Adventures in Gastronomy

Well there’s something new. I’m at a loss for words. For the past two days I’ve not had a single thing to write about. This is highly unusual since I normally have no trouble rambling about stupid things. Yet now I can’t even think of a current event, stupid statistic, or funny story to share.

My sister-in-law is out of the hospital. Things with Randy are going well. Work is going well (though slightly busier than normal since it’s budget preparation time).

If I can continue posting blog entries like this I’ll never retain readers. I suppose I could make stuff up…but I don’t even feel creative enough to fabricate a story that would be entertaining enough lure in readers. I could always just type in words that will pop up when people do internet searches: sex, drugs, gay, Viagra, breast enlargement.

But do I really want those types of readers? Oh wait – it’s too late. I already typed those words. Ugh.

I’m signing off. Hopefully my life will encounter some excitement in the next 24 hours (preferably good excitement). If not, remind me to tell you about my childhood friend’s father who used to make passes at me.

January 25th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 9 Comments

…Could somebody please explain to me the details of that man up in New Hampshire who is refusing to pay over $700,000 in income taxes to the federal government? From the glimpses of news reports that I’ve seen (while distracted by internet and other shiny objects) all I can ascertain is that he was a doctor (or lawyer?) who refuses to pay taxes because he never signed a contract with the government promising to pay taxes (and that the constitution doesn’t explicitly say he will have to pay taxes).

Is there more to it than that? Am I missing something? I must be…because now he’s holed up in his uber-McMansion in the middle of nowhere with battery power, generators and enough food to sustain himself for quite some time. He’s blocked his driveway from governmental officials and I hear he’s also part of some militia.

So, if anybody knows more about this – whether to correct the facts that I may have gotten wrong or just to provide mroe information – I’d appreciate it.

Because right now I’m just annoyed at him and I’m sick of this popping up on the news everyday.

January 23rd, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments

I headed down to the Cape this weekend for some family bonding. We mostly ate food and played cards – notice a pattern here? My Mom won the first two games and I won the last two games. My father didn’t win a single time. Not only that, he managed to come in last place every time. It just wasn’t his weekend.

I did manage to install WiFi internet access from their home, though. After the fiasco with Randy setting up mine at my apartment…and then my subsequently screwing it all up…I was rather impressed that things worked out at my parents place. They claim that they’re desktop computer is working faster as a result. I suspect that’s not likely, but I’ll take any (misguided) credit they’ll offer.

On Sunday we drove back to Boston where we visited my sister-in-law, Heidi, at the hospital. She looked INCREDIBLE. Seriously, last week she looked on death’s door with an extremely risky surgery looming. But the surgery was a success. An incredible success. We arrived and she was finishing up physical therapy. For the first time in 6 months I saw her out of her bed. She was sitting in a chair and quite lively. It was a relief to all of us to see her that way (what a recovery since I last saw her on Thursday).

Somehow during conversation my parents brought up how my brother and I took music lessons in elementary school. Mom reminded me (and told Heidi) that I took violin lessons in 4th or 5th grade. Now, I never think about this and if my mother hadn’t reminded me, I’d probably never have thought about this little fact again. But I do recall hating the violin, hating the lessons, and being a horrible, horrible student.

However, my Mom proceeded to brag to Heidi about how I was such a wonderful violinist and how I picked it up so quickly. I was appaerntly even able to play songs by ear – without the aid of music sheets. Even more strange, my father (who has since become a grumpy old man who complains about everything) started smiling and said, as if looking back fondly, “Ah yes – he played beautifully.”

WTF?

How could their view of things be so different than mine? I thought I sucked…and I thought I hated it. I asked Mom why I quit and she said I loved it but quit because I was supposed to continue practicing and taking lessons through the summer and I didn’t want to.

Who new?

Well, at least one thing remains consistent…I’m still highly umotivated.

January 22nd, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments

HMMMM. Chris commented on my blog yesterday that I’m “moderately conservative.” My initial reaction was “there’s no way in hell that I am!”

But maybe I am? I never thought of myself as such…especially considering our former asshole – I mean governor – Mitt Romney claimed to be a moderate conservative when he ran for governor. And look at what kind of right wing propaganda-spewer he turned out to be! I like to think I’m nothing like him.

