tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133091812024-02-20T16:34:43.808-08:00poo-tee-weetBe sure to scroll down to check for new posts as I catch up with ex post facto updates.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-18768109097940098962010-02-11T18:21:00.001-08:002016-02-17T20:08:49.197-08:00I Don’t Know Why I’m Surprised<p>So… I have to lock down all of my flickr photos.  There are too many pervs on the internet.</p> <p>Flickr allows you to track statistics on photos viewed, and I periodically check in to see what people are looking at.  I’ve noticed recently that pictures of the kids in bathing suits have become popular.</p> <p>At first, I didn’t think much of it; I just figured people were catching up on old photos.  But then I started noticing weird patterns.  One or two photos would get viewed from a set that’s months old… “Hmm. That’s weird… well, maybe it turned up in a search result.”  As I noticed that it was almost always pictures of people in bathing suits, I began to worry.  </p> <p>The more I considered the possibility that a perv was to blame, the more obvious it became… I googled “flickr perverts” and discovered horror stories from many people.  Their accounts typically describe the realization coming after they got a “favorite” request from a stranger, follow the link to the stranger’s profile, then discover that all of his favorites are young girls.  Terrifying stuff…</p> <p>I hate that it’s come to this.  I really like being open with my life and with my photos.</p> <p>So here’s my compromise – I’m going to upload all of the photos as private, then immediately post a guest pass to the gallery on this blog.  This reduces the attack surface – these people are looking on flickr or searching google; they’re not scouring blogs – yet.</p> <p>We’ll see how this goes.  Additionally, I’m going to be scaling back which metadata I export with the photos.  Luckily, Adobe Lightroom allows you to specify that in your database, you want the tag to display “Tim Bellomo,” but on export, you just want it to show “Tim.”  Cool stuff.</p> <p>What do you all think?  Is there even anybody there?</p> <p>UPDATE:  Flickr adjusted their guest pass feature to allow a Guest Pass for the entire photostream.  This makes it so I can still just give friends and family just one link and they’ll always be able to have the latest and greatest.  Is this better/worse/same from a privacy perspective?</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-31858495457766398162009-12-08T14:18:00.001-08:002016-02-17T20:08:49.208-08:00I Kant Do It<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mh1BtVm3kzwiqeZ_v9H2OKgr2Nx5f4a1fhPFvPu17ImvUHbPljCkb3j-Jz8PWCye3Pbzg1qWobJKK1kFBxFnYJDYe9A0KdVPO3GHM_3nN_dPL-c1eBMkzwvdbkacdAQOXbUAHQ/s1600-h/Immanuel_Kant_(painted_portrait)%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Immanuel_Kant_(painted_portrait)" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="240" alt="Immanuel_Kant_(painted_portrait)" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFX8t2wbibU5LmKd3gi43nVhULlcsr-gqYp8l1PzBxnLk-ope_hlDToGXKsNT7NJeNvu9duV8scXWqqWifNL9y89Uto04lzIEASsxA5LWNWZ1rtqigiVt1vJdzbXCdcO1u80mYA/?imgmax=800" width="190" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>The “ends” don’t justify the “means.”  You lose your soul in the “mean” -time</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-2607149772943680262009-09-11T19:57:00.000-07:002016-02-17T20:08:49.203-08:00MeltingHas anyone else noticed the sound of ice melting? Does anyone else thing that that's weird? Or is it more weird that I noticed and recorded it...?<br /><br /><embed src= "http://www.odeo.com/flash/audio_player_standard_gray.swf" quality="high" width="300" height="52" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars= "valid_sample_rate=true&external_url=http://www.pooteeweet.com/misc/ice.mp3" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"> </embed><div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-88488164834729754252009-09-10T15:44:00.001-07:002016-02-17T20:08:49.216-08:00What You Don't Understand, You Make Mean Anything<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vEOo2lIej5D1MR0Y7L9vgRqDyPAd4PQSg3zZ32FpWAegrrtVRCWJtt7rB_tsyUGIcXuC021LFoLTO6FV1qaCVCCZoIozXtD_PLKcPqOVcrzL1gGZT_jchFX66CB5xrVIv9TotQ/s1600-h/canon-EOS-450D-XSi-2%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="canon-EOS-450D-XSi-2" style="border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-bottom: 0px" height="376" alt="canon-EOS-450D-XSi-2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrUPbi16Hzyr77htQCmFgYHS_mMJ91mGKeeM7RLkNfM-EP7wx9Y8RL6cZX922OQZvLSe6USBHYQg-7fjMDqcRMqghyphenhyphen1kQQWdvA2JgQ4BOQ02o0nie_xOB_OTspVtAIJ7kKnUsyg/?imgmax=800" width="484" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>About 18 months ago, I bought a Canon Rebel XSi digital SLR camera.  </p> <p>I love it.  </p> <p>I love that I can change the lens out to suit a particular situation.  I love that I can use an external flash to bounce artificial light.  I love that the camera fires as soon as I depress the button.</p> <p>I was just messing around with auto exposure bracketing, and seeing how fast I could take 3 continuous shots (for use with HDR imaging).  Although the camera is rated at 3.5 exposures per second, I was noticing that I was only getting 2, and only for the first second.  Subsequent exposures came at a rate of only 1 per second.  What the heck!?</p> <p>I shoot in RAW mode, which generates very large files – somewhere on the order of 13-15 MB each.  Maybe the bottleneck was caused by the write-speed from my camera to memory card.  So I tried switching back to JPEGs.  Same problem.  “Hmmm… maybe they’re still too big…”  So I switched to the smallest setting.  Same problem.  Uh oh… prepare for camera repair…</p> <p>Then I remembered.</p> <p>When I first got the camera, one of the touted features was on-camera “High ISO Noise Reduction.”  Noise is the digital equivalent to grain.  As you use a higher ISO setting, you can get better exposures with less light – the trade-off is more noise.  This feature helps reduce the noise (read more <a href="http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=1407" target="_blank">here</a>).</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="200"> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMjdkNRGn3FXm5MY0lt0dnE9NFqltRlwWCc5DAbqcazEwiBueQJdRnQrFkkPKiKf8Sio0LRR2CfVXNez_8Amrf7TPoLSHDyum5y0cQx9o9DSgRfzs5iM3SpqvMLaOKkLjQstpfxA/s1600-h/A720_1600%20with%20detail%5B13%5D.jpg"><img title="A720_1600 with detail" style="display: inline" height="333" alt="A720_1600 with detail" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-4MciyTF8pBNYQU_QFldNhsInxNhzoWCtjzwJylOAwQ28OtARHzJhJLLrxE6wTp7jcpDE6HaVdP2JVEFbfGbxrOX6d_haTyKIWbMbZUbaVu0ur50BPaqRivaGPiN8536BGbDpg/?imgmax=800" width="232" /></a> </p> </td> <td valign="top" width="200"> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4td58t-rQ86u8K9pfpRyPu7TTvPtjrSEVDNqXlAwOp5qBBbIFAKuVpIstI5EAn7GM-vWM5_0W6dKf5DcprJDgKDCVCXTOeCfSHmfh4jnrgk5zayI9l1IXitLmg27taH7q5LnGg/s1600-h/40D_1600_f8_1-2000_with_detail%5B15%5D.jpg"><img title="40D_1600_f8_1-2000_with_detail" style="display: inline" height="332" alt="40D_1600_f8_1-2000_with_detail" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmrVJH8X2AGx0N6ncPBXOQigNT4igt10jMPANotC9ouo-zpsNUdFa2RLlaKjj2IO3Il2drg2dKUR81nUUxyJA75XuFYqJb_X97NUvfCcGOHElGdgoDm9YUCFHCBe7HcDMRgJ16g/?imgmax=800" width="226" /></a></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p align="center">Noise reduction off</p> </td> <td> <p align="center">Noise reduction on</p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Excited by the prospect of reduced noise, I turned the feature on.  What I didn’t notice is that it drops the cameras burst rate down to 2.  Well… that explains it.  I turned the feature off and, voila, I can now capture 7 consecutive exposures in 2 seconds.</p> <p>The worst/best part is: I shoot RAW (and process with Adobe Camera Raw), so the on-camera processing is ignored anyway.</p> <p>The lesson for me is to not get feature happy.  If you don’t understand how it works, don’t enable it.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-49724586257857783462009-08-12T22:59:00.001-07:002016-02-17T20:08:49.212-08:00Gin Me Hendricks<p>God save me for that pun… the worst puns are the ones that aren’t funny.</p> <p align="center"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsYY2vdJOWw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsYY2vdJOWw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p> <p>While this review was fun to do, the purpose was really more about editing video than getting drunk.  A few years ago, I bought a Canon HV20 High Def Camcorder.  One of the highlight features was that it could shoot “24p,” that is “24 progressive frames per second.”  </p> <p>There are a couple of reasons why someone might want this, but suffice it to say, 24p footage has a different characteristic to it.  It’s less “fluid,” but some say it gives your end result a more “cinema-like” result.  I’m not kidding myself, nothing I’m shooting is going to garner an Academy Award – if anything, my stuff looks along the lines of The Office.  To me, non-24p high def stuff looks “hyper-real” and almost “too smooth.”</p> <p>So why am I still talking about this?  Well, it turns out the “highlight feature” was a bit misleading.  You don’t really care, but the 24p footage is actually wrapped in a 60i (60 interlaced frames per second) “wrapper” in order to make it more compliant with the HDV standard (I guess…).  This is don’t through a process called “telecine” or sometimes “pulldown.”  You’ve lost interest at this point, but the bottom line is that I finally figured out the Gordian Knot of 24p footage from the HV20.  So this was my first full test.</p> <p>For reference, here’s some non-24p stuff (though, I think these aren’t the best examples):</p> <p align="center"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ShfXMjPsx30&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ShfXMjPsx30&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p> <p align="center"><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Li7i9cw8EUQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Li7i9cw8EUQ&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></p> <p><em>P.S. Melanie is JOKING! It’s her imaginary, horrible alter ego.</em></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-91835627239812293862009-08-03T20:09:00.000-07:002016-02-17T20:13:03.318-08:00C-I-N-D-YMany people are surprised to learn that I was the male lead in a musical at the local all-girls' school eight years ago. I'm not sure which element of that last sentence surprises them the most, but suffice it to say that most are surprised.
