1. My time of worship was meditative, one of those Sundays when I sat in the back of the church and was quiet most of the time. I was fully participating, but mostly in silence -- it's a way I like to do things. Across the aisle, in another row of pews, a guy who is more rambunctious was seated and I heard him telling another guy that he often feels like yelling "Amen" and "Alleluia" during the service but he figured it would cause people in the church to have a heart attack. I chuckled. I'd be one of the heart attack victims! I worship where I do because I enjoy the solemn quiet. But, I've been fairly forewarned and if this guy decides to let a loud "Alleluia" rip, I'll try to stay out of the cardiac unit.
2. Finally the weather has cooled down enough so that I can assemble and cook beef stew and I spent a few hours in the kitchen putting one together for dinner Monday night. It's one of my very favorite cooking projects.
3. The Troxstar and Madam Marla and I descended upon Sixteen Tons at five and it was great to see Emily in charge of the taps and the cash register. It was a lot of fun talking and laughing and Emily was kind enough to play a vinyl version of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass's "South of the Border". I tried a new beer and was very happy with Cascade's Fresh Hop Porter. I then returned to two favorites, a pint of 8 Ball Stout and a half pint of the Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 10/08/11: Breakfast at St. Mary's, Photo Walk, Casserole
1. We served about 150 or more hungry people at the St. Mary's Saturday Breakfast. I served bacon and sausage and toast and a number of those who came for a plate of eggs, potatoes, meat, oatmeal, grits, gravy, juice, coffee, and, for some, pancakes, expressed sincere gratitude. I'm sure I've mentioned before that this free breakfast is a twice a month occasion. We don't turn anyone away. Troublemakers get served outside. The church has been offering this breakfast for about twenty years.
2. Russell and Samantha and I went on a photo walk in the Whiteaker neighborhood, starting at the Wandering Goat and making out way to the Red Barn area and back to the car again. I tried out my new lens and had an exhilarating time and hoped that Samantha enjoyed touring this neighborhood and all of its vitality.
3. The Deke was going to make meatloaf for dinner, but she decided to take the pasta sauce I had just made and some frozen leftover sloppy Joe sauce I made long ago and combine it with some macaroni. It was a superb casserole. I love meatloaf, but this casserole was even better on this day.
2. Russell and Samantha and I went on a photo walk in the Whiteaker neighborhood, starting at the Wandering Goat and making out way to the Red Barn area and back to the car again. I tried out my new lens and had an exhilarating time and hoped that Samantha enjoyed touring this neighborhood and all of its vitality.
3. The Deke was going to make meatloaf for dinner, but she decided to take the pasta sauce I had just made and some frozen leftover sloppy Joe sauce I made long ago and combine it with some macaroni. It was a superb casserole. I love meatloaf, but this casserole was even better on this day.
Three Beautiful Things 10/06/11: Group Fail/Conversation Success, Pint and a Half at 16 Tons, Nerd Games
1. Carolyn and I got ourselves all prepared to lead a group discussion of the chapter on beauty in Bass's "Christianity for the Rest of Us" and only the group's host, Shelly, showed up. So, Shelly, Carolyn, and I had a really enjoyable conversation about the Ducks, the city of Eugene, flowers, painting, and a host of other things and left hoping that the Friday group is for real and not a mirage!
2. I popped into Sixteen Tons late in the afternoon and had my mind made up that I wanted two beers I'd never tried before and that I would limit myself to a pint and a half (rather than my usual two pints). I enjoyed my first winter ale, a half pint of Oakshire's Ill-Tempered Gnome, a tasty brown ale, combining sweetness and hoppy bitterness. For years, I've seen the label on bottles of Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout, but never bought one. Seeing it on tap at Sixteen Tons and being on a stout kick lately inspired me to try it out. I really like 8-Ball a lot. I think many like the Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout better because it's a dry Irish Stout and hoppier. I really like the Wrasslers XXXX Stout, but I might have enjoyed the 8-Ball a wee bit more. I'm not as crazy about the hoppy finish as a lot of people around here are. About 8-Ball, I must borrow an old bit from Tony Kornheiser: Rack 'em!
