3 Years Today

Today is the third anniversary of my mother's passing. Next month she would have turned 79 years old. There are days when I really want to pick up the phone and call her for some reason or another. There are days when I want just one more day. But she's still around. There are lots of occasions when I realize that she has just moved on but leaves reminders around for me to see.

Most recently, I found myself thinking of her when they did the "dead montage" during the Academy Awards. My mother and I would watch together at times, with the World Almanac between us checking to see how old one of the presenters was or whether that person had won before and when, etc. My mother never really got hooked on the web, but it was made for her. I come by my archival traits genetically. My mother craved information.

Anyway, during the "In Memoriam" sketch during the Oscars telecast, the only speaking acknowledgment came from Paul Newman, who was one of my mother's favorites. She used to say that "he could put his shoes under her bed anytime." Wherever my mother is, I envision it as a place where she is well again, at an age where she was most happy, and is near all of her friends and family who left before her. But my mother, who hated not having a full table of guest, friends and family for any holiday, has surely had dinner with Paul several times since he got there. I won't think about what else might have happened.

It is also nearing Girl Scout Cookie time. Several stories crossed my radar screen recently, every single one making me remember the years my mother served as neighborhood cookie mother and our living room would be strewn with cookie boxes and the freezer would be stocked with Thin Mints, as they were the only cookie that really froze well. And they were her favorite. So again, wherever she is, I'm sure she's having a spirited conversation with Julie and Olave about these egregious sins being committed in this economic downturn. And I feel the pain of those in the last story. If I want a fix of Tagalongs or Samoas, I have to practically go out on the black market at my employer to find them.

• "Rising costs bite into Girl Scout Cookie portions," seen via Buzzfeed from the Dallas Morning News
• "Crumbling economy will make for thinner boxes of Thin Mints," from CNN
• "Thin Mints and office politics," also from CNN
  

I love you, Mom. I miss you. Rest well, you've earned it. But you would have really loved that story about Teresa's daughter. But I'll tell it to Bill and he'll make sure it gets into the family history.

Stout Ginger Bread

Today was the finals of the "Great Gingerbread Bake-off" for the lunch table group. For several weeks we were all treated (?) to various ginger bread recipes. The idea was launched in the fall, ground rules were created, NJM was selected as a "control" (she did all of the baking - and Kudos to her for all her hard work). It's possible that by today we were all a little sick of ginger bread. I myself am not a huge fan of the ginger root, but I soldiered on. ADR was noticeably absent for the final tasting today.

So after several selections, here is the winning recipe (It was a close vote 3-2)! It comes from Mrs. OC - I am not sure where she originally got it from.

Stout Ginger Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of oatmeal stout or Guinness Stout
• 1 cup dark molasses (not blackstrap)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• pinch of ground cardamom
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated (white) sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• confectioners sugar for dusting

Special equipment: a 10-inch (10 to 12 cup) bundt pan (although this batch and all batches were prepared by NJM in a 13x9 glass baking pan).

Accompaniment: unsweetened whipped cream (also missing from the tastings)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter bundt pan and dust with flour, knocking out excess.

Bring stout and molasses to a boil in a large saucepan and remove from heat. Whisk in baking soda, then cool to room temperature.

Sift together flour, baking powder, and spices in a large bowl. Whisk together eggs and sugars. Whisk in oil, then molasses mixture. Add to flour mixture and whisk until just combined.

Pour batter into bundt pan and rap pan sharply on counter to eliminate air bubbles. Bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out with just a few moist crumbs adhering, about 50 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack about 5 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.

Serve cake, dusted with confectioners sugar, with whipped cream.

Cook's notes:

• This recipe was tested with Grandma's brand green-label molasses.
• The gingerbread is better if made a day ahead. It will keep 3 days, covered, at room temperature.

Serves 8 to 10.

Croissant Bread Pudding

LBA has a thing for croissants. I think he would eat them every day for breakfast. Is it the butter?

When I first saw this recipe on Cheverly Chef Scott's blog, I thought he had used Milk Duds in it, but he corrected me - they're bittersweet chocolate pieces. Yummy Goodness!

• Unsalted butter for the baking dish, at room temperature
• 6 large egg yolks
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 6 croissants, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 pound)
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into chunks

Heat oven to 375° F. Butter an 8-inch square or other shallow 2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg. Add the
croissants and chocolate and mix to combine.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake until set and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Make-Ahead Tip: Cut the croissants and chop the chocolate, then store them at room temperature in separate resealable plastic bags for up to 1 day.

Note: Scott followed this recipe up with one for caramel sauce, which would go well with this.

Where I Am Tonight AND Who I Am With

As I have reported here before, I am a volunteer usher at Ford's Theatre, here in Washington DC. The highlight each year is, of course, the gala that is held each year, which draws the cream of Washington politicians, and the President of the United States. Tonight the theater will have its grand reopening celebration and the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, will be in attendance. It is an event I have been waiting four years for. My previous three galas have been celebrated with the 43rd President and I am very excited to be in the same room as our new President.

