The Brave Astronaut Birthday fell on a Wednesday this year. Don't fear, the clan appropriately feted me for my big day. But on the day itself, I opted for lasagne, and because it was a Wednesday, I used this slow cooker option. From Tastes Better from Scratch via BuzzFeed (I substituted ricotta for cottage, because cottage cheese, is well, eew.)
Merry Christmas to all out there!
Slow Cooker Lasagna Prep Time
10 mins Cook Time
4 hrs Total Time
4 hrs 10 mins Servings: 5
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large onion , chopped *
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons parsley
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
6 oz. can tomato paste
29 oz. can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups water
8 oz. pkg regular lasagna noodles, uncooked
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat brown the ground beef, Italian sausage and onion.
Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, and water. Stir and simmer 15-20 minutes. (You could make the sauce in advance!)
Spread a fourth of the meat sauce into the bottom of your slow cooker. Arrange a third of the noodles over the sauce (break the noodles to fit, if necessary).
Combine the mozzarella, ricotta cheese and parmesan cheese; spoon a third of the mixture over noodles. Repeat layers twice.
Top with remaining meat sauce and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese, if desired.
Cover and cook on low for about 4-5 hours or until noodles are tender.
Recipe Notes
* You could substitute 1-2 Tbsp dried minced onion.
Today marks the day that I mark my fiftieth spin around the sun.
Here's a list, numbered one to fifty with some facts about the Brave Astronaut.
Time difference (1 hour) between home and Bermuda, where the Brave Astronaut and his siblings traveled earlier this year to scatter our parents ashes, in accordance with their final wishes.
Number of Brave Astronaut children - LBA (who turns 13 on Christmas Day) and SoBA (who turns 10! on the 30th).
How many siblings I have - I'm the youngest.
Number of book ideas I have in my head: one novel, one historical fiction, and two non-fiction books - I have about 200 pages of the novel written and outlines for the other three.
The number of permanent members on the United Nations Security Council that hold veto power (the US, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom). In high school, I was a member of the Model UN Club and attended several mock UN meetings.
The number of years between me and my next sibling.
My house number of my home growing up.
The number of places I have lived: Syosset, NY, Albany, NY for school (2 different dorms at the University at Albany, Poughkeepsie, NY (first an apartment, then a house), and three places in Maryland (Bethesda, Rockville, and our current home in Cheverly).
The number of cars I have owned (I think that's right): a 1982 Mercury Zephyr, a Nissan Sentra, a Mazda 323, a Mazda 626 hatchback, a Mazda Protege, my mother's old Ford Taurus, a Volvo sedan (bought on the Internet - don't do that), a Mazda 5, and the current Brave Astronaut Clan Car - a Kia Sorento
The number of US Presidents under which I have lived - and I hope to make it to number 11 sooner rather than later.
The number that remains when you subtract my mother's age when she passed (76) and my father's age (87) on his death earlier this year.
Number of emails currently in my work email box
Number of cards in a suit of playing cards (ace-king). I enjoy playing cards, specifically a family game known as Liverpool, a contract rummy game.
The number of years between me and my oldest sibling.
The number of rooms, including the side porch, foyer, and attic at the Launchpad.
In 2018, the number of years that I will have been married to Mrs. BA
The atomic number of chlorine, which is used to keep the Cheverly Pool clean. This year, I was elected as President of the Board of the pool.
The number of years that I have been organizing baseball outings to my
national professional organization (the Society of American Archivists) -
Since 1999, I have brought about 1500 archivists to 20 baseball games
over the past 16 years (for three conferences there was no baseball to
be had and for 4 of the meetings, we went to more than one game). In
2018, JAL Tours will be putting together the 17th Annual / 22nd Game SAA
Baseball event here in Washington DC.
The number of national professional Annual Meetings (Society of American Archivists) I have attended since becoming a professional archivist.
The number of either elected or appointed positions that I have held or currently hold - I have been active in my profession an well as in my community.
Approximate number of people in the United States that share my last name - and they are all related to me.
How many years I have been playing golf.
The number of people in my extended family (one mother-in-law, 8 related to Mrs. BA, 7 on my side, and 4 in the Brave Astronaut Clan).
The estimated number of primary characters in The West Wing, one of my favorite television shows of all time. Jed Bartlet is my President!
The number of people who have not yet replied to the invitation of the Brave Astronaut Clan to our New Year's Day Open House - if you're in the neighborhood, you should come by!
The number of states in the United States that I have visited (from
west to east: CA, AZ, CO, NM, TX, LA, WI, IL, OH, AL, ME, NH, VT, MA, NY, RI, CT, NJ, PA, DE, MD, WV, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL)
The age at which Billy Joel released The Stranger. Billy Joel is my favorite artist - I have seen him in concert many times.
The track from which the Chattanooga Choo Choo departs in the song by Glenn Miller. Songs of the big band era were standard fare for me growing up at home.
The minimum age requirement for US Senators. I considered politics as a profession.
The number of flavors sold by Baskin-Robbins. I am a big fan of ice cream.
How many years have passed since I graduated high school - 1985 - Go Braves!
The number of reference requests that I have already responded to in this fiscal year, which began in October), it is my primary work responsibility.
How old I was when I got married to Mrs. BA
How old Mrs. BA was when she married me (until yesterday we were in that point in time when I was two years younger than Mrs. BA - her birthday is in August and we were married in May)
The number of strikes one would have to bowl to achieve three perfect games (300-300-300). When I bowled regularly, my average was about 145.
The approximate number of different golf courses I have played on since I began playing golf.
The number of slots in a standard roulette wheel. I am serving again as the co-chair for my son's school's Casino Night fundraising night, in February. You should come!
Number of active members in our local church's men's club, for which I currently serve as President.
The number of hours in a standard work week - I work full time.
The title of a song by Dave Matthews, one of Mrs. BA's most favorite bands. When we were first dating, I helped get her really good seats to a Dave Matthews concert at the Meadowlands
Number of MARAC Meetings that I have attended since becoming a professional archivist
My lowest golf score for nine holes. Now that I'm 50, I think I should play more golf. I had long ago set a goal of playing consistently in the 90s for 18 holes by the time I was 50.
The number of characters in the novel that I have been working on, on and off, for the past 10 years or so.
Number of emails currently in my personal email box
The number for the next President. And that individual cannot get here soon enough.
The P-47 Thunderbolt was a World War II fighter plane. My father was constantly building models of planes, ships, figures - although he was fond of tanks, primarily.