3. Samantha found out that the 'Wich House hosts nerd game night on Fridays, and so the Deke and Samantha and I went to check it out. As expected, I saw a couple of my former students and I think Samantha found out what she wanted by observing the games from our table. The food? Superb! My tuna melt on wheat focaccia tasted great, as did the cup of ginger chicken soup. The three of us had a wonderful time together.
2. I popped into Sixteen Tons late in the afternoon and had my mind made up that I wanted two beers I'd never tried before and that I would limit myself to a pint and a half (rather than my usual two pints). I enjoyed my first winter ale, a half pint of Oakshire's Ill-Tempered Gnome, a tasty brown ale, combining sweetness and hoppy bitterness. For years, I've seen the label on bottles of Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout, but never bought one. Seeing it on tap at Sixteen Tons and being on a stout kick lately inspired me to try it out. I really like 8-Ball a lot. I think many like the Porterhouse Wrasslers XXXX Stout better because it's a dry Irish Stout and hoppier. I really like the Wrasslers XXXX Stout, but I might have enjoyed the 8-Ball a wee bit more. I'm not as crazy about the hoppy finish as a lot of people around here are. About 8-Ball, I must borrow an old bit from Tony Kornheiser: Rack 'em!
3. Samantha found out that the 'Wich House hosts nerd game night on Fridays, and so the Deke and Samantha and I went to check it out. As expected, I saw a couple of my former students and I think Samantha found out what she wanted by observing the games from our table. The food? Superb! My tuna melt on wheat focaccia tasted great, as did the cup of ginger chicken soup. The three of us had a wonderful time together.
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.
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.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 10/03/11: Gilgamesh, Union Cafe, Sixteen Tons with Troxstar
1. What appears to be an external journey is an inward one: Gilgamesh.
2. A wonderful sandwich at Union Cafe accompanied by a cup of three cheese tomato soup from Soup Nation and a gorgeous pint of Oakshire's Landtrust Lager.
3. The Troxstar invited me out for an evening beer about 8 o'clock and I enjoyed a refreshing Oakshire Triune Fresh Hop Pale followed by a Wrasslers XXXXX Stout which is becoming my favorite beer at Sixteen Tons, although I doubt it will last long.
2. A wonderful sandwich at Union Cafe accompanied by a cup of three cheese tomato soup from Soup Nation and a gorgeous pint of Oakshire's Landtrust Lager.
3. The Troxstar invited me out for an evening beer about 8 o'clock and I enjoyed a refreshing Oakshire Triune Fresh Hop Pale followed by a Wrasslers XXXXX Stout which is becoming my favorite beer at Sixteen Tons, although I doubt it will last long.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Three Beautiful Things10/02/11: Small Groups, "Abraham's Land", Stout Blanche
1. Carolyn and I got the way we are going to deal with beauty in the small groups figured out. We also had a fine lunch at High Street.
2. I was happy to be an audience to the reading of "Abraham's Land", but as a read play, it didn't do much for me. I'm ready to believe that I would find it more compelling were I to see it staged and acted. The subject matter is as important as any subject matter can be: the tensions between Jews and Palestinians. I'm not totally sure that the particular play treats those tensions convincingly.
3. I stopped in at 16 Tons after the play reading and enjoyed aWrasslers XXXXX Stout. It was a very pleasing stout on the coffee end of the taste spectrum, but its hoppiness surprised me. I didn't like how hoppy it was for about three sips, but then, for mysterious reasons, the hoppiness grew on me and I enjoyed the last, what?, dozen or so pulls from the pint. I then drank a half pint of a much sweeter beer, Mort Subite Blanche. As often happens in my explorations up and down the tap list at 16 Tons, this beer provided me with a different experience than I'd ever had before. It was the sweetest beer I've ever tasted. It wasn't like drinking Hi C or anything like that. But its sweetness and its Belgian qualities combined to be not only pleasing, but, for me, unique (in a good way).
2. I was happy to be an audience to the reading of "Abraham's Land", but as a read play, it didn't do much for me. I'm ready to believe that I would find it more compelling were I to see it staged and acted. The subject matter is as important as any subject matter can be: the tensions between Jews and Palestinians. I'm not totally sure that the particular play treats those tensions convincingly.
