Twelve hours at church today and I'm winding down watching the premiere of the 13th season of the greatest show in reality television - "The Amazing Race"
It is, as always awesome. Tonight's destination is Salvador, Brasil. I missed the first few minutes, which I will watch later, so I didn't see the team introductions, but it looks like the usual collection of characters and area a slow to start. Couple of observations...the frat boys? Umm...what frat did they belong to at ASU? Kappa Summa Dorka? If I were an ASU administrator, I'd demand that CBS black out the ASU t-shirts they're wearing for the rest of the season. They aren't doing ASU any favors-they appear to be colossal idiots. And the married, tie-dye wearing beekeepers...his beard and her hair appear to be completely interchangeable. It's creepy. I'm not worried about what appears to be a slow start - this thing always picks up. I am a little disappointed that CBS has shown the destinations of this season's race but I'll get over it.
Now the other day I was wishing the SNL would bring Tina Fey back every week to have her play Sarah Palin. Well they ponied up again last night. It was great - not quite the screaming riot that was the Palin/Clinton showdown of a couple weeks ago - but funny just the same. So here it is:
28 September 2008
27 September 2008
View from 1D on UA627
Friday afternoon I flew to Washington DC for an all-day NBTA Board meeting today. The flight was oversold, and when I booked it, I was assigned a middle seat, so I pulled the trigger on my upgrade certificates and upgraded the flight. For a Friday afternoon O'Hare rush-hour flight, we sailed out on time and even arrived in Washington DC a few minutes early. My cab driver was a fascinating Ethiopian who made the short ride to Alexandria a really interesting ride.
Got up this morning and ran a couple of miles in Old Town Alexandria and along the Potomac River. It had rained most of the night and it made for a really pleasant run. As I was wrapping it up, I ran by a Farmer's Market and so as soon as I finished, I headed back to the Market. I love markets like this. They're so visceral and work your senses. I saw some of the reddest peppers ever and tasted an absolutely amazing peach. And then I hit the bakery stand and I was done. Knowing that the TSA (speaking of the TSA, have you seen their new blue uniforms? Apparently, they thought this would make them seem more pleasant. It does not. That's all I'm saying) would probably confiscate any vegetables or fruit, I bought a loaf of sourdough to bring home. Take a look:
GORGEOUS!
My meetings actually go until tomorrow but I had to get home, so I bailed early and raced over to DCA to get on the last flight to ORD. I used my Clear pass for the first time and sailed through security. Can every airport please get this? As I checked in, I decided to see if I could upgrade this flight and I cleared the list. Boy, was I glad I did. Things were looking good...we backed out on time and went straight to the end of the taxiway and were about to roll onto the runway when we got the turn order to the penalty box...line of thunderstorms and there we would sit for the next hour. Here's a shot of what I kept looking at, as the minutes ticked by:
I was glad I was upfront. There was a screaming kid in the back and it was 100% full. Our flight attendant working up front reminded me totally of Professor Smith from "Lost in Space" - looks, demeanor - and that didn't bode well. But he turned out to be OK and made the hour long delay and the flight totally tolerable. So thanks to the miracle of heinously padded airline scheduling, we landed only about 25 minutes late.
So now I'm home, catching up and getting ready for Sunday. I talked to my mom twice today, as today is her birthday. Quite a lady, my mom. I first called her from DCA and she was insistent that I sing to her. I steadfastly refused, telling her I would sing to her once I was in my car in Chicago, so I fulfilled my promise. It was great to talk to her and here her laugh. Made my day!
Got up this morning and ran a couple of miles in Old Town Alexandria and along the Potomac River. It had rained most of the night and it made for a really pleasant run. As I was wrapping it up, I ran by a Farmer's Market and so as soon as I finished, I headed back to the Market. I love markets like this. They're so visceral and work your senses. I saw some of the reddest peppers ever and tasted an absolutely amazing peach. And then I hit the bakery stand and I was done. Knowing that the TSA (speaking of the TSA, have you seen their new blue uniforms? Apparently, they thought this would make them seem more pleasant. It does not. That's all I'm saying) would probably confiscate any vegetables or fruit, I bought a loaf of sourdough to bring home. Take a look:
GORGEOUS!
My meetings actually go until tomorrow but I had to get home, so I bailed early and raced over to DCA to get on the last flight to ORD. I used my Clear pass for the first time and sailed through security. Can every airport please get this? As I checked in, I decided to see if I could upgrade this flight and I cleared the list. Boy, was I glad I did. Things were looking good...we backed out on time and went straight to the end of the taxiway and were about to roll onto the runway when we got the turn order to the penalty box...line of thunderstorms and there we would sit for the next hour. Here's a shot of what I kept looking at, as the minutes ticked by:
I was glad I was upfront. There was a screaming kid in the back and it was 100% full. Our flight attendant working up front reminded me totally of Professor Smith from "Lost in Space" - looks, demeanor - and that didn't bode well. But he turned out to be OK and made the hour long delay and the flight totally tolerable. So thanks to the miracle of heinously padded airline scheduling, we landed only about 25 minutes late.
So now I'm home, catching up and getting ready for Sunday. I talked to my mom twice today, as today is her birthday. Quite a lady, my mom. I first called her from DCA and she was insistent that I sing to her. I steadfastly refused, telling her I would sing to her once I was in my car in Chicago, so I fulfilled my promise. It was great to talk to her and here her laugh. Made my day!
23 September 2008
A random thought or two or more
After two nasty weeks at work where I fell completely off my running schedule, I'm getting back in the swing of things. When I got home tonight, I took off on a short run and it gave me some much-needed time to clear out my crowded head and it got me to thinking about a few things. Like...
