It is...
"We Did All That We Could..."
Why not take the most pivotal line from every episode of a medical drama and build a whole series around it?
I guess a more proper title would be "We Did All That We Could to Save Him/Her/Your Son/Your Daughter/Your Puppy" but, come on.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Oh No Oh No -- I am watching TV.
See, I live in constant fear, CONSTANT FEAR of airplane crashes. Especially crashing into the sea, or river, as it were. Oh geeze. I won't be able to fly for weeks, or months.
I do like that I see lots of people on the floating slides right now. And people walking on the wings and getting on the boats.
Amazing that they had people there for the rescue so quickly...I guess they set the appointment up from the air.
What do you think the pilot told them before this "landing"?
The impression that I get that I like is that this is going to turn out okay-ish.
No wonder Emily doesn't want to live where Canadian Geese are.
Best Listen...
If there is a fourth season of Friday Night Lights it will be SO GOOD. If there is a fourth season of Friday Night Lights, you will punch your TV you will love it so much. And if last night's show was the series finale, I will accept that and move on, but listen to me: I would rather there be a fourth season of Friday Night Lights than there have been a fourth season of Arrested Development.
I mean it.
Additional Thoughts:
1) Landry is so awesome--I would love for him to get in a fight and say, "You need to realize that I have killed a man."
2) Tim Riggins is so awesome and he's just hilarious in this episode. "Where's my time, Billy?" Plus the steer. Geeze. I was cracking up.
3) It occurred to me today how great the actress is that plays Grandma Saracen. Or, better said, I realized this week that Grandma Saracen isn't a real person, which is almost impossible to believe.
4) This show has some villains and Season Four will be Good and Evil, Right and Wrong.
5) So Julie and Landry are juniors? That's my guess. That's an important lesson for TV shows with high school in them: never make it clear how old the characters are, then you can keep them or get rid of them as you please.
Friday Night Lights Season Three begins airing on NBC Friday night. Get your act together and start watching.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Best Call Me Crazy, But I Think This Might Be a Scam...
So, yes, I'm looking for an apartment. I was responding to a thousand craigslist postings, one of them included a $1400 two bedroom on 95th street. What? A little unbelievable, but I sent my typical craigslist response:
This apartment sounds great, I'd like to know more about it.
To which the poster responded (on the extremely unlikely chance that this isn't a total con, I've left out names and addresses):
Hello,
Just browsed my email address and saw your message. I hope you are still interested in viewing my apt. The apartment is still available. As I said also in my ad, the apt. is located on 70 W**t **th Street New York, NY 1**25. It is located on the 4th floor. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen and 1 living room. The apartment is furnished (you can see the furniture in the photos), but I can have all of it sent into storage if you want to bring your own. The apartment has an beautiful view. The neighbors are good people, and helpful if needed.
First of all I would like to tell you more about myself. I am the owner of the apartment, and want to find the right tenant. I'm 29 years old and I just got married here in Canada, and i am going to leave here for at least 4 years. I am a business woman ... I work for a company called Amway ( don't know if you have ever heard of it) and i just reached the highest rank (Diamond - a dream come true) and I earn about 11.000$/month.. So.. the apartment is free from 2 months (minimum) up to 4 years(maximum). I will come to the US only 3-4 times per year to visit my parents in Orlando FL and we can meet whenever you have an emergency and you need my help.
The rent for 1 month is $1,400 (for the whole apartment) including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator).
You can move in the apt. in the same day when you receive the keys and we sign the contract. I must tell you that I am only interested in serious tenants and that I will only close the deal face to face. I want to be sure that I have found the right person because I don't want to travel for nothing. So.. i want to close the deal face to face.
I would like to ask you some questions, such as... how long do you plan to stay in my apartment? Where do you work? Also please give me more information about yourself, anything that you might think I should know about (a picture would be nice).