<br />
<br />
The musical was "Cindy," a <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> loosely interpreted "Cinderella story." The setting was a 1920s Jewish deli in New York... or at least, that was the original setting. Given that the reproduction was being performed by a Catholic school in California, the setting was changed to a '90s Italian pizzeria in Los Angeles. The transition was not entirely seemless, despite the best efforts of the play's producers to amend the song lyrics.
<br />
<br />
I had a lot of fun being involved in the production. I was one of two guys present daily at a Catholic all-girls' school three days a week for as many months. It was actually far more innocent than stereotypes allow. I'd say the same in regards to the other male present, my 22-year old counterpart, but he did end up dating the female lead after production had ended -- that was the rumor I'd heard anyway.
<br />
<br />
I'd happened upon the gig after being invited by a freshman (or rather "freshgirl," but that just sounds wrong) to their Winter ball. I was a lousy dance date. I was obstinately critical of what we called dancing, so if I was your escort for the night, you likely sat around and watched everyone else have fun. In my defense, I <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> warn my host to this end.
<br />
<br />
I'd attended another variety show on the campus a few weeks prior and mentioned to one nominated princess that if she was elected "queen," I would sing to her at the dance. I really couldn't say how this all came about, but sure enough, she was the queen, and before the night was through, I was on stage in front of a couple hundred singing "To Make You Feel My Love," a capella. This resulted in:
<br />
<ol>
<li>My host becoming incredibly pissed with me. I wouldn't dance for the life of me, but I'd sing a capella to some <span style="font-style: italic;">other </span>girl?!</li>
<li>An innocent young girl perceiving that I'd just expressed my undying love for her.</li>
<li>An audition in the La Reina High School Players' production of their Spring musical "Cindy."</li>
</ol>
I auditioned with Billy Joel's "For The Longest Time," and was type-cast in the role of "Lucky," a hopeless romantic constantly wooing Cindy Bella with little success. The result of this affair is embedded below.
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<br />
<div align="center"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/5913065" width="500" height="377" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<br />
I learned quite a few things during those few weeks, not the least of which were:
<br />
<ul>
<li>James Taylor's "Greatest Hits" album just scratches the surface, and</li>
<li>You can't chase one sister if you've already expressed your undying love -- on-stage, in song, and in front of everyone -- to the other sister.</li>
</ul>
Thanks & apologies to everyone involved!<div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-15692058529111045082009-07-14T14:51:00.001-07:002009-12-08T14:11:22.356-08:00The Gift-Horse<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/smcgee/2479590456/" target="_blank"><img title="Photo by Sara McGee - sarahmcgeephotography.com - via flickr... CC FTW!" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="297" alt="Photo by Sara McGee - sarahmcgeephotography.com - via flickr... CC FTW!" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/2479590456_25232fc1b1.jpg" width="444" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/117000.html">This is very hard to say without sounding like a jerk</a>.  “If as you read this, you start to take offense, please keep in mind that I’m doing this for your own good” he says, sounding jerkier with each syllable.</p> <p>Don’t buy me gift cards.  In fact, don’t buy anybody gift cards.  Boycott.  </p> <p>Hey, I’ve been there.  It’s the last minute (or even a month ahead of time) and you have no idea what to get somebody for whatever occasion it happens to be.  You feel awkward shoving green bills into an envelope and calling it a day.  So you buy a gift card.  It’s likely for a specific store.  Maybe it’s to Best Buy, because you *know* the person LOVES electronics, so obviously, there must be something they want to buy at Best Buy.  It feels more personal – like you did your duty as a caring person in the recipient’s life.</p> <p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124605742408663533.html">Recent analysis</a> shows that Americans spend about $65 billion of gift cards, annually.  Of that, over 10% never gets spent.  That’s almost $7 billion thrown away.  You’ve experienced this first hand, haven’t you?  I have $3.83 remaining on a $25 Amex gift card sitting on my dresser right now.  That’s 15% of the card’s face value going to waste.  If you factor in the $4.95 set up charge tacked on by Amex at the time of purchase, the total waste exceeds 35%! </p> <p>The girl working the counter at Tony’s says she’s got at least 3 of similar remaining value laying around her house.  I’m sure that most of you have at least one (please answer the poll).  You’re not getting full value for your money, whether you’re the giver or receiver.</p> <p>But all of that’s kind of beside the point.  It’s more about freedom.  Now, I’m not suggesting that gift card-ing is un-American, but there’s something I don’t like about being forced to spend at a store that I didn’t choose. Maybe I’m saying up for something big.  I like to shop around.  I like to find the best price. The aforementioned set up fee on American Express gift cards outweighs any freedom they bring to the table, and if I’m locked into a given store, I —once  again— can’t get full value for my money.  </p> <p>“But, it’s not ‘<em>your’</em> money, you ungrateful jerkface,” you say.  And you’re right.  It’s not my money, and I’m an ungrateful jerkface.  But still, can we get over the unfair stigma placed on giving cash?  There’s not logic to it.  It’s not like giving a gift card is ANY more thoughtful.  To me, it’s less – because it’s the self-serving illusion of thoughtfulness.</p> <p>Some suggest that by giving a gift card rather than cash, the likelihood that you’ll actually “treat yourself to something” is higher.  Maybe – and it’s a noble cause that I can get behind –  but that falls apart when the cards are for stores like Target or Costco.  I guarantee you <em>that</em> money is going to toilet paper and gasoline.  Either way, it all balances out.  If you can satisfy your needs with your gift cards, you free up cash for your wants out of your normal budget.  But why not just give cash in the first place and save the recipient the shell game.</p> <p>It’s not more thoughtful.  You’re not saving face.  You didn’t know what to get me.  That’s OK.  Cash is fine.  Hell, nothing is fine.  But for the love of God, don’t buy me a gift card.</p> <p><em>Addendum: Gift <u>certificates</u> don’t carry the same negative feelings for me.  That is, so long as they’re gifts for a specific service or good – like a 1 hour massage or a movie ticket.  In that case, you chose to give someone a specific gift, you simply allowed them to redeem it at their leisure.  But certificates carry their own risks, like of expiration.  In CA at least, gift cards are not allowed to expire.  Though, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124605742408663533.html">strange things are afoot…</a></em></p> <p><em>Also, gift cards are a good idea for distribution stimulus money if you’re the federal government and you want to <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/wallet/2009/05/20/the-gift-card-wrinkles-in-the-proposed-credit-card-legislation/">force people to spend</a> rather than pay down debt.</em></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-87115686137303697142009-06-11T12:31:00.001-07:002009-06-11T12:50:21.680-07:00No Contest<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJltbUTlgZs6sqyh4NLhYNRbX7rhdV9Qv6hs738MHq8jZde5cF_KWvNk0mimkDc_-lr0exTIpguV9KnSqxoPYKWuHm3gMvAUhxpgBb9JQ1VhBzYIpcV1xgzC0ZTWqsRF79l6LSxQ/s1600-h/Exhibit%20B-1%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="Exhibit B-1" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="350" alt="Exhibit B-1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJt9CjgGRs9UieBlax-wbWeWSd0hw3LoKaS_gYxlsh8TJij10Le0IKdS9g-UZRoldCFku1_slS52upCtbOHiuncwiy1RMcn-YokYsuDl8AdJRscdqZxF3eLRghixfIDNFR8_8RqA/?imgmax=800" width="430" /></a> </p> <p>Meg had a bad March...  A lot was going wrong for her.  Nothing too serious, but still altogether frustrating.  Toward the end of March, she got a ticket while driving Joe to baseball practice.</p> <p>My first instinct was to fight it, so I asked her, “well, did you do what they said you did?”  Meg hesitated and I sighed.</p> <p>She approached her left hand turn.  Because of congestion, she decided to enter her turn early, using the left-turn assist lane (the solid-and-hashed yellow lines that divide many highways and roads.)  She completed her turn, and was subsequently pulled over.  The officer accused her of “cutting in line.”</p> <p>The actual ticket was for violation of CA Vehicle Code 21460(a) or “crossing a double-yellow line.  Click the picture below to see a gallery of images that describe the situation.  You can click on the right side of the image to go to the next; left, previous.</p> <p><a title="This is the intersection in question: Park Ln. and LA Ave. Meg was traveling 'left to right' on the image, turning at the approaching intersection." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitA-1.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"><img title="Exhibit A-1" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: block; border-left-width: 0px; float: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border-right-width: 0px" height="399" alt="Exhibit A-1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_fFxvW3apd_iIZHUyzFjBsueh-1VKFrSqADybIPTCfckevZ7G15FtcCfn_tEs7kgLL_XHqZzVsAPXkbpJgN8GfIpLzfj8TDKxZ3sf8TtWXhk4pTIZw6mgJiG1VgRzAlN86I6dA/?imgmax=800" width="504" border="0" /></a> <a title="Ah, there - that's better. Meg entered at the green section. There was no indication at the time of her entry that the double-yellow would abruptly resume before the turn." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitA-2.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a><a title="Here it is from her perspective..." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitB-1.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a><a title="...and with markup. Because of congestion, the inexplicable double-yellow resumption in the distance was not visible. And even without traffic, it would be hard to see and, more importantly, infer." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitB-2.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a><a title="See, she expected it to do this - a very common road-marking. In fact, I explicitly remember them pointing these out in drivers' training class. They'd caution you to look over your shoulder before turning left, because someone may have enter the lane before you (because of the hashed line)." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitC.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a><a title="Here's an example of its use on another road in Moorpark. Notice the police officer utilizing it." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitD.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a><a title="During her conversation with the officer, Meg asked what the assist lane was for if not for preparing for the left turn. The officer incorrectly stated it was for entry into the Shell station. It seems the officer too was confused by the road marking, as that would have been an illegal maneuver." href="http://www.pooteeweet.com/img/megs-ticket/ExhibitE.jpg" rel="lightbox-ticket"></a></p> <p>So did she cross a double-yellow line?  Yes.  But was it reasonable to expect that she’s know that her maneuver was illegal given the road markings? No.</p> <p>I insisted that we fight the ticket.  I found online that you can fight any traffic violation with a trial by written declaration.  This allows you to plead and present your case without having to appear in court, and it’s available to everyone.  I submitted the aforementioned images and stated our case.</p> <p>The officer is giving 30 days to respond to the case we present, and then a judge is supposed to make a decision as to the outcome of the case.  On May 30, the officer’s 30 days was up, and we still hadn’t heard anything.  We crossed our fingers.</p> <p>Yesterday, we received a plain form letter from the Superior Court of Ventura County.  The boxes for “Guilty” and “Pay fine” were checked.  And that was it.  No explanation of the evidence presented against us.  No response to the evidence we provided to the court.  </p> <p>Nothing.</p> <p>It’s not that I’m unhappy that we have to pay $260, plus traffic school.  I’m unhappy that we weren’t treated with more respect.  Explain to me why you felt our case had no merit.</p> <p>Maybe we should have plead “no contest.”  Because with the both state and the county facing budget crises, that’s what it was.</p> <p>No contest…</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-83240414940433074592009-06-05T20:56:00.001-07:002009-06-05T20:56:51.704-07:00Writer’s Blog<p>I can’t think of anything to blog about lately…</p> <p>Anybody have any suggestions or prompts?</p> <p>Along those lines, I’ve been trying to keep this blog non-political/non-philosophical…  is that a good or bad move?</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-52504760343557837262009-05-20T17:05:00.001-07:002009-05-20T19:42:17.513-07:00Sitting in Silence<p><a title="colorized social sciences" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3550528624/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="colorized social sciences" src="http://static.flickr.com/2421/3550528624_0b0feda1e8.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><em>[This is a re-post from a blog entry I wrote when I still logged into MySpace.  Original date: March 7, 2007.]</em></p> <p>Today, at 12:54PM, I went to lunch -- Tony's Pizza.  It's become my ritual.  Everyday.  Ever--single--day.  I'm not complaining; it's good food at a good price, although, I'm not too sure it's good on my health.  With that in mind, I decided to order only one slice rather than the usual two.  As I walked to the counter, an acquaintance passed me by on his way outside to sit and wait for his food.</p> <p>Awkward glance.  Raised eyebrows, if to say "hey".  I think it was Gina Fiore's boyfriend... I think his name was Cam.  I can't be certain.  He sat outside, I sat in-- in uncomfortable silence.  His order came up first -- he grabbed his pizza; I averted my eyes, pretending to be interested in the texture on the napkin that lay in front of me on the table.  Nothing said.  </p> <p>Regret…</p> <p>Last week ago, I encountered a similar situation.  Another acquaintance.  The same restaurant.  She didn't see me, but I saw her; she was coming from the Sesame Inn.  In the interest of avoiding the awkward moment, I sat in silence.  </p> <p>Regret…</p> <p>I finished my slice, and checked the clock -- 1:26PM.  "Hmm... 30 minutes more."  I went back to work early.  At Borchard and the 101, I rolled up on a shot at redemption.  A red light.  A black jeep.  Exposed sides-- rag top.  White curly hair everywhere. <br />I glanced over.  Then ahead.  I sat until I boiled.  Silence no more.  I rolled down my window...</p> <p>"MR. C!"</p> <p>He looked over as I shouted over the engine of the loud semi-trunk that turned left in front of us.</p> <p>"I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT YOU'RE THE BEST TEACHER THAT I'VE EVER HAD!  THANK <a title="mr-c-clicker" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3550564286/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="mr-c-clicker" src="http://static.flickr.com/3648/3550564286_4fdf343292_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a>YOU!"</p> <p>Without missing a beat, he reached into his pocket and acknowledged me with his simple gesture coupled with a smile.</p> <p>"click-click" </p> <p>Atypically, the light turned green just at that moment, sparing us of the usual minute of uncomfortable silence after saying hi to someone at a stop light.  Ever more peculiar, the moment didn't confront us at the two subsequent red lights (He had pulled behind me).  I turned left into the parking lot as he zoomed passed me.</p> <p>I really miss that guy.</p> <p>I’m not too embarrassed to admit that I regret a lot of things that I did or didn’t do in high school.  Luckily, taking a course with Paul Coffman is not one of those things.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-58227657502424936792009-05-13T19:30:00.001-07:002009-05-13T19:31:44.525-07:00the nice<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbellomo/3342796439/in/set-72157615069652922"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/3342796439_a54d5d50b7.jpg" /></a> </p> <p>You should <em>really</em> read my sister’s blog.  It’s much better than mine.</p> <p><a href="http://melbellomo.blogspot.com">melbellomo.blogspot.com</a></p> <p><a href="http://allthenice.com">allthenice.com</a></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-78534657735202606012009-05-12T17:22:00.001-07:002009-05-12T17:26:30.219-07:00Read More<p><a title="nye-2008-48" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3162364432/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="nye-2008-48" src="http://static.flickr.com/252/3162364432_d80be978d3.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>It’s come to my attention that the formatting scheme I put into place (described in <a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/03/bear-with-me.html">this post</a>) has only led to confusion and disappointment.  </p> <p>I’ve removed it.</p> <p>If you feel you’ve fallen victim to these short posts, and missed the “Read more…” link, I’d encourage you to go back and experience the full majesty of my blogging.</p> <p><strong>I’m talking to you, Colorado!</strong></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-39037588796018611182009-05-12T12:26:00.001-07:002009-05-12T13:35:00.877-07:00Chicken Piccata<p>Here’s my favorite preparation of chicken piccata.</p> <p><a title="piccata-01" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524822152/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-01" src="http://static.flickr.com/3355/3524822152_b1669beb9a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">2</td> <td valign="top" width="34"> </td> <td valign="top" width="335">chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">1/3</td> <td valign="top" width="34">cup</td> <td valign="top" width="335">flour</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">3</td> <td valign="top" width="34">Tbsp</td> <td valign="top" width="335">Parmesan or Romano cheese (grated)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">4</td> <td valign="top" width="34">Tbsp </td> <td valign="top" width="335">olive oil</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">6</td> <td valign="top" width="34">Tbsp </td> <td valign="top" width="335">butter</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">1/3</td> <td valign="top" width="34">cup</td> <td valign="top" width="335">lemon juice</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">1/2</td> <td valign="top" width="34">cup</td> <td valign="top" width="335">dry white wine (we often use Chardonnay)</td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="30">1/4</td> <td valign="top" width="34">cup</td> <td valign="top" width="335">brined <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capers#Culinary_uses">capers</a> (drained)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p>Get things started by uncorking your wine and pouring yourself a glass.  Everyone always says that you shouldn’t cook with wine that you wouldn’t drink.  Given that I’ll drink anything short of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corked_wine">“corked”</a> wine, this is a very low hurdle for the wine to surpass.  Still, this dish takes a bit of patience, so get that wine flowing!</p> <p><a title="piccata-02" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524015139/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-02" src="http://static.flickr.com/3552/3524015139_b38374802b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This is probably the hardest part of the entire recipe, and it’s also one of the most important.  The thinness and tenderness of the chicken is what gives it the melt-in-your-mouth quality.  </p> <p><a title="piccata-04" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524827246/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-04" src="http://static.flickr.com/3594/3524827246_2b6dd0f445.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>If you’ve never butterflied a chicken breast before, it can be a bit daunting.  Please take care to not slice your hand off.  I like to put the “rough side” down on the cutting board and make a slow horizontal incision.  Once you make it a few inches in, peel up the top layer and put a little tension on the “V” between the two forming cutlets.  Make long, easy strokes against that point – you shouldn’t need much force on the knife at this point, the breast should kind of “peel apart.”</p> <p><a title="piccata-05" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524020481/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-05" src="http://static.flickr.com/3412/3524020481_9a321bda36.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre">If you’ve got behemoth breasts</a>, like the ones they sell at Costco, (and you’re feeling like a challenge) you want to shoot for a “tri-fold” cut (as I call it).  Do the same as above, but only with the top third of the breast, then reverse the knife and go back the other way in the same manner.  If you have a better technique for getting thin cutlets, please let me know.</p> <p align="center"><a title="piccata-06" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524830328/"><img height="240" alt="piccata-06" src="http://static.flickr.com/3315/3524830328_7b952d2f26.jpg" width="161" border="0" /></a><a title="piccata-07" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524831702/"><img height="161" alt="piccata-07" src="http://static.flickr.com/3606/3524831702_32326a456f.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a title="piccata-08" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524833152/"><img height="161" alt="piccata-08" src="http://static.flickr.com/3365/3524833152_669abc6573.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a></p> <p>If you don’t feel like your cutlets are thin enough, you can also pound them out.  I recommend doing this as it helps to tenderize the chicken as well.  I encase the cutlets in cling wrap and pound away, striking down with an outward motion (does that make sense).  Make sure the cling wrap isn’t too tight, or it’ll bust out of the side and make a mess.  Set the breasts aside on a dish.</p> <p>Look – if you’re worrying about making the cutlets look nice and even, don’t.  While visual appeal is great, it’s the flavor that makes the dish.  If you’ve got irregularly sized pieces, don’t worry about it.</p> <p><a title="piccata-03" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524016889/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-03" src="http://static.flickr.com/3629/3524016889_5ba5dcbf5a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Grate a few tablespoons of cheese into a flour-filled dish.  This is your dredging dish, used to coat your chicken, so make sure it’s large enough.  The tall lip helps keep flour from flying our when coating your breasts.</p> <p>I used a <a href="http://us.microplane.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2">microplane</a> with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecorino_Romano">Pecorino Romano</a> – I like the more pronounced flavor of romano, but the shreds that the microplane creates tend to clump together when mixing in with the flour.  Just keep in mind that after tossing around a bit, it’ll loosen up.</p> <p><a title="piccata-09" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524834606/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-09" src="http://static.flickr.com/3322/3524834606_99f6ffe51e.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This next set of pictures should be clear enough without my ranting.</p> <p align="center"><a title="piccata-10" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524027855/"><img height="240" alt="piccata-10" src="http://static.flickr.com/3358/3524027855_44285c80db.jpg" width="161" border="0" /></a><a title="piccata-12" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524031343/"><img height="161" alt="piccata-12" src="http://static.flickr.com/3317/3524031343_60b9a41e89.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a title="piccata-11" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524837790/"><img height="161" alt="piccata-11" src="http://static.flickr.com/3568/3524837790_46cb97ec9d.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a></p> <p>All right – the breast are coated and ready.  Let’s proceed.</p> <p><a title="piccata-13" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524841254/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-13" src="http://static.flickr.com/3660/3524841254_23dbb98579.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Get your pan going on medium-high heat.