Food and stuff

Meant to write this yesterday, ran out of time.

I was recently feeling all boo-hoo for us, that there seem to be a spate of interesting, delicious, new restaurants (and actually, some not new at all, that I continually drive past thinking "We have to try that place some time" but never think about when we ponder where we should go for dinner) that we hear great things about but don't go to, either feeling handicapped by kids, disposable income, or whatever reason. Finally, we got to try the lunch spot that everyone seems to love, Süp. Very delicious, as expected. A bit chaotic, felt a little pretentious, but in the end, the food was great and that's what matters.

Also on our list of places we simply must try sometime: Zagol, El Pescador, and La Fuente.

I also failed to mention here, our little beer tasting get-together here last weekend. Turi did a fine job of describing and documenting, so I'll defer to his already-posted review. He didn't mention the fabulous edibles that Morgan (and with a tiny bit of help from me) came up with to complement the beer - Arrogant Bastard chili (amazingly delicious), Sam Adams Brown Ale bread, Old Rasputin bread, and Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout mocha freezes for dessert.

Speaking of eating, we had dinner at Jack's last night. Good time visiting with their little one who's a week younger than Sid. In doing so, I remembered some photos I've been meaning to post, a series of sorts:









Happy weekend, everyone.

Upgrade time!

As opposed to update time, whereupon I actually post some new content, this time it's all about the tech. Wordpress, Gallery2, all plugins. Everything around here has the newest, best version of its respective software as of a few days ago. Cool new feature: you can now send any photos from the photo gallery as an e-card. Sweet! And RSS feeds there as well for you readers that do RSS feeds.

And I guess, as long as I'm here, I can post something more. We have collectively upgraded our coffee-drinking experience around the Tiar house. Or at least we will once Amazon delivers the goods. We'll be the proud owners of a larger-capacity French press and a hotshot burr grinder here in a few more days. The anticipation is so thick I can hardly stand it. (And, wow, hot-damn...when I grabbed the link to the French press, I see the price doubled sometime after we ordered it. Must have been a mistake, they're $40 everywhere, we paid $20. WE ROCK!)

James Taylor

Lola picked out a DVD (okay, I did) at the library. Sing Yourself Silly is so much fun. First, we stumbled across Ladybug Picnic. My mom sings this to the kids, finally found it on You Tube and Lola wouldn't stop asking to see it. Even Sid starts to yell when it comes on. I think it is also how Lola started using the mouse pad on the laptop. I came home from work one day to find Lola sitting on the side of the rocking chair, saying,"watch this Momma," and then Ladybug Picnic blasting so loud that I wasn't surprised when she loudly said, "What!?!?" when I asked what she was doing and why it was so loud. By the way, Gigi is sitting right there in the rocking chair. Apparently this had been going on a while. Marc said it was on when he came home at 1 and I don't get home until after 4:30pm. Yikes.

Back to the DVD. There is a wonderful song Jelly Man Kelly done by James Taylor. I love it. It is catchy, cute and there are all these kids that sing a long with him. He wrote it off of a poem that his daughter wrote in school. And he is hot in a 70's rock star kind of way. So one morning, Lola and I are enjoying a little James when I notice that he has these pretty long yucky nails. "Really?" I think to myself. So I rewind and have Marc look. I was kinda put off. They are pretty long and thick. I am not one that should judge fingernails, as I have been a biter since second grade when I observed Erin Wheelock doing this very thing. I have never been able to quit despite my mother's numerous attempts with hot sauce, rubber-bands, and continuous swatting. But long nails on men are just gross. I like them clipped and short. Heck, I wouldn't even frown upon some bitten down nails. But not James Taylor. This guy has long nails.

So this morning I decided to do a little research to see if anyone else had noticed. I found this quote by James himself: "My style of playing is evolved around hymns ... mostly I think hymns and Woody Guthrie. A few Christmas carols. But it's the thumb. I use the thumb (emphasizes the word 'thumb') (L) and the hands that are attached to my arms ... the thumb and these three fingers. For a while there I was breaking fingernails regularly and I had these artificial nails put on. But some of you may do that I don't know. Do any of you use those nails? Well, they're interesting. It's hard to get them to believe you. You say what you want just play the guitar (L). But there's something inherently evil about them. It is epoxying something to your fingertips. You have power." Transcript of James Taylor Workshop At A&R Studios - circa 1976 or 1977

Huh. I never would have thought. Then again, I have never played a guitar. This explains it all. Love him - long nails and all!!

I'm that old?

I was watching the Teen Tournament on Jeopardy the other night. The category was Really Old Movies. Two of the questions were, "What is E.T.?" and "What is Goonies?" I do realize this was a "teen" game, but am I "really old?"

Chris Morgan 1924-2008

The kids and I headed with my mom, Aunt Patty and Paige to my Aunt Chris's funeral in the bay area at the end of last week. She was 83 and went peacefully with her family around her. It was wonderful to be able to go. I saw a lot of family that I haven't seen in a while. It is always hard to say good-bye, but it is really nice that it brings us all together.

My Uncle Dick (her husband) died when I was young - I think about 20 years ago. I vaguely remember him. But I knew my Aunt Chris. She always remembered who I was (we have a huge family) and was kind-hearted, wise, and jovial. She and my uncle had 8 children and many grandchildren. She was a constant in Morgan family reunions. I can only think that she is having a grand reunion in heaven with Dick, Grandma Claire, Grandpa Ben, Gordy, Jerry, Joanne, and many other Morgans that have passed on. Probably siting back laughing, smoking Chesterfields, drinking J&B, and maybe even playing a little cards. Cheers to all of you!



My Aunt Chris (right) with Aunt Ollie. Morgan Family Reunion 2005.

Update time!

Apologies for the lack of action around here. Work has been an incredible stressor lately as we migrated to a new computer system. Seriously, in my 18+ years working there, I've never been this busy, exhausted at the end of most days, and stressed out. I feel like it's getting a little better each day though. Morgan reports the same from her branch. At least I've got a new coffeemonger in the neighborhood to help me cope.

So, on to some updates. Not only do we now have a fancy contact form around here for easy, um, contact (sans spambots thieving email address), but we've got new pictures of Lola, Sid, sledding day, and a video of Lola and I sledding (low quality/2MB version, hi quality/12MB version)

Besides sledding, recent activities include a Foo Fighters concert, crying it out with Sid, and well, that's about it I suppose. No major crises or catastrophes, no major purchases or acquisitions, just average February I guess.

Almost forgot, a new Lola video to behold. Crazy girl.

Shhhhh. It's a secret.

I love Post Secret. I try and share it with everyone that hasn't heard of it. They have a few books out and post new secrets to the website every Sunday. This week was a Valentine or love theme. It was great. So for all of you readers, I share: Post Secret.