After watching ABC’s Primetime hour about Bob Woodruff, I realized that this story was not just about Bob Woodruff and the horrible thing that happened to him on that day in Iraq.
I watched the program, taping it at the same time. When it was over, I watched it again. I plan to watch it again today. For the benefit of anyone who didn’t see the report, it was quite different than I had anticipated. Although the first half hour was dedicated to documenting the IED explosion that injured him and his cameraman, and the subsequent miracle about his *ongoing* recovery...the story goes much deeper than that. The story is about something called T.B.I., Traumatic Brain Injury, specifically in our returning soldiers from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat areas who are experiencing the effects of this.
Most of the program concerned our troops who have experienced this kind of injury. Although T.B.I. is a relatively common injury in civilian life resulting from falls, traffic accidents, and assaults...the focus of the Bob Woodruff story is about combat-related head injuries. And herein lies what viewers should take away from that Primetime report called Bob Woodruff: To Irag and Back.
The medical treatment that soldiers receive now, compared to World War II, Korea, or even Vietnam is so much more advanced. These advancements have enabled a higher percentage of wounded soldiers to survive their injuries and return home. But, it has also made the medical community more aware of the issues surrounding T.B.I. Many traumatic brain injuries that used to be fatal are now survivable...but then what? Woodruff’s story centers on American soldiers and their challenges after surviving these injuries.
The personal feelings and emotions I felt during and after the program are mixed. On one end, I felt inspired. On the other end, I felt guilty. And this strange feeling of guilt is something I have carried with me since I returned from duty in the armed forces in 1973...that included a tour in Vietnam. Why guilt? Maybe it was because I came back uninjured, physically whole. Even though I also returned with three combat air medals and an array of other Vietnam era awards, perhaps I didn’t sacrifice enough...perhaps I should be more grateful. I don’t know. I was so fortunate to get through all of that unscathed. And as I watched that Bob Woodruff program last night, seeing a few of the brain-injured and physically (and mentally) maimed soldiers...it lead me to tears. It’s difficult to explain to anyone who hasn’t been personally touched by the trauma of war and combat. Most of my tears were for the plight of these forgotten victims of this military-industrial conflict going on, again, half a world away.
The general public does not want to see this part of what’s going on over there. To most of us, it’s just numbers. But to the soldiers themselves and their families, it is a daily challenge. A challenge to get out of bed (if they are able)...a challenge to feed themselves...a challenge to speak...a challenge to simply go on.
One of the soldiers interviewed last night said it all. This young man was shot in the head, and survived his injuries. And when Woodruff asked him about his feelings now, he said very confidently with a slight smile on his face, “It sucks!”
If you missed the program last night, you can watch it again on line at ABC.com. There have been other documentaries of late about the war in Iraq including one on HBO about the trauma centers there. It’s not for the faint of heart or squeamish. But it is something everyone should see.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Rain, the Park, and Other Things...
As I sit here in front of my computer editing some old photographs, a new round of storm clouds have darkened the skies around the Central Valley. It’s about 3:30 in the afternoon, and the billowy white clouds and deep blue sunshine from earlier today are giving way to a dark blue, almost black firmament. I can see the rain coming down just a few miles to the west of us...it will be here soon.
My new favorite website is displayed directly under this Appleworks page. It’s a live webcam from Ahwanee Meadow, aimed directly at Half Dome in Yosemite. Although this webcam image is in color, there is no color displayed right now. There is the white, snowy meadow just below the pine forest at the base of the granite monument. The top of Half Dome itself is completely obscured by a thick blanket of grayish clouds. It will be snowing at the top shortly I’m sure. The temperature there is 38 degrees at Yosemite Village. It’s much colder farther up the mountain, 27 degrees and snowing according to the webcam broadcasting images from there. This is a photo I took from the Ahwahnee Meadow area last Spring. Click here to see the same view from that live webcam.
I never really used to care about the weather forecast growing up in Southern California. The San Fernando Valley is really a moderate desert, not too hot or too cold. The temperate climate of the L.A. basin rarely gets very extreme in either direction. Winters can get a bit rainy as the Pacific Ocean is right over the Santa Monica Mountains from where I grew up. Summers are mild, but can get hot on occasion. We were raised in a house with a swimming pool. The Mojave Desert proper is just a half hour drive or so east.
But, living up here in the Central Valley of Northern California, I’ve just become more aware of what mother nature has in store for us. San Francisco is just 70 miles west of here. Lake Tahoe is 150 miles northeast. The Sierra Nevada itself...only a hour or so east. So, I’m more aware of the weather forecast now. Not that the forecast is ever very accurate. The T.V. weather people around here tend to predict rain and snow much more than it actually happens. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.
They closed Highways 80 and 50 last night for a few hours during the worst of that storm. Those are the roads leading to Tahoe and Reno, up and over the summit. Truckers, and skiers, and commuters either turned back toward Sacramento, or spent the night in their vehicles on the side of the road. Cal Trans managed to get those thoroughfares open again in short order...life went on through the mountain passes. The storm that is passing over us here in the valley this afternoon will reach the mountains by tonight. The ski resorts are elated about the new snow, although none of them were able to open yesterday because of the severity of the snow storm...white-out conditions, road closures, etc.
So, I’m checking the extended forecast for Yosemite Village the next few days. They’re expecting a few days of rain down in the valley, snow on the peaks. Next week, it is supposed to clear up, giving way to cloudy skies with high temperatures in the mid-60’s in Yosemite. It’s open to vehicle traffic all year, except during severe storms. Loretta and I will plan a day trip there on Monday. We haven’t been there since last Spring.
In the meantime, I check the live webcams for Yosemite most every day now. It’s very surreal looking at real time, live images from Ansel Adam’s stomping ground. I can’t imagine what he must have had to endure getting his photographs in the 1920’s. Our journey in the Grand Cherokee will be much easier...and faster.
It’s raining now. This brief period of blue skies and high, billowy clouds has ended for the time being. Our little Boxer, Lucy, and our long and lanky Greyhound, Sammy are sleeping on our bed just a few feet away. They don’t care about the weather today...or what it will be like on Monday in Yosemite. All our dogs do require a bit more persuasion to go outside when it’s too cold, or too wet, or too hot outside. That’s just the way we raised them. They’re spoiled. Just like we are.
If I had to choose between Winter and Summer...I would probably choose Winter here in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s much easier to get warm when it’s cold outside, then to get cool when it’s sweltering. When we finally make a move back to the coast, Monterey or San Francisco our locales of choice...Summers will be preferred. It’s always mild, and mostly sunny near the Northern California coast that time of year.
That reminds me, I should give a look to that Monterey Bay Aquarium webcam as well. They have them everywhere!
My new favorite website is displayed directly under this Appleworks page. It’s a live webcam from Ahwanee Meadow, aimed directly at Half Dome in Yosemite. Although this webcam image is in color, there is no color displayed right now. There is the white, snowy meadow just below the pine forest at the base of the granite monument. The top of Half Dome itself is completely obscured by a thick blanket of grayish clouds. It will be snowing at the top shortly I’m sure. The temperature there is 38 degrees at Yosemite Village. It’s much colder farther up the mountain, 27 degrees and snowing according to the webcam broadcasting images from there. This is a photo I took from the Ahwahnee Meadow area last Spring. Click here to see the same view from that live webcam.
I never really used to care about the weather forecast growing up in Southern California. The San Fernando Valley is really a moderate desert, not too hot or too cold. The temperate climate of the L.A. basin rarely gets very extreme in either direction. Winters can get a bit rainy as the Pacific Ocean is right over the Santa Monica Mountains from where I grew up. Summers are mild, but can get hot on occasion. We were raised in a house with a swimming pool. The Mojave Desert proper is just a half hour drive or so east.But, living up here in the Central Valley of Northern California, I’ve just become more aware of what mother nature has in store for us. San Francisco is just 70 miles west of here. Lake Tahoe is 150 miles northeast. The Sierra Nevada itself...only a hour or so east. So, I’m more aware of the weather forecast now. Not that the forecast is ever very accurate. The T.V. weather people around here tend to predict rain and snow much more than it actually happens. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.
They closed Highways 80 and 50 last night for a few hours during the worst of that storm. Those are the roads leading to Tahoe and Reno, up and over the summit. Truckers, and skiers, and commuters either turned back toward Sacramento, or spent the night in their vehicles on the side of the road. Cal Trans managed to get those thoroughfares open again in short order...life went on through the mountain passes. The storm that is passing over us here in the valley this afternoon will reach the mountains by tonight. The ski resorts are elated about the new snow, although none of them were able to open yesterday because of the severity of the snow storm...white-out conditions, road closures, etc.
So, I’m checking the extended forecast for Yosemite Village the next few days. They’re expecting a few days of rain down in the valley, snow on the peaks. Next week, it is supposed to clear up, giving way to cloudy skies with high temperatures in the mid-60’s in Yosemite. It’s open to vehicle traffic all year, except during severe storms. Loretta and I will plan a day trip there on Monday. We haven’t been there since last Spring.
In the meantime, I check the live webcams for Yosemite most every day now. It’s very surreal looking at real time, live images from Ansel Adam’s stomping ground. I can’t imagine what he must have had to endure getting his photographs in the 1920’s. Our journey in the Grand Cherokee will be much easier...and faster.
It’s raining now. This brief period of blue skies and high, billowy clouds has ended for the time being. Our little Boxer, Lucy, and our long and lanky Greyhound, Sammy are sleeping on our bed just a few feet away. They don’t care about the weather today...or what it will be like on Monday in Yosemite. All our dogs do require a bit more persuasion to go outside when it’s too cold, or too wet, or too hot outside. That’s just the way we raised them. They’re spoiled. Just like we are.
If I had to choose between Winter and Summer...I would probably choose Winter here in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s much easier to get warm when it’s cold outside, then to get cool when it’s sweltering. When we finally make a move back to the coast, Monterey or San Francisco our locales of choice...Summers will be preferred. It’s always mild, and mostly sunny near the Northern California coast that time of year.
That reminds me, I should give a look to that Monterey Bay Aquarium webcam as well. They have them everywhere!
The Heartbreak of C.R.S.S.: It happens to the best of us.
I can’t remember when I first heard someone say that they had C.R.S. Of course, that goes without saying since C.R.S. stands for Can’t Remember Shit*. It’s a somewhat whimsical condition, usually associated with getting older whereby one cannot remember what happened five minutes ago, but can describe in great detail little things that happened many years or even decades ago.
I feel the actual medical term for this malady of memory should more accurately be C.R.S.S., the Can’t Remember Shit Syndrome, since C.R.S. also stands for everything from Catholic Relief Services to the Congressional Research Service to the Center for Resource Solutions. In addition, a syndrome refers to several signs or symptoms occuring together. More on the other symptoms of C.R.S.S. in a moment.
And of course C.R.S.S. is not soly a human condition. In fact, I am quite sure that it may have been initially identified as something shared by all canines. Dogs are the creatures that pretty much corner the market on this. How many times a day does your dog walk into a room, stand there for a moment with a confused look on its face, then turn around and go right back to where it was laying? Fido has no idea, or simply can’t remember, why he got up from his nap in the first place. Our greyhound, Sammy, has it bad. He will wander into the living room (from his perpetual resting place on our bed) and stand between us and the plasma...and just stare at us. The interval of time between his arrival and departure can last anywhere between a few seconds and several minutes. Fortunately, we took this into account when purchasing our latest TV stand. I had to place the television high enough to keep him from blocking our view (greyhounds are quite tall). Unfortunately, the cable box is much lower. So when Sammy does stand there in a stupor (which can occur many times during an evening), the remote doesn’t work!
Some of the other human signs that may indicate one has C.R.S.S. are , the blank stare, the furrowing of the brow, and the scratching on one’s head with one hand while placing the other hand on one’s hip. This is usually followed by turning one’s head around, in the direction from where one came...then a retracing of one’s footsteps leading up to the “attack” of C.R.S.S., in a attempt to jog the memory as to why one found oneself in that room or location in the first place. My R.S.R. (Recovery Success Rate) from a C.R.S.S. attack is about 50%. I have no research indicating what the average “norm” is on R.S.R., but I will look into it.
Take care not to misdiagnose C.R.S.S. One must be careful not to confuse it with some other common societal, and exclusively human, conditions with similar symptoms. One such malady is called S.H.M.S., or Selective Hearing Malfunction Syndrome. This occurs mainly in husbands while their wives are speaking to them about something the husband has no interest. For example...
Wife: “Honey, I had a lousy day at work today”
Husband: (Watching a ball game on T.V. or reading the newspaper) “Yes, dear”
Wife: “Yeah, you wanna hear about it?”
Husband: “Yes, dear”
Wife: “A homicidal maniac came into our office and beheaded all of us with a chainsaw”
Husband: “Oh, yeah? That’s nice, dear”
Wife: “On top of that...he followed me home”
Husband: “Hmmm. Wow!”
Wife: “In fact, he is standing right here in the kitchen with me now”
Husband: “That’s great!”
Wife: “Shall we invite him for dinner?”
Husband: “Yes...dear”
This husband’s S.H.S. was triggered by the first line in the conversation. But may have in fact been active the moment his wife walked in the door. Sadly, S.H.S. may be a genetic trait present in all males from birth. Females can have it as well, but that is not as common.
Females are more susceptible to R.T.T.S....the Resort To Tears Syndrome. Which, by the way, often occurs in women after a particularly severe attack of C.R.S.S. A related condition in males called L.U.O.T.F., Liberal Use Of The F-Word can occur after a C.R.S.S. attack in them.
My latest attack of C.R.S.S. came at the supermarket last week. I couldn’t remember my PIN at the check stand! The same PIN I’ve had for eight years and use almost every day. It was not only embarrasing, it was quite disturbing and bothered me the remainer of the day.
Don’t dismay if you are experiencing C.R.S.S. it happens to all of us, young and old. If you are middle-aged or older, feel comfortable that you may be past the age at which C.R.S.Y.C.S. happens, Can’t Remember Shit and You’re Clueless Syndrome, will arise. This can be quite common for people under the age of 30...but not always.
I personally won’t start worrying about this syndrome until I start walking into a room, not remembering why I went in there, and find myself standing in front of the television...on all fours. Then, I may call someone.
For some reason, I can't remember the point of this blog!
*For the salty-language-sensitive: substitute the word stuff.
I feel the actual medical term for this malady of memory should more accurately be C.R.S.S., the Can’t Remember Shit Syndrome, since C.R.S. also stands for everything from Catholic Relief Services to the Congressional Research Service to the Center for Resource Solutions. In addition, a syndrome refers to several signs or symptoms occuring together. More on the other symptoms of C.R.S.S. in a moment.
And of course C.R.S.S. is not soly a human condition. In fact, I am quite sure that it may have been initially identified as something shared by all canines. Dogs are the creatures that pretty much corner the market on this. How many times a day does your dog walk into a room, stand there for a moment with a confused look on its face, then turn around and go right back to where it was laying? Fido has no idea, or simply can’t remember, why he got up from his nap in the first place. Our greyhound, Sammy, has it bad. He will wander into the living room (from his perpetual resting place on our bed) and stand between us and the plasma...and just stare at us. The interval of time between his arrival and departure can last anywhere between a few seconds and several minutes. Fortunately, we took this into account when purchasing our latest TV stand. I had to place the television high enough to keep him from blocking our view (greyhounds are quite tall). Unfortunately, the cable box is much lower. So when Sammy does stand there in a stupor (which can occur many times during an evening), the remote doesn’t work!
