Rodrigo's Corner

Into the Wild

2007-10-10T08:41:00.001-05:00

"'You could tell right away that Alex was intelligent,' Westerberg reflects, draining his third drink. 'He read a lot. Used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he did too much thinking. Sometimes he tried too hard to make sense of the world, to figure out why people were bad to each other so often."' Chapter 3, pg. 18

I was really anxious to read this book for a few reasons. 1) I really enjoyed Into Thin Air by Krakauer, 2) I also really enjoy his writing style, very casual and as if you are hearing him tell the story, 3) Knowing the ending before reading it (it is in the summary of the book) made me very intrigued about what kind of person would do this and how he died doing it, 4) I wanted to read it before the movie came out.

It's a true story, covering the life and death of Chris McCandless. He was extremely intelligent and was raised by a well-to-do family in an upscale neighborhood in Washington, D.C. He ventured out on his own to live in the wilderness because he was so unhappy and unfulfilled in the life he lived up to that point.

The character is very frustrating. The good thing is that Krakauer lets your form your own opinion as to whether you think the main character is a tragic hero or a complete idiot. I flip-flopped back and forth a few times while reading the book, but by the end I knew what my sentiments toward the guy were. I think he was a fool. Ungrateful for the opportunties and lifestyle his parents were able to provide him. Unforgiving of his family for the same kind of mistakes that a lot of people make. He thought he was smarter and wiser than everyone who loved him, and didn't appreciate advice from the people who cared for him the most.

Overall, I'm glad that I read it, and I would like to see the movie now.

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo Salad

2007-10-09T08:33:00.000-05:00

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo Salad
Copyright 2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved

Last night I tried this recipe for the first time (finished product above). I had most of the ingredients already, so it was fairly easy prep-wise from the start. We ate it warm since we were hungry and it was our dinner, but I think it might be better to serve cold, as a salad. Owen and Lindsay said they really liked it, so hopefully they weren't just being nice =). I liked it, and would love to try it again. We watched the Cowboys defeat the Bills, and it was a great game. I tried to read a good portion of Into the Wild, but only got through about another 20 pages or so. I brought some orzo with me to work today, so that I can decide which way I think is better. Please see below for the recipe.

Ingredients
Kosher salt
Good olive oil
3/4 pound orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds (16 to 18 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced
1/2 cup small-diced red onion
3/4 pound good feta cheese, large diced

Preperation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.

Meanwhile, place the shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through. Don't overcook!

Add the shrimp to the orzo and then add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.

Mama's magic

2007-10-08T10:08:00.000-05:00

“I was in yoga the other day. I was in full lotus position. My chakras were all aligned. My mind is cleared of all clatter and I'm looking out of my third eye and everything that I'm supposed to be doing. It's amazing what comes up, when you sit in that silence....
'Mama keeps whites bright like the sunlight, Mama's got the magic of Clorox 2.'”

-Ellen DeGeneres

We finally had some sunlight in Houston; here is proof!

VIN

2007-10-05T12:28:00.000-05:00

Owen, Joseph, Isla and I went to VIN last night for dinner. It's located in the theatre district, right next to the Verizon Wireless Theatre. None of us had ever been there and the food was really good, but the place was dead! We thought it was the restaurant but after bar hopping later that evening, we realized that the city itself was pretty dead last night. I guess everyone was headed to Dallas for the big football weekend.
We ordered grilled calamari and shrimp n' grits for appetizers, I thought both of them were pretty tasty. The dressing on the calamari was really good, and the shrimps were nice and tasty. I had scallops as my entree, and they were excellent. Very filling too. Owen and Joseph ordered the filet, which was very tasty, and the mashed potatoes that came with them were pretty awesome. Isla ordered the salmon, and I think she really liked it too. We had the this yummy cinnamon bread pudding for dessert. All in all, I thought the restaurant was really good. It was pricey, but I thought the quality and taste of the food was fairly commensurate compared to other Houston restaurants of that level. I think that if it would have been busy, we would have left with quite a different impression.
I don't see why I wouldn't go back, but there would definitely have to be more people there than last night. (Sorry, no pictures)

NY Times Q&A with Arthur Frommer

2007-09-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

**Article taken from the New York Times online

Arthur Frommer Answers All Your Travel Questions, and Then Some
By Stephen J. Dubner (New York Times)

Arthur Frommer (founder of the Frommer's series of travel guides) Last week, {NY Times} solicited your questions for travel pro Arthur Frommer. Thanks for the strong response and thoughtful questions. As for Arthur’s answers, below — well, they are IMHO fantastic. Now I see why his books are so popular. He is opinionated, colorful, informed, passionate, and a few dozen other things. We hope you enjoy.