The number of seats available in the chapel where Mrs. BA and I got married. Naturally we invited about 85 people. Seventy showed up.
The uniform number of Ron Guidry, longtime New York Yankees pitcher. I have loved baseball for years, played a little, watched a lot, and coached both LBA and SoBA's teams.
Slang for the police - something I think I can say I've never run afoul of, except for speeding tickets and the occasional camera tickets.
Like many Americans, I have been adrift of late trying to figure out what country I am living in. As most of you know, my dear readers, I was in favor of the other candidate who was running for president in the recent election. The night before the election, President Obama recorded a message for the American people, saying that, regardless of what happened, the sun would come up in the morning. After hearing that message, and seeing the results, I was reminded of the scene above.
I don't know what the next four years will bring, but in the morning, the sun will rise and who knows that the tide will bring? Today is Brave Astronaut Day - for it is the anniversary of my birth. I have reached the precipice - next year is the Big "L". As you may know Mrs. BA hit the number earlier this year - but we are looking forward to many more years together, at least I know I am!
My birthday, falling on a Tuesday, is not all that spectacular but I made the best of it. I had a great lunch with friends. Both LBA and SoBA had basketball practice so a big family dinner wasn't in the cards. But the boys are out of school tomorrow at noon and they are going to be spending the few days leading up to Christmas at their cousin's house so Mrs. BA and I may have a date night on Thursday.
Then we will have Christmas at the launchpad, followed by a few days with my sister before we all travel to NY for a Brave Astronaut family Christmas, where we will celebrate SoBA's birthday on Friday the 30th. You will note that this blog has been missing the "12 posts of Christmas" this year, some of that is due to my feelings noted above, and some of it is just because that as the subtitle of this blog notes, I have a very full life, "with room for improvement, and little time to do it."
Thank you for sticking around with me on this blogging journey, which is more than 1400 posts long and more than ten years old! I promise to come here a little more often in 2017 and offer a few more thoughts and posts other than the weekly recipe. I am very blessed to have a wonderful wife who loves me, two boys who seem to like me as well, a great family, my father, brother, sisters, nieces and nephews and all my in-laws.
Of course, dear reader, you know how much I love numbers, so I would be remiss if I didn't end this post with some statistics. As of this posting my birthday garnered the following:
Approximately 195 posts on my Facebook wall, many of which were commented on on top of that.
11 Promo emails (offering me a deal for my birthday)
10 distinct birthday posts (on which multiple people commented) on Facebook
9 in person birthday wishes
3 birthday emails
3 texts
2 phone calls (my father and sister)
1 birthday lunch with 3 people
1 Facebook Messenger message (though it was not necessarily birthday related)
1 holiday lighting contest in town - not sure if I got an advantage or not.
1 blog post (this one)
The first birthday wishes came from (again this year) Kim Ayres, who has the advantage of being across the pond and it turns into my birthday over there before it does here. If you're not reading his blog (or buying his photography) - you most certainly should be.
Today is Mrs. BA's birthday - she's hit the 1/2 century mark. I am more and more in love with her every single day. She is the best wife and mother. If you see her around today, make sure you wish her a happy birthday.
Tonight we will gather at the pool (her favorite summer place) to celebrate with friends. Tomorrow we leave for vacation.
Doesn't she look great? And I'm the one younger than she is?
FYI - dear readers, I am unplugging for the week while on vacation. I am in need of a respite from technology for the week. I plan to do as little as possible, except sit on the beach, swim in the ocean, and relax. No Facebook, no games on my phone or other devices. I'll be back soon!
Today is the day set aside for me, the Brave Astronaut. Feel free to wish me well. If you're looking for gifts, here's a list of ways for me to show my Sagittarius pride (via BuzzFeed).
1. A delicate bow and arrow tattoo - though I'm not the tattoo kind of guy
Today is SoBA's birthday. He turns 7! Happy Birthday SoBA!
The schedule for the annual trip north shifted a bit this year and shortly we are headed to my father's for the extended Brave Astronaut family Christmas. Several weeks ago, both SoBA and LBA commented they loved going to New York because they got "crazy presents." I think, in their vernacular, "crazy" means a lot. But with my brother and sisters, it could go either way :).
This is the first time in several years we will be home for SoBA's birthday. Of course, the boys are still in the midst of their "winter break" from school. I'm pretty sure the boys don't want to go back to school - but my leave balance would really like it. With the help of my mother-in-law (and my sisters-in-law) at the beginning of the vacation and some tag teaming with Mrs. BA and I, we've been managing before we head north for the New Year's weekend.
For the first few years of SoBA's life, once he was able to express what kind of cake he wanted - he asked for Pepperoni Cake. So Mrs. BA made a cake, actual cake, topped with whipped cream (to look like cheese) and fruit roll-ups cut into pepperoni sized pieces. Tomorrow SoBA turns 7!
Evidently, someone felt the need to create a pepperoni pizza cake out of actual pepperoni pizza(s).
From BuzzFeed, about a Canadian pizza house that made it first, then someone on Reddedit, and now a recipe from Pillsbury.
Pepperoni Pizza Cake
Take your pizza night to new heights with this triple-decker pie everyone will rave about.
Prep time 40 min
Total time 1 hr 10 min
Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil.
Measure diameter of tall-sided ovenproof pan. (Pan used was 6-inch in diameter with 4-inch high side.) Unroll 1 can of dough onto work surface; press out into thin layer. Cut out 3 (6-inch) rounds; place on cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool.
Unroll remaining can of dough; cut 2 additional (6-inch) rounds from long edge of dough, leaving opposite side untouched. Place rounds on cooled cookie sheet. Bake 8 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet; cool.
Meanwhile, line pan with cooking parchment paper so that ends of paper stick up and out of pan. Cut long strip of dough at least 1/2 inch wider than height of pan. Carefully drape long strip of dough around inside edge of pan to line, leaving 1/2 inch hanging over outside edge of pan and bottom of pan open. Pinch seam to seal.
Carefully place 1 partially baked crust round in bottom of pan. Spread pizza sauce over crust; top with pepperoni slices and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese (when cheese melts, crust above will stick to it). Repeat to make 3 more layers. For top layer, place last crust over cheese; sprinkle with remaining cheese and arrange remaining pepperoni on top.
Fold overhanging dough over top layer of pizza cake to make a raised crust edge.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until dough around pizza cake is fully cooked. (To test, carefully pull up parchment paper to raise pizza cake out of pan.) Once completely baked, cool in pan 5 minutes. Remove pizza cake from pan; brush crust with butter. Use sharp knife to cut slices like you would a cake.
