Hmm.]

Amphigorey

Author: Edward Gorey
Category: Christmas
When I was in grad school one of my roommates had a book called The Gashlycrumb Tinies. It was an alphabet of tots meeting intensely creative (and more often than not cruel) ends.

This started my fascination with Edward Gorey. I loved it so much I had to buy my own copy when I moved out. As one reviewer said, he appeals to, "anyone with a taste for morbid absurdity." I guess you learn something new about yourself everyday.

A lot of his books are hard to come by in their original form so several of them (if not all) are compiled into 4 anthologies: Amphigorey, Amphigorey Too, Amphigorey Also, and Amphigorey Again. Amphigorey contains 15 of his works, including the Gashlycrumb Tinies, but there is a lot of good stuff in there. Some of my other favorites from this book are The Bug Book, The Curious Sofa, and The Willowdale Handcar.

Google Edward Gorey and you'll likely see a good representation of his artwork and you'll instantly be able to recognize his work from that point on. It is utterly unique and fascinating, to say the least. Enjoy!

eggs!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about this - our chickens have started laying eggs! We got the first one last Sunday, the 21st. Since then we've had three more, all of them already eaten.

Right now Pink thinks that only one lady is laying but we expect the others to join in shortly.

The Queen's Fool

Author: Philippa Gregory

Category: stacks

Chronologically this is the fourth book in the series whose most recognized novel is The Other Boleyn Girl. While I feel like the story's enchantment was lacking in the third in the series, The Boleyn Inheritance, it was resurrected with The Queen's Fool and makes pushing through to it completely worth the time.

This part of the epic focuses on Queen Mary, King Henry's "bastard" daughter by Queen Katherine, her most sad life and troubled ascent to the throne of England. It also serves to rightly introduce perhaps the most well-known beside Henry himself, the queen-to-be Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Henry and Anne Boleyn.

I think the beauty of Gregory's novels is that there is real history involved but made utterly compelling by her fabulous imagination. Once I clear out the rest of the queue I'll definitely be putting the next in the series, The Virgin's Lover, at the top of my to-read list!

redneck shower

Birthday Boy

Happy 2nd birthday, little bear!

Dreams From My Father

Author: Barack Obama
Category: Purchases

This book was selected for the book club I didn't want to be in. I'm actually going to make it to the discussion this time so bravo for me, and I guess it also means I should start showing some unconditioned allegiance. Henceforth, it shall simply be referred to as, "book club."

Obama was asked to write this after being selected as the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review, a fact that escaped me before now. As my Dad would chide me for never reading or watching the news (which I do actually do now, occasionally), I likewise didn't pay much attention to things besides a few key issues during the election so it's no surprise to me that this book was teeming with new information that most of the rest of the world probably already knows. It was like meeting someone for the second time without all the social awkwardness and with all the familiarity of an old friend.

I guess I particularly liked the candidness (is that a word?) with which I felt he wrote. It was published in 1995 so it's pretty clear to me that he had no idea or intentions of being the President, which I think made this a more honest account of his personal history than it may have been otherwise, or if a different kind of person was writing it.

He's a great storyteller and a rather good writer. And my opinion of his massive intelligence is completely solidified. I was going to say that I was less interested in his personal struggle (the main theme of the book) and more in his personal history, but of course one gives way to the other and by the end the two were indistinguishable. Extraordinarily educational and highly recommended.

EDIT: Changed the category to Book Club.

Slapstick

Author: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Category: Christmas

KVJ is my most favorite author (my cats are named Kilgore and Trout, and certainly by no accident). Several years ago I read just about everything I could get my hands on by him. I had heard that his greatest work had been the Sirens of Titan so I saved that book for maybe 3 or 4 years - the best for last, so to speak (although it clearly turned out I had missed a few others).

Finally, some time early in 2007 I just couldn't hold out any longer so I read it. And then the unimaginable happened. I killed my hero.

Within weeks of my finishing Sirens KVJ passed away. Who knew I had been keeping him alive all along by starving myself of his greatest work? I was devastated, literally.

But alas, I hadn't quite been as completely read in KVJ as I had thought. Missing from my library was not only Slapstick, but also Welcome to the Monkey House, both of which I received first editions for Christmas from my most wonderful Pink.