The more I think about it, I guess I’m VERY liberal socially, but moderately conservative fiscally. But even that doesn’t sum me up because I’m not necessarily liberal with all social policies (welfare reform and such) yet I believe in numerous social programs for the needy and am willing to pay higher taxes for a higher quality of life for them (and me). In fact, I think Americans are under-taxed. Yet, simultaneously, I think that the current government is inefficient with the tax money they receive.

Eh, maybe I should stick with my habit of avoiding politics.

But then there was another comment from Chris….calling me “artsy.” For this one, I intially found it more complimentary than “moderate conservative”….but then I realized I don’t think I’m really artsy at all. I mean, yeah, I went to the Louvre in Paris…but I didn’t go in. I walked around the lobby (under the pyramid) since it was free and then left the building 15 minutes later. I was too cheap to pay to see the galleries. Consequently, I never saw the masterpieces inside. I’ve been to Paris twice and haven’t entered a single museum there.

I watch sitcoms and reality shows on TV and like John Cougar Mellencamp and Jimi Hendrix…how artsy is that?

But I somehow must project the image of being artsy. Interesting. Is it the way I dress? (Old Navy, Target). Is it the way I talk? (I tend to avoid talking about literature and such because I know nothing about it). Is it the way I act? (I think my aloofness/social awkwardness can make me come off as snobby). Is it the places I go? (The bulk of my travel has been because expensive elements of the trip were free…either I had a free place to stay or had frequent flyer miles to get there…or both). Is it the things I do? (board games, card games, movies).

HMMMM – this intrigues me. This sort of thing has always fascinated me since I was a teenager. Although I had a thoroughly lower-middle class upbringing (Mom worked nights at Sears, Dad read meters for the water department), I happened to be raised in the most affluent village on Cape Cod. My family had just been there generations before the wealthy built their summer mansions. In sixth grade, I left the local elementary school and went to the regional (town-wide) schools for 6-12th grades. It was there that people immediately started assuming I was rich because of where I was from. I guess I played that up. And since I started working at 12 years old (first as dishwasher, then a dog-walker, then Orange Julius) I was buying my own clothes and “keeping up appearances.”

Long story short – I guess I’ve always enjoyed “playing” a character. Or leading people to think one thing about me, when I’m actually not quite “that” person. Maybe it has to do with growing up gay. Maybe it has to do with low self-esteem and always wanting to be better (or, at least different).

Wow – I’m rambling. Thanks, Chris! I think yours may be the first comment that’s ever gotten me to actually think.

January 19th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 13 Comments

I admit, I’ve been watching American Idol. I don’t tend to watch the whole series – but I particularly enjoy the first few episodes when they showcase the less talented in our country…and then again the final episodes when the tensions builds.

However, I think they set a new low this evening (focusing on Seattle). In particular, there were three contestants I felt were manipulated because of their mental capacity. The first one was a software company guy from the Salt Lake City area who seemed very shy/socially awkward (something I’ve always been able to relate to). Anyway, he said his co-workers coaxed him into trying out. This late 20’s fellow was obviously not celebrity calibre and for his co-workers to encourage him to participate makes me think that his co-workers were out there simply to make an ass out of him. I cringed watching his audition. His co-workers knew what they were doing and should rot in hell for encouraging somebody to go through with that.

Then there were these two guys who met while waiting in line and befriended each other. The first one’s audition wasn’t all that bad (compared to many others). I mean, he wasn’t bound to be in the top-two, but his audition wasn’t horrible. But as Paula dismissed him politely, Simon said he looked like a monkey! Like a wide-eyed monkey! Didn’t that former senator from Virginia refer to somebody as a monkey a few months back and then lose the election? How offensive!

Don’t get me wrong – I love when Simon critiques contestants based on their actual talents. In fact, in some ways he’s the most honest of the judges (and doesn’t sugar coat). But that comment went over the line.