Tomorrow i will ask my financial adviser to give me some piece of advice, because a week ago i traveled to New York to show my apartment to someone who seemed very interested ..But when i arrived ... He told me that he has only $1.100...and tried to negotiate the rent.. So he wasted my time and my money for nothing...
Once again thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Please tell me if this is what are you looking for and reply if you are truly interested in the apt.
Good luck,
C***y
P.S. Here are some more pictures of the apartment for you. Just click on the links below:
http://i40.tinypic.com/6og2yu.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/wqpite.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2zdw1h2.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/34g7i54.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/30rodhu.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/rsu9dy.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/1qhbox.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/2mmyiv.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/ztc5ug.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/10og0sm.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/34opmjp.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2n9ma6f.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/2jdkvoj.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/293ivmd.jpg
Have I heard of Amway?!
So...yeah. By then the original craigslist posting had been flagged and removed, but I was beginning to feel curious, anxious for the part of this exchange where the person tries to to get my money, so I responded:
C***y,
Is the price really $1,400? That's a pretty outrageous bargain for an
apartment like this in New York city, but I can live with it!
But anyway, I'm 31 and I'm an attorney. I'd be interested in a year
lease with a high likelihood of renewing. I would love to see that
apartment sometime soon, right now my schedule is quite flexible.
Thanks for getting back to me,
Brigham
Check out the response, it's a total jackpot!
Hi again,
Thank you for your reply. I'm very glad to hear that you are
interested in my apartment. Sorry for the delay, but i am very busy with my
job. So... As I have informed you before, the price you will pay for one month
of rent will be US $1,400. I want to receive the monthly rent to my bank
account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank
account. The apartment is ready for you, you will only need to receive the
keys and the contract.
Obviously we need a way to complete this deal, that will allow us to make
sure we receive what we are after. My financial adviser found a way for us to
complete the deal safe and fast. I am proposing something: I can come to New
York for a few days if I am sure that I have found the right person
because I
do not want to make the trip for nothing, like I said, I have a lot of work to
do here.
Here is what we can do:
- You can do a Money Gram transfer of $1,400. You will be the receiver and
someone you know and trust will be the sender.. Hope you understand..
(mother/father, brother, sister ...) You will be the receiver in the Money Gram
transfer and only you can pick up the money. I will call and check if the
transfer really exist so i can make sure that you have the money... There is a
small fee for transferring the money, but in case you agree to continue, I will
be more than happy to give you the amount paid by you back so don't worry
about this. Sorry for being so skeptical, but i had some bad experiences in the
past.. Hope you understand my situation...
- After you have done the transfer you will let me know and I will call
MoneyGram to check it. If they confirm that everything is ok, I
will come to
meet and show you the apartment. We will then discuss more about the furniture
(if you like to keep it or not) how you will send me the monthly rent and stuff
like that... After you inspect the apartment and sign the contract you can go
at a MoneyGram office and pick up the money and pay me the first month rent. I
don't want to come for nothing so I think this is fair for both of us.
I am sure that you understand that I don't want to travel so many miles
for nothing.
So let me know if this is ok for you and if you still want the apartment.
Also please think when would it be best for you to meet me at the apartment
building, let's schedule a meeting if you accept my proposal, I must know
in advance so I can take care of some things here before I come and meet you.
Waiting for your reply,
C***y
Okay, let's have a vote: What should I do next?
This apartment sounds great, I'd like to know more about it.
To which the poster responded (on the extremely unlikely chance that this isn't a total con, I've left out names and addresses):
Hello,
Just browsed my email address and saw your message. I hope you are still interested in viewing my apt. The apartment is still available. As I said also in my ad, the apt. is located on 70 W**t **th Street New York, NY 1**25. It is located on the 4th floor. It has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen and 1 living room. The apartment is furnished (you can see the furniture in the photos), but I can have all of it sent into storage if you want to bring your own. The apartment has an beautiful view. The neighbors are good people, and helpful if needed.
