Adventures in Gastronomy

Is blogging over? I mean, do people still read them now with Facebook? I do have some readers who do keep me on my toes (hello, and thank you, Melody and Randy), but it seems most people have ceased to check out their favorite blogs on a daily basis (not that my blog was probably anybody’s favorite).

Hell, I know that I rarely check out other people’s blogs anymore. Anyway, I’m going to try to keep posting here…and hopefully more regularly…even if just as a test to see how often people check-in. I don’t want to let what few fans I have down.

So, let’s see…what’s happened since my last post in January. Snow. Then more snow. Then ice. Then rain. That pretty much sums up the past few weeks.  Boston’s had 71.5 inches of snow  (Arlington got quite a bit more) and my commute since Christmas has been 50% to 200% longer than normal every day. Even the main roads (Massachusetts Avenue) are missing lanes of traffic because of the mounds of snow. And I still don’t understand why they are allowing parralel parking along that major artery in Cambridge when 2 lanes of parking and 4 travel lanes has been narrowed down to just one lane of traffic in each direction. My normal 20-30 minute commute has taken me a minimum of 40 minutes, but is frequently 1.5 to 2.0 hours…each way. I could walk faster (if the sidewalks weren’t icy lawsuits waiting to happen. The one benefit has been that it’s allowed me to watch an episode and a half PER DAY of old Pushing Daisies episodes on my iPhone.

Fortunately, we’re FINALLY getting our first thaw and things are melting. An invigorating sign that spring is on it’s way.

On another positive note, Randy and I will be heading to Mexico shortly. I wasn’t initially excited about going to Puerto Vallarta since I’d already been there twice before. Although I still would have prefered to venture someplace new (Costa Rica, Chile, or Dominican Republic), I’m now getting excited as the trip is approaching. Especially after this winter.

On a negative note, my uncle passed away on Friday after being hospitalized since November following a heart attack. The funeral is going to be Thursday. They’ve even enlisted me to be pall-bearer (something I’ve never done before despite attending more funerals than I care to remember). The poor guy, he was suffering for months.

Also this winter, we FINALLY had hard wood floors put in on the third and fourth floors. They look great, but the work still isn’t done since we’re also supposed to be having the stairs done, too. Between the contractor’s delays and now my own delays (it was supposed to be completed this week but my parents are coming up for the funeral and staying with us) it’s been bumped too many times since originally planned after Thanksgiving. The new date to start is Friday. Fingers crossed.

In between, we also refinanced our mortgage, despite only having lived here for 1.5 years. We’ve calculated the savings to be well over $200/month, and it will help us pay off the mortgage years earlier.

Finally, I’ve also been keeping myself busy planning the trip to Hawaii next summer. But I think we finally have the itinerary hashed out and now it’s just a matter of confirming hotel rooms for six of the ten nights. We’ve picked them out already…we just need to confirm.

Phew. And what’s new with you?

February 14th, 2011
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 7 Comments

Don’t ask me how, but I’ve managed to develop an ear infection. Isn’t that a bug only kids get? Leave it to me to develop one…and I’ve not even been in the presence of children in months. 

Randy returned from his trip to Austin last night. Something, probably the snow, delayed his flight so he didn’t get home until close to 11:30pm. But it’s good he’s back…and hopefully his next trip isn’t until the one we go on together to Mexico next month.

In the mean time, though, I’ll be using prescription ear drops like I did as a child. Only this time, I’ll do it myself and won’t get to watch Banana Splits and Gilligan’s Island on TV.

January 28th, 2011
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 2 Comments

I’m really craving a return to normalcy in my life. First we have the snow.

Oh, the snow. I was excited about the first storm. I do love a nice storm and the 18.5 inches we got in Arlington made for some pretty sights. But then it remained cold and it didn’t melt. And two weeks later we had snow storm number two which dropped 23 inches of snow in Arlington. Again, it was pretty to look at. And this time around it was heavy and remained on the tree limbs for many days. Ah, the beauty of winter.

But it remained below freezing and it wasn’t melting.

