Cooking Is So Personal…Even More Than Sex

An article about Polish sauerkraut stew  by Alex Witchel caught my eye on NY Times.com. The opening line reads,

“IT is hard for me to cook for people I don’t like. I don’t have to do it often, but when I do, I find it a torment because cooking is so personal, so revealing. Even more than sex, I think.

You can have a perfectly good one-night stand, be greatly entertained, and still not know the other person when it’s done. But once someone cooks for you, it’s almost impossible not to discover who that person is.”

Well, there you have it!  Those of us who love to cook put their hearts and souls into the effort, it is so true! Although, I’d never thought about how much what I cook reveals about me.

But, now that I think about it, yes, indeed! For me, cooking is a very personal experience. And, when I have people into my home for a meal I’ve prepared, I do think very, very carefully…what my guests will like, how things will blend on the plate and over the course of the meal, what do I feel like making, how much will I spend preparing are all considerations.

Of course, the more important my guests are to me, the more energy and expense I put into the meal…do I buy the hummus or make it from scratch, do I soak beans for the chili or use canned ones, do I bake a 2-day bread or a 1-day bread, do I run to the free-range chicken farm or use A&P’s brand?  

So next time you’re invited to dine at someone’s house, take notice, even it you’re not a foodie. What is your host(ess) telling you?

Worth Thousand Words

Check out Dan Pak’s new photo site – WorthThousandWords…beautiful, beautiful photos.

Snow…At Last!

Finally, we have a REAL snowfall….not ice or rain or some combination (at least not so far.) It’s just silently snowing in earnest. The trees are loaded with fluffiness that looks like white cotton candy.

 I went out earlier to fill my birdfeeders.  The only things marring the newly fallen snow were the imprints of thousands of bird feet. It’s ironic, isn’t it? I forgot how much time birds actually spend on the ground. 

Here’s one of the female cardinals that was enjoying herself at my bird feeder.

 

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Here’s Stan blowing out his birthday candles. He’s now “caught up” to Sally…at least until September when she marks her next milestone.

I actually made him blow them out twice so that I could get a good photo! In this one he looks remarkably Reaganesque, don’t you think?

All That Jazz Update

Steve was able to discover that the track on Tyler’s favorite commerical is an original composition by Chris Beaty and Thad Spencer. More googling reveals that they are film score composers who have worked as part of a team known as Asche and Spencer on the scores of Monster’s Ball and Stay. Here’s some information about Monster’s Ball, which, by the way, counted Heath Ledger among the cast…sigh, so sad.

Asche and Spencer are on iTunes and amazon for the film scores, but I couldn’t find anything with Beaty and Spencer alone.

All That Jazz

My friends Jason and Val posed a question on their blog earlier this week. What is the tune on this commercial?

Since I never back away from an Internet search challenge, I decided to do some digging. I haven’t found out the source of the music yet, but I did find out more about the commercial and in the process uncovered a couple of cool things.

This commercial spot is entitled “Escape Average” and was produced by Acme Filmworks and directed by a guy named Dave Wasson whose bio is here and portfolio is here. The spot was nominated for best animated TV commercial for the 2007 Annual Annie Awards, which will be presented on Feb 8 in Los Angeles. The Annie Awards honor the best in animation, both movie and TV.

I had never heard of the Annie Awards, but I think it’s pretty cool. There’s a lot more animation around than I realized before I started looking around. I guess I take them a little for granted.

But even cooler, when searching for information about Escape Average, I found something that said the commercial spot was done in the style of Saul Bass, a name unknown to me. Back to google, and here’s what I found.

 Saul Bass was a graphic designer and Academy-award winning filmmaker according to his wikipedia article. He is best known for his motion picture title sequences. Check it out. On the Saul Bass Web site is his filmography. He worked with some of the best…Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorcese, Otto Preminger. Some of his films include Psycho, Seven Year Itch, Good Fellas, North by Northwest, Cape Fear.

Pretty cool stuff. Watch a few of the videos on the Web site. I’ve often wondered about those opening sequences, but never took the time to dig into the details.

Back to the music, if anyone recognizes the jazz tune on Escape Average, please let me know. It reminds me a lot of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. You can hear George playing his music here.

Fast forward to the 21st century, I happened to be watching the Matt Savage Trio performing on Letterman this week…nice jazzy sound led, believe it or not, by a 15 year old. The music also reminded me of Gershwin, but a little more hip.  Check it out.