Slapstick was one of the most heartfelt books I've read by him, even drawing tears in the introduction. For this particular edition KVJ described more about him personally than I ever knew and elicited such tears of sadness. The INTRODUCTION! The story itself, of course, had the usual expected quirkiness of a Vonnegut story, but knowing the basis for which he wrote it made it more meaningful and less satiric for me, slipping it in just behind Cat's Cradle on my list of Vonnegut favorites.

Crazy Memorial Day, Part II

As promised, the next bit of craziness for Monday.  I swear, it's like Wild Kingdom at our house these days.

Pink came upon this situation in the backyard last night.  It took him (the black rat snake) 30 minutes from start to finish.  For the 7 1/2 minute video version check out the YouTube link below (sorry, it's a little shaky).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a3H1Xh5lEg

Bad Day. Good Day.

Bad day.  Got completely soaked on my ride this afternoon.

Good day.  My new camera got here and it is effing sweet.  The inaugural picture is below.

W iPhone snap: DFM on Monday

Might be hard to see, but yes, those are some gnarly looking dreads we spotted at the farmers' market. Just one part of the craziness that was Memorial Day...more to come later on.

Pride & Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen
Category: stacks

So, the real reason I read this classic was so I could read this later on this summer without feeling like a cheater.

I have to admit, at first I was just going through the motions to assuage any impending guilt but it turns out I was pleasantly surprised at how much I truly enjoyed it. Towards the end all I really wanted to know was if Lizzie and Darcy would be together (as I assume everyone does) which kept me reading at a furious pace.

Gosh, who knew I was such a romantic?

lake. big lake.

I'm not a mind reader.  But if I were I might have known this was what Jack was thinking as he ominously pointed at the lake for the camera:

"I will now simultaneously prove that walking on water is a ridiculous notion while at the same time scaring the shiz out of my parents."

"Success!"

W iPhone snap: this guy is freakin out

in the hole!

Last week I swore I saw a fox in the backyard.  Pink thought I saw a coyote (honestly, who's the biologist here?  I think I know the difference...).

Last night I discovered the FOX den in our backyard and saw the three little pups peeping their heads out of the foxholes.  So cute.  But haven't seen mama fox since last week...and yes, we still have all four chickens...for now.

Unaccustomed Earth

Author: Jhumpa Lahiri

Category: Acquisitions

Remember that book club that I didn't want to join? The one that showed me I could enjoy the world of perfume on a non-olfactory level? Lahiri's book was the second one selected by our group but alas, volleyball had me so slammed that I couldn't actually make it to the rendezvous. But being the team player I am, I read it anyway.

Lahiri is not new to me - I read her book The Namesake which was passed on to me by my sister some time last year or the year before.

Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories and the second part is three stories about the same two characters - by far my favorites. I love the way she develops her characters. She spends an almost ridiculous time building them up so you understand them before you get to the meat of the story, but it's fantastic.

Note: this is my last acquisition until I clear out the rest of the categories - yikes!

caladium & sylvan ramble

This is what 50+ mph winds in Atlanta did on Monday at an intersection in our neighborhood. You can't see from this picture but the tree's base is probably another 60 ft to the right. It fell across the owner's whole lawn and then across the street onto their neighbor's lawn, taking the power lines with it.

Picture courtesy of Pink.

jaded

Disclaimer: I'm a food snob. I fully admit that. I definitely have my weaknesses, though, like Cracker Barrel. But that guilty pleasure aside, I have grown accustomed to my culinary-trained husband's amazing food so much that eating at home is almost always better than going out.

Where am I going with this? My cousin gave us some gift cards to Outback a few Christmases in a row and we never used them. We finally decided to cash them in at one of the other restaurants the monster chain owns, Roy's. Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine.

On the surface this seemed like a good idea. There was lots of fish on the menu and we've been avoiding meat lately. As we sat there and ate we both thought it was okay. Nothing great. Probably wouldn't choose to go back there, but still okay, especially since most of the meal was a gift.

But the next day, reflecting back on our meal, I decided that no, it wasn't okay. Despite that I felt sick all the following day, here's why: just like most other chain restaurants, they think all Americans want huge portions slathered in some kind of creamy sauce.

We both ordered fish. Pink's mahi mahi had a lobster Cognac butter sauce, my butterfish had a sweet thick soy glaze on it - there honestly wasn't a fish on the menu that didn't have some kind of rich sauce with it. When I eat fish I want to feel clean and fresh when I'm done, not like I just ate a jar of mayonnaise. Even the sushi we ordered for an app had a sauce on the plate. Sushi.