If the top crust begins to get too dark, place a strip of foil around the crust edge to prevent it from burning.
Use any sort of pizza toppings you like, or alternate each layer of pizza with a different set of toppings.
Today, in addition to being Christmas Day, it is also LBA's birthday - today he reaches double digits! We will celebrate in our usual way, with Christmas in the morning and birthday festivities in the evening.
Of course, LBA shares his birthday with another more famous individual. However, there is no exact documentation for the exact date of the birth of Jesus Christ, though it was believed to have been in the year 6 BC. Over the first two centuries, few claimed to know that exact day or year of Christ's birth. In AD 336, the Church of Rome held a festival of Christ's Nativity, according to a Roman almanac, the first indication of celebrating December 25 as Christmas.
Many researchers believe the date was chosen as a Christian substitute for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice (we, of course, also adopted the pagan use of trees for decorating). When Constantine I converted to Christianity in AD 312, the day of Christmas became fixed on December 25, appropriating the winter solstice celebrations.
Merry Christmas to all and Happy Birthday to my little buddy, LBA!
Today we are celebrating here at the launchpad - it's my birthday, again.
Now if I had only known about some of these, it could be an even better day!
18 Free Things You Can Get on Your Birthday (from BuzzFeed)
"Tons of businesses (especially chain restaurants) offer rewards during your birthday week/month; most of them require you to sign up in advance, so don’t wait until the night before to plan out your TOTALLY FREE DAY. And it never hurts to double-check with an establishment ahead of time in case a deal has expired or changed." I get free pizza from Ella's in DC, a free entree from Hank's, and a free dish from Noodles and Company.
IHOP has a program called the Pancake Revolution that offers a free meal on your birthday. (And kids eat free with an adult - and the Brave Astronaut clan likes Breakfast for Dinner - why don't we go there more?) You also get one just for signing up and on your anniversary.
And if you’re in California, snag a trip to Catalina Island.
And if you're in California, snag a trip to Catalina Island
Get a scoop from Baskin-Robbins when you sign up for their Birthday Club.
Friendly’s offers an ice cream sundae and Dairy Queen offers Blizzards as well.
(Never, ever turn down free ice cream)
(Although who needs ice cream when you can have FREE DIPPIN’ DOTS?)
Sign up for their Forty Below Zero club and taste the future.
Missouri residents can receive a free lottery ticket by signing up for the email list. If you’re into that/are over 18.
Get a free gift from Hooters.
Apparently it’s ten free wings, but this could vary based on location and availability. Again, whatever you’re into. (I understand their wings are delicious)
Join CVS’ Extra Care Beauty Club and you’ll get $3 on your birthday.
If you’re on Foursquare, check to see if people have left tips re: free birthday drinks, appetizers, etc. at your local spots. Or, you know, just ask the bartender (and tip generously).
And, since humans aren’t the only ones with birthdays, sign up your pet for Petco’s Birthday Club for special treats and savings.
At the Launchpad, Mrs. BA has a strict rule about Christmas - you can't talk about the holiday until Veterans Day. Well that was last week - and in one month it will be the Brave Astronaut's birthday, to be followed by Christmas (and LBA's birthday) and then SoBA's birthday on the 30th. It is not possible there is so little time left before the holidays arrive - but we shall deal with it, won't we?
If you wondering what you could get your favorite Brave Astronaut for his birthday and/or Christmas, I have a few ideas. Be sure to check in with Mrs. BA so you don't double up.
The Neiman Marcus Christmas Wish Book Fantasy Gifts are out, although none of them are really over the top, but I wouldn't refuse two tickets to the Academy Awards.
If you find yourself with some extra scratch around the holidays - the Launchpad is in need of some loving. I have a long list of "lottery projects" that you should feel free to volunteer to help fund or service.
I'm hoping that Santa comes through with a new iPod this year - it's time to retire mine - it's nearly 10 years old, an eternity in technology. So iTunes gift cards are welcome.
The Brave Laptop is also due for an upgrade. I'm not seeing the BSOD, but it is definitely chugging along. Mrs. BA just got a new one and I don't like having poorer technology than her :).
I spotted this new biography in Barnes and Noble the other day. It would be a very nice companion piece to some tickets to one of his concerts at Madison Square Garden, continuing through 2015!
The Brave Astronaut clan is spending Thanksgiving at the beach, not far from the Tanger Outlets and I am always in need of some new threads - sweaters, turtlenecks (can you tell it's really cold?), and socks - I could really use some new brown socks. Socks and underwear was what your mother usually gets you for Christmas wasn't it?
More tickets. I would really like to attend more sporting events. Someday I would like to be a season ticket holder to at least one of the major sports teams in the region. For now, it would be nice to know that I'm going to attend at least half a dozen baseball games in 2015 and maybe a hockey game or two. You can skip the football tickets - there's no power on earth that will make me go see the Washington football team.
Time off. I am spread thin, partly of my own making. It would be nice to be able to string several days together soon and not really do anything, and dammit, we are taking a vacation next summer. But first up, we have to get through the two weeks of winter break - we may have to bring back Parent Camp for several of those days.
Today marks the 67th birthday of the King of Horror, Stephen King. I have long been a fan of the Maineac author - having read my first King novel, Salem's Lot, while on vacation in Maine. Needless to say, I did not sleep well that week.
According to BuzzFeed in identifying the "11 Essential Stephen King books, notes that "Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors in the world, with more than 50 books in print, and more coming out every year . . . So many people criticize King, without even realizing that they enjoyed movies that were written by him: Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Stand By Me, for example . . . Good luck, and happy reading." (My comments in italics)
The Stand - For me, the writing of Stephen King starts and ends with The Stand. It is an epic, post-apocalyptic horror story that begins with “Captain Trips,” a deadly virus, and ends with a massive showdown, good vs. evil — the last stand. I can still remember the opening scene, the family running from the medical facility, crashing into a gas station, miles away — handing the story to the immune Stu Redman.
It’s a big book, the uncut version clocking in at 1,100 pages, but it needs to be this big. We have so many storylines to follow, people to root for, and miles to cover, crossing the United States, one horrific moment after another. We root for Mother Abigail, the spiritual leader; Larry Underwood, the rock star; Nick Andros, a deaf man from the Midwest; and Frannie Goldsmith, a teenager. We meet the “Trashcan Man” and of course, the dark spirit, Randall Flagg.
