Grooming

And then I lost my patience with the pathetic mustache, which I had been cutting short since I hate them so much.


And after going out for a haircut....

Just in time for Easter

Chocolate Jesus anyone?

It's been a while...

Let me just say, in my defence, that it's been a busy couple weeks.

As always work is busy, but beyond that there have been out of towners, the yard, etc etc. Of course that's no excuse, and when I saw that Ed had added Kendall and Kasey (who I haven't met yet) and threatened to start pulling people from his sidebar, I knew it was time to get typing.

As an update, Jeff has returned from Norway and promptly moved into Ballard, the remnant of a Seattle's Scandinavian Ghetto. I'm glad to have Jeff back in the country. Carly was in town to interview at arch firms, she will be moving back soon (never should have left). for those of you that don't know them, they are UW friends.

The same weekend Carly was in town, Lisa (sister of the Jay) was in town. We got together last Monday and saw Patti Griffin. Good show, but the opener was a bit of a disappointment.

That weekend also included an attack on the blackberry in the backyard. Blackberry is an invasive species, and a bitch to clear when it takes hold. I spent hours ripping it out from the trees along the back fence. By the time I was done the sun had set, so I left the detritus piled in the back yard.


Later that week, Shawna was in town on business, so we had dinner at the Palace Kitchen. This was my first time to one of Tom Douglas' restaurants, and I was not disappointed. I was particularly excited about the cheese menu, so we had a flight of cheese as an appetizer. I think we both agreed that the Humboldt Fog was the best.






On Sunday I went into the yard with the simple aim of cutting up the vines and sticking them in the trash. 5 hours later I had torn most of the plants/weeds/morning glory out of one side of the yard, and made respectable progress on ripping out a holly tree (it was a volunteer). My roommate got the chainsaw out and went to town on a big stump that has been there for years. He got most of it out, but dulled the chain in the process, so we each have a bit more work to do on the next clear weekend.


This week opened with another concert, Sondre Lerche at the Crocodile. I absolutely love Sondre Lerche, particularly the lounge-y Faces Down stuff (if you don't know him, he's a Norwegian singer, indie/rock). the show was great, including the two opening acts. Unfortunately he didn't go on until around 11:30, which means the show didn't end until 1am. By the time I caught the bus home (because I hate trying to park in downtown, and I wanted to have a couple drinks at the show) it was about quarter till 2. I'm a working boy, I can't do that sort of thing. It tuckers me out.


Now here it is Thursday evening, and I'm still worn out. But I've managed to post something, albeit drivel about my daily life. I promise something a bit more thought provoking in the future, but for the time being its this or nothing.

Except to add that the miracle of Netflix, and the informed tastes of my roommate Ted, brought a great documentary to the house. Its called Slasher, about a guy that travels around the country running slashed price sales at car dealership. It was fascinating, I highly recommend it. Also somewhere in there I made a really delicious pork tenderloin en croute, sort of like a beef wellington. It took a couple hours to prepare and cook, but it was worth it.

facial hair update

Here is the latest on the beard experiment. I can't say that I'm really happy with the way things are going. I'm really tempted to just shave it all off, but I'm trying to keep it until I come back to Fresno. Maybe I'll bring the clippers with me and cut it down to a chin strap while I'm there. Note the desperate need for a haircut.

Pi Day

I must say that I am a bit surprised that none of the more, shall we say geeky (in a good way) among you has not mentioned that today is Pi-day. I found the cake above posted at Tastespotting.com which is one of my favorite new must check websites.



I was at the bookstore this morning getting some supplies for work, so I did a bit of childrens book shopping (niece's birthday this weekend). I was excited to see that they have reissued Anatole, by Eve Titus. It is about a mouse who feels guilty about stealing food, so he decides to earn a living by sneaking into a cheese factory (the Manufacture de Fromage Duval) and taste the cheese, leaving little notes like more salt, or add more grated orange peel. I remember that this was one of my favorite books at some point, although I seem to have lost it and nobody in my family knows what I'm talking about when I ask if they know what happened to it. It's like they don't want me to remember it....like I never actually owned it and just imagined the whole thing.... suspicious!
Well I now own it again. Yes I bought a couple books for my niece as well, but this one is staying on my shelves.

Celebrity Look-alike

http://www.myheritage.com

Fresno Visit

I will be in town April 12-16 for the Mennonite High Holy Days of MCC Sale. My family is all leaving town on Easter, so I'm coming back for the sale instead (my first time in 4 years). Maybe we can get the Jay and Becki to come out as well....

Wa(o)nder

The Peripatetic philosophers, a school following Aristotle, may have taken its name from the paripatoi a term for covered walkways such as those at the Lyceum where Aristotle formed his school. The term peripatetic means “one who walks habitually and extensively”. The association with Aristotle also suggests that quality of aimless walking that facilitates reflection and thoughtfulness. I’ve been reading a book called Wanderlust, often at café’s midway through long aimless walks of my own, which examines the history of walking and its social, political and philosophical implications. The section that I just finished discussed the connection between solitary walking and philosophical reflection, particularly the role it played for Rousseau and Kierkegaard. Both relied on walking as a mental exercise, as a time to allow both body and mind to wander freely or to compile, sort and organize thoughts.

I’ve always enjoyed walking, but it seems an odd thing to say. I had to fill out a questionnaire recently that asked for hobbies/ activities, and I wrote walking, but felt the need to add /hiking, as though saying that I walk as a hobby simply didn’t make sense. And in fact I think walking really isn’t the right word, although hiking certainly doesn’t describe the urban wandering either. Perhaps ramble is a better word, the Brits have rambling clubs for people who walk through the countryside as a form of recreation. In fact I think that England was when I really began to ramble in earnest, going for long solitary walks through a small patch of woods or the pastures on the edge of town, as well as aimless walks through the town itself. Those walks are some of my most cherished memories of England, and have nothing to do with castles or clubs or any of the other more glamorous adventures. Likewise many of my happiest times now are when I’m out walking. This weekend I probably walked 15-20 miles (which explains why my feet are tired and I have a blister- converse are not the ideal walking shoe) and found neighborhoods I hadn’t explored before. I also witnessed spring peeking out, with flowers and tree buds popping up everywhere. Obviously I also spend a lot of time looking at houses, but more often than not I’m not really looking at anything, I’m just wandering and allowing my mind to wander in a way it wouldn’t were I sitting at home.

Like my rambles, I'm not sure that this post really has much of a goal. I was struck by my readings and given a new insight into my own love of wandering. It validated my own love of rambling and I thought it would be nice to share. How often do you go out on walks, simply for the sake of walking and looking and thinking. I'm sure for some poeple another activity can be substituted, like biking or cleaning (freaks) or sanding planks of wood or some such. Regardless, I still suggest everyone go out for a walk, an hour minimum. Those of you in the tower, stroll through the neighborhood, maybe down old Van Ness. The Springs folks have a charming neighborhood as well, plus the river to walk along. Get out and ramble.