Some of the other human signs that may indicate one has C.R.S.S. are , the blank stare, the furrowing of the brow, and the scratching on one’s head with one hand while placing the other hand on one’s hip. This is usually followed by turning one’s head around, in the direction from where one came...then a retracing of one’s footsteps leading up to the “attack” of C.R.S.S., in a attempt to jog the memory as to why one found oneself in that room or location in the first place. My R.S.R. (Recovery Success Rate) from a C.R.S.S. attack is about 50%. I have no research indicating what the average “norm” is on R.S.R., but I will look into it.
Take care not to misdiagnose C.R.S.S. One must be careful not to confuse it with some other common societal, and exclusively human, conditions with similar symptoms. One such malady is called S.H.M.S., or Selective Hearing Malfunction Syndrome. This occurs mainly in husbands while their wives are speaking to them about something the husband has no interest. For example...
Wife: “Honey, I had a lousy day at work today”
Husband: (Watching a ball game on T.V. or reading the newspaper) “Yes, dear”
Wife: “Yeah, you wanna hear about it?”
Husband: “Yes, dear”
Wife: “A homicidal maniac came into our office and beheaded all of us with a chainsaw”
Husband: “Oh, yeah? That’s nice, dear”
Wife: “On top of that...he followed me home”
Husband: “Hmmm. Wow!”
Wife: “In fact, he is standing right here in the kitchen with me now”
Husband: “That’s great!”
Wife: “Shall we invite him for dinner?”
Husband: “Yes...dear”
This husband’s S.H.S. was triggered by the first line in the conversation. But may have in fact been active the moment his wife walked in the door. Sadly, S.H.S. may be a genetic trait present in all males from birth. Females can have it as well, but that is not as common.
Females are more susceptible to R.T.T.S....the Resort To Tears Syndrome. Which, by the way, often occurs in women after a particularly severe attack of C.R.S.S. A related condition in males called L.U.O.T.F., Liberal Use Of The F-Word can occur after a C.R.S.S. attack in them.
My latest attack of C.R.S.S. came at the supermarket last week. I couldn’t remember my PIN at the check stand! The same PIN I’ve had for eight years and use almost every day. It was not only embarrasing, it was quite disturbing and bothered me the remainer of the day.
Don’t dismay if you are experiencing C.R.S.S. it happens to all of us, young and old. If you are middle-aged or older, feel comfortable that you may be past the age at which C.R.S.Y.C.S. happens, Can’t Remember Shit and You’re Clueless Syndrome, will arise. This can be quite common for people under the age of 30...but not always.
I personally won’t start worrying about this syndrome until I start walking into a room, not remembering why I went in there, and find myself standing in front of the television...on all fours. Then, I may call someone.
For some reason, I can't remember the point of this blog!
*For the salty-language-sensitive: substitute the word stuff.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Our Oscar Party "A" List...we are the Party Nazis!
I don’t think a year has gone by when I didn’t tune in to the Oscars for at least a look or two. As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, I’m not that into watching Hollywood-ish awards shows, ie, the Grammy's, the Golden Globes, the People’s Choice Awards. Although this year I did watch the Grammy's a few weeks ago.
So, Loretta and I planned to watch the Oscars, aka, the Academy Awards. In fact, we even invited over a couple of friends, and I planned to whip up some special “Oscar” snacks, ie, Hot Wings, Chips and Guacamole, Mozzarella-stuffed Taquitos, a 12-pack of Tecate...just some fun, fattening fair to make this occasion a bit more, well, special. After all, like other events such as The Super Bowl, it’s the party, the food, the banter, and the socialization that makes the show interesting...right?
Well, the people we invited over told us that a little “Oscar Party” sounded like fun, “Sure, that’s sounds like fun!” was their exact response, “What time shall we be there? Do you want us to bring anything?” “You don't need to bring anything, I’ll take care of the food and drink", I said, “The pre-Oscar show starts at 5:30...why don’t you get here by 5:30?”
Our guests flaked (again). And since we had invited people who hadn’t ever been invited to our house for dinner or other party-type happening previously, those people are now on our “B” list...one step away from the dreaded “C” list.
Here is how this list works. Everyone we meet and feel might be someone to invite over for dinner, a party, or other social gathering starts out on the “A” list. Any potential invitee who is “invitation worthy” gets the benefit of the doubt at the outset. “Hey, honey”, I exclaim, “they would be fun to have over sometime!” Loretta and I like to entertain, we’ve always had small dinner parties throughout the year as well as a bigger seasonal party or BBQ or three. We’re certainly not party animals or social butterflies...we just enjoy having folks over once in a while. And, I have a lot of fun planning and cooking for these things. I am the social director for this fun-loving twosome called “Skip and Loretta”.
So, how does one get on the “B” list or (worse) the “C” list? It’s simple. If someone expresses an interest in “getting together sometime”...we extend an invitation. If they refuse an invitation two times, they are moved from the “A” list to the “B” list. If they refuse three times, they are now on the “C” list. If they “flake” once, ie, accept an invitation then don’t show up once, it’s onto the “C” list, thus moving from the “A” list directly to the “C” list...otherwise known as “The Waste of Time List”. You’re done! You’re outta here! No invitations for you for two years!
Yes...we have become the “Party Nazis”. We are the Modesto equivalent of that outrageous, iconic soup kitchen owner of Seinfeld fame. When it comes to planned socializing at “Casa de Skip and Loretta”, we don’t take any crap any longer!
I was recently reading an article about entertaining, especially bigger gatherings. The writer advised that party planners should count on about 20-30% of their confirmed guests not showing up. You would use this theory to determine the amount of food and drink to have on hand. With larger parties, people (in general) seem to think that they won’t be missed if they simply don’t show up. We’re talking bashes with 30 or more invited. To me, this is totally unacceptable! I remember having parties years ago, and the rule of thumb was “Plan on 15 to 20% more than you invited”. And you know what? That’s exactly what happened. I was always paranoid that I would not have enough food or drink. And you know what else? More often than not, that was the case. And you know why? Because more people showed up at, or “crashed” , the party than you originally invited.
So, with all of this mind...what conclusion should I come to regarding our parties, and/or our social standing?
1. Our parties stink!
2. We stink!
3. People stink!
4. At 57 years old, I am still painfully naive about a lot of things in life (a given).
5. Times have changed (a given), ie, common courtesy, manners, drinking and driving laws. Refer back to number 4.
6. I’m living in a fantasy world (a given).
7. I’m too sensitive (a given).
8. I’m inviting the wrong people. Find some new friends.
9. I should stop inviting people over. This is actually what has happened the past two years or so. Our social gatherings have dwindled considerably.
10. I should stop obsessing over this sign of the times!
Just a few years ago, we put together a “Dinner Club” of sorts. It consisted of about 8 couples we knew who were interested in getting together for dinner once a month. Each couple would plan on having all of us over at their house for a themed dinner party. In the six months this Dinner Club was in existence, it was at our house twice, and at another couple’s house once. The other three months, it didn’t happen, ie, the scheduled couples flaked at the last minute! They didn’t offer to change the date, they just canceled at the last moment. Our Dinner Club faded into nonexistence. Unfortunately, half of those couple are now divorced and/or have moved away. The others don’t seem interested any longer...and, by the way, have become permanent residents on our “B” or “C” lists.
Back to the Oscars. I actually picked the Top 6 winners. The Departed (Best Picture), Martin Scorsese (Best Director, The Departed), Forrest Whittaker (Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland), Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen), Alan Arkin (Best Supporting Actor, Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls). Ellen DeGeneres was mildly entertaining as the host. No one will ever top the Johnny Carson years. The highlight was a little song and dance number performed by Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Riley about comedic actors not getting the recognition they deserve. It was a crackup. The low light was a boring, drawn out montage of foreign films past and present. The two most poignant parts of the broadcast were Forrest Whittaker’s heartfelt acceptance speech, and the tribute they always offer about movie industry icons who passed away during the previous year.
Our little Oscar “party” was very enjoyable with just the two of us...so be it. I think the whole Academy Awards extravaganza can be summed up in the words of my best friend. He called me from Albuquerque during the middle of the show. “Yeah, I’m watching it”, he said, “ it’s on with the volume turned off while I’m cleaning the baseboards in my kitchen.”
So, Loretta and I planned to watch the Oscars, aka, the Academy Awards. In fact, we even invited over a couple of friends, and I planned to whip up some special “Oscar” snacks, ie, Hot Wings, Chips and Guacamole, Mozzarella-stuffed Taquitos, a 12-pack of Tecate...just some fun, fattening fair to make this occasion a bit more, well, special. After all, like other events such as The Super Bowl, it’s the party, the food, the banter, and the socialization that makes the show interesting...right?
Well, the people we invited over told us that a little “Oscar Party” sounded like fun, “Sure, that’s sounds like fun!” was their exact response, “What time shall we be there? Do you want us to bring anything?” “You don't need to bring anything, I’ll take care of the food and drink", I said, “The pre-Oscar show starts at 5:30...why don’t you get here by 5:30?”
Our guests flaked (again). And since we had invited people who hadn’t ever been invited to our house for dinner or other party-type happening previously, those people are now on our “B” list...one step away from the dreaded “C” list.
Here is how this list works. Everyone we meet and feel might be someone to invite over for dinner, a party, or other social gathering starts out on the “A” list. Any potential invitee who is “invitation worthy” gets the benefit of the doubt at the outset. “Hey, honey”, I exclaim, “they would be fun to have over sometime!” Loretta and I like to entertain, we’ve always had small dinner parties throughout the year as well as a bigger seasonal party or BBQ or three. We’re certainly not party animals or social butterflies...we just enjoy having folks over once in a while. And, I have a lot of fun planning and cooking for these things. I am the social director for this fun-loving twosome called “Skip and Loretta”.
So, how does one get on the “B” list or (worse) the “C” list? It’s simple. If someone expresses an interest in “getting together sometime”...we extend an invitation. If they refuse an invitation two times, they are moved from the “A” list to the “B” list. If they refuse three times, they are now on the “C” list. If they “flake” once, ie, accept an invitation then don’t show up once, it’s onto the “C” list, thus moving from the “A” list directly to the “C” list...otherwise known as “The Waste of Time List”. You’re done! You’re outta here! No invitations for you for two years!
Yes...we have become the “Party Nazis”. We are the Modesto equivalent of that outrageous, iconic soup kitchen owner of Seinfeld fame. When it comes to planned socializing at “Casa de Skip and Loretta”, we don’t take any crap any longer!
I was recently reading an article about entertaining, especially bigger gatherings. The writer advised that party planners should count on about 20-30% of their confirmed guests not showing up. You would use this theory to determine the amount of food and drink to have on hand. With larger parties, people (in general) seem to think that they won’t be missed if they simply don’t show up. We’re talking bashes with 30 or more invited. To me, this is totally unacceptable! I remember having parties years ago, and the rule of thumb was “Plan on 15 to 20% more than you invited”. And you know what? That’s exactly what happened. I was always paranoid that I would not have enough food or drink. And you know what else? More often than not, that was the case. And you know why? Because more people showed up at, or “crashed” , the party than you originally invited.
So, with all of this mind...what conclusion should I come to regarding our parties, and/or our social standing?
1. Our parties stink!
2. We stink!
3. People stink!
4. At 57 years old, I am still painfully naive about a lot of things in life (a given).
5. Times have changed (a given), ie, common courtesy, manners, drinking and driving laws. Refer back to number 4.
6. I’m living in a fantasy world (a given).
7. I’m too sensitive (a given).
8. I’m inviting the wrong people. Find some new friends.
9. I should stop inviting people over. This is actually what has happened the past two years or so. Our social gatherings have dwindled considerably.
10. I should stop obsessing over this sign of the times!
Just a few years ago, we put together a “Dinner Club” of sorts. It consisted of about 8 couples we knew who were interested in getting together for dinner once a month. Each couple would plan on having all of us over at their house for a themed dinner party. In the six months this Dinner Club was in existence, it was at our house twice, and at another couple’s house once. The other three months, it didn’t happen, ie, the scheduled couples flaked at the last minute! They didn’t offer to change the date, they just canceled at the last moment. Our Dinner Club faded into nonexistence. Unfortunately, half of those couple are now divorced and/or have moved away. The others don’t seem interested any longer...and, by the way, have become permanent residents on our “B” or “C” lists.
Back to the Oscars. I actually picked the Top 6 winners. The Departed (Best Picture), Martin Scorsese (Best Director, The Departed), Forrest Whittaker (Best Actor, The Last King of Scotland), Helen Mirren (Best Actress, The Queen), Alan Arkin (Best Supporting Actor, Little Miss Sunshine), Jennifer Hudson (Best Supporting Actress, Dreamgirls). Ellen DeGeneres was mildly entertaining as the host. No one will ever top the Johnny Carson years. The highlight was a little song and dance number performed by Jack Black, Will Ferrell, and John C. Riley about comedic actors not getting the recognition they deserve. It was a crackup. The low light was a boring, drawn out montage of foreign films past and present. The two most poignant parts of the broadcast were Forrest Whittaker’s heartfelt acceptance speech, and the tribute they always offer about movie industry icons who passed away during the previous year.
Our little Oscar “party” was very enjoyable with just the two of us...so be it. I think the whole Academy Awards extravaganza can be summed up in the words of my best friend. He called me from Albuquerque during the middle of the show. “Yeah, I’m watching it”, he said, “ it’s on with the volume turned off while I’m cleaning the baseboards in my kitchen.”
Friday, February 23, 2007
Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos
We’re talkin’ goooooood stuff here! It ain’t diet food...but you could do worse.
Let me tell you this at the outset. I have never been to Baja, Mexico. Not that I wouldn’t want to go there someday, I just haven’t been yet. True aficionados of “real” Baja food may want to get in my face and say, “That isn’t Baja food. You don’t know what you’re talking about, dude!” Maybe so. So, here is my disclaimer: "What’s your point, dude?” I've had fish tacos in dozens of restaurants and in several countries in my life...this is how I like them. You can find as many taco recipes as there are cooks who make them. But here is my little lesson in taco-making that may prevent you from visiting Taco Bell or Del Taco ever again.
Whatever fillings you decide to put in your homemade tacos...fry your own taco shells. Those pre-made things found in the grocery store aren’t worth the effort, especially if you are putting all that work into what goes into them. Besides, half of the shells are cracked and broken by the time you get them home.
Starting with the tortillas themselves, I buy small (6 inch) Mission brand White Corn Tortillas. The 36-count package runs about $1.30 and comes in a plastic bag sealed with a twist tie. You’ll pay more than that for the 12-count tortillas in one of those fancy-dancy resealable bags. You can freeze them, but make sure the bag is sealed tightly and try to use them within a couple of weeks or they will get a nasty, freezer-burn taste.
Here’s are two ways to prepare the white corn tortillas for tacos. Traditionally, Mexican cooks grilled them on a hot, flat grill “seasoned” with a little oil. Cook them until they begin to curl a bit, flipping them a couple of times. Try not to get them crisp on a flat grill, it will make them tough and also prevent you from folding them when the time comes. They should still be pliable. Store them between clean kitchen towels in a warm oven until ready to fill.
