Adventures in Gastronomy

I’ve voted in every election since I turned 18. Still, I’ve never been a very political person. Part of the problem is probably that I live in Massachusetts where the majority of the population seems to hold similar beliefs as me. When it comes time for national elections, I’m always stunned when I realize that New England (particularly Massachusetts) is in it’s own little bubble.

In 2000 I couldn’t even fathom that George Bush would win the presidency. Then, after four years of failure, I was dumbfounded when he was re-elected. And here we are again, four years later, and I’m again feeling optimistic that Barack Obama will win and can’t imagine that it could possibly swing the other way.

What is that great quote from our fair president?  “Fool me once, shame on…shame on you. Fool me…you can’t get fooled again.”

Now, I’m not a huge Obama fan. I’m not an enemy, either…I’m just not passionate about him (isn’t that always the way…you pick the lesser of two evils?).

Anyway, because I don’t love either candidate, I think this is the first election where I’ve watched each debate (including the vice-presidential debate). Now, for the VP, I was really hoping for Sarah Palin to present herself as the same trainwreck she did in prior interviews. Unfortunately, she set the bar so low that she didn’t come off too bad (I still think Biden won).

Similarly, for the presidential elections, I think Obama nailed the first two and last night’s was closer to a tie. Doesn’t it figure that Obama’s (AKA Senator Government) poorest showing would be in the debate closest to voting day?

HMMM – I’m not sure where I was going with this post. I guess I’m just rambling.

So go out and vote (but only if you’re voting for Obama). he he

October 16th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on The Final Debate

Last night was Scrabble night. I lost. But then, so did Deano. Randy started the game as the first player (meaning, double word score). On top of that little perk, he had BOTH of the blank-letter tiles and managed to create a word using all of his letters. All this on his first turn!

I don’t think there could have been a better start to the game for him unless his first word also included X, Z, Q, and J in it (fortunately, it did not).

But then Randy woke up this morning to a bit of a back ache. Like they say, karma’s a bitch.

I do feel bad for him. I’m not sure what caused it: stress? sitting in the car all day on Monday? Hopefully he’ll be feeling better this weekend. He’s hosting a wine-tasting party and we’re also scheduled to attend a housewarming party on Sunday.

October 15th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on Scrabble Babble

You couldn’t have asked for better weather this past weekend in NYC. We stayed with friends in Jersey City. There lived in the newish hi-rise district closest to the tip of Manhattan (yet there were just a block or two from the historic older part of town with 3-5 story buildings. In fact, from their 9th floor balcony we could see the Statue of Liberty straight ahead (and Staten Island in the distance behind it).

Of course, we didn’t spend much time at the apartment. On Saturday we took PATH into the city and walked from 33rd Street up to Times Square (ugh, but only to use that as a more scenic route to MoMA). MoMA was great. The museum doesn’t even resemble the older version that I visited years ago, even though it’s in the same place. We purchased a combo pass that also got us to the Top of the Rock (70th floor roof deck of Rockefeller Center). We were fortunate enough to arrive just around sunset. Beautiful!

We’d planned to have dinner in the city, but our friend, Jen, wasn’t feeling well so we headed back to Jersey City and had Thai food. On Sunday, Randy and I got up and headed back into the city; this time, focusing on anything BELOW 14th Street. So, we explored the Village, Christopher Street Pier, Meatpacking District and Soho. We got together for lunch with a friend of his and got to experience our first taste of PinkBerry (some sort of trendy uber-hip frozen yogurt place where the frozen yogurt actually tastes like yogurt).

Yesterday, thought almost as warm but not nearly as sunny, we decided to take the scenic route back home and drove up the West Side Highway, along the Merrit Parkway, and then up Route 7 in Connecticut. We got to stop in cute villages like New Milford, Kent and West Cornwall. We also stumbled upon this really cool artist who filled his enormous acreage of land with sculptures. We stopped the car to take a look, but he actually invited into his workshop and let us walk around his yard taking pictures. He even gave us suggestions for an even more scenic route back home.