Q: As the dollar continues to fall against the euro, why aren’t more Europeans traveling to America?
A: Because of the psychological, bureaucratic, and political barriers that we have erected to hinder their travels here. In many of the countries that don’t enjoy our visa-waiver program, it takes three to four months simply to receive an appointment to apply for a visa. Once would-be travelers finally get inside one of our consulates, they are questioned about personal characteristics having nothing to do with security or terrorism, but rather with the possibility that they will overstay their visas and become illegal immigrants. One tour operator handling incoming travel from Poland recently said that half of the people he wishes to send to the U.S. are turned down for visas because they are young, single, without property or homes that they own, etc., and are thus more likely to stay in the U.S. illegally.
When people do travel here, they are treated like criminals upon arrival at customs, or, at best, received with cold discourtesy. The result of all this is that travel to the U.S. has fallen off by close to 20 percent since the year 2000, while most other countries are enjoying a rise of 20 percent or more in their incoming tourism! The decline of our own tourism industry creates a loss of more than $100 billion a year, tens of billions of dollars in tax revenues, and hundreds of thousands of jobs. The administration’s handling of the matter is a scandal. And, by creating the impression among people of the world that we are an arrogant, cold, and unfriendly people, we make ourselves less safe.

The Menil Collection

2007-09-25T12:30:00.001-05:00

The Menil Collection opened in 1987 to preserve and
exhibit the art collection of John and Dominique de Menil. Considered one of the most important privately assembled collections of the twentieth century, The Menil Collection houses approximately 15,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, and rare books. Masterpieces from antiquity, the Byzantine and medieval worlds, the tribal cultures of Africa, Oceania, and the American Pacific Northwest, and the twentieth century are particularly well represented. Among the highlights of the museum are its Surrealist holdings, widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost collections of its kind. The Menil Collection displays selections from its permanent collection and regularly offers special exhibitions and programs to the public.

This is a really wonderful place to visit in Houston. The only thing I did not like was the rule about taking pictures. Pictures in the Menil building and in the Rothko Chapel are not allowed.

E. Barnett Newman
Broken Obelisk, 1963-67

D. Mark di Suvero
Bygones, 1976

Houston, Texas

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2007-09-24T09:35:00.000-05:00

"One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs. Or the thousand splendid suns that hide beneath her walls."

Khaled Hosseini's second novel is even better (to me) than his first, The Kite Runner. A Thousand Splendid Suns is the heart-wrenching story of two women living in Afghanistan. The harsh experiences they each endure are shocking and eye-opening, yet Hosseini manages to turn this into a warm and inspiring tale. Above all things, love endures. A must read!

Left to Tell

2007-09-23T12:18:00.000-05:00

"If you make a decision in your heart, just see if it is coming from a loving heart because most of the time, we make decisions from a heart that is angry, and then we realize that we have made a mistake."

Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza is an absolute MUST READ for everyone. Her recount of surviving the 1994 Rwandan Holocaust is as shocking and horrible as it is inspirational and positively moving. Please read this.

Thank you June, for bringing this book to my attention.

Our beautiful oceans

2007-09-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Water, like religion and ideology, has the power to move millions of people. Since the very birth of human civilization, people have moved to settle close to it. People move when there is too little of it. People move when there is too much of it. People journey down it. People write, sing and dance about it. People fight over it. And all people, everywhere and every day, need it. --Mikhail Gorbachev

Cancun

West Coast (Malibu, CA)

East Coast (NYC)

My Trip to...

2007-07-22T09:49:00.000-05:00

SUNDAY.

I was so sad to wake up in the morning when I realized that our trip was coming to a close. We cleaned the house and packed our things in a hurry, since we wanted to get as much out of the day as possible. We had to do a couple of things before we could leave the house though...

Owen did a great job of impersonating Tom Hanks in Castaway. We even had Wilson, the volleyball with the hand print for a face on it!

Mark took me, Owen and Caty over the Getty Center in LA to see the spectacular views of the city. Wow! What an amazing complex!!

This is an absolute must place to visit if you are ever in Los Angeles. The architecture and the vistas are incredible and breathtaking.

