The show went well last night. Today's producer show will cap off the first week leaving everyone a much deserved few nights off. The cast has weathered the toughest week of a show well and survived to receive two standing ovations for their efforts.
Great job everyone!
The nights off will coincide with the return of Shark Week on Discovery Channel! What a great week this is! Yeah there have been some Shark Week flops before and lots of repeats however this year should be a benchmark for the annual marathon.
Yes there will be some repeats in there from previous years but overall it's still an enjoyable week of marine biology with these ancient predators.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Recipe For Success?
I've been a casual observer of bad reality shows for a long time. Here's the recipe for a moderately successful show, and yes mediocrity is a bar they strive for.
You take a high maintenance "star", surround them with incompetent helpers, and hit the red button on the camera. It's actually that simple. I'm watching, I take that back Amy is watching Nail Files about this woman who has a nail salon called The Painted Nail in Los Angeles. She has an assistant, a publicist, and has been celebrities visiting her store.
Every tiny little thing causes a meltdown mainly due to helpers who don't help much. For example while dining at a very posh restaurant after a stressful day of fixing her assistant's mistakes of not paying the utility bills she gets a call from her assistant saying she is quitting. Now a minute ago she was telling her about how she doesn't trust her anymore and complaining to the camera about how much responsibility she has to take on as if she were Atlas himself. Now she is having a meltdown because the incompetent person quit!
She literally said the line, "How much can one human being take in one day?!"
Gee I don't know, why not ask the starving kids in India about how much they can take in a lifetime. You incompetent, self indulgent, vulgar, elitist, fake drama queen!
That's the drama. It's again that simple! I'd actually love to be a show runner for a show like this. I'd love it. I'd point actual reality out every second of the day to these idiots. I'd take every single foot of tape and design it to put the "star" in the worst light possible.
Anyone wonder about the decline of civilization? Yeah, this is a reason.
You take a high maintenance "star", surround them with incompetent helpers, and hit the red button on the camera. It's actually that simple. I'm watching, I take that back Amy is watching Nail Files about this woman who has a nail salon called The Painted Nail in Los Angeles. She has an assistant, a publicist, and has been celebrities visiting her store.
Every tiny little thing causes a meltdown mainly due to helpers who don't help much. For example while dining at a very posh restaurant after a stressful day of fixing her assistant's mistakes of not paying the utility bills she gets a call from her assistant saying she is quitting. Now a minute ago she was telling her about how she doesn't trust her anymore and complaining to the camera about how much responsibility she has to take on as if she were Atlas himself. Now she is having a meltdown because the incompetent person quit!
She literally said the line, "How much can one human being take in one day?!"
Gee I don't know, why not ask the starving kids in India about how much they can take in a lifetime. You incompetent, self indulgent, vulgar, elitist, fake drama queen!
That's the drama. It's again that simple! I'd actually love to be a show runner for a show like this. I'd love it. I'd point actual reality out every second of the day to these idiots. I'd take every single foot of tape and design it to put the "star" in the worst light possible.
Anyone wonder about the decline of civilization? Yeah, this is a reason.
Rain!
Opening night went very well! The cast and orchestra melded together for a very good show! Over all it was solid despite a glitch or two here and there. Nothing major and nothing the audience would point out though as they don't get scripts to follow before a show:)
The cast party at Jamal's went very well. A rowdy time was had by a few while a good time was had by all. Jamal always lays out a great feast of cast party food as he loves cooking for others as much as I do. We said our goodbyes a little after one AM and headed home for the evening.
This morning I arose a bit after eight and put on a crock pot meal of roast, potatoes, an onion, and a sliced carrot. Along with spices and some beef broth it'll be finishing up late this afternoon. Just in time for a great comfort food meal before heading up for the second show this evening.
All in all it's been a fine week albeit busy week. I knocked off early yesterday afternoon to try and rest up before opening night. It helped, I had the shop in pretty decent shape.
This morning we also had an unexpected surprise. Rain! A full fledged rainstorm complete with thunder and lightning! I was going to mow this morning as some parts of the yard are needing it a bit but that's not happening now. The garden is going to grow very well now though! The squash looks amazing, the weather has been too hot for much tomato growth but the plants are doing well and growing great. The purple tomatillos plant is growing like mad! Next season we'll get things going much earlier as they are supposed to and add more staple crops like onions, potatoes, and such.
I plan on adding two or three more gardens next season as well to really get a lot of crops in the ground. It's about a month away from planting garlic which I cook with a lot. I've been investigating what kind to get, I'm sure there will be more than two or three varieties when we decide to buy.