While people often list The Stand, The Shining, or It as his best work, if I had to pick one as my favorite, it has to be The Stand. This story is a rollercoaster ride of tension and hope, a beautiful narrative that left me in tears. I tend to keep books around and while I have excessed some of the King books out of my library - this one is and will always be on my shelf.
The Shining
- Due to the famous film by Stanley Kubrick, and the performance of Jack Nicholson, this may be King’s most well-known book. I recently re-read it for the first time in 30 years and it still holds up. And the ending, the father-son story — I can see why King hated Kubrick’s version; it lacked so much heart. Where The Stand holds tension over 1,100 pages, The Shining is an exploration of one man, Jack Torrance, falling apart, losing his mind to the Overlook Hotel, and the abuse and suffering that his family endures. I wondered, when I re-read this, if it would still scare me — and you know what, it did! And the same places, too — those damn hedge animals. This is really a classic King title, and one that puts the vulnerable Danny Torrance (REDRUM! REDRUM!) front and center, while also flipping back and forth between the quickly eroding mind of Jack, and the worrisome, helpless mother, Wendy. This is an iconic book, another essential King read. I have seen the movie, but can't confirm that I have read the book.
It
- Another massive book, also over 1,100 pages, It is another favorite King book of mine. It introduces us to the horror that lurks in the sewers of Derry, Maine, and a creepy clown known as Pennywise. We follow a cast of misfits, “The Losers Club,” first as children, and then later, as adults. What’s the line? “We all float down here.” Not only does King build on the vulnerability of a handful of kids trying to fight and defeat a terrible presence after the disappearance and eventual death of Georgie Denbrough, but King makes them come back to face the evil as adults. There has always been some controversy over the “bonding scene” between Beverly and the boys, with many fans saying it put them off the book altogether, but I never saw it that way — more like soldiers surviving a war, a blood oath and bond that could never be severed. It’s dark for sure, though. I have read the book and have seen the movie and fully commiserate with those who hate clowns.
The Long Walk
- This is such an original book. Long before The Hunger Games, there was The Long Walk. Originally written under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, King’s The Long Walk first came out in paperback but was later collected in The Bachman Books. Part reinstated draft, part lottery, much like in It, King uses the vulnerability of youth in 100 young boys to show us a dark and horrific story, where only one boy will survive. And that’s part of what makes it such a compelling read, right? From the very beginning, we know they are all going to die, all but one. Who do we root for? Who do we hate? There are so many kids to know, with Raymond Garraty as the protagonist. Over time, we get to know their stories, and everything changes. There are odds on the contestants; a heavy favorite is married; one may be the son of the Major, the man who runs the event; another, a loner, has alienated everyone but Ray; a group of the boys form “The Musketeers”— the plot getting more and more complicated, and heartbreaking, as the story unfolds. It’s a powerful book that’s sometimes overlooked when talking about Stephen King. And it’s a thin one, only a few hundred pages! Because they were "hidden" for a while before it was revealed who Richard Bachman was, I am not sure if I have read this - but I probably have.
Pet Sematary
- This starts out, as many of King’s books do, as a sweet, innocent story, with a family moving to the country. But even though they are surrounded by nature and kind neighbors, it doesn’t take long for the horror to creep in — in the woods and the highway that runs so close by the house, where a pet or child might easily wander out into the rumbling semis and speeding cars. King likes to ask a lot of “what if” questions in his books as he chases the rabbit down the hole. And this story is no exception. If memory serves me correctly this novel has some pretty intense sex scenes, which King usually avoids, and that offsets the darkness and violence — there’s plenty of that, don’t worry. It’s definitely one of his creepiest books. When you ask yourself what lengths you would go to for your family, to fix things, to undo a horrible accident, do you have limits? King doesn’t. Now, as a father, this book is sort of off limits for me. But I remember reading it (and seeing the movie).
Salem’s Lot
- I thought about leaving this book off the list just because vampires have been so overdone lately, but then I remembered that this book was written in 1975, and that it’s one of my favorite vampire novels, so I had to include it. I love the way King takes a classic monster, or situation, and places it in a contemporary setting. What WOULD it look like if vampires existed now, in contemporary society? What if children started to disappear? The tension in this book is palpable, using the small town and isolation to his benefit (as he often would over the years) as well as a small band of good-hearted people who are striving to protect their own, to right a wrong. These vampires do not sparkle — they are violent, eternal, and terrifying. As noted earlier, this was the first King book I read, and I was hooked . . . and scared to death.
Needful Things - This one may surprise a lot of people, and it may not make a lot of lists, but it always fascinated me. Once again King masters the small-town life, tapping into the hopes and dreams of wholesome, simple people. But there are so many secrets, so many wishes, and so many debts to be paid. And as those wishes are granted, more base desires bubble to the surface — jealousies, resentments, and hatred. The tension that King builds for the first 250 pages increases, layer upon layer, until the satisfying climax, at the end of another mammoth 1,000-page book. This was deemed “the last Castle Rock story,” and it definitely ends with a bang. Being a King fan, you learn to invest in sturdy bookshelves, that’s for sure. Castle Rock features so prominently in King's books and this one did not disappoint.
Night Shift - I had to include one of King’s short story collections, and when I look at the stories that are in this collection, his first, it’s just packed full of some of his best short fiction. Many of these stories were first published in “men’s magazines” such as Cavalier, Penthouse, and Gallery — which is where a lot of authors got started back then; it’s how they paid their rent. “Night Surf” would go on to become The Stand. Obviously, “Jerusalem’s Lot” has ties to Salem’s Lot. And, many people, when selecting their favorite King story ever, mention some that are in here: “Quitters, Inc.,” “I Am the Doorway,” and “I Know What You Need.” Also, several of these stories were later made into feature length films, as well: The Lawnmower Man, Children of the Corn, Cat’s Eye, Maximum Overdrive, Graveyard Shift, and The Mangler. When it came out, it also included FOUR previously unpublished short stories, which is kind of unheard of. While all of his short story collections are worth picking up, this is my favorite, possibly because it was my first collection of his. King has since gone on to place stories in the best magazines and journals around — the Paris Review, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, etc. I don't know if I would have included this collection, if we are picking a short story collection, I definitely go with #10
Different Seasons
- Part of what makes this collection of four novellas so interesting is the very fact that King focused on the often ignored and underappreciated novella. These four novellas have gone on to garner a lot of attention. “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” became one of the most loved movies of all time, and was nominated for an Academy Award. “Apt Pupil” also went on to become a major motion picture. And in case you forgot, “The Body” became the movie Stand By Me, another very well known, and loved, film. For those that think King is a windbag, going on way too long, this may be the book for you. It’s got more substance than a short story collection; you have more time with each of the stories and characters, but you could also finish off an entire novella in a few hours. But really, it’s always about the writing, right? Don’t worry about the length. This is a fantastic collection of stories, and another essential King book. When you look at the stories here and see what they went on to become, that's why this one belongs on the list.