3. I stopped in at 16 Tons after the play reading and enjoyed aWrasslers XXXXX Stout. It was a very pleasing stout on the coffee end of the taste spectrum, but its hoppiness surprised me. I didn't like how hoppy it was for about three sips, but then, for mysterious reasons, the hoppiness grew on me and I enjoyed the last, what?, dozen or so pulls from the pint. I then drank a half pint of a much sweeter beer, Mort Subite Blanche. As often happens in my explorations up and down the tap list at 16 Tons, this beer provided me with a different experience than I'd ever had before. It was the sweetest beer I've ever tasted. It wasn't like drinking Hi C or anything like that. But its sweetness and its Belgian qualities combined to be not only pleasing, but, for me, unique (in a good way).
Three Beautiful Things 10/01/11: Jiffy, Meeting, Amber
1. I like going to Jiffy Market and today I picked up my first cinnamon doughy Pershing sort of thing for many months and grabbed a cup of coffee and enjoyed the slow manner of the checker and relished the junky, casual environment of the store.
2. Our English department's full time faculty met at Jeff's house to talk about department stuff away from campus and at a time when nothing related to school could interrupt us and before I went to Jeff's I bought a bag of six bottles of wine for the Deke and Scott W. saw me and wondered if he could come to my house and I told him I was headed to a department meeting, letting him believe that's what the wine was for, but even though the wine wasn't for the meeting, the meeting did feature a case of Ninkasi IPA (I didn't drink any...it's not the kind of beer I enjoy) and I knew that Scott got the right impression of our meeting, even though he didn't see the right form of alcohol.
3. When I got home from the meeting I wound down a bit with a 22 oz bottle of Oakshire Amber Ale, a gorgeous beer to look at when held to the light and an easy, pleasing, tasty beer to drink.
2. Our English department's full time faculty met at Jeff's house to talk about department stuff away from campus and at a time when nothing related to school could interrupt us and before I went to Jeff's I bought a bag of six bottles of wine for the Deke and Scott W. saw me and wondered if he could come to my house and I told him I was headed to a department meeting, letting him believe that's what the wine was for, but even though the wine wasn't for the meeting, the meeting did feature a case of Ninkasi IPA (I didn't drink any...it's not the kind of beer I enjoy) and I knew that Scott got the right impression of our meeting, even though he didn't see the right form of alcohol.
3. When I got home from the meeting I wound down a bit with a 22 oz bottle of Oakshire Amber Ale, a gorgeous beer to look at when held to the light and an easy, pleasing, tasty beer to drink.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/30/10: Neil Simon at LCC (A Conflict for Me), The Office, Two Retired Professors
1. It's hard for me to go see a play by a playwright I don't really enjoy. I don't enjoy Neil Simon. I went to see Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" at LCC, put on by the incredible Student Productions Association. The production was splendid. It was very pleasing to the eye. The actors brought great energy to their work. It was great to see Sarah and Tanner, whom I worked with in "Taming of the Shrew". They did wonderful work, as did the rest of the cast. I was very happy for Tim who was the assistant director of the production. I sat two seats down from him in the audience and enjoyed his delight in seeing his hard work come alive on stage. I found myself, however, wishing at many points during the play that all of this talent and beauty and energy had been devoted to a playwright I enjoy more. I have this experience consistently with two often produced playwrights: Anton Chekhov and Neil Simon. However, unlike the last several times when I saw a Chekhov play and wanted to run screaming out of the theater or movie house, I never felt this way at LCC's production "Brighton Beach Memoirs". There was too much to enjoy. And it was wonderful to see so many people in the audience and to hear so many big laughs. As someone who doesn't care much for Neil Simon, I was definitely in the minority -- in a big way. Nothing wrong with that!
2. I enjoy my work as a teacher the most when I work with students individually and two students came by during my office hours today and it felt great to be of help and to get better acquainted with these students.