The cast party at Jamal's went very well. A rowdy time was had by a few while a good time was had by all. Jamal always lays out a great feast of cast party food as he loves cooking for others as much as I do. We said our goodbyes a little after one AM and headed home for the evening.
This morning I arose a bit after eight and put on a crock pot meal of roast, potatoes, an onion, and a sliced carrot. Along with spices and some beef broth it'll be finishing up late this afternoon. Just in time for a great comfort food meal before heading up for the second show this evening.
All in all it's been a fine week albeit busy week. I knocked off early yesterday afternoon to try and rest up before opening night. It helped, I had the shop in pretty decent shape.
This morning we also had an unexpected surprise. Rain! A full fledged rainstorm complete with thunder and lightning! I was going to mow this morning as some parts of the yard are needing it a bit but that's not happening now. The garden is going to grow very well now though! The squash looks amazing, the weather has been too hot for much tomato growth but the plants are doing well and growing great. The purple tomatillos plant is growing like mad! Next season we'll get things going much earlier as they are supposed to and add more staple crops like onions, potatoes, and such.
I plan on adding two or three more gardens next season as well to really get a lot of crops in the ground. It's about a month away from planting garlic which I cook with a lot. I've been investigating what kind to get, I'm sure there will be more than two or three varieties when we decide to buy.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Opening Night
Things went better last night than all previous shows that I've sat in for. The lights will be tight tonight, the actors and show the same.
I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight and waking without the alarm tomorrow. That'll be nice! It's been a long week for sure and now it'll be a nice weekend. It'll be a busy day at work, I know what's there to do.
All in all it's a satisfying feeling though to tech one of these shows. This show is a big show, lots of cast members and it's the season ending show. It's the finale and as such it should be remembered.
Hopefully the audience will be sold out, most summer musicals are sold out but with the Obamaconomy as it is I wouldn't be surprised to see half full houses either. Extra money is scarce with high gas and food prices right now.
I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight and waking without the alarm tomorrow. That'll be nice! It's been a long week for sure and now it'll be a nice weekend. It'll be a busy day at work, I know what's there to do.
All in all it's a satisfying feeling though to tech one of these shows. This show is a big show, lots of cast members and it's the season ending show. It's the finale and as such it should be remembered.
Hopefully the audience will be sold out, most summer musicals are sold out but with the Obamaconomy as it is I wouldn't be surprised to see half full houses either. Extra money is scarce with high gas and food prices right now.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Final Dress Tonight
After tonight it's showtime! The show is gelling and I'm sure the final bugs are ironed out this evening. I made a couple of more tweaks to the lights and a couple of more notes for myself.
I should be perfect this evening and for every show after this. As for now I'm getting ready for another day at work. I'm tired. I woke up tired. I'm mentally drained even though my body is willing.
My shop lacks air conditioning and it's be particularly busy this week. Lots of priorities and me to carry them out.
I've still got my loving family, The Date is still enrolled in school this coming semester, and we're going to do alright. Breaks are hard to come by right now but we'll survive the lack of them.
I should be perfect this evening and for every show after this. As for now I'm getting ready for another day at work. I'm tired. I woke up tired. I'm mentally drained even though my body is willing.
My shop lacks air conditioning and it's be particularly busy this week. Lots of priorities and me to carry them out.
I've still got my loving family, The Date is still enrolled in school this coming semester, and we're going to do alright. Breaks are hard to come by right now but we'll survive the lack of them.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Another Long Night
Thing 2 and I left the theatre again around ten thirty. That makes for a long night and short sleeping hours. I hit the snooze button this morning twice.
The show was much better from last night, I expect it will be better again tonight before final dress tomorrow. Right now Jet is in my lap staring up at me, he had a long morning so far (about ten minutes) of running, chasing the big cats, and attacking anything that might move.
The rabbits are fed and have water, the dog is outside barking at who knows what, and I'm ready to go back to bed. Can't do that though so I'm going to stop and get a coffee and paper at the quick shop on my way to work. That's actually my custom to do so but depending on how hot it is I sometimes get a coke instead.
I'm more than a little upset with Speaker Boehner's debt ceiling plan. It essentially raises the debt ceiling by a one point five trillion dollars and cuts the same amount from spending. It will last until next April and really sounds like a wash to me. The simplest way to do something like this is to promote first a congressional reform act as I've blogged about before and then a ten percent spending cut across the board. Lowering the debt ceiling would be nice along with repealing fully Obamacare. The cherry on top would be a balanced budget amendment!
And that's why I wouldn't get along with anyone in Congress if I were ever elected.
The show was much better from last night, I expect it will be better again tonight before final dress tomorrow. Right now Jet is in my lap staring up at me, he had a long morning so far (about ten minutes) of running, chasing the big cats, and attacking anything that might move.