First of all I would like to tell you more about myself. I am the owner of the apartment, and want to find the right tenant. I'm 29 years old and I just got married here in Canada, and i am going to leave here for at least 4 years. I am a business woman ... I work for a company called Amway ( don't know if you have ever heard of it) and i just reached the highest rank (Diamond - a dream come true) and I earn about 11.000$/month.. So.. the apartment is free from 2 months (minimum) up to 4 years(maximum). I will come to the US only 3-4 times per year to visit my parents in Orlando FL and we can meet whenever you have an emergency and you need my help.
The rent for 1 month is $1,400 (for the whole apartment) including all utilities (water, electricity, Internet, cable, parking, air conditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage disposal, microwave, refrigerator).
You can move in the apt. in the same day when you receive the keys and we sign the contract. I must tell you that I am only interested in serious tenants and that I will only close the deal face to face. I want to be sure that I have found the right person because I don't want to travel for nothing. So.. i want to close the deal face to face.
I would like to ask you some questions, such as... how long do you plan to stay in my apartment? Where do you work? Also please give me more information about yourself, anything that you might think I should know about (a picture would be nice).
Tomorrow i will ask my financial adviser to give me some piece of advice, because a week ago i traveled to New York to show my apartment to someone who seemed very interested ..But when i arrived ... He told me that he has only $1.100...and tried to negotiate the rent.. So he wasted my time and my money for nothing...
Once again thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Please tell me if this is what are you looking for and reply if you are truly interested in the apt.
Good luck,
C***y
P.S. Here are some more pictures of the apartment for you. Just click on the links below:
http://i40.tinypic.com/6og2yu.
http://i42.tinypic.com/wqpite.
http://i42.tinypic.com/
http://i43.tinypic.com/
http://i40.tinypic.com/
http://i41.tinypic.com/rsu9dy.
http://i40.tinypic.com/1qhbox.
http://i41.tinypic.com/2mmyiv.
http://i44.tinypic.com/ztc5ug.
http://i40.tinypic.com/
http://i44.tinypic.com/
http://i39.tinypic.com/
http://i41.tinypic.com/
http://i42.tinypic.com/
Have I heard of Amway?!
So...yeah. By then the original craigslist posting had been flagged and removed, but I was beginning to feel curious, anxious for the part of this exchange where the person tries to to get my money, so I responded:
C***y,
Is the price really $1,400? That's a pretty outrageous bargain for an
apartment like this in New York city, but I can live with it!
But anyway, I'm 31 and I'm an attorney. I'd be interested in a year
lease with a high likelihood of renewing. I would love to see that
apartment sometime soon, right now my schedule is quite flexible.
Thanks for getting back to me,
Brigham
Check out the response, it's a total jackpot!
Hi again,
Thank you for your reply. I'm very glad to hear that you are
interested in my apartment. Sorry for the delay, but i am very busy with my
job. So... As I have informed you before, the price you will pay for one month
of rent will be US $1,400. I want to receive the monthly rent to my bank
account, so I hope it will be no problem for you to wire the money to my bank
account. The apartment is ready for you, you will only need to receive the
keys and the contract.
Obviously we need a way to complete this deal, that will allow us to make
sure we receive what we are after. My financial adviser found a way for us to
complete the deal safe and fast. I am proposing something: I can come to New
York for a few days if I am sure that I have found the right person
because I
do not want to make the trip for nothing, like I said, I have a lot of work to
do here.
Here is what we can do:
- You can do a Money Gram transfer of $1,400. You will be the receiver and
someone you know and trust will be the sender.. Hope you understand..
(mother/father, brother, sister ...) You will be the receiver in the Money Gram
transfer and only you can pick up the money. I will call and check if the
transfer really exist so i can make sure that you have the money... There is a
small fee for transferring the money, but in case you agree to continue, I will
be more than happy to give you the amount paid by you back so don't worry
about this. Sorry for being so skeptical, but i had some bad experiences in the
past.. Hope you understand my situation...