Ford's has undergone a major renovation and has only just reopened. I was in attendance last Friday night for a preview performance of "The Heavens are Hung in Black," the first play of the 2009 season. It stars David Selby as President Lincoln and takes place in the months between the death of Lincoln's son, Willie, and the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. You can read a review of the play here and you can read more about the renovation of the theater here.

Tonight's celebration will feature performances from James Earl Jones, Jessye Norman, Joshua Bell, Jeffrey Wright, and Kelsey Grammer. Richard Thomas (John-Boy!) will serve as emcee for the evening and Lincoln Medals will be bestowed upon George Lucas and Sidney Poitier. As I said, can you understand why I have been looking forward to this? A new era of new programming for the gala (read: no more country music!) makes this Brave Astronaut a very happy boy.

And while, yes, the theater did get all new chairs, the entire renovation is amazing. There are now elevators in the building, an expanded lobby, with a gift shop and concessions. A new museum will open in the late Spring. It is such a grand venue here in Washington. I urge anyone who lives here or is planning on coming to Washington, to make some time to experience a play at Ford's. Perhaps I will even be there to help you to your seat.

Lobstah!

Picking up on the financial ruin you all are suffering if you didn't eat crepes on Candlemas Day, here's a story that rose to the surface a few months ago. The recession has evidently hit the luxury food market. Here's some "lobster history."

• Luxury on Sale - The Lobster Glut (from the New York Times)

The Brave Astronauts invited our good friend NJM to dinner on Christmas Eve. She was very kind to bring lobster rolls, a traditional meal on Christmas Eve in her family. My family usually had hamburgers and my father's homemade potato chips. Her recipe for lobster rolls appears below.

In keeping with the ever-worsening economy, to make things worse, the sales of champagne are also "losing their fizz." I guess it's good to know that if we are all forced back to church to pray for our financial well-being, there's always good, nutritious "Jesus, bread of life" to eat.

NJM's Lobster Rolls

• dinner rolls
• approx. 1 lb cooked lobster meat (you can use claw or tail meat - ask her to tell you the story about scoring the meat for the Christmas Eve batch in a state the prefers crab to lobster)
• approx. 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Hollow out dinner rolls. Mix lobster meat and mayo together so the meat is bound together. Place meat inside the hollowed out rolls. Broil in the over for approximately 5 minutes, just enough to brown the tops and heat the meat through. This amount of meat should yield about 10-12 rolls.

If you ever find yourself on the east end of Long Island, go here and try the lobster rolls. They're fantastic. While the rolls prepared by NJM were absolutely swoonworthy, give me some drawn butter and a whole steamed lobster and you won't hear from me until I'm ready for seconds.

A 6-6-6 Meme

This was created by the venerable archivist, Terry, who blogs here. He created this meme. Here is my own take on it:

Rules: Six categories, with six entries each done in six minutes without Google (I didn't use Google, but I did consult my iPod).

Six songs with numbers in the title

1. 867-5309 (Jenny)
   
2. Route 66
3. One More Night
4. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
5. 99 Red Balloons
6. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)
   

Six songs with a color in the title

1. Purple Rain
2. Little Red Corvette
3. Blue Suede Shoes
4. Blue Bayou
   
5. Man in Black
   
6. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
   

Six Songs with Animals in the Title

1. Cats in the Cradle
2. Honky Cat
3. Me and You and a Dog Named Boo
4. Free Bird
5. A Horse with No Name
   
6. Bye Bye Blackbird
   

Six Songs with Body Parts in the Title

1. I Only Have Eyes for You
2. My Eyes Adored You - "Carried your books from school, made believe you were married to me. You were fifth grade, I was sixth, when we came to be."
   
3. Open Arms - that one's just for OC
   
4. Ain't that a Kick in the Head
   
5. Brown Eyed Girl - it's my ringtone when Mrs. BA calls
   
6. Heartache Tonight
   

Songs with a Country / Place name in the Title

1. Born in the USA
2. China Grove - not here.
   
3. America the Beautiful - though I really, really love the version below.
4. City of New Orleans
5. Georgia on my Mind - while I love this song, it will always make me think of this show.
   
6. Goodnight Saigon
   

Songs With a Job in the Title

1. Working at the Car Wash Blues
2. Son of a Son of a Sailor
   
3. Operator
4. The Candy Man - but only sung by him.
   
5. The Entertainer
6. I Wanna Drive the Zamboni
   

Spanning the Web . . . .

I have a bunch of random things that I have been meaning to toss out here. None, on their own, warrant a post alone, so here's the big bucket of Internet goodies.

• If you want me I am likely playing either of these two new Flash games that I tell myself, sure, I'll only play for a few minutes. Then it's midnight. Ameobas and Filler.
  
