Dinner with the p's...

list monday - words

Favorite words:

1. onomatopoeia
2. ebullient
3. discombobulated
4. flibbertigibbet
5. raconteur 

honorable mentions:  skewers, bon vivant, play ball, ishkabibble, tropical, Cubs win

Least favorite:

1. can't
2. cacophonous
3. rutabaga
4. unruly
5. cocktail

dishonorable mentions:  cyst, egregious, rural, coupon

Corrida en Arles

The sultry Spanish sun slowly sank.  It's rays criss-crossed across the yellow sky.  And though it's sanguine light still bathed the Provencal arena below, the day's sun was well on its way across the Iberian peninsula.

The Roman amphitheater overflows with a standing room only crowd.  Fans, thirsty for a view, resort to climbing the nearby, ancient aqueduct.  The olive-skinned Mediterranean masses, with their red kerchiefs and even redder hats, appear pimento stuffed.

With the opening bugle sounds fading, the matador and his entourage have entered the ring and saluted the presiding dignitaries.  The noble bull soon after  followed, to be tested for his ferocity.  A picador, atop a padded horse, uses his lance to prod the bull, drawing first blood.  A couple of banerilleros prepare to further incite and weaken the bull by sticking him with their barbs.  The matador studies the beast's behavior.  He will use his cape to incite the color-blind bull into a series of passes, wearing it down, preparing for the kill.

The blood begins to seep, as the crowd grows frenzied.  The traditional pageantry offsets the brutality.  The setting sun even makes the round arena appear valentine shaped, symbolizing the affection for this cultural custom.  The onset of dusk begat the festivities; sundown would signal the spectacle's cessation and the bull's demise.

Cool things you see in SC

kids new creative outlet...

...clothing designers.  Look our Ralph Lauren!  Shirts available for purchase online.

Weekend round-up

• Chillaxing weekend
• took dogs to Laguna Beach dog park...always awesome
• went for hot dogs in Ladera Ranch...thanks Groupon
• Sailing cancelled due to high winds, although J1 qualified for the racing team on Friday
• Took J2 to a Purim fest, where the Rabbi tried to corner me and take my spiritual blood pressure (tefillin)...we made a hasty escape
• for the first day of spring, it's like winter all over again...made a fire
• some good advice I heard on the "old man show":  never waste time that could be spent sleeping

Happy St. Patty's Day

The wife sure does like her holidays.  She's got seasonal napkin holders.  She's even got a different door wreath for each month.  She's got traditions out the wazoo.   It's way cute how she gets into them with the kiddos.  Take today's festival for example.  Every year she and kids set out a leprechaun trap, complete with Lucky Charms as bait.  And every year, the pesky imp manages to outsmart us.  Not only does the little green fellow avoid the trap and eat the sugary cereal, but he wreaks all kinds of havoc as well. Messing things up.  Drawing on the mirrors (and sometimes the kids while their sleeping).  And most annoying of all, leaving our toilet bowls  filled with liquid green, just like the Chicago river.  Someday we'll catch that critter and his pot o' gold too.

I am not a labradoodle!

a monologue,

by

Cubby

I am not a labradoodle.  The other day, I was walking my master through the Dana Point Whale Festival.  I couldn't step more than four paws without being gawked at, impeded, and even man-handled.  Yeah, I know I'm cute.  No I didn't step in paint cans.  And, I know they look like socks.  Like my Mom says, if I had a dollar for every time someone commented on my white paws....I'd have a lot of dollars.  Hey, dogs aren't great at math.

But what really gets me is the human game:  guess what breed?  That's just breedism. I don't guess where you people came from - despite the occasional crotch sniffing.  I don't ask why you're dressed so funny.  So, don't be a breedist.

What I get mistaken for most often is labradoodle.  I also get poodle (which I am distantly related to) and the occasional sheep dog.  Sheep dog, really?  Do I look like I want to hang out with sheep.  If you're going to insult me, you might as well call me a bichon.

What is a labradoodle anyway?  Besides being a funny word to type (you try typing with paws), it is nothing but a designer genetic mutation.  Part labrador retriever and part poodle.  They neither retrieve anything nor doodle.  Those labradoodles think they are all that, but they are nothing more than mutts.  

I come from a championship line of Portuguese Water Dogs, from that great Portuguese colony of Arizona.    When the president of the United States has one of my kind sauntering around the White House, the people should know my breed.  It's like not knowing who the vice president is....well, that might be understandable.  Besides, I kind of resemble Bo Obama, and luckily not Joe Biden.

Happy Pi Day.......mmm, pi

If Pi is an irrational number, does that make today an irrational day?

Za Rules

Who's eating who?

Kids, there's an important topic that needs to be addressed:  pizza.  Pizza is very important, as it is one of my 3 favorite foods, along with cereal and bacon.  Not just any pizza mind you, but New York style pizza.  Now, Chicago-style deep dish can be very good; but I wouldn't call it "pizza"- it's almost a lasagna with crust instead of noodles.  And a Mexican pizza can be muy delicioso, but what is that really but a big nacho.  So without getting too cheesy, the following are my rules on pizza etiquette.  After all, tomorrow is Pi day.