</p> <p><a title="piccata-14" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524034471/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-14" src="http://static.flickr.com/3581/3524034471_4852ffb21f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Section your 6 tablespoons of butter into 2 tablespoon increments.</p> <p><a title="piccata-15" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524035799/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-15" src="http://static.flickr.com/3596/3524035799_8d7b3c3f59.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Melt 2 tablespoons of butter into 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Precise measurement on the oil isn’t essential – eyeball it.  You’re basically just getting enough fat in there to fry (not deep-fry) your chicken.</p> <p><a title="piccata-16" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524037125/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-16" src="http://static.flickr.com/3565/3524037125_28d3a3912b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Lower one breast into the pan – take care not to plop it in or you’ll send hot fat flying everywhere!.</p> <p><a title="piccata-17" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524038759/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-17" src="http://static.flickr.com/3379/3524038759_d16c04b01e.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Flip after about 2 minutes, and cook an additional 2 minutes.  You’re looking for golden brown on both sides.  Remove the chicken to a plate and cover with aluminum foil.</p> <p>You’re going to repeat this procedure with the second breast: add 2 more tablespoons each of butter and oil, and lower the breast in – 2 minutes each side.</p> <p><a title="piccata-18" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524040011/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-18" src="http://static.flickr.com/3618/3524040011_cc127b9c0b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>While the breasts are cooking, juice your lemons and prepare your deglazing liquids – lemon juice, white wine, and capers.  It all goes in at the same time, so feel free to mix it ahead of time</p> <p><a title="piccata-19" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524850036/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-19" src="http://static.flickr.com/3646/3524850036_6ca7133a98.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>When the breasts are done, set them aside – perhaps in a warm oven (or perhaps not.)  The pan will have brown bits of goodness stuck to the bottom.  This is the “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fond">fond</a>” and will help to flavor our sauce.  Pour the juice/wine/capers into the hot pan, scraping the bits off the bottom as the pan sizzles.</p> <p><a title="piccata-20" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524851676/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-20" src="http://static.flickr.com/3383/3524851676_a2feaf08bb.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Stirring occasionally to keep it from burning, reduce this liquid by half.  One trick for measuring that is flipping the wooden spoon around and dipping the cylinder into the sauce when you start, then repeating after some time to measure the difference in liquid height.  </p> <p>I don’t do this.</p> <p>Instead, I just wait for the liquid to thicken.  It’ll begin to “slosh” less and will look slightly syrupy.  It’s very important that you get to this point before proceeding.  The next step is to add the last 2 tablespoons of butter an whisk to incorporate; this finishes the sauce.  If you add the butter, then reduce more, you run the risk that the sauce will break, leaving you with an oil slick.</p> <p>When the butter is incorporated, move your chicken back into the pan and let it soak in the flavor (on low heat) for a 3 minutes – or don’t.</p> <p><a title="piccata-21" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524853582/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-21" src="http://static.flickr.com/3540/3524853582_750d6993da.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Move the chicken to the serving dish and cover with the remaining sauce.</p> <p><a title="piccata-22" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524046981/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-22" src="http://static.flickr.com/3315/3524046981_36da2e2017.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Optionally, you can sprinkle with some roughly chopped Italian parsley.  It gives the dish a nice refreshing note.  </p> <p>Meg can’t tell cilantro from parsley at times, so we had to forgo this night.  ;-)</p> <p><a title="piccata-23" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524856990/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-23" src="http://static.flickr.com/3567/3524856990_d92f7f15fc.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="piccata-26" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524053101/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-26" src="http://static.flickr.com/3312/3524053101_e0e248cbb9.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="piccata-27" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3524054675/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="piccata-27" src="http://static.flickr.com/3612/3524054675_482333b088.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Remember one, very important thing: the recipe just doesn’t matter that much.  I encourage you to modify the recipe, adding more/less of what you like/dislike.  I often heap extra capers into the sauce.  </p> <p>BUT please, don’t add the butter to the sauce too soon!</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-60343948644555873922009-05-12T11:46:00.001-07:002009-05-12T17:15:24.607-07:00Lemonhead Martini<p><a title="lemonhead-martini-16" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516528563/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="lemonhead-martini-16" src="http://static.flickr.com/3331/3516528563_b183997603.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We’re heading into Summertime, so I thought I’d publish the recipe for Meg’s favorite refreshing martini.  I cobbled this together for her one day when she said she wanted a “lemondrop.”  She was pleasantly surprised with the outcome, and we began “beta-testing” it on our friends.  The results were universally positive, and typically the tasting ended with requests for the recipe.</p> <p>We’ve been struggling for a name for it.  The recipe differs enough from a lemondrop that I think it needs its own name.  The x-factor is the limoncello, so I was thinking “cellodrop” for a while…  Though, the flavor mostly reminds me of a Lemonhead, so I’ve settled on that for now.</p> <p>Without further ado, I give you the recipe.  I should warn you though – Meg is often disappointed now with restaurant lemondrop martinis.</p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-01" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516496517/"><img alt="lemonhead-martini-01" src="http://static.flickr.com/3403/3516496517_ac5268ce22.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p><strong>2 parts FRESH lemon juice</strong> </p> <p><strong>~1 Tbsp sugar</strong></p> <p><strong>1 part orange liquor</strong> – there isn’t really any discernable difference here; Cointreau, Grand Marnier, triple sec, blue Curacao (Meg prefers the blue-green result from using the latter).</p> <p><strong>1 part limoncello</strong> – We’ve tried Caravella and Pallini.  Meg prefers the Caravella due to the higher alcohol content.  It’s a little more alcohol-y, but Meg says when she’s drinking, she wants to know… I prefer Pallini – it creates such a smooth drink, you could almost mistake it for straight lemonade.</p> <p><strong>1 part vodka</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-02" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517311776/"><img alt="lemonhead-martini-02" src="http://static.flickr.com/3539/3517311776_0ba7a74697.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>“ReaLemon” is not an adequate substitute!  If you don’t have fresh lemon juice, don’t bother.  I’m not saying that to be snobby, I just don’t want you to waste your alcohol…</p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-03" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517313402/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="240" alt="lemonhead-martini-03" src="http://static.flickr.com/3643/3517313402_9c01452259.jpg" width="161" align="right" border="0" /></a> Rolling your lemons before slicing will loosen up the juices (I guess…)</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-04" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516501675/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="161" alt="lemonhead-martini-04" src="http://static.flickr.com/3540/3516501675_59b66515b4.jpg" width="240" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Cut along the equator for best results.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-05" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516503393/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="240" alt="lemonhead-martini-05" src="http://static.flickr.com/3396/3516503393_6c16447757.jpg" width="161" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p>First things first – rim the martini glass with the cut side of the lemon.  The lemon juice will cause the sugar to stick better than simply using water.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-06" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517318600/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="240" alt="lemonhead-martini-06" src="http://static.flickr.com/3399/3517318600_37ec1e1871.jpg" width="161" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Invert the glass and dip into sugar; amount of coverage is up to your preference.  It’s important to do this up front so we can get the martini glass chilling in the freezer.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-08" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517327078/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="240" alt="lemonhead-martini-08" src="http://static.flickr.com/3640/3517327078_af30efefcc.jpg" width="161" align="right" border="0" /></a><a title="lemonhead-martini-07" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516507135/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" height="240" alt="lemonhead-martini-07" src="http://static.flickr.com/3556/3516507135_5e269a682a.jpg" width="161" align="right" border="0" /></a>Proceed to juice your lemons.  We prefer this style of juicer.</p> <p> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-09" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517329774/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="lemonhead-martini-09" src="http://static.flickr.com/3664/3517329774_9976710134_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Pour the lemon juice into the shaker.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-10" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517331690/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="lemonhead-martini-10" src="http://static.flickr.com/3601/3517331690_6c374c5588_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a>Follow that with the sugar.  Superfine will make things easier; simple syrup better still.  But plain old granules will suffice and it commonly what we use.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-11" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516519737/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="lemonhead-martini-11" src="http://static.flickr.com/3381/3516519737_8f30aa1b36_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Give that a good shake to dissolve the sugar into the lemon juice.  Next, add your ice – about 3/4 full on your shaker.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Next, add your liquors and spirits.  I typically go from more viscous to less, i.e. orange-to-limoncello-to-vodka.  I feel like this leaves less remaining in the measurer.</p> <p align="center"><a title="lemonhead-martini-13" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516523185/"><img height="135" alt="lemonhead-martini-13" src="http://static.flickr.com/3652/3516523185_92abcb7bdd_m.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></a><a title="lemonhead-martini-14" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517338678/"><img height="135" alt="lemonhead-martini-14" src="http://static.flickr.com/3349/3517338678_0c953fc0f1_m.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></a></p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-12" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3517334998/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="135" alt="lemonhead-martini-12" src="http://static.flickr.com/3308/3517334998_55ff20419f_m.