About Me
- Joe
- When I was just a little young boy Papa said "Son, you'll never get far I'll tell you the reason, if you want to know 'Cause child of mine, there isn't really very far to go"
Friday, May 23, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Si Se Puede?
I thought I should just give a quick update on the comings and goings of life for us out in the Pacific Northwest.
I am starting to really settle in to the weather out here. You really can not argue with the rain. Your protestations would be futile. Gotta love that sunshine. And let us not forget the wonderful smells.
That about sums it up. Portland weather. The Cliff Notes version.
This weekend we had record breaking temperatures. It rarely gets above 90 in Portland. Forget about that happening in May. Yet it was a solid 95 this weekend. (Fear not, it was mid to low 60's today with scattered overcast and drizzle).
On Saturday we went to the 'Alberta Art Hop'. Alberta street in Northeast Portland was closed to traffic for approximately 15 blocks. This strip of Alberta Street is well known for its various bars, cafes, funky art galleries, natural food stores and everything else that you would expect to find in Portland. All of these institutions were in full swing as independent artists had their tents and stands lined up along the side of the streets. Thousands of people were there. There was a parade complete with strange people dressed in strange clothes, a strange bus, strange bikes and more. Plenty of art and artists to go around. Generally a musician or musicians would work a block. So that as you were walking one moment you would her some angry lady with a guitar, the next a bluegrass band, then some nasty funk and to top it off a man playing beautiful classical musical on a violin.
A fellow that I work with had a pop up tent sent up with some of his art work. We found him and sat behind his stand for a while. He enjoyed a PBR while we all chatted. It was nice to see a familiar face in the crowd. It was nice to finally start to feel like we are at home. It was nice to belong.
Sunday we went out to the riverfront to see Barack Obama. We waited in a line that stretched umpteen blocks throughout the center of town for a good hour. We were about 2/3 of the way away from the stage in an estimated crowd of about 75,000. It had the feel of a rock concert. Peddlers walked the long line selling home made t-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons. Everybody was buzzing with excitement. It was all anybody talked about on Monday Morning. You could tell who was there by there sunburns.
The speech is what you would expect. But the experience was great.
Besides that, I have been working alot lately. I am in the midst of a massive project for my research job. Since Friday I have logged in 36 hours. Lauren has helped out with about 8 of those.
I can not quit my steady job, though I did cut down to 4 days a week. I know that this is not steady. I will get 50 hours this week (in addition to the 32 I work at my other job). But I may not get any the following week or the week after.
So I am busy.
I like it that way.
We are headed to Seattle for Memorial Day Weekend. We have Red Sox - Mariners tickets and plan on relaxing out there for a few days. I have to bring my work with me. But it will be nice to have a change of pace and spend some time with some people. I have meet a friend at work and she has agreed to check on Alice for us.
Counting.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Buffalo Style Tofu
This is one of my favorites. With just a little planning ahead it is relatively quick and easy. The tofu is hearty and filling. It serves well with a down home country meal. We usually have it with mashed potatoes, braised carrots and gravy.
The Tofu: This is where the preparation and planning come in. When you buy the tofu take it out of the package and wrap it in plastic. Store it in the freeze. Freezing the tofu allows ice crystals to form in and separate the tofu. It creates a textures that is perfect for deep frying and soaking in flavors. A good 24 hours before you want to have the meal pull the tofu out to defrost. After the tofu is defrosted cut it into approximately 1/4" pieces (the thinner the crispier, the thicker the chewier). Pat these as dry as you can with a paper towel without destroying the shape. Cut in half and cut those halves in half diagonally. You should end up with triangles.
The Batter: Making your own is super easy and much cheaper. Simply Mix:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1 egg
3/4 cup beer, sparkling water or simply use cold water
Dip the tofu triangles into the batter and deep fry. If you don't own a deep fryer, and we do not, just heat enough oil in a frying pan to cover the tofu. Medium to medium high heat should work. Cook for about 5 minutes and flip. They should turn golden brown. Season with salt and garlic powder when done.
Mix with your favorite buffalo sauce. Just mix Franks Red Hot, Butter and Brown Sugar over low heat to taste.
Toss in the oven covered at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.
Delicious.
The Tofu: This is where the preparation and planning come in. When you buy the tofu take it out of the package and wrap it in plastic. Store it in the freeze. Freezing the tofu allows ice crystals to form in and separate the tofu. It creates a textures that is perfect for deep frying and soaking in flavors. A good 24 hours before you want to have the meal pull the tofu out to defrost. After the tofu is defrosted cut it into approximately 1/4" pieces (the thinner the crispier, the thicker the chewier). Pat these as dry as you can with a paper towel without destroying the shape. Cut in half and cut those halves in half diagonally. You should end up with triangles.
The Batter: Making your own is super easy and much cheaper. Simply Mix:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
black pepper
1 egg
3/4 cup beer, sparkling water or simply use cold water
Dip the tofu triangles into the batter and deep fry. If you don't own a deep fryer, and we do not, just heat enough oil in a frying pan to cover the tofu. Medium to medium high heat should work. Cook for about 5 minutes and flip. They should turn golden brown. Season with salt and garlic powder when done.