• John Cusack once mused on the cheese to sauce ratio of a perfect slice.  Though important, what really matters is the crust.  The dough is the foundation; it's what holds everything together.  Without dough, you're broke. First of all, it must always be thick.  Thin crust is another Chicago abomination and is nothing more than eating a cracker covered in cheese and sauce.  Second, the crust should be made with New York City's "mineral" rich water.  Adds flavor and is good for you.  Also, should be cooked in a pizza oven, not in some foofy wood-fired pretend oven.
• Speaking of Chicago abominations, pizza should always be sliced into triangles...never squares.  Archimedes would roll over in his grave if given a square piece of pie.  Now, you're Hoosier Mom might disagree with me here, but too bad....she can write her own blog.
• Now cheese is fine, but let's discuss toppings.  Veggies are cool (mushrooms are my favorite topping).  The only acceptable meats are pepperoni or sausage.  No hamburger or chicken.  Not even bacon (and that's the king of all meats).  Pizza has been perfected over the millennium and it's not for some Puck to go around messing with perfection.  Pineapple and anchovies are tolerable; but never together.
• Finally, the proper way to eat the slice:  hold the slice with 3 fingers, using your index finger to crease the crust, essentially folding the slice in half; the tip should be hanging over; and grease should be pooling in the crease and dripping down your arm.  Yum and bon appetito.

To Ipad 2 or not to Ipad 2?

mmm....Chronic Tacos

I know, right?  This should be my biggest problem in life.  Especially in light of the devastation in Japan.  There's no app for replacing loved ones or one's home.  Where's Godzilla when they need him most?  Tsunami's, earthquakes and nuclear meltdowns:  if that's not a recipe to create a primordial sea monster, what is?

Also, weather events just seem to be getting more and more intense as we approach 2012.  Chile, New Zealand, Australia, and now Japan.  Coincidence?  Maybe, we should have though twice about living along the "Ring of Fire", one town over from a nuclear generating station.  But, I wouldn't take ancient prophecies from a people who couldn't predict their own demise too seriously.  They say there's a 94% chance of a 7.0 or greater in Cali in the next 30 years.  Good thing I don't believe in stats.  It's like Steven Wright says, "If 99% of accidents happen within 2 miles of your home, should you move?"

Anyway, back to the electronics.  It's basically a touch on steroids.  I have an iphone.  I can facetime from my Mac.  And I have a kindle - even if it is an antique.  So, I can't complain.  But it's so coooool!  Does it come with a survival kit app?  Just wondering.

With the rest of the family hanging inland in AZ, I spent the day at the gym, the beach (ahhhhhh!) watching the shoreline carefully, and the Wal-mart (not so ahhhhh!; and luckily (or not) they were out of Ipad 2's - after about 10 minutes!!!)

And now, to quote the Reverend MC Hammer:  It's hammock time!  Unless Godzilla shows up.

Tsunami strikes Arizona

List Monday - Chicago

The other day, XRT and the powers that be declared March 2 to be "Chicago Day."  And although I was born in NY and am partial to their version of the pizza pie, I spent the brunt of my lifetime, about 18 years, in the Windy City of Onions.  So, it got me to thinking about what I missed most about my ol' stomping grounds:  the most livable city - 3 months out of the year...

• Well, the wife calls it "the land O' plenty" because of the expansive availability of fine dining establishments, which are not shy of portions.  Some of my favs:  Club Lucky, Gibsons, Twin Anchors and Weiner Circle.  Not to forget Potbelly's.
• The music scene.  Blues galore, where on any given night you can see Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, or Pinetop Perkins.  Also, miss the great local talent of yore:  Elvis Brothers, Bad Examples and of course, Poi Dog Pondering.
• The neighborhoods and street fests.  Nothing like exploring (and eating) your way through Greek Town, China Town, Boys Town, Ukrainian Village, and my favorite - Bucktown/Wicker Park.
• The lakefront.  I used to rollerblade up and down the beautiful lakefront.  Whether to a softball game or a pick-up beach volleyball game.  Or all the way down into the Loop.
• The Art Institute of Chicago.  What a trove.  Wish I had spent more time there.
• A pub on every corner.  Seriously, if there ever was a city built for drinking, I mean hanging out with buds and neighbors.  Miss the Leopard Lounge, Yakzies, Gingerman (where I re-met the bride), Silver Cloud, and again, Club Lucky.
• Cubs and Wrigleyville.  Ahh, nothing like leaving work and el-ing up to a game in that Ivy covered cathedral and hanging at Murphy's Bleachers.  Good times.
• Miss hanging with my Bro's...

What I don't miss:  the weather, the suburbs, the potholes, the traffic, and the weather...

It's official....

.... the return of hammock season.  Couldn't have come soon enough.  Who's legs are pastier?  Mine or Cub's?

Things u c on Mulberry St. (while walking Cubby)

Man vs. Wild...

Man wins.  The conquering hero returns from 5th grade science camp.  Too funny:  picking him up, some of the parents had "welcome home" signs, like they were returning from deployment or something.  Josh slept on the bottom bunk because he "didn't want to roll off".

Did he have all those freckles before he left?

Is this Progress?

No, not at the gym.  Today at work, I out-traded everyone else for the first time.  Also, two positive days in a row.  Hasn't happened very often.  Let's see if we can keep it up.

Boy child away at science camp.  3 days and 2 nights in the wilderness.  Miss the little bugger.  He's back tomorrow.