• From Jason Kottke (are you following him yet? Is his blog in your reader yet? Why NOT!) - his best links from 2008.
• I had grand ideas of coupling this outstanding poster with some great recipe involving Breakfast Cereal, or perhaps reconstructing Ally Sheedy's sandwich recipe from this movie. But have a look at the poster and laugh.
• I was recently on the 6th Floor Blog and they were discussing cheese. Then I saw this. I had recommended they go to Artisanal, if you have a cheese thing, you have to go - I think it's a law. Perhaps they can just get the clock. Maybe they'll buy me one.
• People wonder and marvel at the ease of the Washington Metro system. They recoil in horror at the prospect of riding the New York City subway. How do you think they'd react to a commute from Omega Centauri to Cygnus? That transfer at Galactic Center is a bear!
• One of the best gifts received by my two sons were large Scrabble tiles with the letters of their names. Thanks OSGs! Now I need one of these.
• Although I LOVE the commercial (nearly spit my drink the first time I saw it - thank God for TiVO so I could verify that they indeed had said that) - I do NOT need one of these, I think.
• One of my other favorite places to visit is Google Sightseeing. The other day they profiled the Very Large Array in New Mexico. I've been there. It's very impressive, but as Mrs. Brave Astronaut says, they couldn't come up with a better name? It's like calling Hoover Dam, the "Really Big Dam."
• Wouldn't you expect this place to be a little bit bigger? Or is it a case of "forgive me for the crudity of the model, [He] didn't have time to build it to scale or paint it?"
• Do you have any money? I would so buy this phone number. And my names not even Jenny - then again neither is the guy who currently has it. It can currently be yours for a cool quarter million dollars on eBay.
• Finally, you all know of my dental troubles. At least I'm not this kid.

It's Groundhog Day

I know, I know. Usually I will use this day to remind people to eat crepes as it is Candlemas Day (You can click on "crepes" and get the recipe - remember to eat crepes or suffer the sadness of financial insecurity for the rest of the year - oh, wait). However, I spotted this blog entry last year a few days after February 2 and loved it so much, I wrote most of this 2009 post on February 3, 2008. It is the day the Giants won the Super Bowl. George Bush is still President, but when this comes out of draft form, he won't be. And yesterday was also Super Bowl XLIII, so congratulations to the six-time Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers. Here is an embed to the Super Bowl Ads from yesterday.



So to the topic of Groundhog Day. The blog post that got me going is here. Here's the gist. This person took notes through the course of watching Groundhog Day and believes that Bill Murray's character lived through the same February 2 for 4 years.

These are the days actually seen in the movie:

1. February 1
2. February 2, #1
3. "You're playing yesterday's tape"
4. "Meet me in the diner", "Don't drive on the railroad tracks"
5. Punches Ned
6. "Nancy Taylor, Lincoln High!"
7. Bank robbery -- "I've seen this film over 100 times"
8. Interrogating Rita
9. "Sweet vermouth on the rocks with a twist"
10. "I like to say a prayer and drink to world peace"
11. "I studied 19th century French poetry." (He has a good French accent on the quotation, and is a good dancer.)
12. Insincere snowman. Slapped in the face.
13. Slapped in the face.
14. Slapped in the face.
15. Slapped in the face.
16. Slapped in the face.
17. Slapped in the face.
18. Slapped in the face.
19. Slapped in the face. Notices ice sculptures.
20. "Rough night."
21. "It's cold out there every day."
22. "What is... Mexico."
23. "A thousand people waiting to worship a rat."
24. Smashes clock.
25. Smashes clock.
26. Smashes clock on floor, kidnaps groundhog, blows up.
27. "Aw nuts." Drops toaster in bathtub.
28. Steps in front of truck.
29. Jump from bell tower.
30. "I'm a god." "I've been stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, and burned." Throwing cards: "Six months, four to five hours a day."
31. Gives money to bum. First piano lesson.
32. Second piano lesson.
33. Has learned ice sculpture.
34. Not bad at piano.
35. Hits on Ned, takes bum to hospital.
36. Feeds bum, gives CPR.
37. Final Groundhog day! Very good at piano.
38. February 3.

Now, beyond the days we actually see, much time is implied:

• Between days #6 and #7, at least 100 days passed: the time to see the movie 100 times, and also to fully memorize the plan for the bank robbery.
• Between days #11 and #12, he may have just memorized a single quotation (but his accent is good) and he may have already known how to dance (but that seems unlikely). So I think we can assume at least a few months passed.
• Between days #21 and #22, he memorized the entire Jeopardy show, which would take at least a few viewings. It's possible he did that while learning piano, or French.
• Some time before day #30, six months of card throwing. But that could have all been after midnight, and overlapped with any other activities.
• We saw "burned" and "electrocuted". That leaves at least five days (and presumably more) for "stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, and hung."
• How long does it take to learn ice sculpture, if that's all you do? Six months? A year?
• How long does it take to become a good piano player, if you begin in your early 40s when you have your first lesson? Consensus among those present at casa del jwz was "at least two years."