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></a></p> <p><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="lemonhead-martini-15" src="http://static.flickr.com/3599/3516526845_206bcc6e66_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Give it about 40 good shakes.  More or less could be fine… I’m not sure.  Someone once told me 40 was a good general purpose number, and I’ve followed that blindly.  Pour into your frosty glass.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a title="lemonhead-martini-16" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3516528563/"><img style="display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px" alt="lemonhead-martini-16" src="http://static.flickr.com/3331/3516528563_b183997603_m.jpg" align="right" border="0" /></a>Garnish with a lemon twist if you’re feelin’ fancy.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Well, I hope that wasn’t too complicated – Enjoy!</p> <p align="center"><object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true⟨=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617838855789%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617838855789%2F&set_id=72157617838855789&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617838855789%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617838855789%2F&set_id=72157617838855789&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-1562501887501989832009-04-29T09:47:00.001-07:002009-05-04T14:20:21.001-07:00Switch to Worms: Part I<p>Since I was about nine, I’ve been going with all of the males on my Dad’s side of the family on the annual Opening Day Fishing Trip.  Last year saw the end of an era with the closure of our traditional destination.  This year, the older generation sought to kill it completely.</p> <p>The ritual itself is actually more like 65 years old.  I’m not sure if it’s always been the way that I’ve known it – I would have to assume not.  The men of the Costanzo, Galante, and Bellomo all get together, at least just this once, every year.  The last Saturday in April holds <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-trout-fishing24-2009apr24,0,4263364.column">Opening Day for Trout Season</a>.  Our journey begins on that Friday.</p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbellomo/3080370711/in/set-72157610696726462/">Aunt Peno</a> prepares an enormous breakfast to keep us satiated during our five hour car ride to the Eastern Sierras.  For whatever reason, and much to our detriment, we Bellomos usually fail to attend in time.  From there the trip continues up the 5, to the 14, and finally the 395, our vehicles slipping in-and-out of caravan mode at various points throughout.  There’s typically at least one stop before reaching Bishop, whether it be for a bite to eat in Mojave or a bathroom break at a rest stop between Independence and Big Pine.  There are a few essential stops upon reaching Bishop though…</p> <p>The first is Culver’s Sporting Goods, where we re-stock supplies and buy our fishing licenses, typically a Two-Day’er – only a few of us are actually avid fishermen.  Next stop is <a href="http://www.erickschatsbakery.com/">Schat’s Bakkery</a> – not unknown to many Mammoth bound travelers.  Stocked with pull-away and “Chili-Cheeze” breads, we make our final stop at <a href="http://www.smokedmeats.com/">Mahogany Smoked Meats</a> to buy our supply of jerky.  I highly recommend “Western”-style Buffalo.  Then it’s straight on through to Alpers’ Owens River Ranch…</p> <p>Or at least it was until last year.  In December 2007, <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/ranch-alpers-fishing-1939270-conway-trout">Tim Alpers sold his ranch to John Gottwald</a>, who had also purchased the neighboring Arcularius Ranch.  It was no longer open to the public – reserved for “private use.”  This immediately sent our plans into disarray.  The trip was off for 2008.  </p> <p>Around March, I discovered that the troops had been rallied and our tradition would carry-on.  We’d make our base at a condo in Mammoth (which is kind of ironic), and drive in to fish the Owens.  By this point, though, I’d made other plans, and for the first time in 15 years, I missed the fishing trip.  Somebody missing a year wasn’t unheard of – many of us had missed a year here or there.  But this was the first time <em>I</em> wasn’t going, and it was kind of a big deal for me.</p> <p>While I hear it was fun, 2008 was evidently not the same.  The condo lacked the charisma of the cabin that had kept us returning year after year.  Our fathers had ended their love affair with the process a few years earlier, and it appears that without the traditional grounds, they finally had enough to rationalize its cancellation.  </p> <p>2009 was officially canceled.  They told us that the economy was too poor; that we’d just reschedule for June – as if skies would be brighter then.  This trip is what grants the sanity and relief that allow you to deal with the woes of the real world for the rest of the year!</p> <p>We rebelled.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-27043388067055171302009-04-28T11:02:00.001-07:002009-04-28T11:17:59.901-07:00Carpeteria – Day Four<p><a title="carpinteria-camping-054" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463062430/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-054" src="http://static.flickr.com/3510/3463062430_b1b44c1be4.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>(See also <a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/04/carpeteria-day-one.html">Day One</a> and <a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/04/carpeteria-days-two-three.html">Days Two & Three</a>)</p> <p>We rose on Sunday morning eager to hit the beach before packing it in and heading home.  Ang and Lucila went for a “10 minute walk” (we saw them an hour later). I started in on my breakfast, and Grandma asked me for an <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/update0505a.shtml">aspirin</a> – she wasn’t feeling well.</p> <p>Relaxing in the morning sun and enjoying my old fashioned donut, I was quickly snapped to attention by Meg – Sophie needed a diaper change…  I proceeded to do the needful. </p> <p>Suddenly, I heard my Mom call over to me for help.  I looked over and saw her panicked; Grandma was slumped over on the picnic table, seemingly unconscious.  Meg took Sophie as I ran over to <a href="http://www.webmd.com/">determine what was going on</a>.  Was she choking?  Had she passed out?  As I picked her up, I noticed her body was rigid, and her hands clutched the checkered table cloth.  Her jaw looked clenched and her eyes glassy – was she having a stroke? A heart attack?  No sooner had we laid her on the ground, did she sit back up and assure us everything was fine.  What ever had happened, she had snapped out of it.</p> <p>While all of this was going on, a ranger happened to drive by.  She asked Meg if we needed help, and proceeded to radio for paramedics.  </p> <p>Grandma was <em>not</em> happy about this.  She didn’t want someone to check her vitals or, God forbid, make her go to a hospital.  My mom and I assured her that they were just going to check her quickly and let her go.  We’d still have a nice day at the beach.</p> <p>We were wrong.</p> <p>What we’d assumed was just a low blood-sugar episode turned out to be much more severe.  The paramedics assessed her symptoms (while confirming that her blood-sugar levels were normal) and diagnosed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiac_arrhythmia">cardiac arrhythmia</a>.  A <a href="http://www.cottagehealthsystem.org/OurHospitals/SantaBarbaraCottageHospital/tabid/142/Default.aspx">hospital trip</a> was in order, but she wasn’t going down without a fight.  The paramedics relayed her status to Uncle Pat (a firefighter) who was ultimately able to convince her.</p> <p>Off they went in the ambulance.  <a href="http://www.lpin.org/node/650">I was sure she’d never for give us.</a></p> <p>Mom followed the ambulance and Meg and I began to strike camp.  Although mom implored us to enjoy the day as if everything were normal, It didn’t seem right to relax at the beach with Grandma in the hospital.  Still, mom told us to proceed as normal until we heard from her.  Yeah, ok…</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-006" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462149515/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-006" src="http://static.flickr.com/3567/3462149515_2748567a6a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>After packing up, we were pretty hungry though.  Ang and Lucila had finally returned and we filled them in on what had happened.  We decided to grab lunch at “<a href="http://www.santabarbara.com/dining/review_read.asp?pk_restaurant=194">The Spot</a>” and wait for news from mom.  Truth be told, we decided to grab lunch to go, and bring it over to “<a href="http://www.islandbrewingcompany.com/">Island Brewery</a>” across the street.  If we were going to be waiting around, at least we could be sampling beer. (The inconsistency of drinking alcohol rather than lying on the beach while your grandma is in the hospital is not lost on me.)</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-047" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462232337/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-047" src="http://static.flickr.com/3627/3462232337_fa2a54ea5f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The brewery was a neat joint, and friendly with kids and dogs to boot.  The patrons vary from sandaled beach-goers to Harley-Davidson mounted bikers.  Sophia was frightened by the latter – the bikes were simply too loud for her.  Truthfully, the motorcycles were nothing compared to the horn-blaring Amtrak train that passes by with uncomfortable closeness.  In her panic to be rescued from the “scary choo-choo monster,” a glass of beer was knocked off the table and shattered on the ground.  In other news, Meg sampled a beer against her better judgment.</p> <p align="center"><a title="carpinteria-camping-028" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462196879/"><img height="161" alt="carpinteria-camping-028" src="http://static.flickr.com/3659/3462196879_e30213cb95.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-068" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462274907/"><img height="240" alt="carpinteria-camping-068" src="http://static.flickr.com/3638/3462274907_1b68c7fdfe.jpg" width="161" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-026" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462190953/"><img height="161" alt="carpinteria-camping-026" src="http://static.flickr.com/3494/3462190953_917e33a6ea.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a></p> <p>As it happened, Grandma ended up be discharged a few hours later.  She had some infections that had gone untreated for a few weeks.  They led to dehydration, which subsequently caused the arrhythmia.  They gave her some <a href="http://www.rxlist.com/cipro-drug.htm">antibiotics</a> and told her to follow up with her regular doctor.</p> <p>Mom and Grandma returned to the beach and got in a few more hours of sun.  The rest of us decided we need to get home and unpack before the work week began again.</p> <p>It was an exciting day in all of the wrong ways.  We made the best of it and it worked out.</p> <p>NOTE: Grandma’s doing much better.</p> <p align="center"><object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true⟨=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047715383%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047715383%2F&set_id=72157617047715383&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71574"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71574" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047715383%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047715383%2F&set_id=72157617047715383&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-90120174207473529262009-04-21T17:08:00.000-07:002009-04-21T17:08:12.004-07:00Carpeteria – Days Two & Three<p></p> <p></p> <p><em><a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/04/carpeteria-day-one.html">(Continued from Day 1)</a></em></p> <h2>Day 2</h2> <p>The next morning was Meg’s birthday – following their family tradition, I played <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_(The_Beatles_song)">The Beatles “Birthday”</a> for her upon waking up.  Patty made “birthday pancakes.”  Megan opened her presents.  Joe loves his mom like a bee likes “neckter.”