The Dark Tower series
- BOOKS: The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982); The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987); The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991); The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997); The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003); The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004); The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004); The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012).
Yes, I cheated and included all eight books as my 11th selection.
It’s hard to know where to even start with this series. What I do know is that the opening line to The Gunslinger is one that has stayed with me since I first read it some 25 years ago: “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” Gives me chills just to say it — it always does. If The Stand was an epic novel, this is so much more, an expansive universe that touches on so MANY of King’s other books as well. How’s it go? “All things serve the beam.”
Inspired by the poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” by Robert Browning, it starts with a lonely gunslinger, Roland Deschain, a man with a mission, and many secrets. Along the way his group, his ka-tet, expands to include Jake Chambers, Eddie Dean, Susannah Dean, and the bumbler (a kind of dog-like thing), Oy. They are on a mission to find the tower, and to save the world by defeating The Man in Black (who has many different forms) and The Crimson King. Roland is the last living member of a knightly order known as gunslingers and the last of the line of “Arthur Eld,” his world’s analogue of King Arthur.
This is such a unique mix of genres that it’s really hard to compare it anything. There have always been those who mention the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I suppose there is that. Many have said that Roland resembles “the man with no name,” a Clint Eastwood character, and I see that as well. King has described it as his “magnum opus,” which simply means “great work,” and I think that’s accurate as well.
This series is brilliant. I’ve never cared so much about so many different fictional characters, have never been so invested, have never cried so hard or so often while reading something. When they released the eighth book, a side story, many years after the seventh (and supposedly last) book came out, I gobbled it up in one day. That’s the kind of passion King creates in his fans, the kind of spell he casts. I never got into this series.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Misery, Carrie, The Talisman, Black House, Firestarter, Doctor Sleep, The Eyes of the Dragon, 11/22/63, The Green Mile, Under the Dome, Dolores Claiborne, and, of course, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (non-fiction).
Now go and take this quiz to see if you are as crazy as me about Stephen King.
Today is Independence Day! The 238th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. I'm hoping there may be time for a viewing of 1776 today - but there are also birthday festivities to be attended to today - it is the Brave Astronaut's father's 85th birthday!
Here's a list of weirdness regarding the 50 states that make up our great country. From BuzzFeed.
In Alabama, it is illegal to salt a railroad track.
Alaska has a cat serving as honorary mayor of Talkeetna.
SoBA has a penchant for eggs. And he (and LBA) like my crepes. Today is SoBA's birthday, maybe we will make these soon. From the Amateur Gourmet.
Breakfast Crêpes with Eggs, Bacon and Cheese
Our first weekend in the new apartment and it was my mission to make breakfast. I’d carried a box of foodstuffs from our old refrigerator to the new refrigerator so as not to waste anything and that box contained perishables like eggs, bacon, butter and milk. In my pantry, I had flour, sugar and salt. What could a person make with these things that wasn’t boring? A vision came to me, a vision of a nun on a beach dancing the hoochie-coochie. But then another vision came to me: Crêpes!
I once made crêpes, long long ago (in 2007), but after that I didn’t make them. It wasn’t a choice or anything, I just didn’t think to make them. Then I was watching Lidia in the new joint (I’m always watching Lidia) and she made an Italian version of crepes and made it look so easy. That’s where this idea came from.
And you know what? It is easy. I can sum it up in this paragraph: melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Pour it into a bowl and let it cool. Then add 4 large eggs and 1 1/2 cups whole milk. Whisk that together and then whisk in 1/4 tsp salt, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 cup all-purpose flour. (Recipe from Martha Stewart - [but I don't like her - as most of you know, use my recipe instead]) Martha says you should do it in a blender but I didn’t want to dirty my blender so I used a whisk which worked fine.
Now for the “hard” part. I put “hard” in quotes (and did it again) because it’s really not that hard. Tip 1: pour the batter into a measuring glass. Tip 2: melt some more butter, pour it into a little bowl and use a brush to brush a non-stick skillet with that butter. Then turn up the heat.
When the pan’s hot, lift it up and pour the batter in a thin stream around the perimeter, tilting it all around and trying to create the thinnest layer you can. See?
Let that cook on medium/high heat for a bit (30 seconds or so) and then slide a rubber spatula underneath it all around. Take a peak: is nice and browned? Then it’s time to flip. You can be a pro and do the whole flipping motion thing or you can just lift up a corner and use your fingers to flip it. It’s not that hot.
It’ll cook faster on the other side so take note, maybe 15 seconds or so. Then slide on to a plate and start again: more butter, more batter, more cooking, more flipping, more crêpe-making. When you have all the crêpes you want, make your filling.
I rendered some bacon in a skillet then added six eggs (beaten together with a pinch of salt and pepper), stirred slowly on high heat until curds formed, then I took it off the heat and added a bunch of grated Cheddar cheese. I piled that into the center of a crepe, in a straight line.
Then I rolled it up.
It’s like a French breakfast burrito only better because instead of a tortilla you have a thin sweet pancake.
So give crêpes a go this weekend. You can take them in a sweet direction and fill them with fruit and whipped cream or you can stay in the savory arena and fill them with all different kinds of scrambled eggs. And whatever batter you don’t use you can save for later: crêpes for breakfast, crêpes for lunch, crêpes for dinner and crêpes for dessert. So, to quote my earlier post: don’t be a creep, make a crêpe.
Of course today is LBA's birthday. We have worked very hard to make sure that he has a proper birthday in addition to regular Christmas festivities. However, there will not be tacos for Christmas Dinner tonight. We will spend our day in church this morning followed by having friends over for Christmas dinner this afternoon. Tomorrow we will head to NY for a few days to celebrate with the extended Brave Astronaut clan.
LBA manages pretty well with a Christmas birthday. BuzzFeed posted a list a while back with reasons why a Christmas birthday is the worst - but I maintain it's been OK for him.
All your friends are home with their families, so you can forget a birthday party.
Or if they’re around, there are so many holiday parties people don’t want to celebrate.
If you don’t celebrate Christmas, you still get screwed. (Everything is closed and your friends are busy. Nothing better than hanging out alone to celebrate your birth.)
