Adventures in Gastronomy

Today’s the today! At 4:51 this afternoon I should be seated on a tiny puddle jumper of an airplane with Randy en route to Roanoke, Virginia, to meet the in-laws. Well, there are no flights to Roanoke so we’re actually flying into Washington, DC, and then driving…3+ hours.

For some reason, I’m not nervous about meeting his parents. Should I be? Either I’m so obscenely cocky that I can feel confident they’ll like me or, more likely, the fact that Randy’s friends (and ex) have raved about his parents makes me comfortable enough not to worry. Besides, I’ve already spoken to both of his parents on the telephone before and they seem so sweet (and southern).

We really have no plans while we’re down there. I’m picturing us driving around showing me the sights, some competitive card and board game playing, and some lounging by a pool at his mother’s house. Oh, and lots and lots of eating. His mother is a bit nervous that she won’t be able to prepare anything for me since my delicate constitution doesn’t handle spices very well.

If that’s the only thing she’s worried about, we should have no problems.

August 16th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

Yesterday was such a lovely day…almost autumn-like. We had intended to join my friend Jason and Bryan for dinner in Boston as part of Restaurant Week but Jason was a) sick and b) delayed at Penn Station in New York (I blame it on too much screaming at the Justin Timberlake concert, but he assures me he was sick prior to the concert).

Rand and I got together anyway and decided to poke our heads into the original Filene’s Basement before it closes down next month (it’s re-opening in a few years after the building has been gutted and a 30+ story condo tower rises above it). There were bargains galore if you were willing to hunt…and if you’re an XXL. Apparently all the stuff sized small and medium were snatched up already. So, if you’re a plus-sized Bostonian, have they got some deals for you!

But on top of their “already low prices”, they’ve got discounts going for 30% to 60% off. I got $88 shirts for $12. Not too bad.

We then walked from there to Chinatown and had dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant (I never remember the name). They may want to consider changing the name of Chinatown to Asiatown since it seems the majority of restaurants nowadays are everything BUT Chinese: Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, etc…

And that was my day. Oh, I’ve also begun selling some old books online (mostly old text books and such). Within a few hours of posting them on Half.com and Amazon.com, I’ve sold three. This must be the perfect time of year to sell books with college starting in a few weeks. I wish I’d done this earlier (I’ve been holding onto some of these books for 3-4 years).

August 15th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

I’ve commented on this before, but I find it so funny that when I talk politics (as I did on Friday), I tend to get few (if any) comments. But when I talk about frivolous things (day-to-day observations, silly things that annoy me), I’ll get comments. Hmmm – maybe my audience is telling me something.

I’ll take the hint and ramble on about nothing…and everything.

On Friday night, Randy and I walked through this weekend’s North End Feast. I have no clue who the saint was, but it was a small feast. The two big ones are next weekend (the Fisherman’s Feast, which we’ll miss since we’ll be in Virginia) and then the following weekend (August 24-27) is the biggie: St. Anthony’s. WOO HOO.

During the day on Saturday we went to Costco to pick up a few things for that evening’s barbecue. Would you think less of me if I told you I bought clothes there? I did….seriously. A Kennth Cole shirt for $14.99, Calvin Klein pants for $19.99, etc… They look good on me, dammit – stop judging.

The barbecue that night was a huge success. The weather was a bit warm for my taste, but the company (18 people or more) and food and games were great.

We finished off the weekend with a day at the beach: Crane Beach. Randy, Marin, Roger and I drove up in the early afternoon and left as the sun was setting. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and since the tide was receding the entire time we were there, we got to witness some pretty spectacular sea life. Hermit crabs, snails, clams, and some bizarre sea-weedy type thing that looked like the top of sliced off soda bottle that had turned gelatanous and then sand stuck to it. It’s very difficult to explain. I took a photo and will post it here (but the photos are still on Randy’s camera). Anyway, these little gel/sand ring things were all over the place.

And now it’s Monday and it’s raining. I’d make a clever reference to a Carpenter’s song, but I’ve done that on here before… a lot. I need to think of some new jokes.

August 13th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 3 Comments

I decided to watch the presidential debate on LoGo last night. For those of you out there without expanded cable, LoGo is a gay cable network (if African-Americans, women, and catholics can get their own TV station, why not the homos?) and the presidential debate was more of an individual question and answer session than a debate. Actually, I rather prefered this setting since there wasn’t one candidate constantly interrupting or yelling over the other candidate. Still, in the end, it would have been great to have the candidates do their Q&A session as the first portion of the show and then an actual debate afterwards.