Even though we were seeing such wonderful things, I didn't want to see the day come closer to a close. The time was passing too quickly, and we just didn't want to see the great trip end.

So after we took in the views of the city, it was off to Hollywood! The cast of Harry Potter had just been there the day before to imprint their hands and feet for the sidewalk at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Apparently, to visit Los Angeles and not see this place, is like visiting China and not seeing the Great Wall.

Haha, I had bugged Mark all weekend to see the Hollywood sign, and I was ecstatic the moment it came into view! I'm sure he was relieved that this sighting below was close enough for me. =)

We closed our trip with lunch at the Chateau Marmont. Mark, Owen and I had tried to go into the Chateau after visiting the SkyBar on Thursday night, but security was so tight that they were turning away everyone unless you were a hotel guest. We are convinced that something huge, like a scandalous affair between celebs, was going down.

Lunch was fabulous, and the chateau is such a romantic and beautiful hotel. We hated to leave such wonderful company, but Mark had to take Owen and I to the airport in a hurry. We said our goodbyes to Jerry, Gail and Caty and to the Masseys as well, and we were off to LAX.
Thank you to Susan and Fred, Malibu and Los Angeles were so wonderful and charming, and thank you for having me.
Thank you to Jerry, Gail and Caty, it was such a pleasure to spend time with you all, and Owen and I are looking forward to seeing you soon at the wedding!!
Thank you Mark, for being such a wonderful guide of your amazing city. I had such a fabulous time, as I know Owen did too. I could not have had a better first experience in the city.

My Trip to...

2007-07-21T09:24:00.000-05:00

SATURDAY.
We knew going into Saturday that it was going to be a pretty big day. MASSEY-palooza was going to kick-off in the early afternoon, and it was going to be a FULL day of activities. Here I am prepping Buster for the upcoming day.

There isn't too much I can say about the Palooza that you won't be able to gather yourself from the pictures. It was a crazy day between the beer pong matches, the volleyball games, swimming in the freezing ocean and intense games of flip-cup. Mark's friends definitely had all of us busy with activities well into the night. It was a blast, and I'll let the pictures do the rest of my talking.

Ok, so I lied, I am going to have to comment on some of these photos as they are just too great not to comment on. Here is a shot of Dr. M, a.k.a. the beer pong champion, in mid match. He and Jerry were the champs of the day. The priceless t-shirt was a gift from Mark's friend, Nick, as he knew that Dr. M played football for the Panthers as a youngster.

This is a shot of the team consulting their next move with us.

By the end of the evening, we were all worn out from a full day of activities. I had such a great time meeting Mark's friends, and the party itself was great. I will always remember the days of flip-cup and beer pong. Haha

My Trip to...

2007-07-20T11:22:00.000-05:00

FRIDAY.
Since it was a late night on Thursday (3:30 am), we decided to pass on taking a two-hour trip to DisneyLand in Anaheim. And since we had an early dinner later, we decided that a trip to Santa Monica and Venice Beach was the perfect idea. We arrived at Shutters on the beach, and rented a few bikes to tour the area.

We embarked on a full day's journey, and headed towards the Santa Monica exercising area. The Masseys have pictures of Owen and Mark as kids trying to swing across the monkey rings at this same spot. Here are the shots I managed to get of them trying to get across now. Apparently, Owen made it across, but according to him I didn't see him do it because I was too busy watching the cute passers-by on rollerblades. =)

After Owen and Mark attempted the rings and Caty and I relaxed on the swing set, we headed over towards the Santa Monica Pier. Between the rollercoaster and the ferris wheel, we got our DisneyLand fix for the trip.

Venice Beach is a hoot. There are people everywhere, and when I say people, I mean all SORTS of people. It was so much fun to walk around and see the sights, going through the different street vendors and artists was a blast. We also stopped for lunch in Venice at this little deli, and I can't remember the name, but I think it was Danny's.

Our day spent in Santa Monica and Venice Beach was a blast. Riding bikes through the area was definitely the way to see the sights. You get around quickly, and you get to enjoy being outside and breathing the fresh sea air.