The rabbits are fed and have water, the dog is outside barking at who knows what, and I'm ready to go back to bed. Can't do that though so I'm going to stop and get a coffee and paper at the quick shop on my way to work. That's actually my custom to do so but depending on how hot it is I sometimes get a coke instead.
I'm more than a little upset with Speaker Boehner's debt ceiling plan. It essentially raises the debt ceiling by a one point five trillion dollars and cuts the same amount from spending. It will last until next April and really sounds like a wash to me. The simplest way to do something like this is to promote first a congressional reform act as I've blogged about before and then a ten percent spending cut across the board. Lowering the debt ceiling would be nice along with repealing fully Obamacare. The cherry on top would be a balanced budget amendment!
And that's why I wouldn't get along with anyone in Congress if I were ever elected.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Long Evening
The start of tech week went well enough. I got there at five thirty along with Thing 2 and we helped Tech Guy with the final stage preparations. We adjusted curtains and gave our best effort in getting an air conditioning unit going again.
After that I went to my perch in the tech booth to start loading cues. There's around thirty cues so it was easy enough. It was the first time I have seen 1776 since I'm not a theatre fan nor a musical fan so I had to find my way in the dark for a bit.
I believe I'll blow one or two cues tonight just because I'm still on the learning curve, by Thursday's final dress I'll be golden though.
I'm still sleepy and even hit the snooze button this morning. That's really pretty amazing for me as I'm usually awake and alert a few minutes before the alarm goes off but lay in bed regardless. That's the joy of tech week, and that's what we sign on for when we do a show:) It's a satisfying tired and a tired you can be proud of.
After that I went to my perch in the tech booth to start loading cues. There's around thirty cues so it was easy enough. It was the first time I have seen 1776 since I'm not a theatre fan nor a musical fan so I had to find my way in the dark for a bit.
I believe I'll blow one or two cues tonight just because I'm still on the learning curve, by Thursday's final dress I'll be golden though.
I'm still sleepy and even hit the snooze button this morning. That's really pretty amazing for me as I'm usually awake and alert a few minutes before the alarm goes off but lay in bed regardless. That's the joy of tech week, and that's what we sign on for when we do a show:) It's a satisfying tired and a tired you can be proud of.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tech Week
Tonight kicks off tech week, the busiest week of any show. The tech crew is brought on board to set light cues, tweak backstage prop wrangling, and get things set for opening night which is Friday.
It'll be a long week of long evenings. The show will be gone through with a fine tooth comb to get everything as polished as it can be. Tech week is also why I'm being selective with the shows I do now, it's a lot of work and demands a lot of time from you.
Fortunately Thing 2 is also stage managing and I probably would have been there anyway to either drop her off or pick her up. But we've got another show together and we'll both be there for it. I can't keep that girl away from the theatre, she'd actually live there if they'd let her. An old cot upstairs in the apartments/prop rooms and she'd be the happiest person in the world.
By the time her theatre career is over with here she'll be part of maybe fifty shows in come capacity, she's on pace for that many and she's going to be a freshman in high school next month! Yeah, she loves her theatre family!
So tonight 1776 gets the tech treatment and I'll be in the booth with my polishing rag.
It'll be a long week of long evenings. The show will be gone through with a fine tooth comb to get everything as polished as it can be. Tech week is also why I'm being selective with the shows I do now, it's a lot of work and demands a lot of time from you.
Fortunately Thing 2 is also stage managing and I probably would have been there anyway to either drop her off or pick her up. But we've got another show together and we'll both be there for it. I can't keep that girl away from the theatre, she'd actually live there if they'd let her. An old cot upstairs in the apartments/prop rooms and she'd be the happiest person in the world.
By the time her theatre career is over with here she'll be part of maybe fifty shows in come capacity, she's on pace for that many and she's going to be a freshman in high school next month! Yeah, she loves her theatre family!
So tonight 1776 gets the tech treatment and I'll be in the booth with my polishing rag.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Worked Hard Saturday
In the morning Tech Guy and I set up the lights for the summer musical and in the evening T and R came over and R and I cut down a tree in the back yard. He cut it down and Thing 2 and I hauled it out to the street for pick up by the city.
Hopefully they'll pick it all up this week and get it out of here.
Nothing much going on today thankfully.
Hopefully they'll pick it all up this week and get it out of here.
Nothing much going on today thankfully.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Nice Evening
We visited with T and R along with Court and Mrs. Beersnob last night. Then we came back home and Court and Filmmaker Friend Chris came over and we just had a fun ole' time!
