This morning, I am watching the above titled television broadcast and enjoying the irony. So far, they have featured a story about a man being imprisoned for multiple murders. They found several bodies buried in his front and back yards. Hmm, now we know why those lawns were so lush. There has been a story about a local elementary school burning down. A robbery. And sundry other similar good-time stories. The question that begs to be asked is "For whom is this a good day?"
And the answer is, for me. I have not burned down, been killed and buried in a yard or any other such fate. In fact, I am recovering from an amazing FIFTH anniversary dinner with my guy at Le Pigeon. The only disappointment we encountered was the surprising lack of pigeon on the menu. You would think that with the number of pigeons that seem to thrive everywhere, like the cockroaches of the sky, there would be some good pigeon dishes available. Alas, there were not. At least, not last night. We did, however, enjoy complimentary champagne (thanks, LP!), chanterelle soup with foie gras (yes, I know, PETA; just shut it) and candy cap sandwich, ricotta gnocchi, black cod with mussels and garlic mash in squid ink (thanks, Squid), pork roast over mashed sweet potatoes, bacon cornbread and apple upside down cake with maple ice cream. Needless to say, I have both a food and wine hangover this morning. But it was so worth it.
So, while the local news may be less than inspirational, my own news is pretty darn sweet. I have loved and lived with a fantastic partner for five years who has been a font of support, laughter, adventure, emotion, perspective, insight and love. And we like to celebrate that love by gorging ourselves. Hurrah, Portland, mecca of food!
Back to media, let's talk about the joy and wonder that is The Today Show, shall we? Having not watched it for a long time, I tuned in on Halloween and could not have been more pleased. At first, I was shocked and frightened by seeing Matt Lauer in a blond-ish Luke Skywalker-ish wig and Al Roker wearing what appeared to be a slaughtered animal on his head. Ann was of course the quintessential Darth Vader. We all know she is the one with the whip on that show.
Anyway, just as I was about to turn it off and go spray my eyes with sulfuric acid, the ewoks came out. Oh, the ewoks. Would that there were ewoks on each and every show. What a wonderful world this would be. I am sure I needn't recap their antics as you either witnessed the magic for yourself or you missed it and can experience it first hand by way of YouTube. My explanation cannot possibly do it justice. But it was easily the finest moment in Today show history, and I hope that episode is nominated for an Emmy.
Well, as usual, I have gone on and on talking about pretty much nothing. But my goal here was just to share with you that I am one lucky bastard (not really, I know who my father is), and that, despite what may be shown on Good Day, Oregon, it is, in fact, a good day for me. A very good day. It's fall. We have been having intermittent rain and sunshine every day. The trees on Lovejoy that I can see right now out my window are showing off their peach, red-orange and yellow leaves, and all is well in the world. All except for those people buried in that man's yard.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Highlights of a fall Saturday in Portland
1) PSU Farmers Market
A) Discovering I can walk there faster than I can drive and park.
B) Hot fresh Pine State Biscuits with shiitake mushroom gravy.
C) Visiting with the soup lady and being interrupted by the bearded lady. I've never seen so much facial hair on a woman. It was dark and long and wiry. I wished I had a Lady Bic to offer her.
D) Realizing the streetcar stops right behind the market and takes me all the way home.
2) Cooking class at Sur La Table
A) Walking through the first big rainstorm in Portland to get there.
B) Getting stuck in a lake while crossing the street and soaking my shoes and socks in freezing cold water.
C) Cutting my pinky finger on a paring knife five minutes into class and spending the next hour hiding it from my classmates.
D) My comment while beating the cream for the lemon mousse about being "the man to turn to for " 'stiff peaks' " which silenced the class.
E) The teacher looking at me when instructing the students to please not refill their own wine glasses during class.
F) Learning not to salt the water until it's boiling.
G) Learning that it's much easier to cut root vegetables if I have created a flat surface on one side first. This also helps me avoid further finger cutting.
H) Shopping on the sales floor for some new pans and having no fewer than four salespeople, inside of twenty minutes, ask if I "need some help."
I) Learning that it is not only acceptable, but advisable, to oil the pan when cooking bacon AND salt my food more liberally while cooking.
3) Ben Franklin: Unplugged
A) Josh Kornbluth's uncanny resemblance to Jay Sherman (aka Jon Lovitz's alter ego).
B) Kornbluth's incredible story-telling skill.
C) Kornbluth's ability to keep an audience rapt for 2.5 hours.
D) Walking home and just happening to walk by Cool Moon, which just happened to be open, and supporting a local business by purchasing a bowl of Cereal Killer (butterscotch ice cream with grape nuts).
A) Discovering I can walk there faster than I can drive and park.
B) Hot fresh Pine State Biscuits with shiitake mushroom gravy.
C) Visiting with the soup lady and being interrupted by the bearded lady. I've never seen so much facial hair on a woman. It was dark and long and wiry. I wished I had a Lady Bic to offer her.
D) Realizing the streetcar stops right behind the market and takes me all the way home.
2) Cooking class at Sur La Table
A) Walking through the first big rainstorm in Portland to get there.
B) Getting stuck in a lake while crossing the street and soaking my shoes and socks in freezing cold water.
C) Cutting my pinky finger on a paring knife five minutes into class and spending the next hour hiding it from my classmates.
D) My comment while beating the cream for the lemon mousse about being "the man to turn to for " 'stiff peaks' " which silenced the class.
E) The teacher looking at me when instructing the students to please not refill their own wine glasses during class.
F) Learning not to salt the water until it's boiling.
G) Learning that it's much easier to cut root vegetables if I have created a flat surface on one side first. This also helps me avoid further finger cutting.
H) Shopping on the sales floor for some new pans and having no fewer than four salespeople, inside of twenty minutes, ask if I "need some help."
I) Learning that it is not only acceptable, but advisable, to oil the pan when cooking bacon AND salt my food more liberally while cooking.
3) Ben Franklin: Unplugged
A) Josh Kornbluth's uncanny resemblance to Jay Sherman (aka Jon Lovitz's alter ego).
B) Kornbluth's incredible story-telling skill.
C) Kornbluth's ability to keep an audience rapt for 2.5 hours.
D) Walking home and just happening to walk by Cool Moon, which just happened to be open, and supporting a local business by purchasing a bowl of Cereal Killer (butterscotch ice cream with grape nuts).
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