This was certainly not the end of our day, we still had much more to come. Unfortunately though, I forgot my camera!!! So I didn't get to record via photo what we did, oh well. The Masseys, the Welches and I left the house in the early evening and headed for a sunset dinner at Geoffrey's in Malibu. The restaurant is a quaint and extremely romantic place that sits cliffside off of the Pacific Coast Highway. We were escorted to our table on the outside patio, and it was absolutely beautiful! To our eyes' delight, we had an amazing vista of the ocean and could feel the fresh breeze right from our table. As if the vistas and ambiance wasn't enough, the food and service was just as great. If anyone is ever in Malibu, I would highly suggest dining here, the experience alone makes it spectacular.
After an amazing dinner, it was too early for everyone to call it a night, so we headed off to Moonshadows! You know, the famous or infamous, if you prefer, Mel Gibson hang out. I think I was expecting it to be kind of cheesy, but it wasn't. Contrary to my random expectation, it was awesome! It also sits cliffside off of the PCH, and we sat at an outdoor table overlooking the ocean. Between the vodka mojitos and the sound of the waves crashing, this quickly became a favorite of mine. It really was a wonderful way to finish off the incredible day.

My Trip to...

2007-07-19T10:16:00.000-05:00

California is so beautiful! And that is that I only saw Malibu and the different parts of Los Angeles. The weather is simply unreal, it is so perfect that you can't help but feel happy all of the time. Immediately upon my return to Houston, I realize just how much I hated mosquitos!

THURSDAY. We started our trip with a visit to the Getty Villa in Malibu. What a fantastic site! J. Paul Getty has left such an enormous legacy to the collection and research of antiquities and art, and the property and architecture of the villa itself are breathtaking.

We followed this visit with lunch at The Ivy in Beverly Hills, and walking in and out of the shops on Robertson and Rodeo Drive. The food was really tasty at The Ivy, and it has a really great ambiance of light and casual, yet sophisticated and exclusive. Katy and I both had caesar salads with grilled chicken, Owen had the chopped salad and Mark had the lobster ravioli.

After we finished lunch, Mark took us up and down Rodeo Drive. It is amazing how many wonderful shops there are on the drive, and I had always wanted to see, in person, what it felt like to be in the famous stores that people always hear about. And being on Rodeo Drive immediately made me think of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman!

After a nonstop day, we enjoyed an amazing dinner at Toscana in Brentwood. I had grilled salmon with vine-ripened tomatos, yummy! I wish I would have gotten a photo from inside the restaurant, but didn't think of it at the time. The day was certainly not over though, as Mark took us on to our next stop on the express train... SkyBar in West Hollywood at the Mondrian Hotel. SkyBar has such an incredible ambiance, and our group had the best table on the outdoor patio. Lounge tables, chairs and candles inside of empty wine bottles surrounded the lit pool in the center.

The Innocent Man

2007-07-12T11:52:00.000-05:00

John Grisham's first non-fiction is a success! It's an eye-opening story about a wrongfully convicted man who is sentenced to death, and it focuses on just how atrocious certain aspects of our judicial system can be when the wrong people are behind it. This is a great read, and I highly suggest everyone read it, now.

NYC

2007-07-09T12:18:00.000-05:00

The skyline of New York is a monument of a splendour that no pyramids or palaces will ever equal or approach. - Ayn Rand

From the kitchen...

2007-07-05T14:01:00.000-05:00

Citrus Scallops

So Owen and I tried this recipe the other night, and it was pretty tasty. Be careful of the oranges you pick at the grocery store. Make sure they are nice and juicy. We added mango as well. It was good, but I enjoy straight-up seared scallops better.

INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound scallops
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 large oranges, peeled and segmented
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the red bell pepper, green onions and garlic. Cook, stirring for 1 minute. Add the scallops, salt and red pepper flakes. Cook until the scallops are opaque and the red bell pepper is tender, about 4 to 6 minutes.
Stir in the lime zest and juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Cook for 1 minute. Add the oranges and cilantro, cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Freedom

2007-07-04T12:29:00.000-05:00

A brief candle; both ends burning
An endless mile; a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all a part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird
You're free at last.

-Charlie Daniels, written en route to the funeral for his friend, Ronnie Van Zant of the band, Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The Police

2007-07-02T09:05:00.000-05:00

The Police came to Houston on Friday, June 29th, and performed for a sold out crowd at the Toyota Center. They were a huge hit, and lived up to the expectations surrounding the comeback tour. The acoustics were incredible and Sting's voice actually sounded like it does on their CDs... which is nice seeing as that most artists' voices today are completely synthesized and crappy. The three of them (Sting, Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers) were all in perfect form, and the best part about it is that they did it all themselves, without the help of touring instrumental add-ons.