Nothing but a fun conversation and good memories!
After I came home from work I did catch President Obama pitch a fit on TV about the debt talks breaking down. There is no deal in place but they had come close. 3.7 trillion dollars over a decade? Yeah, that won't happen. Any time politicians can put off spending cuts to a later date they will because they won't happen.
We have a fourteen trillion dollar national debt and a 1.3 trillion dollar deficit this year alone.
Hear this, ANY DEAL must start with congressional reform first and foremost. Congress must be forced to live under the same rules they impose on us. No super sweet retirement pensions, no lifetime health care, no keeping of the campaign war chests. They should serve as intended and go back to the private sector and live with the rules they helped create.
That is the absolute starting position these talks should take.
Nothing but a fun conversation and good memories!
After I came home from work I did catch President Obama pitch a fit on TV about the debt talks breaking down. There is no deal in place but they had come close. 3.7 trillion dollars over a decade? Yeah, that won't happen. Any time politicians can put off spending cuts to a later date they will because they won't happen.
We have a fourteen trillion dollar national debt and a 1.3 trillion dollar deficit this year alone.
Hear this, ANY DEAL must start with congressional reform first and foremost. Congress must be forced to live under the same rules they impose on us. No super sweet retirement pensions, no lifetime health care, no keeping of the campaign war chests. They should serve as intended and go back to the private sector and live with the rules they helped create.
That is the absolute starting position these talks should take.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Woohooo!
Yesterday I painted an entire aircraft, well the first coat anyway. We ran out of time before we could get to the second coat. It's been a long time since I've done that and it felt good that I could still do it well, fast, and efficient!
I was a walking sweaty bundle of clothing after though. I came home and took a shower. Caught a few winks on the couch and then headed to Third Thursday to run the sound for a night of guitar playing.
It went fairly well, a couple of technical glitches here and there but overall a good show. I'd change out the guy who plays at the end and put him in the mix somewhere else though. He's got a high smooth voice and he's a great player and singer but I don't care for his stuff. Everyone else loves him though so he'll probably close the show for many more shows.
It's Friday and I'm so happy that it is! Right now Jet is chasing Baby Kitty around the house. She'll go hide and Jet will poke around and stalk her, very funny for a kitten that's less than a quarter of Baby Kitty's size. Scotch is camped out somewhere and ready for a long day of naps.
I'm ready to put in my eight and kick off the weekend!
I was a walking sweaty bundle of clothing after though. I came home and took a shower. Caught a few winks on the couch and then headed to Third Thursday to run the sound for a night of guitar playing.
It went fairly well, a couple of technical glitches here and there but overall a good show. I'd change out the guy who plays at the end and put him in the mix somewhere else though. He's got a high smooth voice and he's a great player and singer but I don't care for his stuff. Everyone else loves him though so he'll probably close the show for many more shows.
It's Friday and I'm so happy that it is! Right now Jet is chasing Baby Kitty around the house. She'll go hide and Jet will poke around and stalk her, very funny for a kitten that's less than a quarter of Baby Kitty's size. Scotch is camped out somewhere and ready for a long day of naps.
I'm ready to put in my eight and kick off the weekend!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Third Thursday
Woohooo, one of my favorite days of the month!
Tonight is an acoustic guitar show at the theatre and I run tech for it! It's really a great show and anyone is welcome to come up on stage and play. The talent is solid and the songs laid back.
This heat wave is taking a toll on everything. First of all my temperament at work. My fuse is shorter and shorter each day. The fact that we are short handed while other shops are overstocked with people just infuriates me anymore.
It's hot and it's going to stay hot for weeks apparently. Our streak of days over one hundred is in the thirties now I believe. The paper said the record for a streak like this was in the nineteen fifties. So it's not unprecedented but that doesn't make it any cooler either.
Tonight is an acoustic guitar show at the theatre and I run tech for it! It's really a great show and anyone is welcome to come up on stage and play. The talent is solid and the songs laid back.
This heat wave is taking a toll on everything. First of all my temperament at work. My fuse is shorter and shorter each day. The fact that we are short handed while other shops are overstocked with people just infuriates me anymore.
It's hot and it's going to stay hot for weeks apparently. Our streak of days over one hundred is in the thirties now I believe. The paper said the record for a streak like this was in the nineteen fifties. So it's not unprecedented but that doesn't make it any cooler either.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Very Busy Day
First of all it was a hot and busy day at work, that lead into cleaning and organizing the apartments above the theatre that are used as prop rooms now. They were filthy, dirty, dusty, and hot as well. A handful of us attacked them though for the second week in a row and are making very good progress.