Then yesterday it snowed 3-5 inches, then turned to rain. OK, enough already. The beauty is gone, the inconvenience is now persistent. My commute is consistently from hell. And we’re supposed to get another inch or so tonight then another half foot or more on Friday? I’m not sure my aging body…nor our roof…can take any more.

But at least another part of my life is actually going to return to normal since the weather apparently won’t. Randy returns from his nearly two week business trip Korea and Japan tomorrow night. I’m not sure if this has been his longest business trip to date, but I think it might be.

Of course, his return will be short-lived as he flies off to Austin on Tuesday for a few days. But  at least the time zone will only be one hour different and not fourteen hours.

And then there’s my Dad.  Since autumn he’s been weak and lightheaded. All he wants to do is sleep, his blood sugar is dangerously low, and he keeps falling down (which, at nearly 82 years old is a recipe for disaster). After hearing that he’d fallen yet again over the weekend I headed down to see how my parents were doing.

That night as we were all sleeping I heard a loud crash, then my mother screaming for me to come help. I ran to the master bedroom to find that my dad had fallen…again…while trying to get to the bathroom at 4:30am.

We made an appointment the next day and he saw the doctor. I went in with my Dad and told the doctor everything I’d been observing. He’s now (FINALLY) trying a new medication, he’s doing physical therapy to re-gain his strength, and he’s having an MRI to see what’s going on in his brain to cause all of these problems.

So, in conclusion, to return to normalcy:

• Snow? Gone
• Randy? Home
• Dad? Healthy

Got it?

January 19th, 2011
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

There are so many things in my life right now that are partially complete:

1 – My cold. I think the worst of it is over. It’s been a full week and a half since my first sniffle. I generally feel better, but i’m surprised at the amount of phlegm that still, um, dislodges itself every morning in the shower.

2 – Randy’s business trip to Korea and Japan. He’s been gone nearly a week already, and still won’t be back until a week from today. Ugh – The duration of these Asia trips really stink. Even worse, it’s damn near impossible to talk because being 14 hours apart he’s asleep while I’m awake and I’m asleep when he’s awake. The only time we overlap is when we’re either getting ready for work or commuting home from work. Not too convenient.

3 – Replacing our carpet with hardwood flooring. Finally, after well over a year living here we’re finally moving forward with replacing our hideous carpeting (who picks off-white?). The work hasn’t begun yet, but just today I placed the order for the materials. If all goes as planned, the stairs will be done next week and the floors the week after.

4 – Vacation planning. We’ve got about 90% of our trip to Mexico already planned. And now that we’ve booked tickets for our trip to Hawaii this summer and the travel guide I purchased has arrived, I’m now working on planning the itinerary. Any suggestions? (we’ll be visiting the Big Island and Oahu).

Phew – lots going on. So many unfinished things – I’m such a slacker.

January 13th, 2011
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

Oh dear – my blog is off to a stellar start this year. First I dont’ blog until the 7th day, and now when I do it’s to bitch about something.

I really don’t have an excuse for not blogging. After Christmas and the day after the blizzard, Randy and I drove down to New York City.  Upon getting off the highway in Brooklyn we noticed that they were hit with a much bigger storm than Boston (24.5 inches versus 18.2 inches). Streets were damn near impassable (many untouched), sidewalks were obstacle courses, and stepping off the sidewalk at every crosswalk resulted in trudging through a slushy lake as a result of 4-5 foot snow mounds covering storm drains. We still had a great time, but I think I ruined some shoes.

Then when we got back and I managed to catch a cold. Again, not an excuse for not blogging.

But now for the rant.

I’m all about the environment. Randy and I recycle religiously. In fact, we usually only toss out one white kitchen size bag of garbage per week. But our recycling is consistently over-flowing. I’m constantly running after Randy turning off lights in empty rooms. I don’t own a car, I use public transit, I never print unnecessary things, I turn off the water while brushing my teeth, I donate clothes instead of tossing them, I sell old items on Craigslist instead of tossing them. My only splurge is my long showers…but we have one of those water-conserving showerheads. Come on, allow me one luxury.

