Me & Him & You

Friendship. It means not everyone has to look at the camera.

Friendship, Meat, & Balls

So the other day I was at work, doing what I always do, which is write books all day and think about them.

On this particular day, I was writing a book about MEATBALLS. If there's one thing I like, it's meatballs. And puns, especially puns about balls. Who else likes puns? Evan!

So, I got on the horn to him and we made some plans. Cookery! With Balls!

First, we got all the ingredients. We were going to make lamb balls, but I guess all the little baby lambs that day got to grow up to be sweaters, and instead we got cow meat.

Here's all the ingredients, including the wine and Evan's left hand:


First thing you do, you mix up the meat and the ingredients to make the balls.


Mix mix mix!

Action shot:
Aeriel shot!

Sometimes maybe it is tempting to eat the one giant ball, but it is ill-advised.

Temperance won out, and Evan made lots of little balls for eating:

Then we packed 'em all up! Nice and snug, balls in a rug.

Oh! And special homemade pisketti sauce, from that place.

Extra prancing, that's what makes it taste so good.

In conclusion: balls!

Happiness.

Friendship.

El Mexi-cation mas bueno

I like America and all, what I know is true is that I had a great vacation in Mexico, and ever since I got back, I've had a bad cold. Whatevs.

What did we did? Well, at our stop in Northern California, we went kiwi picking.

Who knew? They grow on TREES.

Then, thankfully, we got to Mexico.

We had bloody maries with pico de gallo on top! Best BM ever.

Pina Coladas! Poolside.

More poolside! No Molesta!
Also? Ceviche that I would marry if it was legal. Legal Seafood, that is. Que?

And, infinity pools for afternoon cocktails.
In Conclusion: Vacation 1, Back to Work 0.

¡Bring it!

That's right. Frozen with salt and pool, por favor.

Side By Side By Rivers

What? Maybe this happened.

These Google Robots Are Saucy

I like my friend Rebecca and her blog, but the comment moderator sure is a dirty bird.

That Fish's Abdomen

Among other things, I'm thankful that Kevin carved the turkey, and that I was reminded of the Gershwin boys' lyrical genius.

I can't think of more amusing rhymes than these.

PS, Dang you, Copyright Police.

You Scream, Irene Scream, Ice Cream

Made it. Suck it, Irene. With jimmies.

It's Not A Trip To The South Without A Mint Julep

Thank you, Charleston!

A McQueen Come True

So how did I spend my Summer Friday? Well, I spent about 90 minutes of it in line at the Met to see that Alexander McQueen exhibit people won't stop yapping about.

And? Despite the wait, I'm glad I went. Now, I'm not going to say that it was the best thing in the world, or even that it was worth the long line - but it was a good time. Pretty dresses on nice mannequins in a dark room.

This here was the most impressive thing - they had the dress on display and a higher quality version of this video. I mean, this is something.



Not only is it a great performance/fashion/piece (how many of those are there, really?), but the dang model doesn't fall over and barf when the painting is done! She's a superhero.

If you would like to recreate the experience of seeing the show, read this blog on your smart phone while boarding the A/C/E train at Port Authority during rush hour.

Oh? And here's the line on Saturday, which we did NOT wait in. Know who took this picture? Al Roker. America sure is something. Our credit rating gets down-graded, 000's of people wait in line to see dresses, and our national weatherman tweets this picture during his morning jog.



Anyway, after this I took a nice nap then went to that new Spanish restaurant down the street from me. Summer Friday, you're a good thing.

Sibling Witchery

So one thing nice about me is I have friends. Also, last Friday after eating grilled salmon some of those friends and I watched Teen Witch, the 1989 classic I had never seen.


The most fascinating thing to me was NOT the "Top That" rap (a close 2nd), but the younger brother. I had recently re-watched Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead, and was highly entertained that the little brother in that was also the little brother in Adventures in Babysitting - that young man was featured in the whole subgenre of Babysitting Adventure movies in the late 80s.

To put a point on it, the lil' brother from Teen Witch was as distracting to us as corn in a salad. Who was this actor? Was it a short lesbian in a vest? Was he ALSO played by Zelda Rubenstein?

Here he is in the opening scene:



Fascinating.

And then, here's my favorite scene, when he is under her spell and being nice to her. He seems to be making some sort of pig call at the start:



When I'm a grown up, after I've written my first book, Shelley 3, the third volume in Shelley Winters' memoirs, and my second book, on the religious allegory in Poseidon Adventure, I'm going to do a book on the younger brothers in 80s movies. And if bookstores still exist, I hope you'll run out and buy it.

Life, She Is Now Two Good

el Arte tan bueno

I spent today in the Thyssen-Bornemisza, perhaps my favorite museum and one I haven't been to in about a decade. The familiarity of some of the paintings made me feel so good.

Interestingly, I could have just sat in Kevin's house it seems to have enjoyed some of the art.

Sprouts Dreams (Are Made of This)

So last weekend Brian and I decided to get up to some cookery adventures. A friend of his is working on a cookbook, so we were testing a recipe for ease and tastiness.

We started with INGREDIENTS.

Also, we started with BRIAN and INGREDIENTS.

As you can see, there are brussel sprouts, one of those butternut squashes that I always assumed were just for decoration, 2 kinds of cheese (Brian specified NOT the parm that comes in the green can and never expires), some spices, lemon, and wine for drinking. Also Brian made a "galette" the night before, which is a bready thing. The recipe is called "Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprout Galette," so it appears we have everything and are ready to start.

First up, chopping the decorative gourd.

One must chop carefully with the new sharp knife I got.

Look inside! It smelled like Hallowe'en in my kitchen.

Next, chopping brussel sprouts. I like the sprouts, but have oddly never cooked them before.

Brian started shredding the gruyere.

I guess we forgot to photograph all the steps. We steamed the sprouts, then dunked them in ice water to arrest the cooking process. I don't really have ice but some frosty Amstel Lights came in handy.
We mixed up the sprouts & squash in a bowl with some spices.

Mix mix mix.
Popped them in the oven for a spell.

And then took them out. Cooked!

Brian carefully unwrapped the galette that he had brought with him. It was a little frozen from the commute. Winter is cold!
Time to roll it out. I don't have a rolling pin, but Sapporo comes in hand. Never use Amstel for rolling galettes, the cans are too small. It's important to always use the correct tools in the kitchen.

Roll roll, mix mix.
See how the squashes and sprouts look different now that they've been in the oven? That's the science of cooking.
Mmmm, gruyere base for the galette.
And now some vegetables.

And top with parm.
Pinch pinch, like a baby.
Yum. And yet, not cooked yet.
Voila! Now it's cooked.
Cut it in half evenly, so there are no fights.

And, eat!
And eat and eat.
So now you know, that's what cookery with friends, and vegetables, is all about. And that's a delicious way to spend a Sunday evening.