In a few more weeks they'll be organized and much easier to access for everyone in the theatre. After that I checked the lights for the musical 1776. I liked how they were set for the most part but will have to make a couple of changes. Mostly the gels will have to be switched out on the light bar in front of the stage.
The pickles are very good but I would like to change the recipe a little and add less canning salt. It called for a quarter of a cup for a gallon and honestly you can taste it and it taste competes with the garlic, onion, and dill and that shouldn't be happening. The second thing I'll change is putting them into the fridge immediately as they are crisp and crunchy but not as crunchy as the last batch from the alternate recipe.
This evening I'm making homemade grilled pizza again. It won't happen next week as I'll be in tech week rehearsals for 1776. So this week is it for a couple of weeks for Wednesday night cooking!
In a few more weeks they'll be organized and much easier to access for everyone in the theatre. After that I checked the lights for the musical 1776. I liked how they were set for the most part but will have to make a couple of changes. Mostly the gels will have to be switched out on the light bar in front of the stage.
The pickles are very good but I would like to change the recipe a little and add less canning salt. It called for a quarter of a cup for a gallon and honestly you can taste it and it taste competes with the garlic, onion, and dill and that shouldn't be happening. The second thing I'll change is putting them into the fridge immediately as they are crisp and crunchy but not as crunchy as the last batch from the alternate recipe.
This evening I'm making homemade grilled pizza again. It won't happen next week as I'll be in tech week rehearsals for 1776. So this week is it for a couple of weeks for Wednesday night cooking!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Pickles
The pickles have gone into the fridge this morning! That means as soon as they cool off all day they should be finished! They'll be cold, very crisp, and garlicy, oniony, dill goodness in a jar!
It's hard not to love a good crisp pickle, I actually enjoy looking at the jar with the pickles and spices around it. It just looks amazingly delicious and makes you hungry for more! Next season I'll be planting several pickling cucumber plants and I'll make gallon jars of them.
They are easy enough to do in large or small quantities. They really lend themselves well to making big batches of them.
Tonight I feast on pickles!
It's hard not to love a good crisp pickle, I actually enjoy looking at the jar with the pickles and spices around it. It just looks amazingly delicious and makes you hungry for more! Next season I'll be planting several pickling cucumber plants and I'll make gallon jars of them.
They are easy enough to do in large or small quantities. They really lend themselves well to making big batches of them.
Tonight I feast on pickles!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Early Morning
I've been awake since nearly three o'clock this morning but in that morning sleepy daze. Aware and awake but still sleeping in a way. I made Italian Beef yesterday and that's what I plan on having for lunch for a couple of days.
It's just an incredible and easy recipe to put together and let cook for hours. Get a roast, a crock pot, some sweet pepper rings in a jar (up to three jars depending on the size of your crock pot) a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix, a little beef broth, and the rest with water to cover the roast.
Put all of the ingredients into the crock pot, roast on the bottom and pour the jars of peppers over it as well as the dressing mix, pour in a little beef broth, and let cook for ten to twelve hours on high.
Take a fork and separate the beef, it should fall apart very easily but get the fat out of there. Scoop out the peppers and put them onto the beef and mix them with the meat, again with a fork. Serve on dinner roll or a bun. You'll be in meat lover's heaven for a good twenty minutes.
The Date and I watched the first season of Breaking Bad yesterday and then Thing 2 and us watched Insidious. She's been wanting to see that for a long time so we rented it and gave it a spin. It was ok but I believe Thing 2 is getting to the age where she realizes horror movies aren't really scary anymore. The Date even said it wasn't very scary. I thought it had a decent story, it crossed over into hokey a couple of times though.
The really bad bad guy that they were setting up the movie for really didn't do much in the end. That kind of sucked as it would have been more fun to unleash that creature instead of letting him almost disappear from the screen.
Breaking Bad is a very good series. The first season is only seven episodes long but we both believe we can get into it. Yeah it's a tough subject to watch as it involves making meth but it's really got enough humor to offset a lot of that horror. It's got drama by the shovelful though and situations pop up that really make you either laugh or cringe or both.
Give it a watch.
It's just an incredible and easy recipe to put together and let cook for hours. Get a roast, a crock pot, some sweet pepper rings in a jar (up to three jars depending on the size of your crock pot) a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix, a little beef broth, and the rest with water to cover the roast.
Put all of the ingredients into the crock pot, roast on the bottom and pour the jars of peppers over it as well as the dressing mix, pour in a little beef broth, and let cook for ten to twelve hours on high.
Take a fork and separate the beef, it should fall apart very easily but get the fat out of there. Scoop out the peppers and put them onto the beef and mix them with the meat, again with a fork. Serve on dinner roll or a bun. You'll be in meat lover's heaven for a good twenty minutes.