Mix with your favorite buffalo sauce. Just mix Franks Red Hot, Butter and Brown Sugar over low heat to taste.
Toss in the oven covered at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.
Delicious.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
A day in the life...
I am tired. It has been a long day. It has been a long week to tell the truth. But it is a good tired. It is currently 11:33pm Pacific Standard Time. It is late. And I am tired.
I woke up this morning to a cup of loose leaf Smoked Earl Grey Tea in bed. I like to sip on it every few minutes and fade in and out of vivid early morning dreams. Around 7:00am Lauren comes back into the room (she is much more active than me in the morning and gets up right when the alarm goes off) and turns the light on. I grunt in displeasure. After a minute or two of that I give up and get ready. Get dressed. Put my lunch in my back pack (we pre-make it out of dinner leftovers the night before. I throw some nuts in a sandwich bag and grab a banana and an avocado for breakfast. I check the weather, brush my teeth make sure I have everything, kiss Lauren goodbye and head out.
I cross the street to my bus stop. I generally get there about 2 minutes early. The time is now about 7:20. Sometimes the bus is earlier. Sometimes it is later. Yesterday my bus driver saw me walking out the day and waited for me. You get to know your bus driver. You don't really talk to him (though some do). But you do get to know him.
I read some of Woody Guthrie's Autobiography on the 25 minute bus ride into downtown. I got off of the bus this morning, as I do every morning, at the corners of 5th and Stark. Time is 7:45. I walk directly to work. No fooling around. I have to be at my desk at 8:00am sharp. And I have work to do before that.
I always get to work a good 10 minutes early to make the first pot of coffee for the office in the morning. It is a big machine and it takes a few minutes. I get the impression that some of my coworkers think that I am being nice or generous. But that's not really true. I just like to ensure that the coffee is brewed and ready to go. Makes things easier. And I don't have to deal with angry clients without a nice bitter cup of Starbucks (office supplies us with Starbucks grounds).
I do my thing at work until 10:30 when I take my break. Today I went into the break room and enjoyed a banana, half of a large avocado, and some mixed nuts for breakfast. I cleaned out my mug and filled it up at the water cooler.
More work until 1:00. At 1:00pm everyday I go on lunch. I went into the break room today to eat. Today was a tad unusual in that I was not having leftovers for lunch. Lauren's birthday yesterday and, accordingly, we got take out and watched Cabaret (I still have no idea what this movie is about). So today I had a few pieces of sushi (spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll and a roll with tuna, salmon and cream cheese) and a salad with mixed greens, locally grown kale, red pepper, onion and local cheddar. I brought a bottle of Annie's Goddess dressing with me from home. The dressing does not sit well over night. I ate with chopsticks. I felt hip.
I generally get done eating around 1:15. At this point I generally go for a walk, go to Powell's or go to the Library. On nice days eat in a nearby park and take if from there. Occasionally I meet up with Lauren.
Today I decided to go the library. My book on birds of the Willamette Valley was due and i had a cd waiting for me. The library has really been a great resource. I have been building my old timey music collection. I have taken out the complete works of Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie, Son House and Skip James. We have also rented numerous books, several season of the Simpsons, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Unforgiven, Curb your Enthusiasm, Sesame Street Old School and The Festival Express.
On the way to the library I gave Lauren a call. I talk to people at my job all day long and not a single one of them really wants to be talking to me. There is not too much that can make you more lonely than that. It is nice to speak with someone who is interested in talking to you. En Route to the library I came across a building demolition. This was the real deal. I'm talking a crane ripping huge chunks of building off and tossing on the ground. Brick flying everywhere. One of the coolest things I ever seen.
At the library I went over to the computer and tried to decide what I should read next and if there was any music I wanted to put on hold. I ended up placing holds for James Joyce's 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', A 4 disc compilation of Elvis performing in Las Vegas and the complete studio recordings of John Coltrane and Miles Davis (together).
At this point I was running late and headed back to work. I was sure to walk by the demolition.
I worked without incident until 3:30. Took my 10 minute break. I ate a Marzipan cookie and read some Guthrie.
More work until 5:00. I decided to head over to the gym downtown after work today. I put in about a 45 minute workout and headed for the bus. I used the bus ride home to catch up on some more reading.
I got home to a house full of wonderful smells and Lauren doing some serious cooking. We said howdy do, I searched for jobs and checked my fantasy team. Pretty quickly after that I started working on my second job.
At about 7:45 we sat down to a beautiful candle lit dinner. We had homemade pan fried seitan lentil loaf, braised carrots and a broiled asparagus casserole with homemade bread crumbs and local extra sharp cheddar aged 3 years. On top of it all was a delicious mushroom nutritional yeast gravy.
We ate. I had seconds. We sat there and chatted well after we finished eating. Just enjoying each other's company and the Son House CD I just rented from the library.
Eventually we got up, cleaned up the kitchen and prepared the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
I hopped back on the computer and got some more work done. I listened to some Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke, Robert Johnson and James Taylor's one man band.
