Friday Feasy #140

Click on picture for larger image You can find Friday Feast here. Looks like another light week on the feast questions. Appetizer What is your favorite kind of bread? Sourdough, of course. Soup When was the last time you bought a new pillow? I bought one last year for my wife - one of the conforming kind that they sell in Brookstone. It was a body length pillow that was really helpful with the pregnancy. Salad Approximately how many hours per week do you spend surfing the ‘net? My lawyer advises me that I should exercise my fifth amendment right. Needless to say it is more hours than I watch TV. Main Course What’s the highest you remember your temperature being? I have no idea. It was so long ago and I was so delirious, I just couldn't tell you. Dessert Fill in the blanks: When I ____________, I _____________. When I let go, I am much happier.

Friday Feast #139

Click on picture for larger image The photo was the table set before Easter dinner this year! You can find Friday Feast here. This weeks feast seems a bit on the light side. Which is not bad given a surge in work requirements. Appetizer When you were a child, which crayon color was your favorite? Blue. Definitely blue. In fact, it is still my favorite. Soup On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest), how likely would you be to change jobs if it required you to move? 2 - the only reason it is not a 1 is that I leave open the possibility of divine correction. But I have moved from So Cal to Portland to the Bay area back to So Cal and then to Atlanta, all for work. I am back in So Cal for good. At least that is my plan. Salad Take all the numbers in your birthday and your phone number and add them up, one by one. What’s the total? 85. And...? Main Course Have you ever “re-gifted” anything? If so, what was it and who did you pass it on to? Sort of. I have re-gifted a box. It was a wood wine box. It held one bottle and was decorated nicely. It really served no function - I used the wine, put in a new bottle, and gave to my boss. I think I saw a fellow employee with it at a later point. Dessert Name something you need from the store. Diet soda and tri-tips for grilling.

Friday Feast #137

Click on picture for larger image Mmm, Hmmm! BBQ chicken. I just love it when the grilling season starts! You can find Friday Feast here. Appetizer What are you proud of? That in my late 30's I have survived much of the cynicism of this world and have not only held onto my faith, but seen it grow. All we have is from God. I am frequently grateful, but try hard to fight pride. Soup What is the best thing you’ve ever won as a prize? In Vegas I hit a royal flush on video poker. Our biggest win was $1,000. But sad to say - I am down (not even) when it comes to Vegas. I haven't been in 5 years, but am scheduled in a few weeks for the end of my bowling league. Salad Name something you do that is a waste of time. Besides blogging? :D I will occasionally play a video game or two. Main Course In what year of your life did you change the most? This one is tough. There are several nominees - but two come to mind. My life changed the most the year I finished my dissertation, my daughter was born, I "sold out" of academics for the business world, and we moved to Oregon. That was on heck of a year. LOTS OF CHANGE. As for when I changed the most, that is harder to say because changes in the self is typically more gradual. However, two years ago I started working for myself. I must say that I have changed for the better since then. Corporate culture can corrupt the soul of those placed in positions of authority. I am so glad I am out of it. I am a better father, husband and Christian because of it. Dessert Where is a place you consider to be very tranquil? Ocean, mountains, desert. Quiet, with no one there. Preferably with big sky and/or lots of water. We were out in the high desert not long ago. I just stopped, and listened to the silence. I looked up at the gorgeous blue sky and out across the dramatic landscape. I breathed in the smells of the dessert brush. I was struck with awe. I took a photo at that moment. You can see it by clicking here. I had a similar experience one night as we were driving through Bryce Canyon National Park some 12 years ago. We pulled over to rest on a long drive (we made it from LA to Chicago in 3 days). It was after midnight, and nobody was around when I got out of the car and looked up at the most incredible sky I have ever seen before or after. Oh my, that image is still with me.

Friday Feast #136

Click on picture for larger image While I was looking for "feast" photos, I came across this one of my boy from 2001. It was too cute to NOT post! You can find Friday Feast here. Appetizer Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why? Sorry, don't have one. I don't watch TV news. I get my news largely online or in news papers. I find TV news pretty inane. Soup Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer. 1. Tri-tip for grilling 2. Chicken for frying 3. Stew meat for chile colorado Salad If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it? Springfield, because a country can't have too many Springfields. Or if I am in California, San Roberto - because I don't think we have a city named for Saint Robert. Main Course What will most likely be the next book you read? For spiritual reading, I was given Habits of the Soul, so I'll check that out. For pleasure, probably 100 Years of Solitude - I have it, and have been meaning to read it. Dessert What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender? Is it my wife or not. If not, than there is nothing worth noticing. :-)

Friday Feast #135

Click on picture for larger image Where there is a feast, there must be wine. And wine comes from grapes. OK, I know it's a stretch, but I don't have any good feast pictures right now. You can find Friday Feast here. Appetizer Name two things that made you smile this week. I made contact with some high school friends I had not heard from in 15-20 years - that made me smile When you were with for so much time, and then nothing for so long, then recontact... When I saw my wife and kids coming back from my Cursillo weekend. Of course how can you not smile whenever a a toothless four month old smiles at you. Soup Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________? When you can't get the piece of meat from the BBQ ribs you ate from between your teeth. I hate when that happens! Salad When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland? One of three things - reading, prayer, surfing the Internet. Problem with solution 3 is that I actually end up staying up later, so maybe that is not a good solution. :) Main Course What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer? Why is the state of Indiana always confused when it comes to time zones and daylight savings time. The rest of us seem to understand how this thing works. I mean, it was always different in Indiana, but now it varies by county! What's up with that?!? Dessert What is your favorite pasta dish? Lasagna, or maybe baked ziti. No, ravioli. No, no lasagna. Geez, do I have to choose?

Friday Feast #133

Click on picture for larger image Mmmmmm. Donuts. If donuts are not a feast in and of themselves, I don't know what is. You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer What does the color pink make you think of? My baby daughter, Grace. I think she looks pretty good in purple and yellow too, but she does have a lot of pink. Soup Name something you thought you had lost, but later found. My Ipod fire-wire cord. I know this is trivial, but it was the thing I most recently thought I had lost, but found it after several different searches (missing for months). Salad In 3 words, describe this past week. Busy but sane Main Course What are you obsessed with? Right now I am working on creating a new blog template (which is not so easy). Learning all of the code and figuring out how it works and looks in different browsers can be complicated. So that is what I am obsessed with this week. I have some life areas that are extremely important to me, but obsessions is the wrong word (implying a psychologically unhealthy element). The three things that I am passionate about and that I am dedicated to are my wife, my family, and faith. At a much lower level I have photography and blogging. Dessert What kind of perfume or cologne do you like to wear? Acqua Di Gio

Friday Feast #132

Click on picture for larger image Since it is lent, I can only participate in literary feasts - as this is a day of fasting. Also, since it is lent I usually try to give up something. This year it is soda - all varieties. This has been difficult for the past couple days, (and I suspect) will continue to be for the duration. On to the feast: You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Where on your body do you have a scar, and what caused it? The palm of my hand. I was cutting vegetables for dinner about 7 years ago, and was careless. The knife cut across the thick part of my palm just below my thumb. Soup What is something that has happened to you that you would consider a miracle? It happened more to my brother. The doctors thought that my mom had a tumor. They told her that she would never have children after my sister, and they had been right for 12 years. They prescribed medication for the tumor. After we got home from the pharmacy - it was Sav-on or Thriftys, I remember the pharmacist knocking on the door and asking for my mom. He told her to not take the medication if she might be pregnant. She didn't take it. I clearly see the hand of God here - I have never heard of a pharmacist doing house calls in the '80s, especially for a woman who had been told she would not have kids (and hadn't for 12 years). Salad Name a television personality who really gets on your nerves. It would be easier to ask the reverse. Nearly all of them get on my nerves. I find Donald Trump particularly irritating. Oprah also gets on my nerves. On the other hand, who does not: Ceasar Millan (The Dog Whisperer) is someone who definitely does not. Main Course What was a funny word you said as a child (such as "pasketti" for "spaghetti")? My mom would be better able to answer that one. I think I called my Uncle Norman Uncle Monkey. Dessert Fill in the blank: I have always thought ______ was ______. Not sure what to do here, so this is what I've got. chocolate ... delicious wine ... intoxicating love ... grand

Friday Feast #131

Click on picture for larger image You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer What sound, other than the normal ringing, would you like your telephone to make? Just the sweet sound of silence. I dislike talking on the phone to most people, so I prefer the phone to not ring. Soup Describe your usual disposition in meteorological terms (partly cloudy, sunny, stormy, etc.). I fluctuate. My natural disposition is sunny. However, work can sometimes cause sudden thunderstorms. Salad What specific subject do you feel you know better than any other subjects? Well, I don't want to stick with one, so here are three: Statistics/research methods (yawn), personality psychology (kinda fun), my Catholic faith (kind of important) Main Course Imagine you were given the ability to remember everything you read for one entire day. Which books/magazines/newspapers would you choose to read? The Bible and the complete works of William Shakespeare. Dessert If a popular candy maker contacted you to create their next confection, what would it be like and what would you name it? Chocohol - This confection would combine thick milk chocolate surrounding a soft center with the flavor of coffee & Irish Cream. Sold strictly to adults. :)

Friday Feast #130

Click on picture for larger image You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Have you been sick yet this winter? If so, what did you come down with? Yes. I had an awful sore throat. Bad enough to go to the doctor, and I have not been in years. All seems to be OK though. Soup What colors dominate your closet? Tans, browns, blues, greens, whites. I like khaki pants or jeans. I have some oxford shirts, white and different colors, and some Eddie Bauer button shirts, and some sweaters. Nothing too wild. Well, my summer wardrobe does have a lot of hawaiian shirts. Salad How would you describe your personal "comfort zone"? Not really sure. I guess it is when I am either in charge, or have decided that I don't need to be (when I finally let go). I also find that I am best when finances are in order. Main Course On which reality show would you really like to be a contestant? Survivor. It is the only one I watch. I also think it would be cool to be stranded and have to rough it. I could stand to lose a few pounds too. That, and I always admire the people on the show that can keep their integrity in spite of all that is going on. THAT would be the real challenge. Dessert Which holiday would you consider to be your favorite? Christmas. In addition to all of the tradition, it is more than just a day it is an entire faith filled season - two seasons in fact, advent before Christmas and then the 12 days of Christmas. All of the waiting and then the long celebration.

Friday Feast #129

Click on picture for larger image You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer What was one of the fashion fads when you were a teenager? Mod. People would wear black and white in a very cool looking style: wingtips, thin black tie, RayBan sunglasses. Listen to music from Madness and similar bands. This was big at my high school since our uniform was black trousers, black shoes, white shirt, black tie. It kind of just worked for some of us. Soup Name one thing you think people assume about you when they first meet you. I am mean. I have a shaved head, so I can intimidate some people. This doesn't last long as I laugh a lot. Salad On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how hard do you work? 9. This used to be 10, but I have made progress. I suffer from a little workaholism. When I was in the corporate life, I would get in early & stay late. Now that I am on my own, I am doing a little better, but still need to lighten up on the workload. Main Course If you were given a free 30-second commercial during the Super Bowl to sell anything you currently own, what would you advertise? I would give my time to a pro-life group. There is nothing more important to our society than correcting the evil of abortion. I'd rather see more ads about this than anything else. We get anti-smoking ads, why not anti-abortion ads. Dessert Fill in the blank: I love to ________ when it is _________. read . . . raining watch football . . . Saturdays in the fall hike . . . sunny laugh . . . time to be with others

New Friday Feast

You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer If you could take lessons to learn any musical instrument, which would you want to learn? I actually am taking lessons for the guitar. I always wanted to learn trumpet too, but I'll stick to the guitar. Soup Have you ever mistaken a person for someone else? Oh yeah, usually strangers. It is absolutely awkward putting your foot in your mouth. Another problem I have is not remembering someone who remembers me. When I was teaching huge classes or giving talks at work, people would remember me but I didn't know who they were. Salad On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how well do you keep secrets? 8. Not because of maliciousness or gossip, but every once in a while you can forget that someone doesn't know. But, on the whole I am very good. It also depends on how important the secret is. There are some things I have told no one, except my priest under the seal of confession. Main Course What's the closest you've ever been to a dangerous animal? Define dangerous. I have been chased by mean dogs. I have seen coyotes on my street. I have been to Lion Country Saffari and the zoo. But being chased by dogs is probably the closest. Dessert When was the last time you lost your patience? I have a 7 year old boy, so the temptation to lose my patience is always there. I think the last time was about 6 weeks ago, I remember him getting into trouble, but I can't remember why. Most likely doing something he had been asked 20 times not to do. I asked my wife, and she says I don't lose my patience much - that I am judicious. It feels like losing my patience some times, but maybe God is granting me the patience that I keep asking for.

Friday Feast #127

It is Friday again. Time for another feast. You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Which television shows do you just refuse to miss? I have a few: CSI (only the original), Criminal Mind, Law & Order, House, Survivor, Battlestar Galactica. Thank goodness for TiVo - then we don't have to miss any of them. Soup Who did you last speak to on the telephone? My mom, this morning. Lynn was getting ready and was talking to her on speaker. I added my two-cents to the conversation. Salad How many pillows do you keep on your bed? There are 7 in the day and 5 at night. The two in the day are decorations. Two are mine, three are Lynn's. Main Course Name one addition to your computer (software, hardware, etc.) that you'd love to have. Voice activation software that actually works. I hear the really expensive Naturally Speaking 9 actually works. I also would like to have a second monitor. Or maybe one of those huge flat screens (24 inches or higher). Ah, dreaming. Dessert What is your favorite foreign food? I would say Mexican, but being in So Cal, Mexican food is hardly foreign. After Mexican, I like all kinds - Italian, Indian, Thai, Chinese, etc. But If I had to pick one, non-Mexican foreign food, it would have to be Indian (Pizza counts as not foreign, right?).