You get combo presents from everyone and it’s not OK to point out that if your birthday was in July, this would be an outrage. (As someone with a December birthday - I often got combo presents and never really contemplated the injustice.)
On top of the combo presents, your birthday presents are always wrapped in Christmas paper. (That is the cardinal rule - birthday presents must be in birthday wrap.)
You have to save up a list of what you want all year. Hopefully your
dream present doesn’t come out in February, otherwise you will be
waiting 10 months.
On the plus side - And people like to decorate really well for your “birthday.”
People also like to remind you it isn't only your birthday. (When LBA was very young, Mrs. BA took him to the pediatrician and a little girl came over to admire LBA. She asked when his birthday was, Mrs. BA replied, December 25. The little girl looked up at Mrs. BA and exclaimed, "Just Like Jesus!")
If they even remember at all. (We may have forgotten to give a present or two to SoBA, but LBA has always done well.)
People always start to call you the Grinch since you’re sick of all the holiday cheer.
This is what your birthday dinner looks like, even if you don't like turkey. (Again, there will not be tacos this evening.)
Your birthday "cake" looks a lot like cookies. (LBA always gets a birthday cake.)
You are always forced to do some horrible holiday activity on your birthday whether you want to or not.
And you are always getting upstaged by a fat guy in a big red suit.
And you are always getting upstaged by a fat guy in a big red suit.
The Brave Astronaut celebrates today - it occurred to me that my father was the same age as I was when LBA was born. I am certainly feeling my age, the knees don't work as well as they do, I weigh more than I would like, I really can't see close up without my readers anymore.
When I turned 30, I'm not sure if I had all of these things - but I think I had most of them. From BuzzFeed:
A tailored black suit
- I have a navy suit (I bought it to get married to Mrs. BA) - does that count?
Black dress shoes
- I have both lace up and loafers in black.
Brown dress shoes - and brown (well, burgundy, but same thing)
Stocks
- my stock portfolio is in my father's custody. I have none of my own until he's no longer around to own them.
A tool kit
- got that, and a tool box, and a drill, and various nails, screws, and other handy stuff.
A nice wallet
- a few years ago, I went to a small card wallet with money clip. I don't carry a wallet in my back pocket anymore.
Cologne - when I used to work in retail, I made friends with the Cosmetics Department Manager and got a huge selection of colognes. I'm on my last bottle. I could use more - if you're wondering what to get me.
A watch
- I have several. An everyday watch, a dress watch, and a Tiffany's watch (that was a wedding gift from Mrs. BA).
A proper bed with proper bedding
- check.
A flashlight
- I have several, including my favorite, a heavy duty Maglite.
Duct tape
- because there's nothing that can't be fixed with duct tape.
A weekend bag
- that's something that I would like to have - a nice weekend bag. But then again, the way I pack - for a weekend I need a steamer trunk.
Proper glassware
- I have most of the glasses I need.
Grooming kit
- check.
Double-hinged wine key
- check
Multiple towels
- Mrs. BA and I would love the gift of new towels.
A passport
- I had one, but it's long expired and lost. Mrs. BA and should really get ours up to date.
A flask
- I have my grandfather's.
Sewing kit
- how quaint. It's really easier to just get new stuff sometimes.
An umbrella
- check
An ironing board, and an iron - I have those things, but that's what dry cleaners are for.
Jumper cables
- check
Undershirts
- check (and yes I do routinely replace them)
Playing cards
- I've always been a card game lover (it's from my mother), so I have several decks, including two Pinochle decks.
A lint roller
- with no pets at the launchpad, there's no lint roller around.
A leatherman
- I'm on my second. The first one was confiscated by TSA. It was also the one that injured me, so it was OK that I had to give it up.
Sunglasses
- I would like to have nice sunglasses, but shades are one of those things that are not worth spending a lot of money on. They break, they get lost.
A record player
- I may have had one when I was thirty, but don't have one anymore.
Football/soccer ball/basketball, etc.
- yes the yard is scattered with sports items. I did however recently buy myself a new mitt when LBA was playing baseball this year.
A French press
- I love my coffee, so I own one of these - but I mainly use my Cuisinart.
Good socks
- I should have better socks.
Good underwear
- I should have better underwear, too.
A cast-iron skillet
- Mrs. BA has one of those.
Multiple sheet sets
- check, including several sets of flannel.
A bar set - I have most of the items, they're just not in a matching set.
Matching dishes
- several sets, including my mother's china, Christmas dishes, and "summer" "lighthouse" dishes.
A decent car
- it's going to be time for a new car soon, but we like the one we have.
A solid book collection
- oh, there's no lack there.
Here's a thought for a birthday cake (Mrs. BA?) or perhaps for a Christmas Dinner dessert. From BuzzFeed and Food52.
Chocolate Coffee Ice Cream Cake Author Notes: For this decadent treat, Alice Medrich's rich and chewy
nibby brownies are topped with coffee ice cream and a billowy layer of
no-churn sweet cream ice cream.
Serves 10 to 12
FOR THE BROWNIE LAYER
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus one tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/4 cup cacao nibs
FOR THE COFFEE ICE CREAM LAYER
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/4 cup coffee beans, coarsely ground
3/4 cups sugar
5 egg yolks
2 tablespoons Kahlua or other coffee liqueur
pinches salt
No-Churn Ice Cream
14 ounces can of sweetened condensed milk
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons bourbon
pinches salt
FOR THE BROWNIE LAYER: Preheat oven to 350º F. Line an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper and grease the bottom and sides generously
Put the chopped chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until the chocolate and butter are completely melted. Let cool.
In a separate bowl whisk together the sugar, eggs, vanilla, and salt until the mixture is lighter in color, about 3 minutes.
Pour the melted chocolate mixture into the eggs and whisk to combine, then fold in the flour and 2 tablespoons of the cacao nibs. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the rest of the nibs.
Slide your pan into the oven and bake until a toothpick inserted into the brownies comes out clean, 25 to 30 min. Cool completely, then remove the outside of the springform pan and slice the brownie round in half horizontally. I find the brownies are easiest to slice after a few minutes in the refrigerator. Leave the bottom half of the brownies in the pan and put the outside of the springform pan back in place. Break the top layer of brownie into 1-inch pieces and set aside. Then prepare the coffee ice cream.
FOR THE COFFEE ICE CREAM LAYER: Heat 1 cup of heavy cream to just below simmering, turn off heat, add the coffee beans, and let steep for 5 minutes. Drain the mixture through a coffee filter and transfer it to a bowl with a strainer set over it.
