Flavored bagels. Well, not sesame or poppy. But blueberry, chocolate chip, cinnamon raisin. Today my friend Jeff posted that he was eating a pumpkin bagel. I'm sorry, but that is NOT a bagel.
Everything else gets a proposition in California. I want one on the ballot to ban flavored bagels.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Heaven and Hell
Friday was hellish, so I was so happy to ride through Paradise on Saturday. Saturday was the ALC kickoff rides, and Jerry and I rode the Tiburon, also known as the Paridise, Loop. It was a perfect day for a ride-- sunny, cool with little wind.
We started at Sports Basement, where it was great to see some old friends before we set out. There were three rides scheduled, and we participated in the longest one-- around 40 miles.
Despite my urging (or at least suggesting) that Jerry eat a sausage before we set out, he didn't want to, and he felt his energy flagging on Camino Alto, Nonetheless, we rode up it at a decent pace, and, as usual, sailed down it, held up by cars that didn't want to go as fast as we did.
The loop was beautiful. Lots of bikes, some scaredy-cat cars that I had to wave around us, and lovely air and scenery.
Before we got to Shark's, our usual stopping place, we swung by the place whose name I can't recall to get me a cappuccino. I did remember to tell them no chocolate. Cup in hand, we rode down to Shark's. Jerry has a bowl of chili which lifted his spirits and energy considerably.
The ride back was lovely, and even Sausalito Hill didn't seem so bad.
There was lots of ooohing and aaahing over our new tandem. It really is a beauty. And it's lighter, handles better and is a pleasure to ride. There was one other tandem present. They were riding a bike I wasn't familiar with. They are going to train on the tandem, but the captain will ride ALC on a half-bike, and his stoker will be a roadie. Too bad. The more tandems the better!
Back home, we showered and readied ourselves to go to the movies to see W. We went with our friends Sha and Lora. The movie, of course, was partically fiction, but it captured what I think was W's motivation to do what he did. It did not portray him as evil, but as someone desperately trying to find his place in the world, and more important, to please his father. He failed miserably and pleasing his father, and I think the place he found in the world was not the one he wanted. He will be remembered as the worst president in modern history.
At the movies we had our usual dinner--popcorn and a diet soda.
This week I will be doing a lot of prep for Jerry's sister's wedding reception, which is next Saturday. I've got the menu all planned and have figured out the order of prep, pretty much. I will put in an order at the produce place and pick up the rest of what I need on Thursday and Friday. It's going to be a big job, but I think everyone will be pleased.
We started at Sports Basement, where it was great to see some old friends before we set out. There were three rides scheduled, and we participated in the longest one-- around 40 miles.
Despite my urging (or at least suggesting) that Jerry eat a sausage before we set out, he didn't want to, and he felt his energy flagging on Camino Alto, Nonetheless, we rode up it at a decent pace, and, as usual, sailed down it, held up by cars that didn't want to go as fast as we did.
The loop was beautiful. Lots of bikes, some scaredy-cat cars that I had to wave around us, and lovely air and scenery.
Before we got to Shark's, our usual stopping place, we swung by the place whose name I can't recall to get me a cappuccino. I did remember to tell them no chocolate. Cup in hand, we rode down to Shark's. Jerry has a bowl of chili which lifted his spirits and energy considerably.
The ride back was lovely, and even Sausalito Hill didn't seem so bad.
There was lots of ooohing and aaahing over our new tandem. It really is a beauty. And it's lighter, handles better and is a pleasure to ride. There was one other tandem present. They were riding a bike I wasn't familiar with. They are going to train on the tandem, but the captain will ride ALC on a half-bike, and his stoker will be a roadie. Too bad. The more tandems the better!
Back home, we showered and readied ourselves to go to the movies to see W. We went with our friends Sha and Lora. The movie, of course, was partically fiction, but it captured what I think was W's motivation to do what he did. It did not portray him as evil, but as someone desperately trying to find his place in the world, and more important, to please his father. He failed miserably and pleasing his father, and I think the place he found in the world was not the one he wanted. He will be remembered as the worst president in modern history.
At the movies we had our usual dinner--popcorn and a diet soda.
This week I will be doing a lot of prep for Jerry's sister's wedding reception, which is next Saturday. I've got the menu all planned and have figured out the order of prep, pretty much. I will put in an order at the produce place and pick up the rest of what I need on Thursday and Friday. It's going to be a big job, but I think everyone will be pleased.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
I Hate Lima Beans
Except when they are baby lima beans cooked in rice full of wonderful herbs, and the rice cooked so that it gets a delicious crust on the bottom.