So. Based on evidence presented in the movie, he re-lived February 2 for at least four years.

She is Not Alone

There is an interesting medical condition in which individuals lose their ability to smell, in many cases due to some sort of head trauma. It's called anosmia. Really. Like amnesia, but it's your nose which has no memory. There's even a foundation that helps to advance the issue. It is evidently an affliction that affects many people.

In December, the New York Times profiled a woman who suffers from it. She had moved to New York and was unable to smell the aromas (good) and odors (bad) of the city that never sleeps. In 2006, she had been hit by a car and the olfactory neurons in her brain that control the ability to smell had been damaged. Then her sense of smell began to return. Her body had decided that she needed her ability to smell - especially the smell of freshly baked bagels coming from a New York bagel shop on a Sunday morning. It is noteworthy the woman being profiled was once a chef and food writer. The story in the Times was picked up by a blogger in New York who also suffers from anosmia.

I have to say, I would miss my sense of smell terribly. As a life-long allergy sufferer, I have gone days with a stuffed nose and the inability to smell things. But there is something about waking up to the smell of coffee (or bacon!) or the aromas coming out the kitchen at a holiday that I would miss tremendously if that sense was lost.

How about you? What sense could you not live without?

For Those of You Still Wondering

Today is the 42nd anniversary of the launch pad fire at Kennedy Space Center, which claimed the lives of astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White, and Roger B. Chaffee. On January 27, 1967, a flash fire broke out inside the capsule of Apollo 1 and the three astronauts were unable to open the door and the three astronauts were killed. For those who would like the complete history of the tragedy, you can read the Senate report here. An investigation of the accident resulted in several modifications to the space capsule to ensure that the tragedy would never be repeated. The final report submitted to NASA can be read here.

When I first started this blog, I came up with the moniker, "Brave Astronaut." I alluded to how I came up with the name by mentioning it had to do with my secondary school career. The junior high school that I went to was Harry B. Thompson Junior High and our athletic team was known as the Astronauts. The school has three wings off the back of the school, one for each grade attending the school. When I arrived there in the fall of 1978, the halls were known by those grade (7th grade hall, 8th grade hall, and 9th grade hall). However at the head of each hall there was a plaque denoting that each wing had also been named for one of those three "Brave Astronauts."

The name of the school store (where I also worked), where you could get school supplies and occasionally snacks and candy was also known as the Astronaut Shop. Today, the school is now a middle school, and the 6th grade classes are divided up into "Rockets," "Meteorites," and "Stars." But I hope that somebody is remembering the Astronauts, especially Grissom, Chaffee, and White today.

But Will He Do It at My House?

One of my as yet, unstated New Years Resolutions is to get a handle on the clutter that is overtaking the Brave Astronaut launchpad. The problem of course, is not enough hours in the day. Some time ago, Adam Roberts, also known as the Amateur Gourmet, published a how-to guide to getting a handle on your kitchen. Perhaps that is the place to start.

Then just the other day, he posted a recipe worth sharing. Chicken with Bacon AND Cream!

Mustard Chicken with Bacon and Cream

Make a marinade. In a bowl, mix together:

• 1/4 cup strong Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds crushed (optional; I had them on hand)
• 1 1/2 cups Creme Fraiche OR 1 1/4 cups heavy cream (I used the cream)
• 8 garlic cloves sliced
• 1/2 pound thick-sliced bacon or pancetta cut into 1/4 inch lardons
• 4 bay leaves
• 2 Tbsp chopped thyme
• 2 Tbsp chopped sage

Take chicken, cut into 8 pieces, pat dry with paper towels and season aggressively with salt and pepper. Place in marinade, stirring, let sit for at least an hour or two or overnight.

Bake in the oven at 400 degrees. Place the chicken and all the marinade into a baking dish and bake for one hour, turning the pieces as they brown. Some of the pieces will cook through earlier, Adam found that the breasts were done after 45 minutes--but the legs and thighs took the full hour.

Stranger in Paradise

From C in DC, here's another Friday meme. Feel free to play along. She got it here.

1. Put your iTunes or MP3 player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
   

You must write the song name no matter how silly it sounds.

If someone says "is this okay" you say?

• Ally Ally Oxen Free (The Kingston Trio)

What would best describe your personality?

• Georgia on My Mind (Ray Charles)

What do you like in a guy / girl?

• If I Can't Have You (Yvonne Elliman)

What is your life's purpose?

• Straighten Up and Fly Right (Natalie Cole)
  

What is your motto?

• Old Joe's Place (The Folksmen - from A Mighty Wind)
  

What do your friends think of you?

• Yellow Submarine (The Beatles)
  

What do you think about very often?

• Calypso (John Denver)

What is 2 + 2?

• Shower the People (James Taylor)

What do you think of your best friend?

• One of These Nights (The Eagles)
  

What do you think of the person you like?

• Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)
  

What is your life story?

• Dance Band on the Titanic (Harry Chapin)
  

What do you want to be when you grow up?