Thanks to Tyler for liking this commercial and for Jason and Val writing about it. It’s led me on a little journey of discovery.

Blasts from the Past

As is a 16-year old’s wont, Ian was sitting here bored to tears trying to figure out what to do with his free time in the aftermath of his last mid-term this morning. So I asked him to split 3 large logs for me. (One needs a cozy fire when one is watching the upcoming Superbowl.)

The idea of splitting wood brought back to me memories of Monty Python’s Lumberjack Song, which was totally lost on the teenager, but very entertaining for me.

In an effort to get the teen to relate to something I remember to be very funny, I did some digging and, compliments of YouTube…voila…the Lumberjack Song AND the Dead Parrot bit!

 Of course, all this nostalgia was likely triggered because I had lunch today with a friend and former co-worker whom I haven’t seen in close to 10 years…blast from the past!

Where DOES the time go? It was great to catch up, Marty!!!

Legacy of Frisbees, Hula Hoops, and FUN

All you ultimate lovers, take note…I just saw an article on Yahoo! about Richard Knerr’s passing. He was one of the men who founded the Wham-O toy company which popularized the frisbee and the hula hoop.

 I learned a few interesting things in following the links of this story. Did you know that the frisbee started life as a tin pie plate that college students discovered could be tossed back and forth? Then a building inspector in Los Angeles created the first plastic disc and called it the Pluto Platter. That’s when Knerr and his partner at Wham-O, “Spud” Melin, bought the rights and trademarked the name Frisbee and the rest is history.

 According to the wikipedia, these guys also created the Superball, Silly String, and the Slip ‘N Slide….a legacy of fun.

Faceaccidents

Have you ever had a Faceaccident? One of my friends had a major Faceaccident when she indavertantly invited all 1000 contacts in her email address book to join Facebook. She didn’t realize that she’d even done this until she started getting replies from people who were thanking her for inviting her to Facebook.

We laughed about that one because ultimately Facebook is more fun with more friends. After all, what’s a social networking tool without a social network? Without that little software trick my friend would not likely be interacting with as many people. But the usability professional in me can’t help but feel a tiny bit outraged by the deceit.

 Then it happened to me yesterday when I indavertantly sent a Funwall post on Facebook not just to the one person I was trying to reach but to a group of people….argh!@!@!! Annoying, embarassing, perhaps, but ultimately harmless, I guess. Still, it would be nice if the folks who write these applications for Facebook could show a little more respect for the user.

Happy Introvert Day

Celebrate, celebrate…today is national Introvert Day!! I think I’m going to throw a party…NOT!

 In March 2003, I was liberated when I read  Jonathan Rauch’s article entitled “Caring for Your Introvert“  in The Atlantic Montly.  Finally, someone understood! The need for time alone every day, the craving for quiet conversations about feelings or ideas, the awkwardness of small talk at parties, the urge to scowl at pleasantries from well-intended people who are just trying to be nice…it all had a name AND it wasn’t an indication of something bad.

Then today, I found that article’s corollary on Yahoo! Happy Introvert Day to all you fellow introverts.

Happy New Year

Wow…where did 2007 go?  Is it really January 1, 2008? And, look it’s been weeks since my last post. But I’m resolved. I will keep up better in 2008!

For the record, here are my 2008 goals. I’m sorry if this sounds cliche, but if I don’t record them now I will forget what they were in 2 months. Then I won’t have any chance of achieving them.

1. Get back in touch with my lost network. When I prepared my Christmas cards this year, it hit me how many people I have in my address book (some have been there for over 15 years) with whom I’ve lost touch. I’m closing in on empty nester status when my child will, hopefully, no longer be the center of my daily life. That’s a gaping void which will need to be filled. Why not reconnect with friends and former co-workers?

2. Connect with new friends. Expand my online presence.

3. Keep writing. Write a book. Become published.

4. Finish up a few partially finished creative projects…stay focused.

5. Organize and catalog my old family photos. Frame the best ones and hang them up!

6. Learn how to use my new Nikon D40X. I want to learn how to take interesting portraits a la Annie Liebowitz and Anne Geddes and begin a collection of portraits of trees.

That should keep me pretty busy. Is it too ambitious? We’ll see…

Time Is A-Flying By

Is it really December already?? Is it me or is this year moving by at warp speed? I’m still feeling like it should be October and here we are in the holiday rush all over again. The good news is that it’s wintry outside. At least it feels like December.