6/29/07 Setlist
Message In A Bottle
Synchronicity II
Walking On The Moon
Voices Inside My Head
When The World Is Running Down
Don't Stand So Close
Driven To Tears
The Bed's Too Big Without You
Truth Hits Everybody
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Wrapped Around Your Finger
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da
Invisible Sun
Walking In Your Footsteps
Can't Stand Losing You
Roxanne
King of Pain
So Lonely
Every Breath You Take
Next To You

Excerpts below from HandStamp Blog on the Houston Chronicle's website.
June 29, 2007
Police return is no bust
Sting said something curious after the Police's tight and inspired two-hour set at the Toyota Center on Friday: "Thank you, Houston. See you again. Good night."

OK, the thank you and the good night are standard-issue stuff, but "see you again" could be a pretty cruel tease. After all, he, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland pulled the chord on their band while it was still riding high more than two decades ago. Clearly fans weren't as ready to have the band turn in its badge.

From the kitchen...

2007-06-30T14:41:00.000-05:00

Vegetable Fried Rice

This dish is so simple and so delicious.... although I want to make it much more often so that I can perfect it.

3 cups cooked rice

2 eggs, beaten (optional)

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup carrot, chopped

1/2 cup bell pepper, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1 spoonful of butter

vegetable oil

sesame oil

soy sauce

salt and pepper

Heat a wok to the maximimum, then coat with vegetable oil. Quickly add the beaten egg and scramble. Add the rice and a spoonful of butter and start mixing, be careful not to let the rice stick to the wok and burn. Cook for 2-3 minutes then add the vegetables and continue to stir. Add

From the kitchen...

2007-06-30T12:38:00.000-05:00

Seared Tuna with Mango Salsa

Taryn, Owen and I tested our culinary skills with a couple of gourmet dishes while she was in town last week. On our first attempt, we made Chicken Marsala, and although it was good, our lack of a large saute pan kind of threw our timing off. I didn't get to take any pictures, but we will definitely attempt it again in the future. On our second (very successful) attempt to be chefs, we made seared tuna with mango salsa accompanied by vegetable fried rice. With a larger saute pan and a new wok, we really did a great job.

The first thing we prepared was the mango salsa. Saute in olive oil some chopped onions and a touch of minced garlic. Once the onion becomes translucent, throw in some chopped jalapenos and mangos. Add some orange juice and sugar and let simmer. This is what you need to end up with.

Next we marinated a beautiful and fresh filet of tuna. Season with salt, pepper and olive oil. Heat your saute pan on high heat and lightly coat pan with olive oil. Cook each side of the tuna filet for about 2-3 minutes, you just want to cook it enough to sear the outside and leave the inside rare.

So now we have the lovely filet of tuna ready, and it is time to make its side dish, vegetable fried rice (post to immediately follow).

Sweet Face

2007-06-28T09:45:00.000-05:00

My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.
--Author Unknown

Tree

2007-06-27T09:29:00.000-05:00

Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and precepts, they preach undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life.

--Hermann Hesse

Don't fall for anything

2007-06-26T10:07:00.000-05:00

Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for -- because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.

--Peter Marshall

Atlas Shrugged

2007-06-25T13:55:00.000-05:00

"Did you really think we want those laws observed?" said Dr. Ferris.
"We want them to be broken. You'd better get it straight that it's not a bunch of boy scouts you're up against... We're after power and we mean it... There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that's the system, Mr. Reardon, that's the game, and once you understand it, you'll be much easier to deal with."

('Atlas Shrugged' by Ayn Rand, 1957)

I took this photo in Rockafeller Center, NYC last December.

Memory.

2007-06-23T14:03:00.000-05:00

A memory is anything that happens and does not completely unhappen.
The result is some trace which is left. The trace may last for a long time or it may last only for a short time. Information that comes into the brain leaves a trace in the altered behaviour of the nerve cells that form the memory surface.

-Edward de Bono, Lateral Thinking, 1970

That first step

2007-06-18T15:27:00.000-05:00

Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.

~Martin Luther King Jr.

I took this photo of the "miraculous staircase" at the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
My fiance and I will be married there in December =)

Ever and on

2007-06-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then?
I cannot say.

-J. R. R. Tolkien

A beautiful sky

2007-06-11T16:02:00.000-05:00

But beauty seen is never lost,

God’s colors all are fast;

The glory of this sunset heaven

Into my soul has passed…..