• Stay (Jackson Browne)
  

What do you think when you see the person you like?

• I'm Still Standing (Elton John)
  

What do your parents think of you?

• Grazing in the Grass (The Friends of Distinction - from the Anchorman soundtrack)

What will you dance to at your wedding (although I don't expect to be having another wedding)?

• Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
  

What will they play at your funeral?

• Come Together (The Beatles)
  

What is your hobby / interest?

• Worrisome Heart (Melody Gardot)
  

What do you think of your friends?

• Buildings and Mountains (The Republic Tigers)
  

Whats the worst thing that could happen?

• What's Goin' On (Marvin Gaye)
  

How will you die?

• She's Got a Way (Billy Joel) (ouch)
  

What is the one thing you regret?

• Don't Stand So Close to Me (The Police)
  

What makes you laugh?

• We Can Last Forever (Chicago)
  

What makes you cry?

• Good Life (Tony Bennett)
  

Will you ever get married?

• Lowdown (Boz Scaggs)
  

What scares you the most?

• The Boy in the Bubble (Paul Simon)
  

If you could go back in time, what would you change?

• Crazy Love (Poco)
  

What hurts right now?

• Tell Her About It (Billy Joel)
  

What will you post this as?

• Stranger in Paradise (Tony Bennett)

For want of a checkpoint . . .

An inauguration volunteer was lost.

As many of you know, I was supposed to be on the Mall today to volunteer for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. I started my day at 4:00am, when I left C in DC's house and headed for the National Mall. I walked and walked and walked, getting pushed north of the Capitol complex. I finally headed east along E Street, trying to find a checkpoint that would get me to the National Mall. However, with Pennsylvania Avenue between me and the Mall, I was unable to find a checkpoint where I could cross.

I walked around with several thousand cold Americans for about two hours when I finally hit my limit. I talked with my team captain and told him of the troubles I was having. He had no good advice for me, nor did any of the many law enforcement officials that I talked to.

While this will certainly sounds like sour grapes to some, I finally decided to throw in the towel and headed home. I got some celebratory donuts and have returned home to watch the ceremonies on TV. But I can always say that I was almost a part of it. I've got the badge and the hat to prove it.

Winter Food - Good

Today is the federal holiday set aside to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Tomorrow our nation will inaugurate the 44thPresident of the United States, Barack Obama. I am going to need some good stick to your ribs food to keep me warm through the festivities, which I am planning to attend, as an Inauguration Volunteer. I'll be in front of the American History Museum. I'll be the one in the red hat.

Braised Beef Brisket
Makes 8-10 servings; Time: 3 hours (including prep time)

• 1 whole beef brisket, about 5 pounds, cut lean
• 2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 1 large ripe tomato (cored, chopped, peeled and seeded)
• 1 teaspoon garlic
• 36 oz. beef broth, or enough to almost cover brisket
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F
2. Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the olive oil, so it covers the entire skillet, then add the beef. Sear each side for about 5 minutes or until it is nicely brown. Remove meat from skillet and place in oven-proof casserole dish. While you don’t need to sear the meat, it really helps retain the juices and moisture.
3. Add chopped onions, mushrooms, garlic, tomato and beef broth until the meat is almost completely covered in the casserole dish. If you don’t have enough beef broth, you can add water.
4. Place in the oven, turning the meat every 30 minutes, until tender, approximately 2.5-3 hours.
5. Allow brisket to rest for 10-15 minutes, while you boil down the gravy/broth over a high heat.
6. Carve thin slices of the brisket going against the grain.
7. Voila! Brisket is ready to serve with whatever seasonal sides you’d like. My sides were baked potatoes and cabbage with butter and nutmeg.

From We Love DC.

Valentine's Day Plans

It's a last minute date night here in Brave Astronaut land. Mrs. BA and I are heading out to the Georgetown basketball game. But I've been sitting on this tidbit of information for a while. Perhaps we should make a plan for a Valentine's Day outing. Because nothing says "I love you" like a good schnitzel and a peppy polka.

My friend, Anna von Schurman, spotted this on a blog that she reads. Blob's Park, is back in business. The polka palace which closed at the end of 2007 has reopened (a planned real estate deal fell through and the owners decided to give it another go). I enjoyed the one time that I went and according to the website, there is a big plan for Valentine's Day.

I say we make a date! OSGs, Special K and J in PA, what do you think?

An Open Letter to the President-Elect

Dear President-elect Obama:

In one week's time, you will take your oath of office on the steps of the United States Capitol. I, along with millions of Americans, will be there to witness this great event. You have been entrusted with the greatest office and we are counting on you to bring us the change we need. We are with you. I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your election and second, to let you know of one appointment that is of great concern to me and many of my colleagues at the National Archives and Records Administration.

As you know, the Archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, announced his resignation, and left the agency on December 19. While I completely understand that you have a lot on your plate right now and that leadership of the National Archives may not be centered on your radar screen, I urge you to act on nominating a replacement as soon as possible.