- After you have done the transfer you will let me know and I will call
MoneyGram to check it. If they confirm that everything is ok, I
will come to
meet and show you the apartment. We will then discuss more about the furniture
(if you like to keep it or not) how you will send me the monthly rent and stuff
like that... After you inspect the apartment and sign the contract you can go
at a MoneyGram office and pick up the money and pay me the first month rent. I
don't want to come for nothing so I think this is fair for both of us.
I am sure that you understand that I don't want to travel so many miles
for nothing.
So let me know if this is ok for you and if you still want the apartment.
Also please think when would it be best for you to meet me at the apartment
building, let's schedule a meeting if you accept my proposal, I must know
in advance so I can take care of some things here before I come and meet you.
Waiting for your reply,
C***y
Okay, let's have a vote: What should I do next?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Best We are Mighty Warriors
For the first time in too long, Collin, Jared, Jeff and I convened at La Casa for some tacos Friday night. We ordered healthily, ate, and found ourselves still besieged by hunger--so a second round of dinner was ordered. Hmmm...still hungry. Third round was ordered and consumed. A sense of decorum and decency kept me from ordering a fourth round, but let it be known that Jared and I both left hungry.
Behold, the record of our battle...
In round two, Jared and I split a Torta Cubana. What a noble and beautiful pile of death it is.
Behold, the record of our battle...
In round two, Jared and I split a Torta Cubana. What a noble and beautiful pile of death it is.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Best Is it Just Me...
Or does this drawing look just like my former hometeaching companion Mike?
Saw it tonight at the Elizabeth Peyton show at the New Museum (yes, I finally went [oh, and sorry Todd, I didn't really like the Mary Heilmann stuff]), turns out it's supposed to be a young Walt Whitman?
Okay, whatever you say.
But seriously, doesn't this look just like Mike? Cover the left side of his face and do NOT tell me that the right side doesn't look just like Mike.
Saw it tonight at the Elizabeth Peyton show at the New Museum (yes, I finally went [oh, and sorry Todd, I didn't really like the Mary Heilmann stuff]), turns out it's supposed to be a young Walt Whitman?
Okay, whatever you say.
But seriously, doesn't this look just like Mike? Cover the left side of his face and do NOT tell me that the right side doesn't look just like Mike.
Best You vs. Me
Tonight you watched the college national football championships, I watched the Texas high school state football championship.
I've never so almost-sobbed over a TV show like I just did now.
Texas forever.
I've never so almost-sobbed over a TV show like I just did now.Texas forever.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Best of 2008: Some of Them
As far as I can remember, this is something I have never done here that you totally think I would have--produced some sort of list of best things of the year. Well, here we go, I've got some Bests for you. Not a whole lot, and not very comprehensive, but it's content nonetheless.
Best Band I Never Listened to Until 2008: The Misfits
Big discovery, the Misfits aren't to be known just for their famous logo--they're also a really, really good band. I would have never guessed! Very good document review music, definitely not the sound I had been expecting. 90% of the credit goes to Glenn Danzig's voice...am I nuts when I say he practically sounds doo-whoppy on most of the songs? When a band has been this popular for so long and so closely associated with so much of the music that I love and I've absolutely been neglecting them my whole life I can't help but wonder who else I've still got to learn about and love. Maybe 2009 will be the year I begin listening to Black Flag? Could be.
Favorite Misfits Songs: The ones that spring to mind--Skulls, Where Eagles Dare (quite possibly the best lyrics to a song since Youngblood by the Headcoats), Teenagers from Mars, Die Die My Darling. Mention one I didn't and I'm sure to agree with you.