The third contestant I felt sorry for was a large 20-something fellow in a tucked-in Hawaiian shirt. Now, I could be 100% wrong on this but based on his appearance and speech patterns, I think he had fairly obvious mental health issues and/or mild retardation. He went up there, nervous as all hell (as I would be) and sang the national anthem. Fortunately, the gang was polite in telling him that he wasn’t “going to Hollywood,” but he was still visibily distraught afterwards. I want to know what guardian thought it was a good idea to have him audition. Maybe it was a dream of his to audition. But although Simon, Paula, and Randy were polite in his rejection, the build-up was designed to mock the contestant….and that’s just wrong.

I don’t know. I’ve always been sensitive to mocking people for things they can’t control (physical or mental disabilities, etc…). I was even like that as a kid (hell, I’d hate when friends jokingly called each other “retarded.”)  And now that I have a nephew with Asperger’s (a form of autism) and a severely disabled sister-in-law, I think I may have become overly sensitive to these things. I hope the remaining audition cities won’t follow this pattern.

Ugh, when did I become so damn politically correct? Somebody kill me.

 

January 18th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments

I visited my sister-in-law at the hospital last night. She seemed to be doing pretty well, actually. Well, at least her energy level was higher than it has been over the past few days. Unfortunately (or fortunately), they’e decided to operate on her today – despite not being 100% sure that the central line (tube) installed in her chest isn’t piercing a major artery. If it is, she’d bleed “catastrophically” (according to the doctor). If it isn’t, the surgery will be quick and easy.

Just in case, the operating surgeon is having a vascular surgeon on hand to jump in if things go awry. I believe she said other surgeons will be in operating room waiting by their side (pulmonary? heart? lung?) Anyway, she’ll have ALL the necessary specialists handy just in case.

On the plus side, she’s been eating food again. Before, she would get sick. But now she eats whatever she wants and within 10 minutes it drains out of a tube. She gets no nurtitional value (or calories or fat) from it since it bypasses her stomach completely – but at least she can taste food again. It’s funny, last night she ordered mashed potatoes and had been stocking up on containers of sour cream for the past few days. I would say her potato was 5 parts sour cream, 1 part potato.

In other news, it’s freaking cold. I suppose we’ve been lucky – but waking up to 5 degrees is not fun. I even used the heat for the first time last night (for 4 hours)! If I wasn’t so happy with all aspects of my job, I think I’d seriously consider relocating to someplace more temperate.

Oh, and speaking of cold days – here are some photo-machine booth pictures Randy and I took in Montreal (they have these photo booths in nearly every subway station….something I wish Boston would do).

      

January 17th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments

I’ve been wanting to see For Your Consideration (the movie) since I first heard about it nearly a year ago. I’ve always seen Christopher Guest’s movies the weekend they came out (if not opening day). But I’ve become lazy…or distracted. I’m still dying to see it, but at this rate it’s going to be out on DVD before I get my ass to the cinema.

Instead, I had a fairly lazy weekend. I got together with some friends (and Randy) on Friday night to chat and eat Thai food. On Saturday I visited my sister-in-law at the hospital while Randy had prep work for a crown and/or root canal. Heidi’s condition seems to be getting more complicated. Her lungs keep filling up with liquid which, once drained, was determiend to be blood. A tube that was inserted into her chest about 5 months ago (for nourishing her) has since begun coroding. It needs to be removed, but CAT scans indicate that it may have poke through the vein so that, if removed, it could cause a “catostrophic event” (doctor’s words) and bleed uncontrollably. They’re now keeping the tube in place since, despite it not functioning for its intended purpose, it’s blocking the hole that would cause major (fatal) bleeding. However, this isn’t a permanent solution because it’s coroding.

It’s so complex…and exhausting. My poor brother.

Saturday night, Randy helped distract me by inviting some friends over, eating Chinese take-out, and playing Monopoly Here and Now (the newest edition). Properties sell for in the millions and it’s no longer based on Atlantic City (in fact, Fenway Park/Boston is now the second most expensive land in the country after Times Square/NYC). Poor Texas and Ohio are at the beginning of the board (tee hee).

But Sunday was the best day of the weekend. We did nothing. We woke up, read the paper, ate food, watched TV. I never left (Randy’s) house…nor did he (except to step onto the porch to pick up the Sunday Globe. I could use more days like that.

