Unlikely Fantasies & Improbable Realities

"Great Common Truths"

2011-08-25T18:00:00.000-04:00

This entry is taken from an entry in my commonplace book from December 28th of last year. The quote, as I recall, was cited in the Introduction to Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace which I was preparing to read.

"Great common truths are disclosed to man only when he is alone; they are the revelations made by solitude in the thick of collective action."

- Rachel Bespaloff, On the Iliad

Can truth really be a singular event? I'm not discounting the importance and, often, necessity of solitude - indeed, even Christ needed to withdraw from the masses and even from those closest to him in order to gain focus and perspective. Also, history is full of men whose solitary revelations (and the accompanying texts those revelations have spawned and inspired) which have moved men of varying times and places to seek the truth in something greater (and beyond) themselves:

Siddhartha Gautama (a.k.a. the Buddha) and his Eightfold Path and Four Noble Truths
Lao Tzu and his Tao te Ching (lit. 'The Way and Its Power')
Mohammed and the Qu'ran
Moses and the Judeo-Christian (i.e. Old Testament) Law (including, but hardly limited to, the Ten Commandments)

All of these men withdrew to solitude - away from the eyes of accountability - and returned with "great common truths" that have shaped the destinies of millions.

All this begs the questions: Does their lack of accountability in any way diminish the validity of their truth? If we subscribe to a view of truth as absolute, we must answer that question in the negative - because truth is true by its own nature. When those truth begin to conflict, then - as they will, as many "great common truths" tend to become influenced by time, place, and culture - how is the Christian (or, indeed, any discerning thinker) to distinguish one from the other?

Perhaps the Apostle Paul provides the best advice in the final words of his first missive to the Church at Thessalonica: "...do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:20-22; NASB).

Mankind is blessed uniquely amid Creation with the gift of reason. Why, then, would God simply ask us to ignore this fundamental part/aspect of who we are and who we are created to be. We must discern, using that ever-important faculty of reason, "that which is good" regarding those "great common truths."

I believe that truth is absolute, but I also believe that it can be "lost in translation," so to speak. One notices, when he or she take the time and effort to study, that there are many truly common truths shared by all religions - variations on the Golden Rule, the condemnation of murder, thievery, violence, etc. - but there is also divergence as well - fundamental differences which result in division.

It is at this point of divergence where the faculties of reason become so essential. It is here where the responsible and discerning thinker must begin to "test everything." Still, even the most discerning and most responsible thinkers will come to differences in opinion. Like those "lost in translation" truths, reason is often colored (though not always marred) by time, place, and culture, by circumstances like upbringing and socio-economic and political backgrounds.

Do differing reactions to these truths as a result of our reason point us to a conclusion that leads us to believe that reason is, on its own, no basis for discernment? Yes and no. No, in that reason is our God-given gift for testing the truths presented to ascertain their validity. Yes, in that human reason, by virtue of the fact that it is human, is - like humanity itself - deeply flawed. On its own, it accomplishes very little. However, reason coupled with faith - that "evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1, NKJV) - becomes our true litmus test. To determine truth (and especially to determine it in our own solitude), we must consult the Author of Truth and, only then, can we truly "hold fast to that which is good."

Obsessed With Orson

2010-10-21T20:48:00.000-04:00

Every January, the high school where I teach has what we call J-Term. A lot of colleges have these, but very few high schools. Our J-Term is a two-week period where teachers are able to teach (and students are able to take) classes that break out of the 'norm' of a traditional class during the school year. My colleagues have been drawn to classes both within and outside of their designated content areas - teaching classes on the Beatles, opera, presidential assassinations, and a wide variety of authors ranging from Hans Christian Andersen to Edgar Allen Poe, from Robert Louis Stevenson to Agatha Christie. Some of them have taught the same class for years, fine-tuning it into a well-oiled machine; others have never taught the same class twice, picking up new information to add to their educational repertoire.

As for myself, I have taught three J-Terms at this point, none of them really in my content area, but based on interests of my own. I've taught an acting class (which, I learned the hard way, cannot be done in two weeks - thankfully, they've let me expand it out to a one semester class), a comic book class (focusing on both the literature and history of the graphic medium), and a class on world mythology (not merely being content to focus on Greco-Roman or Norse mythology). Obviously, I tend to fall into the 'no-repeats' camp.

This year, I've decided to teach a class on the life and art of Orson Welles, simply called "The Art of Welles." (I happened to think this title a clever play on Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," but I'm not anticipating many kids being able to 'get' that.) Here's the course description I had to type up: "In the history of American entertainment, few names stand as tall or as proud as Orson Welles. A visionary talent and self-proclaimed genius, Welles mastered the worlds of theater, radio, television, and film over the course of his fifty-year career. This class will discuss the oeuvre of Welles, paying special attention to his triumphs (Citizen Kane, Touch of Evil, The Third Man), his failures (including unfinished productions of Don Quixote and The Other Side of the Wind), and his controversies (like those surrounding Citizen Kane and his immortal 'War of the Worlds' broadcast), noting how these play a role in the life of the artist."

Since I lit upon the prospect of this class, I've been excitedly hunting for Welles biographies, trying to learn as much as possible about this fascinating figure. I've gathered two biographies that are relatively short and sweet (one, written by Ben Walters for the British "Life & Times" series, covers the first 35 years of his life in a scant 90 pages, while the other, written by F.X. Feeney for Taschen Publishing, is mainly a lot of pictures with captions in three languages), so I'm looking for something with a bit more substance. I'm thinking about This is Orson Welles by Peter Bogdanovich for the class text. Anyone have any recommendations for some supplementary material?

Welles is a truly fascinating figure to me, a very ironic and vivid picture of art imitating life. From wunderkind to pariah in only a few short years, his own rise and fall closely mirrors those of the characters he was so fond of playing - from the classics of Shakespeare, like Macbeth or King Lear, to the characters he created himself, like Charles Foster Kane or Gregory Arkadin. His greatest downfall, like these great characters themselves, was his own ego, his own self-conceived genius, fed into by hubris. True, he was a brilliant artist... but what are the limits of the artist? What is his overall role? When does he need to take control and when does he need to step back?

I, for one, truly look forward to asking and answering these questions between now and January. I also look forward to immersing myself in Welles' films and radio plays - a lot of which I have yet to experience. Mostly, I look forward to showing these things to students who may never have experienced them before! It's going to be a lot of fun... and I just can't wait to get started!

When Stephen Met "When Eddie Met Salad" - A Restaurant Review

2010-07-03T14:10:00.007-04:00

The California Roll Salad at When Eddie Met Salad

In the never-ending quest to never make my blog (a.) a consistently updated look at my ghastly inner workings and (b.) about any one thing in particular (which I suppose, works hand-in-hand with that consistency issue), I have decided to add another layer to my already scattered repertoire of varying blog hats - restaurant critic! I'm fairly critical (though not always intentionally) and I love food, so this was bound to happen sooner or later.

Today, while out with Mom and Emilee (my sister) on our bi-weekly trip to the Castleton Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, we stopped by a nice little gem of a strip mall restaurant that had caught our eye on our previous excursion - When Eddie Met Salad.

Really, in the interest of being honest, it was the name that caught our attention first. Emilee and I liked that it reminded us of one chick flick we both actually enjoy (When Harry Met Sally, natch) and Mom liked that it had 'Eddie' in it (as that's her husband's/our father's name). As the three of us have been fairly interested in eating healthy lately as well, a restaurant that specializes in various types of salads seemed right up our alley. So the two of them decided (independently of me, because - let's face it - I'll pretty much eat anything) that we would stop there for lunch today.

We walked in just after 11am, which is when the store opens. In all probability, we were the first customers of the day. The interior of the store was filled with small tables in chairs and the sparse decor led me to believe that this place was all about the food.

As near as I can figure, When Eddie Met Salad (hereafter referred to as WEMS) attempts to do what Panera did for sandwiches or Noodles & Co. did for... well, noodle dishes - update them a bit and give them a new, creative spin. If creativity was what what the titular 'Eddie' had in mind, then mission accomplished! What I found after looking at the massive order board were a number of wild choices, each more creative and original than the last!

The menu includes not only classic salads like a Caesar and Cobb salad, but also features saladized (it's a word now - I made it one) versions of international dishes like Chicken Cordon Bleu (a chicken salad with ham, tomatoes, croutons, mozzarella, and honey mustard dressing), Philly Cheesesteak (Iceberg with roast beef, mushrooms, onions, peppers, mozzarella, croutons, and Italian dressing), and - my eventual pick - a California roll (with imitation crab, diced cucumbers, fresh avacado, black sesame seeds, and a wasabi ranch dressing). Check out their full menu on their website: some of these combos have to be seen (and tasted) to be believed!

I truly enjoyed the California Roll salad. My love for sushi (and my desire around 11am for Japanese food) led me to this salad and I was not disappointed. The lettuce (Eddie's own 'house mix' which, unless I'm mistaken, included iceberg and romaine lettuces) serves as the base of this salad - natch - and takes the place of the vinegared rice in the traditional sushi version of a California roll. The lettuce and the diced cucumber provide a nice textural contrast from the 'soft' ingredients like the crab and the avacado (which was cut into right before my very eyes - huzzah! Freshness!).

The real star of this dish, though, was the wasabi ranch dressing. It packs all the punch of the wasabi you know and love from a sushi restaurant with the cooling consistency of ranch dressing. It was a delight! My one complaint is that there was a LOT of it! Eventually, it became so overwhelming that I could no longer taste the fresh ingredients for all the eye-watering wasabi. (Note to self: Next time, dressing on the SIDE!)

My mother ordered the Cranberry Spinach Salad (romaine and spinach with dried cranberries, slivered almonds, black sesame seeds, feta cheese, and a (balsamic?) vinaigrette. She also really enjoyed her salad, siting her love of the cranberry-feta combo that occurs. (Mom's a bit of a sucker for either feta or a berry-cheese combo. She's cool like that.)

Emilee took advantage of one of the cooler options that a place like WEMS had to offer - a build-your-own salad. Literally one-fourth of the menu is covered with a listing of option so great that the mind reels a bit at first glance. However, she sorted through it like a champ, opting for a house mix salad with avacado, red onions, and cucumber with a chipotle ranch dressing (which may or may not have included bacon - neither of us could tell).

Another thing that made me (or probably Mom, since she bought lunch) happy was the price. For the amount of food you get, the prices at WEMS were very reasonable - anywhere from $4.99 to $6.59 for a small salad (which, themselves, are pretty large) and from $5.99 to $7.59 for a regular salad. I, a man of healthy appetites, ordered the regular-sized California Roll Salad and was MORE than sated by the end of the meal.

WEMS also has wraps and sandwiches for those who prefer typical 'eating out' fare (each priced at $6.59), but make no mistake - the salads are king here!

The general consensus at the table was positive. Emilee enjoyed the freedom to choose her ingredients and lamented that there wasn't a location closer to where we live (on Indy's south side - Are you reading this, Eddie? Untapped markets in Greenwood!) I loved the brazen creativity of the menu and Mom, as stated earlier, loved the slavor profiles on her salad.

Mom did comment - and I was inclined to agree - that the greens didn't seem that fresh. I'm not sure if it was the way it was cut, but the greens seemed like they came out of a bag. I hope this wasn't the case and it didn't really hamper my enjoyment of the meal, but I like to see fresh veggies used whenever possible.

So... to recap:

The Good: creative menu; well-balanced food options; variety; build-your-own salad; well-priced

The Bad: atmosphere (a bit blase from what I could tell); freshness of greens?

Total Rating: Four out of five stars

Recommendation: WEMS has four locations throughout the area - 96th St, Carmel, Downtown, and 86th & Michigan - so check one out and see how good this stuff is for yourself!

Have a local restaurant - not a chain, but a good homegrown kinda place - you wanna see me review? Shoot me an e-mail at sfoxwort@gmail.com!

Wins for the Weekend

2010-06-20T18:19:00.004-04:00

Some little 'wins' that helped make this weekend a memorable one for me:

Read the entirety of Warren Ellis and John Cassaday's Planetary graphic novel series this weekend. I first started reading the series in high school and the final issue (#27) came out last fall (it was on an indefinite hiatus for about three years and came out at best sporadically after that).

It had always been one of those books I really loved reading - it captured the imagination and filled you with a spirit of wonder - but it wasn't until this weekend when I put them all together and read them one after another that I realized just how... breathtaking the whole presented image really was. How seemless the story became. If you read one comics series (not including limited runs like Watchmen and The Dark Knight Returns), read Planetary - there really is something for everyone in there!

Here's a link to the cover of

Planetary #27

the book's final issue. (Marvel at Cassaday's amazing art!)

I bought a new car on Thursday - a white 2002 Chevy Malibu - and have been driving it around all weekend. Nothing really epic to report, but it's nice to have a reliable vehicle to get from A to B in. (Illinois friends, this means I'm in for possible roadtrips later this summer.)

I've taken a summer job at Barnes & Noble (where I worked before becoming a teacher at Covenant) in order to get some extra cash. Last night, I was shelving some books in the bargain section and noted that someone had taken all of the copies of Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope" and moved them from their designated section to the bargain section.

This ticks me off for two reasons: (1.) You have political feelings. Awesome. So do I. So does everyone. Airing them out in a forum like Barnes & Noble by doing some lame, childish faux-covert ops move is not only juvenile, it's not going to convince anyone of anything except how dumb you are. (2.) When you put things back in the wrong spot, someone else who is not you has to put them back in the right spot. Sometimes, this person is me. I'm not your mom. Clean up your messes, people!

I probably would have continued to be mad, but when I got to the section they were supposed to be in and got down to put them all away, I found they had been replaced with one solitary copy of this book. I mean, how can you stay mad about that?! Short answer: you can't.
On my way home from work last night, I got an odd phone call from a group of my Illinois friends who decided to call me out of the blue and taunt me. It amused me and made me miss all of them a great deal. Which is why I'm contemplating a trip up there sometime between now and August. 'Cause they're good people.
Today is Father's Day and, in addition to me getting my dad a 'Best of ZZ Top' CD, the whole family went out to Smokey Bones for some barbecue! I'm a big fan of barbecue myself and managed to take down their BBQ Chicken - an entire half-chicken covered in their sweet barbecue sauce. It was very delicious and, if I'm honest, I can say I'm still a little full from the ordeal.
After lunch, I headed out to see a production of "Rabbit Hole" at Spotlight Players. I've done a couple of shows at Spotlight now (with another one on the way in August - tell your friends!) and knew a couple of people affiliated with the production. Brent Wooldridge, the director, was in "Sorry, Wrong Number" with me last summer, then directed me in "Dearly Beloved," and was also in "Insane With Power" with me immediately after that. So I know him well enough to be in trouble if I weren't there. My friend Ericka Barker - whom I met after auditions for "Dearly Beloved" - had managed to snag the lead in this show also, so I had to see her too. I had just seen her about a month or two back in "When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder" and thought she did wonderfully in both shows, pulling off a level of emotional intensity in both productions that I was just astounded by! If this weren't the last day of this production, I'd encourage you all to go see it. Sadly, though, you can't.

Now, I'm gonna go home and eat food. Maybe finish watching season two of "Mad Men". We shall see.

What were some of the highlights of your weekend?

Summer Potato Salad

2010-06-02T17:55:00.007-04:00

My mom has gotten me into eating food that's as fresh as possible - and I kinda like it. We got to the local Farmer's Market about every other week, buy local produce and dairy at the grocery store whenever possible, and Mom gets an order from something called Farm Fresh every other week.

Farm Fresh buys from local farms/food preparation places and delivers some great food to your doorstep however often you decide to pay for it. It's opened up our eyes to some great food possibilities and revealed to the family some new favorites. Occasionally, when Mom has leftovers (or things she's sure we'd enjoy) from Farm Fresh, she'll pass them along to my sister Emilee or myself.

Last weekend, Mom gave me a half a bag of small fingerling potatoes (I believe) and I decided to be a bit adventurous and craft my own little riff on a classic potato salad using whatever ingredients I happened to have around. I think I was successful!

I think this version is a great salute to the classic potato salad you know and love! The red wine vinegar and horseradish add a little bite, which balances nicely against the cooling sensation of the fresh dill (which I will be growing in my garden this summer!). With the weather warming up, what better time to try out this new take on a well-loved classic?

NOTE: I substituted red potatoes for the fingerling potatoes mentioned about for the second time I made this salad (which is what I based the recipe off of). Any small, thin-skinned potato will work fine, but if you like russets or yukon golds, you'll want to peel your taters first.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. medium to small red potatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces, skins on!
2 eggs, hard-boiled then chopped
1/2 c. mayonnaise (homemade is best)
1/4 c. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1 dill pickle, finely chopped
2 green onions, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tbsp. fresh dill, roughly chopped
2 tsp. paprika
- salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Place potatoes in salted water and bring to boil. Cook until they are easily piercable with a fork (not quite fork-tender/mashed potato-stage - you want them just after al dente).
Drain water from potatoes and add to a large bowl. WHILE THE POTATOES ARE STILL WARM, add mayo, mustard, horseradish, and vinegar. Stir together until the potatoes are evenly coated. (If you like your potato salad wetter, add more mayo.)
Add eggs, celery, pickle, onion, and garlic and stir until everything is evenly incorporated.
Finish with dill, paprika, and salt & pepper, stirring after each to make sure everything is evenly distributed.
Cover and chill in the refrigerator for a few hours or until ready to serve.

Serve chilled.

Serves: 3-5
Serving Suggestions: This salad is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite cookout foods - burgers, brats, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, ribs... whatever! Serve it cool on a hot summer day alongside your favorite grilled fare and a cool, refreshing glass of lemonade or beer (if you go in for that sort of thing).

10 Books in 2010

2010-03-28T19:45:00.005-04:00

Last month, my department head challenged me to read ten books before the end of this year (2010) and, for whatever reason, I agreed. I enjoy reading, but I often don't have as much time to devote to it as I would like. Last year, I managed to get through something like six or seven books - many of them ones I'd read before.

These are some of the selections I've made for myself this year:

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck
I first read this American classic in high school, but I didn't really enjoy it then (mainly because reading Steinbeck's "The Pearl" as a freshman left a bad taste in my mouth). However, after reading and enjoying "East of Eden" last summer, I decided to pick this book up at Half Price Books and give Steinbeck another go. I'm almost done with this one and have really enjoyed it the second time through.

"Smoke and Mirrors" by Neil Gaiman
I'm a big fan of Neil Gaiman and have been for years (ever since reading "American Gods" in college). Since then, I like to try and read a Gaiman book every year. This book, Gaiman's second collection of short stories (I own all three), is a favorite of mine, containing a couple of my favorite works of his, like "We Can Get Them For You Wholesale," "Murder Mysteries," and "Snow, Glass, Apples." I haven't read this one in about five years, so it'll be fun to revisit some of these stories again.

"John Adams" by David McCullough
This one is a book that's been recommended to me by my department head, whose opinion I generally trust implicitly when it comes to good books to read (he recommended two books I enjoyed last summer - "Miss Lonelyhearts" and the aforementioned "East of Eden"). I haven't seen the Paul Giamatti HBO miniseries yet, but I figure it'd be better to read the book first. I think it'll be a good start to my summer reading.

"Other Voices, Other Rooms" or "Answered Prayers" by Truman Capote
I read both "In Cold Blood" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" while I was a bookseller at Barnes & Noble and fell absolutely in love with Capote's prose. I vaguely recalled reading one of his short stories, "A Christmas Memory," when I was in middle school... but what eighth grader is really equipped to comprehend the nuance of Capote? I've been stocking up on Capote novels in hopes that I'll later get a chance to read them - now seems like a great time to read one of or both of these books that have been waiting to be read.

"Dubliners" by James Joyce
I got an itch to read some James Joyce last year and got about four short stories into Joyce's first novel. I figured it would be better to start with some of his early work rather than jumping into the more difficult "Ulysses" (which I bought today at Half Price Books) and "Finnegan's Wake." I enjoyed what I read, but had to put it down due to my workload. This is another one I'd love to pick up now that spring is upon us.

"Orthodoxy" and "The Everlasting Man" by G.K. Chesterton
I read most of "The Everlasting Man" in my senior year of high school, but will likely be using it as a basis for one of my classes next year, so this one seems like a logical choice for reading this year. "Orthodoxy" has also been on my 'to-read' list for years and having a mandate to read ten books pushes it to the forefront. I've been an admirer of Chesterton for years and would love to read his masterwork.

For right now, I'm still looking for other books to read. I'm not sure if 'plays' qualify as books or not, because that would likely add a few reads to my list. I actually need some more non-fiction books, having only three on my list at the moment. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Melodic Monday - Within the Recesses of My Own Head

2010-02-01T14:54:00.003-05:00

This is an old feature I've decided to resurrect (after almost a year since my previous 'Melodic Monday' entry). I've never really considered myself an overly "musical" person. Sure, I sing from time to time, but I've never been exceptionally gifted in any area of music. Not really. (There are some who will say that I am a good singer and, while I enjoy it, going to college and befriending a number of music majors drove away any delusion that I'm what anyone would consider "gifted.")

With my Acting class no longer meeting during fourth period (it was a semester-long class in the fall), I find that I now have an additional prep period - usually during one of my least lucid moments of the day. Having some catchy music to hum/sing generally helps me get through this part of the day (well, that and caffeine). I usually put on my YouTube playlist and go to town, listening to artists and bands as varied and diverse as Jay-Z and Feist, Kiss and the Swell Season, Fuel and Iron & Wine.

Today, though, I found songs not even on my standard playlist running through my head, which seemed odd to me. Here's a list of the songs that have been running through my head today (complete with YouTube videos, to allow you to get them stuck in your head as well). Enjoy!

Carol Channing - "Hello, Dolly!"
Though I've never seen it, I am vaguely familiar with the musical "Hello Dolly!" and really enjoy it - particularly the title song. Forget Barbra Streisand - for my money, no one captures the wonder and charisma of the titular Dolly than the person for whom the role was written, Carol Channing. Couldn't tell you why, but this song was stuck in my head through the entirety of first period.

Bonnie Tyler - "It's a Heartache"
Much like "Dolly," I'm not entirely sure how this song managed to weasel its way into my head. However, when second period rolled around, who should be mentally serenading me by Ms. "Total Eclipse of the Heart" herself. While others of her songs are decidedly more well-known (particularly "Holding Out for a Hero" and the aforementioned "Eclipse"), this song remains something of an 'unsung hero' in Tyler's repertoire. It captures the emotion of "Eclipse" while using softer elements, showcasing Tyler's vaguely raspy voice to full effect. Lovely!

Janis Joplin - "Piece of My Heart"
This one's been in my head perennially since November. It was responsible for igniting my love of Janis Joplin. There's something about the emotion in the song that pulls me in and want to join her, shouting the bold challenge from the rooftops to any takers out there who would like to "take another little piece of my heart." Awesome. I can realistically see myself devoting an entire "Melodic Monday" to Joplin at some point in the near future. Stay tuned!