So I have to admit I found it extremely annoying when I got to work the day after the holiday recess to find a note on my desk from Harvard’s “environmental police” reprimanding me for not setting my thermostat to the lowest temperature setting…even though I turned the heat off. Seriously, had they ever come by to even bother asking, I’ve used the heat only twice so far this winter. Otherwise, it is has been turned off (which is also what it was when they came to my office over the break…turned off).

In fact, the building is so hot to begin that I’ve had my window open probably 95% of the fall and winter so far.  Not only do I NOT use the heat regularly, I’m having to open windows because they keep the building too damn hot to begin with. So for them to scold me for not setting my thermostat to the lowest temperature setting….WHEN, I REPEAT, I TURNED IT OFF COMPLETELY…was rather annoying.

Besides, how much energy was wasted having a person (or persons) commute into work (CO2 emissions) during a holiday recess only to go into every room on campus and turn on lights for 30 seconds a pop (electricity) to look at thermostats and then leave paper notes (wasted paper and electricity for printers)?

January 7th, 2011
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 2 Comments

I’m a huge planner. Aside from sitting on my ass watching TV while surfing the net, my other big hobby is planning travel. Not a week goes by that I’m not trying to find the best options to go someplace.

Ideally, someplace new.

We’ve already got a few trips planned in the near future – most significantly a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in two months. Before then, Randy is going to Seoul, Tokyo, and Austin, for work. I may join him on the trip to Austin. I keep hearing Austin is the one decent city in Texas and I’m willing to give it a shot after seeing the hell-holes of Beaumont, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and El Paso. (Although, Fort Worth has a lovely botanical garden).

Anyway, our big trip of the year seems as though it will take place next summer. One of Randy’s cousins from Australia is going to be visiting the states for vacation this summer and we’re planning on meeting up with him (and his wife). Their plan is to explore southern California for a few days, then Las Vegas for a few days, then Honolulu for the final 5 days. We originally considered meeting them in Las Vegas until we realized how expensive it was going to be (flights were around $500) to visit a place we’d already been to a few times. Similarly, we’d both been to southern California more times than we can recall (Randy also lived there for grad school), and it sounded like his cousin wanted to tackle Disney while he was in that region…a place Randy and I both would actually be willing to pay money just to avoid.

So, that leaves Hawaii. It looks like we’re going to try to fly into Kona, on the Big Island, then explore the volcanos and national/state parks all over the island. After about 5 days we’ll fly to Honolulu and meet up with Randy’s cousin. I’m guessing at this point we’ll just stay in Waikiki for the remaining 5 days, unless everybody is up for exploring the rest of that island, too.

The problem has been that I looked at frequent flyer tickets last weekend and they had some available on the days we wanted, but in business class.  That’s fine…I don’t mind traveling in luxury for a flight that long. But by the time we both checked with our bosses to see if we could take that specific week off and went back online later this week, those tickets were no longer available. Sigh.

Now our options are to fly separately, fly on different days and take a longer vacation,  fly together but in different classes (one in coach, one in business), or use even more miles to fly together in the same class.

Decisions, decisions.

Finally, I seem to have enough trouble blogging regularly lately, and now with the holiday officially here in just two days, I think it’s safe to say that I can’t be relied upon to post again before Christmas. So, merry Christmas everybody.

And to play it safe, Happy New year, too!

December 23rd, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

Ok, Joan Rivers inspired me. I’m in a ranting sort of mood today so I’m going to get all non-PC on your ass. You’ve been warned.

1 – WTF were they thinking with the extension of the tax cuts? That’s not a compromise, that’s stupidity. Yeah, yeah, yeah – times are tough and people are losing jobs. But if you aren’t working, then you’re not even paying income taxes to begin with. Yes, for 99 months you could be on unemployment (I approve of the extension, by the way)…but couldn’t we make people earning “normal” income pay taxes and maybe reduce/eliminate the taxes on unemployment income? That way, those people collecting reduced income via unemployment can keep most/all of it, but people gainfully employed can pay their fair share to pull us out of this absurd national debt we’re in? The part that pissed me off the most was that they’re reducing the amount employees contribute to social security from 6.2% to 4.2%. Seriously? Social Security is expected to be bankrupt before I even reach retirement age unless the system is changed. Reducing the amount of money people contribute isn’t going to help that. And why do people stop contributing after they earn about$98,000 in a year (or somewhere around that figure)? Why isn’t all income taxed for social security?