Since the establishment of the National Archives in 1934, there have been nine Archivists of the United States.

• Robert D. W. Connor - October 10, 1934-September 15, 1941
• Solon J. Buck - September 18, 1941-May 31, 1948
• Wayne C. Grover - June 2, 1948-November 6, 1965
• Robert H. Bahmer - November 7, 1965-March 9, 1968
• James B. Rhoads - March 10, 1968-1979
• Robert M. Warner - July 1980-April 15, 1985
• Don W. Wilson - December 4, 1987-March 24, 1993
• John W. Carlin - May 30, 1995-February 15, 2005
• Allen Weinstein - February 16, 2005-December 19, 2008

Mr. Bahmer served as Acting Archivist from November 7, 1965 until his appointment, January 16, 1966. Mr. Rhoads served as Acting Archivist from March 10, 1968 until his appointment, May 2, 1968. Between the tenure of Archivists Rhoads and Warner, James O'Neill served as Acting Archivist for approximately six months. Prior to the appointment of Archivist Wilson, Frank Burke served as Acting Archivist for more than two years as did Trudy Huskamp Peterson between the tenures of Archivists Wilson and Carlin. With Dr. Weinstein's departure, Deputy Archivist Adrienne Thomas now serves as Acting Archivist.

Dr. Weinstein and his two predecessors have had controversial tenures. When President Clinton nominated John Carlin, a former Governor of Kansas, there was concern in the archival community about his qualifications for the position. In fact, one of the first pieces of professional correspondence I wrote upon becoming an archivist was to President Clinton regarding the nomination. When Dr.Weinstein was nominated by the current president, there was concern over Dr. Weinstein's publishing record, but he was a genuine historian and his service to the National Archives has benefited the professional community immensely.

With Governor Carlin's appointment, the National Archives and Records Administration was in need of an administrator that could help with the management of the archives. It was Governor Carlin who secured the initial funding for the Electronic Records Archive and partnered with Lockheed Martin Corporation to get ERA off the ground. Dr.Weinstein's tenure has raised the reputation of the institution and, in what will surely be one of Dr. Weinstein's greatest legacies, made ERA a viable entity, which will revolutionize the way records are transferred to the National Archives.

What the National Archives needs now is someone with enormous technology knowledge. The National Archives needs to be the leader in the archival community and nominating someone who can fully embrace technology and help move the archives forward is crucial to the success of the institution. ERA, though it has many critics and significant issues, must not be left to wither.

I respectfully also suggest that you look to the archival community for candidates as well. I can think of several right off that would do amazing things for the National Archives, individuals who are technologically savvy and also of a keen archival mind. The blogosphere and many of us in the archival community have been abuzz with suggestions on who should be the next Archivist of the United States. I know that members of your transition team met today with representatives of the Society of American Archivists to listen to suggestions and concerns about what qualifications are needed in the next Archivist of the United States.

The individual that you select must be able to navigate the intricacies of the federal agency and assist in developing a policy that echoes one of the promises you championed in your campaign, that of openness and transparency. Declassification efforts currently underway at NARA must continue to move forward.

Finally, the new Archivist of the United States should be an individual who can reclaim some of the prestige that should be afforded the National Archives and Records Administration. I will note that four of the nine individuals who have served as Archivist of the United States have also served as President of the Society of American Archivists.

One of your predecessors, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who established the National Archives in 1934, offers some more advice in a letter he wrote to former Archivist of the United States R. D. W. Connor, who was serving as President of the Society of American Archivists: "I need not tell you of my lifetime interest in the building up of archives throughout the nation." President Roosevelt concluded with an understanding of the work that lay ahead, speaking for the work of the Society, but could easily be translated to the necessary work that lay ahead for the National Archives, "This involves, of course, a vast amount of work because of this volume of federal, state, and local archives of all kinds - but I think that a broad plan would meet with hearty public support if it could be properly publicized."

Again, congratulations on your election. I am honored to be a part of your historic inauguration. Now let's get to work!

Regards,
Brave Astronaut

_________________________
This letter represents my own personal opinion and in no way reflects the opinion of the National Archives, nor do I speak in any official capacity for the National Archives.

Here's a list of 100 food items

But not 100 recipes. I pinched this from Special K, who got it from here, who got it from here. Special K was kind enough to follow up with an explanation of some of the more exotic items on the list, in case you aren't sure what they are, let alone if you've eaten them.

I'm off tonight to a long overdue chiropractic appointment and then I will be attending my training session for inauguration volunteers. Yes, I have been selected to help out on the big day. While I am sure that I will be right on the podium, ADR is betting on my holding a big arrow at the intersection of 21st and Constitution Sts. Let's hope for something in the middle, shall we? You'll find out shortly after I do.

Instructions:

1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2. Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3. Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4. Optional extra: Post a comment here linking to your results.

The Brave Astronaut Omnivore's Hundred

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea - who am I, Winnie the Pooh?
   