The Date and I watched the first season of Breaking Bad yesterday and then Thing 2 and us watched Insidious. She's been wanting to see that for a long time so we rented it and gave it a spin. It was ok but I believe Thing 2 is getting to the age where she realizes horror movies aren't really scary anymore. The Date even said it wasn't very scary. I thought it had a decent story, it crossed over into hokey a couple of times though.
The really bad bad guy that they were setting up the movie for really didn't do much in the end. That kind of sucked as it would have been more fun to unleash that creature instead of letting him almost disappear from the screen.
Breaking Bad is a very good series. The first season is only seven episodes long but we both believe we can get into it. Yeah it's a tough subject to watch as it involves making meth but it's really got enough humor to offset a lot of that horror. It's got drama by the shovelful though and situations pop up that really make you either laugh or cringe or both.
Give it a watch.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Pickles And A Wedding
While I was out getting a haircut yesterday The Date and T had gone to the farmer's market and she brought home a surprise for me. A bag of pickling cucumbers! So I found a different recipe and got right to making a batch of Claussen Clone pickles!
I used this recipe right here this time instead of the recipe that I used last time. The recipe last time was stellar, I just wanted to try something different. There is no shortage of Claussen Clones out there and I'd like to try as many as I can find.
This one was a bit easier as it used less spices and had onion in it while the last one did not utilize onion and had more spices. This one called for fresh dill heads and canning salt, the last one did not use much salt and used dill seed and crushed dill weed.
I did add a tablespoon of red pepper flake to one jar to spice them up and see how that goes. This recipe is also done faster, they set out on the counter for three days first and then go into the fridge for another day. That's four instead of seven days. This recipe is for a full gallon of pickles while the previous recipe was for each quart jar and was a bit more expensive to make as it used more spices.
So now they are on the kitchen counter and I shake them up to make sure the cucumbers are fully covered at all times. After that we attended a wedding.
Hollywood Actor and Red got married last night. It was very nice and the reception was great as well! World famous opera singer Leona Mitchell sang Ava Maria and it literally made everyone weep with how beautiful it was. It was so cool as she took the stage and walked passed the microphone and filled the hall with her voice only.
A great time was had by all! Thank you both for allowing us to be part of such a great time!
I used this recipe right here this time instead of the recipe that I used last time. The recipe last time was stellar, I just wanted to try something different. There is no shortage of Claussen Clones out there and I'd like to try as many as I can find.
This one was a bit easier as it used less spices and had onion in it while the last one did not utilize onion and had more spices. This one called for fresh dill heads and canning salt, the last one did not use much salt and used dill seed and crushed dill weed.
I did add a tablespoon of red pepper flake to one jar to spice them up and see how that goes. This recipe is also done faster, they set out on the counter for three days first and then go into the fridge for another day. That's four instead of seven days. This recipe is for a full gallon of pickles while the previous recipe was for each quart jar and was a bit more expensive to make as it used more spices.
So now they are on the kitchen counter and I shake them up to make sure the cucumbers are fully covered at all times. After that we attended a wedding.
Hollywood Actor and Red got married last night. It was very nice and the reception was great as well! World famous opera singer Leona Mitchell sang Ava Maria and it literally made everyone weep with how beautiful it was. It was so cool as she took the stage and walked passed the microphone and filled the hall with her voice only.
A great time was had by all! Thank you both for allowing us to be part of such a great time!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Weekend And Grilled Pizza
Yes it's Saturday morning! We've got a wedding to attend this afternoon and Thing 2 has set call this morning. I'm going to have to get part of the lawn mowed, the rest I'm going to have to water so it doesn't die off.
The pets are all fed, coffee is brewing, and I'm blogging. It's the right kind of morning, the kind where you wake up! Last night I fell asleep around nine o'clock on the couch and woke back up close to midnight when I decided to head off to bed.
The Date had bathed the bunnies earlier in the evening, then we went to get some new air filters for the air conditioner. It was kind of slow at work but a few important jobs came in that had to be done quickly.
The other night I made pizza on my Big Green Egg. I learned a lot and plan on making it this coming Wednesday as well. Wednesday is typically the night where a couple of people come over and I make a nice meal. I love cooking for people, it's really one of my favorites things to do.
I know I need to do a couple of things different, first I didn't have enough fuel for the Egg to reach the 450-500 degree temps it needed to get to. I'll need to clean it out and start with a fresh bunch of lump charcoal. It hit 350 for a short time and could maintain 300 easily. That made for a longer cooking pizza on the baking stone. It tasted fine but I know I can do better.