</p> <p align="center"><a title="carpinteria-camping-100" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463166412/"><img style="margin: 0px 25px 40px 0px" alt="carpinteria-camping-100" src="http://static.flickr.com/3559/3463166412_7829c31eae_m.jpg" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-105" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463177384/"><img style="margin: 0px 20px 0px 0px" alt="carpinteria-camping-105" src="http://static.flickr.com/3532/3463177384_b2ba4478b3_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>After breakfast, we made our first trek to the beach.  Upon arrival, we turned the little ones loose.  Joe and Sophia promptly got to playing on a mound of tar.  Unbeknownst to me, the mound was actively seeping and Sophie got stuck.  I had to pull her off of the tar, leaving her little sandals behind (if only for a short time).</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-107" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463181362/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-107" src="http://static.flickr.com/3521/3463181362_b24dc85def.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>I took Lilo for a walk (really, a run) down the beach.  She fetched the tennis ball a few times before running far, far from me.  Yeah, yeah, I caught up and leashed her.  I can’t blame her – It’s not too often that she gets to run <em>that</em> free.  Even after catching her, I wanted to help her (and me) get some exercise.  We took off at a full sprint, which something I don’t do all that often.  That section of the beach had an occasional “pot hole” – two inch deep pools of water that you can’t really see until you’re right on top of them.  </p> <p>Yes, I hit one.  What followed was one of those moments that occurs right before someone falls…  You know, those long, lunging steps as the knees buckle under gravity.  In retrospect, it would have probably been better to have just gone down – I wouldn’t still be aching under strained muscles.  The mildly-sprained ankle was unavoidable at that point though.</p> <div style="margin: auto; text-align: center"><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" style="width:450px; height:366px;" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/FFo_hyEAmHw"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FFo_hyEAmHw" /> </object></div> <p>Back at the towels, the kids sat down for a snack and I rested my hobbled body.</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-117" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462390019/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-117" src="http://static.flickr.com/3631/3462390019_3019e5a192.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>I relaxed under the umbrella after burying Joe in the sand.  Some accented beach-goers and their little girl stopped by and struck up a conversation.  Their occasional flips to foreign language piqued Patty’s curiosity and she couldn’t help but ask if they “were from around here.” “No. We’re from San Jose,” the woman replied to Patty’s disappointment.  This was obviously not the answer she was looking for…  It sounded to me like Dutch, but I was getting a South African vibe, so maybe it was Afrikaans.Their little girl, who was the same age as Sophia (20 months), was instantly intrigued by Joe’s head popping out of the sand.  She went over and started playing with him after some coaxing from her mom.</p> <p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-135" src="http://static.flickr.com/3488/3462438633_7b6277f807.jpg" border="0" /></p> <p>After our visitors departed, Sophie was eager to reclaim her brother.</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-127" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463230062/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-127" src="http://static.flickr.com/3538/3463230062_69b50da480.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The day went as beach days go, and when dinner time rolled around, we went to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/palms-the-carpinteria">The Palms</a>.</p> <p align="center"><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=12,323.6109841905381,,0,-5.4000000000000155&cbll=34.397118,-119.520619&panoid=&v=1&hl=en&gl=us" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="240"></iframe> <br /><small><a style="color: #0000ff; text-align: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+palms,+carpinteria&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=55.455479,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=34.408468,-119.516573&spn=0,359.961376&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=34.397118,-119.520619&panoid=WsWTNPv_8EHLvMi9Nr_TgA&cbp=12,323.6109841905381,,0,-5.4000000000000155&cid=1349330324983512442">View Larger Map</a></small></p> <p>Part of me feels like it’s the icon of a by-gone era.  The atmosphere was similar to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/sizzler-ventura">The Sizzler</a> during it’s decline.  The receptionist was rude, and the wait staff aloof, but when push came to shove, they gave us four raw steaks for a reasonable price – that’s their thing: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/43926277@N00/1216167133">you grill your own</a>.  Also on the “plus” side were the croutons, which were pleasantly crisped with copious amounts of butter.</p> <h2>Day 3</h2> <p>The next day came and it would be Mike and Patty’s last with us.  Whereas I lost in-laws, Meg gained hers as my Mom and <a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/03/sundays-with-grandma-double-duty-part-i.html">Grandma Doris</a> made the drive up to spend a day/night/day with us.  I made bacon during breakfast.  As a treat, I tossed Lilo’s food in some of the drippings.  <a href="http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/diarrhea.html">Don’t do that.</a></p> <p>We again loaded up our beach supplies and headed toward the beach.  Joe went right back to being buried again.</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-083" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462310571/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-083" src="http://static.flickr.com/3580/3462310571_81fb065f8f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The <a href="http://www.carpwithoutcars.org/2009/01/27/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/">seals were birthing at the rookery</a>, causing a section of the beach to be closed off.  We walked over in the designated area and took a look.  I don’t have any pictures for you because you really couldn’t make anything out – the seals camouflaged so well on the rocks.  Funny thing, evolution.</p> <p>My Mom and Grandma arrived around noon and laid with us in the sun for a few hours.  Grandma talked about how much she loved bringing my mom (and uncles) here when they were younger.  She napped on a towel dressed in long pants, a long shirt, and a wide brimmed hat – the sun touched no part of her skin save the soles of her upturned feet.  You’d have to know her to understand that it wasn’t that weird.</p> <p>Meg and I went back to camp to get started on planning dinner – penne and sausage in some kind of configuration.  We still needed to figure out the sauce and ultimately settled for jarred.  Hey – it’s camping… you’ve got to make some sacrifices!  The trip to the store faciliated another run by Robitaille’s – and this time milk chocolate honeycomb was on the menu, and Megan got her annual fill.  The Pyromid again served as the heating device for the meat.  Great little thing that is…  <a title="carpinteria-camping-092" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462334783/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-092" src="http://static.flickr.com/3592/3462334783_35995d3c0b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Ang and Lucila showed up after a long anticipated arrival.</p> <p>We all argued politics (really, <a href="http://www.doctorhousingbubble.com/financial-overlords-the-debt-class-and-those-that-provide-the-debt-in-serfdom-understanding-the-new-structure-of-the-american-financial/">economics</a>) around the campfire until we bored Megan to sleep.  We settled off to bed eager to get another beach morning in before having to trek home.</p> <p>See you in Day Four.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-65298783501908542512009-04-21T11:37:00.000-07:002009-04-21T17:07:52.430-07:00Carpeteria – Day One<p><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="240" src="http://www.agilitynut.com/08/4/carpeteria.jpg" width="240" /> </p> <p>Throughout my childhood, I was confused about the name of the beach that my family often visited.  To this day, I often misspell it “Carpenteria.”  I’m convinced that a <a href="http://www.carpeteria.com/">local flooring retailer</a> is the root of the error.</p> <p>We spent the past few days camping in <a href="http://www.carpinteria.ca.us/">Carpinteria</a> for Meg’s birthday.  We loaded up the CR-V on Wednesday night, and the next morning – filled to the brim with supplies for four days and crammed with two adults, two kids, and a dog - we set out for a long weekend in Santa Barbara county.</p> <p align="center"><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=12,219.30427095057107,,0,10.185185185185189&cbll=34.392783,-119.52043&panoid=&v=1&hl=en&gl=us" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="240"></iframe> <br /><small><a style="color: #0000ff; text-align: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=carpinteria&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.137381,64.072266&ie=UTF8&ll=34.406768,-119.507475&spn=0.002457,0.003911&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=34.392783,-119.52043&panoid=LtDRQ_LICrbGL__om-DZLw&cbp=12,219.30427095057107,,0,10.185185185185189">View Larger Map</a></small> </p> <p>Carpinteria is a great destination for many Ventura county families, so it wasn’t surprising that Meg and I both had fond memories of this place.  Still, it was Meg’s affinity for the beach that got us there.  My in-laws, Mike and Patty, met us up there through a strange automobile arrangement that unnecessarily extended their carbon-footprint.  I guess that  was fitting given our destination. (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kooop/187766067/">WORD-PLAY!</a>)</p> <p>There was some concern about bringing Lilo along.  While the campground did allow dogs, there were obvious logistical problems.  Primarily, you can’t go anywhere without bringing your dog along. That taken with the fact that all of the information I found online indicated that <a href="http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/599/files/CarpinteriaCampgroundmap.pdf">dogs were not allowed on the beach</a> (pdf warning) created a tricky situation.  In the end, we didn’t have any other option.</p> <p><a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-costco-saga-canon-hg20-camcorder.html">After dropping off a package at the UPS Store</a>, we took the “back way” to Carpinteria – the Old 118 to the 126.  The drive went smoothly and we pulled up to the campground around noon on Thursday.  To my immediate relief, the campground host informed us that there was a “dog beach” at the far-South end of the campgrounds – phew!  It wasn’t smooth sailing, but at least it was possible that we might have some success.</p> <p>We had initially planned to crash the beach prior to setting up camp, but the dog situation had complicated things slightly.  Camp setup went smoothly.  To my satisfaction, we were able to assemble our new tent without issue.  </p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-005" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462961630/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" height="480" alt="carpinteria-camping-005" src="http://static.flickr.com/3542/3462961630_641e127f4f.jpg" width="322" border="0" /></a></p> <p>After setting up, we took a walk to check out the dog section of the beach.  We parked at the very end of the campground and walked a short distance to the cliff that overlooked the beach.  Joe wandered a little too close to the edge for comfort and scared the shit out of us.  I wouldn’t use such harsh language if the possible consequence hadn’t been so severe.  We proceeded to explain to Joe that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapular">being young didn’t make him immortal</a> – a concept he hadn’t put together up until that point.  It was a nice enough beach, and close to the tide pools to boot.  Things were looking up for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbellomo/3463181362/">Lilo</a> (and me).  We strolled the trails in that area of the grounds – a little hike/walk through the surrounding “wilderness.”  