3. Huevos rancheros - I mean, I like salsa, I like eggs, but not together.
4. Steak tartare - I like my steak rare, but not that rare.
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding - ew, no, never
7. Cheese fondue - as recently as New Years Eve - our traditional fondue night with the OSGs!
   
8. Carp - was it in a tub?
   
9. Borscht - not a fan of the beet
   
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari - this one is a Mrs. BA favorite and a reason that I now eat it.
    
12. Pho - another recent addition, but hot soup, good!
    
13. PB&J sandwich - um, yes. It's a popular late "dinner," with an ice cold glass of milk
    
14. Aloo gobi - I could eat this.
    
15. Hot dog from a street cart - from the cart is part of the adventure!
    
16. Epoisses - Mrs. BA likes to say she's never met a cheese she didn't like. Perhaps this one might be the first.
    
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns - heh, heh, pork buns, is that like cow cheeks?
    
20. Pistachio ice cream - but not the artificial green kind, Ben and Jerry's makes a really good one.
    
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries - my mother used to have raspberry bushes in the back yard, and the neighbors had blueberry bushes, not to mention the wild strawberries that use to line the road to my grandmother's house in Maine.
    
23. Foie gras - not for me, but a fave of Mrs. BA and Mr. OSG.
    
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese - ick.
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters - I've had them raw, including having them at the bar at the Acme Oyster House.
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda - I could eat this, too.
    
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi - what's that Timmy, Lassie's been sprinkled with pepper and put in the blender?
    
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float - a weakness, especially when made with vanilla soft serve.
    
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea - I like it better when my milk does not curdle in my coffee.
    
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - there are some gaps in the memory of doing these, but yep, been there.
    
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat - There are some that think lamb is gamy, man what must this taste like?
    
42. Whole insects - it's intriguing, but not unless I really, really have to.
    
43. Phaal - my taste for the hot stuff is still way below this level.
    
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more - um, must stay away from the brown liquor.
    
46. Fugu - I'm not that adventurous. And there is still a part of me that thinks all this is really just, well, bait.
    
47. Chicken tikka masala - I could do this.
    
48. Eel - see #46
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut - just one?
50. Sea urchin - see #46, again. I've stepped on them, I don't need to eat them
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi - maybe, but probably not.
    
53. Abalone - again, more bait.
    
54. Paneer - more stinky cheese. I can barely eat bleu cheese.
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle - I used to be married to a girl of German descent.
    
57. Dirty gin martini - another fave of Mr. OSG, but not for me.
    
58. Beer above 8% ABV - when it can be secured, it will be drunk, as will I.
    
59. Poutine - oh why ruin perfectly good French Fries like that?
    
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores - C'mon, my mother was a life-long Girl Scout.
    
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin - eating dirt, thanks, but no.
    
64. Currywurst - maybe, but not likely.
    
65. Durian - sure, maybe someday
66. Frogs’ legs - Mrs. OSG had these on my birthday.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake - I will always reach for the sugary dessert, every single time.
68. Haggis - thanks, no.
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho - I prefer my soup hot
72. Caviar and blini - that scene in Big? Could have been me.
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost - more stinky cheese.
    
75. Roadkill - never even been tempted, although it creeps me out when I pass a skunk that has been hit and the smell makes my mouth water, it's really weird.
76. Baijiu - get me drunk enough, and I might not even notice.
    
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail - if it's on the menu, I'm ordering it.
    
79. Lapsang souchong - tea, which I'm not adverse to
    
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum - again, something I might eat.
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky - its got chocolate, how bad could it be?
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant - maybe someday
    
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse - Hey, I saw that episode of MASH
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox - bagel, yes - lox, no
    
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

To honor the 100, here's the fondue recipe preferred by the OSG and Brave Astronaut families.

Classic Swiss Fondue

• 1 garlic clove, halved
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 cups (8 0z.) shredded Gruyere cheese
• 2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Emmentaler cheese
• 2 tsp. cornstarch
• 2 tbsp. kirsch
• dash white pepper
• pinch grated nutmeg

Rub inside of fondue pot with cut garlic clove.

Pour in white wine and lemon juice; cook over medium heat until bubbly. Turn heat to low and gradually stir in cheeses with a wooden spoon.

In a small bowl blend cornstarch with kirsch. Blend into cheese and continue to cook, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture is thick and smooth. Do not allow fondue to boil. Season with white pepper and nutmeg. Serve with bread cubes, ham, apple slices, or whatever you want to have with melted cheese. Makes about 4 servings.

If it's Friday, it must be another Meme

Fridays have developed into Meme / List Friday around here. Here's one that C in DC stole from others and also undertaken by Special K.