Next I need to butter the crusts so they brown up a bit instead of being done and looking undone. Third I want to use a different sausage and possibly make my own pizza sauce. We used Boboli which tasted really good but it was sweet like Papa John's. I like tangy a bit better and found a recipe for that and I want to make it.
Everything else worked just fine though. The dough recipe was simple:
2 cups of flour
3/4 cup of hot water
1 tsp of fast yeast
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of olive oil
Let it rise for a half hour to an hour and put a dab of oil on it so it doesn't crack when it does rise. Then you flatten it out, any old shape will do, spread some oil on it so the sauce doesn't make it soggy, then sauce it, add cheese and your toppings. If your grill is at the right temperature then it should take around eight to nine minutes to finish up. Oh and make sure you cook your ingredients such as raw meats first before putting them onto your pizza.
Drain the grease off of them for a while and your pizza won't be greasy like delivered pizza is. I microwave the pepperoni first for about thirty seconds and let it set on paper towels to get degreased:) It makes for a LOT better pepperoni pizza! Grease isn't floating on top of everything that way.
Grilling pizza is just that simple.
The pets are all fed, coffee is brewing, and I'm blogging. It's the right kind of morning, the kind where you wake up! Last night I fell asleep around nine o'clock on the couch and woke back up close to midnight when I decided to head off to bed.
The Date had bathed the bunnies earlier in the evening, then we went to get some new air filters for the air conditioner. It was kind of slow at work but a few important jobs came in that had to be done quickly.
The other night I made pizza on my Big Green Egg. I learned a lot and plan on making it this coming Wednesday as well. Wednesday is typically the night where a couple of people come over and I make a nice meal. I love cooking for people, it's really one of my favorites things to do.
I know I need to do a couple of things different, first I didn't have enough fuel for the Egg to reach the 450-500 degree temps it needed to get to. I'll need to clean it out and start with a fresh bunch of lump charcoal. It hit 350 for a short time and could maintain 300 easily. That made for a longer cooking pizza on the baking stone. It tasted fine but I know I can do better.
Next I need to butter the crusts so they brown up a bit instead of being done and looking undone. Third I want to use a different sausage and possibly make my own pizza sauce. We used Boboli which tasted really good but it was sweet like Papa John's. I like tangy a bit better and found a recipe for that and I want to make it.
Everything else worked just fine though. The dough recipe was simple:
2 cups of flour
3/4 cup of hot water
1 tsp of fast yeast
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of olive oil
Let it rise for a half hour to an hour and put a dab of oil on it so it doesn't crack when it does rise. Then you flatten it out, any old shape will do, spread some oil on it so the sauce doesn't make it soggy, then sauce it, add cheese and your toppings. If your grill is at the right temperature then it should take around eight to nine minutes to finish up. Oh and make sure you cook your ingredients such as raw meats first before putting them onto your pizza.
Drain the grease off of them for a while and your pizza won't be greasy like delivered pizza is. I microwave the pepperoni first for about thirty seconds and let it set on paper towels to get degreased:) It makes for a LOT better pepperoni pizza! Grease isn't floating on top of everything that way.
Grilling pizza is just that simple.
Friday, July 15, 2011
The Alarm Is Off
It always feels great to turn the alarm clock off on a Friday morning after you get up! It's a lot like meeting a goal successfully. Yesterday was and today is going to be very busy at work, I'm the only one there in my shop. My coworker has gone to a cooking contest at Fort Worth.
It's ok though, I can handle things by myself. It just gets very busy because without fail everyone wants something at the same time and it has to be done right then.
Regardless today is Friday, payday Friday in fact and it feels good! The kitties have been fed and now are running around the house at full speed chasing each other. The rabbits are eating their timothy hay and nicknacks. Zip is outside watching the morning arrive. Me, I'm typing this out to you and getting ready to meet the day.
I hope you have a great day and a fine weekend!
It's ok though, I can handle things by myself. It just gets very busy because without fail everyone wants something at the same time and it has to be done right then.
Regardless today is Friday, payday Friday in fact and it feels good! The kitties have been fed and now are running around the house at full speed chasing each other. The rabbits are eating their timothy hay and nicknacks. Zip is outside watching the morning arrive. Me, I'm typing this out to you and getting ready to meet the day.
I hope you have a great day and a fine weekend!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Here's To Not Caving In
The debt talks are taking front stage this week in politics. So far very little progress has been made. Both sides are agitated with the other side because they won't give in. Time is on the conservative side though as if they hold to their line of deep spending cuts and no taxes then it'll happen with or without a deal.
