How to spell yum.

1) Go to the Cottage Place with the family.
2) Our 12 year old daughter ordered the Salmon Linguine with a sparkling cider - served in a fancy champagne flute. The cider, not the entree`.
3) Patty ordered the beef stroganoff
4) I ordered the spinach and goat cheese strudel
5) Wine was a Tobin James Zinfandel. Hey, it went with both mine and Patty's entrees.
6) Dessert: Daughter: Creme Brulee, Wife: Creme Brulee, Me: Pear Flambe`

7) It is so cool to have a daughter that has manners and a gourmet palate.

As If I Needed Another Reason To Drink Beer The Color Of Old Motor Oil

Fun Fact Number Next:

Guinness Stout has fewer calories per gram (or ounce) than Bud Light.

Youtube Vs. Haynes manual

So, I get to replace the water pump on a 1998 mini van. What does the Haynes manual say?

Disconnect battery bla bla bla... jack up vehicle...remove tire... remove hoses... remove plastic shield... remove pulley bolts... serpentine belt... reomve pump bolts... remove... engine bolts.. jack stand... timing belt..secure drive pulley so timing isn't compromised WHAT? Timing belt/chain? Engine bolts? Secure drive? SERIOUSLY?! Bla bla bla. My love for any Chrysler product grows - like Kudzu on a hillside. Yeah, that be a DIY job.

Let's read online: Mirrors Haynes manual, but also says something about experienced home mechanic can do it in 4 hours.

Hmmm. Let me look for a video - can't find one for 1998, but can for a 2003.

summary: jack up vehicle...remove tire... remove plastic shield...remove hose and be ready for a mess... remove pulley bolts...remove serpentine belt... remove pulley... remove pump bolts... remove pump... put new gasket in new pump... reverse process using new pump. Total time for inexperienced me including getting tools together and clean-up: less than 2 hours. And only minor cursing of anything made by Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth. Not a word about timing belts or engine mount bolts. Video done by mechanics in a shop. My next garage will have a "lift."

Flagstaff Rocks!

Reasons why I like living in Flag

1) Being a college town, it keeps me young
2) Rarely hotter than 90 degrees, rarely colder than minus 15 (I said RARELY - ignore
last year's minus 25 / minus 30)
3) Ice Rink!
4) Ski area less than 30 minutes from town
5) Usually bicycle friendly
6) When not #5 above, it is bicycle tolerant
7) Population fewer than 100K, greater than 50K
8) Smells like pine trees
7) People are cool
8) Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Riordan Mansion, etc.
9) When our idea of winter gets to be a drag, a warmer climate is 40 minutes away
10) Outdoor activities!

Two Chemical Haikus

Saying incident
With hydrofluoric acid
Disturbs most chemists

Fortunately the
Incident did not involve
bodily contact

Awesome!

Today, my wife had her company picnic at Ft. Tuthill. Anticipating how I usually wind up feeling restless at these events, I loaded my bike in the truck in case I felt the urge to get some activity in. After about 2 hours, my mood hit - and I was about to fall asleep - so I made my escape to the Soldiers / Highlands trail. I had walked a portion of it a year ago, and forgot some details. I wound up turning the long way on the loop part of the trail and got some extra riding in. I also was awarded some outstanding views. After crossing 89A, I meandered behind Pine Dell and hooked up with Old Munds. Awesome ride! Kudos and thanks to those who built the trail. It takes a lot longer than the shoulder of 17, but Mountainaire is now connected to flag by dirt bike tracks. I felt like a slug for splitting the event early, but at least an active slug. I also needed to compensate for the high fat cheeseburger I consumed. That and my mountain bike was bitching that although it sees a lot of dirt, I rarely take it on a single track. This is an awesome trail, steep enough to not be boring, but easy enough to be good for a gutless wonder such as myself.

The bad, the good, the bad, the good and the ugly.

Father's Day Dinner Adventure:

The bad: For diner tonight, we thought we would go to Buffalo Wild Wings and have a simple and affordable dinner. We were seated at a table with several layers of a cola and beer shellac. My menu had the associated stickiness. This was no problem as I could ignore the menu, and when the waitress stopped by, I would ask for the table to be wiped off. At least 2 waiters passed by several times without acknowledging us or responding to our signals. In their defense, I doubt they noticed. After 15 minutes we left...

The good: for Busters. Within 10 minutes we were seated at a clean table and were enjoying the bread and water/drink orders. I ordered the crab cakes with a spinach salad and fresh vegetables, and a Merlot. Patty and Kim split the shrimp. Patty had a salad, Kim had soup; both had veggies. Desert came. Kim had the chocolate mousse, Patty and I each had the creme brulee. It was awesome, but...