Combine the milk, remaining heavy cream, sugar, egg yolks, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, being careful to not let the mixture boil. Stir often, and cook until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture over the coffee-infused cream and stir to combine. Add in the coffee liqueur if using. Chill over an ice bath (or for a few hours in the fridge).
When completely chilled, churn the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Spread the soft ice cream mixture over the trimmed brownie layer still in the pan. You want to fill the pan so it is about halfway full, which means you will probably have a bit of extra ice cream leftover; freeze it in an airtight container to enjoy later. Top the coffee ice cream with the broken brownie pieces. Put the pan in the freezer to firm up while you prepare the sweet cream ice cream
FOR THE NO-CHURN ICE CREAM LAYER: Whisk the sweetened condensed milk, bourbon, and salt together in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk the heavy cream to stiff peaks. Then gently fold it into the condensed milk mixture.
Top the coffee ice cream and brownies with the sweet cream mixture (you may have a bit leftover) and freeze overnight before slicing. Just before serving, sprinkle with a few teaspoons of cacao nibs and top the slices with chocolate sauce. I like this Magic Shell (http://food52.com/recipes/22873-magic-shell) with a pinch of salt. Enjoy!
Today is American Independence Day and the 84th birthday of my father - Happy Birthday Dad (born on the Fourth of July) - wish I could be there to help you celebrate! The word is my father will have some friends over for a little barbecue - my brother swooped in from Maine for an overnight visit earlier in the week - but he's already gone back. My sister, who lives nearby will be over, too.
The Brave Astronaut clan will celebrate our independence (and the federal holiday) most likely poolside in the early part of the day. LBA started asking last week when we would have our annual viewing of 1776 (about the same time I put the soundtrack CD in the car) - I'm hoping we get that in before we get to the pool.
In the evening - we will head to Annapolis, as we have done for the past several years to watch our friend march in the Independence Day Parade. This year we are thinking of staying for the fireworks, as SoBA seems to be growing out of his fear of fireworks (as LBA did). It is however a school / work day the next day - so that might not work out.
Hope whatever you are doing is fun and safe. Happy Birthday America! If you're feeling patriotic, here's a list of what [BuzzFeed thinks] your state contributes to the cause:
ALABAMA: Forrest Gump - Alabama was the fictional home of Forrest Gump and the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. [really, that's the best they can come up with - a fictional character? - that's just sad]
ALASKA: Bald Eagles - the national bird of the US, it can be found in every state except Hawaii, but the largest population nests in Alaska.
ARIZONA: The Grand Canyon - considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the 277 mile-long fissure was carved by the Colorado River.
ARKANSAS: Johnny Cash - the American singer, songwriter, actor and author was born in Kingsland on February 26, 1932.
CALIFORNIA: McDonald’s - the burger joint was founded when the McDonalds family opened “The Airdrome” in 1937 in Monrovia.
COLORADO: Cheeseburgers - though in dispute, the trademark for the American icon was awarded to Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In of Denver in 1935.
CONNECTICUT: Lollipops - the term “Lolly Pop” wasn’t trademarked until 1931 by George Smith of New Haven.
DELAWARE: The First State - on December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
FLORIDA: NASCAR - founded by William France, Sr. in 1948, the conglomerate is headquartered in Daytona Beach.
GEORGIA: Coca-Cola - headquartered in Atlanta, the original recipe was conjured up at the Eagle Drug and Chemical Company in Columbus by John Pemberton.
HAWAII: Pearl Harbor - part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, the USS Arizona Memorial located at Pearl Harbor commemorates the events of Japan’s attack on December 7, 1941 and honors the 1,177 brave sailors and marines whose lives were taken.
IDAHO: Potatoes - the nation’s largest producer of potatoes, accounting for more than 20% of the country’s annual crop.
ILLINOIS: John Deere - the man, John Deere, was born in Vermont, but he found success by inventing the first commercially successful cast-steel plow after settling in Grand Detour. He moved the business operations to Moline for shipping purposes, and it remains headquartered there today.
INDIANA: NCAA - the National Collegiate Athletic Association moved its headquarters to Indianapolis in 1999.
IOWA: John Wayne - born Marion Mitchell Morrison in Winterset, the actor, director and producer was awarded the government’s two highest civilian decorations, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [I'm sure, in part, for the number of times he was shot in the same leg in all those movies]
KANSAS: White Castle - the home of the "belly bomber" was founded in Wichita in 1921, the “sliders” were priced at 5¢ a piece until the 1940s.
KENTUCKY: Bourbon Whiskey - named after an area called “Old Bourbon” that is now Bourbon County. The state produces more than 90% of all the bourbon in the world, and there are currently more barrels of bourbon in the aging process than there are people within Kentucky.
LOUISIANA: Mardi Gras - the annual celebrations in New Orleans have become synonymous with the city itself.
MAINE: Lobster Rolls - the tasty treat have been served up since the 1970s.
MARYLAND: Babe Ruth - the Sultan of Swat was born in Baltimore on February 6, 1895. [sure, that's nice, but how about Fort McHenry? the Flag? Hello?]
MASSACHUSETTS: Basketball - Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball to serve as an “athletic distraction” for his rambunctious class at the Springfield YMCA. [Um, this list might suck a little too much to carry on - Minutemen? Bunker Hill, Pilgrims?]
MICHIGAN: Muscle Cars - Ford and General Motors led the charge in the late 1940s and early 1950s from the “Motor City”
MINNESOTA: Mall of America - Bloomington's mega-mall opened in 1992. The location boasts more than 520 stores, an indoor amusement park and an aquarium and occupies more than four million square feet.
MISSISSIPPI: Elvis Presley - born in Tupelo on January 8, 1935
MISSOURI: Budweiser - Adolphus Busch left Germany and settled in St. Louis in 1857. He married into the Anheuser family and started the foundation of the Anheuser-Busch Company.
MONTANA: Grizzly Bears - the bears are the state animal of Montana.
NEBRASKA: Kool-Aid - Edwin Perkins invented Kool-Aid in Hastings in 1927
NEVADA: “All-You-Can-Eat” - Herb Macdonald came up with the idea to help promote tourism to the Las Vegas Strip in 1956.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Beer Pong - the game was invented at Dartmouth University in Hanover, NH. [This might be the worse entry on the list]
NEW JERSEY: Drive-In Theaters - Richard Hollingshead, Jr. created the first drive-in theater in Camden
NEW MEXICO: Nuclear Weapons - the state contains the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Besides weapon research and production, this was also the site for the first nuclear detonation, Trinity.