The other way to prepare them (the method I prefer) is in hot oil...fried, if you will. In a good, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 1/2 inch of good, clean canola or peanut oil until just before it begins to smoke (about 375 degrees). Using tongs, fry them one at a time about 20 seconds on each side...longer if you want them crispy. The key to crispy, folded tacos is making sure you fold them before they get crisp. Remove from the oil, and drain the tortillas on a paper towel lined plate, standing them up like pup tents. It may seem a bit tedious this way, ie, don’t walk away from a tortilla in hot oil, but the results are worth it. A couple of tips: Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying your first tortilla. If if isn’t hot enough, it will just soak up the oil and take too long to cook. Keep the tortillas in the fridge (cold) until just before you cook them. They just come out better that way. And, hold the crispy fried tortillas on that paper towel lined plate in the oven, uncovered. They should stay nice and fresh and crispy for 30 minutes or so. After that amount of time, they will begin to get tough.
For my Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos...you can use any mild, firm white fish like Cod. In recent years, I have preferred a fish called Basa (sometimes called Tra). This is a farm-raised species of catfish found in Southeast Asia, specifically, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. You can use American-raised catfish fillets as well, but Basa is very mild, firm, and sometimes less expensive than other available white fleshed fish. Many cooks will tell you the preferred fish for Baja Tacos is Mahi Mahi, called Dorado in Mexico. Dorado is wonderful for this application, especially if you are going to grill the fish. But it is quite a bit more expensive. Fish species preferences aside...here’s the plan.
Start by cutting your fish filets into 1/2 inch wide pieces, about 3 inches long each. If you are doing this ahead, keep them in the refrigerator until time to cook. Also, make sure the pieces are dry, dab them with a paper towel. If they are wet with water when you coat them, the egg wash and bread crumbs won’t stick. Wet pieces of fish are even worse if you are using a tempura style batter. Here is what I used for the Crispy Fish Tacos in the photos.
The Coating:
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
Salt & Pepper
My Special Seasoning
Chipotle-Lime Crema:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 chipotle peppers (canned, in adobo sauce), diced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt & freshly ground pepper
The other stuff:
1/2 pound of Basa, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, Cod, Halibut, or other firm white fish
6 white corn tortillas (6 inch size)
Canola oil or Peanut oil
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped or chiffonade
Fresh lime wedges
For the Chipotle-Lime Crema, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For frying the fish, season the Panko crumbs with salt & pepper and place in a large, flat bowl or pie pan. Beat the eggs with the milk and place in a medium bowl, place along side the Panko crumbs, next to the stove. Heat about 2 inches of the oil to 350 degrees in a medium size pan. Make sure the oil is up to temperature before frying the fish.
Take the cut pieces of fish and lightly season with salt & pepper. I also use a small amount of my own seasoning at this point, I’ll post the ingredients at the end of this recipe. Coat the fish pieces in the egg and milk mixture, then coat them with the Panko crumbs. At this point, you can store the coated fish pieces on wax paper (keep them separated) in the refrigerator if you are doing things ahead of time. If not, drop the coated pieces into the hot oil and fry them until they are golden brown and crispy. Don’t let them get too dark, as it will change the flavor of the Panko crumbs and taste bitter. Depending on your salt preference, lightly salt the fish when they come out of the oil. Drain the fish on paper towels and hold them in a warm oven, not covered, until all of them are finished.
To assemble the tacos, place one of crispy fish pieces in a tortilla. Slather on a little Chipotle-Lime Crema. Place a small handful of shredded green cabbage on top of the fish. Then add enough diced onions to suit your taste. Squeeze on the juice from a lime wedge. Then add another dollop of crema and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
This recipe is portioned for two people (6 tacos). Three of these Crispy Baja Fish Tacos may not be enough for you. But, if you are serving Mexican Rice or Charra Beans as side dishes, that should be plenty for each person.
An alternative coating recipe would be any good tempura beer batter. If that is the case, you should plan on lightly dusting the fish pieces with flour before coating them with the batter...it will help the batter stick. Either coating method produces great results and tasty fish tacos. The beer batter thing is much more messy though!
The other fish cooking option would be to grill the fish on a mesquite wood BBQ. In that case, leave the fish fillets whole and cut them up after cooking. It’s a completely different flavor...but oh so goooood as well!
The Chipotle-Lime Crema is an incredibly smooth, slightly spicy topping for these fish tacos...though a good, fresh Pico de Gallo works just as well if you are not into the fatty-mayo-sour cream thing.
Beverage choices: Chardonnay, or Corona, or a real (non-blended) Margarita.
My Special Seasoning:
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground cumin
Let me tell you this at the outset. I have never been to Baja, Mexico. Not that I wouldn’t want to go there someday, I just haven’t been yet. True aficionados of “real” Baja food may want to get in my face and say, “That isn’t Baja food. You don’t know what you’re talking about, dude!” Maybe so. So, here is my disclaimer: "What’s your point, dude?” I've had fish tacos in dozens of restaurants and in several countries in my life...this is how I like them. You can find as many taco recipes as there are cooks who make them. But here is my little lesson in taco-making that may prevent you from visiting Taco Bell or Del Taco ever again.Whatever fillings you decide to put in your homemade tacos...fry your own taco shells. Those pre-made things found in the grocery store aren’t worth the effort, especially if you are putting all that work into what goes into them. Besides, half of the shells are cracked and broken by the time you get them home.
Starting with the tortillas themselves, I buy small (6 inch) Mission brand White Corn Tortillas. The 36-count package runs about $1.30 and comes in a plastic bag sealed with a twist tie. You’ll pay more than that for the 12-count tortillas in one of those fancy-dancy resealable bags. You can freeze them, but make sure the bag is sealed tightly and try to use them within a couple of weeks or they will get a nasty, freezer-burn taste.
Here’s are two ways to prepare the white corn tortillas for tacos. Traditionally, Mexican cooks grilled them on a hot, flat grill “seasoned” with a little oil. Cook them until they begin to curl a bit, flipping them a couple of times. Try not to get them crisp on a flat grill, it will make them tough and also prevent you from folding them when the time comes. They should still be pliable. Store them between clean kitchen towels in a warm oven until ready to fill.
The other way to prepare them (the method I prefer) is in hot oil...fried, if you will. In a good, heavy-bottomed pan, heat about 1/2 inch of good, clean canola or peanut oil until just before it begins to smoke (about 375 degrees). Using tongs, fry them one at a time about 20 seconds on each side...longer if you want them crispy. The key to crispy, folded tacos is making sure you fold them before they get crisp. Remove from the oil, and drain the tortillas on a paper towel lined plate, standing them up like pup tents. It may seem a bit tedious this way, ie, don’t walk away from a tortilla in hot oil, but the results are worth it. A couple of tips: Make sure the oil is hot enough before frying your first tortilla. If if isn’t hot enough, it will just soak up the oil and take too long to cook. Keep the tortillas in the fridge (cold) until just before you cook them. They just come out better that way. And, hold the crispy fried tortillas on that paper towel lined plate in the oven, uncovered. They should stay nice and fresh and crispy for 30 minutes or so. After that amount of time, they will begin to get tough.
For my Baja Style Crispy Fish Tacos...you can use any mild, firm white fish like Cod. In recent years, I have preferred a fish called Basa (sometimes called Tra). This is a farm-raised species of catfish found in Southeast Asia, specifically, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. You can use American-raised catfish fillets as well, but Basa is very mild, firm, and sometimes less expensive than other available white fleshed fish. Many cooks will tell you the preferred fish for Baja Tacos is Mahi Mahi, called Dorado in Mexico. Dorado is wonderful for this application, especially if you are going to grill the fish. But it is quite a bit more expensive. Fish species preferences aside...here’s the plan.
Start by cutting your fish filets into 1/2 inch wide pieces, about 3 inches long each. If you are doing this ahead, keep them in the refrigerator until time to cook. Also, make sure the pieces are dry, dab them with a paper towel. If they are wet with water when you coat them, the egg wash and bread crumbs won’t stick. Wet pieces of fish are even worse if you are using a tempura style batter. Here is what I used for the Crispy Fish Tacos in the photos.
The Coating:
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
Salt & Pepper
My Special Seasoning
Chipotle-Lime Crema:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
2 chipotle peppers (canned, in adobo sauce), diced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
Salt & freshly ground pepper
The other stuff:
1/2 pound of Basa, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, Cod, Halibut, or other firm white fish
6 white corn tortillas (6 inch size)
Canola oil or Peanut oil
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup diced white onion
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped or chiffonade
Fresh lime wedges
For the Chipotle-Lime Crema, simply combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
For frying the fish, season the Panko crumbs with salt & pepper and place in a large, flat bowl or pie pan. Beat the eggs with the milk and place in a medium bowl, place along side the Panko crumbs, next to the stove. Heat about 2 inches of the oil to 350 degrees in a medium size pan. Make sure the oil is up to temperature before frying the fish.
Take the cut pieces of fish and lightly season with salt & pepper. I also use a small amount of my own seasoning at this point, I’ll post the ingredients at the end of this recipe. Coat the fish pieces in the egg and milk mixture, then coat them with the Panko crumbs. At this point, you can store the coated fish pieces on wax paper (keep them separated) in the refrigerator if you are doing things ahead of time. If not, drop the coated pieces into the hot oil and fry them until they are golden brown and crispy. Don’t let them get too dark, as it will change the flavor of the Panko crumbs and taste bitter. Depending on your salt preference, lightly salt the fish when they come out of the oil. Drain the fish on paper towels and hold them in a warm oven, not covered, until all of them are finished.
To assemble the tacos, place one of crispy fish pieces in a tortilla. Slather on a little Chipotle-Lime Crema. Place a small handful of shredded green cabbage on top of the fish. Then add enough diced onions to suit your taste. Squeeze on the juice from a lime wedge. Then add another dollop of crema and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro.
This recipe is portioned for two people (6 tacos). Three of these Crispy Baja Fish Tacos may not be enough for you. But, if you are serving Mexican Rice or Charra Beans as side dishes, that should be plenty for each person.
An alternative coating recipe would be any good tempura beer batter. If that is the case, you should plan on lightly dusting the fish pieces with flour before coating them with the batter...it will help the batter stick. Either coating method produces great results and tasty fish tacos. The beer batter thing is much more messy though!
The other fish cooking option would be to grill the fish on a mesquite wood BBQ. In that case, leave the fish fillets whole and cut them up after cooking. It’s a completely different flavor...but oh so goooood as well!
The Chipotle-Lime Crema is an incredibly smooth, slightly spicy topping for these fish tacos...though a good, fresh Pico de Gallo works just as well if you are not into the fatty-mayo-sour cream thing.
Beverage choices: Chardonnay, or Corona, or a real (non-blended) Margarita.
My Special Seasoning:
2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp ground cumin
Caprese: A great change of pace "salad"...and no lettuce!
Not too long ago, I was listening to my favorite radio station where I live. That, in itself, is a rare thing for me since I deplore all commercial radio stations these days! Too many commercials, untalented, uninformed, obnoxious DJ’s, and poor, repititious playlists. But, this particular station is our only local Smooth Jazz radio. It’s broadcast and produced locally (versus the syndicated, satellite messes now more common). The live announcer was reading live commercial copy for a local restaurant. Part of the copy involved a menu item called Caprese Salad (pronounced kah-pray-zay).
DJ: Try (this restaurant) for lunch today, where the lunch special is their popular Caprese Salad. You’ll get fresh, sliced, vine-ripe tomatoes...covered with slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. (pausing) Hmmm...I guess the copywriters left out lettuce. After all, it is a salad! So...and lettuce.
Me: (Shaking my head in disgust...and thinking) Another fine example of what it’s like to live in an area where ignorance and apathy toward anything that isn’t deep fried, barbecued, or slathered with nacho cheese sauce continue to infest the population...even on my “hip” Smooth Jazz radio station. For any foodies out there, I haven’t even been able to find a loaf of brioche anywhere in this town.
Believe me, I am not the coolest hipster on the planet. In fact, I have become very comfortable with the fact that I am somewhat of a dork! But wouldn’t you think that someone hosting a radio jazz program would take a little more care about coming across a bit more informed...especially when it comes to fairly common modern cuisine?
So, as a public service...here is what this elegant, fresh, and healthy “salad” is all about.
First, the ingredients. Enough for four.
2 large, vine-ripe Beefsteak tomatoes. (If you can’t find big ones, any medium size, vine-ripe tomatoes are just fine. Make sure they are not mushy already).
1/2 pound of fresh mozzarella. (Buffalo if possible. Fresh mozzarella comes stored in water. The dried up, vacuumed-packaged commercial stuff doesn’t compare in flavor or texture).
6 large, fresh, basil leaves.
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper (Please buy a pepper mill if you don’t already have one!)
Extra-virgin olive oil.
And NO LETTUCE!
Simply cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Place them slightly overlapped on a serving plate. Cut the mozzarella in nice, thick slices...and place one slice on each tomato slice. Place a basil leaf on each stack. I prefer to chiffonade the basil first (roll up the leaves real tight, then slice them). Add salt and pepper, then drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil. The quantity of each ingredient will depend on your individual tastes...have at it!
Caprese Salad is such a great appetizer, salad, or any course during your meal. If you are doing “courses”, serve it in between the heavier dishes...it works well in any application. And, goes very well with a light, crisp Chardonnay.
How simple can one dish be?
By the way...I still enjoy a cold Corona with lime next to a nice, big, hot, pile of tortilla chips, slathered with refried beans, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, and nacho cheese. Life’s too short not to indulge yourself once in a while. I’m not a food snob!
DJ: Try (this restaurant) for lunch today, where the lunch special is their popular Caprese Salad. You’ll get fresh, sliced, vine-ripe tomatoes...covered with slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil. (pausing) Hmmm...I guess the copywriters left out lettuce. After all, it is a salad! So...and lettuce.
Me: (Shaking my head in disgust...and thinking) Another fine example of what it’s like to live in an area where ignorance and apathy toward anything that isn’t deep fried, barbecued, or slathered with nacho cheese sauce continue to infest the population...even on my “hip” Smooth Jazz radio station. For any foodies out there, I haven’t even been able to find a loaf of brioche anywhere in this town.
Believe me, I am not the coolest hipster on the planet. In fact, I have become very comfortable with the fact that I am somewhat of a dork! But wouldn’t you think that someone hosting a radio jazz program would take a little more care about coming across a bit more informed...especially when it comes to fairly common modern cuisine?
So, as a public service...here is what this elegant, fresh, and healthy “salad” is all about.
First, the ingredients. Enough for four.
2 large, vine-ripe Beefsteak tomatoes. (If you can’t find big ones, any medium size, vine-ripe tomatoes are just fine. Make sure they are not mushy already).
1/2 pound of fresh mozzarella. (Buffalo if possible. Fresh mozzarella comes stored in water. The dried up, vacuumed-packaged commercial stuff doesn’t compare in flavor or texture).
6 large, fresh, basil leaves.
Salt and freshly ground Black Pepper (Please buy a pepper mill if you don’t already have one!)
