Thank you, Lindt!

I've recently (well, in the past year) discovered the joy of dark chocolate. I started off with a 70% bar, then eventually worked my way up to 85%. I was perfectly happy with that until about 15 minutes ago. The History Channel aired a program on the history and process of chocolate production. As the camera panned across a selection of Lindt products, one very special bar caught my eye. I couldn't believe it...99% cocoa!!

In proper internet-junkie fashion, I googled it. Yes, it does exist, but in the US it's only sold in Lindt stores. So, of course I had to find out where THAT was: Toledo, Ohio (about 1-1/2 hours away). I think I'll be stopping there on my next trip down south.

I also found this delightful blog of one taster's experience: http://www.keacher.com/?p=388 (Oh, btw, I don't think that Blogger.com is fully compatible with my Mac - I think that's why I can't get hyperlinks to work. Just my latest theory...)

a recipe

Now, I'm not a great cook. Many of you can personally attest to this. :( But I just came up with a great little appetizer/light lunch...

2 slices of pumpernickel bread (rye would probably work, too)
1 tbsp. butter
garlic (or, in a pinch, garlic powder) to taste
1/2 avocado
salt (preferably sea salt)
1 slice meunster cheese

(1) Mash the garlic (powder) into the butter.
(2) Spread it on the bread slices.
(3) Cube/dice avocado into 1/3" (or so) cubes.
(4) Place half the avocado on each bread slice.
(5) Lightly salt each slice.
(6) Place a 1/2 slice of meunster on top of each.
(7) Microwave for 30 seconds (or you could probably broil it briefly?)
(8) Consume with reckless abandon.

"to discuss" list

So I have a mental list of topics about which I'd like to blog sometime. Since I'm prone to lose such lists, I thought I'd share it with you:

- dreadlocks (I had them. Now I don't. Someday I'll give you the **full** story.)
- being divorced (I am.)
- rock concert sociology (I spent a LOT of time at concerts - and waiting in line for concerts - this summer...)
- traveling stories (Greyhound, rest stops, Kentucky gas station attendants, oh my.)
- being post-Mormon (Still trying to figure out how to "be" this.)
- to PhD or not to PhD (and a quasi-related "to MBA or not to MBA")
- fat (in the abstract and the particular)
- on living in 17 houses/apartments in 10 years (Yes, I'm serious.)
- Ferndale (my current home)

Requests are, of course, welcomed as well.

music recommendation

Apropos (my new favorite word) of the previous post, you must, must, MUST hear Robert Plant's new album.*** It's an album of duets with Alison Krauss (so it's technically "Robert Plant and Alison Krauss's new album"...). Need I say more??! If, for some strange reason, that doesn't convince you to log onto iTunes post-haste, read the BBC review (I'm still trying to figure out how to add a hyperlink to my post -sorry!):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/rwcz/

I bought it (on iTunes) the day it came out, and I can't stop listening to it. So what are you listening to these days?

*** Why do I, who grew up in the age of cassette tapes and am now living in the digital age, use the word "album"? Because I grew up listening to classic rock stations whose DJs used the word. And I think it's more dignified. So, since my writing ALWAYS reflects the most dignified language (he he) AND because so much of the music I learned to love as a young 'un was originally released on vinyl, I'll stick with the outdated "album," thank you very much.

meet Jimmy Page

I bought a 2003 Land Rover Freelander SE3. I know. I KNOW. It's impractical. It's expensive to maintain. It's an ecoterrorist's vehicle. It's not all that reliable...

But it's YELLOW.

And it's a CONVERTIBLE (a lot of good that's going to do me in a fast-approaching Detroit superwinter!)

I spent some time bonding with the vehicle to determine (1) its gender and (2) its name. For some folks, a yellow car would necessarily be a female. But I got a metrosexual male vibe from it. Then came the fun part - naming him. I knew I wanted to go with a proper English name. I was just about settled on "Van Morrison" when I realized that he's Irish. THAT would be a faux pas of enormous proportions. A friend of mine suggested Nigel or Lindsay - both respectable English names. Then it hit me - "Jimmy Page." Led Zeppelin was, of course, English. They wrote a song called "The Rover" (on the Physical Graffiti album). And Mr. Page has never been considered the most "butch" of men due to his long hair, thin frame, and artsy clothing choices. (Three of the reasons I adore him, btw, besides the fact that he's one of the world's great guitar gods.) So that settled it - I drive a Land Rover named Jimmy Page. And I'm deliriously happy about it.

RSS feeds...wow.

So I went to a workshop on campus today called "Blogs and Wikis in Academia." It was mostly about blogs and wikis in academia (oddly enough), but the instructor also told us about RSS feeds. I had always wondered what those little icons were. I felt REALLY premodern all of a sudden... But I have now remedied that (at least partially). I also recently found out about del.icio.us - very cool social bookmarking utility. I think I can cross "information technology" off the lists of professional fields I should consider switching to! This is really cool stuff, though.

a simple beginning

Hi, folks. In the coming weeks I will be developing this blog. I'll be discussing politics, travel, art, and various (other) mundane topics. I hope you find it entertaining!

Cheers!