Yesterday (Monday) was a holiday so I drove Randy to the airport for his business trip then went up to Salem to hang out with my friend, Peter. He’s got the new Nintendo Wi systems (We? WI? W1?) Anyway, this is a brilliant system! It’s an actual video game that doesn’t require you to sit in front of the TV. In fact, you HAVE to be physically active. We played bowling and tennis and you literally have to go through all the physical motions to play. My back and arms are killing me! Now lazy Americans (like I was/am, I admit) can play their video games AND get exercise! The downside to this game system is that you need to live in a grand ballroom or else you run into each other (or pieces of furniture) while you’re playing.

 

 

January 16th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 6 Comments

It’s Friday, I’m lazy. I’ll follow the leads of others and answer pre-established quesitons.

The Phone rings. Who are you hoping it is?

• Nobody. I detest telephones so I’d rather it not ring at all. Shoot me an instant message instead.

When shopping at the grocery store do you return the cart?

• Nope. I don’t have a car so there’s no point in using a cart. I carry in the store what I can carry during the walk and subway ride home.

In social settings are you more of a talker or a listerner?

• That depends on the social situation. If I know the people, I can be a talker. If I’m unfamiliar with a person (or people) I tend to clam up and just observe.

If abandoned alone in the wilderness, would you survive?

• No – unless the wilderness now has air-conditioning and private toilets (preferably Japanese style with bidet functions and a heated seat).

Do you like to ride horses?

• Horses? Where the hell would I put a horse? In my urban farm? I last rode a horse in the sixth grade (I enjoyed it at the time – but I think I used to enjoy picking my nose and eating the boogers at the time, too).

Did you ever go to camp as a kid?

• Yes, many times. Our 4th grade class did a sleep-over camp once. And I went to cub scout camp (Camp Greenough) a few times. The worst was the Mountainview Bible Camp. Yep – me at a Baptist camp in New Hampshire. Though, we lived in dormitories and went to church too much so it wasn’t really camping so much as, well, brainwashing.

What was your favorite board game as a kid?

• Well, it’s considered a board game since it came in a box, but it wasn’t an actual board. I love Connect Four.

If a sexy person was pursuing you, but you knew he was taken what would you do?

• Fall into temptation. I blame the movies.

Are you judgmental?

• In odd ways, yes. I mean, I don’t judge people because of the clothes they wear or the car they own…but I will judge a person for owning a car in the first place (if they live in a city with subways). Meanwhile, I’m not even an environmentalist.

Would you date a person with different religious beliefs?

• Yes. Though, I’d prefer he have NO religious beliefs.

Are you continuing your education?

• I have been…graduated from Harvard last year. But I’ve been slacking off this year (despite enrolling in a class).

Do you know how to shoot a gun?

• Um – pull the trigger?

If your house was on fire, what’s the first thing you’d grab?

• Probably photo albums. Or, if winter, warm clothes.

How often do you read books?

• Not often enough. I go through phases….currently my attention span only permits me to read magazines or blogs.

Do you think more about the past, present, or future?

• HMMM – Probably the past and present equally. I tend to block out negative memories and thrive off the good ones I retain.

What is your favorite children’s book?

• Courduroy….how can you not love a defective stuffed animal searching for his missing button?

How tall are you?

• about 5′-11″

Where is your ideal house located?

• mmm -this is tough. Can I own more than one home? No matter where the house is, I’d prefer it to a) be a place with a view, b) be close to the action, c) be on the top floor, d) near water (river, ocean). As for specific locales; Ptown, Paris, Boston, NYC. I’m sure I’ll find other ideal locations, too (such as warmer climates)…but the criteria for it would remain the same as the other locations.

Last person you talked to?

• A woman names Sarah who is applying for a job here (I just ended an interview with her).

When was the last time you were at Olive Garden?

• I’ve only been to Olive Garden once…in New Jersey. I guess it was 3 years ago?

What are your keys on your key chain for?

• Um, to open doors. Specifically, my office building, my office, my apartment building, my mailbox, my apartment, Randy’s house. And a pass to get on the subway (I guess that’s sort of a key because it let’s me in).