Reel Big Fish - "Sell Out"
This was very probably one of the first ska songs I was ever really exposed to. I always loved, even as a middle schooler who didn't really understand the word, the irony of a band becoming famous and 'selling out' as the result of a song all about the dangers and ills of selling out. Lines like "the radio plays what they want you to hear" and "the record company's gonna give me lots of money" always struck me as amusing when juxtaposed with the reality that this song was a huge radio hit in its day. Beyond that, it's just dang catchy!
(*NOTE* - The first part of the music video is pretty obnoxious. The song itself starts at 1:45 into the video. You're welcome!)

Fergie - "Be Italian"
Nine was easily my favorite movie of last year. Part of it was the cast - Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, and Fergie. This latter inclusion hardly seemed a fitting addition to the cast... until I heard this track. It's easily one of my favorite parts of the show and makes me wonder why Fergie the artist has wasted so much time singing pop music that does nothing to showcase her true talents. This song has found its way into my head a lot lately... eventually, I'm just going to have to break down and buy the Nine movie soundtrack...

What songs have you been listening to today?

A Passing Conversation

2010-01-14T18:38:00.004-05:00

So I swung by Rally's tonight, as I do on occasion from time to time when I'm tired and in no mood to cook, and, upon reaching the checkout window, I notice a typed sign facing outward. It reads as followed:

"COMPLETE THE SURVEY ON THE BACK OF YOUR RECEIPT AND RECEIVE A 'FREE' BIG BUFORD!"

I immediately noticed that there were quotation marks around the word "FREE" and found them odd. So, when the woman - I didn't catch her name, so let's call her... Maeve - when Maeve came back to collect my money, I asked her for a reason. The conversation went something like this:

Stephen: "Why is 'FREE' in quotation marks?"

Maeve: "Excuse me?"

Stephen: "On your sign there. It says '"FREE" Big Buford.' Is it really free?"

Maeve: "Umm... I don't know what that means."

Stephen: "Then why is it in quotations?"

Maeve: "I don't know... I guess because our manager's an idiot!"

(At this point, 'Maeve' broke out into raucous laughter and turned to one of her co-workers.)

Maeve: "He asked why 'free' is in quotation marks on this sign..."

Stephen (through the window to the co-worker): "It says 'FREE' (air quotes) Big Buford..."

Maeve: "...and I told him it was because our manager was an idiot!"

(More raucous laughter.)

Maeve: "Of course, he's not here right now, so..."

Stephen: "Yeah, I gathered that from the fact that you were shouting our conversation across the kitchen..."

(More raucous laughter.)

Maybe it's not that funny, but it really amused me at the moment.

2009: A Retrospectacular!

2009-12-31T15:10:00.002-05:00

And now, for your viewing pleasure... a 2009 retrospectacular!

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Performed in three back-to-back-to-back community theater productions!
Did you keep your new years' resolutions? Not so much, really.

Reflecting On…
New Years: Hung out at home with my little sister, watching movies and being kinda lame.
Valentine's Day: Nothing special - wanted to watch some Kevin Costner movies, but was too busy with school and the play.
Easter: Overcoming some insane migraines, I performed in Indianapolis First Church of the Nazarene's Easter Production as Simon Peter. Had my world pulled out from under me upon hearing the news that my good friend Annika Dace had died earlier in the day.
Spring Break: Not much special - hung out and got some much needed rest!
Memorial Day Weekend: Not sure I remember. Probably spent some time with family, though.
Fourth of July: Went over to my dad's cousin's house and set off some fireworks with family members.
Thanksgiving: As I do every year, I went over to my cousin Roberta's house and ate amazing food. Then spent the evening with my friend Jade and her gentleman friend, hanging out and chatting.
Christmas: Went over to my sister Emilee's, ate breakfast & opened presents. Then, went over to Mom & Dad's and prepared Christmas dinner - chicken saltimbocca, asparagus & fennel risotto, and delicata squash & gruyere dip.
Your Birthday: Drove up to Illinois to visit some friends and got to hang out with my pals - the Daces (Tiffany, Trevor, and Mama Cathy), the Aumillers, Mandie Gossage, and Cirena Evenson.

Did anyone close to you give birth? Three of my teacher friends from school all had babies just a few months ago at the beginning of this school year.
Did anyone close to you die? My dear friend Annika Dace passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 26
What countries did you visit? Has Chicago declared independence yet?
What was your biggest purchase of the year? Other than massive hospital bills, I think my biggest purchase of '09 was the topcoat I bought earlier this week.

Remember a ____ Memory
Sad: Finding out that my friend Annika had died.
Angry: Sitting in traffic at Southport & Emerson three days before Christmas
Happy: Any time spent with friends and family
Silly: Performing as John Curtis Buntner in "Dearly Beloved" at MerryMAC Players or Speed Freak in "Insane With Power" at Spotlight Players

What do you wish you'd done more of? Sleeping
What do you wish you'd done less of? Worrying

Favorites of the Year
Movie: Presently, I'd have to say Nine.
Book: I don't think I read any new books this year aside from Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book... so I'll go with that.
TV Program: "Lost," "Battlestar Galactica," "Dexter," "Glee," or "Dollhouse"
Musical Artist: I really got into Tom Waits, the Swell Season, Bob Dylan, and Adele much more this year.
Song: "My Life Would Suck Without You" by Kelly Clarkson
Concert: Didn't go to any concerts in '09...
Restaurant: Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Celebrity/Public Figure: Daniel Day-Lewis
Where did most of your money go? Bills. As per usual.
What song will always remind you of 2009? Unfortunately, "Party in the USA"...

Compared to last year
Happier or sadder? Happier.
Thinner or fatter? Oh, probably fatter. Undoubtedly fatter.
Richer or poorer? I feel poorer. Who knows, that may be the case.

What political issue stirred you the most? Couldn't rightly say...
Who do you miss? Annika, obviously. My paternal grandparents as well. Also, all my other friends around the world - particularly the ones I don't get to see so often.
Who was the best new person you met? New students, new coworkers, and a couple of new friends along the way!
Tell me a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: Never judge a book by it's author.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No - I'm a lover, not a hater.
What did you want and get? The opportunity to act in not one, but THREE different productions this summer!
What did you want and not get? Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men...
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men...
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Business comfortable (not to be confused with business casual)
Who kept you sane? God alone.

Who…
...were you closest to in your family? My sister.
...did you become closer to in your family? My sister.
...were you closest to, friends-wise? Probably my sister.
...won your heart? My students. Love those kids.
...did you lose touch with? I'm horrible about staying in touch, so probably LOTS of people!
...impacted you the most? A lot of people in a lot of little ways.

Top 10 Movies of 2009:
1. Nine
2. Inglourious Basterds
3. Star Trek
4. The Hangover
5. Funny People
6. Julie & Julia
7. Monsters vs. Aliens
8. Up
9. Watchmen
10. Couples Retreat

Top Ten Movies I Wish I Had Seen in 2009:
1. Up in the Air
2. The Hurt Locker
3. (500) Days of Summer
4. Coraline
5. The Invention of Lying
6. A Serious Man
7. District 9
8. Bruno
9. The Informant!
10. Invictus

Top Five Books I Read in 2009:
1. East of Eden by John Steinbeck
2. The Road by Cormac McCarthy
3. Candide by Voltaire
4. Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West
5. The Stranger by Albert Camus

Barbecued Chicken with Peach Barbecue Sauce

2009-08-29T17:29:00.003-04:00

I was posting earlier today about some cooking I've done recently and mentioned some barbecued chicken I made earlier this week. My roommate Brett and his girlfriend Emily were over and we collectively decided to do some BBQ chicken. Part of that included me making a homemade barbecue sauce (the base recipe I've already posted here) and I recalled last weekend when I was over at mom and dad's eating a fresh peach. I had mentioned to my mom at the time that the peach would be a great additive for a barbecue sauce. So, I set about experimenting with my standard sauce and I was pretty pleased with the result (as was my super-picky roommate!). (Sorry, no pictures with this one. Didn't even think to take any!)

Peach Barbecued Chicken

Ingredients:

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or 5-6 chicken legs)
kosher salt
fresh-cracked pepper
smoked paprika
paprika
garlic powder
onion powder
cumin
pinch of cayenne pepper
Peach Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows)

Directions:

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
Mix together equal amounts of the smoked paprika, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin (about a teaspoon each) with the cayenne pepper in a bowl. This is the dry rub that will cover each piece of chicken - if you don't think you'll have enough, double the recipe!
Season your chicken with salt and pepper on both sides, then rub the spice mixture onto both sides of the chicken.
Grill your chicken over medium-high heat, about three minutes per side. After your first flip, cover the just-grilled chicken with the peach barbecue sauce. Flip again and repeat.
Make sure you don't overcook your chicken; it'll dry out. One of the best things about barbecue chicken is the moist texture when it's cooked properly. When you can feel that the chicken in cooked through (and you can generally tell by how much give there is in the meat), take it off the grill. Also, make sure you let it rest awhile too; that'll keep the juices in the chicken, which also helps keep the meat moist.

Peach Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:

1/2 red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves (or one large clove), chopped
olive oil
pinch of kosher salt
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 fresh peach, sliced or chopped
3 tbsp. light brown sugar
1 c. ketchup
2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. dark molasses
2 tbsp. grade A light amber maple syrup (grade B syrup would be awesome, too!)
2 tbsp. peach jam
5-6 splashes of hot sauce (I like Frank's Redhot)

Directions:

In a small saucepan, sautee onions and garlic in olive oil, seasoning with a pinch of kosher salt. When the onions and garlic start to soften, add the red wine vinegar and reduce by about a third.
Once the vinegar has reduced, add the peach and brown sugar, stir, and cook, uncovered, allowing the peaches to caramelize and soften a bit.
When the sugar has dissolved and the peaches have softened, add the ketchup, mustard, molasses, maple syrup, peach jam, and hot sauce. Stir together until well-blended and bring to a simmer on low heat, allowing all the flavors to marry together. (This can take anywhere from five minutes to a half an hour.)
Strain the sauce into another bowl through a strainer getting out as much sauce as possible, while leaving the onions, peaches, and garlic in the strainer.
Make sure you reserve some sauce to pour over the top of the chicken (as you don't want to reuse sauce you've spread over semi-raw chicken). It really adds to the sweetness of the dish!

Serves: 3 or 4
Serving Suggestions: When we had this the other night, we had some fresh Indiana buttered sweet corn on the cob, which turned out to be a great accompaniment! However, ANY typical BBQ side would work with this chicken - potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans, cornbread, macaroni salad, or anything else you typically like to eat with BBQ! The sweetness of the sauce might be complimented by something sweet (like corn), tart (cucumber salad), or savory (baked beans). In terms of wine pairings (if you're into that stuff), nothing fits better with BBQ than a cold beer (summer ales would be best - Fat Tire, Oberon, etc.).

Eggs Benedict a la Foxy

2009-08-29T13:56:00.008-04:00

Since school started up, I haven't had as much time for cooking as I might like. I've managed to do a few things (like an awesome BBQ chicken made with a homemade peach barbecue sauce), but one of the best times for me to get some cooking in is Saturday mornings when I wake up. (Sleeping in makes this meal "brunch" for me.) I love to eat breakfast, but I rarely have time to make it during the week... so Saturday is the BEST time to get the culinary juices flowing on the most important meal of the day!

NOTE: This is hardly a 'traditional' eggs benedict, but is just my own twist on a classic. To make a traditional benedict, replace two slices of bread with an English muffin and every couple of slices of bacon with Canadian bacon. However, I rarely have those ingredients on-hand, so I came up with this. Enjoy!

Eggs Benedict ala Foxy

Eggs Benedict
Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 tbsp. wine vinegar (I like the flavor of red wine.)
kosher salt
4-8 strips of thick bacon
4 slices of wheat bread
Holladaise Sauce (recipe below)
parsley (for garnish)

Directions:

Put 2-3 inches of water in a large non-stick pot. Salt and bring the water to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, add vinegar to the water.
While waiting for your water to simmer, put your bacon in a nonstick skillet and cook until done. You'll want one or two pieces of bacon per piece of toast, so cook as many as it takes. (I go 'two-per', so I'd cook eight.)
Crack eggs into individual cups and gently lower them one at a time into the simmering water. Make sure you don't overcrowd the eggs in your pot!
Poach eggs in simmering water for 2-4 minutes until they reach your desired level of done-ness. (I like runny yolks, so I usually go 2-2.5 minutes.)
While eggs are poaching, pop your bread into the toaster and get it toasted to desired toasted-ness.
Remove eggs from the poach bath with a slotted spoon and place them on a texture-less rag or some paper towel in order to drain them.
Remove bacon from pan and drain the grease off on some paper towels. (Use different paper towels than the ones you drained the eggs on.)
Put two pieces of toast down on a plate. Put down one or two strips of bacon on each slice, then top with a poached egg. Drizzle the hollandaise over the whole thing and garnish with fresh-cracked pepper and some fresh parsley (if you want).

Hollandaise Sauce (recipe borrowed from Tyler Florence)
Ingredients:

2 egg yolks
1 tsp. dry mustard (I like to use Colman's)
pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tbsp. water
1 c. butter, melted
lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine yolks, mustard, cayenne, and water in the blender. Then, with the blender still running, slowly add the melted butter until completely combined.
Turn blender off, then taste and season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice as needed.
Keep warm while you poach your eggs. (I put it in a saucepan under low heat until the elements need to be brought together.)

Serves: 2 (or four if part of a breakfast smorgasbord)
Serving suggestions: This dish is certainly not a 'light' breakfast by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of the richness of this dish can be cut by serving it with some fresh fruit (in the summer, fresh peaches, melon, and berries work well; in the fall, apples, bananas, and grapes would be a good decision). Also, serving with orange juice is another great way to cut through the richness. If you're having this for brunch, you might replace the orange juice with a mimosa (if you're into that kinda thing).

Quotes of the Day

2009-08-19T08:41:00.004-04:00

Sorry about my quite long absence. Perhaps one day, I will update with a lengthy post about my busy summer, though that seems unlikely. However, school is back in session, my computer still won't connect to the Internet and I'm left to do any and all updating from school (where I spend most of my time teaching).

Usually when I'm at school, I find myself doing a "Quote of the Day" for the freshmen, which I've found most of them generally ignore. I pull quotes off of a website called BrainyQuote.com and try to keep things interesting by having a different theme for every week. This week (and, if we're being honest, last week as well), I've been putting up quotes by Greek philosophers. Here are some of the ones I've used this week:

Thursday, August 13:
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."
- Archilochus (c. 680-645 BC)

Friday, August 14:
"The unexamined life is not worth living."
- Socrates (469-399 BC)

Monday, August 17:
"A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men."
- Plato (427-347 BC)

Tuesday, August 18:
"At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice, he is the worst."
- Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Wednesday, August 19:
"Those who have virtue in their mouths and neglect it in practice are like a harp which emits a sound pleasing to others while itself is insensible of music."
- Diogenes (412-323 BC)

Stephen's Summer Gardening Project: Week 4

2009-06-20T11:49:00.018-04:00

So, I didn't blog last weekend about my gardening adventures (my bad), but there has been significant growth in my garden over the last two weeks! In all honesty, the weather in Indiana have been ideal for gardening - lots of rain coupled intermittently with warm, sunny days. Fantastic! I've been finding myself using every opportunity to use my herbs lately in my cooking, which is just fantastic! I can already tell the difference that fresh herbs make on my cooking! Whether it's making the garlic-dill aioli (seen below) or putting some fresh basil on a hamburger, fresh herbs really do make all the difference!

In order to get my plants optimum sun exposure, I've spread them out on the deck, necessitating my taking two pictures this time instead of the usual one:

Now, let's go through them all plant-by-plant, shall we?

My Thai basil has gotten a lot fuller over the last couple of weeks, huh? The last time you saw it, it was fairly puny... how, it's quite productive and I couldn't be happier! I like the peppery flavor of this herb. I'm currently thinking of ideas on how best to pair this with my Thai chiles!

My purple ruffles basil has also beefed up. I've not quite gotten to the point where I need to pinch off the flowers, but if it keeps going at this rate, I may have to! I had a hamburger this last week that included this basil, some avocado, and a purple Cherokee heirloom tomato (more on that later) which was divine! This basil has a licorice flavor that is just fantastic!

My fernleaf dill seems to double in size every week! It's almost hitting the rim of our deck, it's gotten so tall! I may have to stake this pretty soon if it keeps up at this rate! Look, it's already leaning! I had initially begun pinching flowers off of this one, but I think I'll put a hold on that, at least for the time being, until I can better control it's rate of growth! I used a bunch of this in my garlic-dill aioli (again, scroll down to Friday's first blog entry for the recipe) and it gave it such a nice flavor! A very versatile and bold herb!

My fresh rosemary has done alright for itself these last couple of weeks. So far, I've not used it as much as the other herbs I've planted, but will likely use it if I make a spice rub for some meat or poultry or if I make anything Italian! I love the flavor of this herb and can't wait to use more of it!

My parsley, on the other hand, has done quite well, bushing up and growing a couple of extra stalks! I use this in spice rubs as well, but also as garnish! It's a lot of fun to chop parsley and use it to finish dishes like pasta or fish! If I make paella this summer like I want to, you can bet that this will get used in there!

When I went to Lowe's to buy more pots a couple weeks back, I picked up some fresh marjoram, which has been a great addition to spice rubs and pasta dishes. It's very similar in flavor to oregano, but I find it has a bit of an earthier quality than oregano does. I've got a lot of it here, so there'll be plenty of it to use as the summer goes on!

And now, my veggie plants:

My purple Cherokee heirloom tomato plant has done a lot better since I moved it to a larger pot! I've even seen some buds forming toward the top of the plant:
According to my mom, the buds at the top mean that the plant will start producing fruit very soon! (She already has some Early Girl tomatoes coming in from her garden. Not very big yet, mind you, but growing in!) I'll be excited to start growing and eating my own tomatoes! I found some purple Cherokees in the heirloom tomatoes pile at Kroger last week and had to satisfy my curiosity and pick up a couple! Here's what they'll look like when they come in:
This wasn't an overly-large tomato, but it had a good deal of flavor. There was a mild flavor to te tomato and a spicy, almost smoky aftertaste that I found quite enjoyable! I thought it no wonder that these are considered some of the best tasting tomatoes available! I sliced the other one and put it on a burger (as mentioned above) and felt it really enhanced the flavor of said sandwich! YUM!

This is my green zebra tomato plant, which is now occupying the pot the purple Cherokee plant used to occupy. It's been doing alright so far - no buds at the top yet to speak of. These tomatoes are a complete mystery to me, so I look forward to trying some new things with them. I might even use them for fried green tomatoes, if I'm able!

My orange Thai chili peppers have also been flourishing as of late. Again, no fruit quite yet, but the leaves have gotten a lot more prevalent, which I can only assume is a good thing! As I mentioned earlier, I'm thinking of things to do with these bad boys when they finally grow in. Right now, I'm thinking of making a spicy Thai barbeque sauce that's a modification of my classic barbeque sauce recipe using my Thai chiles and Thai basil. Not sure how I'm gonna put it all together yet, but it should be pretty tasty!

I also picked up some marigolds at Lowe's while I was over there a couple of weeks back, in order to keep the bugs off of my tomato plants! They were all pretty much dead when I bought them (in fact, they looked downright pathetic!), but they've sprung to life as a result of the rain and warm sunshine we've gotten the last couple of weeks. These are the only ones currently in bloom, but the other ones are beginning to bud and I anticipate them opening up within the next few days!

So, on the gardening front... so far, so good! More to come (especially if I end up with some baby tomatoes in the next week), so stay tuned!

Friday's Top Five - Comic Book Superheroes

2009-06-19T11:02:00.004-04:00

It's been awhile since I've done a comic book themed Top Five, so I figured I'd take the opportunity today to do one based on my favorite comic book superheroes. I've long been fascinated by comic books and the fun stories of costumed heroes and vigilantes contained within, so it's only logical that said fascination should spill out onto my blog from time to time.

5. The Incredible Hulk (art by Bryan Hitch)
"Mister Hyde meets Frankenstein". That was the idea that spawned the Incredible Hulk. Mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner gets caught in the wake of his own gamma bomb and is transformed into the living, breathing engine of destruction known as the Hulk! Now, I'm all about inner turmoil and no one does that better than the Hulk. Banner literally has a monster living inside of him. The epic battle with this character is not against any random foe, but against himself. That's good stuff!

4. Swamp Thing (art by Steve Bissette and John Totleben)
Created by Berni Wrightson and Len Wein and perfected by Alan Moore, this creature of the swamp evolved into one of the most compelling characters of the 1980s. Moore turned Swamp Thing into a true monster by abandoning his humanity in favor of making him an earth elemental, using him not only to tell truly horrific monster stories but to raise awareness for environmental dangers. Despite his slow speech and relative unknown status, Swamp Thing is awesome!

3. Batman (art by Tony Daniel)
The masked avenger of Gotham City, Batman stands as the pinnacle of human potential. A master detective, trained martial artist, inventor, scientist, and all-around jack-of-all-trades, Bruce Wayne is literally everything a man can be all rolled into one. The best Batman stories, in my mind, center on his insanity (which, in my mind, is the only way Batman makes sense). Still, it's his pure humanity (no superpowers here) coupled with his amazing rogues gallery (filled with villains like the Joker, the Scarecrow, the Penguin, the Riddler, the Mad Hatter, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman) that make Batman one of my all-time faves!

2. Captain America (art by John Cassaday)
The ultimate soldier, Captain America is a holdover from the WW2 mentality given form and substance in the 21st century! With enhanced speed, strength, stamina, and agility, Captain America isn't just a superhero - he's a symbol of everything that makes America great and good. Recently killed in his own series and replaced by once-sidekick Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers - the original Cap - is slated to return next month in Captain America: Reborn, which promises to be one of the big comic events of the year!

1. Plastic Man (art by Kyle Baker)
Created in 1941 by Jack Cole, Plastic Man is one of the first comic book superheroes. Not only that, but he is also one of the first to incorporate humor into the superhero genre, making comics literally comic. While he's been hit or miss over the last several decades, he has proven a trooper in the DCU, having been a member of the JLA fighting alongside Superman and Batman and earning at least three ongoing series in the course of his almost 70 years in print. Having been fascinated with this character since childhood, Plastic Man remains my favorite comic book character to this day!

Honorable Mentions: Rorshach (Moore's Watchmen), Morpheus (Gaiman's Sandman), Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Daredevil

So... what are some of your favorite comic book superheroes?

Grilled Tuna Steaks with Grilled Asparagus and a Garlic-Dill Aioli

2009-06-19T00:11:00.005-04:00

Summer, in my mind, is one of the best times of the year to cook! Herbs are growing fresh, al fresco dining is enjoyable, and grilling outside is not only a possibly, but practically a requirement! Some of my favorite meals are grillable, like the one I made tonight for my roommate and I. We had a "guys-night-in" and celebrated in the least masculine way I can think of - we ate fish and watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Still... I had fun anyway, and my roommate really seemed to enjoy his tuna steak!

Eating fish is just fantastic, particularly a hearty piece of fish like a tuna steak. It's not as fatty as beef and it contains a lot of Omega-3s. I'm not sure what those are, exactly, but I hear them mentioned by a lot of health nuts, so I assume they're good for you... At any rate, I thought this meal was a leaner alternative to a huge hunk of beef (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Grilled Tuna Steaks with Grilled Asparagus and a Garlic-Dill Aioli

Tuna Steaks
Ingredients:

2 tuna steaks (mine were pretty thick - probably at least half a pound each pre-cooking)
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil

Directions:

Heat your grill to medium-low heat.
Season both sides of your tuna steak with salt and pepper. Also drizzle both sides with olive oil.
Cook on the grill until your tuna has a nice, firm outer texture. (Turn only once, if possible.) If it's good quality tuna (sushi-grade), you'll want it no doner than medium. For lesser quality, medium-well to well is probably okay.