Best TV Show I've Been Ignoring until 2008: The Venture Brothers
As of a few months ago I had a rule for Adult Swim, I wouldn't watch any shows on it that were drawn well. This meant a strict boycott of Metalocalypse, a few other shows, and the Venture Brothers. But then they started playing Venture Brothers reruns every night right around the time I'd turn the TV just before bed and I realized I had been living by a very stupid rule.
On its face, the Venture Brothers is supposed to be a spoof of Johnny Quest but what it really is is a totally awesome, totally involving work of semi-genius, but you have to watch a lot of it. The way I remember it, I was only entertained by the show for the first season, but by the second season I began to consider it a legitimate piece of proper science fiction entertainment with an involving and evolving universe. Sort of reminded me of the comic book series Invincible as they're both about crafting an involved world full of interesting main characters and a large supporting cast with lots of backstory and a direction that everything is headed in . . . except I think the Invincible universe is yawners and the Venture Brothers universe is intriguing, even if it's jokey.
If any show deserved a dozen spin-offs, it's this one.
Favorite Venture Brothers Supporting Castmember
Dr. Henry Killinger.
Runner Up:
Sgt. Hatred
Favorite Book of 2008: Against the Day
I spent the majority of my year reading this enormous book, and when I finished it I worried that the endeavor would be without benefit . . . I would have conquered the latest Pynchon novel, but so what? This monster isn't headed to the Halls of Man's Greatest Literature and I won't encounter too many other people who have read it so, man, the investment leaves you feeling slightly empty. Or so I thought. Now that it's been about five months since I read this book I've realized something--I really miss it. I miss having this huge book that never ends that I'm always reading that's full of so many characters and so many plotlines. I miss the characters, I wonder what became of them, I wonder what they're up to. I sometimes find myself trying to remember pieces of the plot and its various curiosities. I've read a good number of books since this one, some plenty good, but they all (except for Don Quixote, of course) seemed a bit trifling when compared to all Against the Day had to offer. This longing lead me to dig through some boxes while at home in Chicago to find the used copy of Mason & Dixon I bought several years back for future use. 2009 might be the future use it was prepared for. Sure, it's 300 pages shorter than Against the Day, but it's written entirely in an antiquated vernacular. There should be some sport in it. Plus, it's sort of well-regarded, so maybe it'll come up at more parties.
Best Movies of 2008: A Weird Trend
My favorite movies of 2008 weren't Speed Racer and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but I did really like both of them, which apparently leaves me in the minority as both were ravaged by critics and fell flat in the box office. Funny thing is, I've never met anyone who saw Speed Racer that didn't like it (a lot) AND the only two other people I've met that saw the Clone Wars liked it, too.
I reviewed Speed Racer when I saw it, so let me give you this little Clone Wars review: I had no problems with anything in this movie and if I were a kid it would have made me go bananas.
And you know what's good about the Clone Wars cartoon on TV, from what I can tell? It has Jar Jar on it. I sort of didn't like how he had totally disappeared by Episode III, I don't like seeing George retreat like that.
Favorite Movies of 2008
Well, the ones that left me the most excited were Cloverfield and the Dark Knight. But if you talk to me now about the Dark Knight now I'll just talk to you about how I don't think it's a real superhero movie and, while Heath Ledger's villain was pretty cool, I don't know that he was playing the Joker. HOWEVER, if you talk to me about Cloverfield now I'll still be real amped about it. So maybe Cloverfield was my favorite movie of 2008?
Favorite Restaurant of 2008
hmmmm . . . nope, nothing comes to mind.
Best Band I Never Listened to Until 2008: The Misfits
Big discovery, the Misfits aren't to be known just for their famous logo--they're also a really, really good band. I would have never guessed! Very good document review music, definitely not the sound I had been expecting. 90% of the credit goes to Glenn Danzig's voice...am I nuts when I say he practically sounds doo-whoppy on most of the songs? When a band has been this popular for so long and so closely associated with so much of the music that I love and I've absolutely been neglecting them my whole life I can't help but wonder who else I've still got to learn about and love. Maybe 2009 will be the year I begin listening to Black Flag? Could be.
