Well what do you do when your boy won't go to a Pirate festival, your woman is too tired to play Scrabble or Wii Kart, and you have made enough Latte to keep the house awake for the rest of the day? You create something that you haven't done yet and hope it's a success.
Today's entry seems like part pie crust, and part bread. The end result disappeared so fast, I didnae have to ask if they were good this time!
I am beginning to think that all my good behaviour is reaping Karma. There were two bands that I have been very sad to have missed onver the last couple of years, and somehow they finally have decided to cross the atlantic and play in my little town. The first band, Grendel from Holland played WGT 2K7, and we simply missed them due to impossible logistics and not being able to clone ourselves. I truly regret and rue the fact that I never got to enjoy the show. I have always wondered what happened to SITD because they vanished from the German 2008 WGT festival bands list faster than the vegan blueberry blintzes I made this morning. I was hyped to see them and tagged them as a priority favourite to see, and was sad to have realized that they weren't playing after all. The local University of Toronto radio station, has managed to bring both bands over this year and now I am a happy dude. As I get more jaded about attending concerts or pubs, the attractions must be fantastic to pull me out. I am running to these two at full speed. The really strange thing is that SITD isn't headlining. Imperative Reaction gets that nod. WTF! That's ok for me, I get to leave early and beat the traffic ;)
Happy birthday Canada. I have been cooking up a storm for the last week. With my Godess'sss new dietary change, I have stolen many of her new cookbooks and put them to good use. No, they weren't thrown into the fire! One thing about fire, She loves things hot hot hot! Note to self: Spicy is next to happy, and bland is asking for "off with your head!" :) SO Thanks to a book by Sarah Kramer, and "the Joy of Vegan Baking" I have whipped up with more or less approval my very first fresh: Guacamole, olph4rt's tvp spicyph4rtychili, banana and espresso "ice cream', banana strawberry blueberry "ice cream", tofu scramble, and an awesome homemade super fresh from scratch crumbly flaky apple pie with the Godess'sss own hand ground nutmeg ... .. I have also tried for the first time an iced Americano, which was better and more flavourful than I ever imagined! Who knew! I also put together the espresso machine, and can now actually USE IT TO MAKE COFFEE...again, who knew! Now to drag ma boy outside to enjoy our local celebration with games and animals, fireworks...who knows! ..
Roller coaster week
Current mood: hot
Category: Life
I realize that the weather is a mundane topic, but today it's on all Torontonians mind. Having had a cold snap for the past month, with everyone complaining that winter seems to have forgotten that it's springtime, today is a sudden slap in the face. Getting down to it, currently the temperature at Pearson airport, which is close to where I work, it reports a temperature of 33 celcius, with a humidex of 41. The humidex system, which represents how the air actually feels by incorporating the moisture in the air, the actual thermometer reading, and the barometric pressure. This may sound like garbage to some, but you really have to experience the changes to know what it's all about. In Germany, I believe we experienced low to mid twenties centigrade. When we got home, to Toronto, the temperature was only 16, but if really felt hotter! Here is an excerpt from a news program to explain: What do the humidex readings mean? Less than 29: No discomfort 30 to 39: Some discomfort 40 to 45: Great discomfort; avoid exertion Above 45: Dangerous Above 54: Heat stroke imminent By the way, today broke the record. This, and the fact that Ontario's smog causes 9,500 deaths per year, makes for a great reason to stay inside!
I chopped off my portafilter's spout to analyze my grind/distrubute/tamp techniques. I now realize I have a long way to go! Here is a brief video of my "naked" extraction, and a short milk frothing guide.
With Scotland in mind, I took a trip to the local LCBO and picked up one of these. When I read about the "aged in oak barrels" it seemed like a great idea. After all, I have always loved Vernor's Gingerale, which undergoes the same deal. The beer had a lot of carmel on the top, but I could only drink a third. It got to be too much too fast.
Then " A" wanted me to cook some dinner, but we had only some vegetarian Polish Sausage to fancy, some vegan cheese, but no rolls. I decided to make bread from scratch for the first time. I found a recipe for some cheese and broccoli log, and I figured to mod the book to suit the vegan way. This is the result. Not too bad for the first try. Nobody died. :)
Finally, I had read about and finally created a dish that I could stomach with the dreaded Shitataki noodle. This time only a few people died. I'll get better.