After the first flip - doesn't that look scrumptious?!

Grilled Asparagus
Ingredients:

1 lb. of asparagus stalks (green or white, it doesn't matter)
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil

Directions:

Wash your asparagus and remove the ends of the stalks, leaving the more tender top (spear) portions.
Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.
Put out on the grill about the same time as your tuna steaks. If you have an upper section of your grill, go ahead and set the stalks up there. If not, find a non-hot spot on your grill. If all goes well, your asparagus and tuna should finish up right around the same time.

This has easily become my favorite way to prepare asparagus! It turns out so fantastic and has such a rustic look, flavor, and texture! YUM!

Garlic-Dill Aioli
Use this sauce as a substitute for traditional tartar sauce. It gives a very nice fresh flavor that I found preferable to tartar sauce, plus it also makes a really nice dressing for the asparagus!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup good mayonnaise (I like to make my own!)
two cloves of garlic, minced or finely chopped
juice from 1/2 a lemon
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Add the minced garlic, chopped dill, and lemon juice to the mayonnaise and stir until well combined. Make sure you taste-test it and add salt and pepper if you think you need them. You may also want to add more dill. (If you think you might want to add less dill, put in a smaller amount and test it. Cooking is ALL ABOUT the trial and error!)

VARIATION! If you really like a super-lemony flavor, add some fresh lemon zest to your aioli. Also, if you're not too keen on dill, this recipe would also work with finely chopped basil or tarragon.

I decided to get a little creative with plating (something I've never really tried before). This is how the final product turned out:

Note that I put a sprig of fresh parsley on top of the tuna as a garnish! Both that and the dill for the aioli came from my summer garden! I think the only thing this plate is missing is some more diverse color - something warm, like a red or a yellow. Perhaps some sauteed bell peppers? Something to consider...

Serves: 2 (for four, add two more tuna steaks and, perhaps, another pound of asparagus)
Serving Suggestions: I've pretty much prepared your whole meal for you this time. If you don't like asparagus, it might be nice to substitute a light salad made of colorful summer foods, like summer squash, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers, grilled, seasoned with salt and pepper, and drizzled with good extra virgin olive oil. You can, of course, substitute the aioli for regular tartar sauce (but where's the fun in that?!). Also, if you go in for that kind of thing, this dish would pair nicely with a robust red wine like a Pinot Noir or a dry white wine like a Chardonnay. But again, that's only if you go in for that kind of thing.
________

Watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona got me thinking about how much the summer weather makes me want to prepare something like a paella or some tapas and a pitcher of sangria. It makes me think about having some friends over this summer and just hang out, eat some good Spanish food and leisurely enjoy the pleasure of one another's company. No pressure to do anything but sit around and be incredibly chill. *Sigh* That would be awesome!

Any takers...? ;)

Summer Reading List Update

2009-06-14T23:27:00.003-04:00

Yes, I know, you were probably expecting a gardening update by this point, but I've yet to take pictures of my garden this weekend, so that will have to wait until tomorrow, I'm afraid. Until then, here's an update on my summer reading plans.

Before summer had technically even begun, I'd started my summer reading list. I jumped in with a novella by American author Nathanael West called Miss Lonelyhearts. Lonelyhearts chronicles the life of a man employed at a local paper writing the titular advice column. The book is a satire of 1920s mores and values and offers some interesting thoughts on religion and Man's need for a Savior. This book was recommended to me by my fellow teacher David Trujillo and was definitely a book that made me want to find other books to read!

After Miss Lonelyhearts, I found myself wandering into the world of The Stranger by French author Albert Camus (pronounced al-BEAR ca-MOO) on recommendation by another fellow teacher, Kyle Hopkins. In The Stranger, Camus plays an existential game with his reader as he tells the story of a man who finds himself, amid his mother's funeral and a decision to marry, in the middle of a murder trial. Camus places his reader directly in the place of the man and asks that we place ourselves squarely in his shoes. A very compelling read.

Currently, I am reading (on recommendation from my good friend and literary goddess, Mandie Gossage, who has promised to read it alongside me) Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Granted, this was an Oprah Book Club pick, but rest assured, that is NOT the reason I'm reading it! I enjoyed the film based on McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, so I decided picking up this book might be a good move. So far, getting into McCarthy's prose is taking some getting used to - the man uses no quotation marks to delineate characters speaking and uses apostraphes sparingly, if at all. Still, there is a poetry in his prose that I find both compelling and beautiful. I look forward to finishing this one up!

Now, you might notice that none of the above books appeared on the summer reading list I posted here back in April. Well, presuming that I finish The Road in timely fashion, I'll be picking up three other books that did appear on my list. They are:

The Stories of John Cheever by John Cheever
East of Eden by John Steinbeck (on recommendation from fellow teachers David Trujillo and Nanci Slagle)
And, if I have time, Everything That Rises Must Converge by Flannery O'Connor (on recommendation from David Trujillo and Mandie Gossage)

If I can get through all of those in the next two months, maybe I'll look at picking up something else... but I'll have to get through all of those first!

Stay tuned! Garden update tomorrow!

Easy Fettuccine with Fresh Herbs

2009-06-11T12:23:00.003-04:00

I've been posting for the last couple of weeks about my garden and how well it's doing. While there will be another update on Saturday (count on it!), I wanted to showcase one of the dishes I've come up with using some of the fresh herbs from my garden! It's quick and easy and the perfect light meal for a summer day!

Easy Fettuccine with Fresh Herbs

Ingredients:

1 lb. fettuccine*
salt, to taste
fresh parsley**
fresh marjoram**
fresh rosemary **
fresh purple ruffles basil**
fresh Thai basil**
crushed red pepper flake (optional)
extra virgin olive oil
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

* Any 'ribbon' pasta (long, thin, flat noodle) should work fine here. Linguine is a good substitute. Spaghetti can work too if you don't have the others on hand.
** Substitutions can easily be made for any of the herbs. If you can't come across purple ruffles & Thai basil, plain ol' sweet basil will work okay. No marjoram? Use oregano. Amounts are up to the taste of the chef. I use a 2:1 purple to Thai basil ratio. Marjoram and rosemary can be overpowering, so you might want to use them sparingly.

Preparation:

Bring about five quarts of salted water to a boil. Add pasta when a rolling boil is reached. Prepare according to the instructions on the box (usually between 8-11 minutes).
While the pasta cooks, do a rough chop of your parsley, marjoram, and rosemary and a chiffonade of your basils. Set aside.
Once your pasta has reached al dente, drain it into a colander or strainer. DO NOT RINSE! This tends to give your pasta a slimy texture.
Plate your pasta. Grate some Parmesan cheese over the top and give it a little drizzle of olive oil. Finish with your herbs and red pepper flake (if using - I would highly recommend using it, as it adds a great spicy flavor).
Serve immediately!

Serves: 4 (6-8 as a side)
Sering Suggestions: Serve this great pasta as a side or as a main dish (a GREAT vegetarian entree). If serving as a side, this would go great with an herb-rubbed or grilled chicken (maybe finished with a little lemon). Also, serving it with some crusty Italian bread would be great to sop up some of the ambient oil and stray herbs left after the pasta is gone! If you're into the food-wine pairing, this dish would go great with a Chardonnay.

How Does His Garden Grow?: Summer Gardening 2009 - Week 2

2009-06-06T15:08:00.015-04:00

So, last week I blogged about the beginning of my garden and how my new foray into horticulture ensued. Last week was filled with optimal growing conditions - lots of sun by day, lots of rain by night - so my garden got off to a GREAT start! It seemed like the size of some of my plants doubled overnight!

Here's what my garden looks like now:

Notice I have an extra pot out and three new plants! First, let's check on the status of last week's plants!

This is my Thai basil! I picked some leaves of this one yesterday to add to a pasta dish I made (maybe I'll post the recipe in the next day or so) and loved the slightly spicy flavor that it lends to the food I cook with it! I look forward to using this herb even more in the days/weeks to come!

This is my purple ruffles basil, which I also used in the pasta dish I made yesterday. It's fragrance is just fantastic and it has a much different, but equally tasty flavor to the Thai basil. Of all the plants from last week, this one has shown the most progress so far! And, after seeing how tasty it is, I couldn't be happier!

My fernleaf dill - I've not used any of this yet, mainly because I read online that it has a 'shelf-life' once you start harvesting it. So, in order to get the most out of my dill, I'm gonna try to just grow it for as long as I can. We'll see how that works out!

This is my Cherokee purple heirloom tomato plant. It's gotten a lot bigger over the past week and I think it'll be ready to start growing fruit in the next couple of weeks. Right now, I have it in a pot by itself, but I think it might need some more room for growth. I need to talk to my roommate about possibly making some garden space for it somewhere the backyard. That'll free up some room in this pot for more herbs!

My orange Thai chiles. This little guy has also done a good deal of growing in the last week. He's gotten a bit taller and grown a lot more leaves. I'm thinking about how to do a "Thai BBQ Sauce" using these and my Thai basil. It'll be a spicy sauce like you might get on hot wings. I look forward to concocting that formula in my head and trying to create it!

And now for the new additions!

Ah, fresh rosemary! As fragrant as it is flavorful, nothing beats this herb when it comes to Italian cuisine, poultry rubs, or just a sprig of something that smells good! I used some of this herb in my Herb-Crusted Grilled Chicken with Goat Cheese (from my recipe on Wednesday), but now that I'm able to grow my own, I'll likely be using it A LOT more!

Fresh parsley is an incredibly versatile herb and, for that reason, I felt I would be remiss not to include some in my garden! I love this herb chopped on top of pasta or pizza... and, as pasta is so easy to prepare, not having access to parsley seemed like a foolish endeavor for me!

Before I left the Farmer's Market today, I had to visit my favorite salesgirls who sold the heirloom tomatoes and make another purchase from them! This week, they talked me into this Green Zebra heirloom tomato plant. Apparently, this one has a more tart flavor than most tomatoes and will likely start producing fairly early. Yes, that means I'll be enjoying tomatoes earlier than you! :) Right now, it's in a fairly small pot that I had lying around. This week (probably Monday), I'll likely head over to Lowe's and pick up another big terra cotta pot (like I have the rest of my garden in) to house this tomato plant. (I'll probably also pick up a couple more herbs, so stay tuned!)

Friday's Top Five - TV Comedies

2009-06-05T09:10:00.005-04:00

So, here's a feature I haven't done in a while (since the end of January actually). Thought I might resurrect it and reveal yet another five things I really enjoy and the reasons why. Today, we'll be talking about the TV shows that make me laugh the most. Many people who know me know that I prefer the television dramas to the comedies (mainly due to their episodic nature & film-like production quality). Today is not time for that, though. It's time for comedy.

5. "Family Guy" (1999-present)
Now I'll be the first one to admit that I don't laugh at this show nearly as much as I used to. Like so many other shows, it's gotten to a point where it's too much about the shock value and has become very preachy with regard to the political views of series creator Seth MacFarlane. That having been said, the early episodes of this show - particularly the first three seasons - were witty, original, and laugh-out-loud funny (particularly with regard to its unpredictability).

4. "The Simpsons" (1989-present)
Say what you will about the declining quality of this show in recent years (heaven knows I've said plenty), but it is difficult to deny that "The Simpsons" is one of the funniest shows of the last twenty years. Granted, most of their genius was contained to their first six seasons or so, but the brilliance in those seasons is incredible... all culminating the the two-part cliffhanger "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" At this point, I feel the show lost a lot of steam, but it's impossible to overlook its contribution up to that point.

3."The Office" (BBC version; 2001-2003)
In my mind, anyone who references "The Office" and is not talking about the BBC version is not a true "Office" fan. British humor makes the premise of this show work in a way that ceases to be gimmicky or soap opera-esque. The awkwardness of the workers in relation to each other and their boss David Brent is palpable... making it just that much funnier! After watching both seasons of this show and the Holiday Special, I don't think the American version even comes close. Dwight is a pale imitation of Gareth, Pam doesn't hold a candle to Dawn, Jim completely lacks the subtlety of Tim, and Michael Scott is a poor clone of Ricky Gervais' Brent. If you haven't seen this show, do yourself a favor and check it out STAT!

2. "Arrested Development" (2003-2006)
One of the funniest shows of the last decade, "Arrested Development" turned the whole idea of the family sitcom on its head by introducing the completely unrelatable, unlikeable, and utterly dysfunctional Bluth family to the world. Led by the brilliant former child star Jason Bateman with a fabulous supporting cast that includes comedy veterans like Jeffrey Tambor and Jessica Walter (who play Bateman's parents) to relative newcomers Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat (who play literal "kissing cousins"). From the brilliant insular humor to the in-jokes put in just for the fans, this is a prime example of a show that got cancelled long before its time.

1. "Seinfeld" (1990-1998)
From relative obscurity to an American classic, no television comedy has had the long-lasting impact of "Seinfeld". From their changing the way Americans talk, interact, and look at television and pop culture in general, "Seinfeld," unlike many shows that get a lot of hype and praise, actually finds itself worthy and deserving of the accolades. Taking the traditional sitcom and ignoring every and all conventions associated with it, "Seinfeld" was a gamble - something completely new and original... and funny to boot! From the zany antics of Cosmo Kramer to the abrasive absurdity of George Costanza, from the polarizing insanity of Elaine Benes to the harmonizing observation of Jerry Seinfeld, the cast and the jokes just worked for this program, which is why it, more than any other, is deserving of the top spot on this list.

Honorable Mentions: "Saturday Night Live" (1975-present), "Robot Chicken" (2005-present), "Extras" (2005-2007), "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1969-1974), "That '70s Show" (1998-2006)

So, what are some of your favorite TV comedies?

Herb-Crusted Grilled Chicken with Goat Cheese

2009-06-03T11:04:00.006-04:00

My mom signed up for something called "Farm Fresh Delivery" in which local farmers deliver fresh and organic produce straight to your door. Again, being someone who likes food (and fresh food, I'm told tastes better), I decided to get in on that action! Among other things, I picked up the herbs and the cheese for this dish, which tasted absolutely fantastic!

I would recommend using fresh herbs here if possible, but dried herbs can work in a pinch. If you don't have these four, others can be substituted (like oregano, basil, or dill) so long as they're fragrant. They'll change the flavor of the chicken slightly, but I can't imagine it tasting too altogether bad!

Stephen's Herb-Crusted Grilled Chicken with Goat Cheese

Ingredients

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt & pepper (to taste)
fresh thyme,* finely chopped
fresh marjoram,* finely chopped
fresh sage,* finely chopped
fresh rosemary,* finely chopped
4 oz. (give or take) of fresh goat cheese

* Add the herbs to your taste, but make sure you have enough to cover all three chicken breasts once finely chopped.

Preparation:

Season your chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
Rub your chopped fresh herbs on both sides of the chicken breast until they are covered with the herbs.
Allow your chicken to sit out, covered, for about twenty minutes to allow the flavors time to meld into the bird.
Heat your grill to medium-high heat and, after the chicken has finished 'marinating' in its rub, throw it on the grill.
Slice your goat cheese into 1/2-1-inch rounds. After you have flipped your chicken (you should only have to do this once - about halfway through the cooking process), place one or two of the rounds on each chicken breast until the chicken has finished cooking. This will allow the goat cheese to get a soft and creamy texture (but not melt).
Remove from heat once finished and allow to rest for a minute or two before service. This allows the meat to stay juicy (since the juices won't come running out of it when you cut into it).

Serves: 3-4 (depending on how many chicken breasts you used)
Serving suggestions: This dish would go great with some grilled asparagus (in my mind, the perfect accoutrement to any meal) or a light mixed green salad. The flavors make it a perfect summer meal. Also, if you're into that sort of thing, this would be very well paired with a dry white wine like a Chardonnay or a Chablis (but only if you're into that sort of thing).

Reaping What I Sow: Summer Gardening 2009

2009-05-31T07:33:00.010-04:00

I went to a local Farmer's Market with my family yesterday. I've been wanting to hit one up for awhile now, because the idea of fresh organic produce is one that appeals to me as someone who loves food and cooking. I have to say that I was not disappointed! Because it's still so early in the growing season, there weren't a ton of fresh veggie options yet outside of some herbs. That being the case, I decided it might be a good idea to start growing some of my own.

This in and of itself is a risky endeavor, mainly because my family has a sordid history with gardening. My grandparents on both sides of my family are/were avid gardeners and my dad even managed to start a garden growing tomatoes, peppers, and other goodies when we were in middle school. My mom, however, is the furthest thing from a horticulturist. No disrespect meant, but we ('we' being my sister and I) say that she doesn't have a green thumb, but a black thumb! Plants have been known to wither and die under her tutelage. (I know what you're thinking, but despite her luck with plants, she's actually fairly nurturing as a mother. Go figure. ;))

I seemed to inherit this gardening ability last spring when I attempted to grow some herbs in miniature pots on the back patio at my apartment last year. I started them from seed (which, in retrospect, may have been a mistake) and watched them sprout... then wither and die. I'm convinced it was because the pots they were in were too shallow, but I may be in denial as to my inheritance of my mother's gardening gift. Ultimately, it's not for me to say.

Therefore, after a dismal showing last year, I decided to attempt to redeem myself this year by growing not only herbs, but a couple of veggies as well!

Above is a picture of my garden shortly after I planted it yesterday. Notice that I'm using three big pots rather than the several small ones I had last year. Hopefully, this will encourage plant growth this summer!

Now, allow me to take you through my garden so far, plant-by-plant. Let's start with the herbs, shall we?

This is some Thai basil. Within the last couple of years, I've become a huge fan of Asian cuisine and Japanese and Thai food in particular. I love the use of spicy peppers and herbs in Thai cooking! Thai basil has a stronger flavor than sweet basil and has a subtle hint of mint/licorice to it as well. I can't wait to cook something with these!

This is called purple ruffles basil. I've never cooked with this one or, to the best of my knowledge, eaten it before... but I have to tell you I was intrigued by its wonderful aroma! I've been told these leaves have a licorice/cinnamon flavor to them, which I also find intriguing. It'll be fun to come up with things to cook with these babies! (Sorry about the blurriness of this pic!)

This is my fernleaf dill. I'm not entirely sure how (or if) this differs from the kinds of dill I've had before, but if it is anything like those other kinds, I'm in for a treat! Dill is one of my favorite herbs! I love using it in summer salads (like cucumber or potato salad) and think it makes a fantastic flavorful addition to many of my fish preparations. (I've even been known to use it to flavor spaghetti sauce!) So glad I was able to find some good dill!

At the Farmer's Market, there were two adorable little girls who were selling plants from their parents' farm... and doing a great job! Among other things, they had a great selection of heirloom tomatoes - which are some of my FAVORITE kinds of tomatoes! I picked up this one - a purple Cherokee heirloom. They are slightly purple in their look and have a smokier flavor than your average tomato! My mom got a black krim heirloom for her garden and I look forward to maybe swapping a couple of tomatoes later on this summer!

My last purchase of the day (other than some killer cookies - Oatmeal Scotchies!) was something of an impulse buy. Since the two little girls with the heirloom plants were such good salespeople, I decided to pick up something else from them - a Thai pepper plant! I found out after picking this plant up that Thai peppers (even orange ones, like these will be) are some of the spiciest peppers around! Not quite as bad as Scotch bonnets or habaneros, they still rank between 50,000 and 100,000 on the Scoville scale - a ranking that measures the heat in peppers. (Habaneros - some of the hottest - have a Scoville rating of 100,000 to 150,000, just to give you some perspective. Jalapenos have only 2500 to 8000 for some added perspective.) Not sure yet how or if I'll use these, but I think it might be fun to try to whip up something with these spicy beauties once they come in!

I'll keep you guys updated on the garden throughout the summer. I may even pick up a couple more herbs next week. We'll see how things go...

Rapid-Fire Rollercoaster

2009-05-12T15:04:00.006-04:00

The last several weeks really have been like a blur to me. So much has been going on that has stressed me out, tired me down, and made me want to do anything but update my blog. But, update I shall, true believers! Here, in rapid-fire bullet-point style is my life the last several weeks.

Migrainy - On the Monday of my spring break (March 30) I got a migraine. Took some Ibuprofen and thought little more about it, despite it not getting better. By Friday, April 10, it was still lingering. I had to leave school early and head to Immediate Care, the ER, and the neurologist. Eventually, I got set up with some meds that made my migraines that much more manageable.
Easter - Acted in my church's Easter presentation - a reenactment of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I played Peter and got to explore the bonds of melodrama. I had a lot of fun and it was enjoyable to be onstage again! (Did miss the Good Friday service, though, due to my migraines.)
Annika - I got a call Easter Sunday that my dear friend Annika Dace had passed away. Many of you have read my tribute to her. If you haven't, scroll down a couple of entries. It says more than I could repeat here. I will say that her service was extraordinary - I've never laughed so hard at a funeral in my life! That was Annika, though. Even in death, she was able to bring smiles to our faces as we reminisced and shared precious memories. She would have loved it!
"Sorry, Wrong Number" - The day after the Easter program, I auditioned for a role in Spotlight Players' summer production of "Sorry, Wrong Number" and got a part (or, more accurately, several parts)! My friend Molly is directing and I'm thrilled to be able to work with her in a professional community theatre environment! I'm playing multiple roles, none of which will really be using my 'real' voice... and I find that a lot of fun. Can't wait 'til we open in June!
Car woes - After totaling my baby blue Mercedes station wagon, Zarathustra, back in November, I have essentially been without a car for the last five months. Luckily, one of my coworkers lives almost right across the street, making it easy to get picked up for work. After all the waiting, I finally paid my reinstatement fee and bought a car... only to find out that my license was STILL suspended because I needed to submit some paperwork they never told me about! RAR! I called my insurance company and, inside of a week, my license was reinstated and I am now able to drive myself! Talk about things looking up!
The School/Work Dichotomy - School has been really busy. I've had a lot on my plate, to be sure - writing quizzes & tests, grading, disciplining, dealing with parents, organizing, updating... and through it all wondering if the school will have room in the budget to bring me back next year! I'm trusting in God at this point... because I have no idea what the next year will hold!

That's been my life. While it's not been the craziest ever, at times it's been more than I'd say I'm comfortable with. God has been good, though, and brought me through this far. Summer is a scant three weeks away. I'm working on my reading list and looking forward to improving my class for next year! Here's a pic my mom took of me in my new ride...

...and speaking of which: I'm trying to think of a good name for my new car. It's a 1990 'smoke silver' (which is to say, shiny dark grey) Mercedes-Benz four-door sedan. I'm trying to come up with a name for him. Now, before you make suggestions, consider the following:

I have a habit of naming my cars after famous fictitious characters. My first car was named Chewbacca (because he howled when the back hatch was opened). My second car was named Zarathustra (after the titular prophet of doom in Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra). So, it has to be the name of a fictitious character.
It needs to be a German name. It is a Mercedes, after all, which is a German car. Zarathustra was a German character, written by a German author.

I'm currently thinking either Caligari (after the title character from the 1920 silent film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari) or Orlok (the name of the vampire played by Max Shreck in 1922's Nosferatu), but I am open to suggestions. You have any?

Farewell, Dear Friend

2009-04-16T01:14:00.004-04:00

Annika Stephanie Dace
Sept. 4, 1982 - April 12, 2009

"You always said how lucky you were that we were all friends. But it was us, baby, who were the lucky ones."
- Maureen (Idina Menzel); Rent (2005)

Annika Stephanie Dace: My Tribute

2009-04-12T16:07:00.012-04:00

Annika and I as LaQuisha and Horatio - the hosts of "British & Black"

I can't really remember the first time I met Annika Bellinger. Some friends have these really great, colossal stories about how they met and became friends. If there exists such a story for Annika and myself, I can honestly say that I don't remember it. And I think that's for the best. I may not remember the first time I met her, but I remember a lot of the steps along the way. That, I think, is the real mark of friendship.

I met Annika at Olivet Nazarene University during my freshman year. We were in the fall play together - Abe Lincoln in Illinois (she was Gobey; I doubled up as Bowling Green/Mr. Crimmin) - and I seem to recall us being good friends by the end of it. (Perhaps this is where we met... but, like I said before, I don't really remember.) From that point on, Annika made it a point to include me in her 'adventures'.

A "story" Annika wrote during the all-day-long rehearsals for "Second Grade Glow"

(NOTE: The word "adventures" is intentional. Annika did not live life like I did. She sought out ways to make the world around her more fun and exciting... and pulled in as many of her nearest and dearest in order to make such a thing possible.)

One of the earliest of these 'adventures' that I recall happened my freshman year. My buddy Dan Aumiller and I were chilling in one of our rooms and we got a phone call from a group of girls calling from our lobby. We head down to see Annika, along with Marlene (who would go on to marry Dan), Amanda, and Sarah Bean dressed up like the Spice Girls filming a music video around campus to the song "Wannabe". And they wanted Dan and I to be part of it. I still remember watching the video and laughing uproariously at the looks on Dan and my faces.

L to R: Marlene as Josie, Me as Me, Annika as Val, and Gloria as Melody

As the years went by, more fun was had. I recall a post-Christmas banquet trip to a bowling alley and a movie (with what we described as "the most random group of people ever") that Annika helped to put together. I remember Annika, Marlene, and another girl named Gloria dressing up like Josie and the Pussycats and performing an impromptu concert after chapel one day to celebrate my nomination as Mr. ONU. I laugh when I think about how Annika, Beth, and Kenna drove three hours from Illinois to see me in a small community theatre production of "Anne of Green Gables" I was doing one summer. I still smile when I think of the awesome memories we shared as a part of ONU's first 24-Hour Theatre where Annika and I, along with Bethany Demmin, acted in the Dave Moore-written, Kate Zarko-directed "Second Grade Glow."

Annika, myself, and Bethany in costume for "Second Grade Glow"

Perhaps my best memories of Annika came from our time together as members of Olivet's premiere improv comedy team, Spoons 4 Forks. Annika joined in the second year of the team's existence and added a vital element that we were sorely missing - that of the "scrawny black chick" (as she was so fond of dubbing herself). While a part of this great group of comedians, Annika proved that she was not just funny on her own, but funny with a large group of people - able to hold her own against personalities every bit as large as her own. She helped to craft such memorable characters as Geppettoisha (a ghetto female version of Geppetto of "Pinnochio" fame - it was this character that coined the immortal S4F-ism, "Where my puppet at?") and LaQuisha, the co-host of the always-hilarious-but-often-controversial film review show "British & Black".

An example of Annika's hilarity in this S4F video c. 2005

Annika was also known for her acclaimed dance parties, many of which took place at the home of her boyfriend Trevor's mother, Cathy "Mama" Dace. Dan and I took to calling these shindigs "Dace Dance Revolutions." We would get together, eat good food, laugh, dance, and generally have a fantastic time! Annika was the most energetic person I've ever met - she brought with her a sense of spontaneity and fun that was unparalleled by anyone else.

Annika got married to her longtime boyfriend Trevor Dace on September 15th, 2007. I was lucky and honored enough not only to be in attendance, but to stand in their wedding. Trevor had been a dear friend as well and, in my mind, there is very little greater than seeing two of your good friends committing themselves to one another. The wedding was a blast and a treat and I will remember it fondly always. Annika was glowing. I've never seen her happier!

Annika & Trevor's wedding party - 9/15/2007

My last memory of Annika is one I will look upon fondly. I had come up to Olivet to visit during this year's homecoming. There were supposed to be a number of reunions going down - an S4F reunion and a Dinner Table reunion - both of which were cancelled. I made the trip up anyway and Annika, in her graciousness, co-hosted (along with Marlene Aumiller) a fondue party in my honor. We spent the night eating, laughing, reminiscing and having an all-around good time. It was a fun night and I felt lucky to have been there and lucky to have such great friends.

My good friend Annika passed away this morning at the age of 26. While I don't know a lot of the specifics surrounding what happened, I do know that it was unexpected and sudden. Her Facebook status, posted a few hours earlier, read "Annika Stephanie Dace wishes everyone a Happy Easter! He has risen! He has risen, indeed!" When I talked to Trevor a few hours ago, he took comfort in those words... and I do too.

I know where my friend is right now and I live with confidence that I will see her again. Laugh with her, cry with her, and possibly even dance around like a maniac with her. She was a true friend who knew how to cheer a 'brother' up and make a person feel valued and important. It seemed like her life's mission to leave a lasting imprint on every person she came across.

I can't speak for the rest of the world, Annika, but I can speak for me: mission accomplished!

In loving memory
Annika Stephanie Bellinger-Dace
September 4, 1982 - April 12, 2009

Branching Out

2009-04-11T21:35:00.003-04:00

I haven't written in a while. Not just here, really. Anywhere. I remember a few years ago, I would do everything I could think of to find new and exciting things to write about. Now, the well seems empty.

Part of it, I think, is that I'm not finding the time to read anything that is really stimulating me. I think back to really inspirational authors that I've read before - namely people like Neil Gaiman and Truman Capote - and remember how excited I was to sit down at a computer and attempt something that would be even a fraction as good as what those guys could do. (It would never be as good, granted, but that would never stop me from trying.)

I've decided that I want to try and get some reading done this summer - like I did the summer after I graduated from college. (That summer, I read the complete works of Neil Gaiman, Cat's Cradle, A Catcher in the Rye, The Maltese Falcon, and Being There... among others.) I want to devote myself either to a single author or to several key works of literature by a number of authors and see what happens. I want to feel inspired again.

Here are some of my options at present. Some of them, I've read; some, I haven't.

1. John Cheever
I first heard of John Cheever, as many people my age did, on the episode of "Seinfeld" called 'The Cheever Letters,' in which George discovers that his fiancee's father had a relationship with the writer. Since, I've read two articles (one in Newsweek, one in TIME) about this author... and a recent resurgence in his popularity. Indeed, I find the notion of reading him intriguing, perhaps because I know so little about him and perhaps because he was such an influential writer during his time. I believe I would start with a collection of his short stories and perhaps move on to Falconer, which, as I understand it, is his best known novel.

2. Fyodor Dostoevsky
I'll admit that I once tried to read The Brothers Karamazov before I had graduated from college and found it very difficult. Since, I've been told that Dostoevsky takes time to digest and, really, deserves a second look. So, I've been considering it. I've even done my research and found that the best translations of his work have been done by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky (which, I found out today, Barnes & Noble has in stock). Not sure where I would begin, though. There's a part of me that would love to start with The Brothers Karamazov, but I want to work up to that one (and likely Crime and Punsishment as well). I've considered starting with The Idiot, Demons, Notes from the Underground, or even a collection of his short stories.

3. Harper Lee
Granted, it wouldn't be hard to read the complete works of Harper Lee - she smartly stopped after her first book, which has been widely regarded as an American classic. I can't tell you how many people I've disappointed over the years by admitting that I've never actually read To Kill a Mockingbird. My students often look at me in bewilderment while saying things like, "Mr. Foxworthy, how can you never have read that?!" The answer is simple - I've never really taken the opportunity. Perhaps I should. Given her close relationship with one of my favorite authors, Truman Capote, I can't imagine not enjoying it.

4. Franz Kafka
I've tried several times to sit down and read through The Metamorphosis, but have never quite been able to complete it. Granted, I get a little further every time, but I never quite make it to the end! (I have a similar relationship with Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.) Perhaps I should try starting with The Trial and working my way through The Metamorphosis, Amerika, and The Castle.

5. H.P. Lovecraft
I started reading some of Lovecraft's short fiction last spring on the recommendation of a student at school. I saw him reading a book of his short stories and asked him how they were. "Great," he responded. "You'd love 'em!" So, I sought some out. I must admit I was fascinated by what I read. Lovecraft has a grip on the dark and the macabre that rivals the great Edgar Allen Poe. He is an expert wordsmith able to craft unbeatable monsters and horrified heroes so easily while making the reader glimpse into the darkness of the human soul. With Lovecraft, one must begin and end with the short stories... which is precisely what I will do.

6. John Steinbeck
I decided as a freshman in high school that I hated John Steinbeck. We had just finished reading The Pearl, a book about greed and the damning effects it can have. I hated it. I resolved never to read any Steinbeck ever again. To this point, I've been moderately successful (I had Of Mice and Men read to me my junior year and, against my better judgments, I had to say I enjoyed it). However, I currently work at a school where staff and students alike LOVE John Steinbeck. I just can't get away from him! Perhaps, just to be able to enter the conversation, I should read East of Eden (which also goes against my "No Oprah Book Club" mandate), Cannery Row, or The Grapes of Wrath?

7. Michael Chabon
I picked up The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay last year when I had decided to do this last year's J-Term class on the history and evolution of the American comic book. I began to read it, but eventually had to put it down in order to get some more concrete research done. However, I still own it and would still love to finish it one day (I mean, the book did win the Pulitzer, for crying out loud!). Who knows? Perhaps when I finish that one, I'll be inspired to pick up some of his other works like The Final Solution, The Wonder Boys, or The Yiddish Policemen's Union.

8. Ernest Hemingway
I've been given mixed reviews of a lot of Ernest Hemingway's work. People have told me it's boring, exciting, and everything in between. I think it's time I find out for myself. What is so great about The Old Man and the Sea? Why did that girl once tell me I needed to read The Snows of Kilimanjaro? Would it really be worth my time and effort to read For Whom the Bell Tolls? Honestly, I don't know... but it might be fun to try and find out!

9. Flannery O'Connor
My first exposure to Ms. O'Connor came about when I was a sophomore in college taking a course on American Literature. Loved the prof, but found myself - by and large - unimpressed with a lot of the readings. That is, until I came across a short story called "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor. It told the story of a woman with an artificial leg who becomes enamored with a traveling Bible salesman who steals fake legs from women he charms. I found the whole thing absolutely brilliant! She possessed a wit and charm I'd yet to see in American fiction and have yet to see equaled. Perhaps I should pick up her complete works and give that a read-through?

10. Kurt Vonnegut
The year after I graduated from college, I picked up and read Indiana native Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle and thought it was absolutely fascinating. Loving that, I immediately leapt to his classic Slaughterhouse-five and found myself unable to finish it. Ever since his death a couple of years back, I've longed to revisit Vonnegut's quirky, fatalistic sense of humor - the stuff I'd loved so much in Cat's Cradle. Perhaps, I should take another crack at Slaughterhouse-five to see why it's so highly regarded. Maybe after that, I'll take a shot at Breakfast of Champions, Galapagos, or God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

These are some authors I'm considering reading this summer (along with others like Albert Camus, Ayn Rand, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, and/or Douglas Adams). Thoughts? Other recommendations? Let me know! Thanks!

Thoughts on the Oscars

2009-02-23T13:29:00.004-05:00

For those of you who know me well (and perhaps even if you don't know me all that well), you know that I love movies! That having been said, the Oscars are one of my favorite events of the year and I had a lot of excitement going into them. Granted, I don't think 2008 was really a strong year for movies - especially in the wake of last year's No Country for Old Men/There Will Be Blood one-two punch - but there's a part of me that gets consistently excited regardless. This year was additionally exciting as I had prepared a themed five-course meal based on the Best Picture nominees (more on that tomorrow).

The following are some thoughts I had on the ceremony as a whole:

I have to admit that, while I was initially reticent at the appointment of Hugh Jackman as host of the Oscars, I think he did a really great job. He's not a comedian, granted, but I think the Oscars have gotten too reliant on the comedian who just stands there and makes fun of everyone for three-plus hours. Jackman was stylish, gracious, humorous, and - above all - a good performer. I much prefer the "opening number" route to the "initial monologue" employed by Ellen Degeneres, John Stweart, and Chris Rock in the past few years.
At first, I didn't really 'get' the presentation of the awards for the acting categories. It was a sharp departure from the past several years, where the previous winner would show up to present the Oscar to the winner of the next award (though the women often presented for the men and vice versa). When Tilda Swinton was joined by Eva Marie Saint, Whoopi Goldberg, Angelica Houston, and Goldie Hawn, I have to admit I really didn't know what to make of it. Eventually, though, the idea grew on me... and I realized just how cool it was to have several generations of Oscar winners recognizing and encouraging the next generation right there on stage. By the time Best Actor was presented, you could tell the veterans were speaking from the heart rather than just reading from the teleprompter. I thought it was a great tribute to Oscar's past and future.
I'm thinking about starting a Stop Beyonce Knowles from performing at the Oscars petition. Would anyone else sign it?
Speaking of which, why was there a salute to movie musicals? Was there a good musical out this year? No. There was just Mamma Mia!... and it was horrid. I think the look on Baz Luhrmann's face (he was the one who choreographed the number) was more than enough to tell that he felt the same way about that number as I did. "Meh."
"Jai Ho" was a super-catchy song.
For me, the biggest (and really only) upset of the night was when Sean Penn beat Mickey Rourke for Best Actor. Part of it is the fact that, while I have great respect for Sean Penn the actor, I abhor the political bullying of Sean Penn the person. I would have rather heard Mickey Rourke pay tribute to his dead dog than listen to Sean Penn shaming the world for not believing the same way he does. (His speech was similar in subject to that of Milk's Best Original Screenplay winner Dustin Lance Black, but much different with regard to tone... and that, in my mind, made all the difference.)
Speaking of Best Actor, I was a bit disappointed that I didn't see Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem at the ceremony. Both won last year in the acting categories and I was hoping to see them present. Alas, though... 'twas not to be.
To the amazement of no one, Heath Ledger took home Best Supporting Actor. It was really cool to see his family there accepting his award on behalf of Heath and his daughter Matilda. That was, for me, the most touching moment.
It was also great to see Jerry Lewis get the lifetime achievement Oscar. I thought it was a bit weird to have Eddie Murphy present it to him... until I remembered that Murphy and Lewis both played the title characters in films called The Nutty Professor. At that point, it seemed cheesy. Still, Lewis was the consummate gentleman and his remarks, while brief, were obviously heartfelt. It was great to see him get his due.

Melodic Monday - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

2009-02-09T22:30:00.005-05:00

Ever since the Super Bowl a couple of weeks ago, I've been struggling to shake the pure dynamism that was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. I'm not sure if you saw it, but if you did, you surely know that their performance was nothing short of kinetic (and definitely made up for the lackluster commercials that flocked the screens this year). I can't say as I'd ever considered myself a "Springsteen fan" before that night... but I'm definitely considering it now.

Who from my generation hasn't grown up with at least a smattering of Springsteen knowledge. "Born in the USA"? Check. "Dancing in the Dark"? You betcha. "Glory Days"? No doubt! But songs like "Working on a Dream" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out"? I have to say I was honestly clueless.

It's one thing to hear Springsteen on a recording... but Bruce is one of those rare artists that you have to hear live to truly appreciate. In a day that seems to be cranking out cookie-cutter pop artists that need heavy studio dubbing in order to sound halfway decent, it's good to know that Springsteen is definitely the genuine article. While he may not be the greatest singer in the world, his stage presence, charisma, and ability to have fun onstage really make him a joy to watch.

This is to say nothing of what I consider the best part of the equation: the E Street Band. Springsteen is a talent himself, to be sure, but he is backed by some stellar and amazing talent as well. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt is probably best known to many for playing mobster Silvio Dante on HBO's "The Sopranos." Drummer Max Weinberg has spent the last sixteen years as the band leader for 'the Max Weinberg 7,' the house band on NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Saxophonist Clarence 'the Big Man' Clemons is a well-known and well-respected musician in his own right (though I always remember him as one of the Three Most Important People in the World from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure). This is to say nothing of the scores of other talented individuals in the E Street Band. These are musicians who have performed with the likes of Bob Dylan, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, Ringo Starr, Jim Steinman, and Gary 'U.S.' Bonds. Top-notch talent!

Since the effect of Springsteen and his E Street Band needs to be experienced to be believed, I've included a recording of an in-concert excerpt of one my new favorite Springsteen tunes, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out". Enjoy!

Bruce Campbell Old Spice Commercials

2009-02-08T20:59:00.003-05:00

I am not a fan of Old Spice.

I am, however, a fan of a brief series of commercials that they ran a year or so ago featuring celebrated B-movie actor Bruce Campbell. Campbell is often overlooked by the typical Hollywood crowd because of his unwillingness to his vision of making movies - it shouldn't take too long and should be fun.

A high school friend of director Sam Raimi, Campbell got his start in Raimi's cult classic horror Evil Dead series before having at least a bit part in every movie Raimi would direct (kinda like Raimi's brother Ted). He found his way into movies like Darkman, The Quick and the Dead, and all three Spider-Man movies (playing a different bit character in every one).

Campbell did become a fine actor in his own right, though, gaining roles in films like The Hudsucker Proxy, Bubba Ho-tep, Sky High, and My Name is Bruce (a film in which Campbell plays a caricatured version of himself). He has also been associated with a number of television projects including "The Adventures of Bristo County Jr.," "Xena: Warrior Princess," "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," "Jack of All Trades," and, most recently, USA's "Burn Notice," where he plays Sam Axe.

Liking Campbell as much as I do, I was actually kind of excited when these commercials aired. In fact, I find it hard to believe that there were nerds who weren't overjoyed somewhat at the prospect of the Chinned One pimping products on TV... even ones so lackluster as Old Spice. Check out these great commercials!

John Turturro Heineken Commercials

2009-02-07T17:27:00.005-05:00

I am not a fan of Heineken.

I am, however, a fan of their current series of commercials featuring Hollywood actor John Turturro. Turturro has become one of my favorite actors in recent years mainly due to his spectacular range in the types of roles he plays. He has the gravitas to pull off serious roles like the Jewish game show contestant Herbie Stempel on Quiz Show or creepy killer Jim Shooter in Secret Window. (He also played the title role in Barton Fink and had a part in Miller's Crossing.)

At the same time, he has an incredible sense of humor which comes across in roles like over-the-top bowler Jesus Quintana in The Big Lebowski, Pete in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Agent Simmons in Transformers. (He's also been featured in a lot of Adam Sandler films as of late, including Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, and most recently, You Don't Mess With the Zohan.)

As big a fan as I am of John Turturro, I was understandably happy to see him featured in two commercials for Heineken. While I don't necessarily like the product, I think he's brilliant at selling it! Check it out!

Friday's Top Five - YouTube Videos

2009-01-30T21:19:00.003-05:00

It's a great day and age we live in when we can watch videos from people around the world and watch and laugh with absolute amazement. We can literally peek in on anyone's life at the click of a mouse button and they let us in gladly. It's either really awesome or really freaky. One of the two.

At any rate, I've been watching some videos on YouTube lately and decided to compile a list of my top five favorites. If you've seen these before, enjoy them again. If not... get ready to laugh.

5. Soundwave vs. Dollansky
Oh, those wacky Canadians! As a joke to fellow students at the University of Alberta, some girl dressed up like the Decepticon known as Soundwave (from "Transformers" - the toys/TV show, not the movie!) in order to oppose a young man named Steven Dollansky who was running for "VP External" (some comm. dept. ranking or somesuch). The debate itself is a nice mix of humorous and ludicrous. A comedy gem, to be sure!

4. History in the Making
My friend Lee is really funny. Here's proof.

3. Asian Baby Singing "Hey Jude"
Say what you will about the Beatles and the song "Hey Jude". This baby is hilarious and adorable. Simultaneously. My favorite part is the build-up to the 'chorus' at the end. Masterful!

2. Charlie Bit My Finger - Again!
British babies and finger biting. This video has been a classic for awhile now and I'm not sure that there's anyone alive who's NOT seen this video, but if you haven't, please check it out... because it is hysterical!

1. "Jesus Is My Friend"
I'm not sure when this video was recorded (sometime in the seventies or eighties, if I had to guess based on the hairstyles and apparel choices), but it definitely does not stand the test of time! This is hilarious and ridiculous and just too, too funny! Check it!

Honorable Mentions: Star Wars according to a 3-year-old, Benny Hinn: "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor", Leroy Jenkins (Parental Advisory), Buhlud, Chad Hates Aliens

What are some of your favorite YouTube movies?

'09 Oscar Party Menu

2009-01-29T10:32:00.004-05:00

Ever since I saw a picture of someone making a submarine sandwich look like the Titanic for the 1998 Oscars, I've wanted to make a menu based around the "Best Picture" Oscar nominees. I knew I had a real winner in 2005 with my idea of doing Million Dollar Baby-back ribs and last year with either There Will Be Blood pudding or There Will Be Blood sausage. This year, though, I finally decided to not only plan the menu, but also make it. Even if it's just for me. Which it might be.

So far, I've come up with items for four of the five "Best Picture" nominees - basically, everything except The Reader (if you have an idea, please let me know - as long as it's not dessert. I've got two desserts... I think I need an hors d'oerves/side kind of idea).

OSCAR PARTY 2009 MENU

Millionaire "Slumdogs"
"Indian-style" hot dogs served on grilled flatbread with diced tomatoes, sauteed onions, fresh cilantro, and curry mayo

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" Mushroom Caps
Large button mushroom caps stuffed with chorizo sausage, spinach, and Parmesan cheese

"Frost[ed]/Nixon" 'I'm Not a C[r]ookie' Cake
A chocolate chip cookie "sheet cake" topped with a chocolate ganache frosting

Harvey "Milk" Shakes
Regular milkshakes with a variety of additions (chocolate, berries, etc.)

Again, still looking for an idea for The Reader (hard to come up with a decent food idea for a movie dealing with illiteracy), so if you come up with something, please let me know!

"Lost" Episode #5.03 - 'Jughead'

2009-01-28T22:15:00.007-05:00

A couple years ago, I started writing commentaries for my favorite shows - "Lost" and "Heroes". Despite the fact that they proved incredibly popular and increased the readership of my blog, I stopped them about a year ago (largely due to time constraints). At the behest of my friend Mandie, I've decided to resurrect them.

Basically, this is a play-by-play of my thoughts as I watch "Lost". What I'm thinking as I'm thinking it. If you want a frame of reference, you might head over to ABC.com and watch this episode as soon as it becomes available (2:00am on Thursday) and read along. Or you could just be happily confused. Either way.

I should probably warn you that there are spoilers below, so if you haven't seen this episode of "Lost" yet, and don't want to be surprised by anything, I recommend you click the above link and watch the episode first.

Uh... 'effritzerlonga' to you too, Desmond...
Is that Ghostbuster's dad?
Penny's with child?! GO, DES!
PUSH, PENNY! PUSH!!!
Yay! Baby boy!
What? Was that right when they got back? 'Cuz that kid looks older than two...
Hah! 'Great Britain'?! PSYCHE!
Chuckie-Dubs is 'connected,' Des. Y'dig?
Replacing Claire with Charlotte was a good move. I think Charlotte is equally attractive but with a far less annoying accent.
Ghostbuster go boom?
Is that Ben's childhood friend? Whassername? Annie?
...or not...
Proof that Jin' not dead: Daniel Dae Kim is still in the opening credits.
She looks and sounds like a prettier, less obnoxious Claire.
"Check out the big brain on Brad!"
'Others,' eh? I love how they've not come up with anything better than that to call them yet. They don't even seem to have an official name for themselves...
Wait... for his... what?
*NOTE* - The girl in the brown striped sweater leaning against the wall in the background as Desmond walks onto school grounds is my friend Molly Sutherland. She and I went to Olivet together. She lives in Hawaii and got a shot to be an extra on "Lost". Whenever she runs into one of the cast members when she's out and about, she'll text me to let me know. So far, I know that she's seen/met Sawyer, Desmond, Hurley, and Jack...
Uh, can't you read, Desmond? There's DANGER inside! Fumes and whatnot!
Ooh, who's the lady, Danny boy?
Who's the janitor working for, I wonder? (Aside from the university...)
Girl in the photo, I take it?
Ellie?
Way to botch your own plan, Danny boy...
Aw! How sweet! Ain't love grand?
They speak English. You know this. WHY does she INSIST on speaking to them in Latin?
...Locke's kind of a pansy...
Hurm... what's going on here?
Experimenting with Theresa, then?
Faraday's working for Chuckie-Dubs? Deeper down the rabbit-hole we go...
AWW! He meant it!
HA! Whatta maroon!
Is Richard the living embodiment of the island or something? I'm beginning to wonder...
Is that chemistry I see between Juliet and Sawyer?
Yowza! Precarious, no?
What, they're naming bombs after Archie characters now?
Is she the old woman talking to Ben at the end of the last episode? It would make sense in a weird way. She's probably Daniel's mom, too...
All roads lead to L.A. Anyone surprised? No? Didn't think so...
He's thinking Ben's gonna make good on his promise to kill his daughter, methinks.
"Charles"... Widmore, perhaps? Interesting...
So, if he's Widmore, then that girl very well could be the old lady Desmond meets in the past (end of 5.02) and Daniel's mom...
Do you smell that? It smells like Desmond's pants... ON FIRE!!!
Aw! He named his son Charlie!
Does she know him or does she know him?
That explains why Richard was at the birth of John Locke...
So, is this... past? Future? What?
Okay... that ending was decidedly lame.

Closing Thoughts: Okay, after giving it some thought, I think that young girl "Ellie" from the island is both the old woman at the end of Episode 5.02 ("The Lie") and Faraday's mom. Let's look at the facts:

According to Lostpedia.org, the older woman's name is Ms. Eloise Hawking. What's a shortened form of Eloise? "Ellie".
Daniel Faraday's lab mouse while at Oxford? "Eloise"... after his mother, perhaps?
When Ellie is marching Faraday off to defuse 'Jughead,' Faraday makes the comment that she reminds him of someone he knows from a long time ago. When she comments that he's "quite the Romeo," he responds with "not quite." Why? Because she's his mother.

Game, set, match - I win!

Melodic Monday - Barenaked Ladies

2009-01-12T20:38:00.003-05:00

Remember 1998? I do. "Seinfeld" was wrapping up, Smoke and Mirrors - a collection of short fiction by Neil Gaiman - was on the shelves, and, thanks to a little ditty called "One Week," America was being introduced for the first time to a little ensemble from north of the border (the Canadian border, that is) called the Barenaked Ladies. The irony, of course, being that all of the band members are clothed and none of them are female. Their music, however, is great.

Most people know a bit about the Barenaked Ladies. Just about everyone has heard "One Week". Many know "Pinch Me". Some might even be able to recognize tunes like "It's All Been Done" or "The Old Apartment". For my money, few bands of the last decade are as all-around fun as the Barenaked Ladies.

From early successes like the classic "Brian Wilson" (named for the lead singer of the Beach Boys, natch) and "Be My Yoko Ono" to stints on television (like donating the themes to TV shows like "Baby Blues" and "The Big Bang Theory"), the Ladies are prolific. As their style continues to evolve, their sound remains as crisp and cool as ever.

The dual vocals of frontmen Steven Page and Ed Robertson are continued evidence that the two have worked together for awhile, honing their craft opposite one another. The sheer talent and versatility of member Kevin Hearn is also both astounding and unparalleled (at least as far as Canadian bands I know of). From top to bottom, BNL is a treat for the ears.

A couple of years ago, the band came out with a new album entitled The Barenaked Ladies Are Me, showcasing a mellower BNL, but with all the wit and intelligence that one comes to expect from the group. Below is one of my favorite tracks from that album, called "Bank Job," telling the story of a group of cons robbing a bank. The story surrounding the song is well worth the listen.

Everything I know about acting I learned from Sir Ian McKellen on "Extras"...

2008-12-31T16:35:00.003-05:00

Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

2008-12-22T23:39:00.007-05:00

I got hungry tonight, but didn't really know what was around to eat. Rummaging around, I found a few things and decided to chuck 'em together and hope for the best. What came out was not too shabby. So I decided to post the recipe.

Stephen's Insanely Easy Penne Sausage Alfredo

Ingredients:

Salt (to taste)
3/4 to 1 lb. penne pasta (Rotini or shell macaroni could work as well.)
olive oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced
2-3 Italian-style sausages, sliced (I used some chicken sausage, which worked out great!)
1 jar prepared alfredo sauce (I used Bertolli brand)
2 tsp. red chili flake (or less, depending on your tastes)
1 tsp. fennel seeds (optional - for Emilee)
1 tsp. rosemary
freshly ground black pepper (I like to use a lot but understand that not everyone likes that much pepper - so season it to your tastes.)
1/4 c. pasta water (reserved)
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated

Preparation:

Salt a pot of water and bring it up to a rolling boil. Add pasta. Cook according to the directions on the box.
Coat skillet/pan with olive oil and saute garlic until just browning.
Add sliced sausage and brown on each side. (If needed, add a bit of water to deglaze the pan.)
Add alfredo sauce and reduce heat. Add spices and allow the sauce to heat through and give the flavors a chance to marry together.
When pasta is just shy of al dente (still just a bit firm), reserve the 1/4 c. of pasta water and drain pasta. DO NOT RINSE! Add the pasta to the sauce and stir together. Add the pasta water as you combine to give the sauce and pasta a chance to bond together better.
Bring to the plate. Grate fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano onto the pasta. Garnish with some fresh parsley if you have some laying around.

Serves: 3 (or 2 hungry 20-something males)

NOTE: To serve four, add another sausage and another 1/4 lb. of pasta. Everything else should be the same.

Enjoy!

Melodic Monday - "Ruby's Arms"

2008-12-22T09:59:00.004-05:00

A new feature (which, like the others, will likely be semi-regular), "Melodic Monday" will spotlight bands, artists, albums, or individual songs that I'm really getting into at the moment and will also highlight my incredibly eclectic taste in music.

A number of months ago, one of the students at the school I teach at asked me if I'd ever heard Tom Waits. While I am familiar with Waits' acting achievements (from films like Short Cuts, Mystery Men, and Domino), I had to plead ignorance as to his musical career, which is why he's famous in the first place. I was subsequently gifted a data disk filled with Waits' music - about seven or eight albums worth - and began to listen.

The man definitely has a very distinct sound. He is known for turning everyday objects into bizarre musical instruments. He has a way of incorporating various styles of music into his sound - vaudeville, blues, folk, early rock & roll. His low, gravelly voice is often filled with emotion and his dark sense of humor really comes across in songs like "Frank's Wild Years".

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled across the gem that is "Ruby's Arms," as it was not on any of the albums I was gifted... but ever since listening to it, the song has absolutely haunted me. The lyrics tell a heartbreaking story of a young soldier who leaves behind his girl - presumably to join the military. A combination of raw emotion, poetic imagery, and Waits' own surly voice really make this song one of the most poignant and moving songs that I've ever heard.

Give it a listen:

I am...

2008-12-20T22:37:00.004-05:00

My good friend Dan and I met in college. He roomed with me for a semester, was on the campus improv team (Spoons 4 Forks) with me, and ended up marrying my good friend Mary Kay before heading back home to Texas. Currently, he works at Six Flags drawing caricatures for various passersby, which he chronicles on his blog. You should check it out. Awhile back, I asked for a caricature of Paul Giamatti he did that I really enjoyed as a Christmas gift and he graciously offered to just do one of me. Above is the result, which I am totally thrilled with!

Dan really managed to really capture the essence of who I am in a number of ways. Just about everything in this picture represents some aspect of my personality. I know that was something that was a bit difficult for him, but I really think he did a fantastic job! Let me walk you through the different 'in-jokes'...

The toga and column (table): As a philosophy major in college, I love thinking about deeper issues and the like. I particularly like the works of Plato and Nietzsche. The toga and Grecian column acting as a table for the chess game are both homages to my love for philosophy (particularly the thought of the aforementioned Plato).
Batman: I've been a comic book fan since high school. I read them when I was younger, but didn't become a true 'fanboy' 'til high school. Batman has always stood out to me as one of the best-written characters in the medium and decidedly one of my favorites. I love that I'm besting the Dark Knight Detective in a game of chess!
Chess: I used to be on the chess team in elementary and high school. I was never very good, but I used to love the mental stimulation of the exercise. I probably still would if I sat down to play again, but I'm afraid I'd be too rusty. Nowhere near the caliber I'd need to be to beat the Bat! :)
Cutlery: Ah, the spoon and the fork. Emblems of the greatest improv comedy troupe in Olivet Nazarene University history - Spoons 4 Forks. As mentioned above, Dan and I were both members (as was Dan's brother Matt... and several other good friends as well) and we had a lot of fun with that! (I also like to think the utensils double to cover my love for cuisine, food, and cooking... but it's probably just S4F!)
Walrus: My Internet handle used to be "Chewy Walrus," so walruses used to be an obsession of mine. (I had a collection of stuffed walruses in high school and had my senior picture taken with it.) This is an obvious homage to that.
The bush: ...i have no idea...

This is one of the first Christmas gifts I've received so far and, to this point, it's one of my favorites! Thanks, Dan!

Friday's Top Five - Christmas Movies

2008-12-19T16:35:00.004-05:00

Once again - "that time of year." And, on the last Friday before the 'big day,' I've decided to lay out my top five favorite Christmas movies. This list will be decidedly controversial, but then I've never been 'typical' in terms of my tastes in... well... anything really. Enjoy!

5. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
"B-but this is the best Christmas movie of all time! How can you rank it so low on your list?!" Invariably, whenever I tell people that I don't think Frank Capra's perennial holiday classic is the "best," I get this reaction, just as I'm sure I'm getting it from you right now. I suppose, for me, the over-saturation of this movie over the course of the last fifty years has worn this movie thin. Don't get me wrong - I still enjoy it. But, for me, this film has become such a classic that it doesn't pack the same punch it used to. Still, I love the character of Clarence ("Heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves!") and find George Bailey's character arc to be one of the most fascinating in cinematic history. So, there!

4. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1964)
As a kid, I used to love the old Rankin-Bass Christmas specials, characterized by the wooden puppets and fun little sing-alongs. (These are the guys who are also responsible for "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "The Year Without Santa Claus," "The Little Drummer Boy," and the animated "Frosty the Snowman".) "Rudolph," though, always stood out to me as something special. The fantastic characters - the elf who wants to be a dentist, the Abominable Snowman with a toothache, the singing snowman, the eccentric prospector, an island of 'misfit toys,' and, naturally, the red-nosed reindeer with a heart of gold - coupled with the memorable songs, the fun animation, and the vocal talents of Burl Ives (as Sam the Snowman) really helped to make Christmas a memorable time for me as a child.

3. "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (1966)
I actually prefer this animated version to the live-action Ron Howard-Jim Carrey from 2000 for a number of reasons. Firstly, I get awfully nostalgic when watching this version, mainly because it's the version I loved so well as a child. Secondly, I think that 26 minutes of the voice talents of Boris Karloff do more to establish the Grinch as one of the nastiest creatures in all of literature than Jim Carrey does in 104 minutes. Finally - and what I feel makes the whole movie - is the Grinch's theme ("You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch") sung by Tony the Tiger himself, Mr. Thurl Ravenscroft. Better in every way (in my humble opinion).

2. Scrooged (1988)
In my mind, there are few comedians alive who can square with Bill Murray. The man has been doing deadpan for ages and been doing it well-enough to have made a career out of it. One of my favorite roles - largely for sentimental reasons - is his turn as a spiritless television executive in Richard Donner's retelling of Dickens' classic book, A Christmas Carol. Taking on the 'Scrooge' role (as does Buddy Hackett), Murray is surrounded by a host of magnificent talent, including Carole Kane as the sadistic Ghost of Christmas Present, Alfre Woodard as the female Bob Crachitt, Karen Allen as Murray's big-hearted lost love, and Bobcat Goldthwait as the disgruntled laid-off employee. A fabulous film that I don't see nearly as often as I'd like!

1. Elf (2003)
I know, I know. "A Will Ferrell movie at No. 1?! Stephen, you're slipping!" And that may well be true. It seems, however, that Ferrell's honest turn as the lively, unassuming human-turned-elf Buddy strikes a chord with me and stands as a modern Christmas classic. Masterfully acted (including some standout performances from Ed Asner, the lovely Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Bob Newhart - with great cameos by Amy Sedaris, Faizon Love, Leon Redbone, John Favreau, Kyle Gass, Andy Richter, and Peter Dinklage), wonderfully written, and unendingly charming, Elf stands as a great film about the child-like wonder of Christmas that gets so easily lost this time of year.

Honorable Mentions: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), "Frosty the Snowman" (1969), "A Garfield Christmas Special" (1987), "A Claymation Christmas Celebration" (1987), "The Little Drummer Boy" (1968)

Hot Topic Tuesday - Consumed with Consumerism

2008-12-16T07:45:00.004-05:00

Though you'd imagine that it goes without saying, I've changed a lot since my childhood and teenage years. Now, granted, I still have a lot more growing to do (something that will also go without saying), but at the moment, I find myself looking around and feeling a bit dissatisfied. It sounds like a terrible thing to say, particularly in the middle of the Advent season with Christmas less than two weeks away... but I cannot help the way I feel.

I think I started noticing it when I was young, though I did not recognize it then. It almost seemed as if, the older I got, the less magical Christmas became. For awhile, I equated that feeling with my growing up. Now, however, I think I attribute this lack of 'magic' to the over-commercialism and saturation of Christmas with the capitalistic manifesto.

To a degree, we all buy into this attitude - we lavish presents on friends, family, and co-workers... and, even this year, I've done just that. It's one way to express love for those around us. In a consumer-driven culture, like the one we all live in, it is often the easiest and most convenient way, though not necessarily the best.

Having a conversation with a couple of my fellow teachers yesterday over lunch yielded some interesting tidbits about the differences between Europe and America - particularly as urban areas are concerned. In Europe, most cities exist only over the course of a couple of miles... and the larger ones have excellent public transport. Most everything is within walking distance. Not so in the States. Cars are a necessity. I live at least 20 minutes driving distance (if not more) from both my place of employment and my place of worship. Seems absurd, no? (Perhaps the scary thing is that it really doesn't seem all that absurd...)

One of the teachers mentioned that this space was largely in part to the culture of consumerism we've fostered in America. Rather than keep everything intimate, we've spread out, consuming land and resources as we've gone until we are scattered from one another, losing our sense of community and comradery.

Christmas has no remained unaffected. In an effort to show our love for one another, we find ourselves bustling all over town (or, in my case, all over the Internet) in search of the best deal rather than spending time with those loved ones. It seems a pity, no?

Here's a video I saw a few weeks ago at Indy First's Fall Retreat. It's definitely stayed with me since I've seen it. Check it out:

Definitely something to think about. Times are tough all over, not just here. I, for one, have committed to giving a sum of money to this charity. I hope that you can find it in your heart (if you have the means) to give as well. Check out the Advent Conspiracy website at www.AdventConspiracy.org.

Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." We live in the wealthiest nation on Earth. If you have access to a computer, chances are you're living in the wealthiest 1% of the world's population. So... you've been given much. Are you living up to His expectations?

Shopping for me last minute?

2008-12-13T23:14:00.003-05:00

Need an idea? I saw this today (a day late, sadly) on Neil Gaiman's blog (he's one of my favorite authors, in case you're new here) and thought, If I had some loose cash lying around, I'd pick that up. As I don't, I figured I'd post it here, knowing that you all love me enough to buy me stupid things (he says, laughing all the while).

"The Day the Saucers Came" is a truly funny poem about the nature of obsession. A talented artist has illustrated it. There will be 500 copies. They are $45 each. Help a brother out?

EDIT: Here's a picture from Gaiman's website. Click for a larger view.

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Favorite Christmas Carols

2008-12-13T12:53:00.007-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again - the "most wonderful time" as it were. With finals rapidly approaching next week, that means that Christmas time is almost upon us. As such, it's that time when we start hearing those old familiar songs and carols over and over and over again. I heard quite a few of them last night performed by some very talented high school students at CCHS' annual Christmas music concert. It got me thinking... what are some of my favorite Christmas carols? (For the purposes of this list, I'm opting to choose more traditional carols that truly capture the meaning of the season. This is not to say I don't enjoy the novelty carol - quite untrue, in fact. But traditional carols are traditional for a reason - they're timeless.)

5. "What Child Is This? (Greensleeves)"
What makes a beautiful Christmas song? Start with some beautiful music... and 'Greensleeves,' a traditional British folk song about unrequited love, certainly does the trick. Whether played on piano, violin, saxophone... whatever, the song is more widely known as an instrumental piece these days. The Christmas overtones were added by William Chatterton Dix in 1865, making this song a gorgeous holiday classic that has and will continue to stand the test of time. I'm a big fan of the Sarah McLachlan version from her Christmas album 'Wintersong,' released a couple of years back.

4. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Another fantastic song. This one has got a lot of meaning - the lyrics speak of the ransom of a "captive Israel" and speaks of the nation in exile, desperately in need of both Savior and Messiah. While the composition of the song seems haunting and dreary, the words evoke a note of hope amid suffering. A powerful tune that has been synonymous with the Advent season since its writing. Beautiful. Sufjan Stevens does a good version of this song - worth checking out.

3. "The Ukranian Bell Carol" (a.k.a. "The Carol of the Bells")
Probably the newest of the songs on this list, this song was first performed in 1916 as a New Year's anthem and, ironically enough, was meant to be sung a capella. The irony, of course, is the fact that the most popular versions of this song today are instrumental (most notably performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Having heard this song performed both by instrumentalists and a capella by a choir (like Straight No Chaser from IU), I'm not sure which version I enjoy more... but I do know that this is assuredly one of my favorite carols!

2. "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"
This is a great song that remains a favorite of mine. Speaking again of the need for a Savior, this song definitely possesses the 'peace' elements of the Christmas season - Christ has come to save mankind and, as such, there is no longer any need to fear, worry, or fret. Magnificent. Of all the fabulous versions of this song out there, I love either the version the Trans-Siberian Orchestra does before "Carol of the Bells" (link above) or the version the Barenaked Ladies recorded with Sarah McLachlan (which includes a version of "We Three Kings" - icing on the cake!). It's fun and poignant all at the same time.

1. "O Holy Night"
Easily my favorite Christmas carol of all time! The powerful crescendos, the moving lyrics, and the swell within everyone in the place when the choir encourages all to "fall on your knees" at the awe and majesty of the miracle of Christ's coming. While solo versions of this song can be exquisite (like those from Josh Groban or the incomparable Luciano Pavarotti), for my money, nothing beats a good choral arrangement of this piece (which are apparently hard to find on YouTube).

Honorable Mentions: "We Three Kings," "Angels We Have Heard On High," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Little Drummer Boy"

So... what are some of your favorite Christmas carols?

Retrospect

2008-12-09T19:54:00.013-05:00

Some details concerning the last few weeks, which I've not posted mainly due to busy-ness more than anything else. Finally, I indulge you.

The fall play was a smashing success! For those new to me or my inane ramblings, I teach freshman Bible at my alma mater, Covenant Christian High School where I also assist with the drama program. Mid-November, I was given the opportunity to direct my first show - I chose John Patrick's "The Curious Savage," one of my perennial favorites. My cast was superb, realizing visions I didn't even know I'd had. Fantastic!My incredibly talented cast! They were absolutely amazing!
Our youth group also had our annual fall retreat the weekend after the play. As always, it was a great time, with great speaking, worship, and fun. Our speaker was Larry Mitchell, a man who I've always found inspirational and challenging. Music was done by my good friend Sean Rose and his band Defining Rose (they're a relatively new band, but very talented - check 'em out!). Unfortunately, I was sick most of the weekend - NOT FUN!
One of the highlights for me was our "Saturday Night Live" where students put together skits and performed them. The highlight of the night was two of the high school girls dressing up like the youth pastor and I and doing fake announcements. Brilliant!The Scotts (Scott & Kelsey) and the Stephens (Bethany a.k.a. 'Danger' and I)
Thanksgiving, as it usually is, was fantastic! I ate far too much (yet not as much as I would be known to eat in years past - guess this diet's working after all) and got too goof off with my wonderful family! Loads of fun!As promised, the (in)famous picture of me demolishing the turkey leg
Black Friday was also my father's birthday. I was up and at the comic book store at 7:00am for my comic book guy's door-buster sale. It was great! I picked up a couple of trade paperbacks I'd been wanting, as well as a Batman statue - all at severe discounts! Who says it doesn't pay to be a nerd sometimes?Batman, guarding my computer (along with 'Iron' Spidey)
After the escapades of the morning, the family went out for sushi to celebrate Dad's birthday. Dad had never had sushi before, so I suppose it was an experiment of sorts. Dad tried some non-raw sushi and seemed to enjoy it. My mom, on the other hand, had a tuna roll and about gagged. *Sigh* Ah, well...Mmm... sushi... (note the octopus on the tray in the background - tasty!)
Then, Saturday. I went out with my friend Anita for some more sushi - can't get enough! - and we watched Waiting for Guffman which may very well be one of the best comedies in the history of ever. I went home about 11:30... and managed to total my car on the way home. This was only the beginning of my trauma. Fortunately, I was the only one involved and was not hurt at all (thanks to the beauty of German engineering)... but unfortunately, my insurance had been cancelled earlier in the month due to nonpayment. So, I was basically out a car... and my license is getting suspended for three months (starting whenever the officer on the scene files the paperwork). I figure, if that's the worst of it, then I'm getting off rather light. God is good and continues to bless - I'm a walking testament to that - but let it never be said that some lessons are learned the hard way.

Friday's Top Five (Saturday Edition) - Comic Book Movies

2008-12-06T10:09:00.008-05:00

As crazy as life's been lately, it's been difficult for me to update with any amount of regularity. Unfortunately, this is likely going to get worse with Christmas right around the corner and J-Term and the musical happening almost immediately after that. Still, now seems as good a time as any to talk about a subject near and dear to my heart - comic book movies. With the almost electric buzz surrounding the upcoming Watchmen film, there's been a lot of talk as to what the best comic book movies are/have been. So, here's the list of my top five.

5. Superman II (1980)

While 1978's Superman: The Movie let Hollywood know that superheroes could legitimately be done on the silver screen (by making us all believe a man could fly), it was the sequel that really perfected the series. Expanding the Superman mythos by including a trio of Kryptonian killing machines as well as the genius of Hackman's Lex Luthor, Superman II answers the question, "What if the world had no Superman?" Better than the original and far better than its three predecessors (and, yes, I'm including 2006's 'should-have-been-a-relaunch' Superman Returns), Superman II is the beacon of the Superman series.

4. X2: X-Men United (2003)
Yet another sequel that surpassed the original (which seems to be a trend on this list), X2 took everything that was good about the first X-Men film and made it bigger! From the opening sequence involving Nightcrawler 'porting through the White House to the first appearance of Colossus to Wolverine going berserker... X2 has it all. Of course it helps that Nightcrawler - one of my favorite mutants - finally got time on the big screen. X2 also did what the first film couldn't do in terms of story - it fleshed out the characters even more and created some truly unforgettable moments. It's a shame that Brett Ratner had to come along and ruin the whole franchise...

3. Batman Begins (2005)
After the horrid Joel Schumacher renditions from the late 1990's, Batman needed a Hollywood makeover... so thank heaven for Christopher Nolan, critically-acclaimed director of Memento and Insomnia, who gave the Batman franchise the shot-in-the-arm it desperately needed. Defying convention, Nolan concentrated on the origins of the Caped Crusader only putting Christian Bale (in my mind, the best Batman to date) in costume for little over a half an hour. He also opted to focus on some lesser-known Bat-villains like the Scarecrow and R'as al Ghul rather than bigger names like the Joker or the Penguin. All these risks paid off in full as Batman Begins reminded moviegoers of just how awesome the Dark Knight really is.

2. Iron Man (2008)
Marvel has had a lot of hits on their hands ever since the first X-Men movie in 2000, but none have been quite as well-done as this year's summer smash, Iron Man. The elements of story, direction, effects, characterization, and score fit together so well. Robert Downey, Jr. owned the film as the charismatic billionaire industrialist Tony Stark. Jeff Bridges was villainous perfection as Obadiah Stane (a.k.a. the Iron Monger) while Gwenyth Paltrow lit up the screen as the sweet Pepper Potts. The biggest weak point of the film was Terrance Howard's far-t00-subdued performance as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, making me happy to see Don Cheadle stepping into the role for the sequel. With the Nick Fury cameo leading to an Avengers movie and the fact that this is Marvel's first film as their own independent studio, I would say that Iron Man is Marvel's greatest achievement to date.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
If Superman: The Movie proved that Hollywood could do a superhero film well, then The Dark Knight proved that a superhero film could be an Oscar-caliber event. Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, and the rest of the cast of Batman Begins returned to pit the titular Dark Knight against his greatest foe: the Joker, masterfully played by Heath Ledger. I'll admit, I was as skeptical as anyone when I heard Ledger was going to play the Joker... but, like so many other comic fans and moviegoers, I was blown away by the caliber of his performance. Ledger was a runaway freight train, bowling over every other character in the film and giving audiences a new vision of horror and villainy. Now, with The Dark Knight being re-released in theaters to remind the Academy of Ledger's performance, it seems legit that some Oscar attention might finally be paid to a superhero movie... and, in my mind, it's long overdue!

Honorable Mentions: Spider-Man 2 (2004), Sin City (2005), X-Men (2000), 300 (2006), Spider-Man (2002), Superman: The Movie (1978)

So... what are some of your favorite comic book movies?

A lot to be thankful for...

2008-11-26T22:55:00.008-05:00

Tomorrow is one of my all-time favorite holidays. I love Thanksgiving. Maybe it's the time I get to spend with my wacky family. Maybe it's all the amazing food. Maybe it's that I don't have to go into work (okay... so it's DEFINITELY that).

Here are some of my favorite things about Thanksgiving.

1. The Food
You might say that the food makes the gathering. In a lot of ways, I'm inclined to agree. I'm a firm believer that good food can make a good conversation even better (and that bad food can have a negative effect on even a good conversation). That having been said, when the Foxworthys get together, we do it up right!

The owner of the house we inhabit gets turkey duty. That's just law. The rest of us compensate with the sides. By this point, we pretty much all have our respective assignments. My parents make a relish tray (which includes these awesome beef-and-cream-cheese roll-ups). Mom makes sausage stuffing. My cousin Sara brings the rolls. My Aunt Denise (when she comes) does the sweet potato casserole. My cousin Roberta makes the pies. Emilee does the green beans. And me? I get to do the smoked gouda mashed potatoes.

Lemme tell you about these beauties: a few years ago, I was watching Food Network with my dad and saw Emeril Lagasse (whom I can no longer stand - he annoys me) on TV prepping some mashed potatoes with melted gouda cheese in them. I turn to my dad and say something to the effect of, "Those look good. I think I'll make 'em for Thanksgiving this year." And I did. They were a hit (with most of the family anyway - my uncle Jack prefers the 'traditional' taters) and so I was delegated to making them every year. It really is something to look forward to for me - I really enjoy it! One year, I devised my own recipe for Loaded Mashed Potatoes, but it really didn't seem to have the same appeal as the smoked gouda taters. So, I continue on. The recipe for the Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes can be found by following that link. The Loaded Mashed recipe? Maybe I'll post it one of these days...

2. The Family
I love my family. If people think I'm crazy, they can spend an hour or so with my family and know that I come by it honestly. We all nuts! Combined with the fact that we're nuts is the fact that we're all great cooks. Seriously. Amazing. Perhaps this should be an addendum to the 'food' portion, but we just love to cook in our family. No joke. My grandfather, Joe Foxworthy, was a cook in the U.S. Navy for several years and he passed on his love for and knowledge of food to all of his kids, who have in turn passed it down to their kids. And, assuming I have any, I'll pass it on to my kids. If I have any.

But back to my family. We laugh. We bicker. We sing. We cook. We eat. We are friggin' merry. It's just not a holiday without the Foxworthy clan. S'just not.

3. The Picture
Ever since I was a kid, my mom has been taking pictures of me eating a turkey drumstick. And every year, I reserve one drumstick for myself and let everyone else fight it out for the other.

Actually, 'the picture' hasn't been a REGULAR thing... or, at least, it wasn't until about 1999 or 2000. At that point, Mom snapped a picture of me gnawing into a turkey leg while wearing a shirt that proudly proclaimed "BITE ME!" (it had a picture of a mosquito on it - get it?). Since then, the pic has become a staple. I don't think I have any copies from the last couple of years, but the below pics are from 2004 and 2005, respectively.

<-- Thanksgiving '04

Thanksgiving '05 -->

Well, gang, those are my top 3 favorite things about Thanksgiving. If I get around to it, I'll post tomorrow's picture up here so you can see it. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Enter, Sandman... please?

2008-11-26T03:53:00.004-05:00

It's odd. Any given night of my life, I can hear my phone going off at 2:30am because my friends from the other side of the country decide to text me, roll over, and still manage to go back to sleep.

For whatever reason... not tonight. Having been sick for the last four days and only now beginning to start feeling better... tonight's the night I can't sleep. Fabulous.

So what does the man do with his time in the wee hours of the A.M.?

Why, naturally, he:

uploads pictures from the weekend.
Facebook-stalks people he hasn't seen in years then, realizing how creepy it kinda is, stops and Facebook-stalks people he's seen more recently.
gets thirsty but refuses to get up and go get a glass of water.
listens to Patty Griffin's beautiful cover of Tom Waits' "Ruby's Arms" on YouTube (which he's had stuck in his head for at least a week).
imagines what it would be like to be sleeping right now.
reads an issue or two out of the third StormWatch trade, "Change or Die".
watches a video of the Bible teachers at CCHS singing a rewritten version of Third Day's "You Are Beautiful, My Sweet, Sweet Song" about us.
sucks it up and gets a drink of water anyway because it's so dadgum hot in the office.
decides to go lay in bed for the last hour-and-three-quarters before his alarm goes off.

Cheers!

"On with the show, THIS IS IT!"

2008-11-14T16:05:00.003-05:00

The Curious Savage Bios from Brenton Oechsle on Vimeo.

Here's a video made for this weekend's performances of the play I've directing (hence my absence from blogging), John Patrick's "The Curious Savage". For anyone anxious to attend, go ahead and check out Covenant's Fine Arts site for more details!

Hope to see you there!

"Deus Ex Machina Politica" Revisited

2008-10-30T08:37:00.003-04:00

A couple months ago, I posted my political views up here for anyone to view. I think in this time of politicians shouting and schmoozing, slinging mud and kissing babies.

Vote, Christian Americans. Not on one issue or on who looks better. Vote your convictions and vote for the candidate who best represents the biblical worldview (insanely difficult, I know). Most importantly, pray for our future president, whoever he may be. Both men profess Christ as Lord and Savior - so pray that He guides their thoughts and actions once in office.

This has been a P.S.A. from Stephen E. Foxworthy. Thank you, and God bless America.

Halloween Songs

2008-10-23T21:53:00.003-04:00

Every holiday has its great music... and Halloween is no exception. I'm the kind of guy who prides himself on his ability to come up with great mix CD and a few years ago, I put together what I considered a great Halloween mix. It included the following:

Alice Cooper - "Welcome to My Nightmare"
Nightmare Before Christmas - "This is Halloween"
Misfits - "Halloween"
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers - "Monster Mash"
Heywood Banks - "Halloween"
Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera' - "Phantom of the Opera"
Rocky Horror Picture Show - "Time Warp"
Little Shop of Horrors - "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space"
'Weird Al' Yankovic - "Nature Trail to Hell (in 3-D)"
Warren Zevon - "Werewolves of London"
Michael Jackson - "Thriller"
Meat Loaf - "Bat Out of Hell"
Jimmy Fallon - "Halloween Carols"
Dropkick Murphys - "Halloween"
Spinal Tap - "Back from the Dead"
Five Iron Frenzy - "Screams in the Night"
Blue Oyster Cult - "Don't Fear the Reaper" (because what Halloween is complete without cowbell?)

This year, I thought I'd revisit the concept and create a new mix for a new year. Last year, I focused a lot on humorous tracks - 'Weird Al,' Jimmy Fallon, Little Shop..., Heywood Banks, and Spinal Tap - so this year I opted for a more serious approach. I have included some classics that didn't make it on the last list and a couple creepy instrumentals that seemed essential. Let me know what you think.

Meat Loaf - "Seize the Night"
Rockwell - "Somebody's Watchin' Me"
'Evil Dead: The Musical' - "Do the Necrinomicon"
Alice Cooper - "Feed My Frankenstein"
Creedence Clearwater Revival - "I Put a Spell on You"
Santana - "Black Magic Woman"
Cranberries - "Zombies"
Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"
Rage Against the Machine - "The Ghost of Tom Joad"
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - "A Nightmare on My Street"
Edgar Winter Group - "Frankenstein"
Eagles - "Witchy Woman"
Van Halen - "Running With the Devil"
Pink Floyd - "Careful With That Axe, Eugene"
Gerard McMann - "Cry, Little Sister" (from The Lost Boys)
MC Hammer - "Addams Groove"

Any other necessities I'm missing? Let me know!

Human Zombie

2008-10-17T08:31:00.004-04:00

The grading is done.

I was at school (with my wonderful sister whom I don't appreciate enough) 'til 12:30 am.

I have three shots of espresso in my body.

I hope I can make it.

Urgh...

Above: The cast of TOTS's "Evil Dead: The Musical"
(...'cuz they're zombies... which is how I feel today... yeah...)

New Logo

2008-10-14T17:31:00.002-04:00

Look! Up at the top of the page! It's magnificent! It's eye-catching!

No! It's Stephen's new logo!

A little something I whipped up today. Hopefully it adds more than it detracts.

A few quick updates:

I've been keeping incredibly busy! My students just finished their first nine weeks at CCHS and are a bit haggard from the experience. Which is to say nothing of their teacher. Between teaching, directing the fall play, and working with my youth group, I'm slowly wearing myself out. Five more weeks 'til showtime... five more weeks 'til showtime...
And, speaking of showtime: everyone needs to come and see Covenant's fall play - John Patrick's "The Curious Savage". It's a great story and one of my favorite plays (naturally, that's why I'm directing it). The cast is really doing an excellent job, so make their day (and mine... and, who knows, quite possibly YOURS) by coming to see it on November 14-15. Call the school for ticket information.
I got my school pictures today. They are awesome. With any luck, I'll get some posted soon.
I have A TON of grading to get through! Tests! Binders! Homework! Quizzes! It's tempting to go on a homework embargo... and, if I thought I could get away with it, I would!
Seriously, if you haven't thought about it, GO SEE "EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL"!! It rocked my face up to eleven! No joke!

Well, that's just a brief recap of my life as of late and why I've been neglecting my small (but allegedly faithful) blog readership. May this satisfy you until I post again in four or five weeks...

Of Blood Packs and Boomsticks - an amateur review of "Evil Dead: The Musical" (and the events surrounding it)

2008-10-11T22:46:00.005-04:00

I suppose I should start at the beginning. When I woke up Friday morning, I had no idea there was even such a thing as "Evil Dead: The Musical". I had no idea there was a cult classic musical based on the cult classic film series that had been a smash hit in Toronto, Montreal, and New York. Not only that, but I was blissfully unaware that the musical was having its Midwest debut that very night in my own city. I knew none of those things.

On my way to work that morning, I turned on the radio to Z 99.5 (which I listen to in the mornings only because the daytime DJ amuses me). My ears perked up when he announced that his in-studio guests were members of the cast of "Evil Dead: The Musical". As they performed a number from the show - "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed By Candarian Demons" (which ended up being one of my favorites) - I couldn't help but laugh. So amused was I by the song, I decided to call the station to see when it was running. The conversation went something like this:

Producer: "Hello, Smiley Morning Show!"
Me: "Yeah, I think this musical sounds great! How long is it running?"
Producer: "Uh... through Halloween, I think."
Me: "Through Halloween? Cool. Hey, are you guys gonna be giving away tickets?"
Producer: "Uh, not yet..."
Me: "Do you know when you might be doing that?"
Producer: "Hold on a second."

And, suddenly, I'm put on hold. He comes back a second later and asks for my name and, suddenly, I'm talking with the DJ, who's telling me that they're gonna give me tickets. No stupid contests or trivia games - I just get them. The catch? They were for the opening night show... that night.

Two tickets. One me. A problem arose - who would I take? My sister (whom I usually go on these little excursions with), though she would appreciate the humor and likes the odd musical, would probably not like the horror aspect (campy though it was). I called a few other friends, who all were busy - either working or having made other plans. I was running out of options.

Finally, I mentioned the musical to one of the new teachers at CCHS whom I'd befriended over the course of the past nine weeks. He seemed interested, so I invited him along. He even went so far as to invite his wife and buy her a ticket at the box office (which I didn't mind in the least - the more the merrier!). So the three of us were on our way to see "Evil Dead: The Musical". It turns out they were great people to see the show with, too. They were really excited about the prospect of sitting in the "splatter zone" (where you're more likely to get hit with fake blood) and got a kick out of a lot of the gags and jokes in the show.

The show itself was too much fun. More fun than I've had at the theatre in a long time! I wasn't overly impressed with the first act, but the second act more than won me over with numbers like "Bit Part Demon," "Do the Necrinomicon," and the aforementioned "All the Men in My Life..." and classic lines like 'Good, bad... I'm the guy with the gun' and 'This is my boomstick!'. The actors were really quite good as well - all local talent (which I found refreshing) who enjoyed the campy horror elements as much (if not more) than the audience. It was obvious they were having a lot of fun on the stage, which is the makings of a great show in anyone's book.

One of the characters got under my skin a bit, mainly because she spoke entirely in bad puns (which anyone who knows me well knows that I abhor). The actress herself was good enough and had a good range of emotion (more evident before her character gets turned into a demon). The actor portraying Ash was more than effective. He is no Bruce Campbell (but seriously, who is?), but he did manage to play the part well enough, recalling the film well. One of the actors later told me that he'd rehearsed the role extensively, and it was very evident. He did well. The real standout, in my mind, was the actress playing Shelly and Annie. She played not one, but two roles with ease. She was an obvious comedianne who played each moment well, without pandering to the audience or being overly obvious. I found out later that five of the cast members were improvers... and, once again, it seemed obvious looking back. These were people who understood humor.

I could go into a lot more details about the show - like the little nuances that made the show great, the show-stopping musical numbers, and the rest - but I really think that, if this sounds 'up your alley' then you should definitely check it out. Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors and students) and can be ordered at Theatre on the Square. While you order tickets, I'll let you know about the after-party.

Ah, yes. An after-party. The entire audience was invited to an after-party/opening night reception at the Scholar's Inn (about a block from the playhouse). The three of us decided to take them up on it. So, not knowing anyone really, we went down to the restaurant and chilled outside. We chatted with each other for a while and, when the cast showed up, we got a chance to talk with them. Particularly, we talked with Luke McDonnell (who played the mostly mute Ed) and Evan Wesselmann (who played party-boy best friend Scott). Both guys seemed pretty cool and we chatted with them for a couple of hours, actually. Evan busted out his impressions of everyone from Peter Griffin and Mr. Burns to Christopher Walken and George Carlin, while Luke chatted with us about the show, his theatrical background and any topic that popped up. We didn't end up leaving until 1:00am.

All in all, a great time. I plan on seeing this show again at some point, but you should also go and check it out. The cast is one of the best local groups I've seen in a while and the show itself is reminiscent of shows like "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Reefer Madness" (other movies-turned-musicals). Check it!

Emmy Highlights

2008-09-22T18:18:00.003-04:00

So, my roommate Brett and I turned on the Primetime Emmys last night (remember when they were just called 'The Emmys' and they didn't have to distinguish from 'Daytime' and 'Primetime'? Ahh... those were the days!) in order to watch the wonder and amazement that was 'the Primetime Emmys'!

...man, was I disappointed...

Some highlights:

I'm not sure who's decision it was to make the five contestants for 'Best Reality Show Host' the hosts for the show, but whoever they are, they need to be fired. Badly. Worst decision ever! The egos were enormous - I'm amazed they were able to fit Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol") and Howie Mandel ("Deal or No Deal") on the same stage! Tom Bergeron ("Dancing With the Stars") and Jeff Probst ("Survivor") were just awkward, and, though she was gorgeous (as always), Heidi Klum ("Project Runway") contributed nothing. The opening bit ("We have... nothing planned!") was like watching a train wreck and it really didn't get better from there. The best bit with them all night wasn't even theirs, but Jimmy Kimmel's, who played the announcement of the winner like an episode of "American Idol" - announcing that each nominee was "in the final two" and then taking a commercial break right before announcing the winner. When the winner was announced, Kimmel held out a card with the name of the winner - Jeff Probst of "Survivor" - just like on "Survivor".
Jeremy Piven: "Do you want me to just stand up here and talk for twelve minutes? That was the whole intro!"
Steve Martin showed everyone what true comedic genius really is. Had the Academy just let him (or another funny comedian) host, the show would've been better by far. His honorary award to Dick Smothers was as hilarious as it was heartfelt.
Ricky Gervais punking on Steve Carrell to hand over the Emmy he won last year (that John Stewart and Stephen Colbert 'awarded' to Carrell as Gervais was in absentia). As a diehard fan of the British "Office," I liked seeing Carrell get his comeuppance at the hands of a better comedian!
Don Rickles! If you didn't see it, check YouTube or something! Dude had me in stitches all night! Even Kathy Griffin seemed to be losing her composure - which seemed odd.
Neil Patrick Harris: "Thanks to Howie Mandel's incessant prattling, our bit has been cut."
Kristen Chenoweth: "Bitter, party of two!"
Barry Sonnenfeld: "Love television, fear the Internet."
"John Adams" took home bucco awards! I always feel a small personal victory when Paul Giamatti wins anything, so it was awesome to see him take home "Best Leading Actor in a Miniseries or Made-For-TV Movie"! I also loved the exchange between Sally Field and Tom Hanks when she presented him the award for "Best Miniseries" (Hanks executive produced). It went a little something like this:
Sally Field: "How you been, son?"
Tom Hanks: "Fine, Mama. (pause) Mama always said, 'Life...' Ah, forget it!"
Craig Ferguson: "Brooke... I've always respected you."
Brooke Shields: "Is that your hand on my @$$?"
Craig Ferguson: "Yes... and it's respecting you."
There was a lot of hooplah regarding a "Laugh-In" cast reunion. It was unbearably cheesy! If you didn't used to watch the show, you were pretty much up a creek in terms of understanding what the heck was going on... and a lot of them just weren't as funny as they used to be.

All in all, I suppose the show wasn't too bad, but the hosts did drag the proceedings down a bit. Towards the end, presenters were just running out, saying, "We're running out of time! Here are the nominees!" The writer's strike made for a pretty lackluster season, this I know - but, hopefully, with things back to normal, next year will pick up and things will improve dramatically!

My Very Own BBQ Sauce Recipe

2008-09-21T14:53:00.003-04:00

My grandparents came down this weekend and so I whipped up some of my homemade barbecue sauce for them to take back with them. It came highly recommended - my sister, who is pretty picky about what she eats (and is very selective about her barbecue sauces), really enjoys it. So, I thought I'd share the recipe with you. I find it works best when you smother it over leftover pot roast, but it also tastes good with grilled chicken.

Stephen's Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients*:

1 large shallot, finely chopped**
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped or thinly sliced
extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt
2 c. ketchup
1/2-1 c. mustard (depending on how mustardy you want it)
2 tbsp. dark molasses
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. liquid smoke
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrins)
3 splashes of hot sauce (optional - I like Frank's Red Hot)

Preparation:

In a small saucepan, saute shallot and garlic over medium-low heat until soft.
Once shallots and garlic are softened, add ketchup and mustard and stir everything together until it starts to bubble.
Add remaining ingredients, stirring after each addition.
Reduce to low heat and let simmer, covered, for a few minutes, then remove from heat. By now, it should be reddish-brown in color***. Let stand for a couple minutes before transporting to the fridge. (If you wanted to add pot roast, now would be a good time as it reheats the pot roast to eating temperature.) Ideally, you'll want this to cool to give the flavors time to marry together. Then, spread over grilled items or use as a dipping sauce!

* (Note: All the 'liquid' measurements - ketchup, mustard, liquid smoke, etc. - are estimates. This recipe can really be tailored to the individual tastes of the maker.)
** Feel free to substitute the shallot with a small onion. Works just as well.
*** For a darker, sweeter sauce, double the amount of dark molasses you use.

Friday's Top Five - Best Movie Casts

2008-09-19T11:41:00.006-04:00

Sorry to have gone so long without an update. Life's been pretty hectic as of late. Now... on with the list!

In my mind, there's little that can make a good movie even better than a fantastic ensemble. Some movies are lucky to have one or two good-to-great actors in order to bolster sales and increase viewership, but there is not like a plurality of those kinds of actors to make it an instant classic! Here are some of my favorite ensemble casts:

5. L.A. Confidential (1997)
Starring Academy Award winners like Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Kim Basinger (in the role that won her that Oscar), nominees like James Cromwell, David Strathairn, and Danny DeVito, and Satellite Award nominee Guy Pearce, L.A. Confidential is a story about love, loss, and betrayal in a town where such words are more commonplace than shamed actors. Each actor in the film is simply spectacular, particularly Crowe and Pearce, who play two sides of the same coin as the only honest cops in a crooked department. Easily one of the better casts assembled in recent years, it's amazing they lost the SAG 'Best Ensemble' to *shudder* The Full Monty.

4. A Few Good Men (1992)
In a cast led by three-time Oscar nominee Tom Cruise (in that cocky role he was born to play), three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson, and two-time Golden Globe nominee Demi Moore, A Few Good Men (directed by Oscar nominee Rob Reiner) also stars the ubiquitous Kevin Bacon, the amazing Kiefer Sutherland, the hilarious Kevin Pollack, and the incomparable J.T. Walsh along with cameos by Christopher Guest, Noah Wyle, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. Based on the Aaron Sorkin play, the story has it all - intruigue, murder, suspense, humor, and sharp banter and dialogue... all delivered by a truly capable and worthy cast. Though often one-dimensional, Cruise holds his own against Nicholson (no easy feat) and Sutherland lights up the screen, giving off a raw dislikability that few others can master.

3. The Usual Suspects (1995)
A film that, for me, became an immediate classic (particularly because of its amazing ending), The Usual Suspects has one of the greatest casts I've even seen. Think about it. Gabriel Byrne. Kevin Spacey. Chazz Palminteri. Benicio del Toro. Pete Postlethwaite. Kevin Pollack. Heck, even Stephen Baldwin turns in a decent performance (one of his only, that I've seen). The ensemble here performed so seemlessly and so brilliantly that there could be no doubt in anyone's mind that these men were all hardened criminals who would stab you in the face at a moment's notice. A brilliant ensemble cast!

2. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
Based on a David Mamet play (which, in retrospect, should have made my list of favorite plays a couple weeks ago), this film stars Oscar winners Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Lemmon, and Alan Arkin and nominees Ed Harris and Alec Baldwin, and Cannes Best Actor Jonathan Pryce... and they work together beautifully! Jack Lemmon called this cast the best ensemble he'd ever worked with. From a Hollywood legend of Lemmon's caliber, that's high praise indeed! If you don't like language, you won't like GGR, but if you can handle it, this movie is gripping, human, and brilliantly-acted!

1. Heat (1995)
One of the greatest ensembles I've ever seen. It's incredibly historic as well, being the first movie in which the legendary actors Al Pacino and Robert De Niro actually appeared onscreen together. Not only does this movie feature these two cinematic giants, but it also features Val Kilmer (The Saint), Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy, Deliverance), Tom Sizemore (Black Hawk Down), Diane Venora (Romeo + Juliet), Amy Brenneman (TV's "Judging Amy"), Ashley Judd (Kiss the Girls), Myketli Williamson (Forrest Gump), Wes Studi (Last of the Mohicans), Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs, TV's "Monk"), Dennis Haysbert (TV's "24" and the All State commercials), Natalie Portman (V for Vendetta, Closer), Danny Trejo (Desperado, Con Air), William Fitchner (The Longest Yard, TV's "Prison Break"), Hank Azaria (Run Fatboy Run, TV's "The Simpsons"), Tone Loc (singer of "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina"), and even a young Jeremy Piven (TV's "Entourage")! With a cast like this, it's no wonder that Heat - directed by Michael Mann (Academy Award nominated director of Last of the Mohicans, The Insider, Ali, and Collateral) - ranks as one of my all-time favorite action movies and my all-time favorite ensemble film cast!

Honorable mentions: Hamlet (1996), Best in Show (2000), Pulp Fiction (1994), Reservoir Dogs (1992), A Time to Kill (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998)

So, what are some of your favorite movie ensembles?

Should I put this on my resume?

2008-09-10T22:12:00.003-04:00

Or, for that matter, should you? Don't we owe it all to ourselves to call TIME Magazine on what is quite possibly the lamest "Person of the Year" ever and put it on all of our resumes, business cards, etc.? Would it be unethical? Am I a year and a half too late with this observation (seeing as how we were all TIME's 2006 'Person of the Year')?

Friday's Top Five - Plays

2008-09-05T20:16:00.004-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again - fall play season! This year, I'm directing my first show at CCHS which has me very excited, but I know it'll be a lot of work! With that in mind, I've put together a list of my top five favorite shows! Enjoy!

5. "You Can't Take It With You" by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
One of the funniest ensemble shows you can find is "You Can't Take It With You". A large enough cast to accommodate even the largest of theatre programs, this show has big heart and even bigger laughs. I was first introduced to this show in the fall of 2003 when we did it up at Olivet. I played Boris Kolenkhov, the Russian ballet teacher, and had a great deal of fun with everyone in the cast. Sure, it's a bit preachy and moralistic... but, written at the height of the Great Depression, how could it afford not to be?
The great story of an eccentric family with a young daughter who's madly in love with the son of a wealthy, uptight businessman, "You Can't Take It With You" follows the Sycamore family through their daughter Alice's courtship with an insane cast of characters like something out of sheer insanity! A family with so many varied interests - ballet, playwrighting, xylophoning, masks, fireworks, candies, printing, painting, snakes, and well, too many other things to name - can all become lost in the shuffle at times, but the play remains humorous, despite some obvious dating of the events and happenings.

4. "The Boys Next Door" by Tom Griffin
When I tell them I've played a mentally retarded man, most people always seem to wonder how I did it without offending people. But, played with honesty (thanks, Prof. Cohagan!), the part of Norman Bulansky became heartfelt and sincere. In fact, this play has more heart than any I've ever seen and, after performing it at ONU in the fall of 2004, it became an immediate favorite. Not many people know of it outside of theatre people, but I always feel I have a connection with those few individuals. Like we've stumbled on something great that the rest of the world is happily oblivious of. Check this show out, if you get the opportunity.
Entering the world of four mentally retarded men, "The Boys Next Door" is humorous in its honesty of their portrayal. Centering on their burnt-out social worker, Jack, "Boys" takes us into the lives of Arnold (an OCD man with a penchant for the dramatic), Norman (a loveable mentally retarded man who loves donuts and his girlfriend Sheila), Lucien (a severely retarded black man who can't read, but loves Spider-Man), and Barry (a marginal schizophrenic who pretends to be a golf pro). Taking the audience to unbelievably high feel-good moments to tear-inducing sadness and back to raucous laughter seems all at once natural and cathartic. Easily, one of the best shows I've ever done!

3. "The Curious Savage" by John Patrick
The only show I've ever done twice, "The Curious Savage" stands apart as one of the funniest shows I've ever done (and also as one of the most fun). My first trip was in the spring of '03 at Olivet where I played a violin-playing statistician-turned-mental patient. The second was in the summer of '05 when I played the overbearing senator whose step-mother had been locked in an institution. Both times, I had such unbelievable fun that when the time came to choose my first show to direct at CCHS, I couldn't think of a better show to put on.
Tracing the life of an eccentric elderly woman who has been committed to an institution by her stepchildren after the death of her husband, "The Curious Savage" draws a fine line between those whom society deems 'insane' and 'dangerous' and society itself. The real trick, however, is that it does so with a charm and wit that is seldom seen in the theatre anymore. The characters it portrays are well-rounded, funny, and, probably most importantly, honest. I find myself relating to the "wicked" stepchildren, while at the same time loving the "guests" for their charm and sincerity.

2. "12 Angry Men" by Reginald Rose
Though I've never done the play, I've been a fan of Rose's "12 Angry Men" for quite a long time. When given the opportunity to see the Broadway touring company last spring, I leapt at the chance and was surely not disappointed. Rose creates a fantastic sense of drama that continues to be heightened throughout the show as these men compete with the heat and with each other. The show deals with the nature of truth and the power of a single dissenting voice. This is a show I would love to either be in or direct some day... though I'm not sure if either is a real likelihood at this point, unfortunately.
The story of a jury trying a murder case, Reginald Rose creates tension, animosity, and drama... and shoves it all into a cramped jury room. As the verdicts of 'guilty' resound around the room, only Juror #8 has the audacity to offer a plea of 'not guilty'. From there, the action begins as he slowly convinces every man in the jury room over to his point of view. As powerful as it is uncomfortable, "12 Angry Men" stands as a true triumph of theatre.

1. "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett
This one falls amongst the most classic stories in theatre. Certainly one of the most popular of the 'absurdist' style (though probably not falling into that grouping itself), Beckett painted "Godot" around two imbecilic 'heroes' who have become theatrical legends. Vladmir and Estragon (or Didi and Gogo, respectively) are constantly waiting for the titular Godot but never seen to be able to remember exactly where they are or why. Playing with the philosophies of existensialism, "Godot" is often intentionally contradictory, leaving the audience as confused as the main characters. Fun additions are the bombastic Pozzo and the ironically-named Lucky, who torment Didi and Gogo (though not maliciously).
I first read this show in college, but saw it performed in the spring of 2007 at Olivet, directed by my good friend Matt McMahan. Expertly performed with perfect humor and appropriate amounts of despair, I was quite impressed with the production. I quickly found my own copy of the script and read it once every couple of years or so. This is the play that opened me up to the world of Beckett, so I'm incredibly thankful for that as well.

Honorable mentions: "Death of a Salesman" (Miller), "The Bald Soprano" (Ionesco), "A Doll's House" (Ibsen), "Tartuffe" (Moliere), "War to End All Wars" (Gebby), "Boy Kissing" (McMahan)

Note: I didn't include Shakespeare or musicals intentionally. That's another top five for another Friday.

Brad Meltzer, "The Book of Lies," and Superman's House

2008-09-02T06:12:00.012-04:00

One of my favorite authors - political thriller novelist and DC Comic writer, Brad Meltzer - asked me for my help and I couldn't, in good conscience, turn him down for two reasons: (1.) I'm a big fan of his previous novels, "The Book of Fate" and "The Zero Game" (as well as his runs on "Identity Crisis"and "Justice League of America") and (2.) it's for a great cause! Check out the below links and videos and, if you're like me, check out his new book, "The Book of Lies," which hits stands today! Particularly check out the last video and link as well as the FAQ section below it, which details what it's all about and what you can do to help! Thanks, everyone!

"The Book of Lies" Conspiracy Trailer
starring Joss Whedon, Christopher Hitchens, Damon Lindelof, Brian K. Vaughn, and A.J. Jacobs

TheBookIsReal.com

"The Book of Lies" Review

BradMeltzer.com

Save the Seigel House

OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com

The following was attached to the e-mail I received this morning at midnight:

FAQ

What's this all about again?
Today is the official launch of The Siegel & Shuster Society, with a celebrity charity auction that'll raise money to preserve the home of Jerry Siegel, creator of Superman. When you go to Brad Meltzer's charitable website www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com, you can:

bid online for original Superman and comic book art and items by top writers and artists
buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt (designed by the legendary graphic designer Chip Kidd)
or just donate to the good cause.

The best way to show it is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc
All proceeds of the auction go to the restoration of the Siegel house.

Who's involved in the auction?
This is a coming together of an entire community. The full list includes: Stephen Colbert, Jim Lee, Brian Michael Bendis, Brad Meltzer, Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Joe Quesada, Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross, Dave Gibbons, Jeph Loeb, Murphy Anderson, Ed Brubaker, John Cassaday, Gene Ha, Greg Rucka, George Perez, Michael Turner, Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Judd Winick, Frank Cho, Eric Powell, Tim Sale, Walt Simonson, Joe Staton, Eric Wight, Dave Mandel, Mike Mignola, Rags Morales, Bill Morrison, Ivan Reis, John Romita Jr., Jason Palmer, Amanda Conner, Geoff Darrow, Ron Garney, Renato Guedes, Heroes, Dave Johnson, Chris Bachalo, Mike Bair, Allen Bellman, Dan Brereton, Ernie Chan, Travis Charest, and Ian Churchill, YOU, and even Jerry Siegel (see below).

How did this come about?
While researching his new novel, The Book of Lies, Brad Meltzer visited the boyhood home of Jerry Siegel in Cleveland, Ohio, where Superman was created. As Meltzer says, "The house where Google was founded is preserved. The garage where Hewlett Packard was founded is protected. But the house where Superman was born? I was in shock." After contacting dozens of comic book creators -- and thanks to the hard work of many in the city of Cleveland -- The Siegel & Shuster Society was created and is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the creation of Superman in Cleveland by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. "I think sometimes people take things like this for granted because it started in cartoon form, but this is a house were modern mythology was created," Brain Michael Bendis adds. "Mythology that will never die away or disappear. There is no difference, to me, between this house and Mark Twain's house. We have to honor and exalt such creation."

What are the items in the auction?
You can win a walk-on part on Heroes, VIP seats to the Colbert Report, original Superman art (go see the art!), have your name in Bendis or Brubaker or Rucka's comic, or Meltzer's next novel. There's a rare original pre-Superman movie script from Geoff Johns, signed by Richard Donner. And Joanne Siegel told Meltzer that before Jerry Siegel died, he signed six Superman t-shirts that no one ever knew existed -- and then told her that if their family ever needed money, she should sell the shirts. Instead, she donated one of them to be auctioned off here. The signature is on a Superman: Quest For Peace(!) t-shirt. C'mon, baby, it's Jerry Siegel on a Quest for Peace shirt!

What can you do?
Forward and digg the video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc ). Go buy a Siegel & Shuster Society t-shirt. They're cool. They're designed by Chip Kidd. They can't be bought anywhere else. Bid on some of the auctions and spread the word by sharing the video, sigs, and www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com auction with your facebook, myspace, and live-breathing friends.

How much is the Siegel And Shuster Foundation trying to raise?
Depends on how successful we are. Phase 1 involves working on the exterior of the house: securing the roof, making sure the paint isn't rotting, doing the concrete work. That will hopefully protect the place from the outside. Joe Shuster's house (a few blocks away) was in such disrepair, it was torn down. The first goal is to collect $50,000 to deal with the outside. If we do that, then we'll go and tackle the much-needed-repairs on the inside.

Who lives there now?
The house is located in one of the tougher neighborhoods of Cleveland and is currently occupied by an African-American couple who have lived there for approximately 20 years, who have put up with all of us who have come visiting, but who don't have the money to do these repairs. Rather than kick anyone out on the street, the goal is to repair this place for them. Why? It's the right thing to do. In return, The Siegel & Shuster Society has the right to buy the house when it eventually goes up for sale.

Is there a long-term goal to make a museum?
The long-term goal is still being decided, and that's why you're invited to join The Siegel & Shuster Society and help us with those plans. Meetings are held monthly in Cleveland -- when you buy a shirt, they'll have your name. But one of the dreams is that one day, buses full of students will drive from all over Ohio, from Michigan, from any nearby state, and come to the fully-restored house -- covered and decorated with children's artwork inside -- and see where one of the world's greatest dreams was born. Go to www.OrdinaryPeopleChangeTheWorld.com to make it happen.

Friday's Top Five - Influential Fiction

2008-08-29T07:48:00.003-04:00

Kyle Hopkins (Covenant's new English 12 teacher) and Justin Knapp (Covenant's favorite son) got me thinking a couple weeks ago when I posted my Top Five Influential Books list. Both of them mentioned fiction titles, which struck me as I hadn't included any on my list. Honestly, I found this odd, particularly since fiction is my favorite style of literature (though, it seems, I've been reading much more non-fiction lately - odd). Because of their influence, I give you my Top Five Most Influential Fiction titles:

5. Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
In Cold Blood was some of my first exposure to the writing of Truman Capote since I was forced to read his short story "A Christmas Memory" in middle school. (And, since I didn't like anything I read in middle school - because I was being forced to read it in middle school - it was a futile endeavor.) However, after reading In Cold Blood, I felt inspired to pick up some of Capote's other writings. Breakfast at Tiffany's was the first. I was amazed at Capote's use of prose - its poetic nature and fluid rhythm, almost as if it were a living thing in and of itself. I am consistantly enamored with his writing and think it a shame he didn't stick around to write more.

4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I read Brave New World my senior year in high school and absolutely loved it! My reading of it followed my reading of Sir Thomas More's Utopia, Orwell's 1984, and Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death, so I was already fascinated by the concept of dystopia - a society which seems perfect to a degree, but falls apart when the surface is scratched or upset in any way. Huxley BNW defied my prior notions of a dystopia largely because of its characters are unaware of the flaws inherent in the society. In his nightmarish vision, Huxley paints a society so close to the one in which we live, it's almost frightening.

3. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
I had heard Gaiman's name mentioned before, namely in comic circles as the author of the series The Sandman. Other than that, I knew nothing of him before I picked up American Gods one summer night during my high school days. One of the first things I noticed was that it was epic in scope. Indeed, the book had a cast in the dozens (with many more unnamed besides) and told a story that stretched across centuries and continents, written in a style that is at once self-aware and unassuming. Gaiman reveals himself a master story-teller in both this and its sequel, the novella The Monarch of the Glen. If you've not read either, do yourself a favor.

2. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Like many, my first exposure to Carroll's wonderful creations was Disney's animated classic Alice in Wonderland. In fact, it wasn't until high school (when I read Carroll selections for speech tournaments) that I discovered the amazing text pieces the film had been based on - Adventures and its sequel, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. They were so different from Disney's version, which made them so compelling. With rich characters and oddly absurdist thinking, it became no wonder to me that Alice (and Carroll) had successfully captured the imaginations of so many for so long.

1. 1984 by George Orwell
No other book has elicited such a response from me. Read not for class but of my own volition (a rare feat for me in high school... at least with regard to a classic piece of literature), I found 1984 haunting, disturbing, and compelling. I connected well with its main character and, as such, was upset by the course of action within the book. A thinly-veiled indictment of Communism, Orwell's masterpiece has stood the test of time as a chilling work regarding both the role of government and free will.

Honorable mentions: Watchmen (Moore & Gibbons), The Reluctant Fundamentalist (Hamid), Waiting for Godot (Beckett), Sophie's World (Gaarder), Cat's Cradle (Vonnegut)

*NOTE* - I have actually not read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which I know is a literary heresy. It's on my list of "books to read," but know that it's exclusion on this list is mainly due to that fact.

So... what are some of your favorite fiction titles?

Friday's Top Five - Rock Guitarists

2008-08-22T17:32:00.005-04:00

I love rock music, particularly the harder edged stuff of the pop/hair metal genre. Mostly, the stuff you'd find on any classic hits station. I really love to just crank the music and just go - particularly driving to and from work or church. I'm especially fond of any powerful guitar solos. Maybe it's my own jealousy at not being terribly musical, but I love them. So, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite rock guitarists. These lists probably won't measure up to many you'd find online, but again, not being terribly musical, I just know what I like... and I like these guys.

5. Ace "Space Ace" Frehley (Kiss)
I've really been digging on Kiss lately, particularly their early stuff from before Frehley and drummer Peter Criss left the group. The stuff those four guys did together is unbelievable... and Ace held his own against the theatrics of Simmons. (Of course, when you're shooting fireworks out of your Les Paul, how can you not?) For a taste of what makes Frehley truly great, check out "2000 Man" from the Dynasty album. Classic!

4. Angus Young (AC/DC)
And speaking of showmanship, few guitarists can measure up to AC/DC's Angus Young! Decked out in a complete Catholic schoolboy uniform, Young prances across the stage as he plays, bringing adrenaline and charisma with him. And, while I've heard the guy's as dumb as a post, he can play guitar like few others in the rock world. Just check out the opening licks on "Thunderstruck" if you don't believe me. One of the classic guitar riffs that I always count among my favorite rock guitar intros ever.

3. Jimmy Page (Yardbirds, Led Zepplin)
I've only recently become interested in Zepplin, which many rock fans would undoubtedly consider a heresy. Oh, sure, I'd heard "Stairway to Heaven" before. Who hadn't? And Page's guitar in that song is unparalleled. And then I started getting into more of their stuff and finding out more about the artist known as Jimmy Page. What I learned, I loved! One of my particular favorites would have to be his solo toward the end of "Immigrant Song". Combined with lead singer Robert Plant's captivating vocals, Page's guitar packs a much more solid wallop!

2. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
Say what you will about the politics of the band as a whole - Van Halen's guitar is solid! And while I'm a fan of a lot of Van Halen's stuff - from "Panama" to their cover of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" - it's not hard to admit that the best part of listening to the band as a whole is listening to Eddie's electrifying guitar. "Eruption" is called one of the greatest rock guitar solos of all time... and for good reason. Eddie wails on that thing and leaves his audiences screaming for more. Truly brilliant at what he does!

1. Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
As if anyone else really could be number one! Hendrix was a brilliant showman and completely revolutionized the way the guitar was perceived by the rock crowd. Most would point to his rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" from Woodstock as the perfect example of this... and I think they'd be right to an extent. However, being the Dylan fan that I am, I think I'd be remiss if I didn't mention his version of "All Along the Watchtower" - a brilliant song made even more so when given that Hendrix touch. Amazing!

Honorable mentions: Slash (Guns N' Roses), Carlos Santana (Santana), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Eric Clapton (Yardbirds, Cream, solo), Brian May (Queen)

Who are some of your favorite rock guitarists?

Rantin' & Ravin': Is Originality a Liability?

2008-08-21T15:39:00.003-04:00

Solomon perhaps said it best when he said, "there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecc. 1:9). I know that, to an extent, this is true - at its basic core, everything has been done before... but should that stop us from trying to be original?

This whole idea didn't exactly germinate overnight... but was definitely set off this morning. While driving into work, I had the radio going and thought I heard something familiar. Ah, yes - the opening piano of Warren Zevon's classic "Werewolves of London". But NOO-OO-OO! Instead, I was offered Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" which not only borrowed from the great Zevon, but also swiped the background vocals and guitar licks from Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama". Much as I may enjoy the occasional Kid Rock song, I was appalled.

This isn't a recent trend either. And I suppose that's what aggravates me. It's been a major problem since Vanilla Ice added a DING! to the end of Queen's "Under Pressure" in order to create his hit (yes, singular), "Ice, Ice Baby". But it's an epidemic now. From Gwen Stefani's "Wind it Up" (taken from The Sound of Music's "The Lonely Goatherd") to Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls" (which borrows the bassline from Ben E. King's "Stand By Me"), from Rhianna's "S.O.S." (the chords from "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell can be heard in the background) to the aforementioned "All Summer Long"... it's almost like we're rewarding artists for not creating.

And it's not even just music either. Ever since the late nineties, movies are created that are remakes of old sitcoms or (worst of all) other classic movies from a bygone era. Do we really need two "Dukes of Hazzard" remakes? Or another Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Can anyone really top the original casts? Not really...

I find it very frustrating to live in a society that not only praises mediocrity but also lauds unoriginality. Where are the Grammys for Sufjan Stevens, Rufus Wainwright, or Iron & Wine? Where are the bands waiting to take up the mantles of Bob Dylan, Led Zepplin, and other people who actually wrote their own music?