3. I stopped into Todd's Place this morning for breakfast and seated at a table together were two professors from the University of Oregon whose presence brought back a ton of memories of research/bibliography (James Boren, English) and breakfasts at the Glenwood and the introduction of a couple of friends of mine into Wings (Will Davie, Philosophy). Both professors are retired, are emeritus, and were two men whom it seemed like I saw every day, one way or another, when I spent almost every waking moment in the halls of old PLC, starting thirty years ago.
2. I enjoy my work as a teacher the most when I work with students individually and two students came by during my office hours today and it felt great to be of help and to get better acquainted with these students.
3. I stopped into Todd's Place this morning for breakfast and seated at a table together were two professors from the University of Oregon whose presence brought back a ton of memories of research/bibliography (James Boren, English) and breakfasts at the Glenwood and the introduction of a couple of friends of mine into Wings (Will Davie, Philosophy). Both professors are retired, are emeritus, and were two men whom it seemed like I saw every day, one way or another, when I spent almost every waking moment in the halls of old PLC, starting thirty years ago.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/29/11: Lunch, Billy Mac's, Free Range Red Ale
1. I enjoyed a nice tuna salad sandwich and a pint of Kolsch at High St.
2. Things were hopping at Billy Mac's. Topics flew around the table; some sang Gale Garnett; lots of solid Jesus talk/church talk; many wise cracks emerged about the length and tedium of Spenser's The Faerie Queen. And to think it's incomplete.
3. My prime beef dip sandwich with a small Caesar salad and two pints of Laurelwood Free Range Red Ale enhanced the pleasure of all the quickly moving conversation and all the roaring laughter.
2. Things were hopping at Billy Mac's. Topics flew around the table; some sang Gale Garnett; lots of solid Jesus talk/church talk; many wise cracks emerged about the length and tedium of Spenser's The Faerie Queen. And to think it's incomplete.
3. My prime beef dip sandwich with a small Caesar salad and two pints of Laurelwood Free Range Red Ale enhanced the pleasure of all the quickly moving conversation and all the roaring laughter.
Three Beautiful Things 09/28/11: Bible as Lit, Kitchen Help, Priest Duet
1. I think teaching stories from the Bible as literature, from a literary perspective, is the trickiest thing I do all year as a teacher. I'm totally committed to teaching the Bible as literature in my World Lit. class. It's tough, though. For students, the Bible is often either a supremely highly regarded source of truth or a scorned book, an instrument of oppression. I think I succeeded today in keeping the discussion literary, of voicing no adherence to any doctrines and looking at the poetry, figurative language, narrative structure, and universal meaning of Psalm 23 and the parable of the Good Samaritan. Honestly? It's stressful. For me. I don't want to talk theology or doctrine in my literature class. It's not church and it's not Sunday school.
2. I went from a morning of teaching a tiny bit of the Bible as literature to helping get dinner ready for our Wednesday parish dinner at St. Mary's. I chopped bok choy. I sliced tomatoes. I helped drain peas. I carried big pans of mac and cheese to the serving line. It was fun to help out.
3. I enjoyed listening to our priests, Bingham and Betsy, lecture on the book Christianity for the Rest of Us. They worked really well together and helped bring the book's content alive.
2. I went from a morning of teaching a tiny bit of the Bible as literature to helping get dinner ready for our Wednesday parish dinner at St. Mary's. I chopped bok choy. I sliced tomatoes. I helped drain peas. I carried big pans of mac and cheese to the serving line. It was fun to help out.
3. I enjoyed listening to our priests, Bingham and Betsy, lecture on the book Christianity for the Rest of Us. They worked really well together and helped bring the book's content alive.
Three Beautiful Things 09/27/11: Comp. Underway, Late Porketta, Black Boss Polish Porter
1. It felt good to get my WR 121 classes underway. I try to walk the fine line between being eager to help and reasonable about problems by students might have and being clear that I mean business as their teacher. I try to be honest without being intimidating. I try to communicate understanding without seeming a pushover.
2. Heh. I put the porketta in the crock pot a little too late, but finally, about 8:00, Sam, the Deke, and decided that we could start shredding it, with a little effort, and so we did and the meat was good with the onions and the brown basmati rice. I'll try to remember to put the porketta on a little earlier next time -- like two hours earlier.