2 – The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston is going to show a video piece by David Wojnarowicz that was banned from the National Gallery in Washington, DC, because that idiot John Boehner (and other Republicans) deemed it offense. Why do politicians (usually Republicans…remember Jesse Helms and the Robert Mapplethorpe issues two decades ago) get to play art critic and censor stuff? In question this time around is this video called “Fire in My Belly” that shows footage of life in Mexico. The scene that is so extremely offensive is that of a cross/crucifix laying on the ground with ants crawling on it. I watched this video….the scene took place for about 30-45 seconds after more than 13 minutes of other scenes of various things. Was Boehner offended at the bullfighting? No. How about the poor chickens cockfighting (with one apparently being killed)? No. What about the man masturbating toward the end? No. But a piece of wood or plastic (which is symbolic…not the real thing, people) with one of god’s own creatures, no less, walking on it is worthy of banning the entire video? I give up.

3 – Why is the state of Kentucky providing tax breaks to a Noah’s Ark replica? It’s bad enough that the state houses the Creation Museum, but at least that was 100% privately funded. But now the governor has approved tax credits to build this boondoggle of an amusement park just 40 miles away. Is that state trying to prove something? Seriously? Do we really need a full-scale replica of the ark and more brainwashing? Have you seen that video on YouTube of this group of religious freaks who take private school children to science museums then walk around and contradict all of the science so that it fits into the Bible’s “teachings.” It’s infuriating and offensive.

4 – There are over 5,000 empty seats in Boston Public Schools. The city spends $300,000 per day (PER DAY!) bussing kids all over the city to different schools with classrooms that are either being used for storage or just sit empty. These are major issues that need to be addressed. Fortunately, the City Council approved changes (closing some schools, merging some schools). Yet there were still enormous crowds of people protesting. Boston schools have some of the highest drop out rates, some of the lowest MCAS scores, and some of the highest per student costs of any community in the state. Shouldn’t we be doing whatever we can to improve this?

5 – Why do people with colds complain that they have the flu? A cold is something you’re likely to catch at least once a year (or more). Symptoms may include sore throat, coughing, sneezing, sinus congestion, some achiness, a fever and general malaise. It can last a week or longer. A flu is a serious bug that wipes you out completely: it hurts to even move, you’re vomiting, you’re dehydrated, your head is throbbing, you’re body is burning up beyond belief, you then get the chills, you’re weak, you have no desire (or even the physical ability) to do anything. I catch colds every year, but I think I’ve had the flu only twice in my entire life. You KNOW when you have the flu. A cold is NOT the flu.

Ahhh – I feel better.

December 17th, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 3 Comments

Continuing what has become a pattern, I had another busy weekend. On Friday night a bunch of us got together and saw Joan Rivers at the Wilbur Theatre. I hadn’t been there in years (7?) when I saw Dame Edna perform there. At the time, the theatre was a standard live theatre with audience seating. Since then, they’ve removed the seating on the lower level (orchestra, I suppose) and installed tables with chairs and now provide wine service. I must say, it’s a nice touch.

Our table was in the back, but was elevated so I had an unobstructed view of the stage. And Joan was pretty damn hilarious. Obviously her plastic surgeries have made her face very (artificially) youthful, but I have to admit I was incredibly impressed to see how mobile she was. I mean, she’s 77 years old, just two years younger than my mother, but she was so animated and active. She walked all over the stage, she moved her body wildly (even simulated sex at some points). Hell, at one point she dropped to the floor and laid on her back (I think and simulated sex again).

But she was so full of what my elderly aunt used to call “piss and vinegar.” I was impressed. And she was quite funny…and offensive. I am always enamoured with performers who say “screw the PC police” and just go off on everybody and anybody.