1. Political show - Meet the Press
2. Picnic food - Deviled Eggs
3. Mixed drink – Vodka Collins
4. U.S. President – Thomas Jefferson
5. Kind of student to teach – High School
6. Hobby you do or wish you still did - Read for pleasure
7. Sports commentator – I was always fond of Jim McKay
   
8. Sport to watch on TV – baseball
9. Animal to have as a pet - cat
10. Halloween costume you have worn – Pirate
11. Kind of dessert - my mother's cheesecake
12. Comic strip - Pearls Before Swine
13. Style or make of footwear - Docksiders
14. Ice cream flavor - Heavenly Hash or coffee
15. College or university president – I am a big fan of Ruth J. Simmons
16. Internet news source – I have to pick one? Probably CNN
    
17. Vacation spot - Bermuda
18. Wine – Shiraz
19. Way to waste time instead of working – things like this
    
20. Student excuse for late work – true story - my typewriter / word processor ran out of ribbon - ah, those were the days
    
21. Reality show – not if I can help it.
    
22. Jewelry on a man – a wedding ring is sufficient, though I do have my father's fraternity ring
23. Pizza topping – Sausage
24. Children's movie - from my era, possibly the Fox and the Hound, currently the next generation of Brave Astronaut prefers Toy Story 2
    
25. Celebrity you wish would retire - Jack Nicholson
    

Random Observations on a Road Trip

I traveled to Jersey City, New Jersey yesterday to pick up my new (used) car. I've put a picture at the bottom so you can see my new ride. As some of you know, I have been looking to replace our second car for a few months and finally scored it on eBay, hence the day trip to Jersey City. However, with the new car came a radio that requires a code to make it work. So I had some time to think on the drive home. So I wrote this blog post in my head.

• I have (in my mind) come up with a list of New Years Resolutions but have not yet gotten around to posting them here for public review. One of them is however, getting out of bed when the alarm goes off, which will allow for an earlier arrival at work and a better time management of my work day. So today, I got up when the alarm went off (and one snooze) so the Brave Astronaut family could get downtown and I could make a train northward.
• Walking from the Metro to the bank (to get a bank check for the car) and back to the Metro reminded me how much I liked working downtown. The trip downtown also allowed me the opportunity to help drop off the boys at daycare, which LBA had been remarking to me that I never did.
• As I got on the Metro to go to Union Station, I was standing near the door of the subway train, and a woman looked over at me and said, "Brave?" "Brave Astronaut?" Of the mass of humanity crowded on the Metro on a morning when I wouldn't necessarily be downtown, I had managed to bump into someone I went to high school with, in New York. It was very funny and good to see her.
  
• I haven't ridden Amtrak in some time (I will say, had I bought a car from the Boston area, I could have flown there for less money than the train fare to Jersey City) but it was a very uneventful trip, complete with the requisite travel mall catalog in the seat pocket. VP-elect Joe Biden does know how to travel.
  
• While I should have used the time on the train to sleep, I instead read and found myself looking out the window. There is a wide range of stuff littering the side of the tracks. I would swear that I even saw evidence of where people had been living - another sign of the poor economy.
• I was also struck by the fact that in many places, looking out the window from a train is not the best view. I wonder if the President-elect will have the same thoughts when he travels to DC from New York next weekend?
• I bought the car from a used car dealer in Jersey City. It was everything you would have expected. Trailer, fenced in lot, in the wilds of Jersey City. And I had to put gas in the car and put on new wipers.
• I traveled home via the New Jersey Turnpike and noted with some interest that while there are rest areas up and down the Turnpike, the exits do not indicate what other amenities you might reach if you get off - with the exception of some hotels listed off of exit 5(?), including a Macintosh Inn, where I may have stayed once.
• When I reached the Delaware Memorial Bridge, I noted the overhead sign warning me of a slippery roadway but also offering me a phone number if I was in crisis. Does a slippery roadway make it harder for people in crisis to do what they may have come there to do?
• I made a pit stop at the Delaware rest area. I got some coffee, a snack, and a few dollars of Powerball tickets. I didn't win.

I am sure there are more random tidbits that I might have had last night, but the day overcame me and I had to get in bed. Which is why this post is 24 hours late from planned. But enjoy nonetheless. The car goes to the dealer tomorrow for a checkup. Wish me luck.

Two Great Tastes that Taste Great Together

Stolen from my friend Stinkypaw, who posted this on her blog on a MONDAY. There were some accusations of content overlap, but she told me to use it in the future, so here it is.

Best-Ever Peanut Butter-Chocolate Molten Cakes

• 4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 6 Tbsp. flour
• 1/4 cup Smooth Peanut Butter
  

Heat over to 425°F. Butter 4 custard cups. Place on baking sheet.

Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on High 1 min. or until butter is melted. Stir with whisk until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in whole eggs and egg yolks. Stir in flour.

Pour 1/2 batter evenly into prepared cups. Spoon 1 tablespoon peanut butter into center of batter in each cup. Cover with remaining batter.

Bake 14 min. or until sides are firm but centers are still soft. Let stand for 1 min. Carefully run small knife around edges of cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto dessert plates. Cut in half to serve.