And the portions were probably three times the amount we would normally eat for a meal. The best part of my dish was the bok choy because even sauteed in butter it was the most unadulterated food on the table the whole night.

termites and trees

The joys of home ownership.

Easter Sunday. Doing laundry. Somewhere between my third and fourth loads the termites in the basement decided to swarm. Seriously, the swarmers were swarming. All these winged things sneaking out from under the fake wood paneling and climbing upward.

I started screaming. Warner ran down thinking I cut off an appendage or something. Jack started screaming and practically shoved his entire head through the cat door to keep his eyes on us (totally wish I had a picture of that).

Monday. The very next day. 50+ mile per hour straight line winds in the Atlanta area, shockingly without any sign of a tornado. Pink's fancy weather station registered 54 mph at our house. At lunch he suggested I go home and make sure a tree didn't fall on the house. Thankfully enough, not on the house, but still one huge pine and one oak bit it, suspended only by the other trees they blew into, ends completely uprooted.

Nothing money can't fix, right?

Next

Author: Michael Crichton

Category: Acquisitions

Dougie Fresh passed this on to me when he was here last. As always, very entertaining author. Nothing really exceptional to say about it - a reliable piece of brain candy.

The Emperor of Scent

Author: Chandler Burr

Category: Christmas

My friend, Shelley, gave me this book after we had read another of Chandler Burr's books, The Perfect Scent, for our book club. I really didn't want to read it - books about perfumes by the New York Times perfume editor (who knew such a thing existed?) just didn't appeal to me - I don't even wear perfume and smelling it gives me a headache.

Nonetheless, my sister convinced me I was being antisocial if I didn't read it so I did. And it was fascinating. When Shelley told me The Emperor was more about the science of smell, I knew the anti-social uber-nerd in me would immediately love it. And I did.

the girls are home

As Warner put it in his email, "The girls are home."

Yesterday we added 4 new members to our family, and no, we definitely are not giving them individual cutesy monikers. I can't bear to name something that I may eat in the future. They will collectively be known as The Ladies.

If I can remember correctly, starting with the yellow one and going clockwise we've got a Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, and a Black Australorp.

They seem pretty small at this point and Pink says they'll be about twice this size when they're done growing. Pretty sure sure they're all girls but I guess we'll find out.

Lynn and her Jack were nice enough to hook us up with the chicks and their old coop so we're pretty well set up. And our Jack is learning to say, "chicken," really well now.

In Defense of Food

Author: Michael Pollan
Category: Library

I allowed myself this early library read because the author will be speaking at CDC next Friday, March 20th. He is in town as the keynote speaker for the 12th Annual Georgia Organics Conference next weekend.

This book was nothing short of fascinating. Pollan discusses the Western Diet and how it has contributed to the slew of chronic diseases Americans now face (obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and on, and on, and on). But he also explains why this is the case. Some of it seems so obvious that I wonder why I never put some of these conclusions together myself. I almost feel ashamed.

Nonetheless, it is an extraordinarily enlightening book that makes complete sense on so many levels. I can't recommend this book highly enough, really. This book has the power to not only completely change how you view the food you eat and but how you eat it, too, in the best kind of way. It's a great, easy, quick read.

bloody gross

Marsha's Bloody Mary - its range is amazing. From festively kicking off your Sunday brunch to curing your worst hangover (I'm SO serious), her Bloody is the consummate warrior in the cyclical world of revelry and recovery. I'm convinced it's because of her "secret" ingredient, Clamato juice.

For those who are unfamiliar, it's a tomato juice cocktail with some undefined percentage of reconstituted clam juice. I agree that it doesn't sound appealing but it works, trust me. Nothing could be better.

But this? This is just blasphemy. Who could have thought this was a good idea? What kind of world are we living in?


Edit: Picture courtesy of Pink

FB to the rescue

I've always thought that years 24-26 were among the best of my life and if I could be any age forever it would be one of those. Young and carefree, as they say, with no real responsibility in life.

One of my volleyball players, several years ago, told me, "You're only as old as you act," which may explain why I still think I fall somewhere in that range. In my head I've yet to enter into my third decade. Somehow I still believe I'm relevant.

But as I approach my biological 34th birthday thank goodness I have Facebook to confirm what I always knew to be true anyway - that my real age is 26.

my crazy pink

This is too funny not to post. Sorry, Pink.

Sunday night. Watching the Oscars. Warner asleep on the other couch, as usual. Something startled the man (perhaps my squeal when R-Patz hit the stage) and he started mumbling and pointing at our glasses of water on the coffee table. I assumed he was asking me which one was his so I told him and that's where the conversation got interesting.

Pink: Just drink it!
Gena: Huh?
Pink: If that's what you're going to do then just drink them!
Gena (a little wary now but suppressing laughter): Dude, you need to wake up.
Pink: JUST DRINK IT!

At this point Pink gets up from the couch, grabs his full glass of water and throws it to the floor like Jack having a temper tantrum, and storms off to the bedroom. After cleaning up the water (glass didn't break, amazingly) I went to the back to see if he was awake at this point and all I got was the bathroom door slammed in my face.

Monday morning the man has zero recollection of any of this. Really.

Neuromancer

Author: William Gibson
Category: Acquisitions

I gave this book to my Dad for his birthday last year because I had read something about it being one of the greatest science fiction books ever written. For those who know my Dad, it's almost impossible to find a good science fiction novel that he hasn't already read. I thought I struck the jackpot with this one.

So after he finished he passed it on to me. Here's what I have to say about it.

I don't think I've read a book before where I reached the middle of the story and at that exact point (no sooner) was when I finally thought I might have some small minuscule idea of what the hell was going on. And then five pages later decided I was wrong and was still swimming on the fringe hoping the cool kids would let me in on the joke. What was happening, who were these people, WHERE were these people, and what language were they speaking?

After conferring with a friend of mine who regards this as one of his most favorite books ever, apparently that's how it's SUPPOSED to be. According to him, it's a reflection of the kind of fast-paced dream-like world the characters inhabit where they themselves have little idea about what is going on, who employs them, and what they're supposed to be doing. And oh yeah, I'll probably need to read it two or three more times to fully understand it.

Um, no thanks. Too many other books in the hopper to do that again.

I do have to say that by the end I think I know what the general point of the story was but am not entirely convinced it's one of the best science fiction books ever written. But then again, maybe I'm just stupid.

Reunion

Author: Alan Lightman
Category: Stacks

This was my first completed read for my 19 in 2009 quest. I've read five books of Lightman's published fiction, but definitely none of his published works on physics.

I think one of the reasons I like him so much is because he is first and foremost a scientist. His writings have such a nerdy comfortable feel for me. Reunion was no exception. He is masterful in showing how our memories can play tricks on us, or rather how we choose to remember things as we want, not as how they may have actually happened.

oh yeah

My friend, Connie, has her pic posted on Perez this morning. She's on the left. Craziness!

game on

It's a week into our family weight loss challenge and I'm the early front runner. As Pink points out, I have had an extra couple of weeks of exercising to get my metabolism up to speed compared to everyone else. But as I told all the contestants (5 of us in all) I will NOT be an embarrassment at the beach this summer.

I've also discovered the greatest time management multi-tasking brilliance ever. We get so many magazine subscriptions at our house that it's almost impossible to keep up with them. And I keep getting more because I want them, but also seem to send several to the recycle bin without even a glance.

At the gym at work there are two tvs, one on CNN and one on ESPN. Because I listen to my shuffle I can't tune into the sound of either tv and am forced to read the captioning. And although I'd prefer to read ESPN, the ellipticals that I frequent are in front of CNN and you're not allowed to touch the tvs. Bastards. Are all gyms like this?

Anyway, my new plan which so far has worked flawlessly is just to bring one of my mags. What a novel freakin idea. I've already blown through two Entertainment Weeklys and halfway through my new Wired. Oh the joy.

milly & r-patz

Who knew my sister-in-law was in a random London pub just the other day!

fitness low. heart rate too high.

Tuesday=bad day.

Bad day=no explanation or solution for some bizarre facial numbness I'm experiencing AND hearing we need to replace the transmission in our Jeep. Bad day, for sure. And just to rub it right down in there good and deep, my day was capped off with the title statement, "Fitness Low. Heart rate too high."

In an attempt not to be a total embarrassment when the family hits the beach this summer I started working out last week. I was feeling pretty good about myself until I did the Performance program on the Precor machine (which in reality is a fitness test) and it decided, "Fitness low. Heart rate too high." I think the program even aborted early, doubting I could survive the rigors of the rest of the workout. No good deed goes unpunished, right?

books, books, books

I love books.  No, that doesn't even begin to cover it.  

I love to read them, I love how they feel, I love to turn the pages, I love to own lots of books and be in rooms with the walls covered from ceiling to floor in them.  I love to feel utterly suffocated by them, the best kind of claustrophobia.  All those pages, all those words.

I love to own books that other people have owned.  I like to know I'm reading a book that someone else has already loved (or not, I suppose), whose hands have turned the very same pages in the very same desperate anticipation (or not), books that have likewise sat on other peoples' shelves patiently waiting their turn at the party.

Here's my problem, though.  I have too many books.  Well, perhaps not too many, just too many I haven't had the time to read.  If I had to estimate, I would say that I accumulated roughly 23 books in 2008.  I received 8 books for Christmas (one is a first edition of a book I've already read though), purchased only four for myself this whole 2008 (quite unbelievable, actually), borrowed only one from the library, and "acquired" approximately 10 others, mostly passed on to me from my Dad after he's finished with them, but also including those loaned to me from friends.  

Twenty-two unread books in, only 9 consumed in 2008.  You can see my mathematical issue.  At this rate, I will never have read all the books that I own and that is a little unsettling to me.  For a while now I've been thinking that if it's in my "library" then I should have read it, or at least be intending to.  I suppose there are some books I'll keep even though I never plan on reading them (or ones I've tried to, unsuccessfully) just because I like the way they look or they're signed by the author.  But for the most part I want to be able to pull any book off my shelf and say fondly, "Oh yeah, I loved that book [Andromeda]," or "Damn, that book infuriated me [Cold Mountain]."  Either one of those statements is so much better than, "I duh no, haven't read it yet."

Obviously, I need to set up a strategy for 2009, one that I can stick to.  Either fewer in, more out, or both.  Hmm, fewer in...not a happy thought but perhaps a necessary sacrifice.  More than doubling my consumption...a challenge, but not wholly implausible.  To make any headway though, I've got to dip into the ones already sitting on my shelves.

I think I can reasonably read 1.5 books per month capping me out at 18, maybe squeezing in one more for good measure so 19 total.  Here's how I'll break it down:

7 - received this Christmas

3 - purchases in 2009

2 - library borrows

4 - from my stacks

3 - friendly acquisitions

In theory, I will read everything "new" that comes into my possession, as well as rescuing four lost souls from the dusty confines of my various bookcases.  Anything above and beyond is gravy.

If this goes anything like my dedication to posting on the blog 12 days in a row I'll be off the wagon in no time.

 

last but not least

So, I'll finally wrap up my Best Of 2008 list (albeit ever so slightly late) with a tribute to my favorite pastime...

Best Real Book: The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory

Most Entertaining Book [series]: Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer

Again, I've got two related winners here.  TOBG came to me via my sister and I adored it.  I've always said I don't like to read books about history or historical fiction but I've been proven wrong on that before (Winds of War and War and Remembrance, Winds of Wars being one of the top 5 books I've ever read).  So it seems I'll have to change my mantra.  

Phillipa Gregory is masterful as she weaves this tale.  But almost more interesting to me than the story she wrote was how fascinated I became with the real history and the sheer number of people who research and write about Henry VIII.  Each one has a different 'perspective' of how mad he really was and what really happened - fascinating to me that there could be so many sides to seemingly one story.  Anyway, it was a great read and a complete page-turner.

Ok, so on to Twilight.  Thanks go to Marsha and the Entertainment Weekly subscription she gave me for this one.  Back in early June there was a big spread on the approaching movie.  I love vampires - Anne Rice used to be my favorite brain candy - so of course I thought I would like this.  I ordered the first two books from Amazon and literally sucked them down over the course of a weekend.  I started Saturday afternoon while baby J napped and stayed up until 2 am.  I was done with the second by Monday evening with the 3rd acquired the day before (God forbid there was any lapse) and stretched it out until the fourth and final book came out on Saturday.  I didn't go so far as to hit up Borders' midnight release party (I wouldn't admit it here if I did) but I did reserve my copy and head over there toot sweet in the a.m.

While no literary classics by any stretch, these four books were hands down the most entertaining that I read last year.  And the giddy high I was on after reading them continued for about 2 months while 3 girls at work and my sister devoured them and constantly kept me updated on where they were in the books.  I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever felt so pathetic in my whole life.  

Well, perhaps there was one other time...like when my three girlfriends and I got our Twilight movie tickets a week ahead of time, skipped out of work at 1 pm, and I felt like I was trapped in a bad after school special.  Oh yeah, this was my only other movie for 2008, quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen, even worse than the only other movie I'm embarrassed to admit I saw in the theater, "Dude, Where's My Car."