So, three covered bridges later (2 in Connecticut, 1 in Massachussets) we finally arrived home 9 hours later (at 8PM). I don’t think we could have asked for a better weekend.

October 14th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

It looks like Randy and I are heading down to NJ/NYC this upcoming holiday weekend. My cold is gradually getting better and the weather is supposed to be nearly flawless. Barring any drama, we should head down tomorrow night and come back on Monday (taking the scenic route through northwest Connecticut, a long rivers and by two covered bridges). Should be fun.

It’s been over two years since I’ve been to New York City. I can’t believe it because there was a time when I was going down there multiple times per year. It’s funny, my first ever trip to Manhattan was with my friend, Candy. It was the summer after our sophomore year of college and we both worked at Chef Sigmund’s Chowder House back on Cape Cod. The owner’s son used to get the New York Times and would always leave it in the kitchen after his shift. One day we were reading it and talked about how neither of us had ever been. Since we both had the next day off, we decided to get up at 5AM and drive to NYC for the day.

We arrived mid-day and left in the early evening. We spent most of our time downtown (going to the World Trade Center and South Street Seaport). We even ran into the Robet DeNiro* and Michelle Pfeiffer filming “Frankie and Johnny.”

Over the next decade or so I went numerous times (too many to count) but spent most of my time midtown or in the Village. My ex seemed to enjoy the midtown/Times Square neighborhoods of the city the best (the areas tourists visit). When we broke up, I ended up going even more frequently with my friend, Chris, and as a former resident, we ended up spending most of our time in areas like SoHo and the East Village (while staying at his brother’s place in Greenwich Village). It was a whole other side of the city and I got to see it through a local’s eyes. I loved it even more.

I’m not sure where this trip will take us. I’m just hoping it will add to all of the great memories I have of the city.

*It’s not very clear, but the photo above is from my first trip and you can see Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer walking toward the camera.

October 9th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on Quick Trip

…I looked back4 years to what I posted to my blog on October 8, 2004, for inspiration. Unfortunately, even that day wasn’t all that interesting. I blogged about the Circus being in town and having to smell the elephant piss and manure as I commuted through North Station (the circus takes place upstairs at the Boston Garden/Shawmut Center/Fleet Center/Bank of America Center/TD BankNorth Garden. Phew.

I also commented on stupid sports fan yelling and screaming on the local Fox Morning News (one of them letting slip and F-bomb on live TV).

Still, a circus and naughty words is more exciting than what’s going on in my life right now. I’m fighting a cold (cough cough) and I watched the presidential debate last night. Why does McCain keep saying “my friends” after every comment? He’s not my friend.

*I don’t have a single photo of me from October 2004 so I’m posting the next best thing…a photo of Dusty in her favorite pink Barbie shirt.

October 8th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

At some point over the weekend I managed to catch a cold of sorts. I noticed some syptoms prior to the wedding on Friday night, but it progressively got worse as the weekend went on, migrating from discomfort in my intestines Fri/Sat into a head cold on Sun/Mon. I even took yesterday off (a rarity for me).

Well, it’s rare for me to take a day off for being sick. It’s quite common for me to be taking time off for vacations and holidays.

Anyway, the head cold isn’t so bad (yet) so I’m back to work.

Oh, and despite being essentially home-ridden all weekend because of this bug I’ve got, Randy and I did try to explore the Boston Illuminale 08 on Sunday night. What a joke. Supposedly, all of these buildings and bridges were to be illuminated spectacularly (like Paris, so I thought). Instead half of them had nothing going on and the ones that did were so lame it was a waste of a trip. One bridge, for example, literally had a clump of thick silver tinsel dangled on the truss. Classy.