Extra-virgin olive oil.
And NO LETTUCE!
Simply cut the tomatoes into thick slices. Place them slightly overlapped on a serving plate. Cut the mozzarella in nice, thick slices...and place one slice on each tomato slice. Place a basil leaf on each stack. I prefer to chiffonade the basil first (roll up the leaves real tight, then slice them). Add salt and pepper, then drizzle with the extra-virgin olive oil. The quantity of each ingredient will depend on your individual tastes...have at it!
Caprese Salad is such a great appetizer, salad, or any course during your meal. If you are doing “courses”, serve it in between the heavier dishes...it works well in any application. And, goes very well with a light, crisp Chardonnay.
How simple can one dish be?
By the way...I still enjoy a cold Corona with lime next to a nice, big, hot, pile of tortilla chips, slathered with refried beans, sliced jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole, and nacho cheese. Life’s too short not to indulge yourself once in a while. I’m not a food snob!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Double Feature: The Prestige & The Illusionist
Last year there were two big-time movies released about magicians. I’m talking about the two big studio, big stars theatrical releases, not the DVD’s that are available teaching you how to do magic found on the back of matchbooks.
They were The Illusionist and The Prestige. Loretta and I saw both of them in the theater. Before I attempt to describe the differences between the two (and, yes, the story lines were quite dissimilar despite the similar material)...neither one of them were great flicks. But one of them was not as bad as the other, and both may be worthy of being on your Netflix lists. The Illusionist has been out on DVD for a while, The Prestige is available now.
The Illusionist had Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. The Prestige had Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Scarlet Johanssen, and David Bowie. Decidedly, from the lists of stars, The Prestige was kind of a “bigger” movie. But let us not judge the merits of these films by the star-power alone. And...I’m quite a fan of Giamatti!
The Illusionist is set in turn-of-the-century Vienna and concerns a magician (Norton) using his abilities as a magician to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. The Prestige is set in turn-of-the-century London and concerns the rivalry between two magicians (Jackman and Bale) and the lengths to which one of them will go to secure the other’s “trade secrets”.
Both movies are filled with many twists, turns, red herrings, and the obligatory surprise ending. Originally, I was going to include “spoilers” in this blog post, but have decided to leave them out. I think they both deserve your attention from a fresh perspective.
With that in mind, here are some of my complaints about these two good, but not great, films.
I just couldn’t “buy in” to the faux-Austrian accent from Giamatti. It sounded more like a English accent with a touch of Colonel Klink thrown in occasionally. Norton’s inflections were similar, but even less pronounced...with his usual high, lispy voice...it wasn’t believable for a “period piece” set in Austria. I don’t recall Jessica Biel having any type of European accent at all. Maybe I was distracted by her sometimes hot/sometimes homely face...I still haven’t decided which side of that coin she resides. The cinematographic style of The Illusionist involved the washed out color of sepia tone. And the flashbacks were made to look like daguerreotype newsreel footage, ie, dark framed shots with even less color and pinwheel transitions.
The surprise ending in The Illusionist wasn’t much of a surprise for me, as I figured it out about halfway through the movie. But, the journey to that reveal was kind of fun. I always get some satisfaction from actually solving a puzzle. The same can’t be said for ending of The Prestige. I tell you why in moment (sans spoiler!). The Illusionist is a decent murder/mystery/love story set around the life of a dedicated magician.
The Prestige. By the way...the prestige is the element of a trick that comes at the end of it...the actual trick itself, the audience is amazed, “how’d they do that?” Herein lies Robert Angier’s (Jackman) obsession through the whole movie: to discover Alfred Borden’s (Bale) secrets...the prestige of his tricks. And this compulsion leads Jackman on a journey that ends with a foray into science fiction. And herein lies my biggest complaint about The Prestige. Without giving away the climax of the move...the sub-climax is all H.G.. Wells. The final climax is more “down to earth”, and quite satisfying. But...it wasn’t difficult to figure out about halfway through. The Prestige is a decent murder/mystery set around the lives of two dedicated, and obsessed, magicians.
Scarlett Johanssen seemed to be thrown into the mix for window dressing, not much of a part for The Sexiest Woman Alive. Hugh Jackman is in his usual hunky/deep mode here. Michael Caine is always good, this time playing another “Man Friday”, ie, as in Batman Returns. Christian Bale, in my opinion, is probably the best actor in the business today. Since Empire of the Sun, I have been a big fan of his work. "...P-51...Cadillac of the Sky!!! Horsepower! Horsepower!"
The Prestige and The Illusionist are very different movies, despite the fact that they were released within weeks of one another and they both involve the world of turn-of-the-century magic. It really makes one wonder how this close proximity happened. Of all the scripts and movie ideas out there, why would the mega-powerful powers-to-be choose this route? Two major studio releases about magic within weeks of each other.
If I had to choose between the two, I would go with The Prestige...but only by a thread. Neither one of them rocked my boat. In fact, when we rented The Illusionist (Netflix) a while back, we napped through most of it. The Prestige is on our DVD list for another go around.
More often than not, the Special Features are far more interesting than the movie itself!
They were The Illusionist and The Prestige. Loretta and I saw both of them in the theater. Before I attempt to describe the differences between the two (and, yes, the story lines were quite dissimilar despite the similar material)...neither one of them were great flicks. But one of them was not as bad as the other, and both may be worthy of being on your Netflix lists. The Illusionist has been out on DVD for a while, The Prestige is available now.
The Illusionist had Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, and Jessica Biel. The Prestige had Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Scarlet Johanssen, and David Bowie. Decidedly, from the lists of stars, The Prestige was kind of a “bigger” movie. But let us not judge the merits of these films by the star-power alone. And...I’m quite a fan of Giamatti!
The Illusionist is set in turn-of-the-century Vienna and concerns a magician (Norton) using his abilities as a magician to secure the love of a woman far above his social standing. The Prestige is set in turn-of-the-century London and concerns the rivalry between two magicians (Jackman and Bale) and the lengths to which one of them will go to secure the other’s “trade secrets”.
Both movies are filled with many twists, turns, red herrings, and the obligatory surprise ending. Originally, I was going to include “spoilers” in this blog post, but have decided to leave them out. I think they both deserve your attention from a fresh perspective.
With that in mind, here are some of my complaints about these two good, but not great, films.
I just couldn’t “buy in” to the faux-Austrian accent from Giamatti. It sounded more like a English accent with a touch of Colonel Klink thrown in occasionally. Norton’s inflections were similar, but even less pronounced...with his usual high, lispy voice...it wasn’t believable for a “period piece” set in Austria. I don’t recall Jessica Biel having any type of European accent at all. Maybe I was distracted by her sometimes hot/sometimes homely face...I still haven’t decided which side of that coin she resides. The cinematographic style of The Illusionist involved the washed out color of sepia tone. And the flashbacks were made to look like daguerreotype newsreel footage, ie, dark framed shots with even less color and pinwheel transitions.
The surprise ending in The Illusionist wasn’t much of a surprise for me, as I figured it out about halfway through the movie. But, the journey to that reveal was kind of fun. I always get some satisfaction from actually solving a puzzle. The same can’t be said for ending of The Prestige. I tell you why in moment (sans spoiler!). The Illusionist is a decent murder/mystery/love story set around the life of a dedicated magician.
The Prestige. By the way...the prestige is the element of a trick that comes at the end of it...the actual trick itself, the audience is amazed, “how’d they do that?” Herein lies Robert Angier’s (Jackman) obsession through the whole movie: to discover Alfred Borden’s (Bale) secrets...the prestige of his tricks. And this compulsion leads Jackman on a journey that ends with a foray into science fiction. And herein lies my biggest complaint about The Prestige. Without giving away the climax of the move...the sub-climax is all H.G.. Wells. The final climax is more “down to earth”, and quite satisfying. But...it wasn’t difficult to figure out about halfway through. The Prestige is a decent murder/mystery set around the lives of two dedicated, and obsessed, magicians.
Scarlett Johanssen seemed to be thrown into the mix for window dressing, not much of a part for The Sexiest Woman Alive. Hugh Jackman is in his usual hunky/deep mode here. Michael Caine is always good, this time playing another “Man Friday”, ie, as in Batman Returns. Christian Bale, in my opinion, is probably the best actor in the business today. Since Empire of the Sun, I have been a big fan of his work. "...P-51...Cadillac of the Sky!!! Horsepower! Horsepower!"
The Prestige and The Illusionist are very different movies, despite the fact that they were released within weeks of one another and they both involve the world of turn-of-the-century magic. It really makes one wonder how this close proximity happened. Of all the scripts and movie ideas out there, why would the mega-powerful powers-to-be choose this route? Two major studio releases about magic within weeks of each other.
If I had to choose between the two, I would go with The Prestige...but only by a thread. Neither one of them rocked my boat. In fact, when we rented The Illusionist (Netflix) a while back, we napped through most of it. The Prestige is on our DVD list for another go around.
More often than not, the Special Features are far more interesting than the movie itself!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Some fresh air. Some fresh thoughts. And some fresh attitudes.
You can’t help but feel a bit renewed after a walk in the country. Loretta and I headed up to the Knight’s Ferry/Stanislaus River trail again yesterday. We had been there the previous Monday and pledged to do it again real soon...so we did.
This time, we loaded up a couple of back packs. My handy-dandy camera backpack was fully-equipped with several lenses and other accessories including a tripod. Loretta carried our lunch, some snacks, and water this time. Funny thing...with all that planning, we didn’t open our packs once during yesterday’s trek. Since I was carrying my camera and snapping photos, I just never found the opportunity to use the other lenses or the tripod. And, we opted to have our little picnic lunch after we got back from the hike. Another one of Murphy’s Laws I suppose.
These last two little jaunts were just practice hikes...warm ups for some day trips we plan a little later on this Spring. One of which will be to Big Trees near Murphy's, about a 90 mile drive into the sierra foothills...gold country. We’ve been there a few times before. This is where one of the largest (and closest) groves of Sequoias reside. Being in the presence of these ancient giants are always inspiring and somewhat spiritual. Our planned trip to Big Trees will include a walk up one of the many trails originating from the parking lot. Previous visits didn’t stray very far from view of our Harley in the parking lot.
Yesterday, we took the Stanislaus River trail all the way to it’s end, only a couple miles or so. But we did manage to see a few things we missed last week. The trail is actually several hundred feet above the river. To actually reach the river, one must traverse down one of the rocky trails set up by the park service. Some of these downward pathways have redwood ties for steps. Others are just well-worn footpaths through the green grass of the hillside that parallels the river. We were the only people there at 8:00 am.
I had hoped to shoot some wildlife with my long lens...but that opportunity didn’t present itself this time. It was very quiet and very sunny with no fauna appearing at all during our hike. There were a couple of flocks of vultures soaring just above the trees. I wondered if they were staking out some sort of carrion already there...or were they waiting for us rookies to make a fatal mistake, ie, fall down and break our necks! No serious injuries this go around.
The Stanislaus River widens between the narrow rock canyon near the end of the trail. The flow of the river is so slow at the wide points that some ducks were floating and swimming around in it as if in a lake. There are a few places where the river narrows down...we were able to see a few rapids from our high vantage point. It would be very interesting, and far more adventurous, to hike farther up the river some time. For some reason, I kept thinking about mountain lions on our walk. None made an appearance. But I was ready to do what the experts advise if we had an encounter: stand tall, make a lot of noise, and don’t run away!
It was a nice hike. Another validation for us that we can still do this sort of thing, despite some huffing and puffing we both did on the steeper sections of the trail. We made it back alive, healthy, and ready to do it again soon. And, of course, I took a lot of photos. None of the images turned out to be the “award winning” shot I always hope to get...but at least we have a photographic record of one of our little adventures.
Whenever I make overtures about backpacking, you know, real backpacking with a tent, and food, and all the other equipment required for overnight stays...Loretta says, "Have a nice trip. I'll meet you at the motel when you're done. I'll be in the hot tub with a pina colada". Maybe these day trips are the extent to which we become more adventurous in that vacation genre. For now at least, we have trudged up and down some hills, seen a river up close, and enjoyed the great outdoors. It's a start for us oldsters who haven't done anything like this for a while.
Now, planning that photographic trip to a Malaysian rain forest...let's take it one step at a time for now!
This time, we loaded up a couple of back packs. My handy-dandy camera backpack was fully-equipped with several lenses and other accessories including a tripod. Loretta carried our lunch, some snacks, and water this time. Funny thing...with all that planning, we didn’t open our packs once during yesterday’s trek. Since I was carrying my camera and snapping photos, I just never found the opportunity to use the other lenses or the tripod. And, we opted to have our little picnic lunch after we got back from the hike. Another one of Murphy’s Laws I suppose.
These last two little jaunts were just practice hikes...warm ups for some day trips we plan a little later on this Spring. One of which will be to Big Trees near Murphy's, about a 90 mile drive into the sierra foothills...gold country. We’ve been there a few times before. This is where one of the largest (and closest) groves of Sequoias reside. Being in the presence of these ancient giants are always inspiring and somewhat spiritual. Our planned trip to Big Trees will include a walk up one of the many trails originating from the parking lot. Previous visits didn’t stray very far from view of our Harley in the parking lot.Yesterday, we took the Stanislaus River trail all the way to it’s end, only a couple miles or so. But we did manage to see a few things we missed last week. The trail is actually several hundred feet above the river. To actually reach the river, one must traverse down one of the rocky trails set up by the park service. Some of these downward pathways have redwood ties for steps. Others are just well-worn footpaths through the green grass of the hillside that parallels the river. We were the only people there at 8:00 am.
I had hoped to shoot some wildlife with my long lens...but that opportunity didn’t present itself this time. It was very quiet and very sunny with no fauna appearing at all during our hike. There were a couple of flocks of vultures soaring just above the trees. I wondered if they were staking out some sort of carrion already there...or were they waiting for us rookies to make a fatal mistake, ie, fall down and break our necks! No serious injuries this go around.
The Stanislaus River widens between the narrow rock canyon near the end of the trail. The flow of the river is so slow at the wide points that some ducks were floating and swimming around in it as if in a lake. There are a few places where the river narrows down...we were able to see a few rapids from our high vantage point. It would be very interesting, and far more adventurous, to hike farther up the river some time. For some reason, I kept thinking about mountain lions on our walk. None made an appearance. But I was ready to do what the experts advise if we had an encounter: stand tall, make a lot of noise, and don’t run away!
It was a nice hike. Another validation for us that we can still do this sort of thing, despite some huffing and puffing we both did on the steeper sections of the trail. We made it back alive, healthy, and ready to do it again soon. And, of course, I took a lot of photos. None of the images turned out to be the “award winning” shot I always hope to get...but at least we have a photographic record of one of our little adventures.
Whenever I make overtures about backpacking, you know, real backpacking with a tent, and food, and all the other equipment required for overnight stays...Loretta says, "Have a nice trip. I'll meet you at the motel when you're done. I'll be in the hot tub with a pina colada". Maybe these day trips are the extent to which we become more adventurous in that vacation genre. For now at least, we have trudged up and down some hills, seen a river up close, and enjoyed the great outdoors. It's a start for us oldsters who haven't done anything like this for a while.
Now, planning that photographic trip to a Malaysian rain forest...let's take it one step at a time for now!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
I may actually be a sports fan now!
It seems I may have had a bit of a sports epiphany today.
I am not, in any certain terms, a sports fan of any type. I don’t follow football, baseball, golf, hockey, basketball, wrestling, or nude dwarf throwing. The reasons for my sports apathy are pretty simple. Most of it is boring. Most of it involves whiny, overpaid players who usually have trouble putting together a complete sentence during interviews. These are players who are supposed to be role models. But instead, they don’t report to training camp because they want $15 million a year instead of the $ 12 million offered. I could go on about the reasons for my non-interest, but this is about something that happened to me today concerning a sport that has the fastest growing fan base of any of them. I may have actually “discovered” a sport that interests me to the point that I plan to follow the schedule and look forward to watching these events.
These sporting events take place in venues with names like Darlington, Richmond, Talladega...and Daytona. With player names like Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs...and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. It’s called NASCAR.
Today was the Daytona 500...the crown jewel of this sport. No...the biggest, richest NASCAR event is not the culmination of the season, it is the start of the season. The total purse for this one race is $18.3 million. Today's winner (Kevin Harvick) and his team will pocket $1.44 million, plus the prestige of passing the finish line first at this premier event. And there is a lot of prestige and pride surrounding this sport...even more than some of the other professional sports involving balls or pucks.
Maybe part of my new-found attraction to NASCAR racing is more of a rediscovery. As a teenager, my buddy Bob and I were totally into the whole Formula One racing scene. The 1966 film Grand Prix sparked my infatuation with racing. Bob and I could name names back then. Names like Jackie Stewart, Dan Gurney, and Graham Hill meant something to us. Auto makers like Ferrari, Lotus, and BRM built Formula One cars to race on circuits around the world. Nurburgring Germany, Monte Carlo, and Monza Italy are still part of the F-1 circuit today. Formula One was (and still is to some extent) the most glamorous of all auto racing formats. The popularity of NASCAR is at an all time high. And you don’t have to be a resident of Alabama or Kentucky to admit that you are a fan any longer.
I think one of the reasons for my new interest lies in the fact that we can now watch these racing events on HD plasma TV with surround sound. And that is what I did today. It was completely enthralling, I bought into it. The race ended with the winning car passing the finish line at 185 mph just 2 feet ahead of the 2nd place guy (who had been leading for most of the last part of the race). At the same time, a half dozen cars piled up behind the leaders with one driver crossing the finish line sliding upside down and on fire! No one was injured during this Daytona 500, save for a poor member of the one of the pit crews who had his ankle run over during a pit stop.
There were more than 90 cameras covering Foxe’s broadcast of the Daytona 500. Most every car had a camera in it during the race. There are unmanned track level cameras at the turns, cameras in blimps, and moving cameras on wires suspended over the track itself. What you get to see now is as close to being at the race track as you can possibly be. It was a very enjoyable and surprising experience for me...the un-sports fan.
Am I a NASCAR fan now? Maybe so. The next race is in this series, called the Nextel Cup, is the Auto Club 500 from the California Speedway next Sunday. I’ll be watching it on Fox at 12:30 PST on my HD plasma TV. Will I buy a NASCAR ball cap or jacket with my favorite driver’s number on it. Probably not. I drive a ‘69 Porsche...and I haven’t fit the bill for one of those ball caps yet!
It’s a kick-ass, testosterone laden sport that isn’t for everybody. In fact, I am sure that some people wold argue that it is a sport at all. All I know is that I may have actually found something that qualifies me as a sports fan.
Now...I need to follow through with my pledge to get back into fly fishing this Spring. We’re heading up to the Knight’s Ferry Stanislaus River Trail again tomorrow. It will be a camera picnic of sorts. I’ll be scouting the fly fishing spots as well.
I am not, in any certain terms, a sports fan of any type. I don’t follow football, baseball, golf, hockey, basketball, wrestling, or nude dwarf throwing. The reasons for my sports apathy are pretty simple. Most of it is boring. Most of it involves whiny, overpaid players who usually have trouble putting together a complete sentence during interviews. These are players who are supposed to be role models. But instead, they don’t report to training camp because they want $15 million a year instead of the $ 12 million offered. I could go on about the reasons for my non-interest, but this is about something that happened to me today concerning a sport that has the fastest growing fan base of any of them. I may have actually “discovered” a sport that interests me to the point that I plan to follow the schedule and look forward to watching these events.
These sporting events take place in venues with names like Darlington, Richmond, Talladega...and Daytona. With player names like Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Scott Riggs...and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. It’s called NASCAR.
Today was the Daytona 500...the crown jewel of this sport. No...the biggest, richest NASCAR event is not the culmination of the season, it is the start of the season. The total purse for this one race is $18.3 million. Today's winner (Kevin Harvick) and his team will pocket $1.44 million, plus the prestige of passing the finish line first at this premier event. And there is a lot of prestige and pride surrounding this sport...even more than some of the other professional sports involving balls or pucks.
Maybe part of my new-found attraction to NASCAR racing is more of a rediscovery. As a teenager, my buddy Bob and I were totally into the whole Formula One racing scene. The 1966 film Grand Prix sparked my infatuation with racing. Bob and I could name names back then. Names like Jackie Stewart, Dan Gurney, and Graham Hill meant something to us. Auto makers like Ferrari, Lotus, and BRM built Formula One cars to race on circuits around the world. Nurburgring Germany, Monte Carlo, and Monza Italy are still part of the F-1 circuit today. Formula One was (and still is to some extent) the most glamorous of all auto racing formats. The popularity of NASCAR is at an all time high. And you don’t have to be a resident of Alabama or Kentucky to admit that you are a fan any longer.
I think one of the reasons for my new interest lies in the fact that we can now watch these racing events on HD plasma TV with surround sound. And that is what I did today. It was completely enthralling, I bought into it. The race ended with the winning car passing the finish line at 185 mph just 2 feet ahead of the 2nd place guy (who had been leading for most of the last part of the race). At the same time, a half dozen cars piled up behind the leaders with one driver crossing the finish line sliding upside down and on fire! No one was injured during this Daytona 500, save for a poor member of the one of the pit crews who had his ankle run over during a pit stop.
There were more than 90 cameras covering Foxe’s broadcast of the Daytona 500. Most every car had a camera in it during the race. There are unmanned track level cameras at the turns, cameras in blimps, and moving cameras on wires suspended over the track itself. What you get to see now is as close to being at the race track as you can possibly be. It was a very enjoyable and surprising experience for me...the un-sports fan.
Am I a NASCAR fan now? Maybe so. The next race is in this series, called the Nextel Cup, is the Auto Club 500 from the California Speedway next Sunday. I’ll be watching it on Fox at 12:30 PST on my HD plasma TV. Will I buy a NASCAR ball cap or jacket with my favorite driver’s number on it. Probably not. I drive a ‘69 Porsche...and I haven’t fit the bill for one of those ball caps yet!
It’s a kick-ass, testosterone laden sport that isn’t for everybody. In fact, I am sure that some people wold argue that it is a sport at all. All I know is that I may have actually found something that qualifies me as a sports fan.
Now...I need to follow through with my pledge to get back into fly fishing this Spring. We’re heading up to the Knight’s Ferry Stanislaus River Trail again tomorrow. It will be a camera picnic of sorts. I’ll be scouting the fly fishing spots as well.
Pico de Gallo or Salsa or Chile Sauce?
Here is a little lesson about salsa, pico de gallo, and hot (chile) sauce.
These three condiments are often confused and more often used in the same context. No big deal. Call them what you may...but here are the differences.
Salsa is the Spanish (and Italian) word for sauce. It is a broad description of most anything resembling a sauce. There is salsa cruda, (aka salsa fresca or pico de gallo), salsa roja (sometimes referred to as hot sauce or chile sauce), salsa verde (made with tomatillos), salsa ranchera, salsa, taquera...and so on. There is also salsa dancing...which will not be described in this post...something for which Loretta and I have been wanting to take lessons. There are as many salsa and chile sauce recipes as there are cooks who are into Spanish or Mexican cooking.
Most jarred salsas available from your local grocer are, for lack of a better term, gross concoctions from people like Campbell's or Heinz or Bush Brothers that don’t resemble what traditional salsa recipes were meant to be: a fresh-made vegetable-based condiment or relish. Those store-bought messes they call salsa contain much of the usual commercial preservative type ingredients found in most everything these days. Xantham gun, guar gum, MSG, too much vinegar, and too much salt are just a few. Plus, they are usually cooked as well...part of the extended shelf life process and more resemble spaghetti sauce than salsa. Regarding those so-called “fresh” plastic containers of pico de gallo or salsa fresca...my advice is to “pass”. As I describe in the recipe below, fresh flavors and smells go bye-bye soon after chopping and combining.These never taste right!
I almost always have a jar of commercial jar salsa (usually Pace) for making a quick taco ground beef recipe. But I just can’t get myself to serve this stuff to guests (or myself) for any chips and salsa application. For that, I make pico de gallo.
Literally translated, pico de gallo means “beak of the cock” (rooster’s beak). It is sometimes also referred to as salsa cruda (sauce raw or fresh). By the way, cruda also is used to describe being hungover...but expounding on that is for a whole other blog as well.
Treat yourself to this simple and flavorful pico de gallo recipe the next time you have guests over. Fry up your own corn tortilla chips as well. Your guests will ask for “your salsa and chips” every time they come over. In a bowl, mix 2 cups diced, fresh, ripe tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced onion (I prefer white onions, though red onions work just as well), 2 tbsp minced fresh jalapeno or serrano chilies, 1/4 cup diced fresh cilantro, 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice, and 1 tsp minced fresh garlic (optional)...add salt to taste. You should make this pico de gallo recipe just before your guests arrive, the flavors diminish within a few hours. Never make it the day before...the taste and aromas aren’t nearly as fresh and satisfying. Better yet, if you like to entertain as I do, chop up all the ingredients while your guests are sitting there...they will appreciate it.
Some of the fresh made chile or hot sauces found in good restaurants are very nice. A chile sauce is basically dried chilies (red, pasilla, ancho, etc.), and reconstituted with water or sometimes cooked with broth, then pureed in a food processor. In the “old country”, traditional Mexican cooks simply ground the dried chilies with a mortar and pestle, then added water...voila: chile sauce! They typically are much more picante or hot than salsa or pico de gallo and can be made at home without much hassle.
As with any fresh-made recipe, you should experiment with the ingredients, especially the amount of chilies, to suit your tastes. I like my chile sauce and pico de gallo mas picante than my peers. Another result of old age and the depletion of my taste buds I think! In fact, I make a great chile sauce with fresh roasted garlic, fresh roasted tomatoes, and fresh diced habanero chilies...it’s gooooood...good and hot...and tastes great on a nice, thick, BBQ’d steak. The endorphin rush and resulting forehead sweat is better than a good laugh or a good cry for your well being.
And speaking of your well being...pico de gallo and chile sauce has no trans fat or cholesterol. In fact, it has no fat at all and is a great healthy alternative to tartar sauce on fresh grilled fish. The healthy benefits of all the ingredients, especially the garlic, are undeniable by any nutrition expert. The only down side: If you have a sensitive digestive system, ie, GERD or Acid Reflux...don’t do it! The momentary pleasure one gets from eating these wonderful condiments don’t outweigh the side effects from the tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and garlic...all or any of these fresh veggies will tear you up if your plumbing is shot!
This Grilled Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla recipe I found in the September 2006 Sunset. Of course, I adjusted it a little to suit our tastes and Loretta's sensitivities (no Chipotle chilies in her sour cream sauce), and she had to pass on the pico de gallo. The chipotle-lime sauce that goes in it is just right. It turned out well and was very flavorful. If anyone requests my Chicken Quesadilla recipe in the comments section of this blog, I will post it shortly. By the way, it's pronounced kay-sah-dee-ya...not kway-sah-dill-ah like Napolean Dynamite's grandma pronounces it!
Coming soon to this Jack Diddley blog: a proper guacamole recipe. And it ain't gonna have any salsa or sour cream in it!
These three condiments are often confused and more often used in the same context. No big deal. Call them what you may...but here are the differences.
Salsa is the Spanish (and Italian) word for sauce. It is a broad description of most anything resembling a sauce. There is salsa cruda, (aka salsa fresca or pico de gallo), salsa roja (sometimes referred to as hot sauce or chile sauce), salsa verde (made with tomatillos), salsa ranchera, salsa, taquera...and so on. There is also salsa dancing...which will not be described in this post...something for which Loretta and I have been wanting to take lessons. There are as many salsa and chile sauce recipes as there are cooks who are into Spanish or Mexican cooking.
Most jarred salsas available from your local grocer are, for lack of a better term, gross concoctions from people like Campbell's or Heinz or Bush Brothers that don’t resemble what traditional salsa recipes were meant to be: a fresh-made vegetable-based condiment or relish. Those store-bought messes they call salsa contain much of the usual commercial preservative type ingredients found in most everything these days. Xantham gun, guar gum, MSG, too much vinegar, and too much salt are just a few. Plus, they are usually cooked as well...part of the extended shelf life process and more resemble spaghetti sauce than salsa. Regarding those so-called “fresh” plastic containers of pico de gallo or salsa fresca...my advice is to “pass”. As I describe in the recipe below, fresh flavors and smells go bye-bye soon after chopping and combining.These never taste right!
I almost always have a jar of commercial jar salsa (usually Pace) for making a quick taco ground beef recipe. But I just can’t get myself to serve this stuff to guests (or myself) for any chips and salsa application. For that, I make pico de gallo.
Literally translated, pico de gallo means “beak of the cock” (rooster’s beak). It is sometimes also referred to as salsa cruda (sauce raw or fresh). By the way, cruda also is used to describe being hungover...but expounding on that is for a whole other blog as well.
Treat yourself to this simple and flavorful pico de gallo recipe the next time you have guests over. Fry up your own corn tortilla chips as well. Your guests will ask for “your salsa and chips” every time they come over. In a bowl, mix 2 cups diced, fresh, ripe tomatoes, 1/2 cup diced onion (I prefer white onions, though red onions work just as well), 2 tbsp minced fresh jalapeno or serrano chilies, 1/4 cup diced fresh cilantro, 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice, and 1 tsp minced fresh garlic (optional)...add salt to taste. You should make this pico de gallo recipe just before your guests arrive, the flavors diminish within a few hours. Never make it the day before...the taste and aromas aren’t nearly as fresh and satisfying. Better yet, if you like to entertain as I do, chop up all the ingredients while your guests are sitting there...they will appreciate it.
Some of the fresh made chile or hot sauces found in good restaurants are very nice. A chile sauce is basically dried chilies (red, pasilla, ancho, etc.), and reconstituted with water or sometimes cooked with broth, then pureed in a food processor. In the “old country”, traditional Mexican cooks simply ground the dried chilies with a mortar and pestle, then added water...voila: chile sauce! They typically are much more picante or hot than salsa or pico de gallo and can be made at home without much hassle.
As with any fresh-made recipe, you should experiment with the ingredients, especially the amount of chilies, to suit your tastes. I like my chile sauce and pico de gallo mas picante than my peers. Another result of old age and the depletion of my taste buds I think! In fact, I make a great chile sauce with fresh roasted garlic, fresh roasted tomatoes, and fresh diced habanero chilies...it’s gooooood...good and hot...and tastes great on a nice, thick, BBQ’d steak. The endorphin rush and resulting forehead sweat is better than a good laugh or a good cry for your well being.