I took a break from work, spent some time with Lauren, saw her off to bed and came back out here to wrap up the work.
And now I am off to bed.
I woke up this morning to a cup of loose leaf Smoked Earl Grey Tea in bed. I like to sip on it every few minutes and fade in and out of vivid early morning dreams. Around 7:00am Lauren comes back into the room (she is much more active than me in the morning and gets up right when the alarm goes off) and turns the light on. I grunt in displeasure. After a minute or two of that I give up and get ready. Get dressed. Put my lunch in my back pack (we pre-make it out of dinner leftovers the night before. I throw some nuts in a sandwich bag and grab a banana and an avocado for breakfast. I check the weather, brush my teeth make sure I have everything, kiss Lauren goodbye and head out.
I cross the street to my bus stop. I generally get there about 2 minutes early. The time is now about 7:20. Sometimes the bus is earlier. Sometimes it is later. Yesterday my bus driver saw me walking out the day and waited for me. You get to know your bus driver. You don't really talk to him (though some do). But you do get to know him.
I read some of Woody Guthrie's Autobiography on the 25 minute bus ride into downtown. I got off of the bus this morning, as I do every morning, at the corners of 5th and Stark. Time is 7:45. I walk directly to work. No fooling around. I have to be at my desk at 8:00am sharp. And I have work to do before that.
I always get to work a good 10 minutes early to make the first pot of coffee for the office in the morning. It is a big machine and it takes a few minutes. I get the impression that some of my coworkers think that I am being nice or generous. But that's not really true. I just like to ensure that the coffee is brewed and ready to go. Makes things easier. And I don't have to deal with angry clients without a nice bitter cup of Starbucks (office supplies us with Starbucks grounds).
I do my thing at work until 10:30 when I take my break. Today I went into the break room and enjoyed a banana, half of a large avocado, and some mixed nuts for breakfast. I cleaned out my mug and filled it up at the water cooler.
More work until 1:00. At 1:00pm everyday I go on lunch. I went into the break room today to eat. Today was a tad unusual in that I was not having leftovers for lunch. Lauren's birthday yesterday and, accordingly, we got take out and watched Cabaret (I still have no idea what this movie is about). So today I had a few pieces of sushi (spicy tuna roll, shrimp tempura roll and a roll with tuna, salmon and cream cheese) and a salad with mixed greens, locally grown kale, red pepper, onion and local cheddar. I brought a bottle of Annie's Goddess dressing with me from home. The dressing does not sit well over night. I ate with chopsticks. I felt hip.
I generally get done eating around 1:15. At this point I generally go for a walk, go to Powell's or go to the Library. On nice days eat in a nearby park and take if from there. Occasionally I meet up with Lauren.
Today I decided to go the library. My book on birds of the Willamette Valley was due and i had a cd waiting for me. The library has really been a great resource. I have been building my old timey music collection. I have taken out the complete works of Robert Johnson and Woody Guthrie, Son House and Skip James. We have also rented numerous books, several season of the Simpsons, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Unforgiven, Curb your Enthusiasm, Sesame Street Old School and The Festival Express.
On the way to the library I gave Lauren a call. I talk to people at my job all day long and not a single one of them really wants to be talking to me. There is not too much that can make you more lonely than that. It is nice to speak with someone who is interested in talking to you. En Route to the library I came across a building demolition. This was the real deal. I'm talking a crane ripping huge chunks of building off and tossing on the ground. Brick flying everywhere. One of the coolest things I ever seen.
At the library I went over to the computer and tried to decide what I should read next and if there was any music I wanted to put on hold. I ended up placing holds for James Joyce's 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', A 4 disc compilation of Elvis performing in Las Vegas and the complete studio recordings of John Coltrane and Miles Davis (together).
At this point I was running late and headed back to work. I was sure to walk by the demolition.
I worked without incident until 3:30. Took my 10 minute break. I ate a Marzipan cookie and read some Guthrie.
More work until 5:00. I decided to head over to the gym downtown after work today. I put in about a 45 minute workout and headed for the bus. I used the bus ride home to catch up on some more reading.
I got home to a house full of wonderful smells and Lauren doing some serious cooking. We said howdy do, I searched for jobs and checked my fantasy team. Pretty quickly after that I started working on my second job.
At about 7:45 we sat down to a beautiful candle lit dinner. We had homemade pan fried seitan lentil loaf, braised carrots and a broiled asparagus casserole with homemade bread crumbs and local extra sharp cheddar aged 3 years. On top of it all was a delicious mushroom nutritional yeast gravy.
We ate. I had seconds. We sat there and chatted well after we finished eating. Just enjoying each other's company and the Son House CD I just rented from the library.
Eventually we got up, cleaned up the kitchen and prepared the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
I hopped back on the computer and got some more work done. I listened to some Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke, Robert Johnson and James Taylor's one man band.
I took a break from work, spent some time with Lauren, saw her off to bed and came back out here to wrap up the work.
And now I am off to bed.
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