Favorite Misfits Songs: The ones that spring to mind--Skulls, Where Eagles Dare (quite possibly the best lyrics to a song since Youngblood by the Headcoats), Teenagers from Mars, Die Die My Darling. Mention one I didn't and I'm sure to agree with you.
Best TV Show I've Been Ignoring until 2008: The Venture Brothers
As of a few months ago I had a rule for Adult Swim, I wouldn't watch any shows on it that were drawn well. This meant a strict boycott of Metalocalypse, a few other shows, and the Venture Brothers. But then they started playing Venture Brothers reruns every night right around the time I'd turn the TV just before bed and I realized I had been living by a very stupid rule.
On its face, the Venture Brothers is supposed to be a spoof of Johnny Quest but what it really is is a totally awesome, totally involving work of semi-genius, but you have to watch a lot of it. The way I remember it, I was only entertained by the show for the first season, but by the second season I began to consider it a legitimate piece of proper science fiction entertainment with an involving and evolving universe. Sort of reminded me of the comic book series Invincible as they're both about crafting an involved world full of interesting main characters and a large supporting cast with lots of backstory and a direction that everything is headed in . . . except I think the Invincible universe is yawners and the Venture Brothers universe is intriguing, even if it's jokey.
If any show deserved a dozen spin-offs, it's this one.
Favorite Venture Brothers Supporting Castmember
Dr. Henry Killinger.
Runner Up:
Sgt. Hatred
Favorite Book of 2008: Against the Day
I spent the majority of my year reading this enormous book, and when I finished it I worried that the endeavor would be without benefit . . . I would have conquered the latest Pynchon novel, but so what? This monster isn't headed to the Halls of Man's Greatest Literature and I won't encounter too many other people who have read it so, man, the investment leaves you feeling slightly empty. Or so I thought. Now that it's been about five months since I read this book I've realized something--I really miss it. I miss having this huge book that never ends that I'm always reading that's full of so many characters and so many plotlines. I miss the characters, I wonder what became of them, I wonder what they're up to. I sometimes find myself trying to remember pieces of the plot and its various curiosities. I've read a good number of books since this one, some plenty good, but they all (except for Don Quixote, of course) seemed a bit trifling when compared to all Against the Day had to offer. This longing lead me to dig through some boxes while at home in Chicago to find the used copy of Mason & Dixon I bought several years back for future use. 2009 might be the future use it was prepared for. Sure, it's 300 pages shorter than Against the Day, but it's written entirely in an antiquated vernacular. There should be some sport in it. Plus, it's sort of well-regarded, so maybe it'll come up at more parties.
Best Movies of 2008: A Weird Trend
My favorite movies of 2008 weren't Speed Racer and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but I did really like both of them, which apparently leaves me in the minority as both were ravaged by critics and fell flat in the box office. Funny thing is, I've never met anyone who saw Speed Racer that didn't like it (a lot) AND the only two other people I've met that saw the Clone Wars liked it, too.
I reviewed Speed Racer when I saw it, so let me give you this little Clone Wars review: I had no problems with anything in this movie and if I were a kid it would have made me go bananas.
And you know what's good about the Clone Wars cartoon on TV, from what I can tell? It has Jar Jar on it. I sort of didn't like how he had totally disappeared by Episode III, I don't like seeing George retreat like that.
Favorite Movies of 2008
Well, the ones that left me the most excited were Cloverfield and the Dark Knight. But if you talk to me now about the Dark Knight now I'll just talk to you about how I don't think it's a real superhero movie and, while Heath Ledger's villain was pretty cool, I don't know that he was playing the Joker. HOWEVER, if you talk to me about Cloverfield now I'll still be real amped about it. So maybe Cloverfield was my favorite movie of 2008?
Favorite Restaurant of 2008
hmmmm . . . nope, nothing comes to mind.
