I just finished The Odyssey, and I was pleased to see my earlier analysis borne out. After Odyssues and Telemachus massacre the suitors who have been residing in their home in Ithaca only two of the entire lot escape--and one of them was a bard! Looking out for his own, no doubt about it.
Next up is War and Peace. A legendary challenge.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Asheville
I don't want to get your hopes up, but Irene and I may be interested in the Asheville cabin sometime during her Spring Break in March. I'm going to Dave Webster's bachelor party in Florida from the 6th to the 9th, but sometime shortly thereafter might work. We may even try to get another couple to come along to enjoy the Paris of the South (Nic? Ryan? Bill?).
Long story short, Irene's friends have been making trips around the Northeast lately, and she's got the itch to travel. Luckily, having a boy from the mid-Atlantic, she'll get to go a bit further afield.
Long story short, Irene's friends have been making trips around the Northeast lately, and she's got the itch to travel. Luckily, having a boy from the mid-Atlantic, she'll get to go a bit further afield.
Valentine's Day
For Valentine's Day I made Irene dinner, which includes French Onion Soup and Tempeh Reubens. The soup was good, the reubens, eh, not so much.
The soup was good enough, though, for me to pass along the recipe for the Boundy Family Cookbook. Ta Dah:
Ingredients
1 lb 8 oz onions
3 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves (3 chopped, 1 peeled but whole)
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
8 cups vegetable stock
6 slices French bread
3 cups grated swiss cheese
fresh thyme sprigs, to garnish
1. Thinly slice the onions. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan, then add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, until they are just beginning to brown. Stir in the chopped garlic, sugar, and thyme, then reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown.
2. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the wine. Gradually stir in the Stock and bring to a boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, toast the bread on both sides under a preheated medium broiler. Rub the toast with the whole garlic clove.
3. Ladle the soup into 6 flameproof bowls set on a cookie sheet. Float a piece of toast in each bowl and divide the grated cheese between them. Place under a preheated medium-hot broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese has just melted. Garnish with thyme and serve.
The soup was good enough, though, for me to pass along the recipe for the Boundy Family Cookbook. Ta Dah:
Ingredients
1 lb 8 oz onions
3 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves (3 chopped, 1 peeled but whole)
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
8 cups vegetable stock
6 slices French bread
3 cups grated swiss cheese
fresh thyme sprigs, to garnish
1. Thinly slice the onions. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pan, then add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, until they are just beginning to brown. Stir in the chopped garlic, sugar, and thyme, then reduce the heat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown.
2. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the wine. Gradually stir in the Stock and bring to a boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface, then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, toast the bread on both sides under a preheated medium broiler. Rub the toast with the whole garlic clove.
3. Ladle the soup into 6 flameproof bowls set on a cookie sheet. Float a piece of toast in each bowl and divide the grated cheese between them. Place under a preheated medium-hot broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese has just melted. Garnish with thyme and serve.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Vote Today?
Did you make it out to the polls? With an additional hour and a half, I certainly hope so.
Not that you were voting in the Democratic Primary, of course. Who'd you go for, if you don't mind me asking?
I spent the day running (thanks for asking). Check it out: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ma/somerville/211156248
I would rather have voted again, let me tell'ya.
Not that you were voting in the Democratic Primary, of course. Who'd you go for, if you don't mind me asking?
I spent the day running (thanks for asking). Check it out: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/ma/somerville/211156248
I would rather have voted again, let me tell'ya.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lent
What are you two sacrificing for Lent? I'm still trying to come up with something...and I like the idea of promising to do something, as opposed to abstaining from something.
Given my two week hiatus from posting, maybe trying to post daily on this blog would be a good choice...
Given my two week hiatus from posting, maybe trying to post daily on this blog would be a good choice...
Things I've Always Wondered...
Before you had kids, did you make vegetable side dishes to go with dinner? I made a risotto last night for Irene (a labor of love, let me tell you) and the thought of making a side of green beans or broccoli, or whatever, occurred to me. But I rarely bother with such things when it's just Irene and me.
Yet, I recall vegetable sides regularly growing up. Did you two always used to make them, or is it only an obligation once you have children?
Yet, I recall vegetable sides regularly growing up. Did you two always used to make them, or is it only an obligation once you have children?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Maxims
If there were maxims that governed philosophical exploration, I've always thought they would be something like:
1. Pursue knowledge first among all things.
2. Critically analyze all knowledge you encounter no matter what its source, and refuse to adhere to flawed or specious beliefs. Allow for no exceptions.
3. Follow where your intellectual searching takes you, but do not be capricious in your beliefs. Accept something only after making a determined effort to refute it; but, if you cannot do so, accept the information regardless of how difficult and surprising it may be.
This came up when Irene and I were discussing the differences between the United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalists, and I realized that not only could I not differentiate between those two, but I couldn't articulate the differences between Episcopalians and other Protestant sects. So what had I be doing all those years? Rule #2 violated, I hung my head in shame.
I'm still sorting out the answer to that little puzzle, but I found an illuminating article in Time magazine discussing the true nature of another religious belief--Scientology. It's a long one, but it makes for quick reading. Some of it is absolutely not to be believed. I suppose it's common knowledge that Scientologists are wacky, but I was surprised at exactly how vindictive and avaricious the group truly is.
Enjoy.
1. Pursue knowledge first among all things.
2. Critically analyze all knowledge you encounter no matter what its source, and refuse to adhere to flawed or specious beliefs. Allow for no exceptions.
3. Follow where your intellectual searching takes you, but do not be capricious in your beliefs. Accept something only after making a determined effort to refute it; but, if you cannot do so, accept the information regardless of how difficult and surprising it may be.
This came up when Irene and I were discussing the differences between the United Church of Christ and Unitarian Universalists, and I realized that not only could I not differentiate between those two, but I couldn't articulate the differences between Episcopalians and other Protestant sects. So what had I be doing all those years? Rule #2 violated, I hung my head in shame.
I'm still sorting out the answer to that little puzzle, but I found an illuminating article in Time magazine discussing the true nature of another religious belief--Scientology. It's a long one, but it makes for quick reading. Some of it is absolutely not to be believed. I suppose it's common knowledge that Scientologists are wacky, but I was surprised at exactly how vindictive and avaricious the group truly is.
Enjoy.
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