Still, the fact that six of eight democratic candidates are willing to appear on a gay TV network is pretty impressive.* Even more impressive is that every candidate running today is either for civil unions (4) or same-sex marriage (2).

I’m really glad I watched. Obviously, the focus of the Q&A sessions was to find out where the candidates stand on gay rights…everything from DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act), Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, same-sex marriage/civil unions, ENDA (emplyment discrimination act) to non-gay specific issues like health care.

Essentially, there are two candidates (Kucinich from Ohio, Gravel from Alaska) who are about as gay-friendly as a candidate could possibly be. I wish Kucinich has a change since his social views are just about identical to mine. However, he’s so lovey-dovey that I question how he’d handle the other important issues that require a more firm stance (tensions in middle-east, etc…)

Gravel was a hoot. He must be in his 70’s and he’s for everything (even stuff I’m not for). By the end of his session, he was advocating selling marijuana in liquor stores and having doctors prescribe hard drugs, like heroine and cocaine.

As for the other candidates, I learned a lot.

Obama came up first. He kind of bored me. He took forever to answer questions (speaking slowly with long pauses to think). It came off as though he was trying to find the answer that would most please the current (gay) audience but wouldn’t hurt him if he’s quoted in the straight media later on. I was leaning toward him before the debate, but now I’m not. I think I’d want a president who can react more quickly on his toes.

Edwards was up next. I just don’t get it with him. He’s more of a sweet-talker. He’s got the charm, but he doesn’t have the strong convictions. Even more than Obama, he would skirt around direct answers (like why, exactly, is he against same-sex marriage but for civil unions). In fact, he was asked twice and I still don’t know the actual answer.

Richardson was a let down. I didn’t know much about him, but the few things I read made him sound like the underdog with the heart of gold. He performed MISERABLY in this debate and was so full of contradictions I’ve lost all respect for the man. When Melissa Etheridge asked if he thought homosexuality was a choice or something you’re born with, he responded “it’s a choice.” When she (and everybody) was shocked, she said “I think you misunderstood the question.” She asked it again, and he responded in a round-about way, but it essentially made it sound like he really does believe it’s a choice. And his response that he’s vehemently against DOMA and feels the states should decide whether to allow same-sex marriage, yet he wouldn’t push for same sex marriage in his own state (despite basically insulting other states for forbidding it) just pissed me off.

Finally, there was Clinton. I didn’t like everything she said, but I liked her balls in being more straight forward than any other candidate. She admitted her faults (being for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in the beginning), but also made some valid points. She also alluded to something that struck me as true (whether I liked it or not).

Back in the 1990’s when DOMA was approved, I was livid. How obscene, I thought, that the government was permitted to NOT recognize same-sex marriages, and that individual states could choose to forbid them. But a decade later I think DOMA was the best thing that could have happened for same-sex marriage equality. Without DOMA, the minute the first state permitted civil unions (Vermont) or same-sex marriage (Massachusetts), congress would have immediately pushed for a constitutional amendment banning such things. And that would have been the end of it. But since DOMA (a law, not an amendment) already existed when G.W. Bush pushed for the amendment, democrats AND republicans said there was no need for it since we already have DOMA.

This allowed for individual states to start licensing these unions and also allowed for society to realize that Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut haven’t falled off the face of the earth, or morphed into SatanLand. Other states, like California and New Mexico started offering domestic partnerships that offer similar benefits. Granted, it sucks that none of these options provide federal benefits (thanks to DOMA), but it’s a start. And it’s expected that other states (Maryland, New York) will follow suit and start offering some sort marriage/unions.

It’s a slow process, but it’s moving in the right direction. And, although DOMA was implemented for all the wrong reasons, it actually appears to have helped in the long run. Gravel predicted that same-sex marriage will be legal nationwide within 5 years. I don’t think that will be the case…at least not that soon. I do predict same-same marriage will become a non-issue someday, but it’s going to take some time.

*A similar invitation was made to all of the republican candidates. Not a single candidate replied.

August 10th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: Comments Off on I Wouldn’t Really Call it a Debate

I love birthdays. I love Christmas. I love gifts.