NEW YORK: Jeans - Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss invented jeans in 1873 in New York.
NORTH CAROLINA: Tobacco - North Carolina accounts for more than 70% of America’s tobacco production.
NORTH DAKOTA: Baked Beans - roughly 1/3 of all America’s beans are produced in North Dakota.
OHIO: Cedar Point - the 364-acre amusement park on the shores of Lake Erie has been commonly referred to as the “Roller Coaster Capital of the World”.
OKLAHOMA: Girl Scout Cookies - the first cookie sale was held by the Mistletoe Troop in Muskogee, OK in 1917. The American Girl magazine suggested the idea in 1922, and the rest is history.
[OK, we're redeeming ourselves with a Girl Scout mention]
OREGON: Nike - founded as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 at the University of Oregon. The company changed its name to honor the Greek goddess of victory. They are headquartered near Beaverton.
PENNSYLVANIA: Gettysburg - the site of our Civil War’s turning point. It was the battle featuring the most casualties as the Union thwarted Confederate General Robert Lee’s invasion of the north. [you like this, unless you're from the South]
RHODE ISLAND: First Independence - on May 4, 1776, Rhode Island became the first of the 13 colonies to declare its independence from British rule.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Fireworks - the state boasts the most lenient laws to buy and display fireworks.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Mount Rushmore - the carving of four 60-foot faces began in 1927 and ended in 1941.
TENNESSEE: Dollywood - opened in 1961 as “Rebel Railroad”, the park was renamed “Dollywood” after Dolly Parton became a co-owner in 1986. Since the country music star came into the picture, the park has doubled in size and attendance. [ooh, a couple of steps back here]
TEXAS: Longhorn - the Longhorn is one of Texas’ state animals. It is also the mascot for the University of Texas at Austin. Not surprisingly, Texas leads the US in beef production.
UTAH: The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints - Joseph Smith may have founded Mormonism in Western New York, but Brigham Young led the followers to modern day Utah after Smith’s death
VERMONT: Apple Pie - the tasty dessert was designated the official state pie for Vermont in 1999. Apples are also the official state fruit.
VIRGINIA: George Washington - the Father of our Country was born, lived, died and now rests in Virginia.
WASHINGTON: Starbucks - what began as a small coffeehouse in Seattle, is now the largest coffeehouse chain in the world with more than 20 thousand locations.
WEST VIRGINIA: Mother’s Day - the modern holiday was first celebrated in Grafton, WV when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mom in 1908. It was a nationally recognized holiday by 1914.
WISCONSIN: Harley-Davidson - William Harley and Arthur Davidson grew up in Milwaukee, WI. Along with Arthur’s brother, Walter, they began making their prototypes in 1901. Harley-Davidson is still churning out choppers and hogs today from their headquarters in Milwaukee.
WYOMING: Yellowstone - the National Park spans almost 3.5 thousand square miles. It hosts the world’s largest free roaming Buffalo population and the fabled geyser Old Faithful.
It's my birthday tomorrow. It's been discussed here before that I have some reservations about December birthdays, especially those right before (or after) Christmas. In fact, Having a December Birthday is Hard. In addition to my birthday, LBA will celebrate his on Christmas Day and SoBA will close out the year on December 30.
I'm working on my birthday tomorrow (something that LBA will never have to do) but will take Friday off to head for the Newseum with LBA - something I've wanted to do for a while. Then in the evening, we will head to the University of Maryland for some basketball.
On Saturday, I would like to go to the movies with Mrs. BA, perhaps get dinner first (I have a free entree here). I would like to see more movies. This year (based on the mashup below), I think I got to four or five movies. Saturday could be Lincoln, or maybe Skyfall.
Tomorrow night I will be at Ford's Theatre for one of the last few performances of Fly!, based on the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. If you haven't seen it yet and you are in the DC area - you should (hurry! you only have a week left - show closes October 21).
The next show on the Ford's lineup is the return of A Christmas Carol, with Edward Gero returning as Scrooge. One of these years, I will bring LBA to this show - SoBA is still a few years away from this dark rendition of the Christmas classic. Following A Christmas Carol, the Ford's stage will be transformed to Grover's Corner for Our Town. So I will be sure to be crying when I'm watching that one. The Spring musical this year at Ford's is Hello Dolly!
There is a plan afoot to go see My Fair Lady which is playing at another of Washington's theaters. So i've got that going for me.
Finally, yesterday, a very special friend of mine celebrated her wedding anniversary and tomorrow she will celebrate her birthday! She's been having a rough year, but indications are that she is on the mend - which is great, because I am looking forward to seeing her next year, when I travel to New Orleans for a conference in August.
So, if you have the chance go over to her website / blog ( hope she still sees checks in there) and wish a Happy Birthday to Lana!
"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever." - John Adams to Abigail, July 3, 1776
Today is the Fourth of July, the date on which we celebrate the American independence from Great Britain. It is also my father's birthday (though born in France - he didn't realize what he had until he arrived here at the age of 7) - Happy Birthday Dad!
Over the past two weeks I have become intimately familiar and learned more about two new weather terms. Microburst and Derecho. The Brave Astronaut burg was hit my a microburst on Friday June 22, bringing down power lines and trees throughout the neighborhood. The power went out all over town. A 7,000 volt power line came down between the launchpad and our neighbor's house, electrifying their fence and nearly burning their house down. You can watch this clip to see the launchpad in the background. As a result of this storm, we were without power for 40 hours (and lost the contents of the refrigerator).
Last Friday, the National Weather Service warned the region that a strong line of storms was headed for the DC area. The storms had formed near Chicago and were barreling toward the area at 70 miles an hour. The storms were known as a derecho (Spanish for straight line). The storms hit the area with fierce winds and rains, again bringing down trees and power lines. This storm affected the entire area, knocking out power to nearly 1.5 million people. Power restoration efforts were estimated to take a week. While the Brave Astronaut clan lost their power for only 28 hours this time, the OSG clan did not get their power back until yesterday afternoon.
I want to say that while our local power company gets a very bad rap (they are also trying to secure a rate increase), they really performed an outstanding job at restoring power to our town after the microburst and then again after the derecho. There are a number of people without power still and there have been calls to bury the power lines, hopefully avoiding outages in the future - but the money needed to do so is astronomical. So we will soldier on and endure the occasional outage.
I wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day. Happy Birthday America!