3. I'll readily admit, though, that the wait for the porketta was made much easier the pint bottle of Black Boss Porter I savored. It's a Polish Porter and is jam packed with chocolate goodness and other sweet tastes that inspired me to noisiness with every drink. I'm glad I only drank one. It's alcohol content is pretty high for me. Its taste, though, really good.
2. Heh. I put the porketta in the crock pot a little too late, but finally, about 8:00, Sam, the Deke, and decided that we could start shredding it, with a little effort, and so we did and the meat was good with the onions and the brown basmati rice. I'll try to remember to put the porketta on a little earlier next time -- like two hours earlier.
3. I'll readily admit, though, that the wait for the porketta was made much easier the pint bottle of Black Boss Porter I savored. It's a Polish Porter and is jam packed with chocolate goodness and other sweet tastes that inspired me to noisiness with every drink. I'm glad I only drank one. It's alcohol content is pretty high for me. Its taste, though, really good.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/26/11: Lord,Sam, Steaks
1. My favorite moment today in World Lit. was in trying to establish that divine reality, which dominates this course, is best explored and approximated by figurative language. It's really the only way. I put "The Lord is my shepherd" on the board and asked what the first metaphor of this sentence is. Immediately, members of the class answered, "Shepherd." "No", I said, "that's the second metaphor" and we began to discuss how the earthly idea of lord served as the metaphor for beginning to grasp the sway, the power of the Divine. And then it got better as we saw, in Psalm 23, the unexpected idea that this powerful Lord is a lowly shepherd.
2. I had a good visit with Sam when I got home, a discussion that gave us both a lot to ponder about all sorts of things, including education.
3. Those flat iron steaks, seared and served medium rare: really good.
2. I had a good visit with Sam when I got home, a discussion that gave us both a lot to ponder about all sorts of things, including education.
3. Those flat iron steaks, seared and served medium rare: really good.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/25/11: An Afternoon with the Troxstar: Great Pints, Ken and Hans, Cool Grand
1. The Troxstar found me after 11:00 service ended and we glided over to Sixteen Tons for some excellent pints of beer. I very much enjoyed Abita Turbodog, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen, and Pilsner Urquell, three distinctive beers of the sort that I can't really describe but which are my favorites types.
2. Our visit to 16 Tons was going very well. Excellent conversation, good wise cracks, satisfying, refreshing beer and then Ken and Hans from Victoria Island and Calgary joined us and we talked about music, especially further, beer and wine in Canada, Hans' friend dropping acid at Divinity School, and a host of other things. These were great guys and we probably would have continued conversing longer into the afternoon had the Troxstar's sexton duties not called. So, we glided over to St. Mary's and locked up the church, featuring a good visit with Bingham and Sherry and Phyllis.
3. No Sunday afternoon like this one could be considered complete without a little NFL football, let's say Oakland and the Jets, and an afternoon capping pint of Hopworks Cool Grand, straight from the Troxstar's kegerator. A great afternoon. A great way to end the summer break.
2. Our visit to 16 Tons was going very well. Excellent conversation, good wise cracks, satisfying, refreshing beer and then Ken and Hans from Victoria Island and Calgary joined us and we talked about music, especially further, beer and wine in Canada, Hans' friend dropping acid at Divinity School, and a host of other things. These were great guys and we probably would have continued conversing longer into the afternoon had the Troxstar's sexton duties not called. So, we glided over to St. Mary's and locked up the church, featuring a good visit with Bingham and Sherry and Phyllis.
3. No Sunday afternoon like this one could be considered complete without a little NFL football, let's say Oakland and the Jets, and an afternoon capping pint of Hopworks Cool Grand, straight from the Troxstar's kegerator. A great afternoon. A great way to end the summer break.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/24/11: Breakfast at St. Mary's, Ginger Chicken, Ghosts on Boards
1. We fed every person who needed a breakfast at St. Mary's this morning. With the addition of maybe 30-40 followers of Further, we must have had over two hundred people come through the meal line for scrambled eggs and/or omelets, home fries and/or mashed potatoes, bacon/sausage/Canadian bacon, and buttered toast and then move on out into the room for grits, oatmeal, fresh fruit, gravy, juice, and other offerings I'm probably not aware of. I saw my former student Clarence again and his appearance seems to support his claim that he's getting cleaned up -- laying off the heroin -- and it's good to seem him. I wish he could find a better living situation than his van.
