Sometimes things just are not serious enough

Hello wonderful readers,

So I have had this blog for awhile now. And like a total of 5 people read it.
Well, I remember when I was blogging here - ilovethevern.blogspot.com, I enjoyed it a lot more. The content was more exciting - not just updates about my life. And more importantly people actually read it. So here is a deal I will make with you. Starting today, I will post more often and with better content. Oh there will still be the random tidbits of my life, but that will not be all. Starting Monday, August 4th, I promise at least 4 posts a week. I know ambitious, but if you read I will keep it up. Oh and comments are always appreciated.

So to start off this wonderful, new revamped style, I want to talk about cooking.
I know, I know....food is all I ever talk about. It is true. I love the stuff. It keeps me from losing the 30 pounds that I so want to lose. It keeps me in debt. But who gives a fuck.

However, in all my loving of food, I never quite considered why I love to cook. And recently I have been giving it a bit more thought. A well cooked meal that you have prepared yourself is a thing of love and beauty.

In his book, Sacre Cordon Bleu, Michael Booth makes the point that he could never be a professional chef because he does not like cooking for strangers. And I entirely understand his thoughts here. I have plans to go to culinary school when I have my academic career established and settled down - in like 2o years, basically. And one day I would like to open my own restaurant. But lately after finishing his book, I have questioned these plans. The culinary school would still be awesome, but perhaps the restaurant is too much. I just need good people to cook for.

So why this tedious and rambling post? THe answer is simple. For me cooking, serving, eating is a conversation, a community. I have a challenge for anyone that reads this post. Cook with me. Eat with me. Be part of that conversation. And yes you can do this in New Jersey, California, Connecticut, DC, and even France. Send me recipes, tell me your cooking stories (the ups and downs), share you info on that amazing Bordeaux you had last week. Send pictures, and most of all share.

Ok so a bit sappy. But hell I have been home for two months. Give me a break.

Have a good one all,
Chris

P.S. If you don't know yet, I have decided to run a marathon.

Believe my eyes.

I wanted to include a longish poem to start off this posting.

A Personal Statement
- Michael Longley

Since you, Mind, think to diagnose

Experience
As summer, satin, nightingale or rose,
Of the sense making sense -
Follow my nose,

Attend all other points of contact,
Deserve your berth:
My brain-child, help me find my own way back
To fire, air, water, earth.
I am, in fact,

More than a bag of skin and bone.
My person is
A chamber where the elements postpone
In lively synthesis,
In peace on loan,

Old wars of flood and earthquake, storm
And holocaust,
Their attributes most temperately reformed
Of heatwave and of frost.
They take my form,

Learn from my arteries their pace -
They leave alarms
And excursions for my heart and lungs to face.
I hold them in my arms
And keep in place.

To walk, to run, to leap, to stand -
Of the litany
Of movement I the vicar in command,
The prophet in my country,
The priest at hand,

Take steps to make it understood
The occupants
Assembled here in narrow neighbourhood
Are my constituents
For bad or good.

Body and Mind, I turn to you.
It's me you fit.
Whatever you think, whatever you do,
Include me in on it,
Essential Two.

Who house philosophy and force,
Wed well in me
The elements, for fever's their divorce,
Nightmare and ecstasy,
And death of course.

My sponsor, Mind, my satellite,
Keep my balance,
Steer me through my heyday, through my night,
My senses' common sense,
Selfcentered light.

And you who set me in my ways,
Immaculate,
In full possession of my faculties
Till you disintegrate,
Exist to please.

Lest I with fears and hopes capsize,
By your own lights
Sail, Body, cargoless towards surprise.
And come, Mind, raise your sights -
Believe my eyes.

I am not exactly sure how to respond to this. There is a complete sense of control and powerlessness that is just perfectly blended together. But my favorite part is his wonderful playfulness in the rhyme scheme and beats. Read it out loud - you will get what I mean.

Ok so now onto my life.

Things in the 'ville are just as they have always been. Ok not really. I have been busy. Finally!

This most recent Saturday, I helped bring down the retaining wall in my back yard - Berlin style, well with a bit less 80s clothing. Now we have a huge hole and tons of dirt - pictures to be posted shortly. I really enjoyed myself - even if I got a bit overheated. Oh and I sprained my ankle. But being the little boyscout that I never was, I quickly wrapped it so that it would not get injured further. Anyway, as I was saying, I had fun doing real work. It felt good to do something I am proud of. And it was nice working with my family.

Friday night - before that saturday - I went to a new wine bar in downtown B'ville. I can't say it is the best winebar I have been to. Their Viognier was disappointing at best. But the atmosphere was nice, and I just love that my hick town has a wine bar. Then I went out dancing.

Sat night, after dinner with the family, I went out once again dancing. Another amazing night of wonderful tunes - "Oh wanna dance with somebody, I wanna feel the heat with somebody, Yeah wanna dance with somebody, Somebody who loves me"

So I got rid of tons of stress, basically.

Let's see...oh and I found an apartment finally - now I am just waiting on visa and loan stuff - then off to Toronto.

Buying plane ticket in the morning - wish me luck.

Good night,
Chris

Dancing time

Nice beat, great song!

I know, Laura, you have probably known about it forever...but I discovered it the other day on the radio - at which point i danced like a crazy man...while driving! Yes, people were staring, at least no one laughed.

Best of the Crime Log - News

Best of the Crime Log - News

The last news I will ever read from GW.