Today is Victoria day here in Kanada. It marks the last day of my holiday so before it is back to work time, here is a more wordy recap than from before
Now that I am rested, I can try to recall what the hell we did over the annual vacation. First off there's the list of memorable if not fleeting greetings to: DM and Phil, thanks for the many travels and sharing some of our fun. I am glad to get down to the nitty gritty of your physche as best as you would allow someone whom you have known for a relatively short period of time into your heads. I am very satisfied with the resullts, and and very fond of your future as a couple no matter what continent you are sharing. My deepest apologies to Phil for the less than proper goodbye, but my thoughts were there when we were not. Men don't do those sappy things anyway...right! It took several days to sort and edit the photo gallery for both the private and public audiences, so enjoy what you can. Feel free to ask for the whole file via email or disc so you can make a print, or I can even mail you a print if you just want one or two. Also special thanks and greetings to those whom we passed and wished that we had a bit more time with, and whose names we never knew how to spell: Gary, (h)Rea, Ben, Leanne, Andrew, and anyone else who wants to hit me over the head and yell "How could you forget me!".
So what the hell did we do other than socialize? Well, that's truly the fun part, so we didn't do too much.
There was the Naturkundemuseum, which is a historical romp through a mostly taxidermed collection of former life. The settings for most of the exhibits are fitting and realistic, but
some are more comical such as the hedgehogs forever fighting over a mouse, a flattened mouse stuck atop a bunch of berrys, and the live bee hive exhibit with a tube going out the window to the real world
. It was cool to watch the Queen (marked with a painted dot) lay her eggs in the hive in real life. The musuem also has a few human remants, interstingly many of which are from the surrounding Leipzig general region. I used my trusty Google WGT map to walk there, but if you ever do this, realize that you will follow to the rear of the museum into a construction zone...the entrance is on Jahnallee!
There was also the trip to the Coffee Baum. Like the Naturkunde place,
It was pretty uninhabited
and so we had free run of the exhibits. There was a little room that simulated the Turkish style including several "smoking devices". Many hand grinders, antique cups, Bach's Coffee music on display, but it was really
a let down after three years of trying
to get there. Too bad we didn't stop for the cake.
A wee bit of Music was also on the agenda. I was very happy to accost .."HTTP: www.hocico.com?>Hocico while they were ordering what looked like a hamburger with a sausage on top...just to commend them on being one of the better reasons to cross the Atlantic this time. Jeeze I hope I talked to the right guy :). Northborne were a little foot in mouth with their words "Who's here from America?...(woo hoo goes the croud)...Who's from Germany? (again woo hoo goes the croud)...Who's from somewhere else? FUCK YOU!"...ahem...needless to say that we are not amused. Strike Northborne off your list!
Wii have opened up the Nintendo Wii, and Wii III are having a go at learning the strange and untimately enjoyable device. It has a built in wi-fi device which makes it easy to hookup to the net. I was pleasntly suprised to see that it came with news and weather live from wherever you want, just by spinning a 3d globe and zooming onto a city. You can add friends to play with from wherever you want...if only I can convince The supreme being to post her Wii number. The owner of coffeegeek.com, and several moderators are sharing and offering to share codes with other cg members like me...in due time (when we get the game) we might all drive karts together. Maybe. Hopefully. In due time. I think that A is most interested in getting a Wii fit
Wii need it, since I have gain a unsuprising 5 pounds since the start of the trip. This is mostly chocolate that I stole from my wife. In the long run, she will thank me! Only half a day of vacation remains, and I just ordered an extra large Pizza for us! By coincidence, beside me is a TV stating how Scots have the hightst rate of heart disease in the Western world. I was shocked to hear this, since I thought that it was us! I doesn't matter, it's not a competition to be happy join!I have found out some healthy Shirataki noodles in my diet will prevent your body from absorbing and readily digesting (and therefore storing) the sugars and fats you eat. I made the mistake of giving "the big A" the ones that were flavoured with seaweed first. Now she won't eat the healthy naked ones. Too bad...too bad for her. ;) Maybe DM wants to share the freezer method of vegan ice (not)cream? I made my crepes, and their inferior size makes them pale in comparison to the Deutschecrepes gemacht und gegessen bei uns!
The challenge of visiting with new friends and comrades as many different coffee spots, eatieries, concerts, museums, and shopping all in a few days was met to the best of our abilities, and here are some of the results!
Period Interval Derivative What does that mean? Precise, carefree temperature control. What does it REALLY mean? I can make a damned great espresso for you anytime, everytime :) Thanks to Suyi from Auber Instruments, Peter in Boston, Mal from Australian Coffeesnobs.au, and Craig Andrews from Coffeegeek for all the ad-vice!
No, I am not talking about the Scots who rule my universe: Kemal and Rob Data (Konflict)...
I am in a bit of a jam with some of this, but at least we have an idea of what is what and when what is...