Well, at least I love the idea of all of those things. I hate the actual act of giving gifts. It has nothing to do with the expense, it has to do with the inability to know what others might want. I always feel a bit heart-broken when I exchange gifts – as if I’m going to let the person down. 

I’m always reminded of that episode in Will & Grace when Grace is giving Woody Harrelson his birthday present (their first birthday together). Very sweetly, she decided to give him a book on motorcyles since she knew he always loved motorcycles. But minutes before she can give him his book, Karen walks in and gives him an actual motorcyle.

Grace is crestfallen. That is me.

This isn’t a new phenomena for me. I must admit that things got better when I was dating Matt for 10 years. He made it perfectly obvious what he wanted (usually CD’s and DVD’s). I know I let him down a few times, but overall he made it clear what he wanted and gift-giving was made simple.

Things are a bit more complicated with Randy. For example:

1) He’s comfortable enough financially that he’s already bought everything he wants or needs

2) He’s not given me any idea of what he might want (well, until this morning when he requested a flat screen TV…yeah, maybe not).

3) He has a reputation for returning things. In fact, last year for Christmas he gave me specific things he wanted (even telling me the store to go to and item to get).  He still returned them. But I don’t take it personally…he returns at least half of the things he buys for himself, too.

Anyway, I’ve got just over two weeks left to figure things out. If I fail, the gift he wants most just might be a new boyfriend.

August 9th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments

While Randy and I were in Japan last year, I ended up tagging along to a business dinner with him and his colleagues. In fact, that was where I ate a scorpion.

In San Francisco last month, I joined him on business dinners at least 3 or 4 of the nights we were there.

And now, for the second time in Boston this year, I attended a business dinner with Randy and some of his colleagues. I guess it’s official now: I’m a trophy wife.

I suppose, then, that it’s only inevitable that Randy and I are now seriously talking about living together. In fact, the way it looks now (thanks to my flexible month-to-month lease) I will be moving out of my humble city bachelor pad for a DINK* life in (eek) Somerville sometime in early fall (October).

It really does make sense when you think about it. On average, we spend the night at each other’s place at least 5 nights per week. I’ve got clothes, a razor blade, a tooth brush, and shoes at both places. Besides, both of our monthly expenses will go down (a lot) by shacking up and splitting costs.

Oh yeah – and then there’s that whole love thing, too. That also appears to be playing a factor.

Of course we both have slight reservations. His concern, I think, is the possible loss of alone time. He’s become accustomed to living by himself. But, since he works from home, he’ll still get the place to himself every day. Plus, he travels a lot – which provides him with even more alone time (often more alone time than he wants).

As for me, my concern is location. I’ve always liked living in the heart of things. I like my amenities within walking distance. True, I lived in Salem for a while (which at just 16 miles from Boston is a whole different world), but while in Salem, we lived in the heart of the downtown; close to trains, shops, restaurants, and friends.

But considering I’ve spent at least half of my weeks over the past year at Randy’s place, perhaps my “need” to be in the heart of things isn’t as strong as it was as a single man. It’s definitely a preference, but it’s apparently not a requirement. Besides, I’ll still have the access to everything the city has to offer, it’ll just a bit less convenient.

Oh, lord – I’m turning into Lucy Ricardo when she and Ricky moved to Connecticut.

*Dual Income, No Kids

August 8th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments

My work computer was upgraded yesterday. I kept my existing monitor since it’s better than what most people get at Harvard (it’s a flat screen that pivots so you can view word documents in full on the screen), but the rest of my system is new. It’s faster…I definitely like that.

But for some reason I have ‘older’ versions of some things. For example, my Adobe is now an older version. And my Explorer is also older (which means no more tabs). Very strange. I never realized how much I used those tabs before.

Otherwise, there really has been nothing going on. Last night I literally went home from work and watched Sunday’s episode of Big Brother on On Demand, and then lounged on the sofa all evening being lazy. I need to do that more often.

August 7th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

My people left EngLAND on the Mayflower in 1620 and settled Massachusetts.

My people have remained in southern New EngLAND for nearly 400 years.

My people have lived off the LAND.

My people are a hearty bunch: capable of enduring everything mother nature has brought their way: hurricanes, blizzards, nor’easters….even earthquakes (yes, New EngLAND has been known to get them every hundred years or so).

My people aren’t adventurous: 400 years and we’re still within 40 miles of where the Mayflower LANDed.