So, Friday night was great. On Saturday, we met up with some friends in Boston and watched the Santa Speedo Run: 500 drunk people take off their clothes and run around the Back Bay of Boston in speedos all in the name of charity. The event now takes place in cities across the world, but it started here in Boston. (side note: I find it silly that these runs now take places in tropical climates…the whole point is how shocking it is to see folks running around in speedos while spectators are in winter coats and gloves. Where is the irony when it’s 75 degrees outside?)

That afternoon we headed to a Yankee Gift Swap before returning home and joining my parents at our house (who came up to visit my uncle) and played some cards.

On Sunday my parents and I visited my uncle at the nursing home (this is the 3rd facility he’s been to in the past month). He was doing well, but it seems he’s now at the stage where he won’t be returning home again. I suspect he will spend the rest of his life in a nursing facility. But you never know.

And that was my weekend. I was going to post a picture of this year’s speedo run, but we’ve not taken them off the camera yet. So, I’ll use a picture from a previous year. Enjoy.

December 14th, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

What an exciting week! I got hit by a bus on my way to work yesterday. Well, I was inside the bus at the time. You see, I’d boarded the bus and was walking toward the back. As I was about to sit down the driver gunned the accelerator. I suppose I lurched further toward the back of the bus…but I like to think the sudden acceleration thrusted the bus forward toward me so the edge of a seat struck my thigh. It’s a bit sore, but no pronounces bruise has appeared yet.

My parents are coming up this weekend to visit my uncle again. He had another heart attack and has been moved from the rehab center to the hospital, and now to a nursing care facility. They won’t be seeing much of us, though, since we’re practically gone all weekend.

Tonight we’re seeing Joan Rivers at the Wilbur Theatre. Tomorrow morning Randy has an eye exam and we’ll then head into Boston to meet up with friends for lunch and such. In the afternoon we’re attending a Yankee-Swap out  in the burbs (technically, we live in the burbs…but this will be in the ‘real’ burbs). We’ll finally hang out with my parents tomorrow night for what I’m pretty sure will be card games and wine.

At this point, Sunday isn’t looking all that chaotic. WOO HOO! Tis the season.

December 10th, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

Wow – it’s almost a full week since I’ve blogged. 2010 sure hasn’t been a banner year for my blogging consistency, has it? Perhaps I need some internet Metamucil to get me more regular.

I had a great night reuniting with Randy after his Virginia trip last Monday. We met up in Davis Square and spontaneously had pizza and bowled.  But by Wednesday my sore throat had morphed into a small bit of laryngitis (draq queen voice alert). I ended up taking Thursday and Friday off hoping to recuperate faster. My voice did return, and today I do feel better. This has been a strange cold, though. I’ve not had any sinus congestion, I’ve not really been coughing too much, I’ve not even been feverish. It was just a sore throat, some laryngitis, and a general feeling of achiness and being tired.

Despite this, we did have friends over this weekend to help decorate the Christmas tree. It’s looking pretty good.

Oh, then stupid me thought it would be smart to remove the lounge chairs from the roof deck since it’s highly unlikely that we’ll be up there sunning ourselves anytime in the next 5 months or so (sigh). As I carried one chair down three flights of stairs to the garage I discovered (much too late) that the hollow pipes of the furniture was filled with rusty sludge/water that formed a fairly consistent brown path of pours/drips throughout the loft and down all of the stairs.

Now, this shouldn’t be that big of a deal because we’re planning to replace the carpets with hardwood floors on the staircases and bedroom level. Unfortunately, we had decided to keep the carpet in the loft since that carpet looked fine and we rarely use that floor.  But the worst staining happened up there (joy). Randy immediately started having me spray the carpet with Windex which, as you may recall from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, solves every household problem. As I did this, Randy rushed to the market for some Resolve Carpet Cleaner.

Fingers crossed, we can salvage the top floor and save ourselves a few thousand dollars.

I gues that’s my punishment for trying to be productive and responsible.

December 6th, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment