Time to Start Digging!

Every now and then, we should all take some time to __________.

Here are some words/phrases for possibly filling in the blank: ponder, contemplate, deliberate, speculate, excogitate, meditate, ruminate, reflect, consider, soul-search, examine, evaluate, brood, consider, appraise, mull over, give thought to, cerebrate, daydream, debate, dwell, perpend, give thought to, muse, noodle around, puzzle over, think out, think over, turnover, weigh, think seriously about.

Basically, we all need some “quiet time” every now and then (I call it Tom-time, and I can always tell [by my mood] when I have failed to schedule enough), especially amid the hustle and bustle of the modern world . . . time for internal self cultivation and discovery.  And, what better time to do this than at the end of the year (or the start of a new year)?

“Look within.  Within is the fountain of good, and it will ever bubble up, if thou wilt ever dig.”  (Marcus Aurelius)

Just Another Wonder-ful Wednesday!

Next on the list . . . the Iguazu Falls (bordering Argentina and Brazil).  This natural wonder is comprised of 275 individual waterfalls (in a semi-circular shape) on the Iguazu River and is surrounded by subtropical rain forest and a variety of trails and catwalks.  The majority of the falls are about 210 feet high, but the tallest ones are closer to the 269 foot mark.  This series of falls extends/spans nearly two miles.  Reportedly one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world (if not THE most beautiful), the better and most varied “up-close” views are supposedly from the Argentinian side; for panoramic views, try the Brazilian side.  Or, better yet, visit both sides!  The best time to visit: during the rainy season (between December and February) if you wish to witness the falls at full-strength; for sunny skies and warmer weather (but slightly diminished flow), visit between April and July.

While today is the first day of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the first day of Summer in the Southern Hemisphere!  I’m ready to go!  I’m definitely adding this destination to my travel bucket list!

What’s the Real Problem?

Often times, it isn’t that which is being outwardly manifested, but rather the subconscious dilemma, hidden beneath the surface of your psyche or awareness.  But as this demotivator (courtesy of www.despair.com) clearly points out, problems can certainly be worse than they originally appear . . . which brings to mind the related phrase “don’t tempt fate” (hinting that it could always be worse than expected).  If we were to carry this idea a bit further to the superstition that “bad things happen in threes,” and buy into the concept of “bad luck” (as opposed to good luck) . . . well, as you can see, we fall victim to a downward spiralling depression of .

So, when you next find yourself in the throes of depression, just follow this simple advice (from Monty Python’s The Life of Brian) . . . and . . . “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” [go ahead, whistle along].

Wow, wasn’t this an interest stream of thought?  Happy Tuesday!!

Chocolate AND Bacon!

Chocolate lovers and bacon lovers unite!  Here is a deliciously-wonderful-sounding recipe (courtesy of Demetrios Atheneos — the executive chef of Deagan’s Kitchen and Bar in Lakewood, Ohio).  Yet another rich and decadent dessert for me to try.  And, seemingly quite easy.  Unfortunately, my schedule is a bit jam packed at the moment and I may not have time to attempt this one until after the holidays.  It sounds like it may be worth the wait.  Yum!

1 cup heavy cream
10 ounces dark chocolate
4 ounces blanched almonds, crushed (Marcona almonds are recommended)

1. Heat the cream until almost boiling. Melt the dark chocolate in a double-boiler. Remove from the heat and combine with the cream. Fold in the almonds, pour the mixture onto a baking sheet, and freeze until set.

1/2 cup heavy cream
10 ounces white chocolate
12-ounce package of bacon, pan-fried and finely chopped

2. Heat the cream until almost boiling. Melt the white chocolate in a double-boiler. Remove from the heat and combine with the cream. Fold in the bacon, spread over the dark chocolate mixture, and freeze for 1 hour. Cut bars to the desired size and then freeze.

12-ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup vegetable oil

3. Melt the semi-sweet chocolate in a double-boiler. Remove from the heat and whisk in the vegetable oil. Arrange the bars on a cooling rack over a pan and cover them with the melted chocolate. Cool the bars in the freezer before coating the other side.

Source: Southwest Airline’s Spirit magazine, December 2011

Light Week!

With most universities in the midst of final exams, it was a light week for college basketball.  But that doesn’t mean that there weren’t a couple of upsets nonetheless.  And, at the start of this week, there were eight (8) undefeated teams in the top-25 (Syracuse, Louisville, Baylor, Xavier, Missouri, Marquette, Indiana, and Illinois; by the end of the week, only seven of these teams were still undefeated — Illinois was dealt its first loss.  However, an eighth undefeated team exists: Murray State (they just aren’t in the top-25, yet — perhaps this week they will be).  Michigan State managed to worm their way into the top-25 following their win against Gonzaga (#22) last weekend and defeated Bowling Green today to notch their 9th consecutive victory.  Go Green!

Upsets for the week included:
Illinois (#19) losing to unranked UNLV.
Memphis (#20) losing to unranked Murray State.
Alabama (#21) losing to unranked Kansas State.
Vanderbilt (#25) losing to unranked Indiana State.

Ranked teams losing to teams with a higher ranking included:
Texas A&M (#22 losing to Florida (#13).

And, the close calls included:
Baylor (#7) defeating unranked BYU by only three points.
Mississippi State (#16) defeating unranked Detroit by only five points.

Silver and Gold . . . !

Add some sparkle to your holidays!  With all of the festivities — tree-trimming, decorating, and  partying  galore — don’t forget the clinquant!  But exercise caution, contrary to popular belief, it is possible to have too much (in my humble opinion).

clinquant

\KLING-kunt\, adjective:
1. Glittering with gold or silver; tinseled.

noun:
1. Tinsel; imitation gold leaf.

Here are the lyrics (and a video) of “Silver and Gold” courtesy of www.ChristmasSongs.org.

“Silver and Gold” (performed by Burl Ives) is from the animated movie, “Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer” (one of my holiday favorites as a child).

I Think You Can-Can!

Happy Friday!  Here is a wonderful holiday medley performed by Straight No Chaser — “The Christmas Can-Can.”  Enjoy!

Cheesecake of the Month — December 2011!

With the holidays upon us, here’s a wonderful cheesecake to help you use up that leftover eggnog. Ho, ho, ho!

Tipsy Eggnog Cheesecake

2 cups wheatmeal bisuit (or gingersnap) crumbs
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 Tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
5 large eggs
3/4 cup eggnog
1/4 cup dark rum
1/4 cup brandy
Sugared rose petals (optional)

1. Combine the first four ingredients; stir well. Firmly press crumb mixture into bottom and up sides of a lightly greased 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

2. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup sugar and cornstarch, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in eggnog, rum, and brandy. Pour batter into prepared crust.

3. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hours (center will be jiggly). Remove from oven, gently run a knife around the edge of the pan to release the cheesecake from the sides, and return to the oven. Turn oven off; leave cheesecake in oven, oven door partially opened for 30 minutes. Cool to room temperature in pan on a wire rack. Cover and chill 8 hours.

4. Gently run a knife around the edge of the cheesecake to release the sides of the pan; carefully remove pan and top with sugared rose petals (if desired).

Sugared Rose Petals

3 large pesticide-free roses
1/4 cup frozen egg substitute, thawed and lightly beaten
1/2 cup superfine sugar

1. Pull the petals free from 1 rose. Lightly coat each petal on both sides with egg substitute using a small paintbrush.

2. Sift a small amount of sugar over the coated petals, turning them carefully to coat both sides. Set on wax paper to dry at least 1 hour. Repeat procedure with remaining roses, egg substitute, and sugar.

Note: substitute other edible flowers, if desired.

Trouble Writing?

Here is a humorous list of rules (by Frank L. Visco) poking fun at writing to ensure that your writing is always well-written.  Stick to these rules and you’ll be okay.  There are a few Latin phrases to start with, do you know their translations?

Caveat emptor.
Carpe diem.
O si villi, si ergo, fortibus es in ero . . .
Et tu, brute.

HOW TO WRITE GOOD

by Frank L. Visco

My several years in the word game have learnt me several rules:
1. Avoid alliteration. Always.
2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3. Avoid cliches like the plague. (They’re old hat.)
4. Employ the vernacular.
5. Eschew ampersands & abbreviations, etc.
6. Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
7. It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.
8. Contractions aren’t necessary.
9. Foreign words and phrases are not apropos.
10.One should never generalize.
11. Eliminate quotations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”
12. Comparisons are as bad as cliches.
13. Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
14. Profanity sucks.
15. Be more or less specific.
16. Understatement is always best.
17. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
18. One-word sentences? Eliminate.
19. Analogies in writing are like feathers on a snake.
20. The passive voice is to be avoided.
21. Go around the barn at high noon to avoid colloquialisms.
22. Even if a mixed metaphor sings, it should be derailed.
23. Who needs rhetorical questions?

And now for the translations . . .

Caveat empor = Let the buyer beware.
Carpe diem = Seize the day.
O si villi, si ergo, fortibus es in ero = No translation.  This is Dog Latin (see below).
Et tu, brute = And you, Brutus.

The fuller version of this phrase:
“O sibili si ergo! Fortibus es in aro. O nobili demis trux. Watis inem? Causand dux.”

The translation:
Oh, see, Billy!  See her go!  Forty buses in a row!  Oh, no, Billy!  Them is trucks!  What is in them?  Cows and ducks!”

Happy Humpday!

There’s Still Time!

For those of you who have sent out your Christmas or Holiday cards, congratulations, you are ahead of the game.  For those of you who haven’t (yet), there is still time.  And now, my shameless plug . . . if you are looking for cards that are handmade and that are truly unique, then check out the holiday cards  available through the Paperworks Studio (“a successful mission-based, market driven social enterprise” [from their website] . . . and a program of Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan).  The wonderful designs for these holiday cards comes from the creative genius of my brother Andrew.  An architect by profession, Andrew has been designing cards for several years and even tried his hand at a greeting card side-business (with the help of his wife, Myra) in his spare time.  But alas, it wasn’t meant to be.  So now he comes up with the designs for the Paperworks Studio.  Of this year’s designs, my favorite design is the “Dancing Tree-O” card.  Simply beautiful!