Not wanting to waste too much of the day, we turned around and headed toward camp. </p> <p align="center"><a title="carpinteria-camping-171" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463337926/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-171" src="http://static.flickr.com/3565/3463337926_f0986d5bb4_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-156" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462486163/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-156" src="http://static.flickr.com/3557/3462486163_9fe720c6d2_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-154" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463296854/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-154" src="http://static.flickr.com/3525/3463296854_90e129e3ed_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-145" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462465157/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-145" src="http://static.flickr.com/3591/3462465157_481a88dbe0_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Since we’d dropped our beach ambitions for the day, we all set out to walk the <a href="http://www.carpinteria.com/points_of_interest/Linden/">“Downtown T”</a> of Carpinteria – we’d heard there was a farmer’s market every Thursday.  The farmer’s market and craft faire didn’t have much to offer us – we thought about a flat of fresh strawberries, but quickly realized that we had nowhere to put them since our ice chests were already packed full.  Before departing, we stopped by <a href="http://www.robitaillescandies.com/">Robitaille’s</a> – but they were all out of <a href="http://www.pulakoschocolates.com/HTML/sponge.html">Meg’s favorite</a>.  Joe was able to score a balsa wood and rubber band airplane from the small toy section – thanks Papa!</p> <p align="center"><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/sv?cbp=12,188.34443481503013,,0,6.7901234567901225&cbll=34.39837,-119.519063&panoid=&v=1&hl=en&gl=us" frameborder="0" width="425" scrolling="no" height="240"></iframe> <br /><small><a style="color: #0000ff; text-align: left" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=robitailles,+Carpinteria,+CA&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=40.137381,64.072266&ie=UTF8&ll=34.409317,-119.514599&spn=0,359.984357&t=h&z=14&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=34.39837,-119.519063&panoid=OniWGQXEKw2VaitdCgowLg&cbp=12,188.34443481503013,,0,6.7901234567901225&cid=17266312033703922966">View Larger Map</a></small></p> <p>While Joe and Mike tried out the airplane that they bought with great success, the rest of us started on dinner – <a href="http://www.lawrys.com/Products/Marinades/Teriyaki.aspx">Pineapple Teriyaki Burgers</a>.  We barbequed on the <a href="http://www.pyromid.net/system/patented.html">Pyromid</a>, which is a really cool product if you ask me.  The burgers were great – the only low-point was discovering that the cooked burgers had been placed back onto the same cutting board as they laid on in their raw state.  Still, no one got sick.</p> <p align="center"><a title="carpinteria-camping-175" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463346136/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-175" src="http://static.flickr.com/3513/3463346136_0b81087416_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-184" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463366356/"><img height="168" alt="carpinteria-camping-184" src="http://static.flickr.com/3488/3463366356_f93555ed0d_m.jpg" width="248" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-181" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463359984/"><img alt="carpinteria-camping-181" src="http://static.flickr.com/3588/3463359984_a8f37fa9e5_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a title="carpinteria-camping-183" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3462550607/"><img style="display: inline; margin: 0px" alt="carpinteria-camping-183" src="http://static.flickr.com/3477/3462550607_cd6def17cc_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We settled into our new sleeping bags for a good night’s sleep.  We didn’t get what we were looking for – how could it have been good with a terrified baby girl, a blaring train horn, and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dupont-Teflon-Sleepcell-Premium-Sleeping/dp/B0015IZ4MK">new sleeping bag</a> with “vent” holes that you weren’t aware of causing you to freeze your butt off?</p> <p><a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/04/carpeteria-days-two-three.html">See you in Day Two (and Three)</a></p> <p align="center"><object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true⟨=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047596817%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047596817%2F&set_id=72157617047596817&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=70933"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=70933" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047596817%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157617047596817%2F&set_id=72157617047596817&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object></p> <p>P.S. Raccoons obviously like <a href="http://www.canidae.com/">dog food</a>…</p> <p><a title="carpinteria-camping-136" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3463255690/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="carpinteria-camping-136" src="http://static.flickr.com/3562/3463255690_ae63f4c43f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-47002530267438536622009-04-21T09:37:00.000-07:002009-04-21T11:38:08.856-07:00This Is Just To Say<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLe1JcZiNH1D7pDPJDKJTmzMI7EhpKM0LCjCNe89Nx9UaAOFOTjLFa4gp1pvseMlPS5rM-pT_skX4zMcRQAh3yOZf9ZC6x2egDmuD1DvwGxVgjXvuIK3oowZVgzD-R30TK9mEXQ/s1600-h/Plums%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Plums" style="border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; border-left-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px" height="178" alt="Plums" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcA0TlW85vQhUpShjNHZ6lVE7uMMVRgLg6p9Uo6gbNPxt4ezHIKArU3nIQFjN8FbbbpfFiyjV6SJVOZJdBg2Ber4jiSAISuRs9wu5oVLKakRcwkqqdkfdzyxaESJ5IVtKmhsRZwQ/?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></a> </p> <p>I wasn't honest <br />with you <br />throughout <br />our childhood </p> <p>and you believed <br />every word <br />I said <br />with confidence </p> <p>Forgive me <br />it was exhilarating <br />to make believe <br />with impunity</p> <p><em>With apologies to <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15535">William Carlos Williams</a>, inspired by <a href="http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1239">NPR’s This American Life</a>, and for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=760218286&ref=ts">Darren Edwards</a> (among others).</em></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-87394200476516742122009-04-20T16:10:00.001-07:002009-04-20T16:10:51.069-07:00My Costco Saga – Canon HG20 Camcorder<p>This deserves a post, but I don’t have time yet.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-25512618705253306092009-03-31T10:36:00.001-07:002009-03-31T10:36:25.309-07:00Plenty to say…<p>I have plenty to say and no time to say it.</p> <p>Sorry.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-71692222951338921702009-03-18T12:19:00.001-07:002009-05-12T17:01:42.920-07:00Sundays with Grandma: Double Duty, Part II<p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-031" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351157990/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-031" src="http://static.flickr.com/3438/3351157990_2ea7216557.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>At Ang’s (and my) request, we celebrated his 31st birthday at Grandma’s house.  Grandma let us help her make Ang’s favorites: baked spaghetti and flank steak with sautéed mushrooms.  When the time came for us to help out though, things didn’t go exactly as I had planned.</p> <p>I had visited Grandma on Friday to discuss the details:  <em>I’d arrive at her house on Saturday afternoon, and we’d make a trip to the grocery store for provisions.  On Sunday, I would arrive around noon to start the sauce.</em>  Grandma said four hours would be enough time for the flavors to meld.  Excellent.</p> <p>There’s something about Grandma’s sauce that they just don’t get right with the <a href="http://prego.com/prego.aspx">jarred stuff</a>.  I’m not sure how to describe it – the closest explanation I can give is that the preserved sauce is over-spiced and far too sweet.  Oddly enough, those are the same criticism that I make toward store-bought <a href="http://www.verybestbaking.com/products/libbys/">pumpkin pies</a> vs. Grandma Doris’.</p> <p>I got a call from my Dad at around 8AM on Saturday.  While we were at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbellomo/sets/72157615267101804/">Joe’s Opening Ceremony for Moorpark Little League</a>, Uncle Sam had taken Grandma to the store to get the supplies.  I was a little disappointed, but no big deal; I was looking forward to the outing with Grandma, but I was more so excited to simply learn to make the sauce.</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-005" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3350267037/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-005" src="http://static.flickr.com/3470/3350267037_3b7cc0d27a.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The next call came at about noon.  It was Dad again – Grandma had made the sauce without me. </p> <p>Sunday arrived and in the first half of the day <a href="http://timbellomo.blogspot.com/2009/03/sundays-with-grandma-double-duty-part-i.html">we went to Mass at the Mission to celebrate Grandma Doris’ 80th</a>.  Afterward, I headed to Grandma’s to begin construction of the evening’s dinner.  Upon arrival, I discovered that a flank steak was already broiling and the mushrooms had been sautéed.  Luckily, there was a whole other steak that I could see cooked from beginning to end.  We boiled the spaghetti and began assembly of the baked pasta.</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-007" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3350269165/"><img title="Grandma reluctantly poses for a picture." style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Grandma reluctantly poses for a picture." src="http://static.flickr.com/3558/3350269165_e174b55e23.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Following Grandma’s example, we carefully layered each component into the waiting oven pan. Sauce, spaghetti (still very al dente – it continues cooking in the oven), (cooked) ground beef, a light sprinkle with grated Parmesan, Italian breadcrumbs; repeat 2x.</p> <p align="center"><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-009" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3350273847/"><img alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-009" src="http://static.flickr.com/3551/3350273847_37d80cd7b3_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-015" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351112898/"><img alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-015" src="http://static.flickr.com/3634/3351112898_15a338596d_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>The flank steaks were marinated overnight in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami">soy sauce</a> and garlic.  Stabbing it with a fork a few times help.  We stuck it under the broiler until it looked like it needed a flip.  It’s pretty straight-forward – at least when Mary’s not in the way, trying to warm herself by the oven.</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-016" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351115614/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-016" src="http://static.flickr.com/3547/3351115614_7de558ca5d.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Mel sliced the steak (against the grain and on the bias) and Mary and Lucila helped top them up with the mushrooms.</p> <p align="center"><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-058" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351222786/"><img alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-058" src="http://static.flickr.com/3626/3351222786_07974d64b7_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-065" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351236072/"><img alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-065" src="http://static.flickr.com/3426/3351236072_f1bef6dff3_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">Meanwhile, Joe and Jon kept busy with baseball in the backyard.  Jon helped Joe fine-tune his swing with proper form.</p> <p align="left"><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-051" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351205230/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-051" src="http://static.flickr.com/3571/3351205230_4a6f6660e2.