The bad: terribly unhealthy. But it was...

The good: damn good. Seriously damn tasty. No foolin'. It came with a strawberry garnish. Fresh fruit is healthy, therefore good. Then the check came.

The ugly: We spent 3X as much as we would have at Buffalo Wild Wings. Not to mention, it will take a whole bottle of Crestor and Niaspan to undo the damage to my arteries.

Question of the day

Q) What weighs 34.5 pounds, is about 17.25" at the widest point, is 35.25" tall, and is carried by a Bruin?

A) Do you really need to ask?
Hint: It is made from a silver-nickel alloy.
Hint: It is the oldest trophy in professional sports
Hint: It is really shiny
Hint: Boston 4, Vancouver 0


Canucks, I Love ya, but I love the Bruins more.

Think Seven

Today's facts about 7

1) Many schools have seven periods in a day
2) There are seven days in a week
3) There are seven digits in a phone number
4) A dog ages seven times faster than a human
5) My daughter will be in the 7th grade in the fall
6) Bruins 5, Canucks 2: 5+2=7
7) There will be a game seven

(I think there might even be blood)

Oh no, a quote

The following applies to my pseudospiritual side as well as the tasks that need to get done. Sort of a "If you want something done, do it yourself." approach.

I use the term pseudo in front of spiritual because I believe spiritual by itself implies observance of an unnamed, but single religion. I do not pretend to be special enough to claim any one religion as MINE.

No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.

-Buddha

Now That's Inconvenient!

So,now we need to return shopping carts to the cart corral, AND put them upside down?
It must make it a huge pain for the employees who collect them.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY PARTY DOWN

Today we had my daughter's 12th birthday party. Among her presents were:
1) A small power sander
2) An air soft gun
3) A Racquetball Racquet

I am reminded of when a young Amy Carter wanted a chainsaw for Christmas.

Fun on a Friday Off

How to make nitric acid in one's nose:

After having stubborn epitaxis for over 8 hours, I had my wife bring me to the local "doc in a box" when she came home from work. The doc was nice enough to dab the problem vessels with some AgNO3. Problem solved plus now my nostril is black:) For the fellow geeks out there: AgNO3 + H2O (from the blood) ======> AgOH + HNO3And a nice tingle to boot.

Just Two Words

Playoffs! Howl!

But What Happened The "P?"

Awhile ago a friend gave a gift of 3 sample bottles of Jameson that she bought during a trip to Ireland. I had the final one this evening to celebrate finishing taxes. I have decided it is impossible to spell Crested Ten without the letter "o" as in smooth. Or maybe it should be smth because Jameson used all the O's.

Thanks H!!

Ask Not!

50 years ago today, President Kennedy created a program that changed my life in ways that still amaze me. 24 years ago, I entered into that program and served in Thailand as a member of the United States Peace Corps. I would also like to thank all those who have served, are serving, and will serve in the armed forces. They are the ones whose sacrifices allowed me to serve in the manner I did. I left the Peace Corps smarter, more resourceful, more confident, and goal oriented than when I entered. Along the way, I helped a village do the same. It was a phenomenal experience with emotional highs and lows. Serious highs and lows. Although I left wondering if I had made a difference, when I visited 5 years later I realized that I did. I also realize the difference they made in me. It really is "The toughest job I'll ever love."

In other news, there have been requests for the "cod with chorizo" recipe, so here is the link: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/baked_cod_with_chorizo_white_beans.html

Happy Noshing!

A Piece Of Cod Is Not A Codpiece

I had already decided to make cod for dinner tonight, but had no idea just how I would prepare it. A simple poaching in foil was too boring Breading and baking? No. frying, no. Grilling? No. Google to the rescue: Cod with chorizo and white beans! I used hot Italian sausage instead of chorizo just because. I entered into the process with great trepidation. As it turns out, it is really good. One makes a "sauce" with tomatoes, a LITTLE BIT (60g) of sausage, some white wine and white beans. This is then baked with the cod. YUMMY! try it.

Let Them Eat Cheese

my team won :) although it looked as if they were trying not too. I have often wondered how many balls a team could drop in one game. I seem to have an answer.

It Might Be Cold Outside

I was greeted by ice on the windowsill and corners of the window of my office this A.M. It was at least 2 cm thick in the corners.

Question of the day

What if someone put melted gjetost on lutefisk?