What did you do last night?

• I went to the hospital to visit my sister-in-law and brother, brought my brother out to dinner, then went to Randy’s house to watch Ugly Betty, Srubs and My Name is Earl.

Where is your current pain at?

• The Whitehouse.

Do you like mustard.

• yes

Do you like your mom or dad.

• yes, both. Actually, I love them both.

How long does it take you in the shower?

• A long time. I love showers. I usually last until the hot water runs out.

What movie do you want to see right now?

• For Your Consideration.

Do you put lotion on your dog or cats?

• What the hell does that even mean? I have neither…but never put lotion on them when I did.

What did you do for New Year’s?

• I got together with Randy, Peter, and Chris for dinner, games, wine and ball-dropping.

Do you think the Grudge was scary?

• Never saw it.

Do you own a camera phone?

• Yes – but don’t ask me to figure out how to use it.

What’s the last letter of your middle name?

• d

Who did you vote for on American Idol.

• I didn’t vote.

January 12th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 4 Comments

As has been the case over the past few years, when things start going well in my life (work is good, new relationship, fun travels), bad things start happening to those around me.

This past weekend my sister-in-law was brought back into the hospital. This has been an on-going thing for the past year and a half. Most recently she was hospitalized the week before (and of) Christmas. She was re-admitted the week of New Years and then just this weekend she was sent to Boston to spend time in the Intensive Care Unit. She’s still there now.

This time around, her issues are a bit more complicated. First, she has aspirational pneumonia (I think that’s how it’s spelled) and her feeding tube became infected. While testing that, they also discovered that her entire chest is filled with blood clots. Complicating matters, they are unable to tap into any veins in her chest – so treating this is going to result in entering her body via her groin.

Finally, her lungs have been filling up with fluids (though, they seemed to have managed to drain them a bit somehow). Long story short – it sounds like she’ll be in the hospital for a while. My parents have since driven out to western Massachusetts to take care of my niece and nephew while my brother stays at the hospital with my sister-in-law (Heidi). I popped by last night to see how they were doing and, surprisingly, Heidi seemed in pretty good spirits. Aiside from the fact that the entire hospital was hotter than hell (I heard multiple patients complaining), Heidi seemed comfortable and alert. Now it’s just going to be many days of testing, MRI’s, drugs (blood thinners and such), and possible surgeries (to remove the infected feeding tube).

Although I fail to see any silver-lining in all of the shit my familiy has had to go through over the past few years (my 3-year old niece dying, sister-in-law seriously ill, nephew starting to show similar symptoms), having all of this medical drama going on in my family does make me realize how fortunate I’ve been. And despite my pissing and moaning over the inconveniences of common colds and such, I’m an incredibly lucky guy and need to start appreciating that.

January 11th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments

Friday night, while flossing my teeth, I managed to pop out a filling from an old cavity. I started freaking out (that I wouldn’t be able to get it filled again until Monday and that the pain would be unbearable) but Randy calmed me down and said not to worry.

For the rest of my weekend I kept my tongue over the hole to prevent air from hitting the nerve…and because it felt neat. Fortunately, it was an unseasonably warm weekend and there was never any pain.

Yesterday morning I went in to have it replaced. There was no pain – and he replaced it with one of those white fillings. Why aren’t all fillings done this way? The dentist said, material wise, it only costs about $10 more (yet insurance companies charge $50 – $100 more). I guess it’s a little loop hole the insurance companies use by considering it “cosmetic” if you use white.

Anyway, I was numb the rest of the morning. Then once the Novocain wore off, I could feel the “bruise” caused by where the needle went in. Fun. Oh, and because I was so tense while the dentist was drilling (cleaning out the hole to prep it for the new one) I managed to end up with a sore neck. Man, I must have really been stiff. I do recall him reminding me to breathe, though.

Still, I got together with Jen and Randy last night for dinner in the North End (at Jen’s favorite place, Mother Anna’s). mmmm – and now I have left-overs for lunch today.

Life is good.

January 10th, 2007
Categories: Uncategorized . Author: snarl . Comments: 5 Comments