Jerry and I had dinner at Sha and Lora's last night, and Sha cooked. It's always wonderful when he cooks. He's from Iran, and he makes incredible Persian food. Along with the rice, we had a stew with garbanzo beans, potatoes and lamb. The lamb was really more of a garnish-- it didn't overwhelm the stew. It was so tender it had fallen off the bones.
But back to the rice-- it had coriander, tumeric and a few other wonderful herbs in it. We had red wine with it. For dessert, Lora made a pear tart that had ginger in it. I have to get the recipe from her.
The substantial dinner served us well for our ride today. We rode from Sausalito to Lagunitas. It was a lovely lovely day for a ride. It was nice and cool, but sunny. When we were heading back to Sausalito, we came upon one of the Seismic Challenge rest stops and pulled in to say hello. It was our favorite crew from ALC rest stop 4. They told us they were already planning for next year's ride. They manage to outdo themselves year after year.
When we got home, Jerry went to his office and I made dinner. I made polenta with parmesan in it, topped with chicken sausage cooked with tomatoes, garlic, red wine and onions. I put that in a dish and melted some mozzarella on top. It was delicious, and we have enough left over for tomorrow.
Jerry and I had dinner at Sha and Lora's last night, and Sha cooked. It's always wonderful when he cooks. He's from Iran, and he makes incredible Persian food. Along with the rice, we had a stew with garbanzo beans, potatoes and lamb. The lamb was really more of a garnish-- it didn't overwhelm the stew. It was so tender it had fallen off the bones.
But back to the rice-- it had coriander, tumeric and a few other wonderful herbs in it. We had red wine with it. For dessert, Lora made a pear tart that had ginger in it. I have to get the recipe from her.
The substantial dinner served us well for our ride today. We rode from Sausalito to Lagunitas. It was a lovely lovely day for a ride. It was nice and cool, but sunny. When we were heading back to Sausalito, we came upon one of the Seismic Challenge rest stops and pulled in to say hello. It was our favorite crew from ALC rest stop 4. They told us they were already planning for next year's ride. They manage to outdo themselves year after year.
When we got home, Jerry went to his office and I made dinner. I made polenta with parmesan in it, topped with chicken sausage cooked with tomatoes, garlic, red wine and onions. I put that in a dish and melted some mozzarella on top. It was delicious, and we have enough left over for tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Drive to Eat
Instead of listening to the debate tonight, Jerry and I went with friends from back East, and a new friend from San Francisco to Chez Panisse, DOWNSTAIRS. My first time downstairs and it was fabulous. Two bottles of wine later (well, there were five of us) I will wait until I'm sober to write about our wonderful dinner.
Lots of riding in order to work off this dinner, and at least a couple of hours of freelance PR to pay for it.
Lots of riding in order to work off this dinner, and at least a couple of hours of freelance PR to pay for it.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Couplers, not cup holders
I've been telling friends about our new tandem and my friend Lisa mis-heard and she exclaimed, Your new tandem has cup holders?!! I explained no, it had couplers, which means we can take it apart.
But it certainly got me to thinking. mmm a cupholder on the back of Jerry's seat. It seems I can never get enough coffee, and though I realize it is not the drink of choice for bike riders, wouldn't it be lovely to have a cup at the ready for those cold morning rides.
mmmm. coffee. I think I'll make myself a cappuccino right now!
But it certainly got me to thinking. mmm a cupholder on the back of Jerry's seat. It seems I can never get enough coffee, and though I realize it is not the drink of choice for bike riders, wouldn't it be lovely to have a cup at the ready for those cold morning rides.
mmmm. coffee. I think I'll make myself a cappuccino right now!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Fly to Eat
or, The Week of No Vegetables
Jerry and I are finally back from East Texas. The flight back seemed to take forever, because, in part, it did. We were facing a fierce headwind, so the trip home was, in reality, longer than the trip out.
Our time in Texas certainly had its moments. I was glad we had our tandem, though we did not have a lot of time to ride it. When we did, we got out early in the morning before the days humidity settled in. I'm sure those who saw us on the road were fascinated. We were the only cyclists, and certainly the only tandem riders. But the country, if you could ignore the amazing amount of litter on the side of the road, was quite lovely, with lots of trees. East Texas is lush-- lots of green, lots of water. The house Jerry's mother rented for us and his cousins was on the same lake they live on, just on the other side. The ride to their house was very pleasant.
As soon as we'd arrive in the morning eating began. Breakfast, thank God, started with fruit, because it was downhill from there on out. There were overly sweetened cereals for breakfast if you didn't want to eat the WalMart version of an egg McMuffin (I didn't.) There were potato chips, cheese puffs, pretzels, cookies, cakes, doughnuts... the list goes on. Dinner was ham or beef and potatoes. As I don't eat either, I had vegetarian soups. The first might have been good had it not been laden with enough cheese to block the healthiest person's arteries, and the second was pea soup that must have been cooked peas and water. I dumped salsa in it to give it some flavor.