No deal means there will be automatic deep spending cuts as the debt is the first thing to get serviced and it will be serviced as money will still flow into the government on a daily basis. Obama wants taxes raised though but is refusing to cut his record amount of spending.
Senator Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling but President Obama is singing a different tune. I can't hold that against him though as he was against President Bush's war efforts but has continued every Bush wartime policy. Things are different from the campaign trail than they are after you swear your oath.
However that goes only so far, the Tea Party put into office a massive amount of conservatives with one united goal, cut federal spending. Not only were they put into office on the federal level but at the state and local levels as well, liberals are scarce in the halls of government now. That's a good thing but conservatives are going to have to stick to their campaign promises and rein in government and it's overreaching powers.
We are taxed enough as it is, all three levels local, state, and federal. When I can't pay my bills no one steps in to help so government will have to live under the same restraints as the rest of us, conservative and liberal alike. Normal American families are hurting right now and jobs are scarce, the economy is tanking after the bailouts AND the stimulus package. The Obama administration hasn't got any bullets left to try but to raise taxes which is its ultimate goal anyway.
The problem is he can't. Conservatives hold the House and they won't cave in to any tax raising pressure, hence the standoff. It'll be interesting to see how much in spending cuts happen now and in the future, Obama is stuck and must deal with the House on the Houses' terms now.
No deal means there will be automatic deep spending cuts as the debt is the first thing to get serviced and it will be serviced as money will still flow into the government on a daily basis. Obama wants taxes raised though but is refusing to cut his record amount of spending.
Senator Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling but President Obama is singing a different tune. I can't hold that against him though as he was against President Bush's war efforts but has continued every Bush wartime policy. Things are different from the campaign trail than they are after you swear your oath.
However that goes only so far, the Tea Party put into office a massive amount of conservatives with one united goal, cut federal spending. Not only were they put into office on the federal level but at the state and local levels as well, liberals are scarce in the halls of government now. That's a good thing but conservatives are going to have to stick to their campaign promises and rein in government and it's overreaching powers.
We are taxed enough as it is, all three levels local, state, and federal. When I can't pay my bills no one steps in to help so government will have to live under the same restraints as the rest of us, conservative and liberal alike. Normal American families are hurting right now and jobs are scarce, the economy is tanking after the bailouts AND the stimulus package. The Obama administration hasn't got any bullets left to try but to raise taxes which is its ultimate goal anyway.
The problem is he can't. Conservatives hold the House and they won't cave in to any tax raising pressure, hence the standoff. It'll be interesting to see how much in spending cuts happen now and in the future, Obama is stuck and must deal with the House on the Houses' terms now.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Half Way!
Perhaps I pay too much attention to the day of the week and getting through the day. After work we went to the theatre and started cleaning the upstairs apartments which house all of our props. It was dirty, dusty, and very hot work...until it rained!
Then half of the electricity went out and eventually all as we were about to finish up. We got a good jump on the place though and soon it'll just be organizing things. I came home after and took a shower. I was filthy and sweaty. I fried up some potatoes and onions and had supper.
The Date and Thing 2 were at the theatre for auditions for a teen show. It'll be a traveling show to raise awareness of teenage problems. The Date will have to play one of the adults in the show while Thing 2 will get a part, we just don't know which part yet.
Back to the rain for a moment, it was sweet! It was a heavy rain for a bit and really cooled off the triple digit temperatures. I didn't have to water the garden or anything, it was very nice. A welcome reprieve from the oven baked surroundings of nature.
As I type this all three cats are in their post eating crazy phase. The littlest, Jet, is chasing around the bigger cats and having a great time! The other two have accepted him in just under two weeks and have played with him nonstop. Both are big enough they can hold Jet down with a paw as he fights them so that makes it especially funny!
Then half of the electricity went out and eventually all as we were about to finish up. We got a good jump on the place though and soon it'll just be organizing things. I came home after and took a shower. I was filthy and sweaty. I fried up some potatoes and onions and had supper.
The Date and Thing 2 were at the theatre for auditions for a teen show. It'll be a traveling show to raise awareness of teenage problems. The Date will have to play one of the adults in the show while Thing 2 will get a part, we just don't know which part yet.
Back to the rain for a moment, it was sweet! It was a heavy rain for a bit and really cooled off the triple digit temperatures. I didn't have to water the garden or anything, it was very nice. A welcome reprieve from the oven baked surroundings of nature.
As I type this all three cats are in their post eating crazy phase. The littlest, Jet, is chasing around the bigger cats and having a great time! The other two have accepted him in just under two weeks and have played with him nonstop. Both are big enough they can hold Jet down with a paw as he fights them so that makes it especially funny!
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