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Before going to Grandma’s, I had stopped by BevMo! and picked up some beer for Ang.  I got something that I know he likes (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoegaarden_Brewery">Hoegaarden</a>) and took a chance on “the true champagne of beers,” <a href="http://www.chimay.com/en/intro_58.php">Chimay</a>.  I mean, it’s made by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trappist">Trappist Monks</a>; it’s <em>got to</em> be good!</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-023" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3350306969/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-023" src="http://static.flickr.com/3628/3350306969_c7789afb77.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>After a brief “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeping_Beauty_(1959_film)#Soundtrack_listing">toast to the home</a>" in salute of Kings Stefan and Hubert, we gave it a try.  Suffice it to say, we were nonplussed.</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-093" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351299076/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-093" src="http://static.flickr.com/3572/3351299076_7c228c4a6f.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>Here’s a view of the dinner table:</p> <p>{Video to be added shortly}</p> <p>When we were making the spaghetti, we set aside one corner for Grandpa.  We covered it with extra Parmesan.  Grandpa was known to lop off chunks of Parmesan or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pecorino_romano">Romano</a> cheese and pop them into his mouth.  He dazzled us one day with a moment of self-realization: “You know, I think I’m part mouse,” he said with deadpan seriousness before cracking a slight smile.  We all passed around Grandpa’s piece and ate a little bit… <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_entendre">Cheesy, I know, but that’s the way Grandpa would’ve wanted it.</a> </p> <p><a title="papa-140" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3081209736/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="papa-140" src="http://static.flickr.com/3070/3081209736_e0ed2f0be3.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We sang “Happy Birthday” in our usual over-the-top way, and Ang “blew out his candles” in his usual over-the-top way.    Actually, Moker snuck in and blew out most of them, but Ang had special plans for the last one.  He walked it over to the sink, dripped some wax in, and set the candle on top of it.  He left it there to burn itself out.  The cake was pineapple upside-down cake – Grandpa’s favorite.</p> <p><a title="Ang-31st-Birthday-102" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3351317422/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="Ang-31st-Birthday-102" src="http://static.flickr.com/3462/3351317422_54da6fb29c.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>There’s plenty more to talk about, but this post has become a little long-winded.  I need to find a way to better self-edit.  Enjoy the pictures/videos!</p> <p align="center"><object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="&offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615120232059%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615120232059%2F&set_id=72157615120232059&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=67348"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=67348" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="&offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615120232059%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615120232059%2F&set_id=72157615120232059&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-84272813626252525422009-03-13T11:02:00.000-07:002009-05-12T17:05:56.275-07:00Fear is a Motivator<p style="text-align: left"><img height="168" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/two_mirrors.png" width="525" /> </p> <p>I'm not sure if it's <a href="http://www.snopes.com/horrors/ghosts/bloodymary.asp">Bloody Mary</a>, <a href="http://www.bigwaste.com/photos/ca/poltergeist/">Poltergeist</a>, or <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i25f8fdbe2f089f96d4d87462872c2b28">Pennywise</a> (or a combination of all of them), but I have a <em>really</em> hard time with mirrors in the dark -- particularly bathroom mirrors.</p> <p>This is embarrassing, but it's one of those childhood fears that crept into OCD and never really went away. If I wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, I <em>have to</em> turn a light on. It's not because I'm afraid of home invasion - it's 100% because of movies I shouldn't have seen so young.</p> <p>The smallest light in our bathroom is on the far end of the bathroom - it's about a 12ft trip. My feet fall heavily and my pace (along with my heart-rate) quickens as I make this lengthy journey in the dark, singing a random song to myself, lest I inadvertently say "Bloody Mary" three times in my head and summon red eyes from the mirror. The same thing goes for the trip out when I'm through.</p> <p>I also often peek behind myself to the shower stall - just to make sure Pennywise hasn't crept up from the sewers. I'm certain that this fear was the reason for my terrible hygiene as child - for the uninitiated, showers used to be a semi-annual event for me. I was a holiday Catholic, except it was showers, not church that I avoided for the rest of the year. Maybe I figured God would make sure nothing would happen if I was showering for Christmas and Easter.</p> <p>Oh... and guilt too.</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-7124211243350006682009-03-12T14:11:00.001-07:002009-03-12T19:20:42.585-07:00Evolutionary Thriller<p align="center"><a title="webDNA" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3350136944/"><img alt="webDNA" src="http://static.flickr.com/3649/3350136944_bbe418c25c.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>What if congenital disease is humanity’s way of pre-empting horrible events?</p> <p>For example, someone gets cancer (of the non-behavior variety) because nature realizes that there’s something wrong with their DNA – a problem that will lead to sociopathic offspring, or some catastrophic event. We think we’re trying to save peoples lives by curing these diseases, but we’re really bringing about the end of human existence.</p> <p>There are issues with this, though. For example, many congenital diseases don’t kill you before your able to reproduce… BUT that just means that nature hasn’t gotten good enough at killing us yet.</p> <p>Ooh! What if embryonic stem cell therapies actually SPED UP this process somehow. Wouldn’t that be ironic?!</p> <p>It’s a terrible thought. Let me be clear: I don’t feel this way. I’m just saying, it might make for a good science fiction novel.</p> <p>…</p> <p>…</p> <p>I’m not a very creative person.</p><p>UPDATE: My boss (?) thinks this sounds like something Michael Crichton would write. Well, he died last year. Of cancer. Coincidence? I'd better get started on the mock-biography...</p><div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13309181.post-17315867892134065002009-03-11T15:02:00.001-07:002010-09-15T12:22:00.883-07:00Sundays with Grandma: Double Duty, Part I<p><a title="grandma-doris-80th-49" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3342829225/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="grandma-doris-80th-49" src="http://static.flickr.com/3369/3342829225_efdd979d9e.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>This Sunday, we celebrated <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/timbellomo/tags/dorislathamgrandma/">Grandma Doris</a>’ 80th birthday.  <a href="http://www.californiamissions.com/cahistory/sanfernando.html">10:30AM Mass at San Fernando Mission</a>, followed by donuts at the park across the street.  Admittedly, we don’t see Grandma as much as we should, nor in that level of attendance, which made it that much more enjoyable.</p> <p>The drive to Mission Hills is no mystery to me; I spent two years at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Sadoc_Alemany">Bishop Alemany</a> High School (after the <a href="http://www.vibrationdata.com/earthquakes/northridge.htm">Earthquake</a>, but when they were still “<a href="http://www.alemany.org/about_us/colors_mascots.jsp?rn=231994">The Indians</a>”).  So, I was prepared to rise early in order to make it on time.  In reality, we got to sleep in (we usually go to 7:30AM Mass at <a href="http://www.holycross-moorpark.org/">Holy Cross</a>).  Still, getting both kids ready and out the door is no easy feat – I owe my wife.</p> <p>We showed up around 10 o’clock and, after talking to Uncle Phil, found that Grandma hadn’t arrived yet.  To my surprise, she was driving in from <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=springville,+ca&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&rtol=0&sll=34.257491,-118.466274&sspn=0.003228,0.009656&ie=UTF8&ll=36.138802,-118.8081&spn=0.001573,0.004828&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=36.138801,-118.808099&panoid=xYMeabWlmAAu8YSru7sIQg&cbp=11,139.68533058017275,,0,-2.0499999999999856">Springville</a> that very morning.</p> <p align="center"><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=FbJNJwIdm_rq-CnDRoZbhB3AgDHMjiXqm54veQ%3BFUm5CgIdLFbw-CkhmXETapDCgDGcNq3VRAUwTw&q=Springville,+CA+to+San+Fernando+Mission&sll=34.298328,-118.863717&sspn=0.013649,0.01929&ie=UTF8&saddr=Springville,+CA&daddr=San+Fernando+Mission&ll=35.193805,-118.77856&spn=1.87307,0.62306&output=embed"></iframe></p> <p>155 Miles – about 3 hours… And I thought <em>we</em> had to get up early…</p> <p>As it happened, she was a little late to Mass.  I don’t think God will hold it against her.  I’m not so sure my sisters will get such a free pass.  Melanie fired off a “<a href="http://melbellomo.blogspot.com/2008/05/dear-camera.html">CLICK!</a>” during a silent moment of Mass (my dramatic memory recalls the moment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transubstantiation">Transubstantiation</a>).  Mary made sure Dolce was in attendance.  This is Dolce:</p> <p align="center"><a title="grandma-doris-80th-44" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3343656174/"><img alt="grandma-doris-80th-44" src="http://static.flickr.com/3324/3343656174_604694f31b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p align="left">Sophia’s interest was piqued when she spotted the tufts of orange fur protruding from Mary’s “pet purse.” “DOGGIE!” she exclaimed mid-Mass.  My fears of eternal damnation were allayed when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_J._Weber">Monsignor Weber</a> joined us after Mass and asked if he could hold the pup.  {Link to Mel’s Blog when she finally gets around to developing her film.}</p> <p>Across the street we went to Brand Park to partake of our donut feast.  Donuts are kind of a tradition for this side of the family. {Maybe an explanation will follow in a future post if I can find some good pictures.}</p> <p align="center"><a title="grandma-doris-80th-09" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3342759173/"><img alt="grandma-doris-80th-09" src="http://static.flickr.com/3297/3342759173_2b77bcb25b_m.jpg" border="0" /></a><a title="grandma-doris-80th-21" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3343617358/"><img alt="grandma-doris-80th-21" src="http://static.flickr.com/3332/3343617358_f948e4a4bf_m.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>We saw lots friends and family that we don’t see enough – so it made me both happy and sad.</p> <p><a title="grandma-doris-80th-35" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/41045058@N00/3342806201/"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" alt="grandma-doris-80th-35" src="http://static.flickr.com/3302/3342806201_f15f51bab9.jpg" border="0" /></a></p> <p>See you soon with Part II.</p> <p align="center"><object width="500" height="375"> <param name="flashvars" value="&offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615069652922%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615069652922%2F&set_id=72157615069652922&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=67348"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=67348" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="&offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615069652922%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Ftimbellomo%2Fsets%2F72157615069652922%2F&set_id=72157615069652922&jump_to=" width="500" height="375"></embed></object></p><div class="blogger-post-footer">I really recommend viewing the Original post at timbellomo.blogspot.com</div>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12488365027002898020noreply@blogger.com0