 Ian and I were in Coudersport over the weekend. Deer hunting is a huge annual event in Pennsylvania, particularly among the Drabick clan. I load up the car with all manner of foodstuffs and materials for too many half-finished projects and, of course, Ian and his hunting gear, and head for the mountains.

My parents’ place is smack-dab in the middle of nowhere…no Internet, rotary dial phone service, spotty wireless service. It’s a fabulous break from the busy routine!

Mom fires up the woodburning stove. I cook, bake, read, sew, nap, watch movies, nap, shop, drink wine, cook, bake, nap….well you get the picture. In this case, more napping is DEFINITELY better. The endless feast takes on a life of its own.

One of the best features is the electric blanket on the bed. Wow, it’s like crawling into your own personal bun warmer.

Besides hunting, one of our favorite passtimes is playing pinochle. Dad can talk some serious trash, which never fails to rile up everyone. We’ve had some unbelieveably spirited, deal-’til-you-drop card games.

And then, reality hits. Suddenly, we’re heading east on Route 80…boo hoo!

Rant about Panasonic

Sorry to do this, but I can’t believe the stupidity!! I hate it when companies leave customer service to machines who can’t think or adjust to real-life situations. These automated systems are intended to speed things along, but frequently wind up slowing things down and exacerbating an already frustrating situation for the customer. And, being a usability analyst, it’s really annoying when their Web sites and their processes omit minor details…like the correct phone number or a precise instruction!

 I am fortunate enough to work for a corporation that allows me access to several employee purchase programs for partner companies. A while back, I set up such an account at the Panasonic Purchase Program site. Today, for kicks, I decided to check in to see what sort of specials they might be lining up for the holidays.

 Murphy was working against me because when I tried to log in, I mis-keyed and/or forgot my password, tried to recover it via their automated password recovery link, and somehow wound up very quickly  temporarily disabling my account. Ok. Fine…annoying but I can deal.

As you can see from the picture, the Web site instructed me to call the “Panasonic Sales Support Center.” After a minute or two of confusion I assumed that the number given previously for Customer Service was the number to call since there was no other contact info available anywhere else on the site.

I call the 800 number and begin speaking with a voice that announced that it was an automated assistant and that I could speak naturally. It asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, “Panasonic Sales Support Center.”

The courteous automated assistant then transfered me to a tech support center where the live person asked me for the model number of my phone…what???? When I explained what I wanted, she told me that I had been transferred to the wrong department and that I needed to  speak to the sales support center. She said she could transfer me and then gave me the number in case we got disconnect. Of course, this number was the number that I originally dialed.  At least she was able to transfer me and save me the trouble of redialing.

 What I didn’t expect was to be transferred back to the automated assistant. That was annoying. I tried again to explain to the assistant what I needed and, finally, gave up and pressed 0. This time I got another live body who gave me a different toll-free number because I needed to speak with the password assistance center…what the heck?? Why wouldn’t that number be the one posted on the Web site in the first place???

 I call this number, no assistant! Hoorah! But, the live body that answered that phone then proceeded to take my information and tell me she didn’t have the authorization to reset my password on the spot. But, not to worry, an email would be set to me. Ok, great!!

 Here’s the catch. She said that there’s a 48-hour turnaround time for those emails…so sometime tomorrow or so, I should get a notice that my email is reset…DID THEY REALLY WANT ME TO BUY SOMETHING OR WHAT????????

We Are Thankful for the Kitties

Here are some twins shots from Thanksgiving. In these photos, they are eating Aunt Denise’s homemade chocolate chip bagels, wearing sleep shirts they made at my house last weekend, and having fun with Grammy. Taylor’s shirt has a red kitty and Devon’s has the blue and purple kitty.

Those peace signs make convenient rabbit ears, don’t they?

Happy Thanksgiving

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, everyone. And, if you can, pay homage to  that classic Thanksgiving tale, Alice’s Restaurant with the “27 8×10 color glossy
pictures with the circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each
one explaining what each one was to be used as evidence against us” for having fun!

Thanksgiving Snow

 This was the scene here on Monday morning, just 2 days ago, snow covering the autumn leaves. Ian’s school had a delayed opening much to his delight and dismay because, although he was happy for the shortened school day, he wistfully wanted the day off…dream on and get over it!