And hopefully through the use of my CAPS, you’ll notice an emphasis on LAND.  That is because I’ve determined that my people should remain on LAND: 4 centuries and they must be doing something right.  I wish I’d known this before I agreed to go sailing this past weekend.

It started out as a lovely afternoon. We all boarded Pete’s sailboat in Hingham and headed out to Boston Harbor. The sun was shining, the conversation was interesting, and the vessel was moving at 5-6 (Don) Knotts per hour. We decided to turn into a bit of a cove, attach to a mooring, and grill some lunch on the back deck.

That’s when things went sour. Once the boat stopped moving forward, it just moved up and down, up and down, up….and down. Then those bastard speed demons in other boats created wakes big enough to…well, not do much of anything. To be honest, everything was pretty calm.

Except for my body’s reaction. At first I moved from sitting on the side of the deck to standing in the doorway to the living room/kitchen. From there, I could see the land (literally within swimming distance) and focus on the horizon. It didn’t help. My stomach didn’t hurt, it just felt odd.

I suddently felt the urge to use the bathroom and did so without incident. But being in the front of the boat (which goes up and down the most), in an enclosed space (the size of an airplane bathroom), with no ventilation, and temperatures hovering near 90 didnt’ create the best mix.

I returned to the front deck and sat with the gang (Peter, Randy, and Chris). We chatted, we laughed and the picked up the sausages from the grill. I was feeling fine. Like I said, my stomach didn’t hurt, but my head felt funny. Not lightheaded, more heavyheaded.

A few minutes later, I mouthed to Randy “I think i’m going to throw up.” Hell, I think I was even smiling when I said this because it all seemed so silly. But seconds later, I’m leaning over the edge of the boat spewing large quantities of green: ginger pills, ginger snaps, ginger/lemon tea. It wasn’t pretty.

It wasn’t long before we noticed some jelly fish hovering that side of the boat. I suppose if I was a jelly fish hunter, I’d have a pretty good career ahead of me.

Alas, I know I won’t hunt jelly fish because I’ve learned some things today:

1 – My ancestors big adventures were 400 years ago. That was enough for the lot of us.

2- I like land (oh give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above, don’t fence me in)

3 – I don’t like vomitting

4 – I’m never going on a cruise

5 – I will not sail again.

6 – I’ve got good friends. Once the grill was cool enough to take down, they packed up and we headed to shore. Of course, they did make me pose for a photo as I reinacted my puking incident. Thanks guys. Seriously…thanks for helping me laugh throughout that rather embarassing moment. It actually helped.

August 4th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments

Actually, maybe it’s not metabolism. You know how they say your body changes every 7 years (I don’t know who “they” are, but I’ve always heard that). Well, Over the past two years…and for the first time in my life…I seem to have developed allergies. I was prescribed Flonase and it definitely does the job.

It does the job so well that I thought I’d stop inhaling it – thinking that allergy season had ended in June and that I didn’t have allergies after all.

WRONG!

I believe it takes 2 weeks for it to fully kick in. And that’s apparently how long it takes for it to fully exit the system because I stopped sniffing the stuff in San Francisco (two weeks ago). And now this week I’ve got this sinus pressure behind my eyes that’s killing me.

I started back on the stuff yesterday. I needed my fix. I’m an addict. Or a wimp. Or both.

August 3rd, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 1 Comment

…by the travel bug. I decided to customize a Google Map to indicate my travels. It shows where I’ve lived, where I’ve visited, and where I want to go in the future. Fun stuff…but probably not something that will excite the masses. However, seeing as I’m a giver, I’ve posted a link to my map on the right side of this screen (under blogroll…it’s called “Karl’s Travels”).

It’s rather depressing that the majority of blue push-pins are gathered around the New England area – showing that most of my travels haven’t been all that far (or exotic). Most continents haven’t even been touched (hello Australia, hello South America, hello Africa). Hopefully that will change.

Already, Randy and I are considering a trip to Seattle in the fall. Our friend, Mark, is going there on business for much of the fall (two weeks at a time) and suggested we pay a visit while he’s there. We normally only get to see him in Paris (or during his one visit to boston back in April). But this will be a great way to see him in person…without infringing upon his home space for once!

Hmmm – and if I’m going to be in Seattle…isn’t Vancouver just a few hours drive north? Vancouver is actually on my list of places I want to see, so that could work out really well if we could finagle 2-3 days there, too.

Oh, great – my mind is wandering.

August 2nd, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments