Sunday, October 9, 2011

Three Beautiful Things 10/04-06: Learning, Savoring, Cooking/Eating

1.  It was a good three days in the classroom:  I think the way the story of Gilgamesh unfolds to portray the refining and strengthening nature of suffering started to make sense to my World Lit. students, I had fun subbing for Sparky in her Acting Shakespeare class, and I think I have finished frontloading WR 121 with more information and significant aspects of research and writing than any single person could possibly remember.  So, now the reviewing, the repeating, the reniforcing, the practice really begins.

2.  These were three good days for trying some different beers.  One was an old friend from over ten years ago that I hadn't enjoyed for a long time:  Rogue's Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout.  I also enjoyed a pint of Hopworks Urban Brewery's Survival "Seven Grain" Stout at Sam Bond's Garage, a flavor-packed delight.  The next afternoon I returned to Sam Bond's and had a pint of the first stout I ever drank, in May, 1975, in London:  Guinness -- and it's always fun to be reminded of its creaminess and fine taste.  Guinness is also a memory-packed beer for me, whether I think about London, Max's (years and years ago) or fixing a delicious black and tan at home.  I also enjoyed a bottle of Sheaf Stout from Australia.  Brill. 

3.  It was a good food week, too:  I fixed a rump roast with carrots, celery, sweet onion, and potatoes;  I used the leftover beef two nights later and fixed a ginger beef and garlic stir fry with brown rice; I baked four chicken legs, stripped off the meat, combined the meat with stir-fried vegetables and brown rice and topped it with Thai peanut sauce; last of all, I fixed a ground beef/sweet Italian sausage tomato pasta sauce, enhanced by a ton of basil, and we all had spaghetti and chunks of baguette. 

In conclusion:  classroom enjoyment, some good beers, and great fun cooking good food added up to three good days in early October.

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