Generally speaking, I think Boston does a horrible job at illuminating landmarks at night. It would be so spectacular if they could create a program to monumentally light up the Fort Point Channel Bridges, Trinity Church, Boston Public Library, Old North Church, New Old South Church, (hell, any downtown churches). Yeah, these buildings aren’t covered in darkness at night…but they don’t stand out. They aren’t monumental. Now don’t get all green on my ass and talk about the environment. They could use energy efficient LED’s and do it on a timer so they go off by 11:00PM. Throw up a wind turbine somewhere and let that power it.

October 7th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on Turn Your Head and Cough

Sven and Michael’s wedding on Friday night was absolutely phenomenal.  I’ve never been a big fan of weddings. Particular Catholic ones, wedding always felt more religious and less of a celebration of the love between two people. This wedding was most defiinitely the latter.

It took place at the BayTower Room (on the 33rd floor of 60 State Street in Boston). We exited the elevator and were directed to a room overlooking the skyline of the city. The seating was set up overlooking the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered unobstructed views. Everything was choreographed perfectly, from the Thai (or Japanese) performers who came came down the aisle in traditional garb and performed a dance, to the actual ceremony taking place precisely as the sun was setting behind them.

The Jewish ceremony was short and sweet. Both grooms had written their own vows (which were more stories than vows), then they smashed the glass and the reception began.

And what a reception it was! An adjoining room opened up and we all filtered in there to chat and mingle. This room had identical floor to ceiling windows, an open bar, and a beautiful centerpiece in the room: human shurbbery. Seriously, a performance artist stood in the center of the room dressed in brown with flowers coming out of her fingers and hands. She just stood there for an hour gradually moving her limbs. Phenomenal.

After about an hour (and a few drinks), the room where the ceremony took place re-opened and became the reception dinner area. Seat assignments were made by picking up rocks with our names painted on the front and a city listed on the back. Each city represented a significant place from their lives. Our table was Tel-Aviv (Sven has been there). Southie was another table, representing where they purchased their condo. Aruba was where Sven proposed to Michael, etc…

The place settings were GORGEOUS and the meal was the best reception meal I’ve had in my life. There were 6 courses (asparagus soup, bread, salad, sorbet, filet mignon). And there was no wedding cake. Instead, a dozen or so servers paraded into the room carrying individual triple-layer wedding cakes for each person. They were beautiful (simply miniature versions of a full size wedding cake).

In between courses, an opera singer came out and sang some songs. And various friends/family members stood up to tell humorous, yet sweet, stories about the newly married couple. There was so much love and humor it was amazing.

The next morning, Sven and Michael flew to Japan for the start of their Asian honeymoon (from Japan they’re going to Thailand).

I can’t think of a better way to relax after hosting what was the most spectacular and enjoyable wedding I’ve ever attended.

Congratulations, guys!

October 6th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments

Traditionally, bronze is the gift of choice for an 8th anniversary (the modern accepted gift is linen/lace).  I think I’ll go with the bronze.

You see, today is my 8 year anniversary working at Harvard. Eight years! That’s longer than I’ve worked anywhere in my life (my stint at Orange Julius runs a close second at 6 years). In just two more years, Harvard’s contributions to my retirement will jump for 5% of my salary to 10% of my salary. Sweet!

And I suppose it’s only fitting that I’m celebrating my anniversary on the same day that I’ll be attending the wedding of my friend, Sven. It’s taking place tonight at the Bay Tower Room (a 33rd floor restaurant/function space in Boston). The views are supposed to be spectacular (I’ve never been).

This will be my first same-sex wedding ever, and my first wedding since the 1990’s. In fact, this will be the first time I’ve worn a suit since my niece died over three years ago. It’s a good thing I found a nice one at Banana Republic over the summer. It was my “just in case” suit for weddings and funerals. The suit I had in the closet before this one was from 1997 (and it apparently looked it).

*The photo above is of me in October 2000, a week or two after I started working here. I’m in a different office now.

October 3rd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

I think i’ve become addicted to Facebook. I’ve been on there for a year or so but just recently it has become the hub of all things Barnstable High School circa 1989. Since our reunion is being coordinated on that site, word of mouth has caused people to encourage their former classmates to sign up. I’m seeing names I’ve not thought about in decades (and numerous other names I don’t even recall).

