I have a combination Master Lock that I used to use for my locker in the gym in which I worked out. Alas, it has been so long since I belonged to that gym, that my memory fails on the combination. I thought I had 2 numbers, and tried all 40 in combination with those two (in addition to other screwy combinations) to no avail.
Ah... guess I'll have to spend the $10 or so for a new lock.
Did I just spend an hour trying combinations to avoid the $10 cost of a new lock? Doink !
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
What happened to Amy?
Amy Finley won the last "Who wants to be a Food Network Star" TV show series on the Food Network. I have yet to see an episode. My TV is tuned to Food Network most days. What happened Food Network? Where's my Gourmet Next Door?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The butcher; the prodigy
My kids were running around the grocery store and causing a bit of havoc. I continually ask them to keep quiet, stop running, etc, but I understand that they are kids. Finding the balance between allowing freedom and keeping them under control is an art - definitely not a science. Some would argue that I am too lax, but I am consciously allowing latitude. It's not like I am avoiding responsibility in controlling them.
So an older butcher - maybe around 55 years old - is talking to a customer about my kids and says "That's not how I was brought up. My mother would just give me a look and... " - couldn't hear the rest. His face was stern; unhappy.
So it got me thinking... if I ruled my children with an iron fist ... and cultivated a cruel, disapproving look, would they... could they... aspire to become a butcher at a small grocery store?
I know - not a fair shake. There could be ... must be ... many other factors that impacted his career destination. Ten or twenty years from now he'll probably be serving my kids at the very counter from which he cast his disapproving look and opinion. That's all good. At that point, they'll treat him with courtesy and respect, and he won't even realize ... these are the same kids whose upbringing he questioned.
So an older butcher - maybe around 55 years old - is talking to a customer about my kids and says "That's not how I was brought up. My mother would just give me a look and... " - couldn't hear the rest. His face was stern; unhappy.
So it got me thinking... if I ruled my children with an iron fist ... and cultivated a cruel, disapproving look, would they... could they... aspire to become a butcher at a small grocery store?
I know - not a fair shake. There could be ... must be ... many other factors that impacted his career destination. Ten or twenty years from now he'll probably be serving my kids at the very counter from which he cast his disapproving look and opinion. That's all good. At that point, they'll treat him with courtesy and respect, and he won't even realize ... these are the same kids whose upbringing he questioned.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Small Minds Discuss [read?] People
"Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Great quote. So true....
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Great quote. So true....
Robert Frost meets Frosty the Snowman
Funny.... my daughter was recently subjected to the assertion from an adult (who has an undergraduate degree and extended education in the medical field) that Robert Frost wrote "Frosty the Snowman".
Sorry state of affairs for that undergraduate institution I'd say. Or is it simply a matter of intelligence of the graduate? Could this be a People magazine subscriber?
Sorry state of affairs for that undergraduate institution I'd say. Or is it simply a matter of intelligence of the graduate? Could this be a People magazine subscriber?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Food Network
I'm a Food Network junkie. There; I said it.
Alas, my hotel at the client site at which I am currently working does not have Food Network on the TV smörgåsbord. So my viewing is relegated to weekends, to my wife's displeasure.
When I meet a fellow junkie, or at least someone who watches on occasion, the first question on the table (pun intended) is: Who's your favorite?
Invariably, my first response is Tyler Florence. I love his passion for food, and his recipes have been excellent. I have never made a recipe of his that I didn't love. I only have one of his cookbooks - Real Kitchen - and it occupies a place of importance on my kitchen counter among my other 5 favorites (outplacing most of the other 50+ cookbooks I own). I would love to have invited him into my home to teach me how to make Saltenas for his show: Food 911. Saltenas are a Bolivian empanada-like food that my wife and her family are crazy about. I'll wax poetic on several of Tyler's recipes in another post.
Rachael Ray. My wife has had a few folks tell her she looks like Rachael Ray, so my wife thinks I married her because of that. I don't see the resemblance, but I don't hide the fact that I'm fascinated with Rachael's shows. My daughter used to come home from school, do her homework, and afterwards, we'd watch 30-Minute Meals. It was a bonding experience for us. Rachael's cookbooks have been staples of Father's Day gifts for a few years.
Bobby Flay. I didn't like his first show much - small audience, participation, etc. His latest shows rock though - Boy Meets Grill, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and, of course, Iron Chef America. When I see him grilling on his patio, I long to be there - even to wipe off the grill. As long as I can taste his spicy, fascinating fare.
Mario Batali rocks. Another Iron Chef. I didn't like his show for the longest time - I couldn't follow what he was doing because he talks so fast. He exudes excitement about his food. Have you seen 43things.com? It's a list of 43 things folks want to accomplish before they die. One on my (yet to be published) list is to be one of his three guests on his show.
Alton Brown is a veritable encyclopedia - or perhaps closer to a PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) - cook's resource. I absolutely love his show (Good Eats), and love his expert commentary on Iron Chef. I love learning the why of good cooking, which goes much more deeply than the what and how. I love his Good Eats cookbook.
Sara Moulton (Sara's Secrets) has a great variety of guests and recipes. She's a great educator and balances expertly between preparing/describing the recipe, and providing motivation, history, and interest in the food.