 So now, two days later, the snow is gone. The rain that followed it is gone. At last, the sun is out, and tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I’m looking forward to the respite that the long weekend offers before the tumult that is December with its inevitable chaotic run up to Christmas.

Great Party Cat Girls

I told you about the birthday here. Well last Saturday was the big party at the playgym in Broomall, PA! This photo was taken at the party after the party. As you can see, we were having SOME fun! Me and the Pretty Kitties with their ever-present cat ears and the real kitty, Samson, posed for the camera.

Sammy is a truly extroverted cat who doesn’t like to miss a thing, anything, ever…no matter how much he is manhandled…and the girls love to jostle him about. Sammy has a sister Ellie, who is quite the introverted cat. We saw hide nor hair of her the whole time we visited.

This weekend, Aunt Denise, is hosting an additional birthday sleepover at her house. Yes, it’s very important to celebrate your birthday for AT LEAST a month! As I write, the Kitties are upstairs asleep with their cat ears atop their heads. Really, how could one possible sleep without them??

 We have tickets to see The Grinch tomorrow in NYC. But, alas, I think the stagehands and theatre producers have thwarted our fun…those grinches!!! We just might end up seeing Bee Movie instead…bzzzz.

The Whole Barb

Today is Barbara’s birthday!! Soooo we celebrated with a little sort-of surprise lunch. (I was the surprise. Can you beat that?? Valerie told Barbara that I was in a meeting and couldn’t attend, but, poof, there I was!)

You may recall my previous post about Barb. About 4 weeks ago, she heroically donated one of her kidneys to her brother who was suffering from a degenerative kidney disease. So for her birthday we restored her to “wholeness” with an Elsa Perretti “Bean” pendant. Now, indeed,  she has 2 kidneys once more.

Here we three muskateerettes (me, Barb, and Valerie) are at the lovely Vine Restaurant. The chef made this inspiring Happy Birthday dessert plate in Barbara’s honor!

Prrrrr…Peace…Prrrrr

On this day in 1999, my favorite cat nieces entered my world. Eager as they were to begin their new journey, they refused to wait one minute longer despite their mother and father’s consternation. We’ve all been running to keep up with them ever since.

I theorize that they may be reincarnated from a previous life as lithe, sleek cats, so much do they love, love, love kitties of all kinds. Here they are in their Halloween costumes…tigresses for peace, of course! That’s Devon on the left and Taylor on the right.

Happy Birthday, my pretty kitties!

Melonie Marano Is The Best Choice

I don’t often jump into the political fray, but if you live in Somerset County, NJ, take note now. Melonie Marano is running for county freeholder, and I’m recommending that you vote for her on November 6.

I’ve known Melonie since 2004 when I became actively involved with the Green Brook Education Foundation. Those years I led the foundation board were far from easy. We faced a seemingly uphill battle to force the synapses in the wizened brains of long time township residents to connect in new ways and to take a fresh look at how to raise money for our schools.

Fundraising for even the noblest cause is never a cakewalk, at least not in the beginning.  Establishing credibility for a new organization, educating the population on a new concept, garnering involvment for new activities, using only the meager resources of a few diehard, but already overloaded volunteers, takes guts, a thick skin and a boat-load of energy, even if the money raised in the process has an immediate and visible impact on the local community with little-to-no overhead. 

 Melonie, however, responded with her characteristic generosity of spirit and unwavering support. She was ever present at golf outings, galas, 5K runs, performing arts productions, pitching in as needed in whatever capacity was needed. But most importantly, Melonie grasped the significance of the foundation’s cause and became an advocate, a cheerleader, and a friend.

I’ve since stood side-by-side with Mel and her family as we manhandled the stuffing into pierogies at the St. Nicholas Church, observing how her affable demeanor and reassuring smile just naturally bring people together. I’ve watched her fight her own uphill battle as the lone Democrat on the Green Brook township committee, daring to buck the status quo to champion change and reform. 

More than any other elected township official, Melonie has fostered a sense of real community in our town. Through her unflagging efforts she revived the Cultural, Heritage and Historic Preservation Committee, led us in a celebration of our humble past, secured an historic house for our future, and reminded us to stand tall and take pride in the place that our kids will call their hometown.

No matter your political leanings, make your choice for Melonie Marano, the candidate who is most apt and best suited to fill the role of freeholder for our county, the candidate whose every action effects change, the candidate who cares most about you.

Read more about what Melonie has to say here.