2. Russell and I hadn't been to Yi Shen for quite a while. We were warmly welcomed and I very much enjoyed my dish of ginger chicken, vegetables, and white rice.
3. I follow a Japanese guy on Tumblr, here, who takes black and white street photographs and I think what he does is shoot some of them out of focus, on purpose, so that the human figures have an anonymous look. They look like apparitions. I like his pictures a lot and today, while out taking pictures with Russell, I took some pictures of some skateboarders hoping to achieve a similar effect. See what you think:
2. Russell and I hadn't been to Yi Shen for quite a while. We were warmly welcomed and I very much enjoyed my dish of ginger chicken, vegetables, and white rice.
3. I follow a Japanese guy on Tumblr, here, who takes black and white street photographs and I think what he does is shoot some of them out of focus, on purpose, so that the human figures have an anonymous look. They look like apparitions. I like his pictures a lot and today, while out taking pictures with Russell, I took some pictures of some skateboarders hoping to achieve a similar effect. See what you think:
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/23/11: Film Festival Mtg, Outta Nowhere -- Veldhuizen!, Stacked Corned Beef
1. I enjoyed very much sitting down with a group of people to begin planning the spring quarter Islamic Film Festival or whatever we are calling it. Many great movies have been and are being made in countries that are predominantly Muslim or in places like Israel, by Israeli filmmakers, about Muslims living in the Golan Heights or Palestine or Jerusalem. and we had a great conversation about a wide variety of these movies, from around the world. It was especially good to have Ibrahim Hamide at the table. He is Palestinian, has family back in Palestine, works hard to encourage peaceful relations between people of differing religious and ethnic practices and origins, and loves movies. Oh! And is a very good restaurateur.
2. The Troxstar and I met for a couple of pints at Sixteen Tons. I enjoyed my pint of Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest as well as a pint of Gilgamesh Fresh Hop Harvester Oktoberfest. I was sipping away and apparently out of nowhere popped Dave Veldhuizen, whom I hadn't seen for a few years, and we got sort of caught up on some things and he paid tribute to the presence of the Troxstar. The pints, quaffing with the Troxstar, and seeing Dave made the visit to Sixteen Tons, well, it made it a beautiful thing.
3. I dropped into the Jiffy Market for a corned beef, salami, Swiss, and cheddar sandwich on sourdough bread. I know the sandwiches there are pretty thick, pretty filling (and, for my taste, really good) so I only order a half a one and it was just what I needed before taking part in Beautiful Thing #1 and then enjoying Beautiful Thing #2.
2. The Troxstar and I met for a couple of pints at Sixteen Tons. I enjoyed my pint of Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest as well as a pint of Gilgamesh Fresh Hop Harvester Oktoberfest. I was sipping away and apparently out of nowhere popped Dave Veldhuizen, whom I hadn't seen for a few years, and we got sort of caught up on some things and he paid tribute to the presence of the Troxstar. The pints, quaffing with the Troxstar, and seeing Dave made the visit to Sixteen Tons, well, it made it a beautiful thing.
3. I dropped into the Jiffy Market for a corned beef, salami, Swiss, and cheddar sandwich on sourdough bread. I know the sandwiches there are pretty thick, pretty filling (and, for my taste, really good) so I only order a half a one and it was just what I needed before taking part in Beautiful Thing #1 and then enjoying Beautiful Thing #2.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/22/11: Finished, German Beer, Everything's Poker
1. Each course syllabus is ready to project on the smart classroom screen. I finished them today, with 3-4 days to spare.
2. I thought I merely walked into 16 Tons today, but upon self-examination, I might have swaggered. It's not that I got my swagger back, but I think I have a new swagger in there now ever since I became a member. I thought the other patrons could tell, too. The respect in their eyes when I swaggered in felt good. Most important, however, was the beer and today was really good. I went totally German and enjoyed a pint of Avinger Oktober Fest-Marzen from the tap and a pint of Mahr's Ungespundet-hefetrub from the firkin. I hope Sixteen Tons will serve beer again from the firkin. The firkin sat on the counter. The beer came straight out of it. No hook up to a tap. Just beer. Real beer. It was really good.