-John Greenleaf Whittier, Sunset on the Bearcamp, 1876

Georgia

2007-06-06T15:39:00.000-05:00

"Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole."
-Roger Caras

From the Kitchen...

2007-06-05T09:31:00.000-05:00

Saffron Orzo with Shrimp

Sooooo Owen and I tried this dish last night for the first time. It was definitely a success and a keeper, but we didn't add enough salt and spices to bring the dish to a level of excitement. Next time we make it, we'll be sure to wear our Emeril chef hats and kick it up a notch.

Bring 6 cups of broth to a boil and add a pinch of saffron, just enough to flavor the broth. Add 1 lb. of orzo and cook until tender. Add broccoli florets with about 5 minutes to spare on the orzo. Once tender, drain the orzo and set aside.

In a seperate pan, heat olive oil and add garlic and crushed red pepper to saute for a minute or two. Add fresh mushrooms and cook until tender. Add peeled shrimp and saute until pink on both sides.

Once the shrimp are almost done, take off of heat and add to orzo. Mix and add salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. Ready to serve!

Arthur and George

2007-06-04T09:54:00.000-05:00

Arthur and George by Julian Barnes is a story of injustice and spiritualism in the early twentieth century in England centering around Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, and George Edalji, a non-famous lawyer.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a gregarious, creative and outspoken man who is raised believing in chivalry, romance and honor. He is a doctor turned writer, and he becomes very famous for his stories of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

George Edalji is a half-indian lawyer, who suffers injustice based on racism and bigotry in his small hometown in England. He is wrongfully accused of writing malicious letters to numerous people (including himself) and mutilating animals. He serves three years in prison.

The two central characters develop from childhood throughout the novel. They are two very complex characters, and Barnes does a superb job of creating dual/parallel stories up until they meet. Their lives do not cross paths until the middle of the story, when Arthur, who is depressed from his wife's recent death, stumbles across George's case of injustice. Arthur insists on helping George clear his name and get recompense from the home office of England.

Once the two embark on their mission of obtaining a free pardon, they develop a friendship that lasts a lifetime. They learn from each other, especially because they are so different from one another. The book is very good, and the character depth is the driving force in Barnes' work. He does an excellent job of portraying that time period in England, and the novel is based closely upon real events.

Rodrigo's rating: A good read, highly recommended

Quote of the day

2007-06-01T15:52:00.000-05:00

"strength of character does not consist solely of having powerful feelings, but in maintaining one's balance in spite of them. Even with the violence of emotion, judgement and principle must still function like a ship's compass, which records the slightest variations however rough the sea."
-Carl von clausewitz
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

2007-05-29T14:38:00.001-05:00

In Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins recounts his days of being an "economic hit man" for an international consulting firm in this sleeper bestseller.

He begins his story stating that he started writing it in the early 1980s, but bribes and threats (from the government???) always stopped him from taking the next step; publishing it, which he finally did in 2004.

Perkins declares that "Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder. They play a game as old as Empire but one that has taken on terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization."

His main focus is on our government's tactics of politically and economically exploiting disadvantaged countries in pursuit of western culture with development aid money which ultimately enslaves them to the US Government. In other words, enticing weak countries with infrastructure development loans that are inflated highly above amounts needed, which then make the countries default on the loans. This provides leverage for our government and enslaves the countries by making them provide their natural resources as well as play puppet for the political machinations our government tries to create.

Perkins' story is very interesting and holds your attention throughout. It actually reads like a spy novel, and makes me think of all the espionage movies I love (think Spy Game and Bourne Identity). His allegations are deeper than the substance he provides to back them up. I would not be surprised if his experiences as an EHM were dramatized, exaggerated or even fabricated. It is hard to think this man, not anyone of high political or economic stature, would be in these important places meeting important political leaders and shady rebels influencing major cause/effect events that impact entire nations.

There is no doubt that our government employs sometimes-shady tactics of gaining political and economic position, but just keep in mind that Perkins' story is not to be taken word for word. It is a mere account of one man's experiences. Experiences that he claims to feel guilty about, yet he stayed involved with and earned a large salary for 30 plus years.

If nothing else, this story entices us to think critically about what's happening in our world today, and the effects of our current position on future generations.

Rodrigo's rating: A fun sitting-by-the-fireplace-while-its-cold-outside read

From Rodrigo

2007-05-28T11:25:00.000-05:00

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Enjoy!