Is originality a liability?

Feel free to discuss.

Friday's Top Five - Influential Books

2008-08-15T15:48:00.004-04:00

Well, school has started and that means that life turns very busy very quickly. A lot of teaching and a lot of grading - and I've only been at it for two days! Boy, am I tuckered! Still, I'm going to try to keep up on this blog, even if it's just to post my regular features - Hot Topic Tuesday (which no one seems to read) and Friday's Top Five (which seems to be the most popular feature so far).

At any rate, since school has started, I wanted to post a list of the five books that have most influenced my thought over the last several years (some might call them the 'formidable' ones). These are books (and thinkers) that have shaped my thought and helped me formulate what I believe. (P.S. ~ I consider the Bible to be a given, so know that it ultimately trumps my #1 choice. Just know.)

5. "Beyond Good and Evil" by Friedrich Nietzsche
Falsely called the "father of nihilism,' Nietzsche has gotten a bad rep - particularly from the Christian community. Why? Because he wrote, "God is dead and we are the ones who've killed him." It mostly gets taken out of context. Nietzsche's statement is actually an indictment of the modern philosophical project, made popular by thinkers like Rene Descartes, who said "I think, therefore I am." In Nietzsche's mind, since human reason has replaced God, we have killed him... and the world now has a deep sense of hopelessness as a result. More than any other thinker, Nietzsche (through this book) has helped me understand the current state of the unsaved world at large.

4. "Desiring God" by John Piper
Piper hit me at a time in my life when I'd been asking a lot of questions, particularly about issues of faith. What did it mean to follow God? What is the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism and can it be the difference between heaven and hell? How the heck are we supposed to be joyful always?! Piper may not have answered all of these questions directly, but his book definitely gave me something to think about at a time when thinking about God was all I could do. For the first time, I began to think for myself and think outside the 'box' I'd constructed for myself. This was one of the first books I can say honestly 'changed my life.'

3. "The Knowledge of the Holy" by A.W. Tozer
I first read this book as a freshman in high school and found it quite enjoyable. Tozer explained something difficult, like the attributes of God, in a way that I could understand and in short, concise chapters, which I loved. I rediscovered it in college when I opted to read it as a Bible study with a girl I liked at the time. We never ended up reading it together, but I found myself enthralled as I re-read it. When I began teaching last year, this was one of the two books I decided to go through with my freshman for in-class devotions. I don't think they got a lot out of it, but I surely did!

2. "Confessions" by St. Augustine
One of the quintessential Christian classics, I would call "Confessions" the book every Christian should read before they die! Part autobiography, part devotional book, part philosophy/theology text, "Confessions" reads as a book by a man who has much to be thankful for - Augustine shares of all the major turning points in his life, his major sins, his conversion, and his life as a follower of Christ. Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who asked me for something good to read!

1. "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Next to the Bible itself, no book has shaped my current view of the act of being a Christian better than Bonhoeffer's essential work on what it means to be a "disciple". The whole idea of grace has, for me, been a constant source of wonder and (dare I say it?) amazement over the past three or four years. The difference between cheap and costly grace is staggering... yet I would imagine that most Christians would not even be able to discern the difference. Bonhoeffer pulls no punches and his work stirs and challenges. Definitely one for someone who has a question about what it means to truly serve God.

Honorable mentions: "Mere Christianity" (Lewis), "Fear and Trembling" (Kierkegaard), "Republic" (Plato), "Resident Aliens" (Hauerwas & Willimon), "The Politics of Jesus" (Yoder)

What are some books that have influenced and impacted you?

Hot Topic Tuesday - Christ & the American Dream

2008-08-12T15:00:00.004-04:00

*NOTE* - I got this image from a blog called Rain and the Rhinoceros. Apt for what I wanna talk about today.

Christ & The American Dream

...or perhaps I should call it "Christ vs. the American Dream." This is one I've been contemplating over the past year or so. When I first began thinking about it, I couldn't help but think of how the concept of the American Dream seemed so contrary to what Christ has to say in Scripture.

(By the by, when I speak of the American Dream here, I'm talking more of its current meaning of material prosperity than I am of the right of every individual to live and work in freedom. Why? Two reasons. 1. There is nothing in Scripture that overtly contradicts the latter and 2. I've found the previous definition to be more culturally relevant in present society - which makes sense, given that it's the current 'going' definition.)

So, here's the question: What does Christ have to say about a topic like the American Dream?

Matt. 6:19-21 - "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matt. 19:23-24 - "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matt. 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Some translations substitute 'Money' for 'Mammon,' an abstraction, a personification of material wealth. Mammon gained particular fame as a demon in John Milton's classic Paradise Lost.)
I Tim. 6:10 - "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (Yes, I know these were the words of Paul and not of Christ, but Paul himself encourages others to follow his example as he followed Christ's - I Cor. 11:1. I would encourage you, however, to read the whole passage (vv. 3-10). Most people just know that verse - and not accurately, I might add - and I think the whole thought is an important one.)

This is of course to say nothing of Christ's view on taxes (Matt. 22:15-22) or on giving (Mark 12:41-44) or any of the other various teachings throughout Scripture on the same or similar topics. The Bible has much to say on money and the harm that can come from it.

And I think that we, as Christians, should be cognizant of that. Does that mean we shouldn't have money? By no means. What I think it points to is a question of stewardship.

Dictionary.com defines a 'steward' as "a person who manages another's property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others" (italics added). By definition, a steward is not an owner of any particular thing. Americans are obsessed with possessions (or, as my high school friend Josh Bernardin once said, "We long for possession, not possessions" - implying that we only want; the object of our want is secondary), but the joke is on us - we own nothing!

Read through Psalm 50 if you get a chance. Verse 10 is a pretty popular one (at least one that I've heard repeated often), but the entire passage speaks of God's lack of need for sacrifices - it's already His! If you or I 'have' anything, it is on loan from its Original Owner.

What does that say about us as Americans? Should our concern be for our own wellbeing? Obviously, I think we need to be taken care of... but what of those who are less fortunate? Consider James 1:27 or Acts 2:45. Or, possibly even more condemning, check out the Book of Amos!

Amos was a shepherd from Judah (the southern kingdom of Israel) called to give testimony against Israel (the northern kingdom). At this time, Israel was going through something of a Golden Age - they were amid several trade routes and were doing quite well for themselves. However, while they were prospering economically, they were dying spiritually. Sin had not become taboo, theoretically from the presence of so many foreign (read: pagan) influences. They were a living example of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "cheap grace" - it didn't matter how many times they sinned; they'd just up and sacrifice an animal and start all over again!

Amos 4 is a stinging rebuke. Amos calls the women 'cows,' claiming that they oppress the impoverished and make demands from their husbands (a cultural no-no in ancient Israel). God's response to their behavior? "The time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks" (Amos 4:2). Ouch!

Ultimately, the northern kingdom was subjagated by the pagan nation of Assyria, to be followed only a few years later by Judah (who were taken by Babylon). These things happened as a result of them turning from God and His law.

"So... what exactly are you saying, Stephen?" I hear you ask from afar.

America is a great nation... but it is a nation consumed with consumption. We desire material wealth to great extent. And, often, it can consume our focus to the point where the things we should be focusing on (i.e. the Kingdom of God - Matt 6:33). It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven... but not impossible. God granted that many men in Scripture should be wealthy: Abraham, Jacob, Job, Solomon, Joseph of Arimathea, among others.

Actually, let's look at the focuses of two of those men - Solomon and Job.

Solomon was granted wealth as an extention of his request for divine wisdom (I Kings 3:10-14) and he accomplished many things with and through it. The most well-known, of course, would be the construction of the Temple, which was to be the permanent placement of the Ark of the Covenant (rather than the tent-like Tabernacle constructed during the Exodus). However, Solomon also amassed for himself many wives (something prohibited in the Law - Deut. 17:14-20, sp. v. 17 which also warns against amassing wealth), many of them political marriages from among Israel's pagan neighbors. Between giving his focus largely to these two vices (lust and greed), Solomon faltered in his kingly duties and, after his death, Israel was divided into two northern and southern kingdoms (the aforementioned Israel and Judah).

Job, however, is another story. Job was a wealthy man, having several children as well as many servants, flocks, and herds (in a time where these rather than gold and silver is what measured wealth). God took all of it away from Job in the span of a day. On top of it, he was inflicted with all manner of boils and sores. Not only was he emotionally devastated, but was subject to crippling physical pain as well. Job's own wife (who was, at this point, about all he had left) told him to curse God and die. Job's response? "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" What I find to be one of the most powerful parts of Job, however, is his statement in Job 3:15: "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face." Despite being wracked with doubt and confusion, Job remained faithful to God... and was rewarded for his faithfulness. Job 42:10-17 speaks of how Job was blessed more in the second half of his life than in the first - given more children, servants, and herds than he'd had previously. He was wealthy... but despite his wealth, remained faithful.

And I think that's how we need to handle money. If we had none, would we still be faithful to God and to His purpose? Perhaps we should look at that question objectively. The answer, I think, has the potential to surprise us.

Thoughts? Comments? Counter-rants?

We lost some good ones this weekend...

2008-08-10T18:13:00.004-04:00

Bernie Mac
(1957-2008)

Now, Mr. Mac, you never cry again.

Isaac Hayes
(1942-2008)
You were a complicated man and no one understood you but your woman.

R.I.P, guys! You are missed!

Friday's Top Five - Graphic Novels and Comics Series

2008-08-08T14:54:00.004-04:00

Since I didn't post my Top Five last week, I'll post two this week. I made a list of each of these last week for another teacher, so I've been thinking about them... prompting me to make this list. Enjoy!

I've long been a comic reader, but didn't become a fan until I got into high school. I find myself really drawn to epic storylines with some great artwork more than I am to the 'pop' comic stuff (which is a lot of what the superhero fare is these days - stuff like 'Superman,' 'Batman,' and 'Green Lantern'). That being the case, I tend to like stuff that skews a bit darker.

Below is a list of my top five favorite graphic novels and comics series. What's the difference? Graphic novels are typically limited series - one-shots, miniseries, or maxiseries - combined into one volume, whereas a series is an extended run which is often collected into several graphic novels. Therefore, graphic novels first:

5. "Camelot 3000" by Mike Barr & Brian Bolland
It really doesn't get much better than Arthurian legend... unless you completely update the tale and set it in the year 3000. There is a legend that says when he is most needed, Arthur will rise again and liberate England. The Earth is being attacked by aliens from outer space. England is practically a desolate wasteland. That time is now. The first true 'maxiseries' in comics history, "Camelot 3000" was an epic work that was among the first comics to be considered for 'mature readers' due to its dealing with subjects like sexuality, adultery, and war. A classic when it was first released... and certainly still as relevant today.

4. "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid & Alex Ross
Taking a cue from an abandoned Alan Moore script called "Twilight of the Superheroes" (how's that for a Nietzschean allusion for you?), Waid and Ross put their heads together to create one of the best stories of the last twenty years. In a world that wants gritty, dark superheroes who aren't afraid to kill, superheroes like Superman and Batman have been passed off as obsolete. When a faithless pastor is called by the Spirit of Vengeance to oversee the end of the world, he watches helplessly as the heroes battle... while the fate of the earth hangs in the balance. Waid's words would only be half of the battle without Ross' photorealistic paints to set them off, however. My first major exposure to comics in general.

3. "The Dark Knight Returns" by Frank Miller
After an era where Batman had been battling farcical aliens on foreign worlds and fighting villains who employed giant typewriters as gimmicks, Frank Miller came along and made the Dark Knight a truly dark knight. Set forty years or so after the DCU of the '80s, "DKR" (as fans affectionately call it) sets an aging Bruce Wayne back into the spotlight to stand up against a Gotham overrun by gang violence and corruption. Miller humanized Batman, putting him at odds with old foes (like Two-Face and the Joker), law enforcement, and the government (including Reagan's lackey, Superman). Along with my #1 pick, this book is one of the two that has truly revitalized the industry.

2. "Maus: A Survivor's Tale" by Art Spiegelman
The true story of Auschwitz survivor Vladek Spiegelman (the author's father), "Maus" tells the story of a Polish Jew from before the beginning of the war up until the time it was written using anthropomorphic animals as characters. The Jews are depicted as mice, Germans as cats, French as frogs, Poles as pigs, Americans as dogs, etc. (For more information into the reasonings behind the animal usage, check the Wikipedia article.) Spiegelman himself struggles as he relates his father's tale, attempting to be simultaneously honest and sympathetic. What comes out of it is one of the great graphic novels of the 20th century.

1. "Watchmen" by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
Few graphic novels have both captured and challenged the imaginations of comic book fans quite like "Watchmen". The high mark on the list of two of comics' greatest legends, "Watchmen" is truly a feat, lending credence to comic books as a medium since its initial publishing in 1985. Twelve issues in length, Moore uses the murder of a masked avenger to uncover a conspiracy that, while deconstructing the superhero genre, deals with the human condition, war, belonging, impotence, and justice. Truly a love letter to the superhero genre (despite criticisms otherwise), Moore and Gibbons set out to answer the question, "What if superheroes really existed?" The answer is at once shocking, epic, humanizing, and meticulous. If you read one graphic novel in your life, make it "Watchmen".

Honorable mentions: "Batman: The Killing Joke" (Moore & Bolland), "From Hell" (Moore & Campbell), "V for Vendetta" (Moore & Lloyd), "300" (Miller), "Batman: The Long Halloween" (Loeb & Sale)

And now... comics series:

5. "Starman" by James Robinson & Tony Harris
Relying heavily on a time known as "The Golden Age of Comics" (i.e. 1930s-1940s), "Starman" tells the story of Jack Knight, the son of one of those 'Golden Age' heroes who reluctantly takes over for his aging father after his brother's death. We see Jack make the journey from reluctant hero to duty-bound man of honor as he battles for the love of his city, his family, and his love. Definitely playing on the 'legacy' aspect of the hero, Robinson incorporates various Starmen through history while never taking for granted that the reader may or may not know who they are. A well-written, well-executed arc from start-to-finish!

4. "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill
Never mind the abysmal movie of the same name. "League" is one of the rare comic gems (and, coincidentally, Alan Moore's 'swan song' in the comic book field) that completely blows the reader's expectations and previous knowledge away. Characters from throughout literature - from Bram Stoker's Mina Harker to Jack Kerouac's Sal Paradise - are used as members of a team put together to fight the odd things in the world. With villains ranging from Fu Manchu to Big Brother, no literary character or device ever used is safe from Moore's deft touch. The best part? Moore is incredibly true to his source material, making "League" a great intro to someone who loves to read but has never much been into comics.

3. "Swamp Thing" by Alan Moore & Steve Bissette
I highly doubt that when Len Wein and Berni Wrightson created a man who turned into a living plant for a horror comic, they counted on him having such a massive cult following. It's really all thanks to comic book legend Alan Moore who turned him into the first major 'mature readers' ongoing title in comics history. Moore took the campy horror of "Swamp Thing" and made it real as his hero battled nightmare men and famous movie villains (from the wolfman to zombies). Moore also completely revamped the character's origin and, after removing all human traces from him whatsoever, sought to make this monster into a man... and did so to tremendous effect.

2. "Fables" by Bill Willingham & Mark Buckingham
Similar in execution to Moore's "League," imagine a world where all your favorite fairy tale characters had been run out of their enchanted homelands and were exiled in present day New York City. Imagine they had set up a government run by King Cole and Snow White. Imagine the Big Bad Wolf as town sheriff. Imagine Prince Charming as a mysoginistic ladies' man and Rose Red as a rebellious wild child. Imagine the Three Little Pigs as socialistic masterminds and Little Boy Blue as a war hero-turned-clerk. Imagine the Frog Prince as a janitor and a certain bridge troll as a doorman. Imagine all these things and so much more... and you might begin to see why "Fables" is one of the most original, fun, and (dare I say it?) imaginative titles to come along in ages!

1. "Sandman" by Neil Gaiman
What do you get when you combine one of the most imaginative writers working today with a plethora of the best artistic talent the comics industry has to offer? You get "Sandman," largely regarded to be the crowning acheivement of award-winning author Neil Gaiman. "Sandman" tells the story of Dream, one of the Endless - a group of seven siblings who have been around forever... and probably will be, too. From being imprisoned by a sorceror for the better part of a century to making a deal with William Shakespeare, from righting wrongs within his home, The Dreaming, to battling gods and faeries, Dream (a.k.a. Morpheus) is at once aloof and compassionate, alien and human. Another arc that runs from start to finish, Gaiman's "Sandman" is perfectly complete (and another of those runs that people who usually shun comics can appreciate for its sheer artistry).

Honorable mentions: "Bone" (Smith), "Top Ten" (Moore & Ha), "Authority" (Ellis & Hitch, Millar & Quitely), "Planetary" (Ellis & Cassaday), "Animal Man" (Morrison & Truog)

What are some of your favorite graphic novels and comics series?

Trader Joe's!

2008-08-06T14:45:00.003-04:00

Last night, I went with my mom and sister to Trader Joe's up in Castleton. I've got to tell you - it was awesome! Over the past year, I've become more aware of Trader Joe's through the involvement of certain teacher friends over at CCHS. Over that time, I've tried a variety of their wares, including their Triple Ginger Snaps, their assortment of hard-to-find sodas (particularly Reed's Extra Ginger Brew), and an assortment of their cheeses.

Yesterday, though, was pretty sweet. I must've gone down every aisle two or three times, making sure I didn't miss anything. I got three kinds of nuts (Cinnamon Glazed Almonds, Honey Sesame Cashews, and Australian Macadamia Nuts), two kinds of turkey, some horseradish hummus, a brick of Dubliner cheese, a variety of condiments (like mustard and horseradish), and several other goodies! This may well be one of my new favorite places!

Hot Topic Tuesday - Deus Ex Machina Politica

2008-08-05T11:55:00.010-04:00

I had wanted to start something like this last week, but just ran out of time, what with school starting up next week and all. The point of Hot Topic Tuesday is that most (hopefully) Tuesdays, I'll post my thoughts on a topic I've been thinking about - more than likely usually dealing with religion or politics or something else of that nature - and allow you to post your thoughts, should you feel so led.

This topic came from a conversation we had in the junior and senior Sunday School class at church on Sunday and I've had it in the back of my mind since. I call it:

Deus Ex Machina Politica

...which, translated from Latin, means "God from the Political Machine". The question I'm basically addressing here is, "How should Christians be involved in the political spectrum?" This, of course, opens up a variety of other questions: How should Christians vote? Should Chrisitians vote? Which issues are more important when choosing a political leader - moral or societal?

A number of years ago (I think it was during the last presidential election, actually), I posted a rant on Xanga called "God is not a Republican or a Democrat." I firmly hold that to be true. Whereas a few of my friends (perhaps one or two more than others) may find God to be incredibly Republican, I honestly don't think so...

One of the things that I find frustrating about the way Christians vote, by and large, is that there are really only one or two issues that concern them as a whole - abortion and gay marriage. If a candidate is not against both of these things, then he is either (a.) not a Christian, (b.) not getting their vote, or (c.) both. Christians tend to be pretty judgmental a lot of the time - particularly regarding these topics. I was once a part of a conversation where the other party said (and I'm paraphrasing here, since I don't remember it word for word), "If a candidate isn't about the rights of the unborn, then I don't want to listen to anything else they have to say."

I was a bit flabbergasted when I heard this to say the least. Mainly because I believe that abortion is not the only issue that Christians should be concerned with! There are the number of other issues: the environment, the death penalty, the War on Terror, social justice - both at home and abroad, foreign policy, the economy, education... the list goes on and on. And while a Christian may care about a number of these issues, it seems fair to say that most if not all of them take a back seat to the Big Two - abortion and gay marriage.

The thing is, both of these issues are moral issues rather than societal issues. In my mind, a candidate's morality shouldn't play as big a role as it has in the last few elections. After the outrage of the Lewinski scandal, it appears that many Christian Americans would rather have a president that is morally upstanding than a president who would make a strong leader. I'm not sure that the two are mutually exclusive, myself.

The junior/senior Sunday School teacher made a great point Sunday morning. He said that societal issues are more about how the country is being run now. Getting us out of present crises like the current economic crunch or the War on Terror. Moral issues are about the countries future and how the 'moral barometer' of the nation will tilt. Moral issues didn't really concern the Founding Fathers... mainly because they were on the same page about a lot of things. It was assumed that everyone believed in God and, for the most part, would behave a certain way.

Over time, that's changed. For good or ill? I'll leave that up to you.

I think both moral and societal issues are important. That may not have come across in this 'rant,' but it is true. I think that Christians, however, should have a consistent ethic. They should be of a like mind of Christ. That might mean going back and reading through the gospels and then asking some hard questions: How can killing prisoners or soldiers be okay and killing babies be wrong? Is it okay to be the wealthiest nation on earth while people in other countries are dying of disease and starvation? Are religion and science mutually exclusive?

These are tough questions, to be sure, but - I feel - definitely worth thinking about and, should the inclination strike you, answering.

Thoughts? Comments? Counter-rants?

The Recipe That Never Followed

2008-08-04T20:51:00.000-04:00

D'oh! Forgot I was gonna give you this recipe!

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

Ingredients:

A couple pounds of 8-12 shrimp (You can get smaller sizes, but I've found bigger shrimp to work best. I also like to get the unpeeled shrimp from the seafood department and skin them all myself. Just a matter of preference, really.)
A package of good quality bacon (I love to use Boar's Head bacon, which is smoked and thick, giving a great flavor to the shrimp. It's also organic. Huzzah! You'll want a 2:1 shrimp-to-bacon ratio - that is, two shrimp per strip of bacon. For smaller shrimp, I use a 3:1 ration.)
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Preparation:

Peel and devein your shrimp, leaving the tail (for handling purposes).
Season your shrimp with salt and pepper (usually just on one side works for me).
Count out the amount of bacon you need based on number of shrimp. (Remember the 2:1 ratio. For one and a half pounds of 8-12 shrimp, I used nine pieces of bacon.)
Cut the bacon in half (or, if you're using smaller shrimp, in thirds).
Wrap the bacon strips around the seasoned shrimp, securing them with a toothpick.
Place the wrapped shrimp on a cookie sheet and under the broiler at about 350 degrees. Cook for about five minutes on each side (though larger shrimp may need to cook longer).
Serve on a platter with homemade cocktail sauce (recipe below).

Homemade Cocktail Sauce

Ingredients:

1 c. ketchup
1/2 c. prepared horseradish (You can add more or less depending on how spicy you like it. I end up adding almost as much horseradish as I do ketchup!)
1 1/2 tsp. worchestershire sauce (I like Lea & Perrins.)
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2-3 drops of hot sauce (I like to use Frank's Red Hot, but Tabasco, Louisiana, or Cholula would work just as well.)
Salt and pepper for seasoning

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients and stir together. Let sit in your refrigerator for an hour or two before serving to allow the flavors to come together.

Note: Make sure you taste your cocktail sauce for desired spice before serving. If you think a half-cup of horseradish is too much, start with a quarter cup and add more as needed. Tailor it to your tastes rather than mine. Me? I like it spicy... but not everyone else will necessarily.