3. Poker might be the metaphor by which all things can be understood. You'd know pretty much exactly what I mean if you'd been with me and and friends at Billy Mac's this evening.
2. I thought I merely walked into 16 Tons today, but upon self-examination, I might have swaggered. It's not that I got my swagger back, but I think I have a new swagger in there now ever since I became a member. I thought the other patrons could tell, too. The respect in their eyes when I swaggered in felt good. Most important, however, was the beer and today was really good. I went totally German and enjoyed a pint of Avinger Oktober Fest-Marzen from the tap and a pint of Mahr's Ungespundet-hefetrub from the firkin. I hope Sixteen Tons will serve beer again from the firkin. The firkin sat on the counter. The beer came straight out of it. No hook up to a tap. Just beer. Real beer. It was really good.
3. Poker might be the metaphor by which all things can be understood. You'd know pretty much exactly what I mean if you'd been with me and and friends at Billy Mac's this evening.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/21/11: Brisk, Aisle Blocking Conversation, Facebook Three Per Center
1. The department meeting was brisk. After the brisk division meeting. Brisk is beautiful.
2. I ran into Tim at Market of Choice and we blocked an aisle for about twenty minutes talking about teaching composition, the value of work, movies, and beer. I think most of the people who needed to get by us made it all right.
3. I created my own customized news feed and it made the changes in Facebook work pretty well for me. 97% of users hate the changes. Guess I'm a Facebook Three Percenter. (So are Ilene, Jon, Rhonda, the Troxstar [pretty much -- uh, maybe], and others.)
2. I ran into Tim at Market of Choice and we blocked an aisle for about twenty minutes talking about teaching composition, the value of work, movies, and beer. I think most of the people who needed to get by us made it all right.
3. I created my own customized news feed and it made the changes in Facebook work pretty well for me. 97% of users hate the changes. Guess I'm a Facebook Three Percenter. (So are Ilene, Jon, Rhonda, the Troxstar [pretty much -- uh, maybe], and others.)
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/20/11: Writing, Helping, Laughing
1. My cousin is working on a book and she sent me a bunch of what she's written and I tried to give her some helpful advice. She's smart. She's a good writer. Her way of writing is unlike anyone else I've read. I wish I knew more about the book publishing business so I could help her with that, but I can be encouraging.
2. I might have been a help to Sam as she gets herself situated in Eugene.
3. I got in a few good wise cracks when MB, Michael, Jeff, and I had coffee at the Wandering Goat and it was fun giving my good friends a few good laughs.
2. I might have been a help to Sam as she gets herself situated in Eugene.
3. I got in a few good wise cracks when MB, Michael, Jeff, and I had coffee at the Wandering Goat and it was fun giving my good friends a few good laughs.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Three Beautiful Things 09/19/11: Sam Visits Two Eugene Pillars, Teachers Meet, True Troxstar Power
1. I took Sam to the Kiva and to Hiron's to introduce her to two contrasting pillars upholding the world of Eugene.
2. I think this project we are undertaking at St. Mary's is going to work out just fine. The teachers met today and we'll succeed in leading discussion around the different aspects of "Christianity for the Rest of Us".
3. Sixteen Tons. Two pints. Hop Valley Hopocalypse Blackout Stout. Sierra Nevada Porter. I bought a membership. Em was working the taps. I walked in. Before she said hello or anything, she wondered where the Troxstar was. What it must be like to be the real deal, a big deal. Like the Troxstar. True Troxstar power.
2. I think this project we are undertaking at St. Mary's is going to work out just fine. The teachers met today and we'll succeed in leading discussion around the different aspects of "Christianity for the Rest of Us".
3. Sixteen Tons. Two pints. Hop Valley Hopocalypse Blackout Stout. Sierra Nevada Porter. I bought a membership. Em was working the taps. I walked in. Before she said hello or anything, she wondered where the Troxstar was. What it must be like to be the real deal, a big deal. Like the Troxstar. True Troxstar power.
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