Friday Feast #126

You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer What comes to mind when you see the color orange? Football teams I dislike – Florida, Texas, Tennessee Soup Did you ever get in trouble while you were in school? If so, what was it for? Yes, in I lived away at high school. I was suspended once for being out of bed after lights out. We were out in the field smoking. Salad Which topping(s) make up your perfect pizza? I like all kinds of pizza, but my favorite is “the special” – pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, onions, olives and mushrooms (no anchovies, please). Main Course Do you believe in UFOs/aliens/etc.? Why or why not? Nope. I see no evidence for them. I think we are it as far as creatures go. I could be wrong, but that is where I am at. Dessert What color is your bedspread/comforter/quilt? It has a flower patter with a lot of blues and mauves in it.

Friday Feast #122

Sorry for left overs. I know that it is Sunday morning. I guess I am a couple days behind schedule. You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer What was your very first job with a paycheck? Box boy (grocery bagger) in a supermarket in East LA. Soup Did you ever lose something really important to you? Yes. Friends from high school. I also lost my song book from high school. We had an awesome schola, and wish I still had all the words to the songs I remember. I can't find my high school ring either. Salad What is the best Christmas present you ever received? Back in the early '90s my folks got me a signed copy of Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard. I don't have it anymore, but I was very excited when I got it. I also got an iPod from a business colleague a couple years ago - it was one of the really expensive ones and it was totally unexpected. Main Course Tell about a favorite "hang out" place for you and your friends when you were in high school. Tommy's, definitely. Tommy's is an LA institution. It serves the most outstanding, artery clogging chili burgers I have ever experienced. There was one in the San Fernando Valley that we went to for any celebration or pretty much any chance we could get (once we started driving). It was located across the street from a brewery, so the distinctive smell of hops went with the experience for me. Dessert Name something that always brings a smile to your face. My children. My Wife. Seeing friends.

Friday Feast #121

You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Which language would you like to learn and why? Spanish. I live in Southern California -nuff said. Latin would be nice too, being Catholic and all Soup What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week? I went to see stranger than fiction. There is a scene with Dustin Hoffman is asking Will Ferrell questions to rule out various plot lines he could be in. I highly recommend the movie. Salad Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing? There have been a few, but I try to forget them. Main Course If there were a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called? California Dreamin' Day. I have moved away twice and moved back twice - there is a theme that I need to just stay put here. Dessert Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see. Nativity looks really good. So do Letters from Iwo Jima and The Good German Tags: Friday Feast

Friday Feast #120

You can find Friday Feast at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Have you ever flown in a helicopter? No – but it would be interesting. If I could, I would want to do two things. One would be to fly among the skyscrapers. The second would be to fly as fast and low as possible over the desert landscape, perhaps on the road to Vegas. Soup What color is your warmest coat or jacket? Tan/brown leather bomber jacket my wife got me two years ago. It has a mottled look from the leather – I definitely like it, but it is a heavy jacket and living in So Cal, I don’t get to use it as often as I like. Salad What is your favorite rainy day activity? Waiting for it to stop raining. :) Seriously, I would have to say it comes down to curling up with a good book and reading. If it is a thunderstorm, and the lights go out – sitting in the dark looking for lightning and listening to the thunder - counting the seconds between the flash and the sound. Main Course Describe your hands. They are wide and thick – with average length fingers – not too long, but not very short either. The left hand fingertips are calloused from my guitar lessons. They feel rough as though they were no stranger to work, but not so rough as to indicate recent physical labor. The left hand has born a ring for the past 15 years, and is white beneath the ring from never taking it off. There are more lines on the hands than there had been when the ring was first put on. Not so many as to look old, but enough to not look young. They are good hands. Dessert If you could eat only one nut for the rest of your life, what nut would you pick? Macadamia Nuts – they have such a unique texture, addictive flavor, and exotic nature. Tags: Friday Feast

Friday's Feast

I've seen these around - most recently at Ukok's place. Thought I would participate. The original site is at: http://fridaysfeast.blogspot.com/ Appetizer Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets? Nope. While I am a definite X-File fan, "I want to believe," but I just don't see the evidence. Soup What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did? I lived in the South. Back in grad school, I said I wouldn't live in the South. BTW, I like the South now. I learned a lot while there. I am glad to be back in So Cal, though. Salad Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school? I owe so much to so many, I don't know how to choose and feel. Grad school: My advisor, Dan Ozer - he helped mold my philosophy. He also mentored me in developing the skills I use to make a living. Undergrad, Lisa Bridges - she convinced me to go to grad school where I did. High School: There were 5 in high school that were important to me: Fr. Ziemann (Religion, Dean of Students), Sr. Leo Francis (Chemistry, Physics), Coach Crowley, Mr. Edwards (History), and Mr. Squires (Math). They taught me so much, I have no idea where to begin. Grammar School/Jr. High - Sr. Delores - she made me believe I could do more academically than I had. Main Course If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why? A homeless person. It is hard for me to understand their life - I wish I could better understand. Dessert What is your favorite dish to prepare? Grilled Tri-tip steak and home made salsa. Tags: Friday Feast