The good stuff:
16:30 Freitag @ Werk II: Beati Mortui 17:20 Freitag @ Werk II: Ashbury Heights 18:20 Freitag @ Werk II: Santa Hates You 19:20 Freitag @ Werk II: Solar Fake 19:40 Freitag @ Agra: Das Ich 20:30 Freitag @ Werk II: Portion Control -+-+-+ 17:20 Sonnabend @ Agra-Halle: Cyborg Attack 18:10 Sonnabend @ Agra-Halle: Reaper 21:10 Sonnabend @ Agra-Halle: Hocico 22:00 Sonnabend @ Moritzbastei: F.O.D. 23:20 Sonnabend @ Volkspalast: Knifeladder 01:30 Sonnabend @ Volkspalast: In the Nursery -+-+-+ 15:55 Sontag @ Parkbuhne: Din[a]tod 16:30 Sontag @ Agra: Star Industry 17:00 Sontag @ Werk II: Greyhound 17:00 Sontag @ Cintesar: Autograph Session/Mesh 18:20 Sontag @ Agra: Suicidal Romance 18:30 Sontag @ Werk II: Nullvektor 19:40 Sontag @ Parkbuhne: Tactical Sekt 20:00 Sontag @ Krypta/Volkerschlatdenkmal: Sieben 21:00 Sontag @ Parkbuhne: Neurotikfish 21:05 Sontag @ Werk II: Xotox 22:00 Sontag @ Werk II: Straftanz 22:00 Sontag @ Kuppelhalle Volkspalast: Fetischtreffen 22:30 Sontag @ Kohlrabizirkus:Mesh -+-+-+ 16:45 Montag @ Kohlrabizirkus: Gothika 18:30 Montag @ Kohlrabizirkus: Miss Construction 19:30 Montag @ Kohlrabizirkus: Spetznaz 19:30 Montag @ Moritzbastei: Red Emprez 20:25 Montag @ Moritzbastei: Necessary Response 20:30 Montag @ Kohlrabizirkus: Nachtmahr 23:20 Montag @ Kupplehalle Volkspalast: Psychic TV
That list is going into my ipod as an itineary. Something's got to give...and whatever it is, it is all good, just a shame I can't be in two places at once! I am kinda sad about the ones at the Mortizbastei, as the crowds may be too much for us to handle! Ach so... we'll probably see ya at the OLD train station thursday along with the rest of die Amerikaner and UK goths, if you want to assassinate me that's where to go! I will be the small old one with the boring look, the one that doesn't fit in...hahah! Oh ya, I will be wearing black...that should help ;)
As the cleansing continues, time marches to it's own beat, and the Deutschland Day quickly approaches.
What is with the late WGT schedule! There's a very large quantity of folks coming in from out of country to the festival, like us, who want to plan ahead :/ There's less than a week to go, and with the plane leaving this tuesday, it doesn't allow for the elimination needed. So far, any of the bands that I want to see are at different venues, and without a well argued and thought-out-vote-out, some important selection will be royally screwed up. So, are you listening WGT?
So many thoughts and emotions have run through the family over the past few days, as a tough decision was agreed upon by our cat's vet, and she is now passed on. Thanks for sixteen years of love and fun, and you will always be remembered. The experience of this day is a trauma not to be relished. Now I eat until it hurts, play music until it hurts, and do whatever it takes to forget. This is just a mark on our lives, a note to remind us how useless life can be, how easy it is to lose, and how precious it is to have.
full
content
accomplished
..
hot
thirsty
With Scotland in mind, I took a trip to the local LCBO and picked up one of these. When I read about the "aged in oak barrels" it seemed like a great idea. After all, I have always loved Vernor's Gingerale, which undergoes the same deal. The beer had a lot of carmel on the top, but I could only drink a third. It got to be too much too fast.
Then " A" wanted me to cook some dinner, but we had only some vegetarian Polish Sausage to fancy, some vegan cheese, but no rolls. I decided to make bread from scratch for the first time. I found a recipe for some cheese and broccoli log, and I figured to mod the book to suit the vegan way. This is the result. Not too bad for the first try. Nobody died. :) 
Finally, I had read about and finally created a dish that I could stomach with the dreaded Shitataki noodle. This time only a few people died. I'll get better.
Wii have opened up the Nintendo Wii, and Wii III are having a go at learning the strange and untimately enjoyable device. It has a built in wi-fi device which makes it easy to hookup to the net. I was pleasntly suprised to see that it came with news and weather live from wherever you want, just by spinning a 3d globe and zooming onto a city. You can add friends to play with from wherever you want...if only I can convince The supreme being to post her Wii number. The owner of coffeegeek.com, and several moderators are sharing and offering to share codes with other cg members like me...in due time (when we get the game) we might all drive karts together. Maybe. Hopefully. In due time. I think that A is most interested in getting a 
Shirataki noodles