I like Michael Chiarello's show, but have never prepared any of his recipes.
Those are probably my favorites. And I miss them during the week.
Alas, my hotel at the client site at which I am currently working does not have Food Network on the TV smörgåsbord. So my viewing is relegated to weekends, to my wife's displeasure.
When I meet a fellow junkie, or at least someone who watches on occasion, the first question on the table (pun intended) is: Who's your favorite?
Invariably, my first response is Tyler Florence. I love his passion for food, and his recipes have been excellent. I have never made a recipe of his that I didn't love. I only have one of his cookbooks - Real Kitchen - and it occupies a place of importance on my kitchen counter among my other 5 favorites (outplacing most of the other 50+ cookbooks I own). I would love to have invited him into my home to teach me how to make Saltenas for his show: Food 911. Saltenas are a Bolivian empanada-like food that my wife and her family are crazy about. I'll wax poetic on several of Tyler's recipes in another post.
Rachael Ray. My wife has had a few folks tell her she looks like Rachael Ray, so my wife thinks I married her because of that. I don't see the resemblance, but I don't hide the fact that I'm fascinated with Rachael's shows. My daughter used to come home from school, do her homework, and afterwards, we'd watch 30-Minute Meals. It was a bonding experience for us. Rachael's cookbooks have been staples of Father's Day gifts for a few years.
Bobby Flay. I didn't like his first show much - small audience, participation, etc. His latest shows rock though - Boy Meets Grill, Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and, of course, Iron Chef America. When I see him grilling on his patio, I long to be there - even to wipe off the grill. As long as I can taste his spicy, fascinating fare.
Mario Batali rocks. Another Iron Chef. I didn't like his show for the longest time - I couldn't follow what he was doing because he talks so fast. He exudes excitement about his food. Have you seen 43things.com? It's a list of 43 things folks want to accomplish before they die. One on my (yet to be published) list is to be one of his three guests on his show.
Alton Brown is a veritable encyclopedia - or perhaps closer to a PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) - cook's resource. I absolutely love his show (Good Eats), and love his expert commentary on Iron Chef. I love learning the why of good cooking, which goes much more deeply than the what and how. I love his Good Eats cookbook.
Sara Moulton (Sara's Secrets) has a great variety of guests and recipes. She's a great educator and balances expertly between preparing/describing the recipe, and providing motivation, history, and interest in the food.
I like Michael Chiarello's show, but have never prepared any of his recipes.
Those are probably my favorites. And I miss them during the week.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Consider the source
There are three sides to every story: yours, mine, and the truth.
You've heard this, I'm sure. Do you believe it?
It's hard not to, on an intellectual level.
Have you adopted this perspective in how you listen to "stories"? Probably not.
I went through a divorce a few years ago. We had friends in common, of course. Some take sides. I guess it's natural. As a contrived example, if I was cheating on my ex, I'd expect conservative friends to shun me based on that (barring mitigating circumstances). If my ex told them that I was cheating, and they had no other validation, then I would expect the friends to.... unfortunately, shun me anyway. That's because people, alas, accept stories without seeking input from all sides. I would expect it.... but wouldn't accept it.
I make it a practice to always filter biased input when I understand that I have not heard both sides of the story. So pardon me if my reaction to your story about "my ex-husband doesn't pay enough child support" doesn't bring me to tears. You see, I've probably not heard your ex-husband's side of the story. If I seem insensitive, please understand.... I am actually hypersenstive.... to the truth - not necessarily to your version of it.
For R&B
You've heard this, I'm sure. Do you believe it?
It's hard not to, on an intellectual level.
Have you adopted this perspective in how you listen to "stories"? Probably not.
I went through a divorce a few years ago. We had friends in common, of course. Some take sides. I guess it's natural. As a contrived example, if I was cheating on my ex, I'd expect conservative friends to shun me based on that (barring mitigating circumstances). If my ex told them that I was cheating, and they had no other validation, then I would expect the friends to.... unfortunately, shun me anyway. That's because people, alas, accept stories without seeking input from all sides. I would expect it.... but wouldn't accept it.
I make it a practice to always filter biased input when I understand that I have not heard both sides of the story. So pardon me if my reaction to your story about "my ex-husband doesn't pay enough child support" doesn't bring me to tears. You see, I've probably not heard your ex-husband's side of the story. If I seem insensitive, please understand.... I am actually hypersenstive.... to the truth - not necessarily to your version of it.
For R&B
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Undergoes
OK, so I'm a stickler about English usage. Yes, I make mistakes - please point them out when you see them.
I heard the following on ESPN a few weeks ago: "Matt Hasselbeck undergoes MRI on right knee."
The subtleties of words should be respected and harnessed appropriately. Had Mr. Hasselbeck undergone surgery on his right knee, "undergoes" would be appropriate. Having an MRI on your knee, however, is not on anyone's list of things to endure, sustain, or suffer.
I heard the following on ESPN a few weeks ago: "Matt Hasselbeck undergoes MRI on right knee."
The subtleties of words should be respected and harnessed appropriately. Had Mr. Hasselbeck undergone surgery on his right knee, "undergoes" would be appropriate. Having an MRI on your knee, however, is not on anyone's list of things to endure, sustain, or suffer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