And speaking of your well being...pico de gallo and chile sauce has no trans fat or cholesterol. In fact, it has no fat at all and is a great healthy alternative to tartar sauce on fresh grilled fish. The healthy benefits of all the ingredients, especially the garlic, are undeniable by any nutrition expert. The only down side: If you have a sensitive digestive system, ie, GERD or Acid Reflux...don’t do it! The momentary pleasure one gets from eating these wonderful condiments don’t outweigh the side effects from the tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and garlic...all or any of these fresh veggies will tear you up if your plumbing is shot!
This Grilled Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla recipe I found in the September 2006 Sunset. Of course, I adjusted it a little to suit our tastes and Loretta's sensitivities (no Chipotle chilies in her sour cream sauce), and she had to pass on the pico de gallo. The chipotle-lime sauce that goes in it is just right. It turned out well and was very flavorful. If anyone requests my Chicken Quesadilla recipe in the comments section of this blog, I will post it shortly. By the way, it's pronounced kay-sah-dee-ya...not kway-sah-dill-ah like Napolean Dynamite's grandma pronounces it!
Coming soon to this Jack Diddley blog: a proper guacamole recipe. And it ain't gonna have any salsa or sour cream in it!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Horoscopes: Art or Science? Qualitative or Quantitative?
I have never really been into the horoscope thing. I don’t follow my horoscope on a daily basis would be more accurate. But I do check it from time to time just for fun.
To me, horoscopes are kind of like advertising focus groups. These marketing tools are utilized by companies and ad agencies to help tell them what to do. When Burger King, for instance, is looking at a new item to add to the menu, a new slogan, a new ad campaign, or a new commercial...they enlist the services of a company that puts together focus groups.
Focus groups are a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their attitudes towards a product, service, concept, idea, etc. Qualitative looks at the why and the how. These groups are usually free to talk amongst themselves and discuss the topic. On the flipside...there is quantitative research that uses math, theories, and hypotheses...looking at the what, where , and when...a survey, if you will. Subjective versus objective. Right brain versus left brain. Art versus science.
Hang on, I’m getting there...
One of the problems with focus groups and horoscopes is that the users and analyzers of said “research” tend to be very selective of what they choose to accept about the results. In other words, as an example...the ad executive who continues to hold focus groups about his idea until he gets the positive response he is looking for! Here’s another example (from my radio days)...a radio station general manager deciding to pull a popular song from a current playlist because of one negative phone call from a listener. This is qualitative research. If either of the two examples was using quantitative research, the would take a survey and go with the numbers...the majority...the percentages.
Wait, I’m almost there...
Back to horoscopes. Do we tend to reject the negative or less-than-polyannaesque predictions and embrace the warm and fuzzy stuff? Of course we do. That’s human nature. We gravitate toward acceptance and validation. That is the results we want to hear.
So, on a strictly personal level, is there a quantitative value to a horoscope? And my answer is “Yes”. Why not? Here’s my totally unscientific reasoning. The power of suggestion...the power of positive thinking...the power of self validation and self actualization. If you put your mind to it, it will happen. If you set a goal, you will reach it. If you feel good about yourself, you will succeed. If you are happy, people around you will be happy.
Let’s face it, most published horoscopes are very generic and don’t often stray to the “dark side of the force”. A "bad" horoscope is usually one that advises you to be conservative on that particular day. You won’t find a published horoscope saying that your plane will crash, or you will be hit by a bus. Those predictions are reserved for movies like Final Destination! My horoscope for today simply tells me to look at the difference between wanting and needing something. It’s not a “jump up and down” horoscope about winning the lottery...it simply advises some introspection today. For Monday, it says “my magnanimity is paying off”. Better, but not earth-shattering. But...Monday’s horoscope (for me) validates some things I have been doing in my life. Some things that will take me closer to some of my goals. Little steps that often feel insignificant on a daily basis.
I’m there...
My Yahoo mail home page displays my weather forecast and my horoscope (by default, I didn’t choose that). And I do click on it from time to time. Maybe I should check out my horoscope more often. I know that it will not tell me exactly what to do about my life, my troubles, my finances...but it couldn’t hurt...could it? It is simply qualitative research designed for your entertainment...and for you to analyze and use as you see fit. By the way, the weather forecast on my home page is usually less accurate than my horoscope.
When they come up a quantitative horoscope...there will be big bucks to be made by someone!
To me, horoscopes are kind of like advertising focus groups. These marketing tools are utilized by companies and ad agencies to help tell them what to do. When Burger King, for instance, is looking at a new item to add to the menu, a new slogan, a new ad campaign, or a new commercial...they enlist the services of a company that puts together focus groups.
Focus groups are a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their attitudes towards a product, service, concept, idea, etc. Qualitative looks at the why and the how. These groups are usually free to talk amongst themselves and discuss the topic. On the flipside...there is quantitative research that uses math, theories, and hypotheses...looking at the what, where , and when...a survey, if you will. Subjective versus objective. Right brain versus left brain. Art versus science.
Hang on, I’m getting there...
One of the problems with focus groups and horoscopes is that the users and analyzers of said “research” tend to be very selective of what they choose to accept about the results. In other words, as an example...the ad executive who continues to hold focus groups about his idea until he gets the positive response he is looking for! Here’s another example (from my radio days)...a radio station general manager deciding to pull a popular song from a current playlist because of one negative phone call from a listener. This is qualitative research. If either of the two examples was using quantitative research, the would take a survey and go with the numbers...the majority...the percentages.
Wait, I’m almost there...
Back to horoscopes. Do we tend to reject the negative or less-than-polyannaesque predictions and embrace the warm and fuzzy stuff? Of course we do. That’s human nature. We gravitate toward acceptance and validation. That is the results we want to hear.
So, on a strictly personal level, is there a quantitative value to a horoscope? And my answer is “Yes”. Why not? Here’s my totally unscientific reasoning. The power of suggestion...the power of positive thinking...the power of self validation and self actualization. If you put your mind to it, it will happen. If you set a goal, you will reach it. If you feel good about yourself, you will succeed. If you are happy, people around you will be happy.
Let’s face it, most published horoscopes are very generic and don’t often stray to the “dark side of the force”. A "bad" horoscope is usually one that advises you to be conservative on that particular day. You won’t find a published horoscope saying that your plane will crash, or you will be hit by a bus. Those predictions are reserved for movies like Final Destination! My horoscope for today simply tells me to look at the difference between wanting and needing something. It’s not a “jump up and down” horoscope about winning the lottery...it simply advises some introspection today. For Monday, it says “my magnanimity is paying off”. Better, but not earth-shattering. But...Monday’s horoscope (for me) validates some things I have been doing in my life. Some things that will take me closer to some of my goals. Little steps that often feel insignificant on a daily basis.
I’m there...
My Yahoo mail home page displays my weather forecast and my horoscope (by default, I didn’t choose that). And I do click on it from time to time. Maybe I should check out my horoscope more often. I know that it will not tell me exactly what to do about my life, my troubles, my finances...but it couldn’t hurt...could it? It is simply qualitative research designed for your entertainment...and for you to analyze and use as you see fit. By the way, the weather forecast on my home page is usually less accurate than my horoscope.
When they come up a quantitative horoscope...there will be big bucks to be made by someone!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Toad The Wet Sprocket...goofy name, great 90's band.
Here is an exchange between myself and a friend (in our peer group) during a recent drive to Monterey for the weekend. The scene: I am driving our Grand Cherokee. I am in charge of the music (of course, I'm driving). My iPod is playing through the radio. Stevie Ray Vaughn's Mary Had A Little Lamb comes on.
My friend: What the hell is that?
Me: Oh...that's Stevie Ray Vaughn.
My friend: Who?
Me: Stevie Ray Vaughn...the blues guitarist...he's dead now.
My friend: Thank God. I've never heard of him.
Me: Hmmm. Have you ever heard of Toad The Wet Sprocket?
My friend: C'mon, Skip. You got anything we've heard of? Any Michael Bolton, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Whitney Houston...
Me: (Rolling my eyes, shaking my head, and audibly letting out a lung-full of air) Just listen...you might actually enjoy something you haven't heard ten million times.
(I reach for the Shuffle button on the iPod)
Don't get me wrong. I was raised on Top 40 Radio. Casey Kasem, Bob Eubanks, The Real Don Steele (from 60's L.A. Top 40 radio) were idols of mine. I dreamed about being a Boss Jock! Hell, I worked in it for a long time. I just can't stand listening to it now. Not so much because of the music of today...but because I can't stand the commercials, the DJ's, or the repetition any longer.
Most of my peer group (the over-50 crowd) cringes when I fire up the iPod in the car. My choice of songs and artists on compilations, what we used to call Mixup Tapes, run the gamut from somewhat obscure Stevie Ray Vaughn tracks to Percy Faith to Garry Moore to The Rippingtons to Gin Blossoms...and everything in between. It’s a very eclectic list. By the way...what you will not find on any of Skip Hansen’s playlists is any Hip Hop/Rap, Inspirational, Old Country, Dance Music, Polka, German Folk Music, Opera, Showtunes, or anything by Boy George. I relish The Beatles...play air guitar to Boston...sing out loud to the Little River Band...and sob like a baby to some Carpenters songs.
Taking a line or two from the script of The Big Chill, “You got anything from this century?”
The answer is “Yes! Have you got any taste in music?”
I do covet the older stuff. Though I’m not so much into the 50’s and 60’s any longer. Even for me and my broad music tastes, some of that is just too dated to play on a regular basis. “Louie, Louie” works fine when I am watching Animal House, but not cranked up on my Bose 901’s with a Corona in my hand. I reserve the Corona and Cuervo time for groups like Foreigner, Led Zeppelin, and Boston. There isn’t a tune that gets me more fired up while embibing than “Workin’ For The Weekend” by Huey Lewis...played obnoxiously loud.
I have regular conversations with my 27 year old daughter Jenifer about music. Our musical preferences differ quite a bit, but overlap even more. She is a huge Beatles fan...and I enjoy John Mayer. She likes Classic Rock groups like Foreigner...and I am starting to get into groups like Snow Patrol, The Shins, and Coldplay.
One of the late 80’s/early 90’s groups that were classified as Alternative Rock (and sometimes American Folk Rock) was Toad The Wet Sprocket. Jenifer actually saw them play live in Seattle last year, during a 2006 “reunion” tour. Their musical style is still very relevant today. And, despite the band’s unusual name (taken from a Monty Python sketch), the sound is very conservative...a blend of accoustic and electric guitars and rich vocal harmonies in songs about girls, growing up, and life in general.
Toad The Wet Sprocket was formed in 1986 while the guys were at San Marcos High School near Santa Barbara. Their breakout single, All I Want, from the 1991 release fear did well on the Billboard 100. But it wasn’t until the LP Dulcinea came out in 1994 (after years of heavy touring) that the group achieved notoriety. The song Fall Down hit #1. Something’s Always Wrong charted well too. One of my favorite songs from Dulcinea is called Nanci since one of the song’s lines read, “You take Nanci...for me Loretta’s fine”...(I’m married to a Loretta!)
They broke up in 1998, but have gotten back together for benefit concerts and a full blown tour last year. For anyone in my peer group who would like to expand their musical interests beyond the most popular Easy Listening station's old school playlists...drop into iTunes and sample some Toad The Wet Sprocket. While you’re there...give the group Snow Patrol a listen. Both of these groups are extremely easy on the ear, very accessible, simple to understand, and are in a different galaxy from Hip Hop/Rap and a lot of the other crap heard (and seen) on the Grammies or MTV or VH1.
Some of the newer music I listen to will not make it onto my iPod playlist called Kick Ass Driving Tunes. But it will be on the master list. And when the iPod is on Shuffle during longer road trips, they will play! Just not ten million times.
My friend: What the hell is that?
Me: Oh...that's Stevie Ray Vaughn.
My friend: Who?
Me: Stevie Ray Vaughn...the blues guitarist...he's dead now.
My friend: Thank God. I've never heard of him.
Me: Hmmm. Have you ever heard of Toad The Wet Sprocket?
My friend: C'mon, Skip. You got anything we've heard of? Any Michael Bolton, Doobie Brothers, Elton John, Whitney Houston...
Me: (Rolling my eyes, shaking my head, and audibly letting out a lung-full of air) Just listen...you might actually enjoy something you haven't heard ten million times.
(I reach for the Shuffle button on the iPod)
Don't get me wrong. I was raised on Top 40 Radio. Casey Kasem, Bob Eubanks, The Real Don Steele (from 60's L.A. Top 40 radio) were idols of mine. I dreamed about being a Boss Jock! Hell, I worked in it for a long time. I just can't stand listening to it now. Not so much because of the music of today...but because I can't stand the commercials, the DJ's, or the repetition any longer.
Most of my peer group (the over-50 crowd) cringes when I fire up the iPod in the car. My choice of songs and artists on compilations, what we used to call Mixup Tapes, run the gamut from somewhat obscure Stevie Ray Vaughn tracks to Percy Faith to Garry Moore to The Rippingtons to Gin Blossoms...and everything in between. It’s a very eclectic list. By the way...what you will not find on any of Skip Hansen’s playlists is any Hip Hop/Rap, Inspirational, Old Country, Dance Music, Polka, German Folk Music, Opera, Showtunes, or anything by Boy George. I relish The Beatles...play air guitar to Boston...sing out loud to the Little River Band...and sob like a baby to some Carpenters songs.
Taking a line or two from the script of The Big Chill, “You got anything from this century?”
The answer is “Yes! Have you got any taste in music?”
I do covet the older stuff. Though I’m not so much into the 50’s and 60’s any longer. Even for me and my broad music tastes, some of that is just too dated to play on a regular basis. “Louie, Louie” works fine when I am watching Animal House, but not cranked up on my Bose 901’s with a Corona in my hand. I reserve the Corona and Cuervo time for groups like Foreigner, Led Zeppelin, and Boston. There isn’t a tune that gets me more fired up while embibing than “Workin’ For The Weekend” by Huey Lewis...played obnoxiously loud.
I have regular conversations with my 27 year old daughter Jenifer about music. Our musical preferences differ quite a bit, but overlap even more. She is a huge Beatles fan...and I enjoy John Mayer. She likes Classic Rock groups like Foreigner...and I am starting to get into groups like Snow Patrol, The Shins, and Coldplay.
One of the late 80’s/early 90’s groups that were classified as Alternative Rock (and sometimes American Folk Rock) was Toad The Wet Sprocket. Jenifer actually saw them play live in Seattle last year, during a 2006 “reunion” tour. Their musical style is still very relevant today. And, despite the band’s unusual name (taken from a Monty Python sketch), the sound is very conservative...a blend of accoustic and electric guitars and rich vocal harmonies in songs about girls, growing up, and life in general.