Bad food and Republicans can make for a difficult stay, but we made the best of it. And visiting with Jerry's cousins and aunt from Arkansas was great. Besides being Democrats, they are bright, funny, wonderful women. It seems that his cousin, Sunny, is finally out to her family, because people were asking about her significant other, so that's a relief to her, I'm sure.
We rode out and back in our "new" little Mooney. A four (but really two) seater that Jerry is buying from his friend Art. Now that Art is 87 he realizes he should stop flying, so he is giving Jerry, his flying buddy, amazing terms to buy the plane and hangar. It's a cozy little plane and we enjoyed ourselves on the flights. We stopped around every three hours to refuel and relieve ourselves. On the way out we stopped in Tucson. It was the night of the VP debates. I'll say no more. After all, everything that needs to be said about Caribou Barbie has been said.
The way back, we stayed in Deming New Mexico. Not exactly the garden spot of the nation, but the sheets and towels were clean and the bed relatively comfortable.
As I said earlier, the ride home was long, but now I'm here and my geriatric calico Jamie, is sitting on my lap, so all's right with the world.
I do have some work to do, and I'm thankful for that, so time to get to it.
Jerry and I are finally back from East Texas. The flight back seemed to take forever, because, in part, it did. We were facing a fierce headwind, so the trip home was, in reality, longer than the trip out.
Our time in Texas certainly had its moments. I was glad we had our tandem, though we did not have a lot of time to ride it. When we did, we got out early in the morning before the days humidity settled in. I'm sure those who saw us on the road were fascinated. We were the only cyclists, and certainly the only tandem riders. But the country, if you could ignore the amazing amount of litter on the side of the road, was quite lovely, with lots of trees. East Texas is lush-- lots of green, lots of water. The house Jerry's mother rented for us and his cousins was on the same lake they live on, just on the other side. The ride to their house was very pleasant.
As soon as we'd arrive in the morning eating began. Breakfast, thank God, started with fruit, because it was downhill from there on out. There were overly sweetened cereals for breakfast if you didn't want to eat the WalMart version of an egg McMuffin (I didn't.) There were potato chips, cheese puffs, pretzels, cookies, cakes, doughnuts... the list goes on. Dinner was ham or beef and potatoes. As I don't eat either, I had vegetarian soups. The first might have been good had it not been laden with enough cheese to block the healthiest person's arteries, and the second was pea soup that must have been cooked peas and water. I dumped salsa in it to give it some flavor.
Bad food and Republicans can make for a difficult stay, but we made the best of it. And visiting with Jerry's cousins and aunt from Arkansas was great. Besides being Democrats, they are bright, funny, wonderful women. It seems that his cousin, Sunny, is finally out to her family, because people were asking about her significant other, so that's a relief to her, I'm sure.
We rode out and back in our "new" little Mooney. A four (but really two) seater that Jerry is buying from his friend Art. Now that Art is 87 he realizes he should stop flying, so he is giving Jerry, his flying buddy, amazing terms to buy the plane and hangar. It's a cozy little plane and we enjoyed ourselves on the flights. We stopped around every three hours to refuel and relieve ourselves. On the way out we stopped in Tucson. It was the night of the VP debates. I'll say no more. After all, everything that needs to be said about Caribou Barbie has been said.
The way back, we stayed in Deming New Mexico. Not exactly the garden spot of the nation, but the sheets and towels were clean and the bed relatively comfortable.
As I said earlier, the ride home was long, but now I'm here and my geriatric calico Jamie, is sitting on my lap, so all's right with the world.
I do have some work to do, and I'm thankful for that, so time to get to it.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Bag O'Bike
Jerry and I are leaving for east Texas this afternoon, and I couldn't imagine going without the new tandem. We're flying ourselves in our new (to us) little Mooney four-seater, so we figured, we can take the bike. Especially this new one with its snazzy couplers. So Jerry de-coupled the bike and put it in wheel bags. It's amazing how little room it's going to take. I'm so excited. So we're packing some bike gear, our "regular" clothes, and we're leaving this afternoon. We're going to take our time getting there. Probably fly a couple of hours this afternoon and stay somewhere in Arizona, then the next day to west Texas, then soar on into Longview, the closest airport to where we're going-- that booming metropolis of Lone Star. We're staying a couple of miles from Jerry's mom's house. She rented out a bed and breakfast for us, Jerry's cousins and his aunt, so we'll have delightful transportation to get us around the lake to Judy and Dee's.
It's going to be an interesting trip. and I hope fun.
It's going to be an interesting trip. and I hope fun.
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