Best Really What I Should Do Is Post This Sort of Thing on Tumblr
I watched the Bachelor season premiere the other night . . . social circumstances made this happen. I wasn't familiar with our hero's plight, poor Jason, they really make it look like he's been through the wringer. I think he's a comically perfect caricature of the generic formula for the perfect modern man. Watching the Bachelor just makes me wonder about all the behind the scenes stuff AND wonder how this guy can keep a straight face with some of the bachelorette's when they first introduce themselves to him. Good social television, though. But not as good as "Gay, Straight, or Taken" on Lifetime, another Monday night discovery.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Best All Movie Trailers Should Be Like This
A straightforward trailer for a movie with a straightforward title:
Japan. You're still amazing.
Japan. You're still amazing.
Best Totally Neat Real Estate Item
The South Kensington house where JM Barrie may have written Peter Pan (but he definitely did live there) is for sale (and has been for at least a year).
The Listing.
An article.
You really ought to click that Listing link because there's lots of pictures on the inside and you'll like them.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Best Let's Finish Talking About Christmastime in Chicago
Like I said just last night, there are two more things I wanted to talk about from Christmastime in Chicago.
First, I made dinner on Sunday.
Owen was my assistant chef, he did a great job. Things got pretty hectic in the kitchen, but he always kept a cool head. Here he slices apples for our apple, bacon, and spicy nut salad...terrible news, though: I didn't get a picture of the finished product! Can you imagine a bunch of apple slices tossed with bacon, lime juice, bacon fat, and spicy nuts? Ok, good. You just imagined the finished salad.
Our main course was ribeye steak after the manner of a Momofuku recipe. Here are the dear pieces of meat (not deer pieces) before their adventure to deliciousness began.
First I seared them up and then the pots (because we didn't have a big enough frying pan) went into the oven for a few minutes.
Then the steaks received a mighty basting in a bath of butter, garlic, and shallots.
And then they sat and took it easy for a while...that's a vital step in cooking steak, that you let it just take it easy for a while. It's just been through a lot, you know? Especially considering how recently it was eating grass, right?
Another side: a certain famous Brussels sprouts dish.
Dinner time!
I think dinner was a success because Grandma was still talking about it the next morning.
Bonus item: Monday Lunch, Johnnie's, of course.
Monday night the Mulcocks, who are now Evanstonians, came with us for dinner at Las Fuentes. Excellent.
Some Barneses, anxious to make sure the Mulcocks are enjoying their first trip to our favorite Chicagoland restaurant.
I had the stuffed chickenbreast, I had never had it before. Also, the nine of us ate five plates of nachos. That's a new record.
Okay, pretty much I've told you all the real important stuff about Christmastime in Chicago now.
First, I made dinner on Sunday.
Owen was my assistant chef, he did a great job. Things got pretty hectic in the kitchen, but he always kept a cool head. Here he slices apples for our apple, bacon, and spicy nut salad...terrible news, though: I didn't get a picture of the finished product! Can you imagine a bunch of apple slices tossed with bacon, lime juice, bacon fat, and spicy nuts? Ok, good. You just imagined the finished salad.
Our main course was ribeye steak after the manner of a Momofuku recipe. Here are the dear pieces of meat (not deer pieces) before their adventure to deliciousness began.
First I seared them up and then the pots (because we didn't have a big enough frying pan) went into the oven for a few minutes.
Then the steaks received a mighty basting in a bath of butter, garlic, and shallots.
And then they sat and took it easy for a while...that's a vital step in cooking steak, that you let it just take it easy for a while. It's just been through a lot, you know? Especially considering how recently it was eating grass, right?
Another side: a certain famous Brussels sprouts dish.
Dinner time!
I think dinner was a success because Grandma was still talking about it the next morning.Bonus item: Monday Lunch, Johnnie's, of course.