Toad The Wet Sprocket was formed in 1986 while the guys were at San Marcos High School near Santa Barbara. Their breakout single, All I Want, from the 1991 release fear did well on the Billboard 100. But it wasn’t until the LP Dulcinea came out in 1994 (after years of heavy touring) that the group achieved notoriety. The song Fall Down hit #1. Something’s Always Wrong charted well too. One of my favorite songs from Dulcinea is called Nanci since one of the song’s lines read, “You take Nanci...for me Loretta’s fine”...(I’m married to a Loretta!)
They broke up in 1998, but have gotten back together for benefit concerts and a full blown tour last year. For anyone in my peer group who would like to expand their musical interests beyond the most popular Easy Listening station's old school playlists...drop into iTunes and sample some Toad The Wet Sprocket. While you’re there...give the group Snow Patrol a listen. Both of these groups are extremely easy on the ear, very accessible, simple to understand, and are in a different galaxy from Hip Hop/Rap and a lot of the other crap heard (and seen) on the Grammies or MTV or VH1.
Some of the newer music I listen to will not make it onto my iPod playlist called Kick Ass Driving Tunes. But it will be on the master list. And when the iPod is on Shuffle during longer road trips, they will play! Just not ten million times.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Valentine poems from a sentimental cynic.
Hallmark...I am available for freelance greeting card writing. Here is some of my recent work...
Rose are red,
Violets are blue...
I named our love-child '63 Impala...
He looks just like you.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue...
You may want to visit a doctor...
Where I got this rash, I haven’t a clue.
Be my valentine...
For each day I think of you...
But my whole life has changed...
Since I met Stu.
Our love has no parameters...
And does not end with time...
Our love has no end...
But that Meet the Beatles album is mine.
Let us take this holiday...
To resubmit our love...
Despite that time in Hawaii...
Where at lover’s leap you gave me a shove.
My love for you is dark and deep...
But it’s a promise I will keep...
Except when I find you in bed again...
With that oily-beau-hunk creep.
I would take you for my own...
Could I but have your wings...
But since our first date the other night...
That little open sore really stings.
A valentine is nothing like
a chocolate or a rose...
For in a week these shall be gone...
And you can stick that restraining order up your nose.
I really am a sentimental romantic at heart. I really am!
Rose are red,
Violets are blue...
I named our love-child '63 Impala...
He looks just like you.
Roses are red,
Violets are blue...
You may want to visit a doctor...
Where I got this rash, I haven’t a clue.
Be my valentine...
For each day I think of you...
But my whole life has changed...
Since I met Stu.
Our love has no parameters...
And does not end with time...
Our love has no end...
But that Meet the Beatles album is mine.
Let us take this holiday...
To resubmit our love...
Despite that time in Hawaii...
Where at lover’s leap you gave me a shove.
My love for you is dark and deep...
But it’s a promise I will keep...
Except when I find you in bed again...
With that oily-beau-hunk creep.
I would take you for my own...
Could I but have your wings...
But since our first date the other night...
That little open sore really stings.
A valentine is nothing like
a chocolate or a rose...
For in a week these shall be gone...
And you can stick that restraining order up your nose.
I really am a sentimental romantic at heart. I really am!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Valentine's Day: our cheap date.
Loretta and I went on an early Valentine’s Day date of sorts on Monday. It didn’t really start off with that in mind, it just became that.
Our “dates” are sometimes just a few hours together, out of the house doing mundane things like window shopping, or driving around a part of our town we’ve never been. We just enjoy being together...by ourselves. It’s not that we’ve become loners in recent years or that we don’t like other people. We both used to be much more sociable in our past lives. But not so much now. I guess we prefer each other’s company to the company of others.
We talk a lot...probably more than other couples our age. I know for a fact, as some couples get older, verbal communication comes to a screeching halt. During my tenure in the service industry, I used to see married couples come in for lunch or dinner and not utter one single word to one another over the course of their meal...not one! Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s OK to not feel the need for idle chatter. You know...that comfortable feeling you have with your significant other...the feeling that doesn’t require constant conversaton or nervous blathering...like on first dates.
I know that Loretta and I always talk about the nice things and the beautiful scenes passing by our car window. In fact, our conversations are almost always pleasant...we rarely argue. We tease each other...but we hardly ever argue about anything. What’s the point?
The other day we went for a drive east on Highway 108 from Modesto toward Jamestown and Sonora (our planned destinations). That’s about a 60 mile drive into the Sierra Nevada foothills. It’s also one of the routes one can take to Yosemite, another 30 miles or so south from there. Gold Country. The Forty Niner Highway (now named Highway 49...go figure) traverses the foothills of the Sierras. We’ve driven that thoroughfare many times, mostly on the back of a Harley.
But this time, we didn’t make it all the way to Sonora or even Jamestown. We didn’t even get as far as Highway 49. After stopping at a little park on the Stanislaus River in Riverbank, where I shot some photos of the railroad bridge and some grumpy resident swans, we pulled off Highway 108 at Knight’s Ferry for lunch. That’s about 30 miles from our home.
We ate lunch at a place we had been many times before, the 50’s Roadhouse Cafe. Years ago, it used to be a hunter’s stopover where one could have a meal and a drink or two...and quite possibly other “services” less advertised. But that was a long time ago. Now, it’s a diner with 50’s-themed menu items and a little bar. I had the Richie Valens Bacon Burger. Loretta the 57 Chevy Burger. You’ll also find the Buffalo Bob Double Cheeseburger, the Ricky Ricardo Chiliburger, and others similar to that. The 50’s Roadhouse Cafe is situated a few hundred yards off the main highway, just a stone’s throw from the Stanislaus River and the small, historic town of Knight’s Ferry.
Yes, there used to be a ferry crossing there, named for a guy named Knight. The story surrounding the little town is rich in Gold Rush history. You can read about it at this link. Knight’s Ferry was one of the towns that sprung up along the river during the mid-1800’s, not for the gold, but because it was about halfway to where the gold rush flourished. Among other things, there was the ferry across the river. And a sawmill...and a gristmill (another name for a flour mill). The remains of the millworks are still there, now a historical monument.
The park service recently built an information center and a couple of picnic areas. Novice river rafters can start their adventure there, then float downstream a few miles toward Oakdale and Modesto. It’s a somewhat leisurely trip, not like those National Geographic whitewater trips. But this time of year, the area is devoid of river rafters or crowds of any type.
We had week or so of rain, and then it cleared up...giving us a beautiful, warm, sunny day on Monday. So, after lunch, we stopped in one of the empty picnic areas and started to explore a little. The Knight’s Ferry covered bridge was something we didn’t even know was there. Built in 1864 to replace the previous bridge (washed away in a storm), it is the longest covered bridge in California. And after several restorations in recent years, including being restricted to vehicle traffic since 1981, it was a pleasant surprise for us to find.
The bridge is situated right next to the Tullock Mill site. Though now only comprised of the original brick walls, the mill is still there. Inside the buildings, you can see the remnants of the machinery and electrical turbine constructed in 1899 when they converted to electricity. The roofs are long gone.
As with any old, abandoned historical monument...there is an eerie atmosphere about it. I could sense the energy that surrounded this once busy structure. I imagined the workers going about their duties running the millworks. The now red, rusty equipment churning and clanging...the sounds of the river water channeling through the huge pipe that feeds the mll turbine. I thought about the horses and wagons that must have clippity-clopped across the nearby covered wooden bridge, carrying stacks of lumber, and bags of flour, and other goods going to and from the town of Knights’s Ferry.
As we made our way up the little trail along the Stanislaus River, there is a small map of the river itself. This map notes all the Native American tribes that made their homes here. Particularly, the Yokuto and the Me-Wuk tribes. They lived here for thousands of years...long before civilization came in and built covered bridges, and mills, and roadways.
Loretta and I explored the banks of the river for a short while, still in view of the bridge. There were a few other people there that day...a couple of families with kids...a man with his dogs just sunning himself on a rock...a young couple doing some fly fishing. But, for the most part, we were by ourselves.
We plan to come back again when we have more time to take the river trail farther back up the canyon. One of the people we met said there are some whitewater areas farther on. The fly fisherman told us there are some nice pools there as well. The fishing season is open most of the year as it is a catch-and-release area. No bait or barbed hooks allowed, just artificial lures.
It was a very economical date, save for the over-priced burgers for lunch. There is no admission fee to visit this place. It’s free. There are no snack bars, or beer wagons, or souvenir stands. There is no one hawking timeshares or helicopter rides. No boomboxes blasting away. Just the gently-flowing Stanislaus River and a small part of California history...and the ocassional screech of a red-tailed hawk flying overhead.
It was a fun Valentine’s date for Loretta and I. By the way, the Valentine’s Day Special Dinner will be tonight...at home...with just the two of us. I took a lot of photos, some of which can be seen on my flickr photo site.
Our “dates” are sometimes just a few hours together, out of the house doing mundane things like window shopping, or driving around a part of our town we’ve never been. We just enjoy being together...by ourselves. It’s not that we’ve become loners in recent years or that we don’t like other people. We both used to be much more sociable in our past lives. But not so much now. I guess we prefer each other’s company to the company of others.
We talk a lot...probably more than other couples our age. I know for a fact, as some couples get older, verbal communication comes to a screeching halt. During my tenure in the service industry, I used to see married couples come in for lunch or dinner and not utter one single word to one another over the course of their meal...not one! Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe it’s OK to not feel the need for idle chatter. You know...that comfortable feeling you have with your significant other...the feeling that doesn’t require constant conversaton or nervous blathering...like on first dates.
I know that Loretta and I always talk about the nice things and the beautiful scenes passing by our car window. In fact, our conversations are almost always pleasant...we rarely argue. We tease each other...but we hardly ever argue about anything. What’s the point?
The other day we went for a drive east on Highway 108 from Modesto toward Jamestown and Sonora (our planned destinations). That’s about a 60 mile drive into the Sierra Nevada foothills. It’s also one of the routes one can take to Yosemite, another 30 miles or so south from there. Gold Country. The Forty Niner Highway (now named Highway 49...go figure) traverses the foothills of the Sierras. We’ve driven that thoroughfare many times, mostly on the back of a Harley.
But this time, we didn’t make it all the way to Sonora or even Jamestown. We didn’t even get as far as Highway 49. After stopping at a little park on the Stanislaus River in Riverbank, where I shot some photos of the railroad bridge and some grumpy resident swans, we pulled off Highway 108 at Knight’s Ferry for lunch. That’s about 30 miles from our home.
We ate lunch at a place we had been many times before, the 50’s Roadhouse Cafe. Years ago, it used to be a hunter’s stopover where one could have a meal and a drink or two...and quite possibly other “services” less advertised. But that was a long time ago. Now, it’s a diner with 50’s-themed menu items and a little bar. I had the Richie Valens Bacon Burger. Loretta the 57 Chevy Burger. You’ll also find the Buffalo Bob Double Cheeseburger, the Ricky Ricardo Chiliburger, and others similar to that. The 50’s Roadhouse Cafe is situated a few hundred yards off the main highway, just a stone’s throw from the Stanislaus River and the small, historic town of Knight’s Ferry.
Yes, there used to be a ferry crossing there, named for a guy named Knight. The story surrounding the little town is rich in Gold Rush history. You can read about it at this link. Knight’s Ferry was one of the towns that sprung up along the river during the mid-1800’s, not for the gold, but because it was about halfway to where the gold rush flourished. Among other things, there was the ferry across the river. And a sawmill...and a gristmill (another name for a flour mill). The remains of the millworks are still there, now a historical monument.The park service recently built an information center and a couple of picnic areas. Novice river rafters can start their adventure there, then float downstream a few miles toward Oakdale and Modesto. It’s a somewhat leisurely trip, not like those National Geographic whitewater trips. But this time of year, the area is devoid of river rafters or crowds of any type.
We had week or so of rain, and then it cleared up...giving us a beautiful, warm, sunny day on Monday. So, after lunch, we stopped in one of the empty picnic areas and started to explore a little. The Knight’s Ferry covered bridge was something we didn’t even know was there. Built in 1864 to replace the previous bridge (washed away in a storm), it is the longest covered bridge in California. And after several restorations in recent years, including being restricted to vehicle traffic since 1981, it was a pleasant surprise for us to find.
The bridge is situated right next to the Tullock Mill site. Though now only comprised of the original brick walls, the mill is still there. Inside the buildings, you can see the remnants of the machinery and electrical turbine constructed in 1899 when they converted to electricity. The roofs are long gone.
As with any old, abandoned historical monument...there is an eerie atmosphere about it. I could sense the energy that surrounded this once busy structure. I imagined the workers going about their duties running the millworks. The now red, rusty equipment churning and clanging...the sounds of the river water channeling through the huge pipe that feeds the mll turbine. I thought about the horses and wagons that must have clippity-clopped across the nearby covered wooden bridge, carrying stacks of lumber, and bags of flour, and other goods going to and from the town of Knights’s Ferry.
As we made our way up the little trail along the Stanislaus River, there is a small map of the river itself. This map notes all the Native American tribes that made their homes here. Particularly, the Yokuto and the Me-Wuk tribes. They lived here for thousands of years...long before civilization came in and built covered bridges, and mills, and roadways.
Loretta and I explored the banks of the river for a short while, still in view of the bridge. There were a few other people there that day...a couple of families with kids...a man with his dogs just sunning himself on a rock...a young couple doing some fly fishing. But, for the most part, we were by ourselves.
We plan to come back again when we have more time to take the river trail farther back up the canyon. One of the people we met said there are some whitewater areas farther on. The fly fisherman told us there are some nice pools there as well. The fishing season is open most of the year as it is a catch-and-release area. No bait or barbed hooks allowed, just artificial lures.
It was a very economical date, save for the over-priced burgers for lunch. There is no admission fee to visit this place. It’s free. There are no snack bars, or beer wagons, or souvenir stands. There is no one hawking timeshares or helicopter rides. No boomboxes blasting away. Just the gently-flowing Stanislaus River and a small part of California history...and the ocassional screech of a red-tailed hawk flying overhead.
It was a fun Valentine’s date for Loretta and I. By the way, the Valentine’s Day Special Dinner will be tonight...at home...with just the two of us. I took a lot of photos, some of which can be seen on my flickr photo site.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Yes...I actually watched The Grammys...for a little while.
I must admit...I was not totally repulsed by the Grammys last night. At my age, admitting to my peer group that I watched it at all is somewhat embarrassing in itself. Let’s face it...I'm (we’re, re: my peer group) are out of the current musical loop. Sure I am familiar with a handful of names on the “charts” the past 10 years or so. But not many.
Years ago (27 to be exact) I was still in a radio broadcasting career. I was not only a morning show DJ, I was a program director and music director. My job required that I be in tune with “today’s” music scene, the Billboard charts, the music news, and so on. Topping the list in 1980 were names like Christopher Cross (who won 4 awards including Record of the year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist) for “Sailing”...Kenny Loggins...Bette Midler...Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb...Billy Joel...Pat Benetar...Bob Seger...and Police. I was not only familiar with who was nominated, I was actually playing much of the music on my show...and rooting for my favorites to win.
Last night’s Grammy Awards show opened with a live number by the Police. Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland, and Sting reunited after twenty one years to play their 1978 debut “hit” Roxanne. This performance also commemorated their 30th anniversary as a band. Though they disbanded in 1986, the Police (or simply Police) sounded (and looked) like they had still been together all these years. For me, it was like looking into a time machine of sorts.
