Smeared Dinner

Tonight I tried out my new LensBaby specialty camera lens out at dinner. Not too dramatic.

I think the salad turned out better.

New Albums: Corelli, Vivaldi

I recently picked up several new albums via Amazon and their Mp3 store. All feature some of the same artists: Vivaldi L’estro armonico and Corelli op. 5 sonatas.

While both are enjoyable, in their own way fresh air comes to mind, the Corelli especially is ripe for its excellent recording, not to mention the abundance of violin flourishes that one simply doesn’t find elsewhere. This is real baroque playing, complete with passion and to my ear, an authentic Italian flavor. While I have come to love Manze’s recording with Egarr (especially so, because of Mr. Egarr’s playing), this one is an ever-capable companion, all the equal, if not beyond.

The Vivaldi is a collection I received likely as one of the first recordings on CD ever — Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert. I loved everyone of those Vivaldi concertos, each one strong in character, ripe in invention. Then came Mr. Biondi and his own case of “fresh air” with Europa Galante. This latest addition to my collection isn’t as “safe” as the Pinnock, nor as “fast” as the Biondi, but is ripe with flavor like a good recipe can be at a finer restaurant. With such ugly CD covers, I may have not otherwise ever tried these. Thanks to Amazon and their willingness to allow us to sample.

Vicky, Christina, Barcelona

I am not sure the title of the movie Vicky, Christina, Barcelona deserves commas, but I saw it today.

It’s kind of a not so important movie, but it was entertaining in an insignificant way. Young adult wealthy girls go to Spain for the “summer,” and situations of love ensue. At the end, they leave, somewhat changed, but not entirely much so. It was good, but I am not sure why.

There were some visual sights, a little food, wine, etc., but nothing so much that you’d say it was a film that emphasized any one thing. Not too much scenery, wine, etc. But the Amateur Gourmet couldn’t stop his hunger for Spanish wine after seeing the film. Didn’t get that. I was only thirsty from too much salt on my popcorn.

Caffeine Diet Coke

Note to self:

Drinking caffeinated diet Coke after 9 PM isn’t a good idea on a Sunday night. You may look scary, and feel tired, Monday morning for work.

Bad Words

I recently read a post by John Pash outlining words he does not like.

He included some I am familiar with, including, in no particular order:

• offal
• broth
• chock
• hoary
• verve
• yadda
• zither
• quorum

I find this fascinating, really. That some folks just love certain words, and we also hate certain words. Is it the sound? The spelling? The connotation?

Incidentally, I don’t like offal either. I find it puzzling for the spelling, and I don’t want to eat those parts of animals. Broth sounds… funny too, not sure why, but it comes with slight discomfort. I prefer to say stock myself.

Hoary isn’t a word I hardly ever use, I don’t hate it, but it seems like it hurts or is prickly. Uncomfortable, again.

I do like chock, and I use it often. Yes, I say “It was chock full of…” I don’t think I’ve used it any other way.

Yadda Yadda harks back to Seinfeld, but I use it. A zither is an instrument. My grandmother often made reference to one. I don’t dislike that word, either.

Verve is a word I use a lot. I like it. It reminds me of the record company, and the groovy 70s tunes that once appeared on that label.

That is all. Time to sleep.

Vacation Photos

There’s nothing quite like a well-deserved vacation.

For those interested, more photos from Banff and Calgary, Alberta.

Milestone

This week, I turn thirty-five years old. It feels like a large milestone, I am not sure why. It seems quite some time since I was just twenty-five; yet, thinking about that again, it seems it was just yesterday. It’s funny how our minds play with the passage of time.

It’s also this week that I will be married. Many folks my age are having their kids now, some on their second. Perhaps I’m late to the party, but then again, this was something I’d never have thought I could have done. So, yes, for me, another milestone.

When big things happen, it’s always wise, I feel, to reflect. In the past, what might I have done differently. To the future, where am I, or where are we, headed?

I’ll share what I come up with when I return.