Why am I reading the following books all at the same time: "Traffic;" "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo;" "Hot, Flat, and Crowded;" "Go Put Your Strengths to Work;" and "What Happened to the Cross?"
Why did all the morning television news programs give even an ounce of air time to this millenium's most hideous mother, Lynne Spears (mother of the twin skanks of the Apocalypse, Britney and Jamie Lynne) upon the publication of her pearl of wisdom on parenting in challenging times. Shame on the bookstore that even sells that steaming pile of written garbage or the library that files this book in anything but the fantasy section!
Why will the media forget completely about the financial meltdown our economy faces when Clay Aiken officially comes out tomorrow? Anyone shocked by this "revelation" needs to be medicated. Immediately.
Why is the Angriest Elderly Presidential Candidate Ever refusing to let his VP nominee speak to the media in anything other than orchestrated interviews or photo ops?
And a final thought, speaking of our Republican VP candidate, why, why, why can't Tina Fey play Sarah Palin every stinkin' week on Saturday Night Live? I know the video is legendary at this point, and you've probably seen it, but methinks it's worth a posting here:
So that's cleared my mind - have a good night!
Why am I reading the following books all at the same time: "Traffic;" "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo;" "Hot, Flat, and Crowded;" "Go Put Your Strengths to Work;" and "What Happened to the Cross?"
Why did all the morning television news programs give even an ounce of air time to this millenium's most hideous mother, Lynne Spears (mother of the twin skanks of the Apocalypse, Britney and Jamie Lynne) upon the publication of her pearl of wisdom on parenting in challenging times. Shame on the bookstore that even sells that steaming pile of written garbage or the library that files this book in anything but the fantasy section!
Why will the media forget completely about the financial meltdown our economy faces when Clay Aiken officially comes out tomorrow? Anyone shocked by this "revelation" needs to be medicated. Immediately.
Why is the Angriest Elderly Presidential Candidate Ever refusing to let his VP nominee speak to the media in anything other than orchestrated interviews or photo ops?
And a final thought, speaking of our Republican VP candidate, why, why, why can't Tina Fey play Sarah Palin every stinkin' week on Saturday Night Live? I know the video is legendary at this point, and you've probably seen it, but methinks it's worth a posting here:
So that's cleared my mind - have a good night!
21 September 2008
A most excellent birthday present
I got a most excellent birthday present yesterday. I was all kinds of excited when I opened my new steamer basket. Steamed buns and dim sum here we come!
After my meetings ended today, it was time to bust out the wok and get the steam rising, so we could use the steamer basket. I also got a Chinese cookbook yesterday and I used a recipe out of it for steamed pork buns. It was a lot of fun to make the buns, stuff them, and get them in the steamer. Courtney got in on the action early as I got the filling going in the wok. All was good for her until I threw in the oyster sauce. She once again made it ABUNDANTLY clear that she is not a fan of anything seafood-related, anything. But, to her credit, she managed to contain her gag reflex while I prepped the rest of the buns. Gold star for her. Anyway, it really could not have been easier to make these things. And the finished product - excellent, I must say. I mean, the local dim sum joints don't have to worry about competition, but it's going to be a lot of fun trying to beat them in my own kitchen!
It's been another good day of getting religion. Long day and it's not over - a youth fireside still to go - but a good day. Courtney spoke in our Sacrament Meeting today and she did really well. She spoke confidently and bore a solid testimony. Shari was called to serve as president of the Young Women in our Chicagoland ward today. She, as always, will be awesome. She'll be great. And giving me the steamer basket so I can continue to fuel the Asian food obsession is another example of her awesomeness. She's no fan o'the Asian food obsession but she sure is great to enable it for me!
Speaking of Asian food obsession, I leave for Bangkok week after next for a week of meetings. I'm taking one day as vacation time while I'm there and I am spending part of it in a Thai cooking class. It's at a place called Baipai and I am all kinds of excited. It would have been even more exciting if the state of emergency was still in effect in Bangkok but that's over and done. This class looks to be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to it.
After my meetings ended today, it was time to bust out the wok and get the steam rising, so we could use the steamer basket. I also got a Chinese cookbook yesterday and I used a recipe out of it for steamed pork buns. It was a lot of fun to make the buns, stuff them, and get them in the steamer. Courtney got in on the action early as I got the filling going in the wok. All was good for her until I threw in the oyster sauce. She once again made it ABUNDANTLY clear that she is not a fan of anything seafood-related, anything. But, to her credit, she managed to contain her gag reflex while I prepped the rest of the buns. Gold star for her. Anyway, it really could not have been easier to make these things. And the finished product - excellent, I must say. I mean, the local dim sum joints don't have to worry about competition, but it's going to be a lot of fun trying to beat them in my own kitchen!It's been another good day of getting religion. Long day and it's not over - a youth fireside still to go - but a good day. Courtney spoke in our Sacrament Meeting today and she did really well. She spoke confidently and bore a solid testimony. Shari was called to serve as president of the Young Women in our Chicagoland ward today. She, as always, will be awesome. She'll be great. And giving me the steamer basket so I can continue to fuel the Asian food obsession is another example of her awesomeness. She's no fan o'the Asian food obsession but she sure is great to enable it for me!
Speaking of Asian food obsession, I leave for Bangkok week after next for a week of meetings. I'm taking one day as vacation time while I'm there and I am spending part of it in a Thai cooking class. It's at a place called Baipai and I am all kinds of excited. It would have been even more exciting if the state of emergency was still in effect in Bangkok but that's over and done. This class looks to be a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to it.
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