I think I decided to watch the Grammy out of morbid curiosity. Having not seen it for many years, it was time to see what, and who, was happening again. Quite honestly, my revulsion to this music industry auto-stroking event has been my aversion to some of the forms of music now considered “popular”...specifically Hip Hop/Rap. That genre of so-called music has never been for me...period. Not to mention the silly names, the huge entourage of “people” who accompany the winners on stage, the goofy outfits, the sunglasses worn indoors, and....well, all that goes with this stuff...I just don't consider it "music".
Well, I only managed to stay with the show for about and hour and half...then I bailed to watch Final Destination 3. But during the time I was tuned in, I was not totally repulsed! The show was well-produced and somewhat respectable compared to times past. Of course, opening the show with the live Police number was wisely orchestrated by the producers to promote viewing by us old folks...smooth move. We old-schoolers may not have hung around for long, but we gave it a try. I can say that I watched The Grammys!
Winning names at the 2007 Grammys included The Dixies Chicks, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J. Blige, and Gnarls Barkley. Who? Yes, Gnarls Barkley. I had never heard of him until last night, but he won Best Alternative Music Album for the album St. Elsewhere. His hit song Crazy (no resemblance to Patsy Cline's classic) is extremely reminiscent of something from Bobby Womack like Across 110th Street (from the Jackie Browne soundtrack), more R&B than Alternative or Hip/Hop.
Some of the lines between the music genres have been blurred recently...and that’s a good thing. Most of the winners last night seemed much more conservative than in previous Grammy awards. The top winner, The Dixie Chicks, are a country group. Who knew? I, for one, plan to do a little more iTunes browsing this week to "see" what is out there. I will download Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy.
My daughter Jenifer (she’s 27) suggests tunes to me from time to time. The last group she recommended I sample was The Shins. They're not bad. Sorry Jen, but I never got the resemblance of Coldplay to the Beatles...but that’s just me. I like John Mayer as well. Though it seems most of his tunes tend to be too similar and introspective for my tastes. Keep ‘em coming...I’ll always give it a try!
The pop music world is constantly evolving. Groups and artists come and go. That “15 minutes of fame” thing has been around since the 50’s. There are many One-Hit-Wonder songs from the 60’s that I still can’t get enough of today. Anyone remember The Electric Prunes, I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night? Probably not, unless you are over 50!
You see...I still get a little misty-eyed whenever I hear A Summer Place by Percy Faith. But, I'm just a sentimental sap.
Years ago (27 to be exact) I was still in a radio broadcasting career. I was not only a morning show DJ, I was a program director and music director. My job required that I be in tune with “today’s” music scene, the Billboard charts, the music news, and so on. Topping the list in 1980 were names like Christopher Cross (who won 4 awards including Record of the year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist) for “Sailing”...Kenny Loggins...Bette Midler...Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb...Billy Joel...Pat Benetar...Bob Seger...and Police. I was not only familiar with who was nominated, I was actually playing much of the music on my show...and rooting for my favorites to win.
Last night’s Grammy Awards show opened with a live number by the Police. Andy Summers, Stewart Copeland, and Sting reunited after twenty one years to play their 1978 debut “hit” Roxanne. This performance also commemorated their 30th anniversary as a band. Though they disbanded in 1986, the Police (or simply Police) sounded (and looked) like they had still been together all these years. For me, it was like looking into a time machine of sorts.
I think I decided to watch the Grammy out of morbid curiosity. Having not seen it for many years, it was time to see what, and who, was happening again. Quite honestly, my revulsion to this music industry auto-stroking event has been my aversion to some of the forms of music now considered “popular”...specifically Hip Hop/Rap. That genre of so-called music has never been for me...period. Not to mention the silly names, the huge entourage of “people” who accompany the winners on stage, the goofy outfits, the sunglasses worn indoors, and....well, all that goes with this stuff...I just don't consider it "music".
Well, I only managed to stay with the show for about and hour and half...then I bailed to watch Final Destination 3. But during the time I was tuned in, I was not totally repulsed! The show was well-produced and somewhat respectable compared to times past. Of course, opening the show with the live Police number was wisely orchestrated by the producers to promote viewing by us old folks...smooth move. We old-schoolers may not have hung around for long, but we gave it a try. I can say that I watched The Grammys!
Winning names at the 2007 Grammys included The Dixies Chicks, Carrie Underwood, John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J. Blige, and Gnarls Barkley. Who? Yes, Gnarls Barkley. I had never heard of him until last night, but he won Best Alternative Music Album for the album St. Elsewhere. His hit song Crazy (no resemblance to Patsy Cline's classic) is extremely reminiscent of something from Bobby Womack like Across 110th Street (from the Jackie Browne soundtrack), more R&B than Alternative or Hip/Hop.
Some of the lines between the music genres have been blurred recently...and that’s a good thing. Most of the winners last night seemed much more conservative than in previous Grammy awards. The top winner, The Dixie Chicks, are a country group. Who knew? I, for one, plan to do a little more iTunes browsing this week to "see" what is out there. I will download Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy.
My daughter Jenifer (she’s 27) suggests tunes to me from time to time. The last group she recommended I sample was The Shins. They're not bad. Sorry Jen, but I never got the resemblance of Coldplay to the Beatles...but that’s just me. I like John Mayer as well. Though it seems most of his tunes tend to be too similar and introspective for my tastes. Keep ‘em coming...I’ll always give it a try!
The pop music world is constantly evolving. Groups and artists come and go. That “15 minutes of fame” thing has been around since the 50’s. There are many One-Hit-Wonder songs from the 60’s that I still can’t get enough of today. Anyone remember The Electric Prunes, I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night? Probably not, unless you are over 50!
You see...I still get a little misty-eyed whenever I hear A Summer Place by Percy Faith. But, I'm just a sentimental sap.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Got memorabilia?
My best friend collects, among other things, celebrity memorabilia. Specifically, he has hundreds of signed photographs and signature cards from all sorts of famous folks. One of these items of interest is a large, framed photograph with signature card of Anna Nicole Smith. It appears to be from her Playmate days as she is displaying her upper array in all its splendor. In our phone conversation the other day, I advised him to sell it soon, ie, don’t hold out for a bigger price. Anna Nicole Smith’s story is a sad one, no doubt. But since her passing, that “15 minutes” (she has managed to stretch into 15 years) is now down to about 7 minutes.
With that in mind...here is a list of other memorabilia that may not be as valuable as it once was. I’m not sure he owns any of this, but he may! Sell them now...
1. That famous cigar from the Clinton White house days...autographed by whats-her-face.
2. A white cook’s apron that Vic Tayback wore in Alice. There is a splotch of chili on it that resembles Jesus.
3. Any recording or photo of Lief Garrett.
4. Zza Zza Gabor.
5. A used diaper from Lisa Nowak’s shuttle mission.
6. A signed copy of a high school I.Q. test from Paris Hilton.
7. Nick Nolte’s D.A.R.E. recognition award.
8. Jennifer Hudson’s signed audition application card from American Idol...her “15 minute clock” is down to about 11 minutes.
9. The wide screen, HD DVD version of The Illusionist with “extras” including “The Making of The Illusionist”, 25 deleted scenes, blooper reel, and the DVD-ROM The Illusionist computer game. Comes with a $ 25 certificate to Starbucks to help keep you awake.
10. A little-known proposal to congress from George W. Bush suggesting allocation of $ 300 billion for a hydrogen filled zeppelin program.
If you have any of this stuff...unload it soon. They’re value is tenuous at best.
An homage to a line from Raiders of the Lost Ark, "...bury anything in the sand for 1000 years...and it will be valuable as well...".
With that in mind...here is a list of other memorabilia that may not be as valuable as it once was. I’m not sure he owns any of this, but he may! Sell them now...
1. That famous cigar from the Clinton White house days...autographed by whats-her-face.
2. A white cook’s apron that Vic Tayback wore in Alice. There is a splotch of chili on it that resembles Jesus.
3. Any recording or photo of Lief Garrett.
4. Zza Zza Gabor.
5. A used diaper from Lisa Nowak’s shuttle mission.
6. A signed copy of a high school I.Q. test from Paris Hilton.
7. Nick Nolte’s D.A.R.E. recognition award.
8. Jennifer Hudson’s signed audition application card from American Idol...her “15 minute clock” is down to about 11 minutes.
9. The wide screen, HD DVD version of The Illusionist with “extras” including “The Making of The Illusionist”, 25 deleted scenes, blooper reel, and the DVD-ROM The Illusionist computer game. Comes with a $ 25 certificate to Starbucks to help keep you awake.
10. A little-known proposal to congress from George W. Bush suggesting allocation of $ 300 billion for a hydrogen filled zeppelin program.
If you have any of this stuff...unload it soon. They’re value is tenuous at best.
An homage to a line from Raiders of the Lost Ark, "...bury anything in the sand for 1000 years...and it will be valuable as well...".
Saturday, February 10, 2007
What do you say to a naked yoga person?
I try to be open-minded about everything. Though I have not always been this “liberal”, I’ve tried to look for the good in things I used to find strange, weird, unfamiliar, or just plain bizarre. I’m not particularly prejudiced against anything or anyone, except...stupidity. And let’s not confuse stupidity with ignorance. Stupidity is the quality or condition of being stupid, or lacking intelligence...as opposed to being merely ignorant, which is defined as having a lack of knowledge.
As a self-professed, self-taught Jack-of-All-Trades-Master-of-None person, I freely admit that I am ignorant about a lot of things. Nude Yoga is one of them.
I heard this practice mentioned on a morning news/talk show the other day. One of the hosts commented that she wouldn’t ever do that in a public venue because of her fear of getting herpes. First of all...what idiot would do anything sans clothing in public without having some sort of sterile “membrane” between themselves and the surface on which one may find a herpes virus? The female co-host thus confirming her stupidity...and a generous amout of ignorance. Since I am not a fan of Nude Yoga, may I assume that practicioners of this form of the ancient art of yoga (at least in today’s society) provide themselves some sort of personal mat or towel to protect their naughty regions from sharing bodily fluids? Let’s hope so!
Moving on...
Nude or Naked Yoga has been a part of some Eastern cultures for centuries. But it was not until the free-thinking 60’s that it established itself in Western society. For example, the Esalen Institute of California (where this is practiced and taught) was depicted in in the 1968 flick Bob, Carol, Ted, and Alice. Evidently, San Francisco’s gay community also spawned many “institutes” of its own promoting the practice of NudeYoga (not that there is anything wrong with that!).
Obviously, most of us in the American general public are still not as liberal about public nudity as in some European nations. In fact, despite all the outrageousness we are allowed to see on American (network) television...it does not include genitalia or even nipples! Laws concerning public exposure are very similar. We can run around the beach with every inch of our ass hanging out except for that one-square inch area (much larger on some people) that comprises the extreme southern end of our digestive system. Men can display their nipples...women cannot. Is it because men’s nipples have hair on them? If so, should men without hairy nipples keep them covered? Conversely, should women with hairy nipples be able to “let it all hang out”? I’ll pass on that vision...but that’s just me.
So...why shouldn’t we become more open-minded about public nudity in this country? Nudity is not dirty. It is not immoral. And it doesn’t harm anyone...unless, of course, you count herpes-infested Nude Yoga people who don’t bring their own towel or plastic sheets. Also, maybe some people should simply not be allowed to remove all or part of their clothing in public view...causing extreme mental trauma to any nearby gawkers. Sometimes, it’s just too Foo King Ugg Lee for public (or even private) consumption.
Some old geeser (sp?) just got arrested (for the third time) for driving naked. Don’t you think law enforcement officials have better things to do with their time? How many crack heads were holding up convenience stores while these cops were busting this poor old naked gentleman?
I say, let’s loosen up these antiquated public nudity laws for a couple reasons. One: What’s the BFD? Two: Those perverts who expose themselves in public for attention won’t get any more attention. Three: Do you really think that loosening up the laws will bring about a huge influx of people running around naked? C’mon! Are parents afraid of what to tell their children? Remember this old joke?
Little boy: Mommy...look at that naked lady over there.
Mother: Oh my!
Little boy: What’s that thing between her legs?
Mother: Well, son...that’s where someone hit her with a tomahawk.
Little boy: Oh...right in the vagina...huh?
I attempted to make it a bit more P.C. than the original version.
As a self-professed, self-taught Jack-of-All-Trades-Master-of-None person, I freely admit that I am ignorant about a lot of things. Nude Yoga is one of them.
I heard this practice mentioned on a morning news/talk show the other day. One of the hosts commented that she wouldn’t ever do that in a public venue because of her fear of getting herpes. First of all...what idiot would do anything sans clothing in public without having some sort of sterile “membrane” between themselves and the surface on which one may find a herpes virus? The female co-host thus confirming her stupidity...and a generous amout of ignorance. Since I am not a fan of Nude Yoga, may I assume that practicioners of this form of the ancient art of yoga (at least in today’s society) provide themselves some sort of personal mat or towel to protect their naughty regions from sharing bodily fluids? Let’s hope so!
Moving on...
Nude or Naked Yoga has been a part of some Eastern cultures for centuries. But it was not until the free-thinking 60’s that it established itself in Western society. For example, the Esalen Institute of California (where this is practiced and taught) was depicted in in the 1968 flick Bob, Carol, Ted, and Alice. Evidently, San Francisco’s gay community also spawned many “institutes” of its own promoting the practice of NudeYoga (not that there is anything wrong with that!).
Obviously, most of us in the American general public are still not as liberal about public nudity as in some European nations. In fact, despite all the outrageousness we are allowed to see on American (network) television...it does not include genitalia or even nipples! Laws concerning public exposure are very similar. We can run around the beach with every inch of our ass hanging out except for that one-square inch area (much larger on some people) that comprises the extreme southern end of our digestive system. Men can display their nipples...women cannot. Is it because men’s nipples have hair on them? If so, should men without hairy nipples keep them covered? Conversely, should women with hairy nipples be able to “let it all hang out”? I’ll pass on that vision...but that’s just me.
So...why shouldn’t we become more open-minded about public nudity in this country? Nudity is not dirty. It is not immoral. And it doesn’t harm anyone...unless, of course, you count herpes-infested Nude Yoga people who don’t bring their own towel or plastic sheets. Also, maybe some people should simply not be allowed to remove all or part of their clothing in public view...causing extreme mental trauma to any nearby gawkers. Sometimes, it’s just too Foo King Ugg Lee for public (or even private) consumption.
Some old geeser (sp?) just got arrested (for the third time) for driving naked. Don’t you think law enforcement officials have better things to do with their time? How many crack heads were holding up convenience stores while these cops were busting this poor old naked gentleman?
I say, let’s loosen up these antiquated public nudity laws for a couple reasons. One: What’s the BFD? Two: Those perverts who expose themselves in public for attention won’t get any more attention. Three: Do you really think that loosening up the laws will bring about a huge influx of people running around naked? C’mon! Are parents afraid of what to tell their children? Remember this old joke?
Little boy: Mommy...look at that naked lady over there.
Mother: Oh my!
Little boy: What’s that thing between her legs?
Mother: Well, son...that’s where someone hit her with a tomahawk.
Little boy: Oh...right in the vagina...huh?
I attempted to make it a bit more P.C. than the original version.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Yours truly
So what's your story?