Monday night the Mulcocks, who are now Evanstonians, came with us for dinner at Las Fuentes. Excellent.
Some Barneses, anxious to make sure the Mulcocks are enjoying their first trip to our favorite Chicagoland restaurant.
I had the stuffed chickenbreast, I had never had it before. Also, the nine of us ate five plates of nachos. That's a new record.
Okay, pretty much I've told you all the real important stuff about Christmastime in Chicago now.
Best Let's Talk About Christmas in Chicago
So I went home to Chicago for Christmastime. I'll be headed back to New York in a couple of hours, so why not blog it all now, right?
The really cool thing about Christmastime in Chicago this year was that Grandma Barnes came out for it, too. This took a lot of the heat off of me as I didn't have to be the center of attention and everyone's favorite this time.
For lunch on Christmas Eve we went to Heaven on Seven, which I hadn't been to for so long.
Sea scallops in an oxtail jerk sauce, yo.
The traditional Christmas Eve reading of the Christmas story...
Drove around looking at the lights in River Forest,
One house by the forest preserve had two enormous deer, practically elk, on its lawn. One appeared to be working on laying an elk egg.
Our alley, time-lapsed.
Christmas Day: No pictures. Figures. Let's not be materialistic.
Christmas Day Night I saw this Pueblan place, "Cemitas Puebla", on the Food Network. It looked pretty awesome and I've learned a lot from Dave about cemitas and tacos arabes, so I took my brothers and dad to check it out.
Of course, lots of other people saw it on TV the night before, so it was packed and we waited a LONG time for our food.
Portraits of waiters...
That's the line that went out the door behind Dad.
Dad got pretty sick of waiting and eventually got his binoculars out (we probably had to wait an hour for our little lunch).
Cemita atomica, deconstructed. The verdict? The food was fine, no better than Los Portales in Queens. Not worth the wait, not worth the struggle. But when we left at 2'ish they had closed down and were turning people away from the door because they had run out of food. So that's what the Food Network will do for you if you're a little neighborhood taco stand.
That night I caught the dog wandering around on the second floor...this both never happens and is also not allowed. Sorry, Kelsi.
Meanwhile, the cat worried about his weight.
More later. (it will involve me cooking on Sunday and the Mulcocks visiting on Monday)
The really cool thing about Christmastime in Chicago this year was that Grandma Barnes came out for it, too. This took a lot of the heat off of me as I didn't have to be the center of attention and everyone's favorite this time.
For lunch on Christmas Eve we went to Heaven on Seven, which I hadn't been to for so long.
Sea scallops in an oxtail jerk sauce, yo.
The traditional Christmas Eve reading of the Christmas story...
Drove around looking at the lights in River Forest,
One house by the forest preserve had two enormous deer, practically elk, on its lawn. One appeared to be working on laying an elk egg.
Our alley, time-lapsed.
Christmas Day: No pictures. Figures. Let's not be materialistic.Christmas Day Night I saw this Pueblan place, "Cemitas Puebla", on the Food Network. It looked pretty awesome and I've learned a lot from Dave about cemitas and tacos arabes, so I took my brothers and dad to check it out.
Of course, lots of other people saw it on TV the night before, so it was packed and we waited a LONG time for our food.
Portraits of waiters...
That's the line that went out the door behind Dad.
Dad got pretty sick of waiting and eventually got his binoculars out (we probably had to wait an hour for our little lunch).
Cemita atomica, deconstructed. The verdict? The food was fine, no better than Los Portales in Queens. Not worth the wait, not worth the struggle. But when we left at 2'ish they had closed down and were turning people away from the door because they had run out of food. So that's what the Food Network will do for you if you're a little neighborhood taco stand.
That night I caught the dog wandering around on the second floor...this both never happens and is also not allowed. Sorry, Kelsi.
Meanwhile, the cat worried about his weight.
More later. (it will involve me cooking on Sunday and the Mulcocks visiting on Monday)
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