As this has been all happening, some classmates have even gone so far as to post photos from the year book, and/or wallet sized photos that they’d been given by friends (there’s a particularly frightening one of me in a red shirt and hair parted down the middle).

So, I pulled out all of my class photos (from kindergarten through 6th grade). They should be posted by the end of the day. You’ve all been warned!

October 2nd, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on FACE It…I’m BOOKed For Humiliation

Today, I’m going to answer a questionnaire that was sent to my by email. I was supposed to respond in the email, instead I’m posting here. You know me…I like to break the rules once and a while.

1. What is your occupation right now? Administrative Director of a research program at Harvard Law School.
2. What color are your socks right now? Black…with a white Nike logo.
3. What are you listening to right now? Traffic along Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge as background noise to my keypad keys clicking (I’ve not turned on my iTunes yet).
4. What was the last thing you ate? Smart Start cereal with vanilla soy milk.
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes, which was a good thing when I rented a car in Paris to drive to Amsterdam.
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? HMMM, I’ll have to think back on that one. It must have been Randy yesterday.
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Well, I received it from two people: Randy and Ben. I’m rather fond of both (but more fond of one of them…sorry Ben).
8. How old are you today? 37 years, 4 months, 6 days.
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? My snarky answer would be none. But I can get into the gay ones if forced: gymnastics and diving (partially for the sport, mostly to view the scantily clad athletes).
10. What is your favorite drink? Sparkling water.
11. Have you ever dyed your hair? No, but as a teen I would put lemon in it to make it lighten in the sun.
12. Favorite food? Is “sweets” too broad of a category?
13. What is the last movie you watched? At the cinema, it would be Sex and the City. On TV it would have been Gym Teacher: The Movie.
14. Favorite Day of the Year? Probably Christmas. I love the whole holiday season, from the music to the lights…and love it even more if there’s some snow on the ground.
15. How do you vent anger? I don’t….that’s my problem. I think I tend to let it build up. Fortunately, I don’t get angry much (and it takes a lot for me to really get pissed).
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? Lego!
17. What is your favorite season? This has changed over the years. I used to say summer was my least favorite and fall my favorite. Now I might be inclined to say summer (though, that could be because it’s just ended and it’s the most recent season I have in my head). But if you asked this question in May or June, I might say spring. I just like having a variety of seasons.
18. Cherries or blueberries? I thought I hated cherries since all I’d ever had were Marachino (sp?) cherries. But I’ve recently discovered that cherries taste nothing like marachine cherries. Still, I’ll have to go with blueberries.
19. Do you want your friends to email you back? Sure…or they can comment below with their answers.
20. Who is the most likely to respond? I have no faith in my readers.
21. Who is least likely to respond? All of them. Help prove me wrong, people!
22. Living arrangements? Shacking up with the beau in a 2 bedroom condo in metro-Boston.
23. When was the last time you cried? This is tough…I’m not much of a cryer. It might be when my niece died…back in 2005.
24. What is on the floor of your closet? I’ve got plastic tubs of CD’s and DVD’s in the back, and milk crates (on their side) filled with shoes in front.
25. Who is the friend you’ve had the longest that you are sending this to? UM…I’m sending it to the world!
26. What did you do last night? Caught up on shows on the DVR with Randy.
27. What are you most afraid of? Pain. I’m not afraid of death…just any pain that may be associated with it.
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburger? Cheese
29. Favorite dog breed? Well, my best experience as a pet owner has been with a West Highland White Terrier.
30. Favorite Day of the Week? Probably Friday; game night!
31. How many states have you lived in? Two (Massachusetts, California). But I’ve visited nearly 60% of them.
32. Diamonds or pearls? Nothing beats a pearl necklace.
33. What is your favorite flower? I hate flowers.

Actually, that took longer to